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Tuesday Edition May 07, 2019 - Vol. 12 No. 20

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com Price $80

Online readership yesterday 105,432

DEMTOCO avoided over $200M in taxes annually in Guyana - Watchdog body - Local economic cost for smoking tagged at US$15M

Guyana oil discoveries give Suriname basin de-risking boost

AN OFFENCE:

GGMC systems for allocation of permits not being abused - Mining Association says nation's EITI report got it all wrong

Canje labourer crushed to death; driver arrested washing blood from truck Cabinet to examine govt. assistance for embattled boxer Terrence Alli

This excavator operator appeared totally unaware that it is a no-no to travel on state roads. There was evidence of damage to the road in Agricola, EBD, on Sunday as angry drivers looked on.

Modified “brand new” int'l airport has no space for car rentals, food court, bar, etc

Kaieteur News

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Tuesday May 07, 2019

Berbice agri students grow organic cauliflower

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tudents from the Skeldon Line Path Secondary School who will be writing Agricultural Science at the CSEC level were required to cultivate a vegetable flower crop as part of their schoolbased assessment.

They chose to grow Cauliflower.

Led by the head of the Agriculture Department at the School, Miss Dawna Marissa Caesar, and with the guidance of their Headmistress, Evette Johnson, the students were able to successfully harvest the crop. Each vegetable weighed up to one pound.

According to Caesar, it is the first time the school has chosen such a vegetable to grow. It is considered a nontraditional crop but has become popular in Guyana over the years. She explained that it was quite easy to cultivate since it thrives exceedingly well in tropical climates.

They were grown from three-week-old seedlings bought from the local plant nursery and was grown in the school's compound with a designated land space for agriculture purposes.

Normal land preparation was executed to ensure that the soil was in the best condition for successful plant growth and development and was grown without shade with direct sunlight. The students used poultry manure and irrigation was done

r e g u l a r l y. I t t o o k approximately eight weeks to produce and no chemicals were administered, making the vegetable fully organic.

The plants were also disease free, she said.

The students are currently cultivating Broccoli, sweet peppers,

tomatoes, corn and pak-choi.

They are also currently rearing their third batch of broiler birds.

The School only recently started Agriculture at the Grade 10 level and will be sending up the first batch of

students to write Agricultural Science for the upcoming CSEC examinations.

And it continues‌

This wagon reportedly lost control in the West Berbice area yesterday around 11am. First responders report hearing a loud crash and then shouts for help.

The occupants were then taken to the Mahaicony Hospital where one person was listed as critical.

(Guyanese Critic photo)

Kaieteur News

Tuesday May 07, 2019

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DemToCo avoided over $200M in taxes annually from Guyana - watchdog body - local economic costs for smoking tagged at US$15M

A

key report by a watchdog body has named Guyana as one of the countries where British American Tobacco (BAT), the parent company of D e m e r a r a To b a c c o Company (DemToCo), was operating a system where millions of dollars were lost because of tax avoidance.

According to the report, Ashes to Ashes: How British American Tobacco Avoid Taxes In Low and Middle Income Countries, released recently, for the period of 2009-2012, Guyana lost taxes of about $200M annually.

The analysis by Tax Justice Network, as published in the report, said that the giant multinational shifted more than half a dollar that would have been taxed locally to a UK subsidiary where BAT paid

almost no tax.

Tax Justice Network estimates Guyana, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Kenya, Brazil and Trinidad and Tobago together stand to lose a total of nearly US$700 million in tax revenue by 2030 from the financial

manoeuvring of just one t o b a c c o c o m p a n y, i f business continues as usual.

According to the report, B AT u s e d p a y m e n t s disguised as royalties, fees and IT charges, to avoid paying around US$3.4M ($680M) between 2009-

358 prosecutions, 24 convictions for drug trafficking in 2018

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he number of convictions for drug trafficking for the first nine months of last year stood at 24 individuals, while 358 prosecutions were initiated in that regard by the relevant authorities. This is stated in a report titled 'International Narcotics Control Strategy Report' released by the U.S. Department of State.

According to the report, “Drug control agencies reported several interdiction efforts and drug-related seizures and convictions during the first nine months of 2018. “During the first nine months of 2018, authorities seized 164.9 kilograms (kg) of cocaine and 889 kg of cannabis. Guyanese authorities initiated 358 prosecutions and convicted 24 individuals for drug trafficking.�

While the report did not disclose the types of illicit drugs that were seized, it highlighted that Guyana has a growing domestic drug consumption problem, with Marijuana being the most widely used, followed by cocaine.

The Guyanese government has also

reported seizing smaller amounts of synthetic drugs, including ecstasy, the report added.

It said that Guyana's drug control institutions are the Guyana Police Force, Guyana Revenue Authority, Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit, Special Organized Crime Unit, and Guyana Defence Force. These agencies are responsible for the implementation of the National Drug Strategy Master Plan 2016-2020, and the National Anti-Narcotics Agency oversees these efforts.

Despite this coordination mechanism, corruption and limited resources have historically limited the

effectiveness of these drug control agencies, the report noted.

The report added that as a m a t t e r o f p o l i c y, t h e Government of Guyana does not encourage or facilitate the illicit production or distribution of narcotics or psychotropic drugs or other controlled substances or the laundering of proceeds from illegal drug transactions.

However, a lack of resources, weak law enforcement institutions, an ineffective judicial system, and inadequate compensation for civil service employees and public safety officials facilitate corruption throughout all sectors.

2012. The watchdog body noted that the countries that it looked at also included K e n y a , Tr i n i d a d a n d Tobago, Brazil, Indonesia and Bangladesh.

In total, BAT avoided paying US$58.2M between 2007 and 2016.

The Tax Justice Network also examined the cost of cigarettes on health and loss of productivity- what they said was the estimated economic cost of smokingincluding health and low productivity costs due to early mortality and morbidity.

In Guyana, 17.4 percent of men were using tobacco daily. The percentage of women over 15 years using tobacco daily was 2.3.

The percentage of death caused by tobacco in men is 11.4 percent as against 4.7 percent for women.

However, the worrying part, according to the report, is the estimated economic cost of smoking. It is US$15M. Slap on Wrist The report would be pertinent, especially from a tax avoidance perspective, as there is a huge debate

ongoing over the issue of taxes in Guyana.

Local companies are complaining bitterly that they are being made to pay dear while foreign companies are given a slap on the wrist.

In a report published on the heels of BAT's annual shareholder meeting in London, the Tax Justice Network revealed a range of mechanisms used by the tobacco company in 2016 to shift income equivalent to over 12 per cent ($941 million) of its pre-tax profits (continued on page 23)

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Tuesday May 07, 2019

Kaieteur News

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

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

EDITORIAL

The unsparing political damnation What is a government to do? Where can it turn to? To whom can it call upon and send to do the work that has to be done? The horizon is bleak, the options severely limited.

So much work; so very few; search for the doggedly principled, and the count is narrowed to one hand, with still fingers left over as to the few, the honorable, the untouchable that can be depended on to go forth, take a stand, and deliver.

Scrupulously. Consistently. Against the odds, the environmental tide and sweep of corrupt practices and corrupt people enjoying to the hilt the pervasive corrupt culture that overpowers ministers, other elected representatives, public service bureaucrats, and a whole leprous army of the richly dirty, the sleekly slimy, and the smartly smelly.

Yesterday there were all those auras wafting about ministers in the unsparing damnation of naked exposures.

Shame and public disgrace! Except that those humiliations do not matter: they have no standing on the plus side of bankbook, real estate, shiny wheels, and all the other trophies of illicit accumulations.

The politically acquisitive prospers.

That is what matters, after all the media outage, the electronic outrage. The price matters; so, too, are the rich booties plundered from the people.

Again, where are the conscientious servants; those who do not regard the ascension to office as the mechanism by which to self-enrich?

They are just not there; not in bulk, not in quality, not in intent or vision or immovable determination to do what is best, what is good, what is right.

That is for the social saints and financial martyrs; they usually have their boots on when leaving, and nothing else to show for their dedication and self-sacrifices.

Not in the pocket. Not in land. Not in houses. For those with doubts, a little example in awareness should be revealingly helpful as to those appointed to office, who have betrayed trust while holding sensitive office.

Yesterday, the spotlight was on the political.

Today, it is on the official, as in the Special Organized Crime Unit. Come to think of it, that acronym was well chosen.

Because SOCU has a certain ring to it: replace the ‘S’ with an F, and there is that spit in the face and thumb in the eye; the dropping of pants and mooning a nation.

When the watchdogs are no different, inseparable from the thieves and vagabonds and widespread criminal class that they were mandated to oversee and leash then where can government turn? To whom? Unfortunately, there are many SOCUs. Government, one that promised to clean things up, has to purify itself first: from the inside, from the inner circle, from among the tribalists and loyalists, who feel that they are entitled.

Guyanese citizens are all too familiar with that old adage: a fish rots from the head and then all the way downward.

They have seen that time and again, to their continuing regret.

Today, there is welcomed reversal of that truism: for though the head has set a rare local standard for what is wholesome and fulsome, what is exemplary in the frugality of negativity with regards to family, and money and simple decency, the fish still rots.

This time it is from net to tail all the way to the gills, with the scales also putrefied by the sticky, sickly diseases that devastate.

They may be worse than the many cancers that rage across this land.

Government is trapped between a toppling container and collapsing footing.

It is a harrowing place with few clean people to choose from, for the purpose of dismantling the tawdry condos of corruption. Politics has done its work well. People of character have fled.

Crime spirals out of control while Ramjattan fiddles DEAR EDITOR, Minister Khemraj Ramjattan’s defence of his stewardship of public security in Guyana is dismal, pathetic, shocking. If there is any decency in him, he will resign. If there is any sense of responsibility, President David Granger will fire Ramjattan immediately.

By refusing to fire Ramjattan, President Granger is further abdicating his responsibility to lead Guyana.

In the midst of spiraling crime, his Public Security Minister has the audacity to, in effect, tell Guyanese citizens they complain too much, they should know things are worse in some other countries.

Ramjattan’s absolute insensitivity and his inability to lead and provide assurance to the Guyanese people is dangerous and appalling. Yet David Granger is aloof, not even bothered by the fear that stalks the land, insisting Guyana is blissfully sailing to the “good life”.

Every time I think nothing more this government or one of its ministers do will shock me again, something happens that shocks me even more.

Ramjattan claims “things are not that bad” in reference to the crime situation in Guyana, his excuse being

other countries have a worse crime problem. Murders have been increasing and dominating the news headlines. Every day, there is another shocking bandit attack that leads to death.

Every day, there is another brutal spousal attack. Every day, there are armed robberies, often in the full view of the public.

Even the police are engaged in crimes, headlined by the SOCU frauds. In the face of this frightening spiral of crime, the Public Security Minister dismisses public alarm, demanding citizens be grateful crime is not even worse, blaming the media for “emblazoning crime in the headlines”. This is utterly despicable.

It is a sad and dangerous day when those responsible for our safety, expect the best we can hope for when it comes to crime is just to be a little better than the worse crime countries in the world.

It is reprehensible for a Minister to justify his stewardship by insisting ‘we are not that bad” because other countries crime rates are even higher than ours.

So, even if crime rates double in the coming months, a possibility not beyond reality, this Minister will not be bothered, because he can claim we are still better off than some god-forbidden

crime-riddled place on earth.

This cannot be responsible governance, we must end this charade.

This is a government and a Minister, when in opposition, that railed in the pre-2015 Parliament against crime, strongly positing they could do much better.

Ramjattan himself, with all the answers, led a blistering attack in Parliament against Clement Rohee, the then Minister of Home Affairs (Public Security), for the crime rate in the country. Rohee was also ostracized and Ramjattan and his APNU and AFC colleagues demanded his resignation or his firing for his “incompetence”.

Safer communities, better security, was also part of the “good life” formula in APNU+AFC’s manifesto. Yet, whether it is in their homes or going to work, going to the markets, going to the stores, or in their social activities, like going to a wedding and even to a funeral, no one feels safe anymore. APNU+AFC and Ramjattan knew it all then, now where are the answers?

There is a genuine concern among the citizens, and they expect their Government and their Minister of Public Security to recognize there is a real problem. Yet there appears to be a Minister in “la la” land, totally not grounded into the

reality of the Guyanese people; people who live in genuine fear for their lives, daily. The Minister now thinks crime is inevitable, that citizens must not expect better, and that even if crime continues to spiral, as long as crime somewhere else is worse than Guyana, he can claim he is doing a good job.

Ramjattan seems more peeved the Leader of the Opposition stood-up on the side of citizens, holding APNU+AFC accountable for the spiraling crime in the country. In response to the Leader of the Opposition, Ramjattan, conceding many crimes are unreported, insist these are petty crimes.

Crime is crime, whether they lead to serious injuries or deaths, or are burglaries or pickpockets. Our sad reality is people do not bother to report crimes like street thefts or burglaries without physical injuries, because people have lost confidence in the police, and do not believe anything tangible will result from their reporting.

But it is a sad day when any crime is considered petty by the Minister of Public Security, the head honcho, the man who is supposed to be working to promote and protect our safety. It is time for Ramjattan to go fiddle somewhere else.

Dr. Leslie Ramsammy

This law enforcement initiative is a quantum leap in the right direction DEAR EDITOR, I recently read with great pleasure an article in the press under the caption, “Office of Professional Responsibility to actively monitor Police performance.” The article stated that the Guyana Police Force’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) is undertaking a programme to tackle the main complaints and issues prevalent in each department.

During an exclusive interview, police Commissioner Leslie James described it as a “thinking outside of the box initiative.”

According to the Department of Public Information, the Commissioner said that the plan will help to better ascertain what are the issues affecting residents and, by extension, what the OPR needs to address urgently within the various communities.

The initiative is a quantum leap in the right direction. It should be encouraged at all levels. I cannot wait for it to be designed, developed, implemented and evaluated.

In a previous letter to the editor, I posited that rather

than the police depending heavily on crime rates, number of arrests and case clearance rates to measure how the police are doing, they should conduct Citizen Surveys to find out whether or not they are achieving their mandate as set out under the Police Act Chapter 16:01 and what society expects of its protectors.

According to Bennett and Hess (2000) using those measures mentioned above has several problems: Low crime rates do not necessarily mean a police agency is efficient and effective; A high arrest rate does not necessarily show that the police are doing a good job; A high ratio of police officers to citizens does not necessarily mean high quality police service; Responding quickly to calls for service does not necessarily indicate a police agency is efficient.

In addition, the possibility of Ghosting, falsifying patrol logs to “make the numbers come out right” may occur. I can recall years ago one senior officer ordering his junior, “Cock the

stats so that we can look good. “ There are also the ‘dark figures in crime,” that is crimes not reported to the police due to diverse reasons.

Kramer and Fiedler (2002) explain that traditional measurements, such as uniform crime reports, arrest and ticket tabs, list only events. They do not measure whether or not activities were completed effectively or efficiently, and they do not describe what impact the activities had on the community.

The researchers concluded that rather than looking at crime rates, number of arrests and response time, evaluations should assess whether or not the agency is effective in fulfilling its responsibilities to the community, and that managers must focus on their mission statement. They must consider what citizens want and expect from their protectors.

Most citizens want to live in safe and orderly communities. The police are considered effective when they produce the perception

that crime is under control.

Reducing the fear of crime is a very important measure.

Here is the mission statement of the Guyana Police Force: “The mission of the Guyana Police Force and it auxiliaries is to serve all citizens and communities of Guyana in a professional, proactive and accountable manner. To achieve this, we will work in partnership with communities, public agencies and private bodies to enhance and support an environment where all people are preventing crime and building a safer and secure Guyana.”

Mission statements/ objectives must be specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timely (SMART).

All People cannot be involved in preventing crime and building a safer and secure Guyana. It is not realistic. It is not achievable.

It cannot happen. It is utopia.

One way to assess citizens’ approval or disapproval is through citizen surveys which can measure trends and provide positive and negative feedback on the (Continued on page 6)

Tuesday May 07, 2019

What is being done about corruption?

DEAR EDITOR, A lot has been said about corruption, especially during the last General Election on 11th May 2015, yet nothing seems to have been done about corruption. It was claimed that hundreds of billions of Guyana dollars was “misappropriated”. Forensic Audits were undertaken, yet nothing seems to have happened, in that there have not been large scale successful prosecutions.

Could it be that APNU+AFC got it terribly wrong in claiming “corruption, corruption” during their election campaigns and started to believe their own propaganda? Could it be

that APNU+AFC then lied to its supporters and lied to the Guyanese nation to get elected?

The evidence (or lack of evidence), so far, suggests this is the case.

Clearly, nothing has been done about corruption other than those who once believed that corruption was taking place under the PPP/C Government are surprisingly silent now that they have got a Government to their own liking in power.

Even before coming to power the APNU+AFC coalition had to have some evidence before screeching “corruption, corruption”.

Where is the evidence?

Yours Faithfully Sean Ori

In transit inconvenience DEAR EDITOR, The night was windy, with the sparkles of diamondlike stars twinkling in a dark, velvet sky.

I was so happy to be home in Guyana, in spite of the sharp pain I had felt earlier from the bite of a mosquito, which might have indicated that my skin had gotten soft after coming out of the North American winter.

I had shaken it off, thinking that the pain I felt was nothing compared to the

discomfort I was put through at Piarco airport in Trinidad. There, the in transit passengers were asked go through a second security check after they disembarked one Caribbean Airlines flight to board another in the space of one hour.

Those bound for Guyana, after a 3547 km journey from JFK, were asked to take off belts, jewellery and shoes, while standing on cold marble tiles. I could not have

I also have an interest in getting information to the public, Mr. Kissoon DEAR EDITOR, Mr. Frederick Kissoon’s present (ANUG – A Nasty, Ugly Goblin. KN: 06/05/2019) and previous articles in this round of communications are intellectually and morally

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Kaieteur News

poor, and since it is in his nature to try to retrieve the irretrievable, any response will of necessity lead to halftruths and prevarications.

As I stated in my previous (Continued on page 6)

contained myself after such anguish from asking a nearby passenger, ”Boy it seems like Caribbean Airlines want to give somebody big foot? To this we had a good Guyanese laugh that turned the Trini security officers’ attention to us, and we were given the full treatment.

