Kaieteur News

Kaieteur News

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Tuesday October 16, 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

GOVERNMENT HAS TO DO BETTER

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erious lapses and the lack of leadership within the government have contributed to the inefficiencies and inept policies that continue to stall the development of the country. The truth is there are too many grey areas and an immensity of the inefficiencies that need to be placed in intensive care for quick remedies. The gravity of dishonesty, abuse of power, arrogance, unnecessary mistakes that are made and the high level of incompetency as well as lack of oversight at the highest level is mindboggling and defy reasoning. It is obvious that the government is incapable of managing the affairs of the country. The public would be surprised to know the extent of the human resource deficiencies in the various government departments and agencies. The government has many qualified and experienced persons within its ranks, but they have been catapulted into positions that have made them square pegs in round holes. In terms of professional employment, the government seems to have poor judgment. It has faltered badly in this and many other areas, including doing due diligence. It seems that the government cannot fulfill its simple election campaign promise to professionalize the civil service. Most of its appointments are political in nature. It is our understanding that these positions were not advertised which suggests that persons were hand-picked to fill them. What is more troubling is not only that these appointments were condoned because of cabinet solidarity, but some members have stated that they were not informed and were dumbfounded by the appointments. The president seems unfazed or not to know that there is something of a crisis in the Ministry of Finance with the departure of several senior officials. The sudden departure of these senior executives without any proper reason given to the public could have a ripple effect on the Ministry that could result in a loss of public confidence. The public fear is that either those in authority are out of touch with reality, or they do not understand the importance of such a key ministry or they are asleep at the wheel. Whatever it is, one thing is for certain, this is no way for this government, which was elected on a platform of change to run the country. Guyana lacks transformative and visionary leaders to move it into the 21st century. The fact that the government has refused to renegotiate the lopsided oil contract it signed with ExxonMobil shows inept leadership. This is despite several warnings from the independent media, local and international experts and financial institutions, such as the Inter-American Development Bank and the International Monetary Fund. As if the horrible contract with ExxonMobil was not flawed enough, this newspaper has reported that the government has signed an even worse oil contract with Tullow Oil. The contract with Tullow Oil reveals that Guyana will receive a much smaller share of oil revenue from Tullow compared to the ExxonMobil agreement. It allows for only one percent royalty as compared to the two percent from ExxonMobil. And even though the amount of the signing bonus has not been revealed, it appears that Guyana is obligated to repay its pre-contract cost just like ExxonMobil. This government has to do better.

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.

Is Guyana your personal property Jagdeo? Dear Editor, It has become obnoxious for one to read the daily news and see hypocritical, superficial and ludicrous utterances coming from the leader of the opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, who recently claimed at a PPP public meeting that the LGE is the start of a movement to take back Guyana. As a former President who proved his disdain for local governance before, during and after his time in government, he continues to expose his true entitlement demeanour as a spoilt individual who believes Guyana is his. The thought of local empowerment was treated like a treasonous act under his presidency as he tyrannized and microm a n a g e d ( f o r personal/political gain) every tier of Guyana’s governance system. Furthermore, every town or region, and I might add friends and party comrades who were not in favour of his dictatorship, had to suffer socially, economically and emotionally as he used every stratum of the government system to ensure his opponents were punished. He does not believe in democracy, he

does not believe anyone else should have a differing thought from his; just ask his former senior party comrades Ramkarran, Nagamootoo and others. His overtures in recent times as the saviour and a n s w e r f o r G u y a n a ’s democracy is such a farce for millennials and Guyanese as a whole as we are all aware of his sinister exploits, which he hides under the umbrella of Presidential immunity. Jagdeo reportedly told the gathering at the meeting that they need(ed) to understand the importance of the elections when he himself avoided such elections during his tenure. He claimed “Guyanese” are fed up with the coalition government when the fact is Guyanese are enjoying a better and honest livelihood, improved public infrastructure and service, safer neighbourhoods, inclusive governance and a better international rating, which led to many countries waiving visa requirements for Guyanese. It is so obvious that during his time Guyanese from all walks of life planned their exit strategy and headed for the passport office and airports while presently Guyanese at home and

abroad are planning their involvement in local development and for many, a return to their land of birth. How can Jagdeo call Guyana’s present governance a disaster when almost daily Guyana made international headlines for mass murders, corruption and other societal ills, which placed Guyana as one of the worst places to live in under his leadership? Even diplomats, Linden, Buxton and every Afrodominant community was under siege, while a selected questionable few were being enriched and a notorious drug lord and “phantomism” became institutionalized. Today, there is an actual fight against drugs and crime, a trajectory of a good life for all and every community is seeing development irrespective of race, religion, or creed. Besides, isn’t it very obvious that Jagdeo’s rush and crave for power is as a result of Oil and the benefits to be had? Does he really think Guyanese will forget his draconian rule and atrocities? Think not too far back, as every attempt by the Coalition government to strengthen local democracy did not find favour with him. He reportedly instructed

mayors, councillors and regional representatives not to attend or participate in events organized to empower municipalities and further decentralize governance because he believes in a dictatorship, which strives on top down management. Even while President Ramotar ruled he imposed himself as the defacto leader, now he is trying to hold on to power in the PPP after the courts ruled he cannot run again for president. Not because he has presidential immunity, it means he is a saint. Not because the coalition government has not showed the testicular fortitude as yet in bringing charges against him he is invincible. He is still seen by many at home and internationally in the same league as Mohamed Suharto, Ferdinand Marcos, Arnold Coleman and many others along that line. What Guyana is he taking back? Is Guyana his possession? Or is there a pun intended in his statement and he plans to take Guyana ‘back’; back to the time when the dark ruled? Carwyn Holland Former Mayor President of GAM

Guyanese most trusting of their politicians! The IDB needs to correct this or explain. Dear Editor, I can hardly believe that KN had to retract the caption for an article on October 2, “Guyana’s politicians the least trusted by its citizensIDB report”.” Least,” had to be replaced by “most”, giving the meaning a 360 degree spin. I cannot blame the reporter neither the Editor in context of the negativity they deal with on a daily basis in reporting what is taking place in Guyana. They were following a pattern that never veered off course. Here are some of the headlines in KN on Oct 5th. (1) “MPs among 81% of public officers who fail to declare assets.” (2) “NIS continues to struggle with low return from investment”. (3) “Stop being ceremonial president, solve teachers problem-Jagdeo to Granger”.

(4) “Send Guyana’s MP back to nursery school.”Dem boy seh. (5) (Guysuco) “Bond deal just a ploy for a few to make money on taxpayers backs-Jagdeo” (6) President’s appointment of GECOM chairman overrides constitutional democracyNandlall”. (7) Top police, GRA officers should declare assets-integrity commission head”. (8)” Stalled public school s a l a r y negotiations…Shortcoming s in setting up arbitration panel indicative of illiteracy –GTU President.” The above is a sneak preview of what the reporters at KN deal with on a daily basis. For a report to emanate from the IDB, stating that “Guyana’s politicians the most trusted by its citizens,” seems a far cry from reality.

The working class or average citizen stares in disbelief at this report. They have heard and seen enough of the lies and deception and has tasted the venom over spilled from corruption by politicians. This is not about gut feelings, they know, deep in their hearts that they do not trust the politicians. The amount of shortcomings identified by the IDB on oil and gas and domestic affairs over the past year makes this one occasion, away from negativity, look like a needle in a haystack. Two weeks ago, the IDB had Guyana at number 26 among the most “shaming countries”. Every one of these lapses that had been cited by the IDB should have worked to erode the citizens’ confidence in the politicians. Where is the logic for the

IDB to arrive at, “Guyanese citizens the most trusting of politicians”? There has to be some sort of pandemic infection invading the brains of the citizens for them to give an affirmative response to trusting of our politicians or perhaps something is wrong with the pia mater of the IDB personnel that did this survey. It seems so surreal, after all the transgressions that had been meted out to the citizens by the politicians since independence to now that we should still be trusting our politicians the “most”, in relation to people in other Countries of the world. I am inclined to believe that the IDB has this one wrong. If not, I would like the IDB to disseminate the methodology used to assimilate this seemingly provocative report. Rudy

Tuesday October 16, 2018

A letter to Minister Ramjattan Dear Minister, The Private Sector Commission is becoming increasingly concerned by a number of issues affecting the prisons in Guyana and, by virtue of this, public safety in the country. A recent meeting of the Management Board of the Prisons has highlighted a number of serious matters, which we feel should be addressed with utmost urgency. Issues brought to the fore include a general lack of adequate security at all of the prisons, a lack of fire prevention systems, the lack of transportation facilities to enable movement of prisoners and food, where necessary, and the inadequacy of the current complement of prisons to safely house the prison population. These issues can be seen as requiring short term and longer-term solutions. The

matter of security, for instance, presents a clear and present danger to the prison warders and the public at large. Another burning issue is the lack of fire prevention systems in the prisons, most of which are constructed of wood. The Private Sector Commission is concerned that, after two devastating prison fires, resulting in loss of lives and the escape of dangerous criminals, enough is not being done to prevent further fires. Other matters highlighted by the Management Board include the fact that adequate funding is not being made available for the replacement of necessary equipment and vehicles. While the Commission is concerned about the safety and security of the public, it is also disturbed by the less than humane condi-

tions under which the prison population at the Lusignan Prison is housed. These prisoners are made to sleep under sheds in the open, posing health risks to the prisoners and a danger to the wardens. We are of the opinion that these conditions could also have an impact upon the country’s Human Rights ranking. Minister, the Private Sector Commission believes that the vexed question of internal security is one that is hampering investor confidence and one that must be prioritised by our Government. We are, therefore, confident that you will utilise your good office to address this particular aspect of our security. Yours sincerely, Capt. Gerald Gouveia Chairman, Governance and Security Sub-Committee

Peter Persaud not amused by an honorary doctorate award Dear Editor, I became highly concerned when I read in a section of the press that Laura George of the Amerindian Peoples Association (APA) will be conferred with an Honorary Doctorate degree. I can understand Mr. Yesu Persaud, Eddy Grant and Jay Sobraj being awarded this doctorate degree but not Laura George. What are the criteria for being offered an Honorary doctorate degree? Is this the level the Honorary doctorate degree has dropped to? This is a total embarrassment and I am calling on the Academic board of the University of Guyana (U.G) to withdraw this honor-

ary doctorate degree from Laura George. What is her contribution to Guyana’s development at her age? It was the APA and Laura George who allegedly influenced some Amerindian communities in Region Eight and the Upper Mazaruni Amerindian communities in Region Seven not to accept Amerindian land demarcations. This is currently among other issues affecting the

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Amerindian Land Titling (ALT) project from being successful, further causing the said project to be further extended. Giving a detractor to Guyana’s ALT project an Honorary Doctorate degree is totally an insult to Guyana’s Indigenous Peoples. Let this Honorary Doctorate be withdrawn quickly. Yours Sincerely, Peter Persaud

What conflict of interest with Hughes, Fields and Stoby? DearEditor, I read with great interest a front page story in the Stabroek News under the rubric “Transparency Body sees major conflict of interest for Hugheses on oil”. I do not see much of a conflict of interest through Cathy Hughes, the wife of Nigel Hughes, senior partner of the law firm of Hughes, Fields and Stoby which firm has recently announced that it will set up an office in Texas. Although Mrs. Hughes is a Minister of government, she does not have the portfolio in the oil and gas sector. In fact it was recently announced that the oil and gas sector will be managed or overseen by the Petroleum Division of the Ministry of the Presidency which is under the port folio of Joseph Harmon. It was removed from the Ministry of Natural Resources. In any event, conflict of interest in the legal field is not new in Guyana. Before the country became independent when Cheddi Jagan was Premier, Sase

Narain, a Solicitor, who was close to the PPP leader at that time, had the monopoly and made millions of dollars as legal advisor to the then British Guiana Credit Corporation. He handled hundreds of mortgages and after independence under Forbes Burnham leadership nearly all the legal work was channelled to the firm of Clarke and Martin — the law firm which was founded by Burham while he was a practising Barrister, and Eric Clarke a Solicitor. I worked with the firm from its inception, first as a clerk for many years and as a qualified attorney from 1979. I served as an associate until I left Guyana for the Caribbean islands. I must say that there were several conflicts for the firm to be the legal advisor to nearly all the government corporations. There were cases involving one corporation against another. I recall that there was a collision between a Guyana Transport Service bus and a Guysuco truck carrying workers at Wales

Estate, West Bank Demerara where eleven persons died and several were serious injured. The driver of the bus was charged with causing death by dangerous driving and there were a number of lawsuits filed by the relatives of the deceased as well from the injured persons (occupants from both the sugar workers truck and the passenger bus). I, on behalf of the firm, handled nearly all the matters including the causing death case and to crown it both vehicles were insured with GCIS (Guyana Co-operative Insurance Services) and Clarke and Martin was the legal advisor for that government Insurance company. After 1992 when the PPP took office, the government’s legal work was shared among the lawyers who supported the new government - including Moen Mc Doom, Ashton Chase and Ralph Ramkarran for a short period. Those are the facts... Oscar Ramjeet

