Kaieteur News
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Saturday May 27, 2017
Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Adam Harris Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL
A NEW PRISON NEEDED Many are of the view that for at least the past ten years, Guyana has been in urgent need of a new prison. There is no point at this stage for anyone to lecture the public about crime and criminality or prison reform when they continue to ignore the urgency of building a new prison to accommodate the increasing number of inmates. Truth be told, the country is in need of two state-of-theart prisons - one for men, and one for women. The living conditions at the existing facilities have been described as deplorable. Several recommendations to build a new prison have gone unheeded by successive governments. It now appears likely that before a new prison is built in Guyana, the sky will probably fall and there will be no need for a new prison anymore. The idea of building a new prison on the outskirts of Georgetown to replace the almost two centuries’ old Camp Street prison is not new. The Camp Street prison has been deemed outdated and is in violation of international standards. It is overcrowded and lacks basic human amenities; its infrastructure is in poor shape and perhaps beyond repair. The harsh conditions under which the inmates are forced to live have turned many into hardcore criminals. Some exconvicts have admitted that they have become hardened criminals by being incarcerated in an overcrowded prison. The Camp street prison was built to accommodate fewer than half of its present inmates. While the government has acknowledged the appalling conditions, it has decided to put the costs of building a new prison ahead of human suffering. Not only is a new prison needed, but the government must implement serious reforms to make it more humane for prisoners, even though most of the citizens do not have much sympathy for criminals. Studies have shown that a key element of an effective crime-reduction strategy is a prison system that focuses on reform rather than solely incarceration. Prison reform could help to maintain social stability and enhance human development growth. For this to happen, it would require fundamental changes to the prison system, which is not a priority for the government. Crime will not be reduced by putting criminals in an environment that makes them worse than when they entered. Many in the wider public believe that prisons tend to create hardcore criminals, but it should be compulsory for inmates to participate in rehabilitative programmes before being released from prison. Included in the programmes to help prisoners fit into society upon their release should be life training skills, job training, entrepreneurship, goal setting, conflict resolution, anger management and education. Providing a safe prison environment and proper health care to all prisoners should be a priority for the ruling authority. Incarceration should not only be to deny prisoners of their freedom or restrict their movement, it should also afford them the opportunity to study, work or learn a trade in order to make it easier for them to re-adjust when released. Incarceration should not mean prisoners are absolved from taking care of their children either. The prison authorities should allow them to work so that they can take care of their children and thus free the state from granting public assistance to their children. Incarceration should not be only about retribution and revenge, but to help those who have transgressed to change and to accept societal norms and values. Building a new prison with modern, high-tech crimefighting equipment and the rehabilitation of prisoners to make them productive are very important. Criminals spend years behind bars being unproductive. Able-bodied men and women, even though confined, can still make meaningful contributions to society. They should be given a chance at redemption to demonstrate to their fellow citizens that they have changed.
Editor’s Note; If your sent letter was not published and you felt its contents were valid and devoid of libel or personal attacks, please contact us by phone or email.
Has the teachers’ union become a government tool? Dear Editor, Kindly permit me to express my disgust at the manner in which the Guyana Teachers Union is functioning. Since the new Government has taken office, the G.T. U. has become dormant. It begs the question; is the union now aligned to the new administration? Prior to the last election within the union, its president Mr. Mark Lyth had put forward a forty point plan for teachers with which he will negotiate with the Ministry of Education. To date nothing has been heard of that. Was that an e l e c t i o n g i m m i c k , M r. Ly t h ? Additionally, the minimal $8000
uniform allowance has been cut by this government and the union did nothing. If that was negotiated with the previous government, what is/are the negotiations with the current administration? Has the union now become a toothless bulldog? Teaching is one of the most demanding jobs in our society, and teachers need to be adequately compensated, especially when one has a family to maintain. Mr. Lyth needs to give disgruntled teachers answers quickly because soon there will be an exodus from this profession. I have known of teachers who migrated or
simply walked off the job due to utter disgust at the level of salaries they received for their efforts. Moreover, the current government in its election campaign promised to make teaching one of the better paying jobs in this country. Again was that an election gimmick? Finally, Mr. Editor, the union needs to be more vibrant in terms of its negotiations with the government and should seek to inform teachers of the progress made in these negotiations which might just give them hope to continue in this noble profession. Vijay Persaud
NCN has not been merged with any other state entity Dear Editor, I wish to bring to your attention an inaccurate headline in the May 25th issue of Kaieteur News, on page 25. While the story reflects what was announced by the Honorable Prime Minister, the headline is incorrect. It reads: ‘Imran Khan to head entity merged GINA, NCN’. Please note that NCN and
GINA are not merged. It is GINA and the Department of Public Information (DPI) that are now merged, with Imran Khan at the helm as Managing Director. NCN retains its status quo, with Lennox Cornette as the Chief Executive Officer. We anticipate a published correction. Lennox Cornette
Guyana’s teachers must not be treated so contemptuously Dear Editor, Teachers go on a type of leave called Whitley Council every four years and along with that leave, they are supposed to receive what is known as “Whitley Council Money”. The arrangement you can say is similar to what workers from most organizations get as Annual Leave and Leave passage. However, the difference is that those workers receive their Leave Passage before they go on leave or in the same month. Teachers on the other hand have to wait to collect this money, so their leave may be finished and they have not received
anything. For many teachers in the system waiting three months and more to receive this money is normal. On the other hand waiting TWO YEARS to receive your Whitley Council money is totally ridiculous and unreasonable but this is happening to some teachers of the Region Four East Coast Branch. No satisfaction or answers are given to teachers who have been waiting so long to collect this money that they only receive every four years. Inquiries were made to the Regional Education Officials and Head Teachers and nobody can say when
these teachers will be paid. When I think about this situation I feel sorry for these teachers because when I apply for my leave I receive my leave passage each and every time in that same month so that I can have an enjoyable holiday with a little cash in my hand. Better care must be taken of teachers and these basic things that they are entitled to should be given to them without delay. Two years is too long for teachers not to be paid. Someone should surely look into this matter. Concerned Teacher
I would like the NIS to tell me if I am right or wrong Dear Editor, On the 26th of February I was admitted to the West Demerara Regional Hospital and on the 1st of March I had a surgery done. I was given 3 consecutive 21 days leave by the doctor and I submitted same to the NIS. I was paid for the first and second set of leave but was told I had to see the NIS doctor after I visited the NIS office to follow up on the remaining 21 days. On the 2nd of May I went to the NIS Brickdam office to see the doctor after waiting for about an hour I went into the doctor’s office. As soon as I was seated
the doctor asked me if I had any complications after surgery. I said no. He then informed me that I was given too much leave and the NIS cannot pay me for the last set of leave because the surgery I had only allows me to have between 28 to 35 days leave. The doctor then informed me that should he take the surgeon before the Guyana Medical Council he (the doctor) would be in serious trouble because there are guiding principles that all doctors must follow. He then said that NIS only pays persons if they are incapacitated and so after 35 days if I
couldn’t return to normal duty the onus was on my employer to find alternative work for me. All the while I was saying to the doctor I don’t agree with him and I’m going to challenge his decision by appealing. Well I don’t know if his intention was to deter me, but before I left his office, he took a file from his desk and read for me a section that says if it is found that you were paid any monies that you were not entitled to, then you will be asked to repay same. I have since appealed and am waiting a decision. Charles Flavius
Region 5 Chairman and his deputy not fit to govern the region Dear Editor, Ever since the APNU+AFC Government took office, Region 5 has received the worst Chairmanship in the form of Mr. Vickchanad Ramphaland and his counterpart, Vice Chairman Rion Peters. Both of these men are spending more time at Region 5 Freedom House with the overseasbased Guyanese Mr. Harry Gill and less time looking after the people of Region 5. They both need to stop playing
politics with the development of the Region 5 province, which could have been way ahead of other Regions. Region 5 can judge both Chairmanships from the performance of the Regional Democratic Council which has been in jeopardy because of a good deal of arrogance. Sometimes a “simple apology” to move the Region forward in the RDC meeting is too much to ask from the Regional Chairman, Mr. Vickchanad Ramphall and Vice Chairman Rion Peters. These two men
are taking bad advice from the PPP leadership at Bath Freedom House making the RDC burdened with issues and problems. A Hymac had always been misused over the years by the PPP/C to carry out Government/ Private works which is nothing new and both Chairmen are quite aware of this unprofessional practice but of course, it’s very difficult to rid this type of behaviour from the PPP/C Leadership. (Continued on page 6)
Saturday May 27, 2017
Getting back bail money from City Constabulary is a nightmare DEAR EDITOR, Please permit me to use this medium to make a plea for a swift and transparent system to be put in place for the refund of money lodged as bail after the conclusion of a case in the Magistrates’ Court. Let me give you my experience. During December last year one of my friends was unjustly charged by a member of the City Constabulary with a very minor traffic offence. He was placed on $8,000.00 bail to attend the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. He appeared before a Magistrate who reprimanded him and discharged the matter. He told me that since then he made several contacts with the City Constabulary in an effort to get back his bail money but without success. He said that if he persues the matter personally it will cost him $64,000.00 in transportation to get back $8,000.00. He explained that he has to pay $32,000.00 to travel from the interior where he resides and back home just to make an application for his money lodged as bail. After fourteen working days he is required to travel back to Georgetown to collect his money if it is available. This second travel process to Georgetown and back to the interior will cost him an additional $32,000.00. As a result he authorized me in writing to uplift the money. I taught that it would have been a simple task to do so. I was in for a big surprise. I tendered the written authorisation signed by the bailor and two witnesses to members of the City Con-
stabulary. They scrutinized the document more closely than SOCU’s anti money laundering investigators would have done and asked me some irrelevant questions without waiting for answersWhy the man did not come himself? Why only now you come? How we can be sure that this is the man and witnesses signature. Who is he to you? You have a affidavit signed by a JP? You have his ID card? Throughout all the questioning I remained silent. I was forced to approach a senior officer of the Constabulary. She was extremely polite but could not aid the process as it appears as though it was imbedded in Mazaruni Granite. It is inflexible. Here is the process. The prosecutor who is not readily available is required to endorse the bail receipt stating that the case was concluded and that the money can be returned to the owner. Thereafter, a rank has to check several piles of disposed case jackets to find the one under review. The jacket is then taken to the administration officer who is not easy to contact. After examining the documents and case jacket, he would approve the refund of the money. However, the person has to wait for fourteen mandatory working days before he/ she can be refunded the money. The Guyana Police Force has a similar procedure to uplift bail lodged at the Police Finance Office. Collect your money fourteen days after submitting your docu-
ments. I understand that it is equally time consuming and frustrating to recover money lodged as bail from the Magistrates’ Court after the conclusion of a case. This current system of refunding bail has the potentials to open the flood gates for unethical behaviour and corrupt practices. A bailer who urgently needs his money to be refunded to him may be tempted to offer a person in authority an inducement to collect it before the fourteen days period of waiting is over and that person may yield to the temptation. On the other side of the coin those in authority may demand something for the quick release of money and the other party who is desperate for the cash will succumb to the unlawful demand. We are not talking about $8,000.00 but millions of dollars. If it has not happened or it is not happening it will happen. Somewhere in the Bible it is written that the love of money is the root of all evil. This system may lead to some persons in authority quickly sliding down what Sherman calls the Slippery Slope of Corruption. Co incidentally it takes five working days to obtain a new Guyana passport when the waiting period used to be weeks or months in some instances. Quite recently, I read a letter in the press where a man congratulated members of the Immigration Department for taking twenty minutes to expedite his application to renew a passport. I also join in congratulating them on (Continued on page 6)
APNU+AFC and Hanoman + Bhim DEAR EDITOR, The record poor performances at GuySuCo from June 2015 to May 2017 should not come as a surprise to this nation. It is directly related to leadership of the Corporation. The present IMC is made up of individuals who are tested and proven failures and whose names are synonymous with disruptions, low production and low productivity. To better understand performance of the Corporation over the last 2 years, it is instructive to examine the recent history of leadership at GuySuCo as there are linkages. By the end of 2008, the Govt. of Guyana ended a management contract with Booker Tate, a UK company that was managing the industry since 1991. The end of that contract precipitated an immediate vacancy for a CEO and Mr. Errol Hanoman was sought that role. He negoti-
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ated a lucrative package having retired from Booker Tate around the same time. In effect, Mr. Hanoman, a pensioner, became the first “local” CEO after the Booker Tate era. He led the Corporation from 2009 to mid-2010 when he ceased to be the holder of the position. In the years 2009 & 2010, GuySuCo produced 233,736t and 220,818t of sugar respectively. The Corporation recorded a decline in sugar production by 12,918t. At his departure in mid-2010, Mr. Hanoman was replaced by Mr. Paul Bhim as CEO (a.g.). He led the Corporation until mid-2014 when he tendered his resignation. For the years 2011, 2012, 2013 & 2014, sugar production was 236,506t, 218,069t, 186,754t and 216, 359t respectively. In 2013, under Mr. Bhim’s stewardship, GuySuCo’s production sunk to 186,754t. Editor, it follows that
whenever Mr. Hanoman & Mr. Bhim are at the controls, there was declining and record low production. It cannot be attributed to any other factor other than phenomenal incompetence by the Hanoman + Bhim coalition. The focus on these two men is because they have been brought back to the helm of the industry in mid-2015 and we are witnessing abysmal performance of the industry as is demonstrated in last year’s production of 183,652t sugar and what will be when the first crop production of 2017 is declared, the lowest production in many years. By the way, Mr. Hanoman seems to be in hiding since December 2015 when he paraded with production numbers of 231,000t sugar seeking every media outfit to claim credit. The two (2) crops that were produced were nurtured and developed in 2014. Sookram Persaud
The Baha’is are being persecuted in Iran in increasing numbers DEAR EDITOR, Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran, Baha’is have been systematically persecuted as a matter of government policy. During the first decade of this persecution, more than two hundred Baha’is were killed or executed. Hundreds more were tortured or imprisoned, and tens of thousands lost jobs, access to education, and other rights all, solely because of their religious belief. Since 2005, more than 935 Baha’is have been arrested, and the number of Baha’is in prison has risen from fewer than five to more than 100 at one point. It is currently 93. The list of prisoners includes all seven members of a former leadership group serving
the Baha’i community of Iran. In 2010, the seven were wrongly sentenced to 20 years in prison, the longest term then facing any prisoner of conscience in Iran. In late 2015, reports indicated that their sentences had been belatedly reduced from 20 years to 10 years, in line with changes to the Iranian Penal Code introduced in May 2013. The constant threat of raids, arrests, and detention or imprisonment is among the main features of Iran’s persecution of Baha’is today. In all, at least 81 Baha’i were arrested in 2016, up from 56 in 2015, evidence that the persecution is not subsiding. In January 2017, 16 Baha’is were arrested. Rooplall Dudhnath
An open letter to the Prime Minister DEAR EDITOR, My missive here is an open letter to the Prime Minister. I saw on the news recently that you are the one in the Coalition entrusted to explore the possibilities of constitutional change. As such it behooves me to write to you on this matter. This country has been rocked by scandal after scandal by both the PPP/ C and the Coalition governments while the populace has been reduced to being mere spectators. This is testimony that our democracy is not working for the masses. When democracy fails it is only logical that we look to the source- the constitution. We need dynamic changes to our constitution. You would be aware that our present constitution was foisted upon us by a rigged referendum in 1978. The PPP of which you were a member then, had successfully called for a boycott of the referendum in 1978. Having regained power in 1992 to 2015, the PPP did very little to change the constitution - you being with them in the early days too. The present leaders of the PPP/C have no interest in constitutional change because the present constitution served them well. They all amassed great wealth and with the fortunes of the coalition drifting further south in the hearts of the people, they (PPP) fancy their chances to achieve “nirvana” once again in 2020. Our parliament could at best be described as a numerical institute where numbers 33 versus 32 will remain as constant as the northern star despite the merits or demerits of any argument. Political allegiance is supreme to logical reasoning in our Parliament. If democracy means “Goverment of the people for the people and by the people” our constitution is enshrined to deliver Govern-