I do hope the authorities will upgrade or remove this ridiculous second checkpoint placed on in transit passengers going to Guyana from JFK. Nevertheless, my trip to Guyana was a marvelous one, but should my feet be swollen, somebody should have to pay. I paid good money for my ticket.

Apostle Adrian Wade

Before 2015, the government had all the solutions for crime, but since…

DEAR EDITOR, The APNU/AFC coalition Government can be considered a “military” Government, since its compos i t i o n i s m o s t l y personnel from military and security backgrounds, but does not reflect Government’s ability to control crime and criminals, as well as using the perceived experts by government’s intervention to protect the lives of Guyanese and control crime.

This Government must, therefore, place Guyanese security at the top of their agenda and ensure the institutions of the state c h a rg e d w i t h s e c u r i t y, execute its mission effectively and professionally.

There has been approximately four years of dogged refusal to concede that crime is a growing menace confronting the citizenry and an insistence that instead crime rates were actually decreasing, but the reality is that elements of the Government, including the President and Public Security Minister, have

failed miserably to ensure Guyanese are safe and secure.

The situation of crime in Guyana now is not politically motivated, but is caused by the deteriorating economic situation. Since the APNU/ AFC coalition government’s assumption to office, no new jobs were created to absorb the thousands of persons who lost theirs, either directly or indirectly by the actions of this government.

The situation was compounded by the regular releases of criminals by this regime. While we expected more effective action from the Police in the fight against crime, the current minister is unable to manage the police force in order to ensure maximum results.

This Government has managed to ensure that the police force is being used to enhance their personal security, and outriders to

navigate them through the congested traffic, while Guyanese are being left at the mercy of the criminals.

The police force in Berbice is only increasing suffering for Berbicians, especially in the traffic section. The impact of the severed sugar workers and unemployment is the main reason for the present escalation of crime in the ancient county - the APNU/ AFC coalition Government must take full responsibility for this situation.

Before 2015, the government had all the solutions for crime in Guyana, but after four years it has failed Guyanese with respect to their constitutional right of protection from the state.

Regards Zamal Hussain

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Tuesday May 07, 2019

Kaieteur News

The rampant crime spree is unceasing DEAR EDITOR, Every day another murder or robbery is committed, yet the matter is not being addressed, our citizens are living in fear because they are not even safe in their own homes. The government refuses to acknowledge that crime is on the rise, simply because they cannot afford to be distracted by such trivial matters - not with general elections approaching and oil extractions soon underway.

The two major political

parties, APNU+AFC and the PPP, continue to fight for control of Guyana, yet neither of them have any plans to improve the living conditions of our citizens, all they offer is more false promises. Both parties have stated that they will strive to reduce crime in our country yet they have failed, instead, their actions have only led to the increase in crime.

Though there are many causes, a major factor that influences crime is poverty,

and that is what these past two governments have imposed on the people of Guyana. With no employment and no source of income, the younger generation is left with one option, and that is to steal from others. So on one hand we have a few persons struggling to make a living, only to have their hard earnings taken away at the end of the day, while on the other hand the government is encouraging it by releasing criminals back onto the streets

An annoying experience during firearm licence renewal DEAR EDITOR, What I will subsequently describe has been going on for a number of years, and it appears to be getting worse.

I had previously made a complaint to a senior officer at Brickdam Police Station, a couple of years back, but it appears that my concerns have fallen on “deaf ears”.

Several persons have complained of similar

occurrences.

Here is what is taking place. When you go to Brickdam, you report to an officer on the ground floor, who sends a rank to escort you with your firearm to the registry, where the licence is issued.

Upon completion of the process, whereby the licence is delivered to you, the accompanying rank holds on

to the firearm, and while escorting you downstairs, solicits $2,000 under the pretext of lunch or phone credit.

I suspect that others downstairs could be involved. If you have about 30 renewals a day, these guys are making a fortune on the side. This nonsense must stop!

Michael Anthony

I also have an interest in getting...

From page 5 letter ‘If you are operating in the public domain, there is a duty to state, respond and explain your history and policy, and I have never been timid about doing so and will continue to promptly do so when the discussant is

honest, but as I have clearly demonstrated in the current discourse and over many years, Mr. Kissoon is dishonest and does not believe he has to properly lay out a case and at the very least attempt to prove it…!’

Mr. Kissoon, other than

to point the reader to your persistent falsehoods, I have no moral obligation to hold a discussion with you. And no amount of attempting to tie the fate of A New And United Guyana (ANUG) to me will tempt me to become involved in a discourse with you after you have again demonstrated that after all these years, you have not changed, and if anything, have become more brazen with what you would like us to believe, when caught, is: academic incompetence!

However, it is election season and if, as you profess, your main interest is in getting information, to the public, I also have an interest in that and am willing to compromise.

I can guarantee you the necessary responses if you find some known person to ask and take personal responsibility for responding to me.

I await your response.

Otherwise, goodbye Mr. Frederick Kissoon.

Henry B Jeffrey

with their annual pardons of a large number of criminals.

The pattern inevitably continues, because when these youths are convicted of minor crimes they are placed among hardcore criminals who influence them, and when they are eventually released, they mimic what they have been taught during their time incarcerated.

This cycle needs to be broken; steps need to be taken not only to reduce crime, but also to prevent it.

The approach that has been taken only sends a message to criminals encouraging them to commit crimes, because they are eventually pardoned, which is making a mockery

out of the Law and Justice.

Sentences need to be carried through and a system needs to be put in place so that persons convicted of minor offences are not confined to the same area as persons convicted of major felonies. Faster response to victims of violence should be a top priority, patrols in areas where criminal activity is high, re-evaluation of sentences - as persons convicted of minor crimes are given sentences such as 3 years for smoking marijuana while another may be give 5 years for armed robbery, which does not make any sense.

Focus needs to be placed

on our younger generation, as they are the future. Jobs and opportunities need to be provided equally to everyone, not just supporters of a certain political party or persons of a specific race. There is no need for our younger generation to be compelled to live a life of crime.

These are just some of the ways to make Guyana a safer and more secure place for our citizens to live - where they can sleep peacefully in their own homes and walk the streets of our country without fear. All this is possible, but only under good governance.

Yours Faithfully Fernando Alli

The world needs to hear about this DEAR EDITOR, Responding to news that 24 Yemenis from the Baha’i faith - including eight women and a child – a r e f a c i n g charges that could result in death sentences by the Huthi-controlled Specialized Criminal C o u r t in Sana’a, Lynn Maalouf, Amnesty International’s Middle East Director of Research, said: ‘Once again, we are seeing trumped up charges and flagrantly unfair proceedings used to persecute Yemeni Baha’is for their faith.

And it is particularly abhorrent that some of these men and women could face the death penalty for their conscientiously held beliefs and peaceful activities.

The group, which includes a teenage girl, were charged with various serious offences including espionage for foreign states, some of which can carry the death penalty.

The Huthi authorities should drop these bogus charges, release those who are arbitrarily detained, and end their abuse of the justice system to punish freedom of belief and persecute political critics, journalists, activists, Baha’is and other minorities.”

Editor, since 2015, Amnesty International has documented a number of incidents in which members of the Baha’i community in Yemen were detained by the Huthi authorities. At the moment, six Baha’is are

detained by the Huthis in Yemen, including some who have been subjected to enforced disappearances, torture and incommunicado detention.

In January 2018, the Huthi authorities sentenced 52year-old prisoner of conscience Hamid Haydara to death for allegedly collaborating with Israel and forging official documents.

This sentence came after Hamid Haydara had been detained since December 2013, and was the result of a fundamentally flawed process, including trumped up charges, an unfair trial, and credible allegations that he was tortured and ill-treated in custody.

Yours Rooplall Dudhnath

This law enforcement initiative is a quantum...

From page 4 public’s impression on law enforcement. Community surveys like the one proposed by the Commissioner are often win-win situations citizens are better served and officers receive positive feedback. It can be a key in establishing effective communication.

Apart from the OPR, the police can utilise some of their many university graduates,

including those with masters degrees, to do citizen surveys. Surveys conducted by independent groups can be very instructive.

The use of the Internet can also be a useful tool to conduct surveys.

How do we know when our police are winning or losing the fight against crime, the fear of crime and traffic lawlessness on our roads? Citizens approval or disapproval is generally

reflected in letters of criticism or commendation, editorials, support for a police-proposed programme, letters to the editor, public reaction to a single police-citizen incident, response to police-initiated surveys, or cooperation with incidents being reported.

Yours faithfully Clinton Conway Assistant Commissioner of Police (Retired)

Tuesday May 07, 2019

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Guyana’s oil sector stands to benefit from free movement of skills under CSME Given the need for technical and other expertise in the emerging oil and gas sector, Guyana is set to benefit significantly from CARICOM nationals given the provision of the Caribbean Single Market and Economy, (CSME).

CSME Is intended to benefit the people of the Region by providing more and better opportunities to produce and sell our goods and services and to attract investment.

CSME is intended to create one large market among the participating member states.

Key elements of the Single Market and Economy include free movement of goods and services among nationals of participating nations.

Owing to Guyana’s status quo, the country is set to benefit significantly from regional expertise given the provision under CSME. However, regional journalist and Executive member of the Association of Caribbean Media Workers (ACM,) Wesley Gibbings, explained

that at this stage, the country must determine how the CSME provisions will impact its local content.

Speaking at a training forum for local media operatives last weekend, Gibbings noted that at this time, with its emerging oil sector, Guyana should be determining what constitutes local content.

According to Gibbings, owing to the CSME status, which factors in the free movement of qualifying Caribbean nationals, Guyana would need to observe how the import of regional skills will impact the locals.

He noted that with the influx of regional skills under the CSME some countries put systems in the place to protect the interests of their nationals.

“Usually these occur in e x c e p t i o n a l circumstances…However I am not aware that Guyana has taken such steps to do so.”

The facilitator noted that there are certain categories of skilled workers from the re-

gion which will be allowed to participate in the local oil sector via CSME. “Possibly engineers, geologist and those who have earned their degree in the specified fields.”

Local Content under the Guyanese narrative will be understood as the sum of inputs of local goods and services including employment across the oil and gas value chain.

The primary aim and objective of the local content is ensuring the education, inclusion, and advancement of as many as possible in the value chain of the oil and gas industry.

In an effort to maximise benefits and retain value from Guyana’s petroleum resources, considerable focus will be given towards Capacity Development, Local Content and Value Addition.

Guyana is still in the process of drafting a policy which will guide its local content for the oil and gas sector.

Recently, head of the De-

Executive member of ACM Wesley Gibbings partment of Energy, (DoE) Dr. Mark Bynoe, noted that the department is aiming for finalisation of the document by the end of June.

Dr. Bynoe noted that before the document is finalised,

the draft will go out for consultations with the private sector and other stakeholders.

“I should say, however, that the private sector has asked since we have had mul-

tiple consultations before, that this process not be lengthy but we seek to condense it so that we can move to finalisation,” Bynoe said, while noting that the DoE has also been working with operators to ensure that there is greater “granularity” in terms of the presentation of their plans.

Meanwhile, it was noted that under CSME certain categories of workers who possess the skill and qualification would be accredited. These include University Graduates with at least a Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent qualifications, such as ACCA qualifications Pts 1 & 2; Musicians; Artistes; Sports Persons; Media Workers; Registered Nurses; Trained Teachers; Artisans, who have obtained a Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ); Associate Degrees and equivalents (University Diplomas; Technical Institutes [GTI] – Diplomas, and Technician Certificates Parts 1 & 2; CAT – Completed qualifications.

Family of murdered Agricola man seeks justice It has been almost six months since 34-year-old Kacey Da Silva, a father of one, was shot and killed at Agricola, East Bank Demerara. His family is still looking for justice. No one has yet been charged with the killing.

Relatives of Da Silva say they know who shot and killed their loved one and are willing to provide the police with a photograph of that person A relative of the murdered man said, “I want (the killers) to be arrested. Kacey was a very nice person. That man doesn’t trouble anybody.

That man does do he little hustle. He is not a thief or robber man.” The relative has since identified the killers by the alias ‘Home Alone’ and his uncle ‘Pumpkin’, both of

Agricola.

According to reports, Da Silva, also known as, ‘Presser’ and his friend, Seon Bobb, 24, were shot after ‘Home Alone’ opened fire on them for laughing at him because he was beaten by another man during a fight at Second Street, Agricola on December 20, 2018.

It was reported that the suspect felt embarrassed after DaSilva and Bobb started laughing at him and calling him names.

Police said that shortly after, the suspect’s brother allegedly handed him a gun, which he used to confront DaSilva and Bobb and began shooting at the two men. The suspect and his brother then left the location on foot through one of the access streets in the village, leaving

Kacey Da Silva DaSilva mortally wounded with gunshots to the right chest and left foot.

Police in a release gave the suspects call names as ‘Home Alone’ and ‘Gudgie’.

Anyway, Da Silva’s relatives said that he knows the suspect since they have been living in the village for a number of years.

He added that since the killing, his family received one phone call from the police in relation to issuing wanted bulletins for the suspects. But to date, he said that has not materialized.

“I don’t know if the police ain’t got pictures of these men. But the police got more links than me. I’m sure they could find these men. The police ain’t telling we if the investigations going left,

right or centre.”

The relative claimed that ever since the shooting, the suspects, who are well known in the community, have disappeared.

Nevertheless, the grieving man related that he has been able to acquire a photograph of ‘Home Alone’ which he will be taking to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters, Eve Leary, Georgetown in an effort to assist with the probe.

In the meantime, the relative has posted the photograph on his Facebook page with the following

words: “People please help my family find peace.

This is the man responsible for the pain my family is going through. We really need justice.

If you see him please contact the nearest police station.”

Shortly after the killing, a senior police rank related that police had arrested a person in relation to the murder of Da Silva and attempted murder of Bobb.

The rank, however, was unable to confirm if the person in custody was either of the suspects.

PAGE 8

Guyana part of largest seafood expo B e l g i u m (www.seafoodsource.com)Thousands of seafood industry professionals from around the world are arriving in Brussels, Belgium, this week to attend the 27th edition of Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global – the largest iteration of the event since its inception, according to organizer Diversified Communications.

Taking place from today to May 9 at the Brussels Expo, the 2019 exposition will feature a record 2,007 companies – an increase of 61 companies over 2018 – from 88 countries exhibiting their newest seafood products, services, processing innovations, and packaging equipment.

The event is set to cover 40,559 net square meters of exhibit space, surpassing last year’s record by 1,237 square meters, Diversified confirmed.

“We’re excited to see the event’s healthy growth over the years. It is an indication that companies find value in the face-to-face meetings and see the event as an opportunity to maintain current relationships, develop new ones and expand their business into new markets,” said Wynter Courmont, event director for Diversified Communications, the producer of Seafood Expo Global and Seafood Processing Global [Editor’s note: Diversified Communications also owns and operates SeafoodSource].

“The expo in Brussels continues to be the most important annual event for the global seafood industry.”

To accommodate the event’s recent growth, Seafood Processing Global will be expanding into Hall 3 in 2019.

The expo’s processing seg-

Tuesday May 07, 2019

Kaieteur News

Nappi has new water well

Guyana part of largest seafood expo ment now encompasses both Halls 3 and 4, Diversified said, with Halls 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, and the Patio reserved exclusively for seafood exhibits.

Several new exhibiting countries will be represented at the expo this year, including Angola, Greenland, Guyana, Honduras, Ivory Coast, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Madagascar, Mozambique, Solomon Islands, Swaziland, Tanzania, and Uganda. Additionally, 74 national and regional pavilions will also be present, including new regional pavilions from South Korea and Taiwan. Among the event’s attendees will be global seafood buyers, including owners, executive purchasing managers, category managers, private label program buyers, and equipment and packaging buyers from restaurants, supermarkets, hotels, catering services, importers, distributors, and seafood markets.

High-volume buyers from Ahold Delhaize, Aldi, Asda, Auchan, Bidfood, Brakes, Carnival, Carrefour, Colruyt Group, Coop, Compass

Group, Costco, Edeka, Eroski, Esselunga, Foodbuy, Groupe Casino, Jeronimo Martins, Jetro Restaurant Depot, Jumbo, Lidl, Lulu Group, Marks & Spencer, Mercadona, Metro, Migros, Monoprix, real Gmbh, REWE, Sainsbury’s, Sodexo, SonaeMC, Sysco, Target, Tesco, Transgourmet, Unicoop, Waitrose, Whitbread, Whole Foods Market, Woolworths, and many more, are expected to do business this week at the expo. The winners of the Seafood Excellence Global Awards will be announced this evening, with a reception to follow until 20:00, to close out the expo’s first day.

Honorees will include the Best Retail Product and the Best Hotel/Restaurant/Catering (HORECA) Product, as well as products specially recognized on the basis of Innovation, Convenience, Health and Nutrition, Retail Packaging, and Seafood Product Line. All participant and winning product entries will be on display at Seafood Expo Global in Hall 8, Diversified said.

The well that was drilled over the weekend More than 700 residents of Nappi Village, Region Nine, will be beneficiaries of a new well that was drilled to provide the community with easier access to potable water.

The drilling of the well was undertaken through a collaborative effort between the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Under the JapanCaribbean Climate Change Partnership, the two parties are working towards increasing resilience of indigenous communities to vulnerabilities in the drought period, through improved water quality, access and storage.

As a result, Brazilian company, Fox Trading, was contracted to drill the well, which was completed on Saturday, May 4, at a depth of 144 meters.

The init i a l water production from the well was witnessed by GWI officials along with the Toshao of Nappi Village, Guy Frederick at approximately 23:00hrs on Saturday.

GWI is now tasked with installing distribution and transmission mains, pumps and service connections, while UNDP is expected to erect a trestle with storage tanks, all of which will ensure residents are adequately served.

According to residents, the new well will ease their burden of having to walk approximately 600 meters downhill to fetch water for daily use.

One middle-aged resident, Egbert Frederick, said he could not have believed his eyes when he saw the well being drilled.

Austin Domingo, 85 years of age, said he has reached that age where he can no longer walk long distances and fetch water, since his knees are now weak.

