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

EDITORIAL UG: The Centre of National Transformation The establishment of the University of Guyana (UG) in 1963, three years before Guyana’s independence enshrined the national ideal of a well-educated people from an idea to an institution. The sentiments that informed the formation of the institution were noble, forward thinking and courageous. Prof. Harold Drayton, the first Deputy Vice Chancellor (1963-64), describes the university’s establishment as “… an act of faith. With no capital funds for buildings and equipment…with slender recurrent annual government subsidies, and the related foreseeable difficulties of staff recruitment.” Fifty-five years ago, UG was started with US$104,000. One could argue that it was mal-nutritioned from birth. At its inception, it did not even have a home. It was housed at Queen’s College, and its 164 students went to school at night. Later, a gift from Bookers and several governments created the campus at Turkeyen in 1970, which never was envisaged to host the more than 6,000 students and close to 900 workers currently there. The strain on the infrastructure, and the daily fight to keep things operational, have been unimaginable. Despite all this, UG has produced over 25,000 graduates in some 60 different areas. About 70% of them have migrated over the years; the rest occupy the top echelons of this nation’s (and several other countries’) industry, public service, commerce, education, and other areas. UG, Guyana’s only national university, provides some 80% of Guyana’s university-educated workforce. Without a doubt, UG has given to this country—and other countries—much more than it has ever received from any source: government, business or its alumni, who benefitted most from the best education their money did not buy. The lecturers and administrators at the University have subsidized the education of every alumnus, and often sacrificed their careers and health by their resolute plodding on despite deteriorating conditions and poor salaries. That is a laudable and incontrovertible fact! Every Vice Chancellor who has taken the helm of the University of Guyana, therefore, has had to manage what could be considered the Janus-faced problem of too few resources with no real autonomy to act to solve these problems, and a public that generally seems to think that UG is UG’s problem. In 2010, Vice Chancellor Prof. Lawrence Carrington commissioned a study with funding from the Caribbean Development Bank. It was aimed at “fixing UG” and providing a road map for its transformation. That report, which is available in the UG library, is known as “The Hamilton Report”. It has had the advantage of taking a long historical glance back to two other important studies that preceded it: The 1996 Presidential Commission on UG, and the 2009-2012 Strategic Plan for UG. All three of these studies have pointed to about 20 existential problems that beset the institution. Many of the problems are interlocking and have to be addressed together. They include “improving compensation to academic staff, attaining superior academic quality on a sustained basis, sustaining a systematic research contribution to development, ensuring labor market relevant products, expanding and empowering the senior management of the institution, incentivizing students for studies in science and technology, recruiting more competitively, mobilizing private investment and operation of on-campus commercial services and mobilizing alumni and business to become more effective partners.” Professor E. Nigel Harris, UG’s Chancellor, and a former Vice Chancellor of UWI, established a Transformational Task Force shortly after his installation. The recommendations of that body were approved by the UG Council, and they were adapted for implementation.

Kaieteur News

Sunday May 07, 2016

Kaieteur M@ilbox Send your letters to Kaieteur News 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown or email us kaieteurnews@yahoo.com

Indians and Africans must start respecting each other Dear Editor, Thanks as usual to Freddie Kissoon for his brave article in the May 5 edition of Kaieteur News; it was insightful and honest as usual. I just want to say I think the main reason why Guyanese Indians are racially oriented is because of a lack of respect for each other between Indians and Blacks in Guyana and it all starts with one simple issue. We have

got to stop addressing each other as BLACKMAN and COOLIE. The government should have put laws in place or at least keep sending a message to the populace that these terms aren’t acceptable. Using Trinidad as an example, you do not hear them addressing each other this way period. I think this simple issue has shaped the entire nation from the time the two races

The new Vice Chancellor, Professor Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith, and his team have picked up this mantle and are sprinting with it. In less than 10 months since Griffith’s appointment they have begun to address issues identified in all the three reports from 1996 to 2012, and they are doing so pragmatically and tangibly. Among other things, this is evidenced through securing a 19.33 percent increase in recurrent funding from the government for 2017, negotiating with the loan agency to cover post-graduate programmes, establishing the School for Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation (SEBI), establishing an Undergraduate Research Program, and

came together in Guyana and until the Guyanese leaders start recognizing what a major issue this is, we will continue to live this way. Guyana cannot see progress until Indians and Blacks start respecting each other in earnestness. Thanks for the opportunity to say my piece and maybe someone can add to this. Colin Grant

launching a University of Guyana Press. Moreover, the new Vice Chancellor has been leveraging the Diaspora and the local business community, creating the Vice Chancellor’s Fund for Strategic Initiatives as part of that effort. That fund was used to provide relief to the 12 students and two staff members who lost all their possessions in a fire in Cummings Lodge this past January. The victims received $100,000 each to help rebuild their lives. Notable, too, are the Turkeyen and Tain Talks, the next edition of which will be held on May 10 in Berbice and will focus on Oil in Guyana, international student recruitment has (Continued on page 5)

Sunday May 07, 2017

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Freddie Kissoon is in a political dilemma

SKILLS THAT AN ECONOMY FUELLED BY OIL REVENUES WILL DEMAND.

DEAR EDITOR, I write to make some observations and comments on Mr. Freddie Kissoon‘s column in Kaieteur News (KN) of April 29, 2017 captioned, “Rupert Roopnaraine is Rodneyite, Granger is Burnhamite, Nagamootoo is Jaganite”. Editor, the order of the names in the caption of the column forced me to conclude that the decision was not one of editorial discretion, but was a deliberate act by Kissoon. I believe that Kissoon, by placing Rupert Roopnaraine’s name first was continuing his campaign against the WPA of indicting the party for what he sees as the government/ coalition missteps, short comings and betrayal of historic leaders. Once again Kissoon demonstrates his obsession with the WPA, which he has said on many occasions, is nonexistent as a political party and has neither power nor influence in the government. Given the content of the article, and the power structure of the government, natural justice required a repositioning of the caption in this order - Granger- Nagamootoo - Roopnaraine. This listing is more indicative of the composition of parties in the alliance because Roopnaraine and the WPA are junior to the PNC and AFC. Another concern I have with the column has to do with Kissoon’s attempt to drag President David Granger over the ‘hot coals’ for not adhering to positions advocated by former President Forbes Burnham. This position is underscored by Kissoon’s question as to whether Granger “has implemented any dimension of the thought process, school of ideas, ideological beliefs, governmental policies and economic directions of Forbes Burnham?” If Kissoon’s account of the President Granger’s failure on this matter is correct, I contend that it is to the President’s credit that he has been able to separate his personal feelings and admiration of the party founder leader and instead, attempted to hold steadfast to the policies

of the coalition, which were enunciated during the 2015 elections campaign. The above is not an argument as to the relevance of policies advocated by, Burnham, Jagan or Rodney. The fact of the matter is that the President and the government are not bound by the policies of those great leaders, and should not be judged by their standards. The President and government have to be judged by the APNU+AFC manifesto and the promises made in the election campaign. Kissoon in his zealousness seems to be offering an analysis of the regime’s actions or in actions. In doing so he is unintentionally pushing Granger and the government into difficult political waters. If the President and the government are perceived as implementing Burnham’s ideas, ideological and economic directions etc. – it would be perceived in some quarters as a betrayal of what was put to the people during the 2015 elections campaign. Equally important, the APNU+AFC government and the President will be giving the PPP and government detractors the political ammunition they want. The PPP has been daily hammering into the heads of its supporters that the PNC dominates the coalition and government to the extent that there is a return to the Burnham era. Kissoon is an astute political analyst and should have no difficulties recognizing the pitfalls in his position. Another concern I have is in relation to Kissoon’s description of Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine. In his remarks in his letter on Roopnaraine, Kissoon made the following points: (a) Roopnaraine holds state power now; (b) Rodney may, be ashamed of what Roopnaraine is doing; (c) Roopnaraine is despoiling the face of Rodneyism; (d) he put his name to an organization that was supposed to collect funds and build the D’Urban Park structure; (e) then, Rupert, the great Rodneyite, journeyed to the National

Cultural Center to ground with teachers, parents and concerned citizens on the vexation of VAT on private school tuition. Knowing he couldn’t play even a minor role in rolling back the tax, then why did he meet with them? (f) Roopnaraine displayed immense hypocrisy when he said he cannot support increased tuition at UG; and (g) now that it has become policy, he intoned that he does not support it, and went on to take an ignominious position that if the university dose not remove it, there is nothing he can do. I have deliberately listed the points he made against Minister Rupert Roopnaraine to compare with his handling of Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo the most senior AFC leader in the government. Suffice it to say that readers should note that Kissoon dealt with Nagamootoo’s alleged transgression of Jaganism, etc. in a very brief final paragraphs. My point here is to demonstrate where Kissoon’s political preference lies. Kissoon, at this point in time, seems to be experiencing what in Guyanese jargon, is a “love hate” relation with the AFC. This is understandable since, during the 2015 elections campaign he invested a lot of his political capital supporting that party. Apparently, he is now having second thoughts as can be seen in his recent reflections on the AFC’s performance in and out of government. In a recent column Kissoon contends that the AFC is responsible for its own demise and not the PNC. I end by making this observation, Kissoon is in a political dilemma, on the one hand he portrays himself as a non-party person, but deeply in his heart he wants to identify with a progressive party that can be transformative for the country and its masses. Because Guyana is a difficult political environment, the question that Kissoon has to answer for himself is - which way to go? Tacuma Ogunseye

DEAR EDITOR, The mindset appears to be quickly settling in that since the country is on the verge of becoming a large petroleum producer, then our new training priorities must mostly focus on areas directly related to oil and gas. We have therefore heard much talk about petroleum workshops, programs and schools. While these responses are warranted, they have to be tempered against the warnings against

going overboard in terms of the quantity, type and level of skills the oil sector will eventually need. My concern here is however different. There yet seems to be no sustained discussion (much less action) on the identification and preparation of the range of skills that an economy rapidly fuelled by oil revenues will demand. Ideally, of course, such (Continued on page 6)

UG: The Centre of National... From page 4 begun, the Etiquette Training for Student Leaders, and the improvements in classroom and dorm facilities at Turkeyen Campus and at the Dennis Irving Hall are there for all to see. Construction work is moving ahead at Turkeyen for a Student Complex, a Math and Science Complex, and a Maintenance Complex. Plus, renovations soon will begin in the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, the Pere Street property, and in the George Walcott Lecture Theatre. Contrary to what has been published, three new Deputy Vice Chancellor (DVC) positions were not created. Perusal of the Hamilton Report would find a recommendation for four DVC positions as part of addressing the inadequacy of leadership at a university of this size and complexity. The leadership reorganization by Vice Chancellor Griffith last October saw the addition of one DVC position. Thus, there are now three DVC positions rather than two; for Academic Engagement, Planning and International Engagement, and Philanthropy, Alumni, and Civic Engagement. The Renaissance now underway at UG involves building and strengthening partnerships with government agencies, international academic and non-academic institutions, local businesses, and the Diaspora. Indeed, the Vice Chancellor recently signed agreements with Movie Towne for partnerships in solar energy

production and student housing, and he will be hosting an historic Diaspora Engagement Conference in July. Many of these initiatives, especially the infrastructure and fundand friend-raising ones, will take some time to mature. But the nation is in an urgent moment and wants everything now. The University of Guyana does have the leadership it needs. However, it will take more than leadership, faith and platitudes for UG to quickly develop the torque needed to power this nation in this most critical of moments. UG still needs all kinds of resources. These must come from multiple sources, since the needs are historically so dire. One of those sources will have to be students’ fees. According to the Hamilton Report, UG’s fees are 75% less than the next institution in the region offering the lowest fees. Interestingly, too, last week the University of The West Indies announced fee hikes. Noteworthy, too, is that UG’s fees for some programmes are lower than those charged at some private primary and high schools in Guyana. This is dysfunctionality on stilts! Nobody ever wants to raise fees. However, this is now unavoidable. The UG administration is very mindful of some of the nation’s economic realities, which is why it has worked with the government for support mechanisms through the Loan Agency, and has launched a scholarship drive.

We want to ensure that no-one is denied an education if they desire one and have the aptitude for such. As a nation, especially with regard to developing UG, we must mature away from the messiah complex where everything is placed upon the shoulders of a single person. This complex shifts the focus away from the collective responsibility to take oars and help row the boat, and it ensures that nothing but destructive criticism, misinformation, and mischief takes place. UG’s problem is not the Vice Chancellor or his dedicated team, some of whom have been at UG working in increasingly insalubrious conditions for decades. The problem is that this beloved and centrally important national institution was conceived in faith, born malnutritioned and was never adequately nourished so it could develop normally, to the point where somehow people now confuse striving for excellence with extravagance. Part of the problem, also, is that some people want change, but they do not want to change. It is important not just to dream change, but to do change. It is time for the nation to pay its debts to UG and those who serve it. UG has credible and forward-thinking leadership, it has the vision, it has a roadmap, the will and dynamism to change. It now needs the support of everyone as it takes the central role in the transformation of Guyana.

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Sunday May 07, 2017

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MP, Harry Gill not fit enough to talk about Region 5.

This Region 5 councillor was dismissed from Govt. service and charged

DEAR EDITOR, Over the past week or so, I have been reading a lot of articles about my Region that have been fashioned or tailored to suit the readers and gain points for the opposition. However, as an elected regional representative of the people in my region, I will not sit back and allow person(s) that live their lives overseas and come here now for benefits and want to bad mouth my region, espically by saying things that are far from the truth just to make their partners or associates believe in them. I will not deal with the issues concerning the former APNU+AFC Regional Councillor Ms. Carol Smith Joseph because, I know that doctors are the ones that recommend treatment for a patient under their care or watch. So, I will not comment as who is right or wrong. But what I can do is to state that no doctor or care-giver, including nurses is supposed to publicize a patient’s illness and treatment. I feel it’s a betrayal of a person’s rights, for their health matters to be shared in the public domain by public officials. I am very surprised by PPP MP, Harry Gill’s comments. Firstly, let me say that Harry Gill has no authority or cannot speak for the people of Region 5, because he is not the parliamentary representative for Region 5, but he was chosen as an MP from the left over and scraped-up votes. In the Monday 24th April, 2017 edition of Kaieteur News, this MP wrote a letter in the letters column under the captioned “PNC Domination Is Alive and Thriving in Region 5”. Mr. Gill should say same about the PPP and the awk-

wardness in the operation of the Regional Chairman, who is always against development in the region. He should tell the public about the misuse of the resources and mismanagement of the PPP controlled NDC’s in the region. He should tell the public of the dictatorship that is also happening within the NDCs as they take instruction from Bath Freedom House and persons that run from his region. He should tell the public about the allegation concerning a machine that was hired to do D&I work within the region, being mandated to do personal work for some PPP people in the Bath Settlement area. I think millions were spent over that three weeks period on fuel, maintenance and operator cost. This MP should also tell the people of Guyana and Region 5 about the $50,000 housing rebate that the PPP Regional Chairman denied them by not showing the missive to the relevant authorities. It is the PPP that is denying the people the benefits not the REO and government. I want to deal with the matters that the writer claims are happening in Region 5 under the REO. The writer seems to be painting a picture as if works are being done in one section or for one respective set of people in the region. These are total lies and deception from this “Top-up MP.” Maybe this “Top-up MP” over the past weeks has not been visiting Bath Freedom House because right next door to that building, a street is being rehabilitated. Streets are being rehabilitated across the region in the various villages. Works on schools,

health centres and bridges are ongoing in various areas that will benefit all. Not just one group of people as this Topup MP is claiming. He needs to do his homework as a topup MP and spread the correct message across to the PPP. I will challenge this “Topup MP” to walk with me in Region 5 and let’s see the works that are being done in the various areas. Come let’s look at works across the board that you cannot see for some reason or maybe you are short sighted, or don’t want to state the truth. I also challenge you to tell the people of Rosignol and other areas that fall under that NDC, why is it that the streets are full of potholes but yet loads of “crush and run” are being stored within the NDC compound? Tell the people of Bath, why is it that the Chair and VC of that NDC are abusing their powers to ensure there is no development? Tell the people of Guyana and Region 5, how did the PPP acquire the land at Bath for Freedom House? This “Top-up MP” comes to Guyana, spends time enjoying life with lots of benefits and yet lies to the nation. I will ask that this top-up MP have his eyes been re-examined so that he can see the works that are being done and not his lies alone. It is a shame to know that this man was sent to Parliament with the top-up votes or left over votes from the PPP and lies to this nation. Well, I cannot expect better from him because his entre cabals are doing same and lying to the nation. It leaves one to wonder, does the PPP really have a Parliamentary Representative in region 5? Because no one hears anything from the mouth of that person about region 5 but this top-up MP does the nasty work of high lighting lies. Take the Challenge top-up MP Harry Gill. Mr. Editor, please note that I have not abused Mr. Gill but indeed stated the facts about how he got into Parliament as an MP. Abel Seetaram APNU+AFC Regional Councillor Region 5

DEAR EDITOR, When credibility is not part of one’s DNA, no one takes that person seriously. And anyone with an ounce of brain matter or self-respect would know it is not wise to draw attention to oneself. The discredited AFC mouthpiece Abel Seetaram wrote, “MP Gill not fit enough to talk about Region Five”. This is funny coming from a person who has a reputation of being dishonest, drunk and disorderly, and who, it is alleged, is now being investigated by the police for allegations of fraud. This is the dilemma that the AFC activist, Abel Seetaram faces every time he voices his opinion publicly. In May last year, Prime M i n i s t e r, Moses Nagamootoo terminated Seetaram’s services as his Regional Representative for Region 5 after he crashed an expensive government SUV into a fence on the Bath Public Road in Berbice. This occurred soon after leaving a wedding house where he had been seen drinking heavily. He was taken to the New Amsterdam Hospital, and was later charged and fined $30,000 with an alternative of 32 days in jail for dangerous driving; $25,000 or 21 days in jail for being an unlicensed driver; and $15,000 or 21 days in jail for breach of insurance. And had he not pretended to be asleep when the police visited his bedside at the hos-

pital to take a breathalyzer test, he may have been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. Recently it was reported that he, along with his sidekick Carol Joseph, were taken into police custody to answer charges of allegedly fraudulently taking millions of dollars from the Mahaicony Abary Rice Development Scheme (MARDS). It is also alleged that he may have illegally used part of MARDS’ money to repair the badly damaged government vehicle and fence he crashed into. These are allegations. They are out in the open. Can Seetaram please clear the air? If this is true, both Joseph and Seetaram should soon be boiling in hot water. Abel Seetaram has no credibility to judge me or anyone else. In Matthew 7:5, the Holy Bible cautions people like Abel Seetaram, “You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” While it is true that I have lived many years of my life overseas, I returned to Guyana at great sacrifice to my personal income and away from my children, to give back something to the land of my birth, and hopefully make a meaningful contribution by doing so. I a m g r a t e f u l t o D r. Bharrat Jagdeo and the P e o p l e ’s Progressive

Party/Civic for giving me this opportunity. Whatever “benefits” Seetaram believes I now receive as a Member of Parliament, is insignificant to what I enjoyed in the United States for over 23 years. In an effort to discredit me as a Member of the Nat i o n a l A s s e m b l y, A b e l Seetaram said I was chosen as an MP from the “leftover” and “scraped up votes”. Ironically, his name was on the APNU+AFC List of Candidates that contested the 2015 election, and the coalition selected Jennifer Wade to represent Region 5, and rejected him. Even the “leftover” and “scraped up” votes could not get him into Parliament. Doesn’t that send a message? I am proud of the impeccable character I have built over the years. I have never been accused of misappropriating monies from sports clubs across Region 5, nor have I ever been arrested for fraud. And no one can ever accuse me of being drunk and making a fool of myself in public. I doubt Abel Seetaram can say the same about himself with a straight face. Sadly, I must decline Abel Seetaram’s challenge to walk with him in Region 5. He is a despicable person, trying desperately to gain some form of recognition as a somebody. I will not help his cause by being seen in his company. HARRY GILL, MP (PPP/ C)

SKILLS THAT AN ECONOMY FUELLED... From page 5 comprehensive needs assessment should be informed by a plan of the kind of economy envisaged in the new era. While this planning is yet to ensue in any persistent manner, we need not await that process before we can identify and prepare some of the human resources that will be required immediately in any case. Experience and commonsense can guide us. Three types of skills readily come to mind. For one, an injection of revenues from oil will inevitably spur rapid infrastructural development.

The country should be training far more civil engineers to meet this projected demand for skills, to conceptualize, design, construct, operate and maintain projects in transportation, drainage and irrigation, waste disposal, potable water supply, sea and river protection, and buildings. Secondly, there will be (or should be) a renewed emphasis on hinterland development. The country therefore has to assess and meet any projected need for hydropower engineers, natural resources assessors and managers, land use planners, and

social service providers. Thirdly, we have to anticipate, and begin now to prepare for, the higher demands for security and crime prevention. The increased circulation of money in a larger economy will likely require far better physical and electronic security and crime fighting resources, skilled personnel foremost among them. As it takes several years to prepare and set up these and other human resources, national discussion and action have to now extend well beyond the establishment of oil schools. Sherwood Lowe

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Is this a diplomatic expression of no-confidence in the Minister? DEAR EDITOR, Every person, who has ever served in the office of Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, must have felt a profound sense of flattery when they learnt that the current holder of the office was gifted three (3) retired Judges; one from the Caribbean Court Justice (CCJ), one from the Court of Appeal of Guyana and one from the High Court of Guyana; along with two (2) law professors, each possessing a doctorate in law, to assist him in the discharge of the functions of that office. I doubt that I can

be contradicted in my assertion that this is a world record. I was particularly touched because I held this office in my thirties serving a minority Government, which presented me with new, unique and unprecedented legal challenges. Conscious of the risk of being accused of blowing my own trumpet, from all objective indicators, I acquitted myself well, if not with distinction. I did it, “my way” and without a constellation of highly decorated help but only with the hard working staff at the Chambers. The

When one adds the AG’s salaries and benefits (1.5M + $500,000) we arrive at a grand total of $8,655,000 per month ( times 12) totals a staggering $103,860,000, annually. The total subscriptions paid by the Government for my law reports in 3 years,

only extra, authorized, cost incurred by the State at my behest, was a few thousand Guyana dollars per month, as subscriptions fees for professional law reports. For that, I was criminally charged! It is common knowledge that under our constitutional structure, Ministers hold office at the pleasure and confidence of the President. In my view, the appointment of these highly decorated personnel by the President to assist the Attorney General in the discharge of his official duties is a most

according to their own figures, is just over two million dollars (2M). Why should Basil Williams not be charged? Is it because President Granger authorized these advisors? It cannot be. After all, President Ramotar authorized the payment for the

diplomatic expression of no confidence in this Minister, as there can ever be. It is obvious, that the President feels constrained to act in any other manner in relation to the Chairman of his political party. Notwithstanding, any self-respecting professional placed in such precarious conundrum as this Minister, should do nothing less but tender his resignation in dignity. I was accused of all manner of things by all manner of people, especially on social media, for requesting the State to continue to pay my sub-

scriptions for the now infamous law reports. The sum of money which the State is alleged to have contributed to those subscriptions is just over two million Guyana dollars, in three years. Let us examine now the cost that this Attorney General will now impose, monthly, on the backs of taxpayers for the services of these five advisors, retained, obviously because of manifest incompetence. Having regard to the calibre of the persons retained, I surmise that their remuneration package will include a salary of no less than seven

subscriptions of my law reports. I now await to hear from all those who spoke on my issue, as protectors of taxpayers’ monies. I expect them, in their condemnation, to ask of President Granger this fundamental question: “would it not be in

hundred and fifty thousand dollars (net) per month, light, telephone, internet and a driver (at a minimum) to be paid for and salary for at least two support staff, each. My information is that they will be housed in a separate building, which is being rented for eight hundred thousand dollars, per month. One must add to this, electricity, telephone, internet and other miscellaneous cost associated with this premises. I set out here under an estimated breakdown of these monthly costs, using conservative figures:

the best interest of the nation and save taxpayers’ millions, by appointing a competent person to serve in the position of Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, instead?” Anil Nandlall

