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Wednesday November 06, 2019
Kaieteur News
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
The overwhelming noise
T
he sounds are overwhelming. It could be over anything that pleases, such as a casual blast or a young lady or something considered an obstacle in the way. On a more serious note, those now impatient sounds could be a warning loaded with the endangering. This is where vehicle horns are converted into playthings. Where people in the vicinity are ground into nervous wrecks. The main venue for these driver antics is the major East Bank roadway, and a long section of it. The chief culprits are truck drivers. They can’t be missed nor can they be ignored. They can be heard in powerful, piercing blasts that are like allyear firecrackers at high volume, and at all hours, too. It is thrilling to the ignorant, who are responsible, the massive mobs in motors and wheels. It is revealing as to how stunted is the arm of the law that either flashes by casually in its own racing machines or is off fighting its own demons. When the cat is away, the mice will play. They will play havoc with the helpless residents stranded along the East Bank corridor. That’s a start. They do, the courts too, though they are largely spared by the detour of the ‘backroad.’ Lodge and Sheriff Street have the saving grace of not being perched on top of the road, like East Bank villagers from Grove to McDoom. There is some degree of care and restraint exercised by truckers in other areas. But from the roundabout, heading in either direction, the bets are off, and the gas pedal is down to the floor. So, too, are those shrieking, ear-splitting horns. Long blasts. Repeated blasts. The reckless having a good time at the expense of all those, who are near. Better take evasive action. Why take chances —seek the quick cover of safety. Not so for those trapped East Bank people, who bear the brunt and feel the pangs of yet another barbarity. Who are these lunatics? Where are the uniformed condoners that allow them this right of uninhibited movement? They cannot be so blind or so deaf that they don’t see or hear until it is time to pick up the pieces and measure meaningless lines on what are really full-fledged crime scenes. But this unmusical form of noise pollution, so prevalent along that highly populated stretch of the East Bank carriageway (sans ancient animal drawn contraptions), is not the only pollution mess and a mess it is, truth be told, for the forlorn folks in the space from Grove to McDoom. In addition to the noise, there are the particles from the sand trucks and the many haulers of road construction and other building material. There is sand, an unending storm it can be. There is cement, and though on a lesser scale, it could be a stickier, more destructive plague to curtains and furniture, to clarity of existence and dealing with its powdery presence. And to lips and lungs and less visible parts of body and home from the regular deluges that visit. Those with a view of the vehicular flow-meaning right above the edge of the road-are the unluckiest and pay the heaviest price. They have to be engaged in constant dusting and mopping and all out washing. If not, the buildup can be alarming, as well as embarrassing; not wholesome for interior cleanliness. Not contributory to solid respiratory health; not helpful to a positive mental outlook; not opening to sharing with friends and family. Too much dirt, grime, and disgust. Separately, but in the same vein, few say anything about what happens near to hospitals. Why care about them? Who is there, besides family members, who actually care about patients’ wellbeing? Most find no need to be concerned about their reactions, since the patients are busy wrestling with other bodily agonies. It is grin and bear. The music. The roars of acceleration. The horns. Always the loud horns seeking to hurry others along. The pained and disturbed long for the relief of tranquilisers; the best one, sleep, is deprived. Why can’t even this be fixed?
SUGAR WORKERS WILL OVERCOME THE GOVERNMENTAL BULLIES DEAR EDITOR, Mr Earl Hamilton has once again decided to set his sights on the GAWU, and on this occasion, the NAACIE as well, as he seeks to criticize the sugar unions for their principled expressions during a recent meeting with GuySuCo. Mr Hamilton’s views, we saw, were expressed in a facsimile letter appearing in the November 03 and 04 editions of the Guyana Chronicle. The publication of the same letter twice befuddles us. Maybe it is the newspaper isn’t having enough propaganda to fill its pages and, therefore, has to re-print certain pieces. But that’s an entirely different question. The letter-writer begins his missive charging that the GAWU and the NAACIE are not unaware of what he deems the ”…proper protocols that guide engagements…” between the Unions and GuySuCo. It was with that knowledge in mind and at heart, that both Unions jointly consid-
ered their actions and recognized that their actions were just and fair. The GAWU and the NAACIE were not disrespectful, boisterous or disruptive. At no time, did the Unions lend to a situation that saw the heightening of tensions, though same cannot be said for the behaviour of GuySuCo. Both the GAWU and the NAACIE’s long association with the industry have seen over the years, the establishment and the evolution of principles, practices and norms that would guide a respectful working relationship. Those facets, we have recognized, have, over the last few days, been pushed aside and an attitude of ‘might is right’ has taken over the GuySuCo. Certainly, while Mr Hamilton seeks to be critical of the Unions’ actions, he has not uttered even a word regarding the treatment of the workers and their organizations. Given his concern on this occasion, we expect, naturally, to see him speaking up when injustice is meted out
to workers and their organizations. Mr Hamilton contends that the expressions of our Unions would apparently und e r m i n e the ”…understanding of goodwill and mutual respect…” between the parties. We are waiting to see how this is the case. Certainly, there hardly hasn’t been any goodwill towards the nation’s sugar workers who, we must remind again, have been without any rise in pay since the APNU+AFC took office, or have had other long-standing conditions of work ignored, or have been treated in the worse of ways in the now 43 years of state-ownership of the industry. Even former President Forbes Burnham had never treated the sugar workers in the manner his heirs are treating them now. The letter-writer ludicrously says, our Union behaves as ”…spoilt brat…”. Is the juvenile label applied because we have
continued to vocally and loudly champion the calls, cries and plight of the sugar workers? Is it because we have not failed to turnover every stone as we stand on the side of the workers who have and are being treated most discriminatorily by the current powers-that-be? Or, is it because we have gotten under some persons’ thin skin? Whatever the case, infantile remarks and monikers will not daunt or dissuade us. We are told that our Union, during the administrations of the PPP/C, made ”…unreasonable demands… even when unjustified”. This is surprising when coming from someone who appears to be a close embracer of the APNU+AFC. It seems he has forgotten, conveniently or not, that this incumbent Administration, when in Opposition, told sugar workers that they were under-paid and they deserved better. Some personalities now in Government told sugar (Continued on page 6)
Data gathered during the truncated House -to -House exercise is poisonous DEAR EDITOR, Data gathered during the truncated House to House exercise is poisonous. It is derived from a sequence of poisoned events, beginning with the illegal, unilateral appointment of Justice James Patterson (Retired) by President David Granger; then Patterson authorized the House to House exercise with the full understanding that a Constitutionally mandated election was overdue by 82 days when he reputedly signed the order on the 11th June 2019, and that he (Patterson) was facing a decision on the legality of his appointment on the 18th June 2019. The House to House data is itself improperly gathered, done without the requisite party scrutineer component; by poorly trained enumerators; and on a non-statutory form. An examination of the House to House data reveals poor spelling, handwriting and comprehension skills, much of it is illegible; names and addresses jumbled beyond salvage. Any Information Technology person can tell you that ‘Garbage In’ always equals ‘Garbage Out’, which in computing other data fields, means incorrect or poor-quality input will produce faulty output. In legal arguments about the doctrine of ‘the fruit of the
poisoned tree’ evidence is deemed useable or valid if, despite the tainted source, the evidence would inevitably have been discovered anyway. The ‘evidence’ in this case would be the data of firsttime registrants, and indeed, that ‘evidence’ would have been discovered during a period of Continuous registration or Claims and Objections. However, the House to House data was so poorly collected and without the requisite safeguards of multiple party scrutineers, it could stand on its own as a poisonous fruit; the House to House data is toxic waste.
Once the period for Claims and Objections to the Preliminary List of Electors (PLE) is concluded it becomes the Revised Voters List (RVL) and then the Official List of Electors (OLE) and there is no known legal or statutory process to add names to the OLE save and except a Claims and Objections exercise. The Claims period is now over and there can be no legal merger of this toxic House to House data with the Preliminary List of Electors (PLE). Any action that allows a merger would result in taint and bloat of the PLE with unverified data; untested by a
Claims and Objection exercise, which (unverified and untested data) would afflict the Revised Voters List and spread the malaise to the OLE. Editor, the entire imbroglio that began with the illegal unilateral appointment of James Patterson is the poisonous seed from whence comes the tree, on which the House to House fruit hangs, and it is our fervent civic duty to take an ax to its roots before the children eat the poisoned fruit, and also to stop the serpent who would entreat us to ‘take a bite’. Respectfully Robin Singh
Let’s do things differently DEAR EDITOR, I was born in a time (1970s) when elitist education was the order of the day. Currently, both globally and locally there is a move to increase access to education. There will definitely be a compromise on quality happening in most western educational institutions. Guyana and most of the Caribbean cannot afford to lose at least about 25% of our youths who never get a tertiary education, in a modern world that will require advanced training beyond high school. However, the schools’ modus operandi are
designed for students like I was - good academic background, supportive mom and non-violent. The modern student has a mainly weak academic background, few supportive parents and is more aggressive and outspoken. As an educator, I read omnivorously and it gives insight, but reality is harder than theory. The solution is more remedial work for deficient students and more conflict resolution training for teacher and other faculty. This is a start, but as you implement you improve. There are many other changes such as teaching
with technology, but let’s do something instead of continuing the status quo and wondering why there are thousands of gang members in Guyana. Do something different!! Most educators believe that strict discipline is essential for academic success, and it’s true, but that locks out the majority. We can no longer build a world with a tiny ruling elite, then use the police force to suppress the unsuccessful aspirant that turned to crime, when statistically the result was predictable - madness. Yours truly, Brian E Plummer
Wednesday November 06, 2019
The paradigm shift will be in favour spot? The data obtained the ministries of communities, of the police hot can be very instructive to de- citizenship, social cohesion DEAR EDITOR, What you are about to read are my personal views. Crime and the police have come into vogue. Recently, I perused several editorials, letters to the editors and listened to numerous confabulations in the electronic media and elsewhere about crime in Guyana. Many apposite views have been posited as to how to reduce crime and the fear of crime. This has titillated me to again put my fingers on the keyboard and join in the conversation, after a self-imposed absence from writing letters on security nature to the editor. In doing so, I will repeat a few views I had previously shared and introduce some new concepts. There is something called The Fire Triangle - without sufficient heat, a fire cannot continue; without fuel, a fire will stop; without sufficient oxygen, a fire cannot begin, and it cannot continue. Correspondingly, there is The Crime Triangle - the location, the victim and the suspect. Ralph B Taylor theorised that all three elements - motivated suspect, suitable victim and adequate location - are required for a crime to occur. Crime is presumed amenable to suppression if any of the three legs is removed or neutralised. Generally, crime fighting tactics are focused on the victims and suspects, while very little is done at the locations where the crimes occur. It is the tendency of the police to use crime rates, number of arrests and case clearance rates over a period of time to measure how well the law enforcement agency is doing. President David Granger in his maiden address to the Police Officers’ Annual Conference urged, “But we must go beyond and find causes of crime. Why is there piracy? Why is there suicide? Why is there murder? Why is there trafficking in my division? What are the causes? So stop boasting about how many cases you made, find out how many causes you are able to discover, and let us stomp out the causes. You stomp out the cause, then you stomp out the crime. If you don’t know the cause, then the crimes will continue to be repeated over and over again”. This method of evaluation used by the police is just a tabulation of events with no analytical input. Such measures have several problems. In a subsequent letter I will elaborate. What must be done is that the police should analyse the figures and ask these and other questions; Is it a trend? Is it a pattern? Is it a spree? Is it a series? Is it a
sign, develop and implement some amount of intelligenceled policing at the various locations, particularly hot spots. Hot spots are specific locations with high crime rates. A hot spot can be a single address, a cluster of addresses, part of a block, an entire block or two, or an entire intersection. Braiden (1998) suggests another way to view the significance of location - “the hunt and the habitat” “I can’t think of two special interest groups more philosophically opposed to each other than hunters and animal rights activists, yet there are two things they totally agree upon. The species will survive the hunt; it will not survive the loss of its habitat. What can policing learn from this basic principle of nature? Well if the ultimate goal is to eliminate the criminal species, well the best way to do that is to eliminate the habitat that spawns and sustains that species. Structured as it is the criminal justice system puts 95 percent of its resources into this hunt, while the habitat is left almost untouched. We can never win working this way, because the habitat never stops supplying new customers for the hunt.” Braiden was writing for the American public. This could be applicable to Guyana.On the other hand, in the various communities, several issues may be operating simultaneously which may impinge on the police ability to fight crime. These may be political, economic, social, technological, legal and environmental (PESTLE). Unless the PESTLE is adequately addressed, crime will flourish. Over the years there have been numerous strategies and tactics used by the government (past and present), the police and members of the various communities (another triangle - the government, the police and members of the community), working together in an effort to reduce crime and to make the communities safer places to live. These include but are not limited to: community policing; police in active association with the community; impact; station management committee, community-oriented policing and problem solving; interactions with numerous overseas law enforcement agencies; youth groups; scouts; traffic advisories, training boards; divisional advisories; neighbourhood police; citizen security programme; citizen security strengthening programme; establishment of
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and social protection; security sector reform; cops and faith; integrated crime information system; one year comprehensive training programme; commissions of inquiry; hinterland intelligence committee; strategic management unit; executive leadership team, and recently, making the police boundaries coterminous with that of the regions. All of these programmes had/have well intended objectives but they have not yet delivered the optimum desired results. Many milestones were missed. These strategies and tactics have worked in a limited way, delivering excellent results to the police, but in patches. However, in many instances they lacked effective coordination, cooperation, consistency, and the implementation or key recommendations and policies. Therefore, the watchword must be sustainability.The interventions have not fired constantly on all cylinders, unlike some criminal elements who are firing regularly and hitting the targets with deadly consequences. All is not lost. It is pellucid that there is no one-shot solution to reduce crime and the fear of crime. Behind every dark cloud there is a silver lining. The clouds will soon roll by. Arising from the police efforts green shoots have been recently emerging. They will be fruitful. The paradigm will be shifted in the favour of the police. As a former senior member of the police force, I am confident that I am not hoping against hope. Yours faithfully Clinton Conway Assistant Commissioner of Police (Retired)
This transaction raises eyebrows and a host of questions DEAR EDITOR, Issuance of leases or sales of large tracts of land attract plenty attention in Guyana. Government is in ‘caretaker’ status and is extremely limited in legal function, which has been further exacerbated since the 19th of September. To read that a lease of 700 acres of land located at Wales has been granted for a coconut plantation caused pause; to learn that the company was only registered six weeks ago raises eyebrows and a host of questions. Firstly, is there a feasibility study done for future usage of the Wales estate? If this was done, were former Guysuco estate workers or their union representatives made aware of the opportunities deemed viable? Coconut estates are not labour-intensive, and it would be interesting to see if the study shows this to be the best use of the former sugar lands. If however, there was no study, how could a project move from application to grant of lease in such a short time? This would be highly abnormal, especially given the ‘caretaker’ status of the Granger administration. I do not believe this or any other major land transaction will be able to withstand scrutiny in the very near future, investors must do due diligence before making commitments. A simple Google search would show that the Granger
administration was deemed a caretaker for the affairs of the country and that in light of its caretaker role it should be restrained in the use of its legal authority. To add to this, any government is restricted during an Election period in matters of policy, expenditure and appointments – to activity that is: A) Routine B) Non-controversial C) Urgent and in the public interest D) Reversible by a new Government without undue cost or disruption or, E) Agreed to by opposition parties (in those cases where consultation is appropriate). The rushed approval of a
lease to a six-week-old company, is in clear violation of all of the above, A to E inclusive. The lease cannot stand. I look forward to the publication of any feasibility study done for the Wales (or any other) estate and the extension of ‘first refusal’ rights to former Guysuco employees and residents of the area. In the absence of a feasibility study, and given the indecent haste with which it was conducted, this large scale transfer of state assets would understandably raise suspicions. Yours Truly Vickram Bharrat Member of Parliament People’s Progressive Party
Unfair and insensitive to the welfare of sugar workers and their families DEAR EDITOR, The refusal by the Guyana Sugar Corporation to pay wage increases to sugar workers for four consecutive years is not only unfair but also insensitive to the welfare of sugar workers and their families and should be corrected. Granted that the Corporation may be operating at a loss, workers should not be made the ‘sacrificial lambs’ over what is essentially a managerial problem. It is not the fault of sugar workers that the Corporation is operating at a loss. Instead it is the result of poor decision making at the policy and managerial levels. By refusing to pay sugar workers salary increases to offset the decline in purchasing power of their income through inflation, these workers are in effect subsidizing the industry by being forced to accept stagnant wages. The Government has a responsibility to intervene in the matter with a view to bringing a satisfactory resolution to the plight facing sugar workers. Hydar Ally
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Wednesday November 06, 2019
AURORA MINE PROBLEMS: ARE JOBS IN JEOPARDY? DEAR EDITOR, Guyana Goldfields in January 2016 declared that it had commenced commercial operations at its Aurora Mine on January 1, 2016. The mine plan announced at that time incorporated an initial five years of open pit, gradually replaced with underground mining. Mine closure was provisionally planned for 2030 should the Company not find other reserves. Both the PPP and APNUAFC facilitated this venture and ensured that they were given the necessary permits and duty free concessions. The average estimated average production was stated at 215,000 ounces annually. A quick review of the following chart will show that the company not only failed to meet its stated objectives but a serious worrying trend seems to be developing and, surprisingly, not a report is
emanating from the present government, the press or the economic gurus that pronounce so readily on Guyana’s economic performance.
