Wednesday May 03, 2017
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Procurement concerns spur health sector forensic audit Concerns relating to the quality and shortage of drugs, medical supplies and pharmaceuticals in the public health sector have prompted the initiation of a forensic audit. This is according to information disseminated by the Public Health Ministry yesterday. The Ministry, this publication was informed, will be gaining support from the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation [PAHO/WHO] to conduct the audit process. PAHO/WHO has also agreed to fund the cost of conducting the audit. It was pointed out that the forensic audit comes on the heels of a plethora of complaints into the procurement process. According to Senior Minister of Public Health, Ms. Volda Lawrence, during an early morning meeting yesterday with officials from both health and PAHO/WHO, “I found that it [the procurement process] was a bigger issue than I thought.” She continued, “I didn’t
- PAHO/WHO agrees to conduct, fund process
Professor Jaime Espin Balbino will spearhead the forensic audit think it was as bad as I found it [but] this is the beginning of the process of regularising operations in the wider health sector.” But according to the Minister the audit is not intended to harass those with responsibility in the sector’s procurement process “but to correct the system”. Professor Jaime Espin Balbino of the Andalusian School of Public Health,
The meeting in session yesterday morning Regional Ministry of Health, will spearhead the forensic exercise which will target the operations of both the Ministry and the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation [GPHC], said Minister Lawrence. The audit into how things are currently done and the specific changes that will be implemented will provide the roadmap for the future to remove the existing “vast deficiencies in knowledge and manpower which currently hamstring
Media houses no longer suffering advertising blackouts - Govt. says in World Press Freedom Day message With World Press Freedom Day being celebrated today, the Government of Guyana has said it embraces media workers but warned them to be responsible. The following is the full statement: A free and unfettered press is a mandatory hallmark of any democracy. In Guyana, no longer are journalists and media workers subject to physical and verbal attacks by government officials; journalists are not imprisoned in pursuit of their profession; journalists are not killed or maimed because what they print or broadcast do not meet the approval of political or other forces; media houses do not suffer from government imposed advertising blackouts, are not targeted or shut down; state media are not used for vulgar propaganda or ethnic and political attacks; media workers are not subject to threats, bullyism, intimidation, victimization or other forms of abuses. Simply put, media in Guyana are not curtailed or under attack as they used to be a few short years ago. The press in Guyana has the freedom and latitude to pursue, publish and broadcast whatever it wishes without fear of hindrance or harassment. The enabling environment for journalists has undergone progressive
change in the past two years to allow for a strengthening of the conditions under which they operate. It is against this background, of a vibrant, liberal and free press that the Government of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana embraces all media workers in the observation of World Press Freedom Day. The Coalition Government reiterates its commitment to protecting the constitutionally enshrined rights of the people of Guyana to freedom of expression and information along with acting in accordance with the Declaration of Chapultepec to which our nation is a signatory. Being observed under the theme ‘Critical Times: Media’s role in advancing peaceful, just and inclusive societies’, World Press Freedom Day 2017 comes, indeed at a critical time. The world has witnessed and is being inundated by an explosion of fake news and misinformation fueled by ambitions and agendas which do not always align with the interests of the people. Indeed, it may be extended to say that as far as information goes these times may be beyond critical and in fact may be classified as ‘dangerous’. The Government of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, therefore calls on the media, in the executing their
most important mandate to, observe the principles of the Chapultepec Declaration and be responsible and to eschew being lured into propagating narrow and partisan agendas which can engender hate, hostility, division and destabilization. Freedom of the press and freedom of information do not permit hate speech, libel, slander or defamation. Indeed a free and independent press is most important in Guyana’s efforts to protect its territorial integrity and sovereignty. While the free press zealously embraces its freedom, equally must it act responsibly as it seeks to inform, educate and entertain the populace. The Government of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana is proud that once again Guyana can count itself among the world’s truly democratic societies when judged by this and other important hallmarks and standards.
the Ministry and the GPHC,” Lawrence said as she explained the rationale for the forensic audit. While the government health sector has internal and external audits done, Lawrence feels that “a fresh eye is needed to give the system a boost and help plug all existing gaps.” Permanent Secretary Collette Adams has welcomed PAHO/WHO supporting the auditing exercise while Dr. Karen Cummings, Minister within the Public Health Ministry, wants the procurement process demystified. “There is something wrong somewhere,” Cummings observed. Part of the demystification Dr. Cummings has called for will entail overcoming some existing hurdles identified by Chief Medical Officer Dr. Shamdeo Persaud, PAHO/
WHO’s Health System and Services Advisor, Dr. Paul Edwards and Professor Balbino. The trio identified managerial and policy shortcomings, nonimplementation of plans of action crafted by the Ministry, a paucity of information from the public health sector which can impact negatively on the forensic audit efforts, and shortage and hoarding of medication by patients nationwide. Dr. Edwards is confident that “Professor Balbino is the right person for the job, having had a wide range of experience in the field, and having done similar work in Europe and Latin America.” Nevertheless, he admitted that Professor Balbino is undertaking a “daunting process” and that several consultancies will be needed to complete what Minister Lawrence wants.
He cautioned GPHC authorities not to expect immediate results following the audit, its recommendations and implementation. “It’s not going to be accomplished overnight,” Dr. Edwards said, referring to the lengthy time it has taken other countries to get positive results. While the political will to transform and modernise the Ministry and GPHC is evident, Professor Balbino noted that this must be complemented by the appropriate financial backing and competent human resources. “You are doing well [but] you can improve,” Professor Balbino told the Ministry and GPHC teams. Managers of the Guyanese public health sector must continue thinking long-term but remember that the more the data, the better the advice, Professor Balbino said.
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KAIETEUR NEWS Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: ADAM HARRIS Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491 Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL DOWNSIZING WILL SAVE GUYSUCO For the past two years the nation had waited with bated breath, especially the sugar workers, to know the fate of GuySuCo. Their wait ended last month when President David Granger announced that his government will only preserve three of the six sugar estates—Albion, Blairmont and Uitvlugt. The announcement, which was made at the opening of the Region Five Expo and Trade Fair at Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice, took many by surprise. While there are no plans for the other estates, it is expected that they would be either sold or shuttered. Accusations from the opposition and the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU) that the government will be closing down the sugar industry were rebutted by President Granger who said that his government “has no intention of shutting down the sugar industry” and stressed that “diversification is key to keeping it alive. We will do everything to keep GuySuCo alive… we want to save the sugar workers’ jobs”. Unlike the last administration, which, because of votes, was not truthful to the sugar workers about the future of the sugar industry, this administration, regardless of political affiliation or votes, is under no illusion that the sugar industry can be saved without closing those sugar estates that are unprofitable. Its decision was supported by economists at home and abroad, that the downsizing of the sugar industry will make it more competitive, financially independent and sustainable, and will create more good-paying jobs as well as contribute to economic prosperity of the country. However, many have argued that the closure of some sugar estates will create enormous economic burden on the workers who will directly be displaced within the industry, not to mention the financial strain on those individuals and businesses which are indirectly related to the industry. The reality is that GuySuCo, which was the economic backbone of the country and was the main foreign currency earner, is insolvent, and has become a threat to the national treasury. Governments both past and present have bailed out the cash-strapped sugar industry with billions of dollars in subventions annually. From 2005 until its defeat in 2015, the PPP government has pumped more than $135B into GuySuCo in order to keep it afloat. And since taking office in 2015, this government has plugged $32B into the corporation. To make matters worse, GuySuCo continued to borrow, despite the fact that in 2016, it reported that it owed creditors more than $70B. The losses by GuySuCo in recent years have been mounting due to high production costs, low production output, mismanagement, and in some cases, inclement weather conditions. However, the government was faced with the difficult choice to close some of the sugar estates. It is a very risky, and some would say, politically incorrect move, but the government was caught between a rock and a hard place. It had to do what is right for the country and the sugar workers. Many felt that the government should be commended for making such a tough decision to close some of the estates, even though it is being fiercely criticized by the opposition which spent over US$200 million on the doomed Skeldon estate. It should be noted that the sugar industry in some Caribbean countries including Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and Jamaica, have actually disappeared, due to the high cost of production and inaction on the part of those governments to streamline the industry as this government is currently doing. Contrary to public perception, the government has recognized the importance of the sugar industry, which is the second largest employer in the country after the government with some 18,000 employees, but it had to act. GuySuCo had become a drag on the economy and the government could no longer allow it to bleed the treasury with an annual subsidy of billions. It was a tough but prudent decision, which in the end will save the industry.
Guyana must ensure that child labour is completely removed DEAR EDITOR, I previously published a letter on child labour in your newspaper last week. I continue on the same topic in this current letter. An approximately 14,000 workers (Amerindians, Sugar Workers, Rice Farmers and Public Servants) will be affected by the end of December, 2017 after, just 31 months in office by APNU+AFC. A regular family in our country has about two children. This means over 28, 000 children will be affected by the decisions on the sugar industry and other industries made by a Government who continuously says “It’s a Caring Government.” 28,000 children will be forced to drop out of school, since the breadwinner for the family doesn’t have a job. Many of these workers in the sugar and rice industry are over 40 years old, and do not have any other skill/ talent. How will they survive? How will 28,000 children survive? Where in this “Run Down” country, will the 14, 000 workers find jobs? The devastating result will be 28, 000 children will be engaged in child labour. This is in addition to the few thousands which already exist. The recent VAT on
education will not only affect private school proprietors, teachers and students, but also teachers and students in the public education system too. This is another “Hardship” for the 28, 000 children. Let me once again remind you that child labor involves at least one of the following characteristics: · Violates a nation’s minimum age laws · Threatens children’s physical, mental, or emotional well-being · Involves intolerable abuse, such as child slavery, child trafficking, debt bondage, forced labor, or illicit activities · Prevents children from going to school · Uses children to undermine labor standards At the rate and mind set with which our “Caring Government” is moving, our nation will be guilty of all the above mentioned in the near future. Many child labourers do not attend school at all. Others combine school and work but often to the detriment of their education. Lacking adequate education and skills as adults, former child labourers, are more likely to end up in poorly paid, insecure work or to be unemployed.
In turn there is a high probability that their own children will end up in child labour situations. Breaking this cycle of disadvantage is a global challenge and education has a key role to play. Free and compulsory education of good quality up to the minimum age for admission to employment is a key tool in ending child labour. Attendance at school removes children in part at least from the labour market and lays the basis for the acquisition of employable skills needed for future gainful employment. In the Millennium Development Goals the United Nations set the target of ensuring that by 2015 all boys and girls complete a full course of primary education. In 2015 when the PPP/C Administration demitted office, Guyana would have already achieved Universal Primary Education, that is, all children in our country had access to Primary Education, and we were a few “stone’s throw” away from achieving Universal Secondary Education. It’s heartbreaking to think that in this age of technology and communications, where we know everything that’s happening in the farthest
corner of the world, child labor will be dominating our country in the near future. This is one of the biggest roadblocks to human rights worldwide. In an ideal world, our children, our future generation, should be given the opportunity to have a childhood and develop their abilities in a positive environment, not working in factories or in the fields, without pay, in less than human conditions. The issue of child labour is guided by three main international conventions: the International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention No. 138 concerning minimum age for admission to employment and Recommendation No. 146 (1973); ILO Convention No. 182 concerning the prohibition and immediate action for the elimination of the worst forms of child labour and Recommendation No. 190 (1999); and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. These conventions frame the concept of child labour and form the basis for child labour legislation enacted by countries that are signatories. Guyana is a signatory to all that are listed above. Suresh Singh Young Educator
Investigate allegations of corruption at the Fort Wellington Hospital DEAR EDITOR, It’s a sad day when persons placed in the public trust ignore professional ethics and social responsibility, and make fools of themselves in the media trying to defend the indefensible. I refer to a letter written by the apologist for Carol Joseph, the Region 5 RDC CEO, Mr Ovid Morrison. In his response to a previous letter written by me, detailing the abuse of the addictive drug Pethidine by the discredited former APNU+AFC RDC Councillor, Morrison is correct when he said that “Ms. Joseph could not have accessed these drugs all by herself since they are kept under secure circumstances at the Hospital” and that “the dosages of medication Ms Joseph received were prescribed by Doctors.” Morrison is also correct when he wrote, “I must note however that implicit in the allegations of her abuse of medication at the Fort Wellington Cottage Hospital, is the insinuation that the
doctors at this Hospital were less than professional or worse aided and abetted Ms Joseph in her alleged abuse.” But nowhere in his letter did he question why, despite repeated complaints of drug abuse by Carol Joseph, an investigation was not done by the Regional Medical Officer of Region 5, Dr. Steven Cheefoon. Neither did he explain his reasons for instructing the RHO to immediately transfer the whistle-blower, Staff Nurse/ Midwife Sherilyn Marks from the Fort Wellington Hospital where she performed exemplary service for the past four years. Instead, the REO, Ovid Morrison sought to defend allegations of medical misconduct by two doctors working at the Fort Wellington Hospital under his administration, who helped to facilitate this addiction. Morrison should have remained silent and remove all doubt of his political agenda and stupidity in defense of a fellow PNC comrade, Carol Joseph, despite the information published in the
press. He should have known that a responsible press would never publish a story like this without first seeing the evidence in order to avoid a lawsuit. Editor, one of the doctors (name withheld) that Morrison is seeking to defend has, with the exception of about six months in 2016, been writing Pethidine prescriptions for Carol Joseph since the year 2008. Evidence shows that Joseph used these prescriptions almost daily for the past nine years to access this drug, free of cost, from government supplies at the Fort Wellington Hospital to feed her addiction. The other doctor (name also withheld), whom I was told, often wrote five (5) prescriptions at a time to allow Carol Joseph to fill in the dates as needed, is known to have written similar prescriptions during the six months period in 2016. Ironically, the second doctor stopped writing prescriptions for her abruptly when Nurse Marks brought the issue of drug abuse to the attention
of the RHO, Dr. Steven Cheefoon. Then there is allegation of medical misconduct against the RHO himself who, knowing the history of her addiction, wrote a prescription on October 25, 2016 for Carol Joseph in someone else’s name, and ordered his staff at the nurses’ station to administer the drug to her, despite their refusal to do so on the grounds that the prescription presented by Joseph was not in her name. I have evidence of the RHO’s initials on the prescription, and on the Dangerous Drug Act book, certifying that the drug was given on that very day. Morrison should know that the RHO never signs this book, but was forced to do so because the certifying nurse refused to be part of this illegal act, and also because the administration of this drug had to be certified in the book as required by the Dangerous Drug Act. Disturbingly, I am aware that, despite the immense Continued on page 6
Wednesday May 03, 2017
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Is Guyana heading towards Guyana is marginally ahead of Haiti in this regard the IMF? DEAR EDITOR, Since the passage of the 2016 Budget by Minister Jordan, the seeds for a deteriorating Guyana dollar (G$) were planted. Since then the G$ has taken a battering. Against the US dollar, the G$ has fallen to its lowest level ever and is currently trading on the open market at G$230 to US$1 for off-board transactions at the non-bank cambios and for online and wire transfers at the commercial banks. I had a conversation with a good friend who came from the old country this month, and he told me that to get the US dollars to fund his trip, he went to several cambios and banks and could not find the cash at the advertised rate, (usually around G$215 to US$1), but was advised if he was willing to forgo a receipt and pay G$230 to US$1, that arrangement can be made within 2 hours. He got his money at a rate of G$230 to US$1 and made his trip. So what is being told to the nation by Minister Jordan exposed how disconnected he is from the reality on the ground. The reports are revealing a declining stock of US dollars in the system and it is being kept for an exclusive group – their related parties businesses of the banks and cambios, senior government functionaries, their own staff for personal needs and for those who are prepared to pay G$230 and above for one US dollar. Since the 2016 budget, the exchange rate has deteriorated by some 12 per cent compared to what prevailed at the time that
budget was read in January 2016. The expectations from the market today are that this slide in the rate will continue primarily because Guyana is just exporting too little and not earning enough foreign currency. Minister Jordan poor technical skill-sets are also compounding this situation which is leading to a loss of confidence in the economy. The cause of a currency movement is vital in determining its likely effects. This free fall in the exchange rate at a time of low investments and high unemployment will have materially different effects than a similar-sized depreciation in the ERP days (1988-1992). Under Hoyte there was one major difference - rapid increases in foreign direct investments and a more manageable unemployment situation, so the outcome today will be catastrophic compared to the Hoyte days. Compared to the ERP days and the PPP days, the Guyanese private sector is in the worst possible position to attract new long-term customers in overseas markets, irrespective of what they do to their selling prices. In this new global order, the international market is demanding value-added products, not raw products. But Guyana is on the wrong side of the production platform with their raw products. So the market will pay Guyana heavily discounted prices for our raw products, which are swamping the market. One just has to have a chat with one of the Governors of AMCHAM Singapore, of
