Kaieteur News

K

AIETEUR NEWS

Guyana’s largest selling daily & New York’s most popular weekly

Gold miner, bandits shootout… Tuesday Edition

Police obtain Court's

October 22, 2019 - Vol. 12 No. 44

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com

permission to hold suspects another 7 days

Price $80

Online readership yesterday 161, 969

Foreign oil service company threatens local workers - Trade Unionist - same company has been protested several times in T&T

Trinidad workers protest outside JSL International Ltd. in Port Of Spain over the treatment of workers, back in December 2017 (Newsday.co.tt photo)

Canje man dead Drunk carpenter steals Body of man found as car capsizes in ring and chain, sells them in trench with plastic bag over head Demerara River while sober - Court hears

Guyana should join OECD convention to tackle tax avoidance and evasion by oil companies - Academic Paper Touts, bicycle New regulations on Teen remanded gangs arrested in money transfers for stealing three G/T sweep down take effect motorcycles in one day

Kaieteur News

PAGE 02

Tuesday October 22, 2019

Two oil companies may be grappling over discovery

By Kiana Wilburg

E

xecutives at CGX Resources Inc. and Frontera Energy are smiling from ear to ear since an oil discovery in a neighbouring block is believed to be overlapping into their Demerara block by some 20 percent.

This was noted in a report that was done by Hannam and Partners, a leading independent investment bank which provides specialist advice and access to capital to major companies.

The bank was hired by Eco Atlantic, a small Canadian company which has a 15 percent interest in the oil rich Orinduik Block.

Hannam and Partners' report

focused on the second discovery on the Orinduik Block called Joe-1 and how it further de-risks exploration and development.

In doing this, the investment bank noted that the Joe prospect may extend onto the Demerara block, directly to the north of Orinduik, which is owned 67% by CGX and 33% by Frontera (Frontera's stake in CGX means that it has a 78% economic interest in the block).

The bank also said that the discovery potentially extends some 15-20% into CGX's Demerara block. The extension of this block not only de-risks the Demerara block but also supports the recent change CGX made to

Map showing location of the Joe discovery and how it extends into the CGX Demerara Block its drilling programme.

Kaieteur News would have reported some weeks ago that CGX made an adjustment to its drilling programme considering the proximity of the Joe discovery. In fact, CGX is drilling its first well on the Demerara Block in 2020, putting it one year ahead of its drilling schedule.

Also in 2020, CGX would be spudding its wild cat for the Corentyne Block following further forensic seismic investigation of the northern region of the block.

It would appear that this seismic survey is being done to gain a better understanding of the block's geological systems and how those correlate with two nearby finds in the ExxonMobil operated Stabroek Block.

A perusal of the locations of Exxon discoveries show that the Pluma well is just two miles away from CGX's Corentyne block while the Haimara is sitting a mere five miles away. The Pluma-1 well is estimated to hold at least 300M barrels of oil says Wood Mackenzie. Haimara-1 is part of trio oil field and potentially holds 800M barrels of oil equivalent reserves.

Furthermore, this newspaper understands that CGX would be utilizing the services of PGS Geophysical SA (“PGS�) to provide acquisition and processing of the 3D seismic survey covering approximately 582 km2 of the northern portion of the Corentyne Block. The survey is expected to commence in mid-October 2019 and be completed by

November 27, 2019. This is in line with CRI's re-sequenced work plan on the Corentyne Block, which requires it to complete a seismic survey

by November 27, 2019 and the drilling of an exploration well by November 2020.

This newspaper understands that PGS plans to use an integrated acquisition and imaging approach, for reliable operation and fast turnaround of the seismic data.

A Ramform Titan-class seismic vessel will be used to complete the acquisition, ensuring a high level of safety and operational reliability. In addition to this, GeoStreamer acquisition technology will enable advanced imaging techniques to provide structural imaging to support drilling decisions.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday October 22, 2019

PAGE 03

Hire car driver arrested after suspected hit-and-run car found in bodywork shop P

o l i c e i n Springlands, Berbice have arrested a 33-year-old hire car driver for his involvement in a fatal hitand-run accident that occurred at Number 76 Village, Upper Corentyne.

In police custody, along with his car, is Yadesh Rooplall. The victim of the accident has been identified as Parmanand Harripaul, a 27-year-old of Lot 62 Section A Number 69 Village.

Police sources have indicated that Rooplall was arrested yesterday morning in Linepath, Skeldon while the vehicle he was driving was found at a bodyworks and spray paint establishment in Crabwood Creek around 21:00 hrs Saturday night. The incident reportedly occurred Saturday afternoon.

Reports are that the police acted on information given by an anonymous caller that a body of a male was on the parapet of the Number 76 public road.

Upon the arrival of police ranks, blood was seen on the victim's neck and torso along with a gash on his neck. Small fragments of glass were also noticed about three feet away from the

Harripaul's lifeless body covered with a sheet

body. Subsequently, contact was made with Leelawattie

Hemraj, who identified the body to be that of her son.

Police believe this car was involved in the hit-and-run accident

DEAD: Parmanand Harripaul

ARRESTED: Yadesh Rooplall

The body was transported to the Skeldon Public Hospital

where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The body is at the Skeldon Public Hospital mortuary awaiting a post mortem examination.

Meanwhile, a relative of the deceased, Chetram Harry, told Kaieteur News that his nephew left home Saturday afternoon but did not say where he was heading.

It was not long after that they were informed by the police that Harripaul's lifeless body was found on the road. He has no children and was never married.

Investigations are ongoing.

Canje man dead as car capsizes in Demerara River man deliberately drove the vehicle off of the wharf during which it capsized.

When the car was removed from the river the driver's body was observed

Dead: Umdut Anil Jagnit

A

car capsized i n t o t h e Demerara River around 04:30 hours yesterday morning at the Timehri Docks, resulting in the death of Umdut Anil Jagnit, aged 39 of Lot 5 Betsy Ground, East Canje, Berbice who appeared to be the only passenger in the white Toyota 192 with

licence plate PHH 5423 According to reports a security guard who resides within the area of the Docks reported that a number of persons alerted him that there was a motor car overturned in the river. The police were immediately summoned to the scene.

The information received suggests that the

in the back seat with the driver's side seat belt wrapped around the left foot.

The area was searched to see if anything of evidential value would be recovered but

it was to no avail. However there were no visible marks of violence on the body.

While several persons in the areas were questioned, no substantial useful

information was received.

The body is presently at the Lyken's Funeral Home awaiting a post mortem examination. Investigations are on-going.

PAGE 4

Kaieteur News

Tuesday October 22, 2019

Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana.

Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Adam Harris Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

EDITORIAL Putin the new king of Syria (…and possibly this region too) This is the long game, an endurance test. It is timeless, devoid of tempests on Twitter. Instead of a meltdown, the world observes a wearing down. Putin is the man, the American, the chump, who has turned out to be nothing more than a leadership lump.

Today it is the Middle East and Syria, which according to an opinion piece by Jonathan Spyer titled, “Putin is the new king of Syria, the arbiter of everyone’s interests including Israel’s” (the Wall Street Journal, October 16).

This will not be allowed to stand for long, not with that omnipotent Jewish Lobby in Congress. There is, and will be, fear and trembling for what is the combined might of the collective agency and will of that group. Especially when the interests of Israel are endangered.

Now that Comrade Putin has gained the upper hand in a battle of attrition in Syria, that wider region is due for keener recalibrating. As Mr. Spyer pointed out, “Vladimir Putin is now the indispensable strategic partner in Syria.

None of the remaining pieces on the broken chessboard can move without his hand.”

Recalibration is what promises to follow in due course, through increasing big power stretch, and the great game for hegemony in the Middle East. Think the Eastern kind, which has long been denied. Regrettably, the same fate hangs over the lands of this region. For the Latin Americas are similarly menaced. Just look at neighbouring Venezuela. All that is required is the welcome of a toehold.

Senor Chavez followed by Senor Maduro did roll out the carpet. A red carpet for a red wave that could turn into a red tide. Guyana better watch out. Mr. Putin has company here, who would relish any such ascendancy in this neck of the woods.The odds are favourable for Mr. Putin (and his ideological friends), who sense a wounded red, white, and blue eagle which flies on one wing and with many a screeching, snarling squawk. More about the nonthreatening, they have found.

All sound and mainly minor muscle. Still, it is a formidable and fearsome enough presence that the greatest of cautions must be exercised. The biggest asset gained, the largest lesson learned, from the very actions of a disturbed and unsteady adversary is this: keep calm, plan for the long haul, stay the course, outlast, reap the rewards.

Syria and, possibly, the never still, always volatile Middle East proves the wisdom of such slow, methodical strategizing and executing. Let the other man fume and flare into many a frenzy on Facebook. That’s a fool’s game in the rarefied world of superpower chess moves. There is no Bobby Fisher bringing fame and glory on this occasion.

Scant comfort is that for the peoples and otherwise inclined leaders of more than a few nations in the neighbourhood. They like democracy, as porous and demanding as it can be at times. As Sir Winston Churchill did remind: “democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others.” That is the specter that is stark -the others.

For there is growing impatience in Washington with the dogged immovability and threatening longevity of the existing Venezuelan political hierarchy. Exit strategy, anyone? Though not a quagmire to outsiders, by any measurement, it is distracting and draining to those with limited attention spans. New Yorkers are well known for the opposite: the hurried and on the run action, the rush for rewarding results, the closure of one deal and quickly moving onto the next one. The problem is that global leadership is not about the art of the deal. Nor can it be reduced to the cheap commerce of easy bartering, through the battering that flows from verbal bullying.

As the WrestleMania that is White House leadership enthralls the lesser nativist lights, more and more ground is surrendered to strongmen (like Vladimir and Nicholas), who have mastered the fine art of stooping for conquering, silence is golden. Syria is in tatters, the Middle East is combustible, and the Western world seems more and more rudderless. Tweets are useless. Intimidating is senseless.

And brawling yields nothingness. Yesterday, it was Syria.

Soon it could be South America. Who is awake in Guyana?

Friendship’s Never Again Deadly Car Crash DEAR EDITOR, It was reported in KN on Oct. 15, that a speeding police car travelling southwards on the East Bank Demerara (EBD) roadway collided headon with a taxi travelling northwards in the vicinity of Friendship Village killing five persons including the driver of the police vehicle.

This stretch of roadway has always been a testing ground for errant drivers who wanted to know the limits of their vehicles’ capabilities whether or not the machines were mechanically capable for extreme speeds.

The police’s annual man-

datory inspection of vehicles do not check their emissions, wear/pressure of tyres, mechanical fitness such as brakes and steering ends.

Therefore, many of the vehicles being driven on Guyanese roads today have defects of one sort or the other and are unsafe to be on the road.

The unavailability of appropriate spares and their costs for repairs compound the problems but these defective cars are still on the road instead of being grounded.

Hence despite pleas by Friendship’s Residents for police presence and speed

limits along their stretch of roadway nothing much will be done because there are many similar problem areas facing other villages in the country and the resources are just not available to implement them.

However, to control speed limit along this stretch of roadway and others, the police should install recording cameras at strategic locations which will automatically take pictures of vehicles exceeding their speed limits as well as their licence plates, speeds, date and time of day.

Offenders will then be mailed tickets with these details as well as the levying

fines which have to be paid within a specified time or face licences suspension. I am a driver in New York City (NYC) and because I do not have deep pockets nor can afford to have my driving licence suspended, I obey driving within the speed limits of the many streets and highways where the City has installed cameras. Incidentally, the imposed fines on delinquent drivers pay for themselves over time and the evidence has shown that the discipline of NYC drivers has been astonishingly evident.

Yours truly, Charles Sohan

Shameful to continue a campaign of deception of the courts’ rulings on the NCM DEAR EDITOR, In reading Monday’s editorial in another newspaper titled “Unconstitutional gov’t and cash transfers”, I was reminded of a remark Desmond Hoyte once made at a party exec meeting. In reply to a persistent suggestion that the party needed to aggressively respond to yet another attack of it by the newspapers, he said with an amused chuckle, “It is hard to out-paper these people!”

Indeed, it appears hard to “out-paper” this newspaper on the rulings of the Carib-

bean Court of Justice and our Chief Justice. The newspaper, in gasping for oxygen for its tattered campaign of misinformation, strikingly avoids in the editorial any mention of the rulings of the courts, the final arbiters of the constitution. Instead, the newspaper now pins its claim that the government is unconstitutional on the press releases of the Bar Council of the Guyana Bar Association, the European Union, the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Commonwealth.

The newspaper is obvi-

ously running out of railway.

This last-ditch effort at public deception comes as its previous attempt to put its own spin on the constitution crash-landed into the CJ’s ruling last Wednesday that the opposition’s application for an order for the cabinet, including the President, to resign was “wholly misconceived”, “vexatious” and “an absolute abuse of the court.”

With the courts offering no help in its campaign to outpaper the truth, the newspaper now seeks rescue in the political announcements of

the bar association and the diplomatic community.

Maybe to show respect for the courts of the land, these very offices should now retract their earlier positions, now that they know better.

In a letter in the newspaper published the same day as its editorial, I wrote that for anyone to persist with this campaign of deception would now be beyond disrespect of the courts and the public. In this regard, Monday’s editorial is shameful.

Yours faithfully, Sherwood Lowe

Support Country, Community and Causes DEAR EDITOR, Mr. Oscar Ramjeet (KN Oct. 9) inadvertently stated, in a response to an article I penned on Lenox Shuman’s talk in New York, that I am a supporter of PPP. (Ramjeet praised and endorsed Shuman). I need to correct his statement on party affiliation.

People should be loyal to country, community, and causes and not party or leadership. Leadership and party tend to abuse their supporters.

I never supported any party or government and I am not a member of the PPP. Being Indian does not make me an automatic supporter of PPP. In my pre-teen years, I used to accompany friends delivering and or selling Mirror newspaper.

That was long before I knew what the term politics mean or what is communism (or socialism, capitalism and other isms). I spent two decades fighting for free and fair elections and opposing Burnhamism; that should not be translated into support for PPP. I am an admirer of Jaganism (helping the poor and working class and a lean, clean, non-corrupt government). That should not be translated into support for the

PPP. Jaganism largely ended with the death of Dr. Jagan. I do not subscribe to ideology of PPP and several of its programmes, policies and decision making process.

I believe every organization (including parties) should have absolute democracy on decision making – members should play the lead role in all decisions. The PPP made a lot of blunders that saw it expelled from government (at the behest of the US), three times and the party continues to make strategic errors. Who don’t listen, will feel what the elders used to say.

Ramjeet must not be reading the papers carefully of how critical I have been of the PPP and equally so of the coalition government. I am an independent minded, objective commentator, political analyst, and journalist (reporter). In addition, my role as a pollster prevents me from taking sides.

I can hardly think of anyone who has been as critical (critiques, not attacks) of the PPP as me. There are some in PPP and APNU who don’t want to speak out against wrongs in their party for fear of losing perks and their par-

liamentary seats. They sell their souls for a seat or a position.

They will also pay for their silence — what happens when their party lose? One side can win in ‘winner takes all system’!

Ramjeet must not confuse me with commentators or columnists or letter writers who are supportive of PPP or APNU and constantly attack or praise one another. I do neither because I am professional and unaligned and will not compromise integrity.

Yours truly, Dr. Vishnu Bisram

Quick thoughts - scratching the surface DEAR EDITOR, I’ve been wanting to say this for some time now and have been watching the Guyana newspapers.

We may want to consider where these OIL contracts are signed going forward, so for example if we think Guyana got a raw deal do we have recourse in foreign courts which in places can be very litigant with contracts to our disadvantage and advantage and are we utilizing the cooling off periods to review carefully.

Very important that previous and future retained Ad-

visory firms are under the Fiduciary umbrella (preferably Canada - USA) but these are International conglomerates with business interests in Africa, Europe and Middle East, because if people in

Georgetown are claiming the deals are so out of sorts then what are they saying ?

This is my personal objective analysis and is not directed at anyone personally.

Ronald Thompson

Can GTT explain?

DEAR EDITOR, About three weeks ago I received a phone call from a relative in the US. The call got disconnected twice and both times my relative said he heard a recording of our immediately previous conversation. Are our telephones being tapped? Are our conversations being recorded? Can GTT explain?

Yours truly Clairmont Lye

Tuesday October 22, 2019

PAGE 5

Kaieteur News

Governments can no longer hide-Who Many parties are sprouting up like Granger’s coalition. Mr. querading the “Civic” composuffer across the is on the Christians’ Side? groups Shuman and his followers nent with false prophets and world, Christians are the most flowers

DEAR EDITOR, Christians are the most persecuted religious group in modern times, governments must also show that they are on their side as they are with other religious groups.

While the eyes of the world are focused on seemingly more important issues a silent war against Christianity continues unchecked and seemingly unnoticed. Make no qualms about it, but Christianity is currently the most persecuted religion, a fact that is ignored in the West https:/ /anglicanplanet.net/ christians-most-persecutedreligious-group-in-world/In light of current displayed behaviours, one is left wondering the reason behind this growing silence.

In a message at the commencement of a report by Catholic Charity—Aid to the Church in need, Prince Charles described threats to Christians in the Middle East as an “indescribable tragedy”. He further stated that events in both Syria and Iraq that have caused thousands to be displaced were heartbreaking. Christians residing in Iraq have been driven out of their ancestral homes and maintain that “crimes against humanity” have been committed against them and Iraq’s other minorities - such as the Yazidis. And in Syria, more than 100,000 Syrians have lost their lives in the escalating conflict between forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad and those opposed to his rule. https://www.bbc.com/news/ uk-29899571. Four gunmen stormed Kenya’s Garissa University College on April 3, 2015 and began shooting indiscriminately. As they sauntered from building to building the attackers singled out and shot those persons who identified themselves as Christians. When it was all over, 148 people, mostly students, had been killed. A Somali Islamist group – Al Shabab claimed responsibil-

ity for the attack, the second deadliest attack in Kenyan history.https:// www. a p n e w s . c o m / 0e40d1386d0a41e49f78437995e5bc5f In February 2015 shock rang throughout the world when the Islamic State group released a video showing the beheading of 21 men – 20 Coptic Christians, along with a Ghanian Christian companion. As they were killed, the men were praying to Jesus.

Their bodies were recovered in October 2017 after one of the perpetrators was caught by the Libyan authorities and revealed their location. Their bodies were returned to Egypt on May 14, 2018.

According to a report ordered by Britain’s Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt the persecution of Christians in parts of the world is at near genocide levels. The review estimated that one in three people suffer from religious persecution. The Foreign Minister expressed the feeling that political correctness was somewhat contributory in the issue not being confronted.https://www.gov.uk/ government/speeches/persecution-of-christians-review-foreign-secretarys-speech-following-the-final-report. The review was commissioned on Boxing Day 2018 amidst a protest over the treatment of Asia Bibi, a Christian woman who faced death threats after being acquitted of blasphemy in Pakistan.https:/ www.cbsnews.com/news/ pakistan-christian-womanasia-bibi-islamabad-threatsfrom-islamic-extremists/. Bibi 54, a Christian, mother of five and a farm labourer, has spent eight years on Death Row, accused of insulting the prophet Muhammad after an argument with her neighbours.https:// w w w. t h e g u a r d i a n . c o m / commentisfree/2018/nov/13/ asia-bibi-imran-khan-pakistanblasphemy-law The interim report said that while various religious

Emergency vehicle drivers must drive with care DEAR EDITOR, The law and department policy will usually state that an officer must drive with due regard for public safety. All intersections require prudent action by the emergency vehicle driver. The following steps should be followed when approaching a negative right-a-way intersection (red light, stop sign or yield) the apparatus should not exceed 15mph and shall be prepared to stop. If you are waiting at an intersection and an ambulance, fire engine or any emergency vehicle is behind you, you must not go through a

red stop light. The onus is on the emergency vehicle to find a way through.Emergency vehicles often stop or slow down at intersections to check if they can pass through safely.

