Kaieteur News

K

Tuesday Edition Integrity NEWS Commission must prosecute - Former Auditor General defaulters Anand Goolsarran

AIETEUR

May 28, 2019 - Vol. 12 No. 23

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com

Guyana’s largest selling daily & New York’s most popular weekly

Price $80

Online readership yesterday 91,287

Schoolbooks investigation…

Evidence surfaces that local printers had complained to Presidential Secretariat Guyana/Suriname ferry service suspended

…as MV Canawaima encounters 'serious mechanical issues'

MV Canawaima

Vision 2040 policy says…

Overpass elevators Undertake studies to still not operational as identify laws that need May 26 deadline passes amending, replacing

Govt. seeks Repackaging pesticides, More than 1,000 consultant to toxic chemicals without visually impaired in draft Bail Act permit is illegal - Board Region Three - Survey

ExxonMobil 'willing to cooperate' with SARA

Oil blocks probe... p.

16

Kaieteur News

PAGE 02

Tuesday May 28, 2019

Integrity Commission must prosecute defaulters - Goolsarran N

ow that the Integrity Commission has begun to monitor the declarations of those persons in public life, Chartered Accountant and former Auditor General, Anand Goolsarran says that it must now move to the next stages relating to its mandate if it intends to play any

meaningful role in preventing and fighting corruption in government.

In his most recent writings, the Chartered Accountant said the Commission needs to engage the services of technically and professionally competent persons to examine these declarations for

completeness and accuracy, and for possible mismatch between observable lifestyles and the contents of the declarations.

He said that it has to initiate steps to prosecute those who have failed to submit financial returns as well as those who have violated the Code of Conduct; and examine the

backlogged years from 1997 to 2017 to identify those persons who have failed to submit returns and take appropriate actions consistent with the requirements of the Act. Furthermore, Goolsarran said he has noted calls for the President and the Leader of Opposition to make their declarations to the

Commission public. The Chartered Accountant said he agrees with this, but would add that all Ministers of the Government and all Members of Parliament, indeed all elected officials, should do the same.

Also in agreement with Goolsarran's perspective is Head of Transparency International Guyana Inc. (TIGI), Dr. Troy Thomas.

During a previous interview with Kaieteur News, Dr. Thomas had said that the Integrity Commission Act needs to be amended to allow for the declarations of the President and the Opposition Leader to be made public.

During an exclusive interview with Kaieteur News Dr. Thomas said, “The existing legislation does not require that this information be made public. If you ask for it, depending on who the Chairman is, you may or may not get that information.”

He added, “I am also advocating for changes to the information law to require certain things get published before people ask…Sometimes you don't know what question you want to ask when the information is not public.

“And I am suggesting that the declarations of the President and the Leader of the Opposition be made public.”

Furthermore, the TIGI Head noted that this provision is catered for in the laws of Jamaica, one of Guyana's CARICOM sisters.

“This would be a good step for us. I believe that if you are running for public office at that level, I would say publish, but I know that would be a difficult pill to swallow, you know, saying in one sweep, let us publish everyone's information. But

Chartered Accountant, Anand Goolsarran we need eyes on the political class.”

The members of the Integrity Commission took their oath of office at the Ministry of the Presidency on February 22, last. The members are Attorneys-atLaw Kumar Doraisami, Thandi McAllister and Rosemary Benjamin-Noble.

Pandit Rabindranauth Persaud is also part of the Commission. Its Chairman is Kumar Doraisami. The main purpose of the Integrity Commission is to scrutinize public officers to ensure that they do not use their offices for financial gain.

Under the law, public officers including the President, Permanent Secretaries, Director of Public Prosecutions, Auditor General, Commissioner of Police, the Army Chief, Heads of the Service Commis s ions , F oreign Affairs officials, Judges and Magistrates and Department Heads are required to declare their assets to the commission.

Also required to submit declaration forms of their earnings and gifts received are Regional Executive Officers, the Chief Elections Officer, Mayors, Chairpersons and Chief Executive Officers of state companies, Registrars of L a n d s a n d t h e Commissioner-General of Guyana Revenue Authority, along with Presidential Advisors, and Heads of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission and Guyana Forestry Commission.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday May 28, 2019

PAGE 03

Missing canecutter's partly decomposed body found in canal

Found dead: Hukumchan Inshanally

T

he partly decomposed body of 56year-old Hukumchan Inshanally called "Sugrim" and "Oil", a canecutter attached to the Albion Estate, was discovered in a canal at the Hampshire backlands yesterday afternoon just after 13:00 hrs by estate workers. He had been missing since Friday.

Speaking from their residence at Lot 4 'C' Persaud Street, Rose Hall Town, the wife of the dead man, Sharda Inshanally, stressed that they are holding the estate management responsible for her husband's death since he had already concluded his day's work, but was reportedly asked to do some extra work (cut vines and bush).

According to the woman, last Friday morning she prepared breakfast and lunch for him to take to work and he had told her that he would return early.

"Friday morning I woke and I made roti for him because he said he coming back early, I got up and made it, and I had some pumpkin

Wife: Sharda Inshanally and carilla and he carry it. He tell me seh he coming back early, because Friday coming we suppose to do a Hawan (service) from my birthday, so he tell me let me go and buy up the drinks and stuff and let my son bring it home," she recalled.

She said after he left and time had elapsed she began to get worried, so she sent their son to some of his colleagues' home to inquire if they had completed the day's work, but all said that they returned home early and that they did not see her husband at work that day.

"When my son go and check the third workman, he too seh he come home early and dem nah see he, and that my husband did not work with dem that morning".

She said she made a check at another workman's house, and he too said the same, but this only made her even more suspicious that something had happened to her husband.

It was after night stepped in that the

More than 1,000 visually impaired in Region Three - Survey

I

n observance of Blindness Awareness Month, May 1- 31, the National Commission on Disability recently posted res u l t s o f a N a t i o n a l Household Survey on Persons with Disabilities (NHSPWD). This survey was conducted during the years of 2016- 2017 across five regions in Guyana.

In the Essequibo Islands of West Demerara, Region 3, surveys were conducted during the period July 11September 10, 2017. 1,045 individuals were found to be visually impaired and 75 persons totally blind. Among the five regions, this was the highest recording of visually impaired persons.

In Pomeroon-Supenaam, Region 2, the survey was conducted during the period May 17- June 23 2017. 213 persons were determined as being visually impaired and 75 persons blind.

In Mahaica-Berbice, Region 5, surveys were conducted during the period April 13 - June 21 2017. The data presented that 229 persons are visually impaired, with 67 persons are blind. In East-Berbice Corentyne, Region 6, surveys were conducted during the period September 26- November 30, 2016. It was presented that 939 persons reside there are

visually impaired, while 108 of those residents are blind.

Thus, Region 6 recorded the highest number of individuals who are blind.

Finally, in Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo of Region 9, the surveys that were conducted during the period July 11- September 10, 2017 presented that 429 persons are visually impaired while 61 of those individuals within that region are blind.

At the home of the dead man yesterday. daughter-in-law and son of the man lodged a missing person report at the Rose Hall Town Outpost.

"We started to search all over without the police, because they did not even attempt to help search, and an estate boat come down and search and they didn't find him. Since Friday dem searching without the police, until today when dem estate people call and say they find he body", the grieving wife disclosed.

He was discovered submerged in a canal at the Hampshire backlands with his clothing, work haversack and his tools, but his body was already in a state of decomposition.

The woman explained that prior to her husband's body being found, the gang foreman had visited her home Friday night when he went missing and told her that her husband had worked that morning, since he had booked his name and passed the work completed.

She then questioned why workers had claimed that he did not work with them.

She also stated that the foreman told her that Hukumchan ventured in one direction near the canal to work, while the other workers went a different route.

"My husband doesn't know how to swim, so why would he cross the canal alone in another direction?" she asked.

The woman also learnt that after her husband completed his day's work, the Foreman had asked him to clear some "vines and bushes", but he (the foreman) left and when he returned Hukumchan was nowhere to be found.

"How he can lef my husband unsupervised to do that alone and it was extra work he had him doing? They are responsible for my husband's death and I want justice", she cried.

Hukumchan, who worked with the Estate for over 30 years, shares two children with his wife. He was described as a peaceful, hardworking and kind individual.

"He never sleep out, never go rum shop, from work he does go buy cigarette and come home. Me and he does go upstairs when we finish eating dinner and watch news and then it's bed time", his wife told this publication.

She is calling for a thorough investigation to be conducted into her husband's death.

His body is currently at the Ramoo's Funeral Home awaiting a post mortem examination.

PAGE 4

Tuesday May 28, 2019

Kaieteur News

Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana.

Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Adam Harris Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

EDITORIAL

Theresa May: a poisonous legacy (Republished from The Guardian) Prime ministers do not get to dictate their legacies from a lectern outside No. 10, and there was some pathos in Theresa May’s attempt to list accomplishments in government to offset her colossal failure to take Britain out of the European Union.

That she oversaw a reduction in the use of disposable plastics is laudable, but it is not how history will remember her time in office. But Mrs. May never saw Brexit as her sole purpose in Downing Street. Her inability to grasp from the outset how all-consuming and difficult the project would be played a large part in her downfall.

She was poorly advised by ideologues who thought a hard Brexit could be achieved at minimal cost, but that is no excuse.

She chose to take the bad advice when it chimed with her own prejudices and rejected wiser counsel. She entered negotiations in Brussels ill-prepared and was schooled in brutal realities of economics and diplomacy. That was humiliating enough, but her failure to pass those lessons on to a national audience was unforgivable.

If she did understand the cruel calculus of Brexit tradeoffs, she did not confront her party with the truth. Nor did she use the amplifying power of her pulpit to shape public understanding of the issues. She preferred vacuity and dishonesty – “Brexit means Brexit”; “No deal is better than a bad deal”. She decommissioned the truth, afraid it might be used as a weapon against her.

The country now faces a Conservative leadership contest fought in a fact-free arena. The candidates must appeal to their parliamentary colleagues and then to a membership numbering little more than 120,000. That electorate is not by any measure representative of the country, being older, whiter and richer than the average citizen. A majority of card-carrying Conservatives are also happy to proceed with a no-deal Brexit, perhaps because they are financially insulated from its appalling consequences or because they do not believe the dangers are real.

They will demand reckless pledges before handing the keys to No. 10 over to the next prime minister. That could be Boris Johnson, the bookmakers’ favourite, or someone who outmanoeuvres the former foreign secretary by co-opting some of his bogus arguments. The Tory leadership contest will burden any victor with commitments that militate against a solution to the Brexit crisis – a promise to renegotiate the withdrawal agreement, for example. That will not happen.

The EU is not going to retreat from its current position at the behest of a radical Eurosceptic British leader animated by ideological hostility to the European project. Unless Mrs. May, by some remarkable twist of circumstance, gets her Brexit deal through parliament in the coming weeks, her successor will quickly confront a familiar menu of options: Brexit via the deal that exists, Brexit with no deal, or abandoning Brexit altogether. That new prime minister will also confront the same parliamentary arithmetic that obstructed Mrs. May’s efforts to achieve consensus.

The new leader will have no mandate from the country and no majority in the Commons. The likelihood of an early general election or another referendum has therefore risen, even if the exact route is still unclear. In her valedictory address, Mrs. May spoke of compromise as a noble pursuit, and she was right. Polarisation and radicalisation are making Britain ungovernable. But unifying the country around any one version of Brexit is not technically possible. It is an ambition Mrs. May arrived at late, by which point she had no political capital left to spend.

Leaving the EU is not a vague, malleable objective. It comes down to precise legal choices. Mrs. May made her choices and parliament rejected them. Her successor will face equivalent choices in a hostile climate where continental goodwill and domestic public patience are spent. It was once within her power to reframe the debate around goals that were more achievable, but she refused that challenge.

So she passes on an insoluble problem to a successor who can only win the job by promising to do the impossible.

It is a miserable and poisonous legacy.

How will changes at the EU Parliament impact Guyana?

DEAR EDITOR, The recent results in the European Parliamentary elections have thrown up some interesting dynamics. In the UK elections, both the Conservative and the Labour parties performed poorly. The Brexit Party received the most votes which is indicative of the strong pro-Brexit sentiments among a significant segment of the electorate in the UK. In the rest of Europe, the results were somewhat mixed

with significant support for parties on both sides of the ideological divide. Liberals and the Green parties also did well which could fundamentally alter the power equation in the European Parliament.

Of particular interest is the election results in Romania in which the ruling Socialist Democratic Party saw a steep reduction in the number of votes obtained due in large measure to corruption allegations against senior

government officials. Voters also rejected, in a simultaneously run referendum, legislation aimed at giving the government sweeping powers to reform the judicial system and to pardon those found guilty on corruption charges.

It was not accidental therefore that immediately following the election results, the Supreme Court upheld a sentence of three and a half years in prison against the leader of the ruling Socialist Democratic Party Liviu Dragnea on corruption allegations.

These are indeed exciting times.

One thing, however, remains certain and that is the inevitability of change.

How will changes at the EU Parliament impact on relationship with Guyana and the rest of the Caribbean?

Will there be a tendency towards greater Eurocentrism and a corresponding decline in developmental assistance for the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries? These remain questions, which can only be answered with the passage of time.

Hydar Ally

That is the how it was in the beginning, so shall it be in the end DEAR EDITOR, Recent information in the print and electronic media revealed that Magistrate Rondel Weaver at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court sentenced police inspector Prem Narine to seven days in prison. During the course of the same day, his Attorneys-at-law petitioned the Acting Chief Justice, Roxane GeorgeWiltshire, who ordered the policeman’s immediate release.

I am not au fait with all the facts in issue or facts relevant to the facts in issue in relation to this case. However, it is apparent that there were some exchange of words and other issues in open Court between the police inspector and the magistrate, who in her own judgment deemed the conduct of the policeman as contemptuous. No charge was read to the policeman.

According to him, the Magistrate told him that he was in Contempt of Court and sentenced to seven days in prison - all in one breath.

The process leading up to the jailing of the policeman

appeared to be flawed. It was not in keeping with natural justice and standard operating court procedures.

The principle of the “Right To Be Heard” was dashed out of the Court’s window. The inspector was not given the opportunity to defend himself or to have an attorney to plead his case.

Prisoners are entitled to this right, more so, policemen.

He was cited for some alleged contemptuous act and immediately sentenced to seven days in prison.

Luckily, during the day in question, his Attorneys-atlaw were given a hearing by the Acting Chief Justice who ruled against the magistrate and ordered the release of the inspector before the rising of the Court. I am not certain what was the exact offence the law enforcement officer committed.

Not certain if a charge of Contempt of Court lies within the ambit of the Magistrate’s Court. Certainly, it is within the remit of the High Court.

Flashback! A few decades ago, Justice Keith Massiah in the High Court cited a

prominent Attorney-at-law for Contempt of Court. It was during the morning session of the court proceedings. He ordered the Court Orderly to arrest the Attorney-at-law and keep him there until 1:00 pm that day.

Unlike Magistrate Rondel Weaver, Justice Keith Massiah instructed the Attorney-atlaw to appear before him at the appointed time with his defence team and address him, “or the jaws of the Georgetown Prison will open up and swallow him.”

As instructed, the accused appeared before the Justice with a battery of Attorneys-at-law including some senior counsels. The defence was adequately put to the Justice who warned the accused. End of the case.

The “Right To Be Heard” is a God-Given right. It is not only pertinent for legal matters but in resolving conflicts in our daily lives and living. It started in Genesis, when Adam and Eve committed themselves.

Although God knew exactly what took place, he did not pass judgment on them

immediately.

Instead, he called them and inquired what happened before imposing judgment.

That is the how it was in the beginning, so shall it be in the end. No one must be allowed to take away that right from us.

I hasten to commend the members of the defence team of Inspector Prem Narine for their prompt and intelligent action in successfully petitioning the Acting Chief Justice on behalf of their client and to salute her for not only giving them a hearing, but taking swift, certain and appropriate action, which abbreviated a shocking case of miscarriage of justice committed by Magistrate Rondel Weaver.

Hope that inspector Prem Narine will take legal action to expunge from the records the illegal conviction imposed on him.

Yours faithfully Clinton Conway Assistant Commissioner of Police (Retired)

Johnny Braff’s Night Shelter DEAR EDITOR, On May 4th 2019, Freddie Kissoon wrote an article on Johnny Braff entitled ”Johnny Braff: An autograph from a bed that breaks the heart”. Yep! It broke my heart and my comments on the article were ”This has moved me, for I knew Johnny Braff before and after becoming famous.

I will arrange for sheet and pillows for him right away. My heart bleeds at reading this.

The last time I encountered him was in New York many moons ago.

How life changes...how life changes... my, my!”

Indeed life changes, so pleasing it was to me to see that Johnny Braff finally did get a national award, that of a Medal of Service.

I felt and still feel good.

Freddie probably helped via his article!

Now some disappointment did set in for my efforts to send that pillow and sheet for Johnny Braff. I have met unbelievable difficulties.

Unbelievable that I wonder what is the matter with Guyanese people?

Firstly, the four folks I contacted via WhatsApp, do not read Freddie! So, they knew nothing about the state of Johnny Braff.

Secondly, I asked each one to get me the exact address and exact name of the shelter so that I could ‘Laparkan’ the items.

Unbelievably, none of them could get it!!

Thirdly, one of the folks after some prodding by me, did make very serious efforts to get the address of the shelter as being, East La Penitence Night Shelter, Arapaima Street, East La Penitence (next door to the Police Station), with a Miss Neblett as the contact person.

Fourthly, that person advised to forget ‘the Laparkan the items’ as Johnny Braff is in no

condition to deal with Laparkan.

F i f t h l y a n d f i n a l l y, yesterday the 26th May, I got a relative to take a brand new sheet and brand new pillow to the shelter for Johnny Braff, only to be told to come back another time, as the contact person Miss Neblett was not present!!

Yikes! Can you believe that?

So what happens to Johnny Braff when that contact person is not t h e r e ? Ye s … m y h e a r t bleeds on…and my mind asks what does a night shelter do in Guyana?

Carl Veecock

Tuesday May 28, 2019

PAGE 5

Kaieteur News

You can’t have democratic elections to elect a dictator DEAR EDITOR, For ministers of government not to admit that they have made a mistake, is completely incomprehensible.

It would be much better for your political career to admit making an error than to keep insisting that you did not, especially when everyone knows that you did. To admit that you messed up and take measures to rectify it, isn’t fatal to a political career, but not owning up to it, is.

It is what is wrong with our governments, it is why they cannot run the country, our Westminster system visualises highly trained managers, managing the departments of government as Permanent Secretaries, with political Ministers just providing political guidance and agendas, it cannot be the vision of any country to take a man or woman who was yesterday a non-managerial worker and suddenly thrust them into the position of being the sole manager of our multi-billion dollar Ministry, unprepared to listen to their Permanent Secretaries and balling up the entire situation.

