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Kaieteur News
Wednesday November 27, 2019
Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Adam Harris Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL A master organisation in action The group can claim to be the best organised, most efficiently produced and directed entity in Guyana. It is ahead of the rigid command and control structure of even the Guyana Defence Force. Like it or leave it, this is the reality in the local environment. Everyone else is left in the dust and by a wide margin.For whether it is commercial or social or adversarial, this team is way in front of the others. At the grassroots, there is the relentless indoctrination; in the lower and middle ranks, it is of the same messages and energies marshalled, fueled, and delivered; and in the uppermost ranks, there are the calculated strategies and practices that set the stage for others to follow. The money is there; it is abundant, believed bottomless, given the relationships and remembering likely hidden promises to the unknowns waiting for another turn at the fixed casino wheel that is local political sharing. The hand and foot soldiers are there to fan out, knock around, and run over the spaces of opinion, apathy, and even resistance: ground level, door-to-door, and every modern channel available. The objective is to overpower, through effort, volume, and numbers. There is no match for them. The propagandists and pontificators operate by a set course: more is better. There is nothing lean about approaches, and the Powell Doctrine of overwhelming force pales into second place. No channel is off-limits, even though there was the foresight to ensure that their own people control and operate several outlets. Call it the nearest equivalent to 24-hour political chatter: Talking heads, ideologues, letter mills, pamphleteers represent the visible thunder of what is a veritable herd on the move. That is right: visible thunder: can be seen and heard distinctively. No room is left for matters to be otherwise. In contrast, its primary political foe is left gasping for breath and grasping at straws, since all the best seats have been taken, including those on higher ground. They are always catching up, like how this country keeps getting left behind by the costs, strategies, developments, and advances of modern technology. Things have progressed so far that, on occasion, competitors do not even bother to put in a word on their own behalf. They are content to let silence reign from their side and give up still more territory in a war of attrition. Truth be told, even the unsteady and unheralded Guyana Police Force does better in the public relations positioning game, through one carefully calibrated message after another, even when the contexts and climates are unfavourable. To make matters worse, citizens recognize - some in alarm, some in admiration - the unflagging efforts and comprehensive handiwork of the group, with many government people doing so, too. Official and private government people retreat in sullen resignation, for the monster will not be harnessed by a pointer broom, which is saying much of the combined efforts directed against it. Looked at dispassionately, recognition comes of a determined political force in action.Meanwhile, this political machinery, already functioning unchallenged with a full head of steam continues to run over the feeble resistances mounted against it. It is a work of art, and there is wondering that if the same dedications had been directed towards unimpeachable leadership and immaculate governance, how many more positives could have been realized by all citizens.Regrettably, in this country, the welfare of citizen and country are only political abstractions. Welfare is of textbook ideals, ascetic men out of touch with the nasty guts and gore of street politics, of group hustles, and of the grand deceptions that sell so easily, and all of which require way less energy with a bigger bang for the buck promised.Now if that political machinery could only be replicated in other walks of local life, then the sky is the limit. Even the Exxon(s) of the world would run for cover.
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.
It is time to bring Guyana Goldfields to book! DEAR EDITOR, The Kaieteur News of November 17,2019 on page 9 carried an article headlined “Gold Company continues to receive $$ Billions in incentives despite never meeting contractual obligations”. The question that immediately comes to persons who have been following gold stock in Guyana is why the journalists that write on financial matters for our newspapers do not carry a similar headline on Guyana Goldfields which has been lowering its guidance year after year. The Company had stated that it is expected to produce 145,00060,000 ounces in 2019 and so far it has reported that it has produced 96,000 ozs (Q3).
Are the government persons responsible for these matters asleep or only waiting until it is too late when the mine goes on care and maintenance or lays off its workers (the laying off of contract workers has already started) to have a hurried Cabinet meeting and “blast the company over the dismissal of workers?” The writing is on the wall, this company figures, and performance has been below par. A quick perusal will show that even with gold trading at nearly $1500/oz, the company’s all in sustaining cost for the third quarter came in over $1,800/oz, with the all in sustaining cost for the first five months of 2019 tracking at $1,465/oz; clearly
nearly $500/oz above guidance. The NPV sits at 500M for the Company net equity of 300M and market cap of 100M. With the stripping falling behind, some possible extraction areas have been put on hold. The Company is touting underground development. Money has to be raised for that, but the reality is that few reputable banks will finance a money losing business for very long. It is time that the relevant minster calls in the Guyana Goldfields Management for fitness and ignores the company’s PR Hype. Regards, E. Naughton
Another demonstration of Government’s double standard Dear Editor, As we approach another year-end season, a time usually filled with joy and happiness and one where we seek to celebrate with our friends and families, it is disheartening to recognise that a few more sugar workers will join the ranks of the unemployed. In a matter of days, 12 workers who were retained to operate the power plant of Wales Estate will no longer have a job as GuySuCo has decided to bring an end to this operation. They were among the lucky few who were retained by the sugar corporation at that location. They now join the thousands of their colleagues who really have nothing much to celebrate and who really cannot afford to celebrate. Today, for the ex-
workers of Wales, East Demerara, Rose Hall and Skeldon, they have been forgotten by the powers-thatbe. It was therefore, for us, most interesting to see Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, according to a November 19, DPI report, in r e l a t i o n t o t h e Tr o y Resources situation being quoted to say “[t]his is not the time of the year that we should see workers going home, they have homes, its Christmas”.We agree with Mr. Trotman. But we wonder where were his and his colleagues’ concern when over a thousand workers, now nearly three years ago, were sent home from Wales Estate during the height of the year-end season. S i m i l a r l y, w a s n ’ t h e concerned when the Government approved the sending home of nearly six
Response to letter alleging illegalities in forestry sector Dear Editor, The Ministry of Natural Resources takes note of a November 22, 2019 Letter to the Editor headlined ‘Illegalities in forestry sector must be addressed’. The letter raises concerns on the monitoring unit of the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) alleging illegal logging activities overlooked in some communities. While the Ministry welcomes these concerns being raised, it should be also known that GFC records have shown that overall, the compliance/monitoring system of the GFC is working as it was intended and has even increased over the years, thus leading to improved compliance. Nonetheless, the work of improving the various aspects of monitoring and compliance continues. An Independent Forest Monitoring (IFM) Audit report is publicly available on the GFC website at https://forestry.gov.gy/independent-forest-monitoring/. In the interim, we invite the writer to make contact with the Ministry to arrange a meeting whereby these concerns could be raised, documented and properly addressed. Other persons interested in raising concerns are also encouraged to engage the Ministry.Contact information Tel: 225-2519 Ext 225 Email: mnregy@gmail.com Ministry of Natural Resources Guyana
thousand workers from Skeldon, Rose Hall and East Demerara during the 2017 Christmas Season. We remember the front page story of December 07, 2017 “Skeldon reeling after GuySuCo dismissals” and at the bottom there was a picture of President Granger bottle feeding elephants in Nairobi, Kenya completely disconnected from the travesty in Guyana. While we are saddened about the situation facing the Troy workers as it is a situation we are too familiar with. At the same time, we
ask Mr Trotman, didn’t the sugar workers have homes too? Don’t they and their families also deserve the joys and treats the season brings? What made it right for them to not only go home but stay home at this time of the year? Certainly, Mr Trotman had the ability to avoid the situation, but it appeared that he really didn’t care. This is yet another demonstration of the Government’s doublestandard! Yours faithfully, Seepaul Narine G e n e r a l S e c r e t a r y, GAWU
Can Guyanese justify the still prominent display of Queen Victoria’s statue in our Capital? Dear Editor, Please allow me space in your very fine daily the K News to address this most troubling matter, which I humbly believe should distress every self respecting Guyanese and that is, the still present display of a symbol of the cruelty, shame and oppression visited on us as a people represented in the statue of Queen Victoria in our Capital or any place in Guyana for that matter. What does this symbol says about a people that were under the boot of the country represented by this monarch for approximately 200 years from early 17th century to 1834, when emancipation was granted by Britain, but allowed to exist until 1838 under the guise of “Apprenticeship”. What does it say about our self respect and sense of national pride that we can so honor our oppressor? What can we say to our hero, Jack Gladstone and his father Quamina, and those brave souls who took
part in and lost their lives in the Demerara Rebellion; those 40-odd that were hanged after the uprising, what do we say to their sacrifice? How can we explain that after 53 years, 1966 to 2019, when we were so called allowed our freedom that we still cling to the boot of our oppressor? This fixation to abuse reminds me of some females who endure years of abuse at the hands of partners or spouse, but stays with them or either leaves and returns. It’s a kind of unexplained twisted need for punishment or very low self esteem. The Jews will never allow the world to forget the holocaust, rightly so, and yet the holocaust cannot ever compare to the horrors of enslavement either in its brutality or duration. How can we be so devoid of self respect? No race on the planet has suffered as we did at the hands of the slave master, and yet we honor (Continued on page 6 )
Wednesday November 27, 2019
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What is the surge in school violence telling Guyana? DEAR EDITOR, No need for an answer— — the wave of school violence reveals an ailing culture Bullying and school violence remains a multi-faceted issue, that not only affects public health but also a school’s ability to educate students. The continuing school violence is a national shame, but the perpetrators are not the only ones to be blamed. While bullying and violence remains the greatest threat to safety in Guyana, we cannot become so embroiled in the remediation debate that it hinders us from seeing where the truth unfolds. The word ‘school’ serves as a veneer for the real issue, causing a shift in focus. Learning institutions have morphed into some of the most violent institutions, and their occupants unchecked dastardly perpetrators. In its wake bullying brings dramatic consequences in terms of educational acquirement, attitude towards school, mental health and probable risk of suicide. The damage caused by bullying is harmful to the bully, the bullied as well as the school and community. On August 8 and 9, 2019 Roraima Duke Lodge was the venue of a national consultation on Crime and Violence Mitigation training in primary schools. This two day con-
sultation was the last of five, with similar ones previously held in Antigua and Barbuda, Jamaica, St. Lucia and Suriname. The specific intent of the exercise was to bolster the capacity of primary school teachers and counsellors for evidence-based interventions to address crime and violence in primary schools. Given the pervasiveness of school violence, an assessment of the threats, risks, resilience and protective factors in relation to schoolbased gang-related violence, bullying, aggression and other forms of deviant behaviour is critical for identifying targets for preventive interventions among students. The two-day consultation in Guyana is the fifth of five. Similar ones were held in Antigua and Barbuda, Jamaica, Saint Lucia and Suriname. Guyana is one of five countries in CARIFORUM (a subgroup of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States established in 1992), to benefit from an initiative to enhance its education sector to respond to school-based crime and violence at the primary level, through the institutionalization of structured and coordinated after school activity clubs, titled Champions for Change Clubs The intervention is part of an overall strategy to reduce the in-
