Kaieteur News

Kaieteur News

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Saturday November 05, 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

THE PRADOVILLE TWO SAGA CONTINUES The people depend on State agencies and regulators to police that which they, as individuals, are not in position to do on their own, be it for lack of legal powers, financial resources, skills or expertise. The entire rationale of having a Police Force with investigative powers and resources at its disposal and agencies like the State Asset Recovery Unit (SARU) is that these entities would have specialized skills to focus on their mandates. We need to have an independent agency like SARU with national jurisdiction to monitor illegal activities and recover stolen state properties. Rules and laws must be enforced on a large scale. Individual citizens cannot do that. SARU was appointed by the government to retrieve properties believed stolen or acquired through illegal means by former government officials. So it is not disheartening to hear that the opposition is not in favour of such agencies despite the fact that its leader has publicly stated that they have nothing to hide. Yet they have labelled SARU a witch-hunting agency that is harassing members of the PPP. However, the creation of SARU is a clear breakthrough in relation to its investigation into illegal activities allegedly committed by public officials. The public is encouraged by SARU’s vigilance and zero-tolerance approach guided by the rule of law. The unsatisfactory state of affairs under the last administration is enough reason to have SARU as the nation’s gate-keeper to safeguard state assets. The government could not depend on the eyes of the public alone. While there has been impatience with the pace of investigations under the government, it none-the-less vowed to investigate all reports of corrupt transactions that allegedly took place under the former administration. SARU’s report in October last year had raised eyebrows. It noted that in 2010, the Jagdeo government authorized the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited, (NICIL), to privatize state lands at Sparendaam. NICIL, reportedly privatized the oceanfront land and spent more than $200M to construct roads and drainage to develop the seaside community without the approval of Parliament. It also spent $100 million to remove the state-owned NCN transmitting tower from Sparendaam. The house lots, complete with infrastructure, were secretly sold to Jagdeo, ex-ministers and friends of the former government at substantially below the market value thereby depriving the state of its full benefits. During its investigation of the controversial land deal, SARU reportedly secured enough evidence to prosecute Mr. Jagdeo and a number of ex-Ministers and friends of the PPP. While some wanted to see criminal charges, other counsel have recommended civil charges. SARU’s file has engaged the attention of the police legal advisor, former Justice Claudette Singh, but to date, there is no indication that criminal charges will be instituted despite the evidence secured by SARU. While the DPP and the police legal advisor deliberate on the case, legal experts have not ruled out criminal charges. Given the history and nature of the land deal, SARU believes that criminal charges are warranted against former ministers for misconduct because they have abused their powers and have violated the public trust in office. It was the first major case to have criminal charges recommended by SARU. The government has disclosed that a special prosecutor will be appointed with international help to prepare the cases to prosecute those found in breach of the alleged illegal acts pertaining to the oceanfront land deal which continues to embarrass the PPP. It’s time to end the Pradoville 2 saga.

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

The Carvil Duncan acquittal tells a lot about the judicial system Dear Editor; The recently concluded Carvil Duncan case raises a lot of eyebrows and questions. People are wondering whether the collapse of the case really hinged on legal technicalities, negligence on the part of the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP} and/ or the Police Legal Adviser to properly advise on the course of action to be followed in prosecuting the case, the use of an inexperienced police prosecutor in the case, or, other undisclosed factors, which combined together may have allowed Duncan to walk out of the court a free man. The dismissal of the case on the grounds of insufficient evidence also calls into question the seriousness of the state to

bring to justice wrong doers of the former regime. To my mind what is appalling is that the DPP, after having studied the case and recommended prosecution, failed to assign a Senior Counsel to prosecute the case. Given the low level of legal competence of most police prosecutors and, fully aware that the prosecutor would have been opposed by one of t h e c o u n t r y ’s l e a d i n g lawyers, it was an act of folly on the part of the authorities to identify that caliber of prosecutor to present the state’s case. That decision was nothing but an act of legal/judicial indiscretion which opened the authorities to the charge that it was designed to support a politically, well connected operative. For justice to prevail in high profile cases

there is an urgent need for some form of oversight at the judicial level to ensure that such situations do not occur Is Mr. Duncan guilty or not guilty of the offence he has been charged with? Reading the Magistrate’s leg al ju s tif icatio n f o r throwing out the case, the poorly prepared case of the prosecution was highlighted. Much of the short comings are elementary matters, for example, the presentation of photocopy documents unaccompanied by the originals for the purpose of validation. As a lay person I am appalled to learn that the charge of Simple Larceny that was laid against Duncan and the evidence presented are contrary to Section 164 of the Criminal Law Offences Act Chapter 8.01.

Are we, citizens of Guyana, to believe that the learned DPP is so unfamiliar with the law that she is incapable of determining what the legal interpretation of Simple Larceny? The defense logic prevailed, “… Once the money is deposited in the bank it is no longer the property of the customer (whether depositor or account holder} but property of the bank.” - not GPL or the citizens of Guyana. In light of this legal logic- Can GPL expect reimbursement from Republic Bank? The result of the Carvil Duncan case has so angered the masses that they are expecting the APNU+AFC government to instruct the Attorney General to file an appeal as quickly as possible against the court ruling. Tacuma Ogunseye

Two directors say the Chronicle is a venerable newspaper Dear Editor; We wish to respond to a recently published article concerning the appointment of an interim chairman for the Guyana National Newspapers Limited. It is unfortunate that we live in times whereby every action taken seems to ominously reflect the unseen hand of some deeper political intent. As such, it behooves us to write addressing the inclusion of our names as ‘candidates’ or ‘known supporters’ of any local party. In fact, that the more serious issue of the appointment of a political/government employee as the chairman (even temporarily) of a state board is not altogether a welcome decision, it is possible to accept this if a) the position is indeed a stop gap until a permanent chair is appointed and b) if the person appointed is actually a professional in the field that the board administers to. In the last few statements of the article, it is implied that we, along with Patricia Woolford and Ruel Johnson are all known “APNU+AFC supporters” and that we were candidates of some sort. To the best of our knowledge, the only actual ‘candidate’ on this list was Mrs. Sarabo Halley. Mrs. Ishoof Khan has never been a candidate on any list for government. H o w e v e r, b e i n g a v i d believers in the individual’s

democratic right to express a political preference, we are not at all certain what the insinuation is concerning the word ‘supporters’. Why that should be mentioned at all? And, crucially, does being a ‘supporter ’ mean blind obedience and dumb acquiescence? We have seen neither trait amongst any of our board colleagues. When we were appointed to the board that runs the venerable Guyana Chronicle, many who knew us felt it was not in our interest to take up the positions. Without knowing what the administrative issues were, we optimistically believed (still do) that it was important to accept the appointment and remain independent voices. Our agenda is to ensure that democratic principles are equally applied, even when the situation warrants allowing those with whom you disagree most vehemently to voice an opinion. The challenges faced by the Chronicle are not new or unknown, but there are people who care about the quality of the paper and despite its chequered past as a state bludgeon, are committed to ensuring that it does not again fall into the dark void of promulgating rabid, caricature-esque propolitical party propaganda. Considering that the government has three

branches, the legislature being one of them, it is unfathomable that the state paper has previously aggressively and rapaciously attacked all but a specific political entity, unapologetically serving to further the ends of a party and not the government or the people. Towards that end, in our capacity as directors, we have tried to ensure that our own messaging as regards what the state paper should reflect is a desire to eventually practice journalism as it should be: ethical, accurate, balanced, fair, etc. We are not unaware that the Chronicle has yet to achieve this. The current board as it stands is comprised of individuals whose contributions and commitment to a genuine reformation of the state news entity is unquestionable. No appointed member of my acquaintance is remotely interested in remaking a propaganda machine, and absolutely no one wishes to repeat the actions of previous incarnations of the paper. To g e t h e r w i t h B e r t Wilkinson, Karen Davis, Patricia Woolford, Sohan Poonai and Ruel Johnson, we have always functioned as independent thinkers, determining for ourselves what is the best course the paper should take in order to gain credibility as a sensible news entity.

Under the stewardship of our previous chair, Jean La Rose, we worked with consensus, weighing and determining and assessing as a non-partisan board should, without the blunt political interference that has been the hallmark of all previous boards. The overwhelmingly negative ethos that we have encountered on so many levels has not daunted us so far, as our board continues to work towards regularising a state ship that has for too long functioned as pointlessly weaponised political driftwood. The recent appointment of the interim chairman has possibly been done in order to ensure that the board continues its work until a new chair is appointed. But, without a deliberate mandate from the minister with oversight of GNNL, and until the independence of our board becomes nonexistent, we will remain members of this board. Should this be compromised at any point, whether under the current or any future chair, it then becomes our duty to bring this to the public attention and to resign. At no instance will we ever be interested in blindly supporting anyone’s political puppet show. Scheherazade Ishoof Khan Tabitha Sarabo Halley Directors, Guyana National Newspapers Limited

Saturday November 05, 2016

A lamentation on poor teaching quality in Guyana DEAR EDITOR; Having spent some time reviewing the way many of our current teachers teach our children in Guyana, I can assure you that there is a desperate need for our government to scrutinise these said teachers not only on their qualifications, but also their ability to teach. There are too many teachers in their jobs with absolutely no idea of how to connect with their students. So many of these teachers are in their posts thanks to the previous government who handed out these jobs right, left and centre to family members and friends without a care in the world that these said people were unqualified and unable to teach. Our government needs to address this very worrying situation and do so urgently. There is currently a very high rate of youngsters who drop out of school because they are not understood, their needs are not met and their talents go down the drain. Consequently, their lives become destroyed and they end up having nothing to offer themselves or their country. If this problem is not addressed, Guyana will continue in the downwards spiral it is heading in with regards to suicide rates, unemployment

and high crime rates. As it stands, our education system is being wasted by the very people who are supposed to deliver it. It is a complete shambles, an utter embarrassment to Guyana and a grave disservice to our children who are the future of our country. The strength of any country is measured by the education services and opportunities provided for their youngsters. And so, the need to bring our children into line with modern day thinking with respect to learning and living with a positive mental attitude has never been more urgent. However, to achieve this we need teachers who can deliver on making an impact academically, professionally and positively. We need teachers who are qualified and can connect with their students because they realise the importance of their roles as mentors for our future generation and as ambassadors for our children. Basic education is needed in Guyana for us to improve and continue to strive. This provided with qualified and competent teachers along with a government agency that can regularly monitor our schools to ensure national standards are met and kept will all provide in aid-

ing these very necessary changes. We as a nation are losing far too many of our qualified citizens who are opting to migrate because there are simply no career opportunities in Guyana. This would be the perfect opportunity for our government to create employment for those who qualify as competent teachers. Providing such careers to young people will prove to not only create employment to those deserving of it, but also provide a more prosperous future for Guyana through teaching our children effectively. I also strongly believe that some very important principles ought to be adhered to whilst delivering on the curriculum. Teachers must teach with the core concept of love and unity among humanity at the forefront of delivering lessons in the classroom. We have a culture in Guyana that needs to change. We need young qualified teachers to teach our children and get rid of this race divide which is responsible for all that we suffer in Guyana. We need to destroy the race divide and conquer the great division we suffer through ignorance. Dale Shake Kalamazad

Sam Hinds was never in charge of Mr. Burnham, and of the bauxite industry control even Mr. Hoyte, and cannot DEAR EDITOR; It was with a sense of profound amazement that I read your article in Kaieteur News edition of 29 October headed; ”Sam Hinds was nice to me but”. What floored me completely was Freddie Kissoon’s statement which read as fallows “When Mr. Hinds was in charge of the bauxite industry under President Burnham, he signed the dismissal notices

of a number of workers” I refrained from commenting on the article until now since I was awaiting what I thought would have been Mr. Sam Hinds’ vehement refutation of the statement, but it appears as though he either missed it or is prepared to take a bow on the honour Freddie extended to him. I happen to have been intimately involved with the Bauxite Industry for the entire period it was under the

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recall any period during which Mr. Sam Hinds was in charge of the industry much more had anything to do with the signing of dismissal notices for a number of workers. I would appreciate if Mr. Kissoon would be honest enough to enlighten me on the exact period when Mr. Sam Hinds was in charge of the bauxite industry and when did he sign dismissal notices for workers. Sylvester Carmichael

I support the arguments of Sam Hinds not those of David Hinds DEAR EDITOR; It is time that I join with the former Prime Minister, Dr. Samuel Hinds in condemning the prejudice and the continuous false impression and perception being circulating by Dr. David Hinds and other opposition force against the PPP and the PPP/C, I believe we all have a right to highlight issues when any person or group has been discriminated against due their race, gender, age, sexual orientation, religion or their democratic right to support any group or political party of their choice. Let me remind my fellow Guyanese brothers and sisters, that it was under the PPP/C Government that the ethnic Relations Commission was established, which is a constitutional body set up to look into any issue of discrimination. Since the APNU/AFC took office this very important constitutional commission has gone dead. Guyana has two major political parties, that is the PPP and PNC and both had the opportunity to govern this country, therefore let’s examine the records of which Government is more guilty of discrimination, taking into consideration that the majority of Afro-Guyanese voted for the PNC and most of the Indo Guyanese voted for the PPP/C. Seeing that Dr. David Hinds refer to the PPP discriminating against AfroGuyanese, I decided to use a Region #10, which have a population of about 90% Afro-Guyanese decent, and 3% Indo- Guyanese as a case study. I happen to be of African and Amerindian decent and grew up in Linden so I know Region 10 and its records very well. The PNC came into office in 1964 to October 1992, so let’s examine the development done over that 28 years period. During those early years most of the housing development in mining town was done by Demba, (A Ca-

nadian owned Company) especially at Mackenzie and part of Wismar/Christianburg and at Ituni, except for the Wismar Housing Scheme which was develop and completed in 1959 under the PPP, when Janet Jagan was responsible for housing. In Kwakwani, Reynolds developed the housing area there. When the PNC Government took over Demba In 1971, through nationalisation at that time over 5000 workers were employed at the Demerara Bauxite Company. Throughout the 70’s the Company had very good production and sales, and things was very bright in the mining town, and at Ituni and Kwakwani. On the 29th April, 1970 Mackenzie, Wismar and Christianburg became the Town named Linden. However, during the80’s and the early 90’s we saw a complete collapse of production and sales of bauxite, and also heavy deterioration of the bauxite plant and mining equipment. This resulted in the closure of the Alumina Plant in 1982, where 0ver 1000 workers lost their jobs at Linden and Ituni, and the closure of many mines. Over that period there was hardship in Linden and Region 10 as a whole. The older people should share that experience with young people, letting them know how difficult it was under the PNC. At that time, even basic food items were very difficult to acquire and workers and residents had to stand in lines for hours to get something. As I can recall to the development that took place in the Region over that period, it was so little that it is easy mention. Development Under PNC A- Building of the Christianburg Multilateral Secondary School B - Building of Silvercity Secondary School