Are women among the endangered species in Guyana? DEAR EDITOR, Sometimes we read of a wife’s body found in a shallow grave, on other occasions, about a wife or lover gone missing and her male lover being the prime suspect. Recently, the Kaieteur News – 25th April 2017 informed us of a young woman whose hand had been severed presumably by her male partner, as the debauchery continues. Our women are being beaten, maimed or killed with stunning regularity and the society is mostly silent! As a people, we are prepared to hit the streets every day in protest against parking meters, but struggle to muster a similar level of energy in a show of protest against the savagery being visited on our women. But why this seeming growing number of men folks resorting to beat, maiming and killing their female partners? Suzanne Ffolkes in a study offers seven causes for violence against women in the Caribbean. Among these are: (a) Structural, e.g. the pressures of society, dehumanizing conditions and the economy, thus men use violence as a means of relieving their social frustration, (b) Male supremacy based on culture and accepted as a part of life, (c) Substance abuse, and Tradition and behaviourism (i.e. violence

begets violence in the home, generation after generation). Explaining the reason for this phenomenon in the USA, most writers make similar conclusions. But while there might be unanimity on the cause of this debauchery it is uncertain whether the response favored by developed western societies; which we embrace; would be appropriate for Guyana. This is especially so when these interventions do not seem to work even for developed societies. In the USA, the response to this problem is focused on addressing the wellbeing of victims – safe houses, counselling, provision of assistance aimed at nurturing self – reliance. For the perpetuators, it is criminal justice intervention that is heavily relied on. This has not worked. The National Violence Against Women Survey (NVAWS) 2007 concluded that physical assault is widespread among American women. The former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop identified violence against women by partners as the number one health problem facing women in the USA. Richard Gelles, the author of the book ‘The violent home,’ says “with the exception of the police and the military, the family is the most violent organization in the United States.” Clearly

the approach embraced by the USA is not delivering the desired outcomes therefore Guyana’s reliance on modeling much of its response on that of the USA might be unwise. In Guyana with a small population, where who we don’t know are known to relatives or friends, it is almost impossible to keep the location of a ‘safe house’ secret. Thus, we read of women being ambushed on their way to and from these ‘safe houses’ by their abusers. Safe houses might work well in large, rich countries with large populations. The use of the justice system for resolving these acts of abuse has been counter-productive and mostly ineffective. Imprisoning the guilty party might gratify our anger, but if instances of brutality against our women are on the rise then incarceration is of little other value. Imprisoning the offender usually deprives the home of its sole bread winner. While protective orders intended at restraining abusers from interacting with victims are disregarded with impunity. A reminder of this fact is the recent case of the

young lady at Parika who was killed by her husband even though there was an active restraining order. So, what do we do? I think there are two things we need to focus on. First, let us remember, it is predominantly females who suffer serious injuries or death from physical abuse in love relationships. Thus, the problem actor in the acts of violence against women, are violent men. Unfortunately, in Guyana, little attention is given to studying violent men in an attempt to understand their motivation and thus craft an informed response. In the Kaieteur Newspaper 26th April 2017, the Minister of Social Protection tells us ending violence against women and girls is a priority of the present government. To this end the minister continued “we will work to bring all perpetrators to justice, ensure that institutions are held accountable and the effective support systems are in place for victims.” Notice, nothing is said on the preventative side, unless – ‘bringing the perpetrators to justice’ is considered an efficient deterrent (though perhaps neces-

sary, we noted above how ineffective this is). In this regard, perhaps we might need to relook at our schools’ family life education syllabus to see if enough attention is being placed on male female relationships. Whatever the intervention finally decided on, we must ensure that it is evidence based, that it reflects an understanding of our social environment. Secondly and associated to the above, for us to make an intelligent intervention there is need for research on this matter to be done. It is this absence of research in Guyana that makes an evidence based approach unattainable at present, and what gives rise to this reliance on

work done in the developed west. The absence of indigenous research on which our decision makers can rely on when formulating policies in response to social problems, is unacceptable in the 21st century. Here in the USA, even the lowest graded universities pride themselves on the research work done by students and faculty members. I do not know what are the hindrances, but whatever these might be they need be addressed urgently so that the capable persons I know at the University of Guyana can begin to provide the society with the leadership we desperately need in this matter. Claudius Prince

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Sunday May 07, 2017

Kaieteur News

14% VAT on tuition motion cannot be discussed The motion for a reversal of Value Added Tax (VAT) on Education by the Opposition People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) cannot be discussed at another Parliament session says Speaker of the NationalAssembly, Dr. Barton Scotland. A letter was sent to former Education Minister and Opposition Member of Parliament, Priya Manickchand, from the Parliament indicating that the motion will not be proceeded with at tomorrow’s sitting. At a press conference on Thursday, Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira noted that the motion was significantly changed by the Speaker. Several clauses in the motion were amended she said. The letter states, “If allowed, the motion would be in contravention to Standing Order No. 26(e). Standing Order No. 26 (e) states that for a motion to be ad-

missible, ‘It shall not revive discussion of a matter which has been discussed in the same session.’ “The revocation of Order No. 18 of 2016 and the reinstatement of schedules I and II which existed prior to Order No. 18 were discussed by the National Assembly as its sitting on 30th January, 2017, during the consideration of Ms. Gail Teixeira’s motion which was published on Notice Paper No. 82 of 2017 dated 15th January, 2017. That motion was defeated.” VAT on private tuition was introduced last budget. In a Press Release dated May 6 2017, the PPP/C stated “This development exposes the Speaker as complicit in the executive’s unfolding objective to seize control over the legislature. “We call on our people to be ever vigilant in exposing and speaking out against the whit-

tling away of parliamentary democracy, our human rights and the constitution.” On January 30, 2017, the 60th sitting of the eleventh Parliament, the PPP/C moved a motion to restore items that were previously zero-rated under the Value Added Tax (VAT). Minister of Finance Winston Jordan argued that the changes were necessary to trunk the continuing decline of tax revenue yielded by the tax. Chief Whip Gail Teixeira argued that the changes are likely to have an “unfavorable effect on the people of Guyana and the economy.” She called for the National Assembly to have the government repeal the order and to restore the previous plan. Both students and parents of private institutions have since been lobbying against this VAT imposition. There has been a petition signed by 14,000 people,

Students protesting NO VAT on education (pic by News Room) letters published, and silent protests. Minister of Education Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine has said that the government is open to

suggestions on alternatives to the 14 percent Value Added Tax (VAT) on private tuition. The Ministry has also been con-

ducting meetings for citizens to air their views. During the meetings calls were made for the Ministry of Education and the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) to go after schools which are delinquent in paying their taxes. They were also asked to ensure that only authorized schools were permitted to operate. The Alliance For Change (AFC), one arm of the coalition government says the 14 percent VAT is necessary to help bridge a huge deficit in the 2017 National Budget, but promises to lobby for its removal next year.

Sunday May 07, 2017

GuySuCo gobbles up $4B from Treasury before end of first quarter For 2017, the Government made an allocation of $9 billion to the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo). This was in an effort to support the financing of the entity’s operations. But even before the end of the first quarter, the company has already sucked up $4B. The situation is one which has left some Government officials worrying whether the remaining $5B will even be enough to last the company for the next nine months, especially since it is making significant losses. In the meantime, the sugar projections and production figures for the sector continue to be bleak. According to statistics by the Ministry of Finance, sugar produced in February, last was 3,669 tonnes compared with 5,151 tonnes in February, 2016. The Ministry said that sugar was produced mainly at Blairmont and Uitvlugt. Production was affected by rainfall, strike actions which resulted in some workers being off the job, and suspended production at Skeldon. The latter occurred due to the unsafe nature of the co-generation plant. The $9B brings Government’s direct financial contributions to the sector to be $32B. Ongoing challenges in the sugar industry may result in the downward revision of Government’s 3.8

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Kaieteur News

GuySuCo Chairman, Dr. Clive Thomas percent growth rate for the economy in 2017. In addition, GuySuCo continues to remain caged in a colossal mess of financial debt. Officials at GuySuCo say that the industry has found itself “buried” in over $90B in debt. Based on an overview of GuySuCo’s accounts, its Chairman, Dr. Clive Thomas, has said that it was just less than this for 2012 to 2014. Dr. Thomas said that, in no uncertain terms, “The sugar industry is now sitting on an economic time bomb.” The economist said that he had warned about this. In a series of previous columns he had dedicated to examining and proving that the industry was at a point of no return. “But my findings were either too alarming for some

to digest or were just completely ignored. People should not allow themselves to be left in bewilderment when they hear certain things coming out at this point, like the industry being unable to pay its workers. I had pointed to many of these before,” Thomas said. He added, that he was not the least bit surprised when it was announced that the coffers of the industry does not even have enough money to pay some of its workers. Dr. Thomas said that GuySuCo has become the entity which produces less and less sugar and it’s costing more and more, while the price of its sales declines. He posited that GuySuCo’s survival now depends on direct official bailouts while it increases its indebtedness. He said that this quite frankly is unsustainable. But one of the priority issues for the Chairman remains reducing the sector’s heavy reliance on bailouts. Dr. Thomas said the entity hopes to do this through diversification. He said, “What we are projecting is that we would use some funds to pursue the diversification of the industry. In this regard, we see bailouts rising for about two to three years and then falling dramatically by 2020.The bailouts or need for it, can fall by 2020. We hope to pursue diversification of some of

the estates one of which includes Wales.” Lending much credence to the Chairman’s position was Anthony Vieira. Vieira who once served as a GuySuCo Board member has been appointed head of the state entity’s Diversification Unit. Vieira agreed that diversification of the sugar industry can bring an end to the sector’s reliance on billion dollar bailouts. He said that the Unit is currently in the process of coordinating a diversification process with regard to aquaculture and the cultivation of rice. Vieira said that the Unit is awaiting a USA study on the feasibility of GuySuCo’s proposed aquaculture venture. “For the time being, I can say that the people conducting the study believe that this is a very feasible project and that aquaculture can be many times more profitable than growing cane,” Vieira added.

Dem boys seh...

This set still locking off dem contract

Is one thing when you deh in opposition but is another thing when you deh in government. When Soulja Bai and he party was in opposition dem boys hear all kind of promise. One promise dem would never forget is how all dem contracts gun be made public. That come about because when de government enter into some deal wid nuff people and dem boys ask fuh see de contract, Brassington use to tell dem how de contract is secret. Dem boys want to know how people can tek you money fuh do something and don’t tell you wha dem doing? It happen wid de Skeldon sugar factory wha de government got to sell as scrap iron./ It happen wid de airport expansion programme wha Soulja Bai government had to change. It happen wid de hydro road wha Jagdeo announce fuh one price and wha cost seven times more. Then dem got de Marriott. Jagdeo and Brassington enter into all kind of contract. To this day dem boys don’t know who spend wha and who own wha. Now that he in government and he promise to release all dem shady contract, dem boys still can’t get none. Li’l Joe mekking excuse. He telling people to talk to Jurdon who telling people is not he business that dem must talk to Li’l Joe. Dem boys seh that dem never believe that people gun tek dem eyes and pass Soulja Bai. He tell he people to do one thing and dem doing something else. In fact, dem ignoring him. That is why Jagdeo laughing. And he ain’t gun stop because he lef dem in a pickle to pay a whole lot of money. Dem already pay Rudisa, dem pay couple other people and now dem got to repair de Marriott because de Chinee people really build a chariot. Talk half and help stop this eye pass.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday May 07, 2017

Sunday May 07, 2017

PAGE 11

Kaieteur News

PM wants Judge Holder to recuse himself from Carvil Duncan case Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, is asking for Justice Franklyn Holder to recuse himself from the Carvil Duncan matter which is scheduled to resume tomorrow. In a letter dated Thursday, May 4, 2017, Nagamootoo told Attorney General, Basil Williams, that he (the PM) was a respondent in the Duncan matter. Citing the now infamous March 23 incident between Williams and Justice Holder, the PM said that he is of the opinion that his lawyer-- the AG-- will not receive a fair hearing. Nagamootoo gave a number of reasons for his belief. He pointed out that the Judge had the power to handle the alleged incident between himself and the state’s Attorney General amicably in court, instead of choosing to retire to his Chambers without the formal rising of the Court. Another important factor was the fact that the judge had written the Chancellor of the Judiciary, Yonette Cummings-Edwards, requiring Williams apologise in open court before the matter can be continued. Nagamootoo, in his letter which was released to the press, also noted that Chancellor had forwarded the matter to President David Granger who is a party to the court matter. “Based on all the above mentioned grounds, I am of the opinion that I would be prejudiced in the suit because my attorney (AG) is barred from being heard in the matter. In view of the foregoing, therefore, I authorize you to request that the Honourable Mr. Justice Holder recuse himself from further hearing the matter.” Nagamootoo said he is

copying the petition to the Chancellor and Chief Justice Roxanne George-Wiltshire and also to President Granger. On Thursday, the Chancellor in a statement said that the matter would be resuming Monday, despite the unresolved feud between Williams and Justice Holder. The statement would have come more than a month after the dispute during a hearing into the legal challenge by Duncan over the tribunal, which was established to determine his removal from a number of State boards. Justice Holder had, following the court incident, filed an official report with the Chancellor, outlining what he termed as egregious and offensive behaviour on the part of the AG. He demanded an apology from Williams. However, the AG, on the other hand, refused to apologise. He instead asked that the Judge recuse himself from the Carvil Duncan matter. In setting the matter to be continued tomorrow, the Chancellor had noted that to date, Williams has not directly responded to the charges. The AG had continued to deny the contention of Justice Holder. In a letter to President David Granger, last month, the Attorney General contended that the Judge could not lawfully, almost two days after the incident in court, and by letter, purport to raise accusations of contempt against him for what he alleged occurred in his Court previously. It is alleged that during cross-examination of Duncan’s confidential secretary, Williams asked Justice Holder if a response that was given by the witness was properly recorded. The

Man wakes up to find bullet lodged in TV stand A Charlestown man is now counting his lucky stars after he woke up yesterday morning and discovered a bullet lodged in his television stand a few feet from his bed. James George, 46, of Lot 10 Howes Street, Charlestown, Georgetown stated that he woke up around 8:30am yesterday morning and proceeded to do his normal Saturday morning routine cleaning around his home. George said that he first decided to wipe his windows and that is when he noticed a long graze on the window, a (continued on page 66)

James George

Justice Franklyn Holder Judge took umbrage to Williams’s enquiry and reminded the AG that he was in charge of the courtroom

Attorney General Basil Williams

Chancellor (Ag) Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards

and not Williams. Reports had circulated that the AG then said that a classmate who was then a Magistrate that cited him for contempt some years ago is now incidentally dead. Justice Holder in his

complaint sent to the Chancellor of the Judiciary regarding the matter said that he felt disrespected by the Attorney General’s behaviour. Williams emphasised in his letter to the President that such a matter

PM Moses Nagamootoo shouldn’t have even gained [the President’s] attention. The AG had argued that Justice Holder did not inform, warn or in any manner convey that he considered he was being contemptuous before he left the courtroom that day and was, therefore, functus officio.”

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Sunday May 07, 2017

Kaieteur News

Multi-million-dollar contract for water meters halted - Minister’s action questioned

Minister Ronald Bulkan

GWI’s chief, Dr. Richard Van West Charles

A multi-million-dollar contract for water meters of the Guyana Water Inc. (GWI) is raising questions about the oversight role of a minister. The matter to be reported to the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) was recently the subject of a Cabinet discussion. A number of Government officials disclosed last week that GWI had gone to tender for a number of contracts, including water meters and some parts. The tenders for the meters were opened, evaluated and a recommendation was made for a contractor to be awarded. However, Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan, whose portfolio includes GWI, wanted to satisfy himself about the accuracy of the recommendations for the award of the contract. The matter was later taken to Cabinet. GWI’s officials questioned the authority of Bulkan himself to investigate the contract. There were also questions about Bulkan’s authority for even asking GWI’s Procurement Department for back up documents to determine how the evaluation system was done. It was contended that GWI, although falling under the Ministry of Communities, does not have to answer directly to the ministry. The minister was said to also be investigating a number of other GWI contracts. Contacted over the weekend, Bulkan explained that as minister with responsibilities for water, he was given a number of tender documents to take to Cabinet. While declining to name any contractor or give details of amounts, Bulkan indicated that he did request Cabinet’s Sub-Committee to further examine the tenders to verify the recommendations for award of the contracts. He said that he considered this as necessary given that many lower bidders were deemed to be non-responsive and thereby disqualified. There is nothing wrong with this except that several discrepancies were noted which raised questions over

the evaluation process. Reportedly, the minister’s concerns were raised where in one case of five bidders, the four lowest were deemed non-responsive and the recommendation was for award of the contract to the highest bidder. In the case of the five bidders mentioned, the recommendation for the award of a contract that was almost three times the lowest bidder, Kaieteur News was told. The minister vehemently denied acting improperly and said that his examination of the tenders suggested the need for further investigation prior to endorsing the recommendation for award of the contracts to the Cabinet. Contacted yesterday, GWI’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr. Richard Van West Charles, said that he is unaware of what the minister is referring to, with respect to a procurement process that had been sent to the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB). “As far as I am aware, all the procedures set out were followed with the technical and Evaluation Committee completing their work and sending it off to NPTAB.” The CEO asked Kaieteur News to write him if the newspaper wanted more clarification and that he will respond promptly. This is not the first time that a contract for water meters has attracted scrutiny; a forensic audit on that state-owned entity for the period January 2012 to May 2015 found that the contractor, Florida-based UTECO, was likely sole-sourced. The company was awarded a contract to the value of US$796,156 ($165M) - this was for the procurement of 28,485 water meters. There were many problems with this contract; the findings suggest that there was irregular intervention from within GWI to tip it in favor of a particular contractor. As of now, GWI does not have a Board of Directors, with the previous Chairman, Nigel Hinds, resigning last year after clashing with the Chief Executive Officer.

Sunday May 07, 2017

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Kaieteur News

FIU played its mandated role in smashing Rasul’s gold racket -- DIRECTOR By Abena RockcliffeCampbell It is true that the public knows little about the operations of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU). However the Unit’s Director, Matthew Langevine, is adamant that the lack of public disclosures should not be interpreted to mean that no major work is being done. Langevine said, yesterday, that the unit is working very hard to execute its mandate. Langevine indicated that the FIU was involved in stopping one of the biggest money laundering/ fraud operations in Guyana. “It was a case of money laundering so of course we played a role.” Langevine was speaking about the case of the embattled gold dealer Saddiqi ‘Bobby’ Rasul. Rasul is being investigated by the Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU). Langevine said that FIU is executing its mandate in submitting reports to SOCU. He specified that the Unit provided a report to SOCU on Rasul but refused to go into

Embattled Gold Miner, Saddiqi ‘Bobby’ Rasul

FIU Director, Matthew Langevine

Anti-Corruption advocate, Christopher Ram

details on that. Langevine told Kaieteur News that the FIU is “in a much better place than it ever was” as it is now functioning with competent staff. He noted that the FIU coordinated the National Risk Assessment exercise the report of which will be handed over to the government shortly. He said that public missives will be released shortly on the operations of the Unit. FIU reports dating back to 2015 are yet to be laid.

Langevine said that this too will be done shortly. He told this publication that the 2015 report is closer to readiness but the 2016 report which is supposed to be laid in June will most likely be late because the audited statements are still to be collected from the Office of the Auditor General. Accountant Christopher Ram recently said that the public needs to be made aware of the operations of the FIU. Kaieteur News had asked Ram whether he feels that the FIU should be playing a

greater role. He said that any opinion could only be based on anecdotal evidence as so far no formal report about the operations of the FIU has been laid. “It would be difficult to conclude whether or not (the FIU) has been performing the functions it has been vested with under the legislation.” However, Ram noted that Guyana, in terms of money laundering compliance, is now in a better grade and “no doubt the FIU would have had a role to play in the country achieving that

milestone.” Ram said that it would be good if reports can be laid even earlier than the law requires. “But once (they are laid) in the time required would be a good first step. Then the FIU can start producing reports not only on a statuary basis but it can do so more often; maybe quarterly.” In defending her innocence, the General Manager of the Guyana Gold Board, Lisaveta Ramotar said, “It must be mentioned that Threshold reports are sent monthly to the Financial Intelligence Unit and all of Mr. Rasul’s companies’ transactions are on those reports.” According to data, between September and November last year, Rasul conducted over $7.6B in transactions with GGB, selling both at the Bartica branch and at the Upper Brickdam office. Rasul allegedly used a company he owned – R. Mining – to conduct the majority of his business with GGB. There was a reason for this. Under regulations, mining companies are not required to pay the two

percent tax. They are, however, mandated to pay the five percent tax. In essence, Rasul is alleged to have bought gold through his gold dealing company, SSS Minerals, later passing it through R. Mining to the GGB. Between September and November, the state reportedly lost an estimated $100M in taxes, because of what the gold dealer allegedly did. Those alleged transactions are said to be money laundering. Rasul’s activities have drawn the attention of not only SOCU but also the Guyana Revenue Authority. In recent weeks, a Lexus SUV and Toyota pickup, both bullet-proofed, were seized. Investigators have also raided the Bartica and city operations of Rasul as well as the premises of his business associates. Police have also seized several guns and a significant quantity of documents. Rasul has also been charged with a $950M fraud at the Bartica branch of the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry. He has been placed on $3M bail.

PAGE 14

Sunday May 07, 2017

Kaieteur News

Questions still linger over GPL $4.6B IDB/EU contract As attempts are being made to clarify issues surrounding the award of the US$23M Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and European Union (EU) funded Power Utility Upgrade Project, the undertaking continues to attract a of number queries. The Guyana Power and Light, which is the procuring entity for the project, is contending that the tendering process for Lot A of the project would have received the ‘no objection’ from the IDB, approval from the Guyana National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) and finally the Cabinet in the last quarter of 2016. Kaieteur News has reported thus far that questions are being asked whether the smart meters, which form one component of the project, were tested and approved. The power company

responded to this matter via an advertisement in yesterday’s edition of this newspaper. The power company said that the winner of the Lot A contract, China National Machinery Import & Export Corporation (CMC), had provided two brands of meters during the tendering stage of the project and one brand was selected. Speaking with Chairman of NPTAB, Berkley Wickham yesterday, this newspaper sought to ascertain whether bidders for the project were required to present sample meters to be tested during the tendering stage. Wickham responded to the first query by saying, “I don’t have any information to give you. That has passed the tender board stage. It is now in the realm of the operating agency, the procuring entity to manage the contract. We don’t have

anything to do with that.” “That is history. I don’t have any comments to make on that.” As such, the NPTAB Chairman was asked if some clarity can be given on one issue. To this he said, “What issue? There is nothing to clarify. The tender has been awarded, the contract has been signed and that’s it. What more do you want to know?” Wickham was then asked specifically if the presentation of sample meters was required by the bidders for the project. To this, the Chairman said, “You have to ask the procuring entity. That is a contract; that has to do with the contract. The tender board has nothing to do with the contract or the administering of the contract.” It was then explained to the Chairman that GPL has stated publicly that two brands of the smart meters

were presented during the tendering stage. This was to understand whether the body which is in charge of evaluating tenders knew of this requirement and would have used this criterion to judge the submitted tenders. Not addressing the tendering process, Wickham zoomed in on the contract over which NPTAB has no control, to say that the document was available to all tenderers beforehand. “So it is a public document. It has nothing to do with the tender board. There is a contract and they would have agreed when they bid to abide by the terms and conditions of the contract. So after they won, they would have to tie the contract with the procuring entity. It has nothing to do with the tender board.” Based on this, the NPTAB Chairman was then asked

NPTAB Chairman, Berkley Wickham whether the tender board would have known of the requirements for the tendering process. Again, Wickham addressed the contract, which is outside NPTAB’s jurisdiction, and not the tendering process. Wickham was then informed of the advertisement placed in yesterday’s Kaieteur News by GPL concerning the issue. However, the NPTAB Chairman said that he had not read the newspapers as yet. He was further notified that GPL has said that NPTAB would have given approval for the award of the contract following a comprehensive Tendering and Evaluation process. Wickham then advised that the Procurement Act should be perused to understand the role of the NPTAB as it relates to the tendering stage. In all of this, the NPTAB Chairman could not say if the presentation of sample meters was a requirement that tenderers would have to fulfil and whether meters were presented or considered as is being stated by GPL. According to the Act, there is to be an Evaluation Committee which shall evaluate the tenders pursuant to section 39 of the Act. The Evaluation Committee is comprised of persons chosen by the Tender Board to evaluate a

particular procurement. Section 39 of the Act states that the procuring entity, in this case GPL, shall transmit to the Evaluation Committee all tenders timely received from contractors or suppliers promptly following the bid opening ceremony for the evaluation. Further, in Section 39 (2) the Evaluation Committee shall, using only evaluation criteria, outline in the tender documents, evaluate all tenders, determine which tenderer has submitted the lowest evaluated tender, and convey its recommendation to the procuring entity within a reasonable period of time, but not longer than 14 days. Subsection 5 of that Section says that a tender shall be rejected if the supplier or contractor that submitted the tender is not qualified. One tenderer for the said project had informed this newspaper that in the correspondence received informing of the disqualification, there was no mention of failing to provide sample meters for testing. Therefore, since the supply of sample meters by CMC was used to adjudge the company as the lowest responsive bidder, it is strange that other tenderers which did not produce sample meters were not told that failing to do so was one reason for their disqualification. Kaieteur News contacted one bidder that confirmed this. Further, the power company had stated in its clarification advertisement that two brands of meters were presented by CMC. However, the Guyana National Bureau of Standards which is expected to perform accuracy tests on these meters has not encountered them. It therefore means that the tests which GNBS has to perform will occur after the contract has been awarded. The meters are expected to arrive in Guyana on or before May 15, 2017.

Sunday May 07, 2017

Kaieteur News

Two years after construction…

Newly Chinese built Marriott Hotel needs urgent $billion repairs After two years of construction, the US$52M Chinese built Marriott Hotel is now in need of millions of dollars in repairs. Kaieteur News understands that the repair bill is estimated to be about US$5M. The cost of repairs for the hotel will fall on the shoulders of the Government. It is an expense that was not budgeted for. Government officials were unable to confirm if a decision has been made to take a loan to cover the needed repairs throughout the hotel. Compounding the situation is the fact that the Government is also saddled with sustaining a loan from Republic Bank (Trinidad) in excess of US$17M. This newspaper also understands that there are intentions to move ahead with the construction of the Entertainment Complex of the Hotel. This is estimated to cost US$12M. The Marriott Hotel has been deemed over the years as a monument of corruption, and a colossal waste of taxpayers’ money. Speaking yesterday to the matter, Business Minister, Dominic Gaskin, stressed that the government is keen on setting the nation on a course of prosperity. He noted, however, that it has inherited troubles/ stumbling blocks like the Marriott Hotel. Gaskin said, “We have inherited some situations or some entities that are a strain on the Treasury and indeed Marriott and even the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) are examples of this. But we have to be responsible. These are assets of the state which we have to manage.” “We can’t continue to say that these are situations that we are not happy with. We have a responsibility to manage these situations and we have to do so in a way that takes into consideration what is best for the people of this county and at the same time we have to ensure we don’t do anything that would jeopardize the value or the viability of the assets.” Gaskin added, “It is quite complex…In the meantime, these things are causing problems. There are lots of other things which could be done with the money we have to go look for and reserve to take care of these matters and they could have been put elsewhere.” The Business Minister

said that if indeed US$5M is what will be needed to do repairs, then one should question the liability of the contractor. Gaskin called into question whether Government would be able to recover this money from the contractor who is usually held accountable for repairs of defects during a certain period of time. This is normally stipulated in the contract. The year-long defects reporting period ended in April last year. In the meantime, the government and Shanghai Construction Group (SCG), the contractor of the Marriott Hotel, remain at a standoff. Workers of the entity which is owned by the Chinese Government have been claiming that they are owed some US$5M for works done on the Hotel. The money is yet to be paid, and the government is insisting that it owes SCG nothing. It was only last year that Finance Minister Winston Jordan said, that if the price is right, Government would be willing to rid itself of the Marriott Hotel. At the time, Jordan was asked to provide an update on what Government has decided to do with the Hotel it inherited from the previous regime. He recalled that the government has made it clear on several occasions that it has no intention of being competitively involved in the hotel industry. When asked about the possibility of Government selling the hotel, Jordan responded, “If Government gets a credible offer or buyer, it will divest itself of the hotel.” The Finance Minister said that Cabinet has established a subcommittee that is looking at the issue and the best way of relieving the government of any responsibility in owning the hotel. He noted that the Committee includes members such as Business Minster, Dominic Gaskin and Junior Finance Minister, Jaipaul Sharma. The Finance Minister reiterated, “Government is determined not to own the hotel.” Junior Finance Minister, Jaipaul Sharma, has since expressed the belief that any serious attempt to sell the Marriott Hotel would perhaps see the Government pushing for the completion of the hotel’s casino and entertainment complex.

