Kaieteur News

Kaieteur News

PAGE 04

Saturday May 06, 2017

Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Adam Harris Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

EDITORIAL

TRAINING OUR YOUTHS Youths are the future of the country, and the deciding force in elections. Youths determine who gets elected by voting or abstaining from voting. But it seems that there is a high level of frustration and anger among our youths, many of whom are poor, uneducated and jobless. Some are forced to turn to crime in order to survive. Others have been promised employment only to realize that they are not equipped because of their poor academic standards. While many have vented their anger and frustrations in many ways, most of the time against the society, others are striving to do something useful, even if it means setting up a stall and vending something that could be in demand. This is commendable, given that a large number of youths voted in the last general elections. They felt that the government has not provided them with jobs as promised. Youths are 65 percent of the population, yet there are only a few token youth representation at the helm of government structures such as the cabinet and Parliament. There is real fear among youths that they are being schooled in the same old partisan, divisive and vindictive politics that will ultimately see them mirroring the politicians of today whom they would replace. The fear becomes worse because none of the political parties has any real formal systems or mechanisms in place to train youths in a non-partisan, non-divisive and non-vindictive way. Youths are needed in politics but they are not being taken seriously by the leaders of the main political parties which must develop mechanisms to groom them to replace the present crop of aging politicians. It must be done in a holistic way. Youths who aspire to become future politicians should not be subjected to the autocracy and group-think that currently exists in the parties. They should be free to make their own choices independently. They should not be forced to toe the party line or engage in rabid partisan dialogue. They should be viewed as holistic leaders who will move the country away from partisan politics. Therefore, ample training by the established parties would perhaps provide the right balance for real political mentorship that is desperately needed to unite the country and move it forward. It would provide youths with the opportunity to practice politics without partisan overtures. Partisan politics is at the root of much of the economic disparities between the rich and the poor as well as in the education, health and social systems. It has created a dysfunctional society. Most of the young politicians today were trained in the old-fashioned way to practise partisan politics to the detriment of society. This was evident in past administrations and is still being practiced by this government whose ministries, departments and state agencies are staffed with party personnel. Partisan politics has and continues to be a very destructive element in the country which is striving desperately for unity. There are no laws to prohibit anyone from having political affiliations or from practising or being engaged in partisan politics. However, it would be in the best interest of the country for all political parties and civil society groups to begin the dialogue to transform the political system into a non-partisan structure. The starting point is for the two mainstream political parties to refrain from corrosive practices in order to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past. They should start the process of schooling our youths in the art of non-partisan political strategies andequipthem with the tools for effective and visionary leadership to transform the country. This should be the minimum requirement for our youths who should demand nothing less.

Editor’s Note; If your sent letter was not published and you felt its contents were valid and devoid of libel or personal attacks, please contact us by phone or email.

Terrible service from the GRA in New Amsterdam Dear Editor, I have refrained myself from writing in this section of your newspapers for over two months now. The reason why I desisted from doing so is because I felt that no one acts upon what is written. The ‘unacceptable things’ that happen in Guyana seem to be perpetual and never ending. I am compelled to write again. This time on the ‘inefficient service’ provided by the Guyana Revenue Authority in New Amsterdam, Berbice. I am writing this piece with much aspiration that those in authority can pay strict attention to it and be conscientious.

On Thursday afternoon, at around 15:15hrs, I visited the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) in New Amsterdam to submit my Income tax returns. I presented my tax returns to a GRA official and requested a receipt for my submission. The official told me in a very polite tone, “Please have a seat. I will get it to you”. I made myself very comfortable in one of the chairs provided for taxpayers with much optimism. Thirty five minutes elapsed and I was still seated there, empty handed. I then decided to enquire about my receipt from another GRA official, since the one that received

my tax returns was nowhere to be seen. I provided the official with my ID card as was requested and was told to “sit outside and wait”. Another 15 minutes went by. Then the official returned my ID card and was going through a huge pile of papers for the receipt. I felt disgusted waiting so I left. Almost one hour of my time was wasted even though there was no other person with tax returns to be attended to. Will this country ever get better with its services? I honestly feel that the reason why I didn’t receive a receipt for the

submission of my returns is because of the lackadaisical and ineffectual attitude of those officials at GRA. Since I do not have any proof of the submission, should a situation arise whereby it is necessary for me to produce evidence that I submitted my returns for last y e a r, w o u l d I b e a n unfortunate one to be told that I didn’t submit any? I hope not! I am therefore, appealing to the GRA officials to be efficient and value the time of others while delivering to the people. Why waste people’s time? Time is too precious to be frittered away. Ashan Bacchus.

Reflecting on the SOCU charge against former AG, Nandlall Dear Editor, The more I reflect on the charge and the associated happenings of Monday 24th April and Thursday 27th, the more I wonder who and what could be driving such illconceived, trivial charge against him, for what purpose and to what end. Former AG Anil Nandlall is charged for taking with him and not leaving in the AG’s office, a number of law reports, which he received as a result of personal subscriptions to the international publishers of professional reports, books and journals, an arrangement which he had in place a decade earlier in his private practice. Lawyer Nandlall had requested from then President Donald Ramotar that this professional subscription be paid by the Government of Guyana as part of his compensation whilst serving as AG. President Ramotar has confirmed that he acceded to this request. When Former AG Nandlall was first detained on the Monday, he was released some hours later after the facts above were

attested to presumably, to the SOCU officers’ satisfaction. It has been common practice within governments, their institutions and agencies, and in the private sector that some employees receive, as part of their compensation, the payment of their subscriptions in some professional and trade bodies. This has been particularly so for heads of divisions, departments and sections, so that they may have no excuse in keeping themselves conversant with developments in their particular areas of expertise. I, myself, when Director for Product Quality, Research & Development in our bauxite c o m p a n y, h a d m y subscriptions paid, for membership in The American Ceramic Society, The American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers and the International Colloquium for the Studies Of Bauxite, Alumina and Aluminium (ICSOBA) which had accompanying monthly journals, annual reports, etc. Monday afternoon the matter seemed, rightfully, to

be at an end. Imagine the consternation of many of us on learning on the Thursday morning, that Anil was again detained and this time charged essentially for stealing those said “Law Reports”! There seemed to be no question of “station bail”; uncertainties about when he would be put before the court; and concerns that he may be detained over the holiday weekend to Tuesday morning. Thankfully, with assistance from an unexpected quarter in approaches to the top of our Judiciary, it was arranged for him to be taken before a magistrate that afternoon where he was released on his own recognizance. Whatever the outcome of these charges, recognizing that the price of these “Law Reports” is only about five hundred thousand Guyana dollars, that unto now there appears to be no dispute of facts, and that Former AG has followed a practice that is quite common, and acknowledging that a Court may yet find flaws in a practice that is common, was this the way to proceed? Was this a matter for SOCU?

How do the officers of our SOCU and sincere advocates of SOCU feel about this matter? And how do members of our Judiciary and Magistracy feel? I think that they would rather that this matter had not been before them. Yes, my questioning has been largely rhetorical – we all know that over the last two years our Coalition Government has been investing much too much of our country’s and peoples’ resources of money, time and goodwill in pursuing their preposterous election campaigning allegations of ‘hundreds of billions of Guyana dollars in annual corruption and thieving in our (PPP/C) time’. Looks like they began to believe their preposterous campaigning allegations, when as their first order of business they gave themselves those hefty salary raises. But it seems too that they soon wised up, finding not enough money to pay public servants the similar large increases which they had promised them nor the G$ (Continued on page 5)

Justice Claudette Singh could be in conflict of interest Dear Editor, With respect to the recent announcement by Minister Harmon, of Cabinet’s approval of the establishment of a ‘Ministerial Council of Legal Advisors to the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, I’m hoping that someone is paying keen attention to an obvious case of Conflict of Interest, by having the Legal Advisor for the Guyana Police Force, former Justice Claudette Singh SC, to sit on the Council. One would have thought that,

the legal minds in the President’s Cabinet ought to have seen that Justice Singh will no doubt will be wearing two hats, hence resulting in a blatant act of mockery to the democratic values, and particularly, an insult to the people of Guyana. Finally, and before anyone gets too sensitive, I wish to make it clear that, I have tremendous respect for Justice Claudette Singh, SC. However, I’m concerned about the obvious Conflict of Interest. After all, she will be sitting as a

member of the Government’s Legal Council, and also as Legal Advisor to the Guyana Police Force. Thus even if she recuses herself from matters that involve the government, the perception of Conflict of Interest will still be a factor. That said, the government needs to decide, on whether this eminently qualified former Justice, who herself was an advisor to the former controversial Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, should wear two hats. Mark A. Benschop

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Kaieteur News

Gail Teixeira wants the Lands Commission to be scrapped DEAR EDITOR, The government has deliberately ignored the existence of the Amerindian Act and in particular, Section VI of the Amerindian Act. This section is dedicated to addressing granting of lands to Amerindian communities, those without land titles, and, also granting of extensions to those requesting additional lands. This is a very important section of the Act as it removed the need for any middle man (such as a Commission) from this process. It is the community/village that will interact directly with the Government and negotiate a mutually agreed settlement. It places the responsibility on the Government, through the Minister of Amerindian Affairs, to act. It is the Minister with responsibility for Amerindian/indigenous affairs that is given statutory responsibilities to protect their rights and is empowered to address land claims through the Amerindian Act The present Minister, Fourth Vice President, Mr. Sydney Allicock, M.P., can meet with each community applying right now or those which have already applied and negotiate, albeit in consultation with other State agencies, as done in the past. If there are any controversies/ difficulties these can be settled through the process laid out in the Amerindian Act. Any difficulties encountered from time to time have less to

do with the Act itself and more to do with situations where land was previously given out for mining and forestry concessions, for example, which now conflict with a given community’s application for land. In short, there is no need for a Commission of Inquiry nor an Indigenous Lands Commission as the Act is adequate and has been used effectively and successfully with regards to Amerindian land rights. One may, therefore, conclude, that it is either that the President has no confidence in his Fourth Vice President and Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs to deal with the land issues before him or the Minister’s authority has been taken away, or, the Minister has chosen to give up his authority. In the light of the establishment of the Commission of Inquiry on Lands, actions of the government towards Amerindian land rights and rights since taking office, expose an objective which is sinister:Within 2 months of taking office the government closed down the Amerindian Land Titling Unit, at the Office of the President, and terminated all the staff, this was allowed to go on for almost a year. Consequentially, pending demarcations and surveying also ground to a halt. No wonder those communities which applied for land or extensions prior to the 2015 general and regional elections are deeply worried, moreso in the light

of the terms of reference of the Commission of Inquiry. Funds designated to support the Amerindian Community Development Plans and projects approved under the Norwegian Agreement have been stymied over the last 23 months in violation of the said Agreement. In July 2015, the government terminated 1,972 Amerindian community service officers, the largest single termination of employees by the state since the early 1980s! The Hinterland Household Solar Electrification Project which provided solar units to 13,170 households in Amerindian communities has also been halted whilst 6,000 of these units purchased before the elections have been “redeployed” for use at the Ministry of the Presidency and State House. The OLTPF has been dismantled and the allocation of laptops for one hundred (100) ICT hubs in Amerindian communities has also fallen by the way side. The principal of “Free Prior and Informed Consent” enshrined in the UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples has been honoured in the breach repeatedly as is the case with the establishment of the Commission of Inquiry on Lands, and, the one-shot meeting recently held on proposed amendments to the Amerindian Act in the capital city instead of in the communities with their elected coun-

The opportunity is open to all DEAR EDITOR, I read in another section of the press this week, on the Toshaos Council calling for the scrapping of the commission to deal with land issues, even threatening to vote against the Coalition in the upcoming 2020 elections. Well so be it. The commission was established to deal with land issues in general, but to my surprise, I read that the council thinks this would further incite racial fears and anxieties rather than heal as the commission is mandated to do. I therefore urge Government to stand firm and not be blackmailed or back away from the original intent

of the commission as it has done with GuySuco and a string of other issues in which it had the high ground. Land issues are like an albatross hanging around the necks of Guyanese. The fact that this Government has seen it fit to attempt to address this issue once and for all not only shows political fortitude, but wisdom and foresight of a kind which had eluded previous administrations, some quite conveniently, and perhaps deliberately. The time for piecemeal approaches has long passed, so I therefore urge the authorities to proceed as planned, as every single

group in this Country would have a chance to have their say in a public, open and transparent process. This is not a situation where parcels of lands are being handed out secretly. This commission would hold public hearings, examine the history of land dating back to the first peoples, slavery, indentureship, the colonial era in general, and the decades coming forward. I therefore submit that the work of the commission should proceed, and groups which fear its mission should simply organize themselves to make representation, as the opportunity is open to all. Peter Joseph

cils in the regions as was done with the Amerindian Act. With regards to the latter, one may rationally ask the Minister or any Cabinet member what are the amendments the government wishes to make to the Amerindian Act. What are the deficiencies it wishes to correct? I am confident that other than renaming it the “Indigenous” Act, they will have nothing to contribute.The Amerindian Act stands in the way of a grander design of the government, and the Commission of Inquiry is its first maneuver. The Parliamentary Opposition’s request to the Speaker for an Adjournment Motion on a Definite Matter of Urgent Public Importance to discuss the Commission and to call for its revocation on April 13, 2017 was considered “not urgent” although the Commission had already been appointed on March 10, 2017 with a deadline to report to the President by November, 2017. Again no surprise there, only one of 4 requests for such adjournment motions have been allowed by the Speaker! The Parliamentary Opposition submitted another motion again calling for the revocation of the Commission of Inquiry on April 25, 2017. Alas, the motion was allowed by the Speaker but stripped of 9 clauses and one Be it resolved clause! It is listed on the Order paper in its amended version for the May

8th sitting. If the government’s intentions are not sinister then why was this Commission set up in such a surreptitious manner? The government could not be so obtuse or power drunk to think that Guyanese would not recognise that this is an issue of such complexity and so fraught with controversy that it would risk social cohesion and national unity? I hold to my opinion that the Commission of Inquiry on Lands, defined by its terms of reference, is a sinister move. I stand in solidarity with the PPPC, the National Toshaos Council and the Amerindian non-governmental organizations and communities in call-

Minister cannot suspend driver license on this charge DEAR EDITOR, I read with keen interest a report in K a i e t e u r News, Thursday, May 4, 2017 under the caption, “ Drivers’ licences being suspended once charged with dangerous drivingRamjattan.” The article quoted the Minister of Public Security as saying that the process of suspending drivers’ licence once they have been charged with dangerous driving has started. According to the article the

Reflecting on the SOCU... From page 4 9000 per bag for paddy which was promised to rice farmers. We see and hear from this Government, on so many occasions these days that money isn’t there! As our Leader of the Opposition has been saying, they must either withdraw their preposterous allegations or be prepared to concede that they have equaled and bettered the PPP/ C in corruption and thieving in their first two years. Our Government must

ing for the revocation of this Commission. To be silent on this issue is allow the government unfettered power to continue to reverse democratic gains made over the years, especially with regard to Amerindian land rights. Like those citizens who are making their voices heard on the parking meters in Georgetown, VAT on education goods and services, the closure of sugar estates, on the ban on used tyres, to name the most recent, we must also let our voices be heard in opposition to this Commission of Inquiry. Gail Teixeira, M.P., PPPC Chief Whip

now know that with them two years in office, it is becoming clearer each day, as illustrated in this persecution and intended prosecution of Former AG Nandlall in this matter of the ‘Law Reports’, that there is little basis for their preposterous election campaigning allegations which were just ‘preposterous election campaigning allegations’. Samuel A. A. Hinds Former Prime Minister and Former President

