Kaieteur News

K

GECOM avoids NEWS online disclosure of house to house data AIETEUR

Sunday Edition October 27, 2019

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com

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

Price $140

Online readership yesterday 147,459

Beware Guyana!

Measure local content - T&T Oil by value not volume Expert Linden hospital worker, teen GRA alerted to killed in ambulance smashup Rusal's attempt

to ship out equipment

Housing Ministry hauls in scores of house lot

Defendant jailed for threatening and spitting on witness

allottees who failed to build

Man, who hid in trench with stolen juices, appears in court

Oil production vessels will employ just a few locals

PAGE 02

Kaieteur News

Sunday October 27, 2019

Kaieteur News

Sunday October 06, 2019

PAGE 03

Guyana beware!!!

Measure Local Content by value not volume - T&T Oil Expert

By Kiana Wilburg

W

hile the E n e r g y Department is in the process of adding the finishing touches to the draft Local Content Policy, there is one key rule that should n o t e s c a p e i t s attention—Measure the number of goods and services used as well and locals employed by value and not by volume alone.

This was recently noted

by Anthony Paul, a Trinidadian Local Content Expert. He made this revelation during a guest appearance on Kaieteur Radio's Guyana's Oil and Yo u P r o g r a m m e o n Thursday evening.

There, the Energy Advisor said, “I like to think of local content as something we can measure because if we can measure it, then we know how well we are doing.

People often describe local content as the number of people employed; the number of companies engaged.

“But remember, every activity has to be budgeted for. As such, I like to think of local content in a monetary sense. I ask, 'What is the value of inputs for the activities being carried out in the sector?”

On this premise, the Energy Advisor said that a

company's local content plan must therefore spell out how many people would be employed, for how long, to do what, and how much they will be paid. And while this is being done, he said that one must examine how the foreign participants can be used to build capacity.

Paul said, “So if you have a five-year project, you must ask what the company's starting point for local content is, where will you be

Demerara, Berbice have extra power as GPL's submarine cable repaired

A

fter four months of skating on thin ice, the Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) has managed to resuscitate a critical link that will bring extra power from the West Demerara area.

This was following repairs to the submarine cable across the Demerara River.

According to the GPL, its 69kV submarine cable is back in operation following the successful completion of remedial work.

“Following its return to operation, approximately 14 megawatts (MW) of power is being supplied to the eastern section of the DemeraraBerbice Interconnected System (DBIS).

The submarine cable which links the Vreed-enWorks on the submarine Hoop and Kingston Power power link by CMC workers Plants sustained damage at two locations in June and the Demerara River. were carried out by China Export Corporation (CMC), August by vessels traversing Subsequently, repairs National Machinery Import & (continued on page 15)

after year one, after year two, and so forth, in a way that you will see progress. For this, you will also need targets.”

A d d i t i o n a l l y, t h e Trinidadian said that the foregoing information needs to be stored in a place where the right institutions can have it. “ I n t h i s w a y, t h e University of Guyana, for example, can see what skills the agencies serving the sector need down the road and figure out what it needs in order to provide that.

“Even the investors, they need to have access to information that will allow them to see what projects are coming down the road so they can take that and build a business and build proper plans they can take to the bank,” the Energy Advisor

Oil Expert, Anthony Paul expressed.

Paul stressed that access to information will be critical to Guyana's success in achieving maximum local content while noting that an accountable regulator would be instrumental to the process.

The Local Content Expert said, “Remember, at the end of the day, your oil is paying for every person that is trained or employed. You pay for everything...so make sure you get it right.”

PAGE 04

Kaieteur News

Sunday October 27, 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 A refusal to retire politically On the always intriguing, ever evolving, local political front, a former president just the other day announced that he is not going anywhere. As a powerful party presence, it would be difficult for the Young Turkmen and aspiring Wonder Women in the group to dislodge such a formidable stalwart from his stance or to usher him, in his now golden years, towards a silver sunset. Not him. Not with any political group here. He is contemplating returning.

On the other hand, and in a familiar, standard bearing place, men who have served enduringly, if not with some distinction, announce that it is time to ride off into the sunset, and to make way for the next generation of political manipulators and wrestlers; and, it dared be hoped, the emergence of an ennobling, groundbreaking figure.

Though the departing have not come forward to publicly denounce the leader of their party and head-of-state, there is considerable dismay with what they have heard and come to detest intensely.

The thinking is enough. The hope is that somewhere out there, there should be someone from amongst them, who could rise into the next towering political maestro to orchestrate success through inspiring, idealistic leadership.

So, they make way. They pack their bags and go. That is not happening here, never has. Instead, men did in their heels and wait for another turn of the wheel, one more deep bite in the bigger, richer apple that is today’s Guyana. Fortune favours those with fancy footwork, age notwithstanding.

Meanwhile, in the United States, 18 members of the House of Representatives have announced they won’t be running in 2020 for any public office. This includes (note the skew) 14 Republicans and four Democrats.

In a time of ascendancy in the executive and powerful Senate, men and women are saying goodbye. Many of the retirements were announced over the last several weeks, including those that were issued by six Republicans in Texas.

Among those leaving Congress are two of House Republicans’ 13 women, including the female lawmaker that was tasked with recruiting more conservative women and minorities to the body.

So far, four members of the Senate have confirmed publicly that they would not be running for re-election in 2020, among them three Republicans. The Democrats have a chance of triumphing in the legislative houses, but that is not the thrust today. Rather, it is less of who is staying, and more of how has decided it is time to leave.

It might be because of disillusionment with the state of American governance, or of tiredness with the failure of so much, or simply the warnings and calls of advancing age.

Advanced age has neither relevance nor traction in Guyana.

In the US, Ronald Reagan arrived at the White House with the supposedly spritely vigor associated with octogenarians back then in 1979; widely accepted was his cerebral clarity, too. Whatever it was, by the time he left, two terms later, he was shadow and caricature of the out-of-touch, easily manipulated, and a lost cowboy reliving the manmade legends of Hollywood.

Senator Strom Thurmond ended up the same way. Stated differently, a consistent grip on reality proved problematic, if not outright elusive at times.

There is a lesson in those examples from over there.

Sometimes men stay too long. Still, nobody is listening here.

Because, as elsewhere, and no less so in Guyana, “power is an aphrodisiac” which Henry Kissinger did proclaim. It is the most powerful, electrifying one here.Nobody retires here. The longer men stay, the sweeter they realise the prize, the better they get at misleading (or mesmerising) the public with their deceptions and shallowness. They get very good at marketing and spouting those hypocrisies about democracy, transparency, unity, and incorruptibility (their own).

Since Guyanese swallow the latter, hook, line and sinker (from all the stinkers), they feel empowered and entitled to stick around and continue their usual barbarities. No accountability; there is another stock word bandied about casually.

There is no reason to relinquish the thrill of supplicants

Editor’s Note; If your sent letter was not published and you felt its contents were valid and devoid of libel or personal attacks, please contact us by phone or email.

If Exxon is accused of cooking the books to deceive its shareholders, what about a third party like Guyana?

Dear Editor, Exxon is accused of cooking the books. One set of accounting records for shareholders (investors) and another for its management. This may have cost Exxon’s shareholders up to US$1.6 billion in damages. That is the case brought by the New York Office of the Attorney General (NY OAG) and is now on trial.

Even more concerning is the accusation that the then CEO, Rex Tillerson, was aware of the double

bookkeeping practice. Statistically, one can reason an employee in a 70,000 person company doing something illegal. But when the CEO of one of the largest companies in the world is accused of knowing employees were keeping double books, then you have to question the integrity of the entire Exxon culture.

The NY OAG employs over 1,800 people, including forensic accountants and investigators. It has 700 attorneys.

Its four-year investigation of Exxon

coming for favour, or the power trips and power kicks, or the exploitations that can be extracted from physical presences and circumstances. It can be--and has been--a largely politically predatory world.

Why retire and give up those side perks? The ones only whispered knowingly about and on the sly? The pasture is not an option ever considered locally.

involved millions of pages of documents.

To grasp the seriousness of the allegations, one has to understand that the owners of Exxon are shareholders.

The Exxon managers are employees; they do not own the tankers, refineries and oil reserves. The management and CEO’s top priority is to serve the interest of shareholders above all other parties. This should immediately raise the question: If Exxon management is (Continued on page 6)

The duty -free concessions, the access, the sweetheart real estate arrangements, the rich pension package.

As the record in Guyana can attest, there are many such sweethearts and numerous such deals. Retire? And do what?

Collect a nice, sweet pension only? Where is the fun and power in that? Coming in from the cold, age notwithstanding, is also too inviting to be denied.

Sunday October 27, 2019

PAGE 5

Kaieteur News

Kaieteur M@ilbox

Kaieteur M@ilbox

Jagdeo should say when Opposition MPs will honour the CCJ ruling on the responsibility of the National Assembly in elections DEAR EDITOR, Instead of Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, in his usual bullying tactics, seeking to undermine the independence and work of GECOM, he should be advising the nation when he and the other Opposition Members of Parliament are prepared to honour the rul-

ing of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) regarding the responsibility of the National Assembly in election.

He is being reminded this is an edict of the CCJ, handed down in its 12 July Consequential Order, and reiterated by acting Chief Justice (CJ) yet he continues to flout same. This soci-

Parliament must be dissolved to pave way for unhindered General Elections DEAR EDITOR, When the dust is settled from the partisan storm created and perpetuated by GECOM in preparation for General Elections and the Official List of Electors (OLE) is generated and accepted as ‘credible’ for such purpose of holding National and Regional Elections and at the end of those elections, it would be viewed as free and fair.

At this time, the matter of primary importance is to ensure that the General Elections are held on the date which was set by (a so-called promissory note) a proclamation for March 2, 2020. On account of the legal challenges and evidences, which stemmed from the valid No-Confidence Motion + Vote of December 21, 2018, and now on to the House –to–House registration appeal case filed against the High Court decision by the Attorney General where hearings are scheduled to start early December 2019 and this is expected to last until the mid of 2020 should the matter end up all the way to the CCJ. Such undertakings can very well push back General Elections beyond March 2, 2020. Of course, should this happen, the prime beneficiary will always be the PNC- APNU caretaker government as they will continue gallivanting and enjoying their good life at the expense of tax payers’ dollars in high team spirits in violation of the 1980 Constitution, having no legitimacy and legal grounds to govern the nation whilst undermining democracy and the rule of law in Guyana.

As March 2, 2020 approaches, I urge Civil Society, the International Community, other International Organisations and Donor Agencies to call on caretaker President Granger to dissolve Parliament on or before December 4, 2019 covering 90 days up to March 2, 2020. This will ensure that General Elections are held on March 2, 2020 as per proclamation and are not push back to accommodate further court cases.

Sincerely yours, Paul Ramrattan

ety must hold him accountable. Those in the media community are particularly being urged to help the nation in doing so.

The Opposition’s vote in the National Assembly, consistent with Article 106(7) to hold elections “or such longer period” given the “within three months” period passed since March, is important to ensure the constitutionality of the pending election. Mr. Jagdeo has no interest in upholding this, even when he calls on others to respect the Constitution and rulings of the court.

He is being called on to stop politicising and besmirching the character of GECOM Chairperson Justice Claudette Singh in his continuous misleading rants and raves.

In this period when the nation needs stability, all

Mr. Jagdeo is doing is creating more chaos and confusion.

He has moved from the several misrepresentations of the CCJ rulings, recently again exposed by the Chief Justice, yet he doesn’t stop.

He now signals out Claudette Singh, dragging her as his centerpiece into his habitual distortions.

It should come as no surprise to us should he now engage the international high priced lobbying firm to multiply his deceptions and package them for international consumption and to drive negative responses to GECOM, the Government of Guyana, and other institutions and operatives who he cannot manipulate.

GECOM is an independent body and should be left alone under the leadership of the respected Judge

to do its work.

People should become fed up from constantly being misled by the political bullyism of Mr. Jagdeo.

When he is finished, where he has taken our politics, our people in this country will take a long time to recover.

Justice Singh is a woman of integrity, respect and high honour. Whereas she is not expected to be intimidated by the Opposition Leader, the constant attacks on GECOM are intended by him to bring international pressure on the government, to undermine the electoral process and to stimulate supporters who are misguided by his constant vitriol.

He is now upping the ante about rigged elections, accusing the major partner in the coalition of historically rigging even as he fails to recognise that he, the

party, which he associates with and his government are not of clean hands.

There is no monopoly on the claim about rigged elections. What Mr. Jagdeo in his constant media brawls is failing to tell or remind the nation is the evidence of his presidency in the 2006 elections where Gocool Boodhoo, then Chief Elections Officer, wrongly gave the AFC Region 10 seat to the PPP. For five years Sam Hinds sat in that seat in the National Assembly fully aware his placement was not in keeping with the will of the people.

That is shameless high class rigging. Bills and other decisions were made on the votes of a people that didn’t send Sam to parliament and often times those votes resulted in further violation of (Continued on page 6)

PAGE 6

Sunday October 27, 2019

Kaieteur News

Kaieteur M@ilbox GuySuCo and delayed salaries DEAR EDITOR, I am once again highlighting my concerns with the management of GuySuCo with regards to salaries on a timely basis.

It’s a norm for salaries to be paid to staff members on the last Friday of each month and as such, the last Friday for this month was on the 25-10-2019, but like the previous month no salaries were paid into our accounts.

The last time the company highlighted to us that because of cash flow problems salaries will not be paid, a day before the actual pay date.

This month nothing was related to us and as such, I am wondering if this will escalate to the point where we wouldn’t be paid at all.

GuySuCo and the entire country knows about the closure of Republic Bank for the four days beginning Thursday coming and yet no one in management sees this as a problem that their staff members will have to face if salaries are not paid on time.

I know the powers that are running the finances for GuySuCo and being paid a hefty amount so salaries being paid late will not be a problem to them, but what about the small man that has to deliver on a daily basis for those top bracket employees to look good, aren’t we considered for our labour?

Most of us are trying to make ends meet monthly, we are trying to elevate our lives by providing for our families

and maintain our standard of living like owning a house or owning a car, but to have those things we need our salaries to pay for them at the end of each month. Please save us of the embarrassment at the end of the month to go and negotiate with our lenders about our current financial situation. There will be a time when these lenders will get fed up of the excuses and I am sure this company will care less if we told them what has happened just because we couldn’t have reached our deadlines.

Finally, we have our families to take care of and it’s heartbreaking to know that you can do anything much when basic (Continued on page 7)

Kaieteur M@ilbox If Exxon is accused of cooking the...

From page 4 accused of cooking the books to deceive its shareholders what about a third party like Guyana?

The pre-contract costs for the Stabroek Block are estimated at US$900 million.

Chris Ram noted in his May 18, 2018 column that on the first invoice of US$460 million, the pre-contract costs were overstated by US$92 million. One should recall that Ram did not have access to the millions of pages of documents like the NY OAG. Imagine if he had the same access as the NY OAG to perform his analysis. This does raise another question: Would the UK firm - hired more than a year after Ram first disputed the costs - have similar document access to perform a reasonable analysis? Has the UK firm committed to a deadline within which it must produce a report and will the report be made public?

The accusation of double books should raise another major concern for the Government of Guyana. Why would the oil companies have the following statement in the Stabroek contract: [From Article 9, paragraph

(d)]: “The Minister, through duly appointed representatives, upon providing the contractor with at least seven (7) days’ notice, shall be entitled to observe the Petroleum Operations conducted by the Contractor …”

The above condition does not appear to be normal in oil contracts and actually sounds absurd. Why would the Guyana government agree to those terms? Do auditors from the Government of Guyana give 7-day notice before showing up to inspect sugar and rice factories?

Exxon has preached to us on the sanctity of contracts.

On March 6, 2018 one of its managers, Kimberly Brassington said, “We believe firmly in that principle that there is real value in the sanctity of a contract and there are many eyes on Guyana right now watching to see how this plays out and if this is a stable environment in which to do business. ”Isn’t it ironic, one year later, Exxon finds itself in a NY Court accused of serious securities fraud by the US government? If Exxon doesn’t respect sanctity in the context of its fiduciary duty to its shareholders, it sounds like a double standard. We will need many eyes to count those 6 billion barrels of oil,

or is it double that amount in the other book?

The New York OAG has been in existence since 1626 and tasked with protecting the rights of the 19 million New York citizens. One has to contemplate the gravity of the situation if one of America’s most populous States takes one of its largest companies to court.

From court documents filed in New York, a copy can be found here http:// www.oggn.org/wp-content/ uploads/2019/10/ newyork_vs_exxon.pdf, the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) makes these statements: i) “...OAG has uncovered significant evidence of potential materially false and misleading statements by Exxon...” ii) “ OAG’s present subpoenas, which Exxon now seeks to quash, are highly relevant to determining whether Exxon has in fact been misleading investors, as its own documents suggest.”

With those sensational accusations of Exxon management misleading its owners, it is unacceptable to have a contract where Guyana gives the oil companies a 7day notice before inspection.

Darshanand Khusial on behalf of OGGN

Jagdeo should say when...

From page 5 the people of Region 10.

Let Jagdeo address the 2006 elections and other cases such as the 1997 elections that were vitiated in the High Court.

Were it not for the vigilance of Commissioner Vincent Alexander the 2011 elections could have seen a repeat of the 2006. Whilst we know that Mr. Jagdeo will easily find an excuse for the rigging a government led by him committed, and those committed by his party, which will be readily accepted by supporters, the truth remains evidence and not only in the minds of people.

Guyanese want credible, free and fair and free from fear election. Jagdeo is undermining every effort for this to happen and we must not allow him to.

Lincoln Lewis

Sunday October 27, 2019

PAGE 7

Kaieteur News

Kaieteur M@ilbox

Kaieteur M@ilbox

OIL & GAS – MOST DESTRUCTIVE INDUSTRY ON EARTH DEAR EDITOR, Ms. Ryhaan Shah did bring to the public’s attention the mention Guyana received in Rachel Maddow’s book “Blowout” that deals with “corrupted democracy, rogue state Russia, and the richest, most destructive industry on earth” – Oil and Gas. There are two other items of significance that the Guyanese Public, the Department of Energy and the EPA should be aware of. At a US Congressional Committee hearing, answering questions on the cleanup after the Deep Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, Rex Tillerson – CEO of Exxon, had the following to say (page 93): “We are not well

equipped to handle major oil spills. And we have never represented anything different from that.

That’s why the emphasis is always on preventing these things from occurring, because when they happen, we’re not very well equipped to deal with them.

And that’s just a fact of the enormity of what we’re dealing with”.

With respect to the cleanup after the spill was brought under control, the following has been reported (page 90): “The number of booms and skimmers available was not enough to stop the spread of the oil, and soon the little balls that first reached land were followed

by big toxic oil slicks. Pictures of seabirds covered from beak to talon in brown sludge, unable to take flight and suffocating to death, became a staple of the daily newsfeed. The only thing that actually seemed to do much good, were the absorbent pads, which the cleanup workers called “paper towels”.

That’s certainly what they looked like, and that’s essentially what they were: flat sheets of material made from the same kind of stuff that’s inside disposable diapers, either shoved into a long thin link-sausage casing of a boom or just used by hand, to sop up the oil.”

This cautions us to be better informed on oil mat-

Award of oil blocks and public service DEAR EDITOR, Interests in oil blocks should be awarded in ways that maximise the value to the resource owner, that is to the country and its people.

Countries maximise their resource wealth by directly hiring competent and reputable contractors to help develop their resources.

Conversely, countries degrade their resource wealth by hiring unknown contractors who have no track record producing 100,000s of barrels of oil in applicable environments and who do not have billions of US$ in assets.

It is common in the oil industry around the world, especially in countries with weak institutions and a high prevalence of corruption, for government officials to act in ways which do not maximise the resource wealth to the country, and instead they

act in ways which enrich themselves and their cohorts in the private sector.

Any action by a government official, which does not maximise the benefit to the country from its resource wealth, will be seen as a serious dereliction of duty on the part of the government official, and likely will require prosecution and redress to rebalance the distribution of the resource wealth.

Government officials in Guyana awarded numerous blocks to companies, and sometimes to individuals, who had zero track record producing oil and who had no assets.

Hence government officials in Guyana may have acted so as to degrade the resource wealth of the country, and instead maximise the returns to the companies.

Therefore, these government officials in Guyana were likely in dereliction of their

duties and were likely out of compliance with their responsibilities as public servants. For there to be justice for the country and the people, and for wrongs to be corrected, officials must be prosecuted and applicable awards of oil blocks must be rescinded. Subsequent officials who have not addressed these issues may themselves be seen as responsible.

Yours faithfully, Jan Mangal

ters and be careful what we believe in Oil Companies’ EIA plans.

Chapter 9 of “Blowout” titled “Practical Realities” references the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act 2010; Section 1504.

Section 1504 directs the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to issue rules that would require oil, gas, and mining companies listed on US stock exchanges to report the payments they make to US and foreign governments for the commercial development of oil, natural gas or minerals.

Since its adoption, similar requirements have been enacted within the EU and in

Canada.

This section was repealed by President Trump in 2018. However, these rules would have been effective in 2015 when Guyana’s production sharing agreement was signed;

therefore, I would expect that any payments made to the Guyana Government and Government Officials should have been filed and is on record at the SEC. Regards Sase Shewnar

GuySuCo and delayed...

From page 6 necessities are not there for them. I am kindly asking this government and the management of GuySuCo to look into our concerns and find a solution. We are giving our best towards this company so all we are asking for is to be compensated in a timely manner. This government on the other hand boasted so much of what they will do for GuySuCo, but to date what have they done to make the sugar workers life better? It will be a bright Diwali for some and for others very dull so I am hoping we can all fix this problem with GuySuCo and make it bright for everyone.

Concerned Worker

PAGE 8

Sunday October 27, 2019

Kaieteur News

Nandlall alleged theft of law reports trial‌

Defendant asks magistrate for adjournment in matter to allow Appeal Court to rule on order to lead a defence After being late for his matter on Friday before Senior Magistrate Fabayo Azore, former Attorney General Anil Nandlall showed up to ask the magistrate for an adjournment in his matter.

He is on trial in the

Georgetown Magistrates Court for the alleged theft of Law Reports from the State.

Standing before the magistrate appearing as if he had run to court, the defendant asked for his matter to be adjourned.

His reason for this is that his application to the Appeal Court for him to not lead a defence in his matters is still with that court.

He said that on October 1, last, the Court of Appeal heard arguments from the de-

fendant as to why he should not lead a defence. However, a date was not set for ruling in relation to the arguments that were heard.

Nandlall added that an extension of stay in the Magistrates Court matter was not sought nevertheless; he was willing to get that done.

According to the defendant, it will be on the better side for the magistrate to grant an adjournment rather than to proceed with the matter and the Court of Appeal rules in his favour, which will quash the proceedings in the lower court.

To this the magistrate agreed and adjourned the matter until November 21.

However, if the ruling is handed down before that date the defendant can return to the Magistrate Court and give his report.

It is alleged that Nandlall, between May 18 and May 29, 2015, in the then capacity of Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, fraudulently converted 14 Commonwealth Law Reports, property of the Ministry of Legal Affairs, to his own use and benefit.

Nandlall has pleaded not

Anil Nandlall guilty to the allegation and is out on self-bail, pending the outcome and determination of the trial.

Late last year, Magistrate Azore ruled that Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) Prosecutor, Patrice Henry, was able to prove every element of the offence. In the circumstances, Nandlall was called upon to lead a defence.

Nandlalls lawyers then approached the High Court for a stay to be granted in the matter, but Chief Justice Roxane George, dismissed the appeal against a no-case submission that was overruled

by Magistrate Fabayo Azore

in the trial.

Attorney-at-law Glenn Hanoman is representing the defendant in the matter.

Nandlall was previously reported as saying that when he took up the post of Attorney General, he did so at a loss, and it was for that reason he agitated for the State to pay for the Law Reports.

He had said that the arrangement received the blessings of then Head of State Donald Ramotar. However, investigators are contending that because the books were bought with State funds, they cannot be the property of Nandlall, and in fact, the State should not have entered into such an arrangement in the first place.

The Ministry of Legal Affairs is contending that there is no evidence of an agreement between Nandlall and Ramotar. And even assuming that there was such an agreement, the use of public funds in this manner is a flagrant violation of the Financial Management and Accountability Act. Nandlall was charged after SOCU, an arm of the Guyana Police Force, completed investigations.

Sunday October 27, 2019

Oil production vessels will employ just a few locals Guyanas world-class offshore basin is said to hold over 6.6 billion barrels of oil and gas. And according to Hess Corporation which holds a 30 percent interest in the Stabroek Block, those oil and gas resources increase the potential for Guyana to have not just three but five Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSOs) vessels. This picture by Hess Corporation has led some individuals to believe that hundreds of jobs would be available to Guyanese. But the project reports for the Stabroek Block tell a completely different story.

In fact, fewer than 200 persons would be working on each FPSO during oil production stage and less than half of that work force would be

PAGE 9

Kaieteur News

Guyanese.

The Liza Phase One Project for example, will be using an oil storage vessel called Liza Destiny. It is designed to produce 100,000 to 120,000 barrels of oil per day.

According to Exxons project plan, Liza Phase One is expected to employ about 140 persons during production operations.

The Energy Department Head, Dr. Mark Bynoe, recently said that 25 Guyanese are being trained to be part of that workforce.

As for Liza Phase Two, the project plan notes that the oil storage vessel called Liza Unity will be designed to produce 220,000 barrels of oil per day. Significantly, it will utilize less than 200 personnel during the production opera-

tions phase.

As for the third Stabroek Block project called Payara, a FPSO called Prosperity is expected to employ up to about 140 persons during production.

Dem boys seh...

Diwali is nice time Two holiday in Guyana dat does bring out people from all dem corner is Diwali and Christmas. And dem have a lot in common.

All two of dem holidays does feature nuff lights. People does go out of dem way to buy fairy lights by de lengths fuh decorate dem house fuh Christmas. De same thing wid Diwali. Some people shop fairy lights like if dem was trying to light up de whole country.

But wha does really look nice is when dem light up de Diyas. Dem boys see some decorations dat mek dem homes look like a palace. Diwali is nice time but it does mek some people run and hide. People does use de occasion to fire off squibs dat sound like bombs. De same thing does happen at Christmas. One time de police had to come out because some boys go by a mandir in Alexander Village and dem shoot off so many bombs dat when dem done not one dog lef in de village. All of dem run away.