PAGE 15 The Marriott Hotel in Kingston, Georgetown

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Kaieteur News

Regional Chairman accuses Permanent Secretary of usurping Councillors’ role Following the recent monthly Statutory Meeting of the Region Ten Democratic Council, Regional Chairman, Rennis Morian and councillors of the RDC are visibly upset by the contents of a letter from the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Communities, Emile Mc Garrel. The letter concerned the re-assignment of the engineer in Region Ten, Mr. Godfrey Peters to Region 1(Barima/ Waini). Morian stated that in December 2015, internally four staff were interdicted for allegations of fraud; and throughout 2016 numerous letters were sent to the Permanent Secretary highlighting the plight of

Region Ten. It also requested to either ‘fire’ or retain the staff. “If you fire them then you give us space to hire, if you keep them off the job then we don’t have the space and they continue to be paid. May 2017 and we are in Limbo.” The Chairman noted that President David Granger had asked all the regions to come up with a Plan of Action for Regional Development (PARD) giving regions much more autonomy to work towards development of the regions. “Every time the President makes a pronouncement it is to empower the Regional Democratic Council and by extension CDC’s, NDC’s and the Town Council to take on

a greater role in the development.” Morian claimed that based on the work to be done he sent a letter to the PS requesting additional staff for the additional work to be done in the Plan of Action. “Let us look at the low hanging fruits – the new building of the RDC, the Disaster Risk Management of the Region, training and agriculture, programmes we can start with right away. “I would have sent to the PS, a new structure as it relates to work calling for two planners primarily apart from another engineer to strengthen the engineer that we have and support the whole Administration and to give credence to the work we

want to do according to the Plan of Action for Regional Development (PARD).” Morian said that to date he has not received any response from the PS but in the midst of their programme for 2017, the Permanent Secretary is removing the lone engineer. According to the Chairman, they want to have an early budget and as councillors who oversee the development of the region, they want progress. “But the PS has taken on the role of the Chairman and Council took on the role of the Minister to write the REO and the staff member to move him without any input from the Council.” APNU Councillor Charles

Sunday May 07, 2017

Charles Sampson

Rennis Morian Sampson, claimed that having the staff off the job for over a year is a serious miscarriage of justice. It hampers progress. “Under normal circumstances this matter would have become null and void.” “In the middle of trying to get our work programme running they want to transfer our main ingredient – our engineer without considering all the social issues surrounding us for a number of years.” He said that there was no consultation with the person or the Regional Administration. There is total disrespect for this council,”

Sampson said. He added that it seemed as though the PS wants to sabotage the work programme of the council. He argued that because of only one engineer who is now slated to be relocated to another region, the REO had prepared seven of the 14 Bill of Quantities. That is not the REO’s function. The councillor said that in the midst of a crisis, the engineer who has performed well is being removed. Sampson noted that the letter cannot be accepted and moved a motion for the Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan to withdraw the letter immediately and to have a meeting with the council. The council voted unanimously against the relocation of the engineer. Councillor Sandra Adams ended by saying that it must be settled now because “We are playing dolly house too long.”

Sunday May 07, 2017

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Kaieteur News

Working the streets for ‘bread’ By Sharmain Grainger There are some adults in our society who have no place to go to rest their heads and for some reason or the other are not accommodated by the relevant social system. These reasons may vary from their unwillingness to be housed at a facility such as the Night Shelter, to the fact that their mental state simply does not allow them to be kept under medical supervision, at least not without a court order or the consent of a next of kin. So they roam the streets. I recently observed quite a few such cases. I saw what appeared to be vagrants along one of the major streets of our capital city - Regent Street. It was quite a while since I walked along the pavement of Regent Street, and was therefore shocked to see multiple street dwellers on the pavement [at a section that overlooked City Hall] in the broad daylight. Some used umbrellas as makeshift tents, while a few sat there in the scorching sun and others just stood around attempting to get the attention of passersby. What they all had in common, though, was that they hardly let anyone simply pass by without letting them know they needed help; the financial kind. I was particularly attracted to the state of affairs when I noticed a grown woman sitting on a section of the pavement with a young boy who, in my estimation, couldn’t be a day past nine years old. He appeared to be her prop, her sympathy card if you will, to outdo her competitors. At first I thought it was all coincidental and walked on by, as I was in a hurry for an appointment. I certainly didn’t need a reminder to check out this situation when I returned to this section of the pavement a little over one hour later. So I decided to stop and enquire. ”Why are you out here?” I asked of one woman stand-

ing alone with a very sad demeanour, after introducing myself as a reporter. She had a head with some grey hairs, and upon closer inspection I observed she had quite a few teeth missing. Her clothes looked badly worn. She essentially looked like a grandmother who desperately needed some good caring. At first she started telling me a tale of being homeless which prompted me to find out about her family. She seemed reluctant to share at first, but then I enlightened her that by sharing her story she could be in a position to get some needed assistance. It was at this juncture she decided to let me in on her real agenda. Not only did she tell me that she wasn’t really homeless but that she has two homes - one at the East Bank of Demerara and another along the East Coast of Demerara. She went on to reveal that she has three children who were taken away by ‘Child Services’ because one was sexually abused when she wasn’t at home, and so she was “begging” for money to put things in order so that she could get her children back. This of course made no sense to me, as she couldn’t explain what she had to put in order. When asked why she hadn’t sought after employment, the woman promptly responded by enquiring of me “you know how much work it is to come out hay suh and beg every day?” Understandably, I was flabbergasted but very intrigued by the woman’s disclosure. Here I was thinking she was probably abandoned, perhaps even sick, and was left by her family to fend for herself on the streets. This woman wasn’t at all a vagrant but rather was engaged in a ‘profession’ to secure her daily ‘bread’, and she wasn’t alone. Not only couldn’t she recall when last she had a ‘normal’ job, but she couldn’t say precisely when she started working the

This woman and two others [sitting on the pavement with umbrellas] are perceived street dwellers. streets for her ‘bread’. What she did disclose was the fact that it was enough to feed herself and husband [who was unemployed, and based on her disclosure, is fit as a fiddle], and pay their bills, leading me to believe that begging was indeed a very lucrative ‘profession’. I, of course, wanted to hear more. In trying to learn more about the woman I asked her age, a question she appeared incapable of answering. Although her thin frame and petite stature, coupled with her unkempt state, gave her the appearance of a woman of 50-plus, I decided to ask her what age range she believes she should be in - “20s, 30s, 40s or 50s.” She interestingly enough selected the 30s range. She became so comfortable talking with me, I assumed, that she started finding out how my job could really contribute to her wellbeing. I was even more dumbfounded at this point, but eager still to talk with the others around to see if they had similar stories. I attempted to take her

The Baccoo Speaks The absence of proper role models is having an impact on the society. The police are going to detain three schoolboys who have assembled at a popular spot in their community because one of them would be seen threatening an older person. A search would reveal offensive weapons on all of them, suggesting that they may be a gang. They would be emulating some older boys in the community. ** Despite all the warnings,

the police would be left stunned when they receive the news that a vehicular accident would be caused by a

drag racing group of young men. The vehicle would collide with an approaching van, resulting in serious injuries to the occupants of both vehicles. ** Another river accident would occur because of poor maintenance of a vessel. This boat would strike an object and would spring a leak even as it is ferrying people. Fortunately, others in the neighbourhood would be there to effect the rescue.

correct name and phone number before moving on to the others but like a true pro she dodged sharing. Like her claim of not knowing her age, she said she couldn’t remember her phone number and shared only a nickname. I started to head over to another woman sitting on the hot pavement with the child, but I guess she was unto me. She wanted nothing to do with someone who was asking too many questions and scurried off to the opposite side of the

pavement. Another woman shaded by her makeshift umbrella tent also evaded my questions by tilting same in my direction. They weren’t prepared to share a thing about the secret of their trade like the first woman. I later learned that a number of perceived vagrants on the streets of Georgetown are only feigning it and return to their homes at the end of the day. My deliberate inspections of the streets a few consecutive nights revealed these persons

were nowhere to be found once night falls. Now this whole other dimension of a ‘Regent Street hustle’ left me astonished and also wondering if it is even legal. Could it be fraud [obtaining money by false pretence] or just perhaps an unregulated trade [relieving shoppers of unwanted cash] that City Hall needs to look into. While these grown women could argue it is their prerogative to act like street dwellers and “beg” on the streets of Georgetown all day, and even stress that it is not a crime to do so, it is however an infringement of the rights of children to deny them an education. Moreover, the relevant authorities have their work cut out for them to help protect the rights of a child who was perhaps forced to be a part of the vagrancy charade to trick public-spirited people out of their hard earned money. I do recall one senior official saying not so long ago, “‘if we would’ve protected the rights of at least one child we can say we have done something right.” I have done my part by highlighting the state of affairs that exists. Here’s hoping that keen attention is given and remedial action follows swiftly, at least to help rescue a child from a misguided upbringing.

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Sunday May 07, 2017

Kaieteur News

Death on a lonely backdam - is Iesha Byron’s killer serving time in Cayenne? By Michael Jordan It was around eleven o’clock on the night of Monday, July 16, 2007, that residents of D’Urban Backlands saw a short, dreadlocked man and a young woman trekking down a bush-lined dam leading to Sophia. The area had developed a macabre reputation in recent years. It was here that the bound and bullet-riddled body of a young Mc Doom resident named Devon Cambridge was found on Sunday, March 12, 2006. It was in this area also that the bound body of Sherman Edwards of Crown Street, Queenstown, was found in April. Someone had slashed his throat. Despite this, the secluded dam also remained a haven for lovers, so the

passing couple aroused no suspicion. But some 20 minutes later, the residents were startled by the sound of gunshots. Shortly after, they spotted the same dreadlocked man hurrying back in the direction from which he had come. This time, he was alone. He then mounted a bicycle that he had apparently left leaning against a tree and sped off. Some residents notified the police, but when the ranks came and scoured the area, they found nothing suspicious. The following day, the still-curious residents continued the search, and shortly after, they stumbled on a yellow skirt, a cream top and a pair of slippers on the dam. Their worst fears were

Iesha Byron confirmed when, moments later, they came upon the nude body of a young woman of African ancestry in a clump

of bushes. The corpse bore bulletwounds to the abdomen and forearm. Robbery did not appear to be the motive, since the victim was still wearing a pair of stud earrings, gold bands, chain and wrist watch. Tattooed on the victim’s right thigh was the word ‘Quassi’, but that gave no clue about the slain woman’s identity. It was not until the following day, after word had spread about the killing, that relatives came forward to claim the body. The victim was Iesha Byron, a 25-year-old hairdresser from East Ruimveldt Front Circle. Iesha had two daughters, aged seven and eight, and operated a salon in the Bourda Market Mall. Her relatives were certain that they knew the identity of her killer. They last saw her alive at around 09:30 hrs on Monday, July 16, 2007. It was at around that time that a dreadlocked man had visited the home. The man, a relative, had lived at the same house, but

he had disappeared about a month prior to that. Word was that he had gone into hiding after making off with the loot from a robbery that he and two other men had committed. The man spoke with Iesha, and the young hairdresser informed a sister that she was going out and would return soon. Iesha and the dreadlocked relative then left, with the man pushing a bicycle. From the description of the individual who had taken Iesha to the backdam, relatives were certain that the same man had killed her. But while police had an identity of the suspect, they were unable to locate him. He had simply disappeared. But two years after Iesha Byron was brutally slain, close relatives of Byron’s claimed they had information about the whereabouts of the man they insist was her killer.

According to the relatives, they received word that the man was serving time in a French Guiana jail for armed robbery. Relatives said that they were able to confirm this after contacting authorities there. They are hoping that when his sentence is over, he will be shipped back to Guyana to face trial for the brutal murder he is believed to have committed one night on a lonely backdam. If you have information about any unsolved case, please contact us at our Lot 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown location. You can also get in touch with us on telephone numbers 22-58473, 2258465, 22-58491, or 2258458. Or you can drop a line to Michael Jordan at his email address mjdragon@hotmail.com. You need not disclose your identity.

Sunday May 07, 2017

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Kaieteur News

Two years of APNU+AFC: David Granger and Imran Khan Today begins my analysis of the two years of the tenure of the new government that came to power in May 2015. It has been such a chagrininduced performance that one column cannot capture the disappointing realities of the attitudes inside the corridors of power. It is very unwise for any human to make a neat, methodological separation between a small mistake and a large one. We humans have grown up to think that people should not be confronted with their tiny mistakes only the large, ugly errors. Life doesn’t work that way and it will never work that way. An unimportant peccadillo can tell you what is inside the substance of a human and in one’s relationship with powerful people, one should be careful to always contextualize little digressions; they tell you the nature of people. In July, the first session of Parliament began under the APNU+AFC regime. I was outside the Assembly in the picket line with my group, “Coalition for the 1823 Monument on Parade Ground.” We were picketing against Opposition leader, Bharrat Jagdeo. I was shocked to see the number of barricades that ringed Parliament had increased tremendously. APNU

and the AFC had used their parliamentary majority in 2012 to pass a motion to remove the monstrous eyesore. But they made the monstrosity larger when they got into power, and it is still there. The Capitol News journalist reacted in this way when I told him that may be a harbinger of things to come; “aah, Freddie, duh is a small matter.” That barricade issue was the beginning of the unfolding of the APNU+AFC coalition’s approach to political culture, and it is an approach that saw absolutely nothing visionary and transformational about state power. I am not prepared after looking at two years of governance to say that this regime is corrupt. I don’t think there is evidence to make that conclusion. I don’t think there is evidence to make the judgement that this is an ethically partisan and nepotistic administration. What I think exists is a mountain of evidence to support the analysis that the leadership of APNU and AFC embodies the old political culture that has prevailed the

past sixty years, and that culture contains an intolerance to criticism, a willingness to confront and defeat dissent, and a disrespect for the sacred fulcrums that underlie democracy, freedom, justice, fairplay and respect for the citizenry. I believe there should be justified fear on the part of independent voices that there are leaders inside the PNC and the AFC that will display malice and aggression toward the press and independent thinkers that pursue their bad governance and expose their mistakes and incompetence. For this first column I will offer two examples. I cite the semantic violence by the AFC against Dr. David Hinds, a man I consider a Guyanese icon. The other example is this columnist. What has been done to me over the Raphael Trotman tape has convinced me that we are in for a period of the domination of old political culture. I believe the Office of the President press release against me had to have had the input of the President

himself. I believe the President did this to protect Minister Trotman, who has had a long friendship with Mr. Granger. One must recall that after the election result was announced Granger called Trotman and said, “Raphael, this is Nassau.” The AFC joined President Granger in repeating the press release that referred to me as wicked. One Minister in the AFC referred to my column on what Trotman said about President Granger creating a ministry for his son-in-law as asinine. I did not say it; I merely repeated what Trotman said. But this minister never mentioned Trotman’s name. Like the President, only Freddie

Kissoon’s name was published. I end with Imran Khan. After an hour-long conversation with Mr. Khan, I will now offer an apology to him based on what he said during our talk. I was not supplied with proof, but Mr. Khan told me I had wronged him grievously by penning a column on him attributing the AFC’s press release on me as the work of him, Khan. He said it was the AFC leadership that suggested the press release and the draft was given to him. He, Khan, did not initiate the process. I have no reason to challenge his integrity. I am sorry if he felt wronged, but my source told me he was the

Frederick Kissoon originator. Mr. Khan was kind enough to tell me in his personal opinion, he didn’t think the press release should have been done. Sorry, Imran!

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Sunday May 07, 2017

Kaieteur News

Time to work as partners, not contenders (Labour Day Message by AFC Leader, Raphael Trotman for the Govt. of Guyana - This is the first of three parts) Many countries throughout the world do set aside May 1st every year to honour the struggles, sacrifices and achievements of workers, whether by themselves or through their Unions. The Government of Guyana chooses today to return to the themes of “New Labour” and a “new model” first adumbrated in 2016 by H.E. President Granger at the 4th Triennial Delegates Conference of the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC). Embracing a new model for labour is in fact quite consistent with the theme for today’s celebrations: “Organising, a necessary PreRequisite in Building a Strong United Trade Union Movement”. Last year in his address to

GTUC Conference, President Granger pointed us in the direction of the “new model” and opined that: “A ‘new model’ of trade unionism is needed to build on these successes and promote 21st century trade unionism. Technology has rendered many jobs redundant and led to downsizing in many industries. Outsourcing has added to job losses. Globalization has led to jobless growth in some instances. These developments have weakened the trade union movement.” Therefore as we go further into the 21st Century, there is need for us to adapt to the way in which labour is organized today, and in the way the struggle for betterment is waged. It is imperative that this struggle produces better wages, better working conditions, and ultimately, better relationships between unions, between unions and

workers, and among workers, their unions and the Government. In this new paradigm, the survival of organised labour and the nation-state as we know it, can best be insulated from the external threats and shocks that consistently bombard our good intentions. Our togetherness and sideby-side struggle provide an armour of protection, and it arms us with tools and weapons to adapt and fight. No longer, therefore, must we consider the struggle here in Guyana to be “us” versus “them”. It is OURS! So as we redefine the relationships among workers, your unions and the government, we should recall the biblical admonition: “Two are better than one...and a threefold cord is not quickly broken”. Again in President Granger’s words, this ‘new model’ must be “aimed at restoring workers’ confidence

and enhancing capacitybuilding of trade unions. A new model must also take account of changes in the job market.” In a manner of speaking, we have to “go back to the future”, to the time when political parties, government and the trade unions were working in tandem; we have to go back to a time when each major political party was an extension of a Trade Union. We have to come full circle. The Government of this Cooperative Republic of Guyana is committed to working with you as Partners and not as Contenders. Consider the global realities of today trade through the Internet, with purchases being delivered to our doors in lightning speed. Consider the dwindling influence of trade unionism worldwide, and consider that in a few short years Guyana will not only be a Green State, it will be an oilproducing state. Brother Lincoln Lewis’ message which appeared in the (Sunday 30/04) newspapers titled “Why We March” is a powerful one indeed, forcefully articulated in his own inimitable style. It reminds us that “the trade union movement is a creature of conflict that is functional for human development,” and that “everything the workers have achieved was not without resilience and conflict.” These apt words should also be telling us that we have to reconfigure the methodologies and strategies being used. It is time for change! We accept that there is a perennial distrust between employ-

AFC Leader Raphael Trotman delivering his address at the May Day rally ees and employers. We acknowledge the matrix bequeathed to us that pre-disposes us to relate to each other in a contentious and sometimes antagonistic manner. But does it have to be so only because we were told that it has been so. There is a better way that requires courage and strength. This year as we celebrate the workers of Guyana, the men and women who make all aspects of life and living possible, we accept that the relationships we speak about are not currently in a perfectly healthy place. We accept that there is unease with some of Government’s policies and programmes. I assure you that the discomfort we feel today will give way to pleasure tomorrow. To prepare ourselves for the transition into a green state and for the benefits of petroleum revenues, we must apply a healthy dose of discipline to our spending, and to our relationships with each other in the workplace, in the markets, at church, at school.

Your government is not oblivious to your struggles and neither are we uncaring or unresponsive to your needs. We ask you for time, and we ask for your voluntary engagement. The world is changing at an alarming pace. Businesses are exploring new ways of conducting their affairs. Employers are engaged in research and experiments to cut cost, eliminate waste and become more efficient. Governments and trade unions must do the same. In fact, increased productivity which translates into Cutting Edge Performance has become a central focus of industry and governments all over the world. If we fail to change, we will put ourselves out of synchrony with reality, with our brothers and sisters. Trade unions should also be prepared to pursue a paradigm shift in which reasonableness, consensus and co-operation take the place of antagonism, conflict, rejections and bad faith bargaining.

Sunday May 07, 2017

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Kaieteur News

My column

When mothers sacrifice their young daughters for a few cents There is a movie entitled ‘The hand that rocks the cradle’. It reveals the powerful influence of the mother. As is the case in the animal world, mothers would risk their lives to protect their offspring. All would go to great lengths. Who among us who have reared dogs would not have recalled being viewed with suspicion by a mother that has just given birth to a litter? When we try to move the litter the mother would be there at her protective best. It is not that the mother does not know us, but her protective instinct is often far greater than her appreciation of us, the owner. Many a little child in the household has been bitten, not seriously, by the mother because the child would not have been careful enough in handling one of the litter. Human beings may be a bit more tolerant of outside interference, but the female is no less protective of her children. Yet there are mothers who forsake their basic instinct for personal reasons. This has led to many children being abused.

There was the case of Neesa Gopaul who died horribly at the hands of her mother’s lover. The reports are that the mother watched as her lover bashed in her daughter’s head and dumped the body in a creek along the Soesdyke/Linden Highway. I could not do nothing but commend the judge for the sentence he handed down. Of course there were those who felt that the sentence was harsh, but those of us who love our children wished the sentence could have been harsher. The mother and her lover should never walk the streets of Guyana again. There are other instances of mothers supporting their partners who attack their children. Many young girls can attest to this. Some have made bold to report such assaults, sometimes to relatives outside the home. Some have gone to their mothers and got the support. But this is not always the case. More often than not the child is blamed for what happened. There are two incidents

that I would mention here. One involved a media colleague. A child reported an abuse to a relative who in turn took the issue to the police. In the end the abuser was sent to jail for a long time, much to the shock of many of us in the media fraternity. I recall, during the trial, that some people actually said to me that the child had trumped up the allegation because the man was harsh in the face of this child’s desire to “walk on the wild side.” Some believed this story. When the sentence was handed down I remember asking the judge about the things that helped inform his decision. He said that one of the things that stood out was the refusal of the wife to testify. She was a Seventh Day Adventist and the judge knew that her fear of the Man above was such that she would not enter the witness box and testify to what she knew was a lie. The judge said that the woman was not prepared to hold a Bible and do that.

More recently, there was a case of a man molesting his eight-year-old stepdaughter. The media reported, quite correctly, a family member. For starters, I cannot see any sexual attraction for an eightyear-old. The matter came up in the high court about seven years later and the man was sent to jail for a relatively long time. If that were the end of the matter I would have been unconcerned at this time, but the fallout is horrendous. I got a phone call informing me that the child’s mother reportedly told her that she should have died. I asked the caller for a reason for the mother reacting in that way and learnt that the man in jail is the mother’s man. Here is a case of the mother blaming the victim because she sees her creature comforts languishing in jail, leaving her to fend for herself. I do not even want to contemplate the state of mind of this child who I understand is preparing to write her CSEC. I have three daughters, two of whom are mothers. One has a

daughter and the other a son. I know for sure that one of my daughters would have been in jail for murder had anyone attempted to molest her child. They grew up in a home where no thought of molestation existed. We are a people who believe that children are to be protected. For this mother to blame her baby is sickening, and I propose to make an issue of this. We are not going to let the mother get away with this because that is not the way of a mother. Indeed, I have known cases where mothers accepted pay to allow the culprit to go free even as the child suffered. In cases where the matter took too long to reach the court the victim refused to testify because the episode was too traumatic to recall and the molester was allowed to walk to molest again. In this recent case, the prisons exacted a manner of revenge for the child. They beat the crap out of this man who was said to be a pastor. When the news reached me I celebrated. Even prisoners have a code of conduct. They

Adam Harris do not suffer rapists, especially child rapists. Those in the Camp Street jail had dealt condignly with a man who killed his children. There was a community in South Sophia that killed a man. This man had molested a little girl. Somehow he was released on bail and he proceeded to do the same thing to the very girl. He is not alive to face the courts. We all know that children should be protected and some of us would go to extremes to do so.