You must give way to emergency vehicle that is sounding an alarm or showing flashing red or blue lights. To be corrected, do all you can to allow it to pass.

Pulling to the left gives the emergency vehicle more room and slowing down shortens the ‘ time exposed to danger ‘ , i.e. the time it takes to overtake you.

Yours Faithfully, Parmanand Ram

persecuted. In Palestine, they now make up just 1.5 per cent of the population, while in Iraq numbers have dropped from 1.5 million before 2013 to fewer than 120,000. The Anglican Bishop Philip Mounstephen, who led the review said Christianity is set to be “wiped out” from parts of the Middle East as people are killed or forced to flee. https://catholicherald.co.uk/ news/2019/05/03/christianpersecution-near-genocidelevels/.Again during a Good Friday service in Rome, Pope Francis the 266th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church presiding over the ceremony at the Colosseum listened as the Vatican’s official preacher Raniero Cantalamessa condemned the “disturbing indifference of world institutions in the face of all killing of Christians”. We still see today our persecuted brothers, decapitated and crucified for their faith in you [Jesus], before our eyes and often with our complicit silence,” Pope Francis said. https:// www.bbc.com/news/worldeurope-32179180. On Easter Sunday April 21, 2019 suicide bombings hit three Christian churches in Sri Lanka and three luxury hotels. The death toll in the attacks rose to 290.

The authorities blamed the local Islamist group National Thowheed Jamath (NTJ) for the attacks, but said that they must have had help from a larger network. The Islamic State group later claimed it was behind the bombings, but provided no evidence of direct involvement. The bombings were the deadliest attack on Christians in South Asia in recent memory. https:// www.nytimes.com/2019/04/ 21/world/asia/sri-lanka-religion-christians.html?module.

In Myanmar, Christian minorities fear they will be the next targets of the Buddhist-dominated government. https:// w w w. w s j . c o m / a r t i c l e s / myanmar-persecuteschristians-too-1544138518 There is an existing sense of misplaced political correctness, at the governmental level that has hindered the display of standing up for Christians overseas. In Canada and the U.S.A citizens benefit from dwelling in a diverse and tolerant society, and these qualities should be promoted abroad. The myopic behaviour should cease immediately, and attention focused on countries where persecution of Christians is most severe with potential for deterioration. Governments are called upon to act immediately and deliver real, tangible and lasting change for those suffering death or persecution because of their religious belief.

Yvonne Sam

DEAR EDITOR, First of all, I would like to express my support to SN when government ads were curtailed; these ads need to be re-instated as soon as possible- I would also like to congratulate Mr. Lall and the KN staff in their support of SN. At all costs, SN and KN have to stand together to protect our most important freedomfreedom of the press .

Let me take this opportunity, to remind the public and ALL political operatives, that SN, under the leadership of Mr. David de Caires, (from it’s very genesis), always gave space for anyone to express opinions - from opposition to government, regardless of race, religion or class. Mr. de Caires’ legacy lives on, stronger than ever, and at the next national awards ceremony, I would strongly recommend that a special award be given to that great Guyanese journalist - a true patriot of our dear Republic.

Let us remember that government intervention into press freedom has a long history, and in recent times, now former President, Bharrat Jagdeo, and his gang used curtailment of government ads, to try and destroy SN, even when Mr. de Caires was the editor. Mr. Jagdeo and his Gang also severely pressured press freedom in other ways, like the denial of broadcast licences to Mr. Sharma and others.

I would like to implore our government to always embrace freedom of the press and to remember - it is only goodwill, not money, which will play the most pivotal role in realizing Mr. Granger’s important commitment to the “good life” for all Guyanese.

Editor, I notice that many parties are sprouting up like flowers in springtime (or, should I say, “oil-time”), each claiming to offer something new - but each seeing no difference between the two main parties in order to justify their very existence.

It seems as if Mr. Shuman and his party, however, are taking a different mature view of the Guyanese political reality and might be leaning to a union with President

would strengthen and invigorate the coalition and he should be welcomed once he accepts the objectives, philosophy and especially, the complexities which any political coalition will face as it interacts with an opposition PPP which is dedicated to one-party communism with Marx/Lenin as their gods and “to keep the red flag flying” as their mantra. Mr. Shuman, to me, is a smart young man who is obviously dedicated to our Republic - he can help make a great difference to help strengthen our durable coalition and he can increase the momentum towards the concept of the “good life” ,which Mr. Granger will chart a course towards. On the other hand, we see Mr. Robin Singh joining the communist PPP and dedicating himself to an organization devoid of democratic principles while mas-

loose cannons, like himself.

Simply put - here is Mr. Shuman, a democrat, and there is Mr. Singh, a communist enabler.

Editor, lastly, I would like to add my condolences to the family of Mr. Cyril Belgrave, a Guyanese patriot and a dedicated follower of President Cheddi - I am certain that Mr. Belgrave’s honesty and integrity while he was in politics stands in sharp contrast (but in close proximity to Dr. Jagan’s character) with those who control his beloved PPP today.

He had to be cognizant of the numerous negative changes afflicting the PPP after President Cheddi’s death - rest in peace, Cyril Belgrave, you will always be remembered, especially by these Jagans.

Yours faithfully, Cheddi (Joey) Jagan (Jr.)

This is a lesson Guyana’s politicians must learn DEAR EDITOR, The British parliament voted to delay the Brexit deal and required Borris Johnson, the Prime Minister, to ask for a three months delay. Mr Johnson sent an unsigned letter asking for an extension of the deadline but he sent a signed letter that states that to delay wil be detrimental. Both the European Union (EU) and Mr Johnson are fighting for their political survival.

In 2016 when the United Kingdom (UK) voted to leave the EU, there were political movements all over Europe following suit. Frexit, Italexit and many other European countries were likely to leave the EU. Brexit was an existential threat to the EU but because of the chaos the UK has experienced everyone thinking twice. The UK will leave the EU but survival instinct for human is powerful.This is a lesson Guyana’s politicians must learn. People will survive by any means necessary. If it is difficult in the formal system, the informal system will grow.

Do your job as political leaders and stop managing poverty but aim to eliminate it.

Yours truly, Brian E Plummer

PAGE 6

Tuesday October 22, 2019

Kaieteur News

Why must hard-working, tax-paying, law-abiding Guyanese citizens continue to suffer because of some ‘rogue’ police ranks?

DEAR EDITOR, First, I wish to thank you for publishing my earlier open letter to the Commissioner of Police on the incidents of noise nuisance in the neighbourhood.

You may recall that sometime back, around July of this year (2019), I had cause to write an Open Letter to the Commissioner of Police complaining about the playing of ‘loud and continuous music’ by the Bar and Restaurant at the corner of Albert and Charlotte Street that disturbs my family’s ‘peaceful enjoyment of their home.’

This follow-up letter to my earlier one is triggered by two recent events: first, the letter carried by your newspaper Friday, October 18, captioned “The Police Force should improve its response to noise nuisance” by a Craig Villager complaining about the merrygo-round he got from Grove Police Station in response to his call about the noise nuisance on Craig Road and, second, the occurrence of a noise

nuisance incident at Albert and Charlotte Street.

Unlike the Craig Villager who endured a tortuous merry-go-round, I got an almost immediate response to my call from the Alberttown Police Station when I complained about the ‘loud and continuous music’ that I and my family and neighbours have to endure night after night and on Sunday October 20, from 2:00p.m. to 12 midnight.

Unfortunately, however, the response was not what I had expected.

The situation: At the time, the Bar in question, was having a “Barbeque” with music blasting, Cubans reveling, drinking and loud talking was going on. The activities had started earlier at 2:00 p.m.

Within minutes of my call on Sunday 4:15 p.m. to Alberttown Police Station a Police Patrol vehicle (with, as far as I could make out, the number plate PWW 5125) arrived at 4:30 p.m. and stopped in front of the Bar.

Spare us the hypocrisy!

DEAR EDITOR, Please permit me a space in your newspaper to respond to a statement made by Ms. Gail Teixeira on Thursday, October 17, 2019 on the CNS Channel 6 television programme, “Matters of Public Importance.” Where she stated that “President Granger did not sympathise with the family of the five persons involved in the accident”.It is disturbing to me, as a youth who pays keen attention to current affairs to hear public leaders making false statements with the devious aim to create a public mischief in order to whip up support from their base.

To accuse President David Granger of being uncaring about the loss of lives in the tragic accident on the Friendship, East Bank Demerara Public Road is as false as if someone saying the sun rises in the west and sets in the east. Ms. Teixeira a simple perusal of the facts, which were all over the news before your Friday programme would have revealed that President Granger, after learning about the accident swiftly visited the scene of the accident and was visibly shocked at the scene and with the loss of lives. He also visited the relatives of the five victims who lost their lives The government has agreed to offer various forms of assistance to the families and children of those who died in the accident.

Editor, the PPP/C’s Chief Whip sat on their television

programme for one hour, with a straight face and spewed sheer lies on various issues, which anyone can refute by simply checking the facts. But you know what, it was the very same Ms. Teixeira’s who now talks about pain and suffering of the bereaved families, using this tragic accident for political mileage.

You have no shame Ms Teixeira, it was a horrible accident and you should have some decency to not politicise it. After all it was deliberate the actions by the PPP/C which brought untold heartache sorrow and anguish to many Guyanese families when it unleashed state sponsored violence, when nurses were shot for protesting for better wages and conditions of work, the sugar workers from Wales Estate were tear gassed and shot with rubber bullets, many citizens were shot beaten and incarcerated protestors in Linden were shot and killed.

Where was your sympathy or empathy for the countless Guyanese citizens who suffered under the PPP/C. Editor, IT IS HYPOCRITICAL FOR MS TEIXEIRA CRITICIZE PRESIDENT GRANGER OVER THE TRAGIC ACCIDENT, when under her government there was no sympathy or empathy for the many Guyanese whose lives were snuffed out by extra judicial killings. Those were not accidents Ms TeIxiera, so please spare us the hypocrisy Sincerely Yours, Ceion Rollox

“That was fast!”, I thought.

From my veranda, I looked on at the ensuing interactions between the Police Patrol and persons connected to the Bar. What appeared to be the owner or one of the persons in charge approached the Police Patrol and after a short pleasant exchange, he introduced two voluptuous Latinas to the Police Patrol.

Was this the ‘Coquette Ploy’? Soon after that, another person appeared and handed the Police Patrol a black plastic bag containing something, I could only surmise what it was. Was that an ‘inducement’? A neighbour whispered to me “Oh my God, ... look like dey bribing de police!” I looked on, not knowing what to make of it. All I was concerned with was that the Police Patrol make the owners of the bar turn down the volume of the music so that my relatives could continue with their studies.

Moments after, another person joined the merry group chatting with the Patrol. He then made his way to the Barbeque pit and to my surprise returned to the Patrol Vehicle this time carrying what appeared to be two paper-plates full of food. Was that a ‘payoff’ for the police not to take any action? I’m only asking.

I don’t want to jump to any conclusions. But I asked myself “What the hell is going on there?” The police had been called to respond to a complaint of ‘loud and continuous music’ by the Bar and there they are, being feted and fed Barbeque Chicken! I urged my neighbour, “Let’s see if they gon turn down the music.”

Unfortunately, the Police Patrol soon drove off and the music continued playing at the same level.

I can’t help but share the same opinion with the Craig Villager: “Don’t give up, they are still some good police officers around, you just have to find them.”

I want to ask the Craig Villager: “Tell me where I can find them in Guyana? Tell me?”

After the publication of my first letter, I noted in the daily newspapers, the public pronouncements of the Minister of Public Security and the Commissioner of Police on the issue of noise nuisance and that the Ministry of Public Security was considering the possibility of a policy of ‘suspending or withdrawing the licence’ of offending Bar and Restaurant owners. I felt a sense of hope.

I also read of the efforts of the Ministry of Public Se-

curity to upgrade Police Stations in the country by providing them with state-of-theart sophisticated computer technology such as facial-recognition hardware and software, ‘crime hot-spots mapping’ software, ‘noise guns’ for detecting ‘decibel levels’ of bars and clubs and the installing of digital Data Bases to replace the pen-and-paper based records at Police Stations. That all sounds good, but has it improved the efficiency and effectiveness of the Police Force.

As a colleague pointed out, putting in the hands of the lower ranks of the Police Force sophisticated hardware and software does not make the ranks more efficient. It simply makes the Police Force more ‘capital intensive’ with such expensive equipment. A visit to any police station would easily confirm that.

My colleague went on to remind me of the recent traffic incident involving a police vehicle smashing into another vehicle killing 5 or 6 people. Cost of the vehicle: about GY2,000,000. Cost of the 5 lives: priceless. Point made: ‘capital intensive’ Police Force.

I seem also to recall one newspaper reporting that at a certain crime investigating agency, a police rank stole the hard-drive from the computer housing very sophisticated and (US$10,000) expensive software application! My neighbour insists that putting expensive equipment in the

hands of police ranks only makes the ‘payoff’ bigger.

I read also in the newspapers that the Commissioner of Police emphasized the importance of the need of complainants of ‘noise nuisance’ to submit a ‘statement’ to the police so that the police can take action in response to such complaints.

Well, I did.

Soon after his public utterances, I went into Alberttown Police Station, spoke to the Officer in Charge, Mr. Caesar, who then instructed a rank to take a statement with the specifics of the incident, “the loud and continuous playing of music” that disturbed my “peaceful enjoyment of my home”, the dates, times and frequency of incident. The Officer in Charge assured me that appropriate action would be taken.

Days and nights followed with my peaceful enjoyment of my home. Then one week later, the cat-and-mouse game between the police and rogue bar owner resumed.

I recall when I was living and working in Barbados as a consultant to a Regional Institution, I was living in an apartment complex just next door to another block of apartments where a group of Guyanese building contractors were staying. They were a hard working lot building or renovating homes for Barbadians.

But, there was one thing that was their shortcoming.

On Sunday mornings, religiously, they would play their cultural music loud and continuously.

A Barbadian neighbour, disturbed by the music, called the Barbadian Police Station. Soon after, two Police Officers, turned up at the apartment. They spoke with the Guyanese contractors for about 10 minutes, then they left.

For the next two years, living in the same neighbourhood, I never heard music emanating from that apartment. The Guyanese contractors still stayed there, still went about their work conscientiously, and continued to earn a good paycheck.

My question: Why must hard-working, tax-paying, law-abiding Guyanese citizens continue to suffer because of some ‘rogue’ police ranks? Are Police Stations required to keep a ‘log’ of Police Patrol activities? What’s the use of providing ‘statements’ to the police when they do not take any action?

How many ‘statements’ must a citizen submit to the police.

Are Police Stations properly supervised and managed?

It’s now 11:00 p.m.! and as I word process this letter, my ears are bombarded by the loud and continuous music coming from the Bar owned and run by foreigners who, in a short time span, know how to manipulate Guyanese police. God Help us.

Yours Truly, Not a Craig Villager

NEVER AGAIN! DEAR EDITOR, We applaud the quick action of His Excellency the President of Guyana. We in Friendship have taken responsibility and action by having a community meeting, a vigil and 100+ signatures on a ‘NEVER AGAIN’ petition.

We are very sad at the continued accident tragedies on the East Bank road and especially in Friendship. The benefits to the families of the deceased and a Commission of Inquiry are all important, but will it stop the next horrendous accident? The answer is NO.We have signed the ‘NEVER AGAIN’ petition. We want changes on the roads in Friendship and on the East Bank. We are calling on the President and the Ministers of Public Security and Infrastructure to take the same quick action now.

Problem What needs to be done?

1. Only two MPH signs in Friendship....8 are needed 2. Limited Traffic Police presence....more presence daily 3 S i g n s

Friendship residents during a recent vigil 80mph...........Lower the speed limit to 40-50mph 4. No Police outpost between Grove and Timehri...Police outpost needed at mid-point 5. No jagged/rubberized strips across road in Friendship (as done on the West Demerara road to Parika)...4 strips needed in Friendship

Why can’t the administration install electronic speed signs so the real-time speed can be shown to all drivers?

We are sure that the government’s mandate is to save lives and not allow a free for all system on the roads.

NEVER AGAIN!!!

Denise Murray Friendship Resident

Tuesday October 22, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 7

New regulations on money transfers take effect

There are new regulations in place to tighten up on electronic funds transfer

The Bank of Guyana has completed new regulations which not only bring more scrutiny to electronic funds transfer services, including at commercial banks, but has set out strict guidelines how customers are to be treated.

The regulations would come a year after the National Payments System Act (Act No. 13, 2018) was passed in the National Assembly- part of an array of measures to bring the countrys financial systems on par with the rest of the world.

The regulations was signed into effect recently and affects transactions from electronic terminals, t e l e p h o n i c instruments, point of sale terminals, ATMs and credit and debit card t r a n s f e r s .

According to Bank of Guyanas governor, Dr. Gobind Ganga, as regulator, there is more emphasis on commercial banks and other entities to ensuring that their officers meet the necessary due diligence requirements before they are licensed.

The new regulations will eventually bring into loop, the operations of mobile money transactions, Western Union and Moneygram.

Money transfer services have been regarded as a prime point for money laundering transactions, hence the regulations.

According to the regulations - the National Payments System (Electronic Funds Transfer) Regulations 2019- the parties, including the service provider and customer, must authorize the transactions for it to be legal.

There must be receipts issued and the providers must send to the customer periodic bank statements detailing transactions.

When transfers are carried out, the regulations spell out the liabilities of the provider.

They could be liable if it is established that it is their error or they have failed to stop a payment when instructed to do so.

Bank of Guyanas Governor, Dr. Gobind Ganga Commercial banks and other service providers must notify customers when their system is down.

There are few instances where the providers will not be liable - in cases of force majeure or other circumstances beyond their control.

According to the governor, the customer will have 15 days after receiving statements to notify the provider, in writing, of payment errors.

The commercial banks and other money transfer services will have 10 days after such complaints, once established, to refund the money.

The Bank of Guyana said that an adjudicating body can determine damages for the customer if the provider knowingly and

40

willfully concludes the customers complain t i s without merit.

However, the customer could be liable for losses if it is proven that confidential information like passcodes are not kept safely and through carelessness end up in the hands of third parties.

In addition to keeping proper records, the providers are mandated to store them for seven years from date of transaction.

A c c o r d i n g t o D r.

Ganga, the providers will be subjected to rigid checks to ensure the officers are fit and proper and there are proper audit and other safety systems for money transfers in place.

Even agents will have to pass the scrutiny.

PAGE 8

Kaieteur News

Tuesday October 22, 2019

Duo deny killing guard during Fisherman killed outside his own home 2013 robbery at Lethem Post Office Alvin Kissoon formerly of 395 Kaneville, Grove, East Bank Demerara and Calvin King formerly of 280 Savage Street, North East La Penite n c e , G e o r g e t o w n have pleaded not guilty to murdering security guard John Friday during a January 2013 robbery at the Lethem Post Office.

Kissoon and King were both arraigned before Justice Sandil Kissoon yesterday at the Demerara High Court.

Their trial commenced before a 12-person jury.