Dat is only one part of de story. Diwali is de darkest night in de whole year. Dem boys see women who nearly kill demself because dem try to refuse to mek dem baby pon dis dark night. De belief is dat all dem baby who born pon dis night does be de biggest thief.One year one of dem boys birthday fall pon dis night. He refuse to go out because he believe dat he woulda be like de werewolf and change into a big thief.

What nice about de whole thing is dat people does mek some nice food. Dat is one night people does open dem door fuh let de good light come in. And is so much goodness does deh round dat no Diya does cause a house fire.Dem boys seh wha does cause de fire is when dem young boys light steel wool and spin it but dat an all is a nice thing.

Talk half and let light shine over darkness.

The Liza Destiny, Guyanas first FPSO

PAGE 10

Kaieteur News

Defendant jailed for threatening, spitting on witness Twenty-three-year old Carlton Bourne who is being tried in the Georgetown Magistrates Courts, for a number of armed robbery charges was yesterday slapped with two additional charges, of threatening and assaulting a witness in court.

Bourne, a mason from Chapel Street, Lodge, Georgetown, appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates Courts before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly where he pleaded guilty to the two charges.

One the five robbery charges against the robbery accused stated that on August 13, 2019, at Middle Road, La Penitence, Georgetown, while being armed with a gun, he robbed Sherryann Persaud of two phones valued at $343,000.

The new charges stated that on October 15, 2019, at the Georgetown Magistrates Courts, he assaulted and threatened Sherryann Persaud, one of the victims who he allegedly robbed.

The facts of the charges that were related to the court by Police prosecutor Christopher Morris stated that on the day in question, the defendant who is a prisoner was in Court 6 at the Georgetown Magistrates Court for the continuation of the trial.

As the orderly rose, the court and the witnesses were asked to stand in the witness box to give evidence against the defendant, he spat on the woman and then threatened to kill her.

Jailed: Carlton Bourne The defendant was immediately escorted out of the courtroom by a police officer and taken downstairs to the court lock-ups.

After listening to the facts of the charge, Senior Magistrate Daly sentenced the defendant to six weeks each in jail on both charges, the sentences will run concurrently.

Sunday October 27, 2019

SBM Offshore in search of production technician trainee SBM Offshore, a world leader in floating production solutions, is in search of candidates who are Guyanese and/or living in Guyana for the position of Production Technician Trainee.

The successful candidate would be expected to attend technical training for eight months outside of Guyana.

The company, whose activities include the design, supply, installation, operation and the life extension of Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels, related that upon successful completion of this training, the individual will work offshore on the Liza Destiny FPSO as a trainee.

Thereafter, continuous development will be conducted until the trainee becomes a fully qualified Production Technician.

Key duties of the Production Technician, according to SBM, must include plant start up, operate, monitor and shut down process and utility sys-

tems; monitor, maintain and optimise process parameters (level, flow, temperature, pressure) within operating requirements; ensure sampling is carried out and sample results are acted upon; troubleshooting to maximise sales quality and delivery volume to identify problems; maintain water quality within required standards; facilitate maintenance operations by applying/removing isolations as required; work in a safe manner and in accordance with the Management System and encourage others to do so; and emergency response duties as required.

Qualifications and skills would entail experience with processing systems and utilities considered an asset; must be medically fit according to an offshore International standard such as a Grade One in English Language or e q u i v a l e n t .

Furthermore, the applicant must be physically and mentally able to complete ex-

tensive offshore training including Helicopter Underwater Egress Training (HUET).Working conditions include attending a technical school for eight months outside Guyana. Upon completion, the candidate will work offshore on a 28-days onboard / 28 days of leave rotation, 12-hours per day.

The compensatory package includes the permanent, full-time position, a competitive salary, medical and dental benefits and an extensive safety and technical training p r o v i d e d .

Through local affiliate, Guyana Deep Water Operations Inc. (GDO), SBM, Offshore is the Operator of the Liza Destiny FPSO, which will be located in the Stabroek Basin, approximately 200km northeast of Georgetown offshore Guyana.

The company also employs over 4,800 people spread over eight locations, nine operational shore bases and the offshore fleet of vessels worldwide.

Sunday October 27, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

PAGE 12

Kaieteur News

Sunday October 27, 2019

Sunday October 27, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 13

PAGE 14

Sunday October 27, 2019

Kaieteur News

GRA alerted to Rusal’s attempt to ship out equipment - Govt. prepared to meet workers- Minister Trotman Government said it is prepared to meet with workers of Russian-owned, Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc. (BCGI) to listen to their grievance.

This came one day after news that the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GB&GWU) wrote to two ministers asking for a meeting to discuss actions against BCGI for the removal of several large trucks from the area.

Yesterday, Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, said that he is prepared to meet with the workers.

His Ministry is charged with the mining portfolio.

While he did not see the letter from the union inviting him, the Minister said that he is aware that the union had met with the head of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), Newell Dennison.

He is now awaiting a

Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman briefing on that meeting.

In the meeting, the Minister said that the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has been alerted for any attempts that BCGI/Rusal would have to export the trucks.

The heavy equipment would have been procured under duty free concessions, which would have had restrictions about what the

The trucks that workers say were loaded on this vessel and moved from the location a few days ago.

company can do with them.

This development comes as the union recently disclosed that negotiations for wage increases and a new Collective Labour Agreement (CLA) have stalled after the BCGI, owned by Rusal, one of the worlds biggest bauxite companies, refused to discuss 2018 increases as well as for the period 2009-2018.

The talks are likely now heading for arbitration, with

General Secretary, Lincoln Lewis, informing workers this past week.

On Friday, GB&GWUs Branch Secretary, Leslie Junor, wrote Amna Ally, the Minister of Social Protection, and Trotman for an urgent meeting.

According to Junor in his letter, since the terms of resumption were signed between BCGI and the union back in March, bringing to an end weeks of standoff, negotiations commenced for a new CLA, which includes the issue of increased wages and salaries.

“As the negotiations prolong(ed) and intensified, we are observing a number of strange actions by BCGI and this includes the stripping of trucks, loading them on barges and transporting same from the operation at Aroaima.”

According to Junor, the union has objections as it is “conscious” that these pieces of equipment were acquired through significant concessions and sacrifices by the people of this country.

Junor, in his invitation, said that the issue requires political action.

“We shall be pleased if we can agree on a convenient time when we can mobilise enough workers to meet with you,” he said in the letter to the two ministers.

The letter was copied to the union president, Leslie Gonsalves and General Secretary, Lincoln Lewis.

On Tuesday, Lewis, the General Secretary of the union, disclosed that conciliation talks at the

Department of Labour for the more than 300 workers, are going nowhere.

The trade unionist made the statement Tuesday, while he was a guest on Kaieteur Radio.He later briefed workers who are located between Aroaima and Kurubuka, in the Upper Berbice River area, Region 10.

He disclosed that workers will be briefed by its union representatives as early as today on the negotiations.

One of the areas of negotiations is the raising of pay to meet that of Bosai Minerals, a Chinese company, which operates in Linden.That company reportedly pays almost 40 percent more than Rusal workers.

“We are saying we want parity in the pay and that is a sticking point,” Lewis explained.

“Rusal has to pay. The workers said that they are prepared to go the distance.”

The situation would bring back memories of the standoff earlier this year when workers were fired, forcing a number of them to hunker down at Aroaima, a community where sleeping quarters are located.

For five weeks, the workers refused to budge, cooking for themselves and backed by residents of the nearby community.

It has been the story with Rusal since they came here in the mid-2000s.

With investors need, the administration of the Peoples Progressive Party/Civic, under then president, Bharrat Jagdeo, had struck a deal with Rusal, one of the biggest

bauxite companies in the world to take over the Aroaima and Kwakwani operations.

However, despite the people of Guyana owning 10 percent, there were no dividends paid by the BCGI, the local subsidiary of Rusal, which is managing the operations.The company has not declared profits since it came.

It has refused to meet with the unions and even was a no-show to Department of Labour meetings on a number of occasions.Earlier this year, in March, during the fiveweek standoff to force BCGI to reinstate over 90 fired workers, an agreement on the terms of resumption was signed.

The agreement resulted in the unblocking of the Berbice River at Kwakwani by workers, whose action had forced vessels to moor for weeks.It had held up timber and bauxite shipments.

The standoff also brought the spotlight down on Rusal and its tax and other concessions.It received billions of dollars in concessions during its decade and half stay in the Upper Berbice area, Region Ten.In mid-February, workers of Rusals Kurubuka mines downed tools and asked to meet management after seeing a one percent increased to their pay.

However, they were ordered to return to work.

Ninety-one workers who downed tools had their services terminated by Rusal, sparking a standoff where (Continued on page 70)

Sunday October 27, 2019

PAGE 15

Kaieteur News

Linden hospital worker, teen killed in ambulance smashup The remains of the vehicles.

Dead: Eon Reddock

Dead: Tristan Clarke

Two Linden families have been plunged into mourning, with the deaths of two young men whose lives were snuffed out, in an early morning accident on Saturday.

Dead is 37-year-old Eon Reddock, of South Amelia’s Ward and 18-year-old Tristan Clarke, of New Scheme, Amelia’s Ward and One Mile, Wismar.‘Tragic’ is how former Regional Chairman and Chairman of the Linden Hospital Complex Board, Mortimer Mingo, described the horrific accident between an ambulance and car that occurred on the Amelia’s Ward Public Road, in the vicinity of Obama Drive, killing Reddock and Clarke.

Reddock was returning to Linden in the ambulance, after transporting a patient to the Georgetown Public Hospital.Clarke was reportedly on his way home, after attending a Pageant at the New Silver City Secondary School at Wismar.It was the second accident this year, involving a nurse from the Linden Hospital, to occur in the Amelia’s Ward area.On April 7, Reddock’s cousin, Shashyka Etienne, a registered nurse, perished less than a mile away, in the vicinity of the Amelia’s Ward bus shed.Etienne was a pillion Rider on her fiancé’s motorcycle. Both died following the accident.Yesterday’s incident

also resulted in injuries to ambulance attendant, 25-yearold Shoma Douglas of Wismar (Buck) Hill, Linden and 39-year-old Rametse Paul of 1045 Phase 1B Wisroc, Wismar, Linden.The two were taken to the Linden Hospital Complex, then later yesterday, transferred to the GPHC. Police reports indicate that the incident took place at approximately 3:40 hrs Saturday at Obama Drive, Amelia’s Ward.

The ambulance bearing registration number PXX 4739, which was being driven

by Rametse Paul, collided head on with the motorcar PRR 781 driven by Tristan Clarke. Regional Commander, Superintendent H. Winter, disclosed in a statement, that based on the accident scene, it appeared as though the car went into the path of the ambulance, resulting in a head on collision.

When this newspaper visited the home of Reddock, friends and relatives had gathered in front of the yard, sharing condolences and lending emotional support to the family.Inside the house, a

Demerara, Berbice have extra power...

From page 3 the company that laid the cable in 2012.

GPL said it has requested the assistance of its Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) to advise mariners to exercise caution when operating in close proximity of the cable.The submarine cable was part of a US$40M project to build new transmission lines, seven new sub-stations and two submarine cables - one each across the Demerara River and Berbice River.

Earlier this month, GPL announced that it had started repairs.The state-owned power company said it was able to source the repair kit from CMC, the same contractor which laid the cable in the first place and which had been engaged in conducting the repairs on the last four occasions it was damaged.

The armour and insulation protection of the cable, which extends to the conductors was

damaged at two locations in June and August by vessels traversing the Demerara River.

According to GPL, due to the extent of the damage, two repair kits had to be sourced from CMC.“Repairs to the cable were delayed due to the discovery of the second damage in August, which required additional diagnosis and testing. Consequently, both kits were manufactured and shipped to Guyana.

“Following the arrival of the kits, the contractor, CMC, immediately commenced work to retrieve and repair the compromised sections of the cable, approximately 0.7 and 0.8 km offshore the Kingston Power Plant.”

GPL said that upon completion, the cable will be re-energised to transfer power generated by the Vreed-enHoop Plant to supply the eastern section of the DemeraraBerbice Interconnected System (DBIS).

“Additionally, as a preven-

tative measure, the cable will be reburied in the Demerara River to a depth of approximately 15 feet.

“As part of GPL's contingency response to the damaged cable, a smaller 13.8 kV submarine cable was laid across the Demerara River in June, to transfer 5.5 Megawatt of power from the VEH Power Plant.”

The downing of that submarine cable had left the inter-connected Demerara and Berbice system shaky as almost 15 megawatts of power available in the West Demerara area was unable to be shared to East Demerara and Berbice systems.

It had left thousands of consumers without power after scheduled blackouts were implemented.

Critics had blamed the poor laying of the cable on the river for the troubles.

Passing vessels with their anchors were said to have caused the damage.

small group of women was observed praying and crying quietly.His mother, Merlene Niles, appeared stoic, as she quietly reflected on her son’s life.“He was a good boy...hardworking, and loving.”His sister, Fiegel Sparman, said that her brother was always busy doing something.“He was a nurse at the hospital for about ten years, but before that, he used to work in the maintenance section of the hospital.”

According to Sparman, her brother also built concrete blocks as a side business. He was also an avid cricketer, and well loved and (Continued on page 68)

Mother of Eon Reddock (centre) at her home yesterday.

PAGE 16

Kaieteur News

Sunday October 27, 2019

Family attends Diwali Motorcade loses home to fire Silochanie Singh is now homeless, after the Good Hope, Essequibo Coast, home she and her family once occupied went up in flames on Friday night.

According to sources, sometime around 18:45 hrs,

Friday evening, they observed flames in the top flat of the home. According to information reaching Kaieteur News, Silochanie had left the Essequibo Coast to attend the Diwali motorcade in the capital when she received the

sad news.

Arnold Adams, who is the womans next door neighbour, said that he received a phone call from his son around 18:55 hours, informing him that the neighbours home was on fire.

Adams said that when he

finally made it home, the entire top flat, which is wooden, was engulfed in flames. He said that residents called the fire service.

“We got the neighbour to call the fire service and GPL; we got GPL here fast but the fire service arrived when the upper flat of the house was already burnt and the bottom flat was already burning.

“They took about over an hour…We try to ensure no The remnants of the home after the fire last Friday

one try to rush in and loot anything.” This publication understands that shortly before the fire ignited, the womans daughter-in-law was home. Reports are that a Diya was lit in the home.

The womans daughter-inlaw is saying, however, that the diya was put out before she left the home. Based on reports reaching this publication, the fire appeared to have been sparked by an

electrical fault.

“When we spot the fire in the house, it went right at the door wheh the breaker box and suh deh. Plus the rate that the house burn, it gotta be electrical,” opined one resident. Singh and her two sons, along with her two daughters-in-law are homeless.

The fire department is presently investigating to determine the source of the fire.

Sunday October 27, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 17

PAGE 18

Kaieteur News

Sunday October 27, 2019

Betsy Ground resident, Rachel Michael, is Guyana's latest centenarian Rachel Isabella Michael

By Samuel Whyte

L

iving a simple life, being disciplined and believing in God the Father, are some of the attributes of Guyana latest centenarian Rachel Isabella Michael, 100 not out. Living to 100 years is quite an achievement and not many are blessed with such longevity. “Cousin Rachel, Cousin Rach or Neighbour Rach” as she is well known, was born on October 23, 1919 to Henry and Ellen Michael. She lives at Lot 25 Betsy Ground home, East Canje, Berbice. The petite woman has been living in that village for most of her life, except for a short period when she lived in another village in the same East Canje District. She knows the village inside out.

She had three other siblings. Her twin sister only lived for three months, but Rachel was born to live.

Rachel first attended the now defunct Gold Stone Hall School a village away, before moving to the Number Two Primary School after her headmaster was transferred there.

It was an uphill task since she had to trek over two miles to attend the new school.

Although she never married, Rachel gave birth to five children -Ivor, Winslow, Claville, Barbara and Patrick. She has 13 grandchildren, over 30 great grandchildren and 19 greatgreat grandchildren.

The woman dutifully cared for her children mostly as a single parent. Now she is well care for by her children and other relatives. Her daughter, Barbara is her main caregiver, along with Patrick, lives with her.

According to Barbara, her mother was determined to be gainfully employed to provide for their needs. She was employed for burning bricks to

build roads. She also worked in the rice field making “jute fields” to carry rice.

She also worked as a sweeper cleaner at the Rose Hall Estate Primary School (St. Patrick's Anglican School) but after developing an allergic reaction to dust, she stopped working.

Her children had grown by then and with their encouragement, she called it quits and devoted considerable time assisting at home and helping out with the grand kids and family. According to one of her grandsons, Rachel's favourite dish is pepperpot and she loves fried eggs. She can eat pepperpot all year long.

An ardent churchgoer, Rachel is the oldest resident of East Canje and the oldest member of the St. Patrick's Anglican Church at Rose Hall, East Canje. Although unable to attend church, “Cousin Rach” is still a member of the Mothers' Union.

She was always quiet and easygoing and according to Barbara, her mother was always peaceful. She implored her children to stay together and to live in peace.

She has no illness and never wore spectacles. She loves reading the Bible, something she did until she was 97, when she developed a problem in one of her eyes.

Although she is a bit frail now and has to be assisted in most of what she does, her mouth is still strong.

A large gathering, including her offspring, relatives and friends, members of her church, villagers and other well-wishers, poured in at her residence during the week to congratulate and wish her all the best on her superlative achievement.

The event was more grand at her residence on Saturday for the once in a lifetime achievement celebration.

Congratulations Rachel Isabella Michael.

Sunday October 27, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 19

PAGE 20

Kaieteur News

Diwali Motorcade scenes last night

Sunday October 27, 2019

Kaieteur News

Rashena Sara Hanif

Sunday October 27, 2019

This week's beauty is the spectacular Miss India Guyana 2019, Rashena Sara Hanif.

One of her favourite quotes says, “When we treat people merely as they are, they will remain as they are. When we treat them as if they were what they could be, they will become what they should be.� Her photograph was taken by Saajid Husani.

PAGE 21

Kaieteur News

PAGE 22

Sunday October 27, 2019

Retired Head Teacher and Registration Officer…

Lynette Stephen

By Feona Morrison

R

etired Head Teacher, Lynette Stephen has shown outstanding commitment to her pupils, staff, community and her country. Throughout her teaching career, which spanned several decades, helping children to achieve their full potentials; some of whom have gone on to become magistrates, doctors, lawyers, and pilots.

Her outstanding leadership has been embraced by all, and even though she is retired, Stephen, at age 70, is still contributing towards the development of her community Mahdia, Region Eight where she was appointed Registration Officer in 2006.

YOUNG DAYS Stephen, a mother of nine, was born on June 15, 1949 at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation.

At the age of three, she left to go and live with her parents who are both from the island of St. Lucia, before returning home three years later to live at Tumatumari, a community in the Potaro-Siparuni Region, located some 15 km upstream of the confluence of the Potaro and Essequibo Rivers. She began her early education at the All Age School in 1955. She, however, told her parents that she no longer wanted to attend this school since it only had one teacher, who was also the Head Master.

A young Stephen would then relocate to Laing

is a 'Special Person' Avenue, Georgetown to live with her godmother, in order to attend the New Preparatory School at D'Urban Street, Georgetown. She wrote what was then called Common Entrance, and completed her secondary education at The Progressive and Preparatory Institute (1960-1964), and was successful upon completing the College of

BIRTH OF A FULFILLING CAREER Eager about earning her own money, Stephen went into sewing with her godmother who was a seamstress. But she would soon quit because of difficulties she experienced with some customers. For instance, she said that her customers were reluctant to pay their debts, so she

“

I really enjoyed teaching although I did not like it in the beginning. By being a teacher, I've had a lot of job satisfaction. Some of the children that I have taught have become doctors, magistrates and pilots…So, I really enjoyed teaching. It was a really rewarding experience for me.

Preceptors Examinations before moving back to Mahdia with her parents.

She said, “After, I left the school, I came back to Mahdia to be with my parents and I was passionate about becoming a nurse or doctor.

I was selected to attend a nursing training in Bartica, so I moved there. But after a month or two, I received a letter from my mom saying that she wasn't feeling well, and I went back home only to find out that it was not true; my mom just wanted me to be with her.

So I did not get to complete the training.”

”

decided to join the teaching profession. From 19741976, she did the Guyana Nursery Education Programme (G.N.E.P), and upon successful completion, she began teaching at the Mahdia Nursery School.

According to her, she also taught at other nursery schools in Bartica, and also spent a short while at the Mahdia Primary School. She expressed, “I prefer teaching the younger children because of the fact that when they come to you, they don't know anything; so you have to guide them, you have to develop all their skills. You have to teach them to read,

write and to speak properly.”

After successfully completing the Teacher Intermediate Examination in 1988, Stephen would once again move to Georgetown, this time to attend the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE), from where she graduated two years later as a trained teacher before moving back to Mahdia where she went into retirement. Earlier this month, Minister of State D a w n H a s t i n g commissioned a learning Centre at Mahdia—The Lynette Stephen's Resource Centre—in honour of our 'Special Person's' contributions towards the town.

The following is an extract from Stephen's s p e e c h a t t h e commissioning: “Today is indeed a special day for the students of Mahdia Secondary School dormitory and Region #8 as a whole. I feel privileged to be a part of this opening ceremony of a (Training) Learning Centre which carries my name… and which was established out of love and generosity of some kind-hearted citizens.”

She continued, “During my years of service to this community, it never crossed my mind that at some time in the future, I might be honoured in such a way.

Today, after two decades and retirement of my service, my name is inscribed on a building that will further

Our 'Special Person', Ms. Lynette Stephen build on what I started in 1976. Honourable Minister, Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to encourage you all to do your best in whatever capacity you are functioning for you never know who is admiring your service and dedication.

I never knew that in doing my duties, a day would come when I would be

honoured, and after today, many persons from across the country and the world will know my name through the media. I must express my gratitude to the persons who came up with this great idea.

To the students of Mahdia Secondary School Dormitory, you are the beneficiaries of such a great (continued on page 63)

In the company of other teachers at a training programme back in the day

Our 'Special Person' at the opening of a Resource Centre named in her honour

Sunday October 27, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 23

Irreconcilable differences I

f your husband tells you, you are still his wife but he no longer wants you in the matrimonial bed, you may be justified in feeling that perhaps the relationship is not quite ended and that there may still be a chance of reconciliation.

If, however, he then says that there is a possibility of someone else being chosen to sleep in the matrimonial bed, then it should be obvious that the marriage is over and it is time for you to move out and move on.

The AFC has to move out and move on. It should realise now that its marriage with the APNU is finished. It has been a victim of political abuse and public shaming.

This is not how you treat your marriage partner.

The PNCR is saying that the AFC cannot automatically have the Prime Ministerial post. Twist it and turn the facts however you wish and this is the incontrovertible conclusion.

This is “eye pass” towards the AFC. This is total disrespect and humiliation. It is tantamount to saying that a “sweet woman” may be taking the AFC's place soon in a bedroom. Even if that never happens, the trust has been broken, the relationship is now beyond mending.

The AFC should not hope for a reconciliation.

The insult and humiliation are too great. The person, which the AFC was nominating for the post of Prime Minister is not a second-level official of the party. The person is a Vice President of the present government, a Minister and the Leader of the Alliance for Change. The person nominated did not nominate himself. He was chosen by the party delegates themselves. If you “dis” that person, you “dis” the AFC and its membership. It is simple as that.

There comes a time when in any relationship one party has to say that enough is enough. And that time has come for the AFC. Make no mistake about it, the AFC is no electoral weakling. It may have underperformed during the past local government elections but in the areas where it contested it said it gained around 8% of the votes. Now, given the short time, which it had to prepare for those elections, that is not a poor performance.

The AFC's 8% will be worth more than its weight in gold in the 2020 elections. In short, the APNU even with the AFC is not likely to win the elections but without the

AFC, it has no chance at all.

The AFC therefore is the one who should be “playing styles” in the marriage, not the PNCR. It should be the one to be fussy.

The AFC should put a halt to the disrespect, which it has been shown. Without respect, there is no hope in any marriage. It should avoid also the humiliation. It should move out of the matrimonial home. It should move on.

Time is not on its side.

Elections are months away.

The party accustomed to

being under the wing of the APNU for the past four and half years, will need as much time as it can get to begin a new independent existence.

The AFC should act with haste. The differences with the APNU are irreconcilable.

The AFC's heart needs time to heal and to rebound.

Time is also of the essence if the AFC is to survive. And it has to survive in the interest of the great many persons outside of the leadership who have invested their time and effort behind the AFC. Those

persons must not be left stranded. If the AFC's leader can be treated with such disdain and disregard, then imagine how the ordinary members who are going to be treated by the PNCR. The flip side of love is a broken-heart. The AFC must be broken hearted by the manner in which its Leader has been treated – the very leader who has consistently gone out on a limb to defend t h e A P N U + A F C government.

The PNCR is ungrateful and ingratitude is treason to

mankind. The marriage between the AFC and the APNU is now just a sham. It is beyond repair. It is time for the AFC to move out and to begin a new chapter, without its unappreciative marriage partner.

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

Kaieteur News

PAGE 24

Sunday October 27, 2019

Business community stands to lose from de-risking T

By Sir Ronald Sanders

he business community in the Caribbean – both foreign and local – has made no collective statement and taken no joint position on the process of de-risking and the withdrawal of correspondent banking relations (CBRs) with which all Caribbean countries have been plagued since 2015.

It seems that the overarching perception is that de-risking and the loss of CBRs is something related to financial institutions and is remote from the lives of the Caribbean's peoples and the business communities.

Nothing can be further from reality.

The de-risking and withdrawal of CBRs that have beset the region are

directly related to the conduct of any business that imports or exports goods and services from the rest of the world, particularly North America and Europe with which the region trades the most.

Financial institutions, particularly banks, are only conduits through which businesses and individuals conduct business outside of the countries in which they are

based.

When financial institutions lose CBRs because of de-risking, businesses and individuals are deprived of the means to conduct overseas transactions.

No business is immune from the consequences of local banks losing CBRs. If all the banks in a country lose CBRs, every business that buys or sells goods and services from overseas will

grind to a halt.

Therefore, there is very good reason for all businesses to put this matter high on their agenda for discussion.

Every Chamber of Commerce, Manufacturers Association and Export agency in every Caribbean country should seek meetings with their banks to understand the implications of continued de-risking and loss of CBRs. And they should contribute to the thinking and financing of how the issues could be resolved.

