Kaieteur News

Kaieteur News

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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 COMMEMORATING UNITED NATIONS DAY October 24, every year, marks the celebration of United Nations (UN) Day around the world. Founded 72 years ago on that day in 1945, the UN, the world’s premier international organization was created to promote international co-operation and maintain international order among nations. A replacement for the failed League of Nations, the UN’s primary mission is to preserve world peace and security, prevent wars and settle global conflicts through negotiation or arbitration. At its founding, the UN had 51 member states. The rapid decolonization process in Asia, Africa and the Caribbean after the Second World War significantly increased its membership in the 1960s and the 1970s. Today, the UN has 198 members. Based on its Charter, the UN has pledged to save succeeding generations from the scourge of World Wars, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow and misery to man-kind. But most important, it pledged to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of people and in the equal rights of men and women of nations large and small. Its six principal organs, the General Assembly, its main deliberative body; the Security Council which decides certain resolutions for peace and security; the Economic and Social Council, which promotes international economic and social co-operation and development; the Secretariat, whose function is to research and provide studies and the information needed by the UN; the International Court of Justice, its primary judicial organ; and the UN Trusteeship Council have all played major roles in the organization’s seven decades of success. The theme of this year’s UN commemoration Day is “Global Goals, Local Leaders” to recognize, encourageand support local community efforts to champion the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. It comes at a time when the world needs the UN more than ever to find solutions to the globe’s biggest problems. They include threats of nuclear conflagration due to bellicose world leaders like President Trump of the United States and Kim Jong-un of North Korea, climate change due to global warming, terrorism and a surge in bigoted ideology, all of which are currently conspiring to destabilize world peace and stability. The hurricanes that ravaged the Caribbean islands are a stark reminder that small states remain at the forefront of the impact of climate change. The UN which has so far succeeded in maintaining world peace and stability could also help the Caribbean and other nations ride the rough waters. Today, the UN can be proud of the great progress it has made in all of these areas. In many respects, the world today is a safer place than it was seven decades ago. Its various agencies are active in a range of issues both nationally and regionally. Its sustainable development goals have influenced actors in the international sphere on how to relate to climate change. But there is still clearly a long way to go. In Guyana, we continue to benefit tremendously from the efforts of the UN to settle the 1899 border dispute with Venezuela. As a nation, we must acknowledge and be thankful of the vital role played by the UN over the years in avoiding a major conflict between the two countries. And with President Donald Trump calling for reform of the UN, this is likely to become a greater challenge. The UN is an important forum in which small nations have their voices heard. But for the sake of future generations, the UN must continue to be relevant, powerful and pivotal in the destiny of all nations. It must be lauded for its success.

Sunday October 29, 2017

Kaieteur M@ilbox Send your letters to Kaieteur News 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown or email us kaieteurnews@yahoo.com

Let constitutional reform be hastened Dear Editor, I have read very diligently, the argument put forward by the Attorney General in the statement released by the AG’s Chambers and the Ministry of Legal Affairs in relation to the President’s decision to unilaterally select and appoint the Chairman of GECOM. I have noticed that with the appointment of Justice Patterson, the President has attracted heavy criticism for the decision. While some are of the view that the appointment is unconstitutional, others have cited Justice Patterson’s age as the issue. Albeit, in their own rights, each argument put forward may or may not have their merits, I am of the view that few are focused on the key issue – powers of the President and constitutional reform. The Alliance for Change, in a statement released on Friday, October 20, 2017, in relation to the appointment of GECOM Chair, explicitly stated that [the AFC] played no part in the selection process and that, in accordance with the Constitution, consultation was between His Excellency and the Leader of the Opposition. Article 161(2) of the Constitution affords the President the power to unilaterally select and appoint a GECOM Chair in the absence of a list of

six persons presented by the Leader of the Opposition, not unacceptable to the President. In the case of Marcel Gaskin v AG etal, Justice Roxane GeorgeWi l t s h i r e e x p o u n d e d o n t h e aforementioned Article stating “the submission of the list does not mean that the President is obliged to accept the list or the persons named in it…” Thus debunking the opposition’s misconception that a Chairman MUST be appointed from the list of names they have previously submitted. As a matter of fact, “reasons…must be given so that the parameters for the submission of another list, if required would be set”. After the rejection of a third list submitted by the Leader of the Opposition, the President was well within his Constitutional ambit to unilaterally appoint the Chairman of GECOM. The PPP/C should not be frustrated with or by the President’s decision to unilaterally appoint a GECOM Chair, they should be frustrated with themselves for spreading their misconceived notion that constitutional reform was not/is not needed! I do not credit any argument posited by the members of the opposition that the appointment was unconstitutional, since they are the ones who have been pushing for weeks and months that the government, focused on constitutional

reform, should instead be focused on adhering to the Constitution! Did the President not adhere to the supreme law of the land when he found not one, but three of the Leader of the Opposition’s lists presented to be unacceptable? Did the President not adhere to the Constitution when he gave reasons for rejecting the first list presented to him ‘so that the parameters for the submission of another list, if required, would be set’? And did the President not adhere to the Constitution when he, in the absence of a list of six persons presented by the Leader of the Opposition, not unacceptable to him [the President] unilaterally appointed a GECOM Chair? If the PPP/C is still of the view that constitutional reform is not needed in consideration of the facts, then they have yet again failed to recognise the underlining issue, and are indeed not equipped to govern Guyana again, especially under the existing Constitutional doctrine! Join the AFC in lobbying the government for a hastened constitutional reform process, it cannot and should not be delayed! Cynthia Rutherford President Youths for Change AFC

Sunday October 29, 2017

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Kaieteur M@ilbox

This is a party piling on political pressure in a crisis it skillfully created DEAR EDITOR, The hysteria over President David Granger’s appointment of Justice James Patterson as Chairman of GECOM is deafening. In fact, it is so loud it is reminiscent of the hysteria surrounding Democratic Presidential candidate Hilary Clinton as it relates to Benghazi and her private email server. We all know how that turned out. The loudest and most strident are now strangely silent in the face of multiple private email use and four dead American soldiers in Niger. In the midst of the hysteria I had a talk with my son, a fervent Bernie Sanders supporter, asking him not to allow the hysteria of others to cloud his judgment. The advice I gave him I now make public. What would your reaction be, absent the hysteria? Would you care that Secretary Clinton used private email servers? Would you conclude that Benghazi is the worst example of American personnel dead overseas? I advised him to push the hysteria aside and make judgment based on his own principles. This is the same approach we must all adopt in our analysis of the GECOM Chairman imbroglio. For instance, let us look at the PPP petition before the courts. They rejected Justice Patterson, claiming he benefited from Government largess but are asking us to ignore the fact that several of the eighteen (18) nominees benefited umpteen times over and above Justice Patterson. Brigadier (Retd) Norman McLean served on the infamous Gadraj Commission. Dr. Steve Surajballi was appointed Chairman of GLDA while serving as Chairman of GECOM. Major Gen. (Retd) Joe Singh functioned as a Presidential Advisor under President Donald Ramotar

and continued to serve in the same capacity for President David Granger until a few days ago. They objected to Justice Patterson’s religiosity but nominated Pastor Onesi Lafleur, a prominent Seven Day Adventist. They claimed that Justice Patterson is politically biased towards the PNCR because he was a pallbearer at a funeral and a member of a Facebook group, but nominated Dr. James Rose, a former PPP candidate. This is not a party morally outraged by Justice Patterson’s credentials and integrity. It is a party piling on political pressure in a crisis it skillfully created. After the rejection of the second list by President Granger, both Fredrick Kissoon and Dr. Henry Jeffery acknowledged that the Leader of the Opposition was playing games. This became more evident when Mr. Jagdeo told attendees at this

year’s Enmore Martyrs function that it is impossible to find nominees who are not political. He rejected the President’s proposal that they circumvent the impasse by setting up a search committee. Mr. Jagdeo’s contention was that such an arrangement would rob him of his constitutionally mandated right to make nominations as he sees fit. Mr. Jagdeo saw political benefit in going it alone, rather than having a collaborative process. Dr. David Hinds agrees that Mr. Jagdeo was playing games, acknowledges that the President has broken no law, nor has he violated the constitution, yet labeled President Granger’s action as politically senseless. Doctor Hinds has enunciated a perfect political conundrum. The constitution envisages the choice of a chairman in whom both the President and the Leader of the Opposition could have confidence. but

Mr. Jagdeo steadfastly refused to name such a person. Mr. Jagdeo rejected efforts to have a genuine negotiated settlement and simultaneously his party began to sound the alarm that the Government was scheming to postpone the 2020 elections. Local Government Elections are due in 11 months but no

GECOM chairman was in place. Dr. Hinds must now tell us what the President should have done. Should he have played Mr. Jagdeo’s game and selected Dr. James Rose, Brigadier (retd) Norman McLean or Teni Housty? Or maybe he should have allowed the process to drag on

and fall on the sword of a postponed election so that he could be ridiculed and derided by the same patriots who now ridicule him for making a unilateral but lawful choice. The critics of the President’s decision contend that the appointment of the Chairman of the Elections (Continued on page 6)

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Kaieteur News

Kaieteur M@ilbox

Kaieteur M@ilbox

Suggestions that the proviso to article 161(2) is only triggered when a list is misleading DEAR EDITOR, Now that the President has appointed a Chairman of the Elections Commission and despite the partisan and emotional outbursts, agreements and disagreements, the only question that falls to be considered is: Did the President act in accordance with the proviso to Article 161(2) of the Constitution of Guyana? The short answer is yes for the following reasons. The proviso to Article 161 (2) of the Constitution of Guyana states “Provided that if the Leader of the Opposition fails to submit a list as provided for, the President shall appoint a person who holds or has held office as a judge of a court having unlimited jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters…” to be the Chairman. In order to answer whether the President has acted in accordance with the proviso to Article 161 (2) of the Constitution of Guyana, we need to determine what is meant by the phrase “…if the

Leader of the Opposition fails to submit a list as provided for…” and more particularly the phrase “…a list as provided for…”since a list was provided. However, was that list “…a list as provided for…” under Article 161(2). The phrase”…a list as provided for…”under Art 161(2) of the Constitution of Guyanais explained by the substantive provision of Article 161(2). The substantive provision of Article 161(2) provides for two categories of persons that can be appointed: (1) judges of various jurisdictions and (2) persons who are ‘fit and proper’”…to be appointed from a list of six persons not unacceptable to the President…”Therefore the phrase “…a list as provided for…”means a list of six persons not unacceptable to the President and not the absence of a list being presented to the President. It is also important to note, therefore, that there is no such category as ‘a list’ not being submitted as

suggested by some commentators. It is respectfully submitted that it is the failure of the Leader of the Opposition to submit a list not unacceptable to the President that triggered the operation of the proviso to Art 161(2). In terms of the qualities of the Chairman, we do have the benefit of statutory interpretation, which guides us to understand that wide ‘words of the same kind’ in the text following ‘more limited words’ are taken to be restricted by implication to matters of the same genus. In Art 161(2) the word ‘Judge’ created its own genus and the words ‘any other fit and proper person’ belong to that genus. It is therefore submitted that the phrase”…a list as provided for…” according to Article 161 (2),also means a list of six persons who possess judge like qualities, who may be in the category of judge as per Article 161(2) and/or the category of a fit and proper person. These judge like quali-

PM wants teachers to be patient, after he and others got big salary increases DEAR EDITOR, The poorly paid teachers of this country are now being asked by the Prime Minister to exercise ‘patience’. A quality which was seriously lacking when this Government gave themselves salary increases ranging from 50% to 100%. These impoverished teachers are also told that the ministers have now been exercising ‘patience’ since they will not be giving themselves any salary increases for this year and next year! He said that those in government did not receive ‘a cent’ increase in 2016 and 2017 and will not receive ‘a cent’ in 2018. This is absurdity to the extreme! It’s easy to say this when your salary is more than 28 times that of a teacher. That is leaving out all the perks and other benefits which these people enjoy.A paltry increase of 8% is unacceptable for public servants and more so for teachers. These teachers are the pillars upon which a society is built and their contributions cannot be so easily thrown aside by making them

feel that they are being unreasonable and should exercise ‘patience’. Imagine the expenses which a teacher has to go through. Apart from his daily sustenance he has to be properly dressed, groomed and fork out money for transportation to and from work. If that teacher is married he is in trouble financially. The honorable Prime Minister drew a comparison with what he was working for in terms of US dollars but failed to submit the hardships he and his family had to endure and what he had to do to supplement his meager earnings. He failed to also state what the cost of living was in those days. Being a former teacher, one would have expected that his contribution to the plight of the teachers would have been more than a request for ’patience’. Another aspect which one must look at is the performance of teachers as compared with that of the ministers of Government. It is a fact that the results at CSEC and the National (Continued on page 7)

Inflammatory statements on GECOM stalemate must be rejected DEAR EDITOR, The Indian Action Committee (IAC) rejects any attempt to instigate a racially charged atmosphere regarding the current stalemate over the selection of the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

We urge groups and persons to refrain from engaging in race hate and polarizing campaigns to support their position. This will not help the cause of national unity nor allow an environment for meaningful dialogue. Indian Action Committee

ties, though universal, can be found at Art 122 of the Constitution of Guyana which translates into acting independently of the control and direction of any other person or authority; acting free and independent from political executive and other forms of direction and control; and exercising impartiality and fairness. I submit that these judge like qualities are the exact requirements, to say the least, of the category ‘any other fit and proper person.’ The confusion of many commentators on this issue may well be that they have ascribed the term ‘any other fit and proper person’ to the character of the persons on the lists and not to category of persons giving rise to emotional responses. Further, it is the President who determines in his own deliberate judgment if the list is acceptable or unacceptable, once submitted. That is a subjective matter and the issue of it being non-justiciable may well arise since Article 111 (1) compels the President to act in his own deliberate judgment in the exercise of his functions except where he is required to act on advice of any person or authority, which is not the case in relation to appointing a Chairman of the Elections Commission.

Applying the law to the facts, in this case, shows that the Leader of the Opposition submitted a list that was deemed unacceptable by the President in accordance with the Constitution of Guyana, meaning that the Leader of the Opposition failed to “…submit a list as was provided for…”under Article 161 (2), which in turn triggered the President’s decision to apply the proviso to Article 161(2) of the Constitution of Guyana and appoint a person within the judge category. Applying the proviso to Art 161(2) of the Guyana Constitution also extinguishes the use of ‘any other fit and proper person’ category from consideration and directs the President to appoint from the category of judge. This decision, in no way, casts any aspersions against the names submitted. This decision is about not using the‘any other fit and proper person’ category. It is important to recognize that Article 161(2) creates a bridge between the Judiciary and the Executive as it relates to the Elections Commission and its independence of the Executive Branch. Even though appointed by the Executive, ‘any other fit and proper person’ or a person within the category of judge may well occupy that bridge. Most importantly, however, is

the fact that in cases of a resort to the proviso, as in this case, Article 161 (2) of the Guyana Constitution provides for the Executive Branch to appoint a person from the Judicial Branch or a person who had served in the Judicial Branch, no doubt, with intention of capturing the qualities of independence and impartiality that reside in judge like persons and persons who are fit and proper. In this context, terms such as ‘unilateral appointment’ and the view that the proviso can only be triggered if ‘no list’ is submitted are simply misleading. It is of no moment what type of extra constitutional agreement or agreements, the President and the Leader of the Opposition made, since we are guided by findings of the Esther Pereira case which stated, among others, that Parliamentarians cannot come together and break the law. Applying that same reasoning to this matter translates into politicians cannot come together and make agreements outside the four corners of the Constitution of Guyana no matter how noble their intentions. Harsh as it may seem, the Constitution must stand and be tested if necessary. Gary A R Best Rear Admiral (rtd) Attorney-at-Law

This is a party piling on political... From page 5 Commission is a critical element in the democratic processes both from the demonstrative perspective and the need to ensure that the office is the epitome of integrity and the protection of free and fair elections. Even the PPP has been actively touting those positions even as their every act during the process told quite a different story. It will be recalled that in 2006, then Chief Elections Officer, Mr. Gocool Boohoo, awarded one of Region No. 10 parliamentary constituency seat to the PPP. It will also be recalled that the PPP did not voluntarily give up this seat, they fought tooth and nail and held it for five years. In 2011, it was only because of the vigilance of PNCR Commissioner, Mr. Vincent Alexander, that Mr. Boohoo was thwarted when he tried to change the outcome of the elections by awarding a seat to the

PPP. If he had succeeded, the PPP’s tally would have moved from 32 to 33 seats, thereby securing a majority and still could have been in office onto this date. In 2015 the PPP refused to concede defeat, even after it was universally acknowledged that the elections were free and fair. This dubious track record establishes that the PPP is no paragon of virtue, protector of the realm and guardian of the integrity of the electoral process. In fact, the PPP would do whatever is necessary to win and is not even coy about it. Why then would members of civil society, the Guyana Bar Association, elements of the media and some academics, refuse to call out Mr. Jagdeo for his chicanery with respect to the nomination, but ridicule President Granger for his unilateral but legal action? Why would they connect President Granger’s action to some sinister intent to rig the elections, but allow Mr. Jagdeo’s chicanery to pass, despite the PPP’s dubious recent track record of using officers of GECOM to promote their partisan agenda?

Is there a conspiracy to strip President Granger of the privileges of the incumbent and transpose same onto Mr. Jagdeo, where he is guaranteed confidence in the Chairman, but the President is not? This is offensive to the constitution. The conspiracy unfolding in Guyana today is more than politics. Those who see themselves as the soon to be burgeoning oligarchy class will fight tooth and nail to have themselves aligned in anticipation of oil revenue. Twenty-three years of relationship building with the PPP cannot go to waste. All right-minded Guyanese must be wary of these aspiring oligarchs who see members of the Government as interlopers. We must remember that Mr. Jagdeo publicly admitted he does not believe the process could deliver an impartial chairman and by extension we can conclude that all his machinations are designed to secure a chairman politically favorable to him and the PPP. Push aside the hysteria and it will be seen that there is a carefully crafted conspiracy to create conditions unduly favorable to the PPP. Let us be vigilant. Let us be proud of President Granger for not allowing himself to be rolled by Mr. Jagdeo, the PPP and the aspiring oligarchs. James K. McAllister

Sunday October 29, 2017

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Kaieteur M@ilbox

Kaieteur M@ilbox

So the teachers want to strike and hold the nation’s kids at ransom DEAR EDITOR, I read with disbelief of the Guyana Teachers Union’s decision for all teachers in the public school system to strike next Thursday and Friday. It seems as though the Guyana Teachers Union and those whom it is representing are trying to hold the nation’s children to ransom until their unreasonable demands are met. It makes me wonder about the love and dedication of teachers. Yes, everyone needs to survive, but I say public school teachers have it better than most public servants. Let me elaborate on that point: 1. Almost all public school teachers give extra lessons, charging 1000 per week or more per pupil. Now let’s say for example one teacher gives extra lesson to 25 pupils minimum per week. That will be 25000x4 = $100, 000 TAX FREE MONEY per month. This is leaving out their actual sal-

ary. Now, I don’t really have a problem with teachers giving extra lessons, but all of these teachers choose to teach vital parts of the syllabus at their lesson therefore preventing students from accessing the full syllabus in the school classrooms, forcing these students to pay money for lessons just to get access to the full syllabus. Most public servants don’t see $100,000 on their pay slip per month. Teachers are paid for school holidays amounting to about two months per year. That is two months of money for just staying home. Plus, with poor record keeping, the public school system teachers are being paid for days off or time off of work. Hey, they just have to be good friends with the s c h o o l ’s a d m i n i s t rative staff, after all salary is paid by the Ministry of Education and not by the school. 2. Emotional allowance: The

only persons I would say that deserve emotional allowances are those nurses and doctors who work in the ER and in the mental institutions. What emotional abuse do teachers suffer when they are superior to their charges? Granted, there are some pupils who are disrespectful and problematic and I believe a detention programme should be implemented in all schools. If that doesn’t work, then suspension must be effected. I remember back to the nineties when I was in Greenwich Park Primary school, I was scared of my teachers but I had and still have the utmost respect and love for them. When it came to SSEE time, I experienced extra lesson for the first time. The exam class had to stay back every afternoon for about an hour. We had our one hour lesson in the classroom and our parents didn’t had to pay a blind cent. Senior teachers like Ms Jean Singh (r’etd), Ms Elaine Ragunath and Ms

PM wants teachers to be patient, after... From page 6 Grade Six Examinations have been improving all the time. Can we safely say this about the Ministers? Absolutely not! It’s one scandal after another and a declining economy which is being buffered by taxing the people into poverty. When one examines this in light of the tax-free and duty-free concessions of Ministers of Government this insult is beyond our conscience! The Prime Minister is now saying that, ‘if you don’t have revenue then you can distribute nothing’. It must be recalled that this Government had said that they inherited an ‘empty treasury’ so the pertinent question is: Where did the revenue come from? They did not even start to work as yet and they inherited an empty treasury but they had ‘revenue’ to pay themselves stupendous salaries’ increases. Why did the ministers not take their in-

creases ‘incrementally’ and ‘hope for the best’? The teachers must now wait for the ‘oil money’ to flow. Perhaps the Prime Minister can recall the old adage, ‘a bird in hand is worth two in the bush’. I do strongly believe that the Prime Minister has the ability to do a lot better for the teachers. Why is he progressively alienating and distancing himself from the working class people of this country? Self-preservation should not be the deciding factor but the principles which one should stand for, have stood for, have lived for and live for and willing to die for! History can very cruel to those who turned their backs from the masses! What is the AFC’s position on this? The Prime Minister is definitely parroting the Government’s position but we need to hear from the Leader of the AFC. There are many issues on which the

AFC is silent and a silent partnership is counter-productive to national development. Whither the Cummingsburg Accord (or Discord?)? Theremaining few AFC members should condemn this ‘muted’ relationship! Teachers should not be asked to wait for two years to have a significant increase in their wages and salaries. I must commend the GTU President Mr Mark Lyte for standing his ground, teachers should be respected. Their demands are not unreasonable. ‘Patience has its limits, take it too far and it’s called cowardice’! Haseef Yusuf RDC Councilor –Region

Lynette Khan recapped our entire syllabus with us. They did it out of their love for teaching, their love for their students and for the academic reputation of the school. Mind you, these ladies had families home waiting for them but they knew how important our exam was to us. Their reward was our SSEE results. Now if teachers will be complaining that the syllabus is too much to complete in the classroom then the ministry needs to hire

full time teachers and not those part time who leave school to go to the Cyril Potter College of Education, therefore short changing our kids and short changing our pockets by charging for the compulsory extra lesson. Private schools are offering the high quality of education the public school had offered in the 90s with no extra lessons. And the recent SSEE and CSEC results prove what I am saying.

So in conclusion, instead of salary increase for all teachers, the Ministry of Education should have an outstanding teacher reward programme. I and many other parents won’t mind bring back retired teachers who contribute immensely to the education system. These teachers will earn whatever salary increase there is because of their outstanding performance. Anna T Singh

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Sunday October 29, 2017

Sunday October 29, 2017

Dem boys seh...

Lawlessness tek over Guyana under Soulja Bai Dem boys always look deep into some things or somebody because dem realize from a young age there is always more than what meets de eye. Is over 25 years now dem boys watching we politicians. Nuff of dem was poor and dem was always talking bout love of people. Dem never finish that sentence. Wha dem did mean to seh is de love of de people’s money. Twenty-five years ago most of dem was young poor, humble lawyers and doctors, except de scamp, Jagdeo who didn’t own nutten, not even a bicycle. Check de politicians today; almost all of dem tun politicians. Look at all of dem lifestyle. Dem live in mansions, dem got millions in foreign currency stash away and dem living large. Dem is not humble no more. When dem was doctor and lawyer dem use to rob dem clients. Now dem robbing de treasury; ask Jagdeo, Jordan and Ashni, de missing shaat man. When people talk about dem is one lawless buusing. You would think dem just come out of a brothel—man and woman alike. People got to hide dem pickney from these lowlife leaders. Soulja Bai did promise that he gun have a code of conduct fuh all his people. But lawlessness still continuing right under he eye mek dem boys think it gone in nose suh he can’t see it. Dem is not de only lawless ones Guyana got to be careful of. Plenty of dem deh in GECOM. Dem can be spiteful like dem politicians. When dem boys talk bout de corruption inside GECOM dem pull way all dem ads fuh nine months. If wasn’t fuh a sister company dem boys woulda never know that dem was trying to throw Kaieteur News off de falls. Yesterday, de Waterfalls paper get a shock when dem see one of Lolo Feel man bring a few ads. Dem boys hear is de new old man wha only gone in deh yesterday, tell Lolo Feel that he got to return de ads to de Waterfalls paper. Dem boys still waiting to see who gun go to jail fuh de hundreds of millions of dollars dem spend pun outdated World War One radios, overpriced batteries and pliers. And that is only part of de skullduggery that was going on inside GECOM fuh all de years. Talk half and keep you children away from dem lawless politicians.

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Local producers welcome ‘Guyanese Flavour Uncapped’ With October being designated to Agriculture, the Government of Guyana along with the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) has collaborated to launch one of the first of its kind, Agroprocessors Exhibition, Market and Food Festival, under the title ‘Guyanese Flavour Uncapped’. The grand activity was launched on Friday at the National Exhibition Centre, Sophia, Georgetown. The exhibition attracted at least 60 local agro-processors seeking to attract regional and international markets. Attending the opening ceremony on Friday were Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo; Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin and several other members of Parliament. The exhibition gave locals the opportunity to promote and to vend their agricultural products. Among the many items on sale and display were coconut products, jewellery, beverages, biscuits, spices, seasonings, food and products that were not yet officially launched. One such product was the preserved Carambola, a product by Sterling Products. Representative of the company, Mario Gohil, told Kaieteur News that the product will be launched within a matter of three to six

Some agricultural items that were for sale.

