Monday May 21, 2018
Guyana Goldfields and the Exxon backlash DEAR EDITOR, It seems the political backlash of a terrible contract with Exxon is now spreading its ugly head on one of Guyana’s best managed, most accountable and transparent companies that provides more revenue to the country than sugar and indeed is the largest contributor to the Government of Guyana in terms of employment, taxes paid (corporate and payroll etc) and duties. This is independent of the huge investment made by the company for over 10 years before finding an ounce of gold. This represents a sunken investment of over US$150 million or G$30 billion. Within this period, over 30 exploration companies were registered in Guyana, expended millions of US dollars seeking commercial deposits of resources, found nothing and left the country. That is the risk a Company assumes in the search for natural resources. I can understand the frustration with the Exxon deal, but, what are we really doing? Surely, our artisanal or small miners need a better concession package. This was recently done by the Government of Guyana. But let’s put everything in context. The Mineral Agreement which governs concessions, investments, royalties, employment, environmental safeguards and duties etc. of Guyana Goldfields, was signed by President Bharrat Jagdeo in 2011. At the time, it was considered very harsh as the royalty 8% was higher than in Suriname and other mining jurisdictions. Guyana Goldfields is a listed company. The US$150 million to invest in Guyana over a barren 10-year period was funded through
the stock exchange and private capital. After gold was found in the vastness of the Cuyuni area, where transportation and logistics cost are very high and safety issues are dominant, Guyana Goldfields had to find more investors to build the mine. It had to bring in overseas firms because the skills and technology did not exist in Guyana even though there has been mining for over 100 years in Guyana. To build the mine, significant amounts of equipment had to be imported as well as over 800 individuals with the appropriate large-scale mining skills. Also significant environmental equipment and technology had to be applied to prevent another Omai spill. The end result was that without the concessions granted by the government, the mine would not have been feasible and there would be the loss of over 800 jobs and revenues to the government through taxes, the multiplier effect of procurement from local companies, among other revenue streams such as the taxes of employees, NIS payment, etc. Guyana Goldfields has the best CSR Programme in Guyana by far. Its presence in Guyana has made Guyana an investment destination and has helped thousands of families to earn a livelihood in a time of severe job needs. On the other hand, sugar has received billions of dollars from the Government with no returns over the last decade. Yet no one speaks to this but instead tries to attack Guyana’s leading company because of sour grapes with Exxon. C. Allen Employee Guyana Goldfields South Amelia’s Ward, Mackenzie, Linden
POST-MOTHER’S DAY — The OTHER Say? DEAR EDITOR, What do we really celebrate on Mother’s Day— When what is considered motherhood is no longer a reality? Mother’s Day recently went by with all and sundry celebrating, recalling, acknowledging and appreciating in all manner, shape and form the maternal sacrifices made—basically Mom being there. Sadly what we consider motherhood today is no longer a reality. In Canada, Britain, the United States and even Australia motherhood means not being there. Plainly stated, motherhood means dropping the kids off to someone, somewhere else but home on the way to work. For millions of children, the person teaching them how to talk, how to walk, how to eat, how to learn, how to treat others, how to play and what to say— is the other—the daycare worker who clocks in at $14-$15 an hour in Quebec. Consider your mother not only a minority but a rarity, if she works full time as a mother- supporting your father, helping you with your homework, keeping the home stocked and supplied, dealing
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with service repairmen, maintaining a budget, planning and cooking nutritious meals, cleaning the home, participating in school and community organizations, encouraging you, providing instruction and counsel and being present at school practices and games. The current norm is for mothers to some or all of the workweek doing something, somewhere else—answering phones, filing reports, or sending electronic messages. To all intents and purposes, society is making it virtually impossible for mothers to look after their own children especially in the formative years—the role is being played by— The Other——Daycare Worker. There is an eventual price to be paid for such a move. Anecdotal evidence is building that things are amiss — increased aggression, lack of basic table manners, an alarming growth in speech problems that simply were not present two decades ago. . Successive governments are also culpable, as they also encouraged mothers to relinquish their roles and go out to work, so that the more
couples could pay for a house, which saw the price of real estate skyrocketing. In certain areas, only dual income families could purchase a home, so that, even when one parent would prefer not to work, that choice became increasingly unaffordable. The days when most moms spent their hours and their energy supporting their husbands, managing their homes, and raising their children disappeared more than a generation ago. Today, a mother looking after her own small children is considered a luxury. In a May 5, 2017 speech Continued on page 6
Incompetence, Inside Trading and Corruption within GuySuCo DEAR EDITOR, More often than not, the dilemma of Corporate Politics has wreaked havoc on good governance of many majestic companies that eventually led to their collapse. Invariably, such happenings affect the lives of many and their investments, whether it be time or money, are largely wasted. Those affected, bear the brunt of poor decision-making by those put in place to do otherwise. The problem is, when this happens, there is a domino effect and turmoil prevails. Nonetheless, if the issues surrounding the demise of any Corporation or Institution, are largely based on incompetence, then those responsible should be made to answer. The question, though, is how does one prosecute incompetence? This is not an easy task and invariably, those that put them to manage the process in the first instance, can never be truly comfortable with investigating their select personnel. Such is the state of affairs surrounding the current Management of Guysuco. The KN editions of last week spoke of another twist to the bizarre tale of Management of the Company and we are now apprised of another dimension that is scandalous to say the least. What has come to light is Inside Trading allegedly conducted by a very Senior Executive as recent as April 2018 where the price of sugar was arbitrarily dropped and not in keeping with the procedures adopted to ensure transparency. The result of that alleged act of malfeasance, has hedged the price per tonne sugar to the benefit of the overseas client until June 2018 and to the disadvantage of the company. This act has also led to reduced income as regards foreign exchange, so
critical to the coffers of our country. As if that were not enough, there is also the alleged favouring of local buyers and here the reference is made to the West Demerara businessmen who were given preference where quantities of domestic sugar is concerned, again at the expense of transparency. The Senior Executive is again brought into question where his affiliation with these individuals is concerned. It is rather coincidental that they all reside on that side of the Demerara River, two in very close proximity to said Senior Executive and the other, not too geographically displaced. It is very disheartening that an allegation made in the published articles speaks to the conflict surrounding an investigation conducted by the Auditors as to the nonexistence of a bond for storage of sugar by one of the preferred parties and which refuted the claim that it did exist by none other than the Security Manager. But then again, that manager is allowed to conduct his own business,
albeit non-sugar related while in the employ of Guysuco, a blatant conflict of interest. Senior Managers are not allowed to have any other form of income whist in employment and so George Orwell’s Animal Farm comes to mind immediately. It would appear that while all are supposed to be equal, some are more equal than others. How convenient this is and reeks of hypocrisy. To add insult to injury, the Communications Manager made a mess of the process when she spoke about leaking of information and this being used maliciously by a ‘partner’ to taint the Management of the Company. There was no attempt to refute the allegations made but a feeble effort to generalize the discord of Executive Management with these revelations. Then again, she has very little knowledge of the business and is known to speak of what she knows not. One has to wonder why it is that these alleged acts of malfeasance by the Senior Executive are not being thoroughly investigated. The Continued on page 6
Taking credit when none is due DEAR EDITOR, Recently, I saw a full page ad in the newspaper which was headlined something to the effect of AFC successes in Government over the past three years. I am confused because I voted for a Coalition Government and the successes of which I am quite aware, cannot and should not be matriculated as coming from AFC or APNU or whichever. It was a collective effort so no one party must assume that what has come about is as a result of the management skills of the their specific party (AFC). Is this is a hint that the AFC is claiming to be the power house within the Government Scheme so that the party may be seen as a force to be reckoned with if and when they do decide to Go It Alone? That being said, maybe the AFC should publish the number of votes, which they actually brought to the power basket in which they so comfortably sit. Yours, Michelle Cumberbatch
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Incompetence, Inside... From page 5 onus is on the Government of Guyana to take action and once proven, measures must be taken commensurate with the requisite disciplinary actions. Insider Trading is a fraudulent act and once proven, incarceration should not be an option. It is the Law of the Land and the haemorrhaging must be discontinued forthwith. It was for similar reasons that this individual was let go by the previous Administration and they should not be silent on this. It is no secret amongst the Senior Employees of Guysuco that lands at Ogle were dispensed to a selected few within the Company during the first half of 2013 and that one parcel was sold to a Junior Staff (now ex-staff) who was the then the paramour of the Senior Executive in question. The power of horizontal persuasion was apparently second to none. Further to this, those lands were to be allotted to long serving and deserving Senior Staff who did not have lands or houses of their own. One has to wonder what were the qualifying criteria used to allocate said lands. SOCU should be called in to investigate this foolishness since it reeks of corruption. The Taxpayers need to know and be satisfied that change is indeed for the better. Mike Singh Sr
CIIP was created by... From page 4 that the salary for CORE workers are too high. The entire PPP is losing it and it seems that it is spreading fast across Guyana. The facts of CIIP is that PPP created that arm for votes. They use to hire their very own and get them at elections time to weed and clean places for their public meetings and rallies. They use to get those very workers putting up posters and distributing flyers in a house to house style, etc. In Region 5, CIIP workers are working less than two hours day manually, most of the times they sit and chat. I have made several complaints about CIIP workers especially in the PPP managed NDCs. The facts are that CORE falls under the Ministry of Public Infrastructure. CORE has been doing a fantastic job whether when they are slashing road shoulders, street corners, playfields, etc. They are enhancing surroundings and public spaces. Workers do the painting of schools, kiddies corners, religious buildings, cleaning of drains, etc. In Region, five CORE workers were highly praised for their work because they are committed and have been ensuring that the
Monday May 21, 2018
Kaieteur News
