Kaieteur News
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Tuesday November 29, 2016
Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Adam Harris Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL
Long live Cuba! The world’s foremost revolutionary, Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz died last Friday, November 25, 2016, at the age of 90. As Cubans began their nine day mourning period for their leader, and as world leaders continued to pay tribute to one of the towering figures of the 20th century, many Cuban exiles in Miami took to the streets and waved flags in the rain to celebrate his death. Many banged pots and pans and called him a tyrant. They claimed that his death should have come much sooner so that the people of Cuba could be free. Castro’s prolonged hold on power stemmed from his genuine commitment to make Cuba the most respected and dignified state in the hemisphere. Following the successful overthrow of Cuba’s President Fulgencio Batista in 1959 by Castro, Che Guevara and the 26th of July Movement, Castro assumed power as Prime Minister from 1959 to 1976 and then as President from 1976 to 2008 before he ceded power to his brother Raul. Under Castro’s leadership, Cuba adopted a Marxist-Leninist model of development and became a one-party state under communist rule; the first in the Western Hemisphere. Castro’s leftist and antiimperialist politics angered several US administrations which attempted to remove him from office by assassination, economic blockade and the Bay of Pigs failed invasion of 1961. The Bay of Pigs not only made Castro a hero in the national liberation struggle and the Father of the revolution, but it also embarrassed the US. Castro countered these threats by forming an alliance with the Soviet Union. This union protected Cuba from any US invasion and sparked the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 which became a defining incident of the Cold War and world history. In death just as in life, Fidel Castro was loved and hated in equal measure. As the leader of the most successful socialist revolution in the hemisphere, he survived the longest economic blockade in history. He also built a communist state just 90 miles off the United States. Despite the massive pressure put on him by the US, Castro held his ground and transformed Cuba into an independent self-sufficient state. He inspired many leaders around the world, including our own Cheddi Jagan and Forbes Burnham. His friendship with Guyana has resulted in hundreds of scholarships to Guyanese students to pursue studies in medicine, engineering and other technical areas. Castro convinced his fellow citizens that no sacrifice is too great to make in defending the rights and dignity of all Cubans. As reported numerous times in the media, he not only survived several assassination attempts by the CIA, but he had to contend with many clandestine opposition groups from within the country. These overt and covert operations served to strengthen his resolve and intensify his efforts to improve the social welfare of Cubans. Today, Cubans enjoy one of the best universal healthcare systems in the world with the highest life expectancy rates. With regard to education, Cubans are among the most literate people in the world, and in terms of sports, the country has some of the best athletes, especially in boxing. For the most part, Fidel Castro was a beacon of hope for oppressed peoples around the world, especially in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. His role in national liberation struggles in several countries of the world was a testimony to his unwavering support and unflinching solidarity with the poor and the oppressed. He identified with and supported the struggle against apartheid, and inspired Cubans to join in the struggle against apartheid in South Africa. Cuba also intervened militarily in Angola in support of the leftist People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola against the other liberation movements backed by US forces. Castro’s humanistic personality and compassion was seemingly counterbalanced by an evil, oppressive side. Many knew him as a ruthless dictator who murdered and imprisoned his opponents. He is now dead; but his legacy lives on. History will be the judge, but it’s safe to say, long live Cuba!
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.
I am not hopeful about the 2017 Budget DEAR EDITOR; Te 2017 Budget has been read. Let us just think about who needs help from this budget the most: 1. The youths who have finished high school and university but do not have a job and are worried about their employability and their economic future. Are they going to live with Daddy all their lives? 2. Those that do have a job, but are worried about their job security as the economy weakens. 3. Those that have a home but are worried about their economic situation and whether they will be able to pay off their mortgage. 4. The private sector needs tax relief so that they can invest more and create more jobs. The Corporation Tax has to be reduced to 25% and soon. This Budget has to be about helping the ordinary people, not the rich and wealthy Hamilton Greens and Moses Nagamootoos of Guyana with extravagant pensions and mansions. This budget has to be about raising the minimum wage to $65,000 per month and the tax-free threshold to $75,000 per month so that more people at the bottom of the economic ladder can secure a fighting chance in climbing up the ladder. This 2017 Budget must be about building more affordable homes, call them condo or "sondo", it matters not, just build them. Let us stop all the talking and start converting these ideas into
action. But I am not sure if an aging leaders out of touch with modern times is capable of delivering on this mandate. Let us start the project of building 1,000 new affordable homes for the people like teachers, nurses, public servant and policemen, now; not in 2019. But we all know Hammie as CHPA Head is incapable of doing this and most of the money will be wasted by 2018 on this housing project. But none of this is possible if underneath all of it, we are not growing the economy at 5% and above. This is the area that the Minister of Finance Winston Jordan has failed resoundingly. He remains clueless at how to grow the Guyanese economy above 5%. He has failed miserably to follow in the footsteps of his predecessors like Carl Greenidge, Asgar Ally, Bharat Jagdeo, Saisanarine Kowlessar and Ashni Singh who all have years under their belt in which the economy grew by more than 5%. He just has not exhibited the intellect to date to illustrate that he is aware of what needs to be done to achieve this deliverable. Rather than being a bullish bureaucrat, we need a Minister who has the innovative ideas to invest in the right initiatives, at the right time, with the right resources to deliver the right outcome for the people today. This strategic skill set
continues to evade our sitting Minister of Finance, Mr. Jordan. What a shame that Guyana could not have elevated Carl Greenidge to be Guyana's Minister of Finance because of a political differences. Since then we should have known we have an ordinary in charge of the nation, who continues to pursue ordinary policies and they adversely affect the welfare of the nation and he call that patriotism. Patriotism was not a work when Carl Greenidge who continues his job at Foreign Affairs and should have been at the Finance Ministry. Is President out of ideas on how to run the country? So we heard another long and boring Budget speech? We heard about what the key driver for the 2017 economy are. Are we going to hear about what strategy will be put in place to overcome the obstacles to progress? Are we going to hear about what the government will do to deliver on the "MUST-WINS" for economic transformation to happen such as expanding our renewable energy portfolio? In a matter of days now we will see, but I am not very hopeful and here is why. I am not very hopeful that they can deliver better in 2017 because we have too many square pegs in round hole across the length and breadth o f t h e G r a n g e r administration. Incompetence and pettiness are running amok across the
Granger administration and the more they populate the administration with straight jacket ex-GDF officer, the more they will fail because these men are not innovators; they are followers of orders and that is not how you run a country. There are very few bright lights that have survived and those who we thought had some brain and personal integrity like Khemraj Ramjattan and Raphael Trotman have now morphed into full-time political opportunist So slowly but surely, the Granger administration is transforming into a government for the executive pension, executive perks, executive trips, and executive pay. The working people of Guyana will be asked to bend their back even more to dish out even bigger remuneration packages for the FAT CATS o f t h e G r a n g e r administration. Good luck to the poor and the working class in 2017, it will be a long and tough year of economic exploitation and oppression as a small cabal of the politically connected people gets richer and the poor get poorer, compliment of the Granger administration. The poor must rest assured that David Granger has done a very good job of fooling them in the 2015 elections. Fool them once, that is a mistake on the part of the people, but do we think the people will be fooled twice? Surujdai Lilmohan
THE ONGOING CRISES IN THE HEALTH SECTOR DEAR EDITOR; Although I am living overseas, I have been following the development of the issues in the various sectors that are affecting Guyana. While I am of the view that the leaders and decision makers of Guyana pay any heeds to the various letters written in the letter columns in the newspapers, I am still motivated to bring out my opinion by the way of this letter. This is my first letter and I will be writing many more once the time permits me to do so. I decided to write my first piece on the Health Sector. For the past years, I read various articles about the Health Sector and it seems like no one is keen in addressing the main issues affecting the Health Sector. Recently, I have read about the following: 1.The Drug Bond and Shortages of Drugs 2.The Management of Guyana Drugs Bond and Contracts 3.The Maternal Deaths 4.The Re-instating and Sending off
of the CEO of GPHC 5.The rift between the Board Chairman and the Minister 6.The Strengthening of the GPHC Management 7.The creating of a new Board without the Dr Hanoman as the Chair. These articles and many other informal feedbacks tell me that the Health Sector is in crisis. My view is that no Government should play politics with two main sectors in a country; Health and Education. If the APNUAFC Government wants to build a health and a wealthy nation, they should pay more attention to what is going on in the Health Sector. While Dr Norton may have the nation and the government policy at heart, he has around him with some very incompetent advisors. He should stop listening to them and follow the advice of the professionals. He has around him some of the administrators including the PS and the DPS from the previous regime who have the health sector in the state that it is currently in.
The GPHC Board is about to be renewed and according to what is implied in the recent article, one can determine that Dr Norton does not want Dr Hanoman as the Chairman of the Board. If that is the case, who will they put to head the Board? To my mind, there is only one other person who I think can do a very good job and that person is Dr Richard Van West Charles. In the first case, I do not know why he is not the Minister of Health. He has the wealth of experience and the international connection and networking to make Guyana Health Sector better. I am therefore calling on President David Granger to review the performance of the health sector and take the necessary steps to remedy the situation. President Granger should conduct a Commission of Inquiry in the Management of the Health Sector with the assistance of PAHO/WHO, UNAIDS, CDC and the Global Fund. David Singh Jr
Tuesday November 29, 2016
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The Attorney-General’s statement is riddled with legal errors DEAR EDITOR; On 17th November, 2016 the Attorney-General issued a press statement under the caption “Appointments to the Judiciary.” This statement purports to be a response to a Statement issued by the PPP/C on the 14th day of November, 2016. The PPP/C Statement simply highlighted the problems which have been precipitated both in the High Court and the Court of Appeal by the retirement of Chief Justice Chang in January, 2016 and the migration from the Court of Appeal to the Office of the Chief Justice by Justice of Appeal, Yonette Cummings-Edwards who now acts in the Office of Chief Justice. The Statement further calls upon the President to appoint more Judges in accordance with certain recommendations made to the President by the Judicial Service Com-
mission earlier this year. The AG’s Statement is riddled with legal errors. I hereby respond to each sentence. 1.“The PPP/C after 23 years has finally admitted the parlous state it had left the Judiciary on demitting government.” 2.“The Judiciary was never a high priority of the PPP/C government except for the seeking to control It.” Every single courthouse from the Court of Appeal to every single Magistrates’ Court throughout this country was physically rebuilt; most with residential quarters for the Magistrate in the outlying areas; almost all fully air-conditioned; the Court of Appeal now uses voice recording equipment; facilities to take evidence from witnesses oversees are now available. Mediation has been
introduced formally into the Judicial System. The Caribbean Court of Justice has been added as our apex court. The complement of High Court Judges has been increased from twelve (12) to twenty (20). The Constitution has been amended to strengthen the Independence of the Judiciary. The appointment of the Chancellor and the Chief Justice is now only possible after an agreement between the President and the Opposition Leader. And I can go on. 3.“The Judiciary was not “Independent” because it had no financial independence, until the APNU+AFC Government came to office and passed legislation to effect same.” By this singular statement, the AG has unwittingly indicted and impugned the integrity of every single
Judge who has served this country from 1966 to 2015, including the current crop of Judges. He has reduced them all to political puppets. For according to him, only now Judges are truly independent. For this he should be hauled before the courts for contempt. 4. “In particular the PPP/ C government inflicted a mortal blow on the independence of the Judiciary when it passed legislation to remove the powers hitherto inhering in office of Chief Justice and reposing them in the office of Chancellor.” The legislation removed no powers from the Office of the Chief Justice. All it did was to make the Chief Justice Office subject to the general directions of the Office of the Chancellor. After all, the Chancellor is the head of the Judiciary and should exercise ad-
Leonard Craig takes issue with Tony Vieira DEAR EDITOR; I came across a misguided piece on broadcasting in both KN and SN written by Tony Vieira. I am lost for words that Guyana’s foremost self-appointed “expert” on Broadcasting could be so ill informed with respect to modern trends in the industry. If botched enquiries can be conducted by “elegant” personalities then we can expect caricature. Vieira is said to be a “High Performing” Member of the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority. I therefore penned this response for two simple reasons; first, to caution the newspapers’ editor(s) to be more careful in the future when publishing information and opinions from impersonators and wannabes and to double check that the letters indeed originated from the real person whose name was used, and second, to correct the misconception that will be perpetuated if left unchecked. So please allow me to clarify. The writer claimed that the Broadcasting Act of 2011 and the Telecommunications Act of 2016 contain many perversions and he cites the definition (so styled) to cause “cable transmissions or wireless cable to be considered as broadcasting” as one such perversion. The writer further opined that, the laws of Guyana “should redefine broadcasting so that it is identified as what it really is… and not include multipoint multichannel distribution system which is not transmitted to a mass media... Mr. Hugh Cholomondeley used to call it, rightly, narrow casting not broadcasting.” A quick survey of what obtains in the rest
of the world should adequately inform readers so please allow me reprint a few samples. The Broadcasting acts of Trinidad and Tobago (2001) “broadcasting service” means the offering of the transmission of programmes whether or not encrypted, by any means of telecommunications, for reception by the general public, including sound, radio, television and other types of transmissions, such as those on a point to multipoint basis; “telecommunications” includes the transmission, emission or reception of signals, writing, pulses, images, sounds or other intelligence of any kind by wire, radio, terrestrial or submarine cables, optical or electromagnetic spectrum or by way of any other technology. South Africa (1999) says thus “broadcasting” means any form of unidirectional telecommunications intended for the public, sections of the public or subscribers to any broadcasting service having appropriate receiving facilities, whether carried by means of radio or any other means of telecommunication or any combination of the aforementioned, and “broadcast” is construed accordingly;
“broadcasting signal distribution” means the process whereby the output signal of a broadcasting service is taken from the point of origin, being the point where such signal is made available in its final content format, from where it is conveyed to any broadcast target area by means of a telecommunication process and includes multichannel distribution; United Kingdom (1996) “television or radio broadcasting” includes the provision by means other than broadcasting of services similar to those provided by television or radio broadcasts . Australia (1992) Broadcasting Service means a service that delivers television programs or radio programns to persons having equipment appropriate for receiving that service, whether the delivery uses the radio frequency spectrum, cable, optical fibre, satellite or any other means or a combination of those means. Japan (2010) The term “broadcasting” shall mean the transmission (including those transmitted using the telecommunications equipment of other persons) of telecommunications with the aim of direct reception by the public. Canada (1991) “broadcasting” means any transmis-
sion of programs, whether or not encrypted, by radio waves or other means of telecommunication for reception by the public by means of broadcasting receiving apparatus, but does not include any such transmission of programs that is made solely for performance or display in a public place; For the purposes of this Act, other means of telecommunication means any wire, cable, radio, optical or other electromagnetic system, or any similar technical system. I have provided what people on every continent of the planet accepts as the standard definition for broadcasting and in each and every case the definitions agree and are generally consistent with the one crafted for Guyana. The early forms of cable were the Community Antenna Television (CATV), a type of cable systems for communities in the USA where Traditional Terrestrial Television signals were very weak. As cable developed and grew and because it did not utilize (Continued on page 6)