If one checked the technical report filed on December 31, 2018, the company revised the average gram/tonne from open pit sources down
to 2.6 grams/ton and surface stock piles at 1.2 grams / tonne. On October 31st the company’s 3rd quarter reported that about 50% of the mill throughput came from
surface stockpiles. What is really going on at Aurora? Are they intentionally mining the lowest gram/ tonne? Whatever the reason
Sugar workers will overcome the... From page 4 workers, prior to being ensconced in office, that they would give them a 20 per cent increase in pay. So how is it that the Union’s demands then were as Mr Hamilton puts it ‘unjustified’ but, at the same time, workers were being underpaid. It’s sad for us to recognize that the letterwriter has become trapped in his deceptive web. Mr Hamilton also blames the Unions as being partially responsible for the industry’s current state-of-affairs. Of course, as we have pointed out on several occasions, the state of the industry was not
unknown to the nation. Parliamentary records would very much attest to this contention. But, the letterwriter should not try to throw his hogwash on us. The current situation in the industry cannot be divorced in any way from the actions and/or inaction of the Coalition regime. It is the Coalition which ignored its own CoI report and recommendations. It is the Coalition which approved the borrowing of $30B without any plan. And, it is the Coalition which stood idly by and allowed infighting between NICIL and GuySuCo. So to now come and try to pass off
a despicable and ignominious record on our Union, is just a pointless effort to distort the reality and the truth. We are also told that the actions of the sugar unions are intent at driving a wedge between the workers, on one hand, and the Government and GuySuCo, on the other hand. Poor, poor Mr Hamilton is obviously misguided and completely outof-place. The Government, by its very actions, has served to drive a wedge, if not create a valley, between itself and the sugar workers. Just bear in mind, that a petition supported by thousands of sugar workers to the President was snubbed by the Granger regime. Or just consider that to-date, the President has not even once stepped foot in the villages of the closed estates to see how those Guyanese are making out. Certainly, the list in this direction is very lengthy and can take up several pages. We also want to assure Mr Hamilton and those of his ilk that we will continue to act responsibly and sensibly. We will not cower in the face of intimidation and threats. Our Union has a proud history of struggle and the sugar workers are known for the courage in standing up to bullies and those who seek to intimidate them.History is replete of examples of peoples’ united struggles winning over Goliaths. History is said to often repeat itself, and we have, no doubt, it will do so again in this case. Yours faithfully, Seepaul Narine General Secretary GAWU
it does not bode well, since Guyana Goldfields was a major contributor to the country’s GDP. See the accompanying table showing the grams/ tonne mined over the years 2. Aurora average gram / tonne mined over the years.
the main players from acting, now the chickens have indeed come home to roost. 3. See Below the October 31, 2019 article from Mining.Com “The problem seems to be that they cannot seem to make money on their open pit
Guyana Goldfields stock has hit at its lowest in 10 years since 2009 and it is time that the GGMC, the Minister responsible for this sector, as well as the Finance Minister, call this group in for fitness. Several groups had been warning about this decline over a year ago and it appeared that the hiring of window dressers and PR specialists had obscured the facts from emerging and had convinced the press et al to withhold the information and
operations on a cash-flow basis (inclusive of capex). Cost just keeps going up the deeper they go in the pit due to the rising strip-ratio (oreto-waste ratio). Next year the strip ratio is modeled to be 21 based on 2019 technical report so if they cannot make money at a strip ratio of 10, then perhaps they should just stop open pit operations. Based on the 2019Q3 report, it sounds like that is what they may be planning. In which case, they could
transition to underground operations, but the capex to build that out is over $100m based on the 2019 technical report. Obviously they would need to debt finance that in order to get to that point though. Then there is management which has thus far not executed their plans very well. This puts a big question mark on how well they will perform going forward. If they continue to burn through their cash position and destroy value, they could be better off just selling company...……... The large discount is largely due to the lack of confidence in the management team. Can they execute without further destroying value of the company? If they come to the conclusion that the pit is no longer economic, perhaps they put the entire mine on care-andmaintenance to preserve cash burn while they build out the underground.” Stock closed yesterday at under .050 cents. Eustace Naughton
Residents placed confidence in Region were equally opening evening and the Two’s RACE sub-committees up to the challenge and crowd wanted more, includDEAR EDITOR, I was privileged to be an active participant in Region Two’s Regional, Agricultural and Commercial Exhibition (RACE) which was held over the weekend at the Anna Regina Community Centre ground. The weather was perfect and therefore it allowed patrons to attend the two nights of exhibition in their numbers. The first evening attracted in excess of five thousand persons while the final evening had almost fifteen thousand patrons flocking to witness an array of small and large businesses showcasing their products. This spectacle has grown over the years and there was a difference this time around. The organizing committee executed a seamless display from the beginning to the end. There was certainly little room for error, especially of what occurred in the past, in terms of illegal attempts to defraud the system, including the duplication of tickets. I was certainly impressed by the leadership of the team in the person of the Regional Executive Officer, Mr. Denis Jaikaran (Snr). His profound and incisive way of exerting the best out of his charges was most admirable. The ground was quickly transformed into a business atmosphere by the Drainage and Irrigation department headed by the Regional Engineer Mr. Kawan Suchit. Once that was completed, the other
delivered.Essequibo Night, as it is popularly known, is an annual feature in the Administration’s calendar of activities, and it is of utmost importance given its scope to impact on the concept of Social Cohesion. Therefore, I was most pleased by the overwhelming attendance and the positive feedback from patrons on the ground who were visibly happy and felt a sense of belonging of what Essequibo had to offer and what Essequibians are capable of producing. I felt proud witnessing small and emerging entrepreneurs oozing with charm and vigour as they enticed curious onlookers who were eager as well to participate in what was on offer. Even more spectacular was the booth that was provided free of cost to the differently-abled. They were visibly elated by the warm response and, not surprisingly, they felt just as comfortable and confident as the evening’s bright blue sky. It was indeed a master stroke by the Administration to offer support to the less fortunate, including to allow other persons of similar nature to enter free of cost. The small tray stands were also in abundance and they made a profit. I would imagine, therefore, that in the future, more local producers will be eager to expand, since RACE is a perfect launching pad for them to bat on and score big. There was also a short cultural programme on the
ing on both nights, which I believe should be done since some persons could afford to go only once. I thought too that the success of the event also depended on transparency and accountability which was of the highest order. The financial statement was produced perhaps for the first time and it was available for scrutiny the very next day after the exhibition. A sizable profit was made and the Regional Executive Officer has publicly stated that the proceeds will be utilized meaningfully with consultation from the general staff as to the nature of projects to be undertaken in the interest of the people of Region Two. While the Honorable Minister of Communities Mr. Ronald Bulkan was invited to give the feature address, his representative made a powerful presentation on his behalf, as he challenged our local businesses to be the engine of growth in Essequibo and even further afield. He also appealed for unity, as he too was impressed by the large and diverse crowd. Also in attendance was the Chief Education Officer Dr. Marcel Hutson, as well as the country’s top national Grade 6 assessment student Ms. Venisha Lall. Indeed RACE came first, and Essequibians should be proud for such a highly successful showcase. Yours Faithfully, Elroy Stephney
Wednesday November 06, 2019
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ExxonMobil goes after undiscovered parts of Stabroek Block with three-well campaign By Kiana Wilburg ExxonMobil’s subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), is juggling several developments offshore, all of which are aimed at getting billions of dollars in profits as fast as possible. Along with its Liza Phase Projects, ExxonMobil officials recently announced that they are steaming ahead with plans to drill the undiscovered parts of the Stabroek Block. Specifically, the Secretary and Vice President for Investor Relations at ExxonMobil, Neil Hansen, told shareholders during the company’s third-quarter earnings call that three wells, Uaru, Mako, and Hassa, are planned for drilling in the upcoming months. Hansen noted that a
fourth drillship is expected soon so that the exploration activity can begin before the fourth quarter ends. Hansen said that the plans for exploration are a good reflection of the project management capabilities of the company. But even as it deals with all of these activities at a fast pace, Hansen said that company officials still want to ensure they take time to ensure their plans do not compromise the optimisation of value. The Secretary said, “One of the challenges that we have, given all of the significant exploration success that we’ve had, is making sure that we take the time to optimize the development. We don’t want to rush in a way where we do something we might regret (in) the future.” The Vice President of Investor Relations added, “So
as we have all these new discoveries, we want to make sure we’re optimising the right approach to create value, not only for us, but also for all stakeholders involved. “And then as you know, on top of that, it’s all the undrilled potential. So we’re trying to balance progressing those developments, while at the same time making sure that we progress what is becoming an even more attractive portfolio of exploration opportunities.” Pending government approvals, this newspaper understands that ExxonMobil is also eager to start a third oil production field on the Stabroek block called Payara. Furthermore, it is expected to utilise a Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel with a gross production capacity of 220,000 barrels of oil per day.
Woman charged for sharing nude video A 29-year-old unemployed woman was on Monday granted bail for a charge alleging that she shared a nude video of a woman to WhatsApp and Pornhub. The defendant Annissa Williams was arraigned before Principal Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus in the Georgetown Magistrates Court. The woman who hails from Castello Housing Scheme, Georgetown, denied the charge when it was read to her. The charge stated that between July 1, 2019 and July 31, 2019 at Castello Housing Scheme, Georgetown, Williams knowingly or without lawful justification exposed for public viewing an obscene matter, that is, a video intending to corrupt public moral. The mother of one was represented by Attorney-atlaw George Thomas. The attorney asked for bail to be granted to his client in the most reasonable sum. According to the lawyer, Williams is embarrassed since she is also in the shared video. He claimed that the video was not shared by his client, rather it was exposed by his clients now ex-husband. Magistrate Isaacs-Marcus then upheld his submission and granted bail in the sum of $30,000. The matter was adjourned until November 25 when it will be recalled for continuation.
Annissa Williams
Map showing the location of the three wells to be drilled in the Stabroek Block in coming months If the government grants the required approvals in keeping with the company’s expectations, oil can be produced from Payara as early as
2023.As it pushes ahead with those plans, ExxonMobil is also conducting appraisals of other wells to determine their productivity, all in an effort to
maximise profits for its shareholders as quickly as possible. Two of these wells include the Ranger Two and Hammerhead.
