Kaieteur News

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ExxonMobil to NEWS take first shipment of crude - Energy Dept. Director AIETEUR

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Thursday Edition November 07, 2019 - Vol. 12 No. 45 Online: www.kaieteurnews.com

Guyana’s largest selling daily & New York’s most popular weekly

Price $80

Online readership yesterday 143,537

Energy Department to secure expert watchdog for accurate measurement of Guyana's oil p. 14

“I will make the choice” The AFC has selected Khemraj Ramjattan as its Prime Ministerial Candidate

- Granger on PM candidate p.

19

President David Granger

Two years after approval of US$17.5M loan…

Selection of contractors stalls modernisation of regional hospitals p.

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Minister questions Man smashes way p.2 Murder suspect p. delay in GPL's 17 into pump station, tells captured after p.

11 fuel shipment guard “I come for blood” six years

Guyana Forensic Lab to conduct DNA tests on remains Burnt body p.3 in car trunk…

Kaieteur News

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Thursday November 07, 2019

Man smashes way into pump station, tells guard “I come for blood”

A

security guard attached to the Anna Regina pump station had a dreadful experience during the wee hours yesterday, when he came under attack by a strange man.

The guard, 53-year-old Regan Resalli, said that the man charged into his hut, demanding not cash nor personal property, but blood.

According to Resalli, sometime around 01:00 hr. yesterday, he heard a loud crash, as though someone had burst through the entrance of the pump station's compound.

Upon investigating, the man said he saw a male smashing open the locks to the Sluice attendant's hut, which is also located in the compound. He said that the man then approached his hut, smashed the louvre panes,

and made his way into the hut. He said, “The man come in the hut and he seh that how he come for blood now, he gotta get blood.”

Resalli said that the man charged towards him, but he warded him off with a stick he usually keeps in his hut.

The guard eventually managed to overpower and apprehend the suspect.

Resalli claims that he tried to gain assistance from security guards who were stationed at the adjacent State House, Anna Regina, and the Regional Engineering Compound, but no such assistance was granted to him in taking the attacker to the Anna Regina Police Station.

The suspect was later identified as a young man from Anna Regina. It is suspected that the attacker used a brick to smash open

The Anna Regina pump station

both the compound's gate and the hut's locks.

Resalli said that more needed to be done to ensure that the Anna Regina pump station's environment is safer. The man explained that

the area is secluded, and without proper security lighting He went on to say, “some lights install like a month now, but by 10 o'clock the (continued on page 16)

Kaieteur News

Thursday November 07, 2019

PAGE 03

Guyana Forensic Lab to conduct DNA tests on remains

Burnt body in car trunk…

T

he Guyana Scientific F o r e n s i c Laboratory (GFSL) has been tasked with identifying the burnt human remains that were found in a car trunk at Letter 'T', Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara, last Friday.

Kaieteur News understands that police officials have contacted senior laboratory staff to enquire whether the GFSL c a n c o n d u c t deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) tests on the body, suspected to be that of missing eyewitness Collin Rodney.

GSL Director Delon France told Kaieteur News yesterday that “the samples will be brought to the lab for analysis.”

He said the laboratory is fully equipped to conduct the DNA tests to verify the victim's identity. But to do this, they will also need samples from Collin Rodney's parents, or other close relatives. He disclosed that the lab should be able to provide the results within a week of conducting the tests.

It costs Guyana over $1M to send a single DNA sample overseas, and local investigators often have to wait months for an analysis to be completed.

Kaieteur News understands that this is the second time that the GFSL has been tasked to conduct DNA tests in a murder investigation. A human bone fragment was previously sent to the lab.

James Fraser called 'Dab' The GFSL received deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) equipment last May. It was supplied by Italian firm Q&T S.p.A at a cost of approximately $107M (US$513,000).

The equipment has the capacity to allow eight samples to be tested at a time.

Following a post mortem on Tuesday, several samples were taken for analysis from the leg and thigh bones, and teeth of the victim.

Police said that the post mortem results on the badly burnt body were deemed inconclusive.

Collin Rodney's mother has said that the registration numbers from her son's vehicle were etched into the windscreen of the vehicle in which the corpse was found.

However, Crime Chief Michael Kingston said that investigators will compare the vehicle's chassis number with records at the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA)

Osafo Grundell called 'Safo'

The burnt car that was found with a body in the trunk at Letter 'T' Mahaicony

Missing: Collin Rodney before making a definitive conclusion. He had indicated that police should have gotten that information yesterday.

Last Friday, a torched car, with a badly burnt body in the trunk, was found in a desolate area at Letter 'T', Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara.

The victim is suspected to be 36-year-old Collin Rodney, who, along with his silver-grey Toyota Allion,

ExxonMobil to take first shipment of crude

S

hould Guyana start producing oil by Christmas, the first shipment would not be ready until January 2020.

And taking the first entitlement would be ExxonMobil's subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), says Energy Department Head, Dr. Mark Bynoe.

During a press conference yesterday at the National Communications Network (NCN) studio, Dr. Bynoe explained that the thinking behind Exxon going first and not Guyana, is due to the operator's capacity to refine the first set

- Energy Dept. Director of oil which often comes up with a lot of impurities.

Dr. Bynoe said that by using its refineries, Exxon Mobil would be able to preserve the integrity of Guyana's oil going forward.

He said, “...I understand that the first lift often comes with a fair amount of impurities and impurities in crude can affect the price you get for it. So it not only impacts that batch but subsequent batches. It makes sense for them to take the first lift, (and) process it, so the integrity or quality can be preserved going forward.”

The official disclosed that Guyana's first shipment would be uplifted until late February or March.

Further to this, Dr. Bynoe said that each entitlement will be one million barrels, but noted that there is no exact science to this. He said that it could very well end up being a million and a bit more. He noted, however, that a reconciliation process is in place to address this.

Once the Liza Phase One Project reaches peak period, where 120,000 barrels of oil would be produced, Dr. Bynoe said one can expect a

vanished on October 25.

He was due to testify that very day in the murder of his cousin, Marlon Seon Rodney, called 'George', who was gunned down last April in Norton Street, Lodge.

Thirty-nine-year-old

Osafo Grundell, called 'Safo' of Freeman Street, East La Penitence, Georgetown and James Fraser, 21, called 'Dab' from Garnett Street, Georgetown, are charged with Marlon Rodney's murder.

In the wake of Collin

Rodney's disappearance, Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan said that the police will seek to place other witnesses in G o v e r n m e n t ' s Wi t n e s s Protection Programme.

Two detectives testified in the matter last Monday.

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Kaieteur News

Thursday November 07, 2019

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

Women in the workplace They are right here. Are their rights being violated?

Are they themselves subject to many violations, including the ultimate indignity? That would be managerial ravishing.

Or bureaucratic condoning. Or, still worse yet, cultural accepting and silencing.

As context, the news from the United States confirm that a man lost his job. It was not just any man. It was not some back alley, predatory business operating on the dark side. And it was not just any kind of run-of-the-mill, everyday wrongdoing. It was all of that, and much more.

So much more that is needed here, should happen here, but is not being delivered here.

We make a start by referring to that man and his moment.

His moment of weakness, recklessness, and foolishness.

The man is (now was) the Chief Executive Officer of a storied company. It is a company that is listed on the prestigious New York Stock Exchange. Takes a lot of performing at a high level to get there. Staying there can be shaky, as much is required to maintain performance, through reputable practices.

The company is McDonald’s. It is now as every day and American as apple pie, motherhood, flag. McDonald’s, as Guyanese know from their travels, is universal. And to be CEO of the company is close to being somebody in American commerce. That was the role that Mr. Steve Easterbrook filled. He filled it to the point of distinction.

He filled it by turning the company around through delivering. Then he was fired.

For what, it may be asked? For materially misleading investors - a blasphemy? Cooking the books -a cardinal sin? What was this CEO, fired for, when his record is of doing so commendably?

This is going to sound alien to Guyanese minds and ears. It should not be. It should not be, if we are serious about protecting the sanctity of our women workers. It should not be, if we are committed to guarding the dignity of female presences, especially in the sanctuary of the workplace. None of this should be foreign or unfamiliar, if we are zealous in righting the wrongs that continue to be demanding and demeaning and dangerous to our sisters in the workplace. Sometimes, there is no choice. None!

And that was where the board of McDonald’s had to go, how it was compelled to be. For it, too, had no choice.

It had no choice, despite Mr. Easterbrook’s outstanding record of making matters right at McDonald’s. It had no choice but to fire a highflyer, and apparently a man, too, who lived for the highs of the thrill.

Mr. Easterbrook was fired for an inappropriate and unacceptable relationship with a female subordinate.

Whether consensual or not, femme fatale or not, circumstantially justifiable or not, he was fired for such a relationship. End of story. Case closed. A new chapter for former CEO, Mr. Steve Easterbrook, must be found somewhere else.

No matter how deserving, it may be regrettable. Regrettable that such promise was squandered. What is more regrettable, and infinitely so, is that someone - a woman - may have been irreparably shamed and harmed and painted scarlet forever.

Now even more regrettably, in this country, there would be shrugging, even smirking and making merry, over such a story as the fall and departure of the CEO of a foreign company, with a global presence. Who cares? What does it matter? Well, it does matter, this paper seriously believes, when the women in the Guyanese workplace are treated as sexual objects, objects of derision, and to every form of disrespect. Disrespect for their gender. Disrespect for their dignity. And disrespect for their persons. The word, not necessarily unfounded, has been of sexual predation and sexual coercion at many levels and from many parties. It is nearly cultural. It is possibly a lingering strain of the droit du seigneur that is still evident in the workplace. In power and out-of-power political people, senior bureaucrats, and private sector mainstays have pushed and overpowered. Failure to cooperate leads to being pushed out the door.

It is a not-so-closed, continuing secret in this society. It needs to be called out. This paper does so. Let some people be fired. Do we have the guts?

Showdown seems to be looming over voters list and use of id cards Dear Editor, From all indications a showdown seems to be looming over the Preliminary Voters List(PLE) and the use of ID cards.

We seem to be back to where we were on September 1991 when the then Commissioner of National Registration, Ronald Jacobs published a (PLE) containing a large number of duplicate names with over 50,000 eligible voters missing from the said list.

Fast forward to November 2019, a number of voices including sections of the media have raised alarm bells over the issue of voter suppression (see S/N 4/11/ 19)and the implications of merging data gathered from the aborted House to House registration with that of the existing National Register of Registrants (NRR)(See MAN’s letter S/N 4/11/19).

Moreover, Henry Jeffrey in his Future Notes makes an important point; “ ...for the first time in Guyana’s post-independence electoral history elections have been called without the

major parties having agreed upon a voter’s list that is to be used on elections day or (even more concerning) agreed upon the process for arriving at such a list.”

In the September 1991 scenario, the bungled PLE was rejected by the opposition parties grouped in the Patriotic Coalition for Democracy (PCD).

Two months after recognizing the fiasco Rudy Collins, the then Chairman of GECOM managed to pluck up the courage to advise President Hoyte that Jacob’s PLE had problems but could be corrected in time for elections to be held by December 1991.

Me and the late Bud Mangal who served as Commissioners on GECOM at that time, publicly disagreed with Collins’ assertion.

We argued that the corrections were mammoth and, excluding the time bound period for claims and objections, the corrections could not be rectified in two months.

Collins returned to Hoyte

on November 28, informing him that more time was needed to correct the flawed PLE. In the circumstances, Hoyte announced the postponement of the elections which was to be held in December 16, 1991.

He recalled parliament to allow for the passage of laws mandating that elections be held in 1992.

It was under these conditions that the Hoyte administration was allowed two additional years to stay in office.

Could this be the direction in which we are now heading?

The lesson to be learnt from the 1991 experience is that any list birthed in controversy and deemed unacceptable by opposition parties is neither fit nor proper to be used for a free and fair elections.

At the same time, if a list is intentionally created to do as it did in 1991, then two outcomes are quite likely; first the CEO will become the fall guy and second, government will get more time in office for two other reasons, a new CEO

has to be found, and that takes time and, the list will have to be corrected, and that also takes time.

Recent shenanigans by the APNU+AFC Representatives at GECOM concerning ID cards and merging data gathered from the aborted registration process with that of the existing NRR are not abstract notions. They are real, not imagined, and ought not to be underestimated. Clearly, they point to a plan with a clear objective in mind.

To claim that ‘A bad list is better than no list at all’ opens the door allowing history to walk back in to repeat the 1991 PLE fiasco.

The question therefore is; is the APNU+ AFC thrashing around for an excuse to postpone the March 2, elections to gain more time in government?

In 1991, Parliament was dissolved just one month before GECOM published the Official List of Electors (OLE) making it well-nigh impossible for the political parties to effectively (Continued on page 6)

NIS apologises to Michael Baird Dear Editor, Tuesday, November 5, 2019 edition of the Stabroek Newspaper carried a letter bearing the caption” Waiting for 22 months on NIS Sickness Benefit”.

The Kaieteur Newspaper on the same day also published a letter captioned, “NIS is not honoring my Sickness Benefits claim”. Both letters were signed by Michael Baird.

The Management of the National Insurance Scheme wishes to sincerely apologize to Mr. Baird for all the inconveniences caused by

the delayed payment of his benefit.

Additionally, contrary to the information that was conveyed to the writer, NIS does not discriminate when paying benefits to any contributor.

According to the Laws of Guyana Cap. 36:01 National Insurance and Social Security (Sickness Benefit Medical Care) 2. (1) Where an insured person who is rendered temporarily incapable of work otherwise than as a result of employment injury (such person hereafter referred to

as a “sick person”) requires medical care for any condition that renders him temporarily incapable of work, he shall be entitled to medical care from the date on which he is so rendered incapable of work for as long as the need for such care continues or recurs.

(2) The qualifying conditions for the provision of medical care in accordance with this regulation shall be the same as those set out in regulation 23 (a), (b) and (c) of the National Insurance and Social Security (Sickness Benefit) regulation. Such entitlements are based on the

regulations and nothing else.

The Scheme pays Sickness Benefit Medical care for as long as the need for such care continues or recurs and at a rate ranging from 50% to 70% for current Insured Persons and up to 80% for pensioners.

