Kaieteur News

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Teacher accused NEWS of having sex with female student, 14

Saturday Edition

AIETEUR

May 18, 2019 - Vol. 13 No. 19

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Contract to complete Guyana's local content policy was never advertised - Gaskin Kaieteur News corrects erroneous statements by Energy Dept.

Trio charged for trading counterfeit US currency Yuimeeni Lopez

Reaction to Ministers' govt.-funded trip to CCJ petty - Gaskin

Simone Thompson

Dexter Thompson

Mother of six stabbed to death by husband

Gunmen brutalise, Superbet being shoot at, rob Black Bush forced out of rice farmer and family - Attorney - hold teen daughter hostage until they escape Guyana Nandlall p.

7

Kaieteur News

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Saturday May 18, 2019

Trio charged for trading counterfeit US currency

A

man, his mother and his fiancĂŠe were yesterday slapped with 10 counts of fraud charges in total after the police smashed what they believe is a US currency counterfeit ring.

The trio, Dexter Thompson, 29, his fiancĂŠe Yuimeeni Lopez, 26, both of Parfait Harmonie, and Simone Thompson, 40, of Tucville, Georgetown, appeared before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly in the Georgetown Magistrates'

Courts.

All of the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

In the case of Dexter Thompson, it was alleged that on January 23, last, at Quail Optical, Lot 289 Thomas Street, Georgetown, with intent to defraud, he uttered to Clement Cumberbatch US$1,800 knowing same to be forged.

It was also alleged that on May 14, last, at East Street N o r t h C u m m i n g s b u rg , Georgetown, with intent to

defraud, he uttered to R o o k m i n D e l To r o US$2,500 knowing same to be forged.

For Simone Thompson, the first charge alleged that on April 21, 2019, at Plaisance East Coast Demerara (ECD), with intent to defraud, she uttered to Zaheed Harrinarine US$300 knowing same to be forged.

It was alleged that on March 25, 2019, at Campbellville, Georgetown, with intent to defraud, she

uttered to Raveena Rajnauth US$850 knowing same to be forged. It was further alleged that on March 26, last, at D e l p h Av e n u e , Campbellville, with intent to defraud, she uttered to Ravendra Rajnauth US$2,100 knowing same to be forged.

The last two charges alleged that on April 28, last, at 11 17-17 Princes Street, Wortmanville, Georgetown, with intent to defraud, she uttered to Wanita Atkins and Mondale Smith, US$600 in

Yuimeeni Lopez

Simone Thompson

Dexter Thompson total, knowing same to be forged.

In relation to Yuimeeni Lopez, it was alleged that on May 15, 2019 at Georgetown, she was found to be in possession of 44 forged US$50 bills.

The next charge alleged that on May 14, last, at East S t r e e t , N o r t h C u m m i n g s b u rg , Georgetown, with intent to defraud, she uttered to R o o k m i n D e l To r o US$2,500 knowing same to be forged.

Finally, it was alleged that on January 23, last, at Quail Optical, Lot 289 Thomas Street, Georgetown, with intent to defraud, she uttered to Clement Cumberbatch US$1,800 knowing same to be forged.

The trio was represented by attorneys Darren Wade and Stanley Moore.

According to attorney Wade, the defendants have been in cooperation with the police since they were arrested.

He asked that reasonable bail be granted to his clients as they are not flight risks

and will return to court for their trials.

Police prosecutor Sanj Singh had no objection to bail for two of the defendants, Dexter and Simone Thompson, but asked that conditions be attached. However, for Lopez, he objected to bail, because she has no ties to the country and at the time of the hearing, the police was uncertain as to her legal status in the country.

Attorney Wade then mentioned that Venezuelans who enter Guyana because of the crisis in their country are usually issued a permit by the government which can be presented to the court.

Bail of $100,000 for each of his charges was granted to Dexter Thompson, while Simone Thompson was granted bail of $50,000 on each her charges. On the other hand, bail was left pending for Lopez until her permit could be presented to the court.

The matter was adjourned until June 14, 2019, however Lopez well return to court next Tuesday when her status in Guyana will be clarified. The other two defendants were instructed to report to the Criminal Investigation Department every Monday until the completion of their matter.

Kaieteur News

Saturday May 18, 2019

PAGE 03

Contract to complete Guyana's Local Content Policy was not advertised - Gaskin

By Kiana Wilburg

T

he contract to c o m p l e t e Guyana's Local Content Policy was never advertised. Only three persons were part of the restrictive tendering process that was used. Local Content Expert, Dr. Michael Warner who is also on ExxonMobil's payroll, was among the lucky three. He was awarded the $22M contract in February last.

Kaieteur News has been asking several questions regarding the tendering process, but it was only yesterday that answers were

given. At a press conference held by the Alliance For Change (AFC), Director of Manufacturing and Marketing, Dominic Gaskin, commented on the matter.

Gaskin would have knowledge about the issue to some extent, since his previous job as Business Minister saw him taking a leading role in ensuring the policy was completed.

“I think it was selective tendering. I believe it was three consultants [who] were invited to submit proposals.

If I recall, also, there was also some urgency on the part of the public, the political opposition, and even Kaieteur News: 'No local

content policy as yet! No local content policy as yet!'

So, you know, it could have gone out to public tender.

(But) who knows how long that might have taken? So I think [it's] the smart thing to do...,” Gaskin asserted Be that as it may, Guyana's procurement law is clear-cut about the conditions under which a procuring entity should use “restricted tendering.”

According to Section 26 of the Act, a procuring entity may engage in restricted tendering if, “the goods, construction or services by reason of their highly complex or specialized nature, are available only

Kaieteur News corrects erroneous statements by Energy Dept.

Last evening, the Energy Department sent out a statement to the media which was in response to our Friday article titled, “Sole Sourced or Open Tender? Questions surface over contract awarded to ExxonMobil's employee.”

Apart from the contradictions in the Department's release, there are two statements which Kaieteur News finds to be absolutely erroneous. See the facts below.

ENERGY DEPT. SAYS

THE FACTS

The Department says it rejects the statement that Local Content Expert, Dr. Michael Warner, who won the $22M contract to complete Guyana's Local Content Policy, is an Exxon employee.

In its original story, Kaieteur News explicitly stated that Dr. Warner is an employee of DAI, the contractor engaged

by ExxonMobil to manage the Local Content Centre for Development.

More importantly, Dr. Warner even told this newspaper in an interview last year that he was brought here by DAI and ExxonMobil to ensure that the company's interests and views are considered in the drafting of the Local Content Policy.

The Energy Director, Dr. Mark Bynoe said he is perturbed by the Kaieteur News article as the paper had posed the questions raised in the article at the Department of Energy's press conference hosted on May 3, 2019 and he believed that he had addressed it then.

The Department noted that at that event, Kaieteur News Journalist, Ms. Kiana Wilburg asked: “There have been some concerns about the fact that an ExxonMobil specialist, Michael Warner is the one leading the review of the document (the Local Content Policy). Could you say whether the Energy Department is concerned about this in terms of ensuring that the provisions are in keeping with the best interest of the country?”

Kaieteur News rejects this as an utterly erroneous statement.

Indeed the question asked by its journalist at the May 3 press conference was, “There have been some concerns about the fact that an ExxonMobil specialist, Michael Warner is the one leading the review of the document. Could you say whether the Energy Department is concerned about this in terms of ensuring that the provisions are in keeping with the best interest of the country?”

But the same was not asked of Director General of the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon on Thursday. Kaieteur News reported on this in the article in question and additional questions were asked. It must be noted that all of the questions posed to Harmon, as well as those added in the subsequent article all speak to the procurement process used for the contract.

The questions asked were in relation to if Dr. Warner was sole-sourced for the project. If he was not, and there was an open tender, who were the other individuals who sent in applications.

from a limited number of suppliers or contractors.”

Even in such cases, the law makes it clear that not three or four, but all suppliers who can provide the said service or product must be invited to submit a tender.

Kaieteur News has been able to confirm that all the individuals who can supply the service for Guyana, or did so before, were not invited by the Energy Department to submit a tender for this contract.

HARMON PASSES THE BUCK At a post-Cabinet press briefing that was held on Thursday, Kaieteur News posed several questions to Director General of the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon, on the procurement procedures used for the $22M contract that was awarded in February to Dr. Warner.

Harmon was asked to say if Dr. Warner was solesourced for the project, since the Ministry of the Presidency's website bore no such information about the contract nor does the Procurement Plan for the Wo r l d B a n k - f u n d e d capacity development programme, which is managed by the Department of Energy. If he was not solesourced, and there was an open tender, the Director General was called on to say who were the other individuals who sent in applications.

But Harmon was quick to pass the buck to Energy Department Head, Dr. Mark Bynoe. Harmon had said, “These are matters that are dealt with by the Department of Energy and I cannot comment on the intricacies of whether it went

Director of Manufacturing and Marketing, Dominic Gaskin Director General of the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon

Local Content Expert Energy Department affiliated with ExxonMobil, Dr. Michael Warner Head, Dr. Mark Bynoe to tender, was sole-sourced or was based on specific qualifications of that person…I can't give you a precise answer, but the processes which are engaged by the Department of Energy are transparent.”

Asked to say if he can assure that answers can be provided for the questions later that day or before the end of the week, the Director-General said he could not. Harmon said that he would pass on the questions to Dr. Bynoe. This newspaper tried several

times to contact Dr. Bynoe for a response on this matter on Thursday but all efforts proved futile.

BYNOE FINALLY RESPONDS Instead of facing Kaieteur News and answering its questions on the contract, the Ministry of the Presidency released a video recording of Dr. Bynoe responding to the article that was carried by this newspaper on the matter.

Dr. Bynoe said that there (continued on page 20)

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Saturday May 18, 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

What’s Missing in Trump’s ‘Beautiful, Bold’ Immigration Plan (Excerpt from a NY Times Editorial) In a Rose Garden address, President Trump on Thursday unveiled his plan “to create a fair, modern and lawful system of immigration for the United States.”

“This is the big, beautiful, bold plan,” Mr. Trump said — one that would not only establish “the most complete and effective border security package ever assembled,” but also effect a “sweeping modernization of our dysfunctional legal immigration process.” These are, to be sure, worthy goals. Unfortunately, what Mr. Trump rolled out was less a transformative reform proposal than another missed opportunity. Immigration is this president’s signature issue, one defined by entrenched, complex problems that call for serious thought, informed analysis and painful compromise.

Instead, the president has produced a political messaging vehicle — a vision statement around which to unify and rally his party heading into next year’s election. Even on those narrow, dispiriting terms, it’s likely to fall short.

Assembled over the past several months by Jared Kushner, Mr. Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser, this proposal does not address some of the thorniest elements of the immigration debate. Most notably, it avoids the question of what to do about the 1.8 million immigrants brought to the United States illegally as children and protected from deportation under an Obama-era program, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA. No proposal that fails to grapple with this vulnerable population will be taken seriously by Democrats — nor should it be.

The plan also does not address how to bring the roughly 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the United States out of the shadows.

Instead, as the president indicated, Mr. Kushner limited his focus on beefing up border security and reworking the legal immigration system. On border security, the plan sticks with many of the administration’s aims to which Democrats have objected, such as overturning the prohibition on holding child migrants in custody for no more than 20 days, deporting unaccompanied minors back to their home countries, having some asylum-seekers remain in their home countries while their requests are processed and, of course, building the wall.

To help ensure funding for these measures and more, a new “border security trust fund” would be created, financed by fees and other revenue generated at border crossings.

In terms of legal immigration, Mr. Kushner’s plan proposes a “merit-based” system, moving away from the program that gives priority to reunifying families that has been in place since the 1960s. The number of visas granted on humanitarian grounds would be reduced, and the diversity visa lottery would be eliminated altogether.

While family ties would still inform a third of admissions — down from the current two-thirds — the balance would flip overwhelmingly in favor of bringing in highly skilled, high-wage workers. “We discriminate against genius,” Mr. Trump said in his speech. “We won’t anymore.”

Drawing on plans used in Canada, New Zealand andAustralia, Mr. Kushner’s team has devised an elaborate point system to determine eligibility, based on factors like age, academic achievement and employment offers. “To promote integration, assimilation and national unity,” said the president, “future immigrants will be required to learn English and to pass a civics exam prior to admission.” A new type of visa would be created, named the Build America Visa. Shifting legal immigration toward a point system is not an inherently good or bad idea. Congress considered such an approach in 2007 and again in 2013. As with any complex system, the devil is in the details — few of which the administration has yet provided. And any move to sharply prioritize skilled labor over immigrants seeking to reunite with family members or in need of humanitarian aid is certain to prompt a fierce debate over American values.

Even within the plan’s broad contours, there are obvious trouble spots that threaten to divide Mr. Trump’s own party.

Are the Ex-Ministers indispensable or is this an attempt to circumvent the dual citizenship clause?

DEAR EDITOR, I was stunned to see an article in KN on May 15 “Dual citizen ex-Ministers rehired in same ministries.” It is difficult to comprehend the logic use by the president to rehire, not one, but all four of the dual citizens ministers in their respective ministries, from which they had previously resigned. This act of the president does nothing more than make a mockery of our constitution. This is taking political patronage to an unprecedented level at the expense of the state- invoking the disdain of the populace.

Creating four new positions for four persons who had refuse to give service to the Nation without allegiance to a foreign state will not be condoned by the voting public - with impending elections lurking on the horizon. It is a deed mired in

controversy and will not help to inspire faith or support for the Coalition. Why does the President continue to selfdestruct?

During the Second World War, the British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, uttered a phrase - “No man is indispensable”. Since then, that phrase became a yardstick in the hierarchy of leaders around the World.

Granger’s rehiring of the four ex-ministers who had resigned because their dual citizenship was found to be contrary to our constitution, has given the aura of indispensability to his revered quartet. It exposes the less than mediocre qualities of the president relative to the Winston Churchill standard - “No man is indispensable!” The fact that these ex-ministers had an option to remain ministers by

simply relinquishing their foreign citizenship as a show of patriotism, required by our constitution, and did not do so, makes Granger look more lacking in relevance as a president, for rehiring them.

Instead of renouncing their foreign citizenship to show that they have Guyana at heart, these ex- ministers choose to leave an escape route (dual citizenship) from Guyana wide open. It is clearly an indication of their love and respect for their feathered beds in foreign lands. These ex- ministers’ choice of resignation over renouncing has brought into public focus their unpatriotic sentiment. In short, they have chosen their foreign allegiance over service to homeland. In this regard, the President’s act of rehiring these people on the pretext that they are indispensable or anything

else seems profane. It questions his loyalty to uphold and protect the constitution and puts him on par with the quartet. Is the rehiring of these ex- ministers in their respective ministries an attempt to circumvent the constitutional clause on dual citizenship? Whatever the motive, it is an insult to the intelligence of the Guyanese public and a seemingly intended relegation of power of the newly elected ministers. How do the newly elected ex-ministers function in the face of whom they had replace when all that separate the ex- ministers from reclaiming their place is their dual citizenship? This is definitely conflict of interest.

