Kaieteur News

Monday May 01, 2017

Arguments against the use of second-hand tyres DEAR EDITOR, After watching many protests and the various comments over the banning of used tyres, I somehow concluded that many of these dealers either don’t have a clue about the dangers of the tyres they offer for sale or are only concerned with profit at all cost. There is abundant evidence that the older a tyre gets the more likely it will fail. Older tyres are substantially more likely to fail than newer ones. This is because tyres are made mostly of rubber, and rubber degrades with age. Sunlight, heat, rain, and general wear and tear can accelerate the breakdown of a tyre. Once a tire begins to break down, it becomes more likely to fail; this is usually in the form of tread separation. It is often at highway speeds, when this failure is most likely to cause catastrophic injuries or death.

Tyres age dangerously because of a chemical process commonly referred to as oxidation, which simply means that as the tyre components are exposed to oxygen, the oxygen particles cause the flexible components of a tyre to harden and become brittle. Over time, the tyre will simply fall apart under normal stress, just like an old rubber band. Because this process occurs naturally, it does not matter if a tyre is being used, stored as a spare, or simply waiting on a store shelf for an unsuspecting consumer. For most tyres, this expiration date should be six years from the date of manufacture (well accepted by countries such as the USA, CANADA and the UK). For the benefit of those who don’t know, the date of manufacture is branded on one side of the tyre. It is a requirement of the US Department of

Transportation (DOT). Check on one side of the tyre for the mark (DOT).There will be several digits and letters following. For example, DOT (P143 35HV) 1612. The 4 digits at the end tells you the week the tyre was made followed by the year. Editor, a check at some of our local use tyre dealers told a horrible story. Old tyres between 8 to 12 years are being offered for sale. Most consumers usually buy tyres based on its appearance. Had we had proper regulations long before now, these dangerous traps would never have reached our shores. There are also many cases of old tyres being sold as new ones despite them being well into the expired date (6yrs). I hope the Bureau of Standards steps up its inspection to ensure consumers get proper and safe tyres for a safer road. C. Woolford

Preying on poor people’s predicament DEAR EDITOR, Instead of encouraging the poor to pray to God, these people are being preyed on. My attention was recently drawn to the disgusting practice of some self-styled ‘Pandits’ who encourage unsuspecting persons to contact them for relief from various forms of personal difficulties such as financial, domestic, romantic, health issues etc. The ‘services’ of these unscrupulous ‘pandits’ are commercially advertised in the Newspapers, Radio and TV stations like any other money-making ‘business’. Some of the perpetrators advertise themselves as having come from India, presumably as a ploy to project themselves as superior to the ‘lesser’ Guyanese ‘pandits’, and perhaps to justify their higher ‘fees’! I do not think that a genuine, sincere ‘Pandit’ will engage in any such scam aimed as self-enrichment at the expense of poor, bewildered people whose faith in God might have been shaken; these people need guidance to restore their faith in God, not to redirect them to some ‘short-cut’ bribery of God via unscrupulous scamps and charlatans parading as ‘Pandits’. I wish to take this opportunity to plead with our genuine Pandits as well as the leadership of our Hindu organizations such as the

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Dharmic Sabha, the Virat Sabha, the Guyana Pandits Council et al to use their good offices and personal influences to help eradicate this scourge from our society. Also, it is perhaps opportune to start considering the possibility of certifying or licensing qualified Pandits who would have graduated from some formal training and who can then be appointed and paid regular salaries by the mandirs which employ them; after all our pandits are regular people whose material needs must also be met. Of course this suggestion might be easier said than done, but I do not think it is beyond our collective ability to initiate the relevant discussion and appropriate action. I should also mention that I previously shared the substantive contents of this letter with a number of Hindu friends in Guyana and the Canadian diaspora all of whom support the idea that something needs to be done; for example Dr. B. Doobay, the highly accomplished cardiovascular specialist who is also an active, widely respected Hindu priest in Canada has asked to be associated with the views expressed in this letter as he himself in his weekly sermons at the popular Vishnu Mandir in Toronto has been spreading similar messages and warnings. Finally, I share with

readers the following extract from a report in the Globe News in Toronto (ref. http:// global news.ca/news/ 3845530/psychic-chargedwith-witchcraft after extorting $100,000. to exorcise evil spirit-police). In summary, the Police claimed that an astrologer and psychic known as Master Raghav who was living in Toronto but visiting from India, handed out his business cards at a Rexdale Mall in February-March. A Brampton man who received one of the cards set up an appointment (which cost just $20.) and was informed that a sick family member had been “the victim of an evil spirit”. After this initial ‘psychic reading’, the man was convinced to withdraw $101,000 from his bank and provide it to the psychic to remove the evil spirit. The exorcism was ‘not successful’ and the victim reported the matter to the police; the psychic was arrested and charged $5000. In the meantime the sick relative is still sick! Nowrang Persaud

I exposed Mr. Cox, now I will do the same with Mr. Mustapha DEAR EDITOR, Not surprisingly Mr. Mustapha has now joined the fray. As he admits, he is in the same boat with Cox. There is not much that is said by Mustapha that is worthy of a response but like Cox, he too attempts a hoax on the public, if it is not a case of intellectual deficit. I will therefore expose him as well. I will not afford him and his ilk a free pass in the public media. In all that I have written on this matter, I have never questioned the decisions of the court. However, the existence of appeal courts does not cast aspersions on the judges at lower instances. What it does is to provide for dispelling of doubt about the humanly possible miscarriage of justice as has happened repeatedly. What I have done and will continue to do here is to expose the wrong doings and crass dishonesty of Mustapha and his ilk and probably expose his i n t e l l e c t u a l deficit. Mustapha’s web

cannot bear the weight of the lightest of spiders. I am not a party to UG’s legal action nor is the AG. UG has autonomy in determining its response to such matters. Mustapha’s nancy story about the AG and myself is even less that a figment of his mind. It is a concoction or crass display of ignorance. With the passing of thirteen years, Mustapha still cannot come to understand that the issue has never been that Cox merely defaulted on his loan. As a consequence of his default, he was not granted subsequent loans. He simply did not pay his fees, like Mustapha, for the programme. It is therefore balderdash to bring any issue of loan defaulters into the equation. The fact of the matter is that the University has no role in the recovery of unpaid loans or in sanctioning defaulting borrowers. Mustapha’s plot of linking the black actors (individuals and Government) in a plot against blacks therefore has no leg to

stand on. There is no link. Alexander was in no position to pounce on loan defaulters as Mustapha either concocts or misrepresents. All those defaulters to whom Mustapha would have referred would have paid their fees and been in good standing with the University, but in default with the Ministry’s loan agency. Cox was in default with both. The University only acted on his default with the University. No one could deny that if a student is required to present an examination pass as the requirement for entering an examination, and does not do so, but is still allowed to write the examination, it would have been either negligence, carelessness or collusion on the part of the relevant officials. I happen to know it was collusion. I am sure that Cox, Mustapha and their ilk know this as well, except that for them it is trivial. Mustapha also repeats this more-than-fib that Cox had “two years more to Continued on page 6

Contract awarded in oil and gas sector without open tender DEAR EDITOR, According to an April 28, 2017 report (at http://oilnow.gy/production/ worleyparsons-review- exxonmobils-developmentplan/) in the “OilNow”, “The Government of Guyana has contracted Australian resources and energy consultants Worley Parsons to review ExxonMobil’s initial development plan in preparation for petroleum production from its Stabroek Block come 2020.” Worley Parsons has been a contractor for ExxonMobil, it was once sued by ExxonMobil for “errors” in the building of one of the world’s largest offshore platforms, and it ended up making a US$55M settlement payment to ExxonMobil for those “errors.” This report comes on the heels of a report in the media, namely that the Government of Guyana has awarded a US$70,000 contract to “Energy Narrative” to do a “desktop study” of the “options, costs, economic impact and key considerations of transporting and utilising natural gas from offshore Guyana for

electricity generation; and a verification of natural gas projections, a verification of natural gas demand projections, as well as to analyse the technical feasibility of a proposed natural gas pipeline.” These issues are all important, so varied and of so many dimensions, that it surprises me that a contract has already been awarded to a single company without there being any attempt at an open tender, in order to get the benefit of several companies bidding. What is even more interesting is that a ‘desktop study” to verify natural gas (production) projections must use data, and in all likelihood those data will be supplied by ExxonMobil. If these reports are correct, then Guyana’s interests and those of developer must be nicely aligned. At least the Government of Guyana must have this view. Thomas B. Singh (PhD) Senior Lecturer Dept. of Economics University of Guyana

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TIGI’s enquiry about studies done by Exxon Mobil DEAR EDITOR, As Guyana engages in its quest for Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI) candidacy, it is important to ensure that the Ministry of Natural Resources is committed to the endeavour. Considering that the EITI is a global standard to promote open and accountable management of oil, gas and mineral resources, and knowing of Guyana’s stated interest in implementing this standard, TIGI wrote the Minister of Natural Resources requesting clarification on whether he had asked Exxon Mobil to submit a feasibility study of its proposed Stabroek Block development as it proceeds with the evaluation of the company’s application for a production licence. This letter was delivered on March 29, 2017 and we obtained acknowledgement of receipt almost a month later by calling to enquire on April 27, 2017. However, even after this time, we were unable to obtain a clear response about whether or not a response is forthcoming. We provide the content of the letter below for public consumption. Dear Minister Trotman, DOCUMENTATION TO BE REQUIRED AND USED TO ASSESS EXXON’S APPLICATION FOR A PRODUCTION LICENCE The Transparency Institute Guyana, Inc., respectfully refers you to Section 33 (1) of the Petroleum (Production and Exploration) Act of 1986, which Section reads as follows: “Where the licensee has served, under section 31(1), a

Monday May 01, 2017

Kaieteur News

notice on the Minister stating that a discovery of petroleum is, in the opinion of the licensee, of potential commercial interest, the Minister may, by notice served on the licensee, direct the licensee to carry out, within a period specified in the notice of not less than two years, such prescribed investigations and studies as the Minister thinks appropriate for the purpose of assessing the feasibility of the construction, establishment and operation of an industry for the production of petroleum in the discovery block or blocks concerned.” While this Section of the Act clearly gives the Minister an opportunity to direct companies, which have applied for a Petroleum Production Licence subsequent to having indicated in writing that a discovery is of potential commercial interest to those companies, to carry out ‘investigations and studies’ to assess the feasibility of the proposed project, the accompanying Regulations make it clear that such investigations and studies include “economic feasibility Studies relating to the recovery, processing and transport of petroleum from the discovery block or blocks in the prospecting area (Section 5 (1) (a)) of the Regulations made under the Petroleum (Production and Exploration) Act of 1986).” Considering the structural stability of oil prices at low levels and their upward stickiness; the increases in US shale gas production; the “bearish” outlook for oil by industry experts; and the extreme uncertainty about a

