Kaieteur News

Wednesday November 23, 2016

GuySuCo declined under Hanoman, Bhim and Singh DEAR EDITOR, Within recent days there have been quite a bit of tit for tat between the current and immediate past government, intermingled with a plethora of press statements and commentaries by GuySuCo and the sugar Union GAWU, as to who is responsible for the current sordid state of affairs of the sugar company. These arguments, mudslinging and vitriolic statements and commentaries will not help to rescue an ailing industry or assuage the going concerns of the sugar workers on the future of their livelihood; they only add to their woes, confusions and distress. What seems not to matter most to the government, opposition and GuySuCo’s senior officials is the fate of 18,000 sugar workers and their families. When employment opportunities diminish by the day, where will these displaced workers go? The current exchanges focus, among others, on whether Booker Tate is responsible for the run-down state of the sugar industry. To determine whether this British-based management consultancy is responsible, let’s look at some statistics and be the impartial judge. I hold no brief for Booker Tate or any political party; it is just to put this seemingly contentious matter into a proper and sensible perspective, and use it to advise those who are willing to listen on the progressive way forward. Booker Tate’s services were solicited by the Desmond Hoyte’s government to manage the sugar industry after the most dismal performance was recorded in 1990, when 130,000 tonnes sugar was produced. They assumed responsibility for the management of GuySuCo in 1991 until their contract was terminated by the previous government in 2008. In between 1991-2008 the average annual sugar production was 267,400 tonnes. The cane yield measured in tonnes cane per hectare (TCH) was 69, and the average cost of production was about US$0.24 per lb. Local management took over the management of the company from 2009 to-date. The average annual sugar production from 2009 -2015 was 220,400 tonnes, cane yield 59 TCH and cost of production almostUS$0.40 per lb; an annual decline from the Booker Tate period by 47,000 tonnes sugar or 18% per year, cane yield by 10 TCH or 15% and cost of production increased by US$0.16 per lb.

Herein lies the core of the issue. The increase in the cost of production is just what the approximate price of sugar is on the world market; about US$320 per tonne. If the volume of sugar production and the cost of producing it are used to determine the success or failure of the sugar industry, the decline of the sugar industry, therefore, cannot be attributed to Booker Tate, but to local management. The ownership of the decline has to be attributed to the three Chief Executive Officers who held the helm of the company from 2009 to date: vis-à-vis Errol Hanoman, Paul Bhim and Rajendra Singh. During Bhim’s tenure the company recorded its lowest production since 1990 when 186,000 tonnes were produced in 2013, and from media reports it seems that 2016 will be lower than 2013 production under Hanoman. It must also be borne in mind that in 2014 the company reported to the Economic Services Commission that it had incurred an overall debt of $58 billion. A built-up of the current $90 billion debt started then. The common denominator from the time Booker Tate demitted office to-date is agriculture management. The head of this department was responsible for agriculture management from 2009 to date, and overlooked the perpetual decline in cane yield over the years; with the worst being 53 TCH in 2013. Editor, unless cane yield could be improved to an average of 70 TCH, there is no way this company has any hope of a turnaround where sugar production is concerned. Its fixed operating expense is way too high; as such, the only avenue of lowering its high cost of production to competitive levels is to improve on land productivity and cane yield, but it appears the company is not focusing on the right and core priority. Lastly, if media reports are accurate that Booker Tate was the designer and project manager of the Skeldon Factory, then it befuddles any logic as to why they were legally exonerated from a US$200M bungling-up. Selwyn R. Narinedatt

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Kaieteur News

THE PPP IS A PRO-PEOPLE PARTY THAT IS NOT RACE-BASED DEAR EDITOR; The current APNU-AFC administration seems to be pack pedaling on a major manifesto promise which was to put in train the necessary mechanisms to allow for constitutional reforms. This from all appearances is now put on the back burner and there is now a deafening silence on this important facet of national life. The GrangerNagamoottoo administration owes an explanation to the Guyanese people why there is now a marked reluctance to commence the process of constitutional reforms aimed at a more inclusive and participatory governance mechanism. There were even talks of shared governance with the political opposition should the APNU win the elections. Now that the APNU-AFC has been catapulted into the seat of government, all talks of shared governance have

been thrown out of the window. With a slender one seat majority in Parliament, the current regime is behaving as if they have a divine right to rule. It matters very little if at all, that the PPP still remains the single largest political party in Guyana and still has control over seven of the ten administrative regions in the country. Indeed, it is something of an enigma that the PPP/C controls some 70 percent of the Regional Democratic Councils and still occupy the opposition benches. Nor does it matter that the PPP has challenged the results of the elections in court. One reason for the PPP electoral victories was the fact that the PPP since its very entry into competitive electoral politics was always voter friendly due mainly to its popular and universalistic appeal. Its embrace of propeople programs and policies has rendered it a national

institution which transcends the narrow confines of race and ethnicity. It is not the fault of the PPP that it continues to win all elections either outright or by way of winning a plurality. Interestingly, all attempts at constitutional reforms since the colonial period were aimed primarily at preventing the PPP from winning an outright majority. This started way back in the 1957 when the electoral boundaries or constituencies were reduced from twenty four to fourteen to reduce the perceived electoral advantage it was felt the PPP enjoyed in the 1953 elections when it won a political landslide of eighteen out of twenty four seats. Despite the political gerrymandering and manipulation of the electoral system, the PPP under the charismatic leadership of Dr. Cheddi Jagan still managed to win nine out of the fourteen seats. It will be recalled that

two years earlier, in 1955 a major split took placed in the party. One distinct advantage of the constituency model is that it allows for greater accountability of political stewardship at the constituency level and also more predictable and stable government. The current model which is basically a hybrid of the constituency and PR, needs to be revisited with a view to deepening the democratic and by extension governance mechanisms thereby allowing for more representative and accountable governance. The current administration needed as a matter of urgency to re-convene the Constitutional Reform Commission to come up with new and innovative thinking on how to deepen and broaden our democracy which is currently fragile and amorphous. Hydar Ally

PENSIONS MUST BE GROUNDED IN UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLES DEAR EDITOR; When persons lose sight of principles and focus on the personalities it undermines productive discourse and objective decision-making. This is a problem we see far too much and too often in our society. The issue of a bill tabled in the National Assembly addressing primarily the pension of Hamilton Green as former Prime Minister cannot stand the test of scrutiny in its present form. Those who have taken the position that Green, serving as Prime Minister does not deserve a pension on what is perceived as intransigence during his tenure in office, buttressed by their assessment of the PNC’s record in office, lack merit. The most disturbing and reckless arguments being used to deny the pension have emanated from the Guyana Human Rights Association and Transparency Institute of Guyana Incorporated. Pension is a right under the Guyana Constitution. Any organisation or individual that takes a position to deny an individual

a pension he or she should be entitled to is engaging in a human rights violation. With that being said, a non-contributory pension is not meant to sustain one who is no longer employed in the said position at the same standard of living. Neither is a pension meant to pay one who is not doing the job, the same sum as the one actively doing the job. A pension is meant to provide income at a percentage of what one would have earned during the work period or his/her work life. This is the principle that must guide the thinking in determining fixing of pension and the government must set the standard for it. The Former Presidents (Benefits and other Facilities) Act is flawed. This law is selfserving and meant to reward those no longer serving the same remuneration as the person who is actively

employed, expected to turn up to work, and account for his or her day-to-day activities. It is unfair and indiscriminate and the society must question and hold accountable those who evidently see public office as a gravy train. The society must be concerned that former presidents are receiving pensions at the sum the sitting president is receiving as salary. The bill in the name of Green seeks to do the same thing, but in this case applicable to the Office of the Prime Minister. What the society needs, and the Minister of Finance must address, is creating a formula that is grounded in universal acceptable principles of what constitutes a pension for Members of the National Assembly and Ministers of Government. This formula must not lose sight of inflationary

consideration. The Bill in the name of Green must be reconsidered. Pension must be about public offices not about persons. Likewise, this 11th Parliament must move to bring a Bill that regularises pensions for those who served as members of parliament and ministers of government. According to the Constitution any Member of Parliament on either side of the House can bring any bill to the National Assembly. Pension must reflect a reasonable percent of income, not the full income. An example can be taken from the United States. As wealthy as that country is the President’s pension is equivalent to that of the head of an executive Continued on page 6

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday November 23, 2016

Irregularities at Upper Corentyne Cabinet meetings at the GDF, Industrial Training Centre now the Green Pension Bill DEAR EDITOR; I would like to highlight a particular issue and bring it to the attention of the Head of State and the Minister of Education. There are massive irregularities at the Upper Corentyne Industrial Training Centre. The board of the institution is undermining the constitution of the body. It is in power by devious means and making the institution their personal property. They are aided and abetted by the present administrator who is a retiredrehired person. The facts are, the school’s board laws say that once a member is absent from three consecutive meetings, the Education Minister must be informed. The Council Board for the last years has been unable to have a quorum. Three or four persons on the board would meet for discussions so they are existing in a state of demand, meaning they dictate to the board. The Ministry of Education obviously knows that the board is dormant because for one year no minutes had been sent to the School Board Secretariat. This Board urgently needs to be dissolved for the lack of meetings. A new board needs to be assembled. The administration is the power behind the board and the brain that keeps the dysfunctional board existing to cover his

actions. This same administrator closed down the metal work engineering section. He sacked the former welding instructor and said it was the board’s decision. Next he stopped children from entering the carpentry and masonry classes which he had premeditated to close down two years back. The aim was to sack the instructors. There is a dramatic decline in attendance. Two auditors came to audit the centre. The carpentry section undertook a number of contracts for the centre; the money was paid but instructors and some learners were never paid. This is scandalous. There are many things that need to be investigated. There are reports of unacceptable things and abuse on learners and a new board and administrator need to be appointed. It is interesting to note that some officials at the Ministry of Education feed him back on all complaints. The fearful thing is that the administrator with a stroke of his pen stops anyone’s payment without rhyme or a reason. The method used by the administration is autocratic and has no place in our society. He is a political appointee from the last administration. Former Instructor

DEAR EDITOR; Two recent developments in Guyana are raising alarm bells regarding the direction of the coalition government in Guyana. The Working People’s Alliance Overseas Associates (WPAOA) would like to voice our concern over the recent decision to hold the meetings of the cabinet to the Guyana Defence Force Headquarters, Camp Ayanganna. This decision sends the wrong signal to the population that has already expressed some reservations to the prominence of active and retired military officers in every facet of government. Not only is the advisory arm of the President over weighted with military and former military personnel - the government through this decision seems to be cementing the growing perception of a militarized governmental culture. We call on the President and his

Cabinet to revisit this decision and to find a civilian friendly location for meetings of the Cabinet. Secondly, we are shocked that a Bill titled the “Hamilton Green Pension Act” is scheduled to be debated in the Parliament. This is a travesty. While we do not object to public officials receiving due recognition and compensation for services rendered to the country, Mr. Hamilton Green is already in receipt of a parliamentary pension, a retirement package from the Georgetown City Council and a salary as Chairman of CH&PA. To identify him for further remuneration is an insult to all public servants who this Government claims could only be afforded a ten percent wage increase. It is apparent that there is a trend developing in this administration that only those in authority should live the

good life. Further, Mr. Green did not positively contribute to the political culture of Guyana, striking workers and polling agents can attest to this. We believe that a government, any government must be sensitive to history. Governmental actions and activities must be a signal of intent to put the authoritarian past behind. This is troubling to us even more so because this is a coalition government that supposedly brings together the historically aggrieved with representatives of the party of the old perpetrators of violence against the people. It is time for the government to begin to exercise good judgement. This bill would not further the national interest of reconciliation or enhance social cohesion. Keith Branch Press Secretary, Working Peoples’ Alliance Oversees Associates (WPAOA

DEAR EDITOR; I have no communication with the Honourable Minister of Public Infrastructure, hence I am requesting a space in your newspaper to relate an unfortunate situation that almost caused my grandmother her life. On November 16, 2016, my mother, grandmother who is 74 years old, and I reached Parika at around 13:00 hrs and was told that Aditya Boat Service is loading. We went into the boat and waited for

almost two hours for it to full. When the boat was filled, it left Parika but instead of heading to Eastern Wakenaam, the captain went all the way around the island to the Transport and Harbour’s Stelling which is located at Sans Souci. We spent close to 35 minutes in the rough river which we never expected. When we reached the Wakenaam Public Stelling at Sans Souci on the South

