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Wednesday May 09, 2018
GuySuCo, the SPU and Good Governance A salute to our nurses DEAR EDITOR, One of the most learned individuals, still alive and kicking today, is none other than Mr. Earl Brandis John. An elderly statesman, Mr. E. B. John is an avid reader and prolific writer. His penchant for prudence is second to none and he is, indeed, a product of his environment. Mr. John has had a long and bittersweet relationship with GuySuCo and he can often be heard reminiscing the glory days of Sugar when the Company was run by Bookers/Jessels and through Nationalization, as State Owned. He served several stints thereafter, as recent as from January 2016-March 2018 in the capacity of Human Resources Director before finally calling it a day. A learned individual, Mr. John tends to focus more on the academic approach to practical matters. I read with much interest his penned Letter to the Editor, SN edition, dated 04/04/ 2018 and must say that it is well articulated and certainly interesting, to say the least. I note that a number of questions he put forward, speak to the legality of governance as it relates to GuySuCo and the current role of the SPU, NICIL. It also speaks of dissent amongst the Coalition Government as it relates to the above. Very provocative thinking that is not without merit. As I said before, Mr. John is a very learned individual. Mr. John served as a Director when the Interim Management Committee and the then Board was in effect, and
was very much aware/involved with what transpired during most of their tenure. He had to, since he sat on all of the Board Meetings and was instrumental in advising them and the IMC on dealing with all Human Resource-related matters. His bark being worse than his bite, it hurt him tremendously when he compares the Sugar Industry of yesteryear with that of today. He is fondly reminiscent of the glory days of Sugar and may come across to many as a pseudo-colonial thinker. His admiration of Harold Davis Snr., former Executive Chariman of GuySuCo as a man of substance, is evident and articulated passionately, should one tap into his thinking as regards Leadership. A drinking man, the professional façade erodes during libation and once the subject matter is artfully elucidated, the humane Mr. John surfaces, for he would forcibly state his disappointment about the collapse of the Industry and wreak havoc on the Management of the Company, of which he appeared impotent to curtail. One gets the succinct impression that in his more formidable years, he would have taken to arms. The loss of jobs for thousands of employees with the closure of the four Sugar Estates, rocked him to the core. This was not the way it was supposed to be and it affected his performance, since to bear such burden as a very Senior Executive member of staff, was just too much. An era was gone and subsequently,
so too was Mr. John. I have the greatest respect for this Elderly Statesman, but must ask this question of him: Who was responsible for this dastardly state of affairs and why is it that a Commission of Inquiry has not been established to investigate the G$32B of the taxpayers’ monies spent, the failure to generate over G$52B in revenue during the fiscal period 20162017 and the failure of the then Board and IMC to hand over to NICIL, estates that could be readily privatized on or around their potential value?Such a COI should also examine the Leadership of the Company in its entirety. But even before then, His Excellency, President David Granger may want to set matters right by invoking his Presidential Authority and call a spade a spade. Since the then Board and the IMC failed miserably under the Minister of Agriculture and whose collected failure has impacted negatively on the growth of the economy, then from a practical perspective, it is only fitting that the Company be wrested from their clutches and placed in competent hands. If this means under another Ministry and hence Minister, and once His Excellency is pleased with the tidings of New Management, so be it. Since it is a State Owned entity, then it is only fitting that the Minister of State take charge to stem its hemorrhaging. The Minister of Agriculture cannot allow pride to prejudice progress and so he
UPDATING OF NPTAB WEBSITE DEAR EDITOR, I am writing this letter addressing it to the National Procurement & Tender Administration Board (NPTAB). It’s short and straight to the point. My question is why the NPTAB website is not up-todate. The last posting of min-
utes on that site was April 10, 2018. I would assume that there are staffers that are employed to ensure that the site is up-to-date, since a contractor may not be able to stay for the opening of his/her bid, so they would usually visit this site to ensure all went well.Also I may be going out
on a limb here and I may be wrong, but are only selected tender openings featured in the newspapers. There was an opening on May 2, 2018 and there was nothing in the papers for that. I look forward to a response from the NPTAB. Ryan Scott
should gracefully step aside and make way for good governance. There is nothing academic about the Future of the Nation. We must make way for new, effective and efficient thinking. For to conceptualize, analyze, organize and successfully execute a project of such magnitude in today’s World amidst the largely selfinflicted fiscal woes of GuySuCo, requires shedding the pseudo-colonial thought process and adopting a more practical approach to the business. Let loose the young, gifted and vibrant professionals and let them grow to the benefit of all and sundry for a nation and country. It is, after all, the dawn of a new era Mike Persaud Sr.
DEAR EDITOR, This week is designated International Week for Nurses. It is a fitting time to reflect on the contribution of nurses to health care delivery in Guyana. Our nurses are deserving of much more recognition and respect than is being accorded them by the authorities. They work long hours under difficult and challenging circumstances. It is time for the remuneration package for nurses to be enhanced to correspond with the importance and nobility of the profession. For too long our nurses in the public sector have been subsidizing the health sector by working for salaries that are way below their true worth. In addition, they do not benefit from duty-
free concessions, even though many put their safety at risk by having to find public transportation after completing night shifts. I think the Government should, as a matter of urgency, put in place an enhanced incentive package for our nurses which should include better salaries, duty-free concessions, subsidized housing or house lots and opportunities for further training. This will help to reduce the high rate of exodus of our nurses in particular those with years of experience and who would have completed their contractual obligations. I take this opportunity to salute our nurses on the occasion of International Week for Nurses. Hydar Ally
CORE: Political Patronage in Action DEAR EDITOR, Political patronage is now adorned with a new disguise. It now travels under the name of CORE, where millions of taxpayers’ dollars are squandered to reward the ‘foot soldiers’ of the PNC and the AFC. This is so glaring since the ‘employees’ comprise members and supporters of these two parties and are predominantly from one racial grouping. The acronym CORE stands for Community Organized for the Restoration of the Environment, but this is a misnomer, since these ‘employees’ are directly under the control of ‘political hacks’ and are at their beck and call, since most of the work done is for these political hacks. It is estimated that there are over 400 CORE workers who work only four days per week and four hours per day - a total of 16 hours per week - and are paid $60,000 per month! In contrast, the CIIP (Community Infrastructure Improvement Project) workers who work the same number of hours and days are paid just $24,000 per month. In addition, these workers are given expensive gear such as brush
cutters. Minister Ferguson had said that a person will be capable ‘to earn an honest day’s pay through an honest day’s work’. I will suggest to her that the CORE workers in Region 6 have not lived up to her expectations! Again, in contrast, the CIIP workers clean and dig drains and they weed hard bushes and grass while the CORE workers in Region 6 are idle most of the time when they are not engaged in doing chores for their political masters and mistresses. Some can also be seen in front of the residence of an AFC member at Fyrish Village cleaning the sides of the Corentyne Highway. This work is under contract to a private contractor by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, so why the duplication? The CIIP workers are weeding, digging, clearing and cleaning the streets and drains of the various communities, so what work are the CORE workers doing? It must be recalled that the CORE workers should be responsible for ’environmental upgrade, weeding, cleaning, drainage clearing, sanitation
and general beautification’, but unfortunately these works are duplications of works already done by the private contractor, the CIIP and the NDCs. This is massive wastage of our taxpayers’ dollars! At our RDC Statutory meeting held on 4th May, 2018, the REO, the Chairman and the Vice Chairman and the entire RDC could not say who employs and controls the CORE workers in Berbice, what work they are doing or who is responsible for their supervision and payment. It is not even known how many CORE workers are on the Ministry of Infrastructure’s payroll. The Chairman had wanted these CORE workers to do some cleaning at the Highbury Indian Arrival Site, but no one could say through whom they can be contacted. It was also mentioned by an NDC Councilor from #52/74 NDC, that efforts to get them to clean the #63 Beach were futile. They did no work at the Cheddi Jagan and Janet Jagan Memorial Site at Babu Jaan, they did no work at the Rose Hall Martyrs’ Site, so it (Continued on page 6)
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WHAT’S SAUCE FOR THE GOOSE IS SAUCE FOR THE GANDER DEAR EDITOR, It would be difficult to find a citizen of Georgetown who was not nauseated and repelled by the photograph in the newspapers recently of the Town Clerk of Georgetown and his subordinates pouncing upon and brutishly removing over 30 hapless vendors who have been plying their trade on Alexander Street. I say to the ‘King’ and his heavies, just as Bayard Rustin once said, if we desire a society of peace, then we cannot achieve such a society through violence. If we desire a society without discrimination, then we must not discriminate against anyone in the process of
building this society. If we desire a society that is democratic, then democracy must become a means as well as an end.Why do they not remove the vendors at the corner of Regent Street and Avenue of the Republic obliquely opposite City Hall who are selling rat poison and other pesticides? The Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Control Board (PTCCB) of Guyana has said numerous times that the sale of pesticides and other toxic chemicals from roadside vendors is dangerous to health and against the law. Indeed the law requires vendors to be certified before they sell. These vendors are not certified. It seems as though the folks at City Hall
are completely unconcerned that according to the World Health Organization, 44.2 in every 100,000 Guyanese commit suicide every year – compared to the global average of 16. And the epidemic affects young and old, with children as young as 10 killing themselves, with the most common method being through the use of poison, generally involving pesticides or rat poison. Why don’t they stop the vendors around the Bourda and other markets from selling chicken, especially after hours? The Municipal and District Councils Act Chapter 28:01, City Market -By- Laws states that: “it shall not be lawful for any person to bring without permission of the Council uncooked fresh meat into the Market. Also, no person shall sell or offer for sale in any market fresh meat except at a stall set aside and appropriated for that purpose”. So why is the City turning a blind eye to the selling of poultry meat outside the markets? But aside from these two egregious examples, one just has to look at the pavements of Regent, Robb, Water, King, Wellington, America Streets etc and one will see them chockfull with vendors. Are they not as illegal as the ones they are removing from Alexander Street? Are they not interfering with traffic as well and blocking entrances?What about the mobile fish caravan that is illegally occupying a spot at the corner of Regent and King Streets? Should they not be removed?Come on City Hall. “What’s sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.” Sincerely, Modi Sankar
Wednesday May 09, 2018
More focus needed on children ages 0-10 to improve the quality of our citizenry DEAR EDITOR, As I continue to examine the Guyanese society in an effort to identify the gaps and hindrances to our growth and development, I would like point out that one of the major gaps, which is also a hindrance, is the absence of a wider sense of ‘shared values’. Here is where the Ministries of Education and Social Protection have to be more strategic and systematic at three levels: Nursery Education, Primary Education and the family. The ideal ages to teach values are between birth to 5 years or birth to ten years old. It is difficult to teach some values after age 10. Most of one’s life is filtered and processed through values which were taught in infancy, early childhood and middle childhood. As one observes the behaviour of our society,
both the behaviour of individuals and institutions; for instance the pervasiveness of corruption; one recognizes a system failure in the area of ‘shared values’. As we deconstruct and reconstruct our society for the next phase of our development, we have to correct this fault line. One of the key purposes of a public education system in any society is to design, develop and educate citizens on aspects of values which are essential for the sustainable growth and development of that society. One of the reasons why organisations do on–the-job training for new employees, as well as periodic training for existing employees is to ensure that the organizational values are understood and their relevance to achieving the goals and objectives of that organization or business
is understood. While I appreciate the relaunching of the National Cadet Corps (NCC) which focuses on developing and orienting adolescence or teenagers, perhaps consideration should also be given to the re-establishment of the Young Brigades. Previously, this was the ‘Young Brigade and N a t i o n al Cadet Corps (YB&NCC); the Young Brigade was the Primary school students. This was another construct for transferring shared values. We may develop ideas other than the YB&NCC for orienting our children and young people around the principles and values necessary for transforming the country, but our Nursery and Primary levels have to be reviewed in this context, with a sense of urgency. Yours faithfully, Audreyanna Thomas
CORE: POLITICAL PATRONAGE IN ... From page 5 begs the question: What restorative works are the CORE workers doing? Minister Ferguson had proudly stated that “the aim of CORE is to restore the environment… and be involved in critical projects coming out of the Ministry”. Is this being done in Region 6? The CORE program was
launched in March 2017 and it was launched in Region 6 over a year now, yet the RDC is oblivious of its operations. There were su g g e s tions that just like the CIIP workers, the CORE workers should be controlled by the RDC, and not any political party; all employment should be processed through the RDC. The RDC knows
where these workers can be effectively deployed. Our economy cannot sustain this type of wastage of our scarce resources. It is time that Ministers Patterson and Ferguson clampdown on this practice in Region 6. Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf RDC Councilor-Region 6
Piracy flourished under the PPP... From page 4 which for years turned a blind-eye on the problem while piracy became a flourishing illegal business. A s I extend my
condolences to the bereaved families, and my prayers for those who a r e s t i l l missing, I call on the current government to wake up and not allow our fishermen to lose hope.