communities are enhanced towards having a cleaner and greener community. In Region 5, workers are being used to help various organizations, including government, religious, sports, private citizens (elderly, disable and poor), saving thousands of dollars and I can say millions of dollars per year when it comes to school, health and other government compounds within the regions. So those that want to discredit CORE must do a countrywide check. I understand and the country knows that the PPP is bad mouthing every development taking place, although they are enjoying a clean and green environment in a better Guyana today under this APNU+AFC Government, which they couldn’t have done in 23 years. I urge the Ministers within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure to better CORE in the days to come by ensuring that it’s bigger and better. Progress bread enemies and the entire PPP mind has been blinded to the development countrywide and the good works of CORE and this government. Abel Seetaram Regional 5 Councillor
POST-MOTHER’S DAY — The OTHER... From page 5 at Brown University, Janet Yellen the Chair, of the United States Federal Reserve, strongly encouraged more American women to join the workforce. According to Yellen, if all women left their children and homes to the care of others and clocked in somewhere else, the overall economic output of the United States would rise five percent. Tim Worstall, a writer for Forbes Magazine refuted Yellen’s statement, outlining that while it is a generally accepted axiom of our times that if the female labour force involvement equaled that of the male then the economy would be greater, we should be careful how we define the economy, larger, and work, in order to make the argument succeed. This means that Janet Yellen’s comments about women in the workforce and a larger economy need to be examined in their detail, not just taken as being true at face value. The statistics
underpinning what motherhood has become are more impactful than one might imagine. In addition, mothers are being persuaded by friends, family, acquaintances and even government bureaucrats to cease working in their homes and commence working in offices, stores, toll booths, restaurants, factories, call centres, stores, hospitals, etc. Sad to say but nevertheless still bearing facets of truth, is that leaders in government and society have both inadvertently and in some cases advertently, made it financially and culturally prohibitive to be a homemaker. Women are being left with no choice, and are favourably forcing them out of the home. Even if a woman wants to work in the home raising her children, she often finds it virtually impossible. Over a year ago, The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development rated Australia
in the bottom third for female employment rates and categorized full-time mothers as “not in employment, education or training.” The oecd experts further contended, “There are potentially large losses to the economy when women stay at home or work short part-time hours.” It is blatantly obvious that Yellen and the OECD simply deemphasize and exclude the work done at home by stay at home mothers. The absence of a government- issued income and tax statement, does not render a stay-at-home mother’s economic input nonexistent. Ignoring the contributions homemakers provide to the economy is tantamount to suppressing the economy. Alexis de Tocqueville, a prominent diplomat, political philosopher, sociologist, politician and historian, who came to America to study prisons in writing about 19th century “stay at home moms” in one of the most influential book Democracy in America,
examining among other things the role of the family, stated unhesitatingly that although the American women are restrained within the narrow circle of domestic life , and in some respects in a situation of extreme reliance; nevertheless, they were the primary reason behind America’s greatness. The time has arrived for a societal reconsideration. Where feasibly possible, women should return to their homes and reassume their biblical roles as wives and mothers. An end must be put to the immeasurable suffering to which our children have been subjected. Celebration of Mother’s Day should not just be the execution of tradition, nostalgia or warm sentiment. It is the core principle of a functioning society. Motherhood and all its accompanying duties were given by the Creator to the mother, not intended to be passed on to THE OTHER. Y. Sam
THE ROLE OF SAM SITTLINGTON From page 4 Brassington and Ashni Singh”, he concludes, “Dr. Sam Sittlington has no idea of what Guyana’s economic position was during the post PNC years having arrived post PPP. He must have assumed that Guyana was always economically stable and attractive to investors. Someone needs to educate the good doctor.” Dr. Sam Sittlington is a financial crime expert and Director of ‘The Fraud Company’ which he owns. He is paid by the British Government as an Advisor to the Government of Guyana. His role is to speed-up processing of the more than 300 cases identified by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) stemming from 26 government-ordered forensic audits. According to the British High Commissioner, His Excellency Greg Quinn, Sittlington will be providing advice on ongoing probes and will take no direct role in investigations. But is this really so? In March of last year, Sittlington was seen celebrating in a city night spot with the Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, other government officials, investigators, and staff of the British High Commission after the arrests of Opposition officials, including former President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo. When questioned, Ramjattan admitted, “The fact (is) that I had some wine with Sam on Wednesday evening
at Oasis because I wanted to thank him for the great work he did at SOCU”. The British High Commissioner denied being there with his staff, but this was refuted by my colleague, former Attorney General Anil Nandlall who said, “I have consulted with my source, who was present at Oasis Café on Wednesday, 10th of March 2017, and who reiterates that, His Excellency, Mr Quinn, himself and two other staff members of the British High Commission, were present at the establishment.” Mr. Editor, most Guyanese will recall the infamous role that the British High Commissioner played during the May 11, 2015 General and Regional Elections, announcing the election results in favour of APNU+AFC long before all the ballots were counted and any official announcement was made by GECOM. One wonders what were in the reports that were dispatched to the UK Foreign Office in London, and whether the active participation of Sam Sittlington now is being encouraged to justify those reports that were sent by the High Commissioner prior to the 2015 elections. I am convinced that the UK Foreign Office may not be aware and will never condone the high level of political interference and intrusion in the affairs of a sovereign nation involving the British High Commissioner and his countryman. And I urge all Guyanese
living in the UK to write their British MPs and the Foreign Office in London, asking the UK government to stop their Envoys’ intrusion in our domestic affairs. So what is the role of Sam Sittlington? Most believe he has now exceeded his official remit and trespassed into operational matters at SOCU. According to the Leader of the Opposition, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo: “I have information that Mr Sittlington has been on raids with SOCU; he has gone into the premises of nationals of Guyana as part of these raids – being part of operations themselves. So if the British High Commissioner is saying that he has no operational mandate as part of his job, then he will be open (to an investigation)… We have a foreigner here who is trespassing on the rights of Guyanese citizens, tolerated by our Government.” Indeed, Dr. Sam Sittlington was seen directing activities on at least three SOCU operations that I am aware of: - On February 3rd of last year, he was photographed standing in the doorway as agents of SOCU executed a raid on the Guyana Rice Development Board. -Then on March 7th of last year, he was in the same vehicle with the Head of SOCU, former GDF Lieutenant Colonel Sydney James when SOCU arrived at the Office the Leader of the Opposition in Church Street to arrest Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo. -Sittlington was also an
unwanted guest in the home of a private businessman who is now afraid to give a statement. It would appear that Sittlington is a willing participant, dancing to the tune of the APNU+AFC coalition government with the approval of the High Commissioner, to target former PPP/C ministers and officials. He sees this as an opportunity to pad his résumé with the arrest and conviction of former ministers of government to increase traffic to his website, making his company more marketable. Despite the lack of evidence, he is willing to recommend frivolous and fabricated charges against Dr. Ashni Singh and Winston Brassington, compromising his own professional ethics, hoping somehow, with government now interfering with the judiciary, those charges will stick. That will not happen. There is evidence of wholesale corruption and financial fraud being committed by government ministers during the 3 years of this APNU+AFC Administration, yet he turns a blind eye to the rape of the treasury and the unconscionable misuse of public funds. After 2020, Sam Sittlington may himself be the subject of a criminal investigation along with those he now protects in government. Harry Gill PPP/C Member of Parliament
Monday May 21, 2018
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Gold miners under siege Removing laws that restrict from Venezuelan gangsters marijuana use should be On Wednesday evening, at Baboon Backdam, Cuyuni River in Region Seven, a mining camp came under attack from heavily armed gunmen. Masked, dirty and smelly, the eight men stayed five hours, using their high-powered rifles to control the 28 workers in the camp. During the five hours, they demanded food, gold, money and guns. One camp worker was badly beaten. In the end, the men escaped with valuables, a shotgun and a large quantity of gold. According to Nazar ‘Shell’ Mohamed, the gold dealer whose camp came under attack, from accounts of workers, the attackers were not from Guyana. This was evident from their language, the manner in which they were dressed and overall appearance. It is believed that the men who attacked the camp are part of the feared Sindicato gang, which operates in the border areas close to Venezuela. With that neighbouring Spanish-speaking country facing economic problems with food shortages and supplies low and unemployment and inflation at unsustainable levels, gangs have been fighting for and taking control of
Gold dealer, Nazar ‘Shell’ Mohamed especially the border areas. Becoming bolder, they have been attempting to muscle their way into the Cuyuni River, a main waterway for Guyanese miners to take their suppliers of fuel to camps. The gangs have been demanding two ounces of gold, cash or equivalent on every boat that uses the river. The issue of the Sindicato presence was raised a few weeks ago, with security officials indicating that they were investigating. In fact, border patrols from the army at places like
Eteringbang were boosted and more river patrols ordered. However, it appeared that the gang members moved upriver and sometimes further downriver if their presence come under threat. According to Mohamed, he is aware that at least five mining camps in the Cuyuni area came under attack in the last six weeks. “We were told. A number of these people are afraid to talk. They are cutting their losses and continuing to work, but workers are staying away. We are finding it hard,” Mohamed told Kaieteur News. According to Mohamed, miners, many of whom would sell their gold to him, are seeking more protection. “These are the people’s livelihood. For some of them, it is all they know. The fact is that many of the people who are getting robbed are not talking. These camps are in remote areas. People are making a sacrifice and staying away from their families,” Mohamed said. The businessman said that he will be reaching out to the Miners’ Associations to lobby on behalf of the miners. “As you know, gold has been doing well for Guyana, becoming the highest foreign currency earner. We can ill-afford this,” he stated.
33 contracts issued for draining and irrigation in Region 4 Thirty-three companies have received contracts for drainage and irrigations work in Region Four. The contracts are the first to be issued for the year 2018. The contractors are tasked with ensuring several drains and trenches are clean in order for the Region to see a reduction of a number of bacteria and insect borne diseases. Regional Executive Officer, Pauline Lucas told contractors that she is not prepared to accept work that is below standard. “While I have no intention of pointing out anyone, I am not prepared to accept
work that is below standards,” Lucas said. Lucas told the contractors to ensure that the persons they employ deliver excellent and quality work. Lucas stressed the urgency for the delivery of quality work. She said that when the work is satisfactorily completed, she will ensure that payments are processed in a timely manner.