cidence of violence in and out of school through engaging students and youth in the community in after-school programmes and building their capacity to effectively address youth crime and violence from a social perspective. Mention should also be made of the fact that in May 2012, Maureen Bynoe, a lecturer attached to University of Guyana’s Tain Campus, made a call for the Ministry of Education to adopt a national anti-bullying strategy targeting students of all ages. The recommendation was predicated on a survey conducted by the lecturer, aimed at assessing the extent bullying has permeated schools along Central Corentyne, Berbice. The study further discovered that ethnicity was a major factor that contributed to bullying in the school system. While the previously-conducted study focused entirely on schools in the Berbice region, it would have been advantageous for the Ministry of Education to conduct a similar study, concentrating on schools across the country with major involvement from students, parents and teachers. Such a study would have provided answers to the core issue that leads to bullying, and from there an action plan could have been drafted and
implemented. The bullies will be identified and necessary help instituted as bullying behaviours can be the predictors for future involvement in criminal activity. It is imperative that parents and teachers collaborate as together they play an integral role in preventing bullying. Teachers especially need
to pay more attention to students’ behaviour. What has the government of Guyana and the respective stakeholders done thus far to eradicate this ongoing scourge, in the face of continued teacher training and rising violence even death at the hand of primary school age perpetrators? Schools
have a legal obligation to provide all students with a safe learning environment; consequently it is imperative that recommendations to eliminate bullying are followed. No longer can the issue of school violence be ignored, as the problem can be exacerbated by school (Continued on page 6)
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Wednesday November 27, 2019
Kaieteur News
An injustice is being inflicted on the What an ignoble curtain call for Nagamootoo rage to journey to Lethem. Most definitely, those DEAR EDITOR, the damage had almemory of Walter Rodney outcome, I saw in the November 24, Guyana monies could have been better utilized for someready been done.An injustice DEAR EDITOR, The current APNU-AFC administration continues to makes blunders, the most recent being the dropping of the Walter Rodney name from the National Archives. The Walter Rodney National Archives was so named under the previous PPP/C administration in honour of his contributions to scholarship and research and his struggle for a democratic Guyana. In honour of his memory, the PPP not only established the Walter Rodney Chair at the University of Guyana but also set up a Commission of Enquiry into his killing, which was brought to a premature end by this current administration. The findings of the Commission’s Report are still to be released.The dropping
of the Walter Rodney name at the National Archives is a slap in the face of the Working People’s Alliance which is now part of the ruling APNUAFC alliance. It remains to be seen whether the name will be reinstated as demanded by the WPA. Regardless of the
is being inflicted on the memory and contribution of late Walter Rodney who will be remembered as someone who utilized his enormous powers of intellect and research to further the cause of a better society. Hydar Ally
Can Guyanese justify the still ... From page 4 them with a prominent statue on the lawn of our Court no less, a place that should stand for justice.All throughout the Southern United States, statues of old Confederate figures are being pulled down, including that of Robert E. Lee in Louisiana, one of their strongholds. This is being done not without controversy but being done anyway, it’s called pride and self respect; something that seems to be in short supply in our country. Small wonder foreign companies come to our country with their fair promises, exploit our resources, disrespect our workers and leave with a pocketfull of the profits.Grow a backbone, Guyana, please remove that symbol of shame, suggestion- send it back to Britain! Claudeston G.Massiah
Chronicle an article about Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo visiting Lethem to commission a road way. While I know that the elections season has started and the Government will seek to trumpet its achievements, it seems absurd to me at least that you would have the Prime Minister and other senior Government officials going just to open a road way. Certainly, I wondered that they must have been other suitable officials who could have declared the roadway open. It must have been an immense cost for the Prime Minister and his entou-
thing more meaningful. But then it dawned on me, that the Prime Minister probably had nothing much else to do. The few responsibilities he has have become even lessened now since the Parliament has been suspended. I remember not too long ago he was lustily singing he ain’t weary yet. While he maybe isn’t weary, from the looks of things, he has outlived his usefulness. What an ignoble curtain call for Guyana’s least worked Prime Minister. Yours sincerely Alicia Doobay
What is the surge in school violence... From page 5 systems that fail to appropriately tackle violence. Parents have also brought to the fore the blatant lack of responsiveness on the part of school administration towards the complaints of children who were victims of violence or bullying. While schools are incapable of creating legislation, they can however shape policy by having an active relationship with organizations that support legislative
changes. School violence is ultimately an issue that reaches far beyond the walls of a school. Hence to stop the violence, we must look beyond the acts, and not fail to recognize the accessory facts. If we truly want to get serious about preventing violence, we need to know much more. What messages have the adults sent, that caused the young to be so violence bent? If the saying holds true
that children live what they see, then who would the true bullies be? A generation is being created which has certainly been manipulated. As the saying goes- “One usually reaps what one sows”. Who will accept the praise for what we as a nation have raised? . We may not want the answer, for in so doing; it would make us as a people guilty and reveal an ailing culture. Yvonne Sam.
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Kaieteur News
GECOM observes disparities in cross-matched data - to question overseas supplier The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has noticed striking disparities in the cross-matched data that has returned from the overseas supplier, according to Commissioner Sase Gunraj. Gemalto, an international digital security company, was contracted by GECOM to cross-match the house-tohouse data. Both tranches of data have returned and they appear to indicate that there are about 60,000 total new registrants. This unusually high figure prompted the Secretariat to conduct its own assessment of the crossmatched data. Gunraj said Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield, indicated to the Commission that the Secretariat has found about 17,000 of those supposedly new registrants already on the National Register of Registrants Database (NRRDB). One would take that as an indication that the crossmatching job was flawed. But Gunraj said that he doesnt know that its a mistake of the company. GECOM has decided that
it will reach out to Gemalto in the hope that the company provides answers. Gunraj said that this matter places even more doubt on the use and integrity of the house-to-house data, which he has questioned for some time. GECOM still has not decided how it will go about merging the house-to-house data with the preliminary list, and the data gathered during Claims and Objections. Commissioner Vincent Alexander told reporters that GECOM will also have to do its own further investigation of the names on the preliminary list which the crossmatched data has pegged as “new� registrants. Otherwise, GECOM is also
contending with the fact that a very small portion of unverified registrants have come forward to claim their identities. Alexander said that of about 18,000 persons whose names were published in the daily newspapers, approximately 300 have uplifted their ID cards. Alexander did not appear worried that this may indicate that most of that group is apathetic about collecting their ID cards. He reiterated his contention that deaths not
GECOM Commissioner Sase Gunraj reported to GECOM likely number in the thousands, and that those deaths are a significant portion of the regis-
GECOM Commissioner Vincent Alexander
trants with uncollected ID cards. He said that it likely consists of many dead persons residing both locally and
overseas. He said that if you consider that, then the low collection rate is not that alarming.
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Wednesday November 27, 2019
Republic Bank’s hiccups may take about two weeks to be resolved - Central Bank The Camp Street branch.
The current hiccups at Republic Bank, which have sparked a severe backlash from customers, are expected to continue until mid-December. According to Governor of Bank of Guyana, Dr. Gobind Ganga, the Trinidadian-controlled commercial bank was written to last week for an update on the conversion process to a new platform. Republic Bank, which has the biggest market share for the commercial banks, has since replied and disclosed to Central Bank, that the current issues will not be resolved until another two weeks. It would serve as little comfort to the thousands of customers who have been left with little word since the conversion earlier this month.
With Christmas approaching, the frustrations are mounting. For almost three weeks now, the lines at the ATMs and in the bank, which has several branches across the country, have been curling. Customers are complaining of being unable to access accounts. Quite a number of them were saved using their ATM cards at the Guyana Bank For Trade and Industry. Yesterday, with monthend salaries payable, customers told of joining a line that turned out from the front door on Water Street at that main branch. One employer had to change a salaries check at a private institution in order to pay staffers. According to Dr. Ganga,
Central Bank’s Governor, Dr. Gobind Ganga the Central Bank is paying close attention to the situation.He noted that two other banks had carried out conversion processes and while there were hiccups, managed to overcome the
challenges very quickly. On November 7th, Republic Bank Guyana in a notice told customers and stakeholders that it has “transitioned” to a new banking platform effective November 4, 2019. “As with the introduction of any new system, we are experiencing some challenges. We recognize the impact to our service delivery, and wish to assure you our valued customers and stakeholders, that we are committed to resolving these challenges in the shortest
The situation at the Water Street branch yesterday.
timeframe possible.” The bank asked for customers with queries to visit the nearest Republic Bank branch or contact a Customer Care Official at 223-7938 to 49 Ext. 2620 or via email at gyemail@rfhl.com. However, customers have been taking to Facebook to criticize Republic Bank on the lines and the absence of answers for the delays. The new platform will see customers receiving new account numbers. It is expected to streamline new payments and other transactions at a
time when more online shopping and debit cards use are on the rise. Kaieteur News reached out to Republic Bank for an interview, but while acknowledging receipt of the request, the bank did not immediately commit.Republic Bank recently made applications to buyout the regional branches of ScotiaBank, including Guyana’s. However, regulators here have rejected the application, worrying about the control that Republic would be able to exert if permission is granted.
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Investors are threatened by crime Yesterday a resident of Essequibo was shot during a robbery. The victim is nursing a gunshot wound in the hospital. A few days ago, there was gunplay in Agricola, in what appears to be gang war. One person was killed and another injured in the crossfire. Fearful of retaliation and further bloodletting, the police finally decided to move in and to flush out the gangs. But they have had only limited success in arresting some of the major players in the gang war which is rocking that area.Sporadic anti-crime campaigns by the Guyana Police
Force are not going to deter the criminals, especially those young vagabonds who have guns, and who are using them to rob, maim and terrorize lawabiding citizens. In the midst of a serious upsurge in criminal attacks on private citizens, the police have been carrying out forays into criminal hotspots. But those campaigns will yield only minimal results. The criminals will lie low until the campaigns dissipate and then they will return. What the police should be doing is undertaking an unrelenting campaign into these hotspots. The criminals who
are using these areas as havens should be given no rest or respite from the cordonand-search operations. The police should not give them any sleep; they should be kept on their toes until they are caught and flushed out from their criminal nests. The public tends to initially support the campaigns, but just as they begin to bite, it is then that the residents of the hotspots, many of whom benefit from the proceeds of crime, end up turning against the police. This was the experience of the police during the crime wave which commenced in 2001 after the
DEM BOYS SEH
Dem criminals got nuff action
Yesterday was a hell of a day. Soon morning a truck nearly break down de Republic Bank pun de East Coast. Dem boys hear how de rain was falling and de truck driver couldn’t see good. He had two people inside de cab wid him but like dem and all couldn’t see because de truck jump de median, cross a trench and slam into de wall round de bank. Is a good thing nutten wasn’t coming from de opposite direction. Worse yet, people wasn’t on de road or de truck woulda clean dem up. While this happening people crowding Republic Bank fuh get dem money and dem got to stand up in a line fuh hours and when dem meet de teller dem hear how
no money in de bank fuh dem. Is now dem boys understand why de bank mek outa concrete. People end up going to wuk but dem couldn’t help thinking bout de truck and Republic Bank. One man seh is a case of old house pun old house. De bank got trouble and now a truck come fuh add more trouble. But dem boys seh is a good thing de government and Central Bank kick up a stink when de same Republic Bank try to buy Scotia Bank. Imagine de confusion because is more people woulda deh lining up fuh money. In order fuh some people to draw money dem woulda have to tek a day’s leave and de bank had to extend its banking hours.
