Monday October 30, 2017
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Kaieteur News
Are these the bones of a murder victim?
Cops take DNA samples from families of missing Berbice women Detectives are hoping that forensic technology will help them identify the skeletal remains that were found last week Monday in an abandoned school compound in New Amsterdam, Berbice. The families of two women who vanished under mysterious circumstances are also anxiously awaiting the results of DNA tests, that may bring closure and possibly lead to a killer. Both families believe that their missing relatives were murdered. One woman vanished four years ago; the other, two years ago. On October 5, 2013, at around 23.00 hrs, 37-year-old Gould Marcellene Amsterdam, of Lot 1 Caracas Dam, West Canje, Berbice, woke her two small children and told them she was going outside to use a washroom. The children woke the next day and realised that their mom, a Neighbourhood Policewoman, known as ‘Greens Girl,’ had not returned. Danelle Amsterdam, one of her sisters, recalled that relatives checked at friends and at hospitals, but found no trace of her sibling, who was seven months pregnant at the time. She speculated that her sister may have been slain by a man with whom she had an abusive relationship. That same man was shot dead about six months later. She said that the area where the skeletal remains were found is over a mile from where her missing sister had resided. Danelle Amsterdam revealed that relatives have submitted DNA samples to the police. These will be sent overseas, along with samples from the remains. “It is now four years (since Gould Marcellene disappeared). We really want closure,” her sister said.
Missing, believed murdered: Esther Ramoutar, 66 But a family from Fyrish Village, Corentyne, is also hoping for similar closure. They, too, wonder if those bones may belong to their missing relative. According to Mohamed Jamaladeen, his mother-in-law, 66-year-old Esther Ramoutar, vanished from her Vryheid Village, West Canje Berbice home some three years ago on April 1, 2015. Jamaladeen disclosed that Ramoutar had left her home that morning to uplift her pension funds from the New Amsterdam Post Office. “She went fuh collect pension and dem neighbour seh she go home back around eleven o’ clock but they never see she back”, Jamaladeen said. He suggested that his mother-in-law may have been killed by two brothers, who were both unemployed and “dope smokers.” He only learnt of her disappearance three days later, after neighbours called to enquire whether Ramoutar was at his home. According to him, they reported the matter to authorities and upon a visit to Ramoutar’s house they found her passport on a blood stained mattress. Police arrested a villager as well as the two brothers that the family suspected had a
Missing, believed murdered: Gould Marcellene Amsterdam, 37 hand with the elderly woman’s disappearance. The villager reportedly told investigators that he saw the elder boy hit Ramoutar on the head that very day of April 1st after she returned from the post office. “After she go home the boy tell police how dem boys was fighting she for she pension money and she ain’t give dem and that is how (the older boy)knock she on she head”, Jamaladeen said. But the police eventually released the two suspects and his mother-in-law was never
bridge to marine as scheduled on Tuesday October 31." A press conference is slated this morning to highlight the issue and provide information to the media and public at large, management said in a statement. Planned works to replace the second pontoon started Thursday with the halting of river traffic and the disconnection of winches and other fittings to make way for the switching of the pontoon Sat-
heard from since. “I believe in meh heart, God above me, that is me mother-in-law bones,” he said. “Me wife change since she mother missing, it na easy, I believe is she”, the man said, fighting back tears. Blood samples were taken from his wife, Shanila Mohamed and they were told that the bones will be sent for forensic analysis in Trinidad. It is expected to take up to six weeks before the results re-
The abandoned school compound where the remains were found
Demerara Harbour Bridge traffic will be affected due to faulty winch Critical works to switch the second pontoon at the Demerara Harbour Bridge over the weekend have encountered a problem. According to the bridge managenent, while it has successfully completed its works scheduled for this weekend, including the changing of pontoons, upon completion, a fault was discovered with the north-eastern winch. "This fault may result in a failure to open the
Mohamed Jamaladeen believes that the remains are those of his missing mother-in-law
urday. The bridge was closed almost six hours on Saturday to vehicular traffic for the switching of the pontoon. While the switching happened smoothly, the winch issue surfaced. Concerns would be raised as the bridge is a critical link between the city, West Demerara and Essequibo. Media officials are expected to be taken on a tour to inspect the daily.
The remains from the compound turn. Workers cleaning the bushy compound where the RVC Private School was once located found the skeletal remains at side of the aban-
doned building. No clothing or any other materials were found with the remains. The school was reportedly closed in 2015 and relocated to another site.
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Kaieteur News
Monday October 30, 2017
KAIETEUR NEWS Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: ADAM HARRIS Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491 Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL
Male Breast Cancer on the rise The recent announcement of an increase of 200 new cases of cancer in Guyana for this year is troubling not only for women, but also for men. The general belief that only females have breast cancer is false. Men should beware, because males have also been diagnosed with breast cancer, but it is rare and is generally overlooked. Studies have shown that the development of male breast cancer is similar to that of females. Men’s breast tissues are almost the same as breast tissues found in women and are susceptible to cancer cells in the same way. Male breast cancer occurs when malignant cells form in the tissues of the breast. Any male can develop breast cancer, but it is most common among men who are 60 years and older. The Cancer Institute of Guyana has reported that there are several incidents of male breast cancer in the country. Breast cancer is ranked as the leading form of cancer to affects women. It currently accounts for almost 17 percent of all cancers and 27 percent of cancers in females. About 300 new cases of breast cancer were detected in the country in 2010. Since then, it has decreased to 150 per year. Statistics on male breast cancer are not available, but it is estimated that about one percent of men are diagnosed with the disease annually and the death rate is minimal. A man’s lifetime risk of breast cancer is about 1 in 1,000. In October every year, countries around the world including Guyana celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM). The goal is to remind everyone that early screening of the disease can save lives. And while strides have been made to tackle the disease, serious challenges remain. BCAM is an annual international health campaign organized by breast cancer charities to increase awareness of the disease and to raise funds for research into its cause, diagnosis, treatment, cure and prevention. The campaign offers information and support to those affected by breast cancer. BCAM was founded in October 1985 by the American Cancer Society in partnership with the pharmaceutical industries. According to the World Health Organization, breast cancer is the most common disease among women and the death rate is high in both the developed and underdeveloped countries. It is estimated that one in six women will develop breast cancer during their lifetime. However, early detection and advances in technological treatment could help women beat the disease. In the United States, about 1 in 8 women or 12% of females will develop breast cancer during their lifetime. An estimated 2.8 million women, including 246,660 new cases of invasive breast cancer and 61,000 new cases of noninvasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in the US in 2017. Death rates in cancer among women in the US have decreased since 1990 due to early detection, advances in treatment and increased awareness. Nonetheless, about 41,000 women have died from the disease in the US in 2016 and the same amount is expected to die in 2017. For women in the U.S., breast cancer death rates are the second highest after lung cancer than for any other cancer. It is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer after skin cancer among American women. Breast cancer is more common in African-American women under 45 years than white women and they are more likely to die of the disease. The risk of Asian, Hispanic, and Native-American women developing and dying from breast cancer is lower. A woman’s risk of breast cancer nearly doubles if she has a relative who has been diagnosed with the disease. But less than 15% of women with breast cancer have a family member diagnosed with it, which suggests that the majority breast cancer cases occur in women with no family history of the disease. While there has been a gradual reduction of breast cancer among women over 50 years in recently, incidents of breast cancer among men are on the rise.
An Educator’s Response to Anna T. Singh DEAR EDITOR, Please allow me the opportunity to respond to a letter by Anna T Singh, published in the October 29, 2017 edition of the Kaieteur News captioned, “So Teachers want to strike and Hold the Nation’s Kids at Ransom. Ms. Singh seems to base her argument upon the premise that a majority of public school teachers hold extra lessons. This assertion however, is grossly misleading. Further, the idea that many (in reality, a small minority) who hold extra classes typically pocket $100,000 tax free every month is also absolutely untrue. No consideration is given to the fact that such teachers must purchase materials and pay rental fees for the venues where classes are held and sacrifice time with their own families in order to facilitate the service. Note that while supplemental classes are
necessary for some students, I do not subscribe to the culture of ‘mandatory’ afterschool classes that seems to pervade the thinking of many teachers and parents. But I digress. Ms. Singh in her missive affirms that teachers do not need to be compensated for any emotional distress and even appears to suggest that the “two months” of paid vacation is a privilege rather than a necessity. This reflects a commonly held belief that, “teachers merely write on a board and mark books, how hard could that be”? You see, not many people understand that in order to educate children, teachers must necessarily make emotional connections with each of those 25, 30 and in too many cases, 40 or 50 students in each of their classrooms (children don’t learn from people they don’t like). This is in addition to the numerous psycho-social
interventions, behavioural issues, accidents and injuries and other extra-curricular matters that increasingly engage teachers’ attention on a daily basis. Can you imagine how emotionally draining this could be for teachers? Most adults outside of the teaching environment cannot! Finally, the idea that salary increases for teachers should be based on performance is often premised upon the notion that teacher performance could be assessed through some arbitrary metric such as student performance on standardised tests. How does one compare the performance of a teacher who toils in a depressed community where children have little or no parental support, with another whose students come from stable homes with parents for whom education occupies the highest priority? Which teacher do you
think would likely produce better results at NGSA or CSEC? Who would be rewarded every year? I will not address the notion that recruiting teachers from the 80’s might somehow be the answer to the new and emerging challenges that teachers face in their classes today. For too long we have treated the teaching profession with scant respect. For way too long, teachers have been asked to do too much with too little. They are under-trained, underresourced, under-paid and under-appreciated. It is time that that changes. Let’s pay them well and hold them accountable. It is extremely unfortunate that our children must lose two days of instructional time but if that is what it takes for teachers to be taken seriously, then so be it! Sincerely, Wil A Campbell (Educator)
We need to change the Perception of Black Leadership and Indian Leadership in Guyana DEAR EDITOR, Many of us carry Guyana, in the way a mother carries a baby in her womb. We are prepared to bear the pains, discomfort, sleepless nights, disfiguration and illnesses for a bundle of joy who we expect to emerge after the gestation period. In the same way, we remain hopeful that someday this gestation period in Guyana will come to an end, and a new level of a maturity, growth, development and life will flow in Guyana. However, it is important to note that this period will not end, except we get involved. There is a saying that ‘there comes a point when everything that can be shaken, will be shaken’. Over the past week, it felt like everything in Guyana that could have be shaken, was shaken. Last week in the midst of all that was happening, I called a senior leader in the Christian community and would like to share a part of our conversation. I asked what can the Church do at this time based on the situation in the country. I indicated that I am of the view that the religious community, not just the Christian community could bring an added value in trying to find a solution. I further, indicated to him that religion as a discipline brings an added value of compassion that other disciplines (for e.g. politics) do not bring. Our conversation
continued…I told him that as I listened to the Press Conference with Mr. Jagdeo, I heard a deep sense of frustration and in my view, Mr. Jagdeo to some extent, had reached the end of his human ability to deal with the issue at that point and this is where I feel that the Church and religion has a role and should do something’. We talked a bit more about what the role of the Church can be in this current situation. He undertook to have further discussions with other leaders (Christian) on the matter about what role that the Church can play at this time. He also indicated that it was commendable that I was getting involved despite my current obligation, and added that most people wait until they retire or at a later stage in life to get involved. It is on this note that I encourage more persons to get involve. On another point, the GECOM Chairmanship situation has highlighted a real challenge that we need to find a way to address once and for all, that is, the symbol or image of what Black leadership represents to Indians and what Indian leadership represents for Blacks in Guyana. An initial analysis of the letters, blogs, comments in the press and social media and my own discussions on the this issue shows, that the President’s appointment of the GECOM Chairman has created an extremely high
degree of anxiety among various groups. I will not address here whether the President was right or wrong in making the decision or the way the decision was made, the Court is much more competent to do this, however, I would like to address some of the reasons for the high level of anxiety. As human beings, we naturally feel comfortable with and can easily identify with people of our own race; therefore it follows, in leadership that we feel a greater level of comfort and security with leadership that look like us, particularly when that image is supported by bad or negative experiences from the other race. In Guyana, both Indians
and Blacks have had negative experiences under leadership from the opposite race, hence, there has to be a deliberate process to change the symbol of Black leadership to the Indian Guyanese and Indian leadership to the Black Guyanese. Let’s assume for a moment that the Court should quash the President’s decision and another Chairman has to be appointed, we would still need to find a Black or Indian person to be the Chairman. Therefore, the real challenge is how do we change the perception of Black leadership for Indian Guyanese and the perception of Indian leadership for Black Continued on page 6
Am I entitled to NIS benefits? DEAR EDITOR, I’m a Guyanese living in the United States since 1984. However, prior to migrating, I was employed with “J. P. Santos & CO; Ltd,”. In short, my tenure began in July, 1969 and ended in June, 1984, with that said; I’m wondering if someone would be kind enough to let me know if I qualify for “NIS BENEFITS.” I’ll be sixty-six next August, and I’m uncertain as to what the procedures are in terms of filing for this much needed benefit. I understand you may not be the direct link for me to communicate with regarding this, but I’ll appreciate if you would be kind enough to point me in the right direction. I saw the below mentioned on the internet, but nothing leading me further. Qualifying Conditions Old-age pension: Age 60 with 750 weeks of contributions paid or credited of which 150 weeks must be paid contributions; 25 weeks of contributions are credited for each year that the insured was over age 35 in 1969, up to a maximum credit of 600 weeks. Thank You! Ecliffe M. Vieira Civilian Technician Osceola County Corrections (Alpha Shift)
Monday October 30, 2017
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Kaieteur News
CITY COUNCIL SHOULD A prediction of betrayal NOT BE BEGGING DEAR EDITOR, It has been quite a long time since I have heard something half as ridiculous as the suggestion made by the Mayor of Georgetown, who has publicly reported of her intentions to set up a Restoration Fund to begin the process of restoring City Hall, a fund she claims that will be managed by a special civic committee This committee will include corporate leaders, investors and other stakeholders from civic society. The folks at the City Council are just off the chain and have no shame. Could the Mayor of Georgetown who was a Councillor, Deputy Mayor and Mayor for the last twenty-three years, a historical feat and record breaker in any supposed democratic society, say to the citizens, what maintenance works, remedial initiatives, and rehabilitation was done to that edifice by the Council in the last quarter century? The most baffling thing about the City Council is that when it comes to maintaining its own buildings including
municipal markets, keeping the doors of its day care centres open, running a modern hygienic abattoir, fixing roads and maintaining bridges, replacing defective street lights, up keeping the cemetery etc, a spirit of poverty overcomes them. It becomes a mendicant with a begging bowl in its hands, looking for handouts from the government, the private sector, international funding agencies, etc. But when it comes to paying itself super salaries of over $125 million per month, to flying to every corner of the globe first class multiple times a year, to giving out huge contracts without adherence to national tender procedures, to building presidential parks and petting zoos, to creating new and fancy positions which are filled by friends, relatives and church pals, the municipality seems to be very affluent and resourceful. Why are property rates not being used to maintain City Hall as they are supposed to? Can anyone imagine the City Halls of Belfast, Northern
Ireland, Brussels, Belgium or Hamburg, Germany awaiting a donation from civil society to be maintained? Do the folks at City Hall have no pride, or dignity? Do they get no feeling of deep pleasure or satisfaction from their own achievements? But where exactly does the Mayor expect to find these Extreme Altruists from in a city where the citizens have been taxed to the max both by the local and central governments? Has she forgotten that the Council has increased property taxes by 10 percent across the board, increased compliance fees substantially, is charging a container tax, increased fees for barber shops and salons, instituted a steep rise in market stall rents, etc and is trying to bring back the draconian parking metre system? If the Council is serious about restoring City Hall, why doesn’t it cut itsr mammoth payroll by $25 million a month, and use that money to restore the most handsome building in Georgetown? Best regards, Deodarie Putulall
