PAGE 04
Kaieteur News
Saturday May 19, 2018
Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Adam Harris Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL A WEAKER INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM IN THE MAKING In the last quarter century, the world has undergone a fundamental reconfiguration due to the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. These dramatic world events ended the Cold War and the East-West divide that had existed since the end of World War II. They have also changed the international political system so much so that if it were possible today to bring back to life some of the people who died in 1985, they would have great difficulty recognizing the current global landscape. They would want to know why there is one Germany instead of two; where has Yugoslavia gone, what happened to the Soviet Union and why apartheid no longer exists in South Africa. They would also want to know how communism vanished from the global landscape and how the communist states of China, Cuba and North Korea have opted for economies, which are essentially capitalist in nature. If these persons who died had lived in Guyana, they would have been surprised to see the changes that took place in the political landscape of the country in 1992 and in 2015. Since Donald Trump assumed the presidency of the United States and vowed to put “America first” and “make America great again” the world has entered a new phase of political uncertainty. The isolationist position of the Trump administration and a weaker Britain due to its pending exit from the European Union (EU), have fueled discussion among international experts about the direction of the world that seemed poised to undergo a fresh round of sweeping radical changes. Since the end of the Second World War, the vast majority of countries have largely looked to the United States and to the United Kingdom for leadership and direction. This Anglo-American alliance was mainly responsible for putting in place the economic, military, diplomatic and other arrangements that have shaped international relations today. Mr. Trump’s isolationist policies and the unexpected vote by the British people for Britain to exit the European Union has not only threatened to derail the post-Cold War international system, but they have also made the system much weaker.However, Mr. Trump’s resentment of Obama and his eagerness to vilify him are driven by a biased agenda to diminish his achievements. This is evident in his decision to pull the U.S. out of the Climate Change Paris agreement, his withdrawal from the Iranian nuclear arrangement and his plan to scrap the Deferred Action for Child Arrivals (DACA) programme that gives temporary protection to undocumented children in the US. His actions are a clear indication that the era of U.S. diplomacy has ended and that the international system is poised for an interesting period that would make it much weaker. It is without a doubt that President Trump’s policies have negatively impacted and weakened the international system. They have spurred uncertainty and could destabilize the existing global order. America can no longer boast of having strong global leadership required to strengthen the inter-national system and steered the world in the right direction. The Brexit vote and the election of Emmanuel Macron as president of France have revitalized the Franco-German alliance by making it more powerful and genuine. Meanwhile, a climate change alliance has emerged between China and the EU as the former extends its international influence by positioning itself as the leader on environmental issues. These developments could have serious implications for Guyana and the Caribbean because they are not major players on the international stage. The time may eventually come when Guyana and the Caribbean countries could find themselves overwhelmed by international events that are beyond their control.
Editor’s Note; If your sent letter was not published and you felt its contents were valid and devoid of libel or personal attacks, please contact us by phone or email.
Putting these people to diversify GuySuCo is madness DEAR EDITOR, I have tried to remain silent for three years, but it is becoming a problem and if I don’t release some of my pent up frustration, I am afraid that I will burst. We h a v e t w o governments - it is not a Coalition - it appears to me that the Cummingsburg Accord gave far too much power to the AFC to form the Coalition: Ministry of Agriculture including GuySuCo; National Resources including Bauxite, gold, Oil etc; Communications including broadcasting; Ministry of Works, Home Affairs - and the bigger party, APNU kept very little for themselves; really only Ministry of Finance. And from watching them in operation, it seems to me that the AFC is operating quite autonomous in their areas of control. It’s a very strange construct and no one that I have spoken to from the PNC disagrees with me. Today I want to address a letter in yesterday’s Stabroek News captioned “Corporate governance at GuySuCo has been ripped apart” by one
Mr. Sasenarine Singh. To help make Mr. Singh’s point, I will relay to the public two issues, which showed me that the incompetence in and of GuySuCo is so thick you can cut it with a knife. After the Coalition came to power, they held one of many very expensive Commissions of Inquiry to look into what had to be done with the sugar industry; everyone knows this. What is less known, is that someone/something…GuyS uCo, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Finance…issued a directive that no husbandry work must be done in the industry until the Commission of Inquiry’s findings were made public, and in fact no money was allocated by Government, since GuySuCo was too far in debt to carry out these essential operations. The inquiry started in June of 2015 and lasted to October, and the COI recommended that the industry should be privatized, but Government decided not to accept that advice and delayed the
situation another month. What I am saying is that it is my information that during the long months - June to October/November 2015 when the first crop canes were growing in the fields, no husbandry was done, since they were waiting for the results of the COI. The no husbandry included no fertilizer for 5-6 months, which badly affected the 2016 first crop. S i n c e a n y recommendations, which the COI could have arrived at, could not possibly be that we should just abandon the sugar industry, not doing husbandry to fast-growing cane was absolutely nonsensical and the disaster went over to the 2017 first crop as well, so in the end this COI was one of the reasons we damaged the first crops in the Guyana industry so badly. This example of course exposes the shortcomings of Government more than the sugar managers do, but it is my opinion that the highlypaid managers had within their power, the means to alert the government to the
dangers of not releasing money to do husbandry in the first crop of 2015. Therefore, the Interim Management Committee failed to get the government, especially the Ministry of Agriculture, to understand the gravity of the situation. When I was appointed to the Board, the first thing I wanted an answer to was the declining yield of the sugar corporation. Unlike others, I did not go into this position to learn, I know the Guyana industry, and Mr. Robert Corbin asked me to shadow Robert Persaud as Minister of Agriculture when I was in parliament, so I was familiar with the problems of the corporation and I had commented many times on it, but data was not very forthcoming from the PPP, so on entering the board room I asked for the yield of all cane in 2014, by cycle i.e. plants; 1st ratoons; 2nd ratoons; 3rd ratoons; 4th ratoons, and all other ratoons. Now GuySuCo has a planting programme of 20% of its cultivation each year, so theoretically they should (Continued on page 06)
Breach of Confidentiality is an offense punishable by law DEAR EDITOR, The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has taken note of two articles, which appeared in one of the daily newspapers referencing statistics on tax concessions granted to foreign mining companies. Both articles which appeared on consecutive days’ disclosed that the said data was sourced from information that was “released by the Guyana R e v e n u e A u t h o r i t y, ” showing that AGM and Troy Resources “received generous concessions from 2016 to now.” Against this backdrop, the GRA wishes to reiterate that while the quantum of concessions given to persons so benefitting should be published by the Authority, the information concerning itemized concessions are confidential in nature and that any unauthorised release is in breach of the oath of Confidentiality and Secrecy. Section 4 (1) of the I N C O M E TA X A C T, Chapter 81:01, states, Every
person who has any official duty or is employed in the secrecy administration of this Act shall regard and deal with documents, information, returns, assessment lists and copies of those lists relating to the income or items of income of any person, as secret and confidential, and shall make and subscribe a declaration in the form prescribed to that effect before a magistrate. In the past, offenses of this nature, including acts of collusion have tarnished the professionalism and reputation of the GRA, which has a mandate to collect all revenue to the Government and ensure that Guyana’s best interests are adequately safeguarded. The Commissionerwould also like to distance himself from the statement that he agrees that Guyana is not getting value for the concessions, and would like to reiterate that tax revenue is only one criterion of measurement. Other criteria include but are not limited to social
benefits of increased employment and training, and foreign exchange contributions to the economy. Further, on the investor ’s side of the equation, operating and development costs, uncertainty in exploration activities, volatility of commodity prices, the inability of government to fund its own exploration, and the political and economic climate, all allow for increased risk, and the demand for a higher rate of return by investors. The Authority will nevertheless exercise great
diligence in accordance with the law to sanction anyone found guilty. Guyana Revenue Authority EDITOR’S NOTE: The source of the itemized concessions is in no way related to Mr. Statia. Some things are always at the disposal of the press and the itemized concessions happened to be one of them. We s t a n d b y t h e comment attributed to Mr Statia, which reads, “Guyana is not getting value for the concessions.”
Corporate Governance 2.0 DEAR EDITOR, Corporate Governance was designed to facilitate guardianship of companies’ assets for their real owners. In the case of GuySuCo, the real owners are the citizens of Guyana, but it is clear that the Granger Administration has thrown the whole concept of effective and efficient
corporate governance under the bus. Why does an entire Government have to be pandering to the opacities of a small cabal over the welfare of thousands of ordinary people who still depend on the sugar industry for their daily bread? By continuing to (Continued on page 06)
Saturday May 19, 2018
PAGE 5
Kaieteur News
GPOC needs tweaking to remain The Guyana Prize for relevant Literature has gone into limbo DEAR EDITOR, Our general operations of the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) need a good tweaking to get up to speed with modern times and to remain relevant. I set aside some of my valuable time to go to the GPOC, under the illusion that I was going to do a straightforward transaction; but I was wrong. What should have been a simple trip to the GPOC to ship a package to Germany became a fatiguing, frustrating, annoying experience that made me regret having to conduct business with our national post office. I am forced to ask a question: Is the GPOC working against itself to seal its own coffin? I was sent away twice. On one occasion, I was told that my driver’s licence was not an acceptable form of identification, so I had to leave to get my national identification card. The ridiculous and most annoying part of the experience came when the clerk informed me that they would not accept a photocopy of a proof of address. I had to return to my office to get a computer print-off of a bill from the Guyana Power and Light to produce as my proof of address. The GPOC clerk however rejected my electricity bill, stating that it had been printed directly from the internet and they need to see the post office stamp on it. By that time, I had started to become mentally and physically fatigued. I went through great pains to explain the stupidity of this exercise to the young clerk and two customs officers,
who appeared sympathetic, but could do nothing to help. I don’t blame the post office clerk. He is only following the rules established by the Postmaster General. Kaieteur News columnist Freddie Kissoon recently wrote an article rightfully lambasting one of the popular banks in Georgetown for imposing ridiculous rules about proof of address. Anyone can put their name with any address on an envelope, mail it, and present the envelope as proof of their place of residence. Unfortunately, I have neither the bravado nor temperament of Freddie Kissoon, but I concur with his concerns at that bank and the backward rules various agencies apply for proof of address. I am extremely annoyed by the experience that I had at GPOC. I was sent away three times and I was not given proper guidance as to what the post office requires. Furthermore, these requirements are redundant, ridiculous and annoying. It appears to me that the GPOC is stuck in a sordid orgy of backwardness. There are a few other phrases I could use here, but I am a gentleman, and I try to avoid using terms that I know will offend some persons. At least, let me say politely that the mentalities of the management should be tweaked. A bit of tweaking will help them to realize that there is an international campaign to stop using paper because to get paper, we must destroy our trees, which affects our LCDS and creates pollution and destruction in the environment and eco-sphere. Therefore, banks, electricity companies, water companies, investment companies etc. are encouraging custom-
ers to go paperless. My family and I, as well as RK’s Guyana Security Services and its subsidiaries, accede to this as the way forward for our environment. Hence, we access and pay bills and do our banking via the internet. I wish the Postmaster General and his board would put their heads together and jog their grey matter to find a way to solve this issue and drag the dinosaur that GPOC has become into modern times. GPOC and others who indulge in this nonsense are forcing Guyanese to take the comical step of going to the post office and posting empty envelopes to themselves to get the approved post office stamp. If the Postmaster General and his board want to stop the post office from becoming irrelevant, they have to do what post offices around the world are doing and facilitate paperless transactions using documents from the internet, which can then be stamped by the GPOC. In developed countries, the stamping of envelopes and packaging is done with a particular machine linked to the internet. Even stamping of correspondences and packages with a particular machine linked to the internet is practiced in developed countries. I recall having to provide proof of address in the US for the replacement and upgrade of a New York driver’s license. All I had to do was take a bank statement from the internet and get the bank to affix a stamp or seal to verify it. So I wish to advise the eminent board of the GPOC and the Postmaster General that they should communicate with various institutions, like banks, Guyana Power and Light, Guyana Telephone (Continued on page 06)
DEAR EDITOR, The Guyana Prize for Literature that was inaugurated in 1987 by the late President Desmond Hoyte is the most prestigious literary award in the English-speaking Caribbean. The objective of the Guyana Prize is to “recognize and reward outstanding work in literature by Guyanese authors at home and abroad.” As a concerned author, poet and literary critic, I observed some flaws in the Guyana Prize Management Committee since I was an entrant in the Guyana Prize for Literature from 1996-2006.The Guyana Prize for Literature asked for entries last year 2017 in the following categories: The Guyana Prize is awarded to writers of Guyanese nationality in several different categories: Best First Book of Poetry, Best First Book of Fiction, Best Book of Poetry, Best Book of Fiction and Best Book of Drama. The Prize also awards Books of Poetry, Fiction and Drama in separate categories for Caribbean writers (of which Guyanese writers are also included). The deadline for submitting to the Guyana Prize was March 31st, 2017 with the Awards Ceremony slated to be held in July last year. We are now into May 2018, about ten months past the awards ceremony due date, and writers are still waiting in blind hope to be informed of the Prize Short List and Awards Ceremony date. Now the Prize is extended to Caribbean writers, but how can we compare this Prize to the Bocas Prize in Literature, The Booker Prize in Literature and international literary awards of outstanding merit?