Foreign companies operating in the Caribbean, particularly those whose domiciles are in North America and Europe, have a special responsibility to themselves to become active in this matter. To transfer their profits and dividends to their overseas headquarters, their local banks must have CBRs. F u r t h e r, t o i m p o r t material for their operations, CBRs are imperative. It is in the interest of these foreign companies, including the airlines, the cruise ship lines, oil companies and hotels, not to sit back but to become actively involved in pointing out to governments in their home countries the dangers posed by the loss of CBRs. Local businesses – of all kinds – also require banks to have CBRs to purchase anything from overseas, including clothing, footwear, construction material, motor vehicles, spares and parts, and most importantly, food.

The consequence of businesses not being able to import or export on the lives of people is obvious. There would be a scarcity of everything, until availability dries-up, severely affecting the quality of life enjoyed even by the most well-off in Caribbean societies.

Eventually, as businesses collapse, jobs will be lost, poverty will increase, government will lose sources of revenue, social services will come to an end.

All of this may sound alarmist. It is. But, it is not unnecessarily alarmist.

Businesses - large and small, local and foreign - and the people of the Caribbean must understand that derisking and loss of CBRs materially affect them. This is not a matter for financial institutions and Central Banks alone.

Sir Ronald Sanders I have explained this issue in such granular terms because of the trend – even in official documents – of characterising this problem as a threat to financial institutions in isolation.

The fact is that the dagger is really pointed at the societies of every Caribbean country; banks are the point of entry into the body of each Caribbean country.

It is time that education and information about the perils of de-risking and loss of correspondent banking relations be widely disseminated. It is past time for the business communities in the Caribbean to appreciate that it is their operations and livelihoods that are at stake, and, in that context, to become more involved in addressing the problem.

Fifty-five banks in 12 Caribbean countries have lost CBRs over the last three years. In some countries, CBRs available to many banks have been reduced to one.

To continue to provide businesses and the public with international services, banks have had to seek CBR arrangements as far away as Turkey and Serbia. Costs have risen as a result, and, in any event these arrangements, while welcome, are tenuous. The International Monetary Fund has observed that the loss of CBRs pose “a clear and present danger” to the region.

R e c e n t l y, S c o t t B .

MacDonald, the Chief Economist at Smith's Research & Gradings, a U.S. financial credit grading company, concluded in a report that “the new status quo is one defined by tenuous linkages to the global financial system, which can leave trade, finance and tourism at risk of being strangled”.

That is not a prospect that any single person or business in the Caribbean can afford.

Everything must be done to prevent it.

Much has been done already. Governments have enacted legislation consistent with the rules set (continued on page 58)

Sunday October 27, 2019

PAGE 25

Kaieteur News

---Hinds’ Sight by Dr. David Hinds---

GUYANESE IDENTITY

T

he issue of what some simplistically call “hyphenated Guyanese” has bubbled to the surface again. It seems as if some people are bent on causing more confusion among the population. We already have to deal with the negative consequences of our evolution as a multi-ethnic society.

Now they are trying to scare people away from affirming their cultural identities.

One must ask the simple question—why raise that issue at this time? In any case, the premise of the issue is what needs addressing.

When we say we are Guyanese, are we affirming the totality of our identity?

Identity is complex; it is partly who we say we are and partly how others perceive us.

It is also a historical phenomenon that is sometimes determined by migration- forced and voluntary—and by groups bonding together in the face of extinction or threat to their honour. Given

Guyana’s historical evolution, multiple identities is given, whether we as individuals choose to affirm them or not.

Most people choose to affirm one of those most of the time.

There are different identities—Civic (Guyanese, Trinidadian, American, Pakistani, Nigerian); Cultural/Ethnic (African, Indian, Irish, Latino, Jewish, Hindu, Moslem, Yoruba); Racial (Black, Brown, White, Yellow, Red)— to name three. There are times when civic and ethnic identities are the same as in Japan and Portugal.

This is not the case in Guyana and most countries in the world. There can be no fusion of a single civic and cultural identity in Guyana, because we have several cultures. So, when we say we are Guyanese, we are affirming part of our identity—we are saying we join with other people living in this geographical space with defined boundaries, a distinct constitution and sovereign government to construct a civic iden-

tity.

But we must make a distinction between affirming one of our multiple identities at any given time and the fact that we do have more than one identity. Affirming one’s civic identity, as most people do, is laudable. In fact, the use of the civic identity in an ethnoculturally and politically plural society is a strong affirmation of cross-ethnic commitment to making the civic space an all-inclusive one.

But that does not mean that our other identities disappear. Being Guyanese does not erase our other identities; it is just that we choose to affirm our Guyanese identity.

For all our frustration with ethnic politics in Guyana, history did not start in 1992 or 1966 or 1953.

The experiences of our various ethnic groups in Guyana have been different.

They came under different circumstances and their lived experiences have generally been different. Their relationship with each other has been

The Baccoo Speaks Fires and road accidents are the occurrences of this time of year. This month alone nearly a dozen people have died on the roads.

There will be another fatality this time east of the city.

A speeding car will collide with a parked object. ** Petty robberies are giving the impression that Guyana is fast becoming a crime capital. That is because many aimless young men want money in

their pockets to feed a drug habit.

The police will be pushed to go for the drug pushers and there will be some success but the petty robberies will continue.

** The Guyana Police Force will be in the spotlight again, but for the wrong reason.

Many of its former members have joined criminal enterprise. One of them is currently in custody being prepared for court in a murder/robbery matter.

The police commissioner will say that he has no control of people’s thinking, sparking further debate on whether the force is training criminals.

largely, though not exclusively, grounded in competition — sometimes conflictual competition. So, their collective construction of what Guyana is will vary.

We must come to terms with the uncomfortable reality that though individuals from our various ethnic groups refer to themselves as Guyanese, there is no common view of what that means—not politically, not culturally and, crucially, not on what Guyana’s history has been.

As an aside, people usually raise the issue of where do Mixed people fit in the ethnic or racial scheme. Well neither ethnicity nor race is biological. Mixed people are part of the ethnicity, they are socialised in. In the racial schema or “Colour Code,” there is no mixed colour. The exception being Apartheid South Africa, which created a racial group for mixed people called “Coloured.”

Before 1966, we were not Guyanese. We were forced to be British, but most of our foreparents rejected that imposed identity.

They used instead their ethnic identities–the very ones we seem to have a problem with today. If Guyana goes off the map, as some countries do, one will have to affirm another identity. If, God forbid, Venezuela were to annex the two-thirds of Guyana, would those of us who choose to stay in the annexed section become Venezuelans?

At the fall of the Berlin Wall, Soviets became Russians and Armenians and Ukrainians again.

Later Czechoslovakians

became Czechs and Slovaks.

Being born in Guyana does not make us Guyanese forever. Any political regime with the constitutional power can un-Guyanese us by changing the constitution to re-define who can be Guyanese. Our Guyanese identity is a privilege of the State.

The immigrant who was not born in Guyana, once he or she gets citizenship from the government has equal rights and equal claim to Guyaneseness.

Indian indentured immigrants, in the face of and in competition with other ethnicities, developed a new cultural identity that cuts across caste and religious lines—what we now call Indian or Indo Guyanese. It is the same with African immigrants who, out of their different tribal identities and in the face of slavery, created a new identity that we now call African Guyanese. Here is a case of people faced with oppression developing “Survival Ethnicities.”

Difference is part of human nature. It is actually a positive thing. It is when we attribute meaning to difference and then use power to actualise and normalise those meanings that difference becomes negative. I am Buxtonian, African Guyanese, Guyanese, Caribbean and Black. They all contribute to who I am.

I draw strength from all of them. They are the building blocks of my identification with other human beings.

I love being all of them. And I refuse to let any politician or Civil Society correctness bully me into denying or de-

Dr David Hinds meaning the gift of my ancestors which they crafted in the face of dehumanisation. I hold dearly to that gift as one of the tools to beat back and overcome modern-day slavery.

Guyana is a work in progress. We have to get to the point where we can all, in our differences, find sameness in the Guyanese experience.

For all the negatives of difference, sameness, without acknowledgement of obvious differences, would always be suspect and ultimately transient.

My own view is that that has been one of the biggest barriers to a more robust and cohesive Guyanese nationalism. Ironically, in trying to silence difference, we have widened it, thus making it easier for politicians to exploit it for accumulation of power and the privilege that comes with that unfettered power.

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

More of Dr. Hinds’ writings and commentaries can be found on his YouTube Channel Hinds’ Sight: Dr. David Hinds’ Guyana-Caribbean Politics and on his w e b s i t e www.guyanacaribbeanpolitics.news.

Send comments to dhinds6106@aol.com

PAGE 26

Kaieteur News

Sunday October 27, 2019

The women in the cemeteries

By Michael Jordan The gravedigger was used to seeing corpses, but certainly not like the one he was seeing now. What was a woman doing here…pregnant, mutilated, dumped in Le Repentir cemetery?

The victim, found at just around three o’clock on the afternoon of Tuesday, January 25, 2005, lay in one of the cemetery’s trenches. She was dressed in a multi-coloured top and blue jeans. Police would ascertain that someone had stabbed her at least six times to the neck, side, back and stomach. An autopsy would later reveal that she was also strangled.

The other thing police observed was that she was pregnant.

Police observed bloodstains on the nearby roadway, as well as a pair of slippers, while a cigarette lighter was found nearby.

They suspected that someone the victim knew had lured her to this spot.

But who was the killer, and who was the victim?

That night, Pamela Rampersaud, an Independence Boulevard resident was watching television when a local newscast aired the story of the body in the cemetery.

The presenter gave a description of the victim and showed some of the items that were found at the scene.

Rampersaud took one glance at the slippers and lighter and realised that she knew the victim.It was her own daughter, 20-year-old Dioana Warrick, known as ‘Dee Dee.’ She would later tell me that Dioana, who was six months pregnant, lived at her home, but would sometimes stop at her boyfriend’s home in Evans Street, Charlestown.

But she said that on the night of Sunday, January 23, 2005, Dioana and her boyfriend, for whom she was said to be pregnant, turned up at her home.

According to Rampersaud, the boyfriend came at around eight o’clock, while Dioana arrived at around ten.

She said that the two began quarreling and she intervened. According to her, the boyfriend said that he was no

longer interested in Dioana, since he was unhappy with her lifestyle. He reportedly also said that he wanted Dioana to have an abortion, since he was building a house and would not be able to take care of a child. The boyfriend also allegedly gave Ms. Rampersaud $5,000 to help pay for the abortion.

In turn, Dioana reportedly said that she wanted out of the relationship, since her boyfriend was involved in relationships with two other women. Mrs. Rampersaud claimed that the quarrel escalated and the boyfriend and Dioana began to hurl threats at one another. She said that her daughter eventually left, saying that she was going to visit a female friend in Albouystown.

Ms. Rampersaud said that she persuaded the boyfriend to stay back for some time, since she feared that the quarrel would escalate further. He reportedly left shortly after.

Ms. Rampersaud said that she was worried when her daughter failed to return home, but assumed that she and the boyfriend had patched things up and that she had spent the night at his home.

All this information the grieving mother also related to the police, who tried to locate the boyfriend. They failed to locate him. But he wasn’t in hiding. In fact, he was

Found in Zeelugt Cemetery: Afroze Ali, called ‘Aunty Lizzy’ found at his workplace. The 26-year-old man was a cook at a city restaurant, and he expressed surprise that the police were looking for him.

He also expressed shock that his girlfriend had been murdered and vehemently denied killing her. He confirmed that he and Dioana had quarreled over her lifestyle and her pregnancy. But he claimed that it was Dioana who had wanted the abortion after he questioned the paternity of the child.

He willingly removed his shirt to show that he had no scratches, and later turned himself over to police. They eventually released him…but who lured ‘Dee Dee’ to the cemetery at night, and killed her there, is today, still unknown…

PATRICIA YOUNG Sunday, February 23, 2014, and, like many other Guyanese, 19-year-old Patricia Young travelled from her reputed husband’s Melanie, East Coast Demerara home to watch the Mash Day floats in Georgetown. Her movements after that are unclear.

According to one report, when the parade ended, Patricia, a former KFC employee, now employed at a call centre, joined a minibus for home. It was said that

whenever she was in the city, the teen would inform her reputed husband that she was on her way and he would wait to escort her home when she disembarked from a minibus.

On Mash night, she reportedly sent him a text message, requesting credit for her phone so that she could call him when she was nearing her home. He reportedly tried reaching her by phone a few minutes later, but got no response.

It is said that when she failed to turn up, Young’s reputed husband became suspicious.

His suspicions turned to anxiety when Young still did not show up the following morning and a search was immediately launched. A missing person’s report was also lodged with the police.

At around 17:30 hrs on Wednesday, February 26, 2014, Young’s reputed husband announced that he had found one of Patricia’s sandals just outside the cemetery at Bachelor’s Adventure. He contacted the police.

The cops ventured into the cemetery, and near to a tree, they saw Patricia Young’s decomposing body.

Detectives surmised that someone had killed the teen on the roadway, where her slipper was found, and dumped the corpse in the cemetery. The victim’s mini-skirt was pulled up and her top was rolled up all the way to her neck.

She appeared to have been strangled, since there were no other visible marks of violence on the body. The reputed husband was taken into custody but after some intense questioning, investigators surmised that he had nothing to do with Young’s death.

One theory investigators examined was that Patricia Young may have been the victim of a gang rape. It was suggested that she was attacked just after disembarking the bus after leaving

Georgetown on Mash night.

More than one resident had indicated that Young’s death appeared to be the work of more than one person.

Young’s uncle, Lewis Young, believes that the victim had to be overpowered by more than one person. ”One person can’t do dat, because is nine ah we me mother get and she (Patricia) used to deh between all of us, ramping and thing…so she know she self…It had to be more than one person,” he said.

‘SONNY’S’ UNUSUAL FIND On Sunday, January 15, 2012, a drug addict known as ‘Sonny’ went to the home of a female resident of Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo, and said that the body of the woman’s daughter was in the Zeelugt cemetery.

Not quite believing, the relatives sent a boy to check. In the end, though, they too visited the burial site, where they found the partly nude body of 40-year-old Afroze Ali, called ‘Aunty Lizzy.’ The corpse was covered with a length of cardboard.

Cause of death was given as asphyxiation, due to manual strangulation. There was also blunt trauma to the head and detectives suspected sexual assault.

There were signs that the killer or killers had begun digging a shallow grave, but apparently abandoned that plan.

The woman was the fifth of nine siblings, and her life had been a tragic one.

A widow with four children, Ali had reportedly fallen into a state of depression after her husband was murdered some 13 years prior to her own death.

Relatives say it was customary for Ali to wander off for days before returning home.

When she had not turned up, they had assumed she had gone on one of her jaunts.

Some of the relatives found it strange that ‘Sonny’ had found the body. ”This man does sleep in the burial ground. He does smoke up and so on, and it is strange that he find the body, because the cardboard we find ‘Lizzy’ on is the same piece of cardboard he does use fuh sleep on,” one relative alleged.

Their suspicions were further aroused when ‘Sonny’ vanished from the neighbourhood. However, police located him some days later and detained the suspect and another drug addict.

But to the consternation of

relatives, police found nothing to connect the drug addict to Ali’s murder.

Mohamed Rasool, a Trinidadbased sibling of the slain woman, said that after his sister’s funeral, he made some enquires about the suspects, only to be told by police that the suspect had been released.

Dissatisfied, the brother went to the Ministry of Home Affairs, and was assured that “the police will do their job.”

Rasool said that on Friday, February 3, 2012, he enquired from a senior CID rank at the Leonora Police Station about his sister’s murder. ”I asked him what the current status of the investigation was, and he told me that there was no new information concerning my sister’s murder, so they would not be able to do no further investigation,” he said. ”I told him that I went to the scene where my sister was murdered and found a piece of iron and I asked him, why the police did not pick up the iron for evidence. He then said to me that Guyana doesn’t have fingerprint experts.”I then asked him what is the current status on the swab test result and he said to me that they didn’t get any result as yet.”

After expressing his suspicions about ‘Sonny’, a senior official at the Leonora Police Station reportedly instructed that the drug addict be rearrested.On Saturday February 4, 2012, ‘Sonny’ was arrested by a Rural Constable, who took him to the Leonora Police Station.

Within minutes, he was released again. ”When Sonny arrived an officer said to release him.

When I enquired why they released him, they said to me that Sonny is a ‘mad man’.”

Rasool has said that he will not be satisfied until “someone is charged with the crime that cost my sister her life.”

But, six years later, like the murders of Dioana Warrick and Patricia Young, the trail in this murder in a cemetery also seems to have gone cold.

If you have any information about this unusual case or any other, please contact us at our Lot 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown office, or by telephone. We can be reached on telephone numbers 592-2258473, 592-225-8458, 592-2258465, or 592-225-8491. You need not disclose your identity.

You can also contact Michael Jordan at 592-6452447, or his email address: kamarangnight@gmail.com.

Sunday October 27, 2019

PAGE 27

Kaieteur News

==THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN==

Always follow your instincts or you will lose your life I know this country. I study it. I interact with it. I write about it. Yet, I did not follow my instincts. When that happens, you could lose your life. My advice is always let your instincts guide you.

What is written here happened in a country in the 21st century. I appeal to my fellow Guyanese - if you are going to live here, let us come together and make Guyana a modern society of the 21st century. I believe that when our rulers read what I have written here, it would be ignored. It is left to us, the people, to use our pen and voice to civilise Guyana.

Literally, hundreds of people have said to me over the past ten years; “Freddie, you need a new car.” My 1995 RAV 4 that I had since 2000 was soaking up my money. I couldn’t go on spending money on a “cork ball”. I had to get another vehicle.

When I tell friends about my limited budget, I would often hear the words; “no, don’t buy it here, send for it from Japan, it will cost you way, way cheaper.” There was no way, with my vast knowledge of Guyana and its sadistic bureaucracy and backwardness, I was going to import a car.

Then a random conversation took place and in situations

like these, if you do not follow your instincts, you can lose your life.

I mentioned to a very close friend that I saw a small car I like. He exclaimed; “no, no, don’t buy it. I know a friend who will get you a good, cheap car from Japan.”

I was introduced to her. She showed me different models of small cars and asked me to pick one.

I picked a Vitz. When she told me how much I will pay for it, I agreed for her to bring it in. I regret that decision terribly.I gave her just under a million Guyana dollars. Six weeks after the car came in. I paid about $800,000 in duty, based on the engine capacity. I went to the wharf to collect the vehicle. Please do not doubt me.

This nightmare happened at the GNIC wharf. All the custom officers were on lunch. I protested and suggested that the GRA has to divide the lunch period because thousands of people use state services from places like the GRA, NIS, GPL, etc which should not close for lunch.

Everybody had to wait for one hour until the GRA lunch break finished. I went to the GRA official to collect my papers. She said, “Sir, the

threads of your tyres are below the required standards, you have to pay a fine of $10,000 for each tyre. My decibels were deafening. “I shouted; “you have to prove that to me, I know four new tyres were fitted out of this car in Japan.”

I demanded they measure the threads in front of me. The measurement guy could not be located. I was warned that GRA tells every customer that nonsense, so I was prepared for it. It is a nasty exploitative conspiracy. Next stage was to give eight papers to the GNIC official. Only one woman was working and there was a long line.Finally, time to drive out my car. My key was number 57. There were four other cars in front of mine.

They couldn’t find the keys for my cars and the others. All the keys for the hundreds of imported vehicles are stored in three small boxes measuring 4X8 inches. At 3PM, a GRA official came up and shouted; “It’s 3 O’clock, I closing now.” I left without my car.

Next day, they still could not find the keys. Eventually, the keys were found but a container truck was blocking the path where my car had to be driven out. They couldn’t find the driver. Commonsense

would tell you that you cannot put hundreds of keys in three boxes without labeling them according to numbers.

So you have box 1-99. Box 100-199 etc. So my key could easily have been found if it were in box 1-99.

I sent a text to the Finance Minister’s cell phone to discuss the weird tyre thing. He has not responded to me. I don’t mind. He is somebody in Guyana. Maybe I am a no-

body. Two mountains don’t meet but two humans do. One day, I will see Winston Jordan and I will tell him what I think of him. The head of the GRA is Godfrey Statia. They brought him from Florida in 2015 to run GRA. Is he running GRA? (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)

Frederick Kissoon

PAGE 28

Sunday October 27, 2019

Kaieteur News

Food intolerance: It’s getting more common

By Dr Zulfikar Bux Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine A food intolerance is difficulty digesting certain foods and having an unpleasant physical reaction to them. It causes symptoms, such as bloating, gas, abdominal pain and usually occurs a few hours after eating the food.

There are numerous reasons why our body cannot tolerate certain foods.

It may be that our body wasn’t designed to tolerate a particular kind of food or it could be due to the “modernisation” of food making.

Our foods are being exposed to more chemicals and antibiotics and are processed more often. Our bodies were not designed to deal with these chemicals and when it cannot tolerate them, these symptoms begin to appear.

The number of people who believe they have a food intolerance has risen dramatically over recent years, but it’s hard to know how many people are truly affected. Today, we will discuss food intolerance so that you can be more equipped to deal with this discomforting condition.

What are the symptoms of food intolerance?

In general, people who

have a food intolerance tend to experience: · abdominal pain · bloating · wind and/or diarrhoea · skin rashes and itching These symptoms usually happen a few hours after eating the food. It can be difficult to know whether you have a food intolerance as these are general symptoms that are typical of many other conditions.

Is there a food intolerance test?

A number of companies produce food intolerance tests, but these tests are not based on scientific evidence.

The best way of diagnosing a food intolerance is to moni-

tor your symptoms and the foods you eat. See what happens when you cut out the suspected food for a while, and then reintroduce it into your diet.

Try keeping a food diary and note what foods you eat, any symptoms you have after eating these foods and when these symptoms happen. Once you have an idea of which foods may be causing your symptoms, you can try excluding them from your diet one at a time and observing the effect this has.

Are there medical conditions that can mimic food intolerance?

If you regularly have diarrhoea, bloating, tummy pain

or skin rashes but you’re not certain of the cause, see a doctor. These may be signs of an underlying medical condition that can be harmful to you if left untreated.

The following medical conditions can lead to food intolerance: · irritable bowel syndrome · stress and anxiety disorder · lactose intolerance · coeliac disease · inflammatory bowel disease · food allergy How would I know if it’s a food intolerance and not a food allergy?

A food intolerance is not the same as a food allergy.

Here’s how to tell the difference.

A food allergy This is when your immune system mistakenly treats proteins found in food as a threat.

This will trigger allergy symptoms, such as a rash, wheezing and itching, after eating just a small amount of the food. It is usually rapid in onset and can be life threatening if left untreated. Common food allergies include milk, eggs, fish, peanuts and other nuts.

A food intolerance This does not involve your immune system, there is no allergic reaction, and it is never life-threatening. It causes symptoms that happen gradually, often a few hours after eating the food and only results in symptoms if you eat a substantial amount of the food.

What causes a food intolerance?

With so many chemicals in foods, it is often unclear why a person is sensitive to certain foods.

If your symptoms happen

Dr Zulfikar Bux after eating dairy products, it’s possible you may have lactose intolerance. This means your body cannot digest lactose, a natural sugar found in milk, yoghurt and soft cheese. Some people have trouble digesting wheat and experience bloating, wind, diarrhoea, being sick and stomach pain after eating bread. Otherwise, the culprit may be a food additive, chemical or contaminant, such as: · monosodium glutamate (MSG) · caffeine · onions · gluten · alcohol · artificial sweeteners · histamine often found in mushrooms, pickled and cured foods, and alcoholic drinks · toxins, viruses, bacteria or parasites that have contaminated food · artificial food colours, preservatives or flavour enhancers If you’re confident you are intolerant to a particular food, the only way to manage this is to stop eating the food for a while and then reintroduce small quantities while monitoring how much you can eat without causing symptoms. Eating more natural and less processed foods will also help you tolerate them better.

Sunday October 27, 2019

PAGE 29

Kaieteur News

My column

The government must break its silence on oil and gas For the past few years, I was walking with one impression of the oil and gas sector, that it will create jobs and that it will open up new horizons for the country.

I was also going around looking at the influx of Trinidadians with some concern. I was of the view that they were taking jobs from Guyanese. I failed to realise that many Guyanese, in the first instance, did not know where to start to capitalise on the oil and gas sector.

I also realised that the entire country was looking to the government for help and direction. Many were already critical of the oil contract signed with ExxonMobil without realising the conditions that led to the signing.

I learnt that Guyana became the oil discovery it now is by a stroke of luck and a decision taken by one of the partners in the ExxonMobil group. Prior to 1997, there were oil companies in the country looking here and there for oil but finding none.

Shell refused to be part of just one more exploration and sold its share in Exxon for a dollar. Exxon continued to seek financing because it had spent a large sum of money on previous explorations.

Even the parent company refused to fund the operations.

That is how Hess and the Chinese company, CNOOC became the consortium to be so involved.

They identified two areas

for drilling on condition that if they hit one more dry hole they would walk. Hess managed to convince its partners to ignore the first hole and to drill the second. Bingo.

Had they drilled the first hole, as it turned out, they would have come up empty handed. Guyana would have never known that it had so much oil. Either the hand of God or luck has placed Guyana in the enviable position it is in.

The next big influence on the industry came from the hand of President David Granger. In many countries, the oil contract is secret.

Granger decided that there must be no secrecy; that the contract must be made public.It turned out that his decision caused so much criticism of his government that people who professed to be experts saw the government as bumbling idiots. They did not know half of the story although Exxon attempted to tell the world that it never had to sign the second contract.

The first contract was enough. All it had to do was ramp up its production schedule and make a fortune at Guyana’s expense.

This past week, I was exposed to so much information that even now I am trying to process some of it. Guyana is setting up entities and agencies as it is learning about the industry. It is tightening loopholes in the laws and the contracts that it has already

signed.Even more, it is allowing people with knowledge of the industry to come in and help Guyana make its baby steps. This is where the Trinidadians come in.

Trinidad has been in the oil industry for more than a hundred years. Its people have never seen the oil contract that country signed with British Petroleum. They learnt by trial and error and they are now bringing their skills to Guyana, taking some Guyanese along with them.

I am not sure that the government has reached out to Trinidad for the experts that country has. They have knowledge that we need; they speak the same language and they share our cultural heritage. They will never be as ruthless as those from further afield and they will come cheaper.

At present, Trinidadians are pushing Guyana’s local content. They came with their money and they are the beneficiaries of programmes that Exxon needs.