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Wednesday November 06, 2019
Can Guyana Survive Striking It Rich? (Bloomberg Opinion) — Early last month, Guyanese President David Granger was knees-down in a community garden brandishing a spade. Granger was there to plant a tree — it was National Tree Day — but also an idea. “Don’t let us get drunk. Let us remain sober,” he told the attentive audience. Guyana might find that a challenge. Next year, Exxon Mobil Corp. and its prospecting partners will start pumping oil from one of the world’s biggest recent finds: some 5 billion barrels of crude cached in the sandstone deep below the Caribbean floor. The windfall promises to change the energy landscape in the Western hemisphere. Guyana may never be the same. In five years, national output is expected to reach 750,000 barrels a day, making Guyana Latin America’s fourth-largest oil producer and perhaps the world’s largest per capita oil power, generating a barrel per person per day. Oil revenues are expected
to climb from zero to almost $631 million by 2024, according to the International Monetary Fund. Income per capita will more than double by next year, topping $10,000. Overall, its economy is projected to grow by 86% next year — 14 times China’s projected growth rate. Metabolising so much wealth so quickly — like drinking from a fire hose, as one engineer put it — would be intoxicating for even the sturdiest constitution. For this small, poor country troubled by ethnic strife, with shaky institutions and only the sketchiest plans to put such bounty to use, the system shock could be devastating. That’s where trees and sobriety come in. To unleash the potential of the coming oil boom, Guyana must accept that wealth and development are cultivated, not simply extracted. Such was the logic behind the Green State Development plan, a wonk’s bet that Guyana can pull off what
no other developing nation with an oil bonanza has managed: marshal a massive energy windfall without drowning in riches. Resource curse, Dutch disease, the paradox of plenty: The name and address of the malediction vary. The outcome does not. Guyana has only to look to Venezuela, the failing petrostate next door that is home to the world’s largest reserves. After years of squandering oil rents on vanity politics and misguided social programs, Venezuela has seen oil output fall by more than half since mid-2018. To escape Venezuela’s fate and that of so many other ailing oil baronies, Guyana has to act now and decisively. The checklist is extensive. Don’t bring the oil onshore. Sure, such abstinence offends the instincts of the aspiring petrocrat. “It must be in the textbooks they read as children. Every minister of development wants to add value to oil,” said Rice University energy expert Fran-
cisco Monaldi. “That’s a big mistake.” Building a tangle of pipelines and refineries is exorbitant, brings marginal returns and makes the host country a magnet for corruption, Monaldi said. One of the headline scandals in Brazil’s Carwash corruption probe was a head-turning case of contract fraud on a grossly overpriced domestic refinery and petrochemical complex launched amid the euphoria over earlier big oil discoveries. Will Guyana heed the experts and forgo investing in iffy refineries? Or will they cave to the temptation once the crude starts flowing? Resist the local content temptation. Petro-populists typically try to make foreign operators buy a hefty portion of supplies from native providers. That sounds fair enough. But inexperienced domestic companies rarely have the enterprise or production capacity to deliver. Instead, local content becomes an open invitation to padded contracts, subterfuge and waste. Until now, Guyana has avoided the trap of skewing the market by promoting “local champions,” said Marcelo de Assis, head of Latin American upstream research for energy consultants Wood Mackenzie. If Guyana’s nationalist opposition has its way, however, the rules could change. Get the rules straight. How does a country with one-third of its population
living in poverty and a ranking of 164th out of 228 nations in human development manage the haul from what’s likely to be the world’s most profitable new deepwater wells? The short answer: through policy transparency, reliable rules and regulatory acumen, all of which are in short supply. “What we see is a bottleneck, a lack of readiness for oil,” said Assis. “They are scrambling, which indicates that the public sector is not geared to act as a regulator.” Forge a political pact. Guyana’s conflicted politics are no help. Rival coalitions have been quarreling since last December, when the Granger government lost a confidence vote. New elections are scheduled for early 2020, just as Guyana’s oil is set to flow. Clashing ideas are part of democracy. But with political tensions spilling into the courts and threatening to flare into a constitutional crisis, the risk of judicial delays leading to “legal loopholes and omissions in the oil framework” run high, according to the consultancy Verisk Maplecroft. The political turbulence is troubling news for the Guyanese and their multibillion-dollar stakeholders.Hire globally. With a population of 780,000, chronic brain drain and no track record in oil extraction, Guyana could use some ringers. Fortunately, the world is
flush with savvy oil engineers, geologists and logisticians. But Guyana’s government has been slow to capitalize on global talent, including the nearly half-millionstrong Guyanese diaspora. “I don’t understand what’s keeping them from hiring abroad,” said one foreign observer, who has advised the Guyanese government for years. “It’s baffling.” So is the recent ruling barring binational Guyanese from serving government: Four of Granger’s cabinet ministers with dual nationalities were forced to resign this year. Since some of the most highly trained Guyanese were educated abroad, such scruples amount to a nationalist own goal. The powerful private sector, led by Exxon and its partners, has no such qualms about recruiting expats. Guyana’s government should follow their lead.Don’t forget renewable energy. Guyana’s electricity currently depends on fossil fuels. With greenhouse gas emissions already reaching 2.6 tons per capita a year, rivaling those of its outsize neighbor Brazil, Guyana could make matters far worse under the coming oil boom. And since much of Guyana’s coastline sits at or below sea level, the deepening climate emergency poses an existential threat. Encouragingly, Guyanese seem to be starting their oil boom with few illusions about the fleeting bounty below their feet. The government wisely, if belatedly, set up a sovereign wealth fund to steward the money. Hence, the official encomiums to agriculture and forestry, and renewable energy, touted to fuel 100% of the power grid by 2040. That’s an admirable goal. Let’s hope Guyana has the temperance and the trees to stay the course.
Wednesday November 06, 2019
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Kaieteur News
Guyana may end up worse off than Angola
A
paid advertisement in the Friday edi tion of this newspaper reported that many countries ended up worse off after the oil companies left their shores. So what indeed is the record on this score and in particular in relation to Exxon? Angola is Africa’s second largest oil producer. Yet over the past four years, its economy has been in free fall with growth expected to further contract this year. Corruption and squander mania have fritted away much of the oil revenues with many major projects being unable to be completed because they are over budget. Oil-rich Angola became oil-poor Angola. The country
has had to revert to the International Monetary Fund to help dig it out of its economic morass. True to form, the IMF is calling for the removal of subsidies, including agricultural subsidies which Angola needs to hasten its economic diversification. The IMF has not made a healthy prognosis of Angola’s future. It points to high annual debt to GDP ratios (as high as 91%), problems of fiscal sustainability, external debt arrears, Angola is in such a mess that it is being forced to privatise much of the stateowned enterprises. And that country has a far better deal than Guyana has with Exxon. At one stage, it was producing as many as 600,000 bar-
rels of oil per day. Guyana will start at one-fifth of that quantity. The Angolan experience shows that those who manage a country have to know what they are doing. Unless there are strong safeguards against corruption, the little that you receive, will be taken away, if not by the oil companies, then it will by the corruption. Angola’s experience should be a wake-up call to Guyana. The Ministry of Finance is usually very alert and sensitive to criticisms about its management of the economy. Last week and this week, there was a letter and a column respectively appearing in the dailies which point to a
Trial of duo in Lethem Post Office robbery... (From page 3) and that two safes which stored money and other valuables were open. She recounted that one of the safes contained $1,000 notes, while the other contained $500, $100 and $20 notes, stamps, a cellular phone and 41 $500 GTT landline phone cards.Austin added that when she left work for home on January 18, 2013, and a total of $4.6M was in the two safes. The monies were missing when she returned the following day. Asked by Prosecutor Gibbs to explain how the safes are secured, Austin said that a master key, an iron bar and a padlock were used to lock both of the safes. She also recounted that prior to the robbery, Kissoon had visited the post office to uplift a money order for $20,000, but was unable to do so as he had no form of
identification.Eulene Smith, a former manager for a hotel in Lethem, was also called to give testimony. The former hotel manager recalled that during January 2013, she was in charge of her mother’s hotel, which was situated at Lot 71 Windmill Road, Tabatinga, Lethem.The witness told the court that on January 16, 2013, about 10:00hrs, four men and a woman arrived at the hotel in a car; they were carrying a large silver box that resembled a crate. Asked by Prosecutor Gibbs whether the hotel guests give their names, the witness replied in the affirmative. She recalled that one of them identified himself as Alvin King. The others, she said, gave their names as Kissoon and Jason. The witness, however, could not remember the name of the woman whom she described as “Rasta.” She then
pointed out King who was seated in the prisoner’s dock. According to the witness, Kissoon and the woman stayed in Room Three, while the other three men stayed together in Room One. She said that King was the one who paid for the rooms, which were to be occupied for three days. She recalled that on January 18, 2013 around 13:00hrs, King asked her to go the Lethem Post Office and collect some money for him because at time he did not walk with his identification card. She said she collected $20,000 on his behalf. She added that the last time she saw the five persons was on the said day around 17:00hrs; but upon checking around 19:00hrs, she realised that they had left the premises. This trial continues this morning before Justice Sandil Kissoon and a 12-person jury at the High Court in Demerara.
Dem boys seh ...
Police coming wid speed and no sound Old people always seh ‘every day is fishing day but every day is not ketching day’. Dem boys was enjoying life then one of dem family dead. De thing shake up de posse dat dem wasn’t even eating. Well dem ketch demself and dem back to normal. But while dem was away, dem notice some serious changes. Police use to drive around wid siren blaring. One man who does ride motorbike use to put on he siren whenever he visiting he girlfriend. Dem boys now realize dat he was giving de sweet man warning dat he coming and dat he must run. Some of dem does put on siren when dem carrying deh dogs to de vet. De siren was like when people give li’l boys a whistle. Soulja Bai had to get in-
volve. He hear how de police does use dem siren once dem deh pon de road. He read de riot act to some of de seniors. From last week, dem boys seeing police cars wid de lights blinking at de top but no siren. Now is speed and no warning. Decency come back to de force. In fact, things so decent dat yesterday was a slow day in de court. People didn’t even think about snatching two chain or two phone. When dem boys go in de courtyard and ask wha going on, people tell dem how de rain fall and criminal activity was slow. If rain gon keep criminals off de streets, dem boys pray dat it rain every day. But then again, just like how a junkie want cocaine, or a drunkard want alcohol, a thief got to thief.
He can’t sit down and don’t go pon de road to thief. But dem is petty when it come to dem big business people, especially dem foreigners who Guyana give duty free and odda concessions. Rusal get concession fuh fund everything, from bicycle to heavy duty equipment. De company even get duty free fuel. Dat is how dem tun more powerful than Guyoil. Guyoil is de cheapest when it come to selling oil. Imagine Rusal could sell oil and fuel more cheap than Guyoil and still operate a big bauxite plant. Jagdeo give dem de concession. Dem never pay any royalty; dem never pay any tax and now dem trying to shut down Guyoil. Talk half and watch out fuh any police car.
serious deterioration in Guyana’s overdraft facility. To date, there has been no explanation as to why despite no major new infrastructural project being launched since 2015, Guyana’s overdraft should be that high. One economist has nailed the problem down to increased public sector spending but on recurrent expenditure rather than on capital projects. While all of this is happening, the exchange rate continues to slip. Last week, the United States dollar was selling at US$1 =G$219. This is going to have a serious inflationary impact on consumers and despite the government indicating that inflation is moderated, the reality out there is that prices have increased beyond any improvement in consumer purchasing power. All of these developments are not unrelated to the prospects in the oil sector. As the Angolan experience shows, when there is economic mismanagement, it has
an effect on investors. Investors are cagey about making new investments and like Exxon has done in Angola, it will most likely proceed stealthily. The verdict therefore on Angola is that oil production has created a greater crisis than it has done good. It has forced the country into the clutches of the International Monetary Fund. When one considers the size of Angola’s oil reserves, it would have been unthinkable fifteen years ago for anyone to imagine that the country so rich in oil could have ended up in dire straits. Guyana is not Angola. It does not have an oil company, which can become a partner in oil exploration. As such, Guyana has found itself pawning out its oil resources for a pittance and when that pittance cannot solve the problems of the economy – which is now showing some signs of retrogression in terms of its overdraft balances – then Guyana, like it did in 1989, may end like Angola
and have to go with its begging bowl to the IMF. The APNU and the AFC are struggling to manage the economy. A small capital programme still has an unacceptable rate of implementation. This points to a dearth in implementation capacity. The government needs help, intellectual and otherwise. A joint approach to the management of oil should be considered. The government should reach out not just to the opposition parties but also to civil society stakeholders and try to arrive at a consensus as to how the oil wealth is going to be managed. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)
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Wednesday November 06, 2019
THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN
Is the PPP more democratic that its rival organisations? If you study the criticisms of the PPP leadership since it came to power in 1992 and lost power in 2015, heaped upon it by its rivals – PNC, WPA, AFC, etc – the condemnations have always taken on two accusations – (1) the PPP is an authoritarian, incestuous party in which the maximum leader decides everything; (2) it is always protective of its “bad eggs.”
I never found those two depravities exclusive to the PPP. In fact, iconoclastic history is waiting to be written. The WPA in the seventies had its share of “bad eggs” that the leadership refused to castigate and the WPA leadership was as incestuous as the PPP and the PNC. Here is a little story that I touched upon in a column
earlier this year and I will repeat here so that it becomes part of history and the researcher now has access to it. I received an email from Keith Branche, the Secretary of the WPA Overseas Associates. This is a body that is organically attached to the WPA and has among its members, Moses Bhagwan, Eusi Kwayana, Dr. Alissa
Trotz, Dr. Nigel Westmaas, Dr. Denis Canterbury and many other WPA personnel who migrated. Branche asked me to facilitate publication in the Kaieteur News of a letter of condemnation of Minister Broomes for her behaviour at the car park of New Thriving in Providence. I asked, ‘Why pick on Broomes when there are so many other wrong things going on in his own party, the WPA?” Over a snack months before at the Tastee Dish restaurant in Kitty, Branche indicated that he, Dr. Trotz and David Hinds paid a visit to Education Minister, Roopnaraine, and he found Roopnaraine’s emanations so obnoxious that he thought the WPA should part company with him. Branche was annoyed at my reaction, threatened libel and Mark Benschop had to shut him up. No one from the WPA has ever penned a note of disgust over Tacuma Ogunseye’s role during the “Troubles” in Buxton. In fact, the organisers of Andaiye’s funeral arrangement invited Ogunseye to speak. It is the same with the AFC. That party is owned and controlled by a six-person cabal. It makes all the decisions. Legally, the leadership of the AFC lies in its biennial congress. The next receptacle of power is the Executive Committee of about thirty persons.