ministrative supervision over the Office of the Chief Justice. Indeed it is the PNC Government in 1966 which created the Office of the Chancellor over and above that of the Chief Justice. At the time it was felt that Prime Minister Burnham did so to humiliate the Chief Justice at the time Sir Joseph Luckhoo over whom he could not exert influence nor control. As a result, Chief Justice Luckhoo migrated. 5.“This resulted wittingly or unwittingly in the PPP/C seeking to place their champion in the office of the Chancellor at every meeting of the President and Leader of the Opposition to agree on the appointment of a Chief Justice and Chancellor there being no power in the office of the Chief Justice.” It is the President’s constitutional responsibility to identify suitable candidates for the positions of Chancellor and Chief Justice and then solicit the agreement of the Leader of the Opposition in respect of each candidate in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution. 6.“Having removed all the checks and balances necessary to guarantee an independent and effective judiciary the way was paved for secret, appointments to the bench by the JSC and a PPP/C President who created the distortion in the Judiciary in the first place.” The manner in which Judges are appointed in Guyana now, is the same as it was, since 1966. The Judicial Service Commission recruits and recommends to the President for his appointment. Prior to 2001, the President had a greater discretionary power when dealing with recommendations coming from the Judicial Service Commission. After the 2001 amendments to the Constitution, those discretionary powers were reduced and the President is now mandated to act upon the recommendations of the JSC. If the President disagrees
with a particular recommendation, he has a power to send it back to the JSC for their reconsideration. If after their reconsideration, the JSC sends back that same recommendation to the President, he must accept and act upon it. 7.“The alleged shortage of judges was not occasioned under the APNU+AFC government which inherited excessive delays in both the civil and criminal jurisdictions and the crippling backlog of cases in all courts.” The question therefore is why didn’t the PPP/C government make those appointments while in office? The PPP/C Statement specifically addressed the problems which arose as a result of the departure of Chief Justice Chang in January 2016, that is, after the PPP/ C left office. 8. “The courts are functioning now as they were under the PPP/C a year and a half ago when the APNU+AFC took up the helm of government.” Here is a frank admission from the Attorney-General that his Government has done nothing during the past eighteen months in respect of the Judiciary. 9.“His Excellency President Brigadier David Arthur Granger while Leader of the opposition had called for vacancies in judicial offices to be advertised so that our judiciary would attract the best possible candidates.” The recruitment of Judges is the exclusive constitutional responsibility of the Judicial Service Commission. The Constitution insulates the JSC form the dictates of the President or anyone else. The Leader of the Opposition was therefore trespassing upon the constitutional domain of the JSC when he made that statement. It is the JSC to determine whether it would advertise for Judges or not. In any event, in Guyana, we have never advertised judicial vacancies. Mohabir Anil Nandlall
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Tuesday November 29, 2016
Anil Nandlall’s argument is demonstrably wrong DEAR EDITOR; Editor’s Note: This is the conclusion of Mr Edwards’ letter carried in our edition yesterday, with caption ‘Attorney supports the decision of the Speaker of the House’ Anil Nandlall’s questionable logic goes like this - if a minister had referenced the self same Kaieture News article that he Nandlall did as an ordinary MP, he/she had a legal duty to produce it; and the Speaker could compel its production, but since he Nandlall is not a Minister he has (and had) no such duty. Nor is it, as if some compelling, overriding rational exist for such a differentiation in the context of material such as the KN. Indeed, the context from which the extracts in Erskine May’s Parliamentary Practice are taken by Counsel is the very limited or restricted one of – “a dispatch
or other State paper”. No English newspaper, and no local one, not the government owned/controlled Guyana Chronicle, and certainly not the privately owned Kaiteur News, comes within the ambit of the words “dispatch or other state paper”(in parliamentary parlance or nomenclature, governmental documents are called “paper”). Who else but the minister (whether author and/or custodian) having peculiar knowledge of a state paper, can produce it, (not be compelled to), especially if (as would normally be the case) those documents relates to matters of state security, or other matters of confidentiality. Surely, not the non-government member. That is sheer commonsense. Let the gullible layman not be confused by the word “paper”. Laws (e.g. public interest privi-
lege against disclosure) do not permit such sensitive “state paper” documents to be in the possession (the hands) of every Tom, Dick, Mary and Harry who is a member of the Assembly (only certain government officials). And self evidently (and this is sheer commonsense) you cannot be compelled (not by a Judge, not by a Speaker) to produce what by laws you are not permitted to possess. If it were otherwise then Oliver Twist’s, Mr. Bumble would be right – “the law is an ass” (in Oliver Twist’s, Mark Twain, Mr. Bumble in exasperation shouted to the Judge – “the law is an ass”). However, these considerations have no application or relevance to the KN. There are no law’s which prohibits possession of KN by anyone. The unwritten rule ground – what I consider the coup de grace (i.e. the prover-
The police at the Aurora station need to arrest this man DEAR EDITOR; Kindly permit me some space in your papers to highlight an issue which I feel, if not addressed, will lead to tragedy. I am a concerned citizen who is fed up with the shabby and lackadaisical attitude being exhibited by members of our police force especially the ranks at the Aurora Police Station. Mr. Editor, there is an Individual (name supplied) who is always in the habit of behaving disorderly in the use of indecent languages and brandishing weapon and threatening residents and passersby. I would not go so far to question his mental health since I am in no way qualified to do so but residents have indicated that he is of unsound mind. Sir, this individual often acts in this manner in the presence of the police and nothing is being done about it. The reason for this I believe, is that the police have become accustomed to his antics and dismiss
it as “Oh, he does always behave so,” He is a regular at the Supenaam Court and you don’t have to take my word for granted – records will show that there are at least 20 reports at the Police Stations throughout the Essequibo Coast with him being the subject. He was recently charged for chopping a man and this is about the fifth charge he has been faced with thus far. Editor, I am wondering who will be his next victim. I am also questioning why a person so violent is being allowed to roam about freely. Again, I’m in no position to pronounce on his mental health but if by some extent the residents are correct, then professional help should be provided to him and the authorities should look into this matter before he harms someone else. There are children living in the area also who are scared of him. Something should be done. Concerned Citizen
Leonard Craig takes issue with... From page 5 any spectrum it was largely unregulated by the FCC. Not until 1949 when the FCC attempted to regulate it there was a capitalists’ fight back to resist regulation. A lobby was started by the Cable companies which lead to Bills being introduced in the US Congress one in 1959 and the other in 1961, both were defeated as the FCC was able to
successfully testify before Congress that standard over the air broadcasting and CATV cable systems were sufficiently and properly categorized as broadcasting and should be regulated as “common carriers.” In addition, if either of the two service types were to utilize spectrum for transmission they were to be further regulated for spectrum usage. The Cable operators having failed in congress took the matter to the US Supreme Court whose judgment stated; "the Commission's authority over 'all interstate ... communications by wire or
radio 'permits the regulation of CATV systems." That judgment and the practice and the evolution and interaction of Cable with traditional TV had more or less set the baseline for broadcasting the world over. The writer of that letter to the editor is asking the entire nation to jump with him into his time machine and zip back to the 1950s and resurrect a case that was fought and settled and accepted across the globe. Leonard Craig Mr. Craig’s missive is a voluminous one and we will have to continue it in another edition
bial nail in the coffin) delivered in this matter. Paradoxically, it is delivered by Mr. Nandlall himself. He writes “I have examined the Standing Orders and I can find none which authorizes the Speaker to demand from any member the production of any … written material … to which that member refers in the course of that presentation” (emphasis mine). I consider it a sheer improbability that if there was/is any Standing Orders by which a member had a right not to produce such material, Counsel would have missed it. So, the Standing Orders being silent, the applicable rule of procedure has to be found in the other source – unwritten rules I.e. settled practice, custom, usage of the Assembly (this duality of rules was recognized and accepted by Bollers’, CJ in the local case Kumar V M.F Singh (1974) G.L.R 147). And the lawyer’s question – what is the settled practice as regards quoting/citing documents and other materials, and the production thereof, in the context of the permissive words of article 171(1) “debated and disposed of…..”, must be answered. The
Speaker must be taken to have answered it. The ruling’ of the Speaker must be taken to be the settled practice. Practice can exist either by autochtony, (ie home grown) or by import (historically, from England’s House of Commons). It would be a matter for a Speaker to decide. He decided it. There is a very familiar principle that all acts of authority are presumed to be regular and right unless the contrary is proven. It was a matter within his (and his alone) jurisdiction to decide. He has been presiding long enough to have addressed his mind to that point and to have diligently (by researching the Hansard etc) advised himself accordingly. This jurisdiction to decide as to what the unwritten rule is (as it is his to interpret what the written Standing Orders means) devolves on the Speaker as a matter of sheer constitutional implication from the provisions of the Constitution viz articles 165, 166 etc. Poignantly, the marginal note to article 166 is - “Presiding in the Assembly” (As to the interpretative relevance of marginal notes see section 57(3) of the I.G.C.A. Cap 2:01 which
Act now has constitutional force by its incorporation into the Constitution itself by article 232(9)). The Speaker is right and unchallengeable in his ruling(s) unless the aggrieved member can show some clear constitutional or Standing Orders right, and a breach thereof, thereby rendering the matter justiciable (ie a Judge in the High Court could hear and decide the matter). By Mr. Nandlall’s own researched admission there is none. The Speaker’s ruling is a fait accompli. In conclusion, Erskine May’s Parliamentary Practice, however pertinent we might conceive it to be, it is no substitute for the written Constitution and the interpretation thereof. I consider the extracts there from taken by Mr. Nandlall for the purpose of his proposition, and its authority, to be inadmissible as being irrelevant. Accordingly, the conclusion to which he has arrived (by an extrapolation and deduction) that he has a right not to be compelled to produce the referenced document, I consider to be insupportable and demonstrably wrong. Maxwell E. Edwards Attorney – at – Law
Guyana must not and cannot treat pensioners like this DEAR EDITOR; Reports in the media about the various sufferings of Guyana’s pensioners continue to jolt one’s conscience; the latest involves the cruel hassles imposed on them by an apparently mindless bureaucracy which insists that they endure a nightmare of days annually just to collect their pension books. For Guyanese who might not be aware, it is noted that for each year that these poor pensioners survive the harsh realities of living on the pittance called ‘pension’, they must first collect a pension book containing 12 pages; they then encash each page at the end of each month at the nearest Post Office Even this monthly ‘encashment’ often poses physical and financial hard-
ships for the pensioners who have to travel to the Post Offices and often have to wait for long hours, sometimes in the sun and rain reminiscent of their toiling through decades of hard work and hardships (unlike some Guyanese who ride on their backs as politicians for a few years and then collect fat sums as pensions, irrespective of their ages and financial status!).The letter by Mr. Persaud in SN of 26/11/16 is a vivid description of what the pensioners at the Suddie Amerindian Hostel had to endure, as an example of the shameful and mindless processes being imposed on them just to collect their yearly pension books. As detailed in the letter, the pensioners, many feeble or sick, had to wait from dawn
until the staff distributing the books arrive after 10.00am and instead of showing some humaneness, they virtually ‘pushed the pensioners around’ for hours before they could collect their books. What was worse is that many could not get their books before it was time for the bookdistributors to ‘close shop for the day’ so that those who did not make it to the top of the line for that day had to return the next day. Surely, there must be a smarter, easier, less cumbersome way! How about just making the pension book available to the pensioner when she/he collects the pension for the 11th or 12th month of the current year for use in the next year? If the checks and balances and related safeguards required for the actual payment/collection of the cash are satisfied, then the same can apply to the collection of the pension book. Why complicate an obviously simple exercise at the harsh, inhumane cost of the poor pensioners? Nowrang Persaud
Tuesday November 29, 2016
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Redouble efforts to close HIV prevention gap - UNAIDS Strategic global partnerships have already put the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) within sight. This essentially means that the world is nearly on track to reach the targets to reduce mother-to-child transmission. However, the current rate of scale-up of paediatric treatment appears insufficient. As such closing the gap will require tremendous additional effort to diagnose infants living with HIV and enroll them in treatment as soon as possible. This has been amplified in the 2016 UNAIDS World AIDS Day Report which highlights that “redoubled efforts to close the prevention gap can be built on a foundation of unparalleled global advocacy and financial commitment.” The gains made and the challenges linked to combating HIV will be especially highlighted when World AIDS is commemorated on Thursday. World AIDS is
commemorated annually on December 1 worldwide. According to the report, 10 years ago the acceleration of the AIDS response was largely dependent on bilateral and multilateral donors. However, at the United Nations General Assembly in 2011, UNAIDS called for shared responsibility, broader ownership and wider accountability to meet the investment needs of the response in a sustainable manner. Low- and middle-income countries have answered this challenge, the report underscored. In fact it was revealed that in the past five years, domestic investment in the AIDS responses of these countries has increased by 46 per cent, reaching US$10.8 billion in 2015. Total annual investment in these countries reached US$19 billion, including the contributions of United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and other bilateral
and multilateral donors. But a sizable investment gap remains. Moreover, reaching the Fast-Track Targets agreed by the United Nations General Assembly will require an additional US$7 billion annually by 2020, the report has highlighted. The report has pointed out that reaching and sustaining this level of investment until 2030, and focusing these resources on delivering the most effective HIV services to the people in greatest need across the life cycle, will result in millions of additional lives saved and tens of millions of additional HIV infections averted. It has been outlined in the report too that 21 countries in Africa have worked with UNAIDS and PEPFAR to reduce new infections among children aged 0 -14 years by 51 percent since 2010. Further efforts focused on children, adolescent girls and young women are being guided by a new framework: Start Free, Stay Free, AIDS Free. In June 2011 UNAIDS and
the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) launched the Global Plan towards the elimination of new HIV infections among children by 2015 and keeping their mothers alive (Global Plan) along with 21 countries that at the time accounted for 90 percent of the global number of pregnant women living with HIV. The Global Plan galvanized global and national political will and action. The result was global coverage of services to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV increasing dramatically, from 50 percent (4456 percent) in 2010 to 77 percent (69-86 percent) in 2015. As a result, the number of new HIV infections among children aged 0 - 14 years has declined by 51 percent since 2010. In addition, the number of children aged 0 - 14 years on antiretroviral therapy, globally, has doubled over the past five years, from nearly 452 000 children in 2010 to 910 000 (801 000 –947 000) chil-
dren by mid-2016, pushing down the number of AIDSrelated deaths among children by 44 per cent. Governments and civil society, according to the report, are also working with the United Nations system within the High-Level Task Force on Women, Girls, Gender Equality and HIV in Eastern and Southern Africa to raise greater awareness of the dis-
proportionate HIV risks faced by adolescent girls and young women. Added to this, it has been amplified that the 90–90–90 targets, launched by UNAIDS at the 2014 International AIDS Conference, has rallied global efforts on HIV testing and treatment, and improved focus on the viral suppression required to realize the full preventative effect of treatment.