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Sunday May 07, 2017

Kaieteur News

Arrival, survival and concord By HE David A Granger Arrival Day is a national celebration. All Guyanese should commemorate the chapter in our history when our peoples arrived in this country. This date, this event, this place remind us of the value we all place both on our otherness and on our togetherness. Arrival Day is observed as a national holiday on 5th of May each year. This day, also, is designated, officially, as Indian Arrival Day. Arrival Day commemorates the transformation of the country by the people who came – the Africans, Chinese, Indians and Portuguese together with the Amerindians, the people who lived here from time immemorial. It transformed, also, the demography and the political economy of British Guiana. Arrival Day commemorates the arduous voyage, the joyous landing, the sedulous search for a good life. It tells the story of settlement, of struggle and of the contributions of Africans, Chinese, Indians and Portuguese to nation-building. Arrival Day brought people from the continents of Africa Asia and Europe, together with the indigenous peoples of this continent, who all contributed to the creation of a multi-racial and multi-religious state. The peoples who ‘immigrated’ mingled with those who ‘inhabited’ this land. They, together,

spawned the cultural, economic and social diversity we recognize as the Guyanese nation. Diversity is a precious asset. Diversity, however, must be prized and protected by ensuring that everyone could co-exist in peace and mutual respect for the validity of each other’s culture. Arrival Day is a celebration of cohesion. It might have been an accident of history that our peoples were brought together in such a spectacular manner more than a century and a half ago. It was no accident, however, that we have had to work to weld the disparate peoples into a whole nation. Social cohesion was not an automatic condition of contemporaneousness. It was hammered out on the anvil of struggle. It was forged in the fiery furnace of the contest for space. Heed was hardly paid to the manner in which these various peoples, uprooted from their familiar homelands and transplanted into a strange land, would live together. The need to live in peace, however, was evident to our ancestors. They were mindful of the importance of fashioning a society in which all peoples could coexist. Social cohesion had to be built, gradually and deliberately, from the commencement of indentured immigration in 1835. This was due, in no small measure, to the efforts of all to accept and re-

spect each other’s values and beliefs. Arrival Day reminds us that social cohesion cannot be taken for granted. It is concerned with addressing the most fundamental question of how diverse peoples can live together in a multi-cultural society. We should not hesitate to pay homage to each group that arrived. It is only in giving recognition and by paying respect to people that differences will not be obscured, that ignorance will be eradicated and that real social cohesion will be assured. Indian Arrival Day, therefore, is observed rightly on 5th May. Portuguese Arrival Day, similarly, was celebrated on 3rd May, two days prior. Chinese Arrival Day was celebrated on 12th January of this year. African Emancipation Day will be observed on 1st August and Indigenous Heritage Month will be observed for all of September. We will continue to work towards strengthening society by strengthening the strands of our social t a p e stry. Indian Arrival Day is commemorated, traditionally, here in Highbury on the East Bank of the Berbice River, as the main, national ceremony. The Indian presence in this country is associated with this community. It was at Highbury that the S.S. Whitby, bringing 128 Indians, docked on 5th May 1838, one hundred and seventy-nine years ago.

HE David A Granger

Indian Arrival Day is significant, this year, because its observance coincides with the centenary of the end of Indian indentured immigration. Indians were brought here to work as indentured immigrants on the sugar plantations. Almost 240,000 Indians came to our country between 1838 and 1917, the year in which indentured immigration was abolished. More than 70 per cent stayed to make this country their home. Indians have made an indelible impact on this country’s cultural, economic and social life. They brought with them a rich culture – including their beliefs, customs, dance, dress, festivals, food, music, rituals, speech and traditions. Indian cultural practices enabled them to overcome the adversities and abuses of the plantation. It fortified their resilience and resistance to the oppressive nature of the plantation. Indian cultural values encouraged strong bonds of personal, familial, communal and social solidarity. It welded the Indian community closer together. The recreation of the traditional Indian village practices and relationships furnished a familiar setting, thereby enhancing social integration. Religious festivals reestablished links with their homelands. Indian interests enticed them to trade their return passages for plots of land which they used to supplement their income off the plantation.

Their industry and thrift enabled them to improve their livelihood. They contributed to the diversification of the rural economy by venturing into cattle-rearing, cash crop and coconut cultivation, paddy-growing, rice-milling and fishing. Indian village economies and settlements, indeed, have reshaped our country’s economic and social landscape. Guyanese descendants of the original immigrants are more than mere arrivants. They are the heirs of a magnificent legacy – an extremely beautiful, blissful and most bountiful country that is now in transition to becoming a ‘green state’. The ‘green state’ is a natural product of this verdant and luxuriant environment. Our bio-diversity is the legacy of our ancestors and the patrimony of all Guyanese. Our ecosystems – our coastland, hinterland, highlands, islan d s , w e t lands, grasslands, lakes, rivers, rainforests and waterfalls – are our birthright, our inheritance and our heritage. They must be protected and preserved for future generations. The ‘green state’ can flourish. It will furnish a ‘good life’ for generations to come only by engendering a spirit of cohesion, one in which diversity is respected and celebrated. The ‘green state’ must embody the cohesiveness that arises from our unique, shared past and that will lead to a prosperous and

common future for all. Indian integration arose as an essential element in nation-building. Resilience in the face of adversity, the relevance of culture to new conditions and the recognition of the need to develop respectful relations with the other races and ethnic groups in our society, contributed to the creation of the cohesive state. Indians, as residents of a strange state, realized collectively that they needed to share a common space and to live in harmony with other ethnic groups. Indians, in so doing, contributed to a common culture of tolerance and mutual respect, and laid the basis for strengthening social cohesion. Indian society, like any other society and, particularly, the wider Guyanese society, is not homogenous. Social cohesion, therefore, still needs to be strengthened in each social stratum, in each occupational sector and in each geographical region. Social cohesion must be enhanced within and between communities. The Indian presence in Guyana teaches that improved relations must be predicated on respect for each other and must be guided by a sense of shared responsibility for the common good. Arrival Day reminds us all, therefore, that not only must we be inspired by the past but that our different experiences should instil in us the desire to choose the path towards a shared future. The shadows of the plantation under which our ancestors arrived, survived and thrived are unforgettable: they toiled on the plantations in poverty. The poor, alas, are still with us, but it is now for us to do much more to eliminate extreme poverty; and they were treated as unequal members of society, but it is for us, now, to eradicate the worst forms of inequality, including gender and geographic inequality. Arrival Day teaches that we can build a cohesive society by eliminating poverty and eradicating inequality. Arrival Day is a time for coming together. All have contributed to nation-building. All have to embrace a common destiny, one in which diversity is respected. Arrival Day is also a time for moving forward. It is a tocsin – a signal to all Guyanese of the need to work together towards greater social cohesion. A cohesive state is the most fitting homage and the best tribute that we can pay to our ancestors.

Sunday May 07, 2017

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Kaieteur News

Tinea Versicolor: We call it Lota and it’s very common By Dr Zulfikar Bux Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine Tinea versicolor is one of the most common skin conditions. It is a type of yeast infection that Guyanese call Lota (“Latta”). It is common year-round in the tropics and subtropics and is seen in the summer months in more temperate climates. Sun exposure, use of oils on the skin, naturally oily skin and sweating are all suspected to be triggers that can cause the round or oval yeast to convert to its hyphae form, resulting in the rash. This rash can spread between people who have skin contact. Tinea versicolor occurs more often in teenagers and young adults and appears on the back, neck, upper chest, shoulders, armpits and upper arms. Most people who get this rash are in good health. However, tinea versicolor is more likely to occur if you have a suppressed immune system, for instance, if you are taking a corticosteroid medi-

cation such as prednisone for another health problem. It is also more common in diabetics, women who are taking birth control pills and in pregnant women. WHATARE THE SYMPTOMS? The skin rash is made up of scattered pink, light yellow, brown or white patches on the skin. Each person will usually have only one of the colours. These patches are usually flat, without texture, but may flake. They may be small round spots or areas that start smaller then get larger and combine with other areas. The rash may be itchy, especially when a person is hot or sweaty. The skin spots may be more obvious after skin has been exposed to the sun, because these areas do not tan evenly. HOW IS IT DIAGNOSED? Most often it is diagnosed when it is observed by your doctor. Your doctor can examine skin scrapings under the microscope to see if the yeast is present. Your doctor may also shine a black light (ultraviolet light) on the rash to

help confirm the diagnosis. Yeast types in the Malassezia group may glow yellow-green under the light. HOW LONG CAN IT LAST? The yeast responds well to treatment in most people, but the changes in skin colour may remain for several months, especially if you have spent time in the sun. Wearing a strong sunscreen and taking other precautions against sun exposure can minimize the difference in skin color between normal skin and skin affected by tinea versicolor. CAN IT BE PREVENTED? Because the rash occurs more readily in hot, humid conditions, keep your skin as dry and cool as possible when you are in this climate. Tinea versicolor can be spread through skin-to-skin contact or by coming in contact with contaminated articles such as towels, clothing or bedding. The tinea versicolor rash continues to return in 40 percent to 60 percent of people. If you have had more than

one episode of tinea versicolor, skin treatment every two weeks with a shampoo that destroys yeast (such as anti-dandruff shampoos that contain selenium sulfide) can help to prevent the rash from recurring. This may be especially helpful prior to travel to a tropical climate or during months with warm weather. Another option is to take antifungal medicines by mouth to prevent the rash from returning. WHATARE THE TREATMENT OPTIONS? Topical treatments include lotions or anti-dandruff shampoos containing selenium sulfide (Selsun), ketoconazole shampoo (Nizoral), terbinafine spray (Lamisil) and antifungal creams. Oral medications include (ketoconazole [Nizoral], itraconazole [Sporanox], and fluconazole [Diflucan]). Topical treatments are used one or two

times each day. Treatment can last days or weeks, depending on how the rash responds. For six months after your original treatment, you may be advised to apply topical treatments occasionally or take one or more doses per month of oral antifungal medicine to help prevent the rash from returning. It is recommended that you wash bed linen and pajamas daily during treatment to avoid reinfection. Some experts recommend boiling or discarding contaminated clothing if the rash is persistent, believing this is a more certain way to eliminate the yeast. There are no serious complications from tinea versicolor. In most people, the rash goes away with treatment. However, it takes several months for the skin to return to its normal appearance. The rash returns after treatment

Dr. Zulfikar Bux within six months in 40 percent to 60 percent of people who don’t use antifungal treatments from time to time to suppress the rash. Keeping your “latta” under control will help to prevent unattractive skin marks on your skin but more importantly, it will prevent other opportunistic infections from taking advantage of the situation.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday May 07, 2017

SUNDAY SPECIAL

What a slow day on Regent Street in Georgetown, on Saturday

SUNDAY MONEY LAUNDERING PROBE WIDENS…POLICE REVOKE OVER 30 GUN LICENCES FROM EMBATTLED GOLD DEALER Police have revoked the licences of over 30 guns in the possession of embattled gold dealer, Saddiqi ‘Bobby’ Rasul. The licences were reportedly issued to a security firm owned by Rasul. The weapons included handguns, shotguns and rifles. This comes at a time when Rasul remains under investigations for money laundering, relating to his gold dealing activities. Rasul’s case has been riveting the nation over the last few weeks. One of the biggest gold dealers, the Bartica businessman fell from grace last month after he was accused of overseeing an almost $1B fraud on the Bartica branch of the Guyana Bank For Trade and Industry (GBTI). His arrest and charge for fraud sparked a massive investigation which saw a number of law enforcement agencies zeroing in on his operations which involved the purchase and sale of gold of over $15B last year. His activities reportedly had farreaching consequences with three senior officials of the Guyana Gold Board (GGB) being sent home over a week ago on administrative leave to facilitate a probe by the Special

Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), an arm of the police, into possible money laundering. According to reports, last month, the gold dealer ran afoul of GBTI after he withdrew $950M from his account at the Bartica branch of GBTI. Police said that he issued cheques drawn on his Citizens Bank account. However, he allegedly knew that the Citizens Bank account had been closed, yet reportedly went ahead and wrote up cheques and deposited it at GBTI. Rasul was slapped with several fraud charges and placed on $3M bail. ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN THREATENING BUSINESSES’

EXISTENCE – UNEMPLOYMENT RATE RISES With international companies continuing to suffer major losses, many have opted to cut corners—most recently one of America’s largest retail stores, Macy’s announced that it will be closing 68 of its 100 stores countrywide. The company has also moved to cut 10,000 jobs and eliminate 6,200 positions due to disappointing sales. Only last month, Sears, America’s top appliance store since 1886 closed 150 stores countrywide and 250 employees were laid off in an apparent move to cut costs as the company struggles to stay afloat. This signals that the downward trajectory of business in Guyana is not unique, since many local businesses are also making drastic cuts to their human resources in order to survive. A computer store in Guyana has indicated its intention of closing at least two of its outlets as the entity continues to face financial challenges. Sto r e o w n e r s o n R e g e n t Street, Georgetown are crying foul as most of them have been forced to dig into their personal savings in order to keep their businesses afloat. In addition to skimping salaries, some businesses were strained to the extent, where they had to take the drastic step of sending home staff and have their children do the work instead. MONDAY BOY, 16, KNIFED TO DEATH AT SCHOOL CONCERT – COPS SEEK 17-YEAR-OLD SCHOOL DROPOUT A 16-year-old boy lost his life Sunday night after he was stabbed to death by a school dropout during a concert at the Covent Garden Secondary School, on the East Bank Demerara (EBD). The dead teen has been identified as Brian Charles Yearwood of Lot 69 Grove Public Road, EBD. He

was stabbed in the region of the chest and was pronounced dead at the Diamond Diagnostic Centre shortly after 20:00hrs. The incident occurred in the Covent Garden Nursery School compound, a stone’s throw from the Secondary school. The police said that they are pursuing a 17-year-old Kaneville, EBD resident who allegedly stabbed Yearwood who was said to be preparing to sit the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) exams. Investigators are also looking for several other teenagers who witnessed the stabbing of the 16-yearold. AFC CALLS FOR VAT ON PRIVATE EDUCATION TO BE REVIEWED BEFORE 2018 BUDGET The Alliance for Change (AFC) is calling on the government to set up a task force to engage the issue of applying Value Added Tax on private education in Guyana. This move by the political party is being dubbed the “Linden Declaration” following the party’s National Executive Conference (NEC) being held in the mining town over the weekend.

According to a statement released by the party last Sunday, it remains cognizant and understanding of the difficulties faced by the coalition A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For Change government in raising revenue to meet the national capital and current expenditures for 2017 at a time when there is a difficult economic climate. The AFC said that it also recognises that the measure of instituting VAT on private education tuition has been an unpopular decision taken by government, which resulted in unexpected challenges for some parents of children and adult students attending private educational institutions. As such, the party said that it has taken into consideration the views expressed by those who have been affected by the measure and having thoroughly reviewed all perspectives and conducted extensive deliberations, it accepts, “education is a social good and, in ideal circumstances, tuition ought not to attract VAT that Budget 2017 has a significant deficit, that the reduction of the VAT rate from 16 percent to 14 percent, has resulted in a net revenue

loss of GY$10B, that unpopular tax measures are sometimes necessary to meet revenue targets and that in retrospect, the measure ought to have benefitted from wider consultation”. In highlighting these points, the AFC said that it will make strident representation within the Coalition Government that it does not continue with the particular tax measure in 2018. The decision by government to apply this tax on private education tuition was met with great opposition from concerned stakeholders. TUESDAY CENTRAL BANK PLUGGED US$6.6M TO COMMERCIAL BANKS IN FIRST QUARTER Central Bank, for the first three months of this year, plugged some US$6.6M into the local market. According to the Bank of Guyana’s statistical abstract up to March, as published on its website, the intervention would be less than the US$9.5M released for the first quarter last year. However, the release of the foreign currency in the first quarter (Continued on page 33)

Sunday May 07, 2017

(From page 32) could be taken as an indication of what is likely to happen this year with sugar exports prospects already looking dim, at least for the first crop. According to the figures, for the entire 2015 – the year when the David Granger administration took office – Central Bank was only forced to step in with US$5.75M. This increased dramatically last year when more than US$27M was released into the market. Central Bank would release when asked by the commercial banks. In January, US$2.9M was released with US$400,000 the next month. In March, in an indication that something was happening to the market, US$3.3M was released. TRADE UNIONS CALL FOR RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF LABOUR MINISTRY …AS HUNDREDS OBSERVE ‘MAY DAY’ Trade Unions on Monday took a united stance as they commemorated ‘May Day’ or ‘Labour Day’ with a road march and rally in Georgetown which began at Parade Ground and culminated at the National Park. The event was organised through the collaboration of the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) and the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG), and executed under the theme: ‘Organising – Necessary prerequisite in building a strong united trade union movement’. The march began at approximately 08:00hrs and workers marched along Middle Street from Parade Ground onto Main Street, headed south on to Avenue of the Republic, then to D’Urban Street, after which the procession turned left on Louisa Row and proceeded into Albert Street before it concluded in the National Park around 11:00hrs. Some of the trade unions which were represented include the Guyana Labour Union (GLU), GTUC, Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU), Guyana Local Government Officers Union (GLGOU), Guyana Postal and Telecommunication Workers Union (GPTWU), Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU), General Workers Union (GWU) and the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GB&GWU). Despite instances of brief rainfall, hundreds of workers walked briskly and jubilantly to sound of music provided by two steel bands and sound systems carried by trucks as they celebrated their victories, commemorated their history and rallied for change. General Secretary of the GTUC, Lincoln Lewis, one of the many speakers at the event, called on the government to re-establish a Ministry of Labour. After the APNU+AFC coalition took office, the Labour Ministry was absorbed into the Ministry of Social Protection and labour issues are

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being dealt with by a Department of Labour headed by Minister within the Ministry, Keith Scott. Lewis stressed that a Labour Ministry is important for shaping and executing labour policies that affect all workers, past, present and potential, “In other words, we the people.” He said that this among other requests would not be a challenge for President David Granger, given his stated commitment and desire for trade union unity. According to Lewis, what the President wants was showcased Monday with the unified presence of the trade union movement. HAMILTON GREEN ON HIS PENSION…”MY WIFE SUFFERED MOST IN THE LAST 25 YEARS” More than a month after the National Assembly passed legislation to allow him a liveable pension, former Prime Minister, Hamilton Green, says that his wife, Jennifer Basdeo-Green was the one who suffered the most over the last two decades. Green, a former Mayor of Georgetown until last year, in a statement Monday, said the new arrangement is due to the wisdom and sense of justice of President David Granger, coupled with members of the National Assembly. It would have brought to an end a period of drought for himself and his family of almost 25 years, Green said Monday. The National Assembly capped the former PM’s pension at 7/8 of the current Prime Minister’s salary. Government had defended the passage of the legislation as fitting for someone who is 82 years old. As at January, Green was receiving just over $160,000 monthly. When his party, the People’s National Congress, left office in 1992, his pension was $21,114. Green said that during the last 25 years “fortunately, I was able to rely on my wife, children and many kind friends to keep me buoyant. I am deeply grateful and thank them all. However, it was my wife Jennifer who suffered and endured the

most.” Green cited an example where after his party lost the 1992 General Elections, his wife Jennifer BasdeoGreen was “crudely” removed from office because the ‘Minister’ was not comfortable with the wife of the former Prime Minister being in the Ministry of Health head office. At that time, Dr. Basdeo-Green was preparing to do a specialist course in Public Health. ”Later she was dismissed with no benefits after years of service. After legal action was initiated, the late Dr. Cheddi Jagan promised to correct this injustice. Nothing happened.” Green claimed that former President, Bharrat Jagdeo, undertook to have this matter revisited. ”As a result, the then Minister of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy collected the relevant documents, later he claimed that the papers were destroyed in the Ministry of Health fire in Brickdam.” Green said that despite having to deal with a life-threatening medical condition, at this period, it is necessary for him to publicly state throughout all this, that his remained focused on family, “and she stood stoically by my side”. He said that the end of his drought also means that he can now better provide for his wife and family. Green served as Prime Minister between 1985 and 1992. WEDNESDAY SOCU’S PROBES INVOLVE $1.5 TRILLION IN ALLEGED MISAPPROPRIATED STATE FUNDS When the APNU+AFC coalition government took office in May 2015, a number of forensic audits of government and other state institutions were ordered after the ruling administration felt that misappropriation of state funds were rife under the previous People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) administration. Of the audits that were done, 19 were sent to the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) after evidence of malfeasance was uncovered and warranted criminal investigations. According to a source, SOCU is investigating in excess of a stagger-

PAGE 33

ing G$1.5 trillion in misappropriated state funds that were found when the audits of the 19 government entities were conducted. These monies are suspected to have been laundered, fraudulently converted, embezzled and inappropriately used to execute developmental works by a number of public officials when they were in office. The source contends that the figure is a conservative one, and that it may be much more. Kaieteur News has learnt that the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), Cricket World Cup (CWC), the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) and the alleged lucrative gold smuggling trade account for the majority of the misappropriated funds. Although this state of affairs has come to the attention of SOCU agents who have been investigating many of these cases for months, little has been achieved so far. In fact, SOCU has not charged anyone in relation to the alleged skullduggery. The source said that SOCU has sent 30 files to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the Police Legal Adviser (PLA) for recommendation and advice, and to date, not

a single file has been returned to that entity. The lack of legal guidance has now resulted in SOCU having to wait before moving forward with many of these cases which they have completed investigating. Additionally, the unit cannot follow-up on any of the cases that are with the legal advisers, since it is against protocol, and they can only await the necessary advice, whenever that is furnished. Kaieteur News has also learnt that the work of the special prosecutors has been called into question, and it is believed that SOCU might not be pleased with the lack of assistance from these officials in building their cases. It was one month ago that SOCU in spectacular fashion arrested and summoned a number of former government officials to answer for their hand in suspected skullduggery in public office. Former president Bharrat Jagdeo and former head of the Presidential secretariat Roger Luncheon were among those persons arrested by SOCU in relation to the National Investment and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) investigations. Investigators were trying to ascertain if officials that bought house lots at the controversial Pradoville 2 Scheme did so knowing that those house lots were well below the market value or whether officials attached to the Ministry of Housing at the time were at fault for such a shortcoming To date, nothing has been done in relation to this investigation that officially commenced almost two months ago. PROCUREMENT CONCERNS SPUR HEALTH SECTOR FORENSICAUDIT -PAHO/WHO AGREES TO CONDUCT, FUND PROCESS Concerns relating to the quality and shortage of drugs, medical supplies and pharmaceuticals in the (Continued on page 34)

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(From page 33) public health sector have prompted the initiation of a forensic audit. This is according to information disseminated by the Public Health Ministry Tuesday. The Ministry, this publication was informed, will be gaining support from the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation [PAHO/WHO] to conduct the audit process. PAHO/WHO has also agreed to fund the cost of conducting the audit. It was pointed out that the forensic audit comes on the heels of a plethora of complaints into the procurement process. According to Senior Minister of Public Health, Ms. Volda Lawrence, during an early morning meeting Tuesday with officials from both health and PAHO/WHO, “I found that it [the procurement process] was a bigger issue than I thought.” She continued, “I didn’t think it was as bad as I found it [but] this is the beginning of the process of regularising operations in the wider health sector.” But according to the Minister the audit is not intended to harass those with responsibility in the sector’s procurement process “but to correct the system”. Professor Jaime Espin Balbino of the Andalusian School of Public Health, Regional Ministry of Health, will spearhead the forensic exercise which will target the operations of both the Ministry and the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation [GPHC], said Minister Lawrence. The audit into how things are currently done and the specific changes that will be implemented will

provide the roadmap for the future to remove the existing “vast deficiencies in knowledge and manpower which currently hamstring the Ministry and the GPHC,” Lawrence said as she explained the rationale for the forensic audit. While the government health sector has internal and external audits done, Lawrence feels that “a fresh eye is needed to give the system a boost and help plug all existing gaps.” Permanent Secretary Collette

Kaieteur News

Sunday May 07, 2017

Adams has welcomed PAHO/WHO supporting the auditing exercise while Dr. Karen Cummings, Minister within the Public Health Ministry, wants the procurement process demystified. CONTROVERSIAL GPSU RESULTS ARE OUT! ELECTIONS PETITION LIKELYAS YARDE RE-ELECTED PRESIDENT After several hiccups and fingerpointing episodes, the results of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU)’s elections, have finally been released. But, the drama is far from being over. On Tuesday evening, the body, via email, sent out a list of persons, accompanied by the number of votes the individuals garnered. The document did not specify who won the presidency or to what positions the others were elected. Kaieteur News then made contact with the GPSU, and was told that the incumbent, Patrick Yarde, who has been accused of stalling the much delayed results, had been reelected as President. Presidential candidate, Gregory Gaspar, who has been raising repeated concerns about the integrity of the process, did not even secure any of the executive positions. Shortly after the results were released to the media, Gaspar, via his lawyer, Nigel Hughes, called an ‘emergency’ press conference. As it turned out, the Presidential Candidate, prior to online media reports, was not even aware that he had lost the elections. ”Nothing… not a thing was communicated to me and my team. We are confused. We don’t have a clue as to what is happening here,” Gaspar told Kaieteur News following a press conference Tuesday evening. He began questioning reporters about the contents of the results, as opposed to the other way around. Since Gaspar and his team were expecting the results to be officially announced Wednesday, they refused to accept those that were released Tuesday night. ”We haven’t seen anything official as yet, so we asking Public Servants to stay calm, because as far as we are concerned, these results were just manufactured by Mr. Yarde,” one of Gaspar’s teammates said. Gaspar, for his part, is looking to file an elections petition. In the meantime, the likelihood of street protests is being looked at by the rest of his team. ”If people want to come out to voice their concerns, we are definitely not going to stop them,” Gaspar told this newspaper. The Opposition team said that ever since the media released the results, GPSU Members have been threatening to leave the union. ”We are pleading with them not to take such a drastic step. Even if they want to move to withhold their dues, then that is their right, but we are not advising them to just leave the union altogether,” Gaspar told Kaieteur News after the press conference.