Presenting the States case are Prosecutors Abigail Gibbs and Mandel Moore, w h i l e l a w y e r s , Ly n d o n Amsterdam and Adrian Thompson are appearing for the two murder accused. Prosecutor Gibbs, in relating brief facts, told the jury that the two murder accused left Georgetown for Lethem where they robbed the post office, killing Friday during the process. Among the witnesses testifying yesterday was Cecelia Austin who has been employed with the Guyana Post Office (GPO) as a Post Mistress for the past 29 years.

Austin told the court that during January 2013 she was stationed at the Lethem Police Station. She recounted that on January 19, 2013 at around 06:55am a staffer of the post office came at her home and told her something after which she immediately contacted 911. According to her, she then went down to the Lethem Police Station where she saw police ranks conducting investigations.

A 19-year-old fisherman by the name of Noel Singh of lot 33 Meten- Meer Z o rg , We s t C o a s t Demerara, (WCD) was killed Sunday night in front of his own home.

According to reports, Singh was out taking a few drinks with his friends. Reports suggest that when he returned home and was about to enter his yard he was attacked by a 20-yearold resident of Ocean Garden Meten - Meer Zorg, WCD during which he was stabbed several times about his body. The at-

tacker then fled the scene and Singh was rushed to the Leonora Cottage Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Police were told that the deceased had an argument due to a misunderstanding with his assailant six days prior to Sunday nights incident.

Speaking with Kaieteur N e w s y e s t e r d a y, C o m mander of D Division Linden Lord said that they are following the trail of the assailant and gave assurance that he will soon be apprehended.

Noel singh

Alvin Kissoon (hiding face) and Calvin King Austin said that she entered her office, along with a staffer, after the police wrapped up their work and informed her that the post office had been broken into. She said that upon entering her office she discovered mails scattered all over the floor and that two safes which stored money and other valuables. She recounted that one of the safes contained $1,000 notes, while the other contained $500, $100 and $20 notes, stamps, a cellular phone and 41 $500 GTT landline phone cards.

Austin added that when she left work for home on January 18, 2013, a total of $4.6M was in the two safes. The monies were missing when she returned the following day. Asked

by Prosecutor Gibbs to explain how the safes are secured, Austin said that a master key, an iron bar and a padlock were used to lock both of the safes. She also recounted that prior to the r o b b e r y, K i s s o o n h a d visited the post office to uplift a money order for $20,000, but was unable to do so as he had no form of identification.

Also testifying was Police Corporal Detective Delon Melville, the Subordinate Officer in charge of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at the Port Kaituma Police Station. In his evidence, Corporal Melville told the court that during January 2013, he was stationed at the Lethem Police Station and attached to the General Duties section.

According to the police witness, on January 19, 2013 at around 05:58am a report was made to the station about an alleged robbery at the Lethem Regional Democratic Council (RDC) office in which the post office was housed. As a result of the report, Corporal Melville said that he and a party of policemen went to the scene where they were instructed to take an injured man to the hospital.

The police witness said that he went back to the scene after which he visited the home of a man and arrested him after receiving information that he was involved in a robbery.

That man, Corporal Melville related, was never charged in relation to the robbery. Fridays sister also testified.

The woman who has been an employee with the GPO for 33 years recounted that on January 21, 2013 she witnessed a post mortem being conducted on the remains of her brother who was buried the next day.

This trial continues today.

Drunk carpenter steals ring and chain, sells them while sober - Court hears “Your worship, when I steal the things from the woman house I was drunk… but the day after when I get sober and I open my bag I noticed the ring and the chain so I sell dem out,” were the words of Uriel Amsterdam who was yesterday sentenced on a larceny charge.

Amsterdam, a carpenter appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates Court before Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty, when the charge was read to him and he pleaded guilty and offered to give an explanation.

The charge stated that between October 8, and October 9, 2019 at Lot 94 4th Avenue, Subryanville, he stole from the dwelling house of Tonica Archer a gold ring valued at $42,000, a gold chain valued at $70,000, and $200,000 all cash property of Archer.

Even though Amsterdam, pleaded guilty to the charge he told the court that he doesnt know about the $200,000 cash, only the gold jewellery. He added that while he and another man were fixing the ceiling they were drinking and he got intoxicated.

“I got drunk and I just picked it up and sold it to buy clothes for my baby that I am expecting from my girlfriend… yeah I realised what I did was wrong and it wont happen again.”

The court was informed that the same bag the defendant mentioned that he dis-

Jailed: Uriel Amsterdam covered the stolen articles in, was stolen and that he is wanted at the Wales Police Station for another larceny charge. A picture was shown to the magistrate with the defendant in the womans jewellery.

According to the facts of the charge, the defendant is known to the virtual complainant. On the day in question Archer secured her valuables in her bedroom and locked the door, leaving the defendant and another man in her house.

The defendant then used

an instrument to force open the womans bedroom door after which he removed the articles mentioned in the charge. Amsterdam was contacted and told of the allegation. He admitted to the charge.

Principal Magistrate McGusty told the defendant before handing down the sentence that she is taking into consideration the fact that the he pleaded guilty to the charge on his first appearance, and as such he was sentenced to serve two years in jail.

Tuesday October 22, 2019

PAGE 9

Kaieteur News

Bullying in schools Every school teacher should take a close look at the students in his or her classroom. The probability is that in every classroom there are at least two children who are bullied and who dread coming to school each school day.

School is a nightmare for these students. They face daily torment at the hands of their peers. And there is often no one to whom they can turn because not many teachers are trained to notice the reclusive child who is a victim of bullying.

This past week a child was bullied in a public school. And there are allegations being made that instead of addressing the horrible mauling which that child received, the authorities have

tried to minimize its impact on the school’s reputation.

Bullying has always been a problem in schools. Those who claim that there were no bullies in their time at school have selective amnesia. There is no generation who can boast that there was no bullying in their time at school.

Bullies are cowards. They move in hoards. They find strength to do their dirty deeds when they have the support and backing of their group. They take advantage of smaller children. Girls when in a group can be pretty nasty to other girls, laughing and mocking them for no justifiable reason.

We have a lot of bullies in our school system. There are teachers who bully children by punishing them unfairly.

There are bullies in public and private schools. A few years ago, some girls urinated in another girl’s water bottle at a private school. They were expelled.

In the public schools, the punishment is lighter – they are given a few days off from school to laugh about what they did and how they escaped serious sanction. Or they are transferred and allowed to continue in their bullying ways.

Bullying can become deadly. A few years ago, a child was kicked in the stomach by another child and died.

Bullies need help. Bullies need as much help as their victims. Disciplining them or transferring them to another school is not the

Dem boys seh ...

Stupidness proppa share in Guyana One thing is certain.

People like stupidness. Dem boys was reading and talking about Guyana and de oil business fuh months if not years. Some people read and some of dem write letters either cussing de oil company or cussing de newspaper fuh talking bout de oil company. Dem boys find nuff things wrong wid de oil contract Guyana sign and all dem want is fuh Guyanese to get dem fair share of dem wealth. But after a while dem boys get de impression dem was talking to demself.

But things always happening. Somebody go to a birth night party and get ketch in a confusion. Some woman pick up a hot pot of

cook-up rice and toss it pun everybody who been in de place. People scatter; pig tail and slat beef fly all over and of course de rice stick up in some of dem women weave— that is dem false hair.

That story get more attention that dem oil story that dem boys talk about. De thing spread like wildfire from Facebook to WhatsApp to Twitter.

Is things like that got dem boys worrying about how serious people does tek life.

Oil is de biggest thing in de world. All dem countries that got oil very rich. Even Venezuela that got troubles still rich because it selling oil cheaper than water.

Saudi Arabia and all dem Gulf States country like Oman,

Dubai, Kuwait and places like that so rich that de only people who got to work is de people dem countries hire from farrin. Dem boys want to see Guyanese get rich like that.

But de people demself ain’t fighting up. All dem tekking on is stupidness. A man seh he is de First Lady and he collect money fuh he phone. He get ketch. Then he seh he is Volda Lawrence and he get a businessman fuh give him $2 million in he phone.

Which businessman so stupid to believe that a Minister of Government would ask fuh money in a phone?

People really like stupidness.

Talk half and don’t give up wid some people.

“For most women a lump in the breast is the first sign of cancer”- Doctor Doctor Patricee Douglas, the founder of the Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) Adventures, during yesterdays edition of Kaieteur Radios “Your Health Matters” said that the first sign of breast cancer in most women is a lump in the breast.

Dr. Douglas said that “Breast cancer is a condition whereby you have uncontrolled or abnormal growth of cells in the breast which are cancerous”.

She went on to explain that for most women, a lump in the breast may be an indication of brewing cancer hence self-examination is critical to capture the disease in its early stages. Going to your physician at least once a year is also recommended.

“There are other signs and symptoms such as if you (Continued on page 12)

Dr. Patricee Douglas

solution. Bullies need medical care by trained psychologists. We do not have the amount of psychologists in Guyana to deal with bullying in our schools.

Bullying in school is a serious problem. Some of the cruelest incidents in any child’s live take place at school.

The trauma of being bullied can have lifelong effects. The violence can be both physical and emotional, the latter involving the callous use to mockery, jeering, tantalize and ridicule.

Teachers need to be trained to identify this behaviour since it can affect a child’s performance. They must stop it when it occurs because it constitutes emotional violence against the child.

Children, who are bullied in school, endure fear and trepidation each day they attend school. They are afraid of attending school. For them, school is a frightening experience.

They have trouble concentrating during class because they are worried about what will happen during recess and when school is dismissed. Some of the torment takes place within the classroom itself.

In one incident, many years ago, a young schoolgirl killed herself because her parents did not buy a name brand boots for her to wear to school.

She must have been scared to go to school and face the disdainful look of her peers. This is the level of cruelty, which is meted out to children each day at school.

Children are also physically bullied. Small and weak children are physically ‘roughed up’ by older ones.

Sometimes deprived of their money and belongings; others are hit on by their classmates. One child, years ago, used to go into his classmates lunch kits and rearrange their lunches.

A poor mother once related that she had to make ar-

rangements to send her child to a private school since he was constantly bullied at the public school which he had previously attended. The other children kept taking away his personal things. The public school, she said, was not responsive to her complaints.

Just as how in every classroom there are at least two children who are bullied, so too in every two classrooms there is a bully. Who knows, one may be seated right now next to your child.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper

PAGE 10

Tuesday October 22, 2019

Kaieteur News

=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===

Chronicle under 32 versus 33, Chronicle under 33 versus 32.

The PPP under the presidential candidacy of Donald Ramotar won 32 seats in the 2011 elections as against 33 seats for the combinedAPNU and AFC. The PPP won the largest number of votes so under the constitution it secured the presidency. The APNU and AFC used its one set advantage to cut the 2012 budget. One of the areas cut was the state media. Both opposition parties did not approve of the line item of funds for the state media which included the Chronicle and NCN. The reason of APNU and AFC for denying budgetary

allocation to the state media was clearer than even the sunniest day in a tropical country – the PPP government was using the state media, a state funded entity as a propaganda weapon. The argument went on that the state media should be opened up to opposition views.

The AFC in 2012 spread out in Berbice to explain the lines in the budget that were cut. At one of those meetings up the East Coast, the Speakers were Khemraj Ramjattan, Chris Ram, Gerhard Ramsaroop and I. At one of those meetings, Chris Ram while on the platform, lost

his voice and had to be replaced.

I suspect why there was a predominant number of East Indian speakers was because the AFC needed to explain to its supporters why it chopped many parts of the 2012 budget.

So back then, in 2012, 2013, and 2014, the Chronicle was the hunted in a game of 32 versus 33. The PPP had 32 seats and its yearly budget was subjected to line chops but the Chronicle in reality was in the hands of the owners of 32 because the owners of 32 formed the government.

Enter 2016. The 32 versus 33 continues but we can put it in reverse mode. In 2011, it was 32

versus 33. Because the owners of 33 was putting inexorable pressure on the owners of 32 to free up the state media.

In 2015, it is the same 32 versus 33 but we can refer to the Chronicle in the operation room as point 3 percent. The point 3 percent represents the margin of victory of the owners of 33 at it stands right now. Chronicle is not longer the hunted. But its use as a propaganda weapon continues. It would be interesting to see how the AFC explain to its supporters (assuming g it still has supporters) how different is the state media in 2011 when the 32 controlled the government and the 33 pursued it relentlessly to free up the state media.

So the Chronicle of point 3 percent operates as in 2011 when a minority of 32 in parliament still controlled and used the state media as if it owned it. The point 3 percent controls the state media since 2015 as if it owns it. But there is a big difference from 2011.

That point 3 percent has allowed for the 32 versus 33 to continue.

So the owners of 32 cannot cut

the budgetary allocation to the state media for a commonsensical reason – 33 is larger than 32.

Let’s discuss the Chronicle at point 3 percent. If a political formation wins a national election by point 3 percent, then in my inflexible opinion it cannot have a total mandate. The emphasis is on the noun, “mandate.” How then can the Chronicle at point 3 percent continue as in 2011 when the minority owners of 32 used and abused the state media?

I will repeat it and never stop once the APNU+AFC remains in office – what mandate the political owners of government had in a situation where they won the election by point 3 percent and arrogated to themselves the authority to remove Lincoln Lewis and David Hinds as columnists with the Chronicle?

My contestation is that point 3 percent did not give them the mandate to do so. There should have been consultations with the other half, meaning those sections of Guyana that lost the election by point 3 per-

Frederick Kissoon cent. I think I have confused readers enough with all this jazz of 32 versus 33 and 33 versus 32 and point 3 percent.

Here is my point. I do not see the state media as being any different from the bad old days when the PPP ruled this country. In those days, private party gatherings made the headlines in the Chronicle and NCN. The identical thing is happening here. So when my friends in the new parties will get front page coverage from the point 3 percent Chronicle? I want to know that because I am voting for one of them.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper)

Tuesday October 22, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

PAGE 12

Tuesday October 22, 2019

Kaieteur News

‘Jimmy’ Hamilton, the Guyana should join OECD man behind ‘Mash, dies convention to tackle tax avoidance and evasion by oil companies academic paper

By Kemol King An academic paper has revealed a recommendation

by Chartered Professional Accountant Tameshwar Lilmohan that Guyanas tax relations with multinational oil companies will work out in the favour of the people, if the country becomes a party to an international convention that will equip it to more comprehensively tackle tax evasion and tax avoidance.

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), in conjunction with the Council of Europe, had jointly developed the Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters.

The Convention is a multilateral instrument that facilitates better operations of national tax laws, with methods ranging from the exchange of information, including automatic exchanges, to the recovery of foreign tax claims.

Lilmohan presented the paper titled Costs and Benefits of Tax Incentives by Developing Countries to Multi-national Enterprises at Osgoode Hall Law School earlier this year, for the completion of his double Masters degree in Law. The papers case study is the Petroleum Agreement between Guyana and ExxonMobil.

In that paper, Lilmohan states that contractual bargains between Governments and multinationals like ExxonMobil result in rates and preferences that are arrived at in situations where the imbalance of information and experience the country has, sways the bargaining power in favour of the multinational enterprise.

He goes on to write that these companies are skilled at struc-

Chartered Professional Accountant, Tameshwar Lilmohan turing their legal framework so that the low tax or tax-free income from these countries are channeled to their resident country that charge no or low corporate income tax.

He alluded to a situation in Guyana where the Government intends to, in addition to waiving a series of taxes for oil companies, give the companies tax certifications which will grant them reductions in taxes in their home country. Guyana has very limited tax treaty agreements, Lilmohan noted. He is of the opinion that this one would be extremely useful.

The OECD Base Erosion Profit Shifting (BEPS) Action 13 Framework, under the convention, is the centre of Lilmohans recommendation.

It was facilitated because the lack of quality data on corporate taxation has been a major limitation to measuring the

fiscal and economic effects of tax avoidance, making it difficult for authorities to carry out transfer pricing assessments on transactions between linked companies and even more difficult to carry out audits.

The Convention currently has 128 participating jurisdictions, the paper states.

“Had Guyana been a member it could have benefitted from the Conventions peer review arrangement,” Lilmohan wrote.

“The peer review would have ensured that the Petroleum Agreement was evaluated and implemented to a standard consistent with an agreed set of criteria and methodology. The terms of reference of the Convention requires participating jurisdictions to be transparent with the information and frowns upon secret tax rulings.”

The waivers granted under the Stabroek Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) to Exxon and its partners has been heavily criticised.

An engineer, Darshanand Khusial, indicated, in a recent letter to the editor, that Guyana could have easily secured US$35B in taxes from the operators of the Stabroek Block, from their profits on the current discovered reserves in the Block.

“That is more than enough to provide world class services to our… citizens,” Khusial had stated.

Lilmohans paper can be accessed using this link: https://docs.google.com/ viewerng/viewer?url=http:// www.oggn.website/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/ exxon_guyana_case_study.pdf&hl=en_US

James ‘Jimmy’ Hamilton was not a born Lindener, but he certainly etched his way into the hearts and history of this mining town in the most spectacular way.

He reportedly died over the last 24 hours. He was 88.

Hamilton came to Linden as a young man where he worked in the bauxite industry for several years as a photographer in the Communications and Administration Department.

He played a critical role in capturing and archiving the history of bauxite mining.

The Linden Museum holds testimony of his painstaking work.

But perhaps his biggest achievement was his contributions to Mashramani.

As a founder member of the Jaycees of Mackenzie, Hamilton played a prominent and integral role, in conceptualizing the whole idea of Mashramani, right down to the naming of the festival.

The first Mashramani in Linden was such a monumental success that the event was later adopted at the national level.

Hamilton afterwards was

Died: James ‘Jimmy’ Hamilton offended when the event was “desecrated” by persons who referred to it as “Mash”.

He thought it was belittling for such an event.

Small in stature, but of lofty ideas and ideals, he will also be remembered as a welldressed man in whose hands, a cigarette seemed a permanent fixture.

Minister within the Ministry of Agriculture, Valerie

Adams-Yearwood, herself from Linden, reminisced on her days working at the bank, and how she would hurry to serve him, because he was so nice and friendly.

“Jimmy would definitely be missed. He was a very nice person and a busy body- very energetic…so in those days whenever he came in to draw his salary, I used to hurry to deal with him quickly because he always had something to do and somewhere to go.”

The Minister said that what she admired most about Hamilton was his friendly manner and the way he always interacted with people.

“Whenever he saw me, he would ask me if I heard anything about whatever was going on, and if I said no, he would say…girl you got to keep up with current affairs.”

Former colleague, Jenny George-Parkinson, in reflecting on the times they worked together, quipped: “Jimmy was a nice person to have around-very witty- and very committed to whatever task he undertook. His death is a great loss to all of us.”

“Illegal” shops demolished in Quartz Stone Backdam Mining and other enforcement officials descended on Sunday at Quartz Stone Backdam, Cuyuni, where they conducted a demolition exercise.

Several wooden shops were demolished and fires lit on the materials.

Officials said that notices for removal were issued by the authorities some-time ago, to no avail. They were also advised to alternately move to the Quartz Landing.

However, the Ministry of Natural Reources in a release late last night denied involved in this

development stating that it “takes note of a recent post by a Facebook page identified as ‘Anonymous – Guyana’, seeking to link the Ministry and by extension, the Government of Guyana to alleged dismantling and burning of properties in Quartz Stone, Cuyuni Region 7.”

“The Ministry…takes this time to inform the general public that the MNR has no prior knowledge neither involvement in this activity and is baffled that the social media outlet would indicate such. Notwithstanding this, the Minister of Natural Re-

sources Hon. Raphael Trotman has requested an urgent and detailed explanation from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission regarding its involvement in this operation.”

