Kaieteur News

Monday May 29, 2017

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Kaieteur News

Badal is not forthcoming Patrick Yarde is not in a about GPL’s financial position conflict of interest situation

DEAR EDITOR, “Totally incorrect,” said Chairman of Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Board of Directors, Robert Badal, when called out by former President Jagdeo, but to date, he has not offered any serious facts to counter the declaration by Jagdeo. So in an environment where Jagdeo says GPL has G$20 billion in its bank account and is actively squandering it, who must I believe? A man who offered a real number or one who is trying to bamboozle me with innuendos and deceitful positions? I will believe the man with the real numbers

and therefore I believe former President Jagdeo and I am sure the majority of Guyanese too will believe former President Jagdeo. Mr. Robert Badal should be concerned since he passes himself off as a Chartered Accountant like Christopher Ram but Mr. Ram or for that matter Mr. Goolsarran as Chartered Accountants would never hide the numbers of a public company from the public. Only an uncertain person would do such a thing. If one open the papers over the last two weeks Bank DIH and Citizens Bank both published their numbers for

the world to see their bank balance, but GPL owned by the people under the direction of Badal is hiding the G$20 billion bank balance from the people. Why? Is there an operation to use these funds outside of the company’s sphere? Answer me, Mr. Badal? You Mr. Badal were bursting your vocal cords three years ago, calling the PPP unaccountable, but now who are the unaccountable ones at GPL? Who is the Chairman of GPL? Who is the Minister steering all these GPL contracts to certain people? Lisa Ally

Fly Jamaica leaves hundreds stranded in Canada DEAR EDITOR, Against my knowledge of the reliability of the true and tested Caribbean Airlines and tempted by non-stop flight, I utilised the services of Fly Jamaica on a one-week return trip to Canada. A terrible decision! As I am typing this letter, I am stuck in Canada because Fly Jamaica cancelled its flight (OJ 257) to Guyana scheduled for 26th May. Several phone calls to a toll-free number in Georgetown, calls to Fly

Jamaica Customer Service Office in Canada, constant on-line checks regarding the status of OJ 257 from Canada to Guyana provided conflicting information as to departure time(s) of the Fly Jamaica flight. I went to Pearson Airport twice on the advice of the FLY Jamaica Personnel at toll-free 1-855-933-5952. I gave Fly Jamaica personnel my phone number in Canada. As at the time of this letter I have not received any call from Fly

Jamaica nor is there any information regarding how Fly Jamaica will get me back to Guyana. I am in the process of trying to get onto a flight on Caribbean Airlines which may cost me in excess of $1,300US. Editor, this is not the end of my interaction with Fly Jamaica. Legal action will be my next move. And I hope that other frustrated passengers of Fly Jamaica will join me in representing for just compensation for our inconvenience and loss. Taajnauth Jadunauth

WPO reflects on the role of women as it achieves its 64th Anniversary DEAR EDITOR, May 27th marks 64 years since the Women’s Progressive Organization was formed in 1953. Its forerunner, the WPEO formed in July 1946 came into being long before the formation of a political party in this country. The rationale for such a formation became necessary because of the poor conditions women were living under and the absence of basic rights for them. The foresight of Janet Jagan, who came into the country in 1943, recognized these realities and immediately spoke to the issues in the National newspapers in 1944. What were those conditions: it was the lack of education, abject poverty, poor housing and living conditions, starvation wages and all the ills that are associated with poverty and exploitation under colonial rule. With the formation of the PPP in 1950 and the struggle for adult suffrage which became a reality, women and men were given the opportunity to participate in elections without conditions

of property or position. The winning of the 1953 national election in Guyana saw women being elevated for the first time and three women were elected to the Legislative Council as well as the position of the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly. The WPO was formed a few weeks after and the main purpose was to give leadership to women in order for them to improve the lives of themselves, their families, and to become involved in the development of their country. Educating our girl children was the process which would make that possible, thus, the call for mothers to send their daughters to school became the active mission of the organization. Simultaneously, the organization in collaboration with the PPP began its advocacy for Independence. Thereafter, every effort was made to reach out to women, especially those who were living in rural Guyana to make them understand how important education was for

their children. Those initiatives were the precursor to what eventually occurred in the late 1950’s where women began to take their place in pivotal ways in Guyana. With government playing a more significant role in providing education more people, especially Indo Guyanese who because of their religion were not prepared to convert to Christianity, were stepping forward in getting their children enrolled in primary schools. Thus consequently, the call to get mothers to send their children to school was beginning to bear fruit. People recognized that having an education provided the opportunity to make choices in all areas of life. Unfortunately, the period in which National Service was used as a tool for students to graduate prevented a lot of Indo Guyanese women from completing their educations. When the PPP/C won the elections of 1992 the opportunity to accelerate Continued on page 6

DEAR EDITOR, While I am no attorney-atlaw it is a known fact that ignorance of the law is not acceptable as a defense for a breach of the law and as such I have endeavored to acquaint myself with the law to the extent that what I am about to state I am confident that it is an accurate interpretation of the spirit and intent of the Constitution of Guyana. In this regard I refer to the current unwarranted attacks of the Guyana Public Service Union’s (GPSU) representatives’ legitimate involvement as members of the Public Service Commission (PSC). First, let me state the premise of my contention by quoting the Constitution of Guyana: Chapter 1:01 article 8 “This Constitution is the supreme law of Guyana and, if any other law is inconsistent with it, that other law shall to the extent of the inconsistency, be void.” Secondly, the GPSU representatives on the PSC were determined by the Parliament of Guyana in accordance with the Constitution of Guyana: and I quote Article 200 (b) “two members appointed by the President upon nomination by the National Assembly after it has consulted such bodies as appear to it to represent public officers or classes of public officers; and” Thirdly, Patrick Yarde’s elevation as Deputy Chairperson of the PSC was done in accordance with the Constitution of Guyana: Article 200 (2) “The Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of the Commission shall be elected by and from the members of the Commission using such consensual mechanism as the Commission deems fit” and his subsequent elevation to acting Chairperson was also in accordance with the Constitution of Guyana. Article 200 (5) “If the office of Chairperson of the PSC is vacant or the holder thereof is for any reason unable to perform the functions of his or her office, then the holder of the office of Deputy Chairperson or if that office is vacant or the holder thereof is for any reason unable to perform the functions of the office of Chairperson, one of the other members may be elected to act in the office of Chairperson;” Fourthly, article 198 (1) of the Constitution of Guyana states: “The members of the

Judicial Service Commission (JSC) shall be”(c) “the Chairman of the Public Service Commission”. Based on the above it is pellucid and unambiguous what was done and to emphasize is in accordance with the Constitution of Guyana the supreme authority. It is therefore, disconcerting to see the accommodation and publication that is repeatedly given to inappropriate comments on this matter. Public Servants having the right to seek redress from the decisions of the PSC were unconditionally supported by the GPSU from the inception even though the union enjoyed the privilege to have a member on the PSC. So serious and committed was the GPSU to this position that representation was made to the late President L. F. S. Burnham resulting in an amendment to the Constitution of Guyana for the creation of the Public Service Appellate Tribunal (PSAT) in 1984 facilitating all challenges by public servants seeking redress because of displeasure with the decisions of the PSC. Again, I wish to emphasise that the establishment of the PSAT was pursued successfully by the GPSU regardless of the fact that it had a nominee on the PSC, to reinforce justice and fair play in these matters. Non-appointment of the PSAT by the President of Guyana commencing with Bharrat Jagdeo has always been a concern of the GPSU and it is public record, the GPSU’s ongoing representation and protest advocating the appointment of the PSAT, also in 2017 while Mr. Patrick Yarde is acting Chairperson of the PSC. The GPSU wholeheartedly welcome the appointment of the PSAT by President Granger, this expression was publicly stated by Patrick Yarde after the swearing in of the members of the PSAT. It appears most ironical that one who has been in the vanguard of these achievements for justice and fair play and who, individually as a member of the PSC, has no power to make any decision on behalf of the PSC, which decisions incidentally requires the support of a majority of the members of the PSC, is being singled out for

personal attacks. The only conclusion one could have is that these persons are narrow minded, petty and have a grudge. The GPSU condemns and rejects this banality. Conflict of interest seems to be the “buzz word”. Mr. Yarde mentioned to the Executive Council Members on Friday May 19, 2017 that after a meeting of the Dependent Pension Fund Board held Thursday May 18, 2017, Prof. Harold Lutchman raised the issue of conflict of interest with him which he dismissed. Prof. Lutchman then told Mr. Yarde that the Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the Public Service had some recommendations with respect to the PSC. Mr. Yarde reminded him that the COI’s recommendations were not fully supported by the GPSU. In fact, it should be noted that the GPSU had publicly stated that it did not agree with some of the recommendations of the COI. The Professor then told Mr. Yarde that he was certain that his position as Chairman (ag) of the PSC would be challenged as one of conflict of interest. It seems as though Prof. Lutchman was privy to some information, since only a few days after we saw all these criticisms in the printed media. Why all this brouhaha? Freddie Kissoon mentioned, in an article entitled “President Granger asked to review Patrick Yarde’s appointment to PSC Chairmanship” dated May 23, 2017, instances of Judges recusing themselves from cases where they may have an interest; the same could be done in the case of the Chairman of the PSC. Joshua Singh speaking of the members of the Commission being men of integrity etc. is he impugning the integrity of members of the Commission? Our legal advisers will have to advise on this. In any case, if the public servants do not agree with any decision of the PSC they can always seek redress from the PSAT whose members are not PSC Commissioners. Continued on page 6

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Monday May 29, 2017

Kaieteur News

Citizens Bank’s half year performance not encouraging for the economy DEAR EDITOR, Citizens Bank Inc. (CBI), a subsidiary of Banks DIH Ltd, has this week released its unaudited half-year 2017 performance as at the end of March 2017. That document clearly could not have been great reading for the shareholders. However, it has to be worst reading for any thinking policy maker in the Government of Guyana because of the low tax declaration. What is concerning to me as a financial analyst is the state of the net impairment of financial assets at this institution since 2015. Between 2015 and 2016, the ratio of net impairment to the total loan portfolio deteriorated by some 20%. At the end of the 2016 financial year in September, loan impairment expenses net of recoveries was G$548 million derived from a net loan portfolio of G$29 billion. Compare this with the situation in the largest bank in Guyana (Republic) and you realize CBI is in real trouble. Republic Bank with double the loan portfolio booked an annual loan impairment

expense slightly more than that of CBI. From the graph below, one can observe the rapid expansion of the pool of good cash that has to be set aside to fund the write-off of potentially bad loans in the bank’s loan portfolio. In 2017, this ratio of good cash to be set aside to fund the write-off of bad loans is expected to be slightly more than 2.1% of the total loan portfolio, compared to 1.5% in 2015 (see graph below). That is almost a 45% expansion in this ratio and cannot be great news for the shareholders. I have had cause to write about the two bigger banks in the industry (GBTI and Republic) in the immediate past between April 8, 2017 and the date of this letter, but this discovery confirms my fear that the situation in the smaller banks is even worst. But what should be a deep concern to the Granger government is that the risk of the smaller banks unravelling is much higher than let us say a Republic Bank, that has much better-diversified income stream than these

baby banks like CBI. I have been saying since February 2017 that we do have a systemic problem in the banking sector but to date, the public policies to strengthen the financial sector seems to be lost on Mr. Winston Jordan. This is his show but yet he chooses to issue empty sound bite but no substance. With the dataset at our disposal, we can confirm that with respect to CBI, at the end of their financial year in September 2016, their nonperforming loans to total loans were 15.5% compared to the industry average of 11.3%. Mind you the industry saw the quality of its loan portfolio deteriorate between September 2015 and September 2016 by 1.9%, which translated to over $2.5 billion in debts being reclassified from “Acceptable” to “Substandard”. Some G$548 million (22%) of that figure came from CBI. But what is worrying is the largest bank in Guyana (Republic) that has twice the loan portfolio of CBI has a

smaller amount of bad debts. This information confirmed my original suspicion that the smaller indigenous banks like Citizen’s Bank that do not have an international head office to back them with capital, are definitely in a position to bring greater harm to the financial sector because of their higher risk outlook for the next 12 months. What can be deduced from this situation? This country is burning financially under President Granger’s watch and he has to be held accountable for leading a team that seems hell-bent on repressing the private sector in some utopian quest to destroy the current set of investors for some “new breed of phantom investors”. But this strategy clearly is not working and in the end, all inside Guyana will suffer as the investment climate implodes. In the case of CBI, pre-tax profit declined by some 48% over their 2016 financial year to G$759 million. If one look at these March 2017 published data from CBI, one will recognize a trend that will