Western side of the Island, to my surprise there was no ramp for us to disembark. I am 35 years old with 120lbs and had to open my feet to almost 700 to disembark the boat. I immediately began to quarrel because I was upset to know that my life was not treated with consideration from Aditya Boat Service. Notwithstanding the above, I felt the pain my 74year-old grandmother went through to disembark that boat. She literally had to crawl like a caterpillar with the help of six other passengers. Editor it hurts, it does. Words cannot begin to express how hurt I am. After this situation, I would never ever return to Guyana and my grandmother holds the same view. Considering the above permit me to ask Minister David Patterson the following questions: 1. Why was the boat allowed to travel from Parika to South Western Wakenaam when it is licensed to travel from Parika to Eastern Wakenaam? 2. Why are passengers not allowed their democratic right to travel freely with which ever service they choose to? 3. What are the factors that were considered to implement a system that once failed? In closing, I call on all the departments that would have caused this trouble to fix it. To my islanders, if it is not fixed then I am just sorry for you. Overseas based Guyanese

IS THERE SOME TRICKERY The ‘Turn System’ almost caused GOING ON AT GUYSUCO? my grandmother her life DEAR EDITOR; I refer to the article “Appalling state of Skeldon, failing industry….Jagdeo, Ramotar trying to confuse the nation with trickery” in November 17th edition of KN in which GuySuCo’s Chairman named the company that conducted the audit at Skeldon. Editor, I feel compelled to make a few points so that the Guyanese public can decide where the trickery is coming from: ( 1 ) Wa r t s i l a i s w e l l known globally for its expertise in power generation mainly with engines. This company is not known for expertise in sugar mill designs and sugar production. From the photographs and descriptions provided, Wartsila’s audit focused on power generation at Skeldon. It therefore boggles the mind how the Chairman concluded that the whole factory is falling apart using findings of an audit from a power company as a basis. GuySuCo is deliberately

withholding a fact that Wartsila currently manages the operations of engines at Skeldon therefore, the only plausible conclusion is that Wartsila may have an interest in the steam power plant (boilers and turbines) but they may not want to pay the real price hence an audit to argue for reduced value for assets. It’s a case where a person intends to buy a car and an inept seller depends on the buyer to assess that car for a value. Is there some trickery here? (2) I spoke about the need for a robust maintenance programme in my previous letter and I maintain that if proper maintenance is not done, any machinery will deteriorate and do so quickly. Can the Chairman provide this nation with the maintenance programmes for Skeldon for the periods MayAugust 2015, December, 2015- February, 2016 and May-August, 2016? This will explain whether or not Skeldon was undermaintained during the three

maintenance periods under his watch. The photographs provided are for cooling water pumps. This looks like the raw water (canal water) pump station which will be in poor condition if pump glands leak. The photos show this. Is there some trickery here? (3) In the article, Mr. Vi e i r a w a s q u o t e d a s saying “When we took over Skeldon, it was only producing 20,000t of sugar”. This is just a plain lie. At the end of 1st crop 2015, Skeldon produced 8,220t sugar and was poised for a good 2nd crop with canes in ground which Mr. Vieira and the Chairman inherited. At end of 2015, Skeldon made 39,158t sugar and the Chairman boasted about it. This is 19,158t more than what Mr. Vieira stated. Is there some trickery here? (4) 2016 is coming to a close and GuySuCo’s production is just about 150,000t sugar. The company is on track to hit the lowest production since 1990. The Chairman and team maybe searching for reasons to explain this abysmal management performance and Skeldon seem to be an ideal scapegoat. Is there some trickery here? Frederick Yuvraj

Call for inquiry into the... From page 4 only employed them but failed to monitor or supervise their medical progress thereby giving them a carte blanche to commit genocide of sorts. So let us be careful of the direction in which the finger is pointed. The public should not remain silent but should also be strong advocates for the banning of the drug. On an interesting note of inquiry, have the doctors in Guyana attained the level of knowledge or training in the use of Cervidil (Dinoprsotone), a cervical ripener that helps ripen the cervix in preparation for labour. No woman should die while giving life. A baby’s first breath should not be his mother’s last. Yvonne Sam

Pensions must be... Frompage 5 department (i.e. a minister) and this sum is taxable income. When Barack Obama leaves office he will not receive the US$400,000 per year salary as pension, but $203,700 per year which is the equivalent to a minister/secretary. Guyana remains a donkey cart economy and elected leaders must too, live in accordance with the economic reality. Lincoln Lewis

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday November 23, 2016

China was the single largest destination for Guyana’s timber products last year - GFC By Kiana Wilburg The Asia/Pacific zone continues to be the largest market for Guyana’s forest products. This is according to the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC). The Commission stated that for last year, China was the single largest destination for Guyana’s timber products, followed closely by India. The Latin America/ Caribbean Region was the second largest market zone for Guyana’s forest produce. Within this Region, Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados were noted as the major destination for Guyana’s forest product. With regard to China, the Commission said that it is a major importer and producer of tropical wood products. The main sawn wood suppliers to China were Russia, Canada, Thailand, and the USA. The Commission said that the buoyant real estate market in China’s cities has significantly boosted demand for furniture. As a result, China’s wood-based panel imports rose substantially. The Forestry Commission said that China is a potential significant market for tropical timber producing countries such as Guyana for not only log exports but also for primary processed products (sawn wood, flooring blanks, semi-finished furniture components etc.). As for the USA, the Commission

said that it is a major market not only for its huge purchasing capacity but also for its wooden house building culture. Despite reduced demand, the GFC has noted that the size of the USA market and its niches for tropical timber are still significant. It said, “Based on recent market reports, the USA is still the world’s largest consumer of plywood and timber products. Tropical timber species tend to occupy very particular and important niches in the US market.” The Commission added, “They are used in high-valued construction market segments such as furniture, cabinets, flooring, architectural woodwork, decking, mouldings and specialized industrial applications, such as in marine uses and truck beds. The wood flooring

market has a strong correlation to residential housing due to the popularity of wood floors and the continued strength of new constructions and residential remodeling.” The GFC also spoke of Guyana’s potential in the European markets. In this regard, it said that Guyana is currently engaged in the European Union Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (EU-FLEGT) Action Plan Process. Plans are apace to commence issuing FLEGT licenses in 2017. Additionally, the Commission said that this would mean that the EU Market will be much more lucrative for Guyana’s forest products. It said that most EU consumers of tropical timber undertake significant local further

processing and re-manufacturing, and therefore, generally import tropical wood products in primary and secondary forms. The Commission said that several major French timber companies have subsidiaries in former French colonies in West Africa (Cameroon and Gabon) and the Congo Basin (CAR and Congo), where they undertake primary processing (mainly sawn wood and rotary cut veneers) and export these products to France for further processing and re-manufacturing. Officials said, “In all the major tropical timber importing countries, the common influencing factor for the demand of wood products is the building and construction sector. Most of tropical timber is used as structural components or used in

applications where, due to their particular characteristics are preferred for use such as structural pieces, stairs, flooring, among other areas.” Over the past seven years, GFC said that forest sector has shown stable performance with production level of Timber and Fuelwood ranging from 382,000m3 to 530,000 m3 per year. With regard to production of logs, GFC recorded 266,000m3 to 406,000m3 with export of Logs 62,000m3 and 138,000m3 per annum, representing between 23% and 33% of total log production. It said that production of other forest products such as Roundwood (Piles, Poles and Posts), Primary Lumber (Chainsawn and Portable Mill), as well as Split wood (Shingles), and Fuel wood (Charcoal and Firewood), have contributed to the total production level of the forest sector at the range indicated. The Commission stated that the main added value products produce has been Plywood and Veneer for which production levels range between 14,000m3 and 41,000m3 over the seven-year period. Additionally, it was noted that export value of primary exports has ranged between US$39M and US$56M over the past seven years Continued on page 14

Wednesday November 23, 2016

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Kaieteur News

Has Durban Park been sold or given away? The People’s Progressive Party Civic is interested in who donated to the Durban Park Project, how much was donated and how the donations were spent. This seems to be a fair request. If monies were solicited to help develop Durban Park, then the public ought to be informed about how that money was spent. Those who donated would have an interest also in ensuring that their donations, in cash and kind, were used for the purposes for which they were intended. If there was proper accountability and if there is a commitment to transparency, then those involved in the project should have no hesitation in answering the questions that were asked or,

for that matter, of opening their accounts to be audited. The Auditor General should demand to see the books for this project because it is one on which state funds were used. A special investigation should be launched. All of this, of course, is premised on the belief that Durban Park is a state-owned facility. We do not know for sure. We are now being told that Homestretch Developers Inc, the company which was involved in the works at Durban Park is a private company. Does this company own Durban Park? Has Durban Park been privatized? Does the state still have the lease for Durban Park or ownership been passed on to the

developers? Why was it necessary to establish a company to develop Durban Park? What is the relationship between this company and the government? It is known that one of the persons connected with the government is an adviser to the President of Guyana. But is there is an agreement between Homestretch Developers Inc. and the government? Central government had to come to the rescue of the project after it was clear that the site was not likely to be ready in time for the 50th anniversary Independence celebrations. The government had to invest hundreds of millions to have the works completed by the Ministry of Public

Dem boys seh...

New Govt. same corruption talk People head spinning. When de PPP was in power all de talk was about how corrupt de PPP was. People talk bout de land that de Ministers thief; dem talk bout de gold some of dem smuggle and dem talk bout de money dem use from de treasury. Dem boys hear how Jagdeo couldn’t wuk fuh de money he tek to build he house and he coulda never answer questions about how he get he wealth. Dem also had some who build some fancy house wid beach house and things from he mother Sunday School pension and from he grandfather who use to sell cow milk. People get fed up and change de government but from wha dem hearing is like if is de same PPP in government. Dem boys hear bout some private company that start to build de Durban Park project. This company had a Minister as director which mean that Soulja Bai approve de setting up. It tek two months before he wake up and chase Rupert and de London boy. He had to put in de one from de Public Works otherwise he woulda had to raise de flag in a cow pasture. De problem dem boys got is a wha happen to de money dem collect from all dem private people who had a good will. People tek dem

equipment and transport material to build up de Durban Park place and although Rupert and London collect money nuff of these people ain’t get pay yet. That is why de PPP holler how de government corrupt. Since dem wink is corruption. Dem refuse to boss de Medical Council and is corruption; dem trying to find out how much money thief and is corruption.

But dem boys notice that some of dem hustling too. Soulja Bai got to watch and see who repairing house and who buying property. But de people still feel that things ain’t so bad because this set can’t really thief. Dem does hustle some money fuh fry rice and a woman. De bottom line is that all of dem corrupt. Talk half and try to see who is de new thief.

Infrastructure. The enormous spending, by government, on the project obligates the government to offer an explanation as to the arrangements between the government and the developing company. The APNU+AFC government which promised greater transparency and accountability is hiding behind silence. When a government hides behind a wall of silence, then there must be something which it wants to conceal. The public is entitled to know whether the lands that Burnham repossessed from a private turf club has now been handed over to a private developing firm. The public would like to know how much money was collected and how that money was spent. It is rumored that

hundreds of millions of dollars are owed to contractors who did work on the site. If this is the case, then taxpayers’ monies will have to be used to settle these liabilities. But in return the taxpayers have a right to know the details which the government is refusing to provide to the National Assembly. If the government does not wish to talk, then the job of the media is to go around as ask certain members of the business community how much they would have donated to the project. It is known that one controversial Chinese company did indicate that it would take responsibility for clearing and maintaining a section of that facility. It was clear, also, that a major contractor had trucked

in hundreds of tonnes of crusher run for the project. It is known, also, that another contractor was doing work on the project. An East Coast Demerara contracting firm was involved in works in building the base for the flag pole. The flag pole, we’re told, was originally consigned to a close friend of a former PPPC President. The PPPC knows why it is asking for accountability for the project. The PPPC has more information than it is letting out at this stage. If the government wants to play dumb, then the PPP should not be mum.

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday November 23, 2016

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN...

