Monday October 09, 2017
Radio Mahdia 95.1FM now on air
Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, Mrs. Sita Nagamootoo and Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Valerie Garrido-Lowe unveil the Radio Mahdia Plaque “Radio Mahdia is a journey complete and a promise fulfilled.” Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo made this pronouncement while commissioning Radio Mahdia 95.1FM yesterday in the compound of the Regional Executive Office. The Prime Minister noted during his address that the station will “reflect the pride, culture and way of life of the community.” He urged residents and regional officials to care the radio station and ensure that the community receives the full benefits it has to offer. The Prime Minister noted that students will be more aware of programmes in the education sector, miners will be made aware and sensitised about mining practices, and residents will keep abreast with the latest information on the Guyana / Venezuela border dispute. He reminded residents that it was President Granger, who on assuming office, gave the directive to ensure that hinterland communities were connected to the coastland. He declared that “Radio is important …to remind us of who we are, Guyanese in respective of our ethnicity. We are
first and foremost Guyanese and our Guyana all 83,000 square miles belong to us”. Regional Chairman of Region Eight, Bonaventure Fredericks, described the launching as a historic one. He remarked that “Radio Mahdia is a wonderful initiative, something that we have been longing for” since the community has been hungry for knowledge and information. He added that with the radio station, the community will be updated with information as it unfolds. Project Coordinator, Dr. Rovin Deodat revealed that Radio Mahdia is a dream of the Prime Minister since assuming office in September 2015. He explained that in previous discussions regarding the establishment of radio stations, it was indicated that hinterland communities were particularly affected by poor communication facilities. It was with much satisfaction that Dr. Deodat declared, “Just as the person on the coast; as information is released, you will also know. You won’t have to wait till the next day or a week after for newspapers; you will be kept informed in real time.” The Project Coordinator pointed out that over $21M
PAGE 3
Kaieteur News
was spent in establishing the Radio Station, which will air content from the National Communications Network, while the local announcers are being trained. He said that progressively Radio Mahdia will be able to produce and air its own content. According to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Communications Network (NCN), Lennox Cornette, Radio Mahdia represents a significant milestone in Guyana’s public information infrastructure for the electronic media. He said the commissioning of the radio station is part of a bigger project that will see four radio stations being established by the end of the year. The CEO told residents that the radio station will allow programming from NCN to be heard in the region, while very soon NCN will be airing content from the region. Among others in attendance at the commissioning was Mrs. Sita Nagamootoo, Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Valerie Garrido-Lowe, Minister within the Ministry of Finance, Jaipaul Sharma, and Managing Director of the Guyana Water Dr. Richard Van West-Charles.
Equipment in the Radio Mahdi studios
Bound bodies of elderly women…
Mastermind captured at Pomeroon as cops prepare to charge killers
The house in which the two women were killed They’re now all in the bag. Police have finally captured the ringleader of the gang which terrorized, robbed, bound and eventually killed 89-year-old Constance Fraser, and 77-year-old Phyllis Caesar a week ago. Albouystown resident Christopher Narine, 37, also known as Christopher Persaud and Imran Khan, was arrested at around noon yesterday in the Pomeroon River. A release stated that ranks from Georgetown, led by a senior officer, went to Karawab, Pomeroon River, some 65 miles from Charity, Pomeroon, Essequibo, where they arrested the prime suspect in the two murders. He was brought back to Georgetown and was being questioned up to late yesterday. Six suspects, including Narine’s girlfriend, are now in custody and are due for court this week. The gang has implicated themselves through confessions from suspects Steven Andrews, 28, and Phillip Suffrien, 24, as well as from $120,000 and other valuables that were recovered from the prime suspect’s girlfriend. Andrews and Suffrien allege Christopher Narine recruited them. They said that Narine, who they called ‘Chris,’ told them he had broken into the victims’ Lot 243 Albert Street and South Road property before and got “a lot of cash and valuables.” They decided that they were going to raid the home again, since “it had a lot of money the first time.” Two Mondays ago, at nightfall, Andrews kept watch as ‘Chris’ and Suffrien climbed into the verandah of the South Road premises. Once inside the house, the two men immediately started hunting for valuables.
Dead: Constance Fraser
Dead: Phyllis Caesar
They claimed they had no idea that persons were home until they heard one of the two women snoring. Suffrien confessed that they entered the rooms of the two elderly women and tied them up while they were sleeping. The victims were reportedly bound, with hands behind their backs. Kaieteur News was informed that the 24-year-old man and the mastermind then continued searching the house while demanding their victims disclose where they had their cash. They reportedly remained in the premises for several hours, eventually leaving early Tuesday morning after battering and strangling their victims. The killers then headed to the mastermind’s home, where they decided of how they would split up the
loot. The gruesome crime was discovered when member of the South Road Full Gospel Assembly, which both women attended, turned up at the church and was unable to get inside. Mrs. Caesar acted as caretaker for the church, and had the code for the church alarm. She also kept the keys for a nearby school in Regent Street. After observing that the gate to the elderly women’s residence was locked, residents contacted ranks at the Alberttown Police Station. On entering the premises, police found the house ransacked, then located the trussed-up and bound bodies of the two elderly women in separate rooms. They are likely to be laid to rest on Wednesday.
PAGE 4
Kaieteur News
Monday October 09, 2017
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
Heading into treacherous waters It is rather ironic that in the midst of all the talk of austerity and the need for urgent belt-tightening in the various government departments and agencies that the government continues to engage in a seemingly unfettered spending spree. Many, including the opposition, have already expressed their disgust over the 50 percent increase in salaries of some Ministers who were in office less than three months, the $1.2 billion Durban Park Stadium, the millions spent on a drug bond that was not needed and the paying of tuition fees in the amount of $11 million for two public officials. The public believed that the government has strayed from its manifesto and its campaign promise of being a good steward of the taxpayers’ money. They also believe that the President and his cabinet should lead by example and end the wasteful spending that they have foisted on the nation. This happening at the same time the government is closing several sugar estates and putting thousands of sugar workers on the breadline. But if the people thought that such extravagant spending was bad enough, they ought to know that government has made a public spectacle of itself with the rental of a house for $500,000 per month for a Minister. Except for a few, everyone else in the government, including the Minister of State who has been the chief spoke person for the government on most issues has remained silent. Unfortunately, ministerial perks and benefits, especially their frequent overseas trips during the past two years have severely strained the country’s finances. Its foreign reserves and foreign earnings have been reduced due to low production and an increase in imports. This contradicts the criticisms levelled against the last administration by this government when it was in opposition. This fact could tarnish the government’s image and cause the people to lose confidence in it. We are under no illusion that the government should stop spending altogether, or everything should come to a screeching halt. However,the government should be mindful of the fact that the nation’s economy is in dire straits, its GDP has declined, imports have increased while exports have decreased and its steep in debt is humongous. Except for the mining sector, production in the other sectors has fallen sharply, which means that the reckless spending of the taxpayers’ money could place the nation in treacherous waters. It simply does not help matters for the government to continue to borrow and pile up more debt at this stage. A careful look at the 2017-2018 estimates shows that the government will spend more than 60 percent of its GDP to service the national debt. As recent as last year, the IMF had warned the government that increase public spending will leave very little room for public investment, which means there will not be enough funds to improve education, provide adequate health care or social services to the people. The government seems to believe that the money from oil will be its saving grace. But it is perhaps delusional for anyone to count their chickens before they are hatched. The issue is not about the amount of revenue from oil, but when it will be received and how it will be spent. If the government truly has the nation’s interest at heart, then it should make every effort to reducespending and lower the huge debt which is stifling growth. Lest we forget, in December 2014, President Granger, then the leader of the opposition sought court action to prevent the last administration from spending money on programmes that were not authorized by Parliament. But his government has spent billions of dollars on the D’Urban Park Stadium and on the importation of drugs without authorization from Parliament. In these difficult times when the livelihood of many, especially the poor are seriously threatened, the government should take a more cautious path in regards to spending or else we as a nation will be doomed.
This Commission of Inquiry will create serious problems it cannot solve DEAR EDITOR, Speaking on a Motion moved by the PPP/C in the National Assembly on the establishment of the Commission of Inquiry (COI) by the President to enquire into claims of loss of ‘ancestral lands’ and Amerindian land issues, I expressed my views on both the undesirability and unsuitability of such a mechanism to address the issues with which it was tasked to examine. I resolutely maintain that the facility of the COI is absolutely abused by the President and continues to be misused to address issues that State/Government agencies and Public Officers are paid millions of dollars to focus on. In my presentation in the National Assembly, I made it clear that I am not opposed to a mechanism established to address the claims relating to ‘ancestral lands’, once properly defined. However, I argued that a COI is not such a mechanism. Moreover, to merge ancestral land issues with issues relating to Amerindian lands is conceptually wrong and hopelessly inconvenient. I pointed out that these issues have no commonality; that they are born out of a different historical evolution; that they are geographically, philosophically and legally poles apart. I cautioned that such a COI will be divisive and will aggravate tensions among different segments of our population. I also posited that to set up a COI to address issues, concerning only two ethnic groups of this country, and excluding others, is an expression of ethnic discrimination which is outlawed by the Constitution,
our Supreme Law. My colleagues in the Opposition proffered similar arguments on this matter, both in and out of the National Assembly. Our admonitions fell on deaf ears. We had requested a halt of the Commission and wider consultations on how to proceed on these very sensitive issues. We were unsuccessful. The Commission continued its work. As predicted, the controversies and divisions about which we cautioned have already begun to emerge. The testimony of one individual that his ancestors purchased a village on the West Coast of Berbice and acquired transport therefore, has precipitated quite a reaction from over a hundred families who claim to have been in occupation of lands in that village, by themselves and through their ancestors, for over a century. I met with over a hundred of these persons last Tuesday in the village. They were very agitated and genuinely concerned about the future of their properties. They informed me that persons have been going around in the village informing them that they will soon have to pay rent for the lands which they occupy. Some of these residents s h o w e d m e t r a n sports which they have acquired over the years: some through inheritance, some through title by prescription and some by sale. Having regard to the appearance of the dozens of dwelling houses adorning the village; the condition of the land upon which they stand; the sizes of the fruits and
other trees that are on these lands and other aspects of the physical environment, it is clear to the naked eye conducting a most cursory survey, that these persons have been occupying these lands for several decades. In the circumstances, I am of the considered view that, in the absence of fraud, it is legally impossible to successfully challenge their legal title to these lands, whether these titles are formal paper titles, or possessory titles acquired through the nature, quality and longevity of their occupation. No fraud is apparent in these circumstances. A transport is a formal title to land issued under the Deeds Registry Act. There is a variety of ways by which a person can lawfully lose their legal title (transport) to land. A transported owner can lose his title, voluntarily or involuntarily. He can lose his title voluntarily by selling or gifting or by bequeathing to another by Will, the land to which the transport relates or a part thereof. Involuntarily, he can lose it by failing to pay a debt for which the land is mortgaged as collateral; by a Court obtaining judgment against him and that land can be the subject of levy proceedings in order to satisfy the judgment; it can be sold by a local authority at parate execution for non-payment of rates and taxes; or someone can squat on it for 12 successive years, unopposed and uninterrupted, after which that person lawfully acquires a possessory title to the land. That person can formalise that title by approaching a Court of competent
jurisdiction for a declaration of title by prescription. In the end, such a person will be issued with a transport. Importantly, it is not necessary for a formal title to be applied for. The acquisition of a possessory title consequent upon 12 years of adverse and exclusive possession kills the original title which resided with the transported owner. The declaration of title by a Court of competent jurisdiction simply declares the existing status quo and lays the basis for a formal title to be issued to the person in whose favor the declaration is made. Upon death and in the absence of a Will, land owned by transport will devolve to the beneficiaries of its owner by the rules of intestacy. These persons can alienate or lose their legal interest in these lands in the same manner that an owner can. In the circumstances, the assertion that one may have held a transport in respect of a piece of land a century and a half ago, is merely of historical and academic importance and really lacks any true practical value. Over the passage of time there are many ways through which that person could or may have lost legal title to that land. I mean no disrespect when I assert that the current COI has neither the technical competence nor the legal authority or jurisdiction to efficaciously and conclusively address these complex legal issues. What the COI will end up doing, is create expectations which it cannot satisfy, raise legal issues which it cannot determine and excite tensions among people that it cannot subside. Anil Nandlall
CITY COUNCIL IS ON A MARCH OF CORRUPTION AND INCOMPETENCE DEAR EDITOR, In their absolute greed for money and as part of their unscrupulous pattern of behaviour, I have observed some new goings-on by the City Council of Georgetown. Using their special contractor, who never needs to tender for projects within the city, and whose payments are always up to date unlike the two main garbage contractors, they have begun entering unoccupied properties and undertaken to weed and clean these properties with the intent to charge the owners extortionate fees, in order to
keep this contractor employed. This may be within their legal remit and may even seem commendable to some, but it is discriminatory, disingenuous and duplicitous. Should they not put their own houses in order first before targeting private citizens whose yards are not meticulously manicured? Just look at the Le Repentir Cemetery! It is a national disgrace. Most tombs are inaccessible due to the jungle that is allowed to thrive around them, the clogged
drains, damaged and vandalised tombs and lack of bridges to get close to graves. Should they not be attending to that? Or are they awaiting the son of a senior political functionary to do the job sloppily as he has done in the past and be paid big bucks for it? Look at the collapsed wharf at the Stabroek Market; a danger to life and limb for years now, but alas! The Council does nothing about it. They are awaiting Central Government to fix it. The Kitty Market under rehabilitation for years now, whilst vendors suffer. Should
they not be focusing on repairing the La penitence, Bourda, Stabroek and Kitty Markets clocks? And what about their old decrepit buildings that are begging for repairs. Should they not focus on that rather that, private buildings? City Hall is on a march of folly, corruption and insensitivity. And with no Local Government Commission, they are not even being given a slap on the wrist for all of their wrongdoings. The Councillors are sailing and the officers are having a field day in the meanwhile. Modi Sankar
Monday October 09, 2017
PAGE 5
Kaieteur News
What’s the criteria used for financial IDB slowness adversely affecting assistance for medical purposes? the income of Amerindian people DEAR EDITOR, I have observed the public disclosure on financial assistance for medical purposes that were rendered to the distinguished gentleman and former magistrate, Fazil Azeez, who suffered at the hands of a criminal. Let me take this opportunity to publicly declare that I am in full support of my brother and friend, Fazil Azeez’s full recovery and look forward to his continued contribution to Guyana. As a result of the public’s knowledge of government’s assistance to deserving persons, I write to enquire about the guiding policies that determine the beneficiaries of such assistance. In my individual capacity, as a Member of Parliament and in engagements with members of the public at the office of the Leader of the Opposition, there have been numerous requests for assistance for medical treatment both locally and overseas. Based on my knowledge, as a former member of Cabinet, I did refer several families to the Ministry of Public Health
for assistance, only for them to be told by Ministry officials that the medical assistance facility was not accessible in their circumstance. I, therefore, invite the Public Health Minister or the Cabinet, through the Minister of State, to make public the government’s policy on medical assistance to families who are in dire need, particularly those needing to travel abroad to access health care. I expect that this approach would lend itself to equal opportunity and access, in a nondiscriminatory manner, where political affiliation, religion, race and class are not criteria for favourable consideration. I am sure that the line for such assistance is being formed and has, probably, encircled the perimeter of the Ministry of Public Health. Clarity on government’s medical assistance policy would answer many questions that are being asked. Firstly, the Guyanese people need to be aware of the ceiling as it relates to benefits for access to medical care locally, is it $1M or $6M?
If medical assistance is available locally, at public institutions, under what circumstances do persons qualify for benefits? If medical assistance is available locally at private institutions, under what circumstances do persons qualify for benefits? Secondly, when referrals are made for patients to seek further medical care abroad, under what circumstances do they qualify for assistance and what is the ceiling? Is it $1M or $6M? Is there a network of medical professionals and institutions that the government is partnering with? Thirdly, to what extent, does your financial standing, or lack thereof, qualify for or prohibits from being able to access medical assistance? Finally, who is the officer which authorised to approve medical assistance? Who makes the final determination about access and the amount of assistance accessed? Is it the subject Minister? Is it the Cabinet? Or is it a technical officer? Bishop Juan Edghill PPP/C MP
NOISE POLLUTION IN REGION 6 IS OUT OF CONTROL DEAR EDITOR, Permit me space to address the issue of mobile vendors and commercial noise nuisance and noise pollution in Region 6 especially Central and Upper Corentyne areas. It seems to me that the Guyana Police Force (GPF) members are turning deaf ears to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Regulations since noise nuisance has become a sore area which is allowed to fester with no solution in sight. The GPF seems to willfully give the false impression to residents that this is the job for the NDC or the Municipalities. Noise pollution refers to sound that goes beyond the accepted decibels level which may disturb or harm the human or animal life. Sound is measured in decibels with one decibel being the faintest sound which the human ear can hear but when it disturbs our normal activities such as working, sleeping or conversing then it is not acceptable and long term exposure to noise can have serious effects on our mental and physical well-being. The EPA has made it clear that, ‘people are becoming more sensitive to issues relating to noise pollution, particularly households that
have elderly citizens and newborns’. In the Central and Upper Corentyne areas the elderly, the newborns, the sick, students, night shift workers, housewives and nearly everyone are seriously affected by the daily dosage of noise nuisance emanating from the ‘loud speaker’ mobile vendors and advertisers who traverse up and down and into every nook and cranny blaring and jarring the senses of these residents. Babies can be heard screaming during the day as mothers try in vain to calm them. This daily dosage can be up to a minimum of 16 times per day. They sell and advertise a varied assortment of goods and services. Everything sells from the cradle to the grave and it seems that these noises will send some residents to their graves prematurely or to the mental asylum. Some of these services and goods are: death announcements, pharmaceuticals, bread and pastries, travel services, visa services, construction materials, old iron and batteries, foods, groceries, BBQ, religious functions, sports events and astrology and miracle services and even deals on funeral.