which I had the pleasure of engaging and you would realize immediately where the market is situated – value added products. The Demerara Rum has made a great stride in this arena, but how many other Guyanese companies have advanced up this value chain? What sort of “incentivization schemes” is the Ministry of Finance putting in place to create many new DDLs? You cannot talk about a new breed of Private Sector player when you have failed to play your part Minister Jordan. When on April 9, 2017, the Minister of Business said, “Guyana currently has no investment project to offer”; he was not wrong. If one studies the latest “EASE OF DOING BUSINESS REPORT”, Guyana’s rank in the world on the Competitiveness Indicator reflect a deterioration over 2016. But that was no accident. Because of our small internal market, the only solution for Guyana is to focus on the export sector especially the six sisters (rice, sugar, bauxite, gold, forestry, seafoods). But rather than do the work it is being paid to do, the Granger administration is busy with their “pointer broom in the sand” constructing SARU and BARU and SOCU and POCU and billion dollar parade grounds. But none of these edifices have generated any foreign currency for Guyana; but the six sisters do. Is President Granger’s legacy going to be one that is steeped in pusillanimity? Is Guyana under his watch IMF bound? Sase Singh
Old people at the mercy of NIS at Melanie office DEAR EDITOR, Please do not publish my name because I fear victimization although I have signed my name to this letter. If your newspaper wishes to verify whatever I say herein, send someone undercover for a few days and talk to pensioners or applicants for the different benefits. The Melanie Office of the National Insurance Scheme is a torture chamber. Don’t take my word for it. Ask your old relatives who have to go to that office for service and you will hear horror stories. Senior citizens, who have served this nation and who are now ENTITLED to NIS benefits experience the royal run-around at this office. They are made to feel as if they have committed an offence by trying to get what they have earned. Agreed that all the records of many applicants may not be at the NIS data base, but there must be a humane manner in which to get this across to applicants and some form of guidance to shepherd the applicant through the process. But the conduct of many NIS staff leaves the unmistakable impression that
they will not become pensioners one day. Maybe they would not live long enough! My letter is an appeal to President Granger and the subject Minister to plant decoys at the NIS offices so that these esteemed leaders can have an idea of the tragedy to which many are exposed. And, while they are at it, put decoys at ALL Government Offices - Birth Certificate Office, Police Stations, CH&PA: ALL Government Offices. Maybe SOCU can be helpful in pulling in those Government employees who frustrate us out of our rightful benefits as Senior Citizens. On the other hand, our benefits mean nothing to overlords; we are now have-beens and of no consequence. Recovering State assets provide greater fun and mileage. I think the time has come for Senior Citizens to voice our concerns and the media should provide that encouragement. We did not give of our labour to be treated as society’s discards by those who think they will never get old. We demand respect and we demand our just benefits. Aggrieved pensioner
DEAR EDITOR, The low ranking of Guyana on the UNDP Human Development Index (HDI) is indicative of how much more needs to be done to create a satisfactory standard of living for the Guyanese people. The HDI is a useful measuring rod on how countries fared from a human development perspective relative to other countries both in the developed and developing world. And while we have over the years undoubtedly made some progress in a number of key areas of human development such as education and health, we are still lagging behind the vast majority of countries, including neighbouring
Suriname and Venezuela in terms of the overall UNDP Development Index. In fact, we are marginally ahead of Haiti in the western hemisphere which is hardly anything to be proud of. This is why it is so important for us as a country to accelerate the pace of our national development. We have to grow the economy and by so doing increase the size of the national pie. The manner in which that pie is distributed is also important from a human development perspective. My own view is that there are too much income disparities, not only between private sector emoluments vis a vis the public sector, but within the public sector itself. The income spread is too
large between those at the lower bracket of the income scale and those at the top amounting in some cases to more than twenty times that of the minimum wage earner! There is, I believe, virtue in egalitarianism especially from a human development standpoint. We all need an income that can provide us with a comfortable and secure life and it is the responsibility of the government that all of its citizens benefit from the resources of the state in a fair and equitable manner. From each according to our ability, to each according to our needs. This may sound Utopian and Marxist, but it seems the only enlightened way out of poverty and human degradation. Hydar Ally
Anna Regina power plant is an environmental disaster DEAR EDITOR, It is with utmost concern that I write this letter to you. The concern centers around development on the Essequibo Coast and more particularly focuses on the electricity plant at Anna Regina and soon to be Cereal Factory commissioned by the previous Administration. The electricity plant at Anna Regina is presently an environmental disaster as regards the level of noise pollution that emanates from this plant. Residents as far away as two to three streets away are unable to sleep at nights as a result of the force of vibrations that reverberates all around. One affected resident who happens to be a school teacher said, “I sit at my desk to read/study at nights and find it hard to even think because of the huge sledge hammer pounding away in the night air.” One resident who lives nearby is now sick in bed as his whole house reverberates
so much that the very walls literally shake. He and his wife made several complaints to those in charge but got no form of satisfaction or relief but only to be told that they are aware of the noise level but can’t do anything about it. Is it because this is Essequibo that there is no need for any kind of study by the E.P.A. or whichever relevant authority to access the impact of any industry on the people and the surrounding areas especially when such an industry is placed in close proximity to residential areas? Why is it that G.P.L. has not erected sound-proof walls around the plant to prevent noise pollution? The situation is now untenable and residents are left with no other option but to launch protest actions to have this situation corrected. 1. Then there is the cereal factory, this one seems to be crowded with secrecy. No one can answer satisfactorily these questions:
1. Who is really the person in charge/ the owner? 2. What is the impact of its operations on the environment? 3. Would there be any pollution of the air, land or water in the area where residents live? (And residents live in very close proximity to the factory.) Residents would be very grateful for an early response to these matters which they see as very important to their health and well- being. We refuse to be treated like Cinderella. Romario Blair
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The losers in all these investigations are the taxpayers DEAR EDITOR, It is time that the taxpayers of this country from both sides of the political divide begin to examine what the political witch-hunting and vendetta that is being unleashed on a segment of this population, is costing them, individually, and the treasury, as a whole. Let us take the law books, for which I am before the courts, as a start. The facts of this matter are well known. I will therefore not repeat it. Suffice it to say, that those who are persecuting this matter have totally misconstrued it. The Government of Guyana simply paid the subscriptions under an existing contract, for a specified period, between a company and me for the supply of these books. The Government had no contract with this company and never purchased any of those books from that company and therefore, has no lawful claim to these books. The books were purchased by me and are my property. If it is felt that the transaction was unlawful or improper, then it is the subscriptions paid, which the Government must seek to recover and not the books. Under similar circumstances,
the Government paid my telephone bills and my electricity bills. If it is felt that, those transactions were improper they must seek to recover the monies which were paid. They cannot come after my telephone and my electrical appliances. That being said let us examine the transaction with the books a little closer. The current market value for those books approximates to USD $2,000 or about GYD $420,000. The entire Accounting Department of the Ministry of Legal Affairs spent approximately three (3) months investigating this transaction. Hundreds of man-hours of public officers would have been expended in this exercise, costing the state several hundred thousand dollars. The Attorney General then commissioned a special audit into this transaction. A team of staff from the Auditor General’s office conducted this audit. This exercise lasted approximately three (3) months and culminated in a report being done, spanning dozens of pages, which exonerated me from any wrongdoings. This exercise would have cost the state over a million dollars, conservatively.
In relation to this same matter, I sued Mr. Basil Williams, personally, for libel and slander in the High Court. He will not defend this case from his personal expenses but will use taxpayers’ dollars to do so. The hearing and determination of this case in the High Court, without taking into account the legal fees that taxpayers will have to pay for Mr. William’s lawyers, will cost the state a few million dollars, from the time the case is filed to the time of its conclusion in the High Court. If it is appealed to the Court of Appeal and then to the Caribbean Court of Justice, whether or not Mr. Williams or his party is in Government, the case will cost taxpayers a further five (5) million dollars, conservatively. The matter was investigated for over a week now by five (5) officers of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU). They have, thus far, interviewed five (5) witnesses. They have applied for and obtained two (2) search warrants before a Magistrate. A criminal charge has been instituted against me. I will sue for Wrongful Arrest, False Imprisonment and M a l i c i o u s Prosecution. It is also public
Investigate allegations of... From page 4 coverage the Carol Joseph drug abuse was given in the press, she is still accessing Pethidine from the Fort Wellington hospital with the knowledge of the RHO. And the nursing staff is being threatened of being transferred like Nurse Marks if “they talk” about it. Is the RHO, Dr. Steven Cheefoon so oblivious to the seriousness of what he is allowing to take place at his hospital, or is it that he is doing so with the approval of an arrogant government that is determined to take care of their own. The public disclosure of Carol Joseph’s addiction forced her resignation as a Region 5 RDC Councillor. She did not do so voluntarily. After being investigated by the police for allegations of fraud at the Mahaicony Abary Rice Development Scheme - MARDS, followed closely by the disclosure of her addiction, she was undoubtedly fast becoming an embarrassment and liability to the PNC dominated APNU. What other reason could be given for her abrupt “resignation” from that group as well? She had to go. But now, she need professional help to recover from her addiction, and should not be allowed
to continue feeding it. In an article published in the Kaieteur News, an unnamed doctor is quoted as saying, “The thing about Pethidine is that the more you give to a patient, the more they become addicted to it… You would usually find doctors giving a patient, one or sometimes two doses of Pethidine, and then stop. It should not be used for a long period of time.” I have documented evidence that shows Carol Joseph has been getting this drug since 2008. So how does the REO, Ovid Morrison explain or even try to justify the actions of the two doctors under his administration, who collectively, are responsible for writing these prescriptions for Carol Joseph all these years? Surely the doctors must have known they were contributing to her addiction. The question is, why? But now that the REO is aware of all the allegations of drug abuse and medical misconduct taking place under his watch at the Fort Wellington Hospital in Region 5, I expect that he will act professionally and advise the Ministry of Public Health to name a special bipartisan committee to investigate these allegations of corruption. Harry Gill, MP (PPP)
knowledge that I have filed a constitutional challenge in relation to these law books. Again, it will cost the State a few million dollars to have this case heard, defended and determined. From the above, it can be seen that this singular matter to recover books, which are valued less that GYD $500,000, will cost taxpayers millions of dollars. As I said, this is but only one investigation. The Government has launched dozens of similar investigations. One must add, to this the nearly two hundred million dollars paid to forensic auditors and the several million dollars which would have been expended by dozens of Public Servants across the Public Sector in preparing the records, providing information and assisting in these audits. The stationery, electricity, meals, refreshments, overtime
allowances, salaries, and wages, transportation and other miscellaneous expenses in relation to these matters must accumulate into dozens of millions of dollars. If charges are to flow from these investigations, then the cost to the State will run into billions. One cannot discount in this equation, the one hundred million dollars already budgeted for Special Prosecutors. One also cannot discount the millions of dollars which the State pays as wages and salaries to dozens of Public Servants whom they have witchhunted and sent on Administrative leave. These people are doled out taxpayers’ dollars for staying at home. The sad reality is that it is doubtful that any of the charges filed will yield a single conviction. The intellectual architects of these political
persecutions are not expending a cent of their own, although most of these investigations have to do with settling personal and political differences, grudges and fueling egotistical urges. They have increased their salaries by fifty per cent (50%), they drive around in new SUVs and most of their expenses are fully paid for, again, by the taxpayers. The loser in this all is the taxpayers, whose monies would have funded everything described above. In the end, they are being asked to pay more taxes to the detriment of their welfare and that of their families. It is my duty to draw these matters to taxpayers’ attention. What they do about it is completely outside of my control. What I do know, is that the longer that they take to react, the greater shall become the wastage. Anil Nandlall
How did Bharrat Jagdeo become so wealthy? DEAR EDITOR, When Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo refused the bluff from Mr. Aubrey Heath-Retemyer (CEO of the State Asset Recovery Unit (SARU)), he lost even more of his fledging credibility. One of the accusations that brought down the PPP cabal and government is the accusation that they were a bunch of very corrupt individuals. Folks point to their immense wealth and lavish lifestyles, and the fact that none of these people owned anything of significance before they got into government. And they conclude that this must be stolen assets. So when Mr. Retemyer suggested that he and Mr. Jagdeo should both subject themselves to a lie detector test, administered by foreign entity, agreed upon by both parties, Jagdeo should have jumped on the offer. He should have even demanded that M r. Retemyer pay for it. But rather, Jagdeo refused the challenge, claimed that Mr. Retemyer was below him. If there is one thing that former President Jagdeo has going for him, is the same thing that Donald Trump has going for him, which is, he can do no wrong in the eyes of those who support him. Every honest, logical person, knows that there is n o p o s s i b l e w a y M r. Jagdeo could have gotten as wealthy as he has, purely from the earnings
from his presidential salary. And if how he got his money was above board, then Jagdeo should haste to tell the Guyanese populace what he did to make so many millions in such a short period of time. The notion that he was engaged in raping the country and the treasury, is hanging over his head. And no doubt, that was the factor which caused Mr. Retemyer to suggest that Jagdeo subjects himself to a lie detector test. Therefore, when Jagdeo refused to go head to head with the CEO of what will be the most powerful investigative outfit in Guyana, he again confirmed his guilt in the eyes of those who always thought he was guilty of skullduggery. Jagdeo tagged President Granger, suggesting that he would take a lie detector test, if David Granger would agree to take one. Note that Mr. Jagdeo did not say that he would definitely fail a lie detector test, what he said is that he would only take the test if Mr. Granger agrees to take one. What Jagdeo is doing is seeking to bring down the PNC-Coalition in the same ship that could finally bring him down. Mr. Jagdeo knows that it is possible that Mr. Granger would know of skullduggeries that are now taking place under his nose. Jagdeo might know of current PNC Ministers that he (Jagdeo) might have paid (or had paid), with dirty money and therefore his call to have the
sitting President subject himself to a lie detector test is a shot across the bow. Jagdeo also noted that he would like to write the questions for Mr. Granger. It is clear that Jagdeo thinks that Mr. Granger would fail a lie detector test just as fast as he would fail one. He also knows that the support that Granger has is no way as loyal as the support that he has. The Indian support that Jagdeo has is much deeper, culturally, than what Granger has. So any fallout from a failed lie detector test would decimate Granger, while (like Trump), Jagdeo would just dust himself off, without any suffering and significant negative effects with his base. The United Republican Party (URP) would appreciate if President David Granger would now call Mr. Jagdeo’s bluff. It does not have to be a public stunt, but the two Presidents could arrange for the lie detector tests behind the scenes and then have the results released to the public. By failing to accept Mr. R e t e m y e r ’s c h a l l e n g e , Jagdeo might have heightened the suspicion that he is a crook, however, what he has done simultaneously is implicate the current President in that crookishness. Let’s see if the President will call Mr. Jadgeo’s bluff. Or does he think that Bharrat Jagdeo is below him? Dr. Vishnu Bandhu
Wednesday May 03, 2017
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Kaieteur News
Review of Cummingsburg Accord…
We want a stronger coalition
Leader of the Alliance for Change (AFC) Raphael Trotman said that the recent announcement by his party, that they are looking to have the Cummingsburg Accord reviewed, was not triggered by any specific event, but rather, is aimed at strengthening its coalition with A Partnership for National Unity (APNU). Speaking to Kaieteur News, Trotman said that the decision was taken by the executive council of the party, and that the time was right for such a move. Trotman stated that the coalition has been working well so far and after almost two years in government, the parties will meet to work out a stronger ‘marriage’. He said that during the formulation of the initial accord, time did not permit for the two parties to look at a wider range of issues, and that the review will address those areas that were overlooked. Trotman said that one area that was not addressed
- AFC Leader
AFC Leader Raphael Trotman in the accord is Local Government, and the party will look to formalize and agree upon a unified approach to address this issue. That aside, there are no specific areas that the AFC will be looking to negotiate with APNU. “We are going in with an open mind… hopefully at the end of it we will have a much stronger
union”. Trotman, the current Natural Resources Minister, said that they will be approaching the review with an open mind, since going into such engagements with a set agenda can be counterproductive and may not work. He said that while many aspects of the accord have worked well, there is room for improvement in other areas. However, Trotman did not say what areas have been working and those that need to be addressed. Notwithstanding that, Trotman said that there is no need for the AFC to extract itself from the union, and stated that it was his opinion that the coalition has worked well in the interest of the country. Looking ahead, the
AFC leader envisages a stronger union after the review has been completed. It was Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo who told Kaieteur News that the time has come for the accord to be re-evaluated. Nagamootoo made it clear that he is of the firm conviction that the Cummingsburg Accord ought to be renegotiated. The Prime Minister said that the document was for a limited duration and was not intended that it should last indefinitely. The Prime Minister said, “As new situations develop
you may wish to reexamine the Accord and see whether there are some things you want to renegotiate or prioritize...” The First Vice President was then asked if the AFC already has its eyes set on certain areas that it would want to renegotiate with APNU. To this he said, “Politics is a dynamic process. Nothing remains constant. And I would be the first to admit that being in government for two years now; you would find it convenient to revisit platforms of the programme which is the Accord. You have to. Circumstances have changed.” The Prime Minister continued, “You have two
years of experience in government. And you now know that though we have tread cautiously in the first two years, that you may now wish to move forward boldly on some matters rather than pursuing everything at the same time.” Nagamootoo added, “So the Accord is a working document that defines the relationship among the coalition partners while its manifesto determines the plan of action that ought to be pursued, so those are two different things.” The political advisor to the AFC said that it is recommended that if Government is in mid-term, one would want to reevaluate and prioritize.
