Kaieteur News

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Sgt. charged with NEWS sexual assault on woman in police vehicle

Tuesday Edition

AIETEUR

May 14, 2019 - Vol. 12 No. 21

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com

Guyana’s largest selling daily & New York’s most popular weekly

Price $80

Online readership yesterday 105,506

More irregularities unearthed in procurement of exercise and textbooks - State auditors begin investigations

The Book Distribution Unit

SWAT team deployed to Berbice to tackle rising crime Self-bail for cop who allegedly struck wife with wood

Bartica youth shot More than dead outside bar 3,200 Guyanese Between Oct. 2017 and Sept. 2018…

- Suspect's mom turns him in overstayed in US Even with 5.5B barrels...

Oil refinery not feasible for Guyana - Consultant stands by earlier study report

Will Guyana see the CJIA modified plan for the Expansion Project?

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday May 14, 2019

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Tuesday May 14, 2019

Kaieteur News

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

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

EDITORIAL

A rising sense of vulnerability It is becoming frighteningly apparent that it is just a matter of time; a matter of time and opportunity and circumstance, and that momentary lapse in vigilance. It could be even where the greatest of caution is exhibited.

That is not humanly possible to maintain over the long run. Something has to give.

It is unclear as to what could be made to give, since the thinking and feeling by many are that all are the equivalent of fish trapped in a basket, and all are at the mercy of that shocking, violating moment. It is that moment of realising too late that there is a man (or men), a weapon (usually a gun), a vicious criminal intent (give up or go down), and an arrangement at retreat (a car or motorbike). Life itself is at stake.

The thriving marketplace has been squeezed, so they scatter and go elsewhere. Individually or in groups, there is a population of marauders waiting to swoop on the unsuspecting, the unwary, and the unconscious. As is becoming increasingly clearer, too many times even the precautions of vigilance and commonsense are not enough, as they fail to safeguard. More and more, there is a rising sense of vulnerability, of the streets closing in, and the streets themselves becoming, deteriorating, into as ominous as any dark, dangerous alley in the grittiest part of town. Town and country have descended to this grave state.

It should be said with much accuracy, that there is no place, no neighbourhood that could be considered as reasonably safe. Not Queenstown, once reserved and a warning to intruders: Stay out! Mind manners. Watch ways. Know place. Not anymore. For anywhere is fair game. The Queenstown(s) and Alberttown(s) and Subryanville(s) and Bel Air(s) (and the rest of those once pristine communities are neither off-limits nor out of consideration. The arm of the law is too short and made shorter by induced twists and warps.

In fact, lack of concentrated police visibility in most places render pedestrians and generally isolated travellers into prime targets to waylay and relieve of property, while scarring psychologically and leaving hapless citizens looking over their shoulders. Citizens are at a serious disadvantage whether distant or near. Believe it or not, the story could be the same (though usually not as pronounced or frequent) in heavily populated areas of the busier parts of the city.

The markets are a haven for a different kind of hit-andrun: where the fleet of foot younger, prey upon preoccupied and nervous passersby, shoppers, and the occasional tourist adventurers. It is pounce and go, as in gone and lost amidst the swarming, racing crowd. The arm of the law is not only short, but the presence of much-needed uniformed bodies is glaring in paltriness. That thinness of numbers is alarming and terrifying for the law-abiding and those who have no choice but to be on the hard, troubled road.

In addition, the vicinity of the Georgetown Hospital is crowded with many feet, many eyes, many spaces tightly occupied. Yet there is this phenomenon of vehicles tampered with (mirrors) and, incredibly, batteries removed with consistent frequency and mostly undetected. There are guards all around, vehicles and drivers and foot soldiers and vendors and patients going back and forth, and still these crimes occur. It could be urban or rural.

What are the answers? The first has to be manpower.

The second has to be doing something about ranks, who may be more unconscious as to duty, developments, and environment than those sedated in operating theatres. The third has to be about strategising better through fewer men in machines and more on the pavements.

The fourth, of necessity, has to be a police-private sector partnership. There is no block without a slew of businesses anymore; collaborate and capitalise.

Aggressively, not passively. Plastic must be accelerated to supersede paper (cash). And when all else fails, stay indoors.

Can the President be divorced from corruption in Guyana?

DEAR EDITOR, A number of columnists, letter-writers, commentators, and the Leader of the Opposition, have lamented the APNU+AFC mishandling of the economy, along with the numerous other ills. The President cannot be removed from all the negatives that befall this nation since he assumed leadership of the national economy in 2015. In fact, an argument can be made that Mr. Granger and his administration bask in corruption and other negativity/wrong doings. It would be difficult, if not futile, for anyone to defend his actions; his silence can be seen as acquiescing/ promoting corruption among his ranks. Further, he has been tight lipped on the gifting of numerous contracts to supporters, friends and relatives.

The recent damning audit

report on SOCU is a case in point.

The report exposed clear cases of corruption within SOCU, which came as a shock to the nation, as this institution, which is charged with the task(s) of investigating corruption, is now guilty of corruption. It is interesting to note, that, while the Minister of Home Affairs stated in the press that the guilty among the SOCU bunch would face the consequences of their actions, the President said he will take action if the evidence supported the accusations. Is Mr. Granger for real? Isn’t the report itself sufficient evidence? Apparently, it’s not, for Mr. Granger.

Meanwhile, dismantling SOCU may not be the answer; legally sanctioning the guilty officials, and restructuring SOCU would be the way to go.

Further, despite glaring conflict of interests contracts to Ministers PattersonYearwood and Hughes, the President remained silent for an extended time before taking action.

Even when he decided to sanction such behaviour, he condemned the Minister of Housing but left the Minister of Public Telecommunications to carryon her functions as usual.

How should the nation view such behaviour? Is it an Animal Farm case where ‘one is more equal than the other’?

Finally, in recent days, there have been revelations about the numerous multimillion dollar contracts that were given to selected groups/individuals. Yes, they were selected because they didn’t go through the normal tendering processes. Even more damning is the fact that a few of the contracts were

given in the names of the individuals because they don’t have any registered company on records.

Perhaps, some of these contracts were given to ‘one spade and a wheelbarrow’ individuals/companies/ contractors. Again, the President is silent on these latest revelations. Could these be seen as politicking for upcoming elections?

In essence, the foregoing sample of corrupt activities spotlights the role of the President. While some may attempt to defend the President, for any number of reasons, including casting blame on the previous administration, it would be difficult to absolve him from the rampant parade of corruption under his leadership and administration.

Yours sincerely, Ronald Singh

GTT customers have several payment options to avoid long lines DEAR EDITOR, I write to address a publication made on May 9, 2019 from one of our valued customers, who wrote to express his frustration at the long lines at our stores. To be clear, we share the sentiments expressed!

To have to spend the time to go down to one of our stores, join a line, and wait for over an hour to make a payment, is totally unacceptable in 2019.

Because we agree with this, we have put in place several options for our customers so that they do not have to join any line at our stores.

Mobile Money Guyana: Many of our customers pay their GTT

(and other utilities’) bills using our mobile money solution and payments via MMG are applied to their GTT accounts immediately. Payments can be made using their smart phones by simply downloading the app from the Play Store www.bit.ly/MMGAP-KNor at any of our 175 agents nationwide. The list of our agents can be found at www.bit.ly/MMG-AGENTSKN In Georgetown alone we have 59 agents, and there is at least one agent within 1 mile of every customer in Georgetown.

MyGTT: Another option that our customers who have debit or credit cards issued by Visa or MasterCard

appreciate, is the option to pay their bills online or using the mobile app. These payments are applied to their accounts immediately.

Payments online can be made at www.bit.ly/MTGTT-WEBKN For those who prefer a more mobile experience, they can start by downloading the mobile app by using this link www.bit.ly/MYGTT-APP-KN Payment Agents: For those customers who prefer a retail experience, we have relationships with trusted partners who accept payments on our behalf.

These partners include the following: SurePay, Bill Express, Republic Bank, Scotia Bank, Citizen’s Bank,

GBTI, Bank of Baroda, Demerara Bank, and the Post Office.

Though payments at these agents are not applied to customers’ accounts immediately, they are convenient options for many of our customers.

Though we will do our best to make our customers feel comfortable should they choose to come down to our stores to pay their bills, we know time is precious, and is better spent with loved ones.

We will continue to add to the list of options our customers can use to pay their bills, from the comfort of their homes.

Sincerely Orson Ferguson VP Customer Experience

A dangerous game for the innocent DEAR EDITOR, The man was somewhat peculiar, but Sutton was full of himself and had an aura that attracted girls to him.

That day he had taken a long look at the man in the mirror. He was dressed in blue jeans, red shirt and three rows of 14k gold chains around his neck. He knew that he was somewhat facially challenged, but no one dared to tell him so. There was more than enough evidence to show that he was a ladies’ man.

He remembered many times when the girls did not give him a second look, but his friend Bible, took care of that. Bible was no

religious man, but he was a con man with a familiar spirit, who had convinced Sutton to sacrifice a young cow every two years on the beach by the sea. After the sacrifice, the meat was delivered to Bible’s house.

Sutton had gone to the gold fields after the first sacrifice and came back with good money.

The girls also could not keep their hands away from him. This was the year of his fifth sacrifice, and he had stolen a young calf to do it.

He did not tell anyone his dark secret, but he did his work on time.

He was ready for the road. But before that he

had noticed some new dark spots on his body, and had visited the clinic in Georgetown where he was told to take an HIV, test.

To this, he had complied but he did not return for the results.

It was just a rash he perceived.

It was game night tonight and he was out play.

Therefore, sweetman Sutton stepped out in style with that Peter McIntosh tune ringing in his head. “I am a stepping razor don’t you watch my size I am dangerous.”

Ye s ! S o m e b o d y w a s going to get hurt tonight .The modern day dancehall

had become a place of predator and p r e y.

Everyone who enters the doors becomes a target for the kill. A dangerous game for the innocent!

The bells of death chimes identifying itself with names of men. The place of consensual fun have become a place full of the smell of white roses and cheep perfumes.

Step light my brother why take the life of the innocent? Why kill another sister? Why be angry at Life for mistakes you made?

Why go to the grave a coward Mr. Sutton? To the sisters that do the same, what a shame!

Apostle Adrian Wade

Tuesday May 14, 2019

Travails of a centrist DEAR EDITOR, It is the quiet of Sunday morning. A pre-CCJ solitude surrounds.

A rush of thoughts comes. What am I doing here? What keeps me here? Why do I think I belong?

In a time and place of black and Indian heroes, I can’t be one, not one. Does not aspire to be one. Who is he? How does he identify with us? For what reason?

Can he be trusted? And when he is examined closely, he does not identify much with anyone, neither Indian nor black-and our passions and priorities.

Too independent, too much of a centrist, something called a progressive. There are problems with those kinds of people; they think too much; speak out too much; refuse to follow faithfully, blindly.

In a land of many combinations of mixes, ‘dougla’ being a distinctive example, he is that most mysterious and elusive of mixes -here, but not one of us; in the milieu, yet insistent for the outside edges of the periphery. For this is the land today of Granger and the other gentleman, and yesterday of Jagan and Burnham, and all their offspring in between and thereafter. In some ways, no matter how I may deny and be discomfited, they are of me, and I of them. Perhaps, I should be proud, I don’t know that I am poorer for not being…

I remember other things and other people: there those unforgettable, inerasable debts of grooming and gratitude to Indian forbears and black surrogates, who eased the passage along the way: a thought, an exhortation, a timely deed. No matter how regarded, independents and

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progressives (I believe I am) belong. I do, if only because I owe them, and all the lustrous values imparted.

Thus, I will confront and combat anyone who seeks to deny to me and others that rightful place of belonging.

For to deny me is to deny the essence of those who made me, who did make a certain kind of Guyana possible. One that is today unknown and unheralded.

Independents and centrists struggle with many travails; one dominates being the wrong man in the wrong place at the wrong time in the wrong battles and going about these in the wrong way.

Maybe even among the wrong people, the tone is unforgiving. Amidst all these great wrongs, there is one right, a singular one: it is pleasing to the spirit, soul satisfying: to follow star wherever it leads. It is still leading. To where I know not.

It is pleasing to have left here and go there and, all the time, being the same way. To have left here because of anxieties and traumas, trials of the soul and tangible needs of the poor. It is the need to be oneself to the extent of potential. But even with the spreading of wings, there was something missing, an unfulfilled instinct, an unsatisfied impulse and repressed urge: go there.

Hope. Dream. Live. Love.

Lose, too. To bow, but not to yield. It is an ordinary story.

That was then. Well, there is here. And it is now.

Back to square one. To the square one of a future that is past. The CCJ will bring there. Then what? Where to, my brothers in the sun, and of soil and skin? There is an immediacy that comes, that will challenge. It cannot be the constancy of the unchanging, the normalcy of

the uninspiring. I have been touched. By many hands.

Many lives. Many colours.

Including white. There is learning there. Trust me on this one, even if there is reluctance to do so with politics or because of politics.

That’s the problem. Too much race. Too much baggage of memory.

Too many impassioning prisons. I know them not. That is to be free, really free. Loving it, too.

Free enough to wonder where this place goes. Free enough to ponder about those used and left. Free enough to ask: why? And then, why not another way…

That is living.

If any or all of this represents any or many strains of political and racial heresy, then I am a blasphemer. An incorrigible one. A proud one. An unconquerable one. A product of time and village, and of journeys and environments touched. I was touched more, learned more.

That is why I am and how I am. There is a peace to this in the muted silence of a Sunday morning. Guyana waits.

Guyana will be. But it must be another way. Maybe there is some depth and wisdom in people like me.

Sincerely, GHK Lall

The human race is the only race DEAR EDITOR, The arrival of a new royal baby in the United Kingdom royal family, reminds us all that not only mixed-race people are the United Kingdom fastest-growing ethnic group; it also underlines that what it means to be mixed race is changing.

Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor will join the ranks of those second-generation mixedrace people who challenge our very perceptions of ethnicity and black identity.

In fact, the changing face of mixed-race Britain is something we barely notice even as we are looking directly at it. Perhaps that is the point.

Back in the early 2000s, we were vaguely aware that young celebrities, such as the late reality TV star Jade Goody or footballer Ryan Giggs, had a black grandparent. But they rarely discussed it or talked of how they perceived themselves.

Our current view of mixed-race, particularly in the context of the black African/ Caribbean community, has become so familiar that it is now almost a cliche. I know it because I have lived it. My four boys are mixed race too!

Of course, black people in the UK have a long history of integrating and intermarrying

into wider society.

Furthermore, mixed-race people span all ethnic groups, not just those with black and white parents. But it is important to recognise that this phenomenon has a particular new significance to black Britain, for two key reasons.

First, interracial relationships and the growing mixed-race population is something the British black community is experiencing in exceptionally higher numbers compared with other groups.

This likelihood also increases with each new generation: the chances of people of mixed black/white heritage having a white partner are about 80%.

The demographic implications of this for the future of black Caribbeans in Britain are obvious.

For some black people, the increasing dominance of interracial relationships can feel like a devaluing of relationships between two black people. More pointedly, in a society where the stereotypical appearance of mixed-race people, with light brown skin and curly hair, is held up as the perfect symbol of Britain’s exciting multicultural future, how does that make you feel if you are a dark-skinned black person with Afro hair?