THURSDAY US$23M GPL CONTRACT…COMPANY BEGINS MOBILISING, BUT NO METERS PRESENTED FOR TESTING Based on information reaching this newspaper, China National Machinery Import (CMC) has started mobilising to begin works on the US$23M (G$4.6B) dollar project to rehabilitate the electricity distribution network project of the Guyana Power and Light Company. According to reports, the company which is partnering with the Export Corporation and China Sinogy Electric Engineering Co. Limited has begun procuring utility poles necessary for the completion of the multibillion-dollar project. The venture is being funded by the InterAmerican Development Bank and the European Union via a part-grant/ part loan agreement. The smart meters which form one aspect of the project are to be mounted on these said poles. This methodology is being utilised to avoid GPL employees from having to enter the premises of residents to record data from the meters. However, this step in mobilisation comes before the meters would have passed the testing phase. As of last Thursday, the meters have not yet arrived in the country. This is according to Deputy Chief Executive Officer – Technical, Elwyn Marshall. He had informed this newspaper that the project is scheduled to start this month. Seeking to clarify articles carried by Kaieteur News on the matter, the power company said via a statement that the meters will undergo accuracy tests by the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS). On Wednesday, the Public Relations Officer of GNBS, Lloyd David, was questioned by this newspaper whether the entity is in receipt of smart meters for the said project. According to David, the entity is only concerned with testing the accuracy of the meters. He then added, “We have not encountered the smart meter or done any testing on the smart meter as yet. We only test what GPL submits. GPL has not submitted the smart meter, so we

have not done any testing on them.” He said that the GNBS had tested the pre-paid and post-paid meters which are currently being used across Guyana. David reiterated that the GNBS only tests for the accuracy of the data recorded by the devices, and has no responsibility to verify the quality and other requirements of the smart meters. Kaieteur News has learnt that the Chinese company has to produce samples of seven types of smart meters for the power company to test; after which the agreed models will be procured and used as the project is rolled out. GPL has formally requested the company to produce sample meters on or before the deadline of May 15, 2017. The fact that the company is still to produce samples, counters what was said by the Deputy CEO – Technical. Mr Marshall had said that the Chinese company had presented two meters to GPL and one was agreed upon. The Deputy CEO had even said that he does not believe CMC would find any difficulty sourcing the meters since they are available globally. SOCU INVESTIGATIONS… SPECIAL PROSECUTORS ARE NON-COOPERATIVE – POLICE LEGALADVISER Police Legal Adviser Justice Claudette Singh (ret’d) SC, says that the special prosecutors who were hired by government to prosecute cases involving the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) are “non-cooperative” and “not pulling their weight,” and this is the primary reason why many investigations are not being expeditiously addressed. Justice Singh made this disclosure after an article in this newspaper on Wednesday stated that 30 files have been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the Police Legal Adviser, but none were returned. The retired Judge said that she wanted to make abundantly clear that she has been having constant interaction with SOCU, and has been instructing that unit where needs be. Justice Singh showed this newspaper the evidence of the constant written communication she has been

having with that unit. She explained that it was not the duty of that entity to charge anyone suspected of malfeasance, as that decision rests with the special prosecutors “who have not covered themselves in a blaze of glory”. She explained that of the twelve files that are engaging her attention, three have been completed and are in a state of readiness for prosecution. The remaining files are completed but, save for a bit of ‘fine tuning’ and some legal perusal, those files should be completed and ready for prosecution very soon. However this depends on the availability of the six prosecutors – Michael Somersall, Hewley Griffith, Lawrence Harris, Patrice Henry, Compton Richardson, and Trenton Lake. Justice Singh said apart from Henry, who has been playing his part in assisting the state to build its cases against officials that have been suspected of malfeasance, the other five lawyers oftentimes seem too busy to help. She said that many times meetings are planned and commitments are given that they will attend, but at the appointed time only one or two of the prosecutors would be present. Justice Singh said that she was so frustrated with the behaviour of the officials that she had reason to bring this to the attention of the Minister of State Joseph Harmon. She explained that after bringing the issue to the attention of the State Minister, things seemed to have gotten better, but that was short lived, since they (prosecutors) resorted to their old ways of being lax in their approach to the many ongoing investigations. Justice Singh is of the opinion that had all six lawyers been working at their optimum, many cases would have already been before the courts. She said that after she peruses the files sent by SOCU, she makes recommendations for additional statements and/or additional documents as required. She noted that for the past three weeks she has not had a proper meeting with the prosecutors, and even the three files that are completed she still needs to brief them on the way forward before charges are laid. BERBICE CARPENTER’S MURDER… SENIOR COPS FACE POSSIBLE CHARGES FOR PROVIDING SECURITY FOR BISRAM -OPR SEEKS LEGALADVICE Two senior police ranks face possible charges for allegedly providing security for US-based suspect Marcus Bisram, who is wanted for the October 2016 murder of carpenter Faiyaz Narinedatt in Berbice. A probe by the Office of Police Responsibility (OPR) revealed that one rank, identified as a Deputy Superintendent, provided the security, in the form of police ranks, to Bisram. The investigation reportedly also revealed that another policeman who is the rank (Deputy Superintendent)’s superior, failed to ensure that the rank conformed to (Continued on page 35)

Sunday May 07, 2017

(From page 34) the Force’s regulations. Kaieteur News understands that a file on the investigation was sent to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on Wednesday. Police had launched investigations into reports that Bisram, a multi-millionaire, had feted a number of policemen, and that some may have colluded to cover up Narinedatt’s murder. Three individuals, including Bisram’s mother, were charged for allegedly offering a detective $4M to suppress evidence against Bisram, who is the head of a charitable organization, that has donated millions to some organizations in Berbice. A community policing group was one of the recipients. The battered body of 26-yearold carpenter Faiyaz Narinedatt was found on November 1, 2016, on the Number 70 Village, Corentyne foreshore. Harripaul Parsram, 49, Orlando Dickie, 39, Radesh Motie, 39, Diadath Datt, 18 and Niran Yacoob, 37, were charged for Narinedatt’s murder. Bisram’s name was also mentioned in the joint murder charge as the number one accused. The joint charge stated that he procured the others to murder Narinedatt. However, Bisram returned to the US prior to the discovery of Narinedatt’s body. FRIDAY CONVICT TO PAY $254.4M FINE FOR COCAINE IN FISH GLUE …AS CCJ UPHOLDS COURT OFAPPEAL DECISION The Caribbean Court of Justice, (CCJ) on Thursday upheld a deci-

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sion by the Court of Appeal for the conviction of trafficking in narcotics dating back to some 10 years ago. The matter was filed by the attorneys of convicted drug trafficker, Vishnu Bridgelall. The lawyers Bernard De Santos, S.C and Sanjeev Datadin had applied to the CCJ to set aside Brigdelall’s conviction and jail sentence which was upheld by the Appellate Court. However, during a video conference at the Appellate Court in Kingston on Thursday, the CCJ announced that the decision of the Court of Appeal Judges, Yonette Cummings-Edwards, B.S Roy and Former Chancellor (Ag), Carl Singh, in regards to Bridgelall’s conviction was instead upheld. Bridgelall, a fish exporter from the East Coast Demerara, was found guilty of possession of over 20 kilograms of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking. The incident took place on May 16, 2007. He was sentenced to serve 10 years in prison by Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs, who also fined him $254.4M which represented the value of the cocaine allegedly found in fish glue. The Appellate Court upheld the magistrate’s decision. But according to information received by this newspaper, despite the CCJ’s decision, the convict will not serve the jail time; he is only mandated to pay the fine which was imposed on him by the Summary Court. When the businessman was jailed for the 2007 crime, an appeal filed in the High Court had resulted in an overturn of the conviction and sentence. A subsequent appeal was filed in the Court of Appeal by the State on behalf of the Cus-

toms Anti Narcotics Unit (CANU). Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Sonia Joseph and Dion Mc Cammon are on record for the State in the matter. Ranks of the CANU had carried out a raid at Charlotte Street, Enterprise, East Coast Demerara on May 16, 2007, and unearthed 20 kilograms of cocaine. Vi s h n u B r i d g e l a l l , c a l l e d “Haffa, a fish exporter was said to be a tenant of the property at the said time. The businessman was present along with three other men including Chandrika Chatergoon at the time the drugs were une a r t h e d . Bridgelall, a fish exporter and the men, Chattergoon, called Percy; Thakoor Persaud and Azad Khan were charged for the drugs which were said to be contained in fish glue. But the court found that the magistrate erred in finding the accused guilty of possession. There was another charge of having 86.5 kilogrammes of cocaine, for the purpose of trafficking. Bridgelall who normally buys and sells fish glue for export had in a statement said he heard that a man at Enterprise had some glue to sell so he hired Thakoor and Khan and they went to Enterprise. He had explained “We arrived there about 11.30 a.m. We met the fella who selling the glue. His name is Percy.” FORMER COUNCILLOR USES $7M IN STATE FUNDS TO SUPPORT ADDICTION Most addictions are expensive. But usually this price is to

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The woman was being fed excessive doses of Pethidine every day, even amid a drug shortage that was being experienced in the region. After no action was taken, Marks followed up with another correspondence in December 2016. Nurse Marks complained that Joseph was using her position as Councillor to ensure access to large amounts of the narcotic medication. PATRICK YARDE IS CHAIRMAN (AG) OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION

be borne by the addict. It is a special situation when the State is bearing the cost of someone’s addiction. However, that is the interesting story of Carol Joseph and her addiction to Pethidine. The financial burden has been placed on the backs of the taxpayers of Guyana. Joseph, a former Councillor on the Region Five Democratic Council, has been accused of using her political status, to access frequent injections at the F o r t We l l i n g t o n H o s p i t a l i n Berbice. Pethidine is also known as Demerol. Investigations reveal that Joseph has been on the drug for just about nine years. Her first recorded dose was administered in 2008. Documents seen by Kaieteur News prove that she has been administered at least 1000 fixes over the years. Carol Joseph was being fed Pethidine every single day since O c t o b e r. D u r i n g t h a t p e r i o d alone, she was given over 200 doses. Some days the drug-dependent councillor was administered more than one dose. A shot of Pethidine is sold for US$35. Initially, Joseph was receiving a 50mg injection of Pethidine. Her need, which continues to be met by medical professionals, has grown to as much as 200mg of Pethidine, per day. This is the case even when the maximum dose of Pethidine is supposed to be 100mg. The frequent doses are no longer being administered to Joseph via painful injections, but rather, “a central line that has been placed in her neck, which takes the drug directly through her vein intravenously (via IV).” Carol Joseph resigned from her post as a Councillor on the Region Five Democratic Council following the revelations made by whistleblower nurse, Sherilyn Marks. The midwife, who had been tasked with administering Pethidine injections to the drug-dependent Joseph, lodged a complaint with health authorities, both at the level of Central Government, and the regional department.

Trade Unionist, Patrick Yarde, was on Thursday sworn in by President David Granger as the acting Chairman of the Public Service Commission (PSC), a position, which automatically makes him an ex-officio member of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), the Police Service Commission and the Guyana Defence Force Commission’s Board. According to the Presidency, the swearing-in ceremony, which accorded with Article 200 (5) of the Constitution of Guyana, was held at State House in the presence of Minister of State, Joseph Harmon and members of the PSC. President Granger explained that since the removal of the previous Chairman of this important Constitutional body, its work has been lagging. ”It ought not to be delayed further because the function of the Public Service Commission and the Judicial Service Commission has been affected… This is entirely in accordance with the requirement of an efficient Government that the work of those four boards should not be delayed or paralysed any further,” he said. He added that his administration is confident that this new appointment is a step in the right direction, which will result in the efficient functioning of the four commissions. Further, with the appointment of the Acting Chancellor of the Judiciary and the Acting Chief Justice, the work of the JSC in particular, is expected to move apace. Yarde said that he is pleased to have been asked to serve in this new position and assured that he will perform the duties of his office in accordance with the Constitution. “It is my view…that the public service of Guyana be a very efficient, effective and professional career service, faithfully serving the Government of the day and the people of Guyana,” he said. Last October, acting in accordance with Article 225 (6) of the Constitution, the President ordered the suspension of Carvil Duncan pending the outcome of the proceedings of the Tribunal, which was set up to inquire, investigate and recommend whether he (Mr. Duncan) ought to be removed from office for inability to discharge the functions of his Constitutional posts. Yarde, the President of the Guyana Public Services Union this past week faced his sternest test yet in elections where he was returned (Continued on page 36)

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Kaieteur News

Sunday May 07, 2017

(From page 35) but the results of the polls are being contested. SATURDAY PRESIDENT URGES COHESION ON ARRIVAL DAYAT HIGHBURY Hundreds of persons from all the different races on Friday turned out in huge numbers to celebrate the Arrival of Indians to Guyana at Highbury Village, East Bank Berbice. President David Granger, delivering the feature address, spoke of the contributions that East Indians made to Guyana during their indentureship and the contributions they continue to make today. He underscored the need to protect and preserve what the ancestors left and also pushed to continue the efforts in making Guyana a green state. “Our green state can furnish us a good life for generations to come only if we have the spirit of cohesion, only if we create a community in which our diversity, our differences are respected and celebrated as you do here today”, the President told the gathering. He further noted that the “green state” must embody the cohesiveness that arises from the unique and shared past. “There is no other part of the world like Guyana, it is the diversity celebrated that will lead us to prosperity.” The President also stated that with Guyana’s potential and beauty the transition of becoming a green state should be easy with the already rich past that the ancestors left for the current generation to emulate and learn from. Regional Chairman, David Armogan, did not disappoint as he charged ahead with a message for the Government. He once again issued a call to save the Sugar Industry. He capitalized on the opportunity to urge the government to make informed decisions that will in the future benefit those that are presently fighting for their jobs in the local sugar estates. “They worked almost 79 years on the sugar plantation to bring us to what it is today. We, the descendants of slaves and indentured labourers today continue to depend on the sugar industry for our livelihood and survival. “The sweat and blood of our ancestors are mixed with the soil of the sugar industry and many of us today are still employed in it.” Armogan called on the government to consider when decisions are made with regards to the sugar industry the people and their survival must be considered. He said that there will be eco-

nomic consequences if the decisions are not made properly. The day concluded with several cultural items. There were skits, poetry and dances that depicted the indentured labourers and their culture. Various Ministers of the Government among them Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, Members of Parliament, Regional Officials and former Prime Minister, Samuel Hinds were all present to celebrate the occasion. Persons were also treated to tasty delicacies that originated from the East Indians. A replica of the SS Whitby was also on display at the site. The event was coordinated by the Berbice Indian Cultural Committee, headed by Mr. Chandra Sohan. WOMAN CONSTABLE WITH GUNSHOT WOUND… MOTHER SAYS FIREARM WAS NOT NEAR BODY WHEN VICTIM FOUND 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. Sometime 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 visits her 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 (Rice Mill). “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 differ-

ent 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 see 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 downstairs 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 wasn’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.” “Her 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 didn’t leave the job she “would have to leave it the way her cousin did.” The cousin was killed about a year ago while on the job as well. Shendel George’s body is at the Suddie Public Hospital awaiting a post mortem examination.

Sunday May 07, 2017

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Sunday May 07, 2017

Kaieteur News

Bike bandits kill vendor, flee with cash and loaves of bread Police are hunting for two bandits who escaped with cash and three loaves of bread after killing a 42-year-old bread vendor during a robbery on Friday night in ‘C’ Field Sophia, Georgetown. Andre Alexander, of Lot 394 ‘C’ Field Sophia, was shot in the stomach and succumbed at around 23:00 hrs during surgery at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). The father of two had worked as a driver with Banks DIH Limited, and sold bread after working hours. The attack occurred at around 20.30 hrs at the victim’s bread stand, which is situated about four houses from his home. Police said that Alexander was at his bread stand when the two men rode up on a motorcycle. The pillion rider requested three loaves of bread and paid with a $5000 note. Kaieteur News understands that while Alexander was in the process of making change, the ‘customer’ whipped out a gun and demanded cash. When Alexander put up a fight, the robber discharged two rounds, one of which struck the vendor in the stomach. The two men relieved their victim of his cash and also escaped with three loaves of bread. The victim’s wife, Beverley Alexander said that she and her husband have been operating the bread stand at the same location for more than six years and were never confronted by bandits until Friday night. She said that she was at

Dead: Andre Alexander the stand when they two bandits approached her husband and shot him when he resisted. According to Mrs. Alexander, two other customers were at the stand when the robbers attacked. “After he (pillion rider) collected the bread, my husband was making change to give him when he pulled out a gun and demanded the cash, so my husband tried to push away the gun and the man fired one shot and when that one missed, he fired another shot,” the woman noted. She further related that

The stand where Andre Alexander was killed

when she heard the first shot, she ran for her life. “I run behind the stand and when I see the other suspect coming, I start run.” The bandits did not try to rob the other customers at the stand. Beverley Alexander said that after the bandits escaped, she ran to her husband and found him lying on a bench. “He was unconscious and bleeding. A bus took him to the hospital and when they rushed him to theatre, he died,” Beverley said. Andre Alexander was described as a quiet and hard working individual. No one has been arrested.

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Kaieteur News

Community participation needed to tackle Aedes aegypti threat Guyana’s health sector, like so many across the globe, has long been fighting a valiant battle against mosquito-borne diseases. Although many gains have been made, sustaining these are still an uphill task that requires not only ample amounts of funds but strategic collaboration, including the support of members of the public. Focus in this regard will be especially emphasized this week as Caribbean Mosquito Awareness Week is observed. This year the fight against the Aedes Aegypti mosquito is being highlighted. Aedes Aegypti is well known as the mosquito that transmits the yellow fever mosquito and is also known to spread other diseases including dengue fever and the Chikungunya and Zika viruses, among others. Caribbean Mosquito Awareness Week will be observed May 8th through 12th this year and will give keen attention to the fact that community involvement is essential to successfully combat the Aedes Aegyptitype mosquito. “Community participation

is critical to the success of any programme designed to eliminate breeding sites of the Aedes aegypti mosquito. Efforts are doomed to failure if even one household is negligent.” This is according to Dr. C James Hospedales, Executive Director of the Caribbean Public Health Agency [CARPHA], as he commented on the importance of Caribbean Mosquito Awareness Week. In his assessment of the mosquito prevention efforts in the Region thus far, Dr. Hospedales noted that strategies for the control of the mosquito, which causes Dengue, Chikungunya and Zika are failing, and stated that what is needed is an “all hands on board approach.” Dr. Karen Polson Edwards, CARPHA Assistant Director of Surveillance, Disease Prevention Control, supports this “all hands on board approach perspective” as she said, “mosquitoes are social creatures and we are their preferred host. Their breeding sites are mostly man-made water containers. This being the case, we all have the power to eliminate them by destroying their breeding

sites. The message of taking 10 minutes a week to check surroundings for and destroying any breeding sites is always relevant, and should become part of our routine.” For Caribbean Mosquito Awareness Week 2017, strengthening household and community participation are key. Everyone feels the effects of mosquito-borne illnesses. It affects our economy and has the potential to negatively affect the tourism sector, the major revenue earner for many Caribbean islands. It also contributes to loss of productivity, ill health and death. The possibility of babies being born with microcephaly and men, in particular, contracting Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), as a result of being bitten by an infected Aedes aegypti mosquito, are also of concern. The purpose of Caribbean

Mosquito Awareness Week, which is in its second year, is to bring greater awareness to the mosquito vector, through education and social engagement in CARPHA member states. It is hoped that greater awareness and engagement would bring about behavioural change leading to the elimination of the Aedes aegypti mosquito and greater personal protection, especially as the rainy season approaches. Everyone has a part to play in the elimination of breeding sites and taking the necessary steps to ensure that he or she is not bitten. As such CARPHA has issued a checklist that persons should adhere to including:

Avoid mosquito bites; Destroy mosquito-breeding sites by securely covering domestic water storage containers such as barrels, drums and buckets; Properly discarding tyres and containers that collect water and Covering and sealing

tanks, soak-aways and cisterns. Caribbean Mosquito Awareness Week is observed annually during the second week of May. Its theme is ‘Small bite, big threat: fight the bite, destroy mosquito breeding sites.’

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Sunday May 07, 2017

Kaieteur News

Trump travel ban back in U.S. courts next week as battles stretch on (Reuters) Legal challenges to President Donald Trump’s temporary travel ban on people from some Muslim-majority countries heat up again next week when two U.S. appeals

courts consider whether it is constitutional. The legal fights may end up at the U.S. Supreme Court perhaps in the fall, many months after Trump first issued an executive order in

January saying there was an urgent need to halt some immigration to the United States for 90 days while officials reviewed the visa process. Trump dropped the original travel order after unfavorable legal rulings and replaced it with a more limited ban which is itself now being challenged in appeals courts on two coasts. Arguing that the United States needed to tighten national security measures, Trump’s attempt to limit travel was one of his first major acts in office. The fate of the ban is one indication of whether the Republican can carry out his promises to be tough on immigration and national security. Omar Jadwat, an attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union, who will be arguing the case at the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Virginia on Monday, said the fact that so much time has passed

since the ban was issued is proof that there was no pressing national security need for it in the first place. The court fight will give those challenging the order an opportunity to argue that the government never intended for the travel pause to be temporary, said Buzz Frahn, an attorney at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett in Palo Alto, California whose firm has been closely tracking the ongoing litigation. Now almost 100 days after the original travel ban, the government says the period of 90 days was reset when the administration issued the new order in March. The Department of Homeland Security “is, and will be, continuously examining ways to enhance the screening and vetting process to shut down terrorist and criminal pathways into the United States,” agency spokesman David Lapan said. “Some improvements will be classified, others will be public, but the Department

has only just begun ways to enhance the security of our immigration system,” he said in an email. Opponents - including states and civil rights groups - say that both the first ban and the revised ban, which also put a halt to all refugee admissions to the country for four months, discriminates against Muslims. The government argues the text of the order does not mention any specific religion and is needed to protect the country against attacks. COURT HEARING The 4th Circuit will decide the fate of a ruling from a Maryland district judge that struck down a section of the revised executive order barring visitors from Syria, Iran, Libya, Sudan, Yemen and Somalia. The hearing will take place before 14 full-time judges of the appellate court. Ten of them were appointed by Democrats, and four by Republicans. Then, on March 15, a three-judge panel at the San

Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will review a decision from a Hawaii judge that halted not just the travel portion of the ban but also the section that barred refugees. The judges – who will sit on a panel in Seattle - have been assigned but their identities have not been made public. The 9th Circuit blocked Trump’s first ban in February, in a unanimous vote by one Republican-appointed judge and two-Democratic appointees. Trump lashed out at the ruling on Twitter and said he is ready for a fight at the Supreme Court. The nation’s highest court is more likely to hear a case if the federal appeals courts reach opposite rulings or if the issue is of great national importance, according to legal experts. But the Supreme Court’s session ends in June, and if it takes the case it would probably not be heard until after the justices return in October.

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Kaieteur News

Govt., PSC differ on economy performance Amid concerns raised by the Private Sector Commission (PSC) over issues which they feel are negatively impacting the economy, the government has a different view. The Commission met Tuesday last with The Right Honourable Baroness Anelay, Minister of State of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the United Kingdom (UK) and Member of the UK House of Lords. The dignitary, along with the British High Commissioner Greg Quinn and other officials, met the

PSC. The commission said that it took the opportunity of discussing a number of issues of concern and of national interest. Also included in the discussion, the PSC said, was the apparent decline in the local economy which they opined, has been caused partly by a fall in commodity prices but exacerbated by excessive taxation and a lack of confidence on the part of investors. The Private Sector Commission also mentioned the “uncertainty” surrounding the fate of sugar

and the need to have British help to maintain good governance in the country. State Minister Joseph Harmon, during the postCabinet press briefings, was asked about Government’s take on the utterances made by the PSC as it relates to “excessive taxation and the lack of investor confidence”. He replied: “The PSC is an independent body The PSC may look at things from a certain perspective and it’s up to them to determine what they see. From a government’s

Roses in hand, Venezuelan women protesters face security forces (Reuters) Dressed in white and chanting “Liberty!”, tens of thousands of women opposed to Venezuela’s socialist President Nicolas Maduro marched yesterday, proffering roses to security forces who blocked their way. The women’s marches, which took place in most major cities around the South American oil producer, were the latest in five weeks of sustained protests against Maduro whom opponents decry as a dictator who has ruined the economy. In Caracas, marchers sang the national anthem and shouted “We want elections!” They were halted at various points by lines of policewomen and National Guard troops with armored cars. The opposition, which has majority support in Venezuela after years of being in the shadow of the ruling Socialist Party, is demanding that delayed state elections be held and the 2018 presidential vote be brought forward. They also want the government to free scores of jailed activists, allow humanitarian aid from abroad to offset a brutal economic crisis, and respect the independence of the legislature where the opposition won a majority in 2015. Highlighting vandalism and violence by young masked protesters, Maduro says opponents are seeking a coup with U.S. support and harbor “terrorists” and “murderers” in their ranks. In response to the crisis, the 54-year-old successor to Hugo Chavez is setting up a super body known as a “constituent assembly” with powers to rewrite the constitution, shake up public powers, and potentially replace the legislature. “This march is against opposition terrorism, they are destroying everything,” said cook Fredesvilda Paulino, 54, at a pro-government rally also in Caracas on Saturday where red-

shirted women waved proMaduro flags and banners. The women’s marches were organized as part of an opposition attempt to vary tactics and keep momentum against Maduro. Women have often been feeling the brunt of Venezuela’s economic crisis due to widespread food and medicine shortages, huge lines at shops, soaring prices, and increasing hunger in the nation of 30 million people. THIRTY-SEVEN DEATHS Since the anti-Maduro protests began in early April, at least 37 people have died, with victims including supporters of both sides, bystanders and members of the security forces. Opposition leaders say the constituent assembly is a biased mechanism designed to keep an unpopular leader in power. They say the government is to blame for violence by young protesters as authorities are refusing a free vote to resolve the crisis and are needlessly blocking and repressing marches. “Just let us vote, and this will all end,” said teacher Anlerisky Rosales, 22, in the opposition women’s march in Caracas. “There is too much suffering in Venezuela. If we have to, we will

give our lives in the street until Maduro goes.” Various female protesters marched topless with black face masks in mourning for the fatalities. At one point, a female government official emerged from the security lines to receive a petition and talk with the demonstration leaders. With Maduro’s approval ratings at around 24 percent - less than half the level at the time of his narrow election victory in 2013 - and Venezuela suffering a fourth year of harrowing recession, the opposition’s challenge is to keep up street pressure and draw in support from poor former “Chavista” sectors. Officials are hoping they become exhausted and disillusioned, while highlighting the violence of young opposition hotheads to try to discredit the whole opposition. Many Venezuelans are closely watching the armed forces, who have the potential to tip the balance if they disobey government instructions or give Maduro a nudge behind the scenes. Top armed forces officials have been pledging loyalty in public, though opposition leader Henrique Capriles said on Friday that 85 military officials had been arrested for dissent.

perspective we believe that significant progress has been made in these areas that they are complaining about and we embrace the Private Sector Commission to move forward on these issues which they have raised.” Harmon said that “the British Minister will not come here and solve our problems.” “We have to solve our problems ourselves. We have to work together to solve the

problems of this country. I am saying again that we are open; we are embracing the Private Sector Commission so that we can engage in a factual way on some of the perceptions which are out there so that we can correct the perceptions with the provision of accurate information,” Harmon said. The Minister noted also that in the coming weeks, there will be presentations by

government ministers to highlight specific things being done in their ministries. This, he explained, will be done to keep the populace informed of the projects being undertaken by the government. This will also be done to aid the populace in judging the coalition A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC)’s twoyear performance in office.