That infamous blacklist is nothing new to the... From page 4 leaving the country. I was forced to do so because a High Court Judge awarded damages against the State when Immigration Officers at Cheddi Jagan International Airport, prevented an entire family from leaving Guyana for North America because their names were placed on a list, prohibiting persons from leaving the country, on the basis, that the head of the household was suspected of being involve in some form of

criminality. They sued the State for violations of their constitutional rights to leave Guyana. There was, simply, no legal defence. On the other hand, I have no doubt that this current mass ‘blacklisting’ is either done upon the advice of the Attorney General or with his imprimatur. At a minimum, he cannot claim to be unaware of it. That the ‘blacklist’ phenomenon has returned I am not surprised. At the 12th Biennial Congress of the PNC

held in August 2015, at Congress Place, its leader, President David Granger, proclaimed a return to ‘Burnhamism’. Only last week, we read in the press another statement by that Party, recommitting itself to ‘Burnhamism’ at the celebration of its 60th Anniversary. Quite frankly, these public pronouncements are unnecessary. From the time they took office, so many authoritarian methods of the Burnham years have returned

WPO reflects on the role of women... From page 5 developments in all areas of women’s empowerment became a reality for all women. These included numerous initiatives of the government, such as legislation, policies and programs, signing of conventions and international commitments. The PPP/c record on women’s rights is indeed impressive.

Ever since the APNU/ Coalition came into office they have embarked on a program of bias. What is distressing to note is that the majority of those who are being removed and replaced are a number of women? PPP women activists have been ridiculed over the years for being passive and invisible and when for the first time they have an opportunity to

shine they are being singled out and discriminated against. All women including Indo Guyanese must have an opportunity to grow and contribute to Guyana’s National development. We use this occasion to call on all women to stand firm and let their voices be heard. We must use the available means and methods to expose all the harassment and exclusion of our women. We condemn the harassment of women especially the recent action which smacks of political discrimination. As we reflect on 64 years we use this opportunity to thank all those who have contributed in one way or the other to the growth and development of the organization. Executive Committee WPO, women’s arm of the PPP

that it is difficult to keep track. With them has come the despotic ‘blacklist’. This current constitutional travesty is aggravated by the fact that the persons who are ‘blacklisted’ have not been so informed. They will only realise that they are prohibited from travelling, when they are so informed by the Immigration Officers at the Airport. Therefore, not only are they being denied their constitutional rights but they will also be made to suffer the public humiliation, pecuniary loss and tremendous inconvenience that will ensue when they turn up at the Airport, prepared to leave Guyana. Even their parliamentary representative is denied this information. If this is not authoritarianism, the transitioning into a Police State and the most callous abuse of power, then I do not know what is. One other issue is troubling me. The Police Commissioner in his letter to the Bishop professes to be acting upon the advice of the Police Legal Advisor. I know that the holder of that office knows better. That is what makes this fiasco even more eerie. Lastly, I offer my services free of charge to any person who is unconstitutionally prevented from leaving the country in these circumstances. Anil Nandlall

see the loan portfolio actually declining. How do banks make profits? Yes, the loan portfolio. What does that say about the profitability of this bank for 2017? But what was most distressing news is that CBI paid G$58 million in taxes for the six months to March 31, 2017, vs. G$125 million and G$137 million for the comparable period to March 31, 2016 and March 31, 2015. The Guyanese man in the street must settle their mind to the fact this rut will not be fixed in six months, it will take years to turn back the clock to a bullish business environment and therefore, the days of austerity is alive

in Guyana today and possible for the rest of this Granger term. It is time for people to cease buying this high nonsense that the first flow of oil will solve the nation’s problems; it is a blatant misrepresentation of the facts. The years 2017/2018 will be hard guava season, oil or no oil because of the gross mismanagement of the economy in 2016. Even if the oil is to flow today, it will take at least 18 months to 24 months to feel the impact, but the oil is not flowing until 2022, we that compute to positive impacts by 2024. That is some 6 years away. Sase Singh

Guyana has no future with Jagdeo back in power DEAR EDITOR, Why is the PPP/C not regenerating itself before the next General Elections due by 2020? Clearly, Bharrat Jagdeo (and, Donald Ramotar) is not the solution to Guyana’s problems as they have had their chance to unite Guyana but choose to play politics (race-based politics at that). The PPP/C needs new blood with new innovative ideas and strategies to win the next General Elections. We should not be settling for Bharrat Jagdeo because he can “win” an election. It is not just about winning elections; it is about how you govern as well. It is believed by many people that should Bharrat Jagdeo contest and “win” the next General Elections that he will be out to enrich himself and his friends with the oil money. Clearly, the PPP/C needs to win over its detractors and we cannot do this with Bharrat Jagdeo (or Donald Ramotar) at the helm. Does the PPP/C actually have a plan of succession or are we going to let Bharrat Jagdeo take us down a road we do not wish to go? Who in the PPP/C can stand up to Bharrat Jagdeo and wrest power from him? Sean Ori

Patrick Yarde is not... From page 5 Mr. Earl John has branched into an area of no concern to him, from his article “We are caught in an injudicious system” in the Stabroek News of May 25, 2017. He needs to check the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana to be acquainted with the composition of both the PSC and JSC. Even in his area of competence the GPSU had some bad experiences in dealing with the firm Jones and John Associates. At the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission Jones and John Associates did a job evaluation that disrupted the normal Union/Management relations that escalated into industrial action. The situation only returned to normalcy after several of their recommendations were amended. Mr. John speak about conflict of interest but he was VERY SILENT when his “partner”, being a member of the 2016 Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the public service, instantly after that involvement was an

active member on the Government’s team negotiating with the GPSU for wages, salaries and allowances for the public service, which negotiations incidentally, were for 2016 and are inconclusive. The fact that Mr. John is dumbfounded by the action of His Excellency in appointing the acting Chairman of the PSC to the JSC speaks poorly of his intellect, highlights his double standards and expose his deep seated prejudice for working class people and trade unions. The Constitution clearly states how the Chairman of the PSC is elected and the members of the JSC appointed. On the occasion of this 51st Independence Anniversary of our nation there ought to be an environment of expressions of enlightenment and upliftment in pursuit of harmony, unity and sustainable development on which I am certain that all open minded and forward thinking Guyanese should focus. Dawn Gardener

Monday May 29, 2017

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Kaieteur News

Local banks plug more money laundering loopholes Local commercial banks are determined to play their role in improving the financial integrity and image of the nation. As such, Kaieteur News understands that banks have already taken steps to tighten up on their anti-money laundering frameworks as well as their compliance with the local laws and regulations. In the case of the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) for example, moves were made to continue to strengthen its Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) programme during 2016. According to GBTI’s CEO, John Tracey, the move to strengthen the bank’s framework is to ensure compliance with international and local laws and regulations. Some of the achievements in this regard for GBTI include; training for board and senior management and staff of the bank; continued

updates to AML/CFT policies and procedures and the implementation of a screening platform for all international payment transactions. Furthermore, GBTI like other local banks continued its participation in community business workshops where attendees were updated on the Bank’s AML/CFT regime and given the opportunity to ask questions. Additionally, local banks had expressed their appreciation of some of the steps taken by the authorities of the day to strengthen Guyana’s banking system. They however noted concern about the negative impact and perceptions some of these new systems can have on small and large customers alike. Specifically speaking to this point was GBTI Chairman, Robin Stoby, S.C. In his recent report, Stoby noted that Government passed amendments to several pieces of legislation during 2016. These included

changes to the Credit Reporting Act and the AntiMoney Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act (AML/CFT). The Chairman said that these will have a serious impact on the operations of commercial banks. In this regard, Stoby said that amendments to the AML/ CFT Act prescribe fines between $5M to $15M, including imprisonment for breaches of the Act by bank employees. It also prescribes ongoing training for employees to better detect suspicious transactions and the adoption by banks of methods for dealing with specific issues regarding originators of wire transfers. Amendments to the Credit Report Act prescribe that, as part of credit risk evaluation, a Credit Report must be obtained from the Credit Bureau before granting facilities to customers. Stoby also pointed out that among the amendments

to the Income Tax Act is the controversial provision granting authorization for the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) to demand that financial institutions remit funds from the bank accounts held by taxpayers who have outstanding tax arrears to the GRA, as these arrears are designated as debts to the State. The GBTI Chairman stated that banks over the years, have been faced with amendments to the financial and business legislation and new regulations that have been pushing up operational and compliance costs to record levels; costs that in the main have not been previously passed on to customers. Stoby said, “Compliance has not only become more costly, but requires an increasing number of changes to our banking software to facilitate reporting to a larger number of regulatory bodies. “Banks are now called upon to undertake such

GBTI CEO, John Tracey varied tasks as monitoring the activities of customers, systematically collecting and sharing information regarding certain customer transactions with law enforcement authorities and ensuring that our products and services meet a range of new standards.” He added, “We are concerned that the negative

impact and perceptions of these new systems on small and large customers alike fall primarily at the feet of bankers and not at the doorstep of the regulatory agencies from where they emanate, and we believe that this is an area that the banks in Guyana need to engage the Government in meaningful discussions so as to seek to maintain a proper balance in the financial system of Guyana.” That aside, Stoby said that GBTI welcomes the pronouncements by Government in terms of favouring a form of agency banking. Agency banking is a model where accessible “agents” (individuals) process customer transactions on behalf of banking institutions. GBTI says that it stands ready to offer its views as part of the consultations since it believes that this service aids in improving participation in the mainstream financial industry by retail businesses and individuals.

Former IMC Chairman Orrin Gordon supports call for salary for Mayors By Enid Joaquin Former IMC Chairman Orrin Gordon has added his voice to calls for salaries to be paid to Mayors. Linden Mayor Carwyn Holland recently made a similar appeal. Gordon said that as a private citizen of Region Ten, he would like to “forcefully” support the Mayor of Linden’s call for salaries to be paid to Mayors instead of the meager $15,000 stipend they receive. He added that the issue of remuneration had been raised incessantly in the past, but got nowhere because the past administration did not care about Local Government! Gordon declared that the substantive issue, is that chapter 28:09 which is basically act 12 of 1980 section 9:1 says that mayors, deputies, Regional chairmen and vice and chairmen of NDC’s should be full time people with pay. “So I want to emphasize that, because that’s most important.” He said that the issue though raised before was never addressed, because at the time there was no deliberate desire, or political will, to have these various organs operate in an independent manner. “I essence although the act as inumbrated in 1980 did promulgate and brought the RDC’s into existence, and at the same time the RDC’s began to operate with regional chairmen and vice chairmen and being in office

Orrin Gordon full time and being paid, it did not filter down to the NDC’s and municipalities.” “So my support for the statement made by the Mayor that the demands are extremely heavy, and it is only right and fair- and I am adding my voice very strongly behind what he is saying, because I know this for a fact. The responsibilities are onerous and it is only fair that they be paid for the work they do.” These are young people, a lot of them are young people, and we’ve been asking young people to come to the fore and to be involved in local government. They are in their prime of their lives, and this is the most productive part and time of their life. They have their families to take care off - now I want you to tell me, how is it that you expect them to operate in an environment and like in my case, where you basically operate for over a

decade, so how is it that you’re expected to do that (take care of family) without a supportive financial structure in place.” So I exhort all concerned, the Minister of communities, and cabinet to ensure that these Mayors and deputies are being compensated - and not that fifteen thousand dollars per month story. We now have three more (mayors) and it’s only fair that these officers are being taken care of properly. How do we rationalize paying mayors and deputies over the past twenty three years to date a meager fifteen thousand dollars per month”. Mayor of Linden, Carwyn Holland, had made calls, last Friday, at the Municipal Conference 2017, for Guyana’s nine municipal leaders to be paid a salary and not a stipend. Holland explained that they are all of the belief that the inadequate sum of $15,000 for mayors is not enough. Being a part of the local government drive, mayors, councillors and overseers are full-time positions which demand one’s unequivocal integrity and unreserved commitment, Holland had noted. He explained that young individuals make up the local municipalities. Many have young families to take care of, as well as other responsibilities. The nine municipal bodies are at “the forefront of local democracy at community level.” That is a profound responsibility,