It is not very puzzling to know that even though Region 6 has 6 local television stations that can be utilised to advertise these services, why they are not used? These operators know that they can break the law with immunity by paying bribes and yet maintain low operating costs while making huge profits. In addition, many legitimate business owners are complaining that they are paying taxes, and insurance and these tax-free mobile announcers and vendors are taking away a huge chunk of their businesses. Moreover, it seems that these mobile vendors and announcers, who are using in excess of 1200 watt amplifiers, are not even aware of the EPA Regulations much less to acquire the necessary permission. The Minister of Public Security and the B Division Commander has to enforce the EPA rules and regulation. They have the responsibility to control and manage these sound emissions by setting the permissible levels for activities such as e n t e r t a i n m e n t , transportation, construction, commercial and other Continued on page 6
DEAR EDITOR, Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) project, Guyana’s Redd+ Readiness activates has not been managed satisfactorily by the Inter- American Development Bank (IDB) leading to the suffering of the Amerindian Peoples in violation of the United Nations Declaration on the rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). The highly anticipated FCPF project is now in the close off year without any tangible activity being completed, this project has been badly managed by the IDB local office and the IDB in general. This was a 3 year project signed in 2014 by the former administration and was slated for completion in February 2017. Much to the disappointment of Guyanese and in particular indigenous people not a single activity has been completed and the project is now in its completion year. Less than 5% of the project budget of US $3.8M has been expended. This is totally unacceptable and reeks of poor implementation by the IDB and the executing agency. There may be blamed being cast around as who is responsible for the failure of this project but the facts are clear if after three years the fund can disbursed more than 5% of the budget we know whose door the failure lies. Guyana was able to qualify for FCPF project due to its good track record on climate change and REDD+ activities that was ongoing at the time. It was seen as an important next step in Guyana’s progression on the global climate change and REDD+ and green agenda. It was also a stepping stone to access other climate change and green funds like the Green Climate Funds, Forest Investment Fund, Climate Investment Funds, etc. As alluded earlier, the agreement was signed in 2014 by then Minister of Finance. In 2015 under the new administration of the Ministry of Natural Resources took charge of the project and established a separate FCPF secretariat to implement the project; all with the approval of the IDB. The saga started with the IDB in 2015, the IDB brought
in (hired) someone with little or no experience in climate change and REDD+ to oversee the project (Mr. Luis Miguel Aparicio from Peru) please check his CV online for independent confirmation. He was unable to bring any value to the project. He was unable to work with local stakeholders as he was found to be very incompetent and most of all displayed a high level of arrogance to local stakeholders. The said person also had an altercation with a current Member of Parliament. I had personal interaction with the this IDB coordinator in the hope of moving the activities of the project forward but all was futile due to his lack of understanding of the basics of the project and the dynamics of working with local stakeholders including indigenous people. All this was happening under the watchful eyes of the IDB office here and aboard and nothing was done to halt the humiliation and assault that was being perpetuated on Guyanese stakeholders. As a result the project lost momentum and basically nothing got implemented rather endless time and effort was spent arguing with the IDB on the best approach for the project. Sometime in 2016, after the project was quickly becoming a failure the person was whisked away to IDB’s Headquarters. However this did not help, as from then to now, the project is still lagging behind; much to the disappointment of stakeholders in particular the indigenous people. Some US $300,000.00 was earmarked to be provided to the indigenous organisations and NTC in benefits. This would have brought tremendous relief and benefits to the Amerindian people of Guyana. On the occasion of the opening of the NTC 2016 Conference, the Chairman of
NTC, Mr. Fredricks made a passionate plea for HE President Granger to intervene and investigate the progress or lack of progress on the implantation of this project. One year after and another NTC conference (2017) came and gone another Amerindian Heritage month came and gone and the project is exactly the same stage as it was in 2016 when the NTC Chairman asked HE to intervene. So it is clear that the IDB has grossly mismanaged this project and cannot cast blame otherwise. I call on the government to request IDB to transfer the entire project budget to the treasury so that the government gets the funds that has duly been allocated by the donor. The government can then administer the project and give the portion of budget earmarked for the Amerindian people. If this fails, it’s time IDB pack up and let another institution take over the project. We have UNDP, CI, WWF, FAO etc. willing to come on board. Mind you, the IDB is just the intermediary for the funds and not the donour. Countries like Norway etc. are the donours through the World Bank window and IDB was given the task as fund manager which they have badly failed. The failure of the FCPF will hinder Guyana’s chances of accessing hundreds of millions of US$ from other climate related fund window like the Carbon Investment Fund, Green climate Fund, etc. Finally, I repeat the call of our Toshao for HE to investigate this project and the IDB failure to deliver funds to the country and the difficulties and disappointment it has brought to the Amerindian people. Peter Persaud
PAGE 6
Kaieteur News
Monday October 09, 2017
24 issues the Ministry of Agriculture must consider The Ministry of Communities has not yet gotten its act together, and one wonders how soon that would be. It then means that the Ministry of Agriculture has to make out-reach possibilities to the agricultural communities, through direct action of meetings with small groups of farmers, country-wide, with the view to arriving at solutions to problems farmers face now, and issues and matters which have been affecting them in the past decades. Guyana with its abundance of land and fresh water resources, we still have instances of rice farmers petitioning the Rice Assessment Committees for support to remain in cultivation of three and four acres lands. The Constitution guarantees Land to the Tiller. I interpret this Constitutional Amendment to mean that those who till the land should exercise suzerainty. Farmers in food crop zones such as Kent Dam Settlement, give their sons portions of their 5 - 7 acres plots for the lads to make their own living, when there is nearby lands. These “nearby lands” would then need Drainage & Irrigation and other infrastructural
works for safe cultivation. Such lands exist in all the agricultural areas countrywide. There are many locations across Guyana where such situations abound. Significantly the following matters are urgent: 1. How do we enlist young people to agricultural employment, especially when their parents are not farmers? 2. Give lands to young people who have reached the age of marriage and require to venture out on their own agri-business. 3. New farmers, who would be displaced sugar workers and other adult former workers, such as security guards who may wish to pursue an agricultural career. 4. Training facilities for both young and new farmers. 5. Fair weather roads for ingress and egress in farming areas. 6. Effective and timely drainage and irrigation services. 7. A more out-reach extension service as was evident in the past. 8. National Agricultural Research & Extension
Missing cocaine and police corruption
DEAR EDITOR, The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) refers to an article titled ”Sugar sliding to worst performance in years as workers stay away” appearing in October 5, 2017 edition of the Kaieteur News. The article confirms, in some way, the Union’s conclusion that sugar production this year will be the lowest since 1990 when 129,920 tonnes was produced. For the GAWU, this is indeed troubling especially when the industry would have received billions from the Treasury since June 2015 and a further $2B through the sale of lands to the State. It speaks a lot of the efficiency of the Corporation’s IMC. The article posits that the reason for the poor output is related to workers turnout which is stated to be around 60 percent for the second crop thus far. We see this sordid conclusion as another stop along the ignominious road being taken by the GuySuCo hierarchy and its cheerleaders to shift blame for their poor stewardship to the hardworking sugar workers. This is most obscene and derisive. The lamentations about workers turnout are a complete 180 degree reversal
DEAR EDITOR, The following is a letter sent to the Minister of Agriculture. Dear Minister, as said when we met for less than ten minutes at the scheduled meeting at your office Wednesday, Feb 15th 2017, and your secretary came into the room and said you had a nine o’clock meeting with the President. I suggested that I should give some thought on what has to be done for the development of our agriculture and rural development, and send the ideas to you, thus I departed convinced that my letter may set the agenda for a followup meeting.. I also need to place on record that I desire to be of assistance to your good self in the promotion of programmes and policies needed for the furtherance of those ideals. The future development of Guyana hinges on the greater utilisation of all its productive resources, and since a significant section of its population - one of its prime resources - reside in the rural areas, providing food and other materials for the nation, there is abundant need to ensure that our resources are put to maximum use, and the prime resource be respected and loved. As Guyana grapples with
DEAR EDITOR, Recently, we were inundated by the story of the missing cocaine. The illegal drug item was taken into ‘safe keeping’ by law enforcement officers but when the exhibits were tendered in court the poundage of the illegal substance was considerably less than when it was tagged and placed in storage. Now, this is quite an embarrassing story as well as an indictment on the police force because folks are asking some serious questions like, how did the cocaine get out from this high security area? But before we become paranoid I would like to prod our recollection into a few
the diversification from sugar, and also the low expectation from rice, the opportunity presents itself for both the absorption of displaced workers as well as the inclusion of the unemployed, under employed, whether youth or those who wish to become farmers; into either new or expansion of existing entrepreneurial activities. Engagement in agriculture has to be seen as private enterprise development, especially as there should develop alongside large farming units, small farm operations, making agriculture the basic industry. At present, there is a need to be cognizant of issues and problems our current farmers encounter on a day to day basis. I am not sure that the Regional authorities are willing to resolve them based on the talk circulating in the farming areas. There exists evidence of leaders the NDC Councils are not willing to engage in deweeding and excavation of drainage facilities, and other vital works in their jurisdictions. We need to wean the farming community away from those who never displayed affection to them except to relying on their ethnic propensities, and the vote.
glaring incidents involving the police. Could you recall that there were two incidents involving the disappearance of high powered weapons from the Guyana Police Force’s arsenal? Twenty three AK 47 Rifles suddenly went missing and to date none of these can be accounted for? Even more distressing is the fact that no one was ever convicted much less prosecuted for this grave breach of national security? Who were the ones responsible and why weren’t they prosecuted? I guarantee that this cocaine incident is not the first of such occurrences and it
would certainly not be the last. Having a cowshed fitted with security cameras actually does nothing to stamp out the rampant corruption that is so vividly evident amongst some members of the force. For a long lasting solution to this kind of lawlessness is to find the officers (and they are well aware of who they are) and let them face criminal charges. If this is not urgently tackled then this government would only be running around like headless chickens. Greater embarrassment awaits them. Everton Adams
Noise pollution in Region 6 is... From page 5 activities. The Regulations clearly stipulates that persons who are engaged in the abovementioned activities need to apply for Environmental Authorization so that the EPA can monitor their activities. The Regulations seek to protect citizens from excessive noise whatever the source. It is an offence to cause loud noise in any building, private premises or vehicle and defaulters can be fined $750,000 or face up to one year imprisonment, if found guilty. Anyone affected by noisy operations can lodge a complaint with the EPA. The accepted decibel for residential areas
in the day is 75dB while in the night it is 60dB. Vehicle owners who play loud music are charged and their music sets and speakers confiscated but these advertisers and announcer breach the law and get off because they know whose palm to grease. I am a nurse who is seriously affected by this new type of noise nuisance and there are thousands of others who are affected but have no one to address this growing problem. Therefore, I am calling on the EPA and the Public Security Minister along with the ‘B’ Division Commander to address this new epidemic before it’s too late. Amrita Dhanai
Institute to be more proactive with farmers. To become a 21st century Research & Development entity, attracting local skills and volunteers from other developing countries in Asia, Africa and our South American neighbours. 9. The establishment of state operated demonstration farms in different soil types across the country. 10 demo farms operating in concert with skilled farmers, which would still be opened to other farmers. 11. Education on post harvest handling of produce. 12. Transportation of produce to markets in proper crating facilities. 13. Prices of produce paid by middle men. 14. A general review on prices of cost of production of produce vs prices paid. 15. The role of Guyana Marketing Corporation in the distribution of local foodstuff country wide 16. The operation of ‘fair price’ shops run by GMC or franchised to private operators by GMC 17. The need for a WHOLESALE FARMERS’
MARKET in Georgetown, where all produce brought to the City will be available for sale to vendors, hotels, restaurants etc 18. Farmers’ Markets where the prices would be little higher than wholesale, but lower than the middle man. 19. The encouragement of agro-processing centres, set up in key areas where lots of fruit and certain kind of vegetables abound. A few such centres were out-fitted with Govt of Guyana grants last year. They need to be organised to meet the needs of the entire community. The previous government had expended huge sums of money on such facilities, we need to locate them and bring them to the attention of the communities in which they were placed. 20. There need to be a review of the $82M Packing House at Parika. 21. The 5 or 6 Marketing Centres set up since 1980s in various parts of the country. What is their status and so on? Continued on page 7
Sugar production for 2017 will be the lowest since 1999 from what GuySuCo was saying a few weeks ago. We recall that the Corporation’s Senior Communication’s Officer spoke ecstatically about improved turnout during the second crop. In reflecting on turnout too, it would be remiss if we failed to take account of improvements of workers’ productivity through mechanisation. Through the use of the semi-mechanical cane loaders, more commonly called Bell loaders, workers’ productivity is doubled. And at Skeldon the mechanical cane harvesters have been very helpful in augmenting production and productivity. It seems that the story should end with popular saying ‘talk half and lef half’. In speaking to workers turnout too, it must not be forgotten that field workers are not offered work 52weeks per year. In fact, nowa-days, crop weeks may be just around 30 weeks per annum. It, therefore, means for just about half of the year they are not gainfully employed and have to seek alternative employment whenever and wherever it is practicable to take up. This notion cannot be disconnected from workers commitment and resolve.
Also, we should not fail to consider that when taken together that workers must now confront an unfriendly and arrogant management and purchase in the market at 2017 prices with 2014 wages, it doesn’t take an expert to imagine what that would do to workers morale. The aforementioned article also, for whatever reason, does not take into account the state of the industry’s cultivation. Cane yields are very poor and not in keeping with budgeted figures and far from the potential of GuySuCo. This is the real and primary reason, GAWU contends, for the poor production that will be realized this year, not poor labour turnout as the article wants everyone to believe. An examination of the data would be revealing and would serve as an eye opener for many. We see the excuse of workers turnout as nothing less than a mere smokescreen meant to distract, deceive, and dupe many unwitting Guyanese. The anticipated low sugar production this year will, undoubtedly, be as a result of poor cane yield caused by gross mismanagement of the company. Seepaul Narine General Secretary
Monday October 09, 2017
PAGE 7
Kaieteur News
Another mass shooting; another inability to deal with gun violence DEAR EDITOR, America—Oh! say can’t you see—what is happening to thee—gun violence is eating away at your national soul. Already battling her own evils, America is now caught up in yet another mass slaying. The lesson to be learnt from this ghastly carnage, is that there will be more such shootings. The usual reaction will follow, ones that we have seen and heard far too often: non-stop media coverage, opinions of weapon analysts, opening up of more debate on gun control, lowering of flags at half mast, moments of silence, and a day of national mourning. But how often will America mourn? What America needs most of all is action to lower the gun toll, thereby less mourning. By far the United States is the world leader in the number of guns in the hands of civilians. In other more advanced countries, stricter gun laws have curbed suicides, gun accidents and homicidal violence. Granted in a country that is inundated with 300 million firearms, some criminals will always be able to obtain guns, and there is a likelihood of higher gun death rates than Europe. However, generally we have established policies that reduce the toll of harmful or deadly products around us. No single solution just cumulative efforts. Like what is done with cars—seat belts, driver’s licenses, air bags, crackdown on drunken driving. Swimming poolschildproof gates, fences, pool covers. It is what should be done with real guns. A c c o r d i n g to the ShootingTracker w e b s i t e www.shootingtracker.com America averages more than one mass shooting daily. Democrats have stressed the need to address the issue of mental health, while Republicans emphasize the need to address America’s problems with guns. When will learning take place? The Port Arthur massacre in April 1996, the worst mass murder in Australia’s history,
shook the country to its core. A lone gunman, Martin Bryant opened fire on tourists in a seaside resort in Port Arthur (former penal colony), Tasmania, killing 35 people and wounding 23 more. There had been mass shootings before, but this massacre served as fuel to the pyre. Twelve days after the massacre the Australian government led by the then Prime Minister announced a bipartisan deal with state and local governments to enact sweeping gun-control measures. Underlying the push was an extensive buyback of more than 600,000 semi-automatic shotguns and rifles, or about one-fifth of all firearms in circulation in Australia. The new gun laws prohibited private sales, required that all weapons be individually registered to their owners, and also required that gun buyers present a “genuine reason” for needing each weapon at the time of the purchase. (Self-defense did not count.). The National Firearms Agreement, a legislation that outlawed automatic and semiautomatic rifles as well as pump-action shotguns, was subsequently introduced by the Australian government. A nationwide gun buyback scheme also saw more than 640,000 weapons turned in to authorities. There had been 11 mass shootings in Australia, in the decade before the Port Arthur massacre, but not a single once since. In the U.S.A ladders kill about 300 people yearly, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has produced seven pages of rules about ladders. On the other hand the federal government is still struggling to reduce gun deaths, with a toll more than 100 times as high. According to the State Department, billions of dollars are being spent on tackling terrorism which only killed 229 Americans worldwide from 2005 to 2014. In the same 10 years, including suicides, some 310,000 Americans died from guns.
