Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday November 07, 2017

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

EDITORIAL

THE U.S., NORTH KOREA AND GLOBAL WARMING About fifty years ago, an American General had threatened to bomb North Vietnam back into the Stone Age. His remarks were greeted with horror and outrage by the American public and the rest of the world. However, they have not deterred President Trump who, in his first address at the United Nations (UN) General Assembly on September 19, 2017, stated that he would totally destroy North Korea. It was the most dangerous threat made by an American President at the UN since the Second World War. Unfortunately, it seems that he is not aware of the consequences of nuclear war. The bombing of North Korea would annihilate its population of 25 million people, and another 10 to 20 million people in neighbouring South Korea. It may even lead to a third world war. North Korea is ruled by a dictator Kim Jung-un who has systematically oppressed, starved and murdered his own people. He appears to be narcissistic and psychologically unstable, and is known for bombastic and war-like threats and insults. However, President Trump’s threats to use nuclear weapons on North Korea should not be excused for the threats posed by its leader. Threats of a nuclear war by both the United States and North Korea seem to be reckless, in a world with an organization such as the UN and international law to settle conflicts between states. The world has changed significantly since World War II. Today, Europe is united under the umbrella of the European Union (EU) in which trade and other forms of cooperation between states have grown substantially and the human rights of people have been recognized, respected and protected across state boundaries. Experts contend that the UN is mainly responsible for the global peace of the last 70 years. Further, the digital technological revolution, the internet and the social media have changed the world into a tiny village, and have helped to make it possible for the people to live in peace. However, not all have benefited from the technological changes that have swept across the globe, which suggests that the world is far from being perfect. There exists frustration and even anger among people in the less developed countries who felt that they have not benefited from the technological advances. Nonetheless, returning to a world of conflict should not be an option. It would set civilization back. The role of political leaders is to move their countries forward and forge a vision for a better and safer world, in which cooperation among states can grow and flourish. But such a task is not easy; it would require patience, courage, determination, vision and the support of states. The Paris Climate Agreement reached in December 2015 and the non-proliferation nuclear agreement between the United States and Iran, represent two of the best cooperation efforts between and among states in recent times. However, President Trump’s decision to pull the United States out of the Paris Agreement and rescind the Iran nuclear agreement which he claimed is an embarrassment to the United States could lead to serious consequences. The termination of the Iran nuclear agreement could increase the nuclear arms race. Pulling the US out of the Paris Climate Change Agreement could result in warmer climates in a number of countries, including Guyana, which has been affected by floods and the Caribbean Islands which have recently been ravaged by monster hurricanes, Irma and Maria. Guyana, the Caribbean and the underdeveloped countries have very little influence on international relations, therefore, their only hope is for enlightened and inspirational leadership from the United States and the other developed countries to make the world safer to live.

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

President Granger needs to respect our Constitution DEAR EDITOR, Much have been said about our protest in the National Assembly during the address of the President on Thursday, November 2. It was our intention to make a bold statement to demonstrate our collective outrage at the callous way in which the Head of State and his government violate the rule of law, assault important democratic institutions, and breach the Constitution in the most egregious fashion. Article 226(1) of the Constitution states: “In the exercise of its functions under the Constitution, a Commission shall not be subject to the direction or control of any other person or authority”. In May 2015, the then Junior Social Protection Minister, Simona Broomes, instructed the Secretary of the Public Service Commission, that “all interviews and meetings of the Commission are to cease forthwith until further, as instructed by His Excellency, the President, David Arthur Granger’s notice”. This was challenged in the High Court, and Justice Chang ruled that the Public Service Commission, a Commission established by the

Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, in the exercise of its functions shall not be subject to the direction or control of any other person or authority. The Chief Justice called it a violation of Article 226 of the Constitution of the Cooperative of Guyana, and ruled that it is unlawful, null, void and of no legal effect. In a public statement released to the press on October 8, 2016, trade unionist Carvil Duncan said that he was asked by President David Granger in February of that year, to resign as Chairman of the Public Service Commission (PSC) and from other constitutional commissions. Duncan related that he was invited to meet with the President and the Minister of State, the Hon Joseph Harmon. He was asked to submit his resignation. Harmon, he said, offered him a suitable financial package for his exit. And during the course of the meeting, Duncan reported that the President said “no less than three times”, that he does not want any blood on his carpet. Having rejected their of-

fer, the Government embarked upon a manifestly unlawful course of action. While certain criminal charges were pending in the Magistrate’s Court against Duncan, the Government decided to trigger a constitutional process to remove him from office. Without a hearing, President Granger set up a ‘kangaroo tribunal’ to remove the embattled trade unionist as chairman of the Public Service Commission. But by virtue of being chairman of the PSC, Carvil Duncan was ex-officio, a member of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) and the Police Service Commission, institutions created by the Constitution and endowed with the fundamental role and function of guarding against executive abuses. As Chairman of the PSC, Carvil Duncan enjoyed all these constitutional protections. And in June 2016, the President again deliberately violated the Constitution when he instructed Minister of State, Joe Harmon to issue a directive to the Police Service Commission (PSC) in his name, instructing the PSC to halt the police promotions process.

It is obvious that this President demonstrates absolute disrespect and disregard for the letter and spirit of the Constitution. He continues to contravene its provisions with impunity. This vulgar and authoritarian attempt by the President to trample upon the independence and functional autonomy of the Police Service Commission, a constitutional agency, was again challenged in the High Court. The editorial in the Stabroek News on August 21, expressed grave concern for the country, as “a pattern of highly worrying behaviour has emerged. It is clear that when it suits the President and the government to ignore constitutional precepts – in this case, the vital insulating of service commissions – it is prepared to do so. Two and a half years into its term of office, this tendency is rife. I have the greatest of respect for the Office of the President, but this President will get none from me. David Granger is no angel, he is a budding dictator. He does not deserve our respect. HARRY GILL PPP/C Member of Parliament

Questioning the valuation planned for GuySuCo DEAR EDITOR, Head of the Sugar Special Purpose Unit (SPU), hiding through a press statement, advised that the body was seeking to engage a reputable firm to value the sugar industry’s assets. That valuation, he went on to say, would form the basis of a prospectus that would allow investors to know what’s available and what it is valued at. But what is amiss about this whole convolution is that expressions of interest have already been invited. In fact, the SPU head in the press statement said that the request for proposals has been extended by about three weeks. So then how is it that a valuation is yet to be done but interested parties are asked to show their desire to acquire assets? From a layman’s perspective, the cart has clearly been put before the horse. But the hiring of a reputable firm to value sugar assets is a faux pas. The GuySuCo top leadership, possibly with the acquiescence of those who really

control and direct it, has irresponsibly allowed the running down of its assets. Thus, whenever the valuators are identified and would have completed their task, they will naturally come up with a value that is really not reflective of the realistic value of the asset. We cannot fail to miss that these valuations will determine the final prices and strengthen suspicions that the people’s assets will be sold cheaply. And, too, the SPU head made a telling admission.

We are told that the sugar company has foregone its profits as it provides several services which benefit the country. The SPU may want to say how is it that these services will be provided in the circumstances of changed ownership? It seems to me that the Treasury will have to pick up the tab meaning further pressures will be placed on the backs of the working people. The SPU’s mandate, in my view, is gravely misplaced. Rather than looking at the prospect of selling, quite pos-

sibly at dirt cheap prices, the sugar industry assets, GuySuCo should convince the Government to have the Unit adopt another course that is to package projects, to diversify, and sustain the sugar industry and to seek private capital to realise those initiatives. Sugar, I believe like many other Guyanese, has a future but political spite, as many believe too, rather than economic prudence has been the sad approach adopted towards the industry. Patricia Persaud

GTT’s incompetence shines once again DEAR EDITOR, Please allow me the opportunity to publicly express my pent up frustration with Guyana’s very own GTT. With due regards to their efforts to ensure quality service in Prospect, East Bank Demerara where I reside, I have some misgivings. It is my firm conviction that due to the lackadaisical attitude of some of their employees, my landline service has been left paralysed for almost one month

thus far, which also severely affects my DSL internet connection speed, reducing it from 5Mbps to a mere 200kb and often times, less. Multiple reports have already been made, all of which were met with false assurances that the problem was being rectified. I fail to comprehend why the repair and restoration of my landline service should call for so many reminders, requests and red tape.

What appall me further are the absolutely insubstantial excuses that are creatively offered by the service provider as a justification for the delay. It is imperative that GTT starts showing its customers some level of professionalism when dealing with such issues. It must also have those issues resolved in a timely manner, since this has far exceeded 3-5 working days. Martonio Maywalall

Tuesday November 07, 2017

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Deviation from the Accepted Norm DEAR EDITOR, Experts now claim that from the age of 2 a child can know he/ she is transgendered. At birth, a child’s mind is a blank slate. He/she must be taught to think and reason properly Clearance on Appearance Not so long ago on a planet called Earth with inhabitants called humans, were (depending on presenting sexual organs) at birth identified as either male or female.Once a sex was assigned, we presumed the gender of the child. Someone born with a penis would be a boy and someone with a vulva would be a girl. The male was termed “boy” and grew into a “man”, and the female was termed “girl” and grew into a “woman”. It was that simple. Boy was taught, learned and was supported to dress and act in a certain manner, as was girl. To coin a well-known phrase, “the living was easy” then, allowing parents to cope with the more rigid demands of child-rearing, and basic human survival. Then changes crept insidiously into the landscape, with several new words taking their place in the English language, irrevocably altering family structures, politics, legal systems, educational systems and social norms: trans,

transgender, nonbinary (gendered), pansexual, cisgender, gender-fluid. A trans or transgender, has changed or is in the process of changing his birth sex, usually with the help of medical intervention. A nonbinary or pansexual is one who has not made up his mind yet— he does not identify as either male or female, while a cisgender is an individual who identifies with his or her birth sex. ‘Olympic gold medalist Bruce Jenner who changed to Caitlyn Marie Jenner caused transgenderism to make big headlines, and also a legal uproar in America and Canada over whether or not transgender schoolchildren could use bathrooms reflective of their new sexual identities. Sadly the transgender movement in its wake is marching relentlessly into new territory—the mental and physical health of very young children. Dr. Diane Ehrensaft, a developmental and clinical psychologist in the San Francisco Bay area, founding member of the Child and Adolescent Gender Center , and associate professor of pediatrics at the University of California San Francisco, now claims that from the age of two kids can know they are transgender. A two-year-old boy can know that he should have

A retraction In the Monday November 6, 2017 Edition, under the caption “The Circle of Corruption in Region 10”, there was an attack on the character of the Regional Chairman, Councillors, residents and the Regional Democratic Council, Region #10 . We could not find any evidence or legal base for the article in question. We are deeply sorry. We affirm that our work is in the interest of national development, hence we regret the publication. We sincerely look forward to a continued cordial relationship with the Regional Chairman [Pastor], Regional Democratic Council, regional institutions and residents. ** Whores & Prostitues DEM BOYS SEH

Dear Sir, I beg to request that your writer of “Dem Boys Seh” to please desist from scandalising the “Whores & Prostitutes of Stabroek Market Area”. Those persons should in no way be labelled with the behaviour of others in their neighbourhood. An apology to those insulted would be most appropriate and do let us avoid sinking to the level of those being criticised. Thanking you. Albert Rodrigues Editor’s Note: Indeed, we do apologise to the aggrieved people. We recognise that we should not take them down to the level of the people we criticise.

Expect nothing better DEAR EDITOR, Anyone that expected anything better than the behaviour displayed in the National Assembly last Thursday doesn’t know those folks, that is really who they are, this low down cock-

roach behaviour was on display for the past twenty five years for the world to see and will only get worse with the new oil money coming on stream.”Desperate times call for desperate measures”. Colin Grant

been born the opposite sex, and a girl at two years can know that she should have been a boy. The doctor further adds that if we expect a two-yearold to know “I am a boy”, I am girl”, why cannot the same also apply to transgender children. Keeping in line with the doctor’s mode of thinking, she further adds, if a boy wants to wear dresses, then get him the dresses. Let the child be free to choose. Maybe he will stop wearing dresses. Maybe he will grow up to be gay. Ehrensaft suggests that parents listen carefully to the child’s use of pronouns regarding gender, observe any sign of frustration concerning his or her own genitals, and also take it seriously when a

boy wants to wear a dress or a girl wants to play with trucks. In professional terms, this suggestion is called – gender expansion play. Infantile Confusion or Psychological Delusion Normal two-year-olds just beginning to talk do mix up their pronouns. Although I fail to see how a two-year-old girl who chooses to play with her brother’s Tonka truck can be seen as being representative of gender confusion. It takes the much larger mind of an adult to see this innocence as some form of transgenderism. To further confuse the issue, adults allowing cross dressing in a child as young as 2 years old is certainly introducing confusion into the mind of the child regarding sexual identity. Let us not for-

get that adults should be guiding not siding with the child. The Ruse behind large scale child abuse Strange but true, certain conditions that were formerly treated as a mental illness, is now largely asserted and even promoted as normal by the medical community. Previously, “gender identity disorder” was the diagnosis assigned to children anguished by their biological sex, a term that was changed in 2013 (Diagnostic& Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) to gender dysphoria. Such a change was made possible by the often unseen hand of the transgender movement. Dr. Michelle Cretella, pediatrician and president of the

American College of Pediatricians, has a different view of the transgender ideology. One of the biggest scare tactics transgender supporters throw at parents is that they must allow gender transformation in order to prevent suicide.These harms constitute nothing less than institutionalized child abuse. She terms it abnormal when trained medical personnel recommend that parents accede to a transition-placing affirming protocol: acting as if the child is the gender he or she chooses, placing the child on puberty blockers when the child attains the age of 11 or 12. If by age 16, the child is still of the opinion that he or she is trapped in the wrong body then the child should be placed on cross sex hormones. Before the age of 18, genital reassignment surgery is Continued on page 6