Last Saturday, at the Georgetown Club (home of the plantocracy during the hegemony of Bookers in Guyana), the executive met and those six persons flatly refused to tell the executive on whose behalf it negotiates with the PNC, what was the decision its leader, Ramjattan, made with the leader of the PNC, Mr. Granger when they met last Thursday. It is the executive that directs what the AFC does. The leaders have to report to the executive. All Ramjattan did was to announce that when he met the President, Mr. Granger said that he would like to see a strong, independent AFC. Then Alston Stewart addressed the executive to inform them that he is now a paid consultant with the AFC. The executive didn’t know about his official appointment and doesn’t know what his salary is. It was the executive that supposed to debate and decide who will be the paid consultant and the terms of his contract. Six persons in the AFC made that decision and refused to explain their edict. Of course the question remains – what does a man living in Jamaica know about the complex nuances of Guyanese politics to be the advisor to a major party? I would have taken the job for free if asked only requesting a reconditioned vehicle. Hey man, I’m not boasting, I know more about campaign strategies in
Frederick Kissoon Guyana than Stewart. Let’s move over to Robb Street at the PPP head office, Freedom House. If it hit the news that Jagdeo made a deal in Iraq to bring in a foreign advisor for the PPP’s 2020 campaign and Irfaan, as presidential candidate said he didn’t know about the decision, then imagine what the PNC and AFC boys and girls would have done to Irfaan in the Chronicle. This is the political culture in Guyana. The PNC and AFC won the 2015 election because so many of us were fools, idiots and misguided souls. We concentrated on the PPP, turning a blind eye to the two boys from the AFC – Raphael and Khemraj – who would team up with the new man from the PNC, Papa David, to save us from the PPP. Papa David, and the twins from the AFC turned out to be very old, in fact ancient, in their thinking and political culture as all past major, Guyanese leaders. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)
Victim willing to accept compensation after “Lola” damages her “edges” Yesterday’s court proceedings was to have the magistrate hand down a ruling on popular make-up artist and social media personality, Lolita Callendar, popularly known also as “Lola” who is charged for assaulting Onika Pompey. The defendant’s attorney, Bernard DaSilva, in his address to the court said that the victim, Pompey, no longer wishes to go ahead with the matter. However, Pompey replied to DaSilva’s statement saying, “That’s not so…I don’t want her to go to jail. She has done so much for our country and she’s a role model, even to me,” Pompey added that she just wants to be compensated “since the cost to fix my edges is not cheap”. Pompey added that she met “Lola” at a club Saturday night and they had a talk and she wishes to accept between $800,000, to $1,000,000, cash as compensation for the damage “Lola” caused to her “edges”. Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty told the defendant that she will adjourn the
Lolita Callendar called “Lola” matter to a later date so that they can have time to discuss the compensation or the court is going to rule on the matter. The matter will be called on November 14, 2019, for report. Previously Callendar, 27, of Lot 231 East Ruimveldt Housing Scheme, Georgetown, denied the charge, which alleged that on April 6, 2019, at Leopold Street, she caused grievous
bodily harm to Onika Pompey. Pompey, 28, a make-up artist, of Lot 61 Barima Avenue, Bel Air Park, was also charged and denied the charge, which alleged that on the same day she unlawfully wounded Callendar. Pompey’s matter is before another Magistrate. The two women are said to be known to each other but when the incident happened, they weren’t on speaking terms. On the day in question, Pompey and “Lola” had a misunderstanding, which resulted in a scuffle. According to reports, Pompey received lacerations about her body, some from several bites and “Lola” lost five fingernails after Pompey allegedly pulled her from her vehicle. Prior to that “Lola” was charged for assaulting a woman and was granted $30,000 bail. It is alleged that Callendar assaulted Malika Holder. “Lola” was recently released from jail in the British Virgin Islands, for forging an HIV test in her favour.
Wednesday November 06, 2019
Kaieteur News
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Wednesday November 06, 2019
7 men cart off empty safe from Jumbo Jet in 4-hour operation - guards forced to lie on floor during ordeal A seven-man team of armed burglars on Sunday evening stormed the Smyth Street location of Jumbo Jet Auto Sales with intent to
hitting a big jackpot. But the thieves must have got the shock of their lives after finding out they spent four long hours looting the
business, only to cart off a 300lb empty safe. Sources disclosed to Kaieteur News that the ordeal began at 1:35am.
From CCTV footage, an unidentified man clad in a black shirt and a short khaki pants suspected to be the lookout was captured casing the front of the business. That lasted for about five minutes. On the western side of the building, the thieves scaled the heavily barbed wire fence until they were all inside. The men then went to the eastern side of the building where they accosted the two guards on duty while the other team members scaled the fence. The guards were reportedly taken to the back of the building at gunpoint and placed to lie on the floor while one of the men kept watch. His five other friends make their way into the office located on the upper flat by cutting the heavily grilled back door. There, they spent four hours, ransacking the office, searching high and low for anything of value that they could cart off. The thieves removed a quantity of brand new truck parts, one 42-inch flat screen TV, one DVR, one laptop computer, two gas bottles, two old cell phones and one fire proof safe weighing approximately 300lbs. A source from the company relayed to Kaieteur News that the safe ‘fortunately’ was left empty with nothing of value being held inside. “All that effort was for nothing because nothing was in the safe; it was an empty safe. We assumed that they thought much more valuable things were here but that’s not so.” After the ordeal, the guards alerted the owners and police were called on scene. According to the source, statements and fingerprints were taken that very evening. But no word has been received on the progress of the investigation. All of the men wore rags around their faces to shield their identity. The stolen items are valued at an estimated $1.2M. Investigations are on-going.
The suspected lookout casing the front of the building.
The first burglar who gained entry.
The thieves taking the guards to the back of the building.
The men ransacking the office.
Wednesday November 06, 2019
Kaieteur News
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Brickdam Police Station rehab...
Wednesday November 06, 2019
New lock-ups still unused after six years
The lock-ups at the Brickdam Police Station. The Ministry of Public Security recently published an Invitation for Bids (IFB) for the rehabilitation of the Brickdam Police Station. Bids were placed earlier in July this year, however, due to reasons unknown the Ministry is seeking a retender. The Brickdam Police Station is one of several police stations that were slated to be rehabilitated and completely refurbished from a sum of $1.8 billion set aside by the government for the upgrades. As promised, works were scheduled begin this year. But commentators are pleading with the government not to spend taxpayers’
monies wastefully, by making sure that whatever work is done, must be of standard. This means that the rehabilitation works must be done properly in order to avoid extra funds being spent to do corrective work. This concern is raised after sources have revealed that six years have passed since a decision was made to upgrade the Brickdam lockups. They said that the upgrade was made but the new lock-ups were never commissioned or used. Back in 2013, the then Ministry of Foreign Affairs under the People’s
Progressive Party(PPP) administration, Clement Rohee, had asked for tenders to build another story above the old lock-ups. According to reports, the works were estimated to cost more than $50M. Construction was done but in 2017 and an additional $20M was injected into the project by the current government A partnership for National Unity +Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC). This extra cost had to be injected because it was discovered that the building was badly designed and described to be an oven for prisoners.
Bids placed for the rehabilitation of the Brickdam Police Station in July. The ventilation was said to be very poor and was described as dreadful for prisoners and officers. A year later this newspaper received information that the lock-ups were still useless due to its horrendous condition, which shocked human rights activists. It was reported that toilet
facilities are almost nonexistent. Now we are in 2019 and according to new information received “these so called new lock-ups” are still not in use. In fact, the lock-ups up to this date were never officially commissioned. Based on past reports, it has been established that Georgetown deals with 60%
of reported serious crimes and with the new lock-ups not being used, other lockups have been overcrowded. Ranks had also said that when the lockups are full at the various police stations around Georgetown, prisoners are transferred to other lockups out of the city. This process, they say, consumes time and money.
Wednesday November 06, 2019
Senior citizens, a priority for Govt. – Director General Harmon By Shikema Dey “Citizens of Guyana, have a collective responsibility to establish and sustain an environment of safety and security for all the vulnerable sections of our society, including our senior citizens. “Whether it is offering a helping hand when crossing the street or giving way to our elders when waiting in long lines, all must be involved in providing support to our elders.” These comments were made by former State Minister, Joseph Harmon who is now functioning as Director General within Ministry of the Presidency, while attending the recently held Senior Citizen in Concert at the West Demerara Secondary School. That event, along with a Joint Service for Senior Citizens, hosted by the Diocesan Life Commission was a part of the activities to celebrate International Day of the Elderly held on October 1, 2019. Director General Harmon in his address at both events stated that Senior Citizens are an integral aspect of Guyanese society as they are considered the ‘backbones’. “We must remind
ourselves that we live in a country where our foreparents taught us that parents are to be respected. These and other positive social values are embedded in our culture and cut across all barriers. “Respect and concern for the elderly have also transcended into being one of the priority areas of our government’s policies”. The Director General said that to ensure the senior citizens of Guyana are secure and well protected, Government increased old age pension by 55 percent. He said that, “In 2014, old age pension stood at $13,125. In January 2019, old age pension was increased to $20, 500”. Director General Harmon stressed that the government places a high priority on the care and welfare of our elderly citizens. He also recognised that senior citizens have made sterling individual and collective contributions to bringing the country to its present level of development. International Senior Citizen’s Day was celebrated under the theme, “Journey to Age Equality”.
Joining the line:
First Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger, did not have a problem awaiting her turn to conduct business at GTT outlet, yesterday. Over the years, Mrs. Granger has been seen conducting similar errands herself around the city, according to the Department of Public Information.
Kaieteur News
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Wednesday November 06, 2019
Post Mortem inconclusive, samples taken for DNA - GRA to ID vehicle today - Crime Chief Burnt body in car trunk…
Burnt car
Charged: Osafo Grundell called Safo
Charged: James Fraser called Dab
Missing: Collin Rodney
Police are still in the dark as to how the individual, whose badly burnt remains were found in a car trunk, met
his death. They are also still to positively ascertain whether the victim is missing key witness Collin Rodney.
Acting Crime Chief Michael Kingston told Kaieteur News, yesterday, that while a postmortem was
conducted yesterday on the remains, the cause of death was“inconclusive”.Rodney’s mother has said that the registration numbers that were
etched into the torched vehicle’s windscreen match those of her son’s car. However, Kingston said that investigators will com-
pare the vehicle’s chassis number with records at the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) before making a (Continued on page 28)
Wednesday November 06, 2019
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Probe launched into possible abuse of Rusal duty-free fuel Authorities are not only looking at the duty-free concessions on equipment of the Russian-controlled Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc. (BCGI), but there are indications that the attention is being paid to fuel. Over the last weekend, auditors of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) were in the Kurubuka mines, Upper Berbice River area, in Region Ten where BCGI operates. There they found the conditions under which the duty-free fuel was granted to the Rusal-controlled company were not being fully met. According to Commissioner-General of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), Godfrey Statia, on Monday, there were some irregularities found with checks on fuel at BCGI’s site. Statia said he is awaiting
The GRA is reportedly checking on possible abuse of the duty-free concessions on fuel at Rusal’s locations in Region Ten.
a report before speaking more on the matter. Foreign investors, involved in production, are granted fuel concessions to help the business become
more competitive and reduce costs. However, a number of those businesses have been caught or suspected of selling that fuel.
Driver turns self in after Essequibo Coast hit-and-run, car torched Unknown persons of Adventure, Essequibo Coast on Monday evening reportedly torched a car moments after it was involved in a hit-and-run accident on the public road. The victim was identified as 43-year-old Vidur Anauge, a labourer of Onderneeming Sand Pitt Essequibo Coast. According to information reaching Kaieteur News, the man was returning from wedding celebrations around 9pm when he was struck. It was revealed that the motorcar PXX 7706 was travelling north on the Adventure Public Road, allegedly at a fast pace. Anauge was on his bicycle in the same lane when he was hit by the car and flung high in the air before landing on the parapet. The labourer was picked up in an unconscious state and rushed to the Suddie Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. He reportedly sustained
DEAD: 43-year-old Vidur Anauge
His son who was killed in January.
severe head injuries. The driver immediately fled the scene after the accident. He later turned himself in at the Suddie Police Station on Tuesday at 5:30am. Meanwhile, according to sources, residents are claiming that the family of the now dead man torched the car in retaliation. The car was
completely destroyed in the blaze. However, family members refuted the claim. They contended that the car ‘burst into flames shortly after the incident’. In January, Anague’s 19year-old son met his demise in a similar fashion. Investigations are ongoing.
The burnt car involved in the accident.
Under the conditions of the concessions, which are monitored by GRA, the fuel cannot be taken or used elsewhere. The fuel market is one of the most lucrative markets in Guyana with consecutive administrations very deliberate in allowing those taxes to be waived. In the case of Rusal, it is unclear exactly what kinds of irregularities were found. BCGI is under fire with both employees and Government unhappy with the situation. Since coming here in the
mid-2000s, the company, which is 90-percent owned by Rusal, one of the biggest bauxite companies in the world, has failed to pay government any dividend. The Government of Guyana owns 10 percent of the company. In fact, Rusal, despite shipping out loads of bauxite without fail, has not even been declaring profits. Government has waived billions of dollars in taxes for fuel and on equipment. The deal was signed under by the Bharrat Jagdeo administration when Region Ten was struggling for jobs
and the Aroaima and Kwakwani areas were being run by Government. However, the Rusal-run company clashed with workers constantly, and in 2009 fired more than 50 of them, including supervisors, after they refused to return to their duties. That matter was never resolved, bringing Rusal under the spotlight time and again. Earlier this year, workers blocked the Berbice River and refused to leave Aroaima, a campsite area where workers dwelled. The government was forced to step in, brokering an uneasy peace, pending negotiations for increased pay. Recently the talks broke down again with the matter likely heading for arbitration. Workers are now accusing BCGI of quietly attempting to remove a few of the heavyduty equipment from the worksite, forcing GRA to send in a team to investigate. Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, said he is willing to meet. He has been written to by the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union, which is asking for a meeting to address their grievances.
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Family ramps up search for missing boat captain
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The family members of 53-year-old David Mohan have ramped up another search party with the aim of locating the man who went missing since Thursday last. The man reportedly fell off his boat into the Demerara River. The incident occurred in the Demerara River behind the Pegasus Hotel in Kingston, Georgetown about 22:00hrs on Thursday. In an interview, the man relative’s, Madonna Ghanie, stated that they were unable to find the man’s body in the exact area where the incident occurred, so family members and friends are now searching the Essequibo Coast , Region Two.
Twenty-four-year-old Jerome Liddell of B2 Bent Street, Wortmanville, Georgetown, who was charged for the possession of an illegal firearm, yesterday had the matter against him dismissed due to insufficient
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David Mohan Kaieteur News understands Mohan and his eldest son, Christopher, while
in the company of another fisherman, left to go on a fishing trip when the incident occurred. Ms. Ghanie, stated that although she was not at the scene of the incident, she was told by the man’s son that minutes before the incident, he complained of not feeling well. “He tell he son that he was not feeling well… then he tell Christopher to go and bring he pressure tablet that was in his bag. “But when he [Christopher] was about to go for the tablets, he saw his father leaning forward to fall into the river. When he stretched out his hand to assist him, it was too late.”