Sadly, in light of the recent pirate attack not a word from the Minister of Agriculture. Oh, what a shame. Sincerely, Mark A. Benschop
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Wednesday May 09, 2018
Fuel boat released after taxes paid A
fuel boat seized last month was released last week after the owners reported paid the $30M-plus in taxes that was due. Commissioner-General of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), Godfrey Statia, would only confirm that the vessel, the Jubilee, which is locally owned, was released after the taxes were paid. Questioned about regulations which say that GRA can fine a vessel or smuggler up to three times the value of the cargo, the official noted that this was the first offence. Under regulations, smuggled goods are held until the taxes due are paid. Second time offenders will be liable to pay three times the duties and taxes as a fine. Third time offenders may be prosecuted and/or be allowed to pay three times the value of the item as a fine, as compensation in lieu of court proceedings. These offences in many cases also result in seizure of the goods and confiscation of the vehicles involved. In the case of Jubilee, authorities had been
The Jubilee vessel in the Demerara River last month.
checking whether the vessel had been coming regularly to Guyana and passing the Demerara Harbour Bridge. The idea was the gauge what taxes would have been paid as against the cargo declared. For this time, it appears that there was little that GRA could have done to nail Jubilee. The vessel was detained after it was seen on the Demerara River late last
month. Officials of GRA and the Guyana Energy Agency boarded the vessel and found that it did not check in to be recorded when it passed the city’s Boat House area, at the Stabroek Market. In fact, it was only after it was boarded by officials from Customs and the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) that attempts were made to do so. The vessel, Jubilee, is said to
businessman and a member of the legal fraternity. On the vessel, authorities found over 200,000 gallons of fuel that had not been declared. If that vessel had gone scot-free, would have seen the state losing in excess of $36M in taxes. The boat was ordered held in the Demerara River under guard. GRA had not ruled out placing a fine on the captain. Last year, it fined a captain
$20M for a similar incident with a fuel smuggling boat. With up to 50 percent tax on imported fuel, smuggling has been a major illegal business with hundreds of millions of dollars in taxes lost every year by the government. With regard to the incident, GEA officials reportedly spotted the fuel boat in the Demerara River but there seemed to have been no indications that it reported to
the Boat House, located at Stabroek Market area. Officials of Customs and the Maritime Administration are stationed there. They are supposed to record the entries. Customs is supposed to check if there are items to be declared. On the boat, that the fuel was found, the officials who boarded it were reportedly told that the vessel had fuel for Suriname but that the captain was not around to verify this. GRA said that there was a time when it was easier to monitor when five or six import licences were i s s u e d b y GEA. H o w e v e r, t h e r e a r e almost 100 licences issued to persons and companies for the importation of fuel. With billions of dollars in fuel purchased annually, the profits are enormous for smugglers who make it through and don’t have to pay the 50 percent tax.
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Wednesday May 09, 2018
ExxonMobil bypasses locals, awards brokerage services to Trinidadian firm
T
here are more than 20 firms in Guyana that have been providing sterling logistical and customs brokerage services for more than 40 years. Yet, these locals were all bypassed by USA oil company, ExxonMobil, which requires such services. The American firm has given its logistical work to a Trinidadian firm, Ramps Logistics. According to its website, Ramps Logistics was founded in 1985 in Trinidad and Tobago by Ramnarine Rampersad offering solely customs brokerage services until it expanded its operations later on. Several persons from the local shipping industry, who
spoke with Kaieteur News, all agreed that a Trinidadian firm being given the hog of the logistical work needed in the oil and gas industry is a “national insult” and a “slap in the face of local content”. One experienced official said, “We have more than 20 companies here which can more than satisfy the needs of ExxonMobil in the area of customs brokerage and logistical service operations. “There is no way that a Guyanese company would have been able to do the same in Trinidad and Tobago. Ramps Logistics has been dominating the area since the beginning.”He continued, “It appears that the process for evaluation to get such a job has been carefully crafted by
Guyana Oil and Gas Energy Chamber Chairman, Manniram Prashad
ExxonMobil’s Public and Government Affairs Advisor, Kimberly Brasington
Chartered Accountant, Chris Ram
ExxonMobil. It certainly does not take local content into the mix. “This industry belongs to Guyana. Logistical work is but one of the many low hanging fruits in the oil and gas sector. Even this, ExxonMobil is taking away from locals. It is not fair and the locals with the experience will be made to suffer.” 309 UNNAMED COMPANIES It was in early March that ExxonMobil announced that it utilized more than 309 local companies last year. It is over two months and the company, which claims to be a champion of local content is still unable to name the entities it used. If ExxonMobil fails in its duty to name these compa-
nies, then its assertions on the matter cannot be taken as genuine or credible. This was noted by Chartered Accountant and Attorney-at-law, Christopher Ram. Ram recalled that it was ExxonMobil’s Public and Government Affairs Advisor, Kimberly Brasington, who had disclosed the “questionable” figure. The lawyer said that if Brasington makes such statements, then she and the company must be able to provide the evidence. The Chartered Accountant also stressed that it is for the company, not government to provide the facts since they are the ones benefitting from an extremely generous contract. Ram said, “Brasington
has a duty to provide the evidence. This is part of the company’s local content obligations Their obligation to do so is higher than any other company and it is even mandatory, otherwise how do we know that their local content efforts are genuine?” It was earlier this month that Chairman of the Guyana Oil and Gas Energy Chamber (GOGEC), Manniram Prashad, issued a challenge to Brasington to also name the companies she said ExxonMobil used in 2017. Prashad told Kaieteur News, “If these figures are accurate then we would obviously be happy about it. But 309 Guyanese-owned suppliers? That is just concerning
when there is no evidence provided at the same time to support it.” Brasington failed to provide the names of the entities. Instead, the Government Affairs Advisor said, “This should be a good news story not a controversial one. ExxonMobil Guyana, on behalf of all our contractors, was excited to share some of the project’s local content numbers and thought Guyanese would be proud. “We take building local content seriously and have demonstrated that through action and capacity building. We want Guyanese suppliers, businesses and individuals to be a part of the industry.” Brasington said that one way that Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), ExxonMobil’s affiliate in Guyana, and its contractors continue to expand local content efforts is by doing business with Guyanese companies and entities and providing grants to local charities and foundations. In 2017, Brasington said that ExxonMobil Guyana and its contractors together utilized 348 Guyanese registered suppliers, businesses, and organizations. She said that 309 of those were Guyanese owned. The Government Affairs Advisor said that many of the 309 entities mentioned are part of the supply chain, or the ‘knock-on effect’ of the industry. She stated that the direct opportunities with ExxonMobil are relatively small in number. Brasington said, “For example, The Guyana Shore Base Inc. is a direct contractor to ExxonMobil in Guyana. The Guyana Shore Base then goes out and uses local companies to do things such as complete civil work and construct pipe racks, which all gets rolled up and reported in the 309 number.” For further context, Brasington said that Guyanese businesses provide a wide range of goods and services, including public relations, catering, security, transportation, housing, communications, legal, and IT. She said that there is no limit to the category of support. The project needs all types of goods and services. Brasington said that EEPGL reports its local content metrics to the Government on a quarterly basis, including the complete list. Going forward, she said that the company can put out more detailed information on all the various categories that the 309 fit into and give more details and examples.
O
n his deathbed, Cheddi Jagan had an epiphany. He signed a note saying that he would like his wife to take over from him. It was so unlike Cheddi. He, after all, had once said at a political walkabout in Lethem that he was not bothered about what would happen after he left politics. He stated that there were others capable of leading the party and pointed to a party leader who was with him at the time as an example of someone who could take over. He did not, as has been so mischievously and opportunistically suggested, identify that particular individual as his successor. He merely pointed to that individual as an example of the individuals within the party who were capable of succeeding him. On his deathbed, he made his final choice. Cheddi was always interested in internal democracy within the party. But he had tremendous influence over the party because of who he was: the man who led the Independence struggle in Guyana after the end of the Second World War.
The party did not have to agree with Cheddi’s choice but they were all outfoxed by a skilful manoeuvre by Mrs. Janet Jagan who inveigled the party to pick her as Cheddi’s successor. With the wishes of Cheddi on pen and paper who would dare oppose? Why did Cheddi on his deathbed hand over the party to his wife? Human nature is not always rational or logical. She had been a loyal partner and ally in the political struggle. She was definitely the most senior party leader. She had founded the PPP and was the longest serving member within the leadership. She was always therefore going to be a frontrunner to take over from Cheddi. There were other reasons why Cheddi would have wanted her to succeed him. He would have had close to four years to observe the other leaders within the party. He did not like some of the things he saw, including rank opportunism. It must also be recalled that Cheddi never had the crème of the crop when it came to his party’s leaders. When he was in opposition, he was
abandoned by many people. The middle class in particular had not joined ranks with him in opposing the brutal PNC regime. As such, Cheddi had to be contented with those who were within the leadership. The fact that so many of these leaders stayed with him while more able and qualified persons disassociated themselves from the PPP had a stirring effect on the PPP’s decision to go it alone after it comprehensively defeated the PNC in the 1992 elections. Hoyte, the defeated PNC candidate, was a grouchy old man. He was never going to enter into any power sharing talks with Cheddi. He had publicly expressed his dislike for Cheddi and had gone to the extent of saying that he was dedicating his life towards ensuring that Cheddi never regained power. During a television interview in the run up to the 1992 elections, he kept beating an old Cold war drum by demanding to know whether Cheddi was still a communist. Cheddi turned to him and asked him whether he beat his
DEM BOYS SEH No handcuff big enough fuh dat fat crook Brazzy Every daag got he day…! Dem boys learn dat since dem small. Dem get big, not as big as de fat crook, Brassington, and Ashni, de shart scamp and now dem seeing dat saying come to pass. Yesterday, de Waterfalls boss man call up de prison tailor and order two pumpkin jumpsuit fuh both of dem. Stress mek Ashni lose weight. Ee own wife seh suh. De same stress mek Brassington had no control of he appetite suh he eat and put on. He wife also tell dem boys suh. He get suh fat, dat de handcuff couldn’t fit around he two hands. Dem was too small. De police had to resort to a pair of foot shackle for
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Wednesday May 09, 2018
his hands. When dem boys see dat at de court, dem went right away to de same Marriott wha dem two build fuh Jagdeo and friends. Dem tek a good drink and laugh bellyful.Dem boys laugh more bad when dem put dem in Rohee five-star hotel at de court. Dem reporters hear dem prisoners shouting, “Ohh, fresh meat come here boy.” Dem prappa feel up Brassington and play wid he backyard. Another prisoner try fuh get fresh wid Ashni and he beg dem not touch he reverse gear. De next one who going deh is Basil de Willie. He mekking a lot of out of court settlement. Dem boys believe he getting something out of every settlement. On top of dat when dem
reporters question him, he tell dem if dem can’t dance to his tune he will not be speaking to dem. Dem reporters want to know since when he become a one-man band. He is not de only one from Soulja Bai band who gon join Ashni and Brassington in Rohee five-star. Dem got others dat already thiefing and dem boys got de evidence. Just like how dem boys expose Jagdeo, Brassy, Babbie, Ashni, Gerry and others in de PPP camp, dem boys gon expose very soon dem in Soulja Bai camp who already mekking dem hand fast. Talk half and wait fuh when dem boys find new people fuh jail all dem
wife. It was Cheddi ‘s way of saying, “I do not enquire into your personal business so why are you peeping into mine?” Given the long years of loyalty to Cheddi by the leaders of the party at the time of the 1992 elections, it would have been difficult for Cheddi not to have rewarded them with Cabinet positions. His wife, Mrs. Jagan, was also believed to be viciously opposed to him sharing power with too many others outside of the party. The issue of the WPA needs clarification because it is being misrepresented. There was a falling out between the PPP and the WPA after the mischief that was weaved in the PCD during the WPA’s attempt to deny the PPP the presidential candi-
date of the PCD. But Cheddi was a man who harboured no bitterness. He was definitely keen on having Clive Thomas as a Minister of Planning and Development. He was already committed to having the then top official in the Jamaica Central Bank, Mr. Asgar Ally as his Minister of Finance. This was part of an arrangement to appease the business class in the country who wanted a noncommunist as Minister of Finance. Cheddi however wanted to have the expertise of Clive Thomas within the government. He wanted him as his Minister of Planning. A major difference arose with the WPA over this issue. The WPA did not want Cheddi to decide who he wanted. They wanted him to
negotiate with them on their involvement and they would decide who would participate. Having only won one seat, the WPA seemed to have been adopting a too inflexible position. With time being of the essence in naming the Cabinet, Cheddi had to abandon the idea of having Thomas as a Minister of Planning and Development. The WPA felt miffed. After this, there was never again any possibility of the WPA being involved in the post 1992 PPP government.
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Kaieteur News
THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN
The Attorney-General/Ramjeet incident is the story of my journalistic life This is one of the world’s most dangerous countries in terms of physical, legal, and political harm. In Guyana, there isn’t a safe place that you can escape a robbery attempt. Our political paranoia started with the spilt between Burnham and Jagan. Since then, a citizen is viewed either
as an Indian PPP supporter or an African PNC embracer. Legally, this country is terrifying swampland. It is one of the world’s most litigating corners of the world. Just say a person isn’t doing his/her job properly and you get a law suit. Some of the most bizarre libel suits you can find anywhere in
the world are found in Guyana. I challenge you to give me a more depraved example of a libel writ from any other country than the two I will offer you here. A deputy CEO is wanted in Guyana for fraud to the tune $27 million committed against the state-owned
electricity company. He will be arrested on sight if he returns but he sues for billions of dollars based on the reporting of the case. It takes a comical turn, because he cannot come to Guyana to collect the money if he wins. A state employee is charged for fraud involving hundreds of millions of dollars and because the reporter did not spell out the entire charge and left out a few words, he threatens to sue for libel if not paid fifty million dollars. This is Guyana for you; a place where people sue for things they have said and done but they still sue. People file libel writs for two obvious reasons even though what is written about them is true. One is that they ensure they shut you up and the topic will die with the filing of the writ. The second reason is to tell people that what is written about them is not true that is why they are going to court. In the second reason, there is the malicious mind at work. You have done something that shouldn’t be done but you want the world to know that you haven’t done it. This second reason is a strong impulse in the motivation to sue. This paper and I avoided a libel writ and apologized after I wrote that a certain lawyer offered a type of advice to a client that I found
questionable. Both the paper and I apologized because we both wanted to get on with our work and not be bogged down with walking up a court step. Then I found the two letters of advice that was written to the client. If those letters were not found, I could not have commented on the lawyer’s attitude. People write poisonous things about others and you dare not reply. When you do, you are told that you are an unworthy human. Why is this happening? The society has disintegrated and people arrogate to themselves the pomposity to impose their twisted values on the Guyanese people. One day, I saw a letter on page 18 in the Stabroek News by a remigrant that goes under the name GHK Lall. The date of publication was Thursday, March 26, 2015. I never met the gentleman, never saw him, never spoke to him; never wrote a line to or about him. This is what GHK Lall wrote about me; “Kissoon not only compromised himself, he contaminated himself too…yes he has deteriorated.” This was in March 2015 when the election campaign was in full swing. I suspected Lall was annoyed at my criticism of the politics of Ramon Gaskin and B.K. Tiwarie because I had written things about their PPP
Frederick Kissoon connections just days before. Here are the words of Lall in April 2018 when I replied to his incessant, unsavoury, vicious derogations of the Kaieteur News. “I seem to recall dismissing (Kissoon) a while back. Now I have to venture into the gutter that has become part of the local lifeblood. I feel stained and tainted and utterly disgusted. Is this what this country has become?” The very gentleman didn’t say these words about himself when three years ago, he said I was a contaminated person. So we end with Oscar Ramjeet accusing the Attorney-General of libel when the AG said he wanted a job in his Chambers after 2015. Ramjeet wrote; “I have never applied for any position whatsoever in the AG Chambers… deliberate falsehood filled and published with malice is actionable as a tort of defamation.” But the AG produced proof of the truth from which what Ramjeet accused the AG of libel. Guyana and Guyanese are lost in time and space.