Sunday May 07, 2017

Kaieteur News

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Sunday May 07, 2017

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Man wakes up to find bullet lodged in ... From page 11 graze that was not there before he noted. George said that he did not take the graze for anything serious since there would normally be children playing in the area. He thought one of them may have pelted a brick. Not paying much attention to the window he proceeded to different areas in the home. It was while wiping the television stand he observed a dent in the stand and then he saw what

appears to be a bullet lodged in the television stand. George said it was then he decided to sit on his bed and try to sum up the entire situation. That is when he realized that the bullet lodged in his television stand was the object that caused the indentation in his window. “I thank God that bullet did not hit the television, because is only last December I took that television from Courts.” The man who resides at the

address for the past two years stated that when he observed the bullet he immediately began to pray and he thank the Almighty father for saving his life. “Imagine my bed is right next to the window and that bullet could have hit me and kill me. God had to be with me.” George said that it’s a good thing that his children were not at home when it happened because it might have been a different situation.

The bullet

Sunday May 07, 2017

By Dr. Neromini Fagu Injuries to the teeth and mouth often occur as a result of a fall, motor vehicle accident, sports or fights. A large percentage of children usually have some type of injury to a tooth during childhood. It is hard to predict what accidents our children may have, but when an accident affects their teeth knowing what to do might make a difference. The most common teeth to get knocked out are the incisors, and dentists refer to a knocked out tooth as being “avulsed”. According to the American Association of Endodontists, more than five million teeth are knocked out every year in children and adults. While it can be very traumatic to lose one’s tooth,

Kaieteur News

DEALING WITH AN AVULSED TOOTH knowing what to do when that occurs is important to possibly saving the tooth. With the correct action, a tooth that has been knocked out of its socket may be successfully replanted and last for years. An avulsed tooth should be replanted in the socket as soon as possible. The longterm success depends mainly on how long the tooth has been out of the socket, and the best chance of success is if the tooth has not been out of the socket for more than 20 minutes. The following are the steps that should be taken in the event of a knocked-out permanent or adult tooth. Baby teeth are not usually replanted due to the risk of infecting the permanent tooth below. HANDLE THE TOOTH CAREFULLY

STANDARDS IN FOCUS

You need to locate the tooth immediately, and it should be picked up by the crown (the chewing surface) and NOT by the root. This should help to minimize injury to the remaining tissues on the root surface. GENTLYCLEAN THE TOOTH If the tooth is dirty, you should try to remove the debris by gently rinsing the tooth with saline solution or

Unlocking opportunities for local businesses through participation in international standards development The Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) has recognised the need for our local businesses to participate in the standards development process at the international level. When local businesses participate in such processes at the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) and the International Electro-technical Commission (IEC) they can be kept abreast with new developments in standardization directly related to their scope of operations. As a member of the ISO, the GNBS is the agent through which local businesses can access its standards development fora. It is time for us to see transformation in our attitude towards the implementation of standards. Every entrepreneur has a personal obligation to ensure his products or services conform to standards. We often hear promotions where businesses declare that they sell the best quality and their products are the best; but what is the measure of confidence? What is the measure of trust? Is it a standard, a test certificate? These empty declarations will not sell in the international market and even on the local market, once our consumers are adequately informed. The GNBS believes that once local businesses are exposed to standardization opportunities at the international level, their eyes will be opened to the realities of the business environment at the global level. For far too long our local businesses have taken for granted the impact standards can have on their businesses and more so the local economy. Standards can make or break businesses. Guyana is already attracting investors with the prospects of Oil and Gas Production. Do you want these investors to bring their own supply of products and services because yours do not meet requirements? If we continue to do business as usual we will face the harsh realities. Then the cry will be that local businesses are being sidelined. We will be sidelined if we do not implement standards since similar businesses will have

that competitive advantage and take away our share of the market. If we allow this to happen, we will have no one to blame but ourselves. Many times the call is for Government to find markets for our products; if we do not implement the required standards; those markets will be out of our reach. Without standards, we don’t have any objective evidence to prove to anyone that we can provide them with a safe product of consistent quality. Yes, we need records of quality assurance and conformity assessment procedures to validate our manufacturing processes. The use of conformity assessment systems supported by ISO and IEC standards makes it easier for companies of all sizes and origin to sell beyond national borders. They allow companies to measure and compare the values of implementing standards. Participating in the work of ISO and IEC allows companies to improve their overall corporate efficiency and helps them manage quality and risks to their businesses. By using international standards together with testing and verification, companies are able to consistently and reliably delivery quality products, speed up market access and reduce the cost of doing so. These international standards development organisations have made it easier for individuals to comment on draft international standards and also attend and observe technical committee meetings. In order to participate in the international standards development processes, the GNBS is required to form mirror committees to the ISO committees that are of interest to our local businesses. The Bureau as a correspondent member of ISO observes the development of ISO standards and strategies by attending technical and policy meetings as observers. Local businessmen and women will be given the opportunity to represent their interest at these meetings. For further information, please call the GNBS on 219-0066 or visit the GNBS website: www.gnbsgy.org

water but for no longer than 10 seconds. You should not use soap or chemicals to clean or scrub the tooth. You should not attempt to dry the tooth or wrap it in a tissue or cloth. REPOSITIONING THE TOOTH If it is possible, after ensuring the tooth is clean, you should try to reposition the tooth in the socket immediately. The sooner the tooth is replanted, the greater the likelihood of it surviving. When reinserting the tooth, gently push it into the socket with your fingers. You would need to visit your dentist as soon as possible as the replanted tooth would need to be stabilized by splinting.

In the event that the tooth cannot be reinserted into the socket at the place of the accident, it must be kept moist at all times until you are able to go to the dentist. However, keep in mind that time is of the essence and the longer the tooth stays outside the mouth the less likely is the chance of it being saved. There are a number of media in which the tooth can be stored for transportation to the dentist. One of the best tooth-preservation media is a biological medium called Hank’s Balanced Salt Solution. Another storage medium is physiological saline. If neither of these is available, then milk can be used. It has also been suggested that the tooth can be kept in the mouth but this may not be the best course of action as there is a possibility, especially in children, that the tooth may be swallowed. Also, the saliva in the mouth increases the chances for infection of the remaining periodontal tissues that are attached to the root surface.

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Dr. Neromini Fagu While generally not recommended, tap or bottled water may be used if nothing else is available. A tooth that is knocked out is a dental emergency that requires prompt treatment. The tooth should be placed back into the tooth socket as soon as possible, ideally within 15 minutes and up to one hour (or longer if properly stored). At least 85 percent of teeth that are put back in the tooth socket within five minutes survive, compared to very few surviving that are stored dry and replanted after one hour. For more information contact OMNI DENTAL at 295 Quamina Street, Georgetown Tel: 227-0025, Parika Tel: 260-3133 or send emails to nerominifagu@hotmail.com.

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One female vegetarian cook in the Interior. Call: 668-6421 Driver and porters for water truck, preferably on the E.B.D- Call/Whatsapp: 6821048/233-5255 Articulated/Dump truck driver for interior location, must be experienced. Call: 618-2020 for further details.

Floor sanding & Lacquering, house plans, estimate & painting, boat for Santa Mission. Call: 650-4362

Toyota 212 New Model, Fielder Wagon 07, Spacio, all in excellent condition. Price neg. Tel: 681-6488, 657-5839.

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

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

One Toyota Spacio, in excellent condition, PPP series with Rims, AC & Music, Price -$1.350M negotiable. Call: 653-0120

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 American Pool Table. Call: 277-0578

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

Rottweiler pups. Call: 2202277/220-8904/629-1471 1 Complete 10" Dredge located in Puruni Area. Call: 664-6191

PEDIGREE MALE ,LONG HAIRED 1YR OLD, GERMAN SHEPHERD. SERIOUS ENQUIRIES ONLY. CALL: 609-8132 OR 672-8569

Two Dynamic Individual with communications & sales techniques, computer skill @ Sparkle, Meeten-Meer-Zorg & KeyFood location.

Nissan Pathfinder Jeep $1.5M, Toyota Ipsum 7 seater, fully loaded -$2M. Great deals! Must be sold! Call: 6097766

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

Farm land for sale and for rent @ LandofCanaan.Call:622-1957

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

1-620-240 Leyland DAF engine foreign used and I.S.L Cummings Engine starters, all foreign used. Call:649-8449

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

We buy land in Eccles, Herstelling, Farm, La Parfaite Harmonie, Zeelugt & other places. Call: 684-5822/6292881

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

Sunday May 07, 2017

Kaieteur News

Experienced salesgirls apply with written application to VV&I General Store, 22 Saffon Street, Charlestown. Call: 223-9677 One female needed 35-55yrs for housekeeping & child care. Call: 676-1748/664-5503

House lot for sale @ Land of Canaan. Call: 622-1957

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

PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 677-7827, 6435122 ,EMAIL:PRO_AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.COM WING’S CAR & PICKUP RENTAL: LOW DOWN PAYMENT, CHEAP REATES,SPECIALOFFERS FOR THE SEASON. CALL: 690-6494

Transported land @ Lot D Area N Land of Canaan E.B.D Eastern Half. Call: 592-2268901/ 592-625-9443/ 347-9053312

Live in waitress and cashier for grocery and bar - $80,000 monthly, boarding and lodging free. Call: 610-3974

Business Space to rent downstairs 26ftX32ft, Lime Street, Georgetown. Call: 6866866/223-8492

One newly built studio apartment @ Diamond 15X12. Call: 621-1485/ 663-2746

3 Storey building, unfurnished three bedroom top flat, Duncan Street, Newtown. Call: 225-0168, Monday, Wednesday, Friday between 9:00am to 2:30pm

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

Carpenter with router, tiler, mason, painter a joiner with knowledge of granite counter tops and steps. Call: 625-3705

3 Bedrooms upper flat, fully grilled with toilet, bath, kitchen, parking @ Block ‘8’ Mon Repos, E.C.D -$70,000 monthly. Call: 687-1050

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

East ½ 84 David Street, back lot for sale- Contact: 84davidstreet@gmail.com

1 - Van/Car Driver, mechanical skills an asset. Call: 227-1830

CAR RENTAL

Space for rent @ Vreed-en Hoop Junction, lessons place, church, storage bond, office, others -$20,000 monthly. Call: 603-6400

7840 Ford Tractor Baldan Rome Plough Chipper, cage wheel, 16inch pump, complete music set. Call: 2282551/ 613-3175

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

1 - Handyboy to work, living accommodations and meals are free - $40,000 per month, must be honest. Call: 6498449/ 228-5655

Bottom flat house @ 25 North Road & Oronoque Street, fully furnished/ air condition/ residence /business.Call: 226-7012

Business space for rent next to Harbor Bridge. Call: 622-1957

LAND FOR SALE La Parfaite Harmonie -$1.4M & $1.6M, Farm -$3M, Uitvlugt -$2.6M, Parika $3M, Herstelling -$5M. Call: 651-1969/658-5897

Dried and in large quantities: Corilla bush, lemon grass, sour sap leaves. Call: 6651397

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

Property @ former South Central Hotel building, 218 South Road, Georgetown, prime location. Selling: Steel chairs & Tablets. Call: 6629755/686-0444

Two general workers to work shift system. Call: 231-6293 Contract Cars and Drivers, Nigel’s Taxi Service @ Sheriff Street, C/Ville. Call: 219-5002/ 699-6152

FOR RENT

TAXI SERVICE

Furnished one bedroom apartment at Better Hope, Parking & Free Wi-Fi. Whatsapp or Call: 688-6010

Cook/Baker and Kitchen Assistant for interior location. Applicants must be experienced, for details call: 618-2020 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 Boys for store/bond, warehouse work. Call: 2237500 between MondaySaturday, 8:15-4:15pm. Receptionist, male security guard, 30-40yrs @ 233 South Road Lacytown. Call: 225-0198 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 Gas Station Hopetown: Manager, Pump attendants & Accountants; RA Soda Factory, Rosignol W.C.B. Call: 330-2399/623-5920 Events/Function supervisor. Apply: Manager, Herdmanston Lodge, 65 Anira & Peter Rose Street, Georgetown, no later than May 11 2017

LEARN TO DRIVE C. Persaud & N. Outar Driving School formerly Soman & Sons Driving School @ Maraj BuildingCall: 644-5166; 622-2872; 6150964; 689-5997 (affordable packages). 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

GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 225-7878 (24HRS) Dream Rides: bus and taxi for airport specials & contracts only. Safe, reliable, courteous & comfortable- 24hrs. Call: 664-0802 Clarke Kent Cabs, located at Kingston, exceptional services. Email: clarkekentcabs@yahoo.com. Call: 231-0800/ 231-0801

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

EDUCATIONAL 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 Continue on page 69

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Kaieteur News

CONSUMER CONCERNS

Labour Day and Immigration Day celebrate our diversity and pluralism By PAT DIAL Last week, the first week of the Month of May, two important national holidays were celebrated – Labour Day and Indian Immigration Day. Both holidays have a consumer import – Labour Day affirms and encourages the solidarity of working people. Indian Immigration Day marks the advent of the ancestors of more than half the population of Guyana. Both groups have not only increased the consumer population but have presented novel problems to consumer advocates. In Europe, from the 19th Century, Labour Day was commemorated by working people and soon earned an international status. In Guyana, May Day was celebrated from the early 19th Century but it was associated with the ancient English festival celebrating the coming of the warmer months. Plaiting the maypole and crowning of the May Queen were two of the wellknown customs of May Day. When Trade Unionism

became established in Guyana, contact with the International Trade Union Movement was strengthened and Guyanese Unionism adopted many of the customs, symbols, and organizational methods of the International Movement such as the colour Red, the songs “Internationale” and “Solidarity Forever”, addressing union members as “Brother or Comrade” and engaging in parades and first of May, which was known as “Labour Day”, the older term “May Day” going out of currency. Trade Unionism was able to improve the wages and conditions of service of working people, improving their standard of living and allowing for greater consumer spending. And there grew up a quiet respect between Trade Unionism and Consumerism. Unionism grew so strong that it began to attract the attention of political parties and politicians and was able to wield influence in the corridors of Governmental power achieving minimum wage legislation, more favorable income tax

Gunman shoots accomplice while fleeing robbery scene - Four nabbed, two vehicles impounded A gunman has confessed to mistakenly shooting one of his accomplices after he and three others were arrested for robbing a shop at Cornelia Ida, West Coast Demerara (WBD) around 13:25hrs on Friday. The confessed shooter was one of four men who were apprehended on Friday near the Demerara Harbour Bridge, shortly after carrying out the daring robbery. Among those apprehended was Leon Williams of Lot 139 Section K Vryheid’s Lust, East Coast Demerara (ECD). It was Williams who was accidentally shot to the upper right arm by his accomplice, when the getaway vehicle he was driving crashed. Two other suspects managed to escape. The police said that four males entered the business place operated by a woman and her daughter and pretended to be customers. Shortly after, two of them whipped out firearms and relieved the victims of their valuables before fleeing in a Toyota Spacio. They discharged several rounds in the air as they were escaping. The matter was reported to the police and ranks immediately responded and intercepted the getaway vehicle. By this time, only the

driver was in the vehicle. He disclosed that his accomplices had abandoned his car and boarded another vehicle driven by one of the suspects and they were heading to the Harbour Bridge. It was then roadblocks were immediately set up and the suspects, upon noticing this, diverted to La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara. Kaieteur News was informed that Williams panicked after seeing the police ranks and crashed into a culvert. His accomplice, who was sitting in the front passenger’s seat, told the police that he had the gun in his hand and when the vehicle crashed, the impact caused him to mistakenly discharge a round which struck Williams. He explained that they were all desperate to get over the bridge and abandoned their wounded accomplice. He said that they then walked to the main road where they boarded separate buses. The police in a release said that two of the men were nabbed at the Harbour Bridge with an unlicensed firearm and five rounds. The two vehicles which transported the men have been lodged.

conditions, a large number of positive social legislation and even having first of May, the International Labour Day made a public holiday on which marches and worker solidarity could be affirmed. But the Union Movement being closely associated with political parties and politicians was a doublededge sword for soon politics infiltrated and over took the movement and the unions began to support the views of political parties often acting against real worker interest. This projection of party politics into the Unions was a divisive force and so weakened working class unity. Union membership began to see Unions as appendages to various political parties and so their enthusiasm and support for unions waned. The Union Movement is now faced with the formidable task of bringing

about unity among themselves and a complete commitment to worker interest and Consumerism would be supportive of sincere worker efforts to achieve such unity. It should be mentioned that the Constitution of the Guyana Consumers. Association from its earliest years has barred practising politicians from serving on any of its committees and cannot take partisan political positions in any of its activities. Indian Immigration Day commemorates the arrival of the first Indian Indentured servants to Guyana. They were imported to the colony to supply labour to the sugar industry which had lost most of its labour force on the final Emancipation of the slaves in 1838 at the end of the Apprenticeship system. This Immigration reconfigured Guyanese Society in a very

radical way. New cultures, new foods, new ways of doing things in general were introduced. With this Immigration, the country’s population increased and the World’s three major religions Hinduism, Islam and Christianity found themselves living close together in amity and Guyanese people now has as part of their national ethos the recognition that all religions are valid and all ways lead to God. This approach to religion places Guyana in a unique and enviable position in the world. All new infusions and changes to society bring with them new challenges. And some of these challenges present new Consumer problems which Consumer advocates willingly address. We therefore welcome the diversity and pluralism of our society and were happy to celebrate the two holidays.

Carol Joseph continues to receive Pethidine injections From 2008 to now, former APNU-AFC Councillor, Carol Joseph has drained taxpayers of $7M to feed her addiction to the pain killer, Pethidine. But this figure is not the end of it. The cost of Joseph’s addiction has surpassed the estimated figure, and continues to grow. This is because her need for the narcotic medication is still being met by practitioners at Fort Wellington Hospital in Berbice. Her last known fix was Friday evening. The cost for just one shot of Pethidine is US$35. Documents seen by Kaieteur News reveal that from 2008 to February last, Joseph was administered at least 1000 fixes. Carol Joseph was being fed Pethidine every single day since October. During that period alone, she was given over 200 doses. Some days the drug- dependent councillor was administered more than one dose. This was the case even during the period of drug shortages experienced in Region Five. Only recently, one Government official admitted to Kaieteur News that Joseph’s addiction was no secret to her colleagues in the People’s National Congress (PNC). When cornered about the fact that Joseph’s addiction is being fed by the state for about nine years, the official said, “Well, we knew that, but we couldn’t just stop her.” “We had to forget protocol. We couldn’t rush it and just stop her. As her friend, I consulted with

Carol Joseph another (APNU-AFC) party member, and we agreed to help her gradually. We didn’t want her to have a withdrawal syndrome, which can lead to suicide and so on,” the official said. In addition to fuelling the woman’s addiction at the cost of taxpayers, the official also admitted to being aware of the fact that Joseph was being administered the narcotic medication for an illness that does not warrant the use of the highly addictive drug. “Even if we recognised that they were wrong, we could not have rushed it. But yes, it is not common for one to prescribe Pethidine for somebody who has (name of illness provided).” The official even shared his belief that Joseph may have some unresolved psychological issues. “One would realise that she is a different type of person who requires extra attention...She is very forceful,” the official added. While the maximum dosage

for Pethidine is 100mg, records show that Joseph was sometimes injected with 200mg within a 24-hour period – 100mg in the morning and another such dose in the evening. One well respected medical practitioner had made it abundantly clear that Pethidine is not intended for prolonged use. The doctor, in an invited comment, had explained that Pethidine is highly addictive. This is why many countries have embarked on replacing it with morphine, which is just as effective, but less addictive. But despite the ample availability of morphine here in Guyana, many doctors continue to prescribe the contentious Pethidine medication to their patients. “The thing about Pethidine is that the more you give to a patient, the more they become addicted to it,” the medical consultant said. It was highlighted that doctors would usually prescribe Pethidine just once or twice and then stop. But, Guyana’s continued use of the drug, has led the expert to conclude that the system may be creating addicts. So, essentially, Carol Joseph is being seen as a victim of the system that continues to prescribe Pethidine. Her colleagues in government are yet to step in and help her with her addiction. Joseph resigned from her post as a Councillor on the Region Five Democratic Council, following the startling revelations that were made by whistle-blower nurse, Sherilyn Marks.

From page 68

WANTED Maid required for domestic work and cooking. Call: 6588669.

PROPERTY FOR SALE Transported property @ Grove and Diamond $16M negotiable. Call: 625-5461 New property for sale @ ‘BB’ Eccles, 5 bedrooms, 3 Full baths -$38Million negotiable. Call: 623-7963/ 602-9574 2 Storey Building of Third and Cross Streets Alexander Village. Call: 231-3039/6615188 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 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 1 Business property for sale in La Parfaite Harmonie. Call: 686-5083 One two story property newly renovated. Call: 6771310 10 Minutes away from Georgetown, you can own your own home, now in construction, 3 bedrooms, 2 bath, concrete house. Call: 675-1510 Double Flat Property @ Belfield Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara, Price $14M. Call: 604-8090

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Kaieteur News

Discharged for murders; but back in court for Princess Casino robbery Jamil Charles and Kevin France are familiar names. If you have been keeping up to date with the news you will know that these two men are former murder accused. Charles, 29, of Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara was charged with the March 10, 2015 murder of Agricola, East Bank Demerara shopkeeper Randy Persaud. Based on reports, 27-yearold Persaud was gunned

down while sitting in front of his home at Lot 83 Third Street, Agricola, East Bank Demerara. On the other hand, France of East Ruimveldt Housing Scheme, Georgetown was charged with the May 24, 2014 murder of Bharrat Ramcharran, a salesman attached to Patsan Trading Services. According to reports, bandits on a CG motorcycle

gunned down 57-year-old Ramcharran outside the business place, before escaping with a bag of money. Ramcharran of Enterprise, East Coast Demerara was shot in the back after he threw a bag of money over the gate of the John Smith Street, Campbellville premises to prevent the bandits from making off with the cash. However, both Charles and France had the murder charges against them discharged due to insufficient evidence against them after

Kevin France Jamil Charles the conclusion of preliminary inquiries in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. But Charles was brought back to court last month charged with robbery underarms in connection with a $9M robbery which occurred at the Princess Ramada Casino, Providence, East Bank Demerara on April 29, 2016. Wayne Griffith, 29 of Bagotville, West Bank Demerara; Junior Stuart, 30, of 141 Thomas Street, Kitty, Georgetown and Andre Blackman, 35, of 6 Middle Street, McDoom, East Bank Demerara, were all previously charged in connection with the Princess Ramada Casino robbery. The trio is currently out on bail. According to reports, gunmen entered the casino and discharged several rounds. They allegedly relieved a security guard of his shotgun and ordered patrons and staffers to lie on the ground. It was reported that the armed men also held a cashier at gunpoint and made off with a quantity of local and foreign currency. Another new charge that Charles is facing alleges that on August 12, 2016, at Lot 33 Robb Street, Orange Walk, Bourda, while armed with a gun, he robbed a woman of $900,000 and a Bank of Guyana cheque, which were the property of Sudesh Persaud. The former murder accused who is said to have confessed to the latter robbery under arms charge was remanded to prison on both charges and will make another court appearance on

May 15. Meanwhile, France was brought back to court in February and slapped with an attempted murder charge over allegedly shooting a security guard after a robbery at the Electronic City store in the Fogarty’s building situated on Water Street, Georgetown. It is alleged that on October 28, 2016, at Water Street, Georgetown, France unlawfully and maliciously wounded Quacy Joseph, with intent to murder him. According to reports, Joseph was an on-duty security guard at Fogarty’s building, Water Street, Georgetown, when he was shot by a fleeing bandit. Further, it is also alleged that on October 12, 2016 at Church Street, Georgetown, while in the company of others and armed with a gun; he robbed Bibi Jahbar of $6,000 cash. France is also accused of robbing Roopnarine Budhoo of $800,000 while he was armed with a gun and in the company of others on October 1, 2016, at Robb and Alexander Streets, Georgetown. France who is out on bail in respect to all the charges is jointly charged along with 21year-old Jason Howard of East La Penitence, Georgetown for the three offences. Howard and three other men are currently on remand for the murders of Mohamed Munir and his wife Bibi Jamila Munir, the rice farming couple burnt to death in their Good Hope, East Bank Essequibo home on April 17, 2016 by bandits.

Sunday May 07, 2017

Kaieteur News

CXC apologises for errors in question booklet THE Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) has apologised for three errors that appeared in this year’s question booklet for the Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA) examination, which it has the responsibility to prepare, the Ministry of Education said yesterday. The paper, used by some 18,240 primary school pupils who sat Thursday’s exam, featured two Language Arts questions and one in Math-

ematics that were muddled by errors and the marks for which have had to be dropped from the total score. The ministry on Thursday held a news conference to address the errors and to assure pupils and their parents that mechanisms existed for the occurrence of such errors and would be used to ensure no child is put at a disadvantage. It was also noted the paper is prepared by the CXC

and the ministry does not see the final version before the exam, but changes may be coming to the process before next year’s exam, as a result of the errors having been missed during final quality checks. Ministry officials, including Minister Anthony Garcia and Chief Education Officer Harrilal Seecharan, yesterday met with a CXC team that arrived in Trinidad to collect finished papers.