I know who Hamilton Green’s godfather is in the APNU+AFC leadership If and when I write my memoirs, I will certainly mention Laurie Lewis and Elvin McDavid. I do not know why Laurie Lewis liked me but I know he did and he ignored my virulent anti-PNC politics. One reason, I could think of was that he felt that as a young Indian UG student, it was commendable that I didn’t care for race politics. It could be something my father did for him because he knew my dad when my dad was a cricket umpire. But Lewis was always nice to me. He told me who killed Monica Reece. People who trust you tell you things that history should record. It was the same with Elvin Mc David. I got to know Mc David long after he fell from power. He became a lonely man, sitting at his window in his small Queenstown home wanting to talk. This happens to all powerful people whose world has slipped away. Many times we talked by that very window in that very house and McDavid would open up to me. He told me he was genuinely sorry that he intervened to stop my wife from being employed in 1984 but said it was Halim Majeed (current Guyanese ambassador to Cuba) who

spoke to President Burnham directly to deny her employment. McDavid told me things that sadly I cannot repeat here but readers should read between the lines. One story was that the Government knew what WPA was doing because it had a plant that was extremely close to the spouse of a top WPA leader. I cannot mention that name; I would be sued ten times for a trillion dollars. But I know that those who were in the WPA leadership at the time knew about this person’s relationship. All Mc David did was to provide more details. One thing for sure if and when Frederick I write those memoirs iconoclastic things will be written about the WPA that need to be put in the history books. One day Mc David said to me that one of the things he never understood about Burnham was Burnham’s subtle, hidden, quiet

insecurity about young, ambitious men. Mc David cited one particular name. He said Burnham did not feel comfortable with him and Burnham did not allow him space to reach his apogee. McDavid was totally in love with Burnham but he told me he felt Hamilton Green was more committed to people around him and that he, Green, contradicted Burnham on many occasions and that Green would elevate people whose requests Burnham had refused. I got the distinct impression that Elvin McDavid hated Hamilton Green but the conversation never turned to Green for McDavid to explain Kissoon but I think I know why. Green was second in charge from 1964 until the PNC lost power in 1992. He was second to Burnham but he exercised power independent of Burnham. He was second to Hoyte but acted many times in contradiction to Hoyte. From 1964 to 1992, Green had been the benefactor to hundreds of persons d o i n g immense and important

favours for them. Many of those beneficiaries have succeeded in life and are spread all over the world. They owe their success to Green. These facts are well known to many of us whose politics go way back to the seventies and onwards. Mr. Green has a god-father in the present power structure. There is someone in the hierarchy of the power establishment who feels the need to reciprocate for Green’s lovely attitude to them long ago. When we guess who it is we must remember Mr. Green held formidable state power for almost three decades. I am not commenting on the merits or demerits of what Green has received but these are the facts. Months after gaining power, the new regime awarded Green the Order of Roraima. Next at age 82 Green has been given the job as chairman of Central Housing and Planning Authority. Then comes a Bill in Parliament that bears Green’s name. The Bill as we all know because of the publicity given to it provides a Prime Minister’s pension for Green. As I wrote above, I will refrain from any critical thought on these three facts but the facts are that in the space of 18 months, Hamilton Green has been the recipient of some elegant (some may say generous) offers from the new government. There is one particular person behind these three generosities. I think I know who it is. I guess in life we want to be nice to those who were once nice to us.

Wednesday November 23, 2016

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Kaieteur News

Min. Roopnaraine, London’s shadow company collected ‘donations’ for Durban Park Project By Abena RockcliffeCampbell As long as a company’s name includes the word ‘Inc.’ it must be incorporated/ registered before it can begin official operation. On Monday, Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, told the National Assembly that from the beginning of the Durban Park Project, in 2015, Homestretch Development Inc. managed the financial affairs of the project. That company, he said, collected all donations and channeled it towards the development of the project. However, according to documentation filed at the Registry, the company was only registered on January 22, last. Opposition Member of Parliament, Juan Edghill, had tabled a motion on the Durban Project. That motion called for answers on several aspects of the Durban Park project. On Monday, for Members’ Day the opposition motions dominated the business of the House. The government, using its one seat majority, blocked the Motion. But Patterson addressing issues contained in the Motion, listed the directors of Homestretch Development Inc. He named Lawrence (Larry) London as the Chairman of the Company. London is also the Chairman of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA). Patterson also named the other directors but neglected to name Minister of Education Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine. Dr. Roopnaraine was slated to speak to Edghill’s Motion but eventually conceded to Patterson. Yesterday, Kaieteur News visited the company’s

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon

Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson

registered address—Lot 18 Lamaha Street. The building is unoccupied and the compound is home to pigeons. At the People’s Progressive Party/Civic press conference at Freedom House yesterday, the party addressed the concerns about the “scandal of monumental proportions” surrounding the execution of the Durban Park Project. Opposition Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira, hosted that press conference with Members of Parliament Irfaan Ali and Edghill. Edghill told the media that he was disappointed in the way the government handled that “simple Motion of transparency.” He said that more questions than answers remain. He said that in addition to the over $400M that was spent from the public purse, more State resources were utilized in the form of material provided by other State institutions like the Demerara Harbour Bridge Company. “What was the actual cost of the Project?” Edghill queried. That is a simple question that the government, which championed itself on transparency, failed to

answer. “Before Homestretch Development Inc. was incorporated who collected the money?’ Edghill challenged the government to dispute, what he called a “fact” that this company was set up for the sole purpose of the execution of the Durban Park project. He said, however, that a question still floating around in his mind is “Why? Why did the Ministry of Public Infrastructure have to take over from Homestretch Development Inc.? Did it breach an agreement? Was there misappropriation?” Since he failed even through the Motion to get answers from the government, Edghill yesterday called on Homestretch Development Inc. to “come clean” and let the nation know what is going on. He questioned what stake does the company have in the project? Is there any ownership? Did the company pay any taxes, “or was it exempted, if it was we need to know under what grounds.” CHINA-GATE Edghill said that exposure of the activities of the Continued on page 30

Chairman of Homestretch Development Inc., Lawrence London

Minister of Education, Rupert Roopnaraine

Opposition MP, Juan Edghill

PAGE 12

Kaieteur News

Wednesday November 23, 2016

Wednesday November 23, 2016

Kaieteur News

PAGE 13

COTED endorses regulatory system for medicines roadmap Ministers with responsibility for Trade within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), have endorsed a roadmap for the implementation of the Caribbean Regulatory System for Medicines (CRS). The endorsement was made at the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) during its 43rd Meeting held last Thursday and Friday in Providence, East Bank Demerara Guyana. The CRS was tabled at the COTED given the Council’s mandate to approve standards and technical regulatory systems – in this instance as they pertain to market access for medicines. Under Article 67 of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, COTED has responsibility for establishing standardisation programmes consistent with the Treaty and international obligations of Member States. The standardisation programme includes harmonisation of standards and technical regulations. The endorsement was one of two decisions taken on health-related matters that came before the Trade Meeting. Given the economic and development consequences that noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) present, Ministers also discussed inter-sectoral collaboration to fight NCDs in the Region. They agreed to collaborate with the Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD) to establish a regional multi-sectoral taskforce to promote and monitor the process of implementation of the priorities the CARICOM Heads of Government have adopted. At their regular meeting in July this year in Georgetown, Guyana, the CARICOM Heads of Government focused on the issue of NCDs and agreed to adopt a more holistic approach to the subject. They pledged to address issues such as the banning of smoking in public places; trade-related measures; banning advertisement of potentially harmful foods which specifically target children; and elevating taxes on foods high in sugar, salt and trans-fats. The Caribbean Regulatory System (CRS) is an initiative of the Caribbean Community and Common Market and is managed as a regulatory unit within CARICOM’s regional public health body, the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA). It is supported by a number of partners, including the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Continued on page 14

Delegates at the COTED meeting at the Ramada Princess Hotel, Providence, East Bank Demerara, Guyana last week.

PAGE 14

Kaieteur News

Wednesday November 23, 2016

Ex-Cop to face trial for killing reputed wife

Former Police Sergeant, Colin Bailey, was yesterday committed to stand trial at the High Court in Georgetown for allegedly murdering his reputed wife, Sirmattie Ramnaress. Bailey, 53, of Lot 63 South Vryheid Lust, East Coast Demerara, and Colin Grant, Ramnaress’s neighbour, of Lot 1161 Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara were both informed that a Prima Facie case was made out against them at the end of a Preliminary Inquiry (PI). The Preliminary Inquiry was heard by Magistrate Fabayo Azore. Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Stephen Telford, represented the prosecution. It is alleged that they killed the woman between August 30 and August 31, 2013 at Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara. The men will go before a judge and jury at the next practical sitting of the Demerara Criminal Assizes. According to reports, the body of 36-year-old Ramnaress was found lying face down in the garage of her home on August 31, 2013. It was a blaze coming from the woman’s home that led

MURDER ACCUSED: Colin Bailey

MURDERED: Sirmattie Ramnaress

firefighters to a bond, when they stumbled upon her body. Her body reportedly bore two stab wounds- one to the neck and another to the hip. The police, in a statement had said that Ramnaress’s house was ransacked and drenched with a flammable liquid, and a storage bond at the rear of the building was destroyed by fire. The ex-sergeant had always claimed that he had no involvement in the woman’s death when he was viewed as a suspect. But police had later suggested that Bailey was no

longer a suspect. Bailey had told Kaieteur News, “I had a feeling all the time because I knew I was not part of it. I knew some time it would have come to light.” Bailey was dismissed from the Guyana Police Force (GPF) following corruption accusations against him. He and another police officer were placed before the courts for allegedly accepting bribes in order to dissolve a criminal matter. They were accused of obtaining $300,000 as inducement to forgo charges for illegal arms and ammunition possession.

Public Health Ministry condemns Kissoon’s comments about Cuban-trained doctors The Ministry of Public Health says it has “strongly” condemned Kaieteur News Columnist, Freddie Kissoon’s attack on the reputation of Cuban-trained Guyanese doctors. In a release yesterday, the Ministry stated that in his November 18, 2016 column

captioned, “Guyanese messengers of death from Cuba have returned,” Kissoon recklessly and baselessly labeled the doctors as being “hopelessly incompetent.” “The Ministry of Public Health stands by our local and foreign-trained doctors whose dedication and

China was the...

From page 8 with the largest percentage of the total exports coming from Logs and sawn wood with a peak export value for Logs recorded at US$24.5M and for Sawn wood US$26M. It said that added value exports have ranged between US$3M and US$9M over the 7 year period. The main products that comprise this category are Plywood, Furniture, Building Components, and a limited extent of craft items. This was documented in its proposed National Log Export Policy for the 2016 to 2018 period.

COTED endorses regulatory... From mpage 13 Organization (PAHO/WHO), PAHO designated National Regulatory Authorities of Regional Reference (NRA/RR) (Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Mexico, United States), and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF). The main purpose of the CRS is to strengthen regulatory capacity in CARICOM Member States in support of improved access to safe, quality, efficacious and affordable medicines and health technologies. The CRS strengthens regulatory capacities through the provision of registration and pharmacovigilance support to Member States, using efficiencies, such as reliance on reference authorities, to enable a sustainable enterprise in the resourceconstrained environment of small states. This contributes to CARPHA’s mandate to prevent diseases, promote health and respond to public health emergencies.

commitment have become the backbone of our health system over the past 40 years,” the release stated. “Cuba has been Guyana’s longest and strongest ally in our effort to train doctors, particularly during the period when other countries had ostracized us due to ideological differences. “Our doctors work tirelessly to save lives, treat the sick and counsel patients. This is often done under less than ideal conditions. Some put their own lives at risk and have even broken limbs in their efforts to take health services over the most challenging terrain to some of the remotest villages in Guyana. For this, they should be commended and not condemned.” “The Ministry looks forward to the continued collaboration with Cuba to train our scholars and holds Cuba accountable for ensuring only those students who demonstrate the standard of competencies required, receive a passing grade.” It added that the health of every Guyanese is of paramount importance to the Ministry of Public Health, “and therefore we remain committed to ensuring Guyana’s best minds receive the training, mentorship and resources needed to deliver high quality health services to all.”

Wednesday November 23, 2016

PAGE 15

Kaieteur News

No bailout for City Hall - Communities Minister

Mayor of New Amsterdam raising his concerns at the meeting.

Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan

Communities Minister, Ronald Bulkan, said Government is not inclined to provide a $600M “bailout” for City Hall. The money that the Georgetown municipality seeks is to assist the cashstrapped town to meet expenses and pay creditors. However, Minister Bulkan said Government will not bailout the municipality. The Minister was speaking at an engagement in Berbice with the Mayors and Councillors of the three municipalities on Friday. “This $600M bailout that we all have read about in the newspapers, where that particular council is looking

for that support…from my own understanding, and the limited current engagement that I have had with colleagues in the administration, is that, I do not think that there is any appetite on the part of the central government to be favourably disposed towards that request,” Minister Bulkan said. The Communities Minister said that what may occur instead is that Central Government may encourage City Hall to seek commercial sources of financing. “The response of central government may very well be along the lines of telling the

Municipality to think like a corporation, so I believe the Georgetown council would be encouraged, that there are commercial sources that they can approach,” Minister Bulkan said. The Mayor and Councillors of Georgetown, at a recent statutory meeting, had passed a motion for the council to assemble a delegation to approach the Communities Minister for a $600M bailout. However, during the meeting in Berbice, the councillors raised the concern that Georgetown seems to be the only council enjoying the largesse of central

government. Mayor of New Amsterdam, Kirt Wynter, had voiced the concern that City Hall would have received from Central Government $300M, just after the General and Regional Elections of May 2015 and would soon be asking for $600M more. He noted this, whilst pointing out that his municipality is still to hear from the Government on the approximately $137M proposal it submitted, to help cover the restoration of the drainage infrastructure in New Amsterdam. Wynter called for Central Continued on page 27

PAGE 26

Wednesday November 23, 2016

Kaieteur News

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Wednesday November 23, 2016

PAGE 27

Kaieteur News

Dochfour murder case nears end Mastermind’s mother remanded... Victim died of hemorrhage From page 3 overseas-based Guyanese told his friends he would ensure they are not caught. Kaieteur News understands that several men beat Narinedatt at the businessman’s premises. He was then taken to a roadway and beaten until he fell into a drain. The men reportedly took the carpenter by vehicle to Number 70 Village, Corentyne, Berbice, where they dumped the body and drove over it with a car. Attorney Mark Conway represented all four accused and told the court that they have no previous antecedents. Police Prosecutor Neville Jeffers indicated that the case file is completed. The Chief Magistrate transferred the matter to the Springlands Magistrate’s Court for December 8. CAUGHT BRIBING COP Investigation into Narinedatt’s murder took a shocking twist, after the mother of Bisram and a relative of one of the accused reportedly turned up at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Eve Leary, Georgetown on Saturday, last, offering $4M to a detective to suppress evidence in the case. Shermella Inderjali, 45, a mother of two, of Lot 121 Section B Number 71 Village, Corentyne Berbice, has been identified as Bisram’s mother. She and Maryanne Lionel, 25, a bank teller attached to Republic Bank, also of Number 71 Village, Corentyne, Berbice were arrested during a sting operation. They too, appeared before the Chief Magistrate yesterday charged for willfully attempting to pervert the course of justice.

It is alleged that on November 19, at Eve Leary, Georgetown, they contacted a Detective Corporal and offered him $4M in cash to forgo charges against the four murder accused, who were at the time in custody pending investigation into the matter. The two women pleaded not guilty to the charge and were remanded to jail. Attorney Stanley Moore entered an appearance on behalf of the accused and requested for them to be released on reasonable bail. He said it was an unfortunate incident. Moore stated that his clients went to the station seeking bail for the men. He told the court that police ranks seized the women’s cell phones which are expected to be used as evidence. But Prosecutor Jeffers opposed bail for the duo citing the nature of the allegation and the penalty attached to the offence. According to Jeffers, the defendants were arrested during a sting operation, during which they were caught handing over the monies to the detective. The prosecutor pointed out that the monetary bribe was also intended for police to forgo charges against Marcus Bisram, who he said is still wanted by police. The prosecutor also stressed witness tampering, and said there is a likelihood the defendants will interfere with witnesses in this matter and also the murder case should they be granted pretrial liberty. Nevertheless, Jeffers said that the case file is complete and six police witnesses will be called to testify. This matter was adjourned until next Monday, November 28 for statements.

No bailout for City... From page 15 Government to “stop focusing all its attention on Georgetown and to start focusing on the other municipalities,” noting that “Georgetown is not Guyana.” Minister Bulkan, however, advised Wynters and the other Region Six municipal councillors present at the engagement that instead of bailout, the administration had adopted a plan to begin weaning the municipalities off Central Government’s support, for financing their works. He told the councillors that the municipalities are now being advised to start functioning like corporations that generate the wealth needed to meet their operational cost. “I think that business consideration that our councils are being urged to bring, that business mindset, beginning in Georgetown would do a lot to drive efficiency and improvement within the management of councils,” the Minister said. “So honourable Mayors, I do not want you to feel that Central Government is just going to push their hands in the kitty and keep bailing out Georgetown, and you are going to be left on your own, we are going to try to be consistent with the message and not discriminate,” he said. Minister Bulkan has been meeting with Regional officials, municipal councillors and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils’ (NDC) officials, to listen to their concerns and to, work together to identify ways of addressing them. The meeting in Berbice was a continuation of this exercise.

and shock - State Pathologist

The Prosecution has called their final witness to the stand in the matter for which, Devindra Rooplall is on trial for the murder of Suresh Goberdhan. According to the charge, Rooplall, on January 16, 2014 murdered Goberdhan called “Bud” at Dochfour, East Coast Demerara. Reports surrounding the case are that the accused beat Goberdhan to death during a dispute over money. The victim was allegedly beaten with a piece of metal, while he was at a rum shop in the village. Rooplall, 21, has since pleaded not guilty to the allegations before Justice Jo-Ann Barlow and a mixed 12-member jury. His trial is ongoing at the High Court in Georgetown. Yesterday, State Attorneys Siand Dhurjon and Shawnette Austin called to the stand, Government Pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh. Dr Singh testified that the victim (Goberdhan) died as a result of hemorrhage and shock. The Pathologist was crossed examined by Attorney -at -Law, Sandil Kissoon. Kissoon

later recalled State witness, Orin Callender. The lawyer questioned the witness about the content of his testimony. Mr Kissoon suggested to Callender that he had given the court two different versions of the story. Callender denied this and reaffirmed to the court that he had been truthful. The attorney later questioned the witness about statements he gave the police. However there were objections by the Prosecution to that line of questioning since it was revealed that the witness cannot read or write. There were also questions about the description of the person who committed the act. In response to those questions, the witness responded that he definitely saw the man who was fighting with Goberdhan, the night he was fatally injured. The matter has been adjourned to today at 9:00 am. When the matter resumes, both the Prosecution and the Defence are expected to present their closing addresses after which the case will be summed up and presented to the jury for a verdict.

From page 26

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PAGE 28

Wednesday November 23, 2016

Kaieteur News

AGNAP commits to lend Murder accused chopped while trying to steal inmate’s phone support to key health areas

Murder accused: Shawn Edinboro Murder accused, Shawn Edinboro, was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital

shortly after 21:00 hours, Monday, with chops to both arms, following a fracas in the

Georgetown Prison. Reports indicate that the incident occurred in the Young Offenders Block. Kaieteur News understands that 21-year-old Edinboro, also known as Shawn Perriera, and another prisoner, had tried to steal a third inmate’s cell phone. Edinboro suffered the worst of the exchange. Edinboro, along with Sean Collins and Michael Bishop were charged for the January 2015 murder of taxi driver, Raphael Campbell, whose body was found with a gunshot wound to the head at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara. Campbell, a Pegasus Hotel taxi driver, reportedly, picked up some male passengers on the night of January 2, 2014 on Camp Street. He allegedly took them to the East Coast of Demerara, where he was slain. His body was found the following day. According to police, on January 3, Edinboro, Bishop, Collins and others were stopped at a roadblock on the Soesdyke/Linden highway while they were in a black Toyota Premio that was stolen from the dead taxi driver.

Minister of Public Health, Dr. George Norton (at centre) in the company of AGNAP members. The public health sector is expected to gain support to deal with a number of issues including care for diabetes-related wounds, sickle cell and mental health. The support was committed during the past week by members of an overseas-based Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) - the Association of Guyana Nurses and Allied Professionals (AGNAP) The NGO is based in the United Kingdom and the members, during a recent visit to the office of Dr. George Norton, Minister of Public Health, revealed plans for the support. The AGNAP visiting team included Gem Watson, Gloria Percival Omotoso, Joy Mc Calman, and Betty Why, all of the United Kingdom. The team in expressing a special interest in the areas of support vowed to provide and facilitate specialized training and fellowships in order to strengthen capacity at the referral and district hospitals.

AGNAP members during their stay here also visited and consulted with the Ministry of Public Health officials including Dr. William Adu Krow, PAHO Country Representation; Dr. Carl ‘Max’ Hanoman, Chairman of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation Board; Mr. Jevaughn Stephens, Director of Health Services Region Six; Nurse Tarmattie Barker, Chief Nursing Officer, among other officials from the Georgetown School of Nursing, Charles Rosa School of Nursing, Guyana Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Association, Wakenaam Cottage Hospital and other public health institutions. The objectives of AGNAP are to contribute to the relief of sickness in Guyana, to help in the advancement of education, primarily amongst health professionals, help in the preservation and protection of public health by providing information and advice, contribute towards the relief of hardship in Guyana, particularly amongst those whose economic circum-

stances cause them to be disadvantaged, and to affiliate with institutions and other charitable bodies in Guyana. Dr. Norton, during his meeting with the NGO, expressed his gratitude to the Diaspora team for their generous and continuous contributions over the years. He mentioned that his Ministry welcomes new initiatives and he offered his blessings to the team as they prepare to give support in the areas of interest stipulated. Just this year, AGNAP donated a quantity of zimmer frames and walking aids to the GPHC. AGNAP was inaugurated in the United Kingdom in June 1988 by nurses and allied professionals. In 1991 it was awarded the Guyana Medal of Service and in June 1998 became a United Kingdom Registered Charity. It is governed by its constitution and the Executive members who were selected by members of the Association whilst others are coopted by Executive members.

CARICOM observers declare general... From page 2 ensure that their post-electoral behaviour coincides with the law of the land, the tenets associated with electoral processes, and internationally accepted standards and best practice,” the statement noted. Reuters reported that election tensions spilled onto Haiti’s streets on Monday with shots fired outside the presidential palace as various candidates claimed victory in a re-run vote in the impoverished Caribbean country. Haitians are counting on their next president to lift the country out of political limbo and repair damage from Hurricane Matthew, which devastated the country last month, killing up to 1,000 people and leaving 1.4 million needing aid. With paper ballots

counted laboriously by hand, election results typically take a week to be announced in Haiti. But less than 24 hours after polling centres had closed, some candidates and their supporters claimed they had won, leading to chaotic scenes in the capital where guards were forced to shoot into the air to clear a celebrating crowd. The provisional electoral council (CEP) released a statement urging the public to disregard any premature victory announcements. “We call on the population not to believe or transmit any pseudo-result, even partial, that has reached them,” it said. “Any result circulating on the internet or social media is not attributable to the CEP.” Electoral officials said

they did not expect to have preliminary results until later on Monday, but it could well be longer as tally sheets arrived later than planned and a vote website faced problems. The head of Haiti’s electoral council, Leopold Berlanger, said he expected to publish final results within a maximum of eight days. Voter turnout in the election was less than 22 percent, an electoral observation coalition said on Monday. The vote was first held in October 2015, but then annulled over complaints of fraud in the first round after Jovenel Moise, the candidate of former President Michel Martelly’s Bald Heads Party, finished ahead of Jude Celestin, previously boss of a state construction company.

Wednesday November 23, 2016

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Parking meter agreement …

City Hall commits to repay investments, projected income if deal scrapped By Abena RockcliffeCampbell “This is a sweetheart deal; it is actually beyond a sweetheart deal,” said Opposition Member of Parliament, Gail Teixeira as she spoke about aspects of the Parking Meter contract signed between City Hall and Smart City Solutions. The contract is yet to be made available. However, at a press conference yesterday, Teixeira read snippets of the contract that she was able to secure. She described the clauses as “ominous.” Of all the clauses read by Teixeira, perhaps the most worrying is the one that speaks to compensation. The contract states that if there is ever to be a case of the City’s unilateral termination of the contract, the City must pay a “penalty” equivalent to Smart City Solutions expenses and investments. Also, this will be multiplied by 50 per cent per year for the remaining time left under the concession. The

Opposition Member of Parliament, Gail Teixeira contract is supposed to last for 20 years with an option for an additional 20 years. Another clause highlighted by Teixeira was that the City will have to provide Smart City with Police ranks to be paid by Smart City. Teixeira said, “This is another red flag.”

