Kaieteur News

Kaieteur News

PAGE 04

Wednesday October 31, 2018

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

EMBRACING A NEW POLITICAL CULTURE Despite all of the problems facing the country, many believe that there are glimmers of hope for change. There is hope in the fact that the Caribbean Court of Justice has ruled against presidential term limits which paved the way for new leadership in the opposition. There is also hope that the youths in the PPP are challenging the party’s traditional norms in regards to the selection of a presidential candidate. This is a rare demonstration of change in the PPP and Guyana in general that reflects the kind of a new-era of political culture in the country. Charles Ramson Jr. public announcement to become the PPP presidential candidate in 2020 was bold. While his decision seems to upset the old guards at Freedom House, especially the opposition leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, who rebuked him, it gives hope that a new-era of political culture is on the horizon. It is time to rid the country of the old-style tribal, confrontational, vindictive and one-upmanship political leadership that is arrogant, dishonest and denigrates people. A new-era of political leadership is needed to address issues, develop policies, programmes, and to manage the national affairs in the best interest of all, which in keeping with the shared national vision. Regretfully, many of our leaders are steeped in partisan, spiteful and racial politics practised during their grandfathers’ era. Those of that genre should be reminded of the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, who said, “We must learn to work together as brothers, or perish together as fools.” Some of the rhetoric and attitudes displayed by the current crop of politicians from both sides of the aisle offer very little hope for the future. They are certainly not what the nation needs going forward. As a nation, we cannot continue to govern the country in the way it has evolved since independence. Change will occur only with a new political culture and a new breed of politicians with a servant and not a dictatorial attitude. The populace must support and embrace a new political culture with firm, fair, honest leaders willing to express clear values and who are accountable for their conduct in office. Guyana it is at a crossroad. Its economy is ailing, unemployment is high, crime is at a critical level, production has dropped, the external debt has skyrocketed and corruption remains rampant despite efforts by the government to weed it out. Our politicians must choose to become part of the solution and not contributors to the continuing problems in the country. The last administration has failed the nation and it seems likely that the present administration will as well. We need leaders who are humble and will accept responsibility for their actions and deal with their flaws in character or behaviour. The present leadership is not of this ilk, which means that the nation will not experience change or have good governance. We need transformational and visionary leadership with effective communication and management skills; ability in nation-building, respect for parliamentary decorum and protocol and who are people-centric and with a newness of thinking that will usher in change and a new political culturein Guyana. We have been entrapped by years of oppression, poverty, crime, corruption and divisiveness but we can be free by adopting a new political culture. We must cast aside the old way of thinking and action which have not taken us to a First World prosperity status, but from a Third World to a lower Third World status. We need a new era of political leaders who will adequately prepare us for prosperity so that all can be better off.

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

Freddie, we are not getting back to that era that you long for…unless… DEAR EDITOR, An article by popular columnist Freddie Kissoon entitled “Guyana: The untouchable class and the poor and powerless”, is a sad but factual reflection of how passive the humanities landscape in Guyana has become, relative to the 1970’s. Kissoon wrote, ‘Where is that Guyana where people fought for justice; where people revolted against the rich pulverizing the poor; where university students rebelled against society’s injustices; where workers downed tools over their mistreatment by rapacious employers; where academics sought to teach the masses about their legal rights; where lawyers were willing to fight on behalf of the downtrodden masses; where pickets and protests greeted bigoted people who discriminated against dark skin colour?” This lack of energy, this passivity did not come about

overnight. Prior to independence, the political elites channeled our energies towards fighting the colonial masters. After independence, the dictators that emerged slowly started the retrograde steps of the citizens, into passivity. Over the last fifty years, we had been subjected to the whims and fancies of the governing elites until we have been unconsciously indoctrinated into silence. Now, we are as passive as debris on the beach, being tossed by the waves. I can understand Freddie’s longing for the days when,”university students rebelled against society’s injustices” and so forth - given the injustices perpetuated on the masses by the ruling elites of the 21st century in Guyana. These injustices have been nothing less than blatant. The theory that “Governments should be considered as servants to the people” has never been an

inkling of reality here. Our present constitution stipulates that the people should be consulted on “matters that may affect their well-being.” That has never happened. For the citizens to stand up and demand redress is to invoke the spirit of victimization within the allpowerful governments. Freddie Kissoon and Maurice Arjoon are living examples of Government targeting individuals. The office of the Ombudsman, constitutionally designed for citizens to seek redress when treated unfairly by governments, had recommended that Kissoon and Arjoon be compensated. T h o s e recommendations, rather than being executed, seem to have been thrown beyond the back burner by this present Coalition government. This is the kind of disrespect that continues to be perpetuated on the people by successive governments. Will this reign of terror by governments

ever stop? Fear has taken hold of the masses; because successive governments continue to superimpose themselves on the State’s apparatus, creating a dictatorial stranglehold on the people who had elected them. As a result, activism to stop corruption or the excesses of Government is dead, from grassroots to University. This is the sad state of our so-called democracy. Freddie Kissoon wrote, “In t o d a y ’s G u y a n a , t h e untouchable class can do whatever they want and enjoy impunity and immunity.” Unless our constitution is enacted with stringent punishment to be enforced by prosecution, the untouchables’ reign of terror will continue over us, Freddie. We are not getting back to that era that you longed for unless that happens. Rudolph Singh