Direct flights and Non-Stop flights are not interchangeable terms DEAR EDITOR, Recently, we have been reading and/or hearing of this or that airline offering, starting or contemplating Direct Flights from Guyana to cities in North America, when the correct terminology should be Non-Stop Flights.

Direct and Non-Stop are not interchangeable terms.

A Non-Stop Flight is selfexplanatory. The aircraft flies from the departure airport to the destination airport without making any intermediate stop.

In a Direct Flight, the aircraft leaves the departure airport and makes one (or more) intermediate stop before arriving at the

destination airport.

H o w e v e r, a n d v e r y important there is no planned change of aircraft and no Flight Number change. The flight number remains the same throughout the journey.

Connecting flights are more complicated and the most (Continued on page 6)

A black perspective in these discussions is so important. The country has been fascinated by how it might feel to have the Queen’s great-grandson recognised for his African-American heritage. Few have stopped to think about how the Duchess of Sussex, or her mother, Doria Ragland, would feel if he were not.

Perhaps the least discussed aspect of secondgeneration mixed-race Britons is how it feels to be their mixed-race parent. .

Many parents these days are bribing up children to believe that racial integration – including interracial marriage – is not only a good thing but is the natural progression of a healthy society.

Many still believe that.

Children are also taught by example that “race” is largely a “social construct” that limits us, and we should strive to see it as irrelevant.

Editor! there is only one race the human race! The human race, and we are all leaves and flowers of one garden and fruits of one tree!

Yours Rooplall Dudhnath

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Tuesday May 14, 2019

Kaieteur News

Why was Rajendra Bisessar betrayed and under-utilised for so long?

DEAR EDITOR, In his column on April 27th Freddie Kissoon wrote, “This columnist knows that shortly after 2015, the second-tier leadership of the AFC argued for a junior minister of agriculture.

Rajendra Bisessar of the AFC was identified for such a post but he did not have total support within the AFC’s leadership.

When his name reached Granger, he was rejected.

Bisessar writes letters in the newspapers often so I will hope he replies to this and clarify what is written here about him.

In 2016, two senior second-tier leaders in the AFC – Leonard Craig and current General-Secretary, Marlon Williams — took serious steps to have the AFC decide on a junior minister of agriculture.

A dialogue took place with Minister Holder. Both Holder and the AFC rejected the attempts of these two men. It

would be interesting to hear the reaction of both of them to what is written here”.

I know that my husband would not reply. While he was in the PPP and was marginalised, he was still loyal and defended the PPP in public.

He criticised internally and was marginalised. All who placed themselves as presidential candidate recently know they got there because Rajendra and others were marginalised.

Rajendra did not criticise the PPP publicly because there was no alternative but when the AFC came on the scene, he put his faith in the AFC especially Moses and Ramjattan. He really felt they would hold the PNC accountable. I know he is very disappointed.

Now he criticizes the Coalition internally and is not going public because he does not see an acceptable alternative for the PPP leaders have not shown that they

have changed especially because of the choice of Presidential candidate and how he was chosen.

As his wife, I of all persons, would know the sacrifices that he made especially since this placed a lot of pressure on my person.

I however supported him fully.

I knew him since I was a pioneer in the PPP. I remember him being very hairy with a Castro like beard. He was a person who would always struggle against injustice and he has a history of suffering because of it.

But to go back to the matter raised by Freddie.

When Rajendra went over to the AFC, he did not demand anything. It came as a pleasant surprise when his name was proposed for junior minister. This proposal was accepted by everyone, the entire leadership. No one opposed.

I am aware that the President indicated that three

Please don’t forget us at the University of Guyana DEAR EDITOR, While we continue to lobby for or against the renewal of the Vice Chancellor’s contract at the University of Guyana, let us not ignore the fact that we the students still lack some basic necessity that will be beneficial to our overall health and performance at the said institution.

We are asking for water and tissues in our toilet facilities (need them to be cleaned or closed too). Easy thing right?

The footballers need a coach, a training schedule and a coaching schedule so as to utilise the field that so much millions was spent to prepare.

The Basketball First Division team is in dire need for a new coach and a new approach. The first division has failed to record a single victory in the past two

tournaments (I’m just counting the last two).

To be more precise, all the sporting discipline needs adequate and comprehensive overlook. The University is home to so many national players spread across so many various discipline yet they cannot partake at or for the Institution.

Outside of sports, when we purchase our meals (the ones that are safe for us on campus because some persons sell stale stuff intentionally), we want an adequate and suitable place to eat. We can no longer eat on the catwalks. Vagrants eat on catwalks or sidewalks.

Normal minded persons eat at tables and chairs or benches.

We need lecturers’ accountability. Lecturers can no longer set their exam on the same day as another lecturer on the same day in the same programme! Hours apart! Sometimes one! Don’t they communicate?

Absurdity!

The unfair and disproportionate distribution of internet access to students

can no longer continue! We need better distribution of same.

The stables, year after year, continue to be the promise of many campaigners, yet remains in the same condition; I reached it in 2017! Some things will never change. Everyone will agree that it is not conducive to learning yet it is still operable.

Please! Please! While the powers that be continue to fight and lobby for a new leader or the same leader, let us not forget the most important component of this ‘sometimes great’ institution – we the students of the University of Guyana!

Jafar Gibbons

Direct flights and Non-Stop...

From page 5 inconvenient for the passenger.

These flights involve change of aircraft, change of flight number and even airline change during the journey.

Yours truly Lloyd H. Marshall

Ministries were to have junior Ministers and Agriculture was one.

Moses Nagamootoo was the one who took all decisions to His Excellency the President and he indicated that he did. The news went out.

I was being congratulated, left right and centre. Many felt that Rajendra deserved this and they felt that he would have done well. I felt he would have, given his concerns for Guyana, especially the working class. Actually one of the persons from the APNU, now a minister, said that he was surprised that Rajendra was not appointed senior minister.

At this point in time, I would make no further comments. It is the leaders of the AFC and the President who should be able to say exactly why my husband was never appointed junior minister and for four years there was none. I know my husband never went public.

I was surprised also that he was never selected to be on either the Rice Board or the GuySuCo board. I know that he is quite knowledgeable about rice and sugar among other things.

I wondered how the leadership of both the AFC and the Coalition would not include someone like Rajendra who has a lot of experience being on a number of boards in the past, the Guyana Tourism Authority, the Guyana Cooperative Insurance Service, the Bermine Board, and the National Park Commission.

He was also advisor to the Minister of Human Service, and Labour and Personal Assistant to President Bharrat Jagdeo. He was also a SIMAP community development Officer and prior to that a teacher. As a member of the PPP and PYO, he represented the PYO and students internationally at congresses and executive meetings of the International

Union of Students and the World Federation of Democratic youths.

He is the holder of a Bachelor ’s Degree in Sociology and an LLB and was a columnist in the KN news where he wrote on economical, political and social issues.

I can go on and on; however, I believe this is enough at this point in time.

It is in the hands of Moses, the leadership of the AFC and the President to explain why a phenomenal person with a wealth of experience, a vast educational background and one who is very patriotic was so betrayed and underutilised.

When I learnt of the appointment of a junior Minister and who it was four years after, I was, to say the least, flabbergasted.

And I would like to ask who is the person appointed Minister of Business? Never heard of him!

Christine Bisessar

Wesley Kirton responds to Freddie Kissoon DEAR EDITOR, So your columnist Freddie Kissoon could criticise my writing only by resorting to name calling and hypocrisy in his column in Monday’s edition of your newspaper. He says I should stop writing about Guyana because I don’t live there. But this is the same Freddie Kissoon that so often offers opinions on issues and events in countries that he has never even visited.

Yet he suggests that I, who was born and grew up in Guyana and who, perhaps, have done more and continues to do more for Guyana and Guyanese than he does, should stop writing about Guyana.

Has Freddie Kissoon ever facilitated a single investment in Guyana? Well I have. Has Freddie Kissoon ever gone to the halls of a Parliament or Congress of another country to lobby for laws or the change thereof to benefit Guyana and Guyanese? Well I have and continue to do so.

Has Freddie Kissoon ever facilitated the overseas training of Guyanese? Well I

have as recent as a few weeks ago. Has Freddie Kissoon ever facilitated his nice friend and my dear brother Dr. Mark Kirton meeting high-ranking officials of any US university to explore the possibility of collaboration? Well I have.

Has Freddie Kissoon ever negotiated for UG to get free registration and display space at any international conference/expo? Well I have. And there is so much more that I can say that I have done and do for Guyana, which I don’t brag about.

He also sinks into his own filth by resorting to namecalling. He says I am a fool.

But this is the same Freddie Kissoon whom I had to admonish for advocating in one of his columns that his daughter (and others) should disobey a police request to pull over while driving, since unwarranted stops by the police are illegal, according to the then Commissioner of Police. He then went on to advice that a copy of the article quoting the then commissioner should be kept in everyone’s car and shown

to the same police should they pursue the driver for not pulling over. So Freddie was in fact encouraging his daughter and others to create a situation that would necessitate a police chase thereby exposing his daughter and other innocent people to danger and even death. Tell me who is the fool and who is really the one making sense?

I am not in the habit of characterising people. I might say someone did something foolish but would never call anyone a fool. While I disagree with Freddie on many issues, I respect his right to express his views. I strongly believe “the dull and the ignorant, they too have their story.”

He asked who paid for the lunch I had with the VC. UG nor the VC paid for the lunch.

The one full quote from my letter he published in his column included the words “jealous admiration.” Oh how accurate are my thoughts.

And just so Freddie knows I have been spending most of my time in recent years in Guyana.

Regards Wesley Kirton

Tuesday May 14, 2019

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Even with 5.5B barrels of oil...

Consultant stands by report which says refinery not feasible for Guyana

By Kiana Wilburg About three years ago, the APNU+AFC administration hired Mr. Pedro Hass, Director of Advisory Services at UK-based firm, Hartree Partners, to conduct a study on the feasibility of an oil refinery here. His report categorically stated that this was not practical. At that time, Guyana was only pegged to produce some 120,000 barrels of oil per day.

But there have been 13 discoveries from then to now in the Stabroek Block which have pushed reserve estimates of the block to 5.5B barrels of oil. In light of these new numbers, many have wondered whether Guyana needs to rethink the potential of having an oil refinery.

But in spite of what the figures say today, the Refinery Consultant told Kaieteur News in a brief comment that

he maintains the position of its initial report, which is, a refinery is just not economical in Guyana’s case.

Furthermore, industry analysts believe that Guyana would be wise to avoid this project, regardless of how attractive it seems. To prove this, an analogy was offered.

“Imagine you inherit some money from your uncle and someone offers you the opportunity to buy a house. But it is extremely expensive. It doesn’t make any sense for you to buy it. But you are still considering it…whether to buy it or not...In the middle of these considerations, you get a second inheritance that is much bigger than the first.

Does it make the house a better buy?”

On this note, the specialists said that even if Guyana has more money and more production, it doesn’t change

Birdcage thief remanded A labourer attached to the Ministry of Public Infrastructure was yesterday remanded to prison after the court heard that he robbed a man of a birdcage and other articles, at gun point. Dexter Forde pleaded not guilty to the charge after appearing before Principal Magistrate Sherdel IsaacsMarcus in the Georgetown Magistrates Courts.

It is alleged that on March 19, last, Forde robbed Reaz Ghanie of a black Alcatel phone, a birdcage, a haversack, one pair of slippers, a blanket and $25,000 cash at Sideline Dam, La Penitence, while armed with a gun.

Forde told the court that

he is a 25-year-old father of one who resides at Lot 35 West Ruimveldt Georgetown.

He stated that he was previously charged for stealing a cell phone, however that matter has since been dismissed.

Police prosecutor Adunni Inniss objected to bail based on the fact that the defendant was positively identified by the victim on an identification parade and a dangerous weapon was used in commission of the act.

After listening to the prosecutor the magistrate upheld the objection and remanded Forde to prison. He was instructed to make his next court appearance on May 20.

the refining economics for the nation.

Further to this, they explained that the US Gulf Coast refineries are today exporting about 3 million barrels of oil a day. These refineries they said are operating at full capacity.

“Now it is highly likely that local demand in the US is going to shrink given electrification and other efficiency issues having to do with the quality of engines, and if you count the fact that internal combustion engines are getting more efficient; that hybrids are having a greater degree of penetration and electric vehicles will have a higher degree of penetration over the next 10 to 15 years, that means the refining capacity available for export is going to increase,” the analysts stated.

They added, “So a new refinery is going to take four to five years to get built in Guyana and by the time you finish that refinery, it will have to recover the fixed cost of building the refinery and you will be competing with a depreciated, very efficient refinery in the US Gulf Coast.”

In light of this reality, the specialists said that one of the more favourable possibilities before Guyana is to do a joint venture with a US oil refinery. That way, the officials said, Guyana gains, as it does not have to wait five years for construction, and the project is already operated by people who are experienced.

But this is not the first time such a recommendation would be coming to the forefront as Guyana considers the possibility of an oil refinery.

It was also noted in the report Hass submitted to the APNU+AFC administration.

In the report seen by Kaieteur News, Hass said that another way in which Guyana can acquire economic exposure to refining economics is via a joint venture (JV) with a refining company in one of their assets.

The Consultant said that existing refineries trade at a fraction of replacement cost economics (which makes this a better option, perhaps, than building one’s own refinery) and having a JV in which Guyana supplies crude oil and lifts petroleum products is a possibility.

He said that this is a very sophisticated transaction which requires a full understanding of operating, environmental, financial and com-

mercial risks. Hass said that the challenge lies not only in identifying the correct JV candidate, but also in negotiating the transaction and then maintaining a high standard of governance.

Another option Hass’ report highlights is the acquisition of stocks in refining companies.

Expounding on this, Hass said that a similar exposure to refining economics can be achieved with lesser complexity through financial investments in independent refining companies. He said that this can translate into the desired economic exposure, without the governance complexity that a JV would entail. Selecting and managing the portfolio is the complex part of this strategy, the Consultant noted.

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Tuesday May 14, 2019

Kaieteur News

NAPS drafts historic nutrition policy to protect HIV/AIDS patients Guyana has drafted a significant 116-page nutrition strategy targeting the country’s HIV/AIDS patients and others co-infected with tuberculosis [TB]. The document is also a first for Caribbean countries.

The draft document, the ‘National Nutrition and HIV/ AIDS Guidelines’ is “comprehensive and relevant” said Mr. Somdatt ‘Amar’ Ramessar, Senior Social Worker/Nutritionist attached to the National AIDS Programme Secretariat [NAPS].

The document is one that seeks to assist various categories of infected patients, including adults, pregnant and lactating women, adolescents, severely malnourished adults and children, and people on medication.

The nutritional guidelines target health-care providers including physicians, counsellors, social workers, policymakers, teachers and trainers. The guidelines “are intended for practical application as well as policy formulation and implementation,” outlines the 116-page document. It said the historic strategy provide a standardised approach to nutrition care and support for people living with HIV [PLHIV] in diverse conditions throughout the country.

It also notes that “each service provider needs to adapt the recommendations to her/his context and client population.”

It is further explained that good nutritional status is key from the onset of infection with HIV. Moreover, the document states that “Nutrition education at this early stage gives the person

Dr. Nicolette Boatswain, NAPS Deputy Programme Manager a chance to build up healthy eating habits and to take action to improve food security in the home, particularly as regards the cultivation, storage and cooking of food.”