I see reported in the Media that this government

is going to be reshuffling the Permanent Secretaries. That is just what we needed, shuffling the same OLD deck of Permanent Secretaries who were mostly selected, over time, not for their managerial skills, but allegedly for their malleability to overlook political lawlessness in their Ministries by their Ministers.

These are allegedly not seen as the highly trained public servant in the specific Ministry in which he/she came up through the ranks and understands it totally, and has been a high flier making his/her way to the top of the ladder as Permanent Secretary, which is what our laws visualize i.e. specialists in their fields, incredibly the situation has gone so far out of whack that an incompetent administration can see our permanent secretaries as being so irrelevant, that they can be shuffled from Ministry to Ministry?

It’s the politicians trying to blame the public servants for their shortcomings.

Since the Ministers are only supposed to provide political guidance in their Ministries, they can be shuffled but not the PSs. So

when I see that the Government intends to shuffle its PSs, I know, that as I understand the system, these people totally don’t know what they are doing.

Even our public has come to view the situation of these poorly qualified political Ministerial appointees as being the sole decision makers in their Ministries and are showering them with praises [or not] for doing what is mostly shallow, overpriced and ineffective work, frequently riddled with corruption.

This is not the system our laws visualizes, and now it means that we Guyanese have to demand that it returns to the system visualised by our laws, since with these untrained Ministers making major decisions which they are not competent to make, has proved to be a disaster for the entire country.

Whichever government comes to power they must follow our laws, they must not bend it to facilitate corruption.

This is a national call on my part, not a political one, I don’t care which side is in power, if we let the system operate the way it is written

Good use of money DEAR EDITOR, I took note of the accusations brought against the government of Guyana of using national resources to cover the Buju Bantan show in Georgetown. My honest opinion on the issue however is , that I wish that all governments will take such bold steps to put funding into sponsoring individuals with messages that can stop the decay of our society.

Who so ever it was that paid the bill to get this, musician to go against

fellow artists by calling for peace instead of promoting gun violence, have definitely put money to good use.

What was done in Guyana by this legendary musician at this time if Guyana’s 53 independence anniversary is definitely his best performance,and has definitely cause him in my book to be deserving of the Ambassador to the Caribbean title.

His recognition of the great work done by President Granger to unite the people of Guyana was also

commendable. So also were his visits to the poor and underprivileged.

May such efforts to unite the people of Guyana continue, and may Buju’s call for non violence be heard by all Caribbean youth.

From a child I have heard its said ,”Give Jack his Jacket.”

To those whose initiative it was to make Buju’s visit to Guyana more than a jump and wine affair, you have done a great job.

The Guyanese people applaud you.

Apostle Adrian Wade

in our laws, then many of our inherent problems will disappear. For once, we have to come together as one nation and demand it. I want to see highly trained Permanent secretaries doing exactly that permanently running their ministries and accountable to the people of Guyana. And because we will see them as the main architects of our future wellbeing, we want them to be accountable to us. It would mean that any government, which went into power and changed what are supposed to be Permanent Secretaries, they are violating the constitution.

Another reason for our problem is the long periods our governments stay in power, first the PNC were in power for 28 years, then the PPP went in and were in power for 23 years, this is a recipe for disaster. When a party or group of parties are in power for over 20 years, they don’t govern well, they become ineffectual and incompetent [or more incompetent as the case way be].

This happens inevitably because when, in this winner takes all political system which we have, it is clear that being in opposition for 20 odd years diminishes their activism and effectiveness since they are becoming poorer and poorer to mobilise themselves and their supporters effectively or are just plain fed up. In such systems, the weaker the opposition gets the more complacent and corrupt the one in power gets. And when finally through the ballot, and most times too late, the people express their outage at what is going on and vote for change, they are voting to put into power a set of people who have no idea what they have to do when in power because they have been in

opposition for so long; not to mention the feeding frenzy of corruption, which results from their being deprived of being at the feast table for over 20 years.

Neither side wants to do anything about this winner take all system, the systems which the constitutional reforms sought to introduce are not being followed, both sides prefer to rule as dictators and the small concessions which accompany such appointments as Chancellor, Chief Justice and Chairman of GECOM become victims of the dictatorship. The reforms had an aim, and it was to start inclusivity in the decision making process in these important appointments, just to name one area, that the two sides will compromise and cooperate with each other through give and take and negotiation, but notwithstanding that this is the law, both sides pay no attention to it, they each want to rule forever and give nothing to their oppositions, and the racial nature of our politics supports these long terms in office, it is therefore not unreasonable to decide who is keeping the racial divisions alive in countries such as Guyana. Whatever these people are saying, their agenda is to keep the disunity alive. Guyana is poised to become a wealthy country, so

we can afford to give the opposition, whichever it may be, a little more power and diminish the dictatorial powers, which our system allows through violations of our laws, by the very people who are sworn to enforce it, especially since the Proportional Representation systems do not allow any individuality in the parliament at all, it creates an immutable, ‘we and them’ situation, and it will always be so.

At this time, all Guyanese must be aware that our dealings with EXXON have been very amateurish and in the end the people of Guyana will end up with less than they are entitled to, the examples all across this planet supports the conclusion that countries like Guyana run by incompetent and corrupt dictators get rich, but the common man and woman end up worst off than before they found the particular natural resource which can lead to massive wealth. At this time the team we have facing EXXON to negotiate our oil benefits, is comparable to a bottom house bat and ball team trying to play test cricket against Pakistan. For those who will tell me about the democratic elections we have in Guyana, I only have this to say which I have said before, you can’t have democratic elections to elect a dictator.

Tony Vieira

PAGE 6

Tuesday May 28, 2019

Kaieteur News

Why not combine your bounty and spend it on the things that really matter?

DEAR EDITOR, By intent, please permit me to extend belated best wishes to the Nation on the 53rd Independence year.

Independence should be a time of reflection and celebration. We should take the time to reflect on all the struggles of our ancestors past, and the ones who sacrificed so much to bring us this independent nation.

Reflect on the dedication of the two political leaders, Mr. Jagan and Mr. Burnham, and what their commitment to this nation meant and how far along we are.

Fifty-three years ago, our nation gained its independence, a delivery of a nation with tremendous potential and whose future is ripe with opportunities. Those are the tremendous opportunities that are housed in the delivery of our elders and the potential of our youth that today, still remain

untapped.

We witnessed the sheer energy of the crowds at the various activities in Georgetown and it was exhilarating and quite the spectacle. The crowds were boisterous and flamboyant reminiscent of the kinds that one can only read of during the Roman times when the Senators could not find solutions to the nation’s problems, they embarked on the Gladiator Games.

Now that the dust has settled, permit me a few lines.

Fifty-three years of two successive administrations and we invent distractions from the mundane, jobless and mediocre systems that continue to stifle our “march to freedom.” Not much to celebrate. A house built on a solid foundation will withstand the toughest of stress tests and thus reflective of the PPP’s 23 years in office. To apportion blame

to one and not the other would be submitting to the unjust society we have fostered for 53 years thus the PNC/APNU occupies that chair also. No doubt both parties might have contributed in some way to our national development even though evidence is scarce. To suggest that schools, health centers and roads were built as their only claim to national development would demonstrate a poor understanding of what national development is while unemployment is high and the destitute continues to climb.

Before being dismissive, one should understand the obligation of the state to equitably dispense tax dollars i.e. the state has a responsibility regardless of who is in administration.

“I recently visited Lethem and many of the outlying indigenous communities,” said Mr. Shuman, “and the realities there are vastly different. One should begin to rename the Guyana Carnival -

the Georgetown Carnival.

While businesses in Georgetown feel a short-lived high, the rural communities are in a state of depression, the Lethem road is a trail having people stuck for days trying to get to/from the capital. These are indicative of the development left by the PNC, the PPP and now practiced by the APNU administration.”

Cuffy, in his battle for freedom had a very nice victory and could have delivered independence in 1763 but for one simple mistake. As the revolution picked up and their success grew, he and his colleagues donned their masters’ attire and were sold out by their own people and subsequently met their end.

The APNU has simply not learnt from history. The APNU (PNC) have donned the PPP’s attire and will soon understand the lessons of history that so many of their leaders brushed aside in school. History does have a way of repeating itself if we are slow to learn its lessons.

When I spoke to Mr. Shuman, he indicated he was attending the Buju concert. He said he has always had a taste for Reggae because of its identity and message. While sung by many artistes of African descent, the message is universal and the beat just touches the soul. He said, “It also is important that we understand what the justice system is there, for Buju has served his time, paid his debt to society and is on a road to redemption. Those are opportunities never given to the youths of Guyana. The ones who continue to live and languish in jail for small amounts of cannabis while denying political affiliates, friends, and rapists the even hand of justices’ touch. “ He indicated he purchased his ticket as he could not deny the nation and all the families who cannot afford to enjoy a meal, the state’s $5 000. “Think of what 70 million can do for so many families. Yes 70 million.

Forty million for Buju tickets and thirty million for Mercury Consulting out of Washington (allegedly). If these parties, the PPP and the APNU truly cared about the people, why not combine your bounty and spend it on the things that really matter – people. Would that make a difference to the families?

Forty million combined with the PPP’s thirty million can go a far way to providing alternative livelihoods to all the sugar workers who are out of work. Better yet, come together in Parliament and pass the Cannabis bill; with a mutually beneficial agreement, give the sugar workers the lands that they have toiled for decades and watch transformation happen. But I guess it denies both parties their rallying cries,” he stated.

We have seen a cabinet shuffle that should have presented yet another chance for this governing APNU – the AFC is history, so let’s not debate that. What we have is a hallowed Minister of State Portfolio.

In this administration what’s in a name? Mr. Harmon still controls the Government and all the socalled answers to be provided by friend and foe AG Williams, SOCU and such is all a show.

Nothing will become of it.

My question to His Excellency is to revisit the Green State Development Strategy (GSDS). It is a nice document that looks fantastic on a bookshelf in OP. No need to go searching through the entire document for what I refer to, rather, look at, 4.6 Governance and Institutional Pillars.

It would seem that Political Justice is not part of the vocabulary of this administration. However, just as Political Justice came for the PPP, it will for this Administration, and with me and my colleagues’ support, the Liberty and Justice Party (LJP) aims to deliver on that.

Let’s start with what’s in a name! Liberty for liberating the people from the many ills of society such as corruption,

lethargic government institutions, lack of infrastructural development, lack of market access, laborious tax system that impedes development, mediocre electricity system that hinders national development, security woes and much much more.

The LJP seems intent on correcting all of these and has voiced ambitious plans on legalizing cannabis because it is the right of the Rastafarian to practice their religion – it is enshrined in the UN Charter and our Constitution, and the industrial uses can far outstrip oil in revenues.

Guyana is so far behind on the rights of its peoples!

Justice that will ensure the ones who are truly deserving of being behind bars are placed there and that the scale of justice is equal to all.

Indigenous communities will receive their lands in a just society.

Not a single land title under this administration and the PPP left indigenous communities in conflict in perpetuity. The LJP seems to have an agenda to see Guyana as the Gem of the Americas and the Caribbean.

I part on this last note. Oil is inevitable. Guyana as a nation are ill prepared for this industry and any spill will pollute the entire Caribbean Sea and into the Gulf of Mexico with the prevailing winds and currents.

Guyana has the lungs of the earth as its yard. Imagine when we have to “rip those lungs out” to pay for oil spill clean-up if it should ever happen. Is that a chance we are willing to take?

Handiwork of the PNC and PPP! Quite an independence to celebrate!

Jesus said, “Let ye who hast not sinned cast the first stone.” The LJP can cast the entire quarry because the PNC and the PPP are same in animals in different jackets.

And quite frankly, the LJP seems to be the only choice for the future of Guyana.

Sincerely Yours, Dr. Govind Hinds, PhD

Kaieteur News

Tuesday May 28, 2019

PAGE 07

Schoolbooks investigation…

Evidence surfaces that local printers had complained to Presidential Secretariat T

here is evidence now that at least t w o l o c a l printers, angered by the situation over the printing of textbooks, had complained to the Ministry o f t h e P r e s i d e n c y, beginning as far back as 2017.

Both Kimoke Printery and F&H Printing Establishment raised questions about procurement, according to documents seen by Kaieteur News. It would lend to the mounting evidence that everything was not right about the Ministry of Education’s orders for text and exercise books.

It involves hundreds of millions of dollars annually being allocated by Government.

T h i s y e a r, a l m o s t $600M has been allocated

by Government for the printing of text and exercise books. Local printers say that since 2017, they have been getting little or no work. Rather, a significant number of orders were going overseas, including to Trinidad.

The printers had met to discuss the issue, complaining bitterly that the orders were not going to tender as is required by procurements. Rather, the

GNPL’s Chief, Trevor Bassoo orders for exercise books and some textbooks were going directly from the Ministry of Education to the Guyana National Printers Limited (GNPL), a stateowned entity.

State auditors have stepped in to launch an investigation, with personnel starting to sift through records of the ministry’s Book Distribution Unit last week.

The Audit Office would have responded directly to the public complaints that there was little evidence of established procurement procedures and that Guyana possibly did not receive

President David Granger

value for money.

The printers are insisting they have the capacity to print both text and exercise books and they can better the prices offered by any overseas printer.

GNPL has insisted it has done nothing wrong, but there are questions whether Guyana got value for its money in the books supplied by the entity, for use in the scores of schools that Government runs.

A c c o r d i n g t o correspondences seen, Kimoke Printery of La J a l o u s i e , We s t C o a s t Demerara, wrote the then Minister of State, Joseph

Former Minister of State, Joseph Harmon

Harmon, on September 26th, 2017, stating that it never received one job, although it had tendered for textbooks at very competitive rates.

Kimoke questioned why a foreign company, which has no offices and pays no taxes, was given preference over locals. Kimoke asked Harmon to investigate.

Indeed, Harmon acknowledged the letter, and said he had requested a report from the Ministry of Education.

On June 6th, 2018, Kimoke wrote Harmon again indicating it was still to receive a feedback.

Kimoke Printery was then told by Minister Harmon to make contact with the Procurement Department of the Ministry of Education regarding the queries.

In October last year, F & H P r i n t i n g Establishment also wrote President David Granger, complaining that in May 2017, it submitted bids for textbooks for the Ministry of Education.

However, F&H claimed, it was disqualified for not submitting a valid business registration.

F&H told the President that it found this strange, as

it had already submitted these during a prequalification stage.

F&H complained that the Tender Administration Board gave the job to GNPL, which did not even tender, and “due to their inability”, it was subcontracted to Trinidad - a company called Eniath’s Printing.

The President, a few days later, after receiving the letter from F&H, responded, saying that he had forwarded the letter to the Ministers of Finance and Education for attention.

President Granger said the ministries would respond.

Over the years, the Audit Office has been flagging the procurement of text and exercise books, finding evidence of poor storage and management.

GNPL itself had been facing major troubles, at one time managing to take orders for the exercise books, which are distributed from nursery to secondary schools.

However, a new multicoloured press, which it has installed is not working.

Local printers said it therefore should not have been awarded any contracts to print, as it will in turn have to use third parties.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 08

Tuesday May 28, 2019

GGB defends export licence granted to miner caught with 30lbs of gold in 2011

T

he Guyana Gold Board (GGB) has defended the approval of an export licence earlier this year to a mining company whose principal was at the centre of a case in 2011.

It had been reported by online news outlet, Action News, that the Republic Park, East Bank Demerara home of Rylon Adolphus, a director of Adolphus Mining Inc., was searched in 2011, where several soap powder buckets of gold were found.

However, yesterday, the Gold Board said that that matter was settled and it was not held against the miner when it deliberated and process the application for

the export licence.

The granting of the licence in March of this year came to light yesterday and immediately raised questions about the due diligence carried out by the Gold Board.

Sitting with Adolphus on the company that applied also is television reporter, Travis Chase.

Yesterday, in explaining the application for the coveted gold export licence, the board confirmed that a dealer's license was approved for Adolphus Mining, Inc. for 2019. The licence expires at the end of the year.

The board disclosed also that Chase is a director of said entity.

“In the instance of Adolphus Mining, Inc., the GGB management and directorate conducted the required due diligence customary for all existing dealers, and any applicants for the issuance of a dealer's license.”

According to the Gold Board, its management and

board were aware of the circumstances surrounding the case of a quantity of gold that was brought before the then GGB management in 2011.

“With regard to the gold from 2011, additional due diligence revealed that: 1) the holder of that gold was the producer, now licensed as a dealer; 2) all reports and ensuing official inquiries, at that time (and by the current board), relative to that gold indicated the miner and his gold holding (were) involved a private conflict; 3) the gold was weighed at the GGB and full payment was made at market rates prevailing in 2011; and 4) there were neither charges nor court matters nor convictions nor fines nor anything prejudicial levied in relation to that gold.”

The Gold Board insisted that issues were all part of the review and approval process by management and the directorate of the GGB in 2018/19.

“There was nothing that

Rylon Adolphus (left) and television reporter, Travis Chase (Courtesy of Action News) militated materially against, or that did serve as an effective bar to the issuance of a gold dealer's license to Adolphus Mining, Inc. The GGB is concerned that it was not consulted for clarification prior to the release and publication of this news item, which both invades the privacy of the parties named, and casts a

number of unfounded aspersions.”

With tough anti-money laundering, Gold Board has been stricter on conducting due diligence on persons who want to deal with gold.

With regards to Adolphus, it was reported that in May 2019, police acting on information searched a vehicle and

found.45 Glock semiautomatic gun and 60 matching rounds.

Information provided led the ranks to the home of Adolphus, where a search was initiated.

While conducting the search, officers discovered $2.4M and 30 pounds of gold hidden in soap powder buckets.

Tuesday May 28, 2019

PAGE 9

Kaieteur News

WHAT IS A MAJORITY OF ONE? The decision of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) on the no confidence vote of December 22, 2018, in Guyana’s National Assembly, will decide whether the science of mathematics remains the same or has to be

altered.

Already, the argument that 34 is a majority of 65 has created bemusement. Guyana is being parodied around the Caribbean.

One week ago, a letter writer to the Newsday

newspaper of Trinidad and Tobago suggested that the argument that 33 is not a majority of 65 “lends itself to many other hypotheses which exemplify how sometimes the law can make fools of us, thanks to the wiles of self-

Dem boys seh

Carnival come and Guyana light up Independence come and gone. People come from farrin like ants coming to sugar. And dem boys coulda spot dem from a mile off.

Dem look different; dem dress different and dem always wiping dem face when dem deh pon de road.

Is a nice thing, though, because when nuff of dem leff Guyana dem swear dem wouldn’t come back, how Guyana is a deh bad country.

