Kaieteur News

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Monday May 20, 2019

Kaieteur News

KAIETEUR NEWS Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: ADAM HARRIS Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491 Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

EDITORIAL

Domestic Violence Again. Yet again. Not again. There are people, mainly women, who exist in a continuous torture chamber. It is the plague of domestic terrorism writ large, as brought out so graphically, and reminded of so disturbingly, in recent media reports. It never goes away to manageable, acceptable levels. That is, if there can ever be any level that is acceptable. For even one incident, one harrowing circumstance, should be too much to absorb or accommodate. Guyanese are more than jaded; they are numb and shrivel before the episodes of violence that flare here, there, and almost everywhere it appears. Unlike the gun violence that is now every day, and lurks behind most routine interactions, domestic violence is characterised by physical blows, whether fists of feet, or other ready tools of force. There is that familiar nearness that makes matters more monstrous, more unforgivable, through frequency. Yet there is forgiveness for those willing themselves to believe (mostly females), that tomorrow will be sober and peaceful and lacking the unimaginable wretchedness that is the daily, yearly, lifetime norm. That kind of tomorrow rarely comes. Nobody should live like that; especially women, wives, mothers. None ought to become so insecure and so dependent as to compel themselves to believe that they cannot get by, cannot manage, cannot survive. It is when they stay and hope, that survival is most threatened. That the tomorrow that comes could well be one of blood, battering, and brokenness. It is why women must make up their minds, steel their spine in the conviction that they can and will overcome. On their own. And in the aloneness of an unknown, but newfound, strength and faith. The cultural overhang has to go; there is no stigma in leaving and going from that which menaces. There is neither joy nor security nor tranquility in staying. Too often, there is only maiming and dying. True punishment and justice are denied by the cowardly escapism of ending one’s life by one’s own hand, through the contemptible pathos of the usual easy, available poison or rope. It is a premeditated exit strategy. Having long brutalised and at last butchered, the quick way out is taken. There is no solace nor closure for survivors, be they orphans, parents, or siblings of those hacked and incinerated and stripped of life. No one should ask, insist, coerce, or influence a victim to remain. Not abuser. Not family. Not community. Not the state. Not the church. That is a recipe for tragedy, one more. In this emerging era of keener social sensitivities and greater emphasis on the dignity of persons, including the poor, the vulnerable, the weak-the necessary cultural education, reformation and transformation cannot continue to lag far behind. This starts with the individual and in the family. The standards and upbringings instilled in male offspring that violence is not the way, that respect for women and self is mandatory, that starting over is better, wiser, healthier. The old automatic reflex towards, and dependency on, male dominance no longer meets with either applause or approval or any strain of acceptance. In the same patient, unambiguous manner, parents and elders must cultivate a value system and mental shift in female descendants that questions, if not contradicts, blind submission to the whims and rages of partners, bent on inflicting harms of many varieties, all highly endangering. Religious denominations of all persuasions have to look again at that matrimonial ideal of “until death do us part.” That is not sustainable when the circumstances cry out against; when, indeed, the death that parts is from anything but the passage of time or natural causes. The teachings have to focus more on physical safety and self-preservation, along with psychological confidence and spiritual vigor. Discretion is not merely better than valor; it is also removing the bull’s eye from one’s body. Hard domestic choices have to be made or harder personal violence follows.

Are the consultants right on this one? Oil refinery not feasible! DEAR EDITOR, A recent article appearing in KN on May 14th, “Even with 5.5 billion barrels. Oil refinery not feasible for Guyana-Consultant stand by earlier study report,” may not have the support of the Guyanese public. I am of the opinion that if a poll is held to determine the public opinion on whether the experts are right on this issue, it will show that Guyanese do not believe the experts on this one. Naturally! There is a relevant reason for disbelief amongst the populace. We live next door to an oil producing neighbour that has oil refinery and despite their present economic situation, Guyanese are envious of the fact that a litre of oil in Venezuela is much cheaper than a litre of water. Deep in our Guyanese psyche, is the belief that the same could transpire here, if only we had our own refinery. The consensus here is not what is economically viablewho gives a damn! Our primary concern is that as an

oil producing nation we must have access to cheap oil and to have cheap oil we must have our own oil refinery. With that in mind, the expert opinion against building our own refinery is considered malicious and spiteful. The concerns from the public is manifold and the questions are numerous. Do oil refineries come in one standard size? In the PSA with Exxon, it seems our two percent as royalties seem locked away to the point where it cannot be collected in liquid oil. Was that a consideration against the refinery? Can we have a small refinery to refine our two percent for our national needs with any excess to the Caribbean market? Had the consultants factored in the amount of monies Guyana spend annually on oil and petroleum products? Wherever there is crude oil there is gas-crude being a product of decayed organisms over millions of years. Can we have some of

that on shore so that our people can have a cheaper price for oil and cooking gas? There is a popular opinion that if we cannot have cheap oil and cooking gas, our oil resources will never benefit the poor. The truth be told! A mere 25 % of the population is aware of the reliance of government on the tax on fuel imported in Guyana. The consumption tax on imported fuel is a humungous 70%. It is the mother contributor to the state’s coffers. If the tax on fuel is taken away, oil becomes cheap. We don’t need our own refinery to have cheap oil. No government will ever want to take that tax away, not even with oil revenues to fill that gap. The justification by governments for this 70% tax on fuel is that the owners of vehicles and industrial machinery are well off and can afford to pay this tax. Conveniently! Nothing is mentioned that this tax is invariably passed down to the consumers, of which the poor makes up the larger

percentage, in the form of transportation and production costs. We are yoked with a PSA with Exxon that requires Exxon to be repaid every single dime it claims it invested, audited or unaudited, from day one of its search for oil in our territory. This extends further, to the production of every barrel of oil. When the cost for the search for oil and the cost to first oil would have been repaid, we could safely say Exxon did not invest a dime to command 50% of the profit from our resource. Exxon’s record on cooperate social responsibility around the world paints a picture of greed. Exxon has been cited for paying people in the scientific community to alter the results of a study on climate change- a study that entails the survival of the human race on the planet. What hinders this company from getting to a consultant we hire to decide if an oil refinery is feasible. Rudolph Singh

Let’s forget about race and welcome the newest royal into his place DEAR EDITOR, The birth of the first mixed race baby into the royal family has already resurrected some dangerous stereotypes about race. A brief look at social media reveals that the arrival of the anxiously awaited offspring of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle has brought with it, the not- so- hidden rudiments of racism. When Meghan conceived, be not deceived speculations abounded like short range missiles in Nazi Germany during World War II. After all, the expected baby was going to be the first, yes the first Anglo-American member of the Royal family. For the Black diaspora, in the United Kingdom, United States and especially but not exclusively Jamaica, the impending birth stirred an excitement, causing to surface unresolved issues surrounding the mysterious death of Harry’s mother Princess Diana in 1997. Nonetheless Archie Harrison, (as he is called) is eligible for American citizenship should his parents desire it. Through his biracial mother, he has African American heritage. With a black mother and white father, Meghan’s ethnicity has never been far away from discussions about

her relationship with Harry, grandson of the Queen. In late 2016, when Harry first announced that he was dating Megan Markle, he issued a rare rebuke to the press, totally condemning the racial undertones of written articles. One commentator had written how Meghan would bring “rich and exotic DNA” to the Windsors. In a Los Angeles Times op-ed, editorial writer Carla Hall who is also biracial poses the question: “Will Meghan Markle and Prince Harry raise their baby to be black?” Carla writes – and these are her quotes, “Baby Sussex, as he’s called for the moment… needs to know about what it means to be a black person in the world today. Of course… there is no one black experience — except, perhaps, a cop stopping you because you look like a suspect. And yes, it will be interesting to see Baby Sussex pulled over by a cop who asks, “Hey, black guy, where did you get that motorcade?” What about sidestepping the colour issue and raising the child to be a decent and upright citizen. Or better still, skip the hang-up and call him white. Such an inquiry certainly alludes to the fact that there

are consequences raised on which side of the colour bar a child is raised. Over at CNN John Blake asks, “How Black will the Royal baby be?” British broadcaster Danny Baker a highly successful and even “brilliant” British radio host was fired by BBC Radio 5 following allegations of racism over a tweet about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s newborn son, Archie, that featured a picture of a chimpanzee. The sincedeleted tweet showed a Black and white picture of a welldressed couple next to a suited chimpanzee with the caption: “Royal baby leaves the hospital”. His bosses were not all pleased. In fact, they were appalled at his intemperate salute at the new royal arrival. Baker should have gotten a clue from the very fact that the marriage of Harry and Meghan in 2018 attracted more global attention and, I contend, caused more excitement than any other since Prince Charles and Diana tied the knot in 1981. In a New York Times essay, Lizzie Skurnick, writer and daughter of a black mother and white Jewish father, posed a similar question to Hall’s: “Will he have kinky hair?” Either way, she notes, she’ll love

#BabySussex, as his parents hashtagged their son on Instagram, and hopes that he will be equally proud of his kinky hair as she is of hers. Arguably, the plethora of questions about the bloodline and identity of a baby who is seventh in line to a throne with no power in a country the size of Oregon certainly has echoes of a sad yet well-known past. Why are we still so race obsessed, although we keep trying to delude ourselves that racism is not a big issue, and we are living in a post racial era? What the arrival of the baby has done is given us, simple commoners, the opportunity to reveal among other things our ignorance about race. According to historians, race -the modern day conception of black and white people was created solely to justify the global slave trade. “The need to morally justify enslaving other human beings pushed Europeans to invent a mythical biological racial ‘essence’ of inferiority for African-descendent people. In the ancient world people noticed skin color differences. We have no idea how much of Archie’s black genes will affect how he will look. Continued on page 5