Minister was speaking at the launch of the National Road Safety action plan for the years 2017 to 2019. This report left me confused. My little knowledge of the traffic laws is that the Minister has the power to suspend a driver from driving who is charged for causing death by dangerous driving pending the outcome of the case but he cannot suspend a driver from driving who is charged with dangerous driving. There is a vast difference between the charge of causing death by dangerous driving and that of dangerous driving. Hope that the reporter misquoted the Minister or the flood gates of unethical and corrupt behaviour between the police and drivers will be opened when the latter are caught driving dangerously. Clinton Conway Assistant Commissioner of Police (Rtd)

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What is the purpose of the Labour Day workers march? DEAR EDITOR, There are so many issues affecting workers in all sectors and we would have thought that the Labour Day march was the opportune time for workers and their unions to publicly highlight the issues affecting them and to make demands on the government and private sector. Each year, for quite a few years now, what we’ve seen is what we refer to as semimashramani without floats: liquor drinking, loud music and gyrating including back ball. How can one seriously be trying to address issues in this manner? This year’s march was most upsetting to us. As the marchers passed us on Regent and Cummings St, where we were having our usual Labour Day picketing exercise, members of the Guyana Teachers Union contingent were gyrating to the song “Anyway Sanco want am”, while those in the Ministry of Health contingent including nurses in uniform were gyrating to the famous

Soca” Ah Duckin it” and if that was not enough, some of the marchers verbally attacked us for standing quietly highlighting our issues, while some were calling on us to join the march. We don’t know if the ones who were hurling unpleasant remarks at us felt that we were picketing against them. That was not the case. All we were doing was presenting the case of domestic workers (a section of workers who are marginalized even after Guyana’s government ratified the ILO Convention 189) to other sectors of workers, union representatives and government Ministers. So we ask again - what is the purpose of the Labour Day march? There are countless issues with the education system, from salaries to overcrowded classrooms, to lack of text books, to too little time allotted to teach a subject these are just some of the problems we are told about at PTA when we complain about the state of our children’s education.

What about the issues affecting workers in the health sector? Is it that nothing affecting them? Is it that we in Red Thread have the wrong idea of what this event is supposed to be about? By the next May Day march, we challenge each union to ensure that shop stewards are active; the unions) must become representative bodies that are in touch with even the smallest units of members. Workers must meet, talk about issues and identify the things they want to take action on and the action they will take. How much education about their rights are workers engaged in? May Day March 2018 should be a sober one, celebrating the workers’ victories and talking about other issues they must organize around, including the accountability of union leaders? Joy Marcus, Wintress White and Halima Khan (For Red Thread) Susan Collymore (For Grass roots Women Across Race)

Broken promises can seriously affect young people’s minds DEAR EDITOR, We know from our daily doses of the media that we live in a world of broken promises and an absence of justice throughout the world. A study was done a few years ago in which 12,000 twelve year old children were asked what was the most important thing they wanted from their teachers. The response was not kindness, cleverness or wisdom - they simply asked for the teacher to be just and fair. When asked, those same children, in their innocence, said that when an adult promised something they expected they would stand by that promise. Some weeks ago it was reported that the President of our country was going to rescind the 14% VAT on Private Education. Was that a journalistic mistake, a piece of fashionable “fake news” or simply a statement that was made outside the corridors of politics? Whatever the explanation the announcement was made

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Kaieteur News

and youth celebrated - only to be crushed a few days later by the “correction”. Then we were promised that on Monday Parliament would debate the 14%. Articles were appearing in all the newspapers, on a daily basis, about the “positions” to be taken by various parties on this very contentious issue. But the statements were always “on behalf of parties” rather than the voice of individuals. Then we heard late on Thursday night, that apparently because of some “technicality” there will be no debate on Monday. Despite the many problems in the world today we also live in a new age of increasing transparency where the elected leaders throughout the world are obliged to state openly their personal views on contentious issues. In so many countries now all votes are made public so that the people of the nation can see clearly who has voted for what. Is it impossible to have a simple list printed in the

newspaper with a yes or no by the name of each of the MPs re whether or not they, as an individual, support the 14%. While we are waiting for the debate in Parliament to eventually take place is it possible to have a TV debate on the matter to help inform the public on the key issues? I had the opportunity to work for 30 years in the area of disability, working as a consultant on projects in 36 countries. In almost all of those countries when there was no genuine desire to improve the lives of persons with disability a “Commission” would be created or a “survey” undertaken to “assess the magnitude of the problem “ or a “promise” would be made to address the matter “later” and, over time, simply nothing would be done and the vast majority of persons would remain blissfully ignorant of the debates, concern, surveys, commissions and broken promises voiced, apparently, on their behalf. The youth of this world still expect promises to be kept. If such promises continue to be broken they will grow into embittered, disillusioned and sad young adults and will do precious little to develop this country. So many will invest their talents elsewhere and enrich those nations. Dr Brian O’Toole Director Nations University

The reasons for the resistance to the Lands Commission DEAR EDITOR, In my letter of Thursday in KN, captioned, “ACDA has not applied to the Government for lands,”I cited the first reason for the resistance to the Lands Commission. The other two reasons follow. The second reason for the resistance to the COI on Land is Amerindians are holding the government hostage for subsurface rights. They believe they should have 24% of Guyana and all the mineral rights beneath that land. Of course the Government of Guyana, like most sovereign states own subsurface rights. This has been an ongoing beef since the First United Nations Decade of World’s Indigenous Peoples (1995-2004) and the second UN International Decade for Wo r l d ’s Indigenous Peoples (2005-2014). What makes this argument more flawed is that oil has been found in Guyana’s oceans and this would imply that all of the benefits of oil should go to Coast Landers and none to Amerindians living in the Interior. Again, greed seems to be the driving force in this claim as well as the selfish view that Guyana’s patrimony only belongs to Indians (Jagdeo’s view ) and now Amerindians (Shuman’s NTC View). Quite interestingly, none of these groups sacrificed the 473,000 lives to build Guyana from the swamp it was. The third reason for resistance to the COI is a race issue which has been hidden for quite a while. Vi c e P r e s i d e n t L e n n o x Shuman let the bird out of the bag. Amerindians due to the influence of the PPP, do not believe that Africans should be given any land

in Guyana for reparatory justice in the same manner in which Amerindians received 13.8 % of Guyana as reparatory justice. They are perhaps unaware that Jadgeo/Ramotar gave hundreds of thousands of acres of land to Indians from India such as Viatarna and hundreds of thousands of acres to Chinese companies such as Bai Shan Lin and Rong-An. More recently, and among thousands of illegal acts, Jagdeo/Ramotar gave 300 Indians 99 years leases in the Mahaica-MahaiconyAbary scheme and none to Africans. These 99 year leases are free and no monies were paid even for application fees etc. Interestingly, the 13.8% of Land given to Amerindians only seems to benefits pure Amerindians. There are almost 10,000 Guyanese of mixed Amerindian, African, Indian, Portuguese and Chinese heritage. They have received very little from the G$ 4 billion paid to the Amerindian Development Fund that has been provided to 141 Amerindian Villages out of Norway. The current land Titling Program is very silent and hidden issue. It is no wonder the Amerindian groups would not want this in a Public COI on land. Finally, I say this to our Amerindian Brothers and S i s t e r s . Yo u a r e b e i n g grossly unfair to the Guyana Government and the People of Guyana and are being led astray into another Rupunini Uprising by the racist Bharrat Jagdeo. This current government has put G$26 billion of its current G$250 billion exclusively for Amerindian communities which also benefit from

other areas of the 2017 budget for all Guyanese. Additionally, Minister Jordan in March this year signed an Agreement with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to transform the lives of 30,000 people in Guyana’s hinterland. Prior to this signing Minister Jordan in February signed another agreement with the Inter-American Development Bank for US$15m Sustainable Agricultural Development Program of which Amerindian communities will benefit from agricultural diversification. Threatening not to vote for the APNU/AFC government is no different than Jagdeo and Indo Guyanese whom have already threatened the Government if Guyscuo isn’t allow to drain the Tr e a s u r y. Guysuco owes G$77 billion and needs another G$45 billion to be revitalised. The Government has already put G$32 billion into Guycuso over the last 23 months and over G$100 billion has been put into Guysuco over the last several years. Guysuco can never make profits if it is producing sugar ay 30-60 cents per pound and the world market price is 12-20 cents per pound.13.8% of Guyana is a very large amount of land that was given to 7000 Amerindians whom were here in 1838 . To ask for 24% of Guyana is totally wrong. To say ACDA received land from GLS&C is totally racist because not only did ACDA receive no land but I fail to see the link with the COI. Eric M. Phillips Executive Member ACDA Chair, Guyana Reparations Committee

When people mouth off often, beware something is wrong DEAR EDITOR, With respect, I suggest that Vincent Alexander clammed up on the various accusations, statements, complaints, re-examinations et al, of past incidents and matters and the plethora of accusations being hurled. Why would I say so? 1. The matters are old and with the passage of time memory and restatements would create more differences in the reality of the past 2. Vincent Alexander is no longer in the position of Registrar, therefore the mat-

ters are for the University itself to deal with and settle 3. With complainants going public, that smacks of personal grievances and not university grievances 4. Vincent Alexander would appear to have a right of media passage, for his responses appears to head to the top of the letter queue for printing, so to us the general public a fair observation is ‘how come his letters get published so quickly?’ I am of the Guyanese mentality and from the olden days and that is that, when you see

someone is being accused and that someone has ‘nuff mouth’, nah doubt dat something wrang’. In my years of working in senior positions, I inherited matters from my predecessors. Normal management systems applied and one had to deal with the inheritances. When finality comes, favourable or unfavourable, you become the person in the spotlight. With all his knowledge and experience, Vincent Alexander appears to fall within my last two comments. Carl Veecock, Canada

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Controversy over the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee’s role

Minister of State Joseph Harmon speaking today at post-cabinet press briefing. A recent visit to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) by the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Social Services (PSCSS) sparked a controversy on Wednesday. It was discovered that the facility was short on drugs and under staffed. Chairperson of the Board of Directors of GPHC, Kesaundra Alves, told the parliamentary committee members and the media operatives at the beginning of the visit that the places selected to be visited were the Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department, the Surgical Outpatients Departments (SOPD), the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU) and the Pediatric Department (Baby Heart). Dr. Vindhya Persaud, chairperson of the committee indicated that she would like to add some places to that list, the main Pharmacy, the main Laboratory and the Maternity ward being her additions After visiting the main Laboratory, some members of the team visited the

Pharmaceutical bond. That was when the tour was cut short. Alves said in a press release “It was distasteful and unethical. Clearly there was some hidden agenda.” It must have been that the Pharmaceutical Bond was one of those areas that should not have visited. Dr. Persaud and other members, along with media personnel had followed Mark Lewis, GPHC Chief of Security who was at the time leading the tour body. Alves asked that they leave immediately. Minister within the Ministry of Public Health Karen Cummings, Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs Valrie Garrido-Lowe and Vishwa Mahadeo did not join the team in the bond. Alves expressed outrage at the deception demonstrated by some members of the parliamentary committee. The clerk of the Committee had written to the GPHC seeking permission to ‘observe the con-

Chairperson of the Board of Directors of GPHC of Kesaundra Alves ditions/facilities under which patients are cared for and to interact with members of the public and staff at this facility’. In the wake of the incident Minister of State Joseph Harmon stated that there are proper protocols and procedures that the Parliamentary Sectoral Committees have to follow. “It is not an investigation.” The Sectoral Commit-

Police stations for modernization in two years- Ramjattan Plans to have modernized police stations across the country are in the pipeline, according to Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan. The Minister said that the government is working to modernize most, if not all, police stations within the next two years. First on the agenda is rehabilitation of the sexual and domestic violence units at the various police stations. This move will see victims of sexual and domestic violence having privacy when they are making a report. Ramjattan said that currently, rehabilitation works have begun on eight police stations. There are rooms to allow victims of abuse to relate their story in privacy. “The first steps are being made to ensure that we do rehabilitate existing policing stations that can then accommodate at least a room,” the Minister noted while adding that the work will take some time because of the

Minister within the Ministry of Public Health Karen Cummings and Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs Valrie Garrido-Lowe, with others discussing the tour

procurement process. Once completed, training will be required for police officers to handle these cases. Rehabilitation work is being done under the Citizen Security Programme. In 2014, the then Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Jennifer Webster, established the special unit to handle reports of rape and domestic violence in Guyana. Webster had indicated that there will be specially trained investigators to deal with the victims of these crimes. She had said that the unit will work in close collaboration with the Guyana Police Force and upon reporting an incident; the victim will be placed in a special room, with all the key participants, including a medical examiner. The private room was intended to create an encouraging atmosphere where victims can come forward and report incidents of sexual abuse. The unit will also have a support system for victims of rape.

Dr. Vindhya Persaud (r), chairperson of the committee and other members heading to the Pharmaceutical bond tees, in the exercise of its responsibilities, has the power to examine all policies and administration for each sector to determine whether the execution of Government policy is in consonance with the principle of good governance and in the best interest of the nation. No comment was forthcoming from Chairperson of the PSCSS Dr. Vindhya Persaud. The members of the PSCSS are Dr. Vindhya Persaud, Minister within the

Ministry of Public Health Karen Cummings, Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs Valerie Garrido-Lowe, Dr Vishwa Mahadeo, Alister Charlie,

Indranie Chandarpal, Minister within the Ministry of Communities Valerie Patterson, and Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman.

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Saturday May 06, 2017

Kaieteur News

More persons now benefitting from Public Assistance programme Effective January 1, 2017, the Ministry of Social Protection’s Public Assistance was increased from $6,500 to $7,500. With this increase, more persons are being supported, especially children, said Director of Social Services at the Ministry of Social Protection, Wentworth Tanner. “The Social Services department can now accommodate a lot more persons, and we’re more focused on providing support to children especially those children who do not have the basic necessity to attend school on a regular basis,” Tanner explained to the Government Information Agency. This programme is conditional and applicants have to fulfill certain requirements before they receive government’s assistance.

Director of Social Services, Wentworth Tanner For example, persons applying with a medical condition, have to provide a medical certificate and proof that they are attending a medical clinic regularly.