This rehiring act of the President has tarnished the image of the President in an irretrievable way.

Rudolph Singh

APNU+AFC missing in action, as violence against women escalates into a national crisis DEAR EDITOR, Even as we agonise over the gruesome murder of Zaila Sugrim by her intimate partner this past weekend, news is coming out of Essequibo of another woman cruelly stabbed to death by her husband. None of these incidents is the direct fault of the President or his government. But violence against women (VAW), including intimate partner violence (IPV), has further escalated in Guyana and getting worse every day.

Intimate partner violence and deaths are a genuine national crisis, demanding urgent action by the government.

As early as 2006, I called attention to this matter as a global public health challenge. In 2008, Minister Priya Manickchand made the fight against VAW a priority national programme. Exactly one year ago, I wrote about this national crisis and urged our government to act with a sense of urgency. It is distasteful and completely unacceptable that any of us must still urge our government to lead a vigorous fight against VAW. There are many voices calling for action. But without leadership of our government, we will lose the battle to combat VAW and IPV. The sad truth is that this APNU+AFC government is MIA, missing in action, as VAW in Guyana has become a runaway train, leaving too many lives in tatters.

The death of young Zaila Sugrim this past week is, at the same time, a grim reminder that

we are losing the battle against VAW and an urgent call for action. Zaila Sugrim, a beautiful young woman and a mother of five children, is the newest victim of intimate partner violence (IPV) in Guyana, but too many have already preceded her. If her story does not prick our collective conscience, we are not human.

This week, Zaila’s life of domestic violence came to an end, not because she was able to escape her abuser, even though she desperately tried to, but because she was brutally murdered by her abuser-husband. Zaila was mercilessly beaten, shot in the head, burnt and buried in a shallow grave behind her husband’s business. All of this, while her children were excitedly waiting for her to celebrate one of their birthdays. Now these innocent children have become motherless.

Like many thousands in our country and many millions around the world, Zaila was a victim of the violence against women (VAW) pandemic. About one in three women in the world suffer from violence by their own partners. Dozens of these victims in Guyana will end their lives of terror and misery only by death, just as more than 40,000 women around the world this year. Of the 87,000 women globally murdered, about 40,000 of them are killed by a partner.

Zaila Sugrim is now one of them. So too is Farida Khayum of Essequibo, the newest Guyanese victim, who has left three of the newest orphans in Guyana.

The nation is genuinely

shocked and many of our citizens are demanding action.

There has been no word from the Minister of Public Security. He is too busy thinking about men who frequent places where sex workers hang out, while conspiring to replace Moses Nagamootoo as Prime Minister.

There has been no word from the Minister of Social Protection, under whom women affairs falls.

She is too busy politiking. The Minister of Public Health is similarly silent, also too busy with politics and desperately trying to stop Basil Williams from emerging as a Presidential candidate. The Prime Minister, desperately trying to stop Ramjattan from replacing him, is too concerned about dual citizens to even bother about the senseless killing of a woman. The President, as usual, seems too busy doing nothing to even care.

The truth is that the President and his Government are missing in action, MIA, as VAW continues to escalate and the national crisis heightens.

Not so long ago, a man pumped bullets into the head of his wife in a busy Georgetown street. Less than a month ago, a young man drove his car back and fro over his wife. Now the sad and fatal stories of Zaila Sugrim and Farida Khayum. But such brutal attacks on women by their partners are occurring nearly every week in Guyana.

These stories prick our conscience too often. Each time, we are shocked and our conscience tells us enough is enough. But our country moves on, little action is taken, the government

chooses to be MIA, and we await the next death to prick our conscience a little more.

The problem is our leaders seem to be numb by the frequency and the increasing brutality of these murders, that they treat them as just another unfortunate event in the daily grind of life in Guyana.

I heard today during a TV programme, Ms. Gail Teixeira raising the issue and calling on government to lead the fight against VAW and IPV. Ms. Teixeira who led Guyana’s team to the ICPD in Cairo in 1994 has been relentless in demanding more action against VAW. Ms. Priya Manickchand has been an ardent advocate urging a vigorous national effort to combat VAW. Many women and NGOs have been actively working on their own to stem the tsunami of VAW in Guyana. But our present government continues to behave as if VAW is not a matter for concern. Since 2015, the APNU+AFC Government has been either silent or extremely stingy in acknowledging Guyana has a VAW problem and that IPV is an epidemic in our country.

We are not alone. Both VAW and IPV are pandemics, public health crisis, in every country in the world. But our government cannot excuse itself because VAW happens to be a global problem.

Guyana needs action now and the President must step up to the plate.

Dr. Leslie Ramsammy

Saturday May 18, 2019

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Kaieteur News

We need to take stock to determine where we are DEAR EDITOR, As we approach the 53rd anniversary of our country’s independence, it is necessary that we take stock to determine where we are, how we got here, and where we are headed as a nation.

After 53 years of independence questions such, are we truly independent? Have we ever been truly independent? Will we ever be truly independent as a nation? All these seem quite relevant at this juncture of our country’s historical development.

Guyana wasted 26 of its precious 53 years, as a result of the Burnham dictatorship’s gambling and experimenting with our country’s political and economic fortunes.

This wastage in time and space was exemplified in Burnham’s mad rush to establish cooperatives as the vehicle to ‘usher in socialism’ to Guyana, the establishment of Knowledge Sharing Institutes to distribute banned basic food items to party supporters, the enforcement of compulsory National Service for UG students, the establishment of the costly People’s Militia, sloganeering such as ‘Eat-less Sleep-less and work harder,’ that government will hand out ‘free milk and cassava’ and that ‘not a man will go to bed hungry,’ to fool people, rigging of elections coupled with the jailing and physical liquidation of political opponents, all of which constituted part and parcel of the PNC’s strategy to hold on to political power.

The few developmental projects such as the Soesdyke/Linden Highway, the Demerara Harbour Bridge, the National Cultural Centre, the Sanata textile mill, and the Belu Claybrick factory, paled in significance when juxtaposed against the statement, “We had growth without development’ made by a top economist who worked for the government at that time.

Despite his disagreements with the policies pursued by the ruling PNC, Dr. Cheddi Jagan was bold enough to remark on one occasion that, ‘The PNC is not the PPP and therefore we cannot expect it to proceed in

the same way as the PPP would.”

His realistic assessment notwithstanding, Jagan remained convinced that even though the PPP and the PNC pursued policies diametrically opposed to each other, in effect, the social composition of the two parties and the mutuality of their respective supporters general aspirations, could lay the basis for national and working class unity to take Guyana forward.

Jagan therefore considered it his historical mission to encourage the leadership and general membership of the PNC to recognize that the future of a truly independent Guyana was assured with a political solution to Guyana’s problems based on racial and working class unity.

It was with this objective in mind that Jagan advanced initiatives such as ‘Critical Support’, the call for a ‘National Patriotic Front and National Front’ Government and later, the ‘Winner does not take all’ policy, only to be rejected by the PNC the then ruling party.

With 23 of the 53 years under its belt, and against tremendous economic and financial odds, successive PPP/C administrations sought to repair the damage done to the country’s economic and social infrastructure, rid the country of its burdensome foreign debt and to return and enhance credibility to Guyana’s national and international and political fortunes.

Henry Jeffery in his ‘Future Notes’ in SN May 15, 2019 ‘A Goebbelsian boast’ illustrated quite convincingly the successes achieved in the social sector by the PPP/C during its 23 years in office.

The Granger-led Coalition Administration resembles an ill-assorted collection of poorly matching parts forming a distressing whole.

It has carved out for itself 4 of the 53 years.

And rather building on the progressive PSIP and going after foreign investments bullishly, the coalition in pursuance of its ‘Fresh Approach’ chose to place emphasis on the

symbolism of independence and nationhood as if this would put food on poor people’s tables and money in their pockets.

Continuation of its predecessor ’s ‘Economic Diplomacy’ initiatives eventually lost its way and evaporated without leaving any trace of notable success worthy of mention. And as if playing fiddle while Rome was burning, the regime found itself trapped in the unpleasant situation where, according to one letter writer ‘a culture of corruption has flourished and touched virtually everyone either incidentally or by design.’

Thus far, Guyana has not been able to shake off the perception as the most corrupt country in CARICOM, and what is ironic about this situation is that while the Granger-led administration continues to heap praises on SARA and SOCU, the latter is now engulfed in a corruption scandal of its own making, while SARA has proven itself impotent when challenged to investigate matters bearing incontrovertibly evidence of corruption in government circles.

Incidentally, the talk of the town is that corruption will get worse when revenues from oil begin to flow.

But the corruption scandals aside, the Granger administration continues to slavishly worship all things symbolic of independence and nationhood.

The regime’s adoration to this twin proclivity is reflected in the construction of arches and monuments as well the mounting of huge photo prints of Prime Minister Burnham receiving the Constitutional Instruments of independence from the Duke and Duchess of Kent, the Queen’s Representatives, which now adorns the interior halls of certain state owned buildings.

Stressing the economic challenges Guyana will face as an independent nation, Cheddi Jagan in his ‘Address of Thanks for Constitutional Instruments’ during the historic sitting of the House of Assembly on May 26, 1966 said; “Besides, political

independence has been attained under the continuation and consolidation of foreign economic control and the maintenance of the colonial type economy based on primary production and extraction.”

That was 53 years ago, Jagan’s prognosis at that time, remains relevant to this day.

Here’s why. In the midst of glorifying the symbols of independence and nationhood, yet a symbolism of another type has reared its ugly head.

It is a symbolism emblematic of the dependency syndrome experienced mainly by small economies such as Guyana that have no other option but to eke out its existence in a hostile international environment where globalization has become the dominant and influential factor in trade, financial markets, technological innovation and values as well and international cooperation.

Any attempt to assess how far we have come as a nation since May 1966 must therefore be situated in a global context despite our apprehensions about the benefits Guyana has or yet to accrue from its interactions and interrelations with a globalized world.

It is necessary to stress however, that responsibility for our country’s underachievement cannot be placed solely on international factors as some apologists try to make out.

Weak institutions of governance, pervasive and persistent poverty, growing inequality, rising unemployment especially among youths and social dislocation exacerbated by the recent closing of sugar estates are symptomatic of bad domestic policies pursued by the PNC government at that time and, even of today’s APNU+AFC who have failed miserably to

‘get the policies right.’

In the era of globalization, the world is not waiting on Guyana, it is moving ahead at a rapid pace and, if governments like the APNU+AFC chose to remain inflexible and squander opportunities on controversial contracts with behemoths like ExxonMobil then future generations will certainly not look upon them kindly.

The list of what needs to be done is extensive. Time, financial and human resources are necessary to do them. In this 53rd year of our country’s independence, can the APNU+AFC alone take the necessary actions in the midst of a contentious domestic political climate for Guyana to move ahead?

Compounding the already confrontational political climate, is the on-going attempts to distort the history of Guyana’s struggle for independence and who led that fight.

The distortions and falsifications continues unabated with leading politicians from the PNC falsely portraying the struggle for, and the celebration of independence anniversaries as a ‘Black people’s thing’ when the historical records prove to the contrary.

But the PPP has to bear some responsibility for the

perpetuation of this myth because the party does not, in a sustained and high profile manner, make known, Cheddi Jagan’s and the PPP’s contribution to Guyana’s struggle for independence.

Issuing the routine press release for the occasion will not suffice. And the party’s role as the harbinger in the independence struggle should not be downplayed, since that would be a grave disservice to Jagan’s and PPP’s legacy.

A corollary to the falsifications by the ‘would be’ historians is the opportunities taken to debunk an internationally recognized fact that Cheddi Jagan is indeed the ‘Father of the Nation’.

This is how Mr. David Granger, Leader of the Opposition at the time, speaking at the inaugural National Assembly’s ‘Governance and Democracy’ lecture series put it: “There is no father of the nation, there is no mother of the nation and I think we need to unlearn this myth.”

In this regard, Granger was roundly criticised by Aubrey Norton and Maxwell Edwards. The former claimed that Burnham ought to be recognised as ‘one of the founding fathers of this country’ while the latter described Granger’s (Continued on page 6)

PAGE 6

We need to take stock to...

From page 5 presentation as an ‘every man’s theory’ that smacks of a ‘revisionist attitude to history and truth.’

But putting these asseverations aside for the time, we return to the perennial question about the true nature of county’s independence.

From time immemorial, Guyana has been a price taker on the international market for our major exports including bauxite, sugar, rice and gold.

Whatever the prices the international markets dictate Guyana has no choice but to accept.

Guyana has never been a major player on the international market like Brazil, China, India, Russia, Thailand, or Vietnam that play big roles in influencing world prices for these commodities.

These countries are members of common commodity international organizations. They meet regularly and help to influence world market prices for these commodities. In this way, they struggle to assert their economic independence.

Save for its membership in the WTO, CARICOM and the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group of countries, Guyana’s role is peripheral in determining regional or international trade policies. And apart from its presence in these bodies, Guyana is nowhere to be seen at any other international forum where prices for internationally traded commodities are determined.

In other words, our economic independence has

Saturday May 18, 2019

Kaieteur News

been shackled by entrenched international economic factors way beyond our control.

The situation will be no better when we become an oil producing country, in fact, it will be more of the same.

No matter how many millions of barrels of oil we pump on a daily basis, what will matter is what will be the price of oil at that time and thereafter; and how much Guyana will be receiving in payments from the ExxonMobils of this world.

Already there are great financial expectations in certain quarters, and eyes are beginning to Google at the huge sums that will be available either to be pocketed or to be used for the benefit of all Guyanese.

In light of recent developments, Guyana had better take warning and note that should it not dance to the tune of the powerful oil companies and the industrialized states, in respect to their extra-territorial policies, it could very well face sanctions of the type that Cuba, Venezuela, Iran or even Russia are currently experiencing.

As an oil-producing country, the external environment for Guyana will be even more complex. But what is certain is that we will continue to be shackled to an International financial system over which we have no control.

We will continue to be a price taker for just another commodity that is slowly but surely being replaced by other forms of energy and

technological advances as in the case of electrically generated cars and vehicles.

These are the mighty issues that the APNU+AFC government should be paying attention to rather horsing around with symbols of independence at home and abroad.

While symbols of independence and nationhood are important, economics, trade and financial matters will loom much larger in the constellation of the nation’s priorities.

Ill conceived as it may have been, the late President Burnham held out ‘Cooperative Socialism’ as his vision for a future Guyana and he went so far as to have that vision enshrined in our Constitution.

Cheddi Jagan for his part, called the establishment of a National Democratic State with a socialist orientation and a New Global Human Order as his vision for our country and the world.

A careful reading of our constitution would recognize how it captures the vision of both men Today, as we approach another anniversary of our country’s independence we have absolutely no idea what is President Granger’s vision for Guyana save and except for his Green whatever.