Monday May 20, 2019

Socio-political and economic insecurity is becoming a way of life DEAR EDITOR, Socio-political and economic insecurity is becoming a way of life for Guyanese. Ushered in by the APNU + AFC government over the last four years, disrespect for the rule of law, double standards, bullyism and general erosion of quality of life have not only gained prominence, but are becoming concretized in our society. The no-confidence motion carried in the National Assembly on December 21, 2018 seemed to have triggered a brutish endeavour to remain in office at all costs, without regard for the consequences such an attempt may have on our international image/ relations, our people and the national economy. As a starter, the issue of dual citizenship parliamentarians has been settled by the High Court and upheld on appeal. Yet within the APNU + AFC there has been confusing and conflicting positions. The Prime Minister’s unfounded view is that the government should not entertain ‘split allegiance’ within its ranks. His memory needs jolting because this issue is addressed in the constitution, thus, falls outside the realm of his ‘split allegiance’ arguments, unless he is advocating no change to the constitutional provisions. At the same time,

the President has found it expedient to appoint all four former Parliamentarians to arbitrarily created high level positions within various Ministries. Such appointments bring into question, conflict of roles, duplicity, redundancy, and more importantly, duplicity of costs – a heavy burden on taxpayers and the economy. Additionally, it is unclear whether the President has unilateral powers to create such positions with concomitant costs without approval of the National Assembly. Further, from the posture and comments of Mr. Harmon, carrying on in his new position, it seems clear that the APNU + AFC administration is hell-bent on continuing their mission of remaining in power for as long as possible. The challenges before the CCJ are at this moment pending, due mainly to GECOM’s reluctance/ inability to respond to the Court’s request. An argument can be made that GECOM’s current plans to commence registrations across the country aim at influencing/sending a message to the Court that elections cannot/wouldn’t be held before December 2019. One gets the impression that GECOM/government is unconcerned about the intently focused international community/cameras on the

developments/outcomes of the cases before the CCJ. In essence, it can be seen as a bullying tactic that signals intention/potential defiance of a ruling contrary to the government’s likings. Against the foregoing malaise, people have not only become appalled, but also observed that socio-political and economic insecurity is becoming the order of the day. Employment opportunities have disappeared, leaving many families without incomes thereby eroding the quality of life. Many are relying/expecting the oil and gas sector to serve as the shock absorber - by providing jobs, while others opined that such jobs may be an illusive dream. In a nutshell, the administration’s continued flouting of the rule of law, and their defiance of truth/ knowledge and obliviousness to informed economic and national development best practice strategies continue to downward-slide and concretize Guyana as a failed state. Notwithstanding the potential windfall cash from Exxon’s oil and gas extraction over the next few years, the current attitude of the APNU + AFC administration paints a gloomy future of this nation, should they remain in office. Yours sincerely, Ronald Singh

Let’s forget about race and... From page 4 Americans have been conditioned by the “one drop rule”, a social and legal principle of racial classification that was historically prominent in the United States in the 20th century. It contended that any person with even one ancestor of African ancestry (“one drop” of black blood) is considered black, Negro or coloured. Baby Archie could be part black but look quite white. However, how a child sees himself or herself can be challenged on an almost daily basis by a voracious world that only wants to see one racial or cultural heritage at a time through the distorting lens of stereotypes. Old stereotypes and ugly stereotypes die hard. Sadly, let us not delude ourselves any further the arrival of this biracial baby is in no way to be viewed as indicative of any improvement in racial equality. Racism is so historic and so deep-rooted , that we tend to look at things, anything and everything. Looking beyond the

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Kaieteur News

current storms of impending wars, trade wars, Brexit, Fix It, walls and Border Security, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex along with their newborn son, Archie Harrison, offer the world a real never before view and symbolism of love and peace across racial and international lines. Love from the heart and colour playing no part. Baby Sussex will soon learn that he is royal when photographers incessantly and unceasingly snap his picture at events/public appearances, etc. As regards his colour, I am guessing that one day he will ask his parents the question: Am I black? The answer: Yes, you are. Hopefully, if he did not get it from looking at his lightskinned mother, then he needs only look at his maternal grandmother who resides in Los Angeles. Such a question and its ultimate response is important as mixed-race Americans have become an increasing category, especially for children and teens who inevitably have questions about themselves, their

background, their heritage and how to put up with sometimes annoying “What are you?” questions from their peers. Conclusively, living while royal will mean more to Baby Archie’s identity development than living while Black. He will certainly have an extraordinarily privileged life, but how private it will be, one will eventually see. Anything and everything that this child does from childhood and adulthood will be scrutinised to the nth degree. The birth certainly heralds the beginning of a new era for the Royal Family. The world is watching to see how well they craft this. It has been rumoured that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex plan to spend substantial time in Africa. The best is wished wherever his privileged life takes him. Although racism may not be as bad as it was years ago, there is still a lot of distance to be covered. Hopefully, he will eventually live in a post racial world. Yvonne Sam

The goal to restore Georgetown is worth the effort DEAR EDITOR, I read a letter written and published in the Stabroek News, 16th May, 2019, titled, “Georgetown is nothing like the Garden City that it was in 1971, let us put our efforts together to restore it.” Every word in that letter is valid and the writer deserves to be highly commended. As Mayor for a long time, I must take some responsibility and share some blame for the sorry and sad situation of our Capital. It is not for the want of trying but thanks to our disunity and the narrowmindedness of many in high places, for years every effort to restore the city was

frustrated. Time can heal and I hope and pray that all concerned will put aside pettiness and accept that the City is our capital and that we can come together to achieve what will be tedious, monumental- but to make a determine effort to restore Georgetown. It is not necessary to recite the many efforts made in recent times to save our City. But thanks to an emerging culture of uncaring behaviour and low standards. We faltered and fail. The new Mayor, now has an opportunity to put in place a suggestion made by the writer.

I know he is anxious to do as Hercules did, to clean the Augean stables but it requires all hands on deck -Central Government, Ministry of Communities, Ministry of Public Health, Ministry of Infrastructure, all youth groups, all religious organisations, the media, the Judiciary and the Security Forces. I am copying my letter and the one I referred to earlier to the Mayor. I know he must first deal with attitudes of certain citizens, starting at City Hall. However, the goal to restore Georgetown as the Garden City of the Caribbean is worth the effort. Hamilton Green

Still challenges to pay GTT Bills DEAR EDITOR, I refer to the response given by Mr. Orson Ferguson dated May 14, 2019 in providing several payment options to avoid the long lines when paying your GTT bills. I am a Blaze customer and have both a postpaid and a prepaid number. It is well known that the 10th of every month is the due date to pay, at least for me, my Blaze and postpaid account amounts that are due. The due date is based on the fact that the invoice for both accounts is dated on the 1st of the month. So, my Blaze bill invoice dated May 1 which reflects the service used for the preceding month is due to be paid on May 10th; that is a ten-day period I have to pay. But do I really have a tenday payment period? No! I use the GTT website to access my Blaze bill and the option *100*2*8# to check the amount due for the postpaid number. And none of these are ever available before the 4th of the month. So, for the month of May as with all of the preceding

months, I viewed my Blaze invoice dated May 1st on May 4th and similarly viewed the amount due for the postpaid number on May 4. Hence, I had only 6 days to pay both outstanding amounts and May 5 was a National Holiday. I would use MMG to pay these amounts due but I would only put into my MMG account the amount due and this I can only do between the 5th to the 10th of every month. During this period, the lines are long at GTT outlets to buy MMG. In most cases also, when buying from an agent, they would not have the total amount of MMG requested hence you have to visit another agent and then another agent until one may have the total amount requested. So, for these 5 days, it is stressful in getting your GTT bills paid.

And it will get more stressful as there is an interesting thing to note. Last Friday (due date for payment), after visiting two agents, I was able to purchase MMG and return to my place of employment where I had intended to complete payment of my two accounts via MMG and to my shock and surprise, the MMG app refused to open because the internet was provided by E-governance. It was only until I got home, payments were done via the MMG app. So, it seems using the MMG app is not applicable in certain environments which will put much more strain on persons in paying their GTT bills on time. Then there is the GTT app. I downloaded it and used my prepaid phone number to set it up and when I tried to add my Blaze account; there is a restriction to do so. Neil Bacchus

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National Youth Week 2019 launched in Berbice The Department of Youth of the Ministry of the Presidency’s Department of Social Cohesion, Culture, Youth and Sport, in collaboration with the Regional Democratic Council Region 6, on Saturday launched the 2019 National Youth Week. The launch commenced in Berbice with a rally focusing on youth mental

health and wellbeing. Scores of young people marched from Philadelphia, Main Street, New Amsterdam to the region’s State House, in commemoration of National Youth Week. An exhibition and concert followed the rally. Those in attendance were entertained by peers who performed several dance routines, skits and songs.

Representing the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) was the Regional Executive Officer (REO), Kim Williams-Stephen, who stressed on mental health issues that are currently affecting today’s society, and is common among the youth. It was explained that some of the more common mental health disorders are depression, bipolar disorder,

Minister George Norton visits one of the booths.