Some products made from coconut. months. This product is nothing new. However, this repackaging is due to foreign competition. Some other items for sale at affordable prices were the sweet potato, plantain and cassava fries. Gohil told of the many health benefits of the items. He also boasted that they serve an avenue of providing employment for Guyanese. Showcasing their unique products, too, were persons from as far as Linden, Parika and Corentyne. The participants of the exhibition was said to be invited by the GMSA. Representative of GMSA and Chief Executive Officer of Sterling Products, Ramsay Ali, stated, “Uncapped was an idea that came about

between the two parties when we realized that Guyana would not host a GuyExpo this year, so we took the opportunity of having an event in the place. “It is a much smaller event, but we are showcasing our agro-processors of small, medium and large scale.” He noted that Guyana currently has rich agricultural products, some of which remain buried because they have not been given the necessary exposure it needs. Production Executive of Edward B. Beharry and Company Limited and representative of GMSA, Raymond Ramsaroop, noted that the board is looking forward to such collaborations between the government and themselves, since this happens to be their first collaborative effort. He said the exhibition is one that is unique. The organisers were intending to meet with agro-processors and this was a fine opportunity. Additionally, it was noted that smaller exhibitions of this

nature have taken place however nothing that was able to grasp the attention of agro-processors and buyers at a national level. The team reportedly spent some $20 million on making the event a success and plans to make the event a bi-annual one. As part of the activity, a Food Festival was also held simultaneously and grabbed the attention of many. This aspect of the exhibition was sponsored by the Demerara Distilleries Limited (DDL), who suggested the phase, among others. Sharing samples and offering food for sale were 11 businesses. The entertainment aspect of the exhibition was suggested, according to the representatives, giving local artistes an opportunity to showcase their talents. Expected to provide entertainment is Poonam Singh, Kwesi Ace and the staff of Nothing to Laugh About, among others. The Agro-processors Exhibition, Market and Food Festival continue today.

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Kaieteur News

NY lawyer moves to block Bisram’s extradition Lawyers for embattled New York-based businessman, Marcus Bisram, who has been ordered extradited from the US to face a murder charge here, is confident that he will not be sent back. Updating Kaieteur News yesterday, Bisram’s lawyer, Mario F. Gallucci of Helbock Nappa and Gallucci LLP, in an emailed response to questions, said that a Writ of Habeas Corpus will be filed within the next 10 days. A Writ of Habeas Corpus is used to bring a prisoner before the court to determine if the person's imprisonment or detention is lawful. “We expect that we will be successful on our Writ and Mr. Bisram will be immediately released. He, as always, refutes all allegations and is quite aware that he is the victim of a corrupt Government. “He understands that the Government is making false promises to the poor family of the decedent and just hopes that someday this family will realize that he in no way,

Fighting hard: Marcus Bisram

Bisram’s New York lawyer, Mario Gallucci

shape or form had anything to do with this tragedy,” Gallucci said. According to the lawyer, Bisram has always been a benefactor to Guyanese “since his great success in United States”. “It should be noted that prior to this tragedy, Mr. Bisram was Guyana's top benefactor. He hopes that once he is released to be able to continue to assist his coun-

try both monetarily and also in removing the corruption which permeates the Government of your country.” According to the lawyer, Bisram’s defense team is working closely with local counsel, Sanjeev Datadin, and will continue to do so until Bisram is vindicated. On October 12, less than a year after a shocking case that alleged a police cover-up and attempted bribery of investi-

From left: Radesh Motie,Niran Yacoob, Diadath Datt and Harripaul Parsram gators into the killing of a Berbice carpenter, a New York court yesterday ordered Bisram be extradited to face the court in Guyana. Bisram’s lawyers were told that in contrast to a criminal conviction, the certification for extradition is not directly appealable and is subject to a “limited review by way of a petition for a writ of habeas corpus to the district court.” The lawyers were advised that Bisram’s last minute options of “Habeas Corpus” proceedings is available only to inquire whether the Judge had jurisdiction, whether the offence charged is within the treaty and, “by a somewhat liberal extension, whether there was any evidence warranting the finding that there was reasonable ground to believe the accused guilty.” “If a habeas petition is filed, the Secretary (of State) will suspend review of the extradition matter, and will resume review only when and if the district court denies the petition. Consequently, there is no need to obtain any form of stay, provided that the habeas petition has been filed.” Once the court has denied the habeas relief, Bisram has to surrender to Guyana. The US government also made it clear that it may oppose any application for a stay. Bisram, well-known in Berbice for his philanthropic efforts to the police community and other charities, was expected to be handed over to the US marshals pending his extradition by the Secretary of State. However, there are some formalities to be handled by the Secretary of State before he can be placed on a plane. The processing of Bisram would come in seeming record time as it was only eight months ago that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs requested that he be sent back to Guyana to face a murder charge in the killing of Faiyaz Narinedatt. Narinedatt was beaten after he allegedly rebuffed Bisram’s sexual advances early November, last year. The carpenter was allegedly dumped in the trunk of a car belonging to an acquain-

tance of the businessman, driven to a public road in Berbice and the scene made to look like a hit-and-run accident had taken place. The businessman was arrested at a New York beach front property, in Far Rockaway, Queens, in early July after a US Judge had issued a warrant for him. Prior to that, Bisram was posted on the Interpol wanted list. New York Judge, Peggy Kuo, filed the Certificate of Extraditability and Order of Commitment, paving the way for him to be sent back. UNUSUAL It is not often that the US has extradited one of its citizens to Guyana. Guyana, on the other hand, has done so in a number of cases. The case would signal closer relations between Guyana and the US. An extradition hearing was held on October 2, and according to Judge Kuo, after considering the evidence, in particular, the certified and authenticated documents submitted by the Government of Guyana, and the pleadings and the arguments of counsel, she has determined that her court has the jurisdiction to handle the proceedings. Bisram’s lawyers had questioned whether there was indeed a treaty allowing the US to send back their client. Bisram, according to filed court documents, was found and arrested on July 4, 2017, in the New York district based on a complaint filed by the United States in response to the request of the Government of Guyana. Judge Kuo found that the extradition treaty between the US and the Government of Guyana- Extradition Treaty Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the United Kingdom of December 22,1931,47 Stat. 2122, (“Treaty”) was entered into force upon Guyana’s independence on May 26, 1966, and was in full force and effect at all times relevant to the Bisram action. Acting United States Attorney, Bridget Rhode, repre-

Murdered: Faiyaz Narinedatt senting the Department of Justice, Guyana’s equivalent to the Ministry of Public Security, wasted no time after the Judge’s order earlier this month. In a filed letter to Bisram’s lawyers, Gallucci and Michael DeSantis, Rhode listed the next steps that will clear the way for the businessman to be sent back to Guyana. Rhode explained that now the extradition order has been issued, the Secretary of State then has to determine whether to surrender the fugitive to the requesting state. It was explained that typically, the fugitive is surrendered within two months of the issuance of the order. OTHERARRESTS Bisram’s alleged actions last November in Berbice, caused four men to be charged for the murder of Narinedatt. Radesh Motie, 39, an excavator operator, of Lot 124, Number 78 Village Corentyne, Berbice; Diadath Datt, 18, of Lot 98, Number 71 Village, Corentyne, Berbice; Harripaul Parsram, 49, of Lot 164, Number 71 Village, Corentyne, Berbice and Niran Yacoob, 37, of Lot 65, Number 67 Village, Corentyne, Berbice were remanded to prison when they appeared before Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan, in November last year. Also charged were Bisram’s mom, Shermella Inderjali, 45, a mother of two, of Number 71 Village, (Continued on page 66)

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Kaieteur News

Pressure mounts for restructuring of lawyers’ disciplinary body The pressure appears to have mounted over a need for the restructuring and strengthening of the disciplinary committee for lawyers. The Laws of Guyana provide for a disciplinary body or Legal Practitioners Committee (LPC) to be set up under the Legal Practitioners’ Act. According to the law, the statutory body which comprises 15 lawyers, 12 of whom are appointed by the Chancellor and the remainder being state officials from the Attorney General’s Chambers who are ex-officio members, hears complaints against lawyers. Article 36 of the Act gives the committee the power to “(a) dismiss the application; (b) impose on the attorney-atlaw to whom the application relates, a fine not exceeding $200,000 as the Committee thinks proper; (c) reprimand the attorney-at-law to whom the application relates; or (d) make an order as to costs of proceedings as it thinks fit, and in addition, except where the application is dismissed, the Committee may order the attorney-at-law to pay the applicant or person aggrieved a sum by way of compensation and reimbursement and any further sum in respect of expenses incidental to the hearing of the application and the consideration of the report as it thinks fit.” The Act also states that if the committee is of the opinion that a more severe punishment such as suspension from practice or removal from the Court Roll is justifiable, it shall forward to the Chancellor and to the Attorney General a copy of the proceedings before it and its

findings. “Once the committee establishes that there is a case for misconduct against a lawyer, it has to report its findings to the judges of the court. The attorney-at-law in question is given an opportunity to show cause why an order to remove him from the Court Roll shall not be made against him and the Attorney-General or an attorney-at-law nominated by him may also be heard.” However, while the act makes provision for some measure of disciplinary to be meted against attorneys found culpable; several persons are of the view that this is not enough to keep lawyers in check. In most cases, complainants would meet a compromise with the attorneys and they would come to an agreement and the monies are reimbursed. However, observers and social commentators have been very vocal on need to have the LPC restructured and strengthened to help make lawyers be more accountable for their actions. In one of his most recent pieces on the topic Christopher Ram, who is also an Attorney at Law by profession cited a lack of resources, commitment and courage to deal with the “egregious infractions by some members of the profession,” among the hindrances to the work of the committee. He said that he recently learnt of a matter in which a lawyer committed what amounts to a fraud on the courts. The matter was known to other lawyers, but they were

reluctant to raise the issue. Ram was also critical of what he described as stories of case files being ducked. His concerns indeed would come at a time when there have been complaints against lawyers. “Lawyers are bound by a Code of Conduct under the Legal Practitioners Act, but many, it seems, pay little attention to its prescriptions, confident that they will get away with whatever. Even when lawyers are found “guilty”, the strongest punishment they face is being told to refund the fees or money paid to them by their hapless clients,” Ram claimed in a letter. He said that in a civilised environment, such action would require publication. “Here in Guyana, there is no more than whisper among lawyers while the offending lawyer is free to continue the offending practice. My recommendation would be for the Legal Practitioners Committee to be headed by a retired Judge enabled with capable full-time staff, and for all its findings to be publicised. The public needs protection from unscrupulous practitioners.” Meanwhile, Kaieteur News understands the LPC is not sitting at present. The body is set to be revamped. Members of the public aggrieved by actions of officials of the legal fraternity are still encouraged to file their complaints via the Court of Appeal. “When the LPC sits, the complaints will still be valid,” an official attached to the Appellate Court told Kaieteur News. “Forms are available for such matters to be filed.”

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Queen’s College students claim Presidential scholarships for CSEC, CAPE Although there have been many questions about the availability of Presidential scholarships for the nation’s top performers, concerns in this regard were on Friday put to rest. At its 2017 Awards Ceremony, the Ministry of Education announced that four students will be recipients of Presidential Awards for their performance this year. Of note is the fact that only students of Queen’s College were found to be eligible for scholarships. The awardees are Michael Bhopaul, Rawletta Barrow, Shannon Woodroffe and Ashley Anthony. Bhopaul, the Most Outstanding national and regional performer at this year’s Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate [CSEC] examination, secured a total of 25 grade one passes. He secured his passes in Agriculture Science [DA], Biology, Caribbean History, Chemistry, Economics, English A, French, Geography, Information Technology, Integrated Science, Mathematics, Office Administration, Physics, Principles of Accounts, Principles of Business, Social

Studies, Spanish, Electronic Documentation Preparation and Management, Human and Social Biology, Additional Mathematics, Food and Nutrition and Health, Family and Resource Management, Technical Drawing, Industrial Technology – Building and English B. His schoolmate, Barrow, secured 19 grade one passes, and essentially took the second place. She secured grade one passes in Caribbean History, Economics, English A, English B, French, Geography, Information Technology, Integrated Science, Office Management, Principles of Business, Religious Education, Social Studies, Spanish, Theatre Arts, Electronic Documentation Preparation and Management, Human and Social Biology, Additional Mathematics, Food and Nutrition and Health, Family and Resource Management. For the Caribbean Advance Proficiency Examination [CAPE], both Anthony and Woodroffe were named the best performers for 2017.

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo is flanked by this year’s Presidential Scholarship awardees. From left: Ashley Anthony, Rawletta Barrow, Michael Bhopaul and Shannon Woodroffe. Anthony’s performance included: Communication Studies Unit1-1, Integrated Mathematics Unit 1-1, Applied Mathematics Unit 21, Biology Unit 2-1, Chemistry Unit 2-1, Pure Mathematics Unit 2-1 and Physics Unit 21. The subjects for which Woodroffe performed exceptionally are: Communication Studies Unit 1-1, Integrated Mathematics

Unit 1-1, Applied Mathematics Unit 2-1, Pure Mathematics Unit 2-1 and Physics Unit 2-1. While there was hardly any doubt that Bhopaul and Barrow would have secured scholarships for their respective performances, once they were available, there were other students who were convinced that they would have been eligible for scholarships at the level of CAPE. Named among the top CAPE performers this year are Vamanadev Hiralall of Saraswati Vidya Niketan and Shawn Shewram of St Rose’s High School. Both young men have already Continued on page 14

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DETERIORATING DISCOURSE…

Cuss-down politics poisonous to Guyana’s children By Kiana Wilburg The political discourse in Guyana is reaching an all time low. The leaders of the Opposition and the Government have often been found guilty of engaging in “inelegant” language when addressing each other in and out of the Parliament. Many social and political activists are warning, however, that this does not augur well for Guyana’s children; the future leaders of tomorrow. Vice Chairman of the Alliance For Change (AFC), Khemraj Ramjattan, was the first to admit that the political discourse is on a daily basis, being diminished and degenerated, particularly by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP). Ramjattan said that the PPP he knew, which was dominated by the likes of the Jagans and the Ramkarrans, is no longer recognizable. He insists that the time is now for the political debate to be enhanced. The AFC Executive Member said that it is important for politicians to always bear in mind that even when engaging in the trade of insults, the element of sophistication must not be absent. Ramjattan said, “The Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, is not good with diction or the proper use of his vocabulary. That is one of his biggest problems. Indeed, in every democracy, you will have people who will be extremely critical but the words used are what will make the democracy an advanced one as against one that is callous and degenerate.” “And I feel that the language Jagdeo uses really makes it bad for the political discourse. I feel that when you do that, too, you make people who have to respond to you, sink to a degenerate level. We automatically try to respond in same manner to him. I have tried as best as I could to avoid such behaviour but I miss it sometimes.” The politician added, “Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo and I, we are Indo-Guyanese who are called ‘Neemakharam’ when we confront him but we get the brunt of him too. We have to watch how we take it. “I am happy Moses indicated that when Jagdeo goes low we have to go high. Our President is also one who goes high. He does not use nasty words like Jagdeo. But the political debate has to get to a higher level.” Ramjattan said that politicians need to be mindful of their words, especially those that are “disgraceful and reprehensible” lest the political class as a unit be degenerated. He said, “We are seen as bad

WPA Executive Member, Dr. David Hinds

Public Infrastructure Minister, David Patterson

Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan

exemplars due to our vocabulary and citizens are going to see it and copy it...Lawless behaviour at the top trickles down to the bottom. When leaders are negative it affects the entire society…” Public Infrastructure Minister, David Patterson, told Kaieteur News that he agrees with his colleague implicitly while adding that politicians and other leaders should be setting the example for others to

includes the Opposition, to ensure that the contestation for power is done within certain boundaries. Dr. Hinds said, “You have to contest for power without destroying the fabric of the country. So there must be limits on what political parties say and do as they fight each other for power. But our political parties have no limits. They will do anything for power.” The Executive Member of the

deal with issues, they engage in the political assassination of individuals who are on the other side.” The political activist added, “And I think that has consequences for our quality of life. We treat each other as enemies rather than adversaries. It is a terrible environment for the future leaders of Guyana to be nurtured in. We are endangering the future of Guyana.” Dr. Hinds said that at the end of the day, the integrity of a society is determined largely by the relationships that are developed in the day to day lives of our leaders. He argued that if those relationships are poisoned by the political struggle for power then the country would be in serious trouble. The University Professor said he does not see any social cohesion being possible in the next decade in Guyana. He noted that the gridlock that existed over the selection of a Chairman for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) brought Guyana to a place where it would not be able to recover from in a generation.

“We are seen as bad exemplars due to our vocabulary and citizens are going to see it and copy it...Lawless behaviour at the top trickles down to the bottom. When leaders are negative it affects the entire society…” - Ramjattan follow rather than doing the opposite. Patterson argued that it would be difficult for today’s politicians to convince the nation’s youths that they indeed have their best interest at heart, when those very leaders are publicly “cussing down others” simply because they are from a different party. The Public Infrastructure Minister said that the current vitriol from the political Opposition has set Guyana back by decades. He commented that it is erasing any gains the PPP claimed to have made in the realm of cohesion during its tenure. Patterson said that thankfully, Guyana is endowed with a much more informed, youthful population which will be able to decide what is acceptable and what is not. In providing his perspective on the matter, Executive Member of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), Dr. David Hinds noted that both the government and the opposition have not tried hard enough for national consensus. In the absence of that, he believes that the citizenry has felt that it has to, in the most trident way, defend the actions of the parties, whether those are wrong or not. In societies like Guyana, Dr. Hinds said that it is the responsibility of those who lead and govern, and this

WPA continued, “They turn the political environment into a jungle. So what we have is jungle warfare rather than political struggle. Our citizens take their cue from that kind of behaviour. And so they do not

Dr. Hinds said, “I am ready to say that. Social cohesion is now an unattainable ideal. The PPP’s mobilization is ethnically grounded. One does not have to use ethnic terms to achieve ethnic ends. This happened after the 1973 elections. PPP embarked on a similar programme of noncooperation. It is nothing new. They have done this before and the outcome of that 1973 engagement had implications for the economy…” He added, “When you say noncooperation in an ethnically sensitive environment it is division you are speaking of. You are saying to your supporters don’t cooperate with the supporters of the other side. We can’t achieve any social cohesion in that environment at all. “It is difficult under normal circumstances and it is going to be 10 times more difficult when the other parties are saying don’t cooperate with the other side.” As for what can be done to change this state of affairs, the University Professor said that constitutional change which is aimed at putting checks on political leaders is what is needed. He opined that if political leaders do not want to share power based on their own convictions then the Constitution must force them to do so. He said, “I think constitutional change is imperative if we are going to dig ourselves out of this hole in which we have found ourselves in the last week or so. When I speak of sharing of power I am not talking about sharing the spoils of office but the responsibility of ensuring that the country stays together, of holding this fragile nation together.” The political activist stated that the battle lines have been drawn between both parties and given the coming of oil which coincides with the next election; he does not see either side backing down.

Queen’s College students claim Presidential... From page 13 commenced studies at various institutions but were hopeful that the government would have recognised their performances too. Hiralall wrote eights subjects and gained grade ones passes in all eight units. The subjects he wrote included: Caribbean Studies [Unit 1], Biology [Unit 2], Chemistry [Unit 2], Computer Science [Unit 2], Environmental Science [Unit 2], Information Technology [Unit 2], Pure Mathematics [Unit 2] and Physics [Unit 2]. The young man who hopes to secure a career in the medical field one day was accepted to study for the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery [MBBS] programme at the University of the West Indies. Shewram also achieved eight ones at CAPE in the subject areas of Caribbean Studies [Unit 1], Economics [1 Unit], Economics [Unit 2], Entrepreneurship [Unit 1], Entrepreneurship [Unit 2], Accounting [unit 2], Law [Unit 2] and Management of Business [Unit

2]. He had expressed similar sentiments as Hirallal although he has commenced studies in law at the University of Guyana. It was the PPP/C Government in 2012 that first announced that the two top performers of CSEC and CAPE would be eligible for scholarships to attend universities of their choice. The former Government had however reneged on its commitment to grant scholarships to the candidates chosen universities. But Minister of State Joseph Harmon, had said that because of its emphasis on young people, the coalition APNU+AFC Government was committed to continuing the granting of scholarships to the top performers to universities of their choosing up to the end of 2015. “Thereafter Cabinet has mandated the Minister of Education to examine the programme carefully and to come up with firm recommendations.” Harmon had disclosed that

Cabinet had given guidance to the Minister of Education that in looking at the condition for the award of scholarships that “the Minister and the Ministry consider scholarships for people in Guyana at UG.” This, he had related, would translate to the expansion of the scholarship programme where it is no longer limited to the top performing students pursuing studies abroad but also to include “deserving students in Guyana who can pursue degrees at UG.” At the time the Minister of Education was Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine, a portfolio that is now being filled by Ms. Nicolette Henry. Henry in an invited comment to this publication on the scholarship issue said “whatever people are due they will get. There is no plan to disadvantage anyone so once they are due they will get it. I don’t think they have anything to worry about; once they are eligible.”

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120 submissions later…

Land Rights Commission wants more time to complete work Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, on Friday received a preliminary report of the Land Rights Commission, which was established by President David Granger to examine and make recommendations to resolve issues and uncertainties surrounding the individual, joint or communal ownership of lands across the country. The Commission also formally requested an extension to its November 1 deadline, since its work with regard to Indigenous peoples lands has been put on hold pending the outcome of further discussions with Indigenous groups. Speaking to the commissioners at his office, Minister Harmon said that given the Commission’s scope of work in terms of the evidence that is being unearthed and submissions that are being made, the President’s decision to mount this inquiry has been vindicated. “Many persons felt that this was a waste of time and you can hear it coming out of the Opposition, but certainly I think that the work, which the Commission is doing is a vindication of His Excellency’s confidence that we can provide answers for ourselves right here in Guyana and we do not have to wait on any foreign entity to come here to say to us what is wrong and what we need to fix it,” the Minister said. He added that the Administration is confident in the ability of the Commissioners to be able to sepa-

Minister of State, Mr. Joseph Harmon receiving the report from Chairman of the Lands Right Commission, Rev. George Chuck-A-Sang. Also in picture are Commissioner of the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission, Mr. Trevor Benn and other members of the Land Rights Commission rate fact from fiction, so as to rectify longstanding land issues in a manner that is both impartial and satisfactory to the people of Guyana. Speaking to the commissioners, he said, “I get a sense that you are discovering that there are fraudulent transactions in the acquisition of land and that there is need for an education programme in some sections of our society and these are things that have to be followed up a f t e r t h e c o m m i s s i o n ’s work.” Minister Harmon also informed that there are provisions in the Laws of

Guyana that allow for the Commission to refer matters that come before it to other Government agencies to be addressed rather than wait for the submission of the final report for action to be taken. The Minister is expected to hand over the report to the Head of State shortly, as well as communicate the Commission’s request to him for an extension. Meanwhile, Chairman of t h e C o m m i s s i o n , R e v. George Chuck-A-Sang disclosed that the Commission has had two public hearings and is in receipt of over 120 submissions.

The Baccoo Speaks The rivers can be tricky at this time of the year. Unless one is familiar with the movement and the obstacles that appear one can be in trouble. That is going to be the case when a young pilot attempts to take some people up the river to a neighbouring community. There will be some problem when the vessel encounters a law enforcement group that is suspicious. The boat would crash into the river bank and spill people into the flowing waters.

** Greed will lead to the arrest of some people who had access to large sums of government money. Indeed this is going to cause

problems for the investigators, because two of the people are prominent citizens with political connections. The arrest will warrant detention, but the phalanx of lawyers would cause further problems. ** Another murder would stun the country which is already recording more murders than road fatalities. This one would result from a family dispute. It would be a case of revenge in a usually quiet village.

Moreover, he informed that some of the key issues uncovered thus far include the dispossession of descendants of African Guyanese, the dispossession of freehold lands,

through fraudulent practices and the lack of harmonisation of land laws among land management agencies. On March, the President swore-in the members

to the Commission, which also includes Mr. David James, Mrs. Carol KhanJames, Professor Rudolph James, Mr. Lennox Caleb, Ms. Paulette Henry and Ms. Belinda Persaud.