But dem had odda problems yesterday. Dem boys see when de police corner three men in a car. Dem boys hear de police set up a roadblock and de men decide to bolt. De police charge after dem wid so much speed that de three men crash. Dem couldn’t run nowhere. De police ketch dem wid gun and things like that. But wha shock dem boys was that all three was ex-policemen. Is a case when you own bug bite you. And just when things cool down a car crash at Liliendaal. Somebody inside dead. Suh is three vehicle crash alone yesterday and nuff police action. Talk half and check pun de action in de coming days.
PNCR lost the elections and protests broke out on the East Coast, which eventually evolved into the Buxton conspiracy. The lesson of that period is that there are always agitators who are keen to go after the police when the police are going after the criminals. These agitators – some of whom were in the media – turn communities against the police. The agitators employ fake news to inflame public passions. They spread lies – such as the claim that thousands of young men were killed during the crime wave – to create a situation of victimhood and arouse public emotion against the police force.The police themselves have divided loyalties. And this creates a paralysis of action which emboldens those involved in criminality. If the police are to be successful against crime, there must be consistent and sustained action against criminal dens. The police should continue day-in and day-out to flush the criminals out of their holes. Unless this is done, the police will never be able to bring crime under control. At present, people are fed-up with the crime situation, and therefore the police
enjoy public support. But no sooner than the police begin to make inroads into criminal hotspots, the agitators will come out of their holes and try to sway public opinion against the police. And this is when the criminals will feel that they can take advantage of the situation. The police therefore cannot afford to slacken their efforts. But as we know, they will do so, because the police force does not have the resources or the stamina to conduct operations. This is all the more reason why these operations targeting criminal hotspots should become joint services operations. The government, however, has displayed an unwillingness to involve the Guyana Defence Force in crime-fighting operations. And the criminals are well aware of this fact. They know that over time the police raids will fizzle, because the Force cannot sustain them. And so the criminals will go into hiding, allow the raids to fade out, and when this happens, the criminals will emerge from their dugouts. The police have to recognize their limitations. They should employ smart policing to get around their constraints. Their raids should be
sustained, but should be intelligence-driven to ensure that there is as little leeway as possible for troublemakers to incite opposition to police action. Guyanese are hoping that the police can make a dent in crime. It is simply not safe anymore to live in this country. Life has become a lottery because of the crime wave, and the police cannot be relied upon to sustain their efforts in flushing out the criminals from hotspots. But unless the police get help they will not be successful. The government has to show it is serious about fighting crime and to launch a joint services offensive similar to Operation Dragnet of a few years ago. Unless this is done, the police will be ineffective in reducing attacks against citizens. And oil or no oil, migration will increase even more rapidly and investors will scoot. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper)
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Wednesday November 27, 2019
THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN
A crucial point Donald Rodney missed on the PNC-WPA union In the Donald Rodney vigil last Thursday outside the Court of Appeal, a little but serious disagreement broke out between Donald and Tacuma Ogunseye. I didn’t think it was proper for me to get involved at the time. What I would have said, had I intervened, is contained below. Donald was not in agreement with the WPA merging with PNC. He didn’t directly accuse WPA cadres like Ogunseye of betraying Walter Rodney, but his feeling was there to see. Ogunseye replied and stressed two words; “objective conditions”. Once you hear a politician or political activist
use those two words, you know they are referring to dialectics. Ogunseye explained that in 2010, the objective conditions existed for the PNC and WPA to work along for a peaceful solution to Guyana’s intractable ethnic and political problems, especially given the deep, authoritarian instincts that the PPP leadership was showing in the use of power. The argument got disrupted several times through the approach of the media and others joining the vigil. When I left the gathering, I didn’t hear Donald using the dialectical criterion to show Ogunseye
that the objective conditions for the PNC and WPA working together no longer existed in 2016 onwards. Here now is my take that I would have injected if the polemic had continued. I did not have comfortable feelings at the insertion of the WPA into APNU, with the PNC being the real powerhouse in 2011. Likewise, I did not feel comfortable with the AFC merging with the PNC in 2015. On both occasions I was not publicly critical, and eventually accepted the attitude of both parties. I cannot honestly say that I disapproved of what the WPA and AFC did.
My rejection of the WPA and AFC as decent, independent, nationalist, democratic, multi-racial organizations came after I saw them as actors with state power. I have spent my entire life, first as a student of power, then as a qualified academic studying it. You judge the essential being of an organization and an individual by how they use power. This column doesn’t relate to theAFC, so I will omit it from further discussion. The objective conditions for the WPA remaining with the PNC in an alliance were no longer there after 2015. This is what Donald should have told Ogunseye. The alliance was born at a time when the PPP government had gone in extreme authoritarian directions, and the PNC itself under Robert Corbin was experiencing bad vibes from both its supporters and the nation as a whole. The most compelling evidence of this was the loss of five seats in the 2006 general elections. Corbin himself was open to the PNC going in new directions. He saw a cooperative venture with the WPA as a process that could change the nature of politics in Guyana and the image of the PNC itself.
Corbin entered talks with the WPA as someone who genuinely felt that the dispute within the African community, driven by the bifurcation of Rodneyite and Burnhamite cultures, should be ended. APNU was the result. APNU was intended to be the new direction of the PNC, without any future hegemonic tendencies of the PNC. This entire face of politics had changed after power was acquired. A number of factors explain the new situation. Jean Paul Sartre says man makes the dialectic just as the dialectic makes him. First, Corbin’s influence in the PNC and government had gone, so that moderating influence was no longer there. Secondly, the new PNC leader, David Granger, was a Burnhamite ideologue, Corbin was not. Thirdly, Granger, as a very senior officer in the army’s hierarchy at the time Rodney was engaged in action against the Burnham government, would have had extensive knowledge of many of the secret activities of the WPA. I suspect there is still a haunting resentment of what the WPA did to Burnham. Fourthly, the entire landscape of the CorbinWPA-Third Force environment of 2010 was
Frederick Kissoon gone after 2015. A different PNC, under new leadership both from within and outside of Guyana, was in power. They knew nothing about the 2010 dialogue between Corbin and the WPA, and they didn’t care to know. That different PNC leadership, especially Ganger, had no interest in a PNCWPA reconciliation. In fact, during the 2015 campaign Granger interfaced with the AFC. The WPA’s presence in the 2015 campaign was virtually invisible. The only high -level WPA presence in the PNC’s command centre in Queenstown in 2015 was Jocelyn Dow, who was always close to the PNC since the seventies. After 2015, the WPA’s role had come to an end. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper)
Wednesday November 27, 2019
Kaieteur News
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Wednesday November 27, 2019
Kaieteur News
‘Spoil Child’ shot after evading police at roadblock By Shikema Dey Ex-cop Teon “Spoil Child” Allen was shot and injured by police yesterday afternoon after reportedly trying to evade a roadblock at
Rahaman’s turn, Houston, East Bank Demerara. Kaieteur News understands that two other former policemen - Jason Gonzalves and Shaquille George - were also in the silver
grey Toyota Allion motorcar (PWW 6650) with Allen at the time of the shooting. When reporters arrived on the scene, ranks were escorting Allen into a police vehicle. He was bleeding from
- two others arrested, unlicensed gun, several cellphones found in car
One of the occupants of the car that police stopped, stands with his hands outstretched as he waits to be arrested. a wound (said to be a gunshot injury) to his right shoulder. According to police sources, the incident occurred at around 4:20pm, just as the afternoon traffic began to build-up. Sources
say that Allen and the other suspects were in a heavilytinted vehicle. Allen was said to be driving. Police reportedly requested him to stop at the roadblock, but he did not and proceeded to fire a shot at the
police. According to the source, the police exchanged fire and the men in an attempt to evade the bullets veered off the road and crashed into a nearby fence. The men immediately Continued on page 15
Wednesday November 27, 2019
Give local companies first consideration of refusal – CEO, Africa Energy Consortium Local companies should be given the first consideration of refusal for the provision of goods and services for the oil sector. That was the assertion of Chief Executive Officer of the Africa Energy Consortium, Kwame Jantuah, in a presentation during the Guyana International Petroleum Business Summit and Exhibition (GIPEX) 2019 at the Marriott Hotel last week. Jantuah, who presented on the evolution of Local Content in Ghana, in calling for first consideration of refusal, echoed a similar call by former President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Deodat Indar. If someone has first consideration of refusal of something that is being offered, it means that they have the right to decide whether or not to take it before it is offered to anyone else. Indar had suggested that, under this policy, if locals have the capacity to do the job, foreigners wouldn’t be allowed to do it. He had told Kaieteur Radio that Mexico and the US have already implemented some form of the principle in their jurisdictions. In the case of the US, Indar mentioned the Jones Act. That aspect of US Law regulates maritime commerce in the country. It requires goods shipped between US ports to be transported on ships that are built, owned and operated by United States citizens or permanent residents. Mexico has similarly strong local content demands for its local workers and businesses. Even the current president of the Chamber, Nicholas Deygoo-Boyer, has said that local companies should have first consideration to participate
CEO, Africa Energy Consortium, Kwame Jantuah as much as locals have the capacity to, in the oil sector, once they meet the standard. He said that foreigners should not be encouraged to go after the jobs that locals are able to do; and that locals should capitalise on the “lowhanging fruit” in the oil sector, like provision of labour and transportation services. “Have a local content policy that allows locals to participate especially in these areas where it’s quite easy for them to start getting in.” Deygoo-Boyer said. In advocating for strong local content policy, Jantuah said “The time from exploration to production for Guyana has been short just like we went through and you will need to accelerate…” Ghana went from its first discovery to First Oil in just three years. That’s two years shorter than Guyana will. The businessman has served on a committee in Ghana that helped develop the African country’s local content policy. Ghana’s local content requirements have been so successful that they’ve even resulted in an indigenous Ghanaian company just recently making its very own significant oil discovery, said to be the first for an indigenous African oil company.