ment of the politicians by the politicians on the people. I would like to see changes in the way we elect our parliamentarians. I would like to see this country divided into 41 geographical constituencies based on the distribution of population. Regional elections should be replaced by constituency elections and national election by presidential elections on the ballot. There should not be more than three persons on the ballot in each constituency. These persons must reside in the constituency for at least one year before elections. These persons can be politically aligned or independent. Any interested individual in a constituency shall be required to submit a list of 200 signatures from persons within their constituency to support their candidacy to Gecom. In the above scenario, a parliamentarian would be an elected person serving the people of his or her constituency and not the beast (political party). Likewise our search for a president should not be limited to what the political parties throw at us. People of acumen from civic society should be allowed to contest too. Political parties could field more than one candidate too. There should be no more than six names on the ballot for presidential election. These should be chosen through submission of 1000 signatures to Gecom on a countrywide basis. The state must provide not less than 15 million dollars to each candidate to campaign so as to avoid the incidence of patronage. Patron-
age breeds corruption! There should be no secret voting in parliament on national issues; the people will need to know how their MPs voted on issues for future elections. The person a president chooses to elect for civic duties such as Chairman of Gecom, judges etc should get parliamentary approval. The Auditor General’s office should be merged with the public accounts committee and be given special powers to prosecute any office bearer employed by the state for financial and administrative impropriety. In such cases the entire parliament should be the jurors. Sir our present constitution puts the masses at the mercy of the government we elect. Unless it is changed to give better representation of the people there will always be corruption, dissatisfaction and delusion. Sir your long career is heading for the crossroads in 2020. Being the one in the coalition entrusted to look at constitutional reform, you have a chance to glide effortlessly into the sunset or do something big for this country and leave your name in history. You can make us stand and say “we the people” or trust the “luck of the Irish “on the side of the untouchables and ride into oblivion after 2020. Sir I am no fan of yours. But! I still think you have enough charisma to inspire a victory for yourself in your constituency; even the presidency if you can be instrumental in the aforementioned changes to the constitution. The choice is yours-be the hero or the villain. Rudolph Singh
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Sugar union says GuySuCo is beating a worn-out drum DEAR EDITOR, It is a known fact that the majority of sugar workers are far from being fully employed throughout the year. GuySuCo may wish to publish the statistics of days per year, an average worker is offered work at their regular pay level, and the statistics should differentiate the seasons of, in and out-of-crop. The statistics should clearly show whether GuySuCo is offering work that could adequately sustain an employee’s financial and economic needs. It should be pointed out that contractually, workers are required to work 80 percent of the work days available to them to work, to qualify for certain benefits and continuous employment, and they generally have always qualified. So, let’s see how many days per year has GuySuCo been offering work to the majority of workers per year and since they are very good at providing statistics, this request should be quite easy. Ms Thomas, GuySuco’s spokeperson in her recent letter, speaks to the refusal by cane planters of Enmore/LBI to take up cane cutting tasks. We urge the Corporation’s Officer to consult her superiors on this matter. She would learn that there are certain jobs that planters would un-
dertake whenever they are not required to plant canes. Cane cutting is not one of those tasks. The Corporation’s Communication Officer would also be made aware that arising out of a meeting with the Corporation and the Union, GuySuCo undertook to provide the planters their usual non-planting tasks. That undertaking was, however, betrayed. On this score, would it be fair to ask Ms Thomas and her colleagues at the GuySuCo Head Office as employees of the Corporation to undertake cane cutting tasks at Enmore/ LBI or any other estate. Certainly, this would be outside of their competence and abilities and they would, under any circumstance, bluntly refuse such instruction. We remind GuySuCo what’s good for the goose is good for the gander. Our Union is also criticized by GuySuCo for advising the Wales workers – cane cutters and cane transport operators – of their rights as outlined by the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act (TESPA). You should know Ms Thomas that our Union is obligated legally and morally to advice workers of their rights. Moreover, how could our Union know-
ingly set a precedent which runs contrary to the laws of the land? That would be foolhardy on the Union’s part. Moreover, while GuySuCo talks about the seeming desperate need by Uitvlugt for the Wales workers, we ask that if this was indeed the case how is it that Uitvlugt’s workforce was able to harvest all of that estate’s canes, without any assistance from Wales, and then went on to assist at Enmore/LBI? We are supportive of the Corporation’s intention to have Uitvlugt produce 40,000 tonnes of sugar. Our Union does not want to see advanced any further thought of additional estate closures though the Corporation’s language can be considered as threatening. At the same time, we ask why similar approaches can’t be taken with other estates towards improving production and productivity. Our Union as we have said umpteen times is committed to seeing the sugar industry succeed and overcoming its difficulties and challenges. We have publicly shared our thoughts on how such feats could be reached. The GAWU also has grave reservations about GuySuCo thoughts on sugar’s future as enunciated
in the recently released ‘State Paper’. We strongly hold that it will do more harm than good. Those ideas, if implemented, will serve to destroy the wellbeing of thousands of poor, ordinary Guyanese and upset significantly the social fabric in many communities across the sugar belt. We ask how any organization can be supportive of such plans? We see the Corporation’s missive as the beating of a worn out drum. The GAWU would not be daunted by the spurious attacks that are levelled against us. We will continue to hold steadfastly to those principles which have guided us since our inception and which have served us well during our existence and will not cower in the face of adversity and challenges which is essentially, an assault on thousands of workers in the sugar industry and which threaten their jobs and livelihoods and affects also our country’s economy. We shall forever stand resolutely to support the workers whenever their rights are being trampled upon, and in this sense GAWU finds that the Corporation is seemingly worried on this principled stance. Seepaul Narine General Secretary GAWU
The City Council’s unhindered venality goes on DEAR EDITOR, The Georgetown Municipality must be the most paradoxical, twisted and bizarre entity in Guyana. On one hand it constantly cries out of being cash strapped, bankrupt and unable to provide the most basic and essential of municipal services to the citizenry of the capital. On the other hand they splurge hundreds of millions of dollars a year on themselves without care or concern, and for which the citizenry gets no returns. This is just unhindered venality to its highest. Around the world, governments, local governments, businesses both small and large, public corporations and other entities have all been downsizing their human resources due to the economic crunch caused by shrinking economies and as a consequence of increasing the effi-
Saturday May 27, 2017
Kaieteur News
ciency of their operations through mechanization, automation, computerization etc. At the Georgetown Municipality they have been doing the exact opposite. They have been upsizing their human resources in a major way and not at the lower level labour intensive areas where the sanitation workers, labourers, construction workers, weeders etc. are placed, but at the top tier where their pals are earning fat cat salaries, allowances and other perks for hardly doing anything. It should be noted that during the last two years whilst engaged in this obtuse featherbedding, the Council has opted to contract out most of their services and obligations, which should have resulted in the retrenchment of most of their staff, but instead did not. A few ex-
amples to which I refer would be the engagement of a private guard service without a tender process and to which a member of the Fantastic Four has a special financial interest. This is whilst still having guards on the employ of the Council, and an entire City Police Department costing tens of millions of dollars per month. They have also hired a contractor to install electrical cabling and fixtures in the City Constabulary Training School, whilst deliberately opting not to utilize their own electricians who remain idle in the meanwhile. Incredibly they have also hired this same contractor who seems to be a ‘Jack of all Trades’ to weed parapets, clear the drainage of aquatic overgrowth to the tune of hundreds of millions per month whilst having their own weeders, tree trimmers, drainage workers, and sanita-
tion workers fiddling. This is all without tender or bidding procedures being adhered to. Why would the Council be allowed to call a fire sale where it literally gave away most of its garbage collection trucks that government donated to them and other refuse collecting and excavating equipment, when it has a financially starved mechanical workshop? The workshop has the capacity to refurbish and maintain these pieces of equipment. Before long the contractors that they sold this equipment to, will have these items fully functional again and renting them to the very Council at a rate several times more than they bought it for, laughing all the way to the bank. I do not believe that the decision makers at City Hall are totally senseless, so there must be some other motivating factors. Riley Matthews
Sugar and oil; questions for the Govt. to answer DEAR EDITOR, Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, according to media reports, following the presentation by the consultant who examined the feasibility of establishing an oil refinery, said notwithstanding that a refinery was not feasible the Government would have to take a political decision as many benefits expectedly will accrue to Guyana and Guyanese. The statement by the Minister is indeed appropriate. It is pleasing to note the Minister’s approach to oil but at the same time I recognise the Administration is not taking an even approach to all sectors and areas of national life. While the investment in a refinery is seen as possibly a worthwhile project despite the negative economic conclusions, we
see that in the sugar industry a completely opposite approach is being taken. Sugar is recognized by all and sundry for the diverse role it plays yet the Government in spite of the compelling evidence and arguments has chosen, for whatever reason, to shun the industry and promote plans for its miniaturization which will surely have negative consequences for tens of thousands of people. I urge the Minister and the Government to examine sugar in the same way it does oil. After all sugar is already a tremendous economic advantage for the country. An objective and sincere examination of sugar will reveal its importance to the nation at this time and the need for its support and not destruction. Patricia Persaud
NIS has met with this claimant and will seek to help him DEAR EDITOR, Reference is made to your letter dated May 23, 2017 captioned, “The NIS may be involved in a conspiracy with this company”. The writer’s complaint was published on May 18, 2017 under the caption” A contributor’s clash with NIS”. National Insurance is very disappointed that the letter was published even though the claimant, Mr. Hubert Cramer-Seon and his representative visited the NIS office on Friday May 19, 2017 and met with Management. Mr. Cramer-Seon admit-
ted that he was employed with Willems Timber Ltd. for a short period and that the evidence NIS has in possession from that employer is accurate. Mr. Cramer-Seon has also provided NIS with information relative to two other former employees of Toolsie Persaud Ltd who worked with him during the period under question. National Insurance Scheme is conducting a further investigation on this matter and has promised the claimant to provide him with updates as we progress Dianne Lewis Public Relations Officer
Getting back bail money... From page 5 their efficiency. Should we not learn some lessons from the Immigration Department? In this modern and technological age why it takes fourteen agonizing working days to uplift bail money after submitting the required documents. However, all is not lost. I believe that if those in authority look at the spirit of
their procedure. Think outside of the box and connect the dots a faster and more transparent system to refund bail money will emerge thus, eliminating the temptation of unethical and corrupt practice in refunding bail money. Clinton Conway Assistant Commissioner of Police (Retired)
Region 5 Chairman and... From page 4 The Regional Chairman and Vice Chairman may be living and working in some underground BUNKER because the RDC office is less than five minutes from where the Hyman was operating, also next door to the PPP/C Freedom House in Bath yet Both Chairman say they know nothing about this is-
sue and cannot apologize. Overseas based Guyanese Mr. Harry Gill says “some do not want the Region 5 Chairman to succeed.” Or maybe it is the other way around, the Region Chairman and Vice Chairman don‘t want the Region to Succeed. Harry Ajodha Region 5 AFC
Saturday May 27, 2017
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Over five months later …
PAC report remains stalled up by Parliamentary system By Kiana Wilburg It has been well over five months since the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) would have laid a report in the National Assembly regarding its assessment on the accounts of the nation for the years 2010 and 2011. Its review was made after analyzing the reports of the Auditor General, Deodat Sharma, for the said periods. It appears, however, that the PAC will have to wait sometime before it can be provided with a response to its report for 2010 and 2011 from the Ministry of Finance. The report from the Ministry is referred to as a Treasury Memorandum. This document speaks to the actions the government of the day intends to take regarding a series of financial lawless-
ness and irregularities that would have been outlined in the Auditor General’s report. Once the PAC’s report is laid, the Finance Minister has 90 days to prepare a Treasury Memorandum. The latest report from the PAC was laid on November 28, last year. Kaieteur News contacted Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs on Wednesday last, to clarify Parliament’s approach in this regard. “The report (by the PAC) is still to be adopted. When the PAC report is laid, it is presented by the Chairperson, then there is a motion for its adoption. When it is adopted then it becomes the property of the National Assembly,” Isaacs said, “Then I will take action. When it is adopted, I then
Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs send that report; I write the Ministry of Finance…I cannot take action until it is adopted. When it is adopted, I will then write the Ministry
of Finance on the matter and ask him (the Finance Minister) for a response within the stipulated time.” Isaacs explained that a number of other matters would have come up during the period November 28, 2016, to the last sitting which took place earlier this month. In the PAC’s report that was laid in the National Assembly last year, the Parliamentary Sub-committee expressed concerns regarding a number of irregularities as pointed out by the Auditor General. One issue that the PAC highlighted in particular was the “dishonest behaviour” of some accounting officers within the system. It is recommending that such elements must be removed. According to the Committee, the culture where
New report says most countries still not prepared for a pandemic after Zika, Ebola GENEVA (CMC) – Despite progress made since the Zika and Ebola crises, a new report released on Thursday by the International Working Group on Financing Preparedness (IWG), established by the World Bank, shows that most countries are not adequately prepared for a pandemic, and the world is still doing too little to finance recommended actions to strengthen pandemic preparedness. The report, “From Panic and Neglect to Investing in Health Security: Financing Pandemic Preparedness at a National Level,” lays out 12 recommendations to ensure the adequate financing of the capabilities and infrastructure required to prevent, identify, contain and respond to infectious disease outbreaks. The report says many countries in the Caribbean and elsewhere “chronically underinvest in critical public health functions like disease surveillance, diagnostic laboratories, and emergency operations centers, which enable the early identification and containment of outbreaks.” So far, the report says 37 countries have completed the rigorous peer-reviewed assessments, called the Joint External Evaluation (JEE), of their preparedness capacities to identify their gaps and needs. But the report says that leaves 162 countries that have not. Moreover, the report says only two of the countries that have completed this assessment have used the results to devise costed plans. The report, therefore, urges national governments to prioritize financing pre-
paredness in their domestic budgets, as should international donors. “Not investing enough in pandemic preparedness puts lives at risk and is bad economics,” the report says. “A severe pandemic could result in millions of deaths and cost trillions of dollars, and even smaller outbreaks can cost thousands of lives and cause immense economic damage.” The World Bank said the most conservative estimates suggest that pandemics destroy 0.1 to 1.0 percent of global gross domestic product (GDP), on par with other global threats such as climate change. It said recent economic work suggests that the annual global cost of moderately severe to severe pandemics is roughly US$570 billion, or 0.7 percent of global income. “Preparedness at a national level is the first line of defence against pandemic threats, and thus the foundation of universal health security. Yet we have underinvested in the capabilities and infrastructure essential for preparedness,” said Peter Sands, former CEO of Standard Chartered Bank, who is chair of the IWG and now a Senior Fellow at Harvard University in Massachusetts. “Given the scale of risk to human lives and livelihoods, the investment case for financing preparedness is compelling,” he added. “We must make it happen.” The World Bank said pandemic preparedness prevents, detects and responds to the spread of disease both in humans and in livestock that have close contact with humans.