Will that in anyway whatsoever enhance and advance our national interest and make Guyana a truly independent nation?

Clement J. Rohee Former Minister of Government

Legal Opinion of GECOM’s Legal Officer DEAR EDITOR, The existence, and the tabling of a legal opinion, done by GECOM’s legal officer, has raised the ire, of some members of the Commission, as expressed both at 14th May Statutory Meeting of the Commission and by Commissioner Trotman in the media.

Any rational reading of the said legal opinion would identify its clear logic and its accordance with the Constitution.

On this basis, one does not need to hold a brief in support of the legal officer herself, but to support the Constitution’s letter, spirit and intent on the matters referred to.

The complaints being made, by Commissioner Trotman and others, fly in the face of the duty of the legal officer to bring, as a matter of urgency, any issue which, arising out of her professional expertise, must be brought to the Executive’s and t h e C o m m i s s i o n ’s a t t e n t i o n , w h i c h naturally require the pointing out of any legal risks, exposure or jeopardy which the Commission has found itself in, or may find itself in, on a particular course of action taken or intended.

Whether the legal opinion expressed accords with the particular views of

Commissioners, one way or another, should not be of issue. It is for the Commission to be made aware, with dispatch, of the advice and to make decisions and take actions relating to that advice.

What is important, too, is that the legal officer would have, through diligent, dispassionate work, produced an opinion which would aid GECOM in its deliberations and actions according with Guyana’s Constitution and supporting laws in respect of elections, the requirements for a valid list of voters at all times, and for registration.

To do otherwise, by failing to produce a legal opinion, would have been a gross dereliction of duty on the part of the legal officer of GECOM and a manifest departure from the professional conduct required of any such person holding the position of the legal officer of GECOM. Any such opinion should not have to be requested or mandated but should simply arise out of the fulfilling of the remit of the office.

It should be made clear for the public that the legal opinion was in the possession of the Executive for over a month before it was made available, to all Commissioners on Tuesday, May 14, 2019.

Robeson Benn GECOM Commissioner

APNU+AFC Govt.’s performance was overshadowed by the No Confidence Vote DEAR EDITOR, What this APNU+AFC Coalition has done during its first four years in Government has been significantly overshadowed by the No Confidence Motion controversy. It was good to hear our Head of State outline some of the things the Government was able to do and in the same breath acknowledge the things it

was unable to do to the extent he would have been more comfortable with. In relation to corruption, a former president used to always say to the people who accused his administration of corruption, that they must bring the evidence, and never did anything to unearth the evidence and eliminate or minimise corruption.

This same former president, during the campaign for the last Local Government Election, he spoke about taking back the country through Local Government Election and

democracy at the grass root level, yet his government and party never attempted to hold these elections.

One of the most important promises that were made by the Coalition in its manifesto were the holding of Local Government Election, holding of this election twice in four years is a manifestation of its commitment to local democracy and what made it more spectacular the Government held it knowing they would have lost it.

Archie W. Cordis Former AFC Councillor

CHARACTER AND INTEGRITY DEAR EDITOR, I read with interest a story in the media about a Jamaican woman who returned an undisclosed amount of cash to the police, which she reportedly found at an ATM machine.

For her act of honesty, she was rewarded 1.2 million Jamaican dollars from the company to which the money was subsequently returned.

There is one important lesson from this episode,

which is that it pays to be honest. It is possible that the money could have been kept and put the woman in all sorts of trouble with the law.

The woman, however, opted to do the right thing and return what did not belong to her, for which she was rewarded financially. But at a more fundamental level, it is her character and integrity that will be remembered the most.

Hydar Ally

Saturday May 18, 2019

PAGE 7

Kaieteur News

Gunmen brutalise, shoot at, rob Black Bush rice farmer and family -hold teen daughter hostage until they escape The rear of the Ramcharrans’ property

A room that was ransacked

As bandits continue to wreak havoc in Berbice, a hardworking rice farmer and his family, are unfortunately, the latest victims.

Lennox Ramcharran, 41, of Lot 15 Johanna South, Black Bush Polder, is nursing injuries to his head, while his wife, teenage daughter and son, who were also assaulted, are still traumatized.

Ramcharran told reporters that his 18-year-old daughter was held hostage until the bandits escaped after the nearly 30-minute ordeal.

At the rice farmer’s home in Black Bush Polder, a jeepload of armed police along with detectives had just concluded taking statements.

Ramcharran sat with his injuries exposed and recounted that he had just returned from the backdam and was parking his tractors when he heard his dogs barking, “not like the usual barking”.

“After me seh ‘dem dogs nah bark so’ by time me turn around me see ah man run out from under the trailer and two more come and dem lash me down and start tie me up,” he

recounted.

He added that his 21-yearold son who was upstairs retreated to the bottom flat and was calling out for him, but he could not answer, so his son ran back upstairs.

At that point, Ramcharran said the men dragged his almost six-foot tall figure up the steps with his hands and feet bound. “When dem carry me upstairs dem tek the gun and lash me in meh head and then blood start run out.” He said they demanded cash and jewellery and also tied up his family.

Ramcharran disclosed that they proceeded to ransack the entire house and began to thrash his daughter with the guns until she eventually gave the men whatever cash they had in the home.

Over $300,000 in cash was stolen along with several pieces of gold jewellery.

The rice farmer said that when the men got the cash and jewellery, one of them yelled out “Police” and they grabbed his teenage daughter and held her hostage as they ran out of the yard – us-

ing her as a shield until they escaped. Several shots were fired, hitting two louvre windows on the farmer’s home.

Ramcharran said that himself, wife and son jumped over their verandah into the yard and ran out to locate the teen.

“When we jump over and run and call fuh she, we see she running coming and crying, and me ask she if dem do she anything and she seh no, but she bin frighten.”

The police arrived shortly after on motorcycles, but residents claim that the police were just a street away when the incident took place.

It was disclosed that when Ramcharran’s relatives called for the police at the Mibicuri Station, they were told by a rank that there was no vehicle available to respond to the report. That, however, has caused outrage among residents and the vic-

tims. A resident stated that the police are very active on motorcycles throughout the day “harassing people for a license for their motorcycles and machinery and so, but when you need them the most vehicle and so, not available”.

Kaieteur News understands that the police pick-up that was attached to the Mibicuri Police Station has been “out of operation for a while”. The station, however, has motorcycles and a mounted branch.

A previous Commander had taken the media on a tour to the mounted branch and had indicated then that the move was to add to the crime fighting in Black Bush Polder, given the type of terrain. It is unclear if it is still in operation.

Meanwhile, Feroze Service Station located at Number 6 Village, West Coast Berbice,

Lennox Ramcharran displays his injury. He also received sustained gun-butts to the other side of his head was also pounced on by two armed men. The perpetrators, who were caught on surveillance footage, reportedly stole an undisclosed amout of cash from the two employees.

According to the proprietor of the business, Feroze Ishak, “the employees were robbed of whatever cash they had because the business is a 24-hour service.

There were two persons, one with a gun and one with a

knife, and both of them went in and robbed”.

Ishak stated that over a period of time his business has been a target for small robberies. The incident took place at approximately 1:42 am yesterday.

It is unclear if anyone was arrested for any of the robberies since calls to the Commander and the respective officers in charge of the subdivisions went unanswered.

PAGE 8

Saturday May 18, 2019

Kaieteur News

Man gets two years for robbery Man, 22, found guilty of killing another with cricket bat

R

obbery and rape ac cused, Kevin Wilkinson, who was recaptured on Thursday evening following a daring escape from the Cove and John Police Station that day, was yesterday sent to prison for his robbery offences.

Wilkinson appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Senior Magistrate Fabayo Azore where he was read the charges and he pleaded guilty. Wilkinson on May 10, last, and February 20, last, robbed Cusilica Bhagwandin and Ramnarace Samar respectively.

Given his guilty plea, Wilkinson was sentenced to two years imprisonment for each of the charges. However, the sentence will run concurrently.

The 23-year-old, whose (Continued on page 23)

A

Kevin Wilkinson

12-member jury yesterday found 22-year-old Jonathan Budhan guilty of manslaughter in relation to beating a man to death with a cricket bat.

Though initially indicted for murder, Budhan was convicted for manslaughter by a jury which returned a proportionate verdict after some two hours of deliberation.

The verdict was in the proportion 10 guilty to two not guilty. The jurors found that on October 26, 2016, Budhan, of Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara, unlawfully killed Ramesh Manbodh. Budhan cried uncontrollably at the announcement of the verdict.

Trial Judge Navindra Singh ordered Budhan to return to court on June 7, for sentencing.

This was after his lawyer Nigel Hughes requested a probation report.

According to reports, Budhan fatally beat Manbodh, 40, of Lot 655 Best Village, West Coast Demerara on October 20, 2016 with a cricket bat. After being admitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital, Manbodh died five days later.

It was reported that Budhan was on the run and later turned himself over to police.

Prosecutors Abigail Gibbs, Tuanna Hardy and

Dead: Ramesh Manbodh

Guilty: Jonathan Budhan

Teriq Mohamed presented the case for the State.

On Wednesday, Hughes went at length to persuade the jury on why his client should be found not guilty of the crime.

First off, Hughes had pointed out what he viewed as several weaknesses in the prosecution’s case and asked the jury to consider the defence of one’s self (selfdefence) when retiring to deliberate on a verdict.

According to the lawyer, Manbodh was in the habit of taunting Budhan.

Hughes said that the evidence showed that on the day in question, Manbodh called his client an “anti-man” and thereafter attempted to attack him.

The lawyer added that the law provides that one can use reasonable force to defend

themselves.

He said Manbodh attempted to pull out something from his waist, when his client lashed him to the head with the cricket bat.

However, Prosecutor Hardy said that the case was not one of self-defence.

She said that it was clear that Budhan wanted to kill Manbodh who was unarmed.

According to the prosecuto r, B u d h a n h a d to have lashed the now dead man with great force, as the post m o r t e m report showed he died from blunt trauma to the head. She said that Budhan used “too much force, excessive force.”

She, nevertheless, urged the jury to return a verdict i n a c c o r d ance with the evidence.

Saturday May 18, 2019

PAGE 9

Kaieteur News

A state of emergency on crime should be declared The daily attacks committed on citizens by criminals justify the immediate declaration of a limited state of emergency. It matters not that the police, as at last September, were saying that the number of serious crimes was down by 22% - what matters are the levels of fear and the vulnerability of citizens to criminal attacks.

Last Thursday, a family residing in Black Bush Polder was subjected to a terrifying ordeal. Bandits invaded their home. Family members, including a female, were brutally beaten with guns. The bandits discharged shots in the house. Residents who heard the commotion reportedly contacted the nearby police station but were told that

transportation was not available for ranks to respond to the report. One news report is saying that the family had to hide between some banana trees all night.

Meanwhile, yesterday morning, there was an armed robbery at a petrol station at No. 6 Village, Berbice. Two armed men swarmed the employees of the station. The bandits were vicious. One of the guards was awakened from his sleep and robbed while the other was similarly robbed and lashed in his face.

Those men will be brave to return to that job.

The violence is not restricted to evenings and nighttime. Persons are being attacked in broad daylight.

A new video has appeared

on social media showing a man, who appears to be a Cuban, being mobbed in broad daylight on Regent Street. The man tried to fight back, but eventually relented after he realized he could have been stabbed to death by criminals. No one came to his rescue. Store owners are claiming that robberies on Cubans are a regular occurrence on Regent Street.

The Cubans are propping up the economy. It is the purchases being made by Cuban nationals which are keeping so many businesses afloat.

The Cubans have also revived the real estate sector because of the need for increased accommodation. Yet they are being attacked and robbed.

Dem boys seh ...

Jagdeo couldn’t buy Baygon or toilet paper without a comment De government had a big story in de CCJ. Was one big argument and confusion about majority and things like dat. Ever since Charranrass vote and cause confusion in de government, was nuff running.

De matter go to de High Court and then to de Appeal Court.

Now was time to go to de CCJ. Dem boys wanted to know if was a fashion contest and de contestants got to get support.

Li’l Joe even tell dem reporters dat Soulja Bai believe dat de judges in de court woulda sit down and see who got interest in de matter.

Dat is how de government end up paying fuh five

ministers.

One of dem come back de same day but de others had a ball. Dem didn’t stay in a hotel like Sleep-in and dem didn’t stay far from de CCJ, suh it had to be a big shot hotel.

Wha mek dem boys eye open big was when a reporter ask who send dem Ministers to Trinidad.

Li’l Joe admit dat de government pay and he explain why. When anodda reporter ask Soulja Bai son-in-law de same question and tell him how de PPP seh dem wasting money, he tell de reporter how de PPP petty.

But de same government, when it was in opposition, use to question Jagdeo even

about de tin of Baygon dat he buy. And if he buy four roll of toilet paper instead of one, was a big thing.

When he fly to Florida after he did get belly-wuk, de same Coalition want to know who pay. Nobody didn’t tell dem dat dem petty.

De cheerleaders who go to Trinidad didn’t help Basil de Willie. Dem sit down and nobody couldn’t see dem because dem was sitting behind a post.

In short, dem was hiding because dem was embarrassed when dem judge start to question Basil de Willie.

Dem come home.

Talk half and realise dat it’s a case of six of one and half a dozen of de odda.

Something has to be done about the crime situation. A limited state of emergency should be considered.

In 2011, Trinidad and Tobago declared a limited state of emergency in certain hotspots in order to deescalate the crime situation in the country. The state of emergency entailed curfews after 11 pm and involved police roadblocks and patrols.

The state of emergency attracted fierce criticism from opposition and human rights groups, but the government claimed success, with some US$117M worth of narcotics being seized. One study also found that there was a decline in trauma at the main medical trauma centre.

Last year, the Prime Minister of Jamaica declared a state of emergency in the St James Parish, which had been hit by high levels of crime.

The results of the emergency were impressive, with a 67% decline in murders.

A state of emergency therefore is not to be feared.

It is not an admission of a collapse in the social order. A

state of emergency is an acknowledgement that there is a problem and that targeted action needs to be taken. In the case of Guyana, action needs to be taken to bring an end to the daily criminal violence, including murders, being meted out to citizens.

A state of emergency need not result in economic losses.

A state of emergency has to be tailored to provide a safe environment which will encourage business activity.

There need not only be limited restraints on people’s movements. For example, a limited curfew can be put into effect after 2.00 am, the time when most of nightlife in any event is required to cease.

Guyana is about to enter a political crisis. It is well known that criminals like to take full advantage of the tensions and instability resulting from political crises because the police are spread thin. It is during such periods that crime spikes and becomes even more vicious. Therefore the imminence of a political crisis is not encouraging at all. It is dangerous for law and

order.

The government must realize that whatever little chance they have of regaining power is being daily undermined by the crime wave which is terrorizing citizens.

They ought to also realize that any political crisis will lead to escalation of criminal attacks and this will hurt their chances of reelection.

