Kaieteur News

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

EDITORIAL

A dysfunctional justice system

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t is not a secret that the country’s justice system does not have the resources, personnel and mod ern technology in order to make it more efficient. There is a backlog of cases, and even though night court has been introduced, they continue to pile up. One of the strengths of the justice system is to deter and mitigate crime and punish those who violate the laws with penalties and rehabilitation. However, many believe that our justice system is flawed, in some cases biased, and woefully inadequate. A number of jurists have sentenced people to prison for minor offences, placed many on remand, and imposed bail which the poor cannot afford. The judicial system is known for recognizing status when punishing wrongdoers such as politicians and public officials. Jurists are more likely to imprison the average person who is involved in petty crimes such as stealing mangoes, whereas those who cannot account for millions of dollars of the taxpayers’ money will be accused of mismanagement or misappropriation of funds, and will not be jailed. Herein lies the bias. Politicians and the rich and powerful are not being handcuffed and dragged into prison like the average person who commits a crime. In the United States, Canada and several other countries, politicians, businessmen and other high profile professionals have to resign, pay hefty fines or serve time in prison if convicted of a crime. In Guyana, the lack of prosecution of public officials for corruption, money laundering and other crimes shows that our justice system has two sets of laws: one for the rich and another for the poor. It shows that our justice system is not blind. It is time to rip away the mask of judicial impartiality and admit to the charade that passes on for justice in Guyana. To be charged for any crime in Guyana, whether it is something as heinous as murder or as trite as possessing a gram of marijuana, is to be sentenced to a very long time in prison because of the remand system and the delay of cases. The concept of remand takes on a whole different meaning in this country where cases routinely take almost five years or more before being tried and a verdict rendered. It is such a dysfunctional justice system that the concept of the presumption of innocence is dismissed as in the theatre of the absurd. Judges and magistrates are not the only ones to be blamed for the huge backlog of cases. All the stakeholders of the justice system are responsible. They include the police who routinely delay cases due to the fact that all the evidence has not been gathered; lawyers who often seek postponement because they have other cases; magistrates and judges who tend to put off cases because of poor scheduling, poor case management practices by legal clerks, and delays in getting prisoners from the jail to the courts. If the government and the legal fraternity were to put half of the time and effort expended on the issue of appointing judges to the bench into resolving the delay of cases, the backlog would have been reduced significantly. The logical conclusion for why so many prisoners are on remand is because there is not enough interest on the part of the government or the legal fraternity to change the status quo of judicial dysfunction in the country. What is so incredible or perhaps troubling is how comfortable those who are sworn to uphold justice continue to function with such ease in a dysfunctional judicial system. They continue to be blind to the plight of hundreds of ordinary men and women who are trapped in a merciless system. The backlog of cases can be solved by those within the system who are best positioned to demand change and collaborate on solutions.

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Ogle Airport refutes a report on the flight school DEAR EDITOR, The Kaieteur News, Sunday March 25, 2018 has published yet another completely false story claiming that the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has imposed a G$30M tax on Ogle Airport Inc. (OAl). This is a perfect example of the Kaieteur News ignoring the facts. A simple check with the GRA or OAl would have confirmed that no such tax has been imposed on the Company. All of OAl’s taxes are up to date with the GRA. The report is an absolute fabrication. It has become obvious that the Publisher of the Kaieteur News, Mr. Glen Lall, is using his paper to pursue a personal agenda regardless of the truth and irrespective of the laws of libel to which the newspaper will have to answer in court. It is unfortunate that this kind of journalistic abuse continues to flourish without restraint in the name of “freedom of the press”. The Kaieteur News report goes on to denigrate the Art Williams and Harry Wendt Aeronautical Engineering School “as a tax evading

body” and claims that the School was registered as a ‘not-for-profit’ body in order for it to avoid the financial compliance and having to submit audited financial statements.What are the facts? The Guyana Private Aircraft Owners Association Limited was established as a company in 1992, the name being changed to the Aircraft Owners Association of Guyana (AOAG) in 2003, and submitted financial statements on an annual basis to the GRA like any other company. There was no need for the School to be registered separately in the early years of its existence. Everything was done transparently and recorded in these financial statements. There was no effort or any deliberate attempt to evade taxes as alleged by Kaieteur News. The Art Williams and Harry Wendt Aeronautical Engineering School, founded by Captain Malcolm Chan-aSue and Charles Hutson in 1993, functioned under the umbrella of the Aircraft Owners Association. The School has been an enormous success story and is today recognized as the leading

aeronautical engineering school throughout the Caribbean.The School is the only institution in Guyana to be accepted as a candidate for institutional accreditation by the Guyana National Accreditation Council, offering an Associate Degree in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering. The school is also accredited and certified by the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority, the Caribbean Safety and Security Oversight System of Caricom, the Jamaican Civil Aviation Authority, the Trinidad and Tobago Civil Aviation Authority and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority of Suriname. It is the First Tertiary Educational institution in Caricom with an IS0 9001 certified quality Management System. The rapid growth and expansion of the school made it necessary to restructure the Aircraft Owners Association, a non for profit organization, by separating and establishing the school as an independent, for profit, company. The school was incorporated under the Company’s Act on 5th April 2016 with its own Board of Management and By-Laws

with the school becoming a tax-paying Company. Sincerely, Paul Ronald Reece, President- AIRCRAFT OWNERS ASSOCIATION OF GUYANA INC. Chairman-ART WILLIAMS AND HARRY WENDT AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING SCHOOL Director – OGLE AIRPORT INC. EDITOR’S NOTE The Association which is listed on its own letterhead as a Non Governmental Organisation was assessed by GRA as it was running the engineering school commercially under the umbrella of a not for profit. Their own minutes state this in black and white The GRA incident occurred during Michael Correia’s tenure as President of the Aircraft Owners Association of Guyana, a post he held for over 20 years until it was handed to Cpt. Ronald Reece long after the GRA matter. Given the facts presented by this newspaper, Cpt. Reece’s signed press release can only be seen as malicious to say the very least.

THE FACTS OBTAINED BY THIS NEWSPAPER

Duckspeak - All the Way Down… MR EDITOR, Mr. Justin Nedd, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Guyana Telephone & Telegraph Company (GTT), made the following comment on the launch of GTT’s Innov8 Technology Exhibition held at the Guyana Marriott Hotel on March 24, 2018, as carried by Demerara News Online: “Very often in Guyana, and I have seen this several times, we have many experts but those experts – we really have to ask ourselves: are they really experts or do they have access to the web so they use that access and sometimes fool the masses?” What a senseless and revealing statement from the CEO of GTT, a company that is a subsidiary of Atlantic Tele-Network Inc. (ATNI), which like ExxonMobil, is listed on the United States stock exchange market. In his capacity as CEO of GTT, Mr. Nedd facilitated the launch of a web-based learning tool funded by GTT, he concurrently condemned persons for using information from the “web” to provide information to the Guyanese people. This juxtaposition is backward, contradictory, and oxymoronic. Thus, while promoting 21st century information technology, Mr. Nedd is simultaneously attempting to criticize persons who use 21st century information technology. It is worth noting that Mr. Nedd made his sycophantic comments at GTT’s Innov8 Technology Exhibition, while he was in the company of Mr. Gaskin, Minister of Business and Tourism and Subject Minister of Guyana Office for Investment, among other agencies. One can sense and sympathize with Nedd’s subjugation to the psychological affliction known as “the lemming effect” or follow the leader in your midst. Surmising at the Innov8 Technology Exhibition, Minister Gaskin, who is fast emerging as the new darling of Esso and the new face of the Government of Guyana and Esso to defend the rinkyduck petroleum agreement, Minister Gaskin referenced ‘the tiny vocal minority’ who dared to publicly defend the illegal and unconscionable petroleum agreement, be-

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tween Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), a subsidiary of Exxon Mobil and the Government of Guyana. Mr. Gaskin has defended the Esso contract as the cat’s whiskers (the height of excellence), and as more beneficial than gold is to Guyana and Guyanese. If Mr. Gaskin were giving a eulogy at a funeral, the Minister would likely find it appropriate to make negative comments about those who oppose EEPGL beggarly Petroleum Agreement with the Guyana Government. Can Minister Dominic Gaskin explain the term “tiny vocal minority” for the nonexperts on Duckspeak? A phrase that seems to my nonOrwellian mind to have been sourced right out of the infamous Trumpian lexicon, as mastered and used by Ms. Kellyanne Conway, Counsel-

lor to President Trump and Mr. Anthony Scaramucci, President Trump’s former Communications Director. I know of no University Major that offers “A Degree to Identify Experts. Amazingly, Nedd seems to have certified himself in this field. For the CEO to entertain the thought that one needs to be an expert to condemn a monumentally stupid petroleum contract is stupefying in itself. Contracts have long been associated with oppression and have been used currently and historically as a tool against the disadvantaged: be it in sports, business, or slavery. I wonder what kind of expert one had to be to criticize a slave contract. Did you have to see the enslaved torn asunder by horses or buried alive? Maybe, the CEO of GTT, (Conntinued on page 6)

The AFC is flexing its might DEAR EDITOR In a recent interview with the Guyana Times (March 26, 2017), the AFC General Secretary, Marlon Williams, boasted about Guyana being a “beautiful” democracy. But there is nothing democratically beautiful about removing independent voices from the state-owned newspaper. Mr. Williams cannot not know of the direct and indirect role AFC leaders played in removing me and Lincoln Lewis from the Chronicle. We are now reliably informed that a senior AFC Minister has over time been raising at the Cabinet the issue of Hinds and Lewis’ columns. It was that same Minister who gave the instructions to the Editor-in-Chief to axe the columns. Then to add insult to injury, two top AFC members, Sherrod Browne and Geeta Chandan-Edmond,

Political parties need to determine what they bring to the Coalition DEAR EDITOR, As soon as the 2015 Elections results were announced, I started writing that President Granger needs to have close to his fingertips information for credible brokers, mediators, negotiators and facilitators. The Coalition Government is made up of individual political parties, with individuals, some of whom are very powerful in their own right, and the parties are all different entities. Therefore, how do you put this dynamic arrangement of a Coalition Government together and not expect to have, ‘earthquakes’, ‘hurricanes’ and ‘tremors’. There will be challenges and major ones too, since partnerships are unnatural arrangements but there will also be benefits. While I am aware that the PNC component of the coalition has been flexing its muscles, so to speak, and as a result, both the AFC and WPA have been vocal about their dissatisfaction with aspects of the partnership, I am

of the strong view that it will still be premature for either the AFC or WPA to leave the coalition. However, the government needs to carry out a serious review of how the partnership is working or not working. This must be done with the intention to make the necessary adjustments where necessary. My suggestion for the review would be that it has to be very strategic. Firstly, there are three key elements in a partnership— mutual benefit, transparency and equity. These are all major issues in the Coalition Government.