I exposed Mr. Cox... From page 5 repay.” Repay whom, may I ask? Repayment presupposes a loan. Well, Cox had no loan from the University, so any reference to time to repay has nothing to do with Cox’s indebtedness and payment to the University. The University clearly requires payment before examinations, latest. Cox like Mustapha had not paid. Mustapha’s attempt to pander to ethnicity is so baseless and transparent that there is no further need to reference it. Vincent Alexander

temporal extension of the OPEC production cuts and the effectiveness of such an extension if it were to happen; TIGI imagines that the Government of Guyana would want to know with a high degree of confidence that production licences are only issued for projects that are economically feasible. TIGI is also keen, as might be the Government of Guyana, that the extraction and production of oil in the Stabroek Block would yield a return that is consistent with the expectations of Guyanese. The economic feasibility and the expected return would clearly depend on the size of margins, which in turn would depend inter alia on the prevailing oil prices. But according to the most recent (March 21, 2017) research report by Goldman Sachs, “Our database of the industry’s new oil & gas developments shows that 2017-19 is likely to see the largest increase in mega projects production in history, as the record 2011-13 capex (capital expenditure) commitment yields fruit.” 1In other words, even with an extension of the production cut by OPEC, a record increase in non-OPEC production would prevent any significant increase in oil prices. TIGI is also aware of the moral hazard issues that tend to arise from (i) the private information companies have about exactly what risks and mitigation strategies are involved in a project such as the one taking place in the Stabroek Block, and (ii) the potential divergence of interests between the company and the host country, with the former generally putting profits ahead of concerns for safety and the environment, even while paying lip service to the latter concerns. Put more simply, when profitability margins are tight, as they must be in the current economic environment, profit maximising companies will be inclined to take greater risks, especially if they are not contractually required to

themselves underwrite those risks. In the case of the development of the Stabroek Block oil fields by ExxonMobil and its partners, production is being aggressively fast-tracked despite the contrary extraction paths implied by the persistently weak market fundamentals. Both the GoG and ExxonMobil (and its partners) have announced that production would begin in 2020, even though ExxonMobil will only be able to make a ‘financial decision’ sometime in mid-2017, according to its Country Manager, Jeff Simmons, in an outreach to the media fraternity. It is therefore all the more important for citizens, civil society and agencies such as TIGI to ensure that the coincidence of interests between the GoG and ExxonMobil does not belie the former’s commitment to our national interests in regard to both the financial returns and safety and environmental security. To this end, TIGI respectfully requests that the Minister share with it the types and particulars of the studies and investigations he has requested as part of the process for evaluating Exxon’s production licence application. We further wish to know if the documentation listed under Section 10 (e) of the “Form for Application for a Petroleum Production Licence” as prescribed by the Regulations accompanying the Petroleum (Production and Exploration) Act of 1986, and in particular subsection (f) of Section 10 (e), will be required in the evaluation of ExxonMobil’s application. Troy Thomas President of TIGI (Transparency Institute Guyana Inc.) EDITOR’S NOTE: We carried sections of this statement in our Sunday edition with a response from Minister Trotman. We reproduce the statement in its entirety

Abysmal performance under GuySuCo’s management DEAR EDITOR, The abysmal and unacceptable performance of GuySuCo’s IMC continues unabatedly although the taxpayers of this country are required to pay these men millions per month. After 10 weeks of operation in the 1st crop 2017 at week-ending April 22, 2017, the industry produced about 41,000t of sugar or 55% achievement of its target which is just over 74,000t. At this time, according to the i n d u s t r y ’s production plan, it should have produced about 66,000t sugar. This means that sugar production is lagging by some 25,000t. It will take at least six weeks from here on, at 5,000t per week, to achieve the target. In the first place, did GuySuCo have sufficient canes to produce the 74,000t it set itself to make? It is impossible to realize the target since cane harvesting would not be possible in the upcoming rainy season. From the present grinding pattern, it is clear that the crop is coming to an end and from all indications; the crop performance will be the worst in recent memory. As I said before, the GuySuCo’s IMC is very consistent in delivering record poor performances. The highly-paid team delivered the lowest production in 25 years in year – 2016 – and is well on their way to deliver yet another record-lowest first crop production in 25 years. Sugar recovery is extremely poor and the IMC appears to be quite pleased with blaming everything under the sun except themselves. Not so long ago, they took credit for 2015’s performance citing good management and rewarded themselves with fabulous salaries and

perks. In the meantime, the IMC has a platoon of executive pensioners on excursion from estate to estate, swallowing scarce resources and not bringing any value to the business. The overall performance confirms this. It is instructive to note that Albion, Blairmont and Uitvlugt estates have achieved 67%, 77% and 79% of their targets respectively as at week-ending April 22, 2017. Will the Government ask why there are such poor performances at all estates, especially those which His Excellency announced that he will retain? Editor, I am certain that GuySuCo and the IMC boys are considering their scapegoat at this time for the crop’s dismal performance. Undoubtedly, the upcoming rainy weather and the demotivated workers would certainly be blamed. Having taken such an inordinately long time to announce its crop target at the beginning of the year it is logical to assume that the IMC must have considered the impacts of the last El Nino and La Nine phenomena, workers morale, poor cane growth in the fields, etc., in arriving at the target of just over 74,000t. If these variables were not factored into the schedule, it is proof that incompetence in GuySuCo’s management has reached new heights. The volatile and poor relationship between workers and GuySuCo’s bureaucrats is a direct result of GuySuCo’s irresponsible IMC causing workers to react in defence of their livelihoods. The IMC has effectively placed Government in an embarrassing position politically, economically and socially and justify the closure of estates. Sookram Persaud

Monday May 01, 2017

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GPSU elections results for Wednesday announcement - despite no list of voters presented The Guyana Public Service Union’s Executive Council Elections continues to be marred by controversy as the official announcement of the results is set for Wednesday without a list of eligible voters being presented. This lack of information has been a critical area of contention for members of Team Change, which is led by Gregory Gaspar, a candidate vying for the position of President. Believing that there is some scheme to alter the results in favour of incumbent President, Patrick Yarde, members of Team Change remained vigilant outside of GPSU Headquarters yesterday at the corner of Regent and Shiv Chanderpaul Drive. At around 15:30hrs, Kaieteur News visited the location and spoke with members of Team Change who were camped out opposite the building. This newspaper was told that the counting of ballots was completed and that they were informed that results will be announced on Wednesday. However, a number of questions have remained about the elections process. Based on the information received, ballots in Regions two, five, six, seven and ten were counted in the respective regions before being transported to the City. However, there are no Statements of Poll (SOP) accompanying these boxes. It was explained that when a request was made to the Elections Officer, Herman De Souza for the SOPs, Gaspar and his team were told that the documents were inside of the particular boxes. Members said that the Elections Officer needs to present the SOPs for the boxes which were counted on elections day, Thursday, April 27, 2017 and for those boxes coming from the outlying

regions in order to verify the integrity of the results. In addition, no list of eligible voters has been presented. Due to the absence of the list, there is no document to verify how many persons were entitled to vote and how many legitimate votes were casted at polling places or using roving ballot boxes. Further, this publication was told that there is added concern regarding the ballot boxes coming from New Amsterdam, Region three and Region 10. Apparently, the group received reports that somewhere along the line the results might have been padded. However, Yarde has refuted all claims that he is in any way tampering with the elections process. According to members of Team Change, from all indications, their Presidential Candidate, Mr Gaspar, is leading in the polls and it is this which is causing the delay of the elections results and the many inconsistencies which question the integrity of the results to be announced. Gaspar said yesterday that it was communicated to him that the last day of the entire process will be Wednesday. He said that according to his knowledge, all the counting has been completed. “Only the running boxes for Georgetown are left to be counted. For all the outlying areas, those boxes should have been counted on the same day of polls (April 27),

The electoral process for the GPSU elections continues to be questioned so we are now waiting for statement of polls for those boxes that would have been counted since Thursday evening and the SOPs should have been known to the Elections Officer by at least Friday and today is Sunday (yesterday).” Gaspar said that he and his team will remain outside the GPSU Headquarters until Wednesday to witness the retrieval of the SOPs for Region 10, which are said to be in the ballot boxes. According to Gaspar, the Elections Officer is not authorised to open the boxes, hence he and his team have to be present to witness the opening. “So we will be vigilant until that time comes.” Meanwhile, on Saturday, the GPSU had sent out a statement saying that it was forced to call in ranks of the Guyana Police Force at the Union’s headquarters, since persons who were behaving in a disruptive and

intimidating manner had entered the building without authorisation. Moreover, on that day, these inconsistencies among others had been formally communicated to De Souza by Gaspar on Saturday via a letter. This was also copied to Assistant Elections Officer, Gregory Mentore, President of the Trade Union Recognition and Administration Board, Justice Claudette La Bennett, the Registrar of Trade Unions

and Minister of State Joseph Harmon. Among the issues addressed in the communication was the disenfranchisement of several eligible voters, the election being conducted without a general list of eligible voters, no statement of polls for six administrative regions and ballot boxes being returned to the GPSU Headquarters in the absence of the Elections Officer or Assistant Elections Officer.

According to the letter, the highlighted issues are just a few of the discrepancies which were of critical importance. Gaspar suggested to De Souza that he acted prematurely in calling the election and executing these elections two days after the discharge of an injunction which sought to postpone the elections. According to Gaspar, voters were not given ample notice as to the date that elections would be held.

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Kaieteur News

Houston Fishing Complex explosion...

AFC appoints Owners resume operations, dead Cummingsburg Accord worker’s family still to be compensated Review Committee …reaffirms APNU+AFC Coalition is strong and cohesive

The damaged building at the time of the explosion

Deceased: Carlton Meghan B M Enterprise fishing complex located at the Guyana Fisheries Limited (GFL) wharf at Houston East Bank Demerara continues to operate even as questions linger as to what safety measures were put in place following a deadly explosion a few months ago. That explosion resulted in the death of 52 year old Carlton Megan, a mechanic who was almost beheaded after an ice making machine exploded, hurling him from the top floor of the ice complex. Another man, Ukesh Persaud, also sustained injuries. At the time of the explosion Guyana Fire

Service (GFS) Divisional Commander Compton Sparman said that the men were repairing an ice making machine. “They were looking after an ice box engine. They were welding and there was gas in the area and there was a semiexplosion that pelted him (Megan) off (the building) and broke his neck,” Sparman said. The Fire Service official said that after examining the area, he concluded that there was some negligence. “There was gas in the area (where the men were working), and a lot of gas bottles there.” When Kaieteur News returned to the area

yesterday, an employee said that the fishing company was up and running the day after the tragedy. The blown out zinc sheets were replaced and work men could be seen at the same ice house going about their work. The men that were present at the site could not say if the establishment had the necessary clearance to continue to do work there. One man who did not give his name but was in charge of the operations, said that he was not sure if the GFS gave the necessary clearance to the company owners to resume work in light of the observations by the fire service. On the issue of compensation for the Megan’s family, the man said that an agreement has already been drafted and is with the man’s widow. The official also said that the family was satisfied with the agreement but due to working constraints the

woman could not come into the complex to finalize that agreement. On the day of the explosion, Megan and Persaud were using welding equipment while fixing the compressor from an icemaking machine when the compressor exploded. There were reports that Megan was bending over the compressor at the time. Someone who visited the scene said that they heard the blast all the way in Georgetown. Employees that were working nearby ran for cover because they thought a bomb had exploded. When Kaieteur News arrived at the scene, Megan’s mangled body, with head almost severed, was on the wharf, while parts from the exploded compressor were strewn nearby. The force of the explosion had also ripped a gaping hole in the zinc sheets at the top of the building where the men were working.