In its statement the Ministry went on to note that it “strongly advises against the issuing of such statements seeking impugn the standing of the Ministry and the Government of Guyana both of which are committed to working with the citizens of the country in the most peaceful way possible to achieve the visions for the natural resources sector.”

“For most women a...

From page 9 notice that they have been a change in the size and colour of your breast, and you are not breastfeeding or pregnant thats cause for concern,” she further noted.

The doctor said that some women have inverted nipples while some dont. So if a woman was not born with inverted nipples and she had noticed that her nipples have retracted thats another cause for concern. Breast that are being drawn or lean in one direction need to be checked out as early as possible to detect defects.

Change in the colour of skin, swelling, pain and the texture of an orange peel indicates that something is wrong. “Being born a woman is the highest risk

for breast cancer. As you get older that also increases your risk. Smoking, having a period before the age of 12, having a family history of the disease, if you had your last period after 55, never breast fed, never gave birth, being exposed to radiation or cancer causing chemicals are all risks of contracting the disease,” Dr Douglas noted.

Women, who have a genetic mutation that was passed on, as in the case of some families, the gene is passed on from generation to generation and they are at a way higher risk of having breast cancer.

“Remember if a lump is felt and abnormal amounts of pain felt, that should be checked by physician,” said Dr. Douglas.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday October 22, 2019

Touts, bicycle gangs arrested in GT sweep down Police presence heightens around Stabroek Market Square

T

outs and members of several bicycle gangs were in for an unpleasant surprise as police swooped down on them, bundling many into trucks and a very large bus.

Just recently the police without warning arrived at the Georgetown Stabroek Market Square pouncing on several known criminals, and members of bicycle gangs as they lurked on the Sophia, South Ruimveldt, and Back Road mini bus parks.

The criminals were certainly not on the lookout this time and only a few managed to escape on foot with the police in hot pursuit.

The police ranks arrived on foot, many of them armed and spread out like eagles around the Stabroek Market square. They converged on the bus parks nabbing individuals before they had the opportunity to escape.

Onlookers applauded as the spectacle unfolded.

Those who tried to put up a fight were met with much resistance from officers who arrived on the scene in a patrol jeep and a rather large bus in which they bundled those that were arrested and

searched.

In some instances the police gave chase, cornering some of the suspects in areas outside of the Stabroek Market. The police ranks' efforts were met with loud applause from vendors in some instances.

The police had promised a complete sweeping of the city just recently after a Kaieteur News article highlighted their failed attempts at maintaining security for persons traversing the crime plagued Stabroek area.

From all accounts they have just recently started yet another campaign and many are hoping that this time around it is sustained, especially with the fast approaching Christmas holidays.

Meanwhile, in other areas of the city ranks on board a large canter truck was driving around picking up those suspected to be part of bicycle gangs as they rode around aimlessly in the city.

To date, according to police sources, over 30 suspected criminally inclined individuals, amongst them mini bus touts,

suspected pick pocket bandits, and members of at least two bicycle gangs from the Sophia and Central Area areas.

The spate of crimes around the Stabroek Market area has shown a significant rise in recent months.

While the police are doing what they can to reduce this situation, they are however failing to target the female and male sex workers who congregate around the perimeter fence of the Parliament Building at nights.

Friday night last a male who solicited sex from a male sex worker was beaten and robbed in full view of members of the public in close proximity to the Timehri Bus Parks.

The Timehri Bus Park is situated just a few rods from the Stabroek Police Outpost.

During the melee there were three ranks inside the outpost chatting. None of them intervened.

They may not have even known something was happening outside, since they seemed more involved in catching up on the night's gossip and laughing heartily.

PAGE 13

Kaieteur News

PAGE 14

Tuesday October 22, 2019

Guyana's first Drug Treatment Court opens its doors

By Trishan Craig

G

uyana yesterday opened the doors of its first ever Drug Treatment Court (DTC), an achievement that will certainly go down in the annals of history.

The opening of the court, which was compared to the birth of a child, was established to combat the growing issue of drug users and criminal offences related to the abuse of drugs.

The event was held at the Georgetown Magistrates' Court and was attended by the Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Hon. Basil Williams; Vice President and Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan; Judges of the Appeal and Supreme Courts and Magistrates from around Guyana. Other outstanding guests were also in attendance.

The DTC came into existence as a result of hard work and determination of the members of the Supreme Court of Judicature of Guyana, the Organisation of American States InterAmerican Drug Abuse Control Commission (OASCICAD) and the National Anti-Narcotics of Agency of Guyana.

Hon. Madame Justice Yo n e t t e C u m m i n g s Edwards, Chancellor of the Judiciary, in her feature address to the gathering indicated that the court

which is now housed in the once Court 7 courtroom, along with another room of the Georgetown Magistrates' Court, was refurbished for just under $1M. According to the Supreme Court of Judicature of Guyana, a Drug Treatment Court is a specialised court for persons with substance use disorders such as drug addiction.

It is a problem solving court that seeks to address the needs of each participant in the court programme, including their drug use and the criminal behaviour associated with it.

Rather than imprisoning persons with drug offences, this court gives them the opportunity to enter longterm treatment and agree to court supervision.

How a Drug Treatment Court operates Hon. Madame Justice Yo n e t t e C u m m i n g s Edwards stated that a total of five magistrates were trained to operate in the DTC. With help from the OAS-CICAD and the United States (US) the magistrates received their trainings.

The intensive training was done in the US by the National Association of Drug Court Professionals.

All of the other magistrates are listed for the training also.

Sharing knowledge about the court, the Supreme Court of Judicature of Guyana had highlighted that

The ceremonial cutting of the ribbon at the DTC to be eligible for Drug Treatment Court, a person must be an adult who has been charged with a minor criminal, drug, or related offence, must be likely to reoffend, and must be experiencing serious substance use disorder.

On a plea of guilty or being found guilty by a magistrate for certain specified offences, the offender is provided with an option of a custodial sentence or to enter a

treatment programme as an alternative to incarceration.

Participation in the programme is voluntary.

Hon. Madame Justice Yo n e t t e C u m m i n g s Edwards said that some of the offences that will be a part of the programme will be outlined in a policy which will be circulated.

The programmes are basically to prescribe treatment which is tailored to the needs of the participant.

Some of the key interventions of the DTC are

educational sessions, one-toone counselling, group counselling, drug testing, treatment recovery plan, reintegration postgraduation plans.

In Guyana, we have the Phoenix Recovery Center, the Salvation Army and other such organizations that are well equipped to provide the recovery plans.

The Supreme Court will work with its stakeholders to ensure the success of the DTC. The DTC team

comprises of largely magistrates, state councils from the office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), the defence attorney or legal aid attorney who will represent the offender, a probation officer; a representative of the approved substance abuse providers, a case manager and such other persons as the court may direct.

The team is tasked with conducting the initial assessment of eligible participation and to provide updated information to the court regarding the participant. Once a participant signs a written agreement to participate, which will be fully explained to him/her they're required to comply with same.

Moreover, if a participant fails to complete the programme, his or her case will be processed in the traditional criminal justice system.

The Supreme Court of Judicature of Guyana had stressed that the Drug Treatment Court programme requires a lot of commitment from participants and dedicated case supervision from the drug treatment court team.

This may require participation for many months to help the person maintain long-term recovery strategies.

Furthermore, there will be frequent and random drug tests so as to ensure that persons stay clean.

Participants must attend court frequently so they can be monitored and (continued on page 20)

Kaieteur News

Tuesday October 22, 2019

Foreign oil service company threatens local workers - Trade Unionist

P

resident of the G u y a n a Tr a d e Union Congress (GTUC), Lincoln Lewis, has revealed that an oil service company, JSL International, has a bad reputation with workers in Trinidad and Tobago. It appears that the Texas-based company has now brought a similar temperament to Guyana.

In a recent interview with Kaieteur Radio, on the show 'Guyana's Oil & You', the trade unionist said that an investigation of JSL has shown a number of discrepancies concerning the company's operations in Trinidad and Tobago, which are “to a large extent, in breach of the [T&T] law.”

Lewis said that he and his colleagues have been able to bring some awareness to the company's employees, about its sordid history in the twinisland nation. Pursuant to that, a Whatsapp group had been set up to keep those workers updated, Lewis told Kaieteur Radio.

In that group, the workers were reportedly communicated with via voice messages, and the messages were leaked to company officials.

Lewis said that, when the company found out, it threatened the workers that, if they continued to communicate in this manner with Lewis and his colleagues, disciplinary action would be taken against them. After that happened, Lewis said that most of the employees left the group in fear. But “what employers fail to understand [is] that you cannot stop the inevitable,” Lewis said.

He indicated that he will continue to facilitate links with the workers and to educate them about their rights. He also posited that stronger laws are needed to treat with these companies.

JSL International is a labour supply contractor for offshore oil rigs and platforms.

Research by this publication found that the company has been protested several times by workers there, and by the Oilfield Workers Trade Union (OWTU) of Trinidad and Tobago.

A T&T publication, Newsday, reported in 2017

Trade Unionist, Lincoln Lewis about one of the protests the company has faced.

It states “The employees claimed there had been disregard of their collective agreements, unfair treatment, and refusal to pay injury compensation. The union also saw the protest as an act of defiance against the company which had, in the past, allegedly victimised and sent pre-action protocol letters to workers who were part of previous protests.”

One worrying statement by the union President, Ancel Roget, from Newsday, states that the union received a complaint that a man was injured while on a rig doing contract work for the company.

“The employee said he was made to wait for a number of days before being taken to shore for medical attention. Roget said, to this day, the man had not been properly compensated, the treatment he needed had not been provided and the man might be permanently incapacitated because of his injury.”

Another report from the T r i n i d a d a n d To b a g o Guardian states that some terminated offshore workers were protesting in March last for outstanding payments to them.

Represented by the same trade union, it was stated that 100 workers were employed under the Juniper Savannah project and claimed they are owed an estimated TT$200,000 each. The Guardian reported that the monies were owed since 2017.

The workers had protested several times.

PAGE 15

Terminated offshore workers of JSL International during their protest in San Fernando recently. (Trinidad Guardian)

Kaieteur News

PAGE 16

Tuesday October 22, 2019

Gold miner, bandits shootout‌

Police obtain Court's permission to hold suspects another 7 days

Wanted for questioning: Delon 'Demon' Morgan

T

he suspects in last week's shocking robbery attack in Da Silva Street, which left gold miner, Deon 'Mow' Stoll, dead, will be held in custody for another seven days.

Investigators have received approval from the court, after an application, police officials confirmed.

The police would reportedly need the extra days to seal the case

Wanted for questioning: Lennox Estwick

In custody: Dr. Alonzo De Santos

against the suspects, one of whom is a Kitty businessman.

Today, Stoll, 44, a businessman who has holdings in several regions, including a hotel in Region One, is to be laid to rest in Region Two where he hails from.

On Sunday, the police, facing pressure from the mining and business community, issued wanted bulletins for two men.

They are Delon 'Demon' Morgan, 33, aka Shane Morgan and

'Demon', formerly of Kitty, and Lennox Estwick, 23, of lot 640 South Amelia's Ward, Linden.

Background checks on the two men found that they are very well known to the police.

Morgan is reportedly nursing gunshot wounds from the shootout with the miner. He was charged in early 2017 for allegedly robbing a bank customer in Diamond shortly after a withdrawal.

He was also allegedly found in a

In custody: Wayne St. Hill getaway car which police intercepted with a number of fake number plates.

They were accused of robbing Aaron Akbar of $834,000.

Estwick was one of several gang members arrested by police in Linden in a murder probe. He was accused of being in unlawful possession of military clothing.

In 2015, he was part of a gang which allegedly committed a number of burglaries in Linden. He

In Custody: alleged getaway driver, Steve Rollox was granted bail.

In January 2018, he was jointly charged with a Linden farmer in the alleged shooting at Dillon Batson.

Investigators in the gold miner's attack case, have so far arrested Doctor Alonzo De Santos; Wayne St. Hill, a businessman from Dowding Street, Kitty; Steve Rollox of 55 Clarke Street, Peter's Hall and a number of other persons.

On Monday, shortly after 10:00 (continued on page 19)

Tuesday October 22, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 17

Scenes from the Diwali motorcade in West Berbice, Region 5 The D. Edward Mandir adds to the colourful lights of the motorcade with their beautiful float

A float vibrantly decorated with the design of the lotus flower

The Save ABEE Foundation/ Woodley Park Vishnu Mandir was a part of the motorcade with a spectacular float

A

A gigantic float with a number of elegant designs wrapped in lights of a rainbow of colours

Dancers who were featured in the motorcade

s we approach the Diwali season, the West Berbice mandirs hosted a brightly coloured motorcade.

The event reflected the festival of lights with many creative designs of floats that were decorated with luminous rainbow of colours, which elated spectators.

The spectacular designs of the motorcade include the lotus flower which was covered in colourful lights. It also featured youths being dressed in costumes who represent the Hindu Gods and Goddesses relating to the Diwali festivity. (Photo courtesy: Pandit Dhanpaul Mohan)

PAGE 18

Kaieteur News

Tuesday October 22, 2019

Wedding house murder Body of man found in trench with plastic bag over head trial begins

T

he trial of 34-year-old Rajen Dindial who is accused of the September 3, 2017 murder of Alston Henry who was beaten to death with a wooden paddle at a wedding house, commenced yesterday before Justice Jo Ann Barlow and a 12-person jury at the High Court in Demerara. Dindial is being represented by Attorney-at-Law Nigel Hughes and associates and has pleaded not guilty to the

murder indictment presented by State Prosecutors Sarah Martin and Shawnette Austin.

It is alleged that Dindial of Lot 653 Section 'C' Block Y Golden Grove, murdered Henry at Grove Squatting Area, East Bank Demerara. It is alleged that Dindial and Henry were at a wedding celebration when an argument ensued between them after Henry pushed down a portable toilet and refused to pick it up.

The court heard that Dindial became annoyed and armed himself with a paddle and (continued on page 20)

The body of the dead man lying in the trench

T

he partially decomposed body of an unidentified man was discovered yesterday in a trench located at First Street P a t e n t i a , We s t C o a s t Demerara (WCD).

According to reports a passerby, while walking along the street, noticed something strange in a nearby trench. Being inquisitive the passerby took a closer look and realized that it was a lifeless body.

The passerby then alerted police who arrived on the scene shortly after.

When police arrived it was noted that the deceased was lying face down in the trench with a plastic bag wrapped around his head.

The body was then hauled from the trench where it was further noticed that the body was partially decomposed and bore marks of violence.

Eyewitnesses who were on the scene said that they were unable to recognize the dead man's face since his head was apparently swollen and disfigured.

However, they were unclear as to whether the man's face was disfigured because of the body's partially decomposed state or if he was beaten beyond recognition.

According to police, at the time of the discovery of the dead man, he was clad in blue jeans without any shirt. The dead man is also said to be of East Indian decent.

The body was removed and taken to the Ezekiel Funeral Parlour where it awaits identification and a post mortem examination to uncover the cause of death.

Investigations are currently ongoing.

Tuesday October 22, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 19

Teen remanded for stealing three motorcycles in one day

A

n 18-year-old was yesterday remanded to prison after he appeared in court to answer to four counts of robbery under arms charges.

Leon Patterson, said to be a fruit vendor of Lot 1027 'B' Field Sophia, Georgetown, was arraigned before Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty in the Georgetown Magistrates' Court where he pleaded not guilty to all four charges.

The first charge alleged that on October 11, 2019, at Meadow Brook Drive, Georgetown, while in the company of another and armed with a gun, he robbed Jerome Mitchell of a motorcycle with registration plate CH 4853 valued at $290,000.

The second charge stated that on October 14, 2019, at Baramita Street, South Ruimveldt Gardens, Georgetown, while in the company of another and armed with a gun, Patterson robbed Richard Porsha of an XR motorcycle with registration plate CJ 5383 valued at $435,000.

The two latter charges allege that on October 14, 2019, at Freeman Street, Georgetown, while in the company of another and armed with a gun, Patterson robbed Tyrese George of an Iphone 7 valued at $87,000.

And on the same date and location, while in the company of another and armed with a gun, he also robbed Timothy Estwick of a motorcycle with registration plate CH 5863 valued at $175,000, and a Samsung S8 cell phone valued at $60,000.

Patter s o n i s b e i n g represented by attorneyat-law Stanley Moore who made a bail application for his client to be released on a reasonable amount of bail, citing that he is only 18 years old and not a flight risk.

However, Moore's bail application w a s l a t e r denied after police prosecutor Quinn Harris strongly objected to it being granted to the defendant based on the seriousness, penalty and the prevalence of the offences.

Prosecutor Harris also highlighted that three of the offences was committed in one day and the sequence in which the robberies was done.

The Prosecutor added that he is fearful that if the defendant is granted bail, he would use the opportunity to commit other offences.

A c c o r d i n g t o information, one of the virtual complainant was making a delivery on Freeman Street, and after he finished he notice the two young men on a motorcycle heading towards him.

The court heard that the man then attempted to turn on the motorcycle and ride away but at that moment, Patterson and his accomplice pulled up in front of him, whipped out a gun and demanded that he give them the motorcycle and his phone.

The matters were reported, the defendant was later contacted and an investigation was launched and Patterson was charged for the offences.

After listening to the facts of the charge Principal Magistrate McGusty remanded the defendant to prison and the matter was adjourned to November 25, 2019.

In August 2018, Patterson was accused of armed robberies and illegal possession of a gun. He escaped from the Juvenile Holding Facility, which is located in Sophia, where he was being held.

The teen's mother had said during an interview back in 2018 that “I don't want to be involved. I'm tired of him misbehaving. Let the police handle the situation.�

Despite his age, some police ranks at the facility view him (Patterson) as a potentially dangerous. The youth was arrested in April 2018, after he slapped a painter and robbed him at gunpoint.

Police, acting on information, went to the teen's home, where they found a revolver, a cell phone and other suspected stolen items.

A police official stated that the teen claimed that he rented the firearm from a 'C' Field, Sophia resident, whom he identified.

After being taken into custody, the youth bolted from the Cove and John Police Station, after asking a rank to use the washroom.

When he turned up at his mother's home, the woman alerted the police and he was rearrested.

NO CARE: This happened at Enmore, East Coast Demerara yesterday.

(StaceyAnn Sancho photos)

Police obtain Court's permission...

From page 16 hours, Stoll, who owns hotels and other operations across the country and hires scores of employees, made his way to a Da Silva Street, Newtown branch of El Dorado Trading, which is one of the country's biggest gold dealers. With him was bodyguard/driver, Clayton Powley.

Security footage showed a car, almost bumper-tobumper, behind Stoll's vehicle.

As soon as the businessman's car turned into the parking area of the gold dealer, the car behind stopped and two men jumped out. They were masked.

One man ran to the driver side and wrenched open the door of Stoll's car while the other raced to the passenger side and attempted to enter.

However, it appeared that Stoll on seeing the masked man, drew his handgun and there began a shootout.

He was shot but managed to fire on the bandits. One of them, suspected to be Morgan was hit, police said.

On the driver's side, Powley, wrestled with the masked man who confronted him. That attacker, too, a b a n d o n e d t h e e ff o r t .

Powley was shot too.

Also shot by mistake by the wounded businessman was Rory Deegs, a security guard at El Dorado, who opened the gate.

It is believed that the bandits were after the raw

gold that Stoll reportedly had in his possession and it appears that they were tracking him for some time.

