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: 225-8491, 225-8458, 225-8465 Fax: 225-8473 or 226-8210

Editorial

DIVERSIFY THE ECONOMY Understandably, the government has a fixation on economic growth, but it continues to measure economic growth based mainly on the production of sugar and rice and bauxite, the three main pillars of the economy. Gold and timber are recent additions. The achievement of economic growth in a small, open, undiversified, developing economy such as Guyana depends on a number of factors. Guyana cannot develop its economy by itself. Its growth and development are largely determined by and dependent on external factors such as the price of oil, the demand and price for its products, remittances from abroad, especially from the diaspora, natural disasters over which it has no control, and the policies it intends to pursue. However, poor fiscal and monetary policies can discourage economic growth by stifling the ability of the business sector to take advantage of favourable external circumstances if and when they exist. This is why the government must not only provide an environment that is conducive to business but it must also be business-friendly. Yet the majority of people believe that Guyana can achieve economic growth and become a developed country because of its vast resources, its countless waterways, skillful manpower and its near perfect weather. The truth is that economic growth is not only desirable in Guyana, it is needed because a larger pie means that the country could provide a better life if not for all, for the vast majority of the population. This has not been the case, but those in authority keep telling the people that Guyana’s glorious days are ahead. During the periods when there were high growth rates in the country, interestingly, the standard of living for the people, especially the lower working class took a nose dive. Therefore, having a high GDP growth rate does not necessary translate into improving the well-being of the majority of Guyanese because the gains from the high growth rates have always been concentrated among a small group of people, mostly the business elite. In the past, high growth rates in GDP have only made a few wealthy, not the majority of Guyanese, including the socalled middle class who were not better off. In fact, cost-ofliving had increased with the high growth rates, which made life unbearable for some. The reason is Guyana has one of the most uneven distributions of income and ownership of wealth and assets in the region. A depreciating exchange rate coupled with a mix of feeble monetary and fiscal policies, alongside poorly regulated state agencies and institutions as well as massive corrupt practices could pose serious economic challenges for Guyana. It could make the very generous assumption by the Minister of Finance that Guyana will achieve a growth rate of four percent by the end of the year an unreasonable approximation. Moreover, the struggling economy could paint the country in a negative light and make it less attractive to foreign investors. Since assuming office, the government has adopted positions that best suit its political interests and has pursued policies for the good of the majority. But it is rather unfortunate that after those months in office, the government has not embarked on a strategy to diversify the economy away from rice, sugar and bauxite. There are no plans in place that are geared towards realizing that objective. While there is tremendous potential to expand the country’s agricultural base, the Minister of Agriculture has not seized the opportunity to do it. For months, the Minister of Agriculture has spoken extensively on diversification of the economy. However, the Minister has not matched words with action because nothing has come to fruition so far.

Sunday October 02, 2016

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

Why diversify with rice and not other products? DEAR EDITOR, I have not written to the press for a long time. I was born in a sugar estate I grew up in one. All my family worked in sugar. My cousins worked there also and as field secretary to GAWU. My father worked for free then he became a sample boy then rose to be a manager. I spent a lot of time roaming the factory at Rose Hall Estate. I enjoyed catching fish at the abandoned fields. It’s funny but as the managers would chase people fishing there, when they saw me they would say “hello Bisessar”as they knew me. At University, I did one of my long papers on sugar. I also recall Fred Sukdeo did a paper on sugar. You know I think he might have been the best

person to head the COI if I say so myself. I recall the six weeks strike involving bauxite and sugar. The transport workers, the public servants and the transport workers did not join in the strike but they all benefitted from the 40% increase. I was a teacher then. I woke up every morning at 5.00 AM and I went with my cousin, the Field Secretary, to meet and organise the workers. I held meetings with the workers and joined in the organisation and collection of food destined for the striking bauxite workers. The flow to bauxite workers by GAWU was so effective the GDF invaded GAWU headquarters and seized the goods destined for them. As a consequence of my

involvement I was transferred from teaching in a secondary school to teach Prep A. I resigned after some months. While a believer in the struggle of working people in general for betterment, I did have a closer affinity to sugar. This interest prompted me to read the COI and a few things came to my attention that I would mention here. The COI mentioned two varieties of sugar. My question to the bosses in Guysuco, “Is there a third variety, one that was introduced here with the blessings of the Indian Government? And is it true that this particular variety has a sucrose content of 25% compared to 18% contained in the two species mentioned? Is it true that this variety (Continued on page 6)

Sunday October 02, 2016

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Kaieteur News

Kaieteur M@ilbox

Kaieteur M@ilbox

Government is unwilling to implement the Cricket Administration Act

They didn’t turn up to question Bharrat Jagdeo

DEAR EDITOR, In 2011 former Chief Justice (Ag) Ian Chang in his ruling on the Angela Haniff vs GCB application for an injunction stated that the Government through its Ministry/Minister of Sport should install an Interim Management Committee (IMC) as a short-term measure and legislature as the long-term remedy for the escalating cricket crisis. This effectively placed the responsibility on the “Government” to resolve the lawlessness, illegality and corruption that had taken over the very essence of our cricket. Sad to say that to date there has been no improvement. Both governments, the PPP/C and the APNU/AFC, must share collective responsibility for the current shambolic state of our cricket. Although the PPP/C Government through its Minister of Sport established the IMC and enacted the Law consistent with the former CJ’s recommendation, the process took too long principally because of the evident ambivalence within that Party. For while some Party leaders were publicly

acknowledgi n g t h a t t h e GCB officials were operating illegally, others seemed more disposed to accommodate the “illegality” especially former Director of Sport Neil Kumar who publicly gave “unflinching support” to that Board. The GCB Executive then and even now was composed of a cast that is fearful of facing any democratic process that involves free and fair elections. Guyana is a democratic country and it is inconceivable if not highly improbable that in any transparent cricket electoral process this is not reflected among the Executive Members elected. The APNU/AFC Government while in opposition remained relatively quiet during the turbulent years 2009-2014 but participated meaningfully in the Parliamentary process through the Cricket Select Committee in refining the draft bill presented by the PPP/C administration into a readily acceptable document. The inclusion of the

Ombudsman in the new Act was important to ensure transparency in the voting process at elections of the various Boards along with the inclusion of the Upper Demerara Cricket Association (Linden) which remains totally ostracized from participating in any cricket activity to date. It is very instructive to note that Dr. Rupert Roopnarine in his very eloquent presentation to the National Assembly on the merits of the Cricket Administration Bill 2012 stated and I quote:1. “The very word ‘cricket’ has become a synonym for all that is true and honest. To say ‘that is not cricket’ implies something underhand, something not in keeping with the best ideals”, 2. “For now, suffice it to (Continued on page 6)

DEAR EDITOR; “We black people...” These words were uttered by someone whom countless Guyanese would be shocked that these words came from his mouth. But yes, Guyana’s former president and current leader of the opposition Bharrat Jagdeo on Friday evening in delivering the 18th annual Eric Williams Memorial Lecture in Miami did say “we black people” and “we are black people” as he spoke of the people of the Caribbean. He also identified one of the reasons for US presidential candidate Donald Trump’s popularity, the failure of the status quo

(meaning mainstream politicians and political parties in the US) to address a number of stereotypes and misconceptions one of which is that black people are lazy and criminal and “just want to live off welfare.” “This is just not true,” Jagdeo told his audience of Caribbean Americans and others including a Bahamian delegation that included Foreign Minister, Fred Mitchell. In an earlier letter to the press I had indicated the resentment by many Guyanese to the invitation extended to Jagdeo to speak at this prestigious lecture

series and to my sharing information on Facebook about the event. I am in no way associated with the organising of the event but was accused of trying to legitimise Jagdeo who many feel is racist, corrupt and ultimately responsible for the deaths of some 400 young people during the reign of the phantom squad during his tenure as president. I also said in that letter that I am in no position to legitimise or dismiss anyone. Well, on Friday night Jagdeo sought to, and was successful in further legitimising himself. While I (Continued on page 6)

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Sunday October 02, 2016

Kaieteur News

Kaieteur M@ilbox

Kaieteur M@ilbox

The Govt. should buy our BLACK They didn’t turn up to question... page 5 G u y a n e s e w h o f e e l s s o reception which followed MAGENTA ONE CENT STAMP From did not agree with some of his s t r o n g l y a b o u t h i s I quite audibly greeted DEAR EDITOR; With your consideration of publishing, I direct this correspondence to the President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, Mr. David Granger. From a correspondence which was authored by Mr. Freddie Kissoon, a short while back via Kaieteur News, I learnt that President Granger is a fan of classical music which was a total shock because I haven’t met or knew of anyone locally with such taste in music. I also inherited a collection of vinyl classic records but unfortunately I don’t have access to a record player to listen to such taste in music. I believe classical music from yesteryear would

fit under the same umbrella with anyone who is a philatelist (stamp collector) because they all make representation of history and are considered collector’s items. They will never reproduce vinyl records or reprint historic/old stamps. Stamps also make great representation on the subject of geography. With my personal collection, a great lot of my education is a representation of those two subject areas mentioned. It’s also safe to say that we can rope in the Tourism Sector using those items as attractions/tools to educate the masses. A while back, I learnt that the ‘BRITISH GUIANA BLACK

MAGENTA 1 CENT STAMP, THE WORLD’S MOST FAMOUS STAMP’ was sold to an anonymous buyer at an auction house and the individual has loaned it to the Smithsonian Institute (Washington, USA) for 3 years to have on display. Perhaps the President can consult with the current local based US ambassador, Guyana’s foreign representative/Ambassador to New York and The Smithsonian Institute and make an effort to purchase the ‘BLACK MAGENTA 1 CENT STAMP’ from the anonymous owner/buyer and have it returned home to Guyana (Formerly British Guiana.) T. Pemberton

arguments, I would be dishonest if I said anything other tha n t h e f a c t t h a t his lecture was informative, thoughtprovoking and well presented. He displayed a familiarity with the issues regarding global trade and development, Caribbean integration or lack thereof, and US domestic politics. He offered suggestions/ solutions to some of the challenges he identified facing the CARICOM region. His present a t i o n w a s w e l l received and some attendees later told me ”he was statesmanlike.” Notwithstanding all the ranting and raving on Facebook about Jagdeo’s invitation, not one

alleged wrongdoings during his tenure as president turned up to ask any questions of him. No one has even written a letter to the Eric Williams Foundation requesting an explanation of the invitation extended to Mr. Jagdeo. I asked two questions of Mr. Jagdeo and one had to do with Guyana. My question had to do with the Venezuela claim which I make sure I raise in every public forum. His answer was in keeping with the Guyana position on the claim and he said it is difficult to predict how a Trump presidency would impact the controversy. At the cocktail

Mr. Jagdeo as “my black brother” and then proceeded quietly to ask of him to juxtapose his “we black people” against his “beating drum in the morning” remarks just prior to the last election and those reportedly made during a recent speech in New York. He explained that on both occasions sections of his remarks were excluded so as to remove the context and meaning of what he said. He told me he had explained this at press conf e r e n c e s i n Guyana. Like him or hate him Jagdeo will continue to be a key factor in the political life of Guyana for the foreseeable future. Wesley Kirton

Why diversify with rice and... Government is unwilling to...

From page 4 ripens in eight months compared to 12 months that it takes the other species? Is it true that this variety can be planted five feet apart because the clumps are huge and so saves man hours in the planting? Is it true that one of the proposals was to plant legumes between the plants because of the available space and would this also enrich the soil and so reduce the need for fertilisers? Is it true that the new variety can give over fifty tons an acre and because of the higher sucrose content it can permit over four tons an acre (TSA) compared to less than 2.5 TSA at the present time? Big private cane farmers actually get 3.3 TSA. The new variety if my information is correct would allow us to produce a ton of sugar using less than 11 tons of cane (TCTS of 11).

Other questions - why was flood fallow stopped when the estates were geared for flood fallow every 5 years? Fallow means less fertilisers, less insecticides as the flood kills them; less weeding as the grass is destroyed. Why cane ripeners? Bookers never used it but produced over 3.3 TSA, Where are the managers? Their absence facilitates the dumping of insecticide and fertilisers. Some are involved in personal marketing of such. Do we need the big Ogle Empire? Shut it down. Let the estates or group of estates manage themselves and we have a marketing department. Why have we not explored the production of Jaggri (organic sugar) especially at Wales Estate? This is extremely profitable and can be produced easily by the farmers or we can use the factory and curtail the boiling

before crystallization of the sugar. We do not have to centrifuge out the molasses as it is included in the production of Jaggri. Why was this not mentioned in the COI? I personally brought up these issues with the chairman of the COI but I see no mention of these in it. Why not ethanol? Why rice. If we diversify, high end crops the New GGMC can get off its seat and export them. We are importing enormous amount of carrots. There is so much more I can say but I stop and wait. Maybe I am wrong but I wait on the authorities to tell me that I am wrong, that I am mistaken. In the meantime the private farmers are using the other variety. Let Bhim deny knowledge of this variety, Maybe there is good grounds for his ignoring it, that is, if I am right and it does exist. Rajendra Bissesar

From page 5 say that the crisis of Guyanese and West Indian cricket is not unconnected with a crisis in cricket administration. In fact, recent events have shown that the crisis reaches right up to the ICC”. 3. “The Bill before us t o d a y, I b e l i e v e , i s a n attempt, long delayed and much deferred, to grapple with our own local situation. It is my hope that what we are doing in relation to the Cricket Administration Bill will reach into the o t h e r territories where there is much to be done in relation to cricket administration”. 4. “We can neither afford to luxuriate in the nostalgia of glories past nor wring our hands as we bemoan the current decline”. 5. “What then are the key

elements of the Bill? The Hon. Minister (Dr. Frank Anthony) has outlined some of them. One, the issue of elections to the executive of the GCB; this is at the heart of the issue”. To date even though the political guard has changed and the APNU/ AFC coalition is now the G o v e r n m e n t a n d D r. Roopnarine is Minister of Sport, cricket is still suffering. This is a totally unacceptable situation where there have been no elections held and where the GCB Executive Members have sought and served injunction after injunction to prevent any further elections n o t w i t h s t a n d i n g D r. Roopnarine’s statement that “elections of the GCB are at the heart of the issue”. And despite meetings with Dr. Roopnarine, the Attorney General, the Minister of State, the Director of Sport, the National Sports Council and President

Granger himself, nothing has been done. Instead, after sixteen (16) months of the APNU/AFC Government the present cricket regime is still being allowed to operate with impunity whilst desecrating our cricket and cricketers in the process. Dr. Roopnarine had lamented in his address then “who could have imagined that the current West Indies team would not include a single Guyanese”. This is due to the incompetence of the current leaders of our cricket administration who seem to be inextricably intertwined with both the previous and the present governments. For some time now the GCB has been destroying our cricket by victimizing players, Associations and Boards and also through their inability to transition our talented players from the local to the international level. CLAUDE RAPHAEL Former Executive- GCB Former DirectorWICB

Sunday October 02, 2016

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Kaieteur News

$$Multi-billion IDB/EU project…

Seven months after tenders opened, GPL still to announce winner A major project to install smart meters and rehabilitate the medium and low voltage distribution for the Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) is facing hurdles. Seven months after the tenders were opened, it is still being “evaluated”, with a number of bidders expressing worry over the transparency of the procurement process. The evaluation period would seem like an extraordinary long time for a project with the average being about three months before it is green-lighted. Last week, following a number of scathing letters to the editors in Kaieteur News querying the delay, this newspaper contacted Sophie Makkonen, Country Representative of the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) for a comment but up to press time, there was no reply. A request for an update was also sent to the Ministry of Finance but a spokesperson on Friday

GPL’s Chairman, Robert Badal

IDB’s Country Representative, Sophie Makonnen directed this newspaper to the IDB. Chairman of GPL, Robert Badal, did not immediately reply to a message sent to his mobile. The project is part of a US$65M initiative known as

the Power Utility Upgrade Programme (PUUP). The monies are coming from IDB which is contributing over US$37M in loans and financing from the European Union for US$27M - mainly grants.

The implementation of all the projects is being overlooked by the IDB. The amounts were reportedly approved since 2014, under the Donald Ramotar administration. PUUP was in the making for a

CHEC sourced stone from Suriname company because local prices were too high – Patterson China Harbours and Engineering Company (CHEC) that is currently carrying out the expansion works at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), was prompted to purchase stone from a Suriname company since the local prices were too high. This was according to the Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, through a spokesperson on Friday last. Patterson stated that the Suriname Company, Grassalco, submitted quotations for the supply and delivery of the stone landed at the Timehri docks at US$28 per tonne. Quotes were received from the local suppliers ranging from US$36 - US$40 per tonne. He added that these costs

were ex-factory or ex-depot costs (i.e. Kingston and East Bank), hence an increase would be added to transport the stone to the site. After it was revealed that CHEC was getting stone from the company, there was a massive stir in the media since many local suppliers registered their concerns. Many felt that they were being blindsided by the Chinese Company. Grassalco and Zhong Da International Engineering Company in early September agreed to deliver 300,000 tonnes of crushed stone valued at US$7.5 million in partnership to the client, CHEC, for CJIA’s expansion. The delivery would take place over the next 12 months, reports have indicated. Earlier last month, local

stone supplier, Toolsie Persaud Quarries had complained about the procurement of the stones from the foreign company. Chief Executive Officer of the company, Rajesh Persaud, had informed this publication that his company has in stock 90,000 tonnes. He said that in Guyana there is two times the amount of stone needed for the expansion of the airport. According to Persaud his company and its employees depend on contracts like the airport expansion to keep operations going. Persaud reported that the stone produced in Guyana is of a higher engineering specification than any other territory in the region. When contacted yesterday, Persaud said that

his company’s position remains the same. Asked whether his company would be in the position to provide the material cheaper, Persaud said that it would be up to management to make this decision. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure and the Ministry of Business will be meeting with the local stone suppliers to ascertain the reasons for the higher stone quotes despite being local. “It should be noted that electricity costs do not factor into stone production at the quarries.” The spokesperson conveyed. A few weeks ago, the Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin, had (Continued on page 8)

number of years and is designed to reduce GPL’s inefficiency and increase training for staffers. Already, the first phase of the project has been implemented - the building of seven sub-stations and new high voltage lines along the coastlands, from Crabwood Creek, Corentyne, Berbice to West Coast Demerara.

It included, also, the laying of submarine fibre optic cable lines in the Demerara and Berbice rivers to create an interconnected system. This second phase, which is now being “evaluated”, includes the installation of over 25,000 smart meters that would have the capabilities of alerting GPL to electricity theft and information of power usage to customers. The project also involves the running of low and medium voltage lines along the coastlands. Last month, as part of that IDB/EU project, Cabinet approved a contract for the provision of consultancy services for the implementation of a Management Strengthening programme at GPL. The contract was awarded to Manitoba Hydro International Limited, a Canadian company. GPL is facing major problems with outages on the coastlands with technical and commercial losses at a massive 29-plus percent. GPL wants to reduce its losses to 23.8 percent in the near term.

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Kaieteur News

East Canje farmer was shot clothing found by four times …bloody cops at home of suspect

The police intensified investigation into the execution style murder of an East Canje livestock farmer, after a post mortem examination conducted on the body showed that the man was murdered. The lifeless body of Itwaru, 38, of Lot 84, Gangaram Settlement, East Canje, Berbice was on Tuesday afternoon found on Ring Road. The post mortem examination conducted by Dr. Vivikananda Brigmohan, at the New Amsterdam Hospital, gave the cause of death as shock and hemorrhage due to gunshot injuries. The autopsy revealed that the man was shot four times to his upper body. When he was found his motorcycle was parked at the centre of the access road. The body was found around 15:00 hrs by a fisherman who was coming out of the backdam at the time. The fisherman upon noticing the body realised that it was

Itwaru. He also saw what appeared to be gunshot wounds and marks of violence on the face. In the meanwhile one of two men in custody was released, while the other, who had an altercation with the man some time ago over cattle and land issues, remains in custody. He reportedly had threatened to end the man’s life during that fall out. He is being grilled and is reported to be a prime suspect. It is also learnt that sleuths of the Police B Division had recovered some clothes with blood from the man’s home. Investigators are working diligently on the case and have revisited the area on a number of occasions in their effort to crack the case. They also revisited the family of the deceased and took statements from residents in the area. Investigators are working

on a number of theories including that Itwau had purchased a plot of land from his father-in-law and had developed the land to do large scale farming. He had stopped persons from using the area which led to a dispute. It is also reported that rustlers had stolen a number of his animals. He received some leads and sought to embarrass them, by putting the information on Facebook. It was also reported that those persons in turn, had set out to kill him. The investigators are working on the theory that Itwaru was shot by someone whom he knew. When he was found his bike was parked on its stand and his body was lying close by. It is theorised that he had stopped to speak to the person and was shot. The man is the father of one and leaves to mourn his wife Rosie Hemraj.

Sunday October 02, 2016

CHEC sourced stone from Suriname... The barge Mariner’s 1 Kingston being loaded in Paramaribo last month for the first shipment of crushed stone for the CJIA expansion project.

From page 7 informed media operatives that the current administration played no role in the procurement of the stones. He said that the previous government had inked the contract with CHEC to do the expansion work. Gaskin believes that it is possible that the People’s Progressive Party Civic government did not foresee that CHEC would source the stone from a foreign entity. According to the politician, the contract does not contain any condition that specifies the source from which the stone should be procured. However, he said that the sourcing of sand had a limitation whereby it had to be procured within a certain radius of the airport. “Under the terms of the contract I don’t think the government of Guyana can tell them (CHEC) that they can’t procure stones from

outside of Guyana.” Gaskin was reminded that it was the APNUAFC government which had made some amendments to the contract. He was then asked why is it that greater consideration was not placed on ensuring that local businesses could have supplied all the stone. Gaskin responded that he is unsure of what aspects of the contract were amended. However, he maintained that the essential conditions of the contract were signed before his party came into power and therefore should not be made to answer for what is currently happening. He believes that this particular issue would not warrant the termination of the contract. Despite this, the Minister said that he strongly believes that local businesses should be engaged to benefit from public projects.

Sunday October 02, 2016

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Kaieteur News

Housing Authority to halt violation of zoning laws By Abena Rockcliffe-Campbell The Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) is moving to bring back something that has been absent for quite some time in the City - Zoning. Zoning describes the control of the use of land, and of the buildings thereon. In many countries, areas of land are divided by appropriate authorities into zones within which various uses are permitted. Zoning is almost non-existent in Guyana. However, CH&PA is looking to change that. Chairman of the Board of Directors at CH&PA, Hamilton Green, told Kaieteur News that the Board has an

interest in correcting many of the wrongs that is within its authority. He said that zoning is an important aspect of the Board’s responsibilities. Green admitted that zoning has been significantly violated especially in the City. The Chairman also admitted that zoning attracts different views at the level of the Board and at the political level. While, Green did not expound on the differing views, it was inferred that the Board has the will to bring things in order. The former Mayor said that the society continues to evolve and it is imperative that zoning be addressed in the midst of the evolution. In this regard, Green

pointed to government’s charge to build communities and said that the Board will be looking intently at the principles of building communities. It will take zoning into serious consideration in doing so. Green said that, over the last few months, the Board has rejected a large number of applications. These are applicants from people who are looking to open rum shops and similar facilities close to schools, temples, mosques, churches, mandirs and Kingdom Halls. “Every meeting we have to be rejecting applications like these. It is ridiculous; people have little regards for certain principles these days,” said Green.

Dem boys seh...

BK and Toolsie stones inadequate When you eye pass people is a bad thing. It even more bad when you eye pass people wid small eye and Guyana got nuff small eye people. Soulja Bai know some of dem. When de airport project come on stream all some people was doing was calculate how much money dem gun mek. Dem miss out wid de Marriott because Brazzy, that fat crook, tek he cut or he get cut. None body couldn’t get anything from that project— not a coolie man or a black man nor a buck man. Was sheer Chinee man. BK and Toolsie seh that can’t happen this time wid de airport project. Dem boys hear dem project how much billion dem gun mek

although de project cost millions. Dem boys seh that BK and Toolsie should have tek hint. When dem start de project, BaiShanLin presence was there in every way shape or form. Dem boys hear BaiShaiLin not only trucking de sand and lumber fuh de airport project. Dem also trucking de stone from Suriname. And all this is because de Chinee people seh BK and Toolsie stones small, soft and too expensive. De Suriname stones big, hard and cheaper than all de stones in Guyana. And while on stones dem boys remember de other day when Jagdeo and Brazzy invite dem to a wedding. De reception was at de Marriott. Dem boys walk up to de

door and dem see two doors. One mark GROOM RELATIVES, de other, BRIDE RELATIVE. Dem boys entered the second one, bride relative. Dem see another door: MALE OR FEMALE. Dem go in de door mark FEMALE. Dem see another door 1. WITH GIFT 2. WITHOUT GIFT. Dem boys look at demself twice and none of dem had any gift suh dem enter de door wha mark “WITHOUT GIFT”. To dem boys greatest surprise dem find demself outside de Marriott. Was Jagdeo and Brassington secret wedding. Donald the Dumb was de Best Man. Talk half and hope dem boys strengthen dem stones.

Green then made mention of a school that is being built in Durban Street, Lodge; the Board Chairman said that he finds it appalling that the owners have decided to erect a school and do not provide facility for parking or recreation for the children, “nothing of the sort has been catered for.” The Chairman gave the impression that the owners of this school will be stopped short in their tracks, “We are looking into it.” Green also pointed to a growing phenomenon where persons are converting their homes into schools without even taking fundamental measures. The Chairman said that a lot needs to be done, but the Board has to devise strategic actions to address those who would have already spent millions to erect their buildings and may have thriving businesses at unlawful locations. “We are working on it. Some things measures are being taken, but more needs to be done,” said Green. The efforts of CH&PA will be complemented by the Mayor and City Council. City Council is currently in the process of establishing a National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) which

CH&PA Chairman, Hamilton Green will be mandated to pronounce on several issues relative to urban development. One of the issues which the Commission will look into is the strict enforcement of building codes in the city. The idea to establish such a Commission was suggested to the Council by President David Granger during an address to the M&CC last June. In a recent letter published in this newspaper, Senior Counsel Rex McKay called for the Commissioners of the NCPC to possess a copy of

the Georgetown Building ByLaws. McKay raised the issue that there are commercial buildings in areas prohibited for such activity under the by-laws. He specifically pointed out the area east of Oronoque Street which is bounded on the west by Oronoque Street, on the east by Irving Street, on the north by Lamaha Street and on the south by Church Street which includes from West to East Oronoque, New Garden, Peter Rose and Irving Streets; from North to South – Lamaha, Anira, Laluni, Crown, Lance Gibbs, Forshaw and Church Streets. According to the legal luminary, the 55 companies carrying on trade or business within the restricted area (East of Oronoque Street) are in defiance of the by-laws. The effect of the law is that no building used for any manufacturing, trade or business shall be erected or built on any lot in that area nor shall any building be used for such purposes. McKay attributes the current situation to the misfeasance by the authorities approving applications for building permission in which to carry (Continued on page 10)

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Housing Authority to halt violation of... From page 9 on trade or business within the restricted area of Queenstown in breach of the building by-laws. According to the Mayor, the NCPC will also look into these matters. Before the new commission was announced, McKay said that there have been past, present and very recent examples of the total disregard for the Georgetown building by-laws aided and abetted by supervisory government authorities the City Council, the City Engineer and CH&PA. He said that residents of Queenstown have seen the systemic degradation of their residential district which was

created by the Georgetown Building By-laws over fifty years ago. “The result of the degradation is due exclusively to misfeasance by the authorities approving applications for building permission in which to carry on trade or business within the restricted area of Queenstown in breach of the building by-laws…” The question that arises is whether the present Government with its declared intention to govern by the Rule of Law would allow the said institutional lawlessness to continue or whether they will take preemptive action to ensure that such lawlessness cease forthwith.