Some Facts about disputed Friendship, EBD lands DEAR EDITOR, I have read a few accounts of some submissions to the Commission of Inquiry on Land; on the problems of Section D, Friendship East Bank Demerara. Some seventeen years ago, I was asked by the most entitled but timid group of owners of Section D to assist them in their quest to assert their ownership rights. That group was the Cameron faction of the Gideon Roberts descendants. They have been unable to achieve any success as they have been overpowered and pushed aside by the more aggressive and lesser entitled of the descendants of Robert Roberts. There are five groups of heirs to the Gideon Roberts estate. I have heard reference to the area of Section D being one square mile or 640 acres. That fact has never been brought to bear in all the contesting over Friendship. The Plantation of Friendship, East Bank Demerara was acquired in the year 1856 by a number of freed African persons. The estate was divided into 50 lots (Lots 1 to 50); Lot 1 being at its northern boundary and Lot 50 at the south. The plan shows the section south of Lot 50 is divided as follows: The western portion beginning from the Demerara River to about 50 rods east, that portion called Sophia Town; East of Sophia Town is Section D or Undivided; Undivided was owned by the owners of Lots 1 to 50 of Friendship on the East Bank of Demerara. Robert Roberts, one of the signatories to the transport, had purchased two lots. By 1922, Robert Roberts owned

only Lot 45 in Friendship and therefore only one share of land in Undivided or Section D. Up to the time of his death, his last surviving relative was all but his eldest son, Noah. The Roberts clan owned only one share in section D. It was Noah’s son, Gideon, who acquired twenty shares of land in Section D by adverse possession. The possession was established by renting the southern section of Undivided to farmers. This was continued through his daughter, Elmoria, who married Soltau Cameron. Soltaus and Elmoria Cameron’s daughter, Sybil Waddle, continued to rent the land as can be substantiated by the Cappel’s Plan of 1986. Gideon Cameron’s probated will, showed that he owned 21 Undivided shares of Section D. Those 21 shares included the one share which was the property of Robert Roberts. A certain Land Court Judge had said that the Cappell Plan of 1986 should be used as the guide to determine the ownership of land in Friendship at that time. There was a time lag between the issue of that plan and the activation of the finalisation of the Registration process. It should be noted that The Government of Guyana owns land at the southern end of the numbered lots; e.g. Land on which the Friendship Secondary has been built. It therefore owns land in Section D also. In the year 2001, a group of persons, most of whom had been renting land from Mrs Waddle, as shown on the Cappell Plan, applied for titles in Section D. The Robert Rob-

erts faction started a campaign of land sales and amassed finance for the legal opposition. They were from that faction that owned only 1/50th of Undivided. After some time elapsed, the opposed persons reapplied but were not opposed so they were granted titles. Thus began a tortuous and twisted chain of events which persists until today. Myriads of claims, some successful some unsuccessful have been filed mostly with untruthful pleadings. A number of the descendants of (e.g. Ms Joyce King descendants of Robert Roberts have pleaded to have ownership by descendancy over much more than they are entitled to while some of the descendants of Gideon Roberts who was instrumental in

acquiring 20 shares of Undivided have not been very active in claiming ownership of any land in Undivided. Some time ago, another group of occupants of Undivided filed for title but was opposed by Elaine Rahat Adams and a number of the Robert Roberts and Gideon Roberts descendants. Those persons occupied that portion of Undivided that was shown on the Cappell Plan as the property of Rahat Adams. The Court ruled that the occupants should pay fifty percent (50%) to the Robert Roberts descendants and fifty percent (50%) to Elaine Rahat Adams. Perhaps the law of Undividedness is what prevailed. In 2004, I was invited by a few persons to survey land Continued on page 6

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A case of destructive and divisive politics DEAR EDITOR, Former President, Donald Ramotar is saying “Guyanese of all political views must join the fight to promote integrity in public life” (SN, 2nd November, 2017), yet he is unprepared to hold himself to the same standard that he is asking of the society. At the click of a mouse or the picking up of the telephone, he would have verified the information that GECOM Chairman, Justice James Patterson served as Chief Justice in Grenada, and help bring sobriety and integrity to the public discourse. But the refusal to do so or decision to continue perpetuating a lie brings into question his commitment of what he is asking of us. The initial contention with this appointment was that President Granger did so in contravention of the Guyana Constitution. The PPP/C, who is championing this view, has since taken the matter to court, which is the right place to resolve an issue of this nature. However, as the days progress, society is being led to believe this is much more than the alleged concern for a violation of the constitution.

It seems to be more of attempts to engage in defamation and character assassination of the appointee, to the extent where discriminatory thinking and lies are driving the narrative. Whether Patterson was acting or confirmed as Chief Justice, he performed the duties, and has earned the right to place it in his résumé. The same principle applies for those who had or are acting as Chief Justice, Chancellor, or any position in this society. Further, according to paragraph two of Article 161 (2), used to appoint this Chairman, the requirement is that of a Judge. Was this requirement not met then, there would have been justifiable reason to question qualification as required in this instance. The PPP and others are engaging in destructive and divisive politics in the effort to condition the society to think Local Government, General and Regional Elections under the Patterson’s chairmanship will be rigged, and for this reason democracy comes under threat. Society needs to recall that the PPP claimed the 2015

Elections were rigged and called for the removal of Chairman, Steve Surujbally whom they implicitly accused of the act, the same party when it secured the majority of Neighbourhood Democratic Councils, at the Local Government Elections did not damn him. Accepting selective recall and screaming of rigged elections should the PPP win any seat or majority/plurality in the local, general and regional elections; those who are crying wolf should expect society not to accept these results. This is how asinine the discourse has now become. There is no God-given right to any political party, race, or individual to govern this country. Each has equal chance under the Constitution; the privilege to be elected and served which must be earned and respected. Let me, too, address the matter of Minister Joe Harmon who in responding to Christopher Ram’s resignation from government positions, claimed that he held no significant position. Ram is significant and anything that he does, he would bring significance to it.

You may not agree with him all the time but it cannot be denied that he has played a significant role in society. Whether right or wrong, accurate or inaccurate, he has made a contribution to an understanding of the social, economic and political reality in Guyana over decades. Further, it cannot be said that Ram is not significant to government, when this is a man influencing public opinion and causing people to see and perceive and therefore act, and has struggled against successive administrations. One can disagree with or fault an argument that he may make from time to time, but that does not deny his contribution to society and so far as he has been able to influence public opinion, also his perspective in bringing about good governance. All labour is significant, including the garbage collector that keeps the environment clean and the gravedigger who is tasked with the responsibility of properly disposing of man’s earthly remains. Sanity and integrity must be restored to public discourse. Lincoln Lewis

Pensioners deserve a livable pension DEAR EDITOR, Recently, there have been discussions between the respective Unions and the Government on increased wages and salaries for public servants and for teachers. Although there is to be a payout, discussions are still ongoing. What about our pensioners who have given yeoman service to this country and are now paid a pension of $19,000 per month? I am motivated to write on the pension being paid to citizens 65 years and older, with the view that the governmental authorities will do a meaningful review of this pension for the 2018 Budget.

Under this Administration, in September 2015 it was $17,000 and in 2017 it had increased by $2,000 to $19,000. It can be argued that over the two years there was a 12 percent increase; however is this significant to the pensioners? The government has been working to create an environment which is supportive of socio-economic development with the objective of ensuring a ‘good life’ for all. If we are striving for a ‘good life’ for all, certainly the pension being paid is insufficient and should be addressed as a major priority. This pension, like other pensions globally, should be at

a minimum amount for the pensioner to live comfortably, and it is expected that this pension will be subsidised by the pensioner in the form of savings, contributions by relatives, etc in order to meet a livable amount. Pensions are not increased in an objective manner. Each year, it is increased by an incremental percentage, and this is known in the financial literature as Incremental Budgeting. It is of the view that ZeroBased Budgeting should be applied to determine a livable pension. In so doing, it should be revaluated each

time a new budget is formulated. The way forward is to do a Means Test, whereby on a monthly basis, an estimated amount is required; for example, for food, transportation, utilities, accommodation. If this is done, it is obvious that $19,000 is inadequate. When one looks at the upper levels of pensions being paid of over one million dollars per month, why pay the lowest level such a meager amount? We must move away from this incremental approach, and do a Means Test to determine a livable pension, and I can assure you that it will be more than $19,000 a month. It would be a failing on my part if I do not mention the pensionable age of 65 years to enjoy a ‘good life’. According to the latest World Health Organisation data, Life Expectancy in Guyana is 64 years for a male and 68 years for a female, a total life expectancy of 66 years and a ranking of 130. It is obvious that the authorities should have an early review on the life expectancy and to lower this pensionable age based on the authentic global statistics. After all, our pensioners also deserve a ‘good life’ and time is running out. John M. Seeram

Tuesday November 07, 2017

Fighting back DEAR EDITOR, There is a campaign by Jagdeo’s PPP to try to denigrate, frustrate, marginalise and demoralise those who have to deal with these sore losers. What Jagdeo and his few followers have to realise is that they will not be dealing with the over decent David Granger. His supporters are the ones who will walk the walk, and do the do in the quest for what belongs to them. Many are fighting to reclaim stolen lands, villages and plantations; some want answers to the murder of Donna McKinnon who was shot from Freedom House, Ronald

Waddell, and Crum-Ewing. The executioners were told by the big one in the PPP not to leave bodies on the streets so they (dead) were all thrown or dumped into alligator ponds in the back of the Botanical Gardens. The PPP is still vexed with Peter D’Aguiar not because he went with the PNC but because he went with Forbes Burnham. They are annoyed with Moses Nagamootoo and Khemraj Ramjattan. This is not about race, we have been sweeping the PPP race card under the carpet for far too long. Murtland ‘Slugger’ Williams

Some Facts about disputed... From page 5 and claim ownership of twenty eight acres. Of course, I refused. Those persons each used different legal bases for their claims. One pleading was correct but the others were not. I am of the impression that the court has not been presented with the true facts on the ownership of Undivided or Section D, Friendship. The descendants of Robert Roberts maintain a stranglehold, carving out large acreages, selling, and gifting more than they really had owned. The story of Undivided Friendship is as unfriendly as you can get. I have just been apprised of the fact that Noah Yashuran had been utilised for his attorneyship to enrich himself.I am not surprised that one of the descendants of Gideon Roberts could fall prey to anyone who possessed some degree of adventurism. I had been retained for a short while by a group of the greater and lesser owners of

Undivided but no one wanted to respect the necessity for fairplay and the rule of law. I must conclude that Friendship is a quagmire, which has seen many violent and non violent conflicts, a scenario in which the brash, bold, forceful and adventurous, rule the day; and the unteachable and timid entitled continue to be dispossessed as the days go by. I was aghast when I read the libellous slur that was levelled by Noah Yashuran against Isla Barry. Ms Barry to Mr Yashuran has been like a moth to a flame, she has been consumed. I suppose it is Mr Yashuran’s ability to convince the gullible. I have just located a 1995 Land court award to the local Authority Organisation, now called the Caledonia/Good Success Neighbourhood Democratic Council of nineteen (19) parcels of land, and so the mystery deepens. I think the land issues of Friendship require a separate Sub Committee of a Commission of Inquiry. Marjorie McCaskey

Deviation from the Accepted... From page 5 not recommended, although some surgeons have recently argued against such a restriction. Children who regularly and untiringly insist that they are not their birth sex are considered innately transgender. A change that is out of range Gender politics has become an extremely issue, now that transgenders are popping up like daisies in an abandoned field. Purveyors of the medical profession are far too quick and ready to hand out hormone treatment just for the asking, or assist kids in transitioning right away. Increasing willingness to accept people on their terms, for who they are, is a significant indicator of social

progress. However, it is apparent that more problems are being produced than are being solved. Medical science, try as it may, cannot construct a body that allows you to forget you were born the other sex. In addition, despite all the scientific advances thus far no scientist has found a way to exterminate the X and Y chromosome and replace it with G for genderless. Humans can test Mother Nature but we just can’t mess with her. Celebrating the differences between male and female is what makes us human. We are too quick to label behaviour when we should just wait for nature to take its course. Yvonne Sam

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COI finds Drop In Centre’s operation wanting Not only was the Hadfield Street, Georgetown Drop In Centre deemed overcrowded, but there were not adequate staff on duty and limited fire prevention measures in place when a fire occurred claiming the lives of two siblings in State care. The fire, which reportedly occurred in the wee hours of July 8 last year, claimed the lives of three-year-old Antonio George and his six-yearold brother Joshua George. Based on an investigation conducted by the Guyana Fire Service, the conflagration, which completely destroyed the female dormitory, was electrical in origin. At the time of the fire, the George brothers were accommodated in the girls’ dormitory in an effort to keep them together. The day prior to the fire, the two, along with three more of their siblings [Shaquan, Shania and Anastasia] were admitted to the Drop In Centre. This move was the direct result of an investigation conducted by Social Workers from the Childcare and Protection Agency [CCPA] which determined that the children were at risk. It was revealed that the placement was intended to be temporary, as investigations were ongoing, with a view of finding kinship care for the children. This is according to information detailed in the Final

...in wake of probe in children’s fiery death

Colonel [Ret’d] Windee Algernon is flanked by Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, and Magistrate Fabayo Azore. Report of the Commission of Inquiry [COI] into the circumstances surrounding the death of the children which was tabled in Parliament last Thursday. The COI was conducted by Colonel [Ret’d] Windee Algernon. Detailed in the report of the COI is the fact that the number of children housed at the Centre at the time of the fire amounted to 31, but based on evidence collected, it was determined that the facility only had the capacity to comfortably house 21. At the time of the fire, the children, rang-

ing in ages from seven to 17, were in the care of two Social Services Assistants [Ms. S. Jones and Mr. R. Hinds]. The investigation conducted by the Commission was able to ascertain that while the girls and the younger boys [infant to five years] occupied the girls’ dormitory at the southern section of the first floor of the building, the older boys occupied the common room area on the northern side of the lower flat. The latter group, according to the report, were occupying the common room, since the