The central issue in this tragedy is guns, but the gun lobby will vehemently state as always that this is not a time for politics. Gun control has always proven to be the nemesis of the American government, with the NRA (Notable Resistance Always)
blocking every reasonable step. Lives that matter are being lost while America’s gun battle rages. Instead of the pugilistic display and animosity against each other, if the various sides can be less ideological and more driven by evidence that
works then thousands of lives can be saved. The left must drop the bigotry and duplicity, and the right can drop the obstructionism. It is too soon to ascertain what if anything could have presented this tragedy, and perhaps nothing could have
either. But if American cannot learn and has not learnt from this recent carnage, then sadly she will have to continue mourning for there will be more such shootings. More action equals Less Mourning. Yvonne Sam
Paul Slowe was not the right man for the job DEAR EDITOR, The COI into the perceived mishandling of the investigation in the plot to kill the President leaves more questions than answers. Firstly, The president offers a hefty $14 million and selects Paul Slowe, retired ACP-a person who campaigned for the Coalition, spent the last ten years of his career without being further promoted and being superseded by three ACP who became commissioners of Police and took to the courts for being transferred. This reeks of patronage on behalf of the president and reason for impartiality by Slowe. Slowe obviously felt that he was victimized by the GPF-who wouldn’t after going through his ordeal? While the COI was in progress the president citing or hearing about a list of names of senior police ranks due to be promoted by the PSC before the expiry of the said commission on the 4th september - stop the promotion-without any consideration that his action was in breach of the Constitution-the supreme law of Guyana. It seems that the president knew what the outcome and recommendations of the COI
would have been, having directed same-how else does one explain the announcement that a big shake up of the Force will take place before the presumed, leaked recommendations. The COI was to establish if Police officers substituted their professionalism. Had Granger wanted an impartial analysis he should have chosen Clinton Conway instead of Slowe who have good reason for nursing a grievance. The recommendations, whether self made or given by Slowe, may not have been leaked but rather put to the public to test its reaction. While step onestopping the PSC from doing its work-was unconstitutional, carrying out those recommendations will entails taking over the powers of the PSC-disciplining of ranks. That will bring “weeping and gnashing of teeth”violations to the max! While the COI showed some discrepancies in the way the top brass handled the investigation. It is felt that the matter could have been judiciously handled by the PSC-the legal body to deal with such issues. Having violated the constitution in several instances, Granger in his recent speech at the UN
asked that body to “to resolve to reinforce respect for the rights of citizens within governance structures of our member states.” When the constitution is violated in a country, it is the “rights of citizens” that are being trampled upon-should we call this double standard or the understatement of the year? It is true that the GPF have some bad apples at the top and promotion is based on godfather and politricks all of which requires some form of cleansing. But for the executive to superimpose itself on what should be an independent constitutional body is reminiscent of the Burnham regime. Is the gory days coming back? I would hate to see cops cleaning a canal beside Granger’s home any day! We have all watched cop movies where we see the hard working cops with outstanding records getting promoted. How do we explain Blanham’s rise to Crime Chief? How many cases did he solve? How many did he investigate in comparison to Marlon Chapman the most senior detective in Guyana. While Blanham is accredited as the most successful Crime Chief;he did so on the strength of talented
investigators like Suraj Singh and Ed Caesar. Blanham was more of a Public Relations man who took the spotlight when the crimes were solved. There are more cases of the godfather syndrome in the force; mediocre cops are promoted and the good cops are left behind. These contradictions could at best be solved at the constitutional level and not by presidential intervention; we pride ourselves for living in a democracy and not a military state. The public wants to know! Will the PSC be given an extension in its life and allowed to promote the ranks that are not involved in Granger’s COI and listed for promotion? Will the govt. proceed with the recommendations and risk being taken to court on constitutional grounds? They had awarded BK over a billion dollars of state funds ostensibly for fear of going to Court. On that account they would not flinch to give four affected cops 30 million per head, from state fundsjust to have their way. We ought to have a clause in our constitution for “negligent indulgence” where politicians pay for their stupidity from their pockets. Concerned citizen
OVER 100 CHILDREN BENEFIT FROM CANI DISTRIBUTION PROGRAMME
24 issues the Ministry... From page 6 22. The Min of Agriculture should have something to say about the way farmers are treated presently by the City Administration in the wholesale and retail trade of produce in G/town. 23. The prospects of a few of the above, becoming possible right away will most certainly encourage farmers. 24. All other matters not mentioned here, may have eluded my attention. Minister, I trust I have raised matters that can satisfy an inclination to seek what I know you believe, like the President who said, “We cannot be a happy people or enjoy a good life in the midst of discord, distrust, disharmony and social conflict” Hafiz Rahman
CANI members and some of the recipients with their back packs and stationery. The Come Alive Network Inc (CANI) yesterday executed the second leg of their Shoes and Stationery distribution. The team went to different communities around Guyana, such as Mocha Arcadia Community, Enmore, Demerara- Mahaica
and Berbice. A total of 190 students aged between four to 15 were recipients of school supplies. Come Alive Network Inc (CANI) is a non-governmental Continued on page 25
PAGE 8
Monday October 09, 2017
Kaieteur News
Gaming Authority gave AG Sleep-Inn’s ‘confidential’ financial information - Nandlall - deems move as “reckless, negligent and unauthorised” Attorney at Law, Anil Nandlall had accused the Gaming Authority of misusing critical and personal information that it was handed in good faith. Nandlall said that he has had cause to write the Authority’s Chairman, Roysdale Forde on this issue. Nandlall said that the Gaming Authority has handed over to the Attorney General the entire casino license application submitted to it by Sleep-Inn International Hotel. In the letter he sent to Forde, Nandlall established that he is the legal representative of Clifton Bacchus, the owner of Sleep-Inn. He noted that his client made applications to the Gaming Authority in April of this year, but those were refused. Nandlall said that the reason proffered for the refusal was that the applications did not contain all the requisite information. Nandlall further noted, “You ought to be also aware that similar applications have been re-submitted by my cli-
ents on or about the 4th October, 2017. I have no doubt that you appreciate that these applications contain volumes of personal confidential financial information of my clients and others who have invested in the venture and therefore, a lawful obligation devolves upon the Gaming Authority to ensure that this information is secured and kept with the highest degree of confidentiality.” Nandlall went on to inform Forde that he instituted legal proceedings for libel on behalf of Clifton Bacchus, Yokohoma Trading (Guyana) Inc. and Pasha Global Inc. against the Guyana National Newspapers Inc. and the Editor of the Guyana Chronicle; those proceedings are pending in the High Court. Nandlall said that on Friday last, his chambers were served with three Affidavits drawn by the Attorney-General for each of the aforesaid Respondents in the libel proceedings. The letter stated, “At-
Attorney General, Basil Williams tached to each of those Affidavits, as an exhibit, are complete copies my clients’ applications for casino licences, along with all the personal confidential financial information contained therein which were submitted to the Gaming Authority, on the 5th day of April, 2017. These documents have been filed at the Supreme Court Registry and therefore have now become public documents accessible to the world.” Nandlall told Forde that quite apart from the fact that the applications for casino licences are wholly irrelevant to the proceedings and the Affi-
Chairman of Gaming Authority, Roysdale Forde
Sleep-Inn Owner, Clifton Bacchus
Attorney at Law, Anil Nandlall
davits to which they are attached do not explain their relevance, the attachment is an expression of manifest professional incompetence on the part of those who have done so. ‘My clients’ greater concern is how these applications, along with their personal confidential financial information, have reached the hands of the Editor of the Guyana Chronicle, the Guyana National Newspapers Limited and the AttorneyGeneral. This appears to constitute a violent and flagrant breach of the confidentiality which the Gaming Authority owes to my clients to protect and secure personal confidential financial information supplied to it. In the circumstances, I hereby request an explanation from the Gaming Authority on how this reckless, negligent and unauthorised disclosure of my clients’ personal confidential financial information was made to Editor of the Guyana Chronicle, the Guyana National Newspapers Limited and the AttorneyGeneral, so that I can better advise my clients on their available resources.” Nandlall admitted to this newspaper that there is nothing in the Prevention of Gambling Act that expressly prohibits the Gaming Authority from giving out information that was sent to it. However, he said that any individual possessing even a bit of professionalism would
refrain from giving out the financial information of an investor. “It is basic common sense you cannot take people’s financial information and share it like that. There is something called the law of negligence where you owe me duty of care where a certain relationship exist where confidentiality can be imposed if you will breach that relationship.” Nandlall also said that there is no law that says when you go to a doctor he or she cannot disclose your medical information for over 300 years doctors have not been able to do so. There is something called the common law. Nandlall noted his several public utterances that speak to how unsafe the personal confidential financial information of citizens has become in recent times. “We have seen a series of controversial legislations passed in the National Assembly, despite vehement public criticisms, which allow for the Guyana Revenue Authority to invade persons’ bank accounts without any notice to them; that authorize the Guyana Revenue Authority to seize monies in persons’ bank accounts without a court order and without affording them a hearing, if the Commissioner-General adjudges that they owe taxes; that empowers the Commissioner-General to prevent persons from leaving the country without an order of court and again, without hearing
them, if he adjudges that they owe VAT.” Additionally, Nandlall said that the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) regularly divulges personal confidential financial information publically, of individuals who are under investigation, when such disclosures are prohibited under the AMLCFT Act. “We have also witnessed top officials of SARU who regularly made public disclosures of a highly prejudicial nature of persons who they say they intend to investigate and in the process, divulging all sorts of personal confidential financial information about these persons. “Now we have cold hard evidence of the same transgressions occurring at the Gaming Authority. Every citizen of this country must find this deeply troubling. Which investor will want to invest in a country where their personal confidential financial information is not secure? That the Attorney General, the principal legal advisor to the government is the perpetrator of this serious infraction is a shocking demonstration that even at the highest level of government, there appears to be an inability to differentiate between basic right and wrong. The professional incompetence, negligence and recklessness showcased here are simply unparalleled.” Efforts to contact both the Attorney General and Gaming Authority Chairman proved futile.
Smart hospitals project likely by year-end The much anticipated Smart hospitals project in Guyana is expected to soon commence, as the list of hospitals across the country to benefit from the initiative will be drafted by November. This was disclosed by a source from the Pan American Health Organization/ World Health Organization (PAHO/ WHO) yesterday. Kaieteur News was informed that the recent twoday seminar held at the Pegasus Hotel was indeed edu-
cational for the expectant contractors and designers, who are excited to be part of the project. Additionally, it was noted that the actual design for the project may take an estimated three to four months before reconstruction actually begins at the selected institutions. Several Hospitals across Guyana are expected to be upgraded under the title ‘Smart Hospitals’. It is an initiative of the PAHO/WHO that is being financed by the
UK Department for International Development (UK DFID). The project is estimated to cost some $5.4 billion. Hospitals that attract a greater population around the country will be upgraded to meet the demands of its people in both Urban and Hinterland areas under this advancement. The Smart Hospitals will be environmentally friendly and have structural and operational safety. It seeks to (Continued on page 13)
Monday October 09, 2017
PAGE 9
Kaieteur News
FAKE QUALIFICATIONS There was once a man who lived in Guyana who used to pretend that he was a certified medical doctor from an international university. When someone decided to check on his qualifications, the university at which he said he studied was dumbfounded. Not only could they not find a record of his attendance but they were impressed by the originality of the copy of the certificate he produced. Everything matched, down to the signatures on the certificate. This was long before emergence of electronic photocopiers and scanners. It meant that he had gotten someone to duplicate the certificate in the same fonts as was used back then before there were computers which could do this. It meant also that he had to have gotten someone to sign exactly as the authorised signatories for
the university which he said he attended. As it turned out, the only university that the man ever attended was the ‘University of Life’. He was a con man who for years was able to do what printers and scanners can do today – produce fake academic certificates. Fake certificates are a now a billion dollar industry. Not only are persons forging academic certificates but many of them are being certified by non-existent or bogus educational institutions. Forgery of academic certificates is big business, as is the production of degrees from ‘paper’ universities. Coloured scanners and printers now make it possible to easily forge academic certificates. Some of these forgeries are undistinguishable from the original. Guyana has had its
DEM BOYS SEH
experience with persons producing false academic qualifications. There have been persons in Guyana who claim to have passes as CXC/ CSEC which they never had. They were only discovered after persons snitched on them. But what about those cases in which no one has snitched on anyone. There may be still persons in Guyana, who may possess fake qualifications. How does one go about exposing those persons? It may be impossible for the largest employer in Guyana, government, to verify the academic credentials of every person in its employ. The government simply does not have the resources to do this. Many of those who work within government would have studied in foreign countries and verifying their qualifications will come at a high cost.
Exxon tun a fortune teller ExxonMobil talking like dem people who talking through dem puppet without moving dem lips. That is because dem talking through de newspaper. Sunday ExxonMobil seh through a twopage ad a common question in the minds of all Guyanese is ‘Can I get a job?” When you got wealth, nobody should give you a job. When you rich you does sit down, cock up you foot and got people wukking fuh you. Guyana find out that it rich suh de Guyanese people want what is rightfully dem own and that is dem fair share. Jagdeo, that scamp, and Soulja Bai allowing foreigners to come and tek dem eyes and pass people. People thought Exxon was an expert in extracting oil. Nobody didn’t know dem was fortune tellers. Imagine dem know wha going through people mind. Dem boys remember dem had a few con men who come and seh dem was pundits. Dem advertise just like Exxon how dem could fix
everybody problems. Well one day de Waterfalls boss man meet wid one of dem face to face. As soon as de pandit look in de boss man face, he tell de boss, “You got plenty problems.” De boss man tell him he got a big problem. “You could see it?” De pandit seh yes. De boss man grab he hand and ask if he could solve it. De pandit seh yes. Then de boss man ask him if he could see that de boss man want to have sex wid him. Dem boys never see a pandit try fuh drag away he hand; he eye open bigger than ExxonMobil ears, nose and eyes. When de boss man loose he hand, he run. He never even go back to he house. Dem boys seh since Exxon is a fortune teller dem must come and face de Guyanese people. Dem got nuff who want to do that same thing to Exxon which is wha Exxon do to dem other countries. Talk half and don’t pretend to be a fortune teller.
But there exists a moral obligation to purge the system of imposters. One way in which this can be done is for the government to establish a system of monitoring the performance of its employees and based on the quality of the work produced, there can be established some prima facie basis for deciding to verify the academic qualifications of select employees. There are persons, for example, within the employ of the government, who claim to have x number of subjects with X number of grade ones. But yet the writing and numeracy skills of those persons are questionable. Some of them can hardly multiply;’ others cannot put together a proper sentence.
There is a problem which has to be addressed because there are many highly qualified persons in society who are unemployed and they are seeing persons less qualified than themselves obtaining jobs within the government. And these unemployed persons are becoming quite frustrated and are wondering why it is that they are not obtaining jobs. Persons are obtaining jobs, and have been doing so on the basis of political patronage. Some of them may well have secured employment by producing fake qualifications. Some of them may have gotten their jobs by doing things which are unprintable. Some may have gotten ahead by
maliciously destroying the careers of others. Others may have no qualifications and yet are enjoying fat salaries. There needs to be a purging of the unqualified and uncertified persons from within the government. You cannot have a professional public service with ‘pretenders and imposters’ on board. All the unqualified must be purged from the system. They constitute part of the employment farce which is being perpetuated through fake or non-existent qualifications. They should be flushed out of the system.
Monday October 09, 2017
Kaieteur News
PAGE 11
PAGE 12
Kaieteur News
Monday October 09, 2017
Monday October 09, 2017
PAGE 13
Kaieteur News
Georgetown Seawall, Guyana’s killing field I was shopping at the special Sunday Robb Street market next to Bourda Market when Hamilton Green rang. He said he read my Sunday column on the countless numbers who got attacked on the Georgetown Seawall and thought that I should expand on it in a feature. He gave me some interesting notes. I ran the idea with my editor, Michael Jordan who agreed. Hamilton Green asked me if I knew the famous Adamson’s Bend on the seawall road. I said I didn’t, but I know the bend. That bend has fond memories. It was at that spot my little daughter played for the last time as a family unit going out on the seawall. Since that day, she has never gone back with me and wife to the seawall and that was more than twenty years ago. I sat by Adamson’s Bend for countless years when I was a six-year-old when my father worked as a groundsman for St. Stanislaus Cricket Ground, grew up and visited the seawall my entire life and didn’t know until October 8, 2017 that a particular spot on the Camp Street Seawall that I like is named Adamson’s Bend. Green told me a local white engineer, many, many moons ago was chopped to death at the bend while out with his lover. As he lay dying, a white man drove by, went to him, asked what happened; and the dying man said he preferred not to talk. It would appear that Adamson was killed out of a rival’s jealousy. Green said from that time, the spot was named Adamson’s Bend. Maybe if I get money because of the memories of my kid, I will pay for the erection of the Adamson’s Bend signboard. An estate worker, Hilbert Donny, was charged for Adamson’s murder. It was the first murder case that JOF Haynes did. He won and from thereon rose to Caribbean fame. I know the Camp Street Seawall like the back of my hand. I spent years there as a
Dolly Baksh: Battered to death in 1979
Murdered: Elton Campbell
Gunned down: Bank Manager, Thomas Orderson
Murdered: Joel Fraser
child roaming while my dad worked away at the Saint’s ground. That seawall is the killing field of this country. Do you know how many souls have been robbed, raped and killed on that stretch starting from Fort Groyne at the Kingston jetty to Ogle gas station? The most famous victim is the Lebanese-type belly dancer, Dolly Baksh, whose brother Sammy became a tiny rival with Johnny Braff though that may be an exaggeration of mine. But Sammy had some hits, of which ‘To Be Lonely’ remains one of Guyana’s most popular local tunes. Dolly was battered to death along with her boyfriend right at that long stretch of seawall, near Pere Street, Kitty in 1979. She remains the most famous victim but there were other gruesome acts similar to how Adamson met his death. When the bauxite com-
pany was nationalised, the white expatriates left. A Czechoslovakian engineer by the name of Vrany stayed on. He was hacked to death, one night on the seawall at Liliendaal; his lover was spared. The speculation was he was killed out of a rival’s jealously like Adamson. His lover was hospitalised and so the press got to know her identity. She was the wife of the top man in a certain military outfit. The robberies, rapes, and murders will go on at that particular killing field because Guyanese have a psychic problem. Just imagine, the head of the SWAT Team in the police force was robbed on that desolate stretch of seawall last week. When will Guyanese learn? Father Andrew Morrison introduced me to a Catholic volunteer at Saint Joseph Mercy Hospital. I became
Smart hospitals project likely by... (From page 8) make the hospitals withstand natural disasters and even offer services during those seasons. It promises improved air quality and working conditions while powered by cheaper electricity. The initiative was implemented for Regional health care facilities in Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Minister within the Min-
istry of Public Health, Karen Cummings said, “It is important to note that building a Smart Hospital is more than bringing together connected devices on a high speed network infrastructure. It means
rethinking the care processes, management systems and even physical facilities to drive a new way of delivering care is to simply introduce the automation and connected devices.”
A section of Guyana’s deadly seawall friends with him. He fell in love with the female pharmacist. They were robbed and his girl friend raped. It was never reported. He left Guyana with her, married her and never returned here. Do you know right on the spot where Vrany was killed, one Sunday afternoon ten years ago, around 6pm, yes 6pm, a man sitting there was lashed on his head and robbed? He died. I remember reading that item in the newspapers and was shocked because an hour before the death, I had jogged past there with the father-in-
law of the current Junior Minister of Finance, Jaipaul Sharma. Some really tragic deaths have occurred in that murder field. There was the Citizen Bank employee, Tommy Orderson. He was gunned down. The warden of the Beharry Residence, Mr. Ramdin was shot and burnt in his car literally yards away from where Orderson died. Actor, Joel Fraser was murdered not too far from where Vrany died. I knew Joel well. He was also a Bourda ‘greens
pumpkin vendor’ that I patronised. His throat was slashed and head bashed in. There was also Trevor Johnson, a 40-year-old shipping company employee, who was gunned down on the seawalls on February 21, 2002. Elton Campbell, relative of editor, Adam Harris, was murdered in the night at the Fort Groyne Seawall. Since Adamson’s homicide, there has been no arrest and prosecution of subsequent murders in the killing field of Guyana. (Frederick Kissoon)
PAGE 14
Monday October 09, 2017
Kaieteur News
Courts awards three with scholarships
Finance Director, Neil Boucher (back left) flanked by staff of Courts, Guyana, and recipients of scholarships Courts Guyana Limited awarded three deserving students with scholarships after they met the expectations of the entity. The brief award ceremony took place Saturday last at the company’s Main Street location. Finance Director, Neil Boucher told the awardees that many had applied, but only the most qualified were selected.
“You have been blessed (with) the opportunities being given to you. There are many applicants who came through and went through, but you were chosen.” Boucher encouraged the awardees to continue to work hard and keep the impressive scores, while informing the audience that education is one of three aspects that gain much support and attention from the company.
The other two are sports and community development projects. The awardees were selected using a drafted criterion, inclusive of an interview and a series of background tests to ensure that the recipients are definitely in need of the scholarship. Students seeking a degree in education were among those who benefitted. The Finance Director seized the opportunity to laud their loyal customers who continue to lend unending support, hence making such contributions a reality. One beneficiary said she was elated at being selected. She said the scholarship will take a lot of finances “off her plate”, while another sought to thank the entity.