At de time, Jagdeo was running de country. Dat is something he never admit— dat people run out de country like when mosquito running from Baygon.

Dis carnival week expose de amount of money in de country.

Machel Montano come and nuff people go—not only de foreigners. Dem

boys hear was couple thousand and dat cost money.

Dem had j’ouvert—nuff j’ouvert, and all had plenty people. Again, dat cost money. Dem had show at de National Park and then dem had Buju.

Dat was de show. Dem boys hear 24,000 people been deh. De story was dat de government buy 8,000 tickets fuh share out.

When dem boys hear dat dem come to de conclusion dat somebody wasting oil money. Dem trying to find out if is true and people laughing dem. One lady ask dem if dem believe in jumbie.

But is how G/T suddenly become full of people. It already had dem Cubans and Venezuelans and Brazilians.

Then de farrin Guyanese come.

Lang time, people use to stay wid family, but these days is either de family house not good enough or dem who come get sophisticated.

Dem stay in hotel till nearly all de rooms was booked.

But is de taxi service dat mek dem boys shake dem head.

Normal people calling fuh taxi and can’t get. Dat is when dem boys realize dat Guyana only believe it got taxi service. Locals couldn’t get a taxi but since a farriner call, taxi tun up.

Fuh dem, de price was cheap. A drop cost dem US$3. De same drop in Uncle Sam woulda cost dem US$20.

De money flow and people does seh how Guyana don’t have money.

Talk half and mek every day Carnival.

serving politicians”.

He noted that by the same logic, three is not a majority of five since half of five is 2.5, which must then be rounded off to 3 and one added which is four. Similarly, two would not be a majority of three since you would need a unanimous decision for there to be a majority vote, according to the logic that 34 is a majority of 65. This, he says, means that three has no minority.

But why stop at 3? Why not apply the law to all the numbers between 1 and 65?

What then is the majority of 1? According to the formula which is being argued by the Government of Guyana, half of one is a half.

This must then be rounded off to 1. And then 1 is added. We thus arrive at the absurd and impossible position that a majority of 1 is 2. How can the greater part of a number be greater than the number itself?

If the CCJ upholds the majority decision of Guyana’s Court of Appeal, this will rewrite the science of mathematics. It will mean that mathematicians will have to come up with a solution as to how to teach schoolchildren what is a majority and what is a minority, Textbooks on this

subject will have to be rewritten.

The ‘no half man’ rule (used by the Government of Guyana) would mean that a majority of 11 would be 7. But this contradicts the established formula in the text ‘Nature of Mathematics’, written by Karl J. Smith, who said that a majority of 11 is 6.

If the math is overturned, a great deal of confusion can result. The decision, if unrestricted to the noconfidence motion, can have implications for decisions passed in our appellate court, where three judges usually sit. There have been cases in which the verdicts have been split 2-1. One such 2-1 verdict, which ruled that legislation imposing term limits, without validation by a referendum, were unconstitutional, was subsequently overturned by a majority decision of the Caribbean Court of Justice.

More than mathematics is at stake. Who knows how many men in Guyana would have had their death sentences upheld by a 2-1 vote of our Court of Appeal.

What happens then if the ‘no half-man’ rule is endorsed by the CCJ and is not restricted only to the no-confidence motion?

Appeals, including those

contesting death sentence, have been known in the past to have been decided by a majority of a three-man panel of judges. What happens if it is held that 33 is not a majority of 65 and therefore 2 is not a majority of 3?

If the CCJ rules that 33 is not a majority of 65, what happens to all those cases in which our Courts and all other courts have made decisions with a majority of one? The CCJ decision also has implications for all oddnumber legislatures, committees and Boards and the decisions they take where an absolute majority is needed.

In addition, the CCJ decision will pronounce on the power of one. The learned judges of the Court will pronounce on whether that single vote cast by Charrandass Persaud was valid and thus resulted in the fall of the government.

PAGE 10

Tuesday May 28, 2019

Kaieteur News

=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===

I knew what to expect from this society when I started out It is good to have polemical exchanges in this country, so untold numbers in and out of Guyana can see the many sides of prominent Guyanese. And their eyes are opened. There is so much about so many of us that is yet to be told.

I will never be deterred in defending the rights of Guyanese and exposing those who betray the interests of the poor and powerless. Let me boldly state that from the time I got involved in social activism, became a practising academic and a media operative, I have never sought to have friends

and never sought to receive gratitude.

Recently, I refused a generous offer from the wife of Mr. Maurice Arjoon of the famous NBS court case. I welcomed the appreciation, but told Mrs. Arjoon I preferred her generosity to go to Syeada Manbodh, the animal rights activist.

In a recent discussion with philanthropist, Nazar Mohamed (popularly known as Shell) over investigating wrongdoing in a government institution, he was extraordinarily generous, but I told him I could not accept, because my role is to

investigate as a media operative.

I declined the donation of a stand-by generator from Stanley Ming, because I don’t think it is appropriate given my status as a media operative. I admire and respect Shell and Stanley, and immensely so. They are both iconic Guyanese, but that distinction I made must be made.

I know hatred comes with the territory, so I am not surprised at the language and style of writing many people use against me. I read things people say about me and I am completely unmoved, even

though ninety percent of those things are untrue. And I have no interest in replying to them because in doing so, you are giving recognition to the scurrilous mentality of these people.

The one advantage I have over my detractors is they haven’t got anything on me.

And when they publish their nastiness it will end there, because it will be impossible to supply proof.

I fought the most vicious regime the English-speaking Caribbean has produced – the Jagdeo government. I was attacked twice and almost lost my life.

I was put in the Brickdam lock-up for three days and two nights for a mere traffic offence and my UG contract was terminated. But there is a colossal but.

But at the end of the day, there were no allegations of perverted wrongdoing against me, because no one in Guyana can produce evidence. I taught for 26 years at UG, and not once had I slipped up on anything, no matter how small, the Jagdeo and Ramotar presidencies would have circulated my immoralities throughout this country.

Despite the viciousness

directed against me by those two presidents, they could not have found anything on me at UG or anything on me in Guyana.

I have been a UG lecturer for 26 consecutive years. I have been a vice president for one of the most prominent trade unions in Guyana. I have been a social activist all my life.

I have been a media practitioner for 31 years. Yet no one in the corridors of dictatorship that I fought against could bring any proof of my immorality as a university lecturer, trade unionist, activist, media practitioner in this country I constantly hear people ask why Freddie wrote against this and that person, given that this or that person is his friend. I like many persons I have criticised. But the crusade against wrongdoing in my country is more important to me than any friendship.

I like Mark Benschop. He is a friend. In 2015, I felt he was wrong not to join us in a broad coalition in trying to defeat the PPP. I criticised him in two columns. Nothing was personal. I have defended Mark Benschop in several columns against his

Frederick Kissoon detractors and I will continue to do so.

But he knows I will not run from my obligation to my journalistic principles if he does something bad.

I honestly believe Khemraj Ramjattan is the best leader in the AFC. He has been a longstanding friend.

Khemraj was superb in his brotherly assistance to me when he was in the opposition and I had so many libel cases.

But in numerous columns, too many to mention, since 2015, I have been pungently critical of him. Henry Jeffrey wrote that I have an obsession with UG. Yes, I do.

UG saved my life. I want to see good come to it. And I will expose anyone whose actions affect it.

Tuesday May 28, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

Kaieteur News

PAGE 12

Tuesday May 28, 2019

Barbados PM critical of int’l community as region discusses climate change resilience

B

RIDGETOWN, B a r b a d o s (CMC) – A weeklong conference discussing priorities and solutions to tackle climate and disaster risks began here yesterday amid calls for a new paradigm towards development and concerns that the region continues to be marginalised in its efforts to become climate resilient.

More than 500 delegates from 20 Caribbean countries are attending the Understanding Risk (UR) Caribbean Conference that is organized by the World Bank in partnership with the Barbados government, the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) and the European Union (EU).

Prime Minister Mia Mottley told the delegates that while there was need for the Caribbean countries to establish a sinking capital fund to meet some of its developmental needs “the lumpy nature of the investment is such that we have in my view to make serious decisions as nation first and foremost to protect the fund by embedding it in our constitution…

“But secondly we may have within the limited

capacity of what you can earn within a small economy…to protect and to preserve areas that will guarantee a level of revenue in order to be able to ensure that we can replace the critical infrastructure when needed”.

She said for example, everyone is interested in renewable energy but that it represents more than anything else “the patrimony of the particular region.

“And if we therefore are to ensure and guarantee our own survival, it is my humble view that we may need to, particularly where we have public water infrastructural firms to preserve a portion of the market for our water authorities to work, in order to be able to help fund that sinking fund that is dedicated to capital infrastructure, so that there is no but or ifs as to how we can meet the target with respect to the replacement of the mains as we go forward,” she said, noting that in the case of Barbados, a significant amount of cash is needed to undertake the exercise of replacing an aging water distribution system.

But Mottley said that while Caribbean countries

had in the past undertaken several policies to ensure their socio-economic development it was now critical ‘to engage those who have placed us on the front line of this battle” of climate change and resilience.

She said that for more than 25 years “we have literally tried to sustain an argument against a one size fit all prescription, and that recognises that the inability to distort global trade in goods and services ought to matter, because there is a disproportionate consequence to enterprises within our region who in many instances were forced to either shut down production or to become marginalised because of the removal of the non-tariff barrier…as a result of our becoming signatory to the World Trade Organisation (WTO).”

Mottley said the region’s participation in the global trading bloc was intended to bring sustainable development and progress.

“If we were unsuccessful then for those decades, it causes me to wonder how successful we shall be now with respect to the acknowledgement by the rest of the world that these

Prime Minister Mia Mottley addressing Understanding Risk (UR) Caribbean Conference (CMC Photo) countries remain on the frontline of a war that we did not start nor do we sustain.”

She said that if the images of people responding to the destruction caused by hurricanes and earthquakes in the Caribbean are to mean something, there must therefore be the change to “the continued belief that countries can be graduated on the basis of middle income status, purely on

GDP (gross domestic product) and precluded from access to critical funding to be able to modernise their infrastructure”.

She said in the face of inherent vulnerability, the issue now has to become “a historic topic rather than a fight we are continuing to wage on a daily basis”..

She said she is aware of the extent to which global politics and power relations

have been allowed “to literally creep in to the determination as to who can benefit and who shall not benefit”.

She said while she fully accepts that the efforts to maintain the status quo are not at the level of the technocrats “but at the level of capitals.

“This is unsustainable and we have to determine that if we really want to be able to make progress against the battles that cause tremendous risk such that we can become resilient then we need to start doing things differently and we need to start recognising first and foremost that failure to act is largely because you do not believe that the problem is important enough to guarantee such action”.

She said there is also a need to recognise that “we need 1.5 to survive, a reference to the region’s climate change call for “1.5 to Survive” global warming.

“Ask yourself on what basis can there be a sustainable platform for international cooperation and development if the very right to life and the very right to the sustainable nature to sustaining our societies is (continued on page 20)

New FAO study finds ways to help countries cope with natural disasters

B

RIDGETOWN, B a r b a d o s (CMC) – A new study by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has found that rainwater harvesting in Jamaica and planting Haitian peas are two of the best practices to cope with natural disasters.

The study also found that planting trees provide some form of protection for cattle in Bolivia as that country coped with natural disasters.

The FAO study analyses good practices to face natural disasters in Jamaica, Guyana, Haiti, Bolivia, Colombia, and seven other countries in the world.

The UN body noted that harvesting rainwater in Jamaica, planting trees as barriers to the hurricanes of Haiti and the use of improved pens to protect alpacas from the cold of the Bolivian altiplano, are some

of the practices included in the study titled “Disaster risk reduction at farm level: Multiple benefits, no regrets”.

The study analysed more than 900 farms in 10 countries around the world and showed that on average, improved practices generated two times more benefits than previously used practices, including increases in production and a reduction in damages and losses due to disasters.

It said these solutions do not require substantial investments, making them available to small-scale farmers.

“The study not only demonstrates that prevention is profitable, but also highlights the important role that small-scale interventions at the farm level can play to increase the resilience of livelihoods and promote sustainable

development,” said Anna Ricoy, the FAo coordinator of Disaster Risk Management.

The south of St. Elizabeth is a highly productive agricultural municipality of Jamaica that suffers dry seasons, prolonged droughts and high temperatures during the summer.

Most of the farmers in St. Elizabeth buy irrigation water, but its availability is scarce during the drought.

The solution studied by FAO was the introduction of a rainwater harvesting system.

The system consisted of catchment basins located in the roofs, a thousand gallon plastic storage tank and a gravity-drip irrigation system.

The FAO said that this practice strengthened the resilience of farmers against drought, allowing them to produce crops during the dry

season, prolong the cycle of each harvest and generate additional income.

That simple change produced a 131 per cent increase in the net value of tomato production, and a 29 per cent increase in sweet pepper production, the study showed.

In Haiti, peas are one of the most important subsistence crops in the communes of Bainet and Grand Goave, since they have two growth seasons per year.

But these small vegetables and the farmers who grow them must face a significant threat from hurricanes annually.

The FAO said that one way to mitigate their impact on crops is to plant live barriers, namely hedges, trees and a variety of very tall grasses (elephant grass), which provide natural protection and stabilize

soils.

On some farms, farmers combined these “living barriers” with conservation agriculture and agroforestry techniques to improve soil quality, reduce water loss through evapotranspiration and runoff, and improve water infiltration.

“The combination of these techniques allowed farmers to increase the net value of their production by 110 per cent for years without natural disasters, but they also had minor, yet still significant challenges, during hurricane years.

“On the farms affected

by Hurricane Matthew in 2016, the net benefits of pea cultivation were 52 per cent higher than those plots that maintained previously used practices.”

The FAO said it has been assisting Bolivian farmers from El Chaco, in southeastern Bolivia,

planted trees on their lands because they are situated is an area of arid plains where cattle must face freezing winds, sudden floods and prolonged droughts. It said these situations led to the death of many cattle.

The FAO said planting the trees not only provided fodder for the cattle, but they became a natural protection against the elements, fertilizing the land with their leaves and improving the health of the soil with their roots.

“These silvo-pastoral systems produced an increase of 109 per cent in the net benefit of the farms that implemented them, in comparison to those that maintained their previous techniques.

They also allowed carbon capture and ensured greater growth of the grasses that the farmer's livestock live on.”

Kaieteur News

Tuesday May 28, 2019

PAGE 13

UG unions 'feel vindicated' as Vice Chancellor proceeds on leave

T

he University of Guyana Council, at a special meeting held on May 23, determined that ViceC h a n c e l l o r, P r o f e s s o r Ivelaw Griffith, C.C.H., should proceed on his terminal leave in accordance with the terms and conditions of his contract with effect from May 28, 2019.

In this regard, the Council directed that Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic Engagement, Professor

Michael Scott, perform the f u n c t i o n s o f Vi c e Chancellor (acting) for the period May 28, 2019 to June 13, 2019.

This recent development has left the University unions feeling vindicated.

The unions – the University of Guyana Workers Union and the University of Guyana Senior Staff Association – in a statement indicated as much.

“The University of Guyana Unions feel that their stances have been

Guyana/Suriname ferry service suspended …as MV Canawaima encounters 'serious mechanical issues'

T

he daily ingress and egress from the Moleson Creek Ferry Stelling is currently at a halt after the lone ferry MV Canawaima encountered serious mechanical issues, forcing it to be shut down.

The ferry which has been in operation for over 15 years has recently experienced short-term shutdowns, but would normally get back up and running within a short period of time. However, this time around it failed to do so.

The service which is beneficial to both Guyanese and Surinamese will now present "a terrible inconvenience", the Regional Chairman David Armogan said.

He opined that the current situation the Ferry Stelling is faced with "should not have been allowed to happen in the first place".

According to Armogan, both Suriname and the Government of Guyana, who are responsible for the maintenance of the Ferry, "should have looked at ways of maintaining and upgrading it so it would not have reached to this stage.

It's as if they were waiting

for this to happen rather than trying to remedy the minor issues".

He explained that with the ferry down, many persons including traders from both Guyana and Suriname coming in and heading out from that point will be put at a disadvantage.

The backtrack, I foresee, will be a bit more busy now, since people will have to resort to that route, and they will also have to bring back the launch service until this is fixed".

He stressed that it is an unfortunate development that could have been avoided if closer attention was paid to upgrading the service.

Meanwhile, in a release from the Department of Public Information (DPI), it was stated that the operations have been suspended from yesterday until further notice.

The Terminal Manager, Gale Culley-Greene, had stated that the ferry had been experiencing mechanical difficulties for a while now and as such a decision was taken to have the vessel assessed and repaired.

The vessel is currently docked and a replacement vessel is expected to be sought in the interim.

vindicated with the two important decisions taken by the University's Council on Thursday 23rd May.” The other decision to which the unions refer was one in relation to the ViceChancellor's request to be considered for a new contract.

The unions disclosed that Council after prolonged debate decided that an evaluation must be done before any decision is made about either award or non-award of the contract.

“We had always noted that the University's practice is to allow persons to proceed on leave, with exceptions being allowed in certain fairly rare instances.

Usually payment in lieu of leave would be done at the University's request and in

keeping with its needs and the availability of funds. The first Council decision of 15th April was therefore entirely proper,” the unions added.

Continuing, the union bodies said, “The round robin fiasco represented an attempt to overturn the correct decision. We are therefore grateful that in the end, Council recognized the error involved in the directive to allow the ViceChancellor to be paid and to remain on the job.”

The unions however shared their disappointment that the debacle has cost the University even more.

“We now have to pay the Vice-Chancellor even more than we would have paid if he had proceeded on leave on 13th May. The round robin resulted in the cashstrapped University most likely having to pay over one million dollars to the Vice-

Chancellor.”

H o w e v e r , a n administrative official , when contacted by this publication, indicated that the amount could be much smaller.

The unions went on to share that “Our principle with regard to the ViceChancellor's contract has been that the award of any new contract should only take place after an evaluation of his performance has been undertaken.

We have been advocating for years for the evaluation of the senior members of the administration. To our knowledge, none has ever taken place of the current set of administrators, though we believe new contracts have been awarded to some of them.”

In the interest of accountability, the unions

said too that, “the University can learn from the tenure of any senior administrator, this practice should become standard.

We are pleased that the University Council has also moved to establish that evaluation should become a routine aspect of any ViceChancellor's tenure”.

But disappointed, the unions said, “We are aware that there are members of Council who do not seem to yet grasp these principles, or if they do, did not seem to want them applied in the c a s e o f t h e Vi c e Chancellor.”

Regarding the state of affairs as unfortunate, the unions added, “We shall not cease our relentless advocacy of these principles, and we hope that these members of Council will be able to fully endorse them in the future.”