Holland stated. He had acknowledged that all councillors are currently constrained to maintain jobs outside their council responsibilities in order to support themselves and families. Holland added that it has become blatantly evident that the responsibilities of the aforementioned offices require a full time commitment, which is not possible without added compensation. The roles of councillors can no longer be

considered and treated as part time jobs, Holland explained, “We are torn between fulfilling our municipal mandate and honoring our foremost responsibilities to our families.” It is imperative that our councillors fulfill their function effectively. This would drive development to another level, Holland noted. In some instances, councillors are precluded from remuneration from times missed at work. Even more unfortunate, some have lost

their jobs. According to Holland, this therefore necessitates that councillors be given compensation commensurate with their work done in respective constituencies. Holland had compared Guyana’s municipality stipends to Caribbean countries municipal bodies’ salary. In Jamaica the lowest paid councilor earns GY$181,000, in Trinidad GY$107,000 and in Brazil GY$829,000. In Guyana the (Continued on page 8)

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Carter Center calls for electronic PPP tried to stoke racial tension during 2015 elections tabulation system for elections - Carter Center report says Coalition also fueled distrust in the electoral process The Carter Centre has accused the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/ C) of stoking racial tensions between Indians and African Guyanese during the 2015 election. In its report, the Carter Center said that the election 2015 campaign was fiercely fought, and several themes colored the general environment: ethnic politics, as both a uniting and dividing factor; historical struggles among political parties; the need for continuity and change; and underlying threats of violence. With the deployment in late April of six medium-term observers across Guyana’s 10 administrative regions, Carter Center observed campaign events across the country. Carter Center reported that the atmosphere was generally “lively”, with provocative language frequently deployed by both sides to malign the other. But it was recorded that in many instances, “parties used ethnically charged or coded rhetoric in an apparent attempt to reinforce ethnic solidarity or kindle fears of violence and unrest.” The organization recalled that on May 5, it released a public statement that provided an initial assessment of the preelection environment based on the activities of its mediumterm observers and core team experts. Observers reportedly heard many allegations of electoral offences being committed by supporters of both of the main political parties. Carter Center said that these were principally about the destruction of flags, banners, and billboards. However, very few formal complaints were

Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo submitted to police and the elections commission. In the May 5 statement, the Center registered deep concern about the provocative rhetoric in the campaign and condemned any attempt to sow fear and distrust among Guyana’s ethnic groups or to undermine confidence in its electoral process and institutions. The organization said that the statement was in response to reports from observers that the ruling party was issuing provocative allegations at its rallies about the potential for constitutional democracy and human rights to be undermined by the military should the opposition win the elections. It was noted that in Guyana’s ethno-political context, “such statements appeared to be designed to play on the fears of the African–Guyanese dominated security services among the ruling party’s Indian–Guyanese base.” Carter Center continued to note that an earlier statement at a campaign event by Bharrat Jagdeo was deemed “ethnically divisive by the media monitoring unit,

Former IMC Chairman... (From page 7) highest paid councillor is the mayor who earns GY$15,000. Holland called on the g o v e r n m e n t t o p a y municipalities a wage; if youths are to be involved in the future of local government, compensation must be given. “Today I petition for my mayoral counterparts to receive full time salaries. Our remuneration as political and administrative leaders of our municipalities is negligible. It has become blatantly evident that the responsibilities of the affirmation offices require a full time commitment that is not possible without added remuneration. All councillors are currently constrained to maintain jobs outside their council responsibilities in order to support themselves and families. He said that the tussle between vocation and the commitment to the people that they are elected to serve continues to be a point of contention.

an arm of the Guyana Elections Commission, and attracted a private legal action under incitement laws.” Carter Center said that to a lesser extent, the APNU +AFC coalition was responsible for disturbing campaign rhetoric as well. “At rallies, it claimed that recent elections that had been widely accepted as legitimate, including by international observers, had been rigged. Such rhetoric went beyond exhortations to supporters to be vigilant on election day and fueled distrust in the electoral process by raising the possibility that its supporters would be unwilling to accept the election results should the coalition lose the election.” The Carter Center noted that its statement reiterated the need for political parties to remain conscious of their obligations under the Political Party Code of Conduct; a regulatory document signed by political parties in advance of the campaign period, and urged their supporters to behave accordingly.

Guyana has a population of less than one million but yet when elections are held, the results are always declared days later. The Carter Center believes that there should be a centralized electronic tabulation system to address this shortcoming. This was the findings of the final report on Guyana’s 2015 General and Regional elections that the mission observed. The report said that “Consideration should be given to a centralized electronic tabulation system that includes double-blind data entry and clear procedures for the handling of quarantined materials to ensure the integrity of the tabulation process”. The center believes this approach will ensure that the process is transparent, verifiable and will allow for the timely release of the elections results. Both the Peoples Progressive Party Civic (PPP/ C) and the APNU+AFC political parties bemoaned the more than one week it took the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to declare the winner of the last election. The Carter Center believes that if this is corrected there will be few opportunities for persons to question the process that was used in the

- for more transparency and timely release of results conduct of the electoral process. As the country awaited the last election results many questions were raised and there was talk among both support bases of the two major political parties, of a plan to ‘fudge’ the results thereby ensuring a desired result. Additionally, the centre is calling for a marriage of the tabulations conducted by the returning officers and the central tallying system. The centre believes this is necessary since it will add another layer to veracity of the results. It is towards this end that the call is also being made for GECOM to institute the double-blind data entry system. This is where a computer compares the same entry made by two individuals by analysing each keystroke. This system will alert officials if there are any attempts at imputing a dishonest figure and will leave little or no room for allegations of vote rigging. Another issue that the report addressed is the transportation of ballot boxes and other elections related

materials. The report advocates for the use of vehicles that state ‘this is the property of GECOM’. The report finds that this approach will eliminate suspicions, conjectures and other fears among the population. Over the years there were many accusations of ballot boxes being transported by vehicles other than those owned by GECOM. It is the findings of the report that such an approach will aid in bringing Guyana on par with electoral norms across the globe. Moreover, if the materials are transported by such vehicles, there should be a GECOM official present as well. In this way there are scarce opportunities for persons with any sinister motive to come in contact with those materials. The recommendations proffered by the Carter report will have to await constitutional reforms that the APNU+AFC administration promised during the last election campaign. The next general and regional election is due in 2020.

Complete register of Govt. scholarship awardees by year-end A holistic record concerning the beneficiaries of government of Guyana scholarships will be ready by year end. This is according to Permanent Secretary of the Public Service Ministry, Reginald Brotherson. The PS gave this assurance during the last meeting of the Public Accounts Committee after he was asked if there is an improved system or register for students who are benefiting from government funded scholarships. According to Brotherson, getting to an improved system is a work in progress. He said that the students’ register was a tremendous initiative of the Department of Scholarships, when it was recognised that there is information “all over the place.” He said that efforts are being made to capture in a register all of the information that is expected to be recorded down to the last cent that was spent funding each student. He disclosed that so far the Department has

been able to record information as it relates to the accounting aspect of the scholarship programme in the central accounting unit. He disclosed that this information is currently available in the Central Accounting Unit. Brotherson said that the next step is to put that information into a structured form to have one register that covers every single student, “the time a student joined, when they signed their contract, discipline they are pursuing, at what university, what year they began, whom are their guarantors, all of those things; a comprehensive register.” Brotherson revealed that if officials from the Auditor General’s Office should visit his Ministry, they will find all information on every student, but not in a structured format. The PS assured the PAC that the comprehensive register will be finished by the end of the year. It was noted in the Auditor General’s Report for 2015 that five InterDepartmental Warrants

totalling $271M were issued to the Office of the President (now Ministry of the Presidency) for the payment of tuition, airfare, accommodation, stipend and allowances, among other things. Following checks, it was revealed that $261.759M was spent and the remainder returned to the Consolidated Fund. According to the AG’s report, an examination of the register of students showed that pertinent information such as benefits and allowances payable to the students were not recorded. It was also revealed that all the institutions to which payments of tuition fees are made were not recorded in the register. As such, the AG had recommended that these important details be included in the register. According to Brotherson, there are

Public Service Ministry Permanent Secretary, Reginald Brotherson currently 186 students abroad and 1,015 local students attending the University of Guyana, Guyana School of Agriculture, Government Technical Institute, Harry Wendt Aeronautical Institute and the Carnegie School of Home Economics.

A mini health check is the first step to donating blood

Monday May 29, 2017

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Kaieteur News

The AFC has been a victim of its own folly If we accept the premise that the Cummingsburg Accord favored the AFC more than it did the APNU, then the test of whether the AFC has grounds for revising that accord would rest on the extent to which the terms of the accord have been honoured. It is the contention here that the real problem with the accord is not in terms of who its favors but the failure to honour many of its key provisions. The Cummingsburg Accord was not intended to favour anyone. It was intended to create conditions of trust so that a pre-election coalition could have been established. The AFC may have only brought 11 percent of the votes that the coalition attained but without that 11

percent the APNU+AFC would not be in power today. It is on that presumption that the AFC negotiated 40 percent of Cabinet positions and seats in the National Assembly. The accord sought, also, to ensure that in any postelection arrangement, the AFC would not be marginalised. The accord has provisions, therefore, which granted the AFC 40 percent of the seats gained by the coalition in the National Assembly which effectively gave the AFC a veto over government policy. But there was equally a check to ensure that the APNU would honour this arrangement by having an independent person as head of the parliamentary list so that in the event of differences

the APNU could not arbitrarily recall the AFC parliamentarians. The system of checks was extended within the government with the AFC holding a specified percentage of Cabinet, but this was rendered ineffective because there is no mechanism to ensure that policy could be approved by consensus. The agreement provided comfort to Indians whose support would have been needed, to ensure that the coalition overcame the ethnic-voting barnacle. As such, the agreement provided for the key position of Minister of Home Affairs, now renamed Ministry of Public Security, to be held by the AFC, along with that of the Prime Minister.

DEM BOYS SEH

CORRUPT CURLY GOT NUFF ABSCESS TO GET

There is a saying: Take care of your thoughts when you are alone, and take care of your words when you are with people. Soulja Bai give wuk to some people but he never tek time to study dem thoughts or dem words. One of dem is Curly and he wukking at GRA. Some staff was outside a night spot when dem see a vehicle wid a suspicious number plate, suh dem decide to pull in de driver. De man call Bee Kay had to call somebody at GRA, because next thing dem boys know was that word come down fuh de people to release de vehicle. Curly in he best Yankee accent order dem to release de vehicle forthwith. De staff release de vehicle but de matter reach dem boys who tell de Waterfalls paper. But before that Curly go to wuk de day and call de staff who pull in de vehicle. “Which wan of yew was peeping into de vehicle?” he ask. De accent coming thick, thick. One staff put up both hand and seh, “Nat me sah.” De other man seh, “Sah, I was only doing me duty.” Curly let dem have de tip of ee tongue until he see de Waterfalls paper. He start to sweat and wait fuh a call from Statia. Whole day he didn’t get de call and de next day he didn’t come to wuk. Dem boys seh he didn’t wuk fuh three days and he produce a medical. When he go to wuk dem boys see a big abscess pun he face. And he walking like cat pun hat ashes. Soulja Bai hear de story and he call Statia. Curly start fuh tremble. He now got

some questions to answer. He gun get sick again and dem boys seh if just thinking bout Statia mek he get on abscess pun he face, Soulja Bai gun mek he get two abscess, one pun ee face and de other pun he behind. De news gun come out that he and all dem importer is friend.

This is a man who live outside fuh years and as soon as he come home he get all dem importers as friends. Dem boys waiting fuh see wha Soulja Bai gun do. He is de man who seh he got zero tolerance fuh corruption. Talk half and see if Curly gun dodge dem abscess.

