Kaieteur News
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Tuesday October 09, 2018
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
REMEMBERING THE 1976 CUBANA AIR DISASTER Forty-two years ago, eleven young Guyanese men and women, mostly students on scholarships from the Cuban government perished in one of the worst Cuban air disasters in history. Guyanese will always remember Wednesday October 6, 1976 as one of the most catastrophic days. Their kith and kin died tragically when two bombs exploded on a Cuban airline flight CU455. The Cuban DC 8 passenger aircraft had left Guyana for Trinidad and then on to the Seawell International Airport in Barbados which was renamed the Sir Grantley Adams International Airport that same year. The tragedy that struck our brothers and sisters remained etched in the minds of most Guyanese. It was a very solemn and surreal moment for Guyanese. The late President Forbes Burnham, with tears in his eyes, asked the nation to pray for the deceased and not forget them. As reported, the plane arrived in Barbados safely, but shortly after it departed from Barbados, a bomb located in the aircraft’s rear section of the plane exploded. Captain Wilfredo Perez radioed and informed the control tower in Barbados of an emergency and requested immediate landing. As the pilot steered the plane towards Sea-well International airport, another bomb exploded which caused the plane to descend rapidly. Realizing that a successful landing at Seawell Airport was not possible, the Captain skillfully and courageously guided the aircraft away from Paradise beach which was packed with tourists, towards the Atlantic Ocean where the plane crashed. All 73 passengers and crew on board died. Among them were 57 Cubans, five Koreans and 11 Guyanese, six of whom were students going to Cuba to study medicine and engineering. It was a sad day for Guyana, Cuba and the region which for the first time had experienced such tragedy. On the plane were 24 young Cuban athletes of the Cuban national fencing team, who along with their managers had won gold medals in the Central American and Caribbean Championship games? The young athletes proudly wore their gold medals as they boarded the aircraft. The crash sent shockwaves throughout Guyana causing many to weep openly in the streets of Georgetown. It was the first terrorist attack on an aircraft in the Caribbean and was swiftly condemned by the leaders of the region. However, Fidel Castro and Forbes Burnham thought otherwise. They were convinced that the United States government was in some way or another responsible for the attack and they were right. They claimed that the bombing of the plane was carried by the imperial forces in the United States and vowed to get to the bottom of it. After a thorough investigation, it turned out that both leaders were correct. Subsequently, the evidence revealed that several CIAbacked anti-Castro Cuban exiles in the U.S. conspired with members of the Venezuela Secret Police to bomb the Cuban aircraft to protest Castro’s dictatorial policies in Cuba. In 2005, the CIA admitted that it had solid evidence as early as June 1976 of plans by Cuban exile groups in Miami to bomb a Cuban airline but did not share the information with Cuba, which at the time was a nemesis to the US. The four men who joined the plane in Trinidad and disembarked in Barbados were arrested and charged by the U.S. government with the murder of the 73 passengers on the Cuban airline. On their 42nd death anniversary, the nation remembers Margaret Bradshaw, Sabrina Harrypaul, Seshnarine Kumar, Ann Nelson, Eric Norton, Raymond Persaud, Gordon Sobha, Rawle Thomas, Rita Thomas, Violet Thomas and Jacqueline Williams—who perished on that tragic day.
Editor’s Note; If your sent letter was not published and you felt its contents were valid and devoid of libel or personal attacks, please contact us by phone or email.
Trade unionist misinformed on Govt., Rusal relations Dear Editor, My attention has been drawn to the letter written by Mr. Lincoln Lewis titled “Workers’ rights cannot be put into abeyance”. The letter was shared liberally with the media and I believe that a response is necessary. Mr. Lewis in his usual inimitable style, seeks to flay myself as the Minister of Natural Resources, for what he suggests is failing to stand up for the rights of workers at the Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc. (BCGI), a subsidiary of Rusal. Justifiably and understandably so, Mr. Lewis, a veteran trades union leader, has always been vociferous about protecting the rights of workers. I have said to him privately on several occasions that though I disagree with him
on many positions and find his facts to be often wrong, I admire and understand his tireless struggle. Unlike Mr. Lewis, I will not seek to ‘flay’, ‘blast’ or ‘slam’ him in ad hominem attack, and will respond differently. On this occasion I wish to call attention to some facts which I believe he has been misinformed about. I feel it is my duty to bring these to his attention, lest these misconceptions are seen as fact. Firstly, the statement that no Terms of Reference were developed by the Minister is erroneous. There was actually a single and specific Te r m o f R e f e r e n c e developed by Cabinet at its Ministerial Conference held on April 24, 2018, which is stated as follows: “Conference agreed that a task force led by the
Minister in the Ministry of Natural Resources, and comprising representatives of the Ministries of Legal Affairs and Finance, would be convened to hold discussions with the workers of Rusal on the impact of the sanctions on the work force.” It is clear therefore that there was no need for me as Minister of Natural Resources to develop any ToRs, and also, Hon. Simona Broomes, MP was present at the Ministerial Conference and she can support this. It therefore meant that at the first meeting held, there was no need for me to task the Task Force with crafting new and different ToRs than those already directed by Cabinet. It is also clear what the mandate of the Task Force was and is to be. Another error of Mr. Lewis emanates from his
misconstruing of a letter that I sent to the Managing Director of BGCI dated December 20, 2017, in response to a letter received. Mr. Lewis has a copy of the letter and should publish it in full as it was a response to a letter that I had previously received dated December 13, 2017, informing me that BGCI had finally resolved, with the GRA, the legacy issue of income tax deductions being made from overtime payments. Both the Minister of Finance and I had promised the workers that this benefit of not having overtime earning taxed would be restored, and I was pleased that the company was reporting a break through with GRA over monies already remitted as this (Continued on page 6)
The Tullow give away Dear Editor, A KN article Oct 2nd, “Guyana’s contract with Tullow even worse than the lopsided contract with ExxonMobil.” The article speaks of presidential hopeful, Charles Ramson telling a very dismal story of how poorly the Coalition has represented the interest of the people in oil and gas at the Cara Lodge. It is extremely hurting to the psyche of the citizenry to learn that the Government reduce the royalty by 50%, from 2% to 1% and reduce the licensing fee, in a contract to Tullow Oil, knowing quite well that the nation was crying foul against the 2 % r o y a l t y t h e Government had accepted in the ExxonMobil contract. When the lopsided ExxonMobil contract was being criticized, Minister Raphael Trotman had said that Exxon deserves the advantages it had been given in the contract because, “Other companies had shied away from developing the resource offshore.” What did Tullow do to deserve a better advantage? Trotman had also promised that, “Government will use the lessons learned (from the ExxonMobil contract) to ensure it gets the best PSA it may sign in the future.”
How does Trotman and the Government justify a greater give away to Tullow, after the ExxonMobil contract? Our offshore basin having been de-risked by virtue of Exxon discovering oil in commercial quantities. How could the Trotman and the Government defend the signing of a more generous contract to Tullow than the ExxonMobil contract? Given that the Orinduik block is just 6.5 km away from the Liza one discovery in a de-risked basin, the nation cringes at this give away or sell out of our god-given franchise (oil). The logic here is indicative of “twenty pieces of silver”. If Ramson sees an innocent mistake or a lost opportunity as the article seems to suggest- the general public sees graft and conspiracy. For the umpteenth time since independence, civic society was not consulted on a matter that will directly affect the “well being” of the people. According to another KN article, Oct 3rd, “Ignorance of the masses in oil and gas issues a major benefit to corrupt politicians”, Ramson, speaking at the Cara Lodge again, opined that if Guyanese want to get the best out of this or any
future government, they have to keep themselves informed or they will effectively make way for a corruption paradise. Ramson thinks that if the citizens are well informed on issues in oil and gas, only then they can hold their Government accountable. I do not concur with his statement, neither do I think the masses will. KN has done and continues to do an excellent job exposing the asininity of the Coalition’s handling of contracts, local content etc. and we are cognizant of the realities because of the expertise used by KN to authenticate for the benefit of the masses. Ramson does not seem to understand our dilemma. We have been trying since independence to hold our Government accountable. Article 13 of our present Constitution never came within striking distance of a “Hall Mark” of any Government, not even the one Charles Ramson grew up in (the PPP). Ramson should find no difficulty attesting to that, since the public was never consulted on any matter of interest to the people during the 23 years reign of the PPP. It is often said that knowledge is power. I can assure Ramson that we have the knowledge.
I implore him to say how we can use this power induced by our knowledge in oil and gas to hold our Government accountable in context of our present constitution. If we were to take to the streets for every perceived misuse of state funds, every contract giving away of our resources, relative to the norm in the oil and gas industry or every conceived violation of the Constitution that has been exposed by journalists, commented on by oil and gas experts or pontificated on by the luminaries in society since the advent of the Coalition, all gracing the pages of KN, we would have been occupying the streets p e r m a n e n t l y, s e e k i n g redress and the reality would have been no different. Surely Ramson should concur with that. As a presidential-wantto-be, it would be prudent for Ramson to put forward his thesis of how he would make this present mode of unaccountability by Government to the masses any different and what concrete constitutional leverage would be placed in the hands of the people, as a guarantee, should he get a chance to ascend to the presidency. Rudolph Singh
Tuesday October 09, 2018
We gained Independence then lost it to China Dear Editor, I do not know if you wish to treat this as a letter but I do hope that you would find the space to publish it somehow. I have just returned from a four day trip to Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie in northern Ontario, Canada. The purpose of the trip was to enjoy the array of color that exists there at this time of year. The trip was an education and a tremendous experience. It also gave me an opportunity to compare and contrast those towns with Guyana. I am not a Guyanese but have made several visits in the last fifty years. Some of the similarities I noted are: (1) very large expanse of land, (2) heavily wooded: (3) rivers and waterfalls: (4) lots of small streams. The main differences: (a) climate, (b) infrastructural development. Guyana does not have the capacity to undertake any major infrastructural projects at this time, however, with sound and proper leadership, much can be accomplished with small bites at the cherry. The first thing that must be done is to get out of the clutches of the IMF. I am no economist so I cannot say how that may be achieved. I am an accountant (CPA, CMA.)With an official exchange rate of Guyana $200
= US $1.00, there is more chance for a snowball surviving in hell than for the economy to ever make any serious improvement. Just about everything required to undertake infrastructural work must be imported, more often than not, with US currency. At the present rate of exchange, this is prohibitive. With the country exporting gold, diamonds, bauxite, rice and very soon, oil, they are earning lots of hard currency (US dollars). They should, theoretically, be able to import some of the developmental requirements. The leaders of the country have to put the country before self. The previous administration took advantage of the people and it appears, to me, as if this one is doing the same thing and keeping the people in ignorance. It appears as if major contracts are being negotiated to the benefit of the politicians and not the country. From all reports, several one sided contracts are being concluded and the President seems to be taking a hands off approach and refusing to explain anything to the country. The oil contracts seem to be very one-sided and although questions are being
asked, no answers are being received. Part of that is the oil companies have skilled negotiators who negotiate for a living whereas the Guyanese team lack the knowledge and skill required to do the job. The Minister or politician cannot match skills with those people and is out of his/depth and may accept pittance and walk away believing they got a good deal. Consideration should be given to the possibility of employing skilled negotiators for such contractual work. The benefits will most definitely exceed the cost. Another concern is the reliance on China to help in the development of the country. China has a history of exploiting Africa and most recently, Caribbean countries and I am afraid soon from now, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and Barbados will be colonies of China. We got our independence from Great Britain only to lose it to China. Very, very sad. Caribbean leaders must stop saying “it can’t happen to me” and take the steps to ensure that it won’t. I am certain that Kaieteur News has done numerous articles on the Chinese colonization strategy but it seems as if no one is listening. Guyanese, wake up before it is too late. A. S. Welch, CPA, CMA
Bias from the Local Government Commission Dear Editor, I am following the Commission of Inquiry into the operation of the Mayor and City Council. Every day the media publicize different things about the council from lack of payments to the National Insurance Scheme to late payments of salaries to delays in pensions to its re-
tired workers. But these things have long been known to the public. The question is what are the solutions? For years, long before this
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current council took office, the council has been making a case for more revenue to do all the things that it should do. I recall former Mayor (Continued on page 6)
A response to the Wash Bay controversy in Region Three Dear Editor, I refer to an article published in the Kaieteur News dated October 02, 2018 with the caption, “Wash bay on Government reserves creates havoc,”. As the Regional Information Officer - Essequibo Islands West Demerara I would like to inform you of the foll o w i n g : Following a complaint that was made by one resident in the Pakistan Steet, La Jalousie Village, Region Three to the Office of the Regional Executive Officer, an investigation was launched. The following are the findings: It was found out that on the 18th and 19th April, 2018 two no objection letters were sent to GPL and GWI respectively for the provision of their services to the wash bay. The letters were signed by the NDC Chairman. Secondly, residents in an around the area confirmed that during a one-year period when the wash bay was not in operation, the said complainant use to operate a taxi service and mechanic shop at the spot but since the owner of the wash bay returned and reopened his wash bay the complainant had to vacate. Thirdly, the wash bay, as confirmed by residents in the area, has been in existence for over eight years and has never affected anyone. The immediate and closest neighbour dismissed the allegations of un-becoming activities occurring at the wash bay site. Fourthly, because of the prior approval given by the NDC, the wash bay owner went into investment ex-
penses and refurbished the wash bay and purchased equipment to operate the wash bay. Fifthly, the complainant enjoys a cordial relationship with a Regional Councillor of the RDC Region Three who also claims to work with the Office of the Prime Minister and who threatened to break the wash bay down. After the investigation, a decision was taken at the Regional Administration’s level to address the issue of squatting holistically rather than to target this one individual. It must be noted that in the La Jalousie Nover Flanders NDC and all other NDCs there are businesses operation on reserve lands or state lands. A mandir was even constructed on state land at the Groenveldt Village at Leonora in the Stewartville Corneilia Ida NDC. The holistic approach requires the attention of the Ministries of Public Infrastructure, Communities, P u b l i c S e c u r i t y, R D C , NDCs and the occupants themselves. We at the Regional Administration are of the firm view that a solution to the issue must be beneficial to all parties involved since the illegal action began years ago and occupants have been earning honest living by way of their businesses on state lands. It will be unconscionable on our part to selectively tar-
get one person even though we are against all forms of squatting and illegal occupancy of state lands. Noting the findings and position mentioned above and given that the findings and position mentioned above were provided to Regional Councillor, Harry Deokinanan, to which he had never expressed reservations, I find it extremely dishonest and distasteful on his part to accuse both the Ministry of Communities and Regional Administration of not paying attention to the matter. This is not the first time this individual has been trying to stymie the good work of REO Jaikaran and by extension the entire Regional Administration. We as a region will continue to provide government services to our people and better the lives of all. We will act within the ambit of the law and in keeping with government’s policies and position. In closing permit me to mention that the above information was provided to the reporter of Kaieteur News who carried the story and to date nothing is printed which leaves much to be desired on the part of the reporter and by extension Kaieteur News and their relationship with the person who reported the matter. Ganesh Mahipaul, Regional Information Officer.
