Kaieteur News

Kaieteur News

PAGE 04

Saturday November 19, 2016

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

DECIDING GUYSUCO’s FUTURE It is time for the government to be serious and make a decision on whether to continue to subsidize GUYSUCO or to privatize it. The reality is that GUYSUCO is sucking Guyana dry. How much longer will the taxpayers be forced to keep the insolvent sugar industry afloat? It beats the imagination as to why the government continues to pump billions of dollars into the sugar industry to save a few thousands of jobs while tens of thousands are struggling to put food on the table. Some say that the government is penny wise and pound foolish. Others have claimed that the government does not have the political will to act on any issue, not even on the audit reports that found many in the last administration culpable of corrupt practices and other illegal activities. It has not even published the Commission of Inquiry (COI) it commissioned on GUYSUCO. As reported in the media, GUYSUCO is $80 billion in debt and yet the government is hesitant on what to do with the industry. The COI has recommended that GUYSUCO be privatized and that the government should divest itself of all assets, activities and operations currently associated with GUYSUCO. The problem is that the government procrastinates on most issues. Since taking office, it has commissioned several COIs but has not heeded the advice of any of the recommendations. Lest we forget, the President had commissioned a COI into the death of the two brothers, Joshua and Antonio George, who perished in a fire at the government Drop-in-Centre on Hadfield Street, Lodge, last July. He had promised to discipline the Minister in charge if found negligent. Headed by retired GDF Colonel Windee Algernon, the COI found that officials from the top to the bottom were negligent and yet no one was disciplined as promised by the President. If the authority cannot make decisions on small issues, then how will it tackle the larger ones such as developing the economy, creating jobs, reducing unemployment, solving crime and improving the lives of the people. It is true that the government inherited an ailing GUYSUCO from the last government therefore, for Mr. Donald Ramotar to blame the government for the problems at GUYSUCO is complete dishonesty. It is also true that change is never easy and it is obvious that the sugar workers and their families will be affected by the changes needed at GUYSUCO. However, pumping billions of dollars into the insolvent sugar industry in order to gain votes is the equivalent of pouring water on the backs of ducks. Most sugar workers are hardcore supporters of the PPP. The government should use its scarce resources to improve health care, education, social services and the lives of the poor. Talking without follow-up with action is in itself a failure. Further, in regards to the sugar industry, the government gets what it deserves. In the first place, it was silly and perhaps downright foolish to place the same people who ran GUYSUCO into the ground at the helm to manage and turn it around. Many brilliant minds with plans to make GUYSUCO solvent were rejected by those in authority. Owing to past neglect by the former administration, GUYSUCO and the country have entered into a period of danger. The era of procrastination, of half measures, of baffling experiments and delays must end, or else the nation will enter into a period of consequences. After a year and a half in office, the socio-economic policies developed by the government, be they short term or long term have proved ineffective and have not yield much results.

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

The Government and UG cannot treat graduates like this Dear Editor; I read with interest, regarded with satisfaction interspersed with awe regarding the 50th convocation of the University of Guyana held at its Turkeyen campus. Amidst staff, special invitees and well-wishers 1628 students received their various certificates, degrees and diplomas, followed by a verbal repast of exhortations by the keynote speaker, Dr. Vincent Adams, representative of being among the first batch of students graduating from the University with a degree in Civil Engineering. In his address, the speaker urged the graduands to put their acquired skill, knowledge,

vision and innovation to good use by investing in the productivity and progress of their homeland. Ironically Dr. Adams is currently based in the U.S.A employed as a Field Manager by the U.S Department of Energy. Of further irony is the fact that the day previous to the graduation the newspaper and media carried reports about the plight of 23 trained Medex. Following graduation from the said University of Guyana, and in addition forced to undergo a completion date extended by one year; they were yet to be employed. Compounding their career demise is the fact that they had all signed contracts with the Guyana Government via the Ministry

of Public Health Service, under the assurance that they would be assigned to various health centres throughout the ten regions. Notably compounding the ongoing trauma of these unemployed professionals is their reported claim of an inability to reach the respective Ministers by telephone, due to the denial of an audience by the secretaries without at minimum proffering a rationale. Graduation speeches and the call to give back to your country and your alma mater, must be matched with visible action, otherwise it becomes mere rhetoric. In today’s world the Darwinian phrase “survival of the fittest” applies, and humans will seek avenues

that would best assure and maintain their survival, even if that avenue terminates at the portal of an iron bird. Even the divine entities are aware and know that Guyana cannot afford a further brain drain. Now that the government has irrigated the minds of these young people, then it behooves them to act responsibly in order to cultivate a receptive environment. Speaking in politically correct terms, I say” CREATE BEFORE THEY GRADUATE.” I am calling on both the government and the University authorities to ponder on the following: Growing Unemployment Yet Accepting New Admissions. Yvonne Sam

Security forces need to change their tactics and strategies Dear Editor; The Guyana Defence and Police Force need to change their tactics and strategies since current actions by both entities contribute to crime in our society. You take an individual, train him/her in combat which includes operating various types of deadly weapons and teach them to survive on the barest of necessities; (the GDF training is deadlier) then in most cases based on the slightest infraction you dismiss them from service - most times unmonitored. Most of these

individuals have no other skill but what you've trained them in and their options upon dismissal are as follows: A) become a gun for hire for a drug lord or a powerful politician; B) take a security post with a guard service where they can have legal access to weapons; or, C) join a gang or start one and commit crime to survive. And this is known. Even in cases where uniformed junior officers are caught committing a crime, the first thing

that's done is to dismiss the person and have them face the courts where usually it's a bailable offense or just a short stint in prison then released into society without any monitoring or assistance to be positive towards society. Even the recruiting system is terrible with little or no vetting, both psychological and background assessment. To the GDF and GPF: change your strategy! You are equally responsible for crime. Stan Gouveia

One of the WPA leaders accuses Government of reckless matter. Some of these just said Prime Minister, I frequency in which these negatives considerations I do not feel don’t know why the bill missteps are made indicates Dear Editor; It is ironic that on the same day when media houses, electronic and print were highlighting the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) statement, which lamented the foot dragging by the government on the deadlocked wages and salaries negotiations with the union, Guyanese were informed of the regime‘s decision to table in Parliament a bill to give a million plus dollars in pension benefits to former Mayor of Georgetown, Mr. Hamilton Green. In examining this issue, I begin by recognizing that there are a number of factors which may have impacted on the decision to resolve this

competent to address since I am not in a position to offer an informed comment on them. Therefore this letter is limited in its scope. However, I want to say that over the years throughout the 23 years of the PPP/C’s rule there have been acts of injustices committed by the regimes against long serving, dedicated and faithful Guyanese. It is in this context that Green’s pension package has to be seen. But he should not be singled out for special treatment. To t h e e x - M a y o r ’s credit, while welcoming the government’s decision he felt it necessary to pose the question – why is the bill restricted to him? Green said, “I thought the bill would have

should carry my name. The bill shouldn’t carry my name. The bill should say former Prime Ministers.” These utterances d e m o n s t r a t e d G r e e n ’s profound disappointment and sense of abuse. It is clear that the former Mayor felt embarrassed and he is justified in feeling so. These reckless negatives give the opposition PPP/C the ammunition they need to continue their relentless attacks on the APNU+AFC government. I can’t understand why the Cabinet would make such a controversial decision, particularly in light of its failure to reach an amicable agreement with the public servants and their representatives? S o m e t h i n g i s fundamentally wrong with the way the Cabinet does business. There seems to be no political discussions which inform these decisions. The

the existence of a “crisis” in the coalition’s governance culture. You don’t have to be a political scientist to know that it would have made more sense for the bill to apply to all former Prime Ministers. If the cabinet felt that doing so was putting too huge a burden on the public purse I will contend here that it would have been better to offer Mr. Green a one off payment. In closing I will posit that the present situation is p o l i t i c a l l y counterproductive, since it hurts the APNU+AFC coalition in the eyes of the public and it undermines the legitimacy of victims of the PPP/C regime for redress. In personalizing the bill in the way the government has done is a disservice to a long standing comrade. Politically the only winners in this ill-conceived endeavor are the opposition PPPC. Tacuma Ogunseye

Saturday November 19, 2016

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The TUC has elected its second 10 suggestions for GuySuco to save sons at Guyana School of load rate (stalking including) woman president in its history money Agriculture and University for the cutters. Then the bell DEAR EDITOR; The Guyana Trades Union Congress has concluded its 4th Triennial Delegates Conference under the Theme: “Labour Policies, a Prerequisite in Creating a Green Economy and the new executive has been elected for the new Triennial Year 2016 to 2019. The new President is Sis. Coretta Mc Donald, General Secretary of the Guyana Teachers Union. Sis. Coretta Mc Donald has been elected unopposed after the withdrawal of Bro. Norris Witter. Sis. Mc Donald is the second woman who has been given the privilege of being President of the GTUC coming after Sis. Gillan Burton who served for the period 2007 to 2010. She is also the second President coming from the Guyana Teachers’Union following in the footstep of Bro. Basil Blair former General Secretary of that Union who served for the period 1976 to 1980. Sis. Eslyn Harris General Secretary of the Guyana Postal and Telecommunication Workers Union has been elected unopposed to the strategic post of Principal Assistant Secretary. The full executives are: President Sis. Coretta Mc Donald – Guyana Teachers Union Vice President (7) 1) Agriculture including Sugar, Fishing and Forestry Bro. Vincent Bowman – National Union of Public Service Employees 2) Public Service & Local Government

Sis. Wendy De Cunha – Guyana Local Government Officers Union 3) Mining and Quarrying Sis. Odella Gravesande – Guyana Bauxite & General Workers Union 4) Factories, including Sawmilling, Manufacturing and Construction Bro. Pancham Singh – General Workers Union 5) Transportation & Communication Bro. Eon Andrews – United Minibus Association 6) Education e.g. Teaching Bro. Collis Nicholson – Guyana Teachers Union 7) Broad-based Commercial Undertakings Bro. Sherwood Clarke – Clerical & Commercial Workers Union Principal Assistant Secretary Sis. Eslyn Harris – Guyana Postal & Telecommunication Workers Union Assistant Secretaries Bro. Micha Williams – Peoples United & General Workers Union Bro. Patrick Singh – National Union of Public Service Employees Organizing Secretary Bro. Leslie Gonsalves – Guyana Bauxite &General Workers Union Assistant Organizing Secretary Sis. Venessa Phillips –

Printing Industry & Allied Workers Union Treasurer Sis. Kim Halley – Clerical & Commercial Workers Union Assistant Treasurer Bro. Leroy Levans – Union of Agricultural & Allied Workers Ordinary Members Bro. Norris Witter – General Workers Union Bro. Mark Lyte – Guyana Teachers Union The new members to the executives are: Sis. Wendy De Cunha – Guyana Local Government Officers Union, Bro. Collis Nicholson and Bro. Mark Lyte GTU, Sis. Odella Gravesandie – Guyana Bauxite & General Workers Union, Bro. Micha Williams, Peoples United & General Workers Union and Sis. Vanessa Phillips – Printing Industry and Allied Workers Union. The post of Organizing Secretary has gone to a season campaigner Bro. Leslie Gonsalves immediate Past President of the GTUC. The Conference has further taken decision that instruct the GTUC to embark on a programme of building the capacity of the Youth and Women Movement and embrace an Education programme that brings about members and public awareness as to the role and the necessity of the Trade Union. The issue of the Green Economy must be kept in focus since the movement believes that this can realize great gain for workers and the country as a whole. Lincoln Lewis General Secretary (TUC)

Protesting QC students shout; “Save based assessment healthy, wholesome food. The the plot.” school (SBA) activities such as land majority of people in the DEAR EDITOR; "Save the plot" was just one of the many things that the students of Queen's College said while protesting. The Ministry of Education began tearing down part of the agricultural science plot to build a multi complex canteen. Men came in trucks and started cutting down the trees with chainsaws and other equipment etc. For years now, the agricultural science students have used the plot for their

clearing. Food from a canteen that is right next to a chicken pen isn't hygienic or tasty at all. Chicken waste in food isn't delicious, but maybe the Ministry thinks that it is. Besides, cutting down trees isn't environmentally friendly. Agricultural science talks about the benefits of subsistence farming. In these modern times when people think of food they think of places such as "Dairy Queen, Pizza Hut etc." People do not think about fruits and vegetables, real,

United States of America are overweight simply because of the growing fast food industry. Children in America scorn the very sight of a carrot. The "McDonalds" fast food chain is known for trashing the Amazon rainforest for cheap fast food. This is the same thing happening here. The Ministry of Education apparently now wants students to do well at the "CSEC" examinations by ruining their SBAs. Save our plot! Nikhil Sankar (student)

DEAR EDITOR; I am a former worker with Guysuco and would like to contribute a few things that need to be done to keep this industry viable and prosperous. Presently Guysuco needs to concentrate on three main things (a) Agriculture Cane Production, (b) Processing – Factory and (c) Marketing. All other ‘frills’ needs to be downsized or cease operations altogether. I will touch on ten basic points. 1. All Health facilities must cease, this institution must be operated by the Government or be sold to private pharmacies. The Diagnostic Centre at Ogle and Rose Hall can be converted to bond Storage for the Government; it will bring in 50 Million monthly. 2. Guysuco Agriculture Research Unit (GARU) at LBI should cease operation and hand it over to NAREI and a subvention paid yearly to do things for Guysuco. 3. All staff at clubs including kitchen cooks should be diverted, let private individuals run these facilities. The rentals will help to keep the compound clean and tidyno more free lunches. 4. Stop all training for at least two years or until the company starts to grow and prosper. Port Mourant Training Centre has out lived its purpose for Guysuco. It should be run by the Government or be privatized. All per-

should pay their way. Guysuco needs to employ graduates from the Guyana School of Agriculture, Guyana Technical Institute and the University. All the trainers should find jobs within the Estate. The work standards have deteriorated both in factory and fields for the last twenty years. 5. All payments especially in the field should be done as per legitimate rate sheet. All custom and practice payment should cease. Some of these payments existed since the time of the mule, some have become obsolete, yet payments are made out up to this day. Payment should be made for work done. 6. Harvesting representatives should only come one day per week to do cane scale test. All other disputes should settle in the fields and payment for time spent in doing such representation. At the Estate location representatives are called in every Friday to discuss the new week’s work programme and paid for at average day’s work. 7. Senior staff at head office should be 10% of what is operating at the estates. This is a service department and the excessive should be made redundant or shift to Estate. 8. The Bell Loading rate needs to be urgently reclassified. Presently, we are paying 75% of the cut and

loaders with operators, staff and additional machinery will load the canes; it is costing another 65% of the cut and loading rate. In layman terms, it is costing 40% more for every ton of cane load by Bell Loaders. Mr. Sukhu and Mr. Earle John can look into this. Check what the rate was in 1948. In the 1970’s, it used to be 40% cut and the person who load the cane will be paid 60%. 9. All junior staff (with the exception of one estate) operates on a Monday – Friday work week. In an industry that operates seven days (Sunday – Sunday) especially when grinding, the work week for the staff should be five days (Monday –Saturday) inclusive. Presently, we are paying every person’s overtime for Saturday work. The GAWU field foreman agreement puts the work week from Monday to Saturday with one day off for staff. This clause is being overlook by Personnel Managers. 10. All the staff houses at Wales, Ogle and LBI with swimming pools should be converted to executive houses and it can bring in another 300 million annually. It would be good for tourism. The aforementioned can help to reduce the cost and generate needed revenue. It would be nice to know how much Guysuco got for the Ogle Airport. I. Tulsiram