Opposition of Parliament, Irfaan Ali There is also a provision for the sale of lands to Smart City for the purpose of constructing garages across the City. On Monday, the Speaker of the National Assembly refused to allow the debate of a motion on the Parking Meter Project. That Motion

was taken to the House by Opposition Member of Parliament, Irfaan Ali. It resolved to have the National Assembly call on the Auditor General of Guyana to “immediately conduct a forensic audit into the Georgetown Municipal Council including the Parking Meter Contract.”

The Speaker said that the matter was sub judice. At yesterday’s press conference, Ali reiterated that the PPP is not in support of any attempts to have parking meters installed in the City. He said that with the revised rate anyone who works in the vicinity of the areas where parking meters will be installed, will suffer badly. He said that an employee who works eight hours a day will be made to pay $1,600 per day, $32,000 per month. Ali said that such a cost cannot even compare to the increase given to public servants. He said that a 10 per cent increase on $100,000 is just $10,000. “That would be expended is no time.” Ali described the parking meter cost as an indirect tax on the people of Guyana. Speaking of the contact, Ali highlighted the fact that even the Cabinet said that the concession agreement is one of “unequal bargaining strength.” He said this as he read a letter sent by Minister of Communities, Ronald

Bulkan to City Hall. Ali told the media that there has been no justification for such a project in Guyana at this time especially considering the state of the economy.

Teen remanded for killing... From page 21 seeing the parties became annoyed, accelerated the motorcar he was driving and struck down the teen who was riding a bicycle. The teenager made an attempt to escape but was apprehended by Ally, who began kicking and cuffing him about the body. The suspect, who was carrying Indal’s handbag at the time, whipped out a 10inch ‘Rambo’ knife from the said bag, and stabbed Ally to the neck. Ally collapsed and was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) by a friend, but was pronounced dead on arrival.

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Wednesday November 23, 2016

Kaieteur News

Deputy REO busted with coke at Texas airport

Busted with coke: Ameena Hinds Deputy Region Three Executive Officer (REO), Ameena Hinds, was last month busted at a Texas, US airport with almost three pounds of cocaine hidden in her suitcase,. According to court documents, after her arrest, the Region Three official told security officials that she took a chance with the drugs after a number of persons she owed, came knocking to collect. She was supposed to receive US$2,500 for the job. According to US court documents, on October 29, at Harris Country, in the Southern District of Texas, Hinds knowingly and intentionally imported into the US over 500 grams of

coke. The court documents said that the Deputy REO touched down at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport around 13:45hrs on a United Airlines flight from Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. She was singled out for a secondary inspection. Around 15:00hrs, her luggage was subject to an xray inspection and a strange rectangular shape was seen at the bottom between the suitcase wheels. That part of the suitcase appeared shaded on the x-ray machines when it was supposed to be clear. Officials later inserted a metal probe and discovered a white powdery substance. They field tested it positive

for cocaine. Hinds was immediately arrested and after the cocaine was weighed, it was found to be 1.49 kilograms (three pounds). The court documents said that Hinds was willing to answer questions without an attorney present. She claimed that she owed US$5000 in personal debt and persons were pressuring her to pay. In July, she met up with an unknown man whom she described as “Mystery Man”. She was offered US$2,500 ($500,000) to take a suitcase with drugs to the US. However, the Deputy REO was nervous and it was not until in October when she was contacted again by the “Mystery Man” that she relented. She was given a ticket by a female and later flew to Trinidad. There, she met “Mystery Man” who gave her another suitcase. Her personal items were placed in this suitcase. She was told to travel to New York and to stay at a hotel where she would be contacted and paid, after the suitcase and drugs would have been handed over. In court, the official pleaded not guilty to her indictment and was held without bail.

Min. Roopnaraine, London’s shadow... From page 11 Minister of State, Joseph Harmon during his trip to China reflected a serious blow to the project. He said that the “China-gate really shook things up.” “When we had that exposure of who accompanied the Minister of State on his trip to China; then we saw the revocation of the appointment (of Brian Tiwarie) as an advisor. The individual concerned was one of the visible contractors. His trucks were seen on the project.” Edghill said that shortly after the exposure, “we saw a disappearance of the equipment then we heard the need for money and for work to be done by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure. So it was left to all sorts of interpretation. That is why I was asking that the government clarify what role the Chinagate played in leading us to the need for the Ministry of Public Infrastructure to get involved.” Edghill said that the revelation about the Durban Park Project, coupled with what the nation has learnt about the drug bond fiasco is proof that the APNU+AFC government is involved in corruption “of the highest form.” VIOLATIONS OF FINANCIAL LAWS Irfaan Ali also weighed in on the concerns he has about the project. He looked extensively at the breaches of financial best practices as specified in the Constitution and the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act (FMAA). Ali quoted Section 16 of the FMAA which says that there “shall be no expenditure of public monies except in accordance with article 217 of the Constitution.” Article 217 of the constitution says that all monies must be placed into the Consolidated Fund. He listed at least three other sections of the FMAA which he said were violated. He said that Section 56 speaks about the

accounting procedure. It states that the Minister shall promulgate appropriate accounting standards to be employed by the officials responsible for the maintenance of the records. Ali looked at the lack of tender process and said, “Not because you were using a force account means you are exempt from the tender process.” A Force account is a payment method used in special circumstances when monies are to be paid out. Teixeira told the media that because of the simple fact that the land on which the Durban Park has been erected belongs to the state, there had to have been an MOU, a Cabinet agreement and other contracts. She said that if everything is above board it should be no issue for the government to reveal those documents. Teixeira said that the nation is now seeing the “real McCoy of the APNU+ AFC government while noting that the point is not about the need for the Park but about the absence of transparency. The Motion that Edghill took before the National Assembly sought full disclosure on the names of the individuals and the private organisation which were in charge of this project from its inception to the April takeover by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure. That question was partially answered. Edghill asked, too, about the donors and their contributions in cash and/or kind during the initial phase and completion of the Jubilee Durban Park Development Project. That was not answered. Edghill asked that the government inform the House whether any and which of these contributions were submitted to the Consolidated Fund. Patterson said that no contributions were paid over to the Consolidated Fund. Edghill posed four other questions which were not answered.

Wednesday November 23, 2016

Kaieteur News

Barbados govt. defends regional airline, LIAT

Barbados PM Freundel Stuart BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) – The Barbados government yesterday defended the operations of the cashstrapped regional airline, LIAT, even as opposition legislators called for it to stop being a financial burden on the island. Both Prime Minister Freundel Stuart and his Finance Minister, Chris Sinckler, defended the airline, whose major shareholders are Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Stuart, speaking in Parliament, said that despite the criticism the value of the airline should not be underestimated that the Antigua-based LIAT remains “important to Barbados. “The Barbados market accounts for about 20 per cent of LIAT’s total passenger revenue. LIAT is important to Barbados. In 2012, according to the information made available

to me LIAT facilitated 145 million US dollars in incoming tourism expenditure to the Barbados economy. “LIAT…the airline has contributed much to the Caribbean and it should be given credit for it,” Prime Minister Stuart told legislators, noting “we have had to prop it up. “We prop up American Airlines, we prop up extra regional carriers to bring tourists from all over the place. What can be wrong with appearing to prop up our regional airline,” Stuart said, adding that his administration is working towards a stronger LIAT. “LIAT has done more to keep the people of the Caribbean together and to facilitate movement between the islands than any other airline that we have seen pass through. “I use the expression pass through deliberately because they just pass through, they don’t stay. LIAT has had the

stamina and the staying power to guarantee us the ability to travel across this region, day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year for the last 60 years and I am thankful for that and I am sure that the people of the Caribbean are thankful for that as well,” he added. Opposition legislator Ronald Toppin has queried the injection of funds into the airline saying that it is a burden on Barbados. “I dare say…that it really cannot continue. LIAT has now been subsidised for some 42 years and it really needs now to become a low cost efficient model carrier. “It is really high time…that serious decisions are made and taken in relation to LIAT. So the time has come where we cannot any longer shelve the need to take some very serious decisions in relation to LIAT,” he told legislators. But Finance Minister Sinckler said Barbados could have become the majority shareholder of the airline but this was not something the government wanted to accomplish. “That is certainly not what other governments wanted to happen because it is a regional airline shared by thoughts and experience and intervention by other governments,” Sinckler said, noting that he was certain the issue ownership would come up again.

Kamla spent $4.3m on functions in 1 year (Trinidad Express) The former Kamla PersadBissessar government spent $4.3 million on four functions— Divali, Children’s Christmas Party, Spiritual Baptist Dinner and Emancipation Dinner— held during her tenure at the Prime Minister’s residence in 2014/ 2015. The current Keith Rowley government has spent $1.2 million on the same four functions held at the PM’s residence in 2015/2016. This is according to figures released by Minister in the Ministry of the Prime Minister Stuart Young. On average, PersadBissessar outspent Rowley by a ratio of almost four to one. The largest item of expenditure under PersadBissessar’s government was the 2014 Divali function which cost $1.677 million. The largest item of expen-

diture under Rowley was the Children’s Christmas Party in 2015 which cost $452,941.76. The smallest item of expenditure under PersadBissessar was the Emancipation Dinner, which cost $611,032.98. The smallest item of expenditure under Rowley was the Divali function which cost $220,409.06. Persad-Bissessar’s second most expensive event was the Children’s Christmas Party on which $1,095,854.70 was spent. Rowley’s second most expensive event was the Emancipation Dinner in which $301,869 was spent. Persad-Bissessar spent $938,803.06 on the Spiritual Baptist Dinner while Rowley spent $257,625.78 on this function. Young said the PNM government had cut the “frills, thrills and whistles” from events held at the Prime

Minister’s residence. He said it was significant that it was Princes Town MP Barry Padarath and not Persad-Bissessar who was doing most of the talking on this matter of expenditure on functions at the Prime Minister’s residence during the tenure of the former People’s Partnership. Young said the UNC was trying to distract the population from the expenditure issue and trying to stoke racial tensions in the upcoming local government elections. Young also said that threats were being made against PNM St James candidate, Jamil Bisnath, who has reported the matter. He said the party also received reports that attempts were also made to intimidate people seeking to vote. He said people of a certain race were being told not to vote for the PNM.

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Wednesday November 23, 2016

Wednesday November 23, 2016

Kaieteur News

Int’l community welcomes ‘important step’ towards returning Haiti to full constitutional rule WASHINGTON, (CMC) – The international community has welcomed, as “an important step” towards returning Haiti to full constitutional rule, the holding of elections in the French-speaking Caribbean country on Sunday. The United States has applauded the vote, saying that it was an effort in “addressing the serious challenges the country faces.” “We commend Haitians for exercising their right to vote in a peaceful manner, and in some areas, amidst difficult circumstances,” said John Kirby, Assistant Secretary in the US Department of State and spokesman in the Bureau of Public Affairs. “The United States welcomes the continued determination of the Provisional Electoral Council, the Haitian National Police, and the government of Haiti towards the realization of free, fair, credible, and peaceful elections,” he added. Kirby said preliminary reports indicate that the elections were conducted with minimal violence and disruption. “The United States deplores the isolated incidents of violence and intimidation, and urges that those responsible be brought to justice under Haitian law,” he said. “We call on the Government of Haiti and all Haitians to foster a climate of calm during the tabulation period to ensure that Haiti remains on track toward democratic renewal of its state institutions and the seating, in early 2017, of a president elected by the Haitian people,” Kirby added. United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said the electoral process is “crucial to ending the current governance vacuum” and urged all the parties involved to “show statesmanship at this critical time for the country.” “He salutes the people of Haiti for having peacefully expressed their democratic right to vote,” according to a statement issued here that also welcomed the role of Haitian institutions in ensuring an environment conductive to the holding of the polls. “He commends the Haitian institutions, in particular the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) and the Haitian National Police, for their leadership and professionalism during and in the lead up to the polls,” the statement said. Ban called on all parties, in particular Presidential can-