Anothe dementia, schizophrenia and anxiety disorders. Symptoms may include changes in mood, personality, personal habits and or social withdrawal. Mental health

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problems may be related to excessive stress due to a particular situation or series of events Williams-Stephen reasoned. “We should be our brothers and sisters’ keeper,” she urged. The activity aims to highlight the absolute importance of young people’s contribution to national development especially in the area of sport. With a focus on mental health, in his address to the gathering, Minister of Social Cohesion, with responsibility for Culture, Yo u t h a n d S p o r t , D r. George Norton noted that in Guyana, the talk of mental health and seeking therapy for some has always been taboo. However, young people turning to suicide and violence as a way of dealing with stress and trauma should not be an option, and people need to ensure they reach out to others, even if all may seem well. “The Government of Guyana promised the youth of this nation a good life, and we will deliver a good life to you. This is not a promise, it is a commitment,” the minister told the cheering crowd of mostly young people. He urged the gathering to make use of the programmes

offered by the Department of Youth since they are specifically tailored towards youth comprehensive growth and healthy development. “Guyana is yours, willing and open, ready and waiting for you to etch your mark,” he reminded. The excellent performance by Guyana’s Youth at the most recent Junior Carifta Games held in the Cayman Island was also acknowledged at the event. “Guyana is now poised to host the next leg of this prestigious Championship in 2021 because of the country’s youths’ commendable performances. This is just one of many major accomplishments owing to the positive inputs of our young people. Region 6 is well prepared for such activity because the region will be equipped with a fully furnished and equipped synthetic track.” In his closing remarks to the youth of Region 6 Minister Norton said: “Your nation depends on you to embrace the diversities that exist and to accept each other as brothers and sisters in humanity, regardless of our differences in faith, Culture, tradition or Continued on page 22

Monday May 20, 2019

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Female taxi driver murdered, dumped in trench - car stolen Concerned for her safety, Jennifer Bipat quit her security guard job for the more lucrative profession of taxi driver. On Saturday night, someone murdered the 48-year-old mother of two, stole her car, and dumped her face-down in a trench aback of a desolate, West Bank Demerara community. Residents of a new housing scheme at La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara, found Bipat at around 09:00 hrs yesterday, several hours after she had failed to return to her home at Lot 18 Samaroo Dam Pouderyen, West Bank Demerara. She was fully clothed in a

Murdered taxi driver, Jennifer Bipat pair of blue pants and a white top, while her slippers were nearby. Her vehicle, a Toyota Premio, PXX 4114, which was purchased a mere six months ago, was missing.

The area where Bipat’s body was found Bipat, who operated from Fortune Taxi Service in Goed Fortuin, West Bank Demerara, was reportedly last seen alive

Guyana celebrates World Family Doctor Day Recently graduated doctors of family medicine yesterday hosted a mini exposition, at the Giftland Mall, Turkeyen, to sensitise the public about family medicine as Guyana joined the world to celebrate World Family Doctor Day. Dr. Christel Fraser-Barclay said the sensitisation exercise was being conducted by students of the postgraduate Family Medicine Programme. “We are here to sensitise the public on family medicine in Guyana and the role of family doctors. So that persons will feel comfortable and feel free to go to their local health centres; take advantage of the services that the centres have to offer.” The University of Guyana (UG) and Georgetown Public Hospital Institute of Health Science Education partnered with the University of Ottawa Department of Family Medicine to establish a sustainable, community focused, Guyanese-specific postgraduate Family Medicine training program that will train physicians in the art and science of primary health care. Dr. Fraser-Barclay, during an interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI), explained that Guyana embarked on this journey in 2015 and it is the determination of the health sector to be able, through this new programme, to improve the health and wellbeing of the people of Guyana by strengthening the primary healthcare based system that ensures universal access to quality health services. She said, “Four graduates from that programme are family doctors in Guyana today, its new as a specialty in

Dr. Tariq Jagnarine

Dr. Christel Fraser-Barclay

Guyana.” Dr. Barclay explained further that the family doctors are not limited to the Georgetown Public Hospital Cooperation (GPHC) but it is the health sector’s plan to have family doctors at all health centres and hospitals countrywide. “We operate out of seven health centres presently and from Monday, (May 20) we are adopting another health centre, and every year we plan to adopt two new health centres.” Presently, the health centres are Grove, East La Penitence, Kitty, Campbellville, Industry, Sophia, and the Enmore Polyclinic. “We operate at a community level, so we hope that we can really prevent illness, promote health and we can really foster a healthier Guyana from that level,” Dr. Barclay stated. Meanwhile, Dr. Sohodra Rambarose, also a graduate from the family medicine programme, is presently attached to the Kitty Health Centre in Georgetown. She worked in the paediatrics sector for some time and, “usu-

ally sees children who are extremely sick.” This notion, she noted, drove her to undertake studies in family medicine. “So, by strengthening primary healthcare and investing in preventative health and preventative medicine, we can save people from having a bad outcome and overall it lifts the health of the entire country.” Her hope is that along her journey in family medicine she can make a positive impact with the way persons view the health centres and family medicine. Dr. Tariq Jagnarine, who will be graduating in November 2019, noted that family medicine is a specialty that bridges the gap with families having continued and comprehensive care “from the cradle to the grave.” According to Dr. Jagnarine, family medicine encompasses all ages, all genders, each organ system and every disease entity. It is based on knowledge of the patient in the context of the (Continued on page 8)

at around 18:00 hrs on Saturday. It was at around this time that she received a phone call on her mobile phone, reportedly from someone who had wished to hire her. She then told the dispatcher at the base that she was going to attend to that call and that she would not be returning to the base for the rest of the night. Tharisma Samaroo, her daughter, told Kaieteur News that her mother would always return home around seven in the evening. After that time had passed, and calls and messages to her mother’s phone went unanswered, the daughter, her brother, an aunt and grandmother contacted ranks at the Vreed-en-Hoop Police Station and reported

Mrs. Bipat missing. At around 9:00 hrs yesterday, the family received a phone call from police ranks who said that had found Bipat’s body in bushy fields at the back of Dairy, a section of La Parfaite Harmonie. One resident who spoke to Kaieteur News suggested that someone who was unfamiliar with the area had disposed of the body. According to the resident, someone who knew that area well would have hidden the body in the bushes that abound in that section of the community. The relative said that most taxi drivers are reluctant to enter the new housing scheme at night, since the area is desolate and has no streetlights. According to relatives,

Mrs. Bipat worked as a security guard for about 18 years. Relatives were concerned for her safety, so she quit her job and became employed as a taxi driver. It was also around that time that she became a single parent after her husband died. Her children, Tharisma Samaroo, 18 and Deokhan Samaroo, 24, also reside at Pouderyen. The distraught children described their mother as a loving and hardworking woman. They said she had no problems with anyone and are hoping that her killers are quickly apprehended. Her body is currently stored at the Ezekiel’s Funeral Home on the West Coast of Demerara.

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Monday May 20, 2019

Kaieteur News

Guyana celebrates World... Members of the public being informed by some of the doctors

(From page 7) family and the community, emphasising disease prevention and health promotion. The World Organisation of Family Doctors first declared world Family Doctor Day on May 19, 2010 and it has become a day to highlight the role and contributions of family doctors in healthcare systems, locally and around the world. (A DPI Feature)

Three gunmen killed in... (From page 3) acting on information, descended in the area of Joanna, Black Bush Polder (back-dam) where they confronted and killed the three armed men during a shootout. Black Bush Polder, a farming community, has been terrorised over the past few days by bandits armed with guns and other implements. Berbice in general had seen a spike in crime, including a daylight attack at a Chinese Supermarket at Albion. The bandits, one armed with an AR-15 rifle had unleashed gunfire in front the business, shooting a police patrol vehicle attached to the Albion Police Station in the process.

UG Vice Chancellor resisted past efforts to scrutinise spending - Ram The Administration of the University of Guyana has fought hard against efforts to scrutinise its spending habits, in the past. This is according to Accountant and Attorney-at-law Christopher Ram, who had served as the Chairman of UG’s Audit Committee. Money was spent “without any accountability,” Ram said. He told Kaieteur News that the audit committee functioned to, among other things, oversee audits by the internal auditors and to liaise with external auditors. But when the committee tried to hold meetings, Ram said that there have been efforts by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith, and his staff, to block those meetings. Even now, Ram said that there has not been a single audit of UG’s spending habits throughout Griffith’s tenure – 2016 to present – and he worries that the lack of scrutiny has left too much to run amok. Griffith’s predecessor was heavily scrutinised to account for his foreign travels, which Ram said comes nowhere close to what Griffith is now getting away with. Candidly, Ram said that sometimes, it seems Griffith “spends more time out than in” the jurisdiction. Ram stated that the gap between what the Vice Chancellor has “done for himself”

(his Department) and what he has done for other branches of the university is quite telling. There has been much protest over money being disproportionately allocated to the vice chancellery, as opposed to the faculties. The complaints are not just in the way of allocations for work, but about how rapidly the emoluments of the executive body are growing. Some have argued that the increase is solely because that body now has more members. There are complaints from students about tuition fees rising to an unsustainable level, and a movement emboldened by the prospect of oil has already, with the cooperation of the UG Student Society, staged a walkout at university, to demonstrate just how many persons want tuition fees to be scrapped. Staffers of some faculties have raised complaints about the lack of basic facilities, like toilet paper, soap and stationery. And security is also a problem, according to the UG Student Association, despite the fact that a private security firm, Massy, is contracted to stand guard. Vice Chancellor Griffith has strong connections in government – “party connections” – Ram said. He added that Griffith has packed the various university organs with persons who are loyal to him. Ram has questioned, with all the money that the university has been spending and the complaints by the unions, “What have they achieved?”

UG Vice Chancellor, Ivelaw Griffith

Accountant and Attorney-at-Law, Christopher Ram

In a letter to Kaieteur News last month, Griffith sought to defend his record with the university. He has hit back against allegations that faculties go without basic toiletries and stationery. He reminded that the launch of the Jay and Sylvia Sobhraj Centre for Behavioral Sciences and Research was done recently under his tenure. He also has taken credit for the launch of the School of Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation (SEBI) in 2017 and the launch this year of new degree programmes in Petroleum Engineering, Food Science, Youth Work, Clinical Psychology, and in Nursing and Civil Engineering in Berbice. He also said that the university has gotten a geo-technical lab for students studying petroleum and mining engineering, and that the UG’s medical school retained accreditation in 2017. Griffith

took credit for a series of other infrastructural improvements done recently for the university, and for salary increases given to the staff. UG’s two unions, the Senior Staff Association (UGSSA) and the Workers’ Union (UGWU), have requested an audit into UG’s spending. The administration responded last month that it welcomes an audit into its spending practices. The calls have come at a critical time, as Griffith has sought to renew his contract for the Vice Chancellor’s post. He has indicated that there is much more to do to fulfill his vision for UG. Guyana awaits a special audit into the spending of the University, by the office of the Auditor General, Deodat Sharma. Sharma’s office has reportedly had meetings with officials from the Ministry of Education and the two unions of the university, who have staunchly advocated for the audit.