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Taxpayers cannot compete with the alcohol industry Dear Editor, There is quiet news that the Ministry of Public Health will be doing a campaign against alcohol abuse. There is a video from the Chronic Disease unit which asks people to Stop. Think. Don’t Drink. It isn’t clear if there will be other activities and who will be involved in the campaign. It can’t be the responsibility of the Ministry of Public Health alone to deal with alcohol consumption in Guyana. At the same time of the news, two alcohol sellers in Guyana have launched brilliant colour advertisements with young active people in them to have exciting lives drinking their alcoholic products. Taxpayers cannot compete with the alcohol industry. It seems the Government hopes that school children would not drink, and that they might drink “responsibly” when they reach the 18 years or when adults invite them to drink. I don’t think many young people are blind to hypocrisy. Adults asking children not to drink while there is encouragement for y o u n g , h e a l t h y, a c t i v e , beautiful adults to drink
seems to be a waste of money. Would it be more honest if the members of the National Assembly who have alcohol problems talk about the problems they have had, or if any of them do the Stop. Think. Don’t drink thing .. that it works? Would the citizens who vote for them follow their lead? It is sad that the Government seems not be aware that from a public health perspective, it makes no sense to talk about ‘responsible drinking’ or ‘moderate drinking’. Research published in the Lancet of 24 August, 2018 led by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington have concluded that there is no real safe level of alcohol consumption from a health perspective. Guyana, which has struggled to maintain a free public health care system will do well to understand that the burden of alcohol consumption on the health system. It is a shame that Guyana has not been able to research the burden of alcohol consumption to the Guyanese drinking and
non-drinking tax payers. The solution is not to criminalise alcohol sales and consumption. There has to be some serious breaking of the culture of alcohol. While the Ministry of Public Health and the Ministry of Public Security hope that people will reduce (or stop drinking?), the Guyana Tourism Authority on its website proudly invites tourists to ‘raise a drink to Guyana’s rum drinking heritage” …as though the rum drinking heritage is anything to celebrate. Indigenous Heritage Month celebrated the indigenous alcoholic drinks as part of the culture. Sports in Guyana depend on intense sponsorship from the alcohol industry. Change is hard. Outside of Navratra, Lent and Ramadan when many drinkers abstain, isn’t there a chance for a long term change to stop drinking alcohol to reduce the burden on the society? Is it so difficult to find ways of socialising and interacting and being active which are not about alcohol, to create an industry where alcohol fuels cars and other energy devices, and does not fuel destruction? Vidyaratha Kissoon
Trade unionist misinformed on... From page 4 meant more money was going into the workers’ pockets. That news, together with the update that a huge investment had just been made into new plant and machinery for the bauxite operations, were worthy of government’s commendation and support, and as the letter shows, I congratulated both the company and the workers for what I thought was good news for both. Thirdly, with respect to my reference to Government’s position regarding workers, I believe I was in order as the workers are represented by a union, which fought hard for that right. I was aware that there had recently been a trade union recognition poll conducted in October 2017 for the very workers of the BGCI and the government had taken a decision not to show favour to either of the contenders. This was a position that I had conveyed to the manage-
ment of the company previously when complaints had been raised about Mr. Lewis’ actions and government’s intervention was sought. My letter merely sought to reaffirm and reinforce the position that the government respected the right of the workers to have union representation and that we would not intervene to subvert that right. Perhaps Mr. Lewis needs to read the letter again to see that I was actually standing for, and not abandoning the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union. Fourthly, and lastly, Mr. Lewis fails to recall that earlier in the year he accompanied myself and Hon. Simona Broomes, MP to Aroaima where I insisted that he be allowed to address the workers as part of my delegation; thus, reinforcing his legitimacy in the eyes of Rusal’s management. I have on several occasions reminded Mr. Lewis that the Ministry of Natural Resources is not the primary
ministry for the settling of labour issues within the extractive sector, or labour issues of any kind. The Ministry of Natural Resources has a fixed function as set by His Excellency, the President, and other Ministries have other duties - in an apt case of every joint contributing towards the building up of the entire government. As the United States and the Russian Federation work through their issues elsewhere, we in the Ministry of Natural Resources will continue to work to ensure that bauxite is mined and shipped so that workers and their families, and by extension, the national economy, can benefit. By no means are we pushing aside the rights of workers and the legacy issues which remain, but at this time, our efforts are understandably focused on keeping the production going. Our sister Ministry, the Ministry of Social Protection, has been charged by the President, and directed by the Cabinet, to address the ongoing labour issues and these are not being taken lightly. Raphael Trotman Minister of Natural Resources
Tuesday October 09, 2018
Region 5 is moving up but… Dear Editor, · Reference is made to the editorial entitled “Problems continue in Region 5” published in Kaieteur News’ October 1, 2018 edition which referenced an “imbroglio” between the Regional Executive Officer (REO), Mr. Ovid Morrison and the Regional Chairman of Mahaica/Berbice region, Mr. Vickchand Ramphal, and which further cites “arbitrary actions and confrontational approach” by the REO. Editor, much clarification is needed in keeping with the principles of natural justice and the ‘right of reply’ underscored as a fundamental tenet of journalism. Previous attempts of REO Morrison to have responses published in the Kaieteur News daily newspaper have borne no fruit.Firstly, this “imbroglio” in Mahaica/ Berbice region existed long before the REO was appointed to the office of REO. In 2016, President David Granger called on regional officials to “let bygones be bygones” and advance the development of the region, following efforts by the REO to break the deadlock. The REO, again, had cause to intervene and ease an impasse between Chairman Ramphal and the APNU/AFC councillors which followed an allegation made against the Chairman that he had made insulting remarks to a member of staff. An apology from the Chairman was demanded but, unfortunately, no apology was forthcoming which led to a three-month tension among those involved. Chairman Ramphal eventually sought the assistance of REO Morrison who successfully broke the impasse
upon appeal to the regional councillors. In a third instance, a regional councillor alleged that government-owned machinery intended for the regional administration to carry out its drainage and desilting operations was being used by some councillors and supporters of the PPP/C to carry out works on privatelyowned lands. REO Morrison investigated this complaint and found it to be true. The Regional Chairman, however, rejected the complaint by the councillor, as well as the confirmation of same through REO’s investigation. The Chairman noted he would, himself, investigate the allegation. Regional councillors have accused Chairman Ramphal of bias in the matter. Chairman Ramphal eventually met with the REO and admitted that he had not carried out any investigation and further sought the intervention of REO Morrison in restoring the spirit of cordiality which was, again, successful. The most recent impasse occurred after the Regional Chairman could not persuade the APNU/AFC councillors to agree with one of his positions at a recent RDC meeting. Chairman Ramphal eventually departed without formally adjourning the meeting. The PPP/C councillors all followed behind him. The APNU/AFC councillors who remained within the meeting approached REO Morrison as Clerk of Council and sought advice on the way forward given the walk-out. The REO advised that in keeping with provisions of the Local Democratic Organs
Act Cap28:09, the six of them constituted a quorum and could proceed to nominate a chairman to continue said meeting, which they did. It should finally be noted that as it relates to lands at Bath Settlement and Naarstigheid, as mentioned in the editorial in question, those lands were earmarked for the regionally-beneficial Development of Regional Economic Crop and Land Utilisation Project. This project, which acknowledges changing climatic conditions, is aimed at promoting adaptable land management techniques for increased agricultural output within Guyana’s largest agroproducing region. Upon investigation of the land intended to be used for said project, REO Morrison discovered farmers squatting on the land. Kaieteur News’s editorial incorrectly claimed 50 farmers were found to be squatting. After the investigation had concluded, those farmers found to be in actual occupation of the land were granted discretional one-year leases to continue only cash crop farming in a regularized system, due to the fact that they have no alternative sources of income. Finally, Editor, please note that in any system there will be both personality and structural conflicts, but the true test of effectiveness is how those conflicts are managed to maintain the highest level of productivity. Mahaica/Berbice region is on a steady upward trajectory to social and economic development and what is required is a focus on people’s welfare and not partisan squabbling. Sandie Ross Information Officer
Bias from the Local Government... From page 5 Hamilton Green and his deputy, the late Robert Williams, strenuous efforts to raise money for the council but they were unsuccessful. The Canadian Bank Note (lotto), the proposal of a waste to energy project, the proposal to let GPL and GT&T pay the city for using its parapets and an environmental tax were thrown out by the then government. The city was made handicapped by the actions of the then political administration. In 1994, an Interim Management Committee appointed by the PPP/C said that the council’s revenue base was much too narrow to meet demands of citizens. After about 30 years, nothing has been done to improve that situation. No wonder the council is
finding it difficult to pay its bills. It was former Mayor Hamilton Green who complained about the lack of valuation of properties in the city for more than twenty years. Whilst there was a system of control from Kingston, from the Local Government Ministry, the city was plagued with piles of garbage, blocked drains, defective sewage system, unkempt parapets, broken buildings and a city that had earned the disrespect of decent Guyanese. The present council changed all of that and restored the city in a manner that is acceptable and livable. It was a PPP/C Minister who said words to the effect that he wished for an outbreak to be able to remove the city council. Strangely, two former Ministers of Local Govern-
ment from that very party PPP/C and the town clerk who piloted the near demise of the city now sit on the Local Government Commission making decisions for the very city they maligned. It is not hard for anyone to see that the decisions of the commission are likely to be tainted by bias from the trio on the Local Government Commission. The PPP/C will do all it can to frustrate the efforts of the council and the government to better Georgetown. This is even more obvious in this period of elections. But these are challenging times in Guyana not only for the city council but also for all Guyanese who are determined to change their city and country in a positive way. David Lewis
Tuesday October 09, 2018
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Deceptive offshore medical schools urged to legitimatise status
A number of offshore medical schools here in Guyana are coming under the microscope after reports have surfaced that they have been deceptive about their accreditation status. According to reports reaching this publication, although these institutions have been granted approval by the National Accreditation Council of Guyana [NAC], the certificates obtained only qualify students to function right here in Guyana. However, reports suggest that some of these institutions have been luring students, mainly from overseas, to their programmes by claiming that they are also accredited by the Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and other Health Professions [CAAMHP]. CAAM-HP, which was established in 2003, is an accrediting body for medical, veterinary and dental schools for the Caribbean Community [CARICOM] member states. Some are of the view that if an institution is accredited by NAC and are listed on its website [http:// www.nac.gov.gy/] that they are properly accredited. This
Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences Education, Dr. Emanuel Cummings. publication has however learnt that none of the offshore medical institutions listed on the NAC website are accredited by CAAM-HP. Based on credible information that have reached this publication, at least one of the institutions has in recent times applied for accreditation from CAAM-HP but did not qualify. It is a fact, too, that CAAM-HP had cause to ink a “serious” letter to the institution even insisting that it does not attempt to apply for