GNIC, GRA sign MOU for fixed and movable scanners The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Guyana National Industrial Company (GNIC) for scanners to be placed in the GNIC premises. This is according to GRA Commissioner General, Godfrey Statia. Recognising the need to improve efficiency and reducing downtime, Statia said that the Authority re-introduced the Post Clearance Audit and allowed containers of reputable importers to be done on site. He noted that GRA also introduced the Trusted Trader Programme which ensures that by meeting certain criteria, containers are expeditiously cleared thereby reduc-
GRA Commissioner General, Godfrey Statia ing demurrage fees and downtime. The Commissioner General said that after deliberations with wharf owners, and
looking at alternative sites, a MoU was signed with the GNIC for the location of both a fixed and a movable scanner on its premises. The tax chief said that this site is expected to be completed by December 2017, and will house the movable scanner presently in GRA’s possession, while the fixed scanner will arrive in Guyana in early 2018 through a grant from the People's Republic of China. As a prelude to ASYCUDA system, Statia said that requests are now being made for advance electronic manifests, thereby allowing profiling prior to ports and allowing for easier and faster clearing of containers.
Several screened for breast, cervical and prostate cancer A medical outreach was on Saturday hosted by the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC) It was a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Public Health, the GPHC, the Cancer Institute, the LHC and the Giving Hope Foundation. Approximately 50 persons were screened and tested for breast, cervical and prostate cancer according to reports. This response was deemed favourable by the team, and persons who were able to access the services commended the initiative. The outreach is just one, of many, that is planned for Cancer Awareness Month, which is presently being observed. Persons were exposed to breast cancer sensitisation and examinations, pap smears and the VIA or Visual Inspection Procedure using ascetic acid. The LHC advises that every Friday, pap smears and VIA screenings are done at the facility. A breast clinic is also held on the same day from eight in the morning. The clinic, which was established in January last year, and is headed by Dr. Elena Arangueren, has an average of fifteen persons attending every Friday. Information disseminated by the Public Health Ministry earlier this year revealed that Guyana has the highest incidence of cancer-related mortality when compared to the Caribbean Region.
- at Linden Hospital Complex medical outreach According to the Ministry’s data, Guyana ranks highest with an incidence rate of 46.9 percent and a mortality rate of 21.0 per 100,000 persons with cervical cancer alone, killing an estimated 100 women every year, making it the leading cause of cancer mortality among local women. The Ministry has noted that the global state of affairs is farther reaching with some 530,000 new cases of cervical cancer detected annually and killing approximately 266,000 women or 50.2 per cent of the total cancer victims. Although breast cancer cases have reportedly started to dwindle, there is still need to continue the fight against this disease. This, according to Dr. Persaud, will require that both men and women seek to be screened regularly. But according to WHO, the only breast cancer screening method that has proved to be effective is mammography screening. However, it noted that “Mammography screening is very costly and is cost-effective and feasible in countries with good health infrastructure that can afford long-term organised population-based screening programmes.” In fact, WHO has revealed that population-based cancer
screening is a much more complex public health undertaking than early diagnosis. It noted that early diagnosis is usually cost-effective when done in the context of highstandard programmes that target all the population at risk in a given geographical area with high specific cancer burden. However, WHO has suggested that low-cost screening approaches, such as clinical breast examination, could be implemented in limited resource settings when the necessary evidence from studies becomes available. WHO has also proposed that “Many low and middleincome countries that face the double burden of cervical and breast cancer need to implement combined cost-effective and affordable interventions to tackle these highly preventable diseases.” According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], approximately 200,000 women in the United States alone are diagnosed with breast cancer each year. About 40,000 of these victims are estimated to die as a result of the disease annually, the CDC has noted. According to local Cancer Specialist, Dr. Surendra Persaud, while the majority of breast cancer victims are women, males are also susceptible.
Monday October 09, 2017
PAGE 19
Kaieteur News
Dislodged seawall barriers replaced Emergency works were yesterday completed on the Georgetown seawall after approximately twelve concrete wave barriers were dislodged on Saturday night. Chief Sea and River Defence Officer, at the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Kevin Samad told the Department of Public Information (DPI) that the dislodged barriers were removed and replaced with new ones. Samad said the steel rods that were used to anchor the barrier to the existing wall corroded extensively resulting in them being dislodged following intense wave impact on Saturday and yesterday morning. The Chief Sea and River Defence Officer further explained that currently there is heavy overtopping from the spring tide. The high tide period began on October 3 and runs to October 9. Last evening, the tide was at 3.22 meters, its highest for this period. “These dislodged barriers were done as a temporary intervention in 2013, by the Ministry’s Force Account Unit subsequent to major overtopping and flooding along the Rupert Craig Highway,” Samad explained. The Ministry will continue to monitor the situation as well as other areas around the country during the high tide period. The Ministry has advised that residents along the low lying coast take the necessary precautionary measures against any unforeseen flooding.
The area where the barriers were dislodged
Guyana’s very own Morning Glory Rice... (From page 17) into or contaminate the food product is allowed in the plant. Workers enter the plant only after they have showered in the facility and changed into medical scrubs, hairnets, gloves, shoes and face masks supplied by the facility. Any worker leaving the confines of the ultra-clean processing area is required to again, shower before re-entering the processing area. Office staff, guards and other employees are not allowed into the processing section of the facility. In fact, they are prevented from doing so by locked doors with restricted access. All staff allowed in the processing area is required to have undergone the Authorized Food Handlers Course, complete an exhaustive medical disclosure questionnaire, must get six monthly health checks, and are mandated to immediately report any health problems to management, so that the facility’s focus on food safety and security can be maintained. All clothing worn in the processing area are freshly washed and ironed on a daily basis, with workers being assigned several changes of clothing and personalized lockers to facilitate the process. The processing area can be viewed by visitors and office staff, without breaking the hygiene controls, through view windows constructed specifically for this purpose. Professor Narine explained that the design flow of the facility was motivated in part by
the design of several food plants he worked in for M&M Mars in the United States and internationally, in research and development. He was also loud in praise for Mr. Sewpersaud Manohar, the Head of the Food and Feed Department at the IAST, who he credits as the inventor of the Cereal and who had extensive input into the design of the final plant. The process generates no waste – any cereal which is rejected due to quality deviations or over supply is fed to local pigs through relationships established by the facility with local livestock farmers. The facility has a strict quality control system: cereals are assessed on the basis of shape integrity, coating integrity, colour, degree of caramelization, amount of product dust, integrity of packaging, etc. The facility itself is kept in an ultra clean state, with the plant being thoroughly cleaned after every production shift, and complete line preventative maintenance being performed weekly. The plant has the capacity to produce 200 kg of cereal in an hour, so that if three shifts are employed, it is possible to produce 1, 000 metric tonnes of cereal in a calendar year. Professor Narine indicated that one would never want to run the facility that hard, so that 800 metric tonnes is a more realistic figure. Due to the amount of rice in the cereal, this is very nearly a demand of 800 metric tonnes of rice in a year, when the plant
is operated at maximum capacity. THE LONG WAIT The project, which was launched by the PPP administration in March of 2015, has taken two and a half years to complete. Plagued during its early stages by a variety of bureaucratic and administrative challenges, the product has nevertheless been impressively delivered by the Institute of Applied Science and Technology (IAST). During an interview with Kaieteur News, Professor Suresh Narine who serves as the Director of the IAST was adamant on offering his apologies to the Guyanese public and the residents of Region Two. He said, “As the person who was entrusted with delivering this project, ultimately I shoulder the sole blame for its late delivery. We have learnt a lot during this project and this will stand us in good stead as we pursue other transformative, commercial projects over the next few years.” That said, the noted academic leader who is world-renowned for his work in Biomaterials, thanked the former PPP/C administration for its vision in investing in the project, and the current Coalition administration for its political maturity in continuing the project. “I am heartened,” he said, “by the fact that despite this transformative project being launched by the previous administration, it was and is well supported by the current ad-
ministration. This kind of political maturity bodes well for our country and shows that cooperation and sound political decision making is possible across the political divide, which is a situation that always adduce to the benefit of the population.” In particular, Narine singled out former President Donald Ramotar; former Minister of Tourism, Trade and Commerce, Irfaan Ali; Minister of State, Joe Harmon; Minister of Social Protection Amna Ally and Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin for their role in enabling the project to come to fruition. During his visit to the facility, Minister Harmon was loud in praise. He stated, “I am impressed and I think there is great capacity to take other raw materials produced by our farmers and take it to the next level and capture markets. I think other parts of Guyana can benefit from this.” “We have come to a stage where it is in production and as you quite rightly said, we can start to show a profit. The other thing is that you are providing employment for the people in Region Two and it is a good model, where you actually take a science-based produce and then create a business opportunity and allow the community to benefit from it. I think this is excellent work and I believe that this is what needs to be understood. When we invest, this is what we should get. Guyanese should be proud to know that this is what is being produced.”
MARKETS/ HURRICANE RELIEF In addition to bulk cereals supplied to the National School Feeding Program, the IAST has designed singleserve packaging which is currently being assessed by the Guyana Defense Force and the Guyana Prisons Service. The IAST has also approached the Minister of Health, Volda Lawrence, Minister within the Ministry of Health, Dr. Karen Cummings as well as the Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Sydney Allicock and the Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Valerie Garrido-Lowe for consideration of utilization of the product at the nation’s hospitals and Amerindian Hostels. Products will also be placed on the shelves of supermarkets across the nation at the beginning of November. The IAST is currently in negotiations with several wellknown local and regional distributors. Regional distribution is also expected before the end of the year. Despite the superior packaging and clear product attributes, the IAST doesn’t expect the product to retail for more than $650 to $700 per 225g box (containing five servings). The Institute will also seek institutional markets across the region for armed forces, hospitals, schools, etc. Narine was optimistic that such institutional markets would be possible to tap, given the product’s nutritional profile, preferable pricing structure and the fact that
it is solely produced in a CSME country. During Harmon’s visit to the facility, a decision was also jointly taken by the Minister and Professor Narine for 20, 000 225g packets of the cereal to be donated to the nation’s hurricane relief efforts. This will be at a cost of approximately $8 million. IASTAND OTHER PROJECTS Suresh Narine, Director of the IAST, is adamant that any credit for the facility accrues to a dedicated, committed and talented staff at the Institute, led by Deputy Director Mr. Deonarine Jagdeo. He pointed out that in a project so large, everyone among the institute’s small staff (the institute has 15 technical staff members) has to play a role. He was loud in praise for the technical as well as accounting and administrative staff of the institute. “I have been fortunate to lead large projects in several countries in the world and can say without any fear of contradiction that the current IAST staff is among the very best with whom I have been honoured to work.” Recently, the IAST has also spearheaded several other transformative projects. They have launched the Rupununi Essence brand of luxury facial cleansers on behalf of the Makushi people of Region nine and the Pakaraima Flavours brand of Sundried Tomato Salad Dressings and Condiments on behalf of the Patamona people of Region Eight.
Monday October 09, 2017
Kaieteur News
$130M a day to run T&T — Imbert
Finance Minister Colm Imbert, left, Minister in the Ministry of the Attorney General and Legal Affairs Fitzgerald Hinds, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and Minister in the Office of the PM Stuart Young at the head table during the PNM’s post-Budget meeting. Trinidad Guardian - It costs $130 million a day to run Trinidad and Tobago, Finance Minister Colm Imbert has said. This works out to a monthly bill of $4 billion to run the country. And Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley also says public servants need to say “thank God to the People’s National Movement Government for putting employment before everything else,” because some experts saw that as the best option to cut cost. “Even as we try to stabilise the difficult situation, even as we had serious difficult conditions to meet and advice from the experts to cut some more, cut some more and fire some more we have not done that. We have set about to reduce the expenditure and do it in a way to minimise the drastic effect that it would have on the individuals,” Rowley said. “The Government is the largest employer of labour in this country and we can balance the budget simply by cutting public servants, but
we have not done that, we have gone slowly and cautiously.” Imbert and Rowley made the statements during the People’s National Movement’s (PNM) postBudget political meeting at Piggott’s corner in Belmont on Friday night. (See Page A5) Imbert said when the People’s Partnership government entered office in 2010 there was about $6 billion in cash in the Government’s bank account in the Central Bank. “They managed, between 2010 and 2012, to spend out that money and to take that account from $6 billion, that’s six thousand million, in May 2010 down to zero in 2012 and then down to minus $9 billion in September 2015. They used up the whole overdraft, they burnt up $15 billion in cash,” Imbert said. “So we have been running this country for the last 24 months with the overdraft almost up to the limit. So that often we would be told you have to stop writing cheques, you have to
stop issuing releases.” Imbert said three weeks before the national Budget was presented he received a letter from Central Bank Governor Dr Alvin Hilaire saying the country’s overdraft was at 99.7 per cent of the limit. This meant there was only a couple million dollars available in the current account, which Imbert said was “enough to run the country for about five minutes.” He said they were eventually able to get cash from the commercial banks to run the country. “This has been a very, very, very difficult year but we made it through and we are going to make it through 2018 and we are going to make it through 2019 and we going to make it through 2020,” he said. On Monday, Imbert delivered the national budget with total expenditure for fiscal year 2018 estimated at $50.5 billion and revenue estimated at $45.74 billion. He said Government has been able to bring expenditure down from $63 billion to $50 billion.
Shadow Minister urges island to tackle gang violence HAMILTON, Bermuda CMC - Shadow National Security Minister Jeff Baron has urged Bermuda to tackle gang violence following an incident during which a man and woman were injured, when they shot outside a sports club. According to Baron, a former National Security Minister, the toll after each incident in this British Overseas Territory is “significant and longlasting”. Police said the individuals’ injuries appeared not to be life-threatening after the shooting which occurred just after 8.30 p.m. (local time) on Friday. “As a result two individuals, a male and female, were shot. Both victims were transported to the hospital where they are being treated for injures that
Jeff Baron do not appear to be lifethreatening.” Reacting in a statement on Saturday, Baron urged the island to tackle the gang violence problem which is blighting young black men. “The indiscriminate
shooting into a crowd at Rangers club last night is horrifying. The toll each incident like this takes on our community is significant and long-lasting.” Baron said people had lost sight of the real issue while discussing the selection of Pastor Leroy Bean as gang violence reduction co-ordinator this week. “We made this issue about a name — a person. We lost the chance to talk about the real issues. I regret that. What we should be talking about are these raw, undeniable facts.” Baron noted that black Bermudian males make up 27 per cent of the island’s population of 65,000 but make up 98 per cent of all homicides over the past decade and 100 per cent of firearms homicides.
PAGE 21
PAGE 22
VACANCY Experienced s a l e s m a n , generaldomestic , p o r t e r . Apply with hand written application & recommendation @ Keyfood, McDoom Village. SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.-CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620
FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754.
Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Guyanapassport application. Graphics design, advertisement. Tel: 6267040; 265-4535. INNOVATIVEMARKETING& PUBLISHING INC –TEL: 600-4212: We create A/works, logos, business cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included.
Foxtail, Supari, Royal Palm @ $1,000. Ficus & Exora 4 for $1,000. Organic potting soil. Crotoons- Tel: 626-1044
Passport, permanent & visitor visa application, Professional Immigration Consultant – Sabita Immigration Services. Call: 225-6496/ 662-6045 I N S TA L L AT I O N S , REPAIRSAND PARTS FOR AC, FRIDGE, WASHING MACHINE, STOVE ETC: CALL NICK 627-3206, 6301600 Repairs to refrigerators, gas stoves, A/C units, washing machines. Call Lindon: 6411086/ 694-2202
30’ feet Aluminum jet boat with spares- Call: 642-7898 1 - 9 We e k s o l d m a l e Rottweiler pup- Call: 6271360 Computers, office chairs, display racks, mannequins, supermarket carts, supermarket counters, freezers and chillers- Call: 6013395 42" LG TV $110,000- Tel: 662-9832 22FT Boat and 15HP outboard engine with seine- Call: 691-9283 C RV n e e d s e n g i n e $750,000 negotiable- Tel: 676-0455 Aluminum windows & doors at the best prices. Chenfeng Aluminum @ Lot 11 Public road Eccles, EBD- Call: 6968688, 682-8378
LEARN TO DRIVE C. Persaud & N. Outar Driving School formerly Soman & Sons Driving School @ Maraj BuildingCall: 644-5166; 622-2872; 6150964; 689-5997 (affordable packages).
1- 32FT boat by 6" deep, 400lbs & 450lbs cat guts seine, 4 ½” & 5" seine- Call: 676-6002, 622-8697, 6656585, 695-9860
SALON
EDUCATION Day Care and Pre-K classes available in Diamond Call Canadian School 2166921,216-6922 Phonics & reading classes, Kindergarten & garde 1. Lessons for grade 2&3. Registration ongoing for full time school- Nursery, grades 1 & 2- Call: 690-9378 FOR SALE/RENT Prime mining blocks located in Mourwah. Map sheets 50NE & 43NE- Call: 625-1413, 661-5307
Monday October 09, 2017
Kaieteur News
- Make-up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, etc. -CosmetologyCourses:$120,000 - Technician Course: $45,000. Call: 647-1773/660-5257 Purple Reign Beauty Salon & cosmetology schoolOpening Oct 16th, specializes in all hair & nailscall: 673-5987 (Hill Foot Soesdyke)
TAXI SERVICE GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 225-7878 (24HRS)
Receptionist, age 2348yrs. Must be able to work shift. 233 South road- Tel: 225-0198 One delivery guy with motorcycle- Call: 2257933 or visit 172 Sheriff street. Experienced qualified teachers for Secondary Dept. @ Canadian School ,Diamond . Send resume to email:davidsukhdeo @gmail.com
FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Property for rent - 2 storey house at Republic Park, E.B.D$1200US. Call 647-1773 Place for rent, can be used as an office/ restaurant at Lot 1C Hydronie Parika, E.B.ECall: 665-6138, 630-5962 Upper flat & lower flat for rent @ 26 Hill st, Albouystown- Call: 6706997
1 General domestic to prepare vegetarian meals. Apply in person @ Alabama Trading 65 Robb St, Bourda Manager / Supervisor to work @ A&S Supermarket in Charity Essequibo accommodation provided. Send application: r t i l a k @adamantiumholdings.com , contact: 223-5273/74 E x p e r i e n c e Ac c o u n t s Cl e r k s w i t h 4 y e a r s working experience. Apply in person to Alabama Trading 65-66 Robb St.
TO LET One bedroom top flat to rent in Parfaite Harmonie, $22,000- Tel: 612-1351 PROPERTY FOR SALE C o m m e r c i a l p r o p e r t y. Prime location downtown Church street- Call: 6456498 for viewings and further information.