Anil Nandlall points to another blunder by the Attorney-General DEAR EDITOR; In 2013, as Attorney General, I piloted a Bill through the National Assembly to publish the Official Gazette Online, and to give legal validity to the online version of the Official Gazette. This was an initiative which I included in the Modernization of the Justice System Project, which

was funded by the IADB. Two employees of the Ministry of Legal Affairs were identified by the Project Coordinator and sent oversees for training to implement and administer this initiative on a daily basis. When the Bill became law, the Official Gazette began to be published online every Friday evening. This

was made possible through a collaborative relationship which I established between National Printers Ltd and the Ministry of Legal Affairs. This initiative was deeply welcomed and appreciated both locally and internationally. At the click of a button persons, living all over the (Continued on page 6)

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Saturday November 19, 2016

Attorney says Charles Ramson’ letter is a comedy of errors DEAR EDITOR; Charles S. Ramson has written a letter (“President Granger accused of violation of sub judice principle” – KN, Sunday November 13). He has inveighed against, vilified, and ridiculed the President. He is Carvil Duncan’s Defence Attorney. The Presi-

dent had made some ex tempore comments/statement about “insufficiency of evidence” (SOE) and “presumption of innocence” (PoI) on a TV programme (“The Public Interest”). Opposition MP and former AG Anil Nandlall had publicly argued for the disbandment of the Duncan

tribunal. He initiated the debate and disputations. So; the SOE and PoI comment was fair comment on that matter of public interest. It is discreditable to take it out of that context. Ramson’s letter amounts to a comedy of errors. It contains imputations and innuendos of tyranny

The City Council is consulting stakeholders on its 2017 budget DEAREDITOR; The Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown is at its’ final stage of deliberating on what should be the scope and substance of the City’s Budget. A budget presentation brings with it optimism and expectancy on the part of the citizenry that the Council would fulfill its statutory obligations to the City. Likewise, the Council projects that rate payers would honor their civic obligations to the Municipality so that their hopes and expectations can be realized. Budgetary procedure requires that the Municipality consults with communities when setting its priorities, developing its plans and allocating resources. In honoring this requirement the Council was engaged in community consultations over a two months period in the City of Georgetown. These dual purpose consultations presented the opportunities for the residents to advance the interest of the various communities and to allow the Council to have an understanding of the felt needs of the communities. It is anticipated that the felt needs articulated by residents would help to inform and shape the Council’s 2017 budget. An analysis of the needs of the communities revealed that desilting and cleaning of drains and canals is a number one priority, followed by the need for street lights and the provision of environmental health services. The 2016 Community consultations re-emphasized the need for drainage works to be done in several communities

and the importance of a continuous cycle of maintenance. Further, all citizens must practice good environmental health habits, so that the City’s waterways and canals would be litter free. In summation drainage works is imperative to the integrity and health of the City. Although, the main interest expressed during the community outreaches was the need to maintain the integrity of the drainage system; the importance of the other core services cannot be de-emphasized. At the consultations the need and importance of street lights were widely vocalized; not only to provide illumination for residents but as a security mechanism. It therefore becomes necessary that the Georgetown City Council and the Guyana Power and Light come to a definite compromise and address the issue of street lighting in the City for the common good. The third area of priority was the need to urgently address environmental health concerns. This points to the fact that the Council must have the requisite human resources to provide the environmental health services to the people of the City. Over the years, there has been a manpower shortage in this area. The deficits resulted in some residents violating the environmental health laws with impunity; much to the concern of others. Currently, the Council is working to address this; hence, in 2017 the provision of environmental health services would be

increased. All in all, City Dwellers have clearly articulated their needs, and those needs would be translated into budgetary allocations for 2017. In 2016, the Council focused on the cleaning and desilting of drains, the rehabilitation of Municipal Buildings and restoration of play areas and training staff. Also, for the period 2015-2016, the Council had embarked on a relentless cleaning drive in several communities across the City. The Municipality utilized the community stakeholder model, which provided an opportunity for residents of local communities to be employed, simultaneously evoking a sense of pride and commitment to the local communities. The fact remains that it would take the Municipality approximately 3 billion dollars annually to provide core services needed. The truism is, the rates collected are inadequate to meet the demands of a city that is moving towards urban renewal. Hence, it is urgent that the Council finds other revenue earning avenues to sustain its services and remain economically viable. The challenge the Council faces time and again, is that every time the Georgetown Municipality seeks to employ a new revenue earning venture there is wide spread criticisms. The time has come that we all must all confront the realities before us; general rates can no longer suffice, in light of the fact that the Council has not increased property rates for over twenty years. Debra Lewis Public Relation Officer

and abuse of power. Imputations and innuendoes of that type cannot be left unanswered. They are pernicious. Ramson has ignored and/or disregarded the Constitution. What then, is the constitutional truth? I hold no brief for President Granger. I demur out of public interest. First, error 1 – his failure to appreciate the necessity of, and articulate some interpretation of the Constitution as he impugns acts or omissions done under constitutional authority. In this matter that authority is essentially article 225. Ramson writes and inveighs with misguided obsession about the PoI; but not once is any mention made of article 225, which has no relation to PoI. It is not rocket science that to arrive at or know constitutional truth, necessarily requires an interpretation of the Constitution (article 225), I maintain as irrefutable earlier arguments and proposition on this aspect. (see KN, Sunday November 13 under the caption – “An Attorney says Anil Nandlall misread the Constitution” and SN 11th November, under the caption – “Nandlall has stretched the wording of article 225 of the Constitution) Mr. Ramson writes and inveighs as if article 225 is but a mirage, and does not exist at all. So he makes no effort to relate his arguments to the constitution’s wording thereby showing how “insouciant abuse of power” and non adherence to “separation of power” principle and questions about the tribunal’s “impartiality or its ability to come to an impartial outcome….” has happened, or, is likely to

happen. Imagine his disregard of the clear wording of article 225 that the tribunal’s members are “selected” by the Judicial Service Commission, and the President can only appoint as tribunal members those persons selected by the Judicial Service Commission (an autonomous body not subject to the direction or control of the President/Prime Minister or anyone else (article 226)). It is this callous disregard for clear constitutional prescriptions that underpins his error. By what constitutional logic can the President’s statement about SOE and PoI threaten or undermine the impartiality of such a tribunal as conceived by article 225? Having by article 225(4)(a) (consistently with article 144(8) requirement of independence and impartiality of the tribunal) effectively disabled the President from appointing persons in his own deliberate judgment by making it his constitutional duty to appoint only and exclusively those selected by the Judicial Service Commission, and moreover limiting the selection to persons who are sitting judges or constitutionally eligible for appointment as a judge, it is hardly plausible, and, plainly incongruous that the draftsman had contemporaneously vested the President with some latent constitutional capacity to cause the tribunal not to act with impartiality. (here I am endeavouring an interpretation of the formula in article 225(4)(a)). On his argument, notwithstanding the insulation of the tribunal members from presi-

dential influence contrived by article 225(4) (a), such insulation yet, enables the President to cause the tribunal not to act with impartiality. The law (which sometimes can be an ass) cannot be so asinine as that! We are in the sphere of constitutional law. We take the Constitution as it is. We cannot subject it to distortions, in its operationality, based on political angst. Nor is it, as if the tribunal would be concerned with a PoI point/issue. Second, error 2 – the view (with which both Attorneys Nandlall and Ramson appears to be obsessively fixated) that Magistrate Daly’s dismissal of the fraud charge against Mr. Duncan somehow means in law that no civil or constitutional action is competent or maintainable against him, has no support in case law, and ignores and misapprehends the fundamental distinction in our jurisprudence between criminal trials (on the one hand) and civil proceedings (on the other). It is this fundamental distinction that the draftsman in article 225 has recognized and embraced by limiting the Prime Minister’s, President’s and tribunal’s powers to “misbehavior” – which in its constitutional context is a tort (i,e. a civil wrong); not a criminal offence. And that is why article 225(5) makes the Commission of Inquiry Act, (COIA) applicable, of course the extent that it is not inconsistent with the Constitution. Maxwell Edwards Attorney-at-Law Editor ’s note; Mr. Edwards’s letter will conclude in our Sunday edition

Anil Nandlall points to another... From page 5 world were able to access, weekly, the important information published in the Official Gazette. More particularly, it offered property owners who are oversees, an opportunity to see whether their proper-

ties in Guyana are being fraudulently sold, or whether persons are applying for prescriptive title in relation to the same. Every conveyance of immovable property and a notice of every application for title by prescription are required by law to be published in the Official Gazette. A great volume of other important information is also published in the Official Gazette. The two staff trained to

administer this system, have both been politically and/ethnically cleansed from the Ministry, over the last few months. For several weeks now, there has been no publication of the Official Gazette Online. This is absolutely unacceptable. The Attorney General is answerable. This is another blundering act of incompetence. Mohabir Anil Nandlall

Saturday November 19, 2016

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Ituni gets ambulance

RUSAL to create Welfare Committee for workers …Unions call move a control mechanism

Inside of the ambulance The Ministry of Social Cohesion in collaboration with Managing Director, Harri Persaud Ramsewak, of Trans Pacific Motor Spares and Auto Sales presented the small community of Ituni, with a fully equipped modernized ambulance. Ituni is located 36 miles east of Linden. Minister of Social Cohesion, Amna Ally, travelled from Georgetown on Thursday, last, to Ituni for the presentation of the ambulance to the Region Ten Chairman, Rennis Morian who then handed it over to the community. The community is very pleased to finally have their own ambulance, a member of the village said that they have

been on the receiving end of “hand me down” ambulances from other communities for quite some time now. Another resident stated, “The cry of the community is finally answered after many years”. Minister Ally promised the community that they have a lot more things in store for the development of the community. Among other attendees at the presentation was a small group of persons from the community, and professional nursing students from the Georgetown School of Nursing. The community will fully utilise the ambulance because many times there are serious injuries and patients would need to be transported to Linden for medical attention, also

there can be complications with pregnant women who would need to be transported. The ambulance provides comfortable and medical supplies in the case of such incidents. Many times residents in the area would have to use their private vehicles to transport patients to Linden to seek immediate medical attention. The community is relieved to have their personal ambulance and is very grateful for being considered in this generous offer.

The Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc. (BCGI) managed by the Russian Aluminium Company (RUSAL) announced that it intends to establish a “Workers’ Social Welfare Committee” from among the non-management workforce. According to the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GB&GWU) who received a memo of the company’s announcement, the ‘Welfare Committee’ is expected to address workers socio-economic issues and serve as the avenue through which workers can relay information to the management of BCGI. The Union believes that this move comes as a result of the company coming to terms with the reality that they must think of a different method of exercising dictatorial control. According to the GB&GWU, “The missive from the Russian management of BCGI goes as far as determining the exact numbers that will comprise the Welfare Committee and instructs that ‘its terms of reference and mode of operations will be made known to all employees’, evidently without any prior consultation on the aforementioned terms of reference.”

The decision by the company to establish this union does not come as a surprise to the Union since it highlighted in an issued statement yesterday that this sort of move is common to enterprises which are hostile to worker welfare and interests. “Such committees, apart from being remote control mechanisms designed to keep workers in line are also reflective of a flagrant disregard for trade unions and for the constitutionally guaranteed right of workers to freedom of association.” Based on the union’s examination of the situation, the Committee is intended to completely isolate the workers from their chosen trade union, which is the GB&GWU. According to the Union, it expects the workers of BCGI will unanimously reject this development, describing it as an insidious control mechanism. This move by BCGI/ RUSAL comes a day after it would have refused to attend a meeting organised by the

Ministry of Social Protection on Wednesday to discuss outstanding labour related matters with the Union. Addressing the absence, Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection with responsibility for Labour, Keith Scott, said that his ministry viewed RUSAL’s absence with concern as it was an act which lacked respect. He said, “We wish to let it be known of our extreme anger at the behaviour of RUSAL towards us. We will not accept that.” Representative of the GB&GWU, Lincoln Lewis, said that he was not surprised at RUSAL’s refusal to show at the meeting. He said the issue has reached a point where the sovereignty of the state is being challenged. “When the ministers can write the company and invite them to a meeting with the recognised union and they decide that they are not going to come, they have constantly decided that they are not going to talk to the ministry in the presence of the union.”

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Saturday November 19, 2016

Nagamootoo takes ‘responsibility’ for state of GNBA Despite the fact that he allowed the situation to fester for months before intervening, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo is claiming that he did all he could to deal with the discord that plagued the Board of the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA). Nevertheless, he said that he is willing to take “political responsibility” for the “issues” facing the Board. Nagamootoo was at Alliance For Change (AFC) press conference yesterday. At that forum, the Prime Minister was asked if he was willing to share responsibility for the unproductivity of the GNBA as well as the discord that he allowed to fester. He said that it was a difficult question to answer, yet he attempted to do so. The Prime Minister said that he had summoned the Board to a meeting where he was made aware “of the nature of the disputation.” Nagamootoo said that he tried to address the situation

Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo and “at the end of the meeting the two disputants shook hands and pledged to work

for the good of the authority and the country.” He continued, “So it cannot be said that

I did not make an intervention to see that relationships are smoothed over.” However, Nagamootoo said that the problems at GNBA were more than the interpersonal wrangling. He said that the outstanding issues that GNBA is faced with correcting are “perhaps” what is causing the problems. “It is not so much the personality. The issue is whether you should have everyone’s license rescinded and everyone should reapply all over again and applications reassessed in terms of the standards prescribed by regulations. That is the problem.” Nagamootoo, addressing questions by Directors of GNBA as to his Authority, said, “I have seen in sections of the report, some elements on the Board saying that the Minister has no right to recommend regulations.” He said, however, that the law states that it is the responsible Minister that has the power to pioneer any proposed amendment to the law or the implementation of new regulations. He admitted though, that “in this instance, I had not initiated the process of regulations.” He said that he was the one who told the Board that the best way to address the radio stations that are operating on licences granted under questionable circumstances was to formulate new regulations.