Wednesday May 09, 2018
Kaieteur News
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Wednesday May 09, 2018
Kaieteur News
LINDO CREEK COI HEARS…
Captured teen told police ‘Fine Man’ Gang killed miners Dwayne Williams was just about fifteen years old when was he arrested by members of the Joint Services troops at Ituni, Upper Berbice River in June 2008. The youth was part of the notorious Rondell ‘Fine Man’ Rawlins,” gang at the time. Gold miners Dax Arokium, Cedric Arokium and Compton Speirs, Horace Drakes, Clifton Wong, Lancelot Lee, Bonny Harry and Nigel Torres, were reportedly tortured and killed at Lindo Creek in the Upper Berbice River in June 2008. A Presidential Commission of Inquiry, (CoI) has been established into the incident. The CoI is being presided over by retired Justice Donald Trotman. The hearings are being held at the Public Service Department of the Ministry of the Presidency in Waterloo Street Georgetown. Yesterday, Attorney for the Commission, Patrice Henry, called Police Superintendent Trevor Reid to the stand. Reid is said to have been responsible for taking statements from Williams, the teenage gang member in June 2008. He said that the lad was questioned in relation to the incident
after information surfaced that ranks of the Guyana Defence Force, (GDF) had killed the miners at Lindo Creek. At the time, Reid said that he was the Officer in Charge of Police Major Crimes Investigation Department. He recalled that the youth provided the police with valuable information as it relates to massacres at Lusignan and Bartica. He told the Commission that as result, the Police procured a Caution Statement, (C.S) from Williams who was incarcerated for the crimes. The witness recalled that the (C.S) was taken from the teen in the presence of two Pastors and another Policeman, Detective Rodwell Sarabo. According to the statement, which Officer Reid read from the witness stand, Williams told police that members of the “Fine Man” gang had tied up the miners at Lindo Creek. Williams claimed that the gang went to stay at the camp after they escaped from a shootout with security forces at Christmas Falls. The youth said he witnessed when the eight men were set ablaze by the gang members at Lindo Creek. According to the statement, Williams, now 25 years old, recalled
Police Superintendent, Trevor Reid that while at Christmas Falls they came under attack by men in camouflage clothing. “We crossed the river, we keep walking for the entire day and we walk into dem man camp. We hold on pun dem and Magic [Cecil Ramcharan] tied dem up. We cooked chowmein and we stayed there till next morning.” Williams also recalled the gang had planned on leaving the following day but they were
prevented from leaving the area because of continuous rainfall. Williams reportedly told the police that two nights into staying at the camp, “about 12 ‘o’ clock time, (I was) sleeping and (I heard) shots start burst. When me look, I see dem man (that they) tied up, they shoot up them man. Eight man been deh.” “Magic throw gasoline pun dem and light them on fire.” Reid told the Commission that ‘Magic’ was shot and killed afterwards. Continuing with Williams’ statement, Reid said the teen claimed they left the next morning after the killing of the miners, but he got separated from the other gang members, headed by Rondell “Fineman” Rawlins and secured a ride from a truck driver. He was subsequently arrested by “police in plain clothes” at a shop later that day. According to the policeman, in the statement, Williams made no mention specifically who the shooter(s) was. “He didn’t say it was Fine Man or who is was.” Questioned specifically about the whereabouts of Williams, the policeman said that he is instructed that he is currently on remand
awaiting his trial in the High Court. On Monday, Colonel Omar Khan told the Commission of recovering some missing GDF assault rifles at a crime scene at Goat Farm, Upper Berbice River in June 2008. In his evidence, Khan noted that the discovery led to the belief that the guns may have been used to commit crimes, including the execution-style killings of former Agricultural Minister Satyadeow Sawh and five Kaieteur News pressmen. According to the witness, the GDF was part of a Joint Service Expedition in the Kwakwani, Upper Berbice River after receiving intelligence, which led to the belief that ‘Fineman’ Rawlins and his gang were in the area. Khan recalled that during the Joint Operation in the area, officers “came into contact with a boy not more than 14 years who was said to be a part of the Rawlins gang along the UNAMCO trail in the area.” Khan testified that the lad who was later identified as Dwayne Williams led Security Forces to Goat Farm, a place where an AKM assault rifle, which was said to have belonged Continued on page 14
Wednesday May 09, 2018
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Kaieteur News
AG pussyfoots with operational Judicial Review Act Judicial Review is that area of the law which guards against an abuse of power by any public officer, including ministers of government, any public authority or statutory tribunal. The Judicial Review Act makes provisions for a citizen who is aggrieved by an act, omission, or decision of any public officer, to mount a challenge in the Court. The Act makes provision for citizens to challenge public authorities on the grounds that their actions are unlawful, illegal, and capricious, contrary to some written law, ultra vires or violates the rules of natural justice. Under the Act, a special authority resides with the High Court to review the Act or omission complained against and to strike it down or to compel and stop the performance of a public or statutory duty in the face of a refusal or neglect to do so. However, the Judicial Review Act which was passed in Parliament in 2010 is yet to be enforced. Under the Act, the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs is empowered to issue the publication of an order signed by him in the official Gazette to bring Judicial Review into operation.
— creates barrier to certain reliefs of Court neglected to bring the Judicial Review Act into operation, despite being requested to do so. He explained that when
Attorney General, Basil Williams Basil Williams, the subject Minister, is being accused of pussyfooting on the issue. His failure to act has resulted in at least one court action brought against him. The action was filed by Former Attorney General and PPP Member of Parliament, (MP) Anil Nandlall. Last year, Nandlall applied for an Order Nisi of Mandamus compelling the Attorney General to bring into operation the Judicial Review Act of 2010. The matter is being heard before Chief Justice (Ag) Roxane George-Wiltshire. In his application, Nandlall noted that the Attorney General has failed, refused or
the Act was passed in 2010, it could not have been brought into force since the old High Court rules made no provision for Judicial Review.
For over a century, the reliefs in this regard were granted via the medium of the prerogative writs that provide for quashing, compelling and
staying orders. The Judicial Review Act provides that the rules of procedure in respect of how the Court is to be approached by a litigant to access remedies under the said Act Continued on page 27
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Kaieteur News
Wednesday May 09, 2018
Oil and mining companies enjoy double tax exemptions Oil and mining companies are not required to pay Capital Gains Tax in Guyana. This benefit is secured in the various existing mining agreements and Production Sharing Agreements (PSA). The International
Monetary Fund (IMF) noted that this is the case in Guyana while most other countries ensure that tax on capital gains are paid by all companies. Also, IMF noted that the provisions of these contracts go against what is
stipulated in Guyana’s Capital Gains Tax Act (CGTA) The IMF made these observations in a technical assistance report it submitted to Government last year. The report titled, “A Reform Agenda for Petroleum
Taxation and Revenue Management,” covered a detailed review of Guyana’s preparation for first oil. It also includes an assessment of the PSA Guyana has with US oil giant, ExxonMobil. Capital gains refer to the
money secured from the sale of the assets of a business. The profit realized from such a transaction is usually taxed. IMF said, in Guyana, the Capital Gains Tax Act (CGTA) levies a tax of 20 percent on gains realized from any change of ownership of “movable or immovable property, rights of any kind, whether absolute, conditional, or contingent and effect of any kind, situate or having their seat in Guyana or elsewhere”. The Fund noted that while the CGTA does not explicitly refer to the sale of petroleum and mineral interests, these appear to be covered by “rights of any kind”. However, the IMF mission said that its understanding is that most mining agreements and PSAs exempt contractors from capital gains tax. Going forward as the sector continues to mature this policy should be carefully reviewed. It is also necessary to establish if there are limitations from existing double tax treaties on the right to tax gains on assets in Guyana.” Almost all taxes are being waived for oil companies operating in Guyana. Government preapproved uncapped importation for ExxonMobil. The oil giant can import unlimited numbers of items totalling more than 250. These items include All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs), Trailers, computers, other vehicles, bulldozers, cement, gravel, hammer wrenches, lights, drums, water tanks and waste bins. The items that are considered pre-approved are outlined in Annex D of the 2016 PSA. Annex D is to be applied in harmony with Article 21 of the contract. Article 21 states that ExxonMobil and all its affiliates engaged in Petroleum Operations shall be permitted to import, free of duty, VAT or all or any other duties, taxes, levies or imposts, all equipment and supplies required for Petroleum Operations including but not limited to drill ships, platforms, vessels, geophysical tools,
communications equipment, explosives, radioactive sources, vehicles, oilfield supplies, lubricants, consumable items (other than foodstuffs or alcoholic beverages or fuel), as well as all items listed on Annex D. Further, the contract states that each expatriate employee of ExxonMobil or its affiliates who have been assigned to work in Guyana will be given duty free as well. The contract also states that each expatriate employee of the Contractor (including any Affiliated Company) and of Sub-Contractors shall have the right to export from Guyana, free of all duties and taxes, and at any time, all of the items imported. IMF had also noted that the PSA that ExxonMobil has with Guyana provides for “broad tax exemptions for subcontractors.” Some of these foreign subcontractors operating in Guyana are Bristow Group Inc. Nobel Oil Group and SBM Offshore. IMF noted that Article 21 says that subcontractors engaged in petroleum operations are exempt from Value Added Tax (VAT) and import duties on imports of equipment and supplies required for petroleum operations. Interestingly this provision is only for the benefit of foreign contractors. The only tax that foreign sub contractors employed by ExxonMobil will have to pay is excise tax. The companies only have to pay that tax on fuel imports at a rate of 10 percent. However, locals have to pay 50 percent excise tax on fuel. https://www.export.gov/ article?id=Guyana-Import-Tariffs IMF said that Guyana foregoes revenue with such “generous” provisions. The Fund said, “In addition to the forgone revenue, this (the exemptions) introduces administrative complexities and risks of tax evasion. Finally, interest and dividend payments from affiliated companies’ or nonresident sub-contractors’ branch in Guyana to its foreign or head office or to affiliated companies are exempt from withholding taxes.”
Captured teen told police... From page 12 to the GDF was recovered. The rifle according to Khan is an upgrade to the AK47 rifle. The gun is said to have been issued to Police Corporal Ivan Williams, who was shot and killed during a joint operation at Buxton about a year before. Khan said that the security forces began to pay closer attention to the ‘Fine Man gang’ after discovering spent shells at a number of crime scenes, which matched 7.62 X 39 mm bullets that are used by the AKM rifles. He told the Commission that the spent shells were recovered at the residence of Agriculture Minister Satyadeow “Sash” Sawh, who along with members of his family, was gunned down. The spent shells were also found at the scene of the Kaieteur News Printery at Industrial Site, Eccles following the attack, which claimed the lives of five pressmen and at the scene of a bank robbery which occurred at Rose Hall.
Wednesday May 09, 2018
Kaieteur News
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Kaieteur News
Wednesday May 09, 2018
GNIC to provide state-of-the-art cutter suction dredge for NDIA by month end
This power pack will form part of the Cutter Suction Dredge
The Suction Cutter Head for the Dredge By Kiana Wilburg
T
he Guyana National Industrial Company Incorporated (GNIC) is constructing a state-of-the-art Cutter Suction Dredge which will form part of the mechanical repertoire of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority
(NDIA). The procurement of the dredge contract was awarded to GNIC by the Ministry of Agriculture last September. The project cost is $329M. GNIC officials explained that the Cutter Suction Dredge will be utilized to dredge the outfalls of drainage canals along the coast
and rivers to alleviate flooding in Guyana. The date for completion and delivery is May 31. Kaieteur News understands that this project consists of several aspects. The construction of the pontoon is to be done with dimensions of 96 feet in length, 26 feet in width and six feet in depth by
GNIC’s skilled fabricators and welders. Shipyard officials noted that Marine Grade Mild Steel was used in the construction .The pontoon was painted with approved Marine Quality Paints. The welding on the pontoon was also inspected and approved by Certified Welding Inspector Mr. GBM Corlette. This newspaper understands that GNIC Shipyard Manager Mr J. Ramjag and Project Engineer NDIA, Mr K. Suerattan, were present in the Netherlands for the Procurement and Testing of Cutter Suction Head, Drive unit and Spud legs System. The representative from WATERKING Company will be in Guyana for training of use of equipment supplied.