Mr. Baird is kindly asked to make contact as soon as possible with the Public Relations Unit on 227-6851 or e m a i l public_relations@nis.org.gy.

Yours Sincerely, Dianne Lewis Baxter Publicity and Public Relations Officer

How can we effectively and aggressively combat the issue of Racism?

Dear Editor, Yesterday around 5 p.m. I received a message in my inbox. It was very disturbing and unsettling to see and hear how the Africans are depicted by an Indian student on an Instagram post. I became angry instantly, even worked up. Is this what someone of another ethnicity thinks of mine? I know him, he has never come across as racist to me, is this what he thinks of me?

Most of the administrators of the University of Guyana are of African descent, is this how he views them? Why? His apology saved him not, if

anything, it made matters worse!

I refused to comment on the issue at the time, based on the fact that my emotions were worked up and I wanted not to make a statement out of anger.

Was he wrong for what he said? Yes, absolutely, and at all cost actions like this should be condemned.

However, there is a bigger picture here. Is it okay to say things, which might offend an entire people, publicly or privately? Racism in Guyana is not a secret topic and many of us are guilty of making

derogatory remarks to another race, directly, indirectly, intentionally or unintentionally. Our very institutional socialization which includes our education, religion, family and political parties have been using this very topic to divide us for a number of years. Oh, how I wish our activism would halt such a practice!

As we continue to force this young man into isolation and ridicule him, making threats to his family, have we thought about using the opportunity to spread unity through these same social

institution mentioned above?

We all have erred in the past, can we not forgive him for his actions, using this as a platform to edify the fellow Guyanese, hence eradicating any such thoughts that may remain?

We may never get the chance to eradicate racism, but at all opportunities, we must be willing and able to educate our populace, which will then enable us to “judge not a man by his color but by the contents of his character” Jafar Gibbons President UGSS 2019 - 2020

Thursday November 07, 2019

Drainage Perspectives of Georgetown Dear Editor, In a letter by Mrs. Pat Commissiong which appeared in KN on Nov. 02, she refuted a statement made in the news media by Mr. Hamilton Green, a former Mayor of the City of Georgetown that, “not all trenches dug in Guyana were drainage canals”. She claimed that during the early development of Georgetown as a city, the trenches dug along Camp Street., Waterloo Street and elsewhere in the City were not drainage canals but water reservoirs for use in the event of fires.

Mrs. Commissiong’s claim belies the facts since the fundamental purpose for which the canals were dug at that time was to drain their adjoining developed areas from excess rainfall and store the water in the dug canals used as catchments since the canals had no outlets to the Demerara River or Atlantic Ocean. The stored water was expected to evaporate and seep into the underground water table as the canals were not lined. It was not unusual during heavy rainfall for the stored water to over-top the canals’ banks and flood the adjoining properties. The

stored water in the canals were also a useful source of water for fire fighters as Mrs. Commissiong stated.

In Guyana, a trench was generally considered a drainage canal while a punt trench was used as a waterway for punts - a flat bottomed steel vessel to transport materials to and from a sugar factory.

The Dutch sugar plantation owners had constructed a system of drainage, irrigation and punt canals on their holdings based on experience they had transplanted from their home country and adopted in Guyana to successfully cultivate sugar. Drainage, Irrigation and punt trenches/ canals are distinct and separate entities and where they intersect, aqueducts were built with the punt trenches located on the upper levels.

Bookers, an East Coast Demerara (ECD) sugar plantation owner had used one of its punt trenches to transport sugar and other materials from its ECD estates thru’ La Penitence to a port facility on the Demerara River.

The section of punt trench

thru’ the City has now been filled in and named a boulevard.

Harvested canes were transported by punts hauled by mules and later tractors from fields to factories.

Workers and field materials were also transported by punts to predetermined destinations.

The Lamaha Canal had originally extended from the East Demerara Water Conservancy to a plant located at the eastern junction of Camp & Lamaha Streets to provide potable water for Georgetown. Today, the canal ends at Vlissengen Rd. and supplies water for the Bel Air Park treatment plant.

Finally, the koker/sluice passing thru’ Muneshwar’s property on Water Street has had its function severely compromised by indiscriminate development and poor maintenance causing channel restrictions upstream and downstream of the structure. Therefore, it is not surprising that yearly flooding occurs to the areas now drained by this koker/ sluice.

Yours truly, Charles Sohan

Granger’s new agriculture promises are as empty as they were in 2015 Dear Editor, Elections are here and David Granger is making more empty, brazen promises, just as in 2015. For five years, Granger has implemented a vicious APNU+AFC attack against agriculture. It is disgraceful how much they have chastised farmers and destroyed agriculture.

Granger now suddenly promises “agriculture will remain the primary focus of Guyana’s economy”. Does he truly think anyone believes him? Even farmers in PNC strongholds, such as Buxton and Linden, do not believe him.

Before Elections 2015,

APNU+AFC promised agriculture will be transformed with incentives and subsidies. They never kept their promise. Instead, they actively punished farmers since 2015. From cutting the agriculture budget to closing sugar estates, downsizing SUGAR, firing 7,000 sugar workers, losing markets for Guyana’s rice, cash crops and fish, increasing land lease and

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Kaieteur News

rental charges, introducing VAT on agriculture supplies, removing subsidies for agriculture machinery, fuel and supplies, Granger and APNU+AFC have done everything possible to harm agriculture.

Even as Granger promises “agriculture will remain the primary focus of Guyana’s economy”, reports reveal 700 acres of Wales Sugar Estate (Continued on page 6)

Restructuring” of GGMC untimely, belated action shows lack of strategic vision Dear Editor, I noticed a trend of (mis) management of the natural resources sector and it is very worrying for professionals within the sector, particularly those working within the Guyana Forestry Commission and now the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission which will soon undergo a “restructuring”.

The common denominator in the restructuring of these two agencies is the Minister, Raphael Trotman and his AFC Colleague, Clayton Hall who acts as his chief adviser.

Mr. Hall’s push was first to restructure the GFC, which was met with strong opposition by the staffers and some board members.

Now the Minister, Raphael Trotman has issued directives to have GGMC restructured to say that it’s across the sector.

Further, the Minister should not be undertaking such a restructuring during this period, but only act as a caretaker, as a learned lawyer he should know this.

But he and his government has been convincing the population otherwise so much so they have fooled themselves into believing that they are the victims and are falsely believing that they are in the right. In the process, this government is holding democracy at ransom.

As a former GGMC staff, I do hope that the politically

appointed Minister and other policy makers know that GGMC is not a walk over as GFC and the cadre of professional staff will take strong objections to any wanton firings or displacement.

In summary, I believe we as Guyanese need to look out for each other and not be engaged in witch hunting, but be constructive in our management of the various natural resources sectors. I must confess that I am afraid of Guyana’s vulnerability due to its disunity and dishonest political actors. There is always time to do the right thing, all are involved; all are consumed.

Sincerely, T. Williams (Snr)

The RDC Region#5 should use monies in the budget to help farmers Dear Editor, Agriculture plays a crucial role in the life of an economy.

It is the backbone of our economic system.

Agriculture not only provides food and raw material but also employment opportunities to a very large proportion of the population in Region#5.

The RDC Region# 5 Admin, capital programme has in its budget 2019 a sum of fifteen million Guyana dollars for agricultural development in Region#5.

The recent flooding of the Mahaicony communities which was caused by the neglect, unbothered and inattentive attitude of the Regional Executive Officer Region#5 and Presidential Advisor M r.

Ovid Morrison to act on preventative measures to avoid such disaster.

The flooding would have caused severe damage and losses for small famers within the Mahaicony District.

Famers are in need of desperate help to prepare their lands for their next crop. The RDC Region#5 should use the monies allocated in the budget to help farmers with machines, fuel, seed paddy and other agricultural items needed to help those farmers get back to their lands for crop production.

Govind Singh Former Deputy Regional Executive Officer Region#5

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Kaieteur News

Thursday November 07, 2019

Granger’s new agriculture promises are as empty as they were...

From page 5 land have been leased to Dr. Chesney (Guyanese) and Mr. Patrick Antoine (Grenadian).

But these lands were promised to sugar workers who were fired from their jobs when Granger broke his 2015 promise no sugar estate will be closed. Local private farmers were also promised those lands to expand their agriculture enterprises.

Instead, in total betrayal, these lands have now been given away.

Throughout Election 2015, deeming SUGAR too big to fail, Granger promised no sugar estate will be closed.

After his own $70M COI declared no sugar estate must be closed, in a pre-meditated plan, Granger promptly closed Wales in 2016, followed by Enmore, Rose Hall and Skeldon in 2017. In doing so, Granger fired 7,000 sugar workers. The closure affected thousands of rice, cash crop and livestock farmers, who depended on SUGAR for drainage, irrigation and maintenance of dams.

By 2014, thousands of acres in Region 9, near Lethem and the Brazilian border, were cultivated in Sante Fe, creating dozens of jobs for Guyanese helpers, engineers and agronomists.

This large investment by a Barbadian citizen, Sir Simpson, who owns SOL and

other businesses, intended to reduce imports, such as corn and soya, and to develop exportable crops. By 2014, more than 120 acres of rice was cultivated at Sante Fe which had its own rice mill and silo. The rice produced was sold locally and exported to Brazil. The farm would have grown to 20,000 acres with soya, corn, rice, livestock and other crops by 2020. The sad truth is Sante Fe is presently dormant.

Other large scale farms for livestock, corn, soya, palm oil, coconut, quinoa planned for Regions 1, 2,5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 were shelved between 2015 and present. These investors were willing to invest in reducing Guyana’s considerable import and to add to Guyana’s export potential. One of the goals was to become a preferred source for the almost annual $US10B food import business in CARICOM. A second goal was to make Guyana CARICOM’s number 1 biofuel exporter. In five years, not only have little progress been made, but most of these PPP plans were shelved.

Guyana’s 2014 rice production reached 640,000 tons. Between 2010 and 2014, Guyana increased production by 100% and its export had reached 500,000 tons. The target was 700,000 tons by 2015 and 1M tons by 2020. The plan was to

increase local rice utilization by adding a value-added component to the industry, creating manufacturing opportunities and to sustain a high-priced export market for the first 500,000 tons and other markets for a second 500,000 tons. The Mexico market was included in this strategy. Guyana had made inroads with Panama and Belize, to enter into Central American. Millers were introduced to Guatemalan, Colombian, Cuban, Ghanian and Middle East importers.

Granger and APNU+AFC in 2015 promised rice farmers $9,000 per bag paddy and substantial subsidies. Since 2015, however, they delivered broken promises and betrayal.

Immediately, the Venezuelan market was lost. The 2015 target of 700,000 has not been achieved yet, although the first crop in 2015 produced 400,000 tons.

We have not grown the Panama, Jamaican and Cuban markets. We have exported more paddy to Mexico since 2017, rather than value-added rice.

By 2013, Guyana was

poised to enter the European market for the “orange” sweet potato. Farmers in Parika, were trained in producing this type of sweet potato. We had already replaced imported broccoli and carrots with locally produced ones. Guyana had made rapid progress with increased production of tumeric from Region 1, where we had initiated a partial tumeric processing plant to reduce cost of transportation to Georgetown to replace imported tumeric. NAREI was preparing farmers around the country to produce potato, onion and garlic. While NAREI and some private farmers continued, the Ministry of Agriculture became a missing partner.

Aquaculture is now essentially dead in Guyana.

Outside of tilapia, tambaqui rearing at the Sataydeo Sawh Campus at Mon Repos started in 2013.

No progress has been made. In fact, with continued struggle against piracy, which APNU+AFC promised would end, and the negligence of APNU+AFC

that caused the loss of the American market for certain fish, the industry is stagnant.

The initiative to promote a tourism component for fishing has died a slow death.

The livestock industry which was beginning to transform by 2015 has reached another stagnant period. The initiative to improve the genetics of the livestock, cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, in order to improve meat and milk production appears to have ended. Poultry has not increased its potential, even though there were talks in 2014 of entering the Eastern Caribbean market. The excitement about the duck industry has died with the negligence of the Ministry of Agriculture.

In the meanwhile, the government has punished farmers. Land rent and lease rates have increased significantly.

In the MMA, Black Bush Polder and other places these rates have increased by more than 100% and sometimes as much as 300%. Leases have been repossessed. Excise and VAT tariffs on machinery

which were waived before 2015 were introduced.

Investments in drainage and irrigation were either reduced or filled with corruption.

Dams were not maintained and taxes were levied against farmers. In Region 5 and Black Bush Polder, GRA officials tried to tax farmers for even their back yard production of cash crops.

This is Granger ’s agriculture legacy. It is barefaced and brazen for him to promise, like he did in 2015, to make agriculture the focus of Guyana’s economy.

His track record is dismal.

His Minister of Agriculture has been missing in action (MIA), AWOL, for five years and Granger never said a word.

He has ignored the plight of farmers and agriculture every minute of his term.

Even as he pledges again to make agriculture the focus of the economy, farmers in different parts of the country are suffering, but he has ignored them. Rather he insists he is “unbothered”.

Yours respectfully, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy

Showdown seems to be looming over...

From page 4 scrutinize its contents to ensure it was verifiable, credible and acceptable.

If this is being contemplated by GECOM, then it should be seen as a maneuver aimed at presenting the opposition with a fait accompli and hoping that, with them wanting an elections so badly, they would be prepared go to the polls with ‘a bad list, which was better than no list at all’ A ‘People Test’ of the PLE/OLE as was done by GECOM in 1991 aimed at detecting fraud by random sampling could prove useful once again.

Mind you, while all this can be reduced to mere speculation and pontification, but the APNU+AFC’s track record beginning from December 21, 2019, puts paid to any belief that we should be surprised by the unexpected.

Take for example the ongoing controversy over the 25,000 ID cards in GECOM’s possession and the contrived nexus of ID cards to the constitutionally protected right to vote, much has been said and written on this matter already, suffice it to say that the processes GECOM has agreed to embark upon is fraught with the strong possibility that thousands may be disenfranchised because their names would have been scrubbed from the list.

Already a perception

exists out there that an ID card, is like a lottery ticket, therefore, if you don’t have a ticket (or ID card) you don’t have a chance to win or in this case, to vote.