It said the last 30 years have seen a steady increase in the frequency and diversity of disease outbreaks. “Pandemics can strike anywhere, and everyone is at risk – especially the poor and the vulnerable,” World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim said. “We must finally break the cycle of panic and neglect in our response to grave threats from infectious diseases. We have to ensure we are prepared, so the next outbreak does not become the next pandemic.” Failing to invest in preparedness is especially shortsighted, given the low cost of preparedness relative to the devastating impact of a pandemic, the World Bank said. In low- and middle-income countries, such as those in the Caribbean, that have calculated the cost of financing preparedness, the investment required is about US$1 per person per year, the World Bank said. “Countries and international development partners all need to recognize the seriousness of pandemics and do their part to pay for preparedness,” said Recep Akdað, Minister of Health of the Republic of Turkey. “If we don’t do this now, we will find ourselves losing decades of
health and economic gains when we are hit with an infectious disease outbreak.” The IWG, established in November 2016, puts forward 12 far-reaching recommendations, including getting all national governments to commit to conducting assessment of preparedness and animal health capacities by the end of 2019; ensuring the results of these assessments are translated into costed action plans, supported by financing proposals and investment cases; and reinforcing tax resources, including earmarked taxes, to finance preparedness. The recommendations also include ensuring donors fulfill their commitments, focusing development assistance on large one-off capital expenses that countries cannot afford, on regional initiatives and on fragile states; and ensuring the economic risks of infectious diseases are factored into macroeconomic assessments and investment decision-making, like other systemic risks are. “Outbreak preparedness is chronically under-funded, and we have been waiting for bold thinking on financing since at least the mid-nineties,” said Margaret Chan, (Continued on page 08)
certain officials believe that it is simply acceptable to engage in unbecoming financial practices, must come to an end. Over the years, the PAC said that it has examined the Auditor General’s report, only to find that the same financial transgressions are being repeated year after year. To bring an end to this behaviour, the members have since put forward a number of recommendations. Among its many recommendations, the PAC is calling for the Finance Secretary to be empowered to surcharge defaulting accounting officers. It is also suggesting that Accounting officers and/ or engineering staff that knowingly wait until the end of December to sign off on incomplete projects, be removed from the system. The PAC said that it is against this practice which it considers to be “dishonest and not in keeping with the nation’s financial rules and regulations.” Additionally, the Committee said that over the years, there have been a number of challenges regarding Budget Agencies. The Committee observed that across budget agencies, Accounting Officers and/or engineering staff appear to persistently sign off on incomplete projects. It said that Accounting Officers were found, in many instances, not implementing appropriate measures to avoid the recurrence of overpayment. Compounding the situation is the fact that Government Agencies seemed reluctant to use the performancebased gratuity (specifically the withholding of increments) of Accounting Officers as a means of promoting efficiency. Additionally, the Committee said that the recycling of Accounting Officers who had been cited for inefficiency from one agency to another remains an irritant. The PAC said that it has also observed that in numerous cases, Performance Bonds and Insurance were
seldom utilized as surety by Ministries/Regions against shoddy and incomplete work done by contractors. In this regard as well, it found that there is a lack of clearly defined policies as it relates to invoking the Insurance and Performance bonds at the appropriate time. The PAC noted, too, that Log Books not being properly maintained continues to be a perennial problem across Ministries/Departments/Regions. Furthermore, the PAC has found that the Auditor General’s Engineering Department appears overstretched, given the number of expected interventions and the increase in capital works across agencies. The PAC said that another frustrating challenge is the fact that Accounting Officers when challenged regarding the comments in the Auditor General’s reports for signing off on incomplete projects, are in the habit of behaving as though the contractors are automatically and legally liable for rectifying the defects. The Committee said that a significant number of issues appearing before it are as a result of failure to put in place appropriate or timely policies and/or remedies. One such example it cited, was the unclear arrangements for the writing-off of losses, which keeps recurring as queries annually. The PAC also expressed its dissatisfaction with the fact that budget agencies are taking on the average, one year (minimal), to rectify queries highlighted in the Auditor General’s Report. It stressed that in no uncertain terms, changes have to be made in this regard. While the Public Accounts Committee has delivered on its report for the years 2010 and 2011, it is still way behind. In fact, it is still to issue reports on the Auditor General’s findings for the years 2012 to 2015. The last Treasury Memorandum was issued in 2013 on the PAC’s report for the year 2009.
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Carter Center highlights need for urgent constitutional reform Internationally recognized organization, The Carter Center, has once again documented the need for constitutional reform in Guyana. The entity repeated, among other things, that the current winner-take-all system is problematic. The organization said that the urgency of constitutional reform is made greater with the anticipated influx of oil revenue, “which has the potential to exacerbate ethnic and political conflicts.” The Carter Center highlighted, too, the need for reform, so as to allow individual candidates to stand for President. The constitutional rules in Guyana limit all candidature for the office of the presidency and for membership of the National Assembly to those who join party lists. The organization said that this is an unreasonable limitation on the freedom of association and on the right to run for election.
The organization said that an amendment to the Constitution is necessary to effect this change, and this should be considered as a matter of some urgency in order to allow independent candidates to participate in elections. In addition, The Carter Center noted that in light of the history of ethnic polarization, Guyana might want to consider preferred, or ranked, voting for president in which voters’ award votes ranked on an ordinal scale to all candidates in the race, and the winner is the candidate who wins the most total votes. “This places an incentive on candidates to appeal to voters across party and communal lines,” the report noted. LEGAL COMPLAINTS The Carter Center noted that prior to the elections, there is no opportunity for anyone, neither candidate nor voter, to make a complaint related to the conduct of the
election or to the nomination of a candidate, in any forum. The organization noted that the legal framework should be revised to allow for the filing of complaints in the preelection period, and the electoral calendar adjusted accordingly. Also, the organization said that the electoral calendar should be revised to provide for an earlier nomination date of candidates, while a facility should be created in electoral law (the Representation of the People Act, 1964, or any new legislation that may supersede it) allowing for complaints to be made to GECOM, with attendant adjudication powers conferred on GECOM, with a right of appeal. LAW ON POLITICAL PARTIES Further, the Center noted that there is a total absence of law on the registration and operation of political parties in Guyana.
$13M contract awarded for repair of generator set on ferry MV Kanawan, which normally plies the Essequibo River area, remains operable but is badly in need of repairs. Government is actively working on getting the vessel up and running again. To that extent, Cabinet has approved over $13M for repairs to the watercraft. There was no Cabinet press briefing this week.
However, Ministry of the Presidency sent out statements on some of the matters discussed by the Cabinet. One of the releases stated that “Cabinet, at this week’s sitting, noted the award of a contract for emergency repairs to the generator set of the Transport and Harbours Department Ferry, MV Kanawan.”
It was noted that the contract, which is to the tune of $13,048,010, h a s b e e n awarded to Courtney Benn Contracting Services Limited. The MV Kanawan was inoperable from April 26 to April 30, a period of five days, due to the failure of the generator. The vessel was also inoperable last year.
The Constitution contains strong provisions affirming the right of people to form and to join political parties, but there is currently no legislation related to the registration and operation of political parties. Regulation regarding the registration of political parties should encourage broad-based parties, ensure equitable treatment, provide reasonable and objective grounds for rejecting the registration of a political party, and overall support the freedom of association. “Registration criteria that
promote broad-based parties could seek to move political parties in Guyana beyond ethnic orientation, promoting inclusivity and harmony by denying registration to parties that discriminate on ethnic, geographic, or other grounds,” the report stated. CONSOLIDATE Currently regulations related to the administration of elections are fragmented across numerous pieces of legislation, orders, regulations, and judicial decisions. The Carter Center said that the consolidation of the law in
advance of future elections would create greater legal certainty and clarity among stake-holders regarding the rules overrunning elections in Guyana. Also, the Center noted that there is a total absence of law on the registration and operation of political parties in Guyana. The constitution contains strong provisions affirming the right of people to form and to join political parties, but there is currently no legislation related to the registration and operation of political parties.
Miner gets 18 months for robbery with violence A miner was on Thursday jailed for 18 months by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan after he appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts and pleaded guilty to one of two robbery charges. Daniel Parris, 23, of 22 Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara, pleaded guilty to the charge which read that on April 28 at High Street, Georgetown, he robbed Paul Ramdeholl of one Samsung Galaxy S5 valued $140,000, one phone case valued $4,000 and $50,000 cash, and at the time of or immediately after, used personal violence towards the virtual complainant. Police Prosecutor Arvin Moore stated that on the day in question, the victim was walking along High Street when the accused approached him and dealt him several punches about his body before relieving him of
Jailed: Daniel Parris the articles mentioned in the charge, and making good his escape. The court heard that while the victim was at the Ruimveldt Police Station to make a report he saw the accused and pointed him out to the police. Parris was arrested
and charged. The prosecutor told the court that the accused admitted to the offence. When asked by the magistrate if he would like to say anything before sentencing, the accused responded “Madam, I am sorry for what I did. Please give me a second chance; I have a five months old child to take care of. I am the sole breadwinner for my family.” Parris denied the second charge which stated that on March 13 at High Street, while being armed with a knife, he robbed Mowasi Jacobs of one Blu cellular phone valued 18,000 and one mountain bicycle valued $15,000. In relation to that charge, Prosecutor Moore told the court that when the defendant was arrested he admitted to the police that he had already sold the articles. Parris will make his next court appearance on June 9.
New report says most countries still... From page 7 Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO). “Implementing the IWG recommendations will ensure that every country mobilizes the resources necessary to prevent, detect, and respond to future outbreaks.” The World Bank said the ultimate goal of robust pan-
demic preparedness is universal health security, which means protecting all people from threats to their health. It said universal health security is “ an essential component of universal health coverage – where everyone can obtain the quality health services they need, while not being
pushed into poverty by having to pay out-ofpocket for health care costs.” The World Bank said universal health security contributes to and depends on stronger and more resilient health systems, and is critical to achievement of the sustainable development goals.
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Persecution by prosecution Congratulations are extended to the editor-in-chief of this newspaper Adam Harris on his national award. It is now hoped that the new administration would do the right thing and ensure that Adam is paid the outstanding benefits which were due to him since 1992 when he stepped aside in accordance of the wishes of the PPP/C government which took office in that year. When the PPP/C took power after being cheated out of office for twenty-eight years, they made it clear that they were not comfortable with Adam being in his position. He did not protest or resist. He simply allowed them
the space they wanted by retiring. The natural thing to do would have been for him to be paid his benefits. But the PPP/C adamantly (no pun intended) refused. It was a glaring case of injustice which this new administration must put right, if it has not done so already. The new government has gone on a cleaning spree since it got into power. Its cleaning is continuing, with persons who worked under the previous administration being swept out of their jobs. The PPP/C has been a good opposition but one of its failures, so far, has been its inability to compile a list of persons who have been
dismissed, forced to resign or not have their contracts renewed since the APNU+AFC government took office. That evidence would reveal the scale of the shake-up within the public sector. The changing of the guard is continuing with unabated pace and with dire consequences. Many of the newcomers, while eminently qualified, have not outfitted themselves with the same competence as those they replaced. This is one of the main reasons why the government is out of its depth in managing the country. The eagerness to remove persons who worked under the previous PPP/C adminis-
Dem boys seh ...
Soulja Bai list just like Jagdeo own Six of one, and half a dozen of another is an old saying. It mean de same thing. Jagdeo was six and it seems Soulja Bai is half dozen. Jagdeo, that Scamp, when he was president give National Award to all he mattie. When he run out of ee Mattie he stap. Soulja Bai announce National Award on Thursday. If you see Mattie! From Uncle Adam to Auntie Julie to Henny Rico and de Bow Tie man who live 36 years out of Guyana. When dem boys read de list yesterday of who get national awards, dem suck dem teeth and screw up dem face.
Dem seh is de same thing de Pee Pee Pee do now de coalition continuing—giving dem own Mattie. Dem boys get suh vex that dem walk out de flag raising and go to a wedding house. Dem go in time to hear de bride giving her speech. De speech was simple. De gyal thank everybody fuh coming and mek she wedding beautiful. She seh, ‘To the dear members of my new family I thank you all for allowing me wholeheartedly into dis new family. “First I must tell you that me presence in you family should not change your rou-
tine; that would really upset me. Those of you who use to iron and wash clothes must keep on doing it. “Those who cook food must keep on cooking. Those who sweep de yard and keep de house must continue doing de same thing. “I wouldn’t disturb anybody routine. As far as I concern. I deh here only to eat roti, get Motie, eat bun, have fun, and control yuh son. “Hope you don’t stop me like how me ain’t stapping you from doing what you use to do.” Talk half and hope dem got more people like that gyal.
Ramona Rookhum is Women Lawyers’ Association president Attorney-at-Law Ramona Rookhum has been elected president of the Guyana Association of Women Lawyers (GAWL) following an Annual General Meeting held last week Thursday. Ms Rookhum was admitted to practice in 2008 where she joined the chambers of Messrs Hughes, Fields and Stoby. She is currently associated to Richard B. Fields, Esq., SC practicing general civil law. Rookhum takes the helm of the Association as it celebrates its thirtieth anniversary having been founded in April 1987 by Honourable Madame Justice Desiree Bernard (rtd), the first female judge of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) with its charter secretary being the late Deborah Jan Backer. The following persons were appointed as the New Executive for the fiscal year 2017-2018. Vice President Shellon Boyce, Secretary
Chandrawattie Persaud, Treasurer Alanna Lall, Assistant Secretary Treasurer Nekeisha Persaud, Committee Members Jaya Singh Backreedy, Denise Hodge, Coleen Sparman-Stephen and Anita MohanHamilton. The Association is known for its publications of the Law and You, the Constitution and You and Local Government and You, user-friendly booklets explaining prevalent laws and procedures in layman terms. Some of its annual activities include educational and humanitarian outreaches to women and children, visits to inmates at the women’s prison in New Amsterdam and continuing legal education workshops for members. Through the past three decades the Association has been led by Sheila Chapman, Pearlene Roach, Claudette La Bennett, Susan Moore, Anande
Ramona Rookhum Trotman, Rose BenjaminNoble, Roxane George, Rose Cadogan, Sandra Bart, Dale Kingston, Gem Sanford-Johnson, Sandra Kurtzious, Emily Dodson, Simone Morris-Ramlall and most recently Sadie Amin.
tration arose because of the political suspicions by the present administration, that persons within the system who were appointed during the term of the previous administration were political appointees. The new government does not appreciate that there are professionals who would give of their best, regardless of the government of the day. They served the PPP/ C administration to the best, and for their dedication and professionalism they have been deemed as being partisan and therefore eligible to be purged. A new method of removing them is now emerging. They are being persecuted through prosecution. There is no need for this level of vindictiveness and harassment. All the government has to do, is to do like what the PPP/C did to Adam in 1992. They called him in and made it clear that they were not comfortable with him. He stepped aside quietly. The APNU+AFC should do the same. It should not subject professionals to humiliation and public shame. It should simply call in those persons with whom it is not comfortable and advise them that the government is not comfortable working with
them. Those persons are not going to resist. They will leave of their own accord. But when you try to bully, shame and victimize them, as being done now, they will resist. Professionals are not going to give any government a hard time. If they are asked to walk they will walk. There is no need to subject them to demeaning conduct. There is no need to publicly embarrass them just in order to be able to replace them with persons with whom the government is comfortable. Just ask and they will walk. The government is going to lose a great deal of professionals because of the actions it is taking. Skilled persons are not going to hang around to be publicly shamed and humiliated. They are going to migrate and Guyana is going to lose, as it did in the past, critical skills. It took years for those professionals to acquire the level of expertise which they have, and all of that is going to be lost to the country, sim-
ply because the government does not have the decency to call in persons and say to them that the government is not comfortable with them. Those who leave under the present regime will leave because they are seeing the writing on the wall. They are not going to expose themselves to be treated in the same way. They are going to walk, and will take with them years of institutional knowledge, for which there is simply no substitute. All of this could be avoided if the government did what the PPP/C did to Adam in 1992. Just ask!
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=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===
One of Nigel Hinds’ emails to me Below is one of several email exchanges, I have had with city accountant and former APNU supporter, Nigel Hinds. Hinds was an accountancy major when I was a lecturer at UG, though I cannot remember speaking to him. After the 2011 general elections, APNU questioned the validity of the totality of the statements of poll, and I know Hinds was the APNU person looking into the party’s interest in the recounting of those documents. After the 2015 elections, I know he was given forensic audit assignments and was made chairman of the board of GWI. Mr. Hinds, the past few months is in an aggressive mood, denouncing the performance and policies of the ruling coalition. He has even aimed his weapon at iconic Guyanese, Clive Thomas, accusing this outstanding citizen of betraying the WPA and the Guyanese working class. Mr. Hinds fell out with APNU for reasons I care not to want to know. Since his critical letters against the ruling coalition regime, Mr Hinds has now undergone what President Forbes Burnham was fond of saying, an, “attitudinal metamorphosis.” The evidence of
this is his letter on me to several newspapers; the caption for this letter in the Kaieteur News is, “Enumeration of Freddie Kissoon’s attacks on Jagdeo’s character.” Here is a brief extract from the letter; “Mr. Fredrick Kissoon has used his platform at Kaieteur News to demonize the character, reputation and accomplishments of Guyana’s former President, Mr. Bharat Jagdeo by constantly, relentlessly and irrationally speaking ill of Jagdeo. What purpose does this serve?” I reproduce below one of several email exchanges I had with Mr. Hinds. The one here is dated November 28, 2012, and is offered in its entirety.” “Hi Freddie, My first vote at the General Elections was for the WPA in 1992 and my last vote at the General Elections was for PNC in 2001. Most people are as faithful as their options/ opinions. Age does not presume wisdom. Amazingly we are having this exchange exactly one year after the last General Elections; I certainly would have voted for APNU if I was in Guyana on November 28, 2011. We have to be patient with David Granger, he
is a challenging study as the leader of a political party or group, many of us believe that David is an excellent strategist – losing a few battles to win the war is how I assess the APNU leader. PPP/C is in disarray: As a result of the work of APNU & AFC Nandlall the Attorney General is running to court on many a fools’ errand, Rohee is muzzled for good cause, AFC is gaining prominence; Luncheon has lost any semblance of credibility; Ramotar is a case study for application of the Peter Principle and we can go on and on ….The opposition has made mistakes; but overall PPP/C has failed to gain traction and probably has lost support in Guyana and abroad. Let us not be our own enemy. I strongly recommend you read the Meditations written by Marcus Aurelius. And again I leave you with one of his quotes “Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective not the truth”. Kind regards, Nigel.” My question to Hinds is; when he wrote that email, did he believe President Jagdeo had character and reputation?