C - Building of the New Wismar Market in 1966 ($275,000). D - Building of a Health Center at ½ Mile Wismar. E- Wisroc Housing Scheme development (On Self-help and partly financed by Guybau) F- There was also some farming done by the National Service at Kimba in the Berbice River. On 5thOctober 1992, the PPPC came into office. Taking over the country with a debt of $2.1 Billion dollars, where 94% of revenue had to service the debt, against when the PNC took from the PPP in 1964 only 14.6% of revenue had to service the debt. We who live at Linden when the PPP/C came in office knew our roads were in deplorable condition with many potholes. Much of the infrastructures was in a state of disrepair. When the PPP/C took over Linmine the work force was already reduced to about 2000 workers; leaving Linden with a high unemployment rate. At that time the PPP/C inherited an agreement entered into between the then PNC Government and multilateral financial Institutions (MFIs) that funded and placed an international mining management (IMM), Minproc and Linmine. Minproc was under a three year contract to determine and demonstrate whether the company was to be made profitable or not. If profitable, it was to be privatised, if not, it was to be closed. The PPP/C would have expected to close the operations based on the agreement, however the PPP/ C did not close it, but continue to finance the ailing company by putting approximately US$5M/year, until a decision was taken by the PPP/C Government in June 2003 to have Linmine (Continued on page 6)

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We must reverse the negative trends in agriculture DEAR EDITOR; In observance of Agriculture Month which is from 1st October to 31st October. Each and every year, as expected a lot of statements were made, messages sent and activities held throughout the country, the word diversification was often used, and this year a lot of focus was on the coconut industry, which was good. But, I am old enough to know and to remember that since in the nineteen sixties, when the late Dr. Cheddi Jagan was the Leader of the Opposition at all his political meetings held at South Essequibo Coast and elsewhere, he always spoke about diversification of the rice industry. To a great extent, with beans, citrus and other fruits while expanding our ground provision, vegetables and cash crops that we are cultivating. Not forgetting our dairy farm and pig rearing, also our livestock and poultry farming. Fifty years later, the message remains the same from many other persons, but the big question is how far down

that road we have travelled from then to now. Are we as a nation satisfied with the progress we have made in the Agriculture sector, the answer should and must be a resounding NO. Year after year October after October, the messages by our Head of State, our Prime Minister, our Minister of Agriculture and our Senior Agriculture Officials, apart from the change of venue, those messages remain the same or similar. Freddie Kissoon was perfectly right when he said that the evidence of our failure in the Agriculture Sector where production, processing, packing, canning and bottling is concerned, is on the shelves at the many supermarkets across our country, because the cans, bottles, packets and boxes with markings or tables that say made in Guyana are very few. We are importing many times more food and beverages, than we are exporting. Once being described as the ‘Bread Basket of the Caribbean’, a tag any nation would be proud of; we have

voluntary relinquished that title and we seem to be happy. While I don’t want to be seen or described as a pessimist, it is important that I mention some of the facilities that were commissioned for the sole purpose of agriculture related activities, and after a short period of time the doors are closed or they are used for other purposes. The Supenaam Marketing Centre, the Charity Marketing Centre, the Fish Port both at Lima and Charity have all been privatised. The Marketing Center at Parika is used for purposes it was not intended for, and what was touted to be the biggest prize for the farmers, the processing and packing facility at Parika, a building you all would know, travelling through Parika, because of its size and location, and the length of the wharf, you can’t miss this facility. What can we the people of this country do to have this negative trend in the Agriculture Sector reversed? Archie W. Cordis.

GPL should have learned from previous cable experience DEAR EDITOR; I want to believe that the GPL management did not properly study the situation concerning the laying of cables across the Demerara River. During the late fifties and early sixties we experienced a lot of difficulties with a submarine cable that was laid across the river. We found that the cable was often damaged by bauxite ships when they cast or weighed anchor. We found that even though the cable was buried and anchored somehow portions of it floated on the river bed. The river was dredged to 22.5 feet depth but this did not prevent the ships from doing damage. The decision was later taken to lay a new cable from New Hope to Vriesland on the West Bank. After this was done, we found that no more incidents

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Kaieteur News

of damage were recorded. Now this was an 11KV cable and was considered to be very expensive in those times. Now what about a 69KV cable in these times of very high costs? The 69KV lines could have been extended from Vreed-en-Hoop to Vriesland and a substation placed behind Hutsonville. This substation would now have been able to cater for the needs of industrial development of the middle East Bank corridor. Those who decided on the river crossing in the estuary should have first done the research and they would not have made such a crazy decision. The 69KV intertie was part of the US$40m deal with the Chinese. It is being said that no counterpart engineers from the GPL had anything to do with this project. It was executed and then just handed over to the utility. It

is doubtful whether any GPL personnel were present at the commissioning. The substations at Good Hope and Columbia look suspect to me. There appears to be problems with their construction. I wonder if the GPL has considered the usefulness of bundling conductors on the intertie, so that if feasible, we can supply greater power along this route. Once the structures can take the loading from the extra conductors, this would be a worthwhile solution to the problem. I have observed quite a few portions of the 69KV lines built by the Chinese. I do not feel that all is well with their construction. There are many features that I believe will lead to disruptions and tripping as time goes by. GPL has experienced personnel in its employ and these persons should be allowed to work along with whoever comes to perform new infrastructural works. Keeping them out of the fray will only lead to us, the public, having to face disruptions of power supply ever so often. Cyril Walker

Guyana’s driver’s licence and the banks DEAR EDITOR; Please permit me a space in your newspapers to call on GRA and any other relevant government agencies to inform the nation of the validity or otherwise of the Guyana driver’s licence as an identification document. It is troubling to see staff of financial institutions turned down transactions involving huge cash because a customer could only present the driver’s licence, only for the customer to be robbed of the cash after stepping out of the banking hall.

The anxiety of getting cash to the bank is enough for anyone; the banks should not add to it. These institutions insist on the presentation of one’s current passport or the national ID card. These documents however, do not carry two vital details that the driver’s licence has; the address and the TIN. It will be a tremendous service to the citizens of this nation if the concerned agencies and authorities could make public the official position of this document. Deji Aderemi

I did comment on Cabinet meetings at army headquarters DEAR EDITOR; I refer to a letter that appeared in the November 4 edition of Kaieteur News written by a “Concerned Citizen” which criticised the government’s decision to hold Cabinet meetings at the GDF headquarters. The concerned citizen asked “where are the voices of Dr. David Hinds and Freddie Kissoon”—an obvious inference that we have been silent on the issue. On so many occasions I have heard that line—where was Hinds when so and so happened or why didn’t Hinds speak up when so and so was happening? The truth is that Hinds did comment on the issue to which the letter writer refers. No single individual can be everywhere or speak on every issue. But maybe it would help if people did a little bit of research before the make some sweeping assertions. This is relatively easy to do in the age of the internet. Further, maybe editors can use the “editor’s note” a little bit more to correct some of these glaring inaccuracies which when allowed to go unchallenged could be interpreted by readers as the truth. For what it is worth, the writer of that letter should be informed that I did com-

ment on the government’s decision to hold Cabinet meetings at the GDF headquarters in a news item in the October 26 edition of Stabroek News under the headline “Meeting of Cabinet at GDF HQ pilloried by Jagdeo - presidential complex undergoing urgent repairs” In an invited comment by Stabroek News I made the following observations. My letter will end with the quote. “The government’s decision to hold Cabinet meetings at the GDF headquarters, while not politically explosive, is bad optics and not tactically sound. At the end of the day, there are political consequences for such actions. The explanation that there were security concerns seems plausible on its face, but may not be worth the political cost. We have to believe that the government tried very hard to find an alternative meeting place for Cabinet meetings. But I would have stayed away from the GDF headquarters for two reasons. First, by going there, the government is playing into the hands of the opposition, which has already raised the issue of the militarisation of the government. For the PPP’s support base this linkage of the mili-

tary to government has long been a sensitive issue with ethno-political overtones that the government ought to do everything in its power not to feed. But there are also murmurs about the over-reliance on ex-military personnel among government supporters. Ours is a society in which political optics matter even among supporters and perception quickly becomes reality. We are also a society whose political culture is partly grounded in a separation of the military from the government; we don’t have a history of military coups and are not accustomed to seeing ex-military people in high political office. Mr. Granger rose to political prominence, not because of his military background, but primarily because there was and is a perception that he is a decent man who is not tainted by the old politics. I think that a section of the society expected that his closest advisors would include some of his military comrades, but he has to be careful not to veer too much in that direction. In my estimation, we are at the borderline as far as the military linkage to government is concerned.” David Hinds

I support the arguments of Sam... From page 5 Operations managed by Cambior, a Canadian Company who was the owner of OMAI Gold Mine, as an interim measure, until the financing for the full joint venture through privatization took place. On the 8th December 2004 Linmine was privatized by

Joint Venture, with Cambior, acquiring 70% shares and G.O.G 30% shares. In 2007 Cambior sold their shares to Bosai. With the downsize of the Bauxite Operations at Linden, and the high unemployment, the Administration had to look at other methods of employment through diversification from being dependent on bauxite only. A plan resulted in an EU funding of 12.5M Euros which was called the Linden Economic Advancement Program (LEAP) and LEAF. That

Project ran for 7 years from 2002- 2009, which attracted total of 1,694 applications to a tune of $2.1billion. A total of 701 loans were approved and distributed to the tune of $752 million. LEAP also spent millions of dollars on infrastructure projects in Linden and other parts of the Region. Andrew ForsythePPP/C Regional Chairman Region 10 Editor ’s note: Mr. Forsythe submitted a very lengthy letter. The other half will be published in our edition tomorrow

Saturday November 05, 2016

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Diamond shooting…

Dead bandit’s father urges youths to find jobs

The dead bandit, Simon Elijah De Florimonte

Having witnessed his 20year-old son’s lifeless body in a mortuary with bullet wounds, a La Penitence, Georgetown father is calling on all youths to stop robbing people and to go out and look for a job. “If you cannot find a job, there are ways you can create your own work. Thieving is not good and you end up losing your lives and the good future you have ahead,” Eric De Florimonte lamented. De Florimonte made this statement after his son, Simon Elijah De Florimonte, was shot dead when he and an accomplice were caught trying to break into a miner’s house at Diamond, East Bank

Demerara (EBD) Wednesday morning. The father is hoping that young bandits will mend their ways before it is too late like it was for his son. “I had no idea this is what my son was doing. When I got the news I was very surprised. I think parents need to talk to their children because robbing people doesn’t pay since you end up losing your lives,” the man said. He explained that his son worked at a wharf in the city and sometimes assisted him in his small business. “He put himself in that and he had a nice future. There is nothing I can do about what he did.” According to the devas-

tated father, on Tuesday his son and a few of his friends were drinking in front of their Lot 113 Middle Road, La Penitence home. “I went to bed and leave him drinking. When we got up the morning, he wasn’t in his bed so we started enquiring what had happened because he doesn’t leave home so early,” the older De Florimonte said. He explained that later that day, he learnt that his son was shot while trying to rob someone in Diamond. “We went to the police station and the mortuary and didn’t find him. The next day we identified him. While enquiring, we heard that two

PI into Kaieteur News grenade attack…

Alfie Garraway

Janeil Howard

Leroy Williams

Shelton Bourne, a worker employed by Kaieteur News, failed to turn up in court, yesterday, as a prosecution witness. He was informed on several occasions that he has to attend court to give

evidence in the matter. However, despite these notices the witness has not made his way up the court stairs even after Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan instructed that police to

summons him. Nevertheless, the Preliminary Inquiry (PI) into the Kaieteur News grenade attack continued yesterday, with the prosecution calling (Continued on page 12)

WANTED: Shemar Wilson

boys came and wake my son and he left with them,” the father said. He noted that in the past, he never heard his son being involved in any robbery. The Guyana Police Force said that a miner opened fire at two bandits about 02:15hrs on Wednesday as they were attempting to gain entry through a southern door on the lower flat of his house. The miner was reportedly awakened by a loud noise and when he investigated, he saw the two bandits attempting to

enter his home.He opened fire on the thieves, one of whom was armed with a handgun. This newspaper was told that De Florimonte was shot dead at the scene while his accomplice managed to escape. However, while a police patrol was heading to the scene, they observed a 27 West Ruimveldt resident in the area and arrested him. It is unclear whether he was the getaway bandit but he is in custody assisting with investigation.

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Saturday November 05, 2016

Bosai buys Matthews Ridge manganese project A Canadian company that was developing the Matthews Ridge, Region One, manganese mine, has announced that it has sold the project to Bosai Minerals Group Co. Limited, a Chinese company that has bauxite operations in Linden, Region Ten. In a statement, Reunion Gold Corporation said that it entered into an agreement yesterday to sell all of its rights, title and interest in the Matthews Ridge manganese project to Bosai Minerals Group Co., Ltd. (“Bosai”), an arm’s length Chinese corporation. Under the terms of the agreement, Bosai will pay to Reunion US$10 million of which US$5 million is payable at closing and US$5 million is to be paid at the rate of US$2.00 per tonne of manganese concentrate or ore shipped from Matthews Ridge once it enters into production. According to the agreement, Reunion agreed to transfer to Bosai the four prospecting licences, which make up the Matthews Ridge project— the March 2011 Mineral Agreement between Reunion, the Government of Guyana and the Guyana Geology Mines Commission

(GGMC), as well as capital assets located at Matthews Ridge. “The closing of the sale of the Matthews Ridge project is subject to having obtained all required regulatory, shareholders and government approvals and consents, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (“TSXV”) and the consent of the GGMC and the government of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana. All such approvals and consents are expected to occur over the next few weeks,” Reunion said in its statement. Reunion stated that it intends to continue to focus its exploration in the Guiana Shield of South America, and more specifically on earlystage gold projects. Already, the company has signaled intentions to acquire 80 percent interest in a gold project in French Guiana, South America. Earlier this year, Reunion said that low world prices, which have dropped some 80 percent, have affected the development of the Matthews Ridge, Region One, manganese mining operation. The company was granted a two-year extension on its licencing obligations

Major General (retd) Norman McLean, President David Granger, Executive Chairman of Reunion Manganese Incorporated, David Fennell and Chief Operations Officer, Jo Bayah, during the meeting earlier this year. by GGMC, and has a 25-year agreement with the Government of Guyana for the development of the manganese operation. ”As a result of the significant decline in manganese price which has adversely affected the development of the Matthews Ridge project, the GGMC has agreed to defer certain obligations under the licences for a period of up to two years, ending April 30,

2018,” the company had announced. President David Granger had received a courtesy call from Executive Chairman of Reunion Manganese Incorporated, David Fennell, who gave him an update on the company’s operation at Matthews Ridge operation. Reunion had said earlier this year, under the current market conditions, “There can be no assurance that the company will be able to complete a financing or other type of arrangement to fund its ongoing obligations and develop its Matthews Ridge project”. The Matthews Ridge

project which contains a significant manganese resource is located in the North West District of Guyana. Reunion’s operations are located on the site of the abandoned Matthews Ridge Manganese Mine which was operated by a subsidiary of Union Carbide Corporation from 1962 to 1968. In excess of 1.66 million tonnes of manganese concentrate were shipped from the mine site during that period. The main project footprint consists of a 15 km-long series of nine hills contained within the Matthews Ridge formation, which hosts the

manganese mineralization and is known to extend for more than 40 kilometers of strike. Prior to Reunion acquiring the project, previous mining operations were confined to hills 5 to 9, with little or no work done on the other hills. Reunion commenced exploration in October 2010 with the objective of delineating substantial manganese resources in and around the Matthews Ridge deposits, and assessing the economic potential of the project with the help of modern exploration, processing and mining technology.