Firearm matter dismissed against Police Constable
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Wednesday November 06, 2019
Kaieteur News
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evidence. The police constable had denied the charge which stated that on May 26, 2019, at Thomas Lands, Georgetown, he had in his possession one .9 mm pistol when he was not the holder of a firearm licence enforced at the time. Liddell was on trial before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrate’s Courts. The Chief Magistrate ruled that after going through the entirety of the evidence, she couldn’t find enough evidence and the prosecutor failed to prove their case. Attorney-at-law Dexter Todd represented the defendant throughout the trial. The matter was dismissed and Liddell was free of the firearm charge. According to information, on the day in question, Liddell and three others were in a car when ranks intercepted the
Jerome Liddell vehicle and asked to conduct a search. It was during the search that an officer found the gun in the vehicle. Liddell was then told of the offence to which he denied. Liddell was arrested and taken to the station; hence, he was charged and put before the court.
Man jailed for stealing amplifier, car parts from friend’s home Principal Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus on Monday sentenced a man to spend two and a half years behind bars for stealing from his friend’s home. Selwyn Jackman, called ‘Dingo’, appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts where he pleaded guilty to the charge which stated that between October 28, 2019, and October 29, 2019, at Festival City, North Ruimveldt, Georgetown, he broke and entered the dwelling house of Andrew Richardson and stole a quantity of amplifiers and car parts. According to information received, the defendant is known to Richardson since he had moved in with him a few days prior to the incident. During the dates mentioned in the charge, the virtual complainant went to work and when he returned, he discovered the items mentioned in the charge missing. Richardson then checked his CCTV footage and he saw the defendant removing the items. The matter was reported and the defendant was arrested. He admitted to the offence. Jackman was later charged and put before the court.
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Hydromet report indicates increased rainfall is expected as rainy season approach The Hydrometeorological Service is reporting that increased rainfall is expected as northern Guyana transitions into the second wet/rainy season of the year. The secondary rainfall season usually begins in the second half of November and continues until the end of January to mid-February the following year. As a result of the heavy rainfall, several streets and businesses in the city were flooded. In an invited comment on the issue, Director General of the Civil Defence Commission, Kester Craig, stated, “The flooding situation in the city is being monitored by officials at the CDC. “I was at the affected areas and I assessed the damage. However, no household is seriously affected by the flood water.” Given the arrival of the rainfall season, water accumulation in areas with compromised drainage is expected; this can lead to localised flooding/floodrelated hazards, an upsurge in mosquito breeding, moisturerelated pests and water-borne diseases. The Hydrometeorological
Service strongly urges that careful attention be given to short-range forecasts provided by the Hydrometeorological Service’s National Weather Watch Center (NWWC) in order to plan daily activities, especially by persons involved in the agricultural sector and those inhabiting flood-prone areas. Further, there are several periods of above normal high tides forecast in the coming months, which when coupled with the forecasted weather conditions can have severe localized impacts on the livelihood of the citizenry. Due to the heavy flooding in the city, Mayor Ubraj Narine is pleading with city dwellers to be careful when disposing waste so as to ensure that solid waste does not block drainage systems. It is, therefore, incumbent upon citizens and responsible agencies to take all necessary steps to prepare for the commencement of the rainfall season and the associated impacts on all sectors. The Hydrometeorological Service will provide updates to its seasonal forecast and warnings as new information becomes available.
Flooding scenes in the city.
Man found with gun in crotch, jailed After three weeks since he pleaded not guilty to the possession of an illegal firearm and ammunition charges, the defendant was on Monday sentenced to a total of four years and ordered to pay a $50,000, fine by Principal Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus. The sentencing was handed down in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. The defendant Kevin Bruce, 28, was sentenced to two years on each of the two charges and fined, the charges will run concurrently so Bruce will only serve two years. He was found with a gun in his pants crotch at a police station while he was on remand and due for his first court appearance on October 8, 2019, since his sentencing was deferred by the magistrate. The defendant called “Bankey” was arraigned before Principal Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus when he admitted to both charges. The charges stated that on September 26, 2018, at East La Penitence Police Station, he had in his possession one .32 Taurus pistol and 10 live.32 rounds of ammunition without being a licensed firearm holder. The defendant, who is still recovering from a gunshot wound, which he
JAILED: Kevin Bruce sustained to his abdomen moments after the firearm was found in his pants crotch, offered to give an explanation to the court. According to the facts of the charge presented by police prosecutor Quinn Harris, on the day in question, ranks from the East La Penitence Police Station received information about an unknown male being in a yard where he doesn’t belong.
Acting on the information received shortly after midnight, the police arrived and went into the yard. They saw someone dressed in black exiting the southern door of the house with a haversack on his back. The court heard that when the police called out to the unidentified man, he started to run and the police chased after him. When the guy was
apprehended, a rank was asked to conduct a search on him for anything illegal or wrongfully obtained. After Bruce refused to cooperate, he was placed in the police vehicle and carried to the police station. When they arrived at East La Penitence Police Station and the defendant exited the vehicle and was heading to the inquiry office, a police officer observed him with his hands in front his crotch area. The rank saw him whip out a handgun. In turn, the police officer drew his service pistol and ordered Bruce to drop his gun. The defendant refused to comply and in fear for his life, the officer discharged a round that hit the defendant in his abdomen. An ambulance was then called in and the defendant was rushed to the hospital while under police supervision. The defendant admitted that having a firearm without being a licensed firearm holder is wrong and mentioned that the gun does not belong to him but it was given to him to protect the house. He further stated that when he was shot by the police officer, he was about to give them the gun since they didn’t find it on him when the first search was conducted.
Teen found dead on trail after birth night celebration - Suspected to be a hit and run victim A post mortem examination conducted on 18-year-old Dallon Francis of Rupertee Village, North Rupununi, earlier yesterday, revealed that he died from a crushed skull due to a vehicle impact. Regional Commander of Region Nine Keithon King said that with this being revealed, it is suspected that Francis may have been a hit and run victim. According to initial reports, Francis had visited a bar in Aranaputa Valley on Saturday evening, along with his friends, parents and relatives, to celebrate his 18th birthday. They were seen consuming alcohol until midnight. The bar was closed and the other individuals went home leaving Francis there. Around 02:00hrs Sunday morning, a Lethem resident, while driving along the trail, saw the young man’s body lying in a pool of blood in the middle of the road. Police were summoned and it was observed that there was a wound to the left side of Francis’ head. Investigations are still ongoing.
DEAD: Dallon Francis
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Logs falls from “sand truck” on Harbour Bridge
Traffic jam on the East Bank Public Road (photo credits Fleurann Drigpaul) At approximately 17:45 hrs yesterday, the gantry of a truck broke causing the logs being transported to fall on the Demerara Harbour Bridge.Staff who work at the bridge claimed that the driver was allowed to pass, because the cargo he was transporting did not exceed the maximum weight requirement. However, when police arrived on the scene, it was discov-
Truck transporting logs (photo credits Fleurann Drigpaul) ered that the truck was way too small to be transporting logs. Luckily, no major damage was caused and the relevant authorities responded quickly.The logs were removed and placed, temporarily, at the sides of the bridge. Traffic coordinator, Fleurann Drigpaul, said that cones were placed along with the logs to make commuters aware while using the bridge.
50th Republic Anniversary plans taking shape - designers meet to flesh out plans
Guyana National Fibre, Fashion and Arts Association (GNFF&A) Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Carol Fraser in discussion with other designers. Guyana will be celebrating its 50th Republic Anniversary next year. For the grand celebration, several individuals and agencies have already begun preparations to mark this momentous milestone. On Monday evening, the Department of Social Cohesion, Culture, Youth and Sport met with the Guyana National Fibre, Fashion and Arts Association (GNFF&A) to put plans in place for the hosting of a Fashion Village and Culture event during the anniversary celebrations. The GNFF&A is an amalgamation of fashion designers, costume designers, hairstylists and makeup artists among other creative persons. Speaking with the Department of Public Information
(DPI), Chief Executive Officer, Carol Fraser relayed that this event will add to the success of the Golden Jubilee celebrations. “… There will be a few days of exhibition in the D’Urban Park and they are providing a platform for all of these designers, makeup artists and model to have the opportunity to showcase their talent… We have decided to have a costume band on the road for the 50th anniversary, so this is an opportunity where designers who have not done costume to seize this opportunity to showcase their talent through costume on the road,” she added. Fraser said the designers can also launch their respec-
tive brands at the event to capture prospective clients. The senior fashion designer plans to host a fashion workshop with the fashion and costume designers to help fine-tune their skills. “I have decided to take the bull by the horn and pull the designers together and I will try my utmost to receive both local and international trainers… I am already in talks with CARICOM and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and they are willing to help our designers… We have some of the best designers in the Caribbean, but we need someone to nurture and mentor them,” Fraser added.All the participants are excited and looking forward to the big event.
The bridge was reopened at 19:00hrs and traffic was restored to normal after being held up for more than an hour. The truck which is being described by eyewitnesses as a “sand truck” was taken along with both the driver and the owner to the Providence Police Station to assist with investigations.
BRAZIL UNVEILS REFORM PACKAGE TO TACKLE HUGE FISCAL DEFICIT BRASILIA (Reuters) Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s government unveiled a bundle of wide-ranging reforms yesterday, aimed at cutting spending and reducing the size of the state to drive down its chronic fiscal deficit.Pushing ahead with an ambitious privatization plan, he sent Congress a bill to sell Brazil’s largest utility, staterun Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras SA, known as Eletrobras.Another proposal seeks to end the government’s mint monopoly, allowing a private contractor to print the c o u n t r y ’ s currency.Alongside Economy Minister Paulo Guedes, Bolsonaro handed in constitutional amendments that will also, if passed, decentralize budget resources, ease nondiscretionary spending rules, and free up funds to pay down public debt and boost investment in a sluggish economy.One proposal that will not be popular in Brasilia would enable the government to cut public sector employee salaries, hours and benefits, and end job stability for new hires, to reduce the size of the federal payroll that weighs heavily on the budget. Guedes said that measure was a priority to start reducing spending and he hoped it would be approved before the
end of the year with the help of lawmakers.The right-wing president and his economy minister are seeking to build on the momentum from a landmark pension reform that was passed by Congress in September. “We are sure that, in a short time, perhaps early next year, mid-next year at most, this... will become a reality and it will benefit us all,” Bolsonaro said in remarks in Congress that were broadcast on local television.Lawmakers, however, say none of the major reforms Bolsonaro’s government has proposed will pass this year. There is a tight window in 2020 to pass laws before campaigning starts for local elections in October.Raising taxes to resolve the fiscal crisis is out of the question because Brazil already has one of the highest tax burdens in the world, Treasury Secretary Mansueto Almeida said.Pensions and payroll were so costly that the government’s non-discretionary spending has reached 95% of the budget, he said, increasing a public debt that is close to 80 percent of gross domestic product. But with interest rates at a relatively low level and the government committed to respecting a federal spending cap, Guedes said Brazil could eventually return to having a
primary budget surplus. The decentralization of spending, the public employee reform, and, eventually, an overhaul of Brazil’s tax system would be nothing less than a “transformation of the Brazilian state,” Guedes said. “Congress wants to rewrite the history of the Brazilian state machine... We have a wonderful agenda of work ahead for the next six months or one year,” he said. Even without the tight legislative timetable, the bill seeking approval to privatize Eletrobras may face resistance in Congress, however. The government has dropped the idea of keeping a golden share in the company that would give it the power to veto decisions once sold, which many lawmakers see as a needed guarantee for the country’s security. Mines & Energy Minister Bento Albuquerque said the state would retain a significant stake in Eletrobras and no shareholder would be allowed to hold more than 10%.Government officials say there are no plans to privatize giant oil company Petroleo Brasileiro SA (Petrobras) or the two large state banks, Banco do Brasil and Caixa Economica Federal, Brazil’s largest mortgage lender.
PM inconclusive,samples taken for... From page 16 definitive conclusion. Police should have that information today. In relation to the body, the Crime Chief said that investigators have taken samples for DNA testing. He has declined to divulge details about any further developments in the investigation.Last Friday, a torched car, with a badly burnt body in the trunk, was found in a desolate area at Letter ‘T’, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara.
The victim is suspected to be 36-year-old Collin Rodney, who, along with his silvergrey Allion, vanished on October 25.He was due to testify that very day in the murder of his cousin, Marlon Seon Rodney, called ‘George’, who was gunned down last April in Norton Street, Lodge. Thirty-nine-year-old Osafo Grundell, called ‘Safo’ of Freeman Street, East La Penitence, Georgetown and James Fraser, 21, called ‘Dab’ from Garnett Street,
Georgetown, are charged with Marlon Rodney’s murder. In the wake of Collin Rodney’s disappearance, Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan said that the police will seek to place other witnesses in Government’s Witness Protection Programme. Ramjattan said that he has been briefed on how police plan to ensure the safety of these individuals.Two detectives testified in the matter last Monday.