However, persons are supported to sustain themselves, and to be able to contribute to the general development of the country. Tanner noted that the persons receiving support must prove that they are making the effort to live a healthy lifestyle, and adhere to the doctor’s instruction. “We do know that the national coffers are there to ensure that people are healthier and that they’re able to contribute on the economy’s overall development. There are many studies which show that there is a direct correlation between development,

poverty alleviation and health so we are focused on that for persons applying for social assistance,” Tanner highlighted. The social services department also plays a role to ensure that children attend school and clinics regularly. Tanner pointed out that the different categories of Public Assistance are medical, temporary and economic public assistance. He explained that the medical is for persons with temporary health problems such as an accident that will prevent them from working. The economic ones are

given to persons who have economic problems and cannot sustain their families and the permanent public assistance is for persons with permanent disabilities such as paralysis. The Social Services Director noted that for the medical and economic category, a review of circumstances is conducted every six months, and for the permanent category, once every year. This is to ensure that the persons receiving public assistance are still eligible for it. Meanwhile, the Social Services department’s ‘at risk youths’ programmes

w h i c h have been implemented in Region Four, Georgetown, East Bank Demerara, and Regions Five and Three are moving apace and will be rolled out in other administrative regions shortly. The “at risk youths” benefit from training courses, as well as programmes which focus on remedial behaviour which is aimed at preparing them to become positive adults. Public Assistance is a temporary support instituted by the government to provide welfare services to low income families.

Guyanese $20 spoils BVI prosecution’s show British Virgin Islands (BVINews) The ‘mysterious’ appearance of a Guyanese $20 bill has affected the case prosecutors have been building against Dillon Findlay and Jariel Harrigan, who are on trial in relation to marijuana-related charges. The prosecution had tried to enter an exhibit into evidence, but was denied after the court discovered the Guyanese $20 – which was not accounted for – inside the evidence bag of the said exhibit. According to two members of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force, the accused men were found sleeping in a vehicle that was parked in the Crabbe Lot

(Ghetto) area of Road Town in April 2015. During their respective testimonies in the Magistrate’s Court, police officers Calvert Romney and Durville Carty said they caught Findlay, Harrigan, and Omarie Winter with 61.2 grams of marijuana, a total of US$828 cash, a bag of bamboo wrapping paper and dime bags. The cops stated that of the total amount of money found, they recovered US$602 in Findlay’s pants pocket. They said the other US$226 was found inside the vehicle. The law enforcers further told the court that they suspected the accused men were selling drugs. They also

noted their suspicion that the monies found were proceeds of drug dealing. The monies and items that were allegedly recovered were presented in court to be entered into evidence. All the items were admitted into evidence except the evidence bag containing the $602. That evidence bag was discovered to contain the ‘mysterious’ Guyanese currency. Defence attorney, Ayodeji Bernard, who is representing Findlay, argued that the $602 should not be accepted into evidence because neither of the police officers mentioned it in their testimony. “I do share counsel’s sentiments… I have no evidence of how it came to be into the bag,” said Magistrate Ayana Baptiste-DaBreo. The magistrate then

questioned: “Where did it magically appear from?” “Based on that concern, I will not allow this $602 plus the Guyanese currency into evidence because I have no evidence of [how the Guyanese $20 came into custody],” added Magistrate Baptiste-DaBreo. Police officer Carty later told the court that he had forgotten to mention that the Guyanese currency was also found in Findlay’s possession on the night in question. The ‘marijuana’ trial involving Findlay and Harrigan will continue on May 19. Meanwhile, although Omarie Winter was reportedly implicated in the bust, he is not on trial as he has “taken a particular course” in the matter, the court was told.

Saturday May 06, 2017

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Kaieteur News

Where does the AFC stand? The AFC has some questions to answer. The answers to those questions go to the issue of whether it is being treated as a doormat by the APNU. The AFC says that it has a solid relationship with the APNU. It is understandable that it will say this since it may not wish to give the impression that the marriage with the APNU is on the rocks. Things certainly are not rosy or cozy between the two since the AFC has established a committee to review the Cummingsburg Accord and to determine whether there are areas which need modification or strengthening. Guyana is going down a slippery constitutional slope. Guyana is on a dangerous path. The AFC must therefore answer questions about its agreement with decisions and actions taken by the government since it will be held complicit in these actions as a member of the ruling coalition. The government on Thursday appointed an acting Chairman of the Public Service Commission. The

AFC must now indicate whether it was consulted on this measure and whether it was in agreement with this ‘appointment’. The AFC must answer whether a vacancy for the Chairman of the Public Service Commission exists. As far as the facts go, the President had appointed a Tribunal to investigate whether the Chairman of the Commission should be removed from office. The work of that tribunal was interrupted by a court order which prevented the removal following a legal challenge from the incumbent head of the Commission. The only way a vacancy can exist is if the term of the Chairman has since expired. If there is a vacancy for the Chairman of the Public Service Commission, the Constitution of Guyana provides for the Deputy Chairman to assume the position or for someone else in the Commission to be elected by the Commission. This is purely an internal matter for the Commission, not for the President. The AFC, as a signatory

Dem boys seh ...

De auditors owe de Govt tax When people complaining that de government taxing dem too much, you have people who complaining that only some people paying tax. De truth is that dem who claim that dem getting too much tax is de people who never use top pay tax. Dem boys know that nuff of dem big ones use to dodge. Dem never use to accept cheques because that gun show up how much money dem collect and how much tax dem got to pay. Dem only use to deal in cash. Another set use to bribe dem Customs officers and don’t pay de tax that dem should. Now de situation spread to GWI. Dicky Van West seh that he ain’t able tax nobody suh all de talk Jurdon talking bout VAT he refusing to tax de people water. But de people so kakish that although GWI not taxing dem all of dem hollering how dem got to pay tax pun water and light bill. But that ain’t de only story. Dem boys ask Soulja Bai if he did collect tax from de people who conduct de forensic audit. Right away some people decide to pass on de word that Soulja Bai looking to collect from Chris Rum, Goolsarran, Parmessar and Hindsey. De name who get call suddenly begin to criticize Soulja Bai. All of a sudden dem finding fault wid de very audit dem conduct. One of dem give Jagdeo so much information that Jagdeo recommend him to be GECOM chairman. Dem boys expect to hear more criticism, especially since Soulja Bai refuse to accept de nomination to GECOM. Talk half and hope dem pay de tax.

to the Cummingsburg Accord must explain where its stands on this matter because it sure will be challenged in the Courts and it hard to see, high level experts or not, how this appointment can be lawfully defended as being proper. Something is seriously going wrong in this country in terms of the interpretation of the Constitution. The AFC has enough legal minds within its leadership and membership to pronounce on these issues. But assuming that the President was vested with the power to appoint an acting Chairperson, the AFC must now indicate whether, as a

coalition partner, it was consulted on the appointment of a trade unionist to the position. This is not a criticism of the ability of anyone. It is an issue of a potential conflict of interest. The Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) is the recognized bargaining union for public servants in Guyana. The Public Service Commission (PSC) is the constitutional body which is authorized to undertake the appointment, disciplining and dismissal of public servants. The GPSU will at some time or the other be required to challenge decisions concerning appointments, dismissals

and disciplinary actions of the PSC. Does the AFC therefore feel that the union which holds the position of acting Chairperson would not be in a conflict of interest if it is required to challenge a decision made under the Chairmanship of its President? The AFC must state whether, in fact, it feels there should be any role at all for a trade union representative from the GPSU on the PSC given that the GPSU is likely to be represented also on the Public Service Appellate Tribunal. The AFC must state its commitment to the rule of law and whether its feels that the

principles of constitutionality are being threatened by the recent ‘appointment’ when in fact the Constitutions speaks of election. Is the AFC a party to these actions? Was it consulted? Is it in agreement?

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Saturday May 06, 2017

Kaieteur News

=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===

President Granger and Jagdeo have established a dangerous precedent I don’t think Bharrat Jagdeo was ever concerned with the preservation of the national fabric of Guyana when he was president. Mr. Jagdeo stands out as the most dangerous leader the postcolonial West Indies has produced. Even now when he is Opposition Leader and he has a chance to play a role in safeguarding the constitution, Mr. Jagdeo’s last desire on his list is Guyana’s future stability. The resolution of the conflict between the President and the Opposition Leader over the eligibility of the GECOM Chair does not augur well for the stab i l i t y o f t h i s c o u n t r y. Guyana seems destined to put narrow politics in front of laws and legal governance. This pattern started with Cheddi Jagan as Premier. Dr. Jagan’s rule from 1957 to 1964 saw some serious indentations made into the wholesomeness of good government. The placing of sympathetic supporters as Permanent Secretaries to replace neutral civil servants started with Premier Jagan. Forbes Burnham took Jagan’s Westminster departure to extreme limits. The 1976 Declaration of Sophia initiated the doctrine of paramountcy of the v a n g u a r d p a r t y. P e o p l e who lived in that era are quick to point out that the most graphic evidence of this was the PNC flag that flew on the building of the Court of Appeal. Then came Jagdeo. And if you think Jagan and Burnham put politics above moral and legal gov-

ernance then Jagdeo was almost semi-fascist. A respected institution like the Vice Chancellor of the University of Guyana was debased. The then Vice Chancellor, Dr. James Rose, became an election candidate for the ruling party twice. We come now to the impasse between the President and the Opposition Leader. The President in my opinion was playing realpolitik when he announced that the constitution stipulated that a judge must be the GECOM Chairman. Even when it went on to say the words; “and any other fit and proper person”, the Government said this must include the qualities similar to the attributes of a judge. Please Google the arguments of Professor Duke Pollard in this newspaper. My honest opinion is that the President was politically strategizing with the Opposition Leader. It is my intellectual understanding of that article in the constitution that when I read it, it means that if a judge cannot be found then look for another fit and proper person. For me that article is unambiguous – if you cannot find someone who was or is a judge then, any other suitable person is eligible. The Opposition’s leader’s latest submission has three former judges and two lawyers. I believe Mr. Jagdeo has either subconsciously or formally accepted that there must be judges in the list of nominees to be the Chairman of GECOM. If this country remains with the Carter/Price

formula for appointing the chairman of GECOM then the precedent set by the President and the Opposition Leader will be embedded in our politics and the constitution would have been debased. If we stick with the precedent established by Granger and Jagdeo then the most phenomenal public service by a great biologist or the brilliant mind of sociology professor will be overlooked and such people may neve r b e c o m e t h e chairman of GECOM. This, for me, is taking this country further down the path of caricatured governance.

We, in the post-colonial world cuss down the Whiteman every day. But the Whiteman who colonized us has become more modern in his mind than we who cuss him down for brainwashing us. Do you know New Zealand once had an Ombudsman that was not a lawyer? I suggest you don’t take my word but Google it. In Guyana only a person trained in law can be the Ombudsman. If you suggest that we get someone other than a lawyer then we have to change the law relating to that office or the constitution itself.

I am willing to bet that if you approach any politician in this country from any party and you tell him that the Ombudsman should not necessarily have to be a trained lawyer, the politician will reject that. You will be told that as a lawyer he/she will best know how to investigate complaints and best able to understand the legal angles. So why can’t the non-lawyer Ombudsman have a legal advisor? I will leave you with my experience. I took my UG contract termination to Ombudsman, Justice Winston Moore. He read the documents

Frederick Kissoon and said he preferred to be guided by the best legal minds in cases like these. So he asked two of the country’s top civil lawyers to make a pronouncement.

Trevor Abrams murder PI…

Absence of police witness causes adjournment

MURDERED: Trevor Abrams The absence of Assistant Superintendent of Police Mitchell Caesar, who is also the head of the Major Crimes Investigations Unit, has resulted in

Orin Arthur, Steven Prescott and Yori Varswyk the preliminary inquiry into the murder of Trevor Abrams being adjourned until Monday. Abrams, 32, an engineer at the Guyana Geology and Mines Commi s s i o n w a s riddled with bullets on February 26, 2015, at Little D i a mond, East Bank Demerara, after heavily armed men ambushed him and opened fire on his vehicle. It was reported that the men were paid to kill the former Lot 131 Samatta Point, Grove, East Bank Demerara resident.

Orin Arthur, 27, of 213 One Mile Wismar, Linden; Steven Prescott a/k ‘Assassin’, 44, of 117 Covent Garden, East Bank Demerara; and Yori Varswyk, 26, of Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara are jointly charged with Abrams’s murder and are on remand. When the matter was called on Wednesday before Magistrate Judy Latchman, the Police Prosecutor informed the court that ASP Caesar is currently out of the jurisdiction. He requested a short adjournment.

In the circumstances, Magistrate Latchman granted the request. Earlier this year, Orin Arthur and Yori Varswyk were committed to stand t r i a l at the High Court in Georgetown for the murder of Sterling Products Limited Security guard, Wilfred Stewart of Graham’s Hall East Coast Demerara, who was shot dead in December, 2014, by gunmen who forced their way into the Sterling Products Limited Compound at Providence, East Bank Demerara.

Saturday May 06, 2017

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Kaieteur News

Midwives described as unsung heroes -as International Day of Midwives is observed Midwives were placed in the spotlight on Thursday when the Midwives Association of Guyana in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health and the United Nations Population Fund [UNFPA] held a forum at the Kingston, Georgetown, Umana Yana. The forum held under the theme: “Midwives, Mothers and Families: partners for life” represented Guyana’s way of observing International Day of the Midwives which is observed annually on May 5, 2017. Moreover, honouring the local midwives came a day early this year. Usually the observance of International Day of the Midwives is designed to bring awareness to the role and responsibilities of Midwives in Guyana; to support and honour midwives for the work they do and to support efforts of policy holders, key partners and stakeholders in the investment of a key human resource strategy in accelerating progress

towards the Sustainable Development Goal Three. Goal three of the SDGs speaks to ensuring the health and well-being of all, at every stage of life. Moreover, the goal addresses all major health priorities including reproductive, maternal and child health; communicable and environmental diseases; universal health coverage and access for all to safe, effective, quality and affordable medicines and vaccines. It also calls for more research and development, increased health financing and strengthened capacity of all countries in health risk reduction and management. Key to achieving the maternal and child health aspect of the goal are midwives. This notion was particularly emphasized during yesterday’s forum. Among those lauding the efforts of the nation’s midwives were: Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Shamdeo Persaud; Director of Regional Health Services, Dr. Kay Shako; Di-

rector of Maternal and Child Health, Dr. Ertenisa Hamilton; Chief Nursing Officer, Ms. Tarramattie Barker; Midwifery Advisor – Ms. Mandy La Fleur, and Director of Health Sciences Education, Mr. Wilton Benn, who noted that midwives can easily be described as unsung heroes for the role that they play. Also coming out of the forum yesterday was the call for greater partnership with the Midwives Association of Guyana and other relevant organisations to ensure growth and development of the Association. Speaking at the forum on Thursday the Chief Medical Officer applauded the midwives for their contribution to the healthcare sector. He also expressed hope that the midwives remain focused on providing support to help assist in improving the maternal and neonatal healthcare services in the country. Adding to Dr. Persaud’s deliberation was Dr. Shako who said that midwives must

A section of the midwives at yesterday’s forum

monitor their own and other people’s feelings when caring for their patients. “(Midwives) would agree with me, that there are times when you need to control your emotion when attending to a patient to prevent any misunderstanding. If you don’t, there would be exchange of words so as midwives, you do need

to have self-regulation,” Dr. Shako explained. She noted that midwives hold an important place in the health sector since they work beyond their call of duty with little resources. The Regional Health Services Director noted that doctors should also listen to the advice given by the midwives with regards

to providing appropriate healthcare services to their patients. The idea of International Day of the Midwives was established by the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) following the suggestions and discussions in the late 1980s which was formally launched in 1992.