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Kaieteur News
Wednesday May 03, 2017
‘Two Colours’ murder trial ends in hung jury By Rehanna Ramsay Even after six hours of deliberations and further directions from Judge Jo-Ann Barlow, the jury selected to oversee the trial of Lennox Wayne called ‘Two Colours,’ and his co-accused, Melroy Doris, was unable to reach a verdict in relation to the murder of cosmetologist, Ashmini Harriram. Harriram was shot once to the neck moments after she disembarked a minibus along the Lusignan Railway Embankment, East Coast Demerara on Thursday, July 10, 2014. On the day of the incident, the shooter reportedly exited
a burgundy-coloured motorcar, whipped out a gun, shot the teen then took away her mobile phone and left the scene. Wayne and Doris, a taxi driver, were subsequently arrested and charged with the murder. Their trial commenced last month. In her summing up yesterday, Justice Barlow pointed to the evidence presented by the witnesses, giving the panel directions on matters of fact and law. The jury retired at around 11:00 hours and returned almost four hours later for further directions on issues relating to the evidence
presented in the trial. Members of the panel inquired about an alleged alibi in which the number one accused, (Wayne) is said to have been at the headquarters of the Police Tactical Services Unit (TSU) at the time of the shooting. The panel also raised questions about marks of violence, Wayne is said to have sustained during the police interrogation. The jury retired a second time at a little after 16:00 hours. The atmosphere in the courtroom remained tense towards the end of the trial. When the panel re-
emerged, they initially announced that there was a unanimous not guilty verdict for murder. The pronouncement caused the accused, Lennox Wayne who stood a short distance away in the prisoner’s dock, to breathe sighs of relief. But there was a misunderstanding on the part of the jury regarding the term “unanimous.” It was, therefore, explained to them that the word meant that the entire 12member panel had agreed to a common outcome of the trial — that the accused was not guilty of the offence. It was after this
explanation that the foreperson disclosed that the panel could not reach a common verdict for any of the accused in relation to the offence that they were charged. The trial judge then informed the accused that the jury could not determine whether they were guilty or not guilty of murder. She explained that the hung jury meant that they “will have to remain in custody and undergo another trial during another session of the Demerara Criminal Assizes”. During the trial, both Wayne and Doris pleaded their innocence before the court. They were represented by Attorneys -at- Law Nigel Hughes and Stanley Moore, respectively. A number of witnesses were called to the stand by State Prosecutors, Tamieka Clarke, Shawnette Austin and Mandel Moore. The witnesses included Police Detective Lakeram Datt. Detective Datt read the caution statement of Lennox Wayne to the court. The statement outlined that Wayne had told the investigators that he was contracted to do the job. According to the information, Wayne disclosed that he met Doris on the day of the incident, at Bent Street, in Georgetown. During their meeting, Wayne said that Doris told him of a job that he had for him and that he would be paid $2.5 million when it was completed. But the defence dismissed that the statement put forward by the police witness as unauthentic and concocted. Defence Attorney Hughes had originally claimed that Wayne was tortured and forced to give a statement. There were additional claims by the defence that the charges were brought against the accused after he acted as an informant in another investigation involving members of the Police Force. But in her address to the jury, Prosecutor Clarke had asked the panel to disregard the theory put forward by Wayne that he was arrested and charged with the murder after the police found out he had filtered information about a few officers in relation to a similar investigation. She noted that Wayne
Ashmini Harriram
Lennox Wayne called “Two Colours”
Melroy Doris had supplied the information eight months after he was in custody. Clarke said it is her view that he decided to squeal on the officers to possibly get a deal, given that he was already in jail for the murder of Harriram. “He didn’t go to the police with this information, he went to the media first and then the police contacted him afterwards. This was eight months after his arrest. He was already in jail,” the Prosecutor had said. Clarke also noted that Wayne had no visible scars on his arms. “Surely the marks would have still been visible,” she stated.
Wednesday May 03, 2017
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Kaieteur News
The GPSU should avoid controversy The members of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) will be the ultimate arbiters of the outcome of the union’s elections which have been marred with controversy. It is for the members to decide on the future of the union, not the courts. Reports in the media at press time indicate that the incumbent President Patrick Yarde has been declared the winner of the elections by the Chief Elections Officer. One of the candidates has indicated that there may be a legal challenge to the results of the elections. The entire elections process has been shrouded in confusion, with the most perverse being the long time that it took for the winner to be announced. This is bound to raise doubts about the integrity of the process. In fact, one the losing candidates who it was felt in many quarters had won the elections, was not, as widely expected, declared the winner. There is unfortunately, not much chance of any successful legal challenge. It is this column’s opinion that the court does not have jurisdiction to review the conduct of elections of private associations. If the courts begin to dabble in the conduct of elections, it may find itself having to adjudicate in all manner of elections, including that of boy scouts and elections for schoolroom presidents. The conduct of elections of private associations is an internal matter. It is a matter for the membership of the union and not the courts. There is no law guiding the conduct of elections in trade unions. Each trade
union has its own rules. The courts will find it difficult to justify having jurisdiction. The membership of the GPSU will therefore have to decide what action they are going to take. The options, however, are not many, but do include large numbers of public servants refusing to become members or pay union dues or agency fees to the union. The GPSU, however, is one of the stronger unions in the country. It is a major union. The weakening of the union will have an impact on the overall strength of the trade union movement. It is for this reason that the Guyana Trade Union Congress (GTUC) should consider intervening in this dispute. The GTUC should try to determine whether there were any serious enough irregularities to annul the elections and, if so, whether grounds exist for any sanctions to be taken against the union. Not that this will make much of a difference to the outcome, since once the results have been declared, it is almost impossible for it to be overturned. The GTUC, however, will be expected to take a stand on the issue of internal democracy within unions. It should be forced to, at least, make a pronouncement as to whether the elections held for the Executive of the Guyana Public Service Union met acceptable standards of democratic conduct. If the findings are that the elections are above board, then the disputing party or parties should be asked to accept the will of the membership. If, on the other hand, irregularities were found, then the GTUC should
at least try to convince the new Executive that fresh and transparent elections would be held within six months, in everyone’s interest. Once there is controversy over the results of the elections, then this spells difficulties for public servants, since it would lead to a divided leadership of the GPSU and a divided membership. It will be near impossible for the union to be taken seriously by the government in any negotiations, since the government would be aware of the gulf within the leadership and between the leadership and the union. One of the things which Guyanese can do without, at this time, is contested elections, be it union or national elections. Guyana needs to move away, at all levels, from this culture of controversial elections. It is not healthy for the trade union movement; it is not good for the country. The Guyana Public Service Union does not need a controversy over elections. The union has suffered ‘eyepass’ from the PPPC regime and now the APNU+AFC. The leadership of the union needed a clear democratic mandate from its membership so that it could strengthen its hand in negotiations within the government. The controversy over the elections will not provide the union with the sort of renewed mandate which is necessary for it to be firm with the government. The government should not meddle in union business. The government should address the charge that there
DEM BOYS SEH...
Patrick de Yarde Fowl just like Mugabe Frigging and rigging is two things that can never done in this world. Tek Donald Duck. He win de American election and on to now months past and he don’t know how he win. What de people find out is that he is not only frigging up America, he is frigging up de world. Then comes Guyana’s biggest dummy, Donald Dumb. He don’t know on to now how he get knock out ee own party. He now deh home watching TV and going to one, one wedding house. Patrick de Yard Fowl know how he get in. Dem boys believe he didn’t only rig de election, he frig it up. He election didn’t
have voters’ list, he mek people vote wid pencil and got people stand over dem wid big eraser to see how dem vote. When people vote fuh Gaspar dem erase de vote. Dem mek Irfaat look like joke when it come to using de lead pencil and big eraser. Gaspar didn’t know he get frig before de ballot box dem come in, suh he spend wasteful nights outside de union hall watching dem box. He coulda been in ee bed sleeping and de result would have been de same. De Yarde Fowl woulda win anyhow. He learn from de best—Burnham. ‘De more you look de less you see
and de less you see is better fuh me’. Imagine, India got 1.4 billion people and dem election results does come up in days. Patrick de Yarde Fowl election tek one hour to vote and nearly one year to get de results. That is because de votes had to get launder. Now SOCU got to probe vote laundering at de PSU. That is why Patrick de Yarde Fowl was nowhere to be seen on Labour Day. He didn’t go to de union hall and he didn’t tek part in de Labour Day parade. Talk half and don’t ask who seh Patrick de Yarde Fowl like Mugabe. Dem just as old.
was political meddling in the GPSU elections. The ruling party should explain why a programme that it is associated with hosted one of the candidate for the elections. This should never
have happened. If the government is serious about trade union democracy it should stay clear of inference but should consider passing laws to direct a system which would
ensure free and fair elections within registered trade unions.
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Kaieteur News
Wednesday May 03, 2017
THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN...
The things I heard in the May Day march After the termination of my UG contract in 2012, I continued to march on Labour Day with the UG unions. Last Monday was no exception. I was down with the flu in 2016 so I didn’t turn up. Next to me in the line was one of the secretarial staff who has been one of the strongest union members during my time as deputy chairman of the union. I asked how she was doing, and with a sad face, she told me her first child died last week at the Georgetown Hospital. He was in his twenties. When she told me this, the march was proceeding east on D’Urban Street just a little past the Carnegie School of Home Economics. From that time on, I just wasn’t
myself. This is one of the UG workers I really do like, and during my tenure in the union, she was extremely helpful to the union. Her son had difficulty breathing, so she took him to the Georgetown Hospital. She said they took blood tests, admitted him, and he died the next day. She said they never did any other examination. It was a story I have heard literally hundreds of times in my career as a media operative. The unnecessary death of poor folks at the Georgetown Hospital is one of the reasons I am so angry at this country. People die like flies in the public medical system and not one leader in government, from Cheddi Jagan in 1992 to David Granger, has ever
publicly ordered a commission of inquiry into the Georgetown Hospital. A 10year-old school girl was kicked in the stomach several weeks ago by another school kid. She went to the Georgetown Hospital and was treated and sent home. The post mortem concluded she died from internal poisoning due to ruptured organs. My God! A child dies from a kick to the stomach in the 21st century when medical science is so far developed that it is impossible to die from such injuries. I remember vividly the video I saw of a man pulled from a truck during the Rodney King riots in Los Angeles in 1992. A mob descended on this guy and
pulverized him to the point that only a miracle could have saved him in the hospital. The hospital saved him. Please go to YouTube and Google and see, and read, about the power of modern medical treatment in this victim’s case. In one of the last columns for her party newspaper, The Mirror, former President Janet Jagan wrote that more lives are saved in Guyana in the hospital system than the US. She said you die in the US if you don’t have money for medical treatment, but in Guyana it is free. There is an evil irony in that statement. Even when you don’t have to find money to pay for your illness at the Georgetown Hospital, you still die. The last conversations I had before I left the May Day rally at the National Park were with some of my former colleagues at UG. What they
told me sent shivers down my spine. Let me issue a sociological clarification before I continue. In a country that has been destroyed by ethnic sentiments, people would tell you that Indians find everything wrong with the Coalition administration because they don’t like Black leaders in government. People would say that Black Guyanese support the Coalition Government because Black leaders are in charge. I was speaking to a multiracial group of UG staff members, both academic and non-academic and in unambiguous language they told me the current Vice Chancellor of UG, Ivelaw Griffith who it is believed is a very close friend to President Granger, is the most inflexible Vice-Chancellor they have worked under. This is coming from people who had to tolerate Vice Chancellors who
Frederick Kissoon were handpicked by President Jagdeo. When some of the actions, instructions and policies of this current Vice Chancellor were described for me, I swear on my family’s lives, I told them none of the Vice Chancellors selected by the PPP Government would have even contemplated going in those directions. I was speechless when I was told the Vice Chancellor can decide on promotion to professorship. That would never happen in any other university in another country in this entire world. I worked at UG for twentysix consecutive years with exposure at two top foreign universities, and I can say without hesitation, your academic output has to be as long as the Essequibo River before you can become a professor. The APNU+AFC is in self-destructive mode.
Wednesday May 03, 2017
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Kaieteur News
Multimillion-dollar bids submitted for road upgrades in low income housing schemes During the opening of tenders at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB), contractors vied for the contract to upgrade roads in low income housing schemes. The contract was divided into five lots: Lot One, Tuschen (Phase Two) East Bank Essequibo; Lot Two, Section ‘EE‘ Non Pareil, East Coast Demerara; Lot Three, Block ‘D‘ Bath, West Coast Berbice; Lot Four, Ordnance Fortlands, Canje, Berbice; and Lot Five, Amelia‘s Ward Phase 1B, Linden. The procurement entity is the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA).
Also, bids were submitted for the construction of roads, drains, structures and installation of pure water distribution network at: Lot One, Farm (Phase Two) East Bank Demerara; and Lot Two, Covent Garden, East Bank Demerara.
The Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs is the procuring entity for the contract to construct a female dormitory at the Bina Hill Institute, Annai District Region Nine (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo).
The Authority is also the procuring entity for the construction of roads, drains, structures and installation of pure water distribution network at Zeelugt Phase Three, Region Three (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara).
Tenders were also open for the construction of a male dormitory also at the Bina Hill Institute.
Tenders were also opened for the construction of roads, drains, structures and installation of pure water distribution network at Lust en Rust, West Bank Demerara. The Ministry is also the procuring entity for the rehabilitation of fence and external works at the Indigenous Residence, Princes Street Werk-en-Rust Georgetown.
>>>> Continued on page 30 <<<<
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Kaieteur News
Wednesday May 03, 2017
New GPC implicated in another defective drug scandal The New Guyana Pharmaceutical Corporation [NGPC] has found itself at the centre of yet another defective drugs controversy. This time around, the defective product in question is a significant quantity of Paracetamol supplied to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation [GPHC]. Just yesterday this publication reported that the company was instructed to recall and replace a quantity of soda lime from the GPHC. Soda lime is a type of sodium hydroxide used to help patients breathe while under anaesthesia. The company had, however, asserted that it was not responsible for the defective product as it was not the manufacturer, and it was already making arrangements to have the
- GPHC complains of fungus on Paracetamol tablets, “foul-smelling” replacements - Company calls complaints deliberate ploy to malign and discredit it recalled quantity replaced within weeks. This development has left the GPHC without soda lime and dependent on a private hospital should the need for the sodium hydroxide arise. However, the company cannot use this argument in the case of the 500 milligram Paracetamol supplied to the GPHC, since sources close to the Ministry of Public Health have confirmed that the New GPC was in fact its manufacturer. “They are making it themselves and they had to replace it because it had fungus...the batch that they replaced that with seems to have a foul smell, a very bad odour,” said the source, who
pointed out that the manufacturer’s address is New GPC Inc. of A 1 Farm, E. B. D., Guyana. The New GPC, this publication understands, delivered a quantity of 249,000 Paracetamol to the GPHC over the period April 19 – 20, 2017. The batches delivered include: Batch Number: 508421 - Quantity: 33000; Batch Number: 508420 - Quantity: 23000; Batch Number: 509422 - Quantity: 45000; Batch Number: 509424 - Quantity: 85000 and Batch Number: 509423 - Quantity: 63000. Based on information from the Public Health Ministry, 186,000 of the tablets have thus far been
quarantined at the Ministry of Public Health’s bond. It was revealed that the notice of quarantine was sent out April 25, 2017 at 11:00 hours, and a reliable source informed that “the pharmacist at the GPHC is maintaining that this is a manufacturing flaw and not a storage problem at the hospital.” This publication was privy to information that an additional 45,000 of the tablets were also returned by the Kitty, Campbellville and Industry health centres and the Enmore Polyclinic. “These health centres also complained about the Paracetamol …they [the company] are maintaining that nothing is wrong with the
[fungus covered] drugs but they have replaced them… but still replaced them with foul smelling ones,” asserted a senior health official. Meanwhile, in a statement last night, the New GPC revealed that on April 19 it received a complaint from the GPHC that there was an issue with paracetamol tablets which the company had supplied. It was revealed that this stock was imported from another manufacturer who, when contacted by NEW GPC to respond to the complaint, communicated that there were no anomalies observed in their retention samples. The company said that “These batches were earlier recalled and subsequently replaced.” However, it was revealed that “further, on April 25 another complaint was received from the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation regarding the replacement batches of paracetamol amounting to 186,000 units or 186 bottles. The NEW GPC immediately requested the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation to quarantine the tablets and the company subsequently initiated a recall.” The complaint, according to the Company, was investigated on the same day and a response was provided to the GPHC indicating that testing and inspection were conducted on retention samples for each of the batches and were all found to be in compliance with the US
Pharmacopoeia’s acceptable criteria for microbiological quality. It added, “Testing and inspection were also carried out on the raw materials and no problems were found.” However, the company said that it has since supplied an additional 80,000 units of paracetamol to the hospital from new batches manufactured at NEW GPC. In commenting on the Soda Lime issue, the company said that “upon investigation it was found that the same product was also supplied to a local private hospital in February. The local hospital when contacted indicated that they have no complaints with the Soda Lime, which was recently used last weekend.” As such, the New GPC said that it “wishes to put on record that it has supplied pharmaceuticals manufactured locally and procured from reputable companies internationally to the Georgetown Hospital for decades without any major issue. Suddenly there are three complaints on three products from three different manufacturers within a matter of days.” Added to this, the company said in its statement that the hospital has chosen to go to select media houses that have always been critical of the company with sensitive information which suggests a determined ploy to malign and discredit the company as a manufacturer and pharmaceutical supplier.