This award is open for entries every two years, but very soon the entries for last year will catch up with new entries next year and the Guyanese literati remains silent about the great incompetence. In 1987, the very first year in which the Guyana Prize was established, Dr. Ian McDonald, distinguished literary critic and author, was the Chairman of the panel of judges and a member of the management committee. In 1992, Dr. McDonald became an entrant for the prize and emerged a winner in the poetry category with his collection of poems, Essequibo. He subsequently entered again for the Prize in 2004 and won the award for the second time with his poetry collection Between Silence and Silence. He has won the Prize four times, was a Former Judge and Chairman of the management committee, and he can win again. In the case of the Booker Prize, the Cohen Prize, the IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, etc, his entry would have been disqualified since he was a former judge for the award, but the Guyana Prize has no such rule. In 1994, Professor Mark McWatt won the Guyana Prize in the Poetry category with his collection of poems, The Language of El Dorado. In 1992, just two years before he entered for the prize, he was the Chairman of the Judges for the Guyana Prize. In 2006, Prof McWatt won the Best Book of Fiction for his novel, Suspended Sentences. In 1992, Dr. David Dabydeen won the Guyana Prize in the fiction category with his novel, The Intended, and in 1996, he entered again
for the award and was shortlisted with his novel, The Counting House. In 1998, Dr. Dabydeen became a judge in the Guyana Prize. In 2000, he entered for the prize again and won with Harlot’s Progress, and in 2004, he entered for the prize and won in the Best Book of Fiction category with his novel, Our Lady of Demerara. Professor Dennis Craig was the Vice-Chancellor at UG when the Guyana Prize was in progress, and he became an entrant in 1998 and won in the Best First Book of Poetry category for his collection Near the Seashore during that period, and worked with the Guyana Prize Committee. It is my opinion, like any other literary awards in the world, all these former judges who became entrants for the Guyana Prize should have been disqualified. I have read the brochure for the IMPAC Dublin Literary Award and its rules state: “A book shall not be eligible for entry for the Award if the author or translator thereof is any of the following: 1. A member of the Board of Management 2. A member of the staff of Dublin City Council 3. An officer or employee of IMPAC Ltd. 4. A member of the judging panel. 5. A parent, spouse or child of any of the foregoing.” (The rules and regulations should be integrated into The Guyana Prize for Literature Brochure) In my opinion, a judge for a literary award is a scholar and distinguished writer in the field of literature and should not compete with lesser (Continued on page 06)
PAGE 6
Putting these people to diversify GuySuCo is... From page 04 have in the industry at any one-time 20% plant cane; 20% 1st ratoons; 20% 2nd ratoons; 20% 3rd ratoons; and 20% 4th ratoons. Because it was a 20% replant policy theoretically; therefore, there should not be any canes which were more than 4th ratoon but due to bad weather, unavailability of machines etc. they had quite a bit of the cultivation older than 4th ratoons. For those who don’t know, a ratoon is simply the re-growth after harvesting, so ploughing and replanting only happens to any field every five years. What I found which was not very surprising, was that all the yields were bad in all cycles, since it is unreasonable to expect that a poor yielding plant cane field would grow into an excellent 1st ratoon. In fact, I know a man [my father] who returned his estate to 400% more yield of cane and sugar in 4 years, Mr. Yesu Persaud in a letter to my brother Bruce, called it an inspired performance. The key to this improved performance was growing excellent plant cane, from excellently prepared plant fields. But the real problem which came as a surprise, was that if one took the low plant
Saturday May 19, 2018
Kaieteur News
field yields and made it 100%, the yield of the 1st ratoon was 15% less, and the 2nd ratoon was 30% less, and incredibly all later ratoons followed this same 30% less yield decline. So the land preparation and replanting was not beneficial after the second year of replanting. I subsequently asked the Board for permission to see the land preparation practices first hand, and when I did, I began to understand what the reasons were for the horrible GuySuCo yield. I will not go into any great detail of everything that I found, and there were numerous examples, but I will give one example, I said to a very high official of GuySuCo who was accompanying me on the trip, that it seemed to me that the tractors were not handling the ploughs well. It seemed to me that they needed more power. I was told that the plough needed 180 HP and the tractor was 180 HP. Knowing that I was seeing a phenomenon where the tractor was not capable of pulling the plough, I consulted my books on the matter and got the specifications of the John Deere tractor and the plough from the internet.
It took me less than one hour to understand the situation, which was that I was dealing with total ignorance! Yes, the plough needed 180 HP to pull it, but no, a 180 HP tractor cannot pull it. A four-wheeled tractor like the John Deere that I saw in the field uses around 25% of its power to just walk and carry the weight of the machine, it also needs horsepower for the alternator, the hydraulic pump, the water pump to cool the engine etc; in fact, this plough needed 180 d r a w b a r h o r s e p o w e r, which is what should be left when you deduct the horsepower being used to make the machine operate. The 180 Horsepower tractor GuySuCo was using, which when the above operational deductions are made, was maybe as little as 120-130 HP at the draw bar to pull a plough which needs 180 drawbar horsepower. The institutional level of knowledge of GuySuCo is abysmally low even at the highest levels. I don’t know, Editor. These people cannot even grow sugarcane, which we have been doing for 300 years; to put these same people to diversify GuySuCo is madness. Yours Faithfully, Tony Vieira
Corporate Governance 2.0... From page 06 perpetuate this foolishness of operating the largest State Owned Enterprise with an acting CEO and no Board has had adverse consequences. By denying the sugar company a Board, the Granger Government has done the following: 1. Injected a reduction of clarity in the decision-making role. Such a situation imports ambiguity into all levels of management and has slowed down decision-making and is causing unnecessary conflict across the organization. 2. Expanded the destruction of adequate process management at all levels across the corporation. Thus, today in Guysuco there is massive indecision across the corporation and this has led to a lack of urgency when it comes to handling key and critical challenges in the industry. 3. Allowed the alignment of the strategy to disintegrate. Such a situation sends damaging signals to all stakeholders, which will lead to demotivation, destruction, and dilapidation. But most importantly, it destabilizes the
privatization process for Enmore estate to DDL. I am now expecting DDL to take the government to the cleaners on this privatization process, which any wise investor should and will do. 4. Destroyed team dynamics, which has trickled down all across the industry - leading to not enough creative solutions being unleashed to solve the challenging issues across the sugar belt. It is unfortunate that the largest public sector corporation and the largest employer in Guyana was allowed to become this dysfunctional in such a short time by the policymakers in the Granger Administration. All they have done is contribute to the stagnation in the arrival of modernization in the sugar belt. Thus, the risk profile across the sugar belt has not reduced with the closure of estates and the severance of some 7,000 persons; it has actually increased. My conclusion - the problem was not the size of GuySuCo, but the quality of the decision-making process at the highest level.
GuySuCo has now become a cesspit for destroying talent. No professional in his right mind would want to be part of such a debased decision-making system. For GuySuCo to ever recover, it must build up its reputation to attract the kind of professionals who can provide value, strategic input and buildup the company. With the right leadership, GuySuCo could have been an environment that created a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. I, like many other Guyanese, struggle to reconcile the fact that such a powerful institution has been reduced to such a state of powerlessness that it cannot even benefit today from solid strategic counsel, because different factions in the Coalition cannot agree on a Board. Whither the sugar industry? I ask this because the Granger administration is still yet to learn Corporate Governance 2.0. This is not about them; this is about the 10,000 workers still in the system. Regards Sasenarine Singh
The Guyana Prize for... From page 05 writers in a contest.It’s not surprising that all these overseas-based Guyanese writers who were judges and entrants for the Guyana Prize are winning all the time. It’s because they are professors and well recognized authors entering the contest with published books that already won several literary awards abroad. So how can Guyanese-based writers compete with these experts with their unpublished manuscripts?
In my humble opinion, if the Guyana Prize for Literature is ever to progress in Guyana then the entire committee will have to be changed completely. The prize must be in different categories and age groups. The works of writers living abroad should be
judged separately from manuscripts. Many great writers here told me they never even receive a letter of acknowledgement for their entries. Yours faithfully, Rev. Gideon Cecil (Author, Poet & Literary Critic)
GPOC needs tweaking... From page 05 & Telegraph Company, Guyana Water Inc. etc. and solve this proof of address problem together, once and for all.I was shocked to hear that GPOC will not accept GWI bills as proof of address, a bill from a public utility company that supplies a vital commodity for life. This is totally unacceptable.
Citizens of Guyana, let us raise our voices to high heavens and fight with all our strength to get GPOC and other agencies and institutions to cease institutionalizing unreasonable requirements that do nothing but harass people and waste their time. Sincerely, Roshan Khan Snr.
Linden Hospital performs first prostate surgery
A
68-year-old Linden man, became the first patient at the state of the art Linden Hospital Complex (LHC) to benefit from a prostate surgery. It was the first for the institution. The procedure was performed on Wednesday by Urologist, Dr Brian Niles, who is attached to the hospital. According to the doctor, the patient had been experiencing problems with urination which resulted in extreme pain. He had been living with the condition for several years, Dr Niles said. According to Dr Niles, the patient had a tremendously enlarged prostate. He had developed multiple bladder stones that were formed because of his inability to properly empty his bladder. “This leads to a chemical type condition that predisposes to crystals being formed. Over many years, those crystals would eventually grow and form stones. “He had two massive stones and a massively enlarged prostate…I am sure it’s one of the biggest that I’ve ever done. The normal size of the prostate is about 30 to 40 grams; his was about 275 grams.” Dr. Niles said that the procedure done is known as an open prostatectomy and cystolithectomy. An incision is made below the navel, then the surgeon enters the bladder and removes the bladder stones. The process is called sistolotectomy. Once the stones are removed, you deal with the prostate, which is called an open
PAGE 7
Kaieteur News
Saturday May 19, 2018
prostatectomy.“What we do is that we don’t remove the entire prostate because it is not a cancerous type situation. We enucleate with our hands the portion of the prostate that is blocking the person’s urinary tract.” Dr. Niles said that once the prostate is removed in that manner, bleeding is controlled, and a Foley catheter is inserted to drain the urine and the blood. It also closes the bladder. He added that the patient is doing very well and should be able to go home in another week. Dr. Niles said that he was very excited about this “type of development’ for the Linden community. He added that he felt very confident that a lot could be done for residents, as far as urology goes. “Our resources might not be perfect but we make use of what we have. I think that with the continued support from Dr. Riyastat and the Hospital Administration and the Ministry of Health with Dr. Cummings and Dr. Shako, I feel very confident that we would be able to provide as high a level of service or even higher than what we may even see in Georgetown.” All aspects of urology are now being dealt with at the hospital, Dr. Niles said. He added that soon more equipment would become available to do more endoscopic or minimally invasive work, where less open surgery would be performed and more none invasive type therapies that are just as ef-
fective would be done. Exponential growth According to Dr. Niles, the LHC has seen exponential growth of patronage of the urology services since it was introduced last November. However, he said that Wednesday’s operation was the first major prostate surgery to be done at the facility. He observed that based on the response so far, it is obvious that a urologist was much needed here in the community. According to Dr. Niles, in the past referrals for specialist urology treatment had been primarily to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation. As such bringing this service to Linden, and by extension Region Ten, was a good thing, he said. Public Relations Officer of the LHC, Tashana Allicock, said, “This is a significant achievement for the Linden Hospital Complex. We are pleased to be able to successfully complete such a crucial surgery right here in Linden. The urology clinic has seen tremendous growth since its commencement. We are urging all persons who suffer from prostate disease, stone disease, sexual dysfunction, male infertility etc to consult with our Urologist, Dr Brian Niles, during the second week of every month at the Outpatients Department.”