“The way to go is to allow everyone to apply in accordance with the new standards…I told them to draft the regulations, send them to me and we will talk about it.” He said that he reviewed several drafts of the regulations and was working with the Authority in this regard. After chronicling the efforts he made, Nagamootoo said, “Do I assume responsibility for anything that went wrong? Yes. As the Minister assigned responsibility I assume political responsibility for what happened. But as to whether I could have done anything otherwise than what I did to bring the parties together and they shook hands etc, I am not aware.” Nagamootoo said that the law has certain provisions that speak to the life of the Board, “so I couldn’t have taken measures to say I did not like what you did so I am knocking you off. I cannot do that unless (the reason) satisfy the requirement of the law which says there are certain specific things you have to do in order to be discharged from the Board.” Nagamootoo did not mention the fact that GNBA Director, Anthony Vieira, who was one of the main characters in the feud, had offered his resignation. But this was not accepted. Nagamootoo told the media that now that the Inquiry has been completed he has

the opportunity to look at all the issues affecting the work of the Board and “if we believe the problems encountered by the Board are impeding the functions of the Board then judge me whether or not I will take certain actions.” Nagamootoo said that he will soon be circulating the report of the Board of Inquiry to GNBA Board Members and the CEO. He said also that he will circulate it to the media. The Board of Inquiry has recommended the dismissal of GNBA Board Chairman, Leonard Craig. It has been found that Craig impugned the characters of two other Board Members, Anthony Vieira and Vic Insanally. It was also said that Craig stood in the way of the execution of measures to address the illegal radio licences granted by former President Bharrat Jagdeo. It has been reported that Craig resigned from the Board and went to China to pursue a Doctorate. However, yesterday Nagamootoo said that he did not receive a resignation from Craig. He said however that he will soon have to meet with the Board of GNBA to discuss the recommendations of the Inquiry and to the filling of the vacancy. Nagamootoo said that the report has brought out “very significant shortcomings in this important Authority that has critical functions to perform.”

Friday November 19, 2016

PAGE 9

Kaieteur News

The use of chemicals in water There are still poor people in Guyana who drink pipe water. This may surprise many folks who use bottled or filtered water. But it is true that large numbers of persons still use water from the mains. The majority of Guyanese use tap water to wash their clothes. The majority of Guyanese use water from taps to cook their food.

It is therefore of concern to more than half of the population whether the Guyana Water Inc. used a chemical, antinfex, which is not approved by the Food and Drugs Department. The fact that a chemical is not approved does not mean that it is not healthy. But once it is not approved it should not be used. The two issues

at the centre of the controversy between the Guyana Water Inc and the Government Analyst Food and Drugs Department need to be separated. On the one hand, there needs to be a determination as to whether an unapproved chemical was used. If the chemical was not approved for use in Guyana by

West Berbice canecutter remanded for raping grandmother The man who during the wee hours of Monday morning brutally raped a 65year-old home-alone grandmother has been remanded to jail. The man Marino Cobis, 37, a cane cutter of Lot 5 No 3 Settlement, West Bank Berbice, appeared on Friday before Magistrate Rhondell Weaver in the Fort Wellington Court. The case for the prosecution as presented by Corporal Rochelle Mars is that around 01:00 hrs on Monday

the woman was at home when Cobis armed with a knife entered her home and raped her. It was reported that during the n i g h t , t h e accused, armed with a long knife, made his way o v e r t o t h e w o m a n ’s house where he removed a few louver panes before squeezing himself into the house. Whilst there, he proceeded to put the knife to the woman’s neck and sexually assaulted her before

making his escape. The woman’s subsequent cries attracted neighbours, who called the police. The lawmen responded promptly and the suspect was arrested at his home and taken into custody. The woman was taken to the hospital where she was medically examined, treated and sent away. A file was prepared and sent to the DDP where it was advised that he be charged. He was remanded to jail until November 29.

Dem boys seh...

One engineer run from de Waterfall boss man If is one thing that people got to look out for is dem engineer who does supervise government contracts. If de government building a village road it got to get an engineer to determine how much sand, how much stone and how much bitumen de contractor got to use. When dem boys see de road break up in a few weeks dem never blame de contractor. Dem know that de engineer was into racket wid de government. Dem see how things use to work. People get extra pay even before dem do any wuk and dem who wuk do a lick and a promise. Before you know it, de road break down. That is why when dem bys hear bout de engineer name Shemroy dem had to check to see how he passing work. He is de man who got to check wha de contractor do and agree top payment. Dem boys seh that he pass a wuk that de contractor didn’t even do. Now dem got de Auditor General writing how much money de government pay out and who get over pay.

Dem boys see this overseer wukking in Nandy Park. At last de powers that be decide to fix de road. Wid Shemroy supervising dem boys know that laugh deh. So said, so done. Shemroy tun up to de job one day. He see a house and he ask who live deh because in front of this house was de wuss road. Dem boys still looking fuh him. From de time he hear is de Waterfalls boss man house, he lef de street. He supervising by remote control. Dem boys also watching how all of a sudden business getting split in black business and coolie business and Chinee business. Shemroy belong to one of dem business. He business is to mek a dollar even if de job ain’t got money. Business is a thing that can only do one way. That is why de Georgetown Chamber got everybody. Now dem boys hearing bout another chamber. It mek dem remember a bank that was suppose to be a black people bank. Talk half and watch out fuh smart people.

the relevant authority, then it needs to be determined who imported the chemical and how an import license was approved for its importation. If on the other hand the chemical was approved for use in Guyana, then we have to move on to the second issue which is safety. Is the chemical safe for use in Guyana? The fact that it may have been approved does not mean that it is safe for use in water. We are being assured, however, that the main ingredient in antinfex is used for sanitation in the health industry. This does not mean that it can be used as anti-bacterial agent in Guyana. There still needs to be a determination as to its safety. As mentioned before, the public is concerned because many people drink water from the taps; they use this water to wash their clothes and to cook their food. They brush their teeth and bathe with this water. They want to be assured that no unsafe chemi-

cals were used in the treatment of water. This is all people want. They are not too concerned with who is right and who is wrong. In Guyana too much time is wasted trying to prove who is right and who is wrong. We should be more interested in looking at safety and security rather than right and wrong. They have persons in this country who have not seen a Church door in five to ten years, yet they are moralizing about some sex tape and images which is no concern of theirs. There are more important issues to be addressed in Guyana and one of those issues is about how contentious issues should be settled. There is a contention about the use of antinfex in Guyana. But it seems as if the issue is being turned into an issue over individuals rather than addressing the substantive issues. The government should appoint a one-man commis-

sion to investigate whether antinfex was approved for use in Guyana and for what uses it was approved. The investigation should also examine whether it is safe for antinfex to be used for the purification of water. The investigation should go on to determine to what extent it was used. It should examine whether the necessary procedures were adhered to as regards the importation of the chemical. There is no need to bring any military veteran out of retirement to undertake this investigation. It can be done by any senior bureaucrat. It will help answer a lot of questions and allay a lot of fears because right now persons are afraid to use the water which comes through the taps and this cannot be good for Guyana

PAGE 10

Kaieteur News

Friday November 19, 2016

=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===

The PPP dinosaurs are silly to think they can have a Trump-like opportunity The PPP leadership is so narcissistic that one doesn’t know if it is a psychological condition that prevents the PPP dinosaurs from seeing reality or those in the party are morbidly barefaced. We start with Anil Nandlall. He wrote a justification of Pradoville 2 and the fictions are so corrugated that they read like a book of badly written fiction. Nandlall says the transmission tower situated in the heart of Pradovile 2 was removed because it was in the flight path of planes going to Ogle. That is misleading to put it mildly. Just a few blocks away from Pradoville 2 in the community ground of Sparendaam, a transmission tower higher than the one that was removed was going up there to facilitate the e-governance cable. It was the protests of the people of Sparendaam and Plaisance, including a PPP supporter, attorney Bernard De Santos that caused the tower to go elsewhere. A high tower in Sparendaam then does not lie in the path of

oncoming planes landing at Ogle. The transmission tower was removed to make way for Pradoville 2 and the cost of its removal makes Pradoville 2 a criminal violation. Nandlall went on to say that the most obnoxious fiction; the price of the Pradoville land was similar to those offered by the State’s housing scheme programmes. No housing scheme project has a quarter of an acre allocation much less a half acre much less an acre. Any Guyanese can see that by just a cursory glance at any of the public housing schemes, be it in Pradoville One, Eccles, La Parfaite Harmonie etc. I live in one of the State’s housing projects (I bought the land from someone who sold his) and no owner in my compound has a quarter acre. Nandlall went on to mention prices similar to Pradoville 2 sold to housing developers. The key word here is “housing developers.” A housing developer had to landscape the plots and expend money on infrastructure. The developer then

builds houses for people to live buy. Pradoville 2 did not come within such a category. But here is the part that Nandlall left out and which cries out for prosecution. There was no application process. State lands were parceled out into house lots to PPP leaders who all had house lots from previous State projects. The PPP leadership called its friends and offered them plots, for example, a close relative of then Minister Nanda Gopaul. What Nandlall did is what all PPP leaders have set out to do – to avoid being exposed as corrupt, undemocratic villains who abused power under Jagdeo and Ramotar, we will deny wrongdoing and as part of our strategy we will put the blame on the new government for many things that are going wrong. So, in steps Donald Ramotar and accused an 18month-old government for the imminent collapse of the sugar industry. So under the PPP the sugar industry was thriving and in just 18

months, the Coalition destroyed it. The difference with Nandlall and Ramotar is that Nandlall could spin because he is a competent lawyer. Ramotar cannot even explain himself properly so his spin is bound to make his writings unappealing. The PPP has planned a grand strategy to get back in power. This strategy rests on three fulcrums. Do not touch even with a mere paragraph, the violations that occurred under the PPP cabals. So there will be no discussion of how dysfunctional UG, the Georgetown Public Hospital, the GRA, the GPL etc became under the PPP. The

second salvo is to accuse the APNU+AFC government itself of the cause of these falling institutions. The third stratagem is to go to the people of Guyana, not only the PPP constituencies and paint a picture of the decline of the livelihood of the masses. What the PPP is trying to do is to birth a Trump like situation. But it cannot work because Trump never performed in government so he came with no baggage and could not have been accused of failing the working classes. The PPP cannot appeal to the raw instincts and emotions of the masses like Trump did because the nation has

Frederick Kissoon memories of the PPP cabals destroying the country and stealing the country’s assets. Trump told the American poor to give him a chance to run the government so he can create a future for them. The PPP cannot repeat that mantra. People will chase them. No American came up to Trump and told him he was a non-performing president. People would have told Donald Ramotar those exact words and lots more nasty things.

Woman remanded for trafficking minor Carmelitta Thorman appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Magistrate Ann McLennan, on Friday, to answer to the charge of engaging in trafficking in persons. It is alleged that between June 1 and July 30, last, at Omai, Region Seven, she recruited, transported, transferred and harboured a minor for the purpose of sexual exploitation. The 33-year-old, who was

unrepresented by counsel, pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to her. This matter was held incamera due to the virtual complainant being under age. As Thorman was being escorted out of the courtroom by a police rank she wept uncontrollably. She was remanded to prison and will make her next court appearance on November 24.

REMANDED Carmelita Thorman

Saturday November 19, 2016

PAGE 11

Kaieteur News

Forty women graduate from self-reliance workshop

Linden Mayor, Carwyn Holland, and other regional officials at the ceremony

First Lady Sandra Granger presenting a participant with her certificate The Self Reliance and Success workshop held at the Linden Enterprise Network over the past five days, yesterday culminated with the 40 participants receiving certificates. These certificates would be recognized by the Ministry of Business and micro institutions. The Workshop was funded by the Ministry of Social Protection. It was the second such workshop to be held in Linden. Guyana’s First Lady Sandra Granger, was on hand

for both its commencement on Monday and culmination yesterday. Mrs. Granger applauded the women for their participation and handed out certificates. She was also presented with tokens of appreciation from the proud participants. The “Self Reliance and Success in Business” workshops were first rolled out last year under the auspices of the Office of the First Lady. Participants were drawn from communities such as

Prosville, Amelia’s Ward, Kara Kara, West Watooka, Christianburg, Sibirien and Blue Berry Hill among others. One vendor, Emelda, said that the workshop has helped her greatly. “I learnt a lot of things, including the six p’s of business, because I used to wonder why my business was just going and coming, but now with the new things I have learnt, like customer service and so on. I feel empowered to go forward. The workshop was very goodvery edifying. “I can say to other women to look out for this programme when it comes to your community so that you can empower yourself through self

reliance.” Merle Bourne-Niles, a nail technician, said that the Workshop was very educational as it taught her the importance of bookkeeping among other things. “My experience with the workshop is very wide. I have learnt so much to take my business to the next level. I have learnt to do book keeping, to legalize my business and make it more reachable for customers.” Mayor Carwyn Holland said that the workshop was a great initiative. “Today we have a group of forty women being empowered and they are moving forward confidently.

Forty women being empowered to me, are 40 families being empowered, and 40 families being empowered means that you have so many persons who will be empowered in Linden. This is a great initiative- it is embracing sociology of enterprise and I believe that is one thing that will move this Town forward, where persons can move on

with an enterprising mindset instead of sitting at home waiting for an answer to a job application. Persons will become more entrepreneurial and business oriented.” Holland pointed to the difference in attitude that was displayed by the women upon completion of the workshop compared to when they (Continued on page 23)

PAGE 12

Accountant named as new GPL director, Ramalho resigns Cabinet has given its no objection for Kester Da Costa to replace Leslie Romalho on the board of directors for the Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL). This was revealed to the media on Thursday by Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, at the postCabinet media briefing at the Ministry of the Presidency. Minister Trotman explained that earlier in the year, Cabinet approved a board of directors for GPL with its chairman being businessman, Robert Badal. The other members were Denise Simmons, Leslie Ramalho, Abiola Wong-Innis, Morsha Johnson-Francis, Tara Singh, and Dr. Mahender Sharma. Trotman said that Romalho, the Managing Director of Noble House Seafoods, has requested to be relieved of his position given the challenges and responsibilities at the seafood

Saturday November 19, 2016

Kaieteur News

Accountant, Kester Da Costa company. His responsibilities cover both Guyana and Suriname, Minister Trotman explained. “As a result, Cabinet considered that there is no objection to Kester Da Costa becoming a member of

the board and to replace Romalho.” From Akawini Mission, Pomeroon, Da Costa is said to have significant experience in the experience in the accounting field. Other members of the GPL board are representatives from the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), and the Private Sector Commission (PSC). The Parliamentary Opposition PPP/C is yet to name a representative. GPL, the state-owned electricity company, reportedly has over 170,000 customers and is charged with providing electricity to citizens. It has been under pressure to improve losses from theft and technical issues and which accounts for almost 30 percent of what the company has been producing. Government has been paying a close eye to the entity amidst growing pressure to improve the fortunes of the company.