The Cummingsburg Accord was a hurried arrangement and therefore there were many things which it did not contemplate. This creates grounds for a review but the major grouse is that certain aspects of the agreement were not honored, the most notable of which was the downgrading of the Prime Minister’s responsibilities. The Office of the Prime Minister has been brought under the Presidency, the first time this has ever happened. The Cummingsburg Accord certainly did not contemplate this. Under the accord, the Prime Minister was supposed to hold responsibility for domestic affairs, a most powerful position. But this has not been honoured. Even before the Prime Minister was sworn in, the President, in his first act, announced the appointment of a Minister of State within the Ministry of Presidency, effectively signaling where the power on domestic affairs would reside. The accord also provides for the Prime Minister to chair Cabinet. It was belatedly discovered that this was unconstitutional, so even that provision cannot be honoured. It shows the

weaknesses of the accord. The Cummingsburg Accord therefore only favours the AFC in theory. In reality, once that accord was honoured in the breach, the AFC cannot be said to have been favoured. The AFC has added to its own miseries by not adopting an independent position, both in parliament and within the government. The AFC should have demanded that all Cabinet decisions be approved by a 75 percent majority. It should have also created a mechanism which would have allowed for all Bills and for the annual Budget to be vetted by the AFC, as a group, before the AFC parliamentarians give their consent. The AFC instead of becoming starryeyed over being granted the posts of Vice Presidents should have been more concerned with ensuring that the post of Minister of State within the Ministry of the Presidency was dissolved. The AFC should equally have demanded that the Prime Minister be given responsibilities for domestic affairs, in keeping with the terms of the Cummingsburg Accord. It should have demanded that all Ministers

report to the Prime Minister, as was the case when Dr. Reid held such powers. The present predicament which the AFC finds itself in is due to its own making. It has failed to take an independent stance. It allowed the powers of the Ministry of Home Affairs to be denuded of the immigration portfolio. Immigration is an important component of domestic security and the decision to carve this out to the APNU effectively hands the AFC half of a ministry. The Prime Minister’s responsibilities have also been degutted by the creation of a Minister of State and the conversion of a Ministry of the Presidency. The problems with the Cummings Accord therefore are more about the failure to honour some of its key provisions. Unfortunately, the AFC has allowed the allure of political power and the trappings of political office to come in the way of its asserting its rights under that accord.

Monday May 29, 2017

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Kaieteur News

US-based medical team to conduct 150 free surgeries

(Third from right) CEO of Davis Memorial, Beverly Chan flanked by members of the Legacy of Healing team. Staff of the Davis Memorial Hospital engaged in a CPR training exercise.

By Rehanna Ramsay With the aim of conducting 150 free surgeries in one week, staffers of the Davis Memorial Hospital have teamed up with US – based medical mission, Legacy Of Healing, (LOH) to provide corrective operations and healthcare outreach to members of the public. The Legacy of Healing team consists of 35 persons including surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses and a dentist. The team is here for one week. During that period they are expected to conduct corrective procedures for a number of conditions including hydrocele, cleft palates, hernias and hand deficiencies. LOH is a Christian non Profit Corporation, which conducts medical missions worldwide, providing free surgeries, medical and dental care and safe drinking water to underserved communities. Head of the Mission, Dr. Steve Schmidt explained that the team is made up of people of many different faiths, all of whom have a common goal of helping others. “I am a Christian, a Seventh Day Adventist but we have people who are Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist on our team.” Dr. Schmidt related that ever since their arrival, the group has seen an ever increasing number of patients. “We last came to Guyana

Students should focus more on STEM subjects - to improve chances in job market, says Dr. Vincent Adams Overseas-based Lindener Dr. Vincent Adams wants more students to focus on science technology, engineering and mathematics, commonly referred to as STEM subjects, to advance their chances in the job market. Adams was at the time speaking to winners of the Linden Dream Team’s Town week essay writing competition, and had committed to giving two full scholarships to two lucky CSEC students to attend the University of Guyana. The scholarship, he noted would be in honor of his mother, who could neither read nor write. Noting that there would be some requirements, Adams posited, “First of all you have to be from Linden and it has to be absolutely STEM related - science, technology, engineering or math related, and would be considered strictly on a needs basis.” Reflecting on the fiftieth convocation ceremony of the University of Guyana, last year, where he had been a featured speaker, Adams expressed disappointment

that most of the graduates were in social sciences.” He opined that with this trend, there would continue to be graduates coming out of the university for whom the job market would be severely limited. Adams however assured that,‘ STEM is sustainable, if you do anything that is STEM related you can be assured of a job, not only here in Guyana, but in any part of the world. It’s the most important aspect to develop any country.” He exhorted the students not to follow the easy way out by dismissing STEM which some see as the ‘hard’ subjects. Adams said that one of the scholarship recipients must be female. “I’ve heard ever since I was a little kid that girls can’t do certain subjects like maths, but I promise you that you can do anything that you set your mind to do, so believe in yourself. “The guys do not have a better brain than you have. So do not follow the advice of people who say that females don’t have the brain for math, and then decide you’re going

Dr. Vincent Adams to do the simple things because I guess that is why so many persons are graduating with social sciences degrees, because they think it’s easy, so they are not pursuing the so called hard subjects-but nothing is easy.” Adams in his keynote address at last year’s fiftieth convocation of the University of Guyana, expressed his honour at being invited to address Guyana’s future leaders. The event, he said, reminded of

how his journey began, more than forty years ago. Dr. Adams was among the first students to graduate with a degree in Civil Engineering from UG. He recalled that it was a pinch of fate that brought him to the institution, as he had dreamed of becoming a cricketer, but those hopes were shattered by a terrible automobile accident. Adams subsequently enrolled at the UG, where he obtained his Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil and Public Health Engineering. He later won scholarships for post-graduate studies at Ohio University and the University of Missouri, where he attained his Masters’ Degrees in Groundwater Hydrology and Geological Petroleum Engineering respectively, and completed a PhD in Environmental Engineering at the University of Tennessee. Dr. Adams has held a number of prestigious posts in the United States, among them, the Office Director, US Department of Energy Engineering and Technology, and Consultant, International Atomic Energy Agency.

in 2010 and we did 154 surgeries….This time around, I don’t know. We’ve already seen a significant number of patients and we are still screening.” The work which began yesterday morning at the Davis Memorial (Seventh Day Adventist Hospital), located at Durban Backlands Georgetown attracted several persons, including a number of children. As part of the outreach in Guyana, Dr. Schmidt, an Ohio- based Plastic Surgeon, explained that the group will also conduct healthcare clinics in several parts of the country. Speaking about his area of specialty, the surgeon asserted that this week “I want to do cleft lifts and palates because that‘s where I believe I can make the biggest difference. I can do an operation on a child that has a cleft lift with instruments that can fit in my pockets.” Dr. Schmidt stressed further that the procedure can be done using very basic tools. “I don’t need a lot of things to fix it, while there are some specialties which need a lot of stuff…what I need is very simple and that can change the rest of a child’s life.” Among the procedures which are scheduled to be done, Dr. Schmidt specified one which requires the construction and placement of an artificial ear to a child who was born without one. “We are trying to get it done because we only have one week. This is our only shot,” he said, adding that the LOH team will also be conducting health education exercises which include further CPR training for staff

Head of the Mission Dr. Steve Schmidt of the hospital. Chief Executive Officer of Davis Memorial Hospital, Beverly Chan, noted that the institution welcomes the work of the mission, which she believes can be instrumental in alleviating the healthcare burdens of the local populace. “These are conditions, in which surgeries are sometimes not readily available to persons seeking attention locally.” “For instance, patients with Hydrocele often have to wait for long periods before they can undergo a surgery at the public hospital. These procedures are quite expensive too, so to have it done privately may not be an option available to many persons,” Chan stated. In addition to the work at the hospital, the CEO said that an LOH outreach team will be conducting exercises at La Viva La- Force, West Demerara, Parika East Bank Essequibo, St Cuthbert’s Mission, Mahaica and the Olivet Seventh Day Adventist Church located in Durban Back Lands. The team is expected to wrap up its work before next Sunday.

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Monday May 29, 2017

Kaieteur News

Ramjattan seeks more Mocha residents complain about subventions for Salvation Army early closure of Police outpost For decades the Salvation Army has been conducting Humanitarian works in Guyana. The work of the Salvation Army Drug rehabilitation programme was recently commended by Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, who believes that the $10M subvention allocated to the organization by government should be increased. “But knowing of the work they have been doing I rather suspect we are short changing them and we have to do better than that,” Ramjattan said. According to Ramjattan, he and President David Granger would want to do much more than that, but in reality, where would the monies come from? The minister said that giving support to the Salvation Army means a lot to him. “It’s a big big thing...significant because as

an NGO (Non-Governmental Organization) it is doing wonderful works. Doing lots for the poor and the homeless but most important the big effort in rehabilitating drug addicts. And that alone contributes a core effort that we really can’t monetize when so many people are administering that centre, doing the counseling, doing the rehabilitation with people who ordinarily would have degenerated into even worse addicts…probably getting into big crimes to probably satisfy their own demands for the drug… they might do wicked things to get the money to buy the drugs,” Minister Ramjattan told Kaieteur News. “Yes, the commitment is there and we will try our best to do as much as possible to give more than the $10M.” The Minister however pointed out that support can be garnered from other activities. It was Minister Amna Ally

who last December announced that government allocated $10M towards the advancement of the work of the Salvation Army in Guyana’s Rehabilitation Programme for 2017. The Minister had said that together, Government, civil society and the private sector can work together to reduce drug abuse and build stronger, healthier and more prosperous families and communities throughout Guyana. Minister Ally also spoke on the importance of wider education on the dangers of drug abuse and called on past victims and relatives of those affected to raise awareness among members of at risk populations. The Salvation Army is an integral part of the Christian Church, although distinctive in government and practice. The Army’s doctrine follows the mainstream of Christian belief and its articles of faith emphasise God’s saving purposes. Its objects are the advancement of the Christian religion of education, the relief of poverty, and other charitable objects beneficial to society or the community of mankind as a whole.

Residents of MochaArcadia, East Bank Demerara are once again complaining about the closure of the Police Outpost at 22:00hrs every evening. Kaieteur News has received many complaints from persons living in the area including a security guard who said that she has observed the doors of the outpost being “shut”. “Imagine the road already dark and the one place you expect to be open and ready to protect you is closed. If something was to happen what should I do? Where should I go? Where do I run? Who do I call for? The woman added. The woman stressed that instead of police ranks carrying out their mandate they are locking up the station and sleeping.

Another angry resident said, “They should take turns sleeping. If they can’t do that they should at least sleep with the door open. This nonsense needs to stop.” Shontel, another resident, stated that a few nights ago she and a friend were returning home from the Flag raising ceremony and Jouvert party when they noticed a man following them. The woman said that the man kept trailing her even after she had followed her friend home. She said that she took off the gold chain she was wearing around her neck and hastened her footsteps since she suspected that the man was a “thief”. According to the woman, when she realized that she was close to the station she began to feel a bit safe. She was however left shocked when

she saw the doors to the outpost were closed. “When I see the outpost lock right away I realised that I had to do something. I took out my phone and I called my brother to come up the street and pick me up.” “I stand up in front the station. It was only when the man saw me entering the station compound he decided to run down the street. That is when I realize was a thief man.” A few months ago two women encountered similar incidents. Many persons are lamenting that the Police outpost should be in operation for 24 hours. Some residents are adamant that police ranks close the doors because they are scared of being attacked, and are looking at their safety ahead of the residents’.

