Wednesday May 31, 2017
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Kaieteur News
So my letter has got Bharrat Jagdeo angry and all riled up DEAR EDITOR, It appears that by my pen I have irked or riled the Leader of the Opposition (Bharrat Jagdeo) to the core. Of course, Mr. Jagdeo, not being learned, cannot be expected to understand or appreciate the idiosyncrasies of our constitutional law such as zero tolerance for even the appearance or suspicion or apprehension of bias in a Gecom chairman which the express reference to “Judge” in article 161(2) imports. This brings me to my (offending) letter. It has so riled him to the decadence of calling me a “sycophant”; and my letter a “gutter letter”; and wanting to investigate why my service as a magistrate was “terminated” – (press conference May 24) Both Kaieteur News and Guyana Chronicle published it on Monday, May 22 – KN under caption “Jagdeo second GECOM list is unacceptable as the first”; GC under caption – “Jagdeo has been dismissive of President’s advice”. First, I
was not “terminated” I was appointed a contract Magistrate in October 1996. In January 2008 I experienced serious vision impairment. It was diagnosed as retinal detachment. I spent many months and much money (exhausting my lawfully accumulated savings) undergoing restorative expert surgical treatment in the USA. At the end of it all in 2009– 10, acting on the advice of the experts I never reapplied for a renewal of my contract which had expired in April 2008 (up to when I was fully paid). But in 2007, I had applied to be appointed a Judge. What you can investigate (ask then Chancellor(ag) and the Secretary of the JSC (then) is what was done with my application. Second, in that letter, all I have endeavoured to do is to stir the points, and, in the public interest, offer my learned opinion. It is not, advisory. These are the points I have stirred. If you had done, or caused to be done, due diligence (as a
matter of sheer necessity given the gravity of the matter) how could you not know of one of your nominee’s medical risk as a possible appointee (persistent medical leave from work) assuming his appointment? Is there not a real danger that in 2020 (perhaps before) the country has to endure another of this vexing impasse in another appointment process, because of bodily infirmity? And how could you not know of your nominee’s overt activism as one of the protestors, of the SCS parking meter contract, in the precincts of City Hall. (a GECOM Chairman, my knowledge of constitutional law tells me, must not only be impartial, but must demonstrably appear manifestly and undoubtedly to be impartial) and since President Granger is not psychic, he can only, telescopically in that regards, be guided by the past and present evidence of tour nominee’s public acts. And,
Ministry of Communities violated the law in Mabaruma DEAR EDITOR, In 1964, Forbes Burnham said, “this government holds that all the people of this country are equally important...”. Burnham’s speech was not as eloquent or as fantastic a speech as Jawaharlal Nehru’s speech of 1947 titled the “Tryst with Destiny”, but it was good enough to clarify an important principle that all our people are equally important, as spelt out in our Constitution. Thus when I observe the outpourings of actions from this PNC-led Granger administration, I am alarmed at how far this new PNC band of leaders have deviated from Burnham’s words in that 1964 speech as the nation plotted a path to independence. Some may want to say to me that Burnham said one thing but did another during his tenure. My response is that from my reading of history and real conversation with real people, never in the history of Guyana, has people ever felt this abused by a PNC led government, as we are witnessing today in 2017 under President David Granger. Burnham was multiple times over more sensitive of the political environment than Granger, so much so that he always injected himself into all the communities of Guyana to make himself aware of the political pulse of the nation. He may not have done much about the sufferings of the
people, but he was never apathetic to the people’s challenges. Very few countries of the world have as diverse a population as Guyana (religiously, ethnically, socially, culturally and so on). But this diversity should not be something to exploit to get ahead personally. Only a selfish mind that abhors Guyana will do this. Our diversity is something to celebrate as we mold a nation. I do not know where Granger learned his politics but it is all wrong and is grounded in a philosophy unlearned governance which will bury Guyana for decades to come if it is not arrested quickly. Even under Burnham, we never had 93% of the Permanent Secretaries being hand-picked or the newly appointed CEO’s being exGDF officials. Such a policy is anti-national and antidevelopment. This is where the people come in. As custodian of the Constitution, the majority has to demand Constitutional Reforms, which Moses Nagamootoo continues to deceive the nation on. But more importantly, the people have to use every opportunity to highlight their plight. Those in the Diaspora have great influence and must use it to highlight situations like the one at Mabaruma to your Congress people, Senators and Members of Parliament. What happened in
Mabaruma in the North West is clear evidence that this PNC led Granger government is committed to an antidemocratic course. The PPP won a majority of the votes in Mabaruma, but equal seats to the PNC-led Coalition. In such a situation, the law is absolutely clear. The law says that the voters must then directly elect the Mayor and Deputy Mayor. But Minister Bulkan refused to follow the rule of law. Rather he took the opportunity to circumvent the law and embarked on a process that resulted in the party with the lower amount of votes seizing the Mayor’s position. Yet we cannot hear a squeak from Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan, who before May 2015 sold himself as this great democrat. They say, if you want to see the true character of a man – give him power. I call on the US Ambassador who comes from a country with a tradition where “all men are created equal” and one adult is equal to one vote is normal, to use his influence to walk this entire process back into the realms of the rule of law. Because of Team Granger, Guyana has now broken with that democratic tradition that we as a people had come to be associated with after the Carter Center and President Carter intervened and paved the way for free and fair elections in 1992. Sase Singh
how could you not know that one of your nominees does not possess judge-like attributes for, inter alia, he is on record doing a taped GINA documentary concerning the Port Kaituma Jim Jones mass suicide (1980) that by its coincidence with 2015 General election reeked of partisan politicking; coupled with his rumblings over the Ogle airport renaming by this Government. And you ought to have been advised about the real danger or potential for bias or impartiality of that nominee who has a marital relationship with your lead counsel (Shawn Allicock) in that Jagdeo third-term candidature case. Even the mute, deaf and blind cannot be hoodwinked. Lift the veil of pleadings/ rubric and who would appear behind Cedric Richardson (the named plaintiff in that case)? You – Mr. Jagdeo; that case was all about Mr. Jagdeo.
Consider this – your name appears in the lawyer ’s pleadings and the Chief Justice’s decision, taken together, some four (4) times! Here is a poignant, revealing extract from the Chief Justice’s (ag) decision: “in his affidavit in support of summons the Applicant Cedric Richardson…… deposed that his Attorney – at – law had advised him that the effect…. by rendering ineligible for the candidature any person who has been reelected once as President e.g. former President Bharrat Jagdeo ….” But the matter involved a question of interpretation of the constitution. That is a pure question of law and as such did not to any extent, as per pleadings, or decision, require the mention or reference of Mr. Jagdeo’s name; not even once. Could that nominee pass the test of real danger of bias in these surrounding circumstances?
No! Both principle and high authorities is against that nomination. This letter is no place for articulation of the law (the learned reader is referred to the analogous Pinochet No. 2 (1999) decision of the House of Lords; - judge disqualified for inter alia his wife’s association with one of the parties in the case –; and to the local Court of Appeal decision in DPP V. Williams and Hayles (the Lusignan massacre case) as regards a Juror’s disqualification from serving as a Juror in the High Court trial because of appearance of bias (“material irregularity”) resulting from the Juror’s non disclosed previous client-lawyer relation with the defence counsel. The CoA invalidated/set aside the Jury’s acquittal in that case. Impartiality etc, is not congenital; it has to be cultivated, and a likely Continued on page 6
THE PLIGHT OF CHARITY SECONDARY SCHOOL
DEAR EDITOR, Permit me to put the spotlight on the woes of the neglected school on the Essequibo Coast: Charity Secondary School. Charity Secondary School has been in existence for in excess of 20 years. It was established to accommodate the children of the Pomeroon area, since travelling some 20 miles to Anna Regina proved to be very cost intensive for many parents, who are mostly cash crop framers and pork-knockers. Since its advent Charity Secondary has grown considerably, what was once a population of just over 100 hundred students has now transformed into a mammoth 700 strong. Charity Secondary over the years has been struggling to maintain a high pass rate owing to the fact that the crème of the crop is shipped off to Anna Regina and the others are condemned to Charity or 8th of May Secondary Schools. Perhaps condemned seems too strong a word? No! Charity Secondary is for the most part a severely neglected school, allow me to expound I am positively certain that it is against human right conventions for students and teachers to be denied the right to a descent sanitary facility. How can a school with just over 700 students have only four mostly non- functioning toilets! Four broken toilets that never have a regular supply of water or detergent! Only the almighty can feel the
struggles of the two cleaners who try valiantly to maintain some sort of order to this filthy situation! What adds to this already sore matter is that these toilets are located just outside classrooms housed on the ground floor. Lessons are rudely interrupted, the vulgar scent of human waste enveloping entire classrooms! Have the authorities lost all sanity to continue to have students work in such conditions? The school is pressured yearly to improve on its pass rates, how can students learn anything under such circumstances? The only thing perhaps they will learn is that they are forgotten! Teachers aren’t spared from this hellish nightmare! Can you imagine that for a staff of over 30 teachers, mostly females, there are only two toilets, both of which have been there for the past twenty years? These two toilets suffer the same fate of the student’s facilities: no water, no detergent! Picture teachers leaving their classrooms to relieve themselves, then, having to wait for a bucket to be filled to fetch it upstairs to the DHMs office where both toilets are located. Privacy to answer the call of nature is nothing but a luxury at Charity Secondary. Teachers are tired of complaining because they have no choice but to put up with this state of affairs. Young teachers fresh out of
teacher’s college who join the staff are usually alive and buzzing with hope, only to be slapped in the face with the stink reality of these circumstances. Mr. Editor, access to a decent toilet facility is considered a basic necessity, is it too much to ask of the authorities who often claim to support the development of the education sector? These matters have reached the attention of all the necessary stakeholders dozens of times, but to no avail. Mr. Editor this is only the tip of the iceberg, however time will only allow me to highlight this much, at this time. I will continue to utilize the power of the pen until Charity Secondary School receives the attention and respect that it deserves. Concerned teacher
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Make GuySuCo a viable entity so investors can buy it DEAR EDITOR, By what rational argument, would the APNU+AFC Government of President David Granger would want to subsidize Linden electricity yet would prefer to remove the sugar subsidy and “downsize” Guysuco? Clearly, when you call for removal of subsidy for one you need to call for the removal of subsidy from all. The problem with the “downsizing” of Guysuco is that there are no jobs created before this “downsizing” to cushion the effects on the thousands of sugar workers, their families and others who benefit indirectly from the sugar industry. The Government has a plan to lease/give land to sugar workers so that they can do farming. If farming is a viable option then I suggest that the Government go into commercial farming. Is there an actual market available for farm produce? The PPP/C managed to grow Guyana’s economy and still subsidize the sugar industry. We recall that the Government’s own COI into the sugar industry recommended investment and then divestment which sounds like a sound strategy as we need to make Guysuco a viable opportunity for any investor to want to buy it. Sean Ori
Guyana does not need more pollution problems DEAR EDITOR, I think everything happens for a purpose. Reading about the stumbling blocks in the way while trying to resolve the course the exploration and subsequent possible production of gas and oil off Guyana’s shores may take, this thought was uppermost in my mind. The name of the principal, perhaps sole, player is well known in such circles - worldwide. I have read of the experience of other countries when this outfit gets involved in such things. This player creates and leaves behind pollution of various kinds, merrily sailing away, apparently without any thought of those affected, and I have mentioned this before. Money talks! Speaking as a passionate born- and-bred B.G. person, this may be one occasion where time could be of appropriate essence. Poor Guyana has enough internal pollution problems, its people can do without offshore ‘companions’. Tread carefully! Geralda Dennison
Kaieteur News
Wednesday May 31, 2017
We admit that the sugar industry cannot be supported indefinitely DEAR EDITOR; The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) refers to Mr Eric Phillips letter about the sugar which appeared in the Kaieteur News. We must admit that we agree with Mr Phillips when he says GuySuCo and the sugar industry requires a win-win situation. In such circumstances, we see the industry/company being viable and sustainable while at the same time the full complement of estates remain operable and the masses who toil in the fields and factory being fairly rewarded and treated for their efforts and labours for their motivation and productivity. It is against such a background that our Union
and more so the thousands of people linked to the sugar industry cannot be supportive of the current plans being advocated. Through those plans, thousands and thousands stand to be gravely affected and pushed closer to impoverishment or simply become poverty stricken. In view of the obvious hardships that would greet the people their resistance and opposition are natural and should not be unexpected. Any sane, rational being would react in the same manner. Moreover, we believe this is not a situation that Mr Phillips and all right-thinking Guyanese would want for our people. Mr Phillps also points to
the Government support to the sugar industry. We posit, however, that the contemporary support cannot be disconnected from the support, financial and otherwise, that the industry in the past and present has and is contributing to Guyana and its people. So far there has not been any mention of those contributions in the discussions on sugar. Nevertheless, our Union accepts that the Government cannot support the sugar industry ad infinitium. We also must once again express our concern that despite the substantial investment into sugar over the last two (2) years the industry seems to be f l o u n d e r i n g and there
seems to be no plausible explanations for the current state-of-affairs. But in recognition of the Government’s financial constraint, we have advanced to the Administration our suggestions which, we hold, will see the industry returning to a viable and sustainable footing though we noted State-support would be required for a period. Indeed such support cannot be said to unaffordable and furthermore the boost to the industry promotes a diversified and more resilient economy which is in the interest of our people. In our sincere view, this is a win-win situation which Mr Phillps referred to. Seepaul Narine GAWU
INCOMPETENCE AND CONFUSION ARE STALKING GUYSUCO DEAR EDITOR, The IMC at GuySuCo has convinced the Government that the day-to-day decisions it is making are best for the citizens, the corporation and the country. At this instant, it is unclear whether the political offices that overlook the sugar sector know what I am about to reveal. If not, the holders of those offices should seek the truth, not half-truths or whole lies.