Wednesday May 03, 2017
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Kaieteur News
SOCU’s probes involve $1.5 Trillion in alleged misappropriated State funds
SOCU Head Office
‌30 files sent to DPP and police legal adviser, none returned By Brushell Blackman When the APNU+AFC coalition government took office in May 2015, a number of forensic audits of government and other state institutions were ordered after the ruling administration felt that misappropriation of state funds were rife under the previous People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/ C) administration. Of the audits that were done, 19 were sent to the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) after evidence of malfeasance was uncovered and warranted criminal investigations. According to a source, SOCU is investigating in excess of a staggering G$1.5 trillion in misappropriated state funds that were found when the audits of the 19 government entities were conducted. These monies are suspected to have been laundered, fraudulently converted, embezzled and inappropriately used to execute developmental works by a number of public officials when they were in office. The source contends that the figure is a conservative one, and that it may be much more.
Kaieteur News has learnt that the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), Cricket World Cup (CWC), the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) and the alleged lucrative gold smuggling trade account for the majority of the misappropriated funds. Although this state of affairs has come to the attention of SOCU agents who have been investigating many of these cases for months, little has been achieved so far. In fact, SOCU has not charged anyone in relation to the alleged skullduggery. The source said that SOCU has sent 30 files to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) and the Police Legal Adviser (PLA) for recommendation and advice, and to date, not a single file has been returned to that entity. The lack of legal guidance has now resulted in SOCU having to wait before moving forward with many of these cases which they have completed investigating. Additionally, the unit cannot follow-up on any of the cases that are with the legal
advisers, since it is against protocol, and they can only await the necessary advice, whenever that is furnished. Kaieteur News has also learnt that the work of the special prosecutors has been called into question, and it is believed that SOCU might not be pleased with the lack of assistance from these officials in building their cases. It was one month ago that SOCU in spectacular fashion arrested and summoned a number of former government officials to answer for their hand in suspected skullduggery in public office. Former president Bharrat Jagdeo and former head of the Presidential secretariat Roger Luncheon were among those persons arrested by SOCU in relation to the National Investment and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) investigations. Investigators were trying to ascertain if officials that bought house lots at the controversial Pradoville 2 Scheme did so knowing that those house lots were well below the market value or whether officials attached to the Ministry of Housing at the time were at fault for such
a shortcoming. To date, nothing has been done in relation to this investigation that officially commenced almost two months ago. Additionally there were forensic audits done at the
National Communications Network (NCN) and the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC). Those audits that were ordered by the ruling administration and a number of glaring irregularities were found and
those audits were passed onto SOCU to investigate. To date nothing has been heard of the NCN investigation although it was found that two senior officials pressured auxiliary staff to Continued on page 14
PAGE 14
SOCU’s probes involve... From page 13 adjust payments of a substantial amount. Then there was the investigation into fraud at the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) and according to Junior Finance Minister Jaipaul Sharma some of the most glaring irregularities were found when an audit of that entity was conducted. Although the former head of GRDB was called in for
Wednesday May 03, 2017
Kaieteur News
questioning by SOCU, the public still awaits something meaningful from that investigation. The 19 forensic audits that were referred to SOCU are: NICIL; the Guyana Marketing Corporation; Cricket World Cup; Pradoville 2; the Guyana Rice Development Board; Guyana Power and Light; Mahaica Mahaicony AbaryAgricultural Development Association; Guyana Office for Investment; the Hydro met office; National Communications Network; Marriott Hotel; Guyana Energy Agency; Guyana Oil Company/Guyana Energy Agency; Guyana Gold Board; National Frequency Management Unit; One Laptop programme; EGovernance; Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation and the Ministry of Legal Affairs (Law Reports).
Murder weapon found in home of 20-year-old suspect …as blame game continues in schoolboy death A 17-year-old boy and his 20-year-old alleged “partner in crime” are pointing fingers at each other in relation to the murder of Covent Garden Secondary School student, Brian Charles Yearwood, who was knifed to death in the school compound last Saturday. Kaieteur News was informed that a knife, which is believed to be the murder weapon, was found in the home of the older murder suspect. Investigators were informed that it was the 17year-old Kaneville, East Bank Demerara (EBD) resident who murdered Yearwood while the
killing was organized by the 20-year-old mason. The two suspects are said to be from one gang, while the 16-year-old victim was a member of another gang. It was an ongoing feud between the two gangs that resulted in the stabbing death of the schoolboy. “We had to ask for extensions to keep the two of them. Both of them will most likely be charged with the murder,” a police source pointed out. Yearwood was stabbed sometime after 20:00 hrs on Saturday after leaving his home at Lot 69 Grove Public Road, EBD to attend his school’s concert. It was at the Covent Garden Secondary School that an argument started. Yearwood was stabbed in the Nursery School compound, a stone’s throw from the Secondary School. The victim’s family has no idea that he might have been in a gang. His grandmother, Veronica Yearwood said that
she was sleeping when she heard loud crying in the lower flat of the house around 23:00hrs on Saturday. “When I went down to check, I see his (deceased) mother crying and she say that Brian dead. I see one of his friends there and he said that someone stabbed Brian and he dead,” Yearwood revealed. The woman said that they immediately rushed to the Diamond hospital to confirm whether the news they had received was true. “When we went there, he was already dead. The friends them claiming that they didn’t see anything and one of them say all he know was that Brian was sitting, waiting on someone, when he see bottle start pelting,” the elderly woman said. She further stressed that another friend claimed that he saw a crowd and when he went up, he saw the wounded teen. The grandmother said that relatives are unsure as to what really transpired that caused the 16-year-old to lose
DEAD: Brian Charles Yearwood his life. The woman explained that around 17:00hrs on Saturday, the teenager said that he was going to the concert and was taken to the venue by his father. “He left home and went to the concert and the next thing we hear was that he was dead,” his grandmother lamented. She said that the young man is not known to be a troublesome person and does not interfere with anyone.
Shot bandit remanded for robbing pensioner at knife-point Mark Moseley, who was shot in the foot last Friday by a City Police Constable after he allegedly robbed a pensioner of $1,000, appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts yesterday and was remanded to prison until May 30. Moseley of 94 Charlotte Street, Georgetown, denied the charge which alleged that on April 28, at Robb Street, Georgetown, while armed with a knife, he robbed Jameel Azeez of the cash. It was further alleged that on the same day at the City Constabulary Outpost, Regent Street, Georgetown, he behaved in a disorderly manner. According to reports, the elderly man was followed by Moseley after conducting a transaction. It was reported that the defendant stole the man’s wallet and attempted to flee and was shot during a bid to escape.
REMANDED: Mark Moseley A City Police rank commanded Moseley to stop running or else he would shoot. But the man paid no heed and continued proceeding, which resulted in the rank opening fire and hitting him in the left leg. When he was apprehended and taken to the
City Constabulary, Moseley behaved in a disorderly manner and attempted to relieve a City Constable of his firearm. He also made attempts to jump out a vehicle which he was placed in to be taken to the hospital. Moseley is said to have also resisted efforts to handcuff him and attempted to bite one of the City Police ranks. City Police Prosecutor Quacey Baveghems opposed bail for the defendant citing that he was charged previously for simple larceny. However, Prosecutor Baveghems disclosed that the matter was dismissed after the virtual complainant refused to give evidence. According to the prosecutor, Moseley is in the habit of loitering around the Stabroek Market area and getting involved in criminal activities. It was pointed out by the prosecutor that the defendant is a flight risk, since he regularly travels to Suriname and French Guiana. In refusing bail for Moseley, Magistrate Annette Singh reminded him that he appeared in her court before and had promised to be of good behaviour. An attorneyat-law for the father of two petitioned for bail during which she told the court that her client is in need of medical attention and that he is not a flight risk.
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No bail for Two judges, three lawyers in new GECOM list robbery accused A 19-year-old interior worker was yesterday remanded to prison on charges of larceny and robbery with aggravation after he made an appearance before Magistrate Annette Singh in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. Glen Eastman of Samatta Point Grove, East Bank Demerara, pleaded not guilty to the charge which alleged that on April 27 at Middle Street, McDoom, East Bank Demerara, he robbed Teshawna Henry of a handbag, a pair of Jordan footwear, and an umbrella among other items to the value of $51,200. It was further alleged that on April 25, at Middle Street, Georgetown he stole a shoulder bag valued $20,000 and containing $5,000 cash and other documents from Lateisha Nandram. An unrepresented Eastman pleaded not guilty to both charges. According to the prosecutor, Eastman is a
REMANDED: Glen Eastman known character to police. In objecting to bail, the prosecutor pointed out that the defendant was positively identified by the virtual complainants. The prosecutor also cited the prevalence and penalty attached to the offences. None of the items were recovered. The defendant will make another court appearance on May 29.
A second list of nominees for the all important post of Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has been submitted, and it includes the names of two former judges and a magistrate. According to Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, the list was submitted to President David Granger yesterday and includes the names of six persons. The nominees are Justice of Appeal B.S. Roy (ret’d); Justice William Ramlall (ret’d); Oneidge WalrondAllicock - a lawyer and former magistrate; businessman Gerald ‘Gerry’ Gouveia; Kashir Khan and Nadia Sagar. The last two are also lawyers. President Granger will now have to decide whether the names on the list are acceptable to him. He can
reject the list and ask for a fresh one or move to name a chairman of his own choosing. According to Jagdeo in a statement, arriving at the six names was not easy. His first list was rejected that the President in January who said then that the persons did not meet the requirements. “I embarked upon an elaborate and protracted public and private consultative process which lasted several weeks, during which I solicited the views of, and sought nominations from, many nationally renowned persons and various important stakeholders’ and representative organizations, in my efforts to ensure that I present six names to the President who satisfy the
requirements contemplated by Article 161(2) of the Constitution,” Jagdeo explained yesterday. He said that former Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Desiree Bernard; Justice Claudette Singh (ret’d); Ralph Ramcharan SC and attorneys-at-law Timothy Jonas and Ronald Burchsmith. “It will be observed, that in respect of the names which I submitted to the President, one (1) is a former Judge of the Court of Appeal of Guyana; one (1) is a former Judge of the High Court of Guyana; three (3) are Attorneys-at-law with over ten (10) years of good standing at the Guyana Bar and one (1) is a former Magistrate and therefore, qualify to be Judges of a Court having unlimited
jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters in Guyana, in accordance with the Constitution of Guyana; and one (1) is a former Captain of the Guyana Defence Force, a Pilot, and a Businessman and Entrepreneur,” said Jagdeo in his statement yesterday. The stalemate for the critical GECOM chairman position came after Dr. Steve Surujbally, who held that position for over a decade and a half, signaled his intentions to retire. He left earlier this year. The administration and the Opposition have been at odds as to the criteria for choosing a new Chairperson. President Granger had made it clear that he believes that candidate should have legal background and not be an activist, among other things.
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Govt.’s revenue increase proves it can drop VAT on private tuition - Chris Ram The views for and against the imposed Value Added Tax (VAT) on private tuition have been many. So far, the public has succeeded in twisting the arm of the Government to at least consider reviewing the tax for the 2018 budget. While Government is making no promises as to what might be the outcome of that review, one citizen is offering a final clinching argument. According to Chartered Accountant Christopher Ram, the tax revenues for the government have actually increased. As such, he believes that the administration, which wants to bring “the good life” to all, can more than afford to drop VAT on private tuition.
- Finance Ministry officials strongly disagree Referencing some statistics, Ram said that the Ministry of Finance has disclosed that tax revenues for January 2017 were $11.9 billion. This is 40% more than tax revenues in January 2016. Additionally, total tax revenue for the entire 2017 was budgeted at $162.7 billion, or 8.67% over 2016. Ram commented, “Clearly, it is not expected that total tax revenues for the entire year will match the 40% increase, but is there any reasonable observer who will say it is not going to be much more than 8.67%, more than enough to
make up the $350 million? All it would require for the Government to replace the $350 million it has said it will lose by removing VAT on education services would be a meagre 0.22% over the 2017 budgeted revenue.” The Financial analyst said that the January figures, which come from no less a place than the Ministry of Finance, remove the final straw of an excuse that Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and others made for the retention of VAT on education. EXPENDITURE While Ram holds the
opinion that the tax could be dropped due to the increase in revenues, there are officials at the Ministry of Finance who strongly disagree with this line of argument. The officials said that the document from which Ram obtained the statistics is on the website of the Ministry of Finance. The document is titled, “Monthly Economic Bulletin - February 2017.” The link for the full report is: http:/ /finance.gov.gy/images/ uploads/documents/meb__february,_2017.pdf) The officials agreed that there has been an increase in tax collections for January. They noted, however, that expenditure was also augmented. According to the document, Central Government expenditure amounted to $15 billion in January 2017. For the same period in 2016, it was only $7.7 billion. The Finance Ministry explained that the increase this year for January was mainly due to the early
passage of Budget 2017. It was also explained that in January 2016, spending was restrained, as agencies were only allowed to spend up to a twelfth (1/12) of their current budget. However, for January 2017, agencies were able to spend their entire current budget allocations. In January 2017, $3.9 billion was expended towards employment cost, an expansion of $585.8 million or 17.4 percent, when compared to the same period in 2016. This growth catered for new recruits as well as the annualization of 2016’s salary increases. Furthermore, $1.5 billion was expended under other goods and services, a growth of $845.6 million or 129.3 percent over January, 2016. This expansion was attributed to the early passage of Budget 2017 which facilitated an early commencement of the work programme in subcategories such as maintenance, purchase of materials and supplies, and also early payment for utility services. The officials also stated that $7.2 billion was spent on
Chartered Accountant, Christopher Ram transfer payments for January 2017, an increase of $4 billion or 127.5 percent, compared to January 2016. This expansion in transfer expenditure was mainly due to a $3 billion subsidy given to the Guyana Sugar Corporation, to cater for operational expenses. Additionally, outstanding payments were made to contractors for works done on the D’Urban Park Development. Given the aforementioned, the officials said that they simply could not side with the “selective” perspective provided by Ram. They insist that while one is paying attention to the increase in Government revenue and tax collections, one must also take heed of the expense before the nation.
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EU ambassador condemns growing threat against media Growing threats and violations against journalists and media professionals both offline and in cyberspace are being condemned by Ambassador of the European Union (EU) Jernej Videtiè. Ambassador Videtiè noted the aforementioned as the EU joins with Guyana and the rest of the world in celebrating World Press Freedom Day today. Every year, May 3 is observed worldwide as World Press Freedom day or World Press day; this day is used to encourage and develop initiatives in favour of press freedom and to assess the state of press freedom. The EU Guidelines on Freedom of expression online and offline, adopted in 2014, reaffirms the EU’s
…even in cyberspace determination to promote freedom of opinion and of expression as rights to be exercised by everyone everywhere, based on the principles of equality, nondiscrimination and universality, through any media and regardless of frontiers. “All states are expected to fulfill their global obligations to protect freedom of expression and the safety of journalists by providing a supportive legal environment and prosecuting all attacks against journalists,” Ambassador Videtiè said. Since 1991 the United Nations declared this day as World Press day. A free press and freedom of expression are among the same foundations of
democracy that contribute to stable, inclusive, and resilient societies, which can help defuse tensions and contain conflicts the Ambassador pointed out. Independent media are the basis of a participatory democracy and a tool to make governments accountable for their actions, hence Ambassador Videtiè said “supporting independent, quality and ethical journalism is essential.” Ambassador Videtiè explained that the EU supports the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which includes ensuring universal access to information and protection of freedom of expression.”