It’s the President’s Prerogative to intervene DEAR EDITOR, It is the President’s prerogative to intervene in any matter that affects the national interest. The governance pattern of President David Granger with regards to his cabinet and its individual officers is that they be allowed to perform their daily functions, without his interference. In other words, he is not micro managing their portfolios. Of course, the buck stops with every head of state/government who is ultimately responsible for his/her cabinet ministers’ functions. This is a departure from the well-known micro managing style of former president Bharrat Jagdeo, which became a hallmark of his style of governance. After all, he loved the limelight, as he still does. One will recall that although he had a Minister of Foreign Affairs, he undertook numerous overseas journeys to international fora - which by right should have been the function of his then cabinet officer, but that was Jagdeo. Let us take a closer look at the contentious matter that

was - of the recent Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) demand for increase wages and other benefits, which has now been settled. Again, the President allowed his ministers to function, for that is their allotted portfolio, with their respective concomitant responsibilities. This should not mean that as Chief Executive, he has to perform their every function, even in a heightened situation such as a threatened strike action. But he has the power and authority to intervene, as he twice did with regards to the GTU impasse - resulting on both occasions with his final involvement bringing the matter to an amicable end. That he would have done so was not because of having to be “bullied”, according to Bharrat Jagdeo, while campaigning for Local Government Elections recently. It was a case of the President deciding that it was time for his intercession. One “Paul Bumbery” in the Kaieteur News of October 13, 2018, (if he exists, given the unusual spelling of his surname) is of the view that the President ought not to have intervened, and that the GTU should not

have allowed such an intervention, because as he claims, it has reduced what would have been the correct and accurate increases that its members deserved, especially if it had been sent to arbitration. This line of argument is fallacious as it is malicious, since it is the president’s prerogative to intervene, if and when it becomes necessary. So, this is not a case where “Granger continues to undermine his credibility … to take over the authority of our democratic institutions” as Bumbery so erroneously claims. And so to ask, “Why is the man (President) voiding established governance s y s t e m s f o r e ff e c t i v e government operations?” without saying how this has been done by the President’s action, is to portray both an ignorance of the powers and functions of the Executive, and how it operates in matters of state. As we all know, bullying has and still is Jagdeo’s style. What this disguised political writer should understand is that no Head of State/government is going to allow any key sector, such as the nation’s educators, to

persevere in industrial action, comprehending full well, the negative impact that would ensue. If, as “Bumbery” has further suggested, the President’s “actions” and “decisions’’ in relation to the union’s efforts to extract improved salary and working, “have stripped the Ministry of its authority, and have been grossly counterproductive”, then he is implying here that the president should abdicate his responsibilities in the face of a serious threat to the industrial peace. As a matter of fact, there is no written or unwritten law which says that intervention by the nation’s Chief Executive either by himself, or in conjunction with the specific ministry, is a denuding of that cabinet office’s authority. Such a view, to say the least, is asinine, for anyone to hold such an opinion. For if the Executive can appoint anyone to a cabinet office, and can remove such an officer, once it is determined, then any intervention is automatic. That is to put the entire issue of “Bumbery’s” misleading contention in its (Continued on page 6)

Wednesday October 31, 2018

PAGE 5

Kaieteur News

Ogunseye’s whining comes as no surprise DEAR EDITOR, Mr Tacuma Ogunseye ventured out once again on a frolic of his own in another of his vain attempts to influence public opinion against the PPP/C’s performance in government in general, and in the security sector in particular. Ogunseye’s lamentations were published in the pages of the Guyana Chronicle - the newspaper that never published the letter he replied to. Ogunseye should forever be grateful to Stabroek News for affording him the opportunity to read letters he responds to. Ogunseye trotted out the oft-repeated whinings about the PPP’s protection of the so- called ‘phantom gang.’ And like others of his ilk, Ogunseye provided absolutely no evidence to sup-

port his claims. On the contrary, he simply repeated what the PNC has been saying for the longest while, but which never gained any traction whatsoever. O g u n s e y e ’s w h i n i n g comes as no surprise. A one-time fierce opponent of the PNC, it is easy to understand his behaviour which has been insidiously moulded by the government structure he now dutifully serves. Ogunseye is one of those who went into government thinking that they would have been able to influence policy along the lines of the WPA. But as far as the PNC was concerned, their use value was just sufficient enough to be used as a battering ram

against the PPP/C, with SARA/SOCU as the vehicle to do so. David Hinds, Ogunseye’s soul mate, was much more politically astute. He chose not to be become a governmentalist. He bailed out before falling victim to, or rather becoming captive of the A P N U + A F C ’s s h a c k l e d system of governance which denied him the opportunity to criticize the coalition administration freely and openly. While Ogunseye has been tethered by government, Hinds has not. Ogunseye chose to tackle the PPP/C on its crime-fighting record, a platform that was used and abused by the APNU+AFC