Saturday November 05, 2016

The Ministry of Finance is being patronizing in organizing a training session for the Guyana Press Association on the basics of analyzing the National Budget. The media really does not need any classes in this regard even though the quality of reporting on financial issues leaves much to be desired in this country. The problem is more one of a jaundiced examination of issues by the media rather than lack of skills. But the media nonetheless does not really have to be tutored by a government ministry on how to analyze a financial document produced by that minis-

try. The media is bringing itself into disrepute by entertaining and accepting such an offer. Should never have happened! The work of the media is to report on what the Minister says during his presentation. It may be helpful in the reporting process if there is an understanding of the elements of budgeting. But any journalist worth his or her salt should be familiar with the basic elements of taxes, other revenues, current expenditure and capital expenditure. The Budget speech is an opportunity for the minister to explain his policies to the

Guyanese people. The media does not need any high technical knowledge to explain what the Budget has in store for the people. If the Minister cannot explain in layman’s terms what the various measures mean for the public, then no training programme by the Ministry of Finance will change that reality. The job of reporters is to report on facts. If the X says Y and Y says Z, then that is the job of the media to report on. Reporters are not supposed to giving opinions on matters. The injection of opinions into stories is referred to as editorializing within a story. This practice is becoming

Dem boys seh...

De govt shutting out dem contractor All dem crooks who use to manipulate de tenders to suit dem friends so vex that dem joining de bunch that hollering how business bad. Fuh dem business was always good because dem was like lice pun de taxpayers. Dem didn’t care bout nutten once dem get money. De night clubs do bright business because de spenders didn’t have to worry. Dem know wheh de next money to sport was coming from. Things was so good that if de money was li’l short Jagdeo and even Donald pay dem contractors fuh wuk wha dem didn’t do. Is now de story coming out and people expect Soulja Bai to go and collect that money. Dem boys seh that he got

to visit nuff night club, nuff short time place, nuff restaurant and couple young gyal house to collect all that money. That is wheh de money go. Of course some go in plane ticket because de contractor often had to get rid of he wife to mek room fuh de other lady. When contracts pass de government had to seh that it approve or it didn’t approve. And dem boys know when it didn’t approve. Well all that done. Dem have a Public Procurement Committee. That is de body that gun check all dem contract. GPL had a tender that a Chinee company want bad. This company did bad wuk wid another contract suh people skeptical. Dem boys

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Kaieteur News

hear that de tender board leaning to this company again. Dem boys even hear that dem open back de tender and leh de company put in something. Thank de Man above fuh de Public Procurement Committee. De government paying dem very well suh dem can’t tek bribe. Dem is de people who gun call de shots. More contractors gun complain how things bad. When crime3 slow criminals does holler things bad; when business slow businessmen does holler things bad; when de government clamp down pun de contracts, dem contractors gun complain how things bad. Talk half and watch out fuh all dem complaints.

quite common amongst some print reporters. It is a habit that they have picked up from some television reporters who are notorious for prefacing a story with an editorial comment. The media’s job is to give experts an opportunity to comment on the Budget and to report what the experts say. The job of reporters is not to become experts on financial matters. They have to be experts on reporting what the experts say. They also have to report on the criticisms that the opposition makes of the Budget. A reporter’s job is not to write about whether it was wrong for the government to pay increases in wages and salaries to public servants. That judgment is left for an editorial or op-eds comment. The job of reporters is to report that despite not having an agreement with the Guyana Public Service Union, the government will pay the increase or has paid the increase. It is for the reporter to then solicit the reaction of the Guyana Public Service Union and other persons within an interest in such matters. The National Budget will be read in December. It will be the first time in a long time

that a Budget will be presented so early. The fact of the matter, though, is that there is a disadvantage in presenting such an early Budget. The presentation of a December Budget will mean that much of the annual production figures will not be actual figures because the fiscal year ends on December 31, 2016. It means that in terms of output, there will be estimated numbers. It also means that the actual revenues for 2016 will not be exactly known since the fiscal year also ends on December 31, 2016. The Budget therefore is likely to be a ‘guesstimate’ in

terms of revenues and actual GDP. This is one major drawback of an early Budget without the government having the foresight to adjust the fiscal year to end in October instead of the end of December. It is not certain whether the Ministry of Finance explained this to the media operatives at the training session held for them.

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Kaieteur News

Saturday November 05, 2016

=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===

Lights that create blindness; only in Guyana Here are extracts from two previous columns of the extreme dangers high beams create at nights. The first one was captioned “Lights that Kill” and was written on May 28, 2006. “Few drivers in this country know what is the real purpose of the high beam. And very few drivers understand the danger of the bright light. When a street has twoway traffic, the high beam at night must never be used. And this is because of the way science functions. It makes no sense then to use the high beam once other cars

are traveling in the opposite direction. But this is not the way it is used. Motorists use this high powered light as a matter of policy. The high beam eye can be observed in use on some of the brightest streets in Georgetown. Go to Sheriff Street or travel on Regent Street or any well lit Georgetown road and you will see the high beam in full glare. Minibuses do not use their dim lights at all. They only use the high powered beam. But there is another type of foolishness making the rounds on the roads at night.

Vehicle owners are now doing something weird. They are increasing the wattage on both the low beam and the high beam. The low beam now becomes the high beam, and the high beam becomes the floodlights on a football ground. This is a recipe for death and indeed a large amount of people have lost their lives because of the uneducated use of the bright lights at night. The wife of a police inspector told me she saw her husband killed by the use of the high beam light of an oncoming motorist. She told me it was in the

early hours in the morning and as her husband turned a bend on the West Berbice road, the lights of the ongoing car dazzle her husband and as he yelled out, he just lost control and ran head on into the coming car.” (unquote) Here is the other quote from my column, “Lights that kill and kill and will go on killing.” It was published on December 29, 2014. “The Branche family was returning home to Rosignol from Georgetown on December 23 after picking up their overseas stuff in Georgetown for the season. The teenage daughter was killed when the vehicle ran into a parked truck. A grieving Mrs. Branche told the media that the high beams of an oncoming car blinded her husband. In one of those columns about the danger of the high beam I recalled a night of travel with Kaieteur News crime reporter, Dale Andrews. We traveled up to the West Coast one dark night to cover a robbery. On our way back

to Georgetown, Dale blinked his lights 23 times to oncoming drivers indicating that they must dip their bright lights. I counted it, 23 times and there wasn’t even one response. Not one driver responded to Leonard Craig’s signal to dim last month while we were on our way in the late evening to an AFC public meeting in Berbice. At Victoria, Craig pulled over and chastised a minibus driver who ignored Craig’s signal to dim and who stopped to put off a passenger. The police traffic department needs to go on an intensive campaign against the use of these high beams. But do you think they will? Even when police officials die from the irresponsible use of the bright lights of silly drivers, the police don’t act. Why would they now? Our police force is not overflowing with intelligent people.” (unquote) Now our fine police force believes it has enough death and destruction from high

Frederick Kissoon beams that it has finally decided to act. In a news item of Wednesday, October 16, 2016, in the Stabroek News, the Traffic Chief is reported as saying that a campaign will be launched to stop drivers from using their powerful high beams. But brace yourself for some wonderful news. The Traffic Chief said that in fact the police do stop drivers who behave like this and that is an ongoing policy. Well! Well! The last time I checked I was living in Guyana, and I have never seen a campaign at night to persuade drivers from using their high beams. Let me repeat; I have never seen or heard from anyone or from a friend about the police stopping motorists at night and requesting they turn off their LED lights. I emphasize; I see motorists every night with LED lights on. But maybe I live in another country.

Saturday November 05, 2016

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Kaieteur News

Commission calls for wandering charge to be dropped Statistics have shown that the majority of children who are housed at the New Opportunity Corps (NOC) in Region Two are there for wandering. But the Women and Gender Equality Commission is looking to have the wandering charge completely removed from the Statutes altogether. This was emphasised when the Women and Gender Equality Commission held a press conference at its Peter Rose and Anira Streets, Queenstown, Georgetown headquarters on Wednesday. At the press conference, Commissioner Nicole Cole spoke of a survey that was conducted and found that about 70 per cent of the residents of NOC are there for wandering. NOC is said to be a juvenile facility that offers psycho-social support to youths in order to help them improve their self-esteem and self-worth in preparation for their return to society. Cole pointed out that the Juvenile Justice Bill which is slated to be tabled in the National Assembly very soon as promised by the Minister of Public Security, Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan, is supposed to have a provision to ensure that juveniles should no longer be charged with wandering. According to Cole, who doubles as a Commissioner on the Rights of the Child Commission, a research conducted by the latter Commission into NOC found that many girls who are charged with wandering are sent to there. “Children are actually picked up while wandering and are not afforded an opportunity to have legal counsel,” said Cole as she

emphasised that “this is also a contentious issue to which the Rights of the Child Commission has been providing tremendous support via collaboration with the Guyana Legal Aid service.” Wandering as a charge, Cole emphasised, has done much damage to those who are deemed “children in difficult circumstances.” But according to Cole, “children in difficult circumstances” require a wide range of support including psychosocial, economic and social services. These children, she firmly ascertained, do not deserve to be charged and punished. The Juvenile Justice Bill, according to Cole, contains a crucial provision which mandates that “any child that will be institutionalised should have a psychological evaluation.” That is not being done currently, Cole said. Cole disclosed that earlier this year she shared her conviction with the Public Security Minister that the psychological evaluation idea should in fact be a matter of priority and Government should

Commissioner Sandra Hooper

Commissioner Nicole Cole

therefore urgently ensure that the Juvenile Justice Bill is tabled in the National Assembly. She also emphasised the importance of having the Bill swiftly sent to the President to be assented to. In an effort to advance this notion, Cole said that the Rights of the Child Commission has collaborated with the Women and Gender Equality

Commission to solicit the support of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) to intervene in what she called “this most pernicious issue (wandering).” “It is a matter that is currently still a work in process,” underscored Cole. Also speaking on the wandering matter was yet another commissioner, Sandra

Hooper, who also holds a place on the Women and Gender Equality Commission and the Rights of the Child Commission. She told media operatives that the two Commissions have plans to send a letter to the DPP requesting that the charge of wandering be taken off of the statutes so as to ensure that children are never sent to the NOC for such an offence. According to Hooper, the Rights Commission has held workshops with children at the Sophia Holding Centre and those at NOC and “the experiences that those children have had with the police as well as at the NOC it leaves much to be desired.” “They are being robbed of a lot of experiences during this time of their life,” said Hooper. She said that when subjected to confinement, some of these children encounter children of varying social background and experiences and “instead of their behaviours improving some of them tend to get worse.” “Many of them are sub-

jected to bullying; they join gangs and their behaviour leaves much to be desired too,” said Hooper. The Commission has sought to impress on the children themselves that they have rights. “If they are to enjoy those rights they have to practise those responsibilities even though they are at the New Opportunity Corps,” said Hooper. She noted that some very good responses have been forthcoming from the juveniles. This has been aided by lawyers attached to the Legal Aid Clinic who have been offering their support to some of the juveniles who are in need of legal assistance. Hooper has however stressed the importance for the support of other institutions and individuals in the community to help tackle the issue of wandering. She suggested that the school system as well as the community as a whole could in fact work with families to help prevent situations of wandering from even occurring in some instances.

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Kaieteur News

Saturday November 05, 2016

Public Health Ministry breaches FMA Act – Auditor General - fails to refund over $1billion to Consolidated Fund in 2015 A breach of the Fiscal Management and Accountability (FMA) Act (2003) has resulted in more than $1 billion being owed to the Consolidated Fund. The breach was perpetrated by the Ministry of Public Health, according to the Auditor General Report, which revealed that as at December 31, 2015, a total of 933 cheques valued at $1.035 billion were not refunded to the Consolidated Fund. However, at the time of reporting the Ministry was able to engage efforts to pay 824 cheques valued at $879.710 million to various payees, and then opted to refund 22 cheques valued at $2.314 million to the Consolidated Fund. But based on the findings

of the audit, the Ministry yet had 87 stale dated cheques valued at $153.299 million on hand. This consequently resulted in the Appropriation Accounts being overstated by the said Amounts, the Report highlighted. But according to the observation of the Audit Office, failing to make refunds to the Consolidated Fund has in fact been a protracted practice of the Health Ministry. It was noted that there was a breach of the provisions of Section 43 of the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act (2003) where the Ministry failed to refund to the Consolidated Fund five cheques valued at $2.607 million for 2013 and 650 cheques valued at $829.807

million for the year 2014. However, following its detection of this discrepancy, in June 2015, a total of 605 cheques valued at $798.616 million were paid out to various payees leaving 45 cheques valued at $31.191 million still on hand in relation to 2014. During 2015 and 2016, a total of 34 cheques valued at $3.853 million were refunded, while 10 cheques valued at $27.214M were paid to payees in respect of 2014. At the time of reporting, five cheques valued at $2.607 million and one valued at $123,485 for the years 2013 and 2014 respectively, were still on hand. The Ministry in responding to the findings of the Audit Office explained that seven cheques were on hand for the

years 2012, 2013 and 2014 and 87 cheques for 2015. The Audit Office has therefore recommended that the Ministry institute measures to ensure full compliance with Section 43 of the FMA Act which requires unexpended balances to be returned and surrendered to the Consolidated Fund at the end of each fiscal year. Meanwhile, the Audit Office has had to raise concerns about the very Ministry’s flouting of other regulations. It was revealed that the Ministry did not adhere fully

to Section 24 of the Stores Regulations 1993 in that the Ministry failed to maintain an updated Master Inventory of all of its assets. In addition, sectional inventories were not properly maintained for all departments and/or sections within the Ministry, since pertinent information such as location, date of acquisition etc., were not reflected therein. As a result, “we were unable to accurately verify the existence of the assets,” the Auditor General has related. The Ministry has, how-

ever, chalked up the latter situation to the fact that it is still in the process of having its Master Inventory updated. It was explained that there is a Master Inventory which is being updated in respect of acquisitions and disposals as they occur. However, based on the findings of the Audit Office, this has been a continual belated process. The Audit Office has therefore urged the Ministry to compile, as soon as possible, the Master Inventory in order to properly account for all assets of the Ministry.