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By Kiana Wilburg Within the timeframe of 3 hours and 15 minutes, Finance Minister Winston Jordan yesterday informed the National Assembly, and sections of the nation through live broadcast, of how his Government intends to spend some $250B for the year 2017, so as to achieve “the good life” for all Guyanese. The budget, which is presented on an annual basis, is one of the most important economic instruments of the government. It seeks to ensure that the state has the resources it needs to execute the works planned for the fiscal year, create conditions which stimulate economic growth and clearly indicate the priorities of the govern-
Tuesday November 29, 2016
Kaieteur News
ment. This is the third budget of the Coalition Government in just over a year and half in office. The Finance Minister noted that the theme for the 2017 budget is; “Building a Diversified, Green Economy: Delivering the Good Life to All Guyanese.” Jordan said that Budget 2017 is designed to consolidate the gains the Government made since its accession to office, improve economic performance, and define a sustainable pathway to the happiness and prosperity of Guyana. Delving into the goodies of the budget, Jordan sought to provide a portrait of the economic state of affairs of the global economy.
Among his disclosures in this regard, the Finance Minister said that the price of crude oil, a key import for Guyana, is expected to average US$55 per barrel in 2017, up from an average of US$43 so far in 2016. He said that the magnitude of the increase could be less if the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is unable to reach agreement to limit output. Additionally, the Finance Minister said that the threat of gold prices declining in 2017, combined with rising oil prices and global issues such as de-risking and climate change, will pose a major risk to Guyana’s economy that will demand enlightened management.
He noted that the nation’s relatively undiversified economy leaves it particularly vulnerable to these external shocks, as well as internal financial distress in its major industries. In response to this fiscal forecast, the Finance Minister said that the Government will continue, therefore, to implement policies designed to maximize opportunities and minimize the damage that emanate from such risks. It is against that he provided a review of the performance of the economy in 2016 The traditional sectors did not perform well this year. Despite an encouraging recovery in 2015, Jordan said that sugar is projected to decline by 18.7 percent, to reach 188,000 metric tonnes in 2016.
Due to continued uncertainty in the rice industry, he said that output is expected to reach 600,000 metric tonnes in 2016, representing a decline of 12.8 percent from the levels achieved in 2015. As for the livestock subsector, Jordan said that it is expected to contract by 5.1 percent in 2016. With regard to the forestry sub-sector, the Finance Minister said that it is expected to contract significantly by 33.3 percent, principally as a result of Barama halting the production of logs and the UK’s restriction on greenheart logs originating from Guyana. In relation to the manufacturing sector, this industry is projected to contract by 7.1 percent, as a result of the dis-
mal performances in sugar and rice, as well as a small decline in other manufacturing. Jordan noted too that construction declined from a budgeted 10.5 percent to a projected 3.2 percent in 2016. This performance is related to a decline in activity in the housing sector. On the bright side, Guyana’s mining and quarrying sector is projected to grow by 35.7 percent in 2016, the highest in over a decade. Turning his attention to the area of income for public servants, Jordan said that Government upheld its promise to allow the collective bargaining process to function in setting the wage and (Continued on page 24)
Convention Centre rehab to commence Dec. 1 The Arthur Chung Convention Centre located at Liliendaal will be closed for 18 months to facilitate rehabilitation work that will commence on December 1, 2016. The commencement of the project was signalled at a ceremony yesterday when representatives of the company responsible for the undertaking, China Railway 17 Bureau Construction Engineering Company Limited, along with the outgoing Chinese Ambassador to Guyana Zhang Limin, met with the Minister of Public Telecommunications Catherine Hughes at the building. The rehabilitation will be funded completely by the government of China through a grant aid as was done when the centre was first constructed between 2004 and 2006. Guyana, however, will contribute towards the provision of on-site security services. According to government’s assessment of the building, it was found that over the 10 years of con-
tinuous use, wear and tear coupled with the effects of natural elements including shifting foundations and saline breezes from the Atlantic Ocean took a toll on the building. It was said that the concrete stairways and floors on the upper level as well as ceilings are cracked in certain places. The foundation and walls on the ground floor also have widening cracks. As a result of structural movement and undulation, a number of the ceramic floor tiles have come loose. The back-up generating system at the building had stopped working a number of years ago and is expected to be replaced as well. In February 2006, the building, originally named the International Convention Centre, was handed over to the government of Guyana by the People’s Republic of China. It was renamed the Arthur Chung Convention Centre by President David Granger in March 2015. Hughes, under whose
The Arthur Chung Convention Centre, Liliendaal portfolio the centre falls, during her brief remarks yesterday expressed gratitude on behalf of the Guyanese government for the level of cooperation extended towards the nation throughout the years of association with the People’s Republic of China. She said that the Convention Centre is just one of the many gifts which the Chinese government has given
Guyana and over its 10 years of existence, Guyanese, private companies and public sector agencies have enjoyed the centre’s accommodation. “Secondary schools have held their graduation ceremonies here year after year. These halls, conference rooms, lobbies and lawns have hosted many weddings, religious ceremonies, Christmas and anniversary parties,
and as we have heard, even CARICOM Heads of Government summits.” As it relates to the damage which the centre would have sustained over the years, Hughes said that much of it is structural in nature, and that all the cracks are not visible. She said that based on her little knowledge of civil engineering, she predicts that the company’s engineers are
likely to find additional problems with the building, particularly under the floor when it is removed. Ambassador Zhang during his speech promised that after the rehabilitation process is finished, the centre will look better and be more structurally sound. He said that with government’s support the process can be done quite smoothly.
Tuesday November 29, 2016
If you are a poor person and you go to the supermarket to purchase your monthly groceries, the least you are going to spend is about $30,000 or US$150. You know you will run short of items before the month is out and you will have to buy things, as you get more money, from the street-corner shop. Out of the $30,000 that you spend, $20,000 will be VAT-free items. It means that at most you will have to pay about $1600 in VAT per month. Come next January, you will save $200 Guyana dollars or US$1 on the reduction that the Minister of Finance has announced in the Budget. But you will end up having to pay about $1400 more in VAT for electricity because
the average electricity bill – whether the government wants to accept this fact or not – is about $10,000 per month. Anyone who is paying less will receive a visit from the GPL crew to find out whether their meter is malfunctioning. You will also end up paying, on average, $600 more for water per month. The poor man ends up no better off, even with the increase in the threshold. The government should stop increasing the income tax threshold. It represents a subsidy to the private sector. The government is effectively helping the private sector increase the disposable income of their workers without any serious increase on the part of the private sector in paying wages. This is the func-
tion of the increase in the income tax threshold. The Budget is a decent effort from the Minister of Finance. It is no different in its philosophical approach from the Budgets which were produced under the PPP/C and which the present Minister of Finance was involved in formulating. The emphases are the same: infrastructure, public spending, increasing the income tax threshold as against making a real dent in the wage debt. The approach to tax reform is timid and cautious. This government should be aiming at smaller bureaucracy, lower taxes and reduced concessions. It has this time tried to keep its promise to reduce the VAT.
Dem boys seh
Soulja Bai behaving like Robin Hood In de days of Old England dem had a forest name Sherwood. Dem had a bad man who use to ride in dem same forest till he meet some other scamp like heself. He did name Robin Loxley, but because he was a scamp dem call him Robin Hood. Then de scamps start to join him one by one. Even a pastor join de bunch and just like how Philbert did mek himself merry, dem crooks was merry, so de group name Robin Hood and de Merry Men. Dem tek from de rich and dem give to de poor. Soulja Bai get ee training in de forest and he too had he bunch of Merry Men. Is now de people know that he is a scamp. He put de Jordan River man fuh play three card wid de people. At de same time he tek from dem rich people and give to de poor. De River man announce that VAT reduce. De people clap; then he announce that he put VAT pun lights and water. That mean that people got to watch how dem bathing. Dem people who into sports got to walk wid a towel and a bowl of water to wipe off when dem
done. Flambeaux gun be de key lighting instrument because people got to pay tax pun dem light bill. People gun sleep without lights because it gun be too expensive, so more people gun be thiefing electricity. That is wheh Soulja Bai gun be serious and jail all of dem who thiefing current. And when he jail dem that is when de fun gun start, because dem gun be sleeping without lights in de jail. Dem businessmen cussing because de tax dem got to fork over is more than dem intend to pay. That is
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why all of dem saying is de wuss budget. But dem old people smiling. Dem get a raise in de pension and wid de extra money coming fuh Christmas, some of dem seh dem gun tek de extra money and buy pepper pot meat. De businessmen seh dem ain’t importing nutten fuh de holidays. It gun be a confusing time. And de rest seh de import duties so high that dem would not be bringing toilet paper. Talk half and watch out fuh a shortage in toilet paper.
It would have been better if the VAT was not reduced, but on top of the wage increases which were given, a compensatory wage increase was given. A two percent reduction in VAT is not going to affect prices in the market place. The poor man or woman who spends $20,000 each month at the grocery is still going to spend that amount for the same (or less) basket of goods. The problem that the poor person faces is that they are not confronted with less disposable income. The minimum wage is now $255 per hour. A one litre bottle of soda in the shops is $260. This means that the minimum hour wage cannot even buy a one litre Pepsi. The price of the one litre bottle of soda is not going to be reduced with the 2%
reduction in the VAT. It will cost the storeowners more than the 2% to effect the reduction. Of course, with the $10 tax on local bottles, it means that there is an increased cost for soft-drink manufacturers. The approach of the government is cockeyed. For any reduction in the VAT to be passed on, it has to be by 5% or more. Any VAT reduction less than 5% should not be implemented. It will not filter down to consumers. On top of this, the poor UG student who rents an apartment in which the rental includes the electricity and water will now have to pay a higher rent. If the government is exempting basic food items from VAT. What sense does it make then to impose VAT on
two items which are more important than those basic staples? Why put VAT on water and electricity. This makes no sense. This will hurt the poor more than it will hurt the rich. No home pays less that $1500 per month for water. This means that every single home will be subject to pay the VAT on water. The pressure is on! Santa Claus had better have something nice in his Christmas bag this season. A 50% increase in salaries for 2017 perhaps?
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Tuesday November 29, 2016
=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===
As a student of philosophy, I cannot admire Fidel Castro I don’t care how much equality, health care and education opportunities Fidel Castro gave to the Cuban people, his 50 years in control of Cuba (to be precise it was a few months shy of half a century) did not make Cuba a shining example for other countries to follow. His long rule did not make Cuba a paradise for others to emulate. After 50 years of domination, Cuba under Castro came close to being a failure. People loved Castro for different reasons, and it would take dozens of columns to explain the nature of Castro and the nature of his rule. Castro became a world phenomenon not because he made Cuba a classless society where all Cubans enjoyed
freedoms in all senses of the word – political, economic, social, cultural, psychological – but because he stood up to the US. We loved Castro because in the words of countless souls, he stood up to the might of Yankee power. But even if you justify loving Castro for that reason, you have to ask yourself if Castro’s courage against the Americans brought freedom, liberty and justice to the Cuban people. It did not. A majority of those people who loved and worshipped Cuba would not want to live the type of life the average Cuban lived under Castro. Is life only about food on the table, a house to live in, and a healthy life for your family? I think I have a little insight into
what meaning humans bring to their lives. I think I have some understanding of how the average person sees human existence. Yes, people want to be free from the burden of poverty. But even the poorest person cherishes liberty, and liberty is a philosophically based value. Liberty is not an economic phenomenon only. The average person, since time immemorial, yearns for a life that is based on individual choice. There was no such value under Castro. Castro brutally took away philosophical choice. He gave the Cubans free education, free housing, free transportation, free medical care. But that was it. He took away the essence of philosophy in them. Cubans couldn’t live
where they wanted, couldn’t change profession or occupation if they wanted, couldn’t visit any country they would have liked to, couldn’t read any literature they desired, couldn’t embrace any type of art they chose to; couldn’t buy and wear their preferred fashion. No country is free and could be described as free if its people live with such restrictions. Only one citizen had the choice of embarking on a path he wanted without the intervention of the State regulating his choice and that was Castro. Funny that in Cuba, a citizen couldn’t sell his house in the city and live an introverted life by the sea, or leave the medical profession and become a permanent rural grower of tomatoes.
Permanency belonged to one man only - Fidel Castro. Only he was allowed to have a permanent profession – ruler for life. It is incomprehensible that people who admired and loved Castro couldn’t see through his dark, pathological obsession with power. Why would any person want to rule his/her country for fifty years? Isn’t something deadly Freudian about such a human? I love reading about the hundreds of millions who love Castro, but they would not live in a country whose ontology resembles Cuba. So you have these Caribbean academics who work for fine money in fine North American and European universities, and they are big fans of Cuba. But their existence is determined by choices such as the right to take holidays back home, buy expensive cars, build expensive houses and engage in cultural and sexual choices that would not be tolerated in Cuba. And though they hate the cold and the snow in America, Canada and Europe, they would not teach at Cuban universities even if the curriculum is taught in English. There has been misplaced joy the past 55 years about
Frederick Kissoon what Castro brought to the Cuban people. This is an area that cries out for research. Exactly what did Cuba achieve under Castro? Where is the research in science, technology and related subjects? Castro brought in a Spanish expert for consultation on his prostate cancer. After 50 years in power, what manufactured goods did Cuba export to the world? Oh yes, there is a watertight explanation. Cuba was kept in economic stranglehold because of the American embargo. But if that was the case, why wasn’t there hard bargaining with the Americans? While maintaining its dignity and sovereignty, Cuba could have offered compromises. After all, Cuba needed the trade. In a strange twist of fate and irony, Castro needed the embargo to keep power.