Bartica massacre gunman sentenced to 420 years Clebert Reece, one of the men who pleaded guilty to killing 12 persons at Bartica has been sentenced to 420 years - 35 years on each count of manslaughter. Reece was originally charged with 12 counts of murder. He pleaded guilty to the lesser offence when he appeared before Justice Roxanne George, earlier this month. He had offered to plead guilty to manslaughter. Reece, 39, of Berbice reappeared before the Judge yesterday for sentencing after a probation report was presented to the court on his behalf. The report outlined that while Reece grew up in a quiet rural community, his socioeconomic circumstances might have been the main contributory factor that led to a life of crime. He was said to have been influenced early on by his cousin who was involved in such activities. After the probation report to the court, Judge George originally sentenced Reece to 65 years but time was deducted from the sentence for a number of mitigating factors. Justice George deducted 10 years for the guilty plea; 12 years for the mitigating factors and eight years for the time Reece spent in prison pending the High Court trial. The convict was therefore sentenced to 35 years on each charge. However, she ordered that the sentence run concurrently hence Reece will only serve 35 years in the prison. According to the court’s ruling he would not be eligible for parole until he has served 30 years behind bars. A teary eyed Reece was escorted back to prison where the word is that his life is under threat. The convict

SENTENCED: Clebert Reece was implicated in the February 17, 2008 killings at Bartica. He was among five men charged for the offence. According to reports at approximately 21:40 hours some 20 gunmen attacked Bartica, slaughtering one dozen people, including three policemen, during an hourlong strafing. It was reported that the gunmen attacked the police station first, killing the policemen and freeing prisoners. They then took the vehicle assigned to the police station and went on a rampage, terrorising the community and murdering nine others. According to reports, the gunmen arrived in the area by boat and departed in similar fashion taking with them firearms they had grabbed from the police station and from a mining company. Earlier this month, Reece and his co-accused Michael Caesar, pleaded guilty to 12 counts of manslaughter before the same judge. Given their guilty pleas, the state is now left to prosecute Mark Royden Williams

called Durant and Smallie; Dennis Williams, called Anaconda; and Roger Anthony Simon, called Goat Man. In her opening address, State Prosecutor Diana Kaulesar told the court that on the day of the massacre, Reece was forcefully recruited by one “Sad Man”. She said that it was because “Sad Man” phoned Reece and threatened to kill his family that he went into a car at East La Penitence with four men. The driver of the vehicle, she said, had a handgun, while the other men had AK47 weapons. Kaulesar further told the court that the car took Reece to the Parika Bus Park, just off the Stabroek Market, where he met two men, with whom he travelled to Parika by bus. The series of events is said to have led up to Bartica. After their arrival, the men were said to have attacked the Bartica Police Station, where they killed Lance Corporal Zaheer Zakir, Constable Shane Fredericks and Constable Ron Osborne. After murdering the three police officers, the gang stole cash, arms, ammunition and a vehicle from the police station. Using the stolen police vehicle, they drove through the streets of Bartica shooting at civilians, fatally wounding Irwin Gilkes. They then proceeded to CBR Mining, where they killed Irving Ferreira, stole arms and ammunition, and removed two safes containing cash and gold. Next, they shot and killed Dexter Adrian before returning to the wharf. At the wharf, they executed Abdool Yassin Jr, Deonarine Singh, Errol Thomas, Ronald Gomes, Baldeo Singh and Ashraf Khan. After their one-hour rampage, the gunmen departed Bartica by boat.

Saturday November 19, 2016

PAGE 21

Kaieteur News

CARICOM states losing millions Rowley: Scandalous spending due to bad agricultural practices under People’s Partnership ‘They can’t be trusted’

…to enrich its friends

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley during the PNM’s public meeting in Cocoyea on Wednesday in the run up to the 2016 Local Government Elections (Trinidad Guardian) Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has made a startling revelation of scandalous and wasteful spending amounting to millions of dollars by the former People’s Partnership administration to enrich its friends. The allegations include a whopping $350,000 roti bill for a Divali function at the PM’s official residence, $47,000 for monthly pool maintenance and unwarranted spending on a water contract for the residence and the building of box drains. The PM made the claims during a Local Government elections meeting in San Fernando on Tuesday night as he discredited Opposition Leader Kamla PersadBissessar’s rant about contracts being awarded to the wives of Government ministers. He said while they were trying to tarnish the PNM’s name, they were guilty of wanton spending and proceeded to tell “stories” based on documentary evidence and first-hand accounts from people who operated with her administration. He referred to the unprecedented method of awarding a contract to build the stalled and controversial Point Fortin Highway from San Fernando to Point Fortin, the awarding of $1 billion to the preferred contractor prior to its start and the changing of clauses in the contract on the eve of last year’s general election to protect the contractor when its parent company went bankrupt. With reference to functions hosted at the PM’s residence, Rowley noted that over $1.6 million was spent on a Divali function, with records showing $350,000 of that figure being spent on roti alone. He added: “She waving a paper that she has proof that

(Energy Minister) Frankie Khan’s wife got a contract and was paid for it. This senior counsel can’t see if you get a contract and you did the work you ought to be paid. “I want you to wave your receipt for the contract for the roti... $350,000 in roti for one Divali function at the PM’s residence.” He said: “Look at this crowd here tonight. If I give every one of you two roti, I can’t spend that kind of money, but they want to go back in office. When you have money you do things like that but trust me, you don’t want to go back there.” As the crowd lapped up the stories, Rowley spoke about a water problem at the official residence since he moved in nine months ago, because “somebody under the last regime cement the valve close to the PM’s residence so as to generate an opportunity for a contract for someone to supply water to the PM’s residence.” Rowley said he called in the Water and Sewage Authority to determine why there was no water in the system “and all WASA had to do was break the concrete, open the valve and we have had water flowing ever since.” He also told a tale of how Cabinet colleague, Stuart Young, wanted to give up his ministerial salary to maintain the pool at the residence, after learning someone was being paid $47,000 a month for its maintenance. He said the contractor maintaining the pool was fired and under his tenure the same pool is now being maintained at $15,000. Alluding to corruption in the last administration, he spoke about a man who was introduced to him “as so and so who thief so and so

money,” during a walkabout in Claxton Bay prior to the last general election. Rowley said the man denied he stole but admitted to taking a “lift” (a hand in all fours) from the Government official he used to pick up money for which he used to build a mansion equipped with a pool. “He took the lift and the man fire him. He lost the work but he kept the lift and he got a house and a pool from one lift. That eh no joke, was told to me by the man. That is where money was going in this country,” he surmised. Pointing out to the audience that the PP was known as the box-drain government, Rowley related a story told to him by a Port-of-Spain businessman about one of his employees and son, who were also able to build a mansion and purchase several high-end vehicles from building box drains. He said the businessman initially thought the man and his son were milking his company dry, only to realise their wealth was being acquired from box-drain contracts in which a cut was given to corrupt officials. “This eh no nancy story, the Port-of-Spain businessman was relieved that the money (used to acquire the wealth) was not leaking from his company, it was leaking from the Treasury of Trinidad and Tobago,” he added.

ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada (CMC) – The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) says Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member states are losing millions through poor pre and post agricultural practices. Addressing the second regional dialogue on Prevention and Reduction of losses and waste in Latin America and the Caribbean, here on Thursday, Katherine Baldwin, of the FAO’s Statistics division said although limited, data on post harvest food losses from some CARICOM member states indicate that losses can range

between 25 per cent and 55 per cent in commodities such as cassava and tomatoes at times up to 100 per cent for pumpkin exports. Majeed Mohammed, one of the consultants, told the participants from the Caribbean and Latin America that based on research, the five critical loss points were identified as Agricultural Production; Post harvest handling and storage; Processing; Distribution and Consumption. FAO consultant, Catalina Giraldo said in Latin America and the Caribbean, the single largest proportion of the food loss occurs in the production

and consumer segments of the food supply chain. According to the FAO, food waste refers to the discarding or non-use of food that was fit for human consumption by choice or neglect. The first regional dialogue was held in the Dominican Republic in 2015 with this dialogue being the second, held in collaboration with the island National Authority for the Zero Hunger Challenge Initiative. This is an initiative, which aims to achieve goal number 12 of the Sustainable Development Goal that is to reduce hunger and reduce food waste by half by the year 2030.

Jamaica cops highest ranking in int’l aviation standards in the C’ bean KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC) – Jamaica has achieved the highest ranking for implementing international civil aviation standards, in the English-speaking Caribbean. The result from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Validation Mission in June 2016 indicated an effective implementation of international standards at 82.38 per cent. This was disclosed by Director General of the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority (JCAA), Nari Williams-Singh, at the official opening of the new air traffic control tower at the Norman Manley International Airport (NMIA) earlier this week. “The significance of this

achievement is even more evident, considering that the global average is currently at 63 per cent and that of the North American, Central American and Caribbean region is 69 per cent,” he explained. According to Williams-Singh, Jamaica’s compliance through the JCAA has been on an upward trajectory, having achieved 54 per cent in a 2007 ICAO audit and 67 per cent in a 2012 follow-up Validation Mission. He said further confirms Jamaica’s status as a leader in civil aviation administration, adding that the JCAA is committed to maintaining its status as a leader in the region and to be on the cutting edge at all times. “We are also committed to

working with our partners to improve, innovate and continuously adopt new and more effective solutions, while never compromising or dropping our guard when it comes to aviation safety, security and reliability.” Williams-Singh said the new tower conforms to and performs in accordance with the international standards of reliability, safety and operations, which are required for air-navigation systems across the world. The NMIA Air Traffic Control Tower was successfully commissioned following the transfer of operations to the new tower in October 2016, after a period of parallel operations with the old tower to facilitate a smooth transition.

Jamaica committed to UN Framework Convention on Climate Change

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Prime Minister Andrew Holness has affirmed the country’s commitment to halt, and even reverse the adverse effects on climate change. Jamaica’s firm position comes as the country supports the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Speaking at the 22nd Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 22) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, under way in Marrakech, Morocco, Prime Minister Holness said the entry into force of the Paris Agreement on November 4, 2016 and COP 22 are major milestones to developing a low carbon, climate resilient world. “Jamaica is proud of the leadership role it has played to get us this far,” said the prime minister, adding: “I wish to assure this august body that Jamaica remains

fully committed to ratification of the Paris Agreement. To this end, we are working assiduously on the requisite domestic procedures.” According to Prime Minister Holness, climate change is a developmental issue of global proportion that, in many cases, requires solutions, which are beyond the efforts of many developing countries. He said small developing States are challenged, including those that are classified as highly indebted middle income countries, hence urgent action, increased support and creative solutions are needed. “Jamaica continues to build resilience in our systems through a rigorous national adaptation planning process, but our continued progress can only be realised through the strengthened global partnerships, which we expect to result from our meetings here this week,” he stated. Noting that the

Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness Marrakech meeting is an opportunity to consolidate the progress made, and accelerate action on climate change, Holness said the country looks forward to implementing measure to limit temperature increases to well below 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels; increased levels of, and simplified access, to climate financing with a strong focus on adaptation for developing

countries; the use of innovative mechanisms such as debt for climate change swaps; and the full acceptance of the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage. The prime minister and his delegation left the island on November 13, to participate in the conference, which got under way on November 4 and will end today. The prime minister will return to the island today.

PAGE 22

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Kaieteur News

SALON - Make-up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, etc. - Cosmetology Courses: $120,000 - Technician Course: $45,000. Call: 6471773/660-5257

Property @ East Bank Public Road: Triple lot/storage/ warehouse space, owners migrating. Call: 638-0595 (great deal) Transported property, flat concrete building, land size 80x50, house size 20x38, full facilities Tel: 683-7507/6770321

WANTED Bodywork men. Call: 660-3004 Live in/ out maid. One trainee person to work in Fiber glass workshop- Call:6035416, 644-9802 Live in waitress. Call: 6439007 One experienced general domestic to work in G/Town, must know to cook all Indian dishes. Pleasant & trustworthy. Call: 656-6388 Female worker wanted sound secondary education, computer literate-Tel: 622-5518a

VACANCY For male factory workers between the ages 18 and over. Must have police clearanceCall:223-0090 Porter, rip saw, re-saw and moulder operator @ Eccles Industrial Site, EBDCall:609-7675, 674-1705,2332614 Fast Growing food distribution company seeking a bookkeeper/inventory clerk. Experience & police clearance needed. Call:231- 8344/2231027/ 223-1034 One cashier contact 2235273/4 Work in Trinidad, 5yrs experienced welder/mason. E m a i l : clinttrintent@gmail.com (great salary) Camp assistant for interior location. Job involves dishwashing, cleaning etc.Call: 618-2020 One Field supervisor to work in Georgetown. Must have a motorcycle license- Call:2271717

FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 1-Two bedrooms apartment at Diamond E.B.D –Call: 6683620/ 693-8913 Upper flat for rent 3 bedrooms in Atlantic Gardens- Call: 227-4377/2270613/624-6013 Business bottom flat for rent in New Road, Vreed-enHoop. Call: 227-4377/ 2270613/ 624-6013 Two bedroom apartment with toilet & bath @ Lot 19 Pigeon Island Chateau Margot, E.C.D. Call Nasmoon: 220- 6799/ 6039547 2 Salon Stations to rent & 1 nail tech ($5,000 per week each), persons to do massage & facials. Call: 2234238/602-7960 Space for rent at Ashmin’s BuildingIdeal for commercial and office useCall: 683-7954

Live in/Live out domestic/ babysitter. Call: 223-7500 Mon-Fri 8:15-4:15pm Live in domestic must know to cook & bake, salary $80,000-$90,000 monthly 3050yrs, boarding & lodging free. Call: 222-4890 1 Female shop assistant to work in the interior, salary depends on experienced. Call: 678-0565 One driver for office in EcclesCall: 233-2783 Straight stitch, over edge machine operators, portersCall 222-2541 8:00am-4:00pm Mon-Fri Driver needed for car- Call Miss London- 699-6715 One salon assistant must know to do hair & nails- Contact: 625-3899/ 264-0034 Raymond building Vreed-EnHoop Junction Person to work bar at nightsCall: 223-4778, 626-0189 Handy boy, age 17- @ Lombard street, Werk-EnRust- call: 227-8529, 233-7356 1 Kitchen assistant needed to work in restaurant at Mahdia- Tel: 684-1718

CXC Classes: day & evening classes, personal tutor, Grade 4 to 6, Form 15 Maths. Call Sir Jarvis: 690-5008/ 693-4588/ 6382359 Study and work in Canada/ US. VISA processing centre Parika 260-4850. All vistors VISA professionally done. Pre-Xmas computer package, diplomas 9 courses $40,000, 4 courses- computerized accounting $30,000- Micrographics: Vreed-En-Hoop 264-3057, Parika 260-4850

1-2 Bedrooms apartment fully furnished Eccles. Call: 667-2536 2 Bedroom furnished Apartment in exclusive residential area, close to Ogle Airport , with modern amenities. Call for appointment 622-5725.