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Local government and democracy Dear Editor, Have Local Democratic Organs in Guyana truly empowered the people? Have Local Government Elections truly returned democracy to Guyana? These and other questions keep regurgitating in the minds of the masses as we near another Local Government Election on November 12th. In an article in the Guyana Chronicle dated July 29, 2018, captioned, ‘Empowering people through Local Government Elections’ it states that, ‘Ensuring that democracy is maintained is paramount to ensuring that a country is run in the best interest of all its peoples, ensuring that all citizens have equal access to the nation’s resources and services offered by the State’. It went further to state that the quest for the ‘good life’ is at the foundation of the current Administration’s mandate’. Are citizens really having ‘equal access to the nation’s resources’? This is so far from the truth! The Kilcoy/Hampshire, which is won by the PPP/C by an overwhelming majority in the last LGE has been assigned a mini-excavator to dig and maintain the drainage system in the NDC but a few months ago this machine was taken to Georgetown under the pretext of repairs. It is still to be returned while the drains in the NDC are clogged. This is a clear case where the NDC is supposed to look inefficient and incompetent in the eyes of the residents. Fortunately, the rains are not here! On the other hand, the Fyrish NDC, which is next door was the recipient of a spanking new long boom excavator to maintain and improve its drainage system, compliments of the President. This is the trend throughout Region Six. This Government feels that once Local Government Elections are held on a timely basis, that is, every three years then that is

the ‘democracy’ and ‘empowerment’ which citizens in every community need to propel social and economic development. Of course all elections are about democracy once they are deemed to be free and fair but empowerment can only be realized when resources are sufficiently available to carry out the functions of these NDCs and municipalities. These functions are to provide efficient services for the residents as stated in the laws. These services include sanitation, garbage disposal, road/dam maintenance, market facilities, burial grounds, abattoirs, drainage, etc. This is in addition to maintain and protect public property and to levy and collect rates and taxes. How can these NDCs and municipalities function effectively without adequate resources? There can be no empowerment without sufficient resources. This Government is all about empty rhetoric! If one looks at the finance, which is garnered from rates and taxes and the meager subvention given by Central Government one would realize that this is wholly inadequate. This is compounded by the fact that proposals made by the NDCs and Municipalities are badly trimmed when included in the Regional Budget. Many of the proposed projects are ‘scissorsed’ leaving the few selected ones at the mercy of the Central Government. These LGOs should be able to represent themselves at the Central Government level and this is where the Local Government Commission comes in to play. The Local Government Commission is given a varied task in terms of policies implementation and making recommendations and the same with any legislation. The LGC is also tasked with examining and proposing

ways of enhancing the capacity of the Local Democratic Organs (LDOs). This is an area, which the LGC should seriously contemplate. In terms of capacity building, we are told that the gerrymandering of the boundaries of some NDCs was to enhance these LDOs capacity. However, this is far from the reality. Even though the Minister can change the boundaries of these NDCs the LGC, the Opposition and the residents should have been consulted in this ‘capacity enhancing’ process. But the intention is not ‘capacity building’. On June 8, Mr. Bulkan published two orders, which amended 14 Local government Areas, removing a total of sixteen constituencies and activated nine LGAs including the township of Mahdia. In so doing, he has incapacitated the PPP/C by 32 seats at the upcoming LGE, thus effectively closing the margin of defeat which the APNU/ AFC suffered at the last Local Government Election at the hands of the PPP/C. Is this the local democracy, which this Government is boasting about? Is this how the ‘country is run in the best interest of all its people’? Furthermore, the Minister accused the PPP that it was more concerned with concentrating power in the hands of its appointed Minister of Local and Regional Development but now we are seeing that the actions of Minister Bulkan is nothing short of that of a dictator! Is this how this Granger’s Administration is committed to ‘promoting democratic renewal and community development’? The recent electoral frauds perpetrated by APNU and AFC and ably assisted by GECOM would also suggest this Government is more concerned about ‘dictatorial renewal’ not ‘democratic renewal’. Moreover, Article 71 (1) was seriously breached by Mr. Bulkan since the involvement of the people in the task of managing and developing their communities has been seriously invalidated and the functioning of the LGC compromised. This Government’s penchant for breaching our Constitution, the Supreme Law of the land, has now become a daily past time. Unfortunately, the quest for the ‘good life’ still remains a quest! Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf RDC Councillor Region 6

Tuesday October 16, 2018

Minister Hughes declared assets to Integrity Commission Dear Editor, I have noted the expressed and implied attack on me by the Stabroek News in their edition of Monday, 15th October, 2018 in a front page article headed “Transparency body sees “Major conflict of interest for Hugheses over oil.” I wish not to dwell upon the motives for the publication but merely to provide information to the general public, which is and was at all times available to the general public on the most cursory of inquiries. On the day of July 4, 2018, I submitted my declaration of assets and interest to the Integrity Commission. I am aware that the contents of my declaration are confidential but I will disclose that included in my declara-

tion was a clear statement of my marriage to the Managing Partner of Hughes, Fields and Stoby and his interest in the firm. Following my submission to the Integrity Commission, on the 9th day of October 2018, I repeated my disclosure to the Cabinet about my husband’s position as Managing Partner of Hughes Fields and Stoby as well as the firm’s intention to establish an office in Houston. I also, prior to the publication of the article, sought legal advice on the disclosure and compliance requirements set out in the Laws of Guyana. I am aware that despite their previous experience to the contrary, it must have been very difficult for the Stabroek News to contact me over the week. My phone

records have not disclosed any attempts to solicit any comments from me. This is interesting since for many years now the publication has been in possession of my contact numbers and in the past has contacted me on several occasions including after hours and on weekends. It continues to be my fervent hope that in their efforts to express their views on activities of Ministers of the Government that Stabroek News would at least conduct the most rudimentary of inquiries prior to publication to ensure balance, objectivity and fairness, which still is the foundation of good journalism. Catherine Hughes. M.P. Minister of Public Telecommunications

Challenging Minister Ramjattan’s comments on sugar Dear Editor, In the October 15 Stabroek News, the attention of the GAWU was drawn to report which stated that Vice President, Minister of Public Security and Alliance for Change (AFC) Chairman, Khemraj Ramjattan, in his address to a meeting in New Amsterdam on October 13, among other things, spoke about the sugar industry. Based on the report, the public meeting described as the launching of the AFC’s LGE 2018 campaign attracted some 30 persons, and we gathered that the Vice President told those in attendance “…good governments, when confronted with hard decisions, make them while considering the betterment of the entire country, not just one sector…” We ask what betterment has the so-called “hard decisions” brought about? It is putting people out from paying jobs on to the breadline? Is it denying persons adequate and healthy meals? Is it prevent-

ing people from being unable to pay their bills? Is it to curtail the education of children? Is it increased anti-social behaviour? Is it family breakups and separation? We are at a loss to find this “betterment” the AFC Chairman refers to. It seems more like increased impoverishment to us. We recall that the Minister has several footin-the-mouth episodes to his credit, and this seems to add to an ever-expanding list of such occurrences. The Vice President referring to the Treasury’s assistance to the sugar industry told his audience “…wah you go take all the money from the treasury now and just give one section”. We wish to remind the Minister that in the life of the APNU+AFC Government, allocations to sugar represented 3.98 percent of the $968B that have been approved for spending across the four budgets of the Coalition Government. Certainly, when one looks at the tens of thousands of

Guyanese who depend on the sugar industry; or the services the industry provided to the nation, which the Finance Minister lamented in his letter to the media last week the State must now foot; or the economic activity generated by the industry; or the foreign exchange the industry garnered; the loss of thousands of workers contributions to the NIS and the GRA, apart from the other social factors, the Treasury’s investment was more than worthwhile. So while Minister Ramjattan wants to pat himself on the back for a job well done and offer quicksand-like defences for the Government’s callous approach to the sugar industry, there has been, as far as we see, no credible reason or any justification for the miseryfilled life that the workers and their families now face. Yours faithfully, Seepaul Narine General Secretary GAWU

Fear and hope reside in Guyanese ments, which is relatively try could revert to its unabroad high especially for those at democratic past. Dear Editor, I recently returned from a short vacation in the United States. I took the opportunity to interact with several relatives and friends, many of whom I have not seen for quite some time. My observation is that overall, Guyanese in the United States are doing well. There are several challenges such as home ownership and rentals for apart-

the bottom of the income ladder. I get the distinct impression that Guyanese love and care for their country and would love to see the country move forward. One overriding concern is that of the future of democracy in the country. There is a fair measure of trepidation that future elections in Guyana may not be free and fair and that the coun-

The crime situation also looms large in the psyche of Guyanese, many of whom are hesitant to return home out of fear of being attacked by criminal elements. Despite the above reservations, there is also some optimism that with the emerging oil and gas economy, living conditions in the country could improve. Hydar Ally

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Tuesday October 16, 2018

No conflict of interest in oil sector involvement – Nigel & Cathy Hughes Nigel and Catherine Hughes have rubbished speculation that there is conflict of interest in relation to Nigel’s involvement in the Oil and Gas industry while his wife sits as a Minister of Government and is a part of Cabinet. Yesterday, another section of the print media highlighted Transparency Institute of Guyana Incorporated (TIGI)’s concern about a possible conflict of interest with the Hugheses. TIGI called for more than oral assurances from government that it will avert all matters of conflict of interest. The body said too that the Integrity Commission should lead the way in having sound policies to address the issue. TIGI’s call comes against the backdrop of the Hughes, Fields & Stoby law firm establishing an office in Houston, Texas, to attract oil industry clients. Principal of the firm, attorney Nigel Hughes is the husband of Minister of Public Telecommunications Cathy Hughes. Head of TIGI, Dr Troy Thomas was quoted as saying “Just the fact that Nigel Hughes is the husband of Minister Cathy Hughes means that there is a potential conflict of interest. I hasten to reiterate that I am not, neither is TIGI, attempting to attack or make accusations against anyone.” Dr. Thomas questioned whether any declaration about the new business venture was made to the Integrity Commission, “which, I

Attorney at Law, Nigel Hughes

Minister of Public Telecommunications, Catherine Hughes

President of TIGI, Dr. Troy Thomas

believe, should handle matters involving ministers of government.” He continued to question, “If such a declaration was made, what steps were prescribed for the minister to take, and perhaps the firms as well, to guarantee that no conflict of interest will be acted upon? What continuing efforts do the minister and the firm have to make to keep conflict of interest at bay in the future.” Catherine Hughes has since issued a statement in response to the article. She referred to the article as an “implied attack” on her, but noted that she would “not dwell upon the motives for the publication.” She said that in July of this year, she submitted her declaration of assets and interest to the Integrity Commission.

“I am aware that the contents of my declaration are confidential but I will disclose that included in my declaration was a clear statement of my marriage to the Managing Partner of Hughes, Fields and Stoby and his interest in the firm. Following my submission to the Integrity Commission on the 9th day of October 2018 I repeated my disclosure to the Cabinet about my husband’s position as Managing Partner of Hughes Fields and Stoby as well as the firm’s intention to establish an office in Houston.” Further, Mrs. Hughes said that prior to the publication of the “implied attack”, she sought legal advice on the disclosure and compliance requirements set out in the Laws of Guyana. Meanwhile, Hughes, Fields and Stoby also issued

a statement. The company said, “We are not unaware that the Minister has sought independent legal advice on this matter.” Just like Mrs. Hughes, her husband’s company said that no efforts were made by the media to clarify if declarations were made. The company was concerned that the article quoted partner Greg Clark saying, at the opening ceremony, “I like to call it ‘legislative watchman’, that the firm will keep their eyes out for every law, rule, regulation or policy that could impact our clients and we’ll take it upon ourselves to give them a draft of that document, if it’s available, along with a memorandum summarising the potential impact that new legislation can have on the company, for those companies that want that service.”

The company said that the “clear insinuation is being that somehow Minister Hughes would provide the firm with advance information on what laws, regulations and policies were in the pipeline.” The company reminded about the process by which law, regulations and policies make their way into the legal effect. It said that most responsible governments, long before the introduction of new laws, regulations and/or policies, make public announcements and circulate the proposed laws, regulations and policies to stakeholders in the industry like bar associations, private sector organizations, civil society organizations and other stakeholders for comments. The bill on the establishment of the Petroleum Commission and local content are cases in point. “The current Government is no exception to this practice, and as a matter of fact several persons have severely criticized both of these proposals in the press and elsewhere long before they have become law or policy. Hughes, Fields and Stoby, like every other private organization, will have access to the above process without any special privileges, ministerial or otherwise.” Mr. Hughes’s company went on to state, “We are unaware of any recent instance where a cabinet decision went straight from cabinet into law without any prior announcement or consultation. The oil and gas industry is in its nascent stages and evidently

many laws, regulations and policies will ensue over the coming years. “ Hughes, Fields and Stoby said that the process of advising one’s clients on what is likely to come down the legislative, regulatory or policy “pipeline” is part of what Attorneys are hired to do. The process of consultation is designed to afford all stakeholders an opportunity to be heard whether they consist of the citizenry or those in the oil and gas industry. The law firm also said that its representation of major players in the industry preceded Catherine Hughes’s appointment to Cabinet as Minister of Tourism and now Minister of Public Telecommunication. It stated, “We do not and have not placed our integrity as the basis for any special consideration for favourable or other consideration in the event of a conflict whether by TIGI, Stabroek (News) or any other body. We do not offer any ‘word of mouth assurances’. We have been open, transparent and clear in the expression of our intentions here and in Houston. We did not seek to hide the establishment of our Houston office without any local announcement. We are keenly aware that in Guyana, the commercial imperatives of a rush to judgment without consultation particularly where government officials are concerned are significant. We seek no privileges, special or otherwise, just an accurate reflection of both sides of the coin.”

Three months after Diamond teen killed in Soesdyke...