Jagdeo calling for jailing the President is more than eyepass! DEAR EDITOR, Permit me to address an article published in yesterday’s edition about exand never- again president Bharrat Jagdeo advocating for the imprisonment of President Granger in his handling of sugar funds for workers in that industry. This individual is bold beyond the bounds of acceptance. This is more than eyepass! I am amazed at the boldness and temerity of Jagdeo to even allow the word jail in anything he says - the Universe may just be listening in. Jagdeo somehow forgot to tell his supporters that the woes of this industry did not appear three years ago, but instead, a once viable industry experienced its present condition of unsustainability under his watch. The present

woes of sugar began under Jagdeo. I remember spending time as a young boy with relatives at Wales and my cousin’s husband Uncle Oscar, supporting his family adequately while working at the Estate. Jagdeo systematically, either by neglect, or by design, destroyed sugar. Now he’s pointing fingers. To refer to a characterization by Freddie Kissoon, only in a “Failed State” would this individual be allowed to run around pointing fingers or offering advice after his horrible performance in office. His party, PPP/C, must also shoulder the blame but won’t, for this reprehensible leader. They have allowed him to become a feared dictator, a little Caesar who fiddled like Nero, while Guyana proverbially burned like Rome did.

Jagdeo is the little kid who leaves with his ball because he was not allowed to bat even after being stumped out. Guyana can ill afford to continue down this road. If we as a country must join the community of progressive countries on this planet then we must leave race-based and divisive politics behind and accept each other as Guyanese, period. This coming from a person like me, who came close to dying from a bomb being hurled into my home in 1963 as a young child I escaped death by seconds. To this day I know it had to be divine intervention that saved my life. Jagdeo and those like him should be harnessed before they are allowed to irreparably harm our beloved country. Suffice it to say, I am (Continued on page 6)

coalition while in opposition prior to the May 2015 elections. H o w e v e r, what Ogunseye fails to recognize is the dialectics of change. Notwithstanding all the vitriol by the coalition administration, claiming while in opposition that it had all the solutions to the crime situation, now that it is in government, it has failed miserably to deliver on its promises. Since there has been little or no stellar performance in the security sector under the APNU+AFC, the coalition administration must therefore be subjected to the same kind of scrutiny that was meted out to the PPP/C when it was in Government. Mr. Ogunseye must not give a free pass to the administration he now dutifully serves, especially since they have failed the Guyanese people in so many ways. Whatever remains of Ogunseye’s moral values, they have become strangely inverted in the intractable political environment in which he now finds himself. Moreover, since politics is a concentrated form of economics, Ogunseye must know that notwithstanding the misinformation peddled by the APNU+AFC there are certain stark realities obtaining in Guyana. President Granger in his recent address to the Parliament mentioned that there is 40 percent unemployment among youths in Guyana.

Never under the PPP/C administration there were not so many persons selling dog food and bottled water at almost every street corner in the city. Above all, Mr. Ogunseye consciously overlooks the many incidents of corruption that has hit the ruling coalition in its face in just three years since the PPP/C was removed from office. Why he chose to ignore the collapse of the African Guyanese village economies which his colleague David Hinds refers to in his writings over and over again, is a matter for him to explain. Echoing his leader’s pronouncement that “the security sector has become stable from one of past failures,” Ogunseye chose the recent riots at the Lusignan prison to criticize the PPP/C’s track record in the security sector. Sadly, Ogunseye got it all wrong. Had he done his homework he would have recognized that the challenges facing the security sector did not begin in May 2015, as he would like some to believe. The PPP/C inherited those challenges way back in 1992 when it assumed office, but it worked diligently and persistently throughout its 23 years in office to address those challenges, so much so

that it never experienced such disastrous situations that the APNU+AFC is currently experiencing at the prisons and elsewhere because of bad policies, political interference, a lazy, laid back approach, ineptitude and incompetence at the highest political levels. Unless Ogunseye comes to grips with these stark realities he will continue to see the Guyanese reality through blinkers, or with blinders, thus he would have failed to truly serve the Guyanese people based on the revolutionary and lofty ideas of Dr. Walter Rodney. As to why ‘no phantom killer was charged under Rohee’s stewardship’, the answer is simple; they either killed off themselves or were caught by the DEA of the USA for engaging in other illegal activities. If Ogunseye is aware of other ‘ phantom killers’ who are still out there, irrespective of the geographic location from where they operated, he can either report them to the police or use SARA to live up to its responsibilities. Yours truly, Clement J. Rohee