Tuesday November 29, 2016
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Murder of Berbice carpenter…
CPG Liaison Officer questioned about alleged threats to victim’s family - as Ramjattan vows to cleanse Force of ‘rotten cops’ Community Policing Group (CPG) Liaison Officer Radica Ragunandan was taken into custody and questioned yesterday about threats she had allegedly made to two relatives of slain carpenter Faiyaz Naraindatt. Ragunandan, who is employed by the Ministry of Public Security, was picked up at her Number 65 Village, Corentyne home and taken into custody at the Whim Police Station. Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum told Kaieteur News that Ragunandan provide a statement and was released. Reports also state that two constables were also taken into custody for allegedly providing security to Marcus Bisram, the overseasbased businessman at the centre of the murder case. Some of Narinedatt’s relatives had claimed that Ragunandan had told the slain carpenter’s wife, Pooja Pitam, and two other family members, that she would have Bisram “send one of his men to kill them” if they continued to implicate Bisram and other individuals in Narinedatt’s death. The threats were allegedly made via cell phone. Ragunandan, however, refuted the allegations. But media operatives confirmed that phone calls were indeed made to Narinedatt’s relatives, via a cell phone that belonged to a close relative of the Liaison Officer. Yesterday’s development came just two days after Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, had revealed that he had ordered an investigation into the allegations against Ragunandan and the entire community policing group she heads. “I have ordered an investigation into Radica and the CPG. If they have to get charged for attempting to pervert the course of justice, they will be charged,” Ramjattan had said last Saturday, during a visit to the slain carpenter’s home. Addressing the relatives and other residents, Minister Ramjattan had also stated that “it takes one wrongdoing from one policeman and it can give a bad name to all.” On the day prior to Narinedatt’s body being found, Bisram had handed over a $2.5M cheque to Ragunandan for her community policing group. The money was to have been used to fund activities for the Community Policing Group’s upcoming anniversary. The Liaison officer had told the media during the pre-
Questioned: CPG Liaison Officer, Radica Ragunandan sentation that she was collecting the money on behalf of the Ministry of Public Security. However, Minister Ramjattan stated that he had no knowledge of this. Ramjattan further revealed that ranks from the Major Crimes Unit will be sent to Berbice to conduct a second investigation when similar murders occur. According to him, the policemen will be kicked out of the force if they cannot perform their duties in a satisfactory manner. Urging the residents to speak out against illegal activities by members of the force, Minister Ramjattan stated that “silence in my book is violence” “Only the rotten cops will take the money… and there are plenty in the force, but all corrupt policemen will be gone and not only the policemen, these CPG liaisons too will go.” The Public Security Minister told media operatives that a thorough investigation will be done at the Springlands Police Station, since two of the detectives who are stationed there are currently under close arrest. He stressed that all will be investigated and if found guilty will face the full brunt of the law. At least four ranks were questioned at CID Headquarters last week for their alleged role in concealing evidence of Narinedatt’s murder. Crime Chief Blanhum had said that two were placed under close arrest and that the
Residents and relatives at the meeting with Minister Khemraj Ramjattan and his team. police Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) had taken over the investigation. Narinedatt’s relatives have said that they had told some police ranks that the carpenter was not a hit-andrun victim, after his body was found on the Number 70 Village, Corentyne roadway on November 1. They also stated that they had identified the suspects as well as the vehicle that was allegedly used to transport the victim. They claimed that the ranks refused to act on this information and even asked for “evidence.” Family members also alleged that an individual who is associated with prime suspect Marcus Bisram had offered them $50M. The relatives said that they rejected the offer. Kaieteur News also reported on Monday that a pathologist had told two detectives that Narinedatt’s body bore some injuries which appeared to have been inflicted with a ‘flat’ object, such as a piece of wood. It was concluded that Ramkissoon was still alive when the injuries, including the tyre marks, were inflicted on him. However, one of the policemen reportedly suggested that Narinedatt had left a party while intoxicated and a ve-
hicle had struck him down. There is no indication that the ranks relayed this information to the superiors or attempted to conduct an investigation. The case eventually broke after Narinedatt’s relatives filed complaints
in Georgetown and ranks from the Major Crimes Unit took over the investigation. Several persons were subsequently charged, while INTERPOL (International Police) has issued a warrant for Bisram’s arrest.
Bisram is said to have fêted some junior and senior ranks, including one who provided security for the US-based Guyanese to and from the airport, as well as at Bisram’s private functions.
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Tuesday November 29, 2016
Kaieteur News
Leak of Nurses’ State Final Exam...
Minister still awaiting update of police investigation - says talk of examination re-sit was premature The findings of a police investigation into a reported leak of the 2016 Professional Nurses State Final examination papers is yet to be brought to the atten-
tion of Minister of Public Health, Dr. George Norton. Minister Norton recently revealed that he is aware that a particular officer was assigned to
the case by the Police Commissioner but according to him, “so far we haven’t any update on that (matter).” This disclosure was
Contractors to pay 2% Withholding Tax on every transaction After years of falling under the radar, it appears that contractors will be made to comply with their taxes. During his budget presentation yesterday in the National Assembly, Finance Minister Winston Jordan announced measures for Government to collect a two percent Withholding Tax on the gross payments made to all contractors. “The two percent shall be deducted from every payment made to contractors by contractees and shall be remitted to the Guyana Revenue Authority. The amounts deducted would be allowed as a credit against the final taxes payable by the contractors,” Jordan said. In current arrangements, contractors would wait to
submit their annual returns before remitting payments. Not so anymore. The client will have to take out that two percent of the entire amount and send the payments to GRA. Many contractors have been paid under the table; many of them are in loose arrangements that see little recourse for the client. Several state contractors have also been managing to get away with paying little taxes, using the loophole of asking for temporary compliance certificates from GRA, but afterwards not paying their correct taxes. Meanwhile, in another announcement, Jordan said that Government is repealing a section of the Income Tax Act as it relates to the sale of gold or dia-
monds not being taken into account in ascertaining the chargeable income of the persons who owned gold or diamonds. The administration is also planning to restrict the Mortgage Interest Relief to loans up to $15 million. “This measure will ensure that only low to middle income earners benefit, as was intended,” the minister said. The relief was introduced a few years ago by the previous administration as a means to help new homeowners to benefit from reduced taxes on their mortgage loans. However, there have been reports of persons taking mortgages in excess of $15M and still benefitting. The relief was supposed to benefit the working class.
made by the Public Health Minister during his most recent press conference. Speaking about the matter, the Minister said that although there were earlier talks about a re-sit of the examination, this decision was in fact premature. The decision was taken by a Committee within the Guyana Nursing Council and not the Council itself, the Minister explained. “They (the Committee) went ahead and made that decision without consulting the Nursing Council,” said Minister Norton, as he disclosed that the outcome of a statutory meeting that was set to be convened on Friday by the Guyana Nursing Council should have informed him of the progress of the situation. According to the Minister, based on information that has been forthcoming from the Council there is not likely to be a re-sit of the examination. At a press conference earlier this month, the Minister had shared, that persons could be charged and brought before the court for judgement if the outcome of an ongoing police investigation found them guilty of leaking the examination.
It was revealed by the Minister that thousands of dollars might have been earned from the illegality. He had disclosed then that he was hopeful that few persons were found culpable. He had also shared his optimism that those who are culpable will be dealt with accordingly, and those who legitimately pass the examination will be allowed to maintain their results. The examination, which is set by the Nursing Council, was conducted on October 19 and 20, 2016. A total of 250 Professional Nurses participated in the examination which usually caters to nursing students from the Georgetown School of Nursing, the Charles Roza School of Nursing, the New Amsterdam School of Nursing and the privately-operated St. Joseph Mercy Hospital. However, the marking of the examination was stalled when it was discovered that there was a breach in the Clinical and Functional examination papers. It is not clear how the breach was uncovered, but the Minister of Public Health had hinted at the fact that students were more than likely not the only ones who will be found culpable.
“While it is the student nurses who are involved, yet there are other personnel involved, and we should also direct our investigation in that direction...you can only buy if you are being sold, and this is something that is handled by the General Nursing Council. We were informed that the papers were sold and if that is the case, then an offence has been committed that warranted an investigation by the police,” Minister Norton shared. According to the M i n i s t e r, t h e N a t i o n a l Health Policy Committee of the Ministry of Public Health had met with the Chairman of the Nursing Council, the Director of the Division of Health Sciences Education and the Principal Tutor of the Georgetown Nursing School, to deliberate on the matter. But even then he disclosed, “We were unable to get pertinent answers to questions about this breach.” As such he’d asserted that “we are of the view that no final decision can be made with respect to the rewriting of the examination until a proper investigation is completed.”
Tuesday November 29, 2016
2012 hotel pool murder…
Manager, employee still in custody -friend released The manager of the Double Day Hotel and one of his employees remained in custody yesterday, as detectives continue to build a case against the individuals suspected of beating Sadeek Juman into a state of unconsciousness, and dumping him in a hotel pool. Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum said that investigators have been granted a further 72 hours to hold the suspects. However, investigators yesterday released a 26-year-old friend of the hotel manager on station bail. The suspects were taken into custody late last week, and ranks from the Major Crimes Unit have reportedly received statements about
Sadeek Juman the circumstances that led to the November, 2012 killing of the 20-year-old mechanic. He was slain four days before his twenty-first birthday. It is alleged that Sadeek Juman left his parent’s Blankenburg, West Coast
Demerara home on Sunday, November 18, 2012, and visited his grandmother at Ruby, East Bank Essequibo. Accompanied by a female friend, and others, he later headed to the Double Day Hotel at Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo. Information gathered by detectives indicates that while he was there, Juman got into “a heated exchange” with a group of men. The men inflicted a severe beating on Juman. “They allegedly put him in a room at the hotel, and when the place was silent, they allegedly put him in the hotel pool to give the appearance that he had drowned,” a police official said. A pathologist would later state that the mechanic died from drowning, compounded by blunt trauma.
Economy crawls to modest 2.6 % growth rate in 2016 By Kiana Wilburg For the first time since 2009, Guyana’s economy faced a number of extraordinary economic circumstances which saw it crawling in 2016 to achieve a modest 2.6 percent growth rate. This was revealed yesterday as Finance Minister Winston Jordan presented the 2017 budget to the National Assembly. Jordan during his presentation reminded the members of the House that the budget for 2016 projected an overall real growth rate of 4.4 percent. At mid-year, he said that a real economic growth rate of 2 percent was achieved. However, since several industries and sectors including sugar, rice, construction, and wholesale and retail trade, were showing signs of distress, already, the economist said that the projected growth rate for 2016 was revised downwards to 4 percent. However, the Finance Minister noted that there were several unexpected developments since that time which included the downsizing of Barama and Demerara Timbers Limited’s operations in the forestry sector; structural changes and ongoing strikes in the sugar industry; and the slow pace of implementation of the Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP). Those factors, he said, “conspired” to reduce the real growth rate to 2.6 percent for 2016. Though the figure is perhaps the lowest in recent times, it is still a reflection of positive growth.
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The last time the economy recorded growth rate this low or “modest” was in 2009. Prior budgets show that the Guyanese economy achieved real growth of 3.1 percent in 2008, a most commendable achievement under the circumstances that prevailed following growth rates of 5.1 and 5.4 percent in 2006 and 2007, respectively. In 2010, real GDP expanded by 3.6 percent in 2010 while in 2011; the domestic economy achieved a GDP of 5.4 percent. Real gross domestic product grew by 4.8 percent in 2012, and in 2013, the Guyanese economy recorded its eighth consecutive year of growth, with real GDP expanding by 5.2 percent. In 2015, the Finance Minister had reported that the estimated half-year growth of 3.2 percent represented a slippage relative to the 3.9 percent achieved for the half-year of 2013. This performance caused the growth rate for 2014 to be scaled down from 5.6 percent to 4.5 percent. Unfortunately, Jordan said that even that lower growth rate was not achieved, for the economy contracted to 3.8 percent. He had said that this was the first sign that the economy was slowing down, with the rapidly deteriorating
political climate being identified as a significant contributory factor. Additionally, the Finance Minister yesterday noted that budget 2015 concentrated, essentially, on stabilizing the economy, while fulfilling this Administration’s 100-day promises. He said that it also outlined a fresh approach to the management of the economy for the next five years. Jordan said that Budget 2016 started to lay the foundations for stronger institutions and restoring the confidence of our people in their government. The economist said that the reduced performance of several key sectors in 2016 tested the nation’s resolve as a people and as a country. “Indeed, the absence of evidence-based, results-focused, approaches to policy interventions continues to beset our attempts at effective government and governance. However, guided by our creole proverb, ‘one one dutty build dam’, we intend to move our country forward, brick by brick, road by road, bridge by bridge, community by community, town by town, region by region,” the Finance Minister stated.
Water and Electricity bills now loaded with 14% VAT By Abena RockcliffeCampbell Citizens who thought that the reduction of Value Added Tax (VAT) would have strengthened their changes of realizing “the good life” promised by the APNU+AFC government, were given a rude awakening yesterday after listening to the presentation of Budget 2017. Dreams were dashed as it was announced that while VAT will be reduced, water and electricity—two essentials—will now attract VAT. A promise to reduce VAT was dangled in front the faces of Guyanese in the lead-up to the 2015 elections. The APNU+AFC had promised that within 100 days after assuming office, it would have reduced VAT which was implemented under the PPP and has proven a burden to the poor and average man. Over a year and a half later, Finance Minister Winston Jordan announced the arrival of the reduction. VAT has been reduced by 2 percent. But will that be of any benefit to the poor? Many on social media called the fact that VAT was reduced but added to electricity, tantamount to giving with one hand while taking with the other. But it is a little more than that. During his speech, Jordan himself admitted that taxation is a strain. He admitted that the economy is characterized by a tax system that has high and multiple rates and inequality. “As a consequence, smuggling, tax avoidance and tax evasion are rampant.” The Finance Minister even noted that because of “high and multiple taxes,” the existence of legitimate businesses is threatened, while labour productivity
suffers from a tax system that acts as a disincentive to greater effort. “This has led to ever increasing demands for tax concessions, thereby distorting resource allocation while weakening the tax base.” Despite such acknowledgements, Jordan was bold to announce the additional VAT that will be felt by businesses that already complain about the energy cost. It was because of the complaints about already high electricity; the PPP had proposed the Amaila Falls Hydro-electricity project, one that A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) is following up. Yesterday, Jordan said that his announcements are keeping with APNU+AFC promise made in the Manifesto, and based on recommendations of the Tax Reform Committee and the Caribbean Regional Technical Assistance Center (CARTAC) study. So in addition to the reduction, from 16 percent to 14 percent, He announced an increase in the VAT threshold. “I propose to increase the VAT threshold from $10 million to $15 million. It was found that a significant number of persons were unable to maintain proper records to meet the minimum threshold requirement for VAT registration. As such, this measure will allow the GRA to concentrate on the cohort that makes the bulk of VAT payments, since there will be a smaller tax base and consequently less VAT registrants to administer,” said Jordan. Jordan also proposed the introduction of the 14 percent VAT on electricity consumption in excess of $10,000 per month. He was keen to note that while VAT
will not be applied to consumption up to $10,000, it will be applied to the full amount once consumption exceeds $10,000. Water, an absolutely essential commodity, will also attract VAT. VAT will be attached to water consumption in excess of $1,500 per month. Just like electricity, Jordan explained that the $1,500 limit is not an allowance. While VAT will not be applied to consumption up to $1,500, it will be applied to the full amount once consumption exceeds $1,500. DOMINO EFFECT The attraction of VAT to basic commodities such as water and electricity will certainly have a domino effect. While the poor and average man may complain about the direct effect they may feel when have to pay the tax, the real squeeze, so to speak, will be felt through the domino effect. Businesses, in order to sustain a profit, may feel the need to raise prices. About 90 percent of businesses depend on e l e c t r i c i t y. The manufacturing sector, fast food joints, media, laundries, stores, movie theatres, all use electricity and may feel the need to hike prices. Water purifying facilities will feel a double effect in paying more on water and electricity; so higher prices for drinking water and local juices are to be expected. The tax on electricity may force persons to gravitate towards solar energy. Indeed this is a direction the government wants businesses to go in. Jordan, in his presentation, reminded of a charge given by President David Ganger for a transition towards greater renewable energy use.