If the answer is yes, then why in the email did he observe that Luncheon, who was not the president or ever held the presidency, has lost credibility? Why would Luncheon lose credibility and not his boss Bharrat Jagdeo, for over a dozen years? In the same way, Hinds can find time and energy to devote a long letter criticizing me for “attacking Jagdeo’s reputation and character” maybe he can find similar mental attributes to tell this nation what the accomplishments of Mr. Jagdeo are, and describe for us the character
of this former president. I hope if and when he does so, he remembers and quotes the words of Ms. Varshnie Singh that are contained in some terrible accusations against Mr. Jagdeo. I wrote this column here because of the reaction I got from a few voices I received on my position on Mr. Hinds’ letter contained in my column yesterday. I was told that for Hinds to defend a president like Jagdeo he must have gone out of his mind, and I should let Hinds know what a tyrant Jagdeo was. I will not tell anyone that he/she has lost his/
Frederick Kissoon her mind. I have been an activist since 16 and now I am in my sixties, and have been told since then that I am always out of my mind.
US report highlights Guyana’s lack of strategy to address drug rehab The United States Department of State recently brought to light the fact that Guyana still remains without a comprehensive demand reduction strategy to adequately address drug rehabilitation. In its latest report, International Narcotics Control Strategy Report Volume I, the Department noted that marijuana is the most widely used drug in Guyana, followed by cocaine. The Department said that the Guyana National Council for Drug Education, Rehabilitation, and Treatment, within the Ministry of Public Health, is the single government body responsible for addressing demand reduction. It stated that non-governmental organizations also offer rehabilitation services. In its report, the Department highlighted that the University of Guyana initiated a demand reduction curriculum through funding from the Organization of American States and Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission. As part of Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI), the United States stated that it supports the “Skills and Knowledge for Youth Em-
ployment” (SKYE) project that provides vulnerable youth with training, mentorship, job placement and other support to increase their chances of success and to reduce youth involvement in crime and violence. The programme also supports increased use of alternative sentences, so that youth who commit minor crimes are given an opportunity to rehabilitate outside penal facilities. Furthermore, it was pointed out that Guyana has a drug enforcement presence at its international airports, post offices, and, to a lesser extent, at port and land-border entry points. The Department noted that the five major agencies involved in anti-drug efforts are the Guyana Police Force (GPF), Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU), the Serious Organized Crimes Unit (SOCU), and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF). The Department noted, however, that the GDF supports law enforcement agencies with boats, aircraft, and personnel but has limited capacity and lacks law enforce-
ment authority. The Guyana Coast Guard (GCG), a GDF sub-component and U.S. partner in maritime interdiction, patrols Guyana’s territorial waters and conducts humanitarian search and rescue missions. The document says that in 2012, with U.S. funding through the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime’s (UNODC) Container Control Program (CCP) established a multi-agency CCP Port Control Unit at the John Fernandes Wharf, Guyana’s most active port. In April 2016, the CCP Unit detected and seized 48 kilograms (kg) of cocaine and in June, 579 kg of marijuana. Through the first six months of 2016, the GPF reported seizing 16 kg of cocaine, a significant decrease from the 134.2 kg of cocaine that was seized over the same period in 2015. CANU reported seizing 60 kg of cocaine over this period (down from 568.3 kg in 2015), and the GRA did not report any seizures. Guyanese authorities convicted 46 persons on drug-related charges during 2016.
Former court clerk acquitted of fraud charge Tiffany Peters, a 26year-old former cashier attached to the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, who was granted presidential pardon in 2016, on Thursday had a matter of fraudulent conversion against her, dismissed by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan. The allegation read that between January 12, 2012 and August 7, 2012, while being employed at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, Peters fraudulently embezzled the sum of $1.1 M, property of the Court Registrar. The magistr a t e o n Thursday told the court that according to Guyana’s laws, persons cannot be
convicted for the same offence within one year of their presidential pardon and it was on that ground the matter had to be dismissed. The magistrate further told the court that a person cannot be tried for the same offence a second time, which he or she was pardoned for. Peters was represented by Attorney Latchmie Rahamat, who had at all times argued that her client could not be charged for the same offence twice. The Attorney had told the court that since her client was pardoned, she was part of the USAID Skills
and Knowledge for Youth Employment (SKYE) Guyana, where she benefited and is now the owner of a poultry farm. Peters was granted a presidential pardon in 2016 after she was sentenced to 60 months imprisonment by City Magistrate Judy Latchman having been found guilty of stealing over $3M while being employed as a clerk or servant of the court. In January, Peters was once again placed before the court to answer to another charge which her Attorney Rahamat argued, stemmed from the first charge.
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Opposition boycotts flag-raising ceremony
A wide-angle view of the VIP section of the D’Urban Park facility Thursday evening during the Independence celebrations The main political opposition, the People’s Progressive Party Civic, on Thursday evening, did not attend the 51st Independence Flag Raising Ceremony at the D’Urban Park facility. It is unclear why any of the PPP/C parliamentarians did not attend; however, invitations were sent out. The opposition has been extremely critical of the D’Urban Park project since its inception. Questions were raised regarding the financing of the project. Government had said that a company, Homestretch Development Inc. was incorporated to complete the facility through private donations and contributions. Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson had said during the budget debates that no public funds were disbursed to the company. However, in its 2017 budget, government approved $500M to facilitate payments of outstanding sums of money owed to contractors for works done on D’Urban Park. This took the total sum for the project to over $900M since in 2016 a total of $479M was allocated to the project. The company had collected $27.7M in cash donations while contribu-
tions in kind were valued at $33.9M. Following questions by PPP/C MP Juan Edghill, Patterson reported that some of these donors include Chung’s Global, Agri Parts, Courtney Benn Contracting Services, Pritipaul Singh Investments, Puran Brothers Disposal Services and NABI. Patterson explained that on November 22, 2016 the company had written to the Ministry of Finance seeking for the ministry to liquidate its liabilities and following discussions, it was decided that this will be done via an allocation the 2017 budget for the company to offset its liabilities. Some of the creditors which the company owed for works done are Toolsie Persaud, B.K Supermix, BK Quarries, Cevon’s Waste Disposal, National Hardware, Cummings Electrical and Car Care Enterprise. The ‘no-show’ by the opposition members comes one year after the PPP/C would have walked out of the event last year. In 2016, the party had said that when its members arrived, they were forced to stand and wait to enter D’Urban Park. According to Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo on arrival at the VIP area, there were no seats set
The flag-raising ceremony aside for opposition MPs except for the two former presidents, himself and Samuel Hinds. Meanwhile, in the party’s 2017 independence message,
it reiterated commitment to bringing greater economic and social prosperity to Guyana, improve systems of government, strengthen democratic institutions and
enhance rights and freedoms of Guyanese. According to the party, it has done some self-examination and acknowledged that although it would have imple-
mented transformative changes in Guyana during its time in office, it has to persevere even more so as to bring greater ethnic, religious and class unity among citizens.
New Commercial and Deeds Registry Board appointed Cabinet granted its approval for the appointment of the Governing Board of the Deeds and Commercial Registries Authority. The Board is to be chaired by Christine McGowan. Zanna Frank will serve as the Deputy Registrar of Deeds and Nicole Prince, Registrar of Commercial Registry (ag).The board will serve for a period of two years from June 15, 2017 to June 14, 2019.
Other members of the Board are Ms. Gillian Pollard of the Ministry of Finance, Aretha Henry of the Ministry of Communities, Sharon Small of the Guyana Bar Association, Kumar Dorasami of the Guyana Association of Legal Professionals, Major General (ret’d) Norman McLean of the Private Sector Commission, along with representatives of the Ministry of Business, the
Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and Chief Valuation Officer, Julian Barrington. The previous Board expired in May 2016 and the delay in constituting the new one was as a result of the Deeds and Commercial Registries Authority (Amendment) Bill 2017 being laid before Parliament. The Board will be fully constituted after the Bill is passed in the Na-
tional Assembly. Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams said that the Government recognized that the board needed to be broadened to include other entities such as the Ministry of Business and the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA). The Deeds and Commercial Registry is an independent body, which was estab-
lished in 2013, to promote the efficient and orderly operation of the two entities. It also established a Governing
Board, which ensures the proper and efficient performance of the functions of the Authority.
PAGE 12
Saturday May 27, 2017
Kaieteur News
Capacity building for youths highlighted at Youth Fair
Invitees at the opening ceremony for the Career Exposition and Health Fair Sarah Reynolds and her best friend, both students of East Ruimveldt Secondary School, posing with a sketch done by a student of the E.R Burrowes School of Art A Career Exposition and Health Fair was held earlier this week at D’Urban Park on the occasion of National Youth Week 2017. Minister within the Ministry of Education with responsibility for Youth, Nicolette Henry, told those
gathered that the future of Guyana lies in the hands for our youth. “Our biggest challenges and our greatest opportunity is to build the best trained workforce that can rise to intense competition from around the world,” Henry said
She explained that in order for this to happen, all Guyana must prepare the younger generation. The event attracted some 50 organizations, educating youths on various skills, opportunities, career fields, and training available to them. First Lady Sandra Granger, Minister of Public Telecommunications Cathy Hughes and Director of Youth Melissa Carmichael, were among the
prominent attendees. Minister Hughes who delivered the keynote address, told youths not forget their dreams. She urged that they use technology to the best of their ability, for it connects them to the world. She spoke on moral values and reminded the young listeners that they have “the awesome ability to make choices based on principles and these choices always work.”
“Your attitude will most definitely determine your altitude,” Minister Hughes stated. She reminded the youngsters that there is no shortcut to success, and urged them to remain focused, and committed to education. Apart from the formalities, this publication spoke to several organizations present at the fair, and also sought feedback from students. Assistant Field Officer
Marvin Drakes, spoke of the Award programme that has been around since 1998. It is about voluntary self-development and activities, and caters to youths between 14 and 24. They are introduced to four mandates: skills training, service, physical recreation and expeditions. The programme falls directly under the Department of Culture, Youth and Sport. (Continued on page 23)
Saturday May 27, 2017
Husband’s death threats to wife leads to gun, cocaine find A woman’s complaints about being threatened by her gun-toting husband reportedly led to the discovery of an unlicensed firearm and cocaine at a Duncan Street property last night.
Kaieteur News understands at around 21.00 hrs, the woman informed ranks in the Kitty area that her spouse was pointing a firearm at her. Ranks immediately went to the scene and arrested the
husband with a loaded .38 revolver. They then searched the property and reportedly unearthed a quantity of drugs in two gas cylinders. The suspect was still being questioned at press time.
Case file on woman accused of killing brother incomplete The police file on 25-yearold Debbie Hansraj who is accused of stabbing her brother to death during an argument, is still incomplete. This was disclosed to Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan by Police Prosecutor Arvin Moore, who said that a post mortem report and further statements are still outstanding from the case file. Debbie Hansraj who resides at Diamond, East Bank Demerara, has not been required to plead to the indictable charge which alleged that between April 17 and 18 at Covent Garden, East Bank Demerara, she murdered Vishal Hansraj, her brother. Chief Magistrate adjourned the matter until June 6, for reports and fixture. Once the file is complete, 14 witnesses, inclusive of police ranks and civilians, will be called to testify in the preliminary inquiry. It is understood that Vishal Hansraj might have
MURDER ACCUSED: Debbie Hansraj
MURDERED: Vishal Hansraj
confronted his sister after she had inflicted a wound on their mother, which led to them having a heated argument. During that argument, the now dead seaman is reported to have collected a knife with which he attempted to injure his sister, who in retaliation relieved him of the weapon and used it to stab him twice. Both of them were
reportedly under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident. Upon realizing that her son had been stabbed, their mother, Sumintra Brijmohan, rushed him to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, from where he was transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital, and later succumbed.
TCI wants CARICOM to maintain unified position on de-risking
Warren Smith By Peter Richards PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos, CMC – The Turks and Caicos Islands has appealed to Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries to continue to main a united
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Kaieteur News
position on the issue of derisking and the loss of corresponding banking relationships (CBRs). Premier Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson, who came to power in this Overseas British Territory last December, said that she is aware
that the 15-member regional integration movement has been looking at the entire issue of de-risking. “What we find in the Turks and Caicos Islands is an attempt to de-risk entire sectors and that is not the way to go. We are trying to, for example, assess our financial services sector, we are complying with the various standards…but yet the goal post is moving every time we comply with the last standard and everybody else is coming up with their own standard…,” she said. “Apart from that, our concern is also that you are looking at the casino industry, a sector that is a threat for …de-risking the entire sector,” she said, warning it may result in the illegal movement of “suitcases of money”. Earlier this year, the Barbados-based Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) said it would be providing US$250,000 to strengthen financial transparency, and assist in preventing the loss of correspondent CBRs in the region.
St. Lucia prepared to support CARICOM mission to Venezuela CASTRIES, St. Lucia, CMC – St. Lucia’s Minister of External Affairs, Sarah FloodBeauburn says the country would support a Caribbean Community (CARICOM) mission to Venezuela once the initiative gets the backing of the relevant parties. According to FloodBeaubrun, the regional body has indicated that the organization is prepared to assist Venezuela in arriving at a solution. “If this is best achieved by sending a delegation, St Lucia would support the initiative,” the minister said. Flood-Beaubrun said Venezuela would have to indicate the critical elements of a solution and explained that the government and opposition parties would have to step away from their entrenched positions, and moderate their language. “ Importantly, external parties should not further exacerbate the problem with any inflammatory comments, but rather should seek mechanisms by which to facilitate consensus building.” She said CARICOM member states recognise that the onus is on Venezuela to resolve the problems facing the country while noting that was the reason for the reference by CARICOM foreign ministers to an internal solution. During a recent meeting in Barbados, the regional Foreign Ministers called for noninterference in the internal affairs of Venezuela, where at least 40 people have been
Sarah Flood-Beauburn killed in street demonstrations aimed at forcing the Nicolas Maduro government out of power. Flood-Beaubrun said CARICOM is of the view that a mediator can play a significant supportive role and assist Venezuela in reestablishing dialogue between the relevant parties and possibly achieving a solution. “ Venezuela sees CARICOM as an important friend and partner and CARICOM ‘s possible participation in a mediated solution would be on the basis of mutual trust, respect for democratic principles and for the rule of law,” she stated. However Flood-Beaubrun explained that no details have been agreed. She observed that an important element of any process would be agreement by
both the government and opposition in Venezuela that CARICOM could participate. “ The timing and road map would similarly have to be agreed by the parties,” the External Affairs Minister said. Asked whether she shares the view articulated by some that the Western media are somehow distorting the real situation in Venezuela, her response was that in the absence of one’s own independent assessment of the situation in Venezuela, one is forced to rely on the media, as well as input from parties on the ground, including government and/or the opposition. The minister stated that St Lucia’s position has been a principled one that recognizes that the problems in Venezuela are serious and require this country’s attention and engagement.
TT Coast Guard makes multimillion dollar drug bust
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Three persons have been detained by the police following the seizure of 40 kilograms of cocaine valued at TT$18.9 million (One TT dollar =US$0.16 cents) in the Gulf of Paria early Thursday. The Coast Guard reports that around 3:30 am (local time) it intercepted a white 24 feet pirogue with three occupants – two Trinidadians and
a Venezuelan. The Coast Guard approached the pirogue and gave instructions for the occupants to stop for a routine board and search exercise. The occupants refused and on giving chase, the Coast Guard intercepted the vessel that was later escorted to shore where a search was conducted. Coast Guard officers say they found two plastic bags
containing 36 packages of the drug. The suspects were detained handed over to the organized Crime Narcotics and Firearms Bureau of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service for further investigations. This is the fifth drug seizure made by the Coast Guard which says it has found approximated TT$850,000,000 in drugs for the year.