Rural Constable slapped with murder charge Three months after a teenager was fatally stabbed after attending a wedding house celebration, a Rural Constable was yesterday charged and remanded for the murder. Tony George, 28, of Lot 75 Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara, was charged with the capital offence of murder when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. He was not required to plead to the indictable offence which stated that on July 9, last, at Soesdyke, Public Road, East Bank Demerara, he murdered Ricardo Singh. The man’s lawyer in addressing the court stated that his client, who is part of a Community Policing Group (CPG), acted lawfully in the execution of his duty on the day in question. The lawyer added that

Dead: Ricardo Singh the court may have to take a different course of action, citing that when the incident first occurred, a file was compiled and sent for advice and no charges were instituted. H o w e v e r, f a c t s p r e sented by Police Prosecutor Simone Payne stated

Remanded: Tony George that on the day in question, Ricardo Singh was at a wedding house celebration with some friends when an altercation ensued between him and other persons. The Prosecutor added that George arrested the teen and placed him in the

tray of a police vehicle and proceeded to take him to the station. The court heard that while proceeding to the station, George told the driver to stop the vehicle and he came out and ordered the teen to exit the vehicle. It was further stated in court that the Constable told the driver to go at the station and return with more officers. Payne told the court that the driver subsequently returned to the Soesdyke Public Road with a party of officers and they saw Singh lying motionless on the ground with what appeared to be several stab wounds to his stomach. The teen was then picked up and rushed to Diamond Diagnostic Centre where he was pronounced dead on arrival. An investigation was then conducted, and George was charged for the

offence after the file was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). It was reported that Singh, a fourth form student of the Diamond Secondary School, who resided at 63 Block 1&2 Diamond New Scheme, East Bank Demerara, got into an altercation at the wedding house on the day in question.

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It was reported that eyewitnesses at the scene saw George using excessive force on Singh after he resisted arrest. Magistrate McLennan after listening to the P r o s e c u t o r ’s f a c t s r e manded George. He was instructed to make his next court appearance on October 23 for report and disclosure.

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday October 16, 2018

High Court “has jurisdiction” to hear challenge by PPP to LGE boundaries Justice Gino Persaud has ruled that the High Court has jurisdiction to hear a challenge to the Local Government boundaries brought against the State by a member of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP). The highly anticipated ruling was handed down yesterday afternoon at the High Court in Georgetown. On September 10, the PPP, through its member Bibi Shaddick, filed a Judicial Review Application querying the authority of Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan and Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield, to identify by name, boundaries and seats, a number of Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) for the November 12 Local Government Elections (LGE). Shaddick is also a Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Commissioner for the Opposition. The PPP had accused the Government of manipulating (gerrymandering) LGE boundaries to undermine its stakes at the upcoming elections. The party promised to move to the Court to challenge the actions of the Minister and GECOM in this

regard. Before arriving at a decision, Justice Persaud told the court that there were two preliminary issues to consider. One is whether the court has jurisdiction to hear the merits of the application – an issue raised by Attorney General Basil Williams S.C and Solicitor General Kim Kyte-Thomas. The other issue was the contention raised by Anil Nandlall, Attorney-at-Law for Shaddick, that the State is barred from challenging t h e c o u r t ’s j u r i s d i c t i o n since it subjected to it when the case was first called on September 14, for Case Management Conference (CMC). Nandlall had contended that at the initial hearing, the Solicitor General did not question the jurisdiction of the court to hear the case, and it was until October 10, that the Attorney General raised the issue. As it relates to the first issue, Justice Persaud pointed out that Section 146:1 of the Local Authorities (Election) Act Chapter 28:03, is not relevant to the issue, as contended by the

State. According to Section 146:1 of the Act, (1) Any question whether any person has been validly elected as a councillor shall be referred to and determined by the Court. (2) Every such reference shall be by a petition (hereinafter referred to as an election petition) presented to the Court. The State had argued that information pertaining to the holding of LGE was published in the Official Gazette, which meant that the country is in progress of an election, and that any issues arising, can only be dealt with by an election petition. In relation to the second issue, the judge ruled that it was fallacious, without merit and cannot be sustained. According to the Judge, the authorities cited by Nandlall to support this argument were not relevant. In dismissing the argument, the Judge cited Rule 9:01 (1) of the New Civil Procedure Rule which states, “A party who seeks to dispute the Court’s jurisdiction or who contends

Conductor on wounding charge The two conductors had an altercation at Water Street, Georgetown. The result was one being badly wounded in the head and the other being charged. It is alleged that on September 27, last, 39-year-old Randy Monroe, who lives in La Penitence, Georgetown, and conducts a route 45 minibus in Georgetown, was on Water Street, Georgetown, when he unlawfully and mali-

ciously wounded Mark Waldron. Monroe pleaded not guilty to the charge, which was read to him by Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman. The police prosecutor told the court that about 09:30hrs on the day in question, Waldron was on Water Street, Georgetown, when he got into an argument with Monroe. Monroe then dealt him a

lash to the head with a “2 by 3 plank wood”. Waldron blacked out after receiving the hit and regained consciousness while in the Georgetown Public Hospital. He received six stitches for a head wound. The matter was reported to the Brickdam Police Station and Monroe was arrested. Monroe was granted bail to the tune of $100,000. His next court date is November 12.

Duo remanded for possession of illegal firearm Two men were yesterday remanded to prison for the possession of an illegal firearm. It is alleged that on October 12, last, Jason Augustine and Kevin Bobbsemple on Croal Street Georgetown, had in their possession one black and silver 9mm pistol without being holders of a firearm licence. Both men pleaded not guilty to the charge. In an application for bail, Augustine’s attorney stated that her client lives in Wismar, Linden, and that the firearm was found in a car that was occupied by other individuals and was not found on his person. Attorney Glen Hanoman, who represented Bobbsemple, in his application, stated that the gun was found in a bag in the back seat of a vehicle. The Police Prosecutor ob-

Jason Augustine (L) and Kevin Bobbsemple jected to bail given the seriousness of the offence. Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman then remanded the duo.

The court heard that on the day in question, acting on information, Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) (Continued on page 23)

that the court cannot exercise its jurisdiction to determine the Statement of Claim or Fixed Date Application must make an application for a declaration to that effect within the time required for filing a Defence or Affidavit in Defence.” The Judge highlighted that Shaddick’s application was not one which was filed with urgency. He said that the court, seeing the matter as one of national importance, scheduled an early date for hearing— which, among other things, is not a regular occurrence. No orders for costs were made by the Court. Justice Persaud indicated that a ruling in the matter will be made before LGE, which is set for November 12, 2018. The State was ordered to file an application in defence by October 22, while Shaddick will file a response by October 29. Thereafter, a date will be set by the Court for ruling. Reacting to yesterday’s ruling, the Attorney General said, “I am not sure what happened there. I will have to appeal the decision.”

According to the Attorney General, the principles outlined in Section 146:1 of the Local Authorities (Election) Act Chapter 28:03, as well as several case laws advance, are not only applicable to National Elections, but also LGE. Apart from referencing this section of the law, the Attorney General said he was not sure if the judge considered the other cases related to LGE, which were submitted by the State. He expressed, “I am surprised the judge did not deal with the authorities on LGE. A lot of monies have been spent on elections. We have to go ahead.” In the application, Nandlall admits that both the Minister and CEO have certain statutory responsibilities to discharge in relation to the holding of the elections. He however argues that the Minister has failed and/or omitted to follow certain procedures outlined in the Law in the creation of new NDCs, the creation of new seats in existing NDCs, as well as allocating seats in the new NDCs. The PPP contends that the Minister altered existing

boundaries within existing NDCs without any attempt to consult with important stakeholders, including the electors and the political parties. Section Three of the Local Democratic Organs Act, the PPP further contends, speaks of a process that involves members of the community being part of any process in relation to local governance. But according to the party, both the Minister and Chief Elections Officer failed to hold consultations. The party argues that the Chief Elections Officer fixed boundaries for the new NDCs that were created by the minister, when that is a duty for the minister himself. Among other things, the PPP’s court action seeks orders of certiorari, quashing the establishment of the new NDCs by the Minister, an order quashing the establishment of new members within existing NDCs, and an order quashing the CEO fixing boundaries without consultation. The PPP is also seeking orders of Mandamus, compelling the Minister and Chief Elections Officer to rectify these violations.

Misconduct in Public Office...

Magistrate bemoans delay of Brassington, Singh High Court proceedings Five months after Chief Justice Roxanne George granted a stay of proceedings into the Misconduct in Public Office charges against Ashni Singh and Winston Brassington - two high ranking officials of the former People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) government the matter was once again called in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. Yesterday when the matter was called in the courtroom of Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, Singh and Brassington were absent. Hence, the Magistrate asked the Special Prosecutor, Trenton Lake, what was causing the delay in the High Court proceedings, and he was unable to answer. The Magistrate subsequently adjourned the matters until November 13. She is hoping that there will be a ruling by that time. Singh and Brassington are jointly facing four charges of Misconduct in Public Office. The latest charge is in connection with wrongdoing in the Sanata Textiles deal with Queens Atlantic Investment Inc, which they have not appeared in court for the charge to be read to them. Queens Atlantic Investment Inc. is owned by Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop and Dr. Randy Singh, who are

Winston Brassington

Ashni Singh

close friends of former President Bharrat Jagdeo. It is alleged that Dr. Ashni Singh, being and performing duties of Minister of Finance, and Chairman of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited, a company owned by the Government; and Brassington, being and performing duties as the Chief Executive Officer of NICIL, a company owned by the Government, between October 26, 2010 and December 20, 2010 at Lot 126 Barrack Street, Kingston, Georgetown, by way of Agreement of Sale and Purchase, acted recklessly when they sold to Queens Atlantic Investment Inc, Sanata Texiles Complex, with building and erections thereon, that is to say, Parcel 4702, Part of Plantation Ruimveldt, situated on

the East Bank Demerara, being 18.871 acres, at $697,864,800.00 plus VAT, knowing that the said property was valued at the sum of $1,042,403,500.00, and was therefore being sold at a price that was grossly undervalued, thereby creating a breach of their duties. The two men are already facing three charges of Misconduct in Public Office. However, Justice Franklyn Holder put a temporarily halt on those criminal proceedings against the former Ministers. The ruling halted Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan from proceeding with the matters, until the hearing and determination of the substantive challenge over the validity of the charges, which is before Chief Justice (ag) Roxanne George-Wiltshire.

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday October 16, 2018

Local government elections are a waste of time Local government elections will not make much difference in your life or bring much improvement in your communities. Local government authorities have limited finances, poor administrative skills and without government subventions, are not able to do much. Communities are at a low stage of development. It will take a massive influx of resources to develop these communities. Most communities, for example, do not have concrete

drains. The cost of this basic infrastructure can never be met by local authorities. Thus, these communities and their local authorities will be dependent on central government until they enjoy modern amenities. Local communities need a strong dose of central government investment. They need to be nursed to maturity before any attempt is made to “liberate” them through local government elections.

Local authorities lack the resources to undertake the infrastructure needed to become modern communities. Because they lack this capacity, they end up maintaining the status quo of dependence on central government financing. M o s t o f G u y a n a ’s communities lie along the coast and were designed to keep persons tied to the plantations. When the plantations needed to release water, they did so into the drainage canals

DEM BOYS SEH

Prisoners gon always get away once you beat dem Every year, dem got some problem at one of dem prisons. Yesterday, de problem was at Lusignan. Dat mek it three year in a row dat prisoners behaving bad and causing problems. One year dem bun down a section and eighteen of dem dead. De next year, some of dem get away and de rest bun down de whole prison. Dis time is de same thing. Three of dem get away. De guards was sleeping. Now if is a set of people guarding, one would believe dat dem would tek turns sleeping but when everybody sleeping at de same time, it got to be dat somebody drug dem food or dem tea. Dat is wha does happen when prison officers like dem mouth and dem belly. It does also happen when dem think dat dem is boss and beating prisoners. Dem boys want to know which prisoner wouldn’t get away if de prison officers beating dem. Of course people does always seh how prisoners bad and how dem causing problems. But dem boys want dem same people to know dat if you tek way dem prisoners’ ganja and dem cigarette and dem lighter, dem

gon get away to get dem same things. Dem boys sure dat when dem prisoners get ketch, all of dem high like a kite and sleeping. Three years and three jailbreak. Ramjattan got to do something. Just like how Saudi Arabia got to do something. De King and de prince get ketch wid dem pants down. Dem kill de reporter and fuh de past two weeks, dem telling a different story. One time dem tell de world how de got evidence to show dat de man walk in and walk out de embassy. Then, dem seh de man ain’t dead. Now dem seh de man dead. De king start to blame some odda people but now dat he can’t cover up no more, he telling people how dem torture de man and he dead. Once you tell one lie, you got to tell anodda to cover up de first lie. De cover up is always de wuss part. When you get ketch is nuff shame. Dem admit de man dead, dem got to seh wheh he body deh. Dat is like wha de turkey seh, “Is a hell of a hobble”. Talk half and see how Saudi Arabia gon dig anodda hole.