The three injured men were taken to the hospital where Stoll passed away.

Stoll was described as a prominent businessman whose death has created ripple effects in the gold sector.

According to well-place sources, the plan to rob Deon 'Mow' Stoll, 44, was in the making for some time now.

St. Hill is alleged to be one of the main suspects.

The doctor, who lives in Prospect, East Bank Demerara, was alleged to have been picked up at his home and taken to Sophia

Killed gold miner: Deon Stoll where he allegedly treated one of the shot bandits.

He is attached to the

Diamond Hospital.

Rollox, accused of being the getaway driver, was said to have been the main logistics man.

He is not only alleged to have driven the getaway car, taking one of the wounded bandits to Sophia, but he later was said to have allegedly picked up the doctor from Prospect and taking him to Sophia.

Rollox was arrested at the Princess Casino on Wednesday after dumping the Toyota 212 getaway car in Peter's Hall, not far from where he lived.

Sources said that he attempted to clean the bloodsoaked back seat of the car at an Eccles wash bay.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 20

Tuesday October 22, 2019

Guyana's first Drug Police ranks interacts Treatment Court... with Itaballi community

Hon. Madame Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards, Chancellor of the Judiciary From page 14 encouraged to make and maintain their recovery.

The programme is designed to give structure to participants' lives and to support their recovery. It was noted that participants are not alone in their steps to recovery from their drug addiction.

Members of the court help participants in their progress towards recovery and hold them accountable for lapses in improvement.

In addition, participants who successfully complete the Drug Treatment Court programme may receive a light sentence such as a fine or community service, or have their underlying criminal charge dismissed or have no conviction recorded.

Upon successful completion of the programme, there is a graduation ceremony by which time the participants will be rehabilitated and prepared for reintegration into their community where they can meaningfully contribute to society.

Unlike traditional courts, Drug Treatment Courts take a collaborative approach to

justice. The Magistrate, P r o s e c u t o r, D e f e n s e Attorney, Social Worker, Police Officer, Treatment Provider and Mental Health specialists work together with each participant to seek solutions for his or her benefit.

What a Drug Treatment Court means for the prison system Speaking with this publication in a side interview, the Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels, expressed his gratitude in having the DTC established.

He said “I think the drug treatment court is a step in the right direction.

While I do not foresee the prison immediately benefiting from a reduction, over time the implication or the use of the court will result in a reduction in terms of persons who are sent to the prison.”

Director Samuels added that he is of the opinion that with a strong sense of guidance for persons in the right direction which will eventually lead to a reduction in dependency of drugs, it will result in stronger families.”

Furthermore, he indicated that beneficiaries of the DTC programmes will be better equipped to go back and contribute to their families and at the same time, be reintegrated into society, which is a plus.

In his September speech for the 36 years of service provided by the Prison Officers to Guyana, Samuels had highlighted that the prisons have a population of 1,917.

Of that amount 371 or 19 percent of the prisoners are between the ages of 18 and 30, while 62 or 17 percent of these individuals are imprisoned for drug-related cases.

Guyana will now join the paths taken previously by other Caribbean countries like Jamaica, The Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados with the establishment of its Drug Treatment Court.

The Caribbean countries have been effective in getting people into treatment and assisting them in remaining clean.

Further mention was made of the fact that participants who complete Drug Treatment Court programmes are significantly less likely to be arrested again, compared to those who are sentenced with traditional punishments.

Drug Treatment Courts reduce the number of persons being imprisoned thereby being more cost effective.

It enhances public safety by reducing crime, and most importantly, restores dignity to individuals and their families. It also benefits communities and society as a whole.

Guests during a tour of the meeting room of the DTC

O

n Tuesday October 8, 2019, between 10:00hrs and 12:00hrs, Assistant Superintendent Kevin London, Officer-in-charge of Bartica Police Station, along with Lance Corporal 22838 Stefon Hopkinson, Constable 22755 Dillon Bagot and Rural Corporal Lindon Durant visited the Itaballi Community, Mazaruni

River.

The officer along with his ranks interacted with members of the community where matters of concern affecting the resident were highlighted.

A number of issues were also discussed on how they and the police can work together for a safer and better community.

Wedding house murder trial begins From page 18 dealt the victim several lashes about his body.

The court heard that Henry fell unconscious and was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where he succumbed sometime after. Testifying yesterday was Police Lance Corporal Detective Rameshwar Singh who is presently stationed at the Brickdam Police Station and attached to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). According to Singh, during September 2017, he was stationed at the Grove Police Station, East Bank Demerara where he was also attached to CID. He recalled that on September 3, 2017 he was performing duties when Police Sergeant Detective Conway, who was also stationed at the Grove Police Station, made a request for a crime scene photographer to visit the scene of an alleged murder.

As a result of his superior's request, Lance Corporal Singh, who was then a Constable, said he armed himself with a digital camera and proceeded to the scene in the company of other police ranks and one Dwayne Williams, the brother of Henry.

On arrival, he said that Williams pointed to a spot where his brother had been lying sometime back. According to the police witness, he took several photographs of the area as well as a paddle which was later lodged at the police station. He recalled that

MURDER ACCUSED: Rajen Dindial after taking the photographs he took the camera's memory card to CID Headquarters, Eve Leary Crime Laboratory where he printed 24 coloured photographs. He said that he returned to the Grove Police Station where he secured 12 of the photographs in his drawer.

The remaining photographs, Lance Corporal Singh said, were handed over to Sergeant Conway who had requested they be placed in the crime file. The 12 photographs were tendered and marked as exhibits in the trial. Lance Corporal Singh gave a description of what the photographs were depicting to the court. The jurors were allowed to examine the photographs.

This trial continues this morning at 09:15hrs.

Tuesday October 22, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 21

CARICOM asks CCJ to pronounce on whether member states can refuse regional workers A groundbreaking case involving member states of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is to be heard by the regions highest court today.

According to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), the court has convened a hearing today in its headquarters in Trinidad, for further directions in an advisory opinion being sought by CARICOM. The matter has to do with whether a CARICOM state can decide to refuse allowing regional workers to integrate in that country.

Under the current Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, which governs how CARICOM states operate, classes of workers can move freely and work in other member states.

Recently, the Conference of Heads of Government of

CARICOM decided to expand the class of workers.

At least one member state is not happy and is exploring how it could opt out.

CARICOM explained: “It concerns whether a Member State can, pursuant to Article 27(4) of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, lawfully optout of a decision of the Conference of the Heads of Government taken under Article 46(4) concerning the expansion of c l a s s e s o f persons entitled to work and move freely in the Community and whether the nationals of those Member States which optout of a decision under Article 27(4), can nevertheless derive the benefits of the decision.�

CCJ explained that this is the hearing of the first request for an Advisory Opinion on the interpretation and

application of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, filed at the court.

The case will be closely watched as the movement of workers has been a testy issue for CARICOM for years now.

While several countries have been toeing the line, there have been complaints about a few not recognizing.

Guyanese, for one, has been complaining about treatment at the Trinidad and Barbados airports by the respective immigration.

The Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas establishing the Caribbean Community including the CARICOM Single market and Economy was signed by Heads of Government on July 5th, 2001 at their 22nd meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government in Nassau, Bahamas.

25 and counting

Packed like sardines: This Route 44 minibus driver and conductor appeared not to be concerned about a breach of the insurance policy of the vehicle. Yesterday, the minibus was hauled in by police and more than 25 school children were seen coming out.

The CCJ will meet today to hear a case involving the CARICOM

PAGE 22

Tuesday October 22, 2019

Kaieteur News

Passport Office for Mabaruma

Hosororo residents welcome decentralisation of Govt. services FOR RENT One Four bedroom concrete cottage, unfurnished for rent, located at 26 Continential Park, Peter’s Hall, East Bank Demerara. Tel#233-5808 SERVICES

FOR SALE

Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Graphics design, advertisements, Wedding arch rentals. Tel: 626-7040

One Lincoln Welding Generator, 10,000 watts, 20 HP. Contact #699-4300/648-1370/ 228-2734

ICONIC MARKETING & PRINTING –TEL: 6006887: We create A/works, logos, business cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included.

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

Parfaite Harmony-$1.8M. 1 Flat Unfurnished concrete house in Tuschen-$3.5M. Tel#697-6311 1 Honda CRV Black PSS 6416.Contact#624-5650 Li Hong Fa Aluminium CoDoors, Glass cases, Shutters, automatic doors, stainless works. 26 Public Road, Bagotstown. #669-1516/6599999

Installation, Repairs and parts for AC, Fridge, Washing Machine, Stove etc. Call Nick 630-1600, 627-3206 Austin Powers Repairs & Services- We repair AC, Washers, Fridge, Freezers, Dryers, Gas stoves. Located at Vigilance ECD. Tel# 6852588/613-1711 REPAIRS AT LOW COST: FRIDGES, AIR CONDITIONERS, WASHING MACHINE, FREEZER, SALE OF AC’S. TEL#629-4946,225-4822

CAR RENTAL DOLLYS AUTO RENTAL CALL: 225-7126 & 2263693 -DOLLYS AUTO RENTAL @ YAHOO.COM/ W W W . D O L L Y SAUTORENTAL.COM PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS FROM $4000 & UP, SUV’S PER DAY- CALL: 656-0087 / 6435122 ,EMAIL:PRO_ A U T O R E N T A L @YAHOO.COM

PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, G R A D U AT I O N , W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 One 4 bedroom house, three baths and three toilets in Ixora Avenue, Bel Air Park. Call: 600-2984/222-4194 1 unfurnished, Grilled Apartment at Blygezight Gardens.AC and Wifi included.Call#673-3100.

Fully furnished, One bedroom apts, Providence & 2 bedroom, 3 bedroom, Diamond. For Rent, Call: 6721906/216-2299

WANTED Wanted Land in Parfaite Harmony or anywhere else.

T el #681-8746.

Wanted-Babysitter between ages 35-50.Around Georgetown/East Coast.(Bilingual).Contact#6004250 or 600-3976.

Labourer for wood concession,Truck Drivers for wood concession. Call: 6641030/613-5212

LEARN TO DRIVE EDUCATION Common Entrance Lessons: Grades 1-6, Phonics, Reading & Composition classes, Nursery Aftercare, Phonics Reading, Writing & Games.

Call: 677-0296 TO LET 2 bedroom house, Crane H/S WCD. Tel#671-6855 1 bedroom apartment for working couple/single person $35,000 monthly. Light & Water included. 2 months security. Call: 623-0076 EAST SREET- Two bedrooms, TOP and BOTTOM FLATS, near Georgetown Hospital.

Tel#225-3756/671-0690 EAST STREET, FURNISHED Three bedrooms, top flat near Georgetown Hospital.

Tel#225-3756/671-0690

N. Outar Driving School, Learn to Drive the right way @ Cuffy Square. Affordable package.

Call: 644-5166/691-2561/6812808 LAND FOR SALE Transported land 11.6 acres, Lot 15 Public road #2 Village W.C. B/ce 5 mins from B/ce Bridge. Contact# 686-4818/ 648-7109 PROPERTY FOR SALE EAST STREET- Two storey building, four bedrooms, near Georgetown Hospital.

Tel#225-3756/671-0690 WANTED Attractive waitress to work in bar. #661-4863/692-4649 One Part time cooking maid required and a full time cleaning maid. Call: 231-0735

VACANCY

The township of Mabaruma is slated to have an Immigration and Passport Office constructed within that sub-district.

This is according to a Department of Public Information report.

The report said that while it will be located in Mabaruma, the office will serve residents of the Mabaruma, Matarkai and Moruca sub-districts, Region One. The announcement was made by Director-General (DG) of the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon, at a community engagement with residents of Hosororo, Region One, on Saturday last.

At the engagement, the DG assured residents that the government is there to serve the people and to act in their best interests.

While underscoring that the government places a high premium on public services, such as education, health and increased river and road connectivity, Harmon also stated that the administration is also focused on the decentralisation of public services.

During the meeting, a resident requested more efficacy in the registration system in the region to ease the burden residents faced over the last few decades in obtaining birth certificates, passports and marriage certificates.

“Residents leave from here to go to town to look after VACANCY Clerk & Domestic live-in Facilities for Berbicians and Essequibians 219-5354.

Salesman.Must know to write bills, Calculate & Stocktaking.Apply Keyfood Trading McDoom with A p p l i c a t i o n / Recommendation.

Security Officers to work, preferably ex army,police or disciplined services. Age 2440. Contact #223-4172/6396648

Doosan Mechanic.Contact One experienced office/ counter clerk. Must have #223-5273/223-5274.

Math & English, Computer Vacancy exists for one quali- Literate. Telles Steel #231fied Supervisor for food estab- 3265/226-6771 lishment in One Experienced Security Georgetown.Call#231-8737.

Guard between ages of 40-55 Domestic.Contact#223-5273/ for residence @ Montrose E.C.D.Call#667-2242/608-2440 223-5274 Mon-Sat 8AM-4PM. Looking for a job & educational services? Contact The Job Centre 43 Croal & Alexander Street or call 6843757/600-8457 Driver/Expediter. Contact #223-5273/223-5274

Vacancy for Cleaner, Hadfield Street School. Call #223-7837 Between 8am-3pm Vacancy-cook with experience using deep fryers, food handlers certificate would be an asset. Call: 690-4722

Director-General of the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon, greeting a resident of Hosororo. birth certificates and sometimes it takes months to come back,” the resident said.

DG Harmon explained that the establishment of the passport office in the township will allow for greater extension of government services; referring to the registration of births and deaths.

“We have begun the decentralisation of government services so that the access to direct services

is much easier for citizens. In all of the townships, we are going to establish these extensions of government services so you can expect that coming very soon so you wont have to go to Georgetown; everything is right at your doorstep. This is what we call a paradigm shift,” Harmon said.

Similar interventions have been made in the townships of New Amsterdam, Lethem and Linden.

Depositors of “sou-sou” savings now required to declare source of funds ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – The Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) says as part of its efforts to combat financial corruption and money laundering, persons now depositing funds into financial institutions achieved through the traditional form of savings, known as “sou-sou,” will now have to meet certain guidelines.

Sou-sou is a form of saving in which several people collectively contribute a specific sum of money into a pool for a specific period. Under the system, one person traditionally benefit on each occasion from the funds placed in the pool.

FIU head, Tafawa Pierre, said the new guidelines were introduced due to trends based on explanations from several persons who made large deposits into financial institutions and claimed that those funds were gained from their participation in the “sousou” programme.

Financial institutions already have the right to ask for the source of funds once a

deposit of EC$10,000 (One EC dollar=US$0.37 cents) or more is made. However, smaller deposits within a period can be flagged within the internal system of the bank as one of concern and that will require a declaration.

“The guidelines provide for the depositor to justify to the financial institution the source of the money been deposited,” said Pierre, who explains that the proof includes a document from the leader of the “sou-sou” confirming that the person participated, the number of members and other documents that will confirm that the money was not gained contrary to the money laundering laws.

Pierre said that once a trend is observed and it is deemed to be at high risk or avenue to facility money laundering, the FIU is mandated to develop guidelines for that sub-sector. There are presently no direct guidelines for hucksters and fishermen as well as promoters in the entertainment business.

Tuesday October 22, 2019

PAGE 23

Kaieteur News

Regional Chairman salutes seniors’ contributions to Region 10 The importance of the elderly was amplified recently by Region 10 Chairman, Renis Morian, when he visited several elderly persons.

Morian said that as the country celebrates the Month of the Elderly he would like to see more respect and admiration shown to seniors since they have contributed to the growth of Guyana in their own way. This shouldn’t be forgotten, said Morian, during his visits to the homes of the several seniors who he presented with gifts, compliments of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC).

When Morian visited 79year-old, George Marshall, a former Guyana Defence Force (GDF) officer, the senior citizen was especially appreciative that the Regional Chairman saw it fit to visit him. He noted that such interactions from time to time would help elders, like himself, both psychologically and emotionally.

“Many of us elderly persons in Region 10 are somewhat comfortable because our family and relatives are taking time out to ensure that we are cared for to the best of their ability. But I can tell you from the standpoint of someone who has had an active life that we become lonely as there are not many persons outside of family and friends that we see or even interact with.

“As such, the Regional Chairman coming to our homes and engaging us and checking up on us helps significantly. We feel mentally better that there are persons outside of the family circle who still care or value our contributions to society,” the former soldier said. Reflecting on his life, Marshall said that he is very proud that he had served in

Regional Chairman, Renis Morian, handing over some sugar free milk to an elderly the GDF. He said that when he looks at the growth of Guyana some 50-odd years later, he is confident that the path of growth and development has been rapid and consistent. He, however, said that he would like to see more opportunities being created for the elderly. He stated that after retirement for some, they are forced to remain at home counting their days as there is little or nothing to engage them mentally and physically.

“I would like to see more things done for the elderly as many of us might be old but not cold in the sense that we are still capable of contributing to Guyana’s growth in a significant way. “I am appealing to you, Regional Chairman, to use your in-

fluence to create projects and programmes that can engage the elderly in a more unique and significant way,” Marshall appealed. The Regional Chairman, speaking about the contributions of the former soldier, said that like several of the elderly persons he visited, they have made meaningful contributions.

“Region 10 remains grateful and thankful to them,” said Morian even as he noted that his Council will continue to place significant focus on the elderly and as such, they will continue to receive assistance in many ways. He said that their focus and assistance to the elderly is not because of the Month of the Elderly observance, but one that is consistent and year-round as

US Ambassador visits Region 1

As part of the U.S. commitment to partner with all of Guyana, Ambassador Lynch traveled to Region One and met with officials there.

According to the US

embassy, she was met by Mayor Chris Phang from Mabaruma.

“Ambassador Lynch enjoyed her first visit to beautiful Region One. She

saw first-hand the challenges facing the region as it continues to receive increased numbers of migrants fleeing Venezuela,” the embassy said.

they are cognisant of the contributions of these men and women. “As the Regional Chairman I would like to assure the elderly folks in Region 10 that my Council and I will continue to lend support and assistance in whatever way possible as we recognise that they have contributed significantly and it is only for us to recognise that we can play our part,” said Morian.

He added, “Therefore, the RDC of Region 10 will continue to stand by the elderly and will continue to lend valuable support as they continue to enjoy their golden years. They have played their part and I would like

Ex-soldier George Marshall displays a souvenir that he kept from the days when he was an active member of the GDF to assure them that we at the Council level will play our part equally,” the Regional Chairman assured. Morian noted that he has been visiting at least two elderly persons each day lauding the contributions made by the elderly. October is recognised annually as the month of the elderly. However Morian said that despite the month coming to an end soon, his intention is to ensure that he visits every single home in Region 10 that has elderly persons to assure them of the region’s appreciation for their years of service to the country and community.

“There are many persons

who we would like to visit, and looking at the numbers we certainly may not be able to visit all in this month but I am assuring them that I will continue to visit their homes so that I can engage them in discussions, as many of these persons can still contribute ideas and in other ways to Guyana’s development,” said Morian.

He added, “They are golden in their age but they can equally contribute golden advice that will help us as a region to continue further developing as we seek to provide the needed support and assistance to our people, in enhancing their lives.”

PAGE 24

Kaieteur News

Tuesday October 22, 2019

Tuesday October 22, 2019

PAGE 25

Kaieteur News

Investigation launched into Commonwealth finance ministers urge arrival of boat load of Haitians progress on taxing digital commerce BASSETERRE, ST. Kitts, CMC – Immigration officials have launched an investigation to determine how 15 Haitian nationals arrived here by boat on Sunday night, docking at the St. Kitts Defense Force’s Port in Bird Rock, on the outskirts of the capital.