On the eve of the second anniversary of the historic May 11, 2015 General and Regional Elections, the Alliance For Change has appointed a special Cummingsburg Accord Review Committee (CARC). The CARC has been tasked with studying the Cummingsburg Accord and identifying areas which may require strengthening and updating along with discussion and negotiation with Coalition partner, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU). The AFC, took the decision at its second National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting for 2017, while simultaneously reaffirming that the Coalition Government remains strong and cohesive and that it remains committed to the Coalition’s ideals and principles and the Cummingsburg Accord itself. However, the party noted that the accord is a sunset agreement which requires early review with an eye to the Local Government Elections of 2019 and General and Regional Elections in 2020. ”The Cummingsburg Accord is an historic agreement which was the platform for the APNU+AFC Coalition coming to government in 2015, it has served as a guide to the Coalition partners in government and there has

been good faith and a strong sense of mutual respect on both sides,” noted party Leader Raphael Trotman. ”Given that we are approaching our second anniversary in government, it presents an opportune time to engage in reflection and commence an early process of thorough, comprehensive and necessary review of the Cummingsburg Accord with a view to strengthening, updating and broadening the agreement as we look towards upcoming elections in two and three years’ time,” Trotman added. ”The CARC has been tasked with widely consulting with the party’s members and stakeholders to listen to their views and recommendations and examining the agreement itself and present to the party’s NEC, at its next meeting, a preliminary report on the areas, which in its view, requires further examination,” Trotman explained, while reiterating that the party is keen on ensuring that it prepares adequately and comprehensively for future elections. The committee comprises: 1. Dr. Vincent Adams 2. Dr. Rohan Somar 3. Marlon Williams 4. David Patterson 5. Joel Edmond 6. Sherod Duncan 6. Representative of (Continued on page 9)

Monday May 01, 2017

WORKERS NEED A BREAK Today is May Day, a day which in socialist countries in marked by the holding of mass workers’ rallies. It is a day in which unions and workers lay bare their problems. In Guyana, there are a lot of issues confronting the working class but none more serious than the effects of taxes on workers. The working class is being sucked dry by the effects of the increases in taxes in the economy, including the VAT which is now being applied to a broader range of goods and services. The workers and their unions will protest today against the VAT. But come tomorrow they face a bigger hurdle. Tomorrow is the deadline for the submission of income tax returns. This presents a real dilemma for workers. Many of them will be unable to meet the deadline for submitting their returns. The government has no goodies to announce to the workers for this May Day. The least they can do is to ask the Guyana Revenue Authority to grant to taxpayers a one month extension of the deadline for submitting returns. There are four reasons why the Guyana Revenue Authority should consider extending the deadline for submission of returns. The first is that many employers and employees are still not clear about the changes which have been made to the country’s tax regime. It is no longer simple to calculate the

amount of taxes which should be deduced from your salary. Employers and employees are still grappling with the new calculations. A simplified formula would have made things easy but now there are so many tiers on which different rates of taxes are applicable that it is very complicated for the average citizen. The second reason is that because the tax rates have become so complicated, it is not going to be easy for the average worker to fill out his or her own tax return. Droves of workers will therefore be seeking advice of other persons on how to fill out this year returns. A lot of mistakes are going to be made. The GRA has not launched a public education programme or any software which can be used by workers to compute their taxes. Extending the deadline for submission of tax returns would allow the GRA to provide this service and would allow time for everyone to get their houses in order. The third reason why there should be a deadline for the submission of tax returns is because of the GRA’s own failings. The sites identified by the GRA for submission of returns have been too limited. Also, there have been reports that in some cases the GRA staff have turned up extremely late to man these sites. With one more day to go before tax deadline, there is going to be a mad rush for the submission of returns.

AFC calls for VAT on private education to be reviewed before 2018 budget The lines are going to be long. Workers cannot afford, at this time when many businesses are laying off workers, to be asking for extra time off to stand in line to submit their tax returns. The GRA should increase the number of tax sites. They should also provide extended time for the submission of returns. The final reason why there should be an extension is that workers have had too much to worry about in the first quarter of the year to have had the time to deal with their tax returns. Sugar workers are worried about bread and butter issues. Many of them have been laid off because of the closure of Wales and the premature end to the first crop at Skeldon. VAT has been giving workers headaches. To think that VAT is now chargeable on water and electricity really has made life difficult for workers since it has led to an increase in prices in the shops. A one litre soft drink is now $280. On top of this, the dollar has been devalued and is now trading at a rate which will bring further hardships on the working class. Workers need a reprieve. And since none seems to be forthcoming, not even on the VAT for nursery school children, then the least the government can do is to grant a one month extension to workers to submit their tax returns. Surely, that cannot be asking too much!

AFC appoints Cummingsburg... (From page 8) Women For Change 7. Representative of Youth For Change The members will appoint a chairperson from among themselves. The second NEC meeting for 2017 was held on Saturday April 29th at the Egbert Benjamin Conference Centre in Linden, Region 10, following the first, which was held in March in Georgetown. The party engaged in discussions on a number of high level matters which included the issue of Value Added Tax (VAT) on private education tuition and agreed to a Linden Declaration. Representatives from all ten administrative regions attended the meeting along with representatives from the Diaspora, Women For Change and Youth For Change.

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The high level, quarterly meeting received various reports, including from the leader Raphael Trotman, General Secretary Marlon Williams and from the representatives of the Regional Management Committees. Trotman noted that he is especially pleased with the extensive work being done by the party at the grassroots level, particularly in regions 5, 9 and 10 and urged that activists continue their work to engage with party members and the wider public as the AFC seeks to broaden its membership across Guyana. Chairman Khemraj Ramjattan stated that he is heartened by the number of outreaches which the party leadership has undertaken all across Guyana and called for this programme to be

intensified so as to ground with citizens and inform the public of the work the party is doing in government as part of the APNU+AFC Coalition and also independently within the various communities, city wards and neighbourhoods. The party’s NEC comprises the Leader, Chairman, Vice Chairperson, General Secretary, Treasurer, Elder Statesman/Political Advisor, 12 elected members and five co-opted members. The meeting was entirely funded by the host region, Region 10 Regional Management Committee (RMC) under the chairmanship of Mr. Tracey Johnson. Following the meeting, several party leaders engaged in walkabouts in Linden, listening to, socializing with and engaging Lindeners.

The Alliance for Change is calling on the government to set up a task force to engage the issue of applying Value Added Tax on private education in Guyana. This move by the political party is being dubbed the “Linden Declaration” following the party’s National Executive Conference (NEC) being held in the mining town over the weekend. According to a statement released by the party yesterday, it remains cognizant and understanding of the difficulties faced by the A Partnership for National U n i t y and Alliance For Change government in raising revenue to meet the national capital and current expenditures for 2017 at a time when there is a difficult economic climate. The AFC said that it also recognises that the measure of instituting VAT on private education tuition has been an unpopular decision taken by government, which resulted in unexpected challenges for some parents of children and adult students attending private educational institutions. As such, the party said that it has taken into consideration the views expressed by those who have been affected by the measure and having thoroughly reviewed all perspectives and conducted extensive deliberations, it accepts, “education is a social good and, in ideal circumstances, tuition ought not to attract

AFC Leader, Raphael Trotman VAT that Budget 2017 has a significant deficit, that the reduction of the VAT rate from 16 percent to 14 percent, has resulted in a net revenue loss of GY$10B, that unpopular tax measures are sometimes necessary to meet revenue targets and that in retrospect, the measure ought to have benefitted from wider consultation. In highlighting these points, the AFC said that it will make strident representation within the Coalition Government that it does not continue with the particular tax measure in 2018. The decision by government to apply this tax on private education tuition was met with great opposition from concerned stakeholders. On April 7, 2017 Prime M i n i s t e r, Moses Nagamootoo had said that

government is committed to reviewing the tax. However, he could not say if the review will be done for 2017. He made this announcement at a meeting held at the National Cultural Centre with other government officials and concerned parents and students. Minister of Finance, Wi n s t o n J o r d a n h a d maintained that the tax is not unreasonable. At a recent press conference, the Minister had said that there are only 54 private schools registered with the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), however there are much more than this in and out of the Georgetown. He revealed that the 54 schools only represent 57 percent of the private schools in Guyana. Of that number, only 20 percent or 11 are recognised by the Ministry of Education. Further, 10 percent of those private schools are registered as non-profit organisations and 14 percent are registered as profit-making entities. Responding to the opposing views on the imposition of the tax, the Finance Minister said that a t t h e e n d o f t h e d a y, Guyana still has a choice. He added that schools can also choose to absorb the VAT and not apply it to the fees currently being charged so as to make the parents of students and adult students pay the 14 percent tax.

Dem boys seh...

Blows mek a bishop tun politician Is not everybody who holler “Lord. Lord” is a priest or a pastor, just like how all who dress like a Moulvi or a pandit is a good person. People does always think that dem people is good people. Of course, nuff people find out de hard way. Dem boys hear bout a man who live at Tuschen who somehow convince some women who can’t get pregnant that he can get dem pregnant. Of course, nuff man does know what to do, but this man didn’t even do that. He collect money from a woman who hear bout him in de States and he tell de woman that she had to come and see him. She come and without touching she how man does touch woman to get dem pregnant, he get she belly big. De woman now

complaining how dem doctors in de States tell she that she don’t have no baby in she belly. De woman claim how de man put a demon in she belly. Is one year and de demon ain’t coming out. De woman complaining but dem boys can’t understand how de woman husband allow she to fall fuh such a thing. But dem got some husband who know how to deal wid people like that. One day this husband lef and go to wuk and de wife invite a certain pastor who is a politician. Everybody know him. It so happen that while he in de house de wife hear she husband coming and she tell the pastor to hide in de roof. He hide till he ketch cramp and decide to come down just as de husband sitting down to eat. He announce how he

is Angel Gabriel and how he bring good news. He tell de husband how he is blessed and how he got a blessed home. He talk and talk. Dem boys hear de husband get up and pick up a piece of wood. That is when de bishop try to go through de door but de husband then tell de bishop to go out just like how he come in through de roof. And de blows start. Dem boys seh dem never hear an Angel change he tune so much. And then dem remember de Pope. De Angel now walking wid Jagdeo all over de place and every now and then he does limp from de blows. Talk half and beware of all who pretend that dem good.

Monday May 01, 2017

The Guyana Teachers’ Union Labour Day is celebrated in many countries on May 1st and is popularly known as May Day. Labour Day in Guyana is also celebrated on this date. The Guyana Teachers’ Union joins other Trade unions across the world in stressingthe importance of workers to the development of society. Workers in Guyana face many challenges which seek to daunt their spirits and affect their moral. Today we mobilize with our brothers and sisters from other unions to promote the 2017 theme Organizing -Necessary Prerequisite in Building a Strong United Trade Union Movement.” It is hard to comprehend how we as workers will ever

be strong unless we unite. The plan of our Colonial Masters’ decades ago was to separate or divide the Slaves and Indentured Servants from their families and tribes so that control would be easily achieved. This was achieved over an extended period until slaves came together and rebelled against the harsh treatment they received. Today workers are not managed by Colonial Masters’ but governments who decide what is good for us. However, for too long we have not had governments in Guyana who truly understood the plight of workers through their actions. Trade Unions in Guyana have been divided along the political lines because union

leaders have become too attached to politicians and have forgotten the need to represent the interest of workers with due diligence. The carrion call today is to unite for strength so that we can achieve more for workers. We need to unit to address not only salary but non salary issues. These issues are numerous and needs our collective effort as a Trade Union Movement if we are to make an impact as workers’ representatives. A few of the things which need to be addressed from the GTU’s prospective are: • Healthy and safety in the work place • Collective bargaining • Fairness in the promotion

Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) extends warm and fraternal greetings to the workers of Guyana on the occasion of Labour Day 2017. This year, as workers in various parts of the country take part in marches and rallies, the GAWU is pleased to record that the observances are characterized by greater signs of unity in the trade union movement. Such togetherness is needed especially at this time when our working-people are confronted by increasing pressures and heavier burdens. The GAWU is also saddened to record that for the first time, in a long time, Labour Day finds workers and their families in a state of great uncertainty and having to contend with steadily declining living standards and an ever increasing cost of living. We see deteriorating economic circumstances serving to devalue our dollar and increasing the cost of imports. At the same time, additional burdens are placed on workers backs with the taxation of previously untaxed essential goods and services; the introduction of new taxes; the hiking of extant taxes; the significant increases in the cost of Government fees, among other things. In such a depressing state we see the promise of a ‘Good Life’ becoming increasingly elusive. For the nation’s sugar workers, Labour Day celebrations are most bitter. Not only are they the only segment of the state’s employees to be denied pay rises and incentive payments,but now salt is being rubbed into the deep