Retrial of ‘Cobra’ for 2010 murder…

Mother recalls pathologist removing bullet from son’s head It was an emotional 20 minutes for Gloria Sultan, the mother of Troy Collymore who was murdered on August 05, 2010. The woman was called to testify yesterday in the trial of Tyrone Rowe called ‘Cobra’ who is accused of fatally shooting her Collymore, also known as ‘Collie’. Collymore was shot after a robbery at a pharmacy in Plaisance, East Coast Demerara. The man was declared clinically dead two days later at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation. When the retrial commenced yesterday, the mother took to the witness box and recalled her final moments with her son. Sultan, of Plaisance, East Coast Demerara, told the court that on the day in question, she and her son were chatting

Tyrone Rowe called ‘Cobra’ inside her bedroom when he left after telling her something. According to Sultan, the next day she was summoned to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where she saw her son lying on a

bed attached to a life support machine. She added that the next day she went back to the hospital where she saw her son’s body taken to the mortuary. The woman burst out in tears after she recalled witnessing a bullet being removed from her son’s head by the Pathologist on August 09, 2010. “Why is this happening again? This is memories,” she cried. Her son, she said, was buried on August 14, 2010. Rowe is about 25 years of age now. The murder accused is on trial before Justice Sandil Kissoon and a 12-member mixed jury at the High Court in Georgetown. Rowe is being represented by Attorney-at-Law George Thomas. The case for the State is being presented by Prosecutors Lisa Cave and Orinthia Schmidt.

that ran through the villages, wreaking untold misfortune on the inhabitants. No amount of taxes collected was ever sufficient to deal with this and the myriad other problems that these communities encountered as surrogates of the plantations. And the collection of taxes has always been a bugbear. First of all, there are always problems with the rate of tax collections in communities. This rate has historically been poor. In short, if people can delay not paying, they do not pay, and this is why when you examine rates and taxes within the system you do not only find that it is abysmally low in relation to the services to be provided, but the collection rate is low. Modernizing the local government system will have to involve granting the local authorities the power to levy on the assets on rate payers, including seizing property for nonpayment of rates and taxes. But this will never pass muster in a country in which the political parties believe that patronage involves ignoring the civil duties of citizens. On top of this, for a small country that inherited a local government system that was highly dependent on central government, Guyana has distorted the

system further by instituting many layers of local authorities. These were intended to mimic the system in Cuba, but have ended up becoming highly burdensome. So there is a layer known as the NDC which lacks economies of scale; then there are municipalities which tend to be larger but which are highly politicized; then there is a regional layer in a country of 750,000 persons divided into ten administrative regions. These multiple layers also present human resource constraints. It is hard enough to find enough talent for parliament, much less to find enough qualified and competent persons to be councilors of the municipalities, and then within the villages to find sufficient numbers of similarly competent persons to become NDC councilors. On top of that, more persons have to be found by the political parties to be part of the regional system. The political parties which contest local government elections will always be challenged to find sufficient competent persons to fill all of these layers. The entire system needs to be simplified. Either the regional system is dissolved or if it be kept, the NDCs are done away

with. They cannot co-exist. The system needs to be revamped. Unfortunately, loyalty to a party’s history prevents the system from being completely disassembled, because no one wants to argue that our still very much socialist local government structure is ill-suited to modern local government demands. So Guyana ends up fiddling with a few formulas, and in the end entrench a structure that remains antiquated and backward. If any liberation is needed it is from the resistance to dismantling the entire system and replacing it with a less politicized system. W h y, f o r e x a m p l e , should the elections not be a full first-past-the-post system, where you vote only for candidates and discard the proportional representation element? But that we know will never happen, and therefore local government will not bring about any positive change, ever.

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday October 16, 2018

=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===

Theresa May, David Granger and the Stabroek News All newspapers in the world have editorial policies which its journalists have to accept. The very latest manifestation of this tradition is the New York Review of Books, one of the most formidable, intellectually strong media organs in the entire world. I doubt there is an academic anywhere in the world that does not read this publication. Three weeks ago, its editor was removed because he carried a defensive essay by a notorious

Canadian journalist, Jian Ghomeshi, known for violently assaulting his lovers and for which he was charged. Twenty women have accused him of sadistic deportment. In the age of the #Me Too movement, it is editorial policy of most newspapers not to give coverage to men who abuse women. The editorial of a newspaper on a person, place or event is the paper’s position. We have an interesting situation where one of the Stabroek News’ journalists broke with the paper’s position over the relationship between the AFC and APNU in the power-sharing blueprint they birthed in February 2015. In an editorial of November 27, 2017, the Stabroek News (SN) wrote a defining piece on the lopsided nature of power in the coalition government.

It was a trenchant, sarcastic critique of the amorphous anatomy of the APNU+AFC arrangement. To grasp the power of the editorial, one needs to read some of its content. Here are selected parts; (1) - “Not only did the AFC fail to put in place a mechanism to keep its partner in line… in the last 30 months there has been no real attempt by the AFC to ensure that even what was agreed in the Cummingsburg Accord was followed to the letter much less to comment critically on the behaviour of APNU.” (2) “An early attempt to tame the powers of the Minister of State Joseph Harmon led to internal upheaval in the AFC which was a clear sign that it had no stomach for that fight and the capitulation was set in train from that point.” (3) – “The AFC’s handling of the GECOM deci-

sion and others raises legitimate concerns about whether it is a real partner in the governing coalition and whether as an independent entity it can ever be viable again.” From reading the three quotes, the newspaper is saying that the AFC has been side-lined by its larger partner, the APNU. There has been trouble in the coalition camp since it won power not only between AFC and APNU but between the WPA and in the PNC within the APNU umbrella. In fact, the AFC shamelessly hides its mistreatment by APNU w h e r e a s t h e WPA g o e s public with its dissatisfaction. The most glaring attempt by the AFC to curb the power of APNU was its press statement after its retreat two years ago at the Convention Centre. The release called for the rimming of the many portfolios of the ministry of the presidency. APNU rejected that request. We have reached the stage of uneasiness between the AFC and APNU on the one hand and the WPA and the PNC on the other. AFC has

gone in LGE on its own. WPA wants cash transfer from oil revenue to the poorer classes, a position President Granger and many other APNU ministers reject. Here now is a sordid example of servile journalism from SN as carried in the papers interview with President Granger. The interviewer told Granger; “…You are now the leading presidential expert on coalition government; I do not think anybody comes close to you in terms of managing coalition government in Guyana.” This is pathetic nonsense. The coalition between the PPP and the Civic Component was far more stable and smoother that the current coalition. From day one, the coalition was pregnant with potential nightmares. The coalition is so fragile that its ungainly shape has virtually decapitated the AFC. It is the opinion of this columnist that the AFC is now a thing of the past. It is electorally dead perhaps more buried alive than the WPA. The SN’s own position is that the coalition has in-

Frederick Kissoon herent problems so what success has Granger chalked up in managing coalition administration? The coalition is alive and the government carries on but this is not due to the leadership qualities of David Granger, qualities I believe he hardly possesses. If Granger is managing anything, it is managing to stay in power. If the SN journalist sees Granger as a successful preserver of coalition regimes, then it would be useful to hear that journalist’s perspective on Prime Minister, Teresa May’s hold on her government. With each passing day, her position becomes shakier. Maybe Stabroek News should do an interview with her.

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday October 16, 2018

NAC has capacity to help prepare offshore medical schools for accreditation Even as concerns continue to mount over the accreditation status, or lack thereof, of offshore medical schools here in Guyana, the National Accreditation Council [NAC] has made it clear that while it can lend these institutions support to be accredited, it can only do so if asked. At least this is according to an NAC official, who yesterday informed this publication that the institution is always ready and willing to lend its support. Based on information that has reached Kaieteur News, while it is believed that the NAC has the power to fully accredit such institutions, this is not the case. This publication was told that the NAC is responsible for registering these institutions so that they can operate in Guyana. “We can register them, because that is what is legally required of the NAC,” the official said. In order for these institutions to be accredited, they must subscribe to a number of criteria. Moreover, among the areas that are examined for them to be registered include: governance, policies regarding students, financ-

ing, facilities, faculty, among others. “While we [NAC] do the ground work, we have evaluators, like doctors and so, who come in to evaluate these institutions that are seeking registration,” said the official. Indeed the operators of these institutions are fully aware that they cannot be accredited by NAC, this publication was informed. There are reports that some of these institutions have been advertising themselves as internationally accredited and have been luring students from as far as India and Africa to take advantage of their programmes. Kaieteur News has however learnt that at least one institution, the Texila American University [TAU], had sought international accreditation from the Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and other Health Professions [CAAM-HP], but it was denied. CAAM-HP, which was established in 2003, is an accrediting body for medical, veterinary and dental schools for the Caribbean Community [CARICOM]

member states. Reports reaching this publication suggest that TAU was denied accreditation despite its claims that it had complied with the demands of CAAM-HP. When this development was communicated to an official at NAC yesterday, the official assured that the NAC was not aware that TAU was denied accreditation, and therefore could not offer a position on the matter. “At this time we cannot express any official concern, but we do encourage these medical schools to continue to seek accreditation with CAAM-HP.” “We don’t know on what grounds they were denied accreditation and unless we see the report [they got from CAAM-HP], we don’t know how to help them. Our role also is to help institutions to come to a place where they can stand up to international scrutiny. Unless they are willing to share their challenges and shortcomings, we don’t know how to help...we can provide training, we can provide technical support and so, but we can’t do that unless they are willing to open-

Teen on $500,000 bail for burglary at Toolsie Persaud’s house Eighteen-year-old Fiaz Mohammed of 117 North Vigilance, East Coast Demerara was yesterday charged for breaking and entering the property of Toolsie Persaud and stealing $370,000 in currency and $130,000 worth in cellular phones. It is alleged that the teen, on September 9, last, broke and entered the dwelling place of Toolsie Persaud and stole $10,000 Guyana dollars, $1,000 United States Dollars and $1,000 Canadian dollars, all to the value of $370,000 Guyana dollars. A second charge was also read against the defendant, which alleged that on the said date at the said location, he stole 2 cellular phones valued at $70,000 and $60,000 - property of Trisha Persaud. The teen pleaded not guilty to both of the charges that were read to him by Principal Magistrate, Judy Latchman. Police Prosecutor Richard Harris told the court that

Fiaz Mohammed Mohammed and the virtual complainants are known to each other and that on the day in question, at about 10:00 hrs, the complainants left the items mentioned in the charge in their bedrooms and went to church.

When they returned they noticed that the articles were missing, a report was later made to the police and an investigation was launched which resulted Mohammed being arrested and charged. Upon being arrested, Mohammed reportedly made an oral confession, saying “Yes, I broke into the house and stole the phones and the money. I took the money and buy two bus tyres and gave the phones to a cousin to sell” Mohammed was represented by Attorney-at-Law Paul Fung-a-Fat, who told the court that his client is employed as a construction worker, has a fixed place of abode, and has been in police custody for a week. The attorney requested that his client be released on reasonable bail. The prosecutor had no objections to bail. The magistrate then granted $250,000 bail for each of the charges and ordered Mohammed to return to court on October 29.

up,” said the official. The official continued, “It is not just for their benefit but for the benefit of their students and their faculty as well, because it can affect their standing. Each institution must do a self-study to see where they are and where they need to improve. In this global competitive world meeting those standards and continuous development is encouraged.” Currently, the only institution that provides tertiary medical education in Guyana, which benefits from CAAM-HP accreditation, is the University of Guyana [UG]’s 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 CAAM-HP 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 accreditation,” 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 nation’s tourism sector which is now redirecting focus to medical tourism.

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday October 16, 2018

Company claims City Hall owes it $135M for ‘emergency’ cleanup work around G/T A private construction company is accusing the Mayor and City Council of Georgetown of owing it $135M for clean-up works it carried out around the city. Finance Manager of XL Engineering Aysha Harrop told the Commission of Inquiry, (COI) into City Hall yesterday that the works were conducted during the city-wide cleanup campaign in 2015. According to Harrop,

XL Engineering conducted site cleaning and removal of debris on behalf of City Hall, as well as clearing of weeds in the cemetery from the year 2015. The work, she added cost a total $150M. Harrop however explained that the company did not sign a contract with City Hall, since the Town Clerk told them the work was an emergency. “We did not sign a contract. Mr Royston King

would always take us to the site and say do the work. It was an emergency, so we don’t need to go through the tender process. Mr King however gave us a letter stipulating how much we still owe the company,” she added. The witness explained to the commission that although the company received “a small amount”, $135M was still outstanding. Harrop spoke of one

contract the company shared between the Council and the Ministry of Communities for $15M. She however noted that the company only received $9M from that contact. “When we inquired about the payment Mr King told us that he no longer had the money.” The witness tendered several documents to support her claims. Former Deputy Mayor of Georgetown, Sherod

Duncan had previously pointed to several instances in which he says Town Clerk King bypassed the prescribed procurement process for the doling out of contracts. Duncan raised concerns at the manner in which the City’s administration dealt with the distribution of contracts. He particularly highlighted what he described as the wanton abuse by Council’s administration of the Emergency Clause under Section 234 of the Municipal District Council‘s Act Chapter 280:1. The clause speaks to the variation of tender procedure in cases of emergency. Duncan noted that the Emergency Clause is applied for almost every contract handed out by City Hall - more particularly by the Office of the Town Clerk. “If you have an emergency and you can’t go to tender, you are allowed to bypass that system, but you must report to Council afterwards. (However) everything seems to be using the Emergency Clause. I noted this from the time I became a Councillor in 2016,” said Duncan, who also chaired the Legal Affairs Committee of the Georgetown M&CC. “During my tenure as Councillor, Deputy Mayor and Chairman of the Legal Affairs Committee, I have never seen a single contract come before Council for vetting and approval. Except for the parking meter contract, which took months of agitation before the administration yielded to the Councillor’s request to peruse the document, no other contract was forthcoming. “In fact, it was through the intervention of the

Town Clerk Royston King Minister of Communities that Councillors were able to have that contract at their disposal.” “I would argue that around 90 -95 per cent of the work of council is subcontracted out, from acquisition of stationery to vehicles, garbage collection and disposal. So it should involve a process of tender and vetting by Council.” “But the only tendering process that I can recall published during my time at City Hall is the one for the repair of the Stabroek Market Clock. “ Besides the controversial Parking Meter contract, the former Deputy Mayor listed the $125M contract which was handed to Chung Global for the clearing of Le Repentir Cemetery among the contracts which were listed as emergencies. “And that is why it is my humble estimation, that there is a wanton abuse by the Council’s administration of the Emergency , because you cannot manage a Council for three years using ‘emergency’ in every instance to bypass the tendering process, “Duncan stated.