$1M strip club raid… Constable allegedly confides in girlfriend then tries to poison her A cop who was charged for rape — before he joined the Guyana Police Force (GPF) — has found himself in hot water. This time he has been placed under close arrest and is facing attempted murder charges. He is being investigated by investigators from the Major Crimes Unit (MCU), for attempting to poison his girlfriend with what appeared to be rat poison. His girlfriend is also a policewoman. According to information received, the rank confessed to his girlfriend about his recent involvement in a night club raid that is currently being investigated by the Police’s Office of Professional Responsibility, but when she threatened to speak, he allegedly slipped what is suspected to be a “carbon” tablet in her juice. The incident happened last week and was first reported to the Ruimveldt Police Station before it was handed over to MCU’s ranks. Reports are that late last month a police corporal and at least two other ranks allegedly took $1M bribe from the

owner of one strip club to raid another. The businessman, who paid the ranks also lent them his vehicle to go to his competitor’s business place. This incident was reported back to the Division, and the corporal was immediately transferred to Mounted Branch, to facilitate an investigation. Surveillance footage showed him arriving at the entertainment spot in the businessman’s vehicle. Just before the corporal was transferred, he allegedly gave a junior rank (a constable) the $1M bribe to keep. They did not get a chance to divide the cash. Last week, the constable allegedly confided in his police girlfriend about the cash. He then took her to his home to show her the money. A source said that the woman then urged the constable to report the matter but he refused and claimed that he would get into trouble. “When the girl said she will report the matter, like he finally agreed to report it,” the source indicated. This newspaper was told

that the constable then went into his fridge and gave his girlfriend a glass of orange juice to drink. The liquid was too much, so the female rank allegedly attempted to throw some in another glass when a bluecoloured tablet fell into the second glass. She allegedly confronted the rank before reporting the matter to the Ruimveldt Police Station. Investigations are ongoing.

boys’ dormitory was undergoing renovation. But according to the findings of the Commission, there were insufficient staff members rostered to work on the night of the tragedy, which was in direct contravention of the Minimum Operational Standards and Regulations [MOSR] for children’s homes in Guyana. The MOSR states that Homes such as the Drop In Centre must maintain at all times adequate staff on duty to fulfil the agreed staffer/ child guideline ratio. The MOSR recommends that for children under five years, there should be one staffer to every two children and for children five years to 12, there should be one staffer to every five children. Further, it recommends that for children 13 years to 17, there should be one staffer to every seven. At the time of the fire, there were two children under five, nine between the ages of five and 12, and 20 children between the ages of 13 to 17. Taking the children/staffer ratio into consideration, a minimum of six Social Services Assistants should have been on duty to adequately meet the needs of the children. In fact, the COI found that the

two Social Services Assistants on duty did not possess the necessary qualifications and experience for the responsibility given to them. According to the MOSR, qualifications for the position of a Social Services Assistant [Caregiver] is a Diploma in Social Work, Sociology and three years experience working with children or a Trained Teacher’s Certificate, along with a valid police clearance, or a secondary education and 10 years experience caring for children. According to information unearthed by Colonel [Ret’d] Algernon, on the night of the fiery tragedy, House Supervisor, Ms. Claudette Mentor, had the authority to call out additional staff, but failed to do so, for no valid reason. The COI found that although “there were adequate written guidelines for the management of crisis situations including fire, however, the House Manager, House Supervisor or Social Services Assistants on duty seemed unfamiliar with them, consequently there were no rehearsals...thus when the fire occurred there was confusion and panic resulting in the tragedy.” It was therefore concluded that “the conduct of the staff on duty on the night of the fire was not in conformity with the required statutory obligation of the State and Standard Operating Procedures [SOPs].” Compounding the situation was the fact that the Centre did not comply with all fire regulations. It was found that while there were fire extinguishers and fire blankets on both floors of the Centre, the

children and the Social Services Assistants were not trained to use these. Added to this, the Report revealed that “there were no operational escapes, no smoke alarms, no marked fire exits and signs on the wall stating what to do in case of fires.” The COI found that the fire was caused by a defective electrical point fitted with exposed wires on the eastern wall of the girls’ dormitory. It was pointed out that this played a role in the fire ignition and subsequent heat transfer which caused the fire to travel via the electrical conduits in the ceiling. The deceased children, it was found, died as a direct result of smoke inhalation. According to the Report of the COI too, recommendations from the Guyana Fire Service in 2010 and 2015 in the interest of improving ‘Life and Fire Safety’ at the Centre, were not fully implemented. As such, it was concluded that “this was a tragedy waiting to happen and there was collective responsibility for the tragic event...” Moreover, Colonel [Ret’d] Algernon in the Report has recommended that in addition to addressing all of the shortcomings, both the CCPA and the Non-Governmental Organisations with which it collaborates, “must put aside perceived personal grievances, stop seeking promotion, work together and focus on the objective of providing quality care service and protection to children.” It has also been recommended that some form of compensation be awarded to the mother of the deceased children.

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Tuesday November 07, 2017

NY Court erupts after Guyana-born cop acquitted in road rage killing New York (www.brooklyneagle.com)NYPD Officer Wayne Isaacs pulled a collective 33 pounds of pressure onto the trigger of his off-duty Glock 9mm, firing three bullets that left Delrawn Small face down on Atlantic Avenue. As Small’s life leaked out of him in blood and gags, Isaacs called 911 immediately — to report that he had been assaulted. A Brooklyn Supreme Court jury decided yesterday that the off-duty NYPD officer was justified in killing the unarmed man in East New York in a July 4, 2016 self-defense traffic dispute, dealing a not guilty verdict of second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter. The courtroom erupted into screams and expletives as the jury announced that Isaacs, 38, was not guilty on both counts. “You’re f——g kidding me!?” Hawk Newsome, president of New York Black Lives Matter screamed. “The whole damn system is corrupt!” Isaacs showed little reaction upon hearing the verdict, but hugged his wife as soon as the case finished. While Newsome and the victim’s family members screamed in the court hallway, court officers formed a wall in front of the courtroom doors as Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association representatives high-fived each other.

Assembly member Charles Barron held his arm around Small’s brother, Victor Dempsey, while all other family members filled the halls with their wails. Dempsey’s red eyes stared unwaveringly at Isaacs in the courtroom. “You know what the f—k you did!” Dempsey screamed and pointed to Isaacs, prompting the officer to sit back down in a nearby pew. Supreme Court Justice Alexander Jeong addressed Isaacs before he left the courtroom.“Only you know what exactly happened that day so, no one’s passing any judgment. And let’s try to hope that we have no further incidents like this in the future,” Jeong said. The verdict marked a defeat for Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the Attorney General’s Office, as Isaacs was the first officer prosecuted by the AG’s Office since a 2015 executive order was passed that directs cases of police shooting unarmed men to the AG’s Office. “We are disappointed by the verdict, but we respect the jury’s determination and thank them for their service,” Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said in a statement. “My office will continue to investigate these cases without fear or favor and follow the facts wherever they may lead.”While the two-

week trial was contingent on whether Isaacs was acting in self-defense, the jury found that the unarmed Small, 37, did pose a deadly threat to the NYPD officer of 3 1/2 years. “Officer Isaacs did nothing wrong and he deserved to be found not guilty,” defense attorney Stephen Worth said. “He defended himself as anyone in his situation would.” The defense team attacked Small during the trial, calling him an “irate drunk” and “sociopathic,” signaling tears and scoffs from Small’s family, who attended every court date. “If you look at the video, as we all have, there were literally seconds, three or four seconds from the time that the deceased starts to attack him from when the weapon is discharged,” Worth said. Surveillance footage at a red light on Atlantic Avenue and Bradford Street shows Isaacs’ muzzle flashes seconds after Small gets to the driver-side window, despite the officer’s testimony that Small lunged at him with a punch. “Wayne Isaacs went home to his family and he killed someone. Delrawn didn’t kill anyone,” Victoria Davis, Small’s sister, said. “Delrawn will never come home to us. This is the worst day of my whole life.” Isaacs’ $500,000 bail was

exonerated and he is still suspended from the force with pay until further notice. Isaacs swiftly walked out of the courthouse surrounded by fellow police officers, while the prosecutors on the case stood in the court hall with red eyes.For Small and his family, the day began at a friend’s barbecue on Williams Street in East New York. As Small’s blood-alcohol level rose to .09, slightly over the .08 legal limit, his girlfriend Zaquanna Albert urged him to leave the gathering so she could finish her graduate school paper. As Small, his 14-year-old stepdaughter, 3-month-old son and Albert got into a friend’s car to make the roughly 15-minute drive home, Isaacs was clocking out of his 3 p.m. to 11:35 p.m. shift in Bedford-Stuyvesant’s 79th Precinct. Isaacs, a former Guyanese corporal who immigrated to Brooklyn in 2007, testified that he was headed to another barbecue in Queens. While on his way, allegedly cut Small off in traffic on Atlantic Avenue, according to Albert. Isaacs disputed that he cut off Small. “What the f—k?!” Albert and Small allegedly yelled to each other before they pulled up to a red light. “He took off his seatbelt and he got out. I told him not to get out,” Albert said of Small, who got out and headed to Isaacs’ car two

Acquitted: Wayne Isaacs lanes away. Once Isaacs spotted Small crossing traffic, he unbuttoned his holster, rolled down his driver window and waited with his gun in hand. Isaacs’ recollected his thoughts: “At this point, I’m thinking, ‘Maybe somebody recognized me from a previous arrest. Was I gonna be carjacked?’” As Small approached the window, flashes from Isaacs’ gun lit the scene. Isaacs testified that Small yelled, “I’m gonna f——g kill you!” as he approached the car. As three bullets hit Small’s body, fracturing bones and piercing a lung and aorta, he fell face down on the pavement. Within 10 minutes, he was dead. “I was just screaming,” Albert said. “When I seen [sic] the blood, I knew he was shot.” With a quick assessment

of the body, Isaacs called 911 to report he needed an ambulance for an assault, neglecting to mention he fired his weapon and Small was dying on the street. Small’s stepdaughter was simultaneously shrieking into another 911 operator’s ears. “He tried to shoot my stepfather!” the girl shouted into the phone as her mother’s screams filled the background of Isaacs’ call. “Oh my god! What did you do?!” Albert can be heard yelling in the call. “I seen [sic] Wayne Isaacs standing right by his car. I shouted at him, ‘Why did you shoot?!’” With Small dead before the paramedics got to the scene, Isaacs was taken by ambulance to Jamaica Hospital. Dr. Nagaraj Rao testified that the cop received swelling to his right cheek and a cut to his inner lip. He was prescribed Motrin.

Tuesday November 07, 2017

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Kaieteur News

Guyana has been outfoxed by Venezuela Guyana has bungled its handling of the territorial controversy with Venezuela. The talks which were held recently in New York between the foreign Ministers of Guyana and Venezuela suggest strongly that Guyana will not achieve its objective of having the matter placed before the International Court of Justice. Guyana had no choice, after Venezuela issued decrees in 2015 claiming parts of Guyana’s sea space, to internationalize this issue. Guyana took the right step to launch a diplomatic offensive against the threats posed by Venezuela. This has always been the response of Guyana. It always

has pursued the diplomatic option to any threat that it has faced from Venezuela. This time, however, Guyana was more belligerent and reckless. Guyana forgot the most fundamental rule in diplomacy. You talk first and then you act. Guyana was not interested in talking with Venezuela. The war of words between Guyana and Venezuela led to a recall of the Venezuelan ambassador to Guyana Guyana also sacrificed its rice market with Venezuela. For the sake of political grandstanding, Guyana was prepared to place the livelihoods of Guyanese farmers in jeopardy by sacrificing the rice market in Venezuela.

Guyana should not have allowed that to happen. Venezuela, facing a food crisis, was not going to stop buying Guyana’s rice, unless it was forced to do so. Despite Venezuela’s claims to two-thirds of Guyana, Guyana was able to broker this valuable rice market. In other words, trade and economic cooperation with Venezuela was taking place. When Burnham failed in 1981 to have the Protocol of Port of Spain renewed, and relations with Caracas were seriously soured, this did not prevent Guyana from buying fuel from Venezuela. There was also consideration being given at one time to have

Dem boys seh...

Rum Jattan open he back door De Commissioner of Police was smiling whole day yesterday. And some police drivers and motorbike riders was throwing summersault. Dem get a whole heap of vehicle from China. Rum Jattan seh he go to China and he beg. Wha he didn’t realize is that he was operating like a man from Mahdia going to a rice mill and begging fuh two bag rice. Dem Chinee mekking nuff cars and motorbikes and when dem can’t sell out all dem does give dem away. Dem got to mek room fuh more vehicles. And when Rum Jattan decide to beg de Chinese Government recognize that dem had a way of putting Guyana pun a hook. Dem boys know that Guyana put a lash pun BaiShanLin and cut up de timber runnings. Of course some people find out that although Guyana clamp down on dem some of BaiShanLin friends still cutting and shipping wood out of Guyana. Some of dem boys follow de wood shipment and dem see how de people ship it

through Suriname. De end result is that Guyana ain’t get nutten. Well dem boys seh that de truth is that de vehicles dat de Chinee government give is wha de country lose through BaiShanLin. But de vehicles shine. Everybody happy. De criminals gun get a chase down and wid de new 911 system nobody, no police station can claim how dem don’t have vehicles. And when de police respond to a crime report everybody gun praise dem Chinee. De truth is dat dem coming through de back door and dem boys watching to see if Rum Jattan gun walk funny because people suspect dat he provide de back door. It don’t sound nice and it don’t read nice. De newspapers gun report how Rum Jattan got Chinee using he back door. Cathy deh in de same boat. She got dem same Chinee providing money fuh broadband. That was a deal through de front door. De Dominic Minister already sell out Regent Street near de cricket ground. Talk half and watch how Guyana changing.

power sold from Venezuela to ease Guyana’s then energy shortfall. The second major failing was the challenge which Guyana faced in combatting a Venezuelan diplomatic counter offensive within Latin America and the Caribbean. Venezuela launched a diplomatic blitz when Guyana tried to isolate it within Caricom, and Guyana had no response to that blitz, because it did not have the resources or the know-how to respond. Caricom was always going to call for talks and negotiations as a condition of its support for Guyana’s position. The third mistake that Guyana made was to place all its eggs in one basket. It decided to go for a juridical settlement of the dispute without carefully contemplating how realistic were the chances of success. The Granger administration has been raising expectations in Guyana about this controversy being settled by the International Court of Justice. The matter, however, is never likely to end up before the ICJ, because Venezuela is not a member of the ICJ and it requires the approval of both parties to a controversy for a matter to go in front of the ICJ. So Guyana is misdirecting its

diplomatic efforts - in a direction in which there is little hope. The Granger administration should never have placed all its eggs in one basket, because if there is no resort to the International Criminal Court, then Guyana ends up with nothing. What then? Even if some miracle happens and Venezuela decides to take the matter to the ICJ, this is going to cost Guyana a fortune. The lawyers for these cases do not come cheap. Guyana’s legal bills for the maritime dispute with Suriname were hefty and were paid for by CGX. Exxon is not going to pay any legal fees for Guyana. And so what it means is that Guyana is going to be saddled, if per chance the matter goes to the ICJ, with a hefty legal bill which will have to be absorbed by the oil proceeds which are not guaranteed unless production begins. Even if the matter does go to the ICJ eventually, this is a drawn-out process. Bolivia and Chile, which is like the Guyana-Venezuela dispute, is to be settled by an international agreement. However Bolivia, which is now landlocked, wants access to the sea and claims that Chile had promised to begin negotiations on access to the sea.