Declaring a limited state of emergency is therefore not an admission of failure. Not doing so will be political suicidal.

The government should declare a limited state of emergency. It should try to put a halt to the daily attacks on decent, law-abiding citizens.

There is no shame, no disgrace in declaring a limited state of emergency to address the runaway crime situation.

PAGE 10

Saturday May 18, 2019

Kaieteur News

=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===

This attitude to the judiciary is frighteningly dangerous?

A schoolboy knows that the most essential pillar of society that preserves justice, rights, freedoms, liberties, physical protection of the citizens, etc., is the judiciary.

Khemraj Ramjattan said last week that the local courts and the Caribbean Court of Justice cannot tell GECOM who it must choose as its chairman.

Of course the courts can.

This is how it could. If the president selects a person with a criminal record to head

the police force, which was hidden at the time the president made the appointment, and the constitution says that the police commissioner must not have a criminal conviction, then, if challenged in court and the court rules against the president, the commissioner has to go.

If the CCJ strikes down the unilateral appointment of the current GECOM chairman, then as the final court in the land, the GECOM chairman has to go. By what mecha-

nism could the president ignore the court’s judgement?

Ramjattan found such a mechanism, and in describing it, Ramjattan has taken Guyana down an ocean whose waves may destroy national stability.

Speaking on television in Berbice last week, Ramjattan indicated that if the CCJ decided that there had to be consultation between Opposition Leader and President on the names for the GECOM chairmanship, then what the

president could do is reject the names as he did before, explain why he doesn’t want them this time, and return with Patterson.

So in actuality what Ramjattan is saying is that the constitutional article that embodies a consensus framework that goes under the rubric of the Carter-Price framework can be reduced to a farce, if the president has a particular person in mind. In actuality, he is saying that should the highest court in the land

uphold the Carter-Price formula, the president can reject the consensus model if he wants.

Do you realize the implications of those words for the stability of this country? It must be recalled that the CCJ President, Justice Saunders, reminded the lawyers representing GECOM and the Guyana Government that the constitution was amended to eradicate the unilateral jurisdiction of the president to choose a GECOM chairman.

He went on to say if the president still has that unilateral power, then what purpose does the Carter-Price framework serve.

It is possible that if the case before the CCJ challenging the president’s appointment of Justice Patterson to chair GECOM was still in progress and the judges read what Ramjattan said, it would have had a bearing on how they see things. Ramjattan’s semantics were pellucid. He said all the president has to do is reject Jagdeo’s lists, give reasons, and re-appoint Patterson. After uttering this danger, he went on to boast that the local and CCJ judges cannot decide who should be GECOM’s chairman. This is rough stuff coming from a man who says he wants to be the next prime minister of Guyana.

Where does this position of Ramjattan leave the analyst?

How does the analyst assess the implication of these words by Ramjattan? It would appear to me that Ramjattan’s mind is made up – he doesn’t want the consensus pathway. He is happy with the Granger’s method – choose a person you feel will favour the ruling party.

Before we go any further, it must be emphasized that for all the criticism and violent activism the PNC threw at the 23-year-old reign of the PPP, the GECOM chairman was

Frederick Kissoon chosen by the Opposition.

Under such a formula, APNU+AFC won a majority in parliament in 2011 and won the general elections in 2015.

Simply put, the Carter-Price blueprint worked. Why change it?

Granger changed it.

Ramjattan doesn’t want it. So where does that leave Guyana? My opinion is that there is a plan for the APNU+AFC coalition to stay in power. My opinion is that the next general elections will be rigged. What are the latest indications of this? One is the attitude of Ramjattan.

When for over 23 years the Carter-Price article in the constitution produced free and fair elections, and suddenly a new political leadership in government derecognizes it and went in the unilateral direction, it tells you that the intention is to ensure power is retained by conspiratorial mechanisms.

The second indication is the emotional ranting of GECOM Commissioner, Desmond Trotman, that GECOM’s legal advisor was up to some trick when she gave her opinion that the voters’ list can be revised without going through house to house registration. It turned out that the legal officer was requested to submit the opinion in a transparent way, and did not share it with any Opposition member of the commission. Trotman, like Ramjattan, gave it away.

The election will be rigged.

Saturday May 18, 2019

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Saturday May 18, 2019

Kaieteur News

Saturday May 18, 2019

PAGE 13

Brazilian woman dies in accident at Cuyuni

F

orty-two year-old Brazilian National, Marinete Teixeira Amauri, perished yesterday morning in an accident on the Sand Hill Backdam Road, Mining District #4, Cuyuni, Region Seven, at around 11:30hrs.

The victim, a cook, was heading

to Bartica. She and her husband were reportedly travelling on an AllTerrain Vehicle (ATV) laden with ration when they swerved to avoid an oncoming Land Cruiser. The ATV turned over in the process, and the woman was struck by the Land Cruiser. She was rushed to the

Bartica Regional Hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

The body is currently at the Bartica Hospital Mortuary as the police are continuing with their investigations into the circumstances surrounding the tragic occurrence.

(Edward A Persaud) The victim just after arriving at the Bartica Regional Hospital

Kaieteur News

PAGE 14

Minister Patterson moves to sue for invasion of his bank account

T

he People's Progressive Party (PPP) posted on its Facebook page that Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, received US$9000 in his private account from China International Contractors, in February 2017.

A source close to the PPP told Kaieteur News that the party's general secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo, has evidence of the transaction, and that he is getting ready to release it.

At the AFC's press c o n f e r e n c e y e s t e r d a y, Dominic Gaskin, said that he would put his head on a block and bet that Patterson did not have the money deposited into his personal account.

But Patterson responded just a day after the post, that there is nothing wrong with

what happened.

He admitted that money was deposited into his bank account by China International Contractors Association, Patterson said that the organisers committed to reimbursing travel-related expenses up to US$10,000.

For this, he said that Cabinet permission was sought and received.

The trip was paid for by the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), his statement said. “I attended the conference and some time in 2017, a refund for my travels was processed and paid to me as the attendee.”

Patterson stated that he remitted the money to MARAD. He added that this practice is not unusual as it relates to funds reimbursed for international travel.

He provided a letter of invitation he received on April 25, 2016 to the 7th International Infrastructure Investment and Construction Forum organised by the China International

Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson Contractors Association and Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute.

The conference was held over two days from June 2, 2016 in Macao, China.

Patterson now suspects that the PPP accessed his personal banking information.

He has sought legal counsel, and has instructed his lawyers to take legal action against “any offending party”.

Saturday May 18, 2019

SUPERBET being forced out of Guyana

A

ttorney-at-Law Anil Nandlall has alleged that a minister of government is working to force Guyana Holdings Incorporated, trading as SUPERBET, out of the local gaming industry.

The accusation follows three years of SUPERBET waiting to be licensed, complaining that attempts to fulfill the necessary requirements have subjected them to a pointless back-andforth.

Detailing the issue, Nandlall said that in 2017, the Guyana Gaming Authority (GGA) attempted to exercise control over the operations of SUPERBET, purportedly acting under the Anti Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act. He said that the matter had been taken to court and that they were able to persuade the court that the gaming authority had no authority over SUPERBET's operations.

After the court ruled in favour, Nandlall said that the law was amended to give GGA some extent of supervisory control over SUPERBET. Late 2017, GRA reportedly refused to license SUPERBET, informing that a certificate of good standing is needed from GGA. When they approached the GGA, Nandlall said they were subjected to a list of requirements, with which they complied. It reportedly takes 6-18 months for the license to be processed and issued.

Nandlall said that, recently, they were invited to a meeting with GGA, when they were told that an AML/CFT audit was required for them to be issued a certificate of good standing.

That request was

- Attorney Nandlall reportedly made only two weeks ago.

“All the time, we were working in trying to satisfy all requirements that they had made to us in relation to getting the certificate.”

Nandlall said.

“So, after we satisfied all those requirements, an additional requirement was now imposed that we must have this AML/CFT audit done. We enquired from [Chief Executive Officer of GGA, Lloyd Moore] where we can retain the services of someone qualified to undertake this audit. He told us we can't do that in Guyana; [that] we have to go overseas.”

“So, for the past two weeks, my client has been attempting to retain the services of a company that does this type of work.”

Meanwhile, he has noted that Attorney General Basil Williams has been making public statements, adding that he has been threatening to shut down SUPERBET's operations for operating without a license.

Further, Nandlall said that they received a letter from GGA telling them that operating without a license may be the basis for them not issuing SUPERBET a certificate of good standing.

“Now, this is an agency that has been working with us all year round. They know where we stand. They know that we have done everything possible to satisfy this requirement of a certificate of good standing. They know that we don't have the license. They know that we will only get the license if they give us the certificate.

Now, all of a sudden, they send this letter, pretending not to know that we are

operating without this license.”

A copy of that letter was shared with Kaieteur News.

It reads “In the event that your company continues to engage in any of the activities permitted under a Betting Shop License without first obtaining a valid Betting Shop License, the betting authority may conclude that such unlawful activity by your company may by itself be indicative that your company is not fit and proper to have a Good Standing Certificate issued in its favour.”

Nandlall has said that he doubts other operators in similar business are subjected to the same “rigours” to which he reports his client is being subjected.

Even so, Nandlall said that he can find no place in the law which states that a certificate of good standing is a requirement.

“The hierarchical struggle has imposed that as an administrative requirement.”

SUPERBET's General Manager, Shrikant Kisoensingh, was even ordered to report to the Criminal Investigation D e p a r t m e n t y e s t e r d a y, Nandlall told the press. He said that he has spoken to the Deputy Crime Chief, and has explained the complexity of the situation to him.

Nandlall has described the situation as harassment, and said that, if it does not stop, they will go to court to get protective orders for SUPERBET's operations.

He said that he has been informed from multiple sources that the pressure his client is facing is being orchestrated by a certain Minister of government.

Kaieteur News

Saturday May 18, 2019

PAGE 15

Mother of six stabbed to death by husband

The house where the heinous crime occurred

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six-year marriage ended in tragic fashion on Thursday night in Anna Regina, with the murder of 39-year-old mother of six, Farida Khayum, and the attempted suicide of her assailant, husband Devanand Narine.

Khayum was brutally stabbed multiple times by Narine, who then attempted suicide by consuming a poisonous substance. The incident occurred sometime around 21:00hrs. At the time of the murder, three of the victim's five sons, and her ailing mother were at home.

Her only daughter was not present.

According to the woman's ten year old son, who witnessed the entire

The three children who were at home at the time of the murder

ordeal, Khayum was preparing for a wedding ceremony just minutes prior to her gruesome demise. The boy said that he saw his stepdad searching his mother's bag, but he wasn't sure exactly what the man was looking for.

“We went sit down in the hallway on the bench.

Mommy went combing she hair, and meh stepfather de smoking cigarette outside‌ When he come inside, mommy head de bend down after she de combing she hair.

So he hold down she head and

he start stab she up in she back. She get up to walk in the kitchen and she fall down.�

The victim was stabbed some twelve times about the body, primarily in the abdomen and behind the neck. She was pronounced dead at the Suddie Public Hospital. By the time police arrived on the scene, the husband was found foaming on the bed, after he had ingested a poisonous substance. He was admitted at the same hospital, where he remains in a critical state.

Residents in the area said that the couple would argue from time to time, and that Narine would spend his days drinking, while his wife would work to provide.

Investigations are continuing.

Dead: Farida Khayum

PAGE 16

Kaieteur News

Saturday May 18, 2019

Attorney General targeted in social media attack

A

ttorney General Basil Williams says he has come under attack by the political opposition. Williams is being accused of sexual, verbal, emotional, mental and physiological abuse of the staff of that Ministry.

An unsigned letter circulating on social media stated that people were said to be scared of coming out and supporting the allegations. It advised against people contacting some of the people identified.

This letter was sparked by statements Williams made at the Caribbean Court of Justice. The Attorney General was leading a team to the Trinidad-based CCJ to challenge the contention by the opposition that the noconfidence motion was valid.

In his address to the judicial panel in Trinidad, Williams accused the opposition People's Progressive Party of creating and presiding over a narco-state. This comment so incensed the PPP that it immediately caused the letter appearing on the social media to be distributed.

The letter, unsigned as it is, contained serious allegations designed to attack Williams's character. The only material that appears to be credible are the names of 19 lawyers who worked in the advice and litigation department of the Attorney General's Chambers.

To date, there has been one challenge to the unsigned letter. It was reported that, “Mr. Fang-at-Fat (sic), Chief Parliamentary Counsel was

not immune from this type of abuse.”

In a response that was published in the local newspapers, Mr Charles Fung-a-Fat, Chief Parliamentary Counsel, stated that if he failed “to respond to this falsehood and not seek to correct it I would be neglecting my moral duty and bring the office of the Chief Parliamentary Counsel into disrepute.”

He said, “This falsehood has made me anxious that it could be possibly be entertained and believed by the people of Guyana, and more particularly, the Head of State.”

Asked to comment on the unsigned missive, Williams said that no one has ever accused him of sexual misconduct. He said that he has not been the only Government Minister that is being attacked at this time. He said that the mature media simply ignored the letter on social media except for a media house that queried whether Williams was being investigated. The answer to that query was that the issue has not even reached the ears of the Government.

Meanwhile, during a press conference held by the Alliance for Change yesterday, Cathy Hughes was asked about the allegations made against the AG, and whether they have engaged Williams about them, to which she responded, “Our chairman [Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan] is in discussion and is investigating that situation.”

Saturday May 18, 2019

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

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Saturday May 18, 2019

th

NAMILCO celebrates its 50 anniversary in style

M

any gathered with great excitement on Thursday evening as the National Milling Company of Guyana (NAMILCO) staffers gathered with supporters to observe fifty years of positive contributions to the homes, shops and kitchens of both locals and foreigners.

The auspicious event was hosted at the Marriott Hotel.

Champagne glasses clinked with golden liquid and laughter flowed through the venue as invitees sampled a wide range of cocktails, strong sprits and mouth-watering finger foods. To deliver the ultimate 'NAMILCO Experience', decorators erected several enticing display forums for a wide range of NAMILCO household products.

NAMILCO's CEO, Bert Sukhai, and new Minister of Business, Haimraj Rajkumar addressed the gathering.

In his presentation, the minister noted that NAMILCO has “indeed come a long way and has risen to a pinnacle of success through fifty years of hard

A section of the gathering at Thursday's 50th Anniversary cocktail work, dedication, intervention and leadership�. He emphasised that the company has served its best to Guyanese and many in the Diaspora.

Other special invitees at the event included Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder, Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson and Mayor of Georgetown Ubraj Narine.

Being Guyana's largest facility of its kind,

NAMILCO has greatly enhanced the nation's ability to produce and export flour rather than to import. While in 1969 the mill was producing 3,300 hundredpound sacks of flour daily, they are presently producing 240 metric tons of wheat per day, with 136 employees. It exports its produce to Brazil, Canada, Antigua, Barbados and other locations.