He thanked the Government of Guyana and other stakeholders involved in the project to supply potable water to his community.

Upper Corentyne Chamber’s new execs targets agri, manufacturing

Mohin Persaud (seated 2nd right), returning president of the Upper Corentyne Chamber of Commerce and Industry with other officials of the business body.

There is a new executive of the Upper Corentyne Chamber of Commerce and Industry and it is targeting more lands for planting.

Following elections on April 14, last, Chief Executive

of Nand Persaud and Company Limited, Mohindra Persaud, was returned as the president.

Also elected to the executive were Nandancy Kishun, from R.I. Kishun

Enterprise as Vice-President; Prakash Singh, a cane farmer as Secretary; Andre Yhap, a manager of the Guyana Bank For Trade and Industry as Treasurer; and Nicholas (Continued on page 22)

Tuesday May 07, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 9

Modified “brand new” int’l airport has no space for car rentals, food court, bar, etc.

For many countries, shopping and the total experience at the main airports have become an art.

There are specialists who offer consultations about design layouts, lighting and the total travelers’ experience.

There is a simple reason for this. A quiet spot to grab some coffee, have a drink or use a laptop, is becoming a big issue. It translates into spending. Nobody wants to waste time at the airports and everyone is willing to spend a few bucks for that comfort.

For example, at the JFK airport in New York, there are several shops for clothing, liquor, colognes, cigars, trinkets, books, coffee and snack areas.

In Trinidad, the Port of Spain airport offers money exchange services, a bar for a few cocktails and even phone services. Outside the famous mouth-watering doubles can be found.

Of course there are the normal duty fee concession shops for liquor.

It is what is also being offered in Barbados, Jamaica and other Caribbean territories.

They are all standard at modern airports.

Airports are garnering a significant part of their revenues from granting concessions within its confines. They are not depending only on the number of aircrafts landings or the fees from the airlines operating.

For example, the Changi airport, Singapore, offers shopping and dining spaces in a big way.

They offer two main areas - airside and landside. Airside refers to the area past immigration clearance and is accessible to all travellers and transit passengers.

Minister David Patterson Landside, on the other hand, are areas before immigration clearance and are accessible to travellers, transit passengers with relevant visa requirements, and all members of the public. In other words, even members of the public are being targeted for business.

In Guyana, however, it appears that using concession spaces at the airport as a major means of earning revenues was not a big consideration.

In fact, there are only a few spaces for duty free shops in the arrivals’ terminal area…about four or five.

In the outgoing area, the duty free shops, prior to the renovations of the old terminal, were Banks DIH, Demerara Distillers Limited and King’s Jewellery World.

There was a little coffee place in the seating area for outgoing passengers.

The airport has been drastically modified now by the new government which said recently that it came and met several problems, including the contractor being overpaid.

State auditors have announced a major probe to determine how the US$150M

was spent.

The criticisms are that for US$150M, Guyana should have had one of the best airports in the regionsomething to be envied.

What Guyana is getting, however, is a far cry.

The scandal- that is what it has turned into- has now involved three different administrations, including the Coalition Government.

Nobody is taking blame for Guyana getting less than what it is paying for.

Both the Government and the Opposition, are pointing fingers at each other.

In 2011, China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), a Chinese contractor, signed an agreement with the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic government. There were no studies and it appears little thought about the layout and changing the concept to create an ambience of what modern airports should look like.

In addition to no studies and inflated cost on almost every item, there were no procurement procedures followed- CHEC presented a proposal and it was accepted.

According to Minister of (Continued on page 23)

Dem boys seh

Moses wuk under threat; Soulja Bai own is next De roads dangerous. Every day dem boys does seh suh but some people don’t listen.

Now de Uncle Sam embassy find out.

Lamaha Street is one place wheh people can only drive fast when is night or pun a holiday when de street empty. Sunday wasn’t a holiday but as usual de street was empty.

That is when drivers got to tek dem time and look out fuh some idiot.

De Ambassador vehicle been pun de road.

Dem boys don’t know if de driver think he was de biggest thing suh he wasn’t looking out fuh anybody. He didn’t bargain fuh some Guyanese who does think just like him.

De result is that anodda big vehicle come out of nowhere. Dem always seh that de strongest does survive. People see de American vehicle roll over. A Prado knock him really hard.

America got money suh it can replace de vehicle. But sometimes, de people wid de money does be de cheapest. Somebody got to pay and dem boys don’t know who.

If was a case of insurance dem could un-

derstand but diplomatic vehicle don’t carry insurance. Somebody gun suffer serious losses. It could be that somebody picking pun de Americans. If that is de case de odda driver got a rude surprise coming.

And talking bout surprise, dem boys hear Moses sent Ram Jattan a text. De text talking bout bug biting. When Ram Jattan get de text he send fuh buy Baygon. But he got a smart wife. She tell him that Moses talking in parables. He talking bout when you own bug bite you. That is wha de wife tell him.

Even then Ram Jattan didn’t understand.

De people in de KFC Party had to put him to sit down and explain de thing fine, fine.

He is Moses bug. Is he bring Moses to de party. Anywhere you tun you use to see de two of dem. Dem was like Betty and Poe Joe. Now Ram want Soulja Bai to tek way de Prime Minister form Moses because Ram want de wuk.

It got to be a nice wuk.

Talk half and is only time somebody gun want Soulja Bai wuk.

The concession booth area in the arrivals area.

PAGE 10

Tuesday May 07, 2019

Kaieteur News

== THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN ==

Questions that must be answered I have a praxis that started since I was sixteen. Since that time, many moons ago, I have not succumbed to intimidation despite living in situations where my life was endangered. The many occasions where I could have lost my life are well documented in the media so details should not detain us here.

I do not think there is any decent human in any country in the world that would be so shameful or barefaced or idiotic to deny the role of the media and letter-writers in the newspapers in commenting

on politicians that are active politically and whose declaration is to be part of government and make policies for the country. There are the laws of libel. There are the laws of decent journalistic composing. Once those rules are observed by both the writer and editor, then, politicians must accept as a matter of reality that they will be in the eyes of the country. It is virtually impossible for a political party to come into being, state its intention to have power and be afraid of media scrutiny.

Because it is asking the

citizenry to vote for it, then it has an obligation to answer the questions that will allow citizens to choose it over its competitor.

Last week, the new formation, A New and United Guyana (ANUG) met and shaped its leadership structure. It voted in its GeneralSecretary, who spent forty years in the PPP’s leadership before he left in 2012. The General Secretary’s extensive influence in the PPP for over forty years puts him in the spotlight.

Voters would definitely

like to know about his praxis.

Here are some questions that the General Secretary has an obligation to answer. He could choose not to do so because of who is asking. But in some other shape or form these curiosities must be addressed

by The General Secretary Many times during the PPP congresses, he performed the role as chairman of the credential committee whose task is to ensure that the delegate selection process is properly done. In many of those congresses, he himself competed for leadership positions and won handsomely. Did he consider that such a situation was a conflict of interest?

Second, well known personality, Malcolm Harripaul wrote a letter in the newspapers accusing the General Secretary of being the person the enduring confidante of Mrs. Jagan. Harripaul accused Mrs. Jagan of wanting to get him out and laid out a trumped- up charge against him. The General Secretary headed the disciplinary committee against Harripaul.

Could the General Secretary comment on this?

Thirdly, as chairman of Guyana Airways when the PPP won the 1992 general elections, what went wrong to cause the airline to collapse?

Is there blame to be laid any-

where?

Fourthly, after the PPP came to power in 1992, he would have been in a circle of four persons, excluding Dr. Jagan, his wife and Reepu Daman Persaud that would have naturally been a Cabinet minister. Was he asked to serve? If yes why did he not?

If no, why with his huge standing, he wasn’t asked?

Fifthly, why with his party longevity he was not chosen to be the presidential candidate in 1997 after Mrs. Jagan initially declined? Sixthly, he did a large panegyric in the Chronicle in 2011of President Jagdeo even insinuating that he may have been a more successful and wiser leader than Cheddi Jagan? Was that a mistake? Did he regret it? That article was taken down by the Chronicle in 2012.

Sixthly, could the General Secretary explain the meaning of the following statement he gave to the Guyanese people?

In other words, why were the PPP leaders so hostile to him since in the nineties?

I quote him; “I could take no more of the years of hostility, abuse and torment that had been heaped upon me, starting in 1997, subsiding for a few years, then recommencing with studied vindictiveness and renewed venom in 2005 at the Essequibo Congress up to shortly before

Frederick Kissoon President (Donald) Ramotar was sworn in.

“A Cabinet had been appointed, but I was to learn that my exclusion was demanded by some, ostensibly because I did not campaign, but in reality because of the lingering hostility and vindictiveness.”

Finally, looking back at the time when Justice Patterson issued two orders that cancelled UG’s decision to remove Dr. Mark Kirton as acting Vice Chancellor, did he regret advising UG, when he was the institution’s legal advisor, not to adhere to the two orders? Surely, he must have had a valid legal argument.

ANUG’s current coleader, Henry Jeffrey, was the Minister of Education at the time. Life is strange. Both men together founded a political party in 2019. I await the General Secretary’s elongations.

Guyana’s no confidence cases listed in CCJ‘s busy week of high profile matters Guyana‘s no confidence matters are listed amongst the high profile cases to be heard at the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), this week.

In a release to the press, the CCJ noted that it will have several high-profile hearings in both the Original and Appellate Jurisdiction during the period May 7 to May 10, 2019.

According to the statement, the Court will hear a case concerning the freedom of movement of Caribbean citizens as well as two sets of cases from Guyana concerning last December’s no-confidence motion and the appointment of Guyana’s Elections Commission Chairman.

All of CCJ’s hearings are broadcast live and the summaries of each case and the link to each of the broadcasts are on the Court’s website ccj.org.

On May 8 at 10 am the CCJ will hear a constitutional appeal brought by Mr. Zulfikar Mustapha who alleges that

the circumstances of the appointment of the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission breaches aspects of the Constitution.

Mr. Mustapha was unsuccessful in both the High Court and Court of Appeal and has appealed to the Caribbean Court of Justice.

On May 9 and May 10, the CCJ will hear oral arguments in three consolidated matters. In December last, 33 of the 65 members of the National Assembly of Guyana voted in favour of a motion of no-confidence in the Government.

One of the major questions at issue in this case is whether 34 votes were required to carry the motion.

Another disputed issue is whether one of the members who voted in favour o f t h e m o t i o n , M r.

Charrandass Persaud, was ineligible to vote because he held dual citizenship.

When the matter came be-

fore the Chief Justice in the High Court, the Chief Justice ruled that only 33 votes were required.

However, on appeal to the Court of Appeal, it was held that 34 votes were required.

The matter is now before the CCJ for final determination.

The matter begins at 10 am on May 9, and continues at 9 am on May 10.

Prior to hearing the no confidence cases the Court will hear the Application of Mr. David Bain, a national of Grenada, who alleges that his right to freedom of movement was infringed when he was refused entry into Trinidad and Tobago. This was set for today.

According to the court, Mr. Bain is also a citizen of the United States. On entering Trinidad and Tobago he had presented his US passport to immigration officials at the airport. The issue being probed is whether his presentation of a Grenadian driver’s licence or national identification card was sufficient to establish his Grenadian citizenship and so trigger his right to freedom of movement as a CARICOM national.

The hearing will begin at 10am.

Tuesday May 07, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

PAGE 12

Tuesday May 07, 2019

Kaieteur News

ECD communities get facelift Joe Harmon’s resignation stalls …as Road Safety Association celebrates 50th Anniversary

Members of the Enterprise Road Safety Association begins 50th Anniversary road works on the East Coast Demerara roads Several East Coast Demerara communities were jubilant after they became the recipient of several outreach initiatives at the hands of the Enterprise Road Safety Association, yesterday.

Celebrating its 50th Anniversary in existence the association yesterday jump started a month of activities by re-painting all major traffic and pedestrian road signs in and around, Enterprise Village (East Coast Demerara), and other locations. That aside, the organisation will be making other ‘human interest’ donations and support initiatives to individuals and institutions along the East Coast of Demerara.

Amongst the monthlong planned calendar of events are corrective drainage and irrigation works in communities, and donations of toiletries, groceries and food items to the orphans of the Mahaica-based Cheshire Home, and other related institutions.

The Enterprise Road Safety Association has been in existence since September 1960. It exists

through some level of assistance from an overseas-based arm. For quite some time now it has continued the tradition of bringing cheer to the less fortunate in various communities and to the underprivileged.

The group, which is mainly made of drivers and other motorists who reside in the village of Enterprise also on the East Coast of Demerara, has over the years pooled their financial resources to form the organisation which has expanded over the years.

President of the body, Chandarpaul Persaud, in an interview yesterday, noted that the organisation has made it its mandate to play an integral role in the lives of persons in need.

He added that they have made it a ‘must do’ each year to extended condolences to all mothers who have lost their loved o n e s o n t h e c o u n t r y ’s roads annually and always bestowed on them gifts of hampers.

Persaud noted that his organisation is pained by the loss of lives as a result

of traffic accidents and more so, because many mothers are mourning the loss of their children taken by drunken or reckless drivers.

The Enterprise Road Safety Association was formed on September 17, 1969 under the presidency of John Narine, who held the post until his death in 1988.

Throughout its existence, the association has been working closely with the Guyana Police Force, especially the East Coast Demerara Traffic Department and the National Road Safety Council, to ensure the safety of road users.

Its members have served in various capacities on the National Road Safety Council and have been involved in school lectures and other public initiatives to increase the awareness of proper road use.

Some members of the association have also been a p p o i n t e d Tr a ff i c Wa rdens.

Over the past 35 years the Association has been making donations, to several entities at Christmas time as well.

Energy MoU with TT-Dr. Bynoe Guyana’s Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Energy with Trinidad and Tobago has been stalled with the resignation of Joseph Harmon as Minister of State.

This was recently revealed

by Energy Department Head, Dr. Mark Bynoe. His comment was in response to a question from Kaieteur News. This publication asked Dr. Bynoe to state if he was able to access any help for capacity building under the MoU. He said, “That may have fallen prey to the December 21 vote (the No-Confidence Motion) because the Minister that was identified to head the Executive Committee for Guyana was (recently appointed Director General of the Ministry of the Presidency Joseph) Harmon.

And so since he has resigned, we have to have a replacement before the first meeting can take place.”

Dr. Bynoe noted, however, that the members for the working group representing Guyana have already been identified. The MoU states in part that, “The Parties may cooperate in the following areas: (a) technical assistance in the areas of exploration and production of hydrocarbon resources; (b) the exchange of information on public policies in the area of the regulation, administration and sovereign management of hydrocarbon resources and technology transfer; (c) the exchange of information on government programmes

Energy Department Head, Dr. Mark Bynoe throughout the hydrocarbon value chain and related experiences; (d) the promotion of training and capacity building of technical personnel and the development of energy technologies through, inter alia, technical visits, secondments, seminars and presentations and the promotion of cooperation and exchange of experiences between stateowned petroleum enterprises for the development of joint projects utilising mechanisms convenient to the Parties.”

Further, it states that the two sides may cooperate in, “the development of policies, plans and protocols relating to health, safety and the environment and the establishment of procedures to prevent and respond to operational accidents, which may result

in damage, environmental impacts and personal injury; the development of policies relating to local content; the identification and development of projects throughout the hydrocarbon value chain; the identification of projects in the area of construction and maintenance of plants and infrastructure related to transportation, storage and supply of hydrocarbons and derivatives; the exploration of possibilities for synergy through exchange arrangements and other delivery mechanisms for hydrocarbons and derivatives; and any other means of cooperation agreed to by the Parties in the areas related to the objective of this agreement in accordance with the national legal system of each country.”

Berbice Sexual Offences Court for commissioning today

Following the opening of the Sexual Offences Court in Georgetown in November 2017, and the commitment to decentralize specialized court services, the Judiciary in partnership with UNICEF Guyana, will open the Sexual

Offences Court in New Amsterdam, Berbice, today.

According to a statement from UNICEF, both courts will follow the model guidelines to ensure that their operation is in line with the Sexual Offences Act and meets best

practice.

To that end, the work of the court will be complemented by the support services offered by the Ministry of Social Protection and other partners, for instance (Continued on page 22)

Kaieteur News

Tuesday May 07, 2019

PAGE 13

Father suspected after Charity blaze leaves mom, 5 children homeless

A

young mother and her five children are now homeless, after their two bedroom home was set ablaze last Saturday night, allegedly, by her husband.

Juliet Badri, 33, said yesterday, that she noticed smoke emanating from her Charity Extension Scheme home, some time around 23:00hrs Saturday.

Based on what witnesses say, by the time the fire engulfed the small wooden building, it was too late to try to save it. They noted that it was until the fire department had arrived on the scene that the fire was put out.

It is believed that at the time of the fire, the woman's husband, Surendra Badri, was at home, leaving him the prime suspect in

The remains of the torched home

Guyanese-born NYPD officer laid to rest

Juliet Badri and four of her five children off to church what she believes was an act of arson. The woman made the allegation since on multiple occasions, her husband threatened to burn the house. He even attempted to on one occasion, the woman said.

“He just taking out he spite because he and me brother had a disagreement…(Friday) afternoon he went drinking and he start cuss up how I mustn't bring my family by me.

“So I walk out the yard and I go by me sister in law. Later the night from through the window now I see the fire home by me. I believe is he because I leave he home and he use to threaten to burn down the house.

One time he burn two mattress.”

Juliet Badri said that she was unable to save anything from the home, since it was already engulfed when she arrived on the scene. The family's only belonging now is the

clothes they wore before the fire.

Kaieteur News understands that the woman's 16-year-old daughter, is in the process of writing her CXC examinations.

She said, “I does work as a domestic worker but I does try with my children education. The fire destroyed her CXC timetable. All her study material and the practical for the exam she got coming up… all the children school clothes burn up; they ain't got a thing left.”

This publication understands that the family is at their Pastor's home, which is also located in Charity. Juliet noted that she will welcome assistance in any form, especially since reconstructing a home at this time may be challenging. Anyone desirous of assisting the family in any way is urged to make contact with Juliet Badri on cell number, 592-6939502.