From page 7 three more witnesses before the Chief Magistrate in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. Police Prosecutor Neville Jeffers called Somal Sharma, Network Administrator at Kaieteur News; Police Woman Constable Latasha Johnson, stationed at the East LaPenitence Police Station and June-Ann Gomes of Lot 151 Thomas Street, Kitty, Georgetown to the stand. Janeil Howard, 20, of 322 Section ‘C’ Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara; Alfie Garraway, 36, of Norton Street, Lodge, Georgetown; and Leroy Williams, 25, of 11 Durban Backlands, are accused of conspiring together with other persons to cause an explosion by way of grenade, likely to endanger lives and cause damage to property. Garraway is

currently out on $300,000 High Court bail. The other two accused remain on remand. Howard is unrepresented by an attorney. Alfie Garraway is being represented by Attorneys Stanley Moore and Glenn Hanoman, while Attorney Neil Bollers is defending Williams. On Wednesday, the Chief Magistrate admitted a caution statement (CS) given by Howard in the trial, after the conclusion of a Voir Dire (trial within a trial) into the admissibility of the statement. The Voir Dire was conducted to inquire into the circumstances under which the statement was given to police by the accused. Howard had denied giving detectives part of the statement while in custody at the Ruimveldt Police Station. At a previous court

hearing, Prosecutor Jeffers had called the newspaper security staffers, Omar Bynoe and James Baptiste to testify. Both witnesses testified that they were on duty when what appeared to be a grenade was thrown at a Lexus Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) belonging to Glenn Lall, publisher of Kaieteur News. According to reports, on the day in question, a security staffer heard an unusual sound coming from near Lall’s vehicle PRR 8398, which was parked on the western side of Saffon Street. On checking the front of the vehicle, the staffer spotted a grenade lying near one of the front tyres. Video footage from the company’s CCTV cameras showed a grey-coloured vehicle, slowing as it approached Lall’s vehicle. The driver accelerated after the explosive device was thrown. Shemar Wilson also known as ‘Abdue’ is still wanted by the police for questioning in relation to the grenade attack. He is 20 years of age and his last known addresses have been given as 43 North Sophia and 51 West La Penitence, Georgetown. This PI continues next Wednesday, November 9.

Saturday November 05, 2016

TT Gov’t files first anti-corruption case (Trinidad Express) The Government has filed its first anti-corruption case in the courts. And according to Attorney General Faris AlRawi, the matter involves nine former government officials and public officers from the last administration. Speaking at a postCabinet news conference in St Clair, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley stated the Government on Wednesday had filed proceedings against persons “who have improperly removed public monies for their own benefit through conspiracies”. He said such persons were now to face the courts. “The Government will make the public’s claim in the court and the matters will be adjudicated there, and those against whom the allegations are made will defend themselves there,” Rowley said, not giving any more details. The matter was filed through the Office of the Attorney General. Al-Rawi said the matter was linked “absolutely and completely” to the last administration. He said it had to do with “corruption, mismanagement” and the attempt to ask people to account for what they have done. The Attorney General

Faris Al-Rawi said the matter involved ten months of continuous work in keeping the commitment which the P e o p l e ’s National Movement gave in opposition that those in need of investigation, in respect of allegations of waste, mismanagement and corruption, would be investigated. The Attorney General, however, said he was being careful to observe due process because he wanted t h e m a t t e r t o result in success. “I am not permitted to go into the full particulars of this action, as there are several steps that are being

prosecuted before the courts, which would result in further action moving ahead. “But I can confirm that this is certainly action relative to areas of supervision by the last government,” he said. “We have an obligation to safeguard the public purse and to prosecute action where it is advisable to do that, and we are certainly going to do that with fairness and propriety about the process,” he added. The Attorney General said there were two streams of action— criminal and civil. The Express understands the case includes former Housing Development Corporation officials and the alleged misappropriation involves hundreds of millions of dollars. ‘IS WAR’ The Prime Minister said—responding to statements made by Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar that the triple-zero wage offer was tantamount to a declaration of war on the working class—the Government had not declared war on the working class, but on corruption and those who made a career of conspiring to steal “the people’s money”.

Granger's steady appearance... From page 3 judgments. He said, “The gravest financial problem was the bankruptcy of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO) which owed $89 billion in debts. Your Government was forced to divert money from economic development and social projects to rescue the ailing corporation with an immediate injection of $12 billion. “An additional $11 billion had to be provided the next year, 2016, making a total of $23 billion bailout in 18 months.” The President said that these transfers exclude the servicing of GUYSUCO's debts in respect of the Skeldon Estate Modernisation Project. He deemed the project to be a monstrous and monumental US$200 million mistake and, probably, Guyana's single most costly industrial catastrophe of all time. Additionally, the Head of State pointed out that paddy farmers in the rice industry

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were not spared the previous administration's reckless mismanagement. He said, “The PetroCaribe Fund – used to meet payments to farmers for rice and paddy shipped to Venezuela – contained less than US$1 million in May 2015. Your Government was forced to make available nearly $4 billion immediately so that poor paddy farmers could be paid.” Granger continued, “Your Government inherited a large number of liabilities, including judgments in excess of US$34 million (or G$7 billion) in favour of NH Elias, in respect of the East Bank Demerara Road; judgment for $1.3 billion in favour of Rudisa Beverages; judgment in favour of Trinidad Cement Limited; settlement for$1.4 billion with B.K. Tiwari on Haags Bosch Project and several other judgments that will cost the State over $1 billion.” He noted, too, that the Government was also obliged to provide another $5.4 billion bailout to the National Insur-

ance Scheme as a consequence of the previous administration's irresponsible CLICO investment. In this regard, Nagamootoo said that he supported the President's statements and approach. He said that again, it is necessary for the nation to see how the economy suffered and how the sugar sector was left in huge debt due to the former regime's incompetence, political manipulation, bad governance and mismanagement. He said, “It was necessary to go back and be able to see what the government is currently facing.” Nagamootoo concluded that the president's address must be seen in a sense of what Government inherited as against the impact that will have on its pursuit to deliver the good life for all Guyanese. He stressed, however, that due to the Government's prudent management of the economy and commitment to good governance, that “good life” is already being realized.

Regional countries urged to strengthen AML/ CFT to deal with correspondent banking PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – Caribbean countries have been urged to strengthen their Anti-Money Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/ CFT) legislation as well as their administrative procedures as the region seeks to combat with the issue of correspondent banking and de-risking. Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne, who was here earlier this week attending the one-day 2016 High Level Caribbean Forum that brought together Caribbean Community (CARICOM) prime ministers and finance ministers, told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) that several recommendations had been made to deal with the banking issue at an international conference on the matter held in his country late last month. Browne, who is leading the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) reaction to the correspondent banking problem, said the meeting also urged the regional countries to adopt the recommendations so as to “give some comfort to the correspondent banks so that they could understand that we have the necessary framework in place in order to manage risks”. Correspondent banks, which are mainly large, international banks domiciled in the United States of America, Europe and Canada, provide

Caribbean states with vital access to the international financial system, by offering services to smaller, domestic banks and financial institutions to complete international payments and settlements. However, many banks, which provide correspondent banking services have been seeking to manage their risks by severing ties with institutions in the region. The issue of corresponding banking was a major item at the annual summit of CARICOM leaders in Guyana in July and the meeting is here is as a result of such deliberations. Browne told CMC that the meeting in St. John’s also discussed the contentious labelling of the Caribbean as a tax haven, saying “we have decided that we need to embark on a process of re-branding the region, as a stable region…rather than have the region seen as a tax haven. “Some other very good ideas in terms of utilising technology to manage risks had been proffered at the meeting and adopted and even at the level of the banks at the micro level for them to undertake to have greater dialogue with the regulators and certainly the

corresponding banks in the United States so that they could understand the framework that they have in place to manage risks…” Browne agreed with a statement made late last month by the Governor of the Central Bank of Belize, Joy Grant, that the correspondent bank situation is not a matter that will be solved “any time soon” even as she had acknowledged that there were some “small steps” being taken by the international community to understand the problem facing developing countries. “De-risking is here to stay especially for institutions and countries that do not comply or strengthen the AML/CFT regulations and the administration of those issues as well as ensuring that they adhere to all those transparency requirements. “So it will be here for a long time, however it is important though that banks and certainly the region take steps to mitigate against the risks of derisking,” he said, adding that “I believe that on the basis that we have a good solid framework to deal with the various risks as perceived by the correspondent banks that will help to mitigate against de-risking”.

Way paved for police to commence... From page 17 square foot to Jagdeo's $114 per square foot. Jagdeo himself, according to details of allocations, received two parcels equivalent to two acres. On it, he built an imposing mansion, complete with pool and overlooking the seawall and the Atlantic Ocean. He paid a total of $9.8M. He had owned a property along the Ogle Airport Road in the community that was known as 'Pradoville One'. However, he “sold” that property to Trinidadian advertising executive, Ernie Ross. There is no confirmation whether the former President paid the Capital Gains tax on the profits he made on sale of the mansion or whether the 10-year timeframe had passed in which he could have sold the property. In effect, Jagdeo paid three times less than what ordinary citizens in the Diamond and Grove Housing Schemes, East Bank Demerara, would have been

required to fork out. Other beneficiaries included Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar AliHack, and former Head of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Ramesh Dookoo. The DPP has sweeping powers and holds an independent office. Former Public Service Minister, Dr. Jennifer Westford; former Natural Resources Minister, Robert Persaud; Compton Bourne, former Head of the Caribbean Development Bank and UG Chancellor; Ghansham Singh and Kamini Parag-Singh and Florrie Loretta Ramnauth also received house lots. Singh is said to be the son of former Labour Minister, Dr. Nanda Gopaul. They also paid just over $1.5M. Ali-Hack and her husband, Moeen ul Hack, a top figure in the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG), paid $1,488,744 for a piece of land. The Certificates of Title were prepared in 2011. Dookoo, a Banks DIH ex-

ecutive, was a former Chairman of PSC as well as the Guyana Water Inc. (GWI). He reportedly paid $1,502,500 for his plot with his title prepared in 2010. Former Home Affairs Minister, Clement Rohee; former GWI boss, Shaik Baksh and former Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, also received lots, paying just over $1.5M each. So too did former Army Chief, Rear Admiral Gary Best and sacked Chief Executive Officer of the embattled Guyana Sugar Corporation, Dr. Rajendra Singh. Also named in the list were Andrew Bishop, a Presidential Advisor in the former administration and former Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission. Safraaz Khan and George Hallaq, said to be the country's former Middle East envoy, and a company called Future Developers International Guyana Inc., were also among the other names on the list.

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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 Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezerCall: 610-5846 or 661-8158 Have to get that house clean… but don’t have the time!! Then let us help you… Call: 688-6056/6031206

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 HEALTH Avoid Side Effects, use herbal supplements. Call Hazel’s Herbal Store: 226-9136 Herbal Nectar Treatment for diabetics, hypertension and most internal sickness, sexual enhancers for men. Call: 651-8351

Exist for one male office assistant, having a motorcycle is an asset $20,000 weekly. Call: 220-2878

Customer/sales assistant. Call: 624-0033 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 Three bedrooms bottom flat at 116 Cane View Avenue, South Ruimveldt Gardens. Call: 218-1688/ 625-0392/ 6097826 2 Bedroom furnished Apartment in exclusive residential area, close to Ogle Airport , with modern amenities. Call for appointment 622-5725.

FOR RENT

Eagle’s: Re-gas -$8,000, Washing machine repairs, Gas Stove, Plasma flat Screen & more. Call: 697-2969/646-0966

Cashier (shift work 6am3pm & 3pm-12pm). Submit application to Shell Station Providence EBD, shellramsburg@gmail.com

Pump attendant – Call: 6803863/ 624-0033

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

Saturday November 05, 2016

Kaieteur News

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 3 Bedrooms bottom house @ Sophia - $85,000 neg. On/off road parking, CCTV, fully grilled & tiled. Call Mr. Gomes: 693-2237/ 219-0211 Suitable space for taxi based in central Georgetown. Please call: 624-6783

1-Cook. Call: 624-0033 Cook/baker for the Interior location, applicants must be experienced. Call: 618-2020 Driver/Salesman to sell bakery products preferably from West Coast/West Bank area. Call: 254-1399/627-2515 Porters/Bond staff (must be able read & write), driver salesman. Call:617-1809 One salesman to work in parts store contact 2235273/4 Once cashier contact 2235273/4

LAND FOR SALE Uitvlugt-$2.5M, Zeelugt $1.6M, La Parfaite Harmonie -$1.4M, $1.2M, all prices negotiable. Call: 642-1252 Large houselot (fenced) bearing fruit trees, near GuyAmerica ,Zeeburg W.C.D, price negotiable. Call: 277-0024/659-1206 Land @ La Parfaite Harmonie: $1.4M, $1M, $1.6M, Zeelugt $1.5M, Tuschen School Street $2M (terms available). Call: 6046724

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 2 Storey concrete house @ 55 Section B, Non Pariel (first street from main road)- $14M negotiable. Call: 657-8561 immediately. 1244 Block ‘Y’ Grove, EBD, house 45X26, $15M negotiable, owner migrating. Call: 660-1353 Property @ Lot 172 Zohora Street, Market Street Better Hope, East Coast Demerara. Call: 220-1583/667-6066 Property with extra large land well built with 2 storey house @ Back Street BetterHope, E.C.D Won’t last. Call: 2201583/667-6066 One flat 3 bedrooms house in highly residential area, land size 150’X50’, price negotiable. Call Kim: 6963624 (no agent) 2 Storey house for sale 25X48, new kitchen, bath, wiring, 2 apartments downstairs -$60,000 income$27M negotiable. Call: 6786811/917-929-2528 Property @ School St. Zeelugt, brand new, fenced, land: 60’X120’ -$8.5M, owner migrating, must sell! No reasonablerefused! Call:684-4759 One flat three bedrooms house lot 529 East Ruimveldt Housing Scheme, price negotiable. Call Marvin: 6425652/ 231-1253 2 Storey house, 4 bedrooms, all amenities, 2 lots near GuyAmerica ,Zeeburg W.C.D, price negotiable. Call: 277-0024/659-1206

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 One Truck, excellent working condition, worked for one year, Model M. Call Lawerence: 615-7506 1 RD5 Honda CRV, immaculate condition, TV, reverse camera, CD, mags, alarm, etc, price -$2.850M. Call: 626-2884 One AE81 Corolla in very good condition. Call: 6895254/ 643-0332

