Monday October 17, 2016
Does the Finance Minister know what he is doing? Dear Editor; Harry Truman, a military man was one of the most uncharismatic human beings, yet he was one of the most effective leaders at getting things done for his people. Reading the 2015 Auditor General Report one was not surprised by the 5 months underperformance of the Ramotar government; they were an illegal government serving under a prorogation order. However, it was shocking what 7 months under President Granger, (who won the elections) delivered. A government is as good as its first 100 days and if this was President Granger's 100 days, then God help Guyana. Current revenue fell short in 2015 by $741 million and capital revenue by $5,575 million compared to their respective budgeted amounts. When a nation cannot collect on its revenue but continues to spend on parades and marching parks like there is no tomorrow, then it means there will be less money for real police services, real health care services, real services to the poor and the vulnerable and most importantly real educational services. Can you understand why President Granger cannot face the Teachers' Union (GTU)? I would want to excuse the transition from one government to another as the reason why the committed IDB project pipeline was underspent by some G$3,178 million in 2015. But what will be the excuse in 2016 as these projects in the pipelines continue to be under-spent? Looking at another performance indicator, one can find that Central Government's current expenditure was under the 2015 budget allocation by G$25,785 million. There goes the "G" in Economic Growth. Upon further review one finds that this shortfall was mainly due to the Public Debt being under-paid by G$20,292million. Does President Granger know that his Minister of Finance under-paid the debt by G$20 billion? If not, who really is the Finance Minister accountable to? This act of under-paying on the national debt is a total abandonment of one's duty as a Minister of Finance. Not
paying the debt down as budgeted is a debased financial strategy especially when there is money to fund this promise. We all know there were enough funds in the parallel Treasury, as established under the PPP, to fund 100% of this shortfall of G$20 billion? But today most of that parallel Treasury (accumulated under the PPP) is still in place and I wonder why? Remember it was Team Granger who promised to follow the law and transfer these funds to the Consolidated Funds? NOT DONE! The PPP used these funds to circumvent Parliament to fund projects like the Kingston Hotel. But why is Minister Jordan keeping these funds outside of the Consolidated Funds in violation of the law? But back to these debt payments. Not paying one's debt as promised is a bad thing since it translates to the future generation being saddled with these debts as a process brought forward from the past. This means more taxes for the primary and secondary school children of Guyana when they grow up. Is this the legacy of the Granger administration? Is this the plan, the older rulers advance into the future the national burden to the children of Guyana? Is this why President Granger asked the children of Guyana to "cooperate" with him? It is the children of Guyana who will have to bear this future burden because of this mis-step under the Granger administration. This is a dangerous development and it takes one back to what happened under the Burnham administration when that government refused to pay the debt leading to the debt burden climbing to 98 cents of every dollar earned by 1990? Are we on the road to re-living the past? Is this what Ministers Khemraj Ramjattan and Moses Nagamootoo are in agreement with? The local media should demand an explanation from the Minister of Finance as to
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why he did not liquidate the promised amount of the national debt, when there was enough cash to take care of business. Was he trying to artificially prop-up the national reserves to fool the people? Lastly, the 2015 Auditor General Report highlights that Central Government failed to achieve their anticipated levels of capital expenditure activities during 2015 resulting in a shortfall of G$8,452 million. This shortfall was attributed primarily to delays in the implementation of key infrastructure projects. This unsatisfactory situation resulted in the return of disbursements totalling G$1,094 million to the IDB under the Road Network Upgrade project and the GPL Project. Appalling performance by Minister David Patterson, who continue to show that he lacks the necessary competence to serve even on the board of a small business. This does not shock me when I observed his performance as he struggled to compile a basic list of candidates in 2011. The key point in leadership is having the ability to ask the right questions and getting the right answers and holding your team to milestones. It is clear that President Granger continues to be out to lunch on the hard National Development issues because he continues to not elicit the kind of performance from his team members that will aid in national economic transformation. His speech to Parliament was most uninspiring and illustrates he is definitely out to sea. Rather we are seeing a team of committed minimalists in Cabinet who are more interested in the parades, the perks and the pay rather than serving the Guyanese people. After 25% of the term is over, we are yet to see the national action plan with milestones and deliverables and it is clear that the Guyanese economy will grind to halt as a result of this poor level of leadership at the highest levels. Sase Singh
The suspension of Mr. Duncan was illegally done Editor's note; this is the conclusion of Mr. Nandlall's letter carried in Saturday’s edition. Dear Editor; As is required by Article 225(4) of the Constitution, the Prime Minister advised the President that Mr. Carvil Duncan's removal from office should be investigated. As a result, the President established a tribunal to investigate Mr. Duncan's removal from office. The tribunal has commenced its work. On the 10th October, 2016, I appeared before the said tribunal on behalf of Mr. Duncan. I made an application for the tribunal not to proceed with its mandate on the ground that the tribunal itself is legally defective and that it is about to embark upon a course which is manifestly unconstitutional, unlawful and illegal. I predicated my
application upon the following grounds: 1. that certain established case law authorities in Guyana and the Caribbean placed a mandatory obligation upon the Prime Minister to afford Mr. Duncan a fair and adequate hearing before advising the President that Mr Duncan's removal from office should be investigated. (Barnwell v AG and another,(1993) 49WIR Page 50 and Reis v Crane,(1994) 43WIR444). 2. that article 144 of the Constitution provides that a person charged with any criminal offence is presumed innocent until he is proven guilty before a court of competent jurisdiction and that this presumption of innocence prevents this tribunal from proceeding to investigate Mr. Duncan with a view of removing him from
Office on the mere institution of the charges and without him being found guilty: and should the tribunal proceed, it would be violating Article 144 of the Constitution. I am of the considered view that any fair and competent tribunal in these circumstances would have found those objections to be unassailable. However, this tribunal overruled them in less than 10 minutes. To my mind, it is clear that this tribunal has been instructed to and is bent on executing a hatchet job on Mr. Duncan. This is yet another exemplification of authoritarianism. As I said last week, democracy and the rule of law are its victims. I take solace from the fact that injustice never prevails for too long. It is only a matter of time before justice resumes its natural seat. Anil Nandlall
Urgent plea for Govt. to help Haiti Dear Editor; In the face of the devastation wreaked by Hurricane Matthew on our sister country of Haiti, we call on the Government of Guyana to show its solidarity by mobilizing emergency relief supplies urgently. We remember that Guyana was one of the first countries to respond when the January 2010 earthquake struck. We are heartened by the Government of Guyana's stated commitment to work
with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) response to this new crisis facing Haiti. However, media reports show the challenges and slow responses in getting relief supplies to the affected communities and people across Haiti. As such we ask that the Government update the Guyanese people on the CDEMA response, and Guyana's contributions to this response. This is the time to come together nationally and
Attorney-General ...
