Kaieteur News
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Friday November 04, 2016
Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Adam Harris Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL RICH AND BLESSED COUNTRY Guyana is rich with an abundance of natural resources, arable land, mineral deposits, natural ports, the recent discovery of oil, a young and educated population and a skilled labour force. It is also blessed with near perfect weather conditions, ample waterways, pristine forests and the potential for a robust ecotourism industry. Despite these advantages, Guyana continues to face enormous economic and social challenges. The economy is struggling at a growth rate of about four percent. Production, demand and the price of rice, sugar, timber and bauxite have fallen; the national debt is high, and unemployment and poverty have risen. A country that is so rich and so blessed should not be struggling. It should have been prosperous, but it seems that what Murphy’s Law says that “anything that can go wrong, will go wrong” has happened to Guyana. For the past decade, Guyana’s slowly growing economy, coupled with excessive borrowing, reckless spending, huge cost to service the national debt and massive corruption constrained the last administration’s ability to invest in infrastructure, education, health care, social services and security. During this period, little effort was made to diversify the economy and to unleash the potential of the people. Guyana has the resources to be the economic growth engine and bread basket of the Caribbean but partisan politics has prevented it. Corruption and crime remain and the economy continues to sputter. For change to take place, the government has to hire the best and brightness at home and in the diaspora. Hiring retirees will not bring about the changes needed to take Guyana into the 21st century. There is no reason why Guyana cannot achieve sustainable economic and human growth. Since taking office, the government has made security and the reduction of corruption and crime, its highest priority. Indeed, the foundation of a nation’s economic growth lies in its security and fiscal policies.They along with good governance will open the door to greater domestic and foreign investment ventures. They will also lead to increase trade, reduce imports and the foreign debt and reform the country’s institutions to become more business friendly. Unfortunately, the government does not have the personnel to make these changes and it continues to look into the past rather than in the future. Furthermore, the government has not fully embraced the strategic importance of diversifying the economy and it has no strategy to increase the production of rice, sugar and bauxite. It does not have a solid economic plan or a modernized bureaucracy to allow business to flourish. Although it has made foreign investment its top priority, neither the Ministry of Business nor GO-Invest has succeeded in doing so. There are more speeches and empty promises about the development of the country than action. Guyana has several sectors that are ripe for foreign investment, but the government has failed to convince foreign investors to invest in the country. Instead, the government has blamed the media with its daily headlines of crime for making Guyana unsafe, insecure, and an unprofitable destination for foreign investment. Efforts to wipe out corruption, reduce crime and create jobs, especially for youths have been very slow. It seems that the government has been bogged down with creating Commissions of Inquiry and Tribunals. Its promise to be accountable and transparent has been placed on the back burner. However, the government alone cannot solve all the problems facing the country. It needs help. It must engage the private sector and tap into the expertise of the people, both locally and in the diaspora. Everyone must sacrifice to put Guyana back on sound economic footing but the Ministries of Agriculture and Business must be revamped and the bureaucracy must be restructured to make them more people and business friendly.If not, only divine intervention could save this rich and blessed country.
Editor’s Note; If your sent letter was not published and you felt its contents were valid and devoid of libel or personal attacks, please contact us by phone or email.
Let us restore the Public Treasury Dear Editor; I refer to a very good letter in the Kaieteur News of the 30th October, 2016, penned by Mr. Sherod Duncan of the Mayor and City Council of Georgetown. One of the items he referred to is Mr. Peter Drucker and of his effective management techniques.
Maybe from top to bottom should go on a management course and learn to manage. One of the very first things they will learn is really what is “Conflict of Interest” This is really the gateway to chaos and ultimately corruption. There was a beautiful analytical editorial the same day of the current situation and
should be taken seriously by those in authority. Let’s try or start to restore the Public Treasury with the billions the forensic audits are revealing daily, and that will certainly boost our economy. Grant amnesty to miscreants if they return what they have taken. Emjayeye
Friday November 04, 2016
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Quoting President Lincoln on the importance of character DEAR EDITOR; A person that is considered to have good character exhibits attributes such as integrity, honesty, courage, loyalty, fortitude, and other important virtues that promote good behaviour and habits. Moreover, character marks who we are as a person, and it also highly influences the choices that we make in our lives. iAbraham Lincoln said, “Reputation is the shadow. Character is the tree.” Our character is much more than just what we try to display for others to see, it is who we are even when no one is watching. Good character is doing the right thing because it is right to do what is right. Many people will display good character traits on the outside of their homes
and even at their jobs but they are a completely evil person in their own homes to their wives, husbands or children. They seemed to have a split personality when it comes to the true identity of their attitude and character. Character is often defined as a collection of personality traits within our behaviour that shows who we are. This is shown in our integrity, attitude, moral fiber, disposition, and this shapes how we treat one another, good or bad. This is mostly true, but it goes much deeper than that. Character is who we are and it can be learned and built when we are in Christ or God fearing. Moreover, real authentic Christian Character is not just a personality or our disposition; it is a description of who
we are as a Christian, what we are called to be in our entirety. It encapsulates the Fruit of the Spirit from God’s love and work in us. A good effectual foundation of character is “synergistic” as each one hangs and functions with each other. It is built upon the Fruit of the Spirit which all of the other character traits are codependent and thus function and rest upon. Our Character summarizes the essence of our walk with Christ being exhibited back to Him and then onto others. Our Character can grow or shrivel as our growth and faith formation in Christ is applied or blocked. Thus, Character is the display case of Christ and shows others our entire lives as Christians. I observed that when
people borrow things like money, books, tapes, etc they never return it unless you ask them. Lending money has created enemies between many families, friends, and even with the banks. I also have experience with many educated people who will borrow things but never return them. Many academics will not reply to your emails, nor return a phone call, nor even your face book inbox messages they always find a reliable lie as an excuse or some dead apology. Why is that so? It’s because people have inculcated deceptive character traits from a very young age and refused to be corrected thus they ended up doing more deceptive and atrocious acts though they are educated
The road carnage is a national scandal DEAR EDITOR; With no malice or rancor aforethought, permit me to proffer my two bits on the road carnage occurring in Guyana, and at the selfsame time submit possible life saving solutions. The very fact that on average more than one person per day dies needlessly on the roads, and hundreds are seriously injured every year is tantamount to a national scandal. The carnage brings in its wake (no pun intended) heartbreak and suffering to far too many individuals and families especially the young. As a teacher of English, I have some difficulty in coming to grips with the term road accident. According to the well-respected Oxford lexicon, an accident is defined as an event without apparent cause, or an occurrence of things by chance. With hundreds of road deaths each year, the definition of accident certainly does not apply and if it does only to a small percentage. We all have a moral responsibility to seriously address this matter of grave concern, according it utmost priority, and towards this end the Government must show leadership. The year 2016 is almost drawing to a close, and it is at this juncture that I am seeking answers to promises made by the past
and present government. Not being skilled at exhumation and even worse in forensic science I will just deal with the present and immediate to address my concern and inquiry. In November 2015 at the official launching of Road Safety Month at the Arthur Chung Convention Center, President Granger in his feature address to students and other stakeholders openly stated that the time had arrived for order and sanity to be brought to the roadways of Guyana. He also mentioned Guyana’s commitment to achieving by 2020, the UN Sustainable Development Goal No. 3, which aimed at reducing the road fatalities and injuries from road accidents by one half. Giving further impetus to the message, in his remarks to the forum, Vincent Alexander, Advisor to the Minister of Education assured all present that the Ministry would be doing their best to ensure that speed bumps were placed in the vicinity of schools in Georgetown in the initial phase, while the same will be done across the country in the medium term. Pray, tell me has this been done, or is it just another example of rhetoric, or merely telling the public what they want to hear at the specific moment in time. Strangely enough the cry
surrounding the causal factors for this spiraling toll of fatalities have been the same for the past eight to ten years, from the tragedy at Amelia’s Ward, the horrific head-on collision in 2010 between a minibus and a truck along the Suzannah, No. 19 Village Public Road, Corentyne that left 12 persons dead, including a two-month-old, to the one on Homestretch Avenue in 2011, just to name a few. Rural roads run through heavily populated villages, which are often poorly lit or totally unlit at night. In addition, vying also for the limited navigable space available are farm animals, stray dogs, parked and broken down vehicles among others. The reckless driving habits of some drivers have been the biggest contributory factor to the rising fatalities, as well as the displayed inexperience and temperament of drivers of commercial vehicles and minibuses. Simply and plainly put, they should not be entrusted with human lives on public roads. Seemingly, the government is also out of step with the grand march of things, especially the increas-
ing rate that new vehicles estimated at about 1,000 per month are being added to the roads. As the President said in 2015; the time had come to return order and sanity on the roads. It is evident that the time came, went and carried with it many more lives. A new time has now come and to slightly alter the words of a well-known song by Sam Cooke, A change has “gotta” come. The change is going to start from the top and trickle from the top, meandering its way through local village authorities and finally end on the streets where it all started. I am calling on President Granger to clearly outline to the populace his existing and future plans, so that all can become aware of the extent of his involvement (especially his priorities) in the process towards rectification of this national scandal. Yvonne Sam Editor’s note; Ms Sam’s interesting letter is lengthy so its conclusion will be carried in our edition tomorrow
because bad characteristics is a learned attitude also from evil company; it’s important we chose our company wisely because some company can influence you to do more bad than good. So many people in the world today and in Guyana live a life of ‘self denial’ They never want to accept who they are when confronted with the truth. I saw a guy I know smoking weed while I was riding in my community, when I approached him he throw away the weed but was bold to tell me he doesn’t smoke weed though it was still smelling heavily on him. There are many rich people in very high society who are hooked on drugs, alcohol and cigarettes but simply won’t accept a fact that they are an addict and need to change. They lie to themselves and lie to others even their doctors. So many people today think or believe they are too big or educated to be corrected my father used to tell me: ‘correction makes a man.’ Pride destroyed a lot of people because they always think they know it better than anyone else. So many greedy,
covetous, proud and jealous people I have corrected over the years who refused correction, I have seen destroyed. Life is about choices we make and we will reap the consequences whether good or bad; it’s so sad over 80% of the people in the world today always make bad choices particularly in marriage. Building and developing character is not something we just learn from a book or hear from a sermon. It does not come upon us in the night, or sneak up in the day. It does not come automatically, accidentally, or suddenly. It is a process that comes from being parented in it. Then it rests in us and in our motives. It is a slow process. You may not realize you have it until others point it out in you. Character is not permanent once it is formed. It requires our continual hold and practice, in God’s Word, through our prayers and the practice of His Fruit in and through us. If we can develop good character traits and attitude we will live in a country of peace, love and harmony. Rev. Gideon Cecil
A bridge is badly in need of repairs at Prospect, EBD DEAR EDITOR; On behalf of the senior citizens of Prospect, I wish to bring to the attention of the chairman of NDC for Herstelling, Little Diamond and Farm for your action to the poor condition of the bridge at Second Street. This bridge is used by all members of the community living in the western part of the village, among them senior citizens. The bridge is quickly deteriorating. Currently, one of the beams has sunk; there are gaps on the broken-down bridge that can
result in severe injuries and raised nails are also visible. The chairman’s intervention would result in the construction or repairs to this bridge. It is our considered opinion that the new bridge should be built higher so that the main support structures are not easily submerged as is the case at the moment. Kindly use your paper’s influence in expediting this matter and thus prevent injuries to the senior citizens of Prospect. Trixton Forsythe
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Friday November 04, 2016
The mantra of local government empowerment is to deceive DEAR EDITOR; As is usually the case, when this Government speaks on any issues the more gullible public feels elated and expects what was said to bear fruit if not now then later. They mastered this on the 2015 Elections Campaign trail and they perfected it during the Local Government one. But many times what is said is just empty rhetoric to beguile the unsuspecting citizens and to get their continued support. A very popular mantra which is
being sung since this Government took office is ‘the local government empowerment’ since it is being said that the previous Government was opposed to empowering local communities. More recently, the Minister of Communities, Mr Ronald Bulkan has also accused the previous Government of ‘hoarding power at the centre while keeping local governments weak’ and once again reiterated the mantra that this Government ‘is committed to empowering lo-
cal democratic organs so that they can function maximally’ and he further said that the extent to which this Government is committed to this empowerment ‘cannot be overemphasize’. However, the facts paint an entirely different picture! The Kilcoy/Hampshire NDC submitted a budget proposal for the 2016 subvention and in that subvention we gave details of the streets to be repaired and the amount of ‘crusher run’ which will be required. Our subvention of
The retender is to facilitate BK for more contractors. BK/ Inc, and SYNO HYDRO. BK/ International able Water Tech. does not meet WATER TECH was rejected. DEAR EDITOR; I was told that BK international Inc/ Water Tech. joint venture tender for the 3 water treatment plants has been rejected by the 1DB. The recommendation was in BK favor despite the consortium failed in every aspect of qualification SET BY MANAGEMENT OF GWI. It is important to note that this tender was originally scraped earlier in the year after being tendered already. The qualification criteria were also reduced so as to make it favor-
the financial requirements which show the contractor has handled similar projects of similar value and annual turnover to complete the work on time. BK/Water Tech does not meet the technical requirements meaning they have built similar plants before. BK/Water Tech failed to propose a design which is acceptable under the conditions of the contract. BK/ Water Tech despite not being qualified was qualified along with 2 other bidders - UEM
The attempt to qualify BK has failed so senior management is attempting to now find ways to disqualify the other 2 previously qualified tenderers. In essence, the bid will now be scraped and retendered again in an attempt to give BK another chance. The fact is that the GOG will now have to pay penalties on the IDB loan because they are not utilizing the approved monies. The loan was approved almost 3 years ago. Local Engineer
$4 million was subsequently approved by the Ministry. On September 3rd, we wrote to the Regional Chairman informing him that a unanimous decision was taken at our statutory meeting with regards to the utilization of the subvention. We stated that it was the will of the residents to do the necessary works in repairing the streets using the NDC’s machinery and equipment and those which are owned by the residents. This was discussed when the subvention proposal was submitted. It was also emphasized that we will get more value for money in this manner than if the works were tendered out. The Chairman agreed to this and it was agreed that we have the capacity to do the works since we have an extremely hardworking and capable Works Committee. I relayed this to the NDC and they were very happy about this. However, on November 1st, 2016 we received a curt one-lined letter dated 25th October from the Deputy Regional Executive Officer, Mr Claude Henry, regretfully informing us that they cannot
accede to our request for the crusher since ‘all works were already tendered out’. This is quite strange since we were asked by the RDC as to where we want the crusher run to be deposited. Should we not be informed when the tendering process was taking place? Should we not be involved in the tendering process? Is this the type of ‘empowerment’ which the Coalition speaks about? The Coalition through its politically appointed DREO has illegally removed whatever empowerment is given to the NDCs. Section 21(a) of the Procurement Act Chapter 73:05 says that ‘The National Board may, at its discretion, create District Tender Boards for procurement by Neighbourhood Democratic Councils…comprising parttime members as follows: (i) two members appointed by the relevant Regional Board; (ii) one member appointed by the relevant NDC. It must be noted that this Section serves to give empowerment to the NDCs where goods are to be supplied to them or works to be contracted or tendered out
on their behalf. What is even more worrying is the fact that we do not know what projects will be done and by whom and at what cost. Is this ‘empowerment’? Why is it that we were given a subvention of $4 million and then we cannot participate on how it is spent? I am sure that more than 50% of the projects we submitted will not be done because of obvious reasons. This is how the Coalition empowers NDCs- they delegated the powers to their politically appointed REOs and DREOs so in effect they are the ones who are hoarding power at the center while keeping local governments weak. This is the manner in which they stifle and destroy development at the Local Government level. If this Government and the Minister of Communities are serious about empowerment then they must ensure that NDCs are empowered to spend their monies as they see fit. Haseef Yusuf Chairman Kilcoy/Hampshire NDC
Small scale miners are at a disThe President’s advisors lack vision advantage
DEAR EDITOR; Allow me a few lines to comment on the article “The military and Cabinet meetings” to be held at Camp Ayanganna, Kaieteur News, Sunday, October 30, Page 23. Let me quote from the article, “The decision of the government to host Cabinet meetings at a military base is unprecedented in the Commonwealth Caribbean. Even the New Jewel Movement in Grenada never did this.” I am a Guyanese who served with the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne Division during the 1983 Grenada invasion, where I fought to preserve freedom of the people. Here in Guyana I voted for
Granger to make changes for the people from a corrupt, deceitful, and out-of-control PPP/C machinery, in which the PPP/C were only concerned with the rich and powerful and divided the people by race and class in terms of wealth. Granger’s decision to hold Cabinet meetings at Camp Ayanganna should cease and desist immediately, as his decision could truly be considered as a disappointment. Where are the voices of Dr. David Hinds and Freddy Kissoon? Simply put, in a civilized democracy, no government should be holding Cabinet meetings at a military base. Obviously, the Granger administration is lacking advisors with a vision and sound judgment. The assertion by Granger’s administration is that military veterans have the ability to do government work is lacking in essence or merit.