its accreditation until three years would have elapsed and it would have been able to meet all of the necessary accreditation criteria. Despite this development, students have yet been lured to the institution which continues to claim that it has been accredited by CAAMHP and therefore the programmes conducted there are recognised internationally. Currently, the only institution that provides tertiary
medical education in Guyana which benefits from CAAMHP accreditation is the University of Guyana [UG] School of Medicine. Achieving accreditation and maintaining that accredited status has not been an easy task even for that institution which has been in existence for a number of years. This is in light of the fact that CAAMHP conducts regular assessments to ensure that its accredited institutions have certain stipulated measures in place before they are reaccredited. UG has on a few occasions lost its accreditation status and has had to work tirelessly to regain same. When asked to comment on the existing state of affairs regarding the offshore medical schools, Dr. Emanuel Cummings, who has been Dean of UG’s Faculty of Health Sciences Education for a number of years, a medical educator for even longer and has been affiliated with CAAM-HP too, advised that every effort be made by the institutions to be accredited. “I want all of the offshore medical schools in Guyana to put systems in place to achieve CAAM-HP accredi-
tation,” said Dr. Cummings. The daunting development in Guyana comes at a time when a sister CARICOM country is moving to clamp down on offshore medical schools selling themselves in a deceptive manner. The Barbados Sun in its October 6, 2018 edition, published an article headlined ‘Problems at Washington University’ which speaks to such deception. The article read, “The Chief Executive Officer of the Washington University of Barbados, Gopi Venkat Rao, was taken into police custody yesterday.” “Prior to his departure there was a long meeting with Government officials, students and the staff of the institution located at the Casa Grande Hotel at Oldbury, St. Phillips,” the article outlined. It continued by highlighting that “Issues ranged from the legitimacy of the establishment to poor living conditions. After the meeting was adjourned, Rao left the campus escorted by police.” According to Dr. Cummings, while offshore schools could significantly benefit a country’s economy, it must be done in a legitimate
matter. Such a move is crucial, he noted, if Guyana is to truly reap the benefits that medical education can bring. Barbados is said to have seven offshore medical schools and is reportedly quickly becoming a hub for such activities. This development comes on the heels of the island tourism sector which is now redirecting focus to medical tourism. “We are sitting on a ‘gold mine’...everybody is thinking about petroleum but medical education is a ‘gold mine’. So it is for us to upgrade the regional hospitals so that the students can do their training there because everybody is going to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation so it is saturated,” said Dr. Cummings. The Dean has moreover committed his support, wherever possible, for Guyana to zero-in on this potential boost for the economy. “Once our offshore medical schools are properly accredited, Guyana will become a major destination for medical education...we don’t have to wait on oil, we can start seeing benefits now if we look in this direction,” assured the Health Sciences Dean.
Phone companies grapple for mobile internet control It is a business that involves tens of millions of United States dollars. The sale of data to customers especially on mobile phones is big business. For them, the lower the costs for phone operators, the bigger the profits. In Guyana, the two operators are Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) and Digicel. However, GTT, controlled by US investors, is accusing the Irish-owned Digicel of illegally sourcing its data which is critical for internet connectivity from elsewhere. Under the current regulations, only GTT can bring in internet connections. For Digicel to offer data services on its mobiles it has to purchase from GTT. However, GTT was convinced that its competitor was getting its data from elsewhere. In the past week, it was reported that Suriname authorities have shut down an illegal bypass link with Digicel. The shutdown has left thousands of customers of Digicel with poor services for days. The company last week was silent on the reported shutdown of the illegal link but apologized “for pro-
GTT’s chief, Justin Nedd
longed data interruption”. A few customers reported that they received 500MB in free data. Yesterday, GTT’s Chief Executive Officer, Justin Nedd, would not immediately confirm if the company has had a hand in the shutdown. He insisted that the complaints of Digicel illegally using other sources for its connections have been raised and filed on a number of occasions, including with Gov-
ernment. Nedd noted that in 2010, almost a decade ago, GTT landed what is still the only
40
sub-sea, fibre optic internet cable in Guyana. The cable afforded the company the opportunity to supply the entire country with connectivity and internet. In fact, in March, the cable was able to supply neighbouring Suriname and French Guiana when the two countries suffered “unusual outages”. With regards to the reported shutting down of the illegal connection, Nedd said that GTT has not commenced or threatened proceedings. Rather, GTT recognizes that the Suriname authorities are executing their mandates. Under the regulations, GTT has the monopoly on landlines, overseas calls and data. With new laws that allow for competitors in those monopolized areas, Government is currently looking to wrap up negotiations with GTT, by year-end before allowing new players in.
GTT wants a level playing field, including with taxes. Nedd insisted that the sector has been liberalized for several years because of the realities on the ground. The CEO pointed out that the telephone company continues to work with the Government to finalize the liberalization or as he calls it, the regularization, of the telecoms industry. Such regularization is critical to investors’ confidence. Nedd said that the arranging for data with Digicel is “really a work in progress”. He insisted that GTT has
the capacity as evidenced from the provision of services to Suriname and French Guiana earlier this year. Nedd said that GTT would not be privy to what actions the telecoms regulators have taken in Suriname. He said that he read the news in the media and encouraged that questions be asked of Digicel. He said that the issue of illegal bypass has been raised in the past with Government. Nedd said that as a large company, GTT expected scrutiny. There is training for staffers and GTT is evolving.
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Tuesday October 09, 2018
Kaieteur News
Salary increase for public school teachers...
Govt. finally revises offer - proposes 10 percent salary hike for 2016; further 8 percent for 2018 - $350 million debunching payout With government moving to revise its salary offer to teachers, the Guyana Teachers’ Union [GTU] is reportedly now entirely dependent on its membership to decide the way forward. According to a well placed source, on Friday the Ministry of Education invited the GTU to a meeting where the revised offer was proposed. This publication was informed that the Ministry has now put on the table a 10 percent increase for 2016, and an additional eight percent for this year. Further, the Ministry proposed a $350 million payout for the period 2011 to 2018 with teachers receiving a lump sum payout. The Ministry has also reportedly proposed that from 2019, the teachers will be placed on suitable scales and paid in that regard onwards. At that meeting, this publication was told that the union did not accept the offer but rather indicated that it will have to consult with its membership. “There are reports that the union membership is interested in a higher percentage although some of them are willing to accept,” the source related. A follow-up meeting was called yesterday which
The meeting in session yesterday. saw the two parties meeting with President David Granger at State House. The two sides are expected to meet again on Wednesday at the Ministry of Education where the union is expected to state its membership’s position. This development comes at a time when the union and the Education Ministry were at a stage of setting up an arbitration panel and had failed to agree on a chairperson. This had, in fact, caused Minister within the Ministry of
Social Protection with responsibility for Labour, Keith Scott, moving to unilaterally appoint Professor Leyland Lucas of the University of Guyana as the chairman. The union in stating its rejection of Lucas and Government’s failure to have that decision rescinded had threatened to resume strike action. The union had in early September mobilised its membership for strike action which saw the start of the new school year being consider-
ably hampered. The strike had ended after the Education Ministry agreed with the Union to head to arbitration to resolve the deadlock in the face of failed conciliation under the Social Protection Ministry. Union representatives, when contacted yesterday, were reluctant to comment on the two recent meetings. However, a statement and recording with comments made by President Granger on the latest development were issued. In the statement headlined, “President Granger sees imminent end to GTU, Ministry of Education deadlock’, the Head of State assured that the two sides are now closer
to a resolution than ever before. According to the statement, the President convened a meeting between the executive members of the GTU and the Minister of Education, Ms. Nicolette Henry and other education officials. At the conclusion of that meeting it was noted that President Granger said that the two sides have found “common ground” and are working towards a favourable outcome. It is expected, he said, that an announcement will be made by Friday. “We have had some hiccups but we now seem to be coming to the end of the road. There seems to be wide areas of what I would say common
acceptance of what needs to be done. Minister of Education, Nicolette Henry, had a long meeting on Friday [October 5] with the Union and… all of the points that were at issue between the two sides were discussed. “We have agreed that the two sides would meet again on Wednesday, October 10. The intention is to create a basis for an agreement between the two sides as early as possible, possibly by Friday,” he said. President Granger noted that it is important for the Government and the Union to work to complete this process since it is aware that the teachers have expectations. He noted that the teachers can be assured that the Government is concerned about the issues raised and is working to address these. “They are not being ignored or anything. We, of course, expect that the Teachers’ Union consult with its members and the Teachers’ Union expects that we, the government, consult with the Ministry of Finance. So we have reached a broad area in which, I would say that there is common ground. “I don’t want to call it an agreement but we have reached common ground and I think the people of Guyana could look forward to an amicable resolution within days. It is a forward-looking agreement,” the Head of State said. The meeting was attended on the Government’s side by Chief Education Officer, Mr. Marcel Hutson; Acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Ms. Adele Clarke, and Human Resources Manager, Ministry of Education, Ms. Jacqueline Simon. The GTU was represented by President, Mr. Mark Lyte; General Secretary, Ms. Coretta McDonald; and other executives.
Tuesday October 09, 2018
PAGE 9
Kaieteur News
The detection and interdiction of fraud are ultimately the responsibility of government The Minister of Finance should exercise greater restraint over his public utterances, lest he is subject to embarrassment due to misguided statements such as his most recent diatribe. As reported in yesterday’s edition of the Kaieteur News, and aimed at the Auditor General of Guyana he said some things. According to that account, the Minister of Finance has questioned the ‘pussyfooting’ by Auditor General Deodat Sharma to pursue the unaccounted hundreds of millions of dollars from the PetroCaribe fund and other projects. He noted that the forensic audits carried out by the Coalition administration re-
vealed questionable transactions which should have been uncovered by the Auditor General. The Minister is an economist, not an accountant, but he should know that there is a difference between the two fields. Similarly, as someone with considerable experience within the country’s Finance Ministry, the Minister ought to have a better appreciation of the difference between an audit and fraud investigation. The two, while not mutually exclusive, are different. The purpose of an external audit is to give an opinion on the financial statements of an entity, not to detect fraud or undertake
forensic audits. In the course of an audit certain checks are done, which may or may not pick up irregularities. However, fraud detection is not the primary purpose of an audit or the role of an external auditor. An external audit places emphasis on the integrity of financial statements and financial disclosures, reconciliation and validity of account balances and adherence to financial operational procedures. Obviously these should be scrupulous enough to determine irregularities. But this is a vastly different procedure from that of a fraud audit. In looking for a scapegoat to
Dem boys seh ...