The WPA and AFC want more of the benefits to be mutual, more transparency and more equity. However, it is important to note that a key factor that influences the success or failure of a partnership is the stakeholders’ ability to engage; the ability to engage with the various stakeholders at different levels and to find solutions to challenges. Another issue in the coalition is transparency. A casein point was the appointment of the GECOM Chairman and the reaction by the AFC members. On the point (Continued on page 6)

voted at the Board level to rubber stamp the decision, citing the legal right of the Editor-in-Chief to make the decision. Whether Duncan and Chandan-Edmond knew they were rubberstamping a political decision is not known, but it would take a lot of convincing to assure me that did not know. I hereby challenge the AFC to deny this version of events. The Chronicle and the rest of the State Media are controlled by the AFC as part of the distribution of spoils after the election. The Prime Minister has direct oversight of this sector. He is a journalist by profession, but we have not heard a single word from him on this matter. The AFC, as a party, has not said a single word. The AFC has from time to time hinted that is being shortchanged by APNU within the government. It is hypocritical to complain of being bullied when you engage in similar behaviour in areas where you exercise authority. This was the same party that famously warned me that I should be thankful to it for the freedom it allowed me. One of its leaders accused Freddie Kissoon of wanting to return the PPP to power. Days before receiving the letter from the Editor-in Chief, I had been tipped off that the column would be discontinued and who were behind the move. I learnt that the EIC was tortured by the situation, but he had no choice in the matter. Armed with that information, I wrote to him asking for an explanation regarding the non-publication of the col-

umn for two consecutive weeks. It was then that he sent the letter informing me of the decision. We now know that he did so without the knowledge of the Board. What should be known is that in addition to my column, I have written scores of editorials for the newspaper, most of them complimentary to the government. That they dispensed with the column while wanting to retain my services as an editorial writer speaks volumes about the mindset—they cannot stand my criticisms but are comfortable with my writings that sanitize them. I always knew that my independent stances were causing concern among government ministers—some of them have told me directly. I often wondered why they are so uneasy about self-critique. What is it about us that we cannot deal sensibly with dissent. Despite, the uneasiness, I remained at the Chronicle as a matter of principle. I took the position that they must shove me out and prove to Guyana who they really are. And true to the tradition of Guyanese leadership culture, they have done just that. What a shame!The PNC section is being blamed for what was executed by the AFC. But the public utterings of the party’s General Secretary, suggest that they have no problem with the action—a case of the AFC doing the dirty job for them. One must ask if a government is prepared to encourage that kind of behaviour towards a coalition member, (Continued on page 6)

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Rampant corruption at GGMC DEAR EDITOR, Please allow a little space to comment about Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC). I was overseas a few months and could not submit this letter sooner. An article you published in Kaieteur News, Wed, Jan 3, 2018, p. 17 “Miners complain of land hoarding as GGMC Director grabs 12,000 acres.” Sad to say this isn’t a new practice at the GGMC, which is a cesspool of corruption, and Commissioner Newell Dennison is clueless. First-hand experience at GGMC is that preferential treatment is meted out to friends, families, and friends of friends over the general public. It is impossible to get assistance from the staff unless one is willing to pay for services. I know because as a miner I pay-off GGMC staff out of necessity. They cling like

leeches. An investigation should be launched into GGMC activities, not only the land deals of Director Hilbert Shields, but a campaign for the resignation of senior officials at GGMC. Since Guyana loves to compare itself with America, Kaieteur News should lead an investigative report like that of America RICO (Racketeering Influence Corrupt Organization) not only into land allocation deals, but also how GGMC Officers could afford the vehicles they are driving versus their salaries; the homes they are building or already have; businesses they have, and heavy jewellery. Mr. Editor, you previously indicated that there are no sacred cows. If you truly mean this,

and I do believe in Kaieteur News, go after these slimeballs, and some who are all unfit for positions at GGMC. Investigate the Mines Officers’ assets and how they acquire them. Under the PPP/C administration, GGMC was extremely corrupt, but it was still possible to get things done. Today it is so difficult that multiple visits to GGMC are necessary to accomplish what could be done in one visit. Thanks to Attorney Chris Ram, a champion of the people, for doing what he is to expose runaway machinery at GGMC. Granger is on lip services although he means good, and Government officials on both sides are living large at the poor people expenses. K. Naraine Miner

The AFC is flexing ... From page 5 how would they behave towards presumed enemies. There is something very ugly about government leaders stifling free expression and still preach about the beauty of democracy. For me, my lifelong struggle for a better Guyana continues. My voice will not be silenced. I will continue to speak back to power and the powerful and challenge them to do better. I am

determined that this government must break the cycle of authoritarian governance. In this regard, I am inspired by the words of our national poetic voice and conscience, Martin Carter: No I will not still my voice/ I have too much to claim …And so if you see me looking at your hands listening when you speak marching in your ranks you must know I do not sleep to dream, but dream to change the world. David Hinds

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Political parties need to ... From page 5 of equity, here is where I am of the view that the WPA and AFC are somewhat wrong with their expectations. Equity in a partnership does not mean equality. The AFC or WPA cannot be equal to the PNC/R in the Coalition Government, for e.g., the PNC/R brings a larger constituency; hence, they have more representatives in the Government. Nevertheless, even though the parties are not equal, they should all have an equal right at the table – representation, decisionmaking, etc.; equity therefore means, equal right. Another important aspect of a partnership is added value; each political party brings something to the coalition that enables it to achieve success that no one party could have gained on its

own. The question therefore is what is the added value that each political party brings to Coalition Government? In preparation for the 2020 Elections, each party in the coalition should determine what is the added value that it brings to the Coalition Government? One gets the impression the PNC/R component is sometimes of the view that the smaller parties do not really bring an added value but that perception is wrong; some of the smaller parties may not bring votes but they enhance trust by being a part of the coalition and a value must be placed on that. In determining the added value the questions to be asked are where did the trust which caused persons to vote for the Coalition Govern-

ment came from? And what inhibits that trust? How are the political parties reliant on each other? How can they foster more diversity in the Coalition Government? Do the individual political parties have sufficient internal cohesion to make it work? Is there sufficient predictability to make the coalition work? Trust is very important to foster predictability. Finally, each political party having determined the added value that they bring to the Coalition Government should then engage or re-engage from this standpoint. So, I sincerely hope that the WPA would not rush to leave the coalition at this stage but will continue to strive to engage further. Yours faithfully, Audreyanna Thomas

Duckspeak - All the Way... From page 5 Mr. Justin Nedd, will next enlighten Guyanese as to where certification can be obtained to enable you to identify an Expert in the Oil Services Field or gain certification on how to Identify an Expert in any other Discipline. Before Mr. Nedd walks down this extremely steep cliff; I encourage him to embrace the concept of using Common Sense by reading extracts from Ms. Dorothy Sayers masterpiece ‘The Lost Tools of Learning’: “That I, whose experience of teaching is extremely limited, should presume to discuss education is a matter, surely,

that calls for no apology… Bishops air their opinions about economics; biologists, about metaphysics; inorganic chemists, about theology; the most irrelevant people are appointed to highly technical ministries… Too much specialization is not a good thing…Do you often come across people for whom, all their lives, a “subject” remains a “subject,” divided by watertight bulkheads from all other “subjects,” so that they experience very great difficulty in making an immediate mental connection, between let us say, algebra and detective fiction, sewage disposal and the price of salmonor, more generally, between such spheres of knowledge as philosophy and economics, or chemistry and art?” While Minister Dominic Gaskin seems beyond redemption in his hero worship of the EEPGL harsh and vulgar Petroleum Agreement with the Government of Guyana; Mr. Nedd should apologize to the young Guyanese present at the launch of Innov8 for duck-

speaking and misspeaking on the issue of how to learn. As Ms. Sayers concludes, “The sole true end of education is simply this: to teach men how to learn for themselves; and whatever instruction fails to do this is effort spent in vain.” Lastly, I have two questions for Mr. Justin Nedd: Are you a telecommunications and telegraph expert? Does one knowing a whale is not a fish, or a bat is not a bird, make one an expert in biology? Guyanese born, Justin Nedd noted at the Innov8 summit that, “Guyana is a beautiful place and we are on the verge of something big”. The extent of the bigness currently being denied to Guyana is what Mr. Nedd needs to cognitize; and why it is essential that this Esso Petroleum Agreement that is psychologically damaging masses of Guyanese, must be renegotiated and allow Guyanese to receive at least 10% of the royalties from the Billions of Barrels of proven and recoverable oil discovered in Guyana’s offshore territory. Nigel Hinds

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CDC conducts consultation on draft National Oil Spill Contingency Plan By Kiana Wilburg

Conscious of the need to protect human life and the environment, the Government, through the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), has made moves towards developing a national oil spill contingency plan. The first draft, which was put together by a small team of locals mostly from the CDC, has been handed over to Government. This is according by Captain John R. Flores, Director of Maritime Safety. He was at the time, delivering remarks at the stakeholders’ consultation on the draft contingency plan. The event was held at the CDC’s Thomas Lands office. Flores started his presentation with a short video that highlighted the devastating effects that oil spills can have on the environment. The video made reference to some of the world’s most horrifying oil spills such as the ExxonMobil Valdez and the Deepwater Horizon. Along with considering the inherent risks of drilling for oil, Flores said that Guyana is a member to several organizations, which mandate that it has a contingency oil spill plan. He said that these organizations include the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), and the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The official also noted that Guyana is a signatory to the International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation (OPRC) and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The Director of Maritime Safety said that several docu-

…says framework handed over to Govt.

Some of the attendees at the event yesterday included, from left: Captain John Flores of the CDC, Natural Resources Minister, Raphael Trotman, Environmentalist Annette Arjoon and CDC Director General, Kester Craig ments were used as a reference point for the creation of the framework. He said that these included the IMO’s manual on guidelines to be followed in the creation of an oil spill plan, draft procedures that Guyana’s authorities had from years ago, and oil spill plans by other nations such as Trinidad and Tobago. Flores also noted that the framework speaks to some key positions, which would require appointments. In this regard, he noted that there would be a need for someone to oversee how dispersants would be used during an oil spill cleanup. Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman

was quick to congratulate the Civil Defence Commission for their efforts in moving preparations forward to finalize the National Oil Spill Contingency Plan. The Minister said, “When one engages Guyanese on the Coast or in the interior locations, two issues are often raised, jobs and our preparation for a potential oil spill. This tells us that the topic is a high priority for Guyanese, so no ef-

fort must be spared in ensuring that we are prepared for any eventualities.” Trotman continued, “As you are aware, on May 15, 2015, Guyanese woke up to the reality that we have large quantities of Petroleum in the Liza 1 well located approximately 123 miles offshore Guyana. Six successful wells later, those initial reserves have now grown considerably from the initial reserves estimate of 800 million barrels

of oil equivalent to 3.2 billion barrels and counting.” The Leader of the Alliance For Change (AFC) added, “With every new find, the importance of a National Oil Spill Contingency Plan takes on an even more important role. While as a government, we are cognizant of the potential risks which come with developing this newfound petroleum resource, we are equally committed to the protection of our environment and Guyana continues to be a fierce proponent for its protection internationally.” As the lead agency tasked with completing the process of creating a comprehensive National Oil Spill Contingency Plan to guide national response, Trotman said that the Civil Defence Commission can be assured of the full support of the Government, through the Ministry of Natural Resources. He noted that support mobilization has already begun since 2017 with the procurement of four containers of oil spill response equipment and accessories including booms, skimmers, dispersants, etc. Trotman said that these are presently stored at the CDC’s Alternate National Emergency Operations Centre (ANEOC) at Timehri, and will soon be pre-positioned at various locations to facilitate ease in deployment should the need arise. Also in 2017, Trotman re-

minded that the Ministry of Natural Resources held a Public Lecture on Oil Spill Response Readiness in collaboration with ExxonMobil and the Guyana Oil and Gas Energy Chamber (GOGEC) to promote awareness and address concerns surrounding this very important topic. Further, the Natural Resources Minister said that capacity building is forthcoming through training for stakeholder representatives in the areas of Incident Command Systems (ICS) and Fundamentals of Oil Spill Management. He said that these training exercises will be held between April 23-28, 2018 at the CDC’s Emergency Operations Centre at Timehri and Splashmin’s Resort respectively. Trotman noted that stakeholder involvement at all levels is also critical to the development of a robust plan that can hold its own internationally and protect the country in the event of an oil spill. The politician said, “I am happy to see that the CDC has taken a truly collaborative approach to the development of the plan by involving important stakeholders (Guyana Energy Agency, Maritime Administration Department, Environmental Protection Agency, Guyana Geology and Mines Commission and Guyana Defence Force) in the process. The (Continued on page 23)

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Female passenger awarded US$272,000 for 2011 CJIA crash A Connecticut, US court on Tuesday awarded US$272,000 (approx. G$56M) to a female passenger injured in a 2011 Caribbean Airlines crash at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri. According to court documents, family members Indrawatie Shiwbodh, Yadram Shiwbodh and Maleisa Shiwbodh had filed action against the Trinidad and Tobago-controlled airline. The action came to trial at the US court, with Indrawatie Shiwbodh standing before Judge Michael Shea. According to court documents filed this week, after the issues were tried, the court issued a Memorandum of Decision on March 27, 2018 awarding the plaintiff (Indrawatie Shiwbodh) US$68,093.04 in economic damages and US$204,279.12

for pain and suffering, for a total judgment amount of US$272,372.16. It was also disclosed that Caribbean Airlines had reached a settlement agreement with Maleisa Shiwbodh, and on April 9, 2015, a settlement was also reached with Yadram Shiwbodh. In their complaint, filed in 2012, the family in the personal injury action suit for damages disclosed that that matter arose from a crash landing of Caribbean Airlines Flight #BW523 in the early morning hours of July 30, 2011 at Cheddi Jagan International Airport in Georgetown, Guyana. The plaintiffs claimed that they were travelling to Guyana from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City.