Lucas urged contractors not to employ children, stating that she will not tolerate it. “If you want to help a child with money that is fine but I will not tolerate anyone engaging in the services of children in executing these contracts. A child’s place is in school not cleaning any drains regardless of the economic situation of that child,” she declared.
put to public vote - AG While several sections of society have been pushing Government to amend the Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances, particularly as it relates to marijuana use, Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams is adamant that the matter warrants wider public consultation. Speaking at a Press Conference last week, Williams noted that the proposed amendments to existing legislation should be given considerable consultations. According to the AG, while some sections of society have been calling for the laws to be “relaxed”, the Government must take into consideration the views of all members of society. Williams said that steps to reform the Narcotic and Psychotropic Substances Act that reduces the penalties for persons found in possession of the narcotic are a matter for referendum. He believes that residents should to take the lead on this issue. The Attorney General noted that although it has been close to three years since amendments were proposed, the Government is unsure of just how many people in Guyana would like to see a relaxation of marijuana penalties and a move towards the possible legalisation of certain amounts of the psychotropic substance. The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Control Act 1988 requires
Magistrates to imprison anyone who pleads guilty to or has been found guilty of possession of marijuana. Presently, the narcotic Act specifies that anyone found in possession of marijuana is liable to a fine of $10,000 or three times the monetary value of the drug. The Act also indicates that once a person is found in excess of 15 grams of cannabis, it is mandated that he/ she should be sentenced to a minimum of three years imprisonment. The new Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) (Amendment) Bill 2015, proposes lighter sentencing for possession of ganja. The Amendments were drafted following the sentencing and imprisonment of national football coach, Vibert Butts, for possession of marijuana that same year. Butts was sentenced to three years imprisonment for possession of 46 grams of ganja, which he claimed was for private use. Prominent Attorney-atlaw, Nigel Hughes is one of the persons responsible for drafting the amendments. In crafting the amendment, Hughes had noted that almost daily, many persons are tried and sentenced for possession of small amounts of marijuana, most of which are first-time offenders and youths. The proposed amendment was founded on the experiences of several citizens—primarily youths who have been
Attorney General, Basil Williams incarcerated for small quantities of cannabis or cannabis resin, and who because of their incarceration have been unnecessarily economically and socially disadvantaged. The proposed amended legislation is divided into three sections: Amendment of Section 4 of the Principal Act; the Amendment of Section 5 of the Principal Act; and the Amendment of Section 12 of the Principal Act. Several Rastafarian organisations and social activists have stated that possession of small amounts of marijuana should not attract custodial sentences.
A mini health check is the first step to donating blood
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Monday May 21, 2018
Kaieteur News
Caught between police and a bandit: Bent Street family relives horror
Some of the many bullet holes left in the Dowding’s floor. A Bent street family, who resided at the Bent Street house where a bandit was confronted and killed by police on Friday, is seeking to clear the air. The damage to the house caused by the incident and the public’s perception that the family might have had something to do with the dead man, has left the family feeling robbed, frustrated and scared. Last Friday’s failed robbery left Trevor Barrow called ‘Buddha’, 26, an unemployed male of Lot 1010 Norton Street and Cemetery Road and his accomplice, Calvin Dover, 31, dead. Barrow was killed by Roy Myers, the 52-year-old proprietor of Les Variety Store, located at Lot 22 D’Urban and Hardina Streets,
Wortmanville, and Dover was killed a while after in the Bent street house, following a police pursuit. Dover allegedly was in a shootout with police while escaping from the attempted robbery at the store. He was already wounded in one leg, and said to be carrying a black Glock 17 pistol at the time, when he sought refuge in the Dowding’s family home at Lot PP 6 Bent Street. Ryan Dowding, his twoyear-old baby daughter, 13year-old daughter, and a babysitter were at home at the time when Dover burst into the house. Dover entered the yard from an alleyway and made his way up the back step and then entered the house where he was first confronted by
Dowding. Dowding claimed that Dover ordered him to get some hot water with salt, so he could look after a wound on his foot that he (Dover) was bleeding from. Dowding did not hesitate since Dover was carrying a gun in his hand. He then ordered Dowding to close the doors. At the time, Dowding’s eldest daughter and babysitter were in the living room. They then headed to a bedroom where they remained for most of the ordeal. Dowding claims that Dover told him to stay quiet and he would not hurt anyone. Sometime after Dowding heard some loud crashing sounds and peeked outside to see what it was. He then realized that it was (Continued on page 22)
Two years later…
Tax Reform Commission’s call for review of “exorbitant” exemptions goes unanswered More than two years ago, the Tax Reform Commission (TRC), which was set up by the Granger Administration, called for the review of the “exorbitant” concessions granted to companies in various sectors. But that call is yet to be answered by the Coalition Government. The Commission comprises of National Industrial and Commercial Investment Limited (NICIL) head, Maurice Odle; Chartered Accountant, Christopher Ram; Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) Commissioner General, Godfrey Statia and economist Dr. Thomas Singh. In its report, the Commission noted that Guyana is one of the leading countries with massive overlay of tax exemptions and remissions that ultimately make tax administration difficult and revenue losses significant. The Commission pointed out that the relatively weak revenue buoyancy in Guyana in recent years is related to the spate of tax incentives that have been granted to companies. The Commission stressed that more detailed studies of the economic efficiency and revenue costs of these exemptions should be undertaken in order to plan a transition away from usebased exemptions to more limited- automated exemptions. Furthermore, the Commission said that the losses from the granting of Investment Development Agreements are a cause for some concern. The TRC pointed out that many sectors receive conces-
Chartered Accountant, Chris Ram sions, far more than they contribute in taxes. The Commission also said that while this fact itself does not per se justify the abolition or the withdrawal of the concessions, “it is clear that an urgent review is required.” In this regard, the Committee recommended that clearer parameters be established along with guidelines for the entering into Investment Development Agreements, so as to reduce the discretionary powers of the Minister. The Commission commented, ‘We understand that in some cases, IDA’s have been granted to long-established, profitable companies.” Significantly, the Commission called for the introduction of a post-audit system for concessions granted including the posting of a bond/ guarantee to ensure that commitments are met. It called too for a periodic audit and publication of reports of tax holidays granted
$27M Eccles health centre on schedule The construction of the $27M health centre at Eccles, East Bank Demerara is progressing on schedule. The building is expected to be completed within the next two months. Residents of Eccles will no longer have to seek care at the Agricola or Herstelling Health Centre. Regional Executive Officer (REO) Region 4, Pauline Lucas and Regional Health Department official, Yogesh Narine, took a tour of the facility last week. “What we have seen over the years is that contractors do whatever they think they should do. While in other cases, they seek to ‘cut corners’ thus robbing the public of the facilities that has been entrusted to them to build,” Lucas told the Contractor while on a tour of the facility. The REO said that this is not the first time she visited the facility. She said she makes several visits to the construction site to ensure taxpayers are not getting poor work. The REO said she is happy that Eccles resident will no longer have to complain about having to seek health care at the nearby health centres. Features of the health centre include three consultation rooms, a pharmacy, a records room, a dressing room, a treatment room, a VCT room, a rehabilitation room and bathrooms, which will cater for people with disabilities.
GRA Commissioner General, Godfrey Statia
NICIL Chairman, Maurice Odle and investment agreements entered into. Additionally, the Commission said that there is a need for a review of the fiscal regime governing petroleum products specifically with a view to rationalizing exemptions, as Guyana is currently losing approximately $20B in exemptions (Import Duty, Excise Duty and VAT).
The Eccles Health Centre under construction
Monday May 21, 2018
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Kaieteur News
CATCH ME IF YOU CAN! There is an attitude problem at our public hospitals. The attitude of some health professionals in the emergency units of our public hospitals leaves much to be desired. A few years ago, there was a very disturbing letter that appeared in print media. A patient related his experience at the Emergency Unit at a Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation. According to the person concerned, the nurses were playing a game of tag while he was waiting to be treated. It is an all too familiar story that suggests a pattern of casualness, which should never be associated with Emergency Departments. No one ever heard what came out of the investigation into that matter if indeed it was true or if it was in fact investigated. One of the duties of medical administrators should be to thoroughly investigate all complaints. If a problem is reported, then the complaint needs to be investigated. Depending on the outcome of that investigation, persons have to be held accountable. Unless this happens, the problems, if they do exist, will not go away. What is required is not just explaining what happened, but also about
taking corrective action. Every patient needs to be treated with importance and they need to understand why action was or was not being taken. The explanation should be followed by corrective action. If there is a problem, then a solution has to found to that problem. This solution has to be implemented. Someone has to be responsible for this implementation; someone has to be responsible also for monitoring the implementation and making an assessment of its success, because not everything that is implemented is a success. Indeed, there is often a need to test solutions before these are formalised. After explanation and correction, the next step involves holding to account those responsible for faults and negligence. Doctors must never be made to feel that they can do no wrong. They must be held to the same standards as other professionals such as nurses. There is a serious problem with Guyanese nurses. There are many excellent nurses, but there are far too many also whose attitude to their
DEM BOYS SEH
Jagdeo walking a fine rope If you get in trouble and you want an excuse just blame de boss. Brassington and Ashni decide to blame Jagdeo. Dem claim dat whatever wrong thing dem do is he tell dem. And Jagdeo believe dat nobody can punish him because he got immunity. Is true. Burnham put in de constitution dat whatever de president do nobody can hold him responsible and dem two men know dat. Dat is why dem seh dat if anybody got a problem dem must talk to Jagdeo. Well dem boys seh dat de constitution did not allow de president to do wrong thing. If dat was de case then de president can order a man to kill somebody then dat person must do it. De Chat-3 seh if any of dem did refuse to do what de president seh then dem would have had to look fuh a job. Now dat dem get charge, dem using dat as an excuse. But dem lawyers seh dem gon test it in court.