Senior cop can kill and get no charge If you succeed in cheating someone, don’t think that de person is a fool…realize that the person trusted you much, much more than you deserve. De national leaders should realize that, including senior police officers. Tek de leaders at de top of de police force. When de ordinary man drink dem rum and knock down and kill somebody pun de road de next day dem deh before de court. When police knock down people is a completely different story. Dem boys want believe that dem got two laws; one fuh de ordinary man and one fuh police Everybody know a senior police officer knock down and kill a man at Boeraserie. When dem test
him he was more drunk that gilbacker when you pull it out of water. One month pass and de family still seeking justice from de police. Dem boys hear de officer seh he didn’t knock down anybody. In fact, he tell dem boys he wasn’t in Guyana suh he couldn’t knock down nobody. These things can only happen when police pussyfoot wid investigation. De dead man family seh dem wouldn’t be surprise if de senior policeman never get charge. Then dem got senior prison officer beating prisoners like if dem is animal. Yesterday dem boys expose some of de things wha going on in de prison at Mazaruni. De whole place was quiet. Dem boys hear de officer in charge come to town yes-
terday. Dem want to know if he come to pick up more chain and wild cane or to meet Ramjattan. A prison officer seh Baker is not de only beat man. He name Marks, Primo, McAlister, Gonsalves, Warde, Cameron. But Baker is one of de chief cook and bottle washer. De officer seh Cameron is de one who tek de decision to cut off de people beard. De officer even name some of de prisoners who get beat. So where is justice fuh dem prisoner, Ramjattan? And where is justice fuh de taxpayers when you look at de Clown Clerk and de Town Clown. Talk half and demand justice and fair play from Samuels, de Director of Prisons.
blame for its failure to successfully detect massive fraud under the PPPC and to successfully prosecute the alleged instances of fraud it says it found, the government should not confuse or conflate the functions of a forensic fraud audit with that of the audits done by its external auditor, the Audit Office. The Coalition government launched a series of forensic audits and while irregularities were uncovered, it has not been able to produce the evidence of the billions it said were pilfered from the state under the PPPC. If the government believes there is fraud in certain areas, it should investigate. Once it has reasonable suspicion, it can even ask the Auditor General to launch a special investigation, as has been done before. While the Audit Office has its deficiencies, this does not justify the deflection of governmental shortcomings to that office. The notion that billions of dollars may be missing from the PetroCaribe Fund may be a figment of someone’s imagination.
But if perchance this is indeed so, then the government should be calling in the police and Interpol, not the Auditor General. Internal control is ultimately the responsibility of the government. The Auditor General himself has pointed out that it is the government which is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. The role of the Audit Office, on the other hand, is to obtain reasonable assurance as to whether the financial statements, as a whole, are free from material misstatement. The role of detecting fraud within Government agencies and programme is better left to the internal auditors not the external auditors. Every Ministry should have an internal audit department which should be properly staffed and which should go through every financial transaction. That is a much better way to go after fraud than to ask the external auditor to stop ‘pussy-
footing’. The Minister of Finance should therefore put forward to Cabinet a document calling for the establishment and strengthening of internal audit departments within each government agency and ministry so that these can ensure the integrity of each financial transaction. And while the Minister is at it, he may wish to consider why in his 2016 Audit Report, the Auditor General claimed that for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016, the Audit Office was unable to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence to provide a basis for an audit opinion on the Receipts and Payments of the Contingencies Fund, the Financial Reports of the Deposit Funds and the Assets and Liabilities of the government which forms part of the Consolidated Financial Statement.
PAGE 10
Tuesday October 09, 2018
Kaieteur News
=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===
The AFC: Masturbatory fantasies At the same time, the AFC officially launched its local government election (LGE) campaign at its head office on Railway Road, the first afternoon session of Circo Suarez at D’Urban Park was on its way. Two identical circuses were on display in Georgetown separated by a less than three miles. Speaker after speaker put some subtle lashes on the PNC indicating that there may be formidable challenges facing unity talks for the 2020 general elections. One speaker told the LGE campaigners that it was the AFC that made the 2015 victory possible. That is indeed so. I don’t think APNU on its own would have achieved a plurality much less a majority.
People voted for the symbolic value of the coalition. What the speaker didn’t go on to say is that after the AFC showed its precious asset to APNU and people of Guyana, it literally threw it away. The best description of how it did that can be found in David Hinds’s critique of the AFC. Hinds said that while in government the AFC purchased all the questionable policies of its majority partner, APNU. My analogy goes like this. You go into a store to buy a used car. One can barely work, one cannot. The one that cannot work costs more than the one that can carry you a few miles. With eyes wide open, you bought the one that cannot drive. You are a fool.
Speaker after speaker denounced the PNC but the AFC’s circus was notable more for what was not said than what was echoed. So what was not said? The Prime Minister did not comment on serious charges by David Hinds and Lincoln Lewis that he, Nagamootoo, could not have tolerated their criticism of the government as columnists in the Chronicle so he ordered their removal. Khemraj Ramjattan spoke too but did not explain why he advised the president to pick his own GECOM chairman rather than go with the Carter consensus model which though flawed is better than the president’s unilateral appointment. Ramjattan did not expand
on why he wanted to retained in the cybercrime legislation a passage that can easily lead to criminal charges once you criticize the government. None of the listeners in attendance got up to tell Ramjattan that if the PPP had similar legislation then he, Ramjattan, would have been arrested for all the condemnations he made against the PPP government when he was in opposition. For example, it was Ramjattan that announced that the PPP government was trying to buy three APNU parliamentarians to defeat the no confidence vote in 2014. Under the current Cyber Crime Bill, Ramjattan could have been arrested. AFC leader, Raphael Trotman, spoke to the gath-
ering too. But he failed to explain why he and AFC ministers, Patterson and Ramjattan, were part of a five-man team overseeing the oil portfolio but were not consulted when the head of the Energy Department was selected. Trotman also didn’t think it was fit and proper to tell his comrades at the rally why an AFC portfolio - oil and gas was handed over to Joe Harmon’s ministry. David Patterson was all fired up but he too forgot to tell the press who were there that it was APNU that refused the AFC’s request to go into the LGE as a coalition and thus the AFC had no choice. It was both a sad and comical event last Saturday. The AFC was a good thing. The AFC had a good thing going. But it is all gone and it evaporated not because of any hogging of power by APNU. It went because the AFC had no roots in the masses and its small group became obsessed with power. All the AFC speakers were fantasizing last Saturday. In 2016 the AFC was in power and Moses Nagamootoo was the Prime Minister. Yet the AFC didn’t perform in the LGE in 2016.
Frederick Kissoon Much to the chagrin of its big brother in the coalition, the AFC failed to dislodge the PPP not even in one of the PPP strongholds either in the NDC sphere or at the level of regional government. What makes it think it will do better in 2018? It will do far worse. I passed by the campaign and it was over. But this AFC stalwart engaged me in a conversation with two other AFC die-hards, City Councilor Carlyle Goring and Dennis Atwell. She told me she campaigned in all three general elections of the AFC and will in this year’s LGE but despite asking all AFC ministers for a job, she still can’t get one. I was so disgusted with her I promptly drove away.
Tuesday October 09, 2018
Four-man mob terrorizes Sophia residents Residents of Sophia are calling for an end to the gang violence that plagues the area. Adermie Williams, a 30year-old contractor who recently fell prey to a notorious four-man mob, is frustrated at the lack of justice that he has received from the police. Williams, who was beaten and robbed of $280,000 in cash on Thursday, by a gang that comprises two brothers and two friends, is seeking justice for himself and his community. The contractor said that he was on his way home when he stopped to speak with a friend- a mistake that would later cost him an entire year’s savings. He then noticed the four men closing in around him. Williams explained that one of the men grabbed his bag, whilst the others inflicted blows about his body. He managed to escape his abusers by running to the Prashad Nagar police station. Williams who took the ranks to the scene of the attack explained that the young men who were all “drugged up”, were crawling on their stomachs, screaming and running towards the officers to attack him. The contractor explained that the behaviour of the gang members forced the ranks to fire shots in the air; however, this did not subdue the mob. They continually screamed at the ranks hurling threats of violence towards Williams, whilst stating that they were under the protection of supernatural forces. Williams explained that the brothers known as the “Goodluck brothers” threatened the police officers with traditional forms of spiritual practices, commonly referred to as “obeah”. This in turn caused the ranks to retreat saying that the mob was far too violent and brazen for them to deal with. The group who is well acquainted with being on the bad side of the criminal justice system was unaffected in their pursuit of Williams. In
fact, his report to the police only fueled their pursuit of the contractor. It was on Friday night that the second incident occurred between Williams and the gang. The contractor related that he was just a few corners from the home that he shared with his mother when the group approached him. They collectively dealt him several blows about his body, whilst saying “You gon see wha we gon do yuh if yuh mek we geh lock up”. Several onlookers on the scene ran to his home to relay the information to his mother who in turn arrived to intervene. Williams’s mother, who placed herself between the men and her son, pleaded with them to leave him alone. However, they said to her, “ We gon kill your son.” The gang members, who are all under the age of 30, were armed with knives and large stones. Williams and his mother are distraught as to what their next move should be as this incident is just one of many in the area. Williams related that the gang is instilling fear into residents, fear that prevents many persons from reporting their ordeal or experience by the gang. The young contractor’s mother explained that her house was a haven for a recent victim of the notorious group- a victim who was beaten, robbed and chopped by this nefarious gang. Williams and his mother are calling for intervention and justice for their community and as well as themselves. They are frustrated with the notion that they must be subservient to four criminals. Williams explained that he just wants to be able to walk on the streets without the constant fear of being harassed. The contractor stated that the $280,000 stolen from him was his entire savings for a future business venture for his livelihood.
Prosecution closes case in school teacher murder After calling over 30 witnesses to testify in the Preliminary Inquiry (PI) into the murder of school teacher, Kescia Branche, Police Prosecutor Shallon Daniels, last Thursday closed the case for the state. The battered body of Branche, 22, was discovered unconscious at Louisa Row, Georgetown, last, November. Munroe, 47, a taxi driver of Diamond, East Bank Demerara, who is being represented by Attorney-
at-Law Nigel Hughes, has not been required to plead to the indictable charge which alleged that on November 7, 2017, at Georgetown, he murdered Branche. When the matter was called in the courtroom of Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman, the final witness was called to the stand to detail the role he played in the investigation. Attorney-at-Law Nigel Hughes is expected to (Continued on page 23)
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Kaieteur News
Bloomberg - Erdogan Says He Is ‘Pursuing’ Missing Journalist Case Turkey’s president said he’s personally involved in the case of missing Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi and is holding out hope for him, even though another official said the Washington Post columnist was killed inside the kingdom’s consulate in Istanbul. “As president, I am pursuing,” Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in televised comments in Ankara. “We’re waiting for the prosecutor’s statement. My expectation is still well-meant. I hope we won’t encounter an undesirable situation.” The political fallout over Khashoggi may
further strain ties between Saudi Arabia and Turkey. Saudi Arabia opposes Turkey’s support of political Islam, while Ankara has sided with Qatar in a major diplomatic dispute with a Saudi-led coalition. Khashoggi’s disappearance comes at time that U.S. President Donald Trump has heaped particular pressure on Saudi Arabia to do more to ease oil prices. If he was murdered as alleged by the Turkish official, it may cause additional tensions with the U.S. Senate. Also see: Saudi Crown Prince Says He Loves Working With Presi-
dent Trump Khashoggi, who had been living in self-imposed exile for the past year, disappeared on Oct. 2, after he entered the consulate to obtain a document. His fiancée and friends initially said they feared he was detained or kidnapped for his criticism of the Saudi government. Speaking to Bloomberg Sunday, a Turkish government official said Khashoggi was believed to have been killed inside the building. The official asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the issue. A Saudi official denied the claim.