Gold Board burns amalgam at Pure Diamond Lab By Abena Rockcliffe-Campbell “Right now, there is no gold being burnt at Brickdam. We are using the services of a dealer and we thank that dealer…I can assure you that no burning will ever occur there again.” That is what Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman told the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Natural Resources when he appeared before it yesterday. The Committee is chaired by People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/ C) Member of Parliament (MP) Odinga Lumumba. Lumumba told Trotman that the Committee is very concerned about the plight of those workers who were affected by mercury emissions at the Guyana Gold Board lab at Brickdam. Trotman, and his junior Minister, Simona Broomes, assured the Committee that the government handled the matter as best as it could. Trotman said that proper medical treatment is being extended to the affected workers too. While Trotman told the Committee that the State is using the facility of a private dealer, he did not reveal the identity of that dealer. This newspaper has found out that the gold is being
Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman burnt at Pure Diamond in Bel Air. After the meeting, the media asked Trotman if he can say which private facility is being used. He promptly responded, “no.” However, he said that the government is not paying the dealer. It has been reported to this newspaper that the Pure Diamond facility has been utilized by the government for weeks now. Trotman said that the facility which is being used has
been certified safe and is about the best available. Kaieteur News asked Trotman if the government is not worried about the implications of having a regulatory body (the Gold Board) use the facility of a private dealer. Trotman was also asked if it is not deemed incestuous. He said, “It has been raised but we are satisfied. We have our staff there but it is a temporary situation. We are actively scouring a few sites, this is only temporary.”
PAGE 8
Kaieteur News
Saturday May 19, 2018
Sindicato gang hold 28 workers at ExxonMobil to verify local content claims bay in Cuyuni mining camp raid before Parliamentary Committee - raw gold, shotgun carted off Miners have expressed alarm and calling for more protection after a worrying raid on a mining camp Wednesday evening. The incident took place at a place called Baboon Backdam, Cuyuni River in Region Seven.It happened around 19:00hrs Wednesday. While a police statement said at least four masked men were involved, sources close to the incident said that the gang included at least eight men who were armed with high powered rifles. It is the belief that this gang is from the deadly Sindicato outfit that operates in the border area of Venezuela. Kaieteur News was
told that there have been several such robbery raids with miners fearful of speaking or even reporting when they have been robbed. This last target belongs to a prominent gold dealer.The police said yesterday that the gang was armed with a rifle and shotguns. They were reportedly outfitted in darkcoloured clothing and were speaking in a foreign language.Police confirmed that a quantity of raw gold and other valuables, including a licensed shotgun, were carted off by the gang. “None of the 28 employees of the Mining Company was injured. The scene was visited by a team comprising ranks of the Joint
Services. No arrest has been made at this time.” Rumours of the Sindicato gangs operating in Guyana have been surfacing for some time.Government officials have journeyed to the Venezuela border area, ordering more army patrols. However, the miles of rivers are no easy task to manoeuvre. Miners have been complaining of being robbed. With some camps being in remote areas, the reports filtering out may take days. “Many miners especially in Cuyuni are fearful and want to chuck in,” a miner said last evening. The Sindicato gangs (Continued on page 10)
Senior executives of United States oil giant, ExxonMobil, are to appear before the bipartisan Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Natural Resources to provide information about its operations in Guyana, including local content claims. Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, has committed to provide a list to the committee, detailing the companies contracted and the services they are providing to ExxonMobil. “It is a substantial number,” the Minister disclosed during his appearance before the Parliamentary Committee yesterday. The list was requested by the Coalition MP, Audwin Rutherford. Committee Chairman, People’s Progressive Party (PPP) MP, Odinga Lumumba, said the company will have the opportunity to discuss local content when executives appear in the coming weeks. ExxonMobil claims to have utilised 309 Guyanese-owned suppliers and has 605 Guyanese businesses registered in the oil sector. However, these figures have been questioned by Chairman of the Guyana Oil and Gas Energy Chamber (GOGEC) Manniram Prashad, who has called for verification. Prashad had expressed concerns as there is no evidence provided at the same time to support the claims made by the oil company. “We would like to have a list of the companies and the services they provided and when,” Prashad had told Kaieteur News. ExxonMobil’s Public and Government Affairs Advisor, Kimberly Brasington, has said that 605 Guyanese businesses have registered in ExxonMobil’s supplier database. She said that those are companies, which have expressed interest in being part of the supply chain. She said that 70 of them are taking courses in order to build capacity in areas like procurement and safety. Last year, Brasington said that ExxonMobil and its contractors provided 30,000 hours of capacity training to Guyanese. Committee Member, Neil Kumar stated that there must be a balance. Minister Trotman said that there is currently no legislation that stipulates what percentage of local content ExxonMobil should undertake.
ExxonMobil’s country manager, Rod Henson He said that countries that have gone the way of legislation have not done as well as they have anticipated. According to Minister Trotman, there are several issues that need to be considered that relates mostly to building the capacity of Guyanese workers and companies for the oil sector. The Minister expressed the view that the Government plans to build that capacity. “We are in the process of building the capacity so we can legislate,” Trotman indicated.He also shared that market forces will dictate how ExxonMobil operates, Government is cautious about tying to dictate to the company. Guyana is still to finalize a Local Content Policy, which sets out guidelines to be observed by foreign companies operating in an economy.It is supposed to secure maximum benefits for citizens of a country. A second draft of Guyana’s Local Content and Value Addition Policy Framework has been completed. Guyana’s Local Content Policy, formulated specifically to guide players in the oil industry, was supposed to be no different. In fact, the authors, including Trinidad’s Anthony Paul of Chatham House, stated in the policy that the intention is to secure benefits for Guyanese.
T
he APNU+AFC came into office armed to the teeth with criticisms of the manner in which the PPPC government had administered fiscal concessions. Some of the justifiable criticisms made of the PPPC were that there was favouritism in the granting of fiscal concessions. You would have expected that in this scenario that the APNU+AFC would have taken steps to revamp the system under which fiscal concessions are granted. It has not done so – one of the many failings, which point to slothfulness in economic policy-making. The Minister of Finance himself recognized the problems associated with fiscal concessions. In January 2016, this newspaper quoted the Minister of Finance as saying that the GRA must tighten up on the monitoring of concessions.
The Minister missed the source of the problem. It is not so much the abuse of concessions that was a problem but more so the system used for persons being approved for concessions. The Minister in that article was quoted as saying that he found a tax system that was characterized by high rates and as a result, there was “innumerable requests for tax exemptions and concessions, which totaled $55 billion in 2014.” As Kaieteur News is now exposing, fiscal concessions offered to some companies in the gold mining sector are multiple times that which was being complained about in 2014. The value of the concessions, as reported in this newspapering is astonishingly high. Waived taxes on fuel and capital equipment account for the bulk of the concessions. The multiple applications
for concessions are not because of high rates but because of high rates of approval. Capital equipment attracts low rates of duties but it is the readiness of the government to grant such concessions which leads to the innumerable applications. These concessions constitute a form of tax avoidance. When a company signs a fiscal incentive agreement with the government, it avoids having to pay taxes and as we are now seeing, that avoidance can be to the tune of billions of dollars for individual companies. The APNU +AFC seem to have forgotten its criticisms of tax avoidance under the PPPC. The Minister of Finance, in January 2016, admitted that the system was broken and it needed to be fixed in a comprehensive manner, one, which he said must result in a system that is more
DEM BOYS SEH
Exxon coulda mek Trotty drop he pants Every time some sport coming on, dem have a group of young men who believe dat dem got to rob somebody or some place. Is like if dem got a special forum wheh dem does sit down and plan. Yesterday, two men decide to rob a business place high daytime. Everybody know D’Urban Street got a reputation as de street dat never sleep so any time people always walking up and down de place. Dem boys seh dat since de street don’t sleep at night dem two decide dat night and day is de same thing fuh commit robberies. Dem boys didn’t know
PAGE 9
Kaieteur News
Saturday May 19, 2018
dat de two of dem who dead was on a spree. Dem go pun de East Coast and tackle a security guard. Dem tek way he gun, then rob some Chinee people who doing de road expansion. Dat is de same gun dem use fuh try de robbery in town. Tonight people crying fuh de two of dem and de guard service get back dem gun. But dem boys seh dat when people posing wid gun dem got to know to use it because people can tek it way. Of course, one man name Dover tek way de security guard gun and he dead. When people talk bout gun, dem always got to remember Trotty. He tell a com-
mittee in parliament dat nobody ain’t put gun to he head. And he tell de committee de same time dem bandits was getting shoot. He seh Guyana sign de contract wid ExxonMobil because Guyana didn’t want to lose de oil company. Dem boys seh dat if de people in de oil company did only ask de negotiators in de Guyana team to drop dem pants, dem woulda do it. Trotty seh dat is how bad Guyana wanted de oil company. Dem boys waiting to hear wha more Trotty gon confess to. Talk half and watch how Guyana gon roll over fuh de oil company.
transparent and predictable and one that rewards effort, promotes investment, improve competitiveness and removes distortions between and across sectors. The system clearly has not been fixed and more importantly the Minister’s own observation about there being distortions across se c t o r s h a s n o t b e e n remedied. Strengthening the GRA”s organizational and managerial capacity, one of the measures proposed then, is clearly not the answer. That is mere passing the buck. The problem lies in policy-making and it does not require a genius to know where from where the initiative for policy-making should emanate. ‘ Ta r i ff i c a t i o n ’ i s a m e t h o d t h a t t h e Wo r l d Trade Organization has long been encouraging, particularly to increase market access for agricultural produce. ‘Tariffication’ involves converting nontraffic restrictions, such as quotas, into tariffs. The government should use a similar approach. Instead of being inundated with innumerable requests for fiscal concessions, the
government should make all concessions subject to tariffs. This would achieve a number of things. It would make the tax system more predictable. Investors would know the concessions for which they are eligible. Companies would no longer have to be approaching government officials to help them gain tax concessions. Capital equipment, regardless of the size of the industry, can be given a zero tariff, which means that all capital equipment is free. Or is that is enjoy a nominal tariff, say 1%. The revenue intake of this latter measure would be extremely high and cannot be said to unduly increase the cost of investment. Such an approach would limit corruption in the system and also limit the amount of resources which the GRA would have to devote to administering a system. Such a system would also help iron out the distortions across sectors. The zero tax on capital equipment, for example, would apply to all the productive sectors or if the government. If, on the other hand, the
government wishes to direct or redirect investment to a particular sector it can adjust the tariffs on capital equipment for that particular sector. With such a system, you do not need a GOINVEST. No one needs to apply for any concession. It is all governed by tariffs. Ta x e s such as corporation tax, royalties and withholding tax concessions can be patented to take account of the size of the investment and the employment it generates. But on the import side, there is little harm to be had from simply either zero rating all capital equipment or charging a nominal tax. That is the type of thinking which has been lacking from the APNU+AFC and it is this reason why there is no much disaffection towards the government and so much disinterest by investors.