Tuesday October 16, 2018

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

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Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezerCall: 610-5846 or 661-8158

25 Yamaha HP, stone separator ( Wash plant for gold), Diamond Lavrador. Metal Detector 30x50, Rubberized Tarpaulin. Call: 613-5062 1-250 KVA Onan Gen set powered by Cummins Engine. Contact numbers 662-2508, 677-9625

SALON September Cosmetology SALON Courses $40,000 Nail Technology $25,000 Advance Make-up $15,000, All products provided. Abby #614-6749

2007 Toyota Hilux Double Cab PKK5129, 2012 Toyota Avenis PPP3653. Call: 691-0241/6006566 to inspect & make an offer

VEHICLE FOR SALE

GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 225-7878 (24HRS)

Allion, Primo, Fielder Wagon, Spacio, Bluebird, 212 Carina, RZ,Pit-bull, Allex, 192 & Canter – Call: 650-7501

LEARN TO DRIVE N. Outar Driving School, Learn to Drive the right way. Affordable package. Call: 644-5166/691-2561 HEALTH HERBAL REMEDIES: Diabetes, Hypertension, Infertility, Menstrual disorders, Enlarged prostate, Kidney,Gall stones & Arthritis etc. Call Sparman #676-5924

FOR RENT

WANTED

PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION, W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620

1 Air compressor 5HP 3 Phase 230/220 volts. Call: 628-1486/ 698-1134

1 Three bedroom bottom flat apartment. Fully refurbished @ Back St Better Hope. Prime location. Tel# 220-1583. 7:00am-5:00pm 1 Three (3) Bedroom upstairs flat in Atlantic Gardens E.C.D Tel# 227-4377, 227-0613, 6246013,645-7248 1 Downstairs for business at Vreed-en-Hoop W.C.D Tel# 227-4377, 227-0613, 6246013,645-7248 One bedroom self contained, semi furnished apartment, 5 Avenue Diamond EBD. Tel# 628-5226 1 & 2 bedroom apartments. Nandy Park EBD. Recently renovated, free Wifi, 60k monthly #641-3318 1 bedroom furnished apartment US $25 a day, monthly package available #225-1418/ 601-1585 fully secured, Charlestown Salon for rental & Hair/ Stations makeup for rental, New Market Street Tel#6381106/699-6505 2 & 3 bedrooms apartment for rent, First floor 3 bedrooms & second floor 2 bedrooms 186 Waterloo Street, South Cummingsburg. Call Jenny #698-4440 Store to rent. 1st Street Bartica. 4000 sq ft. Tel # 6644663 / 650-0402 PROPERTY FOR SALE Commercial Property 40w X 230L East Bank Public RoadNext to Harbour Bridge Transported 233-6997/6221957 600K USD Negotiable

TAXI SERVICE

Nissan Laurel executive car, Toyota Ipsum 7 seater car, Nissan Pathfinder Jeep. Hot bargains! Call: 660-3415/6097766 Toyota Rav 4. PKK series, great condition, very attractive prices. Tel#218-1376 1 BMW 320I car for sale. PTT series. Owner leaving country. Price Neg. Contact 697-4726, 259-0288, 259-0227

Tuesday October 16, 2018

House Lots for Sale Private Scheme 3 Million GYD Down Payment 500K 20K Monthly 10 years no interest Transported.233-6997/ 6221957 Norton Street $15M Diamond $13M, $12M & 3.5M Aubre Barker $40M DaSilva Street, Agricola $7.5M #231-2199, 618-7483 Better Hope Back St. 2 Story building. Extra land. Well built. Prime location. Call between 7:00am - 5:00pm. 220-1583 3 bedrooms spacious colonial house @ Versailles Public Road. Huge yard with fruit trees, all amenities intact. Call: 660-3415/609-7766

Manager to work @ 704. Contact : 223-5273/74, 2275003 1 experienced mechanic to work in the interior, must know about Cummings engine #6994718 Contract cars, drivers & dispatchers. Tel# 231-0002/ 231-0316 Attractive live in waitressCall: 327-0252/674-4665 Welder/Fabricator for interior location. Applicants must be experienced with verifiable references. Call: 618-2020 Steel erectors to work in the Mazaruni area. Please make contact with Paul Tel# 2278682/227-3681/225-3682 Waitress to work in bar, preferably from WBD. Tel# 679-2612

VACANCY One experienced male sale attendant with stocktaking knowledge. One porter. Apply with hand written application Keyfood McDoom Village Vacancy for Driver, Civil Engineer, Security. Contact #223-5273, 223-5274/2275003 Taxi Drivers, Minibus driver for Route 42 Bus. #646-8748 1 Experienced Diesel Mechanic. Call: 223-5273/ 223-5274 Antonio’s Grille night supervisor with chef experience. Tel#225-7933 or visit 172 Sheriff Street Receptionist age 25-45, visit 233 South road Lacytown. Tel#225-0198 Maid for East Bank, cook & clean #614-4358 Female cleaner Office & Home. #233-2745

Mechanics wanted, preferably from the WBD. Tel# 660-1269 Live in or live out babysitter/ domestic- Call: 223-7500 Monday to Saturday 8:15am4:15pm Wanted experienced hire car taxi driver at Ramada Princess Hotel. Tel# 616-5419/265-7075 Cane cutters needed- Uivlugt #661-2828 Mature Live-in coupleGeorgetown area. HusbandDriver Mechanic, WifeDomestic. Tel#227-1830 Canter driver/ sales man with secondary education. Tel# 618-9186 or 226-0772 Land dredge workers marack and jetman. Tel: 226-0772, 6750587 Female dispatcher needed. Classy Ride Taxi Service. 18 Handbury Nandy Park E.B.D. #233-5227, 682-1616 Cooks, Kitchen assistants, apply @ Shantas 225 Camp & New Market. One maid. Tel #225-3234/2259223 One Housekeeper/Cook preferably from East Coast Demerara. #624-4633 One Supervisor to work shift system, preferably from Kitty/ Campbellville. #623-5255 FOR SALE/RENT American Pool table. Tel#2770578

CAR RENTAL DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL:225-7126/ 2263 6 9 3 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL @YAHOO.COM/ WWW.D OLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS FROM $4000 & UP, SUV’S PER DAY- CALL:643-5122/ 6 5 6 - 0 0 8 7 , ,EMAIL:PRO_AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.COM LAND FOR SALE Sarah Johanna Road to road $8M Farm Land, Wharf Land 21/2 acres East Coast $200M Tel#231-2199, 618-7483 House and land for sale Mon Repos ECD 2 in 1 land transported. Tel#658-1874 Transported land 11.6 acres. Lot 15 public road. #2 Village W.C.B. Price $18M. Contact 686-4818, 648-7109 Parfaite Harmonie $1.4M Ten year up $2.5M Farm $2.6M $4.5M Tuschen $1.2M Uivlugt $2.7M. Call: 666-2326

Lima Sands road paved

The Lima Sands Approach Rd Phase 1, on the Essequibo coast, is now essentially completed. According to the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, the

asphalt course was laid on the 23rd and 24th September 2018 and on Thursday, October 12, 2018 by the contractor, Mohammed Fawaaz Bacchus. Testing of the Asphaltic

Concrete is being done by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure laboratory. There have been reported issues over the road and how it was being done.

Importance of teachers, welfare officers in combatting drugs in schools emphasised The Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU), in its fight against illicit drug use has highlighted the importance of the aid of teachers and welfare officers in detecting the use of narcotics within schools. The initiative, originally implemented in 2014, seeks to assist officials with the tracking of drug sources as well as to combat the issue of drug use among minors. During a two-day consultation, CANU, the Narcotics Division of the Guyana Police Force and the United Nations International Children’s Emerg e n c y F u n d ( U NICEF), joined forces to train and equip teachers and welfare officers with the necessary skills to detect drug use in schools. UNICEF Education Specialist, Ms. Audrey Rodrigues explained that the approach that needed to be taken could not have

been done by just one agency, this in turn led to the collaboration of several agencies in combating the issue. She added that the goal of UNICEF and the Education Ministry is to provide safe school environments for students. UNICEF in its Safe School Protocol, sets out standards and guidelines to promote practices, which will contribute to the good development of students’ welfare. The training of welfare officers and teachers in detecting drug use in students is expected to affect the education system greatly. She explained to the participants that the consultation provides them with a unique opportunity to review the Protocol and make submissions that can serve to improve it, so that it can benefit students, teachers, and welfare officers while making each party accountable for their actions.

The main training themes focused on drug types and classification, mental health, curriculum integration, addiction, identification of drugs, treatment programmes for children and conducting random inspections. Assistant Chief Education Officer (Primary), Mr. Owen Pollard, stated that the ministry has amplified its efforts through the establishment of a task force that includes enforcement agencies like the Guyana Police Force and CANU. Deputy Head of CANU, Mr. Lesley Ramlall related that the use of synthetic drugs in the schools have gone up since 2017 whilst a decrease was seen in the use of cannabis, cocaine and alcohol. The training of welfare officers and teachers to detect the use of drugs within schools seeks to effect a great change in the development of students.

Vendor charged for threatening fireman with cutlass A vendor who allegedly threatened a fireman with a cutlass, in front of the fire station on Water Street, was yesterday before a court in relation to the matter. It is alleged that on October 10, last, 52-year-old Mark Donet, who operates a general stand in the Stabroek Market, made used of threatening behaviour towards Marlon Philadelphia, at Water Street. Georgetown. Principal Magistrate Judy

Latchman read the charge to the Third Street, Alberttown resident who pleaded not guilty. The Police Prosecutor told the court that the defendant picked up a cutlass and told the alleged victim “this is what I’ll use to chop you up with”. The virtual complainant (VC), Philadelphia, said they were doing some cleaning up in front of the fire station, and he noticed a drop cord “running along the line” and he

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Tuesday October 16, 2018

told Donet to remove the drop cord, which he refused to do so. Philadelphia then went on to say, “y’all don’t like when people talk nice to y’all... it is illegal for you to have the drop cord running here. That’s when the defendant allegedly started with the threatening behaviour towards the fireman. The defendant was granted bail to the tune of $50,000. He will make his next appearance on November 8.

Voir dire enters second week A voir dire heads into its second week in the trial of two men who are accused of murdering a watchman. The men Shivnarine Jainarine called ‘Sammy’ or Samuel, 24, of Train Line Dam, Port Mourant Corentyne and Ryan Persaud, called ‘K.K’, 23, of Rose Hall Town, Corentyne, Berbice are accused of murdering security guard Jagdat Ramcharran, called “Ronald”, 61, a father of two of Bloomfield, Corentyne, Berbice between January 6 and January 7, 2013. They are on trial before Justice Priya Sewnarine Beharry and a mixed Jury in the Berbice High Court. The man’s body was found bound and gagged at the Iskcon Hari Krishna Mandir at Block 6 Williamsburg, Corentyne. Attorney Mursalene Bacchus is representing Jainarine while attorney at Law Arudranauth Gossai is appearing for Persaud. The Prosecutor is Attorney at Law Mandel Moore. Justice Beharry had earlier overruled defence counsel’s objections to the admissibility of a caution statement. The defence had objected to the statement, arguing that it does not form part of the records so that it could not be admitted in the High Court.

Ryan Persaud

Jagdat Ramcharran

They argued that there was never a finding in the Magistrate’s Court by the Magistrate that the statement was free and voluntary. They subsequently argued that in light of their arguments, the evidence could not be led in the trial. The lawyers backed up their arguments with a number of legal submissions and authority. Prosecutor Attorney-atlaw Mandel Moore responded to the defence arguments and also submitted legal submission to support his arguments. Justice Beharry after pe-

rusing the arguments overruled the defence objections. The security guard’s body was discovered around 03:00 hrs by a worshipper who visited the temple early morning to worship. When he arrived, no one came to greet him and the gate was locked. After making several calls and getting no response, the worshipper scaled the fence and to his horror, noticed the watchman lying on the ground in a bloody state on an adjoining veranda with his hand and feet bound and the place ransacked. A number of items were missing.

Duo remanded for possession... From page 8 ranks intercepted motorcar PNN 5156, which at the time was driven by Bobbsemple with Augustine in the passenger seat. A search was conducted and the weapon was found in the back seat of the car. Bobbsemple provided the court with a caution statement, while Augustine admitted orally to having the gun. Hanoman argued that the statement provided by Bobbsemple should favour his client. The men were remanded to prison and ordered to make their next court appearance on November 12.

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Tuesday October 16, 2018

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NFL roundup: Pats end Chiefs’ unbeaten run Tom Brady passed for 340 yards, and the New England Patriots got a 28-yard field goal from Stephen Gostkowski as time expired Sunday night to beat the Chiefs 43-40 at Foxborough, Mass., dumping Kansas City from the unbeaten ranks. Matched against a firstyear starter, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, Brady led the Patriots on a gamewinning drive in the final three minutes. His 39-yard strike to tight end Rob Gronkowski gave New England (4-2) a goal-to-go situation in the final seconds. The win was the 200th in the regular season for Brady as a starting quarterback.