Jamal Khashoggi
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Tuesday October 09, 2018
Kaieteur News
Efforts made to locate 1999 rape accused, arrest warrant out since 2016 for another - DPP In responding to article entitled “Rape accused still to be tried after 19 years, another sitting in jail 11 years,” published in yesterday’s edition of Kaieteur News, the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) has said that the prison service has confirmed that rape accused Colin Smith is not in custody. The DPP, in a statement, said it made contact with the Prison Service yesterday. According to the DPP, Smith is accused of carnally knowing a girl under 12 years, and was granted $5,000 bail at his committal on July 15, 1999. But his matter has not been called in the High Court. In relation to another man, Roy Rahaman, who was
charged on March 10, 2007 for buggery and carnal knowledge of a girl under 15, he is yet to be re-arrested. The report suggested that he had been languishing in jail. He allegedly committed the offences on September 24, 2007. The DPP said that Rahaman was set for trial in the Demerara Criminal Assizes in August 2014, and the virtual complainant was available and ready to proceed with her matter. However, the matter could not proceed due to the absence of the accused who was not in custody. The accused was granted $150,000 bail at his committal in July 2009. However, it was reduced to $20,000 by then
Chief Justice Ian Chang on September 25, 2012. Again Rahaman was set for trial in the April 2016 Demerara Criminal Assizes. The complainant and her mother attended the High Court on April 13, 2016. The accused was again absent from Court. High Court Judge Navindra Singh issued a warrant for his arrest on May 30, 2016. On May 29, last, the complainant was contacted by State Counsel and she reiterated her readiness to proceed with her matter against Rahaman. Rahaman is yet to be arrested by the Guyana Police Force, the DPP said.
“Fix It” gets 13 years for attempting to kill man who refused to give him $100 By Feona Morrison A 33-year-old cocaine addict was yesterday sent to prison for 13 years after pleading guilty to an attempted murder charge, about three weeks ago. The man, Quincy Henry, who was deported from Barbados, admitted that he stabbed a man to the neck, after the individual refused to give him $100. According to the indictment, on September 20, 2015 at Bourda, Georgetown, Henry also known as “Fix it” unlawfully and maliciously wounded Troy Bacchus called “Fletcher”, with intent to murder him. According to facts presented by Prosecutor Tiffini Lyken, on the day in question Bacchus was at Merriman Mall when someone asked him for $100. He gave the money and thereafter held his wallet. Upon seeing this, Henry also begged for $100, too, but was told by Bacchus that he does not have money. Prosecutor Lyken related that Bacchus walked away, but was followed by Henry and they became involved in a scuffle during which Bacchus was stabbed to the neck. The injured man, according to the prosecutor, fell to the ground but managed to get up. He was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) by a public-spirited citizen. He was admitted. A medical report
Quincy Henry called “Fix It” presented to the court showed that the injuries the man received were potentially life threatening. Probation Officer, Anand Sharma from the Ministry of Social Protection presented a probation report. Sharma revealed that Henry had migrated to Barbados to live with his mother, after living with his grandmother at Haslington, East Coast Demerara. However, he was deported from the island after his sister reported his abusiveness to cocaine. Upon his return Henry did odd jobs in the Bourda Market to sustain himself. He admitted to the Probation Officer that he has an addiction to “crack” cocaine and he was charged previously with robbery,
abusive language and larceny. He was convicted for larceny and served three years in jail. Vendors in the Bourda Market, the Probation Officer pointed out, described Henry as a “junkie”, “nuisance” and “bully.” However, during his address to the court, Henry who is hearing impaired and has a speech impediment refuted the prosecution’s facts. The man said that it was Bacchus who had attacked him with a length of wood and a hammer. He narrated that he and Bacchus were in a scuffle when Bacchus fired a lash at him with the wood. The drug addict said that he held onto the weapon and stabbed Bacchus to the neck with a knife he retrieved from his pocket. Justice Reynolds before passing sentencing expressed that Henry was a waste of human resources. The judge said that he is a “victim of his own circumstances.” The judge said that he was very impressed with the manner in which Henry narrated his version of what transpired to the court. The Judge commended Henry’s vocabulary, while pointing out that his usage of words is much better that many persons who had lengthy schooling. The Judge expressed that it was unfortunate Henry could not afford a lawyer, since from his version of the story, he could have argued self defense. “You clearly are sensible. You probably need counselling,” the Judge told Henry before he was escorted by prison officers to begin serving the sentence.
Tuesday October 09, 2018
Kaieteur News
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Tuesday October 09, 2018
Kaieteur News
Number 45 bus conductor accused of beating tout FOR RENT
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A 44-year-old conductor of Roxanne Burnham Garden was yesterday charged with assaulting a man that he alleged is a tout. The charge against M a r k Wa l d r o n a l l e g e d that on May 17, 2018 at Wa t e r Street, Georgetown he unlawfully assaulted Randy Monroe. The defendant pleaded guilty to the charge. After an explanation, his plea was changed to not guilty. Wa l d r o n e x p l a i n e d that he and the virtual complaint were involved in an argument the day before the incident. It is alleged by Wa l d r o n t h a t M o n r o e who at the time was a tout got upset with him because he asked him not to “fill his bus.”
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An argument escalated and Munroe attacked him with a knife and ripped his shirt. He then ran away. Wa l d r o n t o l d t h e court that on the day after the incident he saw Monroe and armed himself with a wood and was about to attack him. However, the defendant claimed that he was stopped by fellow drivers and conductor before he could have assaulted the virtual complainant. The prosecutor told the court that on the day in question at the 45 bus park at around 6:00 hrs, the defendant armed with a wood dealt the virtual complainant a lash to his left arm. The matter was later reported and the defendant was charged. Nevertheless, the prosecutor had no objections to bail and Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman released the defendant on $50,000 bail and with a request for him to return to court on October 29.
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Licenses, duty-free... From page 19 Allicock told the residents at Kamarang. The residents were also encouraged to be responsible as the minister noted that the firearms must only be used for the purpose intended. Minister of Public Affairs, Dawn Hastings-Williams, who spoke on behalf of President David Granger, communicated that the Head of State was pleased by the success of the programme. Residents were encouraged to use the firearms for the sole purpose of taking care of their farms and providing for their families.
Tuesday October 09, 2018
PAGE 23
Kaieteur News
One month later…
‘Drunken’ senior cop in fatal crash yet to be charged
Probe of GNNL financial mismanagement, leaked documents yet to start
DPP highlights gaps in police work, calls for further investigation
The promised probe into the spending and leaking of financial information at the Guyana National Newspaper Limited (GNNL) is yet to commence, sources familiar with the matters have disclosed. A month ago, General Manager, Sherod Duncan, and Financial Controller Moshamie Ramotar, were sent on leave to facilitate the investigations which were ordered following the intervention by Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo. Kaieteur News understands that Ramotar has since returned to work while Duncan remains on leave. Information indicates that the GNNL Board met once since the debacle surfaced over funds which were spent under Duncan’s watch. However, the Board has not yet appointed the team to carry out the investigation, although there is some indication that the Auditor General’s office should probe the allegations of mismanagement surrounding the use of state funds. Contacted by Kaieteur News yesterday, Duncan said, “I am advised that the investigations have not started. I’m very concerned about this. This week is one month since I’ve been sent on Admin Leave. And I’m not being paid,” Duncan shared. Duncan is alleged to have, within his probation period as General Manager, spent $5M,
Financial Controller Moshamie Ramotar
General Manager, Sherod Duncan
in just less than three months on the job. He reportedly spent the money in the absence of the Board, on furniture, a laptop and repairs to vehicles, among other things. Following the leakage of the spending, Duncan, as GM, issued Ramotar with a termination letter. The letter said that the services of the Finance Comptroller were being ended with immediate effect. “This is in keeping with the Personnel Policy and Procedures Manual 1991 and the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act 1997.” The woman was told that GNNL’s Accounts Department would prepare the outstanding benefits within seven days. Ramotar sought legal support and was being
represented by Attorney-atlaw Sanjeev Datadin. Datadin said that in his client’s termination letter “no reason was given for her dismissal”, neither was she given a hearing. When questioned whether his client’s dismissal was linked to the leaked financial records of the General Manager, the lawyer reasoned that in the past, his client would have recognized “several breaches to the financial and procurement rules” by the General Manager’s office. Social media went abuzz when financial records detailing the spending of the GM (Duncan) made their way into the public domain. GNNL is the state-owned publisher of the Guyana Chronicle and the Sunday Chronicle. It is funded with taxpayers’ dollars.
Berbice Jockey brutally kills friend... From page 18 demonstrated to ranks what took place. This publication was present when the accused pointed to a lengthy piece of scantling in a nearby trench. This he reportedly used to hit Sooknanan after the argument escalated. He then showed police the spot where he stabbed the young blockmaker before directing ranks to the location where he discarded the murder weapon, he claimed was a knife. He allegedly told police that he heard a 'splash', indicating that the weapon may have fallen into the trench. Police with the help of residents searched the trench where the accused pointed to for over an hour. They however turned up empty handed. With no luck of finding the alleged murder weapon, the police abandoned search but vowed to return to continue the search. Meanwhile, at the home of the deceased, where relatives were preparing for wake, the dead man's mother, Kowsilla Devi Sooknanan,
said that she last saw and spoke with her son some time around 12:30 hrs on Sunday when he told her he was heading to his relative just a street away. "He come and bathe and seh how he going by my cousin and he tek he bicycle and he ride and gone". She stated that at approximately 6:30 am yesterday, a resident visited their home and informed them a body fitting the description of their son was found lying on the street. "Somebody come and ask me if my son missing and me seh yes, me son missing, that he na deh and dem tell me somebody like he dead and deh by the street head. When me guh me see me son lie down pon the dam and he body full of blood and mud. He bin lie down pon he belly. He had on he socks and clothes but me na see he slippers," she disclosed. According to the father of the dead man, Chandrica Sooknanan, 53, a fisherman, he had just left his home for work and was riding when someone stopped him along
the public road and told him what had happened to his son. He explained that he was in shock when he got the news and immediately ventured to the scene where he saw his son's bloodied body on the street. His wife, residents and the police were already on the scene. He added that he was told that his son was in the company of the accused and his brother at a nearby rum shop. The shop owner noted that he remembers seeing the two brothers walking into the shop and purchasing the alcohol when a few minutes later Sooknanan walked in and joined them, they spoke briefly, he said and subsequently left. The deceased was described as very respectful within the community by residents. They stated that it is a norm for him to be imbibing in the company of the brother's since they were friends but what took place still remains a shock to them. Police continue to investigate.
Officials attached to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions; (DPP) have highlighted the need for further investigations of a senior member of the Guyana Police Force, (GPF) being involved in a fatal accident on September 13, last. Kaieteur News understands that lawyers from the DPP chambers pointed to the need for further investigation after noting gaps in the initial probe conducted by the police. This is almost one month after pedal cyclist, Conrad Alleyne, was struck and killed by an allegedly intoxicated Deputy Superintendent of Police, Patrick Todd. The traffic accident took place at Boerasirie Bridge, West Demerara. Officials from the Guyana Police Force had reported that a file on the case was sent to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) last week. However officials from the DPP Chambers said that the file was only brought to its attention yesterday.
Deputy Superintendent of Police, Patrick Todd DPP Communication’s Officer, Liz Rahaman, confirmed that the file was hand delivered to the DPP‘s office yesterday with a request for urgent advice. Rahaman said that after perusal, the DPP Legal Counsel returned the file immediately to the police with instructions for specific further investigations to be con-
ducted. The Communications Officer explained based on an examination of the file, the lawyers noted that certain gaps in the information provided — there are issues that were not properly addressed and investigated Last month it was reported that Deputy Superintendent of Police, Patrick Todd, who is stationed at ‘D’ Division, was driving east along the northern side of the Boerasirie Bridge, on September 13, when he “felt an impact.” Upon inspection, he saw the 64-year-old Alleyne lying on the bridge with injuries about his body. Alleyne was taken to the Leonora Cottage Hospital in a semi-conscious condition. He was treated and referred to the Georgetown Public Hospital but succumbed on the way. Police said that a breathalyzer test was conducted on the officer and he was found to be over the legal alcohol limit.