Kaieteur News
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Kaieteur News
Duty Free Fuel…
RUSAL sells excess electricity to Amerindian Village at GPL rates …guaranteed payment by deducting owed lease fees as ‘light bill’ Russian-owned and controlled Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc. (BCGI/RUSAL) imports fuel duty free for its operations, which includes generating massive amounts of electricity; it then sells the excess electricity it produces to the Hururu Amerindian Village, but at the same rate as the Guyana Power and Light (GPL). The company has been doing this for almost a decade now with a guaranteed source of payment, using monies it was supposed to pay to the village in the first place. This obtains through a land lease arrangement with the Village Council, together with sale contract for electricity. The Hururu Amerindian
Village Council agreed to lease large swaths of land for bauxite mining, transportation and other purposes to the Russian Company for $1.2M each month. The company also inked an agreement in November 2011, to sell the village its excess electricity, but at the same rate that GPL sells its consumers, and with a caveat. The rates would be increased arbitrarily in accordance with any increases GPL makes to its rates. What this led to, is that the company simply deducts the money it is supposed to pay to the Amerindian Village for leasing its land, and instead calls it money now owed to the company, for electricity - essentially, a ‘light bill’ for excess electricity
generated by the company for its own operations, using duty-free fuel. Compounding the situation is the fact that the Amerindian Village is not only being made to pay for the excess electricity through its lease fees—electricity sold at the highest rate in the Caribbean—but they are also responsible for keeping the ‘distribution network path’ or “electrical lines path clear from any obstruction that would make it imposable (sic) for the company personnel or vehicles to traverse.” This means the village, in addition to having its ‘rent owed to it’ deducted as ‘light bill’, is also responsible for clearing the distribution network. The agreement also indemnifies the company
from any injury or death to any of the villagers using the electricity supplied by RUSAL. The company is currently being investigated by the Guyana Revenue Authority over allegations it is reselling up to a third of the fuel it imports. I n d e p e n d e n t investigations by this publication have revealed that the company has been in the business of fuel sales from its inception. RUSAL has been granted a waiver of duties as part of an incentive for its investment in Guyana. This means that the 50 per cent tax normally paid to the government on the importation or purchase of the fuel is not being paid by RUSAL.
Wednesday November 27, 2019
New regulation stipulates travellers declare health status A reporting regulation has been put in place which will require travellers to declare their health status to the authorities. The regulation is part of a plan to monitor and improve the health and safety of travellers by the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), the Ministry of Public Health and the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA). Representatives of the organizations met in October to discuss methods on improving health and safety of locals and visitors, to heighten tourism resilience and reputation. According to information publicized in the Official Gazette, the ‘Reporting on Disease Events among Guests at Tourism Accommodation Establishment’ regulation requires that the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of the Ministry of Public Health is notified of any form, occurrence or detection of diseases. The information on diseases should be forwarded via the tourism and health information system. Among other things, the regulation stipulates that a full internal enquiry must be conducted once a disease event is classified, the case must be addressed by a health provider or authority through the health notification process. “Once the disease has been classified as an alert by the authorities, then a full internal enquiry must be done, and a report on the matter must be given to the CMO within 24 hours of the occurrence.” That report must detail all the persons involved in the detection and contact with the victim, as well as the victim’s personal identification detail. Further the regulation states that the CMO must ensure recommendations are made to deal with the situation, and updates are given to the relevant Continued on page 15
Wednesday November 27, 2019
‘Spoil Child’ shot after...
Ex-cop Teon ‘Spoil Child’ Allen with a gunshot wound being taken into custody. From page 12 surrendered to police and were arrested. Officers along with assistance from the canine unit searched the vehicle and an unlicensed 9mm pistol was recovered along with a quantity of cell phones. Allen has had a long history with police for a number of criminal offences. While he was before the courts for having an illegal AK-47 in his possession, he was arrested and charged for harbouring wanted men, Uree Varswyck and Mark Royden Williams, who broke out of the Camp Street prison on July 9, during a fire and riot. Just two months ago, he was charged with discharging a firearm with intent to commit murder and released on $50,000 bail. He was also wanted by police in Linden for the attempted murder of Denise Grant and Tiffany McDeth, in Amelia’s Ward, on September 2, 2019.
New regulation stipulates... From page 14 authorities on a regular basis. The disease monitoring programme, which was launched in 2017, is about improving a country’s capacity to provide cost-effective, quality health, food safety, and environmental sanitation (HSE) solutions to the HSE threats impacting on sustainable tourism in the Caribbean. This would be executed through real time early alert and response monitoring system for tourism-based health issues, training and certification, HSE standards, and multi-sectoral regional and international partnerships. Participating countries will now have an enhanced capacity to fight HSE threats. This integrated multi-sectoral programme is the first Caribbean-wide and global effort of its kind, setting an international precedent for improving sustainable tourism. Stakeholders emphasized that there is no better time than now, as new threats to health and travel in the region emerge and in this era of real time, instant information flow, for creating mechanisms for monitoring and responding to tourism health and safety threats. Chief Medical Officer of the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Shamdeo Persaud, stated that, “The programme provides training for some hospitality workers, such as tour operators and facilities operators. They are going through some of the standards they need, in terms of health and safety - food safety standards, but we are also piloting a new initiative where we would be partnering with the association to allow for easy notification if any health issues arise among tourists.” The CMO went on to say that in the past, foreigners who visited the country had only reported cases of illnesses to their health agencies, only after they would have exited the country. “Maybe weeks or months after, then we hear about it through the media. You know, that can have a devastating impact, especially if the country decides to impose travel restrictions or advisories,” he added. Director of Surveillance, Disease Prevention and Control at CARPHA, Dr. Lisa Indar, related that, “We have something called a Caribbean Corporation in Health; it is a document that sets the health agenda. So for instance, what are the health burdens for the region, and then we implement by having specific programmes. So we have a health information unit, we would also have a disease surveillance unit. For that we would work with each member state to know what their issues are and then we set a plan in action—these are two years’ plans of action where we work towards implementing.” Indar emphasized that these health plans have to be aligned with global, national and regional practices.
Kaieteur News
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Kaieteur News
Wednesday November 27, 2019
Kosmos owner, police officer killed in horrific crash
A
horrific crash on the East Coast Demerara public road last night re sulted in the death of two per-
sons. Dead are 37-year-old father of two, Dillon DeRamos, owner of Kosmos Grill & Lounge, located at MovieTowne in Turkeyen, and 35-year-old Senior Superintendent Brian Eastman, Deputy Director of the Forces Special Branch. The men were travelling in a Lexus GX470 SUV (PTT 6775) when the driver (DeRamos) lost control, struck the median, and crashed into the fence of
Yokohama Trading Limited at Liliendaal. Police arrived shortly on the scene and assisted in removing the men from the wreckage. Their lifeless bodies were then transported to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) where they were pronounced dead. Relatives who were at the hospital broke down into tears as they came to grips with the heart-breaking news. Up to press time police were still investigating as to what caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
Dead: Senior Supt. Brian Eastman
The wrecked Lexus SUV
Dead: Dillon DeRamos, owner of Kosmos Grill and Lounge
Wednesday November 27, 2019
Kaieteur News
Smaller-sized GuySuCo braces for major shortfall this year
The sugar industry is projected to fall short of this year’s target, GAWU says. Problems with factories have been blamed for the state-owned Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) likely suffering from a major shortfall this year. According to the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU), it has further revised its estimates based on recent developments. G AW U , t h e l a rg e s t sugar workers’ union, pointed to a statement, where it had estimated that the industry’s performance until the week ending December 20 would see GuySuCo producing 67,653 tonnes sugar out of a 75,843-tonne target. “At that time, we expected that Albion, Blairmont and Uitvlugt would have produced 34,187, 20,450 and 13,016 tonnes sugar respectively.” However, recent performances have caused the union to review its estimates. As at November 20, sugar production was 48,267 tonnes, or 27,486 tonnes short of the target. The union said that GuySuCo has disclosed that Uitvlugt estate has sufficient canes to produce an additional 500 tonnes of sugar and its target has been revised. However, based on the recent figures, GAWU said it is projecting 60,236 tonnes sugar for this crop as follows:“We understand that the Corporation is struggling
very much with factory problems. At Albion it has been disclosed that this is the factory’s worst performance in the longest of time. In fact, the problems at that location are so acute, the Corporation has lost some three weeks of operations during this crop due to breakdowns. That is some 420 hours of downtime. At the other locations, the situation is not much better, with breakdown hours during this crop reaching 122 and 119 at Blairmont and Uitvlugt respectively.” The union said that the situation has been especially hard for the workers. The poor reliability of the factories has seen workers on many days not being offered work. “This makes a bad situation worse, as they have been struggling with the declines in their nominal and real pay. The inability to work every day for them and their family, especially as they approach the year-end season, must be distressing. Nowadays we are no longer hearing the perennial cries of worker turnout, which really were a guise for poor production performances. Indeed, it appears, the chickens have come home to roost.” GAWU said that the poor performance also means that canes available to harvest during the second crop cannot be harvested and will have to be reaped during next year.
“The cutting of canes beyond their maturity is almost a taboo in the industry, as those canes tend to experience declining returns. Moreover, such canes are also difficult for workers to harvest as they require additional efforts by them.” According to the union, the performance of the factories brings into question the efficacy of the industry’s factory operations department. “That department’s skills, we gathered, has been augmented in recent times as several new recruits were engaged. We hasten to wonder what have been their collective contributions in assuaging the situation and trying to bring some semblance of order in relation to the difficulties that are being faced at this time. The situation for the Union and the workers are very much concerning and disconcerting at the same time.” The first crop fell short of the reported 33,863 tonnes, by 332 tonnes GuySuCo, since 2015, has been reduced to three estates, with the Coalition Government insisting that seven estates were proving a major problem for the national treasury. Four estates - Skeldon, Rose Hall, Enmore and Wales - are up for divestment and privatization. Targets have dropped from over 200,000 tonnes to about 100,000 tonnes now annually. Even this target is not being met.