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EDUCATIONAL CXC Classes: day & evening classes, personal tutor, Grade 4 to 6, Form 1-5 Maths. Call Sir Jarvis: 690-5008/ 6934588/ 638-2359
SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.-CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620
SALON - Make-up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, etc. - Cosmetology Courses: $120,000 - Technician Course: $45,000. Call: 6471773/660-5257
Visa Application: U.S.A, C a n a da & UK; Guyana p assport application. Graphics design, advertisement. Tel: 6267040; 265-4535. INNOVATIVEMARKETING & PUBLISHING INC –TEL: 600-4212: We create A/ works, logos, busi ness cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included. Passport, permanent & visitor visa application, Professional Immigrant Consultant – Sabita Immigration Services. Call: 225-6496; 662-6045 Eagle’s: Re-gas -$8,000, Washing machine repairs, Gas Stove, Plasma flat Screen & more. Call: 697-2969/6460966 Repairs & spare, fridge, freezer, A/C, washers, stoves – Contact Nick: 6831312, 627-3206 Firber glass repairs, truck caps, boats and many more. Contact Taitram Singh Aka Anil:220-2350/621-9021
VACANCY Camp assistant for interior location. Job involves dishwashing, cleaning etc.Call: 618-2020 Receptionist male, room attendant, desk staff. Call: 2250198 or visit 233 South Road, Lacytown. Vacancy for salesgirls, hair & nail station rental @ New Market Street. Call: 667-7409
1-30 feet aluminum jet boat with spares. Call: 642-7898 LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 House for rent located at 696 Golden Grove, E.B.D. Call: 611-1963 for further details 3 Bedrooms apartment, bottom flat -$50,000 per month @ Triumph, E.C.D. Call: 604-0883 128 Akawini, Sheriff Street: 3 storey building, unfurnished, 5 bedrooms, kitchen. Call:2200365/ 652-1504 Space for rent at Ashmin’s BuildingIdeal for commercial and office useCall: 683-7954
Cook/baker for the Interior location, applicants must be experienced. Call: 618-2020 Giftland Mall: External , Security, Internal Security . $ 447 per Hour. Contact: 2227334 – 63 1 Cosmetology, 1 security, 2 salesgirls. Call:265-3586 8am-4pm
PEN PAL Evening wear, working uniforms and more professionally done. Call: 626-2629/ 676-6312
PROPERTY FOR SALE Transported property @ Grove and Diamond $16M negotiable. Call: 625-5461
Two buildings on lot at (W30X6120) @ 180 Charolotte Street Bourda. Call:624-7341/ 227-6817/2265183 (Price negotiable)
CAR RENTAL LEARN TO DRIVE
CAR RENTAL
C. Persaud & N. Outar Driving School formerly Soman & Sons Driving School @ Maraj BuildingCall: 644-5166; 622-2872; 6150964; 689-5997 (affordable packages). FOR SALE/RENT
DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM
American Pool Table. Call: 277-0578
AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL:PICKUP,9-11 SEAT MIN BUS, GOOD FOR AIRPOTR & FAMILY OUTING, CHEAPEST RATE . Call: 698-7807
Cargo trawler- Call: 682-8724, 616-5954 Honda CBR 929 for sale $800,000. Also Land for sale at Bushy Park E.B.E. Call: 6944609 Cat 928F loader, 3406 Cat Engine, 3116 Cat Engine, 3208 Cat Engine. Contact #6500402 1 Large double door freezer 40cubic ft, owner migrating. Call: 696-2957 One complete sawmill situated at Yarrowkabra Industrial site, Soesdyke, Linden Highway. Call: 6441190/ 609-8041 Wardrobes, fridges, TV stand, chairs, dresser, gas stove, etc @ Helena #2 Mahaica. Call Jai Singh): 622-7842/ 639-2070 Refrigerator $60,000, RCA smart TV $30,000, all prices negotiable. Call: 687-3241/ 656-1153
Property @ Zeelugt, brand new, fenced, land: 60’X120’ $8.5M, owner migrating, must sell! No reasonable refused! Reduced Price! Call: 684-4759
HEALTH Learn how you can benefit from iridology Mon, Dec 5th - Contact Hazel’s Herbal Store: 226-9136
FOR SALE MX QSC 2000, 1500, 1000 watts, 4 Bass 4MID, 4 horn, 4 tweeter mixer, juggler, EQ, Speaker, Cable. Call: 6542732/ 253-3070
PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS& SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 643-5122, 6560087 , EMAIL: PRO_ AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO. COM WING’S CAR & PICKUP RENTAL: LOW DOWN PAYMENT, CHEAP REATES,SPECIAL OFFER FOR THE SUMMER. CALL: 690-6494
Design & Make Aluminum windows, doors, stainless rails, showcases, rolling shutters, make & install automatic doors. Call: 2336818/677-5599/659-9999
Tuesday November 29, 2016
WANTED 1 Female shop assistant to work in the interior, salary depends on experienced. Call: 678-0565 Straight stitch, over edge machine operators, portersCall 222-2541 8:00am-4:00pm Mon-Fri Experienced cahiers, curry cooks, cleaners. Apply @ Hack’s Halaal with written application, 5 Commerce Street. Receptionist, apply with application at Millenium Manor Hotel, 43 Hadfield Street, W/Rust. One cleaner. Call: 629-6891 One experienced driver/ salesman, preferably living on West Coast & West Bank Demerara. Contact: 690-6622 or 628-6027 1- Male able body clerk. Call: 231-2029/ 616-5954 Female bartender, live in/out, attractive waitresses, cooks needed at Eden’s Bar (East Bank). Call: 678-3616/email: edenbarandlounge@gmal . com . Couple to work on farm @ Yarrowkabra, ages 35-45yrs, must be experienced in farming. Call: 642-9191/ 2311408 8am-2pm Land to buy @ Tuschen, Uitlugt, Zeelugt, La Parfaite Harmonie, one maid on W.C.D, best price offer. Call: 642-1252 6 Waitresses to work in Mahdia; attractive salary. Call:601-1479 after 11am or whatsapp. One male to work on chicken farm interior, must have knowledge of chicken rearing. Call: 680-2702
LAND FOR SALE
Live in/live out domestic 3555yrs, salesgirls, must be computer literate. Call: 6035416/ 644-9802
House lot for sale @ Blankenburg -3.5 & 4.5 M, Schoonord -6.5 M. Contact #650-0402
1 Male to work in interior, workers for land dredge. Call: 694-2310 between 8:305:00pm
Zeelugt -$1.5M, Uitvlugt $2M, Tuschen with small house -$3.5M, price negotiable. Call: 642-1252
Experienced female shop worker, domestic and handyman for the interior. Call: 231-0363
Diamond 21st Street, can transfer $3.5M. Schoonard, WBD $2.5M, Land Of Canaan $5M per acreContact Shawn 231-2199, 618-7483
Experienced domestic worker must know to cook for G/ town location. Call: 231-0363 TO LET
80X160 located in D’Aguair’s Park, gated community, transported. Asking price $45M. Call: 645-6498
Fully furnished vacation home with all amenities Call during working hours 2271218 Two bedrooms apartment at Eccles East Bank Demerara. Call:676-7634 Rooms in Albertown- Call: 698-7807,225-3234
VEHICLE FOR SALE 1-DAF 75 Hauler GNN Series -$2.5M negotiable. Call: 6555117 Bluebird for sale 2011 model, dark interior, reverse camera $2.7M negotiable, preorder any vehicle Call: 655-3400 2009 NOAH & VOXY $2.6M IN ‘G’ SERIES, 3 TON OPEN BACK CANTER -$3.6M. CALL: 617-2891 CHRISTMAS SPECIAL: SIENTA -$2.3M, RAUM $2.3M, RACTIS -$2.3M, FIELDER -$2.6M, NEVER R E G I S T E R VEHICLE.CALL: 617-2891 Toyota Spacio (2003) 16" Mags, flair Kit, remote start, alarm, black interior, HID lights, PNN. Price $1.650M. Call: 619-1047 Vigo GPP Series, 3RZ Engine, 4WD, immaculate conditionCall: 698-7807
Tuesday November 29, 2016
Govt completes diagnostic assessment of math performance in hinterland The Ministry of Education has completed its diagnostic assessment of pupils in the hinterland towards improved performance in Mathematics at the primary level. Acting Chief Education Officer (CEO), Marcel Hutson, disclosed yesterday that the assessment was part of the emergency education intervention for improved Mathematics performance. Hutson, according to a government release, noted that in the hinterland, the primary level has the poorest performance in Mathematics. The diagnostic assessments, conducted by education officers, seek to identify what measures are needed before training is implemented. “Let us see what it is that they know and based upon what they know we will determine the level of training, and how deep we need to go in terms of their training, in terms of the administration of that region, in terms of even the
REOs and officers, what we need to do in terms of training them too, to supervise and monitor the programme,” Hutson explained. The official said the assessments have been completed and education officers are in the process of analysing the data collected. The assessment is one intervention to address poor performance in Mathematics at the Grade Six level. Other interventions include training of teachers in content and methodology. “What we have discovered in our supervisory visits, and our monitoring visits, in some cases, we find (that) our teachers, they are not familiar with the content of the curriculum and the methodology that may have been used may not have been the best so to speak,” Hutson noted. Te a c h e r s a c r o s s t h e country have been meeting
for the last month at fortnightly cluster meetings to discuss how to effectively tackle problems encountered in relation to content and methodology. “A very large part or a very expensive part of the component has to do with the acquisition of materials such as Mathematics tool kits and workbooks for our children to engage in practical activities,” Hutson pointed out. The Ministry of Education has submitted to the Ministry of Finance costs for the acquisition of Mathematics tool kits to make the subject more interactive. These interventions are part of a holistic strategy by the Ministry of Education to address the poor performance in Mathematics. Cabinet has approved $48.6M for implementation of the immediate phase of the plan. The administration earlier this year expressed alarm at the level of passes in Mathematics.
Prosecution closes case in trial for murder of Brazilian miner The Prosecution has closed its case in the matter for which Mark Thompson is charged for the murder of Brazilian miner, Jose Rodriguez De Oliviera. Thompson allegedly murdered De Oliviera on August 7, 2010 at Aranka Backdam, Cuyuni River. He is currently facing a trial before Justice James Bovell Drakes and a mixed 12-member jury at the High Court in Georgetown. Reports indicated that the two men had apparently been drinking together at their mining camp when the disagreement occurred. De Oliviera allegedly attacked Thompson with a cutlass but was overpowered. Thompson reportedly relieved De Oliviera of the cutlass and hacked him to death as he lay on the ground. The accused was subsequently detained. He is being represented by Attorney –at- law, Peter Hugh. Following weeks of trial, State Prosecutor Tamieka Clarke closed her case yesterday. Earlier in the day, Clarke had called former Police Sergeant Wilfred Murray to the stand. During his testimony, Murray told the court that he had travelled to (Melodina) at Aranka, Cuyuni River to investigate a murder which was reportedly committed there in August 2010. The former policeman said that he was attached to the Bartica Police Station at the
Accused: Mark Thompson time. During his investigation the witness said that he spent several days in the Aranka area. There, he said he questioned several persons about the incident and they pointed out the accused, Mark Thompson. At this point of his testimony, the witness pointed to the prisoner’s dock and identified the accused as the said Mark Thompson. The ex-cop recalled that he had viewed the body of the deceased (De Oliviera). It was on a tarpaulin and had what appeared to be blood on it. The body, Murray told the court, was examined in the presence of Corporal Lowe, who had accompanied him to the crime scene. According to Murray, photographic exposures were
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taken of the body and further investigations were conducted at the scene before the accused was detained and taken to the Bartica Police Station. He noted that it was a two-day journey from Aranka to Bartica because of the rough terrain. The witness recalled that they had transported the murder accused to the Bartica Police Station. Shortly after their arrival at Bartica on August 9, 2010, the policeman said that they (the ranks) proceeded to take statements from the accused, regarding the incident. He told the court that Thompson’s rights were read to him before the statement was taken. The witness recalled that the accused had elected Corporal Lowe to write his statement for him. During that time, Murray noted that no bribe, inducement or force was used on the accused in order that he might give a statement to the ranks. The witness told the court that the statement was later read over to the accused before he affixed his signature to it. Following his evidence in chief, the witness was cross examined by Attorney Peter Hugh. Hugh had made certain submissions in the absence of the jury - in a Voir Dire. The Court is expected to make a ruling on those submissions when the case resumes next week.
Bystander shot in gas station row A bystander sustained a gunshot wound to his hand Sunday night when another man opened fire indiscriminately in the vicinity of a popular gas station located on the East Coast of Demerara. The victim has been identified as Shanis Persaud. He was treated at the Mahaicony Cottage Hospital and sent away. The Guyana Police Force in a statement said that ranks are making stringent efforts to apprehend a male suspect, who indiscriminately discharged several rounds from
Acting Chief Education Officer, Marcel Hutson
a handgun. Enquires disclosed that a group of persons were in the vicinity of the gas station imbibing when an argument between the suspect and another male erupted. The argument escalated into a scuffle, during which the suspect whipped out a firearm and discharged several rounds, one of which struck Persaud, a bystander, to his hand. The suspect made good his escape in a motor car. Investigators have retrieved five spent shells from the scene.
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Tuesday November 29, 2016
Kaieteur News
‘Greening’ the economy…
Used tyres restricted from April 1 -$10 environmental tax on every non-returnable bottle imported Government has also -tax reductions for electric, hybrid vehicles agreed for tax exemptions for Months after announcing plans to restrict the importation of used tyres, Government yesterday reiterated its intentions to make this effective after the first quarter of next year. The disclosures were made yesterday by Finance Minister, Winston Jordan, during his budget speech yesterday to the National Assembly. He said that restriction will apply to the importation of used tyres for motor cars, vans, pickups, Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) and minibuses, with effect from April 1, 2017. The measure is part of Government’s plan to ‘green’ Guyana and protect the environment. In his budget speech earlier this year, Jordan had given “notice of intent to ban the importation of used tyres and to reduce taxes on new tyres to encourage their use.” He had said that the ban would come into effect as soon as some procedural hurdles are cleared. The announcement had created worry by used tyre importers who feared a loss of
business from their investm e n t s . There are scores of tyre shops around the country with at least 20 containers or an estimated 20,000 used tyres entering Guyana annually. With the taxes on new tyres too high, many car owners have been opting for the cheaper, used tyres. Operators had met with the Guyana Revenue Authority and warned that vehicle owners will not afford to buy new tyres. Motor cars, vans, pickups, SUV’s, and mini-buses which are imported into Guyana after April 1, 2017, will be required to be fitted with new tyres, including the spare, the minister said. “A “phase out” period for existing stocks of used tyres will be allowed. Used tyres that have been ordered and shipped will be allowed a period of three months to have these orders completed.” There will also be a reduction on the duty on new tyres – the Customs duty on new tyres will be reduced from 30 percent to 15 percent. Government has been complaining about a major
Farmer shot while urinating near parked vehicle A 22-year-old farmer was shot Sunday night while urinating near a parked vehicle at Clonbrook, East Coast Demerara (ECD). This incident occurred shortly after 23:45 hrs. Khemraj Gangaram of Bee Hive, ECD, was shot to the left hand and right thigh. He is in a stable condition at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). According to information received, Gangaram was at a function at Clonbrook when he ventured across the road to relieve himself, in the vicinity of a parked motor vehicle. While urinating, the man reportedly heard two explosions and observed a male pointing a handgun at him. The victim managed to run, but sustained two gunshots. He was rushed to the GPHC where he remains a patient. No one has been arrested as yet.
problem of the dumping of used tyres at the Haags Bosch landfill. They have asked for expressions of interest to have thousands of them removed from that dumpsite. Meanwhile, with regards to other measures to help the country’s ‘green agenda’, the Finance Minister said that there will be tax exemptions on the importation of items for wind and solar energy investments. In addition, there will be a one-off tax holiday of two years of Corporation Tax for companies involved exclusively in such importation.
investment in, and construction of, water treatment and water recycling facilities. These initiatives will also be granted a one-off tax holiday of two years of Corporation Tax for companies involved exclusively in the importation. The 2017 budget has also paved the way for tax exemptions for investment in, and construction of waste disposal facilities with particular reference to recycling facilities for plastic items. This will also attract a one-off tax holiday of two years of Corporation Tax.