Repeat conman fined $100,000 Known conman Prem Chan, got the shock of his life when another of his covetous schemes failed. He targeted the wrong businessman and is facing up to six months in jail if he fails to pay a $100,000 fine. Chan, 42, who, according to him, is scheduled to undergo open heart surgery next year January, was arraigned before a City Court yesterday. Police contends that he devised a trick. Chan is not denying, claiming he had desperate reasons to do so. The unrepresented man pleaded guilty to the charge which stated that on October 4, last, at Eccles, East Bank Demerara, he devised a trick claiming to be Doctor Mahendra Carpen, to collect a cheque of $100,000 from Frank Sanichara, a businessman Police Prosecutor, Quinn Harris, narrated the facts. According to the Prosecutor, on October 4, last, around 12:00 hrs, Chan called the victim’s cellular
CHARGED Prem Chan phone pretending to be doctor Carpen. The court heard that Chan told the victim that he needed $100,000 to perform an open heart surgery. The Prosecutor added that the victim recognized the voice not to be that of Dr. Carpen.
Suspicious of the phone call, Sanchar telephoned the doctor who denied calling him. A barefaced Chan some time after, turned up at the victim’s business place to collect the cash. But he got the surprise of his life when he was arrested by police. From the prosecution’s facts, he fully cooperated with the police as it was reported in court that he gave a caution statement. The Magistrate after listening to the facts asked Chan if he had anything to say. The trickster said, “I was to attend clinic today but I’m here. I have to undergo an open heart surgery next January.” Chan went on to tell the court that he was pronounced dead by doctors at the New Amsterdam Public Hospital and was placed in a morgue. The Magistrate after listening to both sides fined Chan $100,000. Failure to pay the fine will see him spending months in jail.
Prosecution closes case in school teacher... From page 11 make submission on October 10. The Prosecution is expected to make their submission before the Magistrate rules on whether there is enough evidence to rule on a prima facie case. According to information, Munroe was detained after returning from an overseas vacation. He reportedly travelled on vacation to the US
around the same time that Branche was found unconscious at Louisa Row, Georgetown. Police impounded his vehicle, which had sustained damage, and had a missing bumper. Munroe reportedly told police that he had driven into a pothole on the East Coast of Demerara. He was reportedly unable to show police the location.
The battered body of the woman was found on November 5, last. She succumbed at the Georgetown Public Hospital without regaining consciousness. According to reports, her injuries appeared to be consistent with those inflicted by the impact of a vehicle. A post mortem revealed that she succumbed to brain haemorrhage, caused by blunt trauma to the head.
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Kaieteur News
Tuesday October 09, 2018
China says ex-Interpol chief focus of bribery probe back home B E I J I N G / PA R I S (Reuters) - China said yesterday it was investigating former Interpol chief Meng Hongwei for bribery and other violations, days after French authorities said the Chinese official had been reported missing by his wife after traveling to his home country. Under President Xi Jinping, China has been engaged in a sweeping crackdown on official corruption. On Sunday, Interpol, the France-based global police coordination body, said that Meng had resigned as its president. “The investigation against Meng Hongwei tak-
ing bribes and suspected violations of law is very timely, absolutely correct and rather wise,” China’s Ministry of Public Security said in a statement on its website. “The investigation of Meng Hongwei fully shows there is no privilege and no exception in front of the law, and anyone who violates the law must be severely punished,” it added. Officials should never be allowed to “negotiate terms or haggle” over positions within the party, the ministry said, referring to China’s ruling Communist Party. French media on Sunday broadcast video of Meng’s wife Grace speak-
ing to a small group of journalists at a hotel in Lyon, her back to a TV camera in order to hide her appearance and her voice trembling. “This is a matter for the international community. It concerns the people of my motherland,” she said. She showed journalists a text message on her mobile phone with an image of a knife, sent by her husband as a way of showing her that he felt he was in danger, French media reported. Meng, 64, became president of the global police cooperation agency in late 2016 amid a broader effort by China to secure leadership posts in international organizations.
His appointment prompted concern at the time from rights groups that Beijing might try to leverage his position to pursue dissidents abroad. “Meng’s sudden disappearance ... has clearly undermined China’s own efforts and has lent credence to those who said previously that China was not ready to take on such important international leadership roles,” said Paul Haenle, Director at the Carnegie–Tsinghua Center in Beijing. France’s Interior Ministry said on Friday that Meng’s family had not heard from him since Sept. 25, and French authorities said his wife was under police protection in Lyon, where Interpol is headquartered, after receiving threats. Presidents of Interpol are seconded from their national administrations and remain in their home post while repre-
Interpol chief Meng Hongwei senting the international policing body. A source at the agency declined to say whether it was usual for an Interpol president to bring his family to France, or whether Interpol provided housing for Meng. Meng’s predecessor,
Frenchwoman Mireille Ballestrazzi, lived in Paris and traveled to Lyon for meetings when her presence was required.China’s foreign ministry said yesterday that China would continue to provide support for Interpol’s work.
Democratic senators urge voters to focus Kavanaugh anger on election WA S H I N G T O N (Reuters) - Two Democratic senators yesterday said voters angry that Republicans confirmed Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court despite allegations of sexual misconduct should focus on next month’s congressional elections instead of seeking to impeach the new justice. Some Democrats in the House of Representatives have indicated Kavanaugh could face investigations or even potential impeachment if they win majorities in the House and possibly the Senate. But Senators Chris Coons and Mazie Hirono distanced themselves from those demands, saying they are concentrating on the Nov. 6 congressional elections. “I think that’s premature,” Coons said of impeachment talk on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “Frankly we are just less than a month away from an election. Folks who feel very strongly one way or other about the issues in front of
us should get out and vote and participate.” Kavanaugh was sworn in late on Saturday amid protests at the court after he was narrowly confirmed in a 50-48 Senate vote but with questions raised from Democrats and liberal groups as to whether he will be a partisan justice. Democrats are hopeful of winning control of the House but the Senate is a long shot. Republicans say that anger on the right at the way Democrats treated Kavanaugh may have energized their voters as well. U.S. President Donald Trump said the public protests against Kavanaugh were the work of “an angry left-wing mob” and has urged his supporters to vote in November. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said on Saturday that “nothing unifies Republicans like a court fight.” With both parties focus-
ing on the confirmation battle, it is unclear who will capitalise on it most effectively in the elections. Hirono, speaking on ABC’s “This Week,” said, “I’m focused like a laser beam on the elections” when asked about impeachment. “I’m very focused on the here and now, which is that all these angry women, mainly, out there who saw what was going on and how the Senate was not able to deal with the entire issue of sexual assault,” she said. Noting that only one Supreme Court justice has ever been impeached, Coons said the Senate needed to show leadership and seek to heal the country. “I think talking about it at this point isn’t necessarily healing us and moving us forward,” he said. Samuel Chase in 1804 was the only justice to be simpeached by the House. He was acquitted by the Senate the following year.
Tuesday October 09, 2018
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Kaieteur News
“Jaguars not taking Canada lightly” - Griffith By Sean Devers in TrinidadIn association with Regal, Vnet,Noble House Seafoods & Cascadia Hotel Guyana Jaguars registered an emphatic victory on Sunday night beating West Indies ‘B’ by nine wickets after losing their opening game to host Trinidad Red Force and Guyana chased down 192 to win easily with Chanderpaul Hemraj (103) and Chris Barnwell (61) putting together 153 in an unbroken second wicket stand. “It was good to get some points on the board and I am
pleased with the way we went about the chase in positive manner without being reckless. The openers gave us a good start and then Hemraj and Barnwell finished it off in commanding manner,” said the 39-year-old Manager/ Assistant Coach Rayon Griffith. Griffith, who represented Guyana and West Indies ‘B’ in 22 First-Class and 22 List ‘A’ matches, said he was very impressed the Guyana’s bowling effort and was high in praise for Berbice pacer Clinton Pestano. “He bowled a controlled spell and hit the deck hard while getting some move-
ment in the overcast conditions. The spinners also played their role and it’s good to (Ramaal) Lewis bowling so well. Overall I happy with our performance in the last match,” Griffith added. The Chairman of CWI selection panel also spoke highly of Hemraj’s innings. “He batted wonderfully and will now leave for India full of confidence. It was good to see him spend some quality time in the middle, while it was good to see Barnwell bat with great responsibility batting a number three,” Griffith continued.
Tuesday October 09, 2018 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Connect with those who carry you upward and encourage your fantasies today instead of those who try to bring you down to reality. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) You're likely now on the brink of completing a major move of some sort. Your first reaction may be to sit in solitary deliberation as you wrestle with the pros and cons of each piece of the situation. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) This is one of those days when you will be walking along and all of a sudden hear a street performer playing music. Suddenly your feet start to move and soon you're dancing.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You're on a roll today, Libra. Don't let other people's insecurities or shallow understanding about an issue get in the way of your progress. There's a distinct advantage to the way you approach things. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) You may be wondering whose shoulder you should cry on. Usually yours is the shoulder that everyone else likes to use. The collar of your shirt is probably soaking wet by now SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21) Your coals have been smoldering for a while, and there is a great deal of smoke pouring from your blackened embers, Sagittarius.
CANCER (June 21–July 22) Don't take things that don't belong to you. Your penetrating eyes are apt to spot things that are easily pocketed, even though you know deep down that those things aren't meant for you to keep.
CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Be wary of big promises today, Capricorn. This could be one of those days when people are more likely to take a gamble because they're unrealistic about how things are going to work out.
LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Try not to think too much about what is "supposed" to happen next, Leo. The truth of the matter is that things don't necessarily work out the way they're planned, so don't count on something that has no guarantee of coming to fruition.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) Feel free to go shopping for yourself. While you're at it, you might as well pick up some things for others, too. You're apt to be in tune with the pleasant spirit of the people around you. If they're being especially negative or cranky, don't hesitate to just go elsewhere.
VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Water your plants today and make sure they're getting enough light, Virgo. If you don't have any plants, take this opportunity to go to the nursery and pick up a couple for your home or office. Nourish the organic things in your life to help remind you of your own roots
PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You're likely to gravitate toward those who can put on a show and carry your imagination to a far-off land today, Pisces. Look for this quality in others instead of turning to the TV to satisfy this need.
L o o k i n g t o t o d a y ’s game against Canada who has lost all three of their games and are at the bottom of the points table, the former Fast bowler who was good enough with the bat to make an unbeaten 82 against the Leewards, said the Jaguars will not take the North Americans lightly. “ Ye s t h e y h a v e l o s t their matches but have had some good games and we will be wary of them…they have some good spinners but once we execute our plans and play positive cricket we should get the result we want tomorrow (today),” Griffith said. It has been 13 years since Guyana last won a Regional 50 overs title, although since then, they have qualified for nine semi-finals and been to two finals with 2016 and 2017 being the years they have not made to the final four. The Jaguars Assistant Coach actually played his last Regional 50-over in the 2005 final at Bourda when Guyana beat Barbados on the D/S system in near darkness. Griffith who shared the new ball with former Test pacer Reon King and had 028 from eight tidy overs in that KFC Cup win, said if Guyana plays to full potential they have quality players to win their first title since then but was quick to note that they don’t want loo k t o o f a r ahead and will take one game at a time starting with tonight’s clash with Canada.
GDF is top gym... From page 28 over Orin Bancroft of Forgotten Youth Foundation (FYF). In the welterweight division, Seon Murray of GDF beat Donovan Richard of Republican and Quincy Boyce of GDF won against Jamal Crawford of GDF by way of TKO 49 seconds in their third round. Orlando Norton of GDF knocked out Shawn La Fleur (RHJ) one minute and one second into the second round. The final bout of the night between heavyweights (91kg) Renaldo Niles and Shekeal Damon of Donald Allison Boxing Gym saw both boxers exchanging punches at will, however with five seconds remaining in the final round, referee Richard Braithwaite stopped the fight after realising that Damon wrist bandage wasn’t marked by the officials following which he was disqualified.