“A healthy and balanced diet, early treatment of infection and proper nutritional recovery after infection can reduce this weight loss and reduce the impact of future infection,” the draft document continues.

The momentous move by the Ministry of Public Health to help protect the nutritional status of PLHIV has attracted wide private sector support, which is also a first in the Caribbean, said Dr. Nicolette Boatswain, NAPS Deputy Programme Manager.

More than 20 local private firms have been backing the initiative since it commenced more than a decade ago.

Globally, ‘fatigue’ usually steps in and overtake firms supporting these types of enterprises after five years.

However, after 13 years in Guyana, the consistent engagement of the private sector agencies in the HIV national nutritional response has helped widen the approach to tackling the problem.

“The partnership has opened greater channels for HIV awareness and

Somdatt ‘Amar’ Ramessar, NAPS Senior Social Worker/Nutritionist. information flows to employees of the private sector agencies.

Communication materials, condoms and lubricants are all accessible to these employees for selfempowerment and for safe sexual practices,” Ramessar told a Regional conference in Trinidad and Tobago earlier this year.

In the first 11 years of the programme [2007-2017], 34,357 hampers which comprise 10 food items, were given to some of the most vulnerable patients from all strata of society living and

affected with HIV and those co-infected with TB. The beneficiaries include in and out-of-school youths, unemployed young adults, HIV positive single parents, persons living with disabilities and senior citizens, Dr. Boatswain said.

For 2017, official NAPS figures show 404 new patients benefited from nutritional support from the Food Bank. This is a 40 percent increase over 2016 figures. The NAPS 2018 Food Bank Annual Report is expected soon. However, under the 2017 review period

it was found that 62.8 percent of HIV positive single parents accessed the Food Bank services which is the highest figure in its first 11 years, the 2017 Annual Report stated.

“This represented a 24.12 percent increase when compared to 2016 and 18.6 hike over 2007 when the Food Bank began its operations in Guyana,” the report added.

It said the greatest number of beneficiaries from the food distribution programme was residents living in Essequibo Islands/ West Demerara [Region Three]. The annual report states that 66.67 percent were from that predominantlyfarming Region while 39.7 percent were from Demerara/ Mahaica [Region Four] the most populous of the 10 Administrative Regions.

On the gender front, more women than men benefit from the food bank’s resources. Of those receiving hampers, 53 percent are women and 47 percent, men.

“Females were always the greater proportion of beneficiaries for nutritional support since the programme commenced,” the NAPS report adds.

The socio-economic challenges are numerous experienced by PLHIV, and globally food banks are viewed as safety nets for them. Information out of the Public Health Ministry suggests that, “when the programme started, Global Fund and the local private sector were the main arteries (Continued on page

Numerous State entities in breach of Fiscal Management and Accountability Act – PAC In a report compiled for 2018, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has highlighted a number of State agencies for breach of the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act .

In its report, the PAC cited the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) and the Office of the Prime Minister, the Lethem Power Company, for operating in breach of section 80 of the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act, (FMAA) with regard to the preparation and timely submission of financial statements. Section 80 of the

FMAA speaks to the statutory bodies and the submission of revenue estimates for expenditures for each fiscal year to their subject Minister.

According to Section 80 of the Act, a statutory body shall, as soon as is practicable and in all events not later than four months after the end of the fiscal year established for that statutory body or, if no fiscal year has been established, after the end of each calendar year, submit an annual report to the concerned Minister The Act further stipulates that the format for the annual report of a statutory body shall be as determined by the concerned Minister in consultation with the Minister.

“The annual report of a statutory body shall include— (a) a statement of assets and liabilities of Laws of Guyana 70 Cap. 73:02 - Fiscal Management and Accountability Forgiveness of debts.

The statutory body as at the end of the fiscal or calendar year; shall submit a statement of revenue and expendi-

tures of the statutory body for the fiscal or calendar year; and a report prepared by the Auditor General on the annual financial statements of the statutory body.

The concerned Minister shall, within two months following the receipt of the annual report, present the annual report of each statutory body to the National Assembly.”

In addition to GPHC and the Office of the Prime Minister, the report also cited the Mahdia Power Company, Port Kaituma Power and Light Company; Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Guyana Tourism Authority; Competition and Consumer Protection Commission; Guyana Consumer Association; Consumer Advisory Bureau, Ministry of Public Infrastructure; Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation; Cheddi Jagan International Airport Corporation; Transport and Harbours Department and the Maritime Administration Department, have all been listed as noncompliant.

The document further highlighted infractions committed by State agencies for failure to commit unspent balances to the consolidated funds in accordance with section 43 of the fiscal Management and Accountability Act 2003.

The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), the Ministry of Public Infrastructure and Region 1, 4 and 5.

Additionally, the PAC pointed to breaches by the Ministry of Social Protection, Ministry of Indigenous Peoples Affairs, Ministry of Public Health; Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation; Guyana Defence Force and Regions 8, 9, 10 for poor record keeping of the log books.

The Ministries of Education, Indigenous Affairs and Public Health and Regions 1, 4, 5,6, 8 and 9 have been continuing to disregard the regulations governing the clearing of payments vouchers and cheque orders.

Tuesday May 14, 2019

PAGE 9

Kaieteur News

A nation of hustlers All across Guyana, the poor are setting up little trays, ice coolers and tents at road corners and on parapets.

They are selling anything, which they feel will provide them with an income to help take care of their families.

The hustle is on. Poor people are struggling to survive. They have mouths to feed at home.

Jobs in the formal sector are scarce. And even in the government, too many of the vacancies are being filled without a competitive process. Jobs are being handed out to cronies, family and friends.

The poor always suffer in such circumstances. And as such, they have been forced to return to something which was quite prevalent in the 1980’s when the economy hit rock bottom and when job losses in the state sector was so acute that the unemployed took to the road corners and pavements selling mints, chewing gum and cigarettes

just in order to survive.

Poverty was so high then that begging was not an option. People had so little for themselves that there was little left to help others The national symbol in those ‘hard guava days’ became a vending tray. Poor people, men and women, sat all day in the baking sun hoping to make a few sales so that they earn a few dollars to can put something on their tables for their children.

No one should wish a return to those hard times. But there are signs at present that the poor once again are being left behind while middle class pen pushers in government offices, many of whom owe their fat salaries to cronyism, can wine and dine in the finest local restaurants, send their children to private schools and jet off to Miami on American Airlines to shop.

While the fat bureaucrats are enjoying the good life, the poor are risking their lives selling frozen water from ice

coolers at street corners.

Bread and fruit stands are being erected on residential bridges. This is happening in every town and village without exception.

The struggles of the poor are real. Jobs are simply not there. Poor people are forced into vending on street corners and roadsides to vend just to put food on the table.

Over the past few years, the cooked dog food, consisting of scraps of leftover meat cooked in large quantities of low-grade rice, became a burgeoning industry. The dog food market is now saturated.

There is glut of dog food vendors and their sales are diminishing because of the competition from each other.

The latest trend is the vending of bottled water at major street junctions. This is a business, which puts the vendors’ lives at risk but it is a risk, which the poor feel they have to take in order to survive.

The government will con-

Dem boys seh ...

Policemen like shy wood pun woman One day de whole world was singing de praises of women and devoting de whole day to dem. People spend money to mek women happy and de radio play songs playing tribute to mothers. De next day people go to wuk and start talking but de day dem had.

Then dem see that some women had it rough.

A policeman end up in court fuh pelting wood at he wife. De court hear how de woman run.

That shock dem boys, because man pelting wood at woman ain’t strange.

As people start to tell de story, more and more women chime in. Dem want to know wha kind of woman she was to run because de man shy wood at she.

A man, who was passing, seh de woman right to run because de man woulda kill she.

And this thing got to be a sick wid policemen. Anodda woman walk into a police station to mek a report. She too had some problem wid she husband. Dem boys seh dem wasn’t sure if wood was involve. What dem

know is de woman get vex enough to go to de police station.

A police sergeant tek de woman complaint and instead of sending a constable or a corporal to go wid de woman to mek de arrest, he decide to go heself wid de woman. De vehicle ain’t even meet wheh de woman going when de sergeant had wood problem.

He put he hand under de woman skirt and rub she legs. Dem boys seh it look like he did want to shy wood too. De policeman who actually shy de wood pun he wife walk out de court without paying a cent bail. Was like if de court did agree wid him.

But a old school teacher tell de reporter when he hear de people talking he pelting he wife wid wood, to write how de man pelt a piece of wood behind de woman. You got to be careful when you reporting bout wood and woman.

Talk half and tell women to watch policemen.

NAPS drafts historic nutrition policy...

From page 8 of the support. Since then, the charitable organisation, Food For the Poor and government, through the Ministry of Public Health, joined the list in 2017.”

Typically, food insecurity affects people who are socioeconomically disadvantaged.

Some, because of changing fortunes, move in and out of food insecurity. However, the 2017 Annual Report noted that “increasingly, PLHIV do experience chronic food insecurity.”

Disturbingly, it has been observed that food insecurity has become a barrier to adherence to care and treatment recommendations

for those living with HIV/ AIDS, especially “pregnant women and their HIVexposed infants as well as children and adolescents living with HIV infection,” the report said.

It said too that “Food Banks no doubt act as a buffer to the vicious cycle of food insecurity and HIV, which can be regarded as ‘syndemic’, that is, there is a positive biological and social interaction in which one exacerbates the negative health effects of the other. It is increasingly recognised that food insecurity both heightens vulnerability to HIV infection and at the same time exacerbates poor clinical outcomes among PLHIV.”

According to the document, the Food Bank handed out the highest number of hampers to patients between the years 2009 and 2013. The figure tapered off between 2014 and 2016 rising marginally again in 2017.

Among its recommendations, the 2017 NAPS Food Bank Annual Report underscored the need to accelerate support for hinterland residents; research undertaken to verify the efficacy of the support programme to its beneficiaries and “addressing the rising numbers of PLHIV who are 55 years and older accessing support mechanisms.

tinue to delude themselves into thinking that all this vending represents the vibrancy of self-employment and small businesses. They should do a survey and speak to those involved. Only then will they realize how tough things are for the poor.

Government’s economic model, like the so-called Economic Recovery Programme (ERP) of 30 years ago, is not working. The contraction of the economy from 1973 and the corresponding retrenchments and import restrictions saw many poor people taking to artisanal professions and

to vending in order to survive.

Young artisans took old tin cups and made all manner of appliances, including stoves, which they offered for sale on the pavements. The then government saw this as a case of the poor showcasing their skills.

When the ERP liberalization was launched, it wiped out the market for the goods of these craftsmen, who then had no choice but to go into the interior where they battled malaria, spent months prospecting and mining for gold and then spent most of their hard-earned earnings at

the shops and brothels in interior landings. Many of them are broke today.

The economic model, which has been pursued since the end of the ERP may have reduced absolute poverty. But it has also intensified the gap between the rich and the (Continued on page 19)

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Tuesday May 14, 2019

Kaieteur News

=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===

A birthday gift to APNU+AFC that exposes our putrid society On the day in this month that APNU+AFC achieved four years in office, the Caribbean Court of Justice metaphorically handed that government a horrible birthday gift. That generosity came in a package with several items, but three important accoutrements need emphatic discussion. One relates to GECOM’s attitude the day after December 21, 2018, when the nonconfidence vote (NCV) was passed. The other is connected to the constitutional amendment that was designed to remove possibilities of national instability over the shape of GECOM. One of the judges observed that the elections machinery should been in a state of preparation, because there was a NCV coming up. Then the judge made an enlightening observation. He asked why after the NCV, wasn’t GECOM active in arranging for a national election. He said that should have been done, because after the NCV, there was no court case.

It is this kind of rotten society that has caused our CARICOM neighbours to ostracize us for more than seventy years. I don’t travel anymore, but when I visited

CARICOM countries, you encounter one of the world’s amazing ironies. Caribbean folks are floored by our wealth and large size, but still they don’t factor those two essentials into their conceptualization of Guyana.

And that conceptualization uses biased lenses because of our sickening political culture. Caribbean people do not evaluate us based on the richness of the largest CARICOM land, but the permanent societal instability we have been drowning in since 1953.

GECOM knew a NCV occurred, but for weeks and weeks, GECOM did not raise a pen, pencil or voice in the direction of holding a national election. And there was no excuse, because there was no challenge then to the NCV and the President and the PM conceded that an NCV took place. What is the world thinking when it reads those remarks by one of the judges of the CCJ? You were either deemed a racist if you were Indian or a PPP supporter or if you were African Guyanese you would have been characterized as a betrayer of Black people.

None of the people making those sickening declarations

ever mentally acknowledged that people were concerned more with the future of their country rather than being driven by ethnic impulses. I have stopped opening emails by certain diaspora folks who do not appreciate my support for the NCV and Charrandass.

My family lives in Guyana.

They and their families live in post-modern societies far away from Guyana. I want a future for my country. I want the PPP, the PNC and AFC out of my country. They are rotten carcasses that have destroyed my homeland. I don’t care whose hair is curly or straight or who is Muslim or Christian or who is Black or Indian. I want to see my country stable, calm, and be a functioning democracy. Unlike the dual citizen politicians who want to rule my country, I have one type of citizenship – Guyanese.

The second accoutrement is the observation by President of the CCJ, Justice Saunders, that the constitution was changed to removed the old structure, whereby the president appoints the chairman of the election machinery (see my Saturday last column, “The CCJ judges’ ques-

tions are giving the APNU+AFC angina pains.”) all by himself.

The constitution was amended after 1990 to extirpate from the entire biology of this nation, the Harold Bollers symptom. Bollers is a bad memory which we should forget.

Bollers reminds me of the untold years of my youth, picketing for free and fair elections. Bollers was the exclusive choice of President Burnham to head the election machinery.

So Justice Saunders enquired of one of the lawyers for the Guyana Government that if the constitution was amended to do away with the Bollers syndrome (my use of words), then if the president

can still pick his person, then what purpose does the amendment serve. What Justice Sanders maybe didn’t know is that the Guyana Government consists of a coalition of parties.

One is the party that Walter Rodney gave his life for - WPA. That party fought courageously for the abolition of the Bollers syndrome.

But last year it supported the unilateral action of the president in appointing Justice Patterson as GECOM’s chairman. Another party is the AFC, which promised Guyanese it would rid Guyana of the political culture of the PPP and PNC. Its three leaders – Nagamootoo, Ramjattan and Trotman – endorsed the president arrogating to him-

Frederick Kissoon self the privilege of appointing the GECOM chairman.

Finally, another judge wondered that based on the nature of the NCV, why our judicial system didn’t hear the cases earlier. Our judges took a long time to hear a case that should have been given absolute priority.

Miner to go on trial for employees murder A 50-year-old former mining operator is scheduled to go on trial Thursday (May 16), for the murder of one of his employees, who he allegedly set on fire in 2014.

Rajesh Roopnarine, also known as Boss Man was arraigned before Justice Navindra Singh yesterday at the High Court in Georgetown.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge which alleged that on December 6, 2014, at Mabura, Upper Demerara River, he murdered David Campbell. According to reports, the now dead man was a chainsaw operator. He

sustained third degree burns about his body and died at the Georgetown Public Hospital seven days after he was reportedly set alight at a mining camp The incident occurred around on November 30, 2014. Campbell resided at Old Road, Timehri, East Bank Demerara.