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wounds inflicted on the heels of the closure of Wales as thousands more stand to be gravely affected by the Administration’s closure and sell-out intentions for sugar. In totality, 9,000 workers will have their jobs lost and thus forced onto the breadline resulting from the Executive’s ill-considered and, seemingly ill-thought-out, decision on sugar. Aside from the workers tens of thousands of poor, hard-working Guyanese stand to be affected and scores of now vibrant villages will certainly experience falling standards. It seems, from our perspective, that the ‘Good Life’ is not applicable to this large section of Guyanese. It is disheartening, and perplexing, that in spite of the massive social and economic consequences that will attend the industry’s miniaturization, the Executive remains headstrong and seemingly unconcerned. Clearly, it seems to us in GAWU, that the Government has selectively ignored the advice of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) which had warned that the societal effects of the sugar decision

must be considered foremostly. Such consideration is especially important when the alternatives proposed are seemingly non-starters. GAWU reiterates its strong view that sugar can be saved and be made sustainable. Key to such a feat we hold is a supportive Administration, a knowledgeable management, and committed workforce. Indeed, the workingpeople, the students, the farmers, the youth, the pensioners are facing challenging and tough times. But, at the same time, we are also seeing increasingly the fight back and resistance to the harsh decisions being taken. This is indeed a positive development and one that augurs well for our people and that should be actively and widely supported. As the workers and their organisations celebrate Labour Day, the GAWU looks to the unity displayed today being consolidated. This is a demand of the times in which we live and is in the interest of Guyana’s working-people and our nation’s future as well.

process • Increase in salary • Much anticipated debunching pay out • Adequate and proper housing for our hinterland teachers. • Adequate and relevant resources for teachers to use in the classroom. Trade Union Movement must unite and come alive so that we can collectively address the issues affecting every worker across the length and breathe of Guyana. On this Labor Day, I hope we will commit to being even more active than we have been in the past, and help lead a massive and United TradeMovement in Guyana. Let us demand of our leaders the need to be neutral from politics so that workers’ rights and interests will be championed. On behalf of the Central Executives of The Guyana Teachers’ Union, I take this opportunity to wish all workers around the world especially those here in Guyana including our hard working teachers a blessed and happy Labour Day 2017. GTU President

PEOPLE’S NATIONAL CONGRESS REFORM The People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) joins all Guyanese workers as well as those of our Region and the world at large in celebrating Labour Day. This is usually the occasion when the workers of the world and the organizations which represent them take stock of their situations and conditions and resolve to take strong and determined actions to ensure that their gains are preserved, and that the fight continues for a better future. On this occasion, the PNCR recognizes the critical role that Trade Unions have played in the political, economic and social development of the country and asserts that such a role can only continue if the Trade Union Movement as a whole remains united and protect the interests of the workers of this country. The Party also admonishes the trade union movement to

recognize that the current era demands that Trade Unions must make necessary adjustments to cope with the existing and emerging challenges, so that they can survive and remain relevant. The PNCR salutes the workers of this nation as we struggle to create a more cohesive and prosperous Guyana where all can achieve the promised good life. The PNCR asserts that such a society can only come about if the Trade Union Movement as a whole is united and protect the interests of the workers of this country. The Party also admonishes the trade union movement to recognize that the current era demands that Trade Unions must make necessary adjustments to cope with the existing and emerging challenges, so that they can survive and remain relevant. Solidarity forever! People’s National Congress Reform Congress Place, Sophia

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Monday May 01, 2017

Monday May 01, 2017

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New Police Commissioner to Govt. commits to press freedom develop culture of Proactive Policing The Gleaner - New Police Commissioner George Quallo has committed to developing a culture of proactive policing within the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) that focuses on crime prevention. This, he says, will be characterised by significantly boosting the JCF’s resources and capabilities and forging new and strengthening existing partnerships. Quallo was speaking at his installation as Jamaica’s 29th Police Commissioner, held at the Police Officers’ Club in St. Andrew on April 28. Governor-General Patrick Allen, who presented the commissioner with his Instrument of Office; Prime Minister Andrew Holness; National Security Minister Robert Montague; and Opposition Leader Dr Peter Phillips, headed the dignitaries and other guests who attended the ceremony. The new commissioner said central to the JCF’s focus on arresting crime and violence is the need for the organisation’s’s intelligence capabilities to reflect the current demands. Simultaneously, he said, the JCF’s analytical tools have to be upgraded to produce relevant and reliable information. “I commit to ensuring that greater attention and resources are focused on the expansion and improvement of our intelligence machinery. I firmly believe that with better and more calculated

Governor-General Patrick Allen (left), presents newly appointed Police Commissioner George Quallo with his Instrument of Office during his installation ceremony at the Police Officer’s Club in St Andrew. intelligence, the quest for preventing crime will be enriched and will find expression in more coordinated and successful responses,” the commissioner said. Another key imperative, Quallo noted, is the need for a dedicated and competent workforce. Noting that he is “under no illusion” that the task of dealing with crime is easy, Mr. Quallo argued that capacity building and training “will be essential.” As such, the commissioner said the National Police College of Jamaica’s curriculum is among the areas that will be reviewed. “This will be done with a

view to ensuring that the messages of professionalism and people’s rights are given the strongest focus. I believe a properly trained police force will build professionalism and significantly impact our main responsibility of creating a safer society,” he added. The commissioner assured the JCF’s members that he would also be placing significant focus on safeguarding their welfare in order to make it easier for them to carry out the tasks they were trained for “and that is to serve and to protect all of us.” Quallo said his stewardship would also be characterised by a “valiant” fight against corruption in the JCF.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a response to the Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ), has given its commitment to freedom of the press. The PAJ, who has rallied around Reporters Without Borders, asked the Jamaican government to support the call for the appointment of a Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General for the Safety of Journalists, within the corridors of the UN. In a press release yesterday afternoon the PAJ stated that they were encouraged by the commitment after the Ministry responded by stating: “...given Jamaica’s commitment to freedom of the press…you can rely on the commitment of the Government of Jamaica, through our permanent mission to the UN in New York, to advance this initiative.”

The PAJ explained that it was the overall assessment of the state of press freedom outlined in the 2017 index by Reporters Without Borders, that prompted them to support the idea. Reporters Without Borders stated that, “Attacks on the media have become commonplace and strongmen are on the rise. We have reached the age of post-truth, propaganda, and suppression of freedoms – especially in democracies.” The PAJ also noted that it looks forward to seeing the Jamaican government’s continued and active support for this important appointment. (Jamaica Observer)

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Kamina Johnson Smith

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Monday May 01, 2017

Kaieteur News

Alert level raised with increased activity at Kick ‘em

WANTED One nail technician at West Shore Plaza, 15 Public Road Ruimzeight. Call: 269-1524/ 656-3561

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

SALON - Make-up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, etc. - Cosmetology Courses: $120,000 - Technician Course: $45,000. Call: 6471773/660-5257

Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Guyana passport application. Graphics design, advertisement. Tel: 6267040; 265-4535.

Contract hire car to work @ GR Taxi. Contact Ganesh: 614-6202 Land to buy in: Uitvlugt, Tuschen, Zeelugt and La Pafaite Harmonie. Call: 642-1252 One live in couple to work in Mahaicony River to take care of house and do garden work. Call: 655-9419/ 225-6571 We buy land in Eccles, Herstelling, Farm, La Parfaite Harmonie, Zeelugt, Tuschen. We pay best price and cash. Call: 666-2326

INNOVATIVEMARKETING & PUBLISHING INC –TEL: 600-4212: We create A/ works, logos, busi ness cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included.

VEHICLE FOR SALE SALE! SALE! 2011 ALLION $3.350M, 2011 BLUEBIRD $2.7M, 2010 RACTICS $2.5M,ALLVEHICLESFULLY Floor sanding & Lacquering, LOADED&UNREGISTERED. house plans, estimate & CALL: 642-7295 painting, boat for Santa Allion, Primo, Fielder Wagon, Spacio, Bluebird, 212 Carina, Mission. Call: 650-4362 NZE, Honda CRV, Toyota IST, Passport, permanent & RZ & Pit-bull – Call: 650-7501 visitor visa application, Professional Immigration Toyota 212 New Model, Consultant – Sabita Fielder Wagon 07, Spacio, all Immigration Services. Call: in excellent condition. Price neg. Tel: 681-6488, 657-5839. 225-6496/ 662-6045 Toyota Spacio, PRR series, Repairs at affordable prices: fully leather, press start alarm, fridge, air conditioner, good condition -$1.3M washing machines, dryers, negotiable. Call: 689-7701 TV, microwaves & freezerCall: 610-5846 or 661-8158 1-3 Ton enclosed canter for Eagle’s: Re-gas -$8,000, sale. Call: 613-0830/ 666-2549 Washing machine repairs, Gas Stove, Plasma flat Screen, Unregistered 2010 Fielder computer repairs & more. $2.5M, Dark Interior. Call: 6175536 Call: 697-2969/646-0966 For the best house plan prices & designs. Call: 610-+4085/ Visit 37 Camp & Croal Streets

Farm worker (live in) age 40 & older. Call: 265-3586 One night security, one cleaner+ male to work as operator in ice factory at Meadowbank. Call: 642-9191 1 RZ Bus Driver age 50-65yrs to work & keep. Call: 2195138/689-9592 (anytime) Washbay staff living in Georgetown, excellent salary & benefits. Call: 646-8748 One female vegetarian cook in the Interior. Call: 668-6421 Contract Cars and dispatchers. Call: 219-4087

GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 225-7878 (24HRS)

MASSAGE The Gent’s Spa: Massage done by Tiffany, mobile services. Book appointment now! Call: 677-5465

PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 677-7827, 6435122 ,EMAIL:PRO_AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.COM WING’S CAR & PICKUP RENTAL: LOW DOWN PAYMENT, CHEAP REATES,SPECIALOFFERS FOR THE SEASON. CALL: 690-6494

One Diesel welder on trailer. Call: 699-4300/ 228-2734

PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Bottom flat house @ 25 North Road & Oronoque Street, fully furnished/ air condition/ residence /business.Call: 226-7012 Space for rent @ Vreed-en Hoop Junction, lessons place, church, storage bond, office, others -$20,000 monthly. Call: 603-6400

1 Transported property @ Covent Garden Island E.C.D, Music Equipment: speaker, 1 complete rock, etc. Call: 2653586

Business property to rent near Campbellville Secondary School. Call: 6276480/ 613-6815

Great Deals on video games & all gaming consoles. PC, video games & repairs – Call: 672-2566; 265-3231

3 Bedrooms upper flat, fully grilled with toilet, bath, kitchen, parking @ Block ‘8’ Mon Repos, E.C.D -$70,000 monthly. Call: 687-1050

Rottweiler pups. Call: 2202277/220-8904/629-1471 Design & Make Aluminum windows, doors, stainless rails, showcases, rolling shutters, make & install automatic doors. Call: 2336818/677-5599/659-9999

Subryanville property for sale: 44 fifth Avenue., Subryanville, Georgetown $45M or best offer. Call Mortimer: 625-7669/ Shari 626-4215 House for sale- 2 flat no flooding, 6ft fence, price $21Million negotiable. Call: 233-5400/ 218-0595

You deserve a relationship filled with love and excitement. Call Harmony Singles: 626-2629, 676-6312

CAR RENTAL

1 Double Stall for sale @ Bourda Market Section D. Call: 665-7896

PROPERTY FOR SALE Transported property @ Grove and Diamond $16M negotiable. Call: 625-5461

TO LET

CAR RENTAL DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL:PICKUP,9-11 SEAT MIN BUS, GOOD FOR AIRPOTR & FAMILY OUTING, CHEAPEST RATE . Call: 698-7807

1 Complete Sawmill at Yarrowkabra Linden Soesdyke Highway and 1 F66 – Clarke, Ranger Skidder. Call: 609-8041/ 644-1190

FOR RENT

One & two bedroom apartment available semifurnished. Call: 681-4275/ 2314432 Room to rent with light, water, bed & wardrobe, working single/ couple, $28,000 monthly + security. South Ruimveldt Gardens. Call:623-0076

Experienced cook to work in restaurant, preferably from the West Bank, baking would be an asset. Call: 592-678-3400

PEN PAL TAXI SERVICE

FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754.