The ability and knowledge of veterans are not an issue. The decision to hold Cabinet meetings at a military base is the issue, which could and should be considered as unacceptable. Mr Granger has appointed veterans and military officials in positions where neutral civilians should have been. Moreover, I frequent government buildings and saw numerous photographs of Granger as President and Brigadier on those photographs. The title of Brigadier needs removing because it gives the impression he is a current officer. And now holding Cabinet meetings at a military base jolt the imagination. Needless to say, if election was to be held today, I would vote for Granger again. However, the President needs to rethink his strategy. He should cease to have Cabinet meetings at a military base. Annoyed Citizen
DEAR EDITOR; As our government boasts of 600,000 ounces gold declaration and how the mining industry is doing well and holding our economy together, there are some very disturbing signals and signs as regards to the mining industry. I will enumerate them. 1. Since the government took office, the VAT free excavators are no longer available to small and medium scale miners. The VAT that now has to be paid varies between five million dollars and six million, five hundred thousand dollars, depending on which brand you purchase. Did anyone check to see how
much of the 600,000 ounces is being produced with the support of heavy equipment? No explanation has been put forward for this significant removal of support to small and medium scale miners. 2. Many of us are paying for lands that we cannot mine because these lands fall within Amerindian titled lands or projected extensions of Amerindian lands. We have been told to give up our blocks and seek alternatives through the Closed Area Committee of the Guyana Geology & Mines Commission . However, many of us have been waiting for years for our applications to be processed. This treatment of miners
is very disrespectful and unfair. 3. Many of our interior air strips and roads that support our industry need repairs and upgrading whilst billions are collected in royalties and taxes. 4. As the government promotes the green economy and the oil industry, we have to wonder whether we are being used until such time that our gold production is no longer needed to stabilize our economy. In closing Mr. Editor, the point is that the gold industry is the flag bearer of our economy and may be able to do even better if only the support and help required is provided. Small Miner
When will this GPL contract be made now marks another missed crats? This Power Utility a reality? deadline for the award. Can U p g r a d e P r o g r a m w a s DEAR EDITOR; Questions to the IDB and GPL. The award of the contract for GPL’s Power Utility Upgrade Program was promised to be awarded by the end of October by both the management of GPL and IDB. This
someone please shed some light on why this is so? The recent swearing in of the Public Procurement Commission one thought would have offered some hope in transparency and efficiency. Is this now another group of useless bureau-
touted to bring much relief to GPL’s aging infrastructure by reducing line losses thus saving billions annually. The Government of Suriname is embarking on a similar project; I bet this will be implemented and completed before ours. Here is to hoping someone keeps their word and we move on with this project or some sort of announcement on a future date and not another extension of the evaluation. Michael Persaud
Friday November 04, 2016
Some decisions on GuySuCo by year end - Harmon By Kiana Wilburg The future of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) and the need for a turnaround plan was high on Cabinet’s agenda this week. Revealing the details of Cabinet’s work in this regard was Minister of State, Joseph Harmon. Harmon during a post cabinet press briefing, yesterday, told reporters yesterday that some decisions regarding the sector will have to be made by year end. This position was taken after “detailed and frank” presentations by GuySuCo officials to members of Cabinet on Tuesday. Harmon said that the GuySuCo team was led by its Chairman, Dr. Clive Thomas. Also on the team were GuySuCo Chief Executive Officer Errol Hanoman, and the Chairman of the task force on diversification possibilities in GuySuCo. Harmon said that the team briefed Cabinet on the state of the sugar industry, the challenges it faces and the options available to address the situation. The politician recalled that after the presentation of the COI report on GuySuCo, Cabinet was briefed by the Commissioners. From that meeting, Harmon said that Cabinet outlined a five-point approach to address the issues raised by the Commission of Inquiry. Harmon said that those points were that GuySuCo must present Cabinet with a plan which addresses the issues raised by the Commission Of Inquiry; Cabinet would give consideration to that plan; and having considered the plan, Cabinet would engage the Opposition and the National Assembly in consultations on the plan. The approach also mandates that Cabinet would hold consultations with other stakeholders including, the workers of the corporation and the related unions. “Therefore the presentation which was held on Tuesday was a part of that process which was outlined. The presentation to Cabinet gave considerations on the matters which ranged from maintaining the status quo which is just do nothing and just allow it to go as it is, to the point of a limited form of diversification,” said the Minister of State. He added, “So there were several proposals. Of course the position that was taken by GuySuCo itself was that the worst option is to maintain the status quo since in that regard; there were
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- Says maintaining current situation is no option
Minister of State, Joseph Harmon serious implications for the National Treasury. “And those implications are that it will require $18.6B in 2017 and $21.4B in 2018. That is just to maintain the status quo.” Harmon said that this, of course, is added to GuySuCo’s current debt which is in excess of $80B. The politician said that Cabinet listened very carefully to the team presentations, made comments and questioned them. He said that Cabinet also thanked the team for the frank and forthright presentations and indicated that it will give urgent consideration to the issues raised and advice offered. In preparation for the next step, Harmon revealed that Cabinet appointed a subcommittee to look at the presentation made by the GuySuCo officers. He said that the team is expected to take into consideration, the points raised by the presenters and craft an approach which will mostly likely be used by the full
Cabinet. The subcommittee is expected to complete and present its repot to Cabinet within two weeks. The members of the subcommittee include Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder, Finance Minister, Winston Jordan, Natural Resources Minister, Raphael Trotman and Minister of State, Joseph Harmon. OPTIONS Minister Harmon asked to specify what “options” were presented by the GuySuCo team and if one of those included the closure of more sugar estates, said, “There were a range of options that have been presented to Cabinet and I would not want to be very specific with these options but I gave you what I call the continuum of opportunities and that is to say from doing nothing which is maintaining the status quo to diversification.” He added, “So along that range, there are several options and the implications of us going down the route of any of those recommendations. So those are things which the subcommittee will deliberate on and report back to the full Cabinet …” This answer however was not to the satisfaction of members of the media corps. The Minister of State was then pressed to say why there seems to be a degree of secrecy surrounding the options on the table and whether one of those options included shutting down more sugar estates. Harmon stressed that it is important for Government to (Continued on page 14)
Guyanese woman stalls UK Brexit By Oscar Ramjeet
A Guyana-born woman is leading the Brexit bombshell which caused the new Prime Minister of Britain, Theresa May to lose some control she enjoyed. Gina Miller, 51, a businesswoman and philanthropist, is the lead claimant in an historic action that thwarted the UK government plans to trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty —starting the formal process of Britain leaving the European Union —without a vote in Parliament. The BBC reported that on Thursday a judge in London ruled that Members of Parliament must be given a say in the process of leaving the European Union (EU). Miller, an investment banker, led the successful law suit. In a statement after the court ruling, Miller said, “It it not about how any of us
voted - each of us voted to do what we believed was right thing for our country. “This case is about process, not politics. My dedicated legal team Mishcon de Reyand counsel — are alongside myself and my supporters; pleased to have played our part in helping form a debate on whether the rights conferred on UK citizens through Parliament legislation 44 years ago could be casually snuffed out by the Executive without Parliament or our elected representatives and without proper prior consultation about the Government’s intentions for Brexit” The electorate voted on June 23, last, to exit the Union Miller who was born in Guyana left for the UK when she was 10 years of age. She was educated in London, and runs an investment company with her husband, Alan. In
2012 she set up the True Fair campaign which attempts to “limit the possibility of future mis-selling or financial scandals through greater transparency” The People’s Challenge supported Miller in her lawsuit, and more than 175,000 pounds sterling (US$218,551) was raised by the public to assist in legal expenses. The BBC reported that while Miller has won plaudits for taking her case to court, she has been subjected to vicious on line trolling One commentator said, “The racist abuse Gina Miller is getting is quite something to behold.”
A mini health check is the first step to donating blood
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Friday November 04, 2016
GuySuCo 2016 target lags by 156,304 tonnes The Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) had set out to produce its revised target of 218,188 tonnes of sugar for 2016. However, with less than two months remaining in the year, the sugar company is behind its target by 156,304 tonnes. Based on the statistics recorded in the September monthly economic bulletin published by the Ministry of Finance, as of August the total amount of sugar produced stood at 61,884 tonnes for the year. This is significantly lower than the amount produced last year for the same period —-96,491 tonnes. It was reported that in addition to the first crop being lower than expected, planting for the second crop started late which resulted in a significant decline by 65.9 per cent when comparing production for August, 2016 to that for 2015. Due to the critical factor of late planting, the Finance Ministry said that GuySuCo
may have to revise its 2016 target downwards. In July no sugar was produced. The months of June and July always record zero production for sugar as harvest of the first crop is completed in May. At the end of the first crop, the total amount produced was 56,645 tonnes. This was a reduction of 23,624 tonnes from the budgeted 80,269 tonnes and also down from 2015’s half year production of 81,143 tonnes. The Ministry of Finance had said that this year’s shortfall was reflected in a decline in export sales, from a budgeted amount of 58,272 tonnes to an actual 49,278 tonnes, compared with 77,000 tonnes realized in the same period last year. In the August report by the Ministry, the industry was still expected to achieve its revised target despite a fall in production for the first crop. GuySuCo had initially projected to produce 240,000 tonnes of sugar this year but had adjusted its figure due to
Finance Ministry believes GuySuCo may have to revise target downwards several issues; one being harsh weather conditions causing most estates to have missed their targets. It was noted that the El Nino weather phenomenon resulted in stunted cane growth and a decline in cane yields from 57.45 tonnes cane per hectare (tc/ha) in the first crop of 2015 to 45.2 (tc/ha) in 2016. Additionally, factors such as delays in tillage, plant-
ing and crop husbandry operations contributed to the underperformance of the industry. And if this production woe isn’t enough, GuySuCo had said that it will be unable to pay salary and wage increases to its workers this year. This came out of the latest negotiation talks between the corporation and representatives from the Guyana Ag-
ricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU). The Union was told at the negotiation meetings that GuySuCo had recorded a loss of over $16B in 2015. The sugar corporation had also presented its projected losses for 2016 and 2017 which would be approximately $13B and more than $12B respectively. The Government of
Guyana continues to provide subsidies to the entity so as to cushion the effects of the monumental losses. In 2015 the corporation received $12B in subsidy and this year was paid some $9B. GuySuCo has since requested a top up of $3.5B to sustain operation. Due to strike action on October 17, 2016 six factories were not in operation. This created a deficit of 202 tonnes. The corporation is calling on GAWU to advise its members to put the interest of the industry first so that the full benefits of the second crop can be realised.
Friday November 04, 2016
People set themselves up for a fall. And that fall can be very hard. Guyanese are suckers for a story, especially if it is a story that they want to believe. They believe it because they want to believe it, not because they have taken time to consider all the sides of an issue. People have a tendency in Guyana not to carefully study the situation. They read about someone being investigated. They learn that the person has been charged. They do not like the person for political reasons. They wait expectantly for the legal hammer to drop on the person’s head. When it does not happen, they are disappointed. They begin to blame people wrongfully. They never blame themselves for being a sucker for a story that was simply too good to be true. A man was recently freed of a charge by the court. The man, because of the political divide in Guyana is not wellliked by certain sections of the population. He is not wellliked because he is perceived as being supportive of the former government. The man is not even a card-bearing member of the opposition but
simply because he had a rapport with the previous administration, he is branded as an opposition supporter. Those who wanted him to be jailed wanted him to be jailed not because they cared so much that he may have done something wrong but because the hatred of the PPPC has so contaminated their minds that they want him to be punished because in their opinion, he is a PPP. They have taken no time to question whether in the first place there was a case against the man. ‘ They have accepted hook, line and sinker what was peddled to them. People believe things because they want to believe it, not necessarily because they are of the view that the facts support what they believe. The man is freed and dejection and disappointment is the first reaction. The second reaction is to try to justify the fact that they were right in believing that the man was guilty. If they believe the man was guilty, then something had to have gone wrong for the man to have been found not guilty. It surely cannot be their judgment that is wrong. No, they are right and therefore something went wrong.
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And so the excuses begin. Accusations run amok. Others are blamed. Institutions and professionals are brought into disrepute. This is the excuse- making syndrome. People have to find a way to rationalize what has taken place other than admitting that they may have been wrong. The danger in all of this is not the case in question. It is the risk that it poses for society as a whole. When the new administration came to power, they worked for over seven months with the former Head of the Privatization Unit who was at the helm under the PPPC. They did not send him home or prevent him access-
ing his office for document. They seemed willing to work with him. They seem impressed with him. In fact, they have not as yet put the Marriott Hotel on the market. They have kept it going and boasting about impressive occupancy. The man was becoming a cult hero. When everyone expected the hotel he established to flop, it was in fact a success story. The pressure mounted on the government to cut ties. The financiers of the ruling coalition wanted the man out and they eventually got their way. But some persons decided that they had to do more
than get him out. They got carried away by their own illusions and beliefs about the man. They placed his home under surveillance, except that the wrong house was being placed under surveillance. For seven months, the man was not under any cloud of suspicion. But suddenly he has departed his job; his home is placed under watch. We know what happened. A man and his wife lost their lives because they were sent to do a job that should never have been done in the first place. Somebody had a per-
ception of something and acted blindly on the perception. The result is the loss of three lives and children growing up without parents. This is the Guyana story. Were it not tragic, it would make for high comedy.
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Friday November 04, 2016
Kaieteur News
=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===
The GRA and thief from thief mek Gaad laff This must be the only stable country on Planet Earth that does not have a functioning human rights organization and a consumer affairs entity. This must be the only country on Planet Earth where one cannot pick up the newspaper and read the comments on societal happening by a university lecturer. Substantial numbers in Guyana think they have a better country than many in Africa, Central America and elsewhere. You pick up any newspaper from any African or Central American nation, and you will see opinion pieces by university academics. If tomorrow, President Granger appoints Bharrat Jagdeo as Prime Minister and the country rejects it, for an informed analysis of the implications
and consequences, the Kaieteur News and Stabroek News will have to contact UWI professors. This morbid vacuum is deeply troubling. It is psychologically shattering in that the country has been an enduring autocracy because of its colonial origins and that culture has dominated the life of Guyana since. In such a Hobbesian situation, the society needs voices of courage and reason. But there is none. We have a constitutional body on paper titled the Human Rights Commission. We may never see that body come to fruition. This country at a profound psychic level has no knowledge of what constitutes deep, philosophical values that underpin and hold together the meaning of civili-
zation. Make no mistake; Royston King was logical and inevitable. King may go tomorrow and will be confused as to why he was fired (who is so thinking in the Coalition to know that King is irrelevant; irrelevant to what?) because he accepts that what he is doing is normal. And King is right. The ingrained culture of this country is an authoritarian one. Any political theorist asked to name an enduring autocracy would cite Russia but that is because Guyana is too obscure on the global scene so they do not know about this land. If you want to see how implanted in the soul of the nation is this permanent autocracy, talk to any member of the AFC, PNC, WPA that was in the opposition for the
past 23 years when they were textbook students of human rights. Today, in power, every one of them will justify undemocratic state behavior as is one of the WPA’s longstanding leaders, Tacuma Ogunseye, in the Joe Harmon/ China trip scandal. He wrote a letter in the newspapers saying the media is behind the hunting down of Harmon; the very media that is responsible for Harmon and Ogunseye being in government today. That is how permanent is the dictatorial instinct in this country. Sorry for such a long introduction to my main point. Four GRA employees have been dismissed. You do not want to know for what. And I will not describe what the offence was. What I am going to do is contexualize. In the context of the forensic audits and what those investigations found, these four little defaulters could be compared to a reckless driver who ran off the road into a trench with a box of live chickens that
drowned with a careless bus driver who ran off a mountain killing all 50 passengers. I remember warning readers that it will come to this; and it has. We will come to the situation whereby little public servants will go before the courts for tiny illegalities while former big wigs when in office stole billions, bought mansions and opened foreign bank accounts and they will have the freedom to enjoy la dolce vita for the rest of their lives. Our hard-working police were extraordinarily diligent in following the pattern of the forensic auditors. They discovered a clerk who allegedly stole $28 million from B. K. International. Some Kaieteur News journalists will tell you, I said to them when we talked about the case, “thief from thief mek Gaad laff.” Of course, I wasn’t saying people at the BK Company steal. Can’t blame the police for doing their work however selective as the guys as
Frederick Kissoon SOCU do. The circus is back in town. Most Guyanese are experiencing a biting irony. They are annoyed at how much money was spent on the forensic audits but they are laughing because the audits have morphed into a colossal circus with funny clowns. I end with a few words from one of my favourite songs, “Send in the Clowns,” from the Broadway musical, “A Little Night Music.” Don’t you love farce? My fault, I fear. I thought that you’d want what I want Sorry, my dear. But where are the clowns? Quick, send in the clowns. Don’t bother, they’re here.