PAGE 22
WANTED One bartender, 1 room maid- Call or text- 621-9759 Sheik Samsair or Donald 664-7412 SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.-CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620 Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Guyana p assport application. Graphics design, advertisement. Tel: 6267040; 265-4535. INNOVATIVEMARKETING & PUBLISHING INC –TEL: 600-4212: We create A/ works, logos, busi ness cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included. Floor sanding & Lacquering, house plans, estimate & painting, boat for Santa Mission. Call: 650-4362 Passport, permanent & visitor visa application, Professional Immigration Consultant – Sabita Immigration Services. Call: 225-6496/ 662-6045 Eagle’s: Re-gas -$8,000, Washing machine repairs, Gas Stove, Plasma flat Screen, computer repairs & more. Call: 697-2969/646-0966 Landscaping & tree trimming. Call: 656-1326 Repairs to refrigerators, gas stoves, A/C units, washing machines. Call Lindon: 6411086/ 694-2202 Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezerCall: 610-5846 or 661-8158 LEARN TO DRIVE C. Persaud & N. Outar Driving School formerly Soman & Sons Driving School @ Maraj BuildingCall: 644-5166; 622-2872; 615-0964; 689-5997 (affordable packages).
SALON - Make-up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, etc. - Cosmetology Courses: $120,000 - Technician Course: $45,000. Call: 6471773/660-5257
Workers and 1 cleaner to work at ice factory Meadowbank. Call: 642-9191 between 8am-1pm Monday-Friday 1 Male to look after layer birds in the Interior. Call: 6652514 1 Female shop assistant to work in the Interior. Call: 665-2514 Admin Assistant/Marketing Personnel with atleast 5 CXC passes including English Language & Mathematics. Send resume to gtcareers592@gmail.com
TAXI SERVICE GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 225-7878 (24HRS)
Experienced hairdressers & nail technicians needed to work in salon at prime location in Georgetown. Call: 628-4388/225-9423 Two Dynamic Individual with communications & sales techniques, computer skill @ KeyFood, Mc Doom location.
1- 90"x90" Bed. Call: 657-6179 Office furniture, used computers, display racks & stands for store use. Call:225-8066/624-6783 Lawn grass organic potting soil, supari Palm, foxtail, palm @ $1,000, Crotoon, Ashoka, Ficus, Exora. Call: 626-1044 Design & Make Aluminum windows, doors, stainless rails, showcases, rolling shutters, make & install automatic doors. Call: 2336818/677-5599/659-9999 Solar Panel 300 watts, size 39X77. Call: 657-2304 A set of Benz GL series stock Rims with Tyres. Call: 225-2189. 48" Samsung TV, 2 full size beds, mattress & base, 2004 Allion, low mileage, lady driven. Call: 642-0243
WANTED
Sawmill on 1.27 Acres of fenced land, portable mill, moulder, ripsaw, excellent condition, Linden: 673-9401
Live in or live out babysitter/ domestic. Call: 223-7500 Monday-Saturday 8:154:15pm
1 live-in maid. Must be single and know how to cook creole food. Salary negotiable. Tel: 699-4878.
1 Kenmore fridge (black), double door. Dog pen, steel door. Call: 673-7883
1 Accounts Clerk, preferably from E.B.D – 5 subjects CXC minimum @ gtcareers592@gmail.com
Wanted driver to sell water, must have lorry. Apply Nimbus Water. Tel: 2317002/ 6220445
Attractive live in waitressCall: 327-0252/674-4665
Waitress and cook. Call: 6771248 Live in waitress to work in a bar- Call: 604-6606;692-4646
Garbage trucks drivers, experienced drivers only &labours. Call: 670-7920 Wanted place to rent for restaurant or bar in G/town (no unfinished place). Call: 670-7920
CAR RENTAL
DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL:PICKUP,9-11 SEAT MIN BUS, GOOD FOR AIRPOTR & FAMILY OUTING, CHEAPEST RATE . Call: 698-7807
FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754.
1 Nanny/Tutor to teach & care for 22 months boy. Apply to Alabama Trading, 65 Robb Street Bourda.
We need you, Males 18-30 years to work in the Plant Shop/Garden Maintenance in Georgetown. Tel: 648-1821
WING’S CAR & PICKUP RENTAL: LOW DOWN PAYMENT, CHEAP REATES,SPECIAL OFFERS FOR THE SEASON. CALL: 690-6494 PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 677-7827, 6435122 ,EMAIL:PRO_AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.COM
Elevator very good condition, price negotiable. Call 231-1284 DATING SERVICE You deserve a relationship filled with love and excitement. Call Harmony Singles: 626-2629/ 676-6312 Guyanese Canadian woman seeking husband, contacts must have Valid ID, proof of Address & police clearance. Call: 673-9778
We pay in $US for land in Eccles, Herstelling, Providence, Farm, Zeelugt, La Parfaite Harmonie. Call: 6585897/ 651-1969 Wanted land to buy anywhere on the West Coast or La Parfaite Harmonie. Call: 657-9594
CAR RENTAL
Saturday May 27, 2017
Kaieteur News
Experienced Truck Driver. Call: 227-1717
VEHICLE FOR SALE 2 Hilux off Road pickups, GVV #1 5L Diesel #2 3RZ Gasoline, both 4X4 with differential lock plus O.H.D – Call: 673-7876/ 233-6218 2011 Nissan Duke, fully loaded low mileage, lady driven - $2.8M. Call: 6667748/ 653-0018
VACANCY Professional cosmetologist @ Natural Beauty Salon & Spa located @ Grove Market Street, EBD. Call Ms Rashari: 652-5800 Cook, Baker and articulated hauler/dump truck operator for interior. Applicants must be experienced. Cal: 6182020
1 BMW 318I -$2.3M, Never register. Contact# 592 6500402 / 603-1402
ACCOUNTANT (Parttime): 2nd/3rd Level ACCA; QuickBooks POS & Accounts. 4hrs on Saturday, every fortnight. Email: spers@msn.com
170 Corona. Call: 696-1355 1 Mitsubishi 7 1/2 ton Dump Canter, 1 Mitsubishi Fuso 7 1/2 ton Canter. Never Register!!! Contact#592 6500402/603-1402 Unregistered 1 Passo 2010 Black -$2.1M negotiable, 2 Vitz 2010 Pearl White & Pearl Pink -$2.3M negotiable each. Call: 649-7771/ 690-7155 Unregistered: 1 Nissan March 2010, Black with alloy wheels -$2.2M negotiable. Call: 6497771/ 690-7155 Tractors Foreign Used: Massey Ferguson MF165 $1.7M, MF135-$1.2M & MF265 -$2.2M, MF 165 loader tractor -$2.4M. Call: 682-5230/ 628-9596
Allion, Primo, Fielder Wagon, Spacio, Bluebird, 212 Carina, NZE, Honda CRV, Toyota IST, RZ & Pit-bull – Call: 650-7501
4 AC Rooms/ 1 extra room, for business/offices @ 21 Seaforth St. C/Ville, Georgetown. Call: 226-1877, 624-7436, 654-9350 Newly constructed apartment in a safe and healthy environment. Call: 698-6496/ 622-6512 One 2 bedrooms apartment at Eccles -$55,000 monthly. Call: 648-7004
2 Canter lorry drivers, salesman to work on the West Coast Demerara $30,000 weekly. Call: 684-8231
Male & female workers: accountants, mechanic to look after drink machine. Call: 3302399 Male with experienced in poultry farming to work on chicken farm in the interior, age 25-45yrs. Call: 680-2702 One hairdresser and nail technician who knows to do everything. Call Melissa: 630-8152
2005 Tacoma from Canada $2.4M Ford F150 sports $16M, Ford Ranger sports $1.5M. Call: 682-5230/6289596
TO LET
CAKES & PASTRIES Courses in cake decoration, pastry making & cookery also wedding dresses for sale. Call: 670-0798
Lorry Drivers and Salesmen, preferably from East Bank Demerara. Salary Negotiable. 266-4427
FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Prime Business Place to rent on Sheriff Street, for offices only. Call: 627-6740/227-8644 Furnished apartment $30,000 monthly. Newly renovated, self-contained room, water & electricity. 12 Sussex Street Charlestown- Call: 689-8757, 219-1951 2 – 3 bedrooms bottom flat apartment, fully refurbished -$65,000 monthly with 2 months security. Call: 2201583 between 7am-5pm only. One bedroom apartment, PVC ceiling, tiled floored, corner spot -$40,000, preferably couple. Address: 25 Craig St C/Ville. Call: 2231332 Two bedrooms self -contained @ Tuschen - $50,000. Call: 6880087/ 633-8484
One clerical/office assistant to work in Georgetown. Call: 227-2301/ 225-6239
EDUCATIONAL
1 Live in nanny/domestic to take care of children & home, must know to cook various dishes 38-48yrs. Call: 6001898
Electronic Course. June 6th. The Trade of the Future. Make extra cash, easy! Abdul Electronics. Call: 226-6551/ 225-0391
FOR SALE/FOR RENT American Pool Table. Call: 277-0578
Rental @ Ogle, 4 Master bedrooms, luxury home $5,000US. Call: 688-0087/ 6338484 Continued on Page 22
Saturday May 27, 2017
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Kaieteur News
Mahdia syndicates meet with Minister Broomes Members of the syndicate groups in Mahdia, Region Eight were afforded the opportunity to air their concerns with Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes on Thursday. During the meeting, miners were reminded by the Minister who has responsibility for the syndicates, that the initiative is one that the government has developed to address the plight of small miners. According to the minister, the syndicates will be playing a vital role in the development of their communities, region and by large the country. “The syndicate is something that I see growing from strength to strength,” the Minister explained. She added that it is about empowering small miners by creating a level playing field for all. YOUTH DEVELOPMENT The small miners raised a number of concerns and sought clarification as it relates to how exactly the syndicate is supposed to develop their community and even offered a few suggestions. Orin George said that he was happy that the syndicate was initiated to support small miners who are taken advantage of by larger miners. However, he was concerned about how the syndicate would actually help the youths of Mahdia, some of whom are involved in negative activities. “If you make a million US dollars, what are you doing for the community? What are you doing for the youths?” George questioned adding that, “even if I want to be a pork-knocker, let me be an
Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes educated pork-knocker.” Minister Broomes in responding to George, said that the 10 percent that will be paid by the syndicate as tax will go towards youth development among other things. These include education, training and sports development. “With the government pushing for township in Mahdia, Mahdia will changeyoung people in sports, infrastructure, technology, you name it,” the Minister stated. George was selected by the Minister to be the liaison from Mahdia who will pinpoint the needs of young people within the community. NO PLACE FOR ILLEGALMINING Minister Broomes reminded the syndicate members that illegal mining will not be tolerated. The Minister told the members that even
though they are a part of the syndicate, they are not allowed to mine without permission. This was after one miner said he was asked to move off a piece of land he was mining even though he is a part of the syndicate. “Syndicates come about that you must not raid, I am not going to entertain nothing with raiding that is illegal, absolutely nothing,” the Minister sternly stated. The Minister explained that, “if you are a miner and you are going to say to me that government is putting forward an initiative, to mobilise you, to get things in order, to get things sorted out, and for you to work and you yourself who is a member of the syndicate is going to violate the regulation… it is complete disrespect not only to the syndicate, to the
GGMC, to the government, but to what we are really fighting for.” WORKING TOGETHER A member from the National Syndicate Body, Linden Bastiani, said that over the last eight years or so Mahdia has been on a downward spiral. According to Bastiani, the syndicate is the best way to help Mahdia rise again. Bastiani made a request to the Minister to provide technical and infrastructural support to syndicates once they are fully organised and about to commence work. However, Minister Broomes pointed out that it was already agreed upon by her and Minister Raphael Trotman that government will assist syndicates where necessary. Minister Broomes explained, “what is important is that the roads that you might need access to after you get your place and that is confirmed, that you identify an area or road that you might need assistance, and in continued meeting with the minister that you make it known where you need assistance and we will take it from there.” Additionally, the Minister reminded the miners that the officers deployed in the communities are there to lend the technical assistance they might need and not to do anybody a favour as it is their job. The syndicate project was undertaken as a means of making mining lands available to small miners who could not afford a claim on their own. As a syndicate, small miners will also have access to the concessions being offered to other mining groups in the sector. (GINA)
Capacity building for youths highlighted at Youth... From page 12 Also present was Freightlink Express, an online shopping company that provides flexible payment options, free courier mail, free consolidation on packages and flexible deposits for any order. “The company works with your budget,” a representative told Kaieteur News. THE IMPORTANCE OF FORESTRY Sonia Reese, Communication Manager of Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) informed that the GFC seeks to educate young people on the importance of forestry to Guyana, as well as all the opportunities available in the field. She explained that persons who would like to start a career in forestry first have to attend the Guyana School of Agriculture. “After receiving a certificate, you can then seek employment at the GFC,” she advised. The University of the Southern Caribbean was
another exhibit at the fair. It is a private, coeducational institution with Trinidadian origins. Apart from three locations in Trinidad, along with sites in Antigua, Barbados and St. Lucia, the entity has been in Guyana for some 26 years and offers Bachelor’s Degrees only - Bachelor of Arts in Management, Bachelor of Education in Primary Education, Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Sciences, Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Bachelor of Arts in English, and Bachelor of Science in Social Science. The latter course is not completed in Guyana. Interested persons are encouraged to visit the local office at 40 Anira Street, Queenstown or visit the website www.usc.edc.tt Then there was the Small Business Bureau, whose representative, Julian Edwards, said that on offer is the option of self- employment. The bureau sup-
ports small businesses in terms training, finance and support. Melissa Peters, a volunteer with Voluntary and Support Platform (VSP), said that the youth desk is a new initiative which is an information hub to learn about any Ministry within Guyana, any scholarship, and programmes available to youths. It also houses the recently launched YIPoG, (Youth Innovation Project of Guyana) through which youths are to design, develop and produce innovative ideas which the government will provide finances. Nickeisha Bacchus exp l a i n e d t h at VSP offers young person’s the opportunity to give back to Guyana through voluntarism. They offer peer education training to schools and different organizations. Projects are going on in all 10 regions; persons interested can contact 227-7575.
Meanwhile, several students provided their impressions of the fair. First form student of Richard Ishmael Secondary, Serena Anderson, said that the speeches on moral values were much appreciated, and the fair had widened her knowledge on career opportunities. Hemraj Arjun, a St. George’s Secondary student said the event had been fun and he is “looking forward to joining the army”. Sarah Reynolds of East Ruimveldt Secondary School said she found the theatre of school and art interesting, and she would like to pursue a career in arts. Quinella McIntyre of New Era Academy Foundation explained thatsince learning of the GFC, she isn’t sure that she will follow up a medical career. And mother of eight, Yonette Persaud, commended the efforts of the government to host such a fair.