The damaged aircraft after it overshot the runway at CJIA, Timehri “Landing at night, the aircraft careened down the runway, overshooting the end of the runway and nearly plunging into a ravine.

The impact cracked the fuselage into two parts,” the complaint stated. The plaintiffs - who were a mother and father and their adult daughter - said they were paying passengers on the international flight and suffered personal injuries as a result of the crash landing. The three plaintiffs all gave their address as East Haven, Connecticut, and declared that they were US citizens. They argued that as a common carrier, Caribbean Airlines is obligated and expected to provide the

highest degree of care to its passengers. They said through no fault of their own, they were injured. “These injuries include, but are not limited to: (a) bodily injury and the resulting pain and suffering, b) mental anguish, (c) the costs of past and future medical treatment, and (d) loss of income. Plaintiffs also suffered damages to and loss of their personal property and baggage.” The damaged aircraft after it overshot the runway at

CJIA, Timehri. The suit also claimed that the pilot and crew failed to deploy the flaps and/or slats on the subject aircraft in order to slow and stabilize the aircraft during the approach and landing sequence. They also failed to warn passengers to brace themselves or prepare for an impact as a result of the failed landing. The Shiwbodhs were among 157 passengers and six crew members on the Boeing 737-800. No one died, but dozens of people were injured.

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Govt. moves to investigate work of British-based political consulting firm in T&T PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – CMC - The Trinidad and Tobago government Friday said it would “do all in its power” to investigate allegations made by a former employee of the British based political consulting firm, Cambridge Analytica (CA), that it had undertaken a project here involving the harvesting the data of this country’s population. Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi told Parliament that the whistle-blower, Christopher Wylie, had told United Kingdom lawmakers that the company combines data mining, data brokerage, and data analysis with strategic communication for the electoral process, had undertaken the work here in 2013 under the former People’s Partnership administration headed by then prime minister Kamla Persad Bissessar. “Madam Speaker, this government will do all in its power to investigate this very important matter. To unearth whether the rights of the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago have been infringed and to hold all such persons responsible for breaches of the law of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago properly accountable,” Al-Rawi said. Persad Bissessar was not present in the Parliament when the Attorney General made the statement, but earlier this week she described as ‘fake news’ claims that the main opposition United Na-

Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi tional Congress (UNC), which was a part of the coalition government between 2010-15 or People’s Partnership engaged the services of Cambridge Analytica. She said neither the party nor the previous administration had any dealings, engagements or contracts with CA before and after 2010 and that the allegations were a distraction by the government. She also called on the Keith Rowley administration to provide evidence. Earlier opposition legislators had tried unsuccessfully to get Parliament to prevent Al-Rawi from continuing the statement after indicating that he had passed the allocated time for statements by ministers. But the government moved a motion suspending the Standing Orders and AlRawi said he it was therefore “incumbent upon the Office of the Attorney General …to

Kamla Persad Bissessar cause an audit of all government ministries, statutory authorities, state enterprises and the National Security Council to see whether any contract was established, whether any payments were made and whether any services were rendered by …Cambridge Analytica, Aggregate IQ (AIQ) and the Strategic Communications Laboratory Group”. He told legislators that during the 2015 election campaign, “citizens will recall there were wide scale receipts of unsolicited personalised political messaging from entities promoting the United National Congress”. He said that the Trinidad and Tobago Constitution enshrines “as a protected fundamental right the right to privacy” and that the Interception of Communication Act “strictly prohibits the interception of communication in the manner alleged by the

Brazil’s Lula loses procedural appeals, faces prison BRASILIA (Reuters) - A Brazilian appeals court on Monday rejected final procedural objections raised by lawyers of former leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva against his conviction for corruption, raising the possibility that he will soon be jailed. However, Lula will not be imprisoned until the country’s Supreme Court decides on April 4 whether to accept his request that he be allowed to exhaust his appeals process before landing in jail. The Supreme Court ruled in 2016 that defendants should begin serving prison sentences after their conviction was upheld on a first appeal. However, several members of the court are pressing to revisit that decision and perhaps reverse it. Lula, Brazil’s first working-class leader, remains the

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva most popular politician in Latin America’s biggest nation. He oversaw years of robust growth and falling inequality during a commodity boom last decade, and wants to run again for president. Whether he is jailed or not, Lula is barred from running due to his conviction for

receiving as a bribe a seaside apartment from an entrepreneur awarded government contracts during his presidency.In January, the appeals court in Porto Alegre upheld Lula’s conviction and increased his sentence to more than 12 years. Despite that conviction and Lula facing six other corruption trials, he continues to enjoy wide popularity and leads all early polls for the Oct. 7 vote. His supporters maintain he is being persecuted politically with dubious accusations aimed at keeping him out of the race. Lula’s critics say his economic policies ruined Brazil and his situation has polarized the country. While touring the southern state of Santa Catarina over the weekend, Lula’s bus was pelted with eggs and stones that broke a window.

whistle-blower in testimony given before the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee of Commons of the British Parliament”. He said the Computer Misuse Act also prohibits the unauthorised access to data. “The alleged acts committed by Cambridge Analytica and its affiliates…potentially constitute breaches of the laws of Trinidad and Tobago,” Al-Rawi said. In his testimony before the British legislators, Wylie, said the project here involved accessing raw internet service provider data for the entire country, to monitor what people were browsing. “One of the things I’ve also passed on to the Committee is some of the contractual documentation and emails from some of AIQ’s past projects. One of them was for, at the time the Minister of National Security of Trinidad, in the contractual documents and also email chain, part of the project was to go out and try to find a way of accessing raw internet service provider data for the entire country to monitor what people were browsing.” He acknowledged that AIQ inherited a lot of what he called the ‘company culture’ of Cambridge Analytica including a ‘total disregard for the law’. “As I understand that is not legal in Trinidad, it certainly won’t be illegal here,” he added. Al-Rawi said that the audit being called for by the government here would ensure an application for a “keen eye for any masked transactions through nominated or trustee entities to hide the true identity and nature of any services provided. “Further…as the central authority for Trinidad and Tobago, the Office of the Attorney General shall take avail of the lawful provisions available by way of the Legal Mutual Assistance and pursue the cooperation of international investigative agencies that are conducting parallel investigations into these matters. “We shall reach out to authorities in the United Kingdom and the United States of America to secure information and evidence relating to this most serious matter of alleged illegal conduct and activity,” Al-Rawi told legislators, adding that he had instructed the state’s attorneys in the United Kingdom “to take immediate steps to secure the evidence and materials provided by persons including the whistleblower.

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Thursday March 29 ,2018

15-year-old goes missing

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. PASSPORT, PERMANENT & VISITOR VISA APPLICATION, PROFESSIONAL IMMIGRATION CONSULTANT – SABITA IMMIGRATION SERVICES. CALL: 613-3920/625-3767.

FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. Unregistered DAF trucks: Dump trucks, Flat Bed, Flat bed with Crane & Hauler. Call: 659-3100 New Triangle truck tyres, front & all wheel drive, size: 295/ 80R22.5 Call: 647-2022 Parts for Tacoma Tundra Titan for sale. Tel#686-9608. Gold & Diamond land, to buy or rent. Giving out work ground #225-7026/622-0036/ 690-5300 LEARN TO DRIVE C. Persaud & N. Outar Driving School formerly Soman & Sons Driving School @ Maraj Building- Call: 644-5166; 6222872; 615-0964; 689-5997 (affordable packages).

Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezerCall: 610-5846 or 661-8158 Installations, Repairs and parts for AC, Fridge, Washing machine, Stove etc call Nick 627-3206, 630-1600

EDUCATION Kids Easter Computer Classes $4000 2 weeks of fun learning. MicroGraphics Vreed-en-hoop #264-3057 Computerized accounting, Quickbooks, Peachtree, POS $35,000 Diploma in Computers 9 courses $40,000 MicroGraphics Vreed-enhoop #264-3057 Study in Canada/USA 100% Acceptance Registration for September, 2018 MicroGraphics Vreed-enhoop #264-3057/613-4354

TAXI SERVICE GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 2257878 (24HRS)

FOR RENT

WANTED

PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.-CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620

Wanted experience hire car taxi drivers at Ramada Princess Hotel. Tel#265-7076/616-5419

(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 1-2 bedroom apt, toilet & bath inside $50,000 monthly. Tel#648-7004 1(2) bedroom Apt Lyng St, Charlestown $40,000 #6764426 3 bedroom upper flat 143 Pike street, Kitty. Tel#234-0733 Room for working couple/ single person. Light, water, bed included. $28,000 monthly, $28,000 security @ South Riumveldt. Tel:6230076 For rent: 5 bedroom 2 bath #618-5985 LAND FOR SALE

SALON Make-up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, etc. -CosmetologyCourses:$90,000 Nail Technician Course: $35,000. Call: 647-1773/688-0009 PEN PAL Overseas Indian Male seeks female age 30/35 yrs, write to M.D 7475 Goreway Drive #47 Mississauga Ontario L4T 3T3 Canada.

VEHICLE FOR SALE Bluebird 2012 model-$2.7M Axio 2010-$2.6M Tida-2010 $2.1M All vehicles unregistered #655-3400 1- TwinsteerDoubleaxle Leyland DAF 4- LeylandDAF Flatbed tray 30ft 10- Guysuco Lorries 1 DAF engine. owner migrating #228-5655, 649-8449 One Hilux Vigo with 5VZ engine. Perfect condition. Tel:688-9020 One AT192 For sale, Excellent condition (Neg) call: 646-0994 Toyota AE100 Corolla GTouring wagon, 5 speed gear box-$800,000 negotiable. Call: 639-3131/653-3131

Parafaite Harmonie, Eccles, Uivlugt, Tuschen, Covent Garden, Herstelling, Diamond, Providence, Zeelugt. Tel# 6869608 Uitvlugt (100x50) $2.6M Farm $2.8M Schnoord $2.4M Parfaite $1.4M Harmonie 2nd Avenue $2.3M #611-7223/ 656-0701 Transported land at Hopetown Village, West Coast Berbice, Price $1.4 100x50 #680-1009 Parafaite (10) year $2.5 $1.3M $2M Uivlugt $2.5M Tuschen Property $5.5M $3.3M Eccles $5.5M Zeelugt $1.3M Call: 604-6724 TOLET 1 & 3 Bedroom apt in a gated community in Versailles WBD. Call: 264-2946 Section ‘K’ C/ville, furnished 2 bedroom apt. Pay now for April & live free for March. Tel: 688-9020 Furnished newly renovated self-contained room, water & electricity, 12 Sussex St Charlestown -$30,000 monthly $30,000 Security. Call:2191951/689-8757 One furnished room, share facility $30,000 monthly, 2 bedroom $40,000 ‘B’ Field Sophia #622-0036/690-5300

Live in or live out babysitter/ domestic- Call: 223-7500 Monday to Saturday 8:15am4:15pm Looking to buy a house or empty land, Preferences-EBD Public road. Buyer #1917-6225810/694-3331 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