His colleagues, Jason Persaud, Etwaroo Karran and Tyron Campbell, who were also in the camp when it was set alight, managed to escape without injuries.

Prosecutors Abigail Gibbs, Teriq Mohamed and Tuanna Hardy are presenting the States case.

MURDERED: David Campbell

Tuesday May 14, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

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Tuesday May 14, 2019

Kaieteur News

Between Oct. 2017 and Sept. 2018…

More than 3,200 Guyanese overstayed in US A new report by the United States Government has indicated that 3,220 Guyanese with visitors visas overstayed between October 2017 and September 2018.

This translates to 4.85 percent of Guyanese who visited the U.S. during the period.

For the previous period, the number of overstays in that category was 2,262 or 3.29 percent.

The U.S. is estimating that more than 666,000 persons overstayed over the period.

The “Fiscal Year 2018 Entry/Exit Overstay Report” was prepared by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

DHS said it has generated this report to provide data on departures and overstays, by country, for foreign visitors to the United States who were expected to depart in Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 (October 1, 2017 - September 30, 2018).

The report provides data on expected departures and overstays, by country, for foreign travelers to the United States who entered as nonimmigrants through an air or sea port of entry (POE).

It does this by examining the number of entries, by country, for foreign travelers who arrived as non-immigrants during this time, as of October 1, 2018.

An overstay is a nonimmigrant who was lawfully admitted to the United States for an authorized period, but remained in the United States beyond his or her authorized period of admission. The authorized admission period can be a

A new report by the U.S. Government has indicated that 3,220 Guyanese with visitors visas overstayed between October 2017 and September 2018 fixed period; or for the duration of a certain activity, such as the period during which a student is pursuing a full course of study or any authorized technical/practical training.

DHS identifies two types of overstays - individuals for whom no departure has been recorded (Suspected In-Country Overstays), and individuals whose departure was recorded after their authorized period of admission expired (Out-of-Country Overstays).

“DHS has engaged in a concerted campaign to end visa overstay abuse. For the second year in a row, visa overstay rates have declined. DHS will continue efforts to ensure the integrity of its Non-immigrant visa program,” the report said.

Determining lawful status requires more than solely matching entry and exit data.

For example, a person may receive from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) a six-month admission upon entry, and then he or she may

subsequently apply for and receive from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) an extension of up to six months. Identifying extensions, changes, or adjustments of status are necessary steps to determine whether a person has overstayed their authorized period of admission.

“Valid periods of admission to the United States vary; therefore, it was necessary to establish “cutoff dates” for the purposes of a written report. Unless otherwise noted,

the tables accompanying this report refer to departures that were expected to occur between October 1, 2017 and September 30, 2018.”

This report said it presents the overstay rates to provide a better understanding of those who overstay and remain in the United States beyond their authorized period of admission with no evidence of an extension to their period of admission or adjustment to another immigration status.

DHS has determined that

there were 54,706,966 inscope non-immigrant admissions to the United States through air or sea POEs with expected departures occurring in FY 2018, which represents the majority of air and sea annual nonimmigrant admissions.

Of this number, DHS calculated a total overstay rate of 1.22 percent, or 666,582 overstay events. “In other words, 98.78 percent of the inscope non-immigrant entries departed the United States on time and in accordance with the terms of their admission.

SWAT Team deployed to Berbice to tackle rising crime A team of ranks attached to the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit of the Guyana Police Force were deployed to Berbice yesterday to assist with crime fighting in the region.

This was confirmed by the country’s Crime Chief, Deputy Commissioner Lyndon Alves. The move comes hot on the heels of an armed robbery that took place at the Z-One Chinese Supermarket in Albion, where high-powered weapons were used.

The brazen attack has sent fear throughout the Ancient County after news broke that the men discharged multiple rounds indiscriminately, shooting the Albion Police Station patrol vehicle twice in the process.

A police source revealed that close to 30 spent shells were recovered from the scene with one warhead that

was found in the home of a resident almost four blocks away.

Based on the shells that were recovered, the police source stated that an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle was used along with an automatic pistol, both powerful weapons. Over $250,000 was stolen from the Chinese store owners, along with an iPhone of one of the sales attendants.

One Chinese national was kicked to the head while a female staffer was gun-butted to her head. The entire ordeal was caught on CCTV footage.

It was during the ordeal that the bandit with the rifle stood in front of the business place and fired shots wildly, sending persons running for cover. After they took what they could, the bandits ran through the street near the Chinese business and hid in the yard of a (Continued on page 22)

The supermarket which came under attack.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday May 14, 2019

PAGE 13

Two 'Nurses of the Year' receive awards in Region Four as Nurses' Week concludes

A

s the 2019 Nurses week concluded in Region Four recently, nurses Ye l e n a D o o d n a u t h o f Melanie Health Centre and Fazia Bacchus of Timehri Health Centre [in absentia] were adjudged the Nurses of the Year for their respective borders of the Region [East Coast and East Bank].

The awards were presented at a fun day event held at the Better Hope Community Centre and was attended by a number of nurses from the health centres and two hospitals in Region Four.

At the event the Regional Health Officer [RHO]'s Special Awards went to Senior Health Visitor on the East Coast of Demerara, Iona Barker-Wickham; Senior Health Visitor on the East Bank of Demerara, Joyce Phillips and Matron of the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, Sister Sabrina Phillips. The RHO's Appreciation Awards for Outstanding and continuous support were given to Nurse Aletha July of Kuru Kururu Health Centre and Nurse Sedel Blake of the Diamond Diagnostic Centre. They were all presented with their awards at a specially arranged fund day held at the Better Hope Community Centre.

In presenting the

Nurse Sedel Blake receiving her award from Dr. Mark Vyphuis in the presence of RHO Dr. Quincy Jones respective awards to the Nurses of the Year, Senior Health Visitors Iona BarkerWickham and Joyce Phillips reminded the nurses that their contribution to maintaining quality health care among residents is noteworthy and greatly appreciated. She thanked them for their significant contribution, even as she stressed that too many times the services provided by nurses are taken for granted.

However, they expressed

thanks and great appreciation to the RHO of Region Four, Dr. Quincy Jones, for what they dubbed as inclusive, cooperative, helpful and charismatic approach to issues within the region affecting nurses.

“Region Four is certainly blessed and in a better position with Dr Quincy Jones as our Regional Health Officer (RHO), and this is evident from the cooperation and achievements that we have collectively achieved

Several of the nurses who attended the Fun Day along with some of the recipients pose along with the RHO

'Nurse of the Year' for the East Coast corridor, Yelena Doodnauth, receiving her award from Senior Health Visitor for East Coast Demerara, Iona Barker-Wickham, in the presence of RHO Dr. Quincy Jones

with him being here for a mere year. I remain forever grateful and thankful because with his experience and willingness to involve all, we are continuing to grow significantly,” said Barker-Wickham.

She went on to thank the RHO for her award, promising to continue her work in the region, as she loves what she does. Phillips in her comments stressed that the region will continue to be a better place because

of the level of commitment being demonstrated by nurses. She declared that the general public can be assured of quality care from the nurses as she reminded those in attendance that their actions are always being watched, thus she wants them to continue the good services.

“Don't be deterred by challenges or difficulties, and remember that you chose this profession to give of your best. I urge you to

continue that trend, as we are certainly proud of the service that you continue to deliver the best always,” Phillips said.

D r . J o n e s i n congratulating all the nurses said that he was very thankful and happy that he is serving in Region Four.

According to him too, nurses within the region are very hardworking, diligent and committed. He admitted that like any profession, there would be issues affecting both the nurses and residents, but he continued by declaring that in comparison to other regions, he has the best nurses.

“We will have issues, but what I am happy about is that we have the most dedicated, diligent and committed nurses and they continue to make my job easier, as they are so dedicated and unified in taking health care to another level, so let me thank you significantly,” Dr. Jones told the gathering.

The RHO said that had the region not had constraints with finances, he would have certainly provided each nurse with a significantly priced gift, as they deserve that and more.

He however noted that each of the 190 nurses in the region would receive a nurse's watch among other things as part of his department's demonstration of gratitude to them.

He urged the nurses to reflect on their roles and what they can continue to do in enhancing and further developing themselves. He (continued on page 16)

Kaieteur News

PAGE 14

Tuesday May 14, 2019

Second batch of Gov't, UNICEF partner on 'Safe School Project' for children of Pharmacists licensed Venezuelan migrants Scenes from the ceremony (DPI Photos)

T

he Government of Guyana and the United Nations Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) Guyana have partnered on a 'Safe School Project' for the children of Venezuelan migrants, who are living in the BarimaWaini Region (Region One) and other regions.

This was announced by Mr. Ian Jones, UNICEF Guyana's Emergency Specialist, at yesterday's Multi-Stakeholder Committee Meeting at the Department of Citizenship, which is tasked with the monitoring of the migrant situation in Guyana.

As part of the project, UN I C E F G u y a n a i s partnering with the University of Guyana (UG)'s Engineering students to expand the learning spaces in the regions using local materials during the July/August school break.

The Region One villages of Kamwatta, Imbotero, Port Kaituma and Mabaruma will benefit from this initiative, while Whitewater,

Mabaruma and Wauna (also in Region One) will receive learning materials and aids.

Moreover, in partnership with the Ministry of Education, UNICEF Guyana will continue its Early Childhood Development engagements in Yarakita, Imbotero and Khan's Hill.

M e a n w h i l e , th e Department of Citizenship is in the process of finalising a St a n d a r d O p e r a t i n g Procedure (SOP) developed by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for the implementation of Population Registration Identity Management Eco System (PRIMES).

Minister of Citizenship, Winston Felix explained that the PRIMES will see migrants being registered using information and communication technology.

The migrants will be issued with a card, which will be used as an indicator that they were processed and are legal in the country.

"So we are going to have laptops stationed in Regions

Ian Jones, UNICEF Guyana's Emergency Specialist One, Seven and other areas that are deemed necessary to capture information on the arriving persons.

These systems would be supported by a mobile printer, which will facilitate the printing of an identity card to say that they were registered and are legal. I would like to make it clear that this is not a National Identification card and cannot be used for citizenship purposes.

It is simply to identify them and for them to access social services," he told the Department ofPublicInformation.

A

second batch of pharmacy interns were on May 11th awarded their licenses to

practice.

At an event known as the White Coat Ceremony, at Herdmanston Lodge, neatly attired in their white coats, they dutifully recited the Pharmacists' Oath. They would have acquired a Bachelor's Degree in Pharmacy from the University of Guyana and served a one-year internship at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

In keeping with tradition, each pharmacist lit a candle from a single flame borne by Chief Medical Officer Dr. Shamdeo Persaud. This is said to represent the transfer of leadership from the policy to practice level.

Dr. Persaud, who delivered the address on

behalf of the Public Health Minister, highlighted the history of the pharmacy profession in Guyana - back to when the country was still a colony.

Last year, 17 clinically-trained pharmacists were welcomed into the fraternity, and this is set to be an annual event, as UG continues to educate in the pharmacy field. Prior to the pharmacy internship programme being launched in March 2017, persons would have studied theory and went on to practice without hands-on knowledge.

Hence those completing the UG programme can benefit from the full-time training and practical exposure.

Among others in attendance were the Chairperson of the Pharmacy Council in Guyana, Levante De Santos and staffers of the Georgetown Hospital.

Cricket bat murder accused on trial

T

he trial of 22y e a r - o l d J o n a t h a n Budhan, who is accused of beating a man to death with a cricket bat, got underway yesterday before Justice Navindra Singh at the High Court in Georgetown.

Budhan, formerly of Vreede n - H o o p , We s t C o a s t Demerara, pleaded not guilty to the charge which alleged that on October 25, 2016, in the county of Demerara, he murdered 40-

year-old Ramesh Manbodh.

According to reports, Budhan fatally beat Manbodh, of Lot 655 Best Vi l l a g e , We s t C o a s t Demerara on October 20, 2016.

After being admitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital, Manbodh died a few days later. It was reported that Budhan was on the run and later turned himself over to police.

Prosecutors Abigail Gibbs, Teriq Mohamed and

Jonathan Budhan Tuanna Hardy are presenting the State's case. This trial is scheduled to continue this morning before a 12member mixed jury.

Tuesday May 14, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 15

Kaieteur News

PAGE 16

Tuesday May 14, 2019

Self-bail for cop who allegedly Sgt. charged with sexual assault struck wife with wood on woman in

A

Charged: Police Constable Eon Jacobs

'Mash' day outing has led to a police constable being charged for allegedly assaulting his wife, and using obscene language towards her in public.

Eon Jacobs appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts yesterday before the Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan where he pleaded not guilty to two charges which were read to him.

It was alleged that on February 23, last, at Vlissengen Road, Georgetown, he unlawfully assaulted Amanda Morris-Jacobs.

Also on the same date and at the same location, he used obscene language towards her, thereby provoking a breach of the peace.

The unrepresented defendant told the court that he is 29 years

old and resides at Lot 123 Middle Road, La Penitence. He also stated that he is a police constable attached to the Mounted Branch.

According to police prosecutor Gordon Mansfield, on the day in question the parties attended a parade at the location.

A heated argument ensued between the couple and Jacobs allegedly began to assault his wife.

He then began to use obscene language towards her and as she attempted to walk away from him, he reportedly picked up a piece of wood and threw it at her, hitting the victim on her foot.

The magistrate after listening to the information put to the court, released the defendant on selfbail and instructed him to make his next court appearance on May 20.

police vehicle

Charged: Police Sergeant Norris Henry

F

orty-eight yearold Police Sergeant Norris Henry, of Tuschen Housing Scheme, East Bank Essequibo, appeared yesterday before a city magistrate and was required to answer to a sexual assault charge, after he allegedly fondled a woman en route to making an arrest.

Henry is attached to the Alberttown Police Station.

The charge alleges that on October 17, 2018, at Alberttown, Georgetown, Henry sexually assaulted a woman. He denied the allegation which was read to him by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts.

A c c o r d i n g t o

information, on the day in question the woman went to the station and made a report. Henry then allegedly decided to accompany her to make an arrest based on her report.

Shorty after the officer and the woman left the station in a police vehicle, Henry reportedly placed his hands under the woman's skirt and rubbed her legs.

The woman recently made a report of the incident. An investigation was carried out and the charge was instituted against Henry. After listening to the facts presented by the prosecutor, Magistrate McLennan released the defendant on $120,000 bail.

She adjourned the matter until May 21.

Two 'Nurses of the year' receive awards in Region...

From page 13 urged all nurses to remember that they are blessed to be in such a profession and urged them to continue giving of their best.

“You are all blessed, as you have gifted hands, and may God continue to bless each of you, but let me urge you to seek ways in enhancing your contributions as nurses to this profession,” he said.

According to Dr. Jones, already his department has sought many ways to further enhance their working conditions through the purchase of needed equipment.

He further revealed that after noticing

that St Joseph Mercy Hospital has equipment to identify veins, he immediately bought three, which he said would be placed at the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, thus making it easier for nurses at the institution to identify veins when seeking to draw blood or insert IVs. “We are proactive, and don't feel that we will not continue the development within this region.

That is why I sought to acquire three of those machines that I saw at St Joseph Mercy Hospital, because I know that it would benefit our nurses greatly,” Dr Jones said.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday May 14, 2019

PAGE 17

Bartica youth shot dead outside bar - Suspect's mom turns him in

The area where the shooting took place.