FOR SALE/RENT

LAND FOR SALE

SERVICES

Land @ La Parfaite Harmonie: $1.4M, $1M, $1.6M, Uitvlugt $2, Tuschen School Street -$2M (terms available). Call: 604-6724

Passport, permanent & visitor visa application, Professional Immigrant Consultant – Sabita Immigration Services. Call: 225-6496; 6626045

Diamond 21st Street, can transfer $3.5M. Schoonard, WBD $2.5M, Land Of Canaan $5M per acreContact Shawn 231-2199, 618-7483

1 New & unregistered Toyota Allion $2.4M, 1 Allion PVV series $2.150M negotiable, low mileage, TV, camera, etc. Call: 649-0956 Not working Vehicles: 1 Surf, 2 Pathfinders, 1 Bobcat, 3 Toyota Cars, 1 Canter, 1 Fiber glass boat. Call: 227-4377/ 6246013 White RAV4 PRR 2523 with music set, red Rav4 PMM 1631. Call: 613-2150/ 673-7522 Toyota Vigo pick-up, Nissan Pathfinder, Jeep, excellent condition. Call: 609-7766 1-DAF 75 Hauler GNN Series -$2.5M negotiable. Call: 6555117 One black pit-bull BTT 9621, in good condition, 1TR engine. Call: 277-3657 1 –CF DAF twin steer in excellent working condition. Call: 649-8449/ 615-6683/ 2285655 SALE! SALE!- 2010 NOAH & VOXY $2.6M, 2009 TOYOTA ARIUS $2.6M, 2 TON CANTER $2.4MCALL:642-7295 Timber Jack 450B skidder each excellent condition & never used in Guyana- Call Richard:609-7675, 6741705,233-2614

American Pool Table. Call: 277-0578

SERVICES Eagle’s: Re-gas -$8,000, Washing machine repairs, Gas Stove, Plasma flat Screen & more. Call: 697-2969/6460966

FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. Mitsubishi Galant 1996 Model. Body in good condition. Sold as parts. Price negotiable. Tel: 216 1079 /616 8027 One 45feet complete, cabin cruiser, trout seines, excellent condition. Call: 657-0044/ 648-6815 Trinidad: Columbia 16 Block plant, fully automated, production 12,000 blocks per day-$600,000USD. Email: clinttrintent@gmail.com Design & Make Aluminum windows, doors, stainless rails, showcases, rolling shutters, make & install automatic doors. Call: 2336818/677-5599/659-9999 Cargo trawler- call:682-8724, 616-5954 Sale on leotards, tights, dance shoes & costumes @ Roxie’s Fashion 301 Church St. Call: 622-4386/ 227-8538 PEN PAL Overseas based male seeks working female 30-33 years. Must be intelligent- call:6643119 (No Texts) Mixed male, age 55 with own business is seeking female companion, ages 50 & older. Call: 684-6035 or 622-1201

Honda Civic (04) stick shift from Singapore. Rims, deck. In immaculate condition $1.150M negotiable- call: 618-4257

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

TO LET

EDUCATIONAL

1 RD5 Honda CRV, immaculate condition, TV, reverse camera, CD, mags, alarm, etc, price -$2.850M. Call: 626-2884

Attractive live in waitressCall: 327-0252/674-4665

2 Bedrooms upper flat (furnished) in Diamond, EBDTel:216-0644, 668-8403 Fully furnished vacation home with all amenities Call during working hours 2271218

VEHICLE FOR SALE

PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS& SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 643-5122, 6560087 , EMAIL: PRO_ AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO. COM WING’S CAR & PICKUP RENTAL: LOW DOWN PAYMENT, CHEAP REATES,SPECIAL OFFER FOR THE SUMMER. CALL: 690-6494 AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL:PICKUP,9-11 SEAT MIN BUS, GOOD FOR AIRPOTR & FAMILY OUTING, CHEAPEST RATE . Call: 698-7807

C. Persaud & N. Outar Driving School formerly Soman & Sons Driving School @ Maraj BuildingCall: 644-5166; 622-2872; 615-0964; 689-5997 (affordable packages). TOURS Suriname Tours Return: Shopping, sightseeing, dolphins, casino, clubbing, Nov 24-27. Call: 665-5171/ 639-2663/658-3758/ 223-7589

LAND FOR SALE Land 50ftX198ft located in Friendship, E.B.D-Price$5M negotiable. Call: 645-6498

Saturday November 19, 2016

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Kaieteur News

Commissioner of Information fails to fulfill duties - Prime Minister says, “I am not aware that he has done anything.” By Kiana Wilburg Since his appointment to the post of Commissioner of Information in 2013, Charles Ramson Snr. is yet to produce a report regarding the workings of his office and the application of the Access to Information Act. This fact was acknowledged yesterday by Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo. At the bi-weekly press conference of the Alliance For Change (AFC), the Vice Chairman was questioned on the performance of the office of the Commissioner of Information. He was also asked whether he has made moves to ascertain why Ramson is yet to produce a report as stipulated by the law. The Prime Minister said that he intends to write the Commissioner to ascertain whether he had submitted the information necessary for the compilation of the report in the National Assembly. “I am not aware that any report had been submitted since his appointment I think in 2013 and none has been tabled in the House,” Nagamootoo added. The Prime Minister expects that upon receipt of his letter, which has not gone out as yet, Ramson would be able to explain himself. He said that Ramson would be given a time frame within which certain information would have to be made available to the relevant minister. Regarding the performance of the Office of the Commissioner of Information, Nagamootoo said, “I am not aware that this office has done anything really, so being pleased is very subjective.” The Prime Minister said the Commissioner of Information is bound by law to carry out certain functions such as receiving complaints and facilitating inquiries. Nagamootoo also responded to comments by Ramson in the media that since his office is not being fully utilized then there really isn’t anything to report on. The Prime Minister stressed that there is a statutory requirement for a report to be lodged in the National Assembly. He added, “We would only know the difficul-

Commissioner of Information, Charles Ramson Snr.

Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo

ties being confronted by him if he were to submit those in writing to the house and have them subjected to the scrutiny of the House.” While Parliament is left in the dark about the work of the Commissioner of Information, Ramson Snr. continues to draw a salary of approximately $1.2M a month. According to the Act governing Ramson’s office, the responsible Minister should “as soon as practicable but not later than nine months, after the end of each year lay a report on the operation of this (Access to Information) Act in the National Assembly.” The Act also states that the said report should include the number of

requests made to the Commissioner of Information; the number of applications for judicial review of decisions and the outcome of those applications; the number of complaints made to the Commissioner of Information with respect to the operation of the Act and the nature of those complaints; the number of notices served upon the Commissioner of Information and the number of decisions by the Commissioner which were adverse to the person’s claim. Former Prime Minister, Samuel Hinds, was the one responsible for laying such a report once received from the Commissioner. But efforts to contact him regarding why

this was not done, proved futile. Chartered Accountant, Anand Goolsarran, also did his independent checks on the Commissioner of Information and the work of his office. Goolsarran noted that the handing over of annual reports to the National Assembly is a key requirement of the law. He said that the failure of the Commissioner’s office in this regard stymies any effort to carry out an assessment on the effectiveness of the Access to Information Act. The former Auditor General said this is a significant shortcoming in attempts to provide citizens and organisations with access to information of government programmes and activities. Since its establishment, there have been a few requests for access to certain documents from the Commissioner of Information. Kaieteur News understands that based on a mutual agreement with the Government, Ramson has since moved from the Ministry of the Presidency and is currently operating from his East Street residence. Additionally, there have been accusations to the effect that Ramson has not been forthcoming when requests are made to him by members of the public. However, Ramson is of the opinion that it is the public that is not making use of him as he has received less than 16 applications since he assumed the position.

TO LET 3 Bedrooms bottom flat @ Lamaha Gardens. Call: 2258084/ 689-6001

VACANCY LORRY DRIVER, MINIMUM 3 YEARS EXPERIENCE, FACTORY ASSISTANT 266 5569 ACCOUNTS CLERK, MINIMUM qualification CXC Accounts Grades I/ II, familiar with QuickBooks POS & Accounts. Email: info@guygas.com Hairdressers and nail technicians @ the 2nd Floor City Mall. Call: 697-4328 Receptionist male, room attendant, desk staff. Call: 2250198 or visit 233 South Road, Lacytown. Administrative Assistant/ Internet service operative, computer literate, 2 references needed. Call: 644-2234/ 649-4183, email: demcar.info@sky.com

Soldier nabbed with ganja in car About 12:30 hrs on Wednesday the police were on mobile patrol on the West Coast Berbice, while on the Bath Settlement Public Road when they stopped motor car HC 7077, which was heading in the direction of Georgetown. The vehicle had five occupants. Two men and two women passengers along with the driver. Among the occupants were Lennox Williams, 22, a solider of Lot 44 Stanleytown, New Amsterdam, Berbice. The police carried out a search on the said motor car,

and found a blue, black and white haversack on the floor of the car behind the front passenger’s seat between Williams’s legs. The bag was opened in the passenger’s presence and a transparent plastic bag wrapped with tape was found. When opened the bag contained what appeared to be a quantity of leaves, seeds and stem suspected to be cannabis, The ranks questioned the passengers about the ownership of the bag and were told that Williams entered the car

with the bag. Williams however denied that the bag belonged to him. The occupants were arrested and taken to the Fort Wellington Police Station. At the station the suspected cannabis was weighed in their presence and amounted to 496 grams. A report has been complied and will be taken to the DPP for advice. The soldier who reportedly works on the East Bank Berbice is reportedly on leave. Investigations are continuing.

WANTED Arc/Acetylene welder – Car/ Van licence required Call: 227-1813 1 Refrigerated truck box, approximately 14’ long, preferable Mitsubishi Canter, contact Wieting & Richter Ltd 226-6150, 6152-3, 6155-7 Driver with minibus license living in G/Town. Call: 6640802 One Data Processing Clerk. Must possess five Subjects at CSEC with Grade 1 -2 passes. Thse must include Accounts, Maths & English. Interested Candidates must text to SMS or WHATSAPP 592-696-9386

FOR SALE DAF Truck with 2x Dump tray, Massey Ferguson, bobcat loader. Call:689-1250/6788698/516-312-9525 1 Big music set, owner leaving country. Call: 690-5225 Music set, 6 bass 4 tops, RCF & PV Speakers, QSC amp’s, fully loaded rack Call: 6837507 Salon equipment, under good conditions. Call: 6974328 Furniture suitable for beauty salon- trollies, hair sink, chairs & much more. Call: 231-6972/ 227-3626

VEHICLE FOR SALE Almera Nissan Car- 1295 CC Engine - $775,000 negotiable, very good working condition. 116,000km Call: 6161598

MX QSC 2000, 1500, 1000 watts, 4 Bass 4MID, 4 horn, 4 tweeter mixer, juggler, EQ, Speaker, Cable. Call: 6542732/ 253-3070 1-30 feet aluminum jet boat with spares. Call: 642-7898

CHRISTMAS SPECIAL: SIENTA -$2.3M, RAUM $2.3M, RACTIS -$2.3M, FIELDER -$2.6M, NEVER R E G I S T E R VEHICLE.CALL: 617-2891

Forty women graduate from self-reliance... From page 11 first began- adding that they were far more positive in their sales ‘pitches’ at the end of the programme. Pointing out that women are great financial managers, Holland posited that it is important to have financial accountability for the success of any business, and it thus augers well to empower them,

as it would mean empowering an entire family. First Lady Sandra Granger said that the workshop could not have been a success without the persons who worked behind the scenes. Mrs. Granger wished the participants success in their future endeavors and extended thanks to her staff, coordinator Sandra Adams and

team, and Interweave Solutions who facilitated the workshop. She also thanked Regional Chairman, Rennis Morian, and Mayor Carwyn Holland. The Workshop was facilitated by Wayne Barrow of Interweave Solutions, a NonGovernmental Organisation that assists local organizations and congregations in

developing and creating selfreliance by providing requisite training to kick start and promote their own businesses. He was ably assisted by Johann Sanjay Pooran and Marcia Meredith. The aim of the workshops is to empower women by teaching them to manage and sustain their small business ventures.

VEHICLE FOR SALE 1 Silver Nissan Dualis (PTT 3081) – PS, PW, AC, CD/DVD player, reverse camera, AW, ABS $3.2M Call: 695-9548 2009 NOAH & VOXY $2.6M IN ‘G’ SERIES, 3 TON OPEN BACK CANTER -$3.6M. CALL: 6172891

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Saturday November 19, 2016

Battle for Aleppo escalates, U.N. sees ‘bleak moment’ (Reuters) - Syrian rebels fought fiercely with pro-government forces trying to advance into opposition-held areas of eastern Aleppo and warplanes kept up their bombardment of the area yesterday in a renewed bid by Damascus to retake the entire city. The U.N. humanitarian adviser said the besieged population of eastern Aleppo faced a “very bleak moment” with no food or medical supplies, winter approaching, and an increasingly fierce attack by Syrian and allied forces. Violence also escalated in and around Damascus, where government forces bombarded the city’s rebel-held eastern outskirts and rebels fired rockets into the government-controlled city center, witnesses said. Syrian government forces and allied militia renewed a heavy bombardment of rebel-held eastern Aleppo on Tuesday after a pause of several weeks. Russia, whose air force is bombing in support of Assad, says it has not taken part in the latest Aleppo attack. Moscow

has, however, escalated its role in the war, launching attacks on other rebel-held areas from the sea. Bombs hit a hospital in east Aleppo last evening, the fourth health facility put out of service there in four days, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group and a health official from a rebel area said. The government, backed by the Russian air force and Shi’ite militias, has this year steadily closed in on eastern Aleppo, first besieging a population estimated by the United Nations to number 270,000 and then launching a major assault in September. The battle for what was once Syria’s largest city is now the central focus of a five-and-a-half-year-old civil war, which is potentially entering a new phase after the election of Donald Trump as U.S. president. While Trump’s Syria policy has not been fully spelled out, he has suggested Washington could reexamine its longstanding opposition to Russia’s support for Assad.