Fifteen year-old Wandisha Peters of Lot 205 Patentia, West Bank Demerara, was last seen two weeks ago by her grandmother at home. The teen was reportedly seen in the yard when her father came to drop off some supplies for her. An hour later an uncle called the girl’s father, to say that she had left the house with his cell phone. A report was made at the Wales Police Station soon after. The family and relatives frantically looked around for the girl but could not locate her. There have been reports that she was recently in the Belfield and Victoria area, where the teen was said to have gone to meet a friend’s parents. Residents of the area

Wanted Handyboy, must have police clearance. Apply at Shanta’s 225 Camp St. Attractive live in waitressCall: 327-0252/674-4665 Live in waitress to work in bar. Call: 604-6606/ 692-4649 (1) Gardener Age: 20-35 must know to use grasscutter and wash vehicles. Salary: $20,000 per week. Call: 675-1430 Responsible hire car drivers and contract cars. Tel# 2317200 1 Experienced person to operate plucking machine + 1 farm attendant. Tel: 616-6702 PROPERTY FOR SALE Lot 15 Public road #2 Village. West Coast Berbice. 49ft by 10,314ft. $20M. Contact:6487109/686-4818

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 Experienced male sales attendant, stocktaking knowledge, computer literate, excellent service attitude, able bodied. Key Food McDoom Village. Exists for one experienced dispatcher- Call: 231-5784 Able bodied Driver/Salesman for Leyland DAF Lorry. Involves lifting. Telles Steel: 226-6771/231-3265/226-4537

CAR RENTAL DOLLY’SCARRENTAL-CALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM PROGRESSIVE CAR R E N TA L : S U V F O R RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL:6435122/656-0087, ,EMAIL:PRO_AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.COM AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL:PICKUP,9-11 SEAT MINI BUS, GOOD FOR AIRPORT & FAMILY OUTINGS, CHEAPEST RATE . Call: 698-7807 WING’S CAR & PICKUP RENTAL: LOW DOWN PAYMENT, CHEAP RATES,SPECIAL OFFERS! . CALL: 690-6494

Female kitchen assistant for interior location. Job entails assisting cooks and general cleaning. Call: 618-2020 Truck driver to work at nights. Tel# 227-1717 2 experienced play school teachers. Call: 614-4005 for appointment. One Fabricator/Welder. Apply in person at Alabama Trading, Gerogetown Ferry Stelling, Stabroek. Porters, Apply in person at Alabama Trading, Georgetown Ferry Stelling, Stabroek Janitor, Apply in person at Alabama Trading, Georgetown Ferry Stelling, Stabroek Maintenance workers, farm workers, labourers call: 2653586 8am-4pm

Missing: Wandisha Peters have also claimed to see a girl matching the given description. The distraught father is just asking for her to be returned home safely. Anyone with information leading to Wandisha Peters’ whereabouts is asked to contact 695-6636 or the nearest police station.

$30B syndicated bondsecured ... From page 11 to know their plans and concerns. When we get that information we will begin to craft questions for the major stakeholders. We expect to meet with senior management as well as other persons who have an interest in the sugar sector. We will do the same for mining and rice,” Sharma stated. The Parliamentary committee includes Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder, who once held responsibility for GuySuCo before Cabinet approved the appointment of a new board last month, shifting control of the entity to the SPU. Other members of Government on the committee include Carl Greenidge, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Simona Broomes, Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, and Jennifer Wade. Opposition members on the committee include Juan Edghill, Collin Croal and Komal Chand, who also is the President of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers' Union (GAWU), which represents the majority of sugar workers. “We are progressing with our work by looking at the sectors that are relevant. They have issues, but we depend on them. We want to look at the issues the stakeholders have and to see how we can make them better,” Sharma stated.

Causing death driver faces court A minibus driver who was previously charged and fined for dangerous driving after being found guilty of the offence, was yesterday back before a City Magistrate, this time on a causing death by dangerous driving charge. A wanted bulletin had been issued for him. Jamal John, of 53 Joseph Pollydore Street, Lodge, was late yesterday afternoon escorted to the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, where he appeared before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly. John denied the charge which alleged that on December 18, last, at Vlissengen Road, Georgetown, he drove minibus, BTT 8476, in a manner dangerous to the public, causing the death of Desmond Grandsoult. Police Prosecutor Sanj Singh strongly objected to bail being granted to the defendant citing the serious nature of the offence and the penalty the charge attracts. The prosecutor added that if bail was granted to the defendant he would not return to court for the trial. He cited that on the day when the accident took place, John escaped from the scene which caused the police to issue a bulletin for his arrest. He added that when arrested on March 26, John give the police a caution statement to which he signed his name. Facts presented by the prosecutor stated that on the day in question, the 42year-old pedal cyclist died at

AFC denies role in ... From page 17 months recovering from a medical procedure and neither him nor the Office of the Prime Minister had any involvement whatsoever in the decision.” At no time was the AFC involved in, or consulted, on any decision with regard to the status of Dr. Hinds' column or any other for that matter, nor did any party executive issue any instructions or directive on this matter, the party said. “There was no need or requirement to. The AFC's position remains consistent with the party's liberal democratic philosophy.” The Chronicle and its board are under fire after the Editor-in-Chief, Nigel Williams, took it upon himself to end the columns of Dr. David Hinds, an activist and Lincoln Lewis, a union official. Both were critical of the government. Both believed that the decisions were political in their origins.This week, four members of the board resigned in protests to the decisions.The board had stood by the decision of Williams.

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Kaieteur News

Thursday March 29 ,2018

...was previously fined for dangerous driving Jamal John

the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) hours after being struck down by a minibus. It was reported that the minibus was proceeding south along Vlissengen Road at a fast rate while the pedal cyclist (Grandsoult) was proceeding in the same direction, in front of the minibus. Grandsoult then attempted to cross the road from east to west when the accident occurred. The police in a statement said that the left front of the minibus collided with the rear of the pedal cycle which resulted in

Grandsoult falling on the roadway, causing the minibus to run over his body. The driver then swerved into the trench. Grandsoult was picked up in an unconscious condition and taken to the GPHC where he was admitted to the High Dependency Unit at the hospital where he eventually succumbed to his injuries. The prosecutor’s objection was upheld by the Magistrate and the defendant was remanded to prison. He was instructed to make his next court appearance on April 5.

CDC conducts consultation on... From page 7 plan will also be reviewed by Cabinet after consultations are completed.” He added, “As you begin your collective deliberations on the form and substance of the national Oil Spill Contingency Plan, I charge you to see your work here as important, and craft a National Oil Spill Contingency Plan that can efficiently and effectively keep our offshore waters free of pollution and our beautiful coastlines pristine for the enjoyment of future generations.”Also offering remarks at the stakeholders’ consultation was the CDC’s Director General, Kester Craig, “On an occasion such as this, we should take time to reflect on the voluminous natural resources our country possesses, which can contribute significantly to positive social and economic growth and development. At the same time, we should also reflect on how proactive and targeted Disaster Risk Reduction and Management measures can play an integral role in reducing negative environmental im-

pacts during the utilization and exploitation of these resources.”Craig noted that the consultation is yet another step in the right direction, where key stakeholders were able to critically review the first draft of the National Oil Spill Contingency Plan. Craig explained that the intent of this Plan is to implement a framework, which would cater for coordinated response action to potential onshore and offshore oil spills. As such, he said that the plan needs to be simple but comprehensive, accessible, readily updatable, and reflective of not only the working culture of Guyana, but also in line with international standards and best practices. The CDC Director General said, “Without preparation, no amount of expertise, manpower or equipment can be effectively organized on the spot in the chaotic situation that prevails after an oil spill. The scope of this contingency plan is based on what is known as a ‘tiered response’ framework.”

Craig said that this helps to ensure that the planned response reflects the scale of the particular spill. He noted that the mere existence of a plan is not sufficient to ensure preparedness for responding to an oil spill. \ He said that the planning process itself is as important, as it serves to raise issues that will likely arise in response, while raising awareness on roles and responsibilities of every stakeholder. Further, Craig said that responders and coordinators have to be trained, the plan has to be tested and resources put in place to achieve the intended purpose and objective.

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Juliet Holness encourages Diaspora to invest more in national development KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) — Member of Parliament for East Rural St Andrew, Juliet Holness, is encouraging the Jamaican Diaspora to assist more in national development, especially through investments in the education system. Holness said this support is critical, as it strengthens the system and helps to achieve positive outcomes in youth development. “The cost and budgetary demands for every Government increase every year to support early childhood, primary, secondary and tertiary education in institutions all across Jamaica. Education is a critical area of focus for the

(Government), so that we can have a well-educated nation and be successful as a people,” Holness said. She was delivering the keynote address at the handover ceremony for 50 laptops and 50 tablets by the Fort Lauderdale-based charity, Visions International Ministries, in the United States, at the Four Square Gospel Church on Cassia Park Road in Kingston Tuesday. The beneficiary schools are: Bailey’s Basic, Dunrobin Primary, John Mills All Age, Holy Childhood Preparatory and High, Denham Town Primary, Four Square Basic, Pembroke Hall High, Portmore Missionary Preparatory, Mavis Bank High, Donald

Quarrie High and Harbour View High, and the State-run children’s home, Glenhope Place of Safety. Holness extended appreciation to all those who have given and continue to give of their time and resources for the development of the nation, particularly in youth development. “It is an undeniable and irrefutable fact that education is one of the greatest keys of life,” she said. Jamaican-born Chief Executive Officer and founder of the charity, Evangelist Michelle Richard Phillips, said the computers would help to improve the technological and educational capacity at the institutions.

Julian Assange has internet cut at Ecuadorian Embassy in London (BBC) Ecuador has cut Julian Assange’s internet connection at its embassy in London, preventing him from communicating with the outside world.The move is to prevent the WikiLeaks founder from interfering in

other countries’ affairs, Ecuador said.It comes after Mr Assange questioned accusations that Moscow was responsible for the poisoning of a Russian ex-spy and his daughter in the UK on 4 March. Mr Assange was

granted political asylum at the Ecuadorian embassy in 2012. He was initially staying in London to avoid extradition to Sweden to face questioning over allegations of sex crimes, which the 46-year-old has always denied.The Swedish authorities have since dropped their investigation, but Mr Assange believes he will be extradited to the US for questioning over the activities of WikiLeaks if he leaves the building.On Monday, Mr Assange used Twitter to question the decision by the UK and more than 20 other countries to retaliate against a nerve agent attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in the UK city of Salisbury by expelling Russian diplomats.

Thursday March 29 ,2018

Illegal drug transaction was real Trinidad Express - Minister of National Security Edmund Dillon Tuesday confirmed that the video of a member of the Police Service allegedly engaging in an illegal drug transaction was real. Speaking in the Senate,

Dillon said the person was a member of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) and that the matter was being dealt with by the acting Commissioner of Police, who had referred the matter to the TTPS Professional Standards

Bureau. However, the minister could not say when the investigations into this matter would be completed. He was responding to an urgent question from Independent Senator Paul Richards.

Authorities target dumping of ... From page 9 and other capabilities with smart meters and new transmission lines and transformers. Therefore, GMSA must move from a mere stakeholder to a proactive partner, the minister urged. The minister was earlier challenged by GMSA's executive member, Ramesh Dookhoo, to tackle a major problem of dumping of foreign, inferior goods which are causing competition headaches for manufacturers. In response, Harmon disclosed that the administration has been actively addressing price fixing and dumping, along with misleading advertisement. He stressed that the effects are unfair competition. However, Government's attempts have been rebuffed by some businesses last year, Harmon bemoaned . He said that some persons cried foul when mislabelled products were imported and passed off on Guyanese. Even though Government was castigated, it stuck to the responsibility of ensuring consumers are protected. Harmon also told the

gathering of Government's plans for the economy and green state strategy which were all designed to diversify the economy and reduce reliance on traditional areas while opening up new opportunities. According to the minister, the responsibility of charting the course cannot be only Government's, but citizens also, including the private sector. Guyana must move to value added, from raw logs to furniture and from gold to jewellery, among other things, he said. The economy must be more than buying and selling. Harmon challenged GMSA to make use of technology and other opportunities to cut costs and remain competitive. Lauding the association for its strides, the minister pointed to an inter-ministerial round-table established to stimulate growth with major impact made in the forest sector. These include the restrictions on pinewood and money set aside from a forest inventory and stock yard. He also listed incentives for manufacturers including

on green equipment, GPL rebates and institutional reforms at GRA to speed up Customs transactions. Harmon also disclosed that with climate change threats to the coastland, Government is heading to the hinterland, opening new lands to large scale agricultural projects. In mining and forestry, significant strides have been made in land reclamation and sustainable forestry management. He also spoke on the opportunities for the oil and gas industry - the proceeds of which will be used to propel other sectors of economy, particularly agriculture, public infrastructure and education. Harmon also urged the GMSA to pull out all the stops to ensure that there is a “Made In Guyana” campaign that will include better packaging and quality. He pointed to the Trinidad and Tobago situation where oil and gas was used to develop a manufacturing industry that is one of the top in the region…almost everything is being produced there.