Sony Michel added 106 rushing yards for New England. Mahomes countered with 352 yards passing, going 23 of 36 with four touchdowns and two interceptions for the Chiefs (5-1). Rams 32, Broncos 20 Todd Gurley rushed for two touchdowns and a career-best 208 yards on 28 carries as Los Angeles remained undefeated, holding on for a v i c t o r y a t D e n v e r. T h e Rams improved to 6-0, their best start since the 2001 St. Louis Rams won their first six games on their way to a berth in Super Bowl XXXVI. Broncos quarterback Case Keenum was 25 of 41 for 322

yards and two touchdowns with one interception. Denver dropped its fourth consecutive game after opening the season 2-0. Broncos wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders caught seven passes for 115 yards and a touchdown. Ravens 21, Titans 0 Baltimore set a franchise record with 11 sacks, one sack shy of the NFL record, and Alex Collins scored two touchdowns as Baltimore shut out Tennessee in Nashville, Tenn. The Ravens (4-2) outgained the Titans 361-106. Tennessee (3-3) converted just one of 10 third downs, and all nine of its possessions ended in punts.

Tuesday October 16, 2018 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Your intuitive abilities should be operating at a very high level today, Aries. You might inadvertently receive some positive psychic messages about your future, and this could prove very exciting. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) A friend could introduce you to an exciting new person for whom you feel a very powerful physical attraction, Taurus. This meeting could prove exciting, but stay calm and remain objective.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Your physical energy is likely to be high today, Libra, so you might not feel like staying indoors. Take care of your body first, and get in a good workout. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) An exciting rush of physical passion could hit you today when you're introduced to an interesting new person. Take care not to wear it on your face. You generally don't like to reveal that much of yourself!

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Some exciting career developments could have you flying high today. Perhaps you've just reached a long-term goal or managed to get a break

SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21) Chores that need to be done around the house could be at the top of your priority list today, Sagittarius. A female visitor, perhaps your mother, could come by and making your place look great

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Tonight you might decide to attend a group activity of some kind, perhaps one concerned with philosophical or spiritual matters

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Today you may have some important phone calls to make, Capricorn, and want to get them out of the way before doing anything else.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Your financial situation could be greatly boosted by a development you hadn't expected, Leo. Perhaps some investments suddenly skyrocket in value, or maybe the homes in your neighborhood are suddenly worth more than you thought.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) Good news about money could create some excitement in your household today, Aquarius. One of your goals might be to invest some of the funds in fixing up your living situation. You might even consider moving or purchasing a new home.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) A legal matter that may have been pending for a while could finally be completed today, Virgo. It's very likely to go in your favor. Therefore, if you've been sitting on a contract, agreement, or other document that needs your signature, read it carefully before you sign.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) An intriguing new neighbor, perhaps someone you're attracted to, could move in near you. You will probably strike up a conversation and enjoy talking with him or her. Whether you choose to pursue this attraction depends on both of your current situations

Joe Flacco completed 25 of 37 passes for 238 yards, one interception and a touchdown pass to Michael Crabtree, who had six catches for 93 yards. Collins finished with 54 yards on 19 carries. Steelers 28, Bengals 21 Ben Roethlisberger threw a 31-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Brown with 10 seconds remaining for the gamewinning score to lift Pittsburgh to victory in Cincinnati. Cincinnati (4-2), which has now lost to Pittsburgh seven straight times, including playoff matchups, took a 21-20 lead with 1:18 remaining on a 4-yard touchdown run by Joe Mixon, but the Bengals left too much time for the Steelers (3-21). Roethlisberger was 32-of-46 passing for 369 yards to lead Pittsburgh, while Andy Dalton was 26-of-42 for 229 yards and two touchdowns for the Bengals. Cowboys 40, Jaguars 7 Quarterback Dak Prescott threw for two touchdowns and ran for a third as host Dallas Cowboys embarrassed Jacksonville in Arlington, Texas. Prescott completed 17 of 27

Eagles and Ravens... From page 31 bounced back to their winning ways on Sunday with a deserved 12-point win over Kobras in the junior division. Eagles’ Captain Shemar Huntley (23) was the go to man in the win and he completely dominated the scoring for his side with no other player reaching into double digits, while Somesh Danram and Sherland Gillis both netting eight points to be the other main contributors in the win. The main contributors for the losing club were James Lakhan (14) and Amoniki John (11). Basketball continues tomorrow night at the outdoor facility with two matches in the Under-23 Division. The first clash will tip off at 18:30hrs featuring the winless Pepsi Sonics against Pacesetters, while Eagles will play University of Guyana (UG) Trojans at 20:30hrs in the feature match. Meanwhile on Thursday, Sonics will bounce with Vikings in the Second Division from 18:30hrs, while Kobras will play Republic Bank Nets in the First Division at 20:30hrs. The round robin stage of this competition will conclude on November 15 with the three-game finals for each division commencing one week later.

passes for 183 yards while rushing for a career-high 82 yards on 11 carries. Running back Ezekiel Elliott pounded out 106 yards and a score on 24 carries, while wide receiver Cole Beasley torched the heralded Jacksonville secondary for nine catches, 101 yards and two touchdowns. Kicker Brett Maher added four field goals, including a career-high 55-yarder in the fourth quarter, for Dallas (33). The Cowboys sit a halfgame behind first-place Washington (3-2) in the NFC East. Vikings 27, Cardinals 17 Latavius Murray rushed for 155 yards on 24 carries and a touchdown and Kirk Cousins had passing and rushing touchdowns as Minnesota downed Arizona in Minneapolis. Cousins completed 24 of 34 passes for 233 yards. Adam Thielen caught 11 passes for 123 yards and a score for the Vikings (3-2-1). Seahawks 27, Raiders 3 Russell Wilson threw for three touchdowns and the

Seattle defense forced two fumbles by Oakland quarterback Derek Carr in the victory in London. With 84,922 in attendance, the largest crowd in the history of NFL football at Wembley Stadium, Wilson connected with Jaron Brown for a 5-yard score in the first quarter, David Moore from 19 yards out in t h e s e c o n d a n d Ty l e r Lockett for 10 yards in the fourth, sending Seattle (33) to its third win in its last four games. Under constant pressure from a Seahawks defense that recorded six sacks, Carr threw for just 142 yards, and Marshawn Lynch was limited to 45 yards on the ground against his old team, as Oakland (1-5) lost its fifth straight. In other results: Redskins 23, Panthers 17 Falcons 34, Buccaneers 29 Chargers 38, Browns 14 Texans 20, Bills 13 Jets 42, Colts 34 Dolphins 31, Bears 28 (OT) (Field Level Media)

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Sanath Jayasuriya charged Windies slide closer to Bangladesh under ICC anti-corruption code in wake of series defeat ESPNcricinfo - Sanath Jayasuriya has been charged with two counts of breaching the ICC’s anti-corruption code. The charges relate to failure or refusal to cooperate with an Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) investigation and obstructing or delaying an investigation, including concealing, tampering with or destroying any documentation or other information which may be relevant. Jayasuriya, a former Sri Lanka captain, was chairman of selectors until he and his committee resigned in September 2017, following widespread criticism of the committee’s performance. He had also been chief selector in a previous two-year stint that ran from early 2013 to the end of the 2015 World Cup. The charges are understood to relate to alleged incidents that occurred during the second of those stints. It is also understood that the ACU had asked Jayasuriya to hand over a phone in his use at some time last year, and that Jayasuriya had not immedi-

Sanath Jayasuriya attends a press conference. (Getty Images) ately complied. Jayasuriya now has 14 days from October 15 to respond to the charges. The ACU probe into corruption in Sri Lanka has been ongoing for over a year. Earlier this month, ACU general manager Alex Marshall issued an update on that probe, stating that a team was on the island “as part of [their] ongoing investigations into serious allegations of corruption in cricket in the country”. The ACU had also briefed the nation’s president, prime minister as well as the sports minister - who oversees Sri

Lanka Cricket - though it is likely that the ACU did not divulge the names of those they were investigating. A year ago, concerns surfaced in the media about Sri Lanka’s performance during their home ODI series against Zimbabwe last September. The five-match series, closely fought, was eventually won by Zimbabwe 3-2. It is understood that there were specific concerns about the fourth ODI of the series, in Hambantota, that Zimbabwe won on the basis of the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern Method despite Sri Lanka setting a target of 301 initially. During September-October last year, several people comprising players, team officials and administrators came under investigation. Under the anti-corruption code, signed by all member cricket boards, the ACU can make a number of demands which includes seeking bank details, phone records and assets including the immediate handover of the communication devices. If someone fails or refuses to do that, the person can be charged.

Carter’s defiant knock carries Pride past Hurricanes BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Jonathan Carter hit an unbeaten half-century as Barbados Pride edged the Leeward Islands Hurricanes by three wickets with just two balls remaining in their Group B clash in the Regional Super50 here at Kensington Oval Sunday. Carter scored 79 not out to lead the Pride to their second win in three days and put them in third position in the group behind the Jamaica Scorpions and the Combined Campuses and Colleges Marooners.Batting first, the Hurricanes managed to get up to 226 for nine in their 50 overs thanks mainly to Akeem Saunders’ unbeaten knock of 63. But through the efforts of Carter, the Pride were able to scramble home, posting 227 for nine off 49.4 overs. Requiring 11 runs to win off the final two overs, Carter and Dominic Drakes scraped three runs off the first three deliveries of the penultimate over bowled by Sheldon

Cottrell, before Cottrell removed Drakes with his fourth delivery.However, Hayden Walsh Jr was able to scramble four runs off the final two deliveries, leaving the Pride needing to get four runs off the final six balls. Jeremiah Louis’ first ball to Carter was a dot ball, but Carter scrambled a bye off the next delivery and Walsh Jr put the icing on the cake by getting two runs off the third delivery to lock the scores, before picking up the winning runs off the very next ball. Carter’s unbeaten knock took him 118 balls and he struck five boundaries, while Walsh Jr finished unbeaten on seven. Pride captain Shamarh Brooks (39) and wicketkeeper Tevyn Walcott (38), also made useful contributions. Despite medium pacer Kevin Stoute’s five-wicket haul, the Volcanoes were still able to post a competitive total due to its middle and lower order batsmen. Stoute wrecked havoc on

the top order, claiming the wickets of openers Montcin Hodge for eight and Keacy Carty for 18, as well as Chesney Hughes (12), to leave the Volcanoes in a spot of bother at 57 for three. After Hayden Walsh Jr dismissed Devon Thomas to leave the score 70 for four, Saunders and Rahkeem Cornwall came together and added 56 runs, with Cornwall scoring 43 of those runs. Once Cornwall lost his wicket, Saunders teamed up with Orlando Peters, who scored 40 in a 77-run partnership that took the score up to 203 for six. Saunders batted through the innings, with his 63 coming from 62 balls. He struck five boundaries and two sixes. Stoute finished with figures of 5-38 while Shamar Springer took 2-47. Scores: HURRICANES 226 for nine off 50 overs (Akeem Saunders 63 not out, Rahkeem Cornwall 43, Orlando Peters 40; Kevin Stoute 5-38, Shamar Springer 2-47). PRIDE 227 for seven off 49.4 overs (Jonathan Carter 79 not out, Shamarh Brooks 39, Tevyn Walcott 38; Rahkeem Cornwall 2-30, Sheldon Cottrell 2-43).

West Indies…have lost one point following the series defeat to India. LONDON, CMC – West Indies have lost one ratings point following their series defeat to India on Sunday, leaving them still languishing in ninth spot in the ICC Test team rankings and even closer now to minnows Bangladesh below them. The Caribbean side suffered a 10-wicket thrashing in the second Test in Hyderabad, to follow up their heavy innings and 272-run defeat in the Rajkot opener. Both matches finished inside three days. West Indies have 76 points, nine points ahead of 10th place Bangladesh, who they tour next month for a crucial two-Test series. More significantly, the Windies are now 12 points adrift of eighth place Pakistan, and drifting further away from top half of the

rankings. Following the latest defeat Sunday, captain Jason Holder called for collective effort to find ways to get the Caribbean side out of the doldrums.“Honestly, it’s hard to take it. I am trying to understand the reasons why it is happening. It’s a case where we all need to put our heads together – the management, the selectors and the players,” Holder said. “The onus must be on the players and we must be responsible for our actions. We got to come together a little bit more and find ways and solutions to deal with the problems that we have at the moment.” West Indies have not beaten India in a Test in nearly two decades and have not won on the subcontinent in 24 years. Further, they have

not won a Test series in India in nearly four decades. Once world champions, West Indies have declined badly over the last 20 years, and have not had a series win over a top-ranked side in six years, since beating New Zealand in the Caribbean. They lost six of 10 Tests last year, despite beating leading sides Pakistan and England, and have won just three of seven this year. India, meanwhile, have gained one ratings point from the series win and remain number one on 116 points. They are 10 clear of second placed South Africa with Australia a fraction behind in third, also on 106. England are fourth on 105, New Zealand fifth on 102 while Sri Lanka, who drew 11 in the Caribbean earlier this year, lie sixth on 97 points.