Sunday October 02, 2016

Illegal aircraft found at Yupukari flown to Timehri’s army base

The illegal Cessna aircraft at Timehri yesterday. An aircraft, suspected of being in the drug trade, has been flown from the interior to the army’s hangar at Timehri. According to the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) yesterday, the twin-engine Cessna, bearing a fake registration mark -N767Z- was assessed by aeronautical engineers of the army Air Corps. The engineers found that they could not fly the plane from Yupukari since it required some parts. “The necessary

spares were sourced, and the repairs conducted, resulting in the aircraft becoming operable,” the army explained in a statement. The aircraft was subsequently flown by GDF pilots to Lethem on Friday where it stayed until yesterday. “This allowed for the GDF engineers to conduct further repairs and functional checks under more favourable conditions, so as to ensure the aircraft’s suitability to fly to Timehri.”

The aircraft departed Lethem for the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri, yesterday morning. The army said that the aircraft is currently secured at the GDF Air Corps Hangar, Air Station London at CJIA. The aircraft was discovered by residents who tipped off security forces last month. A team comprising army ,police and aviation officials discovered it hidden at an airstrip in Yupukari, Region Nine.

Brigadier Edward Collins Residents have since disclosed that they have heard planes circling. The area is known as a popular drop off point for illicit drugs. Government has since appointed former army chief, Brigadier (Rtd.) Edward Collins, as Commissioner to investigate the incident with a report expected in two weeks. This was not the first time that an illegal aircraft had been discovered in Guyana, Collins explained last week, shortly after being sworn in. He said that the issue is one of securing Guyana’s airspace. It is expected that witnesses could be called. Guyana is known as a trans-shipment point for illicit drugs.

Sunday October 02, 2016

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

In three months…

90 Kgs of cocaine seized at CJIA from outgoing passengers Commissioner of Police (acting), David Ramnarine, disclosed that of the 102 Kgs of cocaine seized between July and September of this year, 90 Kgs was confiscated from outgoing passengers at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA). Three cases account for the amount of cocaine seized at the airport. Ramnarine made this disclosure during a press

conference that was held at the Guyana Police Force (GPF) Headquarters, Eve Leary, Georgetown on Friday last. The Top Cop also stated that the Force’s narcotics branch has been “doing well so far” and this substantiates the “fact” that the branch is still relevant. He also said that over the last three months, a total of 43 Kgs of cannabis worth a street-value of $22M, was seized which accounts for 108 persons, comprising of 96 males and 12 females, being charged.

The 102 KGs of cocaine which has a street-value of $92M that was seized resulted in 28 persons— 23 males and five females— also being charged. In terms of eradication efforts, Ramnarine said that some 21,150 Kgs of cannabis was burnt in the Linden, Region Ten (Upper Demerara/ Upper Berbice) area alone. These plants, he said, ranged from one to six feet in height. Ramnarine also stated that on Thursday last, some 4000 Kgs of cannabis plants were found and the three persons that were on the farm at the time were arrested.

Sunday October 02, 2016

GDF Chief of Staff to retire tomorrow

Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Brigadier General, Mark Phillips, will end his tour of duty in the military tomorrow. Phillips joined the Guyana Defence Force at the age of 19 and served for 35 years. For three of those years he was the Chief of Staff, the highest position in the GDF. Reflecting on his time as Chief of Staff, Phillips said while there were good times, there were also some very challenging times. He said during his term as the Chief of Staff, he was able to create a leadership team through “strategic, imperative, operational readiness.” “We are able to exercise operational reach to any part of Guyana. Utilising whatever resources we have we can reach to any part of Guyana to deal with any threat,” Phillips explained. The Chief of Staff said that most of the successes achieved were due to interagency collaboration with the Guyana Police Force and other Government and NonGovernmental organisations. He pointed to the recent discovery of an abandoned aircraft in the interior. “The Guyana Defence

Chief of Staff, Brigadier General, Mark Phillips

Force and the Guyana Police Force are working together and with information from the people in our hinterland, we are able to quickly move to an airstrip and discover an illegal aircraft on an illegal airstrip in Guyana,” Phillips said. Additionally, the Brigadier General said that the GDF is not confined to protect the Guyanese border but, is also involved in safeguarding democracy in Guyana. Phillips recalled his statement when he took the Oath as Chief of Staff. “Professionalism will be my guide,” he had said back then. Today, he said he is happy to

have upheld that commitment to the Guyanese society. After 35 years of serving Guyana as a soldier, Phillips said that he wants to continue serving Guyana wearing a different cap. “My next move is to take off my uniform and find appropriate civilian clothing and an appropriate civilian type job to continue to serve the people of Guyana,” he said. Tomorrow, a Change of Command Parade for the outgoing Chief of Staff, Brigadier General, Mark Phillips and incoming Chief of Staff, Colonel George Lewis will be held at Base Camp Ayanganna.

Sunday October 02, 2016

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Kaieteur News

UK timber procurement restrictions threaten local forestry export - high level meeting tomorrow to discuss matter By Leonard Gildarie Local logging companies are deeply worried about a major development that threatens its export market to the United Kingdom (UK). Tomorrow, a high profile team of Government officials is set to meet stakeholders in a move designed to bring pressure on the UK authorities to reverse a decision by the Environment Agency which raises questions of sustainable logging practices in Guyana deriving from an apparent poor review process. In effect, that decision has reduced the exports of Greenheart from Guyana to UK by more than half, local c o m p a n i e s confirmed Friday. The Environment Agency is the single biggest end-user of Greenheart from Guyana. In May last year, that UK entity warned its contractors and other stakeholders that it will only purchase tropical hardwoods that have s u f f i c i e n t e v i dence of legality and sustainability. Environment Agency went further. In its notice last year May, it said that the decision will see the prohibition of the purchases of new shipments of Greenheart hardwood as “currently there is insufficient evidence available to prove that the forests of origin are sustainably managed.” This determination apparently did not involve any in-depth due diligence or consultation with the Guyanese counterparts. Local officials have been scrambling frantically since last year to stave off the possible repercussions. With Greenheart one of the most popular timber used in especially marine applications, because of its suitability to staying for years in the water, local loggers are claiming that exports between 2014 to current have fell more than 50 percent. The bigger implication for Guyana is that the Environment Agency’s decision could affect the entire Guyana timber market to Europe and other places if

other buyers begin to take the same stance and question the sustainability of Guyana’s timbers. It would also fly in the face of intense efforts by Guyana to ensure rigorous systems are in place that says timber is harvested in legal manner. A US$250M landmark deal with Norway to ensure Guyana’s forest remains intact, and that activities are in keeping with strict international standards, have triggered intense monitoring thanks mainly to tougher measures to reduce illegal logging. More than US$100M has been released by Norway signalling that local logging activities remain above board. The issue of the restrictions was raised last Thursday at the Pegasus Hotel during a key international seminar on European Union Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (EU-FLEGT) which is looking to establish measures in ensuring that timber is harvested in compliance with the country’s laws and regulations. Among those present at the forum were Chairperson of the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC), Jocelyn Dow. Updating several local and international players who were invited to speak at the forum, Roderick Aitken, of Aitken & Howard, a major buyer from UK, disclosed that the Environment Agency funds many of the large sea defense projects. There are threats to the local timber market to Europe

with a possible FLEGT agreement not guaranteeing acceptance by all EU member states given the current UK restriction on Guyana Timbers, it was pointed out. He urged serious pressure to be placed on EU member states to ensure FLEGT is recognised and applied fairly and consistently. What would be more worrying for Guyana is what Aitken said. He disclosed that while previously greenheart represented a major part of Environment Agency projects - as much as 95 percent of it being used between 2014 to 2016, it dropped to about 30 percent. Contractors, because of the Environment Agency’s direction, were forced to use the more expensive and less durable hardwood sourced from West Africa and other places. Timber exports represent a major export earner for Guyana, last year totaling US$45.6M, compared to the US$54.1M in 2014. Local loggers, according to industry officials yesterday, were hoping that the UK’ High Commission to Guyana as well as this country’s representative, Hamley Case, would be called in to pressure the UK government on the issue. Expected to take part in tomorrow’s meeting are Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin, Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, British High Commissioner and representatives of the private sector.

Lumber being loaded in Guyana

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Sunday October 02, 2016

Kaieteur News

Caribbean Airlines cancels flights in light of Hurricane Matthew

Jamaicans flocking to supermarkets to stock up on food and water Major Hurricane Matthew will pose severe risks to lives and property across Jamaica, eastern Cuba and Haiti by unleashing flooding rain, destructive winds and an inundating storm surge early next week. Matthew, currently a Category 4 (major) hurricane, will continue to slowly meander across the Central Caribbean Sea before making an abrupt turn to the north later this week. That will put the major hurricane on a path to track over or dangerously close to Jamaica or Haiti before threatening to make a direct hit on eastern Cuba. Due to this Caribbean Airlines has decided to cancel several flights departing Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Florida, Bahamas, New York and Toronto. FLIGHTS CANCELLED FOR TODAY FLIGHT ROUTE BW 414 departing Norman Manley International, Kingston, Jamaica to Nassau, Bahamas BW 415 departing Nassau, Bahamas to Norman Manley International, Kingston, Jamaica BW 036 departing Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood International, Florida to Norman Manley International, Kingston,

Jamaica BW 011 departing Montego Bay, Jamaica to John F. Kennedy International, New York BW 079 departing Norman Manley International, Kingston, Jamaica to Lester Pearson International, Toronto, Canada BW 017 departing Norman Manley International, Kingston, Jamaica to John F. Kennedy International, New York EARLIER DEPATURE TIMES FOR FLIGHTS THAT WILLOPERATE TODAY BW 414 from Piarco, Trinidad to Kingston, Jamaica will depart Piarco at 7:50 a.m. (Local time) BW 415, from Kingston, Jamaica to Piarco, Trinidad will now depart Jamaica at 11.00 a.m. (Local time) FLIGHTS CANCELLED FOR TOMORROW BW 016 departing John F. Kennedy International, New York to Norman Manley International, Kingston, Jamaica BW 458 departing Piarco International, Trinidad via Antigua, to Norman Manley International, Kingston, Jamaica BW 459 departing

Norman Manley International, Kingston, Jamaica via Antigua, to Piarco International, Trinidad BW 031 departing Norman Manley International, Kingston, Jamaica to Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood International, Florida BW 030 departing Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood International, Florida to Montego Bay, Jamaica BW 039 departing Montego Bay, Jamaica to Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood International, Florida BW 010 departing John F. Kennedy International, New York to Montego Bay, Jamaica BW 078 departing Lester Pearson International, Toronto, Canada to Norman Manley International, Kingston, Jamaica Caribbean Airlines has activated its call out plan to contact customers travelling on these flights. Roxanne Reece, Support Services Manager at Fly Jamaica, said that the airline has not cancelled any flights as yet. However, the airline will continue to monitor the storm and make its decision on any cancellations. Efforts were also made to contact representatives of Dynamic Airlines, however these proved futile. As the storm approaches many Jamaicans are stocking up on water and food. Tropical storm warnings have also been issued for parts of coastal Colombia and Haiti. Haitian authorities say the priority is to protect the southern islands of the country, whose inhabitants they describe as “first at risk�. Forecasters said up to 38cm of rain could fall across Jamaica and on southern Haiti. Jamaica was damaged by Hurricane Gilbert in 1988. The last major storm in the region was Hurricane Sandy in 2012.

Sunday October 02, 2016

Kaieteur News

GFC responsible for decline in nation’s forest wealth - Bulkan By Kiana Wilburg

For years, members of the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) and even the political opposition boasted that Guyana enjoys a high standing on the global platform for its low deforestation rates. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)’s Global Forest Resources estimate that Guyana’s deforestation rate has been negligible. Significantly also, Guyana’s Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) declares that based on national estimates, Guyana’s deforestation rate up to end 2015, had peaked at only 0.079 per cent in 2012 and 0.065 per cent in 2014. These rates were submitted under the December 2015, Paris Agreement of the UNFCCC. But are the aforementioned statistics masking the frightening reality of what is really taking place in our forests?

In an interview with this newspaper, forest specialist, Janette Bulkan shares her perspective on the topic. Bulkan, who has written numerous columns on Guyana’s forests, said that readers must always bear in mind that the FAO figures are usually simple transcriptions of what the GFC sends to the Rome Headquarters of the FAO. Bulkan stressed that the FAO has only a limited ability to check or verify what the GFC claims. The forest expert said that the low deforestation rate in Guyana and in other countries of the Guiana Shield, from French Guiana in the east to Venezuela in the west, is due almost entirely to the natural infertility of the very ancient soils. She said that unlike most countries, the rocks underneath the soils of Guyana have been quite stable for most of the past 400 million years and have not been transgressed by ocean or rejuvenated by tectonic uplift or volcanism. Bulkan explained that the rain over hundreds of millions of years has washed most of

the nutrients out of the soils. “Unlike the Brazilian Amazon basin to the south, the Guiana Shield soils were too poor to support large preEuropean populations. Amerindian communities were small and scattered and moved relatively frequently to allow the poor soils to recover some fertility. Hence there were no pre-European cities (as in Mexico) or large farm communities (as around Santarem in Brazil),” Bulkan said. The forest expert said that the Dutch tried upriver plantations but, when these failed because of low soil fertility and rampant weed growth, the Dutch moved to the coastal swamps, empoldered and drained them with slave labour, and created the current coastland. Bulkan continued, “The Government of Guyana has done nothing to stabilise the deforestation rate by positive policy or practice. A graph shows that, since 2009, the deforestation rate is closely related to the London bullion price; that is, a higher price for gold means more people working in the gold bush, with no control over the forest and

soils destroyed. There are no policies now current for active reduction in the deforestation rate.” Bulkan said that there are no policies to reduce forest degradation. On the contrary, the forest expert expressed that the GFC is not without blame as its failure to safeguard the future crop trees of the preferred commercial timbers species has led to demonstrable decline in the forest wealth of Guyana. She said that this was shown conclusively by Tropenbos in 2002 and by graphs she had put together from the GFC’s data on production and export. Bulkan also commented that the illegal policy directive of former Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Robert Persaud, in 2011 allowed loggers to cause even more degradation in the ‘reefs” of preferred species such as greenheart and purple heart. Bulkan concluded, “This is why Guyanese timbers cannot be used in government procurement projects in the UK – Guyana passes some legality tests but fails on sustainability criteria.

These criteria apply to the specific areas (100-ha logging blocks in valid in-date TSA logging concessions) from which the offered timber has been extracted. Protests that there are still plenty of old hollow greenheart trees left standing after repeated harvests fail the UK test when the middlesized trees have been extracted or damaged and seedlings destroyed. Likewise, timber harvested from two-year

PAGE 15

GFC Commissioner, James Singh State Forest Permissions is unsustainable by the 1993 GFC policy on concessions”.

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Sunday October 02, 2016

Kaieteur News

Cops baffled by recent killing While the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has been making progress in solving a number of high profile murders, some of which dated back to eight years ago, there are at least two cases for this year which seem a bit challenging for the lawmen. On September 11, last, gunmen on a motorcycle executed 37-year-old Oswald Rambarran, a 007 taxi service driver, shortly after a resident called and asked him to deliver food in Edward Street,

Albouystown. Reports state that after delivering the meal, Rambarran sat at a table outside the house with the resident and two others. They were reportedly drinking when two men rode up on a motorcycle, drew guns and opened fire, hitting Rambarran in the head. Rambarran’s companions fled and when they returned, found him lying on the ground. No one has been charged

for the killing. On September 1 last, South Ruimveldt resident, Mark Anthony, 22, was gunned down in Layou Street by two men who escaped in a car. Reports are that Anthony was sitting on a bench in Aubrey Barker Street, South Ruimveldt, when two men with guns approached him. Eyewitnesses said that Anthony fled into an alley before running into Layou Street, North Ruimveldt. He then reportedly jumped a fence and entered an empty lot, where the gunmen caught up with him and shot him in the chest and back. The gunmen then fled in a car. Police were trying to ascertain if Anthony was one of the men who escaped a dragnet at Pearl, East Bank Demerara (EBD) in August, last when robbery suspect, Seon Clarke, was shot dead by residents. Kaieteur News understands that a man that was arrested after Clarke was killed had said that an individual known as ‘QQ’, was with him and Clarke. No one has been charged for the killing of Clarke. While not wanting to link these cases to a lack of

eyewitness account, a police source said that this is a major problem when dealing with the killing of persons in some areas. He said that people are scared to talk to the police. “They may see but then sometimes the killers are in the same village so they are scared to talk,” the source said. According to the source, if in future persons do come forward and provide critical information then the matter will be investigated and persons will be charged. He said too that persons wanting to help out the police can always make contact with the police over the phone without having to give their names. The police said that the executions of persons who have a criminal record are most of the times linked to other gang members and in the case with Clarke, they believe such is the case. Anthony was freed just last April on firearm and ammunition charges. Anthony, Andrew Davis Hescott, 35, of Middle Road La Penitence and 27-year-old Ryan Hescott had the charges against them dismissed after the prosecution had failed to

Oswald Rambarran

Mark Anthony

tender the firearms to the court on several occasions. The first charge had alleged that on December 5, last, at Robb Street, Georgetown, they had in their possession seven rounds of ammunition without being the holders of firearm licences. It was further alleged that the men had two firearms in their possession, when they were not holders of licences. The three men, along with now-dead Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Lance Corporal Aaron Eastman, were jointly charged with the offences. Lance Corporal Eastman who had 10 years of service in GDF died on March 3, after he was burnt to death during the Camp Street Prison fire, which claimed the lives of 17 inmates. According to reports, on December 5, 2015 police ranks during ‘Operation Dragnet’ stopped a motorcar on Robb Street, after observing its occupants acting in a suspicious manner. They conducted a

search of the vehicle, which was reported to be bearing an obscure number plate. The lawmen allegedly unearthed guns and ammunition hidden in various parts of the car. It was reported that concerned citizens saw the defendants in a motor car on Robb Street, acting in a suspicious manner. Police were summoned and cornered the vehicle, driven by the soldier. At the time the GDF rank was reportedly wearing a black ‘hoodie’. The vehicle was searched and the police reportedly found a .32 revolver with matching rounds under the front passenger’s seat and a 12 gauge sawn-off shotgun from under the driver’s seat. When the quartet made their first court appearance on September 8, 2015, Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan had remanded them to prison. While Clarke’s killing might be gang related, the killing of the taxi driver is puzzling since the police have no motive as yet.

Sunday October 02, 2016

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Kaieteur News

Guyana getting support to deal with worrying Microcephaly ...two births already recorded Although Guyana has not recorded as many cases of the Zika Virus as some other countries, there is no doubt that it remains a major concern to the local health sector. This is in light of the fact that Guyana has recorded at least two microcephalic births. Microcephaly is a condition that has been associated with the Zika Virus whereby an unborn child becomes infected while still in the womb. This essentially means that a pregnant woman once infected, could possibly transmit the Zika Virus to her foetus. Once infected with the virus, a baby can be born with an unusually small head due to an under-developed brain. It is highly unlikely that development thereafter could be normal. While health officials had initially concluded that transmission occurs during the early stages of pregnancy, this notion has since been revised to suggest that transmission could occur at any stage of the pregnancy. Minister of Public Health, Dr. George Norton, in confirming that two microcephalic births are being closely monitored by his Ministry said that this has in fact been the norm since the virus was detected here. At least four pregnant women were diagnosed with the virus earlier this year, based on information out of the Public Health Ministry. While many may share concerns about microcephaly, many more individuals are demanding to know more about the condition. But because of the known information about the condition some women are fearful of becoming pregnant while others have getting pregnant with trepidation. Microcephaly can be diagnosed during pregnancy or after the baby is born,

according to the Centres for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC). During pregnancy, microcephaly can sometimes be diagnosed with an ultrasound test (which creates pictures of the body). To see microcephaly during pregnancy, the ultrasound test should be done late in the second trimester or early in the third trimester, CDC has advised. While it has been established that microcephaly could affect the development of the brain, CDC has noted too that it can in fact occur in combination with or without major defects. The most extreme form of microcephaly is where a baby’s head is much smaller than expected. Severe microcephaly can result, officials have been able to deduce, because a baby’s brain has not developed properly during pregnancy, or the brain started to develop correctly and then was damaged at some point during pregnancy. CDC has further deduced that babies with microcephaly can have a range of other problems, depending on how severe their microcephaly is. Microcephaly has been linked to seizures, developmental delay, such as problems with speech or other developmental milestones (like sitting, standing, and walking), intellectual disability (decreased ability to learn and function in daily life), problems with movement and balance, feeding problems, such as difficulty swallowing, hearing loss and vision problems. These problems can range from mild to severe and are often lifelong. Because the baby’s brain is small and underdeveloped, babies with severe microcephaly can have more of these problems, or have more difficulty with

them, than babies with milder microcephaly. Severe microcephaly also can be lifethreatening. Because it is difficult to predict at birth what problems a baby will have from microcephaly, babies with microcephaly often need close follow-up through regular check-ups with a healthcare provider to monitor their growth and development. Microcephaly continues to be a study for the CDC in an attempt to determine how it can be prevented. And CDC has urged “If you are pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant, talk with your doctor about ways to increase your chances of having a healthy baby.” There is no known cure or standard treatment for microcephaly. However, babies with mild microcephaly often don’t experience any other problems besides small head size. Reports suggest that these babies will need routine check-ups to monitor their growth and development. For more severe microcephaly, CDC has informed that babies will need care and treatment focused on managing their other health problems (as mentioned above). Developmental services early in life will often help babies with microcephaly to improve and maximize their physical and intellectual abilities. These services, known as early intervention, can include speech, occupational, and physical therapies. Sometimes medications also are needed to treat seizures or other symptoms, according to CDC. Even as Guyana continues to address Zika Virus related concerns, it has been gaining support from a number of partners including the Pan American Health Organisation and the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF). According to outgoing UNICEF Representative, Ms.

The Baccoo Speaks It is not often that I keep talking about the crime and people not heeding. The result is that the gunmen are becoming bolder. They are going to increase their attacks on some communities because the very communities are loath to attack. But in one case, the response would be particularly violent although there is the fear that the police would go after them for vigilante action. ** Domestic violence knows no limit. The mother of a child would report to

the police that her spouse is molesting her stepdaughter. This would be due to the fact that her anger would be directed at her spouse for an act of infidelity. The police would respond to her claim. It will be some

time before they realize that the spouse was the victim of a spurned woman. ** Beware of people visiting your home under the pretext that they are employees of a state agency. One group of men would visit a home threatening electrical disconnection all the while scouting the premises. One such group is targeting a home on the western bank of the Demerara River. The residents are alerted but then again, many fail to heed the warning.

Marianne Flach, efforts are being trained on directing more support to the Ministry of Public Health. “I think there is more happening that we sometimes don’t see,” said Flach. She added that although

Zika is a very complex problem Guyana has been gaining necessary support to address the associated impact. While PAHO has been helping Guyana in its efforts to train personnel to test for

the Zika Virus, UNICEF has been directing keen efforts to train persons in the area of early detection of children with special needs which, among others, characterises children suffering from microcephaly.

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Sunday October 02, 2016

Kaieteur News

Have I met Marlon Welcome’s killer? By Michael Jordan To find a killer, get to know the victim. That’s the advice a very good detective once gave me. I’ve taken his advice. I’ve tried to find out as much as I could about Marlon Welcome. And guess where this has led me? It has led me to a possible motive as to why someone put a bullet in his head four years ago. And maybe, just maybe, it has led me close to identifying the person who planned the whole thing. Here’s what happened on Friday, February 16, 2012. Around 01:30 hrs that day an ex-soldier living in ‘A’ Field Sophia heard two loud gunshots. The sound had come from the home of his next door neighbour, Marlon Welcome, a 33-year-old mechanic who lived at Lot 192 with his niece, Enkeni Isaacs. According to the resident, he heard Welcome’s niece scream out her uncle’s name. Shortly after, she ran outside and shouted that Marlon was lying motionless on the floor. The resident and others entered the house, and sure enough, 33-year-old Marlon Welcome was lying on the floor just outside his bedroom. He was motionless and there was blood on his head. They took him to the Woodlands Hospital where he died shortly after. When police visited the scene, they found that someone had removed a few louver panes from Welcome’s kitchen window. It appeared that this was how the killer had entered Welcome’s home. Crime scene detectives found some mud in the kitchen sink. This appeared to suggest that the killer had stepped on the sink after climbing through the window. A pipe outside the house near the same window was broken, and detectives believed that

the gunman had stood on it to gain access to the window. A relative says that police told her that a tracker dog they brought to the scene led them to a shop in Sophia, but they found nothing suspicious there. The slain man’s mobile phone was reportedly found outside his yard. Welcome’s niece, Enkeni Isaacs, said that she had last spoken with her uncle around 21:00 hours on Thursday, February 15. The niece said she went to bed after indicating to her uncle that his cellular phone was left on the dining table. She awoke around 01:30 hrs after hearing two loud sounds in the house and then heard her uncle groaning. Ms. Isaacs said that she ran from her bedroom shouting ‘thief ’, and saw someone flee via the back door. She then stumbled over her uncle. Ms. Isaacs said she then raised an alarm. But detectives felt that something wasn’t quite right about the scenario that was being related to them. Because she was the only other occupant at the time of the killing, suspicion fell on Welcome’s niece. They detained her for three days. But they found nothing to link Ms. Isaacs to her uncle’s death. Now the ex-soldier who lived next door to Welcome had told police that he believed that the sounds he had heard in Welcome’s house were gunshots. But for some reason, police did not think of swabbing any of the persons they questioned for traces of gunpowder. Perhaps, like Welcome’s niece, who had described the noise as two ‘banging’ sounds, they too seemed to believe the mechanic had succumbed to blows to the head. Three days later, Government pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh examined the

Marlon Welcome remains and discovered that Welcome had been shot at close range at the back of the head. A .38 warhead was extracted from his skull. But who could have killed Marlon Welcome, and why? Just who might have done the deed came to light about three weeks after Welcome’s death. Ballistics experts examined a .38 Taurus revolver that they had recovered from a house at Fourth Field, Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara, on February 20, after arresting four men in connection with four armed robberies in the community. It was allegedly the same firearm the suspects had used during their crime spree. Those robberies occurred on February 20, four days after Welcome’s murder. The ballistics experts compared bullets from the unlicenced firearm and the .38 warhead extracted from

Welcome’s skull. They matched. While the suspects were on remand on robbery and firearm possession charges, investigators questioned them about Welcome’s murder, but got nothing to connect them to the killing. They were never charged with Welcome’s murder. But lawmen were baffled by the apparent absence of a motive. Robbery did not seem to be one. According to Welcome’s niece, she found $20,000 untouched in her uncle’s room. Taking the advice of my old detective friend, I dug into Marlon Welcome’s background for a possible motive. Now, family members of murder victims often say ‘He had no enemies’ and ‘He was a decent man’, when in fact, the victim had several enemies and a long criminal record. But there was nothing of the sort about Marlon Welcome.