Monday May 20, 2019

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Kaieteur News

NOT YET TIME TO FEEL SECURE The shooting to death of three persons suspected to be bandits by the police has brought some amount of relief from the crime situation. However, the police are far from being on top of the crime situation. The police are reporting that four men were shot and killed in the backlands of Black Bush Polder. Guns are reported to have been retrieved from the scene. The Corentyne has witnessed a spate of robberies in recent days. At least three families were brutalised by armed persons. The police operation, which resulted in the death of the alleged criminals was said to be based on strategising and intelligence. If the men were indeed involved in criminal activities, then the police would have

at least ensured that these persons would no longer be a threat to the general population. But the overall threat is far from reduced. Criminal attacks, involving weapons, including gins, have been occurring a l m o s t d a i l y. A n d t h e y have been widespread and not confined to Berbice. This column has been highlighting some of the incidents, which are leaving in a state of fear and nearpanic. The reports in the media suggest that criminal attacks are not confined to any one area. The attacks by the criminals have not ceased. A family of Diamond were brutalised by bandits. Diamond is more 100 miles from Black Bush Polder. One of the family members

was bloodied and badly beaten to his head. The attack left the family home in pools of blood. The bandits reportedly has guns and cutlasses On Saturday night, a single-parent mom and her 11-year-old son were victims of an attack at their home in the same Black Bush Polder area where two other families were attacked days earlier. The victim is poor woman. She works as a cleaner. The bandits spent a long time ransacking her home and because they were not satisfied, they beat her mercilessly. A forty-seven year old taxi driver was found dead in a drain yesterday. The vehicle, which she was driving and her cellular phone have gone missing. Strangely, no marks of

DEM BOYS SEH

Moon does run till day ketch am Old people got a saying dat moon does run till day ketch am. All it means is dat the longest rope has an end. Dis week the country get a whole heap of bad news, all coming out of Berbice. Dem hear how bandits strike in Black Bush. Dem beat up a man and kidnap he daughter because dem want money. Couple hours later dem go to a house not far from wheh dem been. De man of de house arm heself wid a cutlass and bolt up he door. De bandits shoot de door but dem didn’t get in. Meanwhile, de man and he family run out de house and hide between some plantain suckers. People call de police but nobody didn’t come. Dem claim how dem don’t have vehicle and things like dat. Dis time, de police station wasn’t far from wheh de bandits strike. Dis thing been happening steady in Berbice. If was not Black Bush was Canje. Ramjattan send up a SWAT team fuh back up de detectives. It tek dem one week fuh ketch up wid de people who was causing sleepless nights.

These bandits had to come from de neighbourhood because dem know everything ‘bout de people. One lady was hollering and de bandits coulda tell she how she and she neighbours don’t talk. Yesterday, three of dem bandits dead. Dem didn’t die in dem bed like ordinary people. Dem boys hear one of dem actually kill two brothers during a robbery. It was like if dem was born to mek people life miserable. When de news come out, de people now seh how dem always suspect de set. Dem boys ain’t hear wha dem mothers got to seh but dem know dat dem same parents got expense. People seh de hardest thing is fuh a parent bury a child. Nuff of dem parents gon understand why dem must train dem children in de right and proppa way. Although, some children does be so own way dat dem does even beat dem parents. Three of dem can’t beat nobody no more. Talk half and remember dat de longest rope got an end.

violence have been found on her so at this stage it is not clear whether she was a victim of a robbery despite the missing car and phone. A man was also robbed of his cellular phone yesterday while walking on the road, so it is not only schoolchildren who are being targeted for their phones. The phone companies are not doing enough to help curb crime. Most of the robberies in Guyana involve stealing cellular phones, some of which can cost more than G$150,000. Cell phones are major targets for criminals who resell them. Many of phones, which are being used by persons are stolen phones. Some persons hardly have proper clothes; they are begging for money to put “credit’’ into their phones, many of them are bums, yet they are walking around with phones which costs more than $100,000. Where did they get the money to buy these phones? The phone companies

can make a huge impact on crime by requiring to register their all new phones, manufactured after a certain date and to show proof of purchase. There are too many phones in the system for all phones to be registered. A bigger dent can be made on crime if technology can be introduced to allow the phone companies to deactivate a phone, not just a SIM card, after it is reported stolen from its legitimate owner. The technology to do this exists in other parts of the world. Most phones have unique serial numbers. If your phone is stolen, your service provider should be able to prevent it being used even if the person changes the SIM. There are some phones, which can trace the stolen phone. The government should make the introduction of this technology mandatory so as to stop phone thefts which is one of the leading reasons for robberies. The government is unable

to control the crime situation. They need help. Three persons shot dead will only bring a temporary reprieve. The criminals are all over and they have their support cells and are well organised. While the police may have had eliminated three criminal suspects, there are thousands of others out there who are hell-bent on terrorising and robbing citizens. And the sad part of it is that they are receiving intellectual support by mischief-makers who are peddling the same notorious theories which were used in the past to justify hate attacks on citizens. Criminals are going to be bolstered by such support. And this will make the work of the underperforming police force even more difficult.

Monday May 20, 2019

Kaieteur News

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Monday May 20, 2019

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Almost seven years after…

Slain miner’s relatives seek reopening of cold case The ‘bush’ is perhaps the easiest place to kill a man. Someone could stick a knife in your back and be long gone before they find your remains…if they ever do. That’s exactly what someone did with Ray Holder last month. But his parents believe that his killers slipped up. His body was found, and the wounds on those decomposing remains told their own story of treachery in the goldrich interior. Ray Holder, from all accounts, was a hardworking and trustworthy individual, and around August last year, the 29-year-old from South Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara, landed a job with a miner who owned two dredges at Princeville, Potaro. It seems that Ray quickly became such a great asset to the dredge owner that he was commonly referred to as his boss’s “right hand man”. But he did tell his parents something that they feel has some bearing on his fate. Ray Holder confided that there was a young woman in the interior who had shown an interest in him. He even claimed that she had once rented a hotel room in Georgetown and invited him over. But Ray reportedly told his parents that he hadn’t responded to her advances, since he had a good relationship with the girl’s father. He was also wary of her ‘childfather’ and brothers. Ray was at home on Mashramani Day when his boss called with instructions that he should return to the mining site. This he did that very night. His family received a message that he was in good spirits and planned to return in July for his mother’s birthday. BADLY DECOMPOSED BODY On the night of Friday, March 15, 2013, Ray Holder visited a shop on a hill in the Potaro area. A barmaid at the shop would later tell police that she saw him leave the night-spot. Police also re-

ceived reports from two of the miner’s colleagues that they saw him enter a boat and head towards camp. The Police Public Relations Department says that the boat, with a bottle of alcohol, was subsequently found, and that Holder’s decomposing body was found on Tuesday, March 19, in Garraway Stream, Potaro River. Kaieteur News was told that the body bore no visible marks of violence and reports sent to the Mahdia Police Station suggested that police were dealing with a drowning. Ray’s family received the news of his death from a driver who had taken him to Mahdia. They were also told that police planned to bury his decomposing remains near the mining camp and the Princeville Boat Landing. The family was stunned. No one had informed them that he was missing. And now they were saying that he was dead. They said the news was being casually tossed at them, “as if the people around him” equated him “to a stray dog, knocked down on the road and to be buried and erased from our minds.” Why had no one from the dredge operation told them that their son was “missing?” Why had Ray’s employer, who had always maintained contact with them, and who had called at least three times on Mashramani Day for Ray to return to work, failed to inform them about Ray’s fate? And now why this apparent haste to bury their son? Suspecting that there was more to their son’s death than they were being told, Ray’s father and sister met with the ‘F’ Division Commander on Tuesday, March 19. Family members said that the Commander reassured them that he had instructed a police corporal at Mahdia to delay the burial until family members arrived. They said they were also told that a medical team would fly to the location on Saturday, March 23 to conduct a post mortem. Ac-

cording to their statement, Commander Ramsey emphasised that only one family member could travel in with the medical team. But before the planned visit, the girl who was allegedly attracted to Ray reportedly contacted the dead miner’s father by phone. She allegedly told him that two brothers and a friend had murdered Ray. That call was reportedly made on Wednesday, March 20. HONEST ENOUGH TOADMIT “This was the first time that someone from the (mining) operation had spoken directly to us and she was honest enough to admit that Ray was murdered. This critical information was passed on to Commander Ramsey,” the parents said in a statement they gave me. On Thursday, March 21, the same woman reportedly visited Ray Holder’s parents. She was said to have been accompanied by a man who claimed to be a police rank. That man reportedly told the family that he had heard that even Ray’s penis was severed and stuffed in his mouth. According to the family’s statement, the woman attempted to give them over $100,000 that she said was owed to Ray for his work. The parents said they refused to take the money, while informing the young woman that they would be travelling to Princeville to investigate all of Ray’s business and his murder. “Dem turn up de music…and kill he…” Since both parents were unable to fly in with the medical team, the couple decided to travel to Mahdia by bus. But by the time they arrived, Ray’s body had already been buried. The Police Public Relations Department told Kaieteur News that Holder’s body was too decomposed to be placed in the Mahdia Hospital mortuary, so, as is often the case with deaths in the interior, investigators opted

Ray Holder to have his corpse buried with the intention of having it exhumed for a post mortem. “Upon arrival at Mahdia, we were greeted by the widespread information that Ray was brutally beaten until he was black and blue; stabbed, his penis severed, and his body dumped. In the words of two young men, speaking to Ray’s mother, they said “Auntie, dem cruel yuh son…” the family said in their statement. According to Holder’s father, he was also told that there was a loud argument at the shop that his son had visited on the night of Friday, March 15. He believes that his son was murdered that same night and dumped in an area near the Princeville Landing. On Saturday, March 23, they visited the Mahdia Police Station, where a police corporal showed them cell phone photograph of what appeared to be Ray’s body. According to the parents, “Corporal (name given) further tried to convince us that he had drowned.” But Holder’s parents said that when they arrived at the Princeville Landing with the medical team, they were again told by some residents that Ray had been murdered. Away from the police and the medical team, a few older Amerindian women allegedly told Ray’s mother, Lalita, ‘Is right out here that dem turn up de music and beat yuh son and stab he and kill he’”.