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Sunday October 29, 2017

Who killed the Governor’s daughter? By Michael Jordan When I went prowling around Quamina Street where she had once lived, not a single soul had anything bad to say about old Miss Dorothy King. She was kind, some said. She reached out to the less fortunate, others recalled. But the cynics like to say that no good deed goes unpunished, and back in 1999, there was someone who had it in for 84-year-old Miss King. A lot has changed in Quamina Street since then. For one thing, the huge, sprawling colonial-style house which was Dorothy King’s last home has been torn down. That old house had a certain touch of grandeur about it; fitting, I guess, for someone of Dorothy King’s background. Dorothy Rosabelle

Napleton King was born on Saturday, March 22, 1913. She was the daughter of the former Governor of Her Majesty’s Penal Settlement, Mazaruni (now the Mazaruni Prisons). She spent most of her childhood there before heading for Georgetown, where she attended the Ursuline Convent School. Young Dorothy then attended school in London, England, where she was trained in ballet. Returning to Guyana, King opened her own ballet school at the sprawling Quamina Street residence. In 1942, she joined the teaching profession, becoming the Drill Mistress at The Bishops’ High School. King retired from the teaching profession in 1977, but continued to live

an active life. She had a keen interest in art and Guyanese history a n d i r o n i c a l l y, i t n o w seems, was also a member of the Guyana Human Rights Association. Like I said, the old house had a touch of grandeur. But it was not the sort of house in which an elderly woman should have lived alone. From reports, some of Miss King’s close friends had expressed concern about this situation, since that section of Quamina Street was crime-ridden then. But Miss King brushed off these fears. It has been suggested that Dorothy King’s days at Mazaruni had given her confidence to deal with criminals. It was said that on many occasions, she had actually en-

countered criminals at her Quamina Street home. According to these reports, she would patiently speak with them, and sometimes even offer them a meal before showing them to the door. The retired schoolteacher had established a certain routine that some of her neighbours knew of. At 17:30 hrs every day, she would always close two side windows at the eastern side of her house. But at 18:00 hrs on Wednesday, January 27, 1999, a neighbour observed that King’s windows were still open. The neighbour called a guard who worked nearby. The guard went over to Dorothy King’s house and noticed that her front door was slightly ajar. He sum-

moned a friend and neighbour of King’s. The friend arrived at 19:05 hrs and, on entering the premises, almost immediately realised that something was terribly wrong. Miss King’s broken spectacles lay on the floor a short distance from the door. There were also spots of blood on the floor. Summoning another acquaintance, the friend went further inside, and observed marks on the floor that led to the kitchen. And that is where they found Dorothy King. She was lying face down on the floor, with her hands outstretched. Someone had bashed in her skull. A piece of wood about 18 inches long was resting on her back. An autopsy would later reveal that she was also strangled. Robbery was clearly the motive, since the house was ransacked. A safe that had contained valuables was open, and the contents were missing. There was no sign of forced entry and it was surmised that King had opened her door for someone she had known. King reportedly would look through her window when anyone rapped and then open the door, but only for people she recognized. From the blood and the smashed spectacles near the door, it was believed that King was attacked as soon as she opened the door. Detectives immediately began enquiring about any unusual movements around t h e m u r d e r e d w o m a n ’s house. They learned that on the Wednesday evening that King was slain, a known sex worker was twice seen rapping at the elderly woman’s door. The detectives deduced that King might have let the young woman in,

and that the woman, perhaps with an accomplice, may have murdered King. However, despite their best efforts, the investigators were never able to locate the ‘street walker’. Other sex workers reportedly went into temporary hiding for fear of being questioned. There has never been an arrest warrant issued for Dorothy King’s murder. I returned to the scene of Miss King’s murder in early 2009, because that was one of the cases that remained stuck in my memory. It still does. I was somewhat taken aback to discover that some people were still apprehensive about speaking about the unsolved murder. One male individual hinted that the killer(s) might be from a neighbouring community. Pressed further, he said he had given a statement to the police back then and suggested that I check with them. The killers were still around and he refused to say anything further, but gave the impression that he knew a lot. Well, I guess I was hoping for too much. I guess that almost two decades is too long a time to find out who entered that old house on that fateful Wednesday evening and k i l l e d t h e G o v e r n o r ’s daughter… If you have any further information on this 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 22-58458, 22-58465, or 22-58491. You need not disclose your identity. You can also contact Michael Jordan at his email a d d r e s s mjdragon@hotmail.com.

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Our leaders since the 1920s do not know what poverty is Go back to 1926 with the birth of the Popular Party, right through to the formation of the Political Affairs Committee which became the PPP, then to the PNC through to the United Force, and take it right up to the Alliance for Change, those countless politicians who became governmental leaders never knew what poverty was like. They never endured poverty. They never tasted the agony and angst of poverty. Dr. Jagan was a country boy from Port Mourant, but he was not from an impoverished home. He and his siblings did well in life. Jagan’s de facto deputy in the olden days was Ranji Chandisingh, a graduate from Harvard. Boysie Ramkarran later became next in line after Jagan, but his parents had land. When Jagan came to power as Premier in 1957 until he lost power in 1964, all his ministers were middle class politicians, some of them being very privileged people in Guyana at the time. Burnham came from a middle class household; his dad was a headmaster. Hammie Green told me in a recent interview that his father was middle class in those days. Ptolemy Reid hailed from Dartmouth, where at an early age, he copped a scholarship to become a doctor in veterinary medicine. There were some small parties that got into government whose leaders were

privileged people in British Guiana. We can start with the National Democratic Party of elitist lawyer John Carter who joined Burnham’s government. Llewellyn John also joined Burnham’s party from the League of Coloured People. John came from a background of extensive landholding. There is no need to mention the United Force of Peter D’Aguiar. His party was at the time and remains today, the most middle organization to enter politics; the Popular Party in the 1920s did not have so many wealthy people in its ranks as the United Force When the PPP returned to power in 1992 it formed a coalition with a group called the Civic Component. Without exception, the people who joined the Jagan Government from the Civic Component were all middle class names, some of whom included - Dr. Henry Jeffrey, Samuel Hinds, an engineer, Dr. Hughley Hanoman. Both Clement Rohee and I are getting on in age, but I hope his memory is still good as I remind him when we met at the Pegasus car park, He had a few inelegant remarks to make on the middle class composition of the Civic Component. Later on in power, the PPP offered a ministerial post to the leader, Manzoor Nadir, of a small party named TUF. Nadir at the time was not someone the PPP plucked from poverty. He lived in Lamaha Gardens.

We have come to the point of the AFC and the WPA in office. Dr. Roopnaraine represents the WPA in the present government. Kitty-born, QC boy, he secured a scholarship to Cambridge and a doctorate from Cornell University. That is hardly an indication of poverty. The AFC is literally the reincarnation of the United Force of Peter D’Aguiar. Whereas the PPP and PNC leaders would be unashamed to speak of their outfits as working class organizations, the AFC would consider it an immersion in leprosy to mention the word working class to describe their politics.

Finally, it would really be silly for anyone to mention that David Granger came from a poor, working class background where he understood the throes of poverty. Mr. Granger is the most middle class-oriented leader the PNC ever produced. Now read this; Hamilton Green told me that it was ironic that Desmond Hoyte should have worn a middle class aura during his leadership of the government, because Hoyte came from a very humble background, more than any other PNC leader. These are the locals who have had political power in Guyana since the Popular

Party in 1926 won seats in the legislature. And from 1926 to this day, not one of these politicians could say they were born into and grew up in poverty. These people from 1926 onwards never understood what a life of poverty was/is. They cannot empathize with poor people, so they feel no remorse when they chase them off the streets selling their little items, break up their vending stalls and demolish their squatter-dwellings. A human has to be an animal to grow up in poverty, liberate themselves from the chains of desperation, become somebody in life, and refuse to show empathy and

Frederick Kissoon sympathy for poor people. I know what it is like to have one meal a day growing up in South Georgetown. If you think that is an exaggeration, then you are a fool who knows nothing about life.

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Sunday October 29, 2017

Kaieteur News

10 LITTLE WORDS By Prime Minister, Hon. Moses Nagamootoo August 9, 2017 marked three years since a motion of No-Confidence was tabled in Guyana’s National Assembly for the first time in our history. That motion contained 10 little words: “That this National Assembly has no confidence in the Government”. Those 10 little words shook this nation and ultimately triggered a change of government for only the second time in post-independent Guyana. That historic motion was moved by me and seconded by Catherine Hughes on behalf of the Alliance for Change, i.e. after we were assured of support from our fellow opposition member, APNU. At that time, the Opposition held a one-seat majority in the National Assembly. The motion of No Confidence was laid against the Donald Ramotar-led PPP/C government, which had become unpopular, corrupt and most incompetent.

LET’S REBOOT OUR MEMORY I have decided to revisit the No-Confidence motion because a few newborn critics are beginning to demonstrate short memories as we say in Guyana. Apparently they’ve already forgotten the physical and psychological conditions they lived under just 27 months ago. They seem to have forgotten what they fought so hard for and won – peace, respect and advancement. I’ll take it just one step further and beg you to remember that Rome was not built in one day, and Guyana could not be completely rebuilt in just 2 years. These things take time, skill and money. That motion was submitted on the eve of Parliamentary Recess, so there was going to be no immediate debate. It was then properly published and placed on the Order Paper for debate when Parliament resumed on November 10, 2014.

Before we submitted the Motion, the PPP members had spent a great deal of time mocking the Opposition, certain as they were that no such motion would ever be brought. “Bring it on!” they would shout in a bovine chorus, over and over, but for all the bravado, the president still refused to convene Parliament for weeks to allow the debate to begin. THE FOLKLORIC MOONGAZER So in the interim, while the PPP’s MPs didn’t have the parliamentary floor to flaunt their arrogant braggadocio, their cronies in business, like the Private Sector Commission, were busy trying to invoke visions of doom in the minds of Guyanese, while other business organisations tried to dilute the seriousness of the motion. But they all knew that the inevitable fresh elections would spell doom for the PPP. SAVING FACE

Section 106 of Guyana’s Constitution provides that “The Cabinet and President shall resign if the Government is defeated by the vote of the majority of all Members of the National Assembly on a vote of confidence”. So, to save face and avoid certain humiliation on the battleground of a parliamentary debate, the PPP decided to fall on its own sword. President Ramotar prorogued Parliament on the very day that the debate was to begin. He dissolved the House and announced the date for fresh elections as the Constitution stipulates – within 90 days after dissolution. Those elections results were predictable because the populace had had enough of the PPP and everything that party represents - pervasive corruption, disrespect for citizens, even their supporters, and their total disregard for parliamentary procedures (recall one of their last acts - the highly unlawful withdrawal and spending of $4.5 Billion by the then Minister of Finance). He had acted in clear violation of the Constitution, and his arrogance when asked by Parliament to provide reasons, was so disrespectful that AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan proposed that he be jailed for this criminal act. So recently when I was asked why the No-Confidence motion had only 10 words, my reply was that it mirrored one of the admonitions of the 10 Commandments of God: “Thou shall not steal”. A LONG RAP SHEET The defeat of the PPP in 2015 was surgical. It was the first step the Guyanese electorate took to exorcise the PPP’s unrestrained lawlessness, and their corruption which still taints our country’s international reputation. Guyana is still referred to as a corrupt country today. Potential investors have qualms about investing here because of that bad world reputation, one that the country had earned fair and square under the PPP. Their Rap Sheet is long,

PM Moses Nagamootoo so here are only a few of their crimes of omission and commission:*Refusal to hold local government elections for 20 years *President Ramotar’s cantankerous refusal to assent to Opposition-led parliamentary bills *Refusal to set up the Public Procurement Commission *Refusal to appoint a chairperson to the Integrity Commission *Diversion of billions of taxpayer dollars to their slush fund, NICIL *Unilateral distribution of radio and television licenses to friends, family and cronies *Abuse of government resources and state media for party purposes *Unlawful use of confidential tax information to intimidate critics *Open harassment and disrespect of journalists/media, even jurists MY PERSONAL VENDETTA It wasn’t until the writing was on the wall pre-election that I finally realized why the Jagdeoites were waging such a nasty war against me, replete with cuss words. It was a vendetta. You see, I had dared to defy ‘his mightiness’ by walking away from the ‘Augean Stables’! The common line was that I had ‘sold out’ to the PNC which, in post-Jagan par-

lance, is tantamount to teaming up with the Devil. The latest regurgitation of this racist red venom came after I participated in a State function to commemorate the 32nd death anniversary of former President, Forbes Burnham. My credo is that while we must seek knowledge and guidance from the past, we cannot be slaves to it. These are people who just can’t let go of the past. They let it intrude into our present and overshadow our future. In his lifetime, Cheddi Jagan understood that he could not forever be a prisoner of the past. That was why he used to often say that Guyana would do well to return to the ethos of the 1950’s when there was racial and working-class unity. His reliance on dialectics led him in 1964 to propose a PPP-PNC coalition. In 1975, even with claims of rigged elections, he offered “critical support” to the PNC government, and complimented its “anti-imperialist” stance and industrial nationalization policies. In 1980, Cheddi Jagan and his comrade, Forbes Burnham, were still trying to put together a coalition government that would have materialized if the President had not died suddenly on August 6, 1985. History will certainly settle on their roles separately and together in Guyana’s evolution. Whichever side of the political fence we sit on, we should view our founding fathers as men who tried to work through our complicated struggles and circumstances to achieve true nationhood. To those who come after me and my government with malice, I say to them: Hate is ugly and unproductive. Try 10 pretty words next time!

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Kaieteur News

My column

Technology is shrinking the world Technology has really changed the Guyana landscape, but most of us have barely touched the surface. Indeed we have the smart phones that allow us to contact people just about anywhere. We can research any topic and we can find just about any place. A long time ago I remember dreaming about sitting in one place and actually seeing someone in another part of the world in real time. I dreamed about what is now a conference call. Someone in an office communicating with his staff by a video link is a reality. The courts are now using this technology with increasing frequency. A few months ago we took a case to the Caribbean Court of Justice. We made our arguments then returned home for the decision. That decision came via Skype. There I was in the Guyana Court of Appeal watching the judges in Trinidad taking their seats then reading the judgement. That was nothing short of amazing, when we consider that a few years ago it would have been impossible. People do not necessarily have to come to Guyana to testify in

a matter. They can do so from the confines of their home. They can be cross-examined and questioned. When we travel overseas we find people by simply inputting their address in a phone or a device fitted in cars that are being produced these days. A voice directs you from the moment you drive off all the way to your destination. If there is a traffic jam along the way the voice talks you around it. A policeman stops you on the road. Before he approaches your vehicle, he inputs the number of your vehicle and he is provided with a load of information. He knows the name of the driver and in that way he can determine if the vehicle is stolen or if the driver has an outstanding warrant. That technology is coming to Guyana with the development of Information and Communication Technology. Doctors in one country can actually help those in another part of the world perform delicate operations. The foreign doctor is actually in the operating theatre seeing everything by way of a camera. With such a development in technology, I am amazed

that our children still ask people the meaning of words, because these days the dictionary is obsolescent. In fact, there is an application (app) that actually pronounces the word. The speaker can pronounce the word and the app will tell that person how to spell the word and the meaning of that word. I work with a newspaper. People no longer have to rush out to get the newspaper man. They simply go online and can read anything they want. In fact, these days there are online newspapers. The publishers no longer have to invest in printing presses and all the accoutrements that go with it. That is why I simply could not understand the hullaballoo about whether Justice James Patterson was ever a Chief Justice in Grenada. Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, at a recent press conference, said that people told him the opposite. The technology is there for him to verify what he was told. Instead we have this confusion nearly a fortnight after Justice Patterson took the oath of office. Employers use the internet more frequently than we would want to believe. A

man came to me to request that we take down some information about a conviction he picked up in the United States. He told me that he was trying to gain employment ,but the potential employer would simply inform him that his conviction is a major stumbling block. Confidence tricksters also use the internet to post fictitious resumes. However, they are unearthed by a simple cross check. If the individual talks about attending a certain university, then that can be checked out. It is the same if the person fudges his/her experience. This is how Kaieteur News was able to uncover the fact that Makeshwar ‘Fip’ Motilall never constructed a road, although he presented himself as someone who had built roads in the United States. The newspaper should not have been put in the position to uncover the falsehood. The government, by way of due diligence, could and should have accessed the information. That is why we should now not have the problems with hinterland schools being so disadvantaged. We did attempt to package

programmes that we would have disseminated to those schools. A teacher would have been standing in a classroom somewhere and teaching children miles away. Of course, there would have been need for supervision at the hinterland school, provided the teacher is au fait with the subject. This is being done elsewhere, and with our limited resources we should be making use of this technology. Minister Cathy Hughes is busy setting up internet hubs along coastal Guyana, but I am certain most of the users are more interested in using the hubs for Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp and the like. It would be interesting if we could use these hubs for education purposes. They are excellent communication tools, to the extent that in the developed world every citizen is now a reporter. Only yesterday I saw a story about a woman recording an attack on a man and making her recording available to the police. In Guyana, I have seen misinformation peddled as truth. One classic case involved reporter Nazima Raghubir interviewing President David Granger. There

Adam Harris was President Granger talking about plantain chips and the like. The reality is that he never answered in the manner the video purported him to do. And that is one fear of social media. Misinformation can be promoted as fact, and being the people we are, we would tend to believe what is presented. There is need for the presenters among us to be responsible. Yet one should not limit the use of technology. We catch criminals through its use; we catch errant road users and we can monitor people. In the United States, policemen are forced to wear body cameras. That may be some distance away for Guyana, but it must be coming.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday October 29, 2017

Committed to good governance - Respecting the Constitution History was created and our democracy was strengthened on Monday October 23, 2017 with the swearing- in of members of the Local Government Commission. In the words of His Excellency Brigadier David Granger, the swearing-in signified the APNU+AFC administration’s commitment to good governance, to respecting the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana; to reinforcing local democracy and regulating the management of communities and neighbourhoods. The Constitution (at Article 78A) mandates Parliament to : “…establish a Local Government Commission, the composition and rules of which empower the Commission to deal with, as it deems fit, matters related to the regulation and staffing of local government organs and with dispute resolution within and

between local government organs.” Guyana is too large to be effectively or efficiently managed by a central government. Article 71(1) and 74(1) of the Constitution provide for devolution and specifically entrust the task of managing and developing communities to their residents and their respective local democratic organs. One of the most despicable practices of the Peoples Progressive Party while in government was the tendency to make agreements and unilaterally refuse to implement them. Despite its solemn promise in 2011 to the people of Guyana for the holding of local government elections - they failed to hold them. In 2015, the APNU+AFC coalition made a promise to the people of Guyana that it would implement comprehensive

local democratic reform. In our Manifesto we promised that within one hundred days we would set the date for local government elections. On March 18, 2016, after an absence of more than two decades, local government elections were held in nine towns and sixty-two Neighbourhood Democratic Councils. In his address to the new Commissioners, President Granger noted that Local democracy was an essential element of governance. He said, “It is the form of administration at the third and lowest tier of administration beneath the regional and national administrations. It is explicitly provided for in the Constitution which states (at Article71(1) that: Local Government is a vital aspect of democracy and shall be organized so as to involve as many people as possible in the task of managing and developing the communities in which they live. The principle objectives of local government are to involve as many persons as possible in the management and development of the communities and neighbourhoods in which they live and to promote the economic, environmental, cultural and social wellbeing of citizens. The establishment of the Local Government Commission, and the oversight which it will provide over the local government system, will safeguard, strengthen and promote these objectives. The Local Government Commission, therefore, can: -Provide for the autonomy of local democratic organs in accordance the Constitution (at Article 75): -prevent unlawful, executive and political intrusion into the work of local government organs; and -promote greater efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of public services to the

citizens and their communities. With the Commission now in place, the Coalition is well on its way to completing the phased implementation plan for the devolution and decentralization of significant sections of central government. Already four new Capital towns have been identified, they are Mabaruma in the Barima Waini–Region No 1, Bartica in the Cuyuni Mazaruni -Region No 7, Mahdia in the Potaro-Siparuni Region No 8, and Lethem in the Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo- Region No 9. Training of human resources and capacity building has already started so as to enable a culture of good governance to flourish in these new local government areas. Central government is providing technical, material, administrative and financial resources to local democratic organs to equip and enable them to function with the autonomy envisaged by Article 75 of the Constitution. T h r e e o f t h e C a p i t a l To w n s (Mabaruma, Bartica and Lethem) have already been upgraded to township status, each with its own Mayor and Councillors. The new towns are now able to provide all the services that other Municipalities offer. These services include sanitation, banking, and other governmental services. It is expected that in the not too distant future, services such as the provision of Passports and Drivers’ licences will also be made available. The devolution of power and decentralization of services enable residents of the new towns to remain within their township, thereby precluding them from having to travel all the way to Georgetown to access such services. It also provides for citizens in the communities where they live, to participate fully in self- government.

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Kaieteur News

Prescription drug misuse: A dilemma in the making By Dr Zulfikar Bux Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine Prescription drug abuse is a problem in many areas around the world. Misuse of pain medications and “stimulant” drugs in Guyana while present, is not as common as in the developed world. But the misuse of sleeping pills is increasingly becoming a dilemma in our system. Today we will discuss prescription misuse WHAT IS PRESCRIPTION DRUG MISUSE? “Prescription drug misuse” is a term for when people use prescription medicines in ways that are different from how they were meant to be taken. People sometimes also call this “prescription drug abuse.” Prescription drug misuse can have a bad impact on important parts of a person’s life. For example, it might cause the person to miss work or school, or have problems getting along with friends or family. People who misuse prescription drugs might:

- Take drugs that are not prescribed to them - Take more of the drug than the prescribed dosing - Crush pills and inhale them, or inject them into a vein instead of swallowing them as directed WHATARE THE MOST COMMONLY MISUSED PRESCRIPTION DRUGS? The types of prescription drugs that people misuse most often are: - Certain drugs to treat severe pain (called “opioids”) - Drugs that make you feel alert and focused (called “stimulants”) - Drugs that make you feel calm, relaxed, or possibly sleepy (called “anxiolytics”) WHATARE COMMON SIGNS THAT A PERSON MIGHT BE MISUSING PRESCRIPTION DRUGS? Warning signs of prescription drug misuse include: - Sudden changes in mood or behaviour - Being more irritable than normal - Being more sleepy than normal People who misuse pre-

scription drugs might tell their doctor they need more medicine than they actually do. That way, they can get more of the drug they are misusing. They might also try to get the same prescription medicine from more than one doctor. Once they start misusing the drug, they require higher and higher doses to treat their problem. Most people who misuse prescription drugs get them from a friend or relative, not a doctor. SHOULD I SEE A DOCTOR? If you are worried that you have a problem with drugs, talk to your doctor or nurse, or to a counselor. They can recommend treatments to help you overcome your problem. If you think someone close to you is misusing prescription drugs, ask them if they are taking medicines differently from how they are meant to be taken. If they are, encourage them to speak to the doctor who prescribed the drugs. You can also ask your own doctor or counselor for advice. HOW IS PRESCRIPTION

DRUG MISUSE TREATED? A major treatment for prescription drug misuse is counseling. In counseling, you can talk with a doctor or other specialist about how to stop misusing drugs. There are medicines that can help treat addiction to some prescription drugs. Other treatments can include: %Prescription medicines that make it easier to stop misusing drugs. Medicines like these are available only for some types of drug misuse. %Having support groups where people talk about their drug use and share advice on how to quit. WHAT IS WITHDRAWAL? When people take drugs for a long time and suddenly stop or reduce the dose sharply, they often get symptoms. These symptoms are called “withdrawal,” and might include: - Feeling anxious or restless

- Trouble sleeping - Vomiting - Diarrhea If you have any of these symptoms after stopping a drug, talk with your doctor. He or she can prescribe medicines to treat these symptoms or suggest ways to help you cope. Medicines can prevent more severe symptoms, such as seizures or even death. CAN PRESCRIPTION DRUG MISUSE BE PREVENTED? To reduce the chances that you will misuse drugs, you should: - Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including over-the-counter medicines. - Take medicine only as prescribed. - Read the instructions from the pharmacist before taking your medicine. - Ask your doctor or pharmacist about your medicine if you are unsure about how it will affect you. - Once your health problem is better, get rid of any left-

Dr. Zulfikar Bux over pills that were prescribed to treat the problem. This might involve flushing them down the toilet, or mixing them with something like dirt or cat litter before putting the mixture in the trash. Family support and intervention is very important for persons that are misusing prescription drugs. Their mentality and behaviour may appear wholly irrational until you understand that they are completely powerless over their addiction and unless they have structured help, they have no hope.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday October 29, 2017

SUNDAY GECOM CHAIRMAN APPOINTMENT…GRANGER BREAKS HIS OWN AGE POLICY President David Granger’s unilateral appointment of 84-year-old retired Justice James Patterson as Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), directly conflicts with the public position he and his coalition Government took on the employment of persons for public office beyond the retirement age. Early this year, President David Granger justified the replacement of persons on several state boards, agencies and commissions by pointing to the new policy on age developed by Government. Among the notable persons who were affected by the ‘new policy’ were Justice Cecil Kennard, who was asked to step down as Chairman of the Police Complaints Authority (PCA); former Mayor of Georgetown Hamilton Green, who served as the Chairman of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA); and Justice Prem Persaud, Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission (PUC). Green will be 83 in November while Justice Persaud is age 84 and Kennard is over 80 years of age. , who supports the president’s unilateral decision, wouldn’t comment on the government’s mixed signals on the issue of age. Granger had promised to produce a general order explaining government’s policy on age and retirement with the hope to provide other persons an opportunity to serve so that over a period of time, there is a build-up of expertise among the younger generations. ”So it is not a criticism of Justice Kennard. There will be further information but nobody is being purged. We are simply trying to give other persons the ability to serve,” the President had said. Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan had said of Kennard’s departure, “I think it’s his age.” The government has shared plans to increase the age of retirement in the public service from 55.

Justice Patterson’s age was mentioned by Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, who said the retired judge was nearly 85 years of age. GOVT., DPP AT ODDS OVER THE POLICE CAPACITY TO INVESTIGATE Government is not agreeing with assertions of the Chamber of Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) that the police are lacking in investigative capacity. On October 20, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, was questioned about it and he is making it clear that the Guyana Police Force and its arms are receiving an increased number of training sessions, both local and overseas. The evidence is coming out…more serious crimes are being solved and brought before the court. And this would come as the police continue to build more on intelligence gathering and collaborations at the community levels. The police Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), which investigates financial crimes, came under scathing criticism from the DPP, the independent Chambers which give advice on criminal cases. SOCU cases have to go to the Chambers. In one case, SOCU reportedly complained about delays over a file involving the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry, thus incurring the wrath of the DPP.

MONDAY DRAMA HEATS UP IN BERBICE CARPENTER MURDER CASE… ATTORNEY CHANDRA SOHAN GRILLED IN WITNESS TAMPERING PROBE The drama escalated Sunday in the Faiyaz Narinedatt murder case, with police hauling in attorney-atlaw Berbice attorney Chandra Sohan for questioning into allegations of witness tampering. The controversial attorney and former magistrate was held at around 16:00 hrs last Sunday near his home. He was questioned extensively before being released Sunday evening. His arrest came just a day after ranks from the Guyana Police Force (GPF)’s Major Crimes Unit detained a 21-year-old eyewitness in the case, for allegedly attempting to persuade another key witness to change his story. Kaieteur News understands that the investigators arrested Sohan based on statements they received from the detained man. The eyewitness reportedly identified an individual in the legal fraternity whom he claimed influenced him to persuade another witness to also change his story. It is alleged that a woman who is close to an individual who has been charged with murdering the carpenter, went to the home of the 21-yearold eyewitness and said that the eyewitness “could send a lot of people to prison.” The woman allegedly advised the eyewitness to visit someone in the legal fraternity at that person’s office. ”He get frighten and went to (the legal official) and (the legal official) ask he what exactly he told the police, and he (eyewitness) said what he saw the night Narinedatt was murdered,” a source in ‘B’ Division said. The witness was reportedly then told to change his story and to tell the court that the police had forced him to sign the statement. ”I heard he (witness) told the police that (the individual in the legal profession) tell he that he gon take care of him if he changed his statement.”