From page 4 meeting that Cabinet axed the 'land takeover', when that would have been the biggest story coming out of the meeting, but rather the newspaper was told the AG was asked to prepare a report and then the next day almost as if it was an afterthought 'Cabinet axes land takeover' I believe it is clear for all to see the level to which some of media houses are willing to stoop in their attempt to embarrass this administration. The Attorney General has since contacted his lawyers and will take the appropriate legal actions to safeguard the integrity of himself, party and government. Basil Williams Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs
continue Guyana's proud tradition of responding to humanitarian crises regionally and internationally. We also call on the Government to allow all Haitians seeking entry to Guyana to be granted emergency residence as part of Guyana's humanitarian response and stop or reverse all deportations of Haitians. Andaiye Charlene Wilkinson Nigel Westmaas SherlinaNageer David Hinds Norwell Hinds Danuta Radzik
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Call for a public debate on the greenheart issue Dear Editor; The Guyanese public has recently been inundated with the topical issue of the UK's ban on Guyana's premium species greenheart, commonly known as Iron Wood. Greenheart has been traded on the international market for decades unhindered. It is an important species for the growth and development of the forest sector and Guyana economy as a whole. The recent attack against the government and the private sector (GMSA&FPA) by Dr. Janette Bulkan is uncalled for. Her assessment and presentation on the matter is flawed and is weak in its scientific background. Rather she uses published work of the GFC and renowned scientists and tries to criticise their studies rather than come up with her own work of findings. I would be happy to read and review some of her scientific work on core environment and forestry matters such as growth and yield of greenheart, greenheart distribution, allowable cut, diameter sizes, canopy cover, soils etc. Her continued attack on the government and private
sector regarding this species cannot stand up to any scrutiny. Guyana's forest has been subject to many international and credible audits and has always been regarded as one of the best managed forests in the world. It's surprising that Dr. Bulkan is not aware of these or very conveniently puts on blinders to these credible international opinions on Guyana's forest. She can't be so naïve to think that Norway will pay Guyana US $250M for a poorly managed forest. Her attack on Guyana's forest not only damages overseas markets but is an indictment on Guyana's green economy plan and one of the brain child projects of President Granger Sustainable forest management is the core or foundation of a green economy. Dr. Bulkan's attack on Guyana's forest management system is therefore an attack and disrespect to President Granger and the entire Guyanese people. She was an advocate for change, change has come and she continues to attack. I wonder if not being considered for the post of presidential adviser on
environment or adviser on forestry is a factor here? I call for a public debate on this greenheart matter. Let Dr. Bulkan be invited to give a presentation on her reasoning for the ban and let the GFC and private sector be allowed to do a similar presentation on the matter and let's have an open public discussion on the matter. Let's stop all the letter writing and debate on the matter in the public. I am sure the GFC or the GMSA and FPA will more than willing to facilitate this forum. Finally Dr. Bulkan's illustration of black cake as an analogy is another example of her myopic vision on the topic. My grandmother used to make a good black cake, I still have friends who can make good black cake and offer Dr. Bulkan and John Palmer to enjoy as they did with the water coconuts sitting in a hammock in the WAINI village some years ago they were doing a crab wood oil management plan for the community I am sure the people of Waini can recall Dr Bulkan and John Pamer holidaying in the Waini community. Peter Persaud
Fire sprinklers are mandatory ... From page 4 fee I was told that I cannot receive my fee because there wasn't any written agreement for my quotation. I didn't have a problem because I was hoping that management would approve and grant me the contract to buy and install fire sprinklers. I asked if I would be given the contract to install the fire sprinklers and was told that the company had a consultant from England that advised to lay pipelines as a ring around
Monday October 17, 2016
Kaieteur News
the outside of the complex and would have risers (like fire hydrants ) so they can spray water from the outside. Now this will work when the inside of the building is completely burnt. Why is it that a company such as this doesn't see the importance of fire sprinklers? Why if a company is worth over billions of dollars, it doesn't want to install fire sprinklers? Why management (I am not saying this was a decision
of Mr. Gafoor himself for I don't know if that came from his seniors) couldn't even pay my quotation fee just GY$20,000? Why would such a company (again, I don't know if this was a decision by Mr. Gafoor so I will not accuse him at all) not support a young entrepreneur and give Guyanese the opportunity to provide our services, support us as all? The government and Fire Chief do not see the importance of fire sprinklers. If it was mandatory Gafoor's wouldn't have been destroyed. I cannot afford to install fire sprinklers for free but to be able to have buildings on my résumé would be great for my portfolio. My services are available and I'm eager to assist any company with the installation of fire sprinklers. Vishul Ishwaridin Area H Ogle,
Clarifications of issues in Lethem Dear Editor; I respond to a letter in your newspaper dated 2016-09-22 captioned: Political Warning t o P r e s i d e n t G r a n g e r. Firstly our investigation of this letter has found that there is no one by the name of Patricia Camildo living in L e t h e m To w n o r St . Ignatius Village, while we do have Camildos who are supporters of the APNU. Secondly, to say there are no visits by APNU Ministers and Regional Officials of the party is misleading given that there were twenty eight Ministerial visits to the Region, along with local officials of the party. As recent as Friday 15th – 17th September, 2016 there were visits to South Rupununi by Ministers and local officials. Thirdly – St Ignatius is an Amerindian Village like any other Amerindian Village, while they didn't invite us to their village celebrations other villages did, however one point to note is that under the same leadership of the village we were denied the use of the Benab to hold a public meeting while we were in opposition, instead we were given the sports ground at the 11th hour. The now opposition was given said Benab recently to host its Regional Conference. Fourthly the APNU leadership of Region # 9 has been more that forth coming with its information to its membership and supporters. I will not divulge more on this but we have evidence to prove same. We have come to the conclusion that this letter writer is a ghost writer setting out to create confusion and uncertainty in the Government. In the letter of 9th October, 2016 captioned 'Waiting in Vain for Hou s e L o t s i n Lethem,' the writer has made some serious allegations against myself and office. This writer ignored the facts. I have never, neither has the office of the Lethem Town Council received any invitation written or verbal in relation to land issue. During the period this
writer is referring which was around the 29th September, 2016, I was in Georgetown attending to some important matters. On Friday I received a call from the Regional Executive Officer Carl Parker (who at the time was also in Georgetown). The REO asked me when I would be back in the Region to which I told him that I projected that I should be back by Saturday 11th September, 2016. He then said that upon his return he would arrange a meeting with stakeholders to discuss land for housing. To date I have not received any correspondence or word to that effect, nor am I aware of any meeting that has taken place. Now had this meeting been organised or communication received the Council would have nominated a representative to attend in the absence of the Mayor. During the Local Government Elections campaigning we told residents that we would be advocating for larger house lots and for resident from the age of 18 years old to be given a house lot. This still stands as it was not a campaign gimmick but something I, as well as my fellow councillors feel strongly about. I have spent and will continue to use my own finances and vehicle to get the work of the council done until alternative measures have been put in place. The Lethem Town is a new town and our revenue base is small (same can be confirmed by our records). There is also letter in the Wednesday 28th September edition of your paper, captioned, “Complaints about Mayor of Lethem. This writer is out on a mission with a pack of misinformation and in some cases blatant lies. The park in contention was started by me while I was the chairman of IMC, after a request was made by Mr. George Henry a Councillor who resides of Culvert City supported by some signatures of no more than
sixteen residents of Culvert City. Council started to clear the area after seeking assistance from Mr. Dalip to do same by donating the service of his equipment. The few sections of rides mentioned by the writer are rejects from the J.E Holiday Park that were supposed to be dumped. However, Councilor George Henry asked for same and used his own finances to weld and paint these items which were installed in the Culvert City Park. Council commenced upgrading of the Culvert City children's park recently by the way of enclosing same, built four apartment sanitary facilities, built a Benab and excavated twelve inches of soil that was replaced with sand since the area is extremely rocky and not friendly for one's feet. Solar lighting is in the possession of the Council for this park; soon to be installed. Apparently, this writer does not live in Culvert City since I have visited this community three times within the last two weeks. One of these visits was for the purpose of setting up a Community Development Council (C.D.C) that will assist with the management and development of their constituent. Presently, Councillor Henry is seeking donations for equipment for this park. As it relates to the J.E Holiday Park, work is being done in phases due to the availability of funding since there is a cost attached to everything. The development of these parks is in progress. Every time there is a successful Ministerial visit to this Region and Town a letter comes out; first, after the Minister's visit to South Rupununi and now after the visit of two Ministers - the Honourabe David Patterson and the Honourable Raphael Trotman - where a very successful public meeting was held. At this meeting, I outlined the developmental plan. Carlton Beckles (J.P) Mayor of Lethem
Monday October 17, 2016
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Audit Office questions integrity Govt. eyes public-private of Integrity Commission partnership for onshore oil facility By Abena RockcliffeCampbell The Integrity Commission was set up to ensure that public officials act in a manner befitting their office, but the Office of the Auditor General is questioning the financial integrity of that Commission. In his 2015 report, Auditor General, Deodat Sharma, stated that there have been grave irregularities and the misappropriation of funds at the currently headless Integrity Commission. “Prior to the year 2008, improper record keeping, irregularities and misappropriation of funds resulted in a suspense account in the sum of $1.469M being opened in the statement of financial position as at 31st December 2008.” Six years later, Sharma said that the irregularities are still to be corrected. Further, he stated that “a movement to this account was done as at 31 December 2014 by a reduction in the sum of $699,207. This movement has not been justified with any evidence or basis for the reduction in the suspense account.” Accountants refer to a suspense account as an account in which items are entered temporarily into the books of an organisation before allocation to the correct or final account. President David Granger recently said that the Integrity Commission is likely to become fully functional by the end of this year. The President disclosed that government is creating functional laws and organisational structures to enable the Integrity Commission to function effectively in discharging its mandate. Granger had said that what was inherited from the former People’s Progressive Party (PPP) administration is “unworkable.” He said that there has to be tightening of the legislation to ensure that those who are found guilty of illegal acts while in public office are prosecuted. The President told reporters that, under the previous administration, the Integrity Commission was a “poorly funded, poorly administered [and] dysfunctional organisation.” President Granger likened the functioning of the Integrity Commission in the past to that of a post office, where persons submitted their returns but no action was taken. “There was a perception that the PPP was using the
Auditor General, Deodat Sharma Integrity Commission as a means, rather than (of) preventing corruption, of checking people’s personal finances,” said the President. The Integrity Commission Act was assented to on the 24th September 1997. It provides for the establishment of the Integrity Commission, and makes provisions for the purpose of securing the integrity of persons in public life. The Act also provides for the appointment of a Chairman to head the Commission, not less than two (2) and not more than four (4) other members of the Commission, a Secretary to oversee the day-to-day work of the Commission, and other officers for the proper functioning of the Commission. The Chairman should be a person who is or was qualified to be a Puisne Judge of the High Court, or any
other fit and proper person; and the other members should appear to the President as having experience and showing capacity in law, public administration, social service, finance or accountancy or any other discipline. The Chairman and other members are appointed by the President after consultation with the opposition. Public Officers and positions listed under Schedule 1 of the Commission’s Act should disclose their financial assets and liabilities on or before June 30, each year. When a public officer ceases to be a person in public life, he or she should disclose his or her assets and liabilities to the Commission within thirty days from the date that individual ceases to be a person in public life, the legislation states. In the past, the functioning of the Integrity Commission has been a controversial issue, though the previous administration had sworn in members in 1999, the Commission’s Chairman, Bishop Randolph George, resigned in 2006, and the commission has since been headless. While in Opposition, the APNU-AFC coalition had promised to appoint an independent Integrity Commission as a matter of priority. It vowed that the Chairman and members of the Commission would be persons of good repute.