Officer Ivelaw Whittaker says that the pathologist had never stated that the victim’s penis was severed. The parents alleged that on the very day that they returned home, the young woman who had showed an interest in their son paid them a second visit. This time, she was accompanied by her ‘child father’ and another man. According to the relatives, the visitors again insisted that Ray had drowned. This angered Holder’s parents who asked their visitors to leave. It is alleged that at that point, the woman kept urging her ‘child father’ to “tell the people the truth”. Ray’s parents said that they passed this information to the Divisional Commander, but to their disappointment, were told that this was ‘hearsay evidence.’ “To hear the Commander say that there is nothing that he can do, even with all the graphic and horrific evidence, and more information that we further provided…such words were most debilitating for the well-being of Lalita (Ray’s mother), “ the dead man’s father said. “We have loved Ray for too long to allow his murder to go unsolved and tossed aside. We demand that a fullscale investigation be done.”

BODY NOT MUTILATED According to the family’s statement, the Medical Examiner (pathologist Dr.Nehaul Singh) observed two stab wounds on Ray’s body and also noted that his penis was severed. “All this was in stark contradiction to the theory of drowning that the police were aggressively attempting to force down our throats.” And indeed Holder had been murdered. The pathologist gave the cause of death as perforation of the lungs due to stab wounds. But Police Public Relations

CASE NOT CLOSED In 2013, police has insisted that Ray Holder’s murder was still under investigation. The Public Relations Department reported that Holder’s father had told the police that he had received information that two brothers from Princeville, Pomeroon, and a barmaid had knowledge of his son’s murder. Kaieteur News was told that investigators detained the barmaid for 72 hours but then released her without gleaning any information to assist them in the case. About reports that a young woman had informed

the parents of their son’s murder, the Police Public Relations Department responded that investigators offered to take the parents in a vehicle in an effort to question the girl. It was also stated that the parents were notified that ‘hearsay evidence’ was inadmissible, and what was needed was an actual eyewitness to Holder’s murder. “We have no evidence that anyone saw when he was attacked,” a Public Relations official said. As for motive, one suggestion is that Holder was the victim of a jealous individual. Another is that he was slain over a land dispute. Based on information provided, police are said to be looking for two brothers who were allegedly at Princeville, Pomeroon, at the time of Holder’s murder. However, the individuals have reportedly left the area. They are said to be residing in Georgetown. I managed to contact the young woman, who initially indicated that she would speak with me. She has since declined. Meanwhile, Ray Holder’s parents have vowed to do their utmost to ensure that this does not remain an unsolved crime. Expressing deep dissatisfaction with the police investigation, Ray’s father had said that the family intends to submit statements to the Minister of Home Affairs, Minister of Natural Resources, and the Commissioner of Police. He also said he had information about the identity of his son’s killers, and planned to submit this information to senior police and government officials. “The family intends to seek justice by not allowing this matter to be tossed under the carpet,” they said in their statement. “We intend to seek the advice and assistance of as many appropriate persons as we can.” But that was almost seven years ago.

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Kaieteur News

With two int’l banks eager to retreat from Guyana...

Finance Minister hopes oil will lure alternative western banking services By Kiana Wilburg Two international banks are poised to make a clean cut from Guyana. Bank of Baroda which is headquartered in India has informed the Government that it will be selling its operations here. Canada’s Bank of Nova Scotia is also selling off its branch here to Republic Bank, pending the approval of Government. Speaking with Kaieteur News recently, Finance Minister, Winston Jordan noted that the exit of the two banks from these shores will have implications. He said that the absence of the correspondent banking services provided by these

banks would leave the system more cumbersome in terms of automaticity. The economist said that going forward; government will have to seek new or more non-traditional partners. The Minister said, “We have to see what alternative western banking service we can get and also to look and see what nontraditional banking service might be available. Right now we are using Crowns Agents Banking...We are looking for more banks to come in but we believe that once the oil starts flowing and business starts picking up then we would or may start to see more coming in.” REPUBLIC BANK /

SCOTIA DEAL Minister Jordan was keen to note that he was at no point in time, informed of Scotia’s intention to sell its assets to Republic Bank prior to when it came to the media’s attention in November last year. Considering this, Kaieteur News asked Jordan to say who is monitoring and/or may have dropped the ball in adequately forewarning the government about this tremor in the banking sector. Jordan said, “You are hardly forewarned when you are dealing with these kinds of institutions. One of the reasons these banks are pulling out is because of de-

Second girl comes forward, was also poisoned by classmates in school A day after it was reported that a Corentyne school child got hospitalised, a second girl has come forward, in the same class, to report that she also unwittingly drank an unknown substance that made her ill. The same two boys who allegedly caused the first girl to be hospitalised, reportedly also put an unknown substance into the second girl’s water bottle. The four children are all in the same class at Corentyne Comprehensive High School. Both girls reportedly left the class, on Friday, and it was then that the boys took the opportunity to mix the unknown substance

into their bottles. The second girl told Kaieteur News, last night, that she got discharged from Port Mourant Hospital on Saturday night because her parents wanted her to be home. She said that the worst of the pain is over, but she is still in pain. The police reportedly questioned the two boys, who said that the substance they put in her water was “drinking salts”; a colloquial synonym for Epsom salts. But the symptoms the girls are experiencing are inconsistent with Epsom salts. Both victims are expected to speak to the police today to assist with the investigation.

risking... And the American banks were pulling out early from the region. It was only a matter of time before the other international banks started pulling out.” The Minister said that in addition to having to operate on small margins, these margins are also being eroded by all the paper work pertaining to meeting rigid anti-money laundering requirements. “They are not going to operate in the small markets, and it is unfortunate because banking has to go on in these territories,” expressed the economist. Further to this, Jordan said that the move by Scotia to sell its assets to Republic Bank is unlike what took place in the past. In this regard, Jordan recalled that when the Royal Bank of Canada wanted

Finance Minister, Winston Jordan out of Guyana’s market, they sold the assets to the government for a dollar. When Chase Manhattan wanted to pull out, Jordan

reminded that they approached the government. The economist said that the same was done by Barclays too. “Because of their approach, Chase and Barclays were then merged and we called it Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI),” the Minister said. In the case of RBC, the Minister noted that it became the National Bank for Industry and Commerce, which is now Republic Bank. Jordan noted that the sale of Scotia’s operations to Republic Bank is still undergoing a due diligence test by Central Bank. If approved, Republic Bank would have control for more than 50 percent of the total assets in the banking sector and more than 50 percent of total deposits.

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Monday May 20, 2019

Kaieteur News

NAREI holds clinics for large farming communities

SERVICES

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The National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) now has multiple Farmers’ Clinics within large farming areas to ensure other crops farmers receive timely technical support needed to safeguard their investments. Dr. Oudho Homenuath, Chief Executive Officer of NAREI related that expanding the reach of the Farmers’ Clinics is a spill-off from Government’s ‘Meet the People’ initiative. NAREI recently participated in the outreaches held in Georgetown, Region Four; Fort Wellington, Region Five; Tain, Region Six; Leonora, Region Three and Linden, Region 10. Dr. Homenauth emphasised that extension services are crucial to the growth of the other crops sector. The Institute has been

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employing different measures such as Farmers’ Field Schools, Farmers’ Clinics, demonstration plots and routine farm visit to meet farmers. “Interactions with farmers indicate that our Extension Staff are meeting them, but there is still a need for additional support…One area that will benefit from this is Canal Number Two Polder…We have decided that Extension Officers will move the clinic in different areas to meet a greater number of farmers,” he said. “The staff will be there a particular day for the entire session, allowing farmers to easily relate to them what are some of the issues they have... That would be followed up with a visit to see what technical advice is needed…If the staff cannot assist, they would contact our central location to get the necessary information or advice…What we are using a lot now is the phone by taking pictures.” The outreaches also revealed that NAREI’s Extension staff have been doing a good job in meeting farmers routinely. Another positive that derived from the outreaches was the setting up of a Farmers’ Field School. Some farmers operating in Canal Two had complained about a disease affecting their crops, particularly peppers. However, a visit to the communities proved that the crops were not infected but rather there was a soil deficiency.

National Youth Week 2019 launched... From page 6 ethnicity. We are and forever will be One People, One Nation, One Destiny.” The week of activities includes a round table discussion on youth unemployment to be held on May 21 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. This will be followed by an expo and cultural presentation on youth, scheduled for May 23, a community project organised in Region 10 and conclude with a community outreach in the Agricola community on May 25. Aside from the major activities, smaller events will be held throughout the country, giving young people a chance to sound their voices. Participating in the launching ceremony and rally were students from secondary schools all across Region 6, including the riverine areas.

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Holder named as BARRINGTON PROVES Tridents’ marquee player HE IS KING OF 800M 4th Independence Athletics Championships

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – The Barbados Tridents have named West Indies Test and One Day International captain Jason Holder as their marquee player for this year’s Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL). The 27-year-old Holder captained the Tridents last year. Holder, who is preparing to lead the West Indies in the upcoming ICC World Cup, will be hoping for a better showing from the franchise this time around. In last year’s CPL, the Tridents finished bottom of the table, having won two and lost eight of their 10 games played. It was the Tridents’ worst showing in the six-year

Jason Holder

history of the CPL. Holder is the top ranked all-rounder in the world in the ICC’s Test rankings and is the sixth ranked all-rounder in ODI cricket.