PAGE 10
Kaieteur News
Saturday May 19, 2018
THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN
Jagdeo, David Patterson, Khemraj Ramjattan and the IAC
T
he brother of Min ister David Patterson was arrested for narcotics in Grenada. Before that, there was a celebration in the New Amsterdam prison where prohibited items were in use. Bharrat Jagdeo took some nasty swipes at Minister Patterson. The Indian Arrival Committee (IAC) took some nasty swipes too at Khemraj Ramjattan, Minister of Security.Jagdeo thinks Patterson should do the right thing insinuating that he should resign though Jagdeo stated that the Opposition Leader is not calling on Patterson to resign. The IAC is demanding Ramjattan’s resignation. Both Jagdeo and the IAC are creatures from another world that the
Guyanese people need to read up on. Here are some notes about them The insinuations of Jagdeo in relation to Minister Patterson were beyond belief. He asked whether the brother left through the VIP lounge and openly declared that the PPP government was accused of involvement in narco-trafficking but look who is involved. It is the height of asininity to blame a Minister of government if his brother got entangled with the law. If Patterson resigns then he becomes the greatest fool that ever lived since civilization began thousands of years ago.Why must a Minister take moral responsibility for a sibling’s entanglement with the law? Where in the world is there such an example? Do ministers, prime ministers and
presidents know what their relatives are doing? So Obama was morally responsible the conduct of his aunt and uncle who were both discovered to be illegal in the US? Obama did not resign. The senior Bush when he was president had two daughters who were arrested by the police in Texas for liquor age violation. Bush did not resign. Kofi Annan did not resign as GS of the United Nations when his son was embroiled in a scandal with a Swiss company. A UN investigation revealed that Annan did not know what his son was doing.But if we want to talk about resignation, let’s ask Jagdeo and the IAC some questions. First to Jagdeo; how is it that a man operated a huge, violent, extra-judicial squad which murdered hun-
dreds, had a cabinet minister purchasing special equipment that American companies only sell to governments, but the President of Guyana did not know about the extra-judicial leader or his purchase of the equipment? To this day, Jagdeo maintains his position – “I never met Roger Khan.” A prominent Portuguese businessman from the seventies now living in Florida has evidence to prove President Jagdeo is not telling the truth. Does the IAC feel that Jagdeo is morally fit to be the Opposition Leader?A man is facing jail time in the US for narco-trafficking and money laundering. He had a private hanger at the Timehri where he landed and departed without customs checks. His name is Khamraj Lall. A close relative of Lall is very close to Bharrat Jagdeo. Does Jagdeo know about
this? Who facilitated this man? How this can happen in a country with a very small population and the president didn’t know? Would the IAC like to offer a comment? Now let us see when the IAC was born. It was birthed during the presidency of Jagdeo (2003 to be precise) and its birth was facilitated by the Government of Guyana. So since that time, did the IAC see any terrible action by the PPP’s Home Affairs Ministers to call on them to resign? Did the IAC see anything illegal committed by the Home Affair Ministry under Ronald Gajraj? What about Rohee? Did the IAC call upon any minister to resign when a popular anti-government activist, Courtney Crum-Ewing, was gunned while urging Diamond residents not to vote for the PPP in the 2015 elections?
Sindicato gang hold ... From page 8 control territories in the Venezuela border area, demanding payments from persons living there and tolls from persons traversing the Cuyuni River. And in the city, the police said that ranks of the Narcotics Branch yesterday morning, acting on information received, went to the home of a Thomas Street, Kitty resident and conducted a search for narcotics in his
presence. During the process, the ranks found two transparent plastic parcels containing nearly five kilograms of cannabis. The mason is in custody assisting with the investigation. The police in West Bank Demerara area also went to a location at Vriesland Sea Dam, and found an unlicensed automatic pistol and 45 grams of cannabis inside of a camp. No arrest has yet been made.
Frederick Kissoon Bharrat Jagdeo subtly hinted that Patterson should resign because his brother has been arrested. But Jagdeo confirmed as Commissioner of Police, one of the world’s most corrupt citizens ever to don a police uniform. The American Government strongly advised President Jagdeo not to appoint Henry Greene as Commissioner because of his involvement with drug traffickers. Jagdeo still went ahead. Jagdeo could not, as president, get into the bad books of Acting Commissioner Henry Greene. Greene knew too much. As they say in journalistic jargon, he knew “where the bodies were buried.”Greene got into trouble when the PPP regime refused to save him from being charged for rape. He had to resign. He was about to talk but then he died. The death of Greene in a car accident on West Coast Demerara is long forgotten. But there should be some discreet enquiries. No check was made to see if his car brakes were tampered with. Greene was about to spill his guts (no pun intended).
Saturday May 19, 2018
Kaieteur News
PAGE 11
PAGE 12
Kaieteur News
GuySuCo Management upset over leaked reports on quotas, price rackets
M
anagement of the stateowned Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) are upset that internal reports detailing allegations of rackets being run at that cash-strapped entity.Over the past days, Kaieteur News, using a number of leaked internal documents, reported of what appeared to be manipulations with the prices that are being paid to Guyana for sugar by GuySuCo’s foreign customers like Europe. The documents also pointed to friends of GuySuCo’s top officials being granted lucrative quota arrangements of sugar to service the local market. The reports called for actions against senior GuySuCo officials, including sacking. Yesterday, GuySuCo believed that its partners, and it did not immediately identify them, were responsible for the embarrassing leaks. GuySuCo said that a number of senior managers from the three-estate GuySuCo requested an
urgent meeting with the Chief Executive (ag), Paul Bhim, to express their “growing concerns, disgust and impatience with the less than honourable manner in which the management of the corporation is being projected in certain sections of the media, particularly on some matters.”A GuySuCo statement said that the managers are of the view that information which was shared in confidence with some partners, over the past six or seven months, have found its way into the media. Some of information is sensitive relating to contractual arrangements between the corporation, its employees and corporate partners.“The managers also expressed their concerns about the motives of these partners who are volunteering information on the corporation, its employees and corporate partners to the media. These senior managers have indicated that the management and the corporation have been very professional so far in dealing with their partners and have requested that the Chief Executive (ag) submit a formal complaint to the Minister of Agriculture to intervene urgently, in an attempt to discontinue the unprofessional behaviour of its partner, and also to
strengthen the integrity of the relationship with same.” GuySuCo said that it was also the concerted view of the managers, that if the current way of operating does not improve; they will have reservations about engaging with certain partners in the future, given the apparent breach of confidentiality. “Several other employees of the corporation have also expressed similar concerns to the senior management,” GuySuCo said. GuySuCo is facing major financial problems with poor management and agricultures, procurement fraud, a bloated workforce and theft has seen some of the worst production figures in decades. Over the last 18 months, four of the seven estates were closed with almost 5,000 workers sent home. The Administration has plunged over $32B into the industry as bailouts, with GuySuCo using the majority of the monies to pay salaries and wages and suppliers. However, there are more indications now that some of suppliers may have been involved in some unsavory transactions with GuySuCo, further skewing the true finances of the company. The company has billions of dollars in spare parts, most of it obsolete, pointing to racket also in the Procurement Department.
Saturday May 19, 2018
Out of court settlements…
AG should be fired, charged for Misconduct in Public Office
F
ormer Attorney General, Anil Nandlall thinks that his successor, Basil Williams, should be fired then charged for “Misconduct in Public Office”. Nandlall said this after learning that Williams wants him to be questioned by the police about the various cases that have been outsourced from the Office of the Attorney General under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic Government. While Williams’ focus continue to be the fact that cases were outsourced, Nandlall’s concern remains that the State has paid billions of dollars in judgments and out of court settlements within three years under Williams. Nandlall said that it is a total embarrassment that Williams is now looking to get control of his office. “Imagine after three years of holding Office, this gentleman still claims ignorance of cases pending against the State. That admission alone should be the basis for his dismissal.” Nandlall said that Williams’ utterance about the need for the police is just another distraction for the public. “He now has to come up with another distraction in order to divert attention from
Former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall
Attorney General, Basil Williams
this abject failure. “So after a long and exhaustive rant at a recent Press Conference, most of which consisted of recklessly inaccurate assertions unworthy of a response, he announces that the Police will be called in to investigate outsourced cases”. Nandlall was keen to point out that Williams failed to account for his dismal performance in office over the three years. “His modus operandi of blaming me, the PPP Government, the staff at the AG Chambers, both past and present, and even judges has not worked. The public has simply not bought into his story. As a result, desperation is stepping in.”
The former AG said that his successor ’s string of failures seems to be without end. Nandlall said that Williams’ most recent failure is highlighted in the settlement of the Guytrac case. Nandlall said that the Guytrac case has “exposed him (Williams) beyond redemption. He knows it. It was filed after the PPP left Office in June 2015. It concluded in 2017. It was a winable case. Yet he lost it. The contract provided for the lodgement of a performance bond by the contractor within a stipulated period. The contract further stipulated that a failure to lodge that performance bond would be (Continued on page 23)
PAGE 21
Kaieteur News
Saturday May 19, 2018
Three jointly charged with America Draft Local Content Policy paves way for regulation by ‘accountable’ agencies St. money-changer’s murder - after DPP recommends single PI
I
D
ays after the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) advised that the Preliminary Inquiry (PI), which had already begun before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman, for two men accused of murdering America Street money changer Shawn Nurse called ‘Fabulous’, be discontinued, a new charge was yesterday read to accommodate a third accused. Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman yesterday discontinued the matter against Kerwin Dos Santos and George Hope, both 24, of Freeman Street, La Penitence; while Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan also discontinued the matter against the third accused, Kacey Heyliger, 23, of Kitty and instituted a new charge against the three men. The trio was not required to plead to the new charge, which was read that Kerwin Dos Santos, George Hope and Kacey Heyliger, on February 4, last, at America Street, Georgetown, murdered Nurse during the course or furtherance of a robbery. The PI, of Kerwin Dos Santos and George Hope, had commenced before Magistrate Latchman on April 11, while Kacey Heyliger was charged on May 10 after he appeared before the Chief
Dead : Shawn Nurse known as ‘Fabulous’
Charged: George Hope
Charged: Kerwin Dos Santos
Charged: Kacey Heyliger
Magistrate. According to information, ranks were able to arrest Heyliger after Dos Santos and Hope admitted their involvement in the
murder and implicated him. Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield told the court that the police file is complete and (Continued on page 23)
n an effort to ensure that the services and supplies of locals are given priority in the oil and gas sector, drafters of the second local content policy framework have included a provision for regulation by accountable agencies. The document notes that the development of the sector must see Guyanese as viable participants in it. It would require stewardship and collaboration for managing the risks involved. The draft policy which was prepared by Trinidadian Local Content Expert, Anthony Paul, notes that governance of the sector will require policies and strategies that engender and leverage partnerships between the Government of Guyana and other participants. For assurance, Paul, in the document, states that the policy will be enforced through appropriate legislative mechanisms and regulated by capable, wellresourced and accountable institutions/agencies. The draft document notes that the Regulator will be steered by a multi-stakeholder body representing those Guyanese parties involved in
Local Content Expert, Anthony Paul
Business Minister, Dominic Gaskin
delivering national development and sector goals that support and/or are impacted by local capacity development and participation in the sector. The selected regulator will be expected to report to the people of Guyana through their elected representatives in the Parliament of Guyana, as provided for in the Constitution of Guyana. The regulator will also require international operators and contractors to manage their procurement through local content policies and strategies that align with the
national policy for every licence or contract awarded by the Government of Guyana. Furthermore, the document notes that Government should use work permits and the licensing/registration of international firms as tools for capacity development and knowledge transfer, rather than barriers to entry of skilled personnel and competent companies. Business Minister, Dominic Gaskin has noted that the Government will be moving to conduct a series of consultations on the document.