Over 14,000 pupils sit 2018 ... From page 13 Social Studies and Science. The two-day assessment, which will conclude today, is likely to turn into an exciting affair for pupils at some schools. This is in light of plans announced by the Ministry of Education to distribute kites upon their completion of the assessment today. A release from the Ministry said that “The Minister of

Education, Hon. Nicolette Henry and the Chief Education Officer, Mr. Marcel Hutson, will be distributing a number of kites tomorrow [today] to children after they would have completed their National Grade Six Assess-

ment (NGSA).”The schools that have been identified for this activity slated to commence at 15:25 hours are St. Agnes Primary, Rama Krishna Primary, F.E. Pollard Primary, Enterprise Primary and Ketley Primary School.

Kaieteur News

Thursday March 29 ,2018

Miguna Miguna : Kenya opposition figure deported again (BBC) Kenyan opposition figure Miguna Miguna has again been deported from the country amid an ongoing row over his citizenship status. The deportation is in defiance of multiple court rulings in his favour. Earlier on Wednesday a court held top officials in contempt of court for failing to obey orders to release him. Lawyers for Mr Miguna confirmed he had left the country on an Emirates flight from Nairobi airport, where he had been detained since Monday. He is understood to be on a flight to Dubai. The vocal opposition figure and lawyer was detained after attempting to re-enter the country from Canada, to which he was deported last month. Kenyan High Court judge George Odunga had said the country’s interior minister, the head of police and head of immigration would be in contempt of court if they failed to release him from custody. Kenyan officials had previously deported him following his role in the mock swearing-in of opposition leader

Raila Odinga as “the people’s president”. They said that Mr Miguna did not hold Kenyan citizenship but only Canadian nationality.Mr Odinga lost an election vote in August last year, which was later annulled over “irregularities”. He then boycotted the rerun ballot, saying it would be rigged in favour of President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Earlier this month the two political leaders appeared in a surprise television address together where they promised to begin a process of reconciliation following the bitter vote and aftermath. Mr Miguna told the BBC’s Focus on Africa earlier on Tuesday that he was being held in a toilet, and his family had been denied access to see him.

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UWI wants “performing assets” to help reduce multi-million dollar arrears ST. JOHN’S, Antigua - CMC – The University of the West Indies (UWI) is urging Caribbean governments to provide the regional tertiary institution “with performing assets” as it seeks to recover more than US$200 million in outstanding debt. Addressing the UWI Open Campus Council Meeting and Media Conference here, UWI Vice Chancellor Professor Hilary Beckles said that talks have taken place with the regional governments on the outstanding arrears. “It (the debt) is a challenge for us and it has reached a level where we had no choice but ask the governments collectively to discuss it at the level of CARICOM (Caribbean Community) heads.“The vast majority of the prime ministers in that heads of government forum are UWI graduates and we are very proud of them and they are aware that a university campus is much more than a place where you pay salaries.” Sir Hilary said that if a university can’t invest, cannot do research or get involved in partnerships “or doesn’t have the resources to function as a university, it will roll back”. He said the UWI has suggested that the regional governments, who are billed based on the number of students attending the university, consider payment in the form of other incentives. “If they don’t have cash, we say well, give us assets, give us performing assets, give us land, give us treasury bills, give us bonds, give us whatever combination available to you so that we can…clear down this obligation and restore the financial health of the institution”.

Professor Hilary Beckles Sir Hilary said he would be very pleased if the governments can agree to the options “because we have to proceed on a basis of trust”. During the meeting, it was disclosed that the Open Campus, which is observing its 10th anniversary had significantly increased the intake of students over the years. According to the figures, when it began operations, there were 3,674 students with the enrollment figure now put at 6,733. At the last graduation ceremony held in Grenada, more than 600 students graduated.

Thursday March 29 ,2018

St. Lucia revokes citizenship of six people under controversial CBI programme CASTRIES, St. Lucia CMC – The St. Lucia government has revoked the citizenship granted to six people under the controversial Citizenship by Investment Programme (CBI) claiming that they had committed acts “which may bring St. Lucia into disrepute”. A notice posted in the official St. Lucia Gazette and signed by Prime Minister Allen Chastanet noted that the six -Hamid Sakhidad Barahooei, Sanioura Ali El Sayed, Mariya Barahooei, Taliya Barahooei, Shamel Alabboush and Emad Ahmed Mohsen Alzari – had their cititzenship revoked on March 19 this year. The statement gave no other reasons for the revocation, nor did it state whether the persons in questions had been residing on the island. Under the CBI, St. Lucia, like several other Caribbean countries provide citizenship to foreign investors who make a significant financial contribution to the socio-economic development of the islands. Last month, the chief executive officer of the Citizenship by Investment Unit,

Prime Minister Allen Chastanet Nestor Alfred, said that 259 people had been granted citizenship under the programme, even as he acknowledged that citizenship had been revoked in some instances. “We have had instances in this programme where we have gotten the all-clear from our law enforcement and we have denied citizenship to those persons, because there may be some relevant information that those persons may have not

given to us. For example, were they holders of a second passport? “They may not disclose the fact that they are shareholders of six companies. They may not have told us that their spouse was arrested for some criminal matter. On that premise, irrespective whether they have been cleared by law enforcement, we would have denied them citizenship,” he told a news conference last month.

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Thursday March 29 ,2018

Poland signs $4.75bn deal to buy US Patriot missiles (BBC) Poland has signed an agreement to buy the Patriot missile defence system from the US, in a move that is likely to anger Russia. President Andrzej Duda said the “historic” $4.75bn (£3.4bn) deal gave Poland “state-of-the-art” defences. It follows reports that Russia had permanently deployed nuclear-capable missile systems in its territory of Kaliningrad, which borders Poland. Ties between Poland, a Nato member, and Russia remain strained. Moscow’s annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 has prompted Warsaw to speed up its military modernisation. Earlier this week, Poland was one of many countries that expelled Russian diplomats in response to a nerve agent attack in the UK on 4 March. Moscow denies any involvement in poisoning former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, in the southern English city of Salisbury. So, what about the missile deal? The largest weapons agreement in Polish history was signed at a ceremony in Warsaw on Wednesday. Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said the Patriot missile defence system had “proven itself in numerous countries”. He added that his country was now “joining an elite group of states which have an efficient weapon that guarantees security”. Much of Poland’s military equipment currently dates back to the era when communist Poland was in the Moscow-led Warsaw Pact, says the BBC’s Adam Easton in Warsaw. The first deliveries are expected in 2022. This comes as the US is developing its controversial antimissile shield in Europe. In 2016, America activated a land-based missile defence station in Romania, and a similar base is being built in Poland. Russia has repeatedly warned that the shield undermines its strategic nuclear deterrent. What is Patriot? It is an advanced surface-to-air missile system designed to defend against aircraft, cruise and ballistic missiles. The system, produced by US defence company Raytheon, is used by the US and a number of its Nato allies.

Thursday March 29, 2018

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Kaieteur News

Del Potro, Raonic advance, Cilic ousted by Isner at Miami Miami (AFP) - Juan Martin del Potro sent his devoted fans home happy Tuesday by powering into the ATP Miami Open quarter-finals with a 64, 6-2 triumph over Serbian Filip Krajinovic. Roared on by a partisan crowd, the 29-year-old Argentinian recovered from 1-4 down in the first set to reel off nine games in a row on his way to a last-eight match with Canada’s Milos Raonic yesterday. Del Potro’s welcome return to form and fitness saw him win the Indian Wells title and continue to impress at the last tournament in Key Biscayne before a move north to the NFL Miami Dolphins’ home stadium next year. “Playing here they make it special for the South American players and I am trying to enjoy the last time playing in

Key Biscayne,” Del Potro said. “I know many Argentine fans live here and are so close. I will miss them.” Windy conditions hampered players all day and the former US Open champion took time to find his groove in his first meeting with 27thranked Krajinovic. “The weather was so bad to play tennis. We couldn’t feel the ball 100 percent. We couldn’t hit from the baseline,” Del Potro admitted. “I’m confident I will feel better tomorrow. The better weather will make me feel better on court.” Raonic, who easily saw off Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-3 6-4, lost to del Potro in the Indian Wells semi-finals and will be eagerly seeking revenge. “It will be a different match to the one we played

in Indian Wells, different conditions,” Del Potro said. “Milos is improving and playing very solid. He has the potential to win the tournament. It will be a good match to test my fitness and see what level I’m at. “I don’t feel pressure. I am just going down my own road and seeing how far I can get. I am not thinking about ranking or anything. Just the last time here in Key Biscayne.” - Isner ousts Cilic Del Potro is the top seed remaining after second seed Marin Cilic was beaten 7-6 (7/ 0), 6-3 by American John Isner. The Croatian’s run was halted by big-serving Isner in just 87 minutes to set up a lasteight meeting with South Korean 19th seed Chung Hyeon. It was a fine performance by Isner, the 14th seed, who rattled down 12 aces and was

Thursday March 29, 2018 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) An interest in health and nutrition could come to the surface for you, Aries. New discoveries regarding the benefits of certain nutrients

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Your visionary tendencies are in the ascendant today, Libra, although they take more of a practical than mystical bent.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Have you been thinking about taking a course in one of the arts? Whether your preference is painting, music, drama, dance, or creative writing, if you commit now, you'll probably continue with it..

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) As a person who enjoys being gregarious and outgoing, days like this provide a wonderful outlet for your energy. You might spend a lot of time with your family today, Scorpio, but you'll also probably touch base with many others.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) If you own your own home, you may learn today that its value has increased substantially. If you don't own a home but want to buy one, this is the time to start looking.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Corporate kudos and increased income that you may have been working toward for a long time may finally manifest today

CANCER(June21–July22) Some down-to-Earth conversations with a love partner could result in advancing the relationship to the next level of commitment, Cancer.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) This is a great day to deal with legal matters of any kind, Capricorn, including plans for a wedding, if one is in the offing!

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) The desire to make a particular purchase could have you reworking your budget today. This is a good time to do this, as your business and money sense are operating at a high level

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) A keen ability on your part to blend the worlds of intellect and intuition could well surface today. The ability to focus both these methods of perception into material reality is apt to give a boost

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Suddenly you seem more glamorous than usual, Virgo. You may exert a mysterious appeal that in the 1920s was called "it." Current and potential love partners may take a second look and be intrigued.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Relationships of all kinds become stronger and more enduring today, Pisces. Successes boost the strength of business partnerships; love relationships advance to the next level of commitment.

boosted by winning 85 percent of points on his first serve. All three of Isner’s wins over the 2014 US Open champion have now come in ATP Masters events and once a first set tie-break was negotiated in windswept conditions, the 32 year-old confidently held his nerve to send Cilic home. Isner has never won an ATP Masters event but this display has fueled hopes this could be his time. “I think in these events, the format is very good for me: two-out-of-three sets,” Isner said. “In a situation like that, if I’m feeling fit and healthy, which I am, and serving like I did today, I can beat a lot of people playing like that.” In the late match, impressive Alexander Zverev, the fourth seed, powered past an out-of-sorts Nick Kyrgios 6-4 6-4 to set up a meeting with Croatian Borna Coric in the last eight. Australian firebrand Kyrgios has been struggling with an elbow injury and Zverev’s power and precision was simply too hot to handle as the German reached the quarter-finals for the second year in succession. It was a disappointing end for Kyrgios, who brought the

Gabriel Jesus... From page 30 Trapp reacted but could only fall backwards and spill the ball into the goal. For an indication of this game’s importance for Brazilian morale, coach Tite did not make a substitution until the 73rd minute of a friendly game. Germany, it should be said, were not at full strength. Manuel Neuer, Thomas Muller, and Mesut Ozil were all absent and Mats Hummels started on the bench. Still, it was a German side that included Manchester City pair Ilkay Gundogan and Leroy Sane, as well as Real Madrid’s Toni Kroos, so this is not a result to be sniffed at. Gundogan had the best of the German chances in the first half as he miscued from a pull-back but Sane, on his big World Cup audition, fell rather flat. In the second-half, Brazil’s authority grew further. Coutinho sidestepped his marker and fired powerfully over and Jesus glanced another header wide. Germany threatened another string in the tail but Alisson made a strong reflex save to deny Julian Draxler at the death.