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Saturday May 06, 2017

Kaieteur News

Despite new tax regime…

Many miners still operating “business as usual”- GGDMA - some operators not deducting 20 percent Tributor’s Tax

Miners have still not fully grasped the new tax measures introduced this year, which mandates them to keep proper records. Despite new tax arrangements for miners, many of them still appear not to understand the realities of keeping proper records. The Guyana and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) warned yesterday that they will not feel the realities of this until the time comes for them to file tax returns next year. “We believe that many miners are operating in a “business as usual” fashion and they will not feel the brunt of their ill-advised activities until they have to make up their books and file tax returns come 2018,” the association advised in a paid statement published in Kaieteur News yesterday. The GGDMA said it is urging all small and medium scale miners to immediately seek advice from a reputable accounting firm so that their affairs can be fully compliant with the new tax regulations imposed on miners as a result of Budget 2017. “Already, the new tax regulations are creating significant hardships and chaos in the sector where mining operations endeavoring to be tax compliant have lost a significant number of their experienced and skilled workers to the other operators who have chosen not to deduct the 20 percent tributor’s tax.” According to GGDMA, additionally, the main overarching concern remains where most, if not all, small and medium scale operators will find themselves in a tough spot come 2018 where “acceptable records” to justify operating expenses will not be available if requested by the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA). As a consequence, the association said that many

miners will not be able to justifiably compute their further tax payments, in addition to the two percent royalty which would have already been deducted from gross sales. The GGDMA said that this would come at a time when the small and medium scale miners would have surpassed their gold declarations in the first quarter of 2017, as compared to the same period in 2016. “All miners should be commended for continuing to play their crucial role in bolstering Guyana’s economy in this time of reduced investment and economic slowdown. The gold mining sector continues to be the only shining beacon in our economy, without which the country would truly be in a dismal state.” Ironically, the GGDMA said, while the gold and diamond mining sector is recognized by Government for its importance in bolstering Guyana’s economy, many of the needs of the small and medium scale operators continue to be ignored by the powers that be. “This has brought a lot of unease to minds of miners in recent times. Miners are hardworking, risk-taking individuals whose contributions have proven vital to the growth and development of Guyana.” The association, which says it represents the industry, noted that despite the execution of agreements since December last year with the Government of Guyana to allow tax compliant miners to benefit from certain welcomed concessions on fuel and materials utilized in the sector, none of these benefits have been realized by any miner, to the best of the association’s knowledge.

“This is mainly as a result of bureaucratic bottlenecks experienced at the level of GGMC and other agencies. Given that approximately over four months have elapsed since this agreement was executed and less than eight months remain on the life of the agreement. These delays prompt us to ask: Does the Government of Guyana truly want small and medium scale miners to benefit from these concessions or was this agreement executed for media propaganda purposes? We truly hope that this is not the case and wait to be proven wrong.” The association also stressed that it remains very concerned that while the small and medium scale miners are publicly recognized for their production capabilities and stalwart contribution to the economy, their genuine issues remain unaddressed by the relevant authorities. “The GGDMA is still hopeful that the association can meet with President (David) Granger and senior government functionaries to have these and other matters resolved to the mutual benefit of small and medium scale operators and the state.” Since taking office in 2015, the administration has announced a host of measures to capture tax evaders and non-compliant persons. The gold sector has been seen as one of the major ones where many of the operators have not been keeping proper records with billions lost in taxes. However, the operators have been finding the going hard as many of them have been running loose operations. Gold has remained the biggest foreign currency earner for Guyana in the last decade.

Saturday May 06, 2017

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Kaieteur News

Young protester dies, taking Venezuela unrest death toll to 37 (Reuters) A 20-year-old Venezuelan protester died yesterday after being shot in the head, authorities said, taking fatalities from a month of anti-government unrest to at least 37 as the opposition geared up for more demonstrations. Hecder Lugo was hurt during fighting between demonstrators and security forces in Valencia on Thursday that also injured four others, the local opposition mayor Enzo Scarano said in a series of tweets. The state prosecutor’s office, which keeps an official count of deaths since protests began against socialist President Nicolas Maduro in early April, confirmed he died after being shot in a protest. Another 717 people have been injured and 152 are still in jail from the hundreds rounded up in widespread unrest around the volatile South American OPEC nation of 30 million people,

according to the office’s latest tally. There has been violence and widespread looting this week in Valencia, a oncebustling industrial hub two hours from the capital by road. Venezuela’s opposition, which now enjoys majority support after being in the shadow of the ruling Socialist party since Hugo Chavez’s 1998 election win, says his successor Maduro has become a dictator and wrecked the economy. Vowing to stay in the streets for as long as necessary, opposition leaders announced nationwide women’s marches for Saturday with the biggest planned for the capital Caracas. Opposition lawmakers briefly unfurled a banner on Friday at the National Assembly, where they won a majority in 2015 thanks to voter ire over the recession, saying “Maduro Dictator”. The president says they

Volunteers, members of a primary care response team, walk together as demonstrators clash with police during a rally against Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas. REUTERS/Marco Bello are seeking a violent coup with U.S. support, and is setting up a “constituent assembly” super body to shake up public powers, change the constitution, and possibly replace the existing legislature. “President Maduro has made a big call to national dialogue,” Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez told diplomats at a meeting yesterday, showing them

Brazil politicians hit by corruption scandal unlikely to return, former president says (Reuters) Politicians caught up in a sweeping three-year graft investigation are unlikely to return to their positions of power, former President Fernando Henrique Cardoso said in an interview. Cardoso included Brazil’s former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the front-runner in early polls for next year’s presidential elections despite facing five corruption trials, as among those whose political careers have likely been destroyed by the kickbacks probe. “It is unlikely that the people touched by the corruption scandal will return to the leadership they once had,” said Cardoso, a founder of the Brazilian Social Democratic Party (PSDB), which backs the current center-right government. Cardoso, himself facing accusations in the investigation, also said the profound cultural and constitutional changes now needed to truly clean up Brazil’s system will take time. Brazil’s biggest graft investigation, known as “Operation Car Wash,” has turned up evidence of corrupt practices as recently as June, suggesting political kickbacks at state companies carried on despite the detention of scores of powerful businessmen and politicians. “Car Wash has played a very important role in Brazil because it lifted the lid, which was necessary. But that will

images of violence and vandalism on the streets caused by youths at the front of protests. “They are not peaceful, the opposition leaders share big responsibility in these acts of extremism and vandalism.” FATALITIES ON BOTH SIDES Opposition protests have often started peacefully but degenerated into violence when security forces block marchers and masked youths fight them with stones, Molotov cocktails and fireworks shot from pipes turned into homemade mortars. Fatalities have included supporters of both sides, bystanders and members of the security forces. Gunshot wounds have been the most common cause of deaths. The opposition is boycotting Maduro’s

constituent assembly process, saying it is a ploy to keep him in power by setting up a body with mechanisms to ensure a government majority. Having failed to trigger a referendum on his rule last year, the opposition is calling for delayed state gubernatorial elections to be held as soon as possible, and for the next presidential election slated for 2018 to be brought forward. Polls show the ruling Socialists would badly lose any conventional vote due to four years of economic crisis that has led to debilitating food and medicine shortages. While Maduro says opposition ranks include armed hoodlums, activists accuse the security forces of using excessive force including firing teargas canisters directly at people and allowing pro-government gangs to terrorize

demonstrators. Opposition leader Henrique Capriles said yesterday that 85 members of the military in Caracas had been arrested for opposition “repression,” adding that their relatives had asked him to publicize the detentions. “Cousin, it’s enough!” Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino’s cousin, Ernesto Padrino, wrote to him in an open letter. He was following in the footsteps of the state human rights ombudsman’s son who surprised the country by publishing a video begging his father to “end the injustice.” “Eighty percent of Venezuelans want elections as a way out of our nation’s grave economic and political crisis,” wrote Ernesto Padrino on Facebook. “Sooner or later, the Venezuelan people will make you pay.”

Media association concerned about reintroduction of Cybercrime Bill Brazil’s former President Fernando Henrique Cardoso speaks during an interview with Reuters in Sao Paulo. REUTERS/Nacho Doce. not resolve things immediately. It is a process,” he said late on Thursday in his office in downtown São Paulo. Cardoso presided over Latin America’s largest nation between 1995 and 2003 after swiftly tackling persistent hyperinflation as finance minister with the Real Plan. He said it would take time to curb “the permissiveness of Brazilian culture.” “How do you change a culture? With time and by setting a good example - there is no other way,” said Cardoso. A noted sociologist, the former president has been cited in a blockbuster plea bargain by former executives of engineering company Odebrecht who say they gave Cardoso illegal campaign donations for his presidential

runs. The Odebrecht testimony prompted the Supreme Court to open investigations against dozens more sitting politicians last month, including nearly a third of President Michel Temer’s cabinet. A lower-level judge will eventually decide if Cardoso himself should be investigated. He denies any wrongdoing. UNCERTAIN ELECTIONS The Supreme Court, the only court authorized to try sitting politicians in Brasilia, is struggling to cope with the deluge of cases. Cardoso, an influential voice in the PSDB, said the scandal made it impossible to say whose reputation would survive intact until the October 2018 presidential election.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – The Media Association of Trinidad and Tobago (MATT) says it is concerned about the reintroduction of the Cybercrime Bill (2016). In a release yesterday, MATT said it is “in no way satisfied with the level of consultation taken place thus far on the Bill”, noting that in the last correspondence with the Ministry of the Attorney General and Legal Affairs, dated February 17 – it pointed to several areas of concern with the proposed bill and called for further consultation. MATT says the executive of the association met with the current Attorney General to discuss the Cybercrime Bill on two occasions last year June 16 and December 16, adding that the meeting in December focused specifically on Clause 8 of the Cybercrime Bill as well as some new inserts and

deletions. “We therefore find it worrisome that at Thursday’s post Cabinet press conference Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi signalled his intention to bring the Bill before a Joint Select Committee of the Parliament Friday.” The media association says it “remains deeply troubled that the Cybercrime Bill has retained its potential to criminalise professional journalists working in the public interest.” ”While MATT follows the argument that the redrafted Clause 8 of the Cybercrime Bill introduces layers of proof – intentionally, without lawful excuse, justification – to be satisfied by a complainant in order to prove that an offence has been committed, we consider these to be low bars to scale and note also that these layers are to be satisfied in the Court. In other words, these

“protections” take effect after legal action has been taken and the matters brought before a Court,” the release noted. According to MATT, it anticipates “injury to journalism, media houses and independent journalists arising from this clause. We also see the potential for selfcensorship by journalists and media houses in order to avoid expensive, protracted and worrisome legal procedures and in order to protect their sources.” The association notes that clause 8 would have potent and perhaps fatal effects on independent practitioners “in particular who could find themselves mired in legal action that could result in their professional demise. This is a strategy already used against the press; we see provisions as drafted in this Bill encouraging that practice against the press.”

PAGE 22

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Passport, permanent & visitor visa application, Professional Immigration Consultant – Sabita Immigration Services. Call: 225-6496/ 662-6045

Toyota Spacio, PRR series, fully leather, press start alarm, good condition -$1.3M negotiable. Call: 689-7701

For the best house plan prices & designs. Call: 610+4085/ Visit 37 Camp & Croal Streets Diamond Auto Spa & Cleaning services for professionally cleaned vehicles, fences, carpets, buildings (interior & exterior). Call: 646-8748 BUILDING CONTRACTOR, ESTIMATES, HOUSE PLAN TO BE DRAWN, ETC. CALL: 216-0671, 692-8464, 6220267 FOR SALE/FOR RENT

One female vegetarian cook in the Interior. Call: 668-6421 Contract Cars and dispatchers. Call: 219-4087 Experienced cook to work in restaurant, preferably from the West Bank, baking would be an asset. Call: 592-678-3400 Driver and porters for water truck, preferably on the E.B.D- Call/Whatsapp: 6821048/233-5255

INNOVATIVEMARKETING & PUBLISHING INC –TEL: 600-4212: We create A/ works, logos, busi ness cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included.

Eagle’s: Re-gas -$8,000, Washing machine repairs, Gas Stove, Plasma flat Screen, computer repairs & more. Call: 697-2969/646-0966

VEHICLE FOR SALE

One Toyota Spacio, in excellent condition, PPP series with Rims, AC & Music, Price -$1.350M negotiable. Call: 653-0120 1-620-240 Leyland DAF engine foreign used and I.S.L Cummings Engine starters, all foreign used. Call:649-8449 Nissan Pathfinder Jeep $1.5M, Toyota Ipsum 7 seater, fully loaded -$2M. Great deals! Must be sold! Call: 6097766 1 Black Primo. Call: 612-5356 ACCOMMODATION Journey Inn apartments: Fully furnished with Kitchen and AC for short term. Call: 233-2300/ 7182301695/646-3011634

American Pool Table. Call: 277-0578

Articulated/Dump truck driver for interior location, must be experienced. Call: 618-2020 for further details. We buy land in Eccles, Herstelling, Farm, La Parfaite Harmonie, Zeelugt & other places. Call: 684-5822/6292881 Two Dynamic Individual with communications & sales techniques, computer skill @ Sparkle, Meeten-Meer-Zorg & KeyFood location.

AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL:PICKUP,9-11 SEAT MIN BUS, GOOD FOR AIRPOTR & FAMILY OUTING, CHEAPEST RATE . Call: 698-7807

WING’S CAR & PICKUP RENTAL: LOW DOWN PAYMENT, CHEAP REATES,SPECIALOFFERS FOR THE SEASON. CALL: 690-6494

Rottweiler pups. Call: 2202277/220-8904/629-1471

1 Complete 10" Dredge located in Puruni Area. Call: 664-6191

Business property to rent near Campbellville Secondary School. Call: 6276480/ 613-6815

Cook/Baker and Kitchen Assistant for interior location. Applicants must be experienced, for details call: 618-2020

Farm land for sale and for rent @ LandofCanaan.Call:622-1957 House lot for sale @ Land of Canaan. Call: 622-1957 PEDIGREE MALE ,LONG HAIRED 1YR OLD, GERMAN SHEPHERD. SERIOUS ENQUIRIES ONLY. CALL: 609-8132 OR 672-8569

3 Bedrooms upper flat, fully grilled with toilet, bath, kitchen, parking @ Block ‘8’ Mon Repos, E.C.D -$70,000 monthly. Call: 687-1050 Business Space to rent downstairs 26ftX32ft, Lime Street, Georgetown. Call: 6866866/223-8492 Business space for rent next to Harbor Bridge. Call: 622-1957 One newly built studio apartment @ Diamond 15X12. Call: 621-1485/ 663-2746

Two general workers to work shift system. Call: 231-6293

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 House for sale- 2 flat no flooding, 6ft fence, price $21Million negotiable. Call: 233-5400/ 218-0595 Goat Creek, Riverfront , 75 Acres land -$7M, Lanaballi River Front, 50 Acres -$9M. Diamond -$7.5M Call: 6880087, 638-8484 Riviera Island: 145 Acres $30M, Tuschen property $5.8M, $6M, $15M. Call: 6880087, 638-8484

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

Bottom flat house @ 25 North Road & Oronoque Street, fully furnished/ air condition/ residence /business.Call: 226-7012 Space for rent @ Vreed-en Hoop Junction, lessons place, church, storage bond, office, others -$20,000 monthly. Call: 603-6400

Transported property @ Grove and Diamond $16M negotiable. Call: 625-5461

Straight stitch/over edge machine operators/bond warehouse worker. Call: 2222541 8:00am-4:00pm (Mon-Fri)

PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620

PEN PAL Wanted female companion for serious relationship, age 45-55yrs, interested person can call: 661-1426

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

One female needed 35-55yrs for housekeeping & child care. Call: 676-1748/664-5503

Contract Cars and Drivers, Nigel’s Taxi Service @ Sheriff Street, C/Ville. Call: 219-5002/ 699-6152

FOR RENT

VACANCY Experienced cook (for canteen), porters, bond clerks, snackette attendants, drivers. Apply: Survival, Lot 10 Vlissengen Rd, Kitty.