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Bids open for the construction of the water conservancy, living quarters The National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) yesterday opened bids for a number of projects. One notable project was the construction of living quarters at the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC) on the East Coast Demerara, Region 4. Other noteworthy activities included the supply and installation of equipment and reoperationalizing of Solar PV System, procurement of dietary supplies under the Ministry of Public Health, and the procurement of Agricultural Supplies under Guyana Prison Service (GPS). Ministry of Public Health Procurement of equipment, Guyana Defence Force (GDF)
Procurement of Agricultural Supplies, Lots 1-8, Guyana Prison Service (GPS)
Procurement of dietary supplies, Lots 1-5, Guyana Prison Service (GPS)
Ministry of Agriculture Construction of living quarters at EDWC, East Coast Demerara, Region 4
Guyana Defence Force (retender) - Procurement of two new aluminum trailers
Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) - Procurement of two new motor vehicles
Procurement of two boats
Supply and installation of equipment and re-operationalising of Solar PV System in four lots
Int’l insurance giant hosts seminar with local firms A global multinational risk management, insurance brokerage and insurance advisory firm, Willis Towers Watson (WTW), yesterday conducted a seminar with a series of local and regional insurance firms to build their capacity to provide coverage for the oil and gas sector, at the Marriot Hotel. The firm has a longstanding relationship with Assuria, of 11 years, an insurance company that has been operating in Guyana for about seven years. Speaking to Kaieteur News before the seminar, WTW’s Facultative Reinsurance Broker for the Caribbean Region, Luke Reeve-Tucker, explained that his team focuses on providing re-insurance. This type of insurance is purchased by an insurance company to ensure that it protects itself from the risk of major claims events of a significant and overwhelming nature, as would be the case if an oil spill occurs. WTW already supports Assuria’s reinsurance needs for business in Guyana, Suriname and Trinidad & Tobago, where Assuria has set up shop. Yesterday’s seminar focused specifically on WTW’s background and the products it offers which could be useful for firms hoping to provide service for businesses in the Petroleum Sector. “We’re here to support them and their clients with our global expertise in those endeavours.” Reeve-Tucker told Kaieteur News. Within that company, a department which
places exclusive focus on oil and gas insurance needs is hosted. It boasts industry experience and expertise that could benefit local insurance firms, as insurance within the context of the oil and gas sector is a very niche business. “We have access to markets worldwide… [including in the US, UK, and South America, so what we bring] to the domestic market here is going to be very important in terms of what they can offer their client base here and in the future for the oil and gas industry.” Aside from its partnership with Assuria, Reeves-Tucker said that WTW is working with a growing number of local companies. Providing insurance for the oil sector is a monumental task. WTW is touted as the third largest insurance broker in the world, with offices in about 140 countries, worldwide. A representative for another major global insurance firm, Marsh JLT, told Kaieteur News earlier this year that local insurance companies have typically not had to deal with the magnitude of revenue that will hit Guyana when oil starts pumping, and so it is necessary for them to develop their capacities to operate. That company also conducted a seminar earlier this year with a serious of Petroleum sector stakeholders where they were educated about how they can navigate the market wisely.
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OLD TRANSMISSION & DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM, POOR MAINTENANCE CAUSED GPL TO FAIL – BADAL ‘Change Guyana’ led by former Alliance For Change financier, Robert Badal, has announced big plans to revamp the embattled Guyana Power and Light Inc. At the party’s press briefing on Tuesday, Badal cited the old power grid, lack of redundancy in the transmission and distribution network and poor maintenance as some of the key factors that caused GPL’s downfall. According to Badal, the company only has the capacity to supply 142 megawatts (MW) of electricity, while noting that the national demand exceeds the supply by some
60MW. He pointed out that this is the very reason why Guyana experiences such prolonged period of blackouts. He also highlighted that GPL’s technical and commercial losses exceed 27 percent and noted that the electricity rates are still very high across the regions. Badal was quick to point out that the previous administrations have repeatedly failed to address the problems of the unreliable supply of electricity with GPL running a loss of close to $4B per annum needing constant Government bailouts. “How longer must we
wake up to blackouts and being greeted by blackouts when we arrive home after work? How much longer must our kids wait to do their homework because of a blackout? How much longer must a business or factory be closed to wait until electricity is restored?” What’s to come The Change Guyana head announced that come 2020, if the party is placed in Government, Guyanese can envision a new GPL with affordable electricity and no more blackouts. Badal said that Guyana can see the production of electricity to be private sec-
tor managed and owned with electricity being supplied to GPL under a Power Purchase (PPA) arrangement. GPL will shift to using liquid natural gas (LNG) as a more cost effective and environmentally friendly option. Among the other plans, a modernised Smart Grid to ensure reliability, better management and control of technical and commercial losses is expected. Further, the former AFC financier stated that, “successive administrations must take responsibility for the current state of GPL and blackouts”.
Wednesday November 06, 2019
Taxi driver committed to High Court for stabbing man over $2,000 Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan yesterday ruled that sufficient evidence was made out against taxi driver, Morris Carter, who was slapped with an attempted murder charge after he allegedly stabbed a man during an argument over $2,000. The 43-year-old who hails from 20 DUrban Street, Wortmanville, Georgetown, was arraigned in the Georgetown Magistrates Court for the indictable offence which alleged that on August 27, 2019 at Sandy Babb Street, Kitty, Georgetown, he wounded Matthew Gilbert with intent to commit murder. He was not required to plead to the charge. Yesterday, after the completion of the Preliminary Inquiry (PI), the magistrate ruled that there was sufficient evidence against Carter and as such, he should be committed to the High Court for trial. His case was then sent to the High Court where his trial will be conducted at the next available sitting of the assizes. When he was called upon
to lead his defence, Carter had said, “I am wrongfully charged and I think I should be facing a wounding charge instead of an attempted murder charge.” On the first day that the case was called, the defence had told the court that on the day in question, Carter was at a wash-bay having his car cleaned when he was approached by the alleged victim. An argument and a fight ensued, in which Carter received injuries. However, Gilbert was not charged.On the other hand, police prosecutor Christopher Morris told the court that it was Carter who approached Gilbert. He stated that Carter asked Gilbert for the $2,000 that he owed him as the remaining payment for a $7,000 finger ring. However, after Gilbert said he did not have money, the defendant became annoyed and allegedly stabbed Gilbert with a knife. Gilbert was taken to the Kitty Health Centre, and later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).
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WADA was not equipped to handle size Djokovic, Federer drawn in of Russian doping scandal - Reedie same group for ATP Finals
Craig Reedie, President of the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) attends the WADA Symposium in Ecublens, near Lausanne, Switzerland, March 21, 2018. (REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Photo) KATOWICE, Poland (Reuters) - Outgoing World Anti-Doping Agency president Craig Reedie said yesterday the scale and size of the Russian doping scandal that erupted in 2015 had overwhelmed his organization at the time. Speaking at the World Conference on doping in sport, Reedie said the Russian doping affair that emerged ahead of the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics and saw the involvement of a vast number of athletes, coaches and officials was the biggest challenge WADA had faced in its 20-year existence. “The worst case of system failure in my time as president of WADA or in the entire time of the anti-doping movement is Russia,” Reedie told the conference. He said the level of cheating was “unprecedented,” leaving WADA under mounting pressure to work for all clean athletes as the Russian antidoping agency (RUSADA) was declared non-compliant. “What it (scandal) taught us when it erupted was that we were not equipped to deal with such a large-scale programme,” Reedie said. RUSADA was suspended after the 2015 WADA report found evidence of statesponsored doping in Russian sport and the country was barred from the Rio de Janeiro Olympics the following year. All Russian athletes also competed as independents at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. RUSADA’s suspension was lifted in September 2018 amid strong criticism as WADA gradually got access to key Russian athletes’ data from the Russian lab. But in September WADA said it had again opened compliance proceedings against RUSADA after finding “inconsistencies” in the vast bank of historical testing data finally handed
over in January. That means RUSADA are again at risk of being declared non-compliant and thus putting Russia’s participation at the Tokyo Olympics next year at risk.
Reedie did not say when a decision on the matter would be taken. He later told a news conference he thought there would be no repeat of the situation before the 2016 Olympics where it was unclear which Russian athletes were eligible and which were not as dozens of legal appeals were made over the ban. “I am pretty confident that in the short term - you mentioned Tokyo 2020 - a repetition of that situation is unlikely,” said Reedie, who will be replaced by Poland’s sports minister Witold Banka on Jan. 1. “I think we are better at spotting these issues. We have better company structures, and we know much more about the business,” said Reedie, who is also an IOC member.
Serbia’s Novak Djokovic celebrates after winning the final against Canada’s Denis Shapovalov. (REUTERS/Christian Hartmann) (Reuters) - Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer were drawn in the same group for this month’s year-ending ATP Finals in London while new world number one Rafa Nadal was drawn with
defending champion Alexander Zverev in the tournament’s draw yesterday. Djokovic and Federer were joined by Austrian Dominic Thiem and Italy’s Matteo Berrettini in Group
Bjorn Borg while Nadal and Zverev were drawn alongside Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas and Russian Daniil Medvedev in Group Andre Agassi. Federer has won the ATP Finals a record six times in his career — last winning the title in 2011 — while Djokovic has won it five times. Nadal has never won the tournament, losing in the final to Federer in 2010 and Djokovic in 2013. Nadal, who dethroned Djokovic at the top of the ATP rankings on Monday, pulled out of the semi-finals of the Paris Masters last week due to an abdominal injury but the Spaniard confirmed he is set to travel to London after undergoing a scan. The ATP finals take place between Nov. 10-17 and it is played in a round robin format, with the top two players from each group advancing to the semi-finals.
Wednesday November 06, 2019 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19): You have high standards, and faith in your own ability to meet or exceed them. While a cherished dream might not manifest in a snap, doing the step-by-step work involved can keep it humming along. TAURUS(Apr.20–May20): All the raw materials needed to make a desired improvement are accessible today. The trick could be synthesizing them in a constructive way. GEMINI (May 21–June 20): Researching a subject a little more deeply is a lot like leafing through the pages of an intriguing novel. After a few tidbits, you might be hooked into embarking on a mental journey. CANCER (June 21–July 22): Only you can decide the amount of risk you are comfortable with now as you explore your alternatives. Proceed with a realistic outlook and your eyes open wide if what you want or need today . LEO (July 23–Aug. 22): You may feel as if you have something to prove today. However, close selfexamination will likely reveal that the one you are trying so hard to impress is you. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22): You’re cleverly adept at avoiding entanglements and leaping over psychic quicksand in a single bound. Getting bogged down by everyday annoyances or other people’s gripes is not your style.
LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22): It is easy to be extra enthusiastic about taking an underdog or novice under your wing today. Or maybe it is a young person or child in your family who could benefit from the wisdom of your experience. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21): Personal growth is likely if you listen more than you talk today. The communication style of an authority figure could rub you the wrong way. SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21): Promote your best ideas today and be ready to put your money where your mouth is. A demonstration can be worth more than a thousand words when striving to communicate your vision. CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19): Although you may be tempted, it goes against your grain to leap without first thoroughly looking. Your natural cautionary instinct can be a saving grace. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18): You can be as mighty as a bulldozer when you are totally committed to reaching a meaningful goal. It is not that you are deliberately radical, yet you carve out a path of controversy nearly everywhere you go. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20): Your daily affairs might be hectic, but each nutritious, delicious moment can be appreciated today, no matter how fast the pace. It could be special fun to be where the action is now, especially when you go with the flow.
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Letter to the Sports Editor
Govt. need to relook their treatment of Football DEAR SIR, I hold no brief for the Guyana Football Federation. I live in the Diaspora and obtain my information through social media, radio, newspapers, television and reliable sources in Guyana. In the interest of accuracy and objectivity, I am moved to offer more nuanced perspective on the GFF. I am of the opinion that they are being given a hard card by the authorities. Let me explain. Guyana qualified for the Male Gold Cup for the first time after numerous attempts. This became possible with the inclusion of foreign-born/based Guyanese who represented us with distinction. It is a very costly exercise for the GFF in transporting these players from Europe, North America and the Caribbean. The Male and Female Teams has been costing the GFF Millions of dollars due to the fact that most of the players are based overseas and the results have been very satisfying. There may be another argument that they have been neglecting the locals, but that is another issue that has to be dealt with separately. Persons are of the opinion that the GFF is loaded with money. This present administration took over the running of the GFF very highly indebted to many organisation and persons, they have been trying assiduously to eradicate some of the debts but because of the nature of the game money has to be garnered regularly to service the sport. This Government has shown reluctance to assist the GFF whenever approached. Football is played at the grass roots level, played by the underprivileged, the ghetto youths, the road bailers, these same persons are very supportive of this Government, yet the parent body is being treated like a rag doll. Be aware that this is Election Season and every vote is important, The
Coalition must be cautious how they tread on such delicate issues. I was reliably informed that the GFF have requested to use the Providence National Stadium to play the games in the National league but this Coalition Government which promised them they will get it suddenly had a change of heart, they have refused to give the GFF the venue for the game scheduled for 15th Nov 2019 against Aruba. The excuses and reasons for them not getting it are very flimsy and has no merit. The Kashif and Shanghai Organisation through the GFF had made request to hold the International Futsal Tournament at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall after they were promised same, overseas teams have been invited and have confirmed their participation, officials have already made travel arrangements to visit Guyana, but suddenly the Ministry of Social Cohesion/ Department of Culture, Youth & Sports who controls the CASH said that the venue is unavailable. Why is it that the Government is acting so callous towards football and its authorities, it seems that they don’t care about football, football is the most popular sport in the world, played by over 200 countries in the world, the crowds at venues are tremendous, the support from business continues unabated because the benefits and returns are encouraging. When World Cup Football is being played the World Pauses and sometimes stop. Mr Minister of Sport, Mr Director of Sport, I urge you and your Government to relook and the decisions that are being made in the interest of sports and football in particular. Come 2020 we need you to be around to continue the good work of the Coalition. May you be guided accordingly with the guidance of God. Yours in Sports, Anthony Alphonso Football Enthusiast
Wednesday November 06, 2019
LBI overcome St. Roses by 66 runs
The winning LBI School team.
LBI defeated St. Roses by 66 runs to win the final of the Holy Bible Family Club Inter Secondary Schools Tapeball competition which was contested on Saturday last at the National Cultural Centre tarmac. Batting first, LBI Secondary managed 109-4 off their allocation of 24 balls. St. Roses made 43-6 in reply. On Sunday at Durban Park, Cummings Lodge Secondary
beat North Georgetown Secondary in the final of another competition. North Georgetown Secondary batted first and managed 47-6 off their allotted six overs. Cummings Lodge Secondary responded with 49 in 5.4 overs. Brandon Kissoon of Cummings Lodge was adjudged the MVP, while Bishop’s High School was voted the most discipline team. Another tournament is set for November 30.
The triumphant Cummings lodge School Team along with Head Teacher (2nd left) and Coordinator James Lewis (right).
Dutch Olympic athlete jailed for drug trafficking AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Dutch Olympic athlete Madiea Ghafoor has been sentenced to eight-and-a-half years in jail after 2 million pounds ($2.58 million) worth of ecstasy tablets and crystal meth were found in the boot of her car in Germany, DPA news agency has reported. Ghafoor, 27, was stopped at a border check in Elten in June where 50kg of ecstasy, 2kg of crystal meth and 11,950 euros in cash were seized by police, the report said. The athlete, who ran for the Netherlands in the 4x400m relay at the 2016 Olympic Games, pleaded not guilty to the charges at Kleve District Court and said she thought she was carrying doping materials, the German news agency said. The Dutch Athletics Union said it was shocked by the
case and would investigate Ghafoor’s claim concerning doping materials to ascertain who else might have been involved. “We are stunned by the judgment,” a statement on the organization’s website said. “With the ruling of the German court, the Athletics Union rejects the actions of Ghafoor. “The Athletics Union condemns any use or trade in doping or drugs and fully commits itself to the Dutch doping law. “The case has been transferred to the Doping Authority to investigate the extent to which the doping legislation has been violated.” Ghafoor refused to reveal who she was transporting the drugs for and said she feared for the safety of her family, DPA said.