Chief Immigration Officer, Merclyn Hughes, told local radio stations that the investigation had been launched and the police are also assisting in the process.

“We are just trying to assist them so we’re in the process of conducting interviews, but they are just being

held for safe keeping. We know there’s a crisis in Haiti but we cannot say whether or not they fled from there so at this time we are just trying to ascertain what is the situation,” she said.

Media reports had indicated that the Haitians on arrival had been attempting to register at a nearby hotel, but the Immigration official said they are now being held at the Basseterre Police Station.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security, Osmond Petty, told a radio station here that while

the twin-island Federation does not have any specific policy with respect to Haitians, there is a process of dealing with any illegal immigrant regardless of nationality.

“We deal with them just like any other illegal immigrant landing in St Kitts and Nevis,” he added.

Despite being a member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) grouping, many Caribbean countries require Haitians to be in possession of a visa so as to facilitate their entry into their countries.

Christian Council concerned over planned public LBGT events by Pride Bahamas NASSAU, Bahamas, CMC – The Bahamas Christian Council (BCC) on Monday said it is “deeply concerned” at plans by Pride Bahamas to stage a series of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) events in October 2020.

“The Bahamas Christian Council does not support any plan to host public LGBT events anywhere within the Commonwealth of The Bahamas,” it said in a statement, adding “while we appreciate that The Bahamas is a democracy which gives people the right to freedom of speech and expression from a legal perspective, as a body of churches we hold firmly to the tenets of our faith which speak directly to the lifestyle and practice of homosexuality.

“We believe it is in direct contradiction to the teachings of the Bible as it relates to God’s divine plan for male and female existence and the natural purpose of their individual and unique physical construct, sexual identity and sexual expression,” it added.

Tthe Bahamas Organisation of LGBTI affairs and community allies said it plans to stage pride events in October next year embracing the theme “The Rebirth of Pride Bahamas Centering LGBTIQA People in the Bahamas’ Future.”

Transgender activist and

one of the organisers of the planned parade, has told the media here that pride celebrations “are critical for promoting the rights of Bahamian LGBT people”.’

She said the intention is to normalise the idea that LGBT people exist in the country and are “productive and well contributing members of society who are entitled to the right to love without discrimination.”

Last week, outspoken Government legislator, Frederick McAlpine, who is also a pastor, called for a national debate on same sex unions as well as abortion as citizens use social media to discuss a planned gay parade in the Bahamas next year.

McAlpine said that if the government is asked for its position on the issue it should make it clear that the rights of people will be respected even if they don’t endorse the lifestyle.

“To me this is simple. If you aint’ gay, what you worrying about them who marching for? Your job as a pastor is in the pulpit, go preach, what you going out in the street for?

But in its statement, the BCC said that the Bible, “in which we firmly believe, clearly states that homosexuality is a sin and that the practice of homosexuality is a violation to God’s natural design of and purpose for the human

body and intercourse. We cannot in good conscience violate the written expressed will of God. “In addition, the constitution of our country in its preamble establishes that the foundation and moral compass of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas is built on “Christian Values”.”

The BCC said that the perspective of “Christian Values” clearly favour the traditional family consisting of a man and a woman, husband and wife, as the natural God ordained relationship.

The Christian Council said that over the years, it has seen the social and moral impact of the introduction of Bahamas Carnival where men and women have been allowed to parade nearly nude throughout the streets of the country “without restraint, performing all manner of contemptible and sexual acts on one another in full view of our children and the elderly.

“Pride events would have a further eroding effect of our historic and commonly accepted norms of decency in public behaviour,” it said, adding “while we recognize that homosexuality and lewd public behaviour are not the only sins which are committed in our country, we must do all in our power to stem the tide of sinfulness where we find it, especially en masse.

WASHINGTON, CMC – Caribbean Community (CARICOM) finance ministers have joined their Commonwealth colleagues in urging progress on taxing digital commerce to tackle debt.

The ministers say they have also recognised the potential of technology to improve debt transparency while urging closer collaboration to resolve tax challenges arising from growing digital commerce.

The ministers, who met here for the 2019 Commonwealth Finance Ministers Meeting under the theme “Preventing debt crises: the role of creditors and debtors,” noted that revenues from tax collection are important for maintaining debt at sustainable levels, yet can often be impaired by the digitalisation of trade in services, as this often results in countries being unable to determine when, how and where taxes on digital transactions should be collected.

They have therefore

agreed that the Commonwealth should bring its powerful collective voice to ongoing discussions at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), particularly on behalf of smaller states.

International agreement on digital taxation could enable countries to benefit by taxing large tech giants, even if they do not operate within their jurisdictions.

Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland said “the Commonwealth has a distinctive contribution to make by bringing together nations with developed and developing economies to agree on collective approaches and action towards a fair and equitable global system for taxing multinational businesses in a swiftly digitalising economy “We need a rule-based system that is inclusive, transparent and efficient so that all countries have a means of collecting rev-

enue and are thereby able to avoid accumulating excessive debt. It goes hand in hand with accelerating the gains to be made by addressing climate change and making progress towards achieving the sustainable d e v e l o p m e n t goals,” she added.

The ministers during their meeting regarding global trade and geopolitical tensions as having ‘intensified’, in a context where global debt has risen to an alltime high, estimated at US$19 trillion. They stressed the need to make debt easier to manage for vulnerable countries, and for them to be eligible for periods of relief to stabilise growth during economic shocks.

They also noted that as in the past, disasters can push countries into taking on emergency loans to rebuild and recover. Such debt can easily become unsustainable for most low and middle-income countries, making them vulnerable to debt distress.

PAGE 26

Kaieteur News

Tuesday October 22, 2019

Tuesday October 22, 2019

Four dead in Bangladesh riot over offensive Facebook post

CNN) Four people were killed Sunday when Bangladesh police fired on a crowd after clashes erupted over a Facebook post that angered Muslims.

Thousands of people took to the streets in the town of Borhanuddin, in Bangladesh’s southern Bhola district, to protest the post that allegedly criticized the Prophet Muhammad.

“We had to fire; we had no options,” said AKM Ehsanullah, a senior police official in the Barisal Range, Bangladesh.

The offending post was published Friday from the account of a 25-year-old Hindu man in the area, said Shafin Mohammed, additional superintendent of police in Bhola.

The man had told police his Facebook account was hacked. As the post started to draw more attention online, senior police and district officials met with religious leaders of the region Saturday to try and calm the situation and reassure them that action was being taken.

But an angry crowd gathered in a field near the police station on Sunday demanding justice.

Police said they had no plans to apply deadly force as the protest was calm at first, but some in the crowd became violent and started to throw stones and bricks at officers.

“There was some construction work going on nearby, so there were a lot of bricks. They were throwing the bricks at us. We locked ourselves in a room (in a nearby compound),” Ehsanullah said.

Ehsanullah said police initially fired pellet guns in a bid to disperse the crowd after up to 100 people tried to break into the room where the officers were taking refuge.

“The door was about to be broken. The window grill was almost broken. We had put a mattress against the window,” he said. “We shot pellet guns — which are not lethal but we could not disperse them.”

The officers then requested to use live rounds.

“Our heads would have been crushed by bricks... If they could get inside, we would all have died,” Ehsanullah said.

Dozens were injured.

The Hindu man at the center of the incident filed a police complaint denying he posted the comment, saying his Facebook account was hacked and he was being blackmailed by the hacker.

Police said the man claimed the hacker had demanded money and threatened to publish damaging posts if he did not receive the funds. Ehsanullah said three people had been arrested over the alleged hacking incident.

An officially secular but Muslim-majority nation, Bangladesh has a history of communal tension that often spills over into violence.

Between 2013 and 2016, there was a spate of targeted killings — blamed on Islamist radicals — that claimed the lives of secularist writers and bloggers, religious minorities and gay activists, and prompted a crackdown on extremism from Bangladesh authorities.

Israeli PM Netanyahu fails to form a government ahead of deadline (BBC) Israel’s long-standing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he cannot form a government, handing the opportunity to his political rival.

Mr Netanyahu has been in power for the past decade but was unable to secure a majority after September’s elections failed to produce a clear winner.

His rival, Benny Gantz, of the Blue and White party will now be invited to attempt to form a government.

Mr Netanyahu’s attempts to bring Mr Gantz’s party into government failed.

Announcing the decision to abandon his efforts, Mr Netanyahu said he had tried repeatedly to form a coalition government but had been rebuffed. Israel’s president, Reuven Rivlin, said he would give Mr Gantz 28 days to carry out the same negotiations.

Israeli Arab lawmakers pledged their backing, but Mr Gantz - who leads a right-ofcentre alliance- remained more than a dozen seats short of the necessary 61 seat majority.

President Rivlin said he would try to avoid calling another election in a country

PAGE 27

Kaieteur News

which had already voted in two this year. If Mr Gantz also fails, the parliament could put forward a third candidate in a final bid to avoid another poll.

September’s poll saw Mr Netanyahu’s Likud party win 32 seats and Mr Gantz’s Blue and White party 33. President Rivlin initially selected Mr Netanyahu, the incumbent, as the candidate with the best chance of successfully forming a coalition.

Reacting to Mr Netanyahu’s message, Blue and White said: “The time for spin is over and it’s now time for action”.

Trump seeks to head off Republican fury to prevent another disastrous week Washington (CNN) President Donald Trump is taking several steps to placate angry Republicans after a disastrous run which saw his impeachment defense shredded by current and ex-officials and, most stunningly, by his own acting White House chief of staff.

An unusual backlash in his party against the President over two issues — the crisis in Syria and his plan to host the G7 summit at one of his resorts — appears to have grabbed the President’s attention. Over the weekend, Trump backed down on the plan to bring world leaders to Doral in Florida next year after Republicans were put in the position of defending a move that represented a glaring conflict of interest.

Defense Secretary Mark Esper meanwhile said Monday that some American troops could temporarily stay in Syria to protect oil fields from ISIS and other unspecified forces. Those forces were not a part of the current phase of withdrawal.

A US official told CNN the US military is “providing options and contingency plans to give (President Donald Trump) options,” the official said, although orders “have not been given yet.”

While the move could give Republicans a talking point to spin, it would not affect Trump’s order to pull out troops serving alongside America’s anti-ISIS allies, the Kurds, that has sparked a humanitarian crisis and accusations of a betrayal by many Republicans. It could also start a new furor over the question of why oil fields are worth defending but allied fighters and civilians vulnerable to Turkey’s cross-border advance were not.

The two political adjustments by Trump came at the beginning of another week of potentially threatening developments from the White House in the Democratic impeachment inquiry.

Despite some weakening at the margins, there is so far no suggestion that Republican support for the President

over impeachment is waning.

But his Syria withdrawal and the G7 decision tested patience for the President in his own party, perhaps more than any other previous incidents.

Every Monday over the month since House Speaker Nancy Pelosi initiated an impeachment inquiry, it seemed like life could not get much worse for an increasingly isolated President.

Yet every week it does.

At times, as his simmering fury bursts open in meetings or on Twitter, and as new political conflagrations take hold, it looks like Trump’s presidency is unraveling.

And, perhaps worse, a hollowed out White House can’t cope with the incoming fire.

The signs are not great that things will improve for Trump in the week ahead, however, with a new battery of State Department officials expected to testify to three Democratic committees taking depositions in the impeachment inquiry about Trump’s alleged abuse of power on Ukraine.

U.S. mulls leaving some troops in Syria to guard oil: Pentagon DOHUK, Iraq/KABUL (Reuters) - The Pentagon is considering keeping some U.S. troops near oilfields in northeastern Syria alongside Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to help deny oil to Islamic State militants, Defense Secretary Mark Esper said on Monday.

U.S. troops are crossing into Iraq as part of a broader withdrawal from Syria ordered by President Donald Trump, a decision that allowed Turkey to launch an offensive against the SDF which for years was a U.S. ally battling Islamic State.

More than 100 vehicles crossed the border into Iraq early on Monday from the northeast tip of Syria, where Turkey agreed to pause its offensive for five days under a deal with Washington.

The truce expires late on

Tuesday, just after Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan is set to discuss next steps in the region at a meeting in Russia with President Vladimir Putin.

Speaking to reporters during a trip to Afghanistan, Esper said that, while the U.S. withdrawal was under way, some troops were still with partner forces near oilfields and there had been discussions about keeping some of them there.

He said that was one option and no decision had been made “with regard to numbers or anything like that”. The Pentagon’s job was to look at different options, he added.

“We presently have troops in a couple of cities that (are)located right near that area,” Esper said. “The purpose is to deny access, specifically revenue to ISIS (Islamic State) and any

other groups that may want to seek that revenue to enable their own malign activities.”

Trump’s shift has opened a new chapter in Syria’s more than eight-year war and prompted a rush by Turkey and by the Damascus government and its ally Russia to fill the vacuum left by the Americans.

Trump’s decision has been criticized in Washington and elsewhere as a betrayal of Kurdish allies who had fought for years alongside U.S. troops in a region rich in oil reserves and farmland.

The New York Times reported late on Sunday that Trump was now leaning in favor of a new military plan to keep about 200 U.S. troops in eastern Syria near the Iraq border. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

WikiLeaks founder Assange appears confused at extradition hearing LONDON (Reuters) - WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange appeared confused at a London court hearing on Monday, struggling to recall his name and age in his first public appearance in months as he sought to fight extradition to the United States.

Assange, 48, who spent seven years holed up in Ecuador’s embassy before he was dragged out in April, faces 18 counts

in the United States including conspiring to hack government computers and violating an e s p i o n a g e l a w. H e c o u l d spend decades in prison if convicted.

On Monday he appeared cleanshaven, without the long beard he had worn at his last public appearance in May, when he was sentenced to 50 weeks in jail for skipping bail.

PAGE 28

Kaieteur News

Tuesday October 22, 2019

Tuesday October 22, 2019

PAGE 29

Kaieteur News

D.C. United implode in extra time against Toronto Andy Ruiz Jr. believes ‘slimmer’ Anthony to crash out of MLS play-offs after 5-1 loss Joshua will target points victory in rematch MailOnline - Wayne finding its way through to pered second period, where Rooney’s American odyssey ended in disastrous fashion on Saturday night as D.C. United crashed out of the MLS play-offs following a 51 defeat in Canada.

The former Manchester United forward, who is due to return to England to resume his career with Derby County in a player-coach role, had dragged his team back into the tie by laying on a dramatic equaliser, but it proved in vain.

Toronto FC had looked set to clinch the victory in normal time, with Marco Delgado’s strike the only goal between the sides as the game moved into stoppage time.

But with one of their final attacks, the 33-year-old swung in a corner that was flicked on at the front post,

Lucas Rodriguez who stabbed home into the roof of the net to breathe new life into United’s play-off challenge.

The relief was fleeting though, as a rutheless Toronto side stormed the visitor’s goal in the first period of extra-time. Richie Laryea restored his side’s lead just three minutes in to the additional period, before Jonathan Osorio bundled home a third.

Osorio then netted an impressive fourth, before Nick DeLeon scored the pick of the bunch with a curling effort against his former side.

Rooney was taken off the pitch at the break, and his last moments in the MLS were spent watching his teammates capitulate in an ill-tem-

Paul Arriola was sent off for two bookable offences. ’I think he gave a lot to the organisation, he was a great team mate,’ said United coach Ben Olsen. ‘I think he was good to our fans and he was very appreciative of the support he got with our fan base and the community, the DC area.’It’s an unfortunate way for him to finish. I am sure he would have wanted to hit the back of the net and push us into the next round but that’s not how it went.’

Rooney will now take a break from action, before joining Championship outfit Derby in January next year.

Philip Cocu’s side is currently 15th in the table, with 15 points from their first 12 matches.

Tuesday October 22, 2019 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) This is a day for good news, particularly regarding the home. It's likely that some positive changes are occurring or are about to occur.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Good news from distant lands could have you feeling good about your life and eagerly anticipating the future. Your thinking is sharp and clear.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) When you give your imagination free rein, you have a creative way of expressing yourself. Today you might feel like doing some public speaking or creative writing.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Your mental acuity is high today. A recent innovation of yours could bring you some much-deserved recognition. Your mind is especially sharp at this point, and ideas come thick and fast.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Today you'll feel inspired to express yourself in fun, creative ways. Don't be afraid to let loose with your wild sense of humor. You could play a prank on a friend that makes him or her laugh and creates good feelings.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Expect a visitor to put you in touch with people who could make a real difference in your life. Changes are manifesting more quickly than you realize.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Today's celestial configuration may leave you feeling more spiritually inclined than usual. As your thoughts turn to more positive horizons, you'll be optimistic about your future and the future of humanity.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) This is bound to be an interesting day as you meet some new people who have fascinating ideas about esoteric subjects. Listen closely and later jot notes on the conversation.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) It's time to admit that your hectic lifestyle is catching up with you. Today you must start to get organized.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Your inbox is probably crammed with party invitations. There's no such thing as a simple RSVP for you.

Every call to accept or decline results in a lengthy conversation as you catch up with relatives and old friends.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) The planetary energies today are emphasizing family.

This may be a good time to do some research, delving more deeply into your roots.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Your hard work is finally paying off. You can expect to receive acknowledgement and advancement, along with a possible salary increase or substantial bonus.

Andy Ruiz Jr. has predicted that Anthony Joshua will look to use his ‘slimmer’ frame to win on points in the British star’s bid for redemption against the unified champion. Joshua has been seen boasting a trimmer physique in recent weeks ahead of the rematch in Saudi Arabia on December 7.

But the 30-year-old MexicanAmerican puncher believes that his opponent has unintentionally revealed his tactic for ‘Clash on the Dunes’, and is prepared for a gruelling encounter in the ring.

He said: ‘He looks a little slimmer, but I don’t think that’s going to do any different. ’He’s going to try and win by points - especially since he’s going to be running around.

‘My job is to cut the ring, and

Andy Ruiz Jr. believes that Anthony Joshua will target a points victory in the pair’s rematch. that’s exactly what we’ve been training for. ‘I don’t really worry about what he’s doing, you know. We have to worry about what we’re doing. He has to train hard. ’I feel that he has more pres-

sure than I do. I just have to do what I have to do, and just let my hands go and focus. ’He even said at one of the press conferences, he said that he was gonna be boxing around. ‘He kinda told me his strategy, but whatever he does we’re gonna do the best we can to do our thing.’

Ruiz demonstrated the formidable skill set that had seen him shock Joshua in the pair’s original bout in a public workout in San Diego on Sunday.

The WBA, IBF and WBO champion had knocked Joshua to the canvas four times in New York earlier this year, and has vowed to prove that his dethroning of the heavyweight was no coincidence.

The session was made up of Ruiz smashing the pads with trainer Manny Robles, and social media users soon warned Joshua that he may face another major setback during December’s highlyanticipated showdown.

Despite the majority of attention being focused on Joshua’s slimmer frame, Ruiz has also notably lost bulk after revealing that he had hoped to drop 10lbs to improve agility for his title defence.

Ashfaq Ahmed provisionally...

From page 34 investigations led by the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit, Emirates Cricket Board has today provisionally suspended Ashfaq Ahmed with immediate effect,” it said. “No formal charges have been laid against the player, and the Board will wait for the conclusion of proceedings before making any further comment.”

Both Naveed and Qadeer have spoken out since they were charged, admitting fault only for not reporting corrupt approaches made on them and nothing else. Qadeer refuted the other charges and said he was looking to appeal.