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Wednesday November 27, 2019
Kaieteur News
Trial begins for 2015 murder of Sophia shopkeeper
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1 Double Steel wheel roller, 19 Wheel Pneumatic roller, 2 Bitumen kettle. Tel# 275-0367/ 683-7225 German Shepherd pups. Riumzeight Gardens, WCD #269-0671/688-1656 Copra Meal for sale. Tel# 2235273/223-5274 Li Hong Fa Aluminium CoDoors, Glass cases, Shutters, automatic doors, stainless works. 26 Public Road, Bagotstown. #669-1516/6599999 TO LET 1 bedroom apartment for working couple/single person $35,000 monthly, light & water included. 2 months security. Tel#623-0076
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Hick’s Ville Hotel: Receptionist/Hotel attendant. #231-0951-5/223-3448
On trial for murder: Jamal Forde
Murdered: Shawn Anys
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Parfaite Harmonie $1.8M, Zeelugt $2M neg Tel# 6976311
Vegetarian Gardens: Delivery driver #227-7714/223-3448 info@vgiworld.com
Decomposed body found in West Dem. home
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Vacancy exist for Experienced Pharmacy assistants to work @ reputable pharmacy in G/ town. Interested persons call # 696-5098 between 8am-4pm
The trial of Jamal Forde, one of the men accused of the May 1, 2015 murder of Sophia shopkeeper Shawn Anys, commenced yesterday before Justice Sandil Kissoon and a jury at the High Court in Demerara. Forde, 23, of South Sophia, Greater Georgetown, pleaded not guilty to the murder indictment presented by State Prosecutors Abigail Gibbs and Mandel Moore. Attorneys Ronald Burch-Smith and Keoma Griffith are appearing for the murder accused. According to reports, Anys, who owned a small grocery shop, was confronted by armed bandits at his home. It was reported that the gunmen shot Anys, while demanding cash and valuables from him. They reportedly made off with $40,000 in cash along with jewellery. The 37-year-old businessman was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Another man, Odel Roberts, 25, of ‘C’ Field Sophia was also charged with Any’s murder. He is currently on remand awaiting trial.
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2 Vacancies- Clerk & Domestic, live-in facilities for Berbicians and Essequibians #219-5354 Experienced cook from the vicinity of ogle, live in female shop attendant (18-25yrs) (Salary starts @ $25,000) #648-7866 Security Officers to work, preferably ex army,police or disciplined services. Age 2440. Contact #223-4172/6396648 Driver, must have sound secondary education, for more information, please call: 223-0090 Lorry Driver/Salesman- must have sound secondary education, ages between 2540. Call: 617-1809
The badly decomposed body of a 54-year-old man was found in a house at Hague, West Coast Demerara yesterday. Police has identified the deceased as Eric Ghansham. Ghansham, who lived alone, worked as a bicycle repairman in the community, was discovered yesterday around 11:00 hrs by a 19-year-old friend who went to check-up on him. Shortly after the remains were discovered, contact was made with the man’s relatives by the police, who confirmed that it was indeed Ghansham. The relatives of the man stated that they had not heard from him for the past two weeks, but they had no reason to be concerned about his well-being. Minutes after the discovery, Crime Scene Detectives and forensic ranks were called in to investigate. According to reports, the body was found in the lower flat of the two-storey wooden building. Further information revealed that no marks of violence were found on the body and there was no visible sign of disruption to anything in the house. The remains were removed from the property and taken to a funeral home, as the police await a post mortem examination.
Wednesday November 27, 2019
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Kaieteur News
GTT hosts Christmas Blood Drive In the future we hope we can partner twice or thrice per year with GTT to receive more blood,” Younge-Bamfield said. She indicated that
CEO, Justin Nedd and PR Manager, Jasmin Harris, during GTT’s Christmas Blood Drive. GTT, in collaboration with the National Blood Bank, yesterday hosted its first internal Christmas blood drive at the telephone company’s 79 Brickdam location. Staff members took the opportunity and flooded the company’s canteen area to donate blood. All donations received will go to the National Blood Bank to assist those in need at the various hospitals. Coordinator of the Christmas Blood Drive, Diana
Gittens, said the event was hosted as part of GTT’s Christmas giveback initiative. “The demand for blood in hospitals is always high, and as a company we thought this would be a great way to show we care, by being selfless and giving to this cause. Loss of life should not be caused by a deficiency in blood supply; we at GTT will help to ensure this is never the case, by committing to donations at least twice a year,” Gittens said.
The Coordinator said it is her hope that GTT’s Christmas Blood Drive encourages other companies and the public to save lives by organizing events like these and donating blood to the National Blood Bank. Donor Supervisor at the National Blood Bank, Tonza Younge-Bamfield, lauded GTT for exercising its civic duty in organizing the event. “I am happy with the turnout, because we need healthy donors to give blood.
persons interested in donating blood can do so at the National Blood Bank on East and Lamaha Streets GPHC, Suddie Hospital, West Demerara Regional Hospital,
New Amsterdam and Linden hospitals. According to the National Blood Bank, persons can donate a unit of blood once every 56 days.
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Kaieteur News
Wednesday November 27, 2019
Wednesday November 27, 2019
Kaieteur News
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Solitary bid submitted for completion of solar farm at Mabaruma The National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) yesterday opened 62 bids for 11 major governmental projects. One notable project included the completion works for the 400kWp solar PV farm at Mabaruma in Region One. The solitary bid was submitted by Standby Power Engineering Company. Initially, this facility was set for completion and operationalization in 2018. Preliminary works were awarded to a German company called Meeco. The 400-kilowatt solar-powered farm is expected to provide an additional 17 hours of electricity to the 3,000–plus residents of the Barima-Waini community. Other noteworthy bidding was done for the rehabilitation of Brickdam Police Station and the procurement of hydraulic excavators for the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA). Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) Completion of the 400kWp solar PV farm at Mabaruma, Region One
Ministry of Agriculture: National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) Procurement of hydraulic excavators for the NDIA in two lots
Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Procurement of gift items for the GDF’s Children’s Christmas party Parliament Office New concrete floor: tiling of the Hansard Division
Ministry of Education Procurement of security services at three lots
Construction of a monitoring outpost (CCTV cameras) Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Construction of a concrete perimeter fence at GECOM’s Corriverton Office in Corentyne, Region Six
Procurement of 26 desktop computers
Ministry of Public Security - Procurement of uniform fabric
Rehabilitation of Brickdam Police Station
Procurement of medical supplies in lots 1-12: Guyana Prison Service (retender)
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Kaieteur News
Wednesday November 27, 2019
Three injured as truck crashes into Republic Bank fence at Triumph The accident scene
Even though the police force is trying desperately to educate drivers about the dangers of speeding, commuters still continue to ignore their warnings as well as safety signs; thus putting their lives and the lives of others at stake. Yesterday at 04:30hrs, a speeding truck with a trailer, bearing registration number GTT9183, crashed into the fence of the Republic Bank branch, located at Triumph,
East Coast Demerara. No one was seriously injured. The driver of the truck has been identified as a 32-yearold male.After the accident, the driver and his two passengers, who were unresponsive at the time, were removed from the wrecked truck by a security guard who was on duty at the bank and public-spirited citizens. Paramedics subsequently arrived on the scene and
transferred the injured persons to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where they were treated and discharged. When contacted, Region 4 (Industry - West of Mahaica Bridge) Regional Commander, Assistant Commissioner, Andries Junor stated that the driver of the truck was reportedly going at a fast rate when he lost control and skated over the median, uprooted a street light, before crashing into the
fence of the bank. He added that after the medical examination is completed on the driver he is likely to be charged. Recently, the police released statistics indicating that 90% of road deaths are caused by drunk driving and speeding. Only last Sunday the police also kicked off the observance for Road Safety Week which is being held under the theme ‘Accidents Can Be Deadly, Use the Road Safely, Drive Defensively and Stay Alive.’ The Guyana Police Force in collaboration with other individuals will be working together to ensure that certain penalties are enacted and road safety instruments such as road signs are in place. This will be done with the aim of educating the younger population about the safe usage of the roadways.
Injured persons after being removed from the vehicle.
Wednesday November 27, 2019
Kaieteur News
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Wednesday November 27, 2019
Wednesday November 27, 2019
Lack of urgency cost Jaguars a semi-final... From page 36 century by Guyanese. But his next seven innings produced only 98 runs. “In earlier games, we did well in the later part of the innings, but the lack of intent and urgency in the first 20 overs left too much to do at the back end,” said Johnson as
Chanderpaul and Savory had a strike rate of less than 50. Guyana are Champions of all of the last five Regional FirstClass tournaments but when they beat Barbados at Bourda in 2005 it was the last time they had won a 50-overs title. Johnson, with 13 fifties and a century from 75 List ‘A’
matches, gave his views on why this is so. “I just think in Four-Day cricket we play a lot smarter and make better decisions than we do in 50 overs cricket, we have spoken at length about it but it’s about execution at the end of the day,” the Jaguars skipper concluded.
Third Romel & Robin Golf Event a... From page 32 coming out to enjoy the ambiance of the beautifully manicured grounds and live music. Promoter of the event Romel Bhagwandin said he was thankful for the opportunity to host their 4th event since they started and praised the grounds staff and President of the LGC for the condition of the ground. “We have seen a dramatic improvement in the amount of events and new members and we all feel that Mr. Hussain has done a fantastic job of bringing this to life in a very short time,” said the local businessman speaking on behalf of his event partner Robin Tiwari. President of the club, Aleem Hussain, expressed his gratitude to all the players and members who have given their support to growing
the club over the past few years and said that he hoped the foundation laid by his team in marketing and promotion will continue to have long-term effects. “We have hit many milestones this year and look forward to growing the sport and awareness amongst women and children in the coming months with many fun activities being planned with Marriott, Macorp, Ansa McAl, Copa, and several of our new members” said Hussain. “With the opportunity to practice and play almost all year, the club offers free training to anyone interested in learning and we will even come to your location to train and promote the sport.” Information about upcoming events and access to the club, equipment and training is available on their Facebook page -lusignan golf club or by calling 220-5660.
Wednesday November 27, 2019 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Your parents or another couple close to you may be quarreling, and you might be expected to take sides. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Someone you know well could be saying one thing to you while your intuition tells you another. Your friend is probably troubled by something embarrassing. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) A female friend may seem to be upset with you and might not admit it. If you ask what's wrong, she'll probably say, "Nothing." Use your intuition to deduce what's bothering her and then try to make it up to her in some way.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You might have gotten home later last night than is good for you, and you may feel a little tired and dragged out. Take your vitamins and don't use coffee as a stimulant. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Your emotions may cloud your intuition today. You might not pick up on the thoughts and feelings of others the way you normally do, and you could feel at a disadvantage. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Today you might feel especially passionate and desirous of some time alone with your significant other.