Dead: Antonio Dos Santos, also known as "Lil Boy"

T

he police in Bartica are investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting death of 21y e a r- o l d A n t o n i o D o s Santos, popularly known as "Lil Boy" of 22 Second Av e n u e . T h e i n c i d e n t occurred yesterday at around

02:25hrs on First Avenue, in front of the Beach View Seaside Bar, formerly the Top Notch Bar. Reports are that the suspect, a 29-year-old carpenter, allegedly shot Dos Santos, who was imbibing at the time, twice to the chest before fleeing the scene.

The victim was subsequently taken to the Bartica Regional Hospital where he was treated and later referred to seek further medical attention in Georgetown.

Dos Santos reportedly succumbed to his injuries shortly after 07:00hrs, just as

he was about to be placed on an aircraft at the Bartica Municipality Airstrip.

The body was then taken to the Bartica Hospital Mortuary. Meanwhile, the suspect was taken into the police station by his mother yesterday afternoon.

Friends of Dos Santos

claimed that a longstanding feud had existed between him and the alleged shooter.

The location where this shooting incident occurred was the focus of attention a little over seven years ago, on April 19th ,2012, when a female Brazilian National was shot at by a male

Guyanese, at the Bar area.

The establishment was at that time operating under the name “Top Notch".

Several of the bars in Bartica and on the Puruni Landing have had shooting incidents in the past, some with tragic consequences.

(Edward A Persaud)

PAGE 18

Kaieteur News

Tuesday May 14, 2019

Brazilian Army Captain Quartet before court on duly recognised by GDF attempted murder charge

F

T

he Guyana Defence Force (GDF) has awarded the Jungle and Amphibious Training (JATS) Badge to Brazilian Captain, Bruno Correa Andrade, in recognition of his provision of training of an exceptional standard in jungle

warfare to GDF troops.

The Citation and Badge were presented to Captain Andrade on Friday, May 10, by Commanding Officer, Training Corps, Lieutenant Colonel Julius Skeete. (Photo by LCPL Hanani Yah Warde of the G5 Branch)

our men yesterday appeared before t h e C h i e f Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts where they were made to answer an attempted murder charge.

The defendants are Randy Shaw, 33, a bus driver, of 332 'A' Field Sophia; Terry Campbell, 41, a bus driver, of 70 Louisa Row, Werk-en-Rust; Akeem Lawrence, 24, a bus conductor, of 340 'B' Field Sophia, and Esan Henry of 594 Caneview South Ruimveldt Gardens.

The quartet was not required to plead to the allegation as the charge was made indictable. The charge read that on February 23, 2019, at Peter Rose and Forshaw Streets, the four men unlawfully and maliciously injured Vishnu Budhram with intent to commit murder.

Facts of the charge indicate that on the day in question about 20:30hrs, Budhram was driving his motor car north along Peter Rose Street. Upon approaching Forshaw Street, Shaw pulled out his mini bus in the path of Budhram almost causing a collision.

Budhram then came out of his vehicle to talk with Shaw concerning the manner in which he drove. This resulted in an argument and Shaw reportedly whipped out a chopper and dealt Budhram several chops.

The other three men then allegedly joined in and began to beat and stab Budhram, who fell on the roadway unconscious after receiving injuries. He was rushed to the Woodlands Hospital where he received treatment.

Akeem Lawrence

Randy Shaw

Esan Henry Police prosecutor Gordon Mansfield had no objections to bail, however he asked that conditions be attached.

Magistrate McLennan granted bail to the defendants to the tune of $200,000 each.

The men were instructed to lodge their valid passport with the courts and report to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) every Friday until the hearing and determination of their trial.

Terry Campbell The matter was adjourned until May 20.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday May 14, 2019

PAGE 19

Parfaite Harmonie con artist defrauds couple of $500,000 down payment on property

A

La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara couple is frantically searching for an alleged con artist who has reportedly defrauded them of a $500,000 house payment.

Jerry Singh and Patricia Stephens are searching for the individual (a family friend, name provided) who they claimed lured them from Tuschen Housing Scheme to live at a home he claimed belonged to him, and collected a $500,000 down payment on the property.

Reports suggest that after a week, the man disappeared and could not be contacted after.

The couple reported that last Thursday, a strange couple turned up at the La Parfaite Harmonie home, with a police officer, with

claims that the property belonged to them, but failed to show any documents of ownership. Singh and Stephens are crestfallen about the fact that they have been given two months to relocate, and also because they have been defrauded of $500,000.

Residents have informed that the two persons are not the only victims to have been outsmarted by the alleged con artist Ye s t e r d a y S i n g h indicated that he was working with the man in the interior region, but with some encouragement, came out to seek a better life in the city. He said that the man had assured him and his common law wife that they would be allowed to live in a property he owned.

The distraught man said that they moved into the

property and have been residing there almost eight years now.

They said after the man collected the payment, he disappeared a week after, and has never contacted them since.

They said that when they visited a house he told them he was staying in at Parfaite Harmonie, they were told that he was not living there.

They said they were confronted by strange persons who told them that they had bought the property from the man as well.

The couple related that on Thursday when the 'owners' arrived in the company of a police officer from La Grange station, the rank was openly hostile to them and told them that they had no choice than to move out of the property as soon as possible.

Jerry Singh and Patricia Stephens are frustrated as a result of their recent experience The couple said they had spent thousands of dollars on repairing the home, since when they moved in it was an

unfinished structure. They said since living there, the premises had been broken into twice by a known

individual whom the con artist had brought to assist with renovation of the property.

WikiLeaks source Manning could be jailed again soon if she disobeys U.S. grand jury WA S H I N G T O N (Reuters) - Chelsea Manning, a former U.S. Army intelligence analyst and source for online publisher WikiLeaks, could be jailed again if she refuses to comply with a new grand jury subpoena, said a U.S. law enforcement source, as well as Manning herself.

After 62 days in prison, Manning was released last Thursday. She had been locked up for refusing to comply with a grand jury subpoena for testimony in an investigation into WikiLeaks

by U.S. prosecutors in Alexandria, Virginia.

Federal prosecutors are believed to be focused on

A nation of hustlers From page 09 poor. The solution of the government is to expand the size of the government, rather than energize the private sector to increase demand for the goods and services, which the poor can produce.

Today, the state sector is a drain on public finances and is stagnating private enterprise.

The pen pushers who live off the taxes of the poor can go the fast food joints, bars and cafes and spend thousands of dollars on unhealthy food and drink, while the desperate poor have to hustle with their trays to earn a dollar.

The prospects of oil will not change the fortunes of the poor. It will continue to feed a parasitic bureaucratic class, allow the rich to get richer and put more distance between the rich and the poor.

What Guyana needs is not only a political solution.

Guyana needs an economic solution. It needs a pro-poor government.

Shared government will not bring any respite to the poor. The PNCR and the PPP are both peas in the same pod. Both pursue liberal economic policies, which lie at the heart of the problems of the poor.

The WPA, the Alliance For Change and all the new parties are no different. They offer no new economic model but instead the same old discredited neo-liberal approach, which is turning Guyana into a nation of roadside vendors.

There is no hope for the poor from the established political order. Their tragedy is that vending has never lifted the poor classes out of poverty and never will. The poor therefore will get poorer.

WikiLeaks and its founder Julian Assange, who is serving 50 weeks in a London prison for jumping bail when he took refuge in the Ecuadorean embassy in 2012.

The first grand jury expired and Manning was immediately summoned to appear before a new grand

jury on May 16.

A law enforcement source said yesterday that if Manning refuses to testify, prosecutors will likely request that she be jailed again for contempt.

On Friday, Manning appeared in a YouTube video declaring that she will (continued on page 20)

Chelsea Manning (REUTERS/ Suzanne Cordeiro/File Photo)

Kaieteur News

PAGE 20

Tuesday May 14, 2019

TT Opposition Leader dismisses government's “turn-around” of local economy P O RT O F S PA I N , Trinidad (CMC) – Opposition Leader Kamla Persad Bissessar yesterday described the government's plan to offer a three-month tax amnesty as nothing short of a political gimmick as Tr i n i d a d a n d To b a g o prepares to stage local and general elections within a one-year period.

Delivering the Mid-Year Review for fiscal year 2019, Finance Minister Colm Imbert said the soon to be established Revenue Authority would need to “start with a clean slate” and as a result, the government is providing a “three-month tax amnesty in this year, starting in mid-June 2019 and extending to mid-September 2019.

“This amnesty will extend to all forms of taxation and appropriate legislation to give effect to this measure will be introduced in this House within the next few weeks.

“Taxpayers are urged to take advantage of this a m n e s t y, f i l e t h e i r outstanding returns, and pay their back taxes, because

once the new Revenue Authority comes on stream, future amnesties are unlikely,” Imbert added.

But Persad Bissessar in her response, told Parliament that the government was seeking to buy votes ahead of the upcoming polls.

“The Minister comes here today with fatal elections in front of them, comes to announce gamechanger. The one game–changer, listen, don't pay taxes for three months, you getting a tax amnesty, as if that could make up for almost four years.

“So is the tax amnesty with respect to payment of taxes, don't pay. I am asking, Honourable Minister, what is exactly the tax amnesty. Is it I am going to give you three months, I am not going to come after you for your taxes, I want the Minister to explain what he meant when he said a three month tax amnesty”, The Opposition leader said there was need for the clarification because “people in the country would want to know what you mean by a three month tax

amnesty”.

During her response, Persad Bissessar said that the mid-year budget review came amid great expectations and like the four years of this administration “it delivered nothing.

“I came here today with expectation. Like most of the country, I wanted to hear what plans the government had to improve our situation.

But what we heard was more deflection, more distraction more incompetence.

“The Minister completed his fourth midyear budget, and had all of 2016, 2017, and 2018 and half of 2019 to prove us wrong when we said they had no plan, but he had nothing to show once again,” she said, adding that her United National Congress (UNC) would unveil part of its economic recovery plan for the country.

She said that as the country gets closer to the end of the People's national Movement (PNM) administration, “it has only become clearer to everyone that they do not know how to

govern.

“What we saw today is a government that thinks the politics of the past can help them as we move closer to elections.

“That the Minister could stand here with his head held high and talk about turning around or whatever other alternate reality you have repeatedly tried create, shows clearly that they are delusional<' she said, telling legislators that under the K e i t h R o w l e y administration “not only are more people unemployed, but more also feel less secure in their jobs. “ U n d e r t h i s government's watch, we have gone backwards where people now have to worry about the basics: water and roads. Under this government, we are not a population that can even think about the future, because we are all trying to survive today.”

She said that the economic collapse facing the country is the sole responsibility of the present government and that it would “continue to create

White House reviews military plans against Iran: New York Times

TT Opposition Leader Kamla Persad Bissessar (TT Newsday photo) any story and focus only on winning an election but what happens after they win?

They have no idea how to govern.

She said the UNC, which formed part of the coalition people's Partnership government that Persad Bissessar led between 201015, “remains focused on good governance and will hit the ground running when we return to office and put our economy back on a path of growth and sustainable development.

“Our National Economic Transformation Masterplan 2020-2025 lays out a wideranging suite of policy initiatives and programmes which we will pursue to get

our people working again and working towards a better future.

“Diversification is at the heart of our economic m a s t e r p l a n . We w i l l encourage strategic investments in niche nonenergy sectors where we have a strong competitive advantage, market opportunity and growth potential. These bold steps must be made now,” she said.

Persad Bissessar said that after almost four years in office the country is worse off under the present administration and that “the time has come for them to go, so that we can begin to rebuild and restore good governance to our nation”.

WikiLeaks source Manning could be jailed again soon ...

FILE PHOTO: An F/A-18E Super Hornet launches from the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in the Red Sea, May 10, 2019. Courtesy Dan Snow/U.S. Navy/Handout via REUTERS WA S H I N G T O N (Reuters) - The top U.S. defense official has presented an updated military plan to President Donald Trump's administration that envisions sending up to 120,000 troops to the Middle East should Iran attack American forces or accelerate work on nuclear weapons, the New Yo r k Ti m e s r e p o r t e d yesterday.

Citing unnamed administration officials, the Times said Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan

presented the plan at a meeting of Trump's top security aides on Thursday.

Reuters could not immediately confirm the report. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Pentagon declined to comment.

Tensions between Iran and the United States have intensified since Trump pulled out of a 2015 international deal to curb Iran's nuclear activities and imposed increasingly strict

sanctions on Tehran.

Trump wants to force Tehran to agree to a broader arms control accord and has sent an aircraft carrier and B52 bombers to the Gulf in a show of force against what U.S. officials have said are threats to U.S. troops in the region.

Iran has said the U.S. is engaging in “psychological warfare,” called the U.S. military presence “a target” rather than a threat and said it will not allow its oil exports to be halted.

The Times said among those attending the Thursday meeting were Trump's national security adviser John Bolton, CIA Director Gina Haspel, Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph Dunford.

Several plans were detailed, the Times said, and “the uppermost option called for deploying 120,000 troops, which would take weeks or months to complete.”

From page 19 continue to refuse to cooperate. “When I arrive at the court house this coming Thursday, what happened last time will occur again. I will not cooperate with this or any other grand jury,” Manning said.

A lawyer for Manning did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Manning was convicted by court martial in 2013 of espionage for furnishing more than 700,000 documents and other materials to WikiLeaks while she was an intelligence analyst in Iraq. Former President Barack Obama, in his final days in office, commuted the final 28 years of Manning's 35-year sentence.

Assange, after nearly seven years taking refuge in the Ecuadorean embassy, on April 11 was arrested by British police. The United

States is seeking his extradition to face charges of conspiracy to commit computer intrusion. Assange plans to fight the U.S. extradition request.

Yesterday, the Assange case was complicated by Sweden reopening an investigation into a rape allegation against him and Sweden will seek to extradite him from Britain.

WikiLeaks published a classified U.S. military video showing a 2007 attack

by Apache helicopters in Baghdad that killed a dozen people, including two Reuters news staff.

The U.S. government said Assange tried to help Manning gain access to a government computer. It is not clear if the alleged collaboration between Manning and Assange led to a successful intrusion into any U.S. government computer.

Tuesday May 14, 2019

PAGE 21

Kaieteur News

Robert Allicock, MS, laid to rest

There was a significant turnout for the funeral yesterday.

The late Robert Allicock, MS, was yesterday laid to rest today in his home village of Suruma, North Rupununi, Region 9. He died on Sunday.

According to the Ministry of the

The late Robert Allicock, MS

P r e s i d e n c y, o n S u n d a y, P r e s i d e n t David Granger expressed sadness at the death of Allicock. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mr. Allicock, who was the father of Fourth Vice President and Minister o f I n d i g e n o u s P e o p l e s A ff a i r s , M r.

Sydney Allicock and Chairman of the U p p e r Ta k u t u - U p p e r E s s e q u i b o R e -

g i o n ( R e g i o n N i n e ) , M r. B r y a n Allicock, died this morning at the age of 86,â&#x20AC;? a statement had said. Allicock served as Regional Vice Chairman for Region Nine from 1986 to 1991. He also served as Operations Manager and Consultant at the Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and

Development, where he played an integral role in the establishment of the Iwokrama Rainforest Project. On May 26, 2016, he was bestowed with the Medal of Service, the fifth highest award of the Order of Service of Guyana for his outstanding work at Iwokrama and the role he played in the Project.