The Hero Caribbean Premier League’s player’s draft will take place on Wednesday, May 22, at the Gfinity eSports Arena in London.

Imperious Nadal blows away Djokovic to land ninth Rome title

Devaun Barrington made a huge statement on Sunday by winning the men’s 800 metres at the Independence Track and Field Meet held at the National Track and Field Centre, Leonora. Barrington having somewhat of a point to prove clocked 1:52.30s to comfortable win the event ahead of Anfernee Headecker who clocked 1:53.67s, while Daniel Melville finished third in a time of 1:57.78s. Meanwhile, Lionel Marks won the men’s 200m in 21.36s ahead of Daniel Williams who clocked 21.37s in one of the thrilling races of the meet. Williams also won the 400m in 48.97s. Carifta gold medalist Matthew Gordon continued his rich form with a win in the male 15-17 category 800m with a time of 2:00.92s, while Aaliyah Moore won the women’s 800m in 2:23.97s. Carifta Bronze medalist Princess Browne was also one of the day’s winner’s with a winning leap of 11.88 metres in the female 1517 triple jump event, while another 2019 Carifta bronze medalist in Adriel Austin won the 1517 800m in 2:19.45s. Brianna Charles completed a sprint double by winning the girl’s 15-17 200m in 24.81s to top Keliza Smith who finished in 25.43s. Kenisha Phillips won the women’s 800m in 24.90s. The event saw competition from the under-10 to masters’ categories and was organised by the Guyana Overseas Based Association and coordinated by the Amateur Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG).

Princess Browne lost the Long jump but returned yesterday to win the girls’ under-18 triple jump.

Spain’s Rafael Nadal celebrates winning the final against Serbia’s Novak Djokovic as they pose with their respective winner and runner up trophies. (REUTERS/Matteo Ciambelli) ROME (Reuters) - Rafael Nadal proved that he would still be the man to beat when the French Open begins later this month after he humbled Novak Djokovic 6-0 4-6 6-1 in the Italian Open final yesterday to win a record 34th ATP Masters 1000 title. The Spaniard, who had shared the record of 33 Masters titles with the Serbian world number one, warmed up for the defense of his Roland Garros crown by securing his ninth Rome title. Nadal got off to a flying start by whitewashing Djokovic in the opening set. It was the first time there has been a 6-0 set during a meeting between the two rivals. Djokovic took the second by breaking Nadal’s serve for the first time while leading 5-4, but the second seed responded in style by storming through the decisive set. When Nadal’s previous three claycourt tournaments had ended in semi-final defeats, it no doubt gave his rivals hope that his long reign at Roland Garros could be coming to an end this year. However, the way he demolished the world’s top ranked player in the opening and third sets on Sunday would have once again

struck fear into any of those challengers who had been harboring hopes of lifting the Musketeers’ Cup on June 9. The Spaniard heads into Roland Garros in top form after seeing his serve broken just twice en route to claiming his first title of 2019 in his 50th Masters final. “For me it’s always an honor to be here, I still remember my first time here in 2005,” said Nadal, who will be chasing a record extending 12th French Open title when the claycourt major begins on May 26. “To have the chance to come back and win this trophy after so many years means everything. It wasn’t an easy week for me.” The 32-year-old left Djokovic in a daze as he stormed through the opening set in 39 blistering minutes. The top seed fought back in the second as he saved four break points before winning the decisive game on Nadal’s serve to take the set 6-4. But the Serb, who had survived three-set battles against Argentines Juan Martin del Potro and Diego Schwartzman to reach the final, faded in the final set as he dropped his opening service game before Nadal surged clear.

Devaun Barrington continued his dominance over Anfernee Headecker to win the open 800m race.

Melon Lowenfield of Guyana Defence Force (GDF) won the boys’ under-28 long jump.

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Monday May 20, 2019

Kaieteur News

Corona Futsal Tournament

Quarterfinalists decided; Sparta Boss and Future Stars through

Play between West Front Road (offence) and Tucville that lost 5-1 on Saturday in the Corona futsal tournament. Tiger Bay (defence) and North East played an entertaining game although the final score was nil-all on Saturday’s final round of group games at the National Gymnasium in the Corona futsal event. The fourth annual Corona Futsal tournament continued last Saturday night with the final matches in the group round-robin stage. The National Gymnasium, the host venue for the event, was brought alive with the some highly entertaining matchups mixed with some closely contested games. Beacons suffered another heavy defeat in the tournament after conceding seven unanswered goals from California Square in the opening match of the night, which gave fans much to cheer about. David George was the chief tormentor, thumping four goals in the net, while

Travis Hercules, Mishack Baritta and Jamal Adams scored one each. Future Stars steamrolled Mocha 9-2 to ensure they pipped Bent Street as leaders of Group B, which will see the team pocketing an extra $40,000. Jamal Cozier scored four goals, while William Europe netted a hat-trick that added to solitary strikes from Keran Solomon and Shamar Fraser for Future Stars. Aron Ramsey and Delroy Lowenfield scored one each for Mocha who finished the group in last. EIGHT teams have qualified for the quarter-final stage of the Corona Fustal tournament after action on

Saturday evening at the National Gymnasium. The eight teams are Back Circle, Bent Street, Sparta Boss, Future Stars, Tiger Bay, California Square North East La Penitence and West Front Road. Tucville then went down 5-1 to West Front Road after Carl Griffith’s 10th minute strike was overturned by Hubert Perdo’s (3rd and 9th) and Colin Nelson (7th & 20th) doubles. Randolph Wagner also scored in the 20th minute. North East played to a goalless draw against Tiger Bay, while Bent Street had to fight in their 3-2 win over Leopold Street. Leopold had

a double from Okenny Fraser (19th & 20th), while Sheldon Holder’s brace in the 1st & 16th minutes along with Groups GP Group A Back Circle 3 Sparta Boss 3 California Sq. 3 Beacons 3 Group B Future Stars 3 Bent Street 3 Leopold Street3 Mocha 3 Group C Tiger Bay 3 West Front Rd 3 North East LaP3 Tucville 3

Pernel Shultz 15th minute strike sent them through. Trayon Bobb’s 13th minute strike did not stand long for Back Circle as Jermaine Junior’s 14th minute strike brought Sparta Boss to a 1-1 result.

W

D

2 1 1

1 2 1

2 2 1

1 1

2 2 1

1 1

The Quarter Final Stage of the competition kicks off next Monday. The winners of the tournament will pocket $500,000, second $250,000 and third will receive $125,000. The final group standings are below:

L

GF

GA

GD Points

1 3

11 8 10 4

5 4 4 20

6 4 6 -16

7 5 4 0

2 3

16 10 11 2

7 4 8 20

9 6 3 -18

7 7 3 0

1 1 3

6 7 5 6

2 3 4 14

4 4 1 -8

7 6 4 0

Hundreds turn out to pay final respects to Nurse BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Hundreds of mourners flocked to Kensington Oval on Friday as legendary West Indies batsman Seymour Nurse played his final innings. People from all walks of life including Governor General Dame Sandra Mason; Prime Minister Mia Mottley and almost her entire Cabinet, as well as National Hero Sir Garry Sobers was among several former and current West Indies players in attendance. Nurse, who played 29 Tests between 1960 and 1969, passed away on May 6 at age 85 after battling illness. He scored 2523 runs at an average of 47.60, along with six hundreds and 10 half-centuries. Former Chief Justice Sir David Simmons spoke highly of Nurse in a glowing eulogy. He said there were few men who could bat as good as Nurse. “Seymour McDonald Nurse belonged to the pantheon of Barbadian and West Indian batting aristocrats. It means those who were

not vocally boisterous, but who batted with a boisterous and exuberant mastery that was granted to few men in Test cricket, men who entered into the highest class of Test batsmanship. “Seymour was a classical player…his strokes were so cultured, so elegant and so refined,” Sir David said. In a moving tribute, Sir Wes Hall said Nurse was well loved and respected by his colleagues. “Off the field he was quiet, friendly and unflappable. On the field he was disciplined with a brilliant works ethic, good manners, compassionate with dignity, that few of us can even conceive the manner in which his gifted spirit move,” Sir Wes said. Tributes were also paid by former Barbados and West Indies opening batsman Desmond Haynes, president of the Barbados Cricket Association Conde Riley and president of the Empire Club Adrian King.

A section of the hundreds of persons who turned out to pay their last respects to Seymour Nurse.

Monday May 20, 2019

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Kaieteur News

Woodpecker Products Junior National Squash C/ships

Wiltshire (Boys), Cadagon (Girls) adjudged most outstanding players By Sean Devers Watched by the largest turn out for the tournament, including two of Guyana’s three-woman team to play in the Pan Am Games in Peru, the six-night Woodpecker Products Junior National Squash Championships climaxed on Saturday night at the Georgetown Club with an exhilarating Boys U-15 Final between Michael Alphonso and Nicholas Verwey. With a cold wind blowing on the outside and a raucous gathering urging the teenaged pair on the inside, the battle was riveting and punctuated by long rallies as the lads matched each other shot for shot and the eventual score-line (11/6, 11/6, 11/4) was not a true indication of the quality of Squash on show. Both boys enjoyed outstanding success leading up to Saturday Night’s epic showdown. The smaller Alphonso quickly found his rhythm and demonstrated dominance in the opening game. The long rallies were at times over 25 shots and filled with a variety of shots; tight lengths, drops that caressed the wall centimetres above the tin, and low hard cross courts that skidded past their opponents. Alphonso’s deception sent Verwey in the wrong direction and despite Verwey’s magnificent skills to keep the ball in play; the hectic pace of the contest would eventually take its toll on Verwey as the match progressed. Alphonso stormed to 11/ 6 wins in the first two games and as Verwey began to tire and Alphonso took the next game 11/4 to win an entertaining match as the spectators gave both boys a standing ovation. Abosaide Cadogan took an early win from Kirsten Gomes at 11/5, but Gomes came back with some powerful shots in the second. Cadogan used her superior fitness to her