PAGE 30

Kaieteur News

Tuesday October 22, 2019

Mark Watt runs off celebrating after a crucial double-strike Peter Della Penna.

Men’s T20 World Cup Qualifiers All-round Gareth Delany effort gives Ireland second win ESPNcricinfo - The tussle for the top-of-the-table standing in Group B of the T20 World Cup Qualifier tightened as Ireland completed a comfortable 35-run win over Oman. Oman slipped to third place after suffering their first defeat of the tournament, but they remained tied on four points with table toppers UAE and second-placed Ireland.

Asked to bat, Ireland put on a dominant display with No.3 Gareth Delany making an unbeaten 89 off 49 balls, a performance he would later back up with the ball. His knock formed the backbone of their 183 for 3, but the rest of the line-up played its part with opener Kevin O’Brien contributing a 28-ball 41 and No.4 Harry Tector also making a 20ball 28.

On 39 from 28 at the fall of Tector’s wicket, Gareth cut loose, his next 50 runs taking just 20 more deliveries. In this

period, Gareth struck 6 fours and two sixes, with his partner Mark Adir having to do little other than turn the strike over, as he finished with a 9ball 11 in their unbeaten stand of 64 which came off just 30 balls.

Oman needed a strong start and through Khawar Ali got just that as they raced to 47 in the sixth over despite the loss of opener Jatinder Singh for 10. But Gareth couldn’t be kept out of the game much longer as he gave Ireland an opening with the wicket of Aqib Ilyas, who had just smashed him for consecutive fours.

While Khawar continued on his merry way, bringing up his 50 off just 32 balls, Oman lost captain Zeeshan Maqsood for 3 just after. Disaster struck in the form of who else but Gareth who removed Khawar next over to leave Oman reeling at 77 for 4. Wicketkeeper Suraj Kumar

and Aamir Kaleem, though, weren’t throwing in the towel yet as they added 32 in 20 balls to keep their team in the hunt. But their departure off successive deliveries from George Dockrell in the 13th over, with Kaleem run-out and Suraj stumped, dented their chances of posing a serious challenge in the final few overs. They eventually limped to 148 for 9 in 20 overs.

Scores: Ireland 183 for 3 (Gareth 89*, O’Brien 41, Khawar 1-28) beat Oman 148 for 9 (Khawar 50, Dockrell 224, Adair 2-26) by 35 runs.

Kyle Coetzer, spinners consign PNG to four-run loss Playing their third match in three days in the Dubai heat, Papua New Guinea looked on track to maintain a perfect record at the T20 World Cup Qualifier. But they ran out of gas after Mark Watt’s doublestrike in the 13th over turned the tide towards their opponents in a dramatic four-win

win for Scotland yesterday.

Chasing a target of 147, PNG were 81 for 2 in 12 overs before Watt’s intervention. After he had been driven for two sixes in the opening over of the chase by Assad Vala, Watt bounced back with a maiden in the sixth before an over that won the match for Scotland, at least according to PNG captain Vala and Scotland stand-in captain Richie Berrington - Kyle Coetzer didn’t take the field after his

No insularity under my watch, assures Pollard Port of Spain, Trinidad, CMC Newly-appointed West Indies white-ball captain, Kieron Pollard, has reassured the region that insularity in selection will be eradicated during his tenure.

The Trinidadian will oversee his first assignment next month when West Indies take on Afghanistan in India in three Twenty20 Internationals and three OneDayInternationals.

And after participating in his first selection meeting, Pollard said he was focussed on ensuring that performance and not nationality would determine the composition of teams going forward. ”One of the major things we (selectors) talked about is the insularity that has been going on in the Caribbean and it is something we want to [stamp out],” Pollard said here in a wide-ranging radio interview.”At the end of the day, it doesnt matter where youre from, which part of the islands youre from, once youre performance is there, once you fit into the dynamics of the team, [once] you fit into what were looking for, youre going to be selected. ”[The fact] that sometimes you veer to where youre from is unfortunate, maybe as a home captain or coach, but at the end of the day we will try to pick the best team. ”Me, knowing myself and how I go about things and

Kieron Pollard.

this is something Ive been preaching since the franchise system started in the Caribbean T20 before the CPL the bigger picture is the cricket and whichever persons are doing well, theyre going to be selected. ”He continued: “I have it in myself in terms of my principles and high sort of integrity, to always go out and pick the best players, no matter what part of the islands theyre from.No matter what happens, people are going to talk youre damned if you do and damned if you dont. But once I can lay down in my bed and sleep comfortable at nights, that would be most comforting to me.”

Pollard has replaced Jason Holder as one-day skipper and Carlos Brathwaite as T20 captain, and takes over a side struggling in both formats.

Currently, West Indies are ranked number nine in the 50overs version following on

from their disastrous World Cup showing earlier this year in England, and are also ninth in T20s even though they are reigning World champions.

Pollard conceded that helping the Windies improve their fortunes would be a challenging task but that he was ready for the pressure associated with the captaincy. ”Its international cricket, the people are crying out for success, they are crying out for wins and its expected pressure is always going to be there,” he pointed out. ”If theres no pressure then it doesnt make sense and we as individuals sometimes tend to perform better when our backs are against the wall.

Weve been struggling, its no secret but its something hopefully with the new coach (Phil Simmons), myself, some new players we can try to change going forward. ”So Im looking forward to embracing that pressure, still

coming out with a smile but most importantly every time you step on that cricket field, you give a hundred per cent and try to improve as individuals.”

Pollard is one of the most experienced T20 cricketers around, having played nearly 500 matches overall, but has no extensive captaincy experience at international level.

He led Barbados Tridents in the Caribbean Premier League for five years before moving on to skipper St Lucia Zouks in 2017 and this year, took charge of his native Trinbago Knight Riders after Dwayne Bravo was ruled out with injury.

The 32-year-old said he intended to bring his now familiar aggressive captaincy approach to his new role.

“I just try to be ahead of the game, I try to out-think the opposition, think of what theyre going to do before it actually happens,” he noted. ”Im aggressive but sometimes my aggression is mistaken for arrogance which is expected because everybody has an opinion. But at the end of the day, a will-power to win is something thats embedded in me so its something that comes out when Im leading a team and trying to get the team over the line. ”Sometimes I can be very calm and collective and you wouldnt know whats going on [with me].”

first-innings fifty due to dehydration. Charles Amini drove the second ball to Calum MacLeod at long-off for 9 before Lega Siaka was bowled on an attempted drive next ball for 31.

Fellow left-arm spinner Hamza Tahir built off the Watt breakthroughs with two more wickets of his own in the 15th, bowling Riley Hekuru playing over the top of a pull before Sese Bau slogged a short ball to sub fielder Michael Leask at deep midwicket to make it 94 for 6.Scores: Scotland 146 for 6 (Coetzer 54, Vala 1-21) beat Papua New Guinea 142 for 9 (Vanua 33, Tahir 3-24) by four runs.UAE’s Rameez and Suri make short work of Hong Kong’s 116 Despite a solid platform of 93 for 2 in the 16th over, Hong Kong suffered a middle-order collapse at the back-end of their first innings to finish with only 116 for 7 in their 20 overs against United Arab Emirates. In response, UAE made swift work of the target, chasing it down with 29 balls to spare and eight wickets in hand. The margin of victory lifted UAE to the top of Group B, although that may just be temporary.UAE’s chase was spearheaded by the 93-run second-wicket stand between opener Chirag Suri and No. 3 Rameez Shahzad. After their captain Rohan Mustafa fell in the fourth over, the duo combined to strike nine fours and four sixes in their 67-ball stand to sniff out any hope of victory that Hong Kong may have had.

Shahzad’s 37-ball 54 was his highest T20I score, while Suri’s 43-ball 44 brought the opener back into form, something UAE were missing from him at the start of the tournament. Hong Kong pacer Kyle Christie took both UAE wickets, but his dismissal of Shahzad in the 15th over was a mere formality. Three deliveries after the dismissal, Suri found the boundary to seal their second win in three

games.

Scores: United Arab Emirates 118 for 2 (Rameez 54, Suri 44*, Christie 2-24) beat Hong Kong 116 for 7 (Nizakat 31, Kinchit 30, Mustafa 2-17, Waheed 2-23) by eight wickets.Dhiren Gondaria, Collins Obuya get Kenya off the mark Dhiren Gondaria’s unbeaten 85 led Kenya to their first win of the T20 World Cup Qualifier as they beat Bermuda by 45 runs in Dubai. After choosing to bat on a wearing pitch, Gondaria lifted his side out of an early hole created by disciplined bowling from Bermuda. Alex Obanda fell on the fourth ball of the match for a golden duck miscuing a straight drive to midwicket off George O’Brien where Delray Rawlins took a splendid leaping catch.Kamau Leverock struck twice in his first two overs, getting Irfan Karim caught at midwicket for 15 before a slower ball foxed Collins Obuya to trap him in front for 4. Rodney Trott then had Rakep Patel nicking off to leave Kenya at 66 for 4 after 12 overs.Gondaria could do little but watch as the top order stumbled all around him but eventually he found a willing ally in the No. 6 batsman Rushab Patel. The pair added an unbeaten 72 across the final eight overs with a mixture of sensible strokeplay and a touch of luck.Gondaria had brought up his 50 off 48 balls in the 16th over, then struck back-to-back fours off Rawlins to begin a late surge.

In the following over, he inside edged a heave off Leverock that spun back into the stumps but the bails wouldn’t break. Then, on 71, he was then put down at long-off by O’Brien, once again off Leverock’s bowling, as he made the most of his chances and batted through the innings.Scores: Kenya 138 for 4 (Gondaria 85*, Leverock 2-30) beat Bermuda 93 (Rawlins 37, Obuya 4-27) by 45 runs.

Tuesday October 22, 2019

PAGE 31

Kaieteur News

Infantino makes historic first visit to Brunei Darussalam Embarking on a week-long tour of Asia, FIFA President Gianni Infantino made a stop in Brunei Darussalam yesterday, being the first FIFA President in history to do so. The visit included a very busy programme with meetings with the National Football Association of Brunei Darussalam (NFABD) leadership as well as an audience with the Crown Prince Haji AlMuhtadee Billah.

This was followed by a discussion with the Brunei football community and review of key football infrastructures and grassroots activities. President Infantino and his delegation, which included FIFA Foundation CEO and 1998 FIFA World Cup champion Youri Djorkaeff, FIFA Deputy Secretary General Football Mattias Grafström and FIFA Director Member Associations for Asia Sanjeevan Balasingam, held fruitful discussions with NFABD President Prince Sufri Bolkiah on the state of Brunei

Infantino makes historic first visit to Brunei Darussalam © Others

football and development initiatives of the association.

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Hon. Major General Dato Paduka Seri Haji Aminuddin Ihsan was also present. In its development efforts, the NFABD is focus-

ing on the improvement of football infrastructures and youth competitions, particularly with investments in the development of a national training centre.

As the FIFA President visited the centre, which was

funded in part by FIFAs Forward programme, he had the opportunity to meet and exchange a few passes with grassroots and youth national team players.

Alongside his discussions with the Brunei football

community, President Infantino also met the Crown Prince, himself having played as a goalkeeper in the country. Infantino notably stressed the importance to further develop football in the country, particularly focusing on the

youth, boys and girls, as well as the impact projects with the FIFA Foundation could have in the country.

He also illustrated the recently launched Football for School project, a social initiative targeting schools all around the world.

“I am here to show my appreciation and to thank the Brunei football community, particularly the serious and professional work of the NFABD for what they are doing for our sport, and to also encourage everyone to do more and to further invest in football in the country,” Infantino said while addressing the local media ahead of his departure from the country for the penultimate stop of the tour in the Philippines.

“Football is progressing, and growth can be achieved by increasing the opportunities to play at all levels, notably by improving the existing competitions and creating new ones in the whole region.”

Liverpool have seven stars on Lucy Bronze and Ellen White 30-man list 2019 Women’s Ballon d’Or

shortlisted but USA star Megan Rapinoe remains favourite USA star Megan Rapinoe is the favourite to win the Women’s Ballon d’Or on December 2.

E

ngland’s Lucy Bronze and Ellen White have been nominated for the 2019 Women’s Ballon d’Or award.

The pair was two of England’s star performers at last summer’s World Cup as the Lionesses reached the semi-finals of the tournament.

Lyon’s Bronze and Manchester City star White face competition from a further 18 female players for the prize, including USA duo Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan. Rapinoe is the favourite to win the award, having been named the best women’s player of 2019 at Uefa’s ‘The Best’ awards in September.

The 34-year-old lifted the World Cup as captain of a USA side who defeated the Netherlands 2-0 in the final. Also among the nominees for the award are Brazil star Marta and another five Lyon players including Ada Hegerberg, who claimed the award last year, Amandine Henry, Sarah Bouhaddi, Dzsenifer Marozsan and Wendie Renard.

Arsenal and Netherlands striker Vivianne Miedema also made the top 20 after her fine performances for club and country last season. The winner of the prize will be announced at a ceremony in Paris on December 2.

(MailOnline)

MailOnline - Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Virgil van Dijk have all been shortlisted for this year’s Ballon d’Or prize, as France Football announced its 30-man shortlist on Monday night.

Mane and Van Dijk were among seven Liverpool players to be named and were joined by Premier League counterparts Sergio Aguero, Bernardo Silva and PierreEmerick Aubameyang among others.

Mane, Salah and Van Dijk’s Liverpool team-mates Roberto Firmino, Alisson, Georginio Wijnaldum and Trent Alexander-Arnold were also included for their involvement in Liverpool’s sixth Champions League triumph.

Ronaldo and Messi are both going for a sixth Ballon d’Or title. Rightly heralded as the world’s best players for the past decade, the duo will once again go head to head this year. Meanwhile, Hugo Lloris was among the shortlisted stars despite an indifferent season between the sticks for Tottenham Hotspur.

Manchester City star Silva has been shortlisted for his contributions to his side’s Premier League title win last season. He was joined by fellow City midfielders Riyad Mahrez and Kevin De Bruyne.

Raheem Sterling was also rewarded for his impressive form over the past 12 months

Juventus striker Cristiano Ronaldo chases his sixth Ballon d’Or.

Lionel Messi who is looking to add to his five awards.

with a nomination to complete City’s representation on the shortlist. Tottenham forward Son Heung-min is included after helping guide Mauricio Pochettino’s side to the Champions League final.

Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappe was also on the list alongside team-mate Marquinhos, Donny van de Beek and Marc-Andre TerStegen. Ronaldo’s former Real Madrid team-mate Karim Benzema is on the list as well while Juventus and Netherlands defender Matthijs de Ligt has been shortlisted after a fine breakout season with Ajax, as has former Southampton striker Dusan Tadic.

Eden Hazard also has a chance of winning the award after being named in the final batch of nominees. He was joined by Madrid rival Joao

Felix after his stunning rise to prominence at Benfica.

Experienced striker Robert Lewandowski makes the shortlist despite a relatively quiet season for the German champions Bayern Munich.

Antoine Griezmann, who joined Barcelona from Atletico Madrid this summer, was also among the nominees.Last year, Messi and Ronaldo’s Ballon d’Or dominance was ended by Real Madrid’s Luka Modric, who enjoyed a magnificent year guiding Madrid to a third straight Champions League trophy as well as leading his native Croatia to the World Cup final.

However, the midfielder doesn’t make the hefty shortlist this year. Nor does his team-mate Gareth Bale after a turbulent year in the Spanish capital.

PAGE 32

Tuesday October 22, 2019

Kaieteur News

WIFBSC Championship Shoot 2019

Fruta Conquerors Nicholas Mc Arthur departs for USA tomorrow

Goodluck starts defence of Individual title; Team Guyana seeks To try out at three Colleges to regain Short Range honours The 2019 edition of the West Indies Fullbore Shooting Council (WIFBSC) / West Indies Full Bore Championships fired off yesterday with the Individual competition at the Tucker Valley Rifle Range, Chaguaramas.

D e f e n d i n g champion,Guyanese Ransford Goodluck is one of 75 shooters thatll be competing from Guyana, Canada, England, Bermuda, Antigua, Barbados, and host nation, Trinidad and Tobago.Hopsting the competition after many years is the Northern Rifle Association of Trinidad and Tobago (NRATT) and it will conclude on Saturday following the second Team Short Range Match and the Guyanese will be aiming to regain this trophy.Since there is no Long Range in T&T, the Guyanese will retain the championship trophy for another year. Firing off the first shot yesterday to officially commence this years competition as the Acting Chief of Defence Staff Colonel Darnley Wyke after addressing the competitors.

According to the host, history has been created in T&T since its the first time that members of the TTDF, TTPS and Cadets will be competing. Also, this will be the first time, there will be the introduction of innovative technology through the use of electronic targets which will be used to collate and tally points for the tournament.

Guyanas Captain, Mahendra Persaud has expressed confidence that his charges will be tough to beat in eth individual competition

Acting Chief of Defence Staff Colonel Darnley Wyke addressing the gathering at yesterday’s opening. and they will be knocking Felicien. Fields and Felicien head and pulling triggers in will be joining the team on unison to regain the Short Thursday. The Individual Range Championship. championships will continue The Adjutant for the today and end tomorrow Guyanese team which arrived when eth winner will be dein eth Twin Island Republic cided. Thursday will be a rest on Sunday last is Dane Blair day when the Annual General while the Team Coaches are Meeting of the WIFBSC takes Mahendra Persaud, Lennox place, Guyanese Ryan Braithwaite, Dylan Fields Sampson is the Secretary (Vice Captain) and Ransford while Jamaica, Major John Goodluck.The full Guyanese Nelson is the President and team: Mahendra Persaud are expected to retain their (Captain), Dylan Fields (Vice positions.Friday will be a Captain), Ransford Goodluck Team Match with the West (reigning WI Individual Indies Team Match, both beChampion), Lennox ing shot at the Short Range Braithwaite, John Fraser (USA (300, 500 and 600 yards) set based), Roberto Tewari, Ryan for Saturday. The presentaSampson, Peter Persaud, Leo tion dinner will be on SaturRamalho and Sherwin day evening.

GTTA to host 2020 Junior Caribbean Championships The Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) was given the stamp of approval by the Caribbean Regional Table Tennis Federation and the Latin American Federation to host the 2020 edition of Caribbean Mini and Pre-Cadet Table Tennis Championships and the Caribbean Hopes Training and Selection Camp in August next year.The hosting of these games represents a long term investment in Guyanas Table Tennis development, since as hosts of this tournament, Guyana has the possibility of being able to double the amount of players fielded in the competition to a maximum of 32 locals competing.The Hopes Training Camp, which will be held eight days before the championships, will be conducted by an ITTF expert. The camp will see the Caribbeans best Under-12 players participating. The programme is aimed at providing training, nurturing and early exposure to young talent.

Malachi Moore - National Boys Under-12 champion

Fruta Conquerors forward Nicholas Mc Arthur will depart Guyana tomorrow for the United States of America where he will have tryouts with three Colleges with the possibility of landing a scholarship.

The talented Mc Arthur netted a double to hand his team a hard fought 2-0 win over Santos in the final of the Petra Organisation / Limacol Football Tournament on Sunday night last at the Ministry of Education Ground and his efforts landed him the MVP prize.