New property for sale @ ‘BB’ Eccles, 5 bedrooms, 3 Full baths -$38Million negotiable. Call: 623-7963/ 602-9574

4 AC Rooms/2 large hall with 1 extra room, suitable for business/offices @ 21 Seaforth St. Campbellville, Georgetown. Call: 226-1877, 624-7436, 654-9350 Furnished 1 bedroom apartments in Nandy Park, parking available. For further information – Call: 619-4824; 233-5560 Lodging for students and working professionals in Republic Park Area. Call:2335560 or 619-4824 for details

ST GEORGE’S – The National Disaster Management Agency is monitoring an increase in activities taking place at Kick ‘em Jenny, the region’s only submarine volcano located between Grenada and the Grenadine island of Carriacou. In a release early yesterday, the disaster agency said it has been advised of the increase in activity by the Seismic Research Centre (SRC) of the University of the West Indies (UWI). “The UWI/SRC recorded a high amplitude signal, lasting about 25 seconds, on one of the Grenada stations. The signal was also recorded on a station in Montserrat. This signal follows an increase in the number of background events associated with the Kick-‘em-Jenny volcano,” said the release which confirmed that persons in the St Patrick’s area have reported feeling tremors.” As a result, the alert level is now on yellow and sea users and ships have been warned to stay away from vicinity of the submarine volcano. (CMC)

LAND FOR SALE Transported land for sale size 37X270 @ Coglan Dam, Vreed-en-Hoop, W.B.D. Call: 650-5644/677-9938 Tuschen Phase 2 - $1.4M, Uitvlugt -$2.5M with fence, La Parfaite Harmonie -$1.5M. Call: 642-1252 La Parfaite Harmonie - $1.4M, $1.6M, $1.2M, Tuschen Phase II -$1.3M, House & land in La Parfaite Harmonie. Can go through the bank $14M. Call: 666-2326 La Parfaite Harmonie Main Road -$1.8M, Last Bridge $1.2M, $1.4M, Herstelling -$3.5M, Tuschen Phase II -$1.4M. Call: 604-6724 or 673-6300

VACANCY Experienced cook (for canteen), porters, bond clerks, snackette attendants, drivers. Apply: Survival, Lot 10 Vlissengen Rd, Kitty. Cook/Baker and Kitchen Assistant for interior location. Applicants must be experienced, for details call: 618-2020 Experienced bartenders. Call: 225-8572 between 7am-9am Female kitchen assistant & male assistant with driver’s license to work @ outdoor grill, weekend included. Call: 656-9313/675-2550 Salesgirls @ D.Singh & Sons. Call: 226-1316 One female houseworker, preferably living in C/Ville or close to location, address 25 Craig Street, C/Ville. Call: 2231332 Accounts Clerk for office in Eccles Industrial Site, knowledge of NIS, PAYE, VAT, Quickbooks call 6144358

ACCOMMODATION Journey Inn apartments: Fully furnished with Kitchen and AC for short term. Call: 233-2300/ 7182301695/646-3011634

LEARN TO DRIVE C. Persaud & N. Outar Driving School formerly Soman & Sons Driving School @ Maraj Building- Call: 644-5166; 6222872; 615-0964; 689-5997 (affordable packages).

1 Strong able body security guard. Call: 226-1877/6247436 Welder: apply in person to Alabama Trading, Georgetown Ferry Stelling, Stabroek.

Monday May 01, 2017

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Kaieteur News

Trump celebrates first 100 days as president, blasts media

U.S. President Donald Trump appears on stage at a rally in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, U.S. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri

Reuters - U.S. President Donald Trump hit the road on Saturday to celebrate his first 100 days in the White House with cheering supporters at a campaigns t y l e r a l l y, t o u t i n g h i s initial achievements and lashing out at critics. Trump told a Pennsylvania crowd he was just getting started on meeting his campaign promises. He repeatedly attacked an “incompetent, dishonest” media, saying they were not telling the truth about his administration’s accomplishments. “My administration has been delivering every single

Venezuela’s Maduro sees local elections later in 2017 Reuters - Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said yesterday he expected delayed state polls to be held this year, although opponents have demanded a broader general election to replace him in protests that have sparked 29 deaths. The postponed vote for governors of Venezuela’s 23 states - originally slated for 2016 - is one of a litany of opposition grievances against Maduro whom foes accuse of becoming a dictator and wrecking the economy. During his weekly TV programme, “Sundays With Maduro,” the 54-year-old socialist leader said gubernatorial elections would happen later this year although the opposition’s real agenda was to topple him with a U.S.-backed coup. “I am anxious for an electoral process to be called,” he told supporters on the live show, saying the election board, or CNE, first had to finish legalizing political parties. “Then the CNE will fix the pending governor elections, for this year. ... Venezuela’s problem is not that there won’t be elections this year. Venezuela’s problem is that an empire in extremists’ hands wants to take our oil and carry out a coup.” The government party controls 20 states, but polls indicate the opposition would now win a majority of the states, given voter anger over the OPEC nation’s brutal recession. The next presidential election is due for late 2018, but the opposition wants that brought forward to this year and bundled with legislative, state and mayoral elections. In a special programme to celebrate the construction of 1.6 million housing units

Nicolas Maduro under a six-year state project begun by his predecessor, Hugo Chavez, the president lambasted his opponents for violence occurring around protests. The 29 fatalities include supporters of both sides and a National Guard sergeant, most killed by bullets. Hundreds have also been injured, and property damaged. Opposition leaders say security forces have unleashed excessive force in the near-daily clashes of the past month, while Maduro says snipers have been shooting his supporters. “They’ve passed all limits, attacking a maternity hospital, burning ambulances, burning buses with passengers inside, attacking Housing Mission offices, attacking schools, libraries, Mercales (state food stores),” he said. “Are these protests? No, they are fascism.” The president also criticized foreign media, saying they ignored social achievements such as Venezuela’s 6.6 percent unemployment rate or the Housing Mission, to focus obsessively on the unrest. “They are never going to

cover housing unit No. 1,600,000, but they always know the day before what the opposition are going to do, so they can be there with their cameras,” he said of the media. “They are seeking an imperialist intervention.” Venezuela’s foreign and information ministers met with foreign correspondents on Saturday to protest coverage of the death of a student last week during street clashes. Officials of the opposition-controlled Chacao district of Caracas, and protest leaders said 20year-old Juan Pernalete was hit by a tear gas cannister. The ministers suggested he was assassinated from within opposition ranks to discredit Maduro. They showed a video of his final moments being carried by two youths, a photo of his wounded torso and details of a pistol they suspect was used. The state prosecutor’s office is investigating the case. In his lengthy Sunday programme, the Venezuelan president also announced a 60 percent increase in the minimum salary to 60,000 bolivars to take effect from Labor Day on Monday. With increased food tickets worth 135,000 bolivars, workers would receive 200,000 monthly, he said. That amount is worth about $50 at the black market rate for dollars. The opposition and government are both planning massive marches across the country on Monday, with many Venezuelans fearing further violence. As well as general elections, the opposition wants the release of jailed activists, permission for foreign humanitarian aid to help offset shortages of food and medicine, and autonomy for the opposition-controlled National Assembly.

day for the great citizens of our country,” Trump said in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. “We are keeping one promise after another, and frankly the people are really happy about it.” The rally occurred on the same day as a climate march at which thousands of protesters surrounded the White House, and it also coincided with the annual black-tie White House press dinner in Washington. Trump and his staff chose to skip the press dinner because of what he said was unfair treatment by the press. Trump said he was thrilled to be away f r o m t h e “ Wa s h i n g t o n swamp”. “A large group of Hollywood actors and Wa s h i n g t o n m e d i a a r e consoling each other in a hotel ballroom in our nation’s capital right now,” Trump said to loud boos

from the crowd. “If the media’s job is to be honest and to tell the truth, the m e d i a d e s e r v e s a v e r y, very big fat failing grade.” Trump listed what he said were some of his key early accomplishments, including the successful confirmation to the U.S. Supreme Court of Justice Neil Gorsuch and clearing away many regulations on the environment and business. He also listed his approval of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines, killing a pending Asian trade pact, and enhanced security measures that have led to a sharp decline in illegal border crossings at the southern border. “The world is getting the message: if you try to illegally enter the United States, you will be caught, detained, deported or put in prison,” Trump said.

He shrugged off his failure to score major legislative victories on his core campaign promises, such as repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act and construction of a Mexican border wall. Trump’s ban on visitors from some Muslim nations was blocked in court. He blamed Democrats for the legislative failures so far and said all of his promises would be kept eventually. “We’ll build the wall, people, don’t even worry about it,” he said. Some supporters in the crowd said they were willing to give Trump more time. “I voted for him and I’ll give him a year. That’s enough time to whip Congress into shape and get some deals done,” said Michael Casciaro, 54, a civilian contractor for the military.

Monday May 01, 2017

Kaieteur News

May expects tough talks; EU alarmed at Brexit ‘illusions’ Reuters - British Prime Minister Theresa May expects divorce talks with the European Union to be tough, she said yesterday after EU leaders agreed stiff terms and voiced alarm at “illusions” in London that may wreck a deal. “What this shows, and what some of the other comments we’ve seen coming from European leaders shows, is that there are going to be times when these negotiations are going to be tough,” May told the BBC a day after her EU peers agreed on demands they want met to avoid chaos when Britain leaves the bloc in 2019. At Saturday’s Brussels summit of the 27 other EU states, EU chief executive Jean-Claude Juncker accused unnamed proBrexit figures of underestimating the complexity of the task and German Chancellor Angela Merkel repeated her concern that London still harboured “illusions” about negotiating a quick free-trade pact. May, who has called an

Theresa May election for June 8 in the hope of strengthening her position, repeated her insistence that no deal would be better than a bad deal — a position many in Brussels view as bluff, arguing that the legal void that would dawn on March 30, 2019, would hurt Britain much more than the others. But Juncker, quoted yesterday by Germany’s FAS newspaper, highlighted growing fears that the two sides are talking past each other, raising a significant risk of negotiations collapsing.

“I’m leaving Downing Street 10 times more sceptical than I was before,” the Frankfurt paper quoted the European Commission president as saying after he and chief EU negotiator Michel Barnier met May in London over dinner on Wednesday. Juncker had arrived hefting two weighty EU treaties — last year’s 1,600page CETA free-trade pact with Canada and the 2012 EU accession of the bloc’s newest member, Croatia (population 4.2 million). They were props to convince May of the complexity of unwinding 46 years of EU membership and keeping trade open. So alarmed was he at what he said on Saturday were British officials who “underestimate the technical difficulties” that he alerted Merkel, the EU’s main power broker, in an early morning call to Berlin on Thursday. She then used a speech in parliament to warn against British “illusions” that it could retain much of the benefits of EU membership after Brexit.