Not having an ID card to vote is admissible, but to have one’s name deleted from the voters list because of not uplifting an claimed an ID card is unconscionable.

In this regard, Henry Jeffrey is wrong to link unclaimed ID cards to multiple voting. This is purely hypothetical, since there is no evidence that there were such occurrences in past elections.

Further, by going off on a academic frolic about justice vs law, Jeffrey sought to deconstruct the PPP’s justification for opposing the Chairperson’s decision on the ID card imbroglio.

Without providing a shred of evidence, other than concocted theory, Jeffrey asserts that the PPP is opposing the matter with ‘unclean hands’ yet he fails to point to those of the APNU+AFC which began to decay and rot since December 2019.

That aside, it is apposite to recall that the Commonwealth Team of Observers to the 1997 elections in their report made reference to undelivered ID cards.

They stated that among the reasons why cards remained undelivered were; persons were out of the

country, miners who were in the interior and could not come out for elections, death, persons not wishing to vote, loss of card or, persons who had changed their address but did not return to the center where they had previously registered to uplift their card.

The report noted that Region four had the largest number of unclaimed ID cards.

According to their report, GECOM took the decision that unclaimed ID cards would be sent to polling stations in the corresponding electoral divisions so that if a person turned up claiming he didn’t have an ID card,while not disallowing the other legal options to vote, the Presiding Officer would nevertheless check among the cards held in his possession to determine if one belonged to the elector.

Once a card was found to correspond to the details provided by the elector, it would be announced and handed to the elector who would then follow the procedures to cast his or her ballot.

The Commonwealth Team also found that on the day when the Disciplined Forces voted, a large number of voters had ID cards but their names were not on the OLE, consequently, they were turned away and not allowed to vote. However, by midmorning GECOM announced

that those persons who were not allowed to vote would have their names included on the list and that they would be allowed to vote. However this exception did not apply to the electorate on elections day.

Any discovery of evidence, prima facie or other wise, of fraud in the use of ID cards or in the Official List of Electors must be vigorously exposed.

The Secretariat at GECOM has thus far, proven itself untrustworthy. It’s credibility is already on shaky ground.

The point has been made time and again that rigging these days is rarely done at the polling station, though that cannot be ruled out.

Rigging is envisaged with the recruitment of registration/elections staff, during the registration process, in the claims and objections period, in the compilation of the voters list and finally, in the production and distribution of ID cards.

In other words, come the time for voting by the Disciplined Forces and the general populace, the areas of fraud would have already been perpetrated.

That is why maximum pressure must be applied at the very early stages of the process because it is at this point in time when efforts to thwart the will of the electorate are already in motion.

Yours faithfully, Clement J. Rohee

Thursday November 07, 2019

PAGE 7

Kaieteur News

Gov t not unwilling to hear about uses of marijuana - President

President David Granger on Kaieteur Radio While a total decriminalization of marijuana may not be on the horizon for the Coalition Government, the door is not shut for some uses. In fact, the Cabinet of Ministers may be willing to entertain it.

The disclosures were made last Friday by President David Granger during a special edition of “The Political Show” on Kaieteur Radio.

Responding to questions from host, Leonard Gildarie,

on the decriminalization of marijuana, Granger said “… at this time, Cabinet is open to examine presentations about the use of marijuana.”

In several more developed countries, the use of marijuana has been legalized for medical, recreational and other purposes. Notably, Guyanas sister CARICOM state, Jamaica, has announced plans to make the country a medical marijuana tourism hotspot.

President Granger said

that Government does not want introduce something which could be harmful to young people, as there is evidence that the use of certain types of narcotics is addictive.

“We have to be very careful. We are very protective of our young people…” the President said.

Senior Psychologist at the Mental Health Institute had told Kaieteur News months ago that a significant portion of patients at the New

Amsterdam Psychiatric Hospital suffered from Marijuana-induced psychosis. He advised against immediate decriminalization.

In Guyana, the Government doesnt want to create a situation where the use of narcotics is uncontrolled, the President indicated.

Senior Psychologist at the Ministry of Public Health’s Mental Health Institute, Balogun Osunbiyi had said that the decriminalization of the drug without setting up a proper socio-sanitary care system would be disastrous.

On the other hand, General Secretary of the Guyana Rastafari Council, Khafra Messdjehuti, had said that the sustained criminalization of marijuana possession and the stigma on its use disproportionately condemns young people and African Guyanese, in particular, to lives of criminality and poverty.

The President acknowledged that a lot of young people are in prison because of the enforcement of the law, and added that Government has already managed to remove custodial sentences for the possession of small quantities. But he maintained that he doesnt

UK Consultant hired to help Guyana select best crude marketing agent The Department of Energy recently inked an agreement with an industry expert from a United Kingdom Consultancy firm to help Guyana in the process of selecting the best agent to sell its share of the Stabroek Block oil. According to Energy Department Head, Dr. Mark Bynoe, a contract was signed with Crude Marketing Specialist, Ms. Virginia Markouizou of RPS Group. He further noted that a Commercial Specialist, Mr. Juan Lopez-Raggi of RPS Group was also hired to assist the Departments preparation for

First Oil. This newspaper understands that RPS Group is a global professional services firm of consultants and service providers, headquartered in Abingdon, Oxfordshire.

Dr. Bynoe said that Guyanas crude is expected to be sold FOB (Free on Board) this means that the crude is sold to the buyer at the exit point of the oil storage vessel, with the buyer being responsible for shipping the crude, handling its insurance, etc. Government, through a marketing agent, is projected to sell its share of exported

crude (liftings) on a fee per barrel basis. Dr. Bynoe said that the tender for this agent will be issued during the fourth quarter of 2019.

Furthermore, the Energy

Department Head said that his team is working to conclude a contract with a Petroleum Accounting Specialist and a Contract Administration Specialist shortly.

want to encourage industrial scale cultivation of marijuana.

He pointed out that Guyana doesnt have the safeguards present in the Netherlands, Canada, and other countries that have taken the bold decriminalizing step.

The President is more enthused by making progressive steps in the provision of affordable, quality education for young people. He only

months ago announced plans to make tertiary education free again.

He said that the focus is on making the youth into a strong, independentminded g e n e r a t ion, pointing to strides Government has already made, such as providing transportation for students and lessening the female population of juvenile delinquents at the New Opportunity Corps.

PAGE 8

Kaieteur News

Thursday November 07, 2019

Prisoner found hanging in Whim Crude Lifting Agreement to be Lock-ups died from asphyxiation finalised in the new week - Dr. Bynoe The prisoner who was found hanging from his vest in the Whim Police Station lock-ups Saturday night died from a deprivation of oxygen (asphyxiation).

This is according to a Post Mortem examination conducted at the Fort Wellington Mortuary by Government Pathologist Nehaul Singh on Tuesday.

Courtney Persaud was

found hanging from the roof of the lock-ups by three other prisoners who were in the same cell.

They were reportedly asleep when he committed the act, they told police.

Persaud was arrested at Manchester Village, Corentyne, after fleeing from Diamond following allegations that he had raped a close relative and impregnated her.

The victim who reached out to social media activist Melly Mel via her NGO’s page YANA, detailed how her “close relative” abused her for years until one day he drugged her and raped her in 2018.

The victim, who wrote CSEC this year, stated that after building the courage, she told her mom and teacher (Continued on page 20)

The Crude Lifting Agreement (CLA) which will set out how and when ExxonMobil and its partners, Hess Corporation and CNOOC/NEXEN, as well as the Government of Guyana will collect its barrels of oil, is expected to be finished in the new week, says Energy Department Head, Dr. Mark Bynoe.

During a press conference that was held at the National Communications Network (NCN) studio yesterday, Dr. Bynoe said that the template being used for the agreement is from the Association of In-

ternational Petroleum Negotiators Crude Lifting Agreement. He said the CLA was carefully customised to take the Guyanese context into consideration.

Expounding further, Dr. Bynoe said that the agreement not only sets up the schedule for crude cargo liftings based on volume entitlements, but also lays out the strict procedures for efficient crude lifting. Kaieteur News understands that the agreement notes that delays will cause value loss and could risk shutting in produc-

tion in the Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) Vessel.

Additionally, Dr. Bynoe said that the Energy Department has been working closely with its sister agencies such as the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) as well as the Stabroek Block licensed partners to ensure a smoothly running process. This newspaper was also informed that the department has completed several workshops for training as well as dry runs for the FPSO.

Thursday November 07, 2019

PAGE 9

Kaieteur News

Substantive changes were made to aspects of the 1980 Constitution It is amazing the levels of misunderstanding and ignorance which exist about the Constitution of Guyana. In recent days, for example, the constitutional ‘experts’ on social media blogs have been arguing that no substantive changes to the 1980 Constitution took place under the PPPC. This is clearly an untruth, because aspects of the 1980 Constitution were substantively revised during the Constitutional Reform Process (CRP). The CRP was initiated by the Herdmanston Accord signed between President Janet Jagan and then-Leader of the Opposition Desmond

Hoyte.

The Herdmanston Accord provided for the establishment of a Constitutional Reform Commission (CRC) “with a broad-based membership, drawn from the representatives of political parties, the labour movement, religious organizations, the private sector, the youth and other social partners.”

As part of its mandate, the CRC was asked to examine measures and arrangements to improve race relations. The Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) was one of the products of that reform process.

The most odious aspects of the 1980 Constitution re-

lated to the powers of the President, and the concentration of powers in the hands of the President were subject to revision under the CRP. Readers will recall that the 1980 Constitution made it virtually impossible to remove the President for misconduct or a violation of the Constitution. T he 1980 Constitution required that in order to remove the President on any of these grounds, a motion signed by half of the members of the National Assembly first had to be presented to the Speaker, proposing a tribunal to investigate the allegations against the President.

Dem boys seh ...

Pay yuh workers or Exxon gun pay Oil coming in a couple weeks and Guyana scrambling to put things in place. Right now it looking fuh somebody to monitor how de oil gun flow. Oil is a thing that you got to check. Every time you tun you face you can get rob.

Now dem boys want tell Soulja Bai that whoever he hire he got to pay. He can’t skimp pun de money because Exxon gun pay dem.

Exxon already pay nuff Guyanese and all of dem smiling when Soulja Bai call dem to do de wuk.

De reality is that Soulja Bai decide that he wouldn’t tolerate corruption. And that is how dem boys hear de story bout putting cat to watch milk.

Dem boys see anodda story. This got to do wid some of de excuse people does give when dem get ketch doing everything people does when dem get in trouble.

A man tell de court how somebody give him, a bag and he didn’t know what to do wid it. Who gun tek something and don’t know

wha he tekking? Is when de police come in that de problem start because de police ketch de man wid a gun in he waist and he didn’t even have a licence.

De man tell de court how he only end up wid de gun in he waist because after he open de bag he didn’t know what to do wid it.

De oil company does try de same excuse.

De whole thing start when Guyana hear bout deep water drilling. Since people hear bout deep water drilling dem start to think about expense. Dem don’t realize that deep water drilling is just like on shore drilling.

De oil company now asking Guyana to pay nuff money fuh all dem early work. Dem give Guyana a bill and dem boys seh Guyana got to pay. But everybody know that Guyana don’t like pay bills.

Right away dem boys see problems wid de oil company. But of course who got de biggest stick gun win.

Talk half and beware of Exxon. Money can buy anything.

There was to be no debate on this motion. Rather, if it was supported by a vote of 2/3 of the members of the National Assembly, a tribunal had to be appointed by the Chancellor of the Judiciary. If the tribunal found that the allegation against the President was substantiated, then by a vote of 3/4 of the National Assembly, the President would be required to resign with 3 days, unless before this he dissolved the National Assembly.

The present provisions of the Constitution provide that if the tribunal finds that the allegations against the President have been substantiated, then by a vote of 2/3 of the members of the Assembly (as against 3/4 in the 1980 Constitution) he/she shall be removed from office.

The President does not have the option of vitiating the decision by dissolving the Assembly after the vote.

In terms of appointments, the 1980 Constitution provided for the President to appoint the Leader of the Opposition.

The present Constitution provides for the non- governmental members of the Na-

tional Assembly to do so.

The 1980 Constitution provided for the President to appoint the Commissioner of Police and all Deputy Commissioners of Police after consultation with the Police Service Commission.

The present constitution requires that for these positions, the President must engage in meaningful consultation with the Leader of the Opposition and the Chairperson of the Police Service Commission, after that person would have consulted with the members of the Commission.

The 1980 Constitution provided for the Chancellor of the Judiciary and the Chief Justice to be appointed by the President. The present Constitution provides a consensual mechanism for these appointments, as well as for the position of Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission.

It is obvious that these changes were substantive. It is therefore an unfair criticism, especially in light of the establishment of a Constitutional Reform Commission under the PPPC, for it to be argued that there have been

no substantive changes to the Constitution under the PPPC. However, it is to be conceded that the present Constitution still reposes too much authority in the hands of the Executive President.

These powers make a mockery of Cabinet, as was evident a few days ago when a government official, reporting on Cabinet’s consideration of the ExxonMobil contract, noted that the President had made a decision and it was final.

Cabinet cannot compel the President to do anything that he does not wish to be done, since all Executive authority rests with the President and him alone. Such a state of affairs is incompatible with coalition politics.

Even though substantive changes have been made to aspects of the 1980 Constitution, it is still an authoritarian document, and that in itself is a source of great worry for democratic rule.

PAGE 10

Thursday November 07, 2019

Kaieteur News

=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===

There is space for the recent new parties Extremely strange and unpredictable things happen in politics. No country is exempt. Don’t discount anything in politics. Voters are not easy to predict. My friend David Hinds sees a changed political environment that is currently hostile to recent political formations. He opined that they don’t stand a chance. One of his main theses is that small parties are in trouble, because such entities thrive in circumstances where there is an aura of despondency among the supporters of the major parties,

so newcomers squeak in.

David went on to pontificate on the current strong ethnic and party polarization that makes it impossible for small parties to open up the door.

My disagreement with David is not boisterous, because there is a tiny amount of plausibility in his theorizing, but his dismissal of small parties vying for space in 2020 is not grounded in reality.