PAGE 22
Kaieteur News
FOR RENT
SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION, W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK;Guyanapassport application. G r a p h i c s design, advertisement. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535. ICONIC MARKETING & PRINTING –TEL: 6004212: We create A/works, logos, busi ness cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included. Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezerCall: 610-5846 or 661-8158
FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. (1) One Bobcat miniexcavator model#322. Contact: 5005923/676-8764 Live Meat Birds $165 per lb pluck chicken $220 (500 lb) $240 retail while stock last. #661-3657 One enclosed canter 3 ton wide base, Good condition $2.6M #604-0204/264-0041 (2) 1993 Toyota Hilux single cab pickup, 2 generator, 1 compressor #682-8424
Make-up Courses with Mac, B a r e M i n e r a l s , etc.Cosmetology Courses: $90,000 Nail Technician Course: $35,000. Call: 647-1773/688-0009
PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS FROM $4000 & UP, SUV’S PER DAY- CALL:643-5122/ 6 5 6 - 0 0 8 7 , ,EMAIL:PRO_AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.COM PROPERTY FOR SALE Lot 15 Public road #2 Village. West Coast Berbice. 49ft by 10,314ft. $18M. Contact:6487109/686-4818 1 Flat 25x60 on Double Lot Neimes West Bank Dem $10M Neg #661-3657
EDUCATION
Prime Office on Camp Street, next to Shell gas station #6447724/639-4499/622-9560. Prime Business Place 1680 Sq Ft located at 36 Grove Public Road EBD. Contact No: 2662605/672-8017 (1) 3 bedroom house in Herstelling EBD furnish or unfurnished. Call Farah: 6848223 Newly built & painted. Two(2) bedroom apartment for rent Lot 6 Houston Back Street, EBD. Contact: #6216427 LAND FOR SALE Prime land to build that dream home. Not far from Princess, New Thriving, Massy, HJ water world $13M neg- Call: 669-8397
CAR RENTAL
SALON
PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.-CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620
Unfinished property for sale @ Eccles. Contact: 682-8236
(2) Prime land (50x100ft) in Duncan street. Contact Pete’s Real Estate, Lot 2 George street. #223-6218/623-7805 Herstelling (110ft x 60ft) 2nd Bridge main road $6M Farm (East Bank) $2.8M Parfaite Harmonie $1.5M Tel# 6560701 Uivlugt (100ft x 50ft) with Reserve $2.4M Schnoord (100ftx50ft) with reserve $2.6M Herstelling $2M Tel#651-1969 2 acres of title land situated @ 1st St Garden of Eden EBD $6.5M Neg. Call Terrence #638-7836. email: Latchmanrich@gmail.com Parfaite Harmonie $1.7M/2M Uitvlugt $2.5M Tel#697-6311
Electronic course, Practical beginning 1st June. Learn to fix flat screen TV’s etc. Abdul Electronics. 225-0391/2266551 Jean offers courses in Dressmaking, curtains, floral, cake decoration, 153 Barr St Kitty Tel#670-2653/638-844 Care for the elderly, Care for children, First aid and CPR G/town 227-4881 Berbice 232-38789
TAXI SERVICE
VEHICLE FOR SALE
Saturday May 19, 2018
WANTED Experienced Drivers,Cashiers, Roti/Puri cooks, Handyboys. Apply Hack’s Halaal with H/ written application 5 Commerce St. Looking to buy a house or empty land, Preferences-EBD Public road. Buyer #1917-6225810/694-3331 One General domestic, must know to cook. Apply @ Keyfood, next door to Post Office, McDoom. Security personnel to work with a private security firm. Previous experience required. Contact: 500-5923/227-7528 1 ablebodied male clerk. Call: 231-2029/616-5954 Cook, Pastry maker. Apply @ Shanta’s 225 Camp St. Male Office clerk 30-55 years old, East Bank Preferable. Call: 226-1100 Male Security supervisor 3055 years old, must have driver’s license. Call: 629-9450 One Live-in domestic or a couple to work in Mahaicony river. #655-9419 One ½ day domestic #2256571 One driver, must be able to drive manual & automatic. Call: 621-1220, 683-7870. Grill King. Mandela Ave. 1 Pastry Maker. Apply to Pastry Maker Position P.O Box 101821, Georgetown Wanted experience hire car drivers at Princess Ramada Hotel. Contact: 616-5419/2657076 Wanted land anywhere on th West Coast or West Bank. Tel# 642-1252 VACANCY Experienced male sales attendant, stocktaking knowledge, computer literate, excellent service attitude, able bodied. Key Food McDoom Village. Vacancy @ Natural Beauty Salon & Spa for a experienced Nail Technician, if interested please call: 652-5800 Porters, Drivers & Office clerks @ Survival Lot 10 Bond. Tel# 227-7580/626-7726
GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 2257878 (24HRS)
(1) 2006 Toyota Premio, Excellent condition, very low mileage. Call: 698-1134
TOLET
One 2006 Suzuki Escudo $3.2M Negotiable. Contact: 626-7337
Cashiers & Salesgirls apply to Nirva Supermarket; Persons who previously applied are asked to re-apply #227-5771
One 212 car, New Model PWW1790 #665-9967/6824467 WANTED
International Job Opprtunities for qualified teachers and nurses. Contact: 670-9207, 227-4881
Busy Restaurant looking for delivery riders, serious enquires only. Call 692-0432 ask for Tonya
Boat Captain- Certificate of Competence as Master of a power driven vessel. Call: 2261100,226-5380
Live and work in Canada in home caregiver programme. Contact: 227-4881
(1) bedroom apartment, living room and bathroom 294 Fourth field, Cummings Lodge. Call:222-0401, preferably UG students
IAE- Register for CXC, full time evening & adult classes. Mathematics, English, Business & Science subjects #683-5742/621-7365
Grilled 2 bedroom A/c Bottom flat, Back up electricity, DSL, Optional alarm- South Riumveldt Gardens. #6188436
LEGAL NOTICE 1 CONT’D MEMORANDUM:The Petitioners’ address for service and place of business is at the chambers of her Attorney-at-law Ms. GEM I. SANFORD-JOHNSON and/ or ANASTASIA N. SANFORD of ‘Sharon’s VACANCY Bldg.’, lot 154 Charlotte and Experienced salesgirls with King Streets, Lacytown, CXC qualifications & 5 yrs Georgetown, Demerara. experience. Apply @ Christine’s Variety, Lombard LEGAL NOTICE 2 St. Contact: 227-8529 2018-HC-DEM-CIV-FD-480 Field supervisor to work in IN THE HIGH COURT OF Georgetown, must have a THE SUPREMECOURT OF motorcycle licence. Contact: JUDICATURE FAMILY, 613-1946 or 227-1717 DIVORCE AND Inventory clerk to work in M A T R I M O N I A L Georgetown, experience in a JURISDICTION FAMILY work shop environment. D I V I S I O N Contact: 623-2274 or 227-1717 P E T I T I O N N O . F D 4 8 0 Cashier (Shift work 7am-3pm BETWEEN:-SEEPERSAUD GENELLYS & 3pm-11pm) submit (REINA application to: Shell Service FERNANDEZ) nee CAMPS Station Providence EBD/ Petitioner -and SEEPERSAUD (GHANSHYAN).Respondent Shellramsburg@gmail.com TO: GHANSHYAN Minibus driver living in G/ SEEPERSAUD town to work with company Last known address #646-8748 Lot 239, Second Field, Cummings Lodge, LEGAL NOTICE 1 East Coast Demerara, 201820HC-CIV-DEM-PGuyana. 57INTHE HIGH COURT OF TAKE NOTICE that on the THE SUPREME COURT 4th day of April, 2018 a Petition O F J U D I C A T U R E . for Divorce was filed against DECLARATION OF TITLE. you by REINA GENELLYS NOTICE FERNANDEZ SEEPERSAUD TAKE NOTICE that PAMELA nee CAMPS, the Petitioner in GRANUM a/k as MYRTLE the Family Division of the High PAMELA GRANNUM of lot Court in Georgetown, 244 Pike Street, Kitty, Demerara.AND FURTHER Georgetown, Demerara has TAKE NOTICE that as part of presented a Petition for an Order made on the 3rd day Declaration of Title by of May, 2018 the Petitioner was Prescription to the property directed to effect service of her described in the schedule Petition on you by publication hereto ANY PERSON of this Notice in two (2) intending to oppose the said consecutive Petition must within one (1) issues of a daily month after the date of the first Newspaper printed, published publication of this notice, file and of general circulation in in the Registry of the High and around Guyana.AND Court of the Supreme Court of FURTHER TAKE NOTICE Judicature at Georgetown that if you desire you may Demerara, a notice of his/her appear or attend in person or opposition and an affidavit in by your duly authorized agent support thereof upon the said or Attorney-at-Law at the PAMELA GRANNUM a/k as Registry of the Family Division MYRTLE PAMELA of the High Court at GRANNUM .The said Petition Georgetown, Demerara where is accompanied by a plan of you will be issued with a the property which may be certified copy of the Petition inspected at the said Registry together with related during office hours. documents.AND FURTHER 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 Registryof the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara within 28 (twentyeight) days from the date of the second and final publication of this Notice. TAKE NOTICE that the divorce is fixed for Directions Hearing on Thursday the 28th day of June, 2018 at 9:45 am before the Honourable Madam Justice Priya SewnarineBeharry in the Directions Hearing Room
Dated at Georgetown Demerara This 6th day of April, 2018 SCHEDULE Sub-lot lettered ‘A’, being a portion of lot numbered 244 (two hundred and forty four) being portions of Pike Street, Kitty Village, situate in the City of Georgetown, in the County of Demerara Guyana, the said sub-lot lettered `A’ containing an area of 0.139 (nought decimal one three nine ) of an acre and being shown and defined on a plan by Denesh D. Sukhai, Sworn Land Surveyor dated 24th day of August, 2013 and recorded in the department of Lands and Surveys on the 26th day of September, 2013 as plan No: Continued on next page 57012 .
LEGAL NOTICE 4 cont’d
LEGAL NOTICE 4 cont’d
TAKE NOTICE that on the 13th day of April, 2018 an Application Relating to Child was filed against you by LORNA PEREIRA and MERVYN PEREIRA, the Applicants in the Family Division of the High Court in Georgetown, Demerara. AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that as part of an Order made on the 3rd day of May, 2018 the Applicants were directed to effect serviceof their Application on you by publication of this Notice in two (2)consecutive Saturday issues of any daily Newspaper, printed, published and of General circulation in and around the Republic of 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 the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara where you will be issued with a certified copy of the Application together with related documents. AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire to Defend this Application, then upon receipt of the certified copy of the Application, you must file a Reply to Application Relating to Child, an Answer and/or Notice of Intention to Defend (Forms are available at the Registry) in the Registry of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara within 42 (forty-two) days from the date of the second and final publication of this Notice. TAKE NOTICE that the Application Relating to Child is fixed for Directions Hearing on Monday the 9th day of July, 2018 at 9:00 am before the Honourable Madam Justice Damone Younge in the Directions Hearing Room of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown. IN DEFAULT of your filing a Reply to Application Relating to Child, an Answer and/or Notice of Intention to Defend the Court may proceed in your absence and may make any Order it considers appropriate, including granting Custody. The Registry of the Family Division of the High Court is located at the Law Courts [Georgetown, Demerara]. 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.
2018 in support thereof AND Supplementary Affidavit in support of Without Notice Application sworn to andfiled LEGAL NOTICE 4 (a) herein on the 2nd day of May, 2018 AND UPON HEARING the Applicants in Person IT IS ORDERED that personal LEGAL 4 (a) service of NOTICE the Application Relating to Child with Affidavit in Support of, Statement of Arrangements for Child, a blank Statement LEGAL NOTICE 4 (a) of Arrangements for Child and Reply to Application Relating to Child by a person authorized by the Registrar be and is hereby dispensed with AND that a mode of Substituted Service of the said Application Relating to Child with Affidavit in Support of, Statement of Arrangements for Child, a blank Statement of Arrangements for Child and Reply to Application Relating to Child be effected on the Respondent by way of advertisement of a Notice of these proceedings in 2 (two) consecutive Saturday issues of any daily Newspaper printed, published and circulated in and around Guyana, India and China respectively. AND IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the first and second named Respondents be granted 42 (forty-two) days each after the date of the second and final publication of the said Notice within which to file a Reply to Application Relating to Child, an Answer and/or Notice of Intention to Defend. AND IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that an Affidavit of Publication sworn to by the Applicants with copies of the Advertisement exhibited thereto be deemed sufficient proof of service of Application herein. AND IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that this Matter is fixed for Directions Hearing on Monday the 9th day of July, 2018 at 9:00 am before the Honourable Madam Justice Damone Younge.