Dem boys seh...
Some people does look fuh trouble Imagine how bareface people get. Dem ain’t got no worry about going in people house. De other night one get shoot. When de bullets fly he partner bruck a sprint but he get ketch. Now de people in that neighbourhood seh that dem gun look after demself. Dem boys remember de man who had some dogs. He cut a hole in ee wall fuh de
dogs go in and out of de house. Dem had this thief who see this big hole in de wall. Dem boys want to know who in dem right sense gun push dem head in a hole because dem think de home owner lef de hole fuh thiefing people. This man push in he head. He didn’t see de dog watching him. Is till when he go in de house that de party start.
But is de excuse dem does come up with. A man go in a lady house and start fetch out she things. De dog tackle him. This man tell de court how he see de dog and it look thirsty. Suh he go in de yard and give de dog water. Well if de dog drink de water from him it wouldn’t bite him. Now he got dog bite all over. He is one who does seh that he not getting wuk. Dem boys know that nuff of dem can’t wuk. Dem go to school and ain’t learn nutten but Soulja Bai got to find wuk fuh dem. But dem picking and choosing and that is wheh de problem deh. Talk half and watch how people does mek dem own life miserable.
Friday November 04, 2016
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Kaieteur News
Accused freed of taxi driver’s murder ....following no case submission Murder accused Stephen Campbell, of Lot 5 Number Seven, Bramsfield Village, East Coast Berbice, on Wednesday walked out of the Berbice High Court a free man after Justice William Ramlal upheld the defence no case submission. Campbell was on trial before Justice Ramlal and a mixed jury for murdering taxi driver Trevor Kissoon, between June 9 and June 10, 2010, before dumping his body. The battered body of Kissoon, 27, of 24 Alexander Street, New Amsterdam, was found in a trench at Bramsfield Number Seven, East Coast Berbice, around noon on June 10, 2010. Kissoon, who was employed with the J&N Taxi Service in New Amsterdam, was driving a silver-grey 212 Toyota car, HB 7489. At the time of his disappearance, he was working the 19:00hrs to 07:00 hrs shift. The state’s case presented by Prosecutor Attorney-at-Law Stacy Goodings saw a switch in prosecutors half way with Attorney Orinthia Schmidt concluding
the matter. The accused was represented by Attorneys at law Mursalene Bacchus and Perry Goosai. When the matter continued on Wednesday Attorney at law, Mursalene Bacchus, made a no case submission during which he discredited the prosecution’s case, especially the evidence of star witness Ambika Hunt who had a relationship with the accused Campbell. After listening to the rebuttal done by Schmidt, Justice Ramlal made his ruling. The judge stated that the only evidence that seems to connect Campbell to the death of Kissoon is the evidence of Ambika Hunt. She said that the accused told her at her home that he and his friends killed a taxi driver. No direct evidence was led by the prosecution to establish who the taxi driver was, who were the friends of the accused or where the taxi driver was killed. He said that Ambika Hunt admitted under cross examination that she got the date, June 9, 2010 from the police as the date her cell phone was
used to call a taxi service. She admitted further that she was forced to tell the police what they wanted to hear after being in custody for long a time. In that, what the police asked her on the first day, she was prepared to say on the second day. Apart from Hunt’s evidence there was no circumstantial or direct evidence to establish that by a taxi driver she meant Trevor Kissoon who was in fact a driver with J and N taxi service. There was no evidence led by the prosecution that whoever used Hunt’s cell phone to call J and N taxi service is in fact the accused . The possession of the cell phone by Campbell cannot by inference lead to him being involved and to whom called the taxi service where the deceased worked. There is no evidence led by the prosecution to establish that the accused conspired with or acted in concert with others to kill anyone. The indirect evidence does not allege that he did. The judge stated that the evidence of Hunt and Reid is that the accused allegedly acted with others. The indictment is that he acted alone. There is no evi-
dence of the actor’s intent to commit a crime in the killing of Kissoon. The Judge noted that Hunt’s evidence was weak, tenuous, and repugnant to commonsense. The evidence is unsatisfactory and unsound. A reasonable jury properly directed cannot arrive at a verdict adverse to the accused. The jury was then directed to return a formal verdict of not guilty of murder. Before letting the accused go, Justice Ramlal told him that he has escaped from the law of mankind. You and your God as well as others know what happened. Campbell had nothing to say to the court when asked. The state’s case was that on the night in question the taxi service received a call from a cell phone asking for a car to do a pick up at the Sheet Anchor Turn in East Canje. Kissoon subsequently reported that he had located the customer and was heading to Rose Hall Town, where he was to make another pick up and then drop the passenger off at a popular hotel in New Amsterdam, before returning with the other person to Skeldon. The man was not heard from again during the
Taxi driver Trevor Kissoon, murder accused night. A missing person’s report was subsequently made. His relatives mounted a search and the next day Kissoon’s battered body was found next to a bridge at the
side of a trench at Bramsfield. When the body was found his head was bashed in and his eyes were gouged out. The police conducted an investigation that led to the arrest of Campbell, some two years after the incident. The car was never found. Giving evidence during the trial were Detective Assistant Superintendent Trevor Reid, Detective Sergeant Lawrence Thomas who witnessed the post mortem examination which was conducted by Dr. Vivekanand Brijmohan Detective Corporal Michael Peters, civilians Trimatie Wong, Stefan Jagdeo, Jennifer Burrowes and Gregory Ramsammy. Justice Ramlal had earlier decided against the admissibility of the caution statement reportedly made by the accused. The preliminary inquiry was conducted by Magistrate Adela Nagamootoo.
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Kaieteur News
Friday November 04, 2016
Gov’t orders six fire-fighting vehicles
Cabinet has granted its no objection to the procurement of fire fighting vehicles for the Guyana Fire Service (GFS). This announcement was made by Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, at yesterday’s post- Cabinet press briefing which was held at the Office of the President, Shiv Chanderpaul Drive, Georgetown. A $77,250,998 contract will be used to acquire two water tenders, four water bowsers and two ambu-
lances, Minister Harmon stated. The vehicles will be procured from well-known fire fighting and vehicle manufacturer, Angloco Limited out of the United Kingdom. Fire Chief, Marlon Gentle, disclosed that the ambulances are to be used in the Emergency Medical Service (EMS) which is expected to be launched this month. The main aim of the EMS is to establish medical response ambulance services via land, air and water with a response time of 15 minutes maximum. The EMS is a collaborative effort between the Ministries of Public Security and Public Health. Meanwhile, Gentle, in a Government statement, said two of the water bowsers are destined for Berbice- one each for the towns of Corriverton and Rose Hall. Gentle explained that the GFS has “difficulty in readily accessing water” in the heavily populated parts of these towns. The Fire Chief said the other vehicles will be dispatched where there is need while one of the bowsers will be on reserve.
Friday November 04, 2016
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Kaieteur News
Minister Bulkan and team Committee set up to oversee visit FFTP housing project IDB-funded multi-million project Government with the support from the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB), has developed a project to improve maternal and child health. This project, according to Minister of State and Cabinet Secretary, Mr. Joseph Harmon, was born out of concerns of the high maternal and infant mortality rates that are among the highest in Latin America and the Caribbean. According to Harmon, Cabinet at its recent sitting agreed to the establishment of a steering committee to oversee the implementation of the project which is entitled ‘Environment and Social Management Plan of the Government of Guyana/InterAmerican Development Bank’.
Minister Bulkan and some of the potential home owners
Some senior officials from Georgetown over the weekend visited the Food For The Poor Housing Project aback of Onderneeming, West Coast Berbice, sometimes referred to as Fort Wellington. The authorities were satisfied with the rate at which the project was progressing. Among the visiting team were Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan, and Chief Executive Officer of Food For The Poor, Mr. Kent Vincent. According to Mr. Vincent, funding for the projects like the Onderneeming Village project would depend on donors. In this case funding was
through an American citizen, Mr. Joe Rotheli, who has funded similar projects in other parts of Guyana. And, the idea of the forty-three homes for the Onderneeming Village is in honour of Mr. Rotheli’s 43rd wedding anniversary. The C.E.O of Food For The Poor said that beneficiaries are generally people who are on the poverty line and are not likely to be able to acquire loan from the bank. The organization is also concerned about single parent families that have small children. In the case of the current project, the houses would have two bedrooms with
internal sanitary facilities. The organization will be paying for part of the cost of the property, and each home owner would be given a year to pay their portion of the cost of the property. Minister Bulkan, noting that it is difficult to imagine people living without electricity in this age, assured those present that Central Government will play its part, and that the residents would have access to water and electricity when the project is completed. The authorities are working to complete the project in time for a planned handing-over on November 29.
- to address high rate of maternal, child deaths The committee, Harmon disclosed, at the Post Cabinet press briefing yesterday, will be chaired by a representative of the Ministry of Public Health and include representatives from the Ministries of the Presidency, Finance, Communities and Indigenous People’s Affairs. The Minister of State told media operatives yesterday that the project will be mainly concerned with strengthening reproductive, maternal and neonatal health services as well as the national health care network. The project will commence in early 2017 and is expected to
be completed by 2021, Harmon said. The IDB in recent publicised statement said that it has approved a US$8 million loan for a programme to help reduce maternal, perinatal and neonatal deaths in Guyana. This programme, according to the information disseminated by the IDB, will seek to improve the quality of care at 140 health facilities and in 88 communities, benefitting at least 140,000 women and 9,000 newborns per year. Despite progress achieved during the last (Continued on page 14)
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Friday November 04, 2016
Kaieteur News
Man shoots lover in mouth, surrenders Almost one month after being accused of shooting the mother of his child in the mouth, a 27-year-old man surrendered on Wednesday. The man is being accused of shooting 26-year-old Shevon Harry in the mouth during an argument at her John Fernandes Squatting Area home on October 8, last. Kaieteur News was told that the man walked into the Brickdam Police Station on Wednesday. It is unclear if he would be charged for the shooting since a week after Harry was discharged from the Georgetown Public Hospital
Corporation (GPHC), she claimed that it was not her lover who shot her. She alleged that the gunman was someone she had never seen before. However, her neighbours are all claiming that it was the father of her child who shot her since some of them witnessed the shooting. The neighbours claimed that the woman was shot after she found out that another woman was pregnant for the 27-year-old man. But Harry said that her neighbours who implicated her lover are only gossiping. Shevon Harry alleged that
shortly after 12:00 hrs on October 8, her ‘child father’ called and asked if he could come by for lunch, to which she agreed. “He eat and then he left. Me and my daughter were eating and then she went in her room. I went in her room to see what she was doing and when I was coming out I see this man standing on my landing and I jumped because no one was there before.” She said that before she could have said anything, the suspect fired a shot at her and then escaped. “I didn’t know I was shot and when I saw blood, I didn’t
even know where I was shot.” Neighbours claimed that after the shooting, Harry’s estranged partner told her to wash out her mouth under a tap. But she claimed that after she was shot, she took a taxi and went to the hospital. She claimed that her lover did not visit her while she was hospitalised. However, he called to find out how she was doing after she was discharged. “He called and ask me how I was doing and he said that he want to come but the news that he shoot me was all over and he asked me is what I put him in now,” the
woman said. According to Harry, the man did not tell her where he was at the time and is yet to visit her. Kaieteur News was told that the near-fatal confrontation allegedly occurred after the victim, a security guard, accused her spouse of impregnating another woman. Neighbours said that around 14:50 hrs, the man visited Shevon Harry, and an argument ensued in the yard. He then allegedly shot her in the mouth and escaped. Residents told this publication that the woman has been a constant victim of domestic violence. A neighbour said that she was sitting outside when the suspect passed on his motorcycle. She added that about 10 minutes later, she heard an ‘explosion’, but didn’t pay too much attention since she thought children from the neighbourhood were playing. But then her son came and said that Harry’s ‘child father’ had shot her in the
Shevon Harry mouth. “I see he tek off with a speed on the motorbike. He fly pass me house and headed through the dam for Shirley Field. He even break my bridge,” the neighbour recalled. She said that the suspect’s younger brother went into Harry’s yard and “washed down” the blood. Another woman noted that the suspect is a very abusive and controlling individual.
Some decisions on... (From page 7) be “very careful” with the information it is feeding the public on that matter, hence he would not venture to give specifics on the “options.” He said, “These are options…and we are in the process of deliberations on these options. It is not always good to go about it and say look these are the options and our deliberations. You would find that at the end of the deliberations, you arrive at a conclusion that is not consistent with your earlier position. “So it is always important that we be very careful with what we announce and put out there. Any wrong step can send the wrong signal and create panic and confusion.” He was subsequently told by one journalist that he was leaving the nation to speculate what those options are. The Cabinet Secretary made it clear however that Government is only doing what is best to arrive at a situation that is in the best interest of the people in the sector.
Committee set up... (From page 13) decade, Guyana continues to experience one of the highest maternal and infant mortality rates in Latin America and the Caribbean, with a maternal mortality rate estimated at 121 per 1,000 live births and an infant mortality rate at 22 per 1,000 live births. About 93 percent of deaths in children less than one year of age occurred in the neonatal period, the programme will therefore support and improve maternal and child health care with a focus on improving access to quality neonatal health services and providing a better path to and quality
A mini health check is the first step to donating blood
of reproductive and maternal health services. This operation draws from the IDB experiences with the Mesoamerican Health Initiative and incorporates lessons learned on evidencebased biomedical and operational interventions. It will closely monitor results to ensure that those interventions can contribute to the success of the programme. According to the IDB the US$8 million project will be financed as follows: US$4 million from the IDB’s ordinary capital resources and US$4 million from the Fund for Special Operations (FSO) of the Bank. The loan from the Bank’s ordinary capital has a six-year grace period and a 30-year term. The FSO funding has a term of 40 years with a 40-year grace period and a fixed annual rate of 0.25 percent.
Friday November 04, 2016
Kaieteur News
Public Procurement Commission a step in the right direction President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Vishnu Doerga, believes that the swearing in of the Public Procurement Commission is a step in the right direction. That commission will benefit private sector companies who bid for Government contracts. Yesterday, Doerga said that the existence of the Commission can build confidence among local and international entrepreneurs in doing business with the local public sector to provide goods and services. He said that for the Commission to be effective it must seek to operate in a manner void of external influences, politics, lobbyists or otherwise. The Commission will replace Cabinet’s role in approving state contracts and complaints from dissatisfied contractors. Doerga’s advice to the Commission is that projects should be awarded to contractors who meet both the basic requirements and can deliver the results sought of all projects. He said that what is important when awarding contracts is getting value for money even though it may not be the cheapest option. One week ago, President
- GCCI Head
GCCI President, Vishnu Doerga David Granger swore in the members of the PPC. Those taking the oath of office were Emily Dodson, a lawyer by profession; Carol Corbin, wife of former Opposition Leader, Robert Corbin; Dr. Nanda Gopaul, a trade unionist and former Labour Minister under the previous administration; University of Guyana lecturer, Sukrishnalall Pasha, and Ivor English, former head of the Maritime Administration and an official of the Critchlow Labour College. At the swearing in, President David Granger said that the purpose of the Commission is to guarantee that the procurement of goods and services as well as the performance of works are
done in a competitive, transparent and fair manner according to the law and policy guidelines determined by the National Assembly. He told the Commissioners that they are to uphold their constitutional duty and to be independent, impartial and fair. Within the joint manifesto of the A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Chance, the establishment of the PPC was identified as an entity necessary for improving governance in relation to procurement. In addition, the coalition had promised to implement the Public Procurement Laws and to enact legislation for the registration of professionals, including architects, engineers, contractors and quantity surveyors. The parliamentary opposition, the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC), had said that one of the first matters which the Commission would have to investigate is the controversial Sussex Street Drug bond scandal and other questionable contracts which are in violation of the Procurement Act and regulations implemented by all levels of government and state agencies.
Diamond shooting…
Cops seek help in identifying dead bandit
The Guyana Police Force is seeking the assistance of members of the public to identify the bandit who was shot dead when he tried to break into a Diamond, East Bank Demerara (EBD) home, Wednesday morning. The body is at the Lyken Funeral parlour. A 38-year-old miner shot and killed one of two bandits who were attempting to break into his Lot 724 Section A, Block X, Diamond, East Bank Demerara (EBD) home around 02:15 hrs on Wednesday. According to information received, the homeowner was awakened by a loud noise in the lower flat of his property. When he went down to investigate, he saw two men, one of whom was armed with a handgun, attempting to gain entry into his home via the door. Armed with his pistol, the man reportedly discharged several rounds in the bandits’ direction, hitting one of them. The second suspect scaled the fenced yard and escaped.