1 Experience driver to work in Interior. Must have license for Car/van/canter- Tel: 665-3421 Experienced salesgirl a t C h r i s t i n e ’s Va r i e t y, Lombard street- Call: 227-8529 Salesgirls & porters, apply with written application @ 1E Dennis & Middleton streets, Campbellville. One private tutor for grade 5 student- Please Call: 600-7388 Wa i t r e s s f o r Call: 612-2522
bar-
Accounts clerk for Eccles office, knowledge of Quickbooks and payrollCall: 614-4358 VEHICLE FOR SALE Allion, Primo, Fielder Wagon, Spacio, Bluebird, 212 Carina, NZE, Honda CRV, Toyota IST, RZ & Pitbull – Call: 650-7501 Unregistered Axela 2011 $2.7M, dark interior, fully loaded, Nissan pickup extra cab $2.3M. Call: 617-5536
Processing plant workers & labourers please contact BM Enterprise at Guyana Fishers Ltd Wharf, Houston, EBD. Tel: 227-8176/77 Wa n t e d in l a rg e quantities dried corolla bush- call: 665-1397 1 Live in domestic to workCall: 674-1767
1 Caldina wagon in perfect condition, PLL seriesContact Ganesh 664-0508
Gasoline mechanic wanted for the East Coast- Call: 623-0318
Mercedes Benz 2009 C200. Immaculate Condition- Call 616-5933
Live in domestic, must know to cook. 1 waitress with secondary education $20,000 weekly- Call: 610-3974 Drivers, dispatchers and contract cars. 2 weeks free base fee- Tel: 231-0002, 2310316
1 Experienced Farm Manager to work on farm in the Pomeroon river. Accommodation provided- Call: 227-7528 Captains- valid certificate of competence as Master of Power Driven Vessel- Call: 226-1100, 226-5380
1 Male to look after layer birds in the Interior- Call: 665-3421
1 maid with cooking experience for East Bank area- Call: 614-4358
Experienced pharmacy assistant to work full time. Part time pharmacist. Pharma Choice Pharmcy, Durban & Louisa Row- Tel: 661-3124 Cook/ Baker for interior. Applicants must be experienced. Call: 618-2020
WANTED
1 Live- in domestic salary $60,000- Call: 669-5149 CAR RENTAL PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL:656-0087,6435122 ,EMAIL:PRO_AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.COM DOLLY’SCARRENTAL-CALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM
LAND FOR SALE
AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL:PICKUP,9-11 SEAT MINI BUS, GOOD FOR AIRPORT & FAMILY OUTINGS, CHEAPEST RATE . Call: 698-7807
10 & 30ACRES OF LANDAT YARROWKABRA, LINDEN SOESDYKE HIGHWAY. CREEK AVAILABLE- TEL: 663-5524, 264-2967
WING’S CAR & PICKUP RENTAL: LOW DOWN PAYMENT, CHEAP RATES,SPECIALOFFERS! . CALL: 690-6494
Male & female to work Interior age 25-35. Salary $80,000 monthly. Meal & accommodation providedCall: 674-1767 Experienced pastry maker, cook & salesgirl. Visit Stagedoor snackette @Lot 136 Regent road, Bourda (9am-2pm) 1 Maid- Call: 225-3234
U.S., Turkey mutually suspend visa services for security reasons ANKARA (Reuters) The U.S. mission in Turkey and subsequently Turkish mission in Washington mutually reduced visa services after a U.S. mission employee was detained in Turkey last week, saying they needed to reassess each other’s commitment to the security of their personnel. Last week, a U.S. consulate employee in Istanbul was arrested on charges of links to a cleric blamed for last year’s failed coup, a move condemned by Washington as baseless and damaging to ties between the NATO allies. “Recent events have forced the United States government to reassess the commitment of government of Turkey to the security of U.S. mission and personnel,” the statement by the mission in Ankara said. “In order to minimise the number of visitors to our embassy and consulates while this assessment proceeds, effective immediately we have suspended all nonimmigrant visa services at all U.S. diplomatic facilities in Turkey.” The Turkish embassy in Washington followed the U.S. example, and made virtually the same statement, only replacing the country names. The state-run Anadolu news agency identified the consulate employee as a male Turkish citizen and said he was arrested late on Wednesday on charges of espionage and attempts to damage the constitutional order and Turkey’s government. U.S.-Turkish tensions have risen over U.S. military support for Kurdish YPG fighters in Syria, considered by Ankara to be an extension of the banned PKK, which has waged an insurgency for three decades in southeast Turkey. Turkey has also pressed, so far in vain, for the United States to extradite Fethullah Gulen over the July 2016 putsch, in which more than 240 people were killed. Gulen denies any involvement.
Monday October 09, 2017
NRA opposes outright U.S. ban on gun devices used by Las Vegas killer WA S H I N G T O N (Reuters) - The powerful U.S. gun lobby, the National Rifle Association, said yesterday it would oppose an outright ban on bump-stock devices that the killer in the Las Vegas massacre of 58 people used to turn rifles into automatic weapons and strafe a crowd with bursts of sustained gunfire. The NRA, which has seldom embraced new firearms-control measures, stunned gun control advocates last week when it issued a statement voicing willingness to support a restriction on bump stocks. Yesterday, the organisation said it was open to regulation but opposed any legislation banning the devices. “We don’t believe that bans have ever worked on anything. What we have said has been very clear - that if something transfers a semiautomatic to function like a fully automatic, then it ought to be regulated differently,” Chris Cox, the NRA’s chief lobbyist, said on “Fox News Sunday.” Police said the gunman, Stephen Paddock, 64, fitted 12 of his weapons with bumpstock devices that allow semiautomatic rifles to operate as if they were fully automatic machine guns, which are otherwise outlawed in the United States. Cox and Wayne LaPierre, the NRA’s chief executive, accused the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives under Democratic former President Barack Obama of paving the way for the use of bump stocks and creating legal confusion about their usage. Republican President Donald Trump, whose party controls both chambers of the U.S. Congress, was an outspoken advocate of gun rights during his 2016 campaign for the White House. The NRA spent more than $30 million in support of his candidacy. Several Republican lawmakers suggested last week that they were receptive to legislation to curb the use of bump stocks, including Kevin McCarthy, the No. 2 Republican in the House of Representatives, who said such controls were an area where Congress may be able to act. But House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, a Republican who himself was nearly killed by a gunman earlier this year while at a baseball practice, was cautious on Sunday about potential new legislation. “I do think it’s a little bit
PAGE 23
Kaieteur News
Wayne LaPierre
Steve Scalise
early for people to say they know what to do to fix this problem,” he said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “A week ago most people didn’t know what a bump stock was so to think that we’re now all experts and know how to write some panacea law, it’s fallacy,” Scalise added. LaPierre lashed out at U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, a Democrat who has pushed for gun-control legislation on Capitol Hill. “I think you want to tell ATF to do its job. It’s an interpretive issue and they need to get the job done. But not let Dianne Feinstein, which is what she wants to do - turn this all of this into some Christmas tree on the Hill where she brings all of her anti-gun circus she has been trying to do for years into this,” LaPierre said on CBS’s “Face the Nation.”
Feinstein said she has garnered some Republican interest, but no support, for the measure. “I have nobody lined up,” she told the CBS programme. Some gun-control advocates praised the NRA for showing some flexibility. “This is the first time that the gun lobby has shown willingness to come to the table and I think t h a t ’s i n p a r t b e c a u s e Americans just simply do not accept mass shooting after mass shooting happening and Congress doing absolutely nothing,” Democratic Senator Chris Murphy said on CNN’s “State of the Union.” But Sunday’s comments from the NRA representatives suggested nothing may have changed as they castigated calls for gun-control measures in the emotional aftermath of a mass shooting.
BERLIN (Reuters) German Chancellor Angela M e r k e l ’s Christian Democrats (CDU) have reached a deal on migrant policy with her conservative Bavarian allies, two conservative sources told Reuters, removing a major obstacle to pursuing talks on a coalition with other parties. The agreement, under which Germany would accept around 200,000 people a year on humanitarian grounds but not refer to it as an “upper limit” on refugees, came after around seven hours of talks yesterday between leading members of the C D U a n d B a v a r i a ’s Christian Social Union (CSU). Merkel won a fourth term as chancellor in a Sept. 24 election but was weakened by heavy losses to the far-
right. She wants to build a coalition between her conservative bloc and two other parties, the probusiness Free Democrats (FDP) and the Greens, who are far apart on issues from tax and energy to Europe. First, however, she has to get her own house in order and overcome some major differences between her CDU and the CSU, its sister party in Bavaria, a state that accounts for 15 percent of Germany’s population. The two parties have formed a parliamentary bloc together for decades, but have diverged over migrant policy since Merkel left the border open to a huge wave of migrants in 2015, most of whom entered the country through Bavaria. The CSU has demanded a cap on refugees, but Merkel has resisted this, arguing it
Iran warns U.S. against imposing further sanctions BEIRUT/DUBAI(Reuters)Iran warned the United States against designating its Revolutionary Guards Corp as a terrorist group and said U.S. regional military bases would be at risk if further sanctions were passed. The warning came after the White House said on Friday that President Donald Trump would announce new U.S. responses to Iran’s missile tests, support for “terrorism” and cyber operations as part of his new Iran strategy. “As we’ve announced in the past, if America’s new law for sanctions is passed, this country will have to move their regional bases outside the 2,000 km range of Iran’s missiles,” Guards’ commander Mohammad Ali Jafari said, according to state media. Jafari also said that additional sanctions would end the chances for future dialogue with the United States, according to state media, and issued a stark warning to American troops. “If the news is correct about the stupidity of the American government in considering the Revolutionary Guards a terrorist group, then the Revolutionary Guards will consider the American army to be like Islamic State all around the world particularly in the Middle East,” Jafari said. The Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) are Iran’s most powerful internal and external security force. The Quds Force, the IRGC’s foreign espionage and paramilitary wing, and
President Donald Trump
Mohammad Ali Jafari
individuals and entities associated with the IRGC are on the US list of foreign terrorist organisations, but the organisation as a whole is not. Iran sees the Sunni Muslim militants of Islamic State as an existential threat to the Islamic Republic where the majority of the population are Shi‘ites. On June 7, Islamic State claimed an attack on Tehran’s parliament and the mausoleum ofAyatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic, killing 18 people. The Guards fired missiles at Islamic State bases in Syria on June 18 in response. Guard’s commanders have framed their military involvement in Iraq and Syria, where they are fighting to support the government of President Bashar al-Assad, as a fight against Islamic State.
Dozens of members of the Guards, including senior commanders, have been killed in Syria and Iraq. The website for state TV reported Jafari as adding that the United States was mistaken if it thought it could pressure Iran into negotiating on regional issues. Jafari also said that Tehran would ramp up its defence capabilities, including its missile programme, if the U.S. undermined a nuclear deal between Iran and Western powers. Under the 2015 deal, Iran agreed to limit its disputed nuclear programme in return for the easing of economic sanctions. However, Trump is expected to announce soon that he will decertify the deal, a senior administration official has said, in a step that potentially could cause the accord to unravel.
around 200,000 people a year on humanitarian grounds, including families of refugees already in Germany. However, authorities will not turn people away at the border and the word “upper limit” will not be used. That target looks achievable, given that the number of people arriving in Germany fell from 890,000 in 2015 to about 280,000 last year. A further drop is expected this year. In addition, the two parties agreed to push for an immigration law that would prioritise migrants with skills to plug gaps in the labour market. There is broad support for this from the FDP and Greens. Talks are continuing on other policies, including pensions and Europe, but the migrant issue was the biggest problem. Fearing heavy losses to
the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) in a state election next year, the CSU has dug in its heels on the issue of a cap to the number of migrants. The stakes are high for the CSU’s combative leader Horst Seehofer who is fighting for his political survival after a poor election performance. The CSU slumped to 6.2 percent, measured nationally, from 7.4 percent in 2013. Once the CDU and CSU have agreed on all their policies, they can start exploratory talks with the FDP and Greens. It could still take months to get a full coalition deal and investors are concerned about the prospect of a policy standstill in Europe’s biggest economy. If no deal is reached, the prospect looms of either a minority government or new elections.
Merkel’s CDU, allies reach deal on migrants, clearing coalition talks hurdle
Angela Merkel would breach Germany’s constitution which guarantees the right of asylum to anyone facing political persecution. Under the face-saving compromise brokered on Sunday, sources told Reuters Germany would accept
PAGE 24
Kaieteur News
Monday October 09, 2017
Diamond/Grove NDC appeals for Govt. support to fix deplorable roads
The Diamond/Grove Neighbouring Democratic Council (NDC) is appealing to government for financial assistance to fix the deplorable roads and other infrastructure in the large East Bank Demerara community. The area has the second largest population under the NDC. When Kaieteur News asked the residents of the area how long the roads have been in such a condition, they responded that the roads have been that way for the past two years. The Chairman of the Diamond NDC, Mr. Bharrat Narine stated that they are currently repairing the main entrance to the Diamond Housing and from the Public road to the Second Bridge into the village. . He also stated that the NDC is seeking solutions to their problems but the magnitude of the situation is way beyond its powers. Narine stated that many of the roads in the area are ‘mud roads’; and the NDC does not
have the machines, the workforce or materials that would enable construction and repairs. He also stated that the work being done also depends on the weather because when it rains, the roads become flooded and the vehicles or machinery cannot enter. He also stated that the estimated cost to repair all the roads under the NDC is over $1B. He also said that the NCD has not collected enough revenue, in taxes from residents. Narine said that he had sent letters to the Ministry of Public Infrastructure in early January and that the NDC received a $4M subvention from the Ministry of Infrastructure to repair roads in Eleventh Street and ‘Back Squatters’ area. He also stated that the kokers have been broken and that when it rains or there is high tide, the area becomes flooded and that they are facing abandoned vehicles and illegal shops on squatter
Another truck stuck in one of the streets in Diamond Housing Scheme lands. Narine also said that the NDC does not have the enforcement personnel to respond to offences that occur
in the area. The Chairman reiterated that the NDC tried to dig drains but this does not stop the flooding of the area and
that some of the roads cost around $30 to $40 million dollars to repair. He also stated that he is trying to contact the relevant
organisations but the only solution to all the problems facing the communities under the NDC is through Government assistance.
Monday October 09, 2017
Kaieteur News
Charter flight brings home hurricane-affected Guyanese
Scenes of destruction in Dominica
Government has begun to evacuate some of its citizens who were living in areas which were devastated by recent hurricanes. Some of the affected persons returned home this week from areas such as Dominica, which suffered massive damage and loss of lives, after being hit last September by Maria, a category five hurricane. One Guyanese had recounted losing “everything” she had acquired during her approximately ten years on the island. She also spoke of scenes, reminiscent of a postapocalyptic movie: trees uprooted from nearby mountains, her son seeing a decomposed body being carried away, another corpse in a ravine near the country’s drinking supply, looted stores, and of her husband having to trek for hours to
find food for the family. She recounted crouching with her family in her home as the wind, which “sounded like an angry demon”, blew her door and storm windows open, She said that the storm ‘sucked’ their valuables out of the house. “The next day, I could not believe how the landscape had changed; (it was) like something huge had plucked all the trees and grass from the mountains. The mountains were littered with zinc sheets, galvanized, etc. The unassuming river (some 50 feet from our home) was now a raging monster. “Our apartment was flooded and it seemed as if the river was beginning to seep inside, because there was so much mud in the house. “My son saw a decomposing body being carried, and there are reports of unburied bodies. One was
Over 100 children... From page 7 and not- for- profit organisation which was established to actively support youth development. CANI’s entire operation is managed by a group of diverse young people. In addition, an annual shoe drive is hosted whereby the organisation visits underprivileged communities and shares shoes and supplies. This has been an ongoing project since 2014, and has seen more than 1000 students benefitting from this venture. Some communities that benefitted so far from the organisation are: Charity, Enmore, Mocha, Linden, North Ruimveldt, as well as communities in Berbice. The volunteers spend time engaging community members and invoke through Guyanese culture of ‘one-one dutty does build dam’, when it embarks on fundraising for the project.
lying in a ravine near the ‘Gutter Village’s’ water supply.” Hurricane Maria, the second major storm to hit the Caribbean this month, left at least 15 people dead and 20 more missing in Dominica, the small island, according to Roosevelt Skerrit, the nation’s Prime Minister. This puts the death toll to at least 25 across the Caribbean. The category five storm, destroyed some 95 percent of structures, cut off the mountainous island’s communication systems and shut its two airports. A statement from the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said that its recordtopping winds reached 160 miles per hour when it hit the island nation. We cry but do not despair,” PM Skerrit said as he addressed the 72nd Session of the U.N. General Assembly. Guyana has pledged support to the CARICOM member state. Relief supplies, including lumber, have been shipped to some hurricane-hit Caribbean islands. Minister of Citizenship, Winston Felix, recently revealed that Guyanese nationals expressed a preference to remain and rebuild, but want their children evacuated. The hurricane-hit island of Dominica is to receive £5M in UK aid to help the recovery effort, it has been announced. The move brings the UK Government’s financial support for the Caribbean region ravaged by two tropical storms to £62M.
PAGE 25
PAGE 26
Monday October 09, 2017
Kaieteur News
Region urged to strengthen institutional architecture for advancing gender equality HAVANA, Cuba - CMC – An agreement geared towards strengthening institutional architecture for advancing gender equality in the region was one of the outcomes of the just concluded 56th Meeting of the Presiding Officers of the Regional Conference on Women in Latin America and the Caribbean, held in Cuba. The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) on Saturday said delegates also agreed to “consolidate the dialogue and regional cooperation”. The conference, organized by ECLAC and the government of Cuba, through the Federation of Cuban Women – was attended by international officials and representatives of civil society, as well as participants celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Regional Conference on Women, which is one of ECLAC’s nine subsidiary bodies. In addition to thanking delegates, ECLAC executive secretary, Alicia Bárcena, highlighted the approval in 2016 of the Montevideo Strategy for Implementation of the Regional Gender Agenda within the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Framework by 2030. She described the framework as “the roadmap that identifies the critical cruxes of gender inequality and provides concrete policy guidance.” Bárcena said that, at a difficult time for global multilateralism, “we tell the region and the world that it
makes sense to forge collective spaces for addressing these challenges together, men and women. “There are countries that have gender equality plans, but a further step must be taken: incorporating them into national development plans and budgets,” she said. Mariella Mazzotti, Director of the National Women’s Institute (INMUJERES) of Uruguay, meanwhile, noted that “the Regional Conference on Women represents an area of joint work, where step by step countries are constructing an idea of the kind of democracy and the type of social relations that we want. “Countries cannot build that gender democracy, that parity democracy that we all want, in isolation,” she warned. Ileana Núñez, Cuba’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment, lauded the Regional Conference’s four decades of uninterrupted work. “Since the first conference was held in Havana (in 1977), this has been the main forum for following up on the action plan and negotiating a regional gender agenda,” she said, thanking “the high attendance to this meeting, especially at a time when many of our countries have been affected by natural disasters and are in the process of recovering.” ECLAC said officials presented a repository of legislation on migration and gender prepared by ECLAC’s Gender Equality Observatory for Latin America and the Caribbean, in conjunction
Alicia Bárcena with the UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM). The repository includes 94 national legislative regulations from 21 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Uruguay and Venezuela. ECLAC said the laws contemplated contain explicit references to migrant women, adolescents or girls; prohibit all forms of discrimination based on gender and on migration status; and insist on the need to respect the specificities of gender and migration status. Delegates agreed that economic, productive and fiscal policy at the service of equality will be one of the main topics at ECLAC’s next Regional Conference on Women, which will take place in 2019 in Santiago, Chile.