Editor, it is a known fact that Blairmont and Enmore estates produce direct consumption quality sugars for consumers in the local and export markets. Uitvlugt estate produces a lesser quality that is sold limitedly in the local market only. It is now observed for the first time ever, that sugar is being transported by road from Albion Estate to Enmore Packaging Plant for packaging. Editor, Albion
So my letter has got.... Frompage 5 disposition for it demonstrated, or discernible in the nominees, from evidence, and in accordance with legal tests. Fourth, there is no room for trial and error; there is no probationary period; once appointed, not unlike a Judge, the Chairman (qua member of the Election Commission) enjoys security of tenure (article 225). Further, consider that with the Chairman’s decisive casting vote, that the Commission’s decision as to who has been elected President is not judicially reviewable (i.e. by any Court, article 226). Such, Mr. Jagdeo are the far reaching constitutional ramifications and implications of appointment from your nominations (with which you fiddles). Nothing less than extreme Vetting as to the potential appointee’s suitability for that type of constitutional office is required or acceptable. The harm,
consequent upon a lax nomination – appointment, can be irreparable to this nation. Fifth, so Mr. Jagdeo, having pithily described my letter as a “gutter letter”, here is my challenge to you (it is not about polygraph); put your pen where your mouth is. Publish a letter in the press wherein you articulate and adumbrate (no political rhetoric or diatribe) as to legal reasons why, on merit, my letter is a “gutter letter” Anil Nandlall would not measure up. With your vast wealth (I am an avid reader of KN’s “Dem boys seh…” for its satirical anti-depressant effect) you can retain as strong a battery of senior counsels as money gets. And, if the constitutional veracity and impeccability of my writings makes me a “sycophant”, that is a Jagdeoite display of intemperance and disfavor, that attracts no opprobrium for me. Maxwell E. Edwards Attorney-at-Law
estate is a bulk sugar producer meaning that, all the sugar it produces is for refining before its consumption and not foodgrade quality for direct consumption. This decision to send Albion’s sugar to the Enmore Packaging Plant effectively means that GuySuCo is now placing industrial bulk grade sugar or non-food grade sugar into bags and/or packs for retail sale and thus direct use. Non-food grade sugar does not meet the quality standards for direct consumption and, therefore, puts the health of consumers at risk. The entire technical and administrative hierarchy should be made answerable for this decision as it is tantamount to a criminal offence to knowingly place in the market such sugar. This matter requires urgent investigation. Consumers pay hard earn cash for a foodgrade product, not non-foodgrade product. Their health
and well-being must never be treated with such contempt. Apart from non-food grade sugar being packed, the cost of production will be much higher because of additional transport cost from Albion to Enmore. Is this sound business decision that the Corporation often boasts about? A logical question is: Why not produce all foodgrade sugar required for those markets at the food grade factories (Blairmont and Enmore)? A colossal blunder in planning and/or the record low production in first crop 2017 maybe probable reasons for it not being done or made possible. I did warn about incompetence and possible record low production in a previous letter. Low production must be the cause for GuySuCo ending the first crop at Enmore, then twentyfour (24) hours later announcing that it will restart operations. Never before has such confusion and incompetence stalk the offices of Executives and IMC at GuySuCo. Sookram Persaud
The sad and tragic... From page 4 denial about its sordid past but at the same time, not yet ready to confront its promising future. Had I not lived and studied abroad I too would have missed the psycho-sociocultural implications of the lifelong negative effect of sexual abuse as it relates to clinical practice here in Guyana. I started doing the math, this was in 2012 so this stuff was happening back in the 1950’s and 60’s, my immediate thoughts were many of these folks are still alive walking around with this level of intensified pain, and how many more who cannot afford treatment like Hilda? Now, I can truly discern why the cage bird sings. Ingrid Goodman, BSc., MSW, ABA, CSME Executive Director PATOIS/WOMEN’S REFUGE Community Mental Health Practitioner
Wednesday May 31, 2017
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Kaieteur News
Stephen Vieira, four others charged in $550M coke-in-lumber bust The Customs Anti Narcotics Unit (CANU) has filed drug trafficking charges against racing bike champion Stephen Vieira and four others in connection with the recent $550M cocaine-inlumber bust. A CANU release stated that the Unit had filed two charges in respect of the cocaine found in dressed wood on May 12, 2017 against Narine Lall (for whom an arrest warrant was issued) Tazim Gafoor, Stephen Vieira, Sherwayne De Abreu, and Nazim Gafoor, for trafficking in narcotics. Narine Lall is still to be arrested, while the other four accused are scheduled to appear in the Leonora Magistrate’s Court today. The case will be prosecuted by CANU prosecutor, Konyo Sandiford. “CANU will continue to tighten its grip on Narcotic distributors throughout the country,” the release stated. Vieira had appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court earlier this month following his arrest at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport. He was released after
Stephen Vieira
Narine Lall
Nazim Gafoor
Tazim Gafoor
an arrest warrant for him was discharged. The charges come just a few days after CANU indicated that the agency is seeking international assistance to retrieve video footage that had been wiped from a Digital Video Recording (DVR) that was seized from one of the suspects. CANU agents had suspected that there was evidence on the device that would further link the illegal
substance that was discovered in timber to the five suspects, CANU had focused attention on the suspects following the discovery of some 84.986 kilogrammes (187 pounds) of cocaine worth $550M in lumber at the Lot 227 Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo premises of Akeem Mohamed. The bust was made just as the lumber was being packed into a truck. The drug agency had
stated that ranks had searched a truck laden with several pallets of 1×6 dressed lumber boards prepared for export. Several pieces of boards were drilled randomly by the ranks and revealed a whitish substance. The lumber was packed at a sawmill located at Lookout, East Bank Essequibo belonging to Narine Lall to be transported to a wharf in
Georgetown and then shipped to the United States of America, CANU stated. Lall, who is said to be out of the jurisdiction, is wanted by the counter narcotics agency. CANU in a statement said that Vieira is listed on the shipping documents as a representative of the shipper, Narine Lall. Tazim Gafoor and his son, Nazim, along with Hakim Mohamed, were also
arrested and were subsequently released. CANU also seized a Digital Video Recording Device retrieved from Nazim Gafoor. According to CANU, Tazim Gafoor was placed before the court charged for his role in another cocaine matter. The 43-year-old man of 39 Menzies Street, Windsor Forest, West Coast Demerara was charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice, last year September following the discovery of over nine kilogrammes of cocaine. Meanwhile, CANU disclosed that the trial involving Joy Caines is set to commence on June 29 at 09:00 hrs in Georgetown. Caines, of 232 Luckhoo Street, Lodge Housing Scheme, Georgetown, pleaded not guilty to the charge which read that on April 16 at the aforementioned address, she had in her possession 2.092 kilogrammes of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.
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Kaieteur News
Guyana maintains steady ratings of women in Parliament ...But Carter Center sees room for improvement, recommends representation laws By Abena RockcliffeCampbell For the past 17 years, Guyana has been maintaining steady ratings when it comes to the representation of women in Parliament. In fact, it is well ahead of many developed countries on the Women in National Parliament index. However, the Carter Center is recommending that Guyana reviews its legal framework to include laws that speak for the representation of women. In its final report of the 2015 General and Regional Elections held in Guyana, the Carter Center said that there is need for Guyana to “reevaluate the electoral system, considering systems that would promote support across ethnic lines and better reflect international
standards.” Giving example of the kind of reevaluation that is needed, the Carter Center noted that the present list system allows political parties to allocate seats to members of their choice after the election. This means that voters cast their ballot for the political party, not candidates. In addition, Carter Center noted that there is no requirement that political parties must allocate seats in the National Assembly to any of the female candidates from within their lists. It was recommended that Guyana “consider adjustments to its legal framework and electoral system to equalize representation of women in Parliament.” People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Chief
Whip, Gail Teixeira thinks that while there is room for improvement, Guyana should give itself a pat on its back. She even suggested that Carter Center should look at what is happening in its own country before commenting on the state of affairs in Guyana on this issue. Teixeira told Kaieteur News that she has “lots to say” on the Carter Center report, but would limit her comments “for now.” “I find it ironic that Carter Center is advocating this when the United States is low down in the line of the number of women in the Congress and in the Senate.” Teixeira pointed to the Women in Parliament index and said that Guyana has been doing well. She said that Guyana’s Parliament has one-
third female representation. “So yes it is true that the law is not there that requires one-third women to be selected from the list. But, the quota system for Guyana requires one-third candidates and despite not having a law that requires parties to put women in Parliament we have been making the one-third.” The Chief Whip stressed that the “US is doing extraordinary badly on women in the Congress. At least we had one women president, they haven’t made it yet. I reserve my other comments on the Carter Center and some of the proposals they are making for another time.” Teixeira went on to state, “because I know how things are twisted, I will say that
obviously as a woman I will always want women to be more and more represented and there will be a time when the quota may be up, or the law is amended, but in terms of the political parties in Guyana.” The Women in National Parliament index, which is maintained by the InterParliamentary Union, indeed has Guyana ahead of many countries. The index was updated as recent as May 1, this year. The data has been compiled on the basis of information provided by National Parliaments. Just about 193 countries are classified by descending order of the percentage of women in the lower or single House. Guyana currently is rated
Opposition Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira at 38 behind countries like Rwanda, Cuba, Sweden, Mexico, South Africa, Ethiopia, Denmark, Germany, Tanzania, Netherland and New Zealand. Guyana’s Parliament has 34 percent female occupancy.
Thirteen E’bo child care facilities now licenced
Minister Amna Ally (sitting, centre) flanked by CPA’s Director Ann Greene (left) and Executive Officer, Lavern Thorne, with some of the childcare representatives who received licences. Thirteen child caregivers on the Essequibo Coast were for the first time, on Monday last, issued licences for their respective facilities. This move was made by the Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA) under the Ministry of Social Protection. The ministry’s mission is to ensure that all childcare facilities offering their service achieve the minimum standard. Executive Officer of the Agency, Lavern Thorne, explained that the minimum standards are basic building requirements. “The minimum standards outline the ratio of children per teacher. We check to ensure that there is provision for sleep, play, materials for kids, toilet areas etc.”
Minister of Social Protection Amna Ally said that it is vital that childcare facilities offer quality standard to children. “Children must be allowed to enjoy an environment that nurtures their physical and emotional needs. There should be freedom from abuse and victimization. Children should be listened to and they must have their race and cultural identity recognized.” Region two consists of eighteen childcare facilities. The ministry is hoping that the other five unlicenced childcare givers can come on board by year end. Minister Ally said that it’s essential that there be continuous collaboration between all stakeholders to
ensure the safety and wellbeing of kids. Ally firmly asserted that the “Child Care and Protection Agency is committed towards actively raising the quality of life for every child.” The minister said that parents should feel confident when leaving their children in the care of others. “There’s no need for parents to stay home full-time with kids, nevertheless when they make a decision to put kids in childcare facilities, their main concern is the safety and wellbeing of their children. Persons entrusted with care of these children should give the best alternative care possible and standards should be maintained. Parents should feel
assured that their children are well looked after by qualified persons within suitable premises, with appropriate activities. It is imperative that safe and developmentally appropriate children services are available to promote a holistic development to wellbeing of children and their families.” In Guyana, there are some 330 childcare facilities with approximately 7,378 children between the ages of 3 months to 5 years who regularly attend. Of the 801 in Guyana, some 225 are registered with the CPA. Thorne said that her agency intends to have all childcare facilities licenced throughout Guyana by year end. “We would work with all
other facilities to provide the necessary guidance to make sure they meet the required minimum standards in accordance with the Childcare Development Services Act of 2011. This is yet another step taken to ensure a better safer and healthier environment for children. “Early childhood development is essential to our society. School and learning studies show children who attend high quality learning programmes are more likely to do better in school, find good jobs, have greater hearing as adults, and they have less interaction with justice system.” Minister Ally in her closing remarks applauded the quality of work demonstrated by the
childcare facilities on the coast. The Ministry, through the Childcare and Protection Agency established a monitoring, evaluating and reporting mechanism through the use of Registration and licencing officers (RLOs). These officers conduct monitoring exercises to ensure effective implementation and sustainability of minimum standards in all childcare facilities. These RLOs responsibilities include the examining of buildings at least once every month to ensure that they maintain the standards set by the CPA. Present also at the event held at the boardroom of the Regional Democratic Council officer, in Region Two, was CPA’s Director, Ann Greene.