To d a y t h e y a r e producing amongst other

An eye-catching display of NAMILCO products at the event items, the Thunderbolt All Purpose Flour, Maid Marian Self-Rising Flour and Maid

Marian Pholourie Quick Mix. Prior to the incorporation

in 1969 of the National Milling Company of Guyana Inc. (NAMILCO), a subsidiary of Seaboard Corporation of the USA, Guyana imported flour from various suppliers. Seaboard Corporation based in Shawnee Mission, Kansas C i t y, U S A s a w a n opportunity to set up a flour mill in Guyana and negotiated with the Government in 1967 to make this a reality.

The land was purchased in 1967 in Agricola and construction by Taylor Woodrow & Associates and Ocrim of Italy was completed in 1969.

NAMILCO was officially opened on May 17, 1969 by the then Prime Minister Forbes Burnham. Seaboard owns, either wholly or in partnership, mills in Africa, Haiti, Colombia and Ecuador.

Saturday May 18, 2019

Kaieteur News

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Saturday May 18, 2019

Reaction to Ministers' government-funded trip to CCJ petty - Gaskin

D

ominic Gaskin, of the Alliance For Change, has said that the outcry over the use of public funds to send six ministers to Trinidad, is petty.

This comes on the heels of criticism that government sent ministers who had no technical assistance to provide to the legal team.

Kaieteur News had reported that Attorney-atlaw, Christopher Ram, criticised the government for sending them there for no apparent reason. Those ministers are Vice-President Sydney Allicock; Minister of Education, Nicolette Henry; Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr. George Norton; Minister of Public Service, Tabitha Sarrabo-Halley; and Minister of Business Haimraj Rajkumar.

But it was revealed by Joseph Harmon, Director General of the Ministry of the Presidency, that a sixth Minister, Ronald Bulkan, of the Communities Ministry, also joined the team on the second day.

During a press conference on Thursday last, Harmon also confirmed that those ministers' trip was government-funded.

The Alliance For Change (AFC) held a press conference, during which Dominic Gaskin was asked how a government justifies sending a team of ministers to Trinidad for no apparent reason.

He said that “if you are taking a matter to a court of such stature, then you should also take with you some sort of representation of the

Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan interested party. You don't just send your lawyers.”

He said that it is the government that is actually involved in this matter.

“I see no reason why certain representatives of the government shouldn't attend the hearing.” The former

[from left] Vice-President, Sydney Allicock; Minister of Public Service, Tabitha Sarrabo-Halley; Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr. George Norton; Minister of Education, Nicolette Henry; and Minister of Business Haimraj Rajkumar Business Minister said that, sometimes, “we can be very petty about things.”

He asked, “What is the total cost in the grand scheme of things?”

This matter, he noted, “has been a matter that has been at a very high level and set some precedence, and created a much clearer understanding for us as Guyanese of what certain positions of our constitution need.

Isn't that more important than the fact that we had ministers flying to Trinidad to attend court?”

At this juncture, the public awaits news of the cost of that trip.

Ram had said, “It is hoped that the AG and the Minister of Finance will give taxpayers a full account of the expenditure borne by them for the prosecution of these cases. So far, the AG has retained at least five Senior Counsel from abroad who command very high fees.” “ R e s p o n s i b l e government requires that taxpayers' money is properly spent and fully accounted for.” Ram said.

Contract to complete Guyana's Local Content Policy was...

From page 3 are several procurement processes which can be used to expedite the award of a contract. Dr. Bynoe said the process used for the $22M Local Content Policy Contract is called a limited competitive selection of individual consultants. He said this is consistent with the World Bank's regulations of July 2016 which was revised in November 2017 and further in August 2018.

Further to this, the Energy Department Head said that this process allowed for the use of a three CV process and the subsequent assessment of the consultants based on their expertise and qualifications as well as their ability to deliver.

After this assessment, Dr. Bynoe said an evaluation report would have been completed and sent to the World Bank for its noobjection. Based on that, Dr. Warner was selected as the best candidate to execute the consultancy, the Energy Department head said. He also disclosed that the tender was made available November last year.

Kaieteur News had exposed that Dr. Warner is an employee of DAI, the contractor engaged by ExxonMobil to manage the

Local Content Centre for Development located on South Road, Georgetown.

But Dr. Bynoe revealed in the video last night that Warner is no longer an employee of DAI. The Government official also said that when Dr. Warner started the local content process with the Energy Department, he severed links with DAI. He said, “Dr. Warner was at the time with DAI which is a huge consultancy firm. And he was doing some work with DAI which has been contracted by ExxonMobil to assist with the establishment of the Centre for Local Development.” In the same breath, he said that Warner is “doing part time work with DAI and other individuals.”

In spite of the answers provided, Dr. Bynoe did not say who were the other two individuals given the invite to submit proposals for the tender, who recommended the individuals, what criteria were used to determine their ability to deliver, what level o f d u e d i l igence was conducted on the invited consultants beyond the mere scrutiny of their work resume, and why three, and not all individuals familiar with providing such services to Guyana, were invited to submit proposals.

Saturday May 18, 2019

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Kaieteur News

West Dem. teacher accused of having sex with female student, 14 - 11 reported cases of sexual misconduct in district’s schools being investigated

W

est Demerara District resi dents are outraged over the allegations of a school teacher having sex at his home with a 14-year-old female student.

Yesterday sources from within the Ministry of Education informed that there have been several cases of sexual misconduct in Region Three schools, many of them being instances were male teachers have seduced underage females.

In the particular case, officials informed that the teacher had been ‘preening and pruning’ the young girl from since her entrance into secondary school and had somehow managed to get her to his home, where sex acts have allegedly been committed. This teacher is reportedly before the Teaching Service Commission as the matter undergoes investigation.

Authorities apparently got wind of the incident when the young girl confessed to a colleague who made the matter public. Reports suggest that the teacher would often lure the young girl to his home where the sexual acts were committed.

Meanwhile, Ministry of Education sources have informed that for 2019, eleven cases of sexual harassment of students have been reported in West Demerara Schools and are presently being investigated.

Meanwhile, Region Three’s Education Department has informed that there are also many cases of drug abuse in schools in West Demerara, where students may have become the target of peddlers who lured them into the use of substances.

This publication was told there have been several instances where students were caught with the popular ‘ecstasy pill’ in schools.

Doctors and other related specialists have been invited to schools to have sessions to educate students on the danger of pills and substances.

Presently, the aforementioned department has implemented a six-week programme where Peer Educators are targeting thirty students who have used drugs and thirty who have been ‘clean’. The students who have not consumed drugs are trained to become school-level peer

educators to monitor, advise and even counsel drug users to induce and enhance positive lifestyle changes.

At the end of this training, the drug users and their trainers, upon the satisfaction of senior personnel, are give certificates of recognition.

In the wake of these occurrences, Region Three Regional Education Officer, Anesta Douglas, when contacted yesterday, said that several workshops and seminars are being conducted to educate parents, teachers, and more importantly students, on the issues surrounding child abuse, drug abuse in schools, sexual misconduct/harassment. She said that students, and even parents, are encouraged to come forward, which is the objective of the ministry’s ‘Tell Scheme’ initiative.

Douglas noted also that there have been incidents of ‘Cyber Bullying’ in schools, citing that just recently, young girls have been receiving a video (with a penis exposed) with instructions that they meet a certain teacher in a certain classroom. She said this teacher has been called in and questioned and has

denied circulating the video.

That matter is still under investigation.

In Guyana, sexual harassment is covered under the Prevention of Discrimination Act of 1997. The section is very cursory and simply states, “‘Sexual harassment’ is defined … as unwanted conduct of a sexual nature in the workplace or in connection with the performance of work

which is threatened or imposed as a condition of employment on the employee or which creates a hostile working environment for the employee.”

The law thus confines the offence to the workplace when in fact it can, and does, occur in any location.

Schools, for instance, form a hotbed for sexual harassment of female students by teach-

ers.

Cultural Policy Advisor at the Ministry of Social Cohesion, Ruel Johnson, in 2017 had filed a letter of complaint against a male teacher of The Bishops’ High School who allegedly preyed on and had sexual relationships with female students of the said institution.

That teacher has since been hauled before the courts.

PAGE 22

Saturday May 18, 2019

Kaieteur News

LEGAL NOTICE 1 CONTD

FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION, W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 SERVICES

FOR SALE

PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION, W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620

Porcelain tiles. Huge reduction. 12x12, 12x24, 10x14, 24x24, 716 & 3/8 thickness.Tel 695-4785/643-1000/265-3541.

Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Graphics design, advertisements, Wedding arch rentals. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535.

ICONIC MARKETING & PRINTING –TEL: 6006887: We create A/works, logos, business cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included.

I N S TA L L AT I O N S , REPAIRS AND PARTS FOR AC, FRIDGE, WASHING MACHINE, STOVE ETC. CALL NICK 627-3206, 630-1600

1 (250) Gen set power by NT55.Cummings.Contact#2690603/609-2350/644-1190.

Supercustom and local minibus seats, shortbase RZ minibus for parts, Household items #664-0802 Plants for Bookland Gardens on sale: Foxtail, Manilla Palms 1 to 4 ft tall, plus ornamental plants. Call: 680-7354 Small Bus/Van- Ideal for small business/vendor $380,000 neg, Left hand drive, Toyota Corolla $360,000 neg #6803863 Vegetable seedlings at Apsol Garden Centre, Lot 2 Independence St, La Grange.

Tel#500-1564 Cell: 670-8840

Eagle’s re-gas AC, Fridge, Washing machine & computer repairs, Gas stove, Plasma flatscreen, Electrical installation & more. Call: 6972969/646-0966

Grease rag $200 per lb #6819130/266-2700

Design a Website for your Business that can be viewed on any device.Contact Computing Core@600-1096.

1 Honda 450 Atv bike, 1 Cat 215 excavator, 1 Cat 428 back hoe, 1 Mack mixer truck 8 cuyds Tel#275-0367/683-7225

REPAIRS AT LOW COST: FRIDGES, AIR CONDITIONERS, WASHING MACHINE, FREEZER, SALE OF AC’S. TEL#629-4946,225-4822

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3 bedroom & 1 bedroom apartments for rent in Providence. Call: 660-7716/ 682-6238 or Whatsapp #1246-833-9739 1 bedroom apartment to rent in Diamond H/S. Tel#668-8403 (1) Spacious (3) bedroom upper flat apartment, (1) masterbedroom, Bent St between Camp & George $100,000 monthly. Tel#6097826 or 218-1688 1 & 2 bedroom apartment with private bathroom. 10 mins walking distance in Independence St La Grange WBD. For Inquiries Call: #6631280 2 bedroom apartment @ Nandy Park, recently renovated #641-3318 2 bedroom apartment. Eccles $45,000. Contact #629-1805 One bedroom apartment $35,000, one room for bachelor $15,000. Tel#612-8380 PROPERTY FOR SALE

Bookland Gardens is the new outdoor place for social/special events. On facebook.

Email: booklandguyana@gmail.com #680-7354 Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezer-Call: 610-5846 or 661-8158 Bedrooms and shopping in Central Georgetown. Email: caribamercare2014@gmail.com.

Tel#226-2409/223-4159/6442388/687-5448 TO LET Business space to rent. No restaurant.Serious enquiries only. 233 South Road 2250198/615-0317 Queenstown: Top flat, three bedrooms, unfurnished. $70,000. #621-4802 or 269-1080

CAR RENTAL PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS FROM $4000 & UP, SUV’sPER DAY- CALL: 656-0087 / 643-5122,EMAIL:PRO_ A U T O R E N TA L @YAHOO.COM DOLLYS AUTO RENTAL CALL: 225-7126 & 2263693 -DOLLYS AUTO RENTAL@ YAHOO.COM/ W W W . D O L L Y SAUTORENTAL.COM

House for sale, Eccles Housing Scheme. 7 bedrooms, 3 toilets and bathrooms enclosed. $28.5M. Call 6420391/ 001447587233657. yashardabhola4@gmail.com Lot 89 Robb Street, Lacytown, Georgetown.

Next door to Mike’s Pharmacy.Land size- 3431.25 Sq.ft. Phone: 617-5323, 6668052.

One 3-Bedroom concrete upstairs at 18th Street Diamond $18M Neg. Contact 216-1390/610-0515.

David St: Front propertycommerical/residential.

Excellent location. #621-4802/ 269-1080 Non Pariel: One sturdy, one flat concrete residence $16M #621-4802/269-1080 Success: ECD- Land100’x100' with an old building $25M #621-4802/269-1080 LAND FOR SALE

LEARN TO DRIVE N. Outar Driving School, Learn to Drive the right way @ Cuffy Square. Affordable package. Call: 644-5166/6912561

36 Best Village transported land. $6/7M. Contact #6839027/223-4087 Uitvlugt $2.3M. Tel#697-6311

M AT R I M O N I A L JURISDICTION: (FAMILY DIVISION) Petition No. 419-FD/2018 WANTED Petition for Divorce and Matrimonial Causes 1 live in or live out domestic BETWEEN: RAMBARRAN worker.Call from Monday- (DAMODAR) Petitioner Saturday between 8:15 - 4:15 andRAMBARRAN PM 223-7500.

(SAVITRI) Respondent Salesgirls & porters. Apply with written application at Best Buy Food Supplies 1E Dennis & Middleton Sts, Campbellville Annabel Bistro located @ La Grange WBD seeks experienced cooks with exceptional baking skills.

Apply in person / Call #6413400 Wanted one Salesgirl from GT or EBD $16,000 weekly. #2239677 Kitchen Assistant-Male/ Female, Snackette AttendantMale /Female, Snackette Cleaner’s- Male/Female, Age 18-30. Apply @ Shanta’s 225 Camp St Experienced Cashier, Pastry maker, Apply @ Hack’s Halaal with H/written Application, 5 Commerce St Driver for route #42 Minibus #646-8748 1 welder, gas welding on exhaust and arc, Broad St, Charlestown #223-5595/6439125 Ages 25-35 Auto body/spray paint technician. To apply call #2271717 1 maid. Tel#225-3234 Wanted experienced hire car drivers at Ramada Georgetown Princess Hotel. Contact 6165419, 265-7075 Attractive live in waitressCall: 327-0252/674-4665/6493750 TM 4x4 winch #681-9130/2662700 PEN PAL An Adult male seeks single female 40-45 yrs, adventurous, residing in Guyana. Text or call #672-8844 VEHICLE FOR SALE

TAKE NOTICE that on the 26th day of November, 2018 a Petition for Divorce was filed against you by DAMODAR RAMBARRAN the Petitoner/ Applicant, in the Family Division of the High Court in the New Amsterdam, Berbice.

AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that as part of an Order made on the 25th day of April, 2019 the Petitioner/ Applicant was directed to effect service of his Petition on you by publication of this Notice in one (1) edition of Kaieteur newspaper of general circulation in Guyana.

AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire you may appear or attend in person or by your duly authorized agent or Attorneyat-Law at the Registry of Family Division of the High Court at New Amsterdam, Berbice, where you will be issued with a certified copy of the Petition together with related documents.

AND FUTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire to Defend this Divorce, then upon receipt of the certified copy of the Petition, you must file an Acknowledgement of Service, Notice of Intention to Defend (Forms are available at the Registry) Answer and/or Cross Petition in the Registry of the Family Division of the High Court at New Amsterdam, Berbice within 10 (ten) days after the date of the said publication of this Notice.

TAKE NOTICE that the divorce is reflexed for Directions Hearing on the 6th day of June, 2019 at 9:00am in the Directions Hearing Room of the Family Division of the High Court at New Amsterdam, Berbice IN DEFAULT of your filing an Acknowledgement of Service/ Notice of Intention to Defend Answer and/or Cross Petition the Court may proceed in your absence and may make any Order it considers appropriate, including granting the Divorce.

The Registry of the Family Division of the High Court is located at the Law Courts, New Amsterdam, Berbice.

The Office is open to the public between 8:00am and 3:30pm Mondays to LEGAL NOTICE 1 Thursdays and 8:00am to 2:30pm on Fridays except on REPUBLIC OF GUYANA: public holidays and on such COUNTY OF BERBICE: 2018 No.419-FD BERBICE: IN other days as the Registry is THE HIGH COURT OF THE closed.

SUPREME COURT OF THE JUDICATURE, FAMILY, Dated the 2nd day of May, 2019 DIVORCE AND 5 Leyland DAF Flatbed Lorries, 10 Guysuco Lorry Heppiecycle & axle for 60 DAF Lorries.Excellent condition 228-5655/615-6683

LEGAL NOTICE 1 CONTD

LEGAL NOTICE 2 2019-HC-DEM-CIV-FD-420 IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE FAMILY, DIVORCE AND MATRIMONIAL JURISDICTION FAMILY DIVISION PETITION NO. FD-420 BETWEEN (BESS) LATOIYA JEANICA nee VAUGHN Petitioner -and(BESS) CHISSINGUE ANUMBIA Respondent To the Respondent CHISSINGUE ANUMBIA BESS Last Known Address, Lot 84, Nismes, West Bank Demerara, Guyana.

TAKE NOTICE that on the 29th day of March, 2019 a Petition for Divorce was filed against you by LATOIYA JEANICA BESS nee VAUGHN the Petitoner/ Applicant, in the Family Division of the High Court in Georgetown, Demerara AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that as part of an Order made on the 2nd day of May,2019 the Petitioner/ Applicant was directed to effect service of her Petition on you by publication of this Notice in two (2) consecutive Saturday issues of the Kaieteur News Newspaper, a daily Newspaper printed published and circulated in and around Guyana and on the Worldwide Web. AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire you may appear or attend in person or by your duly authorized agent or Attorneyat-Law at the Registry of Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara, where you will be issued with a certified copy of the Petition together with related documents.

AND FUTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire to Defend this Divorce, then upon receipt of the certified copy of the Petition, you must file an Acknowledgement of Service, Notice of Intention to Defend (Forms are available at the Registry) Answer and/or Cross Petition in the Registry of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara within 28(twentyeight) days after the date of the second and final publication of this Notice TAKE NOTICE that the divorce is reflexed for Directions Hearing on Friday the 21st June,2019 at 9:30am before the Honourable Madam Justice Kurtizious in the Directions Hearing Room of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown. continued on the next page

Saturday May 18, 2019

Kaieteur News

Unemployed man fined for snatching policewoman’s phone

A

n unemployed man who admitted to snatching a policewoman’s phone so that he could acquire some money was yesterday fined by Senior Magistrate Leron Daly when he appeared before her at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

The court heard that on May 14, last, at North Road, Georgetown, Akeem Bailey robbed Seidel Corwin of one Samsung J3 PRO cell phone valued at $90,000 and at the same time, immediately before or after, he used personal violence on the said victim.

The 24-year-old from Lot 51 Golden Grove, East Bank Demerara told the court that he left his job and was out of

Man gets twoyears...

From page 8 address was given as 271 Hope East, Enmore, East Coast Demerara, had escaped police custody on Thursday last around 07:30 hrs after being arrested on suspicion of robbery and rape.

Kaieteur News understands that police were preparing to place him on an identification parade when the suspect requested to use a toilet. While in the washroom, Wilkinson reportedly removed a few boards from a wall and slipped out of the station.

The Office of Professional Responsibility has since launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Wilkinson’s escape.

A sergeant and constable were placed under close arrest.

Wilkinson was later recaptured near his home. Investigations for his rape allegation and escaping police custody are still ongoing.

money. “Your worship, after I left my job, I tried to ask some people for money but no one didn’t give me. My family members, who are very respectable, don’t even know I’m in this trouble. I don’t know what went into my head; I just see the woman with the phone in her hand and decided to snatch it.”

The facts of the charge presented by police prosecutor Sanj Singh indicated that on the day in question about 17:55hrs, the victim, who is stationed at the Presidential Guard, was walking west along North Road when the man came from behind and choked her by the neck. He then relieved her of the phone, which she had in her hand at

vidual gave chase.

The individual eventually caught up with Bailey at Hinck Street where he held unto him. The victim later arrived and identified Bailey as the person who robbed her.

He was then handed over to the police, an investigation was carried out, and he was charged.

After listening to the facts put to the court, Magistrate Daly fined the defendant $60,000 or in default, he is to serve three months in prison.

Akeem Bailey

VACANCY the time.

Bailey then attempted to escape, running towards Av-

enue of the Republic. However Corwin raised an alarm and a public-spirited indi-

PAGE 23 LEGAL NOTICE 2 CONTD IN DEFAULT of your filing an Acknowledgement of Service/Notice of Intention to Defend Answer and/or Cross Petition the Court may proceed in your absence and may make any Order it c o n s i d e r s appropriate,including granting the Divorce.

The Registry of the Family Division of the High Court is located at the Law Courts, [Georgetown, Demarara].

The Office is open to the public between 8:00am and 3:30pm Mondays to Thursdays and 8:00am to 2:30pm on Fridays except on public holidays and on such other days as the Registry is closed.

Dated the 3rd day of May, 2019

Sales Person, 5 subjects, must be computer literate, sales clerk experience. Apply @ Trophy Stall, Bourda Market Vacancy for experienced Salesgirls. Apply at Alabama Trading 65 Robb St Bourda Vacancy for experienced Carpenter, Apply at Alabama Trading 65 Robb St Bourda VACANCY Cook #624-0033

DemBake @ Land of Canaan is seeking distributors & Driver and Porter for Water experienced drivers & sales Delivery Truck #680-3863 agents.

Email CV: admin@demerarabakery.com Driver must be able to assist / 266-5848 in workshop at Eccles, age 25-45, Car/Van license. Call Experienced male sales attendant, stocktaking #642-9823 knowledge, computer Purchasing clerk, Valid license literate, excellent service (mc/mv/ml) Age 25-55 Please attitude, able bodied.Key Food McDoom Village. call #616-6988 Looking for a job & educational services? Contact The Job Centre 43 Croal & Alexander Street or call 5024002/600-8457 One male technician installer, must be computer literate, apply with application. Tel#2273402 One legal computer clerk, 1 maid/cook, must reside in Mahaica/Mahaicony area.

Phone 624-7087. Email: husainsaphier@yahoo.com English & Maths Tutor. Contact #223-5273/74 One domestic. Contact #2235273/74 Accounts clerk to work at the office.

Contact barry@adamantiumholdings.com or Tel#654-7162

Room attendant, Desk staff receptionist.Age 2540yrs.233 South Road Lacytown/225-0198.

Assistant cook preferably Carnegie trained & Cashier/ waitress.225-7933 or visit 172 Sheriff Street.

Miners (Pit workers) to work in Konawaruk location. Call: 618-2020 1 truck & car driver #223-9677 8am-5pm Mon to Friday Sales Representative Indoors. Must have a sound secondary education. For more info please call #223-0090.

Ta x a t i o n P e r s o n n e l : 3 yrs experience.Minimum qualification C AT / Diploma in A c c o u n t a n c y.

Send to Cook: to cook and manage the a p p l i c a t i o n A&S Fast food. Contact b s . v a c a n c y barry@adamantiumholdings.com @gmail.com. or Tel#654-7162 Immediate Vacancy exist for Sales clerk to work at A&S one cashier. Must have General Store and Gaulin Su- Maths+English & workers permarket.

Contact @ Del Ice Co.Call 231-1408/ barry@adamantiumholdings.com 642-9191. or Tel#654-7162

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Kaieteur News

Saturday May 18, 2019

Saturday May 18, 2019

Kaieteur News

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Saturday May 18, 2019

Saturday May 18, 2019

Nadal races into Rome semis with win over Verdasco ROME (Reuters) Champion Rafael Nadal set up an Italian Open semi-final with Stefanos Tsitsipas yesterday thanks to a 6-4 6-0 win over Fernando Verdasco.

A week after being beaten by the Greek upstart in the Madrid Open semis, the 32year-old Nadal will be eager to prove that the loss to Tsitsipas was just a blip as he fine tunes his game ahead of this month’s French Open.

The 20-year-old Greek progressed after Roger Federer pulled out with a right leg injury before their quarterfinal encounter.

Nadal went 2-0 down before surviving three break

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Kaieteur News

Spain’s Rafael Nadal celebrates winning his second round match against France’s Jeremy Chardy. (REUTERS/Matteo Ciambelli) points at 4-4 in the first set, but he pulled away by winning eight consecutive games to continue his hunt for a ninth title in Rome.

Diego Schwartzman

reached that last four with a 6-4 6-2 victory over Japanese sixth seed Kei Nishikori.

He will face either Novak Djokovic or Juan Martin del Potro for a place in the final.

Saturday May 18, 2019 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Today you may try to contact several people, Aries, none of whom may be available. You might particularly want to reach a female friend or relative who lives far away.

This could prove frustrating, as you have some interesting news for her. Keep trying.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Whether or not you should make a specific expenditure could cause some tension between you and a partner.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) A friend may be throwing a party and you might be expected to attend. You've probably had a stressful day and really don't feel up to it. Your friend may try to induce you to come by making you feel guilty.

CANCER(June21–July22) Today you might receive some uncomfortable intuitive signals from one or more of your friends, Cancer. Perhaps someone doesn't feel well but came out to play anyway.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Today you may attain a goal you've been hoping to reach for a long time, Leo. Oddly enough, friends, family, and even your significant other may not seem as happy as you expected.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Today you may be anxious to spend time with your family, Virgo, but there could be some chores you need to do first.

This could stress you out quite a bit if you let it.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Today it might be more difficult than usual for you to deal with words, Libra.

Someone might lend you a book on a rather obscure subject that you can't understand.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Some news that comes to you from a friend or colleague could shake you up today. You might find that what you learn casts doubts on concepts you've embraced for most of your life. This could confuse you.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Today you may see that nearly every couple you know is quarreling, Sagittarius. You may have a few differences with a current or potential partner, but this is nothing to worry about.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Today you may be in a very stressful atmosphere. Your entourage is likely to be tense and anxious, and you're no exception.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) You and a current or potential partner may disagree on whether to spend some time together alone or go out with friends, Aquarius.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) A relaxing evening at home may be just what you need, but a colleague might ask you to attend a businessrelated event. You may have had a stressful few days.

Such a party may be the last thing you want to do.

Winners set for record US$4 million payout LONDON, CMC – West Indies will have added incentive to win the World Cup starting later this month after the International Cricket Council yesterday announced a record US$4 million jackpot for the champions.

The tournament, which runs from May 30 to July 14, will see the Windies along with hosts England, defending champions Australia, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa and Sri Lanka, all challenging for top honours.

All ten teams will face each other in a round-robin group stage, with the top four

Match Officials...

From page 26 Advanced Referee Program (TARP). TARP referees are part of the development strategy of the Confederation to provide an opportunity of working with elite officials in order to prepare them for future competitions.

The 2019 Gold Cup will be the biggest-ever edition of the event, with more participating nations (16 up from 12 in 2017), more host countries (three, including first-time matches in Costa Rica and Jamaica), and more stadiums (17 up from 14 in 2017, eight of which are in contention to become a 2026 FIFA World Cup venue).

STAG Beer, Let’s Bet...

From page 31 Hornets Treasurer Roger Perreira at the company’s Beterverwagting (BV) headquarters.

According to Worrell, the sponsorship once against demonstrates Ansa McAl’s continued commitment to sports, and in this case, sports tourism, since the tournament will feature teams and players from outside of Guyana.

Worrell noted that the company will continue to support the STAG Beer Carnival 7’s and encourages everyone to head down to the GFC Ground on Sunday to support the event.

The tournament will mark Let’s Bet Sports’ first time sponsoring Rugby and the company already said that they’re looking forward to working closely in helping to push the sport.

advancing to the semi-finals.

The losing semi-finalists will pick up US$800,000 each, while the losing finalists will collect US$2 million.

Teams will earn US$40,000 for each match they win in the preliminary round, while the six teams that miss out on the final four will get $100,000 each.

The prize money is part of an overall US$10 million payout for the tournament in which West Indies are twotime champions, having won

the first two editions in 1975 and 1979.

West Indies, who took on Bangladesh in the final of the Tri-Nations Series in Dublin yesterday, will begin a oneweek camp at the Rose Bowl in Southampton today before facing New Zealand and South Africa in official warmup matches on May 26 and 28.

The Caribbean side faced Pakistan in their first match of the World Cup on May 31 at Trent Bridge in Nottingham.

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Saturday May 18, 2019

Kaieteur News

Warriors survive Blazers to take 2-0 series lead OAKLAND, Calif. Outgunned by the underdog Portland Trail Blazers for 47 minutes and without their two most productive big men, the Golden State Warriors employed an unusual strategy when things got desperate Thursday night.

They went away from their backcourt strength and attacked the basket with two of their biggest guys still standing.

Surprisingly, it worked.

Draymond Green lobbed to Kevon Looney for a goahead hoop with 52.9 seconds remaining, then converted a Stephen Curry assist into a layup of his own 40 seconds later, allowing the Warriors to outlast the Trail Blazers for a 114-111 win and 2-0 lead in the Western Conference finals.

The best-of-seven moves to Portland for Games 3 and 4 today and Monday, respectively.

Warriors standout Kevin Durant, who along with frontcourt sidekick DeMarcus Cousins missed the first two games, already has been ruled out of both Portland games because of a strained right calf.

After trailing by as many as 17 points in the third quarter and by eight with just 4:28 to play, the top-seeded Warriors scored 14 of the game’s final 17 points to sweep their opening two home games against the West’s third-seeded club.

“We stole that game,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said afterward. “They outplayed us for the majority of the night, but we brought enough competitive fire in the second half to overcome their

great play.

“We’ve been here before.

I think our experience helped us.”