Wednesday May 03, 2017
Foreign companies’ gold declarations reduce With the gold sector delivering an outstanding performance month after month, it is constantly under watch particularly for any unusual fluctuations. The Finance Ministry appears to have noticed one in this regard. According to the Ministry, while small and medium scale producers have shown higher declarations, there has been a decline in that of foreign companies. The Finance Ministry made this, among other related comments in its Monthly Economic Bulletin March 2017 (see link for full report: http:// finance.gov.gy/images/ uploads/documents/meb__march,_2017.pdf ). The report said that gold production for February 2017 totaled 63,089 ounces compared to 58,485 ounces achieved in the same month
- small and medium scale miners maintain strong performance last year. Up to the end of February, the year-to-date total was 108,048 ounces compared to 94,432 in 2016. The Ministry said that the main drivers of growth for 2017 are the small and medium sized producers whose declarations rose significantly, compared to a fall in declarations for the two foreign companies; Troy Resources and Aurora Gold Mines. The Ministry also stated that rising gold prices are partly responsible for the higher declarations from the small and medium sized miners. While the report indicated that there is a decline, there was no statistical data provided by the Ministry of Finance in its report to show the size of the
decline. Be that as it may, the Ministry of Natural Resources has confirmed that there has been a decrease in declarations by foreign companies. Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman told this newspaper last night that the decline is “small”. While he did not provide stats in this regard, he said that this is not worrying, as the companies can easily ramp up production. Trotman said, “If it was small miners’ declarations declining then we would be concerned.” The Minister said that a target has been set for 694,000 ounces of gold for 2017 and he is confident that it will be met.
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Attack at West Demerara Hospital…
Ministry advocating for legal action
Legal action against those who recently assaulted staff and destroyed some of the property of the West Demerara Regional Hospital is being advocated for by Minister of Public Health, Ms. Volda Lawrence. Lawrence made this disclosure yesterday during a meeting with doctors and nurses of the Region Three (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara) hospital at her Brickdam, Georgetow n office. “This matter will not just slide, I want the staff to feel safe and secure…their safety comes first,” Lawrence assured the team during the meeting with the distraught West Demerara Hospital employees. Dr. Shonnette Jack, who worked on the evening of the assault, told Lawrence that verbal and physical attacks of the staff by drunken and impatient patients and their families are routine on weekends and holidays at the institution. On Sunday night’s physical attacks, Dr. Jack said, “there were 10 persons fighting in the Emergency Room for about 25 minutes.” She said during the melee, chairs were being hurled in the direction of the staff. Police ignored repeated calls for help, Dr. Jack emphasized. Forced to visit the station on their own, Dr. Jack said
...as measures streamlined to safeguard staffers
Minister Volda Lawrence addressing worried staffers of the West Demerara Hospital yesterday. police refused to take her statement and later “tried to intimidate me to drop the story.” “I am totally fed up and discouraged. It doesn’t feel good working anymore,” admitted young Dr. Pooran Outar, who said he has “countless experiences” being attacked by irate patients and their disgruntled families. “On Saturday night I was verbally attacked by drunkards,” Dr. Pooran recalled. The assaults on the staff are not confined to weekends or to the Emergency Room, Medical Superintendent, Dr. Bibi Jabar, and Regional Health Officer [RHO], Dr. Naail Uthman, confirmed. Dr. Uthman said due to similar past frays, Region
Three authorities agreed to build a police outpost in the hospital’s compound, but it has never been occupied by ranks. In August 2016, Region Three Regional Executive Officer, Mr. Denis Jaikaran, in a letter to ‘D’ Divisional Commander, Mr. Leslie James, revealed that following a meeting with police ranks, it was revealed that the stationing of ranks at an outpost at the hospital was not possible, but that regular police patrols would be conducted and contact with security guards on duty would be introduced. “From then to now, a number of unreported incidents took place at the West Demerara Regional Hospital. Of recent, on the night of 4th October there
was a break and enter and larceny situation at the home of the [then] Regional Health Officer, Dr. Shawn Bancroft. In view of these incidents, I now recommend that we engage the management of the West Demerara Regional Hospital in an effort to find the rewarding solutions,” said Jaikaran in his missive which was carbon copied to then Minister of Public Health, Dr. George Norton; Commissioner of Police [ag], Mr David Ramnarine, and senior staffers of the hospital, including its Medical Superintendent,
Administrator, Matron and Senior Health Visitor. “Those ‘soused’ in alcohol and others demanding immediate attention attack the staff anytime and anywhere, but reserve their fiercest ire for doctors and nurses of a particular ethnic group,” Dr. Tracey Duncan-Clarke said. Meanwhile, Minister Lawrence and a team will visit the hospital today to hold further discussions with the worried staff. Assistant Regional Executive Officer [AREO], Ms. Jennifer Ferreira-
Douglas, will also meet with the firm providing security for the hospital and the ‘D’ Division Commander, to raise the issue about police nonresponse to calls for help from staff of the hospital. Also expected to be raised are staff concerns that police refused to take any statement from the staff forced to visit the station after police did not heed their calls. “I am concerned because I want us to have the best health care system possible,” Lawrence told the staff when this particular issue was raised. As an interim measure, the hospital staffers have requested proper locks on all the hospital doors and a designated safe-place in the event that any future attacks become extremely lifethreatening. Following today’s visit by Minister Lawrence, it is expected that security will be boosted for the hospital. Despite the latest drunken fracas, Lawrence yesterday encouraged the hospital staff not to be put off by the altercation but to continue viewing their profession “as a privilege to serve humanity.”
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Cash-strapped CGX moves to reassert itself Cash-strapped CGX Energy Inc. is making moves to reassert itself as a major force in the country’s oil industry. With almost US$28M owed to creditors, the company which came up empty on two attempts for oil, yesterday made it clear it is preparing to play a dominant role. It yesterday released its audited consolidated financial results for the year ended December 31, 2016, together with its Management Discussion and Analysis. Professor Suresh Narine, Chairman of CGX Energy,
who was recently appointed its Executive Director, Guyana on April 14, 2017, commented: “While the global downturn in petroleum prices has significantly affected the company over the past two years, the derisking of the Guyana basin through multiple large discoveries has simultaneously provided enough buoyancy to allow the company to take steps to restructure its debt and prepare to continue exploration.” The Canadian company, which has concessions offshore Berbice, said it has been aided significantly in this
regard through the support of its major shareholder, Pacific Exploration & Production Corporation, which was successfully restructured after being also affected by the downturn in prices. “The next several months are important ones for the company as we restructure and begin preparing to play our role in the further exploration of the Guyana basin. I wish to thank the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission for their cooperation and collaboration, especially over the past 12 months.” The company said it has
entered into loan agreements for over US$7M with Pacific Exploration & Production Corp. Pacific has the right to take a pledge of shares of CGX’s subsidiaries in an event of default under one of the agreements. With regards to its Petroleum Prospecting Licences (“PPL”) governing the Corentyne Block, the company said it is currently negotiating the terms of an extension of the spud date for its next exploration well on the block. The previous spud date was July 1, 2016. The company is also currently
negotiating extensions on its commitments of its Demerara and Berbice PPLs. “The Company continues to negotiate with its trade creditors, including with respect to the approximately $14.4 million owed to Japan Drilling Co., Ltd. (excluding interest), approximately $9.5 million owed to Prospector PTE. Ltd. (excluding interest), and the approximately $2.9 million owed to Teikoku Oil (Suriname) Co., Ltd. (excluding interest), with a view to determining how to address these significant payables in light of depressed oil prices. For further information regarding these payables, please see the Company’s financial statements.” CGX Energy had also announced that on April 14, 2017 its Board of Directors appointed Professor Suresh Narine, as its Executive Director, Guyana, subject to regulatory approval. Professor Narine will remain as a director of the company. “In conjunction with his appointment, the Board of
CGX local chief, Professor Suresh Narine Directors has agreed to grant Professor Narine incentive stock options to purchase 1,000,000 common shares of the Company. The stock options will be granted on May 2, 2017 pursuant to the Company’s stock option plan and will be exercisable at a price equal to the closing market price on such date. The options will expire on May 2, 2022.” US-owned ExxonMobil has announced plans to start production in 2020 following a major find in its concessions in 2015. A number of other wells have confirmed the find in the off-shore concessions.
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TAXI SERVICE
Wednesday May 03, 2017
Kaieteur News
PROPERTY FOR SALE Transported property @ Grove and Diamond $16M negotiable. Call: 625-5461 New property for sale @ ‘BB’ Eccles, 5 bedrooms, 3 Full baths -$38Million negotiable. Call: 623-7963/ 602-9574 2 Storey Building of Third and Cross Streets Alexander Village. Call: 231-3039/6615188 LAND FOR SALE Transported land for sale size 37X270 @ Coglan Dam, Vreed-en-Hoop, W.B.D. Call: 650-5644/677-9938
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Guyanese among two arrested by ICE; for deportation from US Queens, NY (Queens Chronicle) - Natives of Guyana and Haiti previously convicted of sexually abusing minors were apprehended in Queens on April 25 and are in the process of being deported to their respective countries of origin, Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced last Friday. Both arrests were the result of “normal targeted enforcement activities,” ICE said in a press release. The two men are in custody, the agency said, pending removal proceedings. The unnamed Guyana native, 27, was arrested in Ozone Park. According to ICE, he has multiple prior convictions including endangering the welfare of a child — a 15-year-old female — harassment and violating an order of protection. The man’s name and the details of the crime he committed were not made public. An unnamed 53-year-old Haiti native was arrested in Queens the same day — the agency did not reveal in which neighborhood he was apprehended. The man has been convicted of endangering the welfare of a minor and sexual abuse in Nassau County, according to the release. ICE did not immediately respond to requests for comment on either case. “[Enforcement and Removal Operations] o ff i c e r s i n N e w Yo r k continue to focus their targeted enforcement actions on criminals. Convicted predators represent one of the highest threats against our communities,” Thomas Decker, ICE field office director for New York, said in a prepared statement. “ICE remains diligent in our commitment to make our communities safer and that promise is present in our day-to-day enforcement activities.” It’s not the first time ICE has made arrests in Queens this year. About 10 expats from around the world were detained here in February — many of them also convicted of abusing minors. President Trump has made it a priority to deport foreign criminals still calling the United States their home.
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Local rums threatened by overseas subsidised liquor - DDL chief
DDL Chief, Komal Samaroo
Representatives of the regional rum industry met in Barbados last week and elected a new chairman to lead the regional grouping. The new Chairman is Komal Samaroo, head of regional conglomerate Demerara Distillers (DDL) group of companies, producer of the well-known El Dorado brand of premium rums. According to the West Indies Rum and Spirits Producers’ Association Inc. (WIRSPA), the body was meeting last week to address a series of challenges being experienced by the industry
in both the local and export markets. WIRSPA pointed out that the export-oriented regional rum industry earns in excess of US$550M in foreign exchange every year, but also depends on healthy local markets as its base. According to Samaroo, rum companies rely on the profitability in their local market to be able to finance entry into export markets which are highly competitive and where regional producers are up against global spirits giants. According to WIRSPA, the regional brands continue to face an uphill battle against these companies, several of whom may be benefiting from substantial subsidies provided through the United States tax system which provides them with ‘CoverOver’ payments.
These payments are tax rebates given back to producers in the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico when they sell rum into the US, WIRSPA said. “Increasingly,” says Samaroo, “we’re seeing brands entering our local markets which benefit from these subsidies and are selling well below what we would consider to be expected costs. So not only are we up against subsidised brands in the export markets, but these brands are now entering local markets as well.” Minister of International Business, Industry and Commerce for Barbados, Donville Inniss, said at a function to taste the authentic rums of the grouping that “it goes against the WTO practices and it is just fundamentally wrong,
because you are taxing our rum coming in from the Caribbean at exorbitant rates to subsidise others, and that really and truly does not help our economic growth and development.” In thanking his colleagues for the trust placed in him to lead the group, Samaroo said that it was a mark of maturity for the industry that
leadership changes occurred within the context o f c o n t i n u i t y. H e a l s o thanked the previous chairman, Dr. Frank Ward, for his stewardship of the organisation over the last 10 years. DDL rums - the El Dorado line - and Banks DIH have been winning top awards around the world in recent years.
Pres. Granger receives... (From page 22) up office, however, President Granger had made a priority the re-engagement with the British to ensure the implementation of the plan, stating that security sector reform is important to ensuring that Guyana’s borders are properly protected, and that its police force is strengthened,” the statement said. During this visit, Baroness Anelay will also meet with the Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, and members of the private sector. The British Minister had announced that she would be visiting Guyana from May 1-3 at the Caribbean Council’s House of Lords Annual Reception on April 25.
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Controversial GPSU results are out!
Elections petition likely as Yarde re-elected president After several hiccups and fingerpointing episodes, the results of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU)’s elections, have finally been released. But, the drama is far from being over. Last evening, the body, via email, sent out a list of persons, accompanied by the number of votes the individuals garnered. The document did not specify who won the presidency or to what positions the others were elected. Kaieteur News then made contact with the GPSU, and was told that the incumbent, Patrick Yarde, who has been accused of stalling the much delayed results, had been re-elected as President. Presidential candidate, Gregory Gaspar, who has been raising repeated concerns about the integrity of the process, did not even secure any of the executive positions. Shortly after the results were released to the media, Gaspar, via his lawyer, Nigel Hughes, called an ‘emergency’ press conference. As it turned out, the Presidential Candidate, prior to online media reports, was not even aware that he had lost the elections. “Nothing... not a thing was communicated to me and my team. We are confused. We don’t have a
clue as to what is happening here,” Gaspar told Kaieteur News following a press conference last evening. He began questioning reporters about the contents of the results, as opposed to the other way around. Since Gaspar and his team were expecting the results to be officially announced today, they are refusing to accept those that were released last night. “We haven’t seen anything official as yet, so we asking Public Servants to stay calm, because as far as we are concerned, these results were just manufactured by Mr. Yarde,” one of Gaspar’s teammates said. If the results provided to the media last evening are the very ones that are delivered to Gaspar today, there is likely to be some amount of commotion. Gaspar, for his part, is looking to file an elections petition. In the meantime, the likelihood of street protests is being looked at by the rest of his team. “If people want to come out to voice their concerns, we are definitely not going to stop them,” Gaspar told this newspaper. The Opposition team said that ever since the media released the results, GPSU Members have
been threatening to leave the union. “We are pleading with them not to take such a drastic step. Even if they want to move to withhold their dues, then that is their right, but we are not advising them to just leave the union altogether,” Gaspar told Kaieteur News after the press conference. Today is likely to be the day that GPSU’s Opposition is likely to make its official decision on the way forward. Nonetheless, according to last night’s results, GPSU’s second in command is now Dawn Gardener, the First Vice President. The Second Vice President is Trevor Daly, followed by Third Vice President, Samantha Fedee. Kempton Alexander is now Deputy General Secretary, followed by Jennifer Melville, Principal Assistant Secretary and Janice Bowen, Assistant Secretary. The new Organizing Secretary is Mortimer Livan, and his deputy, Assistant Organizing Secretary, is Carmelita Laulys. The General Members of the GPSU’s Executive are Ram Mangru, Monica Walters, Marcelle Percival, Constantine Perry, Andrea Giles, Abbygale Hope and Duwane Boston.
UN expert says rights of indigenous peoples ‘not in a very good state’ UNITED NATIONS, CMC – A senior United Nations official says the rights of indigenous peoples are being abused by authorities and corporations that want access to their land and the resources. “The situation of indigenous peoples’ rights is really not in a very good state these days because there are policies and laws used to criminalize them,” said Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples. Speaking on the sidelines of the 2017 session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, which began here on Monday, TauliCorpuz noted the use of harassment, torture and arrests against indigenous peoples peacefully protecting their property. She said this is out of line with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, adopted by the General Assembly in September 2007, which established a universal framework of minimum standards
Victoria Tauli-Corpuz for the survival, dignity, well-being and rights of the world’s indigenous peoples. “The main preoccupation of indigenous peoples is really to work on the defence of their land and re-
sources, and protection of the right of self-determination. In their assertion of this right, they are accused of being a terrorist or arrested,” Tauli-Corpuz said. The UN said the independent expert has just returned from Honduras, where she met with the family of an indigenous right defender killed last year. She noted the hearings in the case are being delayed and said that there was a “lack of determination from the side of prosecutors to pursue” a case, according to the UN. Tauli-Corpuz had also recently been in the United States, where members of the Standing Rock reservation are protesting the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. There, she saw indigenous peoples arrested and pounced on by police dogs, the UN said. These “gatherings are not violent and should not be subjected to this type of force,” Tauli-Corpuz said.