Of course people done seh dat de two, Brassington and Ashni, lef de country which mean dat de charge ain’t serious. What it really mean is dat de court believe a man innocent till he prove guilty. But dat is why Jagdeo doing some things because he still got immunity. He calling dem Government Ministers thieves. He seh suh when he announce dat dem settle too quick suh dem getting draw back. De thing is dat all of dem who settle can sue Jagdeo and dem boys wonder why nobody ain’t do so. It could be dat dem don’t know de law or dem happy fuh Jagdeo call all of dem crooked. BK might have a soft spot fuh Jagdeo but Yesu shouldn’t have none. Jagdeo try to embarrass him wid de settlement. Jagdeo know dat people don’t go after leaders. If an ordinary man did accuse dem then was a different story. Talk half and try to be a big one.
work is not what is expected of professionals. This is one of the reasons why private hospitals are importing nurses on short-term contracts. They are importing these nurses not because local nurses are not sufficiently trained. There is only one reason why private hospitals are recruiting nurses from overseas. That reason is attitude. These recruits from overseas have a completely different
approach to their work. There is hardly any casualness. They take their job seriously and work hard. They have a different attitude to their work. And this is why the private hospitals are being besieged by those who can afford to pay for medical care. It is not that the public institutions do not have the equipment or qualified personnel. They do. In fact, they have more equipment and more qualified staff than the private hospitals.
The difference is in attitude. You are not going to find in any Emergency Room of any private hospital, a lackadaisical or casual approach to work. That is not going to happen at all. And this is what the public is looking for, and those who can afford to pay are paying for this attitude. Those who cannot afford private medical care have to be content with dealing with too many doctors that are supposed to be on call, but take a long time to arrive. They have to deal with
nurses who work as if they are doing you a favour. They have to deal with medical personnel who at any notice can walk out of the treatment room to take a phone call or a buy a soft drink. If public health care is to be improved, this improvement does not start with getting better professionals or more modern equipment. It has to begin with a change of attitude.
Monday May 21, 2018
Kaieteur News
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Brazil rescues African, Guyanese migrants drifting at sea - report Brazilian fishermen rescued two dozen migrants from Africa and Guyana found drifting near the northeast coast of Brazil after 35 days at sea. According to the report, the migrants came from Guyana, Nigeria and Senegal on the other side of the Atlantic, the Human Rights Department for Brazil's state of Maranhao said in a statement. There were 25 migrants -- all men -- on the boat and two Brazilians, the navy said in a statement. The Associated Foreign Press (AFP) reported yesterday that the Brazilian pair was suspected of being people traffickers. They had reportedly spent 35 days afloat but there was no immediate indication of what route they had taken. The boat, a catamaran, was carrying a Haitian flag, the navy said. On Saturday, local fishermen found the vessel drifting off the Brazilian coastal town of Sao Jose de Ribamar, south of the Amazon river, the navy said. An attempt by the authorities to locate the migrant boat from the air failed, so the fishermen towed it to port, while also feeding the stranded voyagers, the navy said. By the time they got in, the fishing captain reported he had "no more food and water to give, because provisions were ending," the navy said. Once ashore, they were "given medical attention and food," before being taken for processing by the Brazilian federal police, the Maranhao Human Rights Department said. "The group will be put into temporary housing provided by the state," it said. "The federal police will investigate the possible committing of crimes against the foreigners in relation to their arrival in Brazil and evaluate their legal situation in Brazil."
Monday May 21, 2018
Kaieteur News
Police Commander holds wide ranging discussions with stakeholders
Police officers with stakeholders following the meeting Divisional Commander of Police B Division Assistant Commissioner Lyndon Alves and his senior officers continue their wide ranging meeting with stakeholders throughout Berbice in an effort to strengthen the police and community relationship. On Wednesday the Commander held a meeting in his office at Strand and Forbes
Burnham (Coburg) Streets with a number of stake holders in Berbice. Among those in attendance were the deputy Commander Superintendent Wayne De Hearte , Officers in charge of the No1, 2 and 3
subdivisions, officers in charge of traffic, Crime and a number of other senior officers in the division. Also in attendance were a number of pastors and community leaders who are members of the Cops and Faith
Community Network from throughout Berbice. Main topics on the agenda were the discussion of the learner driver programme and the continuation of the intervention plan for first time juvenile offenders.
File of fisherman killed on boat sent for advice Investigators in Berbice are presently awaiting advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to determine the next steps to be taken in relation to the suspect accused of murdering 38-yearold Devanand Jailall of Agriculture Road, Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara. Police sources stated that if the advice is returned today, the suspect, Reggie 'Bai' Ramsammy, 45, of Lot 100 Whim Village, Corentyne, Berbice will head to court to face the recommended charge. On Friday, Ramsammy who was captured shortly after the incident, confessed to murdering Jailall over a row about drugs being used on
the fishing vessel they were on. The vessel was docked at the Number 65 Village fishing port on Thursday when the incident took place. Ramsammy told police that he and the victim were "high" when Jailall began to "smoke and he asked him to stop it but he refused. He reportedly picked up the knife and stabbed the victim several times. Jailall's attacker, after committing the act, escaped. The police were immediately summoned to the scene and a hunt for the suspect was launched. He was later accosted. Additionally, an autopsy performed on the corpse of Jailall yesterday by Govern-
Dead: Devanand Jailall ment Pathologist Dr. Vivekanand Bridjmohan revealed that he died from shock and haemorrhage due to multiple stab wounds.
Monday May 21, 2018
Kaieteur News
Bartica sand pit, BK quarry ordered closed by Minister Broomes Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes, has recommended cease work orders be issued for a stone quarry in the Mazaruni River and a sand pit operated by the regional authorities of Bartica. On Saturday, Minister Broomes and a team from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) conducted impromptu inspections at quarry operations in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni). Minister Broomes, according to a government release, is leading efforts to ensure greater compliance in the quarrying sector. The Minister and GGMC staff with responsibility for quarrying visited BK International Quarry, Baracara Quarries Incorporated, Durban Quarries, Toolsie Persaud Limited St Mary Quarry in the Essequibo River and a sand pit in Five Mile, Potaro Road, Bartica. The most glaring instances of non-compliance in safety practices were observed at Durban Quarries where the company failed to correct unsafe mining practices despite notices by GGMC a month ago to do so. Minister Broomes informed Acting Mines Manager, Krishna Ramdass, to issue a cease order to the company. Manager of the quarry, Ravie (only name given), said efforts were being made to comply with the order, but had been stalled by rains. The quarry’s overburden needs to be cleared and there are signs that mining is occurring despite precariously perched rocks. “This is safety … is it because he [GGMC officer]
was not forceful that there was no regard shown?” Minister Broomes questioned the Manager. She challenged the Manager to consider that lives are at risk by working under such dangerous conditions. “You have to see it, as if it is you under that facing or you’re the person in the machine,” Minister Broomes noted before charging Ramdass to ensure that the GGMC follows due procedure to enforce compliance. The other dangerous safety infraction occurred at the sand pit in Five Miles, Bartica. Men were shovelling sand from a sheer drop wall into the back of a truck despite signs of an unstable overburden. Minister Broomes and the GGMC officers immediately ordered the men to stop working and the truck left the pit. The sand pit is reportedly managed by the Bartica Town Council and had previously ignored cease orders issued by the GGMC over the last three years, Minister Broomes noted. “What I’m seeing here is horrible,” Minister Broomes said. “I know in the past there were no regards but I would want to say now and going forward, we have to correct things. Safety, like any other mining … the rules go for all,” Minister Broomes stated. The Minister expressed her displeasure in the regional authority’s disregard for GGMC’s regulations. She added that the Ministry and GGMC will be engaging the Town Council to address the matter. “The GGMC even recently trying to engage and meet with them to have
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Men loading sand into a truck at the sand pit controlled by the Bartica Town Council, Region 7.
Minister Broomes and GGMC staffers inspecting BK’s quarry.
engineers working with the Council so as to give guidance in terms of how you develop and continue to mine the sand that you are mining and also the loam,” Minister Broomes noted.
Minister Simona Broomes in discussion with Manager of Durban Quarries, Ravie, as Acting Mines Manager Krishna Ramdass looks on.
Meanwhile, at the Toolsie Persaud quarry, one worker was observed hitching a ride in the loader of a heavy-duty machinery. Ground Managers indicated that there was no ground transportation for workers around the quarry. “The people who operate
these things, they are the diamond between these rocks and you don’t fetch them in bulldozer buckets. I ask that the disregard for compliance with GGMC that we bring a turnaround. I want to work with you,” Minister Broomes told Toolsie Managers during
her inspection. Minister Broomes said she will be meeting individually with the Managers of the operations visited. Minister Broomes noted that she will be inspecting Continued on page 22
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Monday May 21, 2018
Kaieteur News
Caught between police... WANT
SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION, W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK;Guyanapassport application. G r a p h i c s design, advertisement. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535. ICONIC MARKETING & PRINTING –TEL: 6004212: We create A/works, logos, busi ness cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included. Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezerCall: 610-5846 or 661-8158
FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. (1) One Bobcat miniexcavator model#322. Contact: 5005923/676-8764 One enclosed canter 3 ton wide base, Good condition $2.6M #604-0204/264-0041 Apartment buliding includes (1) 3 bedroom, (1) 2 bedroom 1 studio location Lamaha Park, Georgetown, $60,000,000 Neg. Call: 681-2500
FOR RENT
WANTED
PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.-CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620 Prime Office on Camp Street, next to Shell gas station #6447724/639-4499/622-9560.
Experienced Drivers,Cashiers, Roti/Puri cooks, Handyboys. Apply Hack’s Halaal with H/ written application 5 Commerce St.