Kaieteur News

PAGE 14

Tuesday May 28, 2019

Vision 2040 policy says…

Undertake study to identify laws that need amending, replacement

T

he final document of the Green State Development Strategy: Vision 2040 was recently released by the Department of Environment, and part of it deals with correcting deficiencies in the Rule of Law. In this regard, the document says that a study should be undertaken to identify laws and regulations that require amendment, replacement and/or repeal in the current economic and social context of Guyana.

It may be submitted to Parliament to be used to develop a legislative agenda.

These actions would strengthen the legislation.

According to the document, wherever these create unwitting obstacles to development and transformation, they will be

removed considering most efficient way to pursue legislative changes.

A restructured and transforming economy will no longer rely on 'businessas-usual' approaches that perpetuate cycles of increasing cost and uncertainty of doing business, encouraging corruption and informality, and promoting insecurity and inequalities which are obstacles to social cohesion.

Focused primarily on enhancing the capacity of the judicial system and reducing case backlogs, it was stated that government will implement a system-wide digital recording and trial management system.

Earlier this year, the Canadian funded Judicial Reform and Institutional Strengthening (JURIST)

Parliament Building Project official handed over ten Liberty systems to the judiciary.

The equipment was installed from November 1114, 2018 in 10 courts across Guyana - nine in Georgetown and one in Berbice.

The systems will allow the courts to capture, store and retrieve digitally recorded audio of courtroom proceedings.

Then, Chancellor of the J u d i c i a r y Yo n e t t e Cummings-Edwards noted that while technology brings transformation change and enormous benefits to all stakeholders in the justice system, it will not replace judges, magistrates, registrars and judicial officers, but “technology in the hands of these great persons will transform the

judicial landscape.”

Furthermore, a section of the document deals specifically with strengthening the independent judiciary with additional resources for greater effectiveness and says that it requires sufficient budgetary resources for the effective development of its human resources, management system and physical facilities.

According to the document, “In the short term, the Government will implement a system-wide digital recording and trial management system for the Judiciary that is widely acknowledged as a necessary condition for reducing case backlogs and fulfilling the promise of the recent reform of civil

procedure.

Over the medium term, the judiciary will fill the critical personnel vacancies in the magistracy and courts system.

The expansion of the judiciary into hinterland areas will be continued including construction of physical facilities to ensure more frequent sittings of the courts.”

The document was keen to note that a strong judiciary also relies on a support system that includes, among other things, an alternative dispute resolution system and legal aid services.

It explained that the latter includes the expansion of access to hinterland communities and those held in remand, including youth.

It added that the implementation of the

Juvenile Justice Reform and Family Court system will be accelerated and partnerships with the private sector and civil society are encouraged to gain buy-in to these services and to ensure service quality to communities.

The Green State Development Strategy: Vision 2040 is Guyana's t w e n t y - y e a r, n a t i o n a l development policy that reflects the guiding vision and principles of the 'green agenda.’

The central objective is development that provides a better quality of life for all Guyanese derived from the country's natural wealth – its diversity of people and abundant natural resources (land, water, forests, mineral and aggregates, biodiversity).

Kaieteur News

Tuesday May 28, 2019

PAGE 15

Guyana participating in anti-money laundering conference in Trinidad

A

ttorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams is leading a Guyanese delegation to the XLIX Plenary and Working Group Meetings of the Caribbean Action Task Force being held in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.

The meeting, which opened yesterday, will discuss a range of issues.

In addition to Williams, other members of the Guyana delegation include Tamika Barkoye - Ministry of Legal Affairs; Joanne Bond - AG Chambers; Rommel St. Hill - AG Chambers; Matthew Langevine, Director of the Financial Intelligence Unit; Alicia Williams also of the FIU; Eondrene Thompson, General Manager, Guyana Gold Board; Lloyd Moore –

Chief Executive Officer of the Gaming Authority; Perlina Gifth - Ministry of Social Protection; Natasha Backer and Teshana Lake of the DPP Chambers; Shaun Allicock – Securities; Governor, Bank of Guyana, Dr Gobind Ganga and Kara Duff -Yehudah of GGMC. Guyana recently hosted two Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) training and sensitisation workshops for attorneys-atlaw and accountants/auditors.

The training events were organised by Williams, who is the prime contact for Guyana's AML/CFT regime and the Chairperson of the AML/CFT and Proliferation Financing National Coordination Committee.

The workshops held at the Cara Lodge Hotel were

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams (sixth from left) and members of the Guyana delegation at the XLIX Plenary and Working Group Meetings - Trinidad and Tobago. seen as critical as Guyana prepares for its CFATF F o u r t h Ro u n d M u t u a l Evaluation, scheduled for

Livestock Authority cracks down on importation of eggs

A

uthorities are paying more attention to the importation of eggs.

According to the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA), an import permit is needed when bringing eggs into Guyana. The advisory was published Sunday in the state-owned Guyana Chronicle.

Under the laws of Guyana - the Animal Health Act 2011 Section 22 (1) “Any person intending to import any animals or animal product/commodity into Guyana shall apply to the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) for an import permit”.

The GLDA said that as such, all importers of eggs are required to obtain prior approval and an import permit from its offices.

“Importation of eggs without the requisite documentation is a criminal offence and will result in the seizure and destruction of the eggs and consignee (importer) will be charged and placed before the court.”

The authority explained that unauthorised importation poses a disease and health threat to the poultry industry and human population.

“All eggs to be imported must come from farms certified by the official veterinary authority of the country of origin, indicating

The authorities are warning that importers will need permits to bring eggs into the country. that the eggs are free from diseases, fit for human consumption and/or the production of baby chicks.

Also, all imported eggs must be presented for entry in new and clean containers.”

GLDA said that applications can be made at its Mon Repos offices.

Guyana has several

thriving egg production operations.

According to official figures, there are an estimated 100 independent commercial broiler farms, varying in size.

In addition it is estimated that there are some 3,000 small 'back yard' farmers with average sizes.

the first quarter of 2022, and more so, given that the Money Laundering (ML) vulnerability levels for attorneys-at-law and accountants/auditors are generally considered to be high, based on AML/CFT t r e n d s g l o b a l l y. ” T h e completion of Guyana's first Money laundering and Terrorist Financing (ML/TF)

National Risk Assessment in 2016 concluded that the ML vulnerabilities and risk with these sectors in Guyana are consistent with international norms.

The workshops also highlighted the obligations of attorneys-at-law and accountants/auditors classified as Designated Non-Financial Businesses or

Professions (DNFBPs) under local AML/CFT legislation.

With Guyana being on a cusp of economic transformation with the development of the Oil and Gas Industry, Williams has insisted that it is important to make the country a safe and secure place that attracts investors.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 16

Tuesday May 28, 2019

Oil blocks probe...

ExxonMobil willing to cooperate with SARA

E

xxonMobil's H e a d o f Government and Public Affairs, Deedra Moe, says that the company would be willing to cooperate with the State Asset Recovery Agency (SARA) which is probing the award of oil blocks it holds offshore Guyana.

The news of the investigation by SARA was first reported by Bloomberg.com, which quoted the agency's head, Dr.

Clive Thomas, as saying that the Stabroek, Kaieteur and Canje blocks, all operated by ExxonMobil, will be part of the inquiry, as well as the Orinduik block operated by Tullow.

The Kaieteur and Canje Blocks were given out by the Ramotar administration just days before the 2015 General and Regional Elections.

Moe told Kaieteur News that the company has seen the media report on the issue,

but it has not been contacted by the government in relation to it.

T h e o ff i c i a l s t a t e d nonetheless that, “ExxonMobil followed all applicable laws and regulations in acquiring its government approved licences.”

In the meantime, Head of Transparency International Guyana Inc. (TIGI), Dr. Troy Thomas, said that he is pleased with the recent disclosure that the award of offshore oil blocks to the likes of ExxonMobil is being probed by the State Asset Recovery Agency.

TIGI's head said that the investigation is necessary since the circumstances

under which the blocks were given out do raise concerns.

The TIGI Head had said, “...I know former President Donald Ramotar had rebutted arguments about the giveaway of our assets just before elections.

But I think a full investigation would serve us well...The award of contracts should be an open process, especially as it relates to oil. I don't think we can afford for contracts to be done in the dark.”

The official added, “At the end of the day, people have a right to know how their resources are being given out. So SARA is doing the right thing in this regard...” The TIGI Head

Exxon Mobil's Head of Government and Public Affairs, Deedra Moe said that SARA's investigation should also ascertain what scope there might be for reclaiming any of the offshore assets that were not awarded in a fair manner.

He had said too, that the anti-corruption body should hire all the technical help it needs to ensure this investigation it is pursuing is a success as it is a matter of national interest.

Govt. seeks consultant to draft Bail Act

T

he Ministry of Legal Affairs is looking for a consultant to draft a Bail Act. Presently there is no Act regulating the granting of bail in Guyana.

The government and the InterAmerican Development (IDB) recently signed a loan agreement for an intervention in the justice system which seeks to address the institutional issues which affect the criminal justice system.

It is referred to as the Criminal Justice System Program and intends to apply part of the funding towards consulting services Apart from a consultant to draft a Bail Act, the ministry is also looking for a consultant to provide restorative justice facilitator's training and a consultant to provide leadership development training.

The Bail Act will be aimed at bringing uniformity in relation to the granting

and refusal of bail. It is expected to bring some level of consistency in this regard.

According to a 2018 Improve Access to Justice in the Caribbean (IMPACT) Report, there are five Caribbean states that have a Bail Act. These are Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Jamaica, St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis.

Those without include Guyana, Grenada, Belize, S t . Vi n c e n t a n d t h e Grenadines and Montserrat, Dominica and Antigua and Barbuda. In Guyana, bail is not granted for certain offences like murder and treason.

Guyana's Constitution embraces the doctrine of presumption of innocence until proven guilty and provides that a person who has been charged but not tried within a reasonable time is entitled to be released either unconditionally or upon reasonable conditions.

In considering bail, Judges and Magistrates would consider the serious nature and gravity of the offence, the likelihood of a defendant returning to court, the prevalence of the offence, the criminal record of the defendant, witness tampering, among other factors. Presently, there have been inconsistent approaches by different courts in relation to bail.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday May 28, 2019

PAGE 17

“Badness is not it”

- Buju Banton spreads “positive message” to youths during community visits

Buju Banton interacts with several members of the Rastafarian community at Victoria Village.

Minister within the Ministry of the Presidency with responsibility for Youth Affairs, Ms. Simona Broomes along with Jamaican dancehall and reggae superstar, Buju Banton, with youths of the Tiger Bay community

M

inister within the Ministry of t h e Presidency, Simona CharlesBroomes, on Sunday afternoon, along with Jamaican dancehall and reggae superstar, Mark

Myrie, popularly known as Buju Banton, visited the communities of Leopold Street, Charlestown and Tiger Bay in Georgetown, and Victoria on the East Coast Demerara, where they interacted with young

people.

During their visit to Victoria, the duo met with members of the Rastafarian community and discussed the many advancements that have occurred over the years, as well as the challenges

Repackaging pesticide, toxic chemicals without permit is illegal - Board

T

he Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Control Board is warning pharmacies, importers, distributors and others that it is illegal to repackage any pesticide or toxic chemical without possessing the relevant authorizations.

In a public notice on Sunday in the state-owned Guyana Chronicle, the board said that the regulations has made it clear that the a person may not sell by wholesale or retail or store, package or manufacture a toxic chemical, except in premises licensed by the board.

It was explained that a toxic chemical is “any disinfectant or any other substance known to be poisonous, corrosive, irritating, cable of causing a sensitive reaction or harmful to man or animal that is used in agriculture, the arts, commerce or industry, or for any domestic or other purpose, other than any antiseptic, drug or pesticide.”

Over the years, many of the communities, including rice growing ones, would have seen the springing up of shops that sell pesticides in containers and sometimes in unmarked soda bottles.

The board made it clear

that it is mandated by the Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Control Act 2000 (No. 13 of 2000) and its associate regulations 2004 (No. 8 of 2004) for the management of all pesticides and toxic chemicals in a lifecycle approach.

“T h i s i n c l u d e s t h e manufacturing, import, export, distribution, sale, use, transport and storage of all pesticides and toxic chemicals.”

The board said that the repackaging of toxic chemicals for resale without an Establishment Permit from the board is in breach of the regulations.

“All importers,

manufacturers, exporters, distributors, pharmacies of any individual or company desirous of repackaging toxic for resale must under the abovestated legislation apply to the Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Control Board, not later than August 31st, 2019 for an establishment permit. Persons found engaging in such activities after the notification period has expired shall be dealt with according to the provisions of the law,” the public notice said.

The board has been fighting a battle also after a rise in the incidence of suicide using pesticide, in especially farming areas.

facing them.

Minister Broomes, according to a Ministry of the Presidency statement, assured them that the Government will continue to develop communities across the country and that theirs would not be left behind.

The Minister, in an invited comment, said the walkabout with Buju Banton was geared at spreading positive messages to the youths of the communities visited.

“We share the same vision for young people and today's activity was aimed at providing words of encouragement to them. We took a message of encouragement to the youths in their language, in their spaces,” she said, while thanking the Jamaican artiste for meeting some of the country's youth.

Meanwhile, Buju Banton

reminded the youth he interacted with that a life of crime and violence ought not to be their desired path.

“Badness is not it,” said Buju Banton. While visiting the Rastafarian community in Victoria, Jamaican artiste stressed the importance of having programmes which can enlighten youth and propel them to a positive future. He also urged for the community to continue being self-sufficient and singled out agriculture as a cornerstone of a healthy community and by extension, country.

Buju Banton arrived in Guyana on Friday afternoon to perform at Saturday's much anticipated 'I am legend' show, which was part of this year's Guyana Carnival activities, held at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, East Bank Demerara.

PAGE 18

Kaieteur News

Tuesday May 28, 2019

Grove police pickup crashes into two cars after “chase”

A

police pickup from the Grove Police Station, East Bank Demerara, suffered significant damage yesterday after crashing into two cars along the Diamond access road. According to residents, the early

morning incident involving the Tunland pickup, PWW 5428, occurred at the corner of 7th Avenue.

The police pickup crashed in a Toyota wagon and what appeared to be a Toyota 192.

Police ranks from the pickup claimed they were chasing a vehicle when they were “braced” off the road. The residents are questioning who will pay compensation.

(Guyanese Critic photos)

Kaieteur News

Tuesday May 28, 2019

PAGE 19

Region Four Education Dept. pays homage to 53 seniors for Independence

Regional Vice Chairman, Earl Lambert, hands over an award and hamper to a senior who, despite her blindness, enjoyed the event, while offering thanks through songs.

U

n d e r t h e leadership of acting Regional Education Officer (REdO), Ms. Tiffany Harvey, the Region Four Department of Education held an event recently which sought to honour 53 seniors.

The event, which was the first of its kind in Region Four, recognized the 53 seniors as part of Guyana's 53rd Independence. Gracing the occasion were Regional Chairman, Ms. Genevieve Allen, Regional Executive Officer [REO], Ms. Pauline L u c a s ; R e g i o n a l Vi c e Chairman, Earl Lambert, and several senior and junior officers from both the Department of Education and the Regional Democratic Council [RDC] administration.

Harvey said that the time has come for homage to be paid to the many men and

women who through their tireless, unselfish and committed efforts have ensured that Guyana is a much better place today. She said that “too many times the public tend to forget that had those gone before us not laid a foundation, then we would not be enjoying what we are doing today.”

“I firmly believe that you, our seniors have helped in the continued growth and development of this nation.As the ActingRegionalEducationOfficer,I say thank you, however with Guyana celebrating its 53rd Independence, we have identified 53 persons who have served in various sectors to identify you today,” she said on Friday.

The honourees, who were all clueless as to why they were invited to the event held in the conference room of the Department of Education, were therefor e

Regional Executive Officer Pauline Lucas presenting one of the many awards to a former educator shocked upon learning that they were being honoured with hampers and treated to scrumptious cuisine.

Regional Executive Officer [REO], Ms. Pauline Lucas, said that it was an emotional event asitallowedher and others within the region to express in a genuine way their thanks and gratitude for the services that were rendered by the seniors. She congratulated Harvey and team for the initiative, reassuring them that she stands ready to continue supporting such initiatives.

“This is a brilliant initiative, as many times persons are forgotten after they would have made significant contributions to the public service. It's as though their contributions went in vain, and I am very

A smiling senior gladly accepts his award and hamper from the REO Acting Regional Education Officer, Tiffany Harvey, makes a presentation to a retiree

happy today that the Department of Education

Several of the hampers placed on the table for each honouree

and Miss Harvey have sought to remind you that we have not lost track that you made valuable contributions to the region and more so the country,” Lucas said.

The REO stressed the importance of recognizing the seniors, stating that “as we reflect on Guyana's independence, we must also recognize that the seniors, who are being honoured with others, have all played a part, and for that we would like the region to remain in a reflecting mood on the contributions of those who served in the early days.”

She further expressed congratulations to the 53 selected persons, declaring that they should feel a sense of satisfaction that their contributions and service have not gone in vain. She went on to urge them to continue shining their light in whatever little way that they can so as to continue effecting changes.

“I don't know some of

you, but because of your contributions I am living in a much better Guyana, and for that I say thank you.

Many of you played very important roles in the education sector, in health, administration, community development and several other fields and while you are considered as seniors, we at the Regional Democratic Council salute you for your years of service, for your contribution, dedication, love and discipline to this country we all call Guyana, that we love,” she declared.

Among the 53 recipients were former teachers, soldiers, nurses, administrative and clerical staff, among others.

Regional Chairman, Ms. Genevieve Allen, who delivered a reflection on what Independence meant to her, reminded all that she was a very young girl at school at the time. She reminisced on the many experiences and fond (continued on page 20)

Kaieteur News

PAGE 20

Tuesday May 28, 2019

CMC Feature: The ACP-EU negotiations

By Elizabeth Morgan

K

INGSTON, Jamaica (CMC) – The 109th Council of Ministers' Meeting of the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States and the 44th Joint Council of Ministers' Meeting with the European Union (EU) were held last week in Brussels, Belgium.

These meetings were convened during a week in which the European Parliamentary elections were in progress in all 28 EU Member States and focus returned to Brexit culminating in the resignation of Britain's Prime Minister, Theresa May. The Caribbean's lead negotiators, H.E. Carl Greenidge, Foreign Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Guyana, and Senator, the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Jamaica, attended.

The meetings, as customary, covered a range of issues including the further revision of the Georgetown Agreement addressing the future of the ACP, personnel matters at the ACP Secretariat, the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs), Tax blacklisting, Brexit and, importantly, the ACP/EU Post Cotonou Negotiations.

The ACP Chief Negotiator and Chair of its Central Negotiating Group (CNG), Togolese Minister, Robert Dussey, reported to the ACP Council on the status of the negotiations. He

informed Members that the negotiations were progressing steadily. The three regional consultations in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific were held identifying priorities for the regional negotiations.