Iran’s leader rebuffs Rouhani’s detente policy ahead of vote Reuters - Iranians should not thank Hassan Rouhani’s policy of detente with the West for any reduction in the threat of war, supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said yesterday, stepping up his criticisms of the president as elections approach. In comments that appeared to favour hardline candidates in the May 19 vote, Khamenei played down the benefits of Rouhani’s landmark agreement to curb Iran’s nuclear activities in return for a lifting of international sanctions. “Some say since they took office the shadow of war has been faded away. This is not correct,” Khamenei was quoted as saying by state media. “It’s been people’s presence in the political scene that has removed the shadow of war from the country.” Khamenei and his hardline supporters have also criticised the nuclear deal — which stifled talk by Washington of possible military action against Iran — for failing to deliver promised economic benefits. But speaking at the opening of a refinery that Iran says will make it self-sufficient in oil products, Rouhani defended his position.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei “The nuclear deal was a national achievement. We should make use of its advantages. But some have started a fight over it,” Rouhani said. He cited the new refinery, in the Gulf port city of Bandar Abbas, as a result of the deal and “interaction with the world”. One of Rouhani’s main challengers, Ebrahim Raisi, an influential cleric with decades of experience in the hardline judiciary, said Iran had no need of foreign help to improve the economy and could always defend itself. “We should not warn our

people of wars and crises. We have full security in the country,” Raisi said in a recorded address on state television. “This approach, that we should wait for foreign investment and for foreigners to resolve our issues, is wrong. “This is wrong, to wait years and years for foreign investors to come ... We should resolve issues by relying on domestic capabilities,” Raisi said in comments that echoed those previously made by Khamenei, Iran’s highest authority. Rouhani has said Iran needs foreign capital to modernize its oil and gas, transportation and telecommunication sectors after decades of international isolation. However, foreign investors are still cautious about trading with or investing in Iran, fearing penalties from remaining unilateral U.S. sanctions and President Donald Trump’s tough rhetoric on the Islamic Republic. This has caused long delays in contracts that Iran seeks with international firms to develop its oil and gas fields.

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Kaieteur News

Monday May 01, 2017

Monday May 01, 2017

Kaieteur News

Germany’s Merkel presses Saudi Arabia on refugees and rights

In this photo released by the Saudi Press Agency, SPA, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, shakes hands with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Naif bin Abdulaziz on her arrival to Jiddah, Saudi Arabia, yesterday. (Saudi Press Agency via AP) RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — German Chancellor Angela Merkel met with Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and his successors in her first visit to the kingdom in seven years, saying she pressed them on women’s rights, the war in Yemen and other sensitive issues. After her meetings in the Red Sea city of Jiddah, she told German journalists traveling with her that she raised human rights concerns with Saudi leaders, including the rights of women. She said Saudi Arabia’s war in Yemen also was discussed. For more than two years, the kingdom has been bombing Yemeni rebels aligned with Saudi Arabia’s regional Shiite rival, Iran. The conflict there has driven the Arab world’s poorest countries to the brink of famine, with 27 million people needing humanitarian or protection assistance. “We don’t believe there can be a military solution to the conflict,” Merkel said. Saudi Arabia and Iran also back opposite sides of the conflict in Syria, and Germany was one of six international powers that negotiated the nuclear deal with Iran to which Saudi Arabia objected. As is customary, Saudi officials did not comment on the details of the meetings. After her meeting with the Saudi king, Merkel held talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, who oversees security forces and counterterrorism, and Deputy Crown Prince

Mohammed bin Salman, who has a vast portfolio overseeing defense and the economy. During the meetings, Merkel said, she specifically discussed the kingdom’s death penalty. Saudi Arabia has one of the world’s highest execution rates and executes people for non-lethal offenses such as drug smuggling. She also raised the case of Raif Badawi, a Saudi blogger whose public lashing drew international condemnation from even the kingdom’s closest Western allies. He is serving a 10-year prison sentence for blog posts critical of the country’s powerful religious establishment. Having scheduled a meeting with Saudi businesswomen during her

two-day visit, Merkel acknowledged there have been “significant changes in the role of women” since her last visit in 2010. She cited the historic first-time participation of women in Saudi Arabia’s only elections for local council seats in 2015. She noted, however, that women in Saudi Arabia still face many restrictions. “I have the impression that the country is in a phase of change and that a lot more is possible now than some years ago, but it’s still a long way away from having achieved what we would understand as equality,” Merkel said. Like other high-profile female visitors, Merkel did not cover her hair or wear a traditional flowing black robe upon arrival in the kingdom.

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Monday May 01, 2017

Kaieteur News

Global pension funds warm to Cayman Islands court blocks India’s solar power ambitions copying of public records Reuters - Some of the world’s biggest pension funds, seeking long-term returns on green investments, are scouting for deals in India’s solar power sector, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is targeting $100 billion in investment in the next five years. Power demand in Asia’s third-largest economy is set to surge as the economy grows and more people move into the cities. India estimates peak electricity demand will more than quadruple in the next two decades to 690 gigawatt (GW), which would require rapid growth in generation and transmission capacity. That potential, helped by cheaper solar material costs and government efforts to curb pollution, is drawing global investors, including Canada’s top pension fund managers - Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB), Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ), and Ontario Teacher ’s Pension Plan (OTPP). Investors’ focus is primarily on solar power generation, funding largescale solar parks.

Narendra Modi CDPQ, which has C$270.7 billion ($199 billion) in net assets, says it plans to invest in India’s solar sector with Azure Power (AZRE.N), a New York-listed firm with about 1 GW of solar capacity under various stages of development. “We plan to do more with them. Our approach is really to pick the right partner and then build a platform that can be sustained over several years,” said Anita George, CDPQ’s South Asia head, adding she wouldn’t rule out investing in other solar

ventures in future. Other international investors have already entered India’s renewable energy sector, such as Dutch fund manager APG, Canada’s Brookfield Asset Management (BAMa.TO), the private equity arms of Goldman Sachs (GS.N), JPMorgan (JPM.N) and Morgan Stanley (MS.N), and European utilities EDF (EDF.PA), Engie (ENGIE.PA) and Enel (ENEI.MI). APG Asset Management, which last year agreed to jointly invest $132 million with India’s Piramal Enterprises (PIRA.NS) into solar power, is looking for more deals. “We expect to be able to announce another investment in the Indian renewable energy sector in the coming months,” said Hans-Martin Aerts, APG’s infrastructure head for Asia Pacific. Alok Verma, an executive director at Kotak Investment Banking, which has advised companies on renewable deals, said he expects at least 5 GW of solar power to be added from next year, most of it supported by overseas funds.

GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands — In a significant departure from previous practice, the chief justice of the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands, Anthony Smellie, has approved an order prohibiting the public from making photocopies of court pleadings. According to a notice posted on the door of the clerk’s office, the public can review the court files and take notes, but no method of copying or photographing will in future be permitted. People can still access and take notes on court records after paying a $20 inspection fee. Obtaining photocopies – for an additional fee of $20 per document plus $0.50 per page – is allowed for “any legitimate purpose,” including investigative journalism, with prior approval from the clerk of court. According to the court,

publishing public court documents online could constitute a violation of copyright, an apparently questionable rationale given that the material in question comprises public documents in the first place. The new policy has drawn some critical comment, not least of which was from David Marchant, the publisher of Miami-based financial newsletter OffshoreAlert. In an email last week, to 9,000 subscribers in 100 countries, Marchant wrote, “When a judge punishes such activity, instead of encouraging it, you know a jurisdiction has serious problems.” Another financial professional in Miami wondered whether recent high-profile fraud cases originating in the Cayman Islands have directed more negative attention towards

Chief Justice Anthony Smellie the offshore financial centre than the government desires, hence the effort to keep the original court documents, some of which could reveal a “head in the sand” approach by local regulators and law enforcement, off the Internet. (Caribbean News)

Brazil protesters, police clash in first general strike in decades

Members of Brazil’s Movimento dos Sem-Teto (Roofless Movement) shout slogans to Police as they try open the front door of a vacant building during an occupation of an empty building in the early hours of general strike, in the centre of Sao Paulo, Brazil. REUTERS/Nacho Doce SAO PAULO/BRASILIA (Reuters) Brazilian protesters torched buses, clashed with police in several cities and marched on President Michel Temer’s Sao Paulo residence weekend amid the nation’s first general strike in more than two decades. Unions called the strike to voice anger over Temer’s efforts to push austerity measures through congress, bills that would weaken labour laws and trim a generous pension system. The blackened hulls of at least eight burned commuter buses littered central Rio de Janeiro as police launched rounds of tear gas and rubber bullets at masked protesters. Despite the protests, Temer and members of his centre-right government denounced the strike as a failure. They said that the unions’ targeting of public transport meant that people who wanted to go to work were unable to. Unions said the strike was a success and pointed to adherence by millions of workers

in key sectors like automakers, petroleum, schools and even banking. Strikes hit all 26 states and the Federal District. Brazil’s last general strike took place in 1996, in protests over privatizations and labour reforms under former President Fernando Henrique Cardoso. Despite Friday’s action, many analysts said the strike would have little immediate impact on the president’s austerity push, and that the bills are still expected to pass given Temer’s continued support among lawmakers. Temer’s reforms have deeply angered many Brazilians and he is weighed down by a 10 percent approval rating for his government. He took over last year when former leader Dilma Rousseff, whom Temer served as vice president, was impeached for breaking budgetary rules. Her supporters denounced the act as a ‘coup’ orchestrated by Temer and his allies in a bid to derail a sweeping corruption investigation.

Monday May 01, 2017

Letters to the Sports Editor

Why are Junior Sinclair and Alex Algoo batting where they are not accustomed to DEAR SIR, The Management of the Berbice Under-17 cricket team needs to urgently explain to the cricketing public of Berbice, why Junior Sinclair, Berbice most prolific junior opening batsman along with Alex Algoo are being forced to bat out of position at NO. 3. This highly talented batsman, Sinclair, has opened batting for Rose Hall Town, Berbice and Guyana and is one of the most prolific youth batsmen at his age group in Berbice along with Algoo, Kevlon Anderson, Garfield Benjamin and Seon Glasgow. Sinclair to date has a total of eight centuries at the junior level since 2015 opening the batting. In total he has scored a total of 1653 runs at an average of 50.12 for the RHTY&SC. Some of the centuries are a majestic 107 VS Young Warriors in an Under19 BCB semi-finals, 105 VS a touring Trinidad Under-19 Cricket Academy, 145 VS Line Path (2016), 110 VS Tamarind Root, 106 VS Tucker Park (Under-17) and 115 VS NO. 73. Sinclair is also one of the main reasons why LCCSS won the National Schools

Championship in 2017 and RHT Pepsi and Berbice Under-19 title in 2016 with sheer volume of runs. We at the RHTY&SC are very upset at this undeserved demotion in the batting order for Junior Sinclair and the non-selection of Tucker Park’s Garfield Benjamin in the final eleven. Benjamin is a national Under-15 player who has represented Berbice since 2015 at the junior level with great success. All Berbicians remember his brilliant winning Knock of 59 in the 2015 Under-15 finals versus Demerara at Wales where he was named Man of the Finals. Benjamin is also a very prolific batsman for Tucker Park at the Under-17, Under-19 and Second Division levels. We would be very grateful for answers to the following questions: a) Why has the most prolific opening junior batsman batting out of his normal position. b) Was Sinclair demoted to accommodate a player from the Club of the New Czar of Berbice Cricket, who is introducing himself as