ExxonMobil donates $5M to CDC’s flood relief efforts

Ms. Kimberly Brasington, Senior Director, Public and Government Affairs at ExxonMobil Guyana, Mr. Carlton James, Public and Government Affairs Manager, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited, Major Kester Craig, acting Director General of the Civil Defence Commission and Ms. Sophia Gafoor from the CDC. The Government of Guyana received a donation of G$5M from ExxonMobil Guyana, which will be handed over to the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) to assist in relief efforts for flood affected areas in CuyuniMazaruni (Region Seven) and Potaro-Siparuni (Region Eight). Senior Director, Public and Government Affairs at ExxonMobil Guyana, Ms. Kimberly Brasington made this commitment on Wednesday to Acting Director General of the CDC, Major Kester Craig. She said that the company takes its corporate social responsibility to the citizens of Guyana seriously and added that in times of crises it is important that resources are combined to ensure a

rapid response. “We would like to support the CDC and the Regions to respond rapidly to address the needs of the affected residents. Anywhere ExxonMobil operates, including Guyana, we take our corporate social responsibility seriously and this is a situation and opportunity, where the communities are in need and we can come together and find a way to help,’ she said. Minister of State, Mr. Joseph Harmon, who has responsibility for the CDC and disaster response and risk management, welcomed the donation and said that the Government thanks all members of the private sector, including ExxonMobil that have made resources

available to the CDC to support their work. “I want to thank all the companies for their response and for making their resources available to the Civil Defence Commission. We will ensure that whatever donations are made cater to the needs of the people. It is heartening to see everyone coming together and doing whatever they can at this time to bring relief to the residents affected and it is a culture like this that we want to promote in Guyana; where we all come together to do our best if our brothers and sisters are affected,” he said. Acting Director General of the CDC, Major Kester Craig said that the donation will go a long way towards (Continued on page 24)

Monday May 29, 2017

Kaieteur News

Jamaica can earn more from brand, says IMF official KINGSTON, Jamaica — International Monetary Fund (IMF) Resident Representative, Dr Constant Longkeng Ngouana says Jamaica should be reaping more economic benefits from the strength of the country’s brand, which he has described as being “severely under leveraged”.”The strength of the Jamaican brand around the world should be generating even more visitors, although (the number) is already high,” said Dr Longkeng Ngouana. He was delivering the distinguished lecture hosted recently by the University of the Commonwealth Caribbean (UCC) in Kingston. Pointing to the outstanding performances by Jamaican athletes at the 2016 Rio Olympics, which was seen globally by millions of television viewers, the IMF official argued that the country had a great opportunity to market its products to other countries. “To leverage that brand your goods have to be found in shops (in countries where people easily recognise) the Jamaican flag,” Dr Longkeng Ngoauna told the gathering of UCC students, staff and guests. The IMF representative suggested that security concerns were among the factors hindering the greater leveraging of Jamaica’s brand and which partially caused many tourists not to venture beyond all-inclusive resorts to sample the country’s

Dr. Constant Longkeng Ngouana cultural offerings. However, he noted that Government was address this problem by a renewed focus on citizen security – one of four pillars to achieve economic growth and jobs. The other pillars are public sector transformation, social inclusion and modernisation of the central bank to better manage inflation.

Longkeng Ngouana, who was speaking on the topic ‘Jamaica and the IMF’, said that having successfully completed the three-year Extended Fund Facility agreement with the fund, the country now needed to build on the macro-economic stability that had been achieved. This included an unprecedented reduction in public debt, a sizeable reduction in inflation, and more than doubling of the Net International Reserves to US$2.5 billion. Jamaica, the IMF official stated, was now in the position to leverage the gains of the debt reduction by borrowing at relatively low interest rates in international markets. Longkeng Ngouana says Jamaica should be reaping more economic benefits from the strength of the country’s brand, which he has described as being “severely under leveraged”. (Jamaica Observer)

BUDGET MEANS LITTLE TO BAJANS Daily Nation - Once upon a time in Barbados, there were two words that made Bajans stand up and take notice. Budget Day. And it wasn’t just all about the politics. Yes, it was Government’s opportunity to present the path it had charted for the country from a financial perspective, but the day itself had a measure of symbolism that dated back decades, highlighted by hundreds making the trek to the precincts of Parliament to get in on the action. But these days, that’s not the case, as Barbadians have a completely different feel for the Budget, officially called the Financial Statement and Budgetary Proposals.

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Male & female workers: accountants, mechanic to look after drink machine. Call: 3302399

Allion, Primo, Fielder Wagon, Spacio, Bluebird, 212 Carina, NZE, Honda CRV, Toyota IST, RZ & Pit-bull – Call: 650-7501

Male with experienced in poultry farming to work on chicken farm in the interior, age 25-45yrs. Call: 680-2702 One hairdresser and nail technician who knows to do everything. Call Melissa: 630-8152

LAND FOR SALE 6 ACRES, HIGHWAY (CLOSE TO LINDEN) BAMIA CREEK, 7 SPECIES OF WOOD ETC. CALL: 609-8132/ 672-8569 (MAX) WANTED Wanted to rent private car or SUV for private news long term paying - $70,000 monthly. Call: 648-4810 or text Saleswoman with experience @ Christine’s Variety Store @ Lombard Street. Call: 2278529

One clerical/office assistant to work in Georgetown. Call: 227-2301/ 225-6239

Live in or live out babysitter/ domestic. Call: 223-7500 Monday-Saturday 8:154:15pm

VEHICLE FOR SALE 1 BMW 318I -$2.3M, Never register. Contact# 592 6500402 / 603-1402

Design & Make Aluminum windows, doors, stainless rails, showcases, rolling shutters, make & install automatic doors. Call: 2336818/677-5599/659-9999

We need you, Males 18-30 years to work in the Plant Shop/Garden Maintenance in Georgetown. Tel: 648-1821

1 Live in nanny/domestic to take care of children & home, must know to cook various dishes 38-48yrs. Call: 6001898

CAR RENTAL DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL:PICKUP,9-11 SEAT MIN BUS, GOOD FOR AIRPOTR & FAMILY OUTING, CHEAPEST RATE . Call: 698-7807

Monday May 29, 2017

Kaieteur News

LEARN TO DRIVE C. Persaud & N. Outar Driving School formerly Soman & Sons Driving School @ Maraj Building- Call: 644-5166; 6222872; 615-0964; 689-5997 (affordable packages).

La Parfaite Harmonie: $1.4M, $1.6M, $1.5M, $1.2M, Farm $3.5M, Uitvlugt -$2.7M, Tuschen:$1.2M, $5M, Herstelling-$3.5M. Call: 6662326 La Parfaite Harmonie: $1.4M, $1.6M, $1.8M, Farm -$3M, Uitvlugt -$3M, Tuschen $1.2M, $5.5M, Herstelling $3M. Call: 604-6724 or 6869608 12 House lots 80X60 at Plantation Schoonard: water, light and roads, 1 min from Harbour Bridge. Call: 6152346/627-3443 La Parfaite Harmonie, Tuschen Phase 2, Zeelugt Phase 2. Call: 642-1252 Prime roadside land in Corriverton Berbice, suitbale for any type at business. Call: 626-6245/335-3347 35 Acres located in Port Kaituma. Call: 619-5173 Mon Repos (Richards Ville) 3 lots together 0.152 acres each, 1 lot with building - $5M and 2 vacant lots 2M each. Call: 618-0375

PROPERTY FOR SALE Transported property @ Grove and Diamond $16M negotiable. Call: 625-5461 Recently-built 2-Storey concrete building (1,245 ft2) Parfaite Harmonie $7.9M neg. Contact 231-9690 For details. Recently-constructed 2Storey concrete building (2,030 ft2) Tuschen $7.5M neg. Contact 231-9690 for details. House & land at Mon Repos -$19M. Call: 645-8543 Aubrey Barker -$21M, Hadfield - $17M, Diamond- $3.5M, Grove, Land of Canaan, Schoonord, Queenstown, Enterprise, Good Hope. Call: 231-7850/ 618-7483 Property @ the corner of 172 20 Hora St. & Market St. Better Hope, East Coast Dem $12.5M neg. Call: 220-1583 between 7am-5pm only. 2 Story building with extralarge land in well built $74.5M. Call: 220-1583 between 7am-5pm only. Property @ 934 Caneville Grove, E.B.D: flat house, 3 bedrooms (1 self-contained), concrete fence, negotiable. Call Ken: 6823784/Jenel: 604-5627 Continued on Page 23

Monday May 29, 2017

After summits with Trump, Merkel says Europe must take fate into own hands

U.S. President Donald Trump talks to German Chancellor Angela Merkel (L) and Tunisia’s President Beji Caid Essebsi (2-L) at the G7 Summit expanded session in Taormina, Sicily, Italy, Saturday. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst Reuters - Europe can no longer completely rely on its allies, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Sunday, pointing to bruising meetings of G7 wealthy nations and NATO last week. Merkel did not mention by name U.S. President Donald Trump, who criticised major NATO allies and refused to

endorse a global climate change accord, but she told a packed beer tent in Munich that the days when Europe could completely count on others were “over to a certain extent”. “I have experienced this in the last few days,” she said. “And that is why I can only say that we Europeans must

really take our fate into our own hands - of course in friendship with the United States of America, in friendship with Great Britain and as good neighbours wherever that is possible also with other countries, even with Russia.” “But we have to know that we must fight for our future

on our own, for our destiny as Europeans,” Merkel said. The two-day G7 summit in Italy pitted Trump against the leaders of Germany, France, Britain, Italy, Canada and Japan on several issues, with European diplomats frustrated at having to revisit questions they had hoped were long settled. The American tycoonturned-president backed a pledge to fight protectionism at the end of the G7 summit on Saturday, but refused to endorse the climate pact, saying he needed more time to decide. But EU Council President Donald Tusk said on Sunday he was more optimistic now than after the U.S. election last November after EU leaders held talks with Trump in Brussels. “What I am absolutely sure after this meeting is that despite some extraordinary ... expressions, behaviours, etc, etc, our partners in the G7 are much more responsible than the first impression after the election in the United States,” Tusk said in the Slovak capital.

U.S. MIGHT BAN LAPTOPS ON ALL FLIGHTS INTO AND OUT OF THE COUNTRY Reuters - The United States might ban laptops from aircraft cabins on all flights into and out of the country as part of a ramped-up effort to protect against potential security threats, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly said yesterday. In an interview on “Fox News Sunday,” Kelly said the United States planned to “raise the bar” on airline security, including tightening screening of carry-on items. “That’s the thing that they are obsessed with, the terrorists, the idea of knocking down an airplane in flight, particularly if it’s a U.S. carrier, particularly if it’s full

of U.S. people.” In March, the government imposed restrictions on large electronic devices in aircraft cabins on flights from 10 airports, including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Turkey. Kelly said the move would be part of a broader airline security effort to combat what he called “a real sophisticated threat.” He said no decision had been made as to the timing of any ban. “We are still following the intelligence,” he said, “and are in the process of defining this, but we’re going to raise the bar generally speaking for aviation much higher than it is now.”

John Kelly Airlines are concerned that a broad ban on laptops

may erode customer demand. But none wants an incident aboard one of its airplanes. “Whatever comes out, we’ll have to comply with,” Oscar Munoz, chief executive officer of United Airlines (UAL.N), told the company’s annual meeting last week. Airlines were blindsided in January when President Donald Trump issued an executive order banning entry for 90 days to citizens from Iraq, Syria, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen, sending airlines scrambling to determine who could board and who could not. The order was later blocked in the courts.

Britain says some of Manchester bomber’s network potentially still at large

Reuters - Members of Manchester suicide bomber Salman Abedi’s network are still potentially at large, British interior minister Amber Rudd said yesterday, after the terrorism threat level was lowered because of significant progress in the investigation. Police said they have arrested a large part of the network behind the bombing, which killed 22 people at a concert hall, and four more

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men were arrested over the weekend as police continued to close in on the group. Asked during an interview on BBC television whether some of the group were still at large, Rudd said: “Potentially. It is an ongoing operation. There are 11 people in custody, the operation is still really at full tilt in a way.” Greater Manchester Police said yesterday they had arrested a 25-year-old

man and a 19-year-old man on suspicion of terrorism offences, taking the total number of people arrested in connection with the attack to 15. Prime Minister Theresa May said developments in the investigation into the bombing meant that intelligence experts had decided to lower the threat level from its highest rating “critical”, meaning an attack could be imminent, to “severe”.