Dated the 7th day of May, 2018
PAGE 23
Kaieteur News
Saturday May 19, 2018
BY THE COURT
2018-HC-DEM-CIV-FD-532 IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF J U D I C A T U R E FAMILY, DIVORCE AND MATRIMONIAL JURISDICTION FAMILY DIVISION Applicant: FD-532 Between (1) LORNA PEREIRA (2) MERVYN PEREIRA Applicants -v (1) SANDRA D. PERSAUD (2) ROHAN PERSAUD Respondents TO: (1) SANDRA D. PERSAUD (2) ROHAN PERSAUD (AddressUnknown)
LEGAL NOTICE 3 CONT’D LEGAL NOTICE 2 CONT’D Answer and/or Cross Petition in the Registry of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara within 28 (twenty-eight) days from the date of the second and final publication of this Notice. TAKE NOTICE that the divorce is fixed for Directions Hearing on Thursday the 28th day of June, 2018 at 9:00 am in the Directions Hearing Room before the Honourable Madam Justice Damone Younge of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown. 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 theHigh Court is located at the Law Courts [Georgetown, Demerara]. 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 27th day of April, 2018.
LEGAL NOTICE 4 Applicant in person: LORNA PEREIRA and MERVYN PEREIRA Address : Lot 13 fellowship Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara, Guyana. Tel# : 221-2164 2018-HC-DEMCIV-FD-532 IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF J U D I C A T U R E FAMILY, DIVORCE AND MATRIMONIAL JURISDICTION FAMILY DIVISION Applicant: FD-532 Between (1)LORNA PEREIRA (2) MERVYN PEREIRA Applicants-v (1) SANDRA D. PERSAUD(2) ROHAN PERSAUD Respondents BEFORE THE HONOURABLE MADAM JUSTICE DAMONE YOUNGE (In Chambers) DATED THE 3rd DAY OF MAY, 2018 ENTEREDTHE 7TH DAYOF MAY, 2018 UPON READING the Without Notice of Application on the part of LORNA PEREIRA and MERVYN PEREIRA, the above named Applicants filed herein on the 13th day of April, 2018 and the Affidavit of the said Applicants sworn to and filed herein on the 13th day of April,
of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown. 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.
Hughes denies being retained by the State during Nandlall’s tenure
Prominent Attorney-atlaw, Nigel Hughes, yesterday stated that he was not retained by the State during the former People’s Progressive The Registry of the Family Party (PPP) administration. Division of the High Court is Hughes issued a statelocated at the Law Courts ment in response to an article [Georgetown, Demerara]. The in Thursday’s edition of the office is open to the public between 8:00am and 3:30pm Kaieteur News regarding the Mondays to Thursdays and ongoing public debate be8:00am to 2:30pm on Fridays tween Attorney General (AG) except on public holidays and and Minister of Legal Affairs, on such other days as the Basil Williams and former AG, Registry is closed. Anil Nandlall over the settlement of cases by the State. Dated the 4th day of May, “I was never retained by 2018 the Attorney General or the State during the tenure of Mr. Nandlall as Attorney General or at any time,” Hughes LEGAL NOTICE 3 stated. 2018-HC-DEM-CIV-FD-584 Williams had indicated to IN THE HIGH COURT OF reporters on Wednesday that THE SUPREMECOURT OF letters were sent to several JUDICATURE FAMILY, DIVORCE AND MATRIMONIAL JURISDICTION FAMILY DIVISIONPETITION NO. From page 18 FD-584 BETWEEN:- statistics has been able to (DARMIATEN) TARMATEE ascertain. In this regard, they nee JACOBS Petitioner -and are at high risk of being affected simultaneously by (DARMIATEN) Respondent stunted growth and overTO: DARMIATEN weight due to the consumpLast Known Address tion of nutrient-poor but enLot A Tewkesbury Leguan ergy-dense foods. Essequibo River Guyana At individual country TAKE NOTICE that on the level, the prevalence of obe23rd day of April, 2018 a sity among children and adoPetition for Divorce was filed against you by TARMATEE DARMIATEN nee JACOBS the Petitioner in the Family From page 12 Division of the High Court in a basis for its termination. No Georgetown, Demerara. AND performance bond was FURTHER TAKE NOTICE lodged. The contract was that as part Of an Order made terminated on this very basis. on the 26th day of April, 2018 This would have been an the Petitioner was directed to unassailable defence, once effect service of her Petition put forward by competent on you by publication of counsel, yet the case was t h i s N o t i c e i n t w o ( 2 ) lost. This case commenced C o n s e c u t i v e S a t u r d a y and ended while the PPP was i s s u e s o f t h e K a i e t e u r out of Office, the Press and News Newspapers, a daily public quickly realized how Newspaperprinted, published clumsy it is for Williams to and circulated in and around blame the PPP.” Guyana and on the Worldwide Nandlall concluded that, Web (online). AND “there is only one person for FURTHER TAKE NOTICE the Police to investigate in that if you desire you may appear or attend in person or by your duly authorized agent or Attorney-at-Law at the Registry of Family Division of From page 23 the High Court at a total of 30 witnesses are Georgetown, Demerara where expected to be called during you will be issued with a the PI. The Chief Magistrate certified copy of the Petition transferred the matter to together with related Principal Magistrate Judy documents.AND FURTHER Latchman where the PI will be TAKE NOTICE that if you conducted. Nurse, known as desire to Defend this Divorce, ‘Fabulous,’ of Apartment 33 then upon receipt of the Shopping Plaza, South certified copy of the Petition, Ruimveldt, Georgetown, was you must file an shot in the left side of the face Acknowledgement of Service, during a struggle with a Notice of Intention to Defend gunman, who was attempting (Forms are available at the to relieve him of a large sum Registry) of foreign and local currency.
Nigel Hughes attorneys, including Hughes, asking whether they are working on cases outsourced by the former administration. Other lawyers Williams wrote to, include Roysdale Forde, Ashton Chase, Bernard De Santos, SC, Neil Boston, Ralph Ramkarran, SC and Sase Gunraj.
Preventing adolescent ... lescents aged 5-19 years in a number of LMIC had reached alarmingly high levels by 2016, according to the report. The report adds too, “This stands in stark contrast to the situation in several high income countries with relatively low prevalence, including Japan in which the national prevalence was half the global prevalence.”
AG should be fired... this matter. It is Mr. Basil Williams. The offence is “Misconduct in Public Office. If I am contacted by the police, that is the report I will make.” Incidentally, Misconduct in Public Office, is the same charged made against Nandlall’s comrade and former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh. The same charged has been registered against former Director of the National Industrial and Commercial Investment Limited (NICIL), Winston Brassington.
Three jointly charged ... The father of three died at the scene, while his killer fled with an undisclosed sum of cash and a quantity of gold jewellery.According to the police, Nurse was shot to the left cheek just below the eye by an identifiable male dressed in a red hoodie and brown three-quarter pants who then escaped on foot via Avenue of the Republic and Charlotte Street. Police ranks from the scene of crime unit processed the area and the body.
PAGE 24
Kaieteur News
Saturday May 19, 2018
‘ExxonMobil did not force our hands’ By Abena Rockcliffe-Campbell
- Trotman tells Parliamentary Committee
P
ersons, who were convinced that ExxonMobil took advantage of Guyana; and, forced an oppressive contract upon the country, were proven wrong yesterday when Minister Raphael Trotman, appeared before the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Natural Resources. Trotman told the Committee chaired by People Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Member of Parliament (MP), Odinga Lumumba, that the new “sweetheart clauses” which feature the 2016 Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) with the Oil giant were all introduced by Guyana. Trotman even admitted
that some provisions, like the dreaded Stability Clause, can be attributed to the handy cut and paste skills of the Gov-
ernment. Lumumba specifically asked Trotman, “Who initiated the changes to the 2016 agreement?” Trotman responded, “The Government of Guyana did Sir.” Lumumba asked, “Why?” Trotman responded, “We did it because of the threat of Venezuela.” Trotman recalled that days after ExxonMobil announced the oil find offshore Guyana, Venezuela issued a decree claiming almost twothirds of Guyana. Trotman claimed that all of Government’s decisions ever since were predicted on the fact that Venezuela was out to cause trouble. The Natural
From page 3 police patrol in the area and she informed them. She then ran to her aunt's residence a short distance away. The ranks went to the store just as Dover was running out. Dover reportedly discharged several rounds at the ranks who returned fire. Dover continued running and went out of sight; but the police observed a blood trail
along his path. That trail soon disappeared but the police never gave up their search. Shortly after 13:00 hours, they were directed to lot PP 6 Bent street, Wortmanville where Dover had managed to take the occupants hostage. Inside that house were Ryan Dowding, his 13-year-old daughter and his babysitter. His wife was at work. Dowding said that the now
dead Dover pointed a gun at him while ordering him to remain silent. During the ordeal, Dover demanded hot water and salt for his injured foot, which was now heavily bandaged.The hostage situation continued with Dover demanding that Dowding keep watch for the police who were scouring every yard along the way. It was not long before the police reached the house and
Minister of Natural Resources
Resources Minister claimed that Guyana wanted a company with the might of ExxonMobil and so it decided to do whatever was needed to be done to keep the company. “We wanted to anchor Exxon into our waters and let them know that we are a serious government and we are serious about the development of our oil resources.” As the sectoral meeting continued, Trotman’s colleague, Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan, shot a question that allowed Trotman to speak more on the contract. Jordan asked Trotman to clear up some of the “misconcep-
tions” being peddled in the media. Trotman noted that the Stability Clause, which he said is often “under attack” was not crafted by ExxonMobil. He said that that Clause was plucked from the 2012 contract secured by Anadarko. The Minister said that with the threat of Venezuela hanging over Guyana’s waters, companies need assurances. “Because of the threat from Venezuela, companies want to know that the government will not cave in or try to renegotiate.” It is not clear how such a Clause can protect companies from Venezuela.
Nevertheless, Trotman was clear, “The contract was not one given to Guyana or fed to us by Exxon; it was our contract which we chose to update.” The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said that the terms of the contract are generous to the ExxonMobil. Locals think that the contract is lopsided. Trotman has now made it clear that Guyana willingly decided to put Guyana in the position the people of the country found out about last December last, more than a year after the contract was signed.
Bandits killed after botched robbery
One of the guns recovered saw the blood trail leading upstairs. The ranks entered the home through a back window. Not long after neighbours heard rapid gunfire. Dover was fatally shot and a black Glock
17 pistol number BBPN 976 and ten live rounds were removed from his person. Barrow was pronounced dead at scene by EMT Cleveland King and escorted to Lyken Funeral Home. While
Dover was taken to the GPHC and pronounced dead by Dr. Rose, his body is also lying at the Lyken Funeral Parlour. The police have since confirmed that the gun found on Dover was stolen from Odingo Wills, a 24-years-old security guard attached to KGM security services and resides Lot 76 Middle walk Buxton. He was relieved of one 9mm pistol number BBPN 976 with 14 matching rounds, property of the said security services about 01:30 hours yesterday. Two Chinese Nationals were also robbed in the process. Barrow was found with a .38 Rossie revolver and two live matching rounds. A number of family members had gathered at the scene of the crime and were seen crying for the now dead bandits.