Increased activities at Kick ’em Jenny volcano ST. GEORGE’S,Grenada,CMC– Disaster officials in Grenada said that the region’s only submarine volcano, Kick ‘em Jenny, showed “continuous activity” on Monday with at least “43 mostly low magnitudes volcanic earthquakes” over an 18-hour period. A statement from the National Disaster Management Agency (NaDMA) noted that the agency is continuing to collaborate with the Seismic Research Centre (SRC), at the St.
Augustine campus University of the West Indies (UWI) in Trinidad and Tobago to monitor activities at the Kick ’em Jenny under water volcano. NaDMA said it was “advised of continuous activities” on Monday and according to the fourth advisory from the SRC/UWI “during the period 5:45 p.m. on 30thApril to10:41 a.m. on 1st May, the activity rate has remained virtually the same with 43 mostly low magnitudes -in the range 1.5-
2.3 – volcanic earthquakes associated with this unrest episode at the Kick-’emJenny volcano. “There were a few larger events with the largest at magnitude 3.0. UWI/SRC will continue to monitor and update NaDMA as the activity warrants.”On Sunday, the UWI/SRC recorded a high amplitude signal, lasting about 25 seconds, on one of the Grenada stations. The signal was also recorded on a station in Montserrat.
The results of GPSU’s elections as released by the union last evening.
Killer jailed for life for cold-blooded murder HAMILTON, Bermuda, CMC – A 28-year-old gang member, who shot and killed a handicap man as he sat in a bus in 2012 was on Tuesday jailed for life. Travone Saltus, who was convicted by a Supreme Court jury in March, will spend the next 25 years behind bars before he can apply for parole. The court heard that Lorenzo Stovell, who was paralysed from the waist down, was shot dead as he sat in a minibus parked across the road from a bar in Sandys parish in September 2012. Stovell, 24, was shot four times as he desperately tried to lunge for cover. The jury found Saltus, a member of the gang called Money Over
Bitches, guilty of murder and using a firearm to commit murder after a two-week trial. One witness, Troy Harris, told police that Saltus confessed to him that he had shot Stovell just a few months after the murder. Harris, who is serving a prison sentence in England for assaulting a female, told investigators that Saltus had done it for “street cred” so that people would not talk down to him. Saltus chose not to take the stand. His co-accused, Zakai Cann, was found not guilty of the same charges, Earlier, Cordova SimonsMarshall, 26, was cleared of being an accessory after the murder and concealing an automatic pistol.
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Multimillion-dollar bids submitted for road upgrades... From page 11 The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) is the procuring entity for the procurement of military uniform materials (camouflage tetrex polyester drill) military socks and under garments (jerseys).
The Ministry of Education is the procuring entity for the procurement of dietary supplies for the National School Feeding Programme. Dabi’s Variety, with a bid price of $13.7M is the sole bidder for this project. The Ministry is also the procuring entity for repairs and maintenance of the East Ruimveldt Secondary school.
The Ministry of Agriculture was listed as the procuring entity for the provision of security services for 2017. This contract was divided into two lots: Lot One, security services for the Head Office; and Lot Two, security services for the Hydrometeorological Service Department. Tenders were also submitted for the contract to repair and maintain the Cyril Potter College of Education.
The National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) is the procuring entity for the rehabilitation of the NDIA No.58 Village D6R LGP CAT bulldozer located at Fyrish, East Berbice Corentyne.
The Ministry of Public Health is the procuring entity for the procurement of office furniture and equipment. Finally, under the Education Ministry, tenders were opened for the repair and maintenance of the Cummings Lodge Secondary School.
Tenders were opened for the supply of spares for the maintenance of buoys/beacons. The Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) is the procuring entity. Brenco Shipping and Trading Company Limited was the sole bidder with a bid price of $29.5M. The Ministry of Public Security is the procuring entity for the procurement of janitorial, stationery and office supplies for the Guyana Fire Services (GFS).
GPA urges President Granger to hold press conferences
The Public Security Ministry is also the procuring entity for the procurement of Community needs and asset assessment. The Consultancy Group was the sole bidder for this project. The company also submitted a financial proposal. Tenders were also submitted for the procurement to conduct the Safe Neighbourhood Survey.
The Guyana Press Association (GPA) is calling on President David Granger to host press conferences to answer questions about his government’s policies and programmes. This is according to a press release by the GPA as Guyana celebrates the World Press Freedom Day today. The GPA represents prominent media houses in Guyana and calls are being made to have press conferences of no less than one hour, hosted by President Granger. The Association appreciates the fact that the President is not averse to speaking with the media on the sidelines of public events or during his ‘Public Interest’ programme, however the GPA believes that accountability to the Guyanese people will be best served through press conferences. The GPA bemoans the Government of Guyana’s increasingly rigid posture against sections of the media and their organisation, the GPA, by refusing to concretely address
several concerns. The Association also calls on the President to advise the media in advance of his overseas engagements so as to allow media houses the opportunity to plan or decide whether they would like to cover those visits at their own expense. The GPA urges the legal fraternity as well as colleagues in the media to be aware of the various laws and regulations that have a chilling effect on freedom of expression and access to information. GPA is calling on media houses to ensure their editors and reporters take advantage of the various training activities and professional development events. GPA also pledges its unwavering support to any effort that will improve the level of Digital Literacy, while at the same time be vigilant against hate speech. The theme of this year’s World Press Freedom Day observance is “Critical Minds for Critical Times: Media’s role in advancing peaceful, just and inclusive societies.”
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Republicans still short of votes US military ending role in hunt for to pass U.S. healthcare overhaul elusive African warlord Joseph Kony (Reuters) Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives said yesterday, they were closer to agreeing on a reworked Bill to overhaul the nation’s healthcare system but still lacked the votes to pass it, as President Donald Trump pressed lawmakers for a vote. The White House has been pressuring House Republicans to push ahead with legislation to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, commonly called Obamacare, after a first effort failed in March in a stunning setback for the Trump administration. “I think it’s time now” for a healthcare vote, Trump said at the White House on Tuesday. But Republican leaders are struggling to balance the concerns of moderates, who want to protect those with pre-existing medical conditions from being shut out or penalized by insurers, and of conservatives who want to ease what they see as Obamacare’s heavy burden on the economy. Representative Mark Meadows of North Carolina, who heads the staunchly conservative House Freedom
Caucus that helped block passage of the first healthcare bill, said Republicans were still “a handful of votes away.” The current Bill would allow states to opt out of Obamacare provisions that force insurers to charge sick and healthy people the same rates. That is seen as a concession to the Freedom Caucus, which has endorsed the new measure. But Trump insisted in an interview this week that the protections for those with pre-existing conditions would remain. “It’s close. It’s close. We’re getting there,” said Representative Tom MacArthur of New Jersey, a moderate Republican who brokered the deal that revived the healthcare legislation. “I know this is difficult and I know people are worried.” Republicans have long vowed to repeal Democratic former President Barack Obama’s 2010 healthcare restructuring, arguing that the law, which allowed some 20 million Americans to gain healthcare insurance, was too intrusive and expensive. During his 2016 presiden-
tial campaign, Trump also vowed to get rid of it. He made its repeal the first major legislative item of his presidency, investing early political capital, only to see the bill he backed torpedoed by his own party. This time, the White House appears to be taking more of a low-key approach. “I think it’s been quieter. I think it’s been more bottomup-driven from a member’s standpoint,” said Republican Representative Mark Sanford of South Carolina. Republicans, however, remain divided over key aspects of the bill, with some lawmakers worrying about a potential spike in the number of people without coverage, or sharp increases in insurance premiums. Adding to the pressure is the unified opposition of Democrats, many of whom view the 2010 healthcare law as the defining domestic achievement of Obama’s presidency. House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi said the U.S. Congressional Budget Office should be allowed to assess the impact of the healthcare bill before a vote is held.
Militant leader Joseph Kony. CNN) America’s role in the hunt for Lord Resistance Army leader Joseph Kony has officially begun to draw to a close, even though the notorious warlord is still on the loose. Kony is wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and he and his militia have been accused of killing thousands
of civilians and abducting thousands of children during his decadeslong insurgency in Uganda and neighboring countries. Approximately 100 combat-ready US troops have aided the effort since the USbacked mission to capture Kony first began in 2011, at a cost to the US of about $780
million, Pentagon spokeswoman Maj. Audricia Harris told CNN Monday. The US began the transition last week, a US defense official told CNN, and it’s due to be completed by September. A team of elite US troops recently pulled out of Camp Dungu, a remote outpost in the Northwestern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo that was also once an area of operations for Kony’s insurgency. According to Africa Command, which oversees American military operations on the continent, the US forces involved in the counter operation against the Lord’s Resistance Army will now “transition to broader-scope security and stability activities that continue the success of our African partners.” US officials have cited a diminished LRA and other priorities as the reason for the decision to withdraw.
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CAS reduces year-long bans Speaker of National Assembly... (From page 37) Dr. Scotland, in handing ing in changing the lives of on players who attacked refs official informed Dr. Scotland over the donation, praised the youths and less fortunate. (Reuters) Two players banned for a year for attacking referees in separate incidents in domestic Mexican games have had their suspensions reduced following an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). America defender Pablo Aguilar was originally banned for 10 matches and Toluca forward Enrique Triverio for eight before the Mexican federation’s disciplinary committee increased them both to one year. However, CAS said yes-
terday that it had ruled that the players should serve the bans originally imposed which were criticised by the Mexican referees’ association at the time as being too lenient. Paraguayan Aguilar struck referee Fernando Hernandez with his forehead and screamed insults at him after America lost 1-0 to Tijuana in a Copa MX match in March. Argentina Triverio pushed and insulted referee Miguel Flores in Toluca’s defeat by Morelia in the same competition.
The Mexican referees’ association said the initial punishments were too lenient and went on strike, forcing a round of league fixtures to be called off. After the bans were extended to one year, it said the decision had “set a precedent so that it is order and respect that prevails on the field of play”. “The sanctions that had been imposed in the first instance ....were appropriate in light of the misconducts at stake,” CAS said.
Joshua-Fury fight ‘miles away’, says... (From page 39) we can only concentrate on AJ’s career and guiding him.” “He (Fury) is miles away from fighting. He is in a terrible physical way at the moment. He doesn’t have a licence, he needs to go back to the
(British Boxing) board, and he is under investigation for (an alleged) failed (doping) test. “There is no one that wants to see him back more than me, but it is miles away. He is not the next fight because he won’t be ready in
time.” Joshua, who extended his unbeaten run to 19 fights, could face Klitschko in a rematch or challenge either D e o n t a y Wi l d e r ( W B C Champion) or Joseph Parker (WBO Champion) for his next match.
Wednesday May 03, 2017 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Don't be too hard on your mate. Your tendency to dramatize may be a little much for your partner to take constantly. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Promotions will be yours if you have acted professionally in times of crisis. You have a lot to offer. You can learn from those who have had similar experiences. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Don't blame others for your own stubbornness. Don't let yourself get rundown. You may find that romance will unfold through business connections. CANCER (June 21–July 22) You need time to think things through. You can get ahead if you are willing to take a partner. You will need to spend extra time sorting through your work. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Be careful when using machinery or electrical equipment. You should feel a little more stable about your position; however, don't be surprised if a job offer comes your way. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Put your energy into your work or moneymaking ventures rather than into your emotional life today. Work quietly on your own.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Be prepared to jump quickly if you wish to stay in the forefront of your industry today. Arguments with children or friends may leave you steaming. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Any contributions you make to organizations will enhance your reputation and bring you offers. You may have difficulties with family members if you get involved in petty arguments. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Use your inventiveness to find solutions. Get them to pitch in, if you need help. You will have no problem getting along with clients. CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Don't let your partner get you going. You are best to travel or attend lectures or seminars. Let go of the past in order to progress. Take care of the needs of elders in your family. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) You will be in the mood for entertainment. Take a trip or just spend some quality time with your mate. Social activities will be satisfying. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Do not sign your life away. Discuss your objectives with partners or peers. Sign up for courses or join fitness clubs.
that the RHTY&SC is the only youth and sports organisation in the history of Guyana to have ever received a National Award and disclosed that to date a total of 206 have been successfully completed out of the proposed 500 programmes/activities the Club have set itself for 2017. The long serving RHTY&SC Secretary/ CEO and the Speaker also discussed possible areas of cooperation including an article on Parliament in the Club’s 2017 Magazine, visit to Parliament by Club members, while the Speaker and his Staff were officially invited to visit the Club in July.
remarkable work of the RHTY&SC in making a difference in the lives of others and stated that he was pleased to assist in a small way. The Speaker then took the RHTY&SC delegation, which also included Vice President Mark Papannah, on a guided tour of Parliament Chambers. Mr. Jaipaul Bharrat of Paul’s Importers disclosed that for years he has been an admirer of the outstanding work and achievements of the RHTY&SC, an organisation he described as the best in Guyana. He congratulated the Management of the Club for their visionary leadership and also on the role they are play-
Speaking directly to the Club’s Secretary/CEO, he urged Foster to share his vast experience with Clubs across Guyana including Bharrat’s own Club, the Georgetown Cricket Club. Mr. Bharrat is one of several GCC members who are spearheading efforts to restore the historic Bourda Cricket Club which has fallen into despair. The Club Secretary/CEO readily accepted the invitation to share ideas with the Georgetown Cricket Club once a meeting can be arranged on a date suitable to both parties. The combined donation of trophies and medals are valued at $100,000.
Record-holders receive apology... (From page 35) rugby union’s Six Nations emerging out of the Five Nations tournament in 2000. “We hope people look at it in that vein, rather than stripping great athletes like Paula of their records,” he said. “Unfortunately, Paula ran her records in a golden period
that happens to be two years before the technology moved on. “People should not look at Paula’s records and throw them in with doping records - she achieved her performance, as did Jonathan, with 100 percent integrity.” The IAAF has only stored blood and urine
CoA stops BCCI from... (From page 39) FZ-LLC shall only be issued with the prior approval of the Committee of Administrators,” the COA wrote in a note, which was published by the Hindu. “The direction in Paragraph 1 above shall also apply to letters, notices and other correspondence which seek to invoke or exercise any rights/remedies against the International Cricket Council.” According to an official privy to conversations between Rai and the BCCI office bearers, the CoA said adopting a “hardened” stance could jeopardise dialogue with the ICC, which was at a delicate and critical stage. “He [Rai] advised them that it was not in the best interests of BCCI because Shashank Manohar has made an offer of a $100 million more. You send him a notice, his attitude will harden. He might withdraw that,” the official said. Rai will not be attending
the SGM. The office bearers, the state associations and BCCI CEO Rahul Johri will be present at the SGM.
samples since 2005. Other world records under threat would include Mike Powell’s 1991 long jump mark of 8.95m and -Hicham El Guerrouj’s 1998 1500m time of 3 minutes 26.00seconds. There is no suggestion that any of these athletes took drugs. Another British athlete, Steve Cram, weighed into the controversy yesterday, dismissing the plan as a “PR exercise”. Under the proposals, Cram’s 1985 mile and 2000m European records would be removed from the books.
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Rose Hall Town Pepsi U-19 Team assist Youth to fulfil his dreams Thirteen years old Jason Jones of Belvedere Settlement always dreamed of having his own cricket bat as he wants to follow in the footsteps of his idol, Shivnarine Chanderpaul. Jones, whose mother died in Child birth when he came into the world, is being cared
for by his aunt Anita who is very supportive of her nephew’s desire to play for Berbice, Guyana and the West Indies. Unable to obtain a cricket bat on her own, Ms. Jones approached a family friend to seek assistance from Rose Hall Town Youth
and Sports Club, an organisation she was aware assists youths to fulfil their dreams under their “Dare to Dream’ programme. Under this programme, the cricket teams of Guyana’s leading youth and sports organisation has assisted over 105 youths to fulfil their
dream by assisting them to obtain needed items that they cannot afford themselves. Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert
and education as an alternative to a life on the road and throughout a simple formula of honesty, sheer
disciplined. The Secretary/CEO also spoke on the importance of education and urged Jones to
Sylus Tyndall hands over Cricket bat to Jason Jones in presence of RHTY&SC Asst Secretary Simon Naidu.