2018 Junior Sportsman of the year Shomari Wiltshire was named Most Outstanding player of the tournament. advantage as she moved quickly around the court to edge past Gomes for an 11/9 second game, before finishing the third 11/3. Mohryan Baksh played a fantastic match for third place in the higher category, Boys Under-15 and defeated Demetrius DeAbreu for the spot. In another competitive battle, cousins Beau and Christiana Fernandes fought hard for the Girls under-13 title. It was younger Christiana who displayed her improved game in each stanza despite the power shots from Beau as Christiana conceded only one game to secure a 3/1 triumph. The talented Shomari Wiltshire, the 2018 Junior Sportsman of the year, was named Most outstanding Boy, while Cadogan took that accolade on the distaff side. Louis DaSilva took the special award of Most Improved Boy and Tiana Gomes Most Improved Girl. At the presentation

Singh (48), Mootoo (4-32)... From page 30 ruling of the Court against the GCB Executives. Sanasie also disclosed that the Guyana U-19 team which will participate in the Regional 50-over tournament will be called the Hand-in-Hand Guyana team. Director and Fire Manager, Howard Cox said his Company was pleased to support youth development and committed Hand-in-Hand to continued support of this tournament. Sinclair (Most Valuable Player with 374 runs,11 wickets & 4 dismissals), Sinclair- (Player with the most runs; 374), Kelvin Umroa (with 31 wickets), Mavendra Dindyal (Most Dismissals; 5), Mootoo – Man of the Match award Umroa (Most Wickets) and Sinclair (Most runs and best Keeper) were among the awardees.

ceremony the players and parents were praised for their dedication to Squash all year and in this tournament which was used as preparation for the Junior Caribbean Area Squash Championships which will be hosted by Trinidad & Tobago in July. The squad which will travel to twin Island Republic will continue training at the Georgetown Club. Sponsors Woodpecker Products and the Fernandes family were thanked for their longstanding support of the Guyana Squash Association. Apart from Khallil and Fernandes, who were among the wonderful gathering on Saturday night, Mary Funga-Fat along with the two others spent a week in the USA earlier this month training with Australian Squash Coach David Palmer for the Pan Am games in Peru which starts on July 26. Fung-a-Fat, who secured a UK Visa, will leave Pennsylvania this week for the UK where she will continue her preparation for Lima, Peru on the advice of Coach Palmer. RESULTS GIRLS UNDER 11 Christiana Fernandes defeated Maya Dean 11/0, 11/ 2, 11/2 Tiana Gomes defeated Shryia Persaud 11/6, 7/11, 11/ 9, 11/5 GIRLS UNDER 13 Christiana Fernandes defeated Beau Fernandes 11/ 5, 11/8, 4/11, 12/10 GIRLS UNDER 15

Kirsten Gomes defeated Beau Fernandes 11/1, 11/1, 11/ 1‘1 GIRLS UNDER 17&19 Abosaide Cadogan defeated Teija Edwards11/2, 11/0, 11/0 Abosaide Cadogan defeated Kirsten Gomes 11/5, 11/9, 11/3 BOYS UNDER 11 Grant Fernandes defeated Brenno DaSilva 11/3, 11/4, 11/ 2 BOYS UNDER 13 Shiloh Asregado defeated Dhiren Persaud 12/10, 11/3, 11/2 Louis DaSilva defeated Joshua Verwey 13/11, 11/2, 11/ 1 Joshua Verwey defeated Chad DeAbreu 5/11, 11/5, 11/ 8, 11/9 Mohryan Baksh defeated Louis DaSilva 12/10, 11/3, 11/ 2 Dhiren Persaud defeated Matthew Spooner 11/8, 11/3, 11/4 BOYS UNDER 15 Michael Alphonso defeated Zachary Persaud 11/ 7, 11/3, 11/3 Mohryan Baksh defeated Demetrius DeAbreu 11/8, 9/ 11, 11/9, 11/3 Michael Alphonso defeated Nicholas Verwey 11/ 6, 11/6, 11/4 BOYS UNDER 17&19 Shomari Wiltshire defeated Nicholas Verwey 11/ 4, 11/3, 11/3 Shomari Wiltshire was given a walk over by Samuel Ince-Carvalhal MOST OUTSTANDING BOY Shomari Wiltshire MOST OUTSTANDING GIRL Abosaide Cadogan MOST IMPROVED BOY Louis DaSilva MOST IMPROVED GIRL Tianna Gomes BOYS UNDER 19&17 WINNER Shomari Wiltshire SECOND PLACE Michael Alphonso THIRD PLACE Nicholas Verwey FOURTH PLACE Samuel Ince-Carvalhal BOYS UNDER 15 WINNER Michael Alphonso SECOND PLACE Nicholas Verwey THIRD PLACE Mohryan Baksh FOURTH PLACE Demetrius DeAbreu BOYS UNDER 13 WINNER Mohryan Baksh SECOND PLACE Louis DaSilva THIRD PLACE Shiloh Asregado FOURTH PLACE Joshua Verwey FIFTH Dhiren Persaud

Abosaide Cadogan was named Most outstanding Girl. BOYS UNDER 11 WINNER Grant Fernandes SECOND PLACE Brenno DaSilva GIRLS UNDER 19&17 WINNER Abosaide Cadogan SECOND PLACE Kirsten Gomes THIRD PLACE Teija Edwards GIRLS UNDER 15 WINNER Kirsten Gomes SECOND PLACE Ashani Persaud

THIRD PLACE Beau Fernandes GIRL UNDER 13 WINNER Beau Fernandes SECOND PLACE Christiana Fernandes THIRD PLACE Safirah Sumner GIRLS UNDER 11 WINNER Christiana Fernandes SECOND PLACE Tiana Gomes THIRD PLACE Shriyah Persaud

Michael Alphonso defeated a determined Nicholas Verwey in the Boys U-15 Final on Saturday night.

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Monday May 20, 2019

Kaieteur News

Hand-in-Hand U-19 Inter-County 50-over cricket final

Singh (48), Mootoo (4-32) help Dem beat B’ce by 5-Wkts

Alphious Bookie cuts at Bourda yesterday during his 30. CEO OF CGI Anand Sanasie shares the moment with New Champions Demerara after they beat B’ce by five wickets in yesterday final. By Sean Devers The worrying trend of low scoring matches was again evident yesterday at Bourda as Demerara beat defending Champions Berbice by fivewickets as the 50-over finals of the Hand-in-Hand U-19 Inter-County tournament climaxed with another poor batting display. Berbice, the four times three-day title holders, were bowled out in 38.3 overs for 115 runs after they opted to bat on a track which favoured the spinners and a slow outfield. Only skipper Kelvon Anderson, who made 33 from 68 balls with a single boundary, Seon Glasgow with an unbeaten 38-ball 21 and Deonauth Persaud (14) reached double figures. Sixteen year-old left arm

spinner Daniel Mootoo continued to romp with players older than him and captured 4-32 from 9.3 overs to take the Man-of-the-Match Award. West Indies U-19 left arm spinner, Ashmead Nedd had 2-20 from eight overs, while Joel Spooner continues to show why he is regarded as the best off-spinner in the tournament taking 2-21 from his 10 overs. When Demerara began their reply, West Indies U-16 Captain Sachin Singh made a fairly successful return to the home side after being dropped for the lack of runs, with an attacking 43-ball 48 decorated six boundaries which included four sixes. But only Alphius Bookie, with 30 from 48 balls with a couple of fours and a similar

number of sixes and Skipper Ashmead Nedd unbeaten on 10, reached double figures as the host reached 116-5 to lift the title. Left arm spinners Kelvin Umroa had 2-35 and Nigel Deodat took 2-19 in a losing effort. The final began in sultry conditions and Berbice lost both of their openers before they had reached 20. Alex Algoo (4) was removed by Spooner, who shared the new ball with the lively Qumar Torrington, who got rid of the in-form Junior Sinclair (7) to leave Berbice on 17-2. Skipper Anderson is undoubtedly very talented but has struggled to get big scores in this year’s tournament, but he and Persaud took the score to 55 before Nedd, the son of

Sachin Singh is drooped off of a free hit from Junior Sinclair before going on to top score with 48 yesterday at Bourda.

former National off-spinner Garvin Nedd, removed him. Just when Anderson, whose only fifty was made in the three-day format, seemed set for his second half century, he seemed a bit unlucky to be given LBW to Nedd at 64-4. Mootoo, bowling in tandem with Spooner, reduced Berbice from 86-4 to 115 all out as their last six wickets tumbled for 29 runs. The left handed Glasgow showed positive intent and used his feet to the spinners but in the end he ran out of partners. When Demerara began their chase of the small target, Robin Williams pulled Anderson for four, while Singh hit pacer Leon Swamy

for a couple of sixes forcing Anderson to turn to spin in the third over. After a few dot balls, Williams (4) pulled a short ball from Umroa into the hands of the fielder on the deep midwicket boundary to leave the score on 21-1. Singh continued to play aggressively and hit Umroa for two boundaries before dumping Sinclair back over his head for four after he was dropped at mid-off from a free hit. Adrian Hinds again looked organised but with the score on 53 he got one from Umroa that ‘held up’ on the two-paced track and patted a catch to short cover after making seven. Bookie got going when he swept Umroa for four and along with the free flowing Singh, who looked back in form, took the score to 70

before Singh played a loose drive off of Deodat and was taken at cover and by Lunch Demerara were 87-3. Just after the interval Yeudister Persaud (1) was run out at 88-4 and when Bookie was trapped LBW at 106-5, the small crowd which included the raucous ‘Cookup the Critic’ who has upgraded himself to ‘Cookup the annalist’ were maybe thinking ‘too little too late’ as Adrian Samroo walked in to join his Skipper. In the end they saw their team to what turned out to be an easy victory. At Presentation ceremony Anand Sanasie, speaking in his capacity as CEO of Cricket Guyana Inc, congratulated the winners and thanked the sponsors for their continued contribution to the youth cricket despite the recent Continued on page 29

Man-of-the-Final Daniel Mootoo had 4-32 to help Demerara dethrone B’ce yesterday at Bourda.