Bolivia is not asking for a settlement of its disputed borders. It only wants the ICJ to force negotiations with Chile. The case has been ongoing now for three years. How long will Guyana’s own take and is it going to finance the legal tab? Guyana was hoping that come this year end, the United Nations would have ruled that there has not been significant progress in the good offices process with Venezuela, and that as a consequence, the matter should go to the ICJ. Guyana here again miscalculated. Significant progress in the diplomatic dictionary can mean sides talking to one another when they previously were not talking to one another. And recently the foreign ministers of the two countries have been talking to one another. This is significant progress. And this means the prospect of the matter being sent to the ICJ is remote. Guyana is now locked into a good offices process, which can drag on for another 10 years.

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Tuesday November 07, 2017

Kaieteur News

=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in Pradoville One Former President Donald Ramotar sits in the comfort of his home in Pradoville 1 and sends off missives to the newspapers that if they were not facetious ramblings, you would be inclined to see them as disgusting lyrics from a jaded, faded, ill-fated mandarin. The latest salvo is a letter titled, “Guyanese of all political views must join the fight to promote integrity in public office.” Mr. Ramotar has now earned the title of Jekyll and Hyde of Guyanese politics. Defeated in the election for the presidency, ousted from the General-Secretary position of his party, denied the post of Opposition Leader, not considered for a seat in

Parliament, Ramotar operates from the letter pages of the newspapers, where he professes to be the guardian of ethics in the exercise of power. But in truth and in fact, he was a Draculean custodian of power when he was General-Secretary (1997-2013) of his party when it was in power, and as President of the Republic, 2011-2015. Let us examine the Jekyll and Hyde politics of a man who wants the reclamation of integrity in public office. One has to accept that by his advocacy he posits that during the reign of his party there was such a value in operation – integrity in public office. Here is a quote from that letter-”With the return of democracy, the PPP/C Admin-

istration did a lot to try to clean up public life.” In fact, the PPP regime 1992-2015 demolished the return of integrity in government that President Hoyte reintroduced after Hoyte succeeded Burnham. Here is the evidence of the destruction of positive values in public life during the hegemony of the PPP, in which time Ramotar was leader of the PPP and president himself. The nation thought that President Jagdeo was married to Ms. Varshnie Singh. But she told the country the President refused to sign the legal forms, evicted her from the marital bedroom one week after they moved in at State House, and hounded her down.

Frederick Kissoon In her press meeting she described the President’s action as hi-tech abuse. Contrast this with President Hoyte accepting that a Vice President stay off the job while being investigated for a possible criminal offence. And the same Hoyte interdicting the head of the army after an accusation against him of criminal wrongdoing was made by a businessman. To date, Ramotar has never offered his views on the Varshnie Singh story. A Minister is caught up in a domestic brawl. He is hospitalized while his wife died from gunshot wounds. He remained in his top state job, and while in that

position, brutalized a teenager with his gun in an East Coast rum ship over a love triangle. He retained his position. The same Minister was at it again when in a drunken state he drove into a security guard and broke his leg. All through these acts, he was not removed, even by President Donald Ramotar. During the presidency of Donald Ramotar, the Minister of Education in a display of shockingly unbecoming behaviour, used fiery, undiplomatic language to the US Ambassador at his home in the annual celebration of America’s Independence. The next day, the President’s Chief of Staff, Roger Luncheon referred to her deportment as a “feral blast.” President Ramotar did not even comment on the misconduct of his Minister and his Chief of Staff. The same former president that wants the return of decency in use of public office was photographed backballing with a homeless woman who invaded an Old Year’s Night party in 2013 at the Sleep-In Hotel on Brickdam. My mind is clear on the atrocity of such an act –

certainly not a president in public. But Ramotar was not the only President do the “behind” thing. Mr. Jagdeo was videoed twice doing his gyration on the derrière of his dancing partner. The first occasion was the 2012 Old Year’s Night party of the army. The other occasion was in November 2011 during an election rally of the PPP in Annandale when his “behind” partner was a Chronicle journalist. On both occasions, Mr. Jagdeo was the president of Guyana. Finally, a presidential communication officer was taped imploring that a male teenager make love to him. What is wrong with that? Well context is everything in life. That high Office of the President employee was at the time sitting on the Rights of the Child Commission. In all these examples cited above, the nation has not heard the views or comments of Donald Ramotar. Finally, I was at the farewell party of Police Officer, Paul Slowe when the Commissioner, Henry Greene came in cussing about not getting labba curry.

Tuesday November 07, 2017

Gov’t comfortable with VAT at 14% – Finance Minister

Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan Ahead of his 2018 budget presentation, Minister of Finance Winston Jordan says Government is comfortable with the Value Added Tax (VAT) at 14%, but has left the door open for further reductions as the tax base expands. A motion submitted by the (People’s Progressive Party/Civic) sets out to reduce VAT to 12% in keeping with a campaign promise made by the coalition Government. It is highly unlikely that the PPP/C’s motion will be debated before Jordan’s Budget presentation on November 27. “If it [the motion] comes up after the budget its moot,” Jordan stated. He added, “I don’t know about anything about reducing VAT to 12%. We have reduced VAT to the level that we are comfortable with and the budget can accommodate, and that’s to 14%.” After tak-

ing office in 2015, Government reduced VAT, which was 16% at the time. Jordan stated that the pace at which base expands, depends on the rate at which the economy grows and also the acceptability of the expansions. “As you can see, in expanding the base this year, we touched some nerves,” Jordan stated. Last year, Government imposed VAT on private tuition fees, a move that attracted protest action and a petition against it. Government has indicated its willingness to review its decision and has engaged many groups. “We have already said in the context of every budget, we always review every tax, and we only have a couple more days to determine whether the nerves would be calmed or not.”

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Kaieteur News

The PPP/C did not participate in the Budget consultation process, but its Motion also seeks to reverse VAT on essential food items; electricity and water; pharmaceuticals and medical supplies; and all education goods and services. The PPP/C Motion also wants to remove ‘burdensome taxes’ on the mining sector by reducing the contributors’ tax from 20 percent to the original 10 percent, and remove the two percent final tax paid by miners. As it relates to fiscal policies, the PPP/C’s Motion seeks the reversal of the Bank of Guyana Cabinet-directed decision to licensed currency dealers, commercial banks and cambios, to limit the spread between the buying and selling rate of the U.S. dollar to no more than $3. The PPP/C’s motion as submitted to the National Assembly, calls for the release to the public of the ExxonMobil agreement with Government. Also, some projects which the PPP/C had pursued during its years in Government are also stated in the motion to be restarted, including the Amaila Hydro Falls project. In education, the motion calls for the restoration of the ‘cash care’ programme for each child registered from nursery through secondary, and an increase to $20,000 per child; restoration and increase of the school uniform vouchers to $4000 per child across the country; and the removal of VAT on education goods and services.

Education Ministry to improve safety in schools against disasters Schools in Guyana, both public and private, can expect in the coming days to be much more prepared and safe in the event of a disaster, whether natural or man-made. This was the notion shared by Deputy Executive Director of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), Elizabeth Riley at the launch of the Model Safe School Training Programme that was facilitated at the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD) building, Battery Road, Georgetown. Riley said the programme is part of the “regional flagship programme” that the agency has been developing to ensure the safety of schools. The effort is a collaborative one between the Ministry of Education, the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), Australian Development Corporation, United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) and the Civil Defence Commission. It was related that the recent disasters in the Caribbean have made it more important and necessary for the

initiative to be developed across the region. “Because our schools are at a place where we assume that we have safety for our children and also for the teachers who support those children, it is very important that these facilities are assessed to be able to understand the level of vulnerability, the kinds of hazards the facilities are exposed to, and very importantly, the actions that we need to take to make these environments safer,” she said. It is because of this that a team is expected to train several assessors, so as to secure a group of persons who are able to visit schools and carry out detailed assessments. Schools will then be given a score, based on the assessment needs. Riley disclosed that, “The score from the assessment will not be as important as understanding the things that need to be fixed at the school, or to make whatever adjustments to get schools to a certain standard”. Starting today, at least three Secondary schools will be assessed - Diamond, Tucville and South Ruimveldt. Yesterday’s training ses-

Chief Education Officer, Marcel Hudson sharing remarks. sion was held at the NCERD building after the launch, while today’s sessions as well as others during this week, will be held at the aforementioned schools. Trainers were brought from the United States to help the assessors. Facilitating yesterday’s training session was Mr. Marcel Goyeneche of the United States. 30 persons were part of yesterday’s training. One Education Officer from each district was selected to attend the training. Also attending were Government and Non-Governmental Continued on page 23

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Tuesday November 07, 2017

Kaieteur News

President slated for Brazil state visit next month

President David Granger and Brazilian Ambassador, Lineu Pupo de Paula, at State House yesterday. President David Granger is scheduled to make an official State Visit to Brazil, following the MERCOSUR (Southern Common Market) Summit next month. Yesterday, the Head of State met with Brazil’s Ambassador to Guyana, Lineu Pupo de Paula, at State House, to discuss issues pertaining to the agenda for the two-day visit, which is slated for December 21-22, 2017. “This state visit was discussed and agreed to by Presidents Granger and Mr. Michel Temer of Brazil when they met on the margins of the

72nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in September,” the Ministry of the Presidency disclosed in a statement. President Granger said he intends to have discussions on a number of matters including deeper cooperation between the Guyana Defence Force and the Brazilian Military in terms of capacity-building and expertise transfer and follow-up dialogue on the work of the GuyanaBrazil Joint Technical Working Group, which was established to identify and implement key developmental projects.

Peter’s Hall couple denies smuggling $14M in raw gold A couple who allegedly attempted to smuggle more than $14M worth of raw gold through the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri, East Bank Demerara, was yesterday charged and released on their own recognizance (self bail) after they appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. Bibi Khan, 45, a vendor at Stabroek Market and her husband Shazam Khan, 57, a worker at Ken’s Enterprise, both of Lot 3 Peter’s Hall, East Bank Demerara, both appeared before Chief Magis-

trate Ann McLennan and denied the charge which alleged that on September 20, at the aforementioned airport, they had in their possession 1907.2 grams of raw gold, valued $14,611,375 or US$71,274, without being holders of an exporting licence. The couple was represented by Attorneys-at-law Mark Waldron and Glen Hanoman. The attorneys asked that bail be granted to their clients since they were arrested a month ago and they have been reporting to the Special

Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) whenever they are asked to do so. The lawyers added that their clients are not flight risks, since they have their business in Guyana. The couple was arrested on September 22 last, at the CJIA during routine security checks when the raw gold was reportedly found in their possession. They were headed to the US. They were instructed to make their next court appearance on November 16.

Matter dismissed against businessman accused of $10M land fraud

Senior Magistrate Leron Daly yesterday dismissed a matter against a businessman who was accused of swindling $10M from a man, by pretending he knew a woman who had a plot of land for sale. Rajesh Sahadeo, 42, of Station Street, Kitty, Georgetown, had denied that on September 7, at Georgetown, he conspired with another to obtain money by false pretence. It was alleged that he obtained $10M by Republic Bank cheque from Lloyd Singh by pretending he knew a woman named Shaneann Boston, who was in a position to sell a plot of land at Peter’s Hall, East Bank Demerara. Magistrate Daly dismissed the matter, citing that insufficient evidence was produced by Police Prosecutor Richard Harris. The trial was ongoing for over a year. Sahadeo was represented throughout the trial by Attorney-at-law Glen Hanoman.

Rajesh Sahadeo

Saturday November 07, 2017

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Kaieteur News

Texas church shooting not racially or religiously motivated, officials say

The mass shooting at a rural Texas church Sunday that killed 26 people was neither racially nor religiously motivated, authorities said at a news conference this morning, noting there was a “domestic situation” within the suspect’s family. While authorities have not released a specific motive, they said that the suspect’s mother-in-law

“expressed anger towards” her and sent “threatening texts.” Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said on “Good Morning America” that he doesn’t think the shooting “was just a random act of violence.” The suspect — a military veteran — stormed in at the back of the First Baptist Church, firing all the way to the front and firing on his way back out of the church,

rampage in Sutherland Springs, about 40 miles southeast of San Antonio, ranged in age from 18 months to 77 years old, authorities said this morning. Some parents had covered their children with their bodies to protect them from the bullets, Wilson County Sheriff Joe Tackitt said. The shooting also left 20

Italy probes deaths of 26 Nigerian women from migrant boats

attended the church, and that the 26-year-old suspect — who is now dead — had

authorities said. He reloaded several times. Those killed in the

people injured. As of yesterday morning, 10 of them were in critical

condition, four are in serious condition and six are in stable condition or have been released, authorities said. Abbott called the rampage the largest mass shooting in state history. The attack began at about 11:20 a.m. Sunday, after a suspect was seen at a gas station in Sutherland Springs, dressed in all black, the Department of Public Safety said. The suspect crossed the street to the church, got out of his vehicle and began firing at the church, authorities said. The suspect then moved to the right side of the church and continued to fire, before going inside the church and shooting more, authorities said. Tackitt said the gunman

entered from the back of the church, fired all the way to the front of the church, and then fired on his way back out of the church. He had time to reload several times, Tackitt said. As the gunman “exited the church, a local resident grabbed his rifle and engaged that suspect,” Freeman Martin of the Texas Department of Public Safety said. The suspect was shot by the good Samaritan, and the gunman dropped his weapon and fled the scene, authorities said. The good Samaritan was then joined by another person, and they jumped into a truck and pursued the

suspect in a high-speed car chase, authorities said. “During that pursuit, the suspect used his cell phone to notify his father that he had been shot and didn’t think he was going to make it,” authorities said. The suspect crashed and was later found dead in his vehicle in Guadalupe C o u n t y, a c c o r d i n g t o authorities. Evidence shows the suspect may have died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, authorities said this morning. Multiple weapons were found in the vehicle, authorities said. The church has two entrances, the sheriff said. There’s no evidence that any church members were armed, Tackitt said.