The ACDA letter was divisive, the Carter formula is no longer constructive DEAR EDITOR, Charrandas Persaud, Attorney-at-law, in his letter, and ACDA, the Pan African Group (Guyana) Branch, the All African Guyanese Association and Concerned Citizens in the Diaspora in their letter, have given spirited and eloquent support for His Excellency David Arthur Granger, President of Guyana, in his appointment of retired Justice Patterson as the head of GECOM. With all due respect, I find I cannot agree with Mr Persaud’s explanation of the Constitution. A Constitution is not simply the text that is in front of us. Our Constitution consists of the text plus the legal principles that determine how power is exercised. In my view, our President has acted inconsistently with the Constitution. However,
the Court will judge and the Court’s opinion is law which has to be obeyed. I also cannot agree with the approach taken in the letter from ACDA and the other organisations. The letter presents what is a legal question on the Constitution as if it is a disagreement between two races. Freedom of expression is a fundamental right under the Constitution and I would defend their right to speak. Nevertheless I believe the letter is divisive and illadvised. For example, it says that, “Indians do not want to be ruled by an African leader.” I accept that the letter writers genuinely hold this view but, (leaving aside for now, the fact that nobody wants to be ‘ruled’) this is a silly statement. Did the writers interview every Indian in
Guyana? Or ask a representative sample? It is irrelevant whether our elected head of state is African, Indian, Amerindian, mixed or anything else. What matters is that he has acted in a way that has raised genuine doubt about the legality of his actions. He is not unique. Presidents around the globe do this from time to time. The interpretation of Guyana’s Constitution is a matter of national interest. It touches us all. It transcends race. It transcends party politics. For those reasons, I also think it is unfortunate that the legal case has been brought by a member of a political party. It gives the impression of a politically motivated challenge. Perhaps it would have been wiser to wait a little longer and give Continued on page 6
DEAR EDITOR, The recent appointment of Justice Patterson to the Chairmanship of the Elections Commission is not to rebuff the persons submitted by the Leader of the Opposition to the President. The President and most of Guyana know that some of the persons on the three lists submitted are eminently qualified to make a good Chairman. So why didn’t the President select any of those persons? I am not a fortuneteller, but I will try to present my predictions in very clear terms. The Elections Commission as constituted will deliberate on the need to change some portions of the election laws. One of the provisions that they will deliberate on is to change the method currently in use to count the votes in the general elections. They will lay out all of the problems the commission experienced in past elections with respect to the votes being counted at the place of polls. Some of the problems that they will identify are: (a) no signatures from Presiding Officers, (b) no good co-ordination between the polling site and the Returning Officer, (c) the length of time it takes to compile the list of the votes tally from the Presiding Officer to the Returning Officer to the Commission, and so on. You get the message. They will come up with very convincing arguments to change this practice. The Elections Commission cannot change the laws, but by a majority vote of 4:3 the Commission will recommend these changes to the Government. They would recommend that the votes should be counted at a central location. Do you see where I am going? Do you see why Granger appointed Patterson? Having accepted the recommendation, the Government will draft a bill to effect these changes (i.e. if the bill has not already been drafted). Now the AFC parliamentarians will have to support the Government bill. They will have to vote in
favour of the bill in the House. What will they do? Let us not forget that the Cummingsburg Accord binds the parties for a minimum of three years. This will end on Valentine’s Day in 2018. There is no compulsion for APNU/ PNC to continue to honour this accord after this date. Will we see a replay of Burnham/ D’Aguiar accord? The AFC is aware that the leader of the list that APNU/AFC submitted to the Elections Commission can remove anyone currently serving in Parliament from that list. He can then replace the persons “recalled” with other persons on the list. The persons who are chosen to replace the “recalled” members of parliament do not have to be the names of any AFC member on the list. Once “recalled” from the list, and not being a Member of Parliament, you will not be eligible to be a Minister of the Government. Is this coming soon? To forecast future revenues and earnings, any Accountant will tell you that we have to look at the past performance of the company. What can we use to gauge our forecast of the PNC and the Granger Government in particular? For the PNC, they use the resources available to them to change the laws, and then discard those resources when they no longer serve their interest. Burnham used D’Aguiar to gain power, then dispose of him. Will we have a repeat of this with the AFC? Burnham used Jagan to get critical support in Parliament to nationalise every sector of the economy,
and then employed PNCites to run these sectors. The PPP takes power and employed PPPites. The end result is what we are still feeling today. The appointments made by the Granger Government over the last two years are a replica of these curses. Recently, on the anniversary of the death of Guyana most beloved politician, Dr. Walter Rodney, the Granger Government demoted the only WPA minister of the government. Was this a trial run for what will happen after the Cummingsburg Accord expires? This is not good news for the AFC. Watch out guys, your days are coming. I am hoping that my predictions are all wrong, but as we learn in life, “prepare for the worst, and hope for the best”. I must also confess that I was a supporter of the AFC and diligently believed that Granger and Nagamoottoo would have worked to transform our country and to make us all proud of being Guyanese. Their glowing speeches during the elections are now water on ducks’ back. I am disappointed in myself. Being a Certified Public Accountant, I should have known better. My analysis of these “Opportunists” was wrong, for they have betrayed my trust and that of the majority of Guyanese. Mr. President, you have time to change course. Please revisit the promises you made to the Guyanese people in your pre-election speeches and the Accord you signed with the AFC. Sincerely, Charles Sugrim
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Kaieteur News
Emile Mervin strays from the real issue DEAR EDITOR, The letter published in the Stabroek News on Friday, October 27, 2017, by Mr. Emile Mervin, under the caption ‘Opposition Leader once again seems determined to play the insecurities and fears game’, begs a response. Mr. Mervin is right about one thing. It is his admission that, “The future of the country is at stake.” However, much of what he said strays from the real issue, which is that for the first time since the return to free and fair elections in 1992 (as certified by international bodies, including the Carter Centre), we have a President who, not only unilaterally appointed a GECOM Chairman, but who made the appointment in breach of three things: one, in breach of the Constitutional provisions, which states that he can on l y m a k e a unilateral appointment if the Opposition Leader fails to submit a list (this did not happen); two, in breach of the ruling of the Acting Chief Justice, who said that the President could not make a unilateral appointment because a list has been submitted and that the President has to give reasons for rejecting the lists submitted by the Opposition Leader; and three, in breach of his own agreement with the Opposition leader, which said: “It was also agreed that a high-level team would be assembled representing the President and the Leader of the Opposition which will
begin to work immediately on exploring modalities to bring a resolution to this matter in the event that the list is rejected.” This agreement is no secret. It was released by the government Department of Information on June 12, 2017. Even though the real issue at hand has been highlighted, we see personalities, like Mr. Mervin who are attempting to shift to conversation to a range of different issues, including race, which does no good for Guyana. Having said that, Mr. Mervin also makes a number of patently inaccurate and objectionable statements: That “it is obvious that the PPP believed it was supposed to be in power, as if this was their birthright.” – This is a statement that cannot be stomached, since the issue is ensuring that elections are free and fair. Can Mr. Mervin answer the questions as to why the elections petition has not been heard in the courts yet more than two years later? Why is GECOM’s Keith Lowenfield fighting to not have the petition heard? Why is Mr. Lowenfield, as the Chief Elections Officer, if he was certain that the May 2015 General and Regional Election had no irregularities, going in this direction? “The President dropped the ball by failing to clearly lay out in person to the Opposition Leader what qualities or qualifications he preferred in the replacement candidate.” – This statement begs the question of whether or not Mr. Mervin is familiar with the Constitution. It is the Constitution that outlines the qualities or qualifications of the GECOMC Chairperson, not the President “The President a couple of attempts before he finally narrowed his preference for a candidate with judge-like qualities or experience, but the Opposition Leader clearly was not inclined to co-
operate.” It is established that it is the Constitution that sets out the qualities or qualifications of the GECOMC Chairperson, not the President. President Granger did set out the criteria he wanted. Mr. Jagdeo raised objections to this and pointed out that the President’s requirements are not Constitutional requirements, but still worked to submit a second list. How can Mr. Mervin say that Mr. Jagdeo was inclined not to cooperate? Can Mr. Mervin explain why President Granger has now, himself, said that his requirements are not in the Constitution? Can Mr. Mervin justify the appointment of retired Justice Patterson, despite the fact that he does not meet the requirements that Granger himself laid out? “Based on the Acting Chief Justice’s opinion, therefore, the President is safe on legal ground with his unilateral choice.” – To this there is only one questions, has Mr. Mervin actually read the 33-page RULING (not opinion) of the Acting Chief Justice? “The racial optics became sharper as two prominent Indo-Guyanese – Joseph Singh and Christopher Ram – stepped down from inconsequential positions they held in the coalition government.” – First, the posts held by both men were not inconsequential. Major General, retired, Joe Singh, was an advisor to the President. Mr. Ram was a member the planning committee and of Guyana’s negotiating team for the establishment of the JOF Haynes Law School in Guyana. Both men held consequential positions. Second, the attempt to make this issue one of race is again exposed.
Of the 18 names on the lists submitted by Mr. Jagdeo, only these two men held government related positions. Are the resignations not justified, given that they were deemed ‘fit and proper’ to serve in consequential positions under the Grangerled government, but not ‘fit and proper’ by President Granger for the post of GECOM Chairman? Can Mr. Mervin answer this? Third, all three lists sent to President Granger was done after wide consultations with civil society. It was not a PPP list and the lists included both Afro and IndoGuyanese. We cannot have our leaders, who are supposed to uphold the Constitution, breach that very Constitution. The big picture issue here is not race, because there were qualified, technically competent and impartial professionals, who are also AfroGuyanese, who were included on the lists submitted by Mr. Jagdeo. Mr. Teni Housty and Mr. Onesi La Fleur are two such professionals who were included on the third list. Why didn’t the President chose one of them? Instead, what we have is the appointment of Mr. Patterson, 84 years old, whose integrity and ability to be impartial are in question – on integrity because the qualifications on his CV cannot be verified, an on, impartiality because he has been closely associated with the PNC. This matter is not about race. It is about unconstitutional actions and threats to our fledgling democracy. Sincerely, Sheila Veerasammy, PPP/C Member of Parliament
NO SURPRISE DEAR EDITOR, Why does the late President Burnham’s ‘performance’ while in power seem to surprise, puzzle or disappoint so many people, that it is still talked about? I knew what would happen if he gained presidential power. During the street demonstrations and voiced threats in the lead up to the general elections, I happened to be visiting a friend who lived close to Princes Street, where demonstrations were a daily feature. I told my husband and, having been threatened for not “becoming involved”, we decided to re-locate. “The sins of the father...........” Geralda D.
When we pause and experience silence, we discover answers that activity does not have time to reveal. During your day, take threeminute “vacations”. Relax and re-energise. Take time out to feel the peace of silence.
Monday October 30, 2017
The ACDA letter was divisive... From page 5 civil society more opportunity to go to court in the public interest and thereby defuse some of the tension and insecurity. Perhaps our problems arise because our electoral system is dominated by the interests of two political parties. The ‘Carter formula’ entrenches this domination. I am not criticising Mr Carter. He was here at a critical time. He brought his own lived experience of a country deeply divided by partisan politics and by race. But the ‘Carter formula’ is no longer a constructive way forward. There are better models. We citizens must talk to one another about a replacement. I would like to start by suggesting that neither the President nor the Leader of the Opposition should have any say over who is appointed as a member of GECOM. All seven commissioners must be, and must be seen to be, impartial and loyal to Guyana, not to any political party. We must also collectively rid ourselves of another legacy of American intervention in Guyana – the destructive and unintelligent habit of interpreting everything through race. This mind-set was significantly formed following the race riots of the 1960’s which were supported by the CIA and intended by the American Government to oust Cheddi Jagan, our democratically elected premier. Perhaps, before he pronounces on the rule of law, the American Ambassador should apologise for the United States’ egregious and illegal conduct and the long-term harm inflicted on our society. Today, we have wildly differing views about the Constitution and the appointment of retired Justice Patterson. Here is material for a rich and lively discussion on the roads, in the markets, at the bus park, on the sea-wall, everywhere that we meet and talk. Of course, the strength of a view is sometimes inversely proportionate to its validity. But we can try to find the common ground. And we can disagree on the rest with sensitivity, good humour and mutual respect. Yours sincerely, Melinda Janki
We need to change the... From page 4 Guyanese? My disappointment is that 51 years after our independence, we have not strengthened our institutions sufficiently (Judiciary, Parliament, Electoral System, Private Sector, Civil Society), so that our people can be confident that the system of governance will work for all of us, irrespective of the ethnic background of the leader. Another disappointment is the limited ability of our leaders to use various options in the process of finding solutions to matters of national significance. While the Court is one option, it should not be the only option; the Court is not the ideal alternative, since its construct is to address adversarial matters and the result is a win-lose situation. In this case of the GECOM Chairman, what happens if one party does not accept the decision of the Court? Here is where I am pleading with the international community to assist us and our leaders to become more capable in the use of other mechanisms for problem solving and finding solutions, especially on matters of national significance. To Mr. Jagdeo, I say that this issue is more than the President’s appointment of a Chairman for GECOM; the big challenge rather, is how to change the perception of Black leadership for Indian Guyanese and Indian leadership for Black Guyanese? I also think that the PPP should reconsider their position of non-participation and should now participate more fully as a part of the government, essentially for two reasons: To strengthen the institutions and deepen good governance and to reduce the insecurities about leadership for these two key ethnic groups. Our approach for too long has been when things get too tough, we withdraw. It is easier to withdraw but now is the time to really stay engaged. And to both President Granger and Leader of the Opposition, I am very hopeful that we can fix this situation together and move forward. What can we do as the followers? This could be the beginning of a deliberate process to hand the next generation of Guyanese a better Guyana than was handed to both of you and to us. Please, we are tired of Indians and Blacks fighting in our beautiful country that has enough of everything for all 750,000 of us as well as for others. Finally, there are real opportunities for Guyana to become a strong leader in the Caribbean and internationally, starting with positioning ourselves to provide the necessary support to countries like Dominica that was ravaged during the last hurricane season. Let us move past this and show strong leadership to our people and the Region. Yours faithfully, Audreyanna Thomas
Monday October 30, 2017
Social activist says minority voices in City Hall being stifled Social activist, Mark Benschop is highly critical of the system of governance at Georgetown Mayor and City Council, (M&CC). Benschop was awarded a seat on the Council following the Local Government Elections, (LGE) held in 2016. Although he has not personally sat on the Council, Benschop continues to be vocal on several issues directly affecting residents of Georgetown. The social activist is particularly adamant about his stance on the matter involving a rank of the city constabulary accused for sexually assaulting a minor, and the parking metre project which has attracted much controversy in the past months. Speaking to Kaieteur News about the work of his team, Benschop explained that instead of occupying the seat himself, he chose to afford persons the opportunity to have a firsthand experience of how the Council operates. The idea was to have the seat rotated every six months to allow a new person, particularly youthful individuals, sit in on behalf of “Team Benschop.” The seat has since been occupied by three individuals, Salima Bacchus Hinds, Selywn Smart and Jameel Rasul; the current representative. He said that representatives of the team are expected to be vocal and proac-
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Mark Benschop tive on issues affecting the residents of Georgetown. But with just one seat on the Council, the social commentator concedes that Team Benschop can be easily overshadowed by a largely APNU –AFC controlled Council. The Georgetown Council is made of 30 seats. Twenty five is occupied by APNUAFC; two are occupied by PPP Councillors and the other two by independent parties – Team Legacy and Team Benschop. Toward this end, Benschop noted that the voices of independent groups can be easily muzzled. “Even if an independent party were to raise concerns and issues at the level of the
council, it is not likely it will receive support from the other councillors and that is the dilemma we are facing. “This should not be. Duly elected members have the right to adequately represent the citizens of Georgetown. The parking metre contract, for instance, I don’t believe that contract should have been negotiated or renegotiated. “ “I am not against parking metres, but that contract should have been thrown out in the first place, renegotiating it is just a waste of time and waste of tax payers’ dollars. “I believe the people of Georgetown deserve better.” Benschop believes too that the political structure allows for a usurping of powers of Council by the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Town Clerk. Speaking specifically about his concerns for local government, Benschop noted that the system which allows persons to vote for a party of their choice rather than for individuals and policies is aiding the process. “I also believe that the certain powers should be with the Mayor of Georgetown and not the Town Clerk.” As such, the activist is adamant about the need for the entire system to be restructured to allow politics to play a lesser role in the work of the Council.