Government also plans to grant exemptions of Customs duties and taxes on machinery and equipment to setup charging stations for electric vehicles and for greenhouses and component parts for use in the agricultural sector. With regards to hybrid and electrical vehicles, GRA will be charging a lower Excise Tax while a zero-rating of Excise Tax will be done for specially-designed garbage trucks. One of the big tax measures to protect the environment will be the imposition of an environmental levy of $10 per unit on the importers and local manufacturers of products using non-returnable
metal, plastic or glass container of any alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverage. “The new environmental levy with penalties will be implemented by amending the Customs Act, Chapter 82:01 to include a section to impose this levy, and will apply, across the board, on both imports and locally manufactured products, thus ensuring that Guyana complies with the provisions of Article 90 of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas.” With regards to this environmental tax, in the past, critics have blamed the flooding and garbage build-up on the dumping of these non-returnable bottles and containers.
$250 Budget unveiled for 2017 From page 8 salary increases. Following extensive negotiations with the Union, in which no agreement was reached and mindful of the early Budget and the workers’ need to be compensated given the lateness of the year, Jordan announced that the Government granted wage increases as follows: (i) 10 percent increase to public servants earning less than $100,000 per month; (ii) 6 percent to those earning between $100,000 to below $300,000; (iii) 5 percent to those earning between $300,000 to below $500,000; (iv) 4 percent to those earning between $500,000 to below $800,000; (v) 2 percent to those earning between $800,000 to below $1,000,000; and (vi) 1 percent to those earning $1,000,000 and above. In addition, the minimum basic salary for each public servant was raised to $55,000 per month, representing an almost 40 percent increase in the minimum wage in less than eight months since the Government acceded to office, while the threshold was raised by 10 percent to $660,000 per annum. The Finance Minister also disclosed how Central Government will be raising funds this year. Jordan noted in this regard that several one-off payments of arrears from delinquent companies, coupled with increased company income tax collections, are expected to contribute to an improved tax revenue performance, while non-tax collection will benefit from increased royalties from the mining sector.
Finance Minister Winston Jordan He asserted that the projected total revenue collection for 2016 is $174.8 billion, which is 0.9 percent more than budgeted and 7.4 percent better than in 2015. As for tax revenue, Jordan said that this is projected to rise to $149.3 billion, representing an increase of 4.5 percent, driven primarily by an 8.2 percent, or $2.5 billion increase in the collection of company income taxes and an 8 percent, or $1.6 billion increase in personal income taxes. The economist revealed that international and trade transactions are expected to rise to $16.3 billion, or 16.3 percent. Meanwhile, Value-Added Tax collections are projected to increase by 1.7 percent to $36.0 billion. Excise tax collections will decrease by 10.4 percent to $29.9 billion. Rent and royalties will soar to $4.4 billion, from a meagre $8.8 million in 2015, and will be driven
by the expansion in gold production. Further, transfers from statutory bodies will reach $8.5 billion, up from the $7.9 billion transferred in 2015, while dividends from public enterprises will rise to $2.2 billion, from $1 billion in 2015. Additionally, the Finance Minister announced that transfers from the Lotto account will amount to $600 million. Notwithstanding, the increased revenue in 2016, Jordan noted that the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) is expected to remit $42.6 billion. While this figure is $4.5 billion or 9.6 percent lower than the tax remissions in 2015, Jordan said that arduous effort will be exerted to monitor concessions granted in 2017. With regard to allocations for key sectors, the Finance Minister said that $29.1B was allocated to restore confidence in the security sector, $31.2B was set aside towards
the continued transformation of the health sector and $20.6B was budgeted for the agriculture sector with $9B going towards the Guyana Sugar Corporation. Additionally, $43.1B was allocated to the education sector. An examination of the expenditure shares of key sectors reveals that education has moved from 16.6 percent in 2015, to a proposed 17.2 percent in 2017; health has moved from 11.5 percent in 2015, to a proposed 12.5 percent in 2017; infrastructure has moved from 7.6 percent in 2015, to a proposed 14.9 percent in 2017; and public security has moved from 11 percent in 2015, to a proposed 11.6 percent in 2017. The shifting composition of the expenditure in 2017 reflects a closer alignment of resource allocation with national priorities. In this regard, Jordan commented that the Government is acutely aware that the capacity of its human capital and institutional systems to spend, combined with the poor quality of public expenditure, will continue to delimit its ability to effectively allocate resources. In the 2017 budget, the Finance Minister also announced a number of measures. Some of these include; the lowering of the excise tax on hybrid and electric vehicles; the granting of tax exemptions to set up electric vehicle charging stations; the Zero-rating of the excise tax on biofuel and specially designed refuse trucks; the restriction of used tyres; and a reduction of taxes on new tyres. Additional measures for budget 2017 include 14 percent VAT increase on water and electricity bills, as well as an increase in Old Age pension to $19,000.
Tuesday November 29, 2016
Kaieteur News
Obama, Trump offer differing views on Castro’s death
WASHINGTON, Nov. 27, CMC – United States President Barack Obama has offered condolences to the Castro family and extended “a hand of friendship to the Cuban people,” after Cuban President Raul Castro announced late Friday night that his brother, former Cuban President Fidel Castro, had died. He was 90. “At this time of Fidel Castro’s passing, we extend a hand of friendship to the Cuban people,” said Obama in a White House statement on Saturday. “We know that this moment fills Cubans – in Cuba and in the United States – with powerful emotions, recalling the countless ways in which Fidel Castro altered the course of individual lives, families, and of the Cuban nation.” The US president said history will record and judge the “enormous impact of this singular figure on the people and world around him,” stating that, for nearly six decades, the relationship between the United States and Cuba was marked by “discord and profound political disagreements.” During his presidency, Obama said his administration “worked hard to put the past behind us, pursuing a future in which the relationship between our two countries is defined not by our differences but by the many things that we share as neighbors and friends – bonds of family, culture, commerce, and common humanity.” He said this engagement includes the contributions of Cuban Americans, “who have
United States Presidentelect Donald Trump
United States President Barack Obama
done so much for our country and who care deeply about their loved ones in Cuba. “Today, we offer condolences to Fidel Castro’s family, and our thoughts and prayers are with the Cuban people,” Obama said. “In the days ahead, they will recall the past and also look to the future. As they do, the Cuban people must know that they have a friend and partner in the United States of America.” In March, Obama and the first family created history when they spent two and a half days in the Spanishspeaking Caribbean country on an official state visit. Obama’s visit was the first to Cuba by an incumbent United States president in nearly 90 years. The visit included a bilateral meeting with President Raul Castro. Shortly after 8 a.m. on Saturday United States President-elect Donald Trump weighed in on the death of Castro, with a four-word tweet, saying simply, “Fidel Castro is dead!”
A few hours later, however, he issued a long statement in which he described Castro as “a brutal dictator who oppressed his own people for nearly six decades.” Trump expressed hope that Castro’s death gave Cuban Americans “the hope of one day soon” they would see “a free Cuba.” “Fidel Castro’s legacy is one of firing squads, theft, unimaginable suffering, poverty and the denial of fundamental human rights,” said Trump in the statement. “While Cuba remains a totalitarian island, it is my hope that today marks a move away from the horrors endured for too long, and toward a future in which the wonderful Cuban people finally live in the freedom they so richly deserve. “Though the tragedies, deaths and pain caused by Fidel Castro cannot be erased, our administration will do all it can to ensure the Cuban people can finally begin their journey toward prosperity and liberty,” Trump added.
TT Central Bank reports increased liquidity in TT PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Liquidity in the Trinidad and Tobago financial system rose slightly this month after falling in October, with commercial rates averaging $TT3.4 billon (One TT dollar =US$0.16 cents) daily during the first 21 days of November, the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago (CBTT) has reported. It said that it removed TT$725 million from the system through open market operations while the bank’s sales of foreign exchange to authorized dealers indirectly extracted roughly TT$500 million. The CBTT said that private sector credit growth remained sluggish in September 2016, as lending to busi-
nesses declined for the fourth consecutive month when compared with similar months in 2015. In August and September, business lending registered year-on-year declines of 2.8 per cent and 1.9 per cent, respectively. Credit to the private sector by the consolidated financial sector rose to 3.5 per cent in September 2016 from 3.1 per cent in August. As at November 14, 2016, yield differentials between Trinidad and Tobago and the United States 91-day and 10year Treasury securities stood at 65 basis points and 216 basis points, respectively compared with 86 basis points and 255 basis points, respectively at the end of October 2016. The CBTT said that since
its last Monetary Policy Announcement in September, oil prices rallied to a 15-month high of near US$50 dollars per barrel (WTI) in October, but have declined since. “Though oil prices generally remained low, they improved in the third quarter of 2016 and averaged US$44.9 compared to US$39.4 in the first half of the year. “Meanwhile, production of crude oil and natural gas, as well as some downstream products, continued to be affected by maintenance and other stoppages by energy companies, leading to curtailed energy sector output relative to the first three quarters of 2015,” the CBTT reported,
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Tuesday November 29, 2016
Haitians await results Trinidadians vote in Local of presidential poll Government elections PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti, CMC – The preliminary results of the Haitian presidential election are due to be released on Monday with the Justice Minister Camille Edouard Jr., saying that he is confident that the law enforcement authorities will take all steps to prevent any breakdown of law and order. The Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) over the weekend confirmed that the publication of the preliminary results of the elections of the November 20 poll was to have taken place yesterday
and reminded candidates who have complaints, to do it before the Office of the Departmental Electoral Litigation (BCED), and National (BCEN). “The results will reflect the will of the Haitian people,” said CEP’s Léopold Berlanger At least six million Haitians were eligible to vote for one of 27 presidential candidates, as well as for members of both houses of parliament in elections that had been repeatedly delayed for various reasons. The presidential candidates included: Jovenel
Moise, a plantation owner, chosen by the ruling PHTK (the Bald Heads Party) and Jude Celestin of the LAPEH Party of former President Michel Martelly. Celestin had placed second in the 2015 ballot that subsequently was cancelled. The other candid a t e s i n c l u d e M a r yse Narcisse, who was a spokeswoman for former president Jean-Bertrand Aristide, who had endorsed Narcisse and encouraged his supporters to take to the streets in protest if her candidacy failed.
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Trinidad and Tobago’s two main political parties were facing each other on Monday in a crucial Local Government Election that some political commentators say could have a bearing on the political fortunes of their leaders. Both Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley and Opposition Leader Kamla Persad Bissessar have renewed their political battle following last September’s general election in which Rowley led the People’s National Movement
(PNM) to victory, defeating Persad Bissessar’s coalition People’s Partnership government. Rowley is urging the estimated 1,060,863 voters to ensure that the PNM wins the Local Government election, which he said would be a stepping stone for a reform of the local government system, while Persad Bissessar is hoping her United National Congress (UNC) will win and in the process send a message to the government that its policies are not working. During the campaign, the UNC, the biggest partner in the coalition, had urged voters to consider whether they were better off than a year ago, while the PNM has been telling v oters that the country should not go back to the days of corruption and other ills associated with the Persad Bissessar led coalition. There are 137 electoral districts in the 14 corporations in Trinidad, and the outcome of the vote will likely influence the political future
of several political parties. The Peoples National Movement (PNM), which goes into the election controlling eight of the 14 corporations, is seeking to expand its power ahead of planned local government reforms which will place more responsibility in the councillors. The PNM is the only party contesting all 137 seats. The UNC is contesting 135 seats and there are several minor parties such as the Movement for Social Justice (MSJ), the Independent Liberal Party (ILP), the Congress of the People (COP), The National Solidarity Assembly (NSA), as well as several independent candidates. The campaign was marred by the shooting of Victor Roberts who remains in a stable but serious condition at the San Fernando General Hospital, south of here on Monday. Police said the 49-yearold politician was standing on the tray of a pickup van when he was attacked on Saturday.
Tuesday November 29, 2016
Kaieteur News
U.S. airlines launch flights to Cuba despite doubts from Trump U.S. airlines are proceeding with plans to launch new flights to Cuba this week despite doubts that Presidentelect Donald Trump has raised about the future of ties between the countries. American Airlines Group Inc (AAL.O), the world’s largest airline, kicked off its first flight to Havana from Miami on Monday and intends to launch Charlotte-Havana service on Wednesday. Its rival for Caribbean travel, JetBlue Airways Corp (JBLU.O), has three new flights to Havana starting this week, with the first having departed from New York on Monday at 9:45 a.m. ET, according to tracking website FlightAware.com. The new service comes as Trump said in a Twitter post on Monday that he will “terminate [the] deal” between Cuba and the United States if the communist-ruled island does not make an agreement that is better for the people of both countries. The former Cold War foes began normalizing relations in December 2014 after 18 months of secret talks and have since restored
Flights to Cuba full diplomatic ties. They reached a memorandum of understanding that allowed U.S. airlines to start scheduled flights to Cuba after a half-century hiatus, and the Obama administration has eased travel restrictions for U.S. citizens - though general tourism remains illegal. It was not immediately clear if Trump would target the aviation deal or other aspects of the detente. It also was unclear if there would be any impact from the death on Friday of Fidel Castro, who ousted U.S.-backed dictator Fulgencio Batista in Cuba’s 1959 revolution. “While we can’t speculate, we are full steam ahead to begin service
to Havana this week,” said American Airlines spokesman Matt Miller. “We are proud to be the leading carrier between the U.S. and Cuba.” JetBlue spokespeople did not immediately comment on whether the airline was concerned that the incoming Trump administration would curtail its service to Cuba. Scrapping the flights would throw a wrench in the plans of U.S. airlines, which expect an eventual payout from Cuban-Americans visiting relatives, leisure travelers desiring an experience that was once off limits, and executives buying business class fares to evaluate commercial opportunities in Cuba.