John Kirby, Asst Secretary in the US Dept. of State didates and political party leaders, to “reject and discourage all forms of violence and intimidation, and place the national interest above any other consideration”. He is also urging all actors to await the results proclaimed by the CEP and only use legal channels for any eventual challenges as he reaffirmed the United Nations commitment to extend its full support to the Haitian people in the fulfilment of their democratic aspirations. Interim President Jocelerme Privert Monday called on Haitians to accept the outcome of Sunday’s vote for a new head of state, saying it is important for the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country to emerge from the political instability over the years. At least six million Haitians were eligible to vote for one of 27 presidential candidates, as well as for members of both houses of parliament in elections that had been repeatedly delayed for various reasons. The presidential candidates included: Jovenel Moise, a plantation owner, chosen by the ruling PHTK (“the Bald Heads Party) and Jude Celestin of the LAPEH Party of former President Michel Martelly. Celestin had placed second in the 2015 ballot that subsequently was cancelled. The other candidates include Maryse Narcisse, who was a spokeswoman for former president Jean-Bertrand Aristide, who had endorsed Narcisse and encouraged his supporters to take to the streets in protest if her candidacy failed. “The people who will win will win and those who will lose will win through those who win. Because the real people who will win, when the

final results will be published, it is not the candidates that is the country, it is the Haitian people,” Privert told reporters. No official results are expected to be issued for eight days, and the CEP executive director Uder Antoine has said it might take longer than that. Haiti has been without an elected head of state after President Martelly left office in February and Privert was elected as the Interim president. Under the current timetable, the new president will not take office until February 7 but the elections cycle wouldn’t end until April 2017 — more than two years after elections began. The Electoral Observation Mission (EOM) of the Organization of American States (OAS) Monday underscored improvements over recent elections, as part of its preliminary report. Despite the difficulties posed by the damages from Hurricane Matthew, the EOM, headed by former Uruguayan Senator Juan Raúl Ferreira, commended the efforts of all national stakeholders that led to an “improved electoral process,” noting greater national involvement and ownership of the process. The OAS said that the EOM fielded a team of 130 experts and observers of 24 nationalities and that on Sunday they observed the electoral process in all 10 departments of the country. The OAS said the Mission is observing the tabulation process, “and will have continuous presence at the Tabulation Center (CTV) until the publication of the preliminary results.” In addition, the EOM will observe the contestation phase, the OAS said.

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Wednesday November 23, 2016

Wednesday November 23, 2016

Du Plessis found guilty, but free... (From page 37) chief executive David Richardson, related to clause 2.2.9 of the ICC’s Code of Conduct, which deals with “changing the condition of the ball” in breach of the Laws of Cricket. The Laws of Cricket, in turn, allow that players may “polish the ball provided that no artificial substance is used and that such polishing wastes no time”. In laying the charge, the ICC had said that “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” during the Hobart Test. Du Plessis pleaded not guilty to the charge and faced a lengthy hearing before ICC match referee Andy Pycroft in Adelaide yesterday. Yesterday evening, the ICC said in a statement: “The decision was based on the evidence given from the umpires, who confirmed that had they seen the incident they would have taken action immediately, and from Mr Stephenson [MCC head of

cricket John Stephenson], who confirmed the view of MCC that the television footage showed an artificial substance being transferred to the ball.” In addition to the fine, three demerit points have been added to the disciplinary record of du Plessis for what was deemed a first offence. If du Plessis reaches four or more demerit points within a two-year period, they will be converted into suspension points and he would face a ban. Cricket South Africa has confirmed that du Plessis, who had been represented by CSA’s legal counsel via teleconference, would appeal the verdict. He has 48 hours from the time of receipt of the written decision to lodge his objections. An appeal would require the matter to be heard from the beginning by a judicial commissioner, who can then increase, decrease or amend the sanction in accordance with the punishments for the particular breach. The maximum penalty for a level 2 breach is a 100% match fee fine and two suspension points, which equates to be-

ing banned for one Test. In essence, du Plessis would therefore be risking a ban by attempting to clear his name. Du Plessis’ stoicism in his own innocence has echoed around the South African squad all week. On Tuesday, coach Russell Domingo confirmed, prior to the hearing, that the entire touring party was “standing by our captain.” The squad was at the Adelaide Oval for the full duration of du Plessis’ hearing, conducting their training session. Du Plessis was unable to play any part in the practice as his time with the match referee lasted a full three hours. Australia’s players were also training at Adelaide Oval as the hearing took place. They arrived around 5pm and trained under lights, and as du Plessis left his hearing he walked past several of the Australians, accompanied by CSA’s security officer and team manager. Du Plessis had a coffee in hand and a stony expression on his face, revealing little, but 90 minutes later the guilty was verdict was made public.

Wednesday November 23, 2016 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You may not be your usual cheery self today, Aries. Gloom may have come over you. You may doubt everything that happens in your life. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Happy memories of a beloved grandparent may float to the surface today, Taurus, and you may wonder why. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) A meeting may take place today that you don't want to attend, Gemini. It could be long and boring, but you should still make the effort to listen. CANCER (June 21–July 22) A project could be successfully completed today, Cancer. Discussions may already be taking place about the next one, but you aren't inclined to think about that, at least not right away.

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interested, consult a professional before investing money. LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Does a love partner appear to be moody today, Libra? One moment your friend may be enthusiastic and optimistic about the future, and the next moment overcome with gloom. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Are you working two jobs, Scorpio? Today one could demand a lot of you, probably at the expense of the other. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Your natural urge to innovate may seem to have vanished today, Sagittarius. You may not feel like doing anything outside of routine tasks that you can do automatically. CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) You may want to clean out the shelves in your kitchen, add some new knickknacks, or rearrange your books into specific classifications.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) If you're involved in the study of a particular subject, Leo, today you might want to bury yourself in your books and learn as much as you can.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Are you expecting an important communication, perhaps business related, Aquarius? If it comes today, it will probably come late.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) . This isn't the day to make investments, Virgo. You may read in the paper or online about some hot new stocks, but be very careful. If you're

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) A check you've been expecting to receive by mail will probably be delayed, Pisces. It's nothing to worry about.

West Indies eye final berth, surge... (From page 38) given that conditions are likely to be identical, there is no reason for Sri Lanka to fiddle with their line-up. The grip on this slow surface makes Dasun Shanaka a good pick. With two wickets in his last five games, and none in this series, the form of Sulieman Benn will be a worry for West Indies. Aside from Ashley Nurse, the other spin option in their squad is Devendra Bishoo, and given his gritty performance in the Tests against Pakistan last month, this change makes sense. Another player they might want to give a game to is Jason Mohammed, the hard-hitting middle-order batsman, though West Indies may want to secure their place in the final before tinkering with their top-six. Pitch and conditions The heavy downpours on

Third Annual... (From page 39) complimentary about the fact that Petra has sought the advice and services of the GFF through its Technical Director to assist with the development of the sport. He was full of praise to the Organisation for seeking to

have more equity and equality in sports hence the evolution of the girls’ tournament. Fraser encouraged other agencies to emulate the work being done by the Oganisation and even get into areas where they could not possibly undertake. Abel, who represented the Company that has been the reason for the tournament, having accepted the Platinum sponsor tag since the tournament’s inception, spoke of the happiness they experience when given the opportunity to be part of sports. He said they will continue to be part of the programme, noting that they have a strong desire to help in the development of sport. The teams confirmed to participate are: St. Stephen’s, Stella Maris, J.E. Burnham, Winfer Gardens, Nations, St. Angela’s, Smith’s Memorial, Enterprise, F.E. Pollard, St. Agnes, St. Pius, South Ruimveldt, North Georgetown, Tucville, West Ruimveldt and St. Margaret’s. The teams will be divided into four groups of four and will be played on a round robin basis with the top two finishers from each group advancing to the knockout phase. All matches will be played at the Ministry of Education ground.

Monday morning were followed by sunny and dry weather in the afternoon as well as the following day. Yet, the rainfall patterns at this time of the year are difficult to predict, and though the forecast suggests that today should be sunny and dry, some sort of precipitation is out of the question.

Weather aside, there should be some early movement for the seamers who will be aided by cloud cover, as well as what appears to be a shade more green grass that has been left on the track for today’s match. The track will probably still slow down to help the spinners later in the day.

Bright shines, guide Linden... (From page 32) New Amsterdam’s Stacy Caesar and East Bank Demerara’s, Breana Smithet. National junior sprint athletes, Linden’s Compton Caesar and North G e o rg e t o w n ’s K e n i s h a Phillips coasted to wins in their 400m Heats. Caesar easily won his race in 51.5

seconds ahead of Linton Mentis and Darius Austin. Phillips cruised in1:02.9s to win ahead of Shontelle Venture (1:03.8s) and Kissana Glen (1:04) in that order. Caesar and Phillips are both eyeing sprint trebles at the 2016 Championships that will continue today at 9:00am at the East Bank Demerara venue.

Wins for West Berbice... (From page 33) Fredericks scoring 46, Austin 34 and Alex Algoo 24. Andrews took 2 for 27 for Edinburgh. At Port Mourant, Edinburgh suffered their second loss to Tucber Park by

10 wickets. Batting first, they were shot out for 63 with Niall Smith ripping through the batting taking 5 for 30 off 9 overs and Chetram Persaud 3 for 10. In reply, Tucber Park raced to 64 without loss.

Kaieteur News

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Wednesday November 23, 2016

GFF/NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power Nat. U-17 League

Grove beat CV Jaguars to remain unbeaten; 1st Rd ends on Saturday

Battle for possession between Grove Hi Tech and Circuit Ville Jaguars.

Grove Hi Tech and Circuit Ville Jaguars during their clash on Saturday last. The final two matches of the first round of the East Bank Football Association (EBFA) of the inaugural G F F / N A M I L C O Thunderbolt Flour Power National Intra Association Under-17 League is set to conclude on Saturday at the Grove Playfield. Kuru Kururu Warriors will lock horns with Agricola Red Triangle from 15:00hrs with the penultimate match of this round set to bring together Diamond United and CV Jaguars from 13:00hrs. The Warriors and the

Jaguars are in with a chance of ending this round in second place behind leaders Grove if they can take full points from their opponents, while Agricola and Diamond can also do their morale loads of good if they can close out with a win as well. Two potentially exciting matches are on the tables. The second round which will start in January would be played minus two teams, Mocha Champs and Friendship. Mocha only showed up for one match, whilst Friendship which had initially signaled their

intention to participate, never showed up. The EBFA executive has since taken a decision to drop both teams and will seek to work with them to ensure that they are able to straighten out their challenges so that the youths in the respective areas can be able to play in subsequent age group competitions. Meanwhile, Grove Hi Tech closed out this round as they started, with a win that also saw them maintaining their unbeaten record and the only team to hold a flawless

record. Second half goals from Jacob Garnett and Rasheed Evans carried Grove to victory against a tough and ever improving Jaguars side. The Yarrowkabra based, Linden Soesdyke Highway

Jaguars were all over the Grove side which started the game with just 8-players. While they looked vulnerable in the opening half, Grove, which eventually played at full strength, weathered the early

raids from the Jaguars to come out victors. The second half was all Grove as they controlled play even while the Jaguars let in two easy goals as a result of lapses in defence.