The government of Guyana continues to explore avenues to make the best of Guyana’s oil. At a recent press conference, Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman said that government is currently eyeing two ventures, an oil refinery and another onshore oil and gas facility. The Natural Resources Minister said that his ministry has received 18 Expressions of Interest in the establishment of an onshore oil and gas facility. “Government is looking to enter into a public-private partnership where government has equity in whatever onshore facility is established and we can then ensure that Guyanese can benefit.” According to Trotman, the majority of the interests are from local companies, while nine are from international companies. He said that later this month and into early November, the companies would be making presentations to the Ministry of Natural Resources. “We would like to give both the local and foreign companies an equal right to make presentations,” Trotman said. Specifically on the oil refinery, Trotman said that there is no word on that as yet.
“We have commissioned a study and I hope and expect that before the end of the year, government will be guided from an economic standpoint whether or not we should have a refinery, whether or not government should have a stake in such a venture or whether it should be left to the private sector on its own.” The minister said that the government would withhold any pronouncement on the establishment of an oil refinery until the study is completed. Trotman indicated that Chatham House will provide the expertise to undertake the study. Chatham House, the Royal Institute of International Affairs, is an independent policy institute based in London. The institute’s mission is to help build worldwide sustainability, security and prosperity. It has a think-tank
group that looks at oil and helps countries around the world manage their oil wealth. As Guyana develops the oil and gas sector, the government continues to receive international assistance for the development of this sector. In November, Chatham House will lead a two day seminar on oil and gas development and on the accounting and financial aspects of the sector. Draft legislation on the complete overhaul of the Petroleum Act and the regulations that accompany it will be made available at the end of 2016. Also, draft legislation for the establishment of a new Petroleum Commission, regulations for local content, and for health and safety for the environment are expected to be presented later this year. Trotman said that consultations on these legislations will begin in 2017.
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Kaieteur News
In light of “unquestionable power” of Bid Protest Committee…
Goolsarran questions background, competence of appointed members The recently established Bid Protest Committee is by no means any ordinary body. According to the Public Procurement Act, the body is one that is supposed to review protests from dissatisfied suppliers and contractors. The decision of the Bid Protest Committee is also said to be considered final and immediately binding upon the procuring entity. This means that there is no recourse to the Courts if a supplier or contractor is dissatisfied with the decision of the Committee. It is for this reason that Chartered Accountant; Anand Goolsarran said that the members of the Committee should be highly skilled and experienced in public procurement matters. The three-member committee was established in July last and comprises Joann Bond as the Chairman and former GTT Manager Archibald Clifton and
Insurance Broker Ewart Adams as the other two members. According to Goolsarran, the committee is required to issue its written decision within 15 business days of the conclusion of a review, stating the reasons for the decision and the remedies granted, if any. Damages may include only compensation to recover the cost of the bid preparation. Additionally, Goolsarran said that the members of the Bid Protest Committee are to be appointed from among professionals who are particularly competent in the field of procurement. In this regard he stated, “It is not clear whether the members of the recently appointed Committee have the necessary backgrounds to discharge their responsibilities as adjudicators and final arbiters in a procurement dispute.” The former Auditor General said that another area
that needs to be clarified relates to the overlapping of the function Committee and that of the Commission. Goolsarran reminded that the Bid Protest Committee is responsible for the review of protests from dissatisfied suppliers and contractors, as provided for under Section 53 (4) of the Act. However, Goolsarran said that the terms of reference of the Procurement Commission, once activated, will include investigating complaints from suppliers, contractors and public entities and proposing remedial action. The Chartered Accountant said, “One rather suspects that this constitutional provision will have to take precedence over the Committee’s function as prescribed in the Act. But this is a matter that should also be taken up with the Assembly for the necessary guidance to be provided.” Goolsarran also stated
that the award of contracts in Guyana and the manner in which the public procurement system works has always been a matter of contention in several quarters. He said that there have been accusations of favouritism, along with other complaints of anticompetitive practices. Goolsarran, who had spoken extensively on the matter, said that the weak systems of public procurement need to be addressed by the new administration, as they cost the country approximately $28B annually. He then pointed to credible allegations of corrupt behaviour in public procurement. These included sole sourcing of drug contracts, contract splitting, inflated engineer’s estimates, evaluation bias on behalf of favoured contractors, the use of inexperienced contractors, the absence of competitive bidding in some cases and
Chartered Accountant, Anand Goolsarran overpayment to contractors. Goolsarran had said that at least US$140M is lost annually by looking at those areas. His estimation was gleaned from an overview of the Auditor General’s reports on the country’s accounts over the past few years. He had also highlighted some of the glaring shortcomings of the NPTAB, among them the absence of
District Tender Boards for Neighbourhood Democratic Councils; the failure to publish in NPTAB’s website; the award of all contracts between $200,000 and $15 million; the failure of members of the various tender boards to file financial returns with the Integrity Commission; and the failure to exercise due diligence in ensuring that evaluators had the requisite expertise. Goolsarran had said, too, that there are certain parts of the Procurement Act which have not been adhered to since the Act came into effect on January 1, 2004. These include ensuring the criteria used for selection are such that they do not discriminate against particular contractors and suppliers, and the award of contracts based on the lowest evaluated bid as opposed to the lowest bid. Failure to look at these, he said, has also proven to be very costly to the country.
Monday October 17, 2016
Did the former government leave the present regime a bankrupt economy and high debts? This is as lopsided a viewpoint as there can ever be. The present administration has entered into an “excuse-making” mode. It is attempting to justify its non-performance on the basis that the PPPC left it in a financial mess with multimillion dollars judgments to be honored and the bailing out of the main sugar industry. Despite this, it is the government’s contention that it was still able to increase the minimum wage by 40%. The government is essentially setting the stage to say to public servants that it has done its best but could have done better if the PPPC did not leave the country in such a financial mess. The government’s case needs to be dissected. The government, as the Opposition Leader pointed out did not inherit a constricted economy. It inherited an economy which has been the fastest growing economy in the Caribbean for over the last ten years.
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INHERITANCE
The government had initially tried to question that growth but it has settled for the same formula in terms of calculating the growth. It has said, though, that while the economy it inherited was growing, it was growing slower than before. Hopefully, by the end of this year we will be in a better position to know whether under the APNU+AFC, the economy has grown faster than before. Growth of course, does not say much about the fiscal position of the country. It is now the view of the government that the fiscal position of the government is perilous since there is an eighty billion debt owed by Guysuco and the government had to find billions of dollars to bail out the corporation so far. This is one way of looking at the situation. The government, however, is also bailing out other entities, which on a per capita basis works out to more than its support for GUYSUCO but it is not complaining about that. The problem with the sugar corporation is not what it is costing to bail it out. It is
Dem boys seh...
Govt slack, dem not tightening up Soulja Bai should put he hand on this slackness that going on. De Auditor General complain that year after year he mekking recommendation to tighten loopholes here and there, strengthen systems and things like that. But year after year de people not paying heed to wha de man saying because as everybody know, Jagdeo, that scamp, encourage wholesale thiefing. Dem boys think wid a new govt things gun change but nutten ain’t change. De Auditor General seh only 15% of de recommendation wha he mek last year, implement. Is time some of dem get jail fuh thiefing because if you not putting de systems in place to monitor and tighten up it mean you thiefing and allowing others to thief just like Jagdeo. He allow all kinds and forms of slackness. He allow Babbie fuh thief de complex plus de well. He allow all de skullduggery to go on at GECOM. Dem boys hope he answer fu de US$120 million wha this country owe Venezuela. He got to seh wheh de money deh because according to Soulja Bai is only US$2 million deh in de account. Dem boys did remember he seh how he reinvest de money to get a higher rate of return. Dem boys hope he nah invest it wid Babbie, BK, Boyah or BaiShan. De Auditor General had to ketch and expose one dealer who behave like if he got PID wid GRA. PID is Permission for Immediate Delivery. That is only granted to emergency imports and perishables. But it look like auto dealers decide that vehicles tun perishables overnight. From de time Robeson was Minister fuh Public Works dem start over paying kantractahs fuh kickbacks. To this day many of de contracts deh halfway and dem kantractahs get full payment. Dem boys want know if de Attorney General gun go after dem. He got to represent de state and already he show signs that he know to cut a deal. He fuss cut a deal wid BK and de Haags Bosch fuh US$7 million. That deal smelling wuss than de dump site. And is not dem boys seh suh, is dem friends talking. Then he cut deal wid DDL; he cut a deal wid Rudisa and he looking fuh see who more he can cut a deal wid. De way dem cutting deals don’t be surprised if dem cut a deal wid Babbie. Talk half and tell dem boys if you hear bout any more silent deals.