Wednesday November 06, 2019
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NBA roundup: Suns send Sixers to first loss Devin Booker scored a season-high 40 points on Monday, and Ricky Rubio added 21 points and 10 assists as the host Phoenix Suns handed the Philadelphia 76ers their first loss of the season, 114-109. Aron Baynes had 15 points and made three 3pointers, Kelly Oubre Jr. scored 14 points, and the Suns shot 53.2 percent from the field. Phoenix won for the fifth time in seven games, its best start since beginning the 2013-14 season with the same record. Al Horford had a seasonhigh 32 points and tied a career high with five 3pointers, Tobias Harris had 24 points and 10 rebounds, and Furkan Korkmaz contributed a career-high 20 points for the Sixers. Philadelphia had been the last undefeated team in the league after winning its first five. The 76ers played without leading scorer and rebounder Joel Embiid, who served the final game of a two-game suspension after an altercation with Minnesota center Karl-Anthony Towns last Wednesday. Kurkmaz started in his place. ROCKETS 107, GRIZZLIES 100 James Harden scored 44 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead Houston to a victory at Memphis. Harden was the foundation of a bounce-back effort for the Rockets, whose defense was torched for an average of 126 points in backto-back losses at Brooklyn and Miami over the weekend. Houston, playing without Russell Westbrook (rest) for the first time this season, got 16 points from Eric Gorgon and 15 points and nine
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) handles the ball against Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) during the second half at FedExForum. (Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports) rebounds from Danuel House Jr. Rookie Ja Morant paced the Grizzlies with 23 points. Dillon Brooks chipped in 17 points and nine boards, and Jonas Valanciunas had 10 points and 10 rebounds. BUCKS 134, TIMBERWOLVES 106 Giannis Antetokounmpo recorded 34 points and 15 rebounds as Milwaukee rode a third-quarter surge and overcame a bizarre delay to the game and roll past Minnesota in Minneapolis. Antetokounmpo, who was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week earlier on Monday, shot 14 of 19 from the field in a game that began after a delay of nearly an hour caused by a basket malfunction as one of
the rims was found to be uneven during warmups. Khris Middleton scored 26 points following a 9-of-15 effort from the field for the Bucks, who have won three in a row overall and nine of their last 11 encounters with the Timberwolves. Andrew Wiggins recorded 25 points for Minnesota, which played without Karl-Anthony Towns as the two-time All-Star center served the second contest of his suspension for the altercation with Embiid. WARRIORS 127, TRAIL BLAZERS 118 Rookie Eric Paschall scored a season-best 36 points as Golden State surprised Portland and won for the first time at its new home arena, Chase Center in San Francisco.
Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) reacts against the Philadelphia 76ers in the second half at Talking Stick Resort Arena. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports) The win capped a six-day, four-game homestand during which the Warriors had lost to Phoenix, San Antonio and Charlotte to fall to 0-4 at home before finally getting the win Monday. Portland took just its second loss in five road games. Damian Lillard, an Oakland native playing his first game in San Francisco, paced the Trail Blazers with 39 points, including five 3pointers. The Warriors shot 33-for-36 from the foul line while the visitors were 11-for14 on free throws. NETS 135, PELICANS 125 Kyrie Irving totaled 39 points and nine assists while leading six players in double figures as host Brooklyn nearly blew all of a 20-point lead but recovered to knock off New Orleans.
Irving scored at least 20 points for the seventh straight game, matching Brook Lopez for the most in Nets history since the franchise moved from New Jersey in 2012. He posted his third 30point game and scored 24 of his points after halftime while shooting 13 of 21 from the floor overall and hitting all 11 of his freethrow attempts. The Nets rebounded from blowing a 14-point lead at Detroit on Saturday and headed into a five-game road trip at 3-4. They withstood a career-high 40 points from New Orleans forward Brandon Ingram and survived allowing 48 points in the third quarter. Caris LeVert added 23 for the Nets. Wizards 115, Pistons 99 Bradley Beal scored 22
points to lead six players in double figures for host Washington, which pulled away in the second half to defeat Detroit and snap a three-game losing streak. Troy Brown Jr. scored 14 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, Thomas Bryant had 14 points, and Washington’s defense clamped down after allowing 131 points to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night and 159 to the Houston Rockets on Wednesday. Three Wizards chipped in 12 points apiece, including CJ Miles, who was making his season debut after recovering from a foot injury. Luke Kennard led Detroit with 24 points, and Andre Drummond had 15 points and 24 rebounds. (Field Level Media)
Additional TV umpire likely to monitor no-balls in IPL ESPNcricinfo - The IPL is planning to have an exclusive TV umpire to monitor no-balls from the 2020 edition. It is understood this extra match official will be separate from the third and fourth umpires and will use technology to help on-field officials monitor no-balls. The decision to use technology more in order to reduce the errors made by the on-field umpires was taken by the newly-formed IPL governing council, headed by former India batsman Brijesh Patel, at a meeting in Mumbai yesterday. One governing council member confirmed that they were first looking to try out this additional umpire in a domestic tournament. With the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20
tournament beginning on Friday followed by the Ranji Trophy next month, the official said the new idea could be tried out in either of the tournaments. The development is likely to be welcomed by players and teams considering umpiring standards in the IPL have been a talking point for several years, which saw the introduction of DRS in the tournament in 2018. In IPL 2019, India’s two senior-most players - Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni - pulled up match officials in separate matches over controversial no-ball decisions. Kohli called a missed noball opportunity “ridiculous” after a match against Mumbai Indians when Royal Challengers Bangalore
needed seven off the final ball and Shivam Dube only managed a single. TV replays on the big screen later showed Lasith Malinga had overstepped, and had the noball been called, AB de Villiers, who was on 70 off 41, would have taken strike and faced a free hit with five needed off the last ball. “We are playing at IPL level, not club cricket,” Kohli had said at the post-match presentation. “That’s just a ridiculous call off the last ball. The umpires should have their eyes open.” Earlier in the tournament, in Chennai Super Kings’ away match in Jaipur against Rajasthan Royals, Dhoni controversially walked on to the field to engage with the on-field umpire Ulhas Gandhe
over a no-ball call. The incident took place in the final over of Super Kings’ chase with the visitors needing 18 to win. With eight needed off the last three balls and new man Mitchell Santner on strike, Ben Stokes bowled a full toss and Gandhe first signalled a no-ball for height, only for his square-leg colleague Bruce Oxenford to overrule the decision. The IPL’s idea comes on the back of a similar decision taken by the ICC which recently decided to conduct trials in which a TV umpire will monitor front-foot no-balls. The ICC said it was looking to try it out in a few limitedovers series first, similar to how it was used during an England-Pakistan ODI series in 2016.
Nigel Llong and Virat Kohli have an argument over the ‘no-ball’. (BCCI)
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Wednesday November 06, 2019
GHB JUNIOR INDOOR C/SHIP Legend Lloyd recalls “extra-special BEGINS TODAY AT CASH cricketer” Marshall
Action in the Mixed Under-10 competition. The sixth Annual Junior Indoor Hockey Championships, which is being organised by the Guyana Hockey Board (GHB) and sponsored by Sunshine Snack, Simco Engineering and Farfan & Mendes, slaps off this evening from 17:00hrs at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) with the last game scheduled to hit off at 20:00hrs. A total of seven matches will be played today with five of those in the Under-16 age group and two in the Under-21
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Legendary West Indies captain Clive Lloyd has recalled one of the “greatest and most courageous acts” he ever witnessed during his playing career, in paying tribute to ace fast bowler Malcolm Marshall on the 20th anniversary of his death. Marshall, considered by many as the greatest fast bowler ever, died on November 4, 1999 at age 41 after battling cancer. In the summer of 1984 on the famous tour of England, Marshall sustained a double fracture to the left thumb
depleted. I was sitting with him and asked ‘you think you can play?’. He replied: ‘Skip, if you want me to play I will play’.” Marshall arrived at the crease with Gomes on 96 and defied England’s bowlers for nearly 20 minutes, batting one-handed. Even more amazing was the bowling effort to follow, scything through the England second innings to send the hosts crashing for 159. “It was one of his best bowling performances. Normally, with such an injury guys would be expected to
division. GBTI GCC Spartans will open the Farfan & Mendes Ltd Under-16 division action against YMCA Old Fort in the first match of the evening. GCC War Dogs will play SHC Silencers in the first boys’ Under-16 match of the tournament, while the two Sunshine Snacks Under-21 games will feature GBTI GCC Spartans versus YMCA Old Fort in the women’s category, while GCC Pitbulls will play YMCA Old Fort.
Brickdam Police treated to Circle Tennis demonstration
Late West Indies fast bowling icon, Malcolm Marshall.
The demonstration Circle Tennis game is full swing at Brickdam Police Station tarmac. As the Revival of our National Game of Circle Tennis is on the move, members of Saint Pius Sports Complex, Houston All Stars and Officials took the sport to the Brickdam Police Station Compound (Tarmac) to demonstrate to the Law Enforcement Officers, how the game is played. Also a few members of the force were also involved in the event. In an invited comment, A. Munroe who is responsible
for the sport from the Ministry of the Presidency/NSC stated that the excise was a good venture with a number of Police ranks looking on attentively including the Commander A Division. “Our intention, and we are looking forward to see it happen very soon, is to have a team from the Guyana Police Force (GPF) getting involved in ‘Our National Game’ at a competitive level,” stated Munroe.
during the third Test at Headingley and under normal circumstances, would have been ruled out of the match. But after applying a protective plaster, he batted in West Indies’ first innings of 302 – helping Larry Gomes to reach his hundred – and then returned to take seven for 53 in England second innings, as the Caribbean side stormed to an eight-wicket win. “Malcolm was a special cricketer … actually I would have to say he was an ‘extraspecial cricketer’,” said Lloyd, who oversaw the capture of the first two World Cups in England. “He got his wickets with three other great fast bowlers alongside him, so in many ways the wickets were ‘shared’ yet he ended with a remarkable record as a bowler. “The performance with a broken hand was one of the most remarkable things I have ever seen a cricketer do, certainly one of the most memorable things in my time around the game. “The one thing I remembered most was everyone said he couldn’t play and we would be
miss a match,” Lloyd pointed out. “He was there with the bat … he stayed at the crease and helped Larry Gomes to a hundred. Those are special things you remember… the togetherness and commitment and how they would do anything for West Indies. “I had a lot of time for Malcolm, he wore his heart on the sleeve and West Indies cricket was first and foremost. He must rank very close to the top of all time. He was a master tactician, he could read the game very well, he was a great thinker and that’s why he was also a great coach.” Mar-shall was the first West Indies fast bowlers to take 300 Test wickets and ended with 376 at 20.9 each. Overall, Marshall snared an extraordinary 1651 wick-ets at an av-er-age of 19, in 408 first-class match-es. Following his death, the southern end at Kensington Oval in his homeland Barbados was named the “Malcolm Marshall End” in his honour while the driveway to the Hampshire Bowl ground in England was renamed “Marshall Way”.
Wednesday November 06, 2019
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Briton John takes inaugural A. Ally and Sons Memorial 50-mile Cycle Race in Berbice Briton John continues his good form this year when he defeated a competitive field to win the inaugural A. Ally’s and Sons Memorial 50-mile Cycle Race which was held on Sunday in Berbice. The event which was sponsored by the Management and family of the A. Ally and Sons Stores in memory of the founder birthday was organised by the Flying Ace Cycle Club (FACC). The riders pedaled off from in front of the New Amsterdam Super Store before proceeding to in front of the Nand Persaud Business Complex at No 36 Village, Corentyne and back to finish at its place of origin. John was able to nose ahead after a spirited battle with three other cyclists to win in a time of two hours, 12 minutes and 36 seconds. Finishing second was Andre ‘Padlock’ Green with Walter Grant-Stuart third and Kemuel Moses fourth. The other top finishers in the Open category were: finishing fifth was Marcus Keiler with Berbice riders Andrew Hicks, Ajay Gopilall, Ralph Seenarine, Balram Narine and Mario Washington occupying the sixth to tenth spots.
John receiving his trophy as other top performers poses for a photo with the sponsors and organisers. CEO Fizal Ally (with cap) stands in the front row. Seenarine was the top Novice cyclist on show with Washington second, Jason Sampson third, Donovan Fraser fourth. The winner of the 12-14 category was Aaron Rajnarine with Shazim Yakub
and Ravikhan Mootoo the others that placed. Seenarine was awarded for being the top cyclist of the FACC. Veteran rider Daniel Rigby received a special prize for being the oldest cyclist to participate in the event.
The prime point prizes were taken by Keiler with three, Deeraj Garbaran taking two, while there was one apiece for Narine, Green and Junior Niles. The organisers thanked the cyclists for participating,
while expressing special congratulations to the winners. The cyclists were adequately rewarded. CEO Fizal Ally expressed the wish to make it an annual event and even bigger in the future.
The store, which was a regular and major sponsored of cycling events, had stopped for a while. The event was coordinated by Randolph Roberts and Joseph Britton. (Samuel Whyte)
West Indies Over-50 suffer mixed fortunes at the Broward Stadium last weekend Fourteen of the eighteen West Indies Over-50 shortlisted squad members descended in Fort Lauderdale, Florida to contest against a strong Florida Wanderers side on Saturday in its first encounter. As a result, on both days two players played with the opposition’s team. In the first match, West Indies Over-50 won the toss and took first strike against a Florida side and were bowled out for 89 in 22 overs with former Berbice Under-19 player, Rajendra Sadeo top scoring with 21 and former Trinidadian, Ishwar Maraj, who captained Canada at the ICC World Cup, retiring on 20. Some of our other players were provided with a second opportunity to bat until the 30 overs mark was reached. Former Guyana national opening batsman, Sudesh Dhaniram, cracked a superb half century, being 67 not out. Dhaniram’s innings was decorated with seven fours and three sixes. In total West Indies Over-50s made 160/14 off their allotted 30 overs.