Foster, who received the request, readily agreed to provide the Port Mourant Secondary School Student with a bat and stated that it is the Clubs hope that Jason dreams of playing cricket at a high level is fulfilled. The long serving Secretary/CEO stated that too many youths who dare to dream are unable to fulfil their wishes because of lack of finance and this is a pity. The RHTY&SC, M.S he stated, was founded in 1990 b y t h r e e t i m e s C o m m o n w e a l t h Yo u t h Service Awardee, the ST. Francis Community Developers to offer sports
hard-work and dedication have risen to be the best in Guyana, just twenty-seven years later. This was because a group of seventeen youths and a team of experienced advisors dared to dream and together they achieved their goal despite huge obstacles like lack of finance and facilities. The Dare to Dream programme was launched in 2000 on the 10th anniversary of the founding of the Club and its main objective is to assist less fortunate youths. Foster urged the young cricketer to practise hard, work every day, to seek advice from former cricketers and to always be
make sure that he remains in school. Education, he stated is the main foundation for success and noted that future assistance to Jones would be tied to a commitment to education. A clearly elated Jones, who is not a member of the RHTY&SC, expressed gratitude to the Club and the Pepsi team for assisting him. He said that it is surprising that a Club would assist a non-member but promised to make the RHTY&SC proud in the future. Senior Pepsi Under-19 and National Junior Cricketer Sylus Tyndall handed over the bat to Jones.
Bangladesh bowlers get 10-year bans for umpiring protests (Reuters) Two Bangladesh club cricketers who deliberately conceded runs to protest against poor umpiring in the Dhaka Second Division Cricket League have been banned from cricket for 10 years, local media reported yesterday. Lalmatia Club’s Sujon Mahmud conceded 92 runs in four legal deliveries in his side’s match against Axiom Cricketers last month, peppering the field with 15 no balls and 13 wides that
also raced to the boundary. Fear Fighters Sporting Club’s Tasnim Hasan had conceded 69 runs in seven legitimate deliveries in a similar protest against the umpiring in an earlier match. “This incident has dented the reputation of Bangladesh cricket and we have taken a stern step because this was important for us,” Bangladesh Cricket Board director Jalal Yunus was quoted as saying by local newspaper the Daily Star. The two clubs have been
barred indefinitely from competition. The captains, managers and coaches of both teams have been banned for five years. “They willingly tarnished the image of Bangladesh cricket,” Sheikh Sohel the BCB’s disciplinary committee chief said. “A bowler won’t be able to do such a thing without the order of their team management. From the whole investigation we realised that it was done to hurt Bangladesh cricket.”
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RHTY&SC honours Lower Corentyne Secondary for winning National Championship
Members of the Lower Corentyne Secondary School pose with Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo. “ T h e P a t r o n , Management and Members of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club are very proud of each other and it is a pleasure to honour you on your historic achievement on being crowned National School Cricket Champions. I know of the hard work and efforts that the entire team placed in this victory and as such we want you to have special memories of this moment forever” – Those were the words of
RHTY&SC Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster as he spoke to the Management and Members of 2017 National Cricket Champions, the Lower Corentyne Secondary School. The eight cricket teams of the Club along with its Cricket Development Committee joined hands on Sunday 23rd of April to honour every member of the team. Foster hailed the National Champions as heroes and role-models who
fully deserve their success. Nine of the National Champions are products of the RHTY&SC Cricket Development programme and this makes it even more special, Foster stated. He however expressed disappointment that the team only received an average size Winner’s trophy, while no medals or individual trophy was given to members of the team. The former Chairman of the BCB Special Events Committee stated that few
persons have the privilege of being national Champions and with no monetary prizes given to either players nor the school, the least that should have been done is to give the players a lifetime souvenir. Each of the players, Manager and Team scorer present at the RHTY&SC 27th Annual Awards Ceremony received a souvenir trophy and champions medals, while a large championship Trophy was presented to the School.
Foster, who attended the school for two years, advised the youths to use the National Championship as an inspiration to greater success in life and to be focused on their studies in school as education is the foundation to a good life. He also informed the massive audience that filled the ST. Francis Community Developers Hall to capacity, that the RHTY&SC would always support the school to fulfil its mandate. The
RHTY&SC, M.S between 1991 to 1992, spearheaded the restoration of the LCSS by raising over $4M under the Patronage of late Guyana’s President Hugh Desmond Hoyte. The honouring of the team was done by the Farfan and Mendes Under-15, Pepsi Under-19 and Intermediate, Bakewell Under-17 and Second Division, Metro females and Gizmos & Gadgets Under-21 and First Division Cricket teams.
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Wednesday May 03, 2017
Linden Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Competition
Team 25 set up mouthwatering clash with Dave & Celina -Silver Bullets take on Swag Entertainment in other semi-final Reigning champs Ream 25 set up a mouth watering semi-final date with one of the pre-tournament favourites Dave & Celina All Stars following an imposing performance on Monday night, at the Amelia’s Ward Tarmac. Playing in the final game of the quarter-finals in this year’s Linden segment of the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Competition, Team 25 completely outplayed Amelia’s Ward Russians, winning 4-1 to keep their title defence on track. On target for the winners were Rudy Halley-6th, Ruel W i l l i a m s - 1 4 t h , Te o n Stewart-24th and Ryan Noel-26 , while Oswald Benjamin-22nd was the lone response for the Russians. Their opponents for the semi-finals Dave & Celina All Stars were also in ripping for as they easily put away Young Kings 3-0 with Cordell Johnson-4th, Rawle th
Gittens-12th and Seon Brewley-21st, being the players on target. In the other semi-final matchup, Jermaine & Family Silver Bullets square off against Swag Entertainment after both teams outlasted their opponents in penalty shootouts. Silver Bullets won 2-1 on penalty kicks against High Rollers after regulation time failed to break a 1-1 deadlock with Kendolph Lewis 1st minute strike giving High Rollers the lead, before Silver Bullets responded through Jermaine Samuels one minute from full time. Swag Entertainment was the first team to book their place in the last four when they beat Cherokee Park 2-0 on penalties following a 1-1 stalemate in regulation and extra time. Nantambu Arbar-4th
minute strike had given Cherokee Park the early ascendancy, before Colwyn Drakes netted the equaliser in the 25th minute to send the game into overtime which also failed to produce a winner. Team 25 Ryan Halley gave them the lead in their clash against Russians when he blasted home from just over the halfway line, b e f o r e R u e l Wi l l a m s ’ cracker from just outside the box gave them a 2-0 advantage. The Russians responded through Oswald Benjamin, who scored from the penalty spot, but any ambitions they harboured in making it a fight quickly evaporated when Teon Stewart tucked in from close range to make it 3-1. Ryan Noel then sealed the deal when he finished with aplomb after outpacing his marker and slotting into an empty goal.
The semi-finals are set for tomorrow at the Sliver City Tarmac, starting from 20:00hrs. The winning team will take home $400,000 and the championship trophy while second, third and fourth paced teams receive $150,000, $75,000 and $50,000 respectively. In the night’s full results: Game-1 Swag Entertainment-1 vs Cherokee Park-1 Swag won 2-0 on penalty kicks Swag Scorer Colwyn Drakes-25th Cherokee Scorer Nantambu Arbar-4th Game-2 Dave and Celina AllStars-3 vs Young Kings-0 Cordell Johnson-4th Rawle Gittens-12th Sean Brewley-21st Game-3 Jermaine and Family Silver Bullets-1 vs High Rollers-1 Silver Bullets won 2-1 on penalty kicks Silver Bullets Scorer Jermaine Samuels-29th High Rollers Scorer
Players from Dave & Celina All Stars and Young Kings battle for possession of the ball during their quarter-final encounter.
Kendolph Lewis-1 Game-4 Team 25-4 vs Amelia’s Ward Russians-1 Team 25 Scorers Rudy Halley-6th st
Ruel Williams-14th Teon Stewart-24th Ryan Noel-26th Amelia Ward Russians Scorer Oswald Benjamin-22nd
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Wednesday May 03, 2017
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Blairmont Floodlights Cup Reload
Rain fails to put damper on Event Despite the adverse weather conditions for the two days preceding the third annual Blairmont Floodlight Cup Reload held at the Blairmont ground on Sunday and on the day of the eight-team tournament, officials of the all-day Event which culminated under lights, deemed it a success and were high in praise for the excellent drainage system at the West Bank Berbice venue and high quality covers the club purchased. The first game of the tournament was scheduled to commence at 09:30hrs at a venue has which hosted First-Class cricket in the past but after hard work by the ground staff, the action eventually stated at 11:00hrs and the matches were reduced to 8/8 encounters from the 10 overs per side games that were originally planned. But when the dust had settled just past Mid-Night on Monday morning, Blairmont Blazers (BB) urged on by a crowd of close 700 fans in a festive atmosphere, had defeated Cotton Tree Die Hard (CTDH) by 32 runs in the Final. Under a clear night sky in windy conditions, BB elected to bat and led by an entertaining unbeaten 54 from 26 balls decorated with three fours and four sixes
from Man-of-the-Match, opener Martin Singh, galloped to 96-1 in 8 overs. Parmanand Ramdhan and Nick Ramsaroop (13 each) supported Singh, who also took the MVP of the tournament and batsman with the most sixes Awards. Pooran Persaud (1-23) got the only success for CTDH who started the chase in pugnacious fashion; blasting 32 in the first two overs as Pooran Persaud set the venue, which produced Test players Roy Fredericks and Brandon Bess, on fire. But once Persaud, who smashed a rapid 16-ball 31 with three fours and two sixes, fell in the fifth over, they never recovered as Waqar Hassan (3-24) and Kassim Khan (2-12) put the brakes on the scoring and reduced CTDH to 55/5 after the seven overs. Kassim Khan (Blazers) captured the most wickets (5) from three matches, while Ravi Seecharran (Kendall’s Union) had the best bowling figures of the tournament (4-4). Singh’s 50 was the lone half-century, while Albion’s National player Jonathon Foo made 49 against Cotton Tree. Bush Lot Cavaliers, No 48 Challengers, DeEdward, Albion, Omesh X1, Young & Restless were the other teams in the competition. Cotton Tree beat Cold Fusion by 45 runs, Blazes
got the better of No 48 Challengers by 13 runs and Cotton Tree beat Albion by eight wickets in the play-offs after the completion of the preliminary rounds. After the morning showers there were no other interruption as the first game begun to bowl off a day of fun and frolic for the entire family. DJ Hakeem provided pulsating music, while there was live ball-by- ball commentary at the ground by International Radio Commentator Inderjeet Persaud as exuberant spectators, pumping airhorns, created a riveting atmosphere. When Arshad Khan, a supporter of the Cold Fusion team, held a brilliant one-handed catch, the crowd celebrated as much as he did. Khan was instantly awarded $10,000 by the club. In the Dominos Competition, Team - GOLD copped the first place, while team- FINE ANTS finished second and team ROYALS ended third. The king Domino title was won by Ken from Blairmont Settlement. At the presentation ceremony, officials of the Blairmont Club thanked all participating teams, spectators and sponsors for their contributions in making the event a successful one.
Record-holders receive apology from taskforce chief (Reuters) Innocent athletes worried that their world and European records will be struck off received an apology yesterday from the official who proposed the radical anti-doping plan. European Athletics’ taskforce chair Pierce O’Callaghan said he accepted that some recordbreakers would be “collateral damage” under the measures which suggest resetting pre-2005 marks. The proposal, which was announced by European Athletics on Monday, was immediately condemned by several athletes with Britain’s Paula Radcliffe branding it “cowardly”. “Apologies to the athletes, we never intended to damage their reputation and legacy,” O’Callaghan told BBC Radio.
Under the plan, any athlete breaking a record would have to have been drug-tested many times in the lead-up. A sample taken afterwards would have to be available for retesting for 10 years. European Athletics’ ruling council has accepted t h e p r o j e c t t e a m ’s recommendations, which it wants to be extended to world records. Radcliffe faces having her 2003 women’s marathon world record of two hours 15 minutes 25 seconds expunged, but O’Callaghan said there was a bigger picture. “It (The proposal) is intended to give the public belief and credibility in what they are watching in the sport,” he said. European Athletics will
forward a report to the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), which will study it at its Council meeting in August. If the proposal is accepted, current records failing to meet the guidelines would no longer be officially sanctioned although they would remain on the “alltime list”. O’Callaghan said he had spoken to Radcliffe and Britain’s triple jump world record holder Jonathan Edwards, another athlete who could be affected because his mark was set in 1995. The official compared the changes to English football revamping its structure to incorporate the Premier League in 1992 or (Continued on page 31)
Commentator Inderjeet Persaud watches as Blairmont Club official Anil Sukra Shabeer presents the Championship Trophy to Blazers’ Skipper Shabeer Baksh on Monday morning at the Blairmont ground.
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Wednesday May 03, 2017
Daunting fourth day awaits Windies after Azhar, Misbah rally Pakistan BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – West Indies were facing a daunting penultimate day of the second Test against Pakistan today, after Azhar Ali struck his 13th Test hundred to put the visitors on top in the decisive contest at Kensington Oval. Facing a deficit of 81 runs after Pakistan piled up 393 in their first innings, the Caribbean side finished yesterday’s third day on 40 for one – still requiring a further 41 runs to make the Pakistanis bat again. They suffered a blow in the 14 overs they were left to navigate at the end when lefthander Kieran Powell was brilliantly caught off the inside edge by wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed, off the enterprising seamer Mohammad Abbas in the second over of the innings. But novice left-hander Shimron Hetmyer, searching for his first score of note after failing in each of his three Test innings to date, stroked a breezy, unbeaten 22 off 34 balls to hold off the Pakistan attack. Showing little signs of nerves, the 20-year-old
Devendra Bishoo picked up two of the three Pakistan wickets in the final session, West Indies v Pakistan, 2nd Test, Bridgetown,2nd day, ©AFP pulled Abbas to the ropes at mid-wicket for his first scoring shot and then straight drove seamer Mohammad Amir and coverdrove leg-spinner Shadab Khan, to account for three of his four boundaries. He was partnered by opener Kraigg Brathwaite who was unbeaten eight from 46 deliveries.
Earlier, Azhar scored 105 to help Pakistan consolidate their overnight position of 172 for three, as West Indies struggled in the morning session and were forced to go wicket-less. For the second straight Test, captain Misbah-ul-Haq suffered heartbreak when he was dismissed on 99, while Yasir Shah chanced his hand
Hosts top points table in Invitational
St Lucian Lyndell Marcellin … grabbed a vital win for his country. CASTRIES, St Lucia, CMC — Hosts St Lucia, on the back of two victories on the final night of competition last Saturday, emerged winners of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Boxing Invitational at the Beausejour Indoor Facility. They finished with 17 points, closely followed by Grenada on 14, while Antigua and Barbuda picked up 10 points to be third. Barbados were fourth with six points, the same as Dominica and St Vincent and the Grenadines while the other invited team Guadeloupe, ended with five points. The home team got a late boost in one of evening’s late bouts latter bouts when
Lyndell Marcellin won on points against Charles Letham of Dominica in a welterweight encounter. In the penultimate bout of the evening, Vincentian Keithland King stayed dominant in the competition winning a split decision against Marvin Anthony of St Lucia in a middleweight contest. And in the final bout, Antigua and Barbuda’s Yakita Aska also won on a split decision against St Lucian Nyran David in the heavyweight class. In the first encounter of the evening, Jeremiah Toussaint of Antigua and Barbuda out-pointed countryman Franklyn Spencer in the bantamweight category for competitors 15-16 years. Kareem Boyce, meanwhile, gave the hosts their first win of the night by beating Nelson Cyrus of Grenada on points in a lightweight bout for the 17-18 year-old age group. There were three bouts in the elite division where Simon Joseph of Dominica beat St Lucian Devon Layne on points in the bantamweight category and Brandon Lee of Barbados also gained a similar points decision over Dominican Daly Darroux of Dominica in the lightweights. In the final match-up, Jean-Phillipe Erin of Guadeloupe also won on points against St Lucia’s fast-rising junior boxer, Nathan Ferrari in the light welterweight.
with 24 from 31 deliveries to ensure the tail wagged. Fast bowler Shannon Gabriel topped the hosts’ bowling with four for 81 while captain and seamer Jason Holder (3-42) and legspinner Devendra Bishoo (3116) finished with three wickets apiece. Azhar and Misbah blunted the West Indies attack in the morning session, gathering just 54 runs in 26 overs to push the visitors up to 226 for three at lunch. Resuming the day on 81, the right-handed Azhar added a mere 13 runs to be unbeaten on 94 at the break but reached triple figures in the fifth over following the resumption when he cut Bishoo to the backward point boundary. All told, he struck nine fours in a knock that spanned 278 deliveries and a shade over 7-1/2 hours. He had put on 98 for the fourth wicket with Misbah when he finally perished in the seventh over after lunch, nicking a Bishoo leg-break behind at 259 for four. Misbah, who started the day on seven, was unbeaten on 40 at lunch and raised his 38th Test half-century in the fourth over after the break when he cut off-spinner Roston Chase behind square for a single. The 42-year-old celebrated by clearing the ropes at long on with Chase as he dominated a 57-run, fifth wicket stand with Asad Shafiq (15), to further
strengthen Pakistan. Misbah, who was left stranded on 99 in the first innings of the Sabina Park first Test, cruised to the verge of an 11th Test hundred but then got himself in a tangle trying to leave alone one from Holder that bounced, and managed to edge to Shai Hope at second slip. He faced 201 balls in just over 4-1/4 hours and struck nine fours and two sixes. West Indies then honed
in for the kill with Gabriel removing Sarfraz Ahmed for nine to a catch by Powell at slip and Holder trapping Shafiq lbw with the last ball before tea, to leave Pakistan on 329 for seven. However, the Windies hopes of bringing a swift end to the innings were dashed when Shadab (16) put on 25 for the eighth wicket with Amir and another 30 for the ninth wicket with Yasir, as runs flowed at the end.