PAGE 22

Tuesday May 14, 2019

Kaieteur News

SWAT Team deployed...

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A bullet hole on the door of the police vehicle.

From page 12 villager. Evidence showing that the men prised open the zinc from the woman’s back-yard to enter her yard, was seen by this publication, with what appeared to be blood on the zinc as well.

Residents, including the woman, had expressed their disappointment in the manner in which the ranks attached to the Albion Police Station and the

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Whim Police Patrol acted.

It was disclosed and mentioned in the initial story that although the ranks were provided with information that the men were hiding in the woman’s yard, they failed to act on it, but opted to patrol the public road instead. The actions of the police ultimately contributed to the mens escape.

Kaieteur News was also told that the iPhone was tracked by an individual who has knowledge in IT, but when they offered the police such info, it was refused, and they were advised that it could not work.

However, the last known location the phone was traced to was the Albion access road, leading to the Albion Estate.

Meanwhile, Divisional Commander Paul Langevine has since confirmed that no-one was arrested. Police patrols have since increased in the Albion area. In addition to this latest robbery, there have been several other armed robberies committed within the last two months, with no one being charged.

On April 10, 63-year-old Koomarie Bhagwandin of Bloomfield Village, Corentyne was shoved off of her shed by armed men when they invaded her home and robbed her of her cash and valuables, no one was charged. On April 27, businesswoman Yasodra Singh from Cumberland, East Canje, Berbice, was robbed in broad daylight by two armed men. She was shoved to the ground and beaten by one of the bandits before they stole over $200,000.

The police are yet to charge anyone for that robbery as well.

Other armed robberies that have seen no charges being laid, include Goldsmith Hamza Khan of Cumberland Village - $500,000 was stolen from him inclusive of a laptop and cellular phones. On May 1, Haimraj Patiram of Tain Village was confronted by armed men who were subsequently warded off by objects being hurled at them. On May 5, a Cambio Dealer from Springlands was shot in his foot during the course of a robbery.Thetwoarmed men had pounced on him and stole over$500,000incash.Fourdaysago, a pensioner of Alness Village was left hospitalised after two men invaded his home, armed with guns. They stole $5000 and a cellular phone.

Tuesday May 14, 2019

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Kaieteur News

Community enhancement transforming South Mackenzie The community playfield that was renovated in Fairs Rust.

Communities located in South Mackenzie, Linden are seeing extensive transformation as a result of a community enhancement project which is the brainchild of the Community Development Council (CDC) and the Community Policing Group (CPG).

The project aims to bring the communities back to its former glory, since it was once the residential territory of Linden. Communities that are seeing improvement in aesthetics include Richmond Hill, Fairs Rust, Watooka and Noitgedacht, amongst others.

Spearheading the project is Deputy Mayor Wainwright Bethune, who is also the chairman of the CDC and the constituency representative.

One of the main focuses of the project is the establishment of green spaces, which include a modern signboard surrounded by

flora. Fairs Rusts sign has already been erected while Richmond Hills is about 90 per cent complete.

Bethune, who is also chairman of the Environmental Committee at the Regional Democratic Council (RDC), is pushing land reclamation in the communities given the effect of years of bauxite mining which left swamps and slush in the environment.

The overburden from the bauxite mining is used to reclaim these lands, thus extending the boundaries of the communities. Residents can now use these reclaimed lands for farming and other empowering activities.

In addition to the above-mentioned communities, Constabulary Compound and Industrial Area also benefited from land reclamation.

Illegal dumpsites were also cleaned up in these areas.

A play park in Fairs Rust, which includes a ball field, was refurbished, and a similar initiative will be done in Coomacka Mines in the near future.

The community enhancement projects resulted from consultation with residents who aired their concerns at community meetings, where Bethune requested to be improved for the benefit of these communities. “My objective is to work in each and every community in the constituency to ensure we have development throughout the entire constituency.”

While funding from the Council itself is limited, the Deputy Mayor posited that funds are being garnered from donations and other means.

Following the second Local Government Elections (LGE), after more than 20 years, there is an

The sign that was recently erected in Fair s Rust

The Richmond Hill sign has almost been completed evident renewed zest, amongst Councillors and residents, to work together for the common good of

their communities.

Through consolidation, communities are benefiting from self-help projects

which include drainage clearing, de-bushing, landscaping and the maintenance of road corridors.

Visually impaired brothers aiming to make it big in the local music industry Despite being visually impaired, brothers 17-yearold Relon and 15-year-old Roell Sumner, have commenced their singing careers after recording their first song. Currently hitting the airwaves, they did their debut performance at the Linden Town Week (LTW) 2019 opening ceremony after which the song was played on the radio.

With the stage name ‘Original Lyrics’, the duo has already written over fifteen songs using catchy dancehall/ soca beats with ‘Money Time’ being their first two years ago.

Their preferred genre, however, is dancehall.

The duo has also mastered the art of freestyling, and has wowed crowds as they can flow and rap lyrics in split seconds.

The LTW theme song is entitled ‘Town Week TimeAgain’ and was recorded by the duo at Elevate Studios. The song highlights the excitement and

hype that comes along with the annual event, which attracts thousands of people. It encapsulates the various events on the 11-day calendar of activities.

“It’s basically talking about Linden Town Week, the fun, how we enjoy it, it talks about Poker Street Lime and how you roll out, bringing a vibe to the people to see what it is all about,” Relon said.

The duo is hoping the song will create the traction and support they need to be recognised among local artistes. Once this dream is achieved, they can record and perform more of their songs.

While Roell is a high achiever at Mackenzie High School, Relon, unfortunately, had to drop out of Mackenzie High in the fourth form, because of his disability. Despite not being able to complete his secondary education, he believes that music will be his gateway to success.

“I always say, I want music to carry me at the top to really build my life... I’m just hoping to get to the top, because that’s what everybody wants,” Relon posited.

The two of seven siblings, work as a team, since two others also suffer from low vision. Their mother Ronella Waldron was diagnosed with toxoplasmosis, a disease that occurs in fetuses infected with Toxoplasma gondii, a protozoan parasite, which is transmitted from mother to fetus. In cases where the mother does not miscarry, the child may be born with severe and progressive visual, hearing, motor, cognitive, and other problems. Impaired vision, however, is most common.

Her third son, Dimitry Waldron, also a high achiever at Mackenzie High School, has low vision but assists his brothers with writing their songs when they create and memorise the lyrics in their

Relon and Roell with their younger brother Dimitry who also suffers from low vision but helps them write their lyrics. heads.

“If we get a song that we want write, we does memorise it first in we head and whenever it done fix up, we does sit with him and he does write it. Sometimes we do it by verse and then the chorus.”

With the assistance from their family circle, being visually impaired is far from a deterrent to the brothers who believe they will be the ‘Stevie Wonders of Guyana’, in years to come. They are currently working on two soca songs, which will be submitted for

the Junior Soca Monarch Competition in 2020.

The brothers are encouraging other young people who are differently abled, to reach for the stars, to push against every stumbling block, so they too can achieve greatness. (DPI)

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday May 14, 2019

Tuesday May 14, 2019

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Kaieteur News

Lewis Hamilton’s team flies F1 car out to ill ‘spirit angel’ boy BBC Sport - A Formula One car was sent to the home of a five-year-old boy with a rare form of terminal cancer after he inspired Lewis Hamilton’s victory in the Spanish Grand Prix.

Harry Shaw, from Redhill, Surrey, sent Hamilton a good luck message on Instagram from his hospital bed.

The youngster has since moved back to his home for his final days.

Hamilton described Harry as his “spirit angel” as he dedicated his victory to him on Sunday.

Mercedes later arranged for one of its cars to be flown to Harry’s home, where he is also expected to be presented with Hamilton’s winning

Mercedes flew one of its F1 cars to Harry’s home.

Tuesday May 14, 2019 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You could receive some sort of windfall today, Aries. Use it wisely. Consider buying some time to figure out what you want to do with your life.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) It's likely that you will succeed at whatever you set out to accomplish today, Taurus.

If you've been held back by worries over the integrity of a relationship you can dispel concerns by confronting the person directly.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Your energy may flag a bit today. There's nothing to worry about, though you could take better care of your health.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Today is meant for socializing and connecting. Your creativity is at an all-time high, so also try to work in some quiet time where you can do some writing or painting.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) You can't help but notice that your home looks a bit drab, Leo. Today you could plan to do something about it. It won't take much money, just time and a little creativity. Paint some samples on the walls.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) You have a to-do list a mile long today, Virgo. You may spend a lot of your day running errands.

It certainly takes a lot to run a household, as you no doubt realize. Try not to get overwhelmed with all that you feel needs to be done.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You're ready for a career change, Libra, or at least a change of venue. Have you considered telecommuting one day per week? That might give you the variety you seek without needing to find a new job.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) What is your dream? Answer that question as specifically as possible today, then set about attaining that goal. All signs indicate that whatever you begin today will pay off big time.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) This may seem odd, but you may not be the person you think you are. There are indications that you have hidden talents. If they come out today, no one will be more shocked than you!

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) You're about to experience a major change in your life's direction, Capricorn, and it may occur today.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) You're unstoppable today, Aquarius. It seems you can do anything. Your confidence and energy are high.

There's no question that you're ready to take the world by storm.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) It's likely that you're being held back by certain traumatic past events. Before you can make further progress in your life, you must address these painful memories for the last time.

trophy from the Barcelona race.

Harry’s father, James Shaw, said: “I don’t know Lewis, but I think what we’ve seen is what a genuine, decent, lovely person he is.

“That was a heartfelt message he did and he won that Grand Prix for Harry and that means a lot.”

Charlotte Shaw, Harry’s mother, said: “It’s brought smiles into his life at a time when there’s a limited amount of fun to be had, to be perfectly honest.”

She said gifts including signed photographs and a Mercedes cap first brought smiles, adding: “It just went from there, really.

“It’s just got bigger and bigger and better and better and the smiles have got broader and broader.

“It’s so special to see Harry enjoying himself.”

Harry, who has Ewing’s sarcoma, had said in his video message on Instagram: “Hello Lewis Hamilton. Good luck winning the race in Spain and thank you for the gifts. Lots of love from Harry and goodbye.”

Hamilton said after winning the race: “Today, I was just super-inspired by this kid that sent me a message.

“He was my spirit angel.”

The Shaw family has set up a charity page to raise money for research into the disease and have so far raised more than £15,000.

Mercedes tweeted they were supporting the fundraising drive.

Hopetown Flames...

From page 31 this meet provides exposure for our athletes and that is important,” Burnett noted.

In addition, with athletes such as 2019 Carifta gold medalist Matthew Gordon along with the likes of ace sprinter Lionel Marks and a few other notable names set to compete, their opponents are being put on notice to come prepared for stiff competition from Berbice’s most prominent clubs.

Action at the track and field event is set to start from 10 hours on May 18th and 19th.

Raptors advance past 76ers on...

From page 28 three. With 12.1 seconds to play, Embiid made two free throws to trim the lead to one.

Leonard made 1 of 2 free throws with 10.8 seconds remaining, and Butler tied the score at 90 on his layup.

Serge Ibaka provided 17 points and eight rebounds for the Raptors. Siakam had 11 points and 11 rebounds.

Lowry, who had an injured thumb taped in the first half, had 10 points, and Gasol added seven points and 11 rebounds.

Embiid had 21 points and 11 rebounds for the 76ers. JJ Redick scored 17 points, Butler added 16, Tobias

Harris scored 15 and grabbed 10 rebounds, and Ben Simmons finished with 13 points.

After the Raptors took a five-point lead early in the fourth quarter on Ibaka’s 3pointer, Embiid’s 3-pointer put the 76ers ahead by one point with 7:37 left.

The Raptors took a fivepoint lead on Leonard’s floating jumper and a free throw with 4:48 to go But Redick nailed a jumper and hit the free throw to tie the game at 85 with 3:29 remaining.

The Raptors led 18-13 after one quarter and 44-40 at halftime.

(Field Level Media)

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Tuesday May 14, 2019

Kaieteur News

All eyes on Woods even if Koepka the one to beat (Reuters) - Defending champion Brooks Koepka is the one to beat at this week’s PGA Championship even if Tiger Woods will have the boisterous New York galleries on side as one of golf ’s four major tournaments begins a new era in the spring.

After being held since 1972 in the dog days of summer, the PGA Championship’s move to May should ensure milder weather and more attention from U.S. sports fans whose thoughts by August have invariably turned to American football.

For the first time ever in a major championship, every player ranked in the top 100 in the world will tee it up, barring late withdrawals.

The field will comprise 156 players, but 155 of them will be in the supporting cast as one man takes center stage.

Tiger-mania is back in full force after he ended his decade-plus major drought by

Golfer Tiger Woods reacts before being awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. (REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne) winning the Masters last month, and Woods is one of the favorites on a course where he lifted the U.S. Open trophy in 2002.

But big, brawny Bethpage, a 7,459-yard

course in Farmingdale on Long Island, is arguably less suited for his 43-year-old game than the other major venues this year.

While not short off the tee, Woods is no longer

Hamilton would rather fight Ferrari than battle with Bottas LONDON (Reuters) Five times world champion Lewis Hamilton says Mercedes should not be blamed for their dominance and he would far rather be in a battle with Formula One rivals Ferrari and Red Bull than team mate Valtteri Bottas.

Champions Mercedes have won all five races so far this season in one-two formation, with Hamilton and Bottas also taking a fastest lap each.

The two Mercedes drivers are just seven points apart, Hamilton leading after three wins, but a gulf separates them from the rest.

“People watching might be unhappy with the gap we have to the Ferraris. Of course we want to be as

quick as we can be, we don’t know why the others have fallen off a little bit,” Hamilton told reporters after Sunday’s race.

“It’s not our fault. It’s not these guys’ (his team mates)fault that they are really great at their job.”

The Briton has in the last two seasons, when Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel was his main challenger, compared the title battle to the tennis duels fought out

by Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

The 34-year-old has not spoken that way this year, with Bottas the only man to have beaten him in what has become an internal team battle ever since the opening race in Australia.

“It’s just not as much fun, for sure, as when you

are competing against another team.

That’s what Formula One is about,” said Hamilton. “ T h a t ’s t h e e x c i t i n g part, when you’re competing against one or two other teams who are also bringing their A game.

That puts another spanner in the mix. “...It’s awesome. But when that’s not there, it’s definitely a lot less exciting from a competition point of view.”

Hamilton previously had Nico Rosberg, the now-retired 2016 champion in a season when Mercedes won 19 of the 21 races, as his main rival and that led to a breakdown in relations between the former friends.

Bottas is a different character, and there is still plenty of respect with team boss Toto Wolff assuring reporters there would be no repeat of 2016.

Hamilton said Mercedes were still working as hard as ever, pushing the car to the limit.

“It’s not like we go to the race and because we have a margin we back off,” he explained.

“We are pedal-to-themetal, and Valtteri right there pushing all the way,” he said. “So I still have to deliver just as if a Ferrari was (right) behind me.”

among the game’s biggest hitters after his 2017 spinal fusion.

He may have to let rip with his driver to hoist the Wanamaker Trophy a fifth time, adding to his previous successes in 1999, 2000, 2006 and 2007.

Fifty players are averaging 300 yards or more on the PGA Tour this year.

Woods, at 299 yards, is respectable, but gone are the days when he could overpower a course.