Saturday May 19, 2018
Kaieteur News
PAGE 25
PAGE 26
Kaieteur News
Saturday May 19, 2018
Saturday May 19, 2018
PAGE 27
Kaieteur News
Ferrari wing mirrors banned by FIA Garner hails cricket
Ferrari’s curved wing mirrors were seen to have given them an aerodynamic advantage. (Getty Images) BBC Sport - The controversial wing mirrors used by Ferrari at last weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix have been banned by Formula 1. The sport’s governing body, the FIA, did not approve of the way the mirrors were mounted to the halo head-protection device on
the car. Teams may still mount mirrors on the halo following a rule clarification, but they must have only an “incidental or minimal” aerodynamic effect.The FIA felt Ferrari’s mirrors gave them too much aerodynamic gain. Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel
finished fourth and Kimi Raikkonen retired after 25 laps at the Circuit de BarcelonaCatalunya, in a race won by Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton. In future, any team that wants to mount wing mirrors on the halo must do so with only a single mounting, or any secondary one must satisfy two criteria: Ferrari’s secondary mount was above the mirror and formed an outward-leaning curve that had the effect of a small wing, smoothing the airflow rear of the structure. The FIA said it “acknowledged that the rules currently in force with regard to mirrors are not perfect, and will strive to propose a more complete set of rules in terms of mirror position, mountings, visibility, etc. in the near future, with the aim to get a unanimous support for such changes for
Saturday May 19, 2018 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Do you say yes every time someone asks for a favor, Aries? Is it sometimes hard to find time for yourself because you're so busy coming to the rescue of a friend or family member? TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Do you think your body reflects who you are ? If you have the feeling that it doesn't, it's probably because the image you have of yourself isn't quite right. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Has it been difficult these past few days to communicate with those close to you? Are you a little skeptical about your charm? CANCER (June 21–July 22) It has been fairly easy for you to detect the truth behind the situations you've encountered lately. However, beginning today, your analytical abilities won't be so reliable. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) How intense the past few days have been! You could spend months just reflecting on these recent experiences. But the mood isn't conducive to introspection right now. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) The day ahead may help you break away from the surrounding gloom and doom. A more playful influence is trying to make its way into your relationships, especially your emotional commitments.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Sometimes you feel like you're navigating through a thick fog, but the obscurity will finally lift today. The skies ahead are sunny and clear! SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Was someone close to you rude without any provocation? Were you the target of unpleasant criticism? You take these slights to heart. Beginning today, and throughout the days to come, you can expect to withdraw SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Having a personal opinion on any question isn't the most difficult thing in the world to do, Sagittarius. More difficult is confronting with some objectivity the opinions of others. CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Enough of thinking about yourself, Capricorn! The hour has now arrived to draw some conclusions. You're at the end of the lengthy volume you were writing on your inner life. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Seduction through words is your real power, Aquarius. You have a great talent for anything involving words. So you're going to be able to attract even more admirers around you today! PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) With today's celestial energy, you're going to feel like you're on vacation, Pisces. This planetary configuration often gives people the feeling of having a fresh mind and calm disposition.
2019”.The FIA has also been investigating the operation of Ferrari’s battery in its role within the hybrid section of the team’s power-unit. There are questions over the specifics of the architecture of the system that supplies energy to the MGU-K the motor that recovers and re-deploys energy on the rear axle.
Leguan/East... From page 32 Wazim Mohamed and Javal Sahoye took 2 for 12 and 2 for 23 respectively. Leguan/East Bank Essequibo won by one run. The GCB/DMLAS/NSC/ NSSCL will continue today at the Everest ground with North Georgetown Zone Winners, Chase Academy doing battle with East Georgetown Zone winners, North Georgetown Secondary for the Georgetown District Championship. This match was postponed from its previously scheduled date, due to unfavorable weather conditions.
CWI responds... From page 31 perform its duties and obligations with great success and a challenge to the legality of the Act itself is pending. The main purpose for the appointment of the Ombudsman was to verify that cricket clubs, voting in elections at their Association and County board levels, actually play cricket and have a structure. Obviously there is an expectation that after this verification process, election at the association level would pave the way for elections at the county board level and ultimately an election at the level of the GCB where county boards are all entitled to vote with Nine (9) delegates each. An election at the GCB would only be fair if the clubs are first verified so it seems a no brainer that the clubs must be audited first. When contacted, Minister of Social Cohesion Dr. George Norton said that the Ombudsman Dr. Winston Mc Gowan didn’t complete his task and will seek advice from the Attorney General as to the way forward and is looking forward to meaningful consultation with the CWI head Dave Cameron. He said he never deny consultation from the CWI and also received a letter from the GCB about their meeting to appoint an Ombudsman, but it was little he could have done at that time.
as “force for...
From page 29 spectators in an effort to raise funds,” he explained.“This year will be no different. I think over 6 000 tickets have been sold so far and the match is still two weeks away. Based on these sales, it seems we will have a great crowd at Lords for the upcoming game.” He continued: “Cricket is again showing it can be a ‘force for good’ and it can help to bring people together. We have a situation here where cricket has stepped forward to help those in need. We have to say a huge thanks to the players who will participate. “All around the world sports helps to bring a smile to people’s faces and sportsmen are hailed as heroes, so it’s always great to see when those players give back in a
meaningful way.” The Windies will be led by T20 World Cup hero Carlos Brathwaite and includes two-time world champions Chris Gayle, Marlon Samuels and Samuel Badree. The match will also mark a return to international cricket for Andre Russell following his recent year-long ban. England white-ball captain Eion Morgan will skipper the World XI which will feature exciting Afghanistan legspinner Rashid Khan, Pakistan batting star Shoaib Malik, Bangladesh stroke-maker Tamim Iqbal as well as Sandeep Lamichhane, the sensational 17-year-old wrist spinner from Nepal. The match will be played under lights starting at 6 pm (1 pm Eastern Caribbean time).
PAGE 28
Saturday May 19, 2018
Kaieteur News
Nadal fights back to down Fognini and remain on Djokovic collision course
Rafael Nadal
Omnisport - Rafael Nadal remained on a collision course with Novak Djokovic by overcoming a first-set blip to ultimately comfortably dispatch Fabio Fognini and book a spot in the semi-finals of the Internazionali d’Italia. The Spaniard may have feared a fourth consecutive last-eight exit in Rome when Fognini, who typically mixed brilliance with erraticism, fought back from 4-1 down to win the opening set. But Nadal, a seven-time champion in the Italian capital, displayed his lasting quality on the clay to record a 4-6 6-1 6-2 victory and secure his ticket to the last four, where Djokovic or Kei Nishikori await. In the process, Nadal
stretched his head-to-head record over Fognini to 11-3 and maintained his hopes of returning to world number one after a quarter-final defeat to Dominic Thiem in Madrid saw him displaced by Roger Federer. Nadal earned break point in game four of the opening set when relentless pressure led to a forehand winner at the net, and some scarcely believable court coverage saw him put the chance away. Fognini was unfortunate to find himself 4-1 adrift, but a huge forehand brought up three break points in game seven. Nadal saved those but could not hold off a fourth as another crunching forehand saw the Italian break back. Incredibly, Fognini then
turned the set around - a wild forehand from Nadal offered his opponent the break point and the Spaniard then went long with a backhand. Fognini easily held for the opener, but Nadal quickly rediscovered his groove, breaking in game two with a trademark powerful forehand and, when he broke again in game six, the set was out of his opponent’s reach. The writing was on the wall by the time Fognini gifted Nadal the first break in the deciding set in game three with a long forehand. Nadal had the doublebreak lead when Fognini went wide on a backhand and the Spaniard went on to book a 10th last-four appearance in Rome.
Lady Jags members arrive for CONCACAF Qualifiers Members of the Guyana’s Lady Jags have arrived in the country as the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) prepares to host Group E of the CONCACAF Caribbean Women’s Qualifiers from May 23rd to 27th at the National Track and Field Centre (NTFC), Leonora, with double headers each day with the first at 17:00hrs. The ‘Lady Jags’ will contest the feature match each match day from 19:30hrs. Bermuda, Suriname and Barbados are among the teams in the Group and the competition is expected to be keen. Guyana played commendable football in a recent
tournament in Trinidad and Tobago and is expected to give a good account of them. Recently this event was placed on the calendar of the Guyana Independence Carnival, resulting in Hits and Jams (HJ) Entertainment being a partner. GFF Technical Director (TD); Ian Greenwood commenting on the team noted, “We have three very important games against three tough oppositions,”; He further said, “Bermuda will be the toughest due to the fact that they have acquired some players from the United Kingdom.” In addition, Barbados are expected to boost their
locally based squad with some players from the USA. Greenwood also shed light on the fact that the ‘Lady Jags’ will be a bit more confident against Suriname who they played recently in the Caribbean Football Union’s (CFU) Challenge Series in Trinidad & Tobago. “We have players overseas preparing and the local camp will include the GFF’s young female player-of-theyear, Jelade Trim of Kwakwani Strikers FC,” Greenwood concluded.Fans are encouraged to come out and witness the matches and to throw their support behind the Guyanese girls.
Elina Svitolina defeats Angelique Kerber to reach Italian Open semis ESPN - Defending champion Elina Svitolina overcame Angelique Kerber to reach the WTA Italian Open semifinals in Rome where she will face Caroline Wozniacki or Anett Kontaveit. OK, so it was just one loss, but looking ahead to the French Open, Rafael Nadal is that much less of a guarantee to be holding the winner’s trophy. The Ukrainian fourth seed was broken in her third serving game of the opening set to fall 4-2 down but a superb fightback saw her take the 23-year-old to the next four games to take the first set. Both players had early breaks at the start of the second before Svitolina took control and reach her third semifinal of the season winning 6-4, 6-4.
Elina Svitolina
Saturday May 19, 2018
PAGE 29
Kaieteur News
KMTC Pre-Independence race Garner hails cricket as “force for meet postponed due to weather good” ahead of fundraising T20 The Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club (KMTC) of Bush Lot Farm, Corentyne, Berbice Pre-Independence race meet set for tomorrow has been postponed. According to Justice Cecil Kennard of the KMTC, heavy rain this past week on the Corentyne has left the racetrack waterlogged and unfit for racing. He informed that a new date for the event will be announced.Some $2million in cash prizes were up for grabs with the feature attraction on the seven-race card being the H Class and lower race, with a top purse of $240,000, while the 2nd place will receive $120,000, third $60,000 and fourth $30,000.
The other races include the L class-non earners of $50,000 from January 2017 that will see the winner cash in on $100,000, the K class and lower will have a $140,000 first place prize, the two-year-old trial $100,000, L class non-winner $120,000, J 1 and lower $160,000 and the L Class Open $130,000. Prizes will be awarded from first to fourth in each category. When the meet is eventually stage it will be run under the rules of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority. Contact can be made with Justice Kennard (623-7609, 225-4818) for new information on the staging of the event.