Wednesday May 31, 2017
DEM BOYS SEH...
Drama at high noon The Public Accounts Committee, yet again, was the scene of what online media houses have described as high drama, when it conducted its hearings into the appropriations and accounts for 2015 of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation. The cause of this high drama was the reported ordering of a witness out of the sitting. This is not the first time that public officers turning up to give evidence before the Public Accounts Committee have been ordered out of the sitting. The continuance of this practice begs for clarification as to the judiciousness of the exercise of this prerogative, and whether the Standing Orders of the National Assembly authorize these actions. The ordering of witnesses out from the sittings represents just as much high drama as the perceived noncooperation or illpreparedness of witnesses appearing before the Public Accounts Committee. Ordering someone out of a sitting of the PAC is not only humiliating, but becomes a form of public shaming,
especially when that decision is reported publicly. The question to be asked is whether the PAC has such powers and whether the exercise of such powers amounts to a sanction against a witness. If it does, then does this not mean that the PAC is exercising a judicial function of sanction, which as a creature of the legislative arm of government, it can only exercise over members of the assembly and not that of the executive arm of the State? There is need for clarification, therefore, of a number of issues. No one is intending to frustrate the work of the PAC by raising these questions. Surely, the PAC must have some means of coercion to avoid its proceedings being frustrated by uncooperative or ill-prepared witnesses, but this recurring practice of public officers being asked to leave the Committee room does amount to a personal sanction and it needs to be questioned whether the PAC has such powers over persons who are not members of the National Assembly. It also needs to be queried whether the sittings
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of the PAC constitute a quasijudicial court, and what are the obligations of witnesses, with regard to the importance of the watchdog role of the PAC. Are witnesses compelled to answer questions fully? Do they take an oath? What can they answer? What should they answer? And what are they not allowed to answer? These are all issues which need to be clarified, and for which the Standing Orders of the National Assembly of the parliament of Guyana do not provide satisfactory guidance. The Standing Orders do pay attention to protecting the reputations of witnesses. It may therefore be prudent for practices in other jurisdictions which conform to a similar parliamentary system to be examined to determine whether the hearings have the character of a judicial or quasi-judicial hearing, and whether the PAC should be ordering public officers out, because of what is perceived to be inadequacies in answering questions. The work of the Public Accounts Committee must be
supported. The Committee clearly performs an important function in exposing financial irregularities within government, whether procedural or otherwise. It supports the work of the National Assembly by ensuring that funds appropriated by the Assembly are spent for the expressed purposes for which they have been allocated. It allows for explanations as to how the funds have been used. The importance of the work of the PAC cannot be understated. The PAC should be empowered to summon witnesses and to demand explanations from them. Witnesses should not be allowed to frustrate the work of the committee. But whether it should have the power of sanction over these officers, including by ordering them out of sittings, is an issue which needs clarification. The earlier this clarification comes, the better, so as to prevent another high drama incident.
De li’l gyal at de battam ah see wha de big man doing pun tap Birds of a feather does flock together. Animals of de same kind does gather together. Ants and bees does hive together. People of de same kind does mek up an association. One religious leader, explaining de meaning of association, use a raindrop as a good example. He tell dem boys a raindrop from de sky, if it falls in clean hands, is pure enough fuh drinking. If it fall in de gutter, especially dem gutter in Guyana, its value drops so much that it can’t be used even for washing a stink foot. If it falls on a hot road surface it will evaporate. If it falls on a lotus leaf it shines like a pearl and finally, if it falls on an oyster, it becomes pearly. De drop is de same, but its existence, worth and value depends on who it is associated with. Dem boys seh always associate wid people who are good at heart. Careful wid de political leaders you associate wid. Jagdeo is one you should keep far from. De drop mustn’t fall pun he head, he foot or nowhere close to him, because it gun be wuss than if it fall in a Guyana gutter. Dem got others who would more than corrupt that raindrop. Customs got nuff scamp and is not dem boys seh suh; de chief seh suh. A scheme that he don’t know ‘bout yet is that a certain senior female officer demanding a set of money every week from she officers stationed at de various ports. This woman building a mansion to replace a house that disappear. Dem boys hear she telling a friend that if de big ones at de top, like Curly and others, can demand and tek, wha happen to she. After all, she got to associate wid she peers. Talk half and wait fuh de chief association.
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Kaieteur News
Wednesday May 31, 2017
THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN...
Ronald Howard’s sad face tells of what a stupid nation we are On page 24, of this newspaper, yesterday, is the face of a Ronald Howard entering the Magistrates’ court yard to appear on the charge of possession of a smoking utensil. Magistrate Latchman asked him three times; “did you use a pen cover to smoke cocaine? At first, he was confused, when the question was first put to him. He answered on the third occasion and said no. AFC Member of Parliament, and Attorney-atLaw, Charrandas Persaud had a letter in this newspaper in which he contended that the
item is never produced in court. He argued that the item should be there to be ascertained of its true nature. If this man was charged with possession of a smoking utensil, then the procedure as I have known it for so long, is that the magistrate would ask the prosecutor to hold up the item, and then direct the question as such; “Did you use this instrument that the prosecutor has in his hand to smoke cocaine.?” How can the magistrate ask him about a pen cover? A pen cover is a pen cover. You cannot be charged for
possession of a pen cover for the purpose of smoking cocaine, because it is legal to have a pen cover. I am absolutely positive that most drivers have a pen in his/her car. If this man was before the court for having a smoking instrument, then why did she ask him about a pen cover? Why wasn’t the item produced in court? One day a few months ago, I was in Budget Supermarket on Sheriff Street when Magistrate Latchman came in with her father and introduced her dad to me. I can recall distinctly telling her I have nothing personal against her, but I have my work to do as a media analyst. She said she understood. I hope if we meet again in public she is prepared to answer a question from me about professionalism in the magistracy. I have written about this countless times. I believe poor people’s rights are constantly being abused in the lower courts and the politicians who make
such laws should step in. I will pen another column on evaluation of magistrates when they go on to the higher bench, that is, the High Court. This has become necessary, since there is a statement by the Government itself calling for more transparency in judicial appointments. I refer readers to last Sunday Kaieteur News, page 9. The Government has gone on record as saying it wants “a more transparent, recruitment and selection process employed to appoint persons to sit at the helm of the judiciary”. That for me who have studied this society is an impeccable statement. I could write a book on magisterial mediocrity and magisterial abuse of the law. I insist and I will always insist in these columns that I will not be deterred in offering my opinions. It is my opinion that Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan should not be made a judge. It has already been done, so I cannot stop
it. But if I could, I would have done it. It is not personal. I am just doing my work. I do not think Ms. McLennan has the erudition that is needed to become a judge, and I think there is evidence that could support my opinion that it has not been an enlightened performance. When a Chief Magistrate is elevated to the High Court, before that is done there must be an evaluation process. We have sunk so deeply into mediocrity in this country that UG lecturers have complained to me that the awarding of professorship in 2017 has become comical. How could one become a judge after sitting on the lower bench without an assessment of his/her performance? So we return to our original curiosity – what is a smoking utensil? Should a person be charged for the mere possession of a smoking utensil? Aubrey Norton and I were guests of channel 9’s
Frederick Kissoon programme on 51 years of independence last Sunday. We both conclude that we have fallen back. For me, we are going back further and further into past, primitive ages. To charge a man with possession of a smoking utensil and not actual possession of the drug is utterly stupid. But it is on the statute books. And to think that they are very powerful people in the government that are opposed to the changes in the law relating to the sentence for possession of small amounts of ganja. We are not only going back in primitive times; we shouldn’t be part of the modern world period!
Wednesday May 31, 2017
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Kaieteur News
Bids for building of duplex homes halted in four regions Yesterday the National Procurement and Tender Board (NPTAB) halted bids for the construction of duplex homes in four regions. At the entity’s Ministry of Finance headquarters, Tender Board officials abruptly notified bidders that the bids to build the homes have been halted at the request of the procuring entity, the Ministry of Communities. Meanwhile, there were bids submitted for other projects. Three companies bid to carry out improvement of the Parika packaging plant, for installation of an Agro processing demonstration facility. The procuring entity is Guyana Marketing Corporation.
Provision of Security services for 2017
Under the Ministry of Natural Resources, there were bids for the Supply and delivery of a Containment Boom.
Procurement of Dry Goods
Rehabilitation of Arthurville Ground, Wakenaam, Essequibo Islands, West Bank Region. The Guyana Livestock Development Authority is the procuring entity for the supply, delivery, installation and testing of desktop computers, laptop and projector with accessories. There were four bids:
Construction of sanitary block at Hosororo community ground, Barima Waini Region.
Under the Ministry of Presidency, there were 10 bids submitted to provide security services for five locations.
Under the Ministry of Communities: Rehabilitation of Kumaka Marketing Centre, Mabaruma, Barima-Waini Region
Construction of Belladrum Multi-Purpose Centre, Mahaica-Berbice Region
Under the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, bids were submitted for the following projects:Rehabilitation of the Works Services Group building
Construction of Tabatinga Bridge Approach, Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo Region
Rehabilitation of Maria Johanna Ground, Wakenaam ,Essequibo Islands-West Demerara Region
>>>> Continued on page 23 <<<<
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Kaieteur News
Wednesday May 31, 2017
Former GPHC Chair concerned about Dr. Rambarran’s resignation - says it could hamper measures to restore UG accreditation In recent weeks a number of changes have occurred at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation [GPHC] including the resignation of Director of Health Education, Dr. Madan Rambarran. Dr. Rambarran in an invited comment to this publication insisted that this decision was premised on his desire to move on. Several officials of the institution are saying that Dr Rambarran’s decision to part ways with the hospital has already started to gravely impact the hospital. There are reports that suggest that Dr. Rambarran’s decision to resign was prompted by his concerns about the management of the hospital. However, since there is reportedly no one to fill the void left by Dr. Rambarran, there has been speculation that his departure could affect efforts that were made towards having the University of Guyana [UG]
regain its accreditation. Concerns in this regard were recently amplified by former Chairman of the Georgetown Hospital, Dr. Carl ‘Max’ Hanoman. According to Dr. Hanoman, Dr. Rambarran has been an integral part of the process. In fact there are reports that measures that were put in place to cater to training of students of medicine at the hospital could currently be in jeopardy. The process of regaining accreditation for UG was up to earlier this year ongoing, with the accreditation body considering submissions from UG. UG’s School of Medicine lost its accreditation in 2015 and has been instructed by the Jamaica-based Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and other Health Professions (CAAM-HP), to put a series of measures in place if it is to regain international
accreditation. Part of the requirement from CAAM-HP to facilitate accreditation is the construction of proper facilities at the GPHC to offer instruction to medical students. A local business had thrown its financial support behind this venture. Efforts weren’t only focused on having the reaccreditation of UG, but also to ensure that it is sustained. According to Dr. Hanoman, with the support of Dr. Rambarran, he’d crystallised an idea to make the instructional facility a moneymaking venture, one that was gaining the full support of the hospital’s administration. Dr. Hanoman is concerned that the absence of Dr. Rambarran could considerably affect this venture. It was envisaged that the instructional facilities could have been used to train offshore medical students at a cost. It was anticipated that
the fee that such a venture attracts would have gone towards “retooling” the hospital, Dr. Hanoman posited. “We will buy equipment…so in six to eight months’ time different areas of the hospital will be ‘full service’, so that we wouldn’t have a problem when the accreditation team comes,” said an optimistic Dr. Hanoman, who noted that this is especially important for the School of Medicine. “I don’t know what is the plan of the new chairperson or the management of the hospital for that matter and I don’t want to influence their plans, but at the same time I think this whole venture is still important for the hospital and the people of this nation,” said Dr. Hanoman, who is convinced that without the support of Dr. Rambarran, measures already in place
Dr. Madan Rambarran
Dr. Carl ‘Max’ Hanoman
could possibly collapse. It has been said that Dr. Rambarran has taken with him a great deal of institutional knowledge crucial to the various aspects of the hospital’s education programme. Not so long ago, Dr. Rambarran pointed out that while efforts are consistently
being made to train doctors to deliver an improved service within the public health system, other health workers are also being targeted. Complementing the training of doctors, he’d said, is the higher training of nurses, technologists, pharmacists, among other health workers.