Work has continued on the ACP/EU foundation agreement now known as “the common foundation” which sets out common principles and values. Work will be continuing on institutional arrangements.

Dussey further informed that the negotiators are aiming to make maximum progress on the text by the end of July.

On a parallel track, it appears that work has been progressing on the regional protocols. You will recall that the structure of the Post Cotonou agreement will be the common foundation and three regional protocols with Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific.

The ACP Secretary General, Dr. Patrick Gomes, in his opening remarks, stated that the time-table for substantial progress in the negotiations warrants that the momentum be maintained and some strategic priorities be accelerated.

He advised the Council, h o w e v e r, t h a t d e s p i t e substantial progress, realism has forced the parties to recognize that by the Cotonou Partnership Agreement (CPA) end date of 29 February 2020, a new negotiated text would not be ready for signature by the ACP and EU Member States.

Thus, in accordance with CPA Article 95, transitional measures would be put in place by the ACP and EU

ACP Secretary General, Dr. P.I. Gomes (CMC Photo) jointly to cover the period until the new post Cotonou agreement enters into force.

The transitional decision would be drafted during the joint Council Meeting.

It now appears that realism has also led both parties to recognize that the negotiations cannot be concluded by July as originally proposed and would now extend possibly to October.

The President of the ACP Council, Tjekero Tweya, Minister of Industrialization, Tr a d e a n d S M E Development of Namibia, in his remarks, pointed out that the post Cotonou negotiations coincided with the EU internal budgetary cycle and the revision of the its Development Cooperation Financing Instruments which will apply to the post Cotonou arrangements. For Minister Tweya, these combined processes pose challenges as well as opportunities for the ACP. Recall that the EU, in its post Cotonou budget i.e. the

Region Four Education Dept. pays homage to 53 seniors...

From page 19 memories of her first independence, adding that in those days, the older folks had an active conversation with the younger generation.

The Regional Chairman said too that while there have been many changes and several generations later, she would like the present day 'seniors' to reignite this olden culture of talking to the young generations.

It was this culture, she said, that helped to shape her into the woman she is today.

She admitted that some of her former teachers were in the audience and she is grateful that the Education Department saw it fitting to

recognize them.

The praises from the recipients were numerous, with several openly admitting that they had no idea that this was going to be held.

Several said that they were emotional with the initiative, urging the Acting Regional Education Officer and team to continue it, with all agreeing that for too long the older folks who have contributed in a positive way are forgotten.

One former teacher declared, “I love this, as it is said 'give me flowers while I am alive so that I can admire it, smell it and appreciate it'.

I would like to say that the

Department of Education has decided to give us our flowers while we are alive, instead of waiting until we are dead to sing praises, which are of no use then.”

Another added, “I am so thankful for this and I trust that God would continue to strengthen the people at the Region, as this gesture should be commended by all. However, I trust that next year we can all have lunch together, while we reflect on our years working in the various sectors.” Several other recipients burst out in singing and some prayed as their way of stating their appreciation for the loving gesture.

2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), has proposed eliminating the European Development Fund (EDF) from which the ACP has been funded. Papua New Guinea's Minister Richard Maru, a negotiator for the Pacific, on development financing, expressed the view that the Post Cotonou agreement should be allocated specific funding.

ACP/EU discussions on post Cotonou development financing has not yet started.

The ACP and EU Chief Negotiators, Dussey and D e v e l o p m e n t Commissioner Neven Mimica, took the opportunity of the Council Meetings to have their own meeting to review progress in the negotiations. They are next scheduled to meet in

July.

As previously stated, the European Parliamentary elections will result in a change in the political leadership of the EU. The ACP will also be having leadership changes in 2020 when the 5 year term of Secretary General Gomes ends. This means that the search for a new Secretary General, who will come from Southern Africa, will commence later in 2019.

At the end of the ACP Council Meeting, it was announced that Samoa in the Pacific region will host the signing ceremony for the completed and approved post Cotonou agreement at a date to be determined in 2020.

In concluding, I read an interesting paper entitled “The new ACP/EU Partnership after 2020” which informed that the regional protocols will be administered by the regional organizations.

This raises a question about the state of regional integration in the Caribbean and the status as a regional organization of the Caribbean ACP Forum (CARIFORUM). The overarching formal regional organization in the Caribbean is the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and neither the Dominican Republic nor Cuba are members. So, can CARIFORUM in its present form continue as the regional administering body for the

post Cotonou Caribbean Protocol?

The paper also proposes Observer Status in the post Cotonou arrangements for other bodies which share similar values and give value-added to specific objectives.

Given the EU's recently published foreign policy on Latin America and the Caribbean, does this mean that the Latin American and Caribbean Community (CELAC), the InterAmerican Development Bank (IADB), the Organization of American States (OAS) as well as other hemispheric and international bodies could be Observers?

The general assessment of progress in the Post Cotonou Negotiations has been quite positive. There are, however, still some important issues to be addressed.

With the EU elections over, we have to see the political alliances in the new EU Parliament and the political leadership which emerges as well as the political and economic state of affairs in EU Member States. I do not think we can as yet declare that all is smooth sailing in these negotiations.

(Elizabeth Morgan, who writes for CMC, is a specialist in international trade policy and international politics)

Barbados PM critical of int’l community as region discusses climate change...

From page 12 not accepted as a prerequisite for action,’ she asked the conference.

The organisers said that during the week-long conference, three regional programmes supporting Caribbean countries to plan for long-term resilience and climate-smart growth strategies will be launched, including the Caribbean Regional Resilience Building Facility and the Te c h n i c a l A s s i s t a n c e Program for Disaster Risk Financing and Insurance in Caribbean Overseas Countries and Territories financed by the European Union, as well as the Canada Caribbean Resilience Facility financed by the Government of Canada.

The US$31 million Caribbean Regional Resilience Building Facility will support 15 Caribbean countries by providing

technical assistance to mainstream resilience , leveraging investments to reduce vulnerability, and expanding financial protection against disasters.

The second EU funded program provides US$3.4 million to support Caribbean Overseas Countries and Te r r i t o r i e s ( O C Ts ) i n assessing their financial exposure to dis asters, the feasibility of participating in insurance mechanisms, and to share knowledge among OCTs. The US$15.2 million “Canada Caribbean Resilience Facility (CRF)” will boost capacity in nine Caribbean countries to achieve more effective and coordinated disaster preparedness, recovery and resilience building, and public financial management practices.

The facility will be managed by the World

Bank’s Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR).

The organisers said that the conference provides an opportunity to bring together disaster risk management practitioners with governments, urban planners, insurance industry stakeholders, p r i v a t e s e c t o r organizations, academia, multilateral development banks, and other regional partners to collectively take action to address and reduce disaster risk.

It will feature demonstrations hosted by institutions and organizations such as the University of the West Indies, Harvard University, NASA, the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction among others.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday May 28, 2019

Gang robbers resurface; beat and rob civilian in Stabroek area

C

itizens, food vendors, and commuters who traverse the Stabroek Market area in Georgetown are now fearful that the night time gangs have returned to rob persons, particularly along the Demico House walkway.

Just recently the police were applauded by the public for clearing the area of vagrants and criminal elements, but as predicted by m a n y, t h e p r o m i s e d sustained campaign against crime in the area has fizzled out, as can be seen from what now occurs at night.

On Saturday night last, 34-year-old West Demerara resident, Junior Martin, received a sound beating from thieves, during which he was relieved of an undisclosed amount of cash and other valuables.

Martin was rushed in an unconscious state to the Georgetown Public Hospital, by a group of female food vendors, who eventually intervened on his behalf.

Martin was reportedly sitting with a close friend on the Demico House walkway, chatting and drinking beers.

Soon after a group of about six men came up and began liming quite close to Martin and his friend. The friend left soon after and Martin was seen chatting with a female who soon after bid goodbye, and left him there seated on a bench.

What happened next was like what one would often see in the movies.

Two men that were in the gang close by, suddenly walked over to Martin and began dealing blows about the face and other parts of his body.

At this time, two female sex workers who were

familiar with Martin raised an alarm and stood their ground, forcing the men to retreat.

They assisted the dazed Martin to a chair and he soon got up and headed to the West Bank Demerara bus park, maybe with every intention of heading home.

He was about halfway there when four young men darted out of the darkened area of the Parliament Building perimeter fence and attacked him.

One man used a wooden plank and hit Martin a blow behind the head which caused him to slump to the pavement.

As onlookers rushed to his rescue, his attackers disappeared, but not before rummaging his pockets for cash, and valuables.

This time around, the food vendors in obvious fear for their safety gave vent to their feelings.

One angry woman shouted, “I ain’t know what the police doing.

Dem waiting till dem see something dreadful happen in the papers, then dem coming around for a while, and you never see them after.

We need protection out hey.

Innocent people getting rob all de time… De police start ah good campaign, and mek nuff arrests, but after a while, we never see dem back, suh the robbers looking at dem as jokers.

And the Crime Chief need fuh come out hey and leh dem rob he, and see how he gon feel… We as food vendors ain’t safe here either. Is only time before dem start beat we up and carry away we food and money”.

Another irate woman was of the opinion that the police are just carefree and

lazy, or are working in collusion with the bandits.

“I don’t understand what is going on… De police come and clean up this place of dem hooligans, and next thing yuh see the police disappear. Look at this place now again.

All dem robbers out hey ganging up by dem sweetie stalls on the Demico pavement, I know all ah dem wukking as one team.

Look how this place pack again with all dem men just liming around eyeing up everybody fuh rob them.

Where is the police eh?

Tonight is Saturday night and no police ain’t deh round hey.

We need protection. Is not fair or easy for innocent people wukking hard and dem thief dis coming and rob them.

If I had a gun I would ah shoot every wan ah dem and guh spend meh time in jail.

If I see de Crime Chief, I would tell he to he face he is a hot mess and a waste ah time.”

J u s t r e c e n t l y, f o u r foreign nationals were also robbed in the same area as they attempted to befriend robbers in disguise, liming just outside the Demico House Fast Food facility.

The robbers who were seen pretending to be nice to the visitors, had followed them to the South Ruimveldt Bus Park, and had relieved them of their wallets, wrist watches, and other

valuables.

There have also been several other robberies in the said location by gangs, led by female accomplices who would prey on drunken males (not known to them) with claims that the men owed them cash for sexual favours provided.

Their male gang counterparts feigning anger, would then pounce on the men reliving them of cash and whatever else of value they can find.

PAGE 21

West Bank resident, Junior Martin, was attacked twice on Saturday

PAGE 22

SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION, W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Graphics design, advertisements, Wedding arch rentals. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535.

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

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

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

Plants on sale @ Bookland Gardens : Foxtail, Manilla Palms 1 to 4 ft tall, plus ornamental plants. Call: 6301925 1 Honda 450 Atv bike, 1 Cat 215 excavator, 1 Cat 428 back hoe, 1 Mack mixer truck 8 cuyds Tel#275-0367/683-7225

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

1 Double steel wheel roller, 1 pnuematic 9 wheel roller, 2- tar kettles, small &large. 215-excavator spares, 1-3304 Cat Di engine Tel#275-0367/683-7225

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

Email: booklandguyana@gmail.com #680-7354

Used imported glass showcase L 72'’ x H 39'’ x W 24'’$30,000 each. Tel#625-1514

Bedrooms and shopping in Central Georgetown. Email: caribamercare2014@gmail.com.

Tel#226-2409/223-4159/6442388/687-5448

Used imported metal supermarket shelves, Height 6ft x Length 4ft x 8 Shelves $30,000 each. Tel#625-1514

We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer-Call: 231-0655; 683-8734. Omar VEHICLE FOR SALE 1 Rav 4 PHH series. Price negotiable. Contact #6462131,630-0915 One 2014-2015 Honda Vezel Pxx series, good as new. Price $4.7M Neg #689-5103 5 Leyland DAF Flatbed Lorries, 10 Guysuco Lorry Heppiecycle & axle for 60 DAF Lorries.Excellent condition 228-5655/615-6683 1 shortbase supercustom minibus for parts. #664-0802

FOR RENT

WANTED

VACANCY

PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION, W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 One (2) bedroom apt for rent @ Colligen, One (3) Bedroom Apt for rent @ Diamond.

Tel#602-2563/609-4365

Salesgirls & porters. Apply with written application at Best Buy Food Supplies 1E Dennis & Middleton Sts, Campbellville

DemBake @ Land of Canaan is seeking distributors & experienced drivers & sales agents.

Email CV: admin@demerarabakery.com / 266-5848

Building at Coverden, East Bank Demerara. Call #6231615 Two well-appointed in Belvoir Court, Bel Air, Georgetown.

Tel#592-627-3650/223-0654/ 225-0605 Mining land for rent #6215900 Barr St Kitty, Upper flat perfect for business. Contact Ray’s Realty #627-9685 EDUCATION Interested in learning chess?

Call Agnus Chess Institute on Tel#630-6458 or Whatsapp 657-7543. Classes commence June 1,2019 PROPERTY FOR SALE House for sale, Eccles Housing Scheme. 7 bedrooms, 3 toilets and bathrooms enclosed. $28.5M. Call 642-0391/ 001447587233657/ yasharabhola4@gmail.com Lot 89 Robb Street, Lacytown, Georgetown.

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

Jacob’s Jewellery and Pawnshop. Tel#227-8748/6224970 16 Pike Street, Kitty.

Georgetown Professional Repair Service: Computers, Tv’s (LCD & LED), Cellphones & Other Electronics.Ph#629-6470/ 696-2843.Email :akinscott@outlook.com

Tuesday May 28, 2019

Kaieteur News

CAR RENTAL DOLLYS AUTO RENTAL CALL: 225-7126 & 2263693 -DOLLYS AUTO RENTAL @ YAHOO.COM/ W W W . D O L L Y SAUTORENTAL.COM PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS FROM $4000 & UP, SUV’sPER DAY- CALL: 656-0087 / 6435122,EMAIL:PRO_ A U T O R E N T A L @YAHOO.COM AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL:PICKUP,9-11 SEAT MINI BUS, GOOD FOR AIRPORT & FAMILY OUTINGS, CHEAPEST RATE . Call: 698-7807 WING’S CAR & PICKUP RENTAL: LOW DOWN PAYMENT, CHEAP RATES,SPECIALOFFERS! .

CALL: 690-6494

Roxanne Burnham $20M, South Gardens $10M, $35M (100x100), Norton St $18M, Alberttown $35M, Diamond $14M #231-2199/618-7483 Transported Property in Regent St, between Wellington & Camp St. Tel#655-3332 Opposite Guyoil Gas Station 2 storey building, Broad St (Business area) Georgetown.

Contact Ray’s Realty #6279685 2 storey concrete property 11 (classey) self contained rooms, Broad St, Georgetown.

Contact Ray’s Realty #6279685 LEARN TO DRIVE N. Outar Driving School, Learn to Drive the right way @ Cuffy Square. Affordable package. Call: 644-5166/6912561

Wanted experienced hire car drivers at Ramada Georgetown Princess Hotel.

Contact 616-5419, 265-7075 (1) Security and (1) Driver to work in Georgetown. Call #2271717 1 male cook to work in Interior $100,000 - montlhy. Tel#6723359 1 Security personnel to work shift. 6 Days a week. Tel# 2275536/ 223-0504

Experienced male sales attendant, stocktaking knowledge, computer literate, excellent service attitude, able bodied.Key Food McDoom Village.

Taxation Personnel: 3 yrs experience.Minimum qualification C AT / Diploma in Accountancy.

Send application to bs.vacany @gmail.com.

One domestic. Contact #2235273/74

1 Noah or Voxy to Rent for 2 months. #646-8748

Accounts clerk to work at the office.

Contact barry@adamantiumholdings.com Experienced Driver. Phone or Tel#654-7162 #231-6256/608-3839 Cook: to cook and manage the Caregiver for elderly female A&S Fast food. Contact required to cook , clean. Call: barry@adamantiumholdings.com 675-6723, recommendation or Tel#654-7162 required Sales clerk to work at A&S LAND FOR SALE General Store and Gaulin Supermarket.

Contact Parfaite Harmonie $1.5M barry@adamantiumholdings.com $3M $2.7M Herstelling $4M or Tel#654-7162 $5.5M Providence Eccles $6.5M Farm $5M. Parfaite ten English & Maths Tutor. Conyear up $2.5M Call: 666-2326 tact #223-5273/74 V/Hoop WCD. 48ft x 1300ft.

Call: 609-5672 Transported land 11.6 acres.

Lot 15 public road. #2 Village W.C.B. Price $18M. Contact 686-4818, 648-7109 2 acre- V/Hoop WCD. Tel# 621-6918/697-7731 House lots at Middle Rd G/ town Enterprise ECD and Providence EBD. Contact Ray’s Realty #627-9685

General domestic. 3 Days work. Must know to cook.

Apply with 2 references.

KeyFood McDoom village Vacancy exist for 1 cook for a family, must have experience between 25-40 yrs old. Call: 231-8737

VACANCY

Accounts Clerk.

Requirements: CAT/ACCA Level 2, Quickbooks POS & Accounts proficient, salary negotiable. (2) Driver/ Salesman. Tel#623-8780

Driver must be able to assist in workshop at Eccles, age 25-45, Car/Van license. Call #642-9823

Female to help a 3- year old boy learn to play musical instrument: piano, guitar etc.

Call: 623-1615

(1) Couple to work & Live on a farm. Tel#673-1131

One secretary 28-40 years.

One trainee refrigeration/ AC technician #683-8734/2310655

VACANCY FOR FULLTIME HOUSEKEEPER TO WORK AT AAGMAN RESTAURANT, SHERIFF ST. CALL: 219-0158 VACANCY FOR A FULL TIME/PARTTIME WAITER/ WAITRESS TO WORK AT AAGMAN RESTAURANT. CALL: 219-0158 Miners (Pit workers) to work in Konawaruk location. Call: 618-2020

Customer Service Rep, Two shifts rotated weekly (6am3pm & 3pm-11pm), Shell Station Providence, EBD. E m a i l : Shellramsburg@gmail.com

Kaieteur News

Tuesday May 28, 2019

PAGE 23

Overpass elevators still not operational as May 26 deadline passes

F

rom all accounts it appears as if the Ministry of Public Infrastructure has failed in making operational the elevators at several locations along the East Bank Demerara Highway.

After noticing that the elevators were still inactive after their June 2018 installation, Kaieteur News had sought a response from Minister of Public Infrastructure on the prolonged delay.

Through his Public Relations Officer, Krest Cummings, the minister had informed that both elevators and still inactive overpasses would have been officially commissioned and made operational before the May 26 Independence celebrations.