According to police investigators, the young mechanic had never been charged for even a minor offence. He was a Government Technical Institute graduate who had established his own workshop. A resident described him as one of the most decent persons in the neighbourhood. Another said he was a ‘peacemaker.’ His mother said that he was ‘like a godfather’ to underprivileged children in the community. “The only fault that Marlon had was that he did not like to fail,” his mother recalled. “If he was working on an engine, and he was getting problems, he would lie down and then work again at midnight. “Marlon was such a loving person. I don’t even think I ever saw my son vex.” Revenge also did not seem to be a motive. Revenge killings often have a brutality to them; excessive gunshots or other wounds. That fury was absent in the Welcome murder. I’m sure that were I to ask my FBI-trained detective friend, he would say that this was the act of a cool and calculated killer. But eventually I stumbled upon a possible motive. Apparently Welcome was in the habit of keeping large sums of money in his house, and someone had taken advantage of this situation. According to a close friend, the mechanic had confided that this individual had recently stolen $80,000 from his home. He reportedly even identified the suspect. According to the friend, Welcome suspected that the same individual had stolen from him before. The close friend, and another individual, also said that shortly before his death, Welcome confided that he was preparing to buy a property in Sophia. He had $300,000 that he would have used as an advance payment on the property. That money, if it indeed existed, has reportedly not been accounted for. They have suggested that this individual planned Marlon Welcome’s murder and recruited someone to kill him. And indeed, there are several puzzling things about this case. Why did the killers run the risk of killing Welcome in his home, when it would have been so much easier to kill him in his yard? After all, he was in the habit of working late into the night in his workshop. Indeed, he had worked late into the night some hours before he was murdered.

In fact, why kill him at all, if they were just after his money? Was a decision made to murder him because the mechanic would have been able to connect the gunman to the person who was allegedly stealing from him? Why were the intruders apparently so certain that they could enter Welcome’s home without alerting him? How did they apparently know where his bedroom was located? Welcome’s mother said that he sometimes slept in the living room after watching television. So why was he found lying on the floor outside his bedroom? Is it possible, as his mother has suggested, that he awoke and recognized the intruder who then shot him? But how did the killer manage to shoot him at such close range? And if indeed money was stolen, the intruder(s) would have had just a few seconds to shoot him, grab the money from his room, flee through the back door, and scramble over his fence, even if they knew in advance where Welcome’s valuables were. How did they manage to do this? If indeed two shots were fired, why did police fail to find any trace of the second bullet? Marlon Welcome’s mother was unhappy about all these questions, since they brought back unwanted memories of her son’s death. She seemed to prefer that I left things to the police, and let justice eventually take its course. “Whoever took my son’s life, I wish that with the same speed that they killed him, that God will take theirs the same way,” she told me back then. Welcome’s niece told me that she too is eager to assist the police in every way to apprehend her uncle’s killer. “Whatever it takes to solve this I will help. This was a cold-blooded murder.” Meanwhile, I’m still following up on this intriguing case. And I am very, very, certain that I’ve met the person who planned his murder. 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, 2258465, or 22-58491. You need not disclose your identity. You can also contact Michael Jordan at his email address: mjdragon@hotmail.com.

Sunday October 02, 2016

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Kaieteur News

President Granger forgot poor Monica Barry Dataram was sentenced to five years for trafficking in 284 pounds of cocaine. A gram of marijuana is equivalent to a tiny packet of sugar you pick up at Oasis Café on Carmichael Street to use in your coffee. In fact, if you do not believe me, just go into the supermarket after reading this and pick up a box of Splenda or box of packets of sugar. You will see the weight. Each packet is a gram. So imagine how much marijuana you have to carry around if it weighs 240 pounds. Dataram didn’t turn up for the verdict and President Granger is peeved at that. Mr. Granger then broke with tradition and spoke about the judicial error in allowing Dataram to evade justice. Normally, Heads of State do not comment on judicial decisions. My position is that if they do, I do not believe it is improper. The Prime Minister or President of a country has a constitutional right as all other citizens to speak on issues once the topics are not intended to incite race hate, violence or intimate decisionmakers from doing their job. But even if a Prime Minister or President should egregiously descend to the level of impropriety and publicly discuss a case before the court render its verdict, it is for the judicial officer to show personal

integrity and serve the cause of justice by ignoring what the President or Prime Minister had to say. President Granger had never commented on the work of the judiciary. But he did this time. He told the media that the escape of Dataram necessitates greater awareness of the magistracy and the judiciary in matters like these. We have journalists who do not think quickly in situations like this. An exigent question to ask Mr. Granger immediately after he made his Dataram comments was why does he think it was appropriate to comment on that aspect of the magistracy and not on other cases where the magistracy opened itself to serious questioning of the integrity of the judicial system? If I was at that media interview with President Granger I would have solicited a comment on how he feels that Dataram got five years for possession of 284 pounds of cocaine but the very law under which he was sentenced allows a 65-yearold granny to be sentenced to three years for two grams of marijuana by Magistrate Alex Moore. Just in case the President, on reading this, thinks it is a typographical mistake, let me repeat the number; two grams of ganja. So I figure if that granny was caught with 240 pounds of ganja, the

sentence would have been a few hundred years. The granny’s name is Monica Drogen. Poor Monica! The President was annoyed at the authorities for allowing Dataram to escape but maybe forgot to give a comment on if he thinks the law of a country should jail a sixty-five-year-old woman for two grams of marijuana. Countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore have draconian drug laws. Horrible may be a more relevant term than draconian. I haven’t done the research but I doubt the granny would have received three years for two grams of ganja. I really want to believe that even in these countries she would not have received three years. What I do know, and I know this for a fact; in no other country in this part of the hemisphere, she would have received three years for two grams of ganja. For my own education, if you think that there are countries in North, South and Central America, the Caribbean and Europe where a 65-year-old grandmother would be jailed for three years of possession of two grams of marijuana, then please call me and educate me. I do not publicize my numbers and e-mail address but I am making an exception because this granny situation has pierced my psyche. Now, please don’t get me wrong! Nothing in Guyana

surprises me. I honestly feel this country is worse than any banana republic that has reached the final years of its existence. But this granny tragedy is just mind-boggling. In another column, I will tell readers how insulted and emotionally lacerated I felt when I was invited to be a member of the National Commemoration Commission

to plan the celebration of the Golden Jubilee, that is, 50 years of Independence. I know in my line of work, you attract hate and venom. But why the Government of Guyana wanted to be so rude and insulting to me? My cell is 614-5927. My home is 2221615 and 222-1616. My email is fredkissoon@yahoo.com. I don’t have a Facebook account.

Frederick Kissoon

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Kaieteur News

Sunday October 02, 2016

State of the Industry... Major Public Infrastructure projects in focus Ministers David Patterson and Annette Ferguson met with the media recently to provide the public with progress reports on several major developmental projects. Last Sunday we reported on our efforts to build competent skill pools, develop our ability to function effectively in every kind of local industry; we discussed the CBJI airport expansion; the private sector’s role in nation building, and returning normalcy to GPL. We ended that first segment on the topic Modernizing Port Georgetown, and we began to enumerate what ails the Port, this

main hub of commerce in Guyana. For a very long time the business community has been suffering from the effects of an historically poor port. Entrepreneurs have been paying higher tariffs and charges, and more demurrages because their imports and exports have to enter or leave Port Georgetown in smaller amounts, on smaller vessels that have to make more frequent trips. The slightly larger cargo ships get stuck on sandbanks and in mud when they attempt to navigate the Demerara Navigational Channel even at high tide. Imagine the risks

at night on a shallow river with no navigational lights, no bells or bouys, and miniscule portside and seaside security. The previous PPP government had demanded in 2013 that private business owners operating along Port Georgetown must find the financing themselves for sea/ river side security, to replace the decades-old or missing navigational aids, to purchase their own fire fighting boats and equipment, and every other facility that every modern port is supposed to have. The PPP had demanded that the owners of port

operations find the means and the money to dredge the 20 years’ worth of silt that grows harder on the Demerara riverbed, i.e. in addition to maintaining their own berths. A public/private partnership and a Port Development working group had been formed after the Shipping Association approached the then Minister of Works to ask for Port Development to be made a priority. They were told then, among other things, that the PPP government had other plans that did not include Port Georgetown. Their plans had centered around the still-toemerge Deep Water Harbour that CGX was blueprinting in the Berbice River. The sitting government told the Shipping Association and its members to produce a proposal for upgrading the Port. Instead of a mere proposal, the shippers and cargo handlers wrote a detailed Concept Paper for the full rehabilitation of the Georgetown Harbour, a proposal that included sourcing funding and skills. As was expected, nothing was done after that Working Group was established, nothing but talk. This time is different. Minister Patterson may soon revitalize that working group, not to fund the infrastructural works, but to help the Ministry of Public Infrastructure to shape an achievable modernization programme for Port Georgetown. Major repairs for Supenaam Stelling The coalition government has approved $17M (approx.) to rehabilitate the Good Hope/ Pomona Supenaam Ferry Stelling in the Essequibo, and the works will commence shortly. According to the

Minister, engineers from the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation will execute the repairs – driving new cluster piles, and replacing eight structural steel beams, metal plates and other components of the link span bridge. They will also replace the steel plate decking, structural framing and support mechanism for the pontoon. The damaged portion of the concrete decking of the stelling and the catwalk will also be reconstructed and reinstalled. The stelling was severely damaged at the end of July when passenger ferry, MV Sabanto, one of the two roll-on roll-off ferry vessels built by the Chinese, crashed into it after encountering some difficulties on the approach to the stelling. This stelling has seen more than its fair share of woes since it was built in 2010. The $547M Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) funded infrastructure was built to reduce travelling time between Parika and the Essequibo Coast by at least 90 minutes. It has replaced the stelling at Adventure. It was built by BK International Inc. specifically to accommodate the two new vessels from China. The Good Hope/Supenaam wharf extends 400 feet into Essequibo River and consists of a reinforced concrete frame supported on land by 50 timber piles. Before the end of 2010, the construction firm BK International was accused by the government of ‘bungling’ the work as they attempted to justify spending some $50M to ‘correct the flaws’. The

contractor and the Ministry of Public Works spent a lot of time, air space and newspaper column inches blaming each other for the seemingly endless problems at the stelling. First it was the end beam of the loading ramp that collapsed, then the contractor accused the Ministry of ‘messing up’ the design and specifications. It had already been determined by knowledgeable civil engineers that indeed the “design had flaws, the construction had flaws and supervision had flaws”. This was confirmed by then Cabinet Secretary Luncheon. The flaws had been discovered soon after the Transport and Harbours Department took over the facility the following year. The stelling had been deemed to be inadequate to handle the typical flotation, especially the mechanisms that would allow heavy trucks and other moving weight to get on and off the vessels. Residents and businessmen in the Essequibo had complained of the inconvenience and the dangers that the unstable stelling had posed to their vehicles, heavy and light machinery, their produce and market stock. The recent collision of the MV Sabanto only added to the litany of errors and woes for the good people of the Essequibo. The Ministry of Public Infrastructure further apologises to you all for the inconveniences you have suffered, and for the delay in starting these repairs. Please be assured that we will do all in our power to return normalcy to the Supenaam Stelling in November.

Sunday October 02, 2016

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Kaieteur News

My column

My friends died in a plane explosion 40 years ago It was a Wednesday, almost 40 years ago when an incident so rocked Guyana that people were speechless. Many cried and the incident became a talking point across Guyana. The date was October 6, 1976. England were touring the West Indies that year. Guyana National Service was compulsory for anyone pursuing a Government scholarship and there were many. Guyana as a member of the Non Aligned Movement was enjoying a lot of offers. There were scholarships from many countries including Yugoslavia, Cuba, Poland and Russia. I was heading to Jamaica, To satisfy the National Service component of our scholarships that year, we travelled to Papaya, way up in the North West. We came from all walks of life but the trip by boat to Port Kaituma and the train ride to Matthews Ridge served as unifying force. We were all people with a mission, ‘Get the scholarship, do well and comeback to be somebody in the society.� Forget the details of the trip from Port Georgetown. Suffice it to say that it was

nice for those who liked adventure. People vomited but for the greater part we lay under tarpaulin stretched across the deck for nearly 24 hours until we reached Morawhanna. Forget about bathing. Those among us who were sophisticated were soon exposed as very ordinary people. That is what national service did. It made people understand the life of others. We did reach Camp Papaya and the fun began. We marched, played, protested to the point of having Joyce Sinclair flying from the city to appease this bunch of upstarts who were upset with what was happening to us at times. The life at Papaya ended and we met for one grand farewell at the Sophia Exhibition Centre. We did not return to the city by boat; we flew and again some vomited in that old Dakota the likes of which no longer the local skies. The meeting at Sophia, s I said, was out farewell. That was the day Michael Holding grabbed eight English wickets on a dead pitch. There was Prime Minister Burnham taking and there were those of us who had more interest in the cricket.

We had made firm friends and all of us knew that our lives would not be the same ever again. We had all come to realize that there was no class to divide us. Yes, there were the gregarious and the quiet ones. There were the ones who had led sheltered lives before Papaya but who were no longer the sheltered person they were. I flew out of Guyana on Wednesday September 28, 1976. With me was my friend Arnon Adams. Our first night landed us with some Guyanese who had gone there before us and who were always glad to see another. A new life had begun. Jamaica had television (black and white) so that magic box grabbed out attention. Of course, it showed old North American reruns except for Saturdays and Sundays when the Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation would film local programmes. Test matches at Sabina Park were shown live but not with the number of cameras that we see today. And so it was that one Wednesday afternoon, having come from classes at the Mona Campus that we heard the news of an aircraft

goi9ng down off the coast of Barbados. Shocking as that news was we did not get the full grasp of what really happened. We knew at Air Cubana had gone down but not in our wildest dreams did we realize that some of the people who had shared their lives with us at Papaya in the North West were on that aircraft. Gradually more and more information began to filter in. Then came the numbers. In the end Cubans, Guyanese and North Koreans died on that aircraft after it exploded. We went to classes the nest day, Thursday, and tried to read everything there was to read. The Cubans released the names of the dead; the Jamaican newspapers published. I saw the names of my friends and like Arnon, I was shattered. There was no Internet and no social media back then. People communicated the old fashioned way. They wrote letters or used the telephone but then again, the telephone was not ubiquitous. Further, Guyana and Jamaica still had to book calls and wait on the operators to make the connections. There were those of my relatives who knew that I was to travel and

concluded that I was among the dead. They tormented my mother. Forbes Burnham hosted a large rally at Square of the Revolution. He asked Barbados to hand over the terrorists who bombed the plane. He said that het aircraft went down in Barbados territorial waters and so gave Barbados the right to try the criminals. e begged Barbados to hand over the people w But Tom Adams, who had just come to office, balked. Burnham promised to forever remember those Guyanese who were going to study to return to help develop their country. A pity that the PPP administration did not place such an emphasis on the Cubana Disaster. The Cubans in Guyana kept it alive and for that I am grateful. Those bodies have never been recovered. The mother of one of the victims lost her mind and for the others there may never be closure. For me,

Adam Harris there will always be the memory of young people who did not live to see children and grandchildren because they might have been grandparents today. Of course, Dr George Norton and Mrs Monica Sagala, two young people whom I taught science at Bartica, replaced my dead colleagues so I see these two in a different light because they are my link to my colleagues who died on October 6, 1976.

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On Wednesday October 6, 1976, Cubana Airways Flight CU-455 was

Kaieteur News

scheduled to fly the following route: Guyana to Trinidad, Trinidad to

Barbados, Barbados to Jamaica, and finally Kingston to Havana, Cuba.

Sunday October 02, 2016

At 13:24, nine minutes after takeoff from Barbados Seawell International Airport (now Grantley Adams Airport) and at an altitude of 18,000 feet, a bomb located in the a i r c r a f t ’s r e a r l a v a t o r y exploded. The Captain Wi l f r e d o P e r e z - P e r e z , radioed to the control tower: “we have an explosion on aboard, we are descending immediately!...we have fire aboard! We are requesting immediate landing! We have a total emergency!” The plane went into a rapid descent, while the pilot unsuccessfully tried to return the plane to Seawell Airport. A second bomb exploded during the following minutes, causing the plane to crash. Realizing a successful landing was no longer possible, it appears that the pilot turned the aircraft away from the beach and towards the Atlantic Ocean, saving the lives of

“They died because there are some in this world and more particularly in this hemisphere who do not accept the right of a people to fashion their own destinies and to dictate their own goals.” H.E. Forbes Burnham President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana Wednesday October 6, 1976 many tourists. This occurred about eight kilometers short of the airport. All 48 passengers and 25 crew members aboard the plane died; 57 Cubans, 11 Guyanese and five North Koreans. Among the dead were 24 members of the 1975 Cuban National Fencing Team that had won all the gold medals in the Central American and Caribbean Championships. The Guyanese were mostly young students, heading to Cuba to study medicine, engineering and other disciplines. Two Venezuelan nationals, Hernán Ricardo Lozano and Freddy Lugo, joined the flight in Trinidad and Tobago, they left the bombs on the plane, before disembarking in Barbados. Lugo later told police officials that Ricardo boasted that the 73 people he killed on the plane were “more than the Jackal,” alluding to the famous terrorist Carlos the Jackal. “Now I’m the one who has the record, because I’m the one who blew up that thing,” he allegedly told Lugo. Ricardo confessed to Barbadian and Trinidad officials who were

investigating the crime that he and Lugo bombed the plane and that they worked for Luis Posada Carriles. He even drew a diagram for them of the detonator he used to ignite the C-4 explosives he placed in the aircraft. He admitted to receiving $25,000 for downing the plane. This was an act of terror; the first act of terrorism against civilian aviation in the western hemisphere. Four men were arrested in connection with the bombing and a trial was held in Venezuela. Freddy Lugo and Hernan Ricardo Lozano were each sentenced to 20 year prison terms. Orlando Bosch was aquitted and later moved to Miami, Florida where he lived until his death on April 27, 2011. Luis Posada Carriles was held for eight years while awaiting a final sentence but eventually fled. He later entered the United States of America where he was held on charges of entering the country illegally. Carriles was released on April 19, 2007 and lives as a free man in the USA. A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) solemnly remembers those

who died 40 years ago aboard Cubana Flight 455. We will never forget this cowardly and dastardly act of terror perpetrated on the Cuban, North Korean and Guyanese passengers of Cubana Flight 455. On this somber occasion, we affirm our solidarity with the people of Cuba with whom we have shared a great friendship and fraternal bond. On this infamous day we call on all Guyanese to remember our country men and women who were murdered 40 years ago: Eric Norton, an 18-year old student; Ann Nelson, an 18-year-old student; Seshnarine Kumar 18-yearold student; Jaqueline Wi l l i a m s 1 9 - y e a r- o l d student; Rawle Thomas 18year-old student; Margaret Bradshaw- the wife of a Guyanese Diplomat; Gordon Sobha- Economist; Vi o l e t T h o m a s ; R i t a Thomas; Sabrina Harripaul, a nine-year-old- related to Violet and Rita Thomas. We shall never forget them. “They shall not grow old as we that are left grow old; age shall not weary them nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them.”

Sunday October 02, 2016

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Kaieteur News

Fever: How to know when it’s dangerous By Dr. Zulfikar Bux Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine We are currently going through the flu season. For many patients their main complaint is having a fever. For the most part, a fever tells you that your body is going through an inflammatory process in reaction to something that can be dangerous to it. This may be an infection or a medication. Some fevers go through their course while others can be very dangerous and life threatening. It is often very difficult to determine which fever can be dangerous. Patients with dangerous fevers sometimes wait too long to seek help and come to the hospital when its already too late. Today we will discuss how to play it safe when y o u h a v e a f e v e r. T h i s should ensure that you do not take unnecessary risks when you have a fever. WHAT IS A FEVER? A fever is a rise in body temperature that goes above a certain level. The level that is considered a fever depends on how you take the

temperature. Here are the values that are considered a fever: Ï%Oral (mouth) temperature above 100ºF (37.8ºC) Ï%Armpit temperature above 99ºF (37.2ºC) Ï%Ear temperature above 100.4ºF (38ºC) in rectal mode or 99.5ºF (37.5ºC) in oral mode Ï%Forehead temperature above 100.4ºF (38ºC) Ï%Rectal temperature above 100.4ºF (38ºC) What is the best way to take my temperature? A r m p i t , e a r, a n d forehead temperatures are easier to measure than rectal or oral temperatures, but they are not as accurate. Here is the right way to take an oral temperature: Ï % Wa i t a t l e a s t 3 0 minutes after you eat or drink anything hot or cold. Ï % Wa s h the thermometer with cool water and soap. Then rinse it. Ï%Place the tip of the thermometer under your tongue toward the back. Hold the thermometer with your lips, not your teeth. Ï%Keep your lips closed around the t h e r m o m e t e r. A g l a s s thermometer takes about

three minutes to work. Most digital thermometers take less than one minute. The height of the temperature is less important than how sick you feel. If you think you have a fever and you feel sick, your doctor might want you to doublecheck by getting an oral or rectal temperature. WHAT CAUSES FEVER? The most common cause of fever in adults is infection. Common infections that can cause fever include: Ï%A cold or the flu Ï%An airway infection, such as bronchitis Ï%A stomach bug Most of these infections are not serious and get better on their own. When should I see a doctor? Visit your Doctor if you get a fever and you: Ï%Are pregnant Ï%Recently got back from a trip from a foreign country or to the interior Ï%Are exposed to farm animals or had a cut which was exposed to stagnant water Ï%Just got out of the hospital, or had surgery or another medical procedure Ï%Get infections often

Ï%Are on chemotherapy – Call your doctor or nurse if your oral temperature goes above 100ºF (37.8ºC) for more than one hour Ï%Take medicines that suppress the body’s infection fighting system, also called the “immune system” – Examples of these medicines include steroids and medicines used to prevent rejection after organ transplant. Ï%Fever that lasts several days or keeps coming back Ï%A recent bite from an insect called a tick – Infections you can catch from tick bites can cause fever and other symptoms. Ï%A serious health condition, such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, lupus, or sickle cell anemia Ï%Fever plus one or more of these symptoms: •Rash •Trouble breathing •Severe headache or neck pain •Seizure or confusion •Severe vomiting or

diarrhea •Severe pain in the belly, back, or sides •Any other symptom that is unusual or worries you Will I need tests? — Maybe. Your doctor will do an exam and talk with you about your symptoms. You might also have the following tests: Ï%Blood tests Ï%Urine tests Ï%Chest X-ray or CT scan – These imaging tests create pictures of the inside of the body. Your doctor will talk to you about any other tests you might need. Can I do anything on my own to feel better? Yes. You can stay home, rest, and drink plenty of fluids. You can also take Paracetamol (Panadol) to relieve your fever. How are fevers treated? That depends on the cause. Many people do not need treatment. If you do, treatments can include: Ï%Antibiotics to fight the

Dr. Zulfikar Bux infection. But antibiotics only work on infections caused by bacteria, not infections caused by viruses. For example, antibiotics will not work on a cold. You should not use antibiotics on your own. It’s best that your doctor prescribe it. Ï%Medicines, such as Paracetamol or ibuprofen (sample brand names: Advil, Motrin). These medicines can help bring down a fever. But they are not always necessary. By now you should have a better opinion about fever. As always, if you are not sure, visit your doctor for a second opinion

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Sunday October 02, 2016

Atoms at work

10 W

Skincare mistakes that are making your Acne WORSE

e all want to have glow-y, clear, zit-free skin,but you may not realize that some seemingly harmless habits could actually be sabotaging your skin and making you break out. Here are the most common skincare mistakes when caring for acne-prone skin -- and what to do instead. 1.The mistake: Roughly cleansing acne-prone skin. Using harsh, abrasive products or tools (such as a loofah) can actually cause you to breakout more! According to Dr. Warren Shapiro, Senior Vice President of Research and Development at Neutrogena, overscrubbing and using harsh scrubs can irritate your skin and make it harder for acne to clear and heal. The solution: Stay away from abrasive cleansers and scrubbing tools. Use a gentle exfoliator a few times a week, and if you're afraid of being too rough with your hands, try an exfoliating brush, which works to clean pores without irritating your skin. 2.The mistake: Dabbing acne medication only on pimples. Acne medications not only speed the healing of existing pimples, explains Sergio Nacht, Ph.D., Senior Vice President of Science and Technology for Advanced Polymer Systems, they also help prevent new pimples. The solution: To keep skin in the clear, apply a thin layer of acne medication (one containing benzoyl peroxide will help kill the bacteria) over the entire area where pimples tend to occur. 3. The mistake: Squeezing pimples. Picking at pimples can spread infection, making skin worse--not better. And, according to Dr. Nacht, the result can be scarring. The solution: Use an acne medication, such as a spot treatment, and don't touch! 4.The mistake: Not rinsing well enough when washing your face. When you rinse, you take away suds along with dirt and oil. "If you don't completely rinse the soap away," says Shulman, "it can be a potential irritant." The solution: Be sure to rinse your skin thoroughly after sudsing. About 30 seconds should be enough. 5.The mistake: Skipping sunscreen. "Even if the weather is cloudy, the UV rays get through, and every exposure adds up," says Darrell Doughty, Head of Investigative Skin Care for the Oil of Olay Skin Care Center.

BADGE CIRCUIT COMPLEX CONTROL COOLANT CORE DATA DISPLAY ENERGY FISSION FUEL FUSES GRID HEAT LOAD MONITOR NUCLEAR PELLET PILE PIPE POWER RADIATION REACTOR RELAY RODS SENSOR STEAM STORAGE SWITCH SYSTEM TANKS URANIUM This can result in changes in your skin color and texture, wrinkles and fine lines appearing earlier and an increased possibility of developing skin cancer. A sunburn can dry out pimples temporarily, but it can end up making you break out even more, because your skin reacts to the drying effect of the sun by producing even more oil. The solution: For optimum protection apply a facial moisturizer that contains sunscreen of SPF 15 or more every day. Look for one that says non-comedogenic on the bottle to ensure it doesn't have pimple-causing ingredients. 6. The mistake: Inconsistent use of acne medications. Acne medication isn't as effective if you only apply it two or three times a week, offers Dr. Nacht. Alternately, trying to compensate by over-applying acne medication can irritate and damage the skin, resulting in redness and overdrying. Plus, pimples won't heal any faster: Skin can only absorb or utilize a certain amount of the product's active ingredients, regardless of how many times you apply it. The solution: Since acne medication works for six to 12 hours, it should be applied consistently two or three times a day. Remember, you can't cure acne-- just control it. 7.The mistake: Not using moisturizer if your skin is oily. If your skin is shiny or has an oily feel, it doesn't mean you should avoid moisturizing. After washing, your skin's relatively dry as a result of the cleansing process, explains Doughty. All cleansers, even water, take out some level of moisture. Using a moisturizer will replace this, protect your skin and prep it for makeup. The solution: Go with a moisturizer that won't add oil or a greasy feel. 8. The mistake: Smoking. You already know that smoking is bad for you, but here's

another reason never to light up. "Nicotine constricts blood vessels, including those which feed your skin," states Dr. Nacht. The complexion consequence? Your skin becomes deprived because it doesn't receive proper nourishment from your blood. The solution: Don't smoke...ever. For clear skin as well as a dizzying host of other reasons! 9. The mistake: Drying out the skin on your body. Being in water that's too hot or staying in the bath or shower for too long won't hydrate your skin and can cause skin to lose vital ingredients that help to hold moisture in the skin, explains Dr. Shapiro. The solution: "Your bath or shower water should be warm enough to be comfortable, but not overly hot," says Dr. Shapiro. “ All you need is a few minutes in the shower. In the bath, you don't want to stay in the water long enough to get that 'prune' effect." Set a time limit--around 15 minutes--max. Also, you should use a gentle cleanser, such as Neutrogena Rainbath Refreshing Shower and Body Gel. 10. The mistake: Drying out your skin in an attempt to control acne and oil. Using harsh soap can actually strip sebum from your skin, explains Dr. Brett Shulman, Clinical Assistant Professor of Dermatology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. "Sebum helps give skin its flexibility and pliability. Without this the skin can 'crack' and you can lose the skin's barrier function. This increases the risk of irritation and infection.� The solution: Always use a mild cleanser or cleansing bar followed by a not-too-drying acne solution containing a low percentage of salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide.