The eyewitness was reportedly reassured that the police could not “do him anything,” if he changed his statement. Kaieteur News was informed that this eyewitness was then instructed to visit other witnesses and convince them to change their statements, since it will be in their best interest. APPOINTMENT OF GECOM CHAIRMAN…PRESIDENT’S DECISION “POLITICALLY SOUND, BUT POLITICALLY SENSELESS” – DR. HINDS President David Granger’s unilateral appointment of former Justice, James Patterson, as the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) was not unconstitutional. It does however; reflect how “poisoned” our political environment is, says Executive Member of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), Dr. David Hinds. Dr. Hinds said too that the decision by the President also represents another colossal failure on the part of the nation’s political leaders. He commented that if the President and the Opposition leader, Bharrat Jagdeo could not find consensus on this matter, then Guyana’s political future as a joint nation is bleak. He opined that one should wake up to the reality that Guyana’s leaders on both sides do not have what it takes to manage a difficult multi-ethnic society. That, Dr. Hinds said, is the sad reality facing all Guyanese. Further, Dr. Hinds stated that while President Granger made the final decision, Jagdeo is equally responsible for the outcome. ”Let me explain. We have seen in the past that the role of the GECOM chair is pivotal in an institution where the two political sides have equal representation and they vote along party lines. The vote of the chair could indirectly affect the outcome of an election.” ”During the PPP tenure, that party chose three Indian Guyanese to fill that position. All three are and were honourable men, but in our eth-

nically divided society their ethnicity is highlighted. In our ethnically heightened situation, that matters whether we choose to say it aloud or not. Many observers are convinced that Dr. Jagan and Mr. Jagdeo were very deliberate when they made their choices.” Dr. Hinds said it is reasonable then to expect that this new government would want to go in the other direction—that is, to choose someone of another ethnic group in whom they have confidence. ”I think that was the unspoken position of the majority faction of the Coalition. But they did not have the courage to say so publicly because of the fear of being charged with ‘racializing’ the issue. So, the plan was simple; use a narrow reading of the constitution to achieve a political objective. That approach is standard political behavior.” The WPA Executive Member is of the view that the PPP and Jagdeo knew of this sentiment and set out to frustrate it. He believes that they were careful in all three of the lists Jagdeo provided so as to not give Granger an “independent” African Guyanese acceptable to him. ANOTHER SUNDAY TRAGEDY…THREE KILLED AS CAR SLAMS INTO UTILITY POLE Two teens and a young adult were killed when the car they were travelling in slammed into a utility pole at New Road, Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara Sunday afternoon. Dead are the driver, Deodat Mohan , 22, of Lot 44 New Road Vreed-en-Hoop West Coast Demerara; Reaz Barakat, 18, of Ruimzeight, West Coast Demerara and Tellisha Singh, 17, of Diamond, East Bank Demerara. The accident occurred a short distance away from Mohan’s residence. Mohan was driving motorcar PPP 4014 and was heading in an eastern direction along the Vreed-enHoop Public Road, allegedly at a fast rate, when he lost control and slammed into another car, PHH 7894, which was parked alongside (Continued on page 33)

Sunday October 29, 2017

(From page 32) the road. He then crashed into a utility pole in the vicinity of RH Super Value. Eyewitnesses said that the car hit the utility pole on the passenger side. Mohan and Singh were rushed to the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH) where they were pronounced dead on arrival. Barakat was taken to the same hospital but was then transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where he succumbed. As news of the accident spread, relatives of the victims rushed to the WDRH, where loud screams emanated from the emergency room. A relative of Mohan’s had to be lifted into a car by other distraught relatives. When Kaieteur News visited the scene last evening, the mangled car was still on the side of the roadway. The utility pole which held a transformer was ripped out of the ground leaving a section of the community without electricity. Up to late last evening, a section of northern lane of the Vreed-en-Hoop Public Road, where the accident occurred was closed to traffic. TUESDAY US$500M GRDB PROBE… GBTI DIRECTORS, CEO SLAPPED WITH CONTEMPT CHARGES – READY TO HAND OVER SOME DOCUMENTS Seven high ranking officials of Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) Monday made appearances in an all-important case involving anti-money laundering. They were arraigned before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts and were all released on their own recognizance (self bail) after pleading not guilty to a charge of failing to comply with a production order. The court proceeding, which started a little after 09:00 hrs, saw Chairman, Robin Stoby; and directors, Edward A. Beharry, Suresh Beharry, Richard Isava, Carlton James and Basil Mahadeo, along with Chief Executive Officer (ag) Shaleeza Shaw, making appearances. They were represented by a battery of top lawyers. An eighth person charged for the offence, Kathryn EytleMcLean, was out of the jurisdiction. They all denied the charge which alleged that on September 7 at Georgetown, they failed to comply with production order granted by Chief Justice (ag) Roxanne George Wiltshire, for them to produce certain documents to the head of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), Sydney James. The order was made on August 29. They were all represented by Attorney-at-law Nigel Hughes in association with others. The lawyer told the court that the order of the Chief Justice was brought to the attention of the head

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appointed by the President to be part of a panel reviewing applications for the positions of Chief Justice and Chancellor of the Judiciary. The court filing, which names the Attorney General as the respondent, also sought to connect Patterson with the PNC, stating that he was a pallbearer at Merriman’s Funeral Home at the funeral of former President Hugh Desmond Hoyte. This was a service, according to court documents, which preceded the State Funeral, at which members and supporters of the PNC attended.

of SOCU last Friday in the presence of his clients. According to Hughes, they were granted an extension by Justice George-Wiltshire—until November 3—to hand over the documents to SOCU. The lawyer said that the defendants have all intentions of complying with the Chief Justice’s order. The lawyer added that subsequent to the refusal, his clients attempted to hand over documents on Saturday, but ranks at SOCU refused to collect it on the grounds that the documents have to be given to James. Hughes further related that the court order by the Chief Justice was directed to the bank and not necessarily to his clients. PPP/C MP MOVES TO QUASH PATTERSON’S APPOINTMENT – PROCESS NOT RUN ON JAGDEO’S WHIMS & FANCIES – GRANGER The controversy over the unilateral appointment of retired Justice James Patterson, as Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), gathered steam Monday, with a court filing that seeks to have the appointment quashed. Meanwhile, President David Granger found himself fending off claims about the former Judge’s alleged connection with the People’s National Congress (PNC). People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Executive Member and Member of Parliament, Zulfikar Mustapha through the law firm, Mohabir A. Nandlall and Associates, moved to the High Court claiming that among other things, Patterson was a pallbearer at the funeral for former President and PNC leader, Desmond Hoyte, and is a member of a social media group affiliated with the PNC. Mustapha is seeking a declaration that Justice Patterson’s appointment last Thursday is in violation of and contrary to Article 161(2) of the Constitution and is accordingly unlawful, illegal, unconstitutional, null, void and of no effect. Further, Mustapha is seeking a declaration that Justice Patterson is not qualified to be appointed as the Chairman of GECOM in accordance with and in pursuance to Article 161(2) of the Constitution; and an order directing the President to choose a person from the eighteen

names submitted to him by the Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo. Jagdeo had presented 18 names in total to President Granger, but none were deemed acceptable by the President, which led to Patterson’s appointment. Mustapha is contending that Patterson cannot be or appear to be politically impartial and independent in the discharge of the functions of his office on several grounds, including that he is a member of the Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy appointed by the President; an advisor to the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs appointed by the President, the Attorney General or someone in the President’s Government; was appointed by the President to head a Commission of Inquiry into a prison break at Georgetown, Guyana, during the month of July, 2017; and was

BISRAM’S MOTHER DETAINED FORALLEGED WITNESS TAMPERING – HOME OF VICTIM’S UNCLE SHOTAT As the Preliminary Inquiry (PI) continues into the murder of Faiyaz Narinedatt, the mother of fugitive businessman Marcus Bisram, was on Monday arrested at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court. A police source disclosed that the woman, Sharmilla Inderjali, was arrested for attempting to pervert the course of justice in connection with the murder of Narinedatt, a carpenter of Number 70 Village. According to information received, Inderjali attempted to persuade witnesses in the murder PI to recant their stories. Inderjali was questioned and subsequently released on $100,000 station bail. Police were reportedly looking for Inderjali after a 21-year-old wit-

ness was also arrested on Saturday on allegations of witness tampering. Inderjali’s arrest came one a day after prominent attorney-at-law Chandra Sohan was also arrested at his home on allegations of witness tampering. Kaieteur News understands that the investigators arrested Sohan based on statements they received from the detained witness. The eyewitness reportedly identified an individual in the legal fraternity whom he claimed influenced him to persuade another witness to also change his story. Bisram’s mother was previously charged for attempting to suppress evidence by offering a $4M bribe to one of the detectives attached to the Major Crimes Unit, at Eve Leary, police headquarters. It was reported that she turned up at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID). She along with Maryanne Lionel, 25, a bank teller attached to Republic Bank, also of Number 71 Village, Corentyne, Berbice, were arrested during a sting operation. They appeared before the Chief Magistrate and were charged for wilfully attempting to pervert the course of justice. CXC IDENTIFIES SEVEN GUYANESE STUDENTS FOR TOPAWARDS – QC’S MICHAEL BHOPAUL SECURES FOUR Guyana has made history at the level of the Caribbean Examinations (Continued on page 34)

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(From page 33) Council [CXC] and it isn’t merely for producing the top regional performer at the 2017 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate [CSEC] examination. In fact, this year CXC has named seven Guyanese students to receive awards for outstanding performances at both CSEC and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination [CAPE]. While it comes as no surprise that Guyana’s Michael Bhopaul of Queen’s College is this year’s Most Outstanding Overall regional CSEC performer, it certainly wasn’t anticipated that he was going to be eligible for three more top CXC awards as well. According to information released by the Ministry of Education Monday, Bhopaul, who has turned out to be the student with the highest number of grade ones at the 2017 CSEC examination, will also be the recipient of awards for being the Most Outstanding in Sciences, Most Outstanding in Business and Most Outstanding in Technical Vocational. WEDNESDAY GECOM FALLOUT? PRESIDENTIALADVISER, JOE SINGH, QUITS ALL GOVT. POSITIONS Major-General, Joe Singh (Ret’d) tendered his resignation on Monday from all government posts, including his job as Special Assistant to President David Granger. The surprise decision came four days after the President appointed retired Justice James Patterson as the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). Singh delivered his resignation via the Ministry of the Presidency giving one month’s notice. ”From a protocol standpoint, I submitted a letter to the Ministry of

the Presidency indicating that I am giving a month’s notice for the termination of my contract. At this stage, I don’t really want to make any further statements,” Singh told Kaieteur News. Singh, who did not provide a reason for his resignation, has served at the behest of former Presidents Bharrat Jagdeo and Donald Ramotar. He was retained by the Granger administration through annual contracts. His current contact was due to expire at the end of March. ”My contract is from year to year and I have been here for the past three presidents…At this stage I have decided that I don’t wish to continue beyond the month that I have as a mandatory requirement,”

Singh stated. Singh still serves as Chairman of The National Agricultural Research & Extension Institute (NAREI), the Protected Area Trust and the National Parks Commission. Singh stated, “I will use this [one month] period to hand over my portfolio of responsibilities.” Among a number of other posts, Singh has served as Executive Director of Conservation International; Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Telephone & Telegraph Company (GT&T) and Chairman of the Board of the Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC). Singh was on Jagdeo’s third list of nominees for the post of GECOM Chairman, but was snubbed along with 17 others when the President unilaterally named Patterson for the post. The move by the President has sparked a flurry of criticisms across Guyana and while Singh has not provided a reason for his resignation, the timing of it will also add to the debate of the GECOM chairmanship. HESS BANKS ON GUYANA; SELLING OFF ASSETS TO RAISE FUNDS FOR LIZA1 Norway (chron.com) – With $2.7 billion in oilfield sales this week, Hess Corp. is making a calculated bet, giving up steady production today to help fund what could be one of the world’s biggest discoveries into the next decade. The oil explorer with operations on five continents said Tuesday, that it’s selling North Sea assets off Norway for $2 billion and seeking a buyer for wells off of Denmark. The news came a day after Hess sold drilling rights in offshore Equatorial Guinea for $650 million. Counting a June deal to sell properties in Texas, the New York-based company has sold off almost $3.3 billion in assets this year.

With the makeover, Hess is building a war chest to help develop a discovery off the coast of Guyana in South America that may hold the equivalent of 2.5 billion barrels of oil, according to company estimates. Its partner in the project, Exxon Mobil Corp., has said the initial building phase may cost $4.4 billion and take until 2020 to deliver its first oil. The payoff: More than a decade of growth for Hess shareholders. The divestments “all make strategic sense” and “will help bridge the sizable funding gap that Hess faces over the next few years,” Capital One Securities analyst Phillips Johnston said in a note to clients Tuesday. ”These assets have not been competing for capital, so by monetising them, Hess will prefund part of the development of its major Guyana discoveries.” Still, there’s a trade-off, Johnston said. Hess is giving up operations that produced 16 percent of its total oil volumes and almost a quarter of its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, he said. Hess is due to announce its third-quarter earnings on Wednesday. After opening the day up, the shares fell 2.4 percent to $44.14 at 12:34 p.m. in New York trading. Before Tuesday, the shares had fallen 27 percent for the year, putting them among the ten worst performances on the S&P 500 Energy Index. COPALLEGEDLYTAKES $1M INDUCEMENT TO RAID STRIP CLUB – TRANSFERRED TO MOUNTED BRANCH TO FACILITATE PROBE It seems like the Guyana Police Force (GPF) is having another embarrassing month. Shortly after Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan, admit-

ted that the force was having a bad month with the robbery of Lonsdale Withrite, former SWAT leader and the disappearance of cocaine from the office of the head of the Police’s narcotics, another rank is in hot water. This time a Police Corporal is being investigated for allegedly taking $1M bribe from one strip club to raid another. According to reports, on Saturday night the Corporal and a team of policemen went to one of the strip clubs and carried out a raid. They interrogated all the entertainers about their travel documents. It is unclear if any of the female workers were detained for overstaying. Kaieteur News was informed that someone who witnessed what was taking place saw the ranks leaving in a vehicle belonging to the owner of the competing strip club. The incident was immediately reported. Reports are that investigators checked the number plate of the vehicle that was used to transport the ranks to the Strip Club and confirmed that it is owned by the strip club that allegedly recruited the ranks. The ranks who participated in the raid were then reportedly questioned and they revealed that the raid was actually organised by the Strip Club owner. They allegedly revealed details of the raid to investigators. It is unclear if all the ranks were transferred but the Corporal was sent to the Police Mounted Branch. Investigation is being carried out by the Police’s Office of Professional Responsibility. THURSDAY JAGDEO CUSSES OUT DEFENDERS OF GECOM CHAIRMANAPPOINTMENT Unapologetic about his language, Leader of the Opposition and General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), Bharrat Jagdeo went on a profane tirade against defenders of President David Granger’s decision to unilaterally appoint James Patterson as the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). At a press conference which was aired live via the PPP/C’s Freedom radio station, Jagdeo appeared clearly upset with the media, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and those who agreed with the President, that the 18 names submitted for the post of Chairman were not ‘fit and proper’. ”This is all bulls**t,” the former President declared to reporters, as he discussed suggestions made by the Prime Minister about constitutional reform, which could address the appointment of the GECOM Chairman. The Opposition Leader continued, “Frankly speaking, that is the only thing that comes out of his [Prime Minister’s] mouth. Today I am saying this because I am fed up listening to platitudes and things that (Continued on page 35)

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(From page 34) don’t mean anything when our democracy is threatened.” Jagdeo said the 18 nominees are more qualified than ‘this parasite we have for Prime Minister’. ”You should see what they said about the 18 people they say are not suitable, in an attempt to maintain his perks and good life,” Jagdeo stated. Asked by Kaieteur News if he believes the tone and words used in his deliver fits a former President, Jagdeo replied, “I am extremely proud, because it’s the typical Kaieteur News again.” ”I have not dealt with the lies of the newspaper; he is concerned about my tone. My tone is one of disgust. I can’t find elegant language to describe disgusting people. That’s how I find Nagamootoo, [Khemraj] Ramjattan and [Raphael] Trotman and the others. I cannot find; I am at a loss for elegant words to describe them. The country will have to forgive me for this, but that’s not the issue here. The issue is about Granger and the illegal act. The Chief Justice in her ruling said that he has to give reasons why he rejected it [the list],” Jagdeo stated.

speaking ‘in coded language’, which we interpret to be an attempt to cover his reckless promise that he would cede a portion of Guyana’s territory to Venezuela if given the chance to do so.” ”Jagdeo is aware that the Guyanese people would, as they have done, reject any activities to destabilize the society and to sabotage economic development. The AFC however is vindicated in its view that as Jagdeo loses grip on the possibility of returning as President, he would not only become intemperate but desperate and, as we have witnessed, vulgar.” The AFC said that as a former President and a “hapless seeker” of a third term, Jagdeo has descended into the pit of gutter politics when he used foul, reprehensible and uncouth language to label its party’s leaders who are duly elected Members of Parliament and government ministers. The Party said that Jagdeo has brought both the offices of former President and Opposition Leader into disrepute.

AFC CALLS JAGDEO “DESPERATE, VULGAR AND HYPOCRITICAL”

Chartered accountant and political commentator, Christopher Ram disclosed Wednesday that he has tendered his resignation as leader of Guyana’s negotiating team for the establishment of the JOF Haynes Law School. Ram’s decision follows that of Major General Joe Singh (Ret’d), who tendered his resignation on Monday from all government-related posts, including adviser to President David Granger. Both Ram and Singh were among the 18 names submitted by Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, to President David Granger, for the post of Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). Ram stated that he informed Attorney General Basil Williams Wednesday of his withdrawal from the negotiating team for the establishment of the JOF Haynes Law School.

Recent statements by Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo have once again convinced the Alliance for Change (AFC) that the former President is not only desperate, vulgar and insincere, but even bordering on political insanity. In a missive to the press last night, the AFC exposed that Jagdeo is unashamedly hypocritical. In this regard, the AFC reminded that when President David Granger appointed the Chairman for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Jagdeo stated that the PPP would stage a campaign of non-cooperation. In fact, Jagdeo said that his party would not be participating in the upcoming discussions of the National Border Commission. The AFC said that in his usual two-faced fashion, Jagdeo has now opted to “selectively participate” in discussions regarding Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The AFC noted that at a news conference Wednesday, Jagdeo also flip-flopped on his threat to pull PPPcontrolled Regional, Municipal and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils from infrastructural and development tasks. The AFC said that after his reckless statements, Jagdeo was faced with a backlash from the Guyanese people, including those who voted for the PPP. The Party said that Jagdeo then sought to reformulate his non-cooperation to include refusal of regional officials to meet with Government leaders and to picket the President when he visits the countryside. ”The AFC notes that on this occasion, when Jagdeo professed love of Guyana he declared that he was

CHRIS RAM FOLLOWS JOE SINGH …WALKS OFF GOVT. JOB

”If the truth be told, Mr. Williams has been so impressed with my contribution that he asked for my CV to recommend me for a National Award. I declined, saying my service was for country, for neither award nor reward,” Ram said in a statement. Ram was deemed not ‘fit and proper’ for the GECOM Chairmanship, as President Granger selected retired Justice James Patterson for the post. Ram has since come out as a fierce critic of the President’s decision. ”Given that the Constitution deems me a fit and proper person makes President Granger’s assessment of me of no import. Indeed, I am fortified in my conviction that his decision is entirely wrong and unconstitutional,” Ram said. He noted that while he remains committed to serving the country, he made the clear distinction between Guyana and the Government. Ram maintained his strong position on the President’s decision. He noted that the blatant disregard by the Granger administration for the constitution, the courts, the principles of good governance, and for social cohesion, is a matter which should be of grave concern to all Guyanese who claim respect and love for the country. Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo said he cannot speculate as to why Ram and Singh resigned. FRIDAY BILLION$ FUEL PURCHASE RACKET… INVESTIGATORS SWOOP DOWN ON GEA –AFTER AGENCY REFUSES TO HAND OVER DOCUMENTS The challenges of the police Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) to investigate a number of state agencies are continuing. On Thursday, the unit, which focuses on financial crimes and money laundering, was forced once again to turn to the courts after the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) did not cooperate in the handing over of a number of critical documents. GEA is a state-controlled entity that regulates the fuel trade, with duties

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including the licensing of operators and retailers. Shortly after 10:00hrs Thursday, SOCU officials, led by Assistant Commissioner, Sydney James, entered the Quamina Street, Georgetown headquarters of GEA. There were a number of police ranks with his team. Around 11:00hrs, James on exiting the compound, explained that he had obtained a search warrant from a magistrate Thursday. He admitted that SOCU had asked the energy agency for some documents but encountered “challenges”. The documents relate to two investigations that SOCU is handling. One has to do with the findings of a forensic audit that the Coalition Government had ordered into the operations of GEA in the years, under the last administration, leading up to the 2015 general elections. The other has to do with an investigation by the Ministry of the Presidency last year to alleged malpractice, mismanagement and the purchases of hundreds of millions of dollars in fuel handled by both GEA and the Guyana Oil Company (GuyOil). The SOCU head confirmed that Dr. Mahender Sharma, head of GEA, was in office and was “cooperating”. There were no signs of Sharma. DID GECOM CHAIRMAN LIE ABOUT SERVING AS GRENADA’S CHIEF JUSTICE? Newly appointed Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), retired Justice James Patterson, may need to publicly explain to the nation why there is no official confirmation to date that he served as Chief Justice of Grenada as stated on his official curriculum vitae (CV). This was presented to President David Grainger and shared with Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo. Numerous calls by Kaieteur

News to the Chairman were not returned Thursday, a day after Jagdeo said that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) was digging deeper into Patterson’s claims that he served as Chief Justice in 1987. ”There have been some serious concerns raised about whether Justice Patterson was ever the Chief Justice of Grenada. Many people have called me about this matter and we are going to dig into it a bit more; we are going to try to confirm it because that is on his CV that I have received,” Jagdeo stated. If it turns out that Justice Patterson indeed lied about his tenure as Chief Justice, it would be embarrassing for him and the Government, providing grounds for his possible resignation from the office since his hiring was based on false information provided to the President. Granger had told the media at Patterson’s swearing-in that he has served as Chief Justice in Grenada. On Monday when asked about the brewing controversy, President Granger did not repeat the claim, but instead said Justice Patterson was a judge of the High Court of Guyana. ”His Curriculum Vitae is not a secret. You can examine it for yourself. He was a judge in Guyana; that’s important,” the President said. Kaieteur News has also been unable to verify Justice Patterson’s Grenada claims although there are suggestions that he may have acted briefly in the post. Records shared with Kaieteur News suggested that Justice Robert Archibald Nedd served as Chief Justice of Grenada from 1979 to 1986. He was succeeded by Sir Denis Byron who acted as Chief Justice until 1987 when Sir Samuel Horatio Graham was appointed substantive Chief Justice. ”All that we are hearing from (Continued on page 36)

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(From page 35) individuals who work in Grenada, who were lawyers in Grenada during that period said they don’t know about (Patterson),’ Jagdeo noted. The former President stated that if turns out to be untrue then Justice Patterson would immediately be disqualified as it would prevent him from acting impartially and with integrity at GECOM. VENEZ. GUNMEN BURY GUYANESE DREDGE OWNER AFTER RIDDLING HIM WITH BULLETS -SURVIVOR TELLS FAMILY A gang of young Venezuelan gunmen riddled 25-year-old Guyanese miner Davinda Saywack, buried him in a shallow grave, and made off with an undisclosed quantity of gold from his camp in the Spanish-speaking territory. Relatives said that a survivor said that the brutal attack occurred last Tuesday. Sources identified the area as Polvo de Oro (Gold Dust), located not far from the Guyana/Venezuela border. A female relative of the slain man said that he travelled to Venezuela just four months ago. Kaieteur News understands that the dredge was previously operated by an elder brother. Reports suggest that the gunmen entered the camp solely to execute Saywack. Relatives alleged that the gunmen belonged to an organization known as the ‘sindicato’ (syndicate), which provides medication and other services to mining operations, while demanding a percentage from their earnings. ”They came and robbed, then riddled him with bullets. They shot behind the workers, then they buried him in a three-foot grave, and then ‘wash down’ the gold,” the relative said. One of the workers who fled the scene notified Saywack’s relatives about the attack. The relative who spoke with Kaieteur News said that the Venezuelan authorities have given them permission to have the remains returned to Guyana. Ranks at the Mabaruma Police Station have been notified about

the killing. While no clear motive has been given, there are suggestions that the killing might be linked to the death of a man, known as ‘African’, in the same area some four months ago. A sibling of the victim had reportedly vowed revenge. Last July, gunmen with highpowered weapons killed G u y a n e s e m i n e r s Ve r n o n Eudoxie, 51; Cologne Solomon, 23; and Samuel Moses, 19, stormed a mining camp at Imataka Mining Backdam, Venezuela. Two others were wounded. A survivor who spoke to Kaieteur News said that the gunmen fled without taking anything. He stated that the killing stemmed from a prolonged dispute of the mining claim and ownership of an excavator. SATURDAY TRINI FAKES KIDNAPPING - FOUND SIPPING JUICE IN HOTEL ROOM In less than six hours, investigators from the Major Crimes Unit have solved a kidnapping that appeared to have never happened in the first place. The alleged victim was a Trinidadian national who claimed to have been abducted from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri, early Friday. Sawak Maraj, a mechanical engineer, reportedly left the airport in a taxi and was heading to a hotel on the East Bank Demerara

when he disappeared. At the time, he was coming here to attend a job interview with Exxon Mobil. A Guyanese went to the hotel the day before and made the reservation for Maraj. He was supposed to check into the facility later on Thursday but only arrived in Guyana on a Caribbean Airlines flight around 07:00 hrs yesterday. Shortly after the engineer left the airport, a photograph of him with someone holding a cutlass to his neck, was sent to his parents and other relatives in Trinidad and Tobago. It is alleged that the ‘kidnappers’ threatened to kill their victim if the demanded ransom was not paid. The engineer’s family immediately made contact with the Guyana Police Force and forwarded the photograph. This newspaper has been informed that local ranks were able to track the number that the ‘kidnappers’ used to make contact with Maraj’s relatives. They were also able to trace the location where the call was made. Ranks were immediately mobilized from around Georgetown and sent to the location in a bid to rescue the ‘victim.’ On arrival at the hotel, they took up strategic positions. They were puzzled when they entered the room where the ‘victim’ was being held and found him relaxing on a sofa while drinking from a can of fruit-juice. He was not bound or gagged. He was escorted to the Criminal Investigation Unit where he is being grilled. Two other persons who would have assisted in making the reservation are in police custody. BARIMA RIVER BUST..... BOAT CAPTAIN GETS 3 YEARS FOR HIGH-POWERED RIFLE, AMMO A boat captain was on Friday sentenced to three years’ imprisonment for illegal possession of a high-powered rifle and a quantity of ammunition. Forty-four-year-old Dexter Valenzuela, was among nine persons arrested a few days ago after ranks from the Guyana Police Force and members of the Guyana Defence Force coast guard intercepted two boats in the Barima River, where two high-powered

Sunday October 29, 2017

rifles and live rounds of ammunition were found on a vessel,. Valenzuela, of Bent Road, Crane, West Coast Demerara, appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts and pleaded guilty to two of five charges. It is alleged that on October 24 at Barima River, North West District, he had in his possession 1.5 kilogram of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking. It was further alleged that on the same day in question, at the same location, he had in his possession 19 live rounds of ammunition, one AK 47 rifle and one AR rifle, when he was not a licensed firearm holder. Valenzuela pleaded guilty to having in his possession one AR

rifle and five live rounds ammunition, when he was not a licensed firearm holder. He was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment on both charges, but the sentences will run concurrently. When given a chance to address the court, Valenzuela said that he had purchased the gun and ammunition five months ago when he went to Venezuela, because he was robbed twice. “It’s for my protection. After myself and my crew members got thrown overboard a few months ago by robbers while I was in the Pomeroon River, I became fearful for my life. I does buy fuel and sell in the interior location, and I was fearful of being robbed again.”