- Says pleased by Hemraj’s ton in last game
Manager & Asst Coach Rayon Griffith
PAGE 26
Tuesday October 09, 2018
Kaieteur News
WDFA Senior Qualifying KO Tourney
Crane Rovers and Golden Warriors record big wins
Balram Narine wins FACC 25-miler in Berbice
Winning cyclist Balram Narine receives the trophy from his mother Basmattie Sarjoo as other cyclists, organisers and sponsors share the moment.
Crane Rovers goal scorers from left: Quincy Graham, Adami Hoyte, Clement Brown, Alanzo Bowman, Tyler Wharton, Clifton Adams and Donford Williams. As associations affiliated to the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) get busy in regards to preparing for the federations Super-16 year end knock-out tournament which will also involve the elite League clubs, the West Demerara Football Association (WDFA) on Sunday last kicked off their qualifying knock-out tournament which has attracted 12 teams. But already, two have walked the plank, Zeelugt and Vegea Boys which suffered heavy defeats as the hands of Golden Warriors and Crane Rovers, respectively. Crane Rovers bulldozed their way past the hapless
Vegea Boys hammering them 9-0 led by a double each off the boots of Quincy Graham in the 6th and 41st and Denford Williams in the 47th and 55th minute. There was one each for Adami Hoyte (11), Clifton Adams (33), Clement Brown (43), Tyler Wharton (50) and Alanzo Bowman in the 58th minute. In the other match, Golden Warriors were golden in their quest to become one of the two clubs qualifying for the GFF tournament when they sent Zeelugt packing, 7-2 on account of goals from Anthony Harding who blasted a helmet-trick, finding the back of the nets in the 16th, 44th,
49th and 52nd minutes. Nigel Garraway opened the scoring in the 13th minute, while also adding their names to the score sheet for Crane were Shaquel Baptist in the 55th and Shalon Williams in the 58th minute. Zeelugt had actually taken the lead in the 7th minute when Andrew Gill breached their defence and netted but that only sought to wake up the Rovers who were in rampaging form thereafter. Zeelugt’s other goal came from the penalty spot in the 60th minute thanks to Clement Smith. Matches will continue this weekend.
Golden Warriors marksmen from left, Shaquel Baptist, Nigel Garraway, Anthony Harding and Shalon Williams.
The name Balram Narine has become well known with winning cycling events organised by the Flying Ace Cycle Club (FACC) in Berbice, especially for club cyclists. The latest event organised by the club was held on Sunday in the Upper Corentyne and was for cyclists of the club and those unattached riders and school boys in the Corentyne area. The 25 miles event saw 20 riders pedaling off at 10:00hrs from in front of the Guyana Bank of Trade and Industry (GBTI) building proceed to the NO51 Police Station and
return to finish at its place of origin. Narine who covered the distance in 59 minutes was so dominant in his performance that he opened a two miles gap on his nearest competitor. The up and coming 20 years old rider got away about four miles after the start and was never caught as he rode most of the race with only the elements as his company. Riding in second was Ralph Sewnarine with Donovan Fraser, Syborne Fernandes and Jeremiah Joseph rounding out the first five. Joseph was the winner
in the U16 and school boys category with Mario Wa s h i n g t o n , Marlon Budram, Nicholas Sewnarine and Rodwell Fraser the top five finishers. The U14 and school boys’ category was won by Nicholas Emanuel from Aron Rajnarine, Shazim Jacub and Ricky Motiram. Narine rode away with all eight of the sprint point prizes. Among the sponsors were The Guyana Fire Service, GBTI, Vishal and Sons Sawmill and North West Trading among others. (Samuel Whyte)
EPFA Senior League Qualifiers
Mainstay Gold Star and Queenstown notch opening wins By Franklin Wilson When the battle lines were drawn on Sunday last to select the two teams that will represent the Essequibo/ Pomeroon Football Association (EPFA) at the GFF yearend knock-out tournament, Mainstay Gold Star FC brushed aside fellow Group B team Charity Xtreme 2-0, while in the Group A match, Queenstown needled Henrietta United. Mainstay, backed by many of its supporters as well as students from the Essequibo Technical Institute which is also one of the teams in the competition, absorbed the early pressure applied by the Charity Xtreme side which looked the better team. The Xtreme boys created a number of chances early but failed to capitalize and like the first match between Queenstown and Henrietta, paid the price for their early
lapses. As the match progressed, the Mainstay lads stayed the course and maintained their focus on the task at hand. They got both their goals from Randy DeJong with the first coming in the 34th minute, he closed out proceeding to seal full points for Mainstay Gold Star in the 68th minute and go to the top of the standings in Group B; Dartmouth Dominators and Super X1 are the other teams in this group. Henrietta United were all over Queenstown United in the first match of this competition that has attracted eight teams; the latter looked very scratchy at the start but gained in confidence as the match matured. Henrietta in dominating continually, made the same mistake of not making the chances they created count and they paid a heavy price for that indiscretion in the final analysis. Both sides stood
solid in defending thirds but the constant banging of Queenstown finally resulted in Henrietta cracking in the 58th minute. Akash Sunil was the player who made the difference in the match when he latched on to a well calculated pass to put the ball into the back of the Henrietta net to spark celebrations among his teammates and their supporters. With the win, Queenstown is at the top of the points table in Group A play, the two other team in the group are Essequibo Technical Institute and Good Hope FC. After playing each other, the top two teams from the groups will advance to the final four which would be played using the knock-out format. The two finalists would be the EPFA representative teams to the GFF Super 16 knockout tournament this year end.
Kaieteur News
Tuesday October 09, 2018
PAGE 27
Banks DIH/GABA leagues
Mixed results for Pacesetters on Sunday, Guardians continue purple patch
Terrence Daniels – Plaisance Guardians.
P
acesetters basketball club were involved in both matches that were bounced on the Burnham hard court on Sunday Night as play continued in the Rainforest Water/Malta Supreme/Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association (GABA) league. Pacesetters 89-85 Republic Bank Nets (1st division) In the feature match of the night that tipped off at 20:30hrs, Pacesetters found success after playing to a close-shaved 89-85 win over Republic Bank
Troy David –Pacesetters. Nets despite a stellar 31point performance from Antwan Austin on the losing side. Michael Turner (18), Dave Causway (15), Nathan Saul (14) and Jermaine Hamilton (10) all got into double figures in the good team victory for Clement Brusche’s men. Pelham Doris (17) and Hodyah Stewart (16) assisted Austin well as Nets kept a tight leash on Pacesetters with the score never surpassing a two point deficit during the end of the first three quarters. However, Saul sank a late three-pointer to help
Pacesetters’ Dave Causeway (on the go) scored a vital 15 points for Pacesetters on Sunday during their win over Nets. Pacesetters outscore Nets 27-22 in the final period of play to eventually come out victorious. Plaisance Guardians 72-62 Pacesetters (2nd division) In the opening game, which was contested in the second division, the usually verbose Brusche would’ve been quieted after his side
suffered a 12-point loss at the hands of East Coast D e m e r a r a ’s P l a i s a n c e Guardians basketball club that is going through a purple patch. Like Guardians’ win rate, Pacesetters’ Troy David’s good run of form continued and he netted on Sunday when he netted a game-high 23 points which
Nathan Saul (on the ball) scored 14 points for Pacesetters in the first division win on Sunday. was tossed up along with three three-pointers, in a losing effort. P l a i s a n c e S k i p p e r, Terrence Daniels (18), led from the front yet again with valuable support from Delroy Critchlow (11) and Hillman Bovell (10). Guardians led the game throughout the quarters despite being outscored in
the final period 28-19, in the comfortable 72-60 win Basketball will resume tomorrow at the Burnham Court with two matches in the first division featuring Plaisance Guardians versus Kobras in the opening game at 18:30hrs followed by Colts against Eagles at 20:30hrs. (Calvin Chapman)
Jaguars face bottom-of-the-table Canada today Navneet Dhaliwal has scored 2 fifties in the tournament so far.
Leon Johnson will be hoping for an outstanding tournament and World Cup pick.
Chanderpaul Hemraj hopes for another big innings before he leaves for India. By Sean Devers in Trinidad In association with Vnet, Regal, Noble House Seafoods & Cascadia Hotel
G
uyana and Canada have met on four previous occasions in Regional 50-over cricket with Guyana winning every time and today at the Brain Lara Academy these teams meet again from 14:00hrs in a Day/Night encounter in the Regional Super50 tournament. The Canadians will hope that their spinners can give them their first win in three
matches in this tournament against a team fresh off an emphatic nine-wicket win on Sunday night against the West Indies ‘B’. While the Jaguars lost their opening game to pretournament favourites Tr i n i d a d R e d F o r c e , Canada, who played the first International match against the USA in 1844 which they won by 23 runs, have lost by 10 runs to WI ‘B’, by 73 runs to Volcanoes and two wickets to the Red Force. On Sunday the 25-yearold Chanderpaul Hemraj justified his selection to Windies ODI team by
joining centurions Chris Gayle, Devon Smith and Marlon Samuels with a brilliant unbeaten 103 and will want to get another big score in what could be his last match before he leaves for India. Trevon Griffith has looked good in both of his innings without going on and could do that tonight as will Skipper Leon Johnson who could be a few outstanding innings away from regaining his Windies place, especially since there is a leadership crisis in the Region. Chris Barnwell picked up from where he left off in the last tournament with a
top notch unbeaten fifty, while Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd, Raymon Reifer, Anthony Bramble and Clinton Pestano are all capable of big scores on what should be a good track and fast outfield. If there is any change to the side Ricardo Adams, who could also bat, could r e p l a c e Ve e r a s a m m y Permaul who has been expensive. Pestano bowls with pace and control and has 458 from 16 overs and could share the new ball with left-armer Reifer, while Barnwell, who is the most economical in the team,
Chris Barnwell would hope to continue his good form with bat and ball.
Shepherd and Rutherford gives the Jaguars a potent five-prang pace attack. The spin should be taken care of by OffSpinner Ramaal Lewis, who has bowled frugal spells and Adams (if he plays), while Hemraj is also a spin option as is Griffith and Johnson. Canada’s batting will weigh heavily on Rodrigo Thomas, who has 123 runs with two fifties, their leading run scorer Navneet Dhaliwal whose highest score is 80, Harsh Thaker who has an unbeaten 51 and Nitish Kumar. David Jacobs, Nikhil
Dutta and Srimantha Wijeyeratne who also reached a half-century are expected to contribute runs tonight, while Romesh Don (9 wkts), Salman N a z a r, C e c i l P e r v e z , Sukhdeep Brar and Dutta will have the task of restricting the formidable Jaguars’ batting line-up on the best pitch in the Trinidad Zone. The Jaguars had a light training session yesterday in Port-of-Spain, while in the other match today defending c h a m p i o n s Wi n d w a r d s Volcanoes face West Indies ‘B’ at the Queen’s Park Oval from 14:00hrs.
PAGE 28
Tuesday October 09, 2018
Kaieteur News
Five Police Operational Youth and Sports Club re-launched in Berbice
Mixed circle tennis action during the activity.
The Guyana Police Force B Division in an effort to reorganizes youth and Sports groups in the County and to continue to foster a better relationship with members in the community, on Saturday last launched five Youth and Sports Clubs in the East Bank Berbice area. The launching ceremony which was held at the Sisters Community Center ground East Bank Berbice saw youths from Scapemoed, Platanker, Glasgow New Housing Scheme, Sisters and other neighbouring villages in the East Bank Berbice area being a part of the activity. Taking charge of the activity were OC No1 Woman Assistant Superintendent Yonette Stephen, officer in charge of the area Inspector Michael Newland, W/CPL Drakes, Janice Carmichael and others.