what it is likely to be the effect, in terms of social costs, by not supporting the industry. The government cannot claim to be unaware of the debt that is owed by the sugar corporation. The APNU and the AFC when in opposition had actually tried to veto a multi-billion dollar annual subvention that was supposed to be paid to the sugar corporation. The debt of the sugar corporation is not an overnight occurrence. It has existed for some time and was known by all and sundry. GUYSUCO, it should be noted has assets which can
cover its debt. So it is not bankrupt. It has a cash-flow problem, a chronic cash-flow problem that will not disappear in the near future. The government is essentially complaining that it has bailed out GUYSUCO and if it did not have to do so, it could have done much more for public servants. It is a valid argument. The argument that the government is not making, though, is that it is not constrained from doing more because of a lack of money. Revenues have not been declining. The revenues of the
government have actually been increasing by billions of dollars since it came to power and its coffers from gold sales are overflowing. In other words, it can still afford to support the sugar corporation. In response to what the government knows will be a demand for higher wages, the government is saying that despite the problems it inherited it has increased the public service minimum wage by 40%. What the government did not state is that the public service minimum wage is a recent invention and is purely
of academic importance only. The government did not state just how many workers were in fact receiving this ‘ academic ‘ minimum wage and what it cost the treasury to increase this wage by 40%. The overall wage bill has not increased by 40%. In has increased by far less and this is what the government is not saying. To be continued
Monday October 17, 2016
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Guyana Open Bible Standard AG says campaign financing Church hosts annual health fair legislation not on present legislative agenda
Doctors and members of the Region Three Health and Wellness Club Churches are well known for being spiritual sanctuaries to many, but last Saturday it was all about healthy bodies for the Guyana Open Bible Standard Church, the only one of its kind in Guyana. The spiritual body in collaboration with The Region Three Health and Wellness Club hosted a Health Fair at the church’s Lamaha and Oronoque Streets, Georgetown location. Testing for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) was taken advantage of by many persons who turned out at the annual health fair This is according to Dr. Penelope McCallum, one of
the many doctors who volunteered services towards the worthy cause. There were several areas set up for persons to test their blood pressure, sugar, cholesterol, HIV status and Body Mass Index (BMI) among others. In addition, there was also a blood drive done by the National Blood Transfusion Service and free eye testing offered by Sears optical. There was a special section which allowed persons to speak with doctors about health problems affecting them; and seek advice from lawyers on legal issues. Dr. McCallum, a Cuban trained doctor said that most
persons took advantage of HIV and eye testing and dental care. The doctor added that it is advisable for persons to have yearly checkups to keep themselves healthy. Nadina Taharally, assistant Chairman of The Region Three Health and Wellness Club said the aim of the health fair was to educate persons on ways in which they can have and maintain a healthy lifestyle. She stated that various doctors and individuals volunteered their services. The chairman stated that the club will be carrying out health fairs in Wakenaam and Legaun, next month.
The Campaign Financing Legislation which has been touted as necessary to ensure transparency on the funding of political parties’ operations and campaigning is not on the present legislative agenda for Guyana, says AttorneyGeneral and Minister of Legal Affairs Basil Williams. Williams was asked during a recent press briefing to offer an update on when the legislation will be tabled in the National Assembly. In response, he said, “I suppose that’s something we’ll have to look at, but it is not necessarily, not on this present legislative agenda.” The AG said he doesn’t believe the issue has been addressed by government as yet. “You know our legislative agenda is very taxing and there are other priority legislation at this time.” He said that President David Granger had mentioned some of these priority legislations during his presentation to Parliament when it came out of recess on Monday last. The President had mentioned that the Witness Protection Bill, the Protected Disclosures Bill, The Road Act (Amendment) Bill, amendments to the Marriage Act, the modernising of the Civil Aviation legislation and the amendment of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport Corporation Act are some of the important pieces of legislation which his government will address. The AG said that he
cannot speak definitively for the government whether the campaign financing laws are high on its agenda but mentioned that his government will be in office for five years and therefore has time to work on getting the piece of legislation ready. “It’s a five year term; we can’t pack everything into the first two years.” Conversely, colleagues in the Alliance for Change had reported about a week ago that campaign financing legislation were part of its immediate priorities. General-Secretary of the AFC and Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson had said that campaign financing will be on the legislative agenda of Parliament when it comes out of recess. Last April, President David Granger had renewed his government’s commitment to enacting Campaign Financing legislation before the 2020 General and Regional Elections. The law is expected to monitor the source of campaign funding to ensure that there is a fair playing field when parties are to access resources. Some financial
Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams commentators have spoken out on the absence of the legislation. Chartered Accountant Anand Goolsarran had said recently that political parties are not serious about implementing the law since they are heavily dependent on the funding and as such would not want to disclose the names of donors. In an interview with this publication, Goolsarran said that if political parties benefit from contributions towards their campaigns, they would do everything possible to frustrate efforts to have the legislation in place.
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Kaieteur News
Monday October 17, 2016
Guyana pushing for historic 600,000 Islamic Development Bank to sponsor dairy, fruit processing plants ounces in gold declarations The Ministry of Natural Resources is motivating miners to push themselves to the limit so that history can be made in the gold mining sector. At a recent press conference, Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman reminded that a few months ago, the government had moved to clamp down on smuggling activities. He said that this contributed to a success story in the mining sector. The country stands to make a historic gold production target of over 600,000 ounces for the year. “Gold continues to show strong performance. As of today we have crossed the 500,000-ounce mark and we hope to get to 600,000 by December 31st,” Trotman
said. He said the Ministry is in an accelerated drive to get miners to declare and work with the government to make the historic mark of 600,000 ounces. The gold mining sector is excelling at a time when most of the nation’s revenue earners are plunged into trouble. Finance Minister, Winston Jordan has said that Guyana is lucky that at least one sector is stepping up to the plate to hold the economy together. He said he was asked to address the contention that the outstanding performance of the gold sector is masking an economic decline. “They (the sectors) keep shifting. In the 70s it used to be bauxite which carried the economy and at that time I
didn’t hear that it was a onesector economy.” He noted too that sugar at one time carried Guyana. According to the 2016 Mid-year report, the mining and quarrying sector grew by 65.7 percent during the first half of the year buoyed by significant growth in the gold industry and improved performance from the bauxite industry. The report said that production in the gold industry reached 322,493 ounces during the first half of 2016, an increase of 94.3 percent over the same period in 2015. Improved oversight of the industry and granting of concessions to the sector were among factors that contributed to an increase in output.
Representatives from the Islamic Development Bank met with Agriculture Minister, Noel Holder to discuss assisting with agriculture development here. The establishment of a dairy plant, a fruit processing plant and assisting with infrastructural works in the Intermediate Savannahs was discussed. Projects were prioritised based on the ministry’s ability to complete them by the end of 2017, as the Islamic Development Bank contemplates including these projects in their 2017 budget. The dairy plant was at the top of the list for consideration for investment, as Guyana has a high import bill for dairy products and biproducts. Agriculture Minister, Noel Holder, stated that a dairy plant would bring immediate returns for the Guyana. “Dairy products have one of the highest import bills. If we establish a dairy plant, we would be able to supply milk to schools, hospitals, the army and other organisations. We have also taken into consideration the importance of having the plant in an area where the
infrastructure and the market already exists. You must build the dairy plant where the market is rather than where the production is.” Minister Holder said. Mr. Saifullah Abid, Senior Country Program Manager for the Islamic Development Bank said that the bank supports integration between its member countries. “The mandate of the Islamic Development Bank is to promote and foster socioeconomic development in our member countries.” Mr. Abid said. Mr. Tarachand Balgobin, Project Cycle Management Division Director at the Ministry of Finance, made mention of having a processing plant for fruit crops. “We have many fruit crops that go to waste. We have been looking for parties to commercialise and develop these commodities. If there is investment in a fruit processing plant, we will be able to cut down on wastage and add to the agroprocessing sector.” Mr. Balgobin said. Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. George Jervis, stressed the need for major investments to further foster
development in the industry. “The areas that have land for these major projects lack proper infrastructure. There is a great need for investments in roads to access these areas.” Mr. Jervis said. Minister Holder also stated that having a road system put in place would see agricultural development in the interior regions being able to realize its full potential. Mr. Mohammad J. Alsaati, the Special Advisor to the Vice President and Director of Country Programs Department of the Islamic Development Bank, said the bank will have a team of experts look at developmental programmes in rice and livestock. The intention is to have the team come to Guyana, to meet with representatives of the Guyana Livestock Development Authority and the Guyana Rice Development Board to offer advice to further develop the sectors. A draft document of the plans for the dairy plant is expected to be presented to the Islamic Bank representatives by the end of next week in order for funding for this project to be considered.
Monday October 17, 2016
Kaieteur News
Zika causes brain defects in four unborn babies in T&T Trinidad Guardian - Eight months after the Zika virus was first diagnosed in T&T, brain abnormalities have been detected in five unborn babies whose mothers contracted the virus during various stages of pregnancy. Dr Karen Sohan, medical chief of staff at the Mt Hope Wo m e n ’s Hospital (MHWH), said “four of these cases were in keeping with anomalies caused by the Zika virus,” whereas in the fifth case where the mother also contracted Zika it might be as a result of “multiple abnormalities in keeping with a genetic syndrome.” Sohan, who leads the antenatal arm of the national Zika screening programme, confirmed that the pregnant women were infected before the 18th week of pregnancy and at least one of the cases had been detected as late as 25 weeks. Sohan confirmed that the abnormalities had been detected in the first 100 pregnant women seen at the hospital. She said the detection of
Dr. Karen Sohan brain abnormalities represented a four-fold increase in the number of central nervous system abnormalities per 100 pregnant women. Sohan, however, declined to comment on the further management of the affected pregnant women as she cited doctor/patient confidentiality. Asked why she had chosen to publicise the information now, she said she was hoping that by sharing the information it will drive home the reality that the Zika
virus does affect a developing baby, and citizens need to do their part in eradicating the breeding sites. This country has recorded 621 Zika cases so far. Of that figure, 392 were said to be pregnant patients. These figures, however, only reflect the diagnoses done in the public health sector and may not include Zika-positive pregnant patients accessing private healthcare. Following confirmation of the country’s first Zika case in February, Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh mandated a specialist committee headed by Sohan to develop specific processes and procedures to respond to the diagnosis of the virus in patients, with special attention being paid to pregnant women and developing foetuses. Pregnant woman testing positive for Zika or displaying symptoms of the virus were referred to the Mt Hope Women’s Hospital for Foetal Medicine Services by Sohan, who performs between 50 and 60 assessments per week, free of charge to patients.