PM Says Administration Remains Undaunted, Committed To Achieving Growth Target
The Gleaner - Prime Minister Andrew Holness says his administration is committed to achieving five per cent growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2020. The ambitious 5-in-4 growth target was first announced by chairman of the Government’s Economic Growth Council Michael Lee Chin in April last year. Last week the Statistical Institute of Jamaica reported that the economy contracted by 0.1 per cent for the quarter that ended in June. But speaking at the official opening of the refurbished Marcus Garvey Drive in Kingston Saturday, Holness pointed out that the island was impacted by heavy rains for the quarter that ended in June. However, he says his administration remains undaunted and cautioned that Jamaica must never lose its ambitiousness. He predicted that economic growth will increase as his administration continues to
Andrew Holness
transform the economy to be less dependent on agriculture and more on developing the road infrastructure.
Monday October 09, 2017
Kaieteur News
PAGE 27
PAGE 28
Kaieteur News
Monday October 09, 2017
UN SECRETARY GENERAL Sandals seeking more Copa flights into Jamaica ARRIVES IN BARBUDA
UN Secretary General António Guterres (left) and Prime Minister Gaston Browne piror to their departure for Barbuda. (Photo: CMC) ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) — United Nations Secretary General António Guterres has arrived in Barbuda as part of a tour to two hurricane battered Caribbean countries. Guterres, accompanied by Prime Minister Gaston Browne and several other government and United Nations officials, will tour the island that was devastated by Hurricane Irma last month. Prime Minister Browne had declared Barbuda “uninhabitable” and is
hoping that the visit by the UN Secretary General will help spur support for the redevelopment of the island with a population of less than 2,000. Browne had said hundreds of millions of dollars would be needed for the exercise. Browne welcomed the visit of the UN official saying it would “bring global awareness to the destruction that has taken place here in the Caribbean”. Guterres, said that it is clear that the natural disasters
have intensified in recent days, making reference to the passage also of the tropical storm Nate that killed several people in Central America this week. “It is clear there is a direct link between climate change and the intensity of these storms,” he said, adding “what we are witnessing these days are more intensity and more destruction”. The Antigua and Barbuda government recently lifted a ban on citizens residing there following the Category 5 storm that was also blamed for the death of a two-yearold child. The government recently lifted a ban on citizens residing there following the Category 5 storm that was also blamed for the death of a twoyear-old child. Guterres, who is expected to hold a joint news conference with Browne on their return to Antigua, is also due to visit Dominica yesterday, where Hurricane Maria left at least 28 people dead, 32 missing and damage estimated at billions of dollars (One EC dollar=US$0.37 cents).
Prime Minister discusses issues related to climate change during bilateral meetings B A S S E T E R R E , St . Kitts - CMC – Issues related to climate change were addressed during back to back bilateral meetings held by Prime Minister Dr. Timothy Harris on Saturday with some of the visiting diplomats who are here attending the F e d e r a t i o n ’s 34th Independence Anniversary events, which initially were scheduled for September 19th . The meeting included diplomatic representatives from Japan, the Czech Republic, Panama and France. One of the main topics of discussion was the process known as graduation whereby the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the Wo r l d B a n k a n d o t h e r international organizations have upgraded St. Kitts and Nevis and other smallisland developing states (SIDS) based on their GDP (Gross Domestic Product) per capita. Graduation makes SIDS no longer eligible for the concessionary borrowing rates they previously had access to and thereby
Dr. Timothy Harris disregards that their GDP is vulnerable, particularly to exogenous shocks such as hurricanes. “The truth is that small island states are always challenged in terms of their growth and development, and what Hurricanes Irma and Maria have shown is that, in the twinkling of an eye, all that GDP amounts to nothing. It can be lost…here, whatever happens to the entire country, and so our own vulnerability in our view has to be taken into account in terms of graduation…so that
countries like ours are not excluded from concessional sources of financing and we are not excluded from development aid, because that is going to be important if we are going to continue to develop,” Harris said during his bilateral meeting with Vladimir Eisenbruk of the Czech Republic. The Prime Minister repeated similar sentiments in the other meetings. “So we are hoping to get your support,” Harris also said to the diplomats who expressed a willingness to assist. Like St. Kitts and Nevis, Panama is part of the 35member Organization of American States (OAS). Japan and France are part of the Group of Seven (G7), which comprises the seven richest economies in the world. The Czech Republic, France and Japan are part of the Group of Twenty (G20), which consists of the world’s largest advanced and emerging economies including the European Union. Japan will host the G20 summit in 2019.
Copa Airlines Vice-president, Sales Christopher Didier (left) greets senior vice-president sales Unique Vacations, Gary Sadler, while Bernardo Ordas (second left) Copa Regional sales manager, and Garth Laird, Sandals director of travel industry programmes, look on, following a meeting between the Sandals and Copa executives. (Photo: Garfield Robinson) Jamaica Observer - Sandals Resorts International is negotiating with Copa Airlines with the intention to increase the number of flights into Jamaica and also to boost the number of Latin American tourists to the island. Senior vice president of sales Unique Vacations, (Sandals marketing arm) Gary Sadler, speaking at a press briefing Saturday at Sandals Ochi Beach Resort following a meeting with senior executives of Copa Airlines, disclosed that Sandals was seeking to have Copa expand its connections into Jamaica and bolster its partnership with the Sandals brand. “Latin America continues to be a very important and the fastest-growing market for Sandals and Beaches Resorts,” Sadler noted. “Copa Airlines provides us with a high level of partnership, as seen in the fact that we have brought down close to 100 Latin American travel agents from 16 countries to Jamaica last week for our annual Latin American Golf Tournament. The real concept was not just about golfing, but to showcase what Jamaica has to offer — it’s the people, the environment, and attractions.
“The partnership is extremely important because Copa Airlines has 75 gateways that feed into Panama, from which they operate direct flights into Jamaica to both Kingston and Montego Bay. The partnership with Copa continues to grow and expand and we want to make sure that all of Latin America understands that Jamaica is the perfect destination for them to come to, and we want to ensure that our investments into Latin America continue to be strong,” Sadler said. The Sandals senior executive pointed out that one of the reasons Jamaica continues to be an attractive destination to Latin Americans is the similarity in the lifestyles of Jamaicans and Latin Americans in terms of entertainment, nightlife, and culture. Copa Vice-president of Sales Christopher Didier was also upbeat about the Jamaica partnership and noted that his company was looking forward to increased collaberation with Sandals and Jamaica. Didier pointed to the new North-South link which allows for easy and quick access to Ocho Rios from Kingston, and the growing number of Latin American visitors to Jamaica.
Monday October 09, 2017
PAGE 29
Kaieteur News
Kim Jong Un praises nuclear Thousands protest in Barcelona programme, promotes sister against Catalan independence to centre of power SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un said his nuclear weapons were a “powerful deterrent” that guaranteed its sovereignty, state media reported on Sunday, hours after U.S. President Donald Trump said “only one thing will work” in dealing with the isolated country. Trump did not make clear to what he was referring, but his comments seemed to be a further suggestion that military action was on his mind. In a speech to a meeting of the powerful Central Committee of the ruling Workers’ Party on Saturday, a day before Trump’s most recent comments, state media said Kim had addressed the “complicated international situation”. North Korea’s nuclear weapons are a “powerful deterrent firmly safeguarding the peace and security in the Korean peninsula and Northeast Asia,” Kim said, referring to the “protracted nuclear threats of the U.S. imperialists.” In recent weeks, North Korea has launched two
Kim Jong Un missiles over Japan and conducted its sixth nuclear test, and may be fast advancing toward its goal of developing a nuclear-tipped missile capable of hitting the U.S. mainland. North Korea is preparing to test-launch such a missile, a Russian lawmaker who had just returned from a visit to Pyongyang was quoted as saying on Friday. Donald Trump has previously said the United States would “totally
When we pause and experience silence, we discover answers that activity does not have time to reveal. During your day, take three-minute “vacations”. Relax and re-energise. Take time out to feel the peace of silence.
destroy” North Korea if necessary to protect itself and its allies. The situation proved that North Korea’s policy of “byungjin”, meaning the parallel development of nuclear weapons and the economy was “absolutely right”, Kim Jong Un said in the speech. “The national economy has grown on their strength this year, despite the escalating sanctions,” said Kim, referring to U.N. Security Council resolutions put in place to curb Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile programmes. The meeting also handled some personnel changes inside North Korea’s secretive and opaque ruling centre of power, state media said. Kim Jong Un’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, was made an alternate member of the politburo - the top decisionmaking body over which Kim Jong Un presides. Alongside Kim Jong Un himself, the promotion makes Kim Yo Jong the only other millennial member of the influential body. Her new position indicates the 28-year-old has become a replacement for Kim Jong Un’s aunt, Kim Kyong Hui, who had been a key decision maker when former leader Kim Jong Il was alive.
People hold up signs as they attend a pro-union demonstration organised by the Catalan Civil Society organisation in Barcelona, Spain, yesterday. REUTERS/Albert Gea BARCELONA (Reuters) - Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets of Catalonia’s capital Barcelona yesterday to express their opposition to declaring independence from Spain, showing how divided the region is on the issue. A crowd estimated by local police to number 350,000 waved Spanish and Catalan flags and carried banners saying “Catalonia is Spain” and “Together we are stronger”. They poured into the city centre after politicians on both sides hardened their positions in the country’s worst political crisis for decades. Two more Cataloniabased companies set board meetings for Monday to
decide whether to shift their head offices out of the region, adding to the intense pressure Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont is under to back away from declaring independence when he addresses the regional parliament tomorrow. Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said on Saturday he would not rule out removing Catalonia’s government and calling a fresh local election if it claimed independence, as well as suspending the wealthy region’s existing autonomous status. Catalonia, which has its own language and culture and is led by a proindependence regional government, held a referendum on Oct. 1 over secession, in defiance of Spain’s constitutional court which had declared the vote illegal. The Catalan authorities
say the referendum showed voters overwhelmingly support independence. More than 90 percent of those who voted backed secession, but opinion polls on the issue suggest the region is more closely divided. Turn-out for the referendum was 43 percent, with most residents who wish to remain in Spain staying home. The anti-independence demonstration, which included Catalans and people from other parts of Spain, underlined how the dispute has riven the region itself. A month ago, a million people rallied in the city to support independence. “We feel both Catalan and Spanish,” Araceli Ponze, 72, said during Sunday’s rally. “We are facing a tremendous unknown. We will see what happens this week but we have to speak out very loudly so they know what we want.”
PAGE 30
Monday October 09, 2017
Kaieteur News
Bakewell Junior Tennis Tournament underway The Guyana Tennis Association (GLTA) in collaboration with Bakewell has undertaken the fourth edition of the Bakewell Junior Open tournament with the objective to strengthen and expose the junior players to more court time as well as stronger competition. The event also commemorates the late CEO of B a k e w e l l , N a e e m N a s i r, i n honour of his contribution to national sport events, specifically tennis. Nasir constructed a tennis court at President’s College during 2010, where matches were played during the course of competition. Bakewell has been a big supporter in the junior tennis development and at the opening ceremony they reconfirmed this commitment to the association. It goes beyond financial contribution to a place of understanding the importance of providing a safe space for the creation of productive young people. There has been growth in the entrance of new players into the competition from upcoming clubs. President, Jamal Goodluck, indicated that it is a good sign to press ahead for quality facilities so that more international players can be invited to participate next year. This is the only way we can see true growth and development. Three categories- Under-12, Under-14 and Under-18 are being contested for boys and girls. The round robin format is used for maximum competition and observance of performance.
Officials and players take time out for a photo at the start of the Bakewell Junior Tennis tournament this past week. This is particularly used to prepare the players for the upcoming goodwill games at the end of October. Guyana will be hosting French Guiana and Suriname at this year’s Inter-Guiana Games, which will be rebranded. RESULTS In the boys under-12 Round Robin: Jeremiah Kalekyezi and Vadeanand Resaul continue to show promise as they were both able to secure two wins, while Wayne Baker and Nigel Lowe won one
match a piece. New comers to the competition, Ramacindo Ricky and Shaquille Murray did not advance to the knockout round but continue to show fight. Girls under-12 saw an emerging rivalry between Akilah Jones and Amba Persuad. Jones won four of the round-robin matches, while Amaba took second gaining three wins. However, the head to head between the two players was close. These two players will be fierce
competitors. However, the young female Kalekyezi showed that she has what it takes to deliver. Paula won two matches in her first appearance in this competition. Rashida Hardy won one and Nandanee Ramdyhan was unsuccessful in securing a match. Joshua Kalekyezi advanced to the knockout stage of the boys under-14 after locking two wins over Akil Brown and Wayne Baker. In the other round robin grouping, his younger brother, Jeremiah Kalekyezi
dominated with two wins over Adesh Khayyam and Gabriel Thomas. The other two contenders for the title are Viraj Sharma (3 wins) and Vadeanand Resaul (2 wins). Nigel Lowe and Renaldo Alexander were eliminated in this division. In the girls under 14, Sarah Klautky proved formidable in her grouping with two wins over Akilah Jones and Anele Barton. While Alana Chung dominated with two wins over Nathalie Ramdyhan and Amba Persaud.
Somwaru is BCB President but all not well in Berbice cricket President of the Guyana Cricket Umpires Council, Dhierandranauth Somwaru, was yesterday voted in as the President of the Berbice Cricket Board when their elections were held at the Classic International Hotel and Resort in Corriverton, but the board’s tumultuous existence seems to continue as many questions were raised at the proceedings. Much debate among majority clubs and subassociation members was the order of the day as many are now contemplating legal proceedings. The disgruntled members are claiming that the elections were not held in keeping with the Cricket Administration Act, since according to them, some 22 voting delegates were debarred or refused to take part in voting for various reasons. The media were not allowed to witness the elections. Former BCB president Roy Baijnauth left the venue, after there were some issues pertaining to the
The new Berbice Cricket Board executive that was elected yesterday amidst controversy. President Dhierandranauth Somwaru is seated centre. legitimacy of the notices as some club members were seeking entry into the venue.
Presidential candidate Hilbert Foster and Colin Bynoe, Chief Executive Officer of the
New Amsterdam Hospital, were also refused entry into the venue. Bynoe was
expected to perform the duties as the Returning Officer. When things calmed down, the elections got underway, with heated arguments which could be heard from a distance where the elections were taking place it was stated. It is understood that fo r m e r G u y a n a C r i c k e t Board (GCB) president Drubahdur, was nominated as the Returning Officer by 18 members prior to the start of proceedings, an act which created tension. Thereafter, in checking the eligibility of potential candidates, four clubs were not allowed voting rights since they failed their constitutional requirements, according to an observer. It was disclosed that each non playing clubs must pay their respective fees in order to retain voting rights. The nomination for president was then opened, with Somwaru the first to be nominated, but the process was closed immediately after by the
Returning Officer, despite Dennis D’Andrade of the Upper Corentyne subassociation signaling his intention for a nomination bid. This left Somwaru’s competitor Hilbert Foster with no chance of entering the race. Thereafter, the three subassociations and five clubs casted their votes, four others did not take part in the process and one was absent it was disclosed. After Somwaru was installed as President, Imtiaz Bacchus, David Black and Winston Roberts were voted in as the three vicepresidents, while Vickram Seubarran (Secretary), Carol Nurse (Assistant Secretary), Godwyn Allicock (Treasurer) and Leslie Solomon (Assistant Treasurer) were the other executive members chosen. After the process, Secretary of the GCB Annand Sanasie said the election was held in accordance with the Cricket Administrative Bill. The election was held followed a ruling delivered by Justice Navindra Singh last September 8.
Monday October 09, 2017
PAGE 31
Kaieteur News
NA Multilateral wins Berbice Upper Corentyne Inter School Chess Championship beat East Bank
GCB/CGI 3-day Franchise League
West Dem draw with Lower Corentyne At Port Mourant, Upper Corentyne beat East Bank by 87 runs, Upper Corentyne declared at 291 for the loss of 3 wickets giving them a 313 lead. Kandasammy Surujnarine top scored with a 150 off 191 balls, Balchand Baldeo made 79 and Rajiv Ivan 31. East Bank then needed 314 for victory were unable to reach the target; being bowled out for 227. Ronaldo Ali Mohamed top scored with 96 off 90 balls, while Daniel Barker made 31 and Colin Benn 30. Bowling for Upper Corentyne, Clinton Pestano (2-23), Eon Hooper (2-53) and Shawn Pereira (3-72) were the wicket takers. At Young Warriors, West Demerara and Lower Corentyne played to a draw after West Demerara declaring at 206 for 4. Akshaya Persaud hit an unbeaten 101, while Tevin Imlach made 60. Lower Corentyne were bowled out for 153 with Alex Algoo making 68 not out, and Kassim Khan 24. Akshaya Persaud, Richie Looknauth, Keshram Seyhodan and Mahendra Dhanpaul took 2 wickets each for West Demerara.
Rabada decimates Bangladesh as South Africa win by innings and 254 runs BLOEMFONTEIN (Reuters) - South Africa paceman Kagiso Rabada bagged another five-wicket haul to take his test match tally past 100 as his side wrapped up a comprehensive innings and 254-run victory over Bangladesh yesterday. Having grabbed five wickets in the first innings, Rabada ripped through the Bangladesh batting order again on the third day of the second test at the Mangaung Oval. He finished with match figures of 10-63 as Bangladesh were bowled out for 172 in their second innings after being asked to
Kagiso Rabada hit the pitch hard, South Africa v Bangladesh, 1st Test, Bloemfontein. ©AFP
follow-on. Bangladesh were dismissed for 147 in their first innings in reply to South Africa’s mammoth 573 for four declared. South Africa also won the first of the two-match series with a 333-run victory at Potchefstroom. The 22-year-old Rabada reached a century of wickets in just his 22nd test, shouldering the bowling responsibility in the absence of the injured Morne Morkel, Vernon Philander and Dale Steyn. He had Soumya Sarkar and Mominul Haque out cheaply before lunch and then claimed his 100th test wicket as Dean Elgar took a sharp catch to dismiss Mahmudullah, who top scored for Bangladesh in their second innings with 43. Taijul Islam and Rubel Hossain were then bowled by Rabada, as he cleaned up the tail to finish with secondinnings figures of 5-30. South Africa had set the foundation for victory with 428 runs on the opening day on Friday with four players making centuries against a mediocre bowling attack. Rabada, however, showed there was life in the wicket as he turned in a virtuoso display. South Africa and Bangladesh will now play three One-Day Internationals and two Twenty20s. Scores: South Africa 573 for 4 dec (Markram 143, du Plessis 135*, Amla 132, Elgar 113, Subashis 3-118) beat Bangladesh 147 (Liton 70, Rabada 5-33, Olivier 340) and 172 (Mahmudullah 43, Imrul 32, Rabada 5-30, Phehlukwayo 3-36) by an innings and 254 runs.