CANCER(June21–July22) Emotions might run high with today's astral energies. Your friends may be snapping at each other and even getting into quarrels.
CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Your significant other may be expected at your house tonight but not show up, and may not even communicate with you.
LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Some people with whom you spend a lot of time could get into a debate over spiritual or metaphysical concepts. This could make you and everyone else very uncomfortable.
AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Someone you need to contact for information may be temporarily unavailable. You might have to try to find whatever you need somewhere else.
VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Disagreements and hot tempers could hinder the completion of an important project. There may be a detail to the plan that some people just can't agree on.
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PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You're probably doing better financially than you have for a long time, but you still might not have reached some of the monetary goals you'd set. This could be on your mind today.
Amy Grant keeps overcoming the... From page 39 times spent with rival athletes from Linden. “They were my arch rivals and I was supposed to dislike them but hatred does not take anyone to the happy summit,” said Amy Grant. “God is love and love gives the ultimate satisfaction. My arch rivals, the Lindeners, who competed against me demonstrated what true sportsmanship is all about.” “Whether you’re a cyclist, a swimmer, track star, or a tennis icon – your gold is all yours - for all of you who climbed from the bottom and rose to the top relentlessly with hard work, determination, and persistence - defying all adversity and just doing it on faith. Who made it out of their extreme poverty and difficult situations, and worked hard to put themselves in a better place. I congratulate you- for the countless hours of exhausting training schedules, injuries, missed milestones and heartbreaking failures where you gave your all for a greater purpose, and most of all, for never giving up despite all that you have been through. You faced enormous challenges and refused to be beaten. It’s not about how you fall, it’s about how you get back up that counts,” was Grant’s message. They say that God gives his toughest battles to his strongest soldiers. Through Grant’s countless efforts and all the passion and heart that she puts into sport, she proves this true.
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Third Romel & Robin Golf Event a Success Another successful weekend of golf, fun and excitement was completed on Sunday at the Lusignan Golf Course with the third barbeque and golf extravaganza of the year run off by Robin and Romel. Dozens of players turned out to partake in the 9 hole tournament that allowed players of all abilities to compete for tons of trophies and prizes. A special category for under 16 players was created and won in convincing fashion by young caddy Roberto, who also beat all the seasoned players to win the closest to the pin prize. Longest drive was won by Avinda Kishore with a drive of 330 yards that bested all other players for the day. In the 0-4 category, it was Jaipaul Sukhnandan who took top honors away from second place Richard Hanif,
Pictured from left: Richard Hanif, Guillermo Escarraga, Miguel Oviedo, Vishal, Ajay (Mullet), Romel, LGC President Aleem Hussain, Satrohan Robin Tiwari. Kneeling: Willey, Ganesh, Jaipaul Sukhnandan and Avinash Persaud. with 10-time Guyana Open Champion Avinash Persaud taking third place along with the Best Gross overall for the tournament. The 5-9 category was won by Vishal, a local caddy, followed closely by several players who tied for the second and third place, which
after a count back saw Macorp CEO Guillermo Escarraga taking second edging out Willy, another local caddy who took the third position. In the 10-14 category, it was Ganesh taking top honors along with the best net overall ahead of Macorp’s
Miguel Oviedo who took second place, reaching the winners circle both days on the weekend. Third place was taken by Ajay also known as Mullet after a count back with Ansa Mcal Managing Director Troy Cadogan. According to Miguel Oviedo, the highlight of the weekend was the opportunity to beat his boss for the first time in history. The well attended event continued into the late hours with families and friends (Continued on page 31)
Wednesday November 27, 2019
GCB extends heartfelt condolences on the passing of Mr. Harold Dhanraj It was with great sadness that the executives and staff of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) learnt of the passing of former Vice President of the Demerara Cricket Board (DCB) and Club Captain and Coach of the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC), Mr. Harold Dhanraj on November 24th 2019, the board informed in a release. It is with a heavy heart that we extend our deepest condolences to his family, clients and friends. Mr. Dhanraj was known for his affable and easy-going persona, and to our understanding, he has been a pillar of knowledge within the cricketing arena. His demise is a great loss to the members of the entire cricket fraternity. Mr. D h a n r a j ’s commitment to the GCC has spanned well over 30 years, and his invaluable contribution to the club has been acknowledged in more ways than one, inclusive of him being
bestowed with life membership for the club. During his years of service, he served as P r e s i d e n t (ag), Vice President, Club Captain and Coach, the latter two of which he took a hands on approach to working with varying ages of children in the player development field (cricket and life skills) of the GCC Cricket Development Structure. N o t i c e a b l y, H a r o l d Dhanraj was instrumental in the early development of star players, such as former West Indies players’ Carl Hooper, Neil McGarrell, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Reon King, Leon Johnson, Vishaul Singh, Ramnaresh Sarwan, among many others. Mr. Harold Dhanraj has left a legacy of true commitment towards the development of cricket in Guyana. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time, as we share their pain and grief. May his soul rest in eternal peace.
Wednesday November 27, 2019
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Monedderlust is new Berbice FA 2019 Transport SC capture Lloyd Rollins Birth Anniversary Tapeball title NAMILCO U-17 League Champions Transport Sports Club emerged champions of the Lloyd Rollins Birth Anniversary 10-over Tapeball competition which was contested on Sunday last at the Transport Sports Club. Transports SC defeated Transformers by nine wickets in the final. Batting first, Transformers were bowled out for 39 in 4.5 overs. Alvin Mohabir made 14 while Joel Spooner contributed 11. Akeem Redman took 2-7.
Transport SC responded with 40-1 in 4.3 overs. Redman made 15 and Devon Allen 12. Redman was named man-of-the-match. Transports SC beat Transporters by eight wickets in the lone semi final. Transporters took first strike and scored 31 all out in 9.5 overs. Chemroy Kendall made 15 as Redman took 2-4. Transport SC responded with 35-2 in 3.4 overs. Devon Allen led with 22 not out with two fours and two sixes. Allen was voted man-of-the-match.
The Championships trophy being presented to Captain of the Monedderlust FC by BFA 1st Vice President and competition’s coordinator Randy Sears. Played on Sunday in brilliant sunshine at the Esplanade Park in New Amsterdam before a fairsized crowd, Monedderlust with a rearguard Tyrone Delph strike in the dying minutes (84th) defeated NA United to take the NAMILCO U17 League 2019 Championship.
The match lived up to expectations since they were the most dominant of the teams that participated in the competition. Both teams were relentless in attacks and sturdy in defence throughout the 90 minutes encounter. However, just when it looked like heading for extra time, Tyrone Delph seized a
rare lapse in the NA lads defence to slotted one past the opponent’s custodian. This NA lads tried in vain to pull one back but Monedderlust withstood the rampaging mood of NA United to seal the one 1 - nil victory and the coveted Namilco Flour Power U17 League 2019 Championship Trophy.
Captain of the victorious TSC team Akeem Redman accepts the winning trophy from Lloyd Rollins in the presence of his team mates.
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Wednesday November 27, 2019
Guyana’s participation in C’bean Boxing C/ships East Coast Demerara Inter in Limbo - TTBA worried this could adversely affect C/Ships Secondary School 5 miles By Sean Devers in Trinidad Guyana’s participation in this year ’s Caribbean Boxing Championships which is scheduled for December 4-9 at the Pleasantville Sports Complex in South Trinidad is in limbo. Guyana are the defending Champions and the Guyanese boxers, who are expected to depart Guyana on the morning of December 4, commenced a one-week training camp which started yesterday. As the date for the Championship gets closer, the frustration of the Boxers and Officials in Guyana is getting bigger. “The Guyana Amateur Boxing Association is now ambivalent about participating in the Caribbean Championship after government “came up short” on support for the team of 20,” informed GABA president Steve Ninvalle yesterday. According to Ninvalle the National Sports Commission (NSC) could only contribute $500,000 of a budget of three million to send 16
boxers to the tournament. Ninvalle claims that Government’s support amounts to that for two and one half boxers. “To say that the entire boxing fraternity is disappointed would be blatant understatement. Air travel to Trinidad and accommodation is a hundred thousand per person. That $500,000 can only take care of two and a half boxers,” a frustrated Ninvalle lamented. “We have to send at least 16 boxers if we are to stand a chance of retaining our Caribbean Title we worked so hard to earn last year. As it is right now Guyana may not make it to Trinidad,” Ninvalle added. Sports Officials here (Trinidad) says that Sports is an important aspect of Trinidad and Tobago’s economy and Government and the Businesses Community here is very supportive of Sports. Efforts to contact Trinidad & Tobago’s Sports Minister Shamfa Cudjoe proved unsuccessful. President of TTBA and ViceChairman of the Caribbean Steering Committee, Cecil Ford reiterated that Trinidad and Guyana share an excellent relationship and it has grown since Ninvalle took over the helm. “We are hoping that all things work out and a full team can represent Guyana. We need that, not only at the level of the Organising Committee of the Caribbean Championship but the entire Caribbean,” Ford added. When Guyana won the
Caribbean title in 2016, Ninvalle walked 100 miles in two days to raise funds to send the team after the Government failed to provide support. The 11-man team returned home with 10 gold and one silver medal. Guyana, CARICOM’s powerhouse in boxing, has won the senior Caribbean title twice since 2016 but was forced to relinquish the title in 2017 after insufficient funds forced the GABA to send a team of four to St Lucia. Ninvalle said that he was optimistic of a full team representing Guyana following a phone call with Sports Minister George Norton last week but this new development has shattered his enthusiasm. “At this time we can only turn to the Government for such support as our usually reliable option the Guyana Olympic Association has already committed three million dollars to assist in preparing a team for the Olympic Qualifiers,” Ninvalle said. The Selectors, headed by GABA’s Technical Director Terrence Poole, have named 20 boxers, including Caribbean Champions, middleweight Desmond Amsterdam and Bantamweight Keevin Allicock for this year’s tournament. Also included are the talented Jackman siblings, Abiola and Alesha, along with USA based Bantamweight Azeem Al Azeem who lost to Jullius Kesney in Final of the Terrence Alli Open which was used to select this team.