G

uyana-born officer of the New York Police Department, Vincent Persaud, 31, who was killed last week after a car crash, has been laid to rest.

Colleagues of Persaud and relatives all turned up for a process as tributes flowed for him. He joined the police department in 2015.

Persaud was traveling westbound on Peninsula Boulevard near the intersection of Hempstead Avenue when he and another driver crashed into one another, Lynbrook Police Lieutenant Charles McCartney said, according to Newsday.

The collision caused Officer Persaud's car to spin out of control, before it slammed into a tree, the Herald reported.

The veteran officer suffered severe head trauma during the crashes, according to Newsday.

He was rushed to Long Island Jewish Valley Stream, where he was pronounced dead just after 9 a.m., the Herald reported.

The other driver was not seriously injured.

The cause of the collision remains under investigation.

Laid to rest: Vincent Persaud

Kaieteur News

PAGE 14

Tuesday May 07, 2019

Cabinet to examine Govt. assistance for embattled boxer, Terrence Alli - Minister Norton

By Alex Wayne

A

one-time Guyanese boxer, Terrence 'Alli' Halley may soon become the recipient of significant Government assistance after his case is tabled at a Cabinet Meeting today, according to Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr. George Norton.

In its May 6 issue, Kaieteur News carried an article in which the boxer lamented the lack of

- Bartica businessmen association pledges to donate $3.5M home to boxer recognition he received at the hands of locals, especially since he is now suffering from the dreaded Parkinson disease.

He claims the Parkinson's is as a result of blows to the head, during his international boxing exploits.

Terrence placed Guyana

on the map at an internal level by netting an astounding 52 wins at the international level. He was the two-time United States Champion, two-time North American champion and rated number one in the world, with the most wins on ESPN. In an interview yesterday

Minister Norton said that he was not aware that the boxer is located in Calcutta, Mahaicony. He said that he had always wondered about his whereabouts. He said Alli's case will be tabled at today's Cabinet meeting.

He vowed that systems will be put in place to ensure Alli receives some assistance at the Government level.

After reading the article on the boxer in the publication, former Scotia Bank Manager of Bartica, Carlos Prowell, indicated his intention to assist the ailing boxer as well. He said that he (continued on page 15)

Retired Guyanese boxer, Terrence Alli to receive government assistance

Canje labourer crushed to death; driver arrested washing blood from truck

The truck involved in the accident.

Crushed: Keno Sinclair

A

2 5 - y e a r- o l d man is now dead following a hit and run accident along the Cumberland Public Road, East Canje, yesterday.

The man identified as K e n o S i n c l a i r, c a l l e d 'Akeem', of First Street, Canefield, East Canje, Berbice was reportedly crushed by an estate lorry heading out from Canje to Albion.

The driver of the lorry, who is said to be a resident of Dun Robin Farm, Number 19 Road drove away after hitting the man but was caught washing the blood from the front of the lorry at Albion Estate. The police subsequently arrested him and impounded the lorry.

Kaieteur News understands that Sinclair was heading home from a wake on foot when the lorry driver struck him in the vicinity if the Cumberland Village market. His mangled

body was spotted along the roadway by a resident around 6:15 am yesterday.

His skull was crushed beyond recognition.

While the driver of the lorry bearing licence plate number GLL481 continues to deny that he struck anyone on the public road, multiple sources reported seeing the man washing the blood off of the truck when he arrived and parked at the Albion Estate, the police were immediately informed.

A woman with whom Sinclair lived, Annie Caesar, told reporters that the now

dead man who was homeless, was given a break in life when they took him in to live with them and provided a shelter over his head.

To support himself he would assist residents in any way he could and would be paid for it, He was also described as someone who loved to cook and was known for his 'achar' making skills.

His vibrant personality caught on to residents and he became well known to practically the entire East Canje.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday May 07, 2019

Speeding blamed for EBD bus crash - one dead, several injured Dead: Michael Cozier

A

minibus driver is now on the run after he escaped from an accident scene leaving one dead and five others badly injured. He lost control of the bus he was driving at the time at a very fast pace on Sunday evening.

The accident took place on the Garden of Eden public road, East Bank Demerara around 22:50hrs. The accident has left a 34-yearold man, identified as Michael Cozier, of Charlestown, Georgetown dead.

Reports are that the bus driver was speeding south along the eastern side of the road in a route 42 minibus, when he lost control and crashed into a trench on the western side of the road.

After the accident, the bus driver who at the time was driving minibus BXX 3014 and his conductor made

good their escape leaving the passengers in the crashed vehicle. Among the passengers in the vehicle was police constable Linden Charles, 43, who is stationed at the Mocha outpost, East Bank Demerara.

The injured passengers were assisted out of the minibus by public spirited persons who quickly rushed to the scene. They were taken to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre where Cozier was pronounced dead on arrival.

The other passengers were treated and sent away while; Charles along with another passenger was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) because of their serious injuries. According to the Traffic Chief Linden Isles, no arrest up to press time has been made.

Investigations are currently ongoing into the matter.

Cabinet to examine Govt...

From page 14 will be working along with an association of businessmen from Bartica to put systems in place to ensure resources are pooled to build for the boxer a $3.5M concrete house on the plot of land that was donated to him by former President, Bharrat Jagdeo.

Prowell is also the owner of the Lavista Guest House in Bartica.

Justice of Peace of C a t h e r i n e Vi l l a g e , Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara, Gloria Lindo, will be asked to assist with this venture, while the businessmen association in Bartica has particularly asked our reporter, Alex Wayne to work along with them to ensure the venture is successful.

Today, the boxer who is unable to work, is reportedly receiving a very meager sum of financial assistance, which he informed cannot take care of him in his

sickened state.

In a recent interview, Alli had expressed his disappointment in the manner that he was treated by villagers and the Guyana Government by extension. “I am so sad, and this has certainly affected me‌I am not saying that anyone has to give me anything, but the way I have been treated here in Guyana leaves me think that my representation for the country at an international level was just a waste of time.

I have made advances to the relevant authorities to assist me at least in getting a training center on the ground to pass on my talents, but this has been to no avail. And the way I am being treated by my own villagers is just devastating‌ I have become nothing but a mockery here.

Alli had closed his boxing career with 52 wins (25 by knockout), 15 losses and two draws.

PAGE 15

Kaieteur News

PAGE 16

Tuesday May 07, 2019

Guyana's oil discoveries give Suriname's basin de-risking boost

E

xxonMobil's prolific oil discoveries offshore Guyana are not only splendid news for its shareholders and the APNU+AFC Government, but also for the nation's neighbour to the east, Suriname.

According to tax lawyer, Roy Shyamnarain, Block 58 which is offshore Suriname, got a de-risking boost, when ExxonMobil recently announced its 13th oil discovery at the Yellowtail-I. He noted that Block 58 is operated by Apache Corporation headquartered in Houston.

On his Linked-In Page, Shyamnarain commented

that Yellowtail-I also marks the fifth discovery in the Turbot Area in the eastern section of Stabroek. He noted that Block 58 is contiguous to Stabroek and is expected to hold a play type similar to the Turbot Area which further includes discoveries at Turbot-1, Longtail, Pluma and TilapiaI. The tax lawyer who is a frequent participant in international mining and oil and gas conferences and seminars noted that the Stabroek and Block 58 are part of the GuyanaSuriname Basin, which is estimated to hold 13.6 billion barrels of oil and 32 trillion cubic feet of natural

Apache's Block 58 in perspective to the oil finds by ExxonMobil offshore Guyana gas.

He said that ExxonMobil expects the Turbot Area to

become a major development hub, following Liza and Payara.

Further to this, Shyamnarain said that one other discovery in Stabroek such as Haimara-I, is just miles away from Block 58 and is considered as another potential new area by ExxonMobil.

He said that the location of Haimara proximate to Block 58 may also be seen as evidence that the play type of Stabroek must have found its

way to the Suriname side too.

Turbot lies 40 km west of the maritime border with Suriname and 50 km east of the Liza well. Turbot, Longtail, Pluma, Tilapia, Yellowtail and Haimara have shown high quality hydro-carbon bearing sandstone reservoirs. ( B Y K I A N A WILBURG)

Fisherman not guilty of attempted murder of wife, but guilty of wounding with intent

Serojinie Isaacs

T

he fisherman who is on trial in the Berbice High Court on counts of attempted murder and wounding with intent, was found guilty on the latter charge.

Ian Saraswati, 34, a fisherman of Lot 91 Bush Lot Village, Corentyne, Berbice, is on trial before Justice JoAnn Barlow and a mixed jury in the Berbice High Court.

He was being tried on more than one count of attempted murder and wounding with intent committed on his then

Ian Saraswati teenage wife, Serojini Isaacs, now 23. The incident occurred on December 11, 2014 at Whim Village. The state's case was prosecuted

by Attorney-at-law Mandel Moore. The accused was being represented by Attorney-at-law Mursalene Bacchus in association with Saria Sabsook.

Justice Barlow summed up the evidence for the jury.

She directed them on the (continued on page 22)

Kaieteur News

Tuesday May 07, 2019

PAGE 17

Guyana to benefit from Chile's mining experience

M

inister of N a t u r a l Resources, Raphael Trotman, yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Chile´s Minister of Mining, Baldo Prokurica, and the National Service of Geology and Mining of the Government of the Republic o f C h i l e (SERNAGEOMIN).

According to the ministry, yesterday, the memorandum provides a framework for the exchange of scientific and technical knowledge and the augmentation of scientific and technical capabilities of t h e G G M C a n d SERNAGEOMIN with respect to earth sciences and mining.

“The signing of this MoU brings to fruition areas discussed when His Excellency, President David Granger visited Chile two years ago. We look to Chile as a good example for productive and safe mining practices and how the proceeds of mining can be utilized for the benefit of the citizens.

especially in geological services … twenty percent of mining services provided in Peru are Chileans.”

Forms of cooperation under the memorandum may consist of exchanges of technical information; visits; participation in training courses, conferences, and symposia; the exchange of professional geoscientists in areas of mutual interest; and any other cooperative research consistent with programmes of the parties.

According to the ministry, specific areas of cooperation include, but are not limited to, geochemical and geological mapping and data analysis, economic geology and metallogenesis.

Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Chile´s Minister of Mining, Baldo Prokurica “This relationship between Guyana and Chile will benefit our people immensely and we can look to no better example than Chile of how to do it

The men behind the magnificent Indian Arrival Day sculptures O

verlooking the T Square junction at Palmyra, Berbice is the spectacular Indian Arrival Day Monument, a site that overlooks fields of sugar cane.

Carefully crafted, the bronze six-piece sculpture was carefully and skillfully designed by two very talented artists and sculptor, Winslow Craig and Philbert Gajadhar.

A golden plaque was unveiled on Sunday by President David Granger who commissioned the monument.

Gajadar who was featured as a "Special Person" by this newspaper, had told the reporter that the monument is more than just a tribute to people of Indian descent.

properly,” Trotman said.

Prokurica said his country is pleased to be able to share its knowledge and expertise with Guyana.

He noted that Chile is

known throughout the world as an important mining country.

“We are very interested in signing this agreement and further collaboration

Artists: Winslow Craig and Philbert Gajadhar He said that he believes Guyanese of all ethnic backgrounds can identify with the piece of artwork which speaks to hope, struggle, and striving for betterment.

Gajadhar said the monument describes the lives of ordinary Indian people in their routine of everyday life with each carrying something of importance – their “jahajibhandal” (ship bundle) loaded with food, spices, herbs, clothing, jewellery, their gods etc., religious texts, drum, karaahi, tawa, grass knife (scythe), cutlass and rice plants.

Gajadhar is currently a lecturer at the University of Guyana. He has done many ethnically-inspired works during

his artistic career.

His fellow artist and sculptor, Winslow Craig, who also designed the monument is renowned for his majestic pieces that can be accessed at Castallani House.

Craig jointly won the award for the design of the Indian Arrival Monument.

He won the Guyana Visual Arts Competition (Sculpture) 2014 and was awarded a Guyana National Award, The Medal of Service (2000) and the Golden Arrow of Achievement in 2017.

Both Craig and Gajadar will remain in history as two of the greatest artists Guyana has ever birthed as their work continues to play an integral part of the art and culture of the country.

Manager of the Geological Services Division, GGMC, Gordon Nestor, noted that the MoU clears the way for greater capacity building in the GGMC. “It will help boost capacity for geological and land management platforms and the development of professionals in geo sciences, geo physics and structural management and data management.”

Collaboration between SERNAGEOMIN and GGMC has started with two outward visits of GGMC staff to Chile and one inward from SERNAGEOMIN to the GGMC. There are three Chileans working at the GGMC.

GWI bus cited for criminal activity; agency refutes allegation

A

m i n i b u s attached to the GWI was said to be used for criminal activity.

GWI issued a statement via Facebook with regards to a post that included a picture of a minibus, to refute these claims. GWI said that it was a contracted bus attached to the East Coast Demerara operations.

The accusatory Facebook post was circulated warning the public of a bus attached to the agency that was allegedly being used to transport armed bandits, posing as GWI workers.

In a statement posted on

its Facebook page yesterday, the agency stated that it wished to categorically deny that the vehicle transports armed bandits posing as GWI work staff and condemns the peddling of such misinformation on Social Media.

The said vehicle which bears the number plate BJJ 9340 is driven by Mr Julian To n e y a n d t r a n s p o r t s craftsmen along that domain of operations.

All GWI contract vehicles can be identified by the GWI branding which is displayed on the windscreen of said vehicles, the agency said.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 18

Tuesday May 07, 2019

Unilateral dismissal of Kwakwani hostel supervisor invokes Regional Chairman's wrath

Regional Councillor Mavis Lewis who brought the dismissal issue to the attention of the Council.

T

he unilateral dismissal of workers will not be tolerated within Region Te n , s a i d R e g i o n a l C h a i r m a n , M r. R e n i s Morian. At a recent meeting, he did not conceal his annoyance when he learnt that just such an incident had occurred in his Region.

The dismissal in question was that of Ms. Rockell Bailey, the supervisor of the Kwakwani Hostel.

Based on reports Bailey was sent packing although due process was not followed. She was not allowed the right to a hearing.

The state of affairs was brought to the fore at the Region's most recent

Regional Democratic Council (RDC')s statutory meeting by Regional Councillor Mavis Lewis who revealed that Bailey' service was terminated by the acting Regional Education Officer, Ms. Sonia Fraser.

It was revealed at the meeting that Fraser simply told Bailey that her services were no longer needed as the supervisor of the hostel.

The terminated woman it is alleged was immediately replaced after a day's notice was issued to her.

But Morian made it pellucid that “I want to say that the placement of staff should not be news to this Council. I want to sound it clear to administration and

Regional Chairman Renis Morian [right] and his deputy, Mr. Elroy Adolph education.

This Council here oversees everything that happens and when Council is out of session, the Regional Chairman fits in for Councillors and updates Councillors.”

“Staff moving and going and coming must not be news to this Council. I must not come here and hear that a staffer was sent home; a staff had to go and this Council didn't hear of it, so I am asking that this practise stop from today. This council manages the affairs of this region,” said the incensed Regional Chairman.

He went on to remind the Heads of Departments attending the RDC meeting

that his administration will not tolerate such inefficiencies any longer.

“When the budget is being prepared Council sits and puts together the budget so if we are going here and there it can't be willy nilly.

When we go out there and the residents see us, it's not the REdO or Admin; it's the councillors whom they ask questions and then we are getting the information second hand.”

Responding to the Regional Chairman's concerns, the Deputy Regional Executive Officer [DREO], Ms. Maylene Stephens, who was sitting in as Clerk of Council for Regional Executive Officer

DREO and Clerk of Council for the recent meeting, Ms. Maylene Stephens, responding to questions from the Council. Seated next to her is Regional Education Officer (REdO), Rabindra Singh.

[REO], Mr. Orrin Gordon, said that she only became aware that the previous supervisor was fired and a new one was hired after the deed 000was done.

She confirmed that the acting REdO took an application for a new supervisor to the Personnel Department and it was decided there and then to fire the supervisor and employ a replacement immediately.

She disclosed that the Personnel Department sought advice from the Public Service Commission and was given the green light to proceed with the

employment of the new supervisor who is from Kwakwani.

But Regional Chairman Morian quickly retorted, “...This has nothing to do with the Public Service.

We have a Council here...the acting REdO is trying to fill a need but the Regional Chairman doesn't know that she sent somebody there. “if this Council wants to be mischievous we can upturn right now what the Public Service and all other services said because it seems as though we are (continued on page 20)

Kaieteur News

Tuesday May 07, 2019

PAGE 19

Families of fishermen murdered in Suiname's piracy attacks still looking for closure

By Malisa Playter-Harry

I

t's been one year and a week but the families of the fishermen whose bodies were never found after they were killed and dumped overboard in Suriname waters last year, during a piracy attack, are still seeking closure.

It was one of those stories that made the headlines almost daily when it occurred, it grappled the nation and neighbouring Suriname but to this day 12 bodies are yet to be located.

Four boats with 20 c r e w m e m b e r s , predominantly Guyanese fishermen, were attacked on the evening of Friday April 27, 2018 on the Wai Wai Bank in Suriname waters.

Five crew members survived the horrific ordeal; four

Nandkumarie Sukra

Killed: Ralph Couchman bodies were to date discovered (one identified).

The attack was allegedly orchestrated by Nakool 'Fyah' Manohar in retaliation for the death of his brother, Somnauth Manohar, who resided in Suriname.

'Fyah' was the first suspect to be charged for the attack. 19-year-old, Alexander De Harte of Number 79 Village and Premnauth Persaud called 'Sanbad' were also charged with the deadly attack and are currently before the court.

Recently, this publication reached out to relatives of two of the fishermen whose bodies were never found. There was a need to know how life has been, knowing that their loved ones remains have not been located.

Kavita with two of her children

Killed: Vickey Persaud

Wife of Dinesh 'Vicky' Persaud, Taramatie Ibrahim, called 'Kavita', who has five children, two of whom are Persaud's, told Kaieteur News that life has been turbulent for her since the death of her husband.