The dead bandit Kaieteur News was told that a report was made to the Diamond Police Station and a patrol responded promptly. On their way, they arrested a 27-year-old male from West Ruimveldt, who was found close to the scene. He is assisting with information. The police rushed the shot bandit, who was clad in a three-quarter pants and a black vest tied around his
neck, to the Diamond Diagnostic Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival with two suspected g u n s h o t w o u n d s t o his neck. Anyone with information that may lead to his identification is asked to contact the police on telephone numbers 225-6411, 226-1369, 227-2128, 226-7065, 226-2603, 911 or the nearest Police Station.
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Kaieteur News
Friday November 04, 2016
Govt. directs keen attention to fighting NCDs - Minister Cummings Government, through the Ministry of Public Health, has put in place a number of strategic initiatives to prevent and treat Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs). These initiatives will effectively address the future burden of disease, promote healthy lifestyles, and increase the potential benefit of a healthier population, thus contributing to economic development. This was the disclosure of Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Karen Cummings, when she attended a recent health fair in Victoria, East Coast Demerara. The fair was planned and organized by the Victoria Reconstruction Trust with support from the Public Health Ministry. According to the Minister, by adopting policies that promote healthy eating and discouraging unhealthy activities such as smoking, the Ministry will have a better chance at helping to reshape the social consciousness of NCDs. “Robust health promotion activities by the Ministry will
Minister Karen Cummings addresses the health fair. ensure that the key messages of healthy living will resonate with the population and have a positive impact on their lives,” underscored Minister Cummings as she emphasized that “one major contribution to a significant amount of NCDs is smoking.” Statistics show that tobacco accounts for around six million deaths every year, including from the effects of exposure to second-hand smoke, and is projected to increase to eight million by 2030. It is for this reason, she reminded, that “very soon the Ministry of Public Health will be piloting stringent tobacco
Residents of Victoria listen intently to Minister Cummings. legislation in Parliament aimed at significantly reducing the use of tobacco in Guyana.” This legislation, she underscored, is a lifesaving one that will certainly preserve the lives of many Guyanese in years to come. The Minister added that the key risk factors for cardiovascular disease and diabetes include obesity, physical inactivity, and
Persons were able to access a number of health services. unhealthy diets. These require interventions to change these unhealthy lifestyles. According to Minister Cummings, “These changes we recognize are most likely
to occur with implementation of a coordinated range of interventions to encourage individuals to maintain a healthy weight, participate in daily physical activity, and consume a healthy diet.”
A healthy diet, she assured, replaces saturated and trans fat with unsaturated fat; increases consumption of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains; (Continued on page 26)
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Friday November 04, 2016
Kaieteur News
C’tyne beheading...
Man claimed “master” sent him to kill neighbour - placed bloody weapon on mandir’s altar after deed In what seemed to be a scene out of a horror movie, 53-year-old Bhumatie Deolall lost her life senselessly after she was gruesomely murdered by her neighbor, Jainarine Balgobin, aka (‘Payo’) a Guysuco labourer at the Albion Estate. The killer’s relatives later claimed that he is “mentally unstable”. Sources close to the investigation told this publication that the labourer seems far from a “mentally unstable” man as he was fully aware of the act he committed. According to sources, during the interrogation Balgobin told investigators that “master send meh fuh kill she” . It was revealed that the man stated that he took the machete from the mandir located in the next lot from his home and went over to the woman’s house on the other side of the street. He called her out of her house and fired the chops, instantly killing her and severing her head. It was also disclosed that after he had finished what he was “sent to do” he walked back over to the mandir and placed the machete back where he found it, on the altar, with blood dripping from its blade.
Killed: Bhumatie Deolall
Suspect: Jainarine Balgobin
He was also seen by a neighbour holding a “murti” at the altar after placing the machete down. From reports gathered after putting the machete back where he found it, he went home still in his “rage” where his brother-in-law held on to him until police had arrived. He was arrested and taken to the Albion Police Station where he remained in custody. He was subsequently taken to the Reliance Police Station. One investigator told this publication that “the man look evil, evil” and didn’t seem remorseful for his actions. Balgobin was also reported to have been released after being in the Albion Station lock-ups for stealing monies from his
brother-in-law. Meanwhile, according to the acting Commander of B Division, Senior Superintendent Kevin Adonis, the file was prepared and will be taken to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) where it will be perused and the requisite legal advice will be expected. The accused is likely to appear in court today. Deolall was found slumped in a corner at the front of her Belvedere Squatting Area, Corentyne home by neighbours on Wednesday morning with her head almost severed. She was a mother of two and lived with her younger daughter and her three grandchildren.
Govt. directs keen attention... (From page 16) and limits sodium intake and excessive calories from any source, but especially from sugar-based beverages. Moreover, Dr. Cummings insisted that behavioural changes that are necessary to realize the health and wellness of a nation must be rooted and grounded in education. “We at the Ministry of Public Health are cognizant that education is key to implementing such changes, which are more effective when provided through multiple methods and sites, such as schools, workplaces, mass media, and health centres. Educational messages, we believe, are also more effective when they are reinforced by positive and suitably appropriate action,” the Minister asserted. NCDs are of long duration and generally slow progression. The four main types of such diseases are cardiovascular diseases (like heart attacks and stroke),
cancers, chronic respiratory diseases (such as chronic obstructed pulmonary disease and asthma), and diabetes. According to the World Health Organisation, there are a number of modifiable health risk factors that are attributed to the presence and prevalence of NCDs. These are tobacco use, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, and the harmful use of alcohol. These factors all increase the risk of NCDs. About 3.2 million deaths annually can be attributed to insufficient physical activity alone and more than half of the 3.3 million annual deaths from harmful drinking are linked to NCDs. In 2010, 1.7 million annual deaths from cardiovascular causes have been attributed to excess salt/sodium intake, Minister Cummings shared. “The four risk factors or behavioural patterns mentioned earlier lead to four key metabolic/physiological changes that increase the risk of NCDs. These changes are
raised blood pressure, o v e r w e i g h t / o b e s i t y, hyperglycemia (high blood glucose levels), and hyperlipidemia (high levels of fat in the blood),” Minister Cummings disclosed. In terms of attributable deaths, she revealed that the leading metabolic risk factor globally is elevated blood pressure to which 18 percent of global deaths are attributed, followed by overweight and obesity and raised blood glucose. “It is important to note that NCDs carry a huge cost,” said Minister Cummings. She said, “Currently, about 70 percent of the Ministry of Public Health’s budget is spent on NCDs.” She highlighted that NCDs carry a burdensome cost on families and caregivers who are tasked with caring for persons suffering from NCDs. “It is imperative that we develop healthy lifestyle choices and practices early so as to avoid falling prey to NCDs.”
Friday November 04, 2016
Kaieteur News
FAO sets 2020 deadline to remove C’bean countries from World Hunger List Regional Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Raul Benitez, says his organization is working to eradicate hunger in 11 Caribbean islands by 2020. “I would like to propose 2020 as a deadline to remove the 11 countries of the English speaking Caribbean states that still remain in the FAO’s Hunger Map,” said Benitez while addressing the 14th Caribbean Week of Agriculture (CWA) held in the Cayman Islands last week. “In figures less than 180,000 people need to achieve food security in order to reduce the prevalence of undernourishment to below 5 percent and attain this task,” said Benitez, who is FAO’s Regional Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). FAO’s focus is on the eradication of hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition; the elimination of poverty and the promotion of economic and social progress for all; and, the sustainable management of natural resources, for the benefit of present and future generations. According to an FAO document titled the CELAC Plan for Food and Nutrition Security and the eradication of Hunger 2025, Latin America is the sub-region that has made the most progress, achieving both the Millennium Development Goal target to reduce the prevalence of undernourishment from 14.4 per cent in 1990/1992 to 5.1 per cent in 2012/2014 as well as
FAO’s Regional Representative, Raul Benitez the more ambitious target set by the World Food Summit (WFS) of 1996 where Latin America also reduced the number of people suffering from hunger from 60.3 million to 29.5 million in the same period. Benitez indicated that the 2020 deadline would not be easy to meet but that it would be a significant achievement once it was achieved. “This is no easy task. However, it is possible, and for us all, it would be an excellent achievement that no country in the English speaking Caribbean appears in the hunger map,” he said while addressing a Ministerial session at CWA. The CWA is one of the region’s premier agricultural events and attracted delegates from over 15 Caribbean countries and several islands in the Pacific. Ministers of Agriculture from several islands as well as policy and decision-makers from around the region participated in the week of discussions. At the end of the week key recommendations for action were tabled for the Ministers to work on after the meeting.
Achieving food security for all is at the heart of FAO’s efforts - to make sure people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. FAO’s three main goals are: the eradication of hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition; the elimination of poverty and the driving forward of economic and social progress for all; and, the sustainable management and utilization of natural resources, including land, water, air, climate and genetic resources for the benefit of present and future generations.
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UK court says Brexit needs parliament’s approval, complicates government plans
Gina Miller speaks outside the High Court following its ruling on a challenge to the British government’s right to start divorce proceedings from the European Union, in central London yesterday. (REUTERS/Toby Melville) (Reuters) – A British court ruled yesterday that the government needs parliamentary approval to start the process of leaving the European Union, potentially delaying Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit plans. The government said it would appeal against the High Court ruling and Britain’s Supreme Court is expected to consider the case early next month. A spokeswoman for May said the prime minister still planned to launch talks on the terms of Brexit by the end of March and added: “We have no intention of letting this derail our timetable.” The pound, which fell sharply after Britons voted to leave the EU by 52 to 48 percent on June 23, rose after the ruling. Many investors took the view that lawmakers would now be able to temper the government’s policies, making it less likely that the government would opt for a “hard Brexit” — a scenario in which it prioritizes tight controls on immigration over remaining in the European single market. The High Court ruled that the government needs parliament’s backing to trigger Article 50 of the EU’s Lisbon Treaty, the formal step needed to start the process of exiting the bloc. “The most fundamental rule of the UK’s constitution is that parliament is sovereign,” said Lord Chief Justice John Thomas, England’s most senior judge. Thomas and two other senior judges did not spell out in their ruling whether the government would need to pass a new law to begin the divorce proceedings, but Britain’s Brexit minister David Davis said this was likely if the Supreme Court upheld the decision. “The judges have laid out what we can’t do and not exactly what we can do, but
we’re presuming it requires an act of parliament,” Davis told BBC TV. UNCERTAINTY Parliament could in theory block Brexit as most lawmakers (MPs) supported staying in the EU in a referendum in June. But few observers expect that outcome, and a Reuters survey last month suggested MPs would back Brexit now. Even so, the court ruling makes the already daunting task of taking Britain out of a political and trading club it joined 43 years ago even more complex. “The negotiations haven’t even yet begun. There will be uncertainty, there will be volatility around those negotiations as they proceed, and I would view this as one example of that uncertainty,” Bank of England Governor Mark Carney said. Eco n o m i s t s at Deutsche Bank told clients May had been weakened by the ruling and was likely to have to call a general election next year. But May’s spokeswoman dismissed the suggestion. “Our position has been clear that there shouldn’t be an election before 2020 - that remains the prime minister’s view,” she told reporters. Trade minister Liam Fox told parliament the government was disappointed by the ruling but the government remained “determined to respect the result of the referendum”. May had said she did not need parliament’s approval for triggering Article 50 under a historical power of “royal prerogative” where ministers act on behalf of the monarch. The High Court rejected that argument and the judges granted the government permission to appeal to the Supreme Court, Britain’s highest judicial body, which has set aside Dec. 5-8 to deal with the case.
Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the opposition Labour Party, said his party respected the outcome of the referendum but that the government’s negotiating strategy needed parliamentary scrutiny. Dominic Grieve, lawmaker from May’s ruling Conservatives and a former British attorney general, said passing legislation to trigger Article 50 need not delay the process. “It doesn’t necessarily mean that it would hold it up for a very long time,” he told BBC TV. “PROCESS NOT POLITICS” Investment manager Gina Miller, the lead claimant in the legal challenge, said the case was about “process, not politics” and rejected accusations from opponents, including May herself, that they were subverting democracy. “One of the big arguments (in the referendum) was parliamentary sovereignty,” she told reporters. “So you can’t on the day you get back sovereignty decide you’re going to sidestep or throw it away.” Some Brexit supporters said the ruling was “disgraceful”. “Our democracy is being damaged by an elite band of people in the legal system,” Richard Tice, co-chairman of the Leave Means Leave campaign. “A vote in Parliament is wholly unnecessary, time consuming and betrays the democratic will of the people.” Nigel Farage, head of the anti-EU party UKIP, said on Twitter that he feared the ruling could turn into an attempt to scupper Brexit altogether. “I worry that a betrayal may be near at hand,” he said, warning that attempts to block or delay triggering Article 50 would anger the British public. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker declined to comment on yesterday’s ruling but said he would be speaking to May by telephone today.
Friday November 04, 2016
U.N. says 240 migrants drowned off Libyan coast (Reuters) - At least 240 migrants have drowned off the coast of Libya within the last 48 hours, possibly as an unintended consequence of European efforts to stop people-smugglers and to train Libyan coastguards, the U.N.’s migration agency said. Five rescue ships, coordinated by the Italian coastguard, were within sight of the migrants but, despite attempts to rescue them, most died, the International Organization for Migration’s (IOM) chief spokesman, Leonard Doyle, said. “Two rubber dinghies, which is what they are, rubber dinghies, packed with migrants, totaling over 300 we think in all ... have succumbed to the waves off Libya in very bad weather,” he said. Migrant arrivals in Italy surged to 27,388 in October, more than the two previous Octobers combined, and bringing this year’s total to more than 158,000, IOM’s Italy
spokesman, Flavio di Giacomo, said. Migrants have told the IOM that smugglers say European training of Libyan coastguards means that rescue missions will soon be handed over to Libya and so any rescued migrants will be taken ashore in Libya rather than in Italy, Giacomo said. That might be causing the rush, despite the bad weather, he said. According to Doyle, the use of dinghies, especially unsuitable for the long sea crossing in bad weather, was partly due to European navies capturing and destroying many of the fishing boats that smugglers had been using. “In the absence of those boats and with the migrants determined to leave, and the smugglers interested in making money off them, they have been putting them in completely unsafe rubber dinghies,” he said. Survivors from one din-
ghy, whose passengers included about 20 women and six children, all believed to be from West Africa, said they set off from Libya at about 3 a.m. (0500 GMT) on Wednesday, but the boat sank after a few hours. Twelve bodies were recovered, including three babies, and about 27 survived, di Giacomo said. Another two women said they had survived the sinking of a second dinghy at about the same time. Theirs was carrying about 130 people, they said. The IOM said the latest deaths meant 4,220 migrants had died in the Mediterranean so far this year, compared with 3,777 in the whole of 2015. Separately, Italy’s coastguard said rescuers pulled about 766 people to safety from boats in difficulty in the central Mediterranean on Thursday, and found the dead body of one woman.
After Calais, France prepares to clear migrant camp in Paris
Tents are seen at a makeshift migrant camp on a street near the metro stations of Jaures and Stalingrad in Paris, France, October 28, 2016. REUTERS/Charles Platiau/File Photo (Reuters) - The camp’s last inhabitants, some three hundred women and children, were transferred to temporary housing centres across France. Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve has said the Stalingrad camp would be torn down by the end of the week. As France gears up for a wide-open presidential election with immigration a hotbutton theme on the campaign trail, a ministry insider said that process could begin this morning. The socialist mayor of
Paris, Anne Hidalgo, is building two temporary sites to house 1,000 migrants, but wants those at Stalingrad to be sheltered elsewhere first. “There aren’t enough places for all of us,” said one Afghan migrant who identified himself as Naviid, echoing the concern of others over where they will be sent. A source familiar with the operation to clear the Stalingrad camp said the authorities were having to find 4,000 places. Many of the migrants camped out along Stalingrad’s boulevards are
Africans fleeing war and poverty. Some arrived in Paris from Calais, other spent time in other European countries and deciding their best chances of a better future lay in France.On one afternoon this week, scores repeated aloud French phrases in an open-air class run by volunteers. “People help us here. They bring us food and clothing,” said one Somali migrant who previously spent two years in Denmark. “In Denmark, people didn’t much like refugees.”