Secretary of BCB which is secret to most Clubs? c) Why is Benjamin carrying water when he is a senior player to several players in the final eleven? d) Why is the Berbice team playing two left arm spinners, an off spinner, two pacers and a leg spinner when Junior Sinclair is a very capable off-spinner, while Anderson bowls medium pace as well. Sinclair in 2016 and 2017 has taken 79 wickets at an average of 8.52 for Rose Hall at all levels, while Anderson has bowled well for Rose Hall Town, Berbice and Guyana, why was the leg spinner not left out of the team to accommodate Benjamin? e) Why was an unqualified coach selected to coach the team when Berbice has several qualified and highly successful coaches? We do not know the persons who are selecting the Berbice team are or who is in charge of Berbice Cricket but the Berbice Public deserves answers to the above questions. Hilbert Foster Secretary/CEO

Government must respond to Foster’s call for end to cricket chaos DEAR EDITOR, Please allow me the opportunity to express my whole hearted support for Mr. Hilbert Foster’s call for immediate Government intervention in the local cricket fiasco. Mr. Foster’s call is timely and extremely relevant to the future of our cricket which has been devastated by the group that has ‘hijacked’ the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) since 2011. Government’s intervention merely requires that the Attorney General and/or the Minister of Sport, who are the defendants in the frivolous challenge to the Cricket Administration Act 2014, initiate action to have the injunction to the Act dismissed. Then Chief Justice (Ag) Ian Chang issued an order that prevented any elections of the GCB and

its membership until the substantive matter is heard which in effect is indefinitely. The defendants role is to have the matter brought up for early hearing or alternatively have the injunction quashed thereby paving the way for free and fair elections of the GCB to be held for the first time since August, 2011 when the chaos began. Since the Cricket Act is properly in place, it only requires enforcing the rules to introduce the principle of democracy back into our Cricket Administration. All factions will then be united under a legal framework and cricket will once again have legitimacy and accountability in our dear land of Guyana. What is so wrong with that? Claude Raphael

YWCC Mash Cup postponed due to rain

YWCC President Rafeek Kassim

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Kaieteur News

For the third time, The Young Warriors Cricket Club fund raiser, Mash Cup 2017 is forced to be postponed due to heavy rainfall that has left the venue water logged. This, the fourth edition was slated to be held yesterday at the picturesque Cumberland Cricket Ground, East Canje, Berbice. A release from the Cumberland based cricket club said that it is very unfortunate that the tournament which was originally fixed for the

traditional Mash period and then April 9, has to be rescheduled once again. A statement from Rafeek Kassim, Club President indicated that everything was in place with excellent weather prevailing and then suddenly came the rain. He said that the club has no control over God’s work and will announce a new date as soon possible. He advised that all tickets purchased will be valid for the new date. In closing, Kassim thanked the sponsors so far for their support.

Support continues to pour in as changes made and prize money increased

Over 50 entered so far

The Rising Sun Turf Club is all ready for action today. Preparations continue for “the grand one day of Photo Finish horserace meet”. The event, which is organised by the Rising Sun Turf Club and friends of Rising Sun, is set for Sunday May 7 at the Rising Sun Turf Club, Arima Park, West Coast Berbice. With overwhelming support from horse owners a number of changes have been made to the grand one day event which has also seen an increase of the various incentives on offer. The event has seven races listed with over $6M in cash, trophies and other incentives up for the taking, and so far seen over 50 horses entered. A top class field of runners that includes Golden Blue Echo, Lady Budapest, Brave Sky, Spit Fire, Just call Me Boss, Jack in My Style, Release the Beast, Goodwill Boy, Red and Lovely, Honey Flow, Climate Change, Big Man Boss, Puppy Tail, Mischievous Maker and Firing Line among others have been so far entered to compete. The Feature D3 and lower event will now have a winning purse of $1M and trophy, up from the original $800,000 compliments of

Banks DIH Limited over 1400M which incidentally is the distance of all of the races. Thus making it a one day sprint classic. The other events listed on the day are – The event for G1 and E3 non earners for the last six months which has a winning take of $400,000 and trophy. The race for H3 and lower horses will also now cater for those 4years that haven’t earned for 2017 for a top prize of $350,000 and trophy. The race for three years and I and lower animals will be contested for a winning purse of $250,000 and trophy. The J2 and K and lower event will see the animals racing for a winner’s take of $200,000 and trophy. The L and lower animals will be galloping for a bounty of $175,000 and trophy. There is also a race for cow and cart horses for a winner’s tale of $100,000 and trophy. Banks DIH Limited along with Trophy Stall of Bourda Market, the Jumbo Jet Business entity and Shariff Business Enterprise has so far come forward as major sponsors. Interested person can contact Fazal Habibulla on Telephone No 232-0232 or 6577010 for details. Race time is 12:30 hrs.

Amy Grant leaves Silver Sharks and... From page 30 swam away with the 50m freestyle in a personal best time in the first event of the day’s programme. Grant followed up two events later by taking the 50m butterfly in National record time in the Girls 15-17 category. The competition was used as the 2017 Carifta Trials as well as for selection of 2017 Goodwill squad, for the Goodwill Championships which will be hosted in Guyana later this year. Grant had entered the ASSAT International Invitational in Trinidad and Tobago in December 2016 as an “Unattached” swimmer and would have been swimming Unattached since the start of the 2017 season in Guyana since she was transitioning from her former club to another club. She had met all of her financial obligations to her former club and was awaiting her release documents which had been promised for the

New Year by Silver Sharks Aquatic Swim Club’s President. Grant has not only moved from her former swim club Silver Sharks, she has also moved from The Bishops’ High School back to St Roses High School to complete her CSEC examinations and has expressed delight with both moves as she is getting the needed support in both her academic and sporting careers. Having been given support by the Dorado Speed Swim Club members in her

times of challenge in swimming, Grant was welcomed warmly by the Dorado family and Head Coach Stephanie Fraser. Fraser, one of the leading coaches in the business with loads of experience and certification at the highest level, has expressed on behalf of her club, the hope that the young and talented Grant can continue to improve and reach new heights in the sport with her new “Club Family” which will be there to lend support and encouragement, every step of the way.

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Kaieteur News

Monday May 01, 2017

GuyanaNRA Smallbore Section .22 Precision Pistol Shoot T&T brush aside Barbados to retain Ramlakhan tops senior field; Dundas is leading junior Super50 title KINGSTOWN, St Vincent, CMC – Opener Felicia Walters stroked a half-century as Trinidad and Tobago defeated Barbados by 21 runs here yesterday, to successfully defend their Women’s Regional Super50 title. Playing in the final at the Arnos Vale Stadium, T&T were bowled out for 164 off 46 overs, with Walters topscoring with a patient 53. Reniece Boyce got 29 and Rachael Vincent, 20. Leg-spinner Keila Elliot was the best bowler with four for 47 while seamer Deandra Dottin picked up three for 41. In reply, Barbados battled back from a terrible start to appear on course for victory at 70 for two in the 19th over before collapsing to lose their last eight wickets for 63 runs. West Indies Women stars Dottin and Kyshona Knight both hit 32 while Charlene Taitt chimed in with 24. Slow medium Felicia Walters helped hurt the innings with three for 25 while slow bowler Karishma Ramharack (2-10), fast bowler Shenelle Lord (2-27) and offspinner Anisa Mohammed (236) all finished with two wickets each. Sent in, T&T got off to a decent start when Walters anchored two successive, productive stands, putting on 44 for the first wicket with Boyce and another 49 for the second wicket with Lord. Walters struck just three fours but held the innings

together, batting through until the 45th over before finally being dismissed. T&T were well placed at 103 for two in the 24th over but lost their last eight wickets for 61 runs, with Elliot and off-spinner Hayley Matthews (2-17) also doing the damage. Barbados were placed under pressure early in their run chase when in-form opener Matthews (9) and her West Indies teammate Kycia Knight (0) were both prised out cheaply with just nine runs on the board in the third over. A recovery followed, however, as Dottin and Knight then combined in a 61run, third-wicket stand to ensure the innings flourished. Once Dottin was bowled by Ramharack in the 19th over, the innings went into freefall, with five wickets tumbling for 27 runs to leave Barbados tottering on 97 for seven. Taitt and tail-ender Shamilia Connell (20) made an attempt at a rearguard action in a 32-run, eighth wicket partnership but Mohammed had Connell stumped in the 42nd over to signal the final rites. Scores: T&T 164 all out off 46 overs (Felicia Walters 53, Reniece Boyce 29, Rachael Vincent 20; Keila Elliot 4-47, Deandra Dottin 3-31) BARBADOS 143 all out off 45.5 overs (Deandra Dottin 32, Kyshona Knight 32, Charlene Taitt 24, Shamilia Connell 20; Felicia Walters 325, Karishma Ramharack 2-10)

Amy Grant leaves Silver Sharks and joins Dorado Speed Swim Club

Amy Grant (right) and Coach Stephanie Fraser Fifteen year-old Amy Grant started this year with a bang by claiming five gold medals at the Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA) Republic Anniversary Long Course Meet which was held at the National Aquatic Centre, Liliendaal in March. The multi talented Grant took the 1500m and 800m freestyle on Day One and Day Two of the competition. She followed by claiming 100m freestyle on Day Three with a personal best time. On Day Four and final day of the competition, Grant Continued on page 29

The top three shooters from the senior and junior categories display their medals. Joshua Ramlakhan improved from his second position in the previous competition as he shot his way to the top spot when the Smallbore Section of the Guyana National Rifle Association (GuyanaNRA) held its second .22 Precision Pistol Shoot for the year at the Tactical Services Unit Range on Saturday last. Attracting another large turnout of shooters, the senior shooters competed at the 7, 10 and 15 meter distances whilst

the juniors tested each other at 5, 7 and 10 meters. Ramlakhan edged out Azaad Hassan for the top spot by a single point, 214 to 213 with the third place going to Randy Sarjoo who amassed 211 points. Dundas took the junior category with 208 points ahead of Clayton Charles who managed 202 with the third place taken by Randy Barnwell one point back on 201. Barnwell had ended second in the previous competition.

Covent Garden, Charlestown, St. Mary’s triumph Covent Garden, Charlestown and St. Mary’s registered victories when the Ministry of Education National Sports Commission in association with AL Sport & Tour Promotions inter zones Secondary Schools Windball Cricket Champion Trophy tournament continued recently at the National Gymnasium. Covent Garden beat Queenstown Secondary by 47 runs. Covent Garden Secondary posted 126 runs without loss batting first. Shoaib Roop struck 80 (9x6s), while Christ Sobers made 37. Q u e e n s t o w n Secondary were limited to 79-1 in reply. Jeffrey Blair got 48 while Jonathan Bacchus and David McGarrell made 10 each. Charlestown defeated Richard Ishmael Secondary by 54 runs. Batting first Charlestown scored 141 without loss, Mohammed Jameer hammered 92 ( 10x6s), while Brandon Volney got 31. Richard Ishmael Secondary were restricted to 87-3 in reply. Juspiece Jones made 58 and Selah Thompson 10. In the female segment, St. Mary’s overcame Charlestown Secondary by seven wickets. St. Mary’s took first strike and managed 119-3. Ava Sundock slammed 79 (9x6s) and Crystal Grant 13. Saint Mary’s responded with 125-3. Aletha Callender made 66 (9x6s) and Avis Williamson contributed 22.