Bright shines, guide Linden to early athletics lead By Edison Jefford Guyana and the Caribbean’s elite athlete, Chantoba Bright shone through overcast conditions at the National Stadium, Providence yesterday with a record-breaking performance that guided the defending champions, Linden to an early lead in the competition. Formally known as Upper Demerara/Kwakwani, District 10 leads the athletics competition of the National Schools’ Cycling, Swimming and Track and Field Championships with 81 points. West Coast Berbice is second on 76 points, while Essequibo Coast/Pomeroon is closely behind with 75 points. North West is fourth on 72 points, while New Amsterdam rounded out the top five with 68 points on the opening day of the athletics competition. Surprisingly, North Georgetown, a contender for

the overall title, sits in 11th on 38.5 points. North Georgetown won the Swimming title again on Monday with Linden second while District Six, Corentyne leads Linden by one point in the Cycling competition that will conclude with the 40km male and 25km female road races Friday morning. The overall Schools’ Championships winner is handed to the team that amasses the most overall points from the three competitions using a points system that awards points according to how the teams finish in the three competitions for the ‘Champion of Champions’. Overall, Linden and North Georgetown have 14 titles apiece, which sets this Championship up as the tie-breaker for the two most successful teams. Double CARIFTA Games and South American Junior Championships medalist, Bright

sprang to 5.40m to erase Linden’s Keane Griffith’s two year-old 5.18m record in the Under-18 Girls Long Jump. Bright also holds the U-16 record with the same distance. East Coast’s Toyan Raymond (5.2m) and North Georgetown’s Virlyn Gibson (4.3m) was second and third respectively. Bright won her 400m Heat and will compete in that Final as well as in the High and Triple Jump events in pursuit of ‘Champion Athlete’ status. Samuel Jordon, who no doubt is an interesting find, jumped 7.20m to also smash a record in the U-18 c a t e g o r y. T h e s t u n n i n g performance from the athlete from the Corentyne will definitely put him in prospective for national duties in the event. He emphatically erased Jomal Butts’ two-year mark, which stood at 6.68m. Much more familiar on the basketball court, East Georgetown’s Zion Gray jumped

Rupununi’s Orvil Daniels comfortably clears the bar on his way to winning the Boy’s U-14 High Jump yesterday at the National Stadium, Providence. (Photos by Zaheer Mohamed) 6.53m for second, while Joshua Hinds (6.47m) placed third. Rupununi’s Orvil Daniels won the High Jump Boy’s Under-14 contest with 1.69m ahead of East Coast’s Gabriel Lin and West Demerara’s Titus Jones. In the U14 Girls’ event, Rupununi soared to another gold medal when Iyonte

Phoenix won with 1.48m. Essequibo Coast/Pomeroon’s Shequana Holder and Essequibo Islands/West Demerara, Sherrifer McDonald was second and third. In the Cricket Ball U-10 Girls’ Throw, Essequibo Islands/West Demerara, Shelleiza Mohamed won ahead of (Continued on page 31)

Wednesday November 23, 2016

Kaieteur News

Wins for West Berbice, Port Mourant, Young Warriors and Tucber

Niall Smith We s t B e r b i c e w o n against Blairmont CC and Bush Lot (Hemraj’s), Port Mourant turned back the challenge of Upper Corentyne, Tucber Park and Young Warriors defeated Edinburgh in the latest matches of the TENELEC Inc. first division 50-over tournament in Berbice. At Blairmont Estate Ground, West Berbice won by 32 runs against the host. Batting first, the visitors made 152 all out in 28.4 overs. Arthley Bailey with 37, Rafael Estriado 31, Steffon Adams 25 and Renison Mitchell 21 were the principal scorers. Shabeer Bask took 4 for 19 off 7 overs and Parmanand Ramdhan 3 for 13. Blairmont in reply, fell for

Linden Austin 121 in 32.1 overs. Javid Karim offered the only resistance with 24. At Port Mourant Ground, the home team batted first and made 183 all out in 39.5 overs after a poor start. Arif Chan top scored with 62 and got support from Chanderpaul Hemraj who made 44. Andy Mohan and Veramootoo Senwasane chipped in with 22 and 21 respectively. Bowling for UCCA, Naem Yacoob took 3 for 18 and Lakeram Latchman 2 for 41. In reply, UCCA tumbled for a disappointing 125 off 30 overs to lose by 68 runs. Only A. Agib with 32 and Jameel Azad 19 offered some fight. Bowling for the winners, Hemraj took 3 for

20, Chan 3 for 25 and Dimitri Cameron 2 for 25. Over at Bush Lot, West Berbice completed their second win by nine wickets against Bush Lot (Hemraj). Batting first, the host scored a paltry 126 in 33 overs with only skipper Rajbance Hemraj making 34 and Asgar Mathabeer 24. Bowling for West Berbice, Andrew Dutchin took 4 for 13 off 5 overs. Rendell Bobb, former Berbice off spinner Krishendat Ramoo and Mitchell supported with two wickets each. In reply, the visitors raced to 127 for 2 in 16.4 overs. Rafael Estriado top-scored with 48. Former Berbice senior opener Arthley Bailey with 28 not out and Dutchin with 24 not out provided support. At Cumberland ground, Yo u n g Wa r r i o r s b e a t Edinburgh by five wickets. Batting first, Edinburgh made 140 all out in 32 overs with Jamal Andrews 55, D Seepersaud 32 and M. Singh 25. Bowling for YWCC, pacer Suresh Dhanai took 4 for 15 and Linden Austin 4 for 42. In reply, YWCC made 141 for 5 off 29.4 overs with Essequibo born Royan (Continued on page 31)

GT Slammers Dominoes to commence on Saturday

Andrea Browne of GT Slammers (left) presents cheque to Barbara Lee of Dynasty Sports Club in the presence of members of the GT Slammers team. GT Slammers Dominoes team will be hosting a pre Christmas dominoes tournament starting on Saturday at Dynasty Sports bar. Entrance fee is $10,000 and double six time 15:30hrs. The winning team will take home a trophy and $150,000, runner up a trophy

and $100,000 and third place a trophy and $70,000. The MVP in the final will receive $5,000. All GNDA rules will be in effect. The competition will continue on Sunday and conclude on Monday at the said venue and is being sponsored by PNC/R, Werk-

en-Rust Community Group, Dynasty, Alfred Mentore of Life Time real Estate, Nand Persaud and Sons Neville Cadogan, Nigel Pyle of Tent City, G. Singh Engineering of Bush lot, Action Tyre, Roopnarine Persaud, Sweet Hands Restaurant and Brain Parris.

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Ramnarine, Mohamed guide Good Success to victory

Vickram Ramnarine Vickram Ramnarine struck a fine half century, while Nazeer Mohamed turned in a good all-round performance to guide Good Success to an eight-wicket victory over Sans Souci Jaguars when the Farmers Cup T20 tournament continued in Wakenaam on Sunday. Batting first at the

Nazeer Mohamed Wakenaam Community Centre ground, Jaguars scored 135-9 after they were inserted. Beesham Moses made 38, while Zameer Zaman got 26. David Chalitar claimed 3-27 and Mohamed 2-10. Ramnarine then struck seven fours and two sixes in an unbeaten 57 as Good Success responded with 137-

David Chalitar 2 in 15.1 overs. Mohamed hit three fours and one six in scoring 29 not out. The duo put on 72 for the third-wicket to steady the innings after Chandreka Jairam removed Tulsieram Ramadeen and Gurnauth Khemraj for 12 and 27 respectively. Rain prevented any play in other fixture.

Kaieteur News

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Wednesday November 23, 2016

56th MOE/GTU National Schools’ C/Ships

Event opens with pomp and splendor at Stadium By Sean Devers Despite an almost expected late start for major events in Guyana, the atmosphere at the National Stadium was one of pomp and splendor as the 56th annual Ministry of Education (MOE) and Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) one-week Swimming, Cycling and T r a c k & F i e l d Championships officially commenced with a colourful opening Ceremony at Providence yesterday morning. Under a clear blue sky, competitors and supporters produced a Kaleidoscope of colour in the stands as the Championships, which began in earnest on Monday with Swimming and Cycling, was opened at Guyana’s most impressive Stadium which hosted the Track & Field events yesterday afternoon. The day’s activities commenced almost an hour late with a spectacular March Past which was taken by Sports Minister in the E d u c a t i o n M i n i s t r y, Nicolette Henry, GTU President Mark Lyte and

Members of defending champs District 10 light the cauldron at Providence yesterday.

Minister Henry delivers the feature address at Providence yesterday. Chief Education Officer (CEO) Marcel Hutson among others in sweltering heat. The 15 District teams, including 14 times Champion Upper Demerara & Kwakwani, who are the current defending Champions, were led by pulsating instrumental renditions from Berbician

band Cofona Drum Corps for the March past. Some demonstrated clinical precision which members of the Armed Forces would have been proud and rivaled their sporting skill on the track. Decked out in Gold and black track suites with white T-Shirts and socks to match, topped by Gold ‘Charlie

Chaplin’ hats which they waved lustily after displaying the ‘eyes right’ to tremendous applause, District 10 were the most fabulously dressed team. D i s t r i c t 11 , N o r t h Georgetown, who took Championship honours at Providence in 2012 & 2013 before the 2014 Championships at the GDF ground, was washed out. District 11 has always been a dominant force in the past and has already taken the swimming title this year.

They were attired in Purple and looked quite a picture yesterday during the March Past. The Championship flame was lit by four athletes from District 10, starting with a Cyclist riding into the stadium with the torch before passing it to a female athlete. The pair began a lap of honour and they were joined by the remaining two athletes. They climbed the stairs to the Cauldron which was lit to a load roar from the

sizable turn out and raised each other’s arm as if they had captured Olympic Gold. Ly t e s t r e s s e d t h e importance of Sports in schools and praised the hard work of those who has helped to make the Championships a successful one, while Minister Henry spoke about the ‘one Laptop per Teacher’ which was the brain child of President David Granger. Minister Henry also spoke about the importance of Teachers.

The Cofona drum corps from Berbice lead the athletes into the Stadium.

The stand was a Kaleidoscope of colour and filled with students and Teachers.

Kaieteur News

Wednesday November 23, 2016

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4th GIKMAA Open International Martial Arts Championship

GIKMAA clinches top honours in entertaining Martial Arts meet More than 60 karate practitioners from seven schools countrywide displayed remarkable technique and talent, receiving applause from the appreciative audience, when the Guyana International Kyokushinkai Martial Arts Academy (GIKMAA) successfully staged an open international martial arts tournament at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on November 12 – 13. Participating entities included Tang-Soo-Do International Guyana (TSDIG), Stanleytown Shotokan Karate Dojo (SSKD), National Martial Arts Association (NMAA), Black Hawks Rising Sun Dojo (BHRSD), Best of the Best Martial Arts School (BBMAS), the Guyana Mixed Martial Arts Karate Association (GMMAKA) and the Guyana International Kyokushinkai Martial Arts Academy (GIKMAA). The GIKMAA fielded 17 Students and carted off the lion’s share of the medals; their 29 medals tally included 14 Gold, 7 Silvers and 6 Bronze; that entity also clinched 2, 4th places. Meanwhile, there were remarkable performances from the other entities and Sensei Kelvin Walcott, representing the Enmore Branch of the GIKMAA,

The outstanding participants display their accolades following the presentation. won 2 gold medals, while also clinching a 4th place. Sensei, Parsuram Arjune of the Wales branch won 3 gold medals while Samuel Fraser copped 2 gold medals. Zoann Shuman and Brandon Ferreira of St. Cuthbert’s Mission won 2 gold medals apiece. There were other outstanding performances from students Tadious Edun (1 gold, 1 silver and a bronze), Umish Parsaram (1 gold and 1 bronze), Christian Freeman (1 gold), Leonel Chacon, 2 silvers) and Omesh Lallchand, who bagged a silver medal. Several other seasoned practitioners also turned in

impressive performances including Sensei Kelvin Walcott in the heavy weight division (Enmore), middleweight, Tadious Edun (Wales), Umish Parsaram, Omesh Lallchand (Enmore) first time in full contact and Parsuran Arjune (Wales). The action in the light weight division was intense and upheld the tradition of thrilling the audience. In the full contact fighting category, Kelvin Walcott, Ta d o i o u s E d u n a n d Parsuram Arjune all won gold in the heavy weight, middle weight and light weight divisions respectively. The organizers also

Athletics: Kenya drops doping charges against Italian agent

Italian sports agent Federico Rosa (REUTERS/Gregory Olando)

(Reuters) Charges against Italian sports agent Federico Rosa over the a l l e g e d u s e o f performance-enhancing drugs have been dropped, a Kenyan magistrate said yesterday. Rosa, who had denied the charges made against him in July, runs Italybased company Rosa & Associati. Kenya, renowned for its distance runners, has faced frequent allegations of doping with some 40 cases reported in the past four years. “ T h e c a s e i s withdrawn,” Bernard Ochoi, N a i r o b i ’s p r i n c i p a l

magistrate, said in a statement delivered in court before Rosa’s trial began. The statement was sent to Reuters by Rosa’s lawyer James Nyiha. “My client should not have been charged in the first place. The state did not have an iota of evidence against my client,” Nyiha said. Keny a c l a i m e d i t s biggest ever haul of medals at an Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro this year, but doping allegations and organizational problems plagued preparations for the event.

dedicated some time during the tournament to acknowledge the input of several members. As such, Sensei Parsuram Arjune, Tadious Edun and Marcell Lynda Yassim were declared life members of the GIKMAA and were issued the corresponding certificates. Sensei, Garfield Newton, of the Black Hawks Martial Arts Management and Roland Eudoxie of the Tang-Soo-do International Guyana also received special appreciation martial

arts brotherhood awards for their work with the GIKMAA. The tournament was sponsored by the National Sport Commission, Red Cherry Cafeteria, Right Price Lumber and Grandmaster Abdool Nazim Yassim. The organizers also expressed gratitude to the judges, referees and the parents and supporters that contributed to the tournament’s success. Other individuals that came in for high praise included

Maranda Bennett, Grace Harry, Shawn English, Ryan Patterson and Trinidadian, David Critchlow, who entertained the audience in song. Several media personnel and entities were also singled out for their input i n t o t h e t o u r n a m e n t ’s success including Nerissa Vanvield of Voice of Guyana Radio and Max Massiah of Maximum Sports, Combat & Strength. The organizers have planned another tournament slated for next month.