Green’s lob to Looney came after Seth Curry, going toe-to-toe with brother Stephen in a historic matchup, had put Portland up 111-110 with a 3-pointer with 1:02 remaining.

After CJ McCollum misfired with a chance to counter Looney’s hoop, the Warriors converted at the other end on Stephen Curry’s pass to Green for a three-point lead with 12.3 seconds to play.

Needing a 3-pointer to tie, Damian Lillard had the ball stripped by Andre Iguodala while elevating for a 28-foot attempt, sealing Golden State’s win.

“Tried to get a little bit of space. ... He grabbed my arm and I lost the ball a bit,” Lillard said of the final play. “There was a lot of contact, but obviously the ref is not going to decide the game or jump in at that point. So ... good defensive play.”

Stephen Curry had 37 points to lead the Warriors, who have lost just once in their last 11 playoff games against Portland. Green also had a brilliant all-around game for Golden State, contributing 16 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and five blocks in the win.

Klay Thompson added 24 points, Looney 14 and Jordan Bell 11 for Golden State, which outshot Portland 51.2 percent to 44.2 and outrebounded the visitors 50-37.

“Everybody contributed,” Green said of the Durant-less attack. “We got to play and

Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) goes up for a layup against the Portland Trail Blazers during the fourth quarter in game two of the Western conference finals of the 2019 NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. (Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports) give him an opportunity to get back. Obviously, we’re a much better team with him on the floor. But right now we’re a very confident group.”

Lillard had a 23-point, 10assist double-double to lead the Trail Blazers, who lost despite outscoring Golden State 54-27 on 3-pointers..

McCollum finished with 22 points, Seth Curry 16, and Maurice Harkless and Rodney Hood 12 apiece for Portland, which got blown out 116-94 in Game 1 on

Match Officials Appointed for 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup Miami – The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf) yesterday announced the referees and assistant referees that have been selected for the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup. The 48 match officials were required to pass several assessments and fitness tests, to ensure they could be considered for Concacaf’s most prestigious national team competition.

“In preparing our elite referees for Concacaf ’s premier competition for national teams, we have left no stone unturned. The team of selected officials represents our Confederation’s best in terms of football knowledge,

technical ability as well as physical fitness preparation,” said Concacaf Director of Refereeing Brian Hall.

“We just completed a five-day pre-tournament training focused on our objective of preparing the referee team for excellence.

We are confident that our officials will be prepared to deliver an outstanding performance when the competition kicks off on June 15 at Rose Bowl Stadium in Los Angeles, California.”

As part of the Memorandum of Understanding with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), Concacaf also announced that a trio of referees from Qatar will officiate matches during this summer’s tournament.

“Following the successful

participation of Concacaf Referees in the 2019 Asian Cup, we are proud to continue collaborating with the AFC in our tournaments. This is the first time that a trio of match officials from AFC will be participating in a Concacaf Gold Cup, as part of our partnership with the Confederation.

This exchange complements our efforts to raise the level of refereeing across Concacaf,” added Hall.

The Concacaf Referee Committee approved the list of participants, who were reviewed and selected by the Concacaf Referee Technical Advisory Team, across regional group of refereeing experts.

This team includes members of the Targeted (Continued on page 25)

Tuesday.

“You hate to lose a game, but I think we showed that we can compete with them,” Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts assessed.

“It was a much better game than we played in Game 1. So we’ve got to take that into Game 3.”

The Trail Blazers led 108100 after a 3-pointer by Meyers Leonard with 4:28 left before the Warriors scored 10 straight, the final three on three free throws by Stephen Curry with 2:01 to go.

Seth Curry countered that with his fourth 3-pointer, setting up the frantic finish.

“This is the coolest experience I’ve ever had,” Stephen Curry said of dueling his brother in a high-stakes series. “He was amazing. It worked out perfectly tonight: He played well, and we won.”

Seemingly rejuvenated by getting a day off Wednesday — after having been rushed into Game 1 in the wake of an emotional series win over Denver — the Trail Blazers threatened to blow out the two-time defending champs, going up 67-50 in the first minute of the second half.

But the Warriors quickly rallied, getting 13 points from Thompson and 11 from

Stephen Curry in a 37-15 flurry that turned a 17-point deficit into a five-point lead before the period’s end.

The Trail Blazers led by as many as seven in the first quarter, but it was in the second period that they began dominating the game.

Portland led just 42-39 at the midpoint of the second quarter before Lillard and Seth Curry combined for 14 points in a 20-6 burst that opened a 17-point advantage late in the half. Lillard, who was scoreless for the game’s first 20 minutes, finished the half with 10. Portland led 6550 at the break.

SUR ready for Independence Athletics meet Coach of Super Upcoming Runners (SUR) Niall Stanton is optimistic that his club will put in a strong showing at this weekend’s two-day Independence Track and Field Championship which runs off today and tomorrow at the National Track and Field Centre (NTFC), Leonora.

“Club SUR is very prepared for this meet and is looking to do better than last year. The kids are working and are being overlooked by top local coach Sir Rose,” Stanton shared.

Further, Stanton shared that the club expects good performances from their athletes, “Well as coaches we have very high expectations

and are hoping to be in the top three or five because of the training so far that we have them going through.”

In addition, Stanton noted that such meets only aid in the development of the sport, “A meet like this is great for the development of the athletes of all ages and it brings out the best from them.”

“Most of the kids get a small gift and they love that and if you look at sports like this it really goes a far way because you are seeing now, more and more persons going out there and represent and that is what raises the level of competition,” Stanton shared.

With limited age group championships around, Stanton also believes that

more of these competitions are needed, “Yes we do need more events for the athletes, even if it is every other week because it will only motivate them more and also help the coach or coaches to know if the kids are developing and what needs to be changed in the training programme from time to time,” Stanton mentioned.

Stanton revealed some of the athletes to watch for come championship time, “Some of the persons to look out for are Cordell Charles who just got back from Carifta games, Joel Williams, Savannah Adams and Vibert Dummett just to name a few.”

The meet runs off from 10:00hrs today.

Saturday May 18, 2019

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Kaieteur News

KFC supports Fisherman Masters for NY Independence Cup KFC has thrown their support behind Fisherman Masters cricket team who will be participating in the New York Softball Cricket League Independence Cup next month.

Latifah Phoenix HR Clerk presented a Cheque to Mrs. Khamwantie Singh owner of the team, at a presentation Ceremony held at the KFC head office, 8-10 Vlissingen Road, Georgetown. The duo wished the team well in this Venture and urged them to make Guyana proud. Mrs. Singh expressed gratitude to KFC

who always play a major part in sports and other activities in Guyana.

Marketing Manager for the Fisherman Masters cricket team Zameer Hassan is calling on the public to support the Raffle which costs $200 per ticket. Patrons will have a chance to win smart tv, cell phone, grocery hamper and phone credit. The drawing will be held the 2nd of June at Malteenoes Sports Club.

Anyone willing to come on board can contact Hassan on 601-3917 or 692-7023.

GFF/KFC U-20 Independence KO Cup – Bartica FA Semis

Rivers View oppose Lazio today Omar Persaud and Mark Hoyte scored a goal each to guide Lazio FC to victory over Agatash United FC, 20, the result sealed Lazio’s place in the semi finals of the Bartica leg of the GFF/KFC Under-20 knockout tournament.

Both Lazio goals came in the first half of a scruffy encounter on a rain-soaked pitch.

While chances were created at both ends, it was Coach Sherwin Da Silva’s boys who finished early to go ahead in the match.

But in the depth of the game, Aston Simmons came up big with a late goal for Agatash United to inspire a fight back before time was called.

Omar Persaud and Mark Hoyte - Lazio FC One semi final match was contested yesterday afternoon at the Bartica Secondary School ground between Rising Stars and Potaro Strikers, the other would be contested today between Rivers View and

Lazio FC. The respective winners will collide in the final with the winner from this match earning the right to represent the Bartica Football Association in the National Playoffs.

Archery Guyana continues in its development push Robert Singh during one of many practice sessions at Carifesta Sports Complex ground.

Mrs. Khamwantie Singh (left) accepts the cheque from Latifah Phoenix.

Fireworks expected in final round-robin play tonight in Corona Futsal tourney Much action is expected tonight as the group roundrobin stage comes to a close with the final six matches at the National Gymnasium on Princes and Mandela Avenue from 19:30hrs in the Top Brandz and Rose Ramdehol sponsored tournament.

All the matchups tonight are potential thrillers with the

headline game being contested by between Group A leaders’ Back Circle and Sparta Boss; either of which are strong contenders for the championships trophy and $500,000 cash prize.

With added incentives for the top performers in the group stages, keen battles with be fought tonight.

The teams that come out

on top in the group stages will be awarded as follows: first $40,000; second $30,000; third $15,000, and fourth $10,000, as an added incentive.

The second place finishers will pocket $250,000 while the third place finisher will pocket $125,000.

Below are the points standing table and fixtures for tonight.

Groups GP W D L GF GA GD Points Group A Back Circle 2 2 10 4 6 Sparta Boss 2 1 1 7 3 4 California Square 2 1 1 3 4 -1 Beacons 2 2 4 13 -9 Group B Bent Street 2 1 1 7 2 5 Future Stars 2 1 1 7 5 2 Leopold Street 2 1 1 9 5 4 Mocha 2 2 0 11 -11 Group C Tiger Bay 2 2 6 2 4 North East Lap 2 1 1 5 4 1 West Front Road 2 1 1 2 2 0 Tucville 2 2 5 9 -4 Fixtures 5/18/2019 Round Robin Night 3 at Gymnasium Match # 19:30 hrs Beacons vs California Square 25 20:15 hrs Mocha vs Future Stars 26 21:00 hrs Tucville vs West Front Road 27 21:45 hrs Tiger Bay vs North East La Penitence 28 22:30 hrs Leopold Street vs Bent Street 29 23:15 hrs Back Circle vs Sparta Boss 30

6 4 1 0 4 4 3 0 6 3 3 0

Archery Guyana is expected to benefit from advanced training techniques and skills when its’ Outdoor Champion (2018) Robert Singh leaves for San Fernando, Trinidad to participate on the 18th to 21st May in a Development Coaching Seminar with the World renowned South Korean Archery Coach Kim Hyung Tae Kim. Coach Kim started archery in 1967 when archery was first introduced to Korea.

In 1971 he became the first Korean archery coach, he then studied and further developed archery techniques for archers. He established the fundamentals of Korean archery by passing on archery know-how to Korean coaches and athletes from 1983 to 1986, nurturing the first gold and bronze medals at the 1984 LA Olympics and several world records.

From 1989 to 1994, he led the Taiwanese national team to a world class standard. For 12 years, since 2002, as

elected Coach of the Committee of the World Archery Federation, he has conducted seminars, coached archers across the world and participated in developing a coaching manual.

Coach Kim has provided opportunities to several archery coaches and archers across the world by publishing the Kim, Hyungtak archery book, current Korean archers follow this coaching manual which was published by Korea Archery Association in 2012.

In 2004, he opened Kim, Hyung-Tak Archery School, and since then over 2000 archers from 40 countries have trained at this training center, and many archers have gained successful results at Olympics and World Championships.

At present, many archers and teams are training at coach Kim’straining center.

He participated in the 2015 Summer Universiade as a compound coach of Korean national team, and nurtured 3

gold medals at individual, team and mixed team events.

He popularized new compound techniques to Korea which has helped propel Korea to be top of the world rapidly. Coach Kim utilizes the dart fish video programme to analyze the technique of archers accurately so that they can gain better results in a shorter time frame.

Archery Guyana wishes Mr. Robert Singh success at this seminar. This exposure will assist in developing both Robert Singh and the sport of archery in Guyana. This also forms part of his preparations for the Beginners/ Developmental Competition being hosted in Santo Domingo in June 2019.

The Board of Directors extends thanks to the Southern Archery Academy Ltd of Trinidad & Tobago for extending this invitation to Guyana. This seminar will also help to foster relations between our Caribbean archery associations/ federations.

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Saturday May 18, 2019

Kaieteur News

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

Hinds, Bookie hit fifties as Demerara beat E’bo by 96 runs

By Sean Devers Fifties from Man-of-theMatch Adrian Hinds and Alphius Bookie and a fourwicket haul for Daniel Mootoo spearheaded Demerara to an emphatic 96run victory against Essequibo and place in tomorrow’s final when the preliminary round of the Hand-in-Hand 50-over U-19 Inter-County cricket tournament ended at Bourda yesterday.

Hinds hit a responsible 73 from 107 balls with four fours and a six and shared in 40-run third wicket stand with Alphius Bookie whose unbeaten 67 lasted 99 balls and included five boundaries which included three sixes.

A cameo 34 from 24 balls with three fours from Skipper Ashmead Nedd also helped Demerara to 223-5 from 50 overs.

Elian Whyte was the most successful bowler with 2-56 but was also the most expensive, while off-spinner Amit Persaud, who opened the bowling also leaked runs; finishing with 1-44 for Essequibo who made 127 from 37 overs in reply.

The 17-year-old Lance Roberts top scored with an unbeaten 53 from 47 balls decorated three fours and two sixes, but only Amir Singh (22) and Kevin Christian (18) reached double figures as leftarm spinner Daniel Mootoo (4-18) and off-spinner Joel Spooner (2-27) did the damage for Demerara.

Demerara, who dropped

Daniel Mootoo had 4-18 to help Demerara to tomorrow’s final at Bourda. the out-of-form Windies U-16 Captain Sachin Singh, elected to bat in sunny conditions on a flat track and slow outfield and Mahesh Ramnarine made to breakthrough in the eighth over with the score on 29 when he bowled Robin Williams for 10 after he had deposited Persaud for six.

The left-handed Hinds, whose extra-cover driving was a delight to watch, was joined by Yeudister Persaud and they carried the score to 50 in the 13th over before Persaud (9) was bowled by off-spinner Lance Roberts at 57-2 in the 15th over.

Hinds played fluently and favoured the drives through cover and the sweep, while Bookie began in aggressive fashion; lofting Persaud for six and dumping Roberts back over his head onto the sightscreen.

The third wicket partnership flourished with both batsmen looking comfortable despite not finding the gaps and running between the wickets hard enough.

The 100 was posted in the 27th over and Hinds, who reached his 50 from 80 balls with three boundaries, stroked Persaud for four before clobbering him on the roof of the Rohan Kanhai stand next ball.

He then got greedy and was trapped LBW in the same over to leave the home team 135-3.

Boodie launched into Roberts and deposited the off-spinner for four before he lofted Persaud effortlessly over the ropes as he dominated the fourth wicket stand with Zachery Jodah who tried to hit the ball too hard and had trouble finding the gaps.

With the score on 175, Jodah yielded the pressure of ‘dot balls’ and was bowled by Whyte for nine.

Bookie hit Jeremiah Scott over long-off for a flat six and pulled a chest high full toss from Amos Sarwan for four before reaching his halfcentury from 73 balls with three sixes and two fours.