WANTED 1 Male or female shop assistant to work in the Interior, salary depends on experienced. Call: 678-0565 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) Straight Stitch & over edge machine operators, porters. Call: 222-2541 8:00am-4:00pm Mon-Fri One experienced Driver apply @ Hack’s Halaal with Handwritten application, 5 Commerce Street. Male workers between 2035yrs to work at Ice factory on Meadowbank Wharf. Call: 231-1408/ 6429191 8am-2pm

1 Landcruiser Prado, excellent condition. Call: 625-4196 or 656-0565

One live in domestic or couple to work in Mahaicony River. Call: 6446905

1 New & unregistered Toyota Allion $2.4M, 1 Allion PVV series $2.150M & 1 Premio PNN series $1.7M negotiable. Call: 649-0956

Experienced attractive waitress 18-25yrs preferably from E.C.D (shift), one supervisor. Call: 610-3974

Oswin J’s Auto Imports: New Arrivals: Premio, Allion, Fielder, Axio, Rush, X-Trail. Free full coverage insurance. Call: 609-2815 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 Toyota 110 Sprinter for sale $650,000 negotiable, PKK series. Call: 684-5402

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. 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 Female worker wanted sound secondary education, computer literateTel: 622-5518 Dishwashers, apply at Shanta’s, 225 Camp Street. Bodywork men. Call: 660-3004

CAR RENTAL PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS& SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 643-5122, 6560087 , EMAIL: PRO_ AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO. COM WING’S CAR & PICKUP RENTAL: LOW DOWN PAYMENT, CHEAP REATES, SPECIALOFFER. CALL: 690-6494

CAR RENTAL

Domestic Help. Call: 673-3768

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

One general domestic, Must know to cook & 1 babysitter. Apply @ R Sookraj & Sons 108 Regent Street (opposite GBTI)

AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL: 4WD PICKUP,. CHEAPEST RATE & SPECIAL RATE FOR LONG TERM. CALL: 698-7807 Aidan’s Car Rental: 9 and 11 seater bus in private, Ideal for airport runs and family outings. Call: 698-7807

EDUCATIONAL IAE – CXC Jan/June 2017 – full time school; lessons/ classes for students, adults, repeaters & beginners. Call Mr. Roberts: 683-5742 CXC Classes: day & evening classes, personal tutor, Grade 4 to 6, Form 1-5 Maths. Call Sir Jarvis: 690-5008/ 693-4588/ 638-2359

Canter Drivers & Porters $30,000 weekly to work water truck on the W.C.D. Call: 684-8231 Cleaner to work in Tuschen Scheme-$14,000 weekly. Call: 629-4236 Continued on page 23

Saturday November 05, 2016

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Kaieteur News

WOMEN POWER- Moblissa women’s group on the move Economic advancement remains the focus for the women living in the small but cohesive village of Moblissa, located on the Soesdyke/ Linden Highway, and some 10 minutes away from the mining town of Linden. This was emphasised when Vice President and Minister of Indigenous Peoples Affairs, Sydney Allicock, and team visited the village last weekend and donated sewing equipment, including a singer sewing machine and fabric. Carmelita Rutherford described the donation as enormous since the women there will now be better able to put their sewing skills into practice thus putting money in their pockets. Rutherford explained that every effort is being made to ensure the sewing group becomes an economically viable establishment since taking into consideration the group’s ability to overcome challenges. She explained that a bale of cloth which was donated a few years ago had brought with it the hope of expanding, since out of that bale of cloth the women were able to produce and market tablecloths, hand towels and pillow cases among other handiwork. However, she explained

that when they were out of sewing material they were almost back to where they began. An adamant yet unfazed Rutherford reminded that fortitude overcomes all challenges including the fact that they have to take on dual roles owing to the absence of the men folk from the village. The men are seeking employment opportunities elsewhere. She said, “The contribution that we receive is a big help because in Moblissa we don’t really have people with jobs. So if we can sew school shirts for the children and give them at a lower price than Linden it will be a real relief to the parents.” Rutherford further explained that plans are also in train to assist the elderly, since “some of them are blind; they can’t move around so we talked among ourselves in the group that once we get these things sold we can give them a hamper to just make their holidays a little more nice.” Coleen Williams, another group member, believes the donation will result in progress since “we get we own material, we own machine, we own thread so we don’t have to go out to Linden and buy these things. We will try and make (school)

Prisoner escapes from Suddie Hospital The police were busy yesterday morning hunting for an escaped prisoner who made a daring get away early Friday morning from his hospital bed, at Suddie. It is believed that the man who escaped from police custody was under police guard. However at the time he had escaped, it is still unclear whether he was in handcuffs. Speaking to several patients who were in the male ward at the Suddie Public hos-

pital, they claimed that they were asleep when the hospitalised prisoner escaped. Even the guard who is securing the front gate at the Suddie Public hospital said he was unable to recognize a patient from the average visitors. The escaped prisoner is believed to have beaten his wife. The man hails from Queenstown Village, Essequibo Coast.

uniforms for our children and so on.” Annie Dey, a seamstress for some time, now believes working together will yield positive results for the group and by extension the village economy. “We will go there and search for market and see if we get our produce sell. We will continue investing and investing,” Dey assured. Vice President Sydney Allicock made good on a promise to the thriving Women’s Group there after they had highlighted some challenges faced in acquiring materials and other much needed equipment. The Minister commended members of the group who assembled at the Moblissa Health Centre to receive items for the group for their passion demonstrated and added that this passion is very encouraging to his Ministry. The Minister also reminded that the current Government is working assiduously to ensure there is economic development within communities. It is trying to enable the women folk. “We have a desire for economic drive within communities and also for the importance of women in development and women in leadership roles. We have decided to

start to give support to you the women here in this community. I’m happy to say that we have been able to meet some of the requests you have made; we have been able to provide more than eighty percent of that request for the women’s group. We have a sewing machine for you, cloth, thread, needles, scissors among others,” the Minister said. “I would like to hand this over to you as a beginning to your greater dreams and I am happy that you can come here which means that you are really serious and that’s what we are looking for. We are looking to allow you to become highly professional in what you do. Since you have shown the interest, the Ministry and the Government would support,” said the Indigenous Affairs Minister. Stressing the need to ensure there is accountability; Minister Allicock said “it is the delivery of service to your community to your people and the upliftment of your skills individually. This is not only for this community but for all of the communities across Guyana.” Speaking on the recent revelations in the Auditor General’s 2015 report, the Vice President said, “It has been a matter of concern for a very

long time, and we are doing all we can to make the correction so that we can have proper recording of the spending tax payer’s money and the spending of monies coming into our coffers, because if we do not account or cannot account for such matters, then our businesses could be in jeopardy. So for us, we need first of all from the Ministry, to correct whatever issues there may be in the area of accounting.” The Minister proposed additional training for staff which he said, will ensure the success of this process which will ensure the Ministry moving forward unhindered. According to the Vice President, the United Nations Development Programme UNDP has indicated its willingness to support such an undertaking while further revealing that “Mr. Anand Goolsarran who is a wellknown figure and who they feel very strongly could give us that guidance and training to correct our weaknesses.” Goolsarran will be contracted until January and Minister Allicock is optimistic that his stint at the Ministry will yield resounding success.

From page 22

FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. Organic Potting Soil -$900, Lawn Grass -$1,400, Ficus 4 @$1,000, Exora 4 @ $1,000, also Palms & Flowers. Call: 626-1044 Cargo Trawler. Call: 6828724; 616-5954 Spare for washing machine, microwaves,fridges, stoves, timers, gearbox, motors, etc. Call:225-9032;647-2943;6045198 Dredge mining operation: excavator, dredge, camp, truck, ATV bike, welding set with gas bottle. Call: 676-7943 One (1) RZ bus, WTI engine. Call Lawrence : 615-7506 2 Storey house, 3 bedrooms, 2 baths @ 87 Daisy Street, South Ruimveldt Park -$18M. Call: 232-3244/ 697-5018 1-5HP Yamaha Engine, like new. Call: 670-3912 17 Inch Acer computer monitors -$12,000 (used, like new). Call: 624-7155 Mitsubishi Galant 1996 Model. Body in good condition. Sold as parts. Price negotiable. Tel: 216 1079 /616 8027 Refurbished Appliances: washer & dryer -$25,000, 2 door fridge $60,000, treadmill -$45,000, heavy duty washer$60,000. Call: 684-2119

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

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Kaieteur News

Saturday November 05, 2016

‘Opposition Day’ pushed back to next sitting of the National Assembly By Kiana Wilburg The political opposition was disappointed, to say the least, when it learnt yesterday that it would not be able to raise those matters it felt were of national importance. This opportunity was pushed back to the next sitting of the House. The move was made by the National Assembly to facilitate a debate on President David Granger’s most recent address to the Parliament. The Opposition noted that parliamentary democracy is grounded on the principle of the separation of powers between the legislature and the executive. It stressed that the role of a parliamentary opposition to hold the government accountable and to have their day in the legislature is a fundamental premise guarded in democratic parliaments. It noted that in the 17 months and 44 sittings of the 11th Parliament of Guyana, it has been able to have only four Private Members’ Days or what is more popularly known as “Opposition’s Day.” The PPP said that these days were December 12, 2015; January 14, 2016, May 14, 2016 and August 4, 2016. The PPP said that in accordance with the Standing Orders, at every fourth sitting of the National Assembly, Private Members’ Business takes precedence. It said that Constitutional provisions also provide for the manner in which the calculation of sittings is done.

Therefore, yesterday’s sitting was in its calculation, a Private Members’ Day. The PPP said that the Order Paper circulated on the night of the October 27, last gave such precedence to the Parliamentary Opposition Business. It emphasized that there was no Government Business on the Order Paper. The Opposition continued, “To our surprise, the Parliament Office circulated a Supplementary Order Paper on the night of November 1, last, which included a motion on President Granger’s most recent address to the National Assembly with a suspension motion approved by the Speaker of the House, Dr. Barton Scotland to allow it to be debated at the November 4 sitting.” The PPP said that the Government Chief Whip, Amna Ally, subsequently declared that it was a government day and not a Private Members’ Day. “If the latter is so which we dispute vigorously based on the Standing Orders and the Constitution, the Government should be ashamed to have one item alone which required a suspension motion as it did not have the required six days notice.” One again, the PPP/C Parliamentarians are of the firm view that they are being subjected to the constant battle to have its right to a Private Members Day upheld. The opposition reminded that the matters it desired to raise yesterday included the report on the Commission of

Inquiry into the Public Service and two controversial projects; namely the Durban Park Development Jubilee Project and the Parking Meter venture. A motion on the Public Service COI report was supposed to be raised by Opposition Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira. According to her motion, the Commission of Inquiry into the Public Service was appointed by President David Granger on August 17, 2015. It was expected to examine, advice, and report on the salaries, conditions of service, training and other matters pertaining to the improvement of the efficiencies of the performance of the public service and the wellbeing of the public servants. Teixeira in her motion notes that the report on the Commission of Inquiry into the Public Service was tabled in the National Assembly on May 24, last. Teixeira wants this report to be placed on the Order Paper for a Sitting of the House before the next recess so that its contents can be debated and recommendations made. As regards the motion on the contentious Parking Meter Project, this was supposed to be moved by Opposition Member, Irfaan Ali. In his motion, Ali notes that the Georgetown Mayor and City Council, represented by the Mayor and Town Clerk, have entered into a contractual arrangement with a company (Smart

City Solutions) for the installation of Parking Meters in Georgetown. He noted, however, that the Mayor and City Council has held no public consultations with national stakeholders or the citizens of the city. As such, the Parliamentarian states, “the citizens of Georgetown and those who drive into, and, must traverse through the Capital to reach other areas of the country, have appealed to the Mayor and City Council to abandon this parking meter project because of the financial hardships it will inflict upon the people.” He goes on to state that the Government of Guyana, through the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Communities and the Ministry of Legal Affairs, has reviewed the parking meter contract and found that the contract may have violated tender procedures; that the contract is too much in favour of the

parking meter party and that the cost is burdensome. Ali said that the Mayor and some councillors, in the face of the public opposition, have been adamant that the project will proceed. He also noted in his motion that the company contracted to implement the project has been proceeding, full steam ahead with its implementation plan, with aggressive promotion, importation of equipment and the hiring of staff. The Opposition member is of the firm belief that there are many legal hurdles and protocols to address, including the yet unresolved critical issue of whether the Mayor and City Council has authority over public roads such as Regent Street, Water Street and Avenue of the Republic. He said, too, that there are other legal issues involved with granting policing authority to a private company. Given the aforemen-

tioned, Ali wants the National Assembly to call on the Auditor General of Guyana, Deodat Sharma, to immediately conduct a forensic audit into the Georgetown Municipal Council, including the Parking Meter Contract. As for the Durban Park Development Jubilee Project, this was to be taken before the House by PPP Executive Member, Juan Edghill. In his motion, Edghill says that no public disclosure or consultations were held with the citizens or national stakeholders. The Parliamentarian said that architectural designs and overall projected costs for its construction and completion were not made public. In the interest of public accountability, transparency and good governance, Edghill wants the House to call upon the Government to make full disclosure on several fronts.

Alpha and Omega becomes Subrecipients to the Global Fund HIV Grant -to focus on HIV prevention messages and services to key population

Security firm under probe for misusing licensed guns -police official A security form is under scrutiny for the alleged misuse of its licensed firearms, and police are also keeping a close eye on another firm for similar misuse. This was disclosed yesterday by a senior police official, in response to recent suggestions by President David Granger that some individuals are renting their guns to criminals. Asked if there were statistics on hiring out of firearms, the official said: “There is one security service in particular that is in breach of the licence that have been granted, and is being examined. A man was granted licenses and breached the conditions, using the service for purposes other than what it was licensed for. “In one other case, another (firm) is being looked at,” the official added, while declining to give specific details. According to the senior rank, “It is true that the laws

have to be tightened up, and it has to begin with acceptance of dual responsibility. Persons in authority who grant licences must ensure that people who receive merit, and persons who have benefitted from the granting of licenses, comply with conditions granted.” In his Thursday edition of the programme, “Public Interest,” President Granger stated that steps were being taken to make it harder for individuals to have access to legal and unlicensed firearms. “The Minister of Public Security and I are reducing the frequency or the ease or controlling the ease with which some people can get weapons.” “We would like to see fewer weapons in the hands of private citizens. It is my personal view that weapons should be used by law enforcement agencies- the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Defence Force,” According to President Granger, he had been advised that there have been in-

stances in which licensed firearm holders ‘rent’ their guns to bandits in exchange for some of the proceeds of the crime. The Guyanese leader said he has been advised that there have been instances in which licensed firearm holders ‘rent’ their guns to bandits in exchange for some of the proceeds of crime. “Once your weapon is used in any illegality it will be seized and you might find it very, very difficult to get another licence.” The President also said that wardens, with law enforcement powers, would be deployed in certain interior areas to track persons with illegal firearms and “bring those people to justice.” Granger’s remarks have aroused consternation in some sections of the business community. Some have said that being without a licensed firearm makes them vulnerable to armed criminals, particularly in the wake of an apparent upsurge in violent robberies.