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Boyce and Jefford Relay Festival programme remains unchanged The programme for this Sunday’s Boyce and Jefford Relay Festival and Family Fun Day, which will be held at the Police Sports Club Ground at Eve Leary, remains unchanged, according to the organisers of the second annual event. Following last Sunday’s rescheduling of the competition owed to unrelenting rain that inundated the ground, organisers have recommitted to completing all events as planned with the same prize monies this Sunday at the same venue. The relays this year include the 4x100 (Male and Female); 4x400 (Male and Female); 4x200m Mixed Relay; 4x400m Mixed Relay; Sprint Medley Females (100m,100m, 200m, 400m); Sprint Medley Males (100m, 200m, 400m, 800m); Distance Medley Females (2400m) (400m, 600m, 600m, 800m) and the Distance Medley Males (2800m) (400m, 600m, 600m, 1200m). A total of $500,000 will be handed out in 10 relays on Sunday with the winners going home with $25,000, second place finishers $15,000 and third place $10,000. The hope of completing all the events and handing out all prize monies was one of the main reasons the organisers decided early last Sunday morning to push
Flashback! Stakeholders of the Boyce and Jefford Relay Festival and Family Fun Day pose for a photo opportunity after the launch of the 2017 event four weeks ago. The event will be held this Sunday at the Police Sports Club Ground, Eve Leary. back to this Sunday. In addition the event is also touting a five-a-side small-goal football competition, featuring some of the top teams: Agricola Champion Boys, Sparta Boss, West Front Road, Broad Street Bullies, Back Circle, Bent Street, Sophia, Camp Street All-Stars and Police. The Cash Prizes for those include $50,000 (winner) and $25,000 (second place) with Champion and RunnerUp Trophies. The prize
monies will be the same for a female softball cricket match that puts Trophy Stall Angels against Mike’s Wellwoman. In the male cricket showdown, Trophy Stall Masters will also play Boyce/Jefford All-Stars that features the West Indies and G u y a n a a l l - r o u n d e r, Christopher Barnwell and Guyana all-rounder, Lennox Cush, bowler Trevor Benn among others. For the first time, two cycling events, including the Devil Takes the Hindmost
and a Mountain Bike Race will also be held; the top three cyclists in the Devil race will ride away with $25,000; $15,000 and $10,000 while the Mountain Bike race fetches cash prizes of $25,000, $20,000, $15,000, $12,000, $10,000 and $8000 for the first six places. In the Domino Competition, in excess of 30 teams are anticipated to exceed last year. The prize money in the Domino contest is $150,000 for the
winner and $100,000; $50,000 and $25,000 for second to fourth. The Most Valuable Player (MVP) gets $10,000. Trophies will accompany all the cash prizes. Three gate prizes are also up for grabs with lucky ticket holders going home with a Microwave, compliments of Fon Roje Variety Store; US$100 and Household Hamper from Ansa McAl, one of the main sponsors of the 2017 event under its
Lucozade and Stag brands. Tickets will cost $500 for Adults and $200 for Children with the adult tickets entitling patrons to the gate prize draw. Other sponsors of the event include: National Sports Commission, Ministry of Social Cohesion, Jude Bike Shop, Antartic Maintenance and Repairs, Starr Party Rentals, R&D Engineering, C. Mohan Contracting Guyana Inc. and Insurance Brokers Guyana Limited.
Say NO/Say Yes Campaign Speaker of National Assembly,
Paul Importers on board with Trophies and Medals The continuing effort of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, M.S to offer sports, culture and education as an alternative to a life on the road for youths recently received a major boost when Speaker of the National A s s e m b l y, D r. B a r t o n Scotland and Mr. Jaipaul Bharrat of Paul’s Importers located in Garnett Street, Campbellville made major contributions. Dr. Scotland donated two large trophies and a large collection of medals, while Paul Importers donated a large carton of trophies. Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster, who received both donations, disclosed that as part of the
Speaker of National Assembly Dr. B Scotland hands over donation to Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster.
Mr. Jaipaul Bharrat hands over cheque to Hilbert Foster, RHTY&SC Secretary/CEO. RHTY&SC highly successful Say NO/Say Yes campaign, dozens of
sporting, educational and cultural events would be held and the trophies along
with the medals would be shared out as prizes. The events would include public
speaking, essays, debates, and spelling bee, cricket, basketball and football
tournaments. The energetic Club (Continued on page 31)
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Wednesday May 03, 2017
Draft Sports Tourism Policy imminent Guyana to become Caribbean Sports Tourism Destination by 2020 Guyana is closer than ever to finally putting into action a Sports Tourism Policy having recognised the huge potential for Sports Tourism in the Land of Many Waters. Being championed by the Department of Tourism in the Ministry of Business, the Sports Tourism Policy would provide a framework within which the Sports To u r i s m s e c t o r c o u l d develop and thrive. This all came into perspective on Saturday last when all the major stakeholders gathered at the Pegasus Hotel, Kingston to participate in a historic seminar/workshop held under the theme, ‘Improving Sports through Tourism; growing Tourism through Sports’. Attending were persons from Sports Associations, To u r i s m a n d o t h e r businesses, the Media, the Customs Department, the GDF and Police. Coordinated by Mr. Donald Sinclair, Director General of Tourism with the full backing of Minister of Business, Mr. Dominic Gaskin, last Saturday’s event heralded the beginning of positive things to come with the ultimate aim of realising the vision of Guyana being a
Donald Sinclair, Director General of Tourism major Caribbean Sports Tourism Destination by 2020. Speaking with Kaieteur Sport about the event, Sinclair first expressed gratitude to all the participants, presenters and main speaker, Joseph ‘Reds’ Perreira for helping to make the first and significant step a reality. Sinclair, who has a wealth of experience in the tourism industry, notes that Sports Tourism has been called ‘the sleeping giant of the Tourism market’ with revenues expected to exceed US$ 90 billion in 2017 globally, more than doubling the US$ 46.5 earned in 2005.
Mr. Dominic Gaskin, Minister of Business
”The growth potential of this industry has certainly not escaped the notice of sister Caribbean states, some of which make significant budgetary allocations to o rg a n i s e a n d p r o m o t e sporting events that generate travel to those countries. In that way tourism is enhanced and sporting performance is positively impacted.” Asked to define sports tourism, Sinclair said, “Simply defined, Sports Tourism means travel that is sport related or sporting activity that involves travel which should be paid for by the sports tourists themselves.” Among the main components that would drive
Joseph ‘Reds’ Pereira during his presentation
its success, Sinclair posited would be infrastructure, marketing, event planning and the role of government. ”In the words of the keynote speaker “Sporting infrastructure drives Sports Tourism.” Guyana’s success a s a S p o r t s To u r i s m destination will depend in large measure upon the provision of sporting facilities of an international standard. There can be no compromise with quality if Guyana hopes to attract sporting enthusiasts in a wide range of sporting disciplines.” He informed that in Sports Tourism Sports Marketing is at the same time destination marketing.
C&A Unique and South Quake Youth Ministry launch annual football competition Friday last, C&A Unique in collaboration with South Quake Youth Ministry launched its second annual football competition entitled ‘The Church meets The Street’. The competition began last year which saw 16 teams participating. This year they are looking forward to getting 40 teams to compete in one day. Cash prizes and trophies are up for grab. First place will win $50,000, 2nd place $25,000 and 3rd $15,000. Competition begins at 8:30 am Friday at the Tucville Secondary School Ground. This event is geared towards bringing together youths from the church and youths from the streets that might be victims in domestic problems,
Members of the organising team display their prizes on offer at the launching. depression, drug use, suicidal thoughts, etc and also to build a bridge
between persons in the church and the men that play football. There will be live
performance by from Double G coming out of Linden.
”After the appropriate collaboration and consultation with all the relevant authorities (Tourism, Security, Customs and Immigration, Health etc.), Sports organisations are then ready to market and promote their event in the targeted markets so as to attract visits from players, officials, spectators, families and fans.” With regards to event planning, Sinclair noted that because Sports Tourism combines Sports and Tourism the planning of a S p o r t s To u r i s m e v e n t requires interface and collaboration of both Sports and Tourism entities. This he emphasised can take the form of a Sports Tourism Desk or Commission or designated officer in either the Ministry responsible for Sports or that for Tourism. At that level especially the marketing, promotion and hosting aspects of Sports Tourism events can be coordinated well in advance of the particular event. ”Essentially the role of Government in the development of a Sports Tourism sector is to enable and facilitate. In discharging such a function the provision of budgetary support for the construction and / or upgrade of sporting facilities, for marketing and promotional activity overseas and for the attendance by Guyanese teams and individuals at international events as sports destination ambassadors all assume critical importance.” What is also vital Sinclair informed, is having a Sports Tourism product that must meet international standards, he sought to share some elements that comprise the
Sports Tourism product: - A sporting event that is professionally organised and executed in a secure and welcoming environment - Sporting facilities that meet an international standard - Accommodation that is of g o o d s t a n d a r d - Opportunity offered to p l a y e r s , o ff i c i a l s a n d supporters for tours, visits or leisure activities that acquaint visitors with the local attractions, cuisine and special sites in the sporting d e s t i n a t i o n - Sports museums or other memorials that project and highlight the national heritage in the field of sports - Receptive activities that make visitors feel specially w e l c o m e d A Sports Tourism Calendar is another essential instrument that will both reflect and encourage forward planning on the part of Sports organisations and Tourism entities, Sinclair informed. A number of Sports Tourism events that would be hosted here were also highlighted and these include; Caribbean Schoolboys Boxing Championships (May), South American 10K & Golden Mile (December), Pan-Am Indoor Hockey Festival (October), Diamond M ineral Water Indoor Hockey Festival (December), Caribbean M o t o r R a c i n g C h a m p i o n s h i p s (November), Goodwill Caribbean Swim Meet (August), Junior Caribbean Squash Championships (July), South America Junior T r a c k & F i e l d Championships (June), International Shooting Competition (October), Blind Cricket International (August). Projections and time f r a m e Drafting of Sports Tourism Policy (Department of Tourism in collaboration with relevant entities) – 2017 Establishment of Sports Tourism Coordinating Unit – 2 0 1 7 Annual Award for the most successful Sports Tourism e v e n t – 2 0 1 7 Discipline of Sports Tourism introduced at University of G u y a n a – 2 0 1 8 Inter-campus Sports Tourism event (s) – 2018 Inauguration of Sports Museum – 2018
Wednesday May 03, 2017
CoA stops BCCI from serving notice to ICC ESPNcricinfo - The BCCI’s Committee of Administrators (CoA) has stopped a segment of the board from sending a legal notice to the ICC as part of the fallout of last week’s ICC Board meeting. Though the specifics of the legal complaint are not clear, it was to broadly express discontent with the events of the meeting and referred to the implications of the Members Participation Agreement (MPA). A dozen state associations organised a conference call yesterday in which they agreed to send the notice, but their bid to do so was quashed by an email from the CoA which pointed out that no notice could be sent by the BCCI on its own. Ever since the Indian board was outvoted at the ICC last week on a new financial model as well as constitutional changes, speculation has grown about how the BCCI will react. One option on the table is for the BCCI to revoke the M PA , w h i c h g o v e r n s member participation in ICC events. It is a drastic step and, if it were to be taken, it would not only mean India pulling out of the Champions Trophy, but also that they will not play in or host any ICC tournaments for the remainder of the rights cycle that stretches to 2023. Yesterday, this option seemed like it might become a reality, until the CoA stepped in. The process began when, at about 9am, Amitabh Choudhary, the acting BCCI secretary, phoned CoA chairman Vinod Rai to inform him that some BCCI members were keen to organise a conference call to discuss whether or not to send the ICC a legal notice. An hour later, former BCCI president Anurag Thakur weighed in, speaking to Rai and arguing in favour of the BCCI sending the notice. This was the first time, incidentally, that Thakur has spoken to the CoA since he was asked to step down as the BCCI president by the Supreme Court in January. Rai was clear, however, that the BCCI could not send such a notice. His advice to both Choudhary and Thakur was the notice could only be sent in case all 30 state associations voted “unanimously” at the special general body meeting (SGM), which is scheduled for May 7 and has been
called specifically to discuss the ICC’s decisions, the M PA a n d I n d i a ’s participation in next month’s Champions Trophy. Rai said any decision specifically on withdrawing from the Champions Trophy should only be taken at the SGM. Rai told Choudhary he would need to show in writing that it was the unanimous decision of all 30 BCCI members to send the notice. The conference call went ahead regardless, at the insistence of some members. According to one state association head in attendance, the entire process was fairly abrupt: some association heads received a SMS only an hour before the call started. The call itself lasted about 20 m i n u t e s . C h o u d h a r y, Anirudh Chaudhry (the BCCI treasurer), former board president N Srinivasan and Anand Jaiswal (Vidarbha Cricket Association president) were among the 12 members present on the call. It is understood only Jaiswal objected to the proposal to send the legal notice right away. He pointed out that the state associations been served with copies of the MPA and that there was no “tearing hurry” to serve the notice. He insisted there needed to be discussion, and the BCCI members needed to understand the pros and cons of any such decision. He argued that it was prudent to wait for the SGM. Choudhary also felt it was probably not the most appropriate time, given the IPL was ongoing. But the others strongly supported the notice being sent as soon as possible. Immediately after the call, the decision was circulated to all state associations. Ruffled at not being told about the call and unhappy with the decision, a number of state associations quickly approached Rai. He told the BCCI office bearers that no notice could be sent without the CoA being consulted. “All letters, notices and other correspondence on behalf of the BCCI which seek to invoke or exercise any rights/remedies under the Members Participation Agreement entered into between the BCCI and the ICC Business Corporation (Continued on page 31)
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Banks Sponsors National Relay championships
Banks DIH Limited Brand Manager Clive Pellew makes a presentation of products to Dsiree Wyles-Ogle in the presence of Lorraine Barker-King, Otis Smith and Vonne George of the Unit of Allied Arts and Errol Nelson of Banks. Banks DIH Limited has teamed up with the Ministry of Education (Unit of Allied Arts) for the second Annual National Schools Relay Festival at the National Track and Field Centre at
Leonora today. Banks DIH was named beverage sponsor and will support the Festival under the following brands - Rain Forest Water, Misty Cran Water
and Powerade. Administrator of the Unit, Desiree Wyles-Ogle thanked Banks DIH Limited for its continued support of the Festival which started last year to coincide with
Guyana’s Golden Jubilee celebrations. Over 900 athletes from secondary schools across the country will compete for top honours at the Festival which starts at 10:00 hours.
Joshua-Fury fight ‘miles away’, says Hearn (Reuters) A showdown between IBF, WBA and IBO heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury is “miles away” as the former champion is yet to regain his physical form and boxing licence, promoter Eddie Hearn has said. Joshua beat Wladimir Klitschko after 11 rounds on Saturday to win three of the four heavyweight titles that belonged to Fury, who relinquished all of his titles in 2015 after his licence was
suspended pending investigation for doping and medical issues. The heavyweight rivals have been talking about a match-up since last week when they exchanged barbs o n Tw i t t e r a n d F u r y challenged Joshua after his victory at Wembley, saying he “can beat AJ with one arm tied behind my back.” Hearn, who is planning Joshua’s schedule, said that Fury still had a lot of hurdles to clear before a fight could
Anthony Joshua (Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge Livepic) be arranged. “We are desperate for that fight because AJ thinks he wins comfortably, it is a
great fight and it is the biggest fight out there,” Hearn told talkSPORT. “But (Continued on page 31)
t r o Sp Daunting fourth day awaits Windies after Azhar, Misbah rally Pakistan Jason Holder bowled an incisive spell before tea, West Indies v Pakistan, 2nd Test, Bridgetown, 3rd day, ©AFP
Misbah-ul-Haq was bounced out for 99, West Indies v Pakistan, 2nd Test, Bridgetown, 3rd day, © AFP
Linden Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Competition
Team 25 set up mouthwatering clash with Dave & Celina -Silver Bullets take on Swag Entertainment in other semi-final
Part of the action between champions Team 25 and Amelia’s Ward Russians which the former won to advance to the semi-finals. Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Limited, 24 Saffon St.Charlestown, Georgetown.Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/ 226-8210