Who killed these women? A month after Melissa MohammedRamkissoon was shot in the head during an argument in a car occupied by two men, her relatives are still seeking answers. The men were detained by police and blamed each other for her death. But a week later, the male relatives of Mohammed-Ramkissoon were released, pending the results of forensic analysis. The men have returned to their lives and Mohammed-Ramkissoon’s loved ones are now questioning when justice would be

served. A relative, who asked not be named, pleaded with investigators to find the person who killed the 33-year-old woman. ”I understand the men are back home with their families. But we lost Melissa. That is unfair. We are asking that the police do their job and find the person who killed her,” he said. The Express was told one of the men moved out of his home and is now living with other relatives.

Jamaica lauded by UN for undertaking voluntary national review KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) — Jamaica has been lauded for undertaking a voluntary national review (VNR) to support local implementation of the United Nations (UN) 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This praise comes from Economic Affairs Officer, UN Department for Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), Anya Thomas, who said Jamaica will be reporting on its progress to the organisation’s HighLevel Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development in 2018. She was speaking during the recent four-day Vulnerability Resilience Country Profile (VRCP) Workshop hosted by the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) at Hotel Four S e a s o n s i n St A n d r e w. VNRs aim to accelerate the 2030 Agenda’s implementation by facilitating the sharing of experiences, including successes, challenges and lessons learned by UN Member States. They also seek to strengthen Governments’ policies and institutions and mobilise multi-stakeholder support and partnerships for the SDGs’ implementation. The HLPF is the UN’s central platform for followup and review of the

Agenda and SDGs. Thomas noted that Jamaica will be the second CARICOM Member State to report to the HLPF; Belize is the other. She congratulated Jamaica for its leadership displayed so far in planning for the SDG’s implementation and its willingness to engage the VRCP methodology to support ongoing planning processes. Thomas also gave the UNDESA undertaking to support Jamaica’s implementation of the SDGs. The 2030 Agenda sets out 17 SDGs and their 169 targets which comprise a comprehensive plan of action to eradicate poverty and ensure sustainable development. The VRCP facilitates a robust planning process that is evidence-based and supported by data underpinning monitoring and evaluation at the national, regional and global levels. Information from the UN indicates that the 2030 Agenda encourages Member States to “conduct regular and inclusive reviews of progress at the national and sub-national levels, which are countryled and country-driven” as part of its follow-up and review mechanisms. These national reviews are ex-

pected to serve as a basis for the regular reviews by the HLPF. Governments are expected to take ownership of and establish national frameworks for the achievement of the SDGs. Countries have the primary responsibility for follow-up and review of the progress made in the goals’ implementation, which will require quality, accessible and timely data collection. Jamaica’s National Development Plan, Vision 2030, is the country’s strategic road map to guide the achievement of its goal of sustainable development and prosperity within 13 years. Vision 2030 Jamaica is consistent with the UN’s inclusive development paradigm that integrates the standards and principles of human rights – participation, non-discrimination and accountability. The Plan seeks to reposition and transform Jamaica as the place of choice to live, work, raise families and do business. The VRCP was first introduced in Jamaica as a pilot in 2014. Jamaica is one of three Caribbean countries benefitting from this initiative; the others are Barbados and Saint Lucia.

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Kaieteur News

Boko Haram frees at least 80 Nigeria Chibok girls

Twenty-one girls were released last October (BBC) Islamist militants of the Boko Haram group have released at least 80 schoolgirls from a group of 276 they abducted in north-eastern Nigeria three years ago, officials say. The release reportedly came after talks with the government, though few details are confirmed. The abduction of the socalled “Chibok girls” triggered a global outcry and sparked a huge social media campaign. Before the latest release, about 195 of the girls were still missing. Sources told the BBC that the young women were now in the custody of the Nigerian army. They were brought by road convoy from a remote area to an army base in Banki near the Cameroon border. The BBC’s Stephanie Hegarty in Lagos says that

many families in Chibok will be rejoicing at this latest news, but more than 100 of the girls taken have yet to be returned. Christian pastor Enoch Mark, whose two daughters were among those kidnapped, told Agence France-Presse: “This is good news to us. We have been waiting for this day. We hope the remaining girls will soon be released.” It was unclear whether his daughters had been freed. A military source told the agency the freed girls would be flown to Borno’s state capital of Maiduguri. After the Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok was raided in April 2014, more than 50 girls quickly escaped and Boko Haram then freed another 21 last October, after negotiations with the Red Cross. The campaign for the re-

turn of the girls drew the support of then US First Lady Michelle Obama and many Hollywood stars. Last month, President Muhammadu Buhari said the government remained “in constant touch through negotiations, through local intelligence to secure the release of the remaining girls and other abducted persons unharmed”. Many of the Chibok girls were Christian, but were encouraged to convert to Islam and to marry their kidnappers during their time in captivity. Boko Haram has kidnapped thousands of other people during its eight-year insurgency aimed at creating an Islamic caliphate in northeastern Nigeria. More than 30,000 others have been killed, the government says, and hundreds of thousands have been forced to flee from their homes.

France fights to keep Macron email hack from distorting election By Adrian Croft and Geert De Clercq | PARIS (Reuters) France sought to keep a computer hack of frontrunner Emmanuel Macron’s campaign emails from influencing the outcome of the presidential election, with the electoral commission warning on Saturday that it may be a criminal offense to republish the data. Macron’s team said a “massive” hack had dumped emails, documents and campaign financing information online just before campaigning ended on Friday and France entered a quiet period, effectively forbidding politicians from commenting on the leak. Polls have been predicting that Macron, a former investment banker and economy

minister, is on course for a comfortable win over far-right leader Marine Le Pen in Sunday’s election, with the last surveys showing his lead widening to around 62 percent to 38. “We knew that this kind of risk would be present during the presidential campaign, because it has happened elsewhere. Nothing will be left without a response,” French President Francois Hollande told French news agency AFP. The election commission, which supervises the electoral process, warned social and traditional media not to publish the hacked emails lest they influence the vote outcome, but may find it difficult to enforce its rules in an era where people get much of their news online,

information flows freely across borders and many users are anonymous. “On the eve of the most important election for our institutions, the commission calls on everyone present on internet sites and social networks, primarily the media, but also all citizens, to show responsibility and not to pass on this content, so as not to distort the sincerity of the ballot,” the commission said in a statement yesterday. “The commission stresses that publication or republication of these data...could be a criminal offense,” it said. French media covered the hack in various ways, with left-leading Liberation giving it prominence on its website but television news channels opting not to mention it.

Sunday May 07, 2017

Kaieteur News

Glasgow police patrol arrests five with unlicensed firearm, wig, crowbar

The wig, live rounds, crowbar and gun

Five persons are now in police custody after they were arrested by a Police Mobile Patrol yesterday morning, in a car en route to New Amsterdam. The arrest was done at Glasgow Village, East Bank Berbice. The men ages 33, 29, 27, 26 and 22 were intercepted in the motor car and searched. The ranks from the mobile patrol intercepted the car and conducted a search when an unlicensed pistol with 13 live rounds, a rope, a wig, a crowbar along with other items

were discovered. According to a Police press release, the five occupants of the vehicle are said to be from Glasgow Housing Scheme, Pilot Street, New Amsterdam, Fort Ordinance and Dazzell Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara. Sources reveal that some of the men are known characters in Berbice. The vehicle and the other items seized during the search were lodged at the Central Police Station.

Fraud uncovered at Suriname embassy- report Suriname’s authorities are reportedly investigating a fraud at its embassy in Guyana. According to an online report yesterday, from Times of Suriname, $100,000 is missing. It was unclear whether it was US dollars or Guyana currency. The report said that a staffer, whose name was given as

Pamela A., was fingered. It was also disclosed that Suriname’s state auditors, the Central Accountants Service (CLAD) had been called into conduct the investigation at the Queenstown, Georgetown embassy. According to a CLAD representative, the staffer will have

to take responsibility for the money. The staffer has reportedly been told to hand over her work keys and stay off the job. However the staffer has claimed that it is not $100,000 but far less she had in her possession. However, state auditors are claiming it is much more.

Mexican engineer shot dead (Trinidad Guardian) After a night of revelry at the Point Fortin borough festivities Mexican engineer, Sookooroo Sorano, met his death after being shot in a botched robbery yesterday morning. Sorano, 37, a tech form engineer with PACE Construction Services Ltd, died at the Point Fortin Area Hospital. He was shot four times in the back. A report stated that Sorano and a colleague, Camacho Hernandez, a Colombian national, were returning to their accommodation at the company’s worksite at the Lake View housing estate around 3.30 am, when the incident happened. While walking along Church Avenue, they heard someone shouted “Amigos.” When they looked around, they saw a man with his face covered by

a bandanna. Suspecting that the man was a bandit, Sorano and Hernandez ran off but the suspect fired several shots behind them. As they turned as to St Anthony’s Road, Sorano fell to the ground bleeding. The gunman ran off. A resident, who requested anonymity, said he heard the gunshots and when he looked out he saw Hernandez holding up Sorano who was bleeding from the chest. Within 15 minutes police arrived and took him away. Sorano died while being treated at hospital. Police searched the area for the suspect, but no one was held up to yesterday. Camacho spent the most of the day at the Point Fortin Police Station as homicide detectives used a translator to interview him. Investiga-

tors said initial reports suggest that robbery might be the motive but they are still examining other causes. At his job site yesterday, a colleague told the T&T Guardian that the staff was left saddened by the senseless murder. The colleague said Sorano had been living in Trinidad for the past 10 years and had found a wife. He was described as a hard worker, who was vital to completing the company’s project of building HDC houses at the Lake View Estate. “He was a very hard working man. Nowhere in this earth we will get a person as hardworking as him again. Everyone here this morning is in shock as they never knew him to lime a lot. Usually he would just go out there, buy whatever he wanted and return to the base.”

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Syria fighting eases as Russian deal takes effect By Lisa Barrington (Reuters) Fighting between Syrian rebel and government forces eased on Saturday as a Russian-led effort to shore up a ceasefire took effect, although battles continued on important frontlines near Hama and Damascus, rebels and a war monitor said. The deal to create “de-escalation” zones in the major areas of conflict in western Syria took effect at midnight. The initiative was proposed by Russia, President Bashar al-Assad’s most powerful ally, with the support of Turkey, which backs the opposition. Iran, Assad’s other major ally, also backed it. Political and armed opposition groups have rejected the proposal, saying Russia has been unwilling or unable to get Assad and his Iranianbacked militia allies to respect past ceasefires. The Syrian government said it backed the proposal but said it would continue to fight what it called terrorist groups across the country. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said there had been a reduction in fighting across Syria since the deal came into force, but warned it was too early to say whether it would last. “The reduction in violence must be clear and lasting,” Observatory Director Rami Abdulrahman told Reuters. A rebel commander said the general level of violence was reduced, but added: “Regime attempts (to advance) in the Hama countryside continue.” With the help of Russia and Iranian-backed militias, the Syrian government has gained the military upper hand in the six-year conflict. The wide array of rebel groups include some supported by Turkey, the United States and Gulf monarchies. The Observatory said it had not recorded any deaths as a result of fighting in the four zones since midnight, but there had been some violations. Breaches were seen mainly in northern Hama province, where Syrian government and allied forces have taken territory from rebels in recent weeks. Fighter jets fired at the rebel-held village of alZalakiyat and nearby posi-

tions in the northern Hama countryside, where the combatants exchanged shelling, the Britain-based war monitoring group said. The Observatory said government and allied forces had managed to take a number of points in alZalakiyat, and rebel forces had returned fire and also shelled the governmentheld town of Halfiya. The Observatory said government forces shelled and bombed the nearby town of Latamneh and surrounding areas. There was no immediate comment from the Syrian army. Mohammed Rasheed, a spokesman for the Jaish alNasr rebel group based in Hama, confirmed that fighting had broken out after midnight. Rasheed said rebel-held Idlib province to the north of Hama was almost completely quiet, but the attacks, which included barrel bombs, were focused on the northern Hama frontline area. “The bombardment has not stopped, it is no different from before,” he told Reuters. THE DEAL Iran and Turkey agreed to the Russian proposal for de-escalation zones on Thursday. The text of the memorandum was published by the Russian foreign ministry on Saturday. The agreement said four de-escalation zones would be established in Syria for a period of six months which could be extended if the three signatory countries agreed. Weaponry and air strikes were not to be used in those zones by combatants, the text said. The agreement also included creating conditions for humanitarian access, medical assistance and the return of displaced civilians to their homes. This initiative is the most serious effort to reduce violence and shore up a ceasefire first declared in December since western states accused Damascus of a chemical attack in early April on rebel-held Idlib province. The chemical incident prompted the U.S. to fire dozens of cruise missiles at a Syrian airbase from which it said the attack had been launched, increasing tensions between the U.S. and Russia.

On Saturday the Russian and U.S. chiefs of general staff discussed the de-escalation zones and agreed to fully resume the implementation of a 2015 joint memorandum on preventing mid-air incidents over Syria, Russian news agencies quoted the Russian Defence Ministry as saying. The de-escalation zones appear intended to halt conflict in specific areas between government forces and rebels, and would potentially be policed by foreign troops. The deal was negotiated at Russian-brokered talks in Astana which have taken place outside of United Nations-sponsored peace talks in Geneva. U.N. Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura hailed the plan as a step in the right direction towards a real cessation of hostilities. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was encouraged by the agreement. The U.S. State Department voiced concerns about the deal, saying it was skeptical of Iran’s involvement as a guarantor of the accord and Damascus’ track record on previous agreements. “We continue to have concerns about the Astana agreement, including the involvement of Iran as a socalled ‘guarantor’,” the State Department said in a statement on Thursday. “Iran’s activities in Syria have only contributed to the violence, not stopped it.” THE ZONES The largest de-escalation zone, in northern Syria, includes Idlib province and adjoining districts of Hama, Aleppo and Latakia with a population of over 1 million, the memorandum text said. The other three zones are in northern Homs province, the Eastern Ghouta region east of Damascus and along the Jordanian border in southern Syria. But one part of the Eastern Ghouta zone, Qaboun, is exempt from the deal, Defence Ministry official LieutenantGeneral Sergei Rudskoi said on Friday. He said this was because Qaboun contained the al-Qaeda-linked group formerly known as the Nusra Front. On Saturday the Observatory said rockets hit Qaboun, where the government has been pressing an offensive for several weeks, and there were clashes between rebels and government and allied forces. (Additional reporting by Ellen Francis in Beirut and Maria Kiselyova in Moscow; Editing by Tom Perry and Keith Weir)

Sunday May 07, 2017

Kaieteur News

Establish an Award Programme for Club and... (From page 75) that Club officials enjoy few benefits, have to work in different situations with poor facilities and most times without proper funding. Officials of National Associations, however, do not have to produce sportsmen as this is the duties of Clubs, they have access to Government Facilities and in most cases have access to funding from their International parent Body. Foster, who has successfully spearheaded

close to 9000 programmes/activities at the RHTY&SC and the Berbice Cricket Board, stated that he is shocked at some of the national awardees who he bluntly stated do not work as some Club Officials. It is totally unfair for Club officials not to be recognised simply because they are not members of the National Federations. Names like Troy Mendonca, Levi Nedd, Vemen Walters, Mark Papannah, Randolph Rob-

erts, Neil Humphrey, Roger Harper, Shabeer Baksh work beyond the call of duty at the Club level and richly deserves to be honoured he noted. Sports in Guyana would be dead and buried without the contribution of Clubs as it is them who feeds the National Federation and Foster noted that while involvement at the National level is part time, the involvement at the Club level is a day to day involvement for officials.

more united basketball family, with FIBA looking forward to the next two years, especially for the launch of the New Competition System, the Road to China 2019, which present great opportunities for our members. International Olympic Committee (IOC) Vice President, Mr. Yu Zaiqing noted

that engaging with the youths is another major cornerstone of Olympic Agenda 2020 and in this respect FIBA is leading the way by promoting an innovative new game format that has great youth appeal, which is exemplified in the unique 3x3 competition format that clearly resonates with young people everywhere.

Basketball federation shoots for FIBA... (From page 75) can be successful with 3x3’. FIBA President, Mr. Horacio Muratore thanked the Hong Kong Basketball Association for its hospitality for organising the FIBA Mid-Term Congress and noted that FIBA is definitely a lot closer to our National Member Federations and represents a

Sunday May 07, 2017 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Don't let your partner put you down. Take care of the needs of elders in your family. You will learn valuable skills if you sign up for seminars today. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) There may be opportunities to attend social functions that are linked to work. Your irritability will lead to family squabbles. Friends and relatives can give you good advice. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Do some research if you want to find information that you can apply against the opposition you face. Try to be precise in your communications. You may want to make drastic changes concerning your personal partner. CANCER (June 21–July 22) You can enjoy the company of others and come in contact with an ideal mate, if you get out and mingle. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Don't let friends or relatives rule your life. You need to distance yourself from the situation for a little while first. New love connections can be made through group associations. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) You may find yourself in the limelight for the wrong reasons. You should be able to get involved in an interesting proposition today. You can make personal changes that will enhance your repu-

tation and give you greater self confidence. LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You will not impress others by being foolishly generous. Draw up contracts regarding your personal situation. You have to know what your boss wants if you expect to do your job correctly. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Listen to the problems of others and offer suggestions where possible. Don't lend or borrow. You need to get down to basics with regard to yourself. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) You should socialize with clients or upper echelons of your industry if possible. Difficulties at an emotional level may be likely. CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Be careful not to exaggerate when interacting with your lover. You may have some difficulties with someone you live with. Don't press your luck with your loved ones. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) Don't be afraid to speak in defense of others. If possible, rely on coworkers to back your objectives, and talk to superiors in order to get approval. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Camping, swimming, and biking expeditions should all be considered. Your ability to see other people's points of view will allow you to come to reasonable agreements.

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GFF Disciplinary Committee acted outside... (From page 78) occurred in the mater whilst underlining his belief that the decision is suspect, Yassin said he received an email from Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee Attorney-at-Law Sanjeev Datadin on January 25 indicating that a hearing on the complaint would have been held on January 30. Other members of the committee are Natasha Vieira, Dr. Clement McEwan and Wittington Braithwaite. Yassin said he responded one day later indicating that the Disciplinary Committee did not have the jurisdiction to deal with the matter and that the GFF’s decision to include the other two clubs were within their remit. A hearing was fixed for February 3 which Yassin attended but stated that he was shocked to see that Mr. Michael Shahood was also present. Shahood is a member of the GFF Appeals Committee and therefore should not be part of the Disciplinary Committee as dual membership is not allowed. Yassin also informed that whilst pointing out to Datadin that the committee did not have the powers to preside over constitutional matters but out of courtesy for the committee he nonetheless prepared submissions and presented to them on February 3. It was stated that Mr. Braithwaite who was present at the February 3rd hearing was not invited by the Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee. Following the hearing and subsequent decision of

Mumbai...

(From page 76) before today. After the first ball of the chase, the headto-head was adjusted to four wickets in 10 balls. Bumrah had removed Pant twice in six balls. He was brought in for the fourth over and got the batsman out for a duck. Harbhajan had knocked Karun Nair over three times in 19 balls. So naturally he was brought on to bowl to his bunny and the battle ended with a catch to midwicket. These were all signs of a team being wellinformed of their own strengths, the opposition’s weaknesses, and exploiting them all perfectly. Meanwhile, Daredevils had updated their lowest score twice in the space of six days, while also pulling off their best chase in the period. Scores: Mumbai Indians 212 for 3 (Simmons 66, Pollard 63*) beat Delhi Daredevils 66 (Karn 3-11, Harbhajan 3-22, Malinga 2-5) by 146 runs.

the Disciplinary Committee on April 14, Yassin informed that the decision to find the GFF guilty was made by only three members with Braithwaite being excluded. ”I could not believe that that could have happened. I know for a fact that Mr. Braithwaite had sent an email in which he said, I note in the papers of the 16th of April last that the committee met and certain decisions were made. I must state that as a member of that committee I was not informed nor invited to the meeting. I am surprised that there was such an important meeting without all members being informed and business conducted, this is against all protocols, these are the words from Mr. Braithwaite.” Yassin further informed the media that prior to the final decision being made, Braithwaite had indicated to the Disciplinary Committee Chairman that he needed time to look at the matter and to be able to assess all the documentation but was not afforded such courtesy. ”All of this leads me to the fact that this whole decision and purported meeting and purported decision for me is very suspect. I think the chairman at that meeting on the 3rd of February should have said look, Mr. Shahood

was not a member of that committee, he should not have been and that’s it. Up to now, I have not received any documentation from the committee which indicates that Mr. Shahood should not have been there and or, that he was not part of that committee which found the GFF guilty.” The memorandum of reasons which was also promised by Datadin to the GFF on the matter has not been sent to date. An email was sent by Yassin to Datadin on April 16 indicating that the seven days in which he had promised that it would have been available were up but no response has been forthcoming from the chairman. The GFF GS would also have written to Datadin seeking details of the reasons for the ruling but no response or acknowledgement has been received by the federation. ”For those reasons members of the press, I feel certain that this decision by the disciplinary committee cannot stand.” It was also pointed out that the procedure for calling a hearing is that the chairman would indicate such to the General Secretary of the GFF who would send out the requisite notices to the members but this was never adhered to. The GFF GS is also responsible for taking minutes at such hearings.

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RHTY&SC Cricket Teams, O-35 Group honours Senior Mothers – Assist Bush Lot CC The eight cricket teams of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, MS and their counterparts of the Club’s Over-35 Group on Tuesday last honoured three senior citizens Mothers during their monthly programme for old age pensioners at the Rose Hall Town Post Office. The RHTY&SC members provided breakfast and snacks for close to 300 pensioners as they waited for hours to uplift their pension and also provided each person with two small gifts. The teams are Farfan and Mendes Under 15, Bakewell Under 17 and Second Division, Pepsi Under 19 and Intermediate, Metro Females and Gizmos and Gadgets Under 21 and First Division. In a surprise gesture, three mothers with a combined age of 223 received Mother’s Day gifts from the eight cricket teams and the Over-35 Group. Members of the Club distributed raffle tickets to each mother present and then a special drawing was done in-front of all the pensioners. Shirley Batson of Persaud Street, Rose Hall Town was the Winner of the draw and received a Mother’s Day

The three senior citizens mothers honoured by the RHTY&SC Cricket teams and Over 35 Group. hamper from Massy Industries. The other two special mothers received a Ricks and Sari Agro Industries Hamper and an Electric iron respectively. Club Secretary/CEO H i l b e r t F o s t e r, w h o spearheads the RHTY&SC outreach campaign, hailed the monthly programme as a huge success and as one of the most satisfying the Club has ever undertaken. He disclosed that despite the huge expenses associated with the pensioners programme, it would continue on a monthly basis on the first working day at the Rose Hall Town Post Office for 300 pensioners. The cricket teams and the Over-35 Group would expand the programme next month to the Nigg Post

Office to cater for another 200 persons on a bi-monthly basis. The idea for the Senior Citizens programme was born when numerous requests for assistance was made to the Club’s Office due to the fact that many pensioners were feeling unwell after waiting for as long as six hours to uplift their pension. This programme is just one of eight that the RHTY&SC hosts for senior citizens and is funded by the Club and its official sponsor, Bakewell. Foster also disclosed that on the 1st of June, the teams and the Over-35 Group would be honouring three outstanding fathers under the Walter Nero Memorial Tribute to Fathers

Programme. Meanwhile, under the RHTY&SC Cricket Development Programme for Clubs across Berbice, the eight teams assisted the Bush Lot United Cricket team with a pair of wicket keeping gloves and three trophies. The West Coast Berbice team requested the items from the RHTY&SC and the request was granted within twenty four hours. The wicketkeeping gloves would be used by the Bush Lot CC junior cricket teams, while the trophies would be used to host a cricket tournament among four Clubs in West Berbice. The donation represents the second assistance package that Bush Lot has received from the RHTY&SC within a month

Pan-American Road Cycling Championship

Eastman & John place 20th and 36th; Hicks suffers cramps ends 69th of 70 riders Guyana’s three representatives in the Under-23 segment of the 32nd Pan-American Road Cycling Championships, which took place at the Mirador Sur Park, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, yesterday, all did well despite not being able to command any podium spots. Coach of the Team in Santo Domingo, Joseph Britton, where Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF) President Horace Burrowes is also present, informed that the riders did excellent given the fact that they held their own coming against the best age group riders from some of the leading nations in the world. From a field of 70 starters, Hamza Eastman ended in 20th place, Jamal John was 36th with Andrew Hicks ending 69th owing to cramps which robbed him of even challenging for a top three position. According to Britton, Hicks broke away on the 5th lap of the 10Km circuit along with about a

dozen other riders. With two laps to go in the 14-lap contest, Hicks started cramping up which severely curtailed his ability to compete for a top spot. He mustered the will and eventually crossed the line in the 69th position after being caught. The two riders contesting the elite race, a 170km battle today, Paul DeNobrega and Junior Niles will take center stage on the same circuit. Winner of the U23 race yesterday was Alejandro Munoz of Chile who completed the distance in 3:16.12. Nicolas Tivani of Argentina, Alfredo Santoyo of Mexico, David Pita of Ecuador and Brazil’s Caio Godoy copped the 2nd to 5th places. Asked to offer a comment on the performance of the Guyanese, Britton stated that he was pleased with the way the young Guyanese riders applied themselves given the fact that they were competing against the best in the continent.

”Our guys performed excellently given the caliber of riders here, Guyana fought to the end in all fourteen laps. It was the last two laps that the split came, the average speed was 42.813 per lap and Guyana rallied and was there through the entire race.” The participation of the Guyana team in Santo Domingo has been due in part to the contributions of Hadi’s World, Marics and Farfan & Mendes. Meanwhile, President of the International Cycling Union (UCI), Brian Cookson is in Santo Domingo witnessing the events, competition got underway on Friday with male and female time trials. And in an unfortunate and tragic accident, Mechanic of the Cuban team, Juan Fernández González was involved in a collision on Friday following w h i c h h e p a s s e d a w a y. González dedicated more than forty years of his life to Cuban cycling.