Road Relay set for Saturday Secondary Schools on the East Coast of Demerara will compete in a 5 miles Road relay race on Saturday 30th November starting at 6:00am. The race will be run from Unity, Mahaica Gas Station to Victoria Gas Station on the East Coast of Demerara. According to Coordinator of the event Ras Aaron Blackman schools expected to participate are Blygeval Multilateral School, Ann’s Grove Community High School, Hope Secondary School, President College, Golden Grove Secondary, Bladen Hall Secondary School, Annandale Secondary School, Plaisance Secondary and Cummings Lodge Secondary School. The schools’ athletic season has just concluded and according to Ras Aaron Blackman the athletes will be prepared to cover the middle distances and represent their
schools well. The event is planned in conjunction with the Victoria Vi l l a g e D a y C o m m i t t e e t o coincide with the 180th Anniversary of the purchase of Plantation Northbrook that was renamed Victoria Village. The race will be run in six legs, with one female and 5 male athletes, the female athletes will be the ones starting the event and will cover a distance of about 800 metres. Trophies and medals have been donated by Regional Administration of Region 4, Department of Culture, Grove Haslington NDC, Burrowes School of Art and the National Sports Commission. Athletes must assemble at the Vi c t o r i a G a s St a t i o n t o b e transported to their start points or legs along the route.
GCUC BGM set for February 16; DCUSA AGM to be held.... From page 37 The meeting will commence at 10:00hrs and the agenda reads; Call to order, Prayer, Remarks by President, Minutes of the previous AGM, Matters Arising, Correspondence, Secretary’s report, Discussion and Adoption of the Secretary’s Report,
Treasurer’s Report, Discussion and Adoption of the Treasurer’s report, Sub Associations reports, Motions, Any Other Business, Election of Office Bearers and Response from Elected Officers. Members are asked to be on time to facilitate a prompt start.
Wednesday November 27, 2019
Kaieteur News
Guyoil/Tradewind Tankers schools’ football league
Lodge Secondary lead points table Lodge Secondary look primed to dethrone East Coast boys’ Annandale Secondary in the Guyoil/ Tr a d e w i n d Ta n k e r s schools’ football league after maintaining their perfect record with a comfortable 3-1 thumping of President’s College on Monday afternoon at the Ministry of Education (MOE) ground to go two points clear at the top of the points standing. Nicholas Trotman bagged a brace in the third
and 39th minutes, while skipper Dorwin George netted the third goal in 65th minutes. On the scoresheet for PC was Kareem Samuel who scored on the stroke of first half break. In the opening match Queen’s College needled St. Stanislaus College with Diarra Thomas finding the back of the net in the 50th minute. Following Monday’s results, Lodge Secondary leapfrogged Annandale that now sit in second
Please see points standing below. Teams GP W Lodge Secondary 6 6 Annandale 6 5 President’s College 6 3 Bishops’ High 5 3 Charlestown 6 2 Marian Academy 5 2 Queen’s College 6 2 Cummings Lodge 6 1 St. John’s 6 1 St. Stanislaus 6 0
D 0 1 1 0 2 1 0 2 1 0
L 0 0 2 2 2 2 4 3 4 6
Merriman Funeral Homes Inc supports Champion of Champions 2 Organising secretary of the Guyana Domino League (GDL) Mark Wiltshire has gained the backing of Merriman Funeral Homes Inc for the staging of the Champion of Champions 2 dominoes competition which is set for December 1 at Rona Place, Ogle. At a simple presentation ceremony held yesterday at Merriman Funeral Homes, 55 Lime and Benn Streets, supervisor of the entity Hazel Preville presented a cheque to Wiltshire. Preville said they are excited to be part of the competition which will see the top teams battling for supremacy, while Wiltshire expressed gratitude to Preville for their input. Wiltshire informed that
the competition is only open to teams that brought first in 2019 tournaments and entrance fee is $12,000; at stake are cash prizes, trophies, medals and hampers. Among the teams listed to take part are Gold is Money, Mix up, Spartons, Phantom, C6, C7, Gangster, Fresh Cash, All Season’s, Angel’s, Ponter’s, B13, Royal Kings, Turning Point, Killers, T and T, Players, Providence, Lions and OPKO as well as a number of guess teams; Big Boss, Strikers, Beacons, Pace Setters, Quiet Storm, Undercover, Orange Walk, West Side, Ravens, One Love, Travellers and In time. Teams can contact Wiltshire on 659 8672 for registration. Double-six time is 14:00hrs.
Mark Wiltshire accepts the cheque from Hazel Preville.
place. The winners of the tournament along with runners up will qualify for the end of year goodwill tournament that will include a school team from Trinidad & Tobago (T&T), a hinterland team and an allstar team. The winners will also pocket $200,000 towards a project of their school’s choice with second place getting $100,000, third $50,000 and fourth place $25,000.
GF 20 31 15 10 9 6 3 9 3 2
GA 3 11 12 8 11 9 14 16 38 11
GD PTS 17 18 20 16 3 10 2 9 -2 8 -3 7 -11 6 -7 5 -35 4 -9 0
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Wednesday November 27, 2019
Chris Gayle says no to India ODIs, takes ‘break’ from cricket ESPNcricinfo - Chris Gayle is not contemplating his future. He is planning it instead. Part of that plan is taking a “break” from cricket for the rest of 2019. Gayle will miss the ODIs against India in December after the selectors checked on his availability for the threematch series. Gayle will instead utilise the time to “recharge” and “reflect” on what he really wants in 2020. On Sunday, on his way out of the MSL where he was playing for defending champions Jozi Stars. Gayle opened up on the “burden” he feels when he does not perform. Gayle’s comments came in the wake of poor returns in this MSL: 101 runs from 6 innings including 54 on Sunday against Tswhane Spartans. Gayle made it evident that he was hurt by the constant scrutiny not just from the media but also from franchise, owners, team managements, coaches and players. But he
is not giving up, Gayle made it clear that he wanted to sort things out and return in 2020 with a clear mind. That is what he told the West Indies selection panel which is headed by former allrounder Roger Harper. It is understood the squads for the India series comprising three T20s and three ODIs, have been finalised and will likely be announced this week by Cricket West Indies (CWI). It is also understood that when the selectors checked with Gayle on his availability for the ODI series in India, he shared with them his thoughts about the break. “West Indies called me to play ODIs, but I am not going to play,” Gayle said on Sunday during the media briefing after the Stars’ defeat. “They (selectors) want me to play with the youngsters but for this year I am going to take a break.” Gayle said he would not be playing the Big Bash, too, this season and was surprised
that his name had been listed in one of the teams in the Bangladesh Premier League. “I am not going to the Big Bash. I’m not sure what cricket will come up, I don’t even know how my name reached the BPL, but I have been drafted in a team and I don’t even know how that happened.” It could not be confirmed whether Gayle is part of the T20 World Cup plans where West Indies are the defending champions. But both Harper’s panel and the team management comprising head coach Phil Simmons and Kieron Pollard, the ODI and T20 captain have stressed that the door is open to all players including the seniors like Gayle. Speaking to ESPNcricinfo recently at the T10 tournament, Pollard said he was excited to have Gayle around him because of the “wealth of knowledge” the Jamaican has accrued from over more than two decades
of playing across formats. “You have Chris Gayle who is still playing T20 cricket around the world,” Pollard said. “He has a wealth of knowledge and experience in the T20 arena, 50-over, in Test cricket, so he can share a lot of that.” Gayle, who turned 40 in September, last played for West Indies in the home ODI series against India in August. Everything about that match had a farewell feel to it. Gayle had blasted 72 off 41 balls, helping West Indies record the highest 10-over score ever for a team batting first. The innings ended abruptly, but he walked off to a standing ovation from not just the sparsely filled Queen’s Park Oval in Port-of-Spain but also Virat Kohli’s India. Gayle, who had surpassed Brian Lara during the series to become the top ODI runmaker for West Indies, acknowledged the adulation by carrying his helmet atop
Barnwell was the only Jaguars batsman to pass 350 runs.
thoughtless shot selection by Ramaal Lewis, give the USA a nine-run win, only their second in the tournament. Jaguars in the meantime would extend their streak without a 50-over title to 15 years when they try again in next year. Head Coach Esuan Crandon said he was at a loss for words after the heartbreaking defeat in which Jonathon Foo’s 22-ball 41 kept hopes alive until the final three balls when he was bowled with a perfect delivery. “The opportunity to win the game was there, I don’t think we played that final over very well, the rain came and took away five overs from us as well and sent our run rate up from 6 to 7.5 that as well didn’t help the situation,” said a disappointed Jaguars Captain Leon Johnson, who managed just 147 runs at an
Average of 18.37. Johnson noted that there were a few positives that could be taken away from a tournament littered with inconsistent batting. “The batting of Foo and (Chris) Barnwell were the most positive things for me in this tournament,” said the 32 year-old who played the last of his 15 international matches (nine Tests and six ODIs) in 2016. Foo and Barnwell were the only two Jaguars batsmen to score over 203 runs. Barnwell amassed 351 with three fifties, an average of 43.87 and a strike rate of 99.71. Foo made 334 runs with two fifties including an unbeaten 97 with an Average of 55.66 and a strike rate of 133.2. Chanderpaul Hemraj was the other batsman to reach 200 (202) with the only (Continued on page 31)
his bat handle. He would lead the West Indies players out to the park later in the day to what everyone thought was one last time. Minutes later he was asked by the CWI media manager if he had retired from ODI cricket. “I didn’t announce any retirement,” Gayle said with a chuckle and when asked to elaborate, added “until you hear further notice.” With Gayle surprises never cease to end. In March, having waltzed to the fastest half-century by a West Indies batsman, he declared it would be his last ODI series in the Caribbean. In February he had already pointed out the ODI World Cup would be his final tournament. Except, on the eve of West Indies’ last match in that tournament, Gayle said he would like to play against India at home.
He had another opportunity to play India, this time away, but he has it turned down because he feels he needs the time away from the game as he seeks clarity about his future. “I’m going to recharge my batteries and think ahead in life and try and plan it better and keep the people who are more real around you,” Gayle said on Sunday. “There’s a lot of things I am going to analyse. You never stop learning. Doesnt matter how long I have been playing. There’s a lot of things for me to give back. 2020 is just around the corner. I will use now and next month to reflect on what I really want for 2020.” West Indies’ next limitedovers assignment is the home series against Ireland in January comprising three ODis and three T20Is.