(from left to right) Chairperson for the Country Coordinating Mechanism of Guyana, Nicolette Henry, looks on as Permanent Secretary (ag) Ministry of Public Health Trevor Thomas and an Alpha & Omega Representative sign MOU. The Ministry of Public Health signed a Memuradum Of Understanding (MOU) with Alpha and Omega, which is a Non Governmental Organisation. The MOU will recognise Alpha and Omega as Sub-recipients to the Global Fund HIV Grant. The signing took place at the Department of Culture, Youth and Sport on Main Street,Thursday. The building also houses the Secretariat for the Global Fund Country Coordinating Mechanism of Guyana. Minister within the Minister of Education, Nicolette Henry currently sits as the chairperson for the Country Coordinating Mechanism of

Guyana. The Minister said that the $28 million made available to the organization, is to aid them in providing support to persons infected or affected with HIV. Henry noted that they are three programmes that the Global Fund provides support to; these are Malaria, TB and HIV. The organization, Henry added, will focus their interventions on Men who have Sex with Men (MSM), Commercial Sex Workers (male and female) and the Transgender population in the coastland regions namely Regions Two, Three, Five, Six and Ten. The interventions are

within the ambit of the three main areas for addressing prevention methods among the key populations specifically the female Commercial Sex Workers and MSM. President of Alpha and Omega, Dr. Karen Gordon Boyle, said the aim is to reduce the prevalance of HIV among the key population, Dr. Boyle added that these groups have been targeted because they have been disproportionately affected by HIV, when compared to the general population. The NGO president explained that focus will be on getting HIV prevention messages and services to these vunerable groups.

Saturday November 05, 2016

Kaieteur News

Barbados to review strategy of taxing sugary soft drinks BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) – The Barbados government is to review its strategy of imposing a 10 per cent tax on sugary drinks because the policy has not met the desired effect of preventing Barbadians from curbing their love for these beverages. Health Minister John Boyce speaking at a health fair at a secondary school here, said reviewing thetaxisamongtheconcernshealth officials have regarding young people. “”We are assessing the success of that programme, but even from here we can see that it has not necessarily had the impact that we would have hoped and that there is still that wanton consumption of sugary beverages, something we need to discourage. “We have been taxing for instance in Barbados alcohol for a long time in the hope that it would discourage the wanton consumption. But even with the taxes, I think it is safe to say that that has not necessarily reap the results.

“As a matter of fact I can mention now there is concern in health circles about excessive alcohol consumption especially among our young people,” Boyce told the ceremony, noting the authorities here were also concerned about the overweight problem of young people and obesity in general. Quoting figures from a 2012 Global School Health Survey undertaking in Barbados that showed the prevalence of overweight students at 31.5 per cent, while 14.5 per cent of the school children questioned at the 26 schools

were obese. Boyce said that since the survey findings the situation has not changed significantly and a sa result health officials have adopted a new strategy aimed at reaching young people. “As health care practitioners we recognise the need to reach adolescents and young adults through these new avenues including social media and other information technology platforms,” Boyce said, adding that efforts are also being made to reach young people at popular venues such as malls.

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Saturday November 05, 2016

Saturday November 05, 2016

Kaieteur News

Iraqi forces push deeper into eastern Mosul

Iraqi soldiers celebrate at the front line in the Shahrazad district of eastern Mosul, Iraq yesterday. (REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra) (Reuters) - Iraqi special forces said they recaptured six districts of eastern Mosul yesterday, expanding the army’s foothold in the Islamic State bastion a day after its leader told his jihadist followers there could be no retreat. An officer in the elite Counter Terrorism Service (CTS), which has spearheaded the Mosul offensive, said troops had launched a major operation against the militants who are now almost surrounded in their last major urban redoubt in Iraq. CTS special forces took over Malayeen, Samah, Khadra, Karkukli, Quds and Karama districts, the army said. “This is something very big - it means large parts of the left bank have been liberated,” CTS commander Lieutenant-General Talib Shaghati said, referring to the half of Mosul which lies on the east bank of the Tigris. However, a resident of one district which the army declared recaptured told Reuters after the announcement that clashes continued. “It’s true urban warfare,” he said by telephone. “My children haven’t slept for two days... Bullets and shells are coming from everywhere.” In the neighborhood of Intisar, still fiercely contested by the army and jihadists, a Reuters correspondent heard heavy gunfire and explosions. Black smoke rose from an area nearby and damaged buildings showed signs of combat. The territory taken by the government still amounts to just a fraction of the sprawling city, which is divided into dozens of residential and in-

dustrial districts and was home to 2 million people before it was captured by Islamic State in 2014. The battle to drive the fighters out is the biggest ground operation in Iraq since the U.S. invasion in 2003, and is likely to decide the fate of the self-proclaimed Islamic State caliphate that has defied the world for two years. The advances took the troops 1 mile (1 1/2 km) inside the city. Districts captured so far, however, are less built-up than other areas, particularly those on the west bank of the Tigris, where the population is more exclusively Sunni Muslim Arab and the hardline Sunni Islamists could be more deeply embedded. Iraqi officers and those from a U.S.-led coalition providing air and ground support to the offensive say progress has been faster than expected but stress that the operation is still in its early stages. SPECIAL FORCES Iraqi regular troops and special forces, Shi’ite militias, Kurdish peshmerga fighters and other groups backed by U.S.-led air strikes launched their campaign to retake Mosul nearly three weeks ago. Winning back the city would crush the Iraqi half of a cross-border caliphate declared by Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi from a Mosul mosque two years ago. Islamic State also holds large parts of neighboring Syria, but Mosul is by far the largest city under control of the ultra-hardline militants in either country, many times bigger than any other city the

militants have held. In a speech released on Thursday Baghdadi said there could be no retreat in a “total war” against the forces arrayed against Islamic State, telling fighters they must remain loyal to their commanders. Baghdadi’s whereabouts are unknown. British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said intelligence suggested he had “vacated the scene”, and a Kurdish intelligence source said he was believed to be in the region of Baaj, about 130 km (80 miles) west of Mosul. Mosul is still home to nearly 1.5 million people, who risk being caught up in brutal urban warfare. The United Nations has warned of a potential humanitarian crisis and a refugee exodus. Iraqi officials say Islamic State is holding the civilian population as human shields. U.N. human rights spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said on Friday Islamic State fighters had killed hundreds of people, including 50 deserters and 180 former Iraqi government employees, around Mosul. They have also transported 1,600 people from the town of Hammam al-Alil, south of Mosul, to Tal Afar to the west, possibly for use as human shields against air strikes, and told residents to hand over boys above the age of nine, in an apparent recruitment drive for child soldiers. The number of people displaced since the start of the Mosul campaign jumped to 30,000 as 8,000 people fled the fighting in the last 24 hours, the United Nations refugee agency UNHCR said.

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Saturday November 05, 2016

Saturday November 05, 2016

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Kaieteur News

Quarterback Ryan shines as Falcons thump Buccaneers 43-28 (The Sports Xchange) Matt Ryan threw for 344 yards and four touchdowns, leading the Atlanta Falcons to an easy 43-28 road win

over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Florida on Thursday. Atlanta (6-3) trailed 14-13 in the second quarter, but led at the half and pulled away in

the third quarter, when Ryan was near-perfect, going 11for-12 for 146 yards, with touchdown passes to fullback Patrick DiMarco and re-

Soldiers triumphantly march to... (From page 27) raced to 10.24 seconds in the 100m to beat Soldiers, Akeem Stewart (10.38s) and Rupert Perry (10.39s) respectively. Moore won the female 100m race in 11.83 seconds with Soldiers, Aniqua Powley placing second in 11.92s and Nikita Joseph (12.41s) third. Moore then returned to win the 200m comfortably in 24.51 seconds ahead of GDF’s Natrena Hooper (25.12s) and Joseph (25.60s). George also won the 200m in a quick 20.67 seconds ahead of Stewart (21.26s) and teammate, Linton Mentis (21.58s) respectively. Perry, who had the fastest qualifying time

entering the final with 21.00, false started and was booted from the race. Guyana’s 400m record holder, George then completed his favourite event in 46.91 seconds that left his nearest rival, Jason Yaw (48.17s) some distance behind. Winston Dummette was third in 48.52 seconds. Moore also won the 400m comfortably in 56.60 seconds with Collia Row second in 57.70 and team-mate, Jevina Sampson (58.00s) third. Sampson had also won the Women’s 1500m in 5:08.40 with Soldiers, Ashanti Scott (5:12.60) and Cassie Kirton

(5:14.00) second and third in that order. Ornesto Thomas completed a middle distance double with a win in the 1500m with 4:18.44 and Odwin Tudor (4:19.05) and Cleveland Forde (4:19.33) for a GDF sweep. Thomas won the 800m and Forde the 5000m earlier in the week. Soldier, Domon Williams wrapped up a rare field events treble with 1.95m in the High Jump. Police’s Clarence Greene (1.86m) and GDF’s Carlos Haynes (1.80m) was second and third in the event. Williams also won the long and triple jump events.

ceiver Julio Jones. The Buccaneers (3-5), who gave up 626 yards of total offense in a loss to the Raiders last Sunday, gave up 461 to the Falcons as they continue to struggle, especially against the passing game. Ryan came in leading the NFL in touchdown passes

(19) and passing yards (2,636) and exceeded his averages on both to help the Falcons avenge an opening-week home loss to the Bucs. Julio Jones had eight catches for 111 yards and his fifth touchdown of the season. The Bucs got three touchdown passes from Jameis Winston, but the Bucs

couldn’t stop the Falcons, who didn’t punt while scoring five touchdowns and three field goals. Winston left the game after injuring his right knee on a two-point conversion in the fourth quarter — the first time in his two-year NFL career he has missed a snap, with backup Mike Glennon filling in.

Dundas clan set-up win Secondary... (From page 27) Dedinauth Persaud cracked 132 and Wazim Inshan struck 117 as they punished all the Fort Wellington bowlers. Persaud’s knock was decorated with 15 fours and 4 huge sixes while Inshan’s innings included 12 boundaries. Fort Wellington was restricted to just 55 runs in their turn at the crease. National under 15 player and captain of Number Eight Secondary,

Nigel Deodat bagged 5/13 in 5 overs. Meanwhile, at Enterprise ground, LBI trounced Anne’s Grove Secondary after they dismissed Anne’ Grove for a paltry 38 off 9.2 overs. Bowling for LBI, Denman DeAbreu had 3/3, Asif Mohamed claimed 3/7, Bharat Deoran took 2/11 and Rakesh Persaud had 2/17. LBI needed just 3.5 overs to knock off their target for the

loss of one wicket. Reaz Mohamed and Brian Jagmohan both finished on 11 not out. Shaquille Meredith took the only wicket to fall for LBI. The NSSCL will continue on Monday 7thNovember, 2016 with Novar Secondary playing Mahaicony Secondary at Fairfield ground while Hope Secondary will battle President College at Enterprise ground.

Regal, Floodlight, Speed Boat, Wellman... Saturday November 05, 2016 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Self-deception is likely. Any financial limitations will probably have to be dealt with on your own. Do not force your opinions on others the connections will be short lived.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Resistance leading to conflict will only make it twice as hard to turn the situation around. You will drive your emotional partner crazy today.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) You are in a high cycle where travel, education, and creative endeavors are concerned. Be careful how you handle friends and relatives, they may take things the wrong way.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) You can make favorable changes in your home environment. This will not be the best day to make changes or renovations to your residence. Plans to make physical improvements may lead to psychological changes, too.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Consider selling your homemade crafts at the flea market. You must be careful not to reveal secrets or get involved in gossip. You need to start planning that vacation.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) You need an outlet. Weigh the pros and cons and make a decision that will change the conditions you've been living under. Taking on too much won't help the situation.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Inharmonious situations at home may be extremely upsetting for you today. New interests are preoccupying your time.

CAPRI (Dec.22–Jan.19) Friends and relatives may be hard to take today. Don't get involved in other people's problems. Passion is about the best way for you to relieve tension.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) You are ahead of your time, and trying to stay in one spot could be asking too much. Changes in your domestic scene are evident. Partnerships will be favorable and contracts can be signed.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) You like to stay busy and now is your chance to do just that. Fitness or weight loss programs will help your self esteem.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) . Difficulties with older females in your family may turn out to be quite trivial after all. You can enjoy doing things that include children.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You need a job with more responsibility and a higher wage. Your ideas may be a little ahead of their time; don't push them, instead just continue working on development.

(From page 30) Regal defeated Tristate by 10 wickets. Tristate made 131-6, batting first. Latchman Yadram got 28; Raymond Harper had 2-10. Rudolph Baker then struck 108 and Eon Abel made 21 as Regal responded with 136 in 8.3 overs. Regal beat Parika Defenders by six wickets. Defenders scored 178-5, taking first knock. Oswald Chandla hit 63 while Ramesh Rambharose made 56; David Harper had 2-24. Regal scored 183-4 in 18.4 overs in reply. Eric Thomas slammed 80, while Mahase Chunilall and Fazleem Mohamed made 37 each. F. Baksh took two wickets. Albion beat Ontario by 90 runs. Albion took first strike and managed 206-8. John Sumair made 48, Imtiaz Harilall 38, H. Hussain 32 and V. Moonsammy 30. M. Nazir had 3-49 and S. Persaud 2-35. Ontario were limited to 116-6 in response. I. Gafoor got 24 and T. Mathura 18; I. Harilall grabbed 7-22. Savage got the better of Florida Guyana Hope by seven wickets. Florida scored 163-6, batting first. Ramroop Ramlakhan made 57, Kaiume Mohamed 52; V. Ramsaywak and Rudy Rodrigues picked up two wickets each. Savage replied with 169-3 in 13 overs. Rodrigues made 79 and Bhim Singh 34. Savage lost to Floodlight by six wickets. Savage made 175-5, taking first knock. Rodrigues hit 69 and Raymond Bisraj 34. Floodlight scored 177-4 in 17 overs in response. Ramesh Narine

struck 76 not out and Richard Persaud made 26. Florida Guyana Hope conceded defeat against Parika Defenders. Florida GH made 171 all out in 19.3 overs. Kaiume Mohamed slammed

107; Ramesh Rambharose had 4-15. Parika Defenders were 143-3 in 14 overs when the game was halted. Action continues today and tomorrow at several venues around the city.