Police Force benefits... (BBC) Italian prosecutors are investigating the deaths of 26 Nigerian women - most of them teenagers - whose bodies were recovered at sea. There are suspicions that they may have been sexually abused and murdered as they attempted to cross the Mediterranean. Five migrants are being questioned in the southern port of Salerno. A Spanish warship, Cantabria, docked there carrying 375 migrants and the dead women, following several rescues. Twenty-three of the dead women had been on a rubber boat with 64 other people. Italian media report that the women’s bodies are

being kept in a refrigerated section of the warship. Most of them were aged 14-18. Most of the 375 survivors brought to Salerno were sub-Saharan Africans, from Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana, The Gambia and Sudan, the daily La Repubblica reports. Among them were 90 women - eight of them pregnant - and 52 children. There were also some Libyan men and women on board. People-smuggling gangs charge each migrant about $6,000 (£4,578) to get to Italy, $4,000 of which is for the trans-Saharan journey to Libya, according to the Italian aid group L’Abbraccio. Many migrants have

reported violence, including torture and sexual abuse, by the gangs. In the year to 1 November, 150,982 migrants arrived in southern Europe by boat from North Africa, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reports. Of them, 111,552 (nearly 75%) came via the Central Mediterranean route to Italy. The number who died on that route was 2,639, the IOM says. The others arrived in Greece, Cyprus or Spain. The total is less than half the 335,158 who arrived in the same period of 2016. Last year the total for Greece was higher than that for Italy.

From page 13 that this donation must be viewed within the context of the five-point plan, which was outlined by President Granger in July 2015. The five points are improving police administration, reorganising and enhancing training, effective deployment of ranks throughout the country, i m p r o v i n g communication, and the acquisition of assets and equipment. The overall objective of this plan was to strengthen the Force's capacity and capabilities to fight crime and make Guyana a safe place to work and live. Harmon said, “The acquisition of assets and equipment by the Guyana

Police Force today is, therefore, most welcome, as it will enable the Force to be adequately deployed in all the regions of Guyana and in all neighbourhoods and communities, and to respond in a timely manner to reports of criminal activities or requests for police action”. Acting Police C o m m i s s i o n e r, D a v i d Ramnarine, who also made reference to the five-point plan, noted that under the policy, the Force has seen a significant increase in overseas training for ranks of the GPF. The officers from the Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU), the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and the Strategic Planning Unit, are all benefitting from

specialised training. As it relates to the advancement of the force, the President said some ranks were recruited during the period and this process is continuing. China's Ambassador to Guyana, Mr. Jianchun, in his remarks, spoke of the cordial relationship between Guyana and China, and said that yesterday's handing over is much cause for celebration, since the two countries share 45 years of diplomatic ties. Speaking of the paramount importance of maintenance of national security, he said that the GPF needs much more resources if it is going to guarantee protection to citizens and preserve the way of life in society.

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SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.-CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620 Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK;Guyanapassport application. G r a p h i c s design, advertisement. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535. INNOVATIVE MARKETING & PUBLISHING INC –TEL: 600-4212: We create A/ works, logos, busi ness cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included. Internationally experienced examiner inhandwriting & Question documents. Specialized: Wills, Deeds, Identify theft etc. Call /whatsapp :416-827-5239. Email:k02g099@hotmail.com PASSPORT, PERMANENT & VISITOR VISA APPLICATION, PROFESSIONAL IMMIGRATION CONSULTANT – SABITA IMMIGRATION SERVICES. CALL: 613-3920/625-3767. E a g l e ’s : R e - g a s – l o w prices, washing machine repairs, gas stove, plasma flat Screen, computer repairs & more. Call: 6972969/646-0966 Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezer-Call: 610-5846 or 661-8158 SERVICE Cerulean Inc celebrates tourism month 2017 by hosting a service showcase. Contact 226-4650

FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. Video games and consoles at affordable price. Repairs to video game system .Call:6722566/265-3231

- Make-up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, etc. -CosmetologyCourses:$90,000 Technician Course: $35,000. Call: 647-1773/660-5257 Qualified Hairdresser & nail technician. At least 1 year experience must be able to work without supervision. Call: 227-1125, 626-6450 MASSAGE Angels Massaging Spa. Come relax and be pampered. Call: 694-9775

FOR RENT

WANTED

Meadow Bank, long term rental. Fully furnished 3 bedrooms apartment, parking, cameras etc- Call: 671-4221 Property for rent - 2 storey house at Republic Park, E.B.D$1200US. Call 647-1773

Security to work in the interior. Must have Military/ Police background. Age range 35-50. Contact # 2269768 Female babysitter age 35-50 in Georgetown, 6 days per week Call 614-5711 to apply.

Space in Charlotte Street, central Georgetown .Ground floor. Call #608-5303

One live-in female housekeeper for Georgetown. Tel# 223-0654, 225-0605

Two bedroom bottom flat, fully grilled. $50,000 per month. Call# 687-3017

Experienced Curry cook, Roti/ Puri cook, Cleaners. Apply Hack Halaal. 5 Commerce St. American Variety Store. 140 Regent & Light street Georgetown. Experience Cashier & Sales girl apply with application.

1. Cat 320 BL Excavator, 1. Cat 215 B Excavator, 1. Cat 428 Back- Hoe, 1. Leyland Daft Truck, 1. 8CU.YD. Mack Cement Mixer Truck. Contact: 275-0367, 275-0538/ 683-7225 1. Double Steel Wheeled Road Roller, 1. 9-Wheeled Pneumatic Roller, 1. 450GLNS. Bitumen Spray Kettle, 1. Honda 450 ATV Bike. Contact: 275-0367, 275-0538/ 6837225

FOR RENT 2 Bedroom apartment to rent. Caneville, Grove E.B.D. $35,000. Tel#653-3328

Toyota IST. Call: 642-6664

WANTED 1 Welder Arc & gas. 1830years. 643-9125,223-5595. Broad street, Georgetown.

VEHICLE FOR SALE Mercedes Benz 2009 C200. Immaculate Condition- Call 616-5933 Allion, Primo, Fielder Wagon, Spacio, Bluebird, 212 Carina, NZE, Honda CRV, Toyota IST, RZ & Pitbull – Call: 650-7501

Male operators to work shift and one cleaner to work at Del Ice Co.,Meadow Bank. Call : 231-1408,642-9191 Land to buy in ParafaiteHarmonie- $1.8 million, 1.5 million. Tel#642-1252

Unregistered Axela 2011 $2.6M, dark interior, fully loaded, Nissan pickup extra cab $2.2M. Call: 617-5536 CAR RENTAL AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL:PICKUP,9-11 SEAT MINI BUS, GOOD FOR AIRPORT & FAMILY OUTINGS, CHEAPEST RATE . Call: 698-7807 WING’S CAR & PICKUP RENTAL: LOW DOWN PAYMENT, CHEAP RATES,SPECIALOFFERS! . CALL: 690-6494

Live in or live out babysitter/ domestic- Call: 223-7500 Monday to Saturday 8:15am-4:15pm 1 experienced salesman with knowledge of sales & marketing. 1 salesman/ driver.Apply Humphrey’s Bakery & Farm Product Ltd. Tel: 225-7864/227-8607 Want Land & House. ParfaiteHarmonie, Tuschen, Herstelling, Province, West Coast, East Bank. Call:6046724/ 686-9608 Apprentice for machine shop. Sound Secondary education & one (1) experienced welder. Tel #222-3844 Security guard & Housekeeper, apply in person @ Millenium Manor Hotel, 43 Hadfield Street, Werk-enRust One Live-in Female housekeeper for Georgetown. Tel# 223-0654, 225-0605 Attractive live in waitressCall: 327-0252/674-4665 1 Driver/ Purchaser. Must give valid driver’s license ( Mc, Mv, Ml) & over 15 years’ experience. Call 227-7528/ 226-9768

1-Caterpillar skid steer loader 236B $3.8M. Contact # 6500402 Mitsubishi Pajero. Best offer accepted- Call: 219-5354 Monday to Friday 8:15am4:15pm, Saturday 8:15am4:15pm

SALON

Tuesday November 07, 2017

Kaieteur News

CAR RENTAL PROGRESSIVE CAR R E N TA L : S U V F O R RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL:6560 0 8 7 , 6 4 3 - 5 1 2 2 ,EMAIL:PRO_AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.COM DOLLY’SCARRENTAL-CALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM

Female general domestic.Must have cooking experience. Age 25-45. Call: 629-9450 LEARN TO DRIVE C. Persaud& N. Outar Driving School formerly Soman& Sons Driving School @ Maraj Building- Call: 6445166; 622-2872; 615-0964; 689-5997 (affordable packages).

VACANCY

VACANCY General maintenance man. Age 25-50 Tel: 225-0198 or visit 233 South Rd, Lacytown. Chef and assistant chef. Please call 225-7933 or visit 172 Sheriff St. Deskstaff Age 25-40. Tel# 225-0198 or visit South Road, Lacytown. One Tig-welder/ fabricator, One fitter machinist for Lathe and Mill. Call 664-2670, 6970703, Email: havin_ramnauth@yahoo.com Cook/ baker and Kitchen Assistant for interior location. Applicants must have experience. Call:618-2020 One General domestic must be able to prepare vegetarian meals. Apply Alabama Trading. 65 Robb Street or call 6231615 General handy man to work at hotel. 225-9211

TAXI SERVICE GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 2257878 (24HRS)

EDUCATION Day Care and Pre-K classes available in Diamond Call Canadian School 2166921,216-6922 Phonics, Reading &Writing lessons.Kindergarten, grade 1-2.Full time students accepted in January term. Enroll now.Call:677-0296

LAND FOR SALE ParfaiteHarmonie $1.4m,$3.5m,$2.5m,$1.6m, Tuschen $2.7m, Hersteling $3.5m,$3m, Province $3.5m, V-Hoop $45m. Call: 6046724/ 686-9608. BLOCK X SECTION A DIAMOND HOUSING SCHEME. CONTACT: 6115273/ 601-4217, 2330159/216-3093 Zeelugt 1st Street- 2.5M ParafaiteHarmonie- $1.8 Million, 1.5 Million. Tel# 642-1252 Land for Sale in gated community at land of Canaan 50 x 100. Contact # 694-7817/ 612-1351 ParfaiteHarmonie Business spot $3.5m, $1.3m, $2.5m. ParfaiteHarmonieten year up $3.5m, Tuschen $2.5m, Herstelling $3.3m, $2.8m. Call:666-2326 Eccles (Corner lot) $5M ParafaiteHarmonie (High income area) 100ft x 50ft $2M Onderneeming with fence $1.6M. Tel#611-7223/6671960 Herstelling (2nd Bridge) 110ft x 60ft $5M (4th Bridge)$3.5M Farm $3M ParafaiteHarmonie $1.4M Tel#651-1969/656-0701 Eccles New Scheme (Corner Lot) with 12 massive column and foundation $7M on a main road. Tel#656-0701/6511969

VEHICLE FOR SALE Gun Metal BMW 3181. Good Condition. PPP series, 164k mileage. Rim music 1.6 million negotiable. Call: 604-7998.

Tuesday November 07, 2017

Kaieteur News

Time to take stock – Granger focuses on 2020; says some damage left by PPP/C repaired President David Granger pivoted away from last Thursday’s eventful opening of Parliament to the coalition Government’s agenda for the 2020 general elections, telling a group of supporters in Atlanta, Georgia over the weekend, that Government has repaired some of the damage left behind by the previous Government. “I was greeted in the National Assembly by a crowd of vulgarians, so it’s good to be here among fellow Guyanese and nobody is shouting at me and nobody is waving placards, so I feel at home and feel safe among you,” the President said at a meet and greet event for People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) North American Region. During his address to the Parliament, President Granger outlined a range of legislative plans that Government expects to execute over the next year, a crucial benchmark for the APNU+AFC coalition administration. His speech was overshadowed by protest action from the Opposition, People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) as its members held up placards and shouted slogans which drowned out the President’s voice. Among the plans is the strengthening of anti-corruption measures, which is one of the major campaign promises that saw the Government take power in May 2015 by a wave of voters seeking change in the political direction of Guyana. Since the elections, there has been a feeling that promised changes have not been occurring fast enough and

President David Granger addressing the gathering in Atlanta, Georgia, USA there is some discontent over the administration’s inability to successfully rein-in persons accused of corrupt practices, even though many of the allegations are well publicized in the media. “The economy is changing; we have covered a lot of ground. We have several achievements and I am very proud we have been able to repair some of the damage we have found,” Granger reported. The President told supporters that there is an impor-

Education Ministry to improve... From page 11 Organizations, such as members of the Guyana Police Force and Optimum Safety Solutions. Financing the training are the Government of Austria, and the Ministry of Education. Over the one-week period, trainers will discuss a variety of items. Chief Education Officer, Marcel Hudson stated that Climate change is affecting the world, and despite the fact that Guyana was not affected by Hurricanes Maria and Irma, there must be proper preparedness measures in place to handle the situation whenever the need arises. It was noted that since 2007, CDEMA has been promoting disaster risk management at the Sectoral level, including the productive and social sectors. In April of this year, CDEMA launched the Caribbean Safe Schools initiative,

which is actually the Caribbean’s version of a global safe schools initiative that was launched by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction. Participants in this programme are from Antigua and Barbuda, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

tant road ahead in preparation for the 2020 General Elections. “Being at mid-term in my presidency and in the tenure of office of our coalition administration, it is time to take stock, so my visit here is very important and is a very serious one to decide how we go forward as a nation and plan not only for 2020, but years beyond,” the President outlined. He said overseas-based Guyanese have a very important role to play, noting that there are just over one million Guyanese split between North and South America. The President stated that he recognizes the important role played by Guyanese living abroad and as such, he has meaningfully engaged with them. He was dismissive of accusations that he is not engaging the Diaspora as idle talk. “I never turned away from the Diaspora,” President Granger stated.