From Page 21
PROPERTY FOR SALE LAND FOR SALE 6 ACRES, HIGHWAY (CLOSE TO LINDEN) BAMIA CREEK, 7 SPECIES OF WOOD ETC. CALL: 609-8132/ 672-8569 (MAX) La Parfaite Harmonie: $1.4M, $1.6M, $1.5M, $1.2M, Farm $3.5M, Uitvlugt -$2.7M, Tuschen:$1.2M, $5M, Herstelling-$3.5M. Call: 6662326 La Parfaite Harmonie: $1.4M, $1.6M, $1.8M, Farm -$3M, Uitvlugt -$3M, Tuschen $1.2M, $5.5M, Herstelling $3M. Call: 604-6724 or 6869608 12 House lots 80X60 at Plantation Schoonard: water, light and roads, 1 min from Harbour Bridge. Call: 6152346/627-3443 Transported land at Well Street Ogle, E.C.D -$12M (twelve million dollars). Call: 650-5462 Farm (East Bank) -$2.6M & $3.2M, Providence (corner lot)- $5M, La Parfaite Harmonie-$1.6M, Uitvlugt $2.6M. Call: 658-5897/ 6511969 La Parfaite Harmonie, Tuschen Phase 2, Zeelugt Phase 2. Call: 642-1252 Prime roadside land in Corriverton Berbice, suitbale for any type at business. Call: 626-6245/335-3347 35 Acres located in Port Kaituma. Call: 619-5173 Transported land @ Lot D Area N Land of Canaan E.B.D Eastern Half. Call: 592-2268901/ 592-625-9443/ 347-9053312
Transported property @ Grove and Diamond $16M negotiable. Call: 625-5461 Recently-built 2-Storey concrete building (1,245 ft2) Parfaite Harmonie $7.9M neg. Contact 231-9690 For details. Recently-constructed 2Storey concrete building (2,030 ft2) Tuschen $7.5M neg. Contact 231-9690 for details. House & land at Mon Repos -$19M. Call: 645-8543 Aubrey Barker -$21M, Hadfield - $17M, Diamond- $3.5M, Grove, Land of Canaan, Schoonord, Queenstown, Enterprise, Good Hope. Call: 231-7850/ 618-7483 Property @ the corner of 172 20 Hora St. & Market St. Better Hope, East Coast Dem $12.5M neg. Call: 220-1583 between 7am-5pm only. 2 Story building with extralarge land in well built $74.5M. Call: 220-1583 between 7am-5pm only. Property @ 934 Caneville Grove, E.B.D: flat house, 3 bedrooms (1 self-contained), concrete fence, negotiable. Call Ken: 682-3784/Jenel: 6045627 Goat Creek, Riverfront , 75 Acres land -$7M, Lanaballi River Front, 50 Acres -$9M. Diamond -$7.5M Call: 6880087, 638-8484 Riviera Island: 145 Acres $30M, Tuschen property $5.8M, $6M, $15M. Call: 6880087, 638-8484 Tuschen 2 bedroom flat houses: $4.8M, $10M, $11M, land $2M. Call: 688-0087, 638-8484
5 Acres coconut and other fruit bearing, no chemical, lease or sale – Demerara River across Timehri docks. Call: 261-2988
Melani 2 bedrooms - $10M, Tuschen $11.5M & $25M, Canal #2 (15 acres) -$9M. Call:688-0087,638-8484
Land at Tuschen Housing Scheme, near school, 3 minutes away from main road. Call: 261-2988
Phoenix Elementary High School, 7-9 Plantation Soesdyke, E.B.D – Price $36,000,000. Call: 615-3673/ 218-5088/612-2124
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Kaieteur News
Chinese jets intercept U.S surveillance plane: U.S. officials Two Chinese fighter jets intercepted a U.S. Navy surveillance plane over the South China Sea on Wednesday, with one coming within 200 yards (180 meters) of the American aircraft, U.S. officials told Reuters. The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said initial reports showed that the U.S. P-3 Orion surveillance plane was 150 miles (240 km) southeast of Hong Kong in international airspace when the Chinese aircraft carried out the unsafe intercept. One Chinese aircraft flew in front of the American plane, restricting its ability to maneuver.
The Pentagon confirmed that two Chinese jets had carried out the intercept, saying it was “unsafe and unprofessional.” “We continue to review the facts of this incident and will convey our concerns through appropriate channels with the Chinese government,” Pentagon spokesman Navy Commander Gary Ross said in a statement. A U.S. Navy warship sailed within 12 nautical miles (22 km) of an artificial island built up by China in the South China Sea, U.S. officials said on Wednesday, the first such challenge to Beijing in the strategic waterway since U.S.
President Donald Trump took office. China is deeply suspicious of any U.S. military activity around its coastline, especially in the resource-rich South China Sea, parts of which are disputed by China and its smaller neighbors, including the Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia. Incidents such as Wednesday’s interception are not uncommon. Earlier this month, two Chinese SU-30 aircraft intercepted a U.S. aircraft designed to detect radiation while it was flying in international airspace over the East China Sea.
Masked gunmen kill 28 in attack on Christians in Egypt
Ambulances and medics outside Maghagha Hospital in Minya Province, Egypt Gunmen attacked a group of Coptic Christians traveling to a monastery in central Egypt on Friday, killing 28 people and wounding 24, with many children among the victims, Health Ministry officials said. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, which came on the eve of the holy month of Ramadan. It followed a series of church bombings claimed by Islamic State in a campaign of violence against the Copts. Islamic State supporters reposted videos from earlier this year urging violence against the Copts in Egypt. Eyewitnesses said masked men opened fire after stopping the Christians, who were in a bus and other vehicles. Local TV channels showed a bus apparently raked by gunfire and smeared with blood. Clothes and shoes could be seen lying in and around the bus, while the bodies of some of the victims lay in the sand nearby, covered with black sheets. The attack, which Egypt’s Muslim leaders condemned,
happened 15 km (10 miles) from the monastery, a security official on the scene told Reuters. Ambulance workers, monks and Muslim clerics were also present but declined to speak. Police armed with assault rifles formed a security perimeter and officials from the public prosecutor’s office were gathering evidence and fingerprints. Heavily armed special forces arrived later wearing face masks and body armor. The injured were taken to local hospitals and some were being transported to Cairo. One of the vehicles attacked was taking men to carry out maintenance work at the monastery while another had children on board, officials said. Dozens of people gathered at the emergency area of a local hospital. Some carried a wooden coffin to a hearse. The Health Ministry said that among those injured were two children aged two. President Abdel Fattah alSisi called a meeting of security officials, the state news agency said, and the cabinet
said the attackers would not succeed in dividing the nation. The grand imam of alAzhar, Egypt’s 1,000-year-old center of Islamic learning, said the attack was intended to destabilize the country. “I call on Egyptians to unite in the face of this brutal terrorism,” Ahmed al-Tayeb said from Germany, where he was on a visit. The Grand Mufti of Egypt, Shawki Allam, condemned the perpetrators as traitors. The Coptic Church said it had received news of the killing of its “martyrs” with pain and sorrow. The attack took place on a road leading to the monastery of Saint Samuel the Confessor in Minya province, which is home to a sizeable Christian minority. An Interior Ministry spokesman said the unidentified gunmen had arrived in three four-wheel-drive vehicles. Security forces launched a hunt for the attackers, setting up dozens of checkpoints and patrols on the desert road.
Saturday May 27, 2017
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Rossi recovering after motocross accident (Reuters) Valentino Rossi has suffered slight liver and kidney lesions in a motocross accident, but the Italian MotoGP great is making “positive progress” and could be released from hospital yesterday, his Yamaha team said. The 38-year-old nine times world champion was admitted to hospital in Rimini after the accident in eastern Italy on Thursday. “Valentino will continue to receive pain relief over the next 12 hours and, over the course of the day, he will undergo routine diagnostic tests,” Yamaha said in a statement.
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Yamaha MotoGP rider Valentino Rossi (REUTERS/Stephane Mahe/File Photo)
“If the results are positive, he may be discharged from the hospital within the day.” Yamaha said Rossi, currently third in a championship he led before crashing in France last weekend, had spent a quiet night in hospital and felt less pain in his
chest and abdomen. “The pain is the result of slight liver and kidney lesions that have not evolved into further complications,” the statement added. Rossi’s home grand prix at Mugello, near Florence, is the next round of the MotoGP championship on June 4.
Saturday May 27 , 2017 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) A long, quiet walk alone may help you sort out your thoughts. Romantic opportunities will be plentiful if you go out with friends. Any financial limitations will probably have to be dealt with on your own. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) If you act with anger you may blow the relationship. Your loved ones could set you off. Be precise in your communications to avoid any misunderstandings and arguments. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Take a look at yourself and prepare to make those changes you've been contemplating. Emotional matters may not be easy for you to handle. Your involvement with children will be most rewarding. CANCER (June 21–July 22) Coworkers may not be giving you all the pertinent information. Partnerships may be strained if one of you has been erratic and hard to deal with. Be careful not to overexert yourself. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Equilibrium in your romantic life is likely if you treat your partner well. Quarrels will erupt if you get into philosophical debates with friends. Bring work home if it will help you get caught up. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) One-sided relationships are likely. You're best to channel your energy into work. Make sure that all your legal papers are in proper order.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You can make changes to your home that will be pleasing to all concerned. This will be a good day for research and for sitting down with some good, informative reading material. You can make a difference if you take a position of leadership. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Don't overreact if your partner has a poor attitude. Get involved in activities that will bring you knowledge about foreign land, philosophies, or cultures. Weigh the pros and cons and make a decision that will change the conditions you've been living under. SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21) You might find it difficult to control your emotions. You need to lie back and enjoy a little rest. CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Try not to judge too quickly. Now is a good time to ask for favors. You will have a great day if you just say what you feel. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) Your emotional partner will push the right buttons today. You have so much to offer; open up and let your thoughts be known. Be careful not to misplace your wallet or belongings. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You can make money if you concentrate on producing services that will make domestic chores easier. You may interest some of them in a service you have to offer.
Thompson clash with Schippers to... (From page 30) includes three world titles over the distance. She warmed up impressively with a clocking of 11.07 over 100 last weekend in Kingston which was only good for third behind compatriot Morolake Akinosun and Trinidad & Tobago’s Michelle-Lee Ahye, both clocking 11.06. The Bahamas’ Shaunae Miller-Uibo, the woman who denied Felix an Olympic 400 gold in dramatic fashion last year in Rio, could also provide an outside challenge to Thompson, but it is American Tori Bowie, the Rio Olympics bronze med-
allist, that looks to be the biggest threat following her 22.09 last month in Gainesville in the American state of Florida. Omar McLeod is another Olympic gold medallist from Jamaica who will be on display. Though the men’s 110 hurdles will not be an IAAF Diamond League event at the meet, he will nonetheless be keen to continue his dominance over rivals such as world record-holder Aries Merritt, 2013 world champion David Oliver, Olympic bronze medallist Dimitri Bascou and European indoor champion Andrew Pozzi. The women’s 100 sees vet-
eran Jamaican Veronica Campbell-Brown and a host of the world’s top sprinters line up against Haiti-born American world indoor champion Barbara Pierre. Each of the competitors in this weekend’s DL events will be seeking to score points, available to those in the top eight of each discipline, to qualify for the DL Finals on August 24 in Zurich and September 1 in Brussels, where the winners of each discipline on those evenings will be crowned IAAF Diamond League champions and earn US $50,000 along with a Diamond Trophy.
Stokes passed fit as confident England... (From page 29) Africa desperately need him to build on the relative success of his cameo in the first ODI. Team news Stokes was declared fit to play in the second ODI after taking a full part in England’s training on Friday. But nevertheless, having bowled just two overs in Wednesday’s opening rubber, and with a heavy IPL workload behind him, there must have been a temptation to protect such a talismanic figure with less than a week to go until the Champions Trophy opener. Jonny Bairstow is in the form to
England has made... (From page 31) Selectors. With the standard of the Regional First-Class season arguably the lowest among all Test playing nations, Carmichael encouraged the Guyana players to make an effort to get into the English County First-Class Champions or in one of the several Leagues around England to improve their technique. Veteran Shiv Chanderpaul is the only Guyanese player participating in English County Cricket and has been enjoying a wonderful season so far, scoring back-to-back centuries for his County. “Playing in England has helped me to mature as a player because being the overseas player a lot is expected of me on and off the field. Also it would have helped my batting because conditions here often favor bowlers a lot and both my previous seasons I have been amongst the runs so it made me work harder on my batting in order to be successful in these conditions,” Carmichael informed.
deputise supremely with the bat, even Stokes’ absence would have left England’s bowling options a touch stretched. David Willey was the obvious addition to the fast-bowling ranks. Few reasons for wholesale changes in South Africa’s line-up, despite the eventual size of their defeat at Headingley. It’s a case of improving what they’ve got, rather than reinforcing what they lacked. However, there may be a temptation to find room for Morne Morkel and his aggressive line of attack in light of the relative success
that the short ball had against England’s top-order - Joe Root, for one, fell victim to a top-edged bouncer from Andile Phehlukwayo. Pitch and conditions The weather is gleaming and runs are all but guaranteed on a surface that rarely fails to offer plenty for the bat. Only once in the last seven ODIs at the Ageas Bowl, dating back to 2012, has the side batting first made less than 287, while New Zealand racked up a hefty 359 for 3 back in June 2013, thanks to Martin Guptill’s 189 not out.
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Claycourt king Nadal favourite to regain Paris throne (Reuters) For the first time in three years, Rafael Nadal will bounce through the Roland Garros gates at the peak of his powers and favorite to take his collection of French Open titles to 10. The Spaniard, who hits 31 next week, has turned back the clock to sweep through the European claycourt season with titles in Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Madrid and is a daunting obstacle for anyone with genuine title ambitions. With man-of-the-season Roger Federer sitting it out to f o c u s o n Wi m b l e d o n , defending champion Novak Djokovic just showing signs of finding his mojo and world number one Andy Murray badly out of sorts, Nadal is clear favourite. Potential challenges could come from a new generation of big hitters such as rising Austrian Dominic Thiem and Germany’s new wunderkind Alexander Zverev, but Nadal looks in the mood to regain his Parisian throne. It feels right too because Roland Garros without the Mallorcan in full flow is a lesser spectacle. There was something unsettling about watching Nadal being thrashed by Djokovic in the 2015 quarter-finals, only his
Novak Djokovic (REUTERS/ Benoit Tessier) second ever loss at the slam he has owned since 2005. A chronic loss of form, fitness and confidence contributed to that defeat, while last year he was looking good until a wrist injury forced him to withdraw before a thirdround match against Spaniard Marcel Granollers. The last of Nadal’s 14 grand slam titles came on a drizzly day in Paris in 2014 when he beat David Ferrer and there have been times since then when his major-winning days looked over. ‘RETRO’ YEAR But in what has been as astonishing ‘retro’ year for men’s tennis Nadal, with fellow Mallorcan Carlos
Moya added to his coaching support, came within a whisker of beating Federer in an epic Australian Open final. He won 17 claycourt matches in a row before Thiem ended his charge in Rome. His whiplash forehand is back to its fizzing best, his serving stats are as good as ever and there are no obvious signs of the injuries that have plagued him. “It’s tough to say that he has come all the way back to his absolute peak but he is playing tremendous tennis,” seven-times major winner John McEnroe told Reuters. “A couple of years ago against Djokovic that was about the only time I saw Rafa look like he didn’t want to be on court. Last year he retired at the third round stage. “So having seen that, there’s a little bit of uncertainty. But he’s playing the best of anyone on clay.” Fourth seed Nadal, who opens against unpredictable Frenchman Benoit Paire, has second seed Djokovic in his half. In the other half, Murray’s route potentially includes a third-round against Juan Martin del Potro and a semi-final against 2015 champion Stan Wawrinka. Djokovic, who plays
Xtreme Clean & Maintenance Co. / GT Beer Futsal resumes tonight Play in the inaugural Xtreme Clean & Maintenance Co. / GT Beer ‘Gold Rush’ Futsal Tournament continues this evening with six more matches in the knockout phase, at the National Gymnasium. Among the big teams set to appear are Bent Street, Back Circle, West Front Road, North East La Penitence, North Ruimveldt, Plaisance and Alexander Village. B e n t S t r e e t ’s s t a rstudded lineup is expected to include players the calibre of Colin Nelson and Konata Manning, Joshua Browne, Okanie Fraser, Anthony A b r a m s a n d Wi l l i a m Europe, Wendell St. Hill, Dwight Peters, Sheldon Profit, Kelsey Benjamin and Sheldon Holder. Back Circle’s quest to advance will rest on the performances of players such as Stephon McLean, Selwyn Williams, Akeemo
A n t h o n y, S y l v e s t e r Richardson, Curtez Kellman and Keron Joshua. Tucville is another team that could spring surprises, but their chances of moving on will depend on how well Jermin Junior, Dennis Edwards, Jahal Greaves perform. West Front Road ‘Gold is Money’ has had some disappointing results recently, but opposing teams know t h a t t h e y a r e capable of beating any team in the competition, especially if players such as Carl Tudor, Randolph Wagner, Hubert Pedro and Michael Oie play to their potential. North East La Penitence have improved leaps and bounds and if players like Calvin Moore, Omallo Williams, Shaquille Browne and Romario Andrews live up to their reputation that the team on the other side of the court could be in fopr a rough time.