West Berbice thief convicted in “landmark” case A West Berbice man was last week Wednesday convicted in the Fort Wellington Magistrate’s Court in what can be classified as a landmark case. On April 16 last, Dr. Parva Panday secured his premises at Hope, Bath, West Coast Berbice, and retired to bed. His gate was locked. Sometime after he had got up on April 17, Dr. Panday went to get a pair of Clarks footwear which he had left at his front door, only to discover that someone had
removed the pair of shoes from where he had left them. The removal of the shoes aroused suspicion, and so the doctor decided to check around to see whatever else may have been removed from his property. He discovered that a piece of electronic equipment, which together with the pair of Clarks valued seventy thousand dollars, was removed from his storeroom. Review of footage from a surveillance system installed on the property, revealed that
an individual had illegally entered the yard by jumping the fence. The individual was observed leaving the premises, and even subsequently returned. The matter was reported to the Fort Wellington police, and 21-year- old Deolall Seulall, also known as Shondell, of Bath was recognised and identified as the perpetrator. He was subsequently charged with simple larceny. When the case was presented at the Fort Wellington Magistrate’s Court by Police Corporal Raquel M a r s , b e f o r e Magistrate Rhondel Weever, it marked the first time in the West Berbice Magisterial District that the court relied on, and admitted the evidence of trained specialist video analyst, Detective Constable Travis Wilson. The accused, who pleaded not guilty to the charge read to him, at the time he was arrested, was wearing the same clothing as at the time of the incident. He was found guilty as charged, with the prosecution depending heavily on the evidence presented by Detective Constable Wilson. Deolall Seulall will as a result spend the next 18 months behind bars. According to the prosecution, there have been many incidents of a similar nature in the area implicating “Shondell “, and he would have had charges laid against him on many occasions, only to have the matter thrown out by the court because the victims or witnesses failed to turn up in court.
Wednesday May 31, 2017
Former Panamanian Dictator Manuel Noriega Dies At 83
Manuel Noriega Military commander, drug trafficker, CIA informant, dictator, convicted murderer: The strongman Gen. Manuel Noriega wore many labels during his tortuous path to — and fall from — the heights of power in Panama. Announcing Noriega’s death at age 83 Tuesday, Panama’s president said it “closes a chapter in our history.” Panama’s President Juan Carlos Varela announced Noriega’s death via Twitter. And while the cause of death wasn’t immediately reported, Noriega had recently been dealing with complications from brain surgery; in March,
it was reported that he was in a coma. The era in which Noriega exercised absolute control over Panama is long past — but his ill-fated reign continues to cast a long shadow both in his home country and the United States, with whom he had a complex relationship. At the time of his death in a Panama City hospital, Noriega was serving a prison sentence for corruption and having opponents killed. Varela said Noriega’s daughters and other family members “deserve a funeral in peace.” Mr. Noriega had been in
intensive care since March 7 after complications developed from surgery to remove what his lawyer described as a benign brain tumor. His daughters told reporters in March that he had had a brain hemorrhage after the procedure. He had been granted house arrest in January to prepare for the operation. Noriega was doing okay until he started biting the hand that fed him. We help folks get into power and we take them out when they make us... Come on Mr Archibold, the conservatives wanted “their” canal back. That Noriega was a drug dealing dictator had little to do with the attack... His medical problems came on the heels of a legal odyssey that had begun with the invasion and led to prison terms in the United States, France and finally Panama. While imprisoned abroad he suffered strokes, hypertension and other ailments, his lawyers said. After returning to Panama on Dec. 11, 2011, he began serving long sentences for murder, embezzlement and corruption in connection with his rule during the 1980s.
May could lose majority in UK parliament (Reuters) British Prime Minister Theresa May’s Conservative Party risks falling short of winning an overall majority of seats in parliament in a national election on June 8, The Times newspaper said on Tuesday, quoting research by polling firm YouGov.
In contrast to signs from a string of opinion polls that have suggested May’s Conservatives will increase their majority, the new constituency-by-constituency modeling by YouGov showed it might lose 20 of the 330 seats it holds and the opposition
Labour Party could gain nearly 30 seats, The Times said. That could leave the Conservatives 16 seats short of the overall majority of 326 needed to govern without the support of other parties, the newspaper said.
Two British jets dispatched after Russian incursion (Reuters) Two British fighter jets were dispatched from a Royal Air Force base in Scotland on Saturday after an incursion by Russian jets, Britain’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) said. “Two Typhoons were scrambled from RAF
Lossiemouth this morning as part of the RAF’s Quick Reaction Alert in response to two Russian aircraft entering the UK’s airspace,” the MoD said in a statement. “Both aircraft have now returned safely to RAF Lossiemouth.”
Britain regularly scrambles fighters to intercept Russian aircraft near its airspace. Intercepts of Russian aircraft by NATO generally have increased in recent years amid heightened tensions between the West and Moscow over the Ukraine crisis.
British journalist arrested in Thailand for carrying body armor CNN) A British journalist is facing up to five years in prison in Thailand after being found in possession of body armour and other protective gear. Tony Cheng, a freelance correspondent for Chinese state broadcaster CGTN, told CNN he was charged Monday night with possessing “war weapons” after being stopped with German colleague Florian Witulski at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport. The pair were en route to the war-torn Iraqi city of
Mosul, where they have reported from in the past. A large-scale military operation is ongoing in Mosul, where Iraqi government forces are attempting to wrest control of the city from ISIS. Cheng had a gas mask and body armor in his check-in luggage. Both items are classified as restricted military equipment under Thailand’s 1987 Arms Control Act. “A customs office informed us they found items which looked like military
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Kaieteur News
weapons,” police Lt. Col. Somchart Maneerat told CNN. “(In searching Cheng’s luggage) we found plates, which can be used in flak jackets.And flak jackets and their parts are classified as military weapons.” Cheng was released after 15 hours in detention, and his wife paid 100,000 baht ($3,000) in bail, the police official said. He also had to surrender his passport. If convicted, Cheng faces up to five years in prison and a fine of 50,000 baht ($1,500).
Russian with ties to former Trump aide wants immunity for testimony: NYT (Reuters) A Russian oligarch once close to Paul Manafort, President Donald Trump’s former campaign manager, has offered to testify to congressional panels investigating Russian meddling in the 2016 election, but lawmakers are rejecting his conditions, the New York Times reported on Friday, citing congressional officials. The offer by aluminum magnate Oleg Deripaska comes amid growing attention to his ties to Manafort, one of several Trump associates under scrutiny by the Federal Bureau of Investigation over possible collusion with Russia during the presidential campaign. Manafort and Deripaska did business in the mid-2000s, when Manafort, a Republican operative, was providing campaign advice to Ukrainian politicians backed by Moscow, but their relationship later deteriorated, resulting in a lawsuit, the Times said. R e presentatives for Deripaska in the United States did not respond to the Times’ requests for comment. Manafort has denied
FILE PHOTO: Oleg Deripaska looks on before a meeting of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan with Russian and Turkish entrepreneurs at the Konstantinovsky Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia, August 9, 2016. any impropriety with his ties to Russia and has turned over documents a Senate intelligence panel had requested. Deripaska, who is close to Russian President Vladimir Putin, recently offered to cooperate with
congressional intelligence committees in exchange for full immunity, according to three congressional officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the issue publicly, the Times said.
PAGE 22
SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.-CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620
SALON - Make-up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, etc. - Cosmetology Courses: $120,000 - Technician Course: $45,000. Call: 6471773/660-5257
Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Guyana p assport application. Graphics design, advertisement. Tel: 6267040; 265-4535. INNOVATIVEMARKETING & PUBLISHING INC –TEL: 600-4212: We create A/ works, logos, busi ness cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included. Floor sanding & Lacquering, house plans, estimate & painting, boat for Santa Mission. Call: 650-4362
TO LET One 2 bedrooms apartment at Eccles -$55,000 monthly. Call: 648-7004
WANTED Admin Assistant/Marketing Personnel with atleast 5 CXC passes including English Language & Mathematics. Send resume to gtcareers592@gmail.com Experienced hairdressers & nail technicians needed to work in salon at prime location in Georgetown. Call: 628-4388/225-9423 Two Dynamic Individual with communications & sales techniques, computer skill @ KeyFood, Mc Doom location. Waitress and cook. Call: 6771248 Wanted land to buy anywhere on the West Coast or La Parfaite Harmonie. Call: 657-9594 Experienced Truck Driver. Call: 227-1717
1 Bedroom apartment furnished @ Soesdyke Public Road - $30,000. Call: 625-1177
One clerical/office assistant to work in Georgetown. Call: 227-2301/ 225-6239
Passport, permanent & visitor visa application, Professional Immigration Consultant – Sabita Immigration Services. Call: 225-6496/ 662-6045 Repairs to refrigerators, gas stoves, A/C units, washing machines. Call Lindon: 6411086/ 694-2202
Upper flat Grove -$45,000$50,000. Call: 625-5461
1 Live in nanny/domestic to take care of children & home, must know to cook various dishes 38-48yrs. Call: 6001898
Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezerCall: 610-5846 or 661-8158
C. Persaud & N. Outar Driving School formerly Soman & Sons Driving School @ Maraj BuildingCall: 644-5166; 622-2872; 615-0964; 689-5997 (affordable packages).
TAXI SERVICE GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 225-7878 (24HRS) FOR SALE/FOR RENT American Pool Table. Call: 277-0578
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 MINI BUS, GOOD FOR AIRPORT & FAMILY OUTING, CHEAPEST RATE . Call: 698-7807
Wednesday May 31, 2017
Kaieteur News
LEARN TO DRIVE
EDUCATIONAL Electronic Course. June 6th. The Trade of the Future. Make extra cash, easy! Abdul Electronics. Call: 226-6551/ 225-0391
Live in or live out babysitter/ domestic. Call: 223-7500 Monday-Saturday 8:154:15pm Attractive live in waitressCall: 327-0252/674-4665
48" Samsung TV, 2 full size beds, mattress & base, 2004 Allion, low mileage, lady driven. Call: 642-0243 Sawmill on 1.27 Acres of fenced land, portable mill, moulder, ripsaw, excellent condition, Linden: 673-9401 1 Kenmore fridge (black), double door. Dog pen, steel door. Call: 673-7883 Elevator very good condition, price negotiable. Call 231-1284 Office furniture, used computers, display racks & stands for store use. Call:2258066/624-6783 Design & Make Aluminum windows, doors, stainless rails, showcases, rolling shutters, make & install automatic doors. Call: 2336818/677-5599/659-9999 Solar Panel, USA Made, Size 39X77 300 watts -$65,000. Call: 657-2304
Garbage trucks drivers, experienced drivers only &labours. Call: 670-7920
Pure breed Geman Shepherd puppies, 1 black pure, 3 black & tan, 6 weeks old. Call: 6135955/ 626-0953
Wanted place to rent for restaurant or bar in G/town (no unfinished place). Call: 670-7920
Spare for washing machine, microwaves, fridges, stoves, timers, gearbox, motors, etc. Call: 225-9032;647-2943;6045198
Saleswoman with experience @ Christine’s Variety Store @ Lombard Street. Call: 2278529 Experienced Male workers on farm, age 30yrs and older. Call: 231-1408 between 8am1pm Male workers to work at Ice Factory in Rosignol. Call: 6183800 between 8:00am- 2pm
CAR RENTAL WING’S CAR & PICKUP RENTAL: LOW DOWN PAYMENT, CHEAP RATES,SPECIAL OFFERS FOR THE SEASON. CALL: 690-6494 PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 677-7827, 6435122 ,EMAIL:PRO_AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.COM
FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. Lawn grass organic potting soil, supari Palm, foxtail, palm @ $1,000, Crotoon, Ashoka, Ficus, Exora. Call: 626-1044
One experienced & honest snackette attendant/salesgirl. Call: 666-3569/ 698-4288 between 10:00am- 6:00pm Carpenter/Mason ($6,000 daily), canter driver to sell bottle water on the West Coast Demerara - $35,000 weekly. Call: 684-8231 Garbage Truck Drivers, attractive salary and benefits. Call: 227-1717 1 Complete 8" land dragger. Call: 670-0618We pay in $US Able bodied labourer. Call: 265-3586
Great Deals on video games & all gaming consoles. PC, video games & repairs – Call: 672-2566; 265-3231 Sale @ The warehouse, Lot 1 Melanie Public Road, E.C.D. Tyres: 445, 65, 22.5, 1400/20 new, 295, 80, 225. Call: 6985203 1 Industrial Bread Slicer. Call: 626-6190/689-3840 1 Transported property. Call: 265-3586 WANTED We pay for land in Eccles, Herstelling, Farm, Providence, La Parfaite Harmonie, Zeelugt. Call: 629-2881/ 611-7223 One female bartender/ manager and one female to prepare cutters at a sport bar in GT live in or out- Call: 6484810 Workers for land dredge, 1 male cook -$100,000 monthly. Call: 672-3359
LAND FOR SALE 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:666-2326 La Parfaite Harmonie: $1.4M, $1.6M, $1.8M, Farm -$3M, Uitvlugt -$3M, Tuschen -$1.2M, $5.5M, Herstelling -$3M. Call: 604-6724 or 686-9608 12 House lots 80X60 at Plantation Schoonard: water, light and roads, 1 min from Harbour Bridge. Call: 6152346/627-3443
VACANCY Cook, Baker and articulated hauler/dump truck operator for interior. Applicants must be experienced. Cal: 618-2020 ACCOUNTANT (Parttime): 2nd/3rd Level ACCA; QuickBooks POS & Accounts. 4hrs on Saturday, every fortnight. Email: spers@msn.com Lorry Drivers and Salesmen, preferably from East Bank Demerara. Salary Negotiable. 266-4427
Male & female workers: accounLa Parfaite Harmonie, tants, mechanic to look after Tuschen Phase 2, Zeelugt drink machine. Call: 330-2399 Phase 2. Call: 642-1252 Male with experienced in poultry farming to work on Prime roadside land in chicken farm in the interior, Corriverton Berbice, suitbale age 25-45yrs. Call: 680-2702 for any type at business. Call: 626-6245/335-3347 One hairdresser and nail technician who knows to do 35 Acres located in Port everything. Call Melissa: Kaituma. Call: 619-5173 630-8152 Providence - $4.8M, Farm- One supervisor (computer $2.8M, Herstelling -$3.5M, literate) two housekeepers to Uitvlugt -$2.6M, La Parfaite work shift systems at Harmonie -$1.6M, Zeelugt - Harmony Inn. Call: 668-0306, $1.8M. Call: 684-5822/651-1969 694-7817 One teacher to privately teach a child, salary -$100,000 based on experienced & qualification. Call: 623-1615
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.