No pay, no expenses, no laws for Venezuela’s opposition lawmakers CARACAS (Reuters) They say they have not been paid for two months, have had their electricity cut and are sometimes banned from flights - and the laws they pass are blocked anyway. Venezuela’s opposition lawmakers accuse the socialist government of sabotaging their work after winning a majority in congress last December. The pro-government Supreme Court has blocked all congress’ bills from becoming law. Earlier this week, the high court also allowed President Nicolas Maduro to present the 2017 budget without congressional approval. On a smaller scale, congressmen say they are also being blocked from doing their job because of lack of state resources. “There’s no money for anything,” said lawmaker Angel Alvarado, adding he bought printer ink with his own money. “This is a means of destroying democracy ... They’re strangling the Assembly.” OPEC-member Venezuela
is suffering through a severe economic crisis with shortages of basic goods and food and rising crime. Half a dozen opposition lawmakers interviewed by Reuters say they have not been paid for two months, and those living outside the capital Caracas say they have never received travel expenses. Gabriela Arellano, lawmaker for Tachira state near the Colombian border, said she had been twice prevented from boarding state airlines for a flight to Caracas because her name was on a blacklist. For the last three months, she has had to make the 14-hour trip by road. Others said they had been stopped when trying to travel to Margarita Island in September for a summit of the Non-Aligned Movement. Last week, a session of congress was suspended because it did not reach a quorum of 83 out of 167 lawmakers. The opposition said the reason was the logistical problems. Maduro said attendance problems did not exist when
Nicolas Maduro he was a congressman in the then Socialist Partycontrolled Congress, blaming “lazy” opposition lawmakers for the suspension of 25 sessions this year. In a speech last weekend, Maduro seemed to admit lawmakers were not being paid because Congress was defying the law, saying he was only approving money for National Assembly workers.
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SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.-CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620 Visa Application: U.S.A, C a n a da & UK; Guyana passport application. Graphics design, advertisement. Tel: 6267040; 265-4535. INNOVATIVEMARKETING & PUBLISHING INC –TEL: 600-4212: We create A/ works, logos, busi ness cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included. Passport, permanent & visitor visa application, Professional Immigrant Consultant – Sabita Immigration Services. Call: 225-6496; 662-6045 RAMDASS VISA APPLICATION & immigration services, room A-4, Maraj Building, Georgetown. Call Samantha: 227-0295; 6159295 Hello the doctor is back! Have your gas stove service and repairs. Call: 601-0595
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DRESSMAKING
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GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 2257878 (24HRS)
C. Persaud & N. Outar Driving School formerly Soman & Sons Driving School @ Maraj BuildingCall: 644-5166; 622-2872; 615-0964; 689-5997 (affordable packages).
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FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Business apartment for rent: 1 snackette include glass cases, warmer & stove, grocery & beer garden @ 7 Durban Street, Lodge. Call: 690-5796 Three bedrooms bottom flat at 116 Cane View Avenue, South Ruimvedlt Gardens. Call: 218-1688/ 615-0392/6097826
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One exclusive three bedrooms apartment @ First Bridge Diamond, E.B.D $70,000. Call: 225-5258/6152622
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Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezerCall: 610-5846 or 661-8158 Laptop Repairs & unlocking of cell phones, etc. Call: 683-9251
Popular East Coast Gas Station (Non-Pareil) Day/ Night: pump attendants, sales clerk & office assistant. Contact: 695-9880/670-8893
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Monday October 17, 2016
Kaieteur News
PROPERTY FOR SALE Transported property @ Grove and Diamond $16M negotiable. Call: 625-5461 Property @ Lot 172 Zohora Street, Better Hope, East Coast Demerara. Call: 2201583
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Monday October 17, 2016
Kaieteur News
Trump charges U.S. election results being rigged ‘at many polling places’ Reuters - Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump dug deeper in his efforts to cast doubt on the legitimacy of the U.S. election, saying on Twitter yesterday that he believed the results were being “rigged” at many polling places. His tweet came hours after his vice presidential running mate, Mike Pence, said Republicans would accept the outcome of the Nov. 8 contest between Trump and his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton. “The election is absolutely being rigged by the dishonest and distorted media pushing Crooked Hillary but also at many polling places SAD,” Trump wrote on Twitter, in the latest of a series of comments he has made over the past several days calling into question the fairness of the election. Trump, who is trailing Clinton in opinion polls, did not provide any evidence to back his allegations of impropriety at the voting booth. The New York businessman, who has never held elective office, has often said the electoral process is skewed against him, including during the Republican nominating contests, when he disputed the method for winning delegates to the Republican National Convention. His latest complaint of media bias stems from allegations by women that he groped them or made other unwanted sexual advances, after a 2005 video became public in which Trump was recorded bragging about such behavior. He apologized for
Donald Trump
the video but has denied each of the accusations. “Election is being rigged by the media, in a coordinated effort with the Clinton campaign, by putting stories that never happened into news!” Trump tweeted on Sunday, a sentiment he also expressed in posts and during rallies in Maine and New Hampshire on Saturday. The comments raised questions both from Republicans and Democrats about whether he would accept the outcome should he lose to Clinton. Trump said after the first presidential debate in September that he would “absolutely” accept the election outcome. But a few days afterward, he told the New York Times: “We’re going to see what happens.” He has also urged his supporters to keep an eye on voting locations to prevent a “stolen” election, which some critics interpreted as encouraging them to intimidate voters. Pence said yesterday he and Trump would respect the will of the voters. “We’ll respect the outcome of this election,” said Pence, the
Indiana governor. “Donald Trump said in the first debate that we’ll respect the will of the American people in this election. The peaceful transfer of power is a hallmark of American history.” In the key swing state of North Carolina yesterday, local authorities reported that the Orange County Republican Party headquarters was vandalized overnight. Authorities said the building in Hillsborough had been struck through a front window with flammable material and an adjacent building wall was spray-painted with a swastika and the words “Nazi Republicans leave town or else.” The local Republican Party chapter said in a statement yesterday that the American public should be “outraged by this hate-filled and violent attack against our democracy.” Clinton on Twitter denounced the attack as “horrific and unacceptable,” adding: “Very grateful that everyone is safe.
India’s Modi, at summit, calls Pakistan ‘mother-ship of terrorism’ Reuters - Modi’s remarks to a meeting of leaders from the BRICS - which include Brazil, Russia, China and South Africa - escalated his diplomatic drive to isolate Pakistan, which India accuses of sponsoring crossborder terrorism. Tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours have been running high since a Sept. 18 attack on an army base in Kashmir, near the disputed frontier with Pakistan, killed 19 Indian soldiers in the worst such assault in 14 years. India later said it had carried out retaliatory “surgical strikes” across the de facto border that inflicted significant casualties. Pakistan denied any role in the attack on the Uri army base, and said the Indian operation
had not even happened, dismissing it as typical crossborder firing. “In our own region, terrorism poses a grave threat to peace, security and development,” Modi said in remarks to BRICS leaders who met at a resort hotel in the western state of Goa. “Tragically, the mothership of terrorism is a country in India’s neighbourhood,” the 66-year-old prime minister said, without directly naming Pakistan, in a series of tweets of his remarks issued by the foreign ministry. Pakistan accused Modi of misleading his summit partners and of seeking to conceal what it alleged was India’s own brutality in the part of Kashmir that it rules, where dozens have died since separatist protests broke out
in July. “The people of Indian Occupied Kashmir are being subjected to genocide by India for demanding their fundamental right to self determination,” said Sartaj Aziz, foreign policy adviser to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Modi’s hostile comments were not reflected in the closing summit statement he made to reporters, but still made it possible for him to present himself at home as being tough on national security. “Modi is aware that such language wouldn’t get the consensus necessary to make it into the final communique. Including it in his speech ensures it gets wide circulation anyway,” said South Asia expert Shashank Joshi.