Govt. to release several high-profile reports this week - alleged presidential assassination plot, 2016 camp street prison riot among files More light is expected to be shed on several high-profile events as crucial reports from separate inquiries are to be circulated to members when Parliament reconvenes on Thursday. The circulation of the reports to members in essence indicates that the content will be available to the public. The reports to be circulated to members include the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the allegations of a plan to assassinate President David Granger; the Camp Street Prison disturbances of March 2016 that resulted in the fiery deaths of 17 inmates; and the September 2016 discovery an illegal twin engine Cessna Aircraft at the Yupukari Airstrip, Region Nine, Upper Demerara/Upper Takutu area. Also to be circulated are reports from the inquiries into the collapse of a mining pit at Rock Creek, Puruni, Region Seven, Cuyuni-Mazaruni area which resulted in the death of Keen Wilson; and the deaths of Antonio George and Joshua
President Granger (R) received the COI report into the alleged assassination plot from Commissioner Paul Slowe in September, last. George on July 7 when a fire destroyed the Drop-In Centre in Georgetown. There are also two finance-related reports to be circulated. These are the report of the Auditor General on the construction of the new access road to the Cheddi
Jagan International Airport and a special report from the Public Procurement Commission’s investigation into the procurement of emergency drugs by the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation. President David (Continued on page 19)
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Monday October 30, 2017
Kaieteur News
Local content requirements should be specified in oil contracts - TT’s former energy Minister Former Energy Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Kevin Ramnarine is of the firm view that local content requirements should not only be made into law but more importantly, clearly stated in all oil contracts. Ramnarine made this, among other comments during a recent consultation on oil and gas. The Strategic Advisor said that in certain countries, the implementation of local content policy is done through moral suasion. He said that this often poses much difficulty. With this in mind, the former Energy Minister said, “My recommendation would be that local content law and local content requirements be specified in the Production Sharing Contracts with the companies being engaged. If you leave it up to the good intentions of the multinationals, you would probably not get the impact that you want.” “You want as much as possible, the supply chain of this industry to come from Guyana. No one here can supply a drill ship for example with the things it needs but
there are other things which you can supply.” Ramnarine shared that in the 1960s and 70s; Trinidad and Tobago supplied the oil industry with rented cars, homes, and food. He said that this has now changed with a lot of the cementing and drilling needed for the sector, being provided by TT locals. Ramnarine said that this process takes time. “That took almost a generation for that skill set to emerge in Trinidad and Tobago. We got to a point where we are able to export those skill sets around the world. So it will take time in Guyana’s case but you need to have the political will in order to make that happen.” PROS AND CONS In the interim, Government has taken a decision to review the pros and cons surrounding the continued use of Production Sharing Agreements (PSA) in the oil and gas sector. This is according to Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman. In an interview with this newspaper, Trotman said that there are different types of
Natural Resources Minister, Raphael Trotman Agreements or Contacts which are entered into between governments and oil and gas companies. He noted however that in 1999, when a PSA was signed between the Government of Guyana and USA oil giant, ExxonMobil, the Production Sharing Agreement model was considered “avantgarde”. The Natural Resources Minister said that Production Sharing Agreements were the standard in the industry and so across the world, that was the model that was being uti-
lized. Trotman sought to remind as well that in 1999, Guyana was seen as a place where no one wanted to do business and deep water exploration was considered very risky and costly. He emphasized that many companies shied away from it. Trotman said too that Guyana during that time had no known signs of oil in the manner and scale it does today. He said that it was just seen as a possible frontier. Compounding the issue often times was the threat from “next door” thus investors were often scared away, Trotman expressed. He said, “So when Guyana began its endeavours around that period to attract companies, Exxon was just one of them. But this government has not given out a single new contract. All of the contracts right now are Profit Sharing Contracts and that is the model this country has used.” The Natural Resources Minister continued, “We don’t condemn it. There are different models of course, such as Strict Royalties; some say a Partnership where you
TT’s former Energy Minister, Kevin Ramnarine get 50 percent of the profits, but what is most important is what you do with the money when you get it. Both (contracts/agreements) will give you a desired outcome depending on how they are structured—that is that you earn revenue.” Trotman added, “In the case of the profit sharing, you don’t make any investments, the operator comes and takes the risks because if you miss by 10 feet, in drilling a hole where the oil is, then it could cost you US$6 to US$7M…” With this in mind, The Natural Resources Minister
said that Government will be doing a review of the kind of agreement to be used for future. He said that the review will consider if Guyana should maintain the use of Production Share Agreements or switch to another that might be in the nation’s best interest. The Leader of the Alliance For Change (AFC) said that one must bear in mind this kind of arrangement is what the coalition administration inherited. He said that when governments change, it is expected that the incoming party would honour the contracts before especially when they have to do with firms from international communities. PRODUCTION SHARING AGREEMENTS According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), a Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) is a contract between one or more investors and the government in which rights to the prospection, exploration and extraction of mineral resources from a specific area over a specified period of time are determined. As it relates to the terms of a standard PSA, the government hires the investor (s) as a contractor for the extraction of mineral resources, but the government still retains ownership of the resources. The investors carry out the works at their own expense and risk sharing with the government, part of the production output in accordance with the agreement.
Monday October 30, 2017
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Kaieteur News
THE WPA IS SHAMELESS The Working People’s Alliance (WPA) has finally broken its silence on the unilateral appointment by the President of a Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission. In so doing, the WPA has prostituted its once high principles. The WPA has reduced itself to a doormat of the APNU and the AFC. The WPA has admitted that it was sidelined in the decision of appointment of the Chairman. It had assured the nation that following an engagement with APNU that guarantees were given about its involvement in the decision-making of the government. It got its answer a few days later. The very government which it was hoping would consult with it, decided to not accept the resignation of Dr. Rupert Roopnarine. The WPA had been hoping to have Roopnarine replaced by one of its own so that it could have a representative in government. It is still without a representative in government. Yet it wants to be taken seriously by its latest shameless and spineless position taken in relation to the appointment of the Chairman of GECOM. The WPA says that the President acted within the letter of the law. It does not explain how it has arrived at this extraordinary position.
Like some of the supporters of the government who are now trying to defend the decision of the President, the WPA seems to ignore the fact that there is a legal precedent when it comes to interpreting Article 161 of the Constitution which deals with the appointment of the Chairman. Many of the supporters of the government are now offering their interpretation of the Constitution, forgetting that the very interpretation which they are now offering was rejected by the Court. The precedent which stands is that not all the names on the list submitted by the Leader of the Opposition have to be not unacceptable to the President. The Leader of the Opposition is not required to provide six names which the President finds as not unacceptable. It is the President who has to find someone from the list who is not unacceptable and this is why names can be substituted. The WPA however, like the supporters of the President, are ignoring a legal precedent in the interest of political convenience. The WPA wants to exculpate from the mess that the President created from day one when he came up with the bizarre notion that the person to be appointed has to be a judge or someone qualified to be a
DEM BOYS SEH
Parliament is dem criminals playground All over de Commonwealth, when you tun a Member of Parliament you got to behave in a certain way. You can’t drunk and deh bout de place, you can’t beat you wife and more than anything, you got to talk to people in a certain way. Dem boys know of cases wheh Members of parliament commit suicide because dem get ketch doing things that people seh MPs mustn’t do. England got nuff cases like that. But Guyana different; MPs does do anything and nutten don’t happen to dem. Dem does even lie in Parliament and when dem to appear before a committee to explain dem action de party does stall. Imagine if a man get put before de court he boss does suspend him from duty. If he in de police force he does get interdict. And when dem guilty de force does either demote or dethrone. In de public service, wuss things does happen. And if you wukking wid de city council and you mek a mistake you does get dismiss. A man see one officer had a li’l boy plumbing him and he get dismiss because he didn’t write it down. But when you is a MP you can do anything and nutten wouldn’t happen. Four of dem get charge and deh before de court and dem still sitting in parliament. Dem boys want to know why de Speaker ain’t act. It got to be that he frighten somebody. One get charge fuh thiefing vehicles and nuff money. Three of dem get charge fuh tekking millions of dollars from de rice board and putting de money in dem pocket. Some hide de money overseas. And de bank want cover up fuh dem. De people see dem going to parliament like nutten happen. From de time dem get charge somebody should have objected. But people sit down. That is why dem boys seh parliament is joke and people don’t tek it seriously. Even when it mek laws people does ignore de laws. Talk half and watch how parliament does support criminals.
judge. That position was rejected by the Court. It is disingenuous and cowardly of the WPA to be trying to deflect blame to the PPPC which it said set out to compromise the process so as to embarrass the government. The WPA cannot be serious by this descent into political fantasy. It was the opposition which at all times tried to reach an agreement, even going as far as asking the President, which it was under no obligation to do, to indicate the criteria that would be agreeable to him. The WPA knows who it was that took months to study the CV of the persons on the various lists. It knows full well who claimed there was a need to consult with political partners before a
decision was made. It was left out in the cold. It is now trying to come in from the cold by prostituting itself in front of the APNU+AFC. The WPA is trying to save face because it was not consulted on the appointment of a Chair of GECOM. It says such a role is not contemplated by the Constitution which leaves the choice to the Leader of the Opposition. But was it not the President who two months ago who when asked whether he has chosen anyone as yet, said he was studying the CVs and wanted to consult with his political partners. Obviously the WPA was not part of that consultation. The WPA needs to be reminded that under the Constitution it is the
President who has full executive authority. But this does not preclude the President from consulting. Similarly, there was nothing fettering the President from consulting with the WPA on the appointment of a Chairman of GECOM. The WPA is suffering from selective amnesia. It says that there was never going to be any good outcome to the process without constitutional reform. Has the WPA forgotten that it was the very Carter formula which had allowed two of its nominees, Doodnauth Singh and Steve Surujbally to be appointed as Chairpersons of the Guyana Elections Commission? Has it forgotten that before this rigmarole by President David Granger
there was never a problem with using the said formula to choose a Chairperson? The WPA pushes its chest in the air and announces that should the next elections be rigged, it would resign from government. Who says that the WPA is going to still be part of the government by the time the next election comes around? Why does the WPA believe that it is part of the present government when it does not have a representative in Cabinet? The WPA needs to get off its knees before it sinks further into the ‘suck sand’ of political irrelevance.
Monday October 30, 2017
Kaieteur News
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Monday October 30, 2017
Ron Robinson looks back FK - How many years have you chalked up in broadcasting and theatre? RR – Sixty-one years in theatre and 52 years in broadcasting. FK-Shivnarine Chanderpaul achieved twenty years of fantastic results in cricket and has an important street named after him. Yet nothing is named after a cultural icon like you. What are your thoughts? RR - Culture and the arts have never been assigned priority in this country. I think that explains your question. Just take a look at the state of the Cultural Centre. Actually, culture is a victim of politics. President Burnham’s government built the Centre, another
- Freddie Kissoon chats with a cultural icon at the Demerara Cricket Club government wants to deBurnhamise it, so the Centre becomes a victim. FK - Your achievements are fantastic. My generation knows about you. Once there is the theatre and broadcasting, your name emerges graphically. Something ought to be named after you. I would suggest the Theatre Guild be given the title, Ron Robinson Theatre. I hope after the publication of this interview, we can see some movement there. RR - Well, I will not sug-
gest anything be named after me. It is for others to do so. When Mr. Hamilton Green was Mayor, he decided that a part of Hadfield Street where I was born be named after me. I heard nothing further up to this day. FK - I am in my sixties and any Guyanese who lived in Guyana through the sixties and seventies will know Ron Robinson, the man who woke you up every morning with his music on the programme, “Good Morning Guyana.” RR - Oh, yes, those were great moments in my life. I
A young Ron Robinson back in his early radio broadcasting days
actually did a morning item on another radio, BGBS called “Beat the Clock.” then Rafiq Khan brought me over to the government owned station to do, “Good Morning Guyana.” FK - Are there nostalgic feelings for that era? RR - I want to say this. I believe our greatest period was the 60s and 70s. Earlier in the interview, you asked me if I want to talk about anything in the 21st century. No. I want to reflect on the 60s and 70s. I reminisce about life back then all the time. It is so great to sit and chat with a friend from that era; someone like Vic Insanally comes to mind. FK - Compare that era and what we have now. RR - Oh, there can be no comparison. Guyana and life were better then. Look, in that period, there was a greater appreciation for everything – the arts, literature, people. Younger people respected the older folks. Guyana today is uncontrollable. FK - I want to talk about politics. Someone like you with your phenomenal annual satirical performance, “The Link Show” would have been influential in Guyana thus the politicians would look at you. RR - Yes. Advisor to President Burnham, Elvin McDavid, took umbrage to being referred to a koala bear in the show during Burnham’s visit to Australia. McDavid was mad and he decided to pull the plug on the performance. I travelled to the Belfield Residence to speak to Burnham. The President said
Freddie Kissoon and Ron Robinson at the Demerara Cricket Club “The Link Show” will stop, if in any show there is no satirical mocking of Forbes Burnham, because it would mean Forbes Burnham Government did nothing worthy of mention for the entire year. Burnham said he will look at the show for the following year and if there is no laughing at Forbes Burnham, then and only then would “The Link Show” be in trouble. That was the end of McDavid’s threat. FK - Any other situation involving politics? RR- I was offered the job of Minister of Culture in the seventies. When I refused it, President Burnham said he knew I would. FK - Why you refused? RR - I was just not interested in that kind of life. My life was the Arts and broadcasting FK - After six decades in theatre and broadcasting, are you a wealthy person? RR - No, not at all. I had a chance in 1969 to make money when I was offered a great job with the Canadian Imperial
Bank of Commerce. I became the first Black employee of that bank. I returned to Guyana to pursue what I loved. FK - Which play did you like best that you acted in? RR - “Old Story Time” followed by “Driving Miss Daisy” FK - This is funny now; I can’t help laughing. But I will still ask. I heard in your superb days, you were a ladies’ man RR - Can’t say I refused all the offers that came my way. FK - Anything, apart of the interview, you insist we must carry? RR - Please mention that I respect Vic Insanally who was very good to me. FK - One of the things I liked about you, when I first met you, is your lack of class elitism. RR - I got that from my mother. She drove the concept of equality into me. FK - Any regrets RR - Yes, I wish I was still married to my first wife. I regret that part of my life badly.