PROPERTY FOR SALE

CAR RENTAL PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 677-7827, 6435122 ,EMAIL:PRO_AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.COM

1 Double Stall for sale @ Bourda Market Section D. Call: 665-7896

Experienced salesgirls apply with written application to VV&I General Store, 22 Saffon Street, Charlestown. Call: 223-9677

1 Accounts Clerk, preferably from E.B.D – 5 subjects CXC minimum @ gtcareers592@gmail.com

DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM

FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754.

Experienced salesgirl at Christine’s Variety Store on Lombard Street. Call: 2278529

Dried and in large quantities: Corilla bush, lemon grass, sour sap leaves. Call: 665-1397 CAR RENTAL

Saturday May 06, 2017

Kaieteur News

Tuschen 2 bedroom flat houses: $4.8M, $10M, $11M, land $2M. Call: 688-0087, 638-8484 Melani 2 bedrooms - $10M, Tuschen $11.5M & $25M, Canal #2 (15 acres) -$9M. Call: 688-0087,638-8484

Two bedrooms, upper & lower flat @ Mc Doom Public Road, Married Couple/ Students - $50,000 each. Call: 643-8281 TAXI SERVICE

Accounts Clerk for office in Eccles Industrial Site, knowledge of NIS, PAYE, VAT, Quickbooks call 614-4358 Welder: apply in person to Alabama Trading, Georgetown Ferry Stelling, Stabroek. Nail Technician and hairdresser who know to do everything. Contact Odessa: 688-8882/681-6338 Office Clerk (senior/junior) with CXC English/ Mathematics, computer knowledge an asset. Call: 223-7500 Live in or live out babysitter/ domestic –Call: 223-7500. Monday-Saturday 8:15-4:15pm

GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 225-7878 (24HRS)

Boys for store/bond, warehouse work. Call: 2237500 between MondaySaturday, 8:15-4:15pm.

Dream Rides: bus and taxi for airport specials & contracts only. Safe, reliable, courteous & comfortable- 24hrs. Call: 664-0802

Receptionist, male security guard, 30-40yrs @ 233 South Road Lacytown. Call: 225-0198

LAND FOR SALE Transported land for sale size 37X270 @ Coglan Dam, Vreed-en-Hoop, W.B.D. Call: 650-5644/677-9938 La Parfaite Harmonie -$1.4M & $1.6M, Farm -$3M, Uitvlugt -$2.6M, Parika $3M, Herstelling -$5M. Call: 651-1969/658-5897

Harmony Inn: Now hiring general workers from La Parfaite Harmonie, W.B.D. Call: 602-8769/ 218-1400 RA Soda Factory, Rosignol, W.C.B: Male & Female workers, persons with IT certificate for machine operators & drivers. Call:3302399/623-5920

EDUCATIONAL

Gas Station Hopetown: Manager, Pump attendants & Accountants; RA Soda Factory, Rosignol W.C.B. Call: 330-2399/623-5920 TO LET 4 AC Rooms/2 large hall with 1 extra room, suitable for business/offices @ 21 Seaforth St. Campbellville, Georgetown. Call: 226-1877, 624-7436, 654-9350

Classes for slow learners in Reading, Mathematics, Composition Writing and much more, after nursery classes available too. Call: 675-4379

One bedroom apartment, troweltex, tiled toilet and bath, single person, no children- $40,000 monthly Call: 225-1418/674-6394

Transported land @ Lot D Area N Land of Canaan E.B.D Eastern Half.Call:592-226-8901/592-6259443/ 347-905-3312 Captivating piece of land located not far from HJ Water World, Providence. Size: 54X90. $14M. Negotiable. Tel 669:8397

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Vendor charged for allegedly stealing ginger 704 Sports bar security guard charged Sherwin Kingston, 43, of Lot 369 East Ruimveldt Housing Scheme was placed on $140,000 bail after he appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before City Magistrate Judy Latchman. Kingston denied the allegation which stated that on March 22 at Princess Street Werk-en-Rust, he stole two bags of ginger valued $140,000 from Gordon Copeland. According to Police Prosecutor Shawn Gonsalves, on the day in question the virtual complainant hired the defendant to transport the ginger to his home. The prosecutor stated that around

18:00hrs the defendant accompanied the virtual complainant to Kingston Wharf, from where he uplifted a quantity of ginger. The court was told that Copeland gave the defendant directions to his home. The victim who was following in his vehicle stopped at a shop to make a purchase and the defendant proceeded to his home. However, when Copeland arrived home he discovered that the gingers were missing. The matter was reported and the defendant was arrested. The father of two will make his next court appearance on May 15.

A security guard attached to the 704 Sports Bar was placed on $200,000 bail after he appeared before City Magistrate Judy Latchman in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. Orlando Gibson, 28 of Lot 5 Samaroo Dam, Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara, denied the charge which alleged that between April 10 and April 25 at Albert and Lamaha Streets,

Georgetown, he stole two bottles Absolut Vodka valued $30,000, three bottles Hennessey valued $63,000, one bottle Jack Daniels valued $21,000, and two bottles Johnny Walker Black Label valued $97,000 from Alfro Alphonso. The court heard that checks were carried out in and around the Bar and CCTV footage showed the defen-

dant tampering with the cameras situated in the area of the bar. A report was then made at the station and the defendant was arrested. The court heard that when Gibson was arrested he admitted to taking one bottle Absolut Vodka and one Black Label. The father of two will make his next court appearance on May 15.

Woman Constable with gunshot wound…

After 100 years...

Mother says firearm was not near body when victim found

M&CC wants to demolish first ever gas station building - Owner opposes decision

The firearm near the corpse

Special Constable Shendel George Relatives of the woman Special Constable Shendel George, who was found dead from a gunshot wound to the throat on Thursday night, at Lima, Essequibo, are suspicious that she was the victim of foul play. A police release stated that Special Constable George was on duty at the main gate at the Caricom Rice Mill armed with a service revolver and six matching rounds. Some time around 17:30hrs, George left her post and proceeded to the toilet. Her body was later discovered with a gunshot wound to the throat, while her firearm, along with five live rounds and a spent shell was found next to her. Bridget Alphonso, the victim’s mother, was reportedly the second person to discover her body. She insists that her daughter’s service revolver was not initially near the body. Mrs. Alphonso said that she usually visit s h e r daughter in the afternoons. “I does normally check on her when she working, I would carry snacks and ask her what time she coming off. “So me going and buy something for my daughter to eat and something urged me to go to Caricom. “Sometimes, I would see her looking through the window when I get there, but on the afternoon in question I didn’t see her.” Mrs. Alphonso said

that she thrice asked a male security guard where her daughter was, but got three different responses. “I stand up for like five to nine minutes. When I asked first where my daughter was he said she gone out. The second time he said she gone somewhere around the compound. “After 15 minutes I ask he the third time where my daughter, and he said ‘She must be deh in de toilet, leh me go check.” Mrs. Alphonso said that in two minutes the security guard came back and said, “Your daughter fall down.” “The man followed me up to a certain distance, and then he send me up a step, then he walk back to the gate without rendering any assistance or calling anyone. “When me reach the door me saw my daughter with her hands out.” The mother said the first thing she looked for was her daughter’s firearm, but saw no weapon. “I run down stairs back, went to security and asked where the gun, he said he don’t know where the gun and he gotta look for it. On the table was the gun socket, but no gun was there.” The mother said she then went to the Anna Regina Police Station to file a report, and when she returned to the

scene she saw the firearm near her daughter’s body. “I asked the officer how da gun reach deh. One of the police replied this looks like foul play.” An aunt of Special Constable George told Kaieteur News that her niece had spent Wednesday night at her home, and showed no sign of being in a suicidal mood. “Shendel isn’t the suicide type. Normally if something is wrong she brings it forth immediately. “We talked until 4.00 a.m. the morning, but nothing came up that seemed unusual.” “Mother and father said before they left everything was okay. They said that she was looking at the television as usual.” There were some suggestions that ‘sibling rivalry’ may have prompted the woman to take her life, but the victim’s mother refuted this suggestion. The aunt also alleged that Shendel was threatened by a colleague. The individual allegedly told the Special Constable that if she doesn’t leave the job she “would have to leave it the way her cousin did.” The cousin was killed about a year ago whilst on the job as well. Shendel George’s body is at the Suddie Public Hospital awaiting a postmortem examination.

This used to be the first ever petrol gas station in British Guiana The owner of that building located on 1 Brickdam and Cornhill Street, west of Public Building, is fearful that City Hall may go ahead with its threat to demolish the property. The building, adjacent to Timehri bus park, housed the first ever petrol station in British Guiana. It had to be shut down in 2001, due to the severe traffic congestion it caused in the Stabroek Market area. The structure, which was constructed under the watch of its late owner, Nathaniel Samuels, is now being occupied by a barber and a few vendors. “We have been occupying this site legally, for approximately 100 years,” the owner, Turhane Mohabeer, said. Samuels was his grandfather. He noted that the company is a “limited liability company duly registered and operating.” “Our rates and taxes are paid up to date, and our lease fees are also paid on time, every time,” Mohabeer added. Mayor Patricia ChaseGreen has explained that the decision to issue notices to the owner of the building, was prompted by its deplorable condition. “The Parliament is the

highest decision-making body in the country. We cannot continue to have its environs in that condition. We have therefore taken a decision to clean up that area,” Green said. Meanwhile, Mohabeer admitted that the area is indeed in a deplorable condition, but assured that his company, Nathaniel Samuels Limited, is working to remedy its lapses. “We are aware that the site is in an unacceptable state and now, we will be addressing this situation in the very near future, since we are only now in a position to do so.” Mohabeer explained that since 2003, his entity had been locked in court battles with delinquent and illegal occupants, “who have given the place a bad name.” “We regained full control of the premises on Friday April 21, last, after being successful in evicting the last delinquent occupant,”

Mohabeer noted. In a letter to this newspaper, the businessman pointed to the erection of stalls on the northern side of his building. “...Part of which, is a portion of our property,” Mohabeer contended. He went further to point out that “one of the stall holders is claiming that they were placed there by the Town Council.” Mohabeer noted that while his previous tenants were guilty of “messing up the area”, the recently set up stalls have also added significantly to the negative condition that exists. “They are operating under very insanitary conditions and obnoxious smells are emanating from this area,” Mohabeer said. Informed of the businessman’s arguments, Chase-Green said that City Council is still open to speaking with Mohabeer to determine the way forward.

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U.S. Navy SEAL killed in Somalia North Korea accuses CIA of ‘biochemical’ plot against leadership raid on militant compound (Reuters) A U.S. Navy SEAL was killed and two troops wounded in a raid on an al Shabaab militant compound in Somalia, U.S. officials said yesterday, in what appeared to be the first U.S. combat death in the African country since the 1993 “Black Hawk Down” disaster. The White House has granted the U.S. military broader authority to carry out strikes in Somalia against al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab, the latest sign President Donald Trump is increasing U.S. military engagement in the region. Still, U.S. participation in the Somalia-led assault was carried out under authorities in place for years, the Pentagon said. The targets were al Shabaab fighters tied to attacks. “The objective was a compound and a group of people ... associated with attacks against U.S., Somalia and AMISOM forces,” said Pentagon spokesman Captain Jeff Davis, referring to African Union Mission in Somalia peacekeepers. U.S. Africa Command said a service member was killed by small arms fire on Thursday while U.S. forces were advising and assisting a Somali National Army op-

eration in Barii about 40 miles (60 km) west of the capital, Mogadishu. A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the man killed was a U.S. Navy SEAL. It was not immediately clear whether the wounded were also from the elite military unit. An American-Somali translator was also wounded, the official said. The U.S. troops were hunting an al Shabaab commander near the Shabelle River alongside Somali special forces, a Mogadishubased security source told Reuters. There were no Somali casualties. The raid took place at Darusalam village, where Abdirahman Mohamed Warsame, known as Mahad Karate, was believed to be hiding, said another security source. Warsame is the deputy leader of al Shabaab and U.S. authorities have offered $5 million for information that brings him to justice. “Warsame played a key role in the Amniyat, the wing of al-Shabaab responsible for assassinations and the April 2, 2015 attack on Garissa University College that resulted in 150 deaths,” said a statement on the Rewards for Justice website run

by the U.S. State Department. It was not clear yet if Warsame was the target of the raid, the security source said. A spokesman for al Shabaab, which wants to overthrow Somalia’s weak Western-backed government and impose its own strict brand of Islamic law, said U.S. troops had attacked one of their bases. U.S. Africa Command said in a statement “U.S. forces are assisting partner forces to counter al-Shabaab in Somalia to degrade the al Qaeda affiliate’s ability to recruit, train and plot external terror attacks throughout the region and in America”. Somalia has been shattered by civil war that began when clan-based warlords overthrew a dictator in 1991 then turned on each other. A U.S. military intervention in 1993 ended after the “Black Hawk Down” incident, when 18 U.S. soldiers were killed when Somali militia shot down two helicopters in Mogadishu. AMISOM forces have been in Somalia since 2007, gradually expanding to secure the capital and pushing into major towns. U.S. military advisers have secretly operated there since around 2007.

Former Petrobras executive: Lula knew about massive corruption scheme

Brazil’s former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino) (Reuters) Brazil’s former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva had “complete knowledge” of the massive political kickback scheme that centered on contracts at staterun oil firm Petrobras, a former top executive testified yesterday. Former Petrobras engineering and services director Renato Duque, testifying in the first of five corruption trials Lula faces, told a federal judge that Lula had “command” of the scheme.