GNIC has since submitted a bid for repairs to a number of pontoons for the Demerara Harbour Bridge. In the meantime, it has entered into a contract with the Berbice Bridge Company Incorporated (BBCI), for repairs to a quantity of pontoons. GNIC has completed one of the pontoons and it has been returned to BCCI. CONTRIBUTION TO ECONOMY The Guyana National Industrial Company Incorporated (GNIC) has been quietly making quite a significant contribution to the Guyanese Maritime/Logistics Services and Manufacturing Sectors. This is according to GNIC’s CEO, Clinton Williams. The GNIC official said that over the years, the entity has
GNIC’s CEO, Clinton Williams been celebrated for its unmatched capacity to build and repair Ocean-going and Riverain Vessels which include Coastal Trawlers, Cargo Boats, Tug Boats, Passenger Ferries, Pilot Launches, and Deck and Towing Barges. These are only some of the multitude of Marine Vessels built and repaired with the well-tested skills of GNIC’s Technicians and Engineers. Williams noted that the current Dual Purpose Prison Launch ML TROY ‘W’ (as was the previous vessel ML Godfrey ‘J’) was designed and fabricated by GNIC for the Guyana Prison Service Authority in record time within international specifications/standards for less than (Continued on page 28)
Wednesday May 09, 2018
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Kaieteur News
Grove resident denies killing ACCUSED WIFE KILLER TO KNOW FATE SOON Edun Poultry Farms employee Vindra Siriram, 31, who is on trial for allegedly killing his reputed wife, is likely to know his fate tomorrow when trial Judge James Bovell-Drake surmises the evidence and direct the jurors who will thereafter be sent for deliberation on a verdict. Siriram is accused of the June 2014 murder of his reputed wife, Shelly Persaud, which occurred at the couple’s Friendship, East Bank Demerara home. Upon his arraignment Siriram who is being represented by Attorney-atlaw Damian DaSilva pleaded not guilty to the charge, which alleged that between June 9 and June 10, 2014, he murdered the 25-year-old woman. The State Prosecutors are Shawnette
MURDERED: Shelly Persaud
MURDER ACCUSED: Vindra Siriram
Austin and Seeta Bishundial. Persaud, a housewife, was found at the bottom of the back stairs of the couple’s premises. Her head was partly submerged in a fivegallon bucket of water.
Following the discovery of the woman’s body, a report was made by the family to the police. Subsequent investigations led to Siriram being taken into custody and charged for the murder.
Grove, East Bank Demerara resident Mahendra Bishundial who was charged in 2012 with the murder of Edun Poultry Farms employee, Aga Khan, has denied the killing. On Monday, Bishundial, called Tyrone appeared before Justice James BovellDrakes and a 12-member mixed jury at the High Court in Georgetown, where he pleaded not guilty to the murder indictment. The charge against Bishundial alleges that on November 6, 2012 at Busby Dam, Craig, East Bank Demerara, he murdered Khan during the course or furtherance of a robbery. He is being represented by Attorney-at-law Nigel Hughes. Leading the case for the state are
MURDERED: Aga Khan prosecutors Shawnette Austin and Seeta
Bishundial. This matter will go on trial from today. A police release stated that Khan was attacked by four men, one of whom was armed with a handgun and others with knives. Khan was driving motor lorry GJJ 2806 owned by Edun Poultry Farms, east along Busby Dam, when the men walked into the path of the vehicle causing the driver to stop. One of the men then approached Khan and demanded cash. The driver was shot to his neck in the process. Three men were arrested in connection with the matter, however, only Bishundial was charged.
A mini health check is the first step to donating blood
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Wednesday May 09, 2018
Kaieteur News
WANT
SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION, W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK;Guyanapassport application. G r a p h i c s design, advertisement. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535. ICONIC MARKETING & PRINTING –TEL: 6004212: We create A/works, logos, busi ness cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included. Budram’s Landscaping Services. Free advice, Free designs, Free after care follow up Tel#626-1044 Freezing Point Refrigeration & Electrical Service- regasing fridge, freezer, repair dryer & washer AC.Lot 114 Friendship EBD. Tel#2740755/613-1711 Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezerCall: 610-5846 or 661-8158
FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. Organic potting soil $700 Supari palm, Foxtail, Sugarcane palm @ $1000 Ashoka trees, Crotoons. Tel#626-1044 Used metal lathe, drill press, shaper & Re-surface machine. Tel# 642-7898. Portable welders 400 welding amps 1200 watts Tel#6819130/266-2700 PROPERTY FOR SALE Two Family house located at 8th street, Tuschen, East Bank E s s e q u i b o . Price:$13,000,000(Thirteen Million) Call: 675-1430 Property for sale (1) 3 story building at 97 Sugarcane street S/Rvldt Gardens. Price US 1.5M neg. Tel: 695-1356 & 687-8445 Lot 15 Public road #2 Village. West Coast Berbice. 49ft by 10,314ft. $18M. Contact:6487109/686-4818 Diamond EBD 2 storey concrete, 6 bedrooms, hot/ cold, secured parking, ready to move in. Price negotiable. Call: 693-4890/692-5014
TAXI SERVICE
FOR SALE/RENT Table
WANTED
PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.-CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620
(1) Manager to work on farm in Pomeroon river, must have past farming experience. #5005923/226-9768
Prime Office on Camp Street, next to Shell gas station #6447724/639-4499/622-9560. Furnished apartments 318 East Street, between Middle and New Market Streets. Phone: 226-3199, 653-0490, 641-4614 Upper flat 3 bedroom house to rent in 4th Avenue Diamond Housing Scheme. Contact No: 216-0589/6865645 Hair and nails station to rent in Middle Road LaPenitence $6,000 weekly. Contact#6831080 One bedroom apartment 550 Sq feet for working couple or single person $35,000 monthly, water included. Call: 638-8858 Room for working couple/ single person. Light, water, bed included. $28,000 monthly, $28,000 security @ South Riumveldt. Tel:6230076
VEHICLE FOR SALE (1) 2006 Toyota Premio, Excellent condition, very low mileage. Call: 698-1134 (1) Toyota Premio & (1) Pitbull Minibus 19 seater, Price negotiable, owner leaving country. Contact: 609-9365
LOST/STOLEN Reward offered: Lost Venezuelan passport and ID, Name: Nancy Lopez. Call: 672-4572/ Email: sgtdesouza2012@gmail.com
Excavator operator to work with mining firm. Contact: 5005923/226-9768 Live in waitress to work in bar. Call: 604-6606/ 692-4649 Experienced Cashiers, Roti/ Puri cooks, Handyboys. Apply Hack’s Halaal with H/ written application 5 Commerce St. 1 Experienced waitress & livein domestic, must know to cook, 18-25 & 35 from East Coast. $20,000 weekly respectively. #610-3974 1 Experience Female cook to cook for family in the interior. #699-4718 Attractive live in waitressCall: 327-0252/674-4665 Immediate kitchen assistant needed. Serious inquiries only. Call Tonya: 644-5884
Zeelugt-$2M Parfaite Harmonie $1.5M Neg. Tel#697-6311 Parfaite Harmonie $1.5M $1.3M $2.5M Diamond $4.5M Eccles Front $6M Tuschen House $5.5M Uitvlugt $2.8M Call: 666-2326
18,731 acres mining land Gold & Diamond Mazaruni $5,000,000 USD Contact: 6951356, 687-8445 Land of Canaan: Water & Lights $5M per acre Schnoord 50x100-$3M Durban 60x245ft $45M. Call: 231-2199/618-7483
VACANCY Experienced male sales attendant, stocktaking knowledge, computer literate, excellent service attitude, able bodied. Key Food McDoom Village. Chef and Assistant cookPreferably Carnegie trained. Call 225-7933, or visit 173 Sheriff street. One male Janitor. Apply in person at Alabama Trading, Georgetown Ferry Stelling, Stabroek. If you need a job or training, we can help www.jobfairworldwide.com Call: 233-6997, 622-1957 Labourer/Porter to work in Georgetown. Call: 618-2020 Experienced painter. Apply in person at Alabama Trading, Georgetown Ferry Stelling, Stabroek.
SALON Make-up Courses with Mac, B a r e M i n e r a l s , etc.Cosmetology Courses: $90,000 Nail Technician Course: $35,000. Call: 647-1773/688-0009
(1) Diesel mechanic to work in interior, knowledge of Doosan excavator & Perkins/Duetz engine. #500-5923/226-9768
LAND FOR SALE
(2) Prime land (50x100ft) in Duncan street. Contact Pete’s Real Estate, Lot 2 George street. #223-6218/623-7805
GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 2257878 (24HRS)
American Pool Tel#277-0578
FOR RENT
CAR RENTAL PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS FROM $4000 & UP, SUV’S PER DAY- CALL:643-5122/ 6 5 6 - 0 0 8 7 , ,EMAIL:PRO_AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.COM
Workshop Driver, Operation supervisor, Registered Car/ Van license. Call: 227-1717
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Vacancy for domestic maid. Call: 231-0734
Domestic worker to work at home on East Coast Demerara. Contact: 626-3253 for details.
Vacancy for an real estate agent $35,000 stipend plus commission. Text shawn #618-7483
Wednesday May 09, 2018
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Kaieteur News
Two jailed, one remanded on separate narcotics trafficking charges Two men were on Monday jailed, while one was remanded at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on separate drug trafficking charges. Gordon Nedd, a 45-year old father of six, stood unrepresented before Magistrate Judy Latchman. He was sentenced to three years in jail and fined $30,000 for trafficking marijuana after pleading guilty. He admitted that on May 4, last, at Cummings Street, Alberttown, Georgetown, he had in his possession 27 grams of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking. Nedd told the court that he works as a lumber dealer and would usually sell juice and “bomb”. According to the facts presented by Police Prosecutor, Arvin Moore, the police officers were on usual patrols duty when they saw motorcar, PWW 7244. The car
was subsequently intercepted and searched during which a quantity of seeds, stems and leaves were found in the trunk. The prosecutor added that Nedd admitted to ownership of the drug and was escorted to the Alberttown Police Station. Nedd told the court that on the day of incident he was sporting with his boss and workmates when the cannabis, which was wrapped was thrown into the truck of the car. He accepted the wrong he did and pleaded with the Magistrate for leniency. Meanwhile, a 20-year-old construction worker who works in the interior was also jailed on a narcotics trafficking charge. Kurt Steele pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on May 4, last, at Broad Street Georgetown, he had 45.3 grams of cannabis in his possession for trafficking.
Police Prosecutor, Arvin Moore told the court that on the day in question, Steele was seen riding a bicycle while holding a black plastic bag in his hand. He was stopped by police officers who conducted a search on him as well as the bag. A quantity of stems, leaves and seeds suspected to be cannabis was found in the bag and Steele was taken to the Ruimveldt Police Station. In his defence, he told the court that he saw the cannabis on the road and was going to plant it in his yard. Steele was jailed for four years and fined $30,000. And Leroy Holder of 25 Durban Street, Werk-en-Rust was remanded for having in his possession 1020 grams of cannabis in his celling. The 39-year-old pleaded not guilty to the charge, which alleged on May 4 at Werk-enRust, he had the narcotic in
his possession for trafficking. Holder is a taxi driver, who lives with his reputed wife and kids. According to the defendant’s, Attorney-at-law, George Thomas, Holder was at home when the police came and conducted a search of
the premises. He stated that his client has no knowledge of the narcotics. Police Prosecutor, Arvin Moore told the court that on the day of the bust, the police went to the home of the defendant and found the said
narcotic in the ceiling of the washroom area. Holder admitted that the cannabis belonged to him but refused to provide police with a statement, the prosecutor added. The matter will be heard again on May 21.
AG pussyfoots with operational... From page 13 are contained in the “rules of court”. The “rules of court” referred are the new Civil Procedure Rules, since the “rules of court” which were extant at the time, made no provisions whatsoever for judicial review applications. According to Nandlall, the new CPR elaborately sets out the procedure by which the remedies contained in the judicial review can be applied for in the court. He noted that the issue has become even more complex with a recent ruling by the Caribbean Court of Justice, (CCJ). The CCJ in a ruling in the case of the Medical Council of Guyana versus Jose Ocampo Trueba outlined that the Crown Office Rules of 1906 were no longer applicable and
that Guyana’s Civil Procedure Rules 2016 should be applied to all civil proceedings. In challenging the Medical Council’s refusal of his application for full registration, Dr Ocampo filed an application for judicial review in the High Court. According to the CCJ, Judicial review is a court proceeding where a judge assesses the lawfulness of a decision or action made by a public body. However, the CCJ also ruled that Guyana’s Civil Procedure Rules 2016 should be applied to all civil proceedings. In light of Williams’ refusal to make judicial review available to litigants in Guyana, the Former Attorney General says lawyers are faced with unnecessary barriers in seeking certain reliefs by the Court.
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Kaieteur News
$$$ millions recovered in seized goods for year - chicken, mosquito coil confiscated in latest GRA operations The seized chicken and mosquito coil last week.
The Law Enforcement and Investigation Division (LEID) of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) says it is continuing its fight against smuggling. From January to date, LEID has been able to recoup hundreds of millions of dollars in Customs Duties, Excise Taxes, Environmental Levy and VAT, and fines. It has also confiscated significant quantities of commonly smuggled items, which include alcohol, foreign chicken and mosquito coils.
According to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), on May 2, last, following another sting operation on the Atlantic Ocean, officers intercepted a motor vessel containing hundreds of boxes of foreign chicken and mosquito coils. The captain and two sailors who were on board the vessel were apprehended and taken into custody. These were first time offenders. “However, many of the perpetrators are repeat offenders. Second time offenders will be liable to pay three times the duties and
taxes as a fine. Third time offenders may be prosecuted and/or be allowed to pay three times the value of the item as a fine, as compensation in lieu of court proceedings,” GRA explained.These offences in many cases also result in seizure of the goods and confiscation of the vehicles involved. “The LEID operations exemplify the GRA’s commitment to deter, disrupt, and prosecute individuals who attempt to import prohibited items, and evade the payment of their fair share of duties and taxes.” According to the authority, whistleblowers have significantly improved LEID’s performance and the agency’s revenue collection. The general public must be complimented in aiding the efforts in stamping out the smuggling activities. For the year, GRA has managed to seize large quantities of cigarettes, alcohol and especially chicken in the crackdown.
Wednesday May 09, 2018
Trump abandons ‘defective’ Iran nuclear deal, to revive sanctions WA S H I N G T O N (Reuters) - President Donald Trump yesterday pulled the United States out of an international nuclear deal with Iran, raising the risk of conflict in the Middle East, upsetting European allies and casting uncertainty over global oil supplies. Trump said in a televised address from the White House that he would reimpose U.S. economic sanctions on Iran to undermine “a horrible one-sided deal that should have never, ever been made.” The 2015 agreement, worked out by the United States, five other world powers and Iran, lifted sanctions on Iran in exchange for Tehran limiting its nuclear program. The pact was designed to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear bomb. But Trump complains that the accord, the signature foreign policy achievement of his Democratic predecessor, Barack Obama, does not address Iran’s ballistic missile program, its nuclear activities beyond 2025 or its role in conflicts in Yemen and Syria.