John Isner of the United States plays a forehand against Marin Cilic of Croatia in their fourth round match during the Miami Open. (AFP Photo/CLIVE BRUNSKILL) crowd to their feet with his energetic, wild strokeplay yet couldn’t maintain his level consistently enough to deal with Zverev’s all-round game. “ We h a v e h a d g r e a t matches in the past and I am excited what the future holds for us,” Zverev said. “I returned very well, that’s big factor against Nick. Borna is a very good player, it certainly won’t be easy.” Coric, who reached his

first ATP Masters semi-final in Indian Wells earlier this month, has never got this far in Miami but showed his qualities once again with a battling 7-6 (7/2), 4-6, 6-4 triumph. South Africa’s Kevin Anderson saw off American youngster Frances Tiafoe 76 (7/3), 6-4 and will play Spain’s Pablo Carreno-Busta who dispatched fellow countryman Fernando Verdasco 60 6-3.

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Thursday March 29, 2018

Kaieteur News

CWI silent on historic tour, squad

West Indies set to face Pakistan in a three-match Twenty20 series.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Tickets for the highly anticipated threematch Twenty20 series between Pakistan and West Indies went on sale in Karachi on Wednesday but with the first match set to bowl off Sunday, Cricket West Indies are yet to confirm the series or announce a squad for the historic tour. The series will represent the first time a major Testplaying nation will tour Pakistan, following the 2009 terrorist attacks on a Sri Lanka team bus which injured several players and left several of the security forces dead. Since then, Pakistan played their home series in the United Arab Emirates. The series against the Windies comes as the Pakistan Cricket Board looks to revive tours of a country once marked by the volatility of separatist violence. To date, however, CWI are yet to even acknowledge the staging of the series which bowls off in four days, or make any public pronoucements on the security situation in Pakistan.

Last August, the Dave Cameron-led body said they were “advancing discussions” on the prospect of a series in November of that year. CWI said then the proposed tour would be “subject to the safe conclusion of the ICC World XI team’s three match series in Lahore in September [2017] and affirmation of manageable security by the ICC sponsored international security company overseeing the security arrangements of the World XI in September.” That series was eventually scrapped due to smog and the unavailability of Windies players, with a similar tour in early 2017 squashed previously because of security fears. Further, there has been no word on the availability of key West Indies players especially with the Indian Premier League starting April 7. Key members of the squad like captain Carlos Brathwaite, Chris Gayle and Evin Lewis are all expected to turn out in the IPL for their respective franchises. All three represented West Indies

in the ICC World Cup qualifiers in Zimbabwe which ended last Sunday. Doubt also remains over the availability of Sunil Narine after he was reported for an illegal action during the Pakistan Super League this month, while Kieron Pollard will be similarly in doubt after pulling out of the T20 series in New Zealand last December and also making himself unavailable for the qualifiers. West Indies last toured Pakistan 12 years ago when Brian Lara’s side lost a threematch Test rubber, 2-0 and conceded the ODI series, 31. However, following the successful staging of the ICC World XI series in Lahore last September, the ICC praised the PCB on security improvements, paving the way for future international tours. World champions West Indies will play all three T20 Internationals at the National Stadium in Karachi on April 1, 2 and 3 and international media reports said ICC general manager Geoff Allardice would be attending the series.

Gabriel Jesus scores as Brazil beat Germany in first game since 2014 World Cup

Jesus wheels off to celebrate with his compatriots after giving Brazil the advantage eight minutes before half-time. (Reuters) Daily Mail - Almost four years on and Brazil, at last, have begun to erase the haunting spectre of their most gruesome day. Before the match, Tite spoke openly of the scars that remain from the 7-1 WorldCup semi-final defeat in Belo Horizonte. He described the scoreline as a ‘ghost’ that needs exorcising. The memories linger in Brazil of the home World Cup that went so drastically wrong, of the tears on the field and in the stands, of the Brazil flags burning and

the tear gas as supporters and police clashed in Recife and Sao Paolo. In the Olympic Stadium, therefore, Brazil had the chance to take a baby-step towards redemption. This was an accomplished and confident performance and the embrace between Brazil’s players on the final whistle spoke of their pride. In the absence of Neymar, there was no plan to attack with abandon. Tite’s side set up respectfully; as Paulinho, Fernandinho and Casemiro strengthened the midfield and a dogged front three of

Willian, Gabriel Jesus and Coutinho counter-attacked. Coutinho came closest to an early breakthrough, as his trickery deceived three Germans to burst into the penalty area. Soon after, Manchester City forward Jesus sprang the offside trap, working a clear sight of goal but blasting over the bar. Yet he soon made amends, as Willian earned space on the right and curled a cross that Jesus headed with power towards the German goal. Goalkeeper Kevin (Continued on page 29)

Thursday March 29, 2018

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Kaieteur News

Hubbard spurs Zeeburg to RHTY&SC congratulates seven huge win over Cornelia Ida, members on national selection Esau, Bandoo strike centuries

Esau- From left Jagnarine Etwaroo, Safraz Esau, Vivian Beckles and Bepaul Bandoo. Malcolm Hubbard struck a fluent 97 as Zeeburg defeated Cornelia Ida by 136 runs when play in the West Demerara Cricket Association President’s Cup 50-over tournament continued on Sunday last. Host Zeeburg batted first and managed 242 all out in 32.5 overs. Hubbard got support from Medha Dhanpaul 76 and Michale Mathura 37. Dhaniram Azmudeen claimed 6-54. Cornelia Ida were bowled out for 106 in 21.5 overs in reply. Naveed Ali made 24 as Mark Jeffers captured 3-22, Vishal Persaud 2-2 and Hubbard 2-13. At Canal Number Two, Mc Gill Super Stars posted

163 all out in 34.2 overs. Prahalad Singh stroked 65 and Shafiek Deen 19; Keshram Seyhodan snared 418 and Anthony Ifill 2-28. The host were sent packing for 104 all out in 38 overs in reply. Anand Persaud made 20 as Shafeek Deen, Travis Persaud, Abdool Razack and Jagdesh Balgobin picked up two wickets each. At Joe Vieira Park, Independence Sports Club batted first and got to 466-7 in 50 overs. Safraz Esau struck 108 off 88 balls with seven fours and eight sixes, while Bepaul Bandoo slammed 108 off 38 balls with four fours and 14 sixes and Vivian Beckles 95 from 57 balls with 12 fours and five sixes. Anthony

Carrington had 2-61. All Youths responded with 266 all out in 39 overs. Anthony Carrington scored 69; Ganesh Persaud made 62 and Patrick Edward 57 (7x4, 2x6). Jagnarine Etwaroo bagged 5-46 and Mahendra Dhanpaul 2-25. At Belle Vue, Chris Ambassador were skittled for 98 in 21 overs, taking first knock. Paul Shby made 17 as Dyal Rajpot snared 4-20 and Safraz Baksh 3-53. Belle Vue were bowled out for 98 in 21 overs. Kerwin Bennett made 28 and Baksh 21. Kevin Paul bagged 6-45and Emmanuel Martin 27. At Meten Meer Zorg, the home team beat Windsor Forest.

Results of Ramnaresh Sarwan UCCA second division 40-overs cricket competition The Ramnaresh Sarwan Upper Corentyne Cricket Association competition which is in its fourth round is being played for teams in the Upper Corentyne and Black Bush Areas. There was a win for No68 Turn Team over Jukestown by 30 runs. No68 batted first and were bowled out for 168 in 30.1 overs with J. Houlsie 29 and Barchand 24. Bowling for Jukestown J. Byass 3 and Sukdeo took the wickets. Jukestown in reply were dismissed for 139 in 29 overs with W. Amsterdam 45, B. Sookdeo 32 and J. Clarke 21. R. Jones was the chief destroyer with 620. No72 All Stars hammered Crabwood Creek All Family by 231 runs after compiling 274. A. Hemchand blasted 101(8x4, 2x6), M. Bhoj 38, C. Chatterpaul 35, A. Ramdass and N. Ramlinna 21 each. Bowling for CWC All Family, A. Baijnauth and S. Persaud picked up 3

wickets each while Jamesy collected 2. All Family in reply was bundled out for 43 in 12.4 overs with Wayne Garnett 59 and R. Chatterpaul 4-10 doing the damage. Skeldon Titans whipped No69 Red Rose by 10 wickets. Red Rose were skittled out for paltry 35 in 16 overs. Bowling for the Titans, Faroud Bacchus had figures of 5-5 and was supported by Victor Pedro with 3-8. The Titans in reply roared to 36-0 in four overs with Christopher Jaundoo not out 28(5X4). No71 Cricket Club defeated No77 Cricket Club by seven wickets. Batting first No77 were bundled out for 41 in 13 overs. Bowling for No71 M. McIntosh with 3-6 and O Mathurah 3-14 were assisted by N. Mohamed and D. Dasrath with 2wickets each. NO71 reached 43-3 in 4 overs. There were 2 wickets for V. Narine.

“The Management of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club, MS wants each of you to know that we are very proud of your achievements and that we would be rooting for you every day. Please be assured that the Club would continue to invest in your cricket development as we strongly believe that this is just the first step to greatness on the Cricket field.” Those were the words of Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster as he congratulated seven Club Members on their selection on the Guyana Under-15 Male and Guyana Under-19 Female Teams. The Members selected are: Jonathan Rampersaud, Mahendra Gopilall, Jeremy Sandian, Shabeks Gajnabi, Rushanna Lynch, Uma Matadeen and Shaneeta Grimmond. Rampersaud, who was recently named MVP of the Guyana Cricket Board Under15 Inter-county Tournament, was named Vice captain of the team, while Gajnabi for the second successive year

would lead the Under-19 Female team. The long serving Secretary/CEO informed the youths, that as representatives of Guyana’s leading youth and sports club, they have the responsibilities of representing the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club brand. He reminded the youths that they must remember at all times that the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club formula of success is a simple one “sheer hard work, faith in the God they serve, honesty, dedication and sacrifice. He also committed himself and the Management of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club to working along with each of the seven awardees to make sure that they fulfill their full potentials on and off the cricket field. The seven players would be honoured by the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club, Ms on the 29th April, 2018, during the Club’s 28th Annual Award Ceremony. Since its formation in 1990, the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club has pro-

duced a total of 54 National Junior Cricketers and 105 for Berbice at all levels and Foster urged the seven players to follow in the footsteps of players like Assad Fudadin, Shemaine Campbelle, Royston Crandon, Esuan Crandon, Neil Williams, Shawn Grant and Dominique Rikhi. The seven players are also products of the Club’s highly successful Youth Development Programme which is headed by Cricket Managers Ravindranauth Kissoonlall and Keith Hicks. The Management of the Club would also like to extend gratitude to the official cricket sponsors of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club for their investment into the careers of the players. The sponsors: King Solomon Logistics, Poonai Pharmacy, Farfan & Mendes Ltd, Bakewell, Pepsi, Metro Office Supplies, Gizmos & Gadgets are directly responsible for the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club remarkable success on the cricket field and have played major roles in the development of the seven players.