For its part, our businessmen are simply sitting down and waiting for something to happen. Some of the areas of local content need capital to develop. I was told that if our businessmen could form a consortium they would be so better placed that Guyana would really capitalize on local content.

Sad to say, each businessman is an island, trying to do things alone but not

having enough money to scale the summit. Two weeks ago some were complaining that they were in no position to offer Exxon the ninety days credit limit; that they had loans to repay.

Imagine a larger pool of money from the consortium.

That credit limit would have been no problem.

Then there is the silence on the part of the government.

The nation is not being kept abreast of the developments the government shares with Exxon. In addition to aiding with the confusion, the people simply do not know where they stand.

Information is on the web but not many people know where to look and what to look for. Exxon is not keen on press conferences. It feels that the government has a right to inform people and to answer questions.As for the jobs, I know that most of them will come from the spinoffs from the oil industry. Hotels are booming, there is transportation but apart from those who have capitalized on the movement from Ogle not many know where to go.

Carnegie School of Home Economics is churning out operatives for the oil industry because people must eat.

Graduates are being gobbled up but the same cannot be said for the technical institutes, which must produce skilled artisans. I am not sure that money from the oil sector is going into this area.

I am not even sure that we have the people to train the students in areas that are needed. So Exxon is bringing in people who are taking jobs that should be going to Guyanese.

And so we come to the acquisition of shares in the oil sector. It is time the government set up an oil commission and an oil company in which Guyanese can buy shares.

At present, the focus is on oil but Guyana has an amazing amount of natural gas that can do wonders for the country. The oil company is not interested in the gas so this is an area that Guyana can make money. Exxon has already said that it can bring the gas to shore.

Whether Guyana is pursuing gas turbines for electricity generation is not known.

Adam Harris If there is not enough money then local investors can provide the funding and earn handily from their shares in that company.

We may not have the technology or the skilled people but these are available next door. We are in a race against time and the government must make known its intention in this area. We are lagging and there is money to be made.

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

PAGE 30

Kaieteur News

Sunday October 27, 2019

This is not the time for dishonest leadership The more things change, the more they remain the same; and so it is with the People’s Progressive PartyPPP. It is another elections season and the PPP are once again making empty promises. One example is that party’s dishonest promise to

reopen all of the closed GuySuCo sugar estates. This dishonesty cannot go unchallenged.

Lest we forget, it was the PPP government that operated GuySuCo as a political organisation for their supporters and not purely as a

business. In 1990, the sugar industry wages were 980 million dollars. The PPP after getting into power in 1992 began a series of increases to sugar workers, which raised the industry wage bill to 12 billion dollars by the year 2000.

As early as 2002 GuySuCo Chairman warned the PPP, that employment costs were so high that the viability of the industry was threatened, but that warning fell on deaf ears and the escalation continued. The industry wage bill in 2006 climbed to 16.6 billion and since 2001, the sugar industry wage bill has amounted to over 63% of total cost.

Under the PPP, GuySuCo financial and human resources were poorly managed. Estates were not given the resources they needed to do capital works. Several factories like Albion in 2005 requested 529 million dollars to do its capital works and were only given $183 million; Rose Hall requested $414 million and was only given $193 million.

This pattern of management forced estates to become less productive and the industry as a whole, less competitive. The production figures and the cost of production tell the story, GuySuCo announced in 2007 that in order to stay competitive they would have to keep the cost of production at 12 cents per pound, but they failed miserably at this; Skeldon 30 cent/ lb. Albion 19 cents/lb., Rose Hall 19 cents/lb., Blairmount 18 cents/lb., Enmore 17 cents/ lb. LBI 26 cents /lb., Wales 23 cents/lb., ICBU 41 cents/lb.

With the huge wage increases and the failure to keep the cost of production down, the PPP was forced to reduce the work force by 10,000 workers between 1998 and 2008.

What is amazing and defies economic logic, is that even though they reduced the work force from 28,000 in 1992 to around 14,000; plus an estimated 4000 casual workers, the wage bill still kept rising

while the price of sugar was falling.

Guyanese must never forget that it was the PPP’s nominated GuySuCo Board that wrongly predicted that the sugar protocols and the preferential price for sugar could not be removed by the European Union. This was the first of many PPP mistakes that led to investments like the Skeldon expansion project, which were based on faulty predictions of the industry and market trends.

So, while Trinidad, Jamaica and other APC countries that read the situation right were diversifying and right-sizing or minimising their industries, the PPP was expanding ours with money we did not have; over $200 million (US) for the new Skeldon Estate and another $12.5 million (US) for the (Project Gold) History will show that it was the PPP that used the sugar industry in Guyana for political gain. President David Granger and the Coalition Government were forced to make the tough decision to right-size GuySuCo and are working to save our 300-year old sugar industry. President Granger was clear when he spoke to sugar workers earlier this year at Albion Estate: that this (APNU+AFC) government will build up the sugar industry to protect sugar workers’ jobs.

In contrast, for twentythree years, the PPP used the sugar industry (GuySuCo) to line their own pocket and enrich their cronies. In 23 years, they took a profitable industry and destroyed it. Now they dishonestly promise sugar workers that all sugar estates will be reopened.

We must not forget that under the PPP, protests on

sugar estates were met with violent crackdowns on workers. One such example was the unrest at Wales Estate, where protesters were met with force, tear gas and 14 people arrested, simply for making a plea for investment into a factory that was no longer fit for purpose.

This is not the time for dishonest leadership. We must continue to improve efficiency and make sure Guyanese sugar remains of a high quality and priced competitively on the global market to protect ordinary sugar workers’ jobs.

Under the leadership of President David Granger, Guyana is already developing a world-class mineral industry and a diverse agricultural industry that will produce value added products, and new well-paying jobs. Better management of the sugar industry and the production of value-added products along with the co-generation of power to improve profitability would place a right-sized GuySuCo in a competitive position.

We must not forget that it was the PPP who started the process of closing sugar estates down. Their dishonest, reckless mismanagement and pilfering of the industry cost Guyanese $12B each year in subsidies, with tens of thousands of people losing their jobs. This is not propaganda; this is a fact!

At the next election, the choice is clear: a return to the past under the dishonest PPP, or continuing moving forward under President David Granger and the coalition.

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

PAGE 36

Kaieteur News

Sunday October 27, 2019

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE AFC IN GUYANA’S POLITICS TODAY The AFC celebrates its 14th Anniversary on November 28. It is important for us at this time to re-state the party’s current standing and remind our supporters of our contributions to Guyana’s political milieu.

It has to be said once again that NO third party in the English-speaking Caribbean started its life with the magnitude of tangible support that the AFC has had, with winning six (6) Parliamentary seats the first time it

went to general elections. The AFC achieved this feat in the 2006 elections just one (1) year after its formation.

Political parties such as the NAR and COP in Trinidad and Tobago are just two examples of ‘Third parties’ in

the Caribbean region that did not fare as well as the AFC. Further, no other Third party in Guyana has been as consistently successful. In the 2011 General Elections, the Alliance For Change increased its support and gained seven (7) Parliamentary seats.

And, it was this Party that had the audacity to move a successful “No Confidence” motion against the incumbent government in 2014 which started the process that ended with removal of the PPP from Government by the People’s will.

The history of Guyana is replete with attempts by political parties and civil society groups to make a strong impact on the politics of the day.

Between 1989 and 1992, the Patriotic Coalition for Democracy (PCD) fell apart, unable to form an alliance and enter the main stage of politics. It is from this movement that the Civic component of the PPP emerged.

The AFC is now the only successful independent party.

It emerged at a time when our country and our people were literally buckling under the PPP, under the worst effects of growing racial intolerance and blatant institutionalised corruption. The PPP’s last

acts of defiance of its own people were to give out ‘oil blocks’ in Guyana’s Exclusive Maritime Zone within the last two weeks of their 23-year run as a legitimate government.

This was one more catalyst for the Alliance For Change to solidify its partnership with APNU – a group of political parties dedicated to a single cause in the national interest, i.e. to rescue Guyana from the black hole it was sinking into socially, politically, economically and regarding it international reputation.

Now, our collective cause is to raise up this country to the level befitting an oil-producing nation.

The AFC remains fully committed to working with our partners to develop our country and its citizens. We are committed to constitutional reform and have already drafted recommendations for the approval of the APNU Alliance.

The pathologists who had pronounced AFC ‘dead’ since the year of our formation (2005) have themselves had to ‘close up shop’ and retreat from their position fourteen (14) years later.

Lately they have re-emerged with the same comments after the results of the November 2018 Local Government

Elections came out. These community elections were characterized by very low voter turn-out.

The AFC’s results were not flattering, but we are resilient, and we understand that those results cannot influence the party’s stand on issues of national importance that concern the development of our people.

The Alliance For Change is made up of people who thrive on principle, who are committed to the total transformation of Guyana, and to bringing to an end that old Guyana problem - voting along racial lines.

The AFC has been preaching political and constitutional reform since 2006, and we have re-committed ourselves to creating a more equitable society that gives every citizen an equal opportunity to grow.

May the brilliance and dazzle of Diwali remain a beacon for Guyana’s future.

The AFC extends our best wishes to the Hindu community in Guyana on this largest and brightest Festival on our annual calendar. In this celebration of life and goodness, the AFC sincerely hopes that the auspiciousness, strength and wisdom that Diwali represents, will continue to guide the paths you take in the near and distant future.

Diwali or Deepavali has even greater significance with the vanquishing of evil by Lord Rama. Guyana is on a similar path, with rows of lights laid down to guide our way forward.

The AFC fully embraces the brilliance of Diwali and the effect that this Festival of Lights has on all of us. It has become much more than a religious festival, and it impacts Guyanese from all walks of life. The rows and creative designs of lights, diyas and colourful Rangolis bring out our collective joy and brotherliness.

AFC urges Guyanese of all faiths to transfer the teachings of Diwali into family and social relationships.

This Festival is a true lesson in togetherness, and a celebration of joy in accomplishment. We must all remember that Diwali is a celebration of life itself, and that the lights and diyas, the cleanliness and brilliant colours represent hope and love for all humankind.

Happy Diwali to all Guyanese.

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

Sunday October 27, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 37

Kaieteur News

PAGE 38

Sunday October 27, 2019

COUNTRYMAN

- Stories about life in m and out of Guyana, fro ve a Guyanese perspecti

Dealing with death

By Dennis Nichols

F

or close to five decades our family house on South Road has remained sandwiched between two churches. We have become used to the sounds and voices which emanate from them – portentous sermons, glorious paeans;

incomprehensible tongues.

But it is the pained cry of a human soul grieving for human loss that most touches my own. And last Tuesday as it echoed from the Full Gospel Church next door, it turned my thoughts to the enigma we call death.

The funeral was that of the young soldier who died in that appalling crash two

weeks ago, honoured by his comrades-in-arms, grieved by his loved ones. He and four others died violently.

The end, one hopes, would have been mercifully swift.

Crunching impact, wildlyspinning sensation, an implosion of consciousness – then what?

'Spirit of death' stalks our land. It prowls the earth,

snatching its prey daily by the thousands in a hundred different ways. It is a spectre whose hollow call cannot be dismissed. It dwells with misfortune, disease, and circumstance. A few welcome, but most dread it, and all bow to it, regardless of age, character, or social prominence. In Guyana, as elsewhere, death is an

unwelcome visitor.

But visitor it is, sudden; unsuspecting, and even when anticipated, a chilling reminder of our faltering humanness. Its impact is such that it sometimes chainreacts to grieving loved ones. So, we offer solace and empathise with the bereaved. A sudden loss may be followed by indescribable emptiness that must be endured.

Emotionally or otherwise, it may overwhelm the strongest among us.

Over the past two weeks, death came suddenly and violently to more than a dozen of our citizens. Those they left behind must be hurting somewhat bad, including the family members of both victims and perpetrators, in some instances. I extend condolences to all of them, and hope they have nurtured the strength necessary to deal with that kind of pain.

As I recall the horrific details of the East Bank Demerara accident, I think of whimsical chance, as an aunt is offered a ride, not knowing that death was just minutes away for her and her nephew.

I think especially about the loved ones of the recentlywed couple who died with them, remembering the loss of my own parents in the space of one week while I was still a teenager.

We're all acquainted with the apparent finality of death and its implications in a general sense, but I believe we should develop a more personal 'philosophy of death' at least as a coping mechanism for the lacerated soul. Religion may do it for those of great faith. But for others like me, who struggle with its mystique, it may help to look at the transition from a more balanced pointof-view.

Tens of millions of people die every year. You'd think that by now we would have come to terms with the passing of our loved ones, since, as a universal phenomenon, it's the most unpredictable of all events, and should be accepted as such. Not so easy though, even as it appears that some of us now view death more positively, so much so that for many, it simply marks the transition to a higher plane, and funerals celebrate life rather than mourn death.

Dennis Nichols For countless others however, it's not that straightforward, simply because they just don't know what lies on the other side.

As Shakespeare's Prince Hamlet noted in c o n t e m p l a t i n g murder/suicide, “… the dread of something after death … puzzles the will … thus conscience doth make cowards of us all.” Or, to paraphrase a proverb, 'it may be better to stay with the misery you know than venture into that you know not.'

We don't want to get it wrong at this crucial juncture. If we know for certain that the 'higher-plane' theory is right, or that there is nothing but oblivion on the other side, death by almost any means (including selfdestruction) would appear to be an attractive option to life under unbearable stress. It is for some. But for most of us, it remains what it is – the antithesis of life in all its glorious, wretched, all-toohuman ups and downs.

And there is no going back to relive the glories or redress the grievances of the past, except in the actions or the memories of those left behind.

A quote attributed to American statesman, Benjamin Franklin, reminds us that in life, 'nothing is certain but death and taxes.'

It adds to the merit of developing a philosophy on the subject. It should centre around the idea of accepting the inevitable as far as our egos let us, not over thinking what happens in the socalled afterlife. Many already do that, and it hardly softens the blow. What then should we consider?

Both religion and science give us ideas as to how to view death. Greatly simplifying the subject, in Christianity your actions and choices on earth take you to (continued on page 48)

Sunday October 27, 2019

PAGE 39

Kaieteur News

Lincoln's daydream

- realising Article 13

I

t was never my dream, but last Tuesday evening I was asked the question by Leonard Gildarie of Kaieteur Radio, if I am President what would I do.

Similar questions were asked of me before. So if anyone dares to accuse me of being pompous and overrating myself, let me here and now claim no such.

First of all, my academic qualifications may not be satisfying to those who consider the position as one needing lots of advanced certification (whatever they might be).

Looking around the world, I realise this is not a universal position and there is more to being president other than be the recipient of countless degrees. We have seen failures with degrees, bad decisions, selfishness, lack of vision, weakness, cruelty and lack of a people's personality.

We s e e l e t t e r e d presidents who are the biggest hindrance to people's development. So I have concluded that it takes more than lettering. It takes wisdom, vision, integrity, understanding and an ability to compromise and negotiate. It takes love of people and a desire to see fair play and justice served to all.

These are qualities I believe I can claim quite comfortably.

They are not taught in classroom but learnt along the course of life, starting at home.

So whereas, I declare myself working class, a blue collar worker who values deeply the role I play in shaping Guyana's history and the quality of life of families through trades union activism and leadership, I am declaring that I am eminently qualified to dream. I was once upon a time President of this august group of fighters, so I understand the importance of servant leadership, social justice and solidarity. These are the philosophical pillars of the trades union movement.

With such knowledge and wisdom inculcated and nurtured over the years, here is what I would do as one of the first steps governing this country given the plurality of the society and the challenges we currently face.

Let's call this piece Lincoln's daydream and bear

with me as I lose myself for a moment in the grandiosity of such power. Before I do let me reflect. I recall vividly the admixture of expressions in the smiling face of Cheddi Jagan in 1992 when he addressed the nation as President.

One could not help but feel his joy which was evident in his face after so many years in the opposition. One can imagine Forbes Burnham who became the country's first president with executive responsibility in 1980. What a personal sense of satisfaction he must have felt knowing what that meant for local empowerment.

For me, President Lincoln Brandon Lewis, the daydreamer, the joy is that associated with a makebelief situation and the opportunity that such would grant me to give meaning to Article 13 of the Guyana Constitution.

That would be moment of glee because finally, I get to do what others before me have either ignored, taken for granted, failed to appreciate and not diligently pursued. Article 13 is representative of the vision of the Forbes Burnham Constitution. It shows a dream for this nation of ours torn apart by ethnic strife and political greed.

This article embodies the very essence of what we as a people need to do in order to move Guyana forward in unity. It is premised on the belief that each group has an entitlement to share in the nation's decision making, to participate equally and be treated equally.

The present Article 13 ensconced during the struggle for a more inclusive governance strengthens our democracy and gives meaning to our motto of “One People, One Nation, One Destiny.” It is who we are or rather who we are supposed to be. It is the constitutional direction charted by democratic thinkers not the work of dictators who did not see the wisdom of sharing power and uniting all peoples.

It is the dream I want to see realised, a dream that today those who speak of democracy shy away from and pay no interest in giving meaning to, through relevant laws and policies. Article 13, if and when fully

realised, can reduce the tensions of our different groups.

The trust in each other to best represent them is m a rg i n a l o r v i r t u a l l y nonexistent. Many are therefore left to feel denied, desperate and fearful, unless they control the powers vested in the presidency and the majority of seats in parliament.

There is no guarantee that once elected, grievances and rivalry will be cast aside and whoever governs will embrace the constitution and be president of all. Article 13 offers some protection to the aforesaid but requires relevant laws to give it meaning.

A few examples of what can stem from Article 13 are as follows:-

· Making the nation's highest decision-making forum, the Parliament, more inclusive by amending the Representation of the People Act to allow for the 20 Geographic (Regional) Members of Parliament to be elected directly by the people of the ten administrative regions and t h e N a t i o n a l Parliamentarians be elected

by the Proportional Representation system. · Giving the Opposition a meaningful stake in planning and decision-making in parliament by amending the Constitution to allow for major Bills such as the Appropriation (National Budget) to be passed by no less than 60 percent of the vote of all the elected (continued on page 58)

PAGE 40

Kaieteur News

Sunday October 27, 2019

Sunday October 27, 2019

g .. n i t s. s re ure e t t In rea C

A

PAGE 41

Kaieteur News

Tuco-tuco

tuco-tuco is a neotropical rodent in the family Ctenomyidae. Tucotucos belong to the only living genus of the family Ctenomyidae, Ctenomys, but they include approximately 60 different species. The common name, "tuco-tuco" comes from the "tuc-tuc" sound they make while they dig their burrows.

The relationships among the species are debated by taxonomists. It has been described that they are in a state of "taxonomic chaos", but banded karyotypes have been used to help make progress on their taxonomic study.

Their closest relatives are degus and other octodontids. All species of tuco-tucos are found in South America from Peru and central Brazil southward. The tuco-tucos

of South America have an ecological role equivalent to that of the pocket gophers of North America.

They occupy an ecological niche previously taken by gondwanatheres such as Patagonia earlier in the Cenozoic.

Tuco-tucos have heavily built cylindrical bodies with short legs and their pelage ranges in colour from black to light grey.

Their skin is loosely applied, possibly to slide about the tunnels they create.

They have long fore feet for burrowing, and bristled hind feet for grooming. They also have large heads, small ears, and hairy tails. Their bodies range in size from 15–25 cm (5.9–9.8 in) in length, and they can weigh as little as 100 grams (C. pundti) to more than 1000 grams (C. conover).

Members of the genus Ctenomys are widely

distributed, but over 50 of the species are found in the southern half of South America. They can be seen in many areas from the southern portion of Peru and southern Brazil to the Tierra del Fuego at the southernmost tip of South America, through parts of Chile and a majority of Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, and Argentina.

Their ranges occur from coastal grasslands to mountain slopes, including the Andean Puna at over 4000 meters, and depend on factors such as soil type, ambient temperature, and primary productivity. The only sympatric distribution of this genus occurs between C. australis and C. talarum in a coastal dune region.

Tu c o - t u c o s l i v e i n excavated burrows and spend a majority (up to 90%) of their lives underground. It is estimated that they

represent about 45% of all the underground rodents of the world. Their burrows maintain a fairly constant temperature and humidity level that is independent of the geographic region.

In order to excavate the soil, they have many morphological adaptations,

including their body shape, reduced eyes, and strong limbs. Their olfaction is increased and is used to help orient themselves during digging and establishing a territory. The two techniques they use for digging are scratch-digging and skulltooth digging.

A combination of the two methods are often used.

Their claws and forelimbs are used primarily for scratch-digging, and their skull and incisor teeth are used secondarily for skulltooth digging.

Tuco-tucos are diurnal (continued on page 48)

Kaieteur News

PAGE 42

K O

BO

The book that defines a pop culture icon Popular Literary Classics Book: Guerrilla Warfare Author: Che Guevara Contributor: Glenville Ashby, PhD

D

ecade s after he was cut down my a hail of bullets in the jungles of Bolivia, the appeal of Ernesto Che Guevara

Sunday October 27, 2019

continues to grow, not o n l y a m o n g revolutionaries and social activists, but among fashion aficionados and purveyors of pop culture. Berets and Tshirts bear his image, he is the center of political studies at leading universities, his

work is archived in the Che Guevara Institute in France and the Che Guevara Studies Centerin Havana; and the school room where he was executed has become a tourist attraction.

His nomination as one of

the most influential figures of the 20th century by Time magazine only fueled his global standing.

Che's mystique is not easily explained. We can attribute his appeal to his edgily attractive countenance and his c o m p e l l i n g o r a t o r y.

However, we must add an archetypal element to this narrative. Che represents the tragic hero immortalized in fabled history. He is the

demigod of which ancient civilizations wrote. He is the warrior figure, the father figure, the protector that we yearn to become but have fallen short. He is the leveler of social classes, and for his adventures in the Congo fighting alongside black Africans, he is the colorblind hero that we can only strive to become.

Vicariously, we project our fantasies through the image of Che. It is in his 1961 classical literature 'Guerrilla Warfare' that we witness our fantastical self in action. Che's revolutionary tactics, though, are arguably anachronistic. Gone are peasants that embrace Marxism as they wage skirmishes with far superior government forces.

Such scenarios are no longer played out in Latin America and the Far East.

Still, 'Guerrilla Warfare' still resonates. It teaches young revolutionaries that the mind is the ultimate weapon, and that they must be mentally impervious to the most inimical conditions.

Sounding more like a sadhu

than a warrior, Che touts abstinence, guarding against drinking and gambling. He finds strength in fasting. He writes: "To the stoicism imposed by the difficult conditions of warfare should be added an austerity born of rigid self-control that will prevent a single excess, a single slip, whatever the circumstances. The guerrilla soldier should be an ascetic."

The steely mind is the shield of the revolutionary, Che argues. It is in the jungle in all its naked rawness that the revolutionary must excel. He teaches tactical and strategic methods of engaging the enemy and offers brief lessons on maximizing the effectiveness of small arms and the importance of stealth, intelligence gathering and infiltration.

E m b r a c i n g a comprehensive theory of revolution, he gives equal credence to establishing civil institutions in areas controlled by insurgencies.

To Che, the revolutionary is more than a fighter. There is (continued on page 48)

Sunday October 27, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 43

Kaieteur News

THE

PAGE 44

Sunday October 27, 2019

STORY WITHIN THE

A stupid problem to have at Stabroek Market

By Leonard Gildarie

G

rowing up, I was always drawn to the mystical lure of the Stabroek Market area.

The shouts of the vendors, the good-natured ribbing and laughter, and of course the smells. Yes, there were two sections that had me, and even to today, although the trips are very infrequent, I still go.

There is a huge book stall which carried the best of novels located in the middle of the market. Only book lovers would understand the pull. We had James Hadley Chase, Harold Robbins, Sydney Sheldon and of course, the comics.

Today, the stand is still there. The last time I went there, the operator was not present and someone else from a nearby stall sold me two novels for $2,000.

I loved books. I got into trouble for reading too much.

While attending Queen's College, I barely had money for lunch. Things were tough. I would journey to La Penitence and borrow books from a stand in the market there.

Yes, I am not ashamed. I took off at midday as soon as we had lunch, and walked all the way to La Penitence, hurried my browsing and “rented� a few books and ran back to school.

I don't know what happened to that man. I never told anyone of those trips. I feared that I would be scoffed at. I am not afraid anymore.

Down at Stabroek Market, even to today, if I happen to visit, I would make a beeline to the food area.

I swear they have the best 'fry fish' sandwich and peanut punch. Nothing beats it on a hot day.

Today, it has all changed.

Under the clock, newcomers have taken over, doing another kind of business.

Yes, from stolen cell phones

to gold jewellery, to fake foreign currency, the hustle is real.

It has seen the growth of young gangs who operate in seeming impunity.

There is an outpost in the Stabroek Market lot area.

Yet, daily, the attacks on citizens have brought a pall over Stabroek.

I can tell you that I can count on my fingers the number of times when I have been back to Stabroek Market. That area, if we can fix it, can become the biggest tourism attraction for Guyana if we can think it properly.

Picture tables and chairs in the square, with no minibuses and hire cars.

Smell the breeze, with food on the grills and vendors in the background, with their fruits. This country is blessed and we have it in our own backyard.

I have been talking to politicians, one on one in the last couple of weeks.

I am no radio personality.

In fact, it is the first time I have done it.

I have learnt much of our people through the eyes of a few of our leaders.

One question I keep on asking is if there is any model that will see the sharing of power. This one-party or winner-takes-all thing has not worked out so well for social cohesion.

There is one thing consistent from our leaders‌there is a problem with race. We are voting along race lines. I don't even want to discuss this. My eldest child is from another race. Yes. I would and cannot contemplate racism. Yet a few of our leaders and their underlings, push it to the max.

The Stabroek Market area is a clear symptom of how we refuse to think outside the box.

We have to relocate the parking for the public transportation. The madness on the Avenue of the Republic in the Croal Street and Regent Street areas have been with us for years.

Yet, we can't seem to tackle it. We have installed cameras, that feed real time to systems that cost millions.

We know who the little

Leonard Gildarie men are that terrorise our students and hard working people.

In the last few weeks, the police would have been receiving reports of students from Queen's College and other schools being brutally robbed. My nephew was sitting in a bus when he was almost robbed.

Stabroek Market has cameras. We know who the members of the gangs are.

There were reports Friday from the police that more than 100 persons have been arrested in a clean-up of crime at Stabroek Market.

This has to be sustained.

The cameras have to be put to use. We must send a strong message that this country is serious.