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday November 23, 2016

Arena returns as coach of U.S. national team (Reuters) Bruce Arena has been handed the tall order of getting the United States’ qualifying campaign for the 2018 World Cup back on track after being named head coach of the national team, U.S. Soccer said yesterday. Arena, a five-times Major League Soccer champion coach who is taking over for the recently fired Juergen Klinsmann, is no stranger to the U.S. national team having been at the helm from 1998-2006. Considered by many to b e A m e r i c a n s o c c e r ’s greatest coach of all time, Arena’s previous stint with the U.S. team included a run to the quarter-finals of the 2002 World Cup, the country’s best result in the tournament since the inaugural event in 1930. “When we considered the possible candidates to take over the Men’s National Team at this time, Bruce was at the top of the list,” U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati said in a statement. “His experience at the international level, understanding of the requirements needed to lead a team through World Cup qualifying, and proven ability to build a successful team were all aspects we felt were vital for the next coach.” Arena will assume his new role on Dec. 1 when he takes over a U.S. team sitting dead last in CONCACAF World Cup qualifying, also known as “The Hexagonal,” after last week’s stunning loss to Costa Rica, which came on the heels of a home loss to Mexico. Arena has a long history of success and was at the reigns for the two best

Los Angeles Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena instructs against the New England Revolution during the first half in the 2014 MLS Cup final at Stubhub Center. (Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports) dynasties MLS has seen. Prior to his first stint with the U.S. national team, Arena coached D.C. United to consecutive MLS Cup victories during the league’s formative years. He then captured three MLS titles during a remarkable four-season stretch with the Los Angeles Galaxy that came during one o f t h e l e a g u e ’s m o s t competitive eras. When Arena joined Los Angeles late in the 2008 season he inherited a team that had not made the playoffs since 2005, were sitting at the bottom of the league, had David Beckham and Landon Donovan but little else. A year later Arena led the Galaxy to a runner-up finish in the MLS Cup, the start of an impressive run that included championships in 2011, 2012 and 2014. During his first stint with the national squad the United States shot to fourth from 19th in the FIFA world

rankings and his 71 wins are easily the most in U.S. history. But Arena’s contract was not renewed after a firstround exit from the 2006 World Cup in Germany where his U.S. team scored twice in three games and finished last in their group. U.S. Soccer are now hoping that Arena can help steady the ship after a rough s t a r t t o Wo r l d C u p qualifying and reap benefits from his familiarity with the growing number of MLS players on the national team. “I’m looking forward to working with a strong group of players that understand the challenge in front of them after the first two games of the Hex,” said Arena, who spent the last eight years with the Galaxy. “Working as a team, I’m confident that we’ll take the right steps forward to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.”

Wednesday November 23, 2016

Kaieteur News

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GAPF Clash of the Seniors

Fitness Express continues support It’s just a small entity compared to the huge companies but have been flexing equally huge muscles in support of the continued development and empowerment of Guyana’s athletes. Ever since opening its doors for business seven (7) years ago, Fitness Express under the astute guidance of Jamie Mc Donald has been supporting athletes across the sports spectrum. This tradition has fueled the positive achievement of powerlifters locally and on the international scene. Mc Donald and Fitness Express is continuing this investment by being the main sponsor once again of the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPF) marquee event, ‘Clash of the Seniors’, which is being held this weekend at the Saints Stanislaus College, Brickdam. At the company’s Sheriff and John Streets, Campbellville business, Ian Rogers of Fitness Express handed over the entity’s contribution to Andrew

Austin who represented the GAPF. Rogers, in expressing his company’s gratitude at being a part of the event for another year, reminded that they have been supporting for many years and are proud of their investment which has led to many athletes excelling at the regional and international levels including the likes of Randolph Morgan, ‘Big’ John Edwards and others. Rogers also stated that he is confident that the current batch of athletes would maintain Guyana’s rich tradition of producing quality athletes that would continue to hold their own beyond these shores. Austin, in relaying the GAPF’s gratitude to Rogers and Fitness Express, promised that the best male and female athletes in the sport would be on show on Sunday from 09:00hrs at Saints Stanislaus College Auditorium with the aim of out lifting each other which sets the stage for an enthralling day of action. Weigh-in time on Sunday is

Du Plessis found guilty, but free to play in Adelaide

Faf du Plessis ©Getty Images ESPNcricinfo - South Africa’s captain Faf du Plessis has been found guilty of ball-tampering and fined his entire match fee

from the Hobart Test, but will be free to play in Adelaide this week. The charge, laid by ICC (Continued on page 31)

07:00 to 08:30hrs, while admission is $1000. Apart from Fitness Express, Buddy’s Gym, Trophy Stall and Ticket Master are also on board as sponsors.

Fitness Express’ Ian Rogers (right) hands over sponsorship to GAPF’s Andrew Austin.

Kaieteur News

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Wednesday November 23, 2016

West Indies eye final berth, surge in ODI rankings ESPNcricinfo - Despite West Indies’ big win in Harare, on paper, these are two well-matched teams with plenty to play for today: the winner will be guaranteed their place in the tri-series final. The relative inexperience in both squads makes it hard to pick an outand-out favourite, and conditions in Bulawayo should also be a leveller. West Indies’ tied game against Zimbabwe will at least have acclimatised them a little more to the pitch and conditions at Queens, as Sri Lanka’s first match was rained off. Sri Lanka also have some ground to make up against West Indies after their trouncing in Harare. Their middle order remains unproven, and if this series can be viewed as something of an audition for the upcoming tour of South Africa, there will be several young players hungry to state their case - particularly against the greater firepower of West Indies’ quicks.

Youth and international inexperience are also in no short supply for West Indies at the moment. It is obviously very early days yet, but without a head coach, and with virtually all of West Indies’ established senior batsmen in the wilderness, young captain Jason Holder desperately needs his peers to gel into a new core for the side. Shai Hope and Kraigg Brathwaite’s promising form will give him something to build and bank on, while Carlos Brathwaite’s bowling has been fairly effective in Zimbabwe. Both for this team and for the immediate future of West Indies cricket, every win is an important one in these circumstances. Though still ninth in the ICC ODI rankings, they are just one point behind Pakistan, and a strong show in their remaining games will put them within touching distance of Bangladesh at No. 7. Between now and

West Indies are currently ranked ninth, but are just one point behind Pakistan, which heightens the importance of a win against Sri Lanka © AFP September 30, 2017, the cutoff date for direct qualification for the 2019 World Cup, West Indies currently have 11 ODIs scheduled (not including the final of this tri-series), but eight of those matches are against a resurgent England ODI side, and five of those are in England. That’s a tough assignment for what

could still be a fairly inexperienced squad, and so West Indies have a lot more than a place in Sunday’s final to play for today. In the spotlight Shai Hope’s good form will buoy West Indies, and make him a target for Sri Lanka, while Suranga Lakmal will have to be at his best behaviour after he was

fined 50% of his match fee for aggressively throwing the ball towards Zimbabwe opener Chamu Chibhabha during Monday’s wash-out. Yet, the spotlight might be focussed on what is happening above Queens, rather than on the ground. All three teams will have an eye on the weather on Wednesday. If there is

another wash-out, Zimbabwe will effectively be out of the running, needing a massive bonuspoint win to draw level and increase their net run-rate. The threat of rain also makes the toss important inclement weather is more likely in the afternoon, meaning there could be Duckworth-Lewis permutations while chasing. Finally, the drainage issues at Queens mean that even relatively modest rain could rule a match out entirely. There are two main areas of concern on the outfield, should it rain again - on the northern side of the ground, and also near the sight screen at the Airport End. Should there be any significant showers during this game, in the absence of a super sopper, drainage will be an issue, especially after the heavy rains of the last few days have saturated the soil. Teams news Sri Lanka’s XI barely got a look-in on Monday, and (Continued on page 31)

Wednesday November 23, 2016

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Windies Women beat India Women by 15 runs to complete series win VIJAYAWADA, India, CMC-West Indies Women defeated India Women by 15 runs to complete a three-nil sweep of the T20 International series at Vijayawada here yesterday. A solid half century opening partnership between Hayley Matthews and Captain Stafanie Taylor laid the foundation for West Indies 139 for four in 20 overs after they won the toss and elected to bat. Their bowlers then suppressed the Indian run chase, restricting them to 124 for three in 20 overs despite a fighting unbeaten half century stand between Veda Krishnamurthy and

Harmanpreet Kaur. Matthews and Taylor powered the early part in the innings for the visitors by adding 61 runs for the first wicket in 6.4 overs. Matthews dominated the partnership with a 22-ball 47 that included seven fours and one six before she was caught behind. Tayl o r b a t t e d throughout the innings to finish not out on 44 and picking up four boundaries in the process. The Windies Women skipper also featured in two crucial partnerships, putting on 16 with Kycia Knight and 11 with Britney Cooper. The hosts suffered an early setback when opener

Vellaswamy Vanitha was run out by Taylor without scoring of the first ball of the innings. Their innings plunged into further chaos when they lost another two wickets and stumbled to 32 for three. Krishnamurthy and Kaur stayed together to the end of the match, adding 92 runs for the fourth wicket. Krishnamurthy scored a boundary less 40-ball 31, while Kaur struck three fours and three sixes in her 51-ball 60. Deandra Dottin and Matthews picked up a wicket each for West Indies to contain India, who fell 15 runs short with seven wickets intact.

Windies women complete clean sweep in three-match T20 series against India.

Third Annual Smalta Girls Schools’ Tournament Launched

Petra Organisation Co-Director Troy Mendonca (left) poses with sponsors’ representatives (L-R) Joy Gravesande, Sean Abel and Nicholas Fraser and young participants yesterday at the National Library. Defending champion St. Stephen’s is among sixteen schools to have confirmed participation in the 3rd Annual Smalta Girls Schools Football Tournament slated to run from November 26December 17, at the Ministry of Education ground on Carifesta Avenue. This was made known to the media during the Launch which took place yesterday, at the National Library on Church and Main Streets. In attendance at the occasion were Co-Director of Petra Organisation Troy Mendonca, Ansa McAl’s representative Sean Abel, Ministry of Public Health personnel Joy Gravesande and Head of Physical

Education within the Ministry of Education Nicholas Fraser. Speaking at the Launch, Mendonca opened by stating how happy the Organisation was to be hosting the tournament once again, adding that unlike previous years the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has signaled its intention to be integrally involved this time around since the tournament ties into its plan to develop the sport from the grassroots level. He pointed out that the governing body’s intent to get actively involved in the development of the sport from the grassroots has definitely energised his

organisation and expressed their willingness to work with the GFF. In closing he advised that while football is more related to the males, negative comments should not be made about the girls since it could do a lot of harm to the participants and urged all to be more positive when making remarks during the tournament. Gravesande in her presentation said her entity was pleased to be making a contribution to the tournament and read out two messages that she would like them to resonate throughout the competition. The two messages are ‘Girls can do it too’, and

‘You are never too young’. Gravesande also encouraged all parents to come out to the games and support their children. The Ministry of Public Health official then congratulated the participants, reminding them that all of them are winners. Fraser in his comments spoke of the manner in which the Ministry views the work being done by Petra Organisation which according to him is held in high regard. “We view them as an organisation that recognises where the gaps are in sports and fills them,” Fraser said. Fraser was also (Continued on page 31)

t r o Sp 56th MOE/GTU National Schools’ C/Ships

Event opens with pomp and splendor at Stadium

Defending Champs District 10 were glamorously attired in gold, white and black for yesterday’s impressive March past. (Photos by Sean Devers)

District 11 is expected to provide a stern challenge to the champs and looked sharp as Minister Henry and her delegation take the eyes right yesterday.

Bright shines, guide Linden to early athletics lead

North Georgetown (left) comfortably wins their 4x100m Heats yesterday setting up a showdown in the final event of the Schools’ Championships on Friday.(Photos by Zaheer Mohamed) 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