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Kaieteur News
Tuesday November 29, 2016
Tuesday November 29, 2016
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Kaieteur News
‘I Am Bolt’ movie offers glimpse into sprinter’s racing life Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt swaps the race track for the red carpet yesterday for the premiere of a new film looking at his record-breaking career. “I Am Bolt” follows the nine-times Olympic gold medalist in his grueling training and competing as well as relaxing at home, giving fans a glimpse into the life of the man nicknamed “Lightning Bolt”. ”Most people’s concept of me is that ‘Oh Usain, it’s easy for Usain, there’s no stress’ ... but it’s not,” Bolt told a news conference in London yesterday ahead of the film’s world premiere in the British
capital. ”I wanted to make people see what I went through to get to where I’m at today.” The documentary, which includes location footage from the Beijing World Championships, Rio Olympics and London Olympics, also has video from Bolt’s youth and interviews with family members, friends and coach. Bolt, who became the first person to win three consecutive 100 and 200 meters Olympic golds in Rio de Janeiro last summer and is a world record holder in the two disciplines, can also be seen talk-
ing about his nerves and fears ahead of a race. ”I could feel all emotions throughout everything, like I was reliving my life again when I was watching that,” he said of the film. “That’s what I wanted people to see, the struggles, the pain, the triumph, the stress that I’ve been through and then have more insight also on my life.” The 30-year-old has said he plans to retire from the sport after the August world championships in London. He told reporters he wanted to do more charity work afterwards. (Reuters)
Tuesday Novembet 29, 2016 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Physical work or exercise should be part of your schedule. Sudden changes regarding your domestic scene are probable. Make changes to your living quarters that will please the whole family.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Your personal secrets may be revealed if you let coworkers in on your family dilemmas. You might find added popularity with those around you today. You should be promoting your ideas.
TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Don't let your emotions take over. You are best to keep hard feelings to yourself. Take part in stimulating debates that will allow you to show off your intelligence.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Travel for business purposes may bring the highest returns. This may not be the day to get involved in risky joint financial ventures. Focus your efforts on your work.
GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Don't let your emotions interfere with your efficiency. You'll be able to discuss your ambitions with your mate. Make sure to arrange in advance to spend quality time together. CANCER (June 21–July 22) You can set your goals and make a beeline for your target. Short trips may be tiring but rewarding. You should be raising your self esteem and confidence in order to promote your work.
SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) There might be a problem with a will or with an insurance policy. You will need to finalize important deals today. Avoid too much discourse with colleagues today. CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) You will be popular and will easily attract members of the opposite sex. Rely on yourself and you will look good to superiors. You need to concentrate on solving existing problems.
LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) You are apt to meet someone special on your journey. It may not be the best time to socialize with clients or colleagues today. Colleagues may try to undermine you when talking to superiors.
AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Don't beat around the bush; state your case in plain and simple terms. You may find yourself in a predicament with family members. Tie up your personal papers or push to have legal settlements completed.
VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Plan a trip to the country or take a drive to the beach. You will be highly sensitive to comments made by your lover. Investments concerning your residence will be profitable.
PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You are best to stick to basics. Work on getting ahead by picking up added skills. Opportunities for romance will develop through activities with large groups.
Athlete Usain Bolt (C) poses for photographers with dancers at the world premiere of the film ‘I am Bolt’ in London, yesterday. REUTERS/Neil Hall
Hamilton wins plaudits as... (From page 27) more popular outcome. While some condemned Hamilton’s strategy in slowing the race, in a failed bid to help others catch and pass Rosberg who needed to finish on the podium to become champion, others applauded him for transforming what could have been a processional one-two into a tense spectacle. ”Well done to @LewisHamilton for a relentless pursuit of the title, keeping us on the edge of our flaming pants right up to the last lap,” declared 1996 world champion Damon Hill on Twitter. Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, who rarely misses a chance to undermine Wolff, said he would have expected nothing less and accused Mercedes of being ‘naive’ in asking Hamilton to speed up, instructions the driver ignored. BOTH SIDES ”I think Lewis was trying to back us up and I probably would have done the same,” agreed Horner’s Dutch driver Max Verstappen. “You have to try these things to win a championship.” Rosberg, championship secured, could also see both sides of the argument. ”It’s really easy to understand the team’s side. But at the same time of course you can understand Lewis be-
cause this is the world championship,” he said. From outside Formula One, former England soccer striker Gary Lineker added his support: “Don’t get @LewisHamilton criticism. Why wouldn’t he give himself the best chance to succeed?”, he asked on Twitter. ”Attempting to win is the very essence of sport. All leading sports persons ignore ad-
vice from the sidelines on occasions. To be the best you have to think you know best.” From Hamilton’s perspective he had merely done what he had to do. ”I don’t feel I did anything unfair. We’re fighting for a championship, I was in the lead, I control the pace. That’s the rules,” said the winner of 10 races this season. (Reuters)
Kaieteur News
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Tuesday November 29, 2016
Uneventful day leads Horse owners want more action and less to predictable draw talk from Government
Kingston, Jamaica, CMC – There were precious few sparks on a drama-less final day as the third round game between Jamaica Scorpions and Barbados ended in a dull draw at Sabina Park here yesterday. Resuming the day on 153 for four, Pride failed to muster anything spectacular enough to turn the tide, and were dismissed for 273 nearly an hour after lunch. Wi c k e t k e e p e r M a r i o Rampersaud struck 36 and captain Kevin Stoute, 31, while Justin Greaves finished on 22 not out. Debutant left-arm spinner Fabian Allen claimed three for 34 while fast bowler Reynard Leveridge (2-28), captain and left-arm spinner Nikita Miller (2-65) and leg-spinner Damion Jacobs (2-69) all picked up two w i c k e t s e a c h . Trailing by 49 on first innings, Scorpions confidently reached the close on 112 for two, with opener John Campbell missing out on his second half-century of the game with 49 and opening partner Shacaya Thomas getting 43. Test left-arm spinner claimed two for 2 9 . Pride walked away from the rain-ravaged outing with nine points while the hosts picked up 7.6. The visitors made a safe start to the day as Stoute and Rampersaud stretched their overnight fifth wicket stand to 67. Left-hander Rampersaud was ultra-patient in a knock requiring 133 deliveries and 144 minutes while Stoute, a right-hander, struck two fours and two sixes off 87 balls. Once the partnership was broken, Pride lost their last six wickets for 53 runs, after going to lunch at 237 for s e v e n . Faced with a tricky period before tea, Scorpions’ fears were eased by Campbell and
Samuel Whyte
John Campbell Thomas who put on 92 for the first wicket. The lefthanded Campbell, unbeaten on 45 at the interval with
Scorpions on 81, faced 66 balls and struck nine fours while Thomas hit six fours in a 60-ball knock.
Horse owners in Guyana have said that they have had enough of promises and talk from the Government in trying to put systems in place to improve the sport. They said that they know that the Government has taken over a run down and almost none existent system, but the time for excuses are over. According to the owners, they would have thought that the Government would have done some work over time, especially in terms of regularizing the system. However, nothing has been done so far despite promises from high ranking officials including Minister of State Joseph Harmon and Director of Sport, Christopher Jones. Speaking with the media recently, prominent Horse Owner, Breeder and Trainer Colin Elcock informed that the situation as it now stands is appalling. He noted that a number of others are only continuing to race for the love of the sport. Elcock said that he understands that the previous government had no interest in having any organised activity done but cannot understand the present Government taking the same stance. “They are only promising, but nothing doing,” he noted. HE believes that the government is taking too long to act and is of the view that they [government] has to step in at Port Mourant Turf Club (PMTC) as a launching pad, take charge and move the process from there. He said that PMTC was left by the British Government for the people of Guyana through GUYSUCO to be used as a recreational park, not to be controlled by a few. “Right now is just a wild west going on and things are getting worst every day.” The horserace magnate said that horseracing is a nice sport and has a large following, but if there are n o c h a n g e s o r improvements by mid next year, he would be out of racing because it doesn’t
Horserace magnate Mr Colin Elcock and PMTC Secretary Ramnauth during the discussion with the media. make since. “Even if you have the long awaited legislation in place, you have to have a track where you can use to set the standard and that is where PMTC comes in. You must have rules and standards for anything. Right now there are no rules, no standards and instead of the game getting better it is getting worst.” “Right now there is no horse racing being held in Guyana, only Gymkhana. There are no proper rules, no proper classification. All the clubs and promoters have their own classifications to suit themselves and one day you will get something really bad happening or something. At every race people keep quarreling about classification and a whole set of nonsense and if things continue the way they are, persons could be harmed.” “Could you imagine Yankee Horses racing in H class, three-year-old horses racing in L class? How could that be? And the government collecting money – (taxes at race meet) from something that is haywire, unregulated. What nonsense is that?” “Right now this new Government has too much to
think about, all they have to do is put a board or committee in place, work through GUYSUCO with representatives from various organisations with vested interest. I have a letter right now how the board could be made up. The government is acting slowly and the entire thing is falling apart.” Elcock said that the government could do its part financially, but by and large they are not asking the government for money, but persons could get on board as shareholders. “Port Mourant right now is like a pasture and a few persons are acting like Land Lords, only collecting money after every event.” HE cited the recent horserace meet that was held at that venue where more than half of the persons who participated were not paid. Elcock who was in company with Veterinarian Dr Dwight Wa l d r o n a n d P M T C Secretary Ramnauth among others when he spoke with the media, said that if there were regulations in place, t h e o rg a n i s e r s w o u l d have been in serious problems. The time for talk is over and the time for action is now.
Kaieteur News
Tuesday November 29, 2016
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Diamond Mineral Water Int’l Indoor Hockey Festival
Pepsi Hikers on top once again; Toronto Toros, Queen’s Park crowned champions Already labeled as one of the best Festivals since its birth, hockey fans were treated to another breathtaking display for the second time as multiple times champions Pepsi Hikers and Queen’s Park, of Trinidad and Tobago, gave them an encore of their absorbing preliminary encounter to bring the curtains down on this year’s Diamond Mineral Water International Indoor Festival on Sunday, at the National Gymnasium. Just as they had done in the round robin phase, the two teams battled each other to the wire, before the local juggernauts prevailed by a narrow 7-6 margin to ensure that all the top prizes in the three categories did not leave these shores. For their effort, Hikers became US$3000 richer to go with the beautiful winners’ trophy, while Queen’s Park returned home with a well deserved US$1500 and an attractive trophy as well. Earlier, the Toronto Toros beat Woodpecker Hikers Ladies 5-1 to claim the first prize of US $3000 and the winning trophy, while Hikers received U S $ 1 5 0 0 a n d t r o p h y.
Bal-Wash-ers of the USA defeated Queen’s Park in sudden death penalty flicks in the Men’s Veterans final to collect the first prize of US$1500 and several cartons of Carib Beer. The men’s final saw both teams began the game in all-out attacking mode with players moving at top speed from end to end seeking the upper hand. Just four minutes into the match, powerful Randy Hope raced on to a ball on the right of the scoring circle and dispatched his shot cleanly into the Queen’s Park net eluding the diving goalkeeper Reiza Hussein. Although top Trinidadian national striker, Akim Toussant drew his team level with a goal one minute later, Hikers responded with two more of their own in less than two minutes from MVP Aroydy Branford and Captain Robert France respectively. The high-paced tempo seemed to be leaning in the Hikers favour and despite some fine goalkeeping at both ends, Queen’s Park’s Dominic Young executed an accurate penalty corner shot to give them their second goal, while Hope smashed home his second to move the
score to 4-2 for the Hikers. The second half saw no reprieve by both sides and the crowd continued to enjoy blistering counterattacks and an abundance of goals. Yo u n g Tr i n i d a d i a n international Jordan Vieira was first on the sheet in the second half as he foiled a Hikers attack dished a pass t o To u s s a n t , b e f o r e outsprinting his marker down court to finish with a diving deflection goal. Robert France however restored the two-goal cushion for the Hikers with a penalty corner deflection in the 28th minute, nudging the score to 5-3. Vieira scored his second at the 30th minute mark and Hope his third immediately after as supporters were held at the edge of their seats. Two goals from striker Toussant and Trinidad under-21 captain Jordan Reynos for Queen’s Park drew the scores level with five minutes left on the game clock. With the momentum in their favour Queen’s Park could have secured their first lead of the match after earning a crucial penalty stroke, drawing a deafening uproar from supporters of both sides, either in support or disapproval.
Festival MVPs (From left)- Hikers- Aroydy Branford, Toros- Kaelan Watson and Queen’s Park- Jerazeno Bell take a photo op with their prizes. The diminutive Toussant stepped forward to take the stroke against the towering Jason Hoyte in goal for the Hikers, and eventual Best Goalkeeper Award winner. Hoyte produced for his side when it was needed most with a brilliant save to his right. His heroics seemed to inject a shot of adrenaline into his teammates who continued their relentless search for the tie-breaker.
Hamilton wins plaudits as Mercedes ponder punishment For all the headlines screaming ‘anarchy’, Lewis Hamilton’s public act of defiance against Mercedes in Formula One’s titledeciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix could ultimately make racing even more exciting in 2017. While Mercedes boss Toto Wolff refused to rule out punishment after Hamilton did everything he could to scupper team mate Nico Rosberg’s championship c h a n c e s i n S u n d a y ’s showdown, he recognized he was in two minds about what to do. The Austrian said he would sleep on the controversy but he also wondered whether there might be a case for giving the drivers more freedom to
Mercedes’ Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain celebrates after winning the race. REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed race rather than seeking to control them. That, after a 21-round season in which
Mercedes were more dominant than ever with 19 wins and 20 poles and won
both titles for the third year in a row, could prove a (Continued on page 25)
Fittingly it was the veteran Devin Munroe who was instrumental in all six previous festival wins for the Hikers, who led the close out of Queens Park whilst securing the match with a terrific shot from the right. With just four minutes remaining, Queen’s Park launched several futile attacks and the final whistle saw the Pepsi Hikers earn their record seventh men’s title. In the Ladies final between the visiting Toronto Toros and Woodpecker Hikers, the Canadians showed their superiority to capture the title with a comfortable 5-1 triumph to disappoint the large band of local supporters. The Toros took the lead early through a penalty corner taken by Festival M o s t Va l u a b l e P l a y e r (Ladies) Kaelan Watson, who slammed her shot into the roof of the goal. Poor passing by the Hikers Ladies gifted the Toros their second goal when Danica Jayme intercepted a weak pass, dribbled past two defenders, before beating the goalkeeper on the near post to take a 2-0 lead at the break. In the final period, the Canadians playing with an air of confidence pressed forward from the initial whistle and netted their third and fourth goals shortly after the start, off the stick of Jayme to complete her hat-
trick. Hikers managed to pull one back through guest player Trinidadian national Allana Lewis, who beat the Toros goalkeeper with a powerful shot from just inside the arc. Watson then returned to net her second, before the final whistle sounded to end the contest. In the veterans’ final between Queen’s Park and the Bal-Wash-ers, the latter prevailed in sudden death penalty shootout after regulation time ended 4-4. After all six attempts were saved in the resulting first round of the penalty shootout, Bal-wash-ers’ Inderjeet Bath and teammate Jesse Larson would pull off the win by both scoring in the sudden death round of the shootout. Demerara Distillers Ltd Rep. Larry Wills assisted in the presentation of prizes. Vets - Best Goalkeeper – Gregory Garroway (Balwash-ers); Most goals – Rafael Gouveia (Queen’s Park); MVP – Jerazeno Bell (Queen’s Park). Women - Best Goalkeeper – Latoya Fordyce (Woodpecker Hikers); Most goals – Kaelan Watson (Toronto Toros); MVP – Kaelan Watson (Toronto T o r o s ) . Men - Best Goalkeeper – Jason Hoyte (Pepsi Hikers); Most goals – Jordan Vieira (Queen’s Park); MVP – Aroydy Branford (Pepsi Hikers).