Sunday October 02, 2016

SUNDAY SPECIAL GECOM SPENDS $23M ON DURACELL BATTERIES….PAID $1,185 APIECE FOR A $300 BATTERY -STRANGE ORDER MADE AFTER MAY 11 ELECTIONS High frequency radios; Toners for printers and photocopiers; Pliers and nippers. They all had one thing in common last year – Hundreds of millions of dollars were paid for them under very questionable circumstances by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). The purchases, for the May 11, 2015, are now the subject of a major investigation by state auditors. There are two other transactions that will also come under investigations- the purchase of Duracell batteries. The batteries are supposed to be used in lamps on Elections Days, in the case of power outages or in far-flung polling stations that are without electricity. Each lamp reportedly uses four batteries. According GECOM’s polling days staffers, as part of its kit for elections day, each station is given two lamps. According to official figures of contracts awarded last year, there were two payments for Duracell batteries by GECOM. One contract was awarded on April 23, 2015, about three weeks before the elections for $14,529,000. This contract was awarded to Mobile Authority, a business owned by Water Street businessman, Michael Brasse. There was another contract awarded to the same entity for $9,180,518 on May 21, 2015, making it a total of $23,709,518 paid for Duracell batteries last year. The dates and the total number ordered in Duracell batteries would be of huge significance for a number of reasons. Ordered after Elections With regards to the contract date of May 21, the big question according to GECOM officials is why would the entity want to enter into a contract after the elections for the batteries. GECOM has been left with several boxes of the Duracell batteries delivered by Brasse, who according to official figures was a favourite business for contracts by the commission. Investigations by Kaieteur News revealed that GECOM and taxpayers paid millions of dollars more for those batteries than what they could have been acquired for. In New York, at the Dollar Dan store on Liberty Avenue, Queens, two of those “D” batteries, Duracell brand, were retailing Saturday for US$3.99. With tax included, the total price for two of batteries was

Kaieteur News

US$4.34. Local distributors Saturday told Kaieteur News that they could have supplied any amount at US$1 each ($200). Assuming that each of the 2,299 polling stations used eight batteries, it meant GECOM wanted at least 18,392 batteries. Brasse could have acquired 20,000 of those “D” batteries (Duracell brand), using a $300 tag price for $6,000,000. Instead GECOM paid $23,709,518 or about $17.7M more. It is a known business fact that wholesale quantities attract a lower price. This particular transaction is likely to cause anger among some local distributors who only learnt of the GECOM’s purchases after it was announced last year by former Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon. GNBA MINUTES EXPOSE DIRECTORS’ SKULLDUGGERY Ever since the names of the two embattled Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) Board directors were made known, Anthony Vieira has maintained that Secretary to the Board, Violet Boyal could corroborate his story of innocence. Vieira said that Boyal was at the meeting and is in a good position to say that he carried out the will of the Board and is not guilty of the allegations against him. A broadcaster, Kenwin Charles, reported to Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and to the GNBA that two Board members, Anthony Vieira and Vic Insanally, tried to get him to

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part with his cable broadcast on the Essequibo Coast. They suggested that he move his operation to Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara and to sell his assets to a prominent Essequibo businessman. Vieira’s story is falling apart. Kaieteur News has been able to access the minutes of the first meeting between the Board representatives and the broadcaster, Kenwin Charles. The notes of the minutes were taken by the Board Secretary, Boyal. Vieira took the lead in that meeting as the minutes reflected no utterances by Insanally. According to the minutes, Vieira told the broadcaster that if he is to secure a licence from GNBA he will have to use the Multichannel, Multipoint Distribution Service (MMDS). He said that the board does not want anyone operating on the UHF band. He told Charles that he has to relocate and he is being offered, “compensation to operate from Mahaicony, Mahaica Abary by relocating the tower.” The minutes said that Vieira also told Charles that the Board already offered Premium Communications Services Inc. “Supenaam to Charity because they have more physical infrastructure.” Further, the minutes show that Vieira acted as a middle man. He told the Broadcaster that he will be introduced to one “Jeffrey Fraser who owns lands in Region Five (Mahaicony) for the business to be set up.” He then told Charles that the Board is “trying to regulate, not close persons down.” This newspaper understands that only one of Vieira’s statements reflected in the minutes was authorized by the Board, that statement being that the Board is trying to regulate the sector. All other statements made by Vieira were his own. Two Board members confirmed that the Board did not authorize Vieira to tell the Broadcaster anything about what frequency he has to use. GUYANA/VENEZUEL A CONTROVERSY… DECISION IN NOVEMBER -UN CHIEF Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, Saturday declared “I have to make an assessment by November” on the way forward

with regard to the Venezuela border controversy with Guyana. The Secretary-General made these comments during a meeting with President David Granger at the United Nations’ Headquarters in New York. President David Granger, during the meeting, accepted this timetable and committed to providing any additional information, which Ban may need in order to complete his assessment. The Guyanese leader thanked Secretary-General Ban for his efforts. Granger said, “We have been very impressed with the seriousness with which you have approached the problem and your own sincerity… We have been personally convinced that you want to bring closure to this matter.” Subsequent to the meeting, President Granger said, “We support the process. We are confident that this process will lead to a conclusion that is satisfactory.” Also attending the meeting on behalf of Guyana were Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Carl Greenidge; Sir Shridath Ramphal, who was present at the signing of the Geneva Agreement in 1966 between the United Kingdom, on behalf of the then British Guiana and Venezuela and Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Audrey Waddell. Secretary Ban Ki-moon will demit office on December 31. CENTRAL BANK BOSS….CLICO FIASCO REINFORCES NEED FOR ENHANCED INSURANCE REGULATIONCENTRAL BANK -INSISTS THAT FOCUS MUST BE PLACED ON PERFORMANCE GAPS AND OVERALL PROFITABILITY OF THE SECTOR Based on its analysis, the Central Bank of Guyana is of the view that there is a general confidence within the insurance industry. In fact, it has found that there is continued stability in the sector. This, of course, has been seen as a very positive sign for the sector as it has spurred industry growth with moderate risk exposures that may not have any major destabilizing impact on industry performance. According to Central Bank Governor, Dr. Gobind Ganga, it is important to note that the insurance sector which comprises long-term insurance and general insurance, accounted for approximately 6.4 percent of total financial assets and 26 percent of non-bank assets. He said that the sector was adequately capitalized in keeping with the requirements of the Insurance Act 1998 at the end of June last. Dr. Ganga noted that the insurance sector acts as a conduit for households and firms to (Continued on page 42)

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(From page 41) transfer risks to entities that are better suited to handle them. In this way, he said projects can be undertaken that might not be otherwise possible, and this contributes to the growth and financial stability of the economy. As for the performance of the sector thus far, the Central Bank Governor said that the insurance sector’s assets grew by 5.1 percent and accounted for 8.2 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product. ”Its soundness indicators signified a robust sector at the end June 2016. The longterm and general insurance sectors’ assets exceeded liabilities by 25.2 percent and 128.5 percent, respectively. Reinsurance (insurance bought by insurance companies) for the longterm insurance sector decreased marginally to 4.9 percent, indicating that fewer risks were transferred to reinsurers. In contrast, reinsurance for the general insurance sector increased to 30 percent from 19 percent. Potential risks to which the industry was exposed were prudently managed resulting in no adverse effect despite the volatility of the global financial conditions,” expressed the Central Bank Governor. Dr. Gobind Ganga also stated that the systemic failures by CLICO have reinforced the need for enhanced regulation in the insurance sector. In this regard, Dr. Ganga recalled that the Insurance Bill 2016 was passed in Parliament and is now awaiting the President’s assent. He said it is expected that the introduction of a new regulatory regime would lead to improved resilience in the sector to withstand any adverse shocks, which in turn, will serve to strengthen the sector’s financial stability. MONDAY EDITION FORENSIC AUDITOR FAILS TO EXPOSE HIS CLIENT IN AUDIT REPORT The National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU) is accusing forensic auditors attached to Ram and McRae of bias. The unit is claiming that the accounting agency willfully shaped the audit in a particular way and presented an inaccurate picture of the true picture at NFMU. Also, the NFMU is claiming that Ram and McRae shielded a client—Stabroek TV Inc. NFMU said that Ram deliberately left out information about the amount of money Stabroek

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owed. When contacted about the allegation leveled against him, Christopher Ram admitted that Stabroek TV is a client of his. Asked why he did not include this in the report, Ram only told Kaieteur News, “Go read the audit.” Ram and McRae presented a damning report of the forensic audit it conducted into the affairs of NFMU. Several bits of unflattering information were highlighted, including a number of instances of malpractice perpetuated by NFMU head, Valmikki Singh. So damning were the findings that the Ministry of Public Telecommunications is seeking legal advice on how to proceed. ”Our review of the files and documentation revealed that ENetworks Inc. and Quark Inc., companies controlled by persons with strong political connection to the PPP/C Administration, were not invoiced on a timely basis and ignored the NFMU’s invoices for long periods of time without any follow up action by the NFMU.” NFMU has since denied the possibility that it has acted in favor of E-Networks and Quark Inc. and has more so denied that this has anything to do with those companies’ links to the PPP/C. Is this a case of conflict of interest for the Auditors? The Auditor also highlighted other spectrum users, which for one reason or another, owes monies to the NFMU. However, the Auditor did not assign a political bias, one way or the other, for the NFMU not going after the said debtors. NFMU said that if the auditors were really interested in understanding the situation, they would have at the very least requested to see the files of other companies that provide similar services as Quark and E-Networks. These companies are Stabroek TV Inc. and Ali Broadacsting Inc. THOSE FORENSIC AUDITS…GOVT.’S WEAKATTITUDE LEAVES GUYANESE FEELING BETRAYED – DR. DAVID HINDS A sense of betrayal is what Guyanese feel as the Government continues to display a “weak attitude” in dismantling the network of financial corruption. That’s the view of Executive Member of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), Dr. David Hinds. In an interview with this newspaper Sunday, Hinds sought to address the explanations offered by the government on the forensic audits. He recalled that Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan had said that the forensic audits have become an embarrassment , especially when one considers the fact that witnesses are “scared to death” to come forward and testify. This reason, among others offered by other Government officials, have sparked feelings among some sections of society that the administration is perhaps reluctant to act on the forensic audits. It is also felt by some that the audits are merely being used as a means to embarrass the former regime. Dr. Hinds does not believe that the original intention was to embarrass the PPP. ”I think the Coalition was serious about bringing the perpetrators to book. Some individuals and sections of the Coalition are still

serious about doing so. But the latter have little influence or power within the Coalition,” expressed the political activist. Dr. Hinds said that he agrees however that the government did not go the extra mile. ”It would appear that there are other political and tactical considerations beyond the ones given by the Ministers. It’s very difficult to believe that you cannot find witnesses to come forward in not one of the scores of abuses exposed by the forensic audits. I just don’t believe it. Government has sway and uses it when it wants.” The University Professor said he believes that there are other calculations at work which he may not be privy to. BARACARA RESIDENTS REFUSE TO APPROVE PAYMENT TO CONTRACTOR FOR ‘SHODDY WORK’ DONE Residents of the community of Baracara, some 65 miles up the Canje River, are accusing the Regional Administration and specifically the Regional Engineer of Region 6 of disrespecting them and trying to foist shoddy and substandard work on the community. The work in contention is the construction of a revetment, which is situated just outside the area housing the school which holds classes for primary and nursery children, the Health Centre and the recently commissioned community centres. The cost of the work is in the vicinity of $7.1M. But the residents are refusing to sign the documents that signal their approval of the work done, thus the contractor has been unable to receive his $7.1M payment They had staged a protest which brought the work to a halt. But they said that on the advice of the Regional Engineer the contractor was told to resume work. However community members say that they will not sign any documents for payments since they were not consulted about the project. According to contractual arrangements, residents in the area have to sign the relevant documents which indicated that they are satisfied with the work before the contractor could be paid. Following the uproar, the Regional Administration assembled a team which included Senior Superintendent of Works, Ruhullah Ali, Works Committee member Mr. Erwin Abdullah, contractor Mark Gupta and some members of the print media.

Sunday October 02, 2016

During discussions with residents, it was decided that a lot more needs to be done. Among complaints was the issue that concrete walkways which were in existence for years were destroyed and not replaced. It was also claimed that the contractor instead of fetching dirt to fill up the revetment just used a bulldozer to level the area, thus leaving a muddy basin in front of the school. Headmistress Kim Sampson speaking to the media stated that although the work commenced from the entrance of the school, she was at a loss to know what was going on and was never told anything. However to her surprise, two weeks ago, she met the contractor and was told that she has to sign some documents stating that the work was satisfactorily done in order for the contractor to be paid. TUESDAY EDITION NO “GET OUT OF JAIL” FOR GECOM BOSS UNTILAUDIT COMPLETED – PPP As the controversy at the Guyana Election Commission (GECOM) continues over the questionable procurement of several items prior to the hosting of the May 2015 General Elections, it has now Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) continues to distance itself. Clement Rohee, the General Secretary (GS) of the PPP/C was Monday asked about the party’s involvement in procuring the items since it was learnt that GECOM would lean towards the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) and Cabinet for the awarding and granting ‘no objection’ of items over a certain price. Rohee in turn, stated that if the Chief Elections Officer (CEO) of GECOM, Keith Lowenfield, is looking for what he would describe as a ‘get out jail card’, then he needs to await the outcome of the audit. The Parliamentarian would not offer any further comments on the issue. What he told media operatives was that he would prefer to stay clear of the issue and leave it in the hands of the auditors. Rohee said that when the auditors present their reports then there will be a more “authoritative pronouncement.” This report, he added, will have to be made public. The former Home Affairs Minister did say that the opposition wishes to reinforce its position that Lowenfield’s contract should not (Contineud on page 43)

Sunday October 02, 2016

(From page 42) be renewed. The probe into the procurement of items was launched by State Auditors since it was revealed that $100M worth in radio equipment was purchased for Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) shortly before the May 11 polls last year. But as the probe continues to rotate, the controversy is beginning to expand. Previous reports would have revealed that the communication equipment was from all indications never used by GECOM, with some of the high frequency sets not functioning. Many of the 50 radios are still in boxes, raising questions as to the reasons used for the purchase. GECOM reportedly wanted the radios to make contact with its workers in outlying areas on Elections Day. Auditors are also investigating whether GECOM paid too much, as well as try to determine whether the proper procurement procedures were followed. The multimillion-dollar purchase would lift the lid on the procurement practices of GECOM, the body that runs General and Regional Elections in the country. COPS HUNT EX-PHANTOM IN MURDER OF CUMMINGS LODGE VENDOR Police are looking for Damion Hopkinson for questioning into the murder of Anita Mohan, who was found lying in a pool of blood on the lower flat of her home located at Lot 315 Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara on September 4. Hopkinson, 27, of mixed race, was last known to live at Lot 55 Industry, East Coast Demerara. On September 8, the nephew of the deceased, Kevin Mohan, also known as ‘Chucky’, was charged with her murder, committed during the course of a robbery. The accused had appeared before Magistrate Zamilla Ally-Seepaul in the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court, where he was not required to plead to the capital offence. According to reports, the accused told police that he and his friend “accidentally” killed Anita Mohan, 48, a vendor. He reportedly told detectives that he and a friend had gone to the woman’s home in the day to purchase marijuana. However, the accused said that when they returned later in the day for more of the illicit drug an argument ensued between them and his aunt over payment. One of them is reported to have struck the woman on the head with a rolling pin, which was recovered in a bloody state, by detectives. A post mortem examination performed on the woman’s remains revealed that she died

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from multiple injuries. Anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of Hopkinson are being asked to contact police on 229-2289, 229-2557, 229-2750, 225-2227, 225-0575, 911 or the nearest police station. All information will be treated with the strictest confidence. CHRIS RAM BELATEDLY TRIES TO DEFENDALLEGATIONS OF BIAS IN AUDIT Forensic Auditor, Christopher Ram is now denying that he tried to shield his clients when reporting about the audit his accounting firm—Ram and McRae—carried out into the affairs of the National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU). Ram, who is also known as an anti-corruption advocate, said that his firm has a reputation of trying to keep clients in check so he cannot understand why such an allegation would be leveled against him. He said, “I do not try to protect any client; if a client does wrong we let them know. We are often accused of working for the tax department.” NFMU is claiming that Ram and McRae willfully shaped the audit in a particular way and went beyond trying to protect a client— Stabroek TV Inc. NFMU said that Ram deliberately left out information about Stabroek TV. When originally contacted about the allegation leveled against him, Ram admitted that Stabroek TV is a client of his. But when asked why he did not include the issue in his report, Ram only told Kaieteur News, “Go read the audit (report).” However, Ram, the auditor, has since offered an explanation but his story is a bit confusing and contradictory. On one hand Ram is saying that he could not have pointed out Stabroek’s debt because it is client information that he did not see on NFMU’s books. But, on the other, he is saying that he is the one that pointed out the debt to NFMU. The auditor said that NFMU is to be blamed for Stabroek TV Inc’s non appearance in the audit Ram said, “They do not have it in their records. Actually, it is I who whispered to the man how come, because if it is not in their records I cannot go and talk about it on what I know from one client to another.” The Auditor continued, “Quite frankly it is indeed a lot of money, they (the NFMU) are careless. What (Valmikki Singh) should have done was immediately go and do his work. What he is now doing is admitting that his register was so bad. But I could not use information we had from the Stabroek TV audit to go and say ‘Look, Stabroek TV say they have so much in the books. That’s the problem; it was not in their (NFMU’s) books.”

NFMU said that the Stabroek TV issue was pointed out to Ram and McRae and the company still refused to include this in the audit report. Asked if this was indeed the case, Ram responded in the negative. He said, “That is his (Singh) dishonesty, we pointed it out to him but we cannot say that. We have actually said to the client y’all have a liability and the client made a provision. But these people don’t have it in the books.” DAMAGED SUBMARINE CABLE BITES DEEP…GPL FORCED TO CUT POWER AS TWO BERBICE ENGINES GO DOWN Generation woes of the Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) are continuing to affect citizens across the Demerara and Berbice areas. Weeks after a submarine power cable across the Demerara River went down, leaving the power company on the edge, two more engines have now added to the troubles. According to GPL last evening, it was forced to cut power to East Demerara residents during the peak period due to the unexpected unavailability of two units which generates approximately six megawatts. GPL explained that the units- No. 3 Mirrlees at Canefield and the No. 7 GM at Onverwagt developed mechanical and control problems during the day. The problems forced GPL to cut power for several houses between Good Hope to Lusignan; Mon Repos to Success, East Coast Demerara and Canefield to Auchlyne, Berbice. GPL said that the No. 3 is expected to be back in service today while technicians are attempting to identify and resolve the fault of the unit at Onverwagt. The problems with two engines would highlight how shaky GPL is at the moment when it comes to generation at power. The Chinese-built submarine cable across the Demerara River is an integral part of a US$40M project to construct new transmission lines on the coastland along with seven new sub-stations. The Demerara River cable provides a critical link between Kingston and Vreed-en-

Hoop. GPL badly needed the extra power from the 26-megawatt Wartsila power plant to help with its generation. Currently, because of the damaged cable, the Vreed-en-Hoop power station is reportedly working at a third of its capacity with two of its three engines reportedly idle. GPL would have badly wanted those engines to work as others at Kingston and Garden of Eden, East Bank Demerara, are running overtime. Government is moving to repair the submarine cable which was reportedly cut by a ship’s propeller. WEDNESDAY EDITION FARMER EXECUTED IN SUSPECTED LAND DISPUTE Shockwaves rang throughout Gangaram settlement, East Canje, Berbice, when news of a livestock farmer’s execution spread through the small community like wildfire. Dead is 38-year-olf Ramnarine Etwaroo, called “Bill”, a father of one, whose bullet riddled body was discovered on Tuesday afternoon at the Wing Road, Estate Dam area. Information reaching this newspaper revealed that the man who resided at Lot 84 Gangaram Village, East Canje, left his home about 1:00 pm to weed his private land when he was executed. When Kaieteur News visited the home of the now dead man, loud screams and wails were heard as family members were still trying to come to grips with the devastating news. The man’s wife, Rosie Hemraj, was too distraught to speak to media operatives. According to the man’s sister-in-law, Sharada Hemraj, they received a phone call about 3:00 pm from relatives who stated that the man had met with an accident and was left lying on the road. ”I send me father to go see what happen and we call and call then we get the news that somebody shoot him and just leff him there.” The dead man’s father-in-law, Parbalal Hemraj, 63, told this newscast that when he arrived at the scene, a large crowd had already (Continued on page 44)

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(From page 43) gathered. FATE OF GNBA IN PRIME MINISTER’S HAND …ONCE ISSUES ARE RESOLVED, CRITICAL WORK WILL BE DONEBOARD CHAIRMAN Chairman of the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA), Leonard Craig, is optimistic that the nation may soon witness some major changes in the broadcasting industry. The GNBA Board has been plagued by discord and accusations of corruption. Currently, investigations are ongoing. The Prime Minister’s Office has undertaken to investigate the actions of two key Board members—Vic Insanally and Anthony Vieira who were accused of corrupt practices. In addition, Craig and Vieira have not been able to get along. The discord has led to the stall in critical work of the Board. The Board was supposed to have already dealt with issues surrounding the illegal granting of radio licences. But because of the discord, nothing substantial has been done. Recently, Craig told the media that he wants to see progress. He said, “I understand the impatience of those who have made application to become broadcasters and those wishing to see a reversal of the barefaced giveaway of the national airwaves by the then President Bharrat Jagdeo.” The Chairman continued, “I wish to assure those applicants and the general public that I share this burden and I am working hard to guide the Board in the direction of reviewing all existing licences and grant new ones in time for January 2017.” Craig, asked how he intends to do this given all that is facing that Board and given the fact that regulations that have been prepared by the Board are stuck in a legal committee led by Vieira, said that he is quite sure that the Board can reach the deadline he has set, “once things are sorted out.”Craig said, “I am hopeful that this will be over soon,” He also told Kaieteur News that Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, “has given a commitment to a swift resolution of this issue and we hope that we can get back to normal business of the board after this is over. We will then be able to attend to and deal with real issues, issues that affect Guyana.” BARRY DATARAM CONVICTED FOR COCAINE TRAFFICKING – REPUTED WIFE AND FRIENDS FREED After months of trial, self confessed drug lord Barry Dataram was found guilty and fined for trafficking in cocaine. Dataram was charged with his reputed wife, Anjanie Boodnarine, and their friends Trevor Gouveia and Komal Charran, for having 129.23kg of cocaine in their possession on April 16, 2015 for the purpose of trafficking. However, only Gouveia and Chandan showed up to hear the ruling by Magistrate Judy Latchman Tuesday. Neither Dataram nor his wife was present at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. In her ruling Magistrate Latchman noted that a prima facie case had not been made out against Boodnarine, Gouveia and Charran. She said that given the circumstance of insufficient evidence, the three latter accused were not guilty of the crime. Magistrate Latchman, however fined the convicted drug lord (Dataram) $164,268,000 and sentenced him to 60 months’ imprisonment for being in possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking. Following the hearing, Gouveia and Charran walked briskly out of the courtroom. The men were obviously relieved at the out-

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come. Dataram, a Guyana-born American, had successfully fought off efforts to extradite him to the United States of America to face drug smuggling charges. Dataram is said to have since fled Guyana to neighbouring Suriname. Law enforcement authorities had confirmed that the man had travelled out of Guyana on false documents. The authorities are however, unsure whether his reputed wife had travelled with him. At the previous hearing attorney for the defendants, Glenn Hanoman, made an application for leave of the court to withdraw services on the grounds that he was unaware of the whereabouts of Dataram and Boodnarine. The lawyer said that he has not been able to communicate with the couple since their last court appearance. The application was granted by the court. Hanoman, nevertheless, was still the attorney of the other two persons. THURSDAY EDITION SOLE SOURCING, CONTRACT SPLITTING…LITTLE EVIDENCE GECOM ADVERTISED $700M IN CONTRACTS -BROTHERS RECEIVED OVER 40 PERCENT OF MONIES DOLED OUT Almost $700M in contracts were handled by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) last year for the May 11 General and Regional Elections. Official figures are indicating that the entity used loopholes to ensure a small circle of preferred businesses benefitted from a majority of the transactions that were never even advertised. According to Ministry of Finance figures, before the polls- between January 1 and May 11, 2015- more than $600M in contracts was doled out. After elections, upwards of $90M in payments were made to businesses that provided air and land transportation, meals and a host of other services. The figures, in the absence of transparency and a number of possible procurement breaches, would paint a worrying picture of how GECOM had been spending taxpayers’ dollars. Among the beneficiaries for the contracts were two brothers whose businesses received about 40 percent of that $700M. Millions of dollars were also paid to businesses for producing infomercials, stationery, communication radio, transportation and meals.