Salman Abedi

Trump attacks ‘fake news’ following Kushner reports

U.S. President Donald Trump (left) and his son-in-law Jared Kushner. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo Reuters - U.S. President Donald Trump attacked the news media and dismissed leaks from the White House as “fake news” yesterday, following reports his son-inlaw tried to set up a secret channel of communications with Moscow before Trump took office. Shortly after Trump’s remarks on Twitter, Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly made the rounds of yesterday television news shows to praise any so-called back channel communications, especially with Russia, as “a good thing.” The Republican president returned to the White House after a nine-day trip to the Middle East and Europe that ended on Saturday to face more questions about alleged communications between Jared Kushner and Russia’s ambassador to Washington. “It is my opinion that many of the leaks coming out of the White House are fabricated lies made up by the #FakeNews media,” Trump wrote in a series of Twitter posts yesterday. The White House faces mounting questions about potential ties between Russia and Trump’s presidential campaign, which are also the subject of criminal and congressional investigations. Trump officials were preparing to establish a “war room” to address an issue that has begun to dominate his young presidency. Aides said Trump was expected to meet with lawyers as early as yesterday, the New York Times reported. Two Republican U.S. senators played down the Kushner reports yesterday, while the former director of national intelligence, James Clapper, took a darker view of such contacts with representatives of Russian

President Vladimir Putin. “My dashboard warning light was clearly on and I think that was the case with all of us in the intelligence community - very concerned about the nature of these approaches to the Russians,” Clapper told NBC’s “Meet The Press.” Kushner, who is married to Trump’s daughter Ivanka, had contacts with Moscow in December about opening a secret back channel of communications, according to news reports published while Trump was away on his trip.

From Page 22

FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Prime Business Place to rent on Sheriff Street, for offices only. Call: 627-6740/227-8644 2 – 3 bedrooms bottom flat apartment, fully refurbished -$65,000 monthly with 2 months security. Call: 2201583 between 7am-5pm only. One bedroom apartment, PVC ceiling, tiled floored, corner spot -$40,000, preferably couple. Address: 25 Craig St C/Ville. Call: 223-1332

Monday May 29, 2017

Kaieteur News

CJ’s action unlawful ...threatens legal action - Gerald Ramdeen Trinidad Guardian - The Judiciary and the administration of justice in this country are currently under the greatest threat in this nation’s history, attorney Gerald Ramdeen has said. Ramdeen Saturday chastised Chief Justice Ivor Archie, three unnamed Appeal Court judges and three unnamed High Court judges for participating in an “entirely unlawful” meeting to decide the fate of 53 people affected by the unresolved matters left by former chief magistrate Marcia AyersCaesar. Ayers-Caesar was appointed as a High Court Judge on April 12. On April 27 Ayers-Caesar tendered her resignation as a judge after it was realised that she had left 53 matters part heard. Ramdeen said AyersCaesar needs to tell her side of the story in the matter. This country’s Judiciary has time and time again been able to withstand controversies throughout our nation’s history, Ramdeen said. This may not be the case this time around, he added. “We have managed to do very well in surviving all of those instances in our history but one wonders whether we will survive this one which has transpired over the past two months because when one looks back at what has taken place over the last two months, I can say the Judiciary and the administration of justice is under a greater threat than ever before and we are clearly in very dangerous and very perilous times, and those who are to steer us out of this are disappointing us with every step that they take,” Ramdeen said.

Chief Justice Ivor Archie

Gerald Ramdeen

In an attempt to address the backlog left by AyersCaesar the Chief Justice convened a meeting with key stakeholders on Wednesday. Following that meeting, the Judiciary issued a release which stated that the 53 matters be restarted “de novo”. Ramdeen said three Appeal Court judges, three High Court judges, Archie as well as Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Roger Gaspard attended Wednesday’s meeting along with others. He claimed that “the letter sent from the CJ’s office to the people requested to attend the meeting was misleading”. The 53 people affect by the situation were not heard at that meeting, Ramdeen said. Ramdeen questioned what gave Archie the power to convene that meeting. “This has never been done before, where does the Chief Justice get power to do this, where does this body of persons get this power to do this?” he questioned. Archie and no one else is above the law of this land, Ramdeen said.

He asked what would stop Archie from convening another meeting behind closed doors outside of the court to determine others matters that should be handled in the courtroom. Ramdeen said the sad state of this country’s judiciary is evident as a Special General Meeting of the Law Association is to be held on Thursday to vote on whether a motion of no confidence will be brought against Archie. On Friday the Judicial and Legal Service Commission (JLSC) is to appear before the High Court because of its refusal to comply with the law to answer requests for information pertaining to recent judicial appointments. Ramdeen is the attorney for Akili Charles, who is one of the 53 whose matters are now left in abeyance by Ayers-Caesar. Ramdeen has written Archie calling on him to withdraw the decision for the matters to be restarted. If Archie does not respond by today, Ramdeen has signalled his intention to take the matter to the High Court.

Dillon dismisses calls to resign

Edmund Dillon

Trinidad Guardian - Minister of National Security Edmund Dillon has dismissed calls for him to resign over the current crime situation. The murder rate up to Saturday was 212 for the year. He told reporters Saturday that anyone in a leadership position will always be subject to criticism. “The decisions that you make will never always be pleasing to everyone but nevertheless, you have to make decisions. “So those who criticise, that’s fine. Nothing is wrong with that. Be open to criticism. You can use criticism to build you, as a matter of fact.” He was speaking at the T&T Prison Service Sports and Family Day at the Prison Service Sports Complex, Golden Grove Road in Arouca. Dillon said he has spent 36 years in the Defence Force and has treated criticisms the same way he has treated compliments.

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South Africa’s Zuma survives no confidence vote in ANC Reuters - South Africa President Jacob Zuma defeated a no-confidence motion against him at a meeting of top officials of the ruling African National Congress party yesterday, News24 reported on its website. Zuma is facing mounting pressure against him within the ANC, opposition parties and civil society has swelled since he axed respected finance minister Pravin Gordhan in March, triggering credit rating downgrades that have hit chances of a recovery in the struggling economy. Citing two unnamed

sources with direct knowledge of the meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC), News24 said Zuma had survived a heated NEC meeting that lasted late into the night. News24 said a source who attended the meeting that started on Friday in the capital Pretoria reported that as many as 70 party officials took part in the debate for and against the motion, and that the president had the support of most speakers. Local news service Eye Witness News (EWN) said on its Twitter feed that the president was “hard hitting”

in his response, and told detractors that he knew that “they are used by foreign forces”. EWN said that of the 72 participants who spoke about motion, 18 spoke in support and 54 against. The ANC said earlier it would hold a media briefing on Monday on the NEC meeting. The ANC stood by Zuma at a similar meeting in November in a debate about whether he should step down. Zuma is scheduled to step down from the ANC helm in December. His term as South African head of state runs until 2019.

Diaspora conference launch in Canada Tuesday

KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) — Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Kamina Johnson Smith, will launch the Diaspora 55 Conference in Canada tomorrow, at the Eaton Chelsea Hotel in Toronto. The conference, slated for July 23 to 26 at the Jamaica Conference Centre, downtown, Kingston, under the theme: ‘Partnering for Growth’, is one of the key activities of the Jamaica 55th anniversary Independence celebrations. The event is being organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, in collaboration with the Jamaican Consulate in Toronto, headed by Consul General to Toronto, Lloyd Wilks. Acting Director of the Diaspora Affairs Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Lincoln Downer, told JIS News that he will be part

of a small team, including Acting UnderSecretary of the Diaspora, Protocol and Consulate Division, Ambassador Sharon Saunders, who will travel with the Minister for the launch. He said the aim is “to galvanise support” and to share various aspects of the preparations in place for the event. “Of course there are partnership opportunities that we need to share with them and for them to be apprised of,” he added. The launch will be attended by a broad cross-section of Jamaicans living in Toronto, including members of the Steering Committee of the Jamaica 55 Secretariat in Canada. High Commissioner to Canada, Janice Miller, will also speak at the event. There will also be an endorsement from the Diaspora President of the Jamaica/Canada Association, Adaoma Patterson.

IRS conducts financial investigative techniques course on Grenada ST GEORGE’S, Grenada — The US Department of the Treasury’s Internal Revenue Service (IRS) – Criminal Investigation hosted a financial investigative techniques workshop in Grenada last week to assist police and financial intelligence units from across the Eastern Caribbean to better identify, assess and pursue financial investigations. The training was conducted by the IRS’s National Criminal Investigation Training Academy with assistance from US Embassy Bridgetown and its International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs section. The course included methods for identifying fraud and money laundering, and covered such topics as evidence gathering and analysis, interviewing, preparation for courtroom activities, and an in-depth practical exercise. The training was part of a

Linda Taglialatela continuing series of efforts by the US government, in collaboration with Grenada and other partner governments in the region, to enhance financial

investigations and raise awareness of illicit financial transactions. “With the rapid expansion of global banking and instantaneous transfers of money, there is a need for financial intelligence units, revenue and customs authorities, law enforcement personnel, government prosecutors, and judges to work closely with each other to stop financial crimes,” said Linda Taglialatela, US ambassador to Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean, and the OECS. “Cooperation between these partners can ensure that financial investigations are pursued and investigated, and that money launderers do not take advantage of potential vulnerabilities in the financial system.” (Caribbean News)

Corruption benefits the rich and powerful at the expense of the poor. Say no to it

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Monday May 29, 2017

Kvitova makes emotional winning comeback at French Open

Czech Republic’s Petra Kvitova celebrates winning her first round match against USA’s Julia Boserup. (Reuters / Pascal Rossignol) PARIS (Reuters) Victory was a bonus for Petra Kvitova as the Czech lefthander made an emotional return to the limelight at the French Open yesterday, breezing into the second round in her first competitive match since a burglar stuck a knife through her playing hand. “As I said last time, I had already won. This match is special to me. I won for the second time, if I can say,” she told reporters after become the first player to advance following a 6-3 6-2 win against American Julia Boserup. “It wasn’t really about the game today. Yesterday I was

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thinking how everything would be, and I couldn’t really imagine how it would be. “I thought maybe I’d cry when I’d step on the court, but I didn’t today. Normally I can control my emotions on the court and I’m so I’m happy that I kind of did it, as well, this time,” Kvitova added, although she admitted getting more emotional after the match. The 27-year-old, who dropped her racket and hid some tears behind her hands after match point, had spent five months out of the game since undergoing emergency surgery in December when she was stabbed during a burglary. The twice Wimbledon

champion, a semi-finalist at Roland Garros in 2012, looked poised and focused, treating the sparse Court Philippe Chatrier crowd to a few exquisite drop shots and lightning-quick forehands. For a while, it almost felt like the attack had never happened. Asked how her hand felt, she replied: “I didn’t feel any differences, which is nice. “After a little break when the rain came, I caught the racket and it was a little bit weird, but after one point everything was OK.” Kvitova ended up wasting little time on court as she set up a second-round meeting with either Russian Evgeniya Rodina or American Bethanie Mattek-Sands. After an early blip when she double-faulted, she opened a 2-0 lead by breaking in the second game. Mixing winners and unforced errors in almost equal measure, Kvitova had three break points to go 4-0 up but Boserup saw them off, although she could not fully overturn the advantage. The Czech 15th seed, who is benefiting from a protected ranking, took the opening set with a solid half volley. She broke twice in the second, sealing victory when Boserup netted a forehand. Kvitova dropped her racket and held her head in her hands, her eyes filling with tears while her support team, wearing T-shirts marked “Courage, Belief, Pojd” (Come on! in Czech), celebrated wildly.

Prefontaine Classic: Surprising 3rd place finish for Elaine in 200m

Elaine Thompson (facebook)

(Jamaica Observer) KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica’s double Olympic champion Elaine Thompson was surprisingly beaten into third spot in the 200m in a season’s best 21.98 (1.5mps) seconds at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregan, USA. American Tori Bowie won convincingly in a world leading and personal best of 21.77s. Rio Olympic 400m champion, Shaunae Miller-Uibo of the Bahamas, was second, also in a personal best of 21.91s with Dutchwoman Dafne Schippers fourth in 22.30s. American great Allyson Felix was fifth in 22.33s. Thompson, running out of lane six, was left behind and came off the turn in fourth or fifth but by the time she turned on the after burners, Bowie was home and dried in a fantastic time of 21.77s. Thompson, despite finishing third, achieved her seasonal best of 21.98s, which makes her the third fastest in the world.