Usain Bolt questions why he is being drug tested as he is not yet a professional footballer BBC Sport - Usain Bolt has questioned why he has received a notice for a drugs test from Australia’s anti-doping authority (Asada), saying he is not yet a professional footballer. The eight-time Olympic sprint champion has been on trial with Central Coast Mariners and scored twice on his first start in a friendly on Friday. Bolt says he has been told he is being tested as he is an “elite athlete”. The 32-year-old Jamaican retired from athletics in 2017. “So guys I’ve retired

from track and field looking to become a footballer but look at this,” Bolt said in an Instagram post on Monday, in which he showed the drugs test notice. The notice from Asada requesting blood and urine appears to have been issued by Football Federation Australia. It is understood that even as a trialist, Bolt is officially registered with the club, and is therefore subject to drug testing. Bolt’s trial period with the A-League club came to an end at the weekend and the Mariners now have to decide whether to offer the

Jamaican a permanent deal, a further trial period or release him. “How am I going to get a drug test today? I’m not even a professional footballer yet. Seriously,” the 100m and 200m world record holder added. “So I asked the lady, ‘Why am I getting drug tested when I haven’t signed for a club yet?’ and she said they told her I’m an elite athlete so I have to get tested. Okay then.” Asada defines an athlete as a person who “competes in sport and who is subject to the National AntiDoping Scheme”.

Tuesday October 16, 2018

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Richmond and Rogers sanctioned by GBBC following ‘Young Guns..The Proving Ground’ breaches

BV/Triumph 8th of May Movement Friendly

BV and Mahaicony play to exciting 1-1 draw

Leroy Halley.

Flashback! Bajan Keithland King scores with right to the Guyana’s Derick Richmond who remained on his stool at the bell to start the 3rd round. In a strong statement sent throughout the local boxing arena, the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC) has meted out sanctions to Derick Richmond and his Trainer, Orland Rogers following their infringement of the rules. In a brief press statement, the GBBC informed that Berbician Derick Richmond was fined $30,000 for breaching the agreement to deliver the contracted service at the specified weight and his actions which culminated in his ability to compete beyond the second round. There was much hype prior to the main bout between Richmond and 30 year-old Barbadian Keithland King improved his Professional record to 3-0 when Richmond failed to answer the bell for third round in a fight that was scheduled for six rounds. This bout was changed from a Super Middleweight to

Orland ‘Pocket Rocket’ Rogers a catch-weight because Richmond turned up for the weight-in, the day before the fight (Friday Sept. 21), 14 lbs above the 160lbs weight class and was given up to Saturday morning to lose some weight.

After two rounds, the contest seemed to be heading for an entertaining showpiece before the 29-year-old Richmond, to the dismay of all present, remained on his stool when the bell rang for the start of the round. The GBBC also sanctioned Richmond’s Trainer, Orland ‘Pocket Rocket’ Rogers by suspending his License for 90 days or three months for two breaches. One - for using a defective scale which produced an erroneous weight that was publicly confirmed at the official weigh-in; and Two – his negligent approach as a coach and failure to properly carry out his responsibilities as a Professional Boxing Coach. Fans and officials had left the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall awe struck following Richmond and his Coaches decision not to continue against King.

Twenty teams confirmed for GSCL Inc PM Cup 2 Twenty four teams have been confirmed to participate in the second edition of the Georgetown Softball Cricket League Inc/Prime Minister’s T20 Softball Cup which will commence on Friday in Georgetown. According to organisers, the teams from the USA and Canada include Royal Canadian Master Cricket Club, Ontario Masters Softball International, Challengers from Canada, Florida Guyana Hope

and Marine Masters from the USA. This year $700,000 will be up for grabs in the Open category, while the Masters will vie for the winners’ purse of $600,000. Both categories will have a runners-up prize of $100,000 as well as trophies. The tournament is being played in collaboration with National Sports Commission, the Ministry of the Presidency Department of Social

Cohesion, Culture, Youth and Sport. Lighted bails will be used in the competition and added entertainment will be provided by the Crossover band and cheerleaders during the finals. Regal Masters and Speedboat are the respective defending champions. Further the drawing of the fixtures will be held today from 16:30hrs at GNIC Sports Club.

Mahaicony seniors braved the busy roadways as they traversed miles in an effort to avenge their semi-final expulsion at the feet of Beterverwagting (BV) in the 2018 BV/Triumph Emancipation Cohesion Football league. However, their dream of success was quickly clouded, when promising youth player, Omari Glasgow banged in the opening goal for BV in the 40th minute of the 90-minute

(L) Deshane Garnett and (R) Omari Glasgow. clash at the BV community center ground. The goal was scored off a well taken shot and it left Mahaicony, the visiting side, gutted and the sizable crowd cheering on their feet, as BV’s youthful seniors exhibited great prowess. Nevertheless, Mahaicony’s were not deterred and they fought feverishly for an equaliser which they found in the 80th minute of the game when their striker

Leroy Halley scored from a perfectly executed rightfooted shot. With ten minutes remaining, a draw appeared inevitable and in the final minute of the match, BV’s striker, Deshane Garnett beat the Mahaicony’s custodian to send their supporters into frenzy but the celebration was short lived as the referee disallowed the goal due to an obvious foul.

De Villiers, Rabada, du Plessis among marquee players for Mzansi Super League ESPNcricinfo - Cricket South Africa has unveiled the teams and marquee South Africa players for the upcoming Mzansi Super League, South Africa’s new T20 league. The participation of AB de Villiers, Hashim Amla, Kagiso Rabada, Imran Tahir, JP Duminy and Faf du Plessis has been confirmed, and CSA has also announced the headlining T20 players for the player draft tomorrow. Each of the marquee South Africa signings will represent a different citybased franchise: de Villiers will play for the Tshwane Spartans, Amla for the Durban Heat, Rabada for the Jozi Stars, Tahir for the Nelson Mandela Bay Giants, Duminy for the Cape Town Blitz and du Plessis for Paarl Rocks. “It was a thorough and well-audited process that led to the six winning bids from our members as well as the collective contribution from all stakeholders involved that led to the final names and

logos which we also had to make sure met our objectives for this event,” CSA chief executive Thabang Moroe said. “What was clear throughout this definitive process was that these are completely new entities and names that will operate separately from the current franchise teams. We welcome the six new additions to the South African and international cricket family.”Durban Heat will have the first pick in the player draft on October 17, and they will have the choice of some of T20 franchise cricket’s most recognisable names. Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo, Eoin Morgan, Rashid Khan, Jason Roy and Dawid Malan were all announced as part of the international draft. “We have received applications from over 200 top international players who expressed interest in playing in this inaugural tournament and will have their names in the hat ahead of the Player Draft process on Wednesday,”

Moroe said. “There were expected challenges in the process, of course, with some players available for a particular period because of other cricket commitment clashes elsewhere, including our Proteas, who also have to fulfil our tour to Australia for a One-Day International series.”The stadiums that will host each of the teams were announced last week, and the sides will play a total of 32 games, home and away, over a period of one month from November 16. The CEOs of the organisations running the grounds - Newlands, Wanderers, Kingsmead, St George’s Park, Boland Park and SuperSport Park - will be de facto managers of the teams, assigning their own coaching staff.The MSL is due to start the day before South Africa’s tour to Australia concludes with a one-off T20I at the Carrara Oval, but CSA confirmed the involvement of South Africa’s leading cricketers.

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Tuesday October 16, 2018

Guyana Fitness Games 2018

Sinclair is Strongest man; Latoya Roberts & Kelvin Baul are Scaled champs; Team Mahadeo reigns supreme

Latoya Roberts Female Scaled winner Kelvin Baul – Story and photos by Franklin Wilson

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t was an afternoon and evening that produced an absolute display of grit, endurance, determination, endurance, will power, fortitude capped off by raw power as the 2018 edition of the Guyana Fitness Games ended at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on Sunday evening last. This venue which is the only of its kind in Guyana for a few decades now allowed the athletes contesting the Te a m a n d S c a l e d competitions to stay really warm during the afternoon into early evening completion before the Strongman contest that featured only Guyanese competitors was contested under the night skies in much cooler conditions. The 2017 champion of the strongman contest, Suriname’s Donovan Dongo was a no show but his absence invigorated the local contestants who did not disappoint. The pre-games favourite Carlos PetersonGriffith was upset in the final analysis as the new King of the power block, Julio Sinclair came with a plan that was executed to the T. Peterson-Griffith, who finished 2nd in 2017 looked good after setting the pace in the first event, the Sled Pull which saw the athletes pulling 270lbs immediately followed by the Sled Push with a starting weight of 360lbs; 50lbs being added on at the 20 feet mark at three different points, a total of 80 feet.

When Sinclair came into the picture it quickly became obvious that the battle would have been between the two power players. Joseph O’Ryan, Anis Ade-Thomas and Caerus Cipriani who must be given kudos for trying as he was clearly out of his depths, were all a notch below the top two athletes as they struggled from the Sled Push. The Farmers Walk and Bag Throw, event 2, where the athletes had to walk with 536lbs and throw a 250lb Bag over a 4 feet high log again saw Petterson-Griffith and Sinclair carrying the pace, Petterson-Griffith threw the bag over a total of 9 times in the time allotted, the closest to him was Sinclair with five successful attempts. Such was the closeness of the competition between the two gladiators that they were tied going into the final event, the Macorp Truck Pull. The organizers announced that the athlete with the highest points would have been the last to go, Sinclair was the athlete chosen given the closeness between himself and Petterson-Griffith who struggled in this final event. Sinclair on the other hand, was more lion-like and as he roared at full volume to the applause of the fans on hand, he pulled the truck along at a fast pace to cover the 60 feet pull in just over 40 seconds to win the title of the Strongest Man in Guyana and bragging rights for the next 12 months. He ended with 295 points with Petterson-Griffith

managing 280 and O’Riley 265. Ade-Thomas had 260 and Cipriani 250. The female and male Scaled competitions were equally heated and exciting on the Sports Hall court as were the fans that were kept fiery compliments of the humidity of the venue. The events that they were mandated to do were: Event 1 {Time Cap of 11 minutes} was made up of 1RM back squat (4 mins), Max 45 feet suicide sprint (3 mins) and 1RM deadlift (4 mins). Event 2 {Time Cap of 13 minutes} included 250 single unders in intervals of 50 reps as well 45Kb GTOH 25lbs/35lbs, 15 cleans 65lbs/95lbs and 5 overhead squats 65lbs/95lbs. Event 3 {Time Cap of 10 minutes} - Jumping CTB Pullups/Pullups, Thrusters (55lbs/75lbs) 21, 15,9; capped off by 45 feet single arm kettle bell overhead walking lunges with 25lbs/35lbs. At the end of the aforementioned events, emerging as the female winner was Latoya Roberts with 295 points comfortably ahead of the 2nd placed Keisha Abrigo who accumulated 270 points, debutant Shelisa Roopchand with 260 points took the final podium spot. Sinead Roberts (248), Kean Andrews (244), Lakeisha Bacchus (243), Ruth Collins (231), Quenita Wa l r o n d ( 2 2 7 ) a n d Kimberley Dos Santos (211) were the other contestants. The male champion was Kelvin Baul who tallied 285 points five more than the 2nd placed Gidel Patrick with

Randy Hailey occupying the 280 points. The team of Paul Male Scaled champion 3rd place with 260 points. Meusa, Thurston Pearce and

rested and had to be tagged in by the athlete completing the

On their way to victory, Dillon Mahadeo (left), Delice Adonis and Josh DeAgrella about to complete the KB overhead walking lunge 35lbs/55lbs to seal victory. The other competitors were Pride Ade-Thomas (255), Darrin Noble (250) and Darren Allen (245). Guyana’s fittest man Dillon Mahadeo who, a few months ago took gold at the Tr i n i d a d a n d To b a g o CrossFit 12-12-12 competition, showed that he is not only a force to reckon with as an individual as he teamed up with Delice Adonis and Josh DeAgrella to win the RX Team competition collectively powering to 290 points. Second on 285 points were Anis Ade-Thomas, Kimberly Pinas and Jadan Mannes, while the third place went to quartet of Omissi Williams, Tonnica Archer and Kellon Reid with

Salma Hack placed fourth with 250 points with fifth place going to Timothy Mc Andrew, Christina Rahman and Randolph Leitch on 245 points. The third and final event for the team competition which saw the athletes in each team feeding off the momentum of each other and fueled on by their supporters included 55 chin over pull-ups/CTB pullups; 55 thursters 75lbs/105lbs; 55ft single arm KB overhead walking lunge 35lbs/55lbs. One athlete was mandated to hold a 45lb bar in the bottom of an overhead squat position while one athlete works to complete the required reps. one athlete

reps before beginning their reps. It was a sight to behold as the respective teams battled to complete their tasks and lunging across the line with the kettlebells overhead; a test of strength and endurance. The Fitness Expo 2018 organising team is expressing gratitude to the following sponsors for their support in helping to make the event another success: Ansa McAl (I-Cool Water, Lucazade and Mackeson), St Joseph Mercy Hospital, Republic Bank, Pollo Tropical, Trophy Stall, Star Party Rentals, Fitness Express, Genesis Fitness Gym and Caribbean Crossfitter Community.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday October 16, 2018

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BCB 2018 Cricket Season

RHT Bakewell defeat Albion CC to lift historic Raffik Construction 100 Balls Title

The Winning RHT Bakewell Team pose with Raffik Construction Representative Ms. Daniella Latcha.

Man of the Finals Junior Sinclair.