Iran has extended its political and military influence in the Middle East in recent years, deeply worrying U.S. allies Israel and Saudi Arabia. Underscoring the tension in the region, the Israeli military went on high alert yesterday for a possible flare-up with neighbouring Syria, which is allied to Iran. An Israeli air strike targeted a Syrian army position south of Damascus yesterday but caused no casualties, a commander in the regional alliance supporting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad told Reuters. Abandoning the Iran pact was the latest element of Trump’s high-stakes “America First” policy, which has led the United States to announce its withdrawal from the Paris climate accord, come close to a trade war with China, and pull out of an Asian-Pacific trade deal. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said yesterday that Iran would remain in the deal without Washington. Iranian state television said Trump’s decision to with-
draw was “illegal, illegitimate and undermines international agreements.” Renewing sanctions would make it much harder for Iran to sell its oil abroad or use the international banking system. Iran is the third-largest member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and pumps about 3.8 million barrels per day of crude, or just under 4 percent of global supply. China, India, Japan and South Korea buy most of its 2.5 million bpd of exports. According to the U.S. Treasury, sanctions related to Iran’s energy, auto and financial sectors will be reimposed in three and six months. ‘ROTTEN’ DEAL Trump said the nuclear agreement did not prevent Iran from cheating and continuing to pursue nuclear weapons. “It is clear to me that we cannot prevent an Iranian nuclear bomb under the decaying and rotten structure of the current agreement,” he said. “The Iran deal is defective at its core.”
GNIC to provide state-of-the-art ... From page 16 50% the price for such a vessel in the international market. The construction of the ML Troy Passenger Cargo Vessel for the Guyana Prison Service commenced in May, last year, and was handed over to the Guyana Prison Service. The Twin Screw PassengerCargo Vessel has been designed for harbour and riverain service in Guyana. It has accommodation for 80 passengers above the Main Deck as well as 60 ton cargo space below main deck forward of the engine room. It contains three watertight bulkheads which divides the
hull into four compartments. The Vessel was designed with a free running speed to not less than minimum 12 knots. As for the agriculture sector, Williams said that GNIC recently fabricated and assembled the Stainless Steel Sluice being utilized for irrigation and flood control purposes for the East Demerara Water Conservancy. He said that during last year GNIC fabricated and delivered a new batch of four Pontoons for the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (East Demerara Water Conservancy). These are being utilized by the Ministry of Agriculture under the World Bank Funded Flood Control Programme.As regards Maritime Transportation Sector, significant inputs have been made with respect to Drydocking, Ship Repairs and Maintenance to Government Ferries, The Suction Hopper Dredge Steve ‘N’, Pilot Launches, GDF Patrol Crafts and Demerara Harbour Bridge Pontoons, etc. For the Mining and Quarrying Sector, the GNIC CEO said that there has been the provision of Tugs and Barges for Inland Transportation and Logistics apart from Off Loading, Storage and Delivery of Bulk, Break Bulk and Containerized Cargo allowing for efficient project execution and production operation thereafter such as Guyana Goldfields. In energy, he revealed that
GNIC was responsible for the design and fabrication of Fuel Storage Tanks for Guyoil and other sectors as well. Williams noted that Technical and Vocational Skill Development and Training in partnership with the Board of Industrial Training where skill sets were generated in the areas of Welding and Fabrication, Electrical Installation, Fitting and Machining is part of the company’s contribution to poverty alleviation and the empowerment of vulnerable youths viz: school dropouts and those from depressed communities. “This is quite apart and distinct from Cargo Handling, Stevedoring and Storage for Import and Export Cargo as Agency Representative for various International Shipping Lines.” “With respect to the way forward, we are continuously engaging a number of vendors and service providers in the Oil and Gas Sector with a view to expand our services by Logistics and Storage for Pipes, other repairs and maintenance, on-shore facility for Supply Crafts between the Oil Rigs and the Land Based Operations.” Williams said that GNIC believes that the movement in this direction will prove to be beneficial not only by expanding the company’s contribution to national development but also by providing increased employment through a new range of services for these Sectors.
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Company bids US$3.6M for the supply and delivery of medical equipment for the Ministry of Health
The following are bids presented at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board yesterday. Ten companies bid for the Supply and delivery of medical equipment for the Ministry of Health.
For the supply and delivery of equipment, the Ministry of Health received five (5) bids.
Ministry of Health received bids for the supply and delivery of drugs and medical supplies for Non-Communicable diseases.
The Ministry also received bids for the procurement of security service.
The Ministry of Health received bids for the supply and delivery of consumables- MMU40-2018-P2 The Ministry of Public Health received bids for the supply and delivery of contraceptive.
The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) received bids for the provision of janitorial and cleaning supplies.
The Ministry of Health also received bids for the supply and delivery of consumables MMU-45-2018-P6
For the supply and delivery of reagents and kits, the Health Ministry received eight bids.
The Supreme Court received one (1) bid for the supply, delivery, installation and testing of video system at Court of Appeal and the High Court.
The Ministry of Public Infrastructure received bids for sea and river defence resilience project-site 8, No 78 Village Line Path, Corentyne Coast, Region 6.
Six companies bid for the supply and delivery of female condoms for the Ministry of Health.
>>>> To be continued...<<<<<
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Local miners being “undervalued and under supported” By Kiana Wilburg he Coalition Admin istration is worried about the shortfall in gold production for the first quarter and the implications this would have on 2018 growth figures. It has turned to the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) to urge its members to increase 2018 production. But in order for there to be a boost in gold production, the fiscal conditions must first exist. GGDMA President, Terrence Adams, wrote to the Natural Resources Minister, Raphael Trotman, on Monday imploring him to make a direct intervention. Adams noted that several months ago, the GGDMA on the basis of the collective wisdom of its management committee, called upon the government, in general, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and the Natural Resources Ministry, to take urgent action so that gold production could increase to one million ounces by 2020. The GGDMA President said, “Unfortunately, since then, the local gold miners have not been able to access the key fiscal incentives promised by the government in a timely manner. In addition, the physical infrastructural works for the mining areas are moving much slower than projected. “On top of all that, mining policy uncertainties in crucial matters are not encouraging robust expansion in by the local miners. As a result, there has been a contraction in mining activities by the large local miners…” He added, “We need urgent action to be taken now by government, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the GGMC so that the local gold miners can increase gold production if we are the projected national targets…
T
“It is evident that Government has, unwittingly perhaps, undervalued, and under supported the aggregate efforts of the local miners at a time when the fiscal and other incentives offered to foreign direct investment are well known, and clearly are way beyond what local investors in the gold mining sector are accorded.” The GGDMA President told Trotman that the key technical inputs for continued growth of local gold miners are well known: earth moving equipment, fuel, mine transportation, improved processing equipment such as mechanical and hydraulic concentrators and technical support from GGMC. Adams expressed that the Association’s position is straightforward; fuel, excavators’ equipment, processing equipment and transportation equipment must attract the same fiscal incentives for large scale and mechanized medium and small scale miners. CONCESSIONS GALORE On an annual basis, foreign companies are granted billions of dollars in tax breaks while locals are made to pay the full cost of duties charged on equipment, vehicles and fuel needed to support their operations. For example, a 4x4 fourdoor Toyota Land Cruiser normally costs $14M. It attracts duty of $32M. Foreign entities like Aurora Gold Mine and Troy Resources Limited would only pay $14M but locals must pay an additional $32M duty. Furthermore, if a small mining company hopes to get at least one duty free concession, he or she must satisfy 13 benchmarks. One of these includes producing over 5000 ounces of gold. This is equivalent to more than U$5M. Only five Guyanese have the potential to do this.
…GGDMA President says they deserve same fiscal concessions granted to foreign companies
GGDMA President, Terrence Adams Significantly, while billions of dollars worth in concessions are given to these foreign entities, little is known about how many indigenous companies are used to provide them with goods and services in contrast to the foreign conglomerates contracted to provide same. Commissioner General of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, Newell Dennison, shared his views on the matter. Dennison said that he unequivocally agrees that there is an imbalance between the concessions granted to foreign companies and those granted to locals. Dennison was asked to say if there has been any monitoring of local content in the mining sector by the Commission. He noted however that this is not done. The Commissioner General said, “In their (Troy Resources and Aurora) reporting, there is a section that speaks to employment; how many are Guyanese etc. But I don’t recall seeing that for this quarter, the com-
Natural Resources Minister, Raphael Trotman pany has expended X dollars using local companies versus foreign companies. “Part of the reason I suppose, is that in the context of the mining sector, it has been considered easier to integrate oneself into the value
chain…”He added, “But I agree with the point that you are making. There is no evaluation in this regard. I would have to check back with the reporting format again to see if this is done at the level you are speaking of… I don’t recall ever seeing that Troy or Aurora said that they used about 40 companies for the year to provide so and so but it is worth investigating. I am sure that is something that can be evaluated. And I do agree that this is something we should be doing on a more immediate basis…” Chairman of the Guyana Gold Board, GHK Lall told Kaieteur News that the Guyana Gold Board is also unaware of the details regarding local content efforts by foreign companies in the mining sector.
He said that it is indeed a matter, which needs more attention, especially when one considers the magnitude of the concessions, which are granted on an annual basis. Commissioner General of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) Godfrey Statia also bemoaned the fact that there continues to be gross distortions between the concessions granted to local mining companies as opposed to foreign ones. The Tax Chief said that he has considered time and again, just how much the nation is benefitting from the billions of dollars in concessions granted yearly. He said, “There is a distortion of big miners versus small miners…But the story of gold is a web of problems and many unknowns which I agree should be highlighted.”
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UK police chief: Russia committed to safety of World Cup fans LONDON (Reuters) - British authorities expect Russian police to be in firm control of security during this summer’s soccer World Cup and determined to prevent any violence against England fans, a parliamentary committee heard yesterday. With diplomatic relations between the two countries in crisis and a history of clashes between their soccer supporters, some British media have been predicting mayhem on the streets of Russian cities. But Britain’s lead police officer for soccer, Mark Roberts, said authorities in both countries had been cooperating to prevent any violence and he believed Russia was on top of security for the complex event. “We’ve had a great number of meetings with them and
every time we’ve met them, there is a consistent reassurance that their aspiration is to put on a safe event that shows Russia to the best of its abilities,” he told parliament’s foreign affairs committee. He described the Russian approach to policing soccer matches as “paramilitary” in style and said it involved very large numbers of officers in riot gear to deter troublemakers. He also stressed that Britain expected only genuine England fans to be at the World Cup, with more than 2,000 known hooligans being prevented from going by banning orders. England fans have had a reputation for hooliganism since the 1970s and caused serious trouble at the 1998 World Cup in France and the
A view shows Volgograd Arena in Volgograd, the host city for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. (Getty Images) European Championships in Belgium in 2000. British police have since
Wednesday May 09, 2018 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Have you been reviewing your family history lately, Aries? Of special interest is your cultural background. What educational, social, and religious environment were you born into?
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You might be tempted to settle certain matters by radical means. The visionary part of you means you're painfully aware of the world's wrongs.
TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) It's time to elevate your sense of self, Taurus. You're just as good as anyone else, so why don't you believe it? The problem is that you're very sensitive about having an ego.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Today will be fairly calm in terms of outside events, but your inner world is likely to be in a rush of activity. Today you wish you could find the solution to your heartaches
GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Today your intellectual and expressive abilities should receive a boost from the planets. It's an excellent time to organize your thoughts about presenting a project
SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) You have a lot of thinking to do about your professional goals. You'll go over the elements to see if there isn't some way to approach things differently.
CANCER (June 21–July 22) Overall, the forecast for today is fairly good. The aspects seem to favor figuring out the meaning of all that's transpired over the past several weeks.
CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) You just can't do everything at once. How do you expect to reduce your stress and recuperate while at the same time continue to be a superstar
LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Have you felt somewhat lost for the past few days? The fog may lift today and enable you to situate yourself at last.
AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) This is a good moment to adapt your logic and reason to reality, Aquarius. If you don't, you're going to run into some intellectual problems.
VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) You may have been feeling somewhat disillusioned. Perhaps you lost sight of your goals or misplaced your faith in yourself. You'll feel some relief beginning today. This is an opportunity to end what has been a somewhat apathetic day
PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) It's going to be a little difficult talking to you today, Pisces. You, who can be easily influenced by others, will be listening to and criticizing everything that people say. Nothing emotional or vague is going to get into your head.
then banned known troublemakers and confiscated their passports. Not a single Briton was arrested for soccer-related disorder at tournaments in South Africa in 2010, Poland and Ukraine in 2012 or Brazil in 2014. But during the 2016 European Championship in France, England and Russia were threatened with expulsion after brawls between hooligans from both sides led to serious injuries and scenes of chaos on the streets of the southern French city of Marseille. Roberts pointed to several matches in Russia in recent years involving English teams that had passed without violence and said the threat should not be over-hyped. Several lawmakers appeared skeptical, suggesting Roberts was naive and overly relaxed, but he stuck to his assessment throughout the session. He was pressed on the degree of disruption caused by Moscow’s expulsion of Britain’s official in charge of World Cup preparations, as part of a wider diplomatic row. Roberts said that was not optimal, but the British authorities were still able to provide the best advice and services to traveling fans.
Friendship... From page 43 reach double figures with 17. Bowling for Friendship, Rondel Kaltow had excellent returns of 4 for 7 from just 3 overs, while Damion Smith and Johnathan Jagdeo grabbed 3 for 26 and 2 for 20 respectively. Friendship won by 38 runs. The GCB/DMLAS/NSC/ NSSCL continued yesterday at the Lusignan Community Centre ground on the East Coast of Demerara, with Ann’s Grove and La Bonne Intention (LBI) the teams set to battle.