Swedes end Oracle’s unbeaten Sailing run DOCKYARD, Bermuda, CMC – Defenders Oracle Team USA and Emirates Team New Zealand, who fought out the finish four years ago in San Francisco, took the honours on day two of the 35th America’s Cup qualifiers in the Great Sound yesterday with two victories apiece. The American team, skippered by Australian Jimmy Spithill, did not have a perfect day, however, losing one of their three races when they went down to defeat to Sweden’s Artemis Racing, their first reverse of the qualifiers. The Kiwis share second place, two points behind the Americans, with Britain’s Land Rover BAR who had a bad day, suffering two heavy defeats – against Oracle and Team New Zealand. Groupama Team France kept their hopes alive after suffering two defeats on Saturday

by upsetting Artemis Racing in their only race of the day. SoftBank Team Japan share bottom place with the French boat after suffering defeat in both of their races. The bottom team will be eliminated midweek. The match – between the top qualifier and defenders Oracle, who are already guaranteed a place in the final – will start on June 17 with the tournament ending on June 27. Land Rover BAR went into the qualifiers with a two-point cushion after winning the earlier America’s Cup World Series. Oracle gained a point after finishing runners-up. In yesterday’s opener Artemis ate into Groupama’s 22-second lead but the French boat held on to win by three seconds – the closest finish of the day. Three more qualifiers will be held today when Oracle have the day off.

VENUS STARTS 20TH ROLAND Wakenaam Boxing Gym shine as Gairy... GARROS WITH VICTORY From page 33 him head on with several salvoes. Once again the referee was called into duty and this time it was Jones who was counted. Sensing that the fight was very close, both boxers attempted to steal the initiative and engaged in delightful exchanges that only ended when the bell sounded. It was really a pity that one had to lose and in the end Jones did enough to impress the judges. Martin Mugabe (FYF) started the night’s proceedings on a positive note when he pounded out a split decision win over his gym mate, Michael Beckles, while Patrick Harvey (FYF) defeated his gym mate, Ome Keiler. Richard Howard (FYF) fought valiantly but failed to get past Jakey Codogan in a fight that was action packed right down to the wire. Travis Invervary (FYF) then defeated Kamil Yahya (HE) in a closely fought affair. In other results, Isaiah Moore (FYF) proved too good for Omar Pollard (PRBG), Brian Harris (FYF) forced the referee to halt his bout against Andrew Modeste (HE) in the first round, while Shamar Morrison (FYF) won by a second round TKO over Kimani Yahya (HE). Shaqueel Damond (FYF) won by TKO in the third round against Angle Anays (YA), Jamal Eastman (RHJ) proved too good for Junior Henry and won on points, while Keevin

Allicock prevailed on points over Julius Kesney. Isaiah Moore was adjudged best boxer in the junior category, while schoolboy, Travis Invervary won a similar accolade in his category. He was also adjudged the Most Discipline Boxer, while Omar Pollard was voted Most Improved Boxer. The FYF Gym won the best gym trophy, while newcomers, Wakenaam, won the trophy for the runners up gym. In a sportsmanlike gesture, the organizer presented a trophy to each participating gym. Meanwhile, President of the Guyana Boxing Association, Steve Ninvalle, conferred his blessings on the night’s proceedings and in opening remarks praised Coach Sebert Blake for organizing the event. “Let me offer congratulations to Mr. Blake for organizing this tournament since I realize that it will supplement the calendar of activities of the GBA,” said Mr. Ninvalle. He noted that the longest journey begins with the first step and lauded Blake for taking that step. Director of Sports, Christopher Jones also praised the initiative and assured the organizers that they could count on government input for initiatives that focus on youth development. He wished the combatants well while urging them to compete within the framework of the rules.

US Venus Williams returns the ball to China’s Wang Qiang during their tennis match at the Roland Garros 2017 French Open on May 28, 2017 in Paris. PARIS, France (AFP) — Venus Williams started her 20th French Open with a 6-4, 7-6 (7/3) win over China’s Wang Qiang yesterday. Williams, seeded 10 and three weeks shy of her 37th birthday, had to dig deep to see off her opponent who had led 4-2 in the first set

and 5-3, with set points, in the second. The American veteran, who made her Roland Garros debut in 1997 and was runner-up to sister Serena in Paris in 2002, will next face Japan’s Kurumi Nara. Nara defeated 15-year-old Amanda Anisimova of the United States in three sets.

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Giro d’Italia: Tom Dumoulin wins Kerber’s season hits new low with French Open pummeling 100th edition of race in Milan

Dumoulin dedicated his victory to the hard work of his team-mates after winning in Milan. (Getty Images) BBC Sport - Tom Dumoulin produced a sensational individual time trial to win the 100th Giro d’Italia in Milan by 31 seconds. The Dutchman, 26, started yesterday in fourth, 53 seconds behind leader Nairo Quintana but beat the Colombian by more than a minute on the 29.3km last stage. Quintana, chasing the first leg of a Giro-Tour de France double, had to settle for second place overall. Dumoulin also leapfrogged defending champion Vincenzo Nibali and Thibaut Pinot, who dropped to third and fourth. “It’s really crazy,” said Team Sunweb rider Dumoulin, who became the first Dutch winner of the Giro and the first rider from his country to win a Grand Tour since Joop Zoetemelk’s victory in the 1980 Tour de France. “This is incredible. It was such a nerve-wracking day

but I had good legs and I just went for it. “I would have been really happy with a stage win and that would have been a successful Giro for me. I didn’t think that this was something I could do.” Britain’s Adam Yates was beaten in the race for the white jersey, awarded to the quickest rider under the age of 25, by Luxembourg’s national time trial champion Bob Jungels. Yates, 24, started the time trial with a 28-second advantage over Jungels, but the Luxembourger’s time of 34 minutes two seconds was more than one minute quicker than Yates, who finished a creditable ninth overall. Jos van Emden won the stage in a time of 33:08, 15 seconds clear of Dumoulin, who crossed the line in 33:23 to claim second and he then had an agonising wait for first Pinot, then Nibali and finally Quintana to reach the finish. Movistar’s Quintana, the

27-year-old 2014 Giro champion, and twice winner Nibali, 32, are climbing specialists and knew they would struggle to defend their advantage on a flat route more suited to time trial specialists. And so it proved with Dumoulin quickly erasing the time gaps the riders ahead of him had built after 20 stages of racing. His winning margin is not the narrowest in Giro history, with Fiorenzo Magni triumphing by just 11 seconds in 1948. The closest win in Grand Tour history was Frenchman Eric Caritoux’s sixsecond victory at the 1984 Vuelta, while Greg LeMond won the 1989 Tour de France by eight seconds. Britain’s Geraint Thomas, who started the race as coleader of the Team Sky squad with Mikel Landa, was forced to pull out after crashing on stage nine. Landa took the consolation of winning the King of the Mountains jersey. General classification: 1. Tom Dumoulin (Ned/ Sunweb) 90hrs 34mins 54secs 2. Nairo Quintana (Col/ Movistar) +31secs 3. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita/ Bahrain) +40secs 4. Thibaut Pinot (Fra/FDJ) +1min 17secs 5. Ilnur Zakarin (Rus/ Katusha) +1min 56secs 6. Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita/AG2R) +3mins 11secs 7. Bauke Mollema (Ned/ Trek) +3mins 41secs 8. Bob Jungels (Lux/ Quick-Step) +7mins 04secs 9. Adam Yates (GB/Orica) +8mins 10secs 10. Davide Formolo (Ita/ Cannondale) +15mins 17secs

PARIS (Reuters) World number one Angelique Kerber’s nightmare season hit a new low yesterday when, with expectations weighing heavily after a stellar 2016, she was dumped out of the French Open 6-2 6-2 by 40thranked Ekaterina Makarova. The German became the first top seeded woman to lose in the opening round of the French Open since the sport turned professional in 1968 — and the disparity between the players in her Russian opponent’s favor was as wide as the scoreline suggests. Cutting a troubled figure on court a world away from the feisty baseliner who last season battled her way to two grand slam titles, Kerber lacked the pace and power to trouble her fellow left-hander. Kerber, 29, has struggled this year, withdrawing from the Madrid Open with a thigh injury and going down in straight sets to qualifier Anna Kontaveit in Rome. But Sunday’s setback albeit on a surface for which she has no great affection, having made an openinground exit in Paris last year threatens to leave her season in tatters. That picture offers the starkest of contrasts with a spectacular 2016 that also brought her major wins in the Australian and U.S. Opens. “Last year it was a completely different year. I mean, the pressure is always there,” she told a news conference. “This year the expectations are much bigger, especially in the big tournaments... and the expectations are also from me

Germany’s Angelique Kerber reacts during her first round match against Russia’s Ekaterina Makarova. (Reuters / Pascal Rossignol) really big, of course, because I know what I can do.” The German will be happy to leave Roland Garros behind, and hope to rediscover a game in which several cylinders are misfiring in time for Wimbledon, where she finished runner-up last year. “Right now I think that I have to find to myself again and just trying to forgot the claycourt season as soon as possible,” she said. Makarova - who had won four of her previous 11 encounters with Kerber - was making her first singles appearance on the Philippe Chatrier center court as well as fighting against history. But, arriving at Roland Garros high on confidence after having beaten Agnieszka Radwanska and Dominika Cibulkova on clay

this year, she held her nerve to close out the match in a final game that featured five deuce points. “I was also fighting with my emotions not to wait for a mistake (by Kerber),” she said courtside. The Russian had imposed herself early in the first set, hitting a series of blistering forehand winners down both wings that Kerber often struggled to reach. After briefly threatening a recovery in the eighth game, in which she held two break points, Kerber meekly surrendered the first set with a forehand that never looked like clearing the net. The German dropped serve in the next game, with Makarova hitting another four clean forehand winners to consolidate her hold on the match.

Russia’s Ekaterina Makarova in action during her first round match against Germany’s Angelique Kerber. (Reuters / Pascal Rossignol)

Monday May 29, 2017

Baker wins Eugene sprint as Gatlin and De Grasse falter Ronnie Baker

Omnisport - Justin Gatlin and Andre de Grasse are yet to click into top gear in 2017 and once again missed out on a podium finish in the 100 metres at the Diamond League event in Eugene, with Ronnie Baker taking first place. Gatlin and De Grasse – two of the men most likely to spoil Usain Bolt’s retirement party at the World Championships in London later this year – finished fourth and fifth respectively when the Diamond League kicked off in Doha earlier this month. And the two swapped places in Eugene on Saturday, as Baker – seventh in Doha – led home China’s Su Bingtian and CJ Ujah of Great Britain. Mo Farah lived up his reputation with victory in the 5000m, while another of the big names in action, American Christian Taylor, beat compatriot Will Claye to triple jump glory. Tori Bowie held off a strong field that included Shaunae Miller-Uibo, Elaine Thompson, Dafne Schippers and Allyson Felix to win the women’s 200m, while Caster Semenya triumphed over 800m. And history was made in one of the non-Diamond discipline events, as 16-year-old Jakob Ingebrigtsen of Norway became the youngest man to run a mile in less than four minutes.

Austria’s Thiem makes short work of Tomic in Paris

Austria’s Dominic Thiem celebrates winning his first round match against Australia’s Bernard Tomic. (Reuters / Gonzalo Fuentes) (Reuters) Austrian sixth seed Dominic Thiem got his French Open campaign off to a quickfire start yesterday, beating an out-of-sorts Bernard Tomic 6-4 6-0 6-2 as he embarked on a bid to go one round better than he did last year. After a tight first set, the 39th-ranked Australian won just two more games as, looking to keep the points short on a hot and fast Court Suzanne Lenglen, he sprayed the ball long and wide in his quest for winners. In all he made 33 unforced errors to Thiem’s 10, while the ace count was 11 to three in the Austrian’s favor. “I am happy I had a good start,” Thiem said courtside after the match, though in truth he might have preferred a tougher workout in keeping with his ambitions for the tournament. Speaking before Sunday’s match Thiem, a semi-finalist in 2016, put himself in the category of “players who can go very deep here (and) ...make big surprises” behind clear favorite Rafa Nadal. The Austrian and the Spaniard have met three times so far in 2017, including the quarter-finals of the Rome Masters, where 23-year-old Thiem became the only player to beat Nadal on clay this season.