First, I think the extensive and profound disappointment with how the APNU+AFC coalition turned out has in fact created an air of despon-

dency among both PPP and PNC constituents.

People thought that with the PPP out of office and the PNC in office with the AFC being the independent force in government, Guyana’s future was assured. Now they see the future as either being shaped by the bad boy who was removed or the poor performer who wants to stay in.

Out of this kind of thinking, they may look to people other than the two traditional rivals.

Secondly, I believe there is a message out there that needs to be harnessed by all

of the small parties. It is that if you allow PPP or PNC to get back in, they will do the same things all over; it is better to make sure they don’t get a majority, and to make sure they can be checked and tamed. This kind of message appeals to the younger generation and the younger generation is in the vast majority in Guyana’s population. This message needs a powerful engine to kick start the bandwagon. The engine is frenetic campaigning. How you present this text will decide how successful the small parties are. It will take talent and skills to get the narrative over to young voters. You have to convince them that the PPP was out of power for a long time, they were put back in, and Guyana was no better.

The PNC was out of power for a long time and they got back in, and they prove no different to the PPP. The sermon has to emphasize that the 21st century belongs to young minds that reject destructive politics based on race. How you paint that canvas is not going to be easy, but you have to put it on show. I believe the PPP and PNC have done enough damage to Guyana to convince the

young mind that race has no place in Guyana’s future.

One issue that has to be massaged carefully and skillfully by third parties is the vexation of constitutional changes. The electorate must be shown that the PPP and PNC do not favour constitutional reconstruction, because they each feel they can win power on their own, and they want and love the unlimited power the constitution bestows on them.

The third parties have to convince the electorate that the only way for there to be constitutional progress, is for the PPP and PNC to be forced to the table, and that can only be done if they do not have a majority in the House.

Thirdly, small parties have to make themselves collectively bigger, or else they are going to be laughed at. Voters will say that they are wasting their ballot on six different parties that cannot come within a million miles of the traditional rivals. The newcomers will be taken more seriously if they unite on a single slate. Once they coalesce, the electorate will see them as posing a greater challenge, and may be inclined to give them their ballot.

Frederick Kissoon Finally, in politics, names count. At one time in the West Indies, from the sixties onwards, we spoke about doctor politics. People wanted their politicians to be doctors. Don’t ever forget, the WPA became a viable force because the top of the hierarchy were all academic doctors.

I don’t think we should discount the newcomers, for they do have credible names in their midst. Guyanese are talking about ANUG, Shuman’s party, Ruel Johnson’s party, the Berbice entity and Badal’s recent formation, because of the largeness of the names involved. But prior to these groups, there are four other small parties whose leaders no one ever heard about. There is space for the credible newcomers.

Thursday November 07, 2019

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Thursday November 07, 2019

Two years after approval of US $17.5M loan…

Selection of contractors stalls modernisation of regional hospitals Some two years after the Indian Government committed to providing a US $17.5M loan for the modernization of three regional hospitals in Guyana, the selection of the contractors to do the work appears to have stalled the process.

Officials close to the project have confirmed that the loan which was approved for the modernisation of the Suddie, West Demerara Regional and Bartica hospitals in July 2017 has met with some administrative roadblocks.

A crucial part of the loan approved by the Export-Import (EXIM) Bank of India is that contractors from that loan country must be selected to do the work.

Kaieteur News understands however that the administrative procedure of selecting the contractors is taking some added time.

“This is because we want to ensure that the bidding process is open and transparent and conducted in a fair manner. At this time, the selection is not quite in its final stages,” a source close to the project told Kaieteur News yesterday. Speaking on the selection process, the source explained that similar to Guyana, the Indian Government advertises for bidders of the project in the local newspapers, via official websites.

“Once the suitable qualifying contractors submit their proposal and are selected, they will be shortlisted and forwarded to the Government of Guyana to proceed with the local procurement process.

But before all of this can

be done, the source said the India EXIM Bank, which is the loan agency involved in the process, must deem the contractors suitable for the intended project.

The source added that “the India EXIM Bank has the final say.” “And in some instances the bank prequalifies some companies that have shown that they have the capacity to handle the big contracts.”

Back in July 2017, Finance Minister Winston Jordan signed the US$17.5 million line of credit (LOC) with the Export-Import (EXIM) Bank of India to refurbish existing facilities and construct new buildings at the Suddie Hospital in Region Two, the West Demerara Regional Hospital in Region Three and the Bartica District Hospital in Region Seven.

This project is an initiative of the coalition Government, which wanted to use funds set aside for the controversial Specialty Hospital Project for the modernisation of the three primary healthcare institutions.

As part of the modernisation project, the three health facilities were supposed to get medical equipment to furnish the new facilities.

The Suddie Regional Hospital is slated to receive almost US$8 million for the construction of a new ambulatory and inpatient centre and diagnostic care facility.

More than US$4.5 million would be used for the same purpose at West Demerara Regional Hospital.

Furthermore, the Bartica (Continued on page 23)

Thursday November 07, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 13

PAGE 14

Energy Dept. to secure expert watchdog for accurate measurement of Guyana's oil

T

he Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) will be the main agency tasked with Dr. Mark ensuring the accurate measurement of Bynoe Guyana's oil from the Stabroek Block. In fact, the Energy Department is working with this agency to ensure it secures the requisite technical assistance for training on oversight of the oil measurement process, effective calibration and testing functions.

This was revealed yesterday by Energy Department Director, Dr. Mark Bynoe during a press engagement at the studios of the National Communications Network (NCN). added that this watchdog would be There, Dr. Bynoe was fielding crucial in the event there is an issue questions from Kaieteur News on the whether with quality or quantity of the technological measures which would be oil, Guyana would have its own evidence in place for the accurate measurement of to challenge the operators. the oil.

In the meantime, the Energy While he did not go into details, Dr. Department Head said that GNBS is Bynoe said that this is covered within the receiving assistance from the American Crude Lifting Agreement (CLA) in terms Petroleum Institute (API). of facilities and technology that would be Headquartered in Washington D.C, used and how the samples from the this world-renowned organization on project will ultimately be stored on the such issues is the largest trade Floating Production Storage and association for the oil and gas industry in Offloading (FPSO) Vessel. the USA. He said, too, that it is the desire of the It claims to represent around 400 government to pursue a third party corporations engaged in oil production, verifier to preserve the integrity of the extraction (including hydro-fracking), systems being used as well as to reduce distribution, and other aspects of the potential value leakage. Dr. Bynoe industry.

Kaieteur News

Thursday November 07, 2019

Afternoon collision leaves siblings hospitalised

T

wo persons, a brother and sister, are hospitalised after a minibus and car collided on the Reliance Public road on the Essequibo Coast yesterday afternoon.

Reports are that the accident occurred sometime between 16:00hrs and 16:45 hrs.

While information remains sketchy at this time, this publication understands that a man and his school-aged sister have been hospitalised as a result.

Based on information received, the car (PMM 1926) and the minibus (BXX 5549) were heading in opposite directions.

Further reports indicated that the driver of the speeding minibus may have lost control of his vehicle and it collided with the car, before both vehicles came to rest in a nearby trench.

The occupants of the motor car were taken to the Suddie Public Hospital, while the driver was taken into custody.

Scenes from the collision

Thursday November 07, 2019

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Thursday November 07, 2019

Prisoner found hanging in Man smashes way into Whim Lock-ups died from... pump station, tells...

From page 8 and subsequently a report was filed and the Ministry of Social Protection got involved.

After several tests were carried out on her, she discovered that she was pregnant with Persaud’s child. Shortly after he was arrested and held for 72 hours, then released on station bail. He subsequently fled to Berbice but it was the officer-in-charge of the No.2 subdivision that took the matter seriously.

He reportedly saved Persaud’s picture that was posted on the YANA page to alert his ranks and locate him.

He was eventually arrested at a home he shared with another female in Manchester Village, Berbice, Saturday morning.

The victim is said to be receiving counselling.

Hanged self: Courtney Persaud

From page 16 solar lights shut down.

And now the rain falling lil it shutting down sooner.” Resalli added, “This matter needs to be addressed; the light here is not for security purpose, the light around the building is not bright… it got a contract going on to renovate the pump station, but for couple months now it hold up and the scaffolds still there and they still ain't using it.

The scaffold around the building dangerous, because thief man can climb in the pump station because the windows not even secure.”

The man said that he is fortunate to be alive since the encounter could've been detrimental for him, especially if he was asleep at the time of the break-in.

The attacker remains in custody.

The smashed louvre panes on the hut where the security guard was stationed.

Irfaan Ali

Thursday November 07, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 17

Minister questions delay in GPL's fuel shipment

O

n e o f t h e m i n i s t e r s charged with the portfolio of the power sector is unhappy with news over the weekend that there is a shortage of fuel for Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL).

“I am disappointed to say the least. Was it really as a result from delays in delivery by the contracted HFO (Heavy Fuel Oil) supplier? Is this the first time such a situation has arised? If not, what are the contingency p l a n s ? Wa s a n y o n e monitoring the fuel levels?”

These were the questions asked by Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Jaipaul Sharma over the weekend in a Facebook post.

It would highlight the growing exasperation over the situation at GPL which has been saddled with one problem after another, leaving citizens in darkness, time and again, over the years. Consecutive administrations have found the going tough to erase the hurdles experienced by the state-owned company.

Last week, GPL said it is hopeful that a supplier for heavy fuel oil (HFO) will come through by the weekend, ending a shortage that has caused several power cuts.

The shortage had forced the state-owned power company to shut power from several communities in a scheduled manner.

According to the company, it was experiencing a shortfall in generation as a result of an inadequate supply of HFO. This has resulted from delays in delivery by the contracted HFO supplier.

“Consequently, we are operating some of our generating sets, which are dual fired, Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) and Light Fuel Oil

Minister Jaipaul Sharma (LFO). Unfortunately, some of the generating sets are not achieving the expected output on the LFO.” GPL said that the reduced output from the generators has adversely impacted the company's ability to reliably meet demand.

“GPL expects to receive supplies of HFO over the course of this weekend, which will lead to an improvement in the situation. GPL apologises for any inconvenience that may be caused to our customers as a result of this temporary situation. The company will publish any areas that would be affected.”

Shortly after those disclosures, a clearly upset Minister Sharma took to his Facebook account, making it clear that this “shocking news” is coming just after four months of GPL skating on thin ice and finally managing to resuscitate the submarine cable, a critical link between Vreed-enHoop and Kingston power plants which sustained damage at two locations in June and August by vessels traversing the Demerara River.

“It is only a week since GPL's 69kV submarine cable is back in operation following the successful

completion remedial work and the return of approximately 14 megawatts (MW) of power being supplied to the eastern section of the DemeraraBerbice Interconnected System (DBIS).”

Repairs of GPL's submarine cable across the Demerara River was completed recently. Immediately after that the company announced that it was facing a fuel shortage.

PAGE 18

Kaieteur News

Thursday November 07, 2019

Kaieteur News

Thursday November 07, 2019

PAGE 19

“I will make the choice”

P

resident David Granger has made it clear that he will choose the 'best' candidate to run beside him as Prime Minister for the upcoming 2020 General and Regional Elections.

However, the Alliance for Change (AFC), which joined forces with A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) in 2015, has already chosen Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan as its Prime Ministerial candidate. This

is per the agreement of the Cummingsburg Accord, which is currently being reviewed.

The Head of State pointed out that the constitution does not allow for any party to pick a Prime Ministerial candidate, only he has such a privilege.

“Once the President is elected, the President has the authority under the constitution to select a Prime Minster”, he said.

President Granger noted that an agreement can be

- Granger on PM candidate made outside of the constitution that the Prime Ministerial candidate, or rather, nominees for the position, could be named, but he is still the one who has the final say.

“I will make the choice…that is why at this stage I don't want to get involved in personalities, once the principle is agreed, we can move forward. I don't want to name names now,”

he stated.

The President outlined that whoever is nominated for the PM candidacy will be subjected to scrutiny to ensure that Guyana gets the 'best'.

“I am a prudent and wise leader and I will make the choice which I feel will deliver the best results, the best outcome for the people of Guyana…If candidate A or candidate B is the best, I

will choose”.

Following the ongoing r e v i e w o f t h e Cummingsburg Accord, the AFC remains firm on their position that either Khemraj Ramjattan would become the PM candidate or the coalition will be no more.

The APNU and AFC heads met on Wednesday and the President is hopeful that the talks will conclude before December 1.

Photo: PM Caption: President David Granger speaking to reporters yesterday Photo: Ramjattan The AFC has selected Khemraj Ramjattan as its Prime Ministerial Candidate

President David Granger

Timehri miner crushed Four containers filled with expired to death by tree goods from Canada denied entry

T

hirty-five-yearold Shamlall Maralis of Hyde Park, Timehri, East Bank Demerara died Monday morning after a tree fell on him, crushing his skull.

Kaieteur News understands that Maralis was employed by dredge owner Andre McKenzie, who resides and has an operation at Isseneru village, Region Seven.

According to reports, around 11:15hrs on Monday, Maralis was working beneath an excavator that was transferring logs from one area to another, when a log slipped from the bucket of the excavator and landed on his head.

When contacted, relatives of the man were in an emotional state and were unable to divulge any information of the circumstances surrounding the accident.

F

Dead: Shamlall Maralis Regional Commander, Senior Superintendent Linden Lord told this publication that he has received information on the matter and investigations are ongoing. He also said that the dead man's remains were transported via air to the city.

our containers filled with an assortment of expired food items from Canada were denied entry into Guyana, according to the Government Analyst Food and Drug Department yesterday.

The containers were imported by a businessman from Mon Repos Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara.

This move comes on the heels of several complaints of the alleged malpractice from consumers and attempts by the Food and Drug Department (FDD) to locate and inspect his storage bonds.

The containers were seized and inspected on October 25 and 30.

FDD inspectors revealed a shocking find - expiry dates were deliberately

- importer to be charged removed and extended with a date-marking machine and damaged areas on boxes where the original date was removed were hidden using a Canadian flag sticker.

Along with that, inspectors revealed that products suspected to be expired or short dated were deliberately removed from the original container or packages and placed into bulk containers void of labeling details.