Monday May 20, 2019

PAGE 31

Kaieteur News

GABBFF Novice Competition 2019

Devon Harris is Mr. Novice; Rosanna Fung takes Miss Bikini crown By Franklin Wilson The 2019 edition of the Guyana Amateur Body Building and Fitness Federation (GABBFF) Novices competition came off on Saturday night last at the Theatre Guild where Tower/Unity Gym’s Devon Harris flexed his way to the Mr. Novice 2019 title and bragging rights for the next year. Witnessed by a less than capacity crowd, President of GABBFF Keavon Bess and Chief Judge, Frank Tucker took the 21 athletes through the compulsory poses and comparisons, when requested by the judges. Harris was clearly the best athlete on show on the night; he first won a four way battle for the Bantamweight category before going on to better the respective winners from the Lightweight class (Stephan John - Total Fitness Gym), Welterweight (Henry Bassey Buddy’s Gym) and the Heavyweight division (Wayne Marshall - Upper Dem. Barbel Club). Shawn Ramphal of Benjamin’s Fitness in the Ancient County of Berbice was the lone competitor in the Junior category, while in a two way clash for the Miss Bikini top spot, Rosanna Fung bettered her Space Gym colleague, Teanna Spellin. The first half of the show was short as they were only 9 athletes spread across the four categories

Shawn Ramphal, winner of the Junior Category.

Category winners from left, Devon Harris, Stephan John, Henry Bassey and Wayne Marshall. contested, Junior, Bantamweight which had the most (4), Lightweight and Welterweight which attracted two each. Fans were brought to life in the second half of the show when the largest category on the night, Men’s

Physique saw eight (8) athletes entering the stage. Fans were longing for some excitement and these athletes served it up well. Such was the intensity of the competition that the Chief Judge called for a comparison between eventual winner Delroy Phillips (Space Gym), his colleagues, Jason Kellman and Corwin D’Anjou, Romelton Siland of Extreme Fitness and Jonathan Jeffrey of Tower/ Unity Gym. Fans were vociferously involved in urging their favourite athlete as it was clearly the most animated class for the fans on the night. Immediately following the Men’s Physique category was the Miss Bikini competition which also had the fans on their feet as the two young ladies representing Space Categories Category Junior Bantamweight

Lightweight Welterweight Men’s Physique

Miss Bikini Heavyweight Overall

Gym, smartly displayed their figures on stage. But it was the crowd favourite, Rosanna Fung who won. President Bess during his opening remarks stated that the federation is involved in an ongoing outreach programme which contributed to the turnout of athletes for Novices. Visits were made to gyms in Berbice, Linden, East Coast, East Bank and Georgetown. He also shared that they would be making two proposals to the Guyana Olympic Association with a view of procuring funding to run off a muscle development and strength training seminar, while they would also be looking at developing a data base with assistance from the world body, IFBB. Bess also disclosed that the

Name Shawn Ramphal Devon Harris Vibert Gordon Ganesh Goberdan Sean Ramphal Stephan John Davendra Singh Henry Bassey Ravendra Persaud Delroy Phillips Jason Kellman Corwin D’Anjou Romelton Siland Jonathan Jeffrey Donald Lindie Devon Harris Yusuf Khan Rosanna Fung Teanna Spellin Wayne Marshall Lyndon Kennedy Devon Harris Henry Bassey Stephon John Wayne Marshall

GABBFF would be making a bid to host the CAC Championships here; Novice 2020 would be held in Linden; the Mr. Berbice show would be revived in 2020; there would be a return of the Mr. West Demerara show also in 2020 with a Miss West Demerara component being added. Apart from receiving hampers compliments of main sponsor Fitness Express inclusive of shakers cups and samples, each athlete receiving one, Fitness Express also provided trophies and medals for the top competitors. Cash incentives were distributed to the top three. For his efforts, Devon Harris would be benefitting from a three months supply of supplements sponsored by De Sinco Trading, valued at $15,000, monthly.

Gym Benjamin’s Fitness Tower/Unity CrossFit 592 L&L Fitness Benjamins Fitness Total Fitness Fitness 53 Buddy’s Power House Space Space Space Extreme Fitness Tower/Unity Total Fitness Tower/Unity Life Space Space Upper Dem. Barbel Club L&L Fitness Tower/Unity Buddy’s Total Fitness Upper Dem. Barbel Club

Placing 1st 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 1st 2nd 1st 2nd 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 1st 2nd 1st 2nd 1st 2nd 3rd 4th

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Monday May 20, 2019

Kaieteur News

Bates, Cadogan champions in US Embassy Staff 9-hole open Better-Ball golf tourney

The winners with President Hussain and US Embassy official Solomon Bannister after the presentation. From left: Ziev, Joe Lamaina, Guillermo Escarraga, Imtiaz Subhan, Videsh Persaud, Patanjilee Persaud, Maxim Mangra, Troy Cadogan, Daniel Bates, Sean Bundles, Aleem Hussain and Solomon Bannister. Starting almost an hour later than planned because of several golfers who called in insisting that they be allowed to play despite being delayed for legitimate reasons, the US Embassy’s Staff inaugural Open 9-hole Better-Ball golf tournament turned out to be a massive session with amazing success. A genuinely electric atmosphere exuding from some 40 excited golfers in addition to as much spectators, from the US Embassy, Exxon Mobil, the IDB, Slumber Js, Ansa McAl, Crown Mining, the media and local spectators, transformed the naturally exhilarating Lusignan Golf Club and Course into a refreshing and fabulous experience of

friendly rivalry, keen competitiveness, extreme good will and great fun. Solomon Bannister of the US Embassy, a new member of the LGC, organized the event with club President Aleem Hussain and agreed that some of the proceeds would go to media personnel Mia Ritchie, of NCN, whose home had recently been destroyed by fire. With an ingenious combination of local players and visiting / embassy players, President Hussain must be credited for his tremendous ideas for the Club’s development, improvement and expansion, and social contribution, as he seeks to spread the game of golf in Guyana. Ms Ritchie was on hand

to receive the contribution from member Guillermo Escarraga, CEO of Macorp, and expressed her gratitude to all involved for reaching out to her in support. Mr Escarraga noted that the social responsibility of the LGC is a task taken seriously and that he and Club would always seek to give back to those in need whenever possible. Mr. Bannister thanked his team from the US Embassy for their great performance and camaraderie and promised them that the days’ events have clearly marked the LGC as a place for great social events of the Embassy staff. Prizes were distributed by Solomon Bannister and Col McNamara of the US

Embassy and Ivan Gaviria of the IDB. A combination of Exxon Mobil staffer Daniel Bates and local member Troy Cadogan, (Manager Director of Ansa McAl,) was the pair to emerge as champions with an excellent net score, while 2nd, 3rd and 4th places were also won by similar combinations. The record of the day’s play reads as follows: 1st– Daniel Bates & Troy Cadogan (Net 24/ Joint Handicap 13); 2nd – Videsh Persaud & Imtiaz Subhan (25/12); 3rd– Ziev & Guillermo Escarraga (29/11); and 4th Joe Lamaina & Maxim Mangra (29/12). After the top four the results were very significant with three ties for net 30 and

GFF/KFC U20 Independence KO Cup – East Demerara FA kicks off

Dynamic, Buxton Stars, Victoria Scorpions & Melanie advance

Hamad Parks Victoria Scorpions

Julian Banfield Melanie FC

Travis Williams Dynamic FC

The East Demerara Football Association leg of the GFF/KFC Under-20 Independence knock-out

football tournament continued yesterday at the Golden Grove Ground after kicking off on Saturday at the

same venue. I n y e s t e r d a y ’s p l a y, Buxton Stars got a walk over from Victoria Kings,

while new kids on the block, Dynamic Football Club defeated Ann’s Grove United 4-3 on kicks from the penalty mark after battling to a 0-0 score line in regulation time. Hero of the day was Dynamic FC goalkeeper, Travis Williams with two saves in the penalty shootout. On Saturday, Melanie Football Club turned back the challenge of Mahaica Determinators 2-0, thanks to a Julian Bamfield double, one either side of play in the 35th and 65th minutes. Victoria Scorpions needled home team Golden Stars 1-0 on account of Hamad Parks’ 60th minute goal.

three ties for net 31 – Aleem Hussain & Sean Bundles (30/ 5), Kassim Khan & Jeremy Fernandes (30/5), and Mahindranauth Tiwari & Mauro (30/8); and Robin Tiwari &Bispat (31/8), Fazil Haniff & Gaelen (31/8) and Aasrodeen Shaw &Ehmling (also 31/8), Solomon Bannister & Ray turned in a commendable 32/14, while Romel Bhagwandin & Kendrick turned in 32/9. (This was the second week in a row when an Exxon Player triumphed, with Errin Mitchell taking home top honours last week.) In the skills portion of the match, Patanjilee ‘Pur’ Persaud, with a 300-yard drive, crushed the competition that included regular champions Richard Haniff and Max Persaud, to walk away with the trophy for

Longest Drive. The best shot for Nearest the Pin came down to a matter of inches between playing partners Aleem Hussain and Sean Bundles of the US Embassy, with Sean taking the trophy. The Better-Ball format is a variation in Golf where two persons play as a team. Each player is given an opportunity to play a ball at each legitimate time of play, and the ball which was played better is accepted as the ball of play, the worse played ball being ignored. With a packed schedule of tournaments in the months ahead, the LGC will be teeming with action and events, and all are invited to spectate or learn the game absolutely free of charge. For more information, please visit Facebook: Lusignan Golf Cub or call 645-0944.

Ms Ritchie (right) was on hand to receive the contribution from member Guillermo Escarraga, CEO of Macorp.