Over $1million in prize monies and trophies are up for grabs withthe winning team set to receive $500,000, while second, third and fourth placed finishers will take home $200,000, $100,000 and $50,000 respectively. Meanwhile, every night two lucky fans will have the opportunity to kick to win one pennyweight of gold each or its equivalent, while several other novelty events will allow patrons to win prizes. The fixtures are seen below. Tucville vs Melanie19:00hrs Plaisance vs Alexander Village-19:30hrs Bent Street vs Campbellville-20:00hrs North East La Penitence vs Future Stars-20:30hrs West Front Road ‘Gold is Money’ vs North Ruimveldt21:00hrs Back Circle vs Globe Yard-21:30hrs
Rafael Nadal of Spain during a training session. (REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/File Photo)
claycourter Granollers in round one, will have former champion Andre Agasssi in his corner after hiring the American as his coach at the French. That will add another s t o r y l i n e t o a m e n ’s championship already packed with intrigue. “I think this could be potentially very exciting bringing on Andre,” ESPN
pundit and former world number four Brad Gilbert said of Djokovic, who has trended downwards since competing his career grand slam by beating Murray in the 2016 final. “Andre brings an incredible amount of knowledge, wisdom, passion and Djokovic is looking for some motivation.” Away from the usual
suspects, 20-year-old Zverev could be on the verge of something special after conquering Rome, although a first-round against Spain’s F e r n a n d o Ve r d a s c o i s dangerous. “It’s now just a question of when not if he’ll win his first Grand Slam. It seems like he is getting closer,” McEnroe said of the world number 10.
GCUC extends sympathy to Richmond’s family The Guyana Cricket Umpires’ Council has extended sympathy to the family of former umpire Daniel Richmond. Richmond was killed in an accident on Sunday at the junction of D’ Urban and Smyth Streets. He was
employed with the National Sports Commission and served the game as an umpire, coach and scorer. A release from the GCUC stated that Richmond was always willing to share his experience with the young
umpires and players alike, and his services will surely be missed. “His passing came as a surprise and we pray that God grant his family strength to overcome this ordeal,” the release concluded.
Independence Horserace meet
Shariff and Nand Persaud Karibee Rice Stables set to continue battle for supremacy The Shariff Racing Stable of West Coast Berbice and The Nand Persaud Karibee Rice racing Stable of Corentyne Berbice are set to continue their battle for supremacy in the feature event when the Kennard Memorial Turf Club hosts their Independence Horse Race meet tomorrow at the Bush Lot Farm, Corentyne, Berbice race track. Although other stables will be seeking to stake their claim of the coveted first prize in the feature E and lower event. The two stables have been dominating for the past few meets and will be
entering multiples entries for the event as they have indicated their willingness to continue to flourish. Settling Star and Spit Fire are in good form and headlines the Shariff Entries but will have to contend with the inform Brave Sky and Honey Flow of the Nand Persaud Karibee Rice Stable. Both Zahir Shariff of the Shariff Stable and Mohin Persaud of the Karibee Rice Stable have expressed confidence of coming out on top when the event is done. Among other animals expected in the feature race are Lady Budapest, Jack in
MY Style, Good Will Boy, Red and Lovely among others. Other events on the days programme are the -E1 and lower special weights for 5 furs and carry a top prize of $500,000. Other events slated are I 3 and three years Guyana Bred which fetches a winning purse of $200,000, H1 and lower for a first prize of $260,000, L class for a winners stake of $100,000, J1 and lower for a top prize of $160,000, K class, J class in which the winners will pocket $120,00 and $140,000 respectively. Race time is 12:30 hrs.
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Finch, Head star in tense Australians’ win ESPNCRICINFO After weeks of pay talks with their board, there was some cheer on the field for the Australians as they warmed up for the Champions Trophy with a two-wicket win over Sri Lanka. Aaron Finch contributed 137 off 109 balls courtesy 11 fours and six sixes, while Travis Head, reprieved on 60, made 85 not out as Australia recovered from a middleorder wobble to squeeze home in a 319 chase with two balls to spare. The victory would be that much sweeter to the Australians, even though this was only a precursor to the main tournament, as it came without their rested captain Steven Smith and
Aaron Finch raised his century off just 76 balls © Getty Images frontline pacer Mitchell Starc, who is returning to competitive cricket after a three-month layoff. All this meant Angelo
Mathews’ 95, which once again underlined his importance in Sri Lanka’s starting XI, went in vain. Mathews, playing his first
Stewart to lead Young Windies on southern Africa tour ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Emmanuel Stewart will have five new caps to lead when the West Indies Under-19 squad embarks on a tour of southern Africa in July. The West Indies Cricket Board yesterday announced a 15-member squad that will take on South Africa in five Yo u t h O n e - d a y Internationals and Zimbabwe in three. “The squad is well balanced with a number of multi-dimensional players which will provide depth in all departments,” said head coach Graeme West. “This team is still very young in comparison with the previous squad, but already a very united group that works well together and a great desire to learn and improve.” Stewart and vice-captain Kirstan Kallicharran are the only two remaining members from the World Cup-winning squad of last year. The new players are: Trinidad & Tobago lefthanded batsman and parttime off-spinner Keegan Simmons, nephew of former West Indies batsman and head coach Phil Simmons and cousin of West Indies batsman Lendl Simmons; G u y a n e s e wicketkeeper/batsman Joshua Persaud, along with pacer Cephas Cooper of Trinidad & Tobago, Darren Nedd from Grenada, and Barbadian Nyeem Young. The remaining eight
players were part of the team that played in the Regional Super50 Tournament in January/February in Antigua, including Bhaskar Yadram. The slow bowling allrounder from Guyana is the only player in the squad that has moved on to make his first-class debut, playing for reigning three-time Regional 4-Day champions Guyana Jaguars against Leeward Islands Hurricanes last April. The WICB said in a media release that the tours were being undertaken as part of the team’s build-up to the ICC Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand from January 12 to February 4 next year. “We are going to give 15 talented, young players the opportunity to represent West Indies, experience touring overseas and play Youth Internationals,” said West. “We learnt a great deal about a number of the players in the WICB Regional Super50. This will be another opportunity to find out which players have the skill-sets to perform consistently at this level and establish who is going to stand up when put under pressure by quality opponents.” West said the objectives for the tour is to win both series and establish the patterns of play and combinations that will be taken into the World Cup. “We will want to see
growth and improvement in every game we play and we will want contributions from all members of the squad, so it will be important that the team acclimatizes quickly and gets off to a good start,” he said. Squad: Emmanuel Stewart (captain), Kirstan Kallicharran (vice-captain), Te-Shawn Alleyne, Alick Athanaze, Joshua Bishop, Cephas Cooper, Mykile Louis, Darren Nedd, Matthew Patrick, Joshua Persaud, Jeavor Royal, Kegan Simmons, Jeavier Spencer, Bhaskar Yadram, Nyeem Young ITINERARY West Indies Under-19s to South Africa July Tue 4 – Tour Match vs South Africa Under-19 XI – Varsity Oval, Durban Thu 6 – Tour Match vs Kwa-Zulu Natal Academy – Varsity Oval Sun 9 – First Youth ODI – Chatsworth Oval, Durban Wed 12 – Second Youth ODI – Pietermaritzburg Oval, Pietermaritzburg Fri 14 – Third Youth ODI – Pietermaritzburg Oval Sun 16 – Fourth Youth ODI – Pietermaritzburg Oval Wed 19 – Fifth Youth ODI – Chatsworth Oval West Indies Under-19s to Zimbabwe July Sun 23 – First Youth ODI – Venue to be decided Wed 26 – Second Youth ODI – Venue to be decided Sat 29 – Third Youth ODI – Venue to be decided
competitive fixture for his country after a six-month layoff due to a hamstring injury, did bulk of the damage in Asela Gunaratne’s company. The pair added 91 to offset Sri Lanka’s middle order woes as they recovered sensationally from 152 for 5 in 28 overs. Mathews, who walked in at 71 for 3 in the 12th over, treaded cautiously - taking 77 balls to get to his halfcentury - before cutting lose in the end overs, inching closer to a run-a-ball when he fell in the 44th over.
Angelo Mathews warmed up with a brisk 95, Sri Lankans v Australians, warm-up match, Champions Trophy 2017, Oval, ©Getty Images Gunaratne, who took apart Josh Hazlewood for three sixes and a four in the penultimate over, was also well supported by Seekkuge Prasanna, the legspinner, who remained unbeaten on 30 as the last five overs fetched 61. The Australians started cautiously but Finch’s turbocharge soon resulted in them clawing back in line with the asking rate. The opener raised his century off just 76 balls with a six off Gunaratne. His 75-run stand with Head left Sri Lankans worried before Nuwan
Pradeep’s strike to get rid of Finch and Glenn Maxwell off successive deliveries rejuvenated them. But Head’s reprieve on 60 with Australia needing 21 off 15 proved costly in the end for the Sri Lankans, who will play New Zealanders on May 30 in a bid to head into the tournament on a winning note. Scores: Australians 319 for 8 (Finch 137, Head 85*, Pradeep 3-57) beat Sri Lankans 318 for 7 (Mathews 95, Gunaratne 70*, Henriques 3-46) by two wickets.
BVA to host National ‘B’ Division tourney at P/M court today The Berbice Volleyball Association (BVA) has released their plans for rest of the year and today will host a National ‘B’ Division tournament for male and female teams at the Port Mourant volleyball court commencing at 09:30hrs. Three male teams from Berbice and Demerara will compete and the male teams to represent Berbice are Skeldon Community Centre Slammers, under-19 Recruits and PMTC, while any amount of female teams are free to participate. Tomorrow the Skeldon C o mmu n ity C en tr e in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Cohesion, will be hosting a Family Fun Day, while the BVA will host a volleyball competition and teams are invited to participate in the various categories: Male seniors, Females, Juniors males under-16 and Junior males 17yrs and below and all teams are asked to make a genuine effort to attend. On June 4 a tournament will be held in Black Bush Polder
Levi Nedd as a fund raiser. All teams are asked to attend and participate, while on June 11 the BVA will hold a fund raising concert and volleyball tournament on Suicide prevention in Black Bush. Persons desirous of performing in the cultural show can contact BVA President Levi Nedd on telephone number 641-9592 or BVA Secretary Linden Murray on 626-6660.
Schools are reminded that the Secondary schools competition is set for September 13-15 and schools teams are asked to commence preparations to participate. To u r n a m e n t d a t e s a r e subject to change and information will be filtered through the media to keep those involved updated with any date change and other activities.
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Quintana snatches Kvitova return adds sparkle Giro lead from Dumoulin to tough-to-call French Open (Reuters) Nairo Quintana claimed the overall lead in the Giro d’Italia y e s t e r d a y a f t e r To m Dumoulin lost ground in the final ascent of an eventful 19th stage won by Spain’s Mikel Landa, meaning the race is likely to go right down to the wire. Quintana’s Movistar team attacked 135km from the finish when Dumoulin (Team Sunweb) was at the back of the peloton, possibly because nature had called and after clawing his way back, the Dutchman found he could not follow in the 15.5-km climb up to Piancavallo. Frenchman Thibaut Pinot was the overall contender who gained most after he dropped Quintana and Italian Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida) with about six kilometres left. Quintana now leads second-placed Dumoulin by 38 seconds, third-placed Nibali by 43 and Pinot (FDJ) by 53. Today’s penultimate stage will feature two big climbs that could favour Nibali, Quintana and Pinot, while tomorrow’s final time trial, a 29.3-km effort, is expected to go Dumoulin’s way. Dumoulin, who exchanged angry words with Nibali on Thursday saying he hoped he and Quintana would lose their places on the podium after they
Movistar Team rider Nairo Quintana of Colombia prepares to start before the stage. (REUTERS/Juan Medina) refused to help him out when Pinot had attacked, stayed clear of controversy this time. “I had bad legs from the start. I made a mistake at the start and in the finale I tried to limit my losses and did that well,” he said. “The team saved me a couple of times otherwise it would have been a much worse day. Just bad legs today. With good legs it would have been possible to stay in the lead but they weren’t there.” Nibali had replied on Thursday saying the race was not over and “anything could happen” — and it did as the defending champion, Pinot and Quintana pulled away when Dumoulin was at the back of the pack. Quintana said: “It is
complicated. Mental strength will make the difference, strategy, too. Tomorrow is another hard day and then there is the time trial. Anyone (of the top four) can win it.” On freshness, however, Pinot has had the edge over his rivals in the past couple of days, Nibali and Quintana being unable to follow when he attacked yesterday. Further up the road, Landa soloed to the stage victory to give Team Sky something to cheer about after their leader Geraint Thomas was forced to abandon early in the race after a crash. The win was all the sweeter for Landa after he had come a close second in two previous stages of this year’s Giro.
PARIS (Reuters) The comeback of Petra Kvitova will sprinkle some much needed stardust on this y e a r ’s F r e n c h O p e n women’s singles, with the absence of household names Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams making the draw the toughest to call in years. Two-time champion Sharapova was denied a wildcard after returning from a doping ban and threetime winner Williams is expecting a child, while inform Romanian Simona Halep has been struggling with an ankle injury. “The women’s is wide open I guess, because some of the top women aren’t playing. There is an opportunity for someone who has never won one to come through,” former world number one John McEnroe told Reuters. “It’s as wide open as it’s been for a long time. Difficult to pick someone right now.” Adding to the uncertainty for the claycourt grand slam which starts t o m o r r o w, d e f e n d i n g champion Garbine Muguruza, who has not won more than three consecutive matches on the red dirt this season, was handed a tough first-round draw against 2010 champion Francesca Schiavone of Italy. “It’s very strange to find a first round with two past champions,” Muguruza told reporters on Friday. “And I saw her. I think
Czech Republic’s Petra Kvitova plays against China’s Wang Yafan. (REUTERS/Thomas Peter/File Photo) she’s playing good on clay. It’s a good match to start.”Schiavone won the Bogota claycourt tournament and reached the final in Rabat, also on clay. The opportunity looks tailor-made for a new name to lift the Suzanne Lenglen Cup with many pundits talking up the chances of Kristina Mladenovic, runner-up in the Stuttgart and Madrid tournaments and bidding to be the first French winner since Mary Pierce in 2000. “(2014 runner-up) Halep was my pick but I don’t know how the ankle is? I’m hoping she will be healthy,” said 18-time grand slam champion Chris Evert. “Mladenovic has had a great claycourt season and I think she will not be intimidated paying in Paris at all. She will revel in it.
She has reached a couple of finals and had a great match against Halep in Madrid.” All eyes, however, will be on Kvitova when the Czech returns to competitive tennis after recovering from being stabbed during a burglary last December. Kvitova said her left, playing hand, was not in perfect shape but she was able to play. “The hand doesn’t have that power and the strength yet, but I’m working on it. Hopefully one day everything will be perfect,” the two-time Wimbledon champion told reporters. “I’m happy that when I’m playing I don’t have pain in my hand. I didn’t test it in a match, of course. Maybe will be different when the nerves come... but so far it’s okay.”
Cleveland Cavaliers set up Golden State Warriors rematch
Astana rider Mikel Landa Meana of Spain celebrates as he crosses the finish line in the 174 km (108 miles) 16th stage of the 98th Giro d’Italia (Tour of Italy) cycling race from Pinzolo to Aprica, Italy, yesterday. (REUTERS/LaPresse/Fabio Ferrari)
BBC Sport - Cleveland Cavaliers set up their third straight NBA Finals appearance against Golden State Warriors with a dominant 135-102 win over Boston Celtics. Kyrie Irving and LeBron James combined for 79 points at Boston’s TD Gardens to claim the best-ofseven Eastern Conference finals 4-1. James, 32, surpassed Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan as the alltime leading scorer in the play-offs. The Warriors swept San Antonio Spurs 4-0 in the Western Conference finals. They were crowned
NBA champions in 2015 but were defeated last year as Cleveland’s 52-year wait for a major sporting title came to an end. Game one of the NBA Finals takes place at the Warriors’ Oracle Arena in Oakland on Thursday, 1 June. King James passes Air Jordan Cavs small forward James hit a three-pointer from the left wing in the third quarter to pass Jordan’s record of 5,987 play-off points, which had stood for 19 years. James, who is chasing his fourth NBA title this year, finished with 35 points
in the game to set a new mark of 5.995 points in 212 playoff games, while six-time NBA champion Jordan set his record in 179 games. He has scored 955 of those points against Boston, the most for any player against any team. Victory secures a seventh consecutive NBA Finals for James, winning two titles in four appearances with Miami Heat between 2011 and 2014, before returning to home-town team Cleveland. The Cavs also set a franchise record for most points in a quarter in the play-offs by recording 43 in the first quarter of game five against the Celtics.