Britain and Russia expelled dozens of each other’s diplomats following a March nerve agent attack on a Rus-
sian ex-spy in England, blamed by the British government on Russia which denies any involvement.
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Rahane to lead against Kiwis Ronchi, McClenaghan complete line-up for hurricane relief match Afghanistan, Rohit left out
Both Chris Gayle (right) and New Zealander Luke Ronchi will be participating in the Hurricane Relief T20 at Lord’s. LONDON, CMC – New Zealanders Luke Ronchi and Mitchell McClenaghan have been named to complete the ICC World XI for the fundraising Twenty20 International against West Indies at Lord’s later this month. The pair will join the side skippered by England whiteball captain Eoin Morgan and which includes the likes of international stars Pakistani Shoaib Malik, Bangladesh’s Shakib-al-Hasan and exciting Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan. Funds from the fixture will be in aid of stadia in the Caribbean damaged by the passage of Hurricanes Irma and Maria last September. Ronchi, a wicketkeeper/ batsman who played the last of his internationals almost a year ago, said he felt the need to get involved in the game because of the cause. “It is all for a worthy cause and it feels really good to see so many cricketers from different countries come together for such a reason,” he said.“To be playing a match which will see some of the very best in action together is a matter of great pride for me. I’m looking forward to seeing a packed house at Lord’s, supporting the relief effort, and an
exciting game of cricket.” McClenagan, meanwhile, has not turned out for his national side in more than two years but is a regular campaigner on the international T20 circuit, and is currently playing for Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League. “’It will be an absolute pleasure to contribute towards a fantastic cause and to help restore damaged stadiums after the devastation caused by Hurricanes Irma and Maria,” said the left-arm seamer. “This will be a fantastic spectacle and I’m looking forward to participating with a great bunch of guys and look forward to doing those who will benefit from this match proud.” The match, scheduled for May 31, will also feature the likes of Indians Dinesk Karthik and Hardik Pandya, along with Tamim Iqbal of Bangladesh, Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi and Sri Lanka’s Thisara Perera. West Indies will boast a strong side including Chris Gayle, Evin Lewis and Andre Russell, and Morgan said he was expecting “an engrossing contest.” “It’s a great honour to be leading a side which has a se-
lection of players from a number of nations, and I can’t wait to get on to the field for what promises to be an engrossing contest,” he said. “The build-up to the event … has been very exciting with new additions announced on a regular basis, and the anticipation has been growing daily. I’m sure all the players, including those of the Windies side, are eager to play at Lord’s. “It’s a fantastic feeling that we will be all getting together for a good cause. The cricket fraternity should be very proud that the funds raised from the match will help rebuild the stadia in the Caribbean and also contribute to the growth of the game.” Test venues the Sir Viv Richards Stadium in Antigua and Windsor Park in Dominica are among the stadia set to benefit. SQUAD – Eoin Morgan (captain), Dinesh Karthik (India), Mitchell McClenaghan (New Zealand), Hardik Pandya (India), Thisara Perera (Sri Lanka), Rashid Khan (Afghanistan), Luke Ronchi (New Zealand), Shahid Afridi (Pakistan), Shoaib Malik (Pakistan), Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh), Tamim Iqbal (Bangladesh).
ESPNcricinfo - Rohit Sharma has been left out of India’s squad for Afghanistan’s inaugural Test while Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar have been rested. Virat Kohliwill miss the Test as he gears up for the England tour with a county stint with Surrey, which gave Ajinkya Rahane a second Test as India’s captain. All four players absent from the squad were part of the newly created A+ category in the BCCI’s contracts list. However, the selectors found Rohit’s performance in South Africa “less than satisfactory”, a BCCI official told ESPNcricinfo. Rohit was chosen ahead of vice-captain Rahane in the first two Tests in which he scored 78 runs. It was arguably Rohit’s selection in the Tests in South Africa that got him an A+ contract in the first place. The bowling loads of Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar are being managed carefully, which left Shikhar Dhawan as the only A+ player in this Test squad. Nonetheless, most of India’s other Test regulars found a place in the squad, allaying fears that Afghanistan would come up against a severely depleted squad in their historic debut Test, which will be played in Bengaluru from June 14 to 18. It will be the first Test match played in India in the month of June, in peak summer, but Bengaluru is cooler than most other Test venues in the country. Cheteshwar Pujara and Ishant Sharma, who are currently playing county cricket for Yorkshire and Sussex, were both part of the India squad, with neither of their teams in action in the week of the Test match. All three regular o p e n e r s - M Vi j a y, K L Rahul and Dhawan - featured in the squad, as well as spinners R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav. There had been reports Ashwin and Jadeja might both be rested but it
emerged a day before the selection that Ashwin had not pursued his talks with Worcestershire because he had committed to playing this Test. Had Ashwin been rested, he would have gone to England with little redball cricket behind him: Worcestershire have already signed up Travis Head instead. In the absence of Bhuvneshwar and Bumrah, Ishant, Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Shami returned to the familiar role of India’s first-choice quicks in home conditions. They were backed up by allrounder Hardik Pandya and M u m b a i s e a m e r Shardul Thakur, who is yet to make his Test debut but has played three ODIs and seven T20Is. Karun Nair took the sixth specialist batsman’s slot in Rohit’s absence, while Wriddhiman Saha was set to resume wicketkeeping duties after missing the second and third Tests in South Africa with a hamstring injury. Neither Parthiv Patel, the back-up keeper on that tour, nor Dinesh Karthik, who flew in as Saha’s replacement, have found a place in the squad.
The chairman of selectors, MSK Prasad, said this was an ideal opportunity to give Nair a chance, incidentally whose last Test was in Kohli’s absence, in Dharamsala against Australia. “This was the best opportunity for us to give Karun a chance, because h e ’s b e e n d o i n g w e l l , ” Prasad said. “It would have been too much of a risk to try him straight in England.” Afghanistan were granted Test status in June 2017, when they and Ireland were made Full Members by the ICC. They will be the fourth team to play their maiden Test against India, after Pakistan, Zimbabwe and Bangladesh. India squad for Test against Afghanistan: Ajinkya Rahane (capt), Shikhar Dhawan, M Vijay, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar P u j a r a , K a r u n N a i r, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, K u l d e e p Ya d a v, U m e s h Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Hardik Pandya, Ishant Sharma, Shardul Thakur. In: Karun Nair, Kuldeep Yadav, Shardul Thakur Out: Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Parthiv Patel, Dinesh Karthik
Cleveland Cavaliers beat Ajinkya Rahane during the IPL 2018. ©BCCI Toronto Raptors to reach Eastern Conference finals FIFA fines Russia over racist BBC Sport - LeBron James scored 29 points as Cleveland Cavaliers secured a 4-0 series win over Toronto Raptors and ensure their place in the NBA Eastern Conference finals.Cleveland beat the number one seeds 128-93 to set up a meeting with either Boston or Philadelphia. It is the third consecutive
year that Cleveland have beaten Toronto in the playoffs. “We had a lot of challenges, but we had a great game plan,” James said. Toronto coach Dwane Casey described his team as “emotionally drunk after game one and game three”. “I thought we could
bounce back, but we didn’t,” he added. Cleveland will play either Boston Celtics or Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference finals. Boston could have completed a 4-0 series win over Philadelphia, but the 76ers registered a 103-92 win to set up a fifth game today.
chants at France friendly MOSCOW (Reuters) FIFA said yesterday it had fined the Russian Football Union 30,000 Swiss francs ($30,000) for racist abuse directed at French players by Russian fans during a preWorld Cup friendly.
A Reuters photographer at pitch level for France’s 3-1 win against Russia in March in St Petersburg heard monkey chants directed at French players on several occasions, including when N’Golo Kante came to the sideline for a
throw-in.Russia has pledged to crack down on racism as the country faces increased scrutiny ahead of this year’s World Cup, which it will host from June 14 to July 15 in 11 cities including Moscow, St Petersburg and Sochi.
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DEVCON, SKI Constructions joins lists of sponsors for REO Inter SecondaryCricket
Managing Director of DEVCON Construction and Contracting Services, Nolan Lancaster hands over sponsorship to a smiling REO Pauline Lucas. As excitement heats up for the inaugural staging of the RDC Lloyd W.P. Britton REO Inter Secondary School Cricket Competition a number of sponsors are continuing to come forward to lend valuable support. Regional Executive Officer of Region Four, Ms. Pauline Lucas has dubbed the support given thus far to the competition as a perfect demonstration of a public private partnership which she stressed augers well for the holistic development of the region. At a simple presentation ceremony held in her office, Managing Director of DEVCON Construction and Contracting Services, Nolan Lancaster presented a
cheque for a significant amount to ensure the successful staging of the competition. Lancaster congratulated the REO and the rest of the RDC for what he said is an excellent initiative. “My company is very pleased to be providing sponsorship support to this initiative as we firmly believe that sports will aid in eradicating some of the social ills that has become dominant among many of our youth today,” he said. The Betervewagting native who has been an ardent support of a number of sporting initiatives and events pledged his continue support and assistance. “We at DEVCON would like to assure you REO that we stand firmly in support of
this competition and would like to assure you that our support is not a one off something, but it’s a well calculated investment in the youths of this country more in particular in Region Four,” the DEVCON Managing Director said. Lancaster urged that he hopes that the students taking part would ensure that they remain discipline and demonstrate sportsman like behavior noting that an excellent effort and initiative can be destroyed if the students allows indiscipline to dominate the competition,” he urged Meanwhile, Owner of SKI Construction Company, Alex Mahaica made a similar major donation to the staging of the
AS region-Managing Director of SKI Constructions, Alex Mahaica hands over sponsorship to an evidently elated REO. competition. The Golden Grove based businessman thanked the REO for what he said is an opportunity for the business community to work together in providing sporting opportunities for the youths. “I am hoping that in years to come some of our futurecricket stars can proudly boast that their careers all started with this competition as it plays a critically important role in developing them,” he said. The SKI Construction owner stressed that he remains committed to anything that brings about holistic and general development declaring that with development everyone benefits either directly or indirectly. “With investment in our youths there are no losers as we all ben-
efits and that is why my company stands ready to lend whatever support and assistance is needed as we recognizes that developing our youths is safeguarding our future,” hedeclared. SKI Construction, which has been a regular and consistent supporter of the RDC’s social programmes, reiterated that the company will continue lending valuable support and assistance in ensuring that the region continues to achieve its ultimate objectives. REO Lucas in accepting the sponsorships thanked both DEVCON and SKI Constructions for their assistance. She dubbed the as being ‘great friends of the region’s pursuit of bringing about ho-
listic development’, noting that their sponsorship will certainly go a very far way. REO Lucas extended an invitation to the public to come out and witness the games stressing that all are free and open to the public. Sixteen schools will contest this year’s competition which will see matches being played at the Enmore Hope and Lugisnan Cricket Grounds. The 40 over hardballcricket competition is expected to see a Region Four School boys’ team being selected at the conclusion of the competition. This is expected to see a number of inter-regional school boys matches with some of the other regions.