Budhan MT&SC’ Horse racing set for April 22 at No 66 Village C’tyne The Budhan Memorial Turf & Sports Complex will be holding a grand one-day Horse race meet on Sunday April 22 at Number 66 Village, Corentyne, Berbice and the winner of the feature event receive $200, 000 and a Trophy.Six races are set for the day with the feature event being the J/ Class and Lower over a distance of one mile. The other events are Unclassified, K& Lower, J& Lower, L/Class non-winners) and Cow Horse. Over two million dollars in cash, prizes and trophies will be up for grabs and over 35

Horses have registered so far, while track is in excellent condition and an exciting day of Horse Racing is expected by turfites since many Horses have been turning in impressive times during practice.Among some of the Horses expected to be on show are Not This Time, Up Rising, Red Jet, Irish Boy, Plane Land, Release the Heat, Jungle Prince, Country Boy, Lucky Lucky, Something Special and She Royal.A well stocked Bar and several Food Booths will be available and Bugle time is a 13:00hrs.

Canje Knights, Hopetown Stealers advance in Berbice Basketball tourney Berbice Amateur Basketball Association 2018 Knockout Basketball Tournament continued last weekend at the New Amsterdam Basketball Court with Canje Knights playing New Amsterdam Thunder. Knights defeated Thunder 79-50 on Friday. For Knights, Jamal Felix with 20 points, Tyrone Dey 12 and Cledwin Cort 21 points were the standouts. On the same court on Sunday, Hopetown Stealers comprehensively defeated their op-

ponents Fyrish Black Sharks 54-49 to book a place in the final. Kevon Mars 17 points, Ruel Edwards 13 points and Neil McDonald 11 points led their charge. The second semi-final will be played on Sunday at New Amsterdam Court, Vryman’s Erven between Rose Hall Town Jammers and Canje Knights starting at 6:00pm. The First prize has been sponsored by A. Ally & Sons, while the second prize is sponsored by Peter Lewis Construction.

F Division overcome D Division, Officers triumph F Division defeated D Division by seven runs when the Guyana Police Force, Commissioner of Police Inter Division, Department T20 tournament continued recently at Eve Leary. Batting first, F Division managed 155 all out in 20 overs. Lennox Andrews struck 44, Shiveshwar Sankar 17 and Leon Crawford 16; Devon Archer claimed 4-33 and Floyd Halls 335. D Division responded with 148 -8. Adrian Welcome made 44, Denny Harry 33 and Boodnarine Lallbachan 21. Sankar claimed 4-33 and Trevor Benn 1-8. Officers took first strike and managed 120-9 with Mark Gonsalves scoring 26, Omesh Arjune 20 and Ronald Ally 15. Stephon Johnson had 3-27, Ronotta Gorsvenor 2-23 and Kewsi Abrams 2-23. C Division responded with 121-3 in 98.5 overs. Jermaine Bagott made 37 and Joel Chisholm 33.

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Australia slaps 12-month bans on Smith and Warner JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Sacked Australia captain Steve Smith and David Warner have both been banned for 12 months for their roles in the ball-tampering scandal in Cape Town, Cricket Australia (CA) announced yesterday, after uncovering a web of lies told by the players after they were caught. Opening batsman Cameron Bancroft was banned for nine months following the scandal, which has outraged the fans, jolted the sponsors and prompted CA to send the players home from South Africa. The trio will be allowed to compete in club cricket, but cannot take part in state or international games for the

duration of their bans. “David Warner will not be considered for team leadership positions in the future,” CA said in the statement, having fingered him in developing the plot. Smith and Bancroft will have to wait two years before they are considered for leadership roles, and even then it will “be conditional on acceptance by fans and the public”, according to CA. Each player must also complete 100 hours of community service before being considered for future selection, while it was confirmed that the cheat had been confined to the trio only, exonerating team mates and coach Darren Lehmann of any

wrong-doing. “This is a terrible situation. There are three guys going home that have been offered sanctions that are lifechanging,” Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland told reporters on Wednesday. “There is a rebuild that needs to happen to reinstate the faith and the confidence, and I guess the pride that the Australian public had and should have in the Australian cricket team.” SANDPAPER USE A key finding was that Bancroft had in fact used sandpaper to rough up the ball in the third test at Newlands, and not sticky tape as he stated, though Sutherland doubted this

showed the cheat had been planned prior to the match or the days’ play. “I’m not sure it’s normal procedure, but I do understand that sandpaper is often in the dressing room or in the players’ kit bags,” he said. Warner was also found guilty of “provision of advice to a junior player (Bancroft) regarding how a ball could be artificially altered including demonstrating how it could be done”. Part of the findings against Smith and Bancroft were that they had mislead both the umpires on the field of play, and the public in a press conference as to the “the nature, extent and participants of the plan”. While Smith and Bancroft were both found guilty of “knowledge” of the plan to cheat, a CA statement credits Warner with the “development” of the plot, suggesting he was the instigator. All three have the right to appeal their sentences.

Sutherland also said that there would be a review into the team culture and conduct of players. “Questions (are) obviously being asked of lots of people as to why or how that might have happened,” he said. “That’s part of the purpose of later discussion and review. We’ll clearly take on board whatever comes out of such investigations. “We cannot have this happen again. It’s just unquestionable and so obvious. If there are things that allow little things to turn into big things that allow this to happen, then you’ve got to go back to the core and find out what the little things are and address them. That is what we’ll be doing.” FINANCIALFALLOUT Smith and Warner have also been stood down from their Indian Premier League (IPL) teams for 2018, representing a significant loss of income after the Rajasthan

Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad had paid $1.84million respectively for their services.“We have decided to bar them from this season. The replacements will be made available to the two teams,” IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla told reporters. There is more financial fallout possible with multinational electronics company LG having already said they will not renew a sponsorship with Warner, while several other partners of Cricket Australia are reviewing their positions in light of the embarrassing scandal. The trio will be replaced for the fourth and final test at The Wanderers in Johannesburg by opening batsmen Matthew Renshaw and Joe Burns, as well as allrounder Glenn Maxwell. South Africa lead what has been a tempestuous series 2-1 having not enjoyed a home test series success against the Australians since 1970.

BCB unveils plans to produce Educational Posters for its Young Cricketers - Guyana National Newspaper Limited assists The Berbice Cricket Board, as part of a comprehensive programme to educate its junior cricketers about the game, has unveiled plans to publish to series of educational posters that would be distributed free of cost to Clubs and Cricketers across the Ancient County. The multi-coloured 11’ x 17’ posters main objectives would be to educate youths on the history of the game, rules of cricket, the art of batting and bowling, test cricketers produced by Berbice and also to encourage them to work on their own game on a full time basis. Berbice Cricket Board President Hilbert Foster, who is spearheading the Posters Programme, stated that it is shocking, the knowledge those youths have of the game and its history. Young Cricketers, he stated does not know about the rules of the game like how many ways a batsman can be dismissed or the different signals of an Umpire. Foster also disclosed that the Berbice Cricket Board wants every young cricketer to know the legends of the game that the ancient county produced as

it is crucial that they understand whose legacy they are following in. Players like John Trim, Rohan Kanhai, Basil Butcher, Joe Solomon, Ivan Madray, Alvin Kallicharran, Roy Fredericks are all legends of the game but are largely unknown to the young players of today. Foster expressed confidence that knowledge of the legacy of Berbice Cricket along with a better understanding of the game and its laws would inspire the next generation of Berbice players to strive for greatness. The Management of the Guyana National Newspaper Limited has come on board with a financial contribution to assist the Berbice Cricket Board to publish two of the posters, which would be unveiled at the Board’s Annual Award Ceremony, scheduled for the 21st April, 2018, at State House in New Amsterdam. The Berbice Cricket Board expects to publish six posters during 2018 and these would be distributed only to Berbice Clubs and Players. The Berbice Cricket Board President extended gratitude to the Board of Directors of Guyana National Newspaper

Ltd for their investment into Berbice Cricket and pledged that his administration would work hard every day to make sure that every potential in Berbice is fulfilled. The Board, Foster stated has turned around the status of the game in Berbice in just six weeks and predicted that by the end of 2018, Berbice Cricket would be in a class of its own in the West Indies. Chairperson of the Guyana National Newspaper Limited Board of Directors, Geeta Chandan-Edmond stated that she and fellow Directors were impressed with the work of the Berbice Cricket Board and as such was pleased to assist, in the effort to educate youths. She noted that while natural talent is important, knowledge of cricket is crucial as it would allow cricketers to become well rounded individuals. She extended best wishes to the Berbice Cricket Board and expressed confidence that the posters programme would achieve all of its objectives. Members of the Berbice Cricket Board Cricket Development Committee would be responsible for the contents of the posters.

Thursday March 29, 2018

Guyana’s Shemar Britton secures West Chester Table Tennis USA Title

Caribbean Men’s Champion Robert Roberts (left), Shemar Britton (2nd left), Stephen Chui 2350 runner up and Westchester TTC owner Will Shortz. Being used as a preparation event for Guyana’s national table tennis team selected for the 2018 Commonwealth Games scheduled for Gold Coast Australia from April 4th-16th, several Guyanese players enjoyed a good showing in their preparation when they participated in the March edition of the 2018 Westchester Table Tennis Championships held over the weekend of March 24th25th. The Westchester Table Tennis Championships is a United States of American Table Tennis Association USATT-rated 4-star tournament, with $5,000+ in prizes; the tournament draws players from across North America and around the world. The tournament is recognized as one of the largest monthly table tennis tournaments held in the U.S. Shemar Britton was in excellent from when he captured the Open 2350 category when he defeated Stephen Chui in the finals of the event held at the Westchester TTC. Nigel Bryan who also

Guyana National Table Tennis Teammates Shemar Britton (right), Westchester 2350 Open champion and Teammate Nigel Bryan Bronze medalist after receiving their spoils.

participated in the under 2350 category secured a bronze medal after he lost out to eventual finalist StephenChui. Britton, coached by Sydney Christophe and supported by his Guyanese teammates, won his matches in group stage advancing to the quarterfinals where he defeated Alex Alardin, while in the semifinals he defeated D. Vrasath before taking revenge for his teammate Bryan who had lost to Stephan Chui in the semifinals. Britton followed his win in the 2350 category with a quarterfinal finish in the 2500 Open category. Other success for the Guyanese was women’s senior Natalie Cummings who finished in the semifinals of the 20-50 category having lost in a close encounter to eventual tournament winner in a match that she should have won after leading. 2017 Caribbean Girls singles bronze medalist Priscilla Greaves lost in the 1900 division in the group stages. National men’s Table Tennis champion Christopher

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Franklin seeking to capture his form, reached the round of 16 in the vaunted 2500 Open category. Joel Alleyne lost in the semifinals of the 2250 category, while Priscilla Greaves lost in the 1900 category. The team is supported by 11 times national men’s champion and 1992 Caribbean men’s champion, Mr. Sydney Christophe Caribbean who will conduct an intense 4 day training camp with the players before they depart for Australia on the 30th March. He is being supported by women’s veteran champion, Guyanese Mrs. Diane Chance and Guyanese Shawn Abrams. Christophe, a ITTF level three certified coach and course coordinator, said it was a good outing, showing and great preparation for the players for which he will engage them for tactical and mental work in the preparation camp schedule yesterday to Friday at the Chinese Community Center Flushing NY 43-17 Union St Flushing NY.