Saturday May 27, 2017
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Kaieteur News
Stokes passed fit as confident England target series win ESPNcricinfo - With due respect to their recent triumphs over West Indies and Ireland, Wednesday’s emphatic win over South Africa, the No.1-ranked team in ODI cricket, was the result that Eoin Morgan’s men needed to rubber-stamp their credentials as favourites for next week’s Champions Trophy. For months on end, almost since the moment of E n g l a n d ’s w h i t e - b a l l awakening after the 2015
World Cup, this is a team that has scotched all preconceptions - so much so that even the captain of one of the few teams to have got the better of them in recent times, India’s Virat Kohli, was Thursday forced to concede that England have “no weaknesses” going into a tournament that surely counts as their most outstanding opportunity to lift that elusive 50-over global trophy. Well, they have perhaps
one weakness. Despite being passed fit to play at the Ageas Bowl following a scan on his knee, the sight of Ben Stokes, the team’s talismanic allrounder, limping from the pitch during the Headingley contest was enough to make both the management’s and marketing men’s blood run cold. Stokes, the newlycrowned MVP in his maiden IPL season, is utterly fundamental to the balance of England’s first-choice XI.
With his tub-thumping presence in England’s top six, England have the luxury of including two spinners and four genuine quicks in what is surely the most versatile (if not necessarily the most incisive) attack in the competition. Without him, the choices become more stark - sacrifice a spinner to shore up the batting firepower (and Jonny Bairstow, to be fair, is just gagging to get involved), or trust the occasionally
GDA Independence International underway
GDA President Sheik Yassin (2nd from right) with members of the Trinidad and Tobago team following their arrival last night. The Guyana Darts Association (GDA) I n d e p e n d e n c e I n t e r n a t i o n a l tournament got underway last night at
the Millennium Manor Hotel on Hadfield Street. Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Jamaica and Brazil are the
teams expected to participate. The Independence tournament, which will see over US$3,000 up for the taking, will conclude
tomorrow. Millennium Manor Hotel, Roosters Bottled Coconut Water and R. Ganesh Mining Enterprise are the sponsors on board.
Berbice name strong team for U-19 Inter County competition
Here former Berbice all-rounder, Police Inspector, Michael Newland talks to the players during a recent training session. The Berbice Cricket Board has named its 14 Man Squad to compete in the upcoming Guyana Cricket Board/Hand-inHand Insurance Company U-19 Competition scheduled to start on
Monday. The squad is full of all round talent and should give a good account of themselves. The full team reads: Adrain Sukwah, Steve Deonarine, Matthew
Hardyal, Daniel Samaroo, Emmanuel Seecharran, Sylus Tyndall, Raymond Vankenic, Deon Sinclair, Kevin Sinclair, Sasenarine Sukhoo, Javid Karim, Karan Arjpaul, Keith Simpson and Veramootoo
Senwasane. The stand byes are: Ezekiel Kempadoo, Joshua Harrichand, Zameer Inshaan Nazeer, Antonio February, Trevon Caesar, Junior Williams, and Kris Ramnarine.
Ben Stokes ©Getty Images mercurial Moeen Ali to front up with bat as well as ball, as he did to fine effect with a match-turning 77 from 51 balls in the opening ODI. Mind you, these are not the sorts of worries that England are used to addressing on the eve of a global tournament. To cast one’s mind back to the horrors of the 2015 World Cup, for instance, is to be reminded of an era when Stokes’ temperament wasn’t trusted, when Gary Ballance’s ballast at No.3 was preferred to the longlevered walloping of Alex Hales, and when Jos Buttler was treated as an orthodox wicketkeeping No.7, rather than a order-roving deliverer of batting hellfire. None of this is to say that England are either shoo-ins for the Champions Trophy, or even out of sight in this still-to-be-settled threematch series against South Africa. But the underlying truth of their 72-run win in Wednesday’s opening match is that England didn’t actually play to their absolute potential, but still rolled out handsome winners - thanks as much to South Africa’s exhaustion in the closing overs of the runchase, as much as anything else. As Kohli succinctly put it, “for them it’s all about attack, throughout the 50 overs, which is exciting for the fans and challenging for the opposition.” As for South Africa, there were plenty of reasons for optimism in the midst of their opening defeat. Hashim Amla showed enduring form at the top of the order, Faf du Plessis played a strong hand as well, while AB de Villiers showed glimpses of his true self before his 45 from 38 balls was undermined by wickets tumbling at the other end. But they’ll need their bowlers to regroup quickly if they are to restore their challenge in this series - not least the legspinner Imran Tahir, whose nine wicketless overs were milked for 68 runs at Headingley, a rare toothless day for one of his side’s most enduring oneday weapons. Quinton de Kock and
Kagiso Rabada are two other players to factor into South Africa’s challenge. Both are too good to fail for long, as de Kock in particular showed during England’s last ODI campaign against South Africa in February 2016, when his twin centuries helped turn a 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 win. It’s all food for thought as two of the best ODI teams in the world fine-tune their preparations. But, both sides know, there’s a far bigger prize than the Royal London trophy up for grabs in the coming weeks. In the spotlight T h e r e ’s s u r e l y n o pressure being exerted from the England management, who know full well what Jason Roy is capable of, but there’s little doubt either that he is stuck in a bit of a fallow patch of form at present. His maiden IPL stint with Gujarat Lions was a disappointment - just three appearances and a top score of 31 - and following scores of 0 and 20 against Ireland, he chose to return to Royal London Cup duty with Surrey, rather than head back out to the nets in India. His game remains in good working order - one scorching straight drive off Tim Murtagh at Lord’s was a reminder of how effortlessly powerful his game can be. But he could do with a score going into the Champions Trophy. Roy, however, wasn’t the only stroke-playing international batsman to suffer a rough time at this year’s IPL. AB de Villiers fell a long way short of the standards that he expects of himself, and that his adoring fans at Bangalore Royal Challengers expect of him too. He produced flashes of his most brilliant self - not least in making 89 not out from 46 balls against Kings’ XI Punjab - but more often than not he appeared weighed down by the collective malfunction of RCB’s storied batting lineup. He looked a touch jaded in the Headingley ODI, if truth be told. And, shock horror, he even produced a fumble in the outfield. South (Continued on page 25)
Kaieteur News
PAGE 32
Saturday May 27, 2017
KK Warriors FC Independence 7-a-side and Female 5-A-side
D&K Ballers and Female ‘A’ emerge champs
D&K Ballers Captain Dale Roberts receives the winning trophy from KK Warriors VP Hubert Smith in the presence of teammates. D&K Ballers defeated Backstreet Ballers 2-1 in the final of the Kuru Kururu Warriors Football Club Independence Fun Day 7-aside and female 5-a-side competitions that took place yesterday at the Kuru Kururu Primary School ground. The activity was sponsored Presidential
A d v i s o r o n Yo u t h Empowerment, Ministry of the Presidency and saw the first two males teams receiving trophies and medals, while the two female teams were also presented with medals. Emerging as the MVP of the male Final was Shaquille Agard of the winning team.
Six teams from the village and Friendship, another East Bank Football Association team, competed yesterday in what was an exciting tournament, with D&K Ballers and Backstreet Ballers emerging from the preliminary rounds to contest the final. The winners went ahead
Warrioirs Female Team, the A side in red won the 5-a-side match yesterday. by two clear goals before the losers were able to pull one back. After halving the deficit, Back Street Ballers turned on the pressure on D&K but were not able to drawn level let alone net a winning goal. The other competing teams were Eagles of Kuru Kururu Back, Back Street
Samatta Point /Kaneville FC unveiled; receive uniforms from Roy Carrington & Associates
Boys, Team Wax and IDEAL. The female tournament saw a battle of the A and B side of the lone female club on the East Bank
with the ‘A’ side needling their ‘B’ counterparts compliments of a Candace Fraser goal. Both teams were presented with medals.
Nauth Motor Spares, Trophy Stall, Mike’s Pharmacy softball bowls off tomorrow The Nauth Motor Spares, Trophy Stall and Mike’s Pharmacy softball tournament will commence tomorrow with several matches. At GCC Bourda on pitch one, Wellman Masters will play Fisherman XI at 09:30hrs and at 13:00hrs Wellman Masters will face Tropical Spring. On pitch two Trophy Stall Angels will take on Mike’s Wellwoman at 13:00hrs and 4R Lioness will match skills with Blue Divas at 14:30hrs. At Airy Hall, Essequibo Coast, Parika Defenders will challenge Sunrisers Masters.
Thompson clash with Schippers to headline Diamond League meet
Volunteer Coach Amanda Angoy (right) seen with the core of SPKFC members in their uniforms donated by Roy Carrington & Associates. Male and female youngsters in the villages of Samatta Point / Kaneville on the East Bank of Demerara can now hone their football skills thanks to the setting up of Samatta Point / Kaneville Football Club (SPKFC) by the Samatta Point Housing Cooperative Society (SPHCS). The SPHCS, which
champions youth development and empowerment activities and initiatives within the villages of Samatta Point and Kaneville, is hoping that this move aids in channeling the energies and talent of the youths in the areas in a positive direction and has since sought to be affiliated to the East Bank Football
A s s o c i a t i o n ( E B FA ) . General Secretary of the association, Wayne Francois was part of the club launch on April 21st, last. At that launch, Francois, on behalf of the overseas based Roy Carrington and Associates, handed over a set of uniforms and footballs to the club and Volunteer Coach, Ms. Amanda Angoy.
He encouraged the players and coach to keep working hard as one day they too can be donning uniforms for the national teams. The needs of male and female players are catered to at the SPKFC. They are getting ready to compete in the 2nd annual Ralph Green / EBFA Under11 League.
EUGENE, Oregon, CMC – Elaine Thompson will renew her rivalry with Dafne Schippers in an allstar clash in the women’s 200 metres which will headline the third stop of the IAAF Diamond League at the Prefontaine Classic yesterday and today. Thompson, the Rio Olympics sprint double champion, will be seeks to consolidate her position as the undisputed top female sprinter in the World today, when she face a strong field, as the some of the world’s best athletes compete in the historic surroundings of Hayward Field. The Jamaican has been installed as favourite for the half-lap sprint following her strong start to the season.
She clocked 22.19 seconds to win the event earlier this month at the Doha DL meet and dismissed her challengers with a time of 22.09 secs at the IAAF World Challenge meeting last weekend on home soil. Dutchwoman Schippers, the reigning 200 world champion, who won the women’s 200 DL Trophy last year, was the runner-up to Thompson at last year’s Olympics in Rio and at the DL in Doha, but she will have to run very hard to prevail over the long-legged Jamaican. Also down to face Thompson is 2012 Olympic 200m champion Allyson Felix, whose resume also (Continued on page 25)
Kaieteur News
Saturday May 27, 2017
PAGE 33
GSCL Inc Independence Cup
Sanasie 5 for hands Regal All Stars huge win Speedboat, Ariel, Savage, Regal Masters triumph
Tyrone Sanasie (left) and Delroy Pereira By Zaheer Mohamed An impressive spell of b o w l i n g f r o m Ty r o n e Sanasie handed defending Open champions Regal All Stars a comprehensive 96run victory over Farm when the Georgetown Softball Cricket League Inc (GSCL Inc) annual Independence Cup commenced yesterday at the Everest Cricket Club. Speedboat, Ariel, Savage and defending champions in the Masters’ category, Regal, also got their campaign off to a positive start. Prior to the start of the day’s play a minute silence was observed in memory of the late umpire
and coach Daniel Richmond. Playing in the Open category, Sanasie proved more than a handful as he grabbed 5-16 including a hat-trick as Farm were skittled for 55 in 10 overs, chasing 151. Medium pacer Delroy Pereira was impeccable with his line as he picked 3-3 to support Sanasie. Earlier, Sachin Singh top scored for Regal All Stars with 33 and got support from Fazal Rafiek and Ameer Nizamudeen with 17 each. Patrick Khan and Sheldon Adams each had 221. Speedboat overcame Farm by two wickets.
Mahendra Arjune
Batting first, Farm were bowled out for 107 in 15 overs. Sheldon Adams made 27 as Avenash Dhaniram bagged 4-7 and Mark Harold 2-15. In reply, Speedboat encountered some nervous moments but won the duel in 14.3 overs, ending on 111-8. Anand Bharat made 30; Ralph Yusuf captured 3-6 and Suraj Budhu 2-11. Ariel beat HS Masters by 45 runs in the Masters’ category. Ariel batted first and posted 177-6 off their allocation of 20 overs. Rudy Rodrigues hit three fours and two sixes in scoring 32, while Fazal Ali and Peter Persaud made 24 each, Raboj Narine 21 and
Surendra Kumar 20. P. Khan had two wickets. HS Masters scored 132 all out in 18.1 overs in reply. P. Khan got 32 and A. Sookram 24. Ariel collective bowling performance were led by Peter Persaud 2-10, Mohamed Rafeek 2-12, Rodrigues 2-27 and Dharam Persaud 2-29. Savage defeated Ariel by seven wickets. Ariel made 99 all out in 15.4 overs, taking first strike. Fazal Ali made 21, R. Narine 20 and R. Kumar 18. Savage responded with 101-3 in 12.5 overs. Unnis Yusuf struck 41 and added 25 for the opening stand with Troy
Mahase Chunilall Ramsaywack who made 25. Regal Masters got the better of Savage by 103 runs. Regal Masters batted first and got to 194-7. Mahendra Arjune stroked three fours and six sixes in a scoring 62 off 24 balls, while Eric Thomas made 48 (2x4,4x6) o ff 2 7 b a l l s , M a h a s e Chunilall 20 and Mahendra Hardyal 17 not out. Savage were sent packing for 91 in 11.3 overs in reply. Ramo Malone scored 36 and Zameer Hassan 22. Ricky Persaud captured 315, David Harper 2-11 and Hardyal 2-43. Regal Masters defeated HS Masters by 39 runs. Regal Masters managed
Unnis Yusuf 187-6, taking first strike. Chunilall slammed 60 (2x4,3x6), David Harper got 60 (3x4,3x6) and Fazlim Mohamed 20. P. Arjune and M. Samaroo had two wickets apiece. HS Masters were restricted to 148-9 in reply. Surendra Lall made 40 and Kennard Luke 23. Mohamed had 3-31, Harper 2-17 and Laurie Singh 2-37. Meanwhile, the GSCL Inc and Regal Sports have b o t h e x t e n d e d condolence to the family and friends of the Late Richmond. The competition concludes tomorrow at the said venue.
England has made me a more matured player - Carmichael By Sean Devers At 29, Guyanese allrounder Kellon Carmichael is enjoying his third season in the English Leagues and with the 2017 edition lasting until September and 28 matches remaining the Malteenoes player is aiming for his best season yet. After eight games this season Carmichael has batted six times and scored 200 runs with two halfcenturies and a highest score of 81. He has also taken 20 wickets with medium pace including a best of 5-30. Today he will play against Findon Cricket Club in the 45-over Sussex premiere Cricket league for Goring CC and tomorrow for Sabina CC against Star CC in the 40-over Greater London Cricket League. In his last three games Carmichael, who played professional cricket in Trinidad for Aranguez and more recently Moosai SC, made 81 and took 4-34, scored 30 and captured 5-30
Kellon Carmichael drives in the English League during his half-century. to see his side to victories before hitting 58 and bagging 3-32 in a losing cause. In 2007 in St. Kitts, Carmichael played three Regional U-19 games to help Guyana to the last of their 12 titles and four 50over games including the
Final at Warner Park when the South Americans were beaten by Jamaica. He made his senior InterCounty debut in the 2008 limited overs tournament for Demerara before representing the Rest team in the 50-over Inter-County competition in 2009 and
Kellon Carmichael picks up his first wicket this season in England. three matches in the 2010 Inter-County t20 competition. He failed to make the Guyana Amazon Warriors which represented the West Indies in the 2010 t20 Champions League in South Africa. His first season in
English conditions was in 2013 before playing there a g a i n t h e n e x t y e a r. However, last year, with his ambition being still to represent his County at the senior 50-over and First-Class levels, he missed the English season.
“I took a break from all the traveling and also wanted to be at home for all the GCB franchise league matches to give myself a chance of staking a claim for national selection,” said Carmichael who did not gain favor with the National (Continued on page 25)
t r o Sp Stewart to lead Cleveland Cavaliers set up Young Windies on Golden State Warriors rematch southern Africa tour
Emmanuel Stewart will lead West Indies Under-19s in July on tour of southern Africa.
LeBron James scored 35 points as the Cavs saw off the Celtics to reach the NBA Finals. (Getty Images)
Xtreme Clean & Maintenance Co. / GT Beer Futsal resumes tonight
Part of the action in a previous competition at the National Gymnasium.
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