But Duque, convicted on corruption charges in four separate trials for taking bribes in the Petrobras scheme and sentenced to more than 56 years in prison, emphasized during his testimony that he was seeking a plea-bargain deal that would reduce his time in prison. “I would like to make clear my intention here is to act as a collaborator, to tell the truth, to clarify what is possible and within my reach in this case and any

others you think necessary,” Duque told Judge Sergio Moro, who has spearheaded the anti-corruption drive. Lula’s lawyers did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday, but they have repeatedly said the former leader is innocent and did not know of the scheme. Lula himself is scheduled to testify on Wednesday, and court officials have said they expect a ruling by July in the case. The Petrobras probe has unearthed the largest corruption scheme known in Brazil. Billions have been paid in bribes, mainly by construction companies, to win contracts with Petrobras and other staterun companies. Over 80 people have been convicted, and the Supreme Court last month approved the investigations of nearly one-third of President Michel Temer’s Cabinet, 12 governors and dozens of top federal lawmakers.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. KCNA/ via REUTERS (Reuters) North Korea yesterday accused the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency and South Korea’s intelligence service of a plot to attack its “supreme leadership” with a bio-chemical weapon and said such a “pipe-dream” could never succeed. Tension on the Korean peninsula has been high for weeks, driven by concern that North Korea might conduct its sixth nuclear test or test-launch another ballistic missile in defiance of U.N. Security Council resolutions. Reclusive North Korea warned this week that U.S. hostility had brought the region to the brink of nuclear war. The North’s Ministry of State Security released a statement saying “the last-ditch effort” of U.S. “imperialists” and the South had gone “beyond the limits”. “The Central Intelligence Agency of the U.S. and the Intelligence Service (IS) of south Korea, hotbed of evils in the world, hatched a vicious plot to hurt the supreme leadership of the DPRK and those acts have been put into the extremely serious phase of implementation after crossing the threshold of the DPRK,” the North’s KCNA news agency quoted the statement as saying, referring to the North by its official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. “A hideous terrorists’ group, which the CIA and the IS infiltrated into the

DPRK on the basis of covert and meticulous preparations to commit state-sponsored terrorism against the supreme leadership of the DPRK by use of bio-chemical substance, has been recently detected.” The U.S. Embassy in Seoul and South Korea’s National Intelligence Service were not immediately available for comment. The U.S. military has said CIA director Mike Pompeo visited South Korea this week and met the NIS chief for discussions. KCNA said the two intelligence services “ideologically corrupted” and bribed a North Korean surnamed Kim and turned him into “a terrorist full of repugnance and revenge against the supreme leadership of the DPRK”. “They hatched a plot of letting human scum Kim commit bomb terrorism targeting the supreme leadership during events at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun and at military parade and public procession after his return home,” KCNA said. “They told him that assassination by use of biochemical substances including radioactive substance and nano poisonous substance is the best method that does not require access to the target, their lethal results will appear after six or twelve months... “Then they handed him over $20,000 on two occasions and a satellite transmitter-receiver and let him get versed in it.” North Korea conducted

an annual military parade, featuring a display of missiles and overseen by top leader Kim Jong Un and his right-hand men on April 15 and then a large, live-fire artillery drill 10 days later. KCNA, which often carries shrill, bellicose threats against the United States, gave lengthy details about the alleged plot but said it could never be accomplished. “Criminals going hellbent to realize such a pipe dream cannot survive on this land even a moment,” it said. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Wednesday that Washington was working on more sanctions against North Korea if it takes steps that merit a new response. He also warned other countries their firms could face socalled secondary sanctions for doing illicit business with Pyongyang. Tillerson said the Trump administration had been “leaning hard into China ... to test their willingness to use their influence, their engagement with the regime”. Two women accused of killing the estranged halfbrother of North Korean leader Kim with a chemical weapon appeared in court in Malaysia last month. They allegedly smeared the man’s face with the toxic VX nerve agent, a chemical described by the United Nations as a weapon of mass destruction, at Kuala Lumpur airport on Feb. 13.

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Saudi Arabia, U.S. in talks on billions in arms sales - U.S. sources (Reuters - Exclusive) Washington is working to push through contracts for tens of billions of dollars in arms sales to Saudi Arabia, some new, others in the pipeline, ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump’s trip to the kingdom this month, people familiar with the talks told Reuters this week. Saudi Arabia is Trump’s first stop on his maiden international trip, a sign of his intent to reinforce ties with a top regional ally. The United States has been the main supplier for most Saudi military needs, from F-15 fighter jets to command and control systems worth tens of billions of dollars in recent years. Trump has vowed to stimulate the U.S. economy by boosting manufacturing jobs. Washington and Riyadh are eager to improve relations strained under President Barack Obama in part because of his championing of a nuclear deal with Saudi foe Iran. Lockheed Martin Co programs in the package include a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system with several batteries, the sources said. The THAAD system, like the one being made operational in South Korea, costs about $1 billion. Also being negotiated is a C2BMC software system for battle command and control and communications as well as a package of satellite capabilities, both provided by Lockheed. The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the negotia-

tions, which also include previously reported contracts or items under discussion for years. One such deal, an $11.5 billion package of four multimission surface combatant ships and accompanying services and spares, was approved by the State Department in 2015. Talks followed to hammer out capabilities, configuration and design for the complex warships but the deal has never gone to final contract. The next step for the ships is likely a letter of agreement between the two countries, the sources said. Versions of the ship used by the U.S. Navy, the Littoral Combat Ship, are built by Bethesda, Maryland-based weapons maker Lockheed Martin and Australia’s Austal Ltd. If a deal goes through, it would be the first sale of a new small surface warship to a foreign power in decades. Any major foreign weapons sale is subject to oversight by Congress. Lawmakers must take into consideration a legal requirement that Israel must maintain its qualitative military edge over its neighbors. Also, more than $1 billion worth of munitions including armor-piercing Penetrator Warheads and Paveway laserguided bombs made by Raytheon Co are in the package, the sources said. The Obama administration suspended the planned sale because of concerns over the Saudi-led military campaign in Yemen and civilian casualties. A U.S. administration official said the proposed Raytheon sale was still undergoing interagency review. A

Raytheon representative declined to comment on the sales. A Lockheed representative said such sales are government-to-government decisions and the status of any potential discussions can be best addressed by the U.S. government. A representative for the Saudi embassy in Washington declined to comment. FLURRY OFACTIVITY One of the people with knowledge of the sales said that as planning for Trump’s trip to Saudi Arabia intensified in recent weeks, the arms negotiations also accelerated. Two U.S. officials said a U.S.Saudi working group met at the White House Monday and Tuesday to negotiate the trip, as well as financing for military equipment sales and stopping terrorist financing. Saudi foreign minister Adel al-Jubeir and other Saudi officials met with lawmakers at the Capitol on Thursday, including Senators Bob Corker and Ben Cardin on the foreign relations committee. The Pentagon declined to comment. White House and State Department officials said it was U.S. policy not to comment on proposed U.S. defense sales until they had been formally notified to Congress. The Obama administration had offered Saudi Arabia more than $115 billion in weapons. Most of the Obama-era offers, which are reported to Congress, became formal agreements though some were abandoned or amended. Washington also provides maintenance and training to Saudi security forces.

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New World Bank report says PPPs vital to improve infrastructure quality in the Caribbean SÃO PAULO (CMC) – A new World Bank report launched here on Thursday says that Latin America and the Caribbean have significant potential to increase Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) to help close its infrastructure gap. However, to achieve that, the Washington-based financial institution said the region should move beyond the common perception that PPPs are mainly an instrument to tackle fiscal constraints, and maximize their potential impacts on infrastructure quality, spending efficiency and transparency. Private Financing of Public Infrastructure through PPPs in Latin America and the Caribbean is an in-depth assessment of the PPP scenario in the region, said the World Bank, adding that it analyzes the challenges and policy options countries have to increase private sector financing in public infrastructure. “Combining public and private capital and taking advantage of the efficiency

and innovation of the private sector can make a huge difference,” said Jorge Familiar, World Bank Vice President for Latin America and the Caribbean. “When well designed, PPPs bring greater efficiency and sustainability to public services,” he added. “As the region emerges from six years of economic slowdown, PPPs can help it boost infrastructure investments and strengthen the momentum for growth.” The World Bank says most countries in the region have improved their legal and policy PPP frameworks in the last two decades, adding that 17 countries in the region already have fully functional PPP units. Currently, PPPs account for about 40 percent of Latin America and the Caribbean’s yearly infrastructure commitments, although there is great variation across countries and in time, the bank said. Over the past 10 years, it said most PPPs in the region have been greenfield investments, mainly in the energy sector.

But the report reveals that private equity accounts for less than a third of total PPP financing, and about half of all PPP deals in the region received some form of government support between 2010 and 2014. The report finds that a key factor to boost efficiency and quality in PPP projects is suitable risk sharing, based on the capacities of the state, concessionary companies, users, financiers and insurers. The report has also urged countries to avoid trying to offset poor project preparation by increasing risk for the public sector. According to the report, well-designed PPP project screening saves time and money by quickly discarding bad projects or projects that are not suitable to PPPs. Likewise, maintaining a project pipeline based on cost-benefit assessments that include social, economic and country political priorities, would enable more strategic decisions about whether a project if suitable for PPP financing, the report says.

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CoA tells BCCI to select... Cycling - Austrian Postlberger wins (From page 27) convene a meeting of the selection committee for selecting the squad immediately. The squad can then be submitted to the ICC without prejudice to BCCI’s legal rights.” The BCCI has called for a special general meeting (SGM) on May 7 to discuss the outcomes of the ICC Board meetings last week, when a new constitution, governance changes and financial model - in which the BCCI’s share of revenue was greatly reduced - was passed by an overwhelming majority. A segment of the BCCI, unhappy with the cut in its revenue from the ICC, wants to revoke the Members Participation Agreement (MPA),

which would mean India missing every ICC tournament in the current rights cycle starting form the 2017 Champions Trophy to the 2023 World Cup. Three days before the SGM, the CoA told the BCCI it needed to provide the best environment for the Indian team to defend the title. “We believe that any decision taken at the SGM should be predicated on the fact that India has the best team in the world today,” the CoA told Choudhary. “Team India should be provided with a supportive environment to showcase Indian cricket instead of being surrounded with uncertainty and confusion. The players’ interests are paramount and

they must be given the best chance to prepare for, defend and retain the ICC Champions Trophy. The focus should be on enabling our team to achieve even greater heights and further laurels, which will automatically attract higher revenues. “The BCCI appears to have lost sight of the fact that it attained a pre-eminent position in the ICC not by a combative approach but by building consensus and ensuring a positive image, including by helping other cricket boards in their time of need.” The CoA also warned the BCCI that any “drastic steps” taken at the SGM could lead to the Supreme Court getting involved in the matter.

Saturday May 06 , 2017 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You can learn a great deal if you listen to those who are older or more experienced. You must lay down ground rules so that you can complete a job. Take precautions while traveling; you don't have to get anywhere that fast.

bind. If you're looking to do something worthwhile, consider volunteer work.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) It's a good time to make changes to your living quarters that will give you more space. Take a break; you can finally mend any disputes on the home front. Don't take your frustrations out on loved ones.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) You are best to work behind the scenes on projects that require detail or precision. You should not get involved in joint ventures. You'll have great insight.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Work quietly behind the scenes for best results. Be careful when dealing with investments. Don't be shy; if you want to spend more time with a special person, make a commitment. CANCER (June 21–July 22) You will both have to bend if you want this union to work. This could be a serious relationship. Real estate investments will be profitable. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) You may be emotional if you allow your lover to take advantage of your good nature. You need to spend less time daydreaming and more time accomplishing. Your lack of interest in your partner is a problem. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Make changes that will heighten your appeal. Be careful not to take on other people's problems. You may find yourself in a financial

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You may feel a need to make changes to your legal documents. You can make progress if you deal with the right individuals.

SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21) A series of misunderstandings may be at fault. You may need a good friend to lean on. Talk to someone you trust if you need advice about broaching the subject. CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) You might not be as reserved on an emotional level as you'd like. Your own small business on the side could ease your financial stress. Don't be afraid to push your beliefs and attitudes. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) However, you may not attract the kind of interest you had in mind. You may find yourself mixed up in a triangle of sorts. You may find that your boss is not delighted with your work lately. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Travel will initiate new friendships or love connections. Romance is likely if you participate in unusual forms of entertainment. Help elders get their personal papers in order.

opening stage of Giro

(Reuters) Austrian grand tour debutant Lukas Postlberger claimed a surprise victory in the first stage of the 100th edition of the Giro d’Italia in Sardinia yesterday. The Bora-Hansgrohe lead-out man found himself clear of the chasing peloton in the last kilometre into Olbia after 206km on the road and as the sprinters tried to react he powered on to cross the

line and become the first man in the Maglia Rosa. It proved a great opening day for the Bora-Hansgrohe team as Italian Cesare Benedetti claimed the early lead in the king of the mountain category after spending all day in a breakaway. Australia’s Caleb Ewan (Orica-Scott) was second over the line with Germany’s Andre Greipel (Lotto-Soudal) third.

Lukas Postlberger (facebook)

Court orders Neymar to stand... (From page 28) euros. In November, prosecutors recommended that the striker be handed a two-year jail sentence and a fine of 10 million euros for alleged corrupt practices. Sentences of two

years or less are habitually suspended for first-time offenders in Spain. The case initiated with a complaint from Brazilian investment company DIS, which owned 40 per cent of Neymar’s sporting rights at the time of his transfer.

DIS received just 6.8 million euros — 40 per cent of the fee paid to Santos — with the company claiming it was cheated out of its real share because part of the transfer fee was concealed by Barcelona, Santos and the Neymar family.

Axar, Sandeep thrust Kings XI after... (From page 26) an inswinger. Aware that de Villiers was anticipating another inswinger, he bowled a couple of legcutters - one beat the bat, one took the edge. Sandeep, using his strengths, had opened up Royal Challengers’ weakness. Confidence affecting ability Home or away, strong or not, Royal Challengers’ batting has failed this season. Confidence is an abstract aspect that is almost always defined by results in sports. The confidence of success can positively influence tight games, but repeated failures can have a devastating effect mentally. Royal Challengers’ middle order haven’t found any answers - in intent, di-

rection or approach - when their powerful top order has failed. Against a tight Kings XI attack, Royal Challengers’ batsmen were found bereft of belief, not for the first time this

season. Scores: Kings XI Punjab 138 for 7 (Axar 38) beat Royal Challengers Bangalore 119 (Mandeep 46, Axar 3-11, Sandeep 3-22) by 19 runs.

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Saturday May 06, 2017

Holder thrilled by Windies rebound, wants focus to continue BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – West Indies captain Jason Holder has praised the focus and commitment of his embattled side following their crushing win over Pakistan here Thursday, and has urged them to maintain the intensity heading into next week’s decisive Test at Windsor Park. Entering the Kensington Oval contest on the back of a seven-wicket defeat in the opening Test at Sabina Park two weeks ago, West Indies turned the tables on Pakistan to level the three-match series with a 106-win on the final day here. “We had to win the game to keep the series alive. Everybody knew what was at stake and we wanted to win the game,” Holder told a media conference here. “We wanted to win the series and start making strides in the right direction, so everybody knew the

importance of the game and it was all about giving a big effort. I told the guys to leave everything out on the park. “We highlighted a few areas before this game that we wanted to touch on and I feel as though we have really touched them and hit them. It’s just a matter of being consistent and carrying it into Dominica, which will be very crucial. “The series is wide open and we have the perfect opportunity to win the series.” Resuming the day on 264 for nine, West Indies added four runs before they were dismissed for 268 off the fifth delivery of the morning. But set what appeared to be a straightforward 188 for victory, Pakistan crashed to 81 all out – equaling the lowest-ever total at Kensington Oval and their second-lowest against West Indies.