Monday October 30, 2017
Kaieteur News
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Monday October 30, 2017
Guyana gearing for oil spill readiness By: Kiana Wilburg Natural Resources Minister, Raphael Trotman recently assured that the necessary preparations are taking place to ensure that Guyana would not be caught off guard should an oil spill occur. The Leader of the Alliance for Change (AFC) told this newspaper that the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) is the lead agency that is formulating the national response plan for Guyana. He said that support is also being provided by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD). The Natural Resources Minister asserted that Guyana is also part of the regional system known as the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA). He said that even though the likelihood of an oil spill is low, the Government is adamant that preparation is necessary and this is being done at a national and regional level. Additionally, the Minister said that the US Coast Guard have been providing continu-
- Trotman
Natural Resources Minister, Raphael Trotman ous training since last year and is expected to visit again in December. Trotman said that this is part of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Guyana has with the US State Department and the Energy Governance Capacity Initiative. “We are definitely getting ready. Guyana intends to be prepared. Though the operator is always the first responder we have a national duty and steps are actively being taken.” Additionally, Kaieteur News explained to the Minister that there were concerns that USA oil giant, ExxonMobil
made no commitment in its Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to cover the costs associated with an oil spill that it may be responsible for. To this Trotman only said, “As part of the development plan and permit granted, Exxon does have a responsibility to prevent accidents and to put measures in place to mitigate, prevent and respond to potential risks and accidents.” EXXONMOBIL’S OIL SPILLS Over the years, ExxonMobil has been criticised for causing some of the world’s most detrimental oil spills, leaving marine life as well as communities devastated for decades. One of the worst in its track record is the infamous Exxon Valdez oil spill which occurred in Alaska on March 24, 1989. The Exxon Valdez, an oil tanker, owned by Exxon Shipping Company, was bound for Long Beach, California. On its journey, it struck the Prince William Sound’s Bligh Reef and spilled 10.8 million gallons of crude oil for several days. Given its effects, it is considered to be one of the most devastating humancaused environmental disasters. But more than 20 years later, many question whether ExxonMobil actually learned
anything from the great Valdez mistake. On May 1, 2010, a ruptured ExxonMobil pipeline in the state of Akwa Ibom, Nigeria, spilled more than a million gallons of oil into the delta. The leakage contaminated waters and coastal settlements in the predominantly fishing communities along Akwa Ibom. Importantly, Nigeria’s authorities flagged ExxonMobil for its response to the oil spill as it sought to use certain chemicals which were proven to be toxic to human and marine life. In fact, Rev. Samuel Ayadi, Akwa Ibom State Chapter Chairman of Artisan Fishermen Association of Nigeria (ARFAN), said that ExxonMobil was in the habit of using dangerous chemical
dispersants which are scientifically proven to be toxic to human and aquatic life to clean up oil spills whenever they occur. He also noted that dispersants were even more dangerous than crude oil because it breaks down the crude oil and sinks it to the seabed where it kills fish eggs and fingerlings thereby wiping out generations of fish stock and other sea food and marine creatures that make up the food chain. Even as early as February of this year, ExxonMobil found itself under investigation after Australian regulators discovered that there was an oily sheen around ExxonMobil’s rig in the Bass Strait of Australia. The findings of the inves-
tigation revealed that it was indeed an oil spill caused by ExxonMobil and worse yet; its failure to properly respond increased the risk of contamination and posed a “significant threat to the environment.” Sources used: https:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ 2010_ExxonMobil_oil_spill, http://www.petrocom.gov.gh/ a s s e t s / Petroleum(Exploration%20and%20Production)Act2016.pdf, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Exxon_Valdez_oil_spill, h t t p s : / / www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/feb/03/oil-spillnear-exxonmobil-drilling-platform-in-bass-strait-to-be-investigated, https:// www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/may/10/ exxonmobil-criticised-over-response-to-bass-strait-oil-spill
GTT Pinktober invests to support local entertainment industry GTT continues its successful Pinktober initiatives following the inaugural 5k/ 10K walk which was attended by over 5000 participants. As a continued part of the Pinktober programme, the company also partnered with and invested in a number of local promoters to support the entertainment industry in Guyana, through a series of events and concerts . The first investment and partnership started with the New Level Entertainment, promoters Night with the Stars which should have been held last evening. Night with the Stars and other tickets to concerts
were part of GTT’s Pinktober Special offer. Through the purchase of the Pinktober Special at $2,000, persons donated $500 of it to the Guyana Cancer Foundation, and were given a limited edition 5K/10K Walk/ Run TShirt, free fitness training before the walk, three days free data and one ticket to either the best dance hall, gospel or reggae concerts. As part of Pink Friday special offers, GTT also had $1,000 ticket sales for the Night with the Stars show. In addition, the company gave generously many tickets away as part of an on air promotion with media partners. The artistes arrived in Guyana on October 27, and
met with the media and fans at GTT’s Camp & Robb Streets Store, where they entertained and promised an evening of plenty vibes and hype. Despite GTT’s generous support, investment and the presence of the artistes, the fans were unable to experience the hype promised by the artistes and promoters as a result of several challenges New Level Entertainment were unable to overcome. The Pinktober successes and concerts will continue with the Gospel Concert featuring Travis Green and Saiku Andrews on November 3 and the GTT Smile Guyana Concert featuring Chronixx on November 18.
Monday October 30, 2017
Kaieteur News
Petroleum hunt will push estimates to over three billion barrels of oil - Canadian expert says Guyana/Suriname basin is world’s hottest prospect A Canadian oil and gas expert who has travelled to Guyana five times in the past year alone believes that Guyana needs help understanding and serving the industry well into the future as the hunt for petroleum could push estimates to over 3 billion barrels of recoverable oil. Rob Strong, who has helped to streamline Guyana’s Oil and Gas Association as well as other areas of the emerging sector, sounded the call during a recent interview with Canada’s Oil and Gas Magazine (OGM). According to Strong, Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, has indicated to him that the most recent discovery by US oil giant ExxonMobil off the Guyana coast pushed the declared reserves to around the three billion barrel mark. “With no proven oil reserves just over two and a half years ago, Guyana now has approximately three billion barrels of recoverable oil and this number is expected to further increase as the hunt for
more petroleum intensifies. As well, neighbouring Suriname is expected to be as prolific as Guyana,” Strong told OGM. He is considered the grandfather of the offshore oil industry in the Canadian Province of Newfoundland and believes Guyana is a new frontier somewhat similar to where they were 40 years ago. “They [Guyana] need so much help in not only understanding the industry but, more importantly, servicing the industry for the next 20 to 30 years,” Strong told OGM. He believes the Guyana/ Suriname Basin has to be one of the hottest prospects in the world right now and there are already discussions of a second floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) unit. “When you have seven wells and six have penetrated oil-bearing sands, it’s significant. From discovery in 2015 and first oil in 2020, if that doesn’t excite someone in the oil and gas business, what will?” Strong questioned.
He said with an initial discovery in 2015, followed by a prediction of first oil in 2020 is just the start. Strong called on Canadians to look for opportunities in Guyana. “In my view, more east coast Canadian companies should be aggressively looking at opportunities in Guyana. Yes, I know it is an underdeveloped country and has its frustrations but when one looks at the “size of the prize”, it has to be worth it,” Strong said. ExxonMobil, alone, which has struck liquid gold several times off the coast of Guyana, has predicted 2.8 billion barrels of recoverable oil from The Liza Field. It is believed that there have already been several major upward revisions in recoverable resour c e e s t i mates regarding the Liza Field with plenty of room for upside after ExxonMobil’s successful Liza-4 well and future development plans for the Liza 2 project being considered. In early October, Exxon
Canadian oil and gas expert, Rob Strong announced that its Turbot-1 exploration well had "encountered a reservoir of 75 feet (23 meters) of high-quality, oilbearing sandstone. This was its fifth discovery in Guyana.
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Govt. to release several... (From page 7) Granger has faced numerous questions from journalists about making several reports public, especially the Camp Street tragedy and the alleged presidential assassination plot. The Government has opted to do so via the parliamentary process. It is widely believed that the Paul Slowe-led CoI and the subsequent report into the alleged presidential assassination plot may see changes to the hierarchy of the Guyana Police Force (GPF). The Commission’s terms of reference had included investigating and reviewing the full range of the actions and responses of the GPF to the reports and the extent to which such actions were conducted or executed with due diligence. Additionally, the Commission was tasked with reviewing all actions taken by the GPF and examining whether there was “failure, neglect or omission to thoroughly and properly investigate” and to determine whether this was intentional. It was to also determine the “blameworthiness for failure or neglect of officers or persons involved in the investigation” and to recommend action to be taken against anyone found culpable, as well as to recommend steps that can be taken to prevent a recurrence. Since the coalition government came to office, it has established a number of CoIs, which President Granger believes are important to help uncover the truth and to correct malpractice and abuses in the system. President David Granger is expected to address the opening thereby setting out Government’s legislative agenda for the First Session of the Eleventh Parliament.
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Monday October 30, 2017
Kaieteur News
Power, Corruption and Murder Roil Little Guyana By Liz Robins (New York Times) A man died in a village in eastern Guyana last year; that much is beyond dispute. Faiyaz Narinedatt, 26, a husband and father, was found dead by the side of a dusty road in the early morning of Nov. 1, 2016. That night, he had gone to a party hosted by a childhood acquaintance, who had immigrated to Queens and recently come into money: Marcus Brian Jainarine Bisram. Three weeks later, the Guyanese police charged Mr. Bisram of ordering five associates to murder Mr. Narinedatt after he rejected Mr. Bisram’s sexual advances at the party. By then, he could not be questioned because he had already returned to New York on Nov. 2. It was not until July 4, at the behest of the Guyanese government, that Mr. Bisram was arrested by United States marshals at his Rockaway beach house and jailed at the Manhattan Detention Center. Judge Peggy Kuo of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York has certified that Mr. Bisram should be extradited to Guyana. The year since Mr. Narinedatt died has unraveled into a saga of bribery, corruption and social-media-fueled attacks, stretching from No. 70 Village in the South American nation of Guyana to the Guyanese community in New York. It has bitterly divided diaspora leaders in Richmond Hill, Queens, putting Hindu priests, civic associations and relatives against one another. Last weekend, thousands flooded the Richmond Hill streets to celebrate Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights. Some community members, supporting Mr. Bisram purposely stayed away in protest of the parade, which was run by a vocal critic of Mr. Bisram. Although Mr. Bisram is Hindu and the victim was Muslim, religion never seemed to be the divisive issue. It is about money, the two sides say. “It has become something because of a person being rich and a person being poor,” said Lisa Khan, 32, a cousin of Mr. Narinedatt who lives in Queens. “Everyone used to get along perfectly fine before. Everyone used to be in the same crowd partying, having a religious function. Now, it’s who has money and power and who don’t.” There are nearly 140,000 Guyanese in New York, making them the fifth-largest immigrant group in the city. And like any other group, it has its own dramas and scandals. In April, the Guyanese-American real estate mogul, Edul Ahmad was convicted of mortgage fraud and sen-
- A gruesome crime in Guyana has threatened a tightly knit immigrant community in Queens, putting Hindu against Muslim, rich against poor, and cousin against cousin
A Facebook photo of Marcus Bisram, accused by Guyanese police in a murder conspiracy tenced to two years in prison. He had cooperated with authorities in the conviction of the New York Senate leader, John L. Sampson, a Democrat from Brooklyn who has Guyanese heritage. “In Queens, you find a replica of the bribery and corruption from Guyana,” said Aubrey Bonnett, a professor at the State University of New York at Westbury who has written about the West Indian diaspora. “It’s a miniature part of the subculture.” Since gaining independence from Britain in 1966, Guyana has been politically divided between two major ethnic groups, African and Indian. Mr. Bisram and his family are of Indian heritage; the current ruling party in Guyana is mostly made up of Afro-Guyanese leaders. More than 80,000 Guyanese, mostly IndoGuyanese from the Berbice farming region, now live in the contiguous Queens neighborhoods of South Ozone Park, Richmond Hill and Jamaica, according to the city’s Department of Planning. Mr. Narinedatt and Mr. Bisram went to the same school in Berbice. At an early age, Mr. Bisram’s parents separated. He moved in with his grandmother, and his aunts also took care of him. “We were all poor,” said Dawanti Pariag, one of Mr. Bisram’s aunts, outside the extradition hearing last month. “He know what’s hardship, because he didn’t grow up with parents since he was three or four.” At 16, after finishing high school in Guyana, he joined his father in Queens, she said. Mr. Bisram later went to the Allen School of Health and Sciences in Jamaica, Queens, for a nursing degree to be a home health aide, his lawyer said. He did not go to Hunter College, as was stated on the Marcus Brian Bisram Foundation website, which recently was deactivated. How a 20-something home health aide came to be
the wealthy head of a philanthropic foundation is a bit of a mystery, even among those closest to Mr. Bisram. According to Mario F. Gallucci, Mr. Bisram’s New York lawyer, Mr. Bisram met a benefactor whom Mr. Bisram declined to name. Even Mr. Gallucci said he does not know whether the benefactor is alive or dead. “He receives a salary, and as part of his salary, which is very generous, he has taken it upon himself to donate to causes he sees fit in Guyana,” Mr. Gallucci said. “His benefactor, or his employer, agrees with his decisions where he donates the money.” His aunt, Ms. Pariag, said that she never asked him where his money came from, but considered her nephew to be “blessed.” Mr. Bisram started his foundation in the spring of 2016, and he pledged to donate $1 million per year (the equivalent of $200 million Guyanese dollars) to organisations in his country. There, the Bisram Foundation has built orphanages and repaired the traffic office of a local police precinct; it donated to community policing groups, blood banks, a cricket team and laid-off sugar workers; it has given backpacks to poor students. Because of his wealth, Mr. Gallucci said, Mr. Bisram has “dignitary status,” and is given a security detail by the local police when in Guyana. The fateful party of last Oct. 31 coincided with Mr. Bisram’s philanthropic mission to Guyana, and community police officers — to whom Mr. Bisram was donating — were among the guests. Mr. Narinedatt was living in No. 70 Village, awaiting immigration documents that would allow him to join his wife in New York. He was one of about 150 people at the party, according to Mr. Bisram’s Guyanese lawyer. The entire village was invited. According to the police report, one witness, a 16-yearold cousin of Mr. Bisram, saw Mr. Narinedatt drinking rum along with other partygoers. When Mr. Narinedatt went to urinate in the backyard, the witness said, Mr. Bisram fondled his genitals. Mr. Narinedatt slapped him in the face five times. The witness, according to a police report, then heard Mr. Bisram issue the order to kill Mr. Narinedatt, using the local slang: “You all done he.” Guyana police reports included two witnesses who allegedly saw five men beating Mr. Narinedatt; one witness reportedly saw the men throw Mr. Narinedatt into the trunk
of a car. The victim was found on the side of the No. 70 Village Public Road after 4:00 a.m. on Nov. 1. At first, the police considered his death a result of a hit and run. But Mr. Narinedatt’s relatives said they suspected that it was staged. By then, Mr. Bisram was in New York, his return flight “preplanned,” according to his lawyer. Frustrated by the slow response from local authorities, Mr. Narinedatt’s uncle, Abdool Rizam Shafeek, said he went to officials in the capital of Georgetown two weeks later. “You had a lot of covering up here, in Berbice, a lot of covering up from the first set of police who handled the matter,” Mr. Shafeek said in an interview in Guyana. “At one time, they were claiming it was an accident, but when you look at the body, it wasn’t an accident.” Mr. Narinedatt, according to the coroner’s report provided to the Guyanese police, had multiple skull fractures, a fractured spine and arm, along with a ruptured spleen and liver and pulmonary contusions. He also had alcohol in his system. In the months after the party, and then after Guyana issued a warrant for his arrest, Mr. Bisram lived a very public life, giving winter coats to the needy, accepting humanitarian awards and socialising with friends at Queens restaurants and bars. On the afternoon of July 4, Mr. Bisram was preparing for a holiday party at his fivebedroom, three-story beach house in the Rockaways that he purchased in 2015. His aunt, Ms. Pariag, recalled that she was making Guyanese “cookup rice,” when U.S. marshals came to arrest him. In a basement apartment in the Bronx, Pooja Pitam lives with her parents, her older brother and her 18-month-old daughter, Aasimah. They share one bedroom. Her husband, Faiyaz Narinedatt, worked as a carpenter and, as a Muslim, taught at the mosque next door to his house in No. 70 Village. In February 2016, Ms. Pitam arrived in New York with her parents and older brother; she was seven months pregnant. They were sponsored for green cards by her paternal grandfather. Mr. Narinedatt stayed behind in Guyana with their son, Afthab, 3. It was not until the first extradition hearing at the end of September that the two sides finally saw one another inside the Brooklyn federal
courthouse. Mr. Bisram’s friends and family numbered more than 40. Most were wearing business attire accented by yellow, in a show of unity. They filled four rows in the courtroom. Some of the 16 attending in support of Mr. Narinedatt’s side had nowhere but the jury box to sit. They wore white T-shirts proclaiming “Justice for Faiyaz.” One supporter of Mr. Bisram testily confronted a Brooklyn Hindu priest who claimed to be on Mr. Bisram’s side but also appeared to support his critic, Lakshmee Singh, a Queens television personality who had organised the local Diwali parade in which the priest was planning to appear. Ms. Pitam brought her daughter, who fussed while the lawyers presented their arguments. When he entered the courtroom, Mr. Bisram did not at all resemble the coiffed image he has maintained on social media. His hair was uncombed and his eyes were bloodshot, brightening only when his family and friends waved to him. The conflict in the Queens Guyanese community came to a head in December 2016 when Ms. Singh hosted a roundtable discussion about Mr. Bisram on her South Asian-focused cable channel, ITV Gold, “Let’s Talk With Lakshmee.” She asked three panelists pointed questions on the Bisram case, including the role of his wealth in those who
Bibi Shakira Aziz, the mother of Faiyaz Narinedatt, at a protest in Guyana.