She has been moving from one place of abode to another. Kavita said, "In the beginning, all eyes were on us but now, everyone has forgotten us; we are left to struggle while we still seek answers."

She explained that her eldest child, aged 17, is the only person working for a meagre salary that assists her to take care of him and her other four children, ages 13, nine, six and three.

Kavita said she is unable to work because there is noone willing to take care of her kids, thus making things

more difficult. "It is rough.

Sometimes me does just want go away but me does watch me children. “My family does help when they can, but me can't burden them with my problems, you know."

Kavita was one of the recipients of the $100,000 given by the Government of Guyana shortly after the incident took place but since then she said, she has not heard from anyone from the Guyana government or the authorities in Suriname.

"For the first everybody come out and assist how much dem can assist and I am thankful but since then nothing. Only couple of days ago me aunty carry me by somebody to help me get a place to stay because some people give we a house to stay on for a short while and

then we got to move again, it hard for my children but I can't do anything but hope and pray and try to see what I can do to make life a little better," she said sadly.

She added that Persaud with whom she shared a relationship for five years always told her that he will provide for her and his children. But then tragedy struck and that promise was washed away with the body of her partner.

"He always seh how he grow up tough and he na want he children dem to punish and work hard. My younger children does ask for him and me does tell dem he gone and work."

Kavita says the only memory she has of her husband now is his clothing, pictures and the fond memories they shared together as a couple. One thing that will always stick with her is something he told her every time he left for sea.

"He always seh that if something like that happens to him, he go dead because he na go let somebody come

and take away what he work and sweat for. He go fight till the end."

He apparently gave the Pirates a difficult time, Kavita said, because shortly after Suriname authorities arrested several suspects and took them back to the location where it occurred, they told the police that Persaud was fighting back and they had to anchor him in the waters.

Kavita told this publication that one day when she can afford it, she will do a memorial for her late husband since it is something that she wants to do. Meanwhile, at the home of Ralph 'Burnham' Couchman, whose body was also never located his m o t h e r, N a n d k u m a r i e Sukra, was relaxing in her hammock.

She was elated when this newspaper showed up. She said that since the tragedy no-one is contacting her to let her know what really is happening.

The woman explained, "Me na got money to go over

Suriname fuh find out what happening, Dem tek DNA from we so long and no result as yet so we really want to know what is going on. The bodies that dem find, dem never leh we see the bodies nothing".

The mother, who also lost another son to murder many years ago, said that she stresses out daily and still has hope within her that her son 'Burnham' might be alive.

"Up to the other day ah see a white car pass and a li'l boy look just like he was inside and I run out and stand long long looking out. I still get a feelings he gon come home back. He use to take care of me you know! But now my other son taking care of me", she said.

Among the missing fishermen who were never found are Bharrat Heralall, Ralph 'Burnham' Couchman, Dinesh 'Vicky' Persaud, Joshua Glenroy Jones, Ti l a k n a u t h M o h a b i r, R a j k u m a r B i s s e s s a r, Ramesh Sancharra and Ganesh Beharry.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 20

Tuesday May 07, 2019

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE M

BY JOHN M. SEERAM

a y i s designated Internal Audit Awareness Month by the Institute of Internal Auditors, Global (IIAG).

The Guyana Chapter is affiliated to the IIAG, hence it has planned a month of activities to recognize this noble profession.

One of its activities is to publish articles on the internal audit profession in order for practitioners to develop, among others, their skills and knowledge.

In so doing, the topic chosen by this writer is on t h e R o l e s a n d Responsibilities of the Audit Committee.

Introduction The audit function is indeed crucial in order to ensure the integrity of a company's/entity's financial systems. It includes not only its financial results but also the control systems and the code of ethics which are the cornerstones of an accurate financial reporting system.

The key player in this is the audit committee, which comprises directors who report directly to the Board of Directors.

What is the Audit Committee?

An audit committee is a standing committee of the Board of Directors, and should comprise primarily of non-executive directors.

These directors should not be involved in the management of the entity.

Organisation of

the Audit Committee Board of Directors should carefully give consideration to their appointments of directors to audit committees. · N u m b e r o f Directors The number of independent directors appointed to audit committees depends on the nature of the business and also industry dynamics, the size of the entity, and the size of the Board of Directors.

The general consensus is that a minimum of three and a maximum of five are adequate. · Composition Because members of audit committees have varied backgrounds and occupations, they provide a mix of skills and experience.

Although the members have different levels of expertise, it is strongly advisable to have at least one individual w h o h a s a finance/accounting and auditing background.

It can be more useful to have some directors with a solid operational knowledge of the industry in which the entity operates, these directors can spot potential control weaknesses, based on their knowledge of how transactions flow in an industry or specific environment.

Tasks Related to External Auditors · To Recommend the Hiring of External Auditors – It should ensure that a truly independent auditor is hired, rather than one who has connections with the entity in some way or the other that may influence the review of

the financial statements.

The audit committee should also base its recommendations on the auditor's expertise in the industry, the quality of its services, the extent to which it performs other service for the entity, as an example, consultancies. · Review Auditors Recommendations – Ensure control, governance and risk management issues raised are properly dealt with by the management team, thereby resulting in a stronger environment. · Review any Disagreement between the External Auditors and M a n a g e m e n t – Disagreement will normally occur on the auditors' findings and/or recommendations which should be address and be determined by the audit committee. Also with the Audit Opinions issued on the accounts.

Task Related to Internal Audits The audit committee can strengthen the entity's internal audit function by ensuring that management has established and is maintaining an adequate and effective internal audit structure. Here are specific roles, in the internal audit area, expected to be done by the audit committee · Appointment of the Chief Internal Auditor (CIA) – The CIA typically reports administratively to the entity's management, however the audit committee is responsible for the hiring and dismissal of the CIA. The objective here is not to

deny the entity's management the right to name the person who will administer the internal audit department, which serves the combine needs of the entity's management and the audit committee.

Rather, the significance of the audit committee's participation is to ensure the independence of the internal audit function(s) when there is need to speak out regarding issues identified in the review and appraisal of internal controls and other activities of the entity. · Approval of the Internal Audit Charter (IAC) – An IAC serves as a basis of authorization of every effective internal audit program. An adequate IAC is particularly important to define the roles and responsibilities of internal audit, and its responsibility to serve the audit committee properly.

It is here that the mission of internal audit must clearly provide service to the audit committee as well as to senior management. The audit committee is responsible for recommending to the Board the approval of the IAC.

The Guyana Situation The Institute of Internal Auditors, Guyana Chapter has been playing an active role in promoting the establishment of audit committees in entities in the private, public and governmental sectors. Here in Guyana there is still more work to be done in this area, which is an on-going exercise.

To those committees in

existence, it is imperative that they comply with the pronouncements and best practices globally on their expected roles and responsibilities. Hence, entities with established audit committees should be a w a r e o f t h e pronouncements being made from time to time and to keep abreast with the best practices globally.

Audit committees today are operating in an immensely complex modern business world. Over the years, there have been some reports (in Guyana) of audit committees not having a healthy working relationship with the entity's management and with its CIA. In such a situation, then each party need to understand that they have to function in an environment of trust, since each needs the other to succeed.

The shortcomings by members of an audit committee in terms of lack of specific technical skills should be addressed. One possible approach is to have training seminars/ workshops for directors since their competence is being judged by the board and the management of the entity.

Not much research has yet been done on the roles and responsibilities of audit committees in Guyana by virtue of publications. This is an area which needs to follow up and to promote in keeping with the global best practices.

Concluding Remarks The audit committee, the

By John M. Seeram CIA and management, work best when they pledge to w o r k t o g e t h e r. T h i s relationship is seen as a partnership. Their relationship is one of the most important for an entity to get it right, if it wants effective governance.

The success of an audit committee depends to a great extent on cultivating a strong working relationship with the management of the entity. Also, there is the need for the management and the CIA to have a healthy and respectful relationship.

All parties now have more to do, and it is imperative that each must understand the other's roles and responsibilities.

In closing, the success of an audit committee is dependent on cultivating a strong working relationship with each party and who needs the other to succeed. 'I will help you, and you will help me, and we both know that'.

That being said, it's about trust. Audit committees, the CIA and management have to trust that each other is thoughtful, competent, and looking out for the best interests of the company/entity.

Unilateral dismissal of Kwakwani hostel supervisor invokes Regional Chairman's wrath From page 18 stepchildren to the process.”

Even as Morian continued by demanding answers regarding the unilateral termination, the DREO disclosed that the very matter was brought to the attention of the subject Minster and her Permanent Secretary who immediately informed that the matter was unfairly and unprofessionally dealt with.

She said, too, that the Permanent Secretary has since instructed the administration to meet with Bailey so as to inform her formally and offer her one month's notice.

As he continued to express

disgust at the “disturbing” situation, the Regional Chairman bemoaned the fact that while the region is seeking to have a number of vacancies filled there are persons who are being dismissed without due process.

“We have persons taking on powers that are not theirs because you are the head of the administration and are therefore responsible for staff...The fact is that neither the Chairman nor the Council was not consulted or made aware,” Morian chided.

He, moreover, added, “let me say this now, find a job immediately for Ms Bailey because she was unfairly dismissed because the

Council will take up her case and will be coming after the people at education and those at administration.”

“We have done this woman a great injustice and this government don't work like that because we are not a cowboy administration where you just knock off someone because you feel like.

And let me say this, I am going to write about this because education has certainly acted outside of their remit.

“You still have to take some licks because you are, at the end of the day, responsible for staff in this region and even if you saw the letter after, you should have intervened,”

he told the DREO. Morian also questioned if officers within the region are aware of the education Regulations and Act. He pointed out that there is a process that must be followed when seeking to terminate the services of anyone.

As such, the Regional Chairman demanded that the “anomaly” be corrected.

“Correct this now because if it is not this Council will make some decisions which will hurt some people.

This Council just don't dismiss someone summarily regardless of religion, party, race or personal

views.

We just don't knock off people like that because it's wrong.

So find a job for this woman,” he instructed the DREO. According to Morian, the action meted out to the supervisor is in fact tantamount to slavery days when persons hadn't a voice irrespective of the situation.

“Did this woman have a trial?

Was there a hearing? Did anyone bring evidence against her so that she can defend herself? Even if a man shoots and kills someone in front of us he is allowed to plead not guilty until the court finds him otherwise and that is the democratic process.”

Tuesday May 07, 2019

PAGE 21

Kaieteur News

Moblissa youths being targeted for HEYS programme Residents of Moblissa, a community situated on the Soesdyke/Linden Highway, will soon be able to benefit from the Hinterland Employment Youth Service [HEYS] programme.

This was the recent disclosure of Minister within the Ministry of the Indigenous Peoples Affairs, Valerie Garrido-Lowe, as she reiterated government’s plans to tackle unemployment among youths.

Garrido-Lowe made this disclosure during a recent government outreach to Region Ten where efforts were made to address a number of issues and concerns of residents.

The Minister highlighted that the HEYS programme is an initiative of President David Granger as it had formed part of his 10-point plan which was slated to be implemented after he took office in 2015.

Two cohorts of youths

Minster Valerie Garrido-Lowe from several communities in Region Ten have already benefited from the programme. But according to the Minister, she has listened

to the cries of young people in Moblissa.

She, moreover, gave a commitment that in the implementation of the third

cohort some 300 young men and women from Moblissa will be allowed to be a part of the programme.

Her commitment was greeted with loud applause from residents and the visiting team which included Minister of the Citizenship, Mr. Winston Felix; Region Ten Chairman, Mr. Renis Morian; Regional Vice Chairman , Mr. Elroy Adolph and Region Four Vice Chairman, Mr. Earl Lambert, among others.

The Indigenous Peoples Affairs Minister told Moblissa residents that with their community being a part of both Regions Four and Ten she is happy that a wider pool of persons will be able to benefit.

She said that since the implementation of the HEYS programme a number of young persons have gone on to gain employment, while others have become selfemployed, thus aiding in

reducing unemployment collectively.

Minister Garrido-Lowe said, too, that for the first six months of the 12-month programme participants will be in classroom to be taught how to start and run a business, among other crucial things.

After this phase of the programme she noted that participants will then be taken into the field where they will be encouraged to start their own business resulting in them receiving a grant of $50,000.

She noted, further, that just for being a part of the programme persons will be eligible for a $30,000 stipend each month which is intended to assist them with their individual expenses during the course of the programme.

The Minister said that in her pursuit of building capacity in several of these communities she is excited

and pleased to be introducing several residents from the community of Moblissa to HEYS. “Let me state that it is one of the president’s 10-point plan and it has been in several communities and we hope to continue to see the growth and development of those communities,” Minister Garrio-Lowe added.

According to the Minister, while the third cohort for the HEYS programme is likely to commence training during the latter part of this year or by early next year, what is guaranteed is that Moblissa will be included.

Minister Garrido-Lowe gave assurance that her Ministry is committed to doing whatever is needed to enhance the lives of young people thus the need for including Moblissa in the HEYS programme.

GGMC systems for allocation of permits not being abused - Mining Association says nation’s first EITI report got it all wrong The Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) does not agree with the perception made out in Guyana’s first report to the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) which states that there are abuses of the systems for the allocation of mining permits at the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC).

According to the report, there are a number of instances where an operator is able to acquire several medium scale mining permits. But a closer look at the location of the permits revealed that they were granted in the same area and run one after the other.

If they were added, the report states that the plots would have exceeded the 1,200 acre threshold and would therefore be required to be categorized as “large

scale tenures.” The report notes that large scale tenures involve paying higher rental fees. Such a licence award also has a different procedure that requires further approvals from other Government Agencies.

By cheating the system, the report notes that the nation is losing significant revenue since the annual rental fees due by large scale operators is US$3 per acre as opposed to US$1 per acre for medium scale mining operators.

But GGDMA is saying that this is not the case. In fact, the Association said that report clearly lacks an understanding of the concepts for land allocation with respect to size of mineral property. It is contending that a summing up of the plots is not enough to classify a property as large scale.

It said that the requirements for a large scale mine are large capital investment such as those made by Omai Gold Mines, Guyana Goldfields Inc. and Troy’s Resources; mineral inventory; Environmental Impact Assessments; feasibility studies; mine plan; mineral processing plant design etc; before reaching the production stage.

The Association said that these up-front expenses run into millions of dollars hence, it is mainly done by large multi-national companies.

For small and medium scale mining, the Association said that this requires some amount of exploration and less detailed environmental assessments. It said, too, that the feasibility is determined by the operator and is not a requirement for permission to work.

Further to this, the Mining Body said that while the maximum size of a medium scale permit is 1200 acres, less than 5 percent is exploited.

GGDMA said, “...The author of the report apparently thought that the entire 1200 acres are mineralized and has gold and as such, by separating the permits the government and people of Guyana are being short-changed.

This is far from the case. The large-scale companies receive Investment Development Agreement (IDA) where duty free is granted for equipment, fuel, spares etc. which more than compensate for the extra fees.”

The Association continued, “Medium scale permit holders are paying for most of the land and of which only five per cent is mined. The sector is already in decline, proposing to put such addi-

tional burden on the local entrepreneurs that operate with tremendous uncertainties will further impact the communities and villages that depend on it for sustenance.”

It added, “The industry needs more roads to access mining lands, assistance with

better techniques for recovery and environmental standards, access to finance and a regulatory system that is more modernized and freer from bottle-necks to ensure that the sector continues to contribute to Guyana’s economy.”

PAGE 22

Tuesday May 07, 2019

Kaieteur News

Fisherman not guilty of attempted...

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From page 16 points of law and some key elements which they should look for in their deliberations. The jury then retired and returned with a not guilty FOR RENT verdict of attempted murder, PLANNING AN EVENT? but guilty of wounding with BIRTHDAY PARTY, intent.

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evidence of blood on the cutlass was produced.

The Prosecution however relied on the evidence of the witness in trying to prove its case. The accused had given an unsworn statement from the dock in which he denied committing the act and had blamed her uncle as the one who did the chopping.

The man chopped his wife about 07:30 hrs on the day in question after she left the Bush Lot Village home she shared with him to live at her mother's home. Abuse was the root cause.

The man had gone to where she was staying in an effort to get her back home.

The woman refused and during the melee she received wounds to her head and thighs.

She was rushed to the Port Mourant Hospital and then to the New Amsterdam Hospital and later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital where she received emergency treatment.

Testifying during the trial were Isaacs, Detective Corporal Ronald Beharry, The Aunt, Kamlawattie Binda, Canter truck driver, Totaram Munilall, ex-policeman Glenford Blair, and policeman Mendonca.

The defence called Dr. Illian Haywood of the New Amsterdam Prison and Sergeant Randy Hamilton of the Whim Police Station.

Sentence has been deferred.

Saraswati is already serving a life sentence for killing his mother-in-law Nelawattie Isaacs,37, in the same fracas.

Berbice Sexual Offences...

From page 12 through the one-stop centres or Child Advocacy Centres for the reporting of abuse.

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cases, sexual assault victims are often terrified of reporting their experience to the police.

Then, after the matters are investigated, then persons are charged, the case usually moves at a slow pace through the court system. And when the matters do reach the court, victims may decline to continue with the matter due to the time it takes and how traumatizing the experience can be.

However, with the purpose-built facility in operation, jurists have reported that more sexual assault victims are finding the courage to seek justice via the courts.

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involved in the field of manufacturing and agriculture.

“I will definitely work to increase more lands under cultivation. More so, I will work towards engaging Government agencies in such activity. (I will) also focus on drainage and irrigation access to additional lands.”

Tuesday May 07, 2019

Guyanese-born Bajan businessman killed in robbery

Eton Lyken, 46, was shot to death early Sunday morning.

Barbados (Barbados Today)- A killer’s single bullet just after midnight Saturday night took 46-year-old Eton Lyken away from his family. He was their sole breadwinner.

Since receiving word of the tragedy, Lyken’s girlfriend of five years, Mia Kirton, feels as though her life has been turned upsidedown. With tears falling on to her daughter, Angel, as she sat on her lap fussing and crying, 22-year-old Kirton said it’s a painful experience trying to figure out what life would now be like for their three young children – three-year-old Amya, one-yearold Angel, and four-month-old Eton.Lyken was also the father of an older child. A Police report said the incident occurred around 12:25 a.m. at an area between Country Park Towers Block #5 and Highrise, Block #1, near Country Road, St Michael.