A number of prominent companies were sidelined in the procurements. They have been complaining of not even knowing about the tenders. While GECOM’s Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield, insisted over the weekend that all was above board and that all the spending over $250,000 was vetted by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) and by the Cabinet when applicable, he was unreachable Tuesday, despite several calls. He had agreed to give clarity to a number of burning questions on GECOM’s spending last year. GECOM itself had been silent saying a current investigation into its spending by state auditors is ongoing and it would prefer to wait on the outcome. GECOM’s Chairman, Dr. Steve Surujbally, had made it clear that contracts were handled by the secretariat. The revelations of GECOM’s spending have seen the Opposition- the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C)- distancing itself, saying that in the lead-up to the elections, through its Cabinet, it granted “no objections” to a number of contracts, including a $99.5M payment for high frequency radios. BERBICE TRIPLE-MURDER TEEN ACCUSED, TWO OTHERS ATTEMPT NEW AMSTERDAM PRISON BREAK The 17-year-old, who was charged and subsequently remanded for the gruesome triple-murder at Black Bush in Berbice some months ago, was part of a trio who attempted to escape the confines of the New Amsterdam Prison on Tuesday night. Although the details are somewhat sketchy, a police source told this publication that the teen, Jairam Chetram; a prisoner identified as “Spurwing” and “Boodhoo (only name supplied), tried to escaped the jailhouse by going through the roof. Their plans were foiled after their movements were recognised by the ranks stationed at the tower. The three are all murder accused. An alarm was subsequently raised and the men were captured and secured. Efforts to contact the relevant authorities to shed some more light on the matter were futile. According to reports, Jairam Chetram and his father Carlton Chetram, along with three others allegedly murdered Pawan Chandradeo, Naresh Rooplall and Jaikarran Chandradeo at Cookrite Savannah, Black Bush Polder. The New Amsterdam Prison is no stranger

Sunday October 02, 2016

when it comes to jailbreaks or attempted jailbreaks. Reports in the past would confirm that back in 2008 several inmates were in a cell when one requested to use the toilet and as soon as the cell was opened, the prison official was pounced upon and relieved of his keys. He was then tied up with a bed sheet. However, the breakout was foiled after the prisoners were spotted by an officer who was at the time in the yard. In 2010, a notorious gang dubbed the ‘Skeldon Crew’ which was accused of wreaking havoc in the New Amsterdam Prison were forced to abort their plan to escape the jailhouse. Prison officers were tipped off when a search was conducted and several sharp implements and steel bars were discovered. Back in 2011, four inmates were discovered missing from the prison when their cells were unlocked to allow them to empty their utensils of body waste. The year 2015 saw two remand prisoners escaping from the prison. The duo had managed to get down from the top flat of a building in the compound of the Prison with bedsheets before jumping over a perimeter fence outfitted with razor wire. TWO IN CUSTODY FOR BERBICE FARMER’S EXECUTION Police in ‘B’ Division have arrested two suspects in connection with the gruesome execution of an East Canje Berbice livestock farmer on Tuesday. Information reaching Kaieteur News revealed that the men, both hailing from Gangaram, were picked up the same evening of the murder for questioning. The bulletriddled body of 38-year-old Ramnarine Itwaru, called “Bill” was on Tuesday afternoon discovered at the Wing road, Estate dam area. Kaieteur News previously reported that the man who resides at Lot 84 Gangaram village left his home at about 1:00 pm to weed his private land when he was executed. Relatives suspected that the man’s recent ban on persons trespassing on his land may be connected to his gruesome death. A post mortem examination is expected to be conducted today. Investigations are ongoing. FRIDAY EDITION DRUGADDICT SLAUGHTERS SON WHO DEFENDED MOTHER A drug addict, who was verbally abusing his wife over $400 Wednesday night, slaughtered his 24-year-old son when the young man intervened and defended his mother. Police subsequently arrested the suspect who had fled the scene. The incident occurred around 22:30 hrs at Annandale, East Coast Demerara (ECD). The dead man has been identified as Mahesh Chan, a truck porter of Lot 81 Naresh Street, Annandale. He was chopped to the chest and abdomen by his drug-addict father. The young man was pronounced dead at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). In a statement, the police said that investigation is being conducted into the alleged murder of Mahesh Chan by his father, who fled the scene but was subsequently apprehended and taken into police custody. Investigation so far has revealed that the suspect had requested to borrow money from his wife, who refused his request. As a result, they had an altercation which ended in a heated argument. The 24-year-old man’s intervention led to his father arming himself with a cutlass and chopping him twice. According to information received, the victim had been smoking marijuana earlier in the night and had requested more money to purchase weed. At the home Thursday where the victim lived with his parents and two of five siblings, (Continued on page 45)

Sunday October 02, 2016

(From page 44) his mother, Tejranie, was in tears. She explained that her husband gave her $2000 to purchase a few items early Wednesday. In the night, he demanded to have the change. ”He always giving me money and take it back. He packed his clothes in a bag and say he going away and he cussing and asking for the money. Me son hear and ask me how much money he want and then he tell me to give him the money and let he go,” the woman recalled. She added that while her son was speaking, her husband said that he was defending his mother and immediately ran to the kitchen and picked up a cutlass. “He chopped me son to he chest and he (son) run and he fall down in the room and then he chop the bai again.” After wounding his son, the suspect left the house and returned a few minutes later and began verbally abusing his dead son. “The bai done dead and he come and cursing he from outside the house and he ain’t stopping.” The woman explained that her husband only left when the taxi came and took her son to the hospital. GOV’T ABANDONS 1000-HOMES PROJECT…PROVIDENCE LANDS WILL NOW BE USED FOR DUPLEXES, CONDOS The government is redeploying land previously identified for the ‘1000 homes’ project, to the construction of apartment buildings, duplexes and condominiums. When questioned about the decision to discontinue the 1000 homes project, Minister within the Ministry of Communities with responsibility for housing, Valerie AdamsPatterson, said that a major contributory factor to the decision is the number of applicants and the fact that there are no available house lots. ”We have recognized that one family per house lot with approximately 23,000 applications within the system is not possible for the government, not even in the next five years. … so we have decided that with the land that we have, we can accommodate more families if we provide housing units instead of a house lot, especially given that only about fifty-five percent of lots allocated has been occupied,” Patterson told the Government Information Agency (GINA), recently. ”This Government is not going to continue that 1000 homes project in its current form. In our refocusing, we are looking at apartment buildings, duplexes, condomini-

Kaieteur News

ums, three and four levels. From our design, the condo will have eight apartments on each floor, so we do two bedrooms and three bedrooms,” the minister said. The ‘1000 homes’ project, also known as the t u r n k e y p r o j e c t , w a s o f f i c i a l l y launched by former President Donald Ramotar at Providence, East Bank Demerara in 2014. However, despite being allocated, several of the almost 50 completed houses remain unoccupied because of poor construction and finishing coupled with structural faults. “The first phase was (for) 200. One hundred and forty one are currently under construction. The 59 that are already occupied, they currently have problems with curb wall cracked, windows dislocated and, in some cases you have verandas moving away from the building,” Patterson said. HUNDREDS OF $MILLION IN SOLE SOURCING, CONTRACT SPLITTING… GECOM’S CEO, TOP STAFFERS PLAYED CRITICAL ROLE IN DECIDING CONTRACTORS In recent weeks, disclosures of how hundreds of millions of dollars were spent for the 2015 General and Regional Elections have rocked the nation. Not only did the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) not take care to ensure taxpayers received value for their dollars, but there are growing indications of corruption. The cavalier spending appeared to have also spilled over to the Local Government Elections that were held earlier this year. According to both Government and GECOM officials Thursday, it is clear from evidence and established procurement systems in place, that officials of the entity played a decisive role when it came to influencing who should win a particular tender. GECOM’s insiders explained that the process of procurement was a simple one. The entity’s staffers would relay immediate “needs” to a GECOM’s evaluation committee which is headed by Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield. Once the committee green lights the acquisitions of the supplies and services, it is conveyed to the Administration and Support Services Department, where the wheels are set in motion for the procurements. GECOM’s staffers would then ask for and collected three quotes from businesses. The quotes are prepared by the Administrative department and forwarded to the CEO. According to GECOM staffers, the CEO would then prepare a letter to the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB), asking for approval for a particular business to be awarded. Last week, Lowenfield made it clear that it was not GECOM but NPTAB that takes the decision to award a particular business the contract. He did not say that GECOM is the one take that recommends. There are very few instances that NPTAB would go against GECOM, insiders said T h u r s d a y . The revelations would indicate how much leeway GECOM had when it came to

determining which business it wanted to deal w i t h . The bulk of the spending did not see any much advertising, a critical part of the transparency that is supposed to follow state contracts. According to established procurement regulations, GECOM can spend below $250,000 without seeking approvals. Between $250,000 and $15M, NPTAB has to grant approval. For spending above $15M, it is both the NPTAB and the Cabinet that have to grant approvals. At least $700M was paid out last year for GECOM’s contracts with a vast majority of them never being advertised. Less than half of that staggering sum went to two brothers who supplied GECOM with all kinds of items, from chairs, high frequency radios, stationery supplies and furniture, toners and even Duracell batteries. SATURDAY EDITION HEALTH MINISTRY MONITORING TWO MICROCEPHALIC BIRTHS Health officials are currently monitoring the birth of a baby with possible symptoms related to the Zika Virus. The baby was reportedly born on Monday at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) to a woman who was diagnosed with the virus early in her pregnancy. An official close to the public health facility told this publication that tests are still being carried out to determine the extent of the possible infection. This publication understands that a number of officials from the Public Health Ministry had visited the mother and her baby, both of whom are reportedly still hospitalised. This publication was reliably informed that the mother of the baby born on Monday is in fact an employee of the GPHC. Minister of Public Health, Dr, George Norton, confirmed this state of affairs Friday and revealed that there have in fact been two microcephalic babies born in Guyana since the Zika Virus was detected. One of the most troubling concerns associated with the mosquito transmitted Zika virus is that it has the potential of causing an infected pregnant woman to deliver a baby with microcephaly. Microcephaly is recognised by an abnormal smallness of the head of a child born to a Zika virus-infected woman. There have been several cases of microcephaly reported in Brazil, Guyana’s neighbour to the south. In August the Public Health Ministry had confirmed that four pregnant women were diagnosed with the Zika Virus. The virus is transmitted by Aedes-type mosquitoes which also transmit Chikungunya and dengue. There is no cure for the virus, but treatment is made available for the symptoms manifested. THREE CRITICALAFTER ENMORE DRIVE-BY SHOOTING Three persons are now hospitalised as a result of a drive-by shooting incident at Enmore Village, East Coast Demerara Friday. The shooting occurred in the vicinity of a wash bay in Enmore Friday evening. Ron Robertson, 32, was shot three times in his back; Shauna Persaud, 29, woman was shot in her chest and 24-yearold Toby Pooran Etwaroo was shot twice in his abdomen. All three persons were rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Incorporation (GPHC) by public-spirited neighbours who own a bus. An eyewitness recounted that (the injured persons) were all ‘liming’ at the wash bay, when police officers allegedly drove up and asked them whether they had interfered with anyone. The witness said that soon after the police officers drove off, a silver car with tinted windows drove up and opened gunfire on them.

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A baby with microcephaly About a dozen shots rang out. The witness said that the car drove off at an alarming speed leaving Robertson, Persaud and Pooran all lying on the ground with gunshot wounds. The eyewitness further stated that when the police came on scene they didn’t chase after the shooters. Another person who was in the vicinity at the time stated that she saw Pooran Etwaroo running towards her with his hands holding his abdomen; she said he fell on the ground and said, “Gyal mi get shoot”. She then raised an alarm, alerting other persons from the area, who came out and transported the persons to the hospital. Kaieteur News was made to understand that the injured persons were undergoing operations up till late last night. THIRTY LAWMEN DISMISSED IN ONE MONTH …AS POLICE ZERO IN ON CORRUPTION Thirty policemen have been dismissed for September as the Guyana Police Force (GPF) zeros in on unprofessional conduct and aims to build and sustain a relationship with members of the public. During a press conference, Friday, Acting Commissioner, David Ramnarine, said that the policemen did not conceptualize that they took an oath to serve the people and that they should serve in certain manner. Fifteen junior ranks, three Subordinate Officers and 12 constables were dismissed. “They never understood that the public they chose to serve did not take an oath. They did and they wore a uniform so we had to let them go,” Ramnarine emphasized. He revealed that the offences range from robbery under arms, unprofessional conduct, simple larceny and wounding. According to Ramnarine, one rank was at an event which meant a lot to the country. During the event, one of the dignitaries misplaced a cellular phone. The rank picked up the phone and he was told what to do with it but he did differently. The phone was eventually found in his possession. In another incident, the force had to let go of a Subordinate Officer, whose wife owned a bar which was causing confusion among members of the public. “There were complaints, congestion on the road and the police were under pressure. Other people observed what he and his family can get away with so they decide to do the same thing too, making it difficult for the lawmen,” he related. As a result of this, the force had to decide on sending off the officer. Another case involved a constable who was dealing with a traffic issue on the road. The matter was drawn to the Traffic Chief’s attention and the traffic head made contact with the rank.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday October 02, 2016

Princess Rosette at the Recycling bottles Court of the King her Father into Pen holders

T

HEY were but two hours on the way, for the king's capital was only ten leagues from the farm. When Rosette arrived, she was surprised to see that she had to descend in a little, dirty court-yard, where a page at tended her. "Come, princess, I am commissioned to conduct you to your chamber." "Can I not see the queen my mother?" asked Rosette, timidly. "In two hours, princess, when they are assembled for dinner, you will see her. In the mean time you can dress." Rosette followed the page, who led her through a long corridor, at the end of which was a narrow staircase. She ascended, slowly, after a long, long time arriving at another corridor where she entered the chamber destined for her. The queen had lodged Rosette in one of the servants' rooms. The little p a g e placed Rosette's modest trunk in a corner and said, with an air of embarrass ment, "Pardo n m e , princess, for having led you into this chamber, so unworthy of you. The queen has disposed of all the other apartments for her guests, the kings, queens, princes and princesses. There was no other room vacant." "Well, well," said Rosette, smiling, "I shall not blame you. Besides, I shall be very comfortable." "I will come for you, princess, to lead you to the king and queen at the proper hour." "I will be ready," said Rosette; "adieu, pretty page." Rosette now unpacked her trunk. Her heart was beating and swelling tumultuously. Sighing heavily, she drew out her robe of coarse cloth and the other articles of her toilette. Rosette was very adroit. She arranged her exquisite blonde hair most beautifully, with a pullet's feather and a band made of burrs. Her head-dress was indeed so charming that it made her a hundred times lovelier. When she had put on her shoes and stockings and her robe, what was her amazement to see that it was made of gold brocade, embroidered with rubies of marvelous beauty; her coarse heavy shoes were now white satin, adorned with buckles of one single ruby of wonderful splendour; her stockings were of silk and as fine as a spider's web ; her necklace was of rubies surrounded with large diamonds; her bracelets of diamonds, the most splendid that had ever been seen. Rosette now ran to the glass and saw that the pullet's wing had become a magnificent locket and that the pendant was a carbuncle of such beauty and brilliancy that a fairy alone could possess it. Rosette, happy, delighted, exultant, danced around the little room and thanked her good godmother aloud for having tested her obedience and thus magnificently rewarded it. The page now knocked at the door, entered and started back, dazzled by the beauty of Rosette and the magnificence of her toilette. Rosette followed him. They descended the stairs, passed through many apartments and at

last entered a suite of superb salons, filled with kings, queens and nobles. Everyone who saw Rosette paused and turned to admire her. The modest princess, however, was ashamed to be thus gazed at and did not dare raise her eyes. At last the page paused and said to Rosette : "Princess, behold the queen your mother and the king!� Rosette raised her eyes and saw just before her the king and queen who regarded her with a comic surprise. "Madam," said the king at last to her, "be graciously pleased to tell me your name. You are no doubt some great queen or still greater fairy whose unexpected presence is an honor and happiness for us." "Sire," said Rosette, falling gracefully upon her knees, "I am neither a great queen nor a powerful fairy but your daughter Rosette, for whom you were kind enough to send." "Rosette!" exclaimed the queen; "Rosette clothed more magnificently than I have ever been ! Who, then, miss, has given you all these beautiful things?" "My godmother, madam. Graciously permit me, madam, to kiss your hand and present me to my sisters." The queen gave her hand coldly. Then pointing to Orangine and Roussette, who were by her side, she said: "There are y o u r sisters." P o o r Rosette, saddened by this cold welcome from her father and mother, turned gladly towards her sisters and wished to embrace them but they drew back with terror, fearing that while embracing them Rosette would displace the red and white with which they were painted. Orangine covered herself with white to conceal her yellow skin and Roussette to hide her ugly freckles. Rosette was repulsed by her sisters but was soon surrounded by the ladies of the court and all the invited princes. As she conversed with ready grace and goodness and spoke several languages she charmed all those who approached her. Orangine and Roussette were frightfully jealous. The king and queen were furious for Rosette absorbed all attention; no one paid any attention to the sisters. At table the young prince Charmant, who was monarch of the most magnificent and beautiful of all the kingdoms of the earth and whom Orangine hoped to wed, placed himself by the side of Rosette and was completely absorbed in her during the repast. After dinner, Orangine and Roussette, in order to draw some attention towards themselves, sang a duet. They sang indeed admirably and accompanied themselves on the harp. Rosette who was truly good and wished her sister to love her, applauded them rapturously and complimented them on their talent. Orangine, in place of being touched by this generous sentiment and hoping to play her sister a malicious trick, now insisted upon her singing. Rosette for some time modestly (continued on page 47)

Supplies: Bottle, scissors, felt or paper, glue, paint (optional), accessories (optional) Instructions: 1. Wash the bottle thoroughly. 2. Cut off the top so that it can be the appropriate size holder. (You can use tape or small little things such as buttons to decorate the bottle)

3. Cut the eyes, mouth, teeth, nose, etc. paper or felt and glue it onto the bottle. 4. Cut out the remaining material in the hands, legs (but it can be even paper). 5. You can put on the back of the bottle double-sided adhesive, but you can also cut a small hole and hang on wall. If you find a bottle that stands on its own, you can also skip this step. And you're done!

A little corn seed A little dried-up corn seed looks so worthless It makes you think it has no use, But plant it, water it and watch it grow, Soon it becomes a big plant with fruits. Your plant will produce abundant ears of corn,

With so many more seeds to show, Enough to give so countless plants, In a field of corn row after row. Just so we find that one little good we do, If we plant it with kindness and loving, Will soon bear so much more Of kindnesses that will keep on growing.

Kaieteur News

Sunday October 02, 2016

TEEN TIME Over the past few weeks we have been discussing the ways by which you can realise your potential to the fullest, thereby making the best of yourself. This process can be termed Personal Development, and involves taking the time and trouble to increase your potential in all aspects of your life. The practical steps to achieving this involve many of these, some of which are the following: Organising your Time to best achieve your goals, both short and long term; Examining the areas in which you can Improve and working on these; Developing the attitude of Continuous Learning; Keeping Healthy in Body and Mind; Working on your Interpersonal Relationships; Identifying your Special Skills and working to develop these; Developing your Self-esteem; Improving yourself by Cultivating Qualities of Rightness and Goodness. With respect to the first item above, you should make changes to what you do now to ensure that you have time to: Spend with your family and close friends; Spend on things you enjoy doing; Devote to your work, whether school or employment; Devote to your education, whether formal or informal. Some general hints by which you can succeed at these are: Learning to say NO to things that will lead you away from

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Poets’ Corner TODAY

your goals; Making a “to do” list of tasks you need to do for each day or week, ticking off the tasks as you complete them; Seeking help from sources that can assist you in your various tasks. (continued next week)

Today is here, I will begin it with a smile, I will not criticise, I refuse to waste valuable time; Today I will not worry about what may happen, But will spend my time making things happen. Today I will study to improve myself for tomorrow, I may not be wanted, but must not be found wanting; Today I will begin by doing, and soon will be miles away, I will not imagine what would be if things were different, But will make a success with things as they are; Today I will stop saying: "If I had the time", If I want to do something, I must make the time. Today I will act towards other people As if this were my last day on this earth, I will not wait until tomorrow, But will make full use of today.

Princess Rosette at the Court of the ...

From page 46 refused. Her sisters, who supposed that she did not know how to sing, were insistent. The queen herself, desiring to humiliate poor Rosette, joined her entreaties to those of Orangine and Roussette and in fact commanded the young princess to sing. Rosette curtsied to the queen. "I obey, madam' said she. She took the harp and the enchanting grace of her position astonished her sisters. They would have been glad in deed to interrupt her when she commenced her prelude for they saw at a glance that her talent was much superior to theirs. But when, in a beautiful and melodious voice, she sang a romance, composed by herself on the happiness of being good and beloved there was an outbreak of admiration, the enthusiasm

became general and her sisters almost fainted with jealousy and envy. Charmant was transported with admiration. He approached Rosette, his eyes moistened with tears and said to her: "Enchanting and lovely princess, I have never heard so touching a voice. Can I not have the happiness of hearing you once more?" Rosette, who was painfully aware of the jealousy of her sisters, excused herself, saying she was fatigued. Prince Charmant, who had clear intellect and penetration, divined the true motive of her refusal and admired Rosette still more for her delicacy. The queen, irritated by the success of Rosette, terminated the party at an early hour and retired. Rosette returned to her little room and undressed herself. She removed her

robe and her ornaments and put them in a superb case of ebony which she found in her room. Much to her surprise, she found in her little trunk the robe of coarse cloth, the pullet feather, the necklace of nuts, the burrs, the dry beans, the coarse shoes of felt and the blue yarn stockings. She would not allow herself, however, to be disquieted; certain that her good godmother would come to her assistance at the proper time. Rosette was indeed saddened by the coldness of her parents and the jealousy of her sisters ; but, as she scarcely knew them, this painful impression was effaced by the remembrance of the Prince Charmant, who appeared so good and who had been so flattering in his attention to her. Rosette soon slept peacefully and awoke late in the morning.

Half Time HALF TIME

Pair off the groups of letters to form ten 6-letter names of islands. AGO

HAW

NEO

SIC

_______________ _______________

AII

HON

RHO

TAH

_______________ _______________

BOR

ILY

RUS

TAI

_______________ _______________

CYP

ITI

SEY

TOB

_______________ _______________

DES

JER

SHU

WAN

_______________

The best thing you can do for others is to set a good example of kindness and generosity

Kaieteur News

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COUNTRY PROFILE Ethiopia

Whoa! Deepika is Asia's most followed woman

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e e p i k a Padukone's fandom has only grown by the day! After striking gold at the box office with her recent hits Piku and Bajirao Mastani, exploring international terrain with xXx: Return of Xander Cage and being listed in the top 10 highest paid actresses in the world by Forbes, the actress has added another feather to her cap! With a whopping 16 million followers, Deepika has taken social media by storm by becoming the most followed woman on Twitter in Asia! The actress has even surpassed Asian celebrity

E

Agnez Mo who stands at 15.8 million followers. Deepika's journey as an actress has been an inspiring one for her fans and peers alike. From the strong characters she portrayed in her movies to her openly speaking about her own fight with depression, she has always been a very r e l a t a b l e p e r s o n a l i t y. Amidst taking over Bollywood and expanding her horizons in the west, the actress always finds time to connect with her fans on social media. W h e t h e r i t ' s participating in Live chats or fulfilling a die-hard fan's

request of personally wishing the fan's father on Father's Day, she has been able to leave a lasting impact on her fans. Her fandom has steadily increased over the years which has led to her becoming one of the most followed actress on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram! This incredible following is a reflection of her journey as an actress as well as her relationship with her fans. Deepika's influence on social media has proven to be unmatched and it's safe to say she has conquered the social media world!

Here is what Salman Khan said on banning Pak artists!

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ollywood superstar Salman Khan on Friday questioned the campaign against Pakistani actors working in India, saying they were not terrorists. "They are artistes. What do you think... Are artistes terrorists?" Salman asked at a press conference here. "They come to India with visa. Who gives them the visa? Our (Indian) government gives them visa. The government gives them work permit," Salman added. But the veteran actor did

Sunday October 02, 2016

not specifically question the moves in Bollywood to ban Pakistanis from working in films being made in India. Salman was in the national capital to launch a "Being Human" jewellery line. Commenting on the surgical strikes India carried out on terrorists across the Line of Control, Salman said: "The ideal situation would have been of peace. Now when this has happened, then obviously there will be reaction to this action. "In this day and this age, I think if we live with love and peace, then it will be

better for everyone, especially for the common man." He, however, justified the surgical strikes, saying it targeted the terrorists who killed 19 Indian soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir on September 18 and were planning more attacks. The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena was the first to ask Pakistani artistes to leave India. The Indian Motion Pictures Producers Association on Thursday decided to ban Pakistani artistes from working in Indian movies.

thiopia is Africa's o l d e s t independent country and its second largest in terms of population. Apart from a five-year occupation by Mussolini's Italy, it has never been colonised. It has a unique cultural heritage, being the home of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church - one of the oldest Christian churches - and a monarchy that ended only in the coup of 1974. It served as a symbol of African independence throughout the colonial period, and was a founder member of the United Nations and the African base for many international organisations. Ethiopia has suffered periodic droughts and famines that lead to a long civil conflict in the 20th Century and a border war with Eritrea. In the first part of the 20th Century Ethiopia forged strong links with Britain, whose troops helped evict the Italians in 1941 and put Emperor Haile Selassie back on his throne. From the 1960s British influence gave way to that of the US, which in turn was supplanted by the Soviet Union. Drought Although it has had fewer of the coups that have plagued other African countries, Ethiopia's turmoil has been no less devastating. Drought, famine, war and illconceived policies brought millions to the brink of starvation in the 1970s and 1980s. In 1974 this helped topple Haile Selassie. His regime was replaced by a selfproclaimed Marxist junta led by Mengistu Haile Mariam under which many thousands

of opponents were purged or killed, property was confiscated and defence spending spiralled. The overthrow of the junta in 1991 saw political and economic conditions stabilise, to the extent that the country is regarded as one of Africa's most stable. But the new regime dominated by former rebel leader Meles Zenawi as prime minister from 1995 until his death in 2012 - has also been accused of stifling dissent, suppressing opposition and committing human rights abuses. Eritrea Eritrea gained independence in 1993 following a referendum. Poor border demarcation developed into military conflict and full-scale war in the late 1990s in which tens of thousands of people were killed. A fragile truce has held, but the UN says ongoing disputes over the demarcation of the border threaten peace. Ethiopia is one of Africa's poorest states, although it has experienced rapid economic growth since the end of the civil war. Almost two-thirds of its people are illiterate. The economy revolves around agriculture, which in turn relies on rainfall. It is one of Africa's leading coffee producers. Many Ethiopians depend on food aid from abroad. In 2004 the government began a drive to move more than two million people away from the

arid highlands of the east in an attempt to provide a lasting solution to food shortages. At the end of 2006 Ethiopia sent troops into Somalia to support forces of the weak transitional government there and helped to oust the Islamists who had controlled southern Somalia for six months. After initial Ethiopian successes, the Islamists gradually won back lost territory, Addis Ababa formally withdrew its troops in early 2009 under an agreement between the transitional Somali government and moderate Islamists Politics: Veteran Prime Minister Meles Zenawi died in August 2012. Secessionist groups maintain a low-level armed struggle Economy: One of fastest growing non-oil economies in Africa. Depends heavily on agriculture, which is often affected by drought. Coffee is a key export International: Eritrea hived off in 1993 and a border dispute escalated into fullscale war in 1999. Border tensions persist. Ethiopian troops helped oust Islamists who controlled southern Somalia in 2006. Ethiopia is seen as a key US ally Country profiles compiled by BBC Monitoring

Sunday October 02, 2016

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President attends funeral of slain teacher President David Granger on Friday attended the funeral service for the late Marisha Asha Bowen, who was found dead in her Nassau, Bahamas apartment on September 9, last, with multiple stab wounds. The service was held at the Jesus Deliverance Mission International Church, Thomas and Alexander Streets, Kitty. Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams; Minister of Social Cohesion, Amna Ally; and Minister of Social Protection, Volda Lawrence were among

Murdered: Marisha Bowen the mourners. Bowen, a Guyanese,

migrated to the Bahamas three years ago, where she taught at the Charles W. Saunders School. She was an active member of the People’s National Congress (PNC) and the Guyana Youth and Student Movement (GYSM). Minister Williams, who delivered a tribute on the Party’s behalf, described Bowen as a beautiful and vivacious woman full of energy and commitment. He said that she was an inspiring life whose light has been brutally snuffed out. “I trust that the young people in this party will try to

Nine acres of marijuana destroyed

emulate her. She made an indelible mark in her service to the People’s National Congress,” he said. The Minister also spoke out against senseless interpersonal violence and urged Guyanese to avoid situations of anger that could lead to loss of life. Marisha Bowen was born on August 4, 1981 to Angela Earl and the late Steve Bowen. She graduated from the Cyril Potter’s College of Education (CPCE) and the University of Guyana with a Degree in Primary Education. She later pursued her Master’s Degree at the Walden University. She was an ardent churchgoer, a dance teacher, a member of the GuyanaBahamas Association, and a

A section of the ganja farm During a 12-hour exercise yesterday, ranks of the Guyana Police Force conducted a drug eradication exercise at Araray Village, Upper Essequibo. In excess of nine acres of cultivated cannabis with about eight thousand plants ranging in heights from one foot to ten feet,

President David Granger comforting the mother of Marisha Bowen, Angela Earl, at the funeral on Friday

several nurseries with over three thousand seedlings and two make-shift tents were found and destroyed. Three men who were found tending to the cultivation are in custody and will appear in court today, charged with cultivating prohibited plants.

member of the Guyana Girls’ Guide. She leaves to mourn her mother, siblings and her

two children. One person has been charged with her murder.