Covent Garden Secondary

Charlestown Secondary

Monday May 01, 2017

Kaieteur News

Chase hundred rescues wobbling Windies BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Phlegmatic right-hander Roston Chase carved out a fluent unbeaten hundred to avert another West Indies catastrophe and frustrate Pakistan, on the opening day of the second Test at Kensington Oval here yesterday. With the innings threatening to come apart at the seams at 37 for three in the first session, the 25-yearold Chase stepped up to hit an unbeaten 131 – his second Test hundred – to propel West Indies to 286 for six at the close. Chase got support from captain Jason Holder who struck a composed unbeaten 58, while opener Kieran Powell chipped in with 38 and wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich, 29. New-ball seamers Mohammad Abbas (2-47) and Mohammad Amir (2-52) both finished with two wickets apiece but Pakistan’s bowlers were forced to toil without success in the final session as West Indies dominated. Chase anchored three key partnerships to fuel West Indies’ revival, the chief of which was an attractive 132run seventh wicket stand with Holder. All told, the right-handed Chase faced 207 deliveries in three hours and nine minutes at the crease and struck 17 fours while Holder has counted eight boundaries in an innings spanning 125 balls and 161 minutes. Opting to bat first, West Indies seemed doomed to repeat the first Test tragedy when they lost their first three wickets cheaply. Opener Kraigg Brathwaite

Roston Chase celebrates his second Test hundred, West Indies v Pakistan, 2nd Test, Bridgetown,1st day, ©AFP failed for the third straight innings with nine when he pushed tentatively at one from left-armer Amir and nicked a catch behind in the morning’s fifth over, with the score on 12. Four balls later in the following over with a single run added, left-hander Shimron Hetmyer (1) slashed at a side ball from Abbas and was well taken high at third slip by Azhar Ali. Shai Hope once again failed to impress, batting nearly an hour for his five before edging a defensive prod at leg-spinner Yasir Shah and giving wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed a straightforward catch, 45 minutes before lunch. Chase and Powell then combined in a 65-run, fourth wicket stand that settled the innings and steered West Indies to lunch at 72 for three. The left-handed Powell never appeared troubled in

SCOREBOARD WEST INDIES 1st Innings K Brathwaite c wkp Sarfraz Ahmed b Mohammad Amir 9 K Powell lbw b Mohammad Amir 38 S Hetmyer c Azhar Ali b Mohammad Abbas 1 S Hope c wkp Sarfraz Ahmed b Yasir Shah 5 R Chase not out 131 V Singh c Younis Khan b Mohammad Abbas 3 +S Dowrich c Younis Khan b Shadab Khan 29 *J Holder not out 58 Extras (b4, lb6, w2) 12 TOTAL (6 wkts, 89 overs) 286 To bat: D Bishoo, A Joseph, S Gabriel. Fall of wickets: 1-12 (Brathwaite), 2-13 (Hetmyer), 3-37 (Hope), 4-102 (Powell), 5-107 (Singh), 6-154 (Dowrich) Bowling: Mohammad Amir 22-4-52-2, Mohammad Abbas 18-4-47-2 (w2), Yasir Shah 25-2-83-1, Shadab Khan 23-3-90-1, Azhar Ali 1-0-4-0. Toss: West Indies. Umpires: Richard Kettleborough, Bruce Oxenford; TV – Richard Illingworth.

his 83-ball and near 2-1/2 hour stay at the crease that included five fours but perished in the sixth over after lunch, lbw to Amir on review after he was initially given not out. Three overs later, lefthander Vishal Singh’s tough initiation continued when he edged the 13th ball he faced from Abbas low to Younis Khan at second slip to depart for three and leave West Indies on 107 for five, 40 minutes after the break. Not for the first time, Chase found an ally in Dowrich, and together they steadied the innings in a 47run, sixth wicket partnership which blunted Pakistan’s attack. Dowrich had struck five fours in an innings lasting 54 deliveries and just over an hour when he edged a legbreak from debutant Shadab Khan to Younis at slip, to fall 14 minutes before tea. At the crossroads at 154 for six, West Indies gathered momentum through the enterprise of Chase and Holder. Unbeaten on 23 at lunch, Chase brought up his third Test half-century, 40 minutes after the resumption when he pulled a short one from Yasir to the ropes at mid-wicket, and was unbeaten on 70 at tea with Holder yet to score. Chase then strolled to three figures an hour and 20 minutes after tea, raising the landmark with a delightful cover drive off Shadab, to follow up his brilliant maiden hundred against India at Sabina Park last August. Not to be left out, Holder notched his sixth Test halfcentury and second in as many matches, bringing up the milestone late in the day with a couple to third man off Amir.

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New approach needed Dr. Rudi Webster

By Dr. Rudi Webster In the West Indies team the support team has grown over the years. Several head coaches and specialists have worked with the team, but did they make a difference to its growth and performance? Specialization improves performance but only if the specialist units are well organized and closely integrated to align their activities towards the team’s goals. Could poor performance of the head coach and specialists, and their bombardment of players with excessive information confuse team members and interfere with their thinking, concentration, judgment and confidence? That is a question that they should seriously consider. An honest self-examination is required. They cannot continue to do the same things and expect to get different results. Wasim Akram the great Pakistani bowler thinks that coaches too often confuse their players by overloading them with information. He feels that information overload and task overload are very bad things for the young mind. He believes that coaches could speed up player development by freeing up the players’ minds; by keeping things as clear and simple as possible; by highlighting first important priorities; by exposing young players to just a few things at a time; and by ensuring that what they teach is heard and understood. In Medicine, specialization and technological development have revolutionized the treatment of disease. Although specialists do a fantastic job treating problems related to their specialty, they sometimes get trapped in their confined area and fail to pay enough attention to the whole body or to the ‘human being’ inside the body. The same is true of the specialists in sport. Instead

Monday May 01, 2017

Kaieteur News

of stimulating and motivating the ‘human being’ inside the player they often ignore, discourage or devalue him. Every West Indian cricketer is first and foremost a valuable human being who just happens to be able to bowl, bat or field better than other players. He grows up in the same environment and has the same aspirations, concerns, weaknesses, fears, needs, and pressures as other people. How much better would our promising young players perform if the coaches and specialists treated the ‘human being’ inside them with more respect, understanding and commonsense? Motivation of the player is one of the specialists’ most important jobs because the level of the player’s performance depends on the depth of his motivation and discipline. Vince Lombardi, a great American Football coach once said that coaches who can outline plays and strategies on a blackboard are a dime a dozen; the ones who win get inside players and motivate. According to Lombardi, coaches will only motivate their players effectively if they first get into their heads, hearts and belly. Some coaches don’t understand this. They don’t know that motivation depends more on the needs, concerns and aspirations of the players than on the needs and goals of the coaches, specialists and administrators. This is also true of change. People in authority who suggest the change know of its importance and benefits but the players who have to accept and implement the change might not see its value because it might not meet their needs or address their concerns. Understanding the player and knowing what makes him tick are critically important. How committed are the West Indies players to team success? For many years, this has been a major concern

of Caribbean people. Players are never fully committed unless they become coowners of the team’s goals and share responsibility for their achievement. Instead of just handing down instructions, goals and strategies to the players West Indies coaches and specialists should go out of their way to involve them in a meaningful way in the goal setting process, the formulation of strategy and the review of performance. What about the players’ self-reliance? Does it improve performance? How do we get our players to rely less and less on their coaches and more and more on themselves? Jacques Kallis, the great South African all-rounder, is a strong advocate of selfreliance. He once said, “In some ways coaching today is like a dictatorship. By that I mean the players are too dependent on their coaches and that coaches do not encourage them to stand on their own feet, back their own judgment and make up their own minds. The player needs to be more self-reliant, learn all he can about his game, and take responsibility for improving and managing it. When you are batting in the middle the coach can’t help you and if you can’t stay calm, keep your concentration and think for yourself, you won’t do well.” West Indies coaches must now search for new performance strategies. But when coaches are uprooted from their own comfort zones by new challenges, they often revert to the safety of their old ways. This entrapment reminds me of an old Muslim parable. An old man was walking home one night when he saw a young friend searching for something under a street light. “What are you doing,” he asked his friend. “I dropped the key to my house.” “I’ll help you look,” said the old man. After a few minutes of frustrated searching the old man asked. “Where were you when you dropped the key?” The friend pointed toward the darkness, “Over there.” Then why are you looking for it here?” “Because this is where the light is,” replied the young man. West Indies coaches might be searching for success in the illuminated area because that is where their knowledge and experience lie. But the key to West Indies revival might very well lie in the dark, not in the light of their thinking, knowledge and experience.

BOTTAS WINS IN RUSSIA FOR HIS FIRST F1 VICTORY SOCHI, RUSSIA (Reuters) Finland’s Valtteri Bottas celebrated the first Formula One victory of his career at the Russian Grand Prix yesterday after jumping both Ferraris at the start and then holding his nerve over the tense closing laps. Championship leader Sebastian Vettel, who had started on pole position alongside Ferrari team mate Kimi Raikkonen, extended his advantage to 13 points with second place after putting Bottas under huge pressure at the finish. The German crossed the line just 0.6 seconds behind a man who joined Mercedes from Williams in January as replacement for retired 2016 champion Nico Rosberg and was finally a winner after 81 starts. “Took quite a while, huh?,” said the Finn over the radio as he took the chequered flag, an expletive bleeped out for the listening world as he whooped in a rare outburst of emotion. “Worth the wait.” “This strange opportunity came over the winter to join this team and I have to thank the team for making this possible,” he added after meeting Russian president Vladimir Putin before spraying champagne on the podium. “First win and hopefully first of many... it’s a good feeling.” It was the first time in four years, since Raikkonen won with Lotus in Australia in 2013, that a Finnish driver had stood on the top step. Raikkonen made it two Finns in the top three with Britain’s Lewis Hamilton, Vettel’s closest rival, struggling to match the leaders’ pace and finishing fourth for Mercedes. Vettel now has 86 points after the opening four races with triple champion Hamilton, a winner in China, second on 73 and Bottas third with 63. Mercedes continued their record of winning every Russian Grand Prix since the first in 2014, this time against the odds after Ferrari had swept the front row for the first time in nine years. But their proud boast of also leading every lap around the Olympic Park circuit disappeared when Vettel briefly led following Bottas’s first pitstop. After an aborted start, with Fernando Alonso’s McLaren breaking down on the formation lap, Bottas seized the lead from third on the grid. The safety car was then deployed after a

Winner and Mercedes Formula One driver Valtteri Bottas of Finland holds the trophy on the odium. (REUTERS/ Maxim Shemetov) collision between Renault’s Jolyon Palmer and Haas’s Romain Grosjean put both out, and the race settled down into a procession before the nail-biting finale. “I tried everything to catch Valtteri. I thought there would be an opportunity on the back straight,” said Vettel, winner of two of the first three races for his resurgent Italian team. “I thought there was an opportunity but I was not sure what Felipe Massa would do and ended up losing out,” he added, with the Williams driver delaying him at a key point in the chase. “It doesn’t matter, though. Big congratulations to Valtteri. It is his day.” Red Bull’s Dutch teenager Max Verstappen finished fifth with Sergio Perez chalking up his 14th successive points finish for Force India and French team mate Esteban Ocon seventh. Nico Hulkenberg was eighth for Renault, with Massa ninth for Williams and Spaniard Carlos Sainz taking the final point for Toro Rosso. Canadian rookie Lance Stroll finally reached the finish line after three retirements in a row and took 11th place for Williams.

Guyana clinches bronze at World Masters Weightlifting championships Guyanese weightlifters continue to define themselves on the international scene and overseas based, Howard Bovell, lifted a combined total of 91kg to win a bronze medal when the World Masters Games concluded in Auckland, New Zealand, last week. Competing in the 75 - 79 age group, in the 77kg weight class, Bovell finished behind Russian, Boris Didendko with 122kg and Piotr Kowalewski of Poland with 148kg. The achievement became even more commendable when it was noted that Bovell sustained an injury to his groin a few days before the games. Further, he competed devoid of moral support as few Guyanese attended the meet and his colleagues in

Howard Bovell is all concentration as he engages in the clean and jerk routine. Guyana were unable to attend due to a lack of funding. Last February, the GAWU selectors had named a four

member team to attend the Games but a paucity of funds forced them out of contention.