REBELS DEEPLY ENTRENCHED Mohamad Abboush, an east Aleppo resident, told Reuters an air strike killed two of his relatives, a 45-year-old uncle and a 12-year-old cousin, on Friday morning. As they sought out medical care for other relatives wounded in the attack, he said they found one hospital in ruins and another in flames. The air strike had completely destroyed a fourstorey apartment block where his relatives had been living in the Tariq al-Bab neighborhood, he said. The survivors had been taken to houses in another area, but nowhere was safe. “The whole of Aleppo is being bombed,” he said. Heavy bombardment also took place in the rebel-held area of Eastern Ghouta near Damascus. A witness said shelling and air strikes ongoing since Thursday evening were the worst seen for at least a year. The Observatory said air strikes and shelling on the Eastern Ghouta town of

Men are pictured next to damaged buildings at a site hit by airstrikes in the rebel held al-Shaar neighbourhood of Aleppo, Syria. REUTERS/ Abdalrhman Ismail

Douma had in the past 24 hours killed at least 22 people - 10 of them children - and injured dozens. The death toll was expected to rise as many of the injuries were serious. Witnesses and the Observatory said rockets fired from rebel areas near the city hit central Damascus on Thurs-

Trump agrees to pay $25 million to settle Trump University lawsuits (Reuters) - Donald Trump agreed yesterday to pay $25 million to settle fraud lawsuits over his Trump University real estate seminars, in what New York’s attorney general called a “stunning reversal” for the U.S. president-elect. The lawsuits had dogged Trump, who denied any wrongdoing, throughout his campaign. They led to one of the more controversial moments of his run when he claimed the judge overseeing two of the cases was biased because he was of Mexican ancestry. The settlement was announced by New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, who said it followed repeated refusals by Trump “to settle for even modest amounts of compensation for the victims of his phony university.” Lawyers for Trump had argued against students, who claimed they were they were lured by false promises into paying up to $35,000 to learn Trump’s real estate investing “secrets” from his “handpicked” instructors. Three lawsuits relating to Trump University will be covered by the deal: two class actions suits in California and a New York case brought by Schneiderman. The agreement must still be approved

Donald Trump agreed yesterday to pay $25 million to settle fraud lawsuits over his Trump University real estate seminars by U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel in San Diego. Trump will not admit any wrongdoing under the agreement. His attorney, Daniel Petrocelli, acknowledged Trump had previously vowed to fight the case. The settlement demonstrated Trump’s desire to set his personal feelings aside in

order to work on issues facing the county, Petrocelli said. “President-elect Trump has laser focus on moving forward. It’s time to move on,” Petrocelli told reporters yesterday. Schneiderman and attorneys for the students praised the deal. “Today’s $25 million

settlement agreement is a stunning reversal by Donald Trump and a major victory for the over 6,000 victims of his fraudulent university,” Schneiderman said in a statement. At a court hearing yesterday, students’ attorney Jason Forge said that out of the $25 million proposed settlement, $4 million will be earmarked for students represented by Schneiderman who were not part of the California class actions, as well as administrative costs. Class action lawyers for the students will not seek attorney’s fees, but reimbursement for costs, he said. Curiel, who is presiding over the two California cases, had urged both sides to settle. Trump said during his election campaign that Curiel, who was born in Indiana to Mexican immigrant parents, could not be impartial because of Trump’s campaign pledge to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border to control illegal immigration. In court yesterday, Trump lawyer Petrocelli praised Curiel for his hard work on the case. Curiel said he hoped the settlement could be part of a healing process after the U.S. election “that this country very sorely needs.”

day and Friday. Syrian state media said one woman died and others were injured in rockets fired on residential areas of Damascus yesterday. While the government side has unleashed enormous firepower, its advances into rebel-held areas of Aleppo since September have been limited. The rebel forces are deeply entrenched and say they are well prepared for urban war. Fighting was reported on the southern and eastern periphery of the rebel-held area yesterday. The Observatory said Friday’s clashes were the fiercest in Aleppo this week. Sources on both sides said pro-government militias were mobilized in large numbers. An official in the Levant Front rebel group, which fights under the Free Syrian Army banner, told Reuters that the pro-government forces appeared to be seeking to advance along a highway that bisects the rebel-held part of Aleppo. His group lost a commander along with a number of his men in the fighting, he said. “The militias are coming in strongly in the areas they are trying to storm. There are few frontlines in Syria in general at the moment, most of the focus of the regime and militias is in Aleppo,” he said A source on the government side confirmed large mobilization by pro-Assad forces. The source said the shelling of recent days was in preparation for ground operations. A media unit run by Hezbollah, a Lebanese Shi’ite group fighting in support of Assad, said the army had made progress in northeastern Aleppo. Rebels repelled an attempt by pro-government militias to advance in the Sheikh Saeed area on the southern periph-

ery of eastern Aleppo after heavy bombardment, AlFarouk Abu Bakr, a commander in the Ahrar al-Sham group, told Reuters. Syrian military officials could not immediately be reached for comment. In the four days since bombardment resumed on eastern Aleppo, the Observatory says it has documented 65 deaths and hundreds of injuries in east Aleppo, and four deaths and dozens of injuries in government-held west Aleppo as a result of rebel rocket fire. State media said shelling killed five more people in western Aleppo on Friday. Hundreds of people have been killed in the east Aleppo assault since September, according to U.N. figures and rescue workers. Rebel shelling, meanwhile, killed dozens of people in government-held western Aleppo during a failed counter attack. The Observatory said government forces had targeted areas near three hospitals to keep them out of service. The government has previously denied such accusations. U.N. humanitarian adviser Jan Egeland said rebel groups in Aleppo had agreed in principle to a U.N. humanitarian relief plan that allows medical workers, medical supplies and food into eastern Aleppo and enables the evacuation of the sick and wounded, but operational details had yet to be agreed. Egeland said Russia had given positive signals about the plan but had not given an official green light. The United Nations had hoped to send convoys with aid for 1 million Syrians in besieged or hard-to-reach areas this month, but so far not one has reached its destination.

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Saturday November 19, 2016

Obama, EU leaders agree to stick together together,, stay tough on Russia

British Prime Minister Theresa May, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, U.S. President Barack Obama, French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel meet at the German Chancellery in Berlin, Germany yesterday. REUTERS/ Kevin Lamarque (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama and European leaders yesterday underscored the importance of working together in NATO and chided Russia for its bombing of Syria and failure to implement a Ukrainian peace accord. The White House statement followed a meeting at which Obama sought to reassure his counterparts from Germany, Britain, Spain, Italy and France that his successor Donald Trump would not break up the transatlantic alliance. Trump raised concerns during the campaign when he said he could withhold military aid from NATO allies if they had not met their defense commitments and said he would forge closer ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin. “President Obama expressed confidence that, even at a moment of great change, democratic values have done more to advance human freedom and progress than any other system in history, and will continue to do so going

forward,” the White House said. The leaders agreed on the need to work together to stabilize the Middle East and North Africa, as well as securing diplomatic resolutions for the conflicts in Syria and eastern Ukraine. European leaders had sought Obama’s support as they prepare to extend sanctions imposed on Russia by Washington and Brussels in 2014 following its intervention in eastern Ukraine, and consider fresh sanctions over Russia’s actions in Syria, where it backs Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. German Chancellor Angela Merkel told a news conference with Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy that no decisions had been made about extending the Ukraine sanctions, but actions to implement the Minsk peace accord were not sufficient. Merkel said the leaders discussed their concerns about Syria during their meeting on Friday, but did not talk about imposing Syria-related sanctions against Russia that

have been sought by the Syrian opposition. Obama and the EU leaders called for an immediate end to attacks on rebel-held parts of the city of Aleppo by Syrian government forces and their allies Russia and Iran that monitoring groups say have killed dozens this week alone. Syrian opposition officials yesterday met EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and other officials and urged them to focus on protecting civilians and lifting the siege, said Anas al-Abdah, who heads the Syrian National Coalition. He said he had hoped for stronger words from Obama and the EU leaders, and called for Washington and Brussels to put more “real pressure” on Russia and Iran. U.S. and EU officials have stressed the need for a political solution, including the departure of Assad, but Trump has said he views the fight against Islamic State as a bigger priority. EU leaders are expected to extend sanctions related to Ukraine in December or January. Obama and the European leaders “unanimously agreed on the continued need for Russia to fully meet its commitments under the Minsk agreements and that Ukrainerelated sanctions against Russia must remain in place until it does so,” the White House said. They said a durable ceasefire in eastern Ukraine was needed to move forward with free and fair local elections in the occupied regions of Donetsk and Luhansk.

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Samuels half-century in vain Independence SC overcome Cultural CC as Victorians remain winless Independence SC defeated Cultural CC by five wickets when the West Demerara Cricket Association T20 tournament

continued recently. At Joe Vieira Park, Independence SC batted first and scored 148-7 with Sunil Ramdat getting 67; Keshram Seyhodan had 3-34. Cultural CC responded with 149-5 in 18 overs. Anthony Ifill got 56; N. Gopaul had 3-34. Independence SC got the better of Rising Stars by 41 runs. Independence SC managed 170-4. Vikash Dhanriam struck 54 and Anand Bharat 34; Marvin Cheong had 2-22. Rising Stars were bowled out for 129 in 17.1 overs in reply.

Chris Louis made 19; J. Hector had 2-29. At Meten-Meer-Zorg, the hosts B team beat Zeeburg by five runs. The home team took first strike and managed 1238. M. Reynolds cracked 20 as Richie Looknauth took 2-7, while Mark Jeffers and A. Azim had two each. Zeeburg made 199-8 in reply. Yetesh Dhanpaul scored 26, Looknauth 26 and Safraz karim 22 not out. I. Ivan claimed 3-15. Meten- Meer-Zorg A team beat All Youths by 125 runs. MMZ A batted first and scored 170-5 with E. Christnauth scoring 52, S. Evans 35, J. Reynolds 25 and

M. Nandkishore 20. R. Persaud had 2-15. All Youths were skittled for 45 in reply. Z. Haniff captured 4-16, Reynolds 3-13 and Looknauth Chinkoo 2-5. At Canal No. 2 Mc Gill overcame Windsor Forest by 39 runs. Mc Gill took first knock and managed 156-5. Ronaldo Renee made 39, Balram Aaron 30 and Abdool Razack and Shefeek Deen 24 each. Dindyal Guyadeen had 2-10. Windsor Forest responded with 117-7. Avinash Ganesh got 30, Rohan Harrinarine 29 and Muneshwar Balgobin 25. Shafiek Deen snared 3-21 and Razack 2-8.

Saturday November 19, 2016 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You will reap the benefits if you put money into upgrading your residence. Nothing can be resolved if you don't want to talk about it. Get promises in writing or you will be disappointed. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Romance could develop through social activities or short trips. Be prepared to encounter new friendships that will provide you with valuable information. The emotional state of peers may cause a problem for you. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Listen to the complaints of others. You can easily impress others with your generous nature. Uncertainty about your relationship is prevalent. CANCER (June 21–July 22) Ask others to help, or you may feel that a burden is weighing you down. You may want to make changes that will not be to their liking. Plan to get together with someone special later in the day. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) So smile! Uncertainties about your home may cause tension. You will profit from home improvement projects and real estate deals. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) You could have trouble persuading others to accept your ideas and opinions. Business conducted in your own office will proceed smoothly.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) False information is likely if you listen to idle chatter or gossip. You'll find you're detail oriented today. Look for professional guidance if it will help unite the family. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Reciprocate by offering helpful hints. You may need a good friend to lean on. You may get upset with peers or relatives. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) This is a great day to mingle with people you would like to impress. Set a limit, or you'll wind up on a tight budget. Try to spend more time with children and relatives. CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Accept the inevitable. Travel will be enjoyable but could be expensive. You will find the perfect outfit if you shop today. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Concern yourself with legal matters and formulating contracts rather than finalizing your objectives. Before you proceed be sure to talk your plans over with those they will affect. Sign up for courses or join fitness clubs. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Double-check before you go out. You have to believe in yourself and your talents. Look into events that you might find interesting, and compromise by doing a few things that you both like to do.

C H I T TA G O N G, Bangladesh, CMC – A Marlon Samuels half-century was not enough to save Comilla Victorians from their fifth straight defeat as they plunged to a nine-wicket loss to Rangpur Riders in the Bangladesh Premier League here yesterday. The stylish West Indies right-hander hammered an attractive 52 from 46 balls but Victorians could only muster 122 for five off their 20 overs at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium. He struck three fours and two sixes and put on 64 for the third wicket with Pakistani Ahmed Shehzad also scored 52 from 45 balls with four fours and a six. Rubel Hossain was the best bowler with two for 27. In reply, Riders cruised to their target with three overs to spare, on the backs of opener Mohammad Shahzad’s unbeaten 51 and

India in control... (From page 27) but did not dislodge, his bail. Earlier, Ashwin scored his second half-century of the series to guide India to a strong first-innings score. Ashwin scored 58 and added 64 for the eighth wicket with Yadav (35) after England off-spinner Moeen had claimed three quick wickets to peg back the hosts. Resuming the second day on 317-4 in the first ever test match in the port city of Visakhapatnam, captain Virat Kohli and Ashwin added 35 in a fifth-wicket stand. Stokes failed to hold on to the straightforward chance from Ashwin but made amends with the very next ball, catching Kohli when the India captain attempted a cover drive. Kohli, who was unbeaten on 151 overnight, hit 18 boundaries in his knock of 167. Moeen dismissed Saha and Ravindra Jadeja in the same over to reduce India to 363-7. Saha wasted a review on a plumb lbw decision while Jadeja did not appeal his legbefore dismissal to a delivery which, replays confirmed, was missing the stumps. Ashwin, who scored 70 and 32 in the first test at Rajkot, and Yadav then added some crucial runs to India’s total. Scores: England 103 for 5 (Stokes 12*, Bairstow 12*) trail India 455 (Kohli 167, Pujara 119, Ashwin 58, Moeen 3-98) by 352 runs.

Mohammad Mithun’s 45 not out, in an unbroken 97-run, second wicket stand. In-form Samuels has now scored 153 runs from four innings in the tournament. In the first game at the venue, former Barbados and West Indies batsman Dwayne Smith stroked 34 to help set the tone for Chittagong Vikings’ 19-run victory over the Darren Sammy-led Rajshahi Kings. Sent in, Vikings were propelled to a challenging 190 for five off 20 overs by Mohammad Nabi’s 87 not out from 37 deliveries, which included six fours and six sixes. Anamul Haque struck 50

from 40 deliveries while Smith hit six fours and a six in a breezy 19-ball cameo at the top of the order. Sammy, who went wicketless from his three overs, then also failed with the bat as Kings came up short at 171 for nine off their 20 overs. Sabbir Rahman topscored with 46 from 30 deliveries while Sammy, batting at number six, belted two sixes in a seven-ball 14 before falling in the 17th over. The victory was just the second for Vikings and they lie third from bottom on four points while Kings have won just one in five and are one from bottom.

GCA tourney on this weekend The Georgetown Cricket Association Noble House Sea Foods second division two-day tournament continues this weekend with two matches. GDF will travel to GNIC SC (Shannon Crawford and Andre Horry) and MYO will

host Everest (Hortence Isaacs and Randy Latif). Matches start at 10:30 hrs today. GCC will stay at home to DCC (Ryan Banwarie and Javed Persaud) in the lone NBS 40-over fixture at 10:30 hrs tomorrow.