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CONSUMER CONCERNS Over the last several years, there have been reports of inadequate or fraudulent educational

Sunday October 02, 2016

Kaieteur News

Preventing fraudulent or inadequate educational bodies from being established

institutions making their appearance in Guyana. Several of these have offered tertiary and professional

certification; others have operated even at the secondary school level. These “institutions”, and

they are little more than an attractive name and one or two rooms, attract students who trustingly part with their

money. These trusting young people soon find out that the institution which they joined is recognised by no one; little or no teaching is done and there is no administration. Sometimes the founders or organisers of such institutions disappear with the students being fleeced of their money. Sometimes the cry of “fraud” is raised and the organiser, for there is usually one, is investigated by the Police. Then the whole affair fades away and is soon forgotten. The young people who are victims of such educational fraud are simply persons who have a very laudable desire to study and learn, young people who are ambitious and who are an asset to their country. In Guyana, to-day, there is no institution or persons to whom such young people could turn for advice and guidance and so they fall into the hands of the fraudsters. There are a number of measures that could be taken to protect young people and ultimately the educational reputation of the country: In the first place, the licensing authorities must fully investigate all applicants who wish to set up educational institutions here or to conduct educational work. They would be assessing the financial strength of the person or institution, the numbers and quality of the teachers and educationists available and the premises from which they would operate. In this process, the National Accreditation Council would have a primary role. A career-guidance NGO or a governmental or semigovernmental office should be established to guide and advise young people who may be exploring the courses they should pursue. Such bodies could work closely with the sixth forms or the upper school in general of the secondary schools. Young people must also

be encouraged to explore the Internet to find out about educational institutions and to take advantage of scholarships and other assisted training courses which may be on offer. Such exploration may help them to choose a career and may give them a fuller understanding of educational quality. Graduates of the University of Guyana may also find this a useful exercise. Indeed, I have known one or two UG graduates who succeeded in being awarded scholarships to good European institutions from their exploration of the Internet. There is a National Accreditation Council which had been established in 2004 but very few citizens are aware of its existence or even where it is housed. The remit of the National Accreditation Council is very comprehensive: “It is the principal body in Guyana for conducting and advising on the accreditation and recognition of educational and training institutions, providers, programmes and awards, whether foreign or national and for the promotion of quality and standards of education and training in Guyana.” If the Accreditation Council and the other offices whose duties and responsibilities are to maintain high standards in education, and training were more proactive, many of the difficulties which are now being encountered would not have occurred. And this includes fraudulent educational institutions and exploiting young people and fleecing them of their money. The Consumer community looks forward to the National Accreditation Council and the Ministry of Education in particular, maintaining and improving the standards of Education and training and preventing fraudulent or inadequate institutions from attempting to establish themselves in Guyana.

Sunday October 02, 2016

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Kaieteur News

DIASTEMA - Gaps between teeth By Dr. Neromini Fagu Morgan Freeman, David Letterman, Oprah Winfrey, Madonna and Arnold Schwarzenegger are all famous people but they also have something else in common- Diastemas. A diastema is a space or gap between teeth. It can occur anywhere in the mouth and can be generalized or localized in one spot. However, it is most noticeable in the front set of teeth especially between the upper central incisors. It is a relatively common condition occurring among both children and adults. According to scientists, diastemas are also found frequently in mammals especially in those whose diets are composed mainly of vegetation. Sheep, rodents and beavers have gaps between their teeth and it is thought that this gap aid in easy transfer of food from the cheek for better ingestion. Additionally, when these animals gnaw, the food is easily pushed through the gaps. Views of Diastema In humans, diastemas are

Dr. Neromini Fagu viewed differently in various parts of the world. In France, the name for gap teeth is “dents du bonheur,” which translates to “lucky teeth” and in Australia, gapped front teeth in children are said to be a predictor of future wealth. In African countries such as Nigeria and Zambia, women with a gap in the front teeth are seen as very fertile. This trait is considered to be very attractive and has sex appeal, making these women very desirable. Among some tribes, having a diastema is an indication of wisdom. In medieval times, the gaps were seen in women as a sign of

their lustfulness. What Causes Diastema? Gaps between the teeth may develop as a result of mismatched jaw bone size and teeth size. As children grow, teeth develop gaps because their baby teeth remain the same size is in their mouth while their jaw is growing. Once all the adult teeth have erupted, the space is usually filled in. Habits such as tongue thrusting, finger sucking or placing foreign objects between teeth may also contribute to gaps. Also, naturally missing teeth or extracted teeth that are not replaced will cause gaps to form. People with a large frenum may also have gapped teeth. A frenum is a fold of tissue that connects the gum to the lip and if it is unusually large it may connect through to the gum tissue between the teeth. Sometimes the frenum attachment extends lower than usual and contributes to a separation of the front teeth, and may contribute to keeping them apart. Diastemas may also form if there is a serious medical or dental condition. They could be due to tumours in which case the tumor growths may

STANDARDS IN FOCUS

Social Responsibility - A Good Business Practice

Organisations around the world, and their stakeholders, are becoming increasingly aware of the need for and benefits of socially responsible behaviour. The objective of social responsibility is to contribute to sustainable development and it is usually seen as a tradeoff between economic development, in the material sense, and the welfare of the society and environment. Social responsibility, also referred to as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), is the operating of a business in a manner that accounts for the social and environmental impact created by the business. It means a commitment to developing policies that integrate responsible practices into daily business operations, and to reporting on progress made toward implementing these practices. The ISO 26000 Standard provides guidance to both businesses and public sector organisations on social responsibility. It integrates worldwide knowledge on social responsibility – what it means, what issues an

organisation needs to address in order to operate in a socially responsible manner, and what is best practice for implementation. This international standard is intended for use by organisations of all types, in both public and private sectors, in developed and developing countries, as well as in economies in transition and is a powerful tool to assist organisations to move from good intentions to good actions. Being socially responsible is quickly becoming a critical part of measuring the overall performance of organisations and their ability to continue operating effectively. This is, in part, a reflection of the growing recognition of the need to ensure healthy ecosystems, social equity and good organisational governance. There are many benefits that can be realised when business organisations implement the ISO 26000 standard. The perception and reality of the performance of socially responsible organisations can influence,

among other things their competitive advantage, reputation, ability to attract and retain workers or members, customers, clients or users and the maintenance of employees’ morale, commitment and productivity. In addition, being socially responsible provides a favourable view for investors, owners, donors, sponsors and the financial community and enhances the relationship of conforming businesses with the government, the media, suppliers, peers, customers and the communities in which they operate. The Guyana National Bureau of Standards encourages businesses to consider the benefits of becoming socially responsible. The ISO 26000 standard, which is available at the GNBS, provides a clear guidance for any entity desirous of practicing socially responsible behaviour. For further information, please contact the GNBS on telephone numbers: 219-0065, 219-0066 or visit the GNBS website: www.gnbsgy.org or facebook.com/gnbsgy

need to be removed. Gum disease may also contribute to gaps as it causes the shrinkage of gum tissue and bone. Some people are quite happy with their gaps and it even becomes a trademark for them. For them, it is not a flaw but a feature. However, if your gap is a cause for discomfort or is due to health issues then you may opt for treatment. Your dentist will evaluate your condition and suggest a treatment plan. You may need to be referred to a dental specialist such as an orthodontist or periodontist. Treatment Options for Diastema If the space between the teeth is relatively small, dental bonding may be a treatment option. In this procedure a resin based material is sculpted and shaped to fill in the gaps. Larger gaps may require reshaping of the teeth so they can be covered with

veneers to match the neighbouring teeth. Another option is orthodontic treatment which may use traditional braces to close up the teeth and eliminate gaps. Invisalign braces may also be used but these are usually more expensive. If the gap is due to a large frenum, then a

frenectomy may be done to surgically relocate the position of the frenum attachment. For more information contact OMNI DENTAL at 295 Quamina Street, Georgetown Tel: 227-0025, Parika Tel: 260-3133 or send emails to nerominifagu@hotmail.com.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday October 02, 2016

Govt. seeks new drugs bond

…to discard controversial Albouystown facility Media operatives and Junior Minister of Public Health Dr. Karen Cummings, were on Friday given a tour of the Diamond Supplies Chain Management Complex which is used to store a substantial quantity of the Nation’s medical supplies. During the visit, Dr. Cummings said that the government is currently looking to source its own bond. It wants to stop renting the Sussex Street bond. She said that it has been 10 years since the Diamond bond has been commissioned and it has been serving its purpose in terms of storage. However, she said that the procurement and distribution of drugs by the Public Health sector still needs to be augmented with an additional

Junior Public Health Minister, Dr. Karen Cummings inspecting the bond with an official

A view from inside the Diamond Bond

bond for storage. According to Cummings, there are times when several containers, sometimes as many as four, would arrive with

supplies and the Diamond complex would be overwhelmed. “It can be packed to capacity, so in my mind’s eyes,

Motorcyclist shoots young couple; male in mouth, female in neck A young couple was last evening shot in the Shirley Field Ridley Housing Scheme as they made their way to the home of a close relative. According to information reaching Kaieteur News Troyan Barton, 17, of 198 Dia-

mond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara, and Jhonnick La Rose, 19, were both rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) after being shot in the neck and mouth respectively. A close relative of Barton

disclosed that the couple was heading to the home of La Rose’s mother when a “Rasta man” rode up on a motor cycle and opened fire. The incident, this publication understands, occurred around 20:30 hours.

Lack of DNA capability takes... (From page 3) same samples that should be analyzed or did it get mixedup with some other sample either in Guyana or the country where the testing was done? Was it handled with the care that is required?” The lawyer said it must be emphasized that the samples are very delicate and can easily be damaged or lose its integrity if it is not properly stored and handled. “Because the testing is not done in Guyana and these samples have to travel overseas, it’s difficult for someone in Guyana to authenticate their integrity.” It is precisely for these reasons that the analyst is required to personally attend court to tender the certificate. This person has to travel from overseas. “DNA testing is exorbitant and beyond the means of

most Guyanese.” When it was commissioned in 2014, there had been intentions for the billion-dollar forensic laboratory aback of the University of Guyana, Turkeyen campus to serve several important functions, including bio-fluid and Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) testing. Former Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee had even assured the nation that it would always conform to international standards. However some three years later the lab still has some way to go before it can meet international standards or even perform the aforementioned specialized functions. Earlier this year, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan made it clear that much still had to be done at make the forensic lab capable of conducting certain tests.

One problem the Minister highlighted was the required expertise and level of qualifications of staffers at the lab. The Minister had stated that it was an impediment to the lab performing at its optimum and conducting highly specialized tests. The Minister had noted the lack of adequate facilities and staff among the issues of providing satisfactory DNA services. “But when it comes to blood type and DNA testing, you have to have a surrounding environment like that which is in Trinidad and Jamaica, and we don’t have that.” Over the years, police have consistently had to send bio samples such as blood, hair and even synthetic material to countries like Trinidad and Tobago for testing. This is a process that can sometimes take weeks and even months. As recent as last month, when the skeletal remains of a woman believed to be Babita Sarjou were dug up from a shallow grave in her husband, Sharadananda Narine’s yard, Crime Chief We n d e l l B l a n h u m h a d stated that samples would have to be sent to T&T for DNA testing.

we’re in need of another bond just as a measure of any eventuality.” When asked for an update about the controversial Sussex Street bond, Cummings said that the bond has already started to receive drugs. On the issue of the government’s efforts to find alternatives to the Sussex Street location, she said, “We’re trying to have our own bond because we are renting that, and so as I said before, there are times when we need to have another bond and so we’re thinking of having a second source.” The Diamond bond was commissioned on March 8, 2013. The facility provides services such as distribution, monitoring of drugs and medical supplies in Regional health services. In terms of capacity, the bond is 26,691 square feet of active storage. It is equipped with modern racks and refrig-

eration equipment to store vaccines, including insulin. The construction of the bond was funded through collaboration between the Government of Guyana, the United States Government, the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM). The Government of Guyana financed $120M towards the project. In a recent report published by the Supply Chain Management System, it was noted that the Diamond facility has the capacity to store all of the nation’s drugs and even more. It was even noted by the drafters of the report that the additional space in the bond could be leased to supplement other financial gaps within the Public Health sector. The report estimated that Guyana can earn about $70M from leasing the space of pallet lo-

cations. It was explained that only 1,365 pallets are being utilised to store drugs. Pallets are the base on which drugs are stored for easy movement. The sub-committee that launched an investigation into the Sussex Bond scandal had also acknowledged that the Diamond location can indeed store drugs for the entire nation. However, the committee highlighted other factors which needed to be taken into consideration when using the facility. The committee which comprised Minister of State, Joseph Harmon; Natural Resources Minister, Raphael Trotman; and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, had said that the location of the bond could hamper distribution services. Further, it was reported by the committee that it is not wise or safe to have all of the nation’s drugs in one facility, in case of fire or a natural disaster.

Sunday October 02, 2016

Kaieteur News

PAGE 61

GECOM misled Tender Board on $100M radio order -key procurement staffer listed as living at contractor’s Kitty property Procurement documents of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) pertaining to a controversial $100M purchase of high frequency radios for last year’s national elections are indicating that the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) was deliberately misled. According to the GECOM tender documents, Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield, wrote to NPTAB’s Chairman, Donald De Clou, on April 23, 2015, asking for permission to conduct selective tendering for 50 high frequency Barrett communication radios, complete with accessories. However, GECOM instead collected over 20 of the older Barrett radios and 30 ICOM 718 radios. The mere fact that GECOM collected other than what was permitted would be a

major breach of procurement regulations. It would raise all kinds of questions as to GECOM’s internal controls and who signed off for collecting the radios and authorizing the balance of the monies to be paid to Mobile Authority, the company which was questionably awarded the contract, a source said. A state audit has been launched into the radio purchases with the scope now widened to include hundreds of millions of dollars in other purchases by GECOM, for the elections. There are indications that the questionable spending continued into this year’s Local Government Elections with a number of questionable payments already flagged by auditors. According to GECOM’s procurement documents relating to the radio purchase, Lowenfield insisted in the

letter to NPTAB that the radios are important for communications on Polling Day in far-flung areas that have no telephone services. “Therefore, it is imperative that GECOM establish communication contact in areas where there is no telephone services,” he

Hearing to commence tomorrow at Lethem into mystery plane found at Yupukari The Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the mystery plane that was discovered near the village of Yupukari, in Region Nine (Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo), some weeks ago, will begin its first session of hearing tomorrow, at Lethem. The Commission will be sitting for the remainder of the month from Monday to Friday between 10:00 hours and 15:00 hours at this location. The President, His Excellency David Granger has identified and appointed Brigadier Edward Collins Commissioner to hold a Public Inquiry to investigate the circumstances in which the foreign aircraft entered the country’s territory. He was sworn in before Chief Magistrate, Ann Mc Lennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, on September 28, 2016. It is expected that a Preliminary Report will be submitted on October 17, 2016 and the Final report will be submitted on November 16, 2016. The Terms of Reference of the Inquiry are to thoroughly investigate, examine and report on whether there were any violations of the laws of Guyana; whether the passage of information between the security forces was timely and if there is need for review of the process having regard to the functioning intelligence committee. The commissioner will be reporting to President David Granger on the operational effectiveness of the various agencies of the State and the

adequacy and equipment in the Region; and the coordination among the various agencies of the State, as it relates to the Terms of Reference. Commissioner Collins is inviting persons to submit memoranda, who may have information that could assist the Commission in arriving at its findings, to participate in its deliberations. A Cessna aircraft was discovered hidden near a

Region Nine airstrip on September 14, 2016 at approximately 9:50hrs and reportedly had false registration markings. The aircraft was discovered after security forces received a tip-off the day before the plane was found. It was clear that attempts were made to hide the plane because of the shrubs and other materials used to shield it from prying eyes.

How the plane was hidden when it was discovered.

wrote. He informed Tender Board that three quotations were sourced from reputable suppliers- Mobile Authority, Massy Technologies and Advanced Office Systems Inc. ”With varying prices, Mobile Authority quoted the lowest cost of $99,560,000 and indicated a delivery time of seven working days.” On the spreadsheet attached to the letter, Lowenfield made it clear that it was HF Barrett radios that GECOM wanted. Each radio, he said, would have cost approximately $1.2M from Mobile Authority. State auditors are probing whether those radios supplied by Mobile Authority, a Water Street business owned by Michael Brasse, were ever deployed. From all indications the radios

were not. Rather, many of the radios were still in boxes when auditors d e s c e n d e d o n G E C O M ’s s t o r e s a f e w weeks ago, raising questions about the reasons Lowenfield gave t o Te n d e r B o a r d f o r ordering them in the first place. Insiders said that it would have been logistically impossible for GECOM to collect the radios and have them installed in time for the May 11, 2015 elections. Lowenfield last week insisted that GECOM played little role in the tendering process. He did not indicate that GECOM recommended to Tender Board which company it wanted. Meanwhile, there is evidence that one critical staffer of GECOM, involved in the procurement process, had links to Brasse, a businessman whose entities

received over 40 percent of the $700M-plus worth in contracts doled out last year. According to GECOM’s database, the Expeditor, Charwayne Walker, has his address listed as 58 Garnett Street, Newtown, Kitty. The same address is listed on the database as that of Michael Brasse. It would raise troubling questions about a possible conflict of interest as Walker is one of the main staffers to go out to collect quotes from businesses for supplies and other services. According to established procurement regulations, GECOM can spend below $250,000 without seeking approvals. Between $250,000 and $15M, NPTAB has to grant approval. For spending above $15M, it is both the NPTAB and the Cabinet that have to grant approvals.

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SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.-CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620 Visa Application: U.S.A, C a n a da & UK; Guyana passport application. Graphics design, advertisement. Tel: 6267040; 265-4535. INNOVATIVEMARKETING & PUBLISHING INC –TEL: 600-4212: We create A/ works, logos, business cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included. Passport, permanent & visitor visa application, Professional Immigrant Consultant – Sabita Immigration Services. Call: 225-6496; 662-6045 Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezerCall: 610-5846 or 661-8158 Repairs at low cost: Fridges, air- conditioners, washing machines, TVs, microwaves, freezers- Call:629-4946 or 225-4822 We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer-Call: 231-0655; 683-8734. Omar Trade in your old empty printer ink cartridges for a new full one and pay HP $1500, Canon -$2,000. Call: 690-3883 Need a building contractor? House plan to be drawn or just an Estimate? Then call: 216-0671/ 692-8464/622-0267 RAMDASS VISA APPLICATION & immigration services, room A-4, Maraj Building, Georgetown. Call Samantha: 227-0295; 6159295 Brian Moe @ 642-3543: Computer Technician: FB/ Brian.Moe.165: Home and Office visits at your comfort!!

LEARN TO DRIVE C. Persaud & N. Outar Driving School formerly Soman & Sons Driving School @ Maraj BuildingCall: 644-5166; 622-2872; 6150964; 689-5997 (affordable packages)

Sunday October 02, 2016

Kaieteur News

SALON - Make-up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, etc. - Cosmetology Courses: $120,000 - Technician Course: $45,000. Call: 647-1773/660-5257

PROPERTY FOR SALE

VACANCY

Transported property @ Grove and Diamond $16M negotiable. Call: 625-5461 Transported 2 storey newly renovated building @ 12 Sussex Street Charlestown – Call: 219-1951/659-3597

Cashiers for supermarketCall: 624-0033, salesgirls – Call: 624-0033, Pump attendants –Call: 680-3863

Business/Residential: house & land @ LBI Road Side, prime location, price $60,000,000 negotiable. Contact 669-5820/647-8786 3 7 0 / e m a i l : loveshanaz82@gmail.com Sale & Removal: 1 conventional 1 storey bungalow roof @ Plantation Walk, Vreed-en-Hoop, W.B.D (810.00 sq.ft)- $3M negotiable. Call: 617-1034

TO LET 3 Bedrooms Luxury apartments fully furnished long term and short term rental- Call: 665-3505 Salon Space @ Regent & Orange Walk area. Call: 616-4819

Property @ New Road, W.C.D - land 177’X40’ & house 18’X36’. Call: 226-9788 One Roadside, 2 storey building @ V/Hoop (ideally business/residence). Call: 614-0107

Apartment in Eccles 2 bedrooms, furnished & unfurnished short & long term-$60,000 per month-Call: 225-3234 One bedroom apartment self contained unfurnished @ Land of Canaan E.B.D. Navo: 692-3617/ Bob: 642-0867 2 Bedrooms @ “B” Field Sophia -$50,000 and 3 months advance. Call: 6000036 2 Bedroom Apartment in exclusive residential Airport, close to Ogle Airport , with all modern amenities. Call for appointment 622-5725.

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

Truck driver to travel in and out of the interior, applicants must be experienced. Call: 618-2020 Captains: Valid Certificate of competence as Master of a Power Driven Vessel – Call: 226-1100/ 226-5380 Receptionist, desk staff, security guards (males). Call: 225-0198 or visit 233 South Road, Lacytown. One Trainee A.C, Refrigerator, Technician – Call: 231-0655 General Marketing Enterprise Realty: Real Estate Assistant (salary), Real Estate Agent (commission). Text: 648-2345/ email:gmerealestateagency@ outlook.com Accounts officer/Assistant, must have CXC Accounts – Call: 680-3863/ 624-0033 or email CV: laltag@yahoo.com Driver for water truck - $5,000 daily, plus commission. Call: 680-3863. 1 Cook- Call: 6240033. 1 Maid- Call: 624-0033

Plant care team looking for a hard working team player # 646-2108 DRESSMAKING Jean offers courses in dre s s m a k i n g , c u r t a i n s , floral, cake decoration @ 153 Barr Street Kitty- Call: 670-2653/ 638-8449

1- Two bedrooms house located in Triumph E.C.D, preferably working couple $50,000 negotiable. Call: 6154178/220-4194 2-2 Bedrooms @ C/Lodge E.C.D, 1-3 Bedrooms & 1-2 bedrooms @ Lagrange, W.B.D. Call: 697-1151/6190673

Ramnarine Mining Enterprise: welders, operators & labourers –Call: 679-0550/ 624-0501

Driver, must be over 35 years, Patient, Punctual & love to drive # 648-1821

2 Bedrooms apartment at Industry – Call: 679-0749 for details. Stylish comfortable 2 bedrooms apartment for vocation rental. Web: Airbnb Georgetown, FB: Prestige Property Vocational Rental. Call: 592-678-6690

Site, safety & electrical engineer- experienced need, age 25-45, very good salary & conditions. Call: 261-2280; 261-2280; 697-4344

CAR RENTAL PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS& SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 643-5122, 6560087 , EMAIL: PRO_ AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO. COM WINGS CAR & PICKUP RENTAL: LOW DOWN PAYMENT, CHEAP REATES,SPECIAL OFFER FOR THE SUMMER. CALL: 690-6494

One experienced cook is required to assist with house chores, must be older than 35yrs. Call: 617-9883 General domestic, between ages 25-35yrs, attractive salary. Call: 677-8236 from9:00-5:00

CAR RENTAL DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL: 4WD PICKUP, CHEAPEST RATE & SPECIAL RATE FOR LONG TERM. CALL: 698-7807

VEHICLE FOR SALE 1 Toyota Noah BSS seriesCall: 653-8791 Oswin J’s Auto Imports; New Arrivals: Premio, Allion, Fielder, Axio, Rush, X-Trail. Free full coverage insurance. Call: 609-2815 RZ, Pit Bull, 212 Carina, IST, Verossa, Suzuki Vitaera, Premio, Allion, Fielder Wagon, Spacio- Call: 6507501/ 616-2577 2010 PREMIO -$3.3M, 2010 SIENTA- $2.5M, 2011 ALLION-$3.4M, 2010 ARIUS -$2.5M (NEGOTIABLE) UNREGISTERED & FULLY LOADED. CALL: 642-7295 AT192, 212, Allion, Premio, Hilux Surf, BRR, RZ & Pitbull, Pajero Junior, Spacio: Cash / terms- Call:680-3154 We buy & sell vehicles for cash, also parts available & 30 seater buses; Extra Cab pickups; 2006 Tacoma- Call: 680-3154 Nissan Murano (silver) 2005. Call: 667-3763/ 641-0911 One RZ mini bus for sale BKK 7473 in working condition, (papers intact) $1M negotiable. Call: 6585897/673-2692 Ford F150 2011, FX4 4X4 fully loaded, automatic, leather interior, silver, DVD, EXT cab. Call: 610-5370 Unregistered Corolla Fielder 2009, Axela 2011, dark interior, rims, TV, navigator, rear spoiler. Call: 617-5536 One Toyota Verossa $2.550M negotiable. Call: 6140694 One 2002 Toyota Allion, PSS series, well maintained, owner migrating, asking $1.9M firm. Call: 621-0712 2 Model M trucks in excellent condition, price $3M/$4M each – Call: 621-6056/6222620/226-0022 Unregistered Bluebird 2011 Model, Tiida Latio 2010 model, Rush 2006 model( TV, Reverse Camera). Call: 6553400 Benz, Honda Accord Escalade 2012, Jet ski, truck, canter, bus, ATV- 700cc. Call: 628-5000 One pit-bull BTT series, in good condition, alarm, etc, price $2.8M negotiable. Call: 685-9787/ 612-3456 FOR SALE/RENT House for rent/ sale @ Lot 107 Durbana Square Lamaha Gardens with 5 bedrooms large parking. Call: 661-8908

FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. Cargo Trawler. Call: 682-8724; 616-5954 Pools table for sale/rent & land for sale in Bath Settlement. Call: 616-0398 1 Medium scale mining block for sale in Cuyuni Mining District, approximately 900 Acres -$3M negotiable. Call: 658-5897/673-2692 Riverside property @ Roeden-Rust, East Bank Essequibo. Call: 266-2217/ 617-6203 Pit-bull pups for sale; 9 weeks old- Call: 693-3010 For sale/ Joint Venture: Gold & Diamond land, Joint venture partnership @ Ekereou, Parish Hill, Berbice -$10M required. Call: 6000036/223-1273 Pools table cloth, balls, cue stick, coins, coinshute, pocket, rubber, chalk, springs, tips, spots. Call:6699927 1000 Acres of land situated on the Corentyne. Call- 6570992 Combination safe W 20X45 L. Call: 643-6312/226-6848 Items for sale: doors, wares, used clothing &living room suites. Please call for any inquiry on: 231-1284 One driving AT170 Corona for scrap, no reasonable offer refused. Call: 649-9126 Sale on foxtail palms, silver palms, red palms, Christmas trees, hibiscus, etc. Call:6875631/216-2199 Evergreen Plantshop. House & land at Belle West (W.B.D), one miller welding plan and generator (portable on trailer). Call: 622-3468 1 Used QC DVR 16 Channel $30,000, 1 Heir Fridge $35,000, 1 GE washer $35,000. Call: 646-0966; 6972969 33.6 Acres farm land @ Kuru Kururu, Linden Soesdyke Highway. Call: 679-1151/6190673 Vehicle lights, parts, mud flap and bumper on sale: Premio, Allion, Bus, Spacio, Raum, 212 Rav 4. Call:628-5000 FOR SALE/RENT American Pool Table. Call: 277-0578 Continued on page 63