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Over 8000 households to get electricity by December Some thirty-four thousand residents in sixteen communities across the country are expected to benefit from the installation of electrical distribution networks by the end of December. The communities will be receiving the electricity through the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA). Among communities to benefit from the over $500M project are Lust-en-Rust, Zeelugt Phase Two and Three and Zeeburg in Region Three, Eccles Industrial Site, Perseverance Phase Four, Peter’s Hall, Farm Phase One and Two, Covent Garden, Diamond Commercial and Diamond Residential in Region Four, Hope and Experiment in R e g i o n F i v e , K i l c o y/ Chesney and Baltyock in Region Six. Speaking to the Department of Public Information (DPI), CH&PA’s Director of Projects, Omar Narine said that the 90 percent of the ma-

procurement of the electrical line hardware materials; Phase Two, the procurement of the wallaba poles; and phase three the procurement of the electrical contractors to build the networks.” These works will be executed by contracting companies Cummings Electrical, GNS Electrical and Mr. Ramotar, respectively.

Omar Narine, Director of Projects, CH&PA terials for the project have arrived in the country and are awaiting clearance by the Guyana Revenue Authority. Currently, the poles are already in the communities, Narine said. He added, “The reason for that is that the electrification process is a three-phase process. Phase One included the

OTHER INFRASTRUCTURAL WORKS The CH&PA is also executing a number of road infrastructure works in several communities. According to Narine, the Perseverance Road Project is about 85 percent completed, while works at Number 76 Village are completed.

Works are also ongoing at La Parfait Harmonie and Linden. Additionally, contracts were awarded in the sum of $450M for the construction of roads at Tuschen, Non Pareil, Bath, Ordinance Fortlands and Amelia’s Ward. “These contracts are being signed right now as we speak, and we are going to commence those projects shortly”, Narine related. These projects are in line with the government’s programme of establishing cohesive communities in which serviced lots, other social infrastructure and amenities, including green spaces, parks and recreational facilities, are provided to ensure an improved quality of life for Guyanese.

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As pressure mounts, miners urge $2B allocation to research mercury-free operations As the wheels turn towards a 2027 deadline for Guyana to stop using mercury altogether in gold extraction operations, miners are urging technical assistance from Government. “The Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) is calling for Government to step forward with strong technical assistance to small and medium scale miners, to ensure sustainable development principles are applied to the gold and diamond mining sector,” the body said in a statement. Guyana has signed onto what is known as the Minamata Convention on Mercury which gives this country and a number of others a timeline to ease up and get out altogether from using the dangerous mercury. However, local miners said that the process to move away from mercury will be a longterm one that will not come cheap and will involve spending millions in alternative equipment. “The association once again highlights the need for the government to identify improved mercury free gold recovery technologies and techniques which can lead to achievement of the objectives of the Minamata Convention on Mercury,” GGDMA said in its statement. The association made it clear that as a responsible entity in the mining sector, it fully endorses the objective and purposes of the Convention and fully supports the measures in Article 7 and in Annex “C” of the said Convention. “The GGDMA recognizes, however, that the Convention specifically requires that “Each Party that has artisanal and small-scale gold mining and processing, subject to this article within its territory shall take steps to reduce, and where feasible eliminate, the use of mercury and mercury compounds in, and the emissions and releases to the en-

vironment of mercury from such mining and processing.” Mercury is said to have long-term effects on the environment, including plants and animals. “It is clear that the requirement to determine the economic and technical feasibility of eliminating mercury use in gold mining in Guyana depends heavily on strong support from government. The GGDMA re-emphasises that best practices have to be sought based on what is appropriate, adoptable, and most cost effective for the geographical and geological environments in which our small and medium scale miners operate in Guyana.” The association said it is hoping that Government will put its best mining engineers and mineral processing engineers out in the field with the miners to find solutions. “The GGDMA is of the view that with clear direction, quality equipment, and adequate funding, the GGMC professionals can determine the feasibility of eliminating mercury from gold mining. The GGDMA respectfully suggest that the government should approve of the GGMC being allocated G$2.0 billion in 2018 for the acquisition of quality equipment and the conducting of test work for the determination of the feasibility of eliminating the use of mercury in mining and processing in Guyana.” The association said it looks forward to strong collaboration with the GGMC and the finalization of an acceptable National Action Plan in accordance with Annex “C” of the Convention and the published Mining Policy of Guyana. Gold mining is key to the country’s economy, with thousands of persons involved in the business. It is also critical as it is the biggest foreign currency earner for Guyana. This would be underscored by record-breaking declarations in recent years.

Authorities move to introduce tougher regulations for wildlife trade The Wildlife Conservation and Management Commission has announced that it will be hosting a public consultation on Wednesday, November 1, 2017 from 09:00 hours to 16:30 hours at the Everest Cricket Club, Camp Road, on the trade in Guyana. The Commission said it is in the process of developing draft regulations on hunting, trapping, protection, conservation, management and sustainable use of wildlife and therefore the Wildlife Management and Conservation Regulations 2013 will be the starting point for discussions. “All interested persons are invited to attend. To confirm participation and to request a copy of the Wildlife Management and Conservation Regulations 2013, please call 2230940 or email wildlifemanagementauthority@gmail.com.” The trade has been under intense scrutiny in recent years because of alleged wrongdoing, including smuggling of endangered animals.

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When It Comes to Obesity, Genes Just Partly to Blame

If you have trouble keeping slim, don’t put all the blame on your DNA. People carrying so-called “obesity” genes tend to gain more weight if they don’t work out or don’t get enough sleep, said Timothy Frayling, a professor with the University of Exeter Medical School in England. “You can’t change your genes — but they only explain part of your weight,” Frayling said. This means that even people genetically inclined to pile on pounds can curb it by eating right and exercising. Frayling and his fellow researchers tracked physical activity and sleep patterns for about 85,000 people in England, aged 40 to 70. The participants wore accelerometers that allowed researchers to estimate their amount of exercise and quality of sleep. The team also computed a genetic risk score for each person based on 76 common variants known to be associated with increased risk for obesity. Genetics accounted for some, but not all, of a person’s obesity risk, the researchers concluded. For example, a person of average height who had 10 genetic risk factors for obe-

Sunday October 29, 2017

Kaieteur News

sity gained an average of 8 pounds during the course of their life if they tended to be couch potatoes, but only about 6 pounds if they were more physically active, the study authors said. The results were similar regarding sleeplessness. People with some genetic risk for obesity tended to have a higher body mass index (BMI) if they woke frequently or slept more restlessly, the study findings showed. BMI is a measurement of body fat based on height and weight. “For public health and diet and exercise interventions, our study suggests there will be ‘bigger bang for the buck’ by focusing limited resources on people who are most susceptible due to their genes and their lifestyles,” Frayling said. Obesity experts said the study results make sense, given what’s known about the factors that contribute to excess weight. “Obesity is an energy storage disease that is caused by hormonal imbalances,” said Dr. Mitchell Roslin, chief of obesity surgery at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. “Your genetic makeup plays a role, but your activity and the

environment also influence your genetic expression,” he explained. “Many believe that obesity is an epigenetic disease, meaning it is not the genes themselves but how the environment changes their shape,” Roslin continued. “Think of genes as pieces in a jigsaw puzzle. The environment puts the puzzle together. Our actions matter, and while our genes influence our behavior, our behavior influences how genes work and their effect on the body.” Dr. Jamie Kane, chairman of the Center for We i g h t M a n a g e m e n t a t Northwell H e a l t h ’s Syosset Hospital in S y o s s e t , N . Y. , s a i d t h e study “seems to ring true based on the research that’s out there to date, and based on my clinical experience as well.” Kane and his staff try “to look at the lifestyle, and work at the most stringent level with patients because we don’t know who has what genetics,” he said. It might require more dedication, but a person can overcome genetics that might otherwise lead to obesity, Kane concluded. “There are a very small number of people who suffer from morbid obesity where it’s purely genetic,” he said. “In most of these cases, people might need to exercise way more than the average person, and they might need to change their diet dramatically.” Frayling and his colleagues presented their findings this week at the annual meeting of the American Society of Human Genetics, in Orlando, Fla. Research presented at meetings should be viewed as preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal. https:// medlineplus.gov/news/ fullstory_169336.html.

Breast Milk May Arrive Late for Obese New Moms While obesity in pregnancy has long been linked to a higher risk for complications during childbirth, there’s now another reason to avoid it: a late start to breast milk production. That’s the finding from a new study of more than 200 women with newborns who planned to breast-feed. The researchers found that delays in “lactogenesis” — the production of breast milk within three days of delivery — “occurred more frequently among women who were obese at the time of delivery.” The study highlights an issue many new moms have to deal with, said one pediatrician who reviewed the new study. “Breast-feeding is hard for all mothers,” said Dr. Sophia Jan, who directs pediatrics at Cohen Children’s Medical Center in New Hyde Park, N.Y. “This study found that breast-feeding is even harder for mothers who were obese prior to pregnancy.” There are potential consequences for babies, too, she said. “Newborns of mothers whose breast milk comes in late may lose more weight during those initial days and weeks after birth compared to newborns of mothers whose milk comes in within three days postpartum,” Jan noted. These babies also often end up on formula, which cannot match breast milk’s nutritional goodness. The new study was led by Diane Spatz, a professor of nutrition at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. She and her colleagues tracked the onset of breast milk production in 216 women who gave birth to single babies.

The study found that breast milk production was delayed to beyond three days post-delivery in about 46 percent of non-obese women. However, that rose to almost 58 percent for new moms who were statistically obese. Statistical obesity begins with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or above — BMI being a measurement of height versus weight. For example, a 5foot-5-inch woman weighing 180 pounds has a BMI of 30. “Because nearly 1 in 4 women in the United States begins pregnancy with a body mass index [BMI] equal to or greater than 30, the study underscores the need for targeted interventions and support to help these women achieve their personal breastfeeding goals,” Spatz said in a university news release. Dr. Jennifer Wu, an obgyn with Lenox Hill Hospital

in New York City, agreed. The new findings should at least let obese women understand that their milk may “come in later,” she said, and “encourage them to continue to try breast-feeding for longer.” According to Wu, “hospitals need to partner with milk banks to help meet the needs of these newborns. Patients should be reminded that there are merits to even small amounts of breast milk for their babies.” For her part, Jan said the study raises the question as to why weight gain can slow breast milk production. More studies that try to answer that question would help identify targets for interventions, she said. The study will be published Nov. 1 in the Journal of Human Lactation. https:// medlineplus.gov/news/ fullstory_169271.html.

What You May Not Know About Ovarian Cancer In a report that will likely surprise many women, researchers say most cases of ovarian cancer originate in the fallopian tubes, not the ovaries. “Based on a better understanding of its origins, our study suggests new strategies for the prevention and early detection of ovarian cancer,” said senior study author Dr. Douglas Levine. He is director of the division of gynecologic oncology at the Perlmutter Cancer Center, which is part of NYU Langone Health in New York City. For the study, Levine and his colleagues performed genetic analyses of ovarian cancer cells from 96 patients.

Eggs from the ovaries travel through the fallopian tubes on their way to the uterus. The researchers discovered that ovarian cancer cells have more in common with cells covering the tips of fallopian tubes (tubal cells) than with those on the surface of ovaries. “We found no differences in the 20,000 genes that we can identify. This leads us to believe that these ovarian cancers all originate in the fallopian tubes,” Levine said. The good news is that if markers for these tubal cells can be found, then blood tests, advanced Pap smears, or direct tests on tubal tissue might spot ovarian cancer earlier, the study

authors said. It might also turn out to be feasible to remove a woman’s fallopian tubes, but not her ovaries, to reduce the risk of ovarian cancer in those at high risk for the disease, the study authors suggested. The report was published online Oct. 17 in the journal Nature Communications. Ovarian cancer is difficult to diagnose in its earliest — and most treatable — stages. Fewer than 50 percent of women diagnosed with the disease survive more than five years after diagnosis, according to the American Cancer Society. https:// medlineplus.gov/news/ fullstory_169273.html.

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How The Weeknd Feels About Selena Taylor Swift Goes Full Cyborg in Gomez Reconnecting With Justin Bieber “...Ready for It?” Music Video

Justin Bieber takes his lyrics to heart, apparently. Over the summer, the 23-year-old “Friends” singer learned that his ex-girlfriend Selena Gomezwas about to receive a kidney transplant, which became necessary in her ongoing fight against lupus. “Justin heard Selena was going to undergo a major surgery through mutual friends and completely freaked out,” a source tells E! News exclusively. So, Bieber reached out to Gomez, and on Sunday afternoon, the two reunited during a group get-together at her house in L.A. “Justin has been in constant contact with Selena and they have a great, friendly relationship,” the source explains. Out of respect for her boyfriend The Weeknd (born Abel Tesfaye), the source adds, “She is trying to not overdo it with seeing him, as she doesn’t want to upset Abel.” The source adds that The Weeknd is understanding of the situation. Another insider echoes that Bieber and Gomez “are friends” and nothing more. “He has been in contact with her and they have spoken and met up a few times with friends.

They don’t act flirty when they hang out; they just act as old-time friends who care for each other,” the insider says. Besides, Gomez is “happy and in love” with The Weeknd. “She is very honest and open with him about Justin,” the insider explains, noting their “strong” bond. “They talk all the time.” The 25-year-old singer first spoke about her lupus diagnosis in a 2015 interview with Billboard. Gomez revealed in September that she had secretly received a kidney transplant over the summer, thanking her donor, actress Francia Raisa, for saving her life. Gomez will talk about her surgery in an exclusive interview with Savannah Guthrie, airing Monday and Tuesday on NBC’s Today and Monday night on NBC’s Nightly News. “I guess I got to the point where it was really kind of life or death,” Gomez said in a preview, released Friday. “My kidneys were just done. That was it and I didn’t want to ask a single person in my life. She volunteered and did it.” Gomez will perform her latest single, “Wolves,” at the 2017 American Music Awards Nov. 19. http://www.eonline.com.

The Crown Taps Olivia Coleman as Claire Foy’s Successor for Seasons 3 & 4 Netflix has crowned its new Queen Elizabeth II. The streaming giant has landed on Claire Foy’s successor for the third and fourth seasons of their award-winning historical drama The Crown. Your new monarch? Olivia Coleman, E! News has confirmed. Coleman recently took home a Golden Globe for her work in AMC’s mini-series The Night Manager and will next be seen in Kenneth Branagh’s starstudded adaptation of Murder on the Orient Express. News of Coleman’s involvement comes before Foy’s second season in the role has even had the chance to debut on

Netflix. The intention was always to replace Foy after season two, as with series creator Peter Morganhoping to better portray all the character a s they age. “What’s so beautiful about Claire is her youth,” he told Variety. “You can’t ask someone to act middle-aged. Someone has to bring their own fatigue to it. The feelings we all have as 50-year-olds are different than the feelings we all have as 30-year-olds. That informs everything we do.” Wi t h F o y ’s r e p l a c e ment in place, now we wait to see who will join Coleman as Matt Smith’s replacement in the role of Philip, the Duke of

Edinburgh. Season one of The Crown was a critical success for Netflix, earning Foy a Golden Globe for her performance, as well as an Emmy for John Lithgow’s work as Winston Churchill. Coleman has also starred in Broadchurch and Fleabag, among many others. The Crown is her second brush with the Royal Family, after playing QEII’s mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in the 2012 Bill Murray film, Hyde Park on Hudson. Are you looking forward to seeing Coleman’s version of the role? Sound off in the comments below! The Crown returns for season two on Friday, Dec. 8 on Netflix. www.eonline.com.

Taylor Swift and Joseph Khan released another mini-movie just after midnight. The duo, who previously collaborated on “Blank Space,” “Bad Blood,” “Wildest Dreams,” “Out of the Woods” and “Look What You Made Me Do,” teamed up to create “...Ready for It?,” the second music video from Swift’s forthcoming sixth studio album, Reputation (available Nov. 10). Kahn has directed music videos for some of the biggest musicians in the world, including Christina Aguilera, Blink-182, Mariah Carey, Eminem, Maroon 5, Shakira and Britney Spears. Swift teased the first footage from her “...Ready for It?” music video via Instagram Monday. Kahn later tweeted it featuring some “homages” to anime: “Some obvious, some not so obvious.” The video, rumored to be inspired by scifi movies like Blade Runner 2049 and Ghost in the Shell, features a scene in which Swift stands on a platform that reads: “They’re Burning All the Witches.” In that moment, she strikes a pose—as if nailed to a cross—and then emits lightning. After Swift shared three stills on Instagram, the director re-grammed one of them and added, “Such a pleasure to collaborate with both a powerful creative artist and fantastic human being.” Per usual, Swift’s video is littered with secret messages (and multiple references to her boyfriend, Joe Alwyn)—which fans wasted no time finding and posting about on social media. Swift’s latest music video premiere comes as anticipation grows for her new album. While the Grammy winner continues to hold secret sessions for deserving fans across the country, her good friend Selena Gomez recently shared her honest reviews on the finished product. “I obviously love her so much and want her to do what she does and she’s killing it,” she gushed to Zane Lowe on Apple Music. “It’s everything you would want and more so

very proud and obviously a major fan.” “It’s honestly so inspiring,” Gomez added. “It’s really cool to surround yourself with people and be involved with people who are inspiring and changing the way that they dictate what they love— whether that’s acting or mu s i c — a n d she’s one of those people who continue to do that.” And while Swift has yet to announce a tour, a few lucky fans will be able to see her perform before the end of the year. Yes, the “Shake It Off” singer is scheduled to perform in Los Angeles and New York as part of the iHeartRadio Jingle Ball tour. As for other exciting announcements possibly coming in the future, we’re not sure we’re ready for it. http://www.eonline.com.

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LEN distributes seedlings to Linden farmers

Linden Enterprise Network, (LEN) launched its second “Plant a tree” initiative to commemorate Agriculture month. The initiative was birthed by LEN last year under the former Chairman Klensil Grenville. According to Chairman of LEN, Mr. Orin Gordon, the Organization is taking the initiative to give back something to the community to celebrate Agriculture month. “We are just trying to get our people, our community on board with farming since this month is Agriculture month, so basically we are giving out

some seedlings to our farmers and other residents of the community so they can go back to their yards and places of farming; so we want to ensure that by January we see 2000 lbs of food, that’s a hard month you know so we want to make sure that we have food in the back yards.” Gordon noted that this is just a start and he wants to see more of it in the community so they purchased some plants from Mr. Rambharrrat and Mr. Tappin from the One Mile area and it is an exercise to show what can be produced and marketed in the

community and a lot more will come. In excess of 3,000 seedlings were given to farmers and members of the Shade House. Among the seedlings were sweet pepper, miriri pepper, tomatoes, eggplant, cucumber, ochro and some callaloo and according to Gordon, LEN would like to share seedlings four times a year at a minimum and not annually. Chief Executive Officer (ag) Tanniza Gasper said that the farmers’ contact information will be taken and they will be paid periodical visits to see how the plants are growing.

NY lawyers moves to block... (From page 10) Corentyne, Berbice. She and Maryanne Lionel, 25, a bank teller of Republic Bank, also of Number 71 Village, Corentyne, Berbice were arrested during a sting operation. They were charged for willfully attempting to pervert the course of justice. The Preliminary Inquiries are ongoing in the local court with the High Court set to make a key ruling. It was alleged that on November 19, 2016, at Eve Leary, Georgetown, they contacted a Detective Corporal and offered him $4M in cash to forgo charges against the four murder accused, who were at the time in custody pending investigations into the matter. Bisram, described as a multi-millionaire and the founder of the Marcus Brian Bisram Foundation, is said to have donated $2M to a Berbice community policing group late last year and

pledged $200M annually to the needy of the Ancient County. It is alleged that Narinedatt was murdered between October 31 and November 1 at Number 70 Village, Corentyne, Berbice. According to reports, on the day of the killing the overseas-based Guyanese had a party at his home, which Narinedatt and a few others attended. At some point Narinedatt went to the back of the yard to urinate. The overseas-based Guyanese allegedly followed Narinedatt and began making sexual advances towards him. Narinedatt reportedly slapped and pushed away Bisram who allegedly ordered his friends to kill the carpenter. It was reported that several men beat Narinedatt at the businessman’s premises. He was then taken to a roadway and beaten until he fell into a drain. The men reportedly took the carpenter by vehicle to Number 70 Village, Corentyne,

Berbice, where they dumped the body and drove over it with a car. Narinedatt had a son with wife, Pooja Pitam. His daughter was born after his death. Pitam travelled to the US and was in front of the Brooklyn court in early July when Bisram was arraigned, two days after his arrest. She was in tears while calling for justice during a television interview. Bisram’s fall would shock friends and family. Living the dream life, he reportedly had a luxury apartment in the pricy Manhattan area and was very active on the social circuit and in the mandirs. He reportedly left Guyana when he was a teen. He is 28 now and would have spent his August 20 birthday in jail, pending his extradition hearings. He was reportedly close to a number of high-ranking cops in Berbice, who allegedly were fingered in attempting to cover the murder up.

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Guyana & Venezuela hold mediation talks with U.N Envoy on border controversy Officials from Guyana and Venezuela started a two-day formal meeting yesterday in New York with the aim of mediating a solution to the decades-old border controversy that has overshadowed relations between the two South American nations.

Personal Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General on the border controversy, Dag Halvor Nylander, is facilitating the meeting through the United Nations (U.N.) Good Officer Process which aims to actively engage both governments with a view

STANDARDS IN FOCUS

to exploring and proposing options for a solution. Guyana’s delegation is being led by Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge. Since his appointment on February 27,last, Nylander has visited Guyana four times and held talks with President David Granger and Minister Greenidge, among others.

Tips for Importers of Products monitored by the GNBS As the busy shopping season approaches at the end of the year and importation of products increases, importers of products monitored by the GNBS are reminded of the following: Be registered with the GNBS for the current year by completing and submitting to the Bureau the prescribed application along with a copy of the business registration form and registration fee. Acquire the relevant National Standards from the GNBS for products imported, in order to ensure importation of standard compliant goods. Submit samples of new products to GNBS for approval, prior to the importation and manufacture to avoid sub-standard products. Have consignments of products examined by Inspectors of the GNBS at the Ports-ofentry or warehouses, before clearance and sale in the country. Arrange with the GNBS in advance to facilitate the examination of products at the ports-of-entry simultaneously with GRA. Ensure that products imported are for the purpose intended and are safe for use. Importers should purchase from sources that issue warranties which could be easily passed on to consumers. Ensure that any brochure, instruction manual, leaflet, etc. which are associated with a product are in English Language and accompany the product at the time of sale. Facilitate periodic inspections by GNBS

Inspectors at their premises including warehouses and workshops. Records relating to the operation of the premises should also be available for checks by Inspectors of the Bureau. All records such as copies of invoices, customs documentation, bills of sale, etc. must be properly kept and should be easily retrievable. Carefully select their suppliers who could comply with the quality and labeling requirements relating to products imported. Ensure, where necessary, that imported products bear a national or international certification mark from a Regulatory Body in the country of origin, or a certificate of quality compliance should be submitted to the GNBS to verify the quality of the product imported. Compliance certificates should be obtained from an independent Certification Body, a National Standards Body or the relevant Regulatory Body. Check their products received to ensure conformance to the quality specification and to detect any deterioration in quality or other damages during storage and transportation. Address complaints received from customers regarding products purchased. Desist from using the name of the GNBS in any advertisement or promotional material in relation to the sale of any product. Ensure all products imported are in metric units. For further information, visit the Guyana National Bureau of Standards at Exhibition Site, Sophia or its website: www.gnbsgy.org or call: 219-0062, 219-0065, 219-0066.