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Saturday November 07, 2017

PM pledges to work with Fish confiscated from poachers US to fight acts of terror to be sold to the public P O RT O F S PA I N , Trinidad, CMC – The Governments of Trinidad and Tobago and the United States have reiterated the need to continue working together to combat acts of terror against innocent citizens. This was discussed during a meeting here on Monday between Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley and the Commander, US Southern Command, Admiral Kurt Tidd. The discussions focussed on a number of areas which have been identified as important for t h e c o n t i n u e d development and enhancement of the relationship between Trinidad and Tobago and the United States. R o w l e y, t o o k t h e opportunity to express his sympathy to the US in the wake of the recent attack in New York and the mass shooting in Texas . A d m i r a l Ti d d a l s o

Admiral Tidd commended Trinidad and Tobago’s efforts to treat with radicalisation which he said plays a role in these types of incidents. He also addressed the issue of money laundering and spoke about its connection to terrorist and other organised criminal activity, stressing the need for collaboration to eradicate these types of crimes.

Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley It was agreed that Trinidad and Tobago and the United States will continue to work closely together to dismantle drug smuggling networks. The provision of training i n I n f o r m a t i o n Communications Technology, cybercrime and specialised aircraft to assist in the fight against crime was also discussed.

GRAND TURK, Turks and Caicos, CMC – Tourism Minister Ralph Higgs says a quantity of fish that was confiscated from nine poachers from the Dominican Republic last month, will be sold to the general public to pay expenses following their arrest. The poachers were captured and charged on October 6, for fishing illegally within the waters of the territory. The fish on board the 45 foot vessel were later confiscated. H ig g s , in a r ecen t television interview said a process must be followed for disposing the confiscated goods. “If there is any product that can be donated to the public, as we did with the large catch recently, we would be happy to do so, but clearly, we would like to sell

it in the public domain via sales to try and recuperate some of the costs associated with apprehending, holding and disposing of the product.So, we are moving as fast as we can, now that the trial is behind us to dispose of that product and I certainly hope that we will be able to do so, not much later than by the end of this week,” he said. In court on October 17, the men were found guilty of

taking marine products without a license and using an unlicensed boat for commercial fishing. The nine men were each sentenced to three months at Her Majesty Prison for each charge. The charges will run concurrently. An order was made by the court for the vessel and its contents to be forfeited to the Government, and to be disposed of it as they please.

International reinsurers suffer significant losses due to powerful hurricanes Integration critical to regional

development – CDB official

Monica la Bennett BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Vice President (Operations) with the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB),Monica La Bennett, says regional integration through the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) is still the most efficient way for countries to overcome the challenges posed by size, scale and limited capacity in the global markets. La Bennett, was speaking at the opening of the recently held two-day closeout workshop for the Economic Partnership

Agreement (EPA) and CSME Standby Facilities for Capacity Building. “Here in the Caribbean, factors such as small size, limited capacity, persistent vulnerability to natural disasters, high energy costs, infrastructure gaps, and institutional and regulatory weaknesses make it difficult for our borrowing member countries to build the type of competitive advantages that could lead to economic diversification and sustained growth. Today in 2017 regional economic integration is still the most

viable and logical developmental response to a persistently complex, intense and unpredictable globalised environment,” she said. In December 2012, CDB and the European Commission signed Contribution Agreements for the implementation of the EPA and CSME Standby Facilities, administered by CDB. The Facilities are supported by the 10th European Development Fund (EDF), which came to an end earlier this year. The two-day workshop was intended to facilitate a review of achievements and discuss the way forward. Ambassador Daniela Tramacere, Head of the European Union Delegation to Barbados noted that the EU is committed to the CSME and EPA, and that Caribbean countries must take final responsibility for the success of both. “I must underscore that we see the EPA and CSME as two interrelated dimensions of the region’s integration thrust… As we continue to transform our relationship with the region from one of donor-recipient to one of

P O RT O F S PA I N , Trinidad, CMC – The trail of death and destruction left across the region following the passage of hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, have had a devastating impact on the financial results of international reinsurers. According to the Association of Trinidad and To b a g o I n s u r a n c e Companies (ATTIC), local insurers should anticipate being faced with significantly higher reinsurance cost which will in turn have an impact on local market rates.

In a statement issued on Monday, ATTIC noted that most of the reinsurers are major providers of protection in the Caribbean and based on the significant financial losses attributed to the hurricanes as well as earthquakes in Mexico, leading international experts have indicated that there will be a global increase in premium rates and not just for loss-affected territories. One company, Munich Re – the world’s largest reinsurer ,recently reported overall losses of US$3.8 billion for the third quarter from the hurricanesand other

natural catastrophes. The three hurricanes made up the bulk of the losses for the quarter, with losses expected to be US$3.2 billion. The global reinsurer posted a loss of US$1.65 billion for the period, July to September 2017, and further noted that recent catastrophe losses will jeopardize its profit target for 2017. Swiss Re the world’s second largest reinsurer also reported losses of US$3.6 billion, and realized a net loss of US$468 million for the first nine months of 2017. Another top five

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Tuesday November 07, 2017

The North Korea Crisis Looms Over Trump’s Visit To Japan (Yahoo) Shortly after dawn on Aug. 29, residents of the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido awoke to sirens, emergency alerts and breaking news banners urg-

ing them to take cover and brace for an imminent attack. Shortly after dawn on August 29, residents of the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido awoke to sirens,

emergency alerts and breaking news banners urging them to take cover and brace for an imminent attack. “Missile launch. Missile launch. North Korea appears

to have fired a missile. Take refuge in a solid building or underground,” read one mobile alert that Tuesday morning. Minutes earlier, North

Korea had test-launched a long-range ballistic missile that flew over Japan’s north into the sea ¯ the first North Korean rocket to travel over the country since 2009. Pyongyang would repeat the exercise less than a month later. As U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un exchange personal insults over Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile programmes, talk of military action has put governments across the region on high alert. For Japan, Pyongyang’s twin missile launches over its territory have highlighted just how vulnerable it is as the threat of conflict grows. Trump’s Visit To Japan Trump arrived in Japan on Sunday as part of a 12-day tour of Asia. During his stops in Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, China and the Philippines, he is likely to assure allies that the U.S. has their security in mind and to call for a unified international strategy to rein in North Korea’s nuclear ambitions. In Japan, Trump is meeting with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to discuss trade issues and possible steps to prevent North Korean advancements and aggression. The leaders are also expected

to talk about North Korea -$%-s history of abducting Japanese citizens ¯ Trump will meet with the parents of Megumi Yokata, a Japanese woman who was kidnapped by North Korea as a teenager in 1977. Trump began his visit with a speech to U.S. military personnel at Yokota Air Base in Tokyo. Wearing a leather bomber jacket, he did not directly mention North Korea but said: “No one — no dictator, no regime and no nation — should underestimate, ever, American resolve.” Later, Trump and Abe played nine holes of golf, joined by Japan’s top golf professional, Hideki Matsuyama. Although it’s less often in the crosshairs of North Korea’s belligerent propaganda than South Korea or Guam, Japan is one of Pyongyang’s prime potential targets in the event of a conflict, Evans Revere, a former principal deputy assistant secretary of state who specialized in North Korea, told HuffPost. “What is often overlooked as we deal with this crisis is that many of those North Korean missile systems are built and being tested for use against Japan and against U.S. military bases in Japan in the event of a conflict,” Revere said.

Tuesday November 07, 2017

Half-centuries for Lewis, Samuels in... (From page 27) a short one from Barbadian pacer Jofra Archer who ended with two for 34. Sunil Narine, however, provided a spark near the end, blasting a pair of sixes in a 11ball 16. Narine then returned with his off-spin to claim two for 32 as Titans were dismissed for 137 off the first ball of the 19th over. Archer top-scored with 36 while Jamaica and West Indies star Chadwick Walton chipped in with 30, but Titans lost wickets regularly and they never really regained their balance. Windies Twenty20 captain Carlos Brathwaite fell for a one-ball ‘duck’ batting at

number three to be one of two wickets to fall in three deliveries as Titans slipped to eight for two in the third over. Walton, who struck five fours and a six off just 13 deliveries, added 35 for the third wicket with South African Rilee Roussouw (23) before edging a cut at left-arm spinner Shakib al Hasan behind. Five wickets tumbled for 45 runs before Archer arrived to blast five fours in a 24-ball cameo, as the tail wagged briefly. In the earlier game, Marlon Samuels’s half-century went in vain as Sylhet Sixes won their second on the trot with a four-wicket

victory over Comilla Victorians. The right-handed Samuels struck 60 from 47 balls, with two fours and three sixes, as Victorians tallied 145 for six off their 20 overs. Former Windies seamer Krishmar Santokie picked up two for 30. In reply, Andre Fletcher was again among the runs stroking 36 off 29 balls with five fours and two sixes, putting on 73 for the first wicket with Upul Tharanga who made 51 off 40 balls, as Sixers overhauled their target of 146 with a ball to spare. West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo was the best bowler with two for 34.

Tuesday November 07, 2017 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) This is a great day to spend with family. You can get the attention of important individuals but it might not be the time to get them to help or to back yo u r i d e a s . Yo u r w o r d s w i l l b e taken out of context if y o u ' r e e vasive with coworkers or employers. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Unexpected visitors are likely. Be prepared to do your chores early. You need time to think things through. You mustn't take on other people's responsibilities or you may find yourself irritable and exhausted. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Friends or groups that you're affiliated with may want you to contribute more cash than you can really afford. Your ability to communicate with ease will win the hearts of those you are in touch with today. Put your energy into moneymaking ventures. CANCER (June 21–July 22) Be innovative. Romance and social activity will be a promising combination. You like to stay busy and now is your chance to do just that. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Disappointments regarding partners will be subject to the way you react to their personal comments. You may be frazzled today. Listen to the complaints of others. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) New projects may lead you into a dead end. Work hard on improving your living quarters. Someone you care about may not be too pleased with you.

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LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Be aware of deception when it comes to your position, and be sure not to jump to conclusions. Be discreet and don't reveal any personal information. You can make new friends by taking part in social events involving colleagues. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) You will not impress others by being foolishly generous. You will upset your partner if you have spent money on things that aren't necessary. Concentrate on home improvement. Small details will make a difference. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) You may find that your family responsibilities are piling up. Your diplomacy will be of utmost importance today. You may find that your plans will cost a little more than you had expected. CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Have some fun, but draw the line if someone tries to fast talk their way into your heart. Try not to take others for granted. Tempers could get out of hand today. It will be important that you have your priorities straight. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) Don't jump as quickly as you usually do. You may find it difficult to communicate. Find out what they're up to, and see if you can pick up where you left off. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Take matters in hand when it comes to dealing with clients or colleagues. Changes at home might come fast and furious. Intellectual stimulation is what you are looking for.

‘Amnesty’ not enough without better... (From page 31) chances of getting through the World Cup Qualifier in March 2018. West Indies are left to play just one further ODI series, against New Zealand, before they head to Zimbabwe to feature in the World Cup Qualifiers next March. Sammy was critical of the selection policy, especially when allied to how little money the players stood to make from domestic cricket as against playing in franchise T20 tournaments around the world. “That’s the problem,” Sammy said. “When it all started with the past CEO [Michael Muirhead] and (former) director of cricket Richard Pybus, he said ‘West-Indies-first policy’. But you say West Indies first, but the first thing you do you cut the salaries. That doesn’t work. “You telling guys ‘don’t go and play elsewhere [where] they pay much better, stay at home,’ but the first thing you’re doing is you cut the salaries playing at home.” In this environment, Sammy felt the temporary amnesty would not solve the standoff between the board and the T20 freelancers, and that CWI would need to draw up flexible contracts to allow players to represent West Indies while also featuring in their choice of T20 leagues. “I think if you tell guys you have two or three tournaments a year where you get to choose. We give you a white-ball contract or your red-ball contracts, well the retainer contracts. You come back you play home (domestic cricket). If IPL is playing, those who have the contract to play in IPL you go and play. Those not in the IPL you stay home and play. “Then you have the Pakistan Super League, where the lesser guys tend to filter into that league. So you say ‘okay, you play here, those not playing in that league you have to return.’ And you make the retainer contract something attractive.” Sammy termed the failure to qualify automatically for the 2019 World Cup as West Indies’ lowest point, but said he had not lost hope of a turnaround in their fortunes. “It’s something I spoke about. I was afraid that we would not make into the Champions Trophy, we didn’t, and now to this,” Sammy said. “Hopefully Jason [Holder] and his men can go down to Zimbabwe in March and get to the finals, and assure that there won’t be another ICC event without West Indies. “But the good thing about

when you hit rock bottom, you can only go up from there. Every time I hear or see West Indies play I’m always optimistic, I’ve not lost that passion that something will happen. We’ve shown it over the years, the glimpses where - especially the last Test series in England where they called us all sorts of names, and we have a habit when people call us names to bounce back firing.” Not for the first time, Sammy was critical of Dave Cameron, the CWI president, on this occasion calling him “egotistical” and accusing him of putting himself above the players. “Although I promised I would not talk about these things anymore, but we have a president who is very egotistical,” Sammy said. “I’ve already said before he thinks he’s the face of West Indies cricket. Youngest president, going around, that’s the type of things you see. “But until you realize that the product is the cricketer if you look at any sports stadium, all the chairs are facing the field. What’s on the field. Not one chair facing the box. Everybody’s coming to the stadium to watch these guys. So once you understand that if these guys do well, administration, everybody wins.” Sammy also spoke about the downward turn in his relationship with the board which began with his being

perceived as the “golden child” when he was unexpectedly named the West Indies captain in 2010 and soured six years later, when he attacked the administration in his World T20 victory speech. That speech remains Sammy’s last act as a West Indies player. “I was not always like that,” he said. “I absorbed a lot. I wanted to talk for a long time. I think there’s a right place and time for it. After speaking to these guys, because I was once the golden child of WICB. They made me captain against the backlash, threw me in the firing line knowing well that the media and even some of my teammates [didn’t think I deserved it]. “So I had to be going to work every day swimming with sharks, but I had to remain true and believe in myself that I’m there for a reason. And I understood that. So when all the critics said ‘Darren shouldn’t be there’, I understood what my purpose was. “One moment I remember in India in [2014], when I said to them [the board] I do not agree with the new MOU they signed, where you cut players’ salaries by 70 percent which they’re still trying to do now - I don’t agree with that. All of a sudden I became a rebel. I just stood up for what I believe and what we believed in.”