Mark Audain grabbed 4 for 25 off 7 overs. This first match was played on the Outer Field of the Broward Stadium where the astro turf is used and from reports received, the wicket was soaked prior to the match commencing, resulting in the pitch playing most unpredictable with varying bounce. It was obvious when some of players batted for a second time that the pitch had dried out quite a bit and playing much more even. Hosts, the Florida Wanderers, knocked off the runs in 21 overs, with two of their youngsters reaching 50. D. James top scored with 57, whilst R. Nayir compiled a well-constructed 53 to remain not out at the end of the day. This was the very first time that the players got together and the opportunity for them to all meet and gel with each other. Some of the players were a little rusty for this first encounter. On Sunday, the second match was played in the Stadium itself where the wicket was a bit slow and low. Winning the toss and again
The West Indies Over 50 squad. opting to bat first, the West Indies Over-50s racked up a tidy 203/6 after their allotted 40 overs. The openers started off a little slow trying to get a measure of the wicket before Fareed Hosein from TT fell for
13 and the score on 24. This paved the way for the entry of Sudesh Dhaniram to the wicket, he consolidated the innings with Roy Singh in a 59 runs partnership before he fell to St Lucian Julian Charles for a well-played 37.
Roy Singh was unfortunately run out for 27 making it 93/3. Most of the other batsmen got starts. Rajendra Sadeo made 28 (3 X 4), Ishwar Maraj made 22, whilst the evergreen Zamin Amin was not out on 31. Julian Charles, who is part
of the WI Over-50s squad, played for the FL Wanderers in this second match and took 2 for 42 off 8 decent overs of leg spin. During the interval, the rain intervened to put a halt to the proceedings.
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Kaieteur News
GMR&SC Clash of Champions
10 drivers already confirmed for Starlet Cup
Syed Hassan’s Starlet.
Afraz Allie and his Toyota Starlet. The GMR&SC has confirmed to the media that at least 10 drivers have already confirmed their participation in the Choke Gas Station’s Starlet Cup at the Clash of Champions International race meet which is scheduled for November 16 & 17 at the South Dakota Circuit, Timehri. Among the more outspoken competitors are Syed Hassan, Roshan Ali, Riaz Allie and his cousin Afraz Allie, former champion Motielall Deodass, reigning champions Anand Ramchand, Rameez Mohamed, Shairaz Roshandin and Dowalu Harper. Former group champion Riaz Allie will be
making a return with his own car after five years, and himself along with Cousin Afraz Allie, who is also returning after a long hiatus, will be looking to create a stir in this group that is only competed in Guyana. Both Riaz and Afraz will also be competing in group 3. However, Ramchand has been a dominant force in the Starlet cup for the past few years and getting past him will be a tough task, while the likes of Deodass, Mohamed and Hassan are capable of upsetting the field on any day. In addition, a full field of machines is expected for the highly anticipated SR3 radicals, Miracle Optical Street and Prem’s
Electrical Sports Tuner classes along with groups 2, 3 and 4. The championship winners of the Choke Starlet Cup, Miracle Optical Street Tuner and Prem’s Electrical Sports Tuner are set to pocket
$500,000 each. The Clash of Champions event will see competitors from Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados, England and North America. Admission is $2000, children are free.
Reigning Junior Chess Champion wins DDL TOPCO one-day tournament
Smith fires Australia to victory over Pakistan in Canberra MELBOURNE (Reuters) Steve Smith struck a sparkling half-century to fire Australia to an emphatic seven-wicket victory over Pakistan in their T20 match in Canberra yesterday. The former captain’s unbeaten 80 from 51 balls gave Australia a 1-0 lead in their three-match series after the opener was washed out in Sydney on Sunday. Pakistan managed to do what Sri Lanka couldn’t in the previous series — removed David Warner — but they had no answers for the peerless Smith, who put on a clinic of clean hitting as Australia mopped up Pakistan’s modest total of 150 for six with nine balls to spare. “It was nice to be there at the end to get the boys home,” Smith said. “It was probably a 170-ish wicket, I reckon, so they (Australia) bowled beautifully. “It was just about timing in the end.” With both sides unchanged from Sydney, Pakistan elected to bat after winning the toss but their hopes of a statement innings
Steven Smith goes after a short ball. (Getty Images) were dashed by regular top order wickets. Babar Azam was left to piece together the innings with Iftikhar Ahmed before the opener-captain was removed for 50 by a piece of fielding
magic from Warner, who threw down the stumps from long-range. Iftikhar slogged his way to an unbeaten 62 to give Pakistan a total to defend. It soon seemed insufficient, however, as Australia skipper Aaron Finch and Warner stormed out of the blocks, smashing 30 runs in three overs before Warner was bowled for 20 by Mohammad Amir. It was Warner’s first dismissal in five T20Is, having been two not out in the rained-out Sydney game and unbeaten with scores of 57, 60 and 100 in the 3-0 series sweep of Sri Lanka. “We are disappointed but Steve Smith took the match away,” Babar said through a translator. “It’s very difficult when we lose early wickets and we have to gain the momentum again.” Australia will seek to seal the series with victory in Perth on Friday. Scores: Australia 3 for 151 (Smith 80*) beat Pakistan 6 for 150 (Ahmed 52*, Azam 50) by seven wickets.
Junior Chess players battle in intense competition last Saturday. University of Guyana student and reigning Junior Chess Champion Andre Jagnandan, copped First Place with a perfect nine points from nine matches played in the first DDL TOPCO Juices one-day blitz tournament at the National Aquatic Centre on Saturday last. Former Junior Champion Joshua Gopaul claimed Second Place with seven points, while Aravinda Singh came in Third on six points. Marian Academy student Luca Dotto was adjudged the Best Under-16 player and Micaiah Enoe, also of the same school, was the Best Under -12 Player. The young chess players displayed grit while
TOPCO First Place Andre Jagnandan (left) & GCF President Frankie Farley. opposing each other in nine rounds of fast paced chess which lasted for under 20 minutes per game. Five more TOPCO junior chess tournaments are being
planned by the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) and the body is urging all junior chess players to intensify their practice regimen for the upcoming competitions.
Wednesday November 06, 2019
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Kaieteur News
Plaisance Guardians are Brusche’s Basketball Classic 2019 U18 champs
The victorious Plaisance Guardians U-18 Basketball team and Technical staff show off their prizes in the presence of second placed Victory Valley Royals team, right. Led by the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament, Nigel Bowen; East Coast Demerara’s Plaisance Guardians bounced away with championship honours when the 2019 edition of the Brusche’s Basketball Classic (knockout) concluded on Saturday night last at the Mackenzie Sports Club, Hard Court in the Bauxite Mining Town of Linden.
Playing in the 7th Biennial tournament and coming up against the home team, Victory Valley Royals in the Under-18 showdown, the Guardians were held 9-9 at the end of the first quarter but thereafter, took the advantage as they led 27-16 at the half way stage; 41-34 at the end of the third quarter, eventually winning, 61-53. The champions were presented with a cash prize whilst
the players received replica trophies. The tournament was sponsored by the Brusche Basketball Foundation. The teams contesting this year’s knockout tournament were Victory Valley Royals and Junior Kings of Linden, Kwakwani Ballers (Kwakwani), Bartica Rangulars (Bartica), Rose Hall Jammers (Berbice), Pepsi Sonics (Georgetown) and Plaisance Guardians.
GFF/NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power U-17 League – West Demerara FA
Eagles remain flawless Eagles Football Club of Stewartville continued to put away their opposing counterparts as rivalry in the GFF/NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power U-17 Intra Association League, West Demerara Football Association leg continued on the weekend. Led by the joint leading goal scorers in this second round of the two-round league, Eagles sailed to a comfortable 6-1 triumph over Hurry-ATE FC at the Uitvlugt Community Centre Ground, bettering their first round result which was 3-1. Telbert Baptiste, now with five goals, blasted a hat-trick in Saturday’s win; he was on target in the 25th, 36th and 55th minutes. Troy Skeete, whose tally in this round is
also five goals to date, scored in the 45th minute. The other goals were scored by Kareem Harris (20th) and Francis Persaud (42nd). Hurry-ATE, which had taken the lead in the 12th minute when Joshua Jack found the back of the nets, couldn’t find the target again for the remainder of the match. Uitvlugt Warriors were gifted their first win of the round, thanks to the no-show of Wales United. The lone match on Sunday at the Goed Fortuin Ground produced a stalemate between Pouderoyen and Den Amstel which battled to a 2-2 draw. The result brought Den Amstel’s first point of the round. Pouderoyen had jumped into the lead in the 7th minute when Ezekiel Guppy
scored but Jamal Robinson netted the first of his double for Den Amstel in the 26th minute to level things up. Robinson found the back of the nets once again in the 52nd minute to hand Den Amstel the lead but that advantage was cancelled out in the 75th minute when Jarrel Phoenix converted for Pouderoyen to ensure an equal share of the spoils. The Uitvlugt Community Centre Ground will host a triple header on Saturday from 10:00hrs when the home team Uitvlugt Warriors match skills with Pouderoyen followed two hours later by a clash between Eagles and Wales United. The final match brings together Den Amstel and Hurry-ATE from 14:00hrs.
Balgobin grabs 6 as WF overcome Hydronie
Sachin Balgobin
A six-wicket haul from young Sachin Balgobin handed host Windsor Forest a four-wicket victory over Hydronie when the teams collided in a 30-over fixture on Sunday last. Hydronie batted first and were bowled out for 92 in 30 overs. I. Mohamed made 24 as Balgobin finished with figures of 6-8 from six overs and N. Bholaram had 2-8. Windsor Forest responded with 93-6 in 15.3 overs. M Chatram scored 27, H. Bisnauth 17 and Balgobin 11. I. Mohamed took three wickets for the visitors.
Troy Skeete, Francis Persaud, Telbert Baptiste, Kareem Harris – Eagles FC of Stewartville. Latest Points Table Team Eagles (Stewartville) Uitvlugt Warriors Pouderoyen Hurry-ATE Wales Den Amstel
P 3 3 3 3 2 2
W 3 1 1 1 0 0
D 0 1 1 1 0 1
L 0 1 1 1 2 1
GD 13 1 0 -3 -4 -7
Points 9 4 4 4 0 1
PAGE 42
Wednesday November 06, 2019
Kaieteur News
ARCHERY HELD AT QUEEN’S COLLEGE
Archery officials and Queen’s College students take a photo op after the event. At the beginning of September 2019, the Queen’s College CXC Graduating Class of 1990-95 rekindled friendships and formed a diverse and dynamic group to plan their Reunion in 2020. This pro-active group of alumni from Queen’s College has since met with the
Principal of Queen’s College and started discussions with the overall objective of assisting their alma mater. Since then, they have collaborated with the Board of Directors of Archery Guyana to plan the Launch of a “Queen’s College Archery Club” with the hope that
future Olympians will emanate from their School out of this fast growing and appealing sport. Despite disappointment of a failed launch during the General Assembly to commemorate the 175th Anniversary of the School, which was reported to be
because of the change or chairmanship of the board and forgetting to include the launch in the programme, the inclusion of archery did receive a boost at the institution. The Alumni wishes to commend the Principal Mrs. Jackie Benn for her
ABSAA Inc hosts successful charity football tourney
enthusiasm, knowledge and research of the sport and support for the students of Queen’s College. Due to the Headteacher’s intervention, as part of the School’s recent 175th Anniversary Celebrations, Archery Guyana collaborated with the Graduating Class of 90-95 and hosted an Archery Booth for students, teachers and alumni to be initiated to the sport on Thursday 31st October, 2019 at the School’s Sports Day on the Field. The venture was a success. This new sport attracted a large crowd of very eager potential archers who tried their skills at shooting the bow, many of whom immediately wanted more
information on when they might start practicing the sport regularly. Most of the students got a chance to use the bows provided, and some even hit a few 10 rings (bullseyes). This natural talent was noted by the Archery Guyana representatives on the field. The students were also treated to a demonstration of Olympic archery by Archery Guyana coach Anand Mangra, using his equipment and explaining parts of the process of how it’s done, which further awed the QC students. QC Principal, Mrs. Jackie Ralph-Benn was also excited to try her hand at archery.
Members of the participating teams following the event. Under the theme “Kick out Breast Cancer! Keep Women in the Game”, the annual charity football competition which was contested on Sunday last at GFC ground was geared towards bringing awareness to the fight against breast cancer. For the past two years the organisers staged the futsal version, however, this year they tried the full field and it was an overwhelming success. The match results are; Game 1: Kanaima Ladies 3 vs 0 Santos Ladies; scorer for
Kanaima: Patsy Walker -3. Game 2: Botafago Ladies (Linden) 0 vs 2 Fruta Conquerors Ladies; scorers for Fruta: Latesha Sutherland -1 and Shanic Thornhill-1. Game 3: U20 Santos 3 vs 0 GFC- scorers for Santos: Ronel Peters-1 Randy Roberts-1 and Deron Niles-1. Game 4: Ladies Final: Kanaima Ladies 1 vs 1 Fruta Ladies; scorer for Kanaima: June Edmund and for Fruta Shamya Daniel in regular time. Kanaima won on PKs 5-4. Game 5: GFF Staff 3 vs 2 Wales Masters; Scorers for
GFF: Orvil Daniels – 2, Guest player - 1. Scorers for Wales: Delon Layne-1 and Ota Jones-1 Game 6: Masters Over 40 -Paris FC (French Guiana) 7 vs 3 GT Masters (Guyana); scorers for St Paris (French Guiana): Anthony Abrams-4, Roy Cohtout-1, Vigil Glosgo1 and Yardy Jones-1. Scorers for GT Masters: Gerald Whittington-1, Anthony Stanton-1 and Calvin Pitt-1. Game 7: GT U 20 Combine 0 vs 1 Dwain Dungin Jacobs Combine; Scorer for Dungin Jacobs: Shemar Fraser-1
The organisation has expressed gratitude to the Guyana Cancer Foundation and Cancer Institute of Guyana and its sponsors who came on board to make this event possible. The Outdoor Store & Pet Shop; Guyana Football Federation, the Trophy Stall; West Indies Sports Complex; ABSAA, Ms. Shirley Ferreira , Ms. Paulette Herod, Mr. Samuel Bunbury of USA and Ms. Donna Knights and the players and supporters and Mr. English Parris for his help with logistics.
Principal of Queen’s College, Mrs. Jackie RalphBenn trying the sport under the guidance of Head Coach, Mr. Nicholas Hing.