Prime Business Place 1680 Sq Ft located at 36 Grove Public Road EBD. Contact No: 2662605/672-8017
One General domestic, must know to cook. Apply @ Keyfood, next door to Post Office, McDoom. Security personnel to work with a private security firm. Previous experience required. Contact: 500-5923/227-7528
(1) 3 bedroom house in Herstelling EBD furnish or unfurnished. Call Farah: 6848223 Newly built & painted. Two(2) bedroom apartment for rent Lot 6 Houston Back Street, EBD. Contact: #6216427 Apartment in Better Hope, Bottom flat. $40,000/month Contact: 672-0922/672-1077
(1) 2006 Toyota Premio, Excellent condition, very low mileage. Call: 698-1134
Make-up Courses with Mac, B a r e M i n e r a l s , etc.Cosmetology Courses: $90,000 Nail Technician Course: $35,000. Call: 647-1773/688-0009
TAXI SERVICE GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 225-7878 (24HRS) PROPERTY FOR SALE Lot 15 Public road #2 Village. West Coast Berbice. 49ft by 10,314ft. $18M. Contact:6487109/686-4818
(1) Pitbull Minibus 19 seater, Price negotiable, owner leaving country. Contact: 6099365 Unregistered Mazda Axela 2011, New shape, dark interior, fully loaded. #617-5536 $2.4 Mil. Tractor (foreign used) Massey Ferguson excellent condition 165 $1.6M MF 135 $1.1M MF 265 $2.2M 165 loader, tractor $2.4M @ Vreeden-hoop. Call: 682-5230/6154414 Pickup truck from Canada,double cab 2005 Tacoma $2.1 M, Ford F150 sport $1.5M, Ford ranger sport $1.2M. Call: 682-5230, 6154414.
Unfinished property for sale @ Eccles. Contact: 682-8236 3 story commercial building,120ftX60ft Building 62ftX30ft Location- Lot 1486, Plot B Herstelling, EBD, reduced price Contact: 6093777/696-0522 LAND FOR SALE
Male Security supervisor 3055 years old, must have driver’s license. Call: 629-9450 One Live-in domestic or a couple to work in Mahaicony river. #655-9419 One ½ day domestic #2256571 One driver, must be able to drive manual & automatic. Call: 621-1220, 683-7870. Grill King. Mandela Ave.
VEHICLE FOR SALE
SALON
Looking to buy a house or empty land, Preferences-EBD Public road. Buyer #1917-6225810/694-3331
EDUCATION IAE- Register for CXC, full time evening & adult classes. Mathematics, English, Business & Science subjects #683-5742/621-7365
(2) Prime land (50x100ft) in Duncan street. Contact Pete’s Real Estate, Lot 2 George First Aid/CPR course Available at St John street. #223-6218/623-7805 Ambulance Brigade on Parfaite Harmonie $1.7M/2M Saturdays- Morning sessions. Uitvlugt $2.5M Tel#697-6311 Call: 225-9082
CAR RENTAL PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS FROM $4000 & UP, SUV’S PER DAY- CALL:643-5122/ 6 5 6 - 0 0 8 7 , ,EMAIL:PRO_AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.COM AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL:PICKUP,9-11 SEAT MINI BUS, GOOD FOR AIRPORT & FAMILY OUTINGS, CHEAPEST RATE . Call: 698-7807 WING’S CAR & PICKUP RENTAL: LOW DOWN PAYMENT, CHEAP RATES,SPECIAL OFFERS! . CALL: 690-6494
EDUCATION Electronic course, Practical beginning 1st June. Learn to fix flat screen TV’s etc. Abdul Electronics. 225-0391/2266551 Jean offers courses in Dressmaking, curtains, floral, cake decoration, 153 Barr St Kitty Tel#670-2653/638-844 Care for the elderly, Care for children, First aid and CPR G/town 227-4881 Berbice 232-38789 Live and work in Canada in home caregiver programme. Contact: 227-4881
1 Pastry Maker. Apply to Pastry Maker Position P.O Box 101821, Georgetown Wanted experience hire car drivers at Princess Ramada Hotel. Contact: 616-5419/2657076 Wanted land anywhere on th West Coast or West Bank. Tel# 642-1252 Busy restaurant looking for delivery riders, serious enquiries only. Call: 692-0432, ask for Tonya. Live in small family, husband duties: driving. Wife: Domestic, Georgetown area. Tel# 227-1830
(From page 8) police searching the houses next door. Dover who was only in his underwear at this time, had dragged himself to the room where Dowding’s daughter and babysitter had sought refuge. Dowding’s daughter who expressed to this publication how fearful she was for her life and that of her father’s, was told by Dover not to make noise. Dover at the time was sitting between the bed and a wardrobe that the 13-year-old was sitting on with the babysitter. The baby girl was sleeping on the bed.
VACANCY Experienced salesgirls with CXC qualifications & 5 yrs experience. Apply @ Christine’s Variety, Lombard St. Contact: 227-8529 Field supervisor to work in Georgetown, must have a motorcycle licence. Contact: 613-1946 or 227-1717 Inventory clerk to work in Georgetown, experience in a work shop environment. Contact: 623-2274 or 227-1717 Cashier (Shift work 7am-3pm & 3pm-11pm) submit application to: Shell Service Station Providence EBD/ Shellramsburg@gmail.com Minibus driver living in G/ town to work with company #646-8748 Experienced male sales attendant, stocktaking knowledge, computer literate, excellent service attitude, able bodied. Key Food McDoom Village.
Layout birds to buy. Tel# 2259304
Vacancy @ Natural Beauty Salon & Spa for a experienced Nail Technician, if interested please call: 652-5800
A&B Wash Bay (Amelia’s Ward) Washbay attendant needed, Linden resident (Adult) Contact: 683-2523
Cashiers & Salesgirls apply to Nirva Supermarket; Persons who previously applied are asked to re-apply #227-5771
Domestic help wanted female, Vreed-en-hoop, light house keeping $3000 daily. Call: 6825230/615-4414 VACANCY International Job Opprtunities for qualified teachers and nurses. Contact: 670-9207, 227-4881 Boat Captain- Certificate of Competence as Master of a power driven vessel. Call: 2261100,226-5380 Assistant repackaging machine operators, previous experience working with packaging machine. Apply @ Alabama Trading, 65 Robb St, Bourda.
The young lady recalled hearing noises coming from a backroom and then seeing a police peering into the room with a gun, at which time she shouted, “don’t shoot; don’t shoot.” The police then showed her the way to exit safely, which she used. She was followed closely by the babysitter who was carrying the baby in her hand. While the occupants exited the room, they noticed Dover going under the bed. She ran down stairs and heard a few loud sounds that she presumed were gun shots. Dowding is questioning who is going to reimburse him for all the damage that include bullet holes in the floor, bloodied carpet, broken windows, a damaged television set, and the house that was upturned.
Bartica sand pit... From page 21 quarry operations across the country. There are seven stone quarries and 14 sand and loam pits across Guyana. Part of the reason to ensure compliance is to recover lost revenues to the GGMC through royalty payment by operators in the quarrying sector, Minister Broomes noted. Last year, the GGMC collected $6.4M in royalties from stone quarries from a calculated amount of $14.7M. For sand, the GGMC collected $19.5M out of a calculated $25.9M. “Transparency is the order of the day. We will work with companies; we will give incentives, but you will comply. You have to comply, it’s not a question,” is the charge to operators in the sector by Minister Broomes. The Minister indicated that the inspections are to gather a “comprehensive overlook” of the sector. She added it is a step in the right direction towards ensuring that GGMC is better equipped to monitor, enforce and recover costs in the quarrying sector.
Monday May 21, 2018
Kaieteur News
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Monday May 21, 2018
Kaieteur News
Svitolina dominates Halep to defend Italian Open crown
Elina Svitolina dropped just one set during the Italian Open. (EPA) (Reuters) - Fourth seed Elina Svitolina successfully defended her Italian Open title yesterday with a dominant 60 6-4 victory over an out-ofsorts Simona Halep. World number one Halep came through a tough threeset semi-final against Maria Sharapova on Saturday and was well off the pace, failing to coax even a single break point opportunity the entire match. “It’s amazing that I could come and defend my title here. It’s really something very special for me,” Svitolina said after defeating Halep in the Rome final for the second year in succession.
The Ukrainian, who has now won the last eight finals she has appeared in, stormed out of the blocks and kept Halep under relentless pressure, serving at a high level and chasing down everything the Romanian sent her way. Halep converted only 15 percent of her first serves into points in a dire first set, and though she improved that ratio in the second, she made a total of 21 unforced errors to end any hopes of a comeback. Svitolina wrapped up the victory in 67 minutes on her second match point, leaping
into the air in celebration as Halep tamely netted a backhand. On current form the Ukrainian will be surely ranked among the favorites to triumph at the French Open. The Roland Garros showpiece begins on May 27, and Svitolina insisted that she would not get ahead of herself. “I will try to take one match at a time, it’s very important in a grand slam,” she added. “It’s very tricky so we’ll see how it goes, but definitely I’m going to enjoy (going to) Roland Garros on a high note.”
BELGRADE (Reuters) Real Madrid clinched a record-extending 10th Euroleague title after overpowering last season’s champions Fenerbahce Istanbul 85-80 in yesterday’s spectacular final of the continent’s premier club basketball competition. Led by French guard Fabien Causeur and 19year-old Slovenian Luka Doncic, who was named the season’s most valuable player after Friday’s 92-83 semi-final win over CSKA M o s c o w, R e a l f o r c e d Fenerbahce into submission thanks to ironclad defending. Causeur netted 17 points for Real and Doncic, widely expected to be among the top picks at next month’s NBA draft in New York, added 15 with a mature performance which silenced 12,000 fervent Turkish fans in the Belgrade Arena. “Everyone’s talking about the individual awards but this was a team effort and it put
the icing on the cake of a very tough season,” Doncic, who was also named the Final Four’s most valuable player, told reporters. “Win or lose, we always stick together as a unit and that’s the key to success. “I am very proud of my team mates and honoured to play for Real. We grew as a team through a season ravaged by injuries,” added Doncic, who remained tightlipped about a possible summer move to the NBA. The titanic tussle shifted Real’s way in the third quarter when they carved out a 63-55 lead and never looked back, although Fenerbahce missed a chance to force overtime. Their late fightback slashed the deficit to 81-78 in the final minute, but Real’s Tray Tompkins tipped in a vital offensive rebound to put the game beyond Fenerbahce. Italy forward Nicolo Melli stood out for Fenerbahce with a game-high 28 points but his blistering individual
display could not save the Turkish side, who committed a flurry of turnovers and missed plenty of open shots. Real’s guards stifled Fenerbahce’s usually lethal backcourt offence, while their towering centre Walter Tavares outplayed his rival Jan Vesely under the boards. Fenerbahce’s Serbian coach Zeljko Obradovic, who was also chasing a record 10th Euroleage title with a fifth different club, rued his team’s poor shooting. “We missed some incredibly easy shots from close range and our defence was also not at the required level,” he said. “But credit to Real, they fully deserved their win and all we can do is congratulate them. “Real had a lot of problems with injuries throughout the season but they came here in great shape and enjoyed a perfect tournament as its dark horses.”