Porters, apply in person to Alabama Trading, Georgetown Ferry Stelling, Stabroek. General Domestics, must able to prepare vegetarian meal, apply at Alabama Trading, 65 Robb St Bourda.
Recently-constructed 2-Storey 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 Zohora St. & Market St. Better Hope, East Coast Dem $12.5M neg. Call: 220-1583 between 7am-5pm only.
VEHICLE FOR SALE 1 BMW 318I -$2.3M, Never register. Contact# 592 6500402 / 603-1402 1 Mitsubishi 7 1/2 ton Dump Canter, 1 Mitsubishi Fuso 7 1/2 ton Canter. Never Register!!! Contact#592 6500402/603-1402
Unregistered 1 Passo 2010 Black -$2.1M negotiable, 2 Vitz 2 Story building with extra- 2010 Pearl White & Pearl Pink -$2.3M negotiable each. Call: large land in well built $74.5M. Call: 220-1583 be- 649-7771/ 690-7155 tween 7am-5pm only. Unregistered: 1 Nissan March Property @ 934 Caneville Grove, 2010, Black with alloy wheels E.B.D: flat house, 3 bedrooms -$2.2M negotiable. Call: 649(1 self-contained), concrete 7771/ 690-7155 fence, negotiable. Call Ken: 6823784/Jenel: 604-5627 Allion, Primo, Fielder Wagon, Spacio, Bluebird, DATING SERVICE 212 Carina, NZE, Honda Guyanese Canadian woman CRV, Toyota IST, RZ & Pitseeking husband, contacts must bull – Call: 650-7501 have Valid ID, proof of Address Continued on Page 23 & police clearance. Call: 673-9778
Wednesday May 31, 2017
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Kaieteur News
Train has left on Caribbean’s 1.5ÚC climate goal - Meteorologist KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent (CMC) – A leading regional meteorologist Tuesday said the Caribbean and other small island developing states are facing an uphill task in trying to convince the world to contain global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrialisation levels. In fact, Puerto Rico-based meteorologist, John TooheyMorales, tells the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) that the train has already left the station and is speeding down the tracks. “We are already at 0.95 degrees above pre-
industrialisation levels and unfortunately, the way that temperatures are going, they are accelerating, they are rising faster and faster as the years go by,” TooheyMorales said. “This train has left the station, it is, unfortunately, accelerating and being able to limit it to 1.5 degrees seems like a reach to me, seems unrealistic to me,” he said. Toohey-Morales spoke to CMC on the side lines of a climate and media training for Caribbean media practitioners, as part of the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and
Hydrology’s (CIMH) annual Wet/Hurricane Season Caribbean Climate Outlook Forum. In the face of humaninduced climate change, Caribbean researchers say that a half a degree Celsius change in global temperature could make quite a difference for the region, which is already being severely impacted by the adverse effects of a warming climate. At the global climate change talks in Paris in 2015, countries agreed to contain global temperature rise to two degrees Celcius above preindustrialisation levels.
Bids for building of duplex homes... From page 11 Paving of Access Road Lusignan Landfill
Under the Guyana Defence Force Provision of weeding various bases
And finally, under the Ministry of Health Audit Services for a period of 2016 for the Global Fund HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and Malaria Programme.
That is to say, that the world must make every effort to ensure that the average temperature of earth’s atmosphere does not increase by more than 1.5 degrees Celsius higher than the levels they were before there were machines and tools to help perform tasks en masse. To o h e y - M o r a l e s , however, believes that at the current rate, the world is not on tract for the two degree Celsius target. “… our current pace is for four degrees Celsius — double that. So whatever climate actions need to be taken quickly to mitigate what’s going on,” he said, however questioning whether there is enough emphasis on the Paris climate deal. “With the United States now not even thinking of participating, to be able to get there, it is going to be quite a challenge,” Toohey-Morales said. Amidst pressure from the leaders of the world’s seven leading economies last week, United States President, Donald Trump has still not make it clear whether he would follow through on his campaign promise to quit the Paris deal. Toohey-Morales said that with his own predictions and the uncertainty of the United States on the climate deal, Caribbean countries need to focus, first and foremost, on adapting to the climate change. “So the political will to adapt need to be there,” he said, adding that that political will come the people. “The people need to put pressure on the authorities and the leaders of each
country to make sure that actions are taken to adapt to a warmer world,” TooheyMorales said. He said that heavier, extreme precipitation events, longer dry spells, and droughts are just two of the many weather events that the Caribbean is going to experience in a warmer world. “Yes, help is needed,” said Toohey-Morales, however, noting the role of developed countries in this regard. “Developing countries such as those in the Caribbean need help from the developed world. That’s what things like the Paris Agreement talks about, having this pools of money in the UN available to help the developing world adapt, to be able to go and get that help is important as well.” Toohey-Morales said that he thinks that in addition to what may be done by households is to make sure that they are informed and educated to ensure that they can put pressure on the authorities to ensure that climate actions are taken. “If the public is informed, that is the number one step,” he said, adding that in addition to this, the Caribbean must strive for more efficient household, including electricity efficient light bulbs, running the air conditioner less, and driving fuel efficient vehicles, and not burning less trash. “So there are many steps that one can take at the family level to be able to help. But I think the number one thing is being educated and make sure that your leaders are taking action on climate,” he said.
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Wednesday May 31, 2017
Haitian workers demand Opposition maintains criticism increase in minimum wages of multi-billion dollar project
PORTAU PRINCE, Haiti, CMC – Garment workers have taken to the streets here after trade union officials confirmed that talks for a new minimum wage had broken down. The demonstrations by the workers, the second in two weeks, followed an announcement by Fignolé StCyr, the Secretary General of the Haitian Self-Employed
Workers’ Union (CATH) and Trade Union Representative within the Superior Council of Wages (CSS) said negotiations for an end to the crisis between employers and trade unions had broken down. St-Cyr said the workers are seeking a minimum wage increase of 300 to 800 Gourdes (One Gourde =US$0.014 cents) for a work-
ing day. Workers now receive a minimum daily wage of 300 Gourdes. The workers at factories making T-shirts, pants and other apparel also demonstrated in support of 40 trade union members who were fired from a Port-au-Prince industrial park where an estimated 18,000 people are employed by the factories there.
CASTRIES, St. Lucia, CMC – The main opposition St. Lucia Labour Party (SLP) Tuesday said the proposed multi-billion dollar project with Hong Kong-based Desert Star Holdings (DSH) would have “significant consequences’ for St. Lucia and urged two agencies involved in the negotiations of the project “not to allow themselves to be used …to mislead” the population. In a statement, the SLP, which has opposed the deal announced by the St. Lucia government, said it had taken note of the joint response by Invest Saint Lucia and the Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP) on the matter. In their statement on Monday, the two agencies said they have “ not rejected the DSH project” and had “ never recommended to Cabinet that the DSH project not be approved. “Invest Saint Lucia has been in negotiations with Mr. Teo Ah Khing and DSH for
the Pearl of the Caribbean Project since 2015, and continues to facilitate the investor’s establishment to make this project a success,” the statement noted. The two agencies said they had also been aware that statements have “been made regarding ongoing negotiations and applications before our offices” adding “our aim is to attract investment to St. Lucia and to facilitate the continued development of our country. “It has become increasingly concerning that there are ongoing attempts to negatively impact the work of Invest Saint Lucia, the Citizenship by Investment Unit responsible for the CIP …and the reputation of potential investors without reference to factual information. But in its statement, the SLP said that it took the government one week to respond to the news that the submission made by DSH was not approved by either Invest Saint Lucia or CIP and that Prime Minister Allen
Chastanet was so informed. The SLP said that it is standing by its statement that “the professional staff at Invest Saint Lucia and CIP charged with the responsibility to review the DSH submission did not approve the submission, did not make a recommendation to accept the DSH proposal and the Prime Minister was so informed. No amount of behind the scenes arm-twisting over the last seven days will change that fact.” The government has said that the US$2.6 billion DHS project will result in a mixeduse real estate development enterprise involving, interalia, entertainment and sporting facilities, as a third category under the real estate provisions of the CIP legislation. It will also encompass a project that meets the basic stipulation but entails: a horse racing track, high-end hotel and residences, a casino, free trade zone, an equine diseases free zone, and a marina.
JSIF targeting young people for employment under multi-million dollar programmes KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – The Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) says it is investing two billion dollars (One Jamaica dollar =US$0.008 cents) in several projects during the 2017-18 fiscal year that will support the government’s undertaking to neutralise factors deemed risks to the growth agenda. As a result, more than 10,000 young people, deemed “at-risk”, are to be expected to benefit from jobs and other income-generating activities to be created from JSIF sponsored projects. The JSIF, an agency in the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), said this would be done by facilitating sustainable livelihoods in the target communities under programmes such as the Housing, Opportunity Production and Employment (HOPE) initiative, as part of the thrust to arrest the systemic drivers of poverty. The JSIF’s projects are being facilitated with support provided by the government as well as several international development partners including the Barbados-based Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), through the Basic Needs Tr u s t F u n d ; t h e Wo r l d
Bank, under its Integrated Community Development Project; and the European Union’s Poverty Reduction Programme. Details of the wideranging activities have been outlined in the JSIF’s submission to the OPM and notable among them is a series of workforce development, employment and wealth creation initiatives targeting residents in Community Renewal Programme (CRP) neighbourhoods, for which JSIF is spending J$685 million. The CRP is a multifaceted government programme designed to address the living conditions in 100 communities that have been identified in Kingston and St Andrew, St Catherine, Clarendon and St James as the most socially problematic as a result of their volatility and vulnerability. It addresses community empowerment, housing, sanitation and waste disposal, economic opportunity, recreation, dispute resolution and crime, among other issues. The agency is spending J$80 million on activities that will generate 1,400 new, short-term and temporary jobs that will span two weeks to 12 months.
These include data collectors for the proposed civil documentation programme; summer camp staff; unskilled labour for infrastructure work sites; and internships. A total of J$67 million is earmarked for employment projects for 305 beneficiaries that will run for one year. Of this, J$30 million has been budgeted to remunerate 165 persons who will be recruited as environmental wardens and gazetted legal officers under the National Solid Wa s t e Management (NSWM) Act. The beneficiaries will be responsible for enforcing the anti-litter laws, and sensitising residents to sustainable environmental management and community clean-up exercises. The agency is investing another J$27 million in its employment internship component, targeting 50 unemployed young people, aged 17 to 25. They will be placed with local private-sector entities for 12 months, where they will be exposed to the corporate world of work; laying the foundation for career choices and getting opportunities to build valuable business networks.