Cummings had informed also that once made operational, the elevators would have been manned around the clock by employees trained in its operations. These employees were supposed to be selected by management of the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation, according to Cummings. She had also said that a special surveillance system will

The eight overpass elevators were slated to be commissioned and fully operational before the May 26 Independence Celebrations.

be created at the Demerara Harbour Bridge, and hooked up to units at the overpass locations to ensure effective monitoring of what goes on at the overpasses.

All overpasses and elevators - at Eccles, Houston, Diamond and Providence - were examined yesterday, and there were no signs of any operational activity, neither were the trained operators that were supposed to oversee 24 hours (around the clock) elevator functions present.

Sources at the Demerara Harbour Bridge yesterday could not say if any of their employees have been trained so far to operate the elevators, as was indicated by Cummings.

Via a telephone conversation yesterday, Cummings indicated that the surveillance system was up and running, but she failed to comment on whether there will be a new date for the commissioning of the elevators, or on what had caused the setbacks, if any, that prevented them from being operational on the promised May 26 deadline.

Trump says Iran nuclear deal After EU poll disaster, Britain’s main achievable as sanctions sting parties gird for no-deal Brexit battle TOKYO (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said yesterday a deal with Iran on its nuclear program was possible, crediting economic sanctions for curbing activities Washington has said are behind a spate of attacks in the Middle East.

“I really believe that Iran would like to make a deal, and I think that’s very smart of them, and I think that’s a possibility to happen,” Trump said during a news conference with Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo.

“It has a chance to be a great country with the same leadership,” Trump said. “We aren’t looking for regime change - I just want to make that clear. We are looking for no nuclear weapons.” In Tehran, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Iran was not seeking nuclear weapons, which its supreme leader had banned in an edict, adding on Twitter that U.S. policies were hurting the Iranian people and causing regional tensions.

“Actions—not words—will show whether or not that’s @ r e a l D o n a l d Tr u m p ’s intent,” Zarif said.

President Hassan Rouhani said in October the United States was seeking “regime change” in Iran, adding that the current U.S. administration was the most hostile that the Islamic Republic had faced in its four decades. Tensions have risen between Iran and the United States after this month’s attack on oil tankers in the Gulf region.

Wa s h i n g t o n , a f i r m backer of Tehran’s regional rival Saudi Arabia, has blamed the attacks on Iran, which denies the accusations.

The United States has deployed a carrier strike group and bombers, and announced plans to deploy 1,500 troops to the Middle East, prompting fears of a conflict.

Trump’s national security adviser John Bolton said on Saturday that the United States had “deep and serious” intelligence on threats posed by Iran, without providing details. Trump, on a four-day visit to Japan, welcomed Abe’s help in dealing with Iran after broadcaster NHK said Japan’s leader is considering a trip to Tehran as early as mid-June. Iran said a

visit was unlikely in the near future.

“I know for a fact that the prime minister is very close with the leadership of Iran, and we’ll see what happens,” Trump said. At his joint news conference with Trump, Abe said Japan would do what it can on the Iran issue.

Trump last year withdrew the United States from a 2015 international nuclear deal with Iran, and is ratcheting up sanctions seeking to end Iran’s international sales of crude oil and strangle its economy.

Japan was a major buyer of Iranian oil for decades before U.S. sanctions which Trump said were taking effect.

“They were fighting in many locations,” he said of Iran.

“Now they are pulling back because they have serious economic problems.”

Bolton, who has spearheaded an increasingly hawkish U.S. policy on Iran, described recent bomb attacks on tankers off the United Arab Emirates and a pipeline pumping station in Saudi Arabia, as well as a rocket attack in Baghdad’s Green Zone, as “manifestations of concern” about Iran.

LONDON (Reuters) Britain’s two main parties set the stage yesterday for a battle over a no-deal Brexit, hoping to win back voters who abandoned them for a new movement led by eurosceptic Nigel Farage and other smaller parties in European elections.

After a punishing night when acrimonious divisions over Britain’s departure from the European Union were plain to see, contenders for the leadership of the governing Conservatives said the results were a demand to deliver Brexit no matter what.

Taking a different tack, the opposition Labour Party said a public vote - a new national election or second referendum - was the way to reunite the country. It pledged to make sure any new eurosceptic Conservative leader would not take Britain out of the EU without a transition deal to help protect the economy.

But with Farage’s Brexit Party, which prefers a nodeal Brexit, capturing the greatest number of votes for seats in the European

Parliament, closely shadowed by a group of fervently pro-EU parties, Conservatives and Labour were under pressure to commit clearly to either side of the debate.

Almost three years since Britain voted narrowly to leave the EU and barely two months after the originally planned departure date, lawmakers remain at loggerheads over how, when or even whether the country will quit the club it joined in 1973. For the Conservatives, who will name a new leader by the end of July, many of the would-be successors see the European vote outcome as proof they must seek a cleaner break with the EU, with several saying they would leave without a deal a move some senior pro-EU Conservatives regard as foolhardy.

For Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, pressure will mount to embrace a second referendum without qualification - something he has said would be needed to prevent a no-deal Brexit.

But what is clear from a vote which many used as a

protest is that Brexit - which forced Prime Minister Theresa May to say she will resign on June 7 after failing to deliver Britain’s departure - risks shattering the election prospects of both the main parties.

Former foreign minister Boris Johnson, the favourite to replace May as party leader and prime minister, said the election message was “if we go on like this, we will be fired”.

“We can and must deliver. No one sensible would aim exclusively for a no-deal outcome. No one responsible would take nodeal off the table,” Johnson, who was also London mayor, said in his regular column in the Telegraph newspaper.

“If we are courageous and optimistic, we can strike a good bargain with our friends across the Channel, come out well and on time by October 31.”

Interior minister Sajid Javid became the ninth Conservative to declare he would run for the leadership, saying yesterday “first and foremost, we must deliver Brexit”.

PAGE 24

Romania corruption: PSD chief Liviu Dragnea jailed The head of Romania’s ruling Social Democratic Party (PSD), Liviu Dragnea, has been jailed for corruption after his attempts to appeal an earlier conviction failed.

Romania’s Supreme Court upheld on Monday a threeand-a-half year prison sentence against Dragnea.

The politician, 56, was found guilty last year of having two party members paid by a state agency for fake jobs.

The ruling came as his PSD suffered huge losses at the European elections.

Prosecutors said that by using his influence as a government official, Dragnea procured fake jobs at a child protection agency for two women working for his party.

The women admitted to working for the party while

receiving salaries from the agency.

Dragnea, who denies any wrongdoing, appealed the initial verdict and was allowed to remain free.

In live footage on Romanian television on Monday, the powerful politician was seen being driven in a police car into the Rahova prison on the outskirts of Bucharest.

Dragnea is widely viewed as the most powerful figure in Romanian politics. He was barred from becoming prime minister because of a 2016 conviction for vote-rigging.

But observers say he has still wielded power from behind the scenes, directing his PSD and the government they lead.

The politician was a key figure in the PSD’s push for

controversial judicial reforms, which have chipped away at the independence of the courts, sparking mass protests in Romania and clashes with the European Union.

The ruling on Monday came as Dragnea’s PSD suffered major losses in the European election.

The party fell to second place, behind the opposition National Liberal party, gaining less than 23% of the vote.

Dragnea is also under investigation in a separate case for allegedly forming a criminal group to siphon off cash from state projects.

He has maintained his innocence in the cases against him, saying the charges are politically motivated.

Lake Mai-Ndombe accident: 45 dead, 200 missing in DR Congo (BBC) At least 45 people have died after a boat sank on Lake Mai-Ndombe in western Democratic Republic of Congo.

The provincial governor, Antoine Masamba, said the vessel was carrying more than 400 people, with reports that about 200 passengers are still missing.

The majority of those on board were teachers going to collect their salaries, a local mayor told the BBC. He said 11 children were among those who died when the old and overcrowded boat went down in strong waves.

Tuesday May 28, 2019

Kaieteur News

The vessel, bound for Boliangwa, sank on Saturday evening almost 30km (18 miles) from the town of Inongo, its point of departure and capital of Mai-Ndombe Province.

The mayor of Inongo, Simon Mboo Wemba, said police had arrested the captain of the boat and the investigation was ongoing.

Officials warn the search and recovery operations on the lake could take between two and three weeks.

The BBC’s Gaius Kowene in the capital, Kinshasa, says boat accidents are frequent in DR Congo because of

overloading and poor maintenance DR Congo, which is about the size of mainland western Europe, has a poor road network and many areas are inaccessible unless by air or boat - and the country’s only superhighway is the Congo River.

Last month, at least 167 people died in two boat accidents on Lake Kivu.

This prompted Félix Tshisekedi, who became president in January, to make it mandatory for passengers to wear life jackets.

But it is not clear if those on the boat that sank on Saturday were wearing any.

Sebastian Kurz, Austrian chancellor, loses confidence vote (BBC) Austria’s parliament has voted to remove Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and his government from office in a special parliamentary session.

His previous coalition ally, the far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ), backed the motions brought by the opposition Social Democrats (SPÖ).

The FPÖ had become embroiled in a political scandal caused by a secret video, which ended the coalition.

Austria’s president must now decide who will be chancellor. This leader will head a caretaker government ahead of elections expected in September.

Mr Kurz, head of the conservative Austrian People’s Party, is the first chancellor in post-war

Austrian history to lose a confidence vote.

The SPÖ brought forward the two no-confidence votes - one against Mr Kurz and the other against the government.

While they control only 52 of the 183-seat lower house, the FPÖ - who hold 51 seats - agreed to back the motions, which needed only a simple majority to pass.

The left-wing environmentalist JETZT party also voted to oust the chancellor and his government, although the liberal NEOS party reportedly backed Mr Kurz in a bid to avoid instability.

Mr Kurz’s surprise strong showing in Sunday’s European Union elections with a projected 35% of the vote - was not enough to save him.

Speaking after the

confidence vote, Mr Kurz pledged to support an interim government and insisted he and his centre-right People’s Party (ÖVP) had “guaranteed stability” in Austria.

He has repeatedly promoted himself as a bastion of stability amid the political turmoil.

President Alexander Van der Bellen is meeting party leaders and is due to give a statement at 21:00 local time (19:00 GMT) on Monday.

The parties ranged against Mr Kurz appeared to believe he should shoulder some of the blame for the fall of the coalition.

The Social Democrats say he should never have allied himself with the FPÖ in the first place. The FPÖ is still smarting from having had Mr Kurz replace all of its ministers with technocrats.

Hundreds dead as Syria escalates attack on final rebel stronghold

(Telegraph) It was only after the dust from the air strike settled that Fareed alMhlol realised his home had taken a direct hit.

The walls of his house in the town of Ma’arat alNu’man, in the northwestern Syrian province of Idlib, had crumbled in, injuring his entire family and killing his aunt.

Rebel-held Idlib on Sunday faced its heaviest day of strikes since the latest government offensive began on April 30, according to the war monitor Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Bombs have been raining down indiscriminately on residential areas, on schools and on hospitals for weeks, as President Bashar al-

Assad’s forces attempt to retake the final opposition stronghold.

“I ran first towards my mother and my sisters. I took them out of the house where I thought they would be safer,” Mr Mhlol told the Telegraph by phone on Monday.

Then I ran in the direction of my aunt in order to reassure her. It was then I saw an unspeakable scene - the wall had fallen on her and she had been covered in rubble. She was dead. “I don’t know what we are going to do now, where we are going to go,” Mr Mhlol messaged. “There’s nowhere safe left.”

The family had already been forced to move from their last home after it was

destroyed by strikes. His aunt and uncle had been living with them as theirs too had been levelled.

“Assad destroyed my house and destroyed all my memories,” he said. “Assad wants to kill me and kill my family because I am an activist and a journalist trying to get the truth out to the world of the massacres going on in Idlib.”

Ma’arat al-Nu’man has been a regular target for the regime. The town has been the most vocal in its opposition not only to Assad but also to ruling Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), countering Assad’s narrative that all those remaining in Idlib are terrorists and sympathisers.

Tuesday May 28, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 25

PAGE 26

Kaieteur News

Tuesday May 28, 2019

Tuesday May 28, 2019

PAGE 27

Kaieteur News

Khawaja guides Australia to comfortable Schools Windball cricket underway in Upper East win over Sri Lanka (Reuters) - Opener Usman Khawaja shrugged off injury concerns to guide Australia to a five-wicket win over Sri Lanka in their final World Cup warm-up match yesterday.

Australia’s disciplined bowling performance restricted Sri Lanka to 239-8, but they looked to have suffered a blow when Khawaja limped off after being hit on the knee while fielding.

He later emerged to open the batting alongside captain Aaron Finch and continued his push for a spot in the Australian top order with a 105-ball 89.

Shaun Marsh (34), Glenn Maxwell (36) and Marcus Stoinis (32)failed to build on

solid starts but wicketkeeperbatsman Alex Carey and Pat Cummins ensured Australia chased down the total with 31 balls to spare.

Finch, who deployed eight bowlers on a chilly day in Southampton, was pleased with preparations ahead of their World Cup opener against Afghanistan on Saturday.

“Feels like we are ready to go,” Finch said. “Practice games are great to keep ticking the boxes and ensure we are doing our basics well.

“Guys are putting their hands up, and it will be a brutal selection call come our first game.

“We have specific plans

against Afghanistan, they have some world class players.”

Sri Lanka were off to a steady start after opting to bat first but wickets at regular intervals from Australian spinners in the middle overs meant they failed to post a big score.

Opener Lahiru Thirimanne carved out a composed halfcentury but his dismissal by off-spinner Nathan Lyon sparked a middle-order collapse as Sri Lanka slipped from 110-2 to 161-6.

All-rounder Dhananjaya de Silva (43) shared a 64-run seventh-wicket stand with Thisara Perera (27) to ensure Sri Lanka breached the 200run mark, before Mitchell Starc rattled his stumps in the 47th over.

Tuesday May 28, 2019 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You're in the middle of a terrific yearly transition. You have a great deal of physical energy, Aries. You have an action-oriented mind ready to tackle anything.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Be flexible in your communication, and doors will open to you that you didn't even know were there. There's a tremendous amount of physical energy at your disposal. Don't waste it.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Try not to get too caught up in any potential conflicts brewing around you, Taurus.

Your job lies in calming things down and bringing a more practical perspective to the situation.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) You may be in a difficult position, Scorpio. You want to explode into a new way of life yet feel stuck. Perhaps you feel chained to your current routine.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) This is a great time to move forward on a writing project, Gemini. Any large, long-term project involving communication, film, or long-distance travel is begging you to take action. Don't delay.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) This is an expansive time for you. You can make great progress on your goals. The key is to clear up any miscommunication or dishonesty before you move forward with a clear conscious.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) You're getting support for and confidence from one aspect of your life and physical energy from another.

Even though the two areas may be in a point of conflict CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Success will come to you when you work with the energies at hand. Go with the flow of the situation instead of trying to undermine or manipulate it. There's a tremendous force at work.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Your engine is revved and ready, Leo. You have a full tank of gas. Unfortunately, you may feel like there's a large obstacle in your way..

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) You may end up in some arguments, Aquarius. Your nature is expansive and generous, but if others take advantage of this good nature, your mood quickly turns to anger and detachment.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) No one likes rejection, but no one likes rejection less than you,Virgo.

Youmay hesitate to take risks in the unknown. Keep in mind that by playing it safe, you deprive yourself of the very adventure that could turn your life around.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You may be confused about asking for help, Pisces. Your usual resources could be occupied with issues and conflicts that have nothing to do with you.

Fast bowler Pat Cummins was Australia’s most economical bowler, collecting 1-23 from eight overs, while leg-spinner Adam Zampa collected 2-39 from nine overs.

Scores: Australia 241 for 5 (Khawaja 89, Vandersay 251) beat Sri Lanka239 for 8 (Thirimanne 56, Zampa 239) by five wickets.

Warriors heavily...

From page 27 Saturday night for their fourth straight win, claiming the best-of-seven series 4-2 to reach the first NBA Finals in franchise history. They have home-court advantage in the series, which begins Thursday, though most sportsbooks have Toronto between a 1-point favorite and a 1-point underdog at home in Game 1.

The Warriors have won six straight games, including five without Kevin Durant, who strained his calf on May 8 and is not expected to be ready for the start of the Finals. The team is hopeful he can return during the series, while center DeMarcus Cousins could also return from a torn quad muscle.

Golden State last played on May 20, providing five more days of rest than Toronto will have.

The Raptors went 2-0 against the Warriors this season, winning 131-128 in overtime at home on Nov. 29 and 113-93 in Oakland, Calif., on Dec. 12. Stephen Curry missed the first meeting, while Kawhi Leonard missed the second.(Field Level Media)

Reds is 80...

From page 29 night on radio from far away Australia, and the hundreds of youths whose lives he changed though Sports, Joseph ‘Reds’ Perriera has already given back…many times.

It is hoped that this famous son of the soil is honoured while he is still alive to enjoy it. Naming the Media Centre at the Stadium after him would be a fitting thank you to a special person who proved that where there is a will there is always a way.

Bank Demerara Zone

Action in the Upper East Bank Demerara Zone of the 22nd Annual End of School Year (Edward Cobenna Memorial) Primary Schools Windball Cricket Champions Trophy continued with play at the Timehri Airport Ground.

But in actual action, Hauraruni Primary made 444 with Andre Alexander 20, Isaiah Ross 16, while Elijah Dhanraj took 2 wkts for Timehri Primary who replied with 45-1, Jadon Ceres 27 and E. Dhanraj 12 led the chase.

Supply Primary scored 74-2, Deon Scott 35, Kelion

Daniels 20. Kuru Kuru Primary fell short at 65-7, Mark La Rose 16, Mark Adams 10; D. Scott took 3 wkts.

Kuru Kuru 67-3, Leneza Jeffrey 18, Natasha Anthony 13 went down to Hauraruni 69-1, Carlana Alexander 33 and Ciara Lindore 12.

Defending Champions Saint Mary’s Primary hit a speed bump in their defence after being restricted to 303. Supply romped to 33-0 with Allison Allicock 28 leading the way.

Action continues tomorrow from 9:30am at the same venue.

PAGE 28

Gabriel fit for duty after injury scare BRISTOL, England, CMC – Fast bowler Shannon Gabriel has been cleared of injury after limping off during the rain-abandoned official warm-up match against South Africa here Sunday.

The 31-year-old sent down just two deliveries before leaving the field as South Africa reached 95 without loss after being sent in. Gabriel had earlier taken a blow to the knee while fielding and went off as a precaution after experiencing some discomfort at the start of his spell.

His over was finished by fast-bowling all-rounder Andre Russell.

Gabriel, expected to spearhead West Indies’ attack in the upcoming ICC World Cup, did not feature in last Wednesday’s unofficial warm-up against Australia.