Nedd was in aggressive mode and smashed Scott brutally past extra cover like a bullet boundary before swatting Adrian Ramikpaul to the midwicket boundary as he dominated a 46-run stand with Bookie before hitting

Whyte to long-off in the penultimate over leaving Joel Spooner (1) unbeaten with Bookie.

Essequibo began their hunt in horrendous fashion losing the in-form Orlando Jailall; run out for a duck and Scott (0), who pulled a short ball from Qumar Torrington, who bowled with plenty of pace, high to mid-off as two wickets fell with just a single on the board.

Christian and Amir Singh, who hammered left-arm pacer Garfield Benjamin back past his ankles for four, added 49 for the third wicket before Singh hit Spooner to mid-off at 50-3.

Mootoo removed Bhumeshwar Ramkisoon and Elian Whyte for ducks as two wickets tumbled at 60 and it was soon 78-8 when Mootoo struck twice when he got rid of Mahesh Ramkisoon (8) and had Sarwan (1) as Roberts was fast running out of partners.

Persaud hung around a while with Roberts who was not afraid to use his feet to the spinners and drive down the ground or over the top.

But when Persaud (1) was bowled by Pradesh

Lane Roberts goes over cover in his unbeaten fifty in a losing effort for E’bo.

Balikisoon at 100-9, Roberts, of Amerindian decent and hails from Pomeroon, was in danger of being left stranded before reaching his fifty.

But last man Adrian Ranikpaul (3) stayed with him until left-arm spinner Nedd dismissed him to end the contest.

Osaka pulls out of Rome quarters with hand injury (Reuters) - World number one Naomi Osaka pulled out of the Italian Open quarterfinals yesterday with a right thumb injury, casting doubts over her participation in this month’s French Open.

The 21-year-old Japanese was scheduled to face sixth seed Kiki Bertens after coming through two matches on Thursday in the rain-affected tournament but said she was forced to withdraw due to pain and swelling at the base of her thumb.

“I woke up this morning and couldn’t really move my thumb,” Osaka told reporters. “I tried to practise and grip my racket but I couldn’t, and I kept feeling this pain when I tried to move my hand in different directions.

“Right now I’m... in between sad and disappointed because I really wanted to play my match today. For me, it was sort of a test to play against Kiki because she’s playing really well and I wanted to see how well I could do today.

“I didn’t feel anything yesterday. That’s why I’m kind of confused right now

Japan’s Naomi Osaka during a press conference after withdrawing from her quarter final match against Kiki Bertens of Netherlands due to injury. (REUTERS/Matteo Ciambelli) because I literally woke up in the morning and couldn’t move my thumb. So I was like, maybe I slept on it and maybe it will go away, but it didn’t.”

An abdominal injury had forced Osaka to pull out ahead of her semi-final clash in Stuttgart last month before she was beaten by Belinda Bencic in the Madrid Open quarter-finals.

“I would describe (my clay season) as rocky,” Osaka added.

“But I can’t necessarily say it’s been ups and downs because if I think about it, it’s definitely been going up.

Every match I’ve played I’ve learned a lot. I’ve tried to take what I’ve learned into the next match and I think I’ve done that well.”

Following her U.S. Open and Australian triumphs, Osaka is chasing a third straight Grand Slam trophy at the French Open which begins on May 26.

Saturday May 18, 2019

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Kaieteur News

Woodpecker Products Junior National Squash Tournament

Wiltshire large and in charge with night four win over Alphonso At just 16 Shomari Wiltshire is clearly in a class above his peers on the Squash Court and he demonstrated that on Thursday night at the Georgetown Club on night four of the Woodpecker Products Junior National Tournament.

The reigning champion maintained his clean slate when he defeated Michael Alphonso in the Boys U17 & 19 Category as he played precise and calculated Squash.

Wiltshire, the son of former Guyana and Southern Caribbean Champion Garfield Wiltshire, forced Alphonso to move around the court in a valiant effort to earn points.

But was not a one sided contest as impressive rallies and outstanding play from both youngsters punctuated the entertaining match and highlighted the high standard of Junior Squash, but as expected Wilshire remained fully in charge and romped to an 11/4, 11/ 4, 11/5 victory.

In the Boys U-13, Joshua Verwey and Dhiren Persaud fought hard for a five set match.

The pair of determined youngsters showed plenty of

Shomari Wiltshire remained unbeaten after four nights of action.

Mohryan Baksh (left) defeated Zachary Persaud on Thursday night at the GT Club.

intestinal fortitude and ran down each other’s shots and at four games the score read two all.

But Verwey produced a great run of well-placed balls and a renewed determination; dominating for an 11/2 final game to take the match.

Samuel Ince-Carvalhal registered his third consecutive win beating

Demetrius DeAbreu 3/0, while Nicholas Verwey defeated Gianni Carpenter in three straight games.

In the girl’s category, Abosaide Cadogan and Kirsten Gomes made light work of their opponents in the under 17 & 19 departments, while Aishani Persaud got the better of Beau Fernandes despite Fernandes coming

back strong to win the second game.

Safirah Summer and Christiana Fernandes battled another four-setter that could have gone to either player.

Fernandes pushed ahead to take the first and was so close to the second when at 10/10, Sumner held on for the win. The ensuing 2 games were certainly close calls but it was Sumner who emerged triumphant with a 9/11, 12/10, 11/8, 11/7 victory.

Results Girls U-11 Tiana Gomes defeated Maya Dean 11/4, 11/0, 11/1

Girls U-13 Safirah Sumner defeated Christina Fernandes 9/11, 12/ 10, 11/8, 11/7 Aishani Persaud defeated Beau Fernandes 11/8, 8/11, 11/ 5, 11/3 Girls U-17 & 19 Abosaide Cadogan defeated Angel Rahim 11/0, 11/1, 11/3 Kirsten Gomes defeated Teija Edwards 11/0, 11/0, 11/2 Boys U-13 Joshua Verwey defeated Dhiren Persaud 9/11, 11/6, 6/ 11, 11/7, 11/2 Shiloh Asregado defeated Chad DeAbreu 11/6, 11/5, 11/

5 Louis DaSilva defeated Matthew Spooner 11/0, 11/0, 11/0 Boys U-15 Mohryan Baksh defeated Zachary Persaud 11/6, 11/4, 11/7 Boys U-17&19 Samuel Ince- Carvalhal defeated Demetrius DeAbreu 11/5, 11/4, 11/4 Nicholas Verwey defeated Gianni Carpenter 11/7, 11/6, 11/2 Shomari Wiltshire defeated Michael Alphonso 11/4, 11/4, 11/5 (Sean Devers)

GOBSA set for hosting of Independence Athletics Championship Donate javelins to Carifta gold medalist….

Anisha Gibbons receives the female javelins from President of GOBSA David Thomas and other officials look on.

The Guyana Overseas Based Sport Association (GOBSA) will be hosting an age group championship this weekend at the National Track and Field Centre, Leonora.

At a press brief, President of GOBSA David Thomas shared that the event is set to be a great one with all logistics already in place for the fourth edition of the event.

“This event is expected to be larger and next year definitely be bigger because it will be the trial run to the Caribbean junior Olympics or what we call the junior Carifta games for 2021.”

Coordinator of the event, Orin Thomas shared the importance of such a meet and the

possible benefits that can be had as Guyana head to the hosting of the Carifta Games in 2021.

“We must start the kids at a young age and that is the reason for the age groups because this allows for us to talent spot so that we can groom our athletes for 2021 and beyond, (Anisha) Gibbons won the under-17 javelin and is just 14, that means she started young and that is why it is important to have these age groups,” Thomas noted.

Meanwhile, President of the Athletics Association of Guyana Aubrey Hutson was adamant that such events aid in the development of the sport.

AAG President Aubrey Hutson receives some batons at the official launch of the event.

“We are thankful for GOBSA and their efforts and donations because it aids us in the developing the sport to greater heights, we are happy for their partnership thus far,” Hutson shared.

The event will be held on May 18 and 19, today and tomorrow, at the Leonora Synthetic facility with athletes participating from as early as under-10 all the way to masters.

The meet will commence at 10 hours on both days.

Meanwhile, 2019 Carifta gold medalist Anisha Gibbons was the recipient of two female javelins at the media brief.

Gibbons, who usually trains with a male

javelin under the stewardship of coach Raymond Daw, was blessed with the javelins by former national thrower Patrick Harding in conjunction with the Guyana Overseas Based Sport Association.

This is the first time the 14-year old will be able to train with the right javelin as she continues her journey as a national athlete.

President of GOBSA David Thomas was on hand to present the javelins to the young talent along with President of the AAG, Aubrey Hutson.

Gibbons rose to prominence by winning javelin gold for Guyana at the 2019 Carifta Games.

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Saturday May 18, 2019

Kaieteur News

Mosaddek’s 20-ball fifty seals historic win for Bangladesh ESPNcricinfo - Mosaddek Hossain’s blinder, the perfect follow-up to the start provided by Soumya Sarkar, handed Bangladesh their first-ever ODI final win, as they chased down 210 which was set after West Indies reached 152 for 1 following a five-hour rain break.

Mosaddek hit the fastest ODI fifty for Bangladesh, off 20 balls, striking five sixes and two fours in his unbeaten 24-ball 52. He took charge in the 22nd over, with

Bangladesh still needing 27 from 18 balls, going after leftarm spinner Fabian Allen as he hit him for three sixes and a four. Mahmudullah, his partner at the crease at the time, struck the winning runs in the next over with a rasping cover drive, with seven balls remaining.

West Indies were poor in the field for most parts. They were sloppy at the boundary and the bowlers conceded a number of wides. Their strong top-order contribution

was once again let down by their bowlers and fielders.

They couldn’t contain Soumya at the top, who struck 66 off 56 balls with nine fours and three sixes, and had essentially made the job easier for rest of the line-up.

Soumya started the 210-run chase with two fours over cover off Ashley Nurse in the first over. Nurse dropped Tamim off Kemar Roach in the third over. Soumya, having gained the strike from the resultant single, slammed a

stylish six over wide long-on, and two more fours to take 17 off the over.

It was Shannon Gabriel who pulled things back by picking Tamim Iqbal and Sabbir Rahman in the sixth over. But this dent hardly changed Soumya’s flow as he struck Holder for two fours immediately, and then went on to reach his fifty off 27 balls, the fourth fastest by a Bangladesh batsman.

With contributions from Soumya and Mushfiqur, Bangladesh reached their highest-ever score at the end of 10 overs in an ODI innings.

Soumya, however, lost his wicket in the 12th over.

Mushfiqur’s quickfire 36 off 22 balls, that included two slog-swept sixes, ended in the 14th over when Raymon Reifer pinned him in front.

After Mohammad Mithun fell two overs later, the chase got tense as Bangladesh slipped to 143 for five in the 16th over.

But the MahmudullahMosaddek sixth-wicket pair took them home with their 70run stand.

Earlier in the day, the West Indies opening pair of Shai Hope and Sunil Ambris had posted a strong 125 for no loss in 20.1 overs before rain stopped play for nearly five hours.

Ambris and Hope had both reached their fifties before the rain break, looking in full control after surviving many plays and misses in the first nine overs.

It wasn’t until the third over that Ambris went big, when he drove Mashrafe between extra cover and midoff for the first four of the innings.

The play resumed at 5.30pm local time, and West Indies added 21 runs in the remaining 2.5 overs.

Guyana beat Belize to end 2019 CBSC Group D campaign on a high - El Salvador wins group Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – Guyana’s Beach Soccer team ended its 2019 Concacaf Beach Soccer Championship with a 3-2 win against Belize in Group D on Thursday last in Mexico.

The ‘Golden Jaguars’ of the Beach were led by Shane Luckie bagging a brace to pace his side to the win.

Guyana had lost its first

match to El Salvador 4-8 after which they went down to Guadeloupe 0-2 on penalty kicks after regulation time had ended 3-3.

The Guyanese scored a total of ten (10) goals in the three matches played whilst conceding thirteen (13).

Meanwhile, El Salvador was commanding in its 8-1 win over Guadeloupe which

ensured they ended top in Group D. Agustin Ruiz notched a hat-trick for the Cuscatlecos and was joined by five different scorers in a victory that gave El Salvador a perfect 3W-0D-0L record in the group stage.

Despite the defeat, Guadeloupe has also reached the Knockout Round thanks to its secondplace finish in the group.

Kaieteur News

Saturday May 18, 2019

Guyana Carnival 7’s Rugby

STAG Beer, Let’s Bet Sports on board STAG Trinidad Northern Rugby Football Club will h e a d l i n e t o m o r r o w ’s Guyana Carnival 7s Rugby tournament, which is set for the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) Ground, from 13:00hrs.

The tournament which is in its second year, will see Ansa McAl behind their STAG Beer brand as the title sponsor, while the Guyana Lottery Company’s Let’s Bet Sports, Pepsi and Ramps Logistics are the other major sponsors.

T h e S TA G B e e r s p o n s o r e d Tr i n i d a d i a n Rugby Club, one of the Twin Island Public’s oldest in the sport, will be competing in Guyana for the very first time, and will face the likes of Panthers, defending champions Pepsi Hornets, Caribs and the Guyana Police Force.

Pepsi Hornets are expected to be boosted by the likes of Abdullah Silverton, arguably one of the best players in Trinidad, and Blaise Bailey, returning

Pepsi Hornets Treasurer, Roger Perreira (left) receiving the sponsor’s cheque from STAG Beer Brand Manager Nigel Worrell. from the United States.

However, the organiser felt the visitors will be the team to beat along with the youthful Panthers unit.

Rawle Toney, Vice President of the Pepsi Hornets Rugby Club and one of the principals behind the tournament, stated all is set for the second edition of the only sporting event on the

Guyana Carnival Calendar.

Toney indicated players will want to use the tournament to fine tune their skills ahead of the Rugby Americas North (RAN) Sevens tournament in July.

Meanwhile, Ansa McAl’s STAG Beer Brand Manager Nigel Worrell made a presentation to Pepsi (Continued on page 27)

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Mosaddek’s 20-ball fifty seals Guyana beat Belize to end 2019 historic win for Bangladesh CBSC Group D campaign on a high - El Salvador wins group

Man-of-the-Series Shai Hope drives during his top score of 74 on Friday.

Action in the Guyana vs Belize match on Thursday in Mexico.

Woodpecker Products Junior National Squash Tournament

Wiltshire large and in charge with night four win over Alphonso

Hand-in-Hand U-19 Inter-County Cricket Adrian Hinds drives the expensive Amit Persaud for four during his 73 at Bourda yesterday.

Hinds, Bookie hit fifties as Demerara beat E’bo by 96 runs

Joshua Verwey (right) defeated Dhiren Persaud 9-11, 11-6, 6-11, 11-7, 11-2 in the only Boys U-13 match on Thursday night.

Alphius Bookie cuts for during his unbeaten 67 at Bourda.

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