support him. “We have a strange community,” a Guyanese-American educator, Chuck Mohan, said on the program. “That somehow, if you supposedly have money, you are put on a pedestal.” Ms. Singh also asked the panelists how the official police report of Mr. Bisram’s unwanted sexual advances would affect the LGBT community in Queens. Mohamed Q. Amin, the founder of a prominent gay rights group, Caribbean Equality Project, said it was “irresponsible” and potentially dangerous for Ms. Singh to speculate on Mr. Bisram’s sexual orientation when the accused had never made a public statement about it. The ramifications of such rumors could be serious in Guyana, Mr. Amin said, since the country still has laws against sodomy that could be punishable by life in prison, even if they are rarely enforced. Mr. Amin declined to comment on whether Mr. Bisram donated to his organization. He did, however, feud publicly with Ms. Singh; he said that the Caribbean Equality Project was left off an email list to have a booth in last weekend’s Diwali parade. Several LGBT artists did participate. Ms. Singh said she used to be good friends with Mr. Bisram, having first met him after his float won the 2015 Dawali parade. He offered to donate $10,000 for the 2016 (Continued on page 24)
Monday October 30, 2017
Kaieteur News
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British Minister to be investigated over sexual harassment allegation
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Monday October 30, 2017
Kaieteur News
PROPERTY FOR SALE House and land for sale. Hope E.C.D. Contact: 6114273 Large 3 bedroom house on spacious land. All amenities in tact. Versailles Public Road W.B.D. Call: 609-7766/2641141. One(1) three(3) Bedroom concrete house located in a gated community at Schoonord, W.B.D. All rooms self- contained. Contact:6602233
Mark Garnier LONDON (Reuters) British Prime Minister Theresa May has ordered an investigation into a report that one of her ministers asked a female secretary to buy sex toys for him, as she tries to tackle a culture of sexual harassment in politics. Mark Garnier, a junior international trade minister, asked secretary Caroline Edmondson to buy two sex toys and he also called her “sugar tits”, the Mail on Sunday reported. Garnier told the paper that the comment was part of an amusing conversation about a television show, and that asking her to buy the toys was “good humoured high jinks”. Edmondson, in comments to the paper, disputed Garnier’s recollection of the incidents, including his assertion that they were “high jinks”. The report came after another British newspaper, the Sun, on Friday described a culture of sexual harassment among lawmakers and their staff working in parliament. Garnier was not immediately available for comment to Reuters through his constituency or parliamentary offices. May’s spokeswoman said on Friday after the Sun’s report that any unwanted sexual behaviour was “completely unacceptable” and any minister who acted inappropriately would face “serious action”. Health Minister Jeremy Hunt said yesterday May had asked officials to investigate if Garnier, whose role is outside the cabinet immediately surrounding May, had broken the government ministers’ code of behaviour. “These stories, if they are true, are obviously totally unacceptable,” Hunt told BBC television.
Monday October 30, 2017
Uncle, niece drown during birthday celebrations
DROWNED: Kimeanda Prince
DROWNED: Gavin Moses
A student of the Houston Secondary School drowned yesterday, while celebrating her thirteenth birthday, and her uncle is missing after attempting to rescue her during celebrations at the 12th annual Rockstone Fish Festival. Dead is Marsha Prince, of Bagostown, East Bank Demerara. The body of her 50-year-old uncle, Gavin Morris, of West Bank Demerara is still to be recovered. The incident occurred at around 15:00hrs. The teen’s family was among hundreds, who attended the final day of the Rockstone Fish Festival held at the Rockstone Village, some ten miles west of Linden in Region Ten, Upper Demerara-Berbice area. According to information, after spending some time at the fish festival Prince, her younger sister, whose only name was given as “Lily”, and other relatives went to take a swim. Moments after, Prince and her sister drifted into the deeper part of the river as a result of the waves reportedly generated from a passing boat. A cousin of the teen said that she heard Prince screaming and saw her struggling in the water. According to the cousin, she raised an alarm and her uncle plunged overboard and pushed Prince’s sister to shore. As he went back to rescue Prince, he apparently encountered difficulty and went below the surface. Prince’s body was subsequently recovered and taken to the Wismar Hospital mortuary to await an autopsy.
Taiwan President making state visits amid China stalemate TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen left Saturday for the United States and three South Pacific nations in an effort to crack the diplomatic isolation imposed by rival China. Ts a i w i l l v i s i t t h e Marshall and Solomon Islands along with Tuvalu while transiting through Hawaii and the U.S. territory of Guam. The three are among just 20 countries that extend Taiwan formal diplomatic recognition. Tsai’s travels follow P a n a m a ’s s w i t c h i n g o f diplomatic relations to Beijing in June in what was seen as a major diplomatic setback for Taiwan. “We want to prove to the world that Taiwan is capable of, and is willing to, make more contributions to the international community,” Tsai said Saturday ahead of her departure. In the Marshalls and Solomons, Tsai will find an “opportunity to better understand the sustainable development needs of the two countries and determine how (Taiwan) can assist in line with steadfast diplomacy,”
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Kaieteur News
Tsai Ing-wen the government said in a statement posted on its official website. In Beijing, foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang demanded Tsai be barred from transiting through the U.S., which, like most countries, has only unofficial relations with Taiwan. “Regarding the transit of Taiwan’s leader in the United States, I think her true intention is clear for all to see,” Geng said at a daily news briefing. Wa s h i n g t o n s h o u l d “not allow her to stop over, avoid sending any erroneous messages to the
Ta i w a n i n d e p e n d e n c e force, and maintain the general picture of ChinaU.S. relationship and peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait with concrete efforts,” Geng said. Beijing has lodged “solemn complaints” with the U.S., Geng said. China claims sovereignty over democratic, self-ruled Taiwan, which split from the mainland amid civil war in 1949, and uses diplomatic and economic pressure to limit the island’s international relations. Washington does not formally recognize Taiwan but maintains close economic, diplomatic and military ties with the island. While it officially advocates “peaceful unification,” China has never renounced its threat to use force to gain control over Taiwan, which had only distant relations with China for most of its history and was a Japanese colony from 1895 to 1945. Chinese President Xi Jinping vowed Oct. 18, the first day of a ruling Communist Party congress, that China would not allow anyone to “separate any part of Chinese territory from China,” in a reference to Taiwan.
Hundreds of thousands march for unified Spain, poll shows depths of division
Pro-unity supporters take part in a demonstration in central Barcelona, Spain, yesterday. REUTERS/Jon Nazca BARCELONA (Reuters) - Hundreds of thousands of supporters of a unified Spain filled Barcelona’s streets yesterday in one of the biggest shows of force yet by the so-called silent majority that has watched as regional political leaders push for Catalan independence. Political parties opposing a split by Catalonia from Spain had a small lead in an opinion poll published yesterday, the first since Madrid called a regional election to try to resolve the country’s worst political crisis in four decades. Polls and recent elections have shown that about half the electorate in the wealthy northeastern region, which is already autonomous, oppose secession from Spain, but a vocal independence movement has brought the current crisis to a head. Spain’s central government called an election for Dec. 21 on Friday after sacking Catalonia’s president Carles Puigdemont, dissolving its parliament and dismissing its government. That followed the assembly’s unilateral declaration of independence in a vote boycotted by three national parties. The regional government claimed it had a mandate to push ahead with independence following an unofficial referendum on Oct. 1 which was ruled illegal under Spanish law and mostly boycotted by unionists.
Waving thousands of Spanish flags and singing “Viva España”, protesters on Sunday turned out in the largest display of support for a united Spain since the beginning of the crisis — underlining the depth of division in Catalonia itself. “I‘m here to defend Spanish unity and the law,” said Alfonso Machado, 55, a salesman standing with a little girl with Spanish flags in her hair. “Knowing that in the end there won’t be independence, I feel sorry for all the people tricked into thinking there could be and the divisions they’ve driven through Catalan society.” The poll of 1,000 people by Sigma Dos for newspaper El Mundo showed unionist parties winning 43.4 percent support and proindependence parties 42.5 percent. The survey was taken from Monday to Thursday, just as the central government prepared to take control of Catalonia. Madrid said on Saturday that secessionist politicians, including Puigdemont, were free to take part in the election. The hardline CUP has been unclear if it would. The deposed Catalan government will soon have to make difficult decisions, Puigdemont’s former deputy Oriol Junqueras said on Sunday in an editorial in online newspaper El Punt Avui.
At least 29 dead after Islamist attack on Somali hotel MOGADISHU (Reuters) - An Islamist attack on a hotel in Mogadishu ended yesterday after 29 people were killed during a siege lasting nearly 12 hours, police said, prompting the government to sack two top security officials over their failure to stop repeated attacks. The attack proved once again that insurgents can carry out deadly assaults in the heart of the Somali capital. Twin bombings in Mogadishu two weeks ago killed more than 350 people, the worst such attacks in the country’s history. More than 50 people are still missing.
Islamist militants al Shabaab claimed responsibility for this weekend’s attack, which took place ahead of a planned meeting to try to defuse tensions between the federal government and regional states. Government officials had begun to meet at the hotel to discuss strategy. “So far I am sure 29 people died - the death toll may rise,” Abdullahi Nur, a police officer, told Reuters. At least 12 of the dead were police officers, Nur said. A woman was beheaded while her “three children were shot dead”, he said.
A Reuters witness saw seven bodies lying inside the hotel. Three militants were captured alive and two others blew themselves up after they were shot, police said. Some militants may have disguised themselves and escaped with the residents who were rescued from the hotel, one police officer said. The attack began around at 5 p.m. on Saturday when a car bomb rammed the gates of Nasahablod Two hotel, which is close to the presidential palace, and destroyed the hotel’s defences. Then gunmen stormed the building.
Monday October 30, 2017
Kaieteur News
Teachers have done well in difficult times – says Prime Minister - As GTU prepares to meet President Granger to resolve salary increase, other concerns Teachers are a rare breed of humanitarians. This is according to Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, who recently pointed out that these professionals are known to invest themselves in their charges. The Prime Minister can attest to this state of affairs since he himself was once a teacher. “When you see the student, you see a student plus the teacher,” asserted Nagamootoo. His remarks in this regards were forthcoming on Friday as he delivered remarks at the Ministry of Education’s 2017 National Award Ceremony. Nagamootoo made a point of emphasising that “Everything that teachers know and learn will be vested in the development of the child or student under their care and they have done so for many years for small wages...for little incentives.” He highlighted that teachers have over the years been sent to far flung areas, away from their homes, to carry out their mandate. Teachers, according to the Prime Minister, are sometimes sent to hinterland communities where challenges are greater than on the coast. “It may be easier now because internet can be accessed in these interior areas but not so all the time,” insisted Nagamootoo. As such he emphasised that, “the work of a teacher is a work of love, because you are dealing with your students and you understand they all deserve attention and the best care and the impartation to them of the best knowledge.” Given the task that teachers are expected to carry out with distinction, Nagamootoo concluded, “They are the ones who I believe deserve our commendation of a thank you from the bottom of our hearts. They have done well in these difficult times.” It is just such consideration that executives of the Guyana Teachers Union [GTU] are hoping will guide a resolution to the remuneration and other concerns teachers are presently facing. For almost two years, teachers have been awaiting the conclusion of negotiations between the Ministry of Education and GTU regarding a remuneration package for teachers. A previous multi-year remuneration agreement which was inked under the PPP/C administration expired
GTU President, Mark Lyte
Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo in December of 2015. That very month, union representatives said that a proposal for a new agreement was presented to the Ministry of Education. However, negotiations in this regard were stalled on multiple occasions. According to GTU President, Mark Lyte, while the Ministry has thus far been able to sign off on the non-financial aspects of the proposal, the financial aspect has thus far not been discussed. In its proposal, the union has asked for, among other things, a 40 percent across the board increase for teachers for last year; 45 percent increase for this year and 50 percent for the following three years (20182020) for all categories of teachers. The union in its proposal, too, took into consideration, inflation and had made it clear that “should there be inflation higher than the percentage be agreed upon, then the teachers/teachereducators must get the
benefit of the difference.” But Lyte had confided that since the union was only making a proposal, the Ministry was well within its right to offer completely different percentages. The non-progressive negotiations had caused the union to announce plans to agitate its 6,000 odd membership into strike action, essentially crippling the operation of the public school system. In an attempt to appease the union, a meeting was convened on Thursday by Minister of Education, Nicolette Henry, whose approach did not meet the satisfaction of union executives. This prompted them to stage a coordinated ‘walk-out’ during which they affirmed the strike action plan. During the meeting with the Education Minister, the union executives said that they were particularly concerned that from all indication teachers are being lumped into a single ‘public servant’ category. Coming out from the meeting with the Minister, Lyte had informed that the Minister merely advised that teachers will benefit from the recently announced pay increase for other public servants. “This seems to be another imposition and the union will not accept this,” he warned. Recently, government announced a unilateral pay increase for public servants which has been evoking wrath from many concerned factions. The GTU’s decision to bring an unceremonious end to the meeting with the Education Ministry was widely publicised and triggered a meeting between the union and Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, on Friday. At that forum, union executives were informed that President David Granger was prepared to meet with them today at 11:00 hours at the Ministry of the Presidency. While the union has agreed to the meeting, Lyte informed that the union’s membership will be advised of the way forward depending on the outcome of the meeting. “We have been through two years of talk, all we want to see now is concrete action,” Lyte passionately asserted.