RHTY&SC Asst Secretary Simon Naidu hands over donation to Bush Lot CC President Robbie Saywack. after collecting cricket balls and a complete set of stumps at the Club’s 27th annual award ceremony on the 23rd of April. Foster noted that his Club was fully committed towards assisting fellow cricket Clubs in Berbice as it wants every Club to enjoy similar success as the RHTY&SC. For 2017 alone, the RHTY&SC has donated over $4M worth of equipment to Clubs and sportsmen across Berbice.

He urged other Clubs across Guyana, who are in a good position to assist others who need assistance, to do so. President of the BLCC, Robbie Saywack expressed gratitude to the RHTY&SC, describing the Guyana Cricket Club of the Year 2016 awardee as a true friend of Berbice Cricket. The main objective of the Bush Lot Club, Saywack noted is to emulate the Rose Hall Town Club and its activities on and off the cricket field.

Sunday May 07, 2017

Kaieteur News

Always Dreaming wins 143rd Kentucky Derby

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Establish an Award Programme for Club and Officials – RHTY&SC, MS urges National Sports Commission

John Velazquez celebrates winning the 143rd Kentucky Derby aboard Always Dreaming. (Getty) (Yahoo Sports) The Kentucky Derby has a new champion: Always Dreaming. The three-year-old thoroughbred covered the famed mile and a quarter at Churchill Downs in 2:03.59 to win by three lengths over Lookin At Lee (2nd) and Battle Of Midway (3rd). It’s the second win for trainer Todd Pletcher, as well as jockey John Velazquez. On a muddy track, Always Dreaming went off as the co-favorite at 9/2

(along with Irish War Cry). Velazquez steered Always Dreaming to the lead on the backstretch, and from there cruised to victory. This year’s Derby was one of the most wide-open in recent memory. Famed trainer Bob Baffert, winner of four Derbies, had no horse entered into the race. And there was no consensus prerace favorite, no American Pharaoh — the 2015 winner who captured the first Triple Crown in 37 years — to grab

t h e b e t t i n g p u b l i c ’s imagination. Coming into the Derby, the odds-on favorites were Always Dreaming (4-1 as the sun rose on Churchill Downs), Irish War Cry (7-1), Classic Empire and McCraken (both 7-1), and Gunnevara (9-1). No other horses started the day at better than 10-1 odds. Experts like Yahoo Sports’ own Pat Forde had targeted Classic Empire, Irish War Cry, Hence, and Always Dreaming prior to the race.

Basketball federation shoots for FIBA funding at Mid-Term Congress in Hong Kong President of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF), Nigel Hinds participated in the National Federation Development Workshop at the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) MidTerm Congress in Hong where he highlighted the need for direct funding from FIBA to the National Federations. Hinds made the plea against the background of an established norm from all the International Federations and some of the smaller International Federations of other major sports. This is according to a press release from the local federation. The GABF President in responding to questions from the Chair of the Workshop informed the grouping that for the hosting of the Caribbean Basketball Confederation Under-16 Male and Female Championships in Guyana during July 2016, the Government of Guyana donated US$200,000 to the GABF, while the private

sector donated US$50,000, along with additional support from other organisations. Hinds made a clear call for direct funding to National Federations from FIBA, especially for lesser developed countries, where basic basketball facilities are not up to international standards and where core funding is absolutely needed from FIBA for the development of National Championships, Coaching and Refereeing. According to Hinds, FIBA should consider it obligatory to fund the National Federations and not have the National Federations solely depend on Government and the private sector for funding towards Basketball Development. GABF General Secretary and FIBA Governance Commissioner, Patrick Haynes, presented the workshop summary and noted that the general consensus of the Workshop

was that direct financial grants from FIBA should be provided to the National Federations. The two-day meeting from May 4-5, brought together delegates from 146 national federations. Hinds and Haynes represented Guyana. The participants voted unanimously in favor of implementing a new headgear rule. They also received updates and approved the activity report, which reflects the progress made in furthering FIBA’s four pillars - National Federations Development, New Competition System, New Governance and 3x3 since the previous congress in August 2014. The delegates took part in workshops covering the following themes: ‘Maximising opportunities of the FIBA Qualifiers’, ‘Building the standard development Pathway’, ‘Basketball & Media in the Digital Age’ and ‘Everybody (Continued on page 73)

Guyana’s leading youth and sports organisation, the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, M.S has issued an appeal to Director of Sports Christopher Jones for the establishment of an award scheme for Clubs and C l u b o ff i c i a l s a c r o s s Guyana. The call was made by Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster during the recently held 27th RHTY&SC Annual Award Ceremony in-front of Jones, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, Minister Amna Ally, Deputy Director of Sports Brian Smith and a host of prominent government and business officials. Foster, who is the only Club official to have ever received the prestigious National Sports Personality Award from NSC, stated that it is totally unfair that awards are only given to national organisations when it is

Clubs who provide them with the necessary athletes, sportsmen and sportswomen for them to excel. He noted that in the case of the RHTY&SC, the Club undertakes 500 programmes/activities and does more for Berbice Cricket than the Berbice Cricket Board and Guyana Cricket Board combined. Foster noted that Clubs and regional associations like the Flying Ace Cycling Club, Berbice Volleyball Association, Hearts of Oak Football Club, Demerara Cricket Club, Albion Cricket Club, Petra Football Organisation, GUYSUCO Training Centre among others richly deserve to be honoured as they do outstanding work and in most cases do much more work that the National Association. Foster, who founded the RHTY&SC in 1990 at the

RHTY&SC Secretary/ CEO Hilbert Foster tender age of 21, stated that National Associations can only be successful when Clubs work hard in their local communities to provide them with athletes, cricketers, footballers, volleyball players, basketballers etc. The Guyana Cricket Board, he stated cannot be successful if Clubs like the RHTY&SC, Albion, DCC, GCC, Everest, Tucker Park does not produce class cricketers, likewise the Guyana Football Federation, the Guyana Amateur Boxing Association and the Athletics Association of Guyana. Foster also stated (Continued on page 73)

Guyana Horse Race Authority elects Interim Body

The GHRA new executives striking a pose after being elected. Mr. Poonai Bhiroog is standing 3rd left, while former head, retired Justice Cecil Kennard is seated at right. Popular Rose Hall Town Businessman and owner of the Poonai Pharmacy, Poonai Bhiroog was elected to head an Interim Committee of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority (GHRA) that will oversee the affairs of horseracing in Guyana at the moment. Bhigroo was elected following a meeting held last Sunday on the West Coast of Berbice. The newly elected body replaced the previous administration which was inactive for a number of years. The other members are

Fazal Habibulla (First vicepresident), Dennis De Roop, (Second vice-president), Mohindra Persaud (Third vice-president), Godwyn Allicock (secretary), Francis Chichester (treasurer) and Issac Dallo (assistant secretary/treasurer). The committee members are: Nazrudeen Mohammed (Junior), Thribhuwan Jagdeo and Lakeram Sookdeo. T h e J o c k e y s ’ representative is Alan Padmore, while Colin Elcock and Zaheer Sheriff are the trainers’ and horse owners’ representatives.

After the elections, Bhiroog said his immediate task is to raise the standard of the sport and to attract more small stables to horseracing. In 2014, a key step to regularise the sport was taken when the then Legal Adviser to the Guyana Horse Racing Authority (GHRA), Rajendra Poonai, handed over draft legislation on the sport to then Minister of Sports Dr Frank Anthony. Nothing much was done by the previous administration with regard to the implementation of the legislation.

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Kaieteur News

Double header on today at Tucville; GDF consolidates with 8th win, Kings down Topp XX STAG Elite League

SEL leading goal scorer Sherwyn Caesar (right) with GDF teammates Delroy Ferdinand (left) and Carlos Adams. By Franklin Wilson The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) will continue their march to a clean sweep of all the spoils in every segment of Season 2 of the Stag Elite League when they play Topp XX in this afternoon’s opening game of another double header at the Tucville ground as the 2016/2017 edition winds down. Already proving that they are the best having won the first round as well as the League Leaders Tournament, the Army lads

will still be red hot following their eight win on Friday night last, a 4-0 hammering o f We s t B e r b i c e ’ Monedderlust at the Tucville ground. This evening’s main attraction, will be between second placed Fruta Conquerors and Buxton United, both will be fresh having had quite a few days to recuperate following their last matches. Conquerors will want to win handsomely in order to strengthen their quest to challenge the GDF for the top spot with the hope that

the Army will slip up in their remaining match even as they seek not to lose either. The home team will unleash the likes of Eon Alleyne, Jermaine Junior, Kwame LaFleur, Konata Manning, Dennis Edwards and Reshawn Sandiford in their quest for a win number 7, while Buxton will hope to salvage an unlikely win if the likes of Dillon Wright, Denver Dennis, Clive Andries, Nixon Robinson, William Europe and Michael Phyll can piece things together. Kick off time today is 16:00hrs.

Sherwyn Caesar (#11) in control for the GDF against Monedderlust on Friday night at the Tucville ground.

Friday night’s feature game saw Victoria Kings cantering to their third win in 9 matches in style as they flayed Linden’s Topp XX, 5-1. The fast paced matchup saw both sides enjoying a fair amount of

Mumbai achieve record margin in crushing defeat of Daredevils ESPNcricinfo Mumbai Indians made a mockery of their opposition y e s t e r d a y. F i r s t t h e y smacked Delhi Daredevils’ bowlers around to put up a total of 212. Then they bullied the batsmen into folding for a paltry 66. And in the end, a team that had recorded the second-highest chase in IPL history two nights ago was defeated by a margin so huge - 146 runs it became a tournament record. So how did this all come about? Well, a few things went to plan. Like Lendl Simmons coming off the bench and hitting a halfcentury, Kieron Pollard responding to his promotion to No. 3 with an innings that was both calculated and cruel and the Mumbai bowlers knocking over each of their bunnies. Daredevils were five

down in the chase before the Powerplay was done, and bowled out for their lowest IPL total. Mumbai, on the other hand, stormed into the playoffs. Caribbean carnage, Part 1 Simmons has some phenomenal IPL numbers before tonight he had 10 scores of fifty or more in 22 innings - and yet he had to wait until tonight to get his first game of the season. He began tentatively - as is expected of a batsman whose most recent T20 innings were 1, 1, 4* and 1. But the shackles seemed to break with a pull for six off Kagiso Rabada in the fourth over. Daredevils peppered Simmons with a mix of back-of-a-length and short deliveries, but it did not bother him. He got, both, on top of the bounce, and under

it in equal measure - only one of his nine boundaries came off a fullish delivery. Simmons’ 66 off 43 balls took apart Daredevils’ famed fast-bowling attack, counterbalanced Parthiv Patel’s sedate 25 and gave Mumbai the perfect start on a small ground. Caribbean carnage, Part 2 For a brief time, Amit Mishra was able to put a s t o p t o M u m b a i ’s momentum. His first two overs went for only seven runs and had yielded a wicket too. Daredevils’ decision to play a fourth seamer in place of left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem came under question. Pollard, however, hit that hypothesis out of the park, along with four of Mishra’s deliveries. This included denting Zaheer Khan’s plan of bowling

Mishra out at a stretch. His two sixes off Mishra’s third over forced Zaheer to give him a change of ends. The two overs needed to make that switch went for 25, and when Mishra returned, Pollard hit him for two more sixes. That was the start of Mumbai’s slog-overs push. Pollard saw it through with an unbeaten 63. Daredevils come a full circle A target of 213, mere days after achieving their highest successful chase, didn’t trouble the Daredevils - for as long as they were in the dugout. Once they came onto the field they realised that the Mumbai bowling attack was well-manned and wellmarshalled. Mitchell McCleneghan had removed Sanju Samson three times in nine balls

possession in the opening exchanges. As the match matured, the tested, tried and proven Aubrey Gibson sent the Vi c t o r i a , E a s t C o a s t Demerara based Kings into the lead with a well calculated shot from about 30 yards out. The shot seemed destined to head into t o u c h , To p p X X ’s goalkeeper Tevin Crawford had already accepted that belief only to see the ball landing in the back of the nets to his and teammates dismay but the delight of Gibson and teammates. It was the 38th minute that the first goal came; not daunted by giving up the lead, Topp XX kept going after the Kings and it was another elder statesman that brought the equalizer for the Bauxite boys. On the stroke of half time, Travis Waterton completed a promising run into the Kings defensive third to finish clinically past Kings Custodian Andrew Williams. Both teams were at least satisfied that the half ended on even keel, 1-1. But the final 45 minutes went the way of the Kings which blasted four goals without response from Topp XX. Samuel Blackett in the

55th, Kemroy Alfred in the 77th, Akeem Holder (89th) and Ruel Williams in the 2nd minute of added on time (90+2) all inked their names on the score sheet to complete a huge win which enabled them to move into the third place on 11 points behind the GDF and Conquerors. It was the sixth loss for the Lindeners. The GDF were almost flawless in their demolition of Monedderlust and were led by a second half double off the boot of Sherwyn Caesar who is now the leading goal scorer with 8 goals having been joint leader prior with Conquerors’ Eon Alleyne. Caesar was on target in the 67th and 84th minute. Monedderlust, with a single win going into the match in seven outings, never threatened the Army’s dominance and meekly surrendered following a barrage of attacks. Setting the stage for the GDF’s win was Delroy Ferdinand with his first goal in this round which came in the 14th minute. Carlos Adams also scored his first goals of the season which was registered in the 54th minute.

Sunday May 07, 2017

Kaieteur News

PAGE 81

Berbice Chamber of Commerce & Trojan @PSL Cycle Club hold Arrival Day Race The Berbice Chamber of C o m m e r c e a n d Development Association (BCCDA) in collaboration with the Trojan @PSL Cycle Club of New Amsterdam successfully held a 50 mile cycle race on Friday 5th May. The event was held to mark Arrival Day in Guyana. This event also marks the first such collaboration between the Chamber of Commerce and the Cycle Club. The race started at 9:25 am, with the riders being sent off by a representative from the Indian High Commission. The route for the fifty mile race was from Main & Chapel Street, New Amsterdam to the Nand Persaud & Company Business Complex at No36 Village, Corentyne and back to its point of origin. Twenty nine cyclists participated in the race which was contested in five categories: Senior Open, Junior Open, Veteran’s, Women’s and Juveniles.

The event was won by Andre (Padlock) Green of the Sonics Cycle Club, who clocked a time of two hours and fifteen minutes. He received cash incentive and trophy compliments of the Nand Persaud and Company Limited. The five other top finishers were Stephano (Sunny Pro) Husbands of Team Coco, Christopher (Chicken Legs) Griffith of Team Alanis, Leer Nunes of Carlton Wheelers, who won the fourth place, Britton John of United We Stand with the fifth place and sixth going to Silvio Innis of Linden Bauxhaul Flyers. The Junior Open category saw Britton John riding away with the first place from Curtis (Chappy) Dey and Jason Cameron who came in third. The Veteran’s category winner was Leer Nunes from Everal Mundy and Ian (Dumb Boy) Jackson. The Women’s category

had only two contestants with Deance Welch placing first and Shemika Teixeira second. They were both awarded trophies. The Juvenile category saw Kevin Collins winning from Jonathan Ramsuchit and Jamar Heligar. Eight sprint prizes were awarded with Greene taking (four), Dey (three) and Husbands (one). A brief presentation c e r e m o n y, w h i c h w a s chaired by BCCDA S e c r e t a r y M r. M a r k Roopnarine, was held at the conclusion of the race. The organizers expressed their satisfaction with the event, noting that the new Executives of the Berbice Chamber have been in place for just over a week and are already showing what they are capable of. BCCDA President Mr. Ryan Alexander noted that the Chamber is aiming to play a bigger part in promoting sports, education

Winner Andre Padlock Green receiving his trophy and incentive from BCCDA President Ryan Alexander. and community activities in the region. Alexander also encouraged those members of the business community who are not yet members of the Chamber to join, since

they are all in a position to contribute to the development in the region through the Chamber. He also used the opportunity to call on other non-governmental

organisation to collaborate with the BCCDA to help the society be a better place. The organizers assured that this race was the first of what will become an annual activity.

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Sunday May 07, 2017

Kaieteur News

GFF Disciplinary Committee acted outside of constitutional remit – Forde Can only rule on matters of discipline - FIFA By Franklin Wilson The world governing body for football, FIFA has by way of official letter to the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) confirmed that the federation’s Disciplinary Committee has acted outside of its constitutional remit in adjudicating on the matter involving the federation and four of its Elite League Clubs. At a press conference hosted by the GFF yesterday at its Dadanawa Street, Section K Campbellville headquarters, President Wayne Forde accompanied by Executive Committee Members Bruce Lovell, Rawlston Adams, Keith O’Jeer and federation Lawyer K. A Juman Yassin brought the media up to speed with the latest on the matter. Forde in a prepared statement stated that the Disciplinary Committee, despite lacking the constitutional authority, ruled against the GFF on April 17 last in the matter involving Slingerz FC, Alpha United FC, Pele FC and GFC.

GFF President Wayne Forde (center) during his presentation at yesterday’s press conference in the presence of from right, Rawlston Adams, K. A Juman Yassin, Bruce Lovell and Keith O’Jeer. The quartet had decided to withdraw from playing in season two of the Stag Elite League after the federation’s executive had taken a decision to expand the said league from 8 to 10 clubs, a decision which the aforementioned clubs felt the executive hadn’t the powers to execute. But article 36 par.2i of the GFF constitution allows the executive the latitude so to do and this has been s u p p o r t e d b y correspondences from CONCACAF dated November 8, 2016 to the GFF and from FIFA dated February 1, 2017. Not being satisfied with the responses of both FIFA and CONCACAF, the clubs wrote to the Disciplinary Committee of the GFF to adjudicate on the matter and

this committee met, deliberated and ruled against the GFF on April 17, 2017. Based on the decision of the Disciplinary Committee sought the intervention of FIFA which responded to the G F F b y w a y o f correspondence dated May 3, 2017. FIFA in its letter noted that while the issue seems to relate to an internal matter which does not come under the remit of FIFA, the world body highlighted few aspects. 1. “Based on the GFF statutes that were ratified by the GFF on 26 June 2015 and approved by FIFA on 7 July 2015, we deem that the GFF Disciplinary Committee is only competent to pass decisions in relation to disciplinary issues. Consequently, the GFF Disciplinary Committee

MOE/NSC host successful cricket workshop at Uitvlugt

should not decide on matters related to decisions by the GFF Executive Committee, such as the ones described in your correspondence. 2. The above point is further compounded by the information that the GFF does not appear to have yet adopted a disciplinary code upon which the Disciplinary Committee could act. Such code is to be issued by the GFF Executive Committee and must comply with the Disciplinary Code of FIFA and CONCACAF as stipulated in art. 61 of the GFF Statutes. 3. Lastly, we would like to seize this opportunity to underline that any decision that may have been or may be passed by the GFF Disciplinary Committee should be dealt with according to the statutes and regulations of the GFF as well as any relevant national laws in this regard. As such, the GFF Disciplinary Committee and Appeal Committee should operate based on a relevant set of regulations (i.e. a disciplinary code) which

shall, inter alia, clearly define how disciplinary processes are to be conducted. Furthermore, such set of regulations shall ensure that judicial bodies are independent (separation of powers) as set out in art. 15 let. d) of the FIFA Statutes and it shall also establish that both committees are to be composed of different members. B e a r i n g t h e aforementioned in mind and based on the information in our possession, we deem that the decision taken by the GFF disciplinary Committee exceeds its prerogatives. Forde in his presentation noted that since the GFF executive was of the firm belief that the Disciplinary Committee did not have the right to hear the matter, they did not take part in any proceedings whilst questioning the motivation and rationale behind such proceedings. In finding a way forward, Forde informed that the GFF and FIFA are working together develop the GFF

Disciplinary Code which will be presented to congress later this month for approval. He said this code will clearly spell out the role and remit of the independent judicial bodies. The GFF Exco has also decided to take the matter concerning the Disciplinary Committee’s statements to the GFF Congress set for May 27 noting that the decision of the Congress would be final. ”We are also looking at further ways to strengthen the credibility, expertise and independence of the judicial oversight framework of football, in line with advice f r o m F I FA a n d b e s t governance practices from around the world.” GFF Attorney, K. A Juman Yassin, the other speaker at yesterday’s briefing started by saying he was in full support that the Disciplinary Committee hadn’t the jurisdiction to deal with the complaint against the executive of the GFF. In outlining what (Continued on page 73)

Overseas female referees for Schoolboys tournament

Participants with Coach Latchman Yadram (left) following the clinic. The Ministry of Education and the National Sports Commission recently held a successful three-day cricket coaching workshop at the Uitvlugt Community C e n t r e , We s t C o a s t Demerara.

The programme, which commenced on Tuesday and concluded on Thursday, saw 16 male and female teachers from Crane to Parika being exposed to the basics of cricket coaching; both theory and practical.

Sessions were conducted by Coach Latchman Yadram who urged the teachers to organise and manage sessions in schools for the development of the game while the teachers welcomed the imitative.

The Caribbean Schoolboys and Juniors boxing competition has attracted an influx of overseas female referee/judges coming to Guyana to officiate. So far three female officials from around the region are expected in Guyana starting on Tuesday. AIBA One Star Julie Bonnet will represent St Lucia and arrivers here Tuesday afternoon. Cayman Islands’ Leyla Jackson and American Kelly Pope are expected in later in the week. The three will join locals Ramona Agard, Nicola Yhap, Denola Bristol and Naomi Wilson to create a competent group to officiate

Leyla Jackson in the second edition of the tournament. Tr i n i d a d i a n ‘ K i n g ’ James Beckles , the English speaking Caribbean’s lone AIBA Three Star Referee/Judge is also expected in Guyana on Tuesday afternoon. Beckles will host a three-day seminar

Julie Bonnet commencing on the same day of his arrival. The three-day tournament punches off on Friday at the National Gymnasium. Already Barbados, Jamaica, St Lucia, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago have registered to participate.

Sunday May 07, 2017

Kaieteur News

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2nd Boyce & Jefford Relay & Fun Day going ahead today Rain or no rain, Organisers of the 2nd Boyce & Jefford Relay & Fun Day are going ahead with the event set for today, at the Police Sports Club ground, Eve Leary. Following last week’s unavoidable postponement due to r a i n , C o - o rg a n i s e r Edison Jefford speaking with Kaieteur Sport via telephone yesterday, said they remain optimistic that today’s activities will provide the eagerly anticipated excitement, informing that with the addition of events such as cycling and races for the Differently-abled athletes, he expects this year’s edition will easily eclipse last year’s, both in terms of support and thrill. He pointed to the increased interest in the football segment and the inclusion of the wheelchair races and cycling as testimony to the growing interest in t h e a n n u a l extravaganza. “We’ve decided to add cycling, wheelchair racing as well as increasing the number of teams for the football competition and these developments are as a result of appeals made

by the fans and some sponsors to add some more flavor to the day’s activities,” Jefford told this newspaper. According to the Coorganiser, dominoes which have become a very popular sport in Guyana also have a great pull among the event’s supporters and they anticipate a large turnout of teams for this aspect of the Fun Day. However, the 5-aside format of football has been enjoying great success and this event is where a lot of excitement and rivalry is expected, especially with the communitybased teams all having huge support from residents within the r e s p e c t i v e neighbourhoods. Sparta Boss has evolved into one of the best teams in the shorter version, winning most of the tournaments they participate in. Their high rate of success has stirred up a love, hate relationship among fans, some coming out just to see them lose, while a large section revel in victory. They are one of the teams invited to compete and they will face teams the likes of nemesis Back Circle, Agricola Champion

Shivraj Tops Heineken Golf Tournament Soggy conditions failed to put a damper on the spirits of golfers who came out for the Ansa McAl, Heineken sponsored tournament on Friday at Lusignan Golf Club. Lakeram Shivraj, who scored a gross 90 resulting in a net 66 with his handicap of 24 claimed the top spot, relegating to the second place, Aleem Hussein (17) with a gross 85 net 68, and third was Gavin Todd (20): gross 88 net 68.

Mike Mangal took best gross prize with 79, while Nearest to the Pin went to Mark Lashley and longest drive to Troy Cadogan. In brief remarks Club President Hilbert Shields thanked brand manager Darshanie Yussuf for Ansa McAl’s generous sponsorship which has been ongoing for several years. Included in the sponsorship were several well received cases of Heineken and Heineken LIGHT beer.

-Football competition starts at 10:00hrs

The action today promises to be exciting in the football and other competitions.

Boys, Bent Street, West Front Road ‘Gold is Money’, Camp Street All Stars, the Guyana Police Force, The Guyana Defence Force, Sophia,

Kanaimas and Broad Street Bullies. It should be a fascinating battle and everyone familiar with the teams knows the long history of rivalry

that exists between them. Meanwhile, the Organisers have set 09:30 hrs as the deadline for registration for a prompt start at

10:00hrs and are urging teams to be on time. This according to them is due mainly to the number of activities listed to be staged in the one-day event.

t r o Sp STAG Elite League

Double header on today at Tucville; GDF consolidates with 8th win, Kings down Topp XX

Victoria Kings’ Samuel Blackett (#03) heads into the Topp XX half of play pursued by Kevin Beaton (#17).

Always Dreaming wins Basketball federation shoots for FIBA funding at Mid-Term 143rd Kentucky Derby Congress in Hong Kong

John Velazquez crosses the finish line to win the 143rd Kentucky Derby aboard Always Dreaming (Photo: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports)

GABF President, Nigel Hinds (right) and General Secretary, Patrick Haynes (left) pose for a photo opportunity with Chinese International Basketball Superstar, Yao Ming, who played for the Houston Rockets, in Hong Kong, China.

2nd Boyce & Jefford Relay & Fun Day going ahead today -Football competition starts at 10:00hrs Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Limited, 24 Saffon St.Charlestown, Georgetown.Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/ 226-8210