Giro d’Italia: Simon Yates up to third as Tim Wellens wins stage four BBC Sport - Britain’s Simon Yates made up ground on overall leader Rohan Dennis as Tim Wellens won a tough uphill sprint on stage four of the Giro d’Italia. The first stage on Italian soil, after three in Israel, finished with a 1km climb that saw Belgian Wellens hold off the challenge of Michael Woods.Yates was fourth, four seconds in front of Dennis, to move up to third overall.Fellow Briton Chris Froome finished 21 seconds behind Wellens and Yates to slip 55 seconds behind Dennis.Australian BMC Racing rider Dennis retained the overall lead by one second from defending champion Tom Dumoulin. The finishing climb in Caltagirone, which featured a section with a gradient of
13%, was expected to produce splits in the peloton. And so it proved, with Froome, who is now 20th overall, among the big losers. Dumoulin lands another early blow on Froome Dutchman Dumoulin backed up his crushing victory in the opening time trial in Jerusalem with an assured display on the first uphill finish of the race.While not among the favourites for the stage win, the 27-year-old kept himself to the fore during a testing finale to roll home just four seconds behind Wellens and extend his advantage over Froome to almost a minute after only four stages. Froome has been caught out on a short, sharp final climb before. He cracked and lost 20 seconds and the yellow jersey to
Fabio Aru on stage 12 in Peyragudes during last year’s Tour de France before hitting back to win his fourth title.But he already cannot afford to lose more time over hilly terrain to the likes of Dumoulin, Yates and Thibaut Pinot. The long, grinding climb of Mount Etna to end Thursday’s stage six will be key to Froome’s hopes of staying in contention. Yates, 25, lost 20 seconds to defending champion Dumoulin in the opening time trial - a success given their relative abilities against the clock - before grabbing four seconds back on Tuesday.But Dumoulin will be the most content of the main contenders after the first day in Italy, especially as he does not have the pressure of having to defend the maglia rosa (leader’s
jersey). Giro thrills on first day in Italy After two predictable sprint stage victories for Elia Viviani in Israel, the first stage back in Italy served up racing that was more exciting, over an undulating 202km course from Catania to Caltagirone on the island of Sicily. Enrico Barbin, Maxim Belkov, Marco Frapporti, Quentin Jauregui and Jacopo Mosca formed the breakaway early on, with Barbin extending his lead in the blue jersey for the best climber. Jauregui and Barbin then fell back before the remaining trio were caught by the peloton with around 15km remaining. As the pace increased through numerous tight turns,
several riders sustained punctures, with Katusha-Alpecin’s Jose Goncalves worst affected the Portuguese falling out of the top 10 after starting the stage third overall. Italy’s Valerio Conti surged clear solo just inside the final 10km but was swept up with 3km to go before Yates’ MitcheltonScott team hit the final rise on the front. LottoNL-Jumbo’s Enrico Battaglin made the first attack but Wellens sat on his wheel, before coming round the Italian with 200m to go and holding off the surging Woods. The race stays in Sicily for today’s stage five, which is a hilly 153km course from Agrigento to Santa Ninfa. General classification after stage four:
1. Rohan Dennis (Aus/ BMC) 14hrs 23mins 08secs 2. Tom Dumoulin (Ned/Team Sunweb) +01secs 3. Simon Yates (GB/ Mitchelton-Scott) +17secs 4. Tim Wellens (Bel/ Lotto Fix All) +19secs 5. Pello Bilbao (Spa/ Astana) +25secs 6. M a x i m i l i a n Schachmann (Ger/Quick-Step Floors) +28secs 7. D o m e n i c o Pozzovivo (Ita/BahrainMerida) Same time 8. Thibaut Pinot (Fra/ Groupama-FDJ) +34secs 9. Patrick Konrad (Aut/Bora-Hansgrohe) +35secs 10. Carlos Betancur (Col/Movistar Team) Same time
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Kaieteur News
Wednesday May 09, 2018
RHTY&SC, MS expresses BCB launches Mogu Mogu gratitude to 28th Annual Inter-Secondary School Cricket Awards Ceremony Sponsors with Sueria Manufacturing
The Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club, MS on Sunday 29th April, 2018, held its 28th Annual Award Ceremony at the St. Francis Conference Hall in Rose Hall Town. The Awards Ceremony was the largest of its kind ever held in Guyana and featured the presentation of over $3M worth of trophies, medals, framed certificate, special prizes, gifts and donations to over 60 individuals and thirty organisations. Apart from its own Award Ceremony, the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club hosted award programmes for Retired Teachers, Law Enforcement Officers, Teachers and Students of the Year, while eleven outstanding Guyanese received the Club’s highest award “The Dolphin Award of Excellence”. Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster who spearheaded the organising of the historic ceremony along with Vice President Mark Papannah and Asst Secretary Simon Naidu noted that the event was successful due to the support of sponsors and donors. The Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club, he stated, is very grateful for the support from individuals, Organisations and Companies and would like to express gratitude to them. The list of sponsors of the event included President David Granger, Prime Minis-
ter Moses Nagamootoo, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, AH&L Kissoon Ltd, Colin Elcock, Ansa Mcal, Elizabeth Styles, Sterling Products, Naflico, Sueria Manufacturing, Namilco, De Sinco Trading, Fitness Express, Dr. Phillip Da Silva, Royal Jewel House, Starr Computer, Roger Harper, Farfan & Mendes Ltd, Kings Jewellery World, Food-for-the-Poor, National Sports Commission, MC Samaroo Grocery, Louise Nero, Metro, Paul Persaud, HA Snacks Co Ltd, Mings Products Service, The Gift Centre, John Lewis Styles, Peter Lewis, D.D.L, Ronald Williams, Factory Price, St. Francis Youth Club, Poonai’s Pharmacy, Gizmos & Gadgets, Bakewell, F&H Printery, Impressions, Dr. Barton Scotland and the National Assembly, Chief Brand, Gossai Law Firm, Bibi Travel Service, Nermala Hussain, Natasha Papannah, Mohindra Persaud, Nand Persaud Co. Ltd, N.A. Hamid, Terry Pike, L. Johnny, Ryan Tillack, Ramoo Funeral Home, Navin Raghoo, Rose Hall Town Nursery, Mahendra Algu, Devindra Ramdihal, S. Tulsi (Dentist), Guyana Beverage Company, Moonish Singh, Renwick Batson, Cricket Zone USA, 4R Bearings, GWI, Republic Bank, Odyssey Transportation, Guyoil, Sentinel Security, GMMC, Andrew’s Art, GPL, Bounty Farm Ltd, Mike’s Pharmacy,
Scotia Bank, Paula Pereira, Hollis Schwiers, Dan’s Milk Powder and Valarie John. The Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club would also like to express gratitude to the media - Kaieteur News, Guyana Chronicle, DTV-8, Stabroek News, Guyana Times, News Room, NCN for their coverage, while special mention must be made of Franklyn Wilson, Avenash Ramzan, Colin Bynoe Jnr, Claude David and Gregory Rambarran. Our heartfelt gratitude is extended to our Patron, His Excellency President David Granger for his donation of $1M, while special thanks go out to Dr. Alstair Collins, Director of Sports Christopher Jones, Asst Commissioner Lyndon Alves, Regional Chairman David Armogan, GWI Chief Executive Officer Dr. Richard Van West Charles, Mohindra Persaud of Nand Persaud, the Staff of St. Francis Community Developers, Clerk of the National Assembly Sherlock Isaacs, Attorney-at-Law Arun Gossai, Roger Harper and all the special invitees who took time out of their busy schedule to be present. The Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club, MS would like to reassure all of our supporters and sponsors that we remain committed to making positive differences in the lives of youths, the elderly and less fortunate.
“Every promise made to the Stakeholders of Berbice Cricket would be kept because the current leadership of the Berbice Cricket Board is passionate about the work we do. We commit ourselves to organising cricket at all levels, we have already fulfilled that promise in just over two months and to be honest, the county of Berbice ain’t see nothing yet as much more would be done in 2018 as we work overtime to return Berbice Cricket to the top.” Those were the words of President of the Berbice Cricket Board Hilbert Foster at the launching ceremony for another major cricket tournament for youths in Berbice. The Berbice Cricket Board on Friday last joined hands with Sueria Manufacturing Ltd of Eccles, East Demerara to officially launch a 30-Overs Knockout Cricket Tournament for Secondary Schools in the Ancient County. The Tournament would be played by nineteen Schools in Region 6 and ten schools in Region five. The hardworking Berbice Cricket Board President who is spearheading a massive restoration Programme in Berbice Cricket, disclosed that apart from the Guyana Cricket Board, no other Cricket Board organises InterSecondary School Cricket and noted that Secondary School Cricket has been absent from Berbice Board level for a long while. The main objectives of the Mogu Mogu Tournament are to identify cricketing talents in the school system, to encourage schools to invest in the game,
to assist cricket clubs to attract new members and encourage more youths (males and females) to play the game at the competitive levels. Cricket, Foster stated has been at a standstill in Berbice over the last three years due to poor, visionless leadership and the lust for power by individuals who have personal agenda. Since his election as Berbice Cricket Board President on the 18th February, 2018, Foster has launched cricket tournaments at the Under-15, Under-17, Under19, Under-21, Female, Zone, Second Division and First Division levels, while numerous developmental programmes have been launched. These programmes include Cricket Academy, Award Ceremony, Training of Coaches, County wide Coaching, Annual Magazine, Educational Posters, Inter County Cap System, Inter County MVP System, Inter County Man of the Match Programme, Financial incentives for Guyana Junior Players, Assistance to Clubs and Tribute to Heroes among others. The Inter School Tournament is to be contested by the following schools - Upper Corentyne Technical Institute, Line Path Secondary, Skeldon High, Tagore Memorial, Central Corentyne, Black Bush Polder, Winifred Gaskin Memorial, Lower Corentyne Secondary, Manchester Secondary, Port Mourant Secondary, J.C. Chandisingh Secondary, New Amsterdam Technical Institute, Canje Secondary, Berbice High School, Vryman’s Erven Sec-
ondary, New Amsterdam Secondary, Berbice Educational Institute and Tutorial Academy in Region Six. The schools in Region Five are Rosignol Secondary, No. 8 Secondary, Ash Educational Institute, Woodley Park Secondary, Fraser Educational Institute, Fort Wellington Secondary, Bush Lot Secondary, Novar Secondary and Mahaicony Secondary. The top two schools in both Regions would advance to the semifinals before the grand finals which would be played at the Albion Cricket Ground. All matches start at 11.00 hours while a maximum of two players would be allowed out of the thirty yards circle for the first five overs while five would be allowed out for the rest of the innings. Foster expressed gratitude to Sueria Manufacturing CEO Frank Sanichara for his confidence in the Berbice Cricket Board, noting that Sanichara was already sponsoring the Countywide Magic Moments 20/20 Cricket Tournaments for teams in four Sub-Zones. He assured Sanichara that the School Tournament, which would soon start as the weather permit, would be properly organised and achieves all of its objectives. Sanichara, in brief remarks praised the Berbice Cricket Board for the work it was doing to transform cricket in Berbice and stated that as a Berbician he was proud to play a part. He expressed the fact that sport is the best avenue to get youths away from crime.
Wednesday May 09, 2018
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Kaieteur News
NSC’s AS&TP Primary School Cricket
Hauraruni Primary take Daniel Richmond Memorial title
Participating schools with teachers and officials. Hauraruni Primary won both the Girls and Boys divisions when the 21st National Sports Commission (NSC) AL Sport & Tour Promotions ‘end of School Year’ Primary Schools Windball Cricket Tournament concluded in Upper East Bank Demerara to claim the Daniel Richmond Memorial Championships. Hauraruni Boys, making their debut this year, reached 43-4 with Richmond Kanhai mak-
ing 12. Yarrowkabra Primary could only make 33-3 in reply with Mohan Peters 10. Hauraruni Girls defeated 2017 runners-up Saint Mary’s Primary who made 29-2. Hauraruni replied with 31-without loss with Kamale Agai (14) and Carlana Alexander (10) leading the way with the bat. In the other Boys results: Camillie’s Institute Primary made 53-3 with Troy Gibson scor-
ing 20 before Soesdyke Primary responded with 54-2 as Roupie Rajaram 26, Christian Haywood 11 led them to victory. Timehri Primary made 46-6 with Richardo Thomas scoring 10 as Renaldo Malchand had 3-13. Supply responded with 47-2 as Kerwin Clarke got 16 and Richardo Waid contributed 10. In the Girls results:
Timehri Primary reached 70-1 with Ranie Sewdath hitting 20 and Akeela Ramnjram 14. Camille’s Institute Primary were restricted to 33-5. Bindiya Herry had 2-2. Soesdyke Primary made 36-5 with Mariah David getting 16. Maria Sukram took 3-6 and Akeita Thomas supported with 2-13. Supply Primary were limited to 22-3 with Manisha Ramroop picking up 2-4.
Argentina to sign deal to head off World Cup-bound hooligans BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - The Argentine government is to sign an accord with Russia aimed at preventing the country’s more than 3,000 hooligans who are expected to travel to this year’s World Cup from attending matches, officials told Reuters yesterday. The deal, which will be formally signed in the coming days, includes the names of fans banned from Argentine soccer grounds and other known members of the notorious barras bravas, the organised fan groups who have wreaked
havoc at local stadiums. “A list of 400 names of Argentines who will not be able to enter stadiums was handed over and it is estimated that the definitive database we send will have around 3000 names,” said Guillermo Madero, the national director of security at Argentine football matches. The information will be shared with airlines and Russian immigration authorities and Argentine officials say the Fan ID, which supporters get when they buy tickets to the games, will act as another
barrier. Argentina will also send six law enforcement officials to Russia to help coordinate with local police and officials from the other 30 competing nations. The barras are fixtures at most top Argentine clubs and have been responsible for much of the violence that has sullied the domestic game in recent years. In addition to launching violent attacks on other fans, and sometimes even players, they control the sale of some tickets and are often involved in other illegal activities outside foot-
ball. Argentine media have reported that barras from Boca Juniors met with their counterparts from Russian clubs Dynamo Moscow and Zenit St Petersburg in February and officials are taking as many preventive measures as possible. “We believe that the barras will go to Russia whatever but they are not
going to get into the grounds,” said Juan Manuel Lugones, the executive secretary of the agency set up to prevent violence at sports events in Buenos Aires. Some 44,882 Argentines have bought tickets for the tournament, according to the latest FIFA figures. The South Americans kick off their Group D cam-
paign on June 16 in Moscow against Iceland, before facing Croatia in Nizhni Novgorod and Nigeria in St Petersburg.
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Kaieteur News
Ambris among 11 for batting camp BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – West Indies’ batting group began their preparation in earnest for the Sri Lanka series, with the start of a five-day camp here yesterday. Vi c e - c a p t a i n K r a i g g Brathwaite, who has emerged as the Caribbean’s leading batsman in recent times, is among nine current Test players who will be involved in the camp at the UWI Cave Hill Campus, under the guidance of West Indies A coach Floyd Reifer. Left-hander Devon Smith, who played the last of his 38 Tests three years ago, has also been included a l o n g w i t h Wi n d i e s A wicketkeeper/batsman, Jahmar Hamilton.
Following the end of the camp next weekend, the main camp involving the provisional squad for the Sri Lanka series, will bowl off at UWI. Head coach Stuart Law will oversee proceedings. The batting camp sees the return of Windward Islands right-hander Sunil Ambris who was forced out of the New Zealand series last December with a broken arm. Ambris, 25, had a disastrous Test debut against the Black Caps, trodding on his stumps to the first ball he faced in the opening Test in Wellington. He astonishingly stepped on his stumps again in the first innings of the second Test in Hamilton before being
forced to retire hurt in the second innings, after taking a blow to the arm from aggressive pacer Neil Wagner. As expected, batting star Shai Hope features in the camp, along with Roston Chase, Kieran Powell, Shimron Hetmyer, Jermaine Blackwood, Raymon Reifer and wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich. West Indies will take on Sri Lanka in three Tests which run from June 6-27, with matches set for Q u e e n ’s P a r k O v a l i n Trinidad, the Darren Sammy Cricket Ground in St Lucia and Kensington Oval in Barbados. The final Test at the Oval will be an historic day/night affair.