The 17 year-old will have his first outing in the USA this Thursday and Friday at the Eastern Florida State College before heading to Atlanta Military College in Georgia for a try out on October 27th and 28th. He will then journey to Broward College in Fort Lauderdale for another try out on October 30th and 31st before returning home. If given an opportunity at any of the Colleges, Mc Arthur will return to the USA to commence his scholarship in January of next year.The trip was organised by overseas based Guyanese Albert Cappell who teaches in Atlanta, through Henry Chase of Chase Academy and Daniel Thomas of Fruta Conquerors. Nicholas father, Roy Mc Arthur, a former FIFA Referee and Instructor, informed that the trip was made possible through the efforts of the National Sports Commission (NSC) and Leonora Track and Field. Mc Arthur has expressed gratitude to Petra Organisation, Regal Stationery and Computer Centre and Grill King for their support. Roy told Kaieteur Sport that his son developed a passion for the game at a tender age and started playing with the Georgetown Football Club under Coach, the late Peter Lashley at the age of nine in age group tournaments. ”When I used to take him to matches during my tenure as a referee, he used to run around with the balls and as a result he developed a love for the game from a very young age.” Following the passing of Lashley, Nicholas moved to Fruta Conquerors and was the youngest player in the Khasif and Shanghai U17 tournament in 2015.

Nicholas Mc Arthur

Ashfaq Ahmed provisionally suspended by UAE board in relation to corruption investigation ESPNcricinfo - Another UAE player has been suspended in relation to the corruption scandal that hit the team last week. Just before the start of the T20 World Cup qualifiers, the ICC charged three of their senior members with 13 breaches of its anticorruption code.

Yesterday, the Emirates Cricket Board placed Ashfaq Ahmed under provisional suspension. The 34-year old is not facing any official charges yet. Five days ago, the ICC provisionally suspended Captain Mohammad Naveed and senior batsman Shaiman Anwar, charging the two players with attempts to “fix” or “improperly influence” matches in the ongoing Qualifiers. Allrounder Qadeer Ahmed was also issued the same penalty for allegedly disclosing inside information to people who were

Jessy Singh celebrates after getting Ashfaq Ahmed to edge behind Peter Della Penna. betting on cricket. Ashfaq has played 16 ODIs and 12 T20Is for the UAE and was part of the UAE’s squad in the qualifiers.

He played the team’s first two matches but not the third,

which took place on the day the Emirates Cricket Board sent out a press release with details of his being pulled out of the tournament. ”Further to the ongoing (Continued on page 29)

Tuesday October 22, 2019

PAGE 33

Kaieteur News

MVP Mc Arthurs second half double guides Fruta Conquerors to Limacol Football title

By Zaheer Mohamed Nicholas Mc Arthur who was named the Most Valuable Player and also ended as the Highest Goal Scorer of the tournament struck twice in the second half to lead Fruta Conquerors to a 2-0 victory over Santos Football Club in the final of the Petra Organisation/Limacol Football tournament contested on Sunday night at Ministry of Education Ground, Carifesta Avenue.

In the historic match that saw two Under-20 teams battling for the championship prize in a senior tournament for the first time, which seemed destined for penalty kicks after regulation time and the first half of the extra time failed to separate the teams; Mc Arthur showed why he is considered one of the best youth player in Guyana when he blasted a double in the closing stages of the encounter.

Following a sloppy start to the final, both teams gradually gained confidence and Fruta Conquerors had the first opportunity to score, but the shot went wide of goal. Scoring opportunities hardly presented itself thereafter in the

first half.

The second half provided much more excitement as both teams shared possession almost equally and created much more scoring opportunities, but failed to finish which forced the game into extra time.

Santos had several shots turned away by goalkeeper Joel Yhap while Conquerors sent a few over the cross bar, and despite some showers, neither team managed to pierce the opposing defence until Mc Arthurs brilliance.

Three minutes from time (117th minute) the forward latched on the pass and found the back of the net from inside the area to hand his team the lead. Mc Arthur then stretched the advantage moments later when he collected a pass from midfield and worked his way into the area before beating the goalkeeper from the left side of the box.

Shortly after the final whistle was sounded which sparked wild celebrations among the players and fans.

In the third place playoff, Wendell Joseph netted to hand Riddim Squad a 1-0 victory over Pele FC. Both teams provided the

fans with much excitement as they were denied on several occasions, until Joseph sealed the winner in the 85th minute. Mc Arthur, who was voted the Most Valuable Player, told the media that the game was not as easy as it seems and credited the opposition for their efforts.

“I had to work hard for my goals, the players came out and put in the efforts and this is a special title for the team,” he added.

Guyana Football Federation (GFF) President Wayne Forde commended the finalists: “One of the first strategic decisions we took in 2016, was that we allowed the elite league clubs all the way up to U17 to continue playing at the association level because we felt that it gives them an opportunity to match skills with their peers and increase their playing hours.

We also felt that it may also make sense to have the U20 teams because what we recognised is that some clubs had a lot of players at the U20 level and they are not breaking into the main squad and not getting competitive games, so all of the elite league clubs, their U20 teams

Nicholas Mc Arthur collects his MVP prize from Troy Mendonca of Petra Organisation. will be able to play in the association knock out tournaments. That is now part of the new regulations and you will see more of it.”

Forde said: “Its surprising to see the U20 teams are able to break through the senior teams, but I think its indicative of the level of football that is being played at the association level which is a major concern for us, and one that

will be getting a lot of our aggressive approach in the not too distant future.”

“We have a very intense competition calendar to roll out for 2020, but we also will be slipping straight into the yearend tournament and there will be some announcements shortly.

We want to see the players in action as often as possible; the good thing is, Coach

Maximo is here and he has been paying a lot of attention.

I think close to 50% of the local training contingent of the Golden Jaguars is U20 players, so even tonight he has indentified four players from this game to start training on Tuesday (today). He needs to see more of that and in order for him to see it we need to have more football played,” Forde explained.

Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav put India on the brink of 3-0 sweep ESPNcricinfo - India need two wickets to complete a whitewash over South Africa but they will have to wait until this morning to do it.

The visitors might have one more night in India, awaiting a fate that was writ from the second innings in Visakhapatnam, when Mohammed Shami ripped through their middle order and showed how much of a role seam bowlers would play in this series.

Though R. Ashwin remains on top the wicket charts, it was Shami and Umesh Yadav who exposed a weakness South Africa would not have dreamed they had, especially not in the subcontinent.

South Africa have been surprised by short balls, beaten by pace and caught off guard by bowlers who attack the stumps, the very same thing they have seen their own attack do, season after season.

But this is the season of change and India have spent the series showing how much they have evolved. No longer a team that relies on conditions loaded in the spinners’ favour, they are now an outfit that wins away and that is not only happy to compete on fairminded surfaces, but can dominate on them.

Sixteen South African wickets fell on day three as they were made to follow-on in consecutive Tests for the first time since 2002, and seven of their players were dismissed twice on the same day.

A concussion substitute was required for the third time in Test history after Dean Elgar ducked into a Yadav short ball and was struck just above the ear. Theunis de Bruyn replaced him and was the top-scorer in the second innings, scant consolation after being dropped and watching his replacement make a strong enough case to stay in the No.3 spot for the foreseeable future.If there’s positive South Africa could take, it was Zubayr Hamza’s first-innings effort.

After watching his captain Faf du Plessis get beaten and bowled by a Yadav beauty that swerved away from him in the first over of the day, Hamza played a sprightly knock.

He was confident on the front foot, energetic in his approach and was the perfect foil for Temba Bavuma, who was circumspect but promised so much. Hamza and Bavuma put on a fourthwicket stand of 91, but once Hamza was dismissed, the

Umesh Yadav celebrates the wicket of Heinrich Klaasen © Associated Press.

Mohammed Shami is pumped after picking a wicket © Associated Press. procession began.Ravindra Jadeja had Hamza caught on the back foot, when the batsman was shaping for a flick, but was beaten in the end.

This, immediately after an unsuccessful review from India. In the next over, Bavuma came down the track to defend against debutant Shahbaz Nadeem but the ball turned away from him and into Wriddhiman Saha’s gloves.

Bavuma was stumped for 32, a score which only added

to his failure to covert starts.

The tail wagged a little in the form of George Linde but India were all over South Africa.

The visitors lost 7 for 55, getting dismissed for their lowest total of the series.

With weather threatening to reduce the time left in the match, and South Africa so far behind, both in terms of runs and in their states of mind, Virat Kohli had no second thoughts about enforcing the follow-on. And within ten overs it was obvious he had

made the right decision.

South Africa were reduced to 26 for 4 when the blow to Elgar resulted in early tea. By then, Quinton de Kock had played down the wrong line to Yadav, Hamza was late on a ball that straightened from Shami, du Plessis took an unnecessary review when he was given out lbw off Shami, and Bavuma was out for a duck.

Shami showed South Africa how it’s done once again.

Hit the deck hard. Use the short ball aggressively. Keep

the lines tight. The only thing he didn’t do was finish South Africa off. Not even Ashwin managed that.

The South African tail has routinely frustrated India and this time Anrich Nortje hung on with de Bruyn till stumps.

However, it’s only a matter of time before India complete the formalities.Scores: South Africa 162 (Hamza 62, Yadav 340, Jadeja 2-19) and 132 for 8 (De Bruyn 30, Shami 3-10, Yadav 2-35) trail India 497 for 9 dec by 203 runs.

PAGE 34

Tuesday October 22, 2019

Kaieteur News

CGIs SBF Petroleum Jaguars 50-over League Defending Champs Ebo & L/Ctyne tied on 20 points; Foo has most runs, Smith most wickets Lower Corentyne’s Nail Smith.

Story and photos

by Sean Devers With two rounds to go, defending Champions Essequibo and Lower Corentyne are tied on 20 points each going into todays penultimate round of the CGIs SBF Petroleum Jaguars 50over League but Essequibo hold a slim lead due to a higher net-run rate.

West Berbice are third and West Demerara fourth although both teams sit on 15 points due to superior net run rate and are the other teams that can challenge for this years title. A team gets four points, two for a wash out and none for a loss. The team that achieves a run rate of 1.25 times that of the opposition shall be awarded one bonus point.Both Essequibo and Lower Corentyne which have lost one of their five matches and got a bonus point from each of their wins are neck and neck for this years title. If both teams win their last two matches without any bonus points they both move to 28 points. But Essequibo will be dethroned because their only

loss was at the hands of Lower Corentyne in Berbice on Sunday. So bonus points will be crucial for Essequibo to win since if both teams win their two games with a bonus then the Berbicians will take the title due to the result of their head-to-head contest.

Although Georgetown, East Bank, East Coast and Upper Corentyne are no longer in contention for the title they could spoil the party for the teams that can. Today, Essequibo face East Cost at Lusignan, West Demerara take on Lower Corentyne at Albion and West Berbice oppose Georgetown at Everest.

On Thursday in the final round Essequibo battle East Bank at Everest and Lower Corentyne clash with Upper Corentyne at Port Mourant.

Lower Corentynes 29-yearold Jonathon Foo has two fifties in his 218 runs from five innings and is the leading run scorer in a tournament in which only Trevon Griffith, Kandasammy Surujnarine and Leon Johnson have scored centuries but none of them have reached 150 runs.

The only other batsman with

Johnathon Foo hit has two fifties and is the leading run scorer with 218 runs.

200 runs is Essequibos Kemol Savory who has two half-centuries in his 207 runs from five innings while his team mate Quinton Sampson has 181

runs despite not scoring a fifty.Only Lower Corentynes 23-year-old pacer Nial Smith has 15 wickets including a sixwicket haul and two four-

wicket hauls. Essequibos Ricardo Adams (11), Anthony Adams (10) and Ronsford Beaton (9) are their other leading wicket-takers while an-

Surinames Fabian Wehl flexes to Overall title at Stage of Champions Fabian Wehl of Suriname copped the Overall Title when the Stage of Champions body building contest was held on the weekend at the Theatre Guild, Kingston. Guyanese Seranno Harris of Tower Unity Gym won the Under143lbs category while Tajepaul Gwendasammy of Power House Gym in Berbice took the second spot and Gansham Goberdan of Essequibos L and L Fitness Gym placed third.

The Under-154lbs title was taken by Guyanese Sylvan

Gardner of Fitness 53 Gym who beat off his gym mate Marlon Bolo Bennett with Darius Ramsammy of Buddys Gym, third. Randal Haakmat of Suriname won the Under164lbs class.

Faizel Pinas also of neighbouring Suriname placed second and Guyanese Henry Bassey of Buddys Gym, third. Barry Copilah of Trinidad and Tobago won the Under-176lbs category with the Guyanese duo of Lyndon Burnett (Space Gym) and Andre Watts, second and

third respectively.

Suriname also dominated the 177lbs and Over division, sweeping the top three spots; Wehl winning ahead of Sergio Holwin and Jermin Karg.

Rudolph Getrouwcosta of Suriname won the Mens Physique competition ahead of countryman Fernando Karak and local boy, Delray Phillips.

Dutchwoman Milita Galimo captured the Miss Bikini title relegating Space Gyms Rosanna Fung to second place and Surinamese Tatiana Bawon, third.

Overall winner Fabian Wehl with organiser Videsh Sookram (left), Anika Sookram and sponsor Camille Deokie.

other Essequibian pacer, Joshua Jones has the only hat-trick when he captured 518 against West Demerara at Bourda.

Tuesday October 22, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 35

Banks DIH Golf Tourney Guillermo Escarraga produces massive win Guillermo Escarraga of Macorp seems set to write his name in a prominent place in the upcoming Guyana Open 2019, as he outperformed the field with a s uperb net 61 off of 21handicap, in the Banks DIH Annual Golf extravaganza on Sunday last at the Lusignan Golf Club ( L G C ) c o u r s e .

Representing Banks DIH and congratulate winners whilst handing out prizes on Sunday was Mr. Gavin Todd - a Director of Banks DIH and a veteran golfer - who expressed Banks willingness to continue supporting the progress of the LGC. For the upcoming Guyana Open, new faces could be in the winners row in the 19 28 Flight as Guillermos net 61 the overall Best Net performance of the day - was way ahead of past Club President Jerome Khan who was second with net 70, off

h a n d i c a p 2 4 .

Other golfers in that Flight followed at a distance: Mauro Remiro and Miguel Oviedo both scoring 78/28, Jordi Pinol (86/28), Lloyd Fung-A-Fat (87/28), Mario Acuna (89/28), Eion Blue (90/28) and Solomon Bannister (96/28).

N o t i c e a b l y, i n t h e tournament of the day before (Saturday, October 19) Guillermo came in a close second (67/22) behind recently returned Nirmaldeo Sarwan (66/24) who himself could be a keen contender in t h a t c a t e g o r y.

Performances in the 10-18 or B Flight is generally less predictable as this Flight has the largest group of golfers.

On Sunday the winners were Mike Gayadin (64/14) and Mahindranauth Tewari ( 6 7 / 1 5 ) .

They were followed by Bridgelall Harry (68/16), Lakram Ramsundar (69/18),

Top performers takes time out for a photo. From left Aleem Hussain, Jerome Khan, Avinash Persaud, Avinda Kishore, Mike Gayadin, Miguel Oviedo for Guillermo Escarraga, Mahindranauth Tewari, Maxim Mangra and Mr. Gavin Todd of Banks DIH. Rakesh Harry (71/18), Satrohan Tiwari (73/16), Aasrodeen Shaw (74/13), Deoram Dinanath (74/15), Hilbert Shields (74/16), and George Bulkan and Ian Gouveia (75/16) in the range b e l o w 7 6 n e t .

By comparison, Saturdays winners were Pur Persaud (64/16), and Satrohan Tiwari (70/16). Sundays results in the 0-9 category also intimate possible new faces

for the Guyana Open 2019 Winners Row. While 9-times Guyana open champion Avinash Persaud retained the Best Gross score with 73, younger brother and also a previous G u y a n a O p e n w i n n e r, Av i n d a K i s h o r e , i n producing a gross of 75 seems set on laying a challenge for the title of C h a m p i o n t h i s y e a r.

In this category the net

w i n n e r s w e r e Av i n d a Kishore (70/5) and Avinash Persaud (71/2). The performances of Mike Mangal (72/9), Aleem Hussain (73/8), Alfred Mentore (74/9) and Patrick Prashad (75/9) intimates that they too are likely to offer stiff competition for the c h a m p i o n s h i p .

In the specialty prize Longest Drive was won by Avinda Kishore, while

Nearest The Pin was won by Mahindranauth Tewari.

Banks DIH, which was founded over 175 years ago, has been in support of the Lusignan Golf Club for over four decades, and continues now under the Chairmanship of Mr. Clifford Reis, CCH, to be a major corporate member and partner of the LGC, contributing dependably to its development.

GSCL/Prime Ministers T20 Softball Cup 2019

KFC, Elegance Jewellery and Pawn Shop,Ink Plus on board; 26 teams drawn in respective groups

T

he draw for the Third edition of the Prime Ministers T20 Cup took place on Sunday last at the GNIC Sports Club, Woolford Avenue where twenty-six (26) teams have been placed in their respective groups in the three categories for the November 1-3 tournament.

In the Open (males of any age) and Masters (males Over-45) categories there are eight teams drawn in two groups of four. The teams will play each other once and the top two will qualify for the semifinals.

In the Legends (male Over50) category, there are 10 teams in three groups. The three teams in Groups A will play the three teams in Group B while the four teams in Group C will play each other once.

The top two teams from Group C will join the group winners from groups A and B for the semifinals.

Ink Plus Customer Service Representative Reama Sookdeo (right) hands over her companys sponsorship to Treasurer of the GSCL Russell Jubeer.

Russell Jubeer (left) receives the sponsorship from KFCs Senior Accounts Clerk Oma Singh.

In the Open Category the teams are; Group A - SVC NY, Farm All Stars, Bartica All Stars and Cotton Field Wild Oats and in Group B Regal All Stars, Grill Masters, Speed Boat All Stars and United Brothers.

In the Masters Category the teams are; Group A - Success Masters, Invaders, Narine

Masters and Corriverton Masters while in Group B the teams are Wellman Masters, Fishermen Masters, H.S. Masters and defending champions Regal Masters.

In the Legends Category the teams are; Group A Savage Legends, Guyana/Florida Hope and NYSCL Pro. Group B Marine Legends,

Parika Defenders and Presidents XI and Group C Regal Legends, Orlando Legends, Rockaway Legends and Ramchands L e g e n d s .

The organisers, Georgetown Softball Cricket League Inc. (GSCL) will release the full fixtures including the match venues shortly. Meanwhile,

sponsors have also confirmed their support for the prestigious tournament since they anticipate tremendous exposure and ultimately value for their a d v e r t i s i n g d o l l a r.

Last Thursday GSCLs Treasurer, Russell Jubeer was on hand to collect the sponsors contribution from

Ink Plus, KFC and Elegance Jewellery and Pawn Shop.

Other sponsors on board to date are Banks Beer, I-Bet Supreme, Crown Mining Supplies, Bedessee Sporting Goods, Star Party Rentals, Regal Stationery and Computer Centre, Cyber Sports and USA Cricket Zone.

WIFBSC Championship Shoot 2019

Goodluck starts defence of Individual title; Team Guyana seeks to regain Short Range honours

Team Guyana at the Tucker Valley Rifle Range, Chaguaramas with Acting Chief of Defence Staff Colonel Darnley Wyke and Lt Col Jozette McLean.

MVP Mc Arthurs second half double guides Fruta Conquerors to Limacol Football title

The victorious Fruta Conquerors team with their hardware alongside members of the organising committee and sponsors.

Fruta Conquerors Nicholas Mc Arthur departs forUSA tomorrow To try out at three Colleges

GSCL/Prime Ministers T20 Softball Cup 2019

KFC, Elegance Jewellery and Pawn Shop,Ink Plus on board; 26 teams drawn in respective groups

Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8452, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.