He now gets the job done the old fashioned way, by relentlessly hitting greens in regulation. At 75 percent, Woods is the year’s best on tour at it, which could prove decisive at Bethpage.

Legitimate title chances will line up like jets at nearby JFK airport, but anyone with designs on winning will likely have to contend with the quiet assassin Koepka, who for all his dominance in recent majors remains less than a crowd favorite.

K o e p k a a n d Wo o d s

have developed a close rivalry at the majors, with Koepka heading a 1-2 finish at the PGA at Bellerive before Woods turned the tables at Augusta, where he clinched his 15th major title.

The stoic Koepka does not stand out as superior in any single category of the game, but is good across the board, and his mind is perhaps his best weapon, seemingly immune to pressure.

PUTTING TO MAKE OR BREAK McILROY Others with the goods to contend include Europeans Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Jon Ram and Tommy Fleetwood, and Americans Dustin Johnson, Justin Thomas and Rickie Fowler.

McIlroy would likely be the outright favorite if he were not coming off another disappointing Sunday, the latest in the final round at the Wells Fargo Championship,

where he shot an errorstrewn closing 73.

His putter let him down at Quail Hollow, not for the first time. If the Northern Irishman can get that right he can win at Bethpage.

Rahm, coming off victory in the two-man teams event at the Zurich Classic, is tipped to win a major sooner or later.

The 2016 U.S. Open winner Johnson needs to add to his single major triumph if he wants to end his career with a haul his talent deserves.

However difficult predicting the winner, expect one of the big names to come through, just like the last time the PGA Championship was held on Long Island in 1926.

It was won then by one of the greats of the era, the legendary, hard-partying Walter Hagen.

The total purse then was $11,000.

This week’s purse has not been announced but it will be about $11 million more than 93 years ago.

Conor McGregor: Charges dropped after phone smashing incident BBC Sport - Florida prosecutors have dropped all charges against UFC star Conor McGregor after he was arrested for allegedly smashing a fan’s phone.

The Irish fighter had been charged with strongarmed robbery and misdemeanour criminal mischief.

But on Monday state prosecutors said the alleged victim had gone abroad and stopped cooperating with police.

The incident took place on 11 March as McGregor, 30, left the Fontainebleau Miami Beach hotel.

According to a police report filed at the time, the fan was trying to take pictures when the fighter knocked it out of his hand, before stamping on it, picking it up and leaving with it.

The phone was valued at $1,000 (£760).

“The victim of the crime does not wish to return to the United States and prosecute this case,” Prosecutor Khalil Madani told the Miami court yesterday.

McGregor had already settled a civil lawsuit with the victim out of court.

Video of the incident captured by CCTV cameras appears to show the fighter getting into an

The former two-weight UFC champion was arrested in Florida in March. (Getty Images) altercation outside the luxury hotel.

The former two-weight champion had been in Florida preparing for his UFC comeback after losing his last fight to Khabib Nurmagomedov of Russia in 2018.

That came a year after McGregor lost a boxing match, thought to be the most lucrative in history, to multiple world champion Floyd Mayweather.

American Mayweather earned a reported $100m (£76m) from the bout, with McGregor thought to have pocketed $30m.

Last year, McGregor was ordered by a court to have anger management training and perform five days of community service in return for the dropping of criminal charges for attacking a bus containing rival UFC fighters.

Tuesday May 14, 2019

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Kaieteur News

Bounty – Quicker Picker upper – Outdoor Hockey League

Saints on top in both men’s and women’s division

Speedsters Charlia Webb (right) of Saints and Sarah Klautky of Bingo Spartans race for possession.

Saints Hockey Club (SHC) finished the first half of the Bounty Paper Towel sponsored Outdoor Hockey League as the leaders in both the male and female divisions.

In the men’s SHC Savages finished top with 14 points from their six matches played, while on the women side, ‘Saints’, have a perfect record from their three games played.

Head coach of the side club, Robert Fernandes, is elated with the team’s

performance and he explained that the factors surrounding their top performances, “The team has been working hard for a while, what is happening is that the youngsters are becoming very mature and they are getting more experience which is allowing them to make better decisions on the field while their technical skills are improving, all of which are translating to more consistent performances.”

He further noted that his side is young and they can only get better, “The majority of our team are under-20, they are improving incrementally.

The youngsters are working hard and as coach it is really pleasing to see them improve at such a rapid rate.”

Having finished the first half strong, it is time for another aspect of training Fernandes revealed, “The focus will now shift immediately to indoor

Saints and national men’s Coach, Robert Fernandes, gives instructions to Midfielder Kareem Mackenzie. because of the two month break for the May-June rainy season. Also, slotted between this outdoor season, there is the Goals Galore indoor tournament which is set for the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.”

The former national player explained that he was most pleased with the ladies, “As a coach that is most satisfying because Saints only started a women’s team, two years ago.

In that two year period, they

have made me and themselves proud. This is the biggest bright spot for Saints club, being more consistent against the more experienced teams.”

Charlia Webb has been one of the standout players for Saints both in the second and under-20 division, she shared with Kaieteur Sport that her intensive training with her club and the national squad are bringing results, “Going to Canada was a great

experience. I learnt much on that tour and I am taking that experience and sharing the knowledge with my teammates. I have a great coach, great team and supportive parents, and I believe once Saints continue to train consistently, we can win the tournament.”

The Bounty Paper Towel Second Division Outdoor Development Hockey League will resume, late July. (Calvin Chapman)

McCollum helps Trail Blazers win series over Nuggets CJ McCollum scored 37 points, including a fadeaway jumper with 11.4 seconds left, and the Portland Trail Blazers rallied to beat the host Denver Nuggets 100-96 in Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals on Sunday.

Damian Lillard was held to 13 points on 3-of-17 shooting and added 10 rebounds and eight assists. The Trail Blazers overcame a 17-point first-half deficit to advance to the West finals for the first time since 2000.

Game 1 against Golden State is Tuesday in Oakland, Calif.

McCollum added nine rebounds and Enes Kanter had 12 points and 13 rebounds.

“This is arguably the biggest win we’ve had in the franchise in a long time,” Portland coach Terry Stotts said. “To be a part of it and the way we did, I’m thrilled for our guys tonight.

McCollum made 17 of 29 shots from the field, none bigger than his late jumper, as he came up big when the stakes were high.

“I got enough motivation,” McCollum said in a postgame television interview. “I got out

Portland Trail Blazers guard CJ McCollum (3) shoots over Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) and guard Gary Harris (14) in the fourth quarter in the second round of the 2019 NBA Playoffs at Pepsi Center. (Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports) of the mud. I went to Lehigh University. Nobody has ever been drafted from there before.”

Nikola Jokic had 29 points and 13 rebounds and Jamal Murray scored 17 for the

Nuggets.

Denver coach Michael Malone said Jokic blamed himself for the collapse.

“I hope after 14 playoff games, America, everyone

around the world come to appreciate his game,” Malone said. “For him to be as emotional and upset as he was speaks to his caring. He was upset because he thinks he didn’t do enough

for us to win tonight.”

Denver, which led for most of the game, went without a field goal for 5:33 in the fourth quarter until Gary Harris hit a layup and Jokic followed with a floater to make it 94-93 with 1:43 left. McCollum’s jumper in the final 12 seconds made it 98-95.

Jokic was fouled and split two free throws and Portland’s Evan Turner hit two with eight seconds left to seal it.

Blazers swingman Rodney Hood, who scored 25 in Game 6, left in the third quarter with a left knee hyperextension and did not return. He had just six points.

Portland, which missed 18 of its 19 3-pointers in the first three quarters, hit two early in the fourth. Zach Collins drained one from the wing to put the Blazers ahead by two and Lillard hit another off of an offensive rebound to give Portland an 81-76 lead with 8:53 left.

The Blazers led 87-83 when Murray went up for a fast-break layup but McCollum blocked it.

Turner hit two free throws to

make it 89-83 with 4:26 left.

Paul Millsap hit two free throws with 3:47 left to cut it to four and Denver had a chance to get it to two, but Lillard stole an outlet pass and drained a 3pointer to make it 92-85 with 3:09 left.

Portland trailed by nine at intermission but took its first lead at 71-70 on McCollum’s jumper with 12.1 seconds left in the third.

Monte Morris hit two free throws with 3.8 seconds left to give Denver a 72-71 lead heading into the fourth.

The Nuggets were the No. 2 seed in the West after a 54win regular season. They made it past the first round of the playoffs for the first time since 2008-09.

“Tonight is the end of our season but I’m not going to allow a Game 7 loss to take away from a magical year,” Malone said. “I couldn’t ask for more from our guys. The future is so bright. I love the moment, I love where we’re at but more importantly I love where we’re going and who we’re going there with.”

(Field Level Media)

PAGE 28

Tuesday May 14, 2019

Kaieteur News

Batting, fielding hurt Windies in five-wicket defeat DUBLIN, Ireland, CMC – West Indies suffered their second defeat to Bangladesh in the Tri-Nations Series here yesterday, going down by five wickets after faltering at the back end of their innings and failing to muster a competitive total at The Village.

Vice-captain Shai Hope extended his sublime run of form with a top score of 87 off 108 deliveries while his captain Jason Holder stroked a solid 62 off 76 balls, but the Caribbean side’s total of 247 for nine off 50 overs was always insufficient especially in excellent conditions on Ireland’s east coast.

Wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim (63) and opener Soumya Sarkar (54) then both carved out handsome halfcenturies as Bangladesh strolled to their target with nearly three overs left.

Mohammad Mithun blasted 43, Mahmudullah struck an unbeaten 30 and veteran Shakib-al-Hasan chipped in with 29, innings which ensured Bangladesh remained unbeaten in the tournament and clinched their spot in Friday’s final against the Windies.

Off-spinner Ashley Nurse grabbed three for 53 from his 10 overs but West Indies produced yet another ordinary effort in the field highlighted by three dropped catches and a muffed run-out opportunity with Mithun stranded mid-pitch.

West Indies have now lost six of their last eight ODIs to Bangladesh over the last 12 months.

Choosing to bat first, West Indies seemed well poised for a much larger score at 198 for four in the 42nd over but lost five wickets for 37

Soumya Sarkar plays off the back foot AFP runs to lose their way badly.

Sunil Ambris, coming off a maiden ODI hundred against Ireland at the weekend, once again looked in good touch with four fours in breezy 19-ball 23, as he put on 37 for the first wicket with Hope.

However, once he guided a wide ball from pacer Mashrafe Mortaza (3-60) to Soumya Sarkar at a wide slip in the sixth over, West Indies lost four wickets for 62 runs to decline to 99 for four in the 24th over.

Left-hander Darren Bravo extended his miserable run when he played down the wrong line and was lbw to offspinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz for six in the 11th over, leaving him with 33 runs from four innings in the tournament.

Roston Chase (19) added 33 for the third wicket with Hope before clipping seamer

Mustafizur Rahman (4-43) to Mahmudullah at mid-wicket in the 20th over, and lefthander Jonathan Carter (3) lasted just 14 balls before being trapped on the crease

by Mustafizur and adjudged lbw.

Hope and Holder then came to their side’s rescue, posting exactly 100 for the fifth wicket, as West Indies staged a recovery.

The right-handed Hope, already with two hundreds in the tournament, struck six fours and a six while Holder counted three fours and a six in a fluent innings.

The stand was broken in the 42nd over when Hope under-edged a pull at Mashrafe and was caught at the wicket and Holder followed in the bowler’s next over, also caught at the wicket cutting.

Not surprisingly, the runs

dried up and the Windies could only scrape only scrape 40 runs from the last 10 overs.

In reply, Bangladesh batted well in partnerships to see off the Windies’ tame challenge. Soumya, dropped on 52 in the 19th over off Nurse, put on 54 for the first wicket with Tamim Iqbal who made 21, before adding a further 52 for the second wicket with Shakib.

Left-hander Shakib and Soumya perished in the 21st over to Nurse leaving Bangladesh stumbling on 107 for three but Mushfiqur arrived to anchor two successive half-century stands to negate any idea of a Windies comeback.

First, he posted 83 for the fourth wicket with Mithun who lived a charmed life with chances on eight and 22, as he belted two fours and sixes in an up tempo 53-ball knock.

When he missed a drive and was bowled by Holder in the 37th over, Mushfiqur put on a match-winning 50 for the fifth wicket with Mahmudullah who struck a four and a six in a 34-ball knock after being dropped on 10 off Holder in the 39th over.

Mushfiqur faced 73 balls and counted five fours and a six and appeared t o b e taking Bangladesh over the line when he scooped seamer Kemar Roach to Bravo at fine leg in the 47th over, with just eight runs needed for victory.

Raptors advance past 76ers on Leonard’s wild shot Kawhi Leonard hit a buzzer-beating jump shot that bounced up and around the rim before finally dropping through the net, and the Toronto Raptors defeated the visiting Philadelphia 76ers 92-90 on Sunday night in the seventh and deciding game of their Eastern Conference semifinal.

“It was short, then it was long, then it was in,” Toronto’s Marc Gasol said of the shot.

“It was like a movie moment,” added Fred VanVleet.

Leonard finished with 41 points and eight rebounds, and the winning shot came after Jimmy Butler tied the game on a layup with 4.2 seconds remaining.

Teammates swarmed Leonard along the baseline after his fall-away shot from the right corner. He let out a scream as fans danced in the stands.

“Pretty much I’m a guy that acts like I’ve been there before. So probably the last time you’ve seen me scream was when we won (the NBA title with San Antonio in 2014),” Leonard said.

“Whenever it’s a moment that I haven’t really experienced, I’ll try to show some emotion and let it come out. Tonight was one of those nights. It was a great feeling.”

Toronto advanced to face the Milwaukee Bucks in the conference final. The Raptors are seeking their first NBA Finals appearance in franchise history.

“That was just a great shot,” Toronto’s Pascal Siakam said of the gamewinner. “I don’t know what to say. Watching it, it was amazing. It looked good and then it hit the rim. ... Shoutout to Philly. They played a great series.”

The 76ers’ Joel Embiid was emotional after the loss.

“I felt like we had a chance,” he said. “A lot of things go through your mind and it just sucks.”

Leonard hit a 24-foot jumper with 1:42 to play to give Toronto an 87-85 lead.

The Raptors led by four with 1:14 to play on a steal by Kyle Lowry, who set up Siakam for the layup.

Butler made 1 of 2 free throws, cutting the lead to (Continued on page 25)

Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard (middle) is congratulated after making the game winning basket against Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) during game seven of the second round of the 2019 NBA Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. (John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports)

Tuesday May 14, 2019

PAGE 29

Kaieteur News

Hand-in-Hand 50-over U-19 Inter County Cricket

B’ce beat E’bo in fantastic atmosphere - Inter-County cricket returns to Albion for first time in 11 years

Mahesh Ramnarine cover drives Nigel Deodat for four at Albion yesterday.

By Sean Devers at Albion Inter-County cricket returned to Albion for the first time since 2006 and on a day blessed with glorious sunshine, defending Champions Berbice beat Essequibo by six wickets in the opening round of the Hand-in-Hand 50 overs U-19 Inter-County cricket tournament yesterday.

Essequibo elected to bat on flat track and slightly slow outfield caused by early morning rain and fell for 123 from 42.7 overs as only the consistent Orlando Jailall, who top scored with 37 from 73 balls with two fours, passed 20. Amir Singh, who retired hurt on 13 returned to add just three runs, while Mahesh Ramnarine also made 16.