Real beat Fenerbahce to win 10th Euroleague title
Yates wins 15th stage for 3rd win, extends Giro lead SAPPADA, Italy (AP) — Simon Yates made it a hat trick of wins in the Giro d’Italia on the 15th stage yesterday and the British rider consolidated his overall lead as the race heads into its final week. After unsuccessfully attempting a similar move just moments earlier, Yates set off on a solo attack with 17 kilometers (10.5 miles) remaining. He looked back after a few meters and continued to accelerate. Miguel Angel Lopez edged out Tom Dumoulin for second to lead a group of five cyclists over the line, 41 seconds behind Yates at the end of the 176-kilometer (109mile) route through the Dolomites from Tolmezzo to Sappada. The grueling leg saw riders almost continuously climbing and descending. “It was really hard from the bottom of the climb. I still felt good so I chose my moment to go,” said Yates, who was struggling to hold back tears. “They responded the first time but then I tried again and I gave it everything to get away. It’s fantastic. I don’t know why I’m a bit emotional after today. I gave everything.” Yates is clearly on a different level to his rivals and it is hard to see anyone managing to wrestle the leader’s pink jersey off the Mitchelton-Scott cyclist. Yates extended his lead over defending champion Dumoulin to 2 minutes, 11 seconds. Domenico Pozzovivo remained third, 2:28 behind. Monday is the Giro’s third and final rest day before the individual time trial, which is Dumoulin’s speciality. “He can take two minutes out of me on the TT, on one stage. So it’s not over,” Yates said. “But I’m happy with what I did today.” However, Dumoulin believes Yates is in such good form that he is favorite to clinch overall victory when the Giro ends in Rome on May 27.
Britain’s Simon Yates celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the 15th stage of the Giro d’Italia cycling race, from Tolmezzo to Sappada, Italy, yesterday. (Daniel Dal Zennaro/ANSA via AP) “He’s in such great shape that maybe he can also do a really good time trial. We’ll just have to see,” Dumoulin said. “Even if I have an excellent TT and he doesn’t and I take the lead, it’s still going to be very difficult. He’s riding away from us whenever he wants.” Yates’ British compatriot, Chris Froome, had got himself back into contention with
victory on the iconic Monte Zoncolan on Saturday. But the four-time Tour de France champion, who was presented with a cake before the start of the stage to mark his 33rd birthday, had a day to forget. Froome was distanced again on Sunday, on the fourth of five categorized climbs, and slipped nearly five minutes behind Yates.
Champions Barca bid... From page 26 represent this badge, which for me is the best in the world,” Iniesta said, addressing the Barca fans from the pitch. “Thanks to all our fans, for the support you’ve shown and the respect you have given me. I came here as a boy and I leave aged 34 as a man. I’ll always carry you in my heart.” Barca end the season on 93 points, 14 more than secondplaced Atletico Madrid and 17 above last year’s champions Real Madrid. Ernesto Valverde’s side lost only one Liga match, last week’s 5-4 defeat at Levante.
Monday May 21, 2018
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USACA president Dainty sues David Mo Farah wins Great Manchester Run ahead of Moses Kipsiro Richardson, ICC for defamation ESPNcricinfo - Gladstone Dainty, president of the USA Cricket Association (USACA), and board member Dr Linden Dodson of New York have filed a lawsuit in United States District Court in the Eastern District of New York against the ICC and its chief executive David Richardson, seeking $2 million dollars in damages for defamation and “tortious interference with business relations between plaintiffs and the United States of America Cricket Association”. Previous legal actions brought by Dainty, as part of collective legal challenges and defences on behalf of the USACA board of directors, have been argued by the high-powered law firm of McGuireWoods LLC. According to USACA’s 2013 tax return filing, the governing body spent more than $360,000 in legal fees that
thinly vailed [sic] campaign to oust the duly elected members of USACA’s board of directors”. As part of their business interference argument, the suit claims that USACA’s expulsion has “prevented the plaintiffs and other board members from meaningfully continuing in their capacities as sanctioned members of the international competitive cricket community”. One of the reasons USACA was initially suspended and eventually expelled by the ICC was its failure to ratify a new constitution that would have enacted sweeping reforms on the governance of the organization. However, Dodson subsequently has been a long-serving member of the ICC’s Sustainable Foundation advisory group, which designed the new constitution for USA Cricket, the new governing body in
council from considering the expulsion of USACA at these meetings,” Richardson told reporters last June at the ICC annual conference after the decision to expel USACA, via a unanimous vote of the ICC membership, had been made public. “The arbitrator found in favor of the ICC and found the ICC had acted rationally and was quite entitled to take the decision to expel USACA.” As for the defamation claims, the suit argues that Richardson and the ICC made false statements against the members of the USACA board. Most of the statements were made by US cricket stakeholders, which included USACA members, as part of interviews collected and summarised in a confidential report seen by ESPNcricinfo, authored by Richardson and then head of global development Tim Anderson, which was
Gladstone Dainty speaks at the USACA T20 National Championship. (Peter Della Penna)
year. However, the lawyer representing Dainty and Dodson in the April 30, 2018 filing against Richardson and the ICC is Gary Certain of Certain & Zillberg PLLC, whose website advertises their service as a no win, no fee representation. Even though the lawsuit is a personal filing by Dainty and Dodson, it argues mainly that the ICC has injured USACA. A central claim is that the ICC “proposed and demanded constitution and rule changes” that violated USACA’s autonomy and served not the board’s best interests “but rather the personal preferences of the officers and directors of the ICC”. Similarly, the suit claims that any changes forced by the ICC on USACA would violate its 501(c)(3) non-profit status. This would directly impact Dainty and Dodson, according to the lawsuit, because the changes the ICC attempted to mandate were “part of its malicious and
line to replace USACA as the ICC’s Associate member in America. The suit asks for injunctive relief “staying the expulsion of USACA as the United States of America associate member to the ICC”. They are also seeking injunctive relief “prohibiting the ICC from granting any class of ICC membership” to any other entity operating within the USA such as USA Cricket. However, the suit has not been made with USACA as a plaintiff. Previous statements made by Richardson hint at the reason USACA is not a co-plaintiff in this most recent filing. ICC members are bound to go through mediation in disputes regarding membership, something that occurred last year prior to USACA’s expulsion. “They’ve already taken the matter to the ICC Dispute Resolution Committee on an expedited basis, attempting to stop the board and full
presented to ICC members ahead of a vote for USACA’s suspension in 2015. It was the third time that USACA had been suspended in a decade, with previous suspensions occurring in 2005 and 2007 for governance problems. The suit claims that “in the context of social and professional communications the plaintiffs have been confronted with inquiries concerning the disparaging statements of the defendants”. Dodson works as a veterinarian in New York and Dainty is a certified public accountant (CPA), businesses “whose practices rely on their professional reputations for honesty, competency and integrity which are assailed by the disparaging statements,” according to the suit. ESPNcricinfo reached out to the ICC for a response to the suit filed in New York by Dainty and Dodson, but a spokesperson declined to comment.
Mo Farah (centre) is flanked by the other top two finishers after the Manchester 10k. (Euan Crumley) BBC Sport - Britain’s Olympic and world 10,000m champion Mo Farah said he felt “tired” after his first victory in the 10km Great Manchester Run. Farah, who finished third at the London Marathon last month, raced past Ugandan Moses Kipsiro with 100 metres left to win in 28 minutes 27 seconds. Abel Kirui of Kenya finished third, 25 seconds behind Farah. Ethiopian Tirunesh Dibaba won her third straight women’s race, well ahead of Kenya’s Joyciline Jepkosgei. In the men’s wheelchair
race, Britain’s David Weir beat Johnboy Smith and Simon Lawson to win in 21 minutes 28 seconds. In the women’s wheelchair race, Britain’s Liz McTernan was victorious in 34 minutes 20 seconds ahead of Heather Gilham and Lucy Keyworth. Farah, who was appearing in the race for the first time since 2007, took part in a minute’s silence before the race in tribute to the 22 people who died in last year’s Manchester Arena bombing. For most of the race, the 35-year-old looked comfortable in warm
conditions as he kicked past Kipsiro with 100 metres to go. But he said he was still recovering from breaking the British record at last month’s marathon - his first event over the distance since switching his focus to road racing. “I’ve got great speed and I know that at the end of the races I can use it if the guys haven’t hurt me enough, so today was a matter of hanging in there,” he told BBC Sport. “I was pretty tired. Having competed in the marathon not so long ago, today was hard work.”