Additionally, in September, the Guyana delegation to the General Debate of the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly met with the Secretary-General as well as. Nylander also held informal discussions with Venezuelan counterparts. In 2015, Guyana requested the U.N. SecretaryGeneral to take steps toward a resolution of the controversy using an option from the menu as stated in the Geneva Agreement of February 17, 1966. This

decision was reached after Venezuela contended that the Arbitral Award of 1899, about the frontier between Venezuela and what is now Guyana, is null and void. Further, in 2016, as a consequence of a stalemate on the matter, former U.N. Secretary-General Ban Kimoon agreed with his successor, Mr. António Guterres, to continue to use the Good Officer Process until the end of 2017 as a means of arriving at a settlement. If, by the end of 2017, the Secretary-General concludes that no significant progress has been made toward arriving at a full agreement for

the solution of the controversy, he will choose the International Court of Justice as the next means of settlement, unless the Governments of Guyana and Venezuela jointly request that he refrain from doing so.” The present Good Officer Process has been conducted since 1990 and Guyana Guyana has maintained that the only way to settle the controversy is by way of a juridical settlement at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Venezuela’s claim to twothirds of Guyana has escalated over the years, with various shows of aggression and harassment.

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CONSUMER CONCERNS

BLOOD DONORS are HEROES - They Save Lives by PAT DIAL Three Sundays ago, we had the rewarding experience of attending the Speech Day of the Saraswati Vidya Niketan School on West Coast Demerara. The occasion was very reminiscent of the Speech Days of the Old Queen’s College of 50 to 60 years ago. The boys of this boy’s school were accorded a well-rounded education in those times and this made Queen’s famous well beyond the shores of Guyana. Saraswati Vidya Niketan, likewise, cultivates well-rounded students, developing them intellectually, morally and physically. The outstanding performances of its students at the CXC Examinations are known Caribbean-wide. To encounter a school in Guyana where “mens sana in corpore sano” (a healthy mind in healthy body) together with the cultivation of a strong ethical commitment had been achieved was indeed a very pleasant surprise since most tend to assume that the ideal of a rounded education

had long disappeared. In the short time between programme items, we questioned pupils to try to find out their take on the success of their fine school. They said their motto was their living guide. Their motto, in both Sanskrit and English, could be seen in various places. It is: Satyam vada Be always truthful; Dharmam cara Practice Righteousness; Svadhayanan Ma Pramadah - Never Abandon Studies. Many also claimed that the name of their school was an inspiration: Saraswati - that aspect of God which is invoked to develop Education; Vidya - Learning in its widest sense; Niketan (pron. Nee - kay - tan) means “abode” Thus their school’s name could roughly be translated as “ An abode of Learning grounded in God’s inspiration”.An example of the pupils’ ethical commitment is manifested in their biennial donation of hundreds of units of blood to the National Blood Bank. Indeed, in one year, SVN’s contribution was 10% of the holdings of the Blood Bank. Blood collected is used for transfusions. Blood transfusion is

the transference of blood collected into the Circulatory System of another person, mostly to save that person’s life. This involves special skills in drawing blood from the donor; storing such blood for a comparatively lengthy period; then getting such blood into the patient’s body. Blood incorrectly drawn or stored is useless. The Blood Transfusion process is always administered in a hospital or in hospital conditions. A few examples of the value of blood transfusion: In traffic, industrial and other accidents, victims often lose a great of blood which if not quickly replaced could result in death. Each year, therefore, blood transfusions save the lives of numerous victims. Patients who have to go through various surgical operations may lose blood, which if not quickly replaced, may result in death or further deterioration in health. Sometimes, surgeons may not perform operations except blood transfusion is available to the

patients. Many, especially the aged, often suffer from debilitation and a falling blood count. If one’s blood count falls too low, one could become unconscious and die. Blood transfusions save the lives of many such persons. Sometimes, in childbirth, mothers may have to be given blood transfusions to save their lives. Many persons understand the moral imperative of donating blood but are inhibited from donating by fear that giving blood would weaken one’s body and that blood given could never be replaced. These fears are groundless as blood donated is replaced by the body itself in 60 days and donating blood has never weakened any donor. Blood could be donated at the Blood Banks at any of the following hospitals: Georgetown Public Hospital; Suddie Hospital; West Demerara Regional Hospital; New Amsterdam Hospital; Linden Hospital. There is always a shortage of blood at the hospitals and members

of the public are enjoined to donate to save lives. Most are occasional donors but there are a few who are regular and would have donated tens of units over many years. The solution to having adequate blood banks lie in having institutional donors. The Saraswati Vidya Niketan model is one which could be adopted by educational and other such institutions countrywide. The model is quite simple. The students on their own donate and then recruit parents, members of family, friends and members of their Community to donate. Since part of the school’s population changes every year, new donors would become available. Pupils who have done very well in recruiting are recognized by the school. The Ministry of Education, the Teachers College and the University of Guyana could begin to educate their publics as to the moral, ethical and practical reasons for blood donations and at the same time organize themselves into regular institutional donors.

Bridge reopens after critical pontoon switching at Harbour Bridge

WITHOUT A HITCH: Management of the Demerara Harbour Bridge said that a major project to replace a pontoon under the retractor span went without a hitch yesterday. The 40-year-old structure was closed for at least seven hours for a delicate operation which involved over 50 staffers. The bridge is currently closed to marine traffic and tests

will continue to be conducted today and tomorrow before normal operations resume Tuesday, General Manager, Rawlston Adams explained. This is the second pontoon to be replaced under the critical retractor span area, in months, under a project that costs the bridge management over $100M. The bridge is a critical link between the city, West Demerara and Essequibo.

Sunday October 29, 2017

SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.-CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620 Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK;Guyanapassport application. G r a p h i c s design, advertisement. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535. INNOVATIVEMARKETING& PUBLISHING INC –TEL: 600-4212: We create A/works, logos, business cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included. Internationally experienced examiner inhandwriting & Question documents. Specialized: Wills, Deeds, Identify theft etc. Call /whatsapp :416-827-5239. Email:k02g099@hotmail.com INSTALLATIONS,REPAIRS AND PARTS FOR AC, F R I D G E , WA S H I N G MACHINE, STOVE ETC: CALL NICK 627-3206, 6301600 Landscaping, flower plants for sale treating& trimming. Cut down trees & treating the land.Call:627-5969 Are you looking for(2) bilinguals with excellent communication skills to work permanently with your company? Call: 693-825/6679057 PASSPORT, PERMANENT & VISITOR VISA APPLICATION, PROFESSIONAL IMMIGRATION CONSULTANT – SABITA IMMIGRATION SERVICES. CALL: 613-3920/ 625-3767. Eagle’s: Re-gas –low prices, washing machine repairs, gas stove, plasma flat Screen, computer repairs & more. Call: 697-2969/6460966

FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. 1 Medium size Fridge in good condition.Call:2278433 534Crown & Pinion. Tel# 648-2413, 660-9154 Pharmacy for sale 4 Stalls Bourda Market .Tel #6034017 Laptop &Desktop Computers from $49,000. 1300 TVL -8 Channel DVR with 8 Cameras complete$69,000.FutureTech: 231-2206, 660-2010 One apple i-pad for sale.Only one month old next to brand new.Excellent condition contact:654-1159 Video games and consoles at affordable price. Repairs to video game system .Call:6722566/265-3231 1. Cat 320 BL Excavator, 1. Cat 215 B Excavator, 1. Cat 428 Back- Hoe, 1. Leyland Daft Truck, 1. 8CU.YD. Mack Cement Mixer Truck. Contact: 275-0367, 275-0538/ 683-7225 1. Double Steel Wheeled Road Roller, 1. 9-Wheeled Pneumatic Roller, 1. 450GLNS. Bitumen Spray Kettle, 1. Honda 450 ATV Bike. Contact: 275-0367, 275-0538/ 6837225 2 Bedrooms apartment at 329 A Field Sophia. Contact: 2191045/ 625-0940

DRESSMAKING Working uniforms etc. Professionally done.Also Designing/sewing classes. Call Sharnice (Canadian Trained) .676-6312 FOR RENTAL ECD 2Bedroom $40,000 & 60,000/3 Bedroom 80,000, GT 1Bedroom $60,000/2Bedroom 70,000. Contact: 6450944/231-0861

LEARN TO DRIVE Dance classes to keep fit, lose weight, build self-esteem and have fun. Studio 87 call:676-6312

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EBD 2Bedroom $60,000/ 3Bedroom$70,000, WCD 2Bedroom $35,000/3Bedroom$ 50,000. Contact: 6450944/231-0861

VACANCY

WANTED

Experience accounts clerk between the age 23-50 years. Apply at Alabama Trading.65-66 Robb street bourda.

Security to work in the interior. Must have Military/ Police background. Age range 35-50. Contact # 2269768

Cook/ baker and Kitchen Assistant for interior location. Applicants must have experience. Call:618-2020 Counter Attendants apply to Dian’s Deli. Barr Street Kitty next to the Fish shop. Call: 225-3700

Sales persons. Apply at Shantas .225 Camp and New Market Street. Live in waitress to work in a bar.Call:604-6606/692-4649 Wanted one experience cook and counter staff.Tel#2260554

E x p e r i e n c e d salesman,generaldomestic,porter. Apply with hand written application & recommendation @ Keyfood, McDoom Village. Experience sales girl. Apply in person to Alabama Trading. 65-66 Robb streetbourda. Captains valid certificate of competence as Master of Power Driven Vessel.Call:226-1100,2265380 Porters, Wood mizer, Resaw and Ripsaw operator, Moulder operator. Eccles Industrial Site E.B.Dem. Call Richard 609-7675/ 674-1705/ 233-2614

1 2-Bedroom self- contained apartment. Plantation Providence, E.B.Dem. Contact: 6186207/673-1617 1 Bedroom apartment fully furnished, grill, tile floor. Price negotiable $ 60,000 month. 25 Craig Street/ delph AvenueCampbelville. Contact :613-7542/223-1332 EDUCATION First Aid/CPR Classes on Saturdays. Contact St. John AMBULANCE Brigade Telephone:225-9082

2 bedroom bottom front apartment for rent in Station Street Kitty. Working professionals preferred. Please contact 652-3587/652-3593

SALON - Make-up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, etc. -CosmetologyCourses:$90,000 Technician Course: $35,000. Call: 647-1773/660-5257 Furnished newly renovated self-contained room, water & electricity, 12 Sussex Street Charlestown -$30,000 monthly! $30,000 Security. Call:219-1951/689-8757

VEHICLE FOR SALE

Meadow Bank, long term rental. Fully furnished 3 bedrooms apartment, parking, cameras etc- Call: 671-4221 Property for rent - 2 storey house at Republic Park, E.B.D$1200US. Call 647-1773 Apartment for rent , 7-8 Plantain Walk,West Bank Demerara. Call:264-2639

One bedroom self- contained, unfurnished apartment at Herstelling New Housing Scheme EBD. Prefer person with vehicle. Tel # 671-4169.

Bottom flat apartment $50,000 monthly E.B.D. Call:687-3017 Rooms in Alberttown- Call: 225-3234

FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620

FOR RENT 2 Bedroom apartment@ 59 Prince William St. Plaisance ECD.1 Bedroom apartment furnished@2287 Flying Fish st. (Exit) North Rumiveldt. Call:218-1107/673-4745.

For sale 1.R2 Minibus $900.000 negotiable BMM series. Contact: 644-1354

LAND FOR SALE Prime land to build that dream home. Not far from Princess, New Thriving, Massy, HJ water world $13M neg- Call: 669-8397 28 Acres of land @ Soesdyke Public Road.By owner.Interested persons please send information to P.O 101184 Farm(East Bank)New Scheme $3.5m, ParfaiteHarmonie (upfront)$1.5m,Uivlugt $3.5m(high income).Tel:6511969/667-1960

Allion, Primo, Fielder Wagon, Spacio, Bluebird, 212 Carina, NZE, Honda CRV, Toyota IST, RZ & Pitbull – Call: 650-7501 Fielder Wagon in excellent condition.Call:664-0802 Nissan Pathfinder jeep& Nissan Laurel car fully loaded. Price negotiable $1.4 million each.Call:609-7766 1 Twin-steer, double axle Leyland DAF & 4 Flatbed Leyland DAF all in excellent condition. Owner migratingCall: 649-8449, 228-5655 SERVICES

EDUCATION Day Care and Pre-K classes available in Diamond Call Canadian School 2166921,216-6922 Register your child for after school classes for slow learners in Mathematics, Reading, Phonics, Spelling, etc. Call: 675-4379

BUILDING CONTRACTOR, HOUSE PLAN OR JUST AN ESTIMATE.GIVE US A CALL 216-0671/692-8464/622-0267

4 bedrooms 2 storey house on 2 large lots well maintained @ Zeeburg, WCD. Also a vacant large lot- Tel: 277-0024, 659-1206 New building with two apartment downstairs for sale.10 minutes from Georgetown .Call:675-1510/ 613-7964. Kitty 2 Bedroom $18 million, 3 Bedroom$30 million,4 Bedroom$50 million. Contact: 645-0944/231-0861 Albert town 3 Bedroom$10 million, 2 Bedroom with business place $58 million,33 Bedroom $110 million. Contact: 645-0944/2310861 South 3 Bedroom$20 million,5 Bedroom $35 million,6 Bedroom$40 million. Contact: 645-0944/231-0861 East Coast 2 Bedroom $12 million,3 Bedroom$19 million,4 Bedroom$16 million. Contact: 645-0944/231-0861 West Coast 2 Bedroom$6.5 million, 4 Bedrooms $7 million, 5 Bedrooms $12 million. Contact: 645-0944/231-0861 House and land for sale. Hope E.C.D. Contact: 6114273 Large 3 bedroom house on spacious land. All amenities in tact. Versailles Public Road W.B.D. Call: 609-7766/2641141. Spacious 4 bedrooms concrete home with modern amenities @ New Amsterdam Berbice opposite N/A police station. $79M negotiable- Call: 718-6830884, 682-2046 308 Eccles block BB East Bank Demerara- Tel: 6720733, 233-2376 One(1) three(3) Bedroom concrete house located in a gated community at Schoonord, W.B.D. All rooms self- contained. Contact:6602233 PEN PAL You deserve a relationship filled with love and excitement. Call Harmony Singles 676-6312

VACANCY

TOLET Camp ST. Area Middle & Upper floor, for Offices, School and other type of Business. Call Richard 6097675/ 674-1705/233-2614

PROPERTY FOR SALE

TAXI SERVICE GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 2257878 (24HRS)

One experienced legal computer clerk. Call: 624-7087/ 226-4283/258-0213/ email:husainsaphier@yahoo.com (Continued on page 71)

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Sacked Catalonia leader calls for opposition to Madrid’s rule MADRID/BARCELONA (Reuters) - Sacked Catalonian president Carles Puigdemont yesterday called for peaceful “democratic opposition” to the central government’s takeover of the region following its unilateral declaration of independence from Spain. Puigdemont, whose regional government was dismissed by Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy on Friday, accused Madrid of “premeditated aggression” against the will of the Catalans. Rajoy removed Puigdemont, took over the administration of the autonomous region and called a new election after Catalonia’s parliament declared itself an independent nation on Friday. The bold if to all appearances futile action marked a potentially dangerous escalation of Spain’s worst political crisis in the four decades since its return to democracy. “It’s very clear that the best form of defending the gains made up until now is democratic opposition to Article 155,” Puigdemont said in a brief statement he read out

in the Catalan city of Girona, referring to the legal trigger for the takeover. But he was vague on precisely what steps the secessionists would take as the national authorities are already moving into Barcelona and other parts of Catalonia to enforce control. Spanish government spokesman Inigo Mendez de Vigo said it would welcome Puigdemont’s participation in the regional elections it has called for Dec. 21. “I‘m quite sure that if Puigdemont takes part in these elections, he can exercise this democratic opposition,” Mendez de Vigo told Reuters TV in an interview. European countries, the United States and Mexico have rejected the Catalan declaration and expressed support for Spain’s unity. Puigdemont signed the statement as President of Catalonia, demonstrating he did not accept his ousting. “We continue persevering in the only attitude that can make us winners. Without violence, without insults... and also respecting the

protests of the Catalans who do not agree with what the parliamentary majority has decided,” he said. The secessionists say a referendum on Oct. 1 gave them a mandate for independence. However, less than half of eligible voters turned out for the ballot, which Madrid declared illegal and tried to stop. Opinion polls show that more than half of the 5.3 million people eligible to vote in the wealthy northeastern region, which is already autonomous, do not want to break from Spain. But emotions are running high and the next few days will be tricky for Madrid as it embarks on enforcing direct rule.

(From page 69)

Climate, migration disputes cloud German coalition talks BERLIN (Reuters) - Disputes about climate and immigration policy dominated German media ahead of resumed talks among Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives, the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) and the environmental Greens about forming a coalition government. Officials from all three political groups traded barbs and insults in a series of media interviews, dimming hopes that next week’s talks could result in progress for a so-called Jamaica coalition a name chosen because the parties’ black, yellow and green colours mirror those of the Jamaican flag. Simone Peter, co-leader of the Greens, told Reuters the FDP must agree to honour existing carbon dioxide reduction promises before her party would continue coalition talks. She said her party viewed conservative’s insistence on a migrant cap as a

“no go”. FDP Leader Christian Lindner shot back in an interview with the Bild am Sonntag newspaper: “If the Greens don’t budge in future talks, Jamaica will remain a castle in the air.” Merkel, whose conservative alliance suffered its worst result in September elections since 1949, is trying to forge a tricky three-way coalition that is untested at a national level. The exploratory talks are to continue Monday after the three sides failed to reach agreement on immigration and climate issues during an 11-hour session on Thursday. A new poll for Bild am Sonntag newspaper showed support for conservatives down one percentage point to 31 percent - its lowest level this year - while support for the Greens and FDP was unchanged at 10 percent and 11 percent.

VACANCY Sales Representative. Must have own transportation. Apply at King’s Liquor Guyana Inc. Call: 223-3217/ 19

CAR RENTAL PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL:656-0087,6435122 ,EMAIL:PRO_AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.COM DOLLY’SCARRENTAL-CALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM WING’S CAR & PICKUP RENTAL: LOW DOWN PAYMENT, CHEAP RATES,SPECIALOFFERS! . CALL: 690-6494 AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL:PICKUP,9-11 SEAT MINI BUS, GOOD FOR AIRPORT & FAMILY OUTINGS, CHEAPEST RATE . Call: 698-7807

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World Bank says reducing risks in Caribbean key to spur investment, growth VIENNA, Austria - CMC – A new World Bank report says reducing risks in the Caribbean and other developing countries is key to spurring investment and growth. The report says a stable business environment, effective regulations and political stability are among significant drivers of foreign direct investment (FDI) into developing countries. The survey of 750 executives of multinational corporations is part of the Global Investment Competitiveness Report 2017–2018, the first of a biennial series exploring the drivers of investment competitiveness in developing countries, the World Bank said. The report was launched earlier this week at the World Bank’s Investment Competitiveness Forum here that brought together corporate executives, donor partners, and academics, and senior policymakers of developing countries that have implemented significant investment policy reforms. The report finds that international investors prioritize political stability, security, macroeconomic conditions, and conducive regulatory environment when deciding where to make investments that can spur growth and create jobs. “A business-friendly legal and regulatory environment— along with political stability, security, and macroeconomic conditions—are key factors for mul-

tinational companies making investment decisions in developing countries,” said Anabel Gonzalez, senior director of the World Bank Group’s Trade & Competitiveness Global Practice. “Combining a survey of global investors with analysis of investment policy issues makes this report a powerful contribution to our understanding of how developing countries—including fragile states—can de-risk their economies and unlock FDI,” it adds. The report explores how FDI creates growth opportunities for local firms, assesses the power of tax holidays and other fiscal incentives to attract FDI, analyzes characteristics of FDI originating in developing countries, and examines the experience of foreign investors in countries affected by conflict and fragility, according to the World Bank. Combining first-hand investor perspectives with extensive research and data analysis, the

report highlights the importance of a conducive and low-risk investment climate for multinational as well as local companies. It recommends specific reforms that can help countries attract foreign investment and maximize its benefits for development, according to the World Bank. “The ‘Global Investment Competitiveness Report’ goes beyond an examination of broad trends in foreign investment. It explores key drivers of FDI in depth,” said Ted H. Chu, the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation (IFC) chief economist. “It also offers practical and actionable recommendations to help developing countries ensure they get the most out of international investment.” The World Bank said the effort to increase FDI flows into developing countries reflects the importance of the private sector in meeting global development goals.

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Years later, several former government Barbados to host two-day conference ministers to testify in preliminary inquiry examining growth opportunities PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - CMC – Several years after a group of businessmen, former government ministers and other officials had been accused of corruption in the construction of the TT$1.6 billion (One TT dollar=US0.16 cents) Piarco International Airport, they will begin presenting their defences on Friday of this week. Senior Magistrate Ejenny Espinet Friday set the date after deciding on a new timetable for evidential hearings. The magistrate said that the preliminary inquiry, which has been before her for over a decade, should be held on Wednesdays and Fridays to ensure that it is completed before she retires in May, next year. However, the move for additional hearings had been strongly opposed by the accused men. The accused, businessmen Ishwar Galbaransingh and Steve Ferguson, former government ministers Sadiq Baksh and Brian Kuei Tung, former Airport Authority chairman Tyrone Gopee, Galbarasingh’s former employee Amrith Maharaj, have been implicated between 2004 and 2005 for alleged corruption and bid-rigging in the airport project between 1995 and 2001.

Senior Magistrate Ejenny Espine Galbarasingh and Ferguson’s companies Northern Construction Limited and Maritime General Insurance are also implicated as parties in the inquiry. At the next hearing, the accused men are expected to begin calling their witnesses or take the witness stand themselves with the magistrate expected to rule on whether they should be committed to stand trial at the end of the exercise. The accused men currently have a judicial review lawsuit before Justice Jacqueline Wilson challenging Espinet’s ruling on their no-case submission, made after the State closed its case earlier this year.

The men claim that Espinet was only empowered to determine whether there was a prima facie case made out against them in the inquiry, she made numerous statements on their alleged guilt in her ruling. Last week, Justice Wilson refused an application for a stay of the inquiry pending her decision. In 2011, High Court Judge Ronnie Boodoosingh quashed proposed extradition of Galbaransingh and Ferguson who are wanted in the United States to face similar charges. Boodoosingh ruled then that the inquiry before Espinet was the best forum for the prosecution as the substantive crimes were alleged to have occurred in this country. The accused were also unsuccessful in their attempt to get the matter thrown out of court when the then People’s Partnership government tabled the controversial Administration of Justice (Indictable Offences) Act. The legislation with its infamous Section 34 clause would have allowed for people charged with specific offences and had been waiting for more than 10 years to apply for their matters to be dismissed. The group challenged the State after the legislation was repealed with their applications still pending. But the High Court, Court of Appeal and eventually the Privy Council rejected their claim.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - CMC – The Barbados Investment and Development Corporation (BIDC) says it will host its second “Innovative Barbados” conference early next month aimed at creating a culture of innovation as a means of unlocking new growth opportunities for the island. BIDC chief executive officer, Sonja Trotman, said the November 1-2 event would also seek to underscores the fact that “creating a culture of innovation is now more important than ever in driving economic growth”. She said innovation in the form of processes, products, services, technologies and practices is a tremendous force for social change and significant emphasis has to be placed on achieving the right balance of enabling policies, the availability of appropriate finance and quality human capital. The conference will bring together big and small busi-

Sonja Trotman

nesses, innovators, creatives and policy makers with a focus on finding unique ideas for leveraging Barbados’ best opportunities in manufacturing and services. It will be held under the theme,” Innovate For Impact” and will explore how small states like Barbados can transform into global players

and how entrepreneurs facing resource challenges can carve sustainable niches for themselves. Barbados’ Ambassador to the United States will deliver the keynote address on the topic “Surviving Impact: Building Storm Ready Economies in the Era of Super Storms”.

Butterfield to acquire Deutsche Bank’s GTS business HAMILTON, Bermuda CMC – Bermuda-based Butterfield Bank has announced it is to acquire Deutsche Bank’s Global Trust Solutions (GTS) business, excluding its operations in the United States. Terms of the agreement —

which will give the bank a foothold in Singapore — have not been disclosed but Butterfield’s chairman and chief executive officer, Michael Collins, said the price is under US$50 million. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2018, subject to customary regulatory conditions. Butterfield — Bermuda’s oldest bank — has been providing trust and fiduciary services to international clients for more than 80 years. Its award-winning trust business comprises more than 200 professionals based in Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, the Bahamas, Guernsey and Switzerland. Upon completion of the transaction, Butterfield will take over the ongoing management and administration of the GTS portfolio, comprising some 1,000 trust structures for some 900 private clients. The bank is offering positions to about 90 employees who are fully dedicated to GTS in the Cayman Islands, G u e r n s e y, S w i t z e r l a n d , Singapore and Mauritius. Collins said the new trust business was about 20 to 25 per cent the size of the bank’s existing trust business. At the end of September, Butterfield Trust had assets under management of about US$95.2 billion.