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Kaieteur News

Xtreme Clean & Maintenance Co. / GT Beer ‘Gold Rush’ Futsal Tournament

Pulsating encounters highlight Night 2 as action heats up Spectators and supporters of the various community teams got their monies worth on the second night of action in the inaugural Xtreme Clean & Maintenance Co. / GT Beer ‘Gold Rush’ Futsal Tournament which continued on Saturday night, at the National Gymnasium. Once again a large turnout witnessed some pulsating encounters as teams’ battle for places in the round robin stage which begun last evening. From the start of the night’s action, Broad Street Bullies had to pull out all the stops to ward off a determined challenge from Buxton Diamond, making their debut in Georgetown. In the end, the experienced Broad Street Bullies escaped with a narrow 2-1 win thanks to goals from Darren Benjamin in the third minute and Daniel Favourite’s winner, one minute from full time. Delon Wright had given Buxton hope when he equalised in the 14th minute of play. However, the game of the night was the clash between another debutant, Plaisance and Alexander Village which required sudden death penalty shootout to determine the winner after regulation and extra times failed to unlock a 4-4 stalemate. Another game that produced fireworks was the Tucville versus Melanie ‘B’ affair which the former prevailed 5-4 despite a heroic performance from William Europe, who slammed in four goals. Other teams booking their spots in the next phase following wins were Bent Street, Back Circle and Future Stars. Future Stars, an off-shoot of Broad Street Bullies looked in delightful form during their 5-1 demolition of the up and coming North East La Penitence and have now positioned themselves as one of the favourites to go all the way. Bent Street and Back Circle oozed confidence and eased to comfortable victories, making it difficult for pundits to pick a winner. The winning team will take away $500,000 and the winning trophy, while second, third and fourth placed teams take home $200,000, $100,000 and $50,000 respectively. Meanwhile, ladies have

- round robin segment commenced last evening the opportunity to shoot for a pennyweight of gold or its equivalent every night. The night’s full results are seen below: Game 1 Buxton 1- Broad Street Bullies 2 Broad Street Darren Benjamin 3 Daniel Favorite 19 Buxton Delon Wright 14 Game 2 Tucville 5- Melanie ‘B’ 4 Tucville Ryan Hackett 7, 16, 17 Jermain Junor 1 Jahal Greaves 7 Melanie ‘B’ Williams Europe 9, 15, 18, 19 Game 3 Plaisance 4- Alexander Village 4 Alexander Village Shem Porter 17 Kevin Gordon 3, 13, 25 Plaisance Dwayne Ali 5, 15 Kelvin Bowen 19 Gavin Collymore 22

Plaisance won 3-2 sudden death kicks Game 4 Bent Street 3-Campbellville United 1 Bent Street Okanie Fraser 13 Travis Lyken 14, 15 Campbellville Steffon Ramsey 8 Game 5 Future Stars 5- North East La Penitence 1 Future Stars Jamal Cozier 3 Keron Solomon 17,19 Kevin Cummings 20 Akeemo Anthony 20 North East La Penitence Junior Jordan 8 Game 6 North Ruimveldt 1-West Front Road ‘Gold is Money’ 1 North Ruimveldt Joshua Browne 9 West Front Road Hubert Pedro 4 North Ruimveldt won 3-2 on penalty kicks Game 7

Back Circle 3- Globe Yard 0 Back Circle Selwyn Williams 19 Jermaine Beckles 9 Jamal Adams 16 Group-A Agricola Sparta Tucville Sophia Group-B Back Circle Albouystown Tiger Bay North Ruimveldt Group-C Broad Street Future Stars Bent Street Plaisance Last night’s matchups were Game-1-Tucville vs Sophia Game-2-Bent Street vs Plaisance Game-3-North Ruimveldt vs Tiger Bay Game-4-Broad Street vs Future Stars Game-5-Back Circle vs Albouystown Game-6-Agricola vs Sparta

Hamilton happy with sixth place as Vettel stretches lead Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton

MONTE CARLO, CMC – Three-time World champion Lewis Hamilton made the most of an awful grid position by finishing seventh in yesterday’s Monaco Grand Prix, as Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel extended his lead in the drivers’ standings with his third victory of the Formula One season. The Brit was forced to start from 13th but aided by several retirements and his trademark bravery, he managed to weave his way through the field to be among the points with six, and keep in touch with the German leader. Vettel’s teammate, pole-setter Kimi Raikkonen, crossed the line second while Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo completed the podium spots. Hamilton said the result was one of the best possible scenarios coming on the heels of a nightmare qualifying session on Saturday.

“I came in this morning feeling terrible – I didn’t get a lot of sleep last night – so to come away with the points I’ve come away with, I can happily take this and move forwards,” the Mercedes driver said. “I might not have won the race – it was kind of boring at the start and at the end when you can’t overtake – but the middle part where I was in clear air I really enjoyed.” With the triumph, Vettel moved to 129 points, stretching his lead to 25 over Hamilton, with the other Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas – who was fourth yesterday – lying third on 75 points. Hamilton is British but his paternal grandparents hail from Grenada. He was honoured by the Caribbean island during their 2008 independence celebrations.

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Monday May 29, 2017

Kaieteur News

WATCH OUT, WEST INDIES

Phil Simmons, former West Indies head coach and current Technical Consultant for the Afghanistan cricket team. By Tony Becca (Jamaica Gleaner) The Afghans are in the West Indies for what is considered a series to really test their strength in preparation for their ascendancy to Test cricket and, probably, for the much-proposed play-off involving themselves and Ireland for a place in cricket’s big league.

While it is testing time for Afghanistan, it is a time of reflection for the West Indies, a time to reason out what has happened to them in the past 20 years or so that they have got to the stage where they are hosting a match like this, that they, once the kings in all styles of the game, are licking their wounds and hosting lowly Afghanistan, while the Champions Trophy is being played in England. For Afghanistan, however, this is a big moment, and it should be a tough, testing time for them. Although everything suggest that it should be a walkover for the West Indies, and that the three T20 and three ODI matches should be easy pickings for the past champions, it may not be so, especially remembering Afghanistan’s stunning six-wicket victory during last year’s World T20 Championship and their rise among the associates over the past few years. As it stands, it is a dogfight between Ireland and Afghanistan to move on. For those who do not know, Ireland, the front runners for so long;

the outsiders who produced players like Eoin Morgan, William Porterfield, Paul Stirling, the O’Brien brothers, Boyd Rankin, George Dockrell, and Tim Murtagh, who shot down the likes of England and Pakistan in World Cup tournaments in the past, while screaming about elevation have suddenly found the going pretty rough. SLIDING BACKWARDS Apart from two like Morgan and Rankin, who have switched to England, Ireland have been parading almost the same players over the years, and they have, at least for the past five years or so, been marking time, or rather, sliding backwards. In that time, Ireland, have lost, not only to Afghanistan, but also to teams like Papua, New Guinea; the UAE; Hong Kong; the Netherlands; Scotland and Oman and all the fullmember teams they have hosted at home. In the past year, Ireland have lost nine times to Afghanistan, in T20, One-day matches, and longer games - nine successive times, including a 10-wicket loss in the Desert T20. That spell also included a 3-0 loss in the Greater Noida, a 2-3 loss in a

One-day series, and also a stunning defeat by an innings and 172 runs in the Intercontinental Cup. While Ireland have been diving since their shocking defeat of Pakistan at Sabina Park in World Cup 2007, Afghanistan have been forging ahead, to the point that they are now ahead of Ireland, and the Netherlands in the rankings of the associate members. NOTABLE VICTORIES Afghanistan also boast victories over Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, Australia, and top of that, they possess some good cricketers, at least for the T20 and ODI versions of the game. In Asghar Stanikzai, Noor Ali Zadran, Samiullah Shenwari, and Mohammad Shahzad, they have some good batsmen; in Mirwais Ashraf, they have a good allrounder. In Shapoor Zadran, Hanid Hassan, Yamin Ahmadzai, and Dawlat Zadran, they possess some good fast bowlers; and in Mohammad Nabi and 18-year-old Rashid Khan, they have two good spin bowlers. For the West Indies, however, they should be in the role of teachers, and for Afghanistan, they

should be nothing but students, willing and eager to learn from the past masters. The West Indies have put together a formidable-looking team for the occasion, a team which includes Marlon Samuels, Kieron Powell, Sunil Narine, Samuel Badree, and Carlos Brathwaite, star boys of the exciting version of the game, as well as Ervin Lewis and Jason Mohammad, two of those with a recent reputation of being among the West Indies’ most dazzling players. They will be up against a team of dreamers, a team coached by former West Indies player and ex coach Phil Simmons, and a man who will be out to prove a point after his short stint with the West Indies as coach ended on a sour note. On top of that, the West Indies cricket operations manager, the former West Indies batsman, Roland Holder, has said that “this series promises to be compelling”, and he may be right. The chairman of Afghanistan, Atif Mashal, said, only two months ago, “I want to see Afghanistan at number five in the world soon.”

Five areas where Barcelona must improve in the new era MADRID (Reuters) Barcelona salvaged some pride from a disappointing season when they lifted the King’s Cup on Saturday with a 3-1 win over Alaves but attention has already turned to how they can improve as the club begin a new era. Coach Luis Enrique is leaving and Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu says his replacement will be announced today, with Spanish media certain it will be Ernesto Valverde, who is leaving Athletic Bilbao. Bartomeu told Spain’s TV3 that Barcelona were confident they knew what they had to do to get back on top after finishing second to Real Madrid in La Liga. “Every summer Barca have to strengthen and renew. Players will go and there will be new signings,” said the Barcelona chief. Reuters Sport looks at five ways the Catalans must improve if they are to regain power from Madrid and become Spanish football’s dominant force again. RESTORE THE MIDFIELD One of the criticisms levelled at Luis Enrique has been that his team have become increasingly dependent on attack and less on the midfield. Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez have torn La Liga teams to shreds but have lost touch with the style that made them so impressive under Pep

Barcelona’s Andres Iniesta (centre) celebrates with team mates and the trophy at the end of the match. (Reuters / Susana Vera) Guardiola. They can no longer strangle teams with incisive passing and relentless pressure, which means that when the strikers can be stopped, so can the team. SIGN A RIGHT BACK Barcelona allowed Dani Alves to sign for Juventus last summer and he helped the Italians to reach the Champions League final. At Camp Nou, midfielder Sergi Roberto was supposed to replace the Brazilian by playing out of position and, while he did reasonably well, he lacked quality and

discipline in crucial moments with some errors resulting in goals against the team, notably against Sevilla and Manchester City. Barcelona’s only natural right back, Aleix Vidal, was frozen out for months by Luis Enrique before suffering a serious ankle injury when he finally broke into the team. Reports in the Spanish media suggest Barcelona are focussing on the position in the transfer market. TIE DOWN MESSI Messi has been in splendid form this season,

finishing as the league’s top scorer with 37 goals. Barcelona need to finalise the player’s new contract with his current deal set to expire in June 2018. If Messi is kept happy and secure then Barcelona will be able to move smoothly into their new era. THE IMPORTANCE OF LA MASIA Barcelona’s golden generation saw players such as Messi, Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets, Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique come through

the La Masia youth system. Less attention has been paid to that area of the club during Luis Enrique’s years with the coach helping to develop only Sergi Roberto. Centre back Marlon Santos, midfielder Carles Alena and right back Sergi Palencia are three of the most promising young stars who could be given more chances in the new campaign. SEPARATE WHEAT FROM CHAFF Barcelona will need to let some players go in the close season to rejuvenate the

squad. Jeremy Mathieu and Arda Turan are two names linked with exits in the Spanish media, while Javier Mascherano may also wave goodbye. Only Samuel Umtiti of the six signings made last year has cemented a regular place in the first team. Andre Gomes and Paco Alcacer were both impressive in the King’s Cup final but Lucas Digne and Denis Suarez have not been called on much in recent weeks and goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen plays second fiddle to Marc-Andre ter Stegen.