Ethiopian Tirunesh Dibaba (centre) won her third straight women’s race. (Euan Crumley)
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Rain helps Nadal claim stunning eighth Rome Masters title
Comeback king: Rafael Nadal poses with the trophy. (AFP Photo/Filippo MONTEFORTE) Rome (AFP) - Rafael Nadal won the Rome Masters for the eighth time yesterday when he defeated defending champion Alexander Zverev 6-1, 1-6, 6-3 after a stunning comeback. German second seed Zverev was 3-1 up in the decider before two rain stoppages halted his momentum. Top seed Nadal raced away with the last five games to secure a 32nd Masters title and ensure a return to the world number one spot. The 31-year-old also showed why he will once again be the runaway favourite when Roland Garros begins in a week where he’ll be bidding for an 11th French Open title. Zverev, 21, came to the court riding a 13-match win streak which included last weekend’s trophy in Madrid. However, by the end of yesterday’s rain-hit final, his record against the Spaniard stood at five defeats in five meetings. Nadal was 3-1 down at the first rain break but cut the gap on the resumption. After a further half an hour off court during the second interruption, Nadal came back out firing, winning four straight games to wrap up the win on his second match point. “The rain break was so important, I didn’t think it would help me but it did. I was able to come back out with clear ideas, I’m very happy,” said Nadal. “To win Rome eight times is amazing, it’s hard to describe. To have the chance
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to win here again is so great. “As for Roland Garros, I’m going to enjoy this victory and think about Paris in a few days. “For Alexander it’s amazing to have won that many matches in a row,” Nadal said after winning in just over two hours. “Today this trophy is with me for a short time, but I’m sure you will get it again.” He added: “This was a very difficult match played at one of the best events of the world. “To win again after my first (Rome title) in 2005 is amazing, the 2005 final was
one of the best memories of my career.” Nadal remains the best clay-courter of the Open Era with an astonishing 408-36 record He will next seek an 11th French Open crown to match the 11 he owns from Monte Carlo and Barcelona. “You are an amazing champion and you proved that today,” Zverev told the Spaniard at the trophy presentation. “You are the greatest clay player of all time, we all saw that. I’m disappointed that my streak is over, but I did lose to Rafa, so maybe it’s OK. “I was so close but I lost it at the end.” With the sun shining, Nadal made light work of what looked like a disastrous start to the match as he dropped serve in the opening game. But the king of clay quickly mounted a fightback, breaking world number three Zverev to love and going on to deny the German a winning service game in the entire set. Nadal closed out the opener in 32 minutes on an overhead smash to leave his challenger scratching for answers after losing six straight games. Zverev finally held serve to start the second set and answered Nadal by breaking the top seed twice to reach 50 as the first dark clouds of the week gathered over the Foro Italico and the conditions slowed. Nadal temporarily stopped the rot as he won his first game of the set but Zverev levelled the match at a set each a game later. That set the stage for the rollercoaster third set decider.
Justify ready for some rest and a run at Triple Crown
Mike Smith aboard Justify (7) wins the 143rd running Preakness race at Pimlico Race Course Saturday. (Photo: Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports) (Reuters) - Unbeaten Justify headed back to Churchill Downs yesterday to rest up and train for a June 9 run at U.S. thoroughbred racing’s Triple Crown. The chestnut colt, the winner of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, would become the 13th horse to claim a Triple Crown with a victory in the 1-1/2 mile (12furlong) Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. “We’ll just get him back to Kentucky and we’ll see how he trains,” trainer Bob Baffert told reporters in Baltimore as Justify prepared to depart for Louisville. “He has to be doing really well.” But there was good news on how the winner of five consecutive races came out of Saturday’s challenging Preakness victory in Baltimore. “He is good,” Baffert said.
“For him, what he’s done, fifth race, it’s pretty incredible really. I’m in awe of the horse.” And the chances of a run for the Triple Crown?. “Right now, I don’t see why not,” said Baffert, who with a victory in the Belmont Stakes would earn his second Triple Crown in four years after winning with American Pharoah in 2015. The Preakness was by far Justify’s toughest race as he endured not only rain and fog but strong competition at Pimlico Race Course. The three-year-old fought off a lengthy challenge from Kentucky Derby runner-up Good Magic, then withstood hard-charging Bravazo for a half-length victory. “He really had to work for it and I’m happy we pulled it out,” Baffert said. “He was blowing. You could tell he was in a fight the whole way. You can only get
away with that when you have a superior horse like he is.” Although Justify did not have his best race and was noticeably tired at the end, Baffert would not necessarily agree that the longer Belmont Stakes would be an opportunity to derail his prized horse. “I think the next race will be really big,” the trainer said. “You can’t just bring it all the time. This will set him up for the next one.” Already Preakness runner-up Bravazo and thirdplace finisher Tenfold are lined up to find out. Baffert said he planned to train Justify for the Belmont the same way he did American Pharoah. The colt will work out at Churchill Downs and likely ship to New York three days before the Belmont. First there will be a few days’ rest.
Champions Barca bid Iniesta farewell after beating Sociedad
Following the tears he was all smiles as his team-mates threw him aloft in typical fashion for a departing footballing legend. (Reuters)
BARCELONA (Reuters) La Liga champions Barcelona ended their campaign with a 1-0 win at home to Real Sociedad yesterday thanks to a sensational distance strike from Philippe Coutinho as the Nou Camp paid an emotional farewell to departing captain Andres Iniesta. Coutinho drifted inside from the left and held off two defenders outside the area before rattling the ball in off the far post with a venomous shot, breaking the deadlock in the 57th minute. The league’s top scorer Lionel Messi started the game on the bench but replaced Coutinho in the 67th minute. Iniesta was substituted in the 82nd, hugging most of his team mates as well as some Real Sociedad players and the referee as he left the Nou Camp pitch for the last time as a Barca player.
Barca’s fans held up a mosaic before the game reading “Infinite Iniesta”. They later revealed a banner saying “Thanks for so much” in tribute to a player who came through the club’s academy and spent 16 years pulling the strings in midfield, winning nine Liga titles, four Champions Leagues and six domestic Cups. They continued to sing Iniesta’s name long after he had gone off the pitch. The captain returned with his team mates after the final whistle to lift the club’s 25th Liga title and also show off the King’s Cup trophy which they won in April, beating Sevilla 5-0 in the final. “Today is a difficult day. I have spent 22 marvellous years here and I’ve been so proud to defend and Continued on page 24
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Cleveland rolls over Boston in Game Titleholders Mumbai Indians crash 3 of the Eastern Conference finals out of IPL, despite Lewis’ 48 LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers dominated Boston in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals on Saturday night, picking up their first win in the series. (Getty Images)
Yahoo Sports - It was only a matter of time before the Cleveland Cavaliers showed up. After falling down 2-0 to the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals, the Cavaliers finally answered back. They dominated Boston 116-86 on Saturday night in Cleveland, picking up their first win in the series. Cleveland’s hot start Boston never led at Quicken Loans Arena on Saturday night. Not once. The Cavaliers mounted a massive 20-4 run over seven minutes to start the game, 10 of which came from LeBron James. From there, the Cavaliers cruised to the massive 30-point win. Boston never found a way to climb out of that hole, and trailed by double figures for the final 42 minutes of the game. The Celtics didn’t hit double figures until more than eight minutes into the game, and by halftime they had fallen into a 20-point hole. Boston big man Al Horford, who was unstoppable in Game 1 of the series, didn’t even attempt a field goal in the opening half. James, on the other hand, put up 19 points. The Cavaliers didn’t let up off the gas in the second half, either, and the Celtics simply looked dead. It even turned into such a
blowout that at one point, the announcers on ESPN started talking about the royal wedding on Saturday morning instead of the game. Cleveland’s team effort All five players in Cleveland’s starting lineup put up double figures on Saturday night. James led the way with 27 points, 12 assists and five rebounds. He went 8-of-12 from the field, and shot a perfect 3-of-3 from behind the arc. Kyle Korver dropped 14 points, and Kevin Love and George Hill each added 13. Jayson Tatum led Boston with 18 points, shooting 60 percent from the field. Terry Rozier finished with 13, and Jaylen Brown added 10. As a team, Cleveland shot nearly 50 percent from the field and went 17-of-34 from the 3-point line. They shut down Boston’s offensive defensively, too, holding them to just 6-of-22 from the three-point line and shooting only 39 percent from the field. Horford and Marcus Morris, who combined for 41 points and dominated down low for the Celtics in Game 1 of the series, combined for just 16 total points and four combined made field goals. Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals will take place in Cleveland tonight.
Henry to continue as coach following talks with hierarchy KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Sasher-Gaye Henry is set to continue as Sunshine Girls coach following clearthe-air talks with Netball Jamaica. The former national player resigned nearly a week ago but the local governing body said in a statement it had met with Henry to discuss the matters surrounding the decision, and had managed to smooth over the issues. “Sasher-Gaye Henry met with the Human Resource Committee of Netball Jamaica and subsequently, with the president, Mrs Paula DaleyMorris. The meeting facilitated open discussions about the factors surrounding the resignation,” Netball Jamaica said. “We are pleased to inform the public that all parties have agreed that what is most common among us is the love
Sunshine Girls coach Sasher-Gaye Henry for netball and our unwavering commitment to netball to work together to move the sport forward. “Given the above consensus, the board of directors has voted not to accept Miss Henry’s
resignation.” Henry quit abruptly just a month after she and fellow coach, Marvette Anderson, guided Jamaica to bronze at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia. Initial media reports said Henry was dissatisfied with her financial arrangement with Netball Jamaica but she subsequently rubbished those claims. “There were two bases. One was related to the personal needs of my family, which I regard as a priority at this time,” Henry said earlier in the week. “The other related to my increasing concerns about continuing professional weaknesses in the administration of the sport.” Henry and Anderson were appointed to oversee the Sunshine Girls following the departure of Jermaine AllisonMcCracken last August.
NEW DELHI, India (AFP) — Defending champions Mumbai Indians yesterday failed to make the playoffs of the Indian Premier League after Rishabh Pant’s blazing halfcentury set up a 11-run consolation win for the Delhi Daredevils. Chasing 175 for victory, the Mumbai batting faltered against the Delhi spinners to be bowled out for 163 in their final league encounter of the cash-rich Twenty20 tournament. Opener Evin Lewis of the West Indies topscored with 48 while Australia’s Ben Cutting made a valiant 20-ball 37. Nepal sensation Sandeep Lamichhane, veteran leg-spinner Amit Mishra and mediumpace bowler Harshal Patel claimed three wickets each. The Rohit Sharma-led Mumbai — winners in 2013, 2015 and 2017 — suffered their eighth loss in 14 matches, giving Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab a chance to make the final four.