Friday November 04, 2016
Venezuela opposition gives Maduro until Nov. 11 to meet demands Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro dances during his radio program at Miraflores Palace in Caracas. (Miraflores Palace/Handout via REUTERS)
(Reuters) - Venezuela’s opposition exhorted President Nicolas Maduro yesterday to set an election and start releasing jailed activists within days, while students opposed to Vatican-led talks protested in the streets. The opposition coalition escalated protests and drew hundreds of thousands into the streets when authorities quashed its drive for a referendum against Maduro last month. But it suspended street actions out of respect for talks with the government that began at the weekend mediated by a Papal envoy. However, with one major party dissenting and many supporters fearful Maduro is playing for time, opposition leaders say they will wait until Nov. 11 before possibly quitting talks and returning to street tactics if demands are ignored. Carlos Ocariz, an opposition mayor speaking at a news conference on behalf of the
coalition, reiterated their first demand was the revival of the referendum or a moving forward of presidential elections to the first quarter of 2017. The next presidential vote is currently set for late 2018. “Our second goal is the freedom of all political prisoners in Venezuela,” Ocariz said, referring to what the opposition estimate are around 100 Maduro critics unfairly imprisoned. The coalition also wants to overturn Supreme Court rulings that have annulled the opposition-led National Assembly and to name a new board to the national election council, which it accuses of favoring Maduro. The 53-year-old socialist leader won election to replace his late mentor Hugo Chavez in 2013, but has seen his popularity plummet to just over 20 percent amid an unprecedented economic crisis in the OPEC nation of 30 million people. There is no indication
Maduro will agree to any of the coalition’s big demands, and indeed some officials have mocked the deadline. Arguing that talks will not work with a government they consider a dictatorship, hundreds of students marched in Caracas and elsewhere yesterday. “There can’t be dialogue when you have political prisoners, when they deny us an election and there is hunger,” said Fernando Marquez, 23, among about 150 students who faced off with police in the restive western city of San Cristobal. Security forces fired tear gas to stop them advancing past barriers. During 17 years of socialist rule in Venezuela, the government and opposition have repeatedly held dialogues when tensions on the street have boiled over. But all of them have quickly degenerated back into the acrimonious insults that characterize modern-day Venezuelan politics.
Jamaica LGEs set for Nov. 28 KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Local Government elections will be held here on November 28. The announcement was made yesterday by Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie as he addressed Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) parish councilors and candidates at a meeting in Downtown Kingston. Nomination Day will be on November 11. Local government elec-
tions are constitutionally due every three years and have been constitutionally due since March 2015. The last elections were held on March 26, 2012, directly electing 228 divisional councillors and the mayor of the municipality of Portmore. In the last elections, the main opposition People’s National Party (PNP), secured a landslide victory, winning 151 divisions to the Jamaica
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Labour Party’s (JLP) 75, in addition to the mayorship of the city of Portmore in the central parish of St. Catherine. The PNP is currently in control of all 13 parish councils. Two hundred and twentyeight candidates are expected to contest the upcoming poll Jamaicans will go to the polls in a Local Government election on the same day as Local Government elections in Trinidad and Tobago.
Prosecution gets more time to serve statements on Barry Dataram’s reputed wife The prosecution was given an additional three weeks to file statements in the matters for which the reputed wife of Barry Dataram is charged with attempting to defeat the administration of justice and forging a Republic of Guyana passport. Anjanie Boodnarine, 21, of Lot 79 Patentia Housing Scheme, West Bank Demerara is currently on remand in relation to the offences. Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan had refused to grant her bail at an earlier court hearing ruling that the court is of the opinion that she is a flight risk. The Chief Magistrate had instructed Police Prosecutor Neville Jeffers to have statements served on Boodnarine earlier this week. However, when the matter came up, Prosecutor Jeffers additional requested an adjournment to have statements served on Boodnarine. According to the Prosecutor, only statements from two police witnesses have so far been filed. Chief Magistrate McLennan adjourned the matter until November 22, for further statements. It is alleged that between
REMANDED: Anjanie Boodnarine September 20 and October 15, having been charged with possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking and having knowledge that the matter was pending in the court; Boodnarine willfully attempted to defeat the administration of the law so as to avoid the consequence. It was also alleged that between April 15, 2013 and October 15, 2016 at Camp Street, Georgetown, she conspired with other persons to forge a Republic of Guyana Passport, in favour of herself, to show that
the document was issued by the Central Immigration and Passport Office. It is further alleged that on September 20, at Springlands, Corentyne, Berbice, she departed Guyana without presenting herself to an immigration officer. But this matter was transferred to the Springland’s Magistrate’s Court for November 16. She pleaded not guilty to the allegations in the presence of her Attorney Cleavaughn Humphrey on October 18, in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. Boodnarine and Dataram were captured last month by Surinamese authorities after absconding a drug trafficking trial in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. Dataram was slapped with these same three charges. However, he pleaded guilty and was jailed for two years and 24 months. Dataram was convicted and sentenced to 60 months’ imprisonment for the drug trafficking offence in his absence; Boodnarine was acquitted.
Hunter charged for illegal possession of gun, ammo A man who told the court that his friend gave him a gun to hunt was yesterday remanded to prison after he appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan to answer to the charge of illegal possession of gun and ammunition. It is alleged that Ferdinand Schaddle, on November 2, last, at Omai Landing Essequibo, had in his possession three 12 gauge cartridges without being the owner of a firearm license. It is also alleged that on the same day in question he had one 12-gauge shotgun in his possession without being the owner of a firearm license. The 58-year-old pleaded not guilty to both charges when they were read to him by the Chief Magistrate. His Attorney Stanley Moore told the court that his client has no prior conviction in any other court and resides at Lot 1293 Section C Golden
Grove, East Bank Demerara. Facts presented by Police Prosecutor, Neville Jeffers, stated that on the day in question a search was conducted at the business place of the 58year-old where the firearm and ammunition were found. He was told of the offence and cautioned by the police. He
told them that a friend named Buddy left it in his possession and he used it for hunting. The father of two was remanded to prison and will make his next court appearance on January 17 at the Mahdia Magistrate’s Court.
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VACANCY Receptionist Male 25-40yrs, room attendant. Call: 225-0198 or visit 233 South Rd, Lacytown
SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.-CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620
SALON - Make-up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, etc. - Cosmetology Courses: $120,000 - Technician Course: $45,000. Call: 6471773/660-5257
Visa Application: U.S.A, C a n a da & UK; Guyana p assport application. Graphics design, advertisement. Tel: 6267040; 265-4535. INNOVATIVEMARKETING & PUBLISHING INC –TEL: 600-4212: We create A/ works, logos, busi ness cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included. Passport, permanent & visitor visa application, Professional Immigrant Consultant – Sabita Immigration Services. Call: 225-6496; 662-6045
TO LET Furnished executive one or two bedroom furnished suite in Diamond. Ideal for foreigners. Call: 600-2466 One 2 bedrooms house overhead tank, parking- Call: 649-9059/621-1088 One 2 bedrooms upper flat apartment at Diamond. Call: 265-4867
Austin Powers Repairs & Services: repairs done on all domestic appliances, house wiring, etc, located in Bagotstown. Call: 685-2588/ 613-1711
Three bedrooms bottom flat at 116 Cane View Avenue, South Ruimveldt Gardens. Call: 218-1688/ 625-0392/ 6097826
Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezerCall: 610-5846 or 661-8158
2 Bedroom furnished Apartment in exclusive residential area, close to Ogle Airport , with modern amenities. Call for appointment 622-5725.
Learn to make balloon arch. Contact SAS Designs on: 601-5077 Have to get that house clean… but don’t have the time!! Then let us help you… Call: 688-6056/6031206 Repairs & spare, fridge, freezer, A/C, washers, stoves – Contact Nick: 6831312, 627-3206 Specialised in A/C installation, service, repair fridges, freezer & re-gas systems. Call: 656-6708, 666-3978 Eagle’s: Re-gas -$8,000, Washing machine repairs, Gas Stove, Plasma flat Screen & more. Call: 697-2969/646-0966 Repairs at low cost: Fridges, air- conditioners, washing machines, TVs, microwaves, freezers- Call:629-4946 or 225-4822 Guytec Repairs Services & Spares to washing machines, pressure washer, dryer, stoves, refrigerator, treadmill, vacuum, etc –Call: 680-2377 Need a building contractor, house plan to be drawn or just an estimate. Call: 2160671/ 692-8464/ 622-0267
Friday November 04, 2016
Kaieteur News
FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 One 2 bedrooms and 3 bedrooms apartment at ‘C’ Field Turkeyen, students and working couple preferably. Call Lisa: 6978867/ 219-0695 Space for rent at Ashmin’s BuildingIdeal for commercial and office useCall: 683-7954 Business place suitable for barber shop/salon located on Public Road. Call: 613-0448/ 672-8625 Apartments for rent @ Nandy Park, Free Wi-Fi, recently renovated. Call: 227-5194 Self-contained rooms in Prashad Nagar. Tel: 227-2993
Bartender, Security, DJ, waitress to work nights & secretary 18-25yrs,1 gardener preferably living on the E.C.D. Call: 6385303
PROPERTY FOR SALE
VEHICLE FOR SALE
1 Church building in front and 2 story building at the back (W30XL120) @ 180 Charolotte Street Bourda. Call:624-7341/ 227-6817/2265183
Special Sale: 2009 Belta $2.1M, 2009 Airwave -$2.4M. Call: 617-2891
Transported property @ Grove and Diamond $16M negotiable. Call: 625-5461
Cashier (shift work 6am3pm & 3pm-12pm). Submit application to Shell Station Providence EBD, shellramsburg@gmail.com
2 Storey concrete house @ 55 Section B, Non Pariel (first street from main road)- $14M negotiable. Call: 657-8561 immediately.
Exist for one male office assistant, having a motorcycle is an asset $20,000 weekly. Call: 220-2878
1244 Block ‘Y’ Grove, EBD, house 45X26, $15M negotiable, owner migrating. Call: 660-1353
Pump attendant – Call: 6803863/ 624-0033
Property @ Lot 172 Zohora Street, Market Street Better Hope, East Coast Demerara. Call: 220-1583/667-6066
Customer/sales assistant. Call: 624-0033 1-Cook. Call: 624-0033 Cook/baker for the Interior location, applicants must be experienced. Call: 618-2020 HEALTH Avoid Side Effects, use herbal supplements. Call Hazel’s Herbal Store: 226-9136
LEARN TO DRIVE C. Persaud & N. Outar Driving School formerly Soman & Sons Driving School @ Maraj BuildingCall: 644-5166; 622-2872; 6150964; 689-5997 (affordable packages).
DRESSMAKING Dressmaking Course: learn to master your skills in dressmaking. Contact us on: 601-5077
2009 Raum- $2.4M, 2009 Sienta -$2.4M, 2009 Axio $2.8M, 2009 Fielder -$2.6M. Call: 617-2891 Yamaha R1 CG609, Toyota AT212, AT192, L-Touring Wagon, Tundra, Tacoma, Nissan Pickup. Call: 6445096; 697-1453
1 RD5 Honda CRV, immaculate condition, TV, reverse camera, CD, mags, alarm, etc, price -$2.850M. Call: 626-2884
Straight Stitch & over edge machine operators, porters. Call: 222-2541 8:00am-4:00pm Mon-Fri
One AE81 Corolla in very good condition. Call: 6895254/ 643-0332
One experienced Driver apply @ Hack’s Halaal with Handwritten application, 5 Commerce Street.
One flat 3 bedrooms house in highly residential area, land size 150’X50’, price negotiable. Call Kim: 6963624 (no agent)
1 New & unregistered Toyota Allion $2.4M, 1 Allion PVV series $2.150M & 1 Premio PNN series $1.7M negotiable. Call: 649-0956
2 Storey house for sale 25X48, new kitchen, bath, wiring, 2 apartments downstairs -$60,000 income$27M negotiable. Call: 6786811/917-929-2528
Oswin J’s Auto Imports: New Arrivals: Premio, Allion, Fielder, Axio, Rush, X-Trail. Free full coverage insurance. Call: 609-2815
2 Storey house, 4 bedrooms, all amenities, 2 lots near GuyAmerica ,Zeeburg W.C.D, price negotiable. Call: 277-0024/659-1206 EDUCATIONAL
PRR Series Toyota IST, PMM series Toyota Carina, TL Bedford 330. Call: 256-3405/ 663-2450 One black pit-bull BTT 9621, in good condition, 1TR engine. Call: 277-3657 Unregistered Axela 2011, fully loaded $2.750M negotiable, Corolla Fielder 2002, dark interior, rims -$1.950M. Call: 617-5536 1RZ Hiace minibus, BNN series. Call: 677-9112/ 6395200
IAE – CXC Jan/June 2017 – full time school; lessons/ classes for students, adults, repeaters & beginners. Call Mr. Roberts: 683-5742
CAR RENTAL
PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS& SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 643-5122, 6560087 , EMAIL: PRO_ AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO. COM
DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM
WING’S CAR & PICKUP RENTAL: LOW DOWN PAYMENT, CHEAP REATES, SPECIALOFFER. CALL: 690-6494
AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL: 4WD PICKUP,. CHEAPEST RATE & SPECIAL RATE FOR LONG TERM. CALL: 698-7807
Wa i t r e s s b e t w e e n 2 0 30yrs, apply with written application and photo to Chilly’s Bar. Call: 665-6162 Male workers between 2035yrs to work at Ice factory on Meadowbank Wharf. Call: 231-1408/ 6429191 8am-2pm Live in maid wanted between ages 45 and older @ Robb Street home. Call: 226-0450/ 627-3205 One AB Dick Machine Operator, one printer helper. Call: 233-2439/233-2725 One live in domestic or couple to work in Mahaicony River. Call: 6446905 Experienced attractive waitress 18-25yrs preferably from E.C.D (shift), one supervisor. Call: 610-3974 Live in waitresses to work in bar– Call: 692-4649/6046606 (1) Live in caretaker. Call: 233-2427/233-2923 no private or unknown caller.
LAND FOR SALE Uitvlugt-$2.5M, Zeelugt $1.6M, La Parfaite Harmonie -$1.4M, $1.2M, all prices negotiable. Call: 642-1252
CAR RENTAL
1 Male to work on vehicle in the interior. Call: 678-0565 Salesgirls & porters, apply with written application @ 1E Dennis & Middleton Street, Campbellvile (Best Buy Food Supplies)
1 Landcruiser Prado, excellent condition. Call: 625-4196 or 656-0565
One flat three bedrooms house lot 529 East Ruimveldt Housing Scheme, price negotiable. Call Marvin: 6425652/ 231-1253
1 Male or female shop assistant to work in the Interior, salary depends on experienced. Call: 678-0565
One Truck, excellent working condition, worked for one year, Model M. Call Lawerence: 615-7506
Property with extra large land well built with 2 storey house @ Back Street BetterHope, E.C.D Won’t last. Call: 2201583/667-6066
Property @ School St. Zeelugt, brand new, fenced, land: 60’X120’ -$8.5M, owner migrating, must sell! No reasonablerefused! Call:684-4759
WANTED CHICKEN FARM WORKER NEEDEDINTRINIDAD,FREE HOUSING , SALARY TT$1000 WEEKLY. CALL KELVIN: 868-287-4454 / 868647-3785/ 718-641-1252
Large houselot (fenced) bearing fruit trees, near GuyAmerica ,Zeeburg W.C.D, price negotiable. Call: 277-0024/659-1206 FOR SALE Refurbished Appliances: washer & dryer -$25,000, 2 door fridge $60,000, treadmill -$45,000, heavy duty washer$60,000. Call: 684-2119
Cashier sales boys/girls to work at a new hardware store, Innovations America. Call: 226-9768 1 Experienced cook must to bake also, salary negotiable. Call: 222-4890 One male to work on chicken farm in the interior, must have knowledge about rearing chicken. Call: 680-2702 Looking for an investor for mining claim in Omai Back Dam. Call: 697-8339/ 6920867 Continued on page 31
Friday November 04, 2016
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Kaieteur News
2008 Bartica Massacre trial…
Witness recounts people invading home, firing gunshots Jaiwantie Singh gave a detailed testimony of how persons stormed her home at First Avenue Bartica, kicking down doors and firing gunshots during the 2008 Bartica massacre, in which a dozen persons were killed. State Prosecutors, Diana Kaulesar and Simone Giddings, called the witness to testify yesterday, when the trial continued before Justice Roxanne George at the High Court in Georgetown. The state is prosecuting Dennis Williams, called ‘Anaconda’; Mark Royden Williams, called ‘Durant’; and Anthony Simon, called ‘Goat Man’ for 12 counts of murder. This is as a result of co accused Michael Caesar, called ‘Capone’; and Clebert Reece pleading guilty to 12 counts of manslaughter earlier this week. The guilty pleas by Caesar and Simon resulted from bargains they struck with the state. Both of them will be sentenced on December 16. On Tuesday, 12 murder
indictments were read to Dennis Williams, Mark Williams and Anthony Simon. The accused denied the allegations. Mark Royden Williams, Anthony Simon and Dennis Williams are being represented by Attorneys Roger Yearwood, Peter Hugh and Saphier Hussein respectively. During her testimony, Singh informed the court that at the time of the attack she operated a grocery store, parlour and gold trading at the lower flat of her two-storey home. She stated that she, her husband and three children (two boys and a girl) resided at the top flat. Guided by the prosecution, Singh recalled that she and her family were engrossed in a 20/20 cricket match around 21:00 hrs, at the top flat of the building on the day in question. During her viewing of the game, the witness said that she became startled by loud sounds which she presumed were gunshots. She said that she hurried down stairs and
OSHA launches investigation into Guyanese man’s death Trinidad (Newsday) -THE Occupational Health and Safety Authority (OSHA) is investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of the Guyanese national who was killed after a gas truck exploded on the compound of EDASCO Limited in Longdenville last Friday. Keshwar Ragoobeer, who, according to his family, was living in Trinidad, illegally, while working for gas transporting company, EDASCO Limited, died last Friday after a truck he was allegedly working on exploded. Autopsy reports revealed that Keshwar’s wounds were consistent with blast trauma and that he was partially decapitated. His sister, Mohanee Ragoobeer, said that Keshwar had no experience or training in the kind of work he was doing for EDASCO Limited. Police sources also shared with Newsday that the
truck which exploded was moved from the compound to another one of the company’s yards further up the Longdenville Main Road and Ragoobeer’s blood was washed down from the scene of his crime. According to Denorah Gill of OSHA’s communications department, OSHA is investigating the accident. “The accident was reported immediately after it happened and an investigator was assigned to case,” said Gill. Asked whether it was EDASCO or the police that reported the accident to them, Gill said, “We cannot release information on details because the investigation is still going on, but the agency is aware of the situation and we have somebody assigned to do the investigation that is already going on.” Central police are also continuing their investigations.