We can no longer tolerate the lawlessness which a few, bent of not working honestly, would hold the country hostage, driving fear into our people, because we fail to act decisively. We have to go back to the communities.

The police and politicians have to work together to build the trust.

The fact is our people have little trust for police.

That has to be built.

I have quite a few friends in the police force. Decent men and women who are being underpaid but gave it their best shot nevertheless.

I applauded this government in 2015 in the clean-up and one would be blind if they can't agree we have better roads and a cleaner city now. It is a fact.

Can we do the same for crime? Of course, we can.

F o r t h e c i t y, w e c a n drastically reduce the incidences by making use of the resources.

The bike patrols and foot patrols have to restart.

I want back my Stabroek Market. I need to walk.

As we celebrate Diwali today, let us remember that over the years it has been an event for not only Hindus but all Guyana.

We have it within us.

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

Sunday October 27, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 45

Sunday October 27, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 47

Sunday October 27, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 47

PAGE 48

Kaieteur News

Sunday October 27, 2019

Dealing with death From page 38 either Heaven or Hell. (Catholics believe in an intermediate stage called Purgatory) Resurrection is also a part of the process, as it is in Judaism, which offers 'other options.'

Hindus and Buddhists believe in reincarnation although the latter are said to not believe in the existence of souls.

What is noteworthy is that they all validate the concept of something happening after death. Science seems to be ambivalent on the issue; however, some scientific and medical research suggest there may indeed be 'life' after death, but not necessarily how it has long been perceived. That's because the idea that we human beings are non-material at our very core, is gaining traction. This is due in part to experiments in quantum physics, and phenomena like near-death experiences, which suggest that some part of us transcends this temporal existence; and that the universe and everything it holds, including human beings, is not composed of matter as we understand it, but

energy.Scientifically-speaking, since energy cannot be created or destroyed, then death is an illusion, and the essence of this energy, (spirit, light, breath of life) is just 'repurposed' in the universe and will 'echo through time and space' indefinitely. Some religions do tell us that the spirit of life simply goes back to the one who gave it in the first place – God. As religion, science, and human experience offer their explanations of death, I delve into the mix and come up with a tentative philosophy – (a) Follow the 'Golden Rule'. (b) We are formed from the elements of the earth – carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, etc. The life spark breathed into us at birth, returns to that which gave it, while our elemental bodies decompose and return to the earth. Celebrate life and accept death. Beyond that, nothing is known for sure. I may be off the mark here, but … that's it!

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

Tuco-tuco From page 41 and alternate periods of activity and periods of rest throughout the day.They primarily search for food by digging passageways. Due to the high energy cost of foraging for food, their diet is rather broad.Very little is known about the courtship of the tuco-tucos, as it takes place underground inside their burrows. It is known that the male takes an aggressive posture and exchanges chemical or acoustic signals with the female. Among their most notable features is that various members of the genus exhibit differing levels of genetic variability and sociality.] Most of these species are solitary animals; however, some are semi-social or social, with a tendency for the most social species (e.g. C. sociabilis) to have the least genetic variation. While the processes behind its diversification are unknown, it has been suggested that they are among the most diversely speciated genus of mammals, largely due to chromosomal rearrangements and rapid speciation since their appearance in the late Pliocene or early Pleistocene era. Their chromosomal diversity is so impressive because their diploid numbers range from 10 to 70. The species in this genus are at risk of predation by humans because they are viewed as agricultural pests. Prior to the European settlement, the tuco-tuco was an important food resource in Tierra del Fuego for the Fuegians in particular. (Source: Wikipedia)

The book that defines a pop...

From page 42 a humane quality, the anima that needs expression in the most robust fighter. The fighter must show his sincere gratitude every peasants he encounters. They are his friends and his protectors. He is also duty bound to convey to teach the existential value of his revolutionary philosophy.Throughout, Che rejects the urban appeal of Soviet Bolshevism and, moreover, emphasizes social and political change through agrarian reform, an argument many today would dismiss.Guerrilla Warfare is penned with a palpable passion that defines this iconoclastic figure.It is ironic that Che's own brother, Juan Martin Guevara calls for a more measured approach when discussing his famous sibling.

In a 2017 interview with the Independent, he said that his brother was “an ordinary person” who would have “hated being turned into an idol.”Interestingly, for the millions who never studied his life nor were directly impacted by his philosophy, Che is a pop icon and a cult hero. More than anything else, this reflects the disturbing cultural zeitgeist of modern society. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper) Feedback: glenvilleashby@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter@glenvilleashby Guerilla Warfare by Che Guevara Publisher: BN Publishing ISBN: 13:9789562915717 Available at Amazon Ratings: Highly recommended

Sunday October 27, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 49

PAGE 50

Kaieteur News

Sunday October 27, 2019

Enetworks to air HBOs Watchmen every Thursday Every Thursday, Enetworks will be showing one of HBOs latest hit series called Watchmen.

For those who are unfamiliar with all things superhero, the Watchmen is an upcoming American superhero drama television series, inspired by some characters from the DC Comics limited series of the same name created by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, created and developed by Damon Lindelof for HBO, with Lindelof serving as executive producer and writer.

The series takes place in an alternate contemporary reality in the United States, in which superheroes and masked vigilantes were outlawed due to their violent methods, but some of them gather around to start a revo-

lution while others attempt to stop it.According to Lindelof, the TV series will not be a direct adaptation of the original source material, instead, being “remixed”; aiming to tell an entirely new story set in the world where the events of the original storyline took place. The series will also showcase different points of view, with the only characters from the original storyline confirmed to appear in the series being Doctor Manhattan, the former Silk Spectre, and former hero Ozymandias.

The series will also focus on a detective named Angela Abar who becomes a vigilante called Sister Night. (See link for additional info on the show: https:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Watchmen_(TV_series)

DJ Garwin presents Bday Celebration & launch of FBS Entertainment On November 30, DJ Garwin will host his big birthday bash and launch a brand new entertainment company call FBS Entertainment.

The DANCEHALL EXCLUSIVE will feature five Big trending Jamaican entertainers such as GOVANA of rules with the trending single, “What s up girl ...”

Also slated for this event is the First Lady of dancehall DAngel and bad gal Ishawna, Jamaica Stone Love, and DJ Bill Cosby. Local entertainment will be provided by Slingerz Family DJ Garwin, DJ Magnum and DJ Slaughter. Tickets for the Dancehall exclusive and launch of FBS Entertainment cost $2000 in advance but you will more at the gate. Stage front tickets cost $10,000.

This event is being supported by FBS, HJTV, 94.1 Boom FM, Fire Side Grill, West Vybzs Sports bar, Chetson Clark’s store, Caribbean Airlines, Churchs Chicken, Urban Life (Giftland mall), coming soon Slingerz Radio: 101.1 POWER FM. and Chand printing.

Wine of the week THE FUEGO AUSTRAL MERLOT: IT S ELEGANT, WELL-BALANCED AND VELVETY-SMOOTH The Fuego Austral Merlot features ruby tones and offers an intense and attractive aroma that is packed with red fruit, raspberries, strawberries, blueberries and cassis. It has a balanced acidity with ripe tannins as well as a good balance between fruit and oak. It has aged for six months in stainless steel, then bottle-aged for six more.

This masterpiece can be found at the Wine Vault located at the Marriott Hotel.

It is being sold for $2500 VAT inclusive. You can also find it at the Hibiscus Restaurant, Nice Restaurant and Bar, Palm Court and other leading hotels and bars.

Sunday October 27, 2019

Early Puberty in Girls May Take Mental Health Toll A girl who gets her first menstrual period early in life — possibly as young as 7 — has a greater risk for developing depression and antisocial behaviors that last at least into her 20s, a new study suggests.

“Girls who go through puberty earlier than peers tend to be more psychologically vulnerable during adolescence,” said study lead author Jane Mendle, a clinical psychologist and associate professor of human development at Cornell University.

It hadn’t been clear, though, whether that vulnerability extends past the teen years. That’s where the current study comes in.

Mendle and her colleagues followed a group of almost 8,000 young women into their late 20s.

“Girls who went through earlier puberty are still showing higher rates of depressive symptoms and antisocial behavior than their peers well over a decade past adolescence,” Mendle said.An early first period is a sign of early puberty.

Mendle said there’s no consensus on what constitutes an early first period, but girls in the study got their first period at age 12, on average. Some girls had their first period as early as 7 years old, though that was rare: Less than 1 percent of the girls had a first period that young.However, nearly 7 percent of the girls had their first period at age 10, and 19 percent at age 11, according to the study, published online Dec. 26 in Pediatrics.

The cause of early puberty is generally not known, said Dr. Ellen Selkie, an adolescent medicine specialist with the University of Michigan and author of an editorial accompanying the study. There’s also no proven way to prevent early puberty, she said.

Mendle said that other research has suggested that obesity or exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals may play a role. Such chemicals are found in plastics and flame retardants, she said.

Whatever the cause of early puberty, the new study found that it appears to have lasting consequences.

“Puberty has repercussions for virtually all domains of life,” Mendle said.

“Even though it’s a biological transition, it’s accompanied by dramatic changes in social roles and relationships, emotions and how

kids think about themselves and others and their place in the world.”

That said, she added that early puberty likely plays only a small role in contributing to depression and antisocial behaviors. And the current study was not designed to prove a direct cause-and-effect relationship.

“Even if a girl goes through earlier puberty, it doesn’t mean she will necessarily struggle as an adult in the ways shown in our study,” Mendle said. “It’s an added risk, and one worth paying attention to. But depression and antisocial behavior are complicated and determined by many different factors, aside from when puberty happens.”

Dr. Victor Fornari, director of child and adolescent psychiatry at Zucker Hillside Hospital in Glen Oaks, N.Y., said that antisocial behaviors are those that “deviate from the social norms — like violating rules, lying, cheating and other not socially appropriate behavior.”

He was not involved with the study.So how might early puberty contribute to these types of behaviors and depression?

Selkie said the connections are probably biological and psychological.

“There’s some thought that early estrogen exposure might increase the risk for depression, but there are also the factors of being different physically from other kids if you experience puberty at an earlier age,” she said.Carole Filangieri, a clinical neuropsychologist at NYU Winthrop Hospital in Mineola, N.Y., who was also not part of the study, warned against thinking that early puberty might actually cause the behaviors it was linked to in the new research.

“The danger is thinking that early puberty itself is predictive of these antisocial behaviors,” she said. “Environments growing up, social pressures growing up as women at a much earlier age and being treated in a more adult-like fashion are all part of the larger picture, and we need to look at what’s going on in a girl’s life.”

As an example, Filangieri said, “for a 9-year-old girl, getting wolf-whistled on the street is confusing and upsetting.”

As Fornari said: “This study brings attention to the fact that early menarche isn’t just about a girl getting her period. It helps educate parents that they should look for mood and behavior disturbances and get necessary care.”

The earlier treatment is started, the better, he said — no matter what the cause of early puberty might be. https://medlineplus.gov/ news/fullstory_170623.html.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 51

Kaieteur News

PAGE 52

Toys For a Big Boy Toys For a Big Boy Ronit Subramanian was seven years old and he was the tallest student in his class. It made him feel very proud. But when he remembered some of the things he used to do as a small kid, he felt a little shy.

He wished his mother would not tell those stories to her friends again and again.

Last week his mothers old school friend had come to see her. They were meeting after 10 years.

Ronit was just back from school but his ears pricked up when he heard his mother say in that goofy tone, “You know what my Ronit used to do as a baby? He used to think everything and everyone was a part of the Subramanian family. So he would call the refrigerator frig Subramanian. And he would call the doggy that curled up on our doormat

o u t s i d e d o g g y Subramanian”. Ronit heard his mothers friend say, “cho chweeeet” and he ran out of the house without any lunch. “I wish mother would not do these things,” he said for the thousandth time.

That evening his mother

showed him the toys and games her friend had got for him. One stuffed dolphin and a game of blocks. Ronit got angry. “These are kids toys, kids toys and games. I am a big boy now. My hero is Spiderman. Thats the toy I want for my birthday this year. Spiderman and the spray that makes the spider web.”

“Are you saying you no longer want your favourite stuffed toy pepper the doggy?” Ronits mother asked. “I dont want kids toys, I dont want kids toys and games any more. I am a BIG BOY,” Ronit shouted.

Okay, okay, we heard you,” said his parents.

A month later, Ronits parents bought him a Spiderman kit for his eighth birthday. They bought him a Spiderman T-shirt and trousers, a shiny Spiderman toy and a glove with a spray bottle attached to it. “Wear the glove and then press the spray button. It will make a web pattern on the wall, Ronits father said. Ronit, and even his father, were so excited with the spray that they used it again and again to see who could make a bigger web! There was even a Spiderman cake.

After his friends left, Ronit opened up each gift package. Yesssss! He was a big boy now. He had got so many presents of toys and games and they were all for big boys. He especially like a Lego set that made a battery-powered robot, a snazzy car racing video game, and, best of all, a cool skateboard. Ronit went to sleep clutching the Spiderman. You see he had

FUN WITH POETRY God is my Everything God is my Saviour, God is my friend, God lights my way, Whenever darkness descends.

God is my spirit, God is my soul, God is love, God makes my life whole.

So I shall always know That God will answer my prayer; No matter how much I ask, God will always be there.

Sunday October 27, 2019

Pairs in Rhyme Each of these pairs of word is a rhyme for a familiar phrase.

Example: Car and ride (Answer: Far and wide)

decided he no longer wanted his favourite stuffed toy, Pepper doggy.

As soon as his head hit the pillow Ronit fell asleep.

He now slept in a room of his own. A room with sunny yellow walls. But until yesterday, he had gone to sleep clutching Pepper doggys ear. The softness of the toy always made him happy. But Spiderman was a metal toy. It was cold to touch. At night, as Ronits blanket slipped down the bed, the cold metal of Spiderman poked him.

Ronit dreamt that he was being chased by icy monsters who were out to freeze him into a statue. In his dream he shouted for Pepper. Not finding Pepper, woke up screaming crying.

His mother heard him whimper and came rushing into his room. “I want Pepper. He is my friend. Big boys also have doggy friends” cried Ronit. Pepper has crept back into Ronits bed. Every night, Ronit and Pepper have a new adventure. In his dreams, Ronit sees Pepper in a Spiderman outfit. Isnt that cool?

1. Cried and flew

_________________

2. Please and packers

_________________

3. Mutts and colts

_________________

4. Red and sputter

_________________

5. Gong and trance

_________________

Kaieteur News

Sunday October 27, 2019

PAGE 53

Immerse yourself in Spirituality and you will lead a fulfilled life Although we are treating this aspect of your personality at the last, it is certainly the most important.

Follow these guidelines to attain a spiritual outlook, which will guarantee your success in all other aspects of your life:1.Whether you practise any religion or not, remember that you can do much more with the help of God. Take some time for prayer every day, and your life will become more fulfilled and productive.

However, getting involved in some religion and attending services can enrich your life by your interaction with others, which can help you to become a part of a community.

This can

become the source of help that you may need at some time when you encounter any trouble.

2. Try to do the right thing always, even though it may mean some cost to you.

Knowing you take pains to follow your conscience will make you feel worthy, and inspire you to do the same always. We all possess this quality of conscience, that inner voice which tells right form wrong.

The more you follow its urgings, the more it will be able to serve you in doing the right thing.

3. Do the right thing and do not let others stray you from your long-term goals.

Once you have identified what you want from your life on the long

term, do not let others dissuade you from the path that would lead you to achieving this. It is granted that you will have to devote some of your time to entertainment and other socialising with friends, but you will need to make sure that these do not hamper your progress in the really serious things that you need to move towards a fruitful life later.

4. Try to be the best person you know No matter how much you may think of yourself, no one is ever performing at his best, simply because he is a human being.

There is always room for improvement, and it may very well be the purpose of life to keep searching for

ways, and acting on these, so that we become better as time goes on.

There are many ways by which you can learn how you may become a better person.

Read books on character building, practise your religion, keep the company of people from whom you can learn, keep doing things that improve your body and elevate your mind, and search for ways to improve the lives of others.

If you really mean to improve yourself, there are other ways for selfimprovement which you can discover for yourself. When you are really earnest in this quest, you can move forward in confidence that your life will become fulfilled and on the right path.

Take time to read the scriptures, And you will plainly see That God will never leave you alone; He's always been there for me.

It's not what you are going through, It's how you stand the test; Just put your hands in the hands of God, And let Him do the rest.

I go through life with a made-up mind, I know God has my back; I'm not the one to pity myself, I pray and get on the right track I am a living testimony For all the world to see, And I want the whole world to know I can do anything as long as God is with me.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

Fill in the missing first letter of each word in the column on the left. Next, look for a related word in the group at the right and put in the blank in the second column. When the puzzle is completed read the first letters of both columns in order, from top to bottom, to reveal the name of an author. __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________

If you believe in the Word of God, You'll know trials only make us strong, And in Him anywhere you are in life Is just where you belong.

Develop your life spiritually, and you will find yourself living on a higher level than ever before..

Matchmaker

__ ed __ cean __ ill __ qual __ eally __ ree __ oud __ rigin __ se __ dea

God always has my back

Elm

Scarlet

Even

Sea

Noisy

Source

Notion

Tab

Operate

Very

Solutions to last week’s

Tough Floret Slitherlinks

PAGE 54

Home Remedies for Dry Scalp 1. Coconut oil Coconut oil has long been used for its skin health benefits, and dry scalp is no exception. It can moisturize the scalp, and it’s antifungal and antibacterial properties can help reduce the risk of infections. It can even help treat atopic dermatitis.

2. Tea tree oil Tea tree oil has strong antiseptic, antifungal, and antibiotic propertiesTrusted Source that can relieve dry scalp and its symptoms. It’s why many dandruff shampoos can be found to have tea tree oil in them.

3. Aloe vera Aloe vera has a number of properties that can help with dry scalp. It has anti-inflammatory propertiesTrusted Source that can help reduce skin irritation, and it’s also an effective moisturizing agent.

4. Apple cider vinegar Apple cider vinegar has several great health benefits that can reduce symptoms of dry scalp. It’s an antimicrobial, which means it can eliminate the bacteria or fungi that could be causing itchiness. It’s also anti-inflammatory and can help exfoliate your scalp, both of which can help treat dry scalp itselfTrusted Source.

Where to buy? You can find apple cider vinegar in most stores and online.

How to use: Mix one part apple cider vinegar with two parts water, and apply it directly to the scalp. Let it sit for five minutes before washing it out with a gentle shampoo and conditioning your hair like normal.

5. Witch hazel Witch hazel is often marketed in anti-itch products designed for dry and sensitive skin, and it’s historically been used in herbal medicine. It can be used to decrease inflammation that could be causing dry scalp from certain conditions. It also has powerful astringent properties that may soothe symptoms of dry scalp.

6. Baking soda and olive oil Olive oil is moisturizing, and baking soda has antifungal and antibacterial properties. The two together can exfoliate your scalp.

The baking soda and olive oil combination is a good choice if you have dandruff alongside dry scalp, as the moisture, exfoliation, and antifungal properties combined can treat the itchy white flakes.

7. Mashed bananas Bananas are nourishing and moisturizing, making them a great treatment for dry scalp and even dandruff. In addition to being moisturizing, they’re a natural antimicrobialTrusted Source, and the two benefits combined can help clear up your dry scalp. (Plus, they’re delicious).

8. Yogurt and egg Though this may sound like a breakfast gone wrong, yogurt and eggs both have unique benefits that can relieve dry scalp. Yogurt is soothing on the skin and can also be exfoliating, while the fat and protein content in eggs can nourish and protect the scalp by preventing Trusted Source against free radical damage at the cellular level. https://www.healthline.com/health/home-remedies-for -dryscalp#avocados

SOLUTION TO LAST WEEK’S WORD SEARCH

Kaieteur News

Sunday October 27, 2019

Sunday October 27, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 55

PAGE 56

Kaieteur News

Sunday October 27, 2019

Sunday October 27, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 57

Kaieteur News

PAGE 58

Sunday October 27, 2019

Business community... Lincoln's daydream From page 24 by the Financial Action Task Force on anti-money laundering and counter terrorism financing. They ha v e a l s o e s t a b l i s h e d machinery for enforcement of these rules through investigation and prosecution. Banks are being made to comply by regulatory bodies and Central Banks. All this is necessary to persuade correspondent banks in North America and Europe that there is minimal risk in providing CBR to respondent banks in the region.

However, compliance

with the rules is not enough.

Correspondent banks in North America and Europe are also concerned about the huge penalties they might have to pay if any infringement of the law occurs.

They believe that the relatively small amount of money they earn from individual Caribbean banks is not worth the risk. That, in large measure, is why they are withdrawing CBRs. For this reason, Caribbean banks should create one or two adequately capitalized entities to act as their collective agent with correspondent banks. In this

case, it is truly 'unite or perish'. And, the broader business community should join in. It's in their interest.

(The writer is Ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda to the United States and the Organization of American States. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies at the University of London and at Massey College in the University of Toronto.

The views expressed are entirely his own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)

Responses and previous c o m m e n t a r i e s : www.sirronaldsanders.com

From page 39 members of the National Assembly. · Enacting legislation for State boards requiring representation by the Opposition and Government based on a formula arising from Proportional Representation which includes the rest of the stakeholders. · Allowing greater percentage in the decisionmaking structure of regional and local governments. · The regional system will realise its intended autonomy through enactment of legislation consistent with Article 76 of

- realising Article 13 the Constitution which stipulates, “Parliament may provide for regional democratic councils to raise their own revenues and dispose of them for the benefit and welfare of their areas.” · Removal of party politics at the local government level, giving way to communities to identify and elect their leaders. This would allow the people at that level to take control of their villages and identify their needs at the level of the Local Democratic Organs.

Article 13 reads simply, "The principal objective of the political system of the State is to establish an inclusionary democracy by providing increasing opportunities for the participation of citizens, and their organisations in the management and decisionmaking processes of the State, with particular emphasis on those areas of decision-making that directly affect their wellbeing" A Lincoln Lewis presidency would be ushered in with a smile that can be interpreted as “Yes…we can now give meaning and continue the dream that our Independence fighters, those whose shoulders they stood on must have had when they fought for freedom and internal self-government”.

When we wrote into the

constitution, Article 13, which stands as a reminder of what the principal objective of our political system is, it speaks to individual and groups involvement in the management and decisionmaking processes that affect their well-being. It has the potential to give everyone the opportunity to be involved in planning not only at the national level but at the regional and local government levels.

My daydream is unfortunately at an end. I am not president! It's just me dreaming. But unlike some, I have a dream, it's one I am proud to share and desire to achieve. I wake to the reality that what I must continue to do is doggedly pursue the realisation of meaning being given to Article 13.

Guyanese deserve the fulfillment of the goals of those who wrote the Guyana Constitution.

A document that we must not tamper with willy-nilly and which offers us protection and guidance if we only take the time to appreciate and stop trying to malign it because of the era of its writing and under whose leadership it was written.

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

Sunday October 27, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 59

Kaieteur News

PAGE 60

Sunday October 27, 2019

Digital photo manipulation

Shamer Hescott, the man behind some extraordinary digital photo manipulations

- photography with an alluring difference

By Anasa Williams

G

enerally, people are accustomed to seeing photos in maybe a nature scene, at parties where one is caught off guard or even a planned and perfected model shoot.

While all of these are great, there is a side to photography that not many people are exposed to. It's called digital manipulation.

According to Wikipedia, digital photo manipulation is

transforming or altering a photograph using various methods and techniques to achieve the desired results.

There is a photographer in Guyana who is well known for such photography and this reporter recently caught up with him. What is interesting about this photographer is that he doesn't only do this type of photography but he is self taught and very good at what he does.

Shamer Hescott is his

name and he is a young man seemingly of few words but indeed a great deal of talent.

Born in Antigua, Hescott migrated to Guyana with his parents as a baby since they both are Guyanese and since his birth has lived here.

It is easy to see that Hescott not only has talent, but charisma and style.

Growing up in a home at Duncan Street Georgetown, he described his childhood as simple but comfortable as he was surrounded by a lot of

love.

Even as a child, he had an eye for art and would look at things and sketch them. "I could say I drew a lot, I would watch at things and draw them. Unfortunately, times change and I don't draw as much now," he said.

School for him was pretty much like every other child but he had a bit of a shift in environment when he was transferred from the public to the private school system. "I transferred from a public school to a private one at the end of Third Form. It was at the private school that I became interested in doing graphics on my laptop," Hescott recalled.

Hescott during his interview with me talked about his preference with his art and how he became interested in digital manipulations. Seeing his work one would want to surmise that he has a 'doctorate' in graphics.

Upon inquiry, however, it was discovered that he had

never studied art, photography or graphic designing for that matter in any way or form and has no plans to do so in the near future. This was clear when his replies to having studied and if he has any future plans to do so were “no and no�.

His love for digital art developed during his high school years when he saw a tutorial from a YouTuber in relation to using Adobe Photoshop. Since he was already doing graphics to an (continued on page 70)

Some of his handiwork

Sunday October 27, 2019

Kaieteur News

GRA partners with New Zealand Software Company to modernise tax system

F

ollowing a competitive international tender, DataTorque, a New Zealand software company, has been awarded a contract to improve the revenue mobilisation and tax administration for the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA).

DataTorque's “modern” and “fit-forpurpose” tax system will replace the GRA's current paper-based tax system allowing the GRA to comprehensively automate its tax administration.

This recognised software company is trusted by Governments across the world to collect billions of dollars in tax revenue, with the addition of transforming that country's public revenue system.

“DataTorque is proud to be able to assist in the GRA's process of public tax reform and modernisation,” said Managing Director of the company, Bill Chatwin.

The new system is said to make it easier for the GRA to expand its tax base, particularly with an expanding oil and gas industry. It will enable GRA to improve greater online self-service options to taxpayers and greater surety around their tax obligations; tools which are crucial to the GRA's tax reform journey.

Those GRA tax reform include promoting compliance through education and delivering

quality services with responsible enforcement programmes for the economic wellbeing of the people of Guyana.

The contract is the first for the DataTorque in South America, and follows successful existing partnerships in the Caribbean region with Governments in The Bahamas, Barbados and Haiti.

“We are committed to this region and our team is now enjoying working with our partners in Guyana so we can partner them in their tax reform goals. For us it's about collective success—working together to provide our tax reform expertise and best of breed technology, to contribute to the economic wellbeing of the people of Guyana,” said Chatwin.