“Having a platform in Singapore will allow us to grow,” said Collins, addi9ng “Singapore is obviously a market we have wanted to get into for a long time. Having a presence there is really important.” The Singapore platform is understood to have about 15 staff, and will generate about 20 per cent of the additional trust business revenue. In a statement, Collins said “trust is a core business for us, and the acquisition of the Deutsche Bank Global Trust Solutions business enables us to add scale and professional bench strength to our trust operations in Switzerland, Guernsey and Cayman. “It also provides us with a physical presence in Asia, which we view as a growth market for Butterfield. We look forward to welcoming GTS clients and staff to Butterfield and to the development of new business from an ongoing partnership with Deutsc h e B a n k ’s wealth management team.” Deutsche Bank, which is headquartered in Frankfurt, Germany, is one o f t h e w o r l d ’s l a rg e s t banks by total assets. Its wealth management business is also one of the largest in the world, with client assets of around $347 billion.

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GECOM resumes ads placement in KN More than nine months after halting its ads placement in Kaieteur News, amidst reports of procurement malpractice, the Secretariat of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) appears to have reversed its decision. Over the weekend, the entity which oversees general and local government elections, sent one- for the procurement of a 4x4 vehicle. The resumption would come at a time when a new Chairperson of the GECOM, James Patterson, has been sworn in. It is unclear whether there is any connection to Patterson’s swearing in and the booking. The entity’s transparency had come in for severe criticisms following the withholding of the ads and disclosures that a state audit report into a $100M purchase of communications radios for the 2015 general elections, has found some worrying things. A number of probes by state auditors are also being carried out. A few weeks ago, GECOM’s Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield, in explaining the ads placement of his entity, told Capitol News, that Kaieteur News received more than $900,000

GECOM’s CEO, Keith Lowenfield in work, giving the impression that it was all ads. Even the Capitol News reporter believed it was all ads. However, less than half of it – $433,000 – represented subscriptions for newspapers for the year. That meant a little more than $500,000 was payments for ads up to mid-January. After that, GECOM simply stopped placing ads. Lowenfield never explained that for the year, as compared to Kaieteur News, GECOM made payments to Stabroek News for $4.8M. Just over $300,000 would rep-

resent the yearly subscription for Stabroek News. In all, in addition to the subscription, GECOM signed 17 contracts with Stabroek News up to August monthend – nothing for Kaieteur News. While Kaieteur News, the newspaper with the largest distribution, has been reporting on those ads placement (or lack thereof in Kaieteur News), Lowenfield and GECOM have been very quiet, despite some shocking revelations about procurement (Continued on page 76)

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GECOM resumes ads placement in... From page 75 irregularities that came out in news reports. Even the administration, although disagreeing with the use of ads placement as a weapon to silence media houses, seemed hesitant about speaking on the issue. The Ministry of the Presidency, when asked, had pointed out that GECOM is independent, but there is clearly no policy of the Government to use ads as a weapon to punish media houses. However, Commissioners of GECOM, a few weeks ago, had insisted that the Secretariat does not have permission to withdraw any

ads, with the situation being compounded by the fact that there is no chairperson and therefore no meeting on the Commission to be briefed or for the matter to be raised. According to Lowenfield in his interview, his advertising budget was cut, and this was the reason for affecting the ads in media houses like Kaieteur News. He said for elections years of 2015 and 2016, Kaieteur News received $12M and $25M respectively. However, he claimed, this year, there is no election and it is quiet, something that Kaieteur News should understand. Lowenfield said it is a fact

that over the years Kaieteur News has been getting more ads than the other media houses. However, Lowenfield failed to explain that GECOM and its commissioners had always stood in favour of all ads being placed in all the media houses. In the past, it has been the policy of consecutive administrations to use media houses with the largest reach when it comes to deciding where to place the ads. Kaieteur News is the newspaper with the widest circulation. Commissioners’ take GECOM Commissioners Bibi Shadick and Robeson Benn, who represent the Opposition on the Commission, distanced themselves from the seeming decision to halt advertising with Kaieteur News. ”I am concerned about the situation. I had raised it before, but I am not seeing they are saying anything,” Benn had said. Shadick, a lawyer and former minister, was even more blunt. ”What is happening is at the Secretariat level. Usually the Commission meets, gives instructions to the Secretariat…that has not happened.” She said that Commission never discussed any issue of withdrawing ads.

Sunday October 29, 2017

Kaieteur News

Brusche’s Classic Invitational Basketball

Ravens and Jets shock top ranked clubs to secure final’s spot Ravens scored a 61-58 points victory over the Georgetown top ranked club Bounty Colts, while Amelia’s Ward Jets upended the current number one ranked club in Linden, Victory Valley Royals on a night of shock wins to decide the finalists for this year’s Brusche’s Classic Invitational Basketball Championship Friday night at the Mackenzie Sports Club hard court. The first semifinal game between Colts and Ravens was expected to be a thriller and Ravens topped them after trailing 12-15 before moving into a 33-30 lemon time advantage. Colts

however were able to wrest the initiative going into the fourth and final period when they were ahead 49-46 but a late surge by Ravens was enough to knock the sails out of the Colts as the Ravens prevailed by a 61-58 victory. Travis Burnett had 15 points with Jermaine Slater 14 and Ryan Stephney 13 for Ravens, while Dave Causeway and Shane Webster each netted 13 points and Dellon LaRose got 12 for the Colts. In the other semifinal Jets were able to outpace the Royals to claim a 72-60 win as the first quarter saw them leading 32-30 and by the end of the pivotal third quarter

period it was the Jets who were in control 51-45. However, despite their best efforts, with Stanton Rose and Shelroy Thomas missing, the going was too tough and the Jets came away with the victory. Guest player for the jets Nathan Saul had a good showing for the Jets with 17 points, while Donnel Benjamin got 14 and Akeem Kanhai and Adrian Webster both got 10 points. The Royals best players were Chris Williams and Trevor Profitt with 13 points each, while Harold Adams hit in 12 and Yannick Tappin seven points,

Sunday October 29, 2017 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Don't be too open or put your faith in unreliable coworkers. You will have the getup and go to contribute a great deal to groups of interest. This will not be the best day to try to push your ideas or concerns.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Go directly to the source if you want to know exactly what's been going on. You may become rundown if you take on too much. Your charm will attract members of the opposite sex.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) You may have a rather hectic day due to events that children are involved in. If you can include them in your plans, do so. This will be a good day for research and for sitting down with some good, informative reading material.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) You can find out important information if you listen to friends and relatives. Plan a day of enjoyment with them. Your talent will be recognized.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You could find yourself caught in a one sided relationship. Your ability to dazzle others with your unique and innovative ideas will attract attention. You can accomplish the most if you travel for business purposes. CANCER (June 21–July 22) Love could develop at social events that are work related. Relationships will be erratic today. Help an older member with a problem that faces them. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Problems with female members of your family may play on your emotions. Don't let your mate bully you into thinking that you owe them your time and your life. You need a change of pace. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) You are going through a period of questioning. You can enjoy short trips. Concentrate on spending quality time with children and friends.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Ferret out information that will hold them responsible. Uncertainties about your living arrangements may be unnerving. You will get along well in social situations. CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) You will not be pleased with family members who try to put demands on you when you just don't have the time. It might be best to work on your own; if possible, do your job out of your home today. Put some energy into getting back into shape. Listen to reason. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) Use discretion, especially if involved with someone from work. Resistance leading to conflict will only make it twice as hard to turn the situation around. Changes to your self image will be to your benefit as long as you don't over pay. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Your goals will be in reach if you direct your energy wisely. You won't impress anyone by being overly generous. Draw up contracts regarding your personal situation.

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Guyana Open Golf tourney promises to be exciting On November 4 & 5, 2017 at the Lusignan Golf Course, Defending Men’s Champion 7 time winner Avinash Persaud and Defending Women’s Champion Jo-ann Deo will, over the course of two Days of challenge and skill, go up against the best players from the USA, Canada, UK, Suriname, Trinidad, Colombia, Fiji and Argentina to compete for the Title of Guyana Open Champion and keep the titles in Guyana. The Lusignan Golf Club is calling all to come out and support our local stars and enjoy the beautifully manicured grounds of the Lusignan Golf Course. All are welcome and there is no general admission fee courtesy of the Club, however every person with a Gallery Pass will be eligible to win one of over $500,000 in prizes being given away (you must be present to win). Music, Food, and entertainment will be available on both days. Fans can also cheer on the Juniors as we celebrate the first ever Guyana Open Putting Contest as Queen’s College, Bishop’s and St. Roses High Schools compete for the Noble House Seafood Guyana Open Putting Championship. A limited number of Special VIP Clubhouse passes which include access to the players, autographs and photo opportunities with the Champions, meals and drinks are available at a nominal fee.

On the Sunday, golfers will wear a pink ribbon to promote Breast Cancer Awareness and the Lusignan Golf Club will donate Can$1,000 to Breast Cancer Awareness. Sponsored by: Ganesh Parts –Bridgestone, Noble House Seafoods, Mccorp Cat, Assuria General, Club Rain Arena, Miracle Optical, Mobile Outfitters, New Trend Auto, Windsor Estates, Beepat’s, Massy Technologies–Microsoft, Massy Industries, Nexgen Global Marketing, Pritipal, Nesha’s Flowerland, Cidi, Peppy’s, Crown Mining, Karibee Rice,

AR Printery, Brusters, Ansa McAl, Grand Coastal Hotel, Odessy Transport, Abdool’s & Abdools, Kissoon’s Furniture, Gafoors, Guyana Beverages, Oasis Café, Décor Gift Gallery, Escape to Rest Therapy, Regal Stationery, Cevon’s, Chilean Embassy, Fab Cakes & Cupcakes, American Home & Beauty, Southland International, Continental Group of Companies, Jai Signs, KSM, Marriott Hotels, and supported by the Department of Tourism in the Ministry of Business and The Ministry of Youth, Sports & Culture.

Singh Travel Service sponsors U19 tourney in West Berbice Singh Travel Service of 4 “A” Cotton Tree, West Coast Berbice has partnered with the West Berbice Cricket Association for the staging of an U19 50-over tournament in the area. A release from the WBCA stated that this sponsorship is timely and will be used to

select the outstanding players who will represent West Berbice in the Inter-Zone Tournament. Clubs with players born on or after 1st September 1999, could get in touch with Mr. David Black on telephone numbers 624-7606, 670-8384 or 327-5210 to be registered.

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Kaieteur Sports Week in Review SPORTS WEEK IN REVIEW Today we bring you the Sports Week in Review, where we look back on the past week at the head lines that led in the local world of sports. WILLIAMS WIN SENIOR CATEGORY, DEY TAKES JUNIOR TITLE IN AWARENESS CYCLE RACE Cyclists headed that call, participating in an event which commenced at 07:30hrs and concluded with the presentation ceremony which concluded just before 14:00hrs and Guyana’s biggest mobile service provider Digicel kept their promise. The management of Digicel and the Cancer Institute of Guyana and executives of Evolution Cycle Club had urged Guyanese to come out and witness the day of races as a way of showing support for the fight against Breast Cancer with Digicel promising to once again match the registration fee with their donation to the Guyana Cancer Institute. Last year’s senior’s race was won by team Coco’s 20-year-old Jamal John and when the dust had settled in scorching heat this year Geron Williams emerged ahead of a group of five in a time of 2:54:19, while Curtis Dey rode in second, with Johnel Yearwood, Andre Hicks, Mark Harris and Paul DeNobrega in that order. Dey also copped the trophy for winning the junior division in which Brian John finished second and Adellia Hodge placing third. Junior Niles won the U-45s in a time of 1:52:23 with Paul Cheo Waldron second and Stephen Fernandes third, while Ian Jackson, Kennard Lovell and Amrit Sankar finished the Over -45 in that order as they rode for 20 laps. Raphael Albert won the Novice race, while Shane Byrn ended first among the Mountain Bickers. Dr Syed Ghazi Director of Medical Outreach programme, Digicel’s CEO Gregory Deane, and President of the Evolution Cycling Club, Keith Fernandes spoke at the presentation in which $900,000 were presented in prizes. As promised Digicel doubled the registration fees of the riders and that along with donations were handed over to the Cancer Foundation. THOUSANDS PARTICIPATE IN THE GTT PINKTOBER INAUGURAL 5K/10K WALK/RUN The GTT inaugural 5k/10k run/walk saw the largest participation ever for such an event. Close to 5,000 persons converged on the Parade Ground, Middle Street venue from where they commenced the 5k, 10K run and walk in support of GTT Cancer

Archery Guyana’s Chair, Mr. Nicholas Hing handing over the National Development Plan to Minister Dr. George Norton. Looking on are Directors Mrs. Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon, Mr. Steve Ninvalle and Mr. Ryan McKinnon.

Warriors, while raising awareness and at the same time supporting the work of the Guyana Cancer Foundation. The fantastic thing about the walk is the fact that every one of the over 3,000 persons who purchased a “Pinktober Special Package”, contributed $500 of that purchase to the work of the Guyana Cancer Foundation to aid in the Organisation’s work to save lives. So great was the belief and support for the cause that it touched the spirit of over 150 persons from across workplaces and professions who volunteered their services to ensure the smooth execution of this massive inaugural event. Medals were presented to the first 2,000 persons who crossed the finish line. Trophies were also presented to several categories of participants. One of the highlights of the inaugural walk/run was the release of 2,000 helium balloons in recognition of all those who have fought cancer. GTT, CEO Mr. Justin Nedd said that the company’s vision will continue to be involved playing a special role in the hearts and minds of communities as part of GTT’s mandate to “Do More”. GTT extends heartfelt appreciation to major sponsors of the walk, including JSL International Group of Companies, Impressions, Starr Party Rental, Hits and Jams Entertainment, Banks DIH and Pulse Entertainment, JSL International Group of Companies and other agencies who contributed to the success of the programme. REGION NINE GYM FOR NAT. INTERMEDIATE BOXING CHAMPIONSHIPS The newly formed Savannah Boxing Gym (SBG) was represented over the weekend at the Guyana Boxing Association Lennox Blackmoore National Intermediate competition. SBG joined reigning champions the Guyana Defence F o r c e , Yo u n g A c h i e v e r s ’ , Forgotten Youth Foundation, Guyana Police Force, Harpy

Eagles, Vergenoegen Boxing Gym (Formerly Essequibo) Pocket Rocket Boxing Gym, Rose Hall Jammers and the Republican Boxing Gym from Friday to Sunday at the National Gymnasium. SBG was formed after Minister of Social Cohesion Dr. George Norton sent Coach Orland Rogers to Region Nine as part of a sport decentralizing programme. Rogers has since worked with approximately 22 young athletes per day and has trained three coaches. The SBG was represented by a five-man team which comprises female Suebia Roberts and males Richard Citan, Rovine Fraser, Jarvis James and James Anderson. PNCR 60TH ANNIVERSARY DAY OF SPORTS /FAMILY FUN DAY LINDEN HYPED AND READY FOR TODAY’S EVENT The Linden community is hyped and ready to host today’s PNCR 60th Anniversary Day of Sports/Family Fun Day according to feedback received following a visit by Chairperson of the Organising Committee Annette Ferguson. Ferguson, who also holds the portfolio of Junior Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, was in the Mining Town along with other members of the Committee to meet and greet residents and to spearhead the promotion of the event at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground. The Minister made stops at Radio 104.3 Power FM and NCN Studio where she participated in interviews to highlight the significance of the occasion and to implore on Guyanese to support the event which is expected to showcase the skills of local athletes in four disciplines namely basketball, futsal, Track and Field and dominoes. According to Ferguson, today’s activities which will be held under the theme ‘United and Strong: Sixty years on’ is anticipated to attract Guyanese from across every divide from all ten regions making it a grand celebration.

Two more teams have been added to the futsal competition making it a total of 18 teams that will participate in the one-day event. The Dominoes segment is expected to attract a lot of attention and provide excitement for the fans, while the basketball and Track and Field disciplines are also slated to supply fans with some riveting battles. To compliment those activities will be the quiz contest for the children, while the novelty events are sure to be loaded with much fun as teams and individuals battle for supremacy and bragging rights in the lime and spoon, buns eating, sack race and the tug-o-war events. Entry is just $500, while children under 12 years will be allowed free entry. GUYANESE SEEBARRAN, JEFFREY SHINE AT GEORGETOWN GRAND PRIX Guyanese Raymond Seebarran and Kristian Jeffrey turned in outstanding performances to thrill the many fans that turned up at the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club to witness the Georgetown Grand Prix on Saturday night. Seebarran won the champion driver in the Easy Cup Light and Heavy categories, winning race two and three, while Jeffrey captured the champion driver in the 125CC senior segment with victories in the race one and three. Another Guyanese Raymond Baksh won the champion driver in the Easy Cup Rookie with wins in race one and two, while Jeremy Tenpow was the best driver in the 60cc Sun Burst Kids Cup; he won race one and three. Jamaican Senna Summerbell was the most outstanding driver in the 125cc junior division. MAGNUM TONIC WINE SPONSORS BASKETBALL LEAGUE IN LINDEN Ansa McAl Trading Limited under its Magnum Tonic Wine Brand handed over the Championship trophies that will be up for grabs in the Linden Amateur

Basketball Association (LABA) Division I League that bounces off this week. President of the LABA, Lawrence Simon said that he was happy to receive the contribution that will keep the sport playing in the Mining Town for a long time. He said that the company offered sponsorship at a time when the Linden sub-association was not sure where the resources were coming from for the competition. Brand Coordinator for Magnum Tonic Wine at the Distribution Company, Edison J e ff o r d i n d i c a t e d t h a t t h e contribution again highlights Ansa McAl’s commitment to the development of sports and youth all across Guyana. He said that the company is happy to assist the LABA to get its League up and literally bouncing. NEW FIBA MEN’S WORLD RANKING PRESENTED BY NIKE GUYANA BASKETBALL ON THE RANKING BOARD FOR THE FIRST TIME IN LOCAL HISTORY The Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation Senior Men’s National Team received historic FIBA ranking for the 1st time. Guyana is now ranked 110th out of 213 national teams. Guyana was never ranked before and was considered to be one of the unranked countries within FIBA for the past 56 years, a release informed. O n O c t o b e r 11 t h F I B A officially launched the new FIBA World Ranking Men, presented by Nike. This is an innovative game based ranking that factors in all official games ranging from regional pre-qualifiers all the way to the FIBA Basketball World Cup Final and includes the Olympic Basketball Tournament as well as the Continental Cups. As a result, it can more accurately reflect the performances of 153 national teams over an eight year period, compared to 91 national teams under the previous system which was competition - based and only took into account the final standings of tournaments. Caribbean countries ranked higher in the list included: (15) Puerto Rico, (17) Dominican Republic, (51) Virgin Islands, (59) Bahamas, (60) Cuba, (68) Jamaica, (76) Antigua and Barbuda, (92) British Virgin Islands, (97) Barbados, (100) St. Vincent and the Grenadines, (109) Bermuda, while (110) Guyana outranked (118) Suriname, (121) Cayman Islands and (143) Trinidad and Tobago. ARCHERY GUYANA MEETS WITH MINISTER OF SOCIAL COHESION, DR. GEORGE NORTON On Wednesday last, Directors (Continued on page 75)

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Kaieteur Sports Week in Review (From page 74) of Archery Guyana paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr. George N o r t o n a t t h e M i n i s t r y ’s headquarters on Main Street. During the visit they discussed with the Honourable Minister Norton their plans for the future and gave an update as to the progress of Archery Guyana thus far. A proposed Junior Archery Programme, Schools Programme and Para-Archery Programme was discussed. Plans are also being made to pursue more Outreach programmes. Early in the New Year, Archery Guyana will be hosting an International Olympic Coach in Guyana for 10 days to conduct a coaching clinic. Persons interested in becoming involved in the sport are urged to do so before so they can learn and be able to benefit from the said Coaching. The Minister expressed his commitment to working with Archery Guyana and that he looks forward to working with Archery Guyana in promoting and developing the novel sport in Guyana. RISING SUN RODEO SET FOR SUNDAY The Rising Sun Rodeo Committee will stage the West Berbice Rodeo at the Rising Sun Turf Club. The annual event is set for today, at the Rising Sun Turf Club, Arima Park, West Coast,

Berbice. The event, which by now has become a house hold name on the sporting calendar, is expected to be bigger this year with a number of feature events on the day’s card. The day’s activity is expected to kick off at 12:00 hrs. Some 12 events are listed on the programme. Among the events expected to be contested are steer roping, bare back bronco, male and female barrel race, wild cow milking, calf roping, wild bull riding, saddle bronco, the Rodeo King competition and the popular Tug O War events. The clowns will be back again to treat the crowd with their stunts.

Priyanna Ramdhani

O n c e a g a i n Va q u e r o s (cowboys) are expected from overseas including Brazil, Suriname and Venezuela to match skills with their Guyanese counterparts. Locals are expected from the interior locations of Guyana including Lethem and the Rupununi Savannahs. While closer to home, Cowboys from the West Coast Berbice, the Corentyne and Berbice River will again be in action. MARTIAL ARTS MASTER, SENSEI WINSTON DUNBAR ELEVATED TO 8TH DAN Sensei Compton Winston Dunbar, Chief Instructor of the G u y a n a Wa d o R y u K a r a t e Association has been awarded the 8th Dan Black Belt by the Caribbean Karate Federation

(CKF) for his distinguished service to karate in the region. He was also appointed President/Chief Instructor of the 29-nation regional Federation. Sensei James Holder, Londonbased Head Coach of the CKF, who is on a short visit to Guyana, made the presentation to Sensei Dunbar on behalf of the Federation. It is the highest award in the Caribbean for the WadoRyu style. Sensei Dunbar, who celebrated 50 years as a martial arts practitioner last year, was also honoured in 2000 when he was appointed Technical Advisor by Grand Master of the World Union of Karate-do Federations. GFF SUCCESSFULLY CONCLUDES FIFA GRASSROOTS

PROGRAMME IN REGION TWO The Guyana Football Federation (GFF), in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Thursday concluded an annual Federation of International F o o t b a l l ( F I FA ) G r a s s r o o t Programme in Region 2 Essequibo that educated participants on how to introduce six to 12 - year olds to the game of football. This programme, which began from the 23rd October and was conducted by FIFA Instructor, Lenny Lake, consisted of three days of training for participants and ended Thursday morning with a festival for the children at the Cotton Field Ground. Twenty-five participants, inclusive of teachers, coaches, parents and volunteers were trained through theoretical and practical means. Theoretical training occurred at the Oasis Hotel Conference Hall in Queenstown Essequibo, while the practical training was at the Anna Regina playfield. Participants utilized their training Thursday from 9:00hrs to 12:00hrs at the children’s festival in the form of drilling exercises such as shooting, passing and defending. Children from the Taymouth Manor, Queenstown and Anna Regina Primary schools took part in the festival and received tokens from Lenny Lake upon its

completion. Present throughout the programme were GFF Coaches Education and Development Officer, Lyndon France, GFF Technical Director, Ian Greenwood, GFF School’s Development Officer, Ceon Bristol, GFF Executive Member, Keith Ojeer and Lenny Lake. PRIYANNA RAMDHANI SELECTED FOR PAN AM BADMINTON YOUNG TALENTS CAMP Guyana & Caribbean Ladies Badminton Champion Priyanna Ramdhani has been selected by the Pan American Badminton Federation Development Director to participate in the Young Talents Camp 2017 from November 9-15, which will take place in Paramaribo Suriname. The selection was made by her incredible performance at just 15 years of age to reach the Quarter Finals at the recently concluded South American Youth Games in Chile where she was also placed in the No.4 Position in the Rankings for South America. This Young Talents Camp will see sessions twice a day under the direction of the Pan American Programme coach. After the conclusion of the Camp, Priyanna Ramdhani will then take part in the Suriname International Open Badminton Championships November 15-18.

CWI/ Digicel Regional 4-Day C/Ships

Paul’s maiden ton takes sting out of the Scorpions By Sean Devers Kemo Paul, at just 19 and in only his fourth First-Class match, fashioned a wonderfully compiled maiden century on the penultimate day of the CWI/ Digicel Regional 4-Day first round contest at Providence to leave the Guyana Jaguars hunting their seventh consecutive win against Jamaica Scorpions. Jamaica has not beaten Guyana since 2014 and they head into today’s final day needing another 422 with eight wickets in hand to do so. It will take a tremendous second innings batting performance or rain to save them from defeat. Set 483 in four sessions for an improbable win, Jamaica were 61-2 with Guyanese Assad Fudadin, the only Test player in the team and the one batsman most equipped to bat for a long period of time, unbeaten on 11 from 62 balls. The 22-year-old

Brandon King, who played some attractive shots and has a century and two fifties from 11 First-Class games was with him not out on 22 but their job of saving the game will be as difficult as a turtle beating Usain Bolt in a 100 meters race. Guyana had earlier extended their overnight 106-4 to 315-8 declared at Tea with Paul, who made 107 from 129 balls with 12 fours and a six adding 72 for the seventh wicket with Skipper Leon Johnson, whose 50 (his 31st half century) took 144 balls with four boundaries. Anthony Bramble (26), Sherfane Rutherford and Romario Shepherd, who finished unbeaten on 16 and 11 respectively, were others to reach double figures. Left arm back-of-the hand spinner Denis Bulli took 5-104, his first fivewicket haul in his fourth match, to end with match figures of 7-149. Scores: Jaguars 266 & 315-dec, Scorpions 99 & 61-

2.