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brilliant all-round performance from National Under-19 player Junior Sinclair spearheaded Rose Hall Town Bakewell to an easy six wickets victory over arch rivals Albion Community Centre in the Final of the historic Raffik Construction 100 Balls Cricket Tournament. Sinclair claimed 3 wickets for 16 runs and then returned with the bat to score a brilliant 53 not out as Rose Hall Town Bakewell easily surpassed Albion Community Centre’s score of 130 all out from 98 Balls. Playing at the Hampshire Ground in the Lower Corentyne District, Albion Community Centre won the toss and elected to bat. The top order was subjected to a stern test of fast bowling from former National Under-19 Player Sylus Tyndall. Tyndall trapped Rajesh Kassinauth LBW for naught in the first over and then had former Guyana Under-19 batsman Adrian Sukhwa caught

behind for 08 as Albion slipped to 20 for 2 in the 3rd over. Albion’s most experienced batsman Sharaz Ramcharran was then sharply caught by Junior Sinclair at long off as he attempted to clear the small ground off the bowling of Kevlon Anderson. Albion slipped to 60 for 6 as Karran Arjpaul 00, Ritesh Umroa 09 and Kevin Umroa 01 fell cheaply. Antonio February, who looked suspect to the pace of Tyndall, started to prosper with the introduction of spin and added a crucial stand of 60 with the talented Mahendra Chaitram. February scored 59 runs which included three sixes and four boundaries, while Chaitram supported with 28. Once February departed at 120 for 7, the rest of the batting fell apart as Tyndall 2 for 24, Junior Sinclair 3 for 16, Keith Simpson 2 for 24 and Kevin Sinclair 2 for 29 bowled well for the Rose Hall Town Bakewell Team. Rose Hall Town Bakewell Team raced to 60 without loss in the fifth over as openers

Kevin and Julian Sinclair tore into the Albion Community Centre all spin bowling attack. Kevin Sinclair was very aggressive as he raced to 43 from just fifteen balls, with four huge sixes and four boundaries. Albion was able to break the partnership when Kevin Sinclair was out via the run out route, but Junior Sinclair carried his bat to remain unbeaten on 53. Surrendra Kissoonlall 10, Keith Simpson 11 and Simon Lawson 08 not out offered support as Rose Hall Town Bakewell reached victory on 132 for 4. Gourav Ramesh took 2 for 12 bowling for Albion Community Centre, while Kevin Umroa had 1 for 33. President Hilbert Foster noted that the Berbice Cricket Board created history by being the first to host a 100 Balls Cricket Tournament in Guyana and the Caribbean. The Tournament involved eighteen teams from the Lower/Central Corentyne. The main objectives were to promote the game at the

grassroots level, to attract more youths to Clubs in the area and to return spectators to the grounds. Foster hailed the hard work of the entire Board Executives which has resulted in major development in Berbice Cricket. Special thanks was extended to sponsor Mohamed Raffik for his investment, while former BCB President Anil Beharry was lauded for the role he played in acquiring the sponsorship. Representative of Raffik Construction, Daniella Latcha praised the outstanding work of the Berbice Cricket Board and stated that her Company was pleased with the mileage it received during the hosting of the well organised tournament. She congratulated the Champion while wishing Albion Community Centre more success in the future. The Champion, Runner-up and Man of the Finals Junior Sinclair received a financial prize and trophy.

V net Communications, Dahar give back to Zeelandia SC

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eelandia Sports C l u b o f Wakenaam has gained the support of V Net Communications and one of its former members Wazir Dahar to aid in their development. At a simple presentation ceremony which took place on Sunday at V Net Communications office 25 D e l p h S t r e e t , Campbellville the club received 20 cricket uniforms. Chief Executive officer of V Net Communications Safraz Sheriffudeen, himself being a former member of the club, said it feels good the give back to the club and he wants to see

the development of the game there. “I am happy to be able to contribute to the development of the game in Wakenaam and hopefully we can see some new talent being unearthed,” he added. Dahar, an overseas based realtor and a former member of the club, who now resides in Canada, said he has seen the work V Net Communications has been doing in the field of sports and is happy to team up with them for the venture. He stated that he wants to see the development of the youths there and pledged his continued support. Zeelandia Sports Club Vice Chairman Navishaul

Pooran said he is happy for the gesture and expressed gratitude to the duo for their assistance. Pooran, a former Essequibo senior inter county player and the current Chairman of the Wa k e n a a m C r i c k e t Committee stated that this gesture is timely and the club has a number of talented young cricketers that have shown immense interest in the game. Ricardo Adams who is currently playing in the C r i c k e t We s t I n d i e s Regional Super 50 tournament with the Guyana Jaguars is one of the players to have come out from the club.

CEO of V Net Communications Safraz Sheriffudeen presents one of the jerseys to Vice Chairman of the Club Navishaul Pooran in the presence of members of the club and staff of V Net.

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Tuesday October 16, 2018

Regional Super50 cricket

Reifer, Bramble bat Jaguars to fifth win as Canada go down by 4 Wkts By Sean Devers in TrinidadIn association with Regal, Vnet, Noble House Seafoods & Cascadia Hotel

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n murky conditions and played before virtually empty stands, Guyana Jaguars, led by a 79-run fifth wicket stand between Raymon Reifer and Anthony Bramble, extended their winning streak to five matches when they defeated Canada by four wickets last night at the Queen’s Park Oval in their return game in the Regional Super50 tournament to get a bonus point and maintain their lead with 24 Points. Nitish Kumar made 51 from 72 balls with three fours and a six and added 48 for the second wicket with Ruvindu Gunasekera whose 34 lasted 80 balls and two fours after Naveet Dhaliwal, the tournament’s leading run scorer with 278 runs, fell for 20 from 29 balls with a four and a six. Nikhil Dutta (29) and David Jacobs (34*) featured in a 52-run partnership to rally Canada, who pulled off their only win in their last game against Volcanoes, to 205-7 in 50 overs. Veerasammy Permaul had 2-26 for the Jaguars who reached 208-6 after their four top batsmen were all back in the pavilion before they had reached 100. Skipper Leon Johnson made 37 from 45 ball with

seven fours and shared in a 30-run stand with Rutherford who scored 27 with two fours and two sixes and 33 in 26 balls with Chris Barnwell (7) with Johnson scoring 24 of those runs. But Reifer who reached the boundary four times and cleared it once in an unbeaten 61 and Bramble whose 44 lasted 40 balls and included three fours and two sixes, staged a match winning recovery. After a delay of 45 minutes due to morning rain Canada opted to bat in overcast conditions and the 30-year-old Dhaliwal got going with a six off Reifer in the second over. Gunasekera stroked Pestano for four. Dhaliwal, who made 88 against the Jaguars in their first game, hit Reifer for four. Pestano bowled with impeccable control and conceded 10 runs in his first five-over spell as he utilised the cloudy conditions and swung the ball both ways. After 10 overs Canada were 35 without loss before Romario Shepherd induced Dhaliwal (20) to top-edge a hook to deep backward square to break the 38-run opening stand. Nitish Kumar joined Gunasekera who pulled offspinner Ramaal Lewis for four as the Jaguars’ leading wicket-taker had trouble gripping the ball on the slightly damp outfield. The 50 was posted in 16.2 overs the second wicket

partnership gathered momentum as the sun played a cat and mouse game with the ominous clouds. But with the partnership on 48 and the score on 86, Gunasekera (34) was bowled by Lewis to get his 12th scalp, while three runs later Permaul bowled Bhavindu Adhihetty (2) to leave Canada, on 89-4. The 100 was posted in the 28thand Harish Thaker (15) added 38 with Kumar before he was removed by Ricardo Adams at 127-5 and when Kumar who reached his fifty from 68 balls with three fours and a six was dismissed by Permaul at 131-5, the Jaguars were in the ascendency. Guyanese Delon Heyliger (7) was bowled by Pestano at 138-6 to give the Rose Hall Town pacer his 11th wicket before the 150 came up in the 43rd over. David Jacobs, who made 44 the first time these two team met, dumped Adams for six and lofted Pestano for four and along with Nikhil Dutta who was run out in the penultimate over, offered fight. When the Jaguars began their reply the tournaments leading wicket-taker Romesh Don (17) bowled a tight first over before Trevon Griffith scored the first boundary of the innings when he drove Don past cover before charging down on Rutherford and was run out by the length of the pitch for nine at 16-1.

The Tournaments leading scorer Naveet Dhaliwal is caught on the squareleg boundary hooking at Shepherd.

Bramble hits a four during his 79 -run stand with Reifrer last night.

Rutherford hit Don for six while Johnson cut Kumar for four before Rutherford smashed Don for four more and dumped Kumar for four and when Dutta was introduced Rutherford clobbered him over mid-off for four. Johnson pulled Heyliger audaciously for a couple of boundaries before Rutherford missed a big swing and was bowled at 462 before the 50 was posted in the 11th over. Johnson stroked Dutta for four and straight drove Heyliger gloriously back past his ankles for four before another majestic

boundary finished off an expensive over. Barnwell (9) fell to Dutta at 79-3 and Johnson was dismissed when well set on 37 at 96-4. It was the third time in five innings that the Jaguars skipper fell in the 30s and it was left to Reifer, the man for a crisis to once again dig his team out of a hole. Reifer and Bramble joined forces in the 20th over with Jaguars needing another 110 for victory with six wickets in hand. Bramble smashed Salam Nazar for four and deposited Gunasekera for six, while Reifer was more cautious

with his shots but the partnership was getting the Jaguars back on track. Bramble dumped Nazar for a four and a six, while Reifer executed a majestic cover drive off Sukhdeep Brar for four before falling to Dhaliwal at 175-5, while Adams (1) was bowled by Dutta at 178-6 and Canada were back in the game. But Reifer and Shepherd (12) took Guyana over to finish line. The next round is set for tomorrow but Jaguars draw the bye and will return to action on Friday when they face the Volcanoes.

Reifer drives during his seventh fifty and second in this tournament (Sean Devers Photos)

Kaieteur News

Tuesday October 16, 2018

PAGE 31

GMRSC’s Ignite

Prep work for “Test and Tune’ event almost finished - Innovations America confirms sponsorship

Drivers will use the ‘Test and Tune’ event to tweak their vehicle’s performances ahead of the Nov. 10 & 11 GMRSC Ignite event.

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rack and other preparatory works are being completed with less than one week before the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club’s (GMRSC) Test and Tune event. Test and Tune will give competitors an official day of practice before the GMRSC stages its biggest event of the calendar year, the Ignite race meet which will serve as both Guyana’s National Championships and the

final leg of the Seaboard Marine Caribbean Motor Racing Championships (CMRC). According to a release from the club, the “Test and Tune” will feature race-like conditions for competitors who want to test their cars and bikes before the Ignite showcase. Billed for this Sunday (October 21st) at the South Dakota Circuit, the Test and Tune will see free admission for spectators to have a look at their favourite drivers.

Meanwhile, the club also confirmed that all systems are in place for November 10 and 11 which has seen 10 drivers from the twin-island Republic of T&T signaling their intention to participate at the South Dakota circuit event. They have also been confirmed competition that will come from Barbados, as well as the United States and Europe, with Jamaica set to confirm later this week.

Innovations America’s Mellisa Nurse (left) hands over the sponsorship cheque to GMRSC Surica Singh.

Among the sponsors for that event are ExxonMobil, GBTI, B.M. Soat, Noble House Seafoods, STAG Beer, Air Services Limited, GUYOIL, Palm Court, Hand-inHand, Ramada Hotel, Survival Supermarket, Club 704, Sheriff Security, EC Investments, Prem’s Electrical, Nexus Machinery, Mohamed’s Enterprise, Choke Gas Station, Japarts, R. Kissoon Contracting, E Networks, Miracle Optical, Bikers Bar, Samaroo Investments, SuperBet, Agriparts

and KGM Security Service. Ye s t e r d a y, I n n o v a t i o n s America joined that long list of sponsors confirming their support for the event after handing over their sponsorship cheque to the club. At the club’s office, Innovations America’s Mellisa Nurse made the presentation to GMRSC’s representative Surica Singh. Tickets are on sale at the GMRSC office on Thomas Lands at a cost of $2500, children $1000.

Banks DIH/GABA leagues

Eagles and Ravens win Sunday night clashes

The two top opposing players in the 1st division clash on Sunday, Sonics’ Jason Squires (left) and Ravens’ Tyrone Hamid.

Pepsi Sonics’ Jason Squires (with ball) being closely marked by Ravens’ Kurt Junior. Dyna’s Ravens 56-43 Pepsi Sonics (First Division) Ty r o n e H a m i d t o p scored with 19 points to lead Dyna’s Ravens to a predictable win over the

rebuilding Pepsi Sonics basketball club by 13 points on Sunday night in the feature match of the Rainforest Water/Malta Supreme/Georgetown Amateur Basketball

Association (GABA) leagues which are being contested at the Burnham hard court on Middle and Carmichael streets every We d n e s d a y, T h u r s d a y, Saturday and Sunday.

In the low scoring Open Division clash, Hamid’s skipper Dominic Vincente (10) was the only other player to get into double digits. Sonics’ Jason Squires

continues to prove that he is the best player on the struggling side and he spearheaded the club’s fight for a maiden win netting a team high 16 points. Eagles 68-56 Kobras

(Under-23 Division) After losing both their matches in the first and second division leagues on Thursday to Pacesetters, Eagles basketball club (Continued on page 25)

rt o p S Guyana Fitness Games 2018

Sinclair is Strongest man; Latoya Roberts & Kelvin Baul are Scaled champs; Team Mahadeo reigns supreme P. 28

The top three athletes from the respective team and individual categories take time out for a pic with some other competitors following the presentation on Sunday night.

Julio Sinclair pulling his way to the Strongest man top spot on Sunday night.

Windies slide closer to Bangladesh in wake of series defeat . 26 P

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