PAGE 61

PAGE 62

Kaieteur News

Sunday October 27, 2019

Sunday October 27, 2019

Kaieteur News

Retired Head Teacher and Registration Officer…

Lynette Stephen

From page 22 project. Do enjoy the Lynette Stephen's Resource Centre and treat it with care and love, for it is out of love that t h e Ly n e t t e S t e p h e n ' s Resource Centre will be opened today.

I feel honoured, appreciated and blessed.”

Her teaching experience includes: Acting Teacher (1976-1989), Trained Class I Grade 1 Teacher (1991), Non-Graduate Head Teacher (1996-2004), Early Childhood Officer (19992 0 0 4 ) , Supervisor/Coordinator – Guyana Basic Education Te a c h e r Tr a i n i n g Programme – GBET (19992004), she participated in the 4th Caribbean Conference on Early Childhood Development themed: “Nurturing Young Minds to Meet Challenges (July 22nd – 26th, 2002).

“I really enjoyed teaching although I did not like it in the beginning. By being a teacher, I've had a lot of job satisfaction. Some of the children who I have taught have become doctors, magistrates and pilots…So, I really enjoyed teaching. It was a really rewarding experience for me,” Stephen said.

Apart from these, her experience with the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) includes: D i v i s i o n a l R e g i s t r a r, Deputy Registrar (19961997, 2000-2001), Distribution Clerk (2004), Registration Officer (2005Present), Returning Officer (2006), and Deputy Returning Officer (2011).

She is also as Ex-Officio Commissioner of Oaths to Affidavits for Region #8

is a 'Special Person' (2006).

DEVOTED MOTHER But she is so much more.

“I am blessed with nine children (five sons and four daughters), eighteen grandchildren and sixteen great-grandchildren. My sons own and manage their own businesses and my daughters are all qualified and employed,” she told this publication in an interview.

What is interesting to note is the fact that she was a single parent.

She recounted, “I used the monies I acquired from sewing to support my children, and even after I started teaching, I still continued sewing. But my income from teaching is what I supported my children with”.

As a devoted mother, she ensured that all of her children acquired an education. And today, she is reaping the rewards as she is proud of the career paths they have all chosen.

Her sons are all businessmen. One of her daughters, Denise Jourdain, is a Dentist, who was awarded a Chevening Scholarship to pursue her Master's degree in the United Kingdom.

Her other daughter, Natoya Stephen-Jourdain, has completed her PhD, and currently resides in N o r w a y. S h a u n e i l l a Jourdain, another one of Stephen's daughter followed in her footsteps and is currently a graduate Head Mistress. Another daughter, Candeda Jourdain, was also a teacher here in

A young Lynette Stephen strikes a pose with her students

Guyana before she migrated to the United States of America to live with her husband.

Stephen intimated that she ensure all her daughters ventured into academic careers as she did not want them being dependent on their spouses. In her free time, Stephen still enjoys sewing and revealed that she loves travelling.

For her tireless efforts in moulding the minds and characters of the nation's children and for always being the stalwart of her family, Kaieteur News is honoured to confer Ms Lynette Stephen with our 'Special Person' title for this week.

Stephen's during her teaching days in Mahdia

In the company of other teachers at a training programme back in the day

PAGE 63

Kaieteur News

PAGE 64

Sunday October 27, 2019

Gold miner's son recovered from abandoned Puruni water pit

Drowned: Keion Paul, 17

K

eion Paul, 17, also known as "Boyzie", died by drowning just after midday, Friday. He was the son of popular Puruni Gold Miner, Kemton Paul.

"Boyzie" at the time of the tragedy, was with three other males and about four

foreign women, all walking through an area of open abandoned water filled mining pits aback a popular shop on the Puruni Landing when one of the women in the group accidentally fell into one of these pits.

"Boyzie" then jumped into the pit after her, in an

The body of the teen being placed on a boat for Parika. attempt to rescue her, but he then also encountered difficulties.

A man who was in the group nearby then went into the pit after the duo, and was successful in getting the woman to safety, but after assessing that "Boysie" was able to stay afloat longer, he

was late in returning to further assist "Boyzie" who by then had disappeared below the surface of the water.

Residents were then alerted and immediately mobilised themselves into a search party. They used an excavator to create an outlet

for the water level in the pit while others dragged cords with hook-like contraptions at the end of these cords.

This exercise continued without success until nightfall, Friday, when the search was suspended.

Boyzie's Father Kempton kept watch the

entire night as the water level was slowly receding, when about dawn on Saturday, he saw the body surfacing.

It was later transported out to Bartica, and then transferred to a Georgetown Mortuary for a post mortem examination next Wednesday.

Guyana remains a hub for the trafficking of drugs

A

s the world continues to battle the demand and supply of drugs, the Director of the National Anti-Narcotics Agency (NA-NA), Michael Atherly, has said that Guyana remains a hub for the trafficking of drugs around the world.

This was noted by the Director during his speech at the opening of the Drug Treatment Court at the Georgetown Magistrates' Court last Monday.

According to Atherly, the

world drug problem remains a serious threat to public health, public safety and the well-being of nations. He added that it undermines the national security and serenity of States as well as their economic and political stability.

Atherly said, “Guyana is located within the hub of the transshipment roots of cocaine producing countries of South and Central America, to the North American and European markets.�

- NANA Director

NA-NA Director Michael Atherly

He continued by indicating that Drug Cartels carrying out these operations are of the opinion that profits gained from these markets overshadow the risk associated with illegal production and trafficking of drugs.

To this, the Director added that Guyana is not spared the distressing consequences of this problem and he believes that this drug problem must therefore be countered relentlessly.

In doing this all elements of national power must be applied and done so in a well

coordinated and balanced manner to deal with the difficulties that comes along with drugs.

The Director also took the opportunity to advocate for the vigorous implementation of the National Drug Strategy Master Plan. The plan is aimed at guiding and monitoring the actions of government departments and their stakeholders to reduce the demand for and supply of drugs as well as reducing harm from its use.

To combat the plight of drugs, it is the hope of the Judicial System that the drug

treatment court will reduce the consequences faced by this issue.

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.

Sunday October 27, 2019

PAGE 65

Kaieteur News

STANDARDS IN FOCUS

BREAST CANCER - AN ISO STANDARD OFFERS TESTING SUPPORT The most common cancer in women worldwide, both in the developed and the developing world is breast cancer.

As we observe Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we are reminded of the impact of the disease on our women folks.

However, the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) has developed a number of International Standards to support digital imaging, in particular, the ISO 12052:2017, Health informatics – Digital imaging and communication in medicine (DICOM) including workflow and data management.

Early detection of breast cancer is one of the best methods to improve survival rate.

Detection can be done by hand and by using mammography screening. A mammogram is an X-ray exam of the breasts to look for abnormal changes. The results can go directly into a computer and become a digital image ready to be read and analysed by a radiologist. According to the International Agency on Research on Cancer (IARC), in high-income countries where screening coverage is over 70%, mammography screening can reduce breast cancer mortality by 20 to 30% in women over 50 years old.

The ISO 12052:2017 standard allows digital images and related information to be exchanged and managed by the many different medical imaging devices and IT systems,

from many different vendors, that are in use today.

Without this standard, the operation of a modern radiology department would not be possible. As Kevin O'Donnell, one of the experts in the ISO Technical Committee that develops and maintains ISO 12052, explained: "Thanks to the standard, images can be read on any equipment.

The DICOM format allows these images to be uploaded and reviewed wherever they are taken. Being able to compare current images to prior images to get a sense of changes and progression, or lack thereof, is vital for radiologists and oncologists.

Mammography screening is increasingly used to catch breast cancer early and the number of images that a radiologist is expected to read today would be impossible using the old film-based workflows. Digital image acquisition and review, which is enabled by ISO 12052, makes modern mammography possible," he explained.

Similarly, the use of the standard has facilitated data handling in the many clinical trials conducted in the area of breast cancer research.

In addition, the successful exchange of information helps make patients' lives easier. DICOM images recorded on media such as CDs, DVDs, and USB have been used for years to give patients full fidelity copies of their images. Kevin O'Donnell under-

lined the important contribution of the standard to breast cancer diagnosis: "DICOM is used in most healthcare institutions worldwide where patient imaging is performed. “Every mammography system shipped today supports the ISO 12052 standard.

Every image taken is either transmitted to the radiologist using a DICOM Standard protocol, or, in older clinics, sent to a printer using a DICOM Standard protocol."

ISO 12052:2017, within the field of health informatics, addresses the exchange of digital images and information related to the production and management of those images, between both medical imaging equipment and systems concerned with the management and communication of that information.

The standard facilitates interoperability of medical imaging equipment through many means including network communications, a set of protocols to be followed by devices claiming conformance to this document; and testing/ validation procedure to assess an implementation's conformance to this document.

ISO 12052:2017 has been developed with an emphasis on diagnostic medical imaging as practiced in radiology, cardiology, pathology, dentistry, ophthalmology and related disciplines, and image-based therapies such as interventional radiology, radiotherapy and surgery.

However, it is also applicable to a wide range of image and non-image related information exchanged in clinical, research, veterinary, and other

medical environments.

The ISO 21052:2017 can be purchased from the ISO Store, which can be accessed through the GNBS Website:

www.gnbsgy.org.

For further information, contact the GNBS on telephone numbers: 219-0065 or 219-0064.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 66

Sunday October 27, 2019

Versailles - a settlement abuzz with joyous people FOCUS

By Alex Wayne I felt really at ease in this village since it had a quiet peace to it, coupled with the peaceful calm that seemed to engulf it entirely. Here and there residents basked in the shade of jamoon and genip trees, while in some areas villagers longed in comfort outside food stall enjoying, fruit juices, the traditional home brewed mauby, or having mid-morning Creole snacks.

I was in the village of Versailles, West Bank Demerara , one of the French-named places in Guyana, which is bounded by the villages of Malgre Tout and Goed Fortuin, and is situated about one mile north of the Demerara Harbour Bridge.

Versailles is an estate and is located in Essequibo Islands-West Demerara, Guyana with an estimated terrain elevation which is said to be one metre above sea level.

This was certainly where I wanted to be…In a village filled with mirth and laughter, where a certain refreshing joy seemed to emit from the conversations and interaction of residents.

Everyone I spoke to had a smile and many beamed in d e l i g h t d u r i n g conversations…

It was as if the cares of the world brought no burden to the inhabitants and if they did, they certainly knew how to throw it and present happy and contented demeanours.

Versailles is also said to have had a quite large soap factory, and a massive guava grove that disappeared as years went by.

This village is predominantly inhabited residents of African descent, but the strong bond of filial love, harmony and camaraderie existing between them and the small number of East Indians (and other races) is palpable.

In the early 1990s, what is now the beautiful Roraima Housing Scheme in Versailles actually used to be the location of the Versailles Sugar Estate.

That estate fell into disuse several years ago, and was replaced, in 1995, by an extensive soap factory that supplied the laundry needs of a wide expanse of Guyana.

But, in 1996, this soap factory also ceased operating, and the area was then taken over by the now

Yester-year styled buildings still remains in the village.

CEO of the Aracari Resort, Sase Shewnarain, who was in control and had responsibility for overseeing the entire location.

At that time, this area was a very large guava grove with thick, wild vegetation, and was not really traversed by anyone.

Shewnarain seemingly invested heavily in this very undeveloped land; and, over time, the formation of land plots could be seen, as well as the bustle of certified individuals measuring and conducting land surveys at his bidding.

In the late 1990s, the still very bushy area was taken over by established land owners and a community was in the making.

By the early 2000s, the Roraima Housing Scheme began to take form, and indeed became quite a very picturesque location.

As historic facts suggest Versailles Village in Guyana was named (French pronunciation: [v[ sQj] after city in the Yvelines département in the Île-deFrance region, renowned worldwide for the Château de Versailles and the gardens of Versailles, designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Located in the western suburbs of the French capital, 17.1 km (10.6 mi) from the centre of Paris, Versailles is in the 21st century a wealthy suburb of Paris with a service-based

Villagers congregate on weekends at the Aracari Resort.

economy and a major tourist destination as well.

According to the 2008 census, the population of the city was 88,641 inhabitants, down from a peak of 94,145 in 1975.

A new town founded at the will of King Louis XIV, Versailles was the de facto capital of the Kingdom of France for over a century, from 1682 to 1789, before becoming the cradle of the French Revolution. After having lost its status of royal city, it became the préfecture (regional capital) of the Seine-et-Oise département in 1790, then of Yvelines in 1968. It is also a Roman Catholic diocese.

Versailles is historically known for numerous treaties such as the Treaty of Paris,

which ended the American Revolution, and the Treaty of Versailles, after World War I. Today, the Congress of France – the name given to the body created when houses of the French Parliament, the National Assembly and the Senate, meet – gathers in the Château de Versailles to vote on revisions to the Constitution.

Soaking up the Harmony My first stop was in the vicinity of the small jetty used by fishermen who plied their trade in the village.

It was quite a bemusing spectacle as the fishermen sat around at nearby food stall wolfing down egg balls, channa, black pudding and of course roti and curried chicken or beef.

I almost laughed out loud at the slurping sounds they made as they took large mouthfuls of food items, still attempting to fill their mouths more with large gulps of cherry juice, or golden apple drink.

I rolled my eyes heavenward as they took their fingers and wiped up gravy from plate before sucking it off with annoying sounds.

Some of them chased after each other like fun filled children and I just marveled at this spectacle.

I introduced myself and one of the men moved over to make seating room for me on a bench provided. One of them mouthed, “Yuh gon drink something boss man?” and I accepted a cherry juice, readily.

Joseph Hinds, a fisherman, readily plunged into the tale of arson

committed at the jetty, and how it affected their trade.

“Boy, we just have to make we self merry. If we tek on anything, we ain’t gon enjoy this life at all. Imagine t h e o t h e r d a y, w e hardwukking fishermen was home sleeping and a stupid junkie bun down this whole jetty. You know how much things we lose?

“Really…really expensive equipment we lose and we can’t get back anything because de police say the junkie is a madman.

Now who gon give we back what we lost? Then people had to spend lots of money to repair back de structure because we got to work fuh eat and mind we family… I hope the Government or somebody will look into we situation.”

Desmond Duke spoke of the livelihood of villagers and how they implemented measures to deal with what is lacking in the village.

“This is a very peaceful village and we certainly do enjoy it too. In this village, you will find simple, peaceful and quite happy people. We ain’t get dem fancy thing you would find in the city but we learn to make do…

“We do not wait on nobody to fix anything because they always take ages to arrive or they never come at all. Here we fix our bridges, build our dams, weed our parapets and dig our drains. People here have always adopted the self-help mode and it has been always working for us.

“Many villagers here are fishermen, but we do have (Continued on page 67)

Sunday October 27, 2019 From page 66 few farmers and shop keepers. A few work at the lone sawmill in the village, while others are engaged in various jobs outside the village.

“Here, we would hardly contract outside persons to do cement work and building duties. There are quite a few masons and carpenters in the village, so if you come around often, you would observe that, most times, we engage in… well, let’s say, self-help exercises.”

From conversations and interviews with villagers, we learned that Versailles has always been a purely residential community; and that all residents had to do was take a two-mile trip to Vreed-en-Hoop to be able to fill their baskets and closets with purchases from the many dry goods stores and fashion outlets located there.

Theodore Phillips spoke of the unity and strong bond amongst villagers, and from all accounts, he was relishing in that tale.

“This village operates like one big, happy family.

We eat together, wake up together, dwell together and do practically everything together.

The love and harmony is quite evident in the manner in which the different races operate.

“Here we accept and embrace differences in culture and beliefs, and in some case practice them too.

The love for a neighbour and friend is more evident when we host the annual Mayfair in the small ball field close to the jetty.

“Everyone come out in their numbers, to ‘dine and wine’, and even get drunk together. If a man too drunk to get home, someone will definitely help him. If a woman has nothing to cook, she can go to the door of any neighbour and would surely

get help. “ And if you touch a villager wrongfully, prepare for a big fight because residents will come out in their numbers to represent…”

Priscilla Benjamin (housewife) spoke about the lack of entertainment avenues in the village and how they have adapted.

“We don’t have discos or any nightspots here. This is a very small village, with not much space for massive structures. But we are certainly not missing out on anything since we have several bars in the nearby Goed Fortuin.

“In our village, however, is the Aracari Resort which has quite a family oriented atmosphere.

There we can take our picnic baskets and such likes and have a good time in the pool on weekends.

They also host several concept parties there as well, so the youngsters will gather there from time to time.

Also not so long ago, another resort called Tropical Paradise Resort has opened at Bagotville and it’s quite nice as well.

So now, villagers have choices of where they want to spend the weekends. We are not missing out on anything at all in Versailles.”

Folks at the R. Sukram Lumber Yard refused to talk to the media, and employees at the Aracari Resort did not want to comment as well, running away from the cameras.

The Aracari Resort seemed to be the main entertainment hub in the village, an impressive facility that was established in June 2008…Scattered across a vast 150,000 square feet of historic Dutch plantation land, the resort has 51 units of various types and sizes, which cater to vacationers, professionals,

The Tularam Supermarket where villagers get their grocery and household supplies.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 67

Fishermen execute repairs to the jetty that was torched by a junkie.

Police removed a ‘junkie’ from this shack after he allegedly torched the Versailles jetty causing fishermen to lose million in damages

and budget conscious travelers.

I must have noticed about two churches in the village,

but the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses seemed to be the facility that is well attended by villagers.

Residents explained, however, that several other Christian churches of other denominations exist in

nearby villages, as well as mosques and temples for Muslims and Hindus.

The village has its own health centre, but it offers services to persons residing outside of the location.

The Versailles Nursery School is the only school in Versailles. Older students attend primary and secondary schools located outside the village, and the top scholars of the area have secured placement in some of the more prestigious schools in the city.

Come mingle with the fishermen and enjoy their joyful banter, or come meddle with the housewives and learn their impressive culinary talents.

Come enjoy the clean Atlantic Breeze as you snooze beneath a cascading tamarind tree.

Whatever you do, do not rob yourself of the delights of this quiet and peaceful little village.

PAGE 68

Sunday October 27, 2019

Kaieteur News

Linden hospital...

SERVICES

FOR SALE

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

1 Perkins Marine Diesel 120 Horse Power, 1 Drill Press, 1 Honda Welder.Tel#699-4147.

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 Austin Powers Repairs & Services- We repair AC, Washers, Fridge, Freezers, Dryers, Gas stoves. Located at Vigilance ECD. Tel# 6852588/613-1711 Installation, Repairs and parts for AC, Fridge, Washing Machine, Stove etc. Call Nick 630-1600, 627-3206

(2) GM Marine Diesel, (1) GM Stationary Diesel Engine, (1) 28 Horse Power Merphy Diesel welder etc. Tel#2285797.

Green Heart Wooden Building only for Sale $240,000 Negotiable.Phone # 501-3706/ 652-7454.

FOR RENT

WANTED

VACANCY

One Four bedroom concrete cottage, unfurnished for rent, located at 26 Continential Park, Peter’s Hall, East Bank Demerara. Tel#233-5808

Minibus driver living in G/ town to work with company. #646-8748

Clerk & Domestic live-in Facilities for Berbicians and Essequibians 219-5354.

Farmhand- Individual or with family to live and work on farm on the Linden Highway.

Tel#649-8888

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.

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

VEHICLE FOR SALE 1 Pitbull bus. Tel#643-7432/ 666-5268 1 RZ Mini Bus, Manual Price $900,000 Neg.Call#691-2494.

LAND FOR SALE

2 bedroom apartment, has prepaid meter, has telephone, Located @ First Bridge, Grove. $60,000 monthly, working couple/single.

Tel#678-9112 1-3 bedroom bottom flat to rent, Phase one Good Hope, ECD. Phone #690-3544

CUSTOMS BROKERAGE/ ASCUYDA CERTIFIED MOTOR VEHICLES, AUTOMOTIVE SPARE PARTS. #661-3043. TEL/ WHATSAPP

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

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

Double Lot Eccles, Providence, Melanie, Soesdyke Linden Highway, Moblissa. Contact Ray's Realty #627-9685

House plan to draw or you just estimate. Call: 216-0671/ 692-8464. Whatsapp #6220267

Farm Main road (East Bank) 105ft x 67ft $6.8M Schnoord (100ft x 50ft) $3.6M Parfaite Harmonie $1.4M. Tel# 6560701 /651-1969

Office & Business space, Hadfield, High and Saffon St, Georgetown. Contact Ray’s Realty #627-9685

TO LET

WANTED

1 bedroom apartment for working couple/single person $35,000 monthly.

Light & Water included. 2 months security. Call: 6230076

Wanted:One Male Security night guard to work on the lowerEastCoast Demerara.Contact: 225-9304/ 226-0772.

EAST SREET- Two bedrooms, TOP and BOTTOM FLATS, near Georgetown Hospital.

Tel#225-3756/671-0690

Experienced Canter Driver/ Expeditor.Age 25-55 Yrs.Must have a Secondary Education.Call:675-0587/2259304.

Need a land surveyor? We do surveys for: Boundaries, Leases, engineering, cadastral, topo etc. Call: 6622677 Mason- Experienced in casting, block work and plastering. Available on call/ Tel# 619-3296/231-2060 MASSAGE HERBAL REMEDIES: DIABETES, INFERTILITY, MENSTRUAL DISORDERS, ENLARGED PROSTATE, KIDNEY, GALL STONES & SKIN DISORDERS ETC. CALL SPARMAN #6765924 PEN PAL A Single Male interested in a single female, 40-45 Yrs.Likeness for Agri Nature Adventure.Text/Call:6672780.

EAST STREET, FURNISHEDThree bedrooms, top flat near GeorgetownHospital.

Tel#225-3756/671-0690 Stall at Vreed-En-Hoop Stelling.Call:692-8613.

2 bedroom house, Crane H/S WCD. Tel#671-6855 Rooms. Tel#225-3234

Self contained rooms to rent in Prashad Nagar. Tel#2272993

One Experienced Electrician to work in Mahadia with 2-5 years experience. Tel#6999458 Taxi Driver. Experienced Washbay Staff #664-0802 Full time caretaker for Bible Camp Site, located @ Timehri, probably 25-50, married. Call: 615-1832/256-0488/686-6657 One Part time cooking maid required and a full time cleaning maid. Call: 231-0734/ 653-4537 Truck team to transport materials. China Railway First Group, located on the ECD. Tel#691-8131/600-0722 2 Waitress at D’Edward Village Berbice.Tel#327-5923/6855024 Experienced dredge workers for land dredge and one male c o o k . $ 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 Monthly.Tel#672-3359.

Urgently need one houselot to buy. Tel#648-1635

One 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom upper flat at Friendship,East Bank Demerara. Call 696 7924 for more information.

Apartment for Rent, Safe and prime area in Georgetown.Hot & Cold Shower, AC & more.Call#652-7454.

“Motor Lorry Drivers & Sales Agents for DemBake @ Land of Canaan. Email CV to: hr@demerarabakery.com or call 266-5848.”

One Bike Mechanic. One handy man.Call#628-9268.

Front End Loader Operator to work in the Interior.Tel#2235180.

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

Vacancy for (2) Professional nail technician. Location: Grove market street, EBD. #652-5800 Security Officers to work, preferably ex army,police or disciplined services. Age 2440. Contact #223-4172/6396648 General domestic. 3 Days work. Must know to cook.

Apply with 2 references.

KeyFood McDoom village Driver/Expediter. Contact #223-5273/223-5274 One (1) Clerk for TSI Eccles Industrial Site Office. English -1, Mathematics-2, Quickbooks. Call: 615-9132 PROPERTY FOR SALE EAST STREET- Two storey building, four bedrooms, near Georgetown Hospital.

Tel#225-3756/671-0690 Melanie, Enterprise & Enmore ECD, Zeelugt WCD, Campbellville, Kitty, Broad St, Ketley St, Georgetown, Republic Gardens, Craig & Providence. Contact Ray’s Realty #627-9685 Concrete building, 3 bedroom house, 4 houses away from Public Road, Enmore. Price Negotiable. Tel#680-4917 Newly constructed 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom, house overlooking the sea for sale, ECD#675-1510/613-7964 3 Bedroom 1 Storey Concrete Property @ Tuschen New Housing Scheme E.B.E Tel#682-1069.

Property for sale by owner.Contact#695-7223/6435989.Address:179 between Albert & Charlotte St.Price is Neg.‘

AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL:PICKUP,9-11 SEAT MINI BUS, GOOD FOR AIRPORT & FAMILY OUTINGS, CHEAPEST RATE . Call: 698-7807 LEARN TO DRIVE N. Outar Driving School, Learn to Drive the right way @ Cuffy Square. Affordable package.

Call: 644-5166/691-2561/6812808

EDUCATION Care for elderly, care for children. First Aid & CPR. #227-4881

From page 15 respected in the community.

“You see those people out there? They are his friends that he used to play cricket with. They camp out there since this morning, and they ain’t about to move anytime soon!”Reddock’s cousin, Deionzra Etienne, and sister of Sheshyka Etienne, said that the accident has opened up all the wounds of losing her sister, bringing back all the memories and pain afresh.

Another relative, Bernadette, had earlier, quipped, “Right now, Eon and Shashyka meeting up in heaven! They greeting each other!”

At Clarke’s home, the atmosphere was somber with friends and relatives dropping by to offer condolences.

His father, Travis Clarke, stood quietly speaking with friends. In an exclusive interview with this newspaper, he related sadly, “This is a terrible experience for me. It will teach me that when I don’t want to do something, I must say no, and mean it. I didn’t want to give him the car, but he begged me for more than an hour to borrow it, and I eventually gave him. I’m sorry I did!”

Clarke said that his son wanted to use the car to go to the pageant across the river (Wismar).

He said that he got the message about the accident, shortly after three yesterday morning.“I immediately went to the scene, but by then they had already taken him to the hospital.” He said that Tristan was his only son, and the eldest of his five children. He was also the only son for his mother, and was also her eldest. Clarke described his son as a very obedient child who never got into trouble.

“He didn’t drink or smoke. I never had any complaints about him”.

The grieving man said that Tristan had only last September, enrolled at the Linden Technical Institute.

He was a former student of the Wismar Christianburg Secondary School.

Regional Chairman, Rennis Morian, has expressed condolences to both families, and is urging motorists to take more care on the roadways. Staff of the Linden Hospital Complex, are contemplating strike action, to protest conditions of work, and lack of proper coverage, in cases of accidents on the job. GPSU Region Ten Representative, Maurice Butters, is lamenting these and other issues at the hospital. “A lot of things around this hospital, need changing. For one thing, these vehicles are not properly insured, so in cases of accidents, workers suffer and have little or nothing to get. These things have to be looked into”, Butters emphasised.