Off-Spinner Junior Sinclair 2-16 and left arm Nigel

Deodat 2-22 bowled well for Berbice who reached 124-4 in 24.5 overs with Sinclair making 58 from 74 balls with four fours and two sixes, while Skipper Kevlon Anderson scored 28 with four boundaries from 35 balls.

The atmosphere was absolutely fantastic as the contest was watched by the largest crowd which included Windies Test players Devendra Bishoo and Shimron Hetymer over a decade for a match at this level.

In the agricultural setting with Coconut three swaying in the breeze, Essequibo slipped to 14-1 when Kevin Christian (6) was bowled by Anderson before Jerimiah Scott (10) was bowled by Gevon Shultz at 27-2.

The left-handed Jailall

was joined by Amir Singh and together saw the 50 posted but with the score on 56-2, Singh was forced to retire hurt suffering from cramps.

Jailall was just beginning to look set for a big score when he was run out at 80-3 to bring Singh back to the crease.

Azim Mohammed (6) was trapped LBW to Sinclair at 824 before Singh was bowled by Seon Glasgow seven runs later as the lads from Guyana’s largest County slipped 89-5.

Deodat removed Lance Roberts (4) at 91-6 and Elian Whyte (1) eight runs later and nobody else offered resistance. When the home team began their run chase at a venue which hosted five ODIs including the first one to be played in the West Indies in 1978, they lost Alex

Windies Test players Shimron Hetymer and Devendra Bishoo were a part of the biggest inter County crowd in over a decade.

Orlando Jailall on drives during his 37 at Albion.

Algoo (7) at 8-1.

The National U-19 opener seemed very unlucky to be given out caught behind but then stood his ground for a while protesting the Umpires’ decision.

The left handed Glasgow was then bowled by Whyte for a duck at 20-2 and by Lunch, Sinclair and Anderson had taken the score to 35-2

from just six overs.

After the break Anderson, who was willing to use his feet to bowlers and executed an array of stylish shots, was removed by Ramnarine at 923 before Sinclair reached his half-century from 64 balls with five boundaries including a couple of sixes.

Sinclair was dominant, especially against the quicker

bowlers and his extra-cover drives were imperious.

But with victory just 11 runs away Sinclair was dismissed by off-spinner Amit Persaud before Garfield Benjamin (17) and Carl Gilgeous (1) saw the Berbice team to an emphatic win.

The next round is scheduled for tomorrow with two matches from 10:00hrs.

Reifer impressed by players’ mental toughness DUBLIN, Ireland, CMC – West Indies head coach Floyd Reifer has said he is encouraged by the mental toughness shown by the players, especially the batsmen, in the ongoing TriNations Series against home side Ireland and Bangladesh.

The West Indies have won two of their three matches played so far and have virtually assured themselves a place in the final. Reifer said he was especially pleased by the Windies’ approach in chasing down an ODI record 328 against Ireland in their last match.

He said the coaching staff had worked hard during practice sessions getting the players’ mindset ready to play cricket. “I am very happy with the results so far, the mental approach of the players have been excellent, I thought the players adapted very well to the conditions. The conditions are

not what we are accustomed to so I thought the players adapted very well,” Reifer said.

“The way that we played the first three games; the two games that we won against Ireland I thought the approach was very good.

Chasing 329 runs the mindset was very positive…and I thought the batting unit did a very good job there. It’s a young team and most of the guys have not played a lot of ODI cricket so it’s good to see the approach to the batting has been clinical.”

Reifer was also full of praise for Sunil Ambris, who scored his maiden century in that winning performance.

He said Ambris was originally slated to bat at number seven, but volunteered to open the innings after John Campbell was unable to play due to a sore back.

“Firstly we have to

commend Sunil [Ambris] for raising his hand and taking the opportunity at the top of the order. His first game you could tell he was a little nervous [but] we had a couple meetings after that and we watched some footage together and pointed out a few areas he could improve on.

“I thought he played a magnificent innings. It was well thought out and he paced the innings and I don’t think he played a false shot,” Reifer said.

He said the innings would go a long way in building Ambris’ confidence and would also benefit the West Indies in the long run.

“We have players who are not in the World Cup team who are still putting in performances like this and this is what we want to see,” he said.

PAGE 30

Tuesday May 14, 2019

Kaieteur News

History cemented as FIFA Forward Project Pitch National Training Center officially commissioned Witnessed by a bevy of Presidents, Secretaries and other administrators from the Caribbean Football Union along with FIFA Director of Member Associations and Development – Mr. Veron Mosgengo-Omba, among other dignitaries, the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) yesterday commissioned its FIFA Forward Project Pitch National Training Center at Providence, East Bank Demerara.

Director of Sport Christopher Jones standing in for Honorable Minister of Social Cohesion Dr. George Norton (unavoidably absent), President of the GFF – Wayne Forde and his Executive members all savored the historical moment which cemented the federations ownership of its first football pitch.

The benefit of the facility which is nestled on 8.5 acres of land at Providence, East Bank Demerara has already been felt by the football fraternity in Guyana from national to club teams.

President Wayne Forde in his remarks told the esteemed gathering that the occasion underscores the symbolic significance of the GFF successfully completing its first FIFA Forward infrastructure all-weather football turf.

“To many we are finally delivering on a promise that was made almost three decades ago, to some it is simply a proud achievement for the local football family and for others it is an appropriate reminder of the limitless potential a stable and unified football family can foster.”

Forde noted that trough the FIFA Forward Programme, Forde noted that the federation have had both the opportunity and privilege to render itself to the unfinished work of administrators who would have served before.

“It is therefore with a deep sense of gratitude that I stand here today to acknowledge our collective indebtednesses to those who have served tirelessly and contributed to the success we are now celebrating today.

The unavailability of good quality football facilities across our county continues to strangle the progress of the game. Football cannot fully develop without proper playing surfaces, changing rooms, lit fields.”

Forde further shared that his executive has set itself an ambitious target to construct one artificial field in each of its nine (9) Member Associations over the next five (5) years. He stressed that this task should not be left to the GFF and FIFA alone; the government and corporate Guyana must also play their roles.“As we continue to advance this project in the coming months and years, may we embrace each challenge with a sense of duty and service to the beautiful game; It pleases me therefore to dedicate the GFF national training center to the dreams and aspirations of every boy and girl who will go on to represent the republic of Guyana with distinction in the future.”

President Forde expressed profound gratitude to FIFA President Gianni Infantino and the FIFA

Director of Sport Christopher Jones (right) and FIFA Director of Member Associations and Development – Mr. Veron Mosgengo-Omba unveils the plaque to commemorate the occasion.

Development Team for their unwavering support and commitment to the work of the GFF. Mr. Mosgengo-Omba in his remarks stated that the vision of the FIFA President is to invest massively in the game in order to increase the total participation in football by players, coaches and referees. “The inauguration of this facility in Guyana is in line with this vision. The FIFA President recognizes the challenges of Caribbean football. FIFA is proud of the progress that is being made by the GFF under the leadership of its president,

Wayne Forde.”

He also stated that FIFA is looking forward to strengthening its relationship with the Government of Guyana whilst also expressing thanks to the Government for its committed support to the GFF by providing the land to build the facility.

Director of Sport Christopher Jones first expressed the excitement of the Government of Guyana in being able to share in the historic moment of the facility being commissioned.

“And of course we would want to share in the vision of

President Wayne Forde of having nine such facilities established amongst its members. It is not by accident that just recently the government of Guyana would have signed an MOU with the GFF to see the realization of this vision. We are hopeful and very excited that perhaps in a few months from now we would be seated around the Durban Park area where we will facilitate another such facility.”

Jones outlined that his government is cognizant of the importance of sports development where young people throughout the length

and breadth of the land would have an opportunity to exercise, participate and build their capacities.

“Where it’s necessary and where land needs to be made available to them {GFF}, we want you to rest assure that such would be done.

Once again, I want to congratulate President Wayne Forde and his executive, I want to thank FIFA for its commitment demonstrated here today. I would want to say to Mr. Wayne Forde, that with the FIFA Forward Project, it can only be forward ever, backwards, never.”

Russian anti-doping chief calls for dismissal of athletics federation head MOSCOW (Reuters) Russia’s anti-doping chief has called for the dismissal of the head of the country’s suspended athletics federation as part of a proposal to ensure all Russian athletes can compete at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, a letter seen by Reuters yesterday showed.

In the five-page letter

addressed to Russian Olympic Committee President Stanislav P o z d n y a k o v, R U S A D A D i r e c t o r Yu r i G a n u s proposed the dismissal of t h e f e d e r a t i o n ’s s e n i o r officials, including its President Dmitry Shlyakhtin, and all national team athletics coaches, among several other measures.

“Given that there is critically little time left until the start of the 2020 Olympics, and there is much to do in coordination with (global athletics governing body) IAAF, work towards the transformation of the federation requires an immediate resolution,” Ganus wrote.

RUSADA and Russia’s athletics federation were suspended after a 2015 report commissioned by t h e Wo r l d A n t i - D o p i n g

Agency (WADA) found evidence of statesponsored doping in Russian athletics.

RUSADA was reinstated last year by WADA, angering a string of sports bodies and athletes around the world.

Ganus also called for the creation of an international work group in which Russian and foreign experts would help bring the federation back into the International Association of Athletics Federation’s fold.

He also called for the dismissal of officials at sports schools and other training centres tied to the doping scandal, as well as officials who have served doping bans.

“The Russian athletics

federation needs real change,” Ganus wrote. “We have to stop deceiving not only all those around us, but ourselves first and foremost.”

Russia’s athletics federation did not immediately reply to a request for comment, while Shlyakhtin could not be reached for comment.

The IAAF is set to review Russia’s status at its council meeting next month.

Despite the athletics federation being banned, some Russians - including twice world champion high jumper Maria Lasitskene — have been cleared to compete internationally after demonstrating they are training in a doping-

free environment.

Russia was banned by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) from last year’s Pyeongchang Winter Games as punishment for alleged state-sponsored doping at the 2014 Sochi Olympics.

H o w e v e r, some Russian athletes with no history of doping were cleared to compete as neutrals.

The IOC chose not to ban all Russian athletes from the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics after a WA D A - c o m m i s s i o n e d report by Canadian lawyer Richard McLaren revealed a state-backed doping programme across many sports.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday May 14, 2019

PAGE 33

Demerara overcome Select U-17 by seven wickets at Everest CC

By Zaheer Mohamed

D

e m e r a r a defeated the Select U17 team by seven wickets when the Hand-in-Hand Inter County U19 50-over tournament commenced yesterday.

The Select U17 opted to bat on a slow pitch and were bowled out for 117 in 45.5 overs at the Everest Cricket Club.

The heavy outfield restricted free scoring opportunities and the U17 side found runs hard to come by against some decent bowling, led by Ashmead Nedd who sent down 9.5 overs and picked up 2-10.

Openers Matthew Nandu and Rampertab Ramnauth added 34 for the opening stand before Nandu was caught off spinner Pradesh Balkishun for five.

Ramnauth followed without addition to the score, bowled by Sachin

Robin Williams picks up runs through the off-side.

Sachin Singh accepts his man-of-the-match prize from Hand-in-Hand representative Ganesh Singh.

Singh for 19 which included two fours.

Zeynul Ramsammy and Mavindra Dindyal put on 19 for the third wicket before they both fell with the score on 53; Ramsammy was bowled by Daniel Mootoo for 13, while Zachary Jodah removed Dindyal for six.

Andre Seepersaud and Sarwan Chaitnarine

consolidated in a fifthwicket stand of 38, but following their separation, the innings went downhill as wickets fell at regular intervals. Seepersaud was run out for 30 which included four fours, while Chaitnarine was caught off Qumar Torrington for eight.

To r r i n g t o n , S i n g h , Balkishun, Jodah and

Mootoo had one wicket each.

Demerara started off slowly, but openers Robin Williams and Sachin Singh gathered momentum as the innings progressed adding 72 in 21 overs before Singh attempted to loft Ajay Gainda over the ropes and was taken by Nandu at longoff for 31 which contained

one four and one six.

Williams followed eight runs later, lbw to Seepersaud for 31.

Adrian Hinds looked positive as he struck two fours and one six, but was needlessly run out for 22; his partner Yeudistir Persaud failed to respond for a single after Hinds pushed to point and both of them ended up at

the same end.

However, Persaud and Alphius Bookie saw their team home without further hiccups, with Persaud ending on 14 and Bookie on six; Demerara finished on 118-3 in 35.2 overs. Singh was named man-of-thematch.

The competition continues tomorrow.

Hopetown Flames prepared and Pooran to play for ready for Independence track meet Guyana Amazon Warriors

N

icholas Pooran has been signed by the Guyana Amazon Warriors as their Marquee Player for the 2019 Hero Caribbean Premier League which will take place from 4 September to 12 October.

The Trinidadian wicket-keeper batsman played for the Barbados Tridents last year but in a big move for him and the franchise he will be playing for the Guyanese team in 2019.

Pooran has played 11 T20 Internationals for the West Indies and has become a fixture in T20 tournaments around the world. He is also a member of the West Indies squad for the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup. This will be the third CPL team that

Pooran has represented having started his career with the Trinbago Knight Riders before moving to the Tridents.

The rest of the Amazon Warriors squad will be decided at the Hero CPL Player Draft which takes place on 22 May 2019.

Omar Khan, Team Operations Manager, for the Amazon Warriors, said: “Nicholas is amongst the very best T20 batting talents in the world and we wanted to bring him into our team as we push to go one better than last year where we finished as runners-up. He is explosive and exciting, and we are very pleased to be able to have such an impressive young talent representing the Guyana Amazon Warriors this year.”

Hopetown Flames track club.

Hopetown Flames have their eyes set on the Independence Track and Field Championships set for May 18 and 19 at the National Track and Field Centre, Leonora.

Wi t h a n u m b e r o f phenomenal talents emerging from Berbice, Manager of the club, Keisha Burnett, is optimistic of her athletes doing well on race day.

“We are well prepared and looking forward for the Independence meet, I expect my athletes to perform well because they have been doing great from the start of the year,” Burnett noted.

With Guyana becoming a

dominant force in athletics in the region at the youth and junior level, Burnett shared the view that track meets aid in development of athletes.

“Our athletes are preparing for future meets so the more they compete the better for them and I believe (Continued on page 25)

Matthew Gordon (leading the pack) will be in action at the Independence track meet on this Saturday.

Nicholas Pooran latches on to a short ball, Kings XI Punjab v Chennai Super Kings, IPL 2019, Mohali, May 5, 2019 © BCCI

t r o Sp Hand-in-Hand 50-over U-19 Inter County Cricket

B’ce beat E’bo in fantastic atmosphere

Batting, fielding hurt Windies in five-wicket defeat

- Inter-County cricket returns to Albion for first time in 11 years

Jason Holder (right) and Shai Hope both struck half-centuries for West Indies.

Junior Sinclair made a match winning 58 for Berbice at Albion yesterday.

Bounty – Quicker Picker upper – Outdoor Hockey League

Saints on top in both men’s and women’s division

History cemented as FIFA Forward Project Pitch National Training Center officially commissioned

This young female footballer cuts the ribbon to officially open the GFF/FIFA Forward Project Pitch National Training Center at Providence, East Bank Demerara in the presence of dignitaries from the World body and the Caribbean Football Union.

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