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Monday October 17, 2016
‘The United Nations is with you’ - UN chief tells Haitians
Secretary General Ban Ki Moon greets people at a shelter during his visit to Haaiti’s western city of Les Cayes, which was heavily damaged by Hurricane Matthew. (Photo credit: Logan Abassi UN/Minustah) PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - (CMC) – United Nations Secretary General Ban KiMoon has reassured the people of Haiti that the global body is “with them” after getting a first-hand view of the devastation caused by the passage of Hurricane Matthew. On Saturday, Ban who was in Haiti, said the country is facing its largest humanitarian disaster since the 2010 earthquake, urging friends of the Frenchspeaking Caribbean nation worldwide to “step up” and provide the resources the Haitian people so desperately need in the wake of the “utter devastation” wrought by Hurricane Matthew. “It is one thing to read about the damage caused by the hurricane. It is another thing to see it for oneself,” Ban told reporters her at the end of his mission to show solidarity with the people, many of whom had very little and now, he said, have lost everything in the aftermath of the powerful storm. The Category 4 storm slammed into the country on October 4, and, according to UN relief wing, caused extensive flooding and mudslides, damage to road infrastructure and buildings, and electricity and water shortages, particularly in Haiti’s southwestern departments where it made landfall. The UN estimates that 546 have been killed, 438 injured, and 128 are missing, with some 2.1 million people affected throughout the
country. “Today, in Les Cayes, I saw utter devastation. I have heard from many victims. I have felt their pain. I understand their frustrations, even anger,” the SecretaryGeneral stated, noting that some families have lost their homes, crops and livelihoods. “It is heartbreaking.” At the same time, Ban strongly condemned all attacks against humanitarian convoys, telling the press conference that he had witnessed such an attack on Saturday in Les Cayes where World Food Programme (WFP) trucks were attacked at the base of the UN Stabilization Mission in the country, known as MINUSTAH. “Any attack against a humanitarian convoy is an attack against suffering, against those who are most needy. I understand the impatience and anger of the people waiting for emergency relief,” the Secretary-General stressed, adding: “We do our best to open roads and allow these help to arrive as quickly as possible.” “But when [trucks carrying medicines] are attacked and looted, when food and water are plundered, this can only increase the distress of all and discourage international aid. I implore you: let the aid through,” he emphasized. And while many might feel alone, Ban said that, while in Les Cayes, one of the hardest-hit areas along with Jérémie, he had said loudly
and clearly: “The United Nations is with you. I am with you.” In the face of this humanitarian disaster, he recalled that just days after Hurricane Matthew hit, the UN launched an emergency appeal of US$120 million . “I urge all friends of Haiti around the world to step up and give. Provide the resources the people of Haiti so desperately need. This is a matter of life and death,” underscored the UN chief. The so-called “Flash Appeal,” launched by the UN on behalf of the international humanitarian community, seeks to respond to “the most urgent needs” of people impacted by the storm, now estimated to be some 750,000. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) , the appeal targets vulnerable groups in identified priority sectors, and it takes into account the national-level capacities and those of humanitarian partners on the ground.” The Hurricane upended people’s lives. It also disrupted the elections,” continued the SecretaryGeneral, stating that he is pleased the Provisional Electoral Council has announced new dates for the polls, with the first round to take place on November 20. “This shows the Government’s commitment to a return to constitutional order despite the challenges faced by the hurricane,” he added.
Monday October 17, 2016
Kaieteur News
South African minister’s affidavit details…
$490 million in Gupta transactions reported as suspicious Reuters - South African Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan has revealed in a court affidavit distributed by the Treasury yesterday that 6.8 billion rand (403 million pounds) in payments made by wealthy brothers Ajay, Atul and Rajesh Gupta, companies they control, and other individuals with the same surname have been reported to authorities as suspicious since 2012. The three Indian-born businessmen are the subject of an official investigation into allegations that they have had undue influence over President Jacob Zuma. The payments in question, whose destinations were not disclosed in the document provided by Gordhan, were ascribed to the three brothers, their nephew Varun Gupta, numerous companies that they control as well as other individuals named as Chetali Gupta, Shivani Gupta and Arti Gupta. Reuters could not establish whether all these individuals were members of the same family. Gordhan’s court submission caps a week of high drama in which he was charged with fraud by
approving early retirement for a deputy commissioner in 2010 while Gordhan was head of the tax agency and re-hiring him as a consultant - a charge that Gordhan said was politically motivated. Gordhan has for months been at odds with Zuma, not least over the alleged political influence of the Gupta brothers, but is looked to by edgy financial markets as a guarantor of stability. Gordhan’s submission, dated Oct. 13, is a request to the High Court in Pretoria for a declaratory judgment that he cannot interfere with decisions by South Africa’s major banks to cut their ties with businesses owned by the Gupta brothers. Gordhan’s submission had the effect of airing what he considered to be evidence supporting his concerns about the Gupta brothers’ political influence. The Gupta brothers are close to Zuma and the subject of a just-finished report by the outgoing Public Protector, a constitutionally-mandated anti-graft official, into allegations that they influenced the appointment of ministers. It was prevented from being made public on
Pravin Gordhan Friday by Zuma’s application to the High Court to delay its release. Zuma has denied granting undue influence to the brothers and they have denied seeking it. Nevertheless, they said in August that they planned to exit all of their South African investments. Several banks and companies have cut ties this year with the Gupta brothers’ investment vehicle, Oakbay Investments, without publicly disclosing their reasons. They included South Africa’s top four banks: Standard Bank, Nedbank, Barclays Africa’s Absa and First National Bank (FNB), part of FirstRand.
MPs press Theresa May to allow a vote on EU strategy Reuters - British MPs from across the political spectrum will press their bid to force Prime Minister Theresa May to give parliament a vote on her negotiating strategy for leaving the European Union, saying she had no mandate for a “hard Brexit”. As Britain embarks on some of its most complex diplomatic negotiations since World War Two, Nick Clegg, former deputy prime minister, said May’s plan to invoke Article 50 of the EU’s Lisbon Treaty by the end of March - triggering the formal Brexit procedure - would hand power to the other 27 EU members. “Whilst the government has a mandate to pull us out of the European Union they don’t have a mandate how to do that,” Clegg told the BBC’s Andrew Marr programme yesterday. “That is why it is important that the government strengthens its own hand and also just subjects its own ideas to the sort of scrutiny of the parliament before they go to the negotiations elsewhere in Europe.” MPs from the ruling
Theresa May Conservative Party, Labour Party and Clegg’s Lib Dems said they accepted Britain had voted to leave, but have called for a debate and vote in parliament to try to influence the terms of the divorce. May, who was appointed prime minister shortly after the June referendum, last week said parliament would have every opportunity to debate plans to leave the European Union, but ruled out letting it vote on triggering Article 50.
Clegg said he backed a “soft Brexit” in which Britain stays in or close to the EU’s lucrative single market, and urged May to try to “square the circle” over whether Britain will have to sacrifice full participation in the single market to restore control over immigration. May has said she will deliver Britain’s vote in the referendum to reduce the numbers of EU migrants arriving in the country and restore British sovereignty, but she has also been careful to say she wants the “best deal” for business. Uncertainty over what kind of deal Britain will pursue has unsettled investors and markets. The British currency is particularly sensitive to any suggestion that the country might be heading towards a “hard Brexit”, or a clean break from the EU’s single market of 500 million consumers. Priti Patel, the minister for international development who campaigned to leave the EU, said parliament already had the opportunity to debate and discuss Britain’s divorce from the EU.
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Jamaica poised to tap into Iraqi army drops leaflets over Mosul in preparation for offensive US$150-billion gastronomy market
Peshmerga forces gather on the outskirt of Mosul during preparations to attack Mosul, Iraq. REUTERS/Ari Jalal Reuters - The Iraqi army dropped tens of thousands of leaflets over Mosul before dawn yesterday, warning residents an offensive to recapture the city from Islamic State was in its final stages of preparation, according to a military statement in Baghdad. The leaflets carried several messages, one of them assuring the population that advancing army units and air strikes “will not target civilians” and another telling them to avoid known locations of Islamic State militants.
The assault on Mosul, the last city still under control of the ultra-hardline Islamic State in Iraq, could begin this month with the support of a U.S.-led coalition, according to Iraqi government and military officials. Islamic State fighters are dug in and are expected to fight hard. They have forced civilians to stay in harm’s way during previous battles to defend territory. Russian President Vladimir Putin said yesterday he hoped the United States and its allies would do their best to avoid civilian
casualties in an attack on Mosul. Reflecting the authorities’ concerns over a mass exodus that would complicate the offensive, the leaflets told residents “to stay at home and not to believe rumours spread by Daesh” to cause panic, referring to Islamic State by its Arabic acronym. With a pre-war population of around 2 million, Mosul is around 4-5 times the size of any other city recaptured so far from the militants, who swept through northern Iraq in 2014 and also hold a swathe of Syria.
Britain, U.S. consider more sanctions against Assad, supporters Reuters - Britain and the United States said yesterday they were considering imposing additional sanctions on Syrian President Bashar alAssad and his supporters for their actions in Syria’s war. British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, speaking after briefing allies in London on a new diplomatic initiative on Syria, also called on Russia and
Iran to agree to a new ceasefire. The threat of more sanctions on Syria came before a European Union summit on Thursday and Friday to discuss sanctions against Russia. “There’s a lot of measures we’re proposing to do with extra sanctions on the Syrian regime and their supporters, measures to bring those responsible for war crimes to the International Criminal Court,” Johnson told
reporters after talks he convened with his U.S counterpart and allies on Syria. “These things will eventually come to bite the perpetrators of these crimes and they should think about it now,” said Johnson, adding there was no appetite in Europe for going to war in Syria. He said it was “highly dubious” that Syrian government forces backed by Russia were capable of retaking the city of Aleppo or winning the war, and called on Russia and Iran to show leadership by agreeing to a ceasefire. “It is up to them to show mercy, show mercy to those people in that city and get the ceasefire going,” he added. He spoke alongside Kerry, who briefed European and other allies on a new diplomatic initiative involving Russia and a group of Middle Eastern nations aimed at ending the fighting in Syria. The first round of talks in the Swiss city of Lausanne failed to agree on a strategy for ending the violence soon.
KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) — Minister of tourism, Edmund Bartlett, says Jamaica is uniquely poised to tap into the US$150-billion international gastronomy market, propelling the tourism industry even faster towards further economic growth. Addressing a Gastronomy of Fats and Oils Seminar last week, Bartlett said studies conducted by the tourism ministry show that food is a major draw for overseas visitors and that Jamaica’s culinary delights rank amongst the best in the world. “Earlier this year, I introduced the framework to develop gastronomy tourism locally. I appointed a Gastronomy Network, which falls under the aegis of our Tourism Linkages Network, to develop initiatives to strengthen Jamaica’s competitiveness in gastronomy tourism, as we diversify our product to generate higher growth rates in both visitor arrivals and earnings,” the minister said. “Jamaican food, rum and music are all critical ingredients in the building out of this gastronomy experience,” he added. The minister said Jamaica is fortunate to be blessed with culinary delights born out of the rich diversity of its heritage, and that “this fusion of cultures has created a melting pot of gastronomic
wonders that make us ideally positioned to take advantage of the growing phenomenon of culinary travel”. He explained that today’s visitor is more experienced and informed than tourists were ten years ago, making it even more important for destinations to improve on their tourism offerings. He pointed out that as gastronomy tourism continues to fuel visitors’ interest, it is imperative that local chefs are not only skilled in cooking, “but also in other aspects of food preparation”. “It will require them to keep updated with the industry’s needs in order to meet the challenges of a rapidly evolving gastronomy tourism sector. In addition, it will challenge us all to produce culinary products and brands that best represent our authentic heritage,” the minister said. Bartlett said that all the evidence is pointing to the fact that gastronomy tourism provides an opportunity for stakeholders to add value to the island’s tourism sector by diversifying the product while promoting local economic development. “It strengthens the linkages sectors, benefiting manufacturers, suppliers, farmers, food and beverage managers and chefs,” Bartlett said. “At the same time, it benefits communities by
supporting the local farmers, developing and expanding businesses, creating new dining experiences and increasing overnight stays in local hotels. It also educates visitors about the local culture and way of life,” he added. The minister said that as part of a marketing strategy, the Ministry will soon be creating a gastronomy mapping platform with easily accessible information on the island’s best food offerings. “We will also be collaborating with tourism partners to boost the number of quality food festivals. We will be working with tour operators to develop enticing food tours across the length and breadth of the island. We will also integrate food experiences with flagship events,” Bartlett noted.
BRIDGETOWN,Barbados - CMC – Housing, Lands and Rural Development Minister, Denis Kellman, left Saturday at the head of a four-member delegation that will participate in the Third United Nations (UN) Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development in Quito, Ecuador today. The four-day conference is expected to look at congestion as it relates to transportation, health problem and rapid urbanisation, sea level rise, water shortage and how to deal with water distribution, climate change and deforestation. Kellman said that although deforestation might not be a major problem here, Barbados still needed to plant more trees. He said that desalination is also an item that will be discussed at the conference. “The world has accepted that the current fresh water supply cannot be kept at the same level and that we have to
move towards desalination, as you would appreciate this is something that we in Barbados have moved forward on.” Kellman said that Barbados may use the conference as an opportunity to outline a solution to the housing problems. “One of the things that we might advocate is what used to previously obtain, where people go to school, they learn, they get a job and they remain at home to ensure the family home is kept in such a
state that when they leave home they do not have to worry as to whether the house at home is good or not because they would have done enough to the family income to ensure that the family home is a proper home.” He pointed out that since this was no longer occurring as it used to and with people now demanding more housing solutions, this was stretching the resources and creating greater social costs for the country.
Edmund Bartlett
Barbados to attend UN conference on housing and sustainable urban development
Insurance firms in NIS query Daily Nation - Insurance companies, alarmed at high payouts for people deemed unfit for work, are anxious for an explanation from the National Insurance Service (NIS) They want the NIS to tell them what criteria and methods are used to medically board employees for what are soft tissue injuries, such as neck and
back pain. The firms are said to be paying out thousands of dollars in personal injury claims to workers signed off as medically unfit to work or disabled. The president of the General Insurance Association of Barbados, Davis Browne, said it was a major issue for the body.
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Wozniacki back in world’s top Whitmore recovering after 20 with Hong Kong Open win collapsing KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Interim Reggae Boyz head coach Theodore Whitmore was recovering in a Montego Bay hospital after collapsing suddenly on Saturday. The Jamaica Observer newspaper reported that the 44-year-old was in a conversation with friends in Montego Bay when he fainted, and had to be rushed to Cornwall Regional Hospital. He had played football earlier in the day. Whitmore was kept overnight for observation but reports indicated he was talking and moving around on his own. The former midfielder played over 100 times for the Reggae Boyz before moving
Interim Reggae Boyz coach Theodore Whitmore into a managerial role, leading the national side to the capture of the 2010 Caribbean Cup. Whitmore was recently
NBS 2ND Division 40-over cricket ... Caroline Wozniacki (L) and Kristina Mladenovic pose after match. (REUTERS/Bobby Yip)
Ramdeen 113 help Everest maul Diplomats
Wozniacki said it was difficult psychologically as she did not know the extent of Mladenovic’s injury in what became a grueling match. “It wasn’t easy mentally because sometimes she would look like she couldn’t play, and then she would run like Speedy Gonzalez — clearly it’s not that bad if you can run side to side,” she added. “There was definitely a mental game. I just happened to win it.”
Khemraj Ramdeen’s 114 led Everest to a 256-run win over Diplomats at Everest yesterday in the latest round of GCA’s NBS second division 40-over cricket tournament. Saheed Mohamed (58), Richie Looknauth (37), Akshaya Persaud (35) and Gavin Sookdeo (30) supported Ramdeen as the host amassed 371-6 off 40 overs. Everest fell just five runs of the record 376-4 made by DCC against Third Class on Saturday but Everest is a much larger ground than GYO where Raymond Perez’s ton led DCC to that total. Diplomats were bowled out for 115 all out in 28.2 overs with Krishna Mondisir top scoring with 43. Left-arm spinner Javed Rasheed captured 4-24 off 8 overs and got support from Saheed Mohamed (2-13) and Rajin Sookdeo (2-22). Riyad Sattaur and Richie Looknauth took one wicket each.
(Reuters) Former world number one Caroline Wozniacki captured her 25th career Tour title when she beat unseeded Frenchwoman Kristina Mladenovic 6-1 67(4) 6-2 in the Hong Kong Open final on Sunday. The 26-year-old Wozniacki, who will now move back into the world’s top 20, has been in fine form, winning 19 of her last 22 matches, but was pushed to her limits by Mladenovic during an intense two-hour40-minute final. Despite a strong start from the Dane, Mladenovic, who underwent lengthy treatment after the opening set, refused to back down as she produced a spirited performance to win the second set, the only one Wozniacki dropped during the tournament. Wozniacki, who won the Pan Pacific Open last month, held her nerve as she showcased her years of experience to clinch the third set and claim her second Tour title of the year. “I’m really pleased with my week, there was some good tennis and long battles,” Wozniacki told reporters.
Mladenovic said she had struggled with exhaustion due to the intense heat and humidity in Hong Kong and sustained a hamstring injury during the final. “I was not coming out fresh and when you play someone like Caroline, who is running down every point, you have to fight,” said Mladenovic, who is yet to win a Tour title following her third loss in a singles’ final. “It was very difficult. I have no idea how I made it to three sets.”
handed his second stint in charge of Jamaica, replacing German Winfried Schaefer following the country’s failed World Cup qualifying bid last month. Only last week, Whitmore oversaw a dramatic comefrom-behind 4-2 win over Guyana in a 2016 CFU Caribbean Cup qualifier in Georgetown.
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Kaieteur News
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SPR Enterprise ECCC 40-over Final ...
Ramlakhan leads Enmore to win over defending Champs Fairfield SC By Sean Devers Nineteen-year-old East Coast Franchise Wicketkeeper batsman Vishwanauth Ramlakhan stroked a classy 88 and Satesh Jainarine and Chandraban Seemangal took four wickets each to spur Enmore to a 49-run win over defending champions Fairfield Sports Club yesterday at Enmore in the Final of the SPR Enterprise East Coast Cricket Committee (ECCC) 40 overs cricket competition. Ramlakhan reached the boundary six times and cleared it once in his 93-ball innings and got support from Navin Gobin’s unbeaten 28. Gavin Moriah (26) and Christopher Surat (23) also contributed as the hosts reached 222-8 with Richard Chetura taking 2-30. Ramnarine Chetura hit three fours and a six in a defiant 57 from 75 balls but only Wasim Mustapha (30) offered resistance for Fairfield who were bowled out for 173 to suffer their only loss on the most important day of the tournament. Off-Spinner Jainarine (4-37) and Seemangal who followed up his 7-35 against Enterprise, took 4-9. Played in steaming heat on a lightning fast outfield and slow track at a venue with the best facilities on the East Coast of Demerara, Richard Chetura removed both openers to leave Enmore, urged on by a large and vocal crowd, on 12-2. Ramnarine Chetura trapped Rudolph Singh (23) LBW at 65-3 before the lefthanded Surat and the fluent Ramlakhan, who scored the only century (114 v Calcutta) for Enmore joined forces and revived the position with entertaining batting. Surat swept off-spinner Leon Targoonchanue, a carbon copy in size and
We are the Champions! SPR Enterprise ECCC 40 overs winners Enmore along with GCB & ECCC members show off their hardware bowling action of West Indies ‘A’ spinner Rahkeem Cornwall, for six to post the 100, but five runs later, Enmore slipped from 105-3 to 105-6. Surat was LBW to Alex Marshall and Chandraban Seemangal and Ajeet Harrilall were run out for ducks much to the disappointment of the Enmore fans despite the ‘Bollywood and Dancehall music blaring from the ‘Cool Runners’ Sound System. But a 55-run seventh wicket stand between Moriah and Ramlakhan, who swept Targoonchanue for his only six, and fans, not short of liquid refreshments, were back on their feet. Moriah was removed at 160-7 but Gobin and Ramlakhan added 42 runs before Ramlakhan chipped into Motilall Chetura and was stumped at 202-8. Moriah and Jainarine (10*) saw their team to 222 with a 20-run unfinished ninth wicket stand. When Fairfield began their chase, Marshall (5) had
his stump knocked back by Imran Hassan at 15-1 before GCB’s Franchise League leftarm pacer Moriah trapped Mark Shaw (17) LBW at 28-2 and although Mustapha batted well and the third wicket stand was beginning to look threatening, Enmore still held the advantage. Mustapha missed a sweep at Jainarine at 117-3 and three more wickets from Jainarine had Fairfield in a spin at 1377. But Ramnarine Chetura fought a hard battle until he was eight out to a brilliant catch at long-on trying to go over the top to Seemangal as the fielding of both teams remained outstanding all day. At the presentation Ceremony Anil Persaud of the ECCC and Director of the WICB Anand Sanasie were among those to speak while the winner and runners-up trophies were handed over to the respective Captains. Two fans, impressed by the batting of Ramlakhan presented the teenager with $5,000 each.