The FDD disclosed that most, if not all items of food, were close dated with less than 75% of the shelf life remaining before importation, expiry dates were removed on other products and the shelf life extended using a date-

marking machine, while other items were labeled with misleading information e.g. Acetic Acid was labeled as “White Vinegar”.

For these reasons, the FDD announced, the containers where denied entry.

However, inspections will be carried out at retail stores across Guyana since two of the containers bearing substandard items were electronically released from the port of entry without the Department's consent or approval.

According to the Food and Drug Department, they visited the businessman's premises but could not locate the reported items.

Legal charges are expected to be instituted by the Department's prosecutor against the importer “for knowingly or deliberately facilitating the importation and release of substandard articles of food to be used by the general populace of Guyana”.

“Consumers and retailers are therefore asked to be very vigilant and pay attention to the labels of products and to ensure dates are not tampered with.”

A d d i t i o n a l l y, t h e Department said consumers are advised to ensure “they purchase food that are properly labeled in English, have clearly written date marks, with a complete address of manufacture and with font sizes that are clearly legible to the naked eye”.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 20

Thursday November 07, 2019

Caribbean Airlines introduces branded fares

T

he Caribbean Airlines is now diversifying into branded fares. This enhancement will be effective as of today, November 07, 2019.

According to the company, Caribbean Airlines is improving the travel experience for its customers by offering more choice and greater flexibility with a range of Caribbean-branded fares. The variety of brand options are namely: LITE, CLASSIC, FLEX, BIZ and BIZ FLEX. The aforementioned brand options have

their associated features (see accompanying image for more details).

The specific needs of travellers are catered for by the brand fares along with its characteristics.

The classic brand, however, is maintained as customers are entitled to one free bag and 100% miles.

The enhanced products would benefit persons who travel light, with no checked bag and can take advantage of the LITE brand, whereas passengers who

prefer two checked bags can use the Flex economy, which also gives a free same-day change and 125% miles. Business travellers can also utilize BIZ or BIZ Flex, which offers exclusive perks, additional flexibility and easier ticket changes. BIZ Flex is also fully refundable and customers earn 175% miles.

“All branded options have free seat selection and will always be available, even if travel is at the last minute or spontaneous,” the airline company highlighted in a

press statement.

Meanwhile, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Garvin Medera stated, “Our motivation is to offer more choice and greater flexibility, which is becoming the industry standard.

These branded options combine the best fares with our award winning hospitality and inflight entertainment, tailored to meet the customers' unique travel needs. These dynamic products can be easily accessed through all sales channels

including the Caribbean Airlines Mobile app which has revolutionized how interact with our customers.”

The company welcomes questions by encouraging calls to any Caribbean Airlines Sales and Se rvice Centres or download the Caribbean Airlines Mobile App, which is available for free at the Apple Store and Google Play.

More information can also be obtained from www.caribbeanairlines.com.

The features associated with the branded fares offered by Caribbean Airlines

Teen charged for resisting arrested, threatening police officer

A

1 9 - y e a r- o l d janitorial worker was yesterday granted bail by Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty after he was made to answer to three charges.

Shamar Nelson, of Norton Street, Lodge, Georgetown, appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts when the charges were read to him, and he pleaded not guilty.

It is alleged that on November 1, 2019, at M a n d e l a Av e n u e , Georgetown, he used threatening language towards Edward Lowenfield, a police constable and the second charge stated that on the same date and location he behaved disorderly in public

hearing.

The latter charge alleged that on November 1, 2019, at M a n d e l a Av e n u e , Georgetown, he resisted arrest by police constable Edward Lowenfield, a peace officer acting in the execution of his duties.

Nelson is being represented by attorney-atlaw Paul Fung-a-fat, who told the court that the incident started with a traffic offence, when his client switched lanes and police constable Lowenfield approached him.

Fung-a-fat added that his client responded to police constable Lowenfield and received a slap from the officer. The court then heard that the defendant had a

medical to show and the matter against the police constable is being investigated.

Police prosecutor Annalisa Brummell made no objection to bail being granted to the defendant, but told the court that the address he gave to the court differs from the one he told the police when he was arrested.

H o w e v e r, N e l s o n ' s mother then entered the courtroom and explained that her son would usually be at 36 Durban Street, and sometimes at the other address.

Magistrate McGusty then granted bail to the tune of $20,000 and the matter was adjourned to November 13.

Charged: Shamar Nelson

Thursday November 07, 2019

PAGE 21

Kaieteur News

Murder suspect captured after six years A cold case has been resurrected after a key suspect who was on the run for six years was finally caught on Tuesday in Mahdia, Region 8. In 2013, the body of 19year-old Gwenette Alexander was found by her neighbour who was working close to where the young womans shop was located.

Sharon Jones, the mother of the victim, was given a glimmer of hope last evening after receiving the news that her daughters ex-lover, a key suspect, had been caught.

She told reporters last night that since 2014 she had heard nothing more about her daughters case and had lost all hope that she would ever

receive justice.

Jones recounted that while on her way to Matthews Ridge she received a telephone call from her daughters neighbour. The message she received was like a dagger piercing through her heart when she heard, “Miss Jones, your baby has died”.

The person then asked Jones to contact the Police.

She immediately told the driver of the pickup in which she was travelling to return to the nearest police outpost.

They arrived at the Arakaka Police outpost and she handed her cell phone to the officer on duty to speak with the man who called her.

Police then entered the

Tinapu Backdam, North West District, while she waited at the six miles junction. Alexanders body was found with the throat slashed and stab wounds to the abdomen on a bed in the shop she owned with her common law husband.

But her partner was nowhere to be found along with the couples two children.

Police began their investigations and learnt that the man had paid a 53-year-old farmer to take him and his children to Red Hill, Barima-Waini.

The man eluded police for six years - that is, until Tuesday.

According to information received, Police acted on in-

Govt cannot assure year- end bonus for public servants - awaits Finance Ministers advice - President Granger President David Granger has revealed that he is uncertain whether the Government of Guyana can grant year-end bonuses to workers within the public service. Instead, he declared that he is awaiting advice from Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan, on the availability of funds in the public coffers.

On Wednesday, while speaking to media operatives on the sidelines of an accreditation ceremony, the Head of State also reminded that the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has deemed the government to be in interim mode until the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections are held.

This follows after the December 21, 2018 no-confidence motion was determined to have been validly passed, and as such, the Government finds itself unable to commit on the issue.

Embarking on expenditure such as the passing of a National Budget, undertaking state visits and signing agreements with for-

40

eign countries would collide with the convention of an caretaker administration, the President added.

On July 21 of this year, during a taped interview of the Public Interest, the President had explained, “So there are about half a dozen conventions that we have to comply [with] to ensure that Government restrains its actions. It does not mean that Government is out of office... it does not mean that the Government ceases to function.

There cannot be a void… you cannot have a country that is ungoverned.”

“I am not saying no, but after the next Cabinet meeting, the Minister of Finance would be able to make an announcement on that matter. But I do not want to hold up any hopes, because we are in an interim administration mode,” he told media operatives yesterday.

In the years 2017 and 2018, no bonuses were granted to public servants, but since coming into office in 2015, the Coalition

Government has boasted about providing retroactive salary increases.

Aside from the issue of Christmas bonuses, the Head of State was asked about when Parliament would be dissolved.

Though he could not say when such would be done, he stated that there is the likelihood that the Government would need the vote of the entire Parliament to surpass certain measuresfor instance, financial ones.

He continued, “Unfortunately from time to time because of urgent matters such as a flood or a fire, we may need the funds, and only parliament can authorize the expenditure for such disbursement of funds, which have not been provided for.

It means that if there is any extraordinary expenditure arising out of any unanticipated situation, whether it is an act of God, forced measure or any other, I feel it is prudent to keep the parliament open as long as possible.”

telligence-led information and the suspect was located and apprehended by ranks of the Mahdia outpost. He was transported to Georgetown

where he is currently being held for questioning.

Alexander, the only daughter for Sharon Jones, was described as a young

lady with a vision. She left high school and decided to start her own business in Tinapu. But her success was short lived.

PAGE 22

Thursday November 07, 2019

Kaieteur News

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Dennis Wharton experienced great disappointment yesterday when the Court of Appeal refused to reduce his 28-year prison term.

The custodial sentence was imposed on Wharton in 2013 by Justice Roxane George, as she then was. Wharton had appeared before Justice George in 2013 and pleaded guilty to the November 2006, killing of 42year-old June Osbourne, who he claimed to have been in a relationship with. The bloated and partially decomposed body of the woman was found in a drain aback of her East La Penitence Squatting Area home.

Wharton, however, opted to plead guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter. He was initially sentenced to 40 years imprisonment. Justice George, however, made certain deductions for his early guilty plea. She also discounted the time he spent on remand; hence his sentence was reduced to 28 years. But Wharton filed an appeal arguing that the sentence was excessive in all the circumstances of the case. The Court of Appeal comprising Chancellor of the Judiciary Yonette Cummings-Edwards unanimously dismissed the appeal.

In her arguments, Amora Giddings, Whartons lawyer, advanced that Justice George failed to consider mitigating factors on her clients behalf.

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Dennis Wharton

Killed: June Osbourne

laws to substantiate her case, she asked the Court of Appeal to consider additional mitigating factors. For one, she told the court that at the time of incarceration her client was gainfully employed and an active church-goer. She said that during her clients childhood certain moral values were instilled in him.

Added to that, Giddings said that Wharton has been described as a well behaved prisoner. She further asked the Court of Appeal to consider reducing the sentence as Wharton will be of a good contribution towards the development of the society. The lawyer said that since his incarceration, Wharton has been unable to see his mother who is confined to a wheelchair as the elderly woman experiences difficulty with travelling.

However, State Counsel Natasha Backer argued that there was nothing to justify Whartons request.

Backer reminded the court that at the time of sentencing, Justice George took all the relevant mitigating and aggravating factors into consideration. The Chancellor agreed with Backers contention that there was nothing before the court to substantiate Whartons request for a reduction of his sentence. In fact, the Chancellor referenced two case laws that were submitted by the State Counsel.

In relaying on one of them, Chancellor CummingsEdwards said that the Court of Appeal cannot now seek to impose a sentence it thinks is appropriate; that is at the discretion of the trial judge.

After perusing the record of appeal, the Court of Appeal was satisfied that Justice George took all the relevant factors into consideration which included the prevalence of the offence and a favourable probation report on Wharton. Chancellor Cummings-Edwards sought to highlight certain aspects of the report.

According to her, the Probation Officer, in concluding remarks noted that if everyone is allowed to take the law into their own hands, society wound denigrate into anarchy. Apart from this, the killing was described as a “gruesome unwarranted attack on a woman”

by the probation officer. The Chancellor highlighted that Osbournes left hand was severed at the wrist and that she sustained several incised wounds; some to her face, head and neck.

Based on previous report, Wharton had told a probation officer that he and the woman were involved in a relationship.

He had explained to the probation officer that his friends informed him that the woman was being unfaithful and he went home to confront her about the allegations and she became angry and picked up a cutlass.

Wharton is reported to have told the Probation Officer that he took away the weapon from the woman and chopped her while she lay on the floor even though she begged for mercy as she was angry. The probation report revealed that persons in the community were uncertain whether the two shared a relationship. Some described Wharton as a junkie. While in court two of the womans relatives said they were unaware that Wharton and Osbourne shared a relationship.

However, Whartons claims to being involved with the woman were disputed by State Prosecutors who said that Wharton told police a different story. According to the prosecutor, Wharton told the police that he and another man had visited the womans home as they did odd jobs for her.

While there, Wharton said the woman came out with cutlass and asked them what they were doing there.

Wharton, the prosecutors said, further told the police that his accomplice told the woman that she would see what they were doing there.

The prosecutors said that Wharton told the police that the woman chopped his accomplice in the face.

The man, he said, chopped her, causing her to fall to the ground after which he collected the cutlass and chopped her too. The Prosecutors said that Wharton admitted that they then dragged the womans body to the back of the yard. Her body was discovered hidden under a zinc sheet by her daughter. Reports indicate that Osbournes home was also ransacked.

Thursday November 07, 2019

PAGE 23

Kaieteur News

Leonora man found dead at market Improvised weapons, marijuana seized in NA prison search

The body of 61-year-old Lakeram Doodnauth was found on Tuesday morning at the Leonora Market, West Coast Demerara (W.C.D.).

Kaieteur News understands that Doodnauth, of 36 Leonora Pasture, W.C.D., left home on Monday at around 5pm but never returned.

Reports are that Doodnauth was a known alcoholic. He would usually sleep at the market while on his drunken escapades, so relatives were not too concerned when he did not show up at home.

It was only until Tuesday morning that residents ob-

served the man lying in the market, not breathing.

Police were alerted and Doodnauth’s body was taken to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Regional Commander, Senior Superintendent Simon McBean disclosed to Kaieteur News that no marks of violence were found on Doodnauth’s body.

Commander McBean said that they are awaiting the results of an autopsy to determine whether foul play was involved in Doodnauth’s death.

Investigations are ongoing.

Dead: Lakeram Doodnauth

Homeless man allegedly destroys woman flower plants, lashes her son A homeless man was yesterday remanded to prison after he was placed before the court for using threatening behaviour and threatening language against a woman and “lashing” her son to the back of his head with a stick.

Randolph De Mendonza was arraigned before Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty in the Georgetown Magistrates Courts when the charges were read to him and he pleaded not guilty to all three charges.

It is alleged that last Sunday, November 3, at Yarrow Dam, Georgetown, he used threatening behaviour and threatening language towards Colleen Thomas. And a third charge stated that on the same day, at Ruimveldt Public Road, Georgetown, he unlawfully and ma-

liciously wounded Ceon Hunter.

Thomas told the court that on the day in question her neighbour called her and told her that a man was in her yard destroying her flower plants and when she went outside, the man (said to be De Mendonza) started to kick on her gate and then told her that he would murder her.

She added that she then picked up a brick and pelted him to go away, and a few minutes after her son showed up and the man used a stick that was in his hand and hit him (Hunter) at the back of his head.

After listening to the two virtual complainants, Magistrate McGusty remanded the defendant to prison and the matter was transferred to another Magistrate for trial.