Sunday October 02, 2016

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Kaieteur News

Beneficiaries laud GPHC’s heart surgery programme It would perhaps be one of the toughest decisions for any parent to agree to have his or her newborn undergo a major operation, even if it could be life-saving. After all, medical officials usually make it clear that such surgeries could be risky. It was therefore no surprise that Vunita and Rabindra Kissoon, of Alexander Village, Georgetown repeatedly questioned themselves when they decided to make such a major decision. Their newborn baby girl – Naiyah Kissoon – was just 20 days old when she went under the knife to correct a troubling heart condition she was born with. According to Vunita, she gave birth to her second child at a private hospital where the heart murmur was detected. She was referred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC’)s Paediatric Surgery Unit which has been offering free heart surgeries over the past few years at no cost to patients. Surgeries are performed by cardiac experts attached to the United States-based International Children’s Heart Foundation which is known as the Baby Heart Foundation. The Foundation’s lead Surgeon is a very reputable Paediatric Surgeon, Dr. Rodrigo Soto, who is supported by a team including a number of experts

From page 62 LAND FOR SALE 260 acres of titled Prime land good for farming located @ Susannah Vi l l a g e , Corentyne Berbice. Call: 617-6869/ 653-5479 La Parfaite Harmonie $800,000, $3.2M, Diamond $3.2M, Loo Creek (front) $7M, Saxacalli, F a r m , Kuribrong, La Grange 37X600. Call: 231-7805/ 618-7483 30 Acres at Yarrowkabra Linden, Soesdyke Highway. Creek available. Call: 695-9718/ 661-5033 (serious inquiries)

Ms Kendra Johnson poses for a photo with Paediatric Surgeon, Dr. Rodrigo Soto. who volunteer their time to the cause. Baby Heart has already been introduced to more than 30 countries around the world. The programme is one that not only offers paediatric cardiac care but also training to local medical personnel in

an attempt to develop a skilled paediatric surgery team. According to Vunita, her baby girl was only 16 days old when she was registered to gain the expert attention of the Baby Heart Foundation team. Her condition was deemed (Continued on page 64)

La Parfaite Harmonieland for sale at reduced prices for a few days only, 80ftX45ft -$1.1M & $1.3M. Call:658-5897/6732692 La Parfaite Harmonie: $1.2M, $1.6M, $1.8M, Tuschen School Street- $3M, reduced price and terms available. Call: 604-6724 LAND IN 11 STREET DIAMOND. CALL: 2253234

WANTED 1 Experienced Chief Security Officer to manage a security concern. Attractive salary & benefits.Apply by Sending message/ WhatsApp: 6444284 One masseur or masseuse to function four times a week. Text message to 6969386 Security to work in the Interior & G/Town, ex-military an asset, age 35-50. Call: 6251413/226-9768/698-7083 Experienced Diesel Mechanic to work in Interior with Perkins, Deutz engine & Doosan excavator knowledge. Call: 625-1413/ 226-9768/698-7083 1 Male cook in the Interior. Call: 678-0565 Cleaners to work at Bourda Market, shift system, apply in person- Call: 218-1455 Garden pool maintenance worker wanted, send application to 66 Brummel Place or email: stute@minrel.gob.cl One male to work on chicken farm in the Interior, must have knowledge of chicken rearing. Call: 680-2702 Handymen/gardener; must be 25-35yrs old, honest & reliable. Call: 601-2622 1 Experienced general domestic, must know to prepare all Indian Dishes, must be trustworthy & have pleasant personality – Call: 615-3379 1 Male or female to look after layer birds in the Interior. Call:678-0565 One Lorry driver, experienced in selling water. Call: 678-1234 Waitress to work in bar, age 18-30, please walk with ID. Call: 221-2785 Carnegie trained cook, male & female workers, bond clerk, accountants & maid. Contact RA Soda Factory: 330-2399/ 623-5920/330-2772 One experienced & honest snackette attendant/ salesgirl. Call: 666-3569/ 6984288/226-5793 One car/van driver with mechanical experienced (an asset). Call: 227-1830/227-1813 Carpenters to work in LindenCall: 602-9469

FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Hair station for rental, convenient location, discounted price for new customers. Call: 638-1106 Business bottom flat for rent in New Road, Vreed-enHoop. Call: 227-4377/ 2270613/ 624-6013 Upper flat for rent 3 bedrooms in Atlantic Gardens- Call: 227-4377/2270613/624-6013 Prime business premises (bottom flat) for rental at 13 Vlissengen Road, Newtown Kitty, G/Town. Call: 618-3002 SELF CONTAINED: FREE WI-FI, ELECTRICITY, CABLE @ RESIDENTIAL LOCATION, OPPOSITE THE HARBOR BRIDGE$35,000-CALL: 643-8080; 622-1364 Business apartment for rent, grocery & beer garden, snackette include a glass case, warmer & stove @ 7 Durban Street Lodge. Call: 690-5796 1-3 Bedrooms house in Grove Housing Scheme, modern convenience, semifurnished. Call: 266-2911/6722121 Spacious bottom flat in Prime Business area- Call: 226-1647 One bedroom apartment to rent at Fourth Field, Cummings Lodge, UG. Call: 222-0401 One bedroom bottom flat located in Great Diamond, E.B.D, single or couple $35,000- Call: 216-0146/ 6858513 2 Bedrooms apartment at Prince William Street Plaisance, just over the line top. Call: 672-4775/ 6885644 VACANCY Drivers needed, must have a valid bus & lorry license. Call: 627-0688 WANTED Female worker wanted sound secondary education, computer literate-Tel: 6225518

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Sunday October 02, 2016

Beneficiaries laud GPHC’s heart surgery programme From page 63 an emergency. Vunita stressed that although it was difficult to accept that her newborn needed the urgent medical care she felt comfortable enough with the Baby Heart Foundation experts to grant them permission to operate.

“She is doing well,” said an elated Vunita of her baby daughter yesterday as she proclaimed, “at this moment I know we made the right decision.” But immediately after surgery, Vunita said that she became very emotional when she saw her tiny baby

attached to many tubes. “It was devastating at first to see her like that...but I am happy because I know my baby got the help she needed...now we know for sure she is getting better. We are very happy and blessed,” Vunita asserted yesterday. Naiyah Kissoon was able

to undergo open heart surgery at the GPHC and is arguably the youngest patient to undergo such an operation here in Guyana. Meanwhile, the oldest patient that the team has operated on is 39-year-old Kendra Johnson. Johnson during an interview with this publication yesterday revealed that she was just about eight years old when doctors observed a hole in her heart. The discovery was made after she developed a fever that seemed to persist with no explanation. Johnson recalled that by the age of 13 her mother was able to raise money to have her travel overseas for medical attention. But her woes were not over. Her life was characterised by visiting the hospital regularly and taking medication constantly. In fact it persisted until March when she was attended to by the Baby Heart Foundation team. According to Johnson, ever since she underwent open heart surgery her quality of life has improved immensely. In fact she is confident that her decision to take advantage of the Baby Heart Foundation expertise has put her in a position to enjoy life with

A recovering Baby Naiyah Kissoon takes a nap her three children. “At first I couldn’t walk certain distance without getting shortness of breath and having to take a seat. Now I am doing better...” She revealed how her nine-year-old daughter who had plans to become a doctor to “cure me” has now decided she will be a lawyer instead since I am much better. “This service is free of cost and the doctors are so very professional...They treat you like a human being who has worth. “They are always at

your side...even the team at the GPHC they are just as nice,” related Johnson as she recommended that anyone with a heart condition opt to take advantage of the Baby Heart Foundation supported service at the GPHC. “Anybody with a heart condition I am saying give them (GPHC) a chance. I think Government should continue to work with them because they are good...I had no fear; I had complete confidence in them,” Johnson added.

Overseas foundation to help... (From page 18) care, through the expertise of mainly volunteer medical practitioners, to 33 countries and has thus far completed

in excess of 9,000 surgeries. Its contributions to these countries have allowed for many of them to eventually offer crucial paediatric ser-

vices independently. On Friday, ahead of their departure, members of the Baby Heart Foundation together with the GPHC treated their young patients to a funfilled time at the Thomas Lands, Georgetown African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA) headquarters.

Sunday October 02, 2016

Kaieteur News

Barbados key to Cuba investment Daily Nation - Barbados is holding one of the keys to a likely investment surge in Cuba. With the United States having eased restrictions on the Spanish-speaking Caribbean island, Bruce Zagaris, a prominent American tax attorney who has long-standing working relationship with Barbados, said the island was well poised to act as “an intermediary for foreign investment” in Cuba. This is even though Zagaris pointed to the “cautionary” note of foreign investors being prosecuted in Cuba, including one investor who incorporated an international business company here in 2001 before doing business with the Cubans. In a new analysis on investing in Cuba, the lawyer said “the potential investors who may want to access Cuba from Barbados will include, especially in the near term, hotels and other businesses engaged in tourism and related activities”. This included “transportation, as well as enterprises involved in telecommunications, building and construction, financial services, and agriculture”. Importantly, all

Bruce Zagaris

of these activities “are also all liberalised under the revised US sanctions,” he explained. Zagaris said much of the potential advantage for foreign investors in Cuba using Barbados as a conduit for such investments “results from the fact that Barbados has both a double tax agreement and a bilateral investment treaty with Cuba, and that the CARICOM and Cuba have a Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement”. “As of June 1, 2011, Cuba had income tax treaties with Austria, Barbados, China, Portugal, Qatar, Russia, Spain, Venezuela, and Vietnam. The trea-

ties with China, Portugal and Vietnam only apply to income while the others apply to both income and capital. Of those treaties the one with Barbados is among those potentially useful for planning purposes,” he noted. “The 1999 Barbados-Cuba Income Tax Treaty applies to personal income tax and tax on profits in Cuba. “Significantly, the DTA does not have treaty abuse provisions. It means that significant planning opportunities exist if foreign investors want to engage in tax planning through Barbados entities. Cuba also has a bilateral investment agreement with Barbados and Barbados is also a signatory of the CARICOM-Cuba Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement. In terms of Cuba’s overall investment potential, Zagaris said “as the economic liberalisation in Cuba continues, the traditional investors, including Canadians, Europeans and Latin Americans, are likely to deepen their own investments as the income of Cuban people increases and as more non-Cubans start spending time in Cuba for second homes and extended visits”.

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Sunday October 02, 2016

Shaw: Public sector pension reform remains a commitment

Finance and the Public Service Minister Audley Shaw (centre) laughs at a comment from Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) President Paul Scott (right) during the annual pensions seminar at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston on Thursday. At left is Prime Asset Management Limited’s Chief Executive Officer Rezworth Burchenson. (Photo: Jamaica Observer) Jamaica Observer - Minister of Finance and the Public Service Audley Shaw says the Government remains committed to implementing the proposed contributory publicsector pension scheme by April 2017. Pension reform is a structural benchmark under the four-year International Monetary Fund Extended Fund Facility. The Bill to formalise proposals for the reform arrangements was retabled by Minister Shaw in the House of Representatives in August. It proposes, among other things, that Government workers contribute five per cent of their salary towards their pension and that benefits be computed using an average of the

final five years of the beneficiary’s salary, instead of the final pay as now obtains. Additionally, retirees would be given the option of receiving one quarter of their entitlements with reduced or full pension benefits. Addressing a Prime Asset Management Limited’s pension seminar at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston Thursday, Minister Shaw said the reform is necessary as the Government “can no longer afford a noncontributory scheme”. He noted that the annual pension bill is $26 billion, and that the figure is growing. Meanwhile, Shaw said he is looking to consult with private sector representatives on how best the private sec-

tor pension regime can be improved. “I think it is important... and in the same way that we are reforming different areas, that (private sector regime) needs (to be) reformed,” he pointed out. Shaw also said that consideration will be given to incentivising the process “so that companies will be eager to put their own pension plans in place”. The seminar was jointly staged with the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica under the theme ‘Mandatory Pensions: averting the retirement crisis of tomorrow’. It focused on exploring and discussing workable and sustainable pension solutions for retirees.

Sunday October 02, 2016

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Sunday October 02, 2016

Millions To Battle Frosty Pod Rot The Gleaner - The Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries will spend $150 million over the next three years to eradicate the frosty pod rot disease that is affecting the local cocoa industry. Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Karl Samuda said the disease, which was first detected in Clarendon, could result in crop losses of between 70 and 80 per cent of production and would have a devastating effect on the industry. Samuda was speaking late last week at a press briefing held at the ministry offices in New Kingston. “In late August, a cocoa farmer in Clarendon observed a fungal disease that looked different from black pod in his field and reported his observation to the Cocoa Industry Board (CIB),” Samuda said. He explained that the Research and Development Division of the ministry tentatively identified the fungal disease as frosty pod rot, and this was confirmed by the diagnostic lab of CAB International, located in the United Kingdom. The disease, which is highly contagious, is caused by the fungus

Karl Samuda

Moniliophthora roreri, which invades actively growing cocoa pods, damaging them and the seeds they produce. This is the first time the disease has been confirmed in the Caribbean. Samuda said the situation is grave because it threatens one of the finest crops grown locally. To contain and eradicate the disease, the ministry and the CIB, with support from the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture, will put measures in place to assist cocoa farmers across Jamaica, the minister said. Samuda is imploring farmers to be vigilant and to re-

port all cases or suspected cases of the disease immediately to the Plant Quarantine Unit or other departments of the ministry. Persons may contact the Rural Agricultural Development Authority’s toll free number at 888-275-7232; the Research and Development Division at Bodles, St Catherine, at 754-2957; the Cocoa Industry Board at 9236413; and the Plant Quarantine Protection Unit at 5885844. Farmers are also being encouraged to use the WhatsApp number 435-5828 to send pictures where it is suspected that the disease has infected a crop or farm.

Sunday October 02, 2016

Kaieteur News

Lyght brilliant hundred keeps Georgetown well set for outright win West Berbice shows fight in second innings A brilliant hard hitting century by the pugnacious Andrew Lyght Junior and half centuries by Sunil Singh and Robin Bacchus have taken Georgetown on the brink of an outright win against the hapless West Berbice. At the end of the second day’s play of their Jaguar Franchise cricket match being played at the Cumberland Ground, East Canje West Berbice chasing 439 for victory were 112-2. This was after Georgetown had declared on 308-6. West Berbice who began the second day on 109 for 9 in reply to Georgetown 243 were soon dismissed for 113 with Collis Butts unbeaten on

13. Beginning their second innings with a healthy lead o f 1 3 0 , Ly g h t m i x e d aggressing with good batting as he and fellow opener Bacchus 50 (7x4, 2x6) set upon the ordinary West Berbice bowling on the small ground in their hunt for quick runs. He and Robin Bacchus blazed away for a 98 run opening stand before Bacchus went. Lyght was joined by Singh 52 (8x4) as they continued the onslaught for a 132 runs second wicket partnership before Lyght went caught for a well composed 119 at 230-2. Kellon Carmichael made a quick fire 26 (3x4, 2x6). Bowing for West Berbice

Keryon Fraser and Andrew Dutchin picked up two wickets each. West Berbice in their second turn at the crease were putting up a fight as they ended on 112-2. They lost an early wicket with the score on 15, but opener Aviskar Sewkarran with an unbeaten 59 (9x4) and Dutchin 29 (2x4) put together 75 which saw then taking the score to 90 before Dutchin fell caught at the wicket. The other not out batsman is Brenthnol Woolford on 8. West Berbice need another 327 runs to win. Chris Barnwell and Singh have so far taken one wicket each.

Sunday October 02, 2016 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Alienation may be the result of a misunderstanding. Try to ease any disappointment by making amends. Try not to get backed into corners. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Children might be on your mind. Don't hesitate to make special plans just for two. You might get behind if you spend too much time debating senseless issues. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) When the work is done, they may serve you for a change. Your diplomatic approach and rather outgoing nature will enhance your reputation and bring you the support you need. You will enjoy getting together with friends. CANCER (June 21–July 22) Direct your energy wisely. You would be wise to consider attending lectures that will broaden your awareness concerning your professional direction. Friends and relatives can give you good advice. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) You will be able to work with fine detail today. If you can work at home, do so. Romance is likely if you participate in unusual forms of entertainment. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) You may win favors if you present your ideas and include your family. Proceed with caution if operating equipment or vehicles.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You may want to plan physical activities that will help burn off some of their excess energy. Refuse to let others make unrealistic demands of you. Your dramatic nature may be too much to handle. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Romance will unfold through business trips. Take your time and try not to overload yourself. Travel will promote new romantic encounters and additional cultural knowledge. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Catch up on overdue phone calls and correspondence. You should socialize with clients or upper echelons of your industry if possible. CAPRI (Dec.22–Jan.19) If you join intellectual or cultural groups, you should meet individuals who stimulate you. Don't make excuses. Try not to argue about trivial matters. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) You may have a problem at work with a female coworker. Don't let them blame you. Relatives will not agree with the way you are dealing with your personal problems. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Take special care in any home improvement project you work on today, you'll be glad you did. Loss or theft may occur if you are careless with your belongings.

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Best of the Best President Cup... (From page 68) turn back the challenge of newly imported Bourbon Bullet imported from the USA and running out of the Jagdeo stable. The winner will race away with a lucrative $1.5M along with the Best of the Best President Cup from a total package of $3M. The inform Release the Beast will be looking for another win, but will have to be firing on all cylinders against the likes of Right To Rule, Light Up Canada, Because I say So and Firing Line for the first prize of $800,000 and trophy over 1200M among the D3 maiden and E and lower horses. The 3 year old Guyana Bred horses will be running for a winners money of $400,000 and trophy with

Ready For Romance, Caricom Dancer, Golden Kiss, Malyia, Secret Thinker and Country Boy in contention over 1200M. The lineup has been quietly settled for the for the F class 1700M event with Good Will Boy, Keep on Swinging, Campador, It’s My Choice, Mid Night Blues, It’s My Turn and Quiet Strom among others lining up for the winners pocket of $400,000 and trophy. The H3 maiden and I and lower 1300M event for the $260,000 first prize and trophy will see Jumbo Gift, Bird man, Super Bowl, Amazing Run, Mansoon, Anfield, She So Special and Mary Ann among those competing. The contentious two year old 1100M event for Guyana

Plaisance claw back to... (From page 71) the home fans. In the first match of the afternoon, Bachelors Adventure Paradise Sports Club, the reigning East Demerara Football Association Under-17 champions romped to a 3-1 win over a determined BV Triumph United side. Ronaldo Morgan put the winners ahead very early in the piece when he nudged home past BV custodian Shawn Cudjoe in the 10th minute. But like they have shown throughout the league so far, they {BVTU}are a determined unit despite giving up size to most of their opponents. The little lads allowed the ball to do the work with their short passes and smart plays in attack and defence. Their stout play is reflected in the time between goals. As a matter of fact, BV it was that dominated the exchanges for the first 25 minutes of the second half but just could not put the ball away. However, Bachelors Adventure doubled their advantage on 65 minutes when Tishawn Gordon netted the first of his double. Ten minutes later, BV pulled one back with a powerfully taken shot from Jerome Robinson that

sailed past goalkeeper Holder to his disgust. But Bachelor’s Adventure did not leave anything to chance as they scored another goal to restore the twogoal advantage when Gordon tucked in his second of the match with 5 minutes to full time. Two more matches would be contested today at the same venue.

and West Indies bred horses has $260,000 and trophy to aim for with Miss Olympic, Miss Silence, Princess Saria, Supreme Cat, Awesome Cash, Flash Again, Mischievous Maker, Cutty Tail, Seven Dust, She Is In Control competing. There is a race for animals classified 12 and J class and lower over 1500M with Daddy’s Dollar, Savion, Party Time, Affinity, Slim Shady, Massaquita Dr and She So Special among others looking to win the $200,000 and trophy. There will be a ding dong battle in the L and lower 1100M event as the likes of Royal Control, Another time, Mystery man, Blondie, Royal Stallion, Daddy Dollar, Secret Escape, Cat Woman, Iron Man, Flow Jo, Amazon Warrior and Confusion set to go for the $140,000 and trophy. Outstanding jockeys, trainers and stable will be presented with incentives compliments of Trophy Stall and the organisers. The main sponsors include Banks DIH Limited, Jumbo Jet, Trophy Stall, Kris Jagdeo Construction Company, Delmur Shipping Company, Inshan Bacchus Trucking Service, BK International and Poonai’s Pharmacy. Race time is 12:30hrs.

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Sunday October 02, 2016

Scotiabank CFU Men’s Caribbean Cup 2016

Golden Jaguars name 22; 5 newcomers included Five newcomers are in a Golden Jaguars shortlist of twenty-two players of which twenty will be selected for the upcoming Scotiabank CFU Men’s Caribbean Cup 2016 engagements against Suriname (October 8th in Paramaribo) and Jamaica (11th at Leonora Track and Field Facility Guyana). Making a return is skipper Christopher Nurse who missed out on the last round of matches when Guyana lost to Curacao and defeated US Virgin Islands in Round 2 in June. Unfortunately top midfielder Neil Danns is injured and is out and so too are strikers Sheldon Holder, E m e r y We l s h m a n a n d Canada based goalkeeper, Anthony Whyte. While Canada based schoolboy Shaquille Agard could not get enough time off from school and Devon Millington, Gregory Richardson and Kester Jacobs have all made themselves unavailable. Instead, Coach Shabazz has invited USA based schoolboys, winger Cash London who plays for Cal Poly San Luis in California, goalkeeper Andrew Nestor who plays for St. Francis in Brooklyn New York and Anani Mohammed who recently signed with Mexican Second Division team Atalante. There are two additional surprise call ups in Kai McKenzie Lyle, a 6ft 5 “ goalkeeper who plays for Barnett in the English Division Two and USA born midfielder Warren Creavalle who plays for the Philadelphia Union in the MLS. Finland based Walter Moore, Adrian Butters, Jake Newton, Samuel Cox, Brandon Beresford and UK based striker Marcel Barrington completes a list of 13 foreign based players.

While eight local based including Alpha FC’s Alex Murray, Colin Nelson, Dwight Peters, Daniel Wilson, Pernel Schultz, the indefatigable A nthony ‘Awo’ Abrams, Slingerz’s standout Vurlon Mills and Elite League MVP Trayon Bobb completes the twentytwo. The squad will be trimmed to 20 but Coach Shabazz has decided to await the arrival of a host of overseas based players and will announce the final squad after sessions with his full unit on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Golden Jaguars Head Coach stated: “ There is no time to cry or complain over what should or did not happen regarding our preparation. It’s all about approaching the job with a positive mindset and giving of our best to get the result. ”The thing I love about football is when you have your full squad bonded, united and ready to go, you kiss your troubles goodbye and look forward to fighting for three points. ”Instinctively when Jaguars are hungry they have to go and hunt therefore if we are hungry for success, the Golden Jaguars too must battle for it, he added. The full squad reads: Goalkeepers - Kai McKenzie Lyle, Andrew N e s t o r, A l e x M u r r a y Defenders - Jake Newton, Samuel Cox, Quincy Adams, Walter ‘Boyd’ Moore, Adrian Butters, Colin Nelson, Anani M o h a m m e d Midfielders - Dwight Peters, Cash London, Trayon Bobb, Christopher Nurse, Brandon Beresford, Warren Creavalle, Daniel Wilson, Kevin Beaton Forwards - Anthony ‘Awo’ Abrams, Vurlon Mills, Marcel Barrington, Pernel Schultz

Kaieteur News

Sunday October 02, 2016

PAGE 71

Buoyant Pakistan look to ride winning momentum ESPNcricinfo - A change of formats has not brought a change in fortune for a faltering West Indies side. Having been blanked out in the T20I series, they lost the first ODI in Sharjah by 111 runs. While West Indies continued to struggle to get enough runs on the board in spin-friendly UAE conditions, Pakistan would be cheered that many of their younger players are at the forefront of the winning momentum they are starting to build. Among those young

guns is 21-year-old toporder batsman Babar Azam, who stroked his maiden international century in the first ODI. Opener Sharjeel Khan and left-arm spinners I m a d Wa s i m a n d Mohammad Nawaz are other less experienced players who have shown signs that they may have bright careers ahead of them. For the time being, they are fueling Pakistan’s progress and West Indies’ demise in a tour that has so far been utterly one-sided. For West Indies, one of

Hamilton storms to pole in Malaysia SEPANG, MALAYSIA (Reuters) World champion Lewis Hamilton seized a dominant pole position in qualifying for the Malaysian Formula One Grand Prix with a storming lap yesterday that was almost the fastest ever at the Sepang circuit. The Briton lapped the 5.5-kilometre track in a stunning one minute 32.850, less than half a second off the quickest lap set by Fernando Alonso in 2005 during the V10engine era, on a hot but overcast evening. “Just a huge thank you to the team who continue through the whole year to improve,” Hamilton, chasing his 50th career win, told reporters. “Great work done coming into this weekend… today the car felt fantastic. I really enjoyed the lap. (But) could’ve been faster,” he added. The pole was the 57th of Hamilton’s career and eighth of the season. It was also his Mercedes team’s 51st pole from 54 races. The German squad have started all but one race from pole this year. H a m i l t o n ’ s championship-leading team mate Nico Rosberg will start alongside him in second after a scrappy lap that was 0.414 seconds off Hamilton’s mark and only slightly faster than Max Verstappen, who was third quickest for Red Bull. German Rosberg, who has an eight-point advantage over Hamilton in the overall standings, had a strong start to the weekend. He topped Friday’s opening session but could not match his team mate when it really mattered, making mistakes at the

altered final corner on his flying lap. “Lewis’s lap was very quick so it was always going to be difficult,” he said. “I would’ve come close but unfortunately I had a mistake in the last corner. Something just wasn’t going right in the last corner,” said the 31-year-old. Australian Daniel Ricciardo will start today’s race alongside Red Bull team mate Verstappen from the second row. Sebastian Vettel, winner in Malaysia last year, leads an all Ferrari third row in fifth ahead of team mate Kimi Raikkonen. Sergio Perez and Nico Hulkenberg put their Force India squad on course to extend their lead over Williams in their battle for fourth in the standings. They will start seventh and eighth, while the Grove-based squad’s drivers Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas line up 10th and 11th. Jenson Button will start his 300th grand prix ninth after making it through to the final part of qualifying in his McLaren. Hamilton heads into today’s race chasing his 50th career win and hoping to end Rosberg’s streak of three wins from the last three races. “As we know from this year second place doesn’t mean victo r y i s n o t possible tomorrow,” said Rosberg who seized the lead from pole-sitter Hamilton at last month’s Italian Grand Prix and went on to win. “We’ve seen that so many times so still very optimistic for tomorrow.” Mercedes look set to clinch their third straight constructors’ title today.

the main stumbling blocks has been their failure to put up competitive totals on tracks that are not conducive to their free-spirited, bighitting game. As captain J a s o n H o l d e r acknowledged, they need to rotate the strike better and show the application to build an innings. A win in the second ODI would seal the three-match series for Pakistan, but there is more riding on it than that. A 3-0 series victory for Pakistan would displace West Indies from the No. 8 position in the ODI rankings. As both teams eye direct qualification for the 2019 World Cup (for which they would need to be in the top eight on September 30, 2017) such encounters acquire added significance. In the spotlight In the opening ODI, Pakistan captain Azhar Ali nicked the first ball of the match, and his first of the tour, to depart for a golden

Babar Azam © Getty Images duck. Azhar, who averages 38.69 in 26 ODIs as captain, will be under mounting pressure to prove that he can juggle the responsibilities of captaincy and opening the batting. At issue is not just whether he can churn out enough runs, but whether he can do so at a strike rate in tune with the new brand of cricket that coach Mickey Arthur wants to inculcate in his charges. Given that Azhar had earlier declined

the PCB’s request to relinquish the captaincy and focus on his batting, he would doubtless feel he has a point to prove. While Holder has spoken of the need for his batsmen to play spin better, he would also want more from his own lead spinner, Sunil Narine. After going wicketless in the T20I series, Narine returned figures of 1 for 58 in 10 overs in the first ODI. He was outbowled not only by teammate Sulieman Benn but also by Pakistan’s far less experienced spinners. If it is unrealistic to expect West Indies’ batsmen to dramatically improve against spin overnight, then at least a better showing by Narine could narrow the gap between the sides. Team news Umar Akmal must be itching to break back into the ODI side, but Pakistan are unlikely to change their winning combination as they seek to build consistency

and stability in their limitedovers set-up. I n We s t I n d i e s ’ continuing quest for toporder runs, they may consider replacing the scratchy Kraigg Brathwaite, who made his ODI debut in the first match, with Jonathan Carter or Evin Lewis. The rest of the XI is not expected to change much. Pitch and conditions Nearly 80 minutes were lost due to a floodlight failure during the first ODI. With Sharjah set to host the second match as well, it is hoped that those issues have been adequately tackled. The weather has been consistently hot and the pitch is likely to be similar in nature to that of the first match. Expect a flat, battingfriendly surface with assistance on offer for disciplined spin bowling. Given the afternoon heat, bowling first might be best avoided.