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Vasant takes on Kamla in UNC internal elections Trinidad Guardian - He took some time after the surprise announcement of early UNC leadership polls, but former PP minister Vasant Bharath will challenge UNC Leader Kamla PersadBissessar—yet again—for the party leadership. He said he has the support of some UNC MPs—though he is not calling names. “I have every intention of contesting in a legal, legitimate contest, whenever held,” he said Saturday responding to questions. I t w i l l b e B h a r a t h ’s second bid after badly losing a leadership fight to Persad-Bissessar in 2015. She obtained over 18,000 votes; UNC MP Roodal Moonilal got approximately 1,800 votes; and Bharath, 1,500. “People may say why try again—and I do have other options—but a result like that wouldn’t daunt you once national interest is truly at heart.” Bharath said earlier this year that he would contest the leadership in next year’s expected poll. After last week’s surprise announcement to push it earlier together with the
Kamla PersadBissessar
Vasant Bharath
November 26 National Executive elections, he has weighed the situation. Saturday, ahead of tomorrow’s UNC congress to ratify the dates, he said he was watching that outcome. “But when I contest, it will be with a slate contesting the executive. I’m assembling a team with the required experience to take the party out of the mess it’s found itself in. “We need to rebuild from UNC’s questionself-inflicted wounds to present a genuine alternative to the current Government. The UNC lost six
elections—five in government, one out of office. It’s highly unlikely the same leadership can win again. Nor has the current executive done anything to rebuild the party’s institution or representation. “There are also serious allegations levelled against some former government ministers which place the party under further negative scrutiny.” Bharath said, “My team has quality and expertise, a group of competent people, of like mind, with country and party at heart.
Barbados to host two-day conference examining growth opportunities BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - CMC – The Barbados Investment and Development Corporation (BIDC) says it will host its second “Innovative Barbados” conference early next month aimed at creating a culture of innovation as a means of unlocking new growth opportunities for the island. BIDC chief executive officer, Sonja Trotman, said the November 1-2 event would also seek to underscores the fact that “creating a culture of innovation is now more important than ever in driving economic growth”. She said innovation in the form of processes, products, services, technologies and practices is a tremendous
Sonja Trotman force for social change and significant emphasis has to be
Scheme ‘needs urgent fix’ Daily Nation - Barbados’ National Insurance Scheme (NIS) needs urgent help. It is being weighed down by excessive Government debt, ineffective administration and deficient governance. Failure to provide timely audited statements as mandated by law is also a major weakness. Social security actuary Derek Osborne raised the alarm in the just-released 15th Actuarial Review of the National Insurance, Unemployment and Severance Funds of Barbados prepared as at December 31, 2014. Prominent Barbadian actuary Charles Herbert called the report “damning”. He said the entire National Insurance Board (NIB) should go if it cannot fix the major issues raised and be accountable to the public.
placed on achieving the right balance of enabling policies, the availability of appropriate finance and quality human capital. The conference will bring together big and small businesses, innovators, creatives and policy makers with a focus on finding unique ideas for leveraging Barbados’ best opportunities in manufacturing and services. It will be held under the theme,” Innovate For Impact” and will explore how small states like Barbados can transform into global players and how entrepreneurs facing resource challenges can carve sustainable niches for themselves. Barbados’ Ambassador to the United States will deliver the keynote address on the topic “Surviving Impact: Building Storm Ready Economies in the Era of Super Storms”. The BIDC said that more than 20 other presenters from the United States, Canada, Argentina, United Kingdom, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Colombia, Venezuela and the host country will make presentations to the conference.
Monday October 30, 2017
Kaieteur News
Criminal complaint filed against Grenada attorney and CCJ President PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad — A criminal complaint has been filed with the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service against Grenadian attorney-at-law Dr Francis Alexis QC and president of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Sir Dennis Byron. The complaint, which alleges that Alexis accepted a bribe from Byron to support the publication of the second edition of his book Changing Caribbean Constitutions, was filed by Dominican attorney Cabral Douglas. Alexis has been accused of accepting money from the Canadian Department of Foreign affairs and Trade, which was earmarked for the Caribbean Judicial Reform and Institutional Strengthening Project, better known as the JURIST project, to finance publication of the book. The complaint states that, in 2015, when Byron was director of the JURIST project, he made the funds available to Alexis although publication of the book was not a part of the project. Byron was subsequently removed as director of the JURIST project and a Canadian was appointed to the post.
Sir Dennis Byron, President of the CCJ (left) and Dr. Francis Alexis QC In 2016, Alexis was appointed to the Regional Judicial and Legal Services Commission (RJLSC), the body established to appoint judges to the CCJ, and also to discipline and begin the process to remove judges if there is reason to believe they have misbehaved in their positions or cannot perform. Byron is chairman of the RJLSC, and Douglas claims that his payment of money to Alexis, who was subsequently appointed to that body, is contrary to the CCJ Agreement of 2001 and is in breach of Trinidad and Tobago’s Prevention of Corruption Act, 1987.
Alexis has been the leading proponent of constitutional reform in Grenada and St Vincent and the Grenadines, where delinking from the UK Privy Council and adopting the CCJ as the final court of appeal was the subject of a failed referendum in both countries. Douglas in filing the criminal complaint against Alexis and Byron said he stands ready to assist the police with a criminal prosecution in an effort to “root out the cesspool of corruption that has engulfed the highest judicial institution in the Caribbean”. (Caribbean News)
Haitian legislator reiterates appeal to US President to extend TPS for Haitians NEW YORK - CMC – A Haitian-born legislator here has reiterated his appeal to US President Donald J. Trump to extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for undocumented Haitians living in the United States. Dr. Mathieu Eugene, who represents the predominantly Caribbean 40th Council District in Brooklyn, New York, told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) on Saturday that he was joining yesterday at a rally in Brooklyn by immigration advocates, elected officials, clergy members and constituents reiterating their calls on the Trump administration to extend the status granted to almost 60,000 Haitians. Eugene, the first Haitian to be elected to New York City Council, said he will also relaunch an online petition requesting that the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) grant an 18-month extension of TPS for Haitians and protect the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Programme (DACA), initiated by former US President Barack Obama that Trump plans to rescind. TPS for Haitians is set to expire in January. Eugene said the online petition has amassed over 30,000 signatures “and has brought muchneeded attention to the plight of thousands of immigrants seeking to remain in the US.” In May, DHS issued a six-month extension of TPS for Haitians, stating that eligible Haitian nationals must be prepared to return to the Frenchspeaking Caribbean country in January 2018. Eugene said the DHS will formally declare next month if it will keep the six-month extension in place or if it will grant a longer
extension to TPS recipients. The petition also requests support for recipients of the DACA immigration programme, which currently protects over one million young Caribbean and other immigrants, who came to the United States as children, from deportation. In 2009, Eugene said he “successfully introduced” legislation in New York City Council in support of TPS Haitians. He said he has continued to lobby for its renewal in subsequent years. Despite being granted TPS, Eugene said Haiti has “suffered additional devastation from four tropical storms, an outbreak of cholera, and, most recently, a destructive hurricane. “Haiti cannot withstand an influx of over 58,000 people, who would be forced to return to the country if TPS is not extended,” he told CMC. “That is why I am asking the community to sign this petition and let the federal government know that we need to continue this humanitarian gesture. TPS recipients are valued members of our community; they hold jobs and work hard to contribute to our community, our city, and our country,” he added. “We are also here to support the DREAMERS, young people in the immigrant community, who came here with their families in pursuit of the American dream,” Eugene continued. “This is their homeland; we must do all we can to ensure that their ability to receive an education and pursue their career ambitions is protected under the DACA programme.”
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Brazil’s Lula, Bolsonaro well positioned for 2018 elections: poll RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Brazilian Former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and right-wing congressman Jair Bolsonaro would make it to a second round of voting in the 2018 presidential elections if they were held today, an Ibope poll showed yesterday.The poll, published in the O Globo newspaper, showed centerleft Lula winning 35 to 36 percent of the vote in the October 2018 race regardless of the candidates he theoretically runs against. Law-and-order congressman Bolsonaro, whose popularity has been spurred by rising violence in cities like Rio de Janeiro that were hard-hit by the country’s troubled economy, would win 15 percent if he faced off against Lula. Marina Silva, Former Environmental Minister for Lula, would take third placed in any voting field that included Lula as a candidate with 8 to 11 percent of the vote. Silva would tie with Bolsonaro for first place if
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva Lula were out of the picture. Despite Lula’s popularity, his political future hangs in the balance after he was convicted in July of receiving bribes from a construction firm in return for help winning government contracts. In August, he said his Workers Party might have to run a different candidate. Ibope’s poll of 2,000 people in all of Brazil’s states was conducted between Oct. 18 and 22. It has a margin of error of two percentage points.
Monday October 30, 2017
Kaieteur News
France arrests brother of exBurkina President Compaore PARIS (Reuters) Francois Compaore, the younger brother of former Burkina Faso president Blaise Compaore, was taken into custody by French authorities yesterday in connection with the murder of a journalist, his lawyer said. The killing in 1998 of Norbert Zongo, who published Burkina Faso’s Independent newspaper, became a symbol of repression during Blaise Compaore’s 27-year rule, which ended in 2014 at the hands of a popular uprising. Before his death, Zongo had been investigating the murder of a driver who worked for Francois Compaore, and his killing triggered violent protests. Francois Compaore was arrested at Paris’s Charles de Gaulle airport after returning to France from Ivory Coast, where his brother lives in exile, his lawyer Pierre-Olivier Sur said in a statement. Compaore will appear
Francois Compaore before a judge within 48 hours, he added. Burkina Faso media said he was held on an arrest warrant issued by that country’s government. His lawyer said only it was an international arrest warrant. French prosecutors could not immediately be reached for comment on the case.
Sur said the charges were politically motivated by a Burkinabe government unable to get its hands on Blaise Compaore, whom the Ivorian government refuses to extradite despite an international warrant for his arrest in connection with the 1987 murder of former president Thomas Sankara. Burkina Faso’s uprising and subsequent elections raised hopes the coutry would finally reckon with past crimes, but some activists say the government of current president Roch Marc Christian Kabore has moved too slowly against former regime members, some of whom serve in the new administration. Authorities opened a trial this week against allies of Blaise Compaore accused of leading a failed coup d‘etat in 2015, including the alleged mastermind, Compaore’s former spy chief General Gilbert Diendere.
Kurdish leader Barzani resigns after independence vote backfires ERBIL/BAGHDAD Iraq (Reuters) - Iraqi Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani said he would give up his position as president on Nov. 1, after an independence referendum he championed backfired and triggered a regional crisis. There was high drama at the Kurdish parliament, which was stormed by armed protesters as it met to approve the veteran leader’s resignation as Kurdish president. Some MPs were barricaded in their offices yesterday evening. In a televised address, his first since Iraqi forces launched a surprise offensive to recapture Kurdish-held territory on Oct. 16, Barzani confirmed that he would not extend his presidential term after Nov. 1 “under any conditions”. “I am the same Masoud
Masoud Barzani Barzani, I am a Peshmerga (Kurdish fighter) and will continue to help my people in their struggle for independence,” said Barzani, who has campaigned for Kurdish self-determination
for nearly four decades. The address followed a letter he sent to parliament in which he asked members to take measures to fill the resulting power vacuum. The region’s parliament met in the Kurdish capital Erbil yesterday to discuss the letter. A majority of 70 Kurdish MPs voted to accept Barzani’s request and 23 opposed it, Kurdish TV channels Rudaw and Kurdistan 24 said. Demonstrators, some carrying clubs and guns, stormed the parliament building as the session was in progress. Gunshots were heard. Some protesters outside the building said they wanted to “punish” MPs who they said had “insulted” Barzani. Some attacked journalists at the scene.
Fraud Squad probes Jwala Rambarran
Jwala Rambarran
Trinidad Express - Former governor of the Central Bank Jwala Rambarran is under investigation by the Fraud Squad for an alleged conspiracy with the former general manager of the Deposit Insurance Corporation (DIC) to defraud. During his tenure as governor, Rambarran was also the chairman of the DIC. According to documents received by the Sunday Express, Rambarran, along with former general manager of the DIC Arjoon Harripaul, is alleged to have conspired for the latter to obtain an enhanced employment package in March 2015, which included an unusual termination entitlement of a lump sum payment equal to twice the sum of his annual cash compensation and a gratuity benefit within 30 days of termination from the organisation. The enhanced contract, which also sought to increase Harripaul’s term of employment from three to five years, was done without the approval of the board members.