Wednesday May 31, 2017
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India get solid workout in rout of Bangladesh Kyrgios overcomes injury and Kohlschreiber... (From page 27) to give their bowling line-up a lift after they failed to defend 341 against Pakistan on Saturday. Rohit Sharma, who last played for his country in October 2016, opened alongside Shikhar Dhawan. He, however, lasted only three balls before dragging a short and wide ball from Rubel Hossain onto his stumps. At the other end, Mustafizur Rahman
stand for the third wicket with Dhawan. The stand, though, ended when the opener played one shot too many against left-arm spinner Sunzamul Islam, hooking him straight to midwicket after hitting 10 runs off the first three balls of the 23rd over. Scores: India 324 for 7 (Karthik 94, Hardik 80*, Rubel 3-50) beat Bangladesh 84 (Mehedi 24, Bhuvneshwar 313, Umesh 3-16) by 240 runs.
troubled Dhawan outside the off stump, before inducing a loose shot from Ajinkya Rahane - pushed down to No. 3 on Tuesday - and disturbing his stumps via the inside edge. Dinesh Karthik, streaky throughout his nine-ball duck in the previous warm-up game against New Zealand, started tentatively again before finding his timing. He strung together a 100-run
All relevant info on Guyana vs Mexico match... (From page 32) cash. In addition, this information as well as documentation regarding the expenditure on the Men’s Senior National Football team during the period January to November 2012 was shared with the media at a press conference held at the GFF in December 2012. Match fees and bonuses
to closure on this issue, are already accessible and in the possession of the GFF. Closure of this would be a plus for all and sundry and Guyana as a whole. Wilson disclosed that he and the current GFF President would have had discussions on the matter before and he is urging that wisdom and good sense be allowed to prevail.
agreed to between the players and the GFF have been paid to them. What is outstanding to the players is the agreed amount of 12% of monies accruing to the GFF after expenses. There is no need to expend much needed dollars to unearth what transpired when the facts that can lead
Tuesday May 31, 2017 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Depression may put a damper on your day. Someone left a real mess for you to sift through. Opportunities to learn important information will surface through discussions with peers or seminars you attend. TAURUS (Apr. 21- may 21) You are best to keep your cash in a safe place. You should be able to tie up loose ends today. Property investments, insurance, taxes, or inheritance should bring you financial gains. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Don't let someone you work with put words in your mouth. Be sure to question any detail that you feel could leave you in a precarious position at a later date. You will have splendid suggestions for fund raising events. CANCER (June 21–July 22) Socializing will be more than just entertaining. Educational pursuits can bring interesting, helpful people. Don't let your personal dilemmas interfere with your goals. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) If you have to deal with large institutions, be careful not to make waves. An older member of your family may have left you with a pressing situation. Calm down and take a step back. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Your high energy will enable you to take the role of
leader in group functions. You can make extra cash by moonlighting. You will not impress others by being foolishly generous. LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You can make career moves that will be prosperous. Your charm will attract members of the opposite sex. Secret affairs may be brought out in the open. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Organize your day well if you wish to accomplish all you set out to do. Your health may have suffered due to neglect or abuse. Partnerships with creative people could lead to financial gains. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Your charm will attract members of the opposite sex. Be creative in your pursuits. Educational courses will be stimulating and successful. CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Be tolerant, but don't let any one take you for granted. You will drive your emotional partner crazy today. False information is likely if you listen to idle chatter or gossip. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Disputes may start because of a lack of honesty. Beware of individuals who are not that reliable or well known to you. Your boss may not be in the best of moods today. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Do things that involve children. Make changes to your home that will be pleasing to everyone involved.
(From page 29) many matches on clay and was not feeling that confident.” “I thought it would be tough. But I served really well at important times of the match.” A mini-break in the tie break was enough to hand him the second set as Kohlschreiber struggled with the Australian’s whipped
groundstroke’s and repeated audacious drop-shots. Kyrgios, who sealed his victory on his first match point, recently teamed up with former French pro Sebastien Grosjean after years without a coach. “To get to the top five and compete in the slams I need to have someone i n m y c o r n e r. I t ’s t i m e now to knuckle down,”
he said Kyrgios, whose quick and powerful game is more fitted to hard or grass courts than the French clay. “I don’t really like running. I don’t like that my shoes get dirty. I don’t train too much on clay as it makes my car dirty.” “It can be enjoyable. I play well on clay but it’s not my favorite surface,” he said.
GFF appoints Schools’ Development Officer... (From page 32) Playing and Coaching Curriculum. Greenwood said: “It’s fantastic to have another former National Team player employed by the GFF Technical Department to pass on their knowledge and passion from the game to our young players. We want to continue
Unfazed Murray... (From page 29) over a potentially tricky hurdle negotiated. “He (Kuznetsov) goes for his shots he plays very aggressively... so he takes your time away. But it was quite windy today... and that can make things difficult,” Murray said in a courtside interview. “I started to play better as the match went on... I have very good memories of Paris and I will try to have another good run this year.”
opening the doors to current and former national team players who want to work within our Development Programmes, but of course they have to have a passion for coaching and a willingness to learn. As we know not every former player can be an effective teacher of the game, but Shurwin has been involved in GFF Technical Training so he understands what is required in his role.”
The GFF has been actively engaging current and former national players in the technical programmes including the ATC which is a comprehensive initiative that seeks to, among others, create a development pathway for players to the national programme. This is done through individual and group sessions at the various academies within Member Associations.
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Wednesday May 31, 2017
India players reportedly ‘intimidated’ by coach Kumble ESPNcricinfo - India’s campaign for Champions Trophy has begun under a cloud of discontent within the dressing room with the captain, and possibly a few other senior players, expressing a lack of confidence in their head coach. Speculation had been rife ever since the BCCI chose not to automatically extend the tenure of Anil Kumble as the head coach, choosing instead to advertise the position, and it has now emerged that the decision was made following feedback from Virat Kohli about Kumble’s coaching method, which he is said to have described as “intimidating”. Kumble’s year-long contract expires at the end of
the Champions Trophy. The development comes at less than an ideal time for India, with their first match in the Champions Trophy, against arch rivals Pakistan, just days away. It is understood that Kohli relayed the sense of discontent to the BCCI’s top office bearers as well as the C o m m i t t e e o f Administrators (CoA) before the team left for England. He is also understood to have spoken to Sourav Ganguly, who is part of the cricket advisory panel which has been tasked with deciding the coaching option. The players’ concerns are thought to centre mainly around Kumble’s manmanagement skills. In the words of one official
familiar with the details, Kumble has been conducting himself like a “headmaster” at a school. Such an approach, the official said, “had not gone down well” with the players who are used to a more relaxed dressing room. Some players - not the bigger personalities like Kohli or MS Dhoni - have felt “a bit intimidated” by Kumble’s approach. Such has been the approach, the official said, that some of the injuries that have ruled players out during Kumble’s tenure were not strictly cricket related. “Kumble was pushing hard. The bulk of them [injuries] are noncricketing injuries. One of the players was stressed out. So the team is not a happy
lot.” What has surprised the BCCI is that Kumble has failed to read these concerns. The official said that the reason Kumble has been successful was because “the team has been successful” playing cricket mostly at home. “The way the cricket set-up works in India is the coach is not the king. So the coach has to understand that.” Based on the player feedback, the BCCI decided that the time to “change” had come and the “best” way to move forward was to put in place an advertisement inviting fresh applications. The official admitted that the timing was not ideal - the advertisement went out on the day Indian squad arrived in London to defend the
Virat Kohli and Anil Kumble have a chat, Hyderabad, February 8, 2017 ©AFP
Champions Trophy, and applications for the job close on the eve of the tournament opener - but he said the process had to followed. The most telling public comments came from Kohli, who said last week he did not find anything untoward with what the BCCI was doing. “The process has been followed every single time the similar way in Indian cricket for the past so many years is what I know,” Kohli said at his first media briefing upon landing in England. “Even the last time the post was up for a change the same procedure was applied. With the term being one year, the procedure is being followed in the same manner. I don’t see anything very different from what has happened in the past. That is something the board has recognised. They want to follow the same pattern.” Kohli was equivocal in his response to the success India have had under Kumble. “When you have results come your way, the contribution is from every part of the team,” he said. “It is not from a single source to say the least. Everyone works hard equally if not more than the other person.” Kumble has not yet spoken publicly about the situation. He is, however, bound to be disappointed considering India have only lost one series in any format under his charge: the twomatch Twenty20 series in Florida against West Indies last August. Kumble has also been front and centre in talks with the BCCI over enhancing the contracts not
just of the national team’s players but also domestic players and Indian coaching staff. The situation also puts three other Indian legends in an awkward position. It was only last June that Kumble was nominated by the threeman cricket advisory panel c o m p r i s i n g h i s contemporaries, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman; Kumble wasn’t in the original shortlist of candidates the BCCI had finalised because he had no formal coaching experience. But it was at the panel’s insistence that he was put in. And now they have to go through the process again; it isn’t yet known if Kumble will go through the process again. Ganguly is currently in England, doing television commentary for the official broadcaster of the Champions Trophy. At the time of Kumble’s appointment, the BCCI made out the contract for only a year saying that would give Kumble time to prove his coaching credentials. The former BCCI president Anurag Thakur had said that a review would be carried out after one year. Incidentally, Ajay Shirke, who was the BCCI secretary last June, had said that when the review was done, Kumble should find himself in the “driver’s seat” considering India were playing a long home season comprising 13 Tests and a couple of ODI series. Kumble might not be holding the steering wheel anymore.
Wednesday May 31, 2017
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Cavaliers-Warriors set for ultimate Finals rubber match
Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) and Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) go after a loose ball during the third quarter in game seven of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. (Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports) (Reu ters ) A n N BA season that has had little in the way of drama will come to a gripping close over the next two weeks when two familiar foes fittingly battle in the Finals for an unprecedented third consecutive year. LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers are four wins away from repeating as NBA champions in what may go down as one of the greatest championship s h o w d o w n s e v e r, b u t standing in their way is a sharpshooting Golden State Warriors team that beat them in the 2015 Finals. T h e u l t i m a t e championship rubber match,
which most everyone expected the moment last year’s Finals ended, begins tomorrow in Oakland and will cap what has been a predictable 82-game regular season and lopsided postseason. Golden State, led by twotimes reigning league MVP Stephen Curry, are in remarkable form after becoming the first team in league history to enter the Finals undefeated (12-0) since the NBA went to the current playoff format in 2003. And unlike the Warriors squad that blew a 3-1 Finals lead last year after a recordsetting 73-9 regular season,
this version of the team is even more dangerous after adding former league MVP and four-time scoring champion Kevin Durant. The acquisition sent quakes throughout the NBA and all but assured the Warriors, who went on to post the league’s best record, a ticket back to the Finals. But despite returning to the Finals with relative ease the Warriors are well aware of the value of not becoming complacent. “Obviously it’s a new season, especially this last series of the season, and we gotta bring it,” Durant said of the best-of-seven clash.
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) celebrates in front of Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) during the second quarter at Oracle Arena. (Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports) “You can’t expect us to just say ‘oh we’re a great team on paper together and it’s just going to happen.’ You know, we got to go out there and try and take it.” The series will feature a number of compelling individual matchups, most notably James versus Durant at small forward, Kyrie Irving versus Curry at point guard and Kevin Love versus Draymond Green at power forward. There will be no love lost between these teams, especially after Green, whose Game Five suspension in the 2016 Finals was considered by many to be the turning point,
said last November he wanted to “destroy” and “annihilate” the Cavs in a championship rematch. But none of that will matter to Cleveland since James, who stretched his Finals streak to an astonishing seven straight years dating back to his time in Miami, is playing the best playoff basketball of a career that already includes three NBA titles and a trio of Finals MVP awards. For their part, the Cavs have also made an impressive run to the Finals with their only playoff blemish a Game Three loss to Boston in the East final.
“Both teams are better than last year’s teams. We are a better Cavaliers team and they are a better Warriors team but what does that mean? We don’t know yet,” said James. “But we are both better. We’ve both added pieces that have helped our offensive packages and defensive packages be even more scary and obviously you can see that. “We are both playing at a high level and when you look back on it at the end of the day you’ll look back and say that was two great teams who c o m p e t e d f o r championships.”