GCB Jaguars 3-day League

Fudadin follows up 1st inns 92 with unbeaten 101 By Sean Devers Assad Fudadin followed up his 92 in the first innings with an unbeaten 101 on day two of the sixth round of the GCB Jaguars three-day Franchise League yesterday at Everest to leave Upper Corentyne in a commanding position to beat East Bank on the final day today. Playing in his first game since his return from the preparations for the Sri Lanka one-day series, Fudadin reached the boundary 10 times from 148 balls and 262 minutes and shared in a 121-run fifth wicket stand with Clinton Pestano whose pugnacious 84 was decorated with four fours and seven sixes and lasted 144 balls and 63 minutes as Upper Corentyne rattled up 286-7 declared in reply to East Bank 97-9 declared to deny the Berbicians an extra bowling point. By the close East Bank, set 411 to win, were 24-2 w i t h o ff - s p i n n e r E o n Hooper, who captured his fourth five-wicket haul in the League, picking up one of the wickets to fall to move

Clifton Pestano clobbers Steven Jacobs (4-63) for six during his explosive 84 at Everest yesterday. (Sean Devers photo) to 32 wickets so far. Resuming on 74-4 East Bank lost their last five wickets for 20 runs after Danny Narayan failed to add to his overnight 30 and Tevin Imlach fell for 10. Hooper had 5-13 and got support from Keon Sinclair 3-29. Fudadin and Jason Sinclair (45) added 77 for the second wicket before Sinclair was LBW to Steven Jacobs on the stroke of Lunch with the score on 792. After the interval Anthony Bramble (19) was LBW to Sherfane Rutherford at 113-5 before Fudadin and Pestano tore the bowling to shreds as the score raced to 202-5 by Tea

with both batsmen on 64. Pestano had reached his 50 from just 47 balls with five sixes and two fours before Fudadin got to his half-century from 71 balls with five boundaries. After Tea, Pestano climbed into to both Rutherford and Jacobs, while Fudadin was equally dismissive as their partnership flourished at a rapid rate. With the score on 234, Pestano missed a sweep and was LBW to Jacobs before the versatile Hooper was removed by Jacobs for 24 at 276-7. When Fudadin, who again batted with tremendous confidence reached his century, Upper

Corentyne declared. Jacobs finished with 463 and Rutherford 3-50. Today East Bank will hope to bat out the entire day with 387 still needed for an improbable win with eight wickets in hand. Meanwhile, at the Imam Bacchus ground in Essequibo, Essequibo rattled up 484 all out. Rayon Fredericks top scored with 87 while Kemo Paul struck 82, Ricardo A d a m s 7 3 , Av i n a s h Persaud 72 and Anthony Adams hit 61. Bowling for East Coast Demerara, Steven Sankar claimed 5/152 and Ameer Khan 2/73. East Coast were 2/1 at the close of play.

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Sunday October 02, 2016

Kaieteur News

A. Ally and Sons Basketball final on today under lights in Berbice All is set for the final of the inaugural A. Ally and Sons first division inter club Basketball competition for teams in Berbice between top teams New Amsterdam Warriors and Rose Hall Town Jammers. The match is set for today at the Rose hall Town Court and is expected to be a keenly contested affair. Both teams have played well with the Warriors playing unbeaten and the Jammers only loss being to The Warriors. Wi t h t h e J a m m e r s playing at home they are expected to make full use of home advantage to forge ahead. However, Warriors will not be any push over and will be prepared for battle as they have been able to defeat

everybody at home and on the road so far. The third place game will bring together Smythfield Rockers of New Amsterdam against Ithaca Hardliners of West Berbice in what is also expected to be a keenly contested affair. The final is set to be played under lights and jump ball time is 16:00 hrs. The competition involved six teams which were divided into two groups with the top two in each group playing against the top two in the semifinals with the winners advancing to the final. The teams making up group ‘A, being Smythfield Wa r r i o r s o f N e w Amsterdam, Ithaca Hardliners of West Berbice

and Fyrish Black Sharks of Corentyne, while the Group B teams were New Amsterdam Warriors, Rose Hall Town Jammers and the G u y a n a H u m a n Development Centre. Cash, trophies and other incentives will be presented to the top three teams with the Most Valuable Player (MVP) and other outstanding individual performers being awarded. Representatives of the sponsors and President of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation Mr. Nigel Hinds are expected to be on hand to assist with the presentation of prizes at the completion of the final. The coordinator is Vibert Garnett. (Samuel Whyte)

GCF Junior Chess championships

Top players register wins as chess players commence intense battle for vacant crown

Roberto Neto (left) is all concentration in his match against Aravinda Singh which he won. The battle for honours has begun and several players have registered wins in their quest for the Junior Chess title when the first of the seven rounds tournament concluded at the National Resource Centre, Woolford Av e n u e , y e s t e r d a y afternoon. 17 years old, Sheriffa Ali was promoted to Women Candidate Master (WCM) after amassing 5 ½ points from her 10 games and is the favorite to cart off the honours. She started her trek with a win over Shivranie Persaud to stay on course for the accolade. However, several other players are nurturing similar ambitions and have also chalked up wins against various opponents. Roberto Neto has also signaled an intention to

compete furiously for the title and he endorsed his competence with a decisive victory over Aravinda Singh. Notwithstanding, these are early days yet with the players due to play six more rounds before the eventual champion can be ascertained. Other results from yesterday’s encounter are Jessica Callender over Aleem Baseer, Joshua Gopaul over Nellisha Johnson, Ghasham Allijohn over Waveney Johnson, Jaden Taylor over Akili Theophil, Kristo Persaud over Asiyah Bacchus, John Wo n g f r o m A n t h o n y Johnson and Saeed Ali over Areefa Budhu. Meanwhile, several memb er s o f th e D eaf Association of Guyana are

also participating in the tournament. They are Anthonio Johnson, Asiyah Bacchus, Shivranie Persaud, Alee Baseer and Areefa Budhu. They are under the tutelage of Managing Director of the Deaf Association of Guyana, Sabine McIntosh. The tournament comprises 7 rounds and the players will continue today with two rounds from 09:30hrs. Activities resume on Saturday October 8 at 10:00hrs with an additional 2 rounds with the final 2 rounds being contested one day later at 09:30hrs. A new champion will be crowned since defending champion, Haifeng Su, is now over the stipulated age of 19 years and is therefore ineligible.

Let’s Remember Eric Norton when the Inter-Guiana Games Basketball Series Commence

The Guyana IGG team that defeated Suriname in 1975 pose after a practice session. Statistician Charwayne Walker reminisces that the first time Guyana won the Jules Sedney Trophy was September 1975. This prestigious Trophy named after the late Prime Minister of Suriname, proved elusive from 1972 to 1974. Guyana with Venezuelan Raphael Gardoves and his assistant Michael Brusche calling plays were determined to halt the Dutch dominance. Their arsenal included Ian John, skipper Earl Harding, Eric Norton, Trevor Paul, Paul Correira and the Linden Trio; James Brusche, Alvin ‘Zul’ Coppin and Lennox Jones. John was the Dutch tormentor; he averaged 20 points per game in the two match series. His 24 points in the series opener was the highest in the tournament. John received admirable

support, from skipper Earl Harding, Paul Correira, Trevor Paul, James Brusche, Eric Norton and Alvin ‘Zul’ Coppin. Game one Ve n u e : B u r n h a m ’s Court, Parade Ground. Crowd: 4000 Results: Guyana won thriller 59 to 57. Man of the Match Ian John 24 pts, Trevor Paul 13 pts. For Suriname: V. Demmeren top scored with 17 pts. Game Two Ve n u e : B u r n h a m ’s Court, Parade Ground Crowd: 3000 Result: Guyana blew out Suriname 61 to 39. Ian John 16 pts, Paul Correira 8 pts, James Brusche 8 pts, skipper Earl Harding 12 pts. For Suriname: Trevor Kardjo 8 pts, V. Demmeren 8 pts. The Historic Guyana Team Earl Harding – Captain

Ian John Trevor Paul Paul Correira EwartPadmore James Brusche Lennox Jones Eric Norton – Deceased Alvin Coppin Raymond Lyte Edris Watson Raphael Cardoves – Coach Michael BruscheAssistant Coach It’s now 40 years since Queen’s College Scholar Eric Norton, who played an integral role in that historic 1975 triumph, lost his life tragically when the Cubana Airwaves aircraft was blown up over the Caribbean Sea in 1976. Norton was heading to Havana to honour a Guyana Scholarship. Norton was an exemplary athlete who excelled on and off the court. R. I. P champ!!

Best of the Best President Cup Horserace meet on today at Port Mourant By Samuel Whyte With the Government renewing its commitment towards the development in sports in all forms a number of senior government functionaries expected to be among the thousands who will throng the Port Mourant Big Yard Turf Club today for the inaugural running of the Best of the Best President Cup horserace meet, an exciting day of action is anticipated. The event, which is

jointly organised by the Port Mourant Turf Club in collaboration with the Jumbo Jet Auto Sales and the KP Jagdeo Construction Company, has been dubbed the Real President Cup rematch and is expected to be a ding dong affair. All the major stables are on board and 85 horses have been added to the day’s programme as owners made use of every effort to be a part of the day’s activities. Crown Vibes International Sound Company has been

a d d e d t o t h e d a y ’s programme which includes trampoline for the kids. The eight races have a combined prize package of close to $9M in cash trophies and other incentives up for grabs. A top notch filed has been lined up for the feature A and lower 1500M event with the likes of Just Call Me Bass, Plum Plum, Spit Fire, Golden Blue Ecko, Jack in My Style and Climate Change looking to (Continued on page 65)

Sunday October 02, 2016

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Persaud century, Ramcharran 5 for highlight day two at Tuschen A courageous 165 by West Demerara skipper Akshaya Persaud and a fivewicket haul by Lower Corentyne off-spinner Sharaz Ramcharran highlighted day two action when the sixth-round Guyana Cricket Board Jaguars three-day League continued yesterday at Tu s c h e n , E a s t B a n k Essequibo. Persaud anchored his team innings with levelheaded batting on a flat pitch as West Demerara, in reply to Lower Corentyne first innings score of 325, were bowled out for 329 after 144 minutes of playing time was lost due to rain. West Demerara began the day on 22 without lost with Tagenarine Chanderpaul on 10 and Chabiraj Ramcharran on eight, and quickly lost Chanderpaul who failed to add to his overnight score, caught at mid-on off Royston Crandon. Pacer Raun Johnson then removed Ramcharran for 13 before Safraz Esau and Persaud steadied the innings with a third-wicket stand of 84. Esau struck Ramcharran for six and drove Devon Clements for four before he was caught off Ramcharran for 36. Persaud pulled Johnson for six and took boundaries off Niall Smith before

smashing Kassim Khan back over his head for six, while Raymond Reifer hit Gajanand Singh over the ropes and drove Crandon for four as they added 58 for the fourth-wicket. However, Reifer cut Singh to Johnson at point to depart for 34. Akshaya Persaud continue to accumulate his runs mixing aggression with defence and together with Travis Persaud took their team to lunch at 188-4 with the former on 89. Akshaya Persaud brought up his century just after the break with a six off Kassim Khan. He reached the milestone off 118 balls in 164 minutes of batting. The skipper then lofted Khan for another six and took boundaries off Gajanand Singh prior to the i n t e r r u p t i o n . However, following the resumption West Demerara lost Travis Persaud caught off the steady Ramcharran for 11 leaving the score at 245-5. Akshaya Persaud continued to time the ball well and hit Ramcharran for four before driving Smith for another, brining up his 150. But Ramcharran who bowled with control and variation, uprooted Persaud’s stumps for 165. He struck 13 fours and nine s i x e s . Romario Shepherd (02) was then taken at slip off

Ansa McAl through Stag Beer on board with 5/5 sponsorship The Ansa McAl Trading Company through its Stag Beer Brand has jumped on board with the Kendall’s Union Sports Club to sponsor the one day 5/5 cricket competition. The event, which will be played today at the club’s Kendall’s Union #19 East Coast Berbice sports ground, has attracted some 12 of the top second division teams in the East Berbice area. The action, which bowls off at 09:00 hrs, will be played on knockout basis with the traditional red b a l l s . The teams slated to

participate are - Kendall’s Union ‘A’ and ‘B’, Young Warriors, Rose Hall Canje, Goed Bananen Land, Betsy Ground, Jai Hind, C o u r t l a n d , To o p o o , Edinburg, Young and the Restless and Canefield Cricket Clubs. Prizes of $40,000 and t r o p h y, $ 2 0 , 0 0 0 a n d trophy and $10,000 and trophy would be presented to the top three teams. The man-of-thematch in the final will also receive a trophy. The first 100 persons entering the ground will receive a token at the gate. (Samuel Whyte)

Ramcharran before Smith bowled Kemol Savory for 15. Richie Looknauth provided some resistance to remain unbeaten on 27 as Ramcharran sent back Mahindra Dhanpaul for 12 while, Clements bowled Keshram Seyhodan for five to put an end to an intriguing day’s play. Ramcharran

bagged 5-51; there was one each for Smith, Clements, Singh and Crandon. Prior to the start of play a minute silence was observed for the late president of the West Demerara Cricket Umpire’s Association Pritipaul George who passed away yesterday morning. Play continues at 09:00 hrs today.

Akshaya Persaud

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Kaieteur News

Sunday October 02, 2016

3rd Annual Bakewell Junior Tennis Open serves off

The sponsorship cheque is handed over by Amanzar Yacoob of Bakewell to Nigel Niles while other GLTA executive committee members Oswin Coggins and Cristy Campbell share the moment. The Guyana Tennis A s s o c i a t i o n ( G LTA ) launched the third edition of the Bakewell Junior Open in the presence of several of its top junior players and officials of the association and Bakewell. The tournament is held annually to coincide with the death anniversary of the late CEO of Bakewell, Naeem Nasir, recognising his contribution to national sport events, specifically tennis. Speaking at the launch, A m a n z a r Ya c o o b , representing Bakewell on behalf of the current CEO Rabindranauth Ganga, said that the entity is excited to be part of junior tennis for the third time, contributing to the development of children. Bakewell will carry on the

legacy of the late CEO and continue to support the development of the sport. Mr. Nasir constructed a tennis court at President’s College during 2010. T o u r n a m e n t Coordinator, Shelly DalyRamdyhan in her remarks said that 39 players had registered and that the usual high level of discipline and honesty is expected when playing and scoring. Three categories; Under12, Under-14 and Under-18 are being contested for boys and girls. The Round Robin format is being used for maximum competition and observance of performance. Former GLTA President and now Committee Member, Grace McCalman, thanked the management of

WDFA/Stag Senior League When the Stag sponsored West Demerara Football Association (WDFA) Senior League continued yesterday at the Den Amstel Community Centre ground, the teams from Pouderoyen hammered their fellow West Bank opponents. Pouderoyen, on account of a Dwayne St. Kitts hattrick and a brace each from other two players banged their way to a comprehensive 8-1 win over Beavers while were equally dismissive in their 4-1 triumph over Wales United FC. St. Kitts got into the goal scoring mode after his side had already ran away 3-0 leaders thanks to Esan Nelson’s first goal in the 10th minute which was

Some of the young participants and officials during the tournament launch recently. Bakewell for fulfilling its social responsibility towards national development through long term support for tennis. She noted that this prestigious tournament being the last one before the IGG games Tennis, will form part of the evaluation for selection for the team of 12 players. Tennis IGG will run from October 26 to November 1 in French Guiana. She further informed that the association is working towards a tennis programme for the college and nearby primary schools during the coming year. Match results for the first batch of Round-Robin so far are as follows: Boys U12 Adesh Khayyam def Anish Sharma 5/3 5/4, Adesh Khayyam def Vadeanand Resaul 5/3 5/3,

Jeremiah Kalekyezi def Wayne Baker 4/2 4/2, Nigel Lowe def Jeremiah Kalekyezi 2/4 4/1 (12/10), Nigel Lowe def Wayne Baker 4/1 4/1 , Vadeanand Resaul def Anish Sharma w/o. Boys U14 Joshua K a l e k y e z i d e f Wa y n e Baker4/0 4/0, Ridwan Kasim def Vijay Sharma 4/0 4/0, Adesh Khayyam def Wayne Baker 5/3 4/2, Jordan Beaton def Jeremah Kalekyezi 4/1 4/0, Jordan Beaton def Akil Browne 4/1 4/2, Ridwan Kasim def Michaia Andrews w/o, Vijay Sharma def Michaia Andrews w/o, Viraj Sharma def Adesh Khayyam 5/4(7/1) 4/1. Boys U18 Joshua Kalekyezi def Ridwan Kasim 6/0 6/0, Shimron Lewis def Alexandre Almeida w/o, Viraj Sharma

Vs Ridwan Sharma 6/0 6/0, Heimraj Resaul DEF Vijay Sharma 6/1 6/0, Heimraj Resual def Ravin Ramprasad 6/0 6/2, Joshua Kalekyezi def Khalid Gobin 6/4 6/2 , Khalid Gobin def Ridwan Kasim 6/0 6/0, Mark McDonald def Alexandre Almeida 6/1 7/5, Ravin Ramprasad def Ariel Khan 6/3 5/7 10/5, Shimron Lewis def Akil Browne 7/5 7/6(7/3) 10/7, Vijay Sharma def Ravin Ramprasad 6/0 6/1, Viraj Sharma def Khalid Gobin 6/4 7/5. Girls U12 Akilah Jones def Nandanee Ramdyhan 4/1 4/1, Akilah Jones def Paula Kalekyezi 4/1 4/1, Nandanee Ramdyhan def Paula Kalelyezi 2/4 4/2 (10/2), Sarah Klautky def Akilah Jones 4/0 4/1, Sarah Klautky def Nandanee Ramdyhan 4/0 4/0 , Sarah Klautky def Paula Kalekyezi 4/0 4/0.

Girls U14 Diena Sandbeharry def Alana Chung w/o, Nathalie Ramdyhan DEF Margaret Subryan 5/3 4/4(9/7), Sarah Klautky def Ciara Pooran 4/0 4/2, Alana Chung def Sarah Klautky 4/1 2/4 10/5, Ciara Pooran def Deina Sandbeharry w/o, Ciara Pooran def Alana Chung 4/1 5/3, Sarah Klautky Vs Ciara Pooran 4/0 4/2. Girls U18 Kalyca Fraser def Nathalie Ramdyhan6/1 6/4, Margaret Subryan def Kureece King 6/0 6/0, Nicola Ramdyhan def Kalyca Fraser 6/1 6/2, Shivani Persaud def Margaret Subryan 6/1 6/2 A series of knock out matches will be played at the President’s College today before matches return to the National Racquet Centre during the final weekend.

Pouderoyen and Young Achievers flay their opponents, Beavers and Wales Young Achievers FC goal scorers.

Pouderoyen FC marksmen. followed by a double from Quessey Alleyne (12, 18). St. Kitts then found the target in the 30th, 71st and 73rd minute. Nelson

achieved his double in the 57th minute, while Morgan Denny also tucked in one of his own in the 59th minute. Lenroy Semple netted

Beavers’ consolation goal in the 69th minute. Young Achievers were led to victory by Marvin Josiah who hit the back of the nets

in the 21st and 47th minute; Lexroy Manfield in the 25th and Stephon Jupiter in the 32nd minute. Wales United got their lone goal off the boot

of Tevin John in the first half. Today, Uitvlugt Warriors will come up against Jetty Gunners while Eagles will take on Golden Warriors.

Kaieteur News

Sunday October 02, 2016

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An account of Yassin’s failure at G.O.A By Edison Jefford It is not sufficient to announce the failure of the Guyana Olympic Association (G.O.A) President, K. A. Juman Yassin to get Guyana on the Olympic medals podium without also presenting some empirical evidence to substantiate such a courageous claim. I had stated in the previous essay that I will continue my analysis. This column will show how Ya s s i n f a i l e d f a m e d Guyanese quarter-miler, Kadecia Baird and by implication, prevented a sure candidate from securing ANOTHER Olympic medal for Guyana. I used “another” ironically since Guyana only has one Olympic medal (in 1980) from the fists of boxer Michael Parris. For context, Guyana has participated in the Olympic Games for 68 years with Yassin being G.O.A President in excess of 20 of those years. To date, the country is still with one Olympic medal. United States-based, Baird was second at the International Association of Athletics Federations ( I A A F ) Wo r l d J u n i o r Championships in 2012 in Barcelona, Spain. Baird was 17 at the time and ran 51.04 seconds; that performance meant that

K.A. Juman Yassin Baird was ranked second in the world among juniors in 2012. American Ashley Spencer won the race in 50.50 seconds with teammate Erika Rucker third in 51.10 seconds. Baird was right up there with the most elite female junior quarter-milers in the world. Bahamian, Shaunae Miller was fourth in that race. I want to emphasise that our Guyanese athlete, Baird beat Miller in 2012. It meant that Baird was better than Miller four years ago. If you followed the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, you will know that Miller is the 400m Champion after the now famous ‘dive across’ the finish line to beat American, Allyson Felix in one of the most electrifying races of the

Games. Miller’s time was 49.44 seconds in that final. So from 2012 when Miller was fourth a t t h e Wo r l d J u n i o r Championships with a time of 51.87 to 2016, the Bahamian was able to develop and lower her time to become the best female 400m sprinter in the world. Miller is also a silver medallist from the 2015 World Championships in Beijing, China. It is clear that with the exception of Miller’s Adidas contract, which allowed her to become a professional athlete, her ascendancy was intentionally systematic. The Adidas contract alone did not suffice; there was direct support on many different levels from Bahamas that put Miller on a path to success. With Baird projecting an obviously brilliant future in athletics in 2012, what role did Yassin, and the G.O.A play in ensuring the talented, elite athlete is on a victorious trajectory? The answer to that question personifies Yassin’s failure. There are those who are attempting to justify G . O . A’s p e r f o r m a n c e , stating that Yassin alone is not responsible. But that cannot stand up to scrutiny because Yassin is the Head of all Olympic sport in Guyana. There are associations responsible for all the

Shaunae Miller

Kadecia Baird respective disciplines. However, the buck stops at Yassin in ensuring he facilitates associations to develop necessary programmes and provide the requisite assistance to help athletes develop through the different stages. It is doubtful whether Yassin takes a hands-on approach to ensure talented prospects get the result they and this country deserve, which is international success and Olympic medals. If you ask Baird if there was an input to her career directly from the G.O.A, the response may be shocking. After her 2012 world

junior success, it was the responsibility of Yassin and the G.O.A to do what was necessary to guarantee Baird’s transition to the senior international and Olympic levels. Now at age 21, Baird is in College in the US and still competing, but she has not had the kinds of international triumph that is commensurate with her talent. Miller is 22 years old and is a world silver medallist and Olympic Champion. What has Yassin done to bridge an obvious gulf between junior talent and senior success? At least a programme that answers that question was never revealed

to the media, if there was ever such a programme. Baird is just one example of the dysfunction that characterise the operations of the G.O.A under the tenure of Yassin. There were many athletes before, and even after, Baird. There was Randy Lee, Tai Payne, Keith Roberts and Annalisa Austin among several others. This is merely one sport. There are other disciplines that can cite similar talent and failures of the G.O.A to develop programmes and mobilise stakeholders to aid in athletes’ comprehensive progress domestically and internationally.

GFF/NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power Nat. U-17 League – EDFA

Plaisance claw back to edge Golden Stars; BA Paradise SC beat BV Triumph United Plaisance FC showed impressive maturity against home team Golden Stars, erasing a one goal deficit to walk away winners after two unanswered goals, while Bachelor’s Adventure Sports Club proved too solid for a game BV Triumph United side when play in the G F F / N A M I L C O Thunderbolt Flour Power Intra Association Under-17 league continued yesterday at the Golden Grove ground, East Coast. Battling in the feature match, Golden Stars were aiming to erase the thoughts of their defeat against BV Triumph the weekend before and came out positive against the Plaisance unit. While the first half did

Ronaldo Morgan (right) and Tishawn Gordon Bachelor’s Adventure Paradise Sports Club not produce any goals, the home team went to the break with the momentum going their way as they enjoyed the better of the exchanges having entered the Plaisance defensive third regularly but

to no avail, goal wise. The second half produced an early goal for the Golden Stars boys when Frederick Trotman rocked the nets in the 50th minute to break the scoring deadlock. But

BA Paradise SC’s Tishawn Gordon (partly hidden 3rd left) nets his second goal. history repeated itself for the Golden Stars boys who had also scored first against BVTU but ended up on the losing side. Plaisance never let up

going after the home side and were duly rewarded with the neutralizing goal in the 70th minute thanks to a Keiron Hamer goal. Five minutes later

Gold e n S t a r s w e r e stunned when Edon Small smashed home the winning goal for Plaisance as he silenced (Continued on page 65)

t r o Sp Scotiabank CFU Men’s Caribbean Cup 2016

Golden Jaguars name 22; 5 newcomers included

GCB Jaguars 3-day League

Fudadin follows up 1st inns 92 with unbeaten 101

Coach Jamaal Shabazz with other Technical staff members and players yesterday afternoon discussing matters of importance at the GFC ground.

Assad Fudadin followed up his first innings 92 with a solid unbeaten 101 at Everest yesterday. (Sean Devers photo)

Some of the other players during the discussion yesterday.

Hamilton storms to pole in Malaysia

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