The hosts were spearheaded by fast bowler Shannon Gabriel who was superb with five for 11 while Holder claimed three for 23 and fellow seamer Alzarri Joseph, two for 42. Holder said preparation and execution had been the vital keys to winning the encounter. “It feels really good. It just shows what hard work can do. I think the guys put in a really good effort in the preparation leading up to this game,” he explained. “We took it to the end. We set out some plans in the dressing room and I think we went out and executed them so credit must go to everybody, especially to the fast bowlers who just kept running in. “I think our first innings total was really, really crucial and then backed up by a solid second innings total on a difficult pitch. I think it’s an outstanding

team effort.” The victory was Holder’s second in 14 games as captain, following his success in the final game of the three-match series in Sharjah in United Arab Emirates last November. His all-round contributions were also key in winning the game here, taking six wickets and striking a half-century, and the 25-year-old said he was focussed on performing his role for the team. “For me, I’ll just continue do what I have to for his team,” he stressed. “If I need to make runs for the team or if I need to come in and get some wickets, I just put up my hand and try to do it. “I back myself and I back my ability. I’ve gotten here doing something well so I’ll just continue to do it. Whatever the team ask me to do I’ll put up my hand and do it.”

ON CLOUD NINE: Captain Jason Holder celebrates one of his three wickets on the final day of the second Test against Pakistan on Thursday. (Photo courtesy WICB Media)

Axar, Sandeep thrust Kings XI after another RCB collapse ESPNcricinfo - Setting a target or chasing one, Royal Challengers Bangalore have swung to the collapso beat through the season. Up against a relatively simple chase of 139, albeit on a slow surface, Royal Challengers slumped to 119, slipping to their fifth consecutive loss in completed games. Kings XI Punjab executed on all counts in the second innings - their seamers were accurate, the spinners were economical and the fielding wasn’t conspicuous, all of which resulted in the lowest total defended at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in the IPL, drastically improving their chances of making the playoffs. Axar Patel had another stellar day with bat and ball. He took 3 for 11, but his most important contribution came towards the closing stages of the first innings, with his cameo - 38 off 17 balls pushing Kings XI to 138. Sandeep Sharma then took out Royal Challengers’ best batsmen - Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers - in his opening spell to fatally weaken a brittle batting lineup.

Batsmen cheated by relaid pitch In previous seasons, batsmen were allowed to do what they wanted at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. They had the backing of short boundaries if a shot was mis-timed and gradually developed a relationship of trust with a true, gorgeous surface. This season, a relaid surface has not only belied that trust, but it has already begun an intimate affair with the bowlers. A slow pitch with variable bounce was evident from the outset, and Kings XI struggled to cope with an atypical IPL surface. The average Powerplay score, before this game, was 39.4 at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in first innings’ this season. Kings XI laboured to 35 and lost their openers Hashim Amla and Martin Guptill - in the Powerplay. Royal Challengers claimed the early advantage and didn’t let go. Axar ’s finishing credentials A wire-to-wire win dominating from start to finish - is a rare entity in T20s, primarily because an

Sandeep Sharma leaps up in the air after dismissing Virat Kohli, Royal Challengers Bangalore v Kings XI Punjab, IPL 2017, Bengaluru, © AFP over, or even a ball, can change the direction of momentum. Axar has added incredible clean-hitting ability to his repertoire this season: before this game, he had hammered 112 runs off 59 balls in the end overs this season at a strike rate of

189.67, clinically executing his role as finisher. Against Royal Challengers, he simply planned well and executed picking his areas and battering them. He ended with 38 off just 17 balls, including taking Shane Watson for 18 in the

Axar Patel was delighted after removing Shane Watson, Royal Challengers Bangalore v Kings XI Punjab, IPL 2017, Bengaluru, ©BCCI last over. Momentum, clichéd as it may be, was with Kings XI. Kohli, visibly displeased with the last over, knew it too. Swing+accuracy>pace ? Sandeep’s biggest asset is not his speed - he is just about medium pace - but his

accuracy and the ability to move the ball both ways. He is at his devastating best when he is able to find them both in perfect sync. He had one hooping away from Gayle to have him caught at point. Then, he got through Kohli’s defence with (Continued on page 25)

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Diamond League: Justin Gatlin & Andre de Grasse beaten in Doha 100m

Simbine (left) finished fifth in the Rio 2016 100m final. (Getty Images) BBC Sport - South Africa’s Akani Simbine continued his impressive start to 2017 by beating Justin Gatlin and Andre de Grasse in the 100m at the Doha Diamond League. The 23-year-old clocked his sixth sub-10 second time of the season as he came home in 9.99, ahead of Asafa Powell. Gatlin was fourth in 10.14, behind Femi

Ogunode (10.13) and ahead of De Grasse, who was fifth in 10.21. J a m a i c a ’s O l y m p i c champion Elaine Thompson beat Netherlands’ Dafne Schippers in the 200m. The pair were separated by only a tenth of a second in last year’s Olympic final, and Thompson triumphed in Doha by 0.26 seconds in a time of 22.19. B r i t a i n ’s R o b b i e

Grabarz, who took silver in the European Indoors in March, claimed second place in the high jump, clearing 2.31m in his first outdoor event of the season. Semenya sends out 800m statement Olympic champion Caster Semenya claimed a commanding victory in the 800m, coming home in a world-leading time of one minute 56.61 seconds.

Semenya won Olympic gold in one minute 55.28 seconds. (Getty Images) E t h i o p i a ’s G e n z e b e Dibaba - who broke a 22year-old 1500m world record in 2015 and won silver over the distance in Rio - was fifth in her first 800m outing. Rohler joins javelin greats Olympic champion Thomas Rohler threw 93.90m to win the javelin competition by more than four metres.

The German’s throw moves him to second in the all-time list, with only Czech great Jan Zelezny having thrown further. British round-up Desiree Henry was well short of the 22.69 she clocked earlier this year in California as the 21-year-old finished seventh in the 200m. Holly Bradshaw, who missed the indoor season

with injury, finished fourth in the pole vault with a best of 4.55m. Cindy Ofili finished down in seventh as American world recordholder Kendra Harrison won the 100m hurdles in 12.59, while Andrew Butchart came eighth in the 3,000m and Chris Baker finished seventh in the high jump.

2nd Boyce & Jefford Relay & Family Fun Day CoA tells BCCI to select Champions Trophy Improving weather conducive squad ‘immediately’

for a day of excitement

The BCCI has delayed naming the India squad for the 2017 tournament © AFP ESPNcricinfo - Calling for the “uncertainty” over India’s participation in the 2017 Champions Trophy to end, the committee of administrators (CoA) has directed the BCCI to select the squad immediately. India were the only country to miss the April 25 deadline, by when all eight participating countries had to submit their Champions

Trophy squads to the ICC. The BCCI had said the delay was because of “operational” reasons, but events since then have led to d o u b t s o v e r I n d i a ’s participation in the tournament. “There has been more than enough negativity surrounding Team India’s participation in the ICC Champions Trophy and the

sooner the same is put to rest the better,” the CoA told BCCI acting secretary Amitabh Choudhary, in an email sent on Thursday. “You are aware that the squad representing India at the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 was to be submitted by 25th April 2017 but the squad has not even been selected as yet. Please (Continued on page 25)

As the weather continues to improve, sporting fans are eagerly anticipating tomorrow’s staging of the 2nd Boyce & Jefford Relay & Family Fun Day which will take place, at the Police Sports Club, Eve Leary. The overwhelming feedback is that persons are excited about the day’s programme which includes track & Field, 5-a-side football, cycling, dominoes and races for the differentlyabled. According to a member of the Organising Committee, all the events listed are causing a stir among participants and fans and they expect a large turnout. The football segment is expected to be among the highlights of the day’s activities with the hunted Sparta Boss set to renew rivalry with teams such as Back Circle, Bent Street, Agricola Champion Boys, West Front Road ‘Gold is M o n e y, B r o a d S t r e e t

Bullies, Camp Street All Stars and Sophia. The addition of newcomers Police, GDF and Kaniamas from the East Coast of Demerara is also being viewed as evidence of the shorter version of football growing reputation. When you add the community aspect where the fans come out in support of their respective neighbourhood teams the excitement becomes feverpitched. The three new teams have all signaled their intentions to give a good account, especially for future invitations and

representatives from the teams have indicated that they are taking the competition seriously. The teams who’ve been invited are: Sparta Boss, Bent Street, Sophia, Camp Street All Stars, Back Circle, West Front Road ‘Gold is Money’, Agricola Champion Boys, Broad Street Bullies, GDF and Police. Up for grabs is $50,000 for the winners and $25,000 for the beaten finalist. Meanwhile, the Eve Leary outfield is in good condition and encouraging for teams and fans to have a day of fun and thrills.

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Saturday May 06, 2017

Linden Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Competition

Dave & Celina All Stars topple Team 25 -Swag Entertainment through to tonight’s final Dave & Celina All Stars sent defending champion Team 25 crashing out of this year’s Linden Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Competition with a convincing 2-0 win in semifinal action on Thursday night, at the Silver City Tarmac. It therefore means that a new champion will be crowned this evening when the final is played, at the Mackenzie Market Tarmac. Their opponents will be Swag Entertainment who crushed Jermaine & family Silver Bullets 4-1 and could very well go into tonight’s final as firm favourites to win the title. Played before another big crowd, the opening encounter between Team 25 and Dave & Celina All Stars started out in cagey fashion as both teams focused on knocking the ball around in a bid to ease the tension. H o w e v e r, t h a t a l l changed following Dave & Celina All Stars opening goal which came in the fourth minute when Keon Sears’ shot on goal rebounded off the opposing defender ’s leg, before trickling over the line. It meant that the champs had to increase the tempo, but the All Stars did not sit back and defend their slim lead, instead they orchestrated some

threatening raids themselves and talisman Rawle ‘Boney’ Gittens should have converted a clear chance, but his effort landed inches outside the left upright much to the relief of the Team 25 side. Team 25 also had their opportunity to level the proceedings, but Teon S t e w a r t ’s r i g h t - f o o t e d missile struck the upright and rebounded into play. Gittens was again unfortunate two minutes later when his shot was booted into touch inches from creeping over the goalline. The teams went to the break with the All Stars clinging to a slim 1-0 advantage and all to play for in the final period. U rg e d o n b y t h e i r respective band of supporters the two teams entertained the fans with some exquisite football, but solid defending was the feature of the second half battle. Stewart was denied in the 23rd minute by another impressive act of defending and this happened before Sears hit the crossbar. However, the All-Stars Kennard Simon eased the squeeze for his team when he fired in from the left flank one minute from full time. The final whistle sounded shortly after to hand the All Stars a final spot. In the other semi-final,

Court orders Neymar to stand trial for fraud MADRID, Spain (AFP) — A Spanish court Thursday o r d e r e d B a r c e l o n a ’s Brazilian star Neymar and his parents to stand trial over alleged fraud and corruption in the player’s transfer from Santos in 2013. The National Court also ordered Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu and his predecessor Sandro Rosell, as well as the two clubs, Barcelona and Brazil’s Santos, to be sent to trial over the affair. They will stand trial for “business corruption and fraud”, the court said in a statement.

Neymar’s arrival from Brazil’s Santos has been a huge success for the Spanish champions on the pitch but a judicial nightmare off it. The 25-year-old striker is being investigated in Brazil and Spain over his headline move to La Liga. Barcelona originally published the transfer figure as 57.1 million euros ($62.3 million), with 40 million euros of that given to the player’s family. But Spanish authorities believe the true transfer figure was at least 83 million (Continued on page 25)

Players battle for ball possession in the clash that featured Swag Entertainment and Jermaine & Family Silver Bullets. Swag Entertainment’s star player Colwyn Drakes continued his remarkable goalscoring run when he hammered in a treble in their 4-1 victory over Silver Bullets. Drakes opened his account in the fourth minute and added two more in the 25th and 32nd to take his tally to six so far in the competition. Strike partner Shane

Luckie was also not to be outdone and he netted the other goal in the ninth m i n u t e . Jermaine Samuels’ 19th minute strike was the lone response for Silver Bullets. The two losers will battle for third place. The winning team will take away $400,000 and the championship trophy along with the opportunity to play in the National Playoffs.

Second, third and fourth placed finishers receive $150,000, $75,000 and $50,000 respectively. Starting time is 21:00hrs. Meanwhile, all four teams will participate in the National Playoffs. The other sponsor on board is Colours Boutique. The night’s results are seen below: Game-1 Team 25-0 vs Dave &

Celina All-Stars-2 Keon Sears Kenard Simon-39th Game-2 Swag Entertainment-4 vs Jermaine and Family Silver Bullets-1 Swag Entertainment Scorers Colwyn Drakes-4th, 25th and 32nd Shane Luckie-9th Silver Bullets Scorers Jermaine Samuels-19th

Gabriel praises team effort, Holder captaincy following win BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Fast bowler Shannon Gabriel has heaped praise on his teammates and captain Jason Holder, following West Indies’ demolition of Pakistan in the second Test here Thursday. The spearhead of the Windies attack grabbed five for 11 in a brilliant spell of pace bowling on a wearing track as Pakistan were dismissed for 81 in pursuit of 188 for victory at Kensington Oval, giving the hosts a 106-run win. Gabriel, who finished with a nine-wicket match haul to earn Man-of-theMatch honours, said the success had been as a result of a collective team effort. “I think it was a good performance, a good team effort,” the Trinidadian told reporters. “The way Roston (Chase) played in the first innings and the way the

bowlers bowled – (Devendra) Bishoo picking up some key wickets and the rest of bowlers. “In the second innings Shai (Hope) put up his hand and batted although he was struggling [previously] but we always know as a team once we got a good lead on a fifth day pitch, things would happen for us.” Gabriel was well supported by seamer Holder who claimed three wickets in each innings, and also gathered a fluent halfcentury in the first innings. However, the 29-yearold Gabriel also pointed to Holder’s captaincy as key in the success. “Jason is a good captain. He’s learning and improving a lot,” he stressed. “One good thing about him is that he’s willing to take advice and try new things and that’s a good thing for the team and for West Indies cricket.”

Following a slow start to his international career, Gabriel has picked up intensity in recent months and has now emerged as the leader of the West Indies attack. He has taken 62 wickets form 25 Tests, and his form in the longer format has subsequently led to his debut One-Day International where he has also reaped success. Gabriel said Trinidad and To b a g o c o a c h K e l v i n Williams, along with the c u r r e n t We s t I n d i e s coaching staff had played key roles in bringing him to this point, and he was now relishing the role as leader of the attack. “Since coming through from Under-19s, I’ve been working with Kelvin so I must give thanks to him and thanks to the Almighty Father, thanks to Ronald Rogers (trainer) and thanks to Roddy Estwick (Windies

bowling coach) for the advice and the help for getting me here and I we can continue to work together as one moving forward,” he said. Gabriel added: “It’s a lot of hard work but end of the day, I still have a job to go out there and do and I am enjoying the challenge, and the guys have been backing me up pretty well so it’s good news for West Indies cricket.” Despite his success at Kensington Oval over the last five days, Gabriel said the surface at the historic venue was less than ideal. “Knowing Barbados and coming to Barbados you hope to get a wicket with some pace and some bounce so we can utilize our fast bowlers,” he lamented. “The wicket wasn’t that great of a wicket so it was a bit disappointing so hopefully next time that will be corrected.”