Sunday October 27, 2019

PAGE 69

Kaieteur News

CONSUMER CONCERNS DIWALI SHUBH! HAPPY DIWALI! -- A SYMBOL OF THE PLURAL SOCIETY AND CULTURE

BY PAT DIAL The date of Diwali or Deepavali, like Easter and all other ancient holy days, is arrived at on the basis of formulae laid down by ancient astronomers in their observation of the movements of the moon. Accordingly, these ancient holy days fall on different calendar dates each year since the calendar is solar and not lunar.

Diwali is said to fall on the darkest night of the year and this tradition is unchallenged.

Christmas, on the other hand, is a solar holiday and falls immediately after the Winter Solstice which is the shortest day of the year though not necessarily the darkest.

Christmas and Diwali are the two most colourful and celebratory festivals in the Guyanese holiday calendar and both are underpinned by strong moral and ethical foundations.

Diwali has been celebrated for over five thousand years and over these many millennia, various traditions would have become attached to it.

In Guyana, the two most popular of such traditions are firstly its association with Maha Lakshmi, one of the most important deities in the Hindu tradition.

She represents Light and Enlightenment and those who desire wisdom and Salvation would worship her.

At Diwali, there are lights everywhere symbolising the elimination of the darkness of ignorance. Maha Lakshmi also represents the economic aspects of God - finance, business and money in general.

This aspect of Maha Lakshmi

is represented by one of the hands of her icon from which there is a continuous flow of gold coins.

The ubiquitous lights of Diwali represent the elimination of the darkness of ignorance from the world. To express this economic aspect of God, on Diwali, financial accounts are closed and the new financial year is opened and investments are made and business plans are worked out.

Many would also spend the night indulging in games of chance. Those who would wish to become wealthy would worship Maha Lakshmi with full devotion.

Another tradition of Diwali is associated with Lord Rama who was both an incarnation of God and a model king.

Owing to a promise which his father, the reigning king, was forced to make that the heir, apparent Rama would not succeed to the throne, but instead his brother Bharat, Lord Rama had to go into exile in the forests for 14 years when his father died.

Bharat was however a man of great moral strength and governed the kingdom of Ayodhya in Rama's name and as his representative. After 14 years of exile, Lord Rama returned and on the night of his return, the citizens were so overjoyed that they spontaneously lit thousands of diyas throughout the kingdom to celebrate. The tradition of the Diwali lights dates from Rama's return from exile.

These two traditions of the origin of Diwali are the most popular in Guyana and like Christmas, Diwali is celebrated with a Guyanese

flavour. People would keep open house where visitors could call and celebrate with eating sweetmeats or even a full meal. Boxes of sweetmeats would be sent to friends and relatives and all neighbours.

Fireworks are shot off everywhere and homes are lit up with fairy lights as well as diyas but the most spectacular event of the Diwali evening are the motorcades in each of the three counties where lorries, agricultural machines and other motor vehicles are transformed into artistically created Diwali themes in lights. These motorcades attract tens of thousands of spectators.

Diwali is the most widely celebrated and colourful festival celebrated in Guyana.

Until Independence, the festival was celebrated largely only by members of the Indian community. When it became a public holiday, there was a steady involvement of all communities and cultural groups in it and they soon began to possess it.

For instance, though the festival has a religious genesis, even this is beginning to be transcended as when Roman Catholic Bishop Guilly, some years ago, enjoined Catholics to place a lighted candle in their window on Diwali night.

Diwali has helped to enrich the total cultural and social life of Guyana; it is an example of the integrative benefit, which pluralism in culture and social life offers.

All governments of Guyana since Independence have been committed to building a truly plural society but they have never done enough

to articulate it. For instance, during Indigenous Peoples' Month (i.e. Amerindian History Month) in September, much was done to promote the Indigenous Peoples' way of

life, including their languages but absolutely nothing was said that those activities were part of the movement to build a creative plural society.

There is need for the main-

stream political parties and Government to emphasise that their social and cultural policies are directed to building a creative plural society in Guyana.

PAGE 70

Sunday October 27, 2019

Kaieteur News

GECOM avoids online disclosure of House-to-House data The Secretariat of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) had committed to publishing the House-toHouse data for public scrutiny, but it turns out that the publication of that data has been limited to the GECOM registration offices.

GECOM Public Relations Officer, Yolanda Ward, told this publication that the lists have not been published online.From a perusal of the list at GECOMs Croal Street Registration office, Kaieteur

News determined that the Secretariat did not place the entire list at every registration office, but only the lists for the persons registered in a certain registration district at their respective offices.

There isnt one House-toHouse list, but several; each one for a specific division.

On each list, the registrants are listed in the following order: registrants that have been struck off of the Preliminary List of Electors (PLE), registrants that have

been added to the PLE, and registrants whose information has been corrected.

The publics ability to scrutinise the House-toHouse data is drastically reduced by the lack of availability of these lists online and at all GECOM registration offices. The lists are posted besides the PLE, which is there for the ongoing Claims and Objections exercise.

The data obtained from House-to-House registration has been a matter of conten-

Digital photo manipulation From page 60 extent, this was an added bonus.

In the beginning, he was mainly recreating movie covers and after a lot of experiments and failures in between, now, several years later, the work he puts out is a result of raw talent and tons of YouTube tutorials.

"My first graphic piece was probably a recreation of a movie poster; however, I can't remember exactly which one or where it is," he sheepishly admitted. Ads and other digitally created pieces are part of his inspiration. Every

time he saw something of that nature, he would ask himself: “how can I do the same?”

This was the driving force that fuelled his passion. "I'm inspired by a lot of things like art. I have several artists who I look up to in the same field of work like I do. I'm inspired by myself every time I create something new it inspires me keep getting better," Hescott said.A majority of Hescott's work are themes applicable to nature and space; however, he comes up with ideas depending on his mood. “It's like a mood thing. Like a theme I was going for when posting...”

People's reactions to his work are mainly positive and Hescott certainly thrives on this positive energy.

“People's reactions are always positive and mostly amazed by the things I create,” he intimated. Many have concluded that being the type of person he is, it is expected that he will go on creating beautiful pieces, which helps to put smiles on the faces of many.

To see more of Hescott's unique work that he is constantly posting, you can checkout his Instagram page @ShamerHescott.

tion for some time now, since it was not supported by the Opposition, and since the Peoples Progressive Party (PPP) had not sent scrutineers to participate.

About 370,000 persons were registered during the exercise, with about 336,000 being over the age of 18.

The others are 14 to 17 years old. The last batch of encoded data should be sent off by now for fingerprint cross matching, as several Commissioners informed reporters last week that all of the data had been encoded, and that they had already received a report on the first batch of crossmatched prints after they got back. Several Commissioners have revealed that it is still unclear how they data will be used, and that the Chair would have to make a definitive statement on that matter.

The House-to-House lists alongside the Preliminary List of Electors are a GECOM office

GRA alerted to Rusals...

From page 14 workers refused orders to leave the housing quarters in Aroaima.The company had been under the microscope for similarly firing 57 workers in 2009.

Those workers were never reinstated.

Until now, Government has largely left the company alone, fearing a possible pullout.

Government had sent in teams, including ministers, and even invited the companys representatives to meet its labour officials to diffuse the matter.

Sunday October 27, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 71

PAGE 72

Sunday October 27, 2019

Kaieteur News

Today, we at Kaieteur News join our Hindu brothers and evil.

We extend Happy Diwali wishes to all of Guyana and so do sisters to celebrate Diwali – the festival of lights. We hope that the brightness of this day will signify the importance of embrac- other individuals and organisations some of which can be found ing new beginnings and by extension the triumph of good over below.

PEOPLE’S NATIONAL CONGRESS REFORM The People’s National Congress Reform takes this opportunity to extend greetings to the Hindu Community in Guyana and indeed, to all Guyanese, on the occasion of Deepavali or Diwali.

Diwali occurs on the night of Amavasya (New Moon) in the month of Kartik, which is considered to be the darkest night on the Hindu calendar and marks the return of Lord Rama after 14 years in exile. To welcome his return and to light his path, diyas were lit.

Diwali is a joyous celebration of inner light over spiritual darkness, knowledge over ignorance and right over wrong. It is a festive restatement of the Hindu belief that good ulti-

mately triumphs over evil.

The PNCR has always been and will always remain respectful of Guyana’s cultural and religious diversity and believes that our diversity has worked and will continue to work to the country’s advantage. Guyana is a multireligious, multi-ethnic and multi-cultural country. Our diversity is an asset not a liability. Our Party is proud to belong to a society of many faiths.

As we celebrate Diwali, the PNCR remains committed to ensuring unity in diversity so that our beloved country can experience real development and progress.

Shubh Diwali to all Guyanese!

Georgetown Mayor, Pandit Ubraj Narine Deepavali is a very auspicious occasion for Hindus across the world. The Foundation of Hinduism is the essence of unity in diversity.

This is applicable in our country where multi-ethnic- cultural and multi-religious groups make up our national citizenry.

Deepavali is a time of great religious significance, as spiritual symbol of good over evil, light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance.

This festival as we know represents light, vision, illumination and enlightenment. It is not simple lighting the physical diya itself, but using this as a symbol; the clay diya represents the body, the oil signify everything we pour into our mind and body, and the wick symbolising the medium through which our qualities

are displayed, being our thoughts, words and actions.

Taken to the level of the nation, the triumph of good over evil reassures us that our adversities and challenges can overcome and that we can also shine in society regardless of the darkness around us. We are at a time in our country where we need to remember that ‘good will’ is victorious, that hope and love will triumph over darkness and despair. We must remain hopeful and trust that our prayers will be answered and that our faith will not go in vain. There is a tremendous potential for Guyana to transform its economy, for our strength comes from our unity and only when we are united, we can overcome darkness.

It is my belief that the nation comes to life with each

ETHNIC RELATIONS COMMISSION The Ethnic Relations Commission continues to spread the message of harmony and good relations amongst all Guyanese as was evident during a Diwali Celebration, held at its Queenstown office on Friday.

Participating in the programme were students of Cove and John Hindu College and Valmiki College, - who shared their knowledge on the significance of the festival and participated in the singing of Religious Bhajans.

Making brief remarks at the celebration, ERC’s Commissioner and representative of the Hindu Bodies Sister Rajkumarie Singh said that in a plural society like Guyana, with many different cultures, - people have managed to embrace each other’s culture.

More importantly, she highlighted: “This festival of lights or Deepavali which literally means a row of lights is a very beautiful festival that transcends social, economic, racial and religious barriers. It

is so because it is an inner call to re-kindle this pure light in our hearts.”

Commissioner Singh also explained that light signifies the spiritual elimination brought about by truth, knowledge, love and peace.

To this end, she called on all Guyanese to pray for peace and harmony, as they ardently strive towards eradicating darkness in the form of untruth, ignorance, jealousy and greed. Instead, she urged all to usher in their hearts the inner light that signifies Care, Compassion, Truth, Honesty and Integrity.

The event which was attended by Commissioners, Staff, representatives from sister organisations and students from nearby Schools also showcased the lighting of the symbolic Diya and a musical interlude by members of the Indian Cultural Centre.

The ERC’s celebration of Diwali 2019 forms part of its efforts to build a unified Guyana.

festival, and the joy that we experience at these times helps us to cope with the stress of daily loving, and reminds us that we are capable of being joyful human beings. Joy comes from the participation in each festival, the unity in families and communities, in the variance of food and culture, the enjoyment of music and entertainment As people across our beloved nation gather together to illuminate their homes, their communities and their hearts, let us be the light we want to see in the world, and let our little lights fill the world around us so that we can share greater knowledge, affection and compassion to our fellow brothers and sisters. I take this opportunity to wish the entire nation a Shubh Deepavali.

HEAD OF STATE, DAVID GRANGER I extend greetings to all Guyanese on the occasion of the joyous, religious festival of Diwali – the festival of lights.Diwali is a significant celebration. It is a cultural retention of the Hindu community and is observed by all as a national holiday. This ancient Hindu festival was brought to our shores one hundred and eighty one years ago. The festival recalls how

kindness and righteousness.

It reminds us of the nation’s cultural diversity which, when respected, shields us from division and disintegration.

Guyana is becoming a more cohesive society as our people continue to work together, across geographical, racial and religious boundaries, to forge a stronger a more united nation.

Happy Diwali 2019!

INDIAN ACTION COMMITTEE The Indian Action Committee (IAC) extends Diwali greetings to all Guyanese, especially persons who are adherents of Sanatana Dharma on the occasion of the now globallyrecognised festival of Deepavali or Diwali, which is derived from the Sanskrit language and means “a row of lights”. Diwali falls on the new moon night of the month of Kartika and is celebrated over a period of five days in India.Diwali is associated with several mythological stories, one of them dealing with the belief of Hindus that, on the day of Diwali, Lord Rama returned to Ayodhya after defeating Ravana, King of Lanka, and that the people of Ayodhya celebrated his return by lighting thousands of diyas.The IAC recognises that in Guyana the Goddess Lakshmi Maataa or Maha Lakshmi is venerated on the day of

Diwali, her devotees ardently believing that their veneration of her will result in wealth and prosperity being bestowed upon them in the future.The bright lights of Diwali are believed,

by Hindus, to guide and welcome Lakshmi Maataa into their homes where she can bestow her blessings on them and their families, and also to guide and welcome Lord Rama back to Ayodhya.

The bright lights of Diwali are also considered to signify the illuminatory power of knowledge, which destroys the darkness of ignorance and also to represent the triumph of good over evil.The IAC calls upon all Guyanese to respect the sanctity of Diwali and engage in appropriate and fitting observances and activities.

Shubh Diwali

ALLIANCE FOR CHANGE The Alliance For Change extends our best wishes to the Hindu community of Guyana on this the largest and brightest Festival on your annual calendar. In this celebration of life and goodness,

PEOPLE’S PROGRESSIVE the end, compassion will triPARTY umph over despair. Let us also Once again Deepavali, commonly known as the “Festival of Lights”, is upon us.

Its significance is most relevant for the advancement of humanity as its universal messages of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and good over evil, remain a reservoir of inspiration. In our quest for upliftment, these messages allow us to recognise not only the outer darkness that surrounds and engulfs us, but also the spiritual darkness within. Like all of our national festivals, Deepavali has transcended religious borders, and has become a major component of the Guyanese cultural mosaic.

The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) takes this opportunity to extend greetings to all Guyanese, especially our Hindu brothers and sisters.

Our Party urges that the pertinent messages that Deepavali teaches, be reflected upon and heeded. Let’s be comforted knowing that knowledge will defeat ignorance and that in

the people of Ayodhya lit small earthen lamps (diya) to illuminate the way for the return of Ram and Sita.Diwali’s moral message is universal.

Diwali signifies the triumph of good over evil, knowledge over ignorance, prosperity over poverty and hope over despair and the joy of homecoming.Diwali reminds us of the values, which unite us as a nation – compassion,

use this occasion to be inspired to work in the best interest of all Guyanese and to build stronger bonds of togetherness as we participate in the various events that have come to be associated with this truly national festival. Shubh Deepavali to All!

the AFC sincerely hopes that the auspiciousness, strength and wisdom that Diwali represents, will continue to guide the paths you take in the near and distant future.

Diwali or Deepavali adds greater significance from the vanquishing of evil by Lord Rama. Guyana is on a similar path, with rows of lights laid down to guide our way forward.

The AFC fully embraces the brilliance of Diwali and the effect that this Festival of Lights has on all of us. It has become much more than a religious festival, and it impacts Guyanese from all walks of life.

The rows and creative designs of lights, diyas and colourful Rangolis bring out our collective joy and brotherliness.

AFC urges Guyanese of all faiths to transfer the teachings of Diwali into family and social relationships. This Festival is a true lesson in togetherness, and a celebration of joy in accomplishment. We must all remember that Diwali is a celebration of life itself, and that the lights and diyas, the cleanliness and brilliant colours represent hope and love for all humankind.

Happy Diwali to all Guyanese.

GUYANAAGRICULTURALAND GENERAL WORKERS UNION The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) is once again pleased to join with all Guyanese and especially our Hindu community, to celebrate Diwali, widely regarded as the Festival of Lights.

The Diwali observances give us an appropriate occasion to urge that peace, tolerance, understanding and compromise, especially in today’s conditions, brighten our pathways and guide us in our daily lives. Like the thousands of Diwali diyas in

many regions which will light up the darkness of the night, let our existence be unobstructed by the darkness that forestall our development and well-being.

The Diwali celebration is one that today transcends one community and is supported nationally. The symbol of the lighted diyas is not only lovely to behold in the evening but it imparts the message of the value of spiritual enlightenment in our collective efforts to bring about conditions for our peace of mind and a satisfying

life.With such sentiments in mind, GAWU is always pleased to be associated with the usually wide interest shown in the expectedly dazzling celebrations that are traditionally associated with Diwali.We wish all the practitioners of the Hindu faith, and indeed all Guyanese, a happy and enjoyable Diwali, the festival of lights.Let the lights, at this time, light up our pathway to harmony, economic wellbeing and our general upliftment.

Happy Diwali!

Sunday October 27, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 73

PAGE 74

Housing Ministry hauls in scores of house lot allottees who have failed to build The CH&PA is cracking down on unoccupied house lots.

The Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) has summoned scores of persons in Region Four who have received hundreds of house lot but have failed to build within the stipulated time.

The notice was placed late last week on the Facebook account of the CH&PA.The lists would affect persons who were allotted lands in several housing schemes controlled

by Government.According to CH&PA, the persons, starting in November, will have to make contact with its Occupancy Management Unit at the Brickdam and United Nations office.

Sunday October 27, 2019

Kaieteur News

“Allottees are advised to walk with valid identification card or passport; allocation letter or agreement of sale or original title/transport or photocopy of title or transport.”

The housing schemes include Belfield, Enmore, Hope, Hope Estate, Golden Grove, Peter’s Hall and Great Diamond.Under the practice of CH&PA, which distributes Government-developed house lots, persons receiving house lots agree to start construction within six months.

For years, though, in fact since the early 2000s when the administration of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic rolled out several new

housing schemes, there has been little attempt to force house lot owners to build within a certain time.

In fact, according to the Coalition Government, it found in 2015 that less than half of lands allocated for housing were taken up.

These lots not only posed health hazards from mosquitoes, but a haven for robbers. Many house lot allottees would have also profited by waiting and selling those lands out for millions of dollars. This is especially so in the high-demand Diamond and Golden Grove schemes.Many allottees have migrated leaving the lands unattended.

Man who hid in trench with stolen juices, fined

Thirty-two-year-old Gregory Ellis was on Friday hauled before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly after he was caught red-handed hiding out in a trench with a quantity of stolen fruit juices.

The charge was read to him in the Georgetown Magistrates Court where he pleaded guilty to the offence.

It was alleged that between October 19, 2019 and October 20, 2019, at Thomas Lands Georgetown, the defendant broke and entered the business place of Gregory Komatch and stole seven cases of fruit juice valued at $25,000.Prosecutor Christopher Morris related that on the day in question shortly after midnight, the victim was at his business place, which he had secured and left.

He told the court that the victim, Gregory Komatch, subsequently received a phone call and he returned to his business place where he observed that it was breached. He then made checks around the building and found the defendant in a trench with the cases of fruit juice in his possession.The accused was fined $36,000 for the offence or in default of this, he is to spend six months in prison.

This publication had reported

that the defendant was caught following the third break-in at The Grill located in the Young Men Christian Association (YMCA) compound, Thomas Lands.

The thieves would always cart off beverages. However, this time, the thief was caught and all of the items recovered. On October 11, last, Kaieteur News reported that for consecutive nights, thieves hammered their way into The Grill and carted off a quantity of beverages and chicken.The owner of the business place had told this newspaper that it was not the first time he had been robbed for the year.

He was robbed of beverages and some equipment five times prior.This publication had reported that after speaking with a staff of the business place, that it was assumed, the thieves may have some knowledge of business routines.They came to this assumption after it was noted that the building would be attacked only after the owner would have purchased stocks. The staff added that the robbers knew exactly where the alarm system was located since they completely dismantled the entire system to avoid being caught.

Sunday October 27, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 75

PAGE 76

Kaieteur News

Sunday October 27, 2019

Sunday October 27, 2019

PAGE 77

Kaieteur News

Skerritt anxious to hear Wehby Task Force recommendations St John’s, Antigua, CMC – Cricket West Indies president, Ricky Skerritt, said he is shortly looking forward to reviewing the recommendations of the Task Force on Corporate Governance Reform.

Speaking after being named to the International Cricket Council’s Governance Working Group which has been tasked with examining the future governance structure of the world governing body, Skerritt said the Task Force’s feedback should be available “over the next few weeks”.

“Commissioning the CWI governance review task force, led by Jamaican senator and Grace Kennedy CEO, Don

Wehby was as one of the first actions we took after being elected,” Skerritt said.

“Mr Wehby and his team have been hard at work ever since and I expect to begin hearing from them over the next few weeks.”

The Wehby-led Task Force comprises prominent regional academic Sir Hilary Beckles, Charles Wilkin QC, entrepreneur OK Melhado and former Trinidad and West Indies vice-captain, Deryck Murray.

According to CWI, the committee’s purpose is to highlight reforms to the current cricket governing structure in the Caribbean “to achieve greater transparency and accountability to

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) An opportunity to do some extra work outside the scope of your regular job could present itself to you. Take it, Taurus. Not only could you earn some extra money but you might also open new doors that expand your professional horizons.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You might be extremely busy now. Invitations to large parties, small gatherings with close friends, and intimate evenings with romantic partners might come up today.

CANCER(June21–July22) Unexpected visitors could wake you up to the possibility of new work opportunities. This could advance your current job or be work you can do on your own - maybe on a volunteer basis.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) If you aren't romantically involved, an errand, walk, or other foray into your neighborhood might bring an exciting new person into your life.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Money that you may have been hoping to use to better your living or working condition could suddenly come your way today.

Tiger Woods holds two-shot lead in Japan after rain delays

Ricky Skerritt shareholders, as well as all stakeholders”.

The well-known Patterson Report, along with several other reports which have been done, was expected to be used the starting point of the latest review. Over the last decade, CWI has pushed back on any significant

Sunday October 27, 2019 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Friends or a group with which you're affiliated could propose a trip. This might seem like a great adventure, Aries, so you're likely to go for it. You will probably have a wonderful time.

Zozo Championship

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) When you run errands today, check the bulletin boards in local businesses. You may have been longing for adventure and dreaming about getting away from it all SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Information received today excites your imagination and encourages you to start a new artistic or creative project.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Adventure is the word for today. A lot of physical and mental energy, as well as enthusiasm, might lead you to aim for goals that others consider too risky or unrealistic.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) New career goals may come your way with the current aspect, Capricorn, opening up possibilities you may not have considered. This could be very exciting.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Fascinating new information could arrive today from TV or the Internet, opening up new educational opportunities.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) A sudden burst of physical energy and determination could lead to additional income for you.

This is probably due to an unexpected opportunity to do some extra work outside the scope of your usual employment. It could also be a long overdue payment for past work.

reforms, especially those aimed at addressing the large size of the board.

In 2015, a Governance Review Panel headed by UWI Cave Hill principal recommended the “immediate dissolution” of CWI and the appointment of a new board “whose structure and composition will be radically different from the now proven, obsolete governance framework”.

The then Dave Cameronled board rejected the recommendation as “impractical” and an “unnecessary and intrusive demand”. Skerritt had indicated during the election campaign to unseat Cameron earlier this year that he would revisit governance reform once elected president.

The second round was played in front of empty stands because of the weather.

BBCsport - Tiger Woods has taken a two-shot lead at the halfway stage of the rainaffected Zozo Championship in Japan. The 15-time major champion, making his first appearance since knee surgery in August, birdied the final two holes as he carded a six-under-par 64.

Woods, who is targeting a record-equalling 82nd PGA Tour title, tops the leaderboard ahead of fellow American Gary Woodland.

The tournament will finish tomorrow after Friday’s play was postponed.

“I felt pretty good about it today,” said Woods. “I hit the ball a little bit better than I did yesterday, which is nice, and I had the speed of the

greens again. “The greens are soft - they’re a little bit slower today and we could give it a little bit extra rap on it. I left a lot of my approach shots below the hole and I was able to be pretty aggressive.”

Round two had to be held over to yesterday when six inches of rain fell, and the PGA then said fans could not attend yesterday’s play because of “safety concerns”. It is the first PGA tournament to be staged in Japan. The rescheduled third round will begin today and players will start the fourth round immediately afterwards. The field will play until it goes dark, with the tournament concluding tomorrow.

PAGE 78

Kaieteur News

Sunday October 27, 2019

England 19-7 New Zealand

Eddie Jones’ side beat All Blacks to reach World Cup final BBCsport - England are into their first Rugby World Cup final in 12 years after a brilliant demolition of threetime world champions New Zealand. England had stormed into a 10-0 lead, Manu Tuilagi’s secondminute try and a long-range penalty from George Ford fitting reward for a blistering first half.

The 2003 winners could have been out of sight had tries for Sam Underhill and Ben Youngs not been ruled out by the video referee, but when Ardie Savea pounced on a wayward line-out throw to reduce the deficit to 13-7 the three-time world champions were on the charge.

Yet the superb Ford landed a trio of nerveless penalties and with the young dynamos Underhill and Tom Curry outstanding in the back row England held on in style to pull off one of their greatest victories.

The All Blacks had not lost a World Cup game in 12 years and had won 15 of the past 16 games between the two nations.

But four years after crashing out at the group stage England tore the crown from their head with a performance of unremitting energy and excellence on a

Manu Tuilagi pushes through a crowd of New Zealand bodies and touches down for England’s first try after a fast start. night for the ages in Yokohama.

It was a start Eddie Jones’ men would have dreamed of.

Anthony Watson escaped down the right, England came in white-shirted waves and after Kyle Sinckler and Courtney Lawes crashed on, Tuilagi dived over from two metres out.

Farrell landed the conversion for 7-0 with only two minutes on the clock - and when Tuilagi picked off a stray pass from Beauden Barrett and found Jonny May accelerating up on his outside shoulder it looked for all the world like a second try, only for flanker Scott Barrett to get across and force the winger

inside and into heavy traffic.

The pace was ferocious, England playing with a glorious tempo and precision, New Zealand using full-back Barrett as playmaker as they struggled to exert their usual control.