New Amsterdam Multilateral Secondary School (NAMSS) is the winner of the seventh edition of the Berbice Inter-School Chess Championship which was held recently in Berbice. The championship, which was organised by the Berbice Chess Association (BCA), was held at the Wellington Park Primary School, Corentyne. It was the first time it was played at a Primary School. Coming in second was the Vryman’s Erven Secondary School (VESS). The win by NAMS marks the third time that the New Amsterdam Secondary has won the competition in the team category. The other two occasions were in 2013 when it was played at Tagore Memorial and in 2014 when they hosted the tournament. The NAMS team was made up of Charran Woarti, Demetre Prittipaul, Yutesh Dyal and Devon Kissoon. The individual category saw defending champion Darwin (London) Nurse of Berbice Educational Institute retaining his crown. Coming in second was Marley London of the Vryman’s Erven Secondary School with school mate Akeel Douglas taking the third spot. Primary school student Vishwadev Tarachand of the St. Therese Primary School
Individual Category First Prize winner, Darwin (London) Nurse of Berbice Educational Institute receives his trophy from Head teacher of host school, Wellington Park Primary, Mr. Bourne. upstaged his more senior counterparts to cop fourth place. According to a release from the BCA, this year’s competition is a landmark one for several reasons. It is the first time that the Berbice Inter-School Chess Championship has been held as a calendar event in
September. It was earlier decided by the Region Six Administration and the Department of Education that the Berbice Inter-School Chess Championship will be a Calendar Event to be held in the month of September which is education month. It is also the first time that the Berbice Inter-School
Championship was conducted by the Berbice Chess Association in collaboration with the Department of Education. The previous six Championships was organised by Krishnanand Raghunandan in an individual capacity, with assistance from the Department. Raghunandan, who is a founding member of the BCA which was launched in July this year, is also the current President. The tournament was coordinated by vice president Steve Leung and he was assisted by Kriskal Persaud (two times former National Chess Champion), Secretary Jayshree Carpen and treasurer Dane Grimmond. Two representatives of the Department of Education were also present. Ten schools participated with some 29 students taking part. The competition was conducted using the Swiss System format. The Association would like to thank the Department of Education Region Six, Matadeen Western Union business entity, Hand-InHand Mutual Fire Insurance Company Ltd, Bibi’s Travel Service, Republic Bank Rose Hall branch and Malesha Mackoon of Rose Hall Town for their support. (Samuel Whyte)
New Amsterdam Secondary, Team Category First Prize winners receiving their trophy from Berbice Chess Association president, Krishnanand Raghunandan.
PAGE 32
Monday October 09, 2017
Kaieteur News
Jamaica thrashed 2-5 by Saudi Arabia in tier two friendly JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia — The kingdom of Saudi Arabia proved too much for Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz, who surrendered 2-5 in their tier-two friendly game here inside the King Abdullah Sports City Saturday evening. Played before 8,226 men at the posh US$560-million, three-year-old, 62,000-plus facility the hosts, under new Argentine coach Edgardo Bauza, got goals from Salem Al Dawsari in the 22nd minute, Hazza AL Hazza (37th), Salman Al Farj (44th), Mohamed Al Berik (48th) and substitute Abdulah Al Joui in time added. Jamaica replied through Jamiel Hardware in the 35th minute and substitute Marvin Morgan, with his first touch of the ball in the 68th. The hosts made their intentions known from early on when Abdelftah Aseri and Hazza Al Hazza combined well to get in behind the Jamaican defence. After Aseri skipped by the advancing goalkeeper Dwayne Miller, the angle tightened and he could only turn his desperate, left-footed effort into the side netting. And before long their dominance came to the fore as Al Dawsari picked up a loose ball in the middle of the Jamaican half and, in combination with Aseri and Al Hazza, the trio parted the Reggae Boyz backline like Moses did the nearby Red Sea thousands of years ago, before slotting past Miller and thus leaving the Boyz in disarray, much like the Egyptian pharaohs who were in pursuit of the Moses-led Israelites. Just after the half hour mark, the hosts were gifted another glorious chance to add to their lead when the Jamaican centre back pair of Damion Lowe and Ladale Richie simultaneously challenged for the ball, which bounced kindly into the unguarded path of Al Hazza. But after racing towards the unprotected Miller, the wily striker tried to be too cheeky, with his delicate chip floating narrowly wide of Miller’s goal frame.
Before long Jamaica restored parity out of nothing, as a right-sided back post cross was beautifully controlled by Hardware, who cleared his path before firing home, well out of the reach of goalkeeper Abdullah Al Muaiof. But the home team wasted no time in regaining their lead as Al Hazza was left with too much time and space by Lowe and flashed a neat near-post header inside Miller’s far post. And the Boyz, who were left chasing shadows for long periods, allied to carelessly gift away possession, going further behind thanks to a harsh penalty call against Richie on the deceptive Al Hazza. Midfielder Al Farj made no mistake, driving a firm low shot to Miller’s right. The Saudis went three-up immediately upon resumption when right-sided defender Mohamed Al Berik turned home from a melee, but after Head Coach Theodore Whitmore adjusted the team with three early changes, the Boyz stymied in the homeside’s marauding attacks and started building attacks of the own. Morgan, with his first touch, chipped goalkeeper Muaiof to reduce the deficit and, during a period where they enjoyed a bit of possession and fluency in their attacks, Francis worked his way deep down the lefthand channel, but his inch-perfect cross was somehow missed by a sliding Michael Seaton, and after Rosario Harriott kept the ball alive, Morgan was inches wide of notching his second of the game. Seaton then steered a Harriott right-sided cross high and wide. In time added, substitute Muktar Ali teased his way past Taylor and, with the composure of a top flight pro, served fellow substitute Al Joui who could not miss from six yards out. But even then, Chevone Marsh still found time to blast a good chance wide of the goal frame. (Jamaica Observer)
Nadal thrashes Kyrgios to win China Open title
Rafael Nadal demolished Nick Kyrgios to win his sixth title of the season at the China Open. (EPA) (Reuters) - World number one Rafael Nadal produced a ruthless performance to thrash Australian Nick Kyrgios 6-2 6-1 in the China Open final yesterday for his 75th career singles title. The 31-year-old was given a tough fight early on but Kyrgios’s challenge faded after he lost his temper and was docked a penalty point at 2-5 in the first set. Nadal’s previous title at the tournament came 12 years ago. “I had very tough draw here,” Nadal, who saved match points in his opening round against Frenchman Lucas Pouille, said.
Caroline Garcia beats world number one Simona Halep to take title BBC Sport - France’s Caroline Garcia beat new world number one Simona Halep to win the China Open and overtake Briton Johanna Konta in the race for Singapore. Unseeded Garcia edged Romanian Halep 6-4 7-6 (7-3) for her second successive title after victory at the Wuhan Open. She hit 17 winners and saved nine break points in the second set to move into the eighth and final qualifying spot for the tour finals. Konta must now reach the final in Moscow to have a chance of overtaking. Britain’s Konta will play in the Kremlin Cup, which begins on 16 October, but Garcia has put herself in pole position with a hard-fought victory over Halep. Halep moved to the top of the world rankings following her semi-final victory over Jelena Ostapenko on Saturday, and broke Garcia in
Garcia has now won five titles on the WTA tour. (Rex Features) the first game of the final. But Garcia immediately broke back, before battling to take a tight first set. Halep then wasted countless opportunities in the second before her final shot in the tie-break sailed
well wide to hand Garcia the title. Analysis - BBC tennis correspondent Russell Fuller As a result of winning the title in Beijing - a week after winning the autumn’s other big event in Wuhan - Caroline
Garcia has now moved 185 points clear of Jo Konta in the eighth and final qualifying position for the WTA Finals in Singapore. Konta is not playing this coming week, and although Garcia plays again (as the top seed in Tianjin, she has drawn wild card Maria Sharapova in the first round), the race will definitely go to the final week of the season. Konta is due to play the Kremlin Cup in Moscow. Garcia is not currently entered, but is very likely to be offered a wildcard if she requests one. Either way, Konta must now reach the Moscow final to have any chance of making her debut in Singapore. And remember, she has lost in the first round of her last four tournaments. If not, she will be first alternate, so there is always the possibility she could still get into the draw if one of the top eight picks up a serious injury in the next two weeks.
“I was lucky the first day saving the two match points but after that I think I played one of my best events of the year.” World number 19 Kyrgios matched Nadal early on, winning his opening two service games but became involved in a debate with umpire Mohamed Lahyani over a close line call against him. “I can’t play at 100 percent if that stuff happens — and then you expect me not to be angry,” Kyrgios told Lahyani. He continued to argue the toss with the official who eventually awarded a penalty point against the Australian during the changeover when he trailed 2-5, meaning he began the eighth game already 0-15 behind. Nadal was well in control by then and he raced into a 50 lead in the second set before Kyrgios slightly delayed the inevitable as the Spaniard sauntered to his 12th
consecutive win. “He played well. I played terrible. He’s in great form. He just destroyed me today, so it was too good,” Kyrgios, who struck 20 winners but 35 unforced errors, said. “I put in a pretty good week, had some good wins. It’s tough to find positives when you won three games in the final. But I guess there were positives. In the semi-final I played well, obviously beating Alex (Zverev).” Kyrgios still has a chance of qualifying for the ATP World Tour Finals as he is 15th in the Race standings with several tournaments remaining to close the gap on those in front. Nadal, winner of the French Open and U.S. Open titles this year, has won six tournaments in a season for the first time since 2013 and strengthens his position at the top of the rankings ahead of Roger Federer.
Goffin downs Mannarino to win Japan Open title (Reuters) - Fourth-seeded Belgian David Goffin beat Frenchman Adrian Mannarino 6-3 7-5 in the Japan Open final in Tokyo yesterday to win his second title in as many weeks and first ATP 500 trophy. Goffin, who lost to Nick Kyrgios in last year’s final, extended his winning streak to nine matches to rise to number eight in the Race to London rankings, boosting his chances of playing in the season-ending tournament. The 26-year-old was dominant from the start and broke Mannarino to take a 3-1 lead in the opener and maintained the one-break advantage to claim the set, winning 21 of 25 points on his own serve. World number 31 Mannarino rallied in the second and broke Goffin to take a 4-2 lead but the in-form Belgian responded by breaking the Frenchman immediately and once more in the 11th game as he charged to victory. The win in Tokyo was Goffin’s fourth career title and second of the season after his ATP 250 Shenzhen Open triumph last Sunday. The world number 11 will next travel to China to play in the Shanghai Masters.
Monday October 09, 2017
PAGE 33
Kaieteur News
Sri Lanka take control Pence leaves NFL game after after 15-wicket day players kneel during anthem ESPNcricinfo - Ever the entertainers, Pakistan first made a lavish surrender with the bat, then came hurtling back into the game with the ball, during an extraordinary 15-wicket day in Dubai. Though they ceded a 220-run first-innings lead to Sri Lanka, so total was their dominance in the last 14.3 overs of the day, that their hopes of squaring the series live for another day. Wahab Riaz, in one of his wonderfully intense bursts, uprooted three batsmen while conceding only 10 runs, as Yasir Shah and Mohammad Abbas took one wicket apiece. Though they had seemed almost completely out of the match only one hour prior, it is Sri Lanka who will be under most strain when play begins again on day four. They have five wickets in hand still, but were only 254 runs ahead after the third day. They have lost matches from stronger positions in the past three years. Three separate collapses defined day three. The first arrived in the afternoon session. Pakistan had begun the day at 61 for no loss, but soon haemhorrhaged four wickets for 48 runs, putting Sri Lanka in control of the Test - or so it was thought. Shan Masood was the first to go, allowing debutant Lahiru Gamage to jag a ball through his defences from around the wicket. Sami Aslam - the more confident of the openers was soon trapped in front by Dilruwan Perera. Having lost their overnight pair inside the first six overs of the day, Pakistan’s senior batsmen Asad Shafiq and Azhar Ali attempted a steady recovery. A fine piece of reverse-swing bowling from Suranga Lakmal, however, removed Shafiq. Swinging the ball in
to the batsman, then straightening it off the seam, Lakmal collected Shafiq’s edge and had him caught low to the ground, by a tumbling Kusal Mendis at first slip. Babar Azam’s dismissal just before the tea break was largely the batsman’s own doing: he tamely bunted an unremarkable Rangana Herath delivery to short midwicket. The second was Pakistan’s surrender of six wickets for 82 runs, beginning with the dismissal of Azhar Ali towards the tail end of the twilight session. Their batsmen appeared muddled right through that period, Azhar, Haris Sohail and Mohammad Amir all being dismissed lbw by the spinners, before Sri Lanka’s quicks wiped out the last two wickets with the second new ball. The bowlers shared around the rewards. Dilruwan and Herath claimed three wickets each, while Suranga Lakmal and Lahiru Gamage took two apiece. Captain Dinesh Chandimal can take a little credit as well - two of the wickets in this period came from overturning umpires’ decisions, via reviews. It was the third collapse, however, that was the most dramatic. All Sri Lanka had to do when they began their second innings was to see out the new ball, with a view to scoring roughly 200 on day four in order to set up a declaration. But this being a Pakistan-Sri Lanka Test, things rarely go that smoothly for an ascendant team. Mohammad Abbas made the initial breakthrough, getting Kaushal Silva to nick a straightening ball behind. Then the big wicket. Dimuth Karunaratne aimed a cut off a wide Wahab delivery, but managed only to deflect the
ball back on to his wickets the second time he has fallen in this fashion, to the same bowler, in this Test. Wahab then had Sadeera Samarawickrama glove the ball to the wicketkeeper, trying to hook a legside bouncer. Then he struck Chandimal in front with a ball that would have gone on to clip the top of leg stump. In between, Yasir also had nightwatchman Suranga Lakmal out lbw. The only extended wicketfree patch of day three came in the second session, as Azhar and Sohail made 71 runs in each other’s company. Haris attacked occasionally, flitting down the pitch to launch Herath over the straight boundary twice, while Azhar hit his boundaries through cover. But it was the singles and twos that defined their partnership. Azhar favoured the legside, stepping out towards off stump to flick or sweep the spinners. Haris scored square of the pitch on both sides, hitting two memorable fours behind point, off Perera and Nuwan Pradeep. Both went on to make half-centuries, but were each dismissed before they could reach 60. Without this partnership, Pakistan would have been out of the match completely. The expressions of Pakistan head coach Mickey Arthur, on the dressing room balcony, summed up his team’s day the best. He was visibly disappointed in the afternoon, tense through the twilight session, then grumpy as Pakistan’s middle and lower order threw their wickets away. At stumps, he was grinning. Scores: Sri Lanka 482 and 34 for 5 (Mendis 8*) lead Pakistan 262 (Azhar 59, Sohail 56, Dilruwan 372, Herath 3-84) by 254 runs.
Azhar Ali rebuilt Pakistan’s innings with a steady half-century ©AFP
US Vice President Mike Pence reacts to fans before the game between Colts and 49ers. (Michael Conroy, AP) WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Vice President Mike Pence walked out of a National Football League game yesterday in his home state of Indiana after some players knelt during the national anthem, a form of demonstration that began last year as a symbolic protest about police violence against racial minorities. Pence was attending a game between the Indianapolis Colts and the San Francisco 49ers. Some players from the 49ers kneeled during the Star Spangled Banner, while some Colts wore black T-shirts with the words “We Will” on the front and “Stand for equality, justice, unity, respect, dialogue, opportunity” on the back. The players stood with their arms locked during the anthem, according to media reports. “I left today’s Colts game
because President Trump and I will not dignify any event that disrespects our soldiers, our Flag, or our National Anthem,” Pence said in a statement issued by the White House. President Donald Trump has criticized players sharply for the protests and pressed the NFL to ban them. He said in a tweet on Sunday that he asked Pence to leave the stadium “if any player kneeled, disrespecting our country.” He said he was proud of Pence and his wife, Karen. The right to participate in such a protest is protected by the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment. The NFL declined to comment, said spokesman Brian McCarthy. Critics of players kneeling at the pre-game playing of the national anthem, including Trump, object to any protest, regardless of its merits, during
a ceremony meant to honor the U.S. flag and military veterans. Pence, who has gone out of his way to demonstrate loyalty to Trump, said in his statement it was important to rally around the flag and things that unite the country. Less than an hour after issuing Pence’s statement, the White House released a picture of him and his wife at the stadium where the game took place, standing with hands over their hearts during the performance of the national anthem. “While everyone is entitled to their own opinions, I don’t think it’s too much to ask NFL players to respect the Flag and our National Anthem,” Pence said. “I stand with President Trump, I stand with our soldiers, and I will always stand for our Flag and our National Anthem.”