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Kaieteur News

Cricket: Women’s World Cup Bahamas 2017’s remarkable volunteer sees 10-fold jump in prize money

Beverly Wallace-Whitfield

”This is what I do,” Beverly Wallace-Whitfield said with a deeply-felt confidence as she cast her eyes towards the sand pitch where Paraguay and Tahiti’s players were warming up ahead of their crucial quarter-final. Wallace-Whitfield is one of many volunteers at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Bahamas 2017. The Local Organising Committee (LOC) volunteers are the heartbeat of the tournament. ”I’ve been a public servant for many years,” said the 90-year-old. “I’m the type of person who likes to be doing something. I cannot be idle. So, I volunteer.” Her servant heart has seen her give back in a multitude of ways. She’s volunteered for the Bahamas Red Cross, sold raffle tickets for charities, volunteered for the IAAF when it started in 2014 and always works in

accreditation. “I want to give back. That is what I do at this point in my life.” She could be doing anything, so why does she give back? ”I’ve had a very full, wonderful life. I’ve got three children, I’ve travelled a good deal, I went to the Olympics last year in Brazil. I love sports. It was just natural for me. Because I have the time as a retiree, I must fill it with something. I can’t be idle. That is not my nature, so I fill it with things I like to do!” Bahamas’ No1 fan One would struggle to find a more enthusiastic supporter of the Bahamas national beach soccer team than Wallace-Whitfield. ”I was rooting very loudly for the Bahamas team, of course! You should have heard me the other night when they won! (Laughs) I will take away the fact that they won on their last attempt. Working behind the scenes and then coming

out as a spectator, gives me an opportunity to see both sides of the fence. ”I think the organisation has been marvelous. Everything has been put in place and then we can come and enjoy it for free! I think that’s just perfect.” Does she have any advice for any young people thinking of volunteering in the future? ”I think you owe it to yourself and your country to be involved as far as you can be. We aren’t an island. We can’t live just to ourselves. You have to live with other people, and interact with them. Therefore, let’s give and do things for others wherever you can. I think it’s important to share yourself.” Everyone in the Bahamas who has interacted with the r e m a r k a b l e Wa l l a c e Whitfield at the Beach S o c c e r Wo r l d C u p i s certainly thankful that she has chosen to share herself. (FIFA)

Bolt fears ‘belly’, but rules out U-turn on retirement LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Usain Bolt’s coaches have joked that he will develop “a belly” within two years of retirement, but he says he has no doubts about hanging up his running spikes. Bolt, 30, will retire after the World Championships in London in August after a sensational career in which he has amassed eight Olympic gold medals, 11

world titles and three world records. “Everybody wants me to continue, but it’s not as simple as it is. I’ve done what I wanted to do. I’ve done great in the sport,” Bolt told the BBC in a television interview to be broadcast today. “People just want to see more and more, but you as a person have to decide that this is it. I don’t want to

continue and then start losing, because I hate losing.” Though famously fond of the high life, Bolt says he does not intend to lose control of his waistline once he stops competing. “I have a bet with my managers. They’ve given me two years before I get a belly,” he said with a chuckle. “I can’t let that happen.”

(Reuters) The 2017 Women’s World Cup will see a 10 times increase in prize money to $2 million (1.5 million pounds) with every ball of the tournament broadcast live, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has said. The 2013 Women’s World Cup in India, when Australia won its sixth title by defeating West Indies in the final, had just $200,000 on offer as prize money. “The ICC Women’s World Cup is the pinnacle of the women’s game and as such the players should be rewarded appropriately,” ICC Chief Executive David Richardson said in a statement. “Two million dollars is the first step towards greater parity and recognition. The change will not happen overnight but the women’s game is crucial to the global growth of cricket.” The ICC said 10 matches of the June 24-July 23 tournament in England would be live on television while the remaining 21 matches will be livestreamed. The Decision Review System will be used in the women’s game for the first time and a drone camera as well as a Spidercam will be

International Cricket Council (ICC) Chief Executive David Richardson gestures as he speaks during a news conference in New Delhi, India, March 9, 2016. (REUTERS/Adnan Abidi) deployed for the July 23 final at Lord’s, also firsts for the women’s game. Cricket Australia w e l c o m e d t h e I C C ’s decisions and said they were important steps to promote the women’s game. “This demonstrates a welcome, long-term commitment to the global growth of the women’s game, and it recognises the opportunity presented by women’s sport,” CA Chief Executive James Sutherland said. “We have seen huge

interest in our women cricketers here in Australia through the two seasons of WBBL, and part of the success of this league is that every game is available to fans through livestreaming. “Cricket Australia is also pleased that the ICC is working towards prize money parity with the men’s game within 15 years.” Cricket Australia has made improving the lot of women cricketers a key part of their negotiations with their players over a new pay deal.

Brazil convicts eight for planning attack on Olympic games (Reuters) A federal court convicted eight Brazilians on Thursday of planning an attack on the Rio Olympics inspired by Islamic State and sentenced them to between six and 15 years in prison. The eight men were arrested in July two weeks before the Games opened in Rio de Janeiro, raising fears of an attack on the global sports event. Authorities said they were a loosely organized group of amateurs barely connected by social media. The leader of the group, Leonid el Kadre de Melo, 33, was convicted of recruitment with aim of practicing acts of terrorism and was sentenced to 15 years and 10 months in prison. The other seven were convicted of criminal association and promoting a

terrorist organization and sentenced to six years and five months in prison. Brazilian government officials said the group had not met in person, lacked funding and did not actually have contact with Islamic State, though they had tried

to purchase guns. Evidence in the sentencing included photos of members of the group posing with black Islamic State flags and a chat page discussion on how to make a bomb using charcoal, fertilizer and sulfur.

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BCB commences preparation for inter county U19 tourney The Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) has commenced its preparation for the upcoming Guyana Cricket Board inter county U19 tournament. Chairman of Selectors of the BCB junior panel, Mr. Leslie Solomon has stated that the players are upbeat and ready for the intense competition. He added that much will be done to prepare the team to live up to the expectations of the new Administration of the BCB. The Clubs are fully supportive of the County’s team, and selection has been done for the final 28 members who will be trained over the next few days, a release from the BCB stated. The release further stated that training will be conducted under the supervision of coaches

Julian Moore and Adrian Amsterdam. The Players will be tested in physical fitness drills, since the BCB has now mandated fitness drills for cricketers who will be representing the county at that level. The Berbice U19 team failed to win the Inter county title in 2016, but President (acting) of the BCB Mr. D. Somwaru is optimistic that things have changed for the better. “The players are now in structured training sessions, and are giving their utmost to do well. We are doing all we can to prepare them despite the odds,” the release went on. The shortlisted players will be engaged in two 50over matches and two threeday games before the final team is selected to represent the County.

Charlestown Secondary claim MOE/NSC Teachers Windball Charlestown Secondary with their medals.

Charlestown Secondary School defeated West Demerara Secondary School to capture the Ministry of Education/National Sports

GBTI supports Matarkai SC T20 cricket The Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) Port Kaituma branch has supported the Matarkai Sports Committee of region one for the staging of its inaugural T20 fixture which is set for tomorrow at Fitzburg ground, Port Kaituma. The game is set to bowl off at 12:30hrs and will see Mabaruma playing Port Kaituma. Following the match, PK Blonds will tackle Sebai Girls in an all female football encounter. Proceeds from the gate will be donated to Port Kaituma Nursery School. Off field entertainment will be provided by Legacy Sounds while lots of food and drinks will be on sale. Admission to the venue is $300 (adults) and $100 (children). GBTI presented the balls and trophy for the game; Matarkai Sports Committee chairman Sherlon Rodrigues thanked the entity for their support and wished the teams well. Other sponsors onboard are International Import & supplies, Port Kaituma Power & light, RDC Region 1, Norville’s Meat Centre, El Dorado Trading, Frontier

Chairman of the Matarkai Sports Committee Sherlon Rodrigues (left) accepts the balls and trophy from GBTI branch manager Gajendranauth Singh. Pharmacy, Gamell & Sons Va r i e t y, B e a c o n s International, Ishmael Farook, Abdool Farook,

Saturday May 06, 2017

Mike Charles & Sons, Kimmo Barber Shop, Phillips Variety and Quincy Guinness bar.

Commission 7-A-Side mixed team teachers Windball Cricket competition recently. Playing at the National

G y m n a s i u m , We s t Demerara Secondary batted first after winning the toss and scored 82-3 off their allotted five overs. Arjoon

Mohamed hit six sixes in scoring 56 not out. Charlestown responded with 88. Ronale Bourne slammed 62 with six sixes.

Chase leads Windies stars rise in rankings DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, CMC – Roston Chase’s second Test century has catapulted him into the top 50 in the latest ICC Test batting rankings while his teammate and fellow Barbadian Shai Hope, has moved to the brink of cracking the top 100 for the first time. This comes after both produced excellent performances to help West Indies crush Pakistan by 106 runs on the final day of the second Test at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown on Thursday. Chase carved out 131 in the first innings as West Indies made 312 while Hope hit a career-best 90 to see the Caribbean to 268 all out in their second innings. As a result, the 25-yearold Chase has jumped 21 places to a career-best 49th while Hope, 23, has moved up 19 spots to 101st. For Hope, the innings was his maiden Test halfcentury in his ninth match, breaking a run of low scores in his career. There was also success for Man-of-the-Match fast bowler Shannon Gabriel and captain Jason Holder who

West Indies batting star Roston Chase. made healthy strides in the bowlers rankings. Gabriel, who was brilliant in the second innings with a spell of five for 11 to end with a ninewicket match haul, has entered the top-20 for the first time after jumping 14 places to 19th. Seamer Holder, meanwhile, who took three wickets in each innings, has moved up 12 spots to 40th, after also making progress in the rankings following the opening Test at Sabina Park two

weeks ago. He also reiterated his status as a promising allrounder with a half-century in the first innings of the Barbados Test which has seen him leap five places to 11th in the all-rounders rankings. Australia captain Steve Smith continues to head the batting rankings while Indian left-arm spinner Ravi Ashwin tops the bowling rankings. Bangladeshi star Shakibal-Hasan leads the allrounders rankings.

Kaieteur News

Saturday May 06, 2017

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Stag on board WDFA / Derrick Josiah KO The annual Derrick Josiah Memorial knock-out football competition involving the top eight (8) c l u b s f r o m t h e We s t Demerara Football Association (WDFA) and sponsored by Stag will kick off tomorrow at the Den Amstel Community Centre ground with three matches preceded by the ceremonial March Past of teams. Eagles United and Young Achievers will square off in the feature quarter final match from 21:00hrs after the first quarter final of the competition is played between home team Den Amstel and Stewartville from 19:00hrs. Police FC will play an exhibition match against Jetty to kick off on field action. Teams in this Stag sponsored event are battling for a top prize of $200,000; 2nd place $100,000; 3rd place $75,000; 4th place $50,000. The sponsorship was handed over to the ASP

Double header starts action tomorrow at Den Amstel Gr.

Stag Brand Manager Lindon Henry (3rd right) hands over the cheque to ASP Forbes Brown in the presence of from right, WDFA President Orin Ferrier, Inspector Andre Grant, WDFA VP Christine Schmidt and GPF FC player, Devon Brown. Forbes Brown of the Guyana Police Force where the Late Josiah served as Assistant Commander at the time of his passing.

Stag Brand Manager Lindon Henry made the presentation to Brown in the presence of WDFA President and Vice President Orin

Ferrier and Christine Schmidt among others. Meanwhile, action will continue on Friday with the remaining quarter final

All set for Rising Sun Turf Club Meet tomorrow Over 60 entered, Banks DIH sponsors main event All is set for “the grand one day of Photo Finish horserace meet” which is organised by the Rising Sun Turf Club and friends of Rising Sun and set for tomorrow at the Rising Sun Turf Club, Arima Park, West C o a s t B e r b i c e . The event has seven races listed with over $6M in cash, trophies and other incentives up for the taking, with Banks DIH being the sponsor of the main event. A top class field of runners that includes Golden Blue Echo, Lady Budapest, Brave Sky, Spit Fire, Just call Me Boss, Jack in My Style, Release the Beast, Goodwill Boy, Red and L o v e l y, H o n e y F l o w,

Climate Change, Big Man B o s s , P u p p y Ta i l , Mischievous Maker and Firing Line among others have been entered to compete. The Feature D3 and lower event has a winning purse of $1M and trophy compliments of Banks DIH Limited over 1400M which incidentally is the distance of all of the races, thus making it a one day sprint classic. The other events listed on the day are – The event for G1 and E3 non earners for the last six months which has a winning take of $400,000 and trophy. The race for H3 and lower horses will also now

cater for those 4years that haven’t earned for 2017 for a top prize of $350,000 and trophy. The race for three years and I and lower animals will be contested for a winning purse of $250,000 and trophy. The J2 and K and lower event will see the animals racing for a winner’s take of $200,000 and trophy. The L and lower animals will be galloping for a bounty of $ 1 7 5 , 0 0 0 a n d t r o p h y.

There is also a race for cow and cart horses for a winner’s tale of $100,000 and trophy. Banks DIH Limited along with Trophy Stall of Bourda Market, the Jumbo Jet Business entity and Shariff Business Enterprise have so far come forward as major sponsors. Last minute information can be accessed by contacting Fazal Habibulla on Telephone No 232-0232 or 657-7010 for details. Race time is 12:30 hrs.

matches. Pouderoyen will open against Golden Warriors at 18:00hrs to be followed by Uitvlugt Warriors against

Wales United. The respective winners will advance to the semi finals set for May 14 at the same venue.

Local official benefit from IAAF training Local officials benefitted from an International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) course that will help to certify 60 technical officials ahead of the South American Junior Championships set for next month. According to information reaching Kaieteur Sport, there will be two courses held with each part certifying 30 technical officials with the first already being completed. The 60 prospective officials will write the theoretical exam on May 9 to know whether or not they have passed the examination. In addition, while only 60 officials will be certified, 80 persons will be trained, but because the IAAF Technical Official, Giovanni Cardona can only certify 30 persons at a time, the other 20 will have to await official certification. Both courses were held for a maximum of six days and are expected to significantly aid with the development of the level of officiating in the country, especially with the South American Junior Championship in June.

t r o Sp Linden Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Competition

Dave & Celina All Stars topple Team 25

Part of semi-final action between eventual winner Dave & Celina All Stars and dethroned champion Team 25 on Thursday night.

-Swag Entertainment through to tonight’s final Gabriel praises team Improving weather conducive effort, Holder captaincy for a day of excitement following win 2nd Boyce & Jefford Relay & Family Fun Day

A photograph of the Police Sports Club ground which is the venue for tomorrow’s 2nd Boyce & Jefford Relay & Family Fun Day.

Fast bowler Shannon Gabriel (Photo courtesy WICB Media)

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