England went close again before Owen Farrell spilt the ball deep in the opposition 22, and then a possible try for Underhill was correctly ruled out because Curry’s run had blocked off two defenders.

But Jones’ men were dominating the set-piece and the breakdown, Ford sending a long-range drop goal just to the right of the posts as England searched for the points to match their

endeavour.

The points finally came right on the half-time gong after Underhill won a breakdown penalty, and Ford - with Farrell struggling with a leg injury - landed a precious three points from 45 metres out.

If 10-0 was the least England’s dominance merited, it was a remarkable enough half-time scoreline.

Only once before have the All Blacks failed to score a point in the first half of a World Cup game, and not in 28 years.

Steve Hansen threw on Sam Cane for Scott Barrett in the second period but it was England who appeared to have struck the killer blow when Youngs darted over off a driving maul.

With the most kickable of conversions to come it looked like 17-0 and the game - but as Ford stood over his tee the big screens in the stadium showed a knock-on in the maul, and referee Nigel Owens, in consultation with the TMO, chalked it off to choruses of boos from the vast English support.

But Henry Slade came on for the struggling May and Dan Cole for a spent Sinckler and the white tide came again.

This time it was Billy Vunipola digging for the turnover, and with New Zealand infringing again in front of the posts Ford made it 13-0.

England were dreaming, until with 24 minutes still to go disaster struck. Jamie George over-threw his line-

out jumpers five metres from his own try-line, and Savea ran on to the ball and gratefully flopped over.

With Richie Mo’unga sliding over the conversion it was suddenly 13-7 and the outcome right back in the balance.

In a battle of heavyweights it was England who landed the next jab through Ford’s third penalty after another tenderising tackle by the indefatigable Underhill.

And with tournament favourites New Zealand running out of ideas as the game entered its dying moments and English tacklers pummelling their ball-carriers, Jones had pulled off yet another underdog triumph.

NBA roundup: Doncic’s tripledouble leads Mavs over Pels Luka Doncic had a tripledouble, and the Dallas Mavericks held off host the New Orleans Pelicans 123-116 on Friday night to improve to 2-0 on the season. Doncic, the reigning NBA Rookie of the Year who had 34 points to lead the Mavericks to a seasonopening win against Washington two nights earlier, finished with 25 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.

Kristaps Porzingis added 24 points, Delon Wright scored 20 off the bench and Jalen Brunson had 14.

Brandon Ingram scored 25 as the Pelicans fell to 0-2 in a season that began with the news that top draft choice Zion Williamson will miss six to eight weeks because of arthroscopic knee surgery.

Derrick Favors and Josh Hart scored 16 each, Lonzo Ball added 15 and Frank Jackson 10.

Nuggets 108, Suns 107 (OT) - Nikola Jokic had 23 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists, Jamal Murray added 27 points and seven rebounds, and host Denver hung on to beat Phoenix in overtime.

Murray scored the gamewinning points from the freethrow line with fewer than 20 seconds to play. Malik Beasley tallied 17 points, and Gary Harris and Jerami Grant had 13 points each for the Nuggets, who had the league’s best record (34-7) at home a season ago.

Kelly Oubre Jr. had 23 points and eight rebounds before fouling out, Frank Kaminsky had 19 points and 11 rebounds, and Devin Booker scored 18 for the Suns, but his game-tying

attempt was blocked in the final seconds. Aron Baynes had 15 points and seven rebounds before fouling out.

Lakers 95, Jazz 86 LeBron James had 32 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds as host Los Angeles rolled over Utah in its home opener. Anthony Davis added 21 points, five blocks and seven rebounds, while guard Troy Daniels came off the bench to score 15 points for the Lakers, who bounced back following their season-opening loss to the L.A. Clippers on Tuesday.

Donovan Mitchell led the Jazz with 24 points. Mike Conley chipped in 13 points but missed eight of his 11 attempts from the floor and four of his five 3-pointers. It was the second consecutive game Conley struggled offensively. He shot just 1 of 16 in the Jazz’s victory over the Oklahoma City on Wednesday.

Timberwolves 121, Hornets 99 - Karl-Anthony Towns poured in 37 points as Minnesota posted its second road victory to begin the season by defeating Charlotte. Towns, who had a game-high 15 rebounds and eight assists, made 13 of 18 shots from the field, but he left some points out there with his 7-for-13 shooting on free throws.

Andrew Wiggins’ 16 points and Josh Okogie’s 14 points gave a boost to the Timberwolves, who won their first game in overtime at Brooklyn. Devonte Graham had his second big game off the bench for Charlotte, scoring 24 points.

Celtics 112, Raptors 106

Dallas Mavericks forward Luka Doncic.

Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports - Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum each scored 25 points, and Kemba Walker had 11 of his 22 in the fourth quarter as Boston rallied past visiting Toronto in its home opener.

Pascal Siakam led all scorers with 33 points, and Kyle Lowry had 29 for the Raptors, who lost their first after a win in their opener Tuesday. A Hayward 3pointer put Boston up for good with 3:27 to go. A pair of Siakam free throws got Toronto within one, but the Raptors would not score again. Boston took 31 more shots than Toronto in the contest, though the Celtics shot 38.5 percent (42 of 109).

Results from elsewhere: Nets 113, Knicks 109, Trail Blazers 122, Kings 112, Bulls 110, Grizzlies 102, Wizards 97, Thunder 85. (Field Level Media)

Sunday October 27, 2019

PAGE 79

Kaieteur News

GTTA/NSC/MoE Schools Table Tennis

Diamond Secondary cop Novices title

The participants of the 2019 GTTA national Schools Table Tennis competition that is being contested at the CASH. The Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) in collaboration with the National Sports Commission (NSC) and Ministry of Education (MOE) National Schools’ Novices, Elite Teams and Singles Table Tennis

championships continued yesterday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH), Homestretch Avenue where Diamond Secondary copped the Girls Novices title.

The team, consisting of

Lisana Ramascindo, Upha Hackett along with sisters Samirah and Sufah Burrowes were delighted with their impressive showing on debut in this competition. The Boys Novice category is currently at the quarterfinal stage with

ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Qualifier

Record opening stand sets up big win for Netherlands ESPNcricinfo - A Dutch record T20 opening stand between Max O’Dowd and Ben Cooper laid the foundation for their highest ever team total as Netherlands walloped Bermuda by 92 runs yesterday afternoon in Dubai to clinch a playoff berth and keep pace with PNG at the top of Group B on eight points.

After Netherlands won the toss and chose to bat, O’Dowd and Cooper batted together until the 13th over in searing heat.

The closest the stand came to being broken before it reached three-figures was in the eighth over when Kamau Leverock fooled O’Dowd with a slower ball to induce a prod back that was dropped at chest height on 35.

Otherwise, the pair targeted straight boundaries for the bulk of their runs. Both raised their fifties in the 12th over, O’Dowd off 37 balls with a single behind square, before Cooper drove straight for back-to-back fours to reach his in 32 deliveries.

The stand finally ended when O’Dowd drove Delray Rawlins to extra cover where George O’Brien took a sharp catch diving right. Cooper fell an over later to a tired slog across the line to Rodney Trott’s offspin. Ryan ten Doeschate and Colin Ackermann kept the momentum going for the Dutch though with a 52-run

stand in just 29 balls.

Ten Doeschate showed his ingenuity, reversing through third man with the back of the bat blade for a boundary during his 28 off 18 before he was caught at longoff in the penultimate over.

Ackermann carried on to the finish to take Netherlands past 200 before hitting the last ball over square leg for six to end the innings.

Bermuda were never realistically in the hunt of chasing down the target after ending the Powerplay at 36 for 3.

The biggest blow was struck on the final ball of the phase when Delray Rawlins went too far across his stumps trying to scoop Paul van Meekeren for a second boundary of the over through fine leg but was done in by a slower ball and bowled for 16.

At 65 for 5 in 12, Kamau Leverock provided another burst emulating his knock against Scotland, driving two sixes and flicking a third over fine leg in his 31 off 15 balls before falling to a skied drive to long-off against Timm van der Gugten at the end of the 16th.

Van Meekeren followed up his wicket of Rawlins from the sixth over with two more scalps in the 18th, getting Okera Bascome driving to long-on before bowling Derrick Brangman. Bermuda’s last wicket pair survived the last 13 balls after Pieter Seelaar

spilled a return chance in the 19th over, ending on 114 for 9.

Netherlands trail topplaced Papua New Guinea on net run rate by +.208 heading into each team’s respective final match. PNG plays Kenya on Sunday morning while Netherlands play Scotland on Sunday afternoon in Dubai.

Scores: Netherlands 206 for 3 (O’Dowd 58, Cooper 58, Ackermann 43*) beat Bermuda 114 for 9 (Leverock 31, van Meekeren 3-26, Seelar 2-10, van der Merwe 2-23) by 92 runs.

Craig Young and Mark Adair demolish Nigeria to put Ireland in playoffs Craig Young’s 4 for 13, his T20I career-best returns, and Mark Adair’s 2 for 10 locked up Ireland’s place in the playoffs of the men’s T20 World Cup qualifiers as Nigeria were restricted to 66 for 9 before the target was knocked off with 13.5 overs to spare for an eight-wicket win in Abu Dhabi.

Ireland, who pulled off their quickest T20 chase on the day, might even top Group B, but need Jersey to upset Oman today to produce a tie at 4-2 at the top of the table, with the automatic berth for the group winner at the T20 World Cup decided on net run-rate.

Scores: Ireland 67 for 2 (O’Brien 32, Ajekun 1-10) beat Nigeria 66 for 9 (Adedeji 19*, Young 4-13, Adair 2-10).

the following teams set to be in action today, Islamic Trust ‘A’, North Ruimveldt Secondary, Bishops High, Bartica ‘A’, Vreed-En-Hoop Secondary, Bartica ‘C’, Islamic Trust ‘B’ and Bartica ‘B’.

The Boys’ Elite teams’ category is in the semifinal stage with The Bishops’ High, Chase Academy, Islamic Academy and Mae’s ‘B’, remaining schools. The Girls’ Elite Singles category is in the quarterfinal round.

The quarterfinalists include number one seed; Thuraia Thomas, Crystal Melville, Samara Sukhai, Jasmine Billingy and Christine Ramdyal. The curtains will fall on the event this afternoon.

PAGE 80

Kaieteur News

Sunday October 27, 2019

Persaud on course to retain title; Dr. Joaan Deo, Sukhram, London inline for female top spot Bridgestone Guyana Open 2019

The Bridgestone Guyana Open 2019 teed off to an amazing start yesterday as defending champions Avinash Persaud eked out a one shot lead in the Men’s category and Christine

Sukhram struggled to a tie with former Guyana Open Women’s champions Dr. Joaan Deo and Shanella London. Just one shot off the lead was too Barbados female players.

It was a close battle between the Kishore brothers, Avinda is just one shot behind Avinash and it will be Deputy Mayor Alfred Mentore who shot 75 and LGC President Aleem

Hussain with 80 who will be in the final group today.

Second Flight 10-18 was dominated by the winner in Suriname, Rakesh Harry with a low 83/65 score. Several players are tied for second at 70 net - Aasrodeen Shaw, Panko Ramsundar, Robin

Tiwari, and Put Persaud.

Just a shot behind is Macorp’s CEO, Guillermo Escarragaa and George Bulkan.

The Third Flight saw young Imtiaz Subhan edging out Dr. Philbert London by one shot. Macorp’s Mario

Acuna and Miguel Oviedo are also in the hunt.

In the Senior Flight, veteran Maurice Solomon won the Best Net prize with Tulsiram Persaud winning Best Gross honours, both shot 95/74. In third place was Robert Hanoman.

Women’s squad for 1st & 2nd Colonial Medical Insurance ODI’s against India St. John’s, Antigua - Cricket West Indies (CWI) Women’s and Girls’ selection panel named a fourteen (14) member squad to take on India in the first two Colonial Medical Insurance One Day Internationals to be played on November 1 and 3 at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua.

The team will be led by Stafanie Taylor and sees some new names selected on the squad. Aaliyah Alleyne and Shawnisha Hector were selected into the main squad for the first time, with Hector having been reserve before.

Speaking on the selection of the squad, Lead Selector of the

Women’s and Girls’ panel, Ann Browne-John said, “The selection panel chose a good balance of youth and experience when assembling this squad. We have the return of the experienced Chedean Nation and Shemaine Campbelle, who missed the last series against Australia due to injury.”

Browne-John added, “Also the selectors were impressed by the young medium pace duo of Aaliyah Alleyne and Shawnisha Hector during the training camp, meriting their inclusion in the final 14-member squad.”

Full Squad: Stafanie Taylor – Captain, Anisa Mohammed Vice Captain, Aaliyah Alleyne,

Stafanie Taylor Afy Fletcher, Britney Cooper, Chedean Nation, Chinelle Henry, Stacy-Ann King, Kyshona Knight, Natasha McLean, Shabika Gajnabi, Shawnisha Hector, Shemaine Campbelle, Sheneta Grimmond.

PAGE 81

Sunday October 27, 2019

GCA’s NBS 40-over 2nd Division cricket

BCB/Let’s Bets Sports 100 Ball Cricket

Looknauth, Khan, Renee and Ramdeen smash tons D’Edward and Cotton

Tree to clash in West Berbice final today Renaldo Renee made an unbeaten 104 for host Everest yesterday.

Devindra Lall took 4-13 Story and photos by Sean Devers

Khemraj Ramdeen hammered an unbeaten 112

F

our centuries were scored and three bowlers captured five-wicket hauls in the five matches played yesterday in the GCA’s NBS 40-over second Division Cricket tournament while the match between Transport Sports Club and Police was not played since another event was held at the Eve Leary ground.

At Everest a NBS record of three tons in the same innings was achieved as Everest trio of Richie Looknauth (135 from 93 – 10x4 5x6), Amir Khan (100 from 66 balls – 10x4 5x6) and Renaldo Renee (104* from 68 balls – 9x4 4x6) powered Everest to a record 387-4 off 40 overs.

Sophia were bowled for 63 in 18.4 overs, Dwayne Perriera had 5-35, Khan took 2-1 and Javed Rasheed captured 2-4 as Everest won by 324 runs.

At Queen’s College Ace Warriors beat GNIC by 86 runs after Ace Warriors aided by 57 extras and a sloppy display in the field, were all out 213. Nkosi White (33), Mortland Ward

(27) and Gopaul Ramgobin (24) got starts as Jeremiah Benjamin (3-32) and Trevon Jones (3-58) bowled well for GNIC who fell for 127 in 20 overs.

Jason George (47) and Sheldon Chapman (28*) offered token resistance, Devendra Lall (4-13) and Ward (3-33) bowled their team to victory.

At DCC - Bel Air Rubis made 97 in 27.1 overs with Joey Shingorbin (29) and Devendra Bhisham (23) offering fight as leg spinner Steven Sankar (4-18), Daniel Mootoo (3-3) and Ashmead Nedd (2-20) did the damage with the ball for DCC who reached 98-6 to win by four wickets. Jahron Bryan (24) and Sachin Singh (23) led the way for DCC. At MYO - the host beat GYO by 134 runs after K h e m r a j R a m d e e n ’s unbeaten 112, 33 from

Richi Looknauth (left) and Amir Khan scored centuries for Everest, yesterday.

MYO/Trophy Stall/Inter Jamaat T10 Softball starts tomorrow T h i s y e a r ’s e d i t i o n o f t h e M u s l i m Yo u t h Organisation/Trophy Stall 10/10 Inter Jamaat Softball Cricket competition will commence tomorrow at the MYO ground, Woolford Avenue, Thomas Lands.

Two matches will be played commencing at 09:00hrs with LBI ‘A’ taking on Tuschen Train Station Masjid followed two hours later by a clash between LBI ‘B’ and Cornelia Ida/Hague Masjid.

Rodolph Singh, 39 from Timour Mohammed and 28 from Sarfras Esau lead MYO to 278-9.

Left-arm spinner Trevon France captured three wickets while Devish Ramjattan and Joshua Ramsammy had two wickets each for GYO who were bowled out for 144 despite 36 each from Tyrone Liverpool and Ramsammy.

Christopher Surat had 6-39 while Shafiek Ishmael took two wickets.

At MSC - Diplomats, playing with just nine members, reached 85-8 innings closed, Nkosi Barker picked up 4-13, Marvin Permaul (2-23) and Diquan Murray (2-23). The home team replied with 86-1 to win by nine wickets, Stephon Browne finished unbeaten on

48 while Judal McAlister (22) was the only batsman dismissed.

The match began 30 minutes late due to late preparation of the pitch and the game was reduced to 35 over per side.

At Bourda, medium pacer Carlos Larose ripped Third Class to shreds with 66 and got support from Stephon Wilson who took 46 as the visitors fell for a record low 15 runs before GCC reached 22 without loss in 2.1 overs.

The other scheduled game at Police was not played and the competition continues today with Transport playing Sophia at the Transport Sports Club ground, MYO facing Diplomats at QC and Police opposing DCC at Eve Leary.

The quiet village of Cotton Tree is expected to come alive today from 13:00hrs when the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) hosts the first of five finals for the Let’s Bet Sports 100 Balls Cricket Tournament.

The first final would be for the West Berbice League while the others would be for Upper Corentyne, Lower Corentyne, New Amsterdam/Canje and the overall Berbice championship.

Powerhouse D’Edward Cricket Club along with their n e i g h b o r C o t t o n Tr e e Cricket Club along with Blairmont Cricket Club have dominated the second division level on the West Coast of Berbice and the final is expected to be close with both teams possessing talented players.

D’Edward CC would be led by the veteran Jaipaul Heeralall and he would be supported in the batting department by Keith Fraser, Altaf Khan, Heeralall Bridgelall and Devindra Lalsa.

The bowling attack would be spearheaded by

pacers Christian France, Ricky Moore, Keith Fraser while spinners Hoolsram Lalsa and Heralall Bridgelall would offer support.

C o t t o n Tr e e w o u l d depend heavily on Roshan Gafoor, Waqar Hassan, Narshad Gafoor, Nick Ramsaroop, Poooran Persaud and Daniel Harrinarine. BCB President Hilbert Foster, Let’s Bet Sports Brand Manager Ian De Barose and Brand Ambassador Rawle Toney would hand over prizes after the match.

D’Edward: Heralall Bridgelall, Altaf Khan, Devindra Lalsa, Hoolsram Lalsa, Ricky Moore, Keith Fraser, Navin Rampersaud, Devindra Singh, Mahadeo Persaud, Dinnauth Persaud, Chaitram France, Christian France.

Cotton Tree: Roshan Gafoor, Waqar Hassan, Naushad Gafoor, Nick Ramsaroop, Pooran Persaud, Jadeo Persaud, Daniel Harrinarine, Adim Shewtahal, Marlon Deputron, Lenardo Seetayah, Saif Ramah, Saif Latif, Ishwar Singh.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 82

Terrence Alli Nat Boxing C/Ships starts Friday

Dennis ‘The Menace’ Thomas to make comeback

Sunday October 27, 2019

St. Agnes and North Georgetown to contest final Courts PeeWee Tourney

The final of the ninth annual Courts PeeWee Under-12 football tournament will be contested on Saturday at the Ministry of Education (MOE) ground, following yesterday’s semifinals, St. Agnes Primary and North Georgetown emerged as the finalists to challenge for the 2019 title.

Both St. Agnes and North Georgetown registered 2-0 victories in their respective semifinal matches. However, North Georgetown won in normal time but St. Agnes

had to wait until extra time to get their goals.

North Georgetown defeated Genesis Primary with goals coming off the boots of Jaheim Gillard in the 28th minute and Kevin Burton in the 38th. St. Agnes got past the resolute Tucville Primary 2-0 thanks to goals from Shane Dalrymple and Cleon London in extra time.

The days play got underway at 13:00hrs with matches to decide the 5th to 16 place teams.

Guyana’s Dennis Thomas (right) lines up St Lucian Arthur Langelier for a thunderous right in their Middleweight bout at the 2015 C’bean Development Tourney. (Sean Devers photo)

Dennis ‘The Menace’ Thomas will make a return to the ring after a lengthy sabbatical and will match gloves with Markember ‘Violence’ Pierre when the three-night Terrence Alli National Open Boxing Championships starts on Friday night from 19:00hrs. The card also includes Caribbean Bantamweight Champion, Keevin Allicock.

Thomas, who captured a silver medal in the 2015 Caribbean Development Tournament Middleweight division, will be aiming to erase ring rust after 18 months out of the ring. Thomas says while out of competitive boxing since 2018 he has been training in the Gym is set to make his comeback in the Light Heavyweight division.

His return could spell trouble for sixfooter Markember ‘Violence’ Pierre, the reigning National and Caribbean Light Heavyweight champion who fights out the Guyana Defence Force Boxing Gym. When the two last met, the classy Thomas

won on points and now he is being trained by AIBA Three Star Coach Sebert Blake of the Forgotten Youth Foundation Gym. He was a Best Boxer at the 2014 Caribbean Goodwill Tournament held here while he has represented Guyana at several international events and remains one of the most experienced local pugilists.

Apart from Bantamweight Keevin Allicock, Thomas is the only current fighter t o h a v e p a r t i c i p a t e d a t a Wo r l d Championships. In 2013 Thomas and Imran Khan travelled to Kazakhstan to represent Guyana at the Championships.

His return adds spice to National Open as Thomas will have his eyes set on being part of the National team to the Caribbean Championships scheduled for Trinidad from December 4-9.

This weekend’s Terrence Alli National Open Championship is set for the National Gymnasium and entry fee is $500 for stands and $1000 for ringside.

North Georgetown (center) defeat Genesis Primary 2-0 yesterday to reach the final of the 2019 Courts PeeWee tournament.

St. Agnes (on the ball) defeated Tucville 2-0 in extra time to make the final of the Courts Peewee Football tournament.

Kaieteur News

Sunday October 27, 2019

PAGE 83

New champs to be crowned when Riddim Squad and Vurlon Mills Academy collide Fourth EBFA/Ralph green Under-11 League

Malcolm Hendricks (left) is all pumped after scoring Vurlon Mills Academy’s second goal.

A

champion would be crowned when the 4th edition of the East Bank Football Association (EBFA) Under-11 League sponsored by USA based Guyanese Ralph Green comes to an end with the final on Saturday at the GFF National Training Center, Providence, EBD. In yesterday’s semi finals, defending champions Timehri Panthers were

defeated 2-0 by a confident Riddim Squad outfit in the second semifinal, Vurlon Millis Academy trouncing Kuru Kururu warriors 5-0 in the first.

The young Warriors were not in a mood to war and fell prey to the consistent offensive maneuvers by the Vurlon Mills Academy lads.

Shackel Marshall sent them on their way in the seventh minute with that advantage being doubled one minute

Jaheam Lewis (right) seals Riddim Squad’s place in the final with their second goal against Timehri Panthers.

later when Malcolm Hendricks rocked the nets.

At the half way mark it was a 2-0 advantage for Mills Academy which maintained their goal scoring ambitions in the second half.

Romario La Rose further increased the advantage in the 19th minute and quickly thereafter, Negus Frank (21) and Shaquille Dalrymple in the 22nd minute sealed the deal as they marched into the championship match and will

come up against the Mocha based, Riddim Squad.

The Riddim Squad lads, a well oiled unit will be a formidable opponent for Vurlon Mills Academy; both teams unbeaten to date but one will surely end with a loss on the final day. The defending champions, Timehri Panthers could not find the antidote to keep the Riddim Squad team at bay for too long.

The deadlock was

broken in the 13th minute thanks to a Matthew Murray goal. The deal was sealed in the 22nd minute when Riddim Squads leading scorer, Jaheam Lewis netted his fourth of the tournament.

On Saturday, the Third place match will commence at 09:00hrs with the final at 09:45hrs at the same venue.

Sponsor Ralph Green will be making the trip home to witness both matches and be part of the presentation

ceremony following the matches.

Apart from replica trophies that will be presented to the top two teams, the third and fourth place receiving medals; the Most Disciplined Player, Best Goal Keeper, Most Promising Player, Top Goal Scorer and Most Valuable Player will receive plaques as will The Best Coach and the Team receiving The Sportsmanship Award.

Twelve matches to kick start Hammie Green b’day Football Tw e l v e p o t e n t i a l l y exciting matches will kick start the opening day of c o m p e t i t i o n t o commemorate the 85th Birth Anniversary of former Georgetown Mayor, Hamilton Green; it will take the form of a 9-a-side K n o c k o u t I n t e r - Wa r d Football competition.

It is being organised and coordinated by former national Coach Lennox Arthur and will be played over three days at the Den Amstel Community Centre g r o u n d , We s t C o a s t Demerara.

According to Arthur, over $400,000 in prize monies and trophies are up for grabs with

the winning team set to receive $200,000 and trophy, while second, third and fourth place finishers will take home $100, 000, $60,000 and $40,000 respectively along with trophies. Twenty-eight teams, mainly locals sides from West and East Coast Demerara, Georgetown, East

Bank Demerara, Berbice as well as neighbouring Venezuela are expected to vie for top honours. All matches will be played at the same venue and according to Arthur, the former Mayor is anticipated to grace the opening day with his presence, November 10 with the 17th and 24th, being the

other playing days. Games will be played for a duration of thirty minutes divided into two halves of 15 minutes each.

Fixtures for Sunday, November 10: Bourda Blues versus Durban Backland, Charlestown vs. Bagotsville, Soesdyke vs. Wales, Ann’s Grove vs. Newtown Kitty, Pouderoyen vs. Kuru

Kururu, Goed Fortuin vs.

Agricola, Crane vs. GT Canimas, Sara Lodge vs.

Casa Corina FC, Uitvlugt vs.

Hurry ATE, Den Amstel Kings vs. De Kinderen and Den Amstel vs. Farm FC. Meanwhile, Mahaica, Mahaicony, Plaisance and Sophia have all drawn byes to the next round.

t r o p S Bridgestone Guyana Open 2019

Persaud on course to retain title; Dr. Joaan Deo, Sukhram, London in line for female top spot

Imtiaz Subhan, C Flight leader.

Dr. Joaan Deo will be looking to continue her good form today.

Leaders in the C/Ship Flight, defending champion Avenash Persaud (right), Alfred Mentore and Avinda Kishore.

GTTA/NSC/MoE Schools Table Tennis

Diamond Secondary cop Novices title

Diamond Secondary School won the Girls’ Novice title yesterday, from left Lisana Ramascindo, Samirah Burrowes, Sufah Burrowes and Upha Hackett.

Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.