told her son what she heard. As a result of what Singh related to her son, she said her son peeked through a window and told her something. A while after, the witness told the court that she heard voices followed by continuous knocking and banging on a grill door downstairs. Singh, who appeared calm during her testimony, said that persons began pounding on the walls outside her home. She said they then broke down the door and stormed inside. According to Singh, she and her daughter hid in the same bedroom; while her husband and son sought refuge in another part of their home. Singh also remembered the intruders firing gunshots and hurling expletives. She recounted that the persons began pulling out drawers and attempting to break down the door to the room she was hiding in. Singh stated that one of the persons requested a torch light from another but cancelled the request after
finding a quantity of (gold) concealed in a bag in that same room. The witness said that she remained in hiding for about 45 minutes during which she heard footsteps descending down a stairway in her home. Under cross examination by Attorney Hussein, Singh admitted that she did not see the persons that attacked her home that day. She told Attorney Yearwood that police visited her home some time after the incident and returned the following day. The trial began on Wednesday with the commencement of a Voir Dire (trial within a trial) to inquire into the circumstance under which an alleged caution statement was given by Dennis Williams. After Singh’s testimony, the court resumed the Voir Dire calling two witnesses to the stand. This matter continues today. The stage was set for the Bartica Massacre trial last month. However, a constitu-
tional move to have the matter tried outside the Essequibo district stalled the start. A Preliminary Inquiry (PI) into this matter was heard in the Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Fazil Azeez. A total of 37 witnesses including police ranks and civilians were called to testify. According to reports, on the night of February 17, 2008, several gunmen attacked Bartica, slaughtering a dozen people, including three police officers, during an hour-long attack. It was reported that the armed men attacked the police station before killing three policemen and freeing prisoners. They then left with the vehicle assigned to the police station and went on a rampage, terrorizing the community. According to reports, the gunmen arrived in the area by boat and departed in a similar fashion taking firearms they grabbed from the police station and a mining company.
From page 30
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Kaieteur News
Friday November 04, 2016
Friday November 04, 2016
Kaieteur News
Bahamas to establish drug treatment court NASSAU, Bahamas, CMC – National Security Minister, Dr. Bernard J Nottage says the government is establishing a drug treatment court to provide an alternative to incarceration for drug-dependent offenders through treatment and rehabilitation. In an address at Wednesday’s inauguration ceremony of the 60th Regular Session of the Inter-American Drug Abuse and Control Commission (CICAD), Nottage said The Bahamas has also embarked upon on a series of initiatives focused on at-risk youth including the establishment of Community Youth Centres that will provide healthy alternative services and programmes. He said the focus is as a result of youth being “overwhelmingly represented as both victims and perpetrators of drug-related crime and violence locally.” “Participating youth will receive training in hospitality, self-esteem building, motivational and personal development,” Nottage said. “These centres will be a space where youth can have positive interactions and hopefully be dissuaded from using illicit drugs, joining gangs or engaging in conflict with the law.”
The National Security Minister told delegates that The Bahamas is “resolved” in its responses to the drug problem. “The Bahamas is a willing and committed partner and confident that underpinning the discussions of this 60th Regular Session, the resolve is united to improve the effectiveness of our responses to the drug problem in the mutual interests of all Member States. “It is our hope that ideas and experiences shared over the next three days will bolster our efforts in addressing the world drug problem.” The National Security Minister said The Bahamas has been on the “frontline” of drug control and reduction and has committed itself to “weakening illicit drug enterprises that exist around us regionally and globally” over the past four decades. “Even though The Bahamas is not a major producer of illicit drugs, our country is strategically situated within the transshipment zone between markets in North America and Europe. Due to our sparsely populated archipelago and vast water borders, transnational criminals continue to traffic drugs through our maritime borders and ports of entry.”
Cocaine and marijuana, are the principle drugs in the transit traffic through The Bahamas. “Some of the drugs that are moved through our country make their way on our streets and negatively impact our communities and the most vulnerable among us, in particular our youth.” Nottage said the programmes the already implemented by the Government and those to be implemented will help to reverse negative impacts on the country’s at-risk youth as far as crime, criminality and violence are concerned. The CICAD was established by the General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) in 1986. Each member government appoints a high-ranking representative to the Commission that meets twice a year. CICAD promotes regional cooperation and coordination among OAS member states through action programmes, carried out by the secretariat, to among other things – prevent and treat substance abuse; improve money laundering control laws and practice and develop alternate sources of income for growers of coca, poppy, and marijuana.
IMF committed to assisting Caribbean countries address challenges, says deputy MD PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (WINN) — The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has reaffirmed its commitment to working with Caribbean nations in addressing the challenges that stand in the way of securing strong, inclusive and sustainable growth. Caribbean prime ministers, finance ministers and central bank governors, donors, representatives from international financial institutions, and the private sector were recently in Trinidad attending the IMF’s 2016 High Level Caribbean Forum. During the November 1-2 forum these economic stakeholders exchanged views on the unique challenges and opportunities for the Caribbean region, focusing on global and regional challenges such as de-risking and stagnant growth. IMF deputy managing director Tao Zhang said, since the previous forum in Trinidad in September 2012, countries in the region have made progress addressing important issues such as low growth and high debt, however more work remains to be done.
“I would like to reiterate that the IMF is deeply committed to its work with the Caribbean countries. We are committed to supporting policy reforms, and reconstruction efforts. Tides may shift, seas may rise, but the Fund’s unwavering commitment to the region will remain unchanged,” he said. According to the IMF, shifting global trends have contributed to the subdued growth recovery in Caribbean economies, thus 2016 is proving to be another year of lacklustre growth. The withdrawal of correspondent banking relationships presents clear and imminent challenges to the Caribbean, despite some countries in the region having stepped up efforts to reduce gaps in their regulatory and supervisory frameworks. Zhang said the IMF is working with national authorities and regional and global organizations to provide technical assistance to strengthen these frameworks. “We believe a durable solution to this issue requires dialogue between countries, regulators and banks, and in-
creased information exchange. This can help clarify regulatory expectations, build trust, facilitate capacity building, and share best practices,” he said. Some other regional challenges discussed include natural disasters, and a weak financial sector. Zhang also noted the pervasive problem facing a number of the Caribbean countries- the challenge of sustaining fiscal adjustment measures aimed at public debt reduction amid weak economic growth. The IMF deputy managing director highlighted Jamaica, Grenada, and St Kitts and Nevis as some clear success stories of having achieved important results reducing their fiscal and external vulnerabilities over the last few years. Zhang said, “Our work continues in the Caribbean by providing policy advice, technical assistance and training, and by providing financing. “Whatever new challenges arise, we will work together with you to find solutions,” he concluded.
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Islamic State leader says ‘no retreat’ from Mosul assault (Reuters) - Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi told his followers yesterday there could be no retreat in a “total war” against the forces arrayed against them, as advancing soldiers battled into their northern Iraqi stronghold of Mosul. Expressing confidence that his Islamic State fighters would prevail against Shi’ite Muslims, Western “crusaders” and Sunni “apostate” countries Turkey and Saudi Arabia, Baghdadi called on the jihadists fighting in Mosul to “wreak havoc”. “This raging battle and total war, and the great jihad that the state of Islam is fighting today only increases our firm belief, God willing, and our conviction that all this is a prelude to victory,” Baghdadi said in an audio recording released online by supporters. Iraqi regular troops and special forces, Shi’ite militias, Kurdish peshmerga fighters and other groups backed by U.S.-led air strikes launched a campaign two weeks ago to retake Mosul. Winning back the city would signal the defeat of the Iraqi half of a crossborder caliphate which Baghdadi declared from the pulpit of a Mosul mosque two years ago. Islamic State also holds large parts of neighboring
Syria. In his first audio message released in nearly a year, Baghdadi called on the population of Mosul’s Nineveh province “not to weaken in the jihad” against the “enemies of God”. He also called on the group’s suicide fighters to “turn the nights of the unbelievers into days, to wreak havoc in their land and make their blood flow as rivers”. Those tempted to flee should “know that the value of staying on your land with honor is a thousand times better than the price of retreating with shame”. ROCKET FIRE Shortly after Baghdadi’s speech was released at around 2 a.m., residents said heavy explosions shook eastern Mosul. One said the militants fired dozens of rockets towards the Intisar, Quds and Samah districts where soldiers have been closing in. “We heard the sounds of rockets firing one after the other and saw them flashing through the air. The house was shaking and we were terrified, not knowing what was taking place.” Fighters were on the street, unusually showing their faces, he said. “They were saying ‘We will fight till death. The caliph gave us a morale boost to fight the infi-
Tribal fighters walk as fire and smoke rises from oil wells, set ablaze by Islamic State militants in the oil-producing region of Qayyara, Iraq. REUTERS/Alaa Al-Marjani dels’,” he said. Another witness from the Hadba neighborhood of north Mosul said that Islamic State vehicles patrolled the area and blasted out Baghdadi’s speech, urging fighters to hold their positions. Outside the city’s eastern limits, hundreds of civilians streamed out, packed into cars, pickups and trucks, waving white flags and hooting horns. Cows and sheep also
filled the road from Kokjali, on the eastern edge of Mosul. Fleeing residents said there had been heavy mortar fire launched by retreating Islamic State fighters. By mid-morning, a Reuters correspondent in Kokjali saw smoke rising from inside Mosul but there were no sounds of fighting. After special forces broke through Islamic State defensive lines in the east this week, troops from the army’s Ninth Armoured Division breached the southeastern perimeter of the city on Thursday, advancing towards the Mithaq and Intisar neighborhoods, a colonel in the division said. Four soldiers were killed when two armored personnel carriers were hit by rocket and mortar fire, he said. Despite the heavy resistance, the soldiers made advances during the day, according to a military statement later on Thursday. A senior special forces commander said troops were fighting in four neighborhoods in the east, and if they made further progress they might try to sweep through the eastern half of the city all the way to the River Tigris, bypassing some districts. “If I want to speed up the operation, we may not take some areas and instead isolate them to prevent movement. That would reduce the time needed to reach the right bank,” Lieutenant-General Abdul Ghani al-Assadi, commander of Iraq’s elite Counter Terrorism Service (CTS), told Reuters. The exact location of Baghdadi, an Iraqi whose real
name is Ibrahim al-Samarrai, is not clear. Reports have said he may be in Mosul itself, or in Islamic State-held land to the west of the city, close to the border with Syria. British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said intelligence suggested that Baghdadi had “vacated the scene”, but he did not say where the Islamic State leader had gone to. Mosul still has a population of 1.5 million people, much more than any of the other cities captured by Islamic State two years ago in Iraq and Syria. Iraqi troops and Kurdish peshmerga fighters have closed in on it for two weeks from the north, from the eastern Nineveh plains and up the River Tigris from the south. The Hashid Shaabi (Popular Mobilisation) forces of mainly Shi’ite militias joined the campaign on Saturday, launching an offensive to cut off any supply or escape to the west. The leader of the Badr Organisation, the largest of the Popular Mobilisation militias, said his forces would cut off the main western supply route on Thursday, leaving Islamic State surrounded. A spokesman for the militias later said they had made progress but had not closed off the western flank, and had seen from a distance some cars leaving Mosul. Senior Kurdish politician Hoshiyar Zebari said that Islamic State blew up parts of a bridge over the Tigris linking the two sides of Mosul, to try to prevent fighters abandon-
ing the eastern districts. “It’s the most important bridge for them because it leads to their headquarters and residential areas (on the western side),” he told Reuters. Residents said there had been two explosion at the bridge, stopping traffic in both directions. TARGETINGTURKEY AND SAUDI In his speech, Baghdadi called for attacks on Turkey and Saudi Arabia, saying the Sunni countries had both sided with the enemy in a war targeting Sunni Islam. Islamic State fighters should “unleash the fire of their anger” on Turkish troops fighting them in Syria, and take the battle into Turkey. “Turkey entered the zone of your operations, so attack it, destroy its security, and sow horror within it. Put it on your list of battlefields. Turkey entered the war with the Islamic State with cover and protection from Crusader jets,” he said referring to the U.S.-led air coalition. Baghdadi also told his followers to launch “attack after attack” in Saudi Arabia, targeting security forces, government officials, members of the ruling Al Saud family and media outlets, for “siding with the infidel nations in the war on Islam and the Sunna (Sunni Muslims) in Iraq and Syria”. Islamic State has been on the retreat since last year in both Iraq and Syria, in the face of a myriad of different forces seeking to crush the hardline group. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said the conflict with Islamic State had caused colossal damage to the country, already struggling to cope with low oil prices. He said infrastructure losses alone amounted to $35 billion.
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World Cup 2018: Russian stadium’s shaking pitch concerns FIFA FIFA has expressed its concerns over a shaking pitch at one of Russia’s 2018 World Cup venues. The £550m 68,000-seater stadium in St Petersburg has a retractable playing surface which world football’s governing body says is unstable. It added: “Engineers will propose a solution to ensure a stable field.” The Krestovsky Stadium, which
will become the home of Zenit St Petersburg, will host a World Cup semi-final and 2017 Confederations Cup games. Russia’s deputy prime minister Vitaly Mutko said: “The issue is that the field rolls into the venue on an unstable base and needs to be strengthened.” He said the problem was “nothing unusual” and the stadium would still meet its
completion date next month. Russia MP and former USSR player Valery Gazzaev added: “If the pitch is unsuited to holding such major events, then why has it been built?” Russian opposition blogger Rustem Adagamov wrote on Twitter: “Just what we need, to spend 10 years building a stadium, spend half a billion dollars, and build a pitch you can’t play on. Awesome.” (BBCsport)
The Krestovsky Stadium was designed by Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa, who died in 2007.
Canadian teenager Stroll to race... (From page 33) much, I have total confidence in him when he gets in the cockpit in Melbourne (next March),” she said. Stroll will be the youngest driver on the starting grid next season, but not the youngest ever to start a race — that accolade belongs to Red Bull’s Max Verstappen who was 17 years and 166 days old when he made his debut for Toro Rosso at the Australian Grand Prix in 2015.
The rules have been changed since then, with 18 set as the minimum age and a points-based super license system introduced. Stroll secured his after winning this year’s European F3 championship. Stroll has been testing for Williams already in an old Formula One car. Previously a member of the Ferrari academy, he said F3 was a good preparation and regulation changes for 2017 could help
him. ”I think the new regulations if anything give a lot of opportunity to the team to get further up the grid,” he said, adding that Verstappen’s performances also gave him confidence. (Reuters)
North Georgetown... (From page 38) Moore Primary by 135 runs. South Ruimveldt posted 1557, batting first. Saleem Rameshwar struck 21 while Antonio Leitch, NeJay Searbe and Ezekiel Phillips made 20 each. Dwayne Da Silva had 2-10. Thomas Moore Primary was sent packing for 20 in reply. Leitch, Phillips and Ravan Jacobs had two wickets each. Redeemer overcame Mae’s by 11 runs. Redeemer piled up 158-2, batting first. Linden Ogle hammered 95 while Kevin George made 47. Mae’s were limited to 45-5 in reply. (Zaheer Mohamed)
Banks DIH... (From page 39) arts and basketball, followed by the highly anticipated Cross Fit Challenge from 18:00hrs. A day pass is $1,500, while a weekend pass is $2,000. The event has received corporate backing from GTM, Banks DIH Limited, Fitness Express, Courts (Guyana) Inc., Genesis Fitness Express, St Joseph’s Mercy Hospital, Star Party Rentals, Axe Apparel, Degree, National Sports Commission, 704 Sports Bar, Healing Waters Spa, Lipton Tea and the Trophy Stall.