India get solid workout in rout of Bangladesh ESPNcricinfo Bangladesh, who face England in the Champions Trophy opener on June 1, collapsed spectacularly, falling to 22 for 6, before eventually getting bowled out for 84 in their chase of 325 against India in the warm-up game at The Oval. After all-rounder Hardik Pandya had clattered an unbeaten 80 off 54 balls to propel India to 324, Umesh Yadav and Bhuvneshwar Kumar ripped through Bangladesh’s top half with the new ball. The seamers utilised the overcast conditions, and extracted sharp movement and bounce from a pitch that had hitherto appeared benign, taking
three wickets each. The procession began when Soumya Sarkar slashed away from his body at an Umesh delivery that straightened in the corridor. Sarkar appeared confused when the Indian fielders went up for a caughtbehind appeal, walking down the track to consult Imrul Kayes about a possible review, before quickly realising there weren’t be any available. Perhaps, it was an early sign of what was to come for Bangladesh, who would soon lose Kayes and Shakib Al Hasan to misguided hook shots. Sabbir Rahman had his stumps rattled by a full inswinger, while two vicious
deliveries that climbed from a length took the outside edges of Mahmudullah and Mosaddek Hossain. The chase had effectively ended with only 45 balls bowled. Mehedi Hasan, who had earlier bowled an economical spell (9-1-39-0), offered resistance with 24, but could not find enough support from the other end. India had lost the toss, but Virat Kohli was happy at being put in. Shakib stood-in as captain in the absence of Mashrafe Mortaza and Tamim Iqbal, who were both rested ahead of tomorrow’s fixture against England.. Bangladesh’s intention was (Continued on page 25)
Dinesh Karthik’s fluent 94 set up India’s massive win © IDI/Getty Images
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Wednesday May 31, 2017
Kiwis beat Swedes again as British ease elimination worries DOCKYARD, Bermuda, CMC – Emirates Team Zealand beat Sweden’s Artemis Racing for the second time in 24 hours yesterday while Britain’s Land Rover BAR eased fears of their early elimination by beating the Swedes for the second time in the 35th America’s Cup qualifiers in the Great Sound. The Kiwis beat the Swedes in controversial circumstances on Monday, when a penalty around the final mark went against Artemis, although the umpires later admitted they had blundered over the call. The result stood – much to the annoyance of the Swedish team – but on Tuesday they were beaten fair and square by the Kiwis,
Emirates Team Zealand. (file photo)
who won the first race of the round robin second stage by a minute and a half. A penalty again cost the Swedes dear, although this
time there was no arguing with the call, as they clearly infringed as the boats approached the windward mark. The right-of-way
Hyman, Newton shine at NAFMA C/ships Guyanese Dellon Hyman and Garfield Newton kept the Golden Arrow Head aloft with victories in the NAMFA nationals martial arts championship that was held from May 26 -27 at Sheraton Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA. Hyman from the
National Martial Arts Association of Uitvlugt, West Coast Demerara won the traditional kata and open kata events. Newton who is a member of the Black Hawks Martial Arts Management Network Association of Guyana took the first podium spot in the point
sparring while Hyman placed second. The duo would like to expressed gratitude to Fyad and Javid Ali of Two Brothers Gas Station, George Hyman, Melroy Hyman and Ms. Norma. The tournament was hosted by Master Jose Torres.
Del Potro sails through on French Open return after injury scare
Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina returns the ball during a match in the Rome Open. (REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini) (Reuters) Juan Martin del Potro made a successful return to Roland Garros after a five-year absence yesterday, setting aside injury concerns to sail through 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 against fellow Argentine Guido Pella. The 29th seed, whose
career has been plagued by injury, only confirmed his participation in this year’s French Open on Friday after suffering shoulder and back problems. Del Potro, who reached the French Open semi-finals in 2009, moved across court
six with no apparent signs of discomfort, sending down 13 aces in outclassing qualifier Pella in just under two hours. Yesterday’s match was Del Potro’s first on the Paris clay since 2012, when he lost in the quarter-finals to Roger Federer.
penalty forced Artemis to drop back as the teams raced for the finish. Vi c t o r y c a p p e d a n impressive race for skipper
Peter Burling and Team New Zealand, who overcame a serious loss of control on the second leg as they bounced into Artemis’wake and their weather rudder popped out of the water, forcing them into a nosedive. The mistake cost them 400 metres, but they gradually reeled in the Swedes and were neck-andneck before a penalty again decided the outcome. Oracle, the defending champions who are guaranteed a spot in the bestof-13 final starting on June 17, remained top of the standings – a point clear of the Kiwis – after thrashing Groupama Team France by almost two minutes. Sir Ben Ainsley’s Land Rover BAR, who had only victory over the Swedes on
day one on Saturday to show for their efforts in the qualifiers, secured a lifeline with an improved display that saw them beat their opponents by 30 seconds. The win took Ainsley’s team up to four points – two came from winning the earlier America’s Cup World Series sailed in smaller boats – and gave them breathing space over the Swedes, French and SoftBank Team Japan, who are all on two points at the foot of the standings. Oracle earned a bonus point after finishing runners-up in the earlier series. Racing continues on Wednesday with four more qualifiers but forecast light winds may pose a problem ahead of tomorrow’s rest day.
Zverev all shook up by Verdasco thrashing in Paris (Reuters) All shook up. That summed up ninth seed Alexander Zverev after a dizzying 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 defeat by Fernando Verdasco. Because not since 1957, when Elvis Presley’s hit of that name was the most played tune on U.S. jukeboxes, had an Italian Open champion been brought to his knees just days later in the first round at Roland Garros. In fact, perhaps not since Nicolas Pietrangelli lost that French Open first round match in 1957 to Australian Mal Anderson had such clay court momentum been halted. Zverev, though, knew the reason. “I played absolute shit,” he said. “It’s quite simple. “You sometimes play bad. It’s just... this is our sport. There are no regrets. I mean, what can you do? In Rome I played fantastic, I won the tournament. Here I played bad, I lost first round. That’s the way it goes.” But in truth the match may have been lost a day earlier, when it was halted due to poor light. Three times champion Mats Wilander told Reuters that agreeing to stop had been a “rookie mistake” for the German. “A ridiculous decision,” Wilander said. “He had all the momentum... the young guy should’ve just pushed on and insisted on playing. Thousands of people in the stadium missed out, we all missed out. (Verdasco’s)
Spain’s Fernando Verdasco celebrates after winning his first round match against Germany’s Alexander Zverev. (Reuters / Christian Hartmann) experience won through.” Instead of continuing after grabbing the second set and the game’s momentum on Monday evening, Zverev agreed to halt play shortly after 8:30 p.m. local time. When 33-year-old clay court specialist Verdasco resumed yesterday, he outmuscled the German who had no answer to the S p a n i a r d ’s p u n i s h i n g ground-strokes. “He played very well, very smart. He tried to push me back,” said Zverev, who insisted he had been right to stop playing on Monday. “I think we should have
s t o p p e d e a r l i e r. T h e y (organisers) said we can play until 9.30. It was the right decision to stop.” The German was quick to put the performance in context. “The world doesn’t stop now. I mean, I’m still No. 4 in the race to (the season ending championship in) London and I’m still doing OK this year. I won three tournaments so far. It’s not the end of the world, OK? “Of course I should be concerned the way I played and the way I performed, but it’s nothing to be tragic about.”
Wednesday May 31, 2017
Kaieteur News
Unfazed Murray clears Kuznetsov hurdle
Great Britain’s Andy Murray in action during his first round match against Russia’s Andrey Kuznetsov. (Reuters / Christian Hartmann) PARIS (Reuters) With intimations of his Roland Garros demise appearing greatly exaggerated, world number one Andy Murray played it straight by the French Open form book yesterday with a mostly regulation 6-4, 4-6, 6-2, 6-0 first-round win over Russia’s Andrey Kuznetsov. After a confidencesapping run-in to the tournament he came within one match of winning last year, the top seed would have been hoping for an easy introduction to settle the nerves. For the most part, his 73rd-ranked opponent obliged, as the rich run of form that last week took Kuznetsov to the semi-final of the Geneva Open deserted him under the gaze of a packed Philippe Chatrier crowd. Paris’ main showcourt had already played host to upsets in the day’s first two matches, with Murray’s
compatriot, seventh-seeded Johanna Konta, going down in three sets to Taiwan’s unseeded Hsieh Su-Wei in the women’s draw, and Spain’s Fernando Verdasco ousting German ninth seed Alexander Zverev in four. For a while some may have sensed the possibility of a third shock as the Scot began tentatively, his tennis underpowered and his manner subdued. Recovering from illness and injury, his love affair with clay has turned sour this year, with early-round losses this month to Borna Coric in Madrid and Fabio Fognini in Rome. He was broken when serving for the first set at 5-4, but Kuznetsov handed the break right back in the next game. Murray then lost his bearings midway through the second set, dropping four games in a row to allow the Russian to square the match. Bolstered by the returning presence in his box
NSC to host World Challenge Day Activity today The National Sports Commission (NSC) will be conducting an event in r e c o g n i t i o n o f Wo r l d Challenge Day 2017 today at the Square of the Revolution from 10:00am with approximately 300 participants assembled for 50 minutes of physical activity. World Challenge day was initiated in 1991 by The Association for International Sports for All (TAFISA) and
it is a friendly international competition or physical activity challenge, organised within communities from around the world to compete and motivate each other to be physically active for 15 minutes daily. The event is fun natured and is aimed at creating consciousness and passion for health and active living for all participants.
of Ivan Lendl, his coach in grand slams since 2012 and credited with adding an extra edge of aggression to his game, the Scot then moved through the gears, mixing drops shots with lobs and adding more depth to his groundstrokes. He breezed through the third and fourth sets with the loss of just two games and ended the match full of smiles that hinted at his relief (Continued on page 25)
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Kyrgios overcomes injury and Kohlschreiber at French Open PA R I S ( R e u t e r s ) Australian Nick Kyrgios shrugged off injury concerns and kept his emotions in check to outclass Germany’s Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3, 7-6, 6-3 yesterday, booking his spot in the second round of the French Open. The 18th seed, notorious for his on-court tantrums, showed no signs of being hampered by the hip injury that forced him out of the Rome tournament earlier this month. Kyrgios, who faces either S o u t h A f r i c a ’s K e v i n Anderson or Tunisian Malek Jaziri in the next round, has also been receiving treatment for a shoulder injury. But the 22-year-old, considered among the most gifted players of his generation, fired a total of 20
Australia’s Nick Kyrgios (Reuters / Gonzalo Fuentes) aces, including six in the first set, which he claimed in 30 minutes. “There were a lot of
questions about how I would perform today,” Kyrgios told reporters. “I did not play (Continued on page 25)
7th Digicel Schools Football C/ship set for Launch today It is the most highly anticipated junior football tournament, one that is played nationwide and today will mark the Launch of the 7th Digicel Schools Championship with the
venue being the West Demerara Secondary School. According to a release from the sponsor, starting time is 10:00hrs. It is expected that top
officials from the entity will be on hand to participate in the activity. The defending champion is Chase Academic Foundation.
Konta suffers painful Brexit from Paris
Taiwans’s Hsieh Su-wei (Reuters / Christian Hartmann) PA R I S ( R e u t e r s ) Johanna Konta suffered a painful personal Brexit at the French Open yesterday, sliding out 1-6, 7-6(2), 6-4 at the hands of H s i e h S u - We i i n t h e opening round of the clay court grand slam. Starting splendid in cerise, 26-year-old seventh seed Konta swept through the first set in 26 minutes, dominating her Taiwanese opponent with heavy serves,
heavy ground-strokes and an aggressive front-footforward style. But almost as soon as she had asserted her dominance, the Briton relinquished it, allowing her opponent to settle into a metronomic rhythm of awkward doublefisted ground-strokes off both sides. Time after time Hsieh spooned clumsily-hit groundstrokes deep into the Philippe Chatrier court,
Great Britain’s Johanna Konta (Reuters / Christian Hartmann) sidespun or sliced, for Konta to swipe her replies wide or long. And once the Taiwanese had levelled matters in a second-set tiebreak, she had all the momentum, while Konta continued to spray errors all around the arena. Fittingly, it was yet another lame forehand into the net that sealed the Briton’s fate, as she was left to return to London to
prepare for Wimbledon. Hsieh has a secondround clash to look forward to, and could barely contain her delight. “Thank you for my team,” she giggled, as Konta gathered up her bags and left the court. “Merci beaucoup for the match today.” Hsieh will next play American Taylor Townsend, who beat Japanese qualifier Miyu Kato 6-4- 6-0.
Kaieteur News
PAGE 32
Wednesday May 31, 2017
GSCL Inc congratulates Speedboat, Regal Masters on Independence Cup success The Georgetown Softball Cricket League Inc (GSCL Inc) has extended congratulations to Speedboat and Regal Masters on their success in the Independence Cup which concluded on Sunday at Everest. Led by a fine 72 from opener Lennox Marks Speedboat defeated Regal All Stars by three wickets in the Open final. Despite losing their final preliminary round game to Ariel, Regal Masters defeated the said opponent by 47 runs to retain their title. “We have seen exciting cricket through out this tournament and hats off to Speedboat and Regal Masters for coming out on top,” a release from the entity stated. Scores in the open final:
Man-of-the-match in the open final Lennox Marks accepts the prize from Mrs. Hardyal
Laurie Singh of Regal Masters collects his man-of-the-match award from Telesha Ousman. Regal All Stars 137-8 (Marvin Bobb 39, Kishore Smith 3-15). Speedboat 1407 in 14.3 overs (Lennox Marks 72, Fazal Rafiek 3-
31). Masters final; Regal Masters 150-7. (Eric Thomas 37, Ryan Singh 216). Ariel 103-7 (Ron
Ramnauth 23, Mahendra Hardyal 3-28). In their final preliminary round game Ariel beat Regal Masters by four wickets.