Tuesday’s final official warm-up against New Zealand therefore will be his last chance for match practice ahead of the Windies’ opening match of the World Cup against Pakistan on

Shannon Gabriel (right) makes a point to fellow speedster Oshane Thomas during a practice session in Bristol last weekend. (Photo courtesy CWI Media) Friday in Nottingham.

He was in reasonably decent form during the recent Tri-Nations Series involving hosts Ireland and Bangladesh, taking seven wickets in four appearances.

With the weather allowing just 76 deliveries in Sunday’s

encounter against here, the Windies will be hoping for a full game against the Black Caps in order to finetune their preparation.

The World Cup bowls off May 30 with England hosting South Africa at the Oval, and runs until July 14.

World Cup a chance to crease new history, says skipper Holder BRISTOL, England, CMC – Captain Jason Holder has underscored the importance of the ICC World Cup to the Caribbean, and hopes his West Indies side can make the region proud when the tournament bowls off here Thursday.

West Indies boast a fabled history in the tournament, winning the first two World Cups in 1975 and 1979 – both staged in England – and reaching the final of the 1983 edition before dramatically losing to India.

Though there has been little success since then, fans’ expectations have been raised especially following the side’s 2-2 draw with world number ones England in the fivematch one-day series earlier this year, and Holder said they would be aiming to put some smiles on the faces of supporters again.

“We’ve spoken a lot about restoring pride to West Indian cricket,” said Holder, the world’s leading allrounder in Tests.

“We know the significance of our success to an entire region. When the West Indies are doing well, an

Tuesday May 28, 2019

Kaieteur News

entire region is happy. What other sport can say that? The success of those teams of the past is held close in the hearts of all our people, they adore their cricket.”

Legendary captain Clive Lloyd was the architect of the region’s previous World Cup titles, and his hundred in the ’75 final against Australia at Lord’s help set the two teams apart.

The final four years later belonged to Lloyd’s heir apparent, Sir Vivian Richards, who unveiled a magical unbeaten 138 against England, again at Lord’s, to power West Indies.

While those memories remain fresh in the minds of Caribbean people, Holder said his side were looking to create their own history in coming weeks.

“I understand their achievements but I don’t want to dwell on it. I want to create my own legacy and we are in control of how people remember this team in 30 or 40 years,” Holder pointed out.

“As a collective we can highlight the significance of history but it comes down to you as an individual. No one

can change the past and we wouldn’t want to but let’s focus on the future and what we can control.”

West Indies will not be among the favourites when they face Pakistan in their opening match in Nottingham on Friday. They have not won a series in five years and were forced to play in an ICC qualifying tournament to reach the World Cup, after finding themselves ranked ninth in September 2017.

However, their daring brand of cricket in the recent series against England has offered plenty hope, and Holder believes opponents can write off West Indies at their peril.

“We know we are underdogs and it’s not a problem for us, we’ll be doing everything in our power to win this competition,” he stressed.

“Just look at Tiger Woods [winning the Masters earlier this year], it proves anything can happen in sport and sometimes. When the pressure is off or attention is elsewhere, amazing things happen.”

West Indies take on New Zealand today in their final official warm-up match before the tournament bowls off.

Their first warm-up on Sunday against South Africa was rained off after only 76 balls.

Roy completes England warm-up rout of Afghanistan AFP - Jason Roy sealed an England thrashing of Afghanistan as the tournament hosts cruised to victory in their final match before the World Cup. Roy made 89 not out on his Surrey home ground on Monday as England hammered outsiders Afghanistan by nine wickets with nearly 200 balls to spare.

England, two days after losing their previous practice match to world champions Australia, returned to winning ways in convincing fashion ahead of their tournament opener against South Africa at the Oval on Thursday.

A target of 161 was never likely to test England, with Roy proving as much in a 46ball innings that included 11 fours and four sixes.

Before play started, England were boosted by the news that fast bowler Mark Wood had been passed fit to face South Africa after a foot injury and that one-day captain Eoin Morgan was back in the team following a fractured finger.

Morgan did not field, however, and was not required to bat with the only wicket Afghanistan took coming when Jonny Bairstow was stumped by Rahmat Shah off Mohammad Nabi for 39. Roy ended the match in the 18th over of England’s reply with a six over midwicket.

- Archer strikes Earlier, Jofra Archer and Joe Root took three wickets apiece as Afghanistan slumped to 160 all out.

Fast bowler Archer struck

England’s Jofra Archer bowls in a World Cup warm-up match against Afghanistan at the Oval. (AFP / Dibyangshu SARKAR twice with the new ball to dismiss Hazratullah and Rahmat before ending some late resistance from Nabi.

Opener Noor Ali scrapped his way to 30 before he played on to all-rounder Ben Stokes.

Hashmatullah could not get going and that prompted Asghar Afghan to attack the occasional off-spin of Test captain Root.

But, having missed out on a first-ball full toss, Asghar tried to drive Root over the top but found Roy in the deep instead.

Afghanistan lost their next four wickets in a mere seven deliveries, Hashmatullah and Najibullah

Zadran carelessly run out, Gulbadin Naib holing out to Moeen Ali and Rashid Khan steering Root to slip for a golden duck.

Afghanistan were in danger of being dismissed for under 100 before Nabi, with 44, helped the last two wickets add 68 runs.

Nabi’s defiant hitting, which included three sixes, kept England at bay before he was last man out when a thick edge off Archer carried to Bairstow on the boundary.

Scores: England 161 for 1 (Roy 89*, Nabi 1-34) beat Afghanistan 160 (Nabi 44, Root 3-22, Archer 3-32) by nine wickets.

England’s Jason Roy (L) on his way to 89 not out in a World Cup warm-up win over Afghanistan. (AFP / Dibyangshu SARKAR)

Tuesday May 28, 2019

PAGE 29

Kaieteur News

RHTYSC and Bakewell honour s Rose Hall Town Bakewell Second Division Team Members of the RHT Bakewell Teams pose after the Ceremony.

Bakewell which has been the official sponsor of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club, MS Second Division Team since 2006, joined hands with the Management of the Club to honour fifteen players of the team. The players under the Captaincy of Kevin Sinclair were honoured for their outstanding performances during the period January 1st 2018 to April, 2019. The Team during that period won six tournaments organised by the Berbice Cricket Board, while several of its players have gone on to represent Berbice and Guyana at different levels.

The Team during the period review won the countywide New Building Society 40-Overs Tournament, Magic Moments 20/20 Tournament, Naeem Nasir 5/5, Raffik Construction 100 Balls Tournament, Roy Fredericks Memorial Tournament and Rhonda Lewis Memorial 20/20 Tournament. Additionally, the Rose Hall Town Bakewell Under-17 Team defeated Albion Community Centre in the Final to also win the Ramnaresh Sarwan Under-17

Tournament.

Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster stated that the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club was very proud of the Bakewell Teams as they not only represent the Club and Sponsor’s Brand well on the cricket field but they were remarkable ambassadors off the field as well.

The players honoured were Kevin Sinclair, Junior Sinclair, Surendra Kissoonlall, Kevlon Anderson, Kieth Simpson, Joshua Vantull, Joanthan Rampersaud, Mahendra Gopilall, Sylus Tyndall, Erva Giddings, Chanderpaul Govindan, Sohil Shariff, Jai Tika, Kevin Ramnarine and Vikash Subramanie.

The Management of the team: Keith Hicks, Ravindranauth Kissoonlall and Tyrone Pottaya were also honoured.

The trio along with Asst Secretary/CEO Simon Naidu are responsible for the daily operation of the ten Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club Cricket Teams.

Kevin Sinclair, Junior Sinclair, Kevlon Anderson, Mahendra Gopilall, Jonathan Rampersaud, Erva Giddings, Keith Simpson and

Chanderpaul Govindan have gone on to play either for Berbice or Guyana at different levels, while the Bakewell Second Division Team also successfully completed dozens of personal developmental programmes.

They include monthly Old Age Pensioners Breakfast

Warriors heavily favored over Raptors in NBA Finals

The Golden State Warriors get together for a team photo after defeating the Portland Trail Blazers in game four of the Western conference finals of the 2019 NBA Playoffs at Moda Center. (Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports) The Golden State Warriors are favored in the NBA Finals for the fifth consecutive year, as they opened as heavy favorites against the Toronto Raptors late Saturday night when their opponents were known for the NBA finals series.

Most sportsbooks had the Warriors around -300 to

win the series, meaning a $300 bet would win $100. The Raptors were offered by several outlets at +250 — meaning a $100 bet would win $250 — making them the second-largest underdogs in the past eight NBA Finals (2017-18 Cleveland Cavaliers).

The Warriors, seeking their third straight title and

fourth in five years, were already installed as favorites before their Finals opponent was known, with most sportsbooks putting them at -275 vs. any opponent, and around -180 if facing the Milwaukee Bucks.

The Raptors rallied past the Bucks in Game 6 on (Continued on page 25)

Programme, Feeding of the Poor, Cricket Academy, Republic Bank Summer Camp, Christmas Village, Monthly Single Parent household, Food hampers, Medical Clinics, Anti Crime Posters, School bags Project, Fitness Walk among others.

Foster disclosed that the

Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club and Bakewell are very proud of the Team and would continue to invest heavily into its development.

He urged the Teams to always strive for Excellence and most importantly to continue working as a collective unit.

Special thanks was extended to Rajin Ganga and the Management of Bakewell for their support over the last twenty years. At the Ceremony, Kevin Sinclair was named Batsman of the Year, while Junior Sinclair copped the Bowler and Cricketer of the Year Award.

GFF/NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power U-17 League – Rupununi FA

Strikers FC and Paiwomak Warriors FC notch wins The 50th Anniversary edition of the GFF/NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power Under-17 League kicked off in the Rupununi Football Association last week saw Strikers Football Club and Paiwomak Warriors Football Club securing wins.

After losing their first match to Strikers FC by the slightest of margins, 4-3 at the Basin Sports Ground, Paiwomak Warriors rebounded to humble Challengers FC 5-0 when they met at the Kwatamang Ground.

Strikers ran away 4-1 leaders by the end of the first half and had to hold off a determined Paiwomak side in the second half to walk away with full points.

A double each from Kelvin John (6, 34) and Leston Smith in the 7th and 27th minute set a solid platform for Strikers but in between their first half onslaught, Paiwomak had sneaked in one in the 9th minute off the boot of Garvi Milton.

Orville Daniels in the 55th and Isaque Browne in

The Paiwomak Warriors goal scorers. the 65th minute had given Paiwomak some hope but Strikers was able to hold them off in the end to take full points.

In their next match however, Ameir Robertson and Orville Daniels both lashed in a brace each to

shape Paiwomak’s 5-0 win over Challengers FC. Robertson hit the back of the nets in the 22nd and 39th minute; Daniels was on target in the 58th and 82nd minute while the other goal was scored by Kurthy Vantony in the 52nd minute.

PAGE 30

Tuesday May 28, 2019

Kaieteur News

Third annual independence 5k race

Mbihia takes gold medal As expected, 40-year-old Godffrey Mbihia of Kenya ran away with the masters’ and open categories of the Guyana Committee of Services (GCOS) in collaboration of the Rising Stars Athletics Club third annual Independence 5k road race which ran off yesterday at the National Park. Mbihia won in a time of 15 minutes 22 seconds.

The Kenyan, who won a 10k race on Sunday and a 5k last week in Trinidad and Tobago (T&T), noted that he was pleased with the way yesterday’s race ran and explained that the climate in Guyana was a bit harsher than that of T&T where he ran a faster time of 14 minutes 59 seconds.

Following Mbihia in the race that saw over $800,000 in cash and prizes being doled out were Marlon Nicholson in 15 minutes 30 seconds and Odwin Tudor third with a time of 15 minutes 44

seconds.

On the distaff side, Kissanna Glen won the open category followed by Abedemi Charles and Shaqua

Tyrell.

In the youths race, 13year-old Attoya Harvey; a form two student of Uitvlugt Secondary, came in ahead of

Meten-Meer-Zorg Masters overcome Everest Masters by 21 runs

The top performers in the various categories pose for a photo with organisers and sponsors of the event.

her male counterparts to win that one-mile (1600m) race.

The junior males’ category had Ron Marks, Daniel Mitchell and Junior Giles finishing one-twothree, r e s p e c t i v e l y.

Haikeda Hilliman, Beyonce Depeazer and Teia Lowe were the top three junior females.

Leslie Blacks A.A., chief organiser of the fixture which attracted a total of 66 entrants, dubbed yesterday’s meet a resounding success

and thanked the sponsors and the athletes for their show of support.

The event that was sanctioned by the Amateur Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) got underway at 16:30hrs at National Park then preceded into Thomas Lands, East into Vlissingen Road before turning left into Carifesta Avenue, Left into Camp Street, left into Thomas Lands then back into the National Park for the finish at the children’s

monument.

Among the sponsors for the event were to Ken Phillips (Antarctic Maintenance), Ministry of the Presidency, Office of the Prime Minister, Guyana Committee of Service, ENetworks , Bk Inc., Busta company, Kevin Jeffrey, Andrew king, Spad Inc., GTT, Star Party Rentals, Christopher Jones (National Sports Commission), Real Value Supermarket and Paul’s Auto Spares.

New Amsterdam (Secondary), McGowan...

The victorious Meten-Meer-Zorg Masters team.

Meten-Meer-Zorg Masters beat Everest Masters by 21 runs when the teams collided in the Ronald Jaisingh 50th birth anniversary 25-over fixture recently at the Everest CC. Batting first after winning the toss, the visitors were off to a slow start and at the end of the fifteenth over were 82 for 2; however they gathered momentum and eventually finished at 180 for 6.

Chabiraj Ramcharran top scored with a workmanlike 73, which included four fours and

six sixes, while Sham Persaud made 24 not out, Jetendra Kishore 21 and Muneshwar Balgobin 20.

Imtiaz Sadik was the pick of the bowlers for the host with 3-33 from his five overs.

In reply, Everest Masters were made to work hard for their runs, but it could have been an early finish had Meten-Meer-Zorg held on to their catches.

Saheed Mohamed and Hemraj Garbarran put on 45 for the second wicket before Mohamed was caught on

boundary for 47 which included three fours and a similar number of sixes.

After the fall of Mohamed’s wicket, Garbarran continued to fight for his team, but was caught for a well played 78, with seven fours and two sixes. No other batsman managed to reach fifteen as Everest Masters ended on 159-8.

Sham Persaud was excellent with the ball picking up 3-25 and Vinod Rajkumar had 2-28.

The game was sponsored

by Trophy Stall.

From page 31 17 runs apiece. When NAMILCO took to the crease to commence their pursuit of 106 off 36-balls, the home team felt that it would have been a walk in the park for them but they were left surprised as some poor tactical decisions of the part of the visitors cost them the match in the end as they fell short by 10 runs.

NAMICO gathered 95 runs losing the same three wickets as RHT Pepsi along the way. Allan Charles smashed 39 and was unfortunately run out in the final over, another batter failing to sacrifice his wicket, deciding to remain in his crease in pursuit of a second run.

Bernard had given the chase a solid foundation with a robust 21, while Affeeze Khan who opened the batting fell with one ball remaining for 10. Sealey was named man-ofthe-match for his 77.

Volleyball The Female Volleyball competition was a two-man Beach showdown between Anesha and Fernandes who got the better of Philana and

Crystal, 25-22 to pocket the winning cash prize.

The male segment attracted five teams battling namely, Port Mourant Training Center 1, Three Doors Strikers, #52 Recruits, Black Bush and Lower Corentyne Secondary.

When the final set was completed, Port Mourant Training Center emerged as champions defeating #52 Recruits 30-23.

The third place went to Black Bush which beat Three Doors Strikers by a similar 3023 score line.

Athletics There were some exciting races during the day’s activities which got under way just around midday owing the overnight showers which had left the ground somewhat soggy but brilliant sunshine and consistent winds across the Albion sward allowed for some thrilling races between six Primary and seven Secondary Schools.

The only listed event that was scratched off the programme was the male and female cycling races. But that apart, the students, teachers

and fans present enjoyed the rivalry.

In the battle for the top prize of $50,000 amongst the Primary Schools, McGowan won narrowly with 77 points from All Saints which accumulated 75 followed by Port Mourant - PM (73), Leeds and Cropper (60 each) and Rose Hall Town bringing up the rear on 40 points.

Emerging as the top Secondary School on the day was New Amsterdam which tallied 134 points and was followed by Central (112), Corentyne Comprehensive (105), J. C Chandisingh (84), Manchester (73), Port Mourant (68) and Lower Corentyne with 52.

The top two boys and girls in both the Secondary and Primary events were presented with cash prizes, while the third place attracted a medal as did second place with the first place athlete receiving a trophy.

Each athlete was also presented with a NAMILCO Special Edition Almanac; staff members of the company assisted with the presentation of prizes.

Tuesday May 28, 2019

Bravo sizing up T20 World Cup after putting aside retirement PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Veteran allrounder Dwayne Bravo has confirmed his return to international cricket eight months after announcing his retirement, and says he is already eyeing next year’s Twenty20 World Cup in Australia.

The 35-year-old said he had already spoken to new interim chairman of selectors, Robert Haynes, along with recently-elected Cricket West Indies president, Ricky Skerritt, and would be making himself available for selection in the shortest format.

“We had a chat, we had a discussion. I haven’t come out of retirement officially like making a public announcement but there is some truth to it,” Bravo said in a recent radio interview.

“If I was selected to go to the (50 overs) World Cup, I would have made myself available but I have committed to Mr Skerritt, and to the selectors and obviously now the fans will know that moving forward where T20s are concerned, I’m going to come back and play T20s for West Indies and try to contribute as much as I can as long as I am healthy.

“I give my commitment to play T20 for West Indies in series to come and I’m looking forward to the next T20 World Cup.” Bravo, a former West Indies one-day captain, called time on his career last October citing the need to “preserve my longevity as a professional cricketer”. He had been repeatedly

I’M BACK! Dwayne Bravo eyeing return to West Indies colours. overlooked by selectors and last represented West Indies three years ago in a T20 series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates.

The Trinidadian was sacked as ODI captain in 2014 after 19 months in charge and also dropped from the squad, following his central role in a players play dispute with CWI which led to the controversial abandoned tour of India earlier that year.

In a swipe at the last CWI administration, Bravo pointed out his non-selection in recent years had been based purely on “petty politics rom some immature individuals”, and said he was thrilled by the changes which took place at the CWI elections last March.

“Like I always tell people, I wasn’t playing for West Indies because I wasn’t good enough or because I don’t want to play,” Bravo explained.

“I wasn’t playing because of petty politics from some immature individuals and I just had was to move on with my life and continue to play cricket around the world. But now those individuals are no longer involved in West Indies cricket which I think is the best thing ever to happen, I think I still can contribute especially in the shortest format of the game which is T20.

“I think I have a lot to offer with experience and my skills and I’m looking forward to if the opportunity comes to wear maroon again. I never thought it would have happened but God don’t sleep.”