BCB Elizabeth Styles Under-21 Tournament bowls off to successful start The Berbice Cricket Board on Saturday started to fulfill its commitment to play cricket at all levels, as play in the Elizabeth Styles U n d e r- 2 1 To u r n a m e n t bowled off at venues across the Ancient County. The Tournament is the first of over sixteen, the Hilbert Foster led Berbice Cricket Board plans to host for Clubs at the Under-15, Under-17, Under-19, Under-21, Female, Inter-Zone, Intermediate, Second and First Division levels. T h e To u r n a m e n t i s sponsored by Elizabeth Styles, a popular cosmetics brand that is manufactured in the United States. The Tournament, which is played 50-Overs per side, is being played on a knockout basis. Results for the first round of matches are: 1. Blairmont Community Centre defeated Young Achievers by 145 runs. Blairmont scored 233 all out from 37-Overs with Zameer Inshan topscoring with a blistering 82 (8x6,5x4), while Nigel Deodat supported with an attractive 51. Bowling for Young Achievers, offspinner N. Persaud took 3 for 48, R. Daniels 2 for 41 and L. Dhana 2 for 30. The Visitors in response were bowled out for 88 in 22Overs as only N. Persaud offered any resistance with 29. Deodat returned with the ball to take 3 for 5 from 4-Overs, while Keijon Gangoo 2 for 13, Ramveshwar Samaroo 2 for 29 and Seon Glasgow 3 for 25 offered support. 2. D’Edward Sports Club defeated Bush Lot Rising Star by 6 wickets at Bush Lot. Bush Lot Rising Star were dismissed for 71 in 26-Overs as Yougendar Budhu 34 and Daniel Vivakanand 13 were the main scorers. In response, Wa s i m I s h a n b a s t e d a quick fire 51 as D’Edward reached 72 for 4 in 16Overs to win easily. Y. Budhu took 3 for 21 for the home team. 3. Kildonan Cricket Club, making a welcome return to Berbice Cricket at the junior level, were brushed aside by Tamarind Root Cricket Club at the Hampshire Ground. Mohin Gopilall topscored with 24, while Angelino Ramdihal supported with 16 as Kildonan were bowled out for 78 in 20.1 Overs. Bowling for

Tamarind Root, Ramnarine Mahadeo took 4 for 15 and Ricko Ramsammy 3 for 3. Skipper Brandon Prashad then blasted 51 not out (6x4,4x6) as he led his team to a ten wicket victory. Mahabir Suraj supported with 16. 4. At the Rose Hall Canje Ground, Young Warriors Cricket Club defeated Rose Hall Canje by 8 wickets. Rose Hall Canje Cricket Club scored 123 all out in 34-Overs as Z. Lindee topscored with 25, while Alex Algoo had bowling figures of 8-1-45. Alex Algoo, a National Junior cricketer, returned with the bat to score an impressive 62 and together with Trevon Stanislaus 33 not out led their team to 127 for 2 in 24.3 Overs. Berbice Under-15 Player took the two wickets to fall for 18 runs in 4.3 overs. 5. At the Kennard’s Memorial Ground, located in Bush Lot, Central Corentyne, the Ramnarine Memorial Club defeated Big Star by 168 runs in a one sided affair. Batting first, the home team amassed 183 all out in 30Overs as Amanullah Amit topscored with 61, while Keemo Layon hit 30. In response, Big Star was shot out for 15 runs in just 7.2 Overs as pacers

Gobin Mangroo 5 for 3 and Naresh Noothsingh 5 for 6 bowled well on a pitch offering some assistance. 6. Tucber Park defeated Kendall’s Union Sports Club by 73 runs. National Youth Player Steve Deonarine struck 57, while Brandon Corlette supported with 55 as the visitors ended on 223 from 42Overs. Mark Barker took 5 wickets for 30 runs. In response Kendall’s Union were dismissed for 150 as Joshua Singh took 3 wickets for 25, while Leon Swammy and Joel Davis both claimed two wickets. Mark Barker stroked 55 while H. Harris supported with 27 for Kendall’s Union in a losing battle. The Tournament continues on Saturday with the second round of matches. The matches to be played are: 1. Rose Hall Town Gizmos & Gadgets vs Paradise Cricket Club @ Area ‘H’ Ground. 2. Blairmont Cricket Club vs D’Edward Cricket Club @ Blairmont 3. Yo u n g Wa r r i o r s Cricket Club vs Tamarind Root @ Rose Hall Canje. 4. T u c b e r Park Cricket Club vs Upper Corentyne @ Kendall’s Union 5. A l b i o n C r i c k e t Club vs Ramnarine Memorial @ Albion.

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Thursday March 29, 2018

Kaieteur News

Hairoun Beer-sponsored Annual Faye Joseph Int’l Tournament

Underdog 3yrs old looking Pull-a-Rama could provide spark to create upset Sunday for exciting Team Competition A traditional Good Friday is one that is spent quietly at home with family, but in recent times, many have broken with that ritual so a large turnout is anticipated tomorrow when the Pull-a-Rama or what is known as the King Domino Competition. The occasion is the Hairoun Beer-sponsored Annual Faye Joseph International Tournament which will take place, at 1223 Gaulding Place, South Ruimveldt. According to the Organising Committee, a small fee of $2,000 will be charged to enter and registration has already begun. The release added that with teams expected from Barbados, USA, Canada and Colombia among others, the fight for individual glory could provide the spark for what should be an exciting tournament with team Competition set to begin the following day, at the same venue. The sport which has evolved from being a leisure activity not so long ago to one that attracts numerous teams and hundreds of participants is expected to be the buzz on the sports calendar this weekend as the biggest event in the sport so far for the year gets cracking with over $1million in prize monies and trophies up for grabs along with bragging rights. The hype has intensified over the past few days and teams have been reg-

istering at a fast clip with those from the corporate community including the Private and Public Sectors along with individual teams anticipated to make up the bulk of the participants. The Organising Committee has already indicated that all systems are in place for a riveting tournament which they are confident will be run in a highly disciplined manner.It was further disclosed that teams from regions outside of Georgetown and overseas have been making inquiries about the tournament and coupled with the large influx of overseas-based Guyanese and other visitors, this year’s competition could easily eclipse previous records of entries. Faye Joseph, who is the current President of the Guyana National Domino Federation (GNDF) and the Georgetown Domino Association (GDA) and whose brainchild it was to organise the tournament some five years ago, said she is optimistic that this year’s edition will be a huge success and the sport would once again demonstrate its relevance for unmitigated support. “As someone who has been around the sport for some time, having seen it move from a recreational activity to a more organised and structured sport I am confident that the tournament will be a success and Top Brandz

Faye Joseph. Distributors under its Hairoun Beer brand will be proud of us and more than willing to continue its relationship with tye domino fraternity,” she had stated in earlier remarks. The winning team will receive $500,000 plus trophy and medals, while second and third place finishers will take away $300,000 and $200,000 respectively along with trophies and medals. T h e M o s t Va l u a b l e Player in the final will win $10,000 and a trophy. The registration fee for teams is $20,000 and each team will be entitled to a free case of Hairoun Beer upon completion of registration. The competition runs from March 30-April 7 and interested teams or individuals can contact Mark ‘ J u m b i e ’ Wi l t s h i r e o n tele#665-5855, Barbara Marshall on 683-8280, Faye Joseph on 685-1009 or Rodwell Phillips on 6860632 for more information.

Good luck, but fight harder, West Indies! By Albert Baldeo First, congratulations to the West Indies for making it to the World Cup 2019. However, there are some gaps in the team. We need an experienced wicket taking spinner to bowl the middle overs, even opening the batting if needed. The great Chris Gayle’s fitness and age seem to have taken its toll on the Universe Boss. Sunil Narine may be the best candidate for recall, especially since his batting has improved also, but he has to get his action cleared. Shai Hope has to increase his scoring rate, while Bishoo has to air the ball more, and bowl more a c c u r a t e l y. Shimron Hetmyer is one of my favorite young batsmen, and we hope he makes use of his

undoubted talents and makes it all the way to the top. Some sort of amnesty must be worked out to get match winners like Pollard, the Bravo brothers, Simmons, Badree, Russell and others who are definitely more suited for One Day cricket. Also, why is Phil Simmons not a part of the West Indian management outfit? Simmons had proved his coaching ability with assisting lesser teams, most recently Afghanistan in reaching the World Cup qualifiers, despite all odds. We hope West Indies will compete hard and effectively. Hopefully win, if possible, although that is very unlikely. The other team members cannot leave everything to the captain Holder. The fact that he had to summon Evin Lewis

from the pavilion to take the field to qualify to open West Indies batting, and step up in all roles when his team fails, happens too often. Every player needs to pull his weight. Cricket remains a game of glorious uncertainties, so step up Windies, the entire Caribbean will be rallying around you! Note: Albert Baldeo is a civil rights activist and community advocate. After years of advocacy, he got the MTA to install a subway elevator at the Lefferts station in Richmond Hill/Ozone Park. As the President of the Baldeo Foundation and Liberty Justice Center, he has continued the fight for justice, equal rights, dignity and inclusion for all. He can be contacted at the Baldeo Foundation:AlBaldeo@aol.com or (718) 529-2300.

Underdog in the 3yr old event, Feeona of the Jumbo Jet Stables is looking for a win against the other competitors in the Open 3yr old race. Feeona is a maiden racehorse and looking for her first win this Sunday in the Jumbo Jet Thoroughbred Committee Horseracing championships at the Port Mourant Turf Club. The distance is in her favour this Sunday, 1500m. She is a slower horse who usually ran behind the field and finish fast in the last 400m. She only ran a 1000m meters race, and this will be her first at this distance. Several other battles will highlight the event and Turfites will be licking their lips at the exciting contests fixed for the first leg of the now two-leg meet. The event was to be the first Triple Crown here but due to heavy rainfall which left the racetrack at Rising Sun Turf Club in an unfit state for racing, the first leg was cancelled. Over $20million in cash prizes are up for grabs along with attractive prizes for fans in a grand raffle set to be drawn on April 29th. The raffle has a 2011 Nissan Tida sedan car as its first prize. The other prizes on offer are a 125 motor cycle, Samsung 40" Smart TV, 2-samsaung cell phones, a stove, microwave and a Re-

Feeona of the Jumbo Jet Stable will look to upset the field. frigerator. Among the events listed for the two meets and their first prizes in the respective classes: C-Class and Lower $1 million, F class and Lower/ E- Class Non-earners/Last Start - $400,000, 3-year-old Guyana Bred - $350,000, H1 and Lower - $300,000, J/K & Lower - $240,000, K Class Non earner last start -$230,000 and L & Lower - $200,0000. Other 1st prizes are as follows: C-Class and Lower - $1.2

million, F class and Lower/EClass Non-earners/Last Start - $500,000, 3-year-old Guyana Bred - $400,000, H1 and Lower - $350,000, J/K & Lower $240,000, K Class Non earner last start -$200,000 and L & Lower - $150,0000. Any information on the event can be sourced by contacting: Chandu Ramkissoon: 624-9063/608-9063/232-0633; Alan Podmore: 232-9115/ 6191909 and Nikita Ross: 6624668.

Guyana’s Chelsea Edghill wins St Joseph Garden Open Table Tennis C/ships in Indiana National Wo m e n ’s Table Tennis Champion Chelsea Edghill, who will miss Commonwealth Games duties due to scholastic commitments, was in great form when she played and won the women singles and the 2200 Open rated event at the St Joseph Gard e n O p e n Ta b l e Te n n i s Championships in Indiana. The 54th edition of the championships was played over the March 17th 18th weekend at the student Activities Center at Indiana University South Bend. Edghill the top seeded in group 5 of the round robin Pawel Gluchowski by a 3-0 margin; she then suffer a setback in an upset loss to Falchuckigor by a 1-3 margin but came roaring back to take top seed in the group and maintain her number one seed in the group with a 3-0 win over Harrison Ngo. In the quarterfinals She played and defeated Naresh Arcot by a 3-0 margin (3 9 6), and in the semi-

Chelsea Edghill National Women’s Table Tennis Champion 2016. finals she defeated Donald Hinshaw by a 3-2 margin in a thrilling five game encounter. In the final encounter with the title in sights she stepped it up another level to defeat Marty Stoner by a 3-1 margin to emerge the 2018, 54th St Joseph Gar-

d e n O p e n Ta b l e Te n n i s 2200 rated champion. She followed up her sterling performance in the women’s event when she secured her second title of the championships winning the women’s singles when she defeated Martina Kohatsu by a 3-0 margin.