Regal Masters 121 all out in 13.3 overs (Troy Kippins 30, Roy Persaud 4-23). Ariel 122-6. (Mohamed Rafeek 56,
Peter Persaud 28). The competition was sponsored by Trophy Stall, Regal Sport and Regal Stationery and Computer Centre.
National U-15 squad encampment ends today ahead of departure for SOUALIGA tourney Encampment for the National U-15 team which began on Sunday last in New Amsterdam, Berbice with a 25-man squad preparing for t h e ‘ S O U A L I G A’ Tournament in Saint Martin from the 1st- 5th June, concludes today. This tournament will serve as part of the national team’s preparation for the CONCACAF U-15 tournament scheduled for August 2017. The squad includes players from six of the GFFScotiaBank Academy Training Centres (ATC) and one from Region One including Georgetown (6), East Demerara (7), East Bank Demerara (2), Bartica (1), Berbice (5) and Rupununi (3). There are three goalkeepers, seven defenders, eight midfielders and seven forwards. Among the squad, which was encamped for four days, is a player who featured in the U-13 squad, Kamani Milne, a forward from the Berbice ATC as well as Ronaldo Rodrigues, Troni Semple and the appointed captain Joshua Braithwaite. In an invited comment, Rodrigues, who plays his game at Santa Rosa, Moruca and always had an affinity for the game said he’s proud to be participating in his first
Ronaldo Rodrigues international assignment. He also said his community, which has been very supportive of him, was happy following his first camp in April, 2017. “Everybody was happy, extremely happy, as I was the only person from my village/community (participating in the camp). They all gave me some good advice to keep working and focusing until I reach the top.” The striker, emphasized the importance of balancing academics and football, and also expressed his desire to play for both the senior national team and international professional leagues such as Chelsea and Real Madrid. Troni Semple, who hails
Troni Semple from the East Coast ATC and plays for Buxton United FC is on his third national duty, having represented at both the U-15 and U-17 teams respectively. He will rely on his international experience to play a better game in the upcoming tournament. “The first tournament I attended was in French Guiana. I was very nervous and it really took a part in my game, I didn’t play as well. I went away with the U-17s, when the game began I wasn’t as nervous as the first time. I was very relaxed and composed, I played a better game. I have been in a lot of camps with both teams and I know my players so when it comes to the national team, it’s just relaxed for me and I
Joshua Braithwaite play better.” The Annandale Secondary School student and aspiring pilot who said it was “a great honour to be in the national U-15 team,” spoke about the benefits of the continuous encampment conducted by the GFF Technical Department: “Everything taught in camp can be referred to in a game. I’ve seen it many times also, when we were in French Guiana, we did some hightemp playing. In the matches in French Guiana, the other teams played very fast; they played faster than us which showed me that we should train more on high-tempo playing, make the football more intense. The first tournament in French Guiana, we didn’t
play with each other, we didn’t have an understanding of the team mates as much as the other teams. They did well as a team, we only did well as individuals and that can’t win a game. Now that we have had consecutive camps, I think we’re playing very good now…I think we can do way better than we did the last time.” Meanwhile, Braithwaite said it’s a great feeling to lead the national team as it gives him a chance to “lead from the front” and “it was one of his goals.” The aspiring soldier commented on the value of being part of the ATC: “It came in handy for me as you not only train with your club but you have the chance of playing with players who are part of the
national programme and I think it’s great as the things that you need to learn at the national camp will be taught at the Academy so when I head to the national camp, it will be much easier for me because I have already been taught at the academy.” The skipper said he expects the team to win in the SOUALIGA Tournament: “I expect the team to win this time as we’ve been together for a long time. This is the fourth camp that the national programme has had for us and I think this time, we won’t be having any excuse; I think we should win this time.” The squad, which is headed by Bryan Joseph and assisted by Challus Mc Kinnon will be reduced to a 16-man travelling team by later today. The team is scheduled to depart tomorrow. The SOUALIGA Tournament will feature 10 territories including Anguilla, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Tortola, Barbados, Dominica, Guadeloupe, Martinique, St. Thomas and Guyana. The ATC is a national initiative, which seeks to, among other goals, create a pathway for the development of players to the senior national team.
Kaieteur News
Wednesday May 31, 2017
Upbeat Wawrinka wins ugly to get French Open campaign rolling
Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka (Reuters / Benoit Tessier) (Reuters) Third seed Stan Wawrinka’s launched his bid for a second French Open title with a slow start yesterday, toiling to find his rhythm before ultimately beating Slovak qualifier Jozef Kovalik 6-2, 7-6(6), 63. The 2015 champion struggled to time the ball on an overcast Court Suzanne Lenglen, frequently
spraying his trademark backhand drive long or into the net as he looked to keep the points short against 152nd-ranked Kovalik, who was making his Roland Garros debut. But the Swiss did enough to win the rallies that mattered, extricating himself from a deep hole in the second set tiebreak, taking the last five points
after trailing 6-3. After connecting well with a backhand to take the final point, a sigh of relief as he approached the net suggested he was glad to put the encounter - lasting a shade under two hours and in which he made 33 unforced errors - behind him. Having had less time than he might have wished to adjust between Geneva, where he took the title on Saturday, and Paris, he took the longer view in upbeat comments after the match. “It wasn’t particularly easy after Geneva... but I feel good,” Wawrinka said courtside. “I hope to go deep (into the tournament) this year.” The Swiss will play U k r a i n e ’s A l e x a n d r Dolgopolov in the second round.
Narine slips but remains highest-ranked WI bowler DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, CMC – Offspinner Sunil Narine remained the highest ranked West Indies bowler in the latest ICC Player rankings as South Africa seamer Kagiso Rabada became the youngest player in nearly two decades to claim the number one spot. In the latest rankings r e l e a s e d y e s t e r d a y, Trinidadian Narine dropped one place to fourth, and is still the only West Indies bowler in the top 10. The 29-year-old,
however, has not played for West Indies since the threematch one-day series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates last October, and with West Indies failing to qualify for the Champions Trophy, his ranking is expected to fall further. He missed ODI series against England in March and against Pakistan last month, after failing to meet the eligibility requirement of making himself available for the Regional Super50 domestic limited overs tournament.
West Indies off-spinner Sunil Narine.
One-day captain Jason Holder is the other West Indies player in the top 20, dropping one place to 17th in the latest rankings. He and Narine are the only two Windies players in the top 50. Rabada, meanwhile, who celebrated his 22nd birthday last Thursday, has jumped four places to displace fellow countryman Imran Tahir from the top spot. He produced a brilliant four-wicket haul on Monday to help bowl South Africa to victory in the final ODI of the three-match series, and finish with a haul of seven wickets. Leg-spinner Tahir lies second while Australia leftarm pacer Mitchell Starc occupies third spot. In the batting rankings, there is no West Indies player in the top 20, with Marlon Samuels – currently also ineligible for selection – the highest ranked at 32nd. In fact, the veteran Jamaican is the only regional player in the top 50 with lefthander Darren Bravo, who has not played for West Indies since being sent home from the Tri-Nations Series last November for disciplinary reasons, the next best ranked at 54th. West Indies are set to take on Afghanistan in a three-match one-day series at the Darren Sammy National Stadium in St Lucia from June 9-14.
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Tiger Woods ‘asleep at the wheel’ of stopped car before arrest: police (Reuters) Former world No. 1 golfer Tiger Woods was asleep at the wheel of a stationary Mercedes-Benz vehicle on a Florida road and did not know where he was, according to a police report released yesterday, a day after his arrest on a charge of driving under the influence. Woods had “extremely slow and slurred speech” after being awoken by a Jupiter police officer, who found the car the golfer was driving stopped in the right lane of the roadway and still running, the report said. Woods was heading south, away from his Jupiter Island home, before his arrest at about 3 a.m. (0700 GMT) on Monday, according to the report. It said Woods was cooperative but had a hard time walking and keeping his eyes open. “Woods had changed his story of where he was going and where he was coming from,” the report said, noting at one point he indicated he was returning from a golf trip in California. The 41-year-old golfer, who underwent surgery in April to relieve lingering back pain, on Monday blamed an unexpected reaction to legal drugs for his arrest and apologized for the incident. Two breathalyzer tests showed Woods’ blood alcohol content to be zero, according to the report.
Tiger Eldrick Woods (Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office/Handout via REUTERS) “I want the public to know that alcohol was not involved,” Woods said in a statement. “What happened was an unexpected reaction to prescribed medications,” he said. “I didn’t realize the mix of medications had affected me so strongly.”
Xtreme Clean/GT Beer ‘Gold Rush’ Futsal Competition
Fixtures released for Tuesday’s games
The Coordinators of the inaugural Xtreme Clean and Maintenance GT Beer ‘Gold Rush’ Futsal Competition has released the fixtures for the continuation of the round-robin playoffs that kicks off Tuesday night at National Gymnasium with another six games. Some of the country’s top Futsal teams will descend at the venue for what will be one of the most important nights of the competition since it could decide which teams are likely to advance to the Quarterfinal stage of the tournament on June 13. Twenty six teams were allowed to participate in the tournament, and after the gruelling opening round last weekend, 12 teams were in the competition to compete in three groups of four for the round robin phase that
continues Tuesday. The two best teams from the three groups and the two best third place finishers will emerge in the Quarterfinals that will be a knockout phase. The round robin will be completed on June 8 at the same venue before the Quarterfinal, Semi-final and Final are hosted on June 13, 15 and 17 in that order. The winning team will win a whopping $500,000 (2 ½ ounces of gold) while second place takes home $200,000 (1 ounce of gold), third place $100,000 (½ ounce of gold) and the fourth
placed team $50,000; trophies will accompany all of the cash prizes. The MVP will also be awarded. In addition, patrons have benefitted from up to $10,000 cash in giveaways at the tournament already. The organisers have said that the trend of giving back will continue for the duration of the competition. Some of the sponsors include Trophy Stall, Fas G r a f i x a n d J e f f o r d ’s Distribution and Sales; Giftland Distribution Store and FARMSUP Mining Investments Inc.
t r o Sp
Hyman, Newton shine at NAFMA C/ships
All relevant info on Guyana vs Mexico match in possession of GFF – Wilson
Dellon Hyman (left) and Garfield Newton with their accolades at the Sheraton Hotel.
Franklin Wilson
GFF appoints Schools’ Development Officer and Youth Development coach
Ceon Bristol The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) continues to build the structure and capacity of its Technical programme with the addition of two new officers, both former players of the national programme – a Schools’ Development O f f i c e r a n d a Yo u t h Development Coach. Ceon Bristol and
Shurwin Forde Shurwin Forde are the Schools’ Development Officer (SDO) and the Youth Development Coach (YDC) respectively and are part of the new youth development strategy employed by the Technical Department of the GFF. “This is the first time ever the GFF Technical Department has appointed a
SDO and it is a key position within the brand new youth development strategy,” said Ian Greenwood, GFF’s Technical Director. “The role will focus on the development and oversight of all GFF School Football. This will include developing both in-curriculum and extra-curriculum Schools Football programmes. The
SDO will also be actively recruiting teachers for the GFF’s Coach Education courses,” Greenwood continued. Bristol, who was seconded from the Ministry of Education, brings a wealth of experience and knowledge from the school system and the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU). He participated in a number of GFF Youth National Teams. “Ceon is the perfect person to develop the GFF School Football Programme,” Greenwood added. Meanwhile, Shurwin Forde will be operating as a YDC at the GFF-Scotiabank Academy Training Centre (ATC) in Berbice, with the primary role of teaching the game to the youngsters following the National (Continued on page 25)
Former President (Ag.) of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Franklin Wilson whilst welcoming and respecting the members of the federation’s right to be in the know concerning information surrounding the Guyana vs Mexico match played in Houston, Texas, USA is adamant that all relevant information pertaining to that match is in the possession of the GFF. Wilson, in responding to the decision taken by the GFF members at the just concluded congress based on a motion proposed and seconded by two Elite League clubs, believes that it is time for the matter to be concluded and if possible the requisite monies owed to the players be paid, based on the affordability of the GFF. He observed that it was not the desire of the then GFF to just move the game but it was a number of factors which resulted in such a decision
being made, including meagre local funding, no funding from the then Government, lack of resources to host the game along with the fact that Guyana had already lost out on the opportunity to advance further in the competition as well as the necessity for the federation to supplement its income to meet expenses and indebtedness already incurred. Wilson noted that the contracts that were entered into with Sponsports, the letter from FIFA granting permission for the game to proceed as well as one from the US Soccer Federation giving approval for the game to be played in their jurisdiction were sent to His Excellency, President Donald Ramotar and Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Dr. Frank Anthony. The GFF is also in possession of information on the sums actually received in (Continued on page 25)
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