Bravo is the most successful bowler in T20s with 490 wickets from 450 matches. He is was a member of the West Indies side that won T20 World titles in 2012 and in 2016.

RFA/GFF Champions League

Guyana Rush Saints beat Strikers FC to advance to semi finals Two first half goals were all that was needed to take Guyana Rush Saints Football Club into the semi finals of the Rupununi Football Association Champions League sponsored by the Guyana Football Federation.

Playing at the Saints Ground, goals from Romario Jose in the 28th minute and Franklin Parks in the 37th, guided Guyana Rush Saints past a non-striking, Strikers FC. The semi finals would be played on June 1st and 2nd, next.

The other teams in the male semi finals are Harpy Eagles FC, Paiwomak Warriors FC and Titans FC. The final four in the Female segment of the League are Guyana Rush Saints FC, Strikers FC, Paiwomak Warriors FC and Flash United FC.

PAGE 31

Kaieteur News

Romario Jose (right) and Franklin Parks – Guyana Rush Saints FC

Fragile Wozniacki another top casualty in Paris PARIS (Reuters) - Caroline Wozniacki completed a hattrick of first round exits on red clay this season as she became the third former world number one to fall in the first round of the French Open.

The 13th-seeded Dane suffered a spectacular collapse in a 0-6 6-3 6-3 defeat to Russia’s Veronika Kudermetova on Court Philippe Chatrier yesterday, just 24 hours after Angelique Kerber and Venus Williams were also sent packing.

Wozniacki, who had spells as world number one between 2010 and 2012, has failed to win a match on red clay this year as she was forced to retire with back and calf injuries midway through her opening round contests in Madrid and Rome.

Wozniacki, who had reached the Charleston final on green clay before she suffered the injury setbacks, paid for her lack of match practice after a near-perfect start yesterday.

“I think I played really well in the first set. I played aggressive.

I played the way I wanted to play. And then I think she got very lucky in the start of the second set and... took advantage of the opportunities she got,” Wozniacki told reporters.

“And then I just lost a little steam in the end and I made some unforced errors

Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) in action during her match against Veronica Kudermetova (RUS) on day two of the 2019 French Open at Stade Roland Garros. (Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports) that I normally don’t do, so that was very frustrating.”

The 28-year-old Wozniacki has never made it past the quarter-finals in 12 appearances at Roland Garros.

The Dane suffers from arthritis but said her condition had not been bothering her lately.

“Lately I’ve been feeling good with that, so when I feel good, I just do what I normally do and just go through every day and work hard,” she explained.

But the calf problem hampered her preparations for the French Open even if

she did not feel any pain yesterday.

“Lately it’s just been my calf, which has nothing to do with the other thing. And sometimes you’re just unlucky as an athlete,” she said.

“You get hurt, you get injured, and you just have to try to work through that.”

Wozniacki, who has won just nine matches in 2019, will now focus on the grasscourt season.

“It hasn’t been a great year for me so far. And I’m just going to try and work hard and try to turn that around,” she said.

Djokovic up and running with easy win in Paris PARIS (Reuters) - Top seed Novak Djokovic eased into the second round of the French Open yesterday with a 6-4 6-2 6-2 defeat of young Polish player Hubert Hurkacz.

The 32-year-old Serb is bidding for a second Roland Garros title and to become the first man in the professional era to hold all four Grand Slam titles on two separate occasions.

Reigning champion Rafael Nadal, the man most likely to block Djokovic’s path to a second “Nole Slam”, had earlier launched his bid for a 12th title on the Parisian clay in sublime fashion.

But Djokovic more than matched the Spaniard’s display with a near faultless performance in the afternoon sunshine on Court Philippe Chatrier to seal a 22nd consecutive win in Grand Slam play since losing in the quarter-finals here last year.

He broke serve in the

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic celebrates after winning his first round match against Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz. (REUTERS/Vincent Kessler) opening game on his way to taking the opening set in routine fashion and the only blip was when he dropped serve at 4-1 in the second set.

The match was more or

less in the bag by then, however, and Djokovic cantered to victory to set up a second-round clash with Switzerland’s Henri Laaksonen.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 32

Tuesday May 28, 2019

Reds is 80 not out

By Sean Devers “I am now in the 80s club but I don’t feel any different from when I was 70 or 75 and I am satisfied with what I have tried to do to help others and where sport has taken me,” these were words of Joseph ‘Reds’ Perreira who celebrates his 80th today.

Among his most cherished memories in his long and illustrious life is Commentating in the 1975 in World Cup Final and meeting Fidel Castro.

The son of a farmer, who could not complete a sentence without stammering, Reds overcame that and other daunting challenges, including a severe stroke in Australia, to become Guyana’s most illustrious sports commentator, as well as a household name in cricket broadcasting around the world.

Reds was born in Pomeroon, Essequibo and is still very active and involved in the sporting fraternity.

‘Reds’, a walking encyclopaedia of Sports history, now resides in St. Lucia with his Guyanese wife Zandra.

The fifth of nine children, he spent his time as a boy sailing and fishing, and never got involved in organized sport until 1945 when he moved to the city.

His Dad grew coffee and oranges and would carry timber and other cargo around the country, and occasionally to Trinidad and Barbados, in a boat he had built. His mother was a housewife.

“Sport was not a major thing in Pomeroon in those

Reds at 21 in Trinidad.

days, but cricket was a big social outing for the entire family,” ‘Reds’ explained.

His ability as a cricketer was limited to his yard in Pomeroon where he played with a coconut branch as the bat, and a seed which floated in the river, as the ball.

He played some cricket at the St Mary’s school in the city but was keen on football.

Although ‘Reds’ rose to fame from broadcasting cricket, football was his first love, and he made his first division debut as a 16-yearold goalkeeper for GFC. “ We w e r e p l a y i n g against Infantry and they had Lewis Whittaker, who played for the Caribbean XI. We won one-nil. Morris Pollard, who represented Guyana in Football and Hockey, scored,” Reds remembered.

The veteran broadcaster did commentary in 145 Test matches between 1971 and 2005 and was a popular voice on radio with Boxing, Football, Hockey, Table Tennis, Basketball, Netball and Motor Racing.

“Radio was big in those days (1950s)….you had the BBC coming through all the time, and on short wave you could catch Radio Australia.

I would lie in bed and broadcast an imaginary Test match… imaginary football, with Brazil playing England, and imaginary World title boxing,” a smiling ‘Reds’ remembered.

“Back then I never really thought of being a real commentator since I stammered very badly,” he informed.

The experienced presenter, who watched his

first Test match in 1953 when West Indies opposed India, got his big break in 1959.

Tw o I n t e r- C o l o n i a l matches were being played in the then British Guiana at the same time, and two commentary teams were required.

“One match was at Bourda and the other at Rose Hall….I was interested in commentary and was called in by Rafiq Khan of Radio Demerara and Kenny Wishart, who helped to select the Radio commentators for the cricket board. I joined Norman McLean and Claude Vieira for my first match,” said

sports.

“I began as a Freelancer with the Guyana Information Service (GIS) doing a weekly Magazine programme. Terry Holder and Cecil Griffith (both deceased) were there at that time,” Reds recounted.

In October 1968, the Guyana Broadcasting Service (GBS) was launched and ‘Reds’ joined Cecil ‘Bruiser’ Thomas in the Sports Department.

“We provided energized sports coverage using the telephone in fierce competition with Radio Demerara, who had BL Crombie,” Reds disclosed.

‘Reds’ went to work on

Reds and his wife Zandra in the backyard in St Lucia.

‘Reds’.

In 1965, in the hunt for greener pastures, Reds travelled to the United Kingdom to take his brothers to school, and stayed there for five years. He did several jobs including washing dishes in a restaurant in Denmark.

He was the Convener for the West Indies Students’ Centre as he completed a course at a Physical Education School which focused on soccer coaching.

“I met England’s 1966 Soccer Captain Bobby Moore at that school and did pre-season training with Chelsea and Arsenal before returning to Guyana in December 1967,” the garrulous Guyanese disclosed.

Not someone to sit around in an office, ‘Reds’ said he got several offers to get into the Insurance business but declined, because he was hooked on

correcting his stammering and was so desperate to get rid of it that he even tried Creole remedies. He soon found that mentally working on the problem was the best way.

“I started trying to understand why I stammered and realized that it happened when I tried to pronounce words with R, S or F. I could not say Richardson or Rodriguez. I knew you could not substitute names of people, so if I wanted to be a commentator I would have to learn to overcome my stammering problem.”

Deep-breathing techniques and a growing self-confidence helped.

In 1971, he made his Test debut at Bourda when India toured the West Indies.

Although he was now a top cricket commentator who along with Tony Crozier, Brian Johnston and John Arlott, described the inaugural World Cup final in

Reds Interviews Darren Sammy in Trinidad.

1975 at Lords, ‘Reds’ was still involved in other sports.

He served as the President of the Guyana Basketball Association from 1969-1975 and attended three Central American Championships. He was Coach of the Santos Football Club and the National under23 side in the 1960s and commentated on three World Title fights.

Married twice, ‘Reds’ has devoted his entire life to sports, and was behind the microphone in Jamaica, in January 1973, when George Foreman fought Joe Frazier.

He also called the action for television on September 13, 1980 when Guyanese Patrick Ford battled Mexican Salvador Sanchez for the World Boxing Council featherweight title in Texas.

The versatile ‘Reds’ was Sports Advisor to former Minister of Sport, Shirley Field-Ridley, and served as Chairman of the National Sports Council (NSC) in the 1970s before migrating to Barbados in 1980 when he got a lucrative contract with the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). He spent five years with CBC and covered the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.

A true Caribbean man, ‘Reds’, a former President of the Guyana Football and Basketball Associations, soon moved to St. Lucia to establish and head the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) sports desk. He did the job for 12 years.

Freelancing for the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) and the Voice of Barbados (VOB), ‘Reds’ was still very active in his old-age before a debilitating stroke in Australia, in January of 1996, threatened to not only end his career, but his life.

“My left side went totally dead. I could not walk and spent a long time in a wheelchair. My speech was badly affected and I had to re-learn to walk. That

episode made me take control of my life once again. I think going back to work for the OECS was good therapy for me,” ‘Reds’ opined.

Most people half his age would have retired, but sports runs in the man’s blood and soon he was again broadcasting at the highest level.

A former President of the St. Lucia Amateur Boxing Association, Reds wants to ‘give back’ to the development of sports, a discipline that has afforded him the opportunity to see the world, meet famous people and live a comfortable life.

Despite television, ‘Reds’ thinks radio still has a role to play in developing sports, especially in the rural areas, and he urges young commentators to do intensive research and know the players and venues.

“They should strive to be true professionals, the basics never change,” the veteran emphasized.

‘Reds’ says both the administrators and players need to understand what cricket means to Caribbean people and show more commitment to the sport.

He also lamented that young Guyanese don’t know enough about the past sports personalities who “put this country on the map” in the early days and encouraged Journalists to write Historical Sports features.

He formed the ‘Reds’ Perreira Sports Foundation in December 2004 to assist sports in Guyana. The foundation, with the assistance of the various local sports associations, helps to bring top Caribbean and International persons to Guyana to give lectures and conduct coaching stints.

“Others gave me many opportunities and I want to give back.”

For the many who listened the magic of his words painting an intriguing picture in the middle of the (Continued on page 27)

Kaieteur News

Tuesday May 28, 2019

PAGE 33

NAMILCO 50th Anniversary/Independence Day of Sports – Berbice

New Amsterdam (Secondary), McGowan (Primary) win School Athletics titles and cash New Amsterdam Secondary and McGowan Primary each carted off the top prize of $50,000 and three hundred (300) N A M I L C O 5 0 t h Anniversary branded exercise books for winning the respective Secondary and Primary School titles when the National Milling Company of Guyana (NAMILCO) hosted the first

in a series of Day of Sports to celebrate this special milestone and Guyana’s Independence Anniversary.

Witnessed by Managing Director Bert Sukhai, Assistant Managing Director Automaram Lakeram, Finance Controller Fitzroy McLeod and Consultant Affeeze Khan, a packed and entertaining day of sports was had with volleyball and

an exciting 6-overs softball cricket match permeating the day’s action.

Sukhai, speaking at the opening ceremony expressed his company’s delight to be giving back to society by empowering the youths through sports. He expressed gratitude to Mr. Hilbert Foster and his team at the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club

(RHTY&SC) for organizing the day’s activities with the Guyana Teachers Union Berbice Branch running the athletics, while the Berbice Volleyball Association took care of their sport.

Sukhai, who also informed the gathering that Berbice is very close to his heart as he is a son of the soil, will continue to assist where ever and whenever possible in the continued development of the county.

Following are the results for the Individual events: Primary School Results Event Top Three Placing 800m Boys Ryan Smartt (Mc Gowan), Royan Captain (All Saints), Nicholas Lepps (Cropper) 800m Girls Syesha McPhoy (Mc Gowan), Christina Leitch (PM), Tasianna De Santos (Leeds) 100m Boys Neron Wilson (PM), Clevon Cort (All Saints), Damian Tillakram (Rose Hall) 100m Girls Junelly Paddy (Cropper), Leandre Bennett (Mc Gowan), Kaydann Lord (Rose Hall) 1200m Boys Joshawn Marshall (Leeds), Ryan Smartt (McGowan), Allister Amsterdam (All Saints) 200m Boys Keon James (PM), Jaden Trellis (All Saints), Gary Williams (Cropper) 200m Girls Leandra Bennett (McGowan), Shellyann Sampson (All Saints), Judetta Joseph (Cropper) 400m Boys Keyon James (PM), Jamal Arokium (Rose Hall), Seth Campbell (McGowan) 400m Girls Shellyann Sampson (All Saints), Suesha McPhoy (Mc Gowan), Christina Leitch (PM) 4x100 Boys Cropper, Leeds, Port Mourant 4x100 Girls All Saints, Port Mourant, Leeds Secondary School Results 100m Boys Jequan Vogat (Central Corentyne), Simon Shepherd (JC Chandisingh), Andre Harry (PM) 100m Girls Alicio Shepherd (Lower Corentyne), Celene Charles (Corentyne Comprehensive), Alisa Henry (New Amsterdam) 1500m Boys Dermont La Rose (PM), Jevon Crandon (Manchester), Daniel Leitch (Central Corentyne) 1500m Girls Naomi Paddy (New Amsterdam), Alia Davis (PM), Odess George (Central Corentyne) 200m Boys Simeon Shepherd (JC Chandisingh), Job Fraser (New Amsterdam), Jaheim Munroe (Manchester) 200m Girls Alicia Shepherd (Lower Corentyne), Putrina Sullivan (Corentyne Comprehensive), Alia Barnwell (Manchester) High Jump Dorian Leitch (New Amsterdam), Trendy Grey (Central Corentyne), Jevon Boys Crandon (Manchester) High Jump Tamia Mendonca (Central Corentyne), Shania Fraser (Port Mourant) Girls 800m Boys Christoff Shepherd (Lower Corentyne), Benacko Roberts (New Amsterdam), Warren Crandon (Corentyne Comprehensive) 800m Girls Alia Davis (Port Mourant), Odessa George (Central Corentyne), Tamany Mc Phoy (Manchester) Discuss Boys Shaquan Lucas (New Amsterdam), Akeem Fraser (Corentyne Comprehensive), Jai Tika (Port Mourant) Discuss Girls Natalia Edwards (Corentyne Comprehensive), Tiana Cort (JC Chandisingh), Kayla Carmichael (New Amsterdam) 4x400m Boys JC Chandisingh (p. Stephen, S. Shepherd, J. Lamb, J. Holligar), New Amsterdam (D. Leitch, J. Fraser, T. Roberts, S. Lucas), Central Corentyne (J. Leitch, S. Fortune, R. Captain, S. Bourne) 4x400m Girls Corentyne Comprehensive, Central Corentyne Shot Putt Justin Edwards (New Amsterdam), Mahandra Gopilall (Corentyne Boys Comprehensive), Jason Leitch (Central Corentyne) Javelin Boys Nicholas Crandon (JC Chandisingh), Shaquan Lucas (New Amsterdam), Akeem Fraser (Corentyne Comprehensive) Javelin Girls Lashanda Punch (Manchester), Shania Fraser (Port Mourant), A. Munisar (New Amsterdam) 400m Boys Joshua Lam (JC Chandisingh), Job Fraser (New Amsterdam), J. Vogle (Manchester) 400m Girls Putrina Sulivan (Corentyne Comprehensive),Alisa Henry (New Amsterdam), A. Peters (Central Corentyne) 4x100m Boys JC Chandisingh (J. Lam, S. Shepherd, K. Pestano, J. Holigar), New Amsterdam (S. Lucas, D. Leitch, T. Roberts, B. Roberts), Corentyne Comprehensive (A. Paul, U. Binda, S. Charles, N. Chisholm) 4x100m Girls Corentyne Comprehensive (P. Sullivan, R. Crawford, C. Charles, C. Richards), Manchester (A. Gray, A. Barnwell, T. Mc Phoy, L. Punch), New Amsterdam (N. Paddy, A. Henry, L. Carmichael, M. Munroe)

Foster in remarks expressed thanks to Sukhai and NAMILCO for committed and unflinching support to the RHTY&SC over the years, noting that they have never been turned down for any assistance since the two entities have been in partnership.

Also being a part of the day’s activities was close to 100 NAMILCO Staff members who were transported to the venue by

the Company to be part of the proceedings which got underway with a six-over softball cricket match between the Rose Hall Town Pepsi Team and NAMILCO. The home team took first strike and rattled up 105-3 off their 6 overs led by a swashbuckling 77 from Tyrese Sealey, Jai Tika was unbeaten on 11; Automaram Lakeram and B. Daw took one wicket each for 11 and (Continued on page 30)

Male Volleyball champs; Port Mourant Training Center 1 receives the first place cash prize from NAMILCO’s Fitzroy Mc Leod.

The winning Female Beach Volleyball pair of Anesha and Fernandes poses with NAMILCO’s Affeeze Khan.

Six-over Softball Cricket winners RHT Pepsi showcase their medals and trophy.

The winning Primary School athletes and Teacher take a photo with NAMILCO’s Affeeze Khan following the presentation.

t r o Sp NAMILCO 50th Anniversary/Independence Day of Sports – Berbice

New Amsterdam (Secondary), McGowan (Primary) win School Athletics titles and cash

NAMILCO’s Affeeze Khan hands over the cash prize and trophy to this New Amsterdam Secondary School Teacher in the presence of his winning team.

Third annual independence 5k race

Mbihia takes gold medal

Godffrey Mbihia crosses the finish line 15 minutes 22 seconds.

13-year-old Attoya Harvey finished ahead of everyone including her male competitiors in the youths’ one-mile race.

Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.