All set for final stages of BVA Inter school competition today at Port Mourant With the teams confirmed and the date and venue finalized, all is now set for the final stages of the Berbice Volleyball Association (BVA) inter school competition. The event is set to be held today at the Port Mourant Training School court beginning at 09:00hrs. The quarter finals, semifinals and final in both the male and female categories will be played. Before they reached to that stage the schools were divided into four zones with the top two teams in each zone advancing to the quarter finals stage of the tournament. There zones are Upper Corentyne , Central Corentyne , Lower Corentyne and New Amsterdam/ Canje zone The schools making it through are in the male category - from the New Amsterdam/ Canje zone are Berbice High School (BHS) and New Amsterdam Multilateral Secondary (NAMS) Lower Corentyne - Corentyne Comprehensive Secondary (CCSS) and Port
Mourant Secondary (PMSS) Central Corentyne Central - Central Corentyne High (CCH) and Black Bush Secondary (BBS) Upper Corentyne will be represented by Tagore Memorial and Skeldon High In the female department the schools making it through are –NAMS and BHS for NA/ Canje, CCSS from lower Corentyne, Manchester Secondary and Central Corentyne Secondary from Central and Skeldon High and Line Path Secondary representing Upper Corentyne. The tournament is also being used to begin selection of a Guyana U18 team to represent the country at the Inter Guiana Games 2018. The top teams in the competition along with outstanding individual performances will be presented with trophies and other incentives compliments of the BVA and Director of Sports Christopher Jones and the National Sports Commission. (Samuel Whyte)
PAGE 34
Monday October 09, 2017
Kaieteur News
Inaugural Street Vibes Entertainment Futsal C/Ship…
GRFU/Bounty Farm 15s
Sparta Boss win again, Guyana Defence Force drill African team winless Police Falcons 62-10
Play at the National Gymnasium during the tournament. When the inaugural Street Vibes Entertainment futsal tournament continued on Saturday night at the National Gymnasium, Broad Street bounced back after their first round loss with a commanding 6-2 victory over the hyped African team that have in their ranks GFC’s striker Benjamin Opara. Daniel Favourite opened the scoring in the 3rd minute for Broad Street before Opara equalized 2 minutes later. Broad Street “ballers” then banged in 5 more goals before Benjamin’s brother, Kenneth Opara scored a consolation. North Ruimveldt and Albouystown played the only match that was drawn after full-time. The final score was 2-2 but Albouystown prevailed after Penalty kicks 2-1. Selwyn Williams, Stephon McLean, Runel Gordon and Jermaine Beckles each scored in Back Circle’s 4-0 win over the winless MBK All-Stars. MBK All Stars follows the African team, Tucville and Dave & Celina’s All Stars as the only teams without a win. The African team have conceded 8 goals, the most, while MBK have conceded 7. The feature game on Saturday was a perfect climax as the celebrated Sparta Boss futsal team edged Swag Entertainment 3-2 to
top their group after 2 rounds of play. Sparta scorers were Sheldon Shepherd, Calvin Moore and Eusi Phillips who found the back of the net in the dying minutes of the game for the win. Both of Swag’s goals were equalizers, first Shane Luckie who netted in the 6th minute then Deon Charter who scored in the 14th. Matches will continue on tomorrow night at the national Gymnasium with 8 clashes. See fixtures below. Game 1: Swag Entertainment vs. African Team-19:00hrs Game 2: MBK All-Stars vs. Tucville19:30hrs Game 3: Hustlers vs. New Market Street20:00hrs Game 4: Future Stars vs. Dave and Celina’s20:30hrs Game 5: Gold is Money vs. North Ruimveldt-21:00hrs Game 6: Albouystown-A vs. Silver Bullets21:30hrs Game 7: Back Circle vs. Leopold Street22:00hrs Game 8: Sparta Boss vs. Broad Street22:30hrs
KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany (Reuters) - Germany crushed Azerbaijan 5-1 yesterday with talented Leon Goretzka scoring twice, to complete a record-equalling World Cup qualifying campaign with ten wins out of ten matches. Germany, who had already secured qualification for next year’s finals in Russia, needed an hour to hit their stride despite an early lead through the 22-year-old Goretzka, already a target for several top European clubs. They made sure of the three points and a maximum 30 in Group C with a strong second half performance, scoring four more goals after a brief Azeri equaliser. The Germans equalled Spain’s record from the 2008-9 qualifying campaign for the 2010 World Cup with their 10th victory but they could boast an even better goal difference than the Spaniards. Germany, who made seven changes to their lineup after the 3-1 win in Belfast against Northern Ireland that secured their qualification, went ahead through Goretzka’s
superb and powerful eighth minute backheel. Sandro Wagner should have doubled the lead on the half-hour mark but his casual effort was palmed onto the post by the keeper. Instead it was the hosts who scored, briefly stunning the home crowd, when Ramil Sheidaev fired in from a tight angle to complete a quick break in the 34th minute. Coach Joachim Loew’s initial plans to use the game as a first test en route to their title defence went out the window with first-half injuries to Niklas Suele and Shkodran Mustafi. Yet his team quickly finished off the game with Wagner grabbing his fifth goal in his fifth international in the 54th minute and Antonio Ruediger scoring 10 minutes later. Sunday’s Results: Lithuania 0 - England 1 Slovenia 2 - Scotland 2 Germany 5 - Azerbaijan 1 Norway 1 - Northern Ireland 0 Denmark 1 - Romania 1 Kazakhstan 1 - Armenia 1 Poland 4 - Montenegro 2 Slovakia 3 - Malta 0
Germany’s perfect 10 completed with win over Azerbaijan
Police Falcons (left) against GDF yesterday afternoon at the National Park. The Guyana Defence Force followed up their combative 34-29 victory over the mighty Panthers team last week with a devastating 62-10 victory over an almost clueless Police Falcons unit yesterday at the National Park Track and Field pitch when the Bounty Farm 15s continued. GDF, the more experienced side, were led by Cloyd Prowell with 13 points (1 try, 4 conversions) along with national 7s player Patrick King who raced away with a game high 12 points, inclusive of 2 tries and one conversion. The developing Police Falcons team did not bring the usual competitiveness that Police vs. GDF encounters usually relish and
by half time, the 80-minute game was far from their reach as they trailed by 21-points with the score at 26-5. At full time, Police suffered a battering 52-point defeat; only Rashad Butcher and Daniel De Abreau stepped up and scored a try each for the Falcons. Meanwhile, in addition to King and Prowell dominating the score sheet for GDF, Toyton Braithwaite who scored the game opener, Delon De Abreau, Breon Walks, Rodwell Hutson, Aluka Venture and Dwayne Schroeder all scored, in the effortless win. Patrick King, one of the leading players in GDF and Guyana expressed disgust in GDF’s play in the first half, “We played a great game last
week against Panthers and I think this week we took Police for granted during the first half but we put it together during the second half and got the tries we were looking for.” On a personal note, King who will be looking to help lead Guyana to Glory in next month’s Rugby Americas North (RAN) 7s tournament stated that, “I’m still working on my speed a lot, with some focus on strength training. The meet in Mexico next month is going to be tough but we need to do well to qualify for the Commonwealth Games among other major events. I know my importance to the team so I’m training hard to keep my standards up and even surpass my best.” (Calvin Chapman)
GDF outnumbered Police Falcons 5-2 in this photo just before regaining possession.
Monday October 09, 2017
PAGE 35
Kaieteur News
GCB/CGI 3-day Franchise League
CHANDERPAUL (91), SURUJPAUL (58) PUSH E’BO CLOSER TO TITLE DESPITE KHAN’S 5-37
Vijai Surujpaul cover-drives to Bhaskar Yadram during his 58 yesterday. By Sean Devers in Essequibo Three late afternoon wickets in two overs after Shiv Chanderpaul and Vijai Surujpaul stroked fifties, gave Essequibo the ascendency against East Coast, despite Amir Khan’s 5-75 on day two of their sixth round GCB/CGI three-day Franchise League at the Tuschen ground yesterday. Chanderpaul’s 91 took 126 minutes and 166 balls with nine fours and two sixes, while Vijai Surujpaul made 58 from 125 minutes and 71 balls, decorated with seven
boundaries. But only Kemol Savory (20) and Chaitram Persaud (18) past 15 as Essequibo made 258 in reply the East Coast’s first innings score 289. Leg-spinner Amir Khan captured 5-75 and got support from pacer Kevin Gordon (240) and off-spinner Bhaskar Yadram (3-52) for East Coast, who were 51-4 by the close with an overall lead of 82. A last afternoon burst from Gordon reduced East Coast to 8-3 in four overs as he had Brian Sattuar caught behind for a duck at 4-1 before removing Premchand
Sookdeo (4) at 8-3. In between those dismissals, Joshua Persaud (4), at the non-strikers’ end, ran himself out attempting a suicidal single to mid-on to leave the score on 8-2. The Yadram brothers carried the score to 44 before Kamesh, dropped twice, was LBW for nine to Anthony Adams, who captured 6-81 in the first innings. Bhaskar, on 29 from 79 balls with five fours, was there at the close and with him was Anthony Ifill, yet to score. Earlier, Essequibo resumed on 6 without loss and lost Kevin Boodie (16) bowled off the under edge, hooking at a lively Royston Simion at 33-1. Savory and Surujpaul then built a sound partnership as Savory punched Anthony Ifill imperiously past cover for four before Surujpaul stroked Ifill gloriously past his ankles for four before elegantly cover-driving his for four more. Surujpaul reached his 50 from 58 balls and 95 minutes with seven fours before Savory fell to Bhaskar Yadram at 82-2, while Surujpaul edged a catch to the keeper off Khan at 108-3. The 43-year-old Chanderpaul, who has 76 First-Class centuries including 30 at Test level, began cautiously before blossoming to play some well timed and placed shots to
Kemol Savory punches Anthony Ifill for four at Tuschen yesterday. teach the young batsmen, interested enough to learn, a batting education. The biggest crowd of the match was very vocal and most had come to see Chanderpaul bat in hot conditions. The veteran left-hander clipped Kevin Kowlessar for four before lofting Khan over his head for six and the fans were not disappointed with the exhibition unfolding and by Lunch Essequibo were 161-3. After the interval, Chaitram Persaud flicked Khan for four, while Chanderpaul pounced on Khan and pulled him for a couple of fours in the over. Chanderpaul found the
gaps with surgical precision and a dismissive pull off Simion brought up his 50 in 118 minutes, from 97 balls with five fours and six before Persaud was caught behind off Simion at 182-4 to break the 76-run stand. Mark Williams (11) was caught and bowled by Khan at 201-5 before Anthony Adams (4) pushed forward to Khan and was well taken by a diving Ryan Adams (sub) at short-leg at 114-6. It was soon 225-7 when Kevin Christian (5) fell to Khan who also removed Akenie Adams for one to leave Essequibo on 245-8 and evidently the manner of dismissals, demonstrated that
the young batsmen were not paying any attention to the way Chanderpaul was playing. The demise of Adams forced Chanderpaul to try to score quicker and he responded by dumping Khan over his head for six, sweeping him for four to move into the 80s. But in an attempt to go over the top, the former West Indies Captain with the second most Test runs by a West Indian, was taken at point off Yadram at 249-9 before Yadram got rid of Nealand Cadogan (6) to end the innings. Today is the final day and play is scheduled to commence at 09:12hrs.
GuyanaNRA 150th Anniversary Shoot/WIFBSC Caribbean C/ships
All systems a go for today’s historic start By Franklin Wilson Captain of the Guyana National Rifle Association (GuyanaNRA) Mahendra Persaud has informed that all systems are in place for the start of today’s historic 150th Anniversary of the local association which also coincides with the West Indies Fullbore Shooting Council Shooting Championships. All the action will unfold at the newly refurbished Timehri Rifle Ranges which has been given the thumbs up by the respectable Phil Harrison, Chairman of the International Confederation of Fullbore Rifle Associations (ICFRA) Commonwealth Committee who will be serving as the Chief Range Officer for these championships. Harrison ahs performed similar duties at numerous
Harrison gives thumbs up for impressive Range
ICFRA’s Phil Harrison, the Chief Range Officer addressing the gathering in eth presence of Mahendra Persaud. championships around the world including the last Palma World Championships held in Ohio, USA.
Speaking with Kaieteur Sport during last evening’s Meet and Greet of the competing teams, Persaud
indicated that yesterday’s practice session involving the competing nations went well with most of the targets being utilised. “The marking was excellent with the shooters complimenting the markers. “ The experienced marksman indicated that there was one issue with a few blown primers which simply means that the rifle chambers were too tight or the ammunition was getting too hot. “This is one of the reasons why we were trying to get the ammunition in early to test it. We needed to test it because over here is hot. We have put measures in place to keep the ammunition cool and this was related to the shooters by the Chief Range
Officer said during his remarks to the participants.” The GuyanaNRA is being touted as the second oldest association in the world and today’s action will get underway with his Excellency, President David Granger, who holds the portfolio as Patron of the association unveiling the new sign for the Timehri Rifle Ranges, unveiling of the country flags and brief remarks by Granger before his fires the first shot to get action underway. The Individual championships will get cracking by 10:00hrs and this is anticipated to be very exciting with the likes of the British, Canadian, Irish and Caribbean shooters both males and females all in contention at the 300, 500 and
900 yards ranges. Close to one hundred participants are listed to take aim at the targets over the next three days in these championships which has at stake the beautiful 150th Trophy and bragging rights. The top 60 shooters will advance to the final day on Thursday. M e a n w h i l e , representatives of the three main sponsors for this historic championship joined the shooters last evening for the Meet and Greet. Mohamed Qualander of Queensway Group of Companies, Harold Hopkinson of Secure Innovations & Concepts Inc. and Hemant Narine of Industrial Safety Supplies Inc. were on hand to mix and mingle with the competitors.
PAGE 36
Kaieteur News
Kevlon Anderson
Monday October 09, 2017
Rupp, Dibaba claim Chicago Marathon victories
IS A BATSMAN TO WATCH Idolises Windies opener Kraigg Braithwaite
By Sean Devers When Kelvon Anderson made his GCB/CGI three-day Franchise debut for Lower Corentyne, he was just 16years old but batted with a maturity that belied his age, prompting me to tell former West Indies Test player Roger Harper that I believed that Anderson was the best 16-year-old batsman in the Country. He asked what had brought me to that conclusion and I said his skill level, technique, temperament, maturity for his age and his ability to consistently score runs. “Scoring runs is most important as a batsman,” Harper replied. When I first saw Anderson, about two years ago, batting for National Secondary Schools Champions, Lower Corentyne Secondary, my first thought was ‘this little boy could bat’. He reminded me of Ramnaresh Sarwan and Leon Johnson at that age. Anderson has the flair of a young Sarwan, Guyana’s youngest First-Class cricketer and demonstrates the temperament of a young Shiv Chanderpaul, Guyana’s youngest Test player. The talented Berbician, who turns 17 on October 18, is still a work in progress but if handled correctly and is willing to work hard, he has all the attributes to play at the highest level. If you chat with the teenager you quickly realise that in addition to skill with the bat, he also has a levelhead and said he is working on playing the ‘middle stump full tosses’straighter instead of trying to hit them too square. Kelvon was born to Alex and Gail Anderson and is one of eight children including two girls and grew up in East Corentyne Number 1 Road, Berbice.
Galen Rupp won the men’s race. (Dylan Buell, Getty Images)
Kevlon Anderson bats during a recent game. Kevlon attended the Cropper Primary School and Lower Corentyne Secondary where he wrote CXC exams this year. Anderson now attends the JC Chandisingh Secondary where he is in Grade 11 in the Agriculture Science stream and intends to re-write some subjects next year. The teenager understands the importance of education. “It’s very important, for example, when you do interviews and press conferences you should be able to answer and understand properly. As a captain you have to think about the game plans,” Anderson disclosed. “I got interested in cricket because of where I live. There was a lot of cricket played in the area every weekend. It was like a fun day thing in the Savannah and my brothers them used to play at Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club. My brother, Jason told me to join the club because there was a U-13 tournament that weekend. I remember that it
Hamilton on verge of fourth... From page 37 gearbox-related grid penalty, was the sole-surviving Ferrari in fifth. Force India’s Esteban Ocon, who ran as high as third at one stage, was sixth ahead of Mexican team-mate Sergio Perez, as the Silverstone-based team came away with another strong haul of points. Kevin Magnussen was eighth ahead of Haas team-mate Romain Grosjean. Brazilian Felipe Massa rounded out the top 10 for Williams. Britain’s Jolyon Palmer completed his last race for Renault in 12th place. His replacement from Toro Rosso, Spaniard Carlos Sainz, was the first retirement of the day.
was a Monday, I joined since it was the first day for secondary school at Lower Corentyne secondary,” Anderson remembered. In 2013, a 13-year-old Anderson was named ‘Best Cricketer’ at the 16th annual Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club. He first played for Guyana in the 2015 U-15 tournament and made the U-17 team the next year, while this year he played both U-17 and U-19. “I saw a person name Akeem Redman send a Facebook friend request. So I ask Sachin (Singh) if he knew anybody by that name from Transport Club and he said yeah. That was a few days before the U.S.A team tour to Guyana. Redman ask me if I could come and play for them against the U.S.A team. I was like not really sure when was the game and he tell me come in the morning for 8, and that’s how a start playing for them,” Anderson explained. His desire is to play FirstClass cricket and make the West Indies Test team by the next four years and intends to focus exclusively on cricket when he finishes school. “I am hoping when I finish school I could get an Academy contract since it would help to give full attention to cricket,” said Anderson. He revealed that he has benefited a lot from playing with and against Guyana’s most senior cricketers in the Franchise League. His goal is
to score 500 runs. “What I have learnt most from playing in the Franchise League? I would say staying patient at the crease and pick the balls to score from. The runs gonna come once you are out there,” explained Kelvon, who scored his maiden Franchise League century (122) against East Coast at Lusignan after batting for over seven hours. The youngster, who likes reading, playing music, playing football, Basketball and loves Macaroni and Cheese, informed that among those who have helped are Coach Julian M o o r e , M r F o s t e r, h i s family members and a few players like Shawn Pereira, SeonHetymer, Devon Clements, Delbert Hicks, Eon Hooper, Anthony Bramble, Jonathon Foo and Raun Johnson. Not surprisingly his favourite batsman is 24-yearold BarbadianKraigg Braithwaite,who has 19 FirstClass centuries including six at Test level and averages above 40 in First-Class cricket. Anderson’s temperament is similar to Braithwaite’s and the right-handed opener disclosed that he favours the cut, flick and on-drive. Anderson, whose highest score is 138 against Albion in the New York Business group U-19 tournament, explained that he prefers pace ‘first up’in his innings since he finds it easier to ‘get a start’ off the pacers and then build from that when the spinners are introduced.
(Reuters) - Galen Rupp became the first American to win the Chicago Marathon in 15 years and Ethiopian Tirunesh Dibaba ran away with the women’s race yesterday. Olympic bronze medalist Rupp used his track speed to break open the men’s race in the last five km to finish in a lifetime best two hours, nine minutes and 20 seconds in only his fourth marathon. “It’s just incredible,” said Rupp, who took advantage of the race’s slow early pace to win, surging in the 38th km to take control. “I made the mistake in the past of going a little too hard too soon,” said Rupp, the U.S. record holder at 10,000 meters on the track. “But I just felt a little gap pulling away and at that point, it was like you’ve got to put the hammer down and drive to the finish.” Defending champion Abel Kirui of Kenya, who was with Rupp at the time, could not keep pace. “It is a huge win for his career, for the United States,” four-times Chicago winner Khalid Khannouchi, the last American to triumph in 2002, told NBC Chicago. “He has a bright future.” Kirui finished second in 2:09:48 with countryman Bernard Kipyego third in 2:10:23. Dibaba, a world record
holder on the track, won her first marathon in 2:18.31. “The entire 42 km pretty much I was leading,” said Dibaba, the London Marathon runner-up and three-time Olympic champion on the track. She had hoped to challenge Briton Paula Radcliffe’s 2003 world record of 2:15:25 on the flat course. But doing it without pacemakers is difficult, she said. “In order to break a world record it is generally helpful to have pacemakers,” the 32year-old mother said. Kenya’s Brigid Kosgei, the only runner to stay with Dibaba for much of the race, was a distant second in 2:20:22 with American Jordan Hasay third in 2:20:57. Tatyana McFadden pipped American compatriot Amanda McGrory to win her seventh consecutive Chicago women’s wheelchair title and eighth overall. McFadden, who had suffered blood clots before the Boston Marathon, and McGrory both were timed in 1:39:15 with Swiss Manuela Schar third (1:39:17). Swiss Paralympic gold medalist Marcel Hug dominated the men’s wheelchair race, defending his title in 1:29:23. Australian Kurt Fearnley claimed second in 1:30:24 narrowly defeating Spain’s Jordi Madera Jimenez.
Tirunesh Dibaba ran away with the women’s race yesterday.(Getty Images)