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Masakadza hundred keeps Zimbabwe afloat BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe, CMC – Opener Hamilton Masakadza struck his fifth Test hundred and second against West Indies to rescue Zimbabwe, but rain curtailed a see-sawed opening day of the second Test at Queens Sports Club here yesterday. The 34-year-old was unbeaten on 101 when the forecast bad weather arrived half-hour after tea with the hosts on 169 for four, after winning the toss and opting to bat first. Peter Moor, in for his first match of the series, supported with 52 but he fell just before the rain swept across the venue. No other Zimbabwe batsman made it into double figures as surprisingly, West Indies seamers took prominence as they ruthlessly disposed of the top order inside the first hour of play. Seamer Kemar Roach finished with two for 24, while new-ball partner Shannon Gabriel grabbed the other wicket in a productive first session as Zimbabwe reached lunch at 56 for three. Hoping for a better outing following two disappointing displays with the bat in last week’s first Test, Zimbabwe
enjoyed no such luxury, quickly finding themselves three wickets down inside the first hour. Roach struck first in the day’s fourth over with four runs on the board, luring Solomon Mire (4) into a tentative prod at an awayswinger, with wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich taking the edge low down to his right. Three overs later, Gabriel snapped Craig Ervine’s middle stump with one angled in to send the experienced right-hander on his way without scoring, with seven runs added to the total. And the innings was in further turmoil when Brendan Taylor played on to Roach for one nearing the hour, leaving Zimbabwe tottering on 14 for three. However, Masakadza combined with Moor to rescue the innings in a productive 142-run stand for the fourth wicket, to see Zimbabwe safely to lunch and keep West Indies wicket-less in the second session. All told, the right-handed Masakadza struck nine fours and two sixes in a 171-ball knock while Moor, also a right-
Hamilton Masakadza pierces the off side. (AFP)
hander, faced 155 deliveries and counted three fours. Masakadza gained a reprieve on 15 when he seemed to edge a mis-timed pull at a short one from Gabriel onto his body and into the hands of gully. He was given not out but when West Indies resorted to DRS, replays showed the bowler had overstepped. Along with Moor, he then navigated the last hour before lunch but not without alarm as twice edges fell just short of Dowrich as he lived a charmed life. Unbeaten on 35 at the
interval with Moor on 15, the pair put on 91 in the session without being separated, as the West Indies attack toiled in vain. Masakadza reached his half-century with a pull for four off captain and seamer Jason Holder and celebrated in the following over by depositing leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo over the ropes at mid-wicket. He strolled into the 60s by whipping Bishoo to the midon boundary, drove Gabriel to the straight boundary to move into the 70s before belting part-time off-spinner
Ravi Persaud wins Banks DIH/Citizens Bank Inc. Stableford Golf tournament
Officials of the Lusignan Golf Club, Banks DIH and Citizens pose with the top players. Ravi Persaud recorded a solid 41 points to triumph in the Banks DIH/Citizens Bank Inc. Stableford Golf tournament played Saturday at the Lusignan Golf Course on the East Coast of Demerara. The pre-Guyana Open tournament attracted over 40 golfers including overseas players who are already here for Guyana’s prestigious event this weekend. Three players were tied on 40 points and the other four places were determined on a countback. Aleem Hussain copped second position with female golfer Anasha Ally securing third, while Peyton George ended in fourth place.
Nearest to the Pin was Max Persaud. Hilbert Shields, President of Lusignan Golf Club lauded the two companies for jointly sponsoring the tournament. “Banks DIH and Citizens Bank have been major sponsors of golf over the years and we appreciate their sponsorship leading up to the Guyana Open,” Shields added. Banks DIH Communications Manager Troy Peters and Citizens Bank Credit Manager Neville Skeete both indicated their companies continued support for the sport locally. The tee off was done by Citizens Bank Managing Director Eton Chester.
Roston Chase over midwicket for his second six, to edge towards the 90s. Given out on 86 caught at short leg off Chase before having the decision overturned via DRS, Masakadza inched nervously to tea on 93, and raised three
figures in the seventh over after the break with a single to long-on off Chase. His previous century against West Indies came in 2001 in Harare in his debut Test. Moor, unbeaten on 47 at tea with Zimbabwe on 147 for three, completed his third Test half-century in the third over following the resumption when he punched a Chase full toss to the cover boundary. Zimbabwe were strengthening their position when Moor misjudged one from Chase two overs later and was bowled. Rain ended play shortly afterwards leaving an early start on Monday’s second day with 98 overs scheduled. S c o r e s : ZIMBABWE 169 for four (Hamilton Masakadza 101 not out, Peter Moors 52; Kemar Roach 2-24) vs WEST INDIES.
Volcanoes settle for draw after Smith’s masterful hundred – 4th day, 1st round ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – Devon Smith cracked his 30th first-class career hundred, but the Windward Islands Volcanoes’ bid for an unexpected victory over Leeward Islands Hurricanes failed and they had to settle for a draw in the Regional 4Day Championship yesterday. The 36-year-old Smith, the most prolific batsman in the history of the regional competition, was undefeated on a masterful 185 that helped him to earn the Player-of-theMatch award and carry the Volcanoes to 331 for three declared in their second innings – for a lead of 221 – on the final day of their firstround match at the National Cricket Stadium. Chasing 222 for victory, the Hurricanes stumbled against the spin bowling triumvirate of Shane Shillingford, Liam Sebastien and Audy Alexander and were fortunate to escape with the result, finishing on 112 for six. Left-handed opener Smith collected 14 fours and three sixes from 235 balls in close to six hours to post his 24th regional first-class hundred. He shared century stands with Kirk Edwards for the second wicket and Kavem Hodge for the fourth wicket before the declaration came. Edwards, the Barbadosborn, discarded West Indies batsman, made 64 that included five fours from 143 balls in 3 ½ hours of batting and Hodge, a former West Indies Under-19 batsman, was
unbeaten on a run-a-ball 56 in close to 1 ½ hours of occupation to hasten the declaration. The three Volcanoes spinners then collected two wickets apiece, but the Hurricanes on the back of Keacy Carty, their youngest batsman, with the top score of 48, managed to defy them long enough to come away with the majority of the points. Volcanoes face reigning three-time champions Guyana Jaguars in the next round, starting at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Ground on Thursday in St. Lucia. Hurricanes have just two days to prepare for their next match against Barbados Pride, starting on Wednesday at Kensington Oval in Barbados. Scores: WINDWARD ISLANDS VOLCANES 232 (Roland Cato 90, Kavem Hodge 41, Kirk Edwards 35, Tyrone Theophile 23; Jeremiah Louis 4-35, Mervyn Matthew 3-20) and 331 for three declared (Devon Smith 185 not out, Kirk Edwards 64, Kavem Hodge 56 not out). LEEWARD ISLANDS H U R R I C A N E S 338 (Chesney Hughes 89, Keacy Carty 72, Nkrumah Bonner 69, Terrence Warde 28, Jacques Taylor 25; Sherman Lewis 3-50, Audy Alexander 3-67, Shane Shillingford 2-90) and 112 for six(Keacy Carty 48, Akeem Saunders 20; Liam Sebastien 2-12, Audy Alexander 2-39, Shane Shillingford 2-41).
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GFF/Namilco Flour Power Under-17 Nationwide Football tournament
Fruta Conquerors win GFA Division
Play between 1st place Fruta Conquerors and 2nd place Eastville during the final match day Saturday last at the Tucville ground. Fruta Conquerors were crowned champions of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF)/Namilco Flour power, Georgetown Football Association division after amassing a total of 38 points from their 14 league games played. The GFA division of the nationwide tournament saw eight teams battling it out for a chance to go on and challenge for the title of best under-17 team in the country. Conquerors were led by National defender Jeremy Garrett, who not only led his team, but the league scoring charts with a total of 10 goals. On Saturday, the final match day of the league, the champions played second place Eastville FC that finished on 30 points to a goalless draw at their home ground, Tucville. A formal match after they were already mathematically,
champions of the league. “I must commend the players and the staff for their excellent effort. It’s a wonderful stepping stone for the club and it was superb winning eight games while drawing three. Although I’m on the verge of moving to a club in Portugal, I believe that these lads have what it takes to win the overall title”, captain of Fruta Conquerors under-17, Jeremy Garrett. At the presentation, President of the GFF, Wayne Forde, shared the exciting news of the proposed two-day National finals of the GFF/Namilco Flour Power which is projected to be the first tournament that will be played at the GFF’s National Training Centre under construction at Providence, next year January.
The victorious Fruta Conquerors team.
Monday October 30, 2017
Windies “A” bats flop against Sri Lankan spin duo – 3rd day, 3rd “Test” KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – A half-century from captain Shamarh Brooks failed to spark a batting revival for West Indies “A” and Sri Lanka “A” crushed their hopes of a seriesclinching victory with a commanding, 10-wicket win in the decisive third and final “Test” on Saturday. Brooks, whose previous scores in the series were 19, 11, 7 and 4, saved his best for last, gathering a resolute 52, but the West Indies selection panel’s search for a few good, consistent batsmen ended in flames, as the Caribbean’s best second-tier players were bowled out for 118 in their second innings on the third day at Sabina Park. No other Windies “A” batsman reached 20, as spin, the eternal blight, returned to haunt them, leaving them to wonder about where it all went wrong. Off-spinner Shehan Jayasuriya bagged 6-60 from 17 overs to earn the Playerof-the-Match award and leftarm tweaker Malinda Pushpakumara took a miserly 419 from 11.3 overs, finishing the series with 27 wickets, the most of any bowler on the two sides. A match and a series that promised so much for West Indies “A” was then brought to an anti-climatic conclusion, when the Sri Lankans, needing 27 for victory, reached their target in 5.5 overs with Nipun Karunanayake not out on 17 and Ron Chandraguptha not out on three. The result meant that Sri Lanka “A” won the threematch series 2-1, after Windies “A” clobbered them by an innings and 13 runs inside three days in the opening “Test” three Saturdays ago at the Trelawny Multi-Purpose Complex, where they rebounded in the second “Test” to secure a resounding 280-run win inside the distance on the following Saturday. The home team were looking to turnaround their fortunes in this “Test” in a bid to claim a home series victory and put to bed the bad memories of a similar result last year on Sri Lankan soil. Following a day lost to rain and the feeble batting of West Indies “A” after they
chose to bat, Sri Lanka “A” earned a hard-fought first innings lead of 92 on the back of half-centuries from their captain Dhanajaya De Silva and Roshen Silva. This left Windies “A” with more than a day to erase the deficit and set a target, but their batsmen again failed to knuckle down and neutralize the Sri Lankans’ spin threat – and another ignominious batting collapse resulted. Brooks stood firm for just over two hours, striking five fours from 90 balls and putting on 41 for the third wicket with left-hander Vishaul Singh, but he too succumbed to the spin. Jayasuriya claimed the first six wickets – all except Singh were either bowled or lbw, similar methods that Pushpakumara utilized to reap three of the last four wickets. Hometown boy Oshane Thomas had earlier given West Indies “A” an early scalp, when he trapped De Silva lbw for the Sri Lanka “A” top score of 64, after the visitors started the day on 132 for three. The hosts met defiance from Silva and he anchored partnerships with wicketkeeper/batsman Sandun Weerakkody and Jayasuriya that tighted the Sri Lankans’ grip before he retired hurt with his side on 253 for six. This proved to be a blessing for Windies “A”, as it took them less than 10 overs to claim the remaining wickets. The two teams will now play a three-match One-day series, starting on Wednesday under the lights again at this venue. Scores: WEST INDIES “A” 181 (Sunil Ambris 101; Malinda Pushpakumara 467, Lahiru Kumara 2-35, Shehan Jayasuriya 241) and 118 (Shamarh Brooks 52; Shehan Jayasuriya 17-0-60-6, Malinda Pushpakumara 4-19). SRI LANKA “A” 273 (Dhananjaya De Silva 64, Roshen Silva 52 retired hurt, Shehan Jayasuriya 36, Nipun Karunanayake 26, Sundan Weerakkody 21; Reynard Leveridge 2-25, Keon Joseph 2-43, Oshane Thomas 2-54, Damion Jacobs 2-58) and 27 without loss.
Monday October 30, 2017
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Regal Masters, Speedboat are inaugural GSCL Inc. Prime Minister’s T20 champs
Members of the victorious Speedboat team with Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and wife Seeta after the presentation. By Zaheer Mohamed Regal Masters and Speedboat were crowned champions of the Masters and Open categories respectively when the inaugural Georgetown Softball Cricket League Inc (GSCL Inc) Prime Minister’s T20 Cup concluded yesterday at Everest Cricket Club. Watched by a large and colourful crowd which included Hon. Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and his wife Seeta and Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan, Regal Masters defeated New York Hustlers by 24 runs in the Masters final. Led by a brisk 68 from opener Mahase Chunilall and a fluent half century from Eric Thomas, Regal Masters posted a challenging 1994, batting first. The in-form Chunilall and Mahendra Hardyal put Regal Masters on course with an opening stand of 96 before Hardyal who hit one four and a six was removed by E. Dodson for 28. Chunilall and Thomas continued to frustrate their overseas opponents as they took the score to 172 with level-headed batting. Chunilall struck one four and four maximums before he was caught off former Guyana U19 player Troy Gobin. But Thomas continued to attack and clobbered one four and six sixes in scoring 53, while Eon Abel chipped in with 13 in the latter stages of the innings. Dodson claimed 2-56. In reply, D. Chumney and former Everest and Guyana first class player Shameer Sadloo added 32 for the opening strand before Chumney was taken of Parsram Persaud for 19. Sadloo and Gobin, two of NY Hustlers most dangerous batsmen, steadied the chase fairly before
Sadloo was removed by Thomas for 36 (3x6). Gobin was then bowled by Laurie Singh for 23 (3x4,1x6) leaving the score at 88-3. Regal Masters then picked up a few quick wickets to restrict the scoring, but Chob Richmond and Roy Matura kept their team in the hunt with a sevenwicket stand of 49 before Matura was bowled by Hardyal for 24 after hitting three sixes. Richmond remained unbeaten on 44 with two fours and three sixes as NY Hustlers finished on 175-8. Thomas was the pick of the bowlers with 3-23. Speedboat registered a 55-run win over Regal All stars in the Open final which followed. Speedboat rattled up 182-9 after they were inserted. Anand Bharat and Lennox Marks put on 24 for the opening stand before Marks was bowled by Amir Nizamudin for 15; Fazal Rafiek uprooted the stumps of Vikash Dhaniram (09), while Nizamudin bowled Greg Singh (15) before Esau accounted for Bharat for 24 leaving the score at 98-4. Speedboat then lost Wazir Hussain (02) who was bowled by Esau, but Ricky Sargeant and Shazim Hussain propped up the total before Hussain was run out for 27 (1x4,3x6). Sargeant made 21 as Esau claimed 3-38, Rafiek 2-40 and Nizamudin 242. Regal All stars were off to a terrible start- the in-form Sachin Singh (01) was bowled by Greg Singh, Richard Latif (04) was removed by Kishore Smith, Rafiek (04) had his stumps disturbed by Singh, Esau (06) was bowled by Mark Harold, while Patrick Rooplall was dismissed without scoring leaving the score on 39-5. However, Navin Singh and Sewchand Budhu attempted to keep their team in the
hunt with a stand of 33, but the run out of Singh for 15 and the dismissal of Budhu for 25 cemented Speedboat’s hold on the game; no other batsman managed double figures as Regal All stars were bowled 127 in 17.4 overs. Smith had 3-20 and Singh 2-26. Individuals awards were given to Azaad Azeez, Ralph Layne, Shawn Lall and Sewchand Budhu for taking five wicket hauls, Vijay Surujpaul, Brain Mangar, Safraz Esau, Sachin Singh and Safraz Karim for scoring centuries; Kishore Smith was named man-of-the-match in the final, while Esau (162 runs and 12 wkts) received one Hero motorcycle for being voted MVP in the All stars category. Brian Mangar (201) highest
individual score, Esau highest wicket taker, Kawson Joseph best wicketkeeper and Delroy Perreira best fielder also received awards. Regal All stars received the Prime Minister’s trophy and $100,000, while Speedboat pocketed a trophy and $600,000. Mohamed Rafeek (highest individual score), Laurie Singh (highest wicket taker), Chunilall (MVP), R. Neil (best wicket-keeper), Troy Gobin (best fielder) were outstanding in the Masters division. Additionally, Chunilall, V. Baljit, Mohamed Rafeek (centuries scored), Thomas was named manof-the-match and MVP Chunilall MVP received prizes. NY Hustlers took a trophy and $100,000, while
Regal Masters grabbed the Prime Minister’s trophy and $500,000. Zaheer Mohamed of Kaieteur News received the reporter of the tournament prize. Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Prime Minister Nagamootoo congratulated the teams on their achievements and lauded the GSCL Inc on a well organized tournament. He added that this is a wonderful day for softball cricket and the beginning of greater things to come whereas they will work together with all stakeholders of softball cricket to promote the sport. President of GSCL Inc Ian Johan thanked the sponsors and congratulated the winners.