The seized items A search operation led by the officer-in-charge of the No.2 sub-division in Region Six, ASP Mahendra Singh, along with other ranks, was carried out at the New Amsterdam Prison yesterday morning around 5:30.

The search unearthed

several improvised weapons among other prohibited items.

Police found three improvised weapons, 65 packs of cigarettes, 19 razor blades, 10 grams of marijuana, six imp r o v i s e d c h a r g e r s , 5 grams of fronto (a tobacco wrapper leaf), 20 metal

spoons, five bottles and a bucket of locally made win, Digicel SIM cards, one improvised smoking utensil and two cellphones.

The operation lasted for approximately two hours and thirty minutes, all items were seized.

Selection of contractors stalls...

From page 12 District Hospital is expected to receive about US$3 million for the expansion of the existing building along with the construction of a number of new structures in the compound. However since the Indian Government is funding the project, it is required that the contracts be awarded to companies from that country. With the process at a standstill, the Ministry of Public Health has nevertheless committed to commence works particularly on the Bartica Hospital. In the meantime, the Ministry was also expecting the Indian consultants to oversee the multimillion-dollar upgrade of three primary healthcare facilities.

PAGE 24

Kaieteur News

Thursday November 07, 2019

Thursday November 07, 2019

PAGE 25

Kaieteur News

Travel to Caribbean continues to grow despite powerful storms LONDON, CMC – A study undertaken by ForwardKeys, a travel analytics firm, has revealed that despite the recent ravages of hurricane Dorian and other huge storms in the Caribbean, tourism will continue to grow. The results of the study were presented at a Caribbean To u r i s m O rg a n i z a t i o n organised news conference at World Travel Market here on Wednesday.

The study revealed that forward bookings for the winter season, – November 1 to January 31, are currently 1.6 per cent ahead of where they were at the equivalent point last year.

C u r r e n t l y, b o o k i n g s from the United States, the most important source market are 3.0 per cent behind but bookings from all the other major source markets are ahead – France 9.8 per cent, the UK 0.9 per cent , Canada 8.2 per cent, Argentina 8.1 per cent and the rest of the world collectively 3.2 per cent.

The current leader is the Netherlands, 42.1 per cent ahead.

However, the outlook is not universally posi-

(L-R) Joy Jibrilu, director general of tourism, the Bahamas; Dominic Fedee, CTO chairman and Olivier Ponti, vice president, Insights ForwardKeys tive.

Forward bookings to the top destination in the Caribbean, the Dominican Republic, are currently 14.2 per cent behind and those to the Bahamas and Aruba are 6.4 per cent and 1.4 per cent behind respectively.

Encouraging growth is

seen from Puerto Rico, 28.0 per cent ahead, but according to ForwardKeys that is really a recovery story, as tourism to the island was hit hard by hurricane Maria in December 2017.

T h i s s e a s o n ’s m o s t devastating hurricane, Dorian, which came at the end of August and early

September, ravaged the most northerly parts of the Bahamas but left other parts relatively undamaged.

“The result is that some parts of the country saw a drop in arrivals, where others experienced a significant increase. Travel to Freeport and Marsh

Harbour in September fell dramatically, by 50.9 per cent and 67.9 per cent res p e c t i v e l y, ” t h e r e p o r t stated.

Hurricanes have been a major scourge, affecting travel to the Caribbean in recent years, with some islands left badly damaged. ForwardKeys research shows that recovering from the impact of a major hurricane can take years. “So far, it has taken Puerto Rico 15 months to reach 70 per cent of prehurricane arrivals and it has taken St Maarten 20 months. In the case of the Bahamas, ForwardKeys expects the recovery to take less time because the initial rebound in both posthurricane arrivals has been stronger: just one month after the hurricane, the Ba-

hamas has reached 80 per cent of pre-hurricane arrivals.

“What we have seen in recent years is that the Caribbean is an incredibly popular destination. When some parts of it have been hit with horrendous hurricanes and other issues, tourist did not give up on their desire for a holiday in paradise; they chose other parts of it to visit instead.

“We saw that syndrome earlier this year, when stories in the US media about tourists who had died in the Dominican Republic, caused bookings to collapse; however, other islands, most notably Jamaica, the Bahamas and Aruba saw a visitor surge,” said Olivier Ponti, the Vice President of Insights at ForwardKeys.”

PAGE 26

Kaieteur News

Thursday November 07, 2019

Thursday November 07, 2019

PAGE 27

Kaieteur News

59th National Schools Track and Field, Cycling and Swimming C/Ships

Education Department maps out strategy for acceptable behaviour among athletes The Region Three (3)[Essequibo Island- West Demerara] Education Department is taking steps to ensure the 59th National Schools Swimming, Cycling and Track and Field Championship, which will be held at three venues including the Leonora Track and Field Centre from November 17-22, is incident-free and that the athletes behaviour are in keeping with what is required.

According to Regional Education Officer (REdO) Region Three, Ms Anesta Douglas, this approach is necessary considering that a large number of youths will

NAMILCO U-17 Football League continues on Sunday Action in the NAMILCO U17 Football Tournament is set to continue on Sunday at the Esplanade Park in New Amsterdam.

The first, NA United FC will play Hopetown Rangers

FC at 13:00hrs and Corriverton Links FC will face Monedderlust FC at 15:00hrs.

It is expected that the final and 3rd place matches will be played next weekend also as a double-header.

Diamond New Scheme...

Education Department officials meet to discuss issues relating to the schools championships. be away from their families for that period (one week). At the time when this was revealed Ms Douglas was having an Inter-Agency meeting at the Region three Education Department to derive an

appropriate strategy.

Douglas said that the initiative involving, the Ministry of Social Protection, Parent Teachers Associations (PTA’s), Officers from the School Welfare Department and the West

Thursday November 07, 2019 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Your audience will be attentive to you today. Take the lead and others will follow.

Be yourself and project your voice into the auditorium of eager listeners.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) You could feel confident today, and you should have a strong idea of exactly what it is you want. Information is power.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Your mind will expand today.

You'll feel like there's a ton of information crammed into your head that needs processing. Regarding big projects, try to finish them as quickly as you can.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Try not to read too much into other people's words today.

You may have spent hours tearing apart every off-thecuff remark. You may build up a wild scenario in your head regarding what that person is thinking.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Get involved with the energy of today so you don't get left out of the loop. Your contribution to the group is important. You should foster positive relationships among all parties. Think big.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) You can add more tools to your toolbox today. Express your concerns and you'll find helpful remedies present themselves.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Join others before you make your big travel plans. The smallest idea can be quickly transformed into a huge plan of attack, thanks to the prevailing winds of the day.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Don't get stuck doing just one thing today. The more varied your activity, the easier it will be for you to integrate the different pieces of the puzzle. This is a day to think big.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Long-term trends are coming to an important climax now. This dramatic period is highlighted by the added amount of information being thrown your way.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) You might be in a whirlwind today, and there will be information buzzing around asking you to do this and go there. You're the one most perfectly suited to deal with the tone of the day.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Take a break from what you're doing. Look at what people are doing around you. Check your plans in relation to those of others and see if there's a way you can combine forces

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You might be jumping around today. This is one of those situations in which you don't want to stay in one place for too long. Each place is an individual step that leads to where you want to go.

Demerara Hospital, will ensure that the most suitable approach is adopted.

According to Ms Bernice Corbin-Zephyr, Senior Schools’ Welfare Officer attached to Region three, four officers will be on duty utilizing a shift system to monitor the athletes’ behaviour and to offer guidance where and when necessary.

Further, Ms Corbin-Zephyr said that the officers will be at the Leonora Track and Field Center and at the athletes’ village for the duration of the championship. “It’s not that we anticipate any trouble, but we know when youths are in the same space for that length of time you have to be vigilant and proactive to ensure that there are no issues.”

Additionally, Ms CorbinZephyr believes that the attention and focus should be on the athletes and their performances and it is hoped that with the formation of this committee this goal will be realized.

The 59th National Swimming, Cycling and Track and Field Championship will be held at three venues, the Cycling at the National Park on November 17, Swimming at the National Aquatic Centre at Lilliendaal on November 18 and Track and Field November 19-22 at the Leonora Track and Field Centre.

India win Colonial...

From page 28 Windiescricket.com website or at https:// www.zoonga.com/indiatour.

Box offices at each ground are open on the day of each match.

Scores: WEST INDIES WOMEN 194 off 50 overs (Stafanie Taylor 79, StacyAnn King 38, Hayley Matthews 26; Jhulan Goswami 2-30, Poonam Yadav 2-35) INDIA WOMEN 195 for four off 42.1 overs (Smriti Mandhana 74, Jemimah Rodrigues 69, Punam Raut 24; Hayley Matthews 3-27)

From page 30 off the runs in nine overs, losing only three wickets in the process. Opener Imtiaz Hack scored 62 (3x6, 6x4) not out and Anthony Arjune 41 (5x6, 2x4) not out.

LBI A won the toss and batted first and made 117 runs for the loss of six wickets. Mohammed Ali made 33 runs and Raymond Haniff made 26 runs.

Stewartville Masjid in their turn at the crease fell short by five runs, ending on 113 runs for the loss of eight wickets. Mohamed made 33 and Bacchus 16. Bowling for LBI A, Sheik Reyaad claimed 4 wickets for 12.

LBI B opted to bat and made 105 runs for the loss of four wickets. Randy Narine made 58 (6x6, 4x4) not

out and extras amounted to 21 runs. Inshan Ali picked up 2 wickets for 18 runs.

Stewartville Masjid in their turn at the crease mustered 101 runs for the loss of two wickets. Opener Inshan Ali gave Stewartville Masjid some hope making 57 (5x6, 1x4) not out and Salim Khan got 20.

The competition continues on Monday at the MYO Ground, Woolford Avenue with four matches starting at 09:00hrs.

9 am- New Mosque vs Hague Masjid 11 am - New Amsterdam vs Hague Masjid 1 pm- New Amsterdam vs Cornelia Ida 3 pm- Diamond New Scheme Masjid vs Cornelia Ida

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Thursday November 07, 2019

Kaieteur News

GSSF’s B.M. Soat Annual Costume shooting Match

“Unstrung Hero” and “Bad to the Bone” walk away with top prizes For the fourth consecutive year, Halloween in Guyana for sport shooters has been associated with the much anticipated B.M. Soat Annual Costume Match. The Guyana Sport Shooting Foundation once again last Saturday 2nd November, hosted their Annual themed competition which was a very keenly contested one, sponsored by B.M. Soat Auto sales all within the confines of the safety rules and watchful eyes of Range Master, Mr. Dallas Thomas and his Team of Range Officials.

The Timehri Range transformed just after noon with cool overcast weather, with the rain clouds hovering but not breaking over the Match, thereby providing wonderful cloud coverage for the participants as members turned out in their costumes, with appearances from inter alia, a FBI Agent, A Policeman, a Policewoman, terminator, Unstrung Hero, a Cricketer, a Vacquero and a QC Old Student.

Members of the Guyana Sport Shooting Foundation competed in two SCSA Divisions: Production and Limited. As an affiliate of the Steel Challenge Shooting Association, a sister body of the United States Practical Shooting Association, the GSSF over the years has been organising matches following their strict safety policies.

This simple, yet actionpacked shooting sport attracts Guyanese pistol shooters from all around the country on a regular basis who all engage in melodic pinging fun.

The Match was then declared open and the 2 squads began what would later show to be a very closely contested match in both divisions as shooters commenced firing on the 4 stages: 5 To Go, Some & Hope, Showdown and Speed Option.

Group Photo of some of the participants at the BM Soat sponsored GSSF Steel Challenge Costume Match 2019.

1st Place Winner (Production Division): Ray Beharry engaging targets at G.S.S.F.’s Costume Match sponsored by B.M. Soat Auto Sales.

Beautiful trophies were presented to the winners as follows: Limited Division 1st – Ryan McKinnon (74.30 seconds) 2nd – John Phang (87.31 seconds) 3rd – Vidushi PersaudMcKinnon (114.24 seconds) Production Division 1st – Ray Beharry (90.23 seconds) 2nd – Andrew Phang (93.12 seconds) 3rd – Michael Blake (126.32 seconds) Unclassified Beginner

Category 1st – Imam Baksh (120.20 seconds) 2nd – Rawlston Adams (147.29 seconds) 3rd – Satya Dayaram (163.25 seconds) Steel Challenge Shooting is in fact considered to be the fastest practical shooting competition in the world. The Competition proved to be an exciting one consisting of four (4) different stages where competitors shot at 5 individual steel targets per stage.

Shooters were scored using an electronic timing device, penalties of added time were applied for any misses after the designated stop plate was shot and the total time taken was the score: all while being closely monitored by the Foundation’s Range Safety Officers. The shooters with the lowest time to hit all the plates overall in the match in the respective divisions were declared the winners.

At the Opening Ceremony, Chairman of the Practical Shooting Committee and the Match Director for this event, Dr. Pravesh Harry, expressed

1st Place Winner (Limited Division): Ryan McKinnon engaging targets at G.S.S.F.’s Steel Challenge Costume Match.

appreciation to Mr. Bashair Mohamed, Mrs. Vimala Priya Mohamed, Mr. Rameez Mohamed and the Management of B.M. Soat Auto Sales of Lot 9 Croal Street, Georgetown for their continued support to the promotion and building of the sport in Guyana.

Range Master, Mr. Dallas Thomas then delivered his Safety Charge and Reminders to Participants and Spectators to ensure that the strict safety rules were adhered to.

A special addition to the

Match was announced which was the Unclassified Category to facilitate the beginner shooters.

At the Presentation Ceremony, gratitude was extended by the Match Director to Range Master, Mr. Thomas and the Match Committee and Officials for ensuring the efficiency and high safety standards with which the match was run.

The GSSF would like to extend its sincerest gratitude to Managing Director and member, Mr. Rameez Mohamed and the

Management of B.M Soat Auto Sales for the Match sponsorship.

The Foundation also wishes to thank the Guyana Defence Force, Chief of Staff Brigadier Patrick West, Commissioner of Police Mr. Leslie James, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Ms. Maxine Graham, OC Superintendent Mr. Guy Nurse, the ranks of TSU and the GPF Armoury and the Guyana Police Force and the Media.

More information on the G.S.S.F. is available on its websitewww.GuyanaSportShooting.com.