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GTT National Indoor Hockey Championships

Old Fort hold off GCC Bounty in exciting duel -Pizza Hut GCC and Vintage register wins Woodpecker Hikers Latoya Fordyce (backing camera) and GCC Spartans Shebeki Baptiste battle for possession of the ball during their clash on Thursday.

Saturday November 05, 2016

Djokovic defeat opens door for Murray to claim top spot (Reuters) Novak Djokovic crashed out of the Paris Masters in straight sets to Marin Cilic yesterday, opening the door for Andy Murray to snatch the world number one ranking and end t h e S e r b ’s t w o - y e a r stranglehold at the top. Djokovic, who was chasing a fifth title in Paris, was beaten 6-4, 7-6 (2), his first defeat to the big-serving Croat in 15 matches. And Britain’s Andy Murray is one win from

becoming world number one following Novak Djokovic’s surprise defeat by Marin Cilic at the Paris Masters. Second seed Murray beat Czech Tomas Berdych 7-6 (11-9) 7-5 and will play Canadian Milos Raonic in today’s semi-final. Victory would see the Scot top the rankings for the first time. Djokovic, who needed to reach the final to guarantee keeping Murray at bay,

saved two match points at 65 in the second set, the latter with a superb forehand cross court, but was soon facing a losing battle in the tiebreak. Cilic, who clinched his spot in the World Tour Finals on Thursday, raced into a 5-2 lead before a huge serve set up four more match points. He was soon celebrating after swiping away a midcourt forehand to claim victory in one hour 45 minutes.

Navin Persaud’s all-round work spurs GOCC of England to victory Despite Garbaran’s 62 for Everest Masters Saving the best for last, Old Fort Ravers and GCC Bounty treated the fans that assembled at the National Gymnasium on Thursday evening for Day 4 of the GTT National Indoor Hockey Championships to a scintillating display of skills and determination that had everyone on the edge of their seats. In the end it took a 39th minute field goal from Stefon Sprosta to determine the outcome of the hotly contested showdown. GCC Bounty took the lead after two minutes through Eric Hing, who fired in a penalty corner, before Old Fort’s Jason De Santos responded two minutes later via a similar route. Playing with pace and a level of seriousness that has been the Achilles heel of their side in recent times, Old Fort’s talisman Aderemi Simon then gave them the lead for the first time in the game when he slammed in a penalty corner in the 16th minute. One minute later, Jael

Gaskin stretched their advantage with a beautiful finish from close range for a 3-1 advantage. However, GCC Bounty were in no mood to concede defeat without a fight and staged a heroic comeback with a brace from Kevin Spencer in the 26th and 36th minutes to level the proceedings. As the clock ticked away, Sprosta sealed the deal one minute from full time to evoke celebrations from teammates and supporters. Earlier, the Second Division teams kicked things off and GCC Pitbulls clashed with Saints and the latter came away with a 3-1 triumph. S a m u e l Wo o d r o f f e opened for the Pitbulls in the fourth minute, before Robert Fernandes responded two minutes later to tie the scores. Back to back goals from Trevon Smith in the 17th and 19th minutes proved enough for Saints to earn victory. The ladies took to the floor in the second match and

Pizza Hut’s GCC provided more credence of their superiority over the other teams with an 8-1 thumping of Old Fort Lady Bugs. At the half, GCC led the Lady Bugs 4-0 and continued their onslaught in the second period as well to earn a comfortable win. Sonia Jardine and Kerensa Fernandes fired in a pair each, while Aliyah Gordon, Marzana Fiedtkou, Rebecca Xavier and Trisha Woodroffe completed their tally with a goal apiece. In the third match of the evening Second Division teams, Saints beat Phoenix 6-0 thanks to a double from Yo n n i c k P e t e r s a n d Paramanand Dindial, while Ato Greene and Joel Hunte netted a goal each. GCC Spartans took on Woodpecker Hikers and this game too provided the fans with lots of excitement, before it fittingly finished in a 2-2 draw. Tekeisha De Leon and Latacia Chung scored for Woodpecker Hikers, while Dominique De Groot lashed in both goals for the Spartans. In the Veterans game that followed between Antonio’s Hickers and GCC Vintage, the latter won 6-0 with Devon Hooper, Dwayne Scott and Patrick Edghill each firing in a double. The tournament was set to continue last evening with semi-finals and finals scheduled to be played today and tomorrow at the same venue.

Navin Persaud on the go at Everest yesterday in his match winning 83 & 4-21. (Sean Devers photo) By Sean Devers Navin Persaud’s stroked an attacking 83 with six fours and four sixes before returning to take 4-21 to spur Guyana Overseas Cricket Club (GOCC) from England to a 25-run win over host Everest Masters yesterday at Camp Road in the second game of their tour to Guyana. Persaud’s knock was supported by a courageous unbeaten 44 with six boundaries by former National Keeper Sheik Mohamed who retired hurt on 23 after feeling unwell. The pair set the England based club to 188-6 off their allotted 30 overs in scorching heat as Ramesh Singh (2-6) and former Guyana batsman Rohan Sarjoo took 2-4 with his offspin. Everest Masters lost

Sarjoo (11), Basil Persaud (13), Deo Ramdeo (14) and Shaid Mohamed (11) but Hemraj soldiered on before he was ninth out for a delightful run-a-ball 62 decorated with 10 fours to give hope to the large contingent of Everest fans until Persaud, in fading light, trapped the stylish righthander LBW with victory 29 runs away. Hemraj played in positive fashion from the word go; rocking back to slap opening bowler Roop Sharma to the cover boundary before pulling him disdainfully behind square for back-to-back boundaries. In a festive atmosphere with pulsating music booming from the Sound system, Hemraj smashed new ball bowler Isaac Chung for consecutive boundaries. However, after

Mohamed, who played for the Cayman Islands in the Stanford t20 tournament in Antigua, departed, too much was left on the shoulders of Hemraj and he succumbed with victory in sight. Persaud enjoyed a great day at the office and was well supported by Chung who captured 3-31. The demise of the last batsman sparked immediate celebrations with their team members staying at the ground for a few ‘cups of Tea and slices of Cake’ or maybe some good Guyana Rum and Guyanese Beer. The touring team, who lost their opening game against Enmore on the East Coast will journey to the Essequibo Island of Leguan today before playing their final game tomorrow at the historic Bourda where West Indies won their first ever Test match in 1930.

Kaieteur News

Saturday November 05, 2016

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2016 Digicel Guyana Open Golf Classic

Champs face stiff test against large field Defending champions Av i n a s h P e r s a u d a n d Shaunella Webster will no doubt start as firm favourites to retain their respective titles, but many believe that they will have to display commanding form to do so. Today, the 2016 Digicel Guyana Open Golf Classic commences at the Lusignan Course where another strong field is expected to assemble to battle over the two days in an effort to win t h e c o u n t r y ’s m o s t prestigious Championship in the sport. Earlier in the week, Captain Chatterpaul Deo speaking at the Launch said that they anticipate over 80 golfers to be registered with participants expected to come from the USA, Canada and Suriname. According to the Captain, the Greens and the Fairways are in excellent condition and judging from the high quality of the field,

Christine Sukhram he believes that this year’s event will produce a close finish. He told the media that in the Men’s competition, the Best Gross will determine the overall winner over the two-day period, while in the Ladies Division, the player

Alfre Mentore with the Best Net will be declared the winner. “For the very first time in the tournament’s history, there will be a competition for the senior players over the age of 60 years and this Flight should also produce

GCB/MOE National Secondary School’s cricket

Dundas clan set-up win for St Cuthbert Secondary

Avinda Kishore some exciting golf as well.” Persaud, who can be considered a neighbour of the course at Lusignan, will put his title on the line against golfers such as Avinda Kishore, Roger Rajkumar, Jaipaul Suknanan, Seupaul

two of the three wickets to fall for two runs. M e a n w h i l e , Ve rg e n o e g e n d e f e a t e d Everest Academy to book a place in the final of the East Bank Essequibo Zone in the 2016 edition of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) National Secondary School Cricket League (NSSCL). Playing at Tuschen ground, Everest Academy who was asked to take first strike scored their runs at a brisk pace; however, they were dismissed for 123, losing wickets at regular interval. Travis Nedd struck an attacking 53 for the Everest Boys. Bowling for Vergenoegen, Kennard Paul

starred with the ball as he finished with superb figures of 5/8. Ve r g e n o e g e n i n response, wasted no time in getting to their target, reaching 124/3 in just 12 overs. Vickram Mangra top scored with 25, Joel Gill made 24 and Kennard Paul chipped in with 21 while Renaldo Adams was not out on 20. Bowling for Everest Academy, Darrine Wright 2/30. In a West Berbice Zone fixture, Number Eight Secondary walloped Fort Wellington Secondary by 224 runs after they amassed 279/2 in their 30 overs (Continued on page 25)

Suknanan and Anwar Shafi, Mohanlall Dinanauth, Alfred Mentore, William Walker, Patrick Prashad, Imran Khan, Alfred Mentore, Troy Casdogan, Colin Ming, Carlos Adams, Vijay Deo, Andre and Roy Cummings among

others. Webster on the other hand will face stiff competition from the likes of multiple times champion Christine Sukhram, Joann Deo and the anticipated invasion from Suriname.

Soldiers triumphantly march to third straight ISAAC title

GCB’s representative Andrew Allen presents to winning trophy to St Cuthbert’s Secondary Captain Eidin Kactow. The Dundas siblings s t e e r e d S t C u t h b e r t ’s Secondary to seven wicket win against Dora Secondary in St Cuthbert’s Mission on Thursday last. Dora made 48 all out after 10.3 overs as the Michael Ferreira who topscored with 10 reached double figures in heavy breeze and sweltering heat on track with good carry and a slow sandy outfield. Elroy Dundas took 4-10 from three overs, while Zak Dundas supported with 2-5 for St Cuthbert’s, who reached 49-3 in 11.1 overs. Zak Dundas stroked three boundaries in 20 while Joseph Defreitas captured

Roger Rajkumar

Alita Moore eases across the finish line yesterday afternoon after outclassing Natrena Hooper and Nikita Joseph in the Women’s 200m race. By Edison Jefford The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) triumphantly marched to a third straight Inter-Service Annual Athletics Championships (ISAAC) title yesterday at the National Track and Field Centre (NTFC) at Leonora, winning a fourth outright title in the last six years. The Soldiers had only surrendered the ISAAC title in 2013 when Police won at Eve Leary after a historic tie in 2012. It means that since 2010, the Soldiers have only lost the title once outright,

which underlines their dominance at the event in recent time. However, this year, GDF completely dominated the Championships, holding on to an 83-point third day lead for an 88-point win yesterday. The Soldiers amassed 613 points to defeat Guyana Police Force (GPF) on 525 points. The Guyana Prison Service (GPS) finished third with 108 points, while the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) was closely behind on 100 points. From the margin of victory for the Army, it is

obvious that the Soldiers knew they just had to preserve their advantage. P o l i c e ’s O l y m p i a n , Winston George and United States scholarship recipient, Alita Moore helped them stop the leakage in points, but that was not enough to overhaul the third day lead that GDF had amassed after dominating the field events. George and Moore were Police’s trump card, but they alone could not bring Police the accolade that is now elusive. Both athletes won the sprint treble. George (Continued on page 25)

Kaieteur News

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Saturday November 05, 2016

Batting star Bravo offered Grade C contract: report P O RT O F S PA I N , Trinidad, CMC – The West Indies Cricket Board has refused to confirm whether marquee batsman Darren Bravo was offered a lower level Grade C central contract for the upcoming year. The Trinidad NewsDay reported yesterday that the 27-year-old leader of the West Indies batting group had been overlooked for a top tier retainer, and given a Grade C contract worth US$100,000. Earlier this week, the WICB disclosed that Bravo had declined a retainer contract, along with veteran batsman Marlon Samuels and Twenty20 captain Carlos Brathwaite. WICB communications

manager, Carole Beckford, subsequently told the NewsDay the board did not have a policy of releasing information on player contract scales. “No we wouldn’t give that information. If the players want to reveal their scales that’s fine but we don’t,” she was quoted as saying. “We have supplied the ranges in the last press release and we thought that was sufficient.” She continued: “I don’t think it’s important or necessary to give the scale. We have decided that we’re not giving the scale, that the range is sufficient. “You can assume, or you may [ask the player], if the players want to give what their salaries are specifically

(that’s their choice].” Apart from Samuels, the left-handed Bravo is the most experienced member of the Windies batting lineup, having played 49 Tests and scored 3400 runs at an average of 40. He is also a treasured member of the one-day team where he has played 94 games and averages 32. According to the newspaper report, Bravo would have joined the likes of Test novices Jomel Warrican and Alzarri Joseph as players with Grade C contracts. Grade A is the highest level contract on offer and is worth US$150,000, with Grade B valued at $125,000 and Grade C, $100,000. Twenty-three year-old

opener Kraigg Brathwaite was given a Grade A contract while Test and one-day captain Jason Holder secured a Grade B, the NewsDay reported. The WICB earlier this week said that the new contracts were “based on performances from October 1, 2015 to September 2016.” During that period in Tests, Bravo struck two halfcenturies on the two-Test tour of Sri Lanka, scored a century and a half-century on the three-Test tour of Australia before struggling against India this year when he managed just 139 runs at 19. In ODIs, he scored 295 runs at an average of 29.5 during the period under review.

Left-hander Darren Bravo … given only a Grade C retainer contract.