Open MVP Safraz Esau with his prize.
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Monday October 30, 2017
Kaieteur News
2017 Paiwomak Cup Football Tournament
Kwatamang FC crowned male champions, Annai United take female title The 30th September 2017 marked the end of the second edition of the Paiwomak Cup football Tournament which saw Kwatamang and Annai United being crowned male and female champions respectively. Organized by North Rupununi’s premier football club the Paiwomak Warriors FC, the tournament saw the participation of five male and five female teams and was played under the theme “building a future generation of leaders through football and education”. The male final was played before a capacity crowd at the Annai Sports Ground and had in attendance President of the Guyana Football Federation Mr. Wayne Forde who created history by becoming the first ever sitting GFF President to visit the North Rupununi, and President of the Rupununi Football Association Mr. Ken Grant. Kwatamang drew first blood against a talented Three Hills outfit when tournament MVP Marcus Pervan was fastest to a loose ball in the box and rifled a shot into the top left hand corner in the 3rd minute. Kwatamang then doubled their advantage in the 32nd minute with a Carlie Jackson strike from the edge of the eighteen yard box. But Three Hills, with national Under-15 Winger Orvil Daniels and reserve national Under-15 goalkeeper Leston Smith in their ranks, managed to pull a goal back in the 78th minute courtesy of a Jasu Xavier strike. Kwatamang, however, showed defensive
resolve to hold on to their lead and claim championship honours. In the female Final, strikes on either side of half time by Fiona Sandy and Garcia Joel respectively ensured that Annai United successfully retained their crown from 2016 by comfortably beating Kwatamang 2-0. In the third place male playoff Annai United males defeated West Madrid 2-1 with Samalson Mack and Shawn Browne on the score sheet for Annai United and Erwin Jacobs scoring the lone goal for West Madrid. In the third place female playoff, Three Hills, courtesy of a Luwanna Vanlong hat-trick defeated Crashwater 3-1. Avaia Merriman was the goal scorer for Crashwater. Kwatamang male team walked away with the winning cash prize of $50,000 and the first place trophy, while second placed Three Hills pocketed $40,000 and the second place trophy. Annai United females pocketed $50,000 and the first place trophy for their efforts with Kwatamang pocketing $40,000 and the second place trophy. The third and fourth placed teams (male and female) pocketed $30,000 and $20,000 respectively. Alex Jackson and Merilyn Brown of Kwatamang were adjudged the best goal keepers (male and female) of the tournament, while the highest goal scorer awards (male and female) went to Samanta Roberts of Three Hills with seven goals for the
The Annai United ladies take time out for a photo after winning the title. tournament and Shawn Browne of Annai United with eight goals respectively. Jacklyn Williams of Annai United was adjudged female MVP of the tournament, while Marcus Pervan of Kwatamang was adjudged male MVP. Each of the individual awardees was presented with a trophy and pocketed the sum of $5,000 each. Sponsorship for the tournament was provided by the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples Affairs, JAG’s Minimart and Boutique, J&B Shop, Bharrat Chintaman and family, Wesley Roberts and
family and Odessa Ross. The Guyana Football Federation also came on board and donated medals, the first place trophies, balls, referee uniforms, training bibs and water bottles. The Paiwomak Cup tournament ultimately serves as a talent identification initiative, whereby young players are identified for possible selection to the North Rupununi Academy Training Centre as well as the identification of new players to join the ranks of the Paiwomak first team (male and female). The Club which was formed in 2015 has already
The winning Kwatamang FC team after winning the title.
racked up an impressive list of achievements in the Rupununi which includes winning the2016 Rupununi
Football Association League (females), placing second in the National Women’s Development League, winning the regional phase of the NAMILCO Under-17 Tournament, winning the 2016 Surama Cup tournament (male and female), runners up in the 2017 Rupununi Football Association Champions League (males), and male and female winners of the 2017 Regional Heritage Championships. In addition, two of the Club’s players were called up for trials with the senior Lady JAGS national team and another, fifteen year old winger Orvil Daniels is already well known at the national U15 and U17 levels for his exploits on the football pitch. Attention will now turn to the Club’s Under-15 and Under-17 teams as they prepare to do battle for glory in the regional playoffs of the GFF/Namilco Under-17 Intra Association and GFF/Pele Alumni “Frank Watson” U15 Inter Club Football tournaments.
Scorpions lose by... From page 36 After the interval the Scorpions lost three wickets in quick succession including both set batsmen, to slip 113-3. King was caught under the bat as Permaul broke the partnership at 98-3, Skipper Paul Palmer (1) was run out at 994 and Fudadin, who has a half-century in three Tests and seemed set for his 22nd fifty, was taken at cover by Gudakesh Motie playing a fraction too early to drive off the talented Paul. Debutant wicket-keeper Romaine Morris (2) was soon removed by Paul two runs later and it appeared that the visitors would fall cheaply twice. However, like often in past three seasons, the Jaguars bowlers allowed the lower order to play with confidence and freedom and the runs leaked from both ends. Allen swept Permaul for six and smashed him to the cover boundary next ball before a cut past point for four off Rutherford brought up his fourth fifty and he celebrated with another delightful boundary off the next ball as Bulli played an excellent supporting role. By Tea the score was 194-6 with Allen looking confident on 66 and Bulli on 20 and their stand already worth 79. After the break Allen was bowled by Shepherd at 200-8 but another frustrating partnership developed between Bulli and Damani Sewell as they played in aggressive fashion before Bulli, who reached the boundary five times, was caught and bowled by Motie at 218-8. Permaul had Sewell (9) taken at gully as he pushed forward to one that bounced without addition to the score and wrapped up the innings by having Derval Green caught at leg gully for a duck. The Jaguars will now travel to St Lucia where the face the Windward Islands in the second round from Thursday. Scores: GUYANA JAGUARS 266 (Anthony Bramble 62, Chanderpaul Hemraj 60, Sherfane Rutherford 45, Rajendra Chandrika 25, Leon Johnson 20; Damani Sewell 3-69, Dennis Bulli 2-45, Derval Green 2-60) and 315 for eight declared (Keemo Paul 107, Rajindra Chandrika 35, Tagenarine Chanderpaul 33, Anthony Bramble 26; Dennis Bulli 5-104). JAMAICA SCORPIONS 99 (Assad Fudadin 39, Paul Palmer 31; Veerasammy Permaul 6-29, Keemo Paul 2-20) and 219 (Romaine Morrison 68, Assad Fudadin 40, Brandon King 35, Dennis Bulli 32; Veerasammy Permaul 4-55, Keemo Paul 2-25).
Monday October 30, 2017
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Kaieteur News
2017 COURTS Pee Wee Football
Lennox Blackmoore National Intermediate C/ships
Semifinalists decided following an GDF GYM CONTINUE action parked quarterfinal day DOMINANCE ON NIGHT 2 Sophia Primary continue title charge
GDF’s Emmanuel Sancho lands a left jab during his win against gym mate Mark Blake in the welterweight semifinal. Marian Academy Michael Alphonso during one of his many challenges against the St. Agnes player in his team’s combative penalty win on Saturday. Following Saturday’s play in the COURTS/Banks DIH under-11 pee wee football tournament for primary schools, tournament favourites Sophia Primary have inched closer to a maiden tournament win, while former champions Marian Academy continue to show their grit after surviving a penalty shootout to advance. Meanwhile, West Ruimveldt and Enterprise primary, flying under the radar, marched through to semi finals berths as the Banks DIH, Thirst Park ground came alive Saturday last. Sophia Primary were in their usual form as they made light work of Redeemer primary 3-1 after full-time. Leonard King led his team with a brace of goals scored in the first and sixth minutes of the quarterfinal encounter, while David Weekes netted during the second half on the stroke of the 28th minute. Kevin George of Redeemer slotted home a consolation in the 35th minute, 5 minutes before full-time. The second quarterfinal of the day witnessed West Ruimveldt upsetting Stella Maris in a game that was decided through
penalties. Top scorer Fedel Norville continued his outstanding goal scoring form when he netted during the first minute of the game, 56 seconds to be exact. Stella Maris led the game until Ian Daniels leveled on the stroke of game’s first half break. The score remained 1-1 after full and extra time and that is where “West” were the best and edged Stella Maris 4-3 from the penalty spot. Three of the four quarterfinal matches were decided by penalties on Saturday at Thirst Park. The second decider witnessed Enterprise Primary getting past School of the Nations 3-2 from the spot following a goalless draw after extra time. Inaugural winners of the COURTS Pee wee tournament, Marian Academy, look the sturdiest of all the teams and they held on to after a very tough match against last year finalists St. Agnes Primary in a stalemate that produced no goals, to win via penalties 4-3. Matches will continue Saturday with the anticipated semifinal match ups at Thirst Park ground.
Fedel Norville, who scored for Stella Maris in the first minute of their quarterfinal against West Ruimveldt, being tracked by the opposition.
Reigning champion, the Guyana Defence Force Gym, whose participants are hyped before each fight by the melodious battle rhythm of their band, was well on their way to successfully retain the Lennox Blackmoore National Intermediate title as its fighters continued to dominate all cards when night two of the three day event concluded at the National Gymnasium on Saturday. GDF gym that won the Andrew “Six Head” Lewis national novice in June last, won five of the six bouts on Friday and on Saturday continued with victories in six of the seven fights. The first fight of the night in the Bantamweight division, Kelvin Moore of Vergenoegen Boxing Gym handed GDF their first and only loss of the night when the referee was forced to stop the contest during round two
in which he shared much blows to GDF’s Delroy Leacock. After then GDF gym took control of the show and got victories in each of the following fights. Kevin McKenzie of GDF won his Junior Welterweight fight against Omali Adams of Rose Hall Jammers in a fight that was stopped by the referee during the 1st round. Emmanuel Sancho bettered his club mate Mark Blake in an all GDF, welterweight semifinal. The fight was action packed with shots being fired and landed by both sluggers and it was a tight call by the judges who awarded Sancho the unanimous victory, which was greeted with mixed reactions by the scattered fans at the Gymnasium. In the middleweight division semifinals, it will be an all GDF final. Orlando Norton representing the
defending champs was lethal and the referee was forced to stop the fight in which he opposed Kevin Sookoo of Rose Hall Jammers during the initial round. Meanwhile, GDF’s Okimey Bakey was equally brutal in his fight against Shawn LaFleur of Rose Hall Jammers. The light heavyweight class semifinals were the last two fights on Saturday night. Winning for GDF were Darel McPherson, who was awarded the win after the referee stopped the contest (RSC) during round two against James Moore of Pocket Rocket Boxing Gym, and, Joel Peters knocked out his gym buddy Renaldo Niles during the first round of their fight, to cap of the night in fantastic fashion. The event concluded last evening at the Gymnasium with the various finals. (Calvin Chapman)
Kevin Sookoo of Rose Hall Jammers about to land a left jab on eventual winner, GDF’s Orlando Norton.
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Monday October 30, 2017
Kaieteur News
7th Powerade40-Mile Cycle Road Race
Jamal John takes top podium spot; Nigel Duguid wins junior division
Banks DIH / Powerade Brand Manager Errol Nelson with the recipients of prizes and other officials following yesterday’s presentation. Team Coco’s Jamal John claimed the top podium spot when the 7th annual Banks DIH / Powerade sponsored 40-mile cycle road race was held on the West Demerara yesterday from Wales to Bushy Park and back to the Demerara Harbour Bridge. John, who completed the
distance in One Hour 35 Minutes 15 Seconds, outgunned a top field relegating Paul De Nobrega and Geron Williams to the 2nd and 3rd places, respectively. Closing out the top six positions were Akeem Wilkinson, Walter Grant-Stuart and Silvio Inniss. Warming up for this weekend’s
Junior Caribbean Cycle Road Race Championships in Barbados were Nigel Duguid and Briton John who placed 1st and 2nd respectively in this division, third was Adealie Hodge. Junior Niles had to play second best to Warren Mc Kay in the veteran class with Ian ‘Deaf Boy’ Jackson
coming third. In the mountain bike clash, Talim Shaw crossed the line ahead of Julio Melville and Ozia Mc Cually in that order. The oldest cyclist competing yesterday was Monty ‘Trucker’ Parris. Powerade Brand Manager Errol Nelson, before handing over the prizes, congratulated the respective
winners and other top performers without whom the event would not have been a success. Nelson also noted that Banks DIH was more than pleased to be once again able to power the riders in the trade that they love for another year and will continue to support their development.
CWI/ Digicel Regional 4-Day C/Ships
Scorpions lose by 263 runs as Permaul grabs 5-52
Man-of-the-Match Veerasammy Permaul bagged 5-52 at Providence to bowl the Jaguars to victory against the Scorpions yesterday. (Sean Devers photo) By Sean Devers Three-times defending champions Guyana Jaguars battled the weather and a Jamaica Scorpions batting line-up which demonstrated more fight than in their first
innings to register an emphatic 263-run victory in the first round of their CWI Digicel Regional four-day match which ended at Providence yesterday. The Jaguars, led by a
23rd five wicket haul from Man-of-the-Match Veerasammy Permaul, began their campaign in auspicious fashion despite an entertaining 68 from 108 balls and 126 minutes with nine fours and two sixes from Fabien Allen. Earlier in the rain affected match, a 73-run partnership between left-hander Assad Fudadin, who made 40 with four fours and a six from 146 minutes and 131 balls and Brandon King, who reached the boundary three times and cleared it once in his 35 from 116 balls and 111 minutes, helped to stretch the contest into the final hour. Denis Bulli also contributed 32 with five fours as Scorpions were dismissed for 219. The 28-year-old Permaul captured 5-52 to finish with 11-84 in the match and his fifth 10-wicket match haul took him to 405 First-Class wickets. Permaul received good support from 19-year-old Kemo Paul, who followed his magnificent 107 with 225. Scores: Jaguars 266 & 315, Scorpions 99 & 219: Overnight and morning rain delayed the start of play by 48 minutes and when play resumed the Scorpions, set 483 for an improbable win,
Romario Shepherd and wicketkeeper Anthony Bramble appeal in vain against Brandon King who added 73 with Fudadin yesterday at Providence. (Sean Devers photo) were 61-2 possibly knowing that the highest successful run chase at Regional level is 371 made by Windward Islands against Trinidad and
Tobago in 1983. King played his shots while Fudadin was his usual solid self and together they added 73 for the third wicket
when rain sent the players off the field at 11:07hrs. An early Lunch was taken at 98-2 with Fudadin on 34 and King on 35. Continued on page 34