Yhap ton helps Cotton Field to victory The Central and South Essequibo T/20 cricket competition continued on Sunday last with victory for Cotton Field Strikers over Rebel’s XI. Host Cotton Field Strikers batted first and made 200-3 in 15 overs with Carlos Yhap blasting 101 and Rajiv Kissoon 44; bowling for Rebel’s X1 Navin Ram had 1 for 35 off three overs.

Rebel’s X1 were 38- 3 in seven overs in reply when rain prevented further play; Jamal Wilson and Asif Salim 1-8 each and Rajiv Kissoon 1-12 from three overs; the game was awarded to Cotton Field Strikers due to a superior net run rate.

Carlos Yhap

Thursday November 07, 2019

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Kaieteur News

Colonial Medical Insurance Super50 bowls off today in T&T - Guyana Jaguars face West Indies Emerging Players

Chris Barnwell bowls to Skipper Leon Johnson in the Nets yesterday.

Former West Indies Pacer Tony Gray wishes Chanderpaul Hemraj well as Permaul and Reifer get ready for yesterday’s indoor session at NCC.

By Sean Devers in Trinidad Today, from 13:30hrs, Guyana Jaguars face-off with debutants West Indies Emerging Players in the opening round of the Trinidad Zone of the Colonial Medical Insurance Regional Super50 cricket tournament at the Brian Lara Academy in a Day/Night encounter that could be affected by rain.

The West Indies Emerging Players squad have been pooled with last year’s runners-up, Jaguars, 11-time champions Trinidad & Tobago Red Force, Windward Islands Volcanoes, and the United States.

The Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service (TTMS) downgraded the Adverse Weather Alert for Trinidad and Tobago from Yellow to a Green Level which means there is a low risk to public safety, livelihoods and property.

The TTMS has advised that the threat of significant impacts has passed.

However, a few showers and

the medium chance of an isolated thunderstorm can still be expected.

Citizens are being reminded to ‘Get Ready and Stay Ready’ throughout the 2019 Wet/Hurricane season.

“We wish to underscore that Trinidad and Tobago is not currently under any tropical storm or hurricane threat, watch or warning “the met office here said yesterday.

However, the forecast for today is Cloudy spells with showers, at times heavy, will occur in varying localities.

There is a chance of thunderstorm activity during the afternoon in a few areas.

Night will be partly cloudy at times with showers in few areas.

It has been raining here since the Jaguars arrived on Monday morning and the Leon Johnson led side had their final practice session yesterday afternoon at the National Cricket Centre in Cova.

All-rounder Chris Barnwell who did not travel

with the team due to personal reasons, is here and the South Americans are keen to break the 14-year drought of not winning a 50-over title despite winning the last five FirstClass titles.

Without West Indies players Shimron Hetmyer, Kemo Paul, Sherfane Rutherford and Romario Shepherd (who should be back for the last two matches) the Jaguars will look forward for runs from Chanderpaul Hemraj, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Skipper Johnson, Chris Barnwell, Johnathon Foo, Raymond Reifer and Anthony Bramble with the bat today.

With the consistent rain here the track should be on the slow side and favour spin.

Left-arm spinners Veerasammy Permaul and Gudakesh Motie could both be included, while Jamaican off-spinner Ramaal Lewis should be the other specialist spinner in the side.

The trio could get spin support from part time

spinners Foo (off-spin), Hemraj (left-arm) and Johnson (leg-spin), while the genuinely quick Ronsford Beaton is expected to spearhead the pace attack which will include Barnwell, Reifer and Clinton Pestato against inexperienced but talented young batsmen today.

Third opener and back up Keeper 24-year-old Essequibian Kemol Savory and 23-year-old Berbice fast Bowler Nial Smith, the only new caps in the squad, could be the ones to sit on bench today.

The West Indies Emerging Players includes four of the players who will be representing the West Indies at next year’s U-19 World Cup. Left-arm spinner Ashmead is one of the four and along with off-spinning all-rounder Kevin Sinclair are the Guyanese in the squad which will be Coached by former We s t Indies Captain, Bajan, Floyd Reifer who will be assisted by Trinidad-born Barbadian Former Test offspinner Ryan Austin and former West Indies pacer Kenny Benjamin from Antigua.

Saint Lucian opener Kimani Melius will Captain the West Indies at next year’s U-19 World Cup and scored a couple of tons in the practice matches in Antigua for the World Cup and is one to watch.

Trinidadian left-handed wicketkeeper/ batsman, Leonardo Julian and fellow Trini pacer Jayden Seales, along with Nedd are the fourWest Indies Youth players in the squad which will be led by Yannic Cariah with Melius as his deputy.

Vincentian 22-year-old Gidron Pope has played two First-Class matches and would be expected to fire at the top of the order. Joshua Da Silva will be on home soil and will want to impress with the bat as would 21-year-old Grenadian Roland Cato who played the first of his 20 First-Class matches in 2016.

Searles along with the Bajan pair of Keon Harding, Dominic Drakes, (the son of Former Test pacer Vasbert Drakes) and Jermaine Levy should take care of the fast bowling work today.

Camarie Boyce, who took the most wickets in this year’s Regional U-19 tournament for

Champions Barbados, Nedd and Sinclair will also look to impress in the bowling department.

The Emerging Players squad has been introduced into the Super50 Cup by Cricket West Indies to facilitate further development and learning opportunities for players that have featured in the CWI High Performance Centre in recent times.

Teams: Guyana Jaguars: Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Chanderpaul Hemraj, Leon Johnson, Christopher Barnwell, Raymon Reifer, Anthony Bramble, Gudakesh Motie, Veerasammy Permaul, Clinton Pestano, Ronsford Beaton, Nial Smith, Jonathan Foo, Kemol Savory, Ramaal Lewis, Esuan Crandon (Head Coach), Assistant Coaches) West Indies Emerging Players: Justin Greaves, Kimani Melius, Leonardo Julien, Jayden Seales, Ashmead Nedd, Camarie Boyce, Keon Harding, Dominic Drakes, Yannic Cariah, Joshua Da Silva, Gidron Pope, Kevin Sinclair, Jermaine Levy, Roland Cato Floyd Reifer (Head Coach), Kenny Benjamin & Ryan Austin (Assistant Coaches)

No turf session before today’s is a disappoint - We have work on our batting a bit more says Coach Crandon

By Sean Devers in Trinidad Guyana Jaguars Head Coach, Former First-Class pacer Esuan Crandon and his assistant Shiv Chanderpaul, the second leading run scorer in Test in the West Indies behind Brian Lara, both lamented the lack of turf practice here before their opening game today in the Regional Super50.

The team was forced to use the indoor nets on Tuesday and again yesterday as they turned up in high wind to meet a wet

outfield and covers on the at the National Cricket Centre at Cova.

“Since we arrived here on Monday the adverse weather has prevented us for doing any turf sessions. We have also not been able to any fielding drills,” said Crandon.

Assistant Coach Chanderpaul also agreed that this was not the ideal situation going into their first game.

“It’s very different batting on the artificial pitch in the indoor nets and batting on the turf pitch. The ball bounces far less on the turf

pitch and not to have any time on the ground is very disappointing for the guys,” informed Chanderpaul.

Both Coaches said they would not let their inability to get turf practice affect the t e a m ’s p r e p a r a t i o n t o o much since rain was an act of nature and there nothing they could do about it.

“We usually bank on our spinners in conditions like these… when so much rain results in the covers being on the pitch for extended periods causing it to be slow and assist the spinners,” Crandon added.

He said Guyana has also got some good young pacers so even in the absence of Kemo Paul and Romario Shepherd he felt the bowling was not a problem. “ We h a d a t e a m meeting where we discussed the players in West Indies Emerging team and most of the Guys have played with or against them.

We are not taking any team lightly since we want to start on a winning note which will give us momentum and confidence.

Crandon said the batsmen are an area that needs working on. “While

I w o u l d n o t s a y i t ’s a concern, it (batting) needs to be looked and worked on,” Crandon disclosed.

Led by 4-65 from West Indies U-19 left-arm spinner Ashamed Nedd, who will play for the opposition today, the Rest team beat the Guyana Jaguars by 98 runs in their second and final practice game at the Enmore despite 47 from the inform Chris Barnwell.

The Rest Team reached 288-9 when their 50 overs expired on before dismissing the Jaguars for 190 in 42.1 overs.

“When we looked at the Enmore game which was our

last opportunity to bat on a turf pitch we are aware that some work is needed in that department and having no turf time here has been disappointing,” Crandon concluded. Guyana, who has lost 10 of their 13 semifinals since winning their last Regional 50-overs title when they beat Barbados at Bourda in 2005, won their first 50 in 1980 when Roy Fredericks made a century in Antigua.

They have nine tittles and begin their 2019 Campaign today when the face the West Indies Emerging Players in game that could be affected by rain at the Brian Lara Academy.

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GTTA names ‘future players’ for National Talent Identification Training Programme With the acquisition of the services and expertise of Cuban high level coach Mr. Osdani Romero Garcia, who is in Guyana for a two month training and coaching stint and coming off of the key domestic championships, the G u y a n a Ta b l e Te n n i s Association has identified and named a group of talented young players to benefit from coach Mr. Osdani Romero Garcia expertise.

The group has been selected based on their

performance in domestic competitions, technical and tactical skills and players with aptitude, discipline, talent a n d d u b b e d “ G u y a n a ’s With the Future in Mind Ta b l e Te n n i s P r o s p e c t s (mimicking the ITTF programme which target young talented prospects), seeks to provide a platform for the players with potential to benefit from high level training engagement.

This target group is between the ages of 12 to

Table Tennis players gather during a recent event.

16 years old. The GTTA plan is to engage these players in training and

India win Colonial Medical Insurance ODI Series 2-1

India Women’s Team with series trophy.

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua- A captain’s knock could not save the West Indies Women from a series defeat in the three-match Colonial Medical Insurance One Day International series against India Women, after India Women won the third match by six wickets at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.

The West Indies Women won the toss and elected to bat first but the opening batters found it difficult to get the scoring started. No runs were scored in the first two overs as Jhulan Goswami and Shikha Pandey had Hayley Matthews and Natasha McLean pegged back with pace.

Natasha was the first to go, trying to play across the line and the ball popped up from the edge of the bat for an easy catch. Hayley playing in her first game this series, eventually took a liking to the pace from Goswami and Pandey, belting them for three fours and a six on her way to 26. Then, the turning point of the match came when Hayley was run out, a momentary slowing down of runs saw the West Indies Women inching

to 50 runs on the board.

Chedean Nation’s stay in the middle did not last long as she fell for 6. Kyshona Knight and Stafanie Taylor looked set to rebuild the shaking West Indies Women’s innings, as they converted their chances for quick singles. After building a steady partnership of 34 runs, Kyshona trying to sweep was caught for a supportive 16 runs.

Then came the partnership that took the West Indies Women innings to a defendable total. StacyAnn King and Stafanie took the singles and twos. Both players then took the scoring tempo up when the Indians delivered wayward deliveries.

Stafanie collected a returnshot using her gloves to protect her from a straight drive from Stacy-Ann. This pair added 96 runs before Stafanie was caught and bowled by Poonam Yadav for a brilliant 79.

Stacy-Ann soldiered on to 38 before she was bowled

by Goswami. The rest of the West Indies Women’s batters fell for single digits as they finished their fifty overs on

194 all out.

India started their runchase confidently with Smriti Mandhana playing for the first time in the series.

Together with Jemimah Rodrigues, who has struggled with the bat this series, the pair took a liking to the West Indies bowlers. They posted 141 runs before Jemimah was the first wicket to fall, Hayley Matthews had her stumped for 69.

Mandhana continued her scoring but became Matthews second scalp for 74. Poonam Raut was Hayley’s third wicket. India had a slight wobble with four wickets falling in a short space of overs but they were comfortable winners by six wickets in 42.1 overs, finishing on 195/6.

The tour now shifts focus to five (5) T20 Internationals, with the first two being played at the Daren Sammy Stadium on November 9 and 10.

Tickets for the T20Is are very affordable price at just GYD$1000 (US5) in Guyana, and EC$10 (US$5) for the five T20I matches, available online through the (Continued on page 25)

coaching activities utilizing the services of Coach Osdani Romero Garcia after schools within schools and weekend programmes.

“The programme is geared towards providing high quality training provision and services for young talented athletes we believe have the potential to be future representatives of Guyana in view of improving and accelerating their technical and tactical abilities, transition, correct approach, discipline, knowledge and concepts towards training and improving players perf o r m a n c e w i t h t h e central aim of assisting players in the realization of their true potential and developing a core of athletes with the potential to represent their s c h ools, regions, organizations nationally and Guyana,” a release stated.

In this regard the executive committee will be looking to expand this list of players, however, the body has identified and invited the following players to benefit from the

h i gh level training engagement.

Boys List Christopher Barrow, Curtis Mc Crae, Kyle Orderson , Umar Percival Rhys Belle, Jaswan Seenarine , Tyrese Gomes, Saaliah Rahim Ian Gomes, Narren Persaud, Tawfeeq Rahim, Krishna Singh Peter Persaud, Andelle Austin, Tai Panday, Adrian Melville Kevic Samsudeen, Tameshwar Ramnarine, Kyle Chung , Khalid Gobin Ajay Persaud Uriel, Isadore, Shaquan Williams, Ridwaan Kassim Shaquard Favorite, Shaunquan Richards, Gavin Narine, Jarett Goddette Timothy Braithwaite, Christopher Jones, Rolex Alexander, A. Hanniff Jonathan Hawke, Steffon Paddy Girls List: 1.

Samirah Burrowes

2.

Sufah Burrowes 3.

Lisana Ramscindo 4.

Upah Hackett 5.

Jean Jerry 6.

Azra Huggins 7.

Allana Gouveia 8.

Isasha Harry 9.

Selena Gudja 10. Laetitia Gamer 11. Lolika Yarde Mr. Romero Garcia is a graduate from the University Sancti Spiritus, Jose Marti Perez, Cuba with a degree in Sports Science and Physical Education and a diploma in High Performance training, he has had considerable experience working in Venezuela and Mexico over the last four (4) years with a great measure of success producing quality players, he is also a lead coach in Cuba national team programme.