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Tuesday November 07, 2017

SVC International Softball Cup

Budhu all-round heroics hands Regal All stars title Sewchand Budhu produced a commendable all-round performance to give Regal All stars a 35-run win over SVC All stars of New York in the final of the Sawh Volt Comm (SVC) inaugural international softball Cup which was contested on Sunday at Hydronie Sports Club, East Bank Essequibo. Regal All-Stars opted to bat and posted 204-6. Budhu struck three fours and five sixes in an even half century, while Safraz Esau hit a cameo 36 with five sixes; the pair added 60 for the sixth wicket, while Patrick Rooplall made 24 (1x4,3x6) and Richard Latif 21. Azaad Azeez claimed 2-53. SVC All stars responded with 169-9. Anil Beharry scored 28 (1x4,2x6), Jake We s s e l 1 5 ; A m e e r Nizamudeen grabbed 3-37, Budhu 2-26 and Delroy Perriera 2-40. The competition started on Friday with eight teams; Regal All-Stars took home a trophy and $700,000 first prize.

The victorious Regal All stars. In the Masters’ final, Hydronie beat Essequibo. Dubraj Singh was adjudged the Man of the Match and best bowler with 3 for 10 from three overs, while Dalip Singh who made 56 for Essequibo was the best

Mo Farah: Briton one of three finalists for IAAF athlete of the year award BBC Sport - Britain’s Mo Farah is one of three male finalists for the IAAF 2017 World Athlete of the Year award. The 34-year-old, who defended his 10,000m world title in London in August, will compete with Wayde van Niekerk and Qatar’s Mutaz Essa Barshim. South African Van Niekerk retained his world 400m world title in London, where Barshim won the high jump. Greece’s Ekaterini Stefanidi, Belgium’s Nafissatou Thiam and Ethiopia’s Almaz Ayana are up for the female award. Stefanidi won the pole vault title at London 2017, adding to her Olympic crown, while Thiam added the world heptathlon title to her gold from Rio 2016 and Olympic 10,000m champion Ayana also added the world title to her collection. Four-time Olympic champion Farah retired from track racing to concentrate on marathons after winning 10,000m gold and 5,000m silver at the World Championships in August. The winners will be announced at the IAAF Athletics Awards in Monaco on 24 November.

batsman. In the All-Stars’ category, the champions made a clean sweep of the individual prizes; Delroy Perriera (11 wickets) won the prize for the bowler with the most wickets and

Safraz Esau (192 runs) took the best batman and M o s t Valu ab le P lay er prizes, while Budhu was voted the Man of the Match in the final. S V C ’s P r e s i d e n t , Sureain Sawh who is also the

president of Enforcers Care, a charitable foundation, said he was pleased with the level of competition and the skill displayed by the participating teams and promised a better

tournament next year. Children of the area were treated to free sweets, popcorn, snow cones, cotton candy and bouncy castle and school hampers, while five elders received hampers.

National U-16 and Open Boxing C/ships set to excite boxing fans this November November will be a brutal month as the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) is gearing up to have two meets with much anticipated slugging. The first meet is the National Under-16 boxing championships which will punch off on next Saturday, November 18th at the Andrew “Six Head” Lewis boxing gym in Albouystown. The under-16 event will see one day of glove action with over 38 boxers set to throw down among 10 gyms from 13:30hrs, while the weigh-in will be at 09:00hrs. Closing off the GBA’s month of activities will be the National Open Boxing Championships which is set for a grand amateur throwdown at the National Gymnasium from November 27th to 30th. The medical and weigh-in for the competition will be on the 27th and the following three nights will see 10 bouts each among over 40 pugilists from over 10 gyms. Top fighters who will be looking to reassert their dominance in the amateur arena include Jason Barker

Flashback to last month’s national intermediate, GDF’s Emmanuel Sancho lands a left jab during his winning fight against gym mate Mark Blake in the welterweight semifinal. (Heavyweight Champion) of Republican Boxing Gym, D e n n i s T h o m a s (Middleweight champion) of Police Boxing Gym, Colin “Superman” Lewis (Junior Welterweight champion) of GDF, Clairmont “Vibeman” Gibson (Bantamweight

c h a m p i o n ) o f G D F, Markember “Violence” Pierre (Light Heavyweight champion) of GDF. In the meat of the action will be Caribbean Middleweight champion, Desmond Amsterdam of GDF gym and along with the

National and Caribbean Lightweight champion, Joel Williamson of Rose Hall Jammers boxing gym in Berbice. Defending champions, the Guyana Defence Force Gym has won this competition for the past 15 years.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday November 07, 2017

PAGE 29

GFSCA Guyana Cup 7

Harold’s last over heroics ensures Ariel Speedboat retain Open title Floodlights successfully defend Masters Crown

Mark Harold collects accepts one of his prizes. (Zaheer Mohamed photo) By Zaheer Mohamed History was created Sunday night when the seventh edition of the Guyana Floodlight Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA) Guyana Cup concluded at the Demerara Cricket Club - no team has ever successfully defended their title in an international tournament - Sunday night Ariel Speedboat and Floodlights achieved the feat in the Open and Masters categories respectively.

Mark Harold, with over a decade of experience in the sport, used it to good effect to hand Ariel Speedboat an exciting four-run win over Boots All stars. Chasing 128, Boots All stars needed 13 from the last over; despite being aided by three wides they only managed eight as Harold picked up four wickets to finish with 4-20. Speedboat decided to bat in front of a large crown which included opposition leader Dr. Bharat Jagdeo,

Members of the Floodlights team following their win. (Zaheer Mohamed photo) and lost the dangerous Lennox Marks for five before skipper Anand Bharat went for nine; both falling to C. Ramdhani leaving the score at 40-2. Vikash Dhaniram struck two fours and two sixes in a top score of 27, but no other batsman managed double figures as Boots All stars picked up wickets at regular intervals with steady bowling and sharp fielding; Ariel Speedboat were bowled out in 17.1 overs. Av i n a s h S o o k d e o

Half-centuries for Lewis, Samuels in contrasting results SYLHET, Bangladesh, CMC – West Indies opener Evin Lewis lashed a halfcentury as Dhaka Dynamites rebounded from their opening day defeat with a convincing 65-run victory over Khulna Titans in the Bangladesh Premier League here Sunday. Playing at the Sylhet International Stadium, Dynamites piled up an imposing 202 for seven off their 20 overs, with the lefthanded Lewis gathering a top score of 66 off 40 deliveries. He struck seven fours and three sixes, putting on 38 for the first wicket with Kumar Sangakkara (20) and a further 116 for the second wicket with South African

West Indies opener Evin Lewis. Cameron Delport who belted 64 off 31 balls with four fours and five sixes. Lewis eventually perished in the 13th over, slapping a short ball from

fast bowler Shafiul Islam to Mahmudullah at cover. Kieron Pollard failed to fire, departing cheaply for five after top-edging a pull a (Continued on page 25)

claimed 3-31, Yoodhanlall Sooklall 2-7 and Roy Persaud 2-34. Boots All stars reply got off to a bad start, losing Brian Mangar without scoring in the first over delivered by Wazir Hussain, however Keith Fraser (07) and skipper Ejaz Mohamed added 34 for the second wicket before Fraser was removed by Greg Singh. Mohamed and Christopher Seenarine put on 40 for the third-wicket to stabilise the chase with sensible batting. However, after Seenarine was removed by Singh for 22, Boots All stars suffered two crucial run outs, Jonathan Fernandes and Delroy Williams, both without scoring as Ariel Speedboat fought back with tidy bowling. The game continued to swing in the balance; Boots All stars needed 23 from three and it wired down to the last over - with five wickets in hand many had written off Ariel Speedboat, however Harold who bowled Mohamed off the first ball in the over for 37 (1x4) and went on to pick up Sooklall (04), Avinash Sookdeo (00) and Andy Rooplall (00), turned out to be the hero as Boots All stars lost nine wickets in the chase. Singh had 2-13. Floodlight defeated archrivals Regal Masters by nine wickets in the Masters final played earlier. Batting

first, Regal Masters lost Mahendra Hardyal and David Harper both run out without scoring before Mahase Chunilall (00) was bowled by Clive Canterbury as they were reduced to 4-3. Captain Mohendra Arjune and Eon Abel added 45 for the fourth-wicket before Abel was bowled by Ravi Lutchman for 18. Regal Masters suffered a further set back as Ramo Malone picked up the wickets of Arjune for a top score of 30 (3x4), Eric Thomas and Raymond Harper for 11 and 15 respectively; Regal Masters managed 101-9. Malone snared 3-20 and Canterbury 2-11. In reply, Floodlights lost Lutchman bowled by Laurie Singh (114) for five with the score on 26, but Unnis Yusuf and Ramesh Narine shared in an unbroken second wicket stand of 76 to see their team home. Yusuf clobbered six fours and two sixes in scoring 61, while Narine finished on 12; Floodlights finished on 102-1 in 11.3 overs. Karibee Girls of Berbice defeated Trophy Stall Angels by 12 runs in the female final. Karibee Girls batted first and scored 82-7 in 10 overs. Shemaine Campbell made 23, Shakiba Gajnabi 20 and Sherika Campbell 16; Alicia Allen took 2-11. Trophy Stall Angels responded with 70-7. Ruth George made 34;

Nagma Boodhoo, Shemaine Campbell and Gajnabi claimed two wickets each. Blairmont beat GCC by 88 runs in the Well Teen, Tropical Spring, Nauth Motor Spares and Trophy Stall U13 final. Blairmont took first strike and posted 150-5 in 25 overs. Zynal Ramsammy struck five fours and three sixes in a top score of 60, while Timani Caesar made an even half century with four fours and one six. The duo added 117 for the fourth wicket after Blairmont lost three wickets without a run on the board. Aryan Persaud claimed 4-22. GCC were bowled out for 62 in 14.2 overs in reply. Rivaldo Phillips scored 21 as Vickendra Singh captured 313 and Ramsammy 3-15. Ramsammy was named man-of-the-match. In the Masters category, Malone was named MVP and Yusuf man-of-the-match in the final, while Ronald Khan of NYSCL and Basdeo Persaud of Fisherman were rewarded for scoring centuries in the preliminary round. Regal Masters received a trophy and $150,000 while Floodlight took home a trophy and $600,000. In the Open division, Harold was named man-ofthe-match in the final and MVP. Boots All stars took home a trophy and $200,000 and Speedboat a trophy and $800,000.

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Tuesday November 07, 2017

Coach Crandon not satisfied with team’s performance But happy with 7-wkt win in St Lucia By Sean Devers in St Lucia In association with Vnet Communications The Guyana Jaguars’ 35year-old Head Coach Esuan Crandon is happy that his team registered a sevenwicket win against Windwards Volcanoes in three days here on Saturday in their third round CWI Digicel Regional four-day encounter but he is not satisfied with the overall performance of the team. “ Ye s w e w o n a n d extended our lead and that is a good thing. I’m happy with the win but I’m not satisfied with the team’s performance,” Crandon said with mixed emotions. Asked his view on the 19-year-old pair of Allrounders Kemo Paul and Sherfane Rutherford Crandon informed that he thinks they are two very talented cricketers who have shown in the few games they have played that they have developed and are capable of winning games for the

Esuan Crandon Jaguars. “It’s early days now for them and I hope it’s just a taste of what’s to come in the near future,” Crandon added. Over the last three seasons the Jaguars have lost just three times but dislodging the lower order quickly after blowing away the top order has been a constant and frustrating concern for the backroom staff and the Jaguars supporters. “We have been preaching day in day out to the bowlers to be patient and consistent when bowling to the lower

Anthony Bramble ‘rides’ a short ball from Sherman Lewis during his 173-run stand with non-striker Vishaul Singh. (Sean Devers photo) order. In this game in particular I thought the fast bowlers were inconsistent in the second innings because they tried to get a wicket with every ball and that resulted in them presenting alot of easy scoring opportunity to the opposition. Rutherford was very good in the first innings and I thought Permaul bowled beautifully in the second innings,” Crandon explained. Openers Rajendra Chandrika and Tagenarine

Chanderpaul seemed very uncomfortable to the short balls on a track which offered the pacers good pace and bounce and were both dismissed trying to hook without building a foundation for the middle order to build on. “The top order didn’t perform in this match due to the lack of discipline and application. Obviously it was always going to be difficult with the hard new ball on such a surface but

they had needed to fight and spend time at the crease,” lamented Crandon. “I am very disappointed in their shot selection and was surprised that young Chanderpaul, who usually shows good temperament, played such a reckless shot in the first innings before looking much better in the second innings,” Crandon continued. “Vishaul (Singh) and (Anthony) Bramble applied themselves and were able to

bat long and put us in a very solid position. I would’ve loved to see Bramble score his first ton at this level, but he lost concentration and give it away,” Crandon concluded. Singh scored his seventh First-Class century and Bramble made 90 with the two adding 173 runs between them. The Jaguars left St Lucia yesterday for St Kitts where they face the Leewards Hurricanes from Thursday.

Archery Guyana benefits from World Archery Barbados Coaches visit Over the past weekend (Friday 3rd to Sunday 5th November), four Level 2 Archery coaches from Barbados provided our local archers with three days of Olympic Archery coaching intended to raise their skill levels and prepare them for indoor and outdoor competitions, both n a t i o n a l l y a n d internationally. Father and son Duo, Thomas and Ronald Field, Rebecca Wiltshire and Guyanese Dwayne Grovesnor arrived on Friday, November 3, and held the sessions at the National Gymnasium on Friday and Saturday afternoon, and on Sunday afternoon at the Carifesta Sports Complex Ground on Carifesta Avenue.

The sessions at the National Gymnasium were intended to prepare archers to practice and compete in the Indoor Archery arena, while the Carifesta Ground session was intended to prepare for Outdoor Archery training and competition, adjusting to distance, wind, rain, temperature, etc. The coaches, Thomas & Ronald Field, and Dwayne Grovesnor were also presented with Archery Guyana’s Shirts as a small token of gratitude and appreciation at the end of Sunday’s training session, at which they demonstrated shooting at the 70 meter distance with their Olympic equipment. 70 meters is the official Olympic distance shot by all archers in the Olympics.