Wednesday May 09, 2018
GFF/NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power U-17 League – EDFA
McPherson and Scott hammer a brace each as Buxton Stars flay Plaisance Panthers Buxton Stars were large and in charge of their latest GFF/NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power National Under-17 Intra Association League match on Sunday last, inflicting an 8-1 drubbing on Plaisance Panthers as the East Demerara Football Association (EDFA) leg nears an end. The competition is being contested for the first time in the 9-MA’s of the GFF after NAMILCO, the National Milling Company of Guyana inked a 5-year contract with the federation. Action kicked off last year and due to challenges with the weather, many associations have had to put matches off since grounds were unplayable. At the Golden Grove ground on Sunday last, a venue that is becoming the Mecca of the sport on the East Coast, Shamar McPherson and Shamar Scott each netted a double in leading Buxton Stars past the Panthers. McPherson opened the scoring in the 9th minute and hit the target again in the 32nd minute, while Scott’s goals came in the 56th and 60th minutes. Other scorers were Shamar Kingston (22), Colin Wills from the penalty spot in the 62nd, Corwin Maxwell (68) and an own goal scored by Panthers’ Shamar George in the 70th
Shamar McPherson - Buxton Stars FC minute. Plaisance got their consolation goal off the boot of Azandee King from the penalty mark in the 46th minute.
Kaieteur News
Wednesday May 09, 2018
PAGE 41
GSCL Inc./ Ink Plus, Crown Mining Enterprise and Elegance Jewellery Tournament
GFF/Pele Alumini Frank Watson U15 League – East Demerara FA
Regal Masters begin with crushing win
Mahaica edge Plaisance; Ann’s Grove and Victoria Scorpions draw
The third week of action in the Ink Plus, Crown Mining Enterprise and Elegance Jewellery Softball tournament saw powerhouse, Regal Masters beginning their quest for another major title on a winning note at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) ground, Queenstown last Sunday. After their initial opening match against Albion Masters was washed out the previous week, the experienced side took on Savage Masters and trounced them convincingly by nine wickets. With the ball, Regal Masters were led by the diminutive left-arm spinner, Laurie Singh with figures of 3/17 from four overs and pacer Fazleem Mohamed with 2/18 (3 overs) to restrict Savage Masters to 114-8 from their 20 overs. Rudolph Perreira made 26 (4x4; 1x6) and Herbert Gentle 17 (2x4; 1x6) as they desperately tried to get the big white ball away. In reply, the Regal Masters top order made light work of the chase getting to
Ramo Malone 120-1 in 16.2 overs with opener Eon Abel clobbering four sixes and three fours to finish unbeaten on 50. He was supported nicely by his opening partner, Mahesh Chunilall who made 20 (2x6) before he was dismissed to make way for Rudolph Baker who sealed the deal with a rapid 39 not out (2x6; 4x4). The tournament, which is organized by the Georgetown Softball Cricket League Inc. (GSCL Inc), is being contested in two categories; the Male Open and the Male Masters for players 40 years and older with no entrance fee
per teams. In the Open category, the small balls are being used, while in the Masters category, the big white ball is being used, while the format is round robin. In other matches last Sunday at DCC, Fishermen XI made 133-9 (17.2 overs) Troy Ramsaywack 34, Ramo Malone 31; Ron Ramnauth 3/32 and D Mohabir 2/22 beat R&R Masters 128 for 6 (20 overs) - Khemchand Dindyal 30 and R. Mohamed 25; Ramo Malone 2/33 and Zameer Hassan 2/43 by 1 wicket. Success Masters 130-4 (18.3 overs) - Hakim Majeed 52 and S. Budhram 26 beat HS Masters 128-9 (20 overs) - Clyde Hoyte 26; Mark Fung 3/28 and Raymond Karim 2/22 by six wickets. Meanwhile, over at the Hydronie ground, Parika Defenders 167-4 (15 overs) – B. Singh 72 not out, Ucil Armstrong 48 beat Essequibo Masters 138 all out (15 overs) by 29 runs and Essequibo Masters 134 all out (15 overs) beat Narine Masters 97 all out (15 overs) by 37 runs.
Eon Abel
A Trevon Adams secondhalf hat-trick fueled Mahaica Determinators to a come from behind win over Plaisance Panthers by a narrow 4-3 margin when the East Demerara Football Association leg of the GFF/Pele Alumini Frank Wa t s o n U 1 5 I n t r a Association League continued on Saturday last at the Golden Grove Ground. Plaisance Panthers took the lead in the 39th minute when Simon Hill found the back of the nets to break the goal drought in a keen contest and once this was accomplished the flood gates were opened. Responding for Mahaica a mere four minutes after they fell behind was Trevon Adams with the first of his three goals in the 43rd minute. Plaisance restored their advantage and the lead with goals from Jamal Fraser in the 62nd minute and Stephone Millington in the 69th minute.
Mark Roberts Victoria Scorpions FC
Trevon Adams - Mahaica Determinators FC
But any thoughts the Panthers harboured of staving off the lads from Mahaica for a win was short lived as Adams tucked in strikes again in the 79th and 85th minute, the final goal being the dagger that saw the Mahaica side snatching an exciting win. Eyon Fernandes scored the other goal for Mahaica in the 73rd minute. In the other match, Victoria Scorpions came
back from a two goal deficit to sting Ann’s Grove as they earned an equal share of the points in a 2-2 draw. Ann’s Grove had run away 2-0 into the lead following goals from Shane Higgins in the 15th and 48th minute. But like Higgins, Scorpions’ Mark Roberts also fired in a brace in the 55th and 58th minutes much to the delight of his teammates and coaching staff.
Regal Masters, Success, Fisherman, Parika Defenders, E’bo Masters triumph
R
egal Masters, S u c c e s s , Fisherman, Parika Defenders and Essequibo Masters recorded victories when the latest action in the Georgetown Softball Cricket League (GSCL) Inc Crown Mining, Regal Sports, Ink Plus and Elegance Jewellery and Pawn Shop tournament concluded on Sunday last. At Demerara Cricket Club, Regal Masters defeated Savage Masters by nine wickets. Savage Masters mustered 114-8 in 20 overs, batting first. Rudolph Singh made 26 and Herbert Gentle 17; Laurie Singh captured 3-17 and Fazleem Mohamed 2-18. Regal Masters then replied with 120-1 in 16.2 overs. Eon Abel slammed three
fours and four sixes in an even half century while Rudolph Baker made 39 with four fours and two sixes and Mahase Chunilall 20 (2x6). Anil Rambarran had 1-12. Success Masters got the better of HS Masters by six wickets. HS Masters scored 128-9 in 20 overs. Clyde Hoyte made 26 and A. Sookhda 18; Mark Fung snared 3-28 and R. Karim 222. Success Masters responded with 132-4 in 18.3 overs. Hakim Majeed slammed five fours and three sixes in scoring 52, while S. Budram made 26. Fisherman Masters overcame RR Masters by seven runs. Fisherman Masters batted first and managed 134-9 with Troy Ramsaywack scoring 34 and Ramo Malone 31. Ron
Ramnauth claimed 3-32 and D. Mohabir 2-22. RR Masters responded with 1276. Khemchand Dindyal made 30 and R. Mohamed 25. Malone picked up 2-33 and Zameer Hassan 2-43. At Parika, East Bank Essequibo, Parika Defenders took first strike and got to 167-4 in 15 overs. B. Singh struck three fours and a similar number of sixes in a top score of 72 not out, while Ucil Armstrong made 48 with four fours and two sixes. Essequibo Masters responded with 138 all out in 15 overs. Essequibo Masters beat Narine XI by 37 runs. Essequibo Masters took first strike and made 134 all out in 15 overs while Narine Masters were bowled out for 97 in 15 overs in reply.
World Cup 2026: US, Canada & Mexico bid ‘would create £8bn profit for Fifa’
B
BC Sport - A joint bid by the US, Canada and Mexico to host the 2026 World Cup would make an $11bn (£8.1bn) profit for
world governing body Fifa, the organisers say. A North American World Cup is projected to create $14bn (£10.3bn) in revenue. US Soccer president Carlos Cordeiro said it
would be “the most successful World Cup ever”. Morocco have also bid to host the event and have received significant support in recent weeks. The North African
nation submitted a 193page document to Fifa in March detailing the reasons why it should host the tournament. The vote to award the 2026 event takes place on 13 June in Moscow. US President Donald Trump previously said that it would be “a shame if
countries we always support” lobbied against the US bid. However, Cordeiro said on Tuesday he hoped Fifa members would set aside politics when they vote next month. “The question of who will host in 2026 has at times become mixed with
g e o p o l i t i c s , ” C ordeiro added. “We are asking that we be judged, not on the politics of the moment, but on the merits of our bid.” The United States previously h o s t e d t h e World Cup in 1994 and Mexico has hosted it twice, in 1970 and 1986.
Kaieteur News
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Mushtaq to join coaching staff LONDON, CMC – Former Pakistan leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed will have a month-long stint on the West Indies bowling staff, as the squad prepares for the upcoming Sri Lanka series. The 47-year-old will join the Caribbean side shortly on the short-term appointment which is expected to see him focus on developing the Windies spin assets. Cricket West Indies are yet to announce the appointment but Mushtaq
Former Pakistan spin wizard Mushtaq Ahmed. said he was looking forward to the assignment. “It’s a privilege to work
with West Indies cricket team. A team with a very rich history of class, commitment and sheer dominance in the cricket world,” said Mushtaq.“The talent from this part of the world has been exceptional and I am quite excited to work with them.”Media reports said there was a possibility the stint could be extended Mushtaq spent six years as a spin consultant with the England side, helping them win the Twenty20 World
Cup and the Ashes series. He has also served as head coach of the Pakistan Cricket Academy, as well as serving in several coaching positions in the Pakistan Super League and the Indian Premier League. Mushtaq took 185 wickets in a 52-Test career, while picking up 161 scalps from 144 One-Day Internationals. West Indies face Sri Lanka in three Tests from June 6-27.
Wednesday May 09, 2018
Differently Able Athletic Club expresses condolences for the late Dennis Burns
The late Dennis Burns (right) alongside William France in the 1999 New York Marathon.
F
ounder and President of the Differently Able Athletics club, William France, along with members Anil Pereira, Andre Richardson and Richard Harris, yesterday paid tribute to former member, Dennis Burns, who passed away last week at the age of 55 years. Burns, who only got married last year, ran four marathons in the USA and two in Guyana, according to France who was a close friend of the former army man. Burns had lost his leg at the age of 21 years but that didn’t keep him back as he took part in many fundraising walks for the differently able; a total of 17 alongside France. Among those fundraiser walks include the Skeldon to Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Base Camp at Ayanganna, which was sponsored by retired
Bridgadier Joe Singh, and the walk from Linden to Mings Products and Services in Georgetown which was sponsored by Stanley Ming; both in 1996. Also among the late and compassionate athlete’s iconic fundraisers was the 36-mile walk from Supenaam to Charity in 1995 which was sponsored by Benny Sankar. Guyana’s 50th Independence Anniversary walk in 2015 was the final walk that Burns took part in. “We want to express thanks to the GDF for their support in ensuring that he (Burns) get a good send off,” France stated during an interview with Kaieteur Sport yesterday. The funeral service of William France will be held at Caramel Seventh Day Adventist Church on South Road on Tuesday from 10:00hrs before departing for the burial site which will take place at Hope, West Coast Demerara.
Kaieteur News
Wednesday May 09, 2018
Tevendra John wins Labour day pools competition at Grand Central Bar Grand Central Sports Bar and The Guyana Pool and Snooker Club held a 9 Ball Pool Championships on the 5th May. The tournament was a success with 26 participants fighting for the top 4 spots and to hold the trophies at the end. Coming out on top in ascending order were Jonathan Parboo in 4th place, Ryan Baksh 3rd, Steven Persaud 2nd and the last man standing and winner, Tevendra John, who
carted off with the first place Trophy and the prize money. The prizes were $40,000 for the winner, $20,000 for the second placed finisher, $10,000 third and $5,000 fourth prize. This tournament showcased the skills of the 9 ball players Guyana has to offer. The organizers held the tournament to introduce a new standard of pool playing to Guyana, which by the tournament, was played
Burnham basketball court transformation completed The Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) in collaboration with the City Council of Georgetown has successfully completed the resurfacing of the Burnham Basketball Court on Carmichael and Middle Streets. The project cost exceeded $10 million and included the upgrading of the lighting fixtures. Head of the GABF, Nigel Hinds, noted that it was a costly initiative but it was well deserved since the Burnham Hard court has been home to basketball for many years and has even hosted many competitions thrown by the Guyana Amateur Basketball Association (GABA).
This is not the first hard court that has been rehabilitated by the GABF; the Vrymen’s Erven court in New Amsterdam Berbice was the first, earlier in the year. Like the Burnham Court, the GABF collaborated with the City Council (New Amsterdam) with the Federation footing all of the cost. And, now, according to Hinds, a project that New Amsterdam hindered, they renting it for as much as $55,000 a night for local promoters host tournaments which is even more than the $50,000 which is charged by the internationally certified Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH).
GCB/DMLAS/NSC/NSSCL....
Friendship Secondary beat Soesdyke by 38 Runs The 2017/2018 Guyana Cricket Board/ Demerara Mutual Life Assurance Society Limited/ National Sport Commission/National Secondary School Cricket L e a g u e (GCB/DMLAS/NSC/NSSC L) continued with Friendship Secondary opposing Soesdyke Secondary at the GNIC ground in Woolford Avenue. Friendship Secondary having won the toss, elected
to bat first and cautiously notched their way to 114 all out off 16.3 of their allotted 30 overs. Middle order batsman, Adrian Lim top scored with 40. Rondel Kaltow was the only other batsman to reach double figures with 12. I n r e p l y, S o e s d y k e stumbled for a meagre 76 off 14.3 overs. Lower Order batsman Noel Henry was the only Soesdyke player to (Continued on page 35)
with all the international rules and regulations. Grand Central Sports Bar and The Guyana Pool and Snooker Club would like to thank all who came out to support this game and would like to congratulate all winners.
The top four finishers display their trophies after the conclusion of the tournament.
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rt o p S P. 43
Burnham basketball court transformation completed
The new-look Burnham Hard Court
BCB launches Mogu Mogu Inter-Secondary Ambris among 11 School Cricket with Sueria Manufacturing for batting camp P. 40
P. 38
West Indies batsman Sunil Ambris.
Mushtaq to join coaching staff P. 38
Sean Rodrigues of Sueria Manufacturing hands over sponsorship to BCB President Hilbert Foster, while his CEO Frank Sanichara looks on.
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