Lyken and Andrew Michael Vanderpool, of Apt 5E, Country Towers, St Michael, were having a conversation, while seated in a motor vehicle. They were approached and surprised by a man who had his face hidden with a scarf. The man who had a firearm, ordered both men out of the vehicle, and proceeded to rob them of cash and valuables.

During the ordeal, a gunshot was heard, and Lyken fell to the ground. The killer fled the scene

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Kaieteur News

on foot. Vanderpool was unhurt.

“I still can’t believe it. I still can’t believe it. I would really like justice to be served because a man dead for no reason; someone who use to help out any and everybody. Junior use to pick up people from off of the road and help them. “He would pick up people off of the road to come and work. And I use to tell Junior be careful who you picking up off of the road, because everybody you smile at ain’t you friend,” Kirton said, as she fought back tears during an interview with members of the media, at the Beckles Road, St Michael home she shared with Lyken. The Guyana-born Lyken who owned and managed Eton’s Bakery and Eton’s Variety, also located at Beckles Road, operated the popular bread stall at Weymouth, St Michael, close to Globe Cinema. He employed about six people. Kirton said it was a mystery to her why somebody would have taken the life of her beloved partner, whom she described as a hardworking, helpful, progressive, pushy and giving individual who often told customers to take what they wanted even if they did not have enough money. She said very often people told Lyken they had nothing to eat for the day, and he gave them a bread and drink.

At the time Lyken met his untimely death, Kirton was at home trying to getAngel to sleep.

She said that for some strange reason, the little girl appeared to be cranky and unwilling to close her eyes. She said she thought she was dreaming when she got the call from Vanderpool, that the father of her children, whom she saw about an hour before he died, was killed. “I find Angel ain’t sleeping. Angel moving all the time like if something wrong.

Angel ain’t going to sleep at all.

Then around 12:30, I still trying to put her to sleep. When she drink she tea, Angel would normally go to sleep herself. But he fed Angel before he left. And then at 12:45, I get a phone call from Andrew saying Mia, them

just shoot uncle in he head.

“I say ‘Andrew you serious, you can’t be tricking me’. Then Andrew sister come on the phone and say ‘yes Mia, he here laying down dead’. When I went down there and view the body, he was there laying down on the ground in a pool of blood,” said a sobbing Kirton.

“We had a good relationship to tell you the honest truth. The only thing he would quarrel with me about is tidying, because since I get the children the place would be a little untidy,” she added. Kirton said she was still trying to spread the word about her partner’s death, to his family living overseas, including his mother.Sitting next to Kirton was her brother, Jamar Kirton, who said he was not only shocked at the manner in which Lyken lost his life, but he was also saddened that four young children will now have to grow without a father’s love and care.

“He use to push me to do certain things. He pushed me to buy a van and he encouraged me to try to get a business. We had our own little one and two difficulties but we got over it. I was shocked when I heard he was dead,” Jamar said.

Meanwhile, Vanderpool was struggling to come to grips with the fact that he helplessly watched his friend and employer take his last breath. “He died the same time he get shoot. He just fell down. I was right there and I hear the pop, and he just [gasped] and then he fall down dead,” he said. The 43-year-old said that Lyken often shared his concerns about safety and security, especially after bread vendor, Hayden Mayers, was shot and killed at Mansion Road, Bank Hall, St Michael, last November.

“He was saying boy Andrew I got to get some kind of weapon or something. But he was saying it is best he do it the right way when he get at a certain stage or something in business he would put in an application.

The business was prospering; business was picking up,” Vanderpool said.

Modified “brand new” int’l airport has no...

From page 9 Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, the previous government made a number of serious missteps with the project.

When it came into government, the Coalition said it found that CHEC had claimed for US$90M of the US$150M with only seven percent of the work done. The project has been dragging on now for almost a decade when it should have been completed in 32 months.

CHEC appears to be protected with little evidence of any sanctions.

The project has passed one deadline after the next with no announcements of a handover..

Instead of the brand new terminal building to house the arrivals and departure and with eight passenger boarding bridges, there is a small arrivals structure and old terminal has been gutted.

There will only be four passenger bridges.

CJIA nor the Ministry of Public Infrastructure have released the modified designs, despite being asked. The Opposition has insisted that Government cannot alter a fix-price contract which was specific in its details of what Guyana wanted.

According to government officials, there would be questions also as to exactly where CJIA would be placing concessions like car rentals and offer things like food court.

“It is becoming clearer that this project has really been messed up and someone should be jailed for it.” It was explained that with oil coming, several new airlines have started flying and others wants to come. “People are coming to the airport and they want an experience. The airport and the people that matter instead of looking at ways to increase revenues, decided to increase ticket prices with the introduction of new fees,” a CJIA employee said yesterday.

He should know.

American Airlines has increased the number of Miami flights and wants to fly the New York route from December. “Jet Blue, one of the biggest airlines may come also. We will be back to square one,” the CJIAofficial said. “We should also be asking where the airport will now locate telephone companies that are offering mobile services. What about a prominently located tourism desk? This is a modernized airport we getting? Man, gimme a break.”

Porter, 18, admits stealing over $1M from sister An 18-year-old porter is in police custody, following the break and enter and larceny, committed on the dwelling house of Samanta Cummings, of the Charity Housing Scheme, Essequibo Coast on Saturday.

Roy Cummings, the 18year-old suspect, is a porter at Charity Back Street, Pomeroon. This publication understands that the suspect is the brother of the victim.

According to reports, some- time around 01:30 hrs. on Saturday, the suspect broke into his sister’s home and stole over $1 million in cash and valuables. Missing is 34 pennyweight of raw gold, two gold chains, one gold ring, $620,000 in cash and one Samsung cell phone.

Kaieteur News understands that the victim would usually keep monies, raw gold and jewelery in a safe, with

an installed combination lock.

The said safe would be kept under her bed in the bedroom.

Kaieteur News understands that on Friday, the woman placed some money into the safe. Also in the safe was 34 pennyweight of raw gold two gold chains and one gold ring. On Saturday, the woman was awakened by her husband, who informed her that the door on the lower flat was open. What appeared to have been bloodstain was also seen in the yard.

Acting on information received, the woman and her husband went to a Hotel, where she met her brother in a room with a female Venezuelan.

There the couple discovered that Cummings was bleeding from a wound to his forehead. A report was made at the Charity Police Station and Roy Cummings was ar-

rested and taken into custody.

Cummings eventually admitted to committing the offence, and later took police to a location next to the Charity Hospital. There checks were made for the safe but none was found. Further information received led the victim to the Charity back street in the market area, where what appeared to be bloodstains were seen next to a stall area.

There the stolen phone was found along with a black plastic bag, containing $176,000 cash, two gold chains and 19pennyweight of raw gold.

The police then went to a street leading to the Charity back street and a grey safe, which was positively identified by the victim as her own, was found on the western side of the said street. The suspect is presently in custody pending charges.

DemToCo avoided over $200M in...

From page 3 to BAT Holdings Ltd, a UKbased subsidiary where BAT paid almost no corporate income tax.

By charging itself royalties, rerouting loans through tax havens and paying interests fees on loans made between regional offices, BAT shrunk its tax contributions in low and middle income countries where public funding is high in need and short in availability, according to the Tax Justice report.

“However, this picture remains incomplete: BAT has over one hundred offshore subsidiaries spread across 19 tax havens and books hundreds of millions of dollars each year to 'other operating charges' without further explanation.”

The profit shifting practices fly in the face of tobacco companies' claims to be essential tax providers to low and middle income countries where 80 per cent of the 1.1 billion smokers worldwide live.

The health damage For every dollar Bangladesh raised in income tax from BAT in 2016, BAT shifted 22 cents out of the local economy into the UK while smoking cost Bangladesh $24 in economic damage.

Alex Cobham, chief executive at the Tax Justice Network, said: “Tobacco companies make a lot of noise about paying tax, but the nearly $1 billion that British American Tobacco shifted out of developing countries in a single year into one UK office – and the life-changing tax it avoided on that profit – tells a very different story.

“Cigarettes not only impose massive human costs.

Those who profit from them

are actively depriving lowerincome countries of the public funding they need to provide people with health services.

“At a minimum, Governments must require tobacco companies to publish country by country reporting to make sure profits are taxed in the communities where they were raised, not in the tax havens they were syphoned off to.”

In Bangladesh, from 2014 to 2016, BAT Bangladesh Company Limited declared US$21 million a year in obligations owed to BAT's UK subsidiaries in royalties, technical and advisory fees and IT charge – equivalent to 15 per cent of BAT Bangladesh's pre-tax profits over the three years.

The payments allowed BAT Bangladesh to avoid paying the corporate tax rate on the US$21 million it shifted into the UK and instead pay much lower withholding tax rates, costing Bangladesh $5.8 million in lost tax in 2016 – enough to cover the Bangladesh government's per capita health expenditures for over 170,000 citizens for a year.

By utilising intracompany loan interest payments and shifting profits from Brazil to the Portuguese tax haven Madeira, BAT's Brazilian operation Souza Cruz reduced its tax contributions in Brazil by a total of $128 million between 2007 and 2014 – enough to cover the Brazil's government's per capita health expenditures for over 98,000 citizens for a year.

The annual economic cost of smoking in Brazil is US$19.7 billion where 19 per cent of men over the age of 15 smoke daily and 12 per cent of deaths among men is caused by tobacco.

The annual economic cost of smoking in Indonesia is $42 billion where 76 per cent of men over the age of 15 smoke

daily and 21 per cent of deaths among men is caused by tobacco.

British American Tobacco responded to the Tax Justice Network's report saying: “The Group fully complies with all applicable tax legislation where it does business, operates the transactions that occur between Group companies on an arm's length basis and is a significant tax contributor to Governments worldwide. Classifying countries such as the Netherlands and the UK as tax havens is simply not a credible claim… the tax loss of $58.9m identified by the report simply does not arise.

BAT is currently being investigated for tax avoidance in Brazil, South Korea, South Africa and the Netherlands.BAT is also being investigated for corruption in the UK14, Romania15 and Kenya.

Among other highlights of the report, were that over the various periods examined, it was found that the UK-based BAT Holdings Ltd was paid US$400M in royalties, US$278M in IT recharges and US$263M in technical and advisory fees by other BAT subsidiaries from across the world in 2016.

At a total of US$941 million, 12.3 per cent of BAT's 2016 pre-tax profit of $7682 million was shifted to a single subsidiary where BAT paid almost no corporate income tax.

Kaieteur News has asked DemToCo's local reps for a statement since last week.

However, up to press time, there was none issued.

DemToCo, on behalf of BAT, distributes the Bristol and Pall Mall brands of cigarettes.

PAGE 24

Kaieteur News Tuesday May 07, 2019

Tuesday May 07, 2019

Tuesday May 07, 2019

Leonard carries Raptors...

From page 26 third. Harris later drained a 3pointer to give the Sixers a two-point lead with under a minute left in the quarter.

Serge Ibaka then hit a jump hook in the lane and the Raptors tied the game at 75 at the end of the third.

The game became quite chippy with bodies falling to

the floor and both teams diving for loose balls while playing a physical brand of basketball.

Leonard hit 1 of 2 two free throws and Toronto led 85-84 with 6:20 left.

Despite missing nine straight shots, the Sixers still trailed by only 89-87 with 2:35 remaining after a pair of Butler

free throws.

Leonard’s trey with the shot clock running out gave the Raptors a 94-90 advantage with 1:01 left, and after Tobias Harris missed a 3-pointer on the 76ers’ ensuing possession, Toronto sealed the win by making 7 of 10 free throws down the stretch. (Field Level Media)

Transformed England favourites to...

From page 28 glamorous environs of Gavaskar’s normal workplace as a TV media pundit and rather than former cricketers, he was surrounded by medical professionals who treat children for free.

His study of the game from the commentary box has convinced him that holders

PAGE 25

Kaieteur News

Australia, with Steve Smith and David Warner back in the fold after their ball-tampering bans, and a resurgent West Indies are other title contenders.

Virat Kohli’s India side will also post a big challenge, the 69-year-old felt.

“I think these are the four teams that can really stand

out,” added former India captain and opening batsman Gavaskar, who once held the record for most test runs and centuries in the longest format.

Gavaskar said a hot English summer could add to the excitement of the World Cup as the pitches would be drier and make shot-making easier for the batsmen.

Tuesday May 07, 2019 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) This is a terrific time to start some physical activity that takes you outside and gets your blood pumping, Aries.

Don't think this means you have to become the star player at a tennis club.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) You may feel like you're being tested in some way and must prove that what you're doing is valid and correct GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You're able to assert yourself with more confidence than usual. You should have a grounded perspective regarding your emotions.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Just when you feel like you've come to a point of emotional stability and calm, something happens to throw you off balance.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) You have lots of energy and self-con f i d e n c e , L e o .

That's wonderful, but it may also put you at greater risk for dangerous experiences and accidents. You could find that you're much more aggressive, especially if someone crosses you.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Be happy with yourself and others, Virgo. Stop trying to find fault with everyone you interact with. By criticizing what they do and how they do it, you could wake up one morning and find that you have no friends.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You may be bursting with energy and yearning to travel, Libra. At the same time, your emotions could find a way to block these thoughts.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) You may feel a bit blue due to a nagging weightiness that pins you down to reality instead of being free to fly. You may act out in an effort to prove to yourself and others that you're somehow above Earthly things.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) You're able to work much more efficiently and effectively, Sagittarius. Your energy is strong and you don't need to fight in order to get your voice heard.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Different people measure success by different scales. You shouldn't get discouraged if your accomplishment today seems small compared to what others have done in the same period.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) You could feel as if the battle has begun and you're the target. If you don't have a solid force behind you, this period could be difficult.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) It could be scary for you to do anything risky for fear of conflict or failure, Pisces.

Perhaps you've tried to become invisible in different situations so you can avoid being noticed.

Grove Hi Tech trudges past Kuru...

From page 31 football. From the global body FIFA, to the confederation body Concacaf and to your own local body, GFF. They are members of this fraternity that would have been instrumental in us being here today and we acknowledge them in every aspect of our use and the benefits that we have derived from this venue.”

Whilst stating that he {Forde} was proud of the work of President Wilson and his team in the EBFA, the GFF boss told the players that the faces he has been seeing at every football event in the association, has been consistent which is a clear mark of commitment.

He challenged the players to commit themselves to being the best possible first and foremost and the best possible human being.

“A lot of very important life lessons are taught in this game of football. We learn to share, we learn to respect, we learn to be our brother’s keepers, we learn to lose, we learn to win, we have good days, bad days; these lessons must not be squandered. They will help to mold you overtime.”

He also cited that persons coming into the game are prepared for the challenges of life and leave much

Kompany stunner...

From page 30 of capturing successive titles.

But then Kompany picked up the ball just over the half-way line with the Leicester defence camped deep, and the 33-year-old skipper unleashed a stunning drive from 25 metres out that flew into the top corner of Kasper Schmeichel’s goal.

Leicester had an opportunity to level in the 87th minute but substitute Kelechi Iheanacho, a former City player, was unable to find the target from a promising position. City, who have now won 13 straight league games, have 95 points to Liverpool’s 94 and also have a plus four goal difference over Juergen Klopp’s side.

stronger individuals than when they entered the game.

“So the support that the federation is bringing to the East Bank is the support that we bring to all of our nine regional members associations.

Every association will receive funding for the running off of their senior league because we have really seen a decline in senior league football at the association level. So we have taken up the responsibility to provide the funding/ support to allow this to take place. I am happy as always, that the East Bank is taking a first step in this.

I want to use this platform and the opportunity to encourage the other associations who are yet to submit their budgets and their plans for their senior league to do that very quickly.”

Forde also informed that the GFF would be announcing at its Congress on May 25th next, plans for what will

be the biggest tournament in the nation’s history, the Federation Cup which would be done to commemorate Guyana’s 117th anniversary as an organized body which is one of the oldest in the world. This would be an annual Cup. “Unless an association plays their senior league, they will not be eligible to participate in the federation cup,” he disclosed.

Darren McPherson led Grove to victory with a double (17, 37) with one apiece from Jonathan Bailey (19), Delroy Dodson (25), Nicholai Matthews (43) and Marvin Squires in the 46th minute.

Kuru Kururu Warriors got their goals through Christopher Alleyne who netted an own goal in the 22nd minute with Joseph and Kevon Walker finding the back of the nets in the 87th and 91st minutes.

PAGE 26

Kentucky Derby: Maximum Security owner to appeal over disqualification BBC Sport - The owner of Maximum Security is to appeal against the controversial decision to disqualify his horse as Kentucky Derby winner.

Country House was declared victor after the horse first past the post was ruled to have impeded rivals on Saturday.

Gary West, owner of the favourite Maximum Security, said he would file an appeal on Monday.

Critics of the disqualification include US President Donald Trump, who said the decision was “not a good one”.

It was the first victor in the 145-year history of the $3m (£2.2m) race to be disqualified on the day.

Maximum Security veered out of line on the final turn and impeded War of Will and Long Range Toddy.

Trump said on Twitter: “It was a rough and tumble race on a wet and sloppy track, actually, a beautiful thing to watch.

“Only in these days of political correctness could

such an overturn occur. The best horse did NOT win the Kentucky Derby - not even close.”

The Kentucky Derby is the first leg of the Triple Crown - followed by the Preakness Stakes on 18 May and the Belmont Stakes three weeks later.

West said Maximum Security, who was ridden by Luis Saez for trainer Jason Servis, is unlikely to run in the second race, with his chance of sealing the treble almost certainly gone.

“Appeals historically take some time to sort out. Win, lose or draw, we’re not going to know the outcome of until probably months, if not years, down the road,” he said.

“When you’re not going for the Triple Crown, sometimes it doesn’t make sense to wheel the horse back in two weeks.”

The stewards cited a section of the rules that calls for disqualification if “a leading horse or any other horse in a race swerves or is ridden to either side so as to

interfere with, intimidate, or impede any other horse or jockey”.