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Tuesday November 29, 2016
Hogg Island overcome Sans Souci to take E’bo Islands Kiddy Cricket title Hogg Island Primary defeated Sans Souci Primary by 26 runs to win the Essequibo Islands final of the Guyana Cricket Board Scotiabank Kiddy Progression One tournament which was contested recently at the Wakenaam Community Centre gr o u n d . Hogg Island scored 94-3 of their allotted 14 overs, batting first. R. Marslowe made 23; G. Chulai claimed 2-12. Sans Souci mustered 69-8 in reply. Shem Chung scored 18; S. Roland had 2-12. At Wales on the West Bank of Demerara, Kawall Primary beat Belle West Primary by 13 runs. Kawall Primary scored 184 8 with Nyia Latchman scoring 45 not out and Ramnarine Jairam 29; Harichand Bisnauth had 210. Belle West made 171-9 in reply. Bisnauth got 19 and Brian Depturon 18. Goed Furtuin hammered Nismes Primary by 150 runs. Batting first Goed Fortuin posted 172-6. Andel Austin struck 64. Nizmes were sent packing for 21 in reply. Two Brothers Primary overcame La Grange Primary by two runs.
Captain of the victorious Hogg Island team Rodney Sampson accepts the trophy from Coach Nandkishore Andrews in the presence of his team mates.
Two Brothers took first strike and got to 116-6 with Satyanand Persaud scoring 56 and Shay Adams 23. La Grange responded with 114-
7. Junior James struck 52 while Persaud had 2-12. Goed Fortune defeated Wales Primary by 21 runs. Batting first Goed Fortuin
Frustration abounds as final day abandoned Port of Spain, Trinidad, CMC – Both Trinidad and Tobago Red Force and Leeward Islands Hurricanes were left frustrated after rain, resulting in an impaired outfield, forced the abandonment of the final day of their third round game in the Regional FourDay Championship here yesterday. Umpires carried out a number of inspections but any hopes of action at Queen’s Park Oval were dashed as the outfield remained unfit for play, and officials eventually called time on the encounter about an hour into the final session. All told, only 92 overs were possible in the game. Friday’s opening day was completely abandoned, only 57 overs were sent down on the second day while Sunday’s penultimate day saw only 35 overs bowled.
BANGING HEADS: Match officials mull over the state of play during the rain-affected contest at Queen’s Park Oval. (Photo courtesy WICB Media) Red Force, sent in by Hurricanes, were set to resume on 287 for eight, in an innings where opener Kyle Hope stroked 86 and debutant left-hander Isaiah Rajah got 69. Captain and part-time slow bowler Kieran Powell finished with
three for 29 while offspinner Rahkeem Cornwall claimed two for 73 to move to 19 wickets for the season. For their efforts, Hurricanes picked up 5.2 points while Red Force ended with five points.
managed 121 all out. Ashawn Adams made 43 not out and Vidwanauth Hardeo 24. Wales were restricted to 100-8 in reply. Jairam Johan
and Paul Kulsum made 22 a n d 1 8 r e s p e c t i v e l y. Kawall Primary defeated La Grange Primary. La Grange made 118-8, taking first
knock. Keron Haynes made 36. Kawall responded with 119-6. Trashawn Wilson stroked 70; Jada Carmichael had 2-10.
Hamilton Green’s birth anniversary football tourney
Delon Lanferman’s extra time goal gifts Den Amstel the spoils An extra time goal off the boot of Den Amstel’s striker, Delon Lanferman, zoomed past the outstretched hands of Pouderoyen’s custodian, Joel Singh, to settle aback the nets and put paid to the hopes of Pouderoyen when the finals of the tournament in commemoration of former Mayor, Hamilton Green’s 83rd birth anniversary concluded at the Den Amstel Community Centre Ground last Sunday evening. The defending champions, Uitvlugt were only able to reach the quarter finals stage after losing to, Pouderoyen. The two teams had battled furiously for the duration of regulation time and the staunch defensive tactics saw the game ending 0-0 which necessitated extra time to separate them with Den Amstel eventually prevailing. Lanferman also starred in the semi-finals when his team faced off with Kitty with a firm kick that sent his team
ahead 1-0. The dapper striker also received support from Leon Lovell whose lone success widened the margin 2-0 and ensured that Den Amstel proceeded to the finals. The day commenced with several hectic affairs with the various teams battling for quarter final places. In this segment the qualifiers were Crane over Kuru Kururu, Tucville over Wales, Kitty over Stewartville, Uitvlugt over Soesdyke, Pouderoyen over Alexander Village, Den Amstel over Herstelling, Mocha over Sara Lodge and South Sophia over Bagotsville. Eight teams then battled for a semi-final spot and those qualifying were Crane, Pouderoyen, Kitty and Den Amstel. Two action packed semi final matches were witnessed that saw Pouderoyen prevailing over Crane before the eventual champions won
Delon Lanferman 2-0 against Kitty before clinching the spoils from Pouderoyen . Meanwhile, organiser of the tournament, Lennox Arthur, lauded the quality of play noting that the teams all fought furiously to win the championship. Activities concluded way after midnight and as such Mr. Green, pressed with other responsibilities, was unable to witness the action. His absence also caused the organisers to postpone the presentation of prizes and Mr. Arthur assured that the ceremony would be held later this week.
Tuesday November 29, 2016
Kaieteur News
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GFF/NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power Nat. U-17 League –EDFA
Golden Stars and BVTU end first round on a high; Buxton United in pole position
Golden Stars brought the curtains down on the first r o u n d o f t h e G F F / N A M I L C O Thunderbolt Flour Power National Intra Association Under-17 League on the East Demerara on Sunday last with an emphatic 3-0 win over Ann’s Grove at the Golden Grove ground. The penultimate game of the round which was played
on Saturday at the same venue saw BV Triumph United netting goals either side of play to edge Buxton Stars 2-1 in a close tussle. Ann’s Grove was never allowed to settle by the home team, Golden Stars which got their goals from Cevon Montrose in the 6th minute, Asim Williams doubled the advantage in the 26th minute while the sealer came off the boot of Shamar Kingston in the 65th to complete the win for Golden Stars. BVTU in their clash with Buxton Stars had taken the lead in the 24th minute on account of Samuel Garnett’s goal but that advantage was cancelled out in the 38th minute when Shamar Scott rocked the back of the nets for Buxton Stars. With the game deadlocked at 1-1, BV were taken to
Omari Glasgow (right) and Samuel Garnett – BV Triumph United
victory by the dependable Omari Glasgow who has been their savior and leading goal scorer for the entire league so far. Glasgow tucked in the winning goal in the 72nd minute for the BV side.
Kaieteur News
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Tuesday November 29, 2016
Digicel Regional First-Class Cricket
Regal Sport T20 Tourney
Rain wash out third day of match between Jaguars and Volcanoes
Abel’s 94* guide Regal Masters past Tropical Spring
Covers on the Daren Sammy CG yesterday delayed the start of play due to heavy overnight and morning rain. By Sean Devers in St Lucia in association with Trophy Stall, Golden Arrow Inn, Noble House Seafoods and Bissan’s Trading Carpets & Mats Store It was a frustrating day yesterday for everyone involved as the penultimate day saw heavy morning showers at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground
washing out the entire day of the third round of the Digicel Day/Night four-day match betw een the defending Champions Guyana J a g a u r s a n d the Windwards Volcanoes. The Volcanoes were set to resume on 90-4 with Sunil Ambris on 28 and Skipper Liam Sebastien on one but that never happened and play was called off at the
dinner break which was taken at 17:00hrs. This was after the third inspection due to a soggy outfield although the pitch, which remained covered, remained dry. The 32-yearold Sebastian, who followed up his double duck in the opening round with duck and one against Jamaica, showed some form here with 44 in the first innings and yesterday was hoping along
with Ambris to stage a recovery for the Volcanoes which is the only Regional team yet to win a First-Class title. The Volcanoes have a lead of 63 with six wickets in hand and there could still be a result for the Jaguars. Play is scheduled to start at 14:30hrs today weather permitting. Scores: Volcanoes (192 & 90-4), Jaguars (219).
Opener Eon Abel struck an unbeaten 94 to lead Regal Masters to a 10-wicket victory over Tropical Spring when the quarterfinals of the Regal Sport T20 tournament were contested on Sunday at Everest. The right-handed Abel hit eight fours and seven sixes in a brutal display of power hitting as he finished unbeaten on 94 while Linden Lyght got 34 not out; Regal made 144 in 13 overs in reply to Tropical Spring’s 143-5. Vijay Baljit scored 60 while Radesh Baljit made 26 and Suresh Ramdin 23. Fazleem Mohamed snared three wickets. Ariel thumped HS Masters by 147 runs. Batting first Ariel managed 214-6 with Peter Persaud scoring 70 not out and Karran Jaikarran an unbeaten 40. HS Masters were skittled for 67 in 14 overs in reply. Rudy Meyers claimed 4-20 and Ryan Singh 3-6. Albion defeated Savage Masters by 64 runs. Albion rattled up 217-8 batting first. John Sumair struck 49; Vishun Maniram made 37 not out, Hassan Hussain 35 and Zamen Zakir 23. Ricky Deonaraine and Ramo Malone picked up three and two wickets respectively. Savage threatened somewhat but were limited to 153-8 in reply. Malone got 43 while Deonaraine made 32 and K. Luke 20. Azeem Ketwaroo had 3-33 and S u m a i r 2 - 2 3 . M i k e ’s Wellman got the better of Wolf’s Warriors Masters by 32 runs. Wellman scored 189-7, batting first. Latchman Kallicharran slammed 55; Lloyd Rooplall made 53 and Greg De Franca 26. Wolf’s Warriors were bowled out for 147 in 16.3 overs in reply. L. Mc Koy cracked 61; De Franca grabbed 5-19 and Motilall Chumandath 3-21. In the Open segment, Herstelling beat Mike’s Wellman by 108 runs. Herstelling posted 170-7, taking first strike. Ricky Sergeant made 24 while Z. Hussain and Yunnis Yusuf made 20 each. Andre Seymour and Arif Samad had two wickets each. Wellman were sent packing for 62 in 13 overs in reply. Ovid Seymour made 12 as Kesho Ramsarran bagged 516 and Ralph Lane 2-18.
Eon Abel
Peter Persaud
Kesho Ramsarran
Greg De Franca Regal overcame Super Star by 25 runs. Batting first, Regal made 151 all out in 18 overs. Sachin Singh slammed 48 while Safraz Esau got 42 and Timur Mohamed 28. Super Star were bowled out for 126 in response. Fazal Rafiek, Amir Nizamudeen and Privnauth Motilall captured two wickets each. Speed Boat got a walk over from Success. (Zaheer Mohamed)
Kaieteur News
Tuesday November 29, 2016
PAGE 35
Guyana reach Final of Tri-Nation Abrams ends year on good note in Toronto with 2nd and 4th places Basketball Series in Jamaica OPA Gala Championships
Guyana thrashed Jamaica’s U-21 team 71-32 on Sunday at the National Indoor Centre in Jamaica to advance to the final of the Jamaica Basketball Association (JBA) TriNation Basketball I n v i t a t i o n a l Championships. Forward Akeem Kanhai poured in 19 points and grabbed seven rebounds to lead Guyana to the final against JamRockerz, the senior national team of Jamaica last night. The other team in the competitio n , U S - b a s e d L i b e r t y v i l l e Vi p e r s played the U-21 team in the third-place playoff last night. Centre, Shane Webster had 10 points and seven rebounds, while guard Nikkoloi Smith scored nine points for Guyana. For the home team, Daniel Martillier finished with nine points and nine rebounds.
Eustace Abraham. Liana Louzon photo.
Akeem Kanhai Guyana had rebounded from their opening loss to the Jamaican senior team to beat Libertyville Vipers 9184 on Saturday. For Guyana in that game, shooting guard, Terron Welch scored 20 points while and Dominique Vincente had 14 points. For Libertyville Vipers, Yurio Tomlin finished with 28 points and 10 rebounds while Mike Skinner and Delara Forel ended with 18 points apiece.
Shane Webster
Terron Welch
GFF/Stag Elite League
Fraser’s brace leads GDF past Buxton; Monedderlust beat Top XX
Canadian based Guyanese bodybuilder Eustace Abraham who continues to blaze a trail in the sport has ended the year on a good note by placing 2nd and 4th respectively at the yearend closing event of the Ontario Physique Association (OPA) known a s t h e i r G a l a Championships. Competing at the International Plaza Hotel and Conference Center on Saturday November 26th, last, Abraham who tipped the scales at 230lbs ended in the second place of the Super Heavyweight competition
which attracted eight of the best in the business from the province. All the competitors in this category were under the age of 30 except Abrams who is set to celebrate his 46th birthday come December 30th, next. In the Masters Overs-40 contest which attracted 9competitors, Abrams ended in the 4th place and could have done much better were it not for the serious face that he displayed during the competition while his rivals were all smiles throughout. Speaking with Kaieteur Sport, Abrams noted that he
was so focused on the competition that he forgot to smile. ”I was in the best shape of my life, thanks to me Coach, Bob Weatherall an IFBB Pro. My focus was deep and when I saw my competition I said to myself that I have this one. I forgot my which I normally do whilst competing but didn’t on this occasion. It was a learning experience for me.” Abrams also informed that he would be taking a two weeks break before getting back to the gym as he makes another attempt to gain an IFFBB Pro Card.
Army marksmen from right, Delwin Fraser, Delroy Fraser and Sherwyn Caesar.
Delroy Fraser netted a brace to lead the Guyana Defence Force FC to their second win in as many matches, a comfortable 4-0 victory over Buxton United w h i l e We s t B e r b i c e ’ Monedderlust FC got past Linden’s Top XX FC 2-1 when the Guyana Football Federation / Stag Elite League (Season 2) continued on Sunday at the Guyana Defence Force ground,
C a m p Ay a n g a n n a . Fraser put this team ahead in the 9th minute before achieving his double in the 20th minute. Delwin Fraser then slotted home in the 28th minute to give GDF a 3-0 lead at the break. Sherwyn Caesar found the back of the nets in the 86th minute to hand his team a comfortable win. First half strikes from
Kenston Lindely and A k e e m o Wa t t s l e d Monedderlust to a hard fought come from behind win in the second encounter of the night against Topp XX. Terrence Aaron gave Topp XX the lead in the 12 minute, before Lindley drew his team level in the 21st minute Watts then gave Monedderlust the advantage in the 29th minute which sealed the issue for his side.
t r o Sp Diamond Mineral Water Int’l Indoor Hockey Festival
Pepsi Hikers on top once again; Toronto Toros, Queen’s Park crowned champions
Champions Hikers pose with their hardware and DDL Rep Larry Wills on Sunday.
Demerara Distillers Ltd Rep Larry Wills (centre) poses with Ladies champions Toronto Toros following the conclusion of the presentation ceremony Sunday. Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Limited, 24 Saffon St.Charlestown, Georgetown.Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/ 226-8210