The activity which involved over 100 youths ranging from ages 6 years to 19 years old was launched at 10:30hrs by Inspector Newland. The activity which concluded around 16:00hrs saw the eager teens and some parents being involved in a full days of sport with softball cricket, circle tennis, football and some indoor games being played. They were also spoken to by Stephens and Newland about disciple, the importance of education, careers opportunities, social ills and peer pressure among other topics. The gathering was entertained to some lively music dished out by the newly formed Police B Division Steal Orchestra led by Vernon Paddy. (Samuel Whyte)
Woman Assistant Superintendent Yonette Stephens speaks to the gathering.
GDF is top gym at GBA/Lennox Blackmore Former national National Intermediate C/ships basketballer ‘Fat Wayne’ Andries to be buried today in NY
Former national basketball player Wayne Augustus Andries or ‘Fat Wayne’ as he was known or ‘Bouncer’ to the basketball fraternity will be buried in New York today. Andries succumbed to cancer and leaves to mourn his passing his wife Suzette, children Christina and Christopher and the basketball communities in Guyana and abroad. The viewing and funeral service for Fat Wayne was held yesterday at the Caribe Funeral Home Inc. on Utica Avenue, Brooklyn New York, while a wake was held last Sunday at the Access Community Centre on Church Avenue, Brooklyn, NY. The internment for Wayne Adries will be at the Pine Lawn Cemetery. A repast was staged at the Access Community Centre last night and at the Mackenzie Sports Club in Mackenzie Linden.
By Zaheer Mohamed The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) emerged as the top gym when the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) hosted the Lennox Blackmore National Intermediate Boxing Championships which concluded on Sunday night at the National Gymnasium. The card produced some exciting contests as the boxers showed that they have what it takes to excel at higher levels. Astion Niles, Royden Grant, Quincy Boyce, Renaldo Niles all of GDF produced exciting wins to crown off the event. Astion Niles registered a Technical Knockout (TKO) over his GDF counterpart Frank Mac Rae in two minutes 42 seconds in their light heavyweight 81 kg contest, Grant won the middleweight 75kg duel against Orlando Norton of GDF by a unani-
Astion Niles
Royden Grant
mous decision, Boyce defeated Seon Murray of GDF via technical knockout two minutes 16 seconds in round one in their welterweight match up, while Renaldo Niles won his heavyweight 91kg bout in the third minute of the first round against Shemar Mingo of GDF. Christopher Moore of
Vergenoegen Boxing Gym (VBG) gained a walk over Mark Chester of Republican Boxing Gym in the junior welterweight category, Jamal Eastman of Rose Hall Town Jammers (RHJ) proved too good for Andrew Griffith of GDF as the referee stopped their lightweight 64 kg fight 47 seconds into the first
round. Clinton Clarke of GDF won his bantamweight 56kg fight against his GDF counterpart Albert Thomas by a unanimous decision and Shaquel Wright of VBG triumphed in one minute 32 seconds in the second round against Junior Hyman of VBG in their youth/lightweight 60 kg bout. On Saturday night, Clinton Clarke of GDF got a walk over from Ishaun Khan of Harpy Eagle in the Bantamweight class and Jamal Eastman also gained a walkover from Deon Samuels of Republican. Andrew Griffith of GDF won a split decision against Gordon Green of GDF in the lightweight division. In the junior welterweight class Christopher Moore of VBG won by a split decision against Orlando Grenville of GDF, while Mark Chester of Republican registered a TKO (Continued on page 25)
Kaieteur News
Tuesday October 09, 2018
PAGE 29
Enterprise Busta SC are ECCC/Bargain Supermarket Carib Beer T-20 champs
The victorious Enterprise Busta Sports Club display their accolades with representatives of the sponsors and organisers. By Zaheer Mohamed
E
nterprise Busta Sports Club produced scintillating display to beat Strathavon by 72 runs and win the final of the East Coast Cricket Committee/Bargain Supermarket powered by Carib Beer T20 tournament on Sunday at Enmore.Enterprise Busta SC skipper Rohan Mangal called correctly at the toss and they decided to bat on a good pitch, but medium pacer Gobinram Hemraj removed Bhaskar Yadram in the first over without scoring to leave them at 3-1. However, Chandrika and Vivian Albert
added 61 for the second wicket to repair the early damage. Chandrika timed the ball well and struck four fours before he was lbw to Naresh Samaroo for 27, while Albert who struck three fours and one six was bowled behind his back by Kevin Latif for 37. Latif then removed Vishwanauth Ramlakhan without scoring before Kamesh Yadram and Mangal propped up the total. Yadram used his feet well and executed some lovely shots as he finished on 55 not out which later earned him the man-of-the-match award; he hit three fours, while Mangal was dismissed by Jermine Tyndall for 20 as Enterprise Busta SC managed 168-5. Latif was the pick of the
bowlers with 2-27. Albert removed Gobinram Hemraj for 13 and Danesh Sugrim without scoring as Strathavon were reduced to 17-2 in their chase. Romel Chaturia hit one four before he was removed by Pradesh Balkishun for 15, while Diaram Hemraj was lbw to leg spinner Chanderpaul Singh for 11 as Strathavon slipped into further trouble. Enterprise Busta SC bowlers continued to maintain a steady line and the asking rate mounted fairly and it needed something special from their batsmen to keep them in the contest. But this was not to be as Zakie Salim pulled a short ball from Singh and was caught on the mid-wicket
boundary for eight, Tyndell was bowled by Bhaskar Yadram for four and Latif was bowled by Kamesh Yadram for three; this virtually signaled the end of the chase. Mohan Ronald top scored with an unbeaten 26 as Strathavon ended on 97-7. Albert snared 2-9 and Singh 2-18. In the third place contest, Lusignan B overcame Enmore by 31 runs. Batting first, Lusignan B batted first and posted 159-5. Emran Khan made 41 and Akshaya Persaud 34. Yuvraj Dyal had 1-17. Enmore responded with 128 all out in 18.4 overs. Dyal scored 42 as Khan picked up 4-28 and Navin Persaud 3-21.
Runner’s up Strathavon
Kaieteur News
PAGE 30
Tuesday October 09, 2018
King of the Strip (Suriname) on this weekend Team Trans Pacific’s Toyota Alteeza will be looking to break into the eight-second bracket this weekend in Suriname
Peter Daby, white RX-7, has confirmed his participation for this weekend’s meet. On Sunday, the motor racers from the Guianas (Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana) will convene at the Suriname Motorsport Park at Afobakaweg, Rama, for anticipated and scorching drag race match ups when the “Who is the King of the Strip” event speeds off from 10:00hrs. Before the actual competition, drivers will be ‘dialed in’ at the venue on Saturday to know what time class they will be in, that process will commence at
10:00hrs sharp. As usual, patron of motor racing in Guyana, Sahadeo Ramsewack of Team Trans Pacific, will be looking to prove his Toyota Alteeza power, as he has confirmed his participation as part of Guyana’s team that will be heading over to the Dutch speaking neighbouring country. During an interview with Kaieteur Sport, Ramsewack explained that he is excited to have his nine-second car coming against the likes of
competitors from Suriname and French Guiana and he was happy to be a part of the meet since the Surinamese usually support local drag meets at the South Dakota Circuit. Ramsewack will be pushing his former ninesecond champion vehicle to break into the eight second class this weekend. Also confirming their participation so far has been Peter Daby, Shawn Persaud, Randel Daby, and Syed Mobarakhali.
Syed Mobarakhali’s Toyota Versosa.
Kaieteur News
Tuesday October 09, 2018
ICC Women’s World T20 2018, West Indies…
PAGE 31
Berbice Expo feels the ‘Watch This’ vibes
Unique Arts performing ‘Watch This’ on stage during the opening ceremony of Berbice Expo on Friday night at Albion. (WWT20||JohnRamsingh photo)
T
he 14th annual Berbice Expo and Trade Fair got off to an exciting start on Friday October 5 at the Albion Sports Complex ground with an informative and captivating opening ceremony. The important aspect of the four-day event was mixed with presentations from prominent persons in the Business community and some cultural items. It is no secret that Guyanese have a deep passion for cricket and that passion is amplified in Berbice as was evident when
the members of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) for the Guyana leg of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Women’s World T20 opened their booth as part of the expo. After the opening ceremony, during his official walk-about, Minister Gaskin visited the Women’s World Cup cricket pitch, picked up the ball and delivered a perfect first ball yorker that sent the stumps crashing to be the first winner of a tournament souvenir teeshirt. After that, hundreds of curious spectators swarmed
the make-shift cricket pitch, which comprised stumps and boundary boards, to get firsthand information on the November 9 to 24 tournament and also tested their skills at batting, bowling and fielding for the opportunity to win branded souvenir tee-shirts. The drills were conducted by former Guyana and West Indies fast bowler, Colin Stuart who is part of the LOC. Stuart was joined by Cricket West Indies Regional Sportainment Manager, Jahmal Thomas; Marketing and Sportainment Manager
(Guyana) Rayad Boyce and Media Facilitator (Guyana) John Ramsingh along with the ‘Watch This’ models who interacted with the fans. Earlier, during the formal opening ceremony where the Honourable Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin delivered the feature address to the gathering of spectators and booth holders, the Unique Arts Dance Troupe performed the theme song for the Women’s World T20, ‘Watch This’ which left the spectators and the officials wanting more. This resulted in the heavy traffic later experienced on the cricket
pitch. The 10-team tournament bowls off on November 9 at Providence in Guyana with three matches and a super concert with performances from Patrice Roberts and Shenseea the artistes who gave us ‘Watch This.” Tickets are currently on sale on line at http://worldtwenty20.com, while the local box offices will open on Monday October 29. In all, there are five official warm up matches a n d e i g h t Wo r l d C u p matches scheduled for Guyana at Providence from
November 4 to 17. St Lucia will also host preliminary matches, while the semifinal and final are slated for Antigua. The Berbice Expo and Tr a d e f a i r, w h i c h i s organized by the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce, runs from October 5 to 8 and features exhibition from local businesses in the manufacturing and service industries. This year is it being held under the theme, “Advancing economic progress through professional standards and entrepreneurship.”
GMR&SC Ignite
Test and Tune event slated for October 21
G
u y a n a ’s t o p drivers and riders will have a chance to test their machines ahead of the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club’s (GMR&SC) Ignite. The club has announced an official event just two weeks away which is expected to give drivers and riders a chance to iron out the kinks in their machines. According to a statement from the club, the event is expected to offer drivers and riders a chance to test their machines in a race-like environment ahead of the final round of the Caribbean M o t o r R a c i n g Championships.
The statement continued, “We have also set the admission as free for those who want to come and have a look. We are always trying to attract new spectators and we feel this is one way of doing that.” Among the local competitors are Mark Vieira, defending Group four champion Andrew King, Danny Persaud, Rupee Shewjattan, Rameez Mohamed, Chet Singh, Shiraz Roshandin, Matthew Vieira, Raviero Tucker, Team Mohamed’s (Superbike champions), Kevin Deodass, Anand Ramchand and Adrian Fernandes. The entities that have
pledged their support to the event include GBTI, B.M. Soat, Noble House Seafood, Stag Beer, Air Services Limited, Guyoil, Palm Court, Hand-in-Hand, Ramada Hotel, Survival Supermarket, Club 704, S h e r i f f S e c u r i t y, E C I n v e s t m e n t s , P r e m ’s Electrical, Nexus Machinery, Mohamed’s Enterprise, Choke Gas Station, Japarts, R. Kissoon Contracting, E Networks, Miracle Opticle, Bikers’ Bar, Samaroo Investments, Innovations America and Superbet, Agriparts and KGM Security Service. The club is expected to launch Ignite within days with just over a month remaining until the event.
Honourable Minister of Business Dominic Gaskin collects his souvenir “Watch This” tee-shirt from one of the models on Friday night during the Berbice Expo at Albion. (WWT20||John Ramsingh photo)
rt o p S
GDF is top gym at GBA/Lennox Blackmore National Intermediate C/ships
Members of the Guyana Defence Force Boxing gym with their prizes.
EPFA Senior League Qualifiers The Queenstown goalkeeper calmly palms the ball to negate one of the early attacks from the Henrietta side.
Mainstay Gold Star and Queenstown notch opening wins Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.