PAGE 6

Kaieteur News

Wednesday October 31, 2018

‘Mouth open, story jump out’ - We either do the right thing or APNU+AFC plans countrywide suffer in crime and disharmony property tax increases DEAR EDITOR, The political parties, their local government election (LGE) candidates and political sycophants are presently out in full force, across the length and breadth of the country. One matter of importance in all eighty (80) local authority areas (LAAs) is property tax increases. The PPP/C’s national position - a position that all its local candidates firmly support - is they are unequivocally opposed to property tax increases in any of the LAAs. APNU and AFC clumsily deny any intention to increase property taxes, while simultaneously putting together the framework for massive increases in property taxes. Why else contract a Canadian Consultant firm for a new valuation system for property taxes around the country at a cost of US$1.5M (G$350M)? This exercise has started in New Amsterdam as the pilot LAA. Last week, at a poorly attended APNU public meeting in their Georgetown stronghold, in front of the Stabroek Market, the PNC Chairwoman, Volda Lawrence, clearly took a side on this matter of national concern for citizens, no matter which community they live in. She chastised the PPP for promising no property tax increases, without stating clearly that APNU or the PNC opposed property tax increases in Georgetown, any of the municipalities around the country or any other LAA. It was a case of mouth open, story jump out. The story that jumped out of Ms. Lawrence’s mouth was depressing - the PNC is not opposed to increases in property taxes and wants the op-

tion of property tax increases on the table in all the LAAs. In opening her mouth and letting the story out of the bag, there is a clear political distinction - the PPP/C wants the matter of property tax increases off the table, APNU wants it on the table. The AFC is trembling, desperately avoiding any discussion on this matter, while going along with the APNU+AFC plans, as announced in Budget 2018. The property tax issue was raised during Budget 2018 by both the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Communities. When both of these ministers announced plans to introduce new valuation for properties in Guyana for the purpose of taxation, they signalled that APNU+AFC is planning massive property tax increases around the country. Recognizing that the signal raised eyebrows and aroused a national resistance, APNU+AFC desperately tried to backpedal, by saying they have no immediate plans for an increase of property taxes, and that their plan to revamp property valuation has nothing to do with any intention to raise property taxes. They insisted they were simply raising the need for a better valuation system, insisting that the PPP/C’s conclusion that APNU+AFC plan to increase taxes was merely a PPP scare-tactic. Most people did not buy this fancy story. LGE 2018 is due in two weeks (November 12). As one crisscrosses the country, listening to what the local candidates and their national leaders are saying and listening to the community discourses, a number of issues

and matters of concern are being raised, mostly by the residents and those candidates representing the PPP/ C. The other candidates appear scared to address any of the matters of concern at the community levels. Other than the property tax matter and dozens of local matters, like drainage and irrigation and community roads, there are other matters of great importance, including, but not limited to the Parking Meter travesty that the PNCcontrolled Mayor and City Council (M&CC) of Georgetown intends to institute, the threat of increased tolls on the Berbice River Bridge - a threat that APNU and AFC are playing games with, the treatment of sugar workers, rice farmers, miners and land titling for Amerindians. If you listen to APNU+AFC and their sycophants, you will not know that these and other matters are of interest to residents in the various communities. Candidates of APNU and the AFC are more obsessed with Bharrat Jagdeo and the PPP, not focusing on any of these matters of interest to the people. The property tax matter exposes the contrast between the PPP/C candidates and the other contesting candidates in LGE 2018. The PPP/C candidates around the country have made No-Property Tax Increases an unambiguous campaign promise. The candidates of APNU and AFC are avoiding a discourse on this and other matters or, in the few instances when they are forced to, they dance clumsily around the issues. With property tax, however, the truth is hiding in plain sight - the PPP/C is opposed and APNU and the AFC want to increase the property taxes. Dr. Leslie Ramsammy

Jagdeo calling... From page 5 not a member of the PNC, I am a concerned Afro Guyanese, disgusted with politicians who are allowed to wrap citizens around their fingers. Wake up and stop being hoodwinked by people like Jagdeos. They must all be held to a higher standard. They work for you, and not the other way around. Respectfully, Claudeston Massiah

DEAR EDITOR, In the 1990’s the statisticians stopped including people not looking for jobs and part time workers as unemployed. This paradigm shift indicates that globally, political leaders will pay little regard to the marginalized and still have relatively low unemployment rates like Guyana currently has. I’m a mathematician, so I know the power of numbers to sway