His players are Daniela Fonseca 2019 Caribbean Female and under-21 and Women’s Champion 2019 and Livian Martinez 2019 Caribbean Men’s under-21 gold medalist and men’s singles bronze medalist among others.

GMR&SC Clash of Champions International meet launched The ‘Clash of Champions’ race meet which is organised by the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC) was launched on Tuesday at GT Motorsports where various sponsors pledged their support for the two-day international race meet that will speed off on November 16-17 at the South Dakota Circuit.

C o r p o r a t e Commutations Officer of ANSA McAL Trading, Treiston Joseph, stated STAG Beer will continue be a supporter of motor-racing in Guyana. He called on persons to come out and enjoy the races, but do so responsibly.

Operations Manager

of KFC Guyana, Greg De Gannes, expressed that the progression of the sport and talents, which present a bright future, have motivated them to continue the partnership.

Meanwhile, Director General at the Ministry of Tourism, Donald Sinclair, outlined the influx of persons that enters the country is a great indicator of the impact Sport Tourism has on the country.

Carey Griffith, an executive of the GMR&SC, called for persons to abide by the rules of the day and respect the Marshals’ decisions. He further encouraged persons to attend the event early and

most importantly have a designated driver if they plan to consume alcohol.

Despite no Caribbean Motor Racing Championships this year, the GMR&SC has still attracted competitors from Jamaica, Barbados, United States of America, England and Trinidad and Tobago.

Other major sponsors are: B.M Soat Auto Sales, Mohamed’s Enterprise, Tropical Shipping, MOTUL, ExxonMobil, Japarts, Air Services and Valvoline that recently confirmed sponsorship for former Starlet Cup champion, Motielall Deodass.

Adult tickets cost $2,000 and children Under-10 will be admitted free.

Thursday November 07, 2019

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Kaieteur News

Chase, Hope star as West Indies take 1-0 lead over Afghanistan ESPNcricinfo LUCKNOW, India — Roston Chase fell six short of his maiden ODI hundred, while Shai Hope scored an unbeaten 77 as West Indies beat Afghanistan by seven wickets in the first ODI in Lucknow. They now lead the three-match series 1-0.

After being put in, halfcenturies from Rahmat Shah and Ikram Alikhil had taken Afghanistan to 126 for 2 around the halfway stage. But it was Alikhil’s run-out that proved to be the turning point.

The batsman left his crease to congratulate Rahmat on his fifty with the ball still in play. And when Hope broke the stumps and West Indies appealed, he had to walk back.

Afghanistan couldn’t recover from there and were bowled out for 194 in 45.2 overs. For West Indies, Jason Holder, Chase and debutant Romario Shepherd picked up two wickets each, while the USA legspinner Hayden Walsh Jr, who became the 14th player to represent two teams in ODIs, also chipped in with a wicket.

West Indies lost two early wickets in their chase but Hope and Chase added 163 in a third-wicket stand to ensure West Indies were always ahead in the game. Chase fell when West Indies were seven away from the victory. Hope and Nicholas Pooran took them over the line with 21 balls to spare.

Earlier, Afghanistan didn’t have a great start as Sheldon Cottrell and Holder bowled testing lines and lengths.

With just five runs on the board after four overs, Hazratullah Zazai swatted one past Cottrell for four but the bowler slipped in a searing yorker next to send Zazai’s leg stump cartwheeling. In the next over, Holder had Ahmadi caught at second slip to leave Afghanistan 15 for 2 at the end of six overs.

Rahmat and Alikhil too found it difficult to score and while Afghanistan played out 49 dot balls in the first ten overs, the two ensured there wasn’t a top-order collapse.

In the 11th over, Alikhil pulled Holder twice behind square leg for back-to-back fours and that changed things a bit. Afghanistan got

to 50 in the 15th over before Rahmat lofted Shepherd down the ground for a six and swept Chase for four. At the other end, Alikhil top-edged Joseph for six, clobbered him to deep midwicket for four and brought up his fifty in 47 balls after being 4 off 17 at one stage.

Rahmat and Alikhil added 111 in 124 balls for the third wicket but the ball off which Rahmat brought up his fifty also saw his partner being run-out. Once that stand was broken, wickets kept tumbling at regular intervals. Najibullah Zadran was dismissed in the same over as Alikhil, caught at first slip off Chase for a duck. Rahmat and Asghar Afghan took the side past 150 but Rahmat too fell to Chase when he mistimed a scoop to Holder at backward square leg.

Asghar tried to hold the innings together and almost succeeded in it. At 188 for 6 with him and Gulbadin Naib in, Afghanistan were looking good for a total of around 230240. But they lost their last four wickets in three runs and failed to reach even 200.

West Indies too didn’t

start well. Mujeeb Ur Rahman beat Hope with carrom ball on more than once occasion but it was Lewis who fell to it.

Playing back to a length ball, the left-hand batsman was trapped lbw. Shimron Hetmyer didn’t last long either and was caught-behind off Naveen-ul-Haq. But after that Chase joined hands with Hope and a small target meant the two could take their time. Chase was the dominant partner in the century stand, hitting 11 fours during his innings, while Hope played the supportive role.

Though the Afghanistan bowlers were economical, they were not penetrative enough. Both Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi went wicketless, with former now having taken just three wickets in the last seven ODIs. In the 40th over, Mujeeb got Chase to edge one behind but Alikhil couldn’t latch on to it. Chase was on 85 at the time and West Indies 24 away from the win. Mujeeb eventually bowled Chase but it was already too late. The second ODI is on Saturday.

GHB National Junior Indoor C/Ships

Saints & GCC off to winning starts

Joash James of GCC War Dogs about to take a penalty corner during his team’s 3-1 loss to SHC Silencers last night.

The round-robin stage of the sixth annual Guyana Hockey Board (GHB) Junior Indoor Hockey Championships hit off last night at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) on Carifesta Avenue where Saints Hockey Club (SHC) and GBTI GCC registered victories in the opening matches of the

Farfan & Mendes under-16 league.

GBTI GCC Spartans slapped YMCA Old Fort 10-0 in the first girls division match with Abosaide Cadagon swatting four goals (three FG and one PC) while Madison Fernandes and Haley Carpenter assisted two each in the rout.

In the following match,

SHC Supreme beat SHC Sensations 2-1 in the girls’ division. Charlia Webb and Mariah Seegobind netted one each for the winners while Dharanee Meghoo scored for Sensations.

The first Farfan & Mendes boys’ division clash witnessed SHC Silencers hushing GCC War Dogs 3-1.

Baraka Garnett smashed

home two penalty corners (PC) after Nikhuma Hutson had opened the scoring for the victors.

Jonathan Bissoon scored the consolation for the War Dogs.

The championships continue today up until Sunday with matches from the under-10 to under-21 categories.

Rahmat Shah top scored for Afghanistan © Getty Images/file photo

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Thursday November 07, 2019

Ballers battle for Berbice Cricket Board Launches “Special Projects Fund” Edition 2 $1million, bragging rights The Berbice Cricket Board continues to create headlines as they march towards continued success for cricket in the County, Guyana and West Indies. They have recently launched their “Special Projects Fund” with overwhelming response from three overseas friends of Berbice Cricket. This is the second time that the Board has embarked on this initiative following the “Balls for Second Division Teams in Berbice Project” in 2018.

The first project initiated

by Anil Beharry, former Berbice Cricket Board President in conjunction with the BCB, was very successful and raised $830,000 which was made possible by Brian Chunilall, Noreen SeubaranGaskin, Yasin Mohamed, Two Friends of BCB, Ryan and Ian Bhagwandin, Derick and Renick Beharry, Kalvin Somrah, Raj “Rebels” Mathura, Faizal Jaffarally, Bobby and Pamela Kewlachand, Mukesh Matai, Danny Somai, Yadram Bhoj, Sharmila Muneshwar, Javed Raffik, Nazim Hussain, Allan Mangru, Owen Humphrey, Sean Devers, Vijai Dass, Bhim

Renick Beharry

Kalvin Somrah

George, Surendra Hiralall, Jack Beharry, Latcho Mohabir, Chetram Seooppersaud and Jeffrey Samaroo.

Added to the funds raised directly by the BCB, every cricket club in the county received cricket balls.

Some young promising cricketers such as West Indies Under-15 pacer Isiah Thorne, National Under-19 opener Alex Algoo among others.

The second edition has received so far $165,000 from Tyler and Mia, Kalvin Somrah and Renick Beharry. They all contributed towards the first

project. Funds from this project will assist cricket clubs with balls, assist young promising cricketers who need help and the BCB to acquire cricket pitch covers so that key matches, including semi finals and finals, can be played without any rain interruption as the board strives to spread the game across the length and breadth of the ancient county.

In addition, the board will consider other requests as it sees it fit. Former Minister Leslie Ramsammy assisted the board with US$2,000 worth of cricket balls to supplement this project.

Labelled ‘Battle of the Ballers’ the National Gymnasium is expected to be flooded on Saturday with supporters of the final four teams in this year’s GT Beer / Keep Your Five Alive Futsal Competition.

The four semi-finalists Sparta Boss, Future Stars, Bent Street and Gold is Money will be on show to battle for prize monies in excess of $1million along with bragging rights for the next year.

According to Promoter Kevin Adonis, all systems are in place for fans to enjoy a riveting night of action between the four best teams in the format in the country.

Defending champs Sparta Boss headline the lists of teams scheduled to go toe to toe in what many pundits are touting as the most competitive semi-finals in a long time.

The champs are set to tackle a rejuvenated Future Stars unit that has turned back challenge after challenge throughout the competition, but many believe it could be a case of a bridge too far this time around. Sparta’s chances of winning will rest on the performances of Gregory Richardson, Sheldon Shepherd, Ryan Hackett and Eusi Phillips.

On the other hand, the Stars will hope that players such as Keiron Solomon, Kevin Cummings and Jamal Cozier continue to shine to get them to the final.

In the other semi-final, Bent Street, the team that has looked unstoppable throughout the tournament go up against a slightly weakened Gold is Money side missing their inspirational captain Hubert Pedro.

However, after a shaky

start, they rebounded to beat a stubborn LA Ballers in overtime and many will know that their experience at this stage of competitions has always proved to be a thorn for many opponents.

Gold is Money will be led by leading marksman Jermin Junor, while his support will no doubt come from the experienced Phillip Rowley, Solomon Austin and Randolph Wagner.

On the other hand, Bent Street a team loaded with national standouts will be aiming to take full advantage in the absence of Pedro to reach the championship game.

The likes of Pernel Schultz, Daniel Wilson and William Europe are in their lineup and their only focus will be to dominate their opponents.

Two exhibition games will precede the semi-finals.

Hammie Green Annual football set to kick off Sunday at Uitvlugt Ground

Diamond New Scheme, Tuschen, LBI A and B register wins Diamond New Scheme, Tuschen, LBI A and B register victories when play in The Muslim Youth Organization of Guyana/Trophy Stall Inter-

Jamaat 10 overs Softball Cricket Competition 2019 continued last Sunday at the MYO ground, Woolford Avenue, Thomas Lands.

Diamond New Scheme Masjid decided to take first strike and managed to score 109 runs for the loss of 7 wickets when their overs ran out. Mansoor Khan scored 28 runs (1x6, 3x4), Kareem Kayum 26 runs (1x6, 4x4), Shazim Khan 20 runs (2x6, 2x4) and Safraz Mohamed 16 (1x6) not out. Bowling for the New Mosque Faizul Nazeem took two wickets.

New Mosque in their turn at the crease fell short by three runs making 107 for the loss of four wickets when their overs expired. Amil Ali scored 39 runs (3x6, 2x4), Brian Singh 17 runs (1x6, 2x4) and Shameer Baig 19 runs (2x4).

Bowling for Diamond New Scheme Masjid, Ansar Hussain and Salman Ghanie picked up one wicket apiece.

Cornelia Ida won the toss and elected to bat, posting a challenging total of 123 for 3.

Feroze Rahaman scored 47 runs (1x6, 5x4) while Ameer Ali and Michael Ally scored 13 runs a piece. Manuel Oviedo was the pick of the bowlers for Tuschen Train Station Masjid picking up 2 for 7.

Tuschen Train Station Masjid made light work of the challenging total, knocking (Continued on page 25)

Jamal Harvey Action in this year’s 9a-side Inter-Ward Football Competition to commemorate the 85th Birth Anniversary of former Prime Minister and City Mayor Hamilton Green kicks off on Sunday with eight matches at the Uitvlugt Community Centre ground, West Coast Demerara, venue for the tournament, which reflects a change of venue.

The annual event will feature teams from East Coast Demerara, East Bank Demerara, Georgetown and We s t B e r b i c e b a t t l i n g those from the host community for some $400,000 in prize money.

NAMILCO has assisted the organiser, furnishing a few of the trophies on offer.

Also lending assistance are Ministry of Communities and Cummings Electrical. A full list of the sponsors will

Delon Lanferman

Trayon Bobb

be release shortly.

The opening salvo of games starting from 4:00pm Sunday will see: Sara Lodge versus Kuru Kururu, Goed Fortuin vs. Plaisance, Wa l e s vs.

Ti m e h r i , Bagotville vs. Soesdyke, Bourda Blues vs. Durban Backlands, Charlestown vs. Gaza, Casa Coima FC vs. Hurry Ate and GT Kanaimas vs. Stewartville.

The winners of the games listed will clash to advance to the latter stages. Game 1 winners will play game 3 winner, 2 vs. 4, 5 vs. 7 and 6 vs. 8.

More matches will be played on November 17 with the quarters, semis, third place and final being played on S u n d a y, December 1.

The winning team will take home $200,000 and

NAMILCO trophy, while second, third and fourth place finishers will receive $100,000 and Ministry of Communities t r o p h y, $60,000 and the NAMILCO trophy and $40,000 and the Cummings Electrical trophy respectively.

Co-ordinator of the tournament, former national football coach, Lennox Arthur has made a plea for sponsors to come on board with this year’s event in order to host a successfully tournament and a few have begun to answer his call as he expressed the hope for many past and new sponsors to lend assistance as many young talented footballers get the chance to display their talent in the hope of advancing their fortunes.