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Saturday November 19, 2016

Chanderpaul propels Jaguars ICC charges du Plessis before Cornwall triggers collapse over alleged ball tampering BASSETERRE, St Kitts, CMC – Half centuries from veteran left-hander Shiv Chanderpaul and openers Rajendra Chandrika and Shimron Hetmyer, gave Guyana Jaguars momentum but yet another five-wicket haul from Rahkeem Cornwall, ensured Leeward Islands Hurricanes shared some of the honours on the opening day of their Regional Four-Day contest here yesterday. Asked to bat first at Warner Park in the second round encounter, two-time reigning champions Jaguars were dismissed for 293 with Chanderpaul stroking an unbeaten 81 and Chandrika 64, before retiring hurt. Hetmyer scored 53 while wicketkeeper Anthony Bramble added 39 but Jaguars suffered a lower order slump, losing their last five wickets for 26 runs. Off-spinner Cornwall, who had a nine-wicket match haul against Barbados Pride in the last round, took three of the wickets in the slide to finish with six for 87. Jaguars were handed a great start by Chandrika and Hetmyer, who added 84 before being separated. The right-handed Chandrika struck six fours and a six in an innings off 138 deliveries in 3-½ hours at the crease while the lefthanded Hetmyer produced a brisk knock, stroking nine fours and a six off just 60 balls. H o w e v e r, C o r n w a l l struck twice, removing Hetmyer to a leg-side catch by wicketkeeper Jahmar Hamilton and then having captain Leon Johnson caught at slip by his opposite number Kieran Powell, off the very next delivery. Left-hander Vishaul Singh perished cheaply for seven to leave Jaguars on

Faf du Plessis has been charged by the ICC for ball tampering ©Getty Images

103 for three at lunch but Chanderpaul anchored three productive stands to put the visitors in control. First, he put on 44 for the fourth wicket with Chandrika who retired hurt at 147 for three and when Chris Barnwell went cheaply for seven, he added a further 42 for the fifth wicket with Raymon Reifer who made 23. A 66-run, sixth wicket stand between Chanderpaul and Bramble in the final

session seemed to be taking Jaguars into a dominant position. Chand e r p a u l s t r u c k nine fours and a six off 148 balls in nearly four hours while Bramble produced a 44-ball cameo which included three fours and two sixes. Jaguars were sailing at 267 for five but once Bramble was taken at cover by Nkrumah Bonner off seamer Jeremiah Louis, the innings collapsed.

Banks DIH South Essequibo Softball Festival set to captivate Essequibians The Inaugural Banks South Essequibo Softball Festival is for today, at Hybernia Ground on the Essequibo Coast. It is expected that over 14 male and female teams will compete for over two hundred thousand dollars ($200 000). The first prize for the males will be $100,000 and a keen competition is expected in this segment. The competition will bowl

off at 17:00hrs with a female game. Both formats will be on a knockout basis and will see some of the region’s brightest stars on show under lights. There will be several other activities such as dominoes, kids’ fun-land featuring trampoline, bouncy castle, etc. Patrons are asked to bring out the entire family to the massive event. Entertainment will be provided by Earthquake

International and DJ’s from the Coast and Georgetown. The event is organised by the powered Virgin Promotions and sponsored by Banks DIH Ltd. There will also be several promotions throughout the day and models will be on hand to distribute novelties for fans and supporters. All in all patrons can expect an a c t i o n p a c k e d d a y. Admission is free.

ESPNCRICINFO - Faf du Plessis, South Africa’s stand-in captain, could be suspended for a Test match after being charged by the ICC over an alleged balltampering offence. Du Plessis has pleaded not guilty and is seeking legal advice to further contest the charge. A hearing before match referee Andy Pycroft will be held, but a date for the hearing has not yet been set by the ICC. The ICC confirmed in a

statement yesterday that du Plessis had been charged for breaching Article 2.2.9 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which relates to “changing the condition of the ball”. The ICC statement said: “The alleged incident h a p p e n e d o n Tu e s d a y morning when TV footage appeared to show du Plessis applying saliva and residue from a mint or sweet, an artificial substance, to the ball in an attempt to change its condition.”

Level 2 breaches of the Code of Conduct carry a penalty of a fine of 50100% of the match fee and/or up to two suspension points, and three or four demerit points. Two suspension points equates to one Test match. The charge has been laid by ICC chief executive David Richardson. Cricket Australia did not make a complaint about the incident.

Stage of Champions bodybuilding contest on tonight at Theatre Guild Bodybuilding fans locally will be in for a treat tonight as athletes from Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Anguilla and Barbados battle for supremacy in the inaugural ‘Stage of Champions’ body building contest at the Theatre Guild, Parade Street, Kingston. The competition is being sanctioned by the Guyana Amateur Body Building and Fitness Federation (GABBFF) and speaking at the launching yesterday at the Guyana Olympic House, GABBFF President Kevon Bess welcomed the initiative and said it will provide local athletes with a higher level of competition since they will be competing with overseas counterparts. He

added that in light of Guyana’s recent success at the CAC games it is only fitting that they end the year on a high and feels such contests will motivate the athletes. In an invited comment, Roger Boyce of Barbados said it is a step in the right direction because our athletes need more competition of this magnitude which will help them to prepare for the higher levels. He stated that while they brought a small team this year his athletes are well prepared and is confident they will do well on stage. Milton Haynes of Suriname stated they have had consecutive competitions so they are

well prepared for the contest. He pointed out that this competition is important for them since they were absent for a number of years from the Caribbean competition. Haynes said they take their training seriously and feels they will give a good account of themselves. Suriname top bodybuilder Koese Soepe, who competed in Europe as well as in the Arnold Classics, will lead their challenge. Guyana will depend on the likes of Zalim Bacchus, Julio Sinclair, Emmerson Campbell and Stephon Yannick Grimes for glory; top ranked Kerwin Clarke has opted to rest. Admission is $2000 and show time is 19:00hrs. (Zaheer Mohamed)

Saturday November 19, 2016

Kaieteur News

Weatherspoon is top Guyanese at WICUA exams Kareen Weatherspoon amassed 86 marks to be the leading Guyanese candidate at the recent West Indies Cricket Umpires Association final written examination. The WICUA has extended congratulations to all successful candidates and noted that there has been a record

100% passes which is an achievement. Congratulations are also extended to all the trainers who put out tremendous efforts in preparing the candidates. There was a tie for the highest mark of 91%: Roger Pittiman - Canada and Imran Khan - United States of America, while the

next highest mark of 89% was achieved by Vicki Laura Daniel of Trinidad & Tobago. Below is the full result. Mea n w h i l e , t h e Guyana Cricket Umpires Council would like to congratulate its successful candidates and wished them well in the future.

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Brilliant Taylor strikes form to hand Windies first win VIJAYAWADA, India, CMC – Captain Stafanie Taylor returned to form and West Indies Women to their winning ways, as they rolled over India Women by six wickets in the opening Twenty20 International of the three-match series, to claim their first win of an otherwise dismal tour here yesterday. The right-handed strokemaker carved out a brilliant 90 off 51 balls to fall just short of her maiden T20I century as the visitors clinically chased down a target of 151, with five balls to spare at the Mulapadu Cricket Stadium. Her runs proved precious as no other batsman passed 20, again reiterating the challenges the Windies Women have experienced with their batting on the ongoing tour where they suffered a 3-0 whitewash in the one-day series. New ball bowler Shikha Pandey was the best bowler

with three for 31. Earlier, skipper Harmanpreet Kaur stroked an unbeaten 68 while Veda Krishnamurthy struck 50 as the hosts, opting to bat first, posted 150 for four off their allotted 20 overs. With their slide stumbling at 28 for two in the sixth over, the pair came together to add 88 for the third wicket and rally the innings. Both right-handers, Kaur stroked six fours and three sixes in a 50-ball knock while Krishnamurthy faced 46 deliveries and counted six fours and a six. When Krishnamurthy became the second of seamer Shakera Selman’s two wickets in the 17th over, Kaur and Jhulan Goswami (11 not out) put on an important 21 off 15 balls for the fourth wicket to end the innings strongly. In reply, Taylor took immediate control of the run chase for West Indies

Women, anchoring a series of partnerships to ensure her side victory. Returning to her opening slot after mostly batting onedown in the three-match series where she managed j u s t 4 8 r u n s , Ta y l o r displayed all of her batting charm as she hammered 12 fours and three sixes in an attractive innings. She put on 31 off 24 balls for the first wicket with Hayley Matthews (18), 40 off 39 balls for the second wicket with Britney Cooper (16) before dominating a 70run fourth wicket stand off 41 balls with former skipper Merissa Aguilleira who made 15. Her stand with Aguilleira put the contest firmly in West Indies Women’s favour and even when both fell in the 18th over, the result was all but done and dusted. The second T20I is set for tomorrow at the same venue.

India in control after England collapse

Virat Kohli celebrates the successful review against Moeen Ali, India v England, 2nd Test, Vishakapatnam, 2nd day, ©AFP (Reuters) England were left with a mountain to climb after India made 455 in their first innings before returning to blow away the tourists’ to p o r d er o n a s p in dominated second day of the second test yesterday. England reached 103 for five, trailing India by 352 runs, at stumps with allrounder Ben Stokes and wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow unbeaten at the crease. The touring side were rattled in the third over when paceman Mohammed Shami

breached captain Alastair Cook’s defence with an incoming delivery that split the left-hander’s off-stump in two. Joe Root and young opener Haseeb Hameed survived a hostile spell of bowling from the Indians to add 47 for the second wicket before the latter was run out on 13 by some smart work from wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha. E n g l a n d ’s b a t t i n g mainstay Root, who hit a century in the previous test in Rajkot, made 53 before he

fell to off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who also picked up the wicket of Ben Duckett. Debutant off-spinner Jayant Yadav picked up his maiden wicket with a review after Moeen Ali advanced and then padded the ball away. England were 80-5 at that stage, but Bairstow, unbeaten on 12 and Stokes ensured there was no further damage. Stokes was not out on 12 and survived when a delivery from Yadav kissed, (Continued on page 25)

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Saturday November 19, 2016

GASA FINA clinic concludes

Mr. Jose De Jesus of FINA (Centre), GASA head Ivan Persaud (sitting 2nd from left,)Vice President Ms Elke Rodrigues (sitting 3rd from right) and participants display their certificates. The Guyana Amateur Swimming Asso c i a t i o n FINA officials’ clinic which started last week

S a t u r d a y, c o n c l u d e d Wednesday at the National Aquatic Centre Lilliendaal East Coast

Fixtures drawn for BCCDA Inter Agency cricket 2016 cricket competition today All is set for the seventh edition of the Berbice Chamber of Commerce and Development Association (BCCDA) Corporate Business in Sports (CBIS) Inter-Agency Softball cricket tournament, fun day and exhibition cricket games, on today at the Rose Hall Community Center in Canje. The fixtures have been drawn and an exciting and captivating day of cricket and fun is anticipated. The launching which took place at the BCCDA office at Chapel Street; New Amsterdam saw nine teams being registered to participate – namely Hand in Hand, Ansa McAl Trading, Republic Bank Rosignol Branch, Republic Bank New Amsterdam Branch, Berbice Bridge Company (BBCI), Massy Trading, Olderndorf Carriers, Massy Industries and new comers Permaul Trading. The fixtures will see –BBCI taking on Massy Industries followed by Oldendorff Carriers and Hand in Hand, then the match between Republic Bank New Amsterdam Branch and Ansa Mc AL Trading, while Massy Distributers will match skills with Permaul Trading in the final first round encounter. Republic Bank Rosignol Branch has drawn the bye. The winning team with the highest score in the first round will draw the bye to the second. If more than one team has the same score then the team that loose the least wickets will advance. The teams are also expected to engage in 10/10 cricket, dominoes and other activities. The aim of the event is to promote unity and fostering better working relationships between entities and the public. The activities are expected to commence at 09:00 hrs and go way into the evening. Patrons will have an opportunity to walk away with gate prizes. Massy Industries has donated a gas package that includes a gas stove, bottle, fittings and other accessories, while Massy Distribution has donated two food hampers. All the funds raised from the project will go towards charity. The winning team is expected to pocket $40,000 plus a trophy and medals. Second place will take home $20,000 plus a trophy and medals. Third and fourth place finishers will receive $10,000 and $5,000 respectively plus a trophy and medals. The man of the match will get $5,000 plus a trophy. The defending champion is the Nand Persaud Group of Companies. (Samuel Whyte)

Demerara. The clinic saw participants from Bartica, Berbice, Guyana Police

Force, Guyana Defence Force and the five clubs of GASA Dorado, Dolphin, Sea Otters,

Silver S harks and Orca being taken through theory and practical sessions before being

evaluated. Certificates were issued at the end of the Clinic.

Alleyne shines with halfcentury but Pride stutter P O RT O F S PA I N , Trinidad, CMC – Opener Anthony Alleyne stroked his second straight half-century and fourth in first class cricket to lead a Barbados Pride rally against Trinidad and Tobago Red Force, on the opening day of their second round game in the Regional Four-Day Championship yesterday. The left-hander, in only his 11th first class game, carved out a solid 88 as Pride, sent in at Queen’s Park Oval, battled to the close on 214 for seven. Kenroy Williams chipped in with 46 batting at number six while opener Omar Phillips chimed in with 22. Leg-spinner Imran Khan has been the best bowler with three for 49. Alleyne and Phillips gave Pride a solid start, putting on 45 for the first wicket, to see them safely through the first hour. However, Pride suffered double blow in the last halfhour before lunch when Phillips was caught at third man by Jeremy Solozano off Imran Khan and Shamarh Brooks fell without scoring to pacer Marlon Richards. On 66 for two at the break, Pride were boosted in the second session by a healthy 73-run, third wicket stand between Alleyne and

Left-hander Anthony Alleyne drives through the off-side during his top score of 88 against T&T Red Force yesterday. (Photo courtesy WICB Media)

Test batsman Roston Chase who made 21. All told, the 23-year-old Alleyne faced 201 deliveries in a shade under four hours at the crease and counted 12 fours while Chase consumed 54 balls and hit two fours and a six. Chase perished in the third over after the drinks break, bowled by Imran Khan and captain Kevin Stoute followed him four overs later for three, lbw to Imran Khan at 141 for four, On 155 for four at tea, Pride lost Alleyne in the third over after the break, caught by wicketkeeper Steven Katwaroo running around to short fine leg off

off-spinner Jon-Russ Jagessar, with four runs added. However, Williams and Justin Greaves, who made 17, the put on a crucial 51 to bolster the innings in the final session. Williams struck five fours in knock that came from 103 balls in just over two hours, before falling to a catch at the wicket off leftarm spinner Yannick Ottley, five overs before the close. Meanwhile, over at Sabina Park Jamaica Scorpions were in trouble against the Windward I s l a n d s Vo l c a n o e s , struggling at 83 for 6 as the

spin of Shane Shillingford (3-11) and Delorn Johnson with 2-30 put the home side in a straight. Summarised Scores: At Queen’s Park Oval: BARBADOS PRIDE 214 for seven (Anthony Alleyne 88, Kenroy Williams 46; Imran Khan 349) vs TRINIDAD & TOBAGO RED FORCE. At Sabina Park: J A M A I C A SCORPIONS 83 for six (Shane Shillingford 3-11, Delorn Johnson 2-30) vs WINDWARD ISLANDS VOLCANOES.