Friday November 04,2016 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Changes in your domestic scene are evident. Your determination and sheer desire to do your own thing will be successful. You will have a great day if you just say what you feel. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) A long discussion is in order if you wish to clear the air. Insincere gestures of friendliness are likely to occur. Get busy on projects that improve your own image; you'll have the discipline to succeed. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You will be able to get along well with colleagues. Don't let others saddle you with guilt that isn't warranted. Spend some time on yourself. CANCER (June 21–July 22) You may have ignored or neglected your mate lately. You will communicate with ease today. You need to lie back and enjoy a little rest. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Romantic encounters will develop through group activity. Real estate should be lucrative for you. Acknowledge your lover's needs. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Sign up for courses that will bring you more skills. Set a limit, or you'll wind up on a tight budget. You are apt to meet someone special on your journey. LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You will profit from home improvement projects and real estate deals. Take time to
catch up on gossip and make plans to do a little adventure travel. Listening can be more valuable than being a chatterbox. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) You can ask for favors and get sound advice from close friends or relatives. You can make a difference if you're willing to stand up and be counted. Property investments will payoff. SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21) Uncertainties regarding relatives will make situations uncomfortable if you attend a family function. You may find that you can be the recipient of valuable information if you're willing to be a good listener. Be careful not to exaggerate when interacting with your lover. CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Romance will unfold through business trips. Coworkers may not be completely honest with you; try not to rely on help from others. This could be a difficult day to deal with coworkers. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) A need to be in love may fool you. Make decisions about your professional objectives. Trying to deal with your mate will be unproductive and possibly hurtful. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You might be a tad overindulgent today. Try to be understanding. You can anger others quickly today. Avoid overspending on items for your home.
Kaieteur News
Friday November 04, 2016
PAGE 37
First class season key to Windies Full list of centrally retained WICB players announced fortunes now: Brathwaite Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, CMC – Opener Kraigg Brathwaite believes the first class season starting next week in the Caribbean will be pivotal to the West Indies’ continued development as a Test side. The 23-year-old, who earned Man-of-the-Match honours after steering the visitors to a five-wicket victory over Pakistan in the third and final Test here Thursday, said that with a break in the Windies Test schedule, it was important players returned to the fourday competition and honed t h e i r c r a f t . ”We have a good group of young guys so it’s important for us to keep working,” he told reporters here. ”Obviously we have five months before the next Test series [but] we have first class cricket going on back home when we get back so it’s key for all the guys to go there and keep working h a r d . ”The same things you want to do in the Tests you do there so that when you come for the next Test series you will be ready and looking to win games.” Brathwaite was monumental in the just concluded game as he helped West Indies pull off their first Test win in 19 months and first on foreign soil in four years. He carried his bat for a magnificent unbeaten 142 in the first innings and followed up with 60 not out in the second innings, as West Indies overhauled a victory target of 153 on Thursday’s final day. Brathwaite put on 87 in a match-winning unbroken sixth wicket stand with fellow Barbadian Shane Dowrich, who also struck an unbeaten 60. The pair pulled
Kraigg Brathwaite
the Caribbean side around from 67 for five late on the fourth day and then calmly steered them to 114 for five from the start on the final morning, easily collecting the 39 remaining runs. ”Thinking about it (victory) you got a bit nervous but at the end of the day I believed that me and Shane could’ve done it,” Brathwaite said. “We kept talking to each other and I was confident we could’ve done it so I wasn’t t h a t n e r v o u s . ” He added: “It was a low pitch so I kept saying [to myself] I wanted to be on the front foot more than the back foot and that’s what I was thinking about throughout the whole innings. That was m y a i m . ” The victory was the first for West Indies since they beat England in Bridgetown last year May and was also their
first of the series after eight consecutive defeats stretching back to the Twenty20 and one-day series last month. Brathwaite said the success would be a boost for team morale but stressed the need f o r We s t I n d i e s t o consistently reproduce the good things they had done in t h i s T e s t . ”It will do a lot for the team. Obviously the guys are very happy and we know what we did to win so I think it is key going forward that we continue to work towards that goal and put in the necessary stuff you have to do to get wins,” Brathwaite p o i n t e d o u t . ”We’ve got to win so we know what we have to do, we know what we did and it’s important to stay positive and look to get more wins in the future.”
GCB/MOE National Secondary School’s cricket
Wins for Cummings Lodge and Vergenoegen At Enterprise, Cummings Lodge registered an easy victory over Institute of Professional Education (IPE). Batting first Cummings Lodge racked up 162-7 in 20 overs with Andrew Samaroo smashing 48 and Kishore Seepersaud scoring 41. Bowling for IPE, Ricardo Yearwood claimed 3-16 and Bradley Dundas took 3-24. IPE in response couldn’t even get to three figures as they were dismissed for 94. Ricardo Yearwood showed his batting capabilities as he top scored with 24. Ronald Basdeo was the bowler to do most of the damage as he bagged 4-33 while Davenand Khemraj supported well with 3-24bowling for Cummings Lodge.
Over at Tuschen, Vergenooegen Secondary eased to a comfortable seven wicket win over Parika Salem Secondary. Parika Salem was dismissed for 127 off 21 overs batting first. Azim Mohamed top scored with 31. Vickram Mangra took 4-30 and Joel Gill claimed 2-22 bowling for Vergenooegen. In reply, the Vergenooegen batsmen ensured their bowlers effort didn’t go to waste as they completed their chase in just 13.3 overs for the loss of only three wickets. Joel Gill led the charge with 37 not out while Vickram Mangra supported well with 34. Azim Mohamed took two of the wickets to fall to finish with figures of 2-43 for Parika Salem.
St John’s, ANTIGUA The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) now has 12 men and 15 women who have all signed central contracts for the West Indies for the period up to September 30, 2017. Alzarri Joseph heads a list of newcomers to the retained list of men; while the number of women increased from 11 to 15. Three male players have notified the Selection Panel they are declining the offer. They are top-order batsmen, Marlon Samuels and Darren Bravo and allrounder, Carlos Brathwaite. All three were in the Test Team playing against Pakistan. The central contracts for women range from US$12,000 to US$30,000; while the contracts for men range from US$100,000 to US$150,000. The contract for the period is based on
performances from October 1, 2015 to September 2016. The WICB also has 90 additional players on contract for the six franchises and their salaries range from US$15,600 to $30,000. Those players are part of the first-class set-up. The 4-Day Professional Cricket League begins next Friday, November 11 with matches in Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and St Kitts. The Super 50 is scheduled for January to February 2017. Separate arrangements a r e o n o ff e r f o r t h e Caribbean Premier League ( C P L ) t h e r e g i o n ’s Twenty20 domestic league and those packages range from US$5,000 to US$160,000. West Indies will play in a Tri-Nation OneDay-International series with Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka. The series, scheduled for
Zimbabwe, is due to start Wednesday, November 16. The full lists are: Men • Devendra Bishoo • Jermaine Blackwood • Kraigg Brathwaite • Roston Chase • Miguel Cummins • Shane Dowrich • Shannon Gabriel • Jason Holder • Shai Hope • Leon Johnson • Alzarri Joseph • Jomel Warrican Women • Merissa Aguerilla • Shermaine Campbelle • Shamilia Connell • Britney Cooper • Shanel Daley • Deandra Dottin • Afy Fletcher • Kycia Knight • Kyshona Knight • Hayley Mathews • Anisa Mohammed • Shaquana Quintyne • Shakera Selman • Tremayne Smartt • Stafanie Taylor
Canadian teenager Stroll to race for Williams F1 team
Williams Martini Racing driver for the 2017 season Lance Stroll poses beside this year’s Formula 1 car at their base in Wantage, Britain. REUTERS/Eddie Keogh Canadian teenager Lance Stroll will make his Formula One race debut with former world champions Williams next season, the team announced yesterday. Montreal-born Stroll, who celebrated his 18th birthday on Oct. 29 and has yet to pass his driving test, will be the first Canadian F1 racer since 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve, who won his title at Williams and retired in 2006. The son of fashion billionaire Lawrence, who made a fortune from the To m m y H i l f i g e r a n d Michael Kors fashion
brands, Stroll will partner experienced Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas at the Mercedes-powered team. He replaces Brazilian Felipe Massa, who had already announced his retirement from Formula One. ”Just another regular Thursday,” joked Stroll when asked at a news conference how he felt about the news. “I don’t think it’s quite sunk in yet. I’ve been focused on F3 in 2016. ”I come from money, I’m not going to deny that,” added the Geneva resident, when it was suggested he would not be at the team without his father
bankrolling his career, but adding that his record spoke for itself. Williams deputy team principal Claire Williams said the team, who celebrate their 40th anniversary next year, would not allow financial considerations to dictate driver selection. ”You either have the talent or you don’t,” she said. “We made this decision a long time ago and we’re really excited,” she said. “He deserves this season in Formula One next year. ”He is so capable, extremely intelligent and puts the work in... for a 17year-old to have achieved so (Continued on page 32)
Kaieteur News
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Brathwaite leads West Indies to famous win
Half-centurion Shane Dowrich pulls the ball for four ©AFP
Kraigg Brathwaite became the first opener to be unbeaten in both innings of a Test, as he led West Indies to an absorbing five-wicket win over Pakistan in Sharjah - their first Test win outside t h e We s t I n d i e s a n d Bangladesh since 2007. It was also West Indies’ first win in 14 Tests and their first under the captaincy of Jason Holder. Yet, resuming on 114 for 5, with 39 runs to win, overnight batsmen
Brathwaite and Shane Dowrich showed no sign of letting the occasion get to them. Brathwaite opened proceedings with a crisp drive to the cover boundary off Wahab Riaz on the first ball of the day. Dowrich smacked a halftracker from Yasir Shah to the midwicket boundary in the next over. That set the tone as the pair took just 7.5 overs to knock down the target in clinical fashion on
the fifth morning. While neither batsman looked to force the pace, they were not afraid to put away bad balls either. Late cuts and drives through the off side featured prominently as the pair glided past the finish line with minimum fuss. Dowrich sealed the win, slashing a short ball from Mohammad Amir towards the third-man boundary for the sixth four of the morning. Pakistan’s bowlers were unable to create any pressure on a pitch that was still rather placid. Neither Wahab nor Amir got much swing or movement off the surface, and Yasir was ineffective and inconsistent in the two overs he bowled. The batsmen seemed to have little trouble in keeping the straight ones out and punishing anything that was too short or too wide. It was all a far cry from West Indies’ wobble the previous evening, as they slid to 67 for 5 after a rather shaky 29-run opening partnership. But Brathwaite and Dowrich scored unbeaten halfcenturies, combining for a nerveless 87-run stand to steer their side to a memorable victory and finish a tough tour of the UAE on a high. (ESPNcricinfo)
Friday November 04, 2016
PCL four-day practice match
Barnwell’s unbeaten 143 and Hemraj’ 79 highlights final day action
Shimron Hetymer punches Eon Hopper to cover during his 50 at Everest yesterday (Sean Devers photo) A commanding unbeaten 143 from Christopher Barnwell and a second half-century of the game by Chanderpaul Hemraj highlighted the final day of the PCL four-day practice match between Barnwell’s X1 and Vishaul Singh’s X1 at the Everest ground in preparation for n e x t F r i d a y ’s P C L’s opening game against Jamaica at Providence. The last day action also saw a blazing half-century from Shimron Hetymer and a four-wicket haul from offspinner Gajanand Suknanan. Scores: Singh’s X1 368 & 72-1, Barnwell’s X1 325 & 307. Barnwell’s X1 resumed the last day on 63-2 Kandasammy Surujnarine (29) and Hemraj took the score to 80 before Surujnarine edged Clifton Pestano to the Keeper while Seon Hetymer was removed for a duck off of Suknanan nine runs later. Suknanan got rid of West Indies U-19 ViceCaptain Kemo Paul (5) and Barnwell’s X1 were in
trouble at 95-5. But the skipper joined Hemraj, who made 65 in the first innings and the pair batted positively the impressive Suknanan removed Hemraj who reached his fifty from 64 balls with seven fours, to break the 98-run partnership and leave the score on 1946. Jonathon Foo, who failed to score seemed a bit unlucky to be given LBW before Raymond Reifer dismissed West Indies U-19 player Tevin Imlach for a duck as Barnwell was running out of partners as his slumped to 201-8. Reifer sent back Bhaskar Yadram (10) and Suknanan got rid of Romario Shepherd (4) to finish with 4-90. Reifer, Pestano and Adams picked up two wickets each. When Singh’s X1 began their second innings needing an improbable 264 to win, West Indies ‘A’ team opener Hetymer blasted the ball to all parts of the heavy outfield while Taignarine Chanderpaul, who got going with back-to-back
boundaries, was content to play the supporting role. Hetymer was his usual aggressive self and pulled Shepherd disdainfully for four before stroking the pacer gloriously through cover and down the ground for successive boundaries. When Paul was introduced into the attack the left-handed Hetymer rocked back and slapped him powerfully through cover and the sweeper on the cover boundary had no chance. Hetymer used his feet and smashed off-spinner Eon Hooper to wide long on for four but the 25-year-old Hopper, who kept both batsmen on a tight leash in his six-over spell which cost 11 runs, had the last laugh when Hetymer was well taken by Steven Sankar running in from deep midwicket. Hetymer’s run-a-ball fifty was decorated with eight fours while Chanderpaul remained not out on 22 from 44 balls with three fours. (Sean Devers)
Everest Masters and GOCC clash today The Everest Masters team will take on the Guyana Overseas CC of England in a 35-over fixture starting at 11:00hrs today and sponsored by the visitors. Everest Masters Rajesh Singh (Capt), Sahadeo Hardaiow, Hafeez Ali, Hemraj Garbarran, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Saheed Mohamed, Rohan Sarjoo, Saeed Khan, Prakash Balgobin, Johnny Azeez, Rakesh Gangaram, Ronald Jaisingh, Basil Persaud and Ishwar Singh. GOCC - Maurice Sukul (Capt), Rabi Sukul, Khamechand Persaud, Roopnauth Sharma, Joey
Burke, Krish Nauth, Richard Locke, Anand Persaud, Isaac Chung, Saeed Gopie and Lee James. Meanwhile, from 17:00hrs tomorrow, The Everest Cricket Club will be hosting a softball tournament involving Maj X1, New Doctors Clinic, Factory Price and Omesh X1, and a tape ball game with Telco Solutions playing Outlaws; from 20:00hrs Rockaway X1 will come up against Hyde Park Sports Club in a T20 fixture. Rockaway X1 - Hafeez Ali. (Capt), Balram Airon, Sharaz Ramcharran, Safraz Esau, Hemraj Garbarran,
Saheed Mohamed, Ishwar Singh, Imran Khan, Krishna Singh, Rayon Austin, Timothy Andrews, Balchan Baldeo, Zaheer Mohamed and Chanderpaul Hemraj. Hyde Park - Imtiaz Sahik. (Capt), Sase Narine, Youghistir Bachan, Ucil Armstrong, Inshan Mohamed, Gibron Mohamed, Azim Mohamed, Mark Braithwaite, Ricardo Adams, Nicholas Chinku, Brian Herbert, Radman Nandkishore and Quincy Jones. Lall Bachan (Manager) Trophies for the games are sponsored by Factory Price, Trophy Stall, Rockaway Group.