Chief steward Barbara Borden said in a news conference that she and two other stewards interviewed riders and studied video replays of the incident during a 22-minute review after the finish.

They found Maximum Security guilty of interference and awarded the race to 65-1 outsider Country House.

Country House’s trainer Bill Mott is not keen on entering the Preakness and would rather wait for the third leg, the Belmont Stakes.

“I think if you run back in the Preakness - maybe you hit the board, maybe you don’t, maybe you win - but it probably compromises his chances a little bit to win the Belmont,” he said.

No horse had ever been disqualified immediately after winning the United States’ biggest race - though Dancer’s Image was stripped of the title in 1968 after a postrace test showed traces of a banned substance.

Gayle named vice-captain for WC, Hope for Tri-Nations DUBLIN, Ireland, CMC – Talismanic West Indies opener Chris Gayle has been named vice-captain for the upcoming World Cup, which is expected to be his swansong from the one-day format.

C r i c k e t We s t I n d i e s announced yesterday that the 39-year-old would serve as Jason Holder ’s deputy for the May 30 to July 14, while young stroke-maker Shai Hope will be vice-captain for the ongoing Tri-Nations Series here which started on Sunday and wraps Mat 17.

Gayle, the most experienced player in the Windies World Cup squad, is a former West Indies captain having led the Caribbean side in 53 OneDay Internationals and 20 Tests between 2007 and 2010.

The left-hander, who has featured in 289 ODIs and scored 10 151 and 25 hundreds, earlier this year

Tuesday May 07, 2019

Kaieteur News

signaled his intention to retire following the World Cup. “It is always an honour t o r e p r e s e n t t h e We s t Indies in any format and this World Cup for me is special,” Gayle said of his appointment as vicecaptain.

“As a senior player it is my responsibility to support the captain and everyone else in the team.

This will probably be the b i g g e s t Wo r l d C u p , s o there will be great expectations and I know we will do very well for the people of the West Indies.”

He will be a pivotal player for West Indies in t h e Wo r l d C u p , h a v i n g displayed tremendous form in the recent ODI home series against England where he plundered 424 runs to be adjudged Manof-the-Series.

Hope, meanwhile, has emerged as the Windies’ most consistent ODI

batsmen in recent times. He marked his 50th match on Sunday with a superb 170 against Ireland as West Indies opened the TriNations Series with a handsome 196-run victory.

The right-hander has already scored 1947 runs with five centuries, and averages 48.67. “ I t ’s a t r e m e n d o u s honour to be appointed vice captain for this series here in Ireland,” he said.

“Ahead of this tournament I was asked to take on this role and I was happy to accept. Anything I’m asked to do for West Indies cricket I’m always happy and willing to put my hand up, so this is great.”

We s t I n d i e s t a k e o n Bangladesh in their second match of the Tri-Nations today here.

Gayle, however, is not part of the squad, due to his commitments with Kings XI Punjab in the ongoing Indian Premier League.

Liverpool’s Salah, Firmino ruled out of Barcelona game (Reuters) - Liverpool will be without forwards Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino when they face Barcelona in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final as they look to overturn a 3-0 deficit, manager Juergen Klopp said yesterday.

Egypt international Salah was carried off the pitch with a head injury in Saturday’s 32 Premier League win at Newcastle United and has not recovered for the game against Barca at Anfield today.

Brazilian Firmino has a muscular injury and was not included in the squad for Saturday’s game at St James’ Park.

“They both are not available for tomorrow,” Klopp told a news conference.

“Two of the world’s best strikers are not available and we have to score four goals to go through in 90 minutes.

“It doesn’t make life easier but as long as we have 11 players on the pitch we will try... if we can do it wonderful and if not, fail in the most beautiful way.”

Salah is expected to feature against

Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah on the ground after sustaining an injury. (REUTERS/Scott Heppell) Wolverhampton Wanderers in Liverpool’s final Premier League game of the season on Sunday but Klopp said the clash with Barcelona was too soon for the 26-year-old.

“It’s a concussion for Mo. He would not be allowed to play. He feels Ok but it’s not good enough from a medical point of view. He’s desperate but we cannot do it,” Klopp added. “Together with our supporters this was a long season and there’s a little chance to make it even longer.

If not, these are the last two home games of an incredible season.

“We should celebrate it with a good performance on

the pitch and in the stands.”

Defender Trent Alexander-Arnold said Liverpool would have to be fearless to have a chance of progressing.

“That’s the only way we’re going to get a result. If we get caught up in fearing their players then that’s not really going to work,” Alexander-Arnold added.

“We have had decent results this season where we have scored more than three goals and being at home helps us. There’s still that sense of belief but we know it’s going to be hard. But anything is possible, especially at Anfield.”

Leonard carries Raptors over 76ers in Game 4 Kawhi Leonard had 39 points and 14 rebounds and the second-seeded Toronto Raptors defeated the host Philadelphia 76ers 101-96 on Sunday to even the Eastern Conference semifinals at two games apiece.

Marc Gasol scored 16 points and Kyle Lowry added 14 points and seven assists for Toronto.

Pascal Siakam, who had been doubtful with a sore calf, was in the starting lineup and missed his first seven shots, but he gave the Raptors a lift with nine points and three steals.

Game Five is today in Toronto.

Jimmy Butler paced the third-seeded Sixers with 29 points and 11 rebounds while JJ Redick added 19. Joel Embiid, who was reportedly ill, had only 11 points, eight rebounds and seven assists one game after scoring 33 in Philadelphia’s Game 3 victory.

Leonard was terrific with 17 points and 10 rebounds as the Raptors pulled ahead 4745 at halftime. It was the first time in Leonard’s career that he posted at least 15 points and 10 rebounds in any half.

Butler was the only

Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard (2) shoots against Philadelphia 76ers forward Mike Scott (1) during the first quarter in game four of the second round of the 2019 NBA Playoffs at Wells Fargo Center. (Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports) Philadelphia player in double figures with 14 points in the first half. Embiid appeared to be bothered by a left leg issue and finished the first two quarters with only six points and five rebounds.

Butler hit a difficult 3pointer from the wing and the

Sixers pulled ahead 57-52 with 7:48 left in the third.

Siakam finally recorded his first basket when he received a pass from Lowry and threw down a dunk for a 66-65 Raptors advantage with 4:15 remaining in the (Continued on page 25)

Tuesday May 07, 2019

Iker Casillas: Porto goalkeeper discharged from hospital after heart attack BBC Sport - Spain’s World Cup-winning goalkeeper Iker Casillas said he “does not know what the future will be” as he was discharged from hospital after having a heart attack.

The Real Madrid legend, 37, suffered “an acute myocardial infarction” during training with Porto on Wednesday last.

Speaking outside the Hospital CUF Porto he said he would rest for “for a couple of weeks or a couple of months”.

“The most important thing is to be here,” he told reporters.

“A few days ago I went through a difficult situation, something that can happen at any moment of life, but fortunately I’m fine. I am grateful and feel that I am very lucky.

“Thank you to all who cared, for I felt very dear and cherished. I can only get out of this situation with a smile.”

Casillas praised the Porto medical team’s quick actions which “allowed the effect of the infarction not to be so serious”.

He added: “I do not know what the future will be, but the most important thing is to be here, to be able to speak and

GFF/KFC U-20 Independence KO Cup –EBFA Leg

Soesdyke Falcons smash their way into semis with 13-2 win over Diamond United Hat-tricks from Mark Barker and Tyrone Khan along with a double from Nickozie Hope guided Soesdyke Falcons to an emphatic 13-2 triumph over Diamond United and a place in the semi-finals of the GFF/ KFC U20 Independence Cup, East Bank Football Association leg.

All the action unfolded yesterday afternoon as the match was the feature of a double header when eth GFF/ EBFA Senior League was unveiled.

The young Falcons, many of whom will be turning out for the senior unit, was in a no nonsense mood and scored on the first run down after the opening whistle,

Barker finishing after being set the ball by Khan in the 1st minute.

He {Barker} followed up with goals in the 65th and 83rd minutes. Khan, a quick and nippy forward was a tormentor of the United’s defence throughout the encounter and on many occasions rather than finish on his own, would set up his colleague to score.

But he banged in three of his own in the 11th, 58th and 65th minutes to cement his side’s place in the semis.

Hope was on target for his double in the 40th and 82nd minutes, while one each was scored by Kevin Sobers in the 6th, Junior Williams (18), Malachi Leacock (45),

Raymond Khan (50) and Chaim Pathon in the 85th minute.

Diamond United, featuring a number of U15 players and their Coach Orein Angoy said they are preparing for the U15 and 17 leagues, were no push over’s and fought back admirably in spurts. They got consolation goals in the 64th and 69th minutes from Carlos Wilkie and Jaheem Small.

The three teams now in the semi finals are Soesdyke Falcons, Timehri Panthers and Grove Hi Tech. A draw would be done and one team would be gifted a place in the final, while the other two would battle it out in the lone semi final this Saturday.

Casillas spoke to reporters outside the Hospital CUF Porto as he was discharged on Monday. (EPA) transmit to everyone how I am and how I feel.”

Casillas made 725 appearances for Real during a 16-year career at the Bernabeu, helping them win three Champions Leagues and five La Liga titles.

He was also part of the Spain squad as they won two

successive European Championships, in 2008 and 2012, and the World Cup in 2010.

Having joined Porto in 2015, he won the Portuguese title last season and holds the record for the most Champions League appearances with 177.

Ann’s Grove, Buxton United stun...

From page 31 Defence Force, thanks to a Shemar Fraser 71st minute goal. The battle between the two sides saw the young Buxtonians standing up toe to toe with the Army and looked the more determined of the two.

Eventually, the persistence of the young East Coast boys paid dividends when Fraser rocked the nets to the delight of his colleagues and technical staff as they won their first match of the season.

The trend was set for the Buxton United side when fellow East Coast team, Ann’s Grove also won their first match of the season, arresting the Guyana Police Force also by a 1-0 margin in the main supporting match.

Ann’s Grove’s winning strike came two minutes later than Buxton, Nikosie Denny doing the honours and would remember this goal for some time to come.

Again, it was a keen tussle between the two sides and it was Ann’s Grove which capitalized on one of the few chances they had to make the difference.

Despite the Police team turning up the pressure in the

PAGE 27

Kaieteur News

final 10 minutes, Ann’s Grove was able to evade them and keep them at bay to secure their first full points in seven (7) matches.

Sunday’s opening match produced an up-setter of sorts when Santos clawed their way back from a goal down to defeat Milerock 2-1.

The Upper Demerara based Milerock took the lead on 23 minutes through a goal from Denzil Fordyce.

They enjoyed the advantage up until the 81st minute when Santos finally found the equaliser through a Trevor Lewis goal. This goal brought some semblance of relief to the Santos team.

In added on time, Santos were awarded a free kick just around the center circle and their goalkeeper Alex Murray stepped up to take what would be a memorable free kick and one that would be a haunting memory for his opposite number, Sese Norville.

Norville perhaps felt that the distance of the shot afforded him the luxury of stepping up a bit from his goal line but he did so a bit too much as it turned out.

Murray saw that he had a chance to fire his long range shot well over Norville

and he did so.

With Norville stepping back almost stumbling backwards trying to save the ball, he was unsuccessful as the ball agonizingly eluded his grasp whilst landing in the back of the nets to secure Santos’ third win in their debut season. The goal was timed at 90+2 minute.

On Saturday at the same venue, an Eon Alleyne brace guided defending champions Fruta Conquerors to a 3-0 win over a stubborn Western Tigers. Allyene hit the target in the 27th and 45+1 minutes.

Ryan ‘Bum Bum’ Hackett sealed the deal in the 86th minute.

And the biggest margin of victory was recorded by West Demerara’s Den Amstel in the first match of the busy weekend when they mauled Victoria Kings, 8-2 led by a Chris Macey hat-trick (29, 83, 86).

There was one each for Andre Hector in the 9th minute, Gideon Payne 27th, Delon Lanferman 42nd, Ruben Dainty 66th and Kester Jacobs in the 81st minute.

Victoria Kings got their consolations goals from Kemroy Alfred and Alden Lawrence in the 46th and 48th minutes.

Tyrone Khan leads the offensive charge against Diamond United yesterday.

Joshua warns Wilder, Fury: I’m still getting better Omnisport - Anthony Joshua has warned heavyweight rivals Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury that he is still improving as a fighter and they would be well advised to take him on sooner rather than later.

IBF, WBA and WBO champion Joshua has repeatedly failed to secure a fight with the other two leading names in the division, with high-profile negotiations with Wilder, in particular, failing time and again.

The Briton will next face Andy Ruiz Jr at Madison Square Garden on June 1, but he believes Wilder and Fury are taking a risk by delaying any clash with him.

Joshua claims he has been steadily improving since beating Wladimir Klitschko in April 2017 and expects his hard work to pay off against his next opponent.

“After the Klitschko fight two years ago, I was in a really tough fight that could have gone either way,” he told BBC 5 live’s boxing podcast.

“So, for those two years, with my team, [it has been] ‘how do we now train smart to become smarter in the ring?’

Less quantity, more quality.

It’s about the quality work now.

“It didn’t happen overnight. We’re still developing now, I’m a product of what I’m taught. It took me two years to implement [different techniques] and this is the first training camp where we’re actually using it now.

“If you look at my fight against [Alexander] Povetkin, I was ill, tired, had a flu, had a headache. Against [Carlos] Takam, I was overweight. I was going through so many changes, wondering how come I wasn’t getting it perfect.

“Those last two years, we’ve worked tirelessly.

We’ve travelled all around the United States, meeting Navy SEALs experts, team bonding experts, using recovery equipment that Klitschko was using years ago, lights that NASA use.

“There are all these things trying to improve our training camp and move to the future instead of staying stuck in the old ways of boxing. It’s going to be interesting because now is the first time I’m going to be able to express these things.

“The longer Wilder and Fury leave it, the tougher I think the fight will become for them. I’m not the fighter of two years ago. They’ve been doing it 10, 11 years, I’ve been doing it five, six years.

“Give me another year or two, I think I’ll develop that little bit more. I only want to improve and test myself.”

PAGE 28

Tuesday May 07, 2019

Kaieteur News

Maurice Cummings wins Roger Bishop Senior Linden Table Tennis C/Ships Maurice Cummings reigned supreme when he defeated Shavin Greene in the final enroute to victory in the Roger Bishop Linden Table Tennis Championships held on Saturday last at the McKenzie High school auditorium.

Staged by the Linden Table Tennis Steering committee and sponsored by Mr. Roger Bishop, the competition attracted some of the crème de la crème of Linden table tennis players the likes of Raynor Copter Anderson, Marlon Washington, Shavin Greene and Maurice Cummings.

Eager for competition after a hiatus of competition in Linden and with senior players hungry to show who is the boss, the action began with a round robin format of 5 players in two groups.

Marlon Brando Washington and Ray Copter Anderson were No.1 seeds, advancing out of the group stage after defeating all comers to advance to the semifinals.

In the first semifinal, Shavin Greene, who came out second in group 1, defeated Marlon Washington by a 3-0 margin in the cross over of top seed versus second place in groups.

In the second semifinal, Maurice Cummings, who advanced as the second seeded player in group 2, defeated Raynor Anderson by a 3 matches to zero margin, to set up a final between himself and Shavin Greene of the young jaguars of Linden.

Greene and Cummings over the last few years have emerged as Linden top threats and have shared the spoils in different competitions. Their journey to the finals of this competition set up the scenario for another eagerly awaited encounter to see who would claim supremacy. In a very competitive and entertaining encounter, the dreadlock Cummings despite fierce and tactical play by Greene took his game up a notch and proved that he wanted the title more than Greene with some dazzling

The outstanding performers display their prizes along with officials after the presentation. display of third ball attacks, winning the title by defeating Greene by a 3-1 margin 11-9, 8-11, 11-9, 11-7.

Marlon Washington and

Raynor Copter Anderson secured joint third positions.

In a simple presentation ceremony, Mr Haslyn Small, Head teacher of the

Mackenzie High School presented the prizes to the winners to bring the curtains down on a fantastic evening of table tennis in the mining

town. The Committee’s next engagement will be the Linden Schools Table Tennis team and individual challenge scheduled for May 24th to 26th.

Bach boxing comments undervalue International Federations - AIBA chief SYDNEY (Reuters) - The executive director of AIBA, the governing body of amateur boxing, has hit out at Olympic chief Thomas Bach for suggesting putting together an alternative organization to run the sport at next year’s Tokyo Games would “not be rocket science”.

AIBA faces expulsion from the Olympic movement after an inquiry into its finances and governance reports at the end of the month, potentially leaving in limbo the boxing competition

at the 2020 Summer Games.

International Olympic Committee President Bach said on Saturday that alternative arrangements could be put in place to ensure boxing retained its spot at the Games and made light of concerns about the lack of time available to do so.

“I heard Mr Bach’s comment and it was very concerning because it certainly minimized what work goes into the preparation for such monumental event,” Tom Virgets told Reuters by telephone yesterday.

“That wasn’t just minimizing us, that was minimizing every IF (International Federation).

“I would certainly hope that was just a bad choice of words, I hope he is not that far removed from the work of Olympic programmes that he actually believes that.

“The Olympics needs IFs and we should not forget that.”

While the IOC organizes the Olympic Games as a whole, the federations, who are gathering this week on Australia’s Gold Coast for

Transformed England favourites to win World Cup, says Gavaskar MUMBAI (Reuters) India batting great Sunil Gavaskar believes England are a transformed one-day international side since their shock exit from the 2015 World Cup and rates them as favourites to win their maiden crown on home soil in July.

Eoin Morgan’s side, whose quest for a first 50overs title begins against South Africa at The Oval on May 30, top the world rankings enter the tournament as the one of the most consistent teams in the format.

“England are the favourites. Simply because of the way they are playing cricket, the complete

turnaround in their cricketing attitude and approach after their disastrous 2015 World Cup,” Gavaskar told Reuters in an interview.

“England have got a very good team, they have got lots of confidence. You have seen them in all the recent matches and they have been playing outstanding cricket.”

Morgan’s men have played a fearless brand of cricket in the recent years and since the start of 2018 have come out on top in bilateral ODI series against World Cup holders Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and India.