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – West Indies legend Joel Garner has added his voice to those supporting the massive goodwill effort to rebuild stadia affected by the passage of deadly Hurricanes Irma and Maria last September. West Indies clash with an ICC World XI on May 31 at Lord’s in a fundraising Twenty20 International and Garner noted that cricket was again showing it was a unify-
ing force for good. “Our players have always been willing to be involved in any kind of charitable working going back to my playing days and even before,” said the former Windies team manager. “It is great to see the youngsters have again joined that rich tradition and are happy to participate an give back to the community and those in need.” The great former fast
bowler was Windies team manager last year during the one-day tour of England when several Caribbean islands were devastated by the tropical cyclones. He joined the outreach then by volunteering to collect funds and this year will be involved as part of the delegation to Lord’s for the high profile match.“Last year we had a good day at the Oval where we interacted with the (Continued on page 27)
PAGE 30
Saturday May 19, 2018
Kaieteur News
Former FIFA executive admits World Cup draw was fixed
Sepp Blatter talks with Michel Platini. (Getty Images) New York Post - Michel Platini admitted the 1998 World Cup draw was fixed. Platini was booted out of FIFA and UEFA after revelations he had received a “disloyal payment” of $1.8 million from disgraced world boss Sepp Blatter. But the midfield ace, who was the France boss between 1988 and 1992, admitted he was involved in a plot to ensure the 1998 hosts could not meet favourites Brazil until the final. FIFA has long agreed that the host nation should be given a pre-draw seeding spot while the other seven seeds for the first 32-team tournament be allocated on a calculation mixing the world rankings with performances at the three previous World Cup. FIFA regulations for the competition stated that the seeds should be randomly assigned at the Finals draw, which took place inside the Stade Velodrome in
Marseilles, France. But Platini, who had been appointed co-president of the World Cup Organizing Committee in 1992, pressed for a change that would allow France and Brazil to be kept apart until the ultimate showpiece. The former midfield star was to become a close ally of Blatter and his predecessor Joao Havelange before FIFA’s house of cards came crashing down in 2015, taking him with it as he was forced out of his role as President of UEFA. Platini, speaking in a French radio interview, confessed: “When we organized the calendar, we did a little trickery.” Brazil was announced as the top seed in Group A, with France taking the corresponding spot in Group C. With the paths to the final pre-ordained by the match calendar, the fix was in. Platini, who remains banned from all football activity until 2019, added: “If we
finished first in the group and Brazil finished first, we could not meet before the final…. “You think the others do not do it for their World Cups? France against Brazil in the final, that was the dream of everyone.” Both sides did win their group and kept their scheduled date in the Stade de France, won 3-0 by the hosts with two goals from Zinedine Zidane and the third scored by Emmanuel Petit. The final is much remembered for the conspiracies that flew around concerning Brazil striker Ronaldo. The superstar was withdrawn from the team in the build-up to the match before being reinstated at the last minute. He endured a terrible game, contributing to France’s easy win. He later revealed he suffered with convulsions and lost consciousness for several minutes before the final. (Originally Published By: The Sun)
Michel Platini (left) congratulates Didier Deschamps as the French national team goes to collect the World Cup trophy in 1998. (Getty Images)
Kaieteur News
Saturday May 19, 2018
Pepsi Hornets ‘STAG Carnival 7s...
Ramps Logistics on board The Pepsi Hornets Rugby Club benefited from some much-needed support from corporate Guyana ahead of tomorrow’s Guyana Carnival Sevens Rugby Tournament to be played at the National Park, Track and Field Playfield. Ansa McAl under their STAG Beer brand is the title sponsor for the event which will bring together some of the nations and the Caribbean’s top ‘Ruggers’, all vying for top honours in the lucrative tournament. Nigel Worrell, one of the company’s managers, made a simple presentation to Pepsi Hornets’ Roger Perreira at their Beterverwagting (BV) Head Quarters, and
stated that the entity is happy to play their part in ensuring that the sport of Rugby receives the support in order to ensure that the tournament is a success. Ramps Logistics, known for providing logics solutions to Exxon Mobile, also threw their support behind the tournament with Operations Director Richard DeNobrega while making the presentation to Pepsi Hornets’ Elwin Chase, proclaiming their honour in supporting one of the country’s most successful sports discipline. The STAG Carnival 7’s tournament will scrum off at 11:00 hours tomorrow following an opening ceremony.
Ansa McAl’s Nigel Worrell (right) makes a presentation to Pepsi Hornets’ Roger Perreira.
Ramps Logistics Operations Director Richard DeNobrega (2nd left) hands over sponsorship cheque to Pepsi Hornets’ Elwin Chase.
CWI responds to Minister Norton since March - Source While a story was published in the Guyana Chronicle in which Minister Norton was quoted as saying that the GCB is illegal, while at the same time saying that he is seeking legal advice from the Attorney General on the way forward on the issue of who can legally appoint a second cricket Ombudsman, a reliable source informed that the Cricket West Indies did respond to the minister. Following is a copy of the Cricket West Indies response to the Minister, on the Appointment of the Ombudsman, which text states as follows: 26th March 2018 Honourable Dr. George Norton Minister of Social Cohesion Ministry of the Presidency Department of Social Cohesion, Culture, Youth &Sports 71-72 Main Street Georgetown, Guyana Re: Appointment of the Cricket Ombudsman Dear Honourable Minister, I refer to your email
communication to our President Mr. Whycliffe Cameron on or about January 9th 2018 inviting consultations pursuant to Article 17 of the Guyana Cricket Administration Act #14 of 2014 (“the Act”). I also refer to your discussion with Mr. Cameron on his visit to Guyana on February 15th. I specifically refer to Articles 10 and 17 of the Guyana Cricket Administration Act. The Act places an obligation on the Minister with responsibility for Sports to engage in meaningful consultation with the West Indies Cricket Board on the appointment of the first cricket ombudsman. I am advised that the first cricket ombudsman has already been appointed. The Act does not make provision for the West Indies Cricket Board to be consulted on successive appointments of the Ombudsman (see Article 17(b). I believe, Honourable Minister, from my reading of the Act, that appointments of successive cricket ombudspersons are within the domain of the Guyana Cricket Board.
Cricket West Indies Inc. (formerly known as the West Indies Cricket Board) remains committed to the development of cricket in Guyana. Cricket West Indies offers you Honourable Minister, the assurances of our highest consideration. Yours Sincerely, Signed. Verlyn Faustin Chief Operating Officer and Corporate Secretary Cc: Honourable Basil Williams, Attorney General and Minister of legal Affairs. Kaieteur News understands that Minister Norton never responded to the West Indies Cricket Board until his comments in the Chronicle newspaper. Responding to the comments by the Minister, an official of the GCB stated that this is another example of a flawed cricket act forced upon the Board without proper vetting and consideration or maybe vetting by a chosen few that is now resulting in further chaos. He further stated that the GCB is continuing to (Continued on page 27)
PAGE 31
Kaieteur News
PAGE 32
Saturday May 19, 2018
GuyanaNRA/IPSC Six-Stage Level 2 Independence Sponsored by BM Soat and Secure Shoot on tomorrow @ TRR Innovations & Concepts Inc. The Guyana National Rifle Association (GuyanaNRA) in conjunction with International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC) Guyana will tomorrow host an inaugural Six-Stage Level 2 Match at the Timehri Rifle Ranges, dubbed, the 2018 Independence IPSC Shoot. Top shooters in this section the likes of Smallbore Captain, Dale Hing, Vice Captain Gordon Richards, Harold Hopkinson, Ryan
M c K i n n o n , Vi d u s h i Persaud-McKinnon among others will make this one to remember. Apart from the Individual category, there would also be teams consisting of 3-Members each vying for top honors. The match is sanctioned by Harold Hopkinson, the Regional Director for IPSC Guyana who has promised that the 2019 Independence Shoot will see international shooters from other IPSC Regions descending on these shores to compete.
This inaugural Independence Shoot is sponsored by BM Soat and Secure Innovations and Concepts Inc., and will see the top five Individuals in each division being rewarded while the team matches would see each team member on the top team receiving a trophy. Following are the stages: First Stage – Oops: Consists of 6 steel plates and 6 steel poppers, 30 and 35 feet away. Shooters will engage the 6 poppers first, freestyle then, execute a compulsory
magazine change and knock down the six plates using one hand, minimum round count 12.Second Stage - “The Joker”: This course consists of 8 IPSC targets and 4 poppers. Shooters must place 2 shots minimum per IPSC target and also knock down the 4 poppers, whilst traversing this 20 round medium course without incurring any penalties or breaking the dreaded 180° safety angles. Third Stage - “Over and Under”: This a large 32 round course. On the large course, competitors will be vying for 160 points, while changing magazines, executing perfect shots and running as fast as they can. Shooters must also jump over or duck under a barrier whilst traversing the course. If the barrier is dislodged, the errant shooter will incur a minus 10 point penalty. Completing this Level 2 Course will be 3 IPSC Classifiers, consisting of two 12 round and an 8 round course. These IPSC Classifiers will give members the international ranking needed, while taking
Trophies at stake tomorrow. part in IPSC and USPSA competitions. Members will compete in three Divisions, Production, Standard and Open. According to IPSC Regional Director Hopkinson, he would be using his customized Open
Race gun, sponsored by Shay Horowitz, owner of Akai Custom Guns of Miami, Florida and will be shooting 9mm major ammunition against the likes of Glocks, CZ Shadow 2s and Bull Storms which will be used by other members.
GCB/DMLAS/NSC/NSSCL
Leguan/East Bank Essequibo beat Bartica/Wakenaam by one run
Hamel Lamb The 2017/2018 Guyana Cricket Board/ Demerara Mutual Life Assurance Society Limited/National Sport Commission/National Secondary School Cricket L e a g u e (GCB/DMLAS/NSC/NSSC L) continued in the Essequibo District, where Leguan/East Bank Essequibo Combined defeated Bartica/Wakenaam Combined by one run. Played at the Good Success ground on the Wa k e n a a m I s l a n d o f E s s e q u i b o ,
Travis Christian
Waszim Mohamed
Bartica/Wakenaam won the toss, and sent Leguan/East Bank Essequibo to bat first. Leguan/Essequibo struggled to adapt well to the conditions, as they found scoring challenging on the pitch. Inform all-rounder Wazim Mohamed was the top scorer with 26, while Ronaldo Schouten and Javal Sahoye each made 10. B o w l i n g f o r Bartica/Wakenaam, Hamel Lamb grabbed 5 for 24 from 5 overs, while Rickey Persaud supported well with
3 for 21 from 5 overs. I n r e p l y , Bartica/Wakenaam gave a good account of themselves, and looked set to overhaul the Leguan/Essequibo score of 86, with Hamel Lamb producing a valiant batting display in which he stroked 46. However, Lamb failed to get the necessary batting support, stumbling to 85 all out. Bowling for Leguan/East Bank Essequibo, fast bowler Travis Christian grabbed 5 for 18 from 4.3 overs, while (Continued on page 27)
Kaieteur News
Saturday May 19, 2018
PAGE 33
Miss Guyana World 2018 contest
Smith, Munroe, Ambika top three in Sports & Fitness competition
One contestant display her putting skills at the LGC during the event.
T
he inaugural M i s s Wo r l d Guyana 2018 Sports & Fitness competition was a spectacular one this year as the organisation partnered with the Lusignan Golf Club to host the event. A large crowd was in attendance to witness the incredible performances of skill, fitness and endurance as the ten finalists braved the wet conditions. And the Top three in no particular order, in the Miss World Guyana 2018, Sports & Fitness completion are; Region 1 – Tracy Smith, Region 4 –Ambika, and Region 7 –Nicola Munroe. The winner will be announced on coronation night on May 25. The judges, Narda Mohammed, Seon Erskine, Charis Griffith, Debra Francis, and Lucas Matus watched keenly as the contestants went through the grueling fitness segment where they ran, did burpees, push-ups and jumping jacks, all as the weather conditions made it tougher. The women then had a skills competition, designed by Fusion Fitness dribbling a football, running the ladder before winding their way through obstacles to score a goal before racing across the Lusignan Golf Club Bridgestone Bridge to complete the final
challenge, making a 15 foot putt on the green. They were tracked by Caliper drones as they ran towards the cheering crowd at the club house to climb the final hill with arms help high. The keenly contested competition saw the lead changing several times as one challenge or the other took its toll on the leader, much to the dismay of the supporters who groaned as time slipped away from several contestants. The competition continues today as the Top 10 Finalists showcase their fashion and reveal their beauty with the evening gown segment at the Giftland Mall Art & Fashion Show starting at 6:00pm. The public can interact with the contestants at the Beauty with A Purpose Fair on Main Street on May 23 as they get the opportunity to see up close the person who may become the winner of Miss World Guyana 2018 and represent our country in China in November.
The contestants are being instructed on the ladder step during the fitness competition. Several contestants wait their turn during the fitness event.
rt o p S
Part of the Lady Jags’ team with former national standout, Gordon Braithwaite aka ‘Ultimate Warrior’.
Lady Jags members arrive for CONCACAF Qualifiers P. 28
Members of the ‘Lady Jags’ Team who arrived yesterday at the CJIA, Timehri.
Miss Guyana World 2018 contest
Pepsi Hornets ‘STAG Carnival 7s...
P. 31
Ramps Logistics on board Smith, Munroe, Ambika top three . 33 Former FIFA executive admits in Sports & Fitness competition World Cup draw was fixed . 30 P
P
Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.