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Infantino says World Cup plan would keep dream alive for more teams FIFA President Gianni Infantino says his plan to expand the World Cup soccer finals is less drastic than his critics suggest, and would create more excitement for fans, broadcasters and sponsors. The Swiss-Italian was elected President of the sport’s world governing body in February, having promised as part of his campaign to expand the World Cup from 32 teams to 40. In October, however, he suggested that from 2026 the tournament could have 48 teams, although 16 of those would be eliminated after a s i n g l e g a m e . The plan has attracted fierce criticism. Germany Coach Joachim Loew expressed concern about a “wateringdown of quality”, while the Chief Executive of leading German side Borussia Dortmund described it as “complete insanity”. But Infantino told Reuters in an interview it was simply a case of holding a round of playoff matches before the
FIFA President Gianni Infantino. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann tournament proper. In effect, he said he was proposing a 32-team tournament preceded by a knockout round which would be held in the same country as the tournament itself. ”Actually, it is 32 teams but with an additional playoff round where you can bring in teams from different confederations and make sure the best 32 qualify for the group stage,” he said. The qualifying competition for a World Cup ends the
preceding November, but Infantino said his plan would keep alive the dream of qualifying until June for an extra 16 teams, compared with the present system, and allow them a taste of the tournament’s atmosphere. ”If we shift the last November date into June, then we move the whole perception of 16 more countries in the world. “It is the World Cup fever you can create in a country from November until June, and this brings in kids who register in clubs, broadcasters who go to the local association, sponsors, the whole football movement in a country is really boosted.” The winners of the 16 initial playoff games would go through to join 16 teams already sure of their places thanks to superior results in the qualifying stage. The rest of the tournament would take place as usual, with eight groups of four. In the interview, Infantino also said he wanted to bring
Weightlifters flex muscles for international engagement Weightlifters will flex their muscles when the executives of the Guyana Amateur Weightlifting Association (GAWA) stages a lift-off at the Michael Parris Fitness Center, N a t i o n a l P a r k , Thomaslands, Wednesday 9 t h N o v e m b e r. General Secretary (GAWA), Seon Erskine, disclosed that the tournament would assist his executives to short list a competent team to represent Guyana at the Barbados 50th anniversary weightlifting championship scheduled for that island from November 24-28. Mr. Erskine revealed that Guyana has received a special invitation from the Barbados Weightlifting Association. Meanwhile, in what has been tabbed as a timely gesture, the GAWA received a quantity of weightlifting gears and equipment on Monday from its parent body, the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF). Erskine was indeed delighted with the gift and said that it will boost their
GAWA receives IWA chivalry
Seon Erskine (left) poses with the newly acquired gears in the company of veteran weightlifter Frank Tucker (centre) and Treasurer/National Coach, Sean Cozier
developmental drive while giving the sport a much needed shot in the arm. “The
items will be used to further the GAWA’s developmental agenda,” he assured.
greater transparency to the sport’s murky multi-billiondollar transfer system and supported the idea of introducing squad size limits to stop the ‘hoarding’ of players by rich clubs. He said an alternative system for the World Cup
could be to introduce a final round of two-leg intercontinental playoffs played home-and-away. “That is also an option but if you stage a playoff outside the World Cup atmosphere, you have not really qualified for the World Cup; if you
qualify for the World Cup, it’s a much bigger event,” he s a i d . A single match playoff would also give a better chance of upsets, he said. “In a one-off match anything can happen.” (Reuters)
Minister Henry trumps up inclusion of sports in schools’ curriculum The Ministry of Education and Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) yesterday launched the 56th edition of The National Schools’ Cycling, Swimming and Track and Field Championships with Minister of Education, Dr. Nicolette Henry reaffirming the importance of sports in the schools’ curriculum. It was announced that the Track and Field competition of the 2016 Championships will be held at the National Stadium at Providence, November 22-25 while the swimming will be done at the National Aquatics Centre at Liliendaal on November 21. In addition, for the first time, all cycling events will be held on November 21 at the National Park. The theme displayed on the banner this year was “three venues, one big championship”. Minister Henry ensured that she use the opportunity of the launch that was held at the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD) Headquarters in Kingston, to trump up the need for the event to be a spinoff of the inclusion of sports on the schools’ curriculum. “We need to start training our students from the nursery. It is my firm belief that sports must be introduced at the earliest level if we really want to identify and train the best of our potential athletes in any sporting discipline. While a National Sports Policy is crucial for the development of sports, we cannot overlook having sports as an integral part of the schools’ curriculum,” Henry told the audience. “There is need for stronger support and policies for sports in schools across Guyana. I must admit that the present arrangement for games and sports in most of
our schools is unsatisfactory. In some of our schools it is optional for the students to participate in games and sports, and as a matter of fact, far too many do not take part in sports,” Henry continued. The Minister said that the National Sports Policy will address those gaps. She said that it is the Government’s desire that sports education be implemented in all schools with complete sincerity. Henry said that a lot more needs to be done, but the Government is doing everything within its power to foster and support sports in schools. Also present at the head table of the launch yesterday were Chief Education Officer, Marcel Hutson, GTU President, Mark Lyte, Principal Assistant Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Glendon Fogenay, Edison Jefford, D i g i c e l ’s H e a d o f Marketing, Jacqueline James and Banks DIH Non Alcoholic Brand Manager, Clayton Mckenzie among several other stakeholders, who were part of the audience at the Launch. Hutson spoke of the importance of sport in students’ all-round development while Lyte informed on the preparedness of the institutions to host the 2016 Championships. Lyte said that entries for all but one of the 15 Districts are already in. In addition, the GTU President indicated that the Leonora Facility was not chosen this year since some logistical and technical issues arose during a feasibility study. He noted that when surveyed it was discovered that a lot of the Districts are still coming to grips with the changes of the event, such as the need for
every athlete to have a running shoes. According to Lyte, it would be imprudent to take children in sweltering heat to compete on that rubber surface without shoes. He noted that is only one issue, but there were others that could not place the Championships at Leonora this year. He however announced t h a t t h e 2 0 1 7 Championships will be heading to Leonora since all of the Districts will be ready. Lyte indicated that the Championships this year at the Stadium will be yet another resounding success since all efforts are being made. Representing the primary sponsor of the event, Digicel, James echoed Lyte’s sentiments, stating that the company is anticipating another successful event. James said that she agrees with sports in education model since they also just recently contributed to the development of a school. She challenged sports associations to take the Championships seriously and do more to develop those athletes and talent that emerge from the National Schools’ Championships. Banks DIH also gave its endorsement of the event. McKenzie indicated that the company will be continuing its relationship with the event under its Malta Supreme and Rainforest Water Brands. He believes that the event will continue to grow even as changes are being made that will bring into focus practices that are internationally recognised. The National Schools’ Championships will host in excess of 1500 athletes from across Guyana, traditionally representing Guyana’s largest schools’ sport event.
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Friday November 04, 2016
Sheriff Street Swagga Boys win Bel Air Lions Domino Tournament Sheriff Street Swagga Boys was the last team left standing at the end of the Bel Air Lions fund-raising Dominoes Competition which was played recently at the Lions Civic Centre, Enachu Street, Section ‘N’ Campbellville. The inaugural champions came home ahead of Rage and Spartans to cart off the top prize of $100,000 and a trophy, while second and third placed finishers took away $60,000 and $40,000 respectively. The sixteen-team competition saw a large crowd assemble at the venue and among the other teams that participated was A&B units from the Lions Club, Ray’s One Stop Auto Spares and twelve teams associated with the Georgetown Dominoes Association, the entity that was charged with the responsibility of organising the day’s activity. Lion Orlando James, who was tasked with the responsibility of hosting the competition as part of being a member of the Sports & Games Committee of the Club told this newspaper that the promotion of Sport and Games among all peoples of the world is one of several projects that Lions International is usually involved in, adding that the recent activity was organised to help raise funds to assist the lesser fortunate in several communities which forms part of their mandate. James was extremely grateful for the assistance that the GDA offered especially its President Faye Joseph and her coordinators Orin Boston and Rodwell Phillips. According to him, the event was a huge success and he extended special thanks to all the sponsors including Clear Waters, Colin Talbert Contracting Services, Art Sawmilling Enterprise, Hamid’s Hardware Store, N. James Consultancy, Creative Jewellery & Pawn Shop, Trophy Stall and Star Party Rental. He closed by saying that they were encouraged by success of the Tournament and is already in planning mode for ‘Clash of the Champion 2’.
President of the GDA Faye Joseph (standing right) hands over the winning trophy and first prize to members of the victorious Sheriff Street Swagga Boys team.
GCB/MOE National School’s Cricket
Bandhu, Micheal spurs Charlestown to South Zone title Raymond Bandhu bellows an appeal against Akeem Mangru as he took 5-12 (Sean Devers photo)
Raymond Bandhu & Jamal Michael shared 8 wickets between them. By Sean Devers Charlestown Secondary, spearheaded by an incisive spell of leg-spin bowling by Raymond Bandhu and a useful all-round performance from Jamal Michael, galloped to a 10wicket victory over Lodge Secondary in the South Zone final of the GCB/MOE National Secondary School’s 30-over cricket tournament at Bourda
yesterday. The pint sized Bandhu, who turns 14 on November 27, befuddled the batsmen with nice flight and spin to capture 5-12 and got support from 15-year-old Micheal (3-10) and Mohamed Jameer (2-9) as Lodge crumbled for 63 in 23 overs with only Omali Barker (14) reaching double figures. Micheal reached the boundary four times in a 39ball unbeaten 36 and played
the lead role in a dominant 67-run opening stand the little left-handed Negusa Walters (12) as Charlestown raced to 67 without loss in 11.4 overs. Opening bowler Trenton Gordon was cautioned for a suspect action by Umpire Brijkumar but bowled with a clean action for the last two balls of the over. He returned to his original action for his second over before bowling
leg-breaks in his next over, the one style of bowling that is almost impossible to ‘pelt’. Michael edged Akeem Marques for the first boundary of the match in the fourth over while Troyton Louisy leaked 13 runs in the sixth over which included a couple of free hits as the partnership progressed nicely. A well timed cut from Walters ended the match
with a boundary. Earlier, watched by a small group of vocal Lodge students in the Rohan Kanhai Stand, Akeem Williams and Omali Barker carried the score to 20 in sultry conditions before Williams, who contributed a painstaking five from 23 balls, was LBW to Bandhu. Barker was bowled by Michael at 39-2 and nobody else offered any fight. After
Bandhu bowled Shaquana Fraser (8) and Osaffa Barker (3) to leave the score on 474 Lodge lost six wickets for nine runs and four of them on 47 and labored for 20 overs before reaching fifty. Gordon (9*) and Louisy (4) put together 11 runs for the last wicket in the third highest partnership of the innings which ended when Bandhu got rid of Louisy.
Friday November 04, 2016
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Lower Corentyne Zone to be played on Sunday at the Area ‘H’ Gr. RHTY&SC/Beharry Say No 5/5 cricket The Lower Corentyne Zone of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club/Beharry Co. Ltd 5/5 Say No/Say Yes cricket tournament is set for this Sunday at the Area ‘H’ ground. Ten teams are carded to play for an opportunity to advance to the finals. Three teams from each Zone – West Berbice, New Amsterdam/Canje, Lower Corentyne and Upper Corentyne would go forward. Among the teams expected to play are Rose Hall Town Bakewell ‘A’ and ‘B’, Albion, Toopoo, Tamarind Root, Courtland, Belvedere United and Fyrish. The Zone winner will receive $15,000 while the winner of the overall tournament pockets $150,000 along with a trophy and the runner-up, $75,000 and trophy. The club has informed that the main objectives of this historic competition are to promote sports as an alternative to a life on the road, to promote social cohesion among youths and to promote the Say No to Drugs, Crime, Suicide and Say Yes to Sports Education and Life message to every youth in the ancient county. A club official would speak to the teams before the first game on the importance of the Say No/Yes Programme while the Club’s Youth Information booklet and posters would also be distributed to the teams. Each team is required to be at the Area ‘H’ ground by 08:30hrs and must walk with two red cricket balls. The general public is also informed that no selling of alcohol would be allowed at the venue. Five bowlers from each team would be allowed to bowl one over per game while a maximum of two fielders would be allowed out of the 30 yards area for the first over. For the remaining four overs, a maximum of five fielders would be allowed out of the circle while teams would only be permitted to play two first division players per game. Under-17 players for the year 2016 would not be counted as first division players. Meanwhile, the Management of the RHTY&SC has announced their squads for the Rose Hall Town Bakewell ‘A’ and ‘B’ teams.
Rose Hall Town Bakewell ‘A’ – James Fraser, Kevin Sinclair, Delbert Hicks, Khemraj Mahadeo, Kevlon Anderson, Keith Simpson, Sylus Tyndall, Mark Papannah, Junior Sinclair, Surrendra Kissoonlall, Brandon Prashad, Matthew Pattaya. Rose Hall Town Bakewell ‘B’ – Brandon Corlette,
Surrendra Budhoo, Chanderpaul Govindan, David Prahalad, Revoldo Williams, Simon Naidu, Lucas Arthur, Taqwah Ross, Joshua Wilson, Bishu Amazalam, Sheneta Grimmond, Sherica Campbelle, Erva Giddings (Captain), Sunil Madramootoo.
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GCB Scotiabank Kiddy Cricket
North Georgetown overcome St. Margaret’s Primary
Jequan Cole (right) and Joseph Mc Intosh North Georgetown Primary School defeated St. Margaret’s Primary by 13 runs when the Guyana Cricket Board Scotiabank Kiddy progression one tournament continued recently in Georgetown. North Georgetown batted first and scored 88-8 off their allotted 14 overs. Shaquille Jones made 13 and Shiloh Adams 12. Mickel Andrews had 2-9. St. Margaret’s were restricted for 75-8 in reply. Jeremiah Singh made 13; Nigel Lowe 2-6.
S t. P iu s b eat S mith ’s Memorial Primary by six runs. St. Pius took first strike and managed 67-4. Colin Mc Donald struck 21 while Donna Lowe got 15, Akeem Pereira 14 and Damian Ifill 13. Smith’s Memorial got 616 in response. Zennis Woolford and Shans Permaul made 14 and 12 in that order. Akeina Fecker had 2-6. Stella Maris lost to Redeemer. Stella Maris took first knock and mustered 70 9 with Shaquan Branche scoring 21; Linden Ogle
claimed 3-9, Redeemer Primary replied with 72-2 in 10 overs. De Shawn Lynch stroked 25 while Ogle made 2 0 . Bel Air got the better of J.E. Burnham by 17 runs. Bel Air batted first and got to 77-6. Dominic Benjamin cracked 29 while Asif Esau made 14; Mark Rambharose took 4-12. J.E. Burnham responded with 60-7. Rambharose scored 24; Shivanie Smalls and Michelle Smith had two w i c k e t s e a c h . St. Pius defeated St. Stephen’s. St. Stephen’s managed 105-6, batting first. Jequan Cole struck 57 including two fours and six sixes while St. Pius responded with 107-8. Donna Lowe hammered four fours and two sixes in a top score of 35 while Colin Mc Donald made 13. Malik Jerrick had 2-6. South Ruimveldt managed 66-9, taking first strike with Jevaughn Bishop scoring 11; St. Pius responded with 68-8. Tanya Mohabir scored 38 and Julius Ross 12. South Ruimveldt thumped Thomas (Continued on page 32)
Friday November 04, 2016
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Friday November 04, 2016
PAGE 43
Banks DIH supports GTM Health and Fitness Expo Banks DIH Limited will fuel the athletes and organisers of this weekend’s GTM Health and Fitness Expo, set to take place at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. At a simple ceremony on Tuesday morning, the company’s representatives expressed delight about the partnership with the organisers for the second consecutive year. Billed for November 5-6, the event is expected to be
bigger and better than its inaugural staging last year. Already, the registration number for the Cross Fit segment of the two-day activity has doubled from 2015, signalling the rapid growth and popularity of the event. On hand to present the company’s sponsorship package at Fitness Express on Sheriff Street were Banks DIH representatives, Clive Pellew and Errol Nelson.
Receiving on behalf of the organisers were Noshavyah King, Jordana RamseyGonsalves and Jamie McDonald. Nelson wished the organisers and participants well, noting that Banks DIH is always pleased to support events that create an avenue for persons to showcase their skills. He noted that the beverage company will be providing refreshment in the form of Rainforest Waters,
Clive Pellew (2nd left) of Banks DIH presents his company’s sponsorship package to Noshavyah King, in the presence of (from left) Errol Nelson, Jordana Ramsey-Gonsalves and Jamie McDonald.
Vita Malt Plus and Powerade Energy Drink. E v e n t C o o r d i n a t o r, Jordana Ramsey-Gonsalves, welcomed Banks DIH onboard, stating that the organisers are grateful for the support of corporate
Guyana in pulling off the event. Banks DIH is one of a plethora of corporate entities that have thrown their weight behind this year’s event, which will start tomorrow with a Cancer Awareness Glow Walk at
17:00hrs, followed by a Zumba Party at 19:00hrs. On Sunday, the action will continue from 14:00hrs at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall with rivalry in volleyball, mixed martial (Continued on page 32)
t r o Sp
Brathwaite leads West Indies to famous win Shane Dowrich embraces Kraigg Brathwaite after securing victory © AFP
Kraigg Brathwaite comes out to meet the ball ©AFP
Minister Henry trumps up inclusion of sports in schools’ curriculum - Ministry/GTU launches 56th National Schools’ Championships
Minister of Education, Dr. Nicolette Henry (fourth, right) ushers in the 56th National Schools’ Championships with from right: Digicel’s Head of Marketing, Jacqueline James, Glendon Fogenay, Edison Jefford, Chief Education Officer, Marcel Hutson, GTU President, Mark Lyte, Banks DIH Non Alcoholic Brand Manager, Clayton Mckenzie and other stakeholders.
Sheriff Street Swagga Boys win Bel Air Lions Domino Tournament
North Georgetown overcome St. Margaret’s Primary
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