Man-of-the-Match Vishwanauth Ramlakhan cover drives during his classy 88 at Enmore yesterday. (Sean Devers photo)
Olympic sprinter Tyson Gay’s teen daughter killed in Kentucky crossfire (Reuters) The 15-year-old daughter of U.S. Olympic sprinter Tyson Gay died on Sunday after being caught in an exchange of gunfire between two vehicles outside of a Kentucky restaurant, police said. After the shooting in Lexington at about 4 a.m. EDT (0800 GMT), Trinity Gay was taken in a private vehicle to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead, the Lexington Police Department said in a statement. Police said they have detained two people for questioning in connection with the incident. A homicide investigation is underway. “She didn’t make it. I’m so confused,” Gay told the sports editor with NBC-affiliate Lex 18 television. “She was just here last week for fall break. It’s so crazy.” Gay, 34, was born in Lexington and lives in a suburb of Orlando, Florida. He could not be reached for further comment. In 2007, he won three gold medals at the World Championships in Osaka, Japan, taking titles in the 100 meter, 200 meter and 4x100m relay. He set the U.S. record in the 100-meter sprint two years later. Gay, who made his Olympic debut in 2008, won a silver medal with the 4x100 meters relay team at the 2012 Games in London. But he lost the medal after testing positive for a banned substance in 2013. Condolences from the track and field world poured in on social media. “Sending our thoughts and prayers to (Tyson Gay) and his loved ones as they mourn the tragic & senseless loss of his daughter, Trinity,” USA Track & Field, the sport’s national governing body, wrote on Twitter. American Olympic hurdler Lolo Jones echoed the sentiment. “Heavy heart today for Tyson Gay and his family,” Jones, 34, wrote on Twitter. “Lord please ease their pain and give them strength during this time.” Trinity was a rising star on the track team
Ms Gay was hit during an exchange of fire between two cars. (Instagram) at Lafayette High School in Lexington, her father’s alma mater, Sports Illustrated reported. “Our hearts are broken this morning over the loss of Trinity to this tragic and senseless act of violence,” Fayette County Public Schools, which runs the high school, wrote on Twitter.
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West Indies Women beat England Women by 42 runs – 4th ODI BBC Sport - KINGSTON, Jamaica, - Stafanie Taylor put in a fine all-round performance as West Indies defeated an incredibly sloppy England by 42 runs in the fourth one-day international. Home captain Taylor made 85 as West Indies posted 2236, helped by four dropped catches and a missed stumping. The tourists were well placed at 133-1 in Kingston after half-centuries from Tammy Beaumont and Lauren Winfield. But five run-outs and three wickets from Taylor saw England bowled out for 181 and the series levelled at 2-2. The fifth and deciding match will be at the same Sabina Park ground on Wednesday. West Indies’ win not only keeps the series alive, but also means England cannot secure World Cup qualification in the Caribbean, having lost the second of the ICC Women’s Championship fixtures. Though the tourists were disadvantaged by losing the toss - all four matches in the series have been won by the side batting first - they were
hampered by their own mistakes in the field and running between the wickets. But that is to take nothing away from Taylor, whose 129ball knock was both imperious and chanceless. England run into trouble No team had ever overhauled a score of more than 222 to win a women’s ODI in the Caribbean but, for some time, that record looked under threat. England openers Beaumont (57) and Winfield (51) shared 95, with Beaumont in particular showing power down the ground in a 52-ball half-century. After she was caught and bowled by Taylor, Heather Knight joined Winfield in a stand of 38 until England imploded in spectacular fashion. Winfield was run out in a mix-up with Knight, Danni Wyatt fell in the same fashion, Georgia Elwiss was short of her ground after a poor call and Brunt was stranded in another breakdown in communication. By the time Taylor had Knight caught and bowled for 36, England had lost four wickets for four runs and the
Beaumont hit two hundreds in the threematch ODI series against Pakistan in the summer. (Getty images) game was as good as gone. Fittingly it was a fifth run out that ended the match, Taylor - who took 3-22 - was involved yet again with a direct hit that accounted for Laura Marsh. Captain Taylor guides the Windies Taylor’s superb bowling and fielding display followed a second half-century of the series that anchored the Windies on a sluggish Sabina Park surface. After the hosts collapsed to 108 all out in losing the third ODI, Taylor displayed a new approach of careful accumulation with occasional shows of aggression, initially
in a partnership of 69 with Shaquana Quintyne. England’s first dropped catch - Hayley Matthews put down by Marsh - cost them only one run, but it was only when Quintyne was brilliantly caught in the deep by Wyatt off Knight that the errors began to creep in. Alex Hartley did not get hand on a skier off Deandra Dottin - reprieved on two before going on to make 18 while Merissa Aguilleira could have been stumped by Amy Jones on nought and was then dropped on three and 11, both times by Jenny Gunn. She went on to make 32. Aguilleira added 45 with
Jamaican Taylor starred with bat and ball on her home ground. (Getty Images)
Taylor, who missed out a century when she miscued Knight’s off-spin to extra cover. There was still time for the swift running of Stacy-Ann King and Shemaine Campbelle to visibly frustrate England, but that was nothing compared to the disappointment that was to come. What they said England opener Tammy Beaumont told BBC Sport: ”We played 90% of the game how we want to play, but the 10% has let us down poor decisions for the runouts and a few dropped catches in the field. “Being 90-0 and all out for 181 is not ideal. We know how hard it is to come in on these wickets, so myself and Lauren Winfield have to go on in the way that Stafanie Taylor did. “It was nice to get off to a quick start, but I was very
annoyed when I got out. I wanted to go on and bring the game home for the team, so that is something I have to look at in the next game.” West Indies captain Stafanie Taylor: ”I wasn’t nervous, they actually got a brilliant start that the openers gave them but we just needed a breakthrough. “We actually watched a movie last night, one of those movies where you never give up and I think it actually came true today.” Scores: WEST INDIES WOMEN 223 for six off 50 overs (Stafanie Taylor 84, Shaquana Quintyne 41, Merissa Aguilleira 32; Natalie Sciver 1-13) ENGLAND WOMEN 181 all out off 44.2 overs (Tammy Beaumont 57, Lauren Winfield 51, Heather Knight 36; Stafanie Taylor 3-22, Hayley Matthews 2-25).
Richard Haniff wins Trophy Stall Annual Golf Tournament Richard Haniff, son of 2011 Guyana Open Golf Champion, Evangelist Fazil 'That's It' Haniff, noted that, “I put in much practice before the tournament and today played the course not paying attention to any competition,” as he walked away a clear winner of last Saturday's Annual Trophy Stall Golf
tournament. Haniff cited that his short game was very good, giving him 2 birdies on what are considered the more difficult par 4 holes (5 and 6), and helping him to recover even after 3 double bogeys. He congratulated the Groundsmen on the superb state of the greens. Father
Winners and Club officials after the presentation (from left) Avinash Persaud, Fazil Haniff, Lakeram Ramsundar, Asrodeen Sawh, Richard Haniff, Peyton George standing in for Balgobin Ragnauth, Capt Chatterpaul Deo and Vice President Patrick Prashad
Proud father and son 1st and 4th place winners, Richard and Fazil Haniff
Haniff was delighted that his son was able to be the champion. “I'm looking forward to the day when he does better than his father at the Guyana Open,” he stated. At the end of the day's play winners were: Nearest to The Pin (8') – Lakeram Ramsundar; Best Gross (79) Avinash Persaud; 1st Best Net - Richard Haniff 15/65;
2nd - Asrodeen Shaw 18/68; 3rd - Balgobin Ragnauth 27/ 69; 4th - Fazil Haniff 14/70. Also in contention were Maurice Solomon 24/71; Mike Gayadin 14/72; and Aleem Hussain 17/72. Vice President Patrick Prashad, speaking on behalf of the Club, expressed appreciation for and gratitude to Trophy Stall and Managing
Director and Proprietor Mr Ramesh Sunich, who is currently the Vice President of the Guyana Floodlight Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA). “Trophy Stall with a long association (over 17 years) has been an outstanding sponsor and supporter of golfing in that Mr Sunich has always been willing to assist the Lusignan Golf Club. Thank you very much
Trophy Stall, for you have become a household name by your involvement in all the sporting disciplines as well as in providing trophies for institutions in the Education department, and still contributing to golf,” he stated. Mr. Sunich and Trophy Stall ha v e been sponsoring golf tournaments for some seven years.