All set for West Berbice Chamber RHTY&SC/Beharry Say No 5/5 Cricket Tournament Lower Corentyne Zone to be played of Industry and Commerce tomorrow at the Area ‘H’ Ground 10/10 cricket competition T h e We s t B e r b i c e Chamber of Industry and Commerce (WBCIC) in support of young cricketers and the development of Sports in Region 5 will be staging a one day 10/10 fund rising cricket competition tomorrow, November 06 at the Blairmont Community Centre Ground, West Bank, Berbice. The tournament will be contested among six teams namely; Cotton Tree Die Hard, Blairmont Blazers, Achievers of West Berbice, Universal DVD of Port Mourant, Albion and

D’Edward Cricket Club. A small Admission fee is attached and the funds raised will go towards the less fortunate children. WBCIC President, Imran Sacoor said he is delighted to be a part of this initiative since he believes that investment in youths represents investment for the future. The Chamber, he said welcomes the undertaking and urged residents to come out and support tomorrow. Sacoor noted that the WBCIC will continue to

support the development of communities within their purview. Interest partners and sponsors are being encouraged to support the initiative. Among some of the sponsors on board are Universal DVD Club, Big B’s Restaurant, Leah’s Homes and Assets, Eworth Auto Sales and Feroze Auto Sales. For more information persons can contact 592328-7977, 687-9009 or e m a i l wbcic2015@gmail.com. (Samuel Whyte)

The Lower Corentyne Zone of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, M.S/Beharry Co. Ltd 5/5 Say No/Say Yes Cricket tournament would be played tomorrow at the Area ‘H’ Ground. Ten teams would be playing for an opportunity to advance to the finals of the tournament. Three teams from each Zone – West B e r b i c e , N e w Amsterdam/Canje, Lower Corentyne and Upper Corentyne would advance. Among the teams expected to play are Rose Hall Town Bakewell ‘A’, Rose Hall Town Bakewell ‘ B ’ , A l b i o n , To o p o o , Tamarind Root, Courtland, Belvedere United and Fyrish. The winners of the Zone would receive $15,000 while the winners of the overall tournament would receive $150,000 along with a trophy and the runner up $75,000 and Trophy. Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster stated that the

main objectives of the historic Beharry 5/5 tournament 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. An Official of the Club would speak to the teams before the first game on the importance of the Say No/Yes Programme, while t h e C l u b ’s Yo u t h Information booklet and posters would be distributed to the teams as well. Each team are required to be at the Area ‘H’ Ground by 8:30 am and must walk with two red cricket balls. The general public is also informed that no selling of alcohol would be allowed in 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 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, MS has announced the squad for the Rose Hall Town Bakewell ‘A’ and Rose Hall Town Bakewell ‘B’. R o s e H a l l To w n Bakewell ‘A’ – James Fraser, Kevin Sinclair, Delbert Hicks, Khemraj Mahadeo, Kevlon Anderson, Keith Simpson, S y l u s Ty n d a l l , M a r k Papannah, Junior Sinclair, Surrendra Kissoonlall, Brandon Prashad, Matthew Pattaya. R o s e H a l l To w n 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.

Saturday November 05, 2016

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Kaieteur News

Enmore overcome GOCC by seven wickets Eon Abel plays through the off-side

Devon Lord in action Host Enmore CC defeated the England-based Guyana Overseas Cricket Club (GOCC) by seven wickets when the teams collided recently in a 30over fixture. Batting first, GOCC were limited to 96-6 off their allotted overs after they

decided to bat. The v i s i t o r s l o s t opener Roop Sharma, who was bowled Deonarine Mangal for four, who also sent back Krish Nauth for 13 to reduce the GOCC to 252. But former first class wicketkeeper/batsman,

Brathwaite in top 20 after third Test heroics DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, CMC – Opener K r a i g g B r a t h w a i t e ’s monumental performance in the third Test against Pakistan has seen him vault into the top 20 of the International Cricket C o u n c i l Te s t p l a y e r rankings. The 23-year-old righthander jumped 13 places to a career-best 19th spot in the latest batting rankings released yesterday, to be the only West Indies batsman in the top 20. Brathwaite became the first opener to remain undefeated in both innings in a Test with 142 and 60 respectively, as West Indies beat Pakistan by five wickets in Sharjah for their only victory of the limited overs and Test series. The Windies vicecaptain was joined by wicketkeeper batsman Shane Dowrich who moved up 27 spots to a career-best 58th, following his outstanding performance in both innings Dowrich made 47 in the first innings and an unbeaten 60 in the second and it was his aggressive batting as part of an 87-run, unbroken sixth wicket

partnership which saw West Indies complete a successful run chase early on the final day. Roston Chase, who scored a half-century in the first innings, has risen four places to 82nd in the rankings. Australian Steve Smith, meanwhile, remains on top the batting rankings with South African Hashim Amla and New Zealander Kane Williamson moving up one place each, to second and third respectively. In the bowling rankings, leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo has also enjoyed a measure of success, jumping seven places to a career-best 29th spot after taking seven wickets in the third Test. His captain Jason Holder also tasted upward movement, leaping 12 spots to 47th following his maiden five-wicket haul in the second innings in Sharjah. The top three in the rankings remain unchanged, with off-spinner Ravi Ashwin topping the pile with South African Dale Steyn second and Englishman James Anderson third.

Shiek Mohamed, who played as a guest player for GOCC, struck two fours before he was run out for 30, while Navin Persaud assisted with 18. Spinners Chanderpaul Singh and Deonarine Mangal finished with two wickets each.

Left arm spinner Devon Lord put the home team on the back foot early on with three quick wickets, leaving the score at 26-3. However, Eon Abel and Seemangal Yadram steadied the chase with an unfinished fourth-wicket stand of 71 to see their team to safety in

13.3 overs. Berbician Abel hammered 48 off 38 balls with four fours and a six, while Yadram hit five fours in scoring 22 off 34 balls. Lord had 3-31 from six overs. After the game, Rabi Sukul of the GOCC thanked

the Enmore Community Centre Cricket Club for the excellent hospitality and assured they will be visiting again. The GOCC tour will conclude this weekend with games against Everest and Georgetown Cricket Club tomorrow.

Esau, Maxwell slam centuries Safraz Esau

Travis Persaud Centuries by Safraz Esau and Jermaine Maxwell highlighted the opening round of matches in the West Demerara Cricket Association T20 tournament which commenced recently. At Joe Vieira Park, Independence SC beat Number Two by 36 runs. Batting first, Independence SC managed 203-8. Safraz Esau clobbered six fours and 10 sixes in scoring 107, while Vickash Dhaniram scored 46. David Alert snared 2-29. Number Two SC made 167 all out in reply. B. Baksh made 47 and B. Bandoo 39; Jevon Hector claimed 4-19 and Mahendra Dhanpaul 3-21.

Jermaine Maxwell At Zeeburg, the home team overcame Bell West by eight wickets. Zeeburg got 125 all out in18 overs, batting first. S. Miranjie made 36 and R. Mangra 22; Timor Mohamed took 3-2 and Mark Jeffers 3-28. Zeeburg made 126-2 in reply. Yetesh Dhanpaul scored 66 and Balbinder Shivpersaud 26. At Belle Vue, Mc Gill defeated Christ Ambassadors by 52 runs. Mc Gill posted 200-7, taking

first knock. Travis Persaud struck 91and Sudesh Persaud made 38. Kenton Boyce had 2-45 and Juwon Dickinson 2-28. Christ Ambassador were restricted to 138-6 in reply. Greyson Paul hit 48 and Kevin Paul 43; Shefiek Deen had 3-17. At Meten-Meer-Zorg,

the host B team beat All Youths by two runs. MMZ B took first knock and rattled up 162-2. Jermaine Maxwell stroked 111 not out, while Dexroy Hyman made 30. All Youths responded with 1605. Randy Ramroop got 49 and Jermaine Ramroop 27; Sudesh Sewchand 2-24.

Kaieteur News

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Saturday November 05, 2016

Guyana Chess Federation Senior National Qualifiers

Interesting matchups envisaged as top chess players go after Wendell Meusa’s title The National Junior Chess Championship has only just concluded and Saeed Ali had turned in a top performance to be crowned the champion. The victory has emboldened him and now the versatile chess player will attempt to establish his place among the senior players when the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) hosts the Seniors National Qualifiers, starting this afternoon at the National Racquet Center, Woolford Avenue. The tournament would be competed in a Round Robin format and will feature the best on the board. Ali had actually contested for the vacant (junior) crown after its holder, Haifeng Su, was deemed ineligible by dint of his age. The situation is much different since Ali will now have to match wits with the likes of defending champion, Candidate Master, Wendell Meusa and two of his predecessors, Candidate Masters, Taffin

A revitalized group of chess players just back from Baku, Azerbaijan will all nurture ambitions of dethroning Muesa when the action gets underway this afternoon. Khan and Anthony Drayton. Several of the female players have also shown vast improvement and topping the list is Woman Candidate Master (WCM), Maria Thomas along with her newly crowned equal,

Sheriffa Ali. Then there are quite a few others, albeit junior players, that have shown remarkable improvement and aptitude and naturally, would want to ascend the prestigious throne, none

more ambitious than the ever improving Roberto Neto. Meanwhile, President of the GCF, Irshad Mohamed, said that he is heartened by the improved level of chess demonstrated in the just concluded junior

tournament. He attributes this to the many recent tournaments organized by his executives along with the international exposure of the Baku, Azerbaijan tournament. Meusa, who recently

secured his transfer from Barbados Chess Federation to the local entity, will aspire to retain the crown for the third time. He has chalked up a FIDE rating of 1967 and is the highest local FIDE rated player.

Guyana Softball Cup 6 Centuries for Baker, Mohamed, 5-wkt hauls for Budhu, Paul, Dhanriam, Harilall

Regal, Floodlight, Speed Boat, Wellman victorious

By Zaheer Mohamed Defending champions Regal got their Guyana Softball Cup 6 campaign off to a fine start as their Open and Masters teams played unbeaten on the first day yesterday, while Floodlight, Speed Boat and Mike’s Wellman also notched up convincing victories in Georgetown at Police , GDF, DCC, GYO and Malteenoes grounds. In the Open category, Regal overcame Ariel by four wickets. Ariel took first strike and were bowled out for 156 in 18 overs. Maniram Dilchan made 46 and Wayne Osbourne 16. Delroy Pereira had 3-25 and Ameer Nizamudeen 3-36. Regal responded with 161-6 in 13.4 overs. Richard Latif scored 37, Chien Gittens 36 and Navin Singh 31. D. Narine took 3-17 and Chatura Ramdhanie 2-35. Parika Warriors beat Albion by 10 runs. Batting f i r s t , P a r i k a Wa r r i o r s managed 118 all out with Keemo Paul scoring 25 and Shaz Grosvenor 17; Kishan

Rudolph Baker Gangaram and Devendra Ramoutar took three wickets each for Albion who replied with 108 all out in 14.4 overs. Harrinarine Chattergoon made 27 and John Percival 17; Deeraj Dindyal had 3-22 and Paul 331. Speed Boat thumped Corriverton by 107 runs. Speed Boat posted 209-9, taking first strike. Lennox Marks and Travis Drakes hit 51 each as Q. Yussuf took 43 and A. Subhan 2-42. Corriverton were sent packing for 102 all out in 16.1 overs in reply. C. Arjune made 27 and Sherwin Murray 23; Greg

Eric Thomas Singh snared 3-27 and Mark Harold 2-11. Ariel went down to Albion by two wickets. Ariel took first knock and mustered 129 all out in 19.4 overs. Yudhanlall Suklall and Devendra Narine made 20 each as Keon Sinclair grabbed 4-25 and Devendra Ramoutar 3-28. Albion responded with 130-8 in 17.2 overs. Andy Nandoo made 51 and V. Latchana 25. Regal defeated Parika Warriors by 74 runs. Batting first, Regal scored 163 all out in 19.4 overs. Navin Singh got 51 and Sewchand Budhu 35; Keemo Paul bagged 5-33 and

Ramesh Narine Karamchand Persaud 2-21. P a r i k a Wa r r i o r s w e r e skittled for 89 in 15 overs in reply. Paul made 30 as Budhu captured 5-17 and Sachin Singh 2-12. Success trounced Corriverton by 94 runs. Success rattled up 201-6, taking first strike. R. Bissoondial made 54 and Lincoln Leander 36. Sherwin Murray and Q. Yusuf had two wickets apiece. Corriverton were bowled out for 107 in 11 overs in response. Clinton Pestano made 35 and David Lukenauth 24 not out. Avenash Dhaniram snared 5-38.

Avenash Dhaniram Speed Boat beat Herstelling by two runs. Speed Boat made 128-4, batting first. Lennox Marks and Amrit Rai scored 30 each. Shafeek Ishmeal had 4-49. Herstelling got 126-9 in reply. Kishore Smith and Travis Drakes had three wickets each. New York Enforcers beat Mike’s Wellman by 37 runs. NY Enforcers batted first and got 196-5. G. Hardial cracked 90 and Ricardo Adams made 55; R. Persaud had two wickets. Wellman were restricted to 139 with L. Afaneo making 20; A. Azeez had 3-30. NY Enforcers overcame

Keemo Paul Success by 72 runs. NY Enforcers batted first and scored 186-8. Adams and Chanderpaul Hemraj made 39 and 35 respectively. Success were bowled out for 114 in 17 overs in reply. In the Masters category, Floodlight got the better of Tristate by nine wickets. Tristate batted first and were sent packing for 96 in 17 overs with Dianand Mangru getting 21 and Orin Jackson 18; Ramo Malone snared 424 and Manoj Arjune 3-11. Floodlight responded with 98-1 in 7.3 overs. Yunnis Yusuf stroked 58 not out and Ramesh Narine 32 (Continued on page 25)

Kaieteur News

Saturday November 05, 2016

PAGE 35

Courts Pee Wee Schools Football Competition

Exciting quarter-finals action on today

Part of the action in the 2016 Courts Pee Wee Schools Football Competition. Title holders St. Angela’s will look to advance further in defence of their crown when they face North Georgetown in quarter-final action in this year’s Courts Pee Wee Schools Football Competition today, at the Banks DIH ground, Thirst Park. Antwoine Vincent, Seon Cato, Omari Nelson and Antonio McArthur have formed the core of the champs attacking threat and once again they should be

the players to lead their quest of moving on to the semifinals, while North Georgetown’s aim for victory will rest on the shoulders of Shaquan Walters, Nigel Lowe, Aken DeSantos and Kellon King. In one of the opening q u a r t e r - f i n a l s , We s t Ruimveldt take on F.E. Pollard and this encounter should see the former heavily favoured to advance. They have in their line-

up players the calibre of Kevin Mentis, Tyrese John, Jermaine Park, Tafrel McAllister and Kenneth Gordon, while F.E. Pollard’s chance of creating an upset will depend on the service of Jonathan Dos Santos. Marian Academy’s then square off against St. Agnes and Nicholas Verwey and Malik Darker are the in-form players for Marian Academy, while Amos Bayley, Nikhail Carter,

David Xavier and Antawn McKay will likely lead St. Agnes pursuit of a place in the next phase. Former champions St.

Pius go up against St. Stephen’s and this should be an exciting clash with Deshale Humphrey, Kaden Wellington and Dwayne

Baptiste anticipated leading the charge for the former, while the latter’s push for victory will be led by Omali Xavier and Jequan Cole.

t r o Sp

Soldiers triumphantly march to third straight ISAAC title

GDF Chief of Staff, Brigadier George Lewis (centre) hoists the Championships Trophy while his team celebrates last night at the NTFC at Leonora.

GTT National Indoor Hockey Championships

Old Fort hold off GCC Bounty in exciting duel -Pizza Hut GCC and Vintage register wins

A player from Old Fort Ravers attempts to dribble past GCC’s Dwayne Scott (right) and Eric Hing in their exciting encounter on Thursday evening.

2016 Digicel Guyana Open Golf Classic

Champs face stiff test against large field

Avinash Persaud

Shaunella Webster

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