Rishabh Pant is slightly off balance as he mows one over the leg side ©BCCI
Evin Lewis made a powerful start to keep Mumbai Indians’ playoff hopes alive ©BCCI
Delhi still finished at the bottom of the eight-team table, but wicketkeeper-batsman Pant made an impact by leading the batting chart with 684 runs this season. His 44-ball 64 at Delhi’s Feroz Shah Kotla, including four fours and four sixes, helped the home side post 174-4 after electing to bat first. Royals were close to booking the fourth playoff spot after ending the league stage with their seventh win on Saturday. Punjab needed a big win against Chennai Super Kings in the final league game yesterday to edge out Royals. Table-toppers Sunrisers Hyderabad, Chennai and Kolkata Knight Riders are already in the playoffs which begin Tuesday with the first qualifier in Mumbai. The IPL final is on May 27 with four million dollars going to the winner. Scores: Delhi Daredevils 174 for 4 (Pant 64) beat Mumbai Indians 163 (Lewis 48, Mishra 3-19, Lamichhane 3-36) by 11 runs.
Pliskova fined ‘four-digit’ sum for damaging umpire’s chair Omnisport - Karolina Pliskova has been fined a “four-digit amount” for an outburst that saw her smash the umpire’s chair at the Internazionali d’Italia, according to her finance and manager. The Czech was left enraged by a line call that went against her in a second-round defeat to Maria Sakkari on Wednesday. With the score at 5-5 40-40 in the third set, an overhead volley was called out despite replays suggesting the ball was inside the lines. A lengthy delay followed, in which the tournament supervisor was summoned, and Sakkari went on to convert the break point before winning the match 3-6 6-3 7-5. Pliskova lost her cool in sensational fashion at the end
Karolina Pliskova
of the match, repeatedly striking the umpire’s chair with her racquet, leaving a hole in the chair. The world number five has now been punished for her loss of temper. Her manager, Michal
Hrdlicka, wrote on Twitter: “Karolina was fined by the WTA and accepted the fine. “She has also decided to send the same amount from her endowment fund for a good cause. It’s a four-digit amount.”
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Sri Lanka Caribbean series Ngidi, Raina knock Kings XI out; in danger of losing a Test Royals secure playoffs spot
West Indies and Sri Lanka are set to renew their rivalry in the Caribbean next month. BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Next month’s tour of the Caribbean by Sri Lanka could be reduced to two Tests, Sri Lanka Cricket has said. The tour is currently scheduled to be three Tests but SLC chief executive Ashley de Silva said a Test could be replaced by One-Day Internationals, because of financial strain on Cricket West Indies. “Most probably the boards will reduce the number of Test matches to two, and play a couple of one-dayers,” de Silva was quoted as saying. “CWI are going through a bit of a crisis. They have been talking to us.” On the current itinerary, West Indies and Sri Lanka face off in the opening Test at Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad from June 6-10 before heading to St Lucia for the second Test at the Darren Sammy Cricket Ground from June 14-18. The final Test is a historic day/nighter at
Kensington Oval in Barbados. It is widely known that the tour is not expected to be money spinner, with the cost of staging the matches outweighing projected revenue. West Indies are ranked ninth and Sri Lanka, sixth, leaving the series as an unattractive prospect for broadcasters. Sri Lanka are due to leave for the Caribbean within the next week but De Silva said SLC remained in contact with CWI over the matter. “CWI are experiencing a really challenging financial year as they only have home series scheduled against us and Bangladesh,” de Silva said. “They have been talking to us about sharing the costs of the tour and at this stage they haven’t given us any indication that the tour might get postponed altogether.” The scheduled tour of the Caribbean will be Sri Lanka’s fourth.
French MotoGP: Marc Marquez eases to victory at Le Mans
BBC Sport - Marc Marquez won a third race on the trot for Honda as he claimed victory in the French MotoGP at Le Mans. It was a 38th win for the Spaniard in the series and extended his lead to 36 points at the top of the championship. Danilo Petrucci claimed second and fellow Italian Valentino Rossi third, while home favourite Johann Zarco was on pole but slid out on lap seven. “The race was tough because the pace of everyone was close. This victory is important,” said Marquez. Maverick Vinales was seventh and is second on 59 points in the drivers’ standings. Briton Cal Crutchlow was taken to hospital after suffering a crash in qualifying but recovered to finish eighth. French GP results: 1. Marc Marquez (Spa/ Honda) 41mins 49.773secs, 2. Danilo Petrucci (Ita/ Ducati) +2.310secs 3. Valentino Rossi (Ita/ Yamaha) +5.350secs
4. Jack Miller (Aus/ Ducati) + 6.314secs 5. Dani Pedrosa (Spa/ Honda) 7.419secs 6. Jorge Lorenzo (Spa/ Ducati) 10.355secs 7. Maverick Vinales (Spa/ Yamaha) 13.543secs 8. Cal Crutchlow (GB/ Honda) +23.758secs 9. Aleix Espargaro (Spa/ Aprilia) +26.206secs 10. Alex Rins (Spa/Suzuki) +27.937secs Championship standings (after five of 19 races): 1. Marc Marquez (Spa/ Honda) 95 points 2. Maverick Vinales (Spa/ Yamaha) 59 3. Johann Zarco (Fra/ Yamaha) 58 4. Valentino Rossi (Ita/ Yamaha) 56 5. Danilo Petrucci (Ita/ Ducati) 54 6. Jack Miller (Aus/ Ducati) 49 7. Andrea Iannone (Ita/ Suzuki) 47 8. Cal Crutchlow (GB/ Honda) 46 9. Andrea Dovizioso (Ita/ Ducati) 46 10. Dani Pedrosa (Spa/ Honda) 29
Four-time world champion Marquez has 38 MotoGP wins. (Reuters)
ESPNcricinfo - The equation was steep but simple for Kings XI Punjab. They had to win by a minimum of 53 runs to leapfrog to the fourth playoff spot, but Lungi Ngidi’s brutal spell of 4 for 10, followed by a patient innings from Suresh Raina slashed Kings XI’s hopes and knocked them out of the IPL. The result secured Rajasthan Royals’ fourth place in the playoffs. The evening started with Kings XI on 12 points, but with a net run rate of -0.490. Royals - who finished their league stage on Saturday were already on 14 points but with a much better net run rate (-0.250), forcing Kings XI to chase a big win against Chennai Super Kings. But that wasn’t to be as CSK recovered from 27 for 3 to thwart Kings XI’s challenge. After posting 153, Kings XI needed to restrict CSK to 100 or under, but were knocked out as soon as the hosts went past that score in the 15th over. Eventually, Raina steered CSK to a comfortable five-wicket win, and ensured they finished second on the points table. Sunrisers Hyderabad (first) and Kolkata Knight Riders (third) are the other two teams to join CSK and Royals in the playoff. Ngidi, Chahar rattle Kings XI with seam and swing Asked to bat, Kings XI needed a big total to stay alive, but lost Chris Gayle, Aaron Finch and KL Rahul in their first four overs. It wasn’t the pressure that Kings XI were under, but fiery spells of fast bowling from Ngidi and Deepak Chahar that stalled the visitors. The surface at the MCA Stadium had both seam and swing on offer early on, and Ngidi struck early when Gayle gloved a leg-side delivery to MS Dhoni. Finch was squared up by Chahar next over, when he edged a delivery that was angling in, finding the safe hands of Raina at first slip. KL Rahul Kings XI’s highest run-scorer of the season - was out to Ngidi at the end of the fourth over, when he shouldered arms to a short-of-length delivery, but the angle resulted in the ball clipping the top of off stump in spectacular fashion. Kings XI began a recovery in the form of a 60run partnership for the fourth wicket between Manoj Tiwary (35) and David Miller (24), but Ravindra Jadeja and Dwayne Bravo dismissed both batsmen in consecutive overs. Karun Nair fought on,
Suresh Raina saw CSK through with an unbeaten 61 ©BCCI
Lungi Ngidi celebrates one of his four wickets ©BCCI scoring a 26-ball 54, but with no other batsman for company, all Kings XI could score was 153. CSK recover after early wobble; Dhoni does a Bradman Kings XI weren’t going down without a fight, and that was on display when Ambati Rayudu edged Mohit Sharma to the keeper for his first single-digit score of the season. Ankit Rajpoot then delivered a superb doublewicket maiden that forced CSK to stay on their toes. His swing bowling made Faf du Plessis edge to slip and Sam Billings lost his off sump that put the hosts on the back foot. With CSK three down inside five overs, Kings XI were in with a sniff. But just how Don
Bradman did in the New Year’s Ashes Test of 1937, Dhoni opted to shuffle his batting order, and chose to send his lower-order batsmen in before himself, Bravo and Jadeja. With Raina for company, Harbhajan Singh scored 19 and Chahar smashed a 20-ball 39 to take CSK beyond the 100-run mark. Chahar’s wicket in the 17th over brought Dhoni out amid loud cheers, and an unbeaten 45-run partnership with Raina took CSK home with five balls to spare. In classic Dhoni style, he finished the game with a six. Scores: Chennai Super Kings 159 for 5 (Raina 61*, Chahar 39, Rajpoot 2-19) beat Kings XI Punjab 153 (Nair 54, Ngidi 4-10) by five wickets.
Indian Premier League Standings Team M W L SRH 14 9 5 CSK 14 9 5 KKR 14 8 6 RR 14 7 7 MI 14 6 8 RCB 14 6 8 KXIP 14 6 8 DD 14 5 9
PT 18 18 16 14 12 12 12 10
NRR 0.284 0.253 -0.070 -0.250 0.317 0.129 -0.502 -0.222