Saturday November 19, 2016

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Kaieteur News

FARFAN & MENDES JUNIOR SQUASH TOURNAMENT

Alex Cheeks continues good showing, Shomari Wiltshire victorious

Shomari Wilshire (left) & Anthony Islam do battle on Thursday night. (Photos by Sean Devers) The Guyana Squash Association in collaboration with its number one corporate sponsor Digicel is holding the annual Farfan & Mendes Junior Squash To u r n a m e n t a t t h e Georgetown Club Inc. squash courts.

Play continued on day 2 with matches in eight of the nine categories which are being contested. In category A, Alex Cheeks continued his impressive run of form when he came from behind to defeat Daniel Islam in another entertaining match.

Entries for GSCL Inc close on November 21 Entries for the inaugural Georgetown Softball Cricket League Premier tournament will be closed on Monday and teams are asked to register. Matches will be played next Friday November 27 across six venues in Georgetown. The competition will be contested in two categories with handsome prize monies at stake. The Over 45-year-old category will see the inaugural champions $500,000 richer, while in the Open category the winning team will pocket $600,000. Interested teams are required to pay an entrance fee of $40,000 while on match days they are also responsible for their own balls, meals and water. According to Organising Secretary of the GSCL, Samuel Kingston the games will be played at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC), Everest Cricket Club, Carifesta Sports Complex, Gandhi Youth Organisation (GYO), and GNIC grounds from 9:30h. Kingston stated that all teams registering for the Over-45 category must submit photo identification preferably valid passports at least by November 18 for every member of their 15-man squad. Registration will be done by contacting the GSCL at 69 Seafort Street, Campbellville or telephone 619-5103. The tournament is receiving overwhelming support from Panama with HL Latino, Beifa Zona Libre, Quick and Mayo Zona Libre already on board. On the local scene, Elegance Jewellery and Pawn Shop, Ink Plus – The Computer Store and Crown Mining have all thrown their corporate support for the three-day event. So far for 2016, the Georgetown Softball Cricket League has successfully ran off the Digimax Softball Cup and the Regal Sports Competition, while another Regal Sports tournament is approaching the quarterfinals stage.

EBDCA quarterfinals on this weekend The quarterfinals of the East Bank Demerara Cricket Association 50-over tournament have been set for this weekend. To d a y a t F a r m ,

Herstelling A will play Sandpipers and Eccles face Providence at Everest. Tomorrow Farm will host North Soesdyke. Matches start at 09:30 hrs.

Rebba Low glides over the court like a ballerina in her contest with Maya Collins. Daniel won a close first game 11 – 8 but Alex won the next two games fairly easily 11 – 5, 11 – 4. The fourth game went back and forth but eventually Alex got to match ball at 10 – 8, however Daniel was not giving up without a fight. He won the next two points to even the scores at ten all, then it was eleven all, then twelve all, but Alex secured the next two points to record a well deserved victory. In the other match in category A, Shomari Wiltshire proved to be too good for Anthony Islam winning 11- 4, 11 – 5, 11 – 3. In category B Rebecca Low proved to be too strong for Maya Collins winning easily in straight games 11 – 2, 11 – 8, 11 – 3, while Samuel Ince-Carvalhal recorded his second win

when he outplayed Gianni Carpenter 11 – 5, 11 – 3, 11 – 5. In category C, Demetrius De Abreu was too good for Dominic Collins winning easily 11 – 6, 11 – 5, 11 – 4, while in category D, Abosaide Cadogan was made to work hard in her match against Aliyah Persaud winning 11 – 1, 11 – 6, 11 – 9. Also in category D, Madison Fernandes defeated Jason Gomes also in straight games 13 – 11, 11 – 3, 11 – 1. Results in each of the categories were as follows: Category I Aishani Persaud beat Noah Rahaman 8 – 11, 11-8, 11-9 Dhiren Persaud defeated Joshua Verwey 11-8, 11- 8 Grant Fernandes beat Jared Saul 8 – 11, 11-7, 11-7 Category G

Jason Gomes takes on Madison Fernandes in Thursday night’s action. Jahcinta Adams beat Osmond Mack 11 – 6, 11 – 3 Beau Fernandes beat Isabella Ramjohn 11 – 4, 11 –2 Category F Mikhail Persaud beat Chad De Abreu 11 – 7, 11 – 6 Louis Da Silva defeated Nicholas Verwey 11 – 6, 11 – 3 Liam Carpenter defeated Shiloh Asregado 8 - 11, 11 – 6, 11 – 3 Category E Mohyryan Baksh beat Nathan Rahaman 11 – 5, 11 – 3 James Mekdeci beat Haley Carpenter 11 – 5, 11 – 1 Zach Persaud defeated Paige Fernandes 11 – 13, 11 – 5, 11 - 9 Category D Abosaide Cadogan defeated Aliyah Persaud 11 –

1, 11 – 6, 11 – 9 Madison Fernandes beat Jason Gomes 13 - 11 – 3, 11 – 1 Category C Demetrius De Abreu beat Dominic Collins 11 – 6, 11 – 5, 11 – 4 Category B Samuel Ince-Carvalhal beat Gianni Carpenter 11 – 5, 11 – 3, 11 – 5 Rebecca Low defeated Maya Collins 11 – 2, 11 – 8, 11 - 3 Category A Alex Cheeks beat Daniel Islam 8 – 11, 11 – 5, 11 – 4, 14 – 12 S h o m a r i Wi l t s h i r e defeated Anthony Islam 11 – 4, 11 – 5, 11 - 3 Matches will continue from 6.00 pm this evening with the finals set to commence from 11.00 am tomorrow.

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Saturday November 19, 2016

Hamilton Green 82nd Birthday 9-a-side football now a one day event at Den Amstel today

Shem Porter Den Amstel ground on the West of Demerara is expected to come alive today when action in the 82nd birthday celebration 9-a-side football tournament in recognition of former Prime Minister of Guyana and Mayor of Georgetown, Hamilton Green is contested. The event is now a one day tournament and will be played this afternoon starting at 2:00pm with 16 teams down to compete. Mr. Green celebrated his birthday on Wednesday, November 9, when he turned 82. The event is organised by Former National Football player and Coach, Lennox Arthur, who has organised football programmes in honour of Mr. Green’s birth

Mervin Joseph

Trayon Bobb

Delon Lanferman

Jamaal Harvey

anniversary for over 30 years now. The fixtures today start with: Kitty vs Tucville, Wa l e s v s M o c h a , Pouderoyen vs Alexander Village, Crane vs Kuru Kururu, Stewartville vs Grove, Uitvlugt vs Herstelling, Sara Lodge vs South Sophia and Den Amstel vs Soesdyke. The winners will advance to the quarterfinals with the respective winners from those matches battling in the semis and eventual final. Keen competition is anticipated with some of the leading players in this format expected to be in action throughout the evening. Among those on show include Joshua Jamal of South Sophia, Shem Porter

of Alexander Village, Joel Dick of Grove, Mervin Joseph of Soesdyke, Trayon Bobb and Jamaal Harvey of Uitvlugt and Delon Lanferman and Andre Hector of Den Amstel. The winner will collect $200,000, while the runnerup will claim $100,000, with both receiving trophies put up by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo. The MVP gets the Trophy Stall trophy, Best Goalie gets the Business School trophy, while the player scoring the most goals collects a Lazy Boy chair from AH&L Kissoon and the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport trophy. Among the sponsors assisting is lead sponsor Top Brandz of Broad and High Street, distributors of the

popular Interstate vehicle batteries, Busta, Macorp, Ready Mix, Guyoil, IPA, BEV Processors Inc., EC Vieira, Sattuar Gafoor and Gafsons, Cummings Electrical, Tecnomills, Namilco, E networks,

Massy, BM Soat, RK Security, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, Ramesh Sunich of the Trophy Stall, James Bovell of the Business School, AH&L Kissoon, Nexen Global, China Trading,

Andre Hector Silvie’s, Tritipaul Singh and Ramchan Ragubeer. Teams will be playing according to the Inter Ward/Village tournament rules in accordance to FIFA rules. The no offside rule is also in effect in this format.

Courts Pee Wee Schools Football Competition

We are confident despite underdog tag-Wright

Part of the action in this year’s Courts Pee Wee Schools Football Competition. Head Coach of St. Agnes Troy Wright expressed confidence ahead of tomorrow’s showdown against defending champion St. Angela’s for this year’s Courts Pee Wee Schools Football title, scheduled to be played, at the Banks DIH ground, Thirst Park. St. Agnes booked their place to the final after squeezing past favourites West Ruimveldt 1-0 to set up a highly anticipated clash against their neighbours. Wright, who was putting his young charges through their paces at the Parade ground said, “We are the underdogs, but most of the teams we have beaten are either former champions or

finalists. We beat Stella Maris (2014 winner) who is a former champion, Marian Academy (2012 champ) who is a former champion and West Ruimveldt (2013 finalist and 2012 third placed team) who was a finalist and now we are facing off with the current champion”. The Coach pointed to an impressive track record as providing the boost for the team’s confidence, adding that their seemingly impregnable backline has proven to be effective against all opposition so far and he envisages a similar display in the final. He said he was extremely satisfied with the

team’s performance to date and is hoping that the youngsters produce another clinical exhibition to bring the curtains down on this year’s event. Their only loss so far was to Redeemer Primary, a 1-0 defeat in the group stage. “It’s going to be a tough match. They (St. Angela’s) don’t want to lose to us, they want to win back to back titles and we don’t want to lose to them. It’s going to be a war even without football they normally have problems between the schools so with football it’s going to be a war. The guys are really fired up and have high expectations and they (Continued on page 25)

Saturday November 19, 2016

Kaieteur News

PAGE 35

Personal showdowns loom at Nationals next week With the focus on which District will win the National Schools’ Cycling, Swimming and Track and Field Championships 2016, set to start on Monday, former national junior sprinter, Treiston Joseph believes it is usually the head-to-head battles in athletics that makes the event an enduring and successful one for the past 56 years. “While some athletes such as Compton Caesar and Shauntel Hinds are set to dominate their events and categories, the Under-18 Category sprints in both male and female should blow the roof off the National Stadium,” Joseph said. The battle for the Boy’s Under-18 sprints between Berbice’s, Tyrell Peters and Linden’s Daniel Williams should provide major spark when the two clash, with records expected to fall when all is said and done

between the two top talents. “Both athletes are set to meet in the 100 and 200 metres and as seen over the past years both of the athletes have various attributes,” Joseph pointed out. “Peters, clearly the more explosive of the two athletes with faster leg speed is a lock for 100 metres success as proven by his 10.68s silver medal run at the South A m e r i c a n Yo u t h Championships, while Williams because of his 400 metres strength is a lock for 200 metres success with his top end speed,” the former top junior athlete continued. Williams defeated Peters in the 200 metres at the South American Youth Championships, which helped him to a bronze medal in the process. Joseph believes because of that, Williams has what he called “a mental edge” in the 200 metres at Nationals.

Daniel Williams “The question remains: can Williams top end speed kick in early enough to topple Peters in an expected mega-clash in the 100 metres Finals or will Peters s t a v e o ff a Wi l l i a m s finishing speed to win 200 metres final?” Meanwhile, Joseph pointed out that the female version of the sprints should be a three-way battle among East Georgetown’s, Cassie Small, North Georgetown’s, Kenisha Phillips and

Kenisha Phillips

Linden’s Onasha Rogers. “Phillips has ruled the roost for female sprinting in the nation, but Rogers has been consistently improving, and the technically correct sprinter that also has a great start will have to run near perfect races to topple Phillips, who recently returned from the South American Youth Championships,” Joseph theorised. Phillips, who competes in the three sprint events,

will have a great combination of strength, speed and power. She will have to contend with Cassie Small as well in all three events compared to Rogers, who will just feature in the 100m and 200m races. “Where Small has the evident edge over both top class female sprinters is in the intangibles of the sport; while both sprinters might be a touch ahead of Small in

Tyrell Peters talent, the East Georgetown athlete makes up for it with heart and a never say die attitude that can help propel her to upset wins,” Joseph pointed out in his assessment. Joseph, who is now a journalist attached to News Room, believes that the personal battles at the Championships next week sets the stage for a riveting competition that will threaten lots of records.

Diamond Mineral Water Indoor Hockey Festival

Old Fort intensifying preparations

Players from Old Fort seen during a training session recently, at the National Gymnasium. Wi t h p r i z e m o n i e s expected to exceed over US$8,000, local teams participating this year’s Diamond Mineral Water Indoor Hockey Festival are intensifying preparations ahead of the November 24 start. The four-day Festival promises to be one of the most exciting to be staged since its inauguration in 2004 and is expected to

include eight teams from overseas one of which is the Ball Wa s h e r s f r o m Was hington in the U S A that w ill be making its debut in the event, while teams from Canada and Trinidad and Tobago are also anticipated to participate. One local team that is hard at training right now is Old Fort and they have been going through their paces

under the watchful eyes of Coach Dwayne Alleyne, at the National Gymnasium. Old Fort has been knocking on the door for sometime in the Men’s Division, but always seem to disappoint and this according to members of the squad has to change. The team is loaded with talent with the Simon brothers Aderemi and

Askofu, Jason De Santos, John Abrahams, Dwight Sullivan, Christopher LowKoan and Anthony Cole some of those who’re expected to play crucial roles in the team’s quest for top honours. Jael Gaskin and Stefan Sprosta are members of the young brigade that has been improving leaps and bounds and they’ve already proven to be match winners, so

much is expected of them. Meanwhile, the winners of the M e n ’s a n d Women’s categories will receive US $3,000 each with the runner-up teams to get US$500, while the Vets winners will collect US$500 and runnersup prizes. The annual event which is being staged for the twelfth time will be played from November 24-27, at the

National Gymnasium and according to the GHB President over seventeen teams are confirmed to participate. The sponsors on board are Demerara Distillers Ltd under its Diamond M i n e r a l Wa t e r b r a n d , Ansa McAl’s Carib Beer brand. The National Sports Commission is also in support of the Festival.

t r o Sp

Stage of Champions bodybuilding contest on tonight at Theatre Guild

Athletes share a moment at the Guyana Olympic House yesterday. (Zaheer Mohamed photo)

Brilliant Taylor strikes form to hand Windies first win

Chanderpaul propels Jaguars before Cornwall triggers collapse

Captain Stafanie Taylor ‌ returned to form with a brilliant top score of 90. (file photo)

The evergreen Shiv Chanderpaul showed that he still has what it takes as he led the Jaguars scoring with an unbeaten 81. Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Limited, 24 Saffon St.Charlestown, Georgetown.Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/ 226-8210