Gavaskar believes having home advantage could also be telling after Australia won as hosts in 2015 and India did

the same four years earlier.

“If you go by what has happened in the last couple of World Cups, the host team has won,” he added.

“But, of course, in cricket anything can happen. While England start the favourites, there are other teams which are also playing some good cricket.”

Gavaskar was speaking after pledging to sponsor 34 paediatric heart surgeries for economically deprived children at the Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani International Centre for Child Heart Care at the satellite city of Navi Mumbai.

The semi-rural setting was a far cry from the (Continued on page 25)

their annual Sportaccord summit, run their own sports competitions within that framework.

Expulsion from the IOC when the inquiry reports to the executive board on May 22 would rob AIBA of its main source of funding and be a devastating blow to the body which has organized Olympic boxing for 73 years.

LEGALACTION Reports in Europe at the weekend said AIBA interim president Mohamed Moustahsane was proposing a vote of the executive committee on taking legal action and making formal complaints against some IOC members should the decision go against them.

“When you are faced with a significant issue like this, it would be irresponsible if the executive committee was not taking a look at all of its options and making a determination of what was in the best interests of the organization,” Virgets added.

“To me, this should not be looked as AIBA being defiant, no! AIBA is practising proper and good governance.

Isn’t this what we’re supposed to do?”

Moustahsane took charge in March when Gafur Rahimov suspended himself from the post because of his presence on a U.S. Treasury Department sanctions list ‘for providing material support’ to

Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) attends a news conference after an Executive Board meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland, March 27, 2019.

(REUTERS/Denis Balibouse file photo) a criminal organization.

The Uzbek strongly denies the allegations.

Virgets does not shy away from the fact that AIBA was an ‘absolute mess’ before a reform process commenced 18 months ago but he believes the IOC inquiry lacks ‘due process’ and risked producing a ‘onesided, biased report’.

The American believes AIBA have done everything asked of them by the IOC to sort out the problems that bedevilled the organization and are willing to do more if shortcomings are pointed out to them.

AIBA will have a chance to give verbal testimony to the

inquiry in addition to the 7,000 pages of documents they have already submitted, but Virgets believes there will not be enough time to sufficiently inform the IOC’s decision.

“We will have approximately two hours to address all the concerns of this inquiry committee and then, less than 36 hours later, they give a report,” he said.

“Considering the monumental decision, shouldn’t we be given more time to talk? And shouldn’t the executive board have an opportunity to address AIBA to give us an opportunity to rebut?

“We just find this inappropriate.”

Tuesday May 07, 2019

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Kaieteur News

Hand-in-Hand 3-day Inter-County U-19 cricket

MOM Sinclair, Algoo & Deodat fire Berbice to 141-run win

Alex Algoo blasted a quick-fire 52 for B’ce at Lusignan yesterday.

A Man-of-the-Match performance from Junior Sinclair who was unbeaten on 50 and captured 3-12, a fifty from Alex Algoo and 4-43 from left-arm spinner Nigel Deodat give def e n ding Champions Berbice an emphatic 141run victory over Essequibo when the final day of their Hand-in-Hand three-day Inter-County U19 rain affected second round game ended at Lusignan yesterday.

Scores: Berbice 200 & 131-2 declared,

Essequibo 62 & 123.

Berbice, with a lead of 138 runs, began their second innings on the final day and raced to 131 from just 13.2 overs before declaring at 10:55hrs on a day again interrupted by rain.

Algoo waded into in the Essequibians with an array pugnacious shots as he shared in a 93-run opening stand with Sinclair.

Algoo’s flaying blade clobbered the ball over the big boundaries four times

in his entertaining 52 lasted 28 balls and 36 minutes with five of his nine boundaries being fours.

Sinclair matched him shot for shot as the Berbice openers both with Guyana Youth team experience, batted in t20 mode.

Algoo was severe on off-spinner Amit Persaud, who had the last laugh as he attempted his fifth six and caught at long-off before Anderson (12) was removed by Lance Roberts at 112-2, to give the offspinner from Pomeroon, his fifth wicket of the match.

S e o n G l a s g o w, w h o replaced Anderson, was not out 12 as the declaration came as soon as Sinclair, who hit three fours and four sixes from 33 balls and 63 minutes, reached his second half century of the contest.

Persuad’s 1-39 from 3.1 overs gave him his 14th wicket in the tournament but has bowled the most overs and conceded the most runs, while taking the most wickets in the tournament.

Set the improbable task of scoring 270 to win, Essequibo got another good start from openers Kevin Christian and Orlando Jailall as they deified the pacers with fluent stroke play.

Kelvin Umroa, who had 5-24 in first innings, was removed from the field for u n b e c o m ing behaviour after Christian had swept him and cover-drove him majestically for consecutive boundaries.

Anderson had Christian caught at gully with a ‘back of a length’ delivery which left the right-hander and ‘squared him up’ after he had stroked two fours and two sixes in an

Kevin Christian top scored with 31 in a losing cause for E’bo at Lusignan yesterday.

Nigel Deodat took 4-45 at Lusignan yesterday. entertaining 26-ball 31.

The pair, with the only century opening stand in the tournament following their 110 partnership against Demerara at Bourda, added 44 but the familiar sight of wickets tumbling after the removal of the top two, was again evident yesterday.

The versatile

Anderson, who opened the bowling, replaced Sinclair know more his quick off spin, as wicket-keeper.

Sinclair quickly struck when he bowled Amir Singh (13) before having Jailall (24) caught down the leg side by Anderson at 71-3 as two wickets fell in the space of 10 runs.

And when Deodat got

rid Elian Whyte (12) and Lance Roberts (13) no one else reached double figures as Sinclair (3-12) and Umroa (2-23) supported Deodat.

The final round is set for tomorrow with Berbice facing Demerara at Bourda and the Essequibo battling the U-17s at Everest.

(Sean Devers)

Cadogan century boosts Bacchus Bulls in Banks DIH softball league in E’bo Neiland Cadogan struck a fine century as Bacchus Bulls defeated Nazz XI by 85 runs when the Banks DIH 15/15 softball league commenced recently on the Essequibo Coast.

At Affiance, Cadogan struck four fours and 12 sixes in scoring 111 and got support from Latchman Rohit 38 as Bacchus Bulls posted 180-3, batting first. Nazz XI were bowled out for 95 in reply.

Derick DeSilva made 31 and Leyland Mc Donald 22; Thakur Samlall grabbed 4-35 and Yougeshwar Lall 2-20.

Adventure beat Young Warriors by five wickets.

Young Warriors took first strike and made 103 all out in 12 overs. Lukesh Ramnarine scored 31 as Shaz Grovesnor took 2-30.

Adventure responded with 104-5 in nine overs.

Grovesnor made 49; Sedesh Deolall took 3-40.

Adventure beat Nazz XI by 70 runs. Adventure batted first and managed 180-8.

Dellon Grovesnor made 49 and Andy Dass 44; Delon McDonald grabbed 4-35.

Nazz XI replied with 110-6.

Narendra Sarabjeet made 27 and Derick DeSilva 22; S. Rajbanie had 2-35.

Bacchus Bulls defeated

Neiland Cadogan

Patrick Rooplall

Young Warriors by 44 runs.

Bacchus Bulls scored 150 all out in 12 overs. Ganesh Mangal struck 84, while Yougeshwar Lall got 20 as Sedesh Deolall grabbed 4-25.

Young Warriors were limited to 106 all out in reply. Aron Tiebowan made 34; Yaseer Mohamed claimed 3-40.

At Queenstown, Queenstown/Ariel scored 112-5, batting first with Frank Satrohan scoring 40; S. Suraj captured 3-22. SVC Spartans made 107 in response.

Eknauth Persaud scored 26.

SVC Spartans managed 89 all out in 10 overs. V. Rajpersaud scored 30. RGX1 responded with 90-1 in 15 overs. Dovendra Mohan made 36 and David Williams 25.

Queenstown/Ariel made 191-4, taking first knock.

Jonathan Fernandes stroked 62 and Frank Satrohan made 51. Sunrisers Masters were sent packing for 98 in reply.

Sunrisers Masters made 102 all out in 10 overs. S. Singh made 28; RG XI replied with 103-2 in seven overs.

Dovendra Mohan made 48.

At Reliance, Die Hard Brothers posted 210 with Patrick Rooplall scoring 84, Reliance Hustlers replied with 180. Narendra Madholall scored 65. Both teams got a walk over from Crown XI. At Walton Hall, Queenstown/ Ariel beat Richmond Raves, Richmond Ravens defeated Red Strikers and Queenstown/Ariel overcame Red Strikers.

PAGE 30

Tuesday May 07, 2019

Kaieteur News

Linden Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Competition

Champs Silver Bullets among winners on Sunday

Part of the action in the Linden Zone of the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Competition.

Defending champs Silver Bullets and former champions Dave & Celina were among the teams registering victories when play in this year’s Linden Zone of the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Competition continued on Sunday with six matches, at the Mackenzie Market Tarmac.

The reigning title holders beat High Rollers 3-0, while Dave & Celna’s escaped with a 1-0 win in a penalty shootout against Wisroc after regulation time failed to break a 3-3 deadlock.

Action in the competition resumes this Friday with more action at the Silvercity Hardcourt.

Complete Results Guinness Goal-[GG]-2 Goals Game-1 Haynes Hitters-0 vs Quiet Storm-1 Mark Richards-4th Game-2 Amazings-4 vs NK Ballers-2 Amazing Scorers David Fieldtkou-8th, 10th and 13th Errol Davis-6th NK Scorer Jamal Harris-[GG]-18th Game-3

Assassa Ballers-1 vs Capital Storm-0 Dorwayne Luke-12th Game-4 Dave and Celina’s AllStars-3 vs Wisroc-3 Dave and Celina’s won 10 on penalty kicks Dave and Celina Scorers Keon Sears-[GG]-18th Steve Brewley-10th Wisroc Scorers Orandy Wills-[GG]-19th

Omeion Wills-7th Game-5 Swag Entertainment-4 vs Presidential-0 Colwyn Drakes-5th and [GG]-19th Delon McAllister-3rd Game-6 Silver Bullets-3 vs High Rollers-0 Robin Adams-4th Jermaine Samuels-13th Damion Williams-16th

Point Standings Group-A Team GP W L D GF GA GD Pts Assassa 2 2 0 0 3 0 +3 6 Capital Storm 2 1 1 0 2 1 +1 3 Amazings 2 1 1 0 4 4 0 3 NK Ballers 2 0 2 0 2 6 -4 0 Group-B Team GP W L D GF GA GD Pts Coomacka-B 2 2 0 0 5 2 +3 6 Quiet Storm 3 2 1 0 7 5 +2 6 Russians 2 1 1 0 8 6 +2 3 Haynes Hitters 3 0 3 0 2 9 -7 0 Group-C Team GP W L D GF GA GD Pts Retrieve 2 1 1 0 5 2 +3 3 High Rollers 2 1 1 0 4 3 +1 3 Silver Bullets 2 1 1 0 3 4 -1 3 Barsenal 2 1 1 0 2 5 -3 3 Group-D Team GP W L D GF GA GD Pts Swag Entertain. 2 2 0 0 7 3 +4 6 Wisroc 2 1 1 0 2 1 +1 3 Dave & Celina 3 1 2 0 6 7 -1 3 Presidential 3 1 2 0 2 6 -4 3

Third and final day’s play abandoned due to rain at Bourda Following a heavy downpour, the entire third and final day’s play of the Hand-in-Hand Inter County U-19 three-day cricket tournament game between the Select XI and Demerara was called off yesterday at Bourda.

The Select U-17 side were set to resume at 28-1 on the final day, with opener Matthew Nandu on six and Zeynul Ramsammy on 10.

Demerara made 169 in the first innings with Robin Williams scoring 54; Chanderpaul Ramraj bagged 5-34.

Rain also prevented play on the second day on Sunday.

The final round will commence tomorrow with Demerara set to face Berbice at Bourda and the Select U17 playing Essequibo at Everest.

No play was possible yesterday at Bourda.

Thomas leads Regal Masters to victory over Fisherman A fine half century from Eric Thomas handed Regal Masters a 47-run victory over Fisherman Masters when the teams collided in a 20-over fixture played recently at the Gandhi Youth Organsiation ground.

Batting First, Regal Masters managed 191-5 with the left-handed Thomas scoring 53 with two fours and

four sixes, while David Harper made 43 including three fours and two sixes; Fazleem Mohamed got 36 and Mohenrda Arjune 22. Puran Singh took two wickets for Fisherman Masters, who responded with 144 all out in 18 overs. Unnis Yusuf, Harper, Parsram Persaud and Fazleem Mohamed took two wickets each.

Eric Thomas

Kompany stunner moves Manchester City one win away from title

Corona Futsal continues tonight Play in the Corona sponsored Futsal Indoor football tournament continues tonight at the National Gymnasium with the second night of elimination matches.

A keen night of competition is anticipated and six games are scheduled to be played.

The fixtures are: 5/7/2019 Elimination Round Night 2 Gymnasium Match # 19:30 hrs Pele vs California Square 7 20:15 hrs GFC vs West Front Road 8 21:00 hrs Broad Street vs Mocha 9 21:45 hrs Order and Discipline vs Future Stars 10 22:30 hrs Beacons vs Sophia 11 23:15 hrs Eastveldt vs Tiger Bay 12

Manchester City’s Vincent Kompany celebrates scoring their first goal with team mates against Leicester City at Etihad Stadium. (REUTERS/Phil Noble) Manchester City can win the Premier League title with a victory at Brighton on Sunday, after a thundering long-range drive from captain Vincent Kompany in the 70th minute gave them a 1-0 win over Leicester City.

With yesterday’s victory in their penultimate game, City return to the top of the table with a one point advantage over Liverpool who host Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday.

It was the longest City

fans have had to wait for a goal at the Etihad in this Premier League season and with nerves fraying, there was a growing sense that an impressive Leicester could wreck Pep Guardiola’s hopes (Continued on page 25)

Kaieteur News

Tuesday May 07, 2019

PAGE 31

GFF/EBFA Senior League kicks off

Grove Hi Tech trudges past Kuru Kururu Warriors in opening match

Timehri Panthers Captain, Andrew Melville receives the trophy for the best dressed team at the march-pass from GFF President, Wayne Forde.

The 2019 East Bank Football Association Senior League, sponsored by the Guyana Football Federation, kicked off yesterday afternoon at the GFF National Training Center following a colorful marchpast of teams, witnessed by Director of Sports Christopher Jones, GFF Boss Wayne Forde and EBFA President Franklin Wilson among others.

The lone match contested saw Grove Hi Tech defeating a determined Kuru Kururu Warriors 6-3 to set the tone for what is

anticipated to be an exciting league where eleven (11) clubs would be contesting.

Taking part in the marchpast were the two above named clubs, Herstelling Raiders, Diamond United, Friendship All Stars, Timehri Panthers, Samatta Point/Kaneville and Agricola Red Triangle. The Referees who would be in charge of matches were also part of the march-past; the best dressed team selected

by Forde and Jones was Timehri Panthers and they were rewarded with a trophy.

Wilson in brief

welcoming remarks expressed gratitude to President Forde and the GFF for fulfilling his commitment to sponsor the senior league. Wilson cautioned the players to be at their best game and be disciplined on and off the field of play.

He informed that there would be multiple tournaments being played this season, reminding that the KFC U-20 knock-out is underway, the senior league has just started and the NAMILCO Flour Power U17 will kick off immediately

Grove Hi Tech and Kuru Kururu Warriors (green) battle it out yesterday at the GFF National Training Facility, Providence, East Bank Demerara. following the conclusion of the U20, later this month.

Jones in his remarks congratulated the EBFA and GFF for the work they have been collectively engaged in towards the development of youths along the East Bank and Linden Soesdyke Highway corridor.

He told the players that they should consider it a privilege to be playing on the first artificial turf in Guyana and should feel proud it is located at Providence on the East Bank of Demerara.

“I would want to commend President Wayne

Forde and the GFF for making this possible. We would continue to lend support in whatever way we can for the development of football but of course for you the player, there is an old say, to whom much is given, much s expected.

The fact that the GFF would have invested millions of dollars for a facility such as this, it provides that opportunity for you to play on an international turf, so what is expected of you is that we see the same discipline that Mr. Wilson was referring to,

Director of Sport, Christopher Jones officially kicks the ball to GFF President Wayne Forde to start the senior league. EBFA President Franklin Wilson and players from Grove Hi Tech and Kuru Kururu Warriors looks on.

GFF Elite League Season 4

Ann’s Grove, Buxton United stun Police and GDF - Den Amstel record biggest win on hectic weekend With the May/June rainy season seemingly upon us, upsets in the Guyana Football Federation, Elite League Season 4 was the order of super Sunday at the GFF National Training Facility, Providence, East

Bank Demerara on the weekend.

Sunday’s triple header produced some stunning results, Buxton United capping off the day when they needled the Guyana (Continued on page 27)

Den Amstel on the move against Victoria Kings.

we see talent coming out from these matches and we get the best out of each and every one of you.”

President Forde in feature remarks stated that it is a moment of personal pride for him and his executive to witness what was unfolding before his eyes.

“It was captured best when Mr. Jones stated that, to whom much is given, much is expected. The turf that we are on is the outcome of tremendous efforts throughout the body of (Continued on page 25)

t r o Sp Gayle named vice-captain for WC, Hope for Tri-Nations West Indies talisman Chris Gayle.

Hand-in-Hand 3-day Inter-County U-19 cricket

MOM Sinclair, Algoo & Deodat fire Berbice to 141-run win

GFF Elite League Season 4

Ann’s Grove, Buxton United stun Police and GDF - Den Amstel record biggest win on hectic weekend

Man-of-the-Match Junior Sinclair followed up his pair of fifies with 3-12 to help B’ce to a 141-run at Lusignan.

GFF/KFC U-20 Independence KO Cup –EBFA Leg

Soesdyke Falcons smash their way into semis with 13-2 win over Diamond United

Tyrone Khan (2nd right) scores one of his three goals against Diamond United yesterday at the GFF National Training Center, Providence, EBD. Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.