As Jaguars hunt 7th successive win against Jamaica

When Guyana resumed their innings yesterday, Bhaskar Yadram, who was bowled by Bulli for a duck in the first innings, never suggested permanence and was soon bowled by Bulli for one at 114-5 before Bramble, who hit two fours and a six, was trapped lbw to Bulli at 157-6. Paul, the 19-year-old Vi c e C a p t a i n o f t h e victorious West Indies U-19 World Cup team joined Johnson and pair batted cautiously as Jamaica sensing that the hosts were looking to get a big total before declaring, bowled wide of the off stump and set defensive fields and few fans in the stands were getting agitated by the slow scoring and let the batsmen know of their disapproval. Paul dominated the partnership and was at one stage level on 42 with Johnson. Johnson played a few aggressive pulls before the 30-year-old with two

fifties in nine Tests, edged Derval Green to the Keeper just after reaching his fifty. Paul continued to intelligently bat and his innings ebbed and flowed to suit the situation. After reaching his first fifty at this level, the talented youngster who registered the highest score (177) in the GCB three-day Franchise League, changed gear and brutally attacked the spinners; hitting Bulli for a couple of big sixes. Paul and Sherfane Rutherford added 68 for the eighth wicket as Paul c l o b b e r e d o ff - s p i n n e r Damani Sewell for six and reverse swept him for four to move to 99. Paul, who began his cricket career in Wakenaam, an Island in the Essequibo River, got a single to become the first player who represented Essequibo in cricket, to score a First-Class hundred for Guyana. Paul, with the

declaration imminent, charged Bulli, who did not bowl as well as he did in the first innings and was bowled before Shepherd and Rutherford batted to Tea when the declaration was made. Jamaica, who were dismissed for their second lowest total against Guyana after falling for 98 at Bourda in 1973, began their second innings with a slice of luck when debutant Garth Garvey, who was lbw to shepherd for a first-ball duck in the first innings, was dropped at slip by Chanderpaul Hemraj off

Shepherd off the first ball he faced. He responded by pulling Shepherd for four and offdriving him gloriously for four more in the same over before Permaul, who reached 400 First-Class wickets in the first innings, was introduced and had Garvey (13) at 25-1. Guyanese Trevon Griffith (11) was removed by Shepherd and at 25-2 a threeday finish was on the cards but the compact Fudadin and King saw their team safely to the close on a good track with some help for the spinners.

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Sunday October 29, 2017

Kaieteur News

PNCR 60th Anniversary Day of Sports/Family Fun Day

Cycling added to today’s programme

Skills, Spills and thrills expected as overseas vaqueros arrive for Rising Sun Rodeo today

-Futsal, Dominoes, Athletics, B/ball also carded Organisers of today’s PNCR 60th Anniversary Day of Sports / Family Fun Day have added the sport of cycling to the programme, making it an even more exciting proposition to be part of as the Party celebrates its Diamond Jubilee, at the Mackenzie Sports Club. Member of Parliament Jermaine Figueira had proposed to Chairperson Minister Annette Ferguson, who holds the responsibility of spearheading the 60th Anniversary celebrations that they include cycling following a strong request from members of the cycling fraternity. She subsequently acquiesced and at late notice added the sport to the list of the day’s activities which will also see participation in futsal, dominoes, track and field and basketball, making it a must see for citizens within and outside the Linden community. According to the Organisers, the Region 10 community is expected to be flooded by supporters of the Party, but reminded that every Guyanese is invited to come out and support the

event which marks 60 years of the political institution’s existence. Just to emphasise how exciting the day will be, the dominoes and futsal segments are creating headaches for the coordinators to reach a cutoff point because of the overwhelming interest shown by teams. It would appear that the two disciplines are heavily subscribed and with the usual rivalry that exist between visiting teams and Linden, fans could without fear brace themselves for a day of enthralling action. The top teams from Linden and Georgetown square off for bragging rights with the former already expressing confidence of successfully defending home turf, while the visiting contingents are uttering similar sentiments ahead of today’s showdown. Future Stars and Sparta Boss will lead the battle for supremacy against their Linden counterparts in the futsal competition, while President of the Guyana National Dominoes Federation Faye Joseph has promised a strong

representation of teams from outside Region 10. The other futsal teams invited are Leopold Street, Tiger Bay, Albouystown ‘A’, Back Circle, West Front Road ‘Gold is Money’, Bent Street, Hustlers, OL Skool Ballers, and Broad Street. They join Linden’s Silver Bullets, High Rollers, Swag Entertainment, Plantain & Cheese All Stars, Magics, Team 25, Blue Berry Hill, Mike’s Stars and Amelia’s Ward Russians. The Organisers are reminding all participants who will be using the transportation provided that buses are scheduled to depart the Square of the Revolution at 07:30 hrs so teams and representatives will have to be at the location 30 minutes before departure time to cater for a prompt 10:00 hrs start in Linden. Meanwhile, the cycling events are seen below: BMX Boys & Girls; BMX Boys & Girls Open; School Boys & Girls; Novices and Veterans & Seniors. Pedal off time is 06:00hrs around the Linden community.

Some of the Vaqueros of the overseas and hinterland posses pose with some of the trophies up for grabs today. The big day has arrived and the place to be is the Rising Sun Rodeo arena. Thousands of fans are once again expected to throng to the famous Rising Sun Turf Club, Arima Park, West Coast, Berbice when the Rising Sun Rodeo Committee once again stages the much anticipated Rodeo action. All of the visiting Vaqueros from overseas and hinterland Guyana has arrived as they seek to get acclimatize to the venue and conditions on the coast for the big day. Preparations have been completed for the only coastland Rodeo activity in Guyana and the venue is in top shape. After thrilling thousands last year with their pranks the famous trio of the clown, the joker and tamer will be back again this year. The famous trio was a hit at last year’s event with their taunts, pranks and daredevil moves as the bobbed and weaved between the wild animals. Apart from the entertainers who are expected to dance and prance their way into the hearts of the fans, a number of new

events and features are also expected to be part of the day’s event this year. With this gearing up to be one of the biggest Rodeos held at the venue so far, a number of companies have come on board for the big day including Banks DIH Limited, Trophy Stall, Hablaw Meat Centre, Chester Fry Bush Lot West Coast, Rising Sun Cattle ranch among others. According to organizer Fazal Habibulla, fans are being urged to come out in their numbers to be part of the action. Habibulla stated that he is pleased with the way things have progressed. The venue has been given a spruce up with more rails added and the old one replaced. The ground has also been graded and prepared for the day’s action. With the anticipated excitement taking center stage once again, over 12 different activities in the various categories are slated to be staged and millions of dollars in prizes including cash, trophies and other memorabilia are up for the takings. Among the events listed are steer roping, bare back bronco, male and female

barrel race, wild cow milking, calf roping, wild bull riding, saddle bronco along with the Rodeo King competition and the popular Tug o War events. A number of other novelty events are also carded for the days programme included the Beer drinking competition. The numbers of participants have increased significantly with the overseas contingent expected from Brazil, Suriname and Venezuela along with those from the far flung areas including Lethem, the Rupununi Savannahs and the Corentyne River areas already arrived. The local posse will once again be led by the versatile veteran Fazal Habibulla and the Harcourt brothers from the West Berbice brigade, which makes up the bulk of the local entourage from the A b a r y, M a h a i c a a n d Mahaicony River areas and will be looking to defend their turf. Persons can still contact Fazal Habibulla at Chester Fry Bush Lot West Coast Berbice on Telephone No 232-0232 or 657-7010 for any information. (Samuel Whyte)

GCB’s 75th Anniversary Raffle consolation prizes to be drawn As the Guyana Cricket Board anticipates c e l e b r a t i n g i t s 75thanniversary in 2018, the Board is hosting a grand raffle as part of its celebrations where there are several consolation prizes to be won leading up to the final drawing. The second drawing will take place today at the Chetram Singh Center of Excellence, LBI, East Coast after the GCB’s Ordinary

General Meeting. The first drawing took place in April during the West Indies vs. Pakistan match previously played at the Guyana National StadiumProvidence. The results from the first drawing are as follow:

Hampers #0293, 0481, 11614, 9835; 9895 Trip to Baganara Resort: #11858 So far, only one food hamper donated by Carib Foods has been claimed. The cost of raffle tickets are only $200 and can be purchased at several outlets country wide.

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Vettel takes 50th pole with Hamilton third MEXICO CITY ( R e u t e r s ) - F e r r a r i ’s Sebastian Vettel seized his 50th Formula One pole position at the Mexican Grand Prix yesterday with title rival Lewis Hamilton third on the grid and poised for a fourth world championship. The German will now be the favourite to win today’s race, barring any recurrence of Ferrari’s recent reliability problems, but he also knows the title outcome is out of his hands. Hamilton has a 66-point lead over Vettel, a four-times champion, and the Mercedes driver will become Britain’s first quadruple title holder with two races to spare if he finishes fifth. “It depends on Lewis. For us, we go all out. We deserve a good result so let’s see what we can do tomorrow,” Vettel told reporters. Hamilton, last year’s winner from pole, had expected a difficult session and congratulated the

German on his milestone. “I tried to deny him but it wasn’t to be. It was a difficult session and it has been a difficult weekend,” said the Briton, who holds the alltime record of 72 pole positions and was chasing his 10th of the season. “They did a great job and their car was working better than ours this weekend, but I am still there in the fight,” added the 32-year-old, who feared overtaking would be difficult at the high-altitude Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. R e d B u l l ’s M a x Ve r s t a p p e n , w h o h a d looked like becoming the sport’s youngest pole-sitter until Vettel’s late final lap of one minute 16.488 seconds, qualified alongside Vettel on the front row. Hamilton was 0.446 seconds off Vettel’s time. S T E W A R D S INVESTIGATION Verstappen was under a stewards’ investigation, however, for allegedly

Sebastian Vettel (centre) took pole position for Ferrari at the Mexican Grand Prix in front of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen (left) and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton. (Getty images) impeding Hamilton’s team mate Valtteri Bottas in the second phase of the session. The Dutch driver, who was demoted from third to fourth by stewards at the U.S. Grand Prix for exceeding track limits while overtaking Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen, was frustrated not to be starting from the top slot. “Second is good but not given the way it went. I really wanted that pole

position,” said the 20-yearold, who played down the incident. “It’s his own problem if he outbrakes himself at the next corner. I was on the inside and didn’t hold him up,” he told Sky Sports television. “I moved to the inside and was past the point where you go to the right. I don’t see an incident.” Bottas, who said Verstappen had definitely ruined his lap, will start

alongside Hamilton in fourth place with Raikkonen fifth. French driver Esteban Ocon qualified sixth and ahead of Force India team mate and local hero Sergio Perez, who will line up a disappointing 10th. The two team mates had several spats earlier in the season, with Ocon accusing the Mexican of trying to kill him at the Belgian Grand Prix in August and receiving death threats on social

media. The pair have subsequently mended fences and Perez has called on his fans to show respect to his team mate. Australian Daniel Ricciardo qualified seventh with the Renault pairing of N i c o H u l k e n b e rg a n d Carlos Sainz in eighth and ninth. Ricciardo said he had struggled to get the tyres up to temperature. “This afternoon should have been a breeze to warm the tyres up and get them going so that’s where it’s more confusing,” he said. “If we figure it out and get back to the car we had for the rest of the weekend then I think we can race up to a podium. I was helpless in that qualifying.” New Zealander Brendon Hartley, in only his second r a c e f o r To r o R o s s o , qualified 13th after stopping on track during the second phase with engine problems that could herald a grid penalty.

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Sunday October 29, 2017

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GSCL Inc Prime Minister’s T20 Cup

Regal All stars and Masters, NY Hustlers and Speedboat storm into finals Singh, Chunilall, Rafeek slam tons By Zaheer Mohamed Regal All stars and Masters, New York Hustlers and Speedboat have secured their places in the finals of the inaugural Georgetown Softball Cricket League Inc (GSCL Inc) Prime M i n i s t e r ’s T 2 0 C u p following victories in their respective semi final encounters yesterday. In the All stars category, Regal All stars brushed aside Boots All stars by nine wickets at Everest. Boots All stars batted first and were restricted to 135-8 with Delroy Williams scoring 25, Yoodhanlall Sukhlall 20 and D. Narine 17. Safraz Esau grabbed 4-25. Regal All stars responded with 136-1 in 10.2 overs. The inform Sachin Singh struck an unbeaten 73, Richard Latif

Troy Gobin made 26 and Esau 15 not out. At Malteenoes SC, Speedboat defeated SVC All stars by 13 runs. Speedboat took first strike and posted 207-9. Lennox Marks made 49, Vickash Dhaniram 38, Anand Bharat 34 and Wazir Hussein 20. Travis Drakes, Ramesh Baron and Balieram Beharry picked up two wickets each. SVC All stars scored 194-9 in reply. Raghunauth Prahalad got 24, Beharry 22

Mohamed Rafeek and Safraz Karim 20. Greg Singh claimed 3-26, Kishore Smith 2-33 and I. Ivan 2-52. In the Masters segment, Regal Masters thumped Tropical Spring by nine wickets at GNIC SC. Tropical Spring managed 165 all out in 20 overs, batting first. Debo Sankar led with 78, Shahdeo Budhu got 22; extras contributed 30. Laurie Singh, Parsram Persaud, Raj Ramnauth and

Sachin Singh Raymond Harper snared two wickets apiece. Regal Masters romped to victory in 13.2 overs, ending on 167-1. Mahase Chunilall registered his second century of the day scoring an unbeaten 113, Mahendra Hardyal made 21 and David Harper 20 not out. At DCC, New York Hustlers beat HS Masters by seven wickets. Batting first, HS Masters got to 196-6. Jagdesh Persaud made 48, Mohamed Rafeek 46 and D.

GDF on Top, SBG gets first win ever as event concludes tonight Lennox Blackmoore National Intermediate Boxing The Guyana Boxing A s s o c i a t i o n ’s ( G B A ) Lennox Blackmoore National Intermediate competition punched off on Friday evening at the National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue with six bouts. Defending champion, the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Gym, got its title defence off to a cracking start after smacking victories in four of the six fights contested on the night, while the newly formed Savannah Boxing Gym (SBG) tasted success in its first outing. F o r G D F, H a k y i m Bostwick won his Junior Flyweight fight against Joshua Darlington of Rose Hall Jammers in a brutal first round which forced the referee to stop the contest during the period. The subsequent match was more competitive with both fighters exchanging blows and it was a unanimous decision that decided GDF’s Clinton Clarke the winner over Inshan Khan of Harpy Eagle Boxing Gym the winner of

James Anderson of the Savannah Boxing Gym who won the first competitive fight for the region nine based gym. their Bantamweight contest. James Anderson became the first fighter of the Savannah Boxing Gym to win an amateur bout after he proved too much for GDF’s

Colin Hinds in the Junior Welterweight division. Anderson was guns blazing from the first bell and Hinds coped with the pressure for a round, but the referee was

forced to stop the contest in the second round, as Anderson emerged victorious. In the Welterweight class, Savannah Boxing Gym experienced mixed f o r t u n e s a s G D F ’s Emmanuel Sancho defeated SBG’s Ravine Fraser in a vicious first round in which the fight was stopped by the referee to hand Sancho a Technical Knockout (TKO). The last two fights of the night were walkovers. The first walkover handed GDF’s Leon Semple victory over Clifford Welcome of Rose Hall Jammers in the Welterweight class. And the second saw Keevin Allicock of Forgotten Youth Foundation Gym winning after Ajay Jageshar of Rose Hall Jammers in the Youth Batamweight class semifinal was a no show. Matches continued last evening at the same venue and will conclude tonight with the 12 matches including the finals in all the weight classes from 19:00hrs.

Mahase Chunilall (Zaheer Mohamed photo) Mohabir 32. E. Dodson took 2-33. NY Hustlers responded with 197-3 in 19.3 overs. Troy Gobin stroked 65 and Dodson supported with 45. In the final preliminary round games played earlier at Everest, Spartan overcame Hillfoot by seven wickets. Hillfoot batted first and managed 176 all out in 20 overs. N. Narine made 29, V. Looknauth 24 and V. Raghubeer 21; K. Sinclair had 3-31, Ravi Lutchman 219 and J. Diaram 2-42. Spartan scored 177-3 in 15.2 overs in response. P. Persaud made 36, while Clinton Pestano and J. Diaram got 34 each. A. Narine took two wickets. Regal All stars trounced Success by 180 runs. Led by a fluent 115 from Sachin Singh, Regal All stars rattled up 281-7, batting first. Sewchand Budhu made 43 and Delroy Perreira 26. Y. Premraj had 3-51. Success were bowled out for 101 in 19.3 overs. Randy Ketwaroo and Y. Premraj made 25 each as Safraz Esau captured 3-14 and Richard Latif 2-12. Speedboat beat Dutch 4 Warriors by nine wickets. Dutch 4 Warriors batted first and were sent packing for 72 in 13.1 overs. G. Greniom made 27 as I. Ivan, Greg Singh, Kishore Smith, Shazim Hussein and Lennox Marks picked up two wickets apiece. Speedboat replied with 75-1 in 3.2 overs. Vickash Dhaniram scored 31 and Wazir Hussain 26. At MSC, Farm got the better of Ross Kills All stars by seven wickets. Batting first, Ross Kills Allstars were bowled out for 125 in 14.3 overs. J. Wilson made 22; Ameer Khan

claimed 3-20 and Lionel Alphonso 2-19. Farm responded with 131-3 in 9.3 overs. Sheldon Adams slammed 54 and Unnis Yusuf 32. Regal Masters defeated Tropical Spring by 181 runs. Regal Masters took first strike and piled up 278-3. Mahase Chunilall slammed 100 while David Harper got 74 and Eric Thomas 65. Tr o p i c a l S p r i n g w e r e bowled out for 97 in 15 overs in reply. Hackim Majeed made 18; Laurie Singh captured 4-22, David Harper 3-10 and Raj Ramnauth 235. At GNIC SC, HS Masters defeated Amazon Masters by 125 runs. HS Masters batted first and rallied to 281-4. Mohamed Rafeek stroked 127; Dennis Mangru got 76 and Jagdesh Persaud 25. Amazon Masters were sent packing for 156 in 19.4 overs in reply. L. Mc Koy 45, M. Nauth 27 and A. Dhanraj 21 were the principal scorers as Mickey Ifill, Rudy Myers and Jagdesh Persaud had two wickets each. At DCC, NY Hustlers beat Enterprise Masters by 10 wickets. Enterprise Masters batted first and were limited to 90-8 with Latchman Yadram getting 28; D. Ranal had 3-24 and S. Persaud 3-32. NY Hustlers replied with 92 with out lost in 9.2 overs. Shameer Sadloo made 40 and Troy Gobin 36. Meanwhile, Fly Jamaica is the latest entity to partner with the GSCL Inc for the hosting of the tournament; the Masters final will commence at 10:30hrs and the Open final will bowl off at 14:00hrs today at Everest. Admission is free.

Sunday October 29, 2017

Kaieteur News

PAGE 83

Ambris’ hundred fails to stop Sri Lanka “A” taking control – 2nd day, 3rd “Test” KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Sunil Ambris struck an imperious second hundred of the series to further strongly advance his claims for higher duty, but another calamitous batting collapse left West Indies “A” under pressure to win the rain-hit, decisive third “Test” against Sri Lanka “A”. Ambris gave the West Indies selection panel 101 more reasons why he should be travelling with the senior team for the Test series in New Zealand later this year, but no other Windies “A” batsman could match his endurance and they were bowled out for 181 in their first innings, after they chose to bat on the scheduled second day at Sabina Park. The tall, languid Vincentian struck eight fours and two sixes from 156 balls in close to three hours of dominance of the Sri Lankan attack in the face of a destructive spell of 4-67 in 23 overs from troublesome left-arm spinner Malinda Pushpakumara to whom he fell soon after reaching his

Windies “A” batsman Sunil Ambris sweeps during his second hundred of the series against Sri Lanka “A”. The wicketkeeper is Sundan Weerakkody. (CWI Photo/Athelstan Bellamy)

landmark. With the series tied 1-1 and a day lost to wet conditions due to rain, Sri Lanka “A” fortified their chances of a decisive victory, when they reached 132 for three at the close with their prolific captain Dhananjaya De Silva leading the charge on 58 not out and Roshen Silva not out on 15.

West Indies “A” failed to ease concerns about their batting durability, when they ran into trouble at 71 for six in the first session, and they never recovered from the slide. Opener Montcin Hodge was bowled by Kasun Rajitha for four in the third over and the struggles of Wi n d i e s “ A ” c a p t a i n

Shamarh Brooks continued when he fell for four to Lahiru Kumara in the following over. Left-hander John Campbell was lbw to Shehan Jayasuriya’s off-spin for eight in the 10th over, and two overs later, Jahmar Hamilton was caught behind off the same bowler for two, bringing Ambris to the

Foden brace helps England clinch maiden Under-17 World Cup

England are the champions of the world at Under-17 level following a staggering turnaround to beat Spain 5-2. (AP) (Reuters) - Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden struck twice as England came from behind to thrash European champions Spain 5-2 and clinch their maiden Under-17 World Cup title in Kolkata, India yesterday. England, who lost the Under-17 European Championship final to Spain on penalties in May, added to their success at youth level this year following victories in the Under-20 World Cup and Under-19 European Championship. It was a remarkable

comeback for coach Steve Cooper’s side in front of more than 60,000 spectators as they scored five goals without reply after going down 2-0 with 31 minutes gone. After Morgan GibbsWhite nearly put England ahead early on, Spain took the lead as Barcelona’s Sergio Gomez beat the offside trap to tap in on 10 minutes. He then struck his fourth of the tournament with a powerful shot from inside the box after the half hour mark.

England hit back through Liverpool’s Rhian Brewster, who headed in Steven Sessegnon’s cross from the right close to halftime and levelled at 2-2 when Gibbs-White turned in another Sessegnon pass to finish a slick move on 58 minutes. Foden put England ahead when he slotted in Callum Hudson-Odoi’s searching ball before Marc Guehi ended Spain’s hopes of a comeback by making it 4-2. City youth Foden then scored his second on a brisk

counter-attack to seal the win. Striker Brewster, who scored hat-tricks against Brazil and the United States in the last two games, ended the event as the leading scorer with eight goals while man of the match Foden was named the best player of the tournament. E a r l i e r, m i d f i e l d e r Alan’s fortuitous 55thminute opener and substitute Yuri Alberto’s late goal helped three-times champions Brazil overcome Mali 2-0 to finish third.

crease. Before he could get into stride however, left-hander Vishaul Singh fell to Kumara for 15 in the next over before the first signs of any resistance from the home team came in a 36-run stand between Ambris and Rahkeem Cornwall. But Cornwall too, feigned resolve and gave a return catch to the clever Pushpakumara which signalled Ambris to cut loose. He took control in a stand of 60 for the seventh wicket with Damion Jacobs during which he passed 50 and further accelerated in a stand of 37 with Keon Joseph for the eighth wicket. When Joseph became the third scalp for Pushpakumara, Ambris still needed 10 for his hundred which he duly completed before he too, gave a return catch and became the final victim of the same bowler. Four balls later, Pushpakumara was involved in the action again, when he ran out Oshane Thomas to bring the hosts’ innings to a

close. Striving for wickets to get their side back into the game, the West Indies “A” bowlers failed to consistently hit their marks and Sri Lanka “A” were able to score freely. Keon Joseph however, made the breakthrough, when he removed opener Ron Chandraguptha for 16 in the seventh over, and following a rain delay, added the scalp of Nipun Karunanayake caught behind for 26 to leave Sri Lanka “A” 80 for two. Leg-spinner Damion Jacobs culled an early scalp, when Hodge held a catch to dismiss Charitha Asalanka for four, but the visitors were past 100 and were within sight of a first innings lead when stumps were drawn. Scores: WEST INDIES A 181 (Sunil Ambris 101; Malinda Pushpakumara 467, Lahiru Kumara 2-35, Shehan Jayasuriya 2-35) SRI LANKA A 132 for three (Dhananjaya de Silva 58 not out, Nipun Karunanayake 26; Keon Joseph 2-36).

Silica Sandport inaugural Golf tourney on today at Lusignan Silica Sandport Inc. of 73 Lusignan East Coast Demerara are the sponsors of what promises to be an exciting golf tournament and pre-Guyana Open preparation session, today. Silica Sandport - with a state-of-the-art sand washing facility that produces white sand, screening and washing of Silica obtained from part of an extensive silica sand vein that has verifiable reserves in excess of 500 million tons thus enabling Silica Sandport Incorporated to confidently supply washed and graded sand in quantities that fulfill particular needs – are happy to be a part of today’s event. Mr. Haresh Tewari, Executive of Silica Sandport, had intimated to acting Club President Brian Hackett, that they were delighted to sponsor this very important tournament as it prepares golfers for the 36-hole experience of the Guyana Open next weekend. 18 holes sponsored by another Group was played yesterday, and another 18 holes would be played today. Reigning Guyana Open male Champion Avinash Persaud as well as his younger brother Arvinda ‘Gangully’ Kishore, who was the first 19-year old to win the Guyana Open a few years back, are both expected to be honing their skills this weekend. Avinash has already served notice to would be contenders that he scored 3 under par on the par 72 course Saturday October 21. The game will be played on the Open Medal Play system. Prizes will be given for 1st to 3rd Best Net, overall Best Gross and Nearest to The Pin positions. Tee-off is set for 10:30 a.m. As always, the public is invited and welcome to view this tournament free of charge.

t r o Sp Lennox Blackmoore National Intermediate Boxing

CWI/ Digicel Regional 4-Day C/Ships

GDF on Top, SBG gets first win Paul’s maiden ton takes ever as event concludes tonight sting out of the Scorpions As Jaguars hunt 7th successive win against Jamaica

The winning Guyana Defence Force Quartet of Hakyim Bostwick, Clinton Clarke, Emmanuel Sancho and Leon Semple.

Skills, Spills and thrills expected as overseas vaqueros arrive for Rising Sun Rodeo today

Kemo Paul goes over the top during his magnificent maiden century yesterday. (Sean Devers photo)

PNCR 60th Anniversary Day of Sports/Family Fun Day

Cycling added to today’s programme -Futsal, Dominoes, Athletics, B/ball also carded

Today’s Rodeo action promises much excitement.

Banks DIH Limited and Trophy Stall among major entities on board

Regal All stars and Masters, NY Hustlers and Speedboat storm into finals

The action today promises to be intense as was the case in the 2016 Baker Memorial Cycle Road Race.

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