EPFA Senior KO
Charity Extreme Lack of urgency cost Jaguars a semi-final spot - Johnson and Mainstay Gold Star to clash in final By Sean Devers in Trinidad The weather was gloomy as the Guyana Jaguars departed the Hilton Hotel in Port-of-Spain just after midday yesterday for the Piarco Airport and their flight back home and so was mood of the players. At the half way stage of their truncated final round match in the Colonial Medical Super50 Cup cricket tournament against last placed USA, the news of the Red Force’s 10-wicket destruction of the West Indies Emerging Players spread like a wild fire among the Jaguars players and supporters. The penultimate hurdle to their semi-final match against Barbados on Thursday was crossed and destiny was in their hands to make that final jump to qualification. Even with three interruptions due to rain
which revised their target to 222 from 36 overs, their final leap, though challenging, was anticipated to be accomplished successfully, or so their fans thought. Even in the last over, with 11 required, hope was still alive. But that was not to be as South African Rusty Theron in a superb last over, aided by
Ahead of the GFF Super 16 2019/2020 championship, the Essequibo Pomeroon Football Association (EPFA) has put together a knockout tournament to arrive at its representative team for the year-end spectacle. Earning the right to battle for that place are Charity Extreme and Mainstay Gold Star which defeated their challengers last weekend. Charity Extreme defeated Henrietta United 4-2, while Mainstay were pushed to the hilt, eventually getting past Good Hope via kicks from the penalty mark after battling to a 2-2 stalemate in regulation time. Mainstay were golden in their blanking of Henrietta, thanks to goals from Deon Narine in the 38th minute which handed his side the initial advantage which was then doubled, luckily so when Henrietta’s Leonard Semple scored an own goal in the 40th minute. Not too happy with a two goal cushion, Mainstay further increased the advantage in the 59th minute on account of Sheldon Pitt’s strike. But one minute later, Henrietta finally found their scoring boots and within a five-minute burst, came within one goal of their opponents. Travis Joyce in the 60th and Devon Hardy in the 65th minutes brought some hope to their team’s quest to
upstage their rivals but Mainstay held on to the one goal lead which was restored to two goals in the 93rd minute when Ronaldo Burgis tucked in the sealer on Sunday afternoon at the New Opportunity Corp Ground at Onderneeming. The Saturday match-up was a humdinger of a clash, Mainstay Gold Star edging Good Hope 5-4 through kicks from the penalty mark after a mouthwatering 2-2 stalemate. Mainstay took the lead on the stroke of 40 minutes through a Joseph Kistoo strike only for Good Hope to cancel out that advantage four minutes later when Kenroy Rodrigues scored. In the second half, it was Good Hope’s turn to put their nose ahead, thanks to Leonardo Hendricks’ 51st minute goal. But their advantage too did not last too long owing to Randy De Jonge’s 64th minute effort which tied the game, 2-2. Kicks from the penalty mark were required to decide the winner, Mainstay prevailing 5-4. The final is set for Saturday at the NOC Ground from 15:00hrs, both Mainstay Gold Star and Charity Extreme have all to play for as victory will punch their ticket via speed boat to the GFF Super 16 year-end championship.
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Wednesday November 27, 2019
Albion whip Port Mourant by 106 runs in Balram Shane Memorial Cricket It was Albion’s 15th title in the 20 years’ history of the match, organised by Rose Hall Town’s Businessman Deonarain Balram in memory of his late father Balram Shane and also as a fund raising venture for both the Albion and Port Mourant Cricket Clubs. Albion batted first and posted 215 all out in 48.5 of their allotted 50 overs after being 197 for 6 in the 40th over at one stage. Adrian Sukhwa led the way for Albion with a well composed 78 and was well supported by National U17 batsman Sarwan Chaitnarine with 37. Port Mourant, who fielded guest players Kellon Carmichael, Alex Algoo, Paul Wintz, Devon Clements
and Ameer Khan in their lineup, had no answer to the spin attack of Albion and were routed for 109 in 39.4 overs. Left-arm-spinner Kelvin Umrao bagged 4 wickets and was well assisted by Chaitnarine with his off-spin who accounted for three scalps. Albion took home the Balram Shane trophy and $140,000, while Port Mourant received the r u n n e r- u p t r o p h y a n d $120,000. The teams also received addition incentives from ticket sales. The man of the match award went to Adrian Sukhwa. He also got the prize for the best batsman on show. He took home trophies and cash incentives. Kelvin
Good Success/SS/ Jaguars claim Mike’s Pharmacy and Trophy Stall U-19 title-Wakenaam Good Success/Sans Souci/Sans Souci Jaguars combined defeated Maria’s Pleasure/Zeelandia combined by 23 runs to win the final of the Mike’s Pharmacy/Trophy Stall U19 40-over cricket competition which was contested recently at the Wakenaam Community Centre ground. In a match which was reduced to 18 overs due to rain, Good Success, Sans Souci/Sans Souci Jaguars batted first and managed 926. Ramesh Ramnarine top scored with 30, while Ravy Nandalall and Devon Ramrattan made 14 each. Rickey Persaud claimed 213 and Ryan Atkinson 1-7. M a r i a ’ s
Ramesh Ramnarine Pleasure/Zeelandia combined were bowled out for 69 in 13 overs in reply. Atkinson struck three fours and two sixes in a scoring 42, while Rafino Rahat made 13; Gladewin Henry Jr grabbed 3-12 and Devon Ramrattan had 2-6. Ramnarine was named man-of-the-match.
GCUC BGM set for February 16; DCUSA AGM to be held on January 12 The Bi-annual General Meeting of the Guyana Cricket Umpires’ Council will be held on Sunday February 16 at the Mayor and City Council Union Hall Building, Woolford Avenue at 10:00hrs. The agenda reads as follows; Call to order, P r a y e r, R e m a r k s b y President, Minutes of the previous AGM, Matters Arising, Correspondence, S e c r e t a r y ’s r e p o r t , Discussion and Adoption of the Secretary’s Report,
Tr e a s u r e r ’s R e p o r t , Discussion and Adoption of the Treasurer’s Report, Sub Associations reports, Motions, Any Other Business, Election of Office Bearers and Response from Elected Officers. The Annual General Meeting of the Demerara Cricket Umpires and Scorers Association will be held on Sunday January 12, at the Mayor and City Council, Union Hall Building, Woolford Avenue. (Continued on page 34)
The winning Albion team pose with sponsor Deonarine Balram stooping at right after the match. Umroa got a trophy and cash incentives for being the best bowler on show. Promising Port Mourant youth player Jonathan Ramnauth was presented with a new bat by Mr. Balram as an incentive for success so
far and encouragement for him to continue his good showing. Sponsor Mr. Deonarine Balram used the opportunity to thank the teams for participating in the competition and
congratulated Albion for winning. According to Balram it is one of the longest family sponsored cricket tournaments. He mentioned players such as test players Devendra Bishoo, Narsingh
Deonarine, Sewnarine Chattergoon, Adrian Permaul as well as Roopnarine Ramgobin and Gudakesh Motie and Anthony Bramble among those who would have played in the tournament.
Kaieteur News
PAGE 40
Wednesday November 27, 2019
Amy Grant keeps overcoming the challenges – claims 5 golds again at Schools C/ships Amy Grant, the sixth former from School of the Nations has done it again in the 59th edition of the GTU/MOE 2019 Nationals Schools Cycling, Swimming and Track & Field Championships. Grant, who represented District 11, entered the 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle and 50m butterfly swimming events in the Girls Open Category on Monday 17th and amassed three gold medals to achieve a total of 30 points thereby copping the Under 20 Champion girl trophy for gaining the most points in the age group, a title shared with Monique Watson. Grant also won Gold in the Girls Open 4x50 freestyle relay along with her team mates Maiya IfillFrancois, Giselle Crane and Amber De Goaes. Next day Grant moved to the Lenora stadium where she continued her prowess as she watched her final throw in the Girls Open javelin flying to gold for the second
year in a row, making it 5 gold for the championships. Every athlete has a story. Some came from nothing but poverty, while some faced enormous adversities while on their rocky ride to the top of their sports discipline. Grant’s enormous success and her journey to the top is seen on the outside. What is not seen is that she came from the bottom with only self discipline, hard work, sacrifice and faith so she has earned every single thing that she has received. Those gold medals are all hers. Born from a mother who couldn’t sit and watch her daughter struggling and decided to sacrifice her dreams and become her daughter’s coach so that her daughter achieves her dreams and a father who is of the same caliber, Amy was raised with discipline and her journey in swimming began because she was born with health complication which threatened her life and the constant battle to survive
led to her learning swimming as a last resort to strengthen her health together with nutrition. Songbird Amy Grant, whose fame came from her seasonal song, Christmas Must Be Something More and then moved to sports, was quick to highlight that fame and fortune does not immune individuals from mental and physical illness or sadness. According to the songbird, the truth is, sportspeople are actually one of the most likely groups in society to fall into depression and athletes suffer from the condition at some stage in their life. Grant has been out of swimming for a year due to an injury and not being able to have pool time. Her coach had gained pool time from the representatives of the National Sports Commission October 2019 after trying to gain pool time since 2015 to form a club. However, Mr. Christopher Jones, the Director of Sports, gave instructions in May to Mr. Seelall, the administrator of
the Aquatic Centre to stop the coach using the pool until he gets back from his vacation. There was never a meeting and all attempts to get the matter sorted proved futile. The Lifeguard club allowed her to use their time to train and the club was also told to stop using the pool. Grant thinks it was quite a coincidence that the one club that tried to help her have pool time was the only other club that was also stopped. A few weeks ago the Lifeguard club got back pool time and resumed training sessions. She hopes that Minister Norton will look into the matter in the interest of the betterment of sports. Grant said her coach had a few young boys in the club from Plaisance village and a few girls from Sophia who wanted to swim but couldn’t afford to pay for training and they are back to being hopeless in that regard. She said the club was formed to take the underprivileged as well as cast outs and give them a chance at success, a chance to believe in themselves and to achieve
the highest level of their ability and be productive in s o c i e t y. Yo u n g G r a n t wonders too, when the indifference will stop and adults will focus on a more progressive lifestyle. Youths have enough to battle with a system which focuses on academics and not much space for sports, so those naysayers who try to cast gloom should give positive support to the overburdened athletes. Statements from adult club members with nothing positive to say were on social media because reporters decided to use her name in their reports on the championships. Amy has always been so busy managing academics and sports that she has never had the time for a vacation so she went on her first vacation in August, 2019 in Atlanta and enjoyed it so much that she didn’t realize the pounds were adding up. When she came back in mid September she had to get rid of 30 plus pounds with just a few weeks to inter schools sports to qualify for the 2019 national championships. She was
Amy Grant displays her prizes. also studying and sitting the 2019 AS level GCE exams which she completed only last week. A very unfit Amy dug deep into her reserves and started preparation for the championships. She only had 9 hours of swim training this year so she is proud of her achievements and feels she has done exceptionally well to have put in such performance despite the short time she has had to prepare. According to Grant, the best memories she will take with her for this championship are those of (Continued on page 31)