All of Archery Guyana’s archers who participated in the 3-day training course by the expert coaches are now richer in the knowledge of preparation and participation in the sport of

Olympic Archery, especially with emphasis on Safety with regard to the rules of the World Archery Federation. Archery Guyana wishes to express its gratitude to Director of Sport Mr.

Christopher Jones and the National Sports Commission for making the National Gymnasium available for use on Friday and Saturday. Special thanks are also extended again to

the Ministry of Education, Department of CY&S for the continued support of Archery and use of the Carifesta Sports Club Ground for the usual practice and training sessions.

WAB Coach Ron Field addressing some of Archery Guyana’s archers.

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Tuesday November 07, 2017

PAGE 31

CAC Hockey Qualifiers in Jamaica

Guyana Men and Women win first round games Guyanese striker Randy Hope dispossesses Yaphet Melendez of Puerto Rico wit assistance from teammate Hilton Chester (left).

Guyana men

G u y a n a ’s m e n a n d women teams opened their bids to qualify for the Caribbean and Central America (CAC) Games in Colombia in July 2018 on Sunday at the Jamaica hockey pitch in the Mona University of the West Indies (UWI) campus. With the Guyanese men taking the field for the very first match in the competition against

Puerto Rico at 08:30hrs, it took some time for the team to adjust to the artificial turf conditions. Puerto Rico had the better of the starts in the match and Guyanese goalkeeper Medroy Scotland was called to action several times during the opening minutes of play. Guyana soon settled and balanced the play by the

halfway mark with the scores remaining at nil-all. The second half quickly brought that all-important breakthrough for Guyana as their penalty corner shot was blocked by the Puerto Rican goalkeeper but subsequently put away by Mark Sargeant one minute after resumption. Jamarj Assanah made it 2-0 for Guyana in similar fashion

four minutes later by which time Guyana seemed to grow in confidence and composure. Although Puerto Rico’s Ottus Feliciano managed to pull one back through a penalty corner in the 38th minute, two field goals from Captain Robert France and Aroydy Branford kept Guyana comfortably in control and saw them

through to a 4-1 victory. The Guyanese women took to the field in the opening ladies fixture at 12:30PM against relative new-comers to hockey, Panama. It only took the Guyanese ladies 6 minutes to get on the scoreboard as a Kerensa Fernandes’ drive up the right side was finished off by a Shebiki Baptiste

sweep for the opening goal. Adding to her assist, Fernandes would return to score two goals of her own in the match with teammates Latacia Chung, Tamala Glenn and Marzana Fiedtkou adding to Guyana’s tally via two field goals and one penalty corner respectively to secure a comfortable 6-0 victory at full time.

New Era Entertainment gets support for 4th annual Mohamed’s Enterprise Futsal

Mr. Kumar Sankar’s Representative presents to Kenrick Noel while Shareef Major Co-Director of New Era Entertainment looks on. With less than three weeks before the first whistle in the 4th annual N e w E r a Entertainment/Mohamed’s Enterprise Futsal competition, the event, which is seeing its largest participation this year, is benefitting from additional sponsorships. The latest sponsors of this tournament, that will see 25 teams, inclusive of 7 from the

capital city of Georgetown vying for over $1M in cash and prizes at the Mackenzie Sports Club tarmac in Linden, are Bumper to Bumper and Mr. Kumar Sankar. Bumper to Bumper Services is a coating company that supply and furnish automotive, decorative and Industrial paints based in Anira Street Kingstown. Adeiola Cordis,

Assistant Administration Manager of the company was happy to make the presentation of the sponsorship cheque to Shareef Major, Director of New Era Entertainment. M r. K u m a r S a n k a r through a representative presented to Kenrick Noel Director of New Era their contribution to the tournament. The futsal competition is

Adeiola Cordis of Bumper to Bumper hands over the sponsorship to Shareef Major Director, while Kenrick Noel (left) and Andrew Major look on. set to kick off on Friday, November 24 and will conclude on one month later on Boxing Day. The winners of the competition will pocket $500,000, second place $150,000, third $50,000 and fourth finishers will receive a trophy. S p a r t a B o s s , Meadowbrook, Customs, Bent Street and West Front Road ‘Gold is Money’ are

among the city teams who will be participating in the event for the first time.

Each match night they will be give-a-ways from Ansa Mcal trading company.

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Tuesday November 07, 2017

CSF Championships

Braithwaite and Persaud end 6th and 8th of 27 shooters

2017 CSF winner David Luckman being paraded by fellow shooters.

The dress rehearsal to next year’s Commonwealth Games Shooting championships concluded at the Belmont Shooting Centre in Brisbane, Australia with the Guyanese pair of Lennox Braithwaite and Fullbore Captain Mahendra Persaud ending in 6th and 8th place respectively of 27 of the best shooters in the world. Competing at the same venue where next year’s Commonwealth Games (CG) will be held, Braithwaite and Persaud have once again proven and displayed the class and talent

of Guyana at the highest level in the world, Guyana being the reigning Caribbean Short and Long Range Champions with Persaud the Top Individual shot in the Caribbean. Braithwaite ended with a Grand Aggregate of 394 Points and 40 V bulls, while P e r s a u d tallied a similar amount of points with 24 V Bulls. The winner of the event was David Luckman of England with a score of 399.39 followed by Petrus Haasbroek of South Africa with the same points and 32 Vs. Third was Australian Jim

Bailey (398.42), fourth, Parag Patel of England (396.38) and fifth, Jim Paton of Canada with a score of 394.41. Ben Emms of Australia also ended with a score of 394 but with 38 Vs just under Braithwaite and above Persaud. Persaud in summing up the tour informed that it had started disastrously when they missed a connecting flight in Toronto last week Monday night indicating that this was so because it took a bit longer than normal for Customs in Canada to process the paper work for the rifles.

”We arrived at the check in counter 5 minutes after check in was closed off. We had to change flights only to find out that there were not enough seats for us to get on the flights on the Wednesday. One had to go through Boston the other had to continue through Dubai with the rifles. All our plans about getting in early to get over the jet lag were being messed up.” H o w e v e r, a s t r u e warriors, the Guyanese’ first line of business in Australia

FIFA bribery trial due to kick off in New York court NEW YORK (Reuters) More than two years after U.S. prosecutors unveiled a sweeping corruption case that rocked FIFA, soccer’s world governing body, three former officials linked to the organization are due to face trial on graft charges on Monday in a New York court. Selection of jurors is scheduled to begin before U.S. District Judge Pamela Chen in Brooklyn. On trial Manuel Burga, former president of Peru’s soccer federation; José Maria Marin, the former president of Brazil’s soccer federation; and Juan Ángel Napout, formerly president of the South American soccer governing body CONMEBOL and of Paraguay’s soccer federation.

U.S. prosecutors have accused the three of taking bribes and kickbacks in connection with the sale of media and marketing rights to Copa America and Copa Libertadores tournaments, international competitions organized by CONMEBOL. The trial is part of a sweeping criminal probe in which U.S. prosecutors have charged 42 people and entities. Prosecutors have described a widespread culture of corruption around the awarding of media and marketing rights to soccer games throughout the world. Burga, Marin and Napout are the first of the people charged to go to trial. Twenty-four people have pleaded guilty, most of them since the probe was announced in May 2015,

though the first pleas came in 2013. The charges against one of those people, U.S. soccer official Charles Blazer, were voided after his death in July. “After waiting two years, Mr. Napout looks forward to his day in court,” Napout’s lawyer, Silvia PineraVazquez, said on Friday. Charles Stillman, a lawyer for Marin, and Bruce Udolf, a lawyer for Burga, declined to comment. Among the defendants who have pleaded guilty in the case are Jeffrey Webb, a former FIFA vice president and president of CONCACAF, the governing body for soccer in North America, Central America and the Caribbean; and José Hawilla, accused of paying bribes to secure contracts for

his sports marketing company, Traffic Group. I n O c t o b e r, C o s t a s Ta k k a s , d e s c r i b e d b y prosecutors as Webb’s attache, was sentenced to 15 months in prison and Hector Trujillo, a former secretary general of the Guatemalan soccer federation, was sentenced to eight months. Other defendants have not been extradited to the United States. Sepp Blatter, who served as FIFA’s president from 1998 until he was suspended in late 2015, was not charged in the case. Authorities in Switzerland, where FIFA is based, said in October that they were investigating potential bribery around media rights for the 2026 and 2030 World Cups.

Mahendra Persaud (6th) and Lennox Braithwaite (8th) ended in the top 10. was the Pairs Match. ”Although we were a few points behind we knew that we stood an outside chance. During the 900 yards shoot we were running a bit behind on time so I decided to pick up the pace and shoot quickly. The scorer we had, missed one of the fives and we mentioned it to him and continued shooting, thinking that we would have gotten it resolved at the end. This did not materialise a s t h e r a n g e o ff i c e r s collected the scorebook and took it to the Jury who made a decision that we will not get the 5 points. We protested but their opinion was that we had fired on another target. We knew that we had not. I know I used that as my motivation for the Individuals because I felt that we were robbed of 5 points and had it been other teams the outcome would h a v e b e e n d i ff e r e n t . ” Persaud stated that in the Individuals Braithwaite shot brilliantly and after his 35:7 followed by35:4 and 35:3 they had set the tone. ”My shoot was not bad I dropped one point at 300 and shot two other 35’s. The next day it was tricky but we were focused and did not disappoint as the scores demonstrated. The final day we got beaten along with most of the shooters with the

wind. It was not easy especially at the 1000 yards. It was a great learning experience we proved that we can hold our own against the best in the world. The CSF was planned as part of our CG 2018 preparations and when we mentioned it to Mr. Juman Yasin he was all for it and most of the funding for this Championship came from the GOA along with Secure Innovations and Concepts Inc.”. Persaud also stated that competing at the same range that would be used next year puts them in a better position for CG 2018. ”All the top shooters in the world were there to test the ranges. That was one of the strongest fields of Fullbore shooting ever assembled. To have finished well into the top 10 with that level of competition was fantastic and I hope that the sacrifices that Fullbore shooters make for our country continues to benefit from assistance from Government and Corporate Guyana. As captain of this team I know we are on the ascendancy and if the other shooters get more exposure to high level international competition as we have been getting, we will continue to dominate not just at the Caribbean level but also internationally.”

Kaieteur News

Tuesday November 07, 2017

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Caribbean Junior Road Cycling Championships

Stepping stone for future of Cycling - GCF President & Team Manager

David Hicks and Jonathan Ramshuchit at the start of the Juvenile Road Race. By Franklin Wilson in Barbados In association with Queensway Security Service and Secure Innovations and Concepts Inc. President of the Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF) Horace Burrowes and Manager of Team Guyana, Steve Ramshuchit, to the 12th Junior Caribbean Cycling championships which concluded in Barbados on Sunday last are of the collective view that the event has set the stage for the future of the sport in Guyana. Guyana was represented

by five cyclists all making their debuts at this level, three Juniors (Curtis Dey, Briton John, Nigel Duguid Jnr.) and two Juveniles, Jonathan Ramshuchit and David Hicks. Of the five, John has one year remaining while it is the start of potentially great things to come with Ramshuchit and Hicks still having two more years as Juveniles before graduating to the Junior ranks. The terrain on which the riders had to compete was very challenging, even senior riders that attended the 2015 Caribbean Championships had

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difficulty with the said course. Manager Steve Ramshuchit offered the view that he is somewhat satisfied with the showing of the cyclists: “I think the guys did very well given the level in Guyana, the conditions they train under and the conditions they had to ride under here because the course was not an easy course. We beat climbers, guys that are living on the island we beat them, so all the guys I think did exceptionally well. In terms of the Junior race John did really good, Dey, exceptionally well, way beyond his training in Guyana. In the Juvenile race, Hicks was probably too heavy for the terrain, if it was a flat terrain he would have probably done better. Jonathan was the youngest rider here but he did well too, to compete and beat bigger riders than himself.” The senior Ramshuchit believes that the exposure will work well for the youngsters who will be of a better understanding that competition outside of Guyana is way different where the competition is way greater and they will have to step their level up. ”So for those that will be eligible for next year they have goals to work on and we as administrators need to prepare them for that.” GCF’s Burrowes in a brief comment said that he was fully supportive of what Manager Ramshuchit said while noting that he was proud of efforts of the team. ”This was a prestigious event which has shown the

GCF President Horace Burowes and his Belizean counterpart congratulating Curtis Dey after his exceptional finish. He suffered a double puncture on lap 6 of 7 in placing 9th out of 15.

Guyana’s top three performers at the 2017 Junior Caribbean Cycling Championships in Barbados (from right), Curtis Dey, Jonathan Ramshuchit and Briton John. guys that there is a greater challenge beyond the country. I think for the upcoming season, these very cyclists are going to medal and do us proud. This, their first international exposure would have seen all of them doing well and at the same time we had an opportunity to compare them against the other nations. Moving forward they will do exceptionally well at other Caribbean competitions. As a federation, we will work with the clubs to ensure that the guys are better prepared to face the challenges at this level. Burrowes commended

the clubs that stepped up to assist with paying the airfare for their riders, Trojan Cycle Club of Berbice as well as United We Stand Cycle Club. He also commended the role of the parents of Unattached cyclist, Nigel D u g u i d J n r . ”I think that we need to publicly recognise the efforts of these clubs and parents who have seen the need to ensure that these athletes are given the opportunity to showcase and test their skills against their peers from around the region; on behalf of the GCF, we say thanks.” Over 40 Junior and Juvenile cyclists including

four females from Anguilla, Bermuda, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Trinidad a n d To b a g o , G u y a n a , Suriname, St. Lucia, Grenada, Guadeloupe and host Barbados competed over two days in the Time Trials and Road Races organised by the Barbados Cycling Union and held under the auspices of the Caribbean Cycling Federation. Barbados had stepped in to host at the last moment since the initial host nation; Puerto Rico was devastated by Hurricane. Te a m G u y a n a w a s expected to arrive back home last evening.

t r o Sp GFSCA Guyana Cup 7

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Group photo: (from left): Samira Duncan, Nicholas Hing, Dwayne Grovesnor, Michael Abrams, Ronald Field, Randy Arjune, Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon, Thomas Field, Narda Mohamed, while Seated: Anand Mangra (left) and Sean Duncan (right). Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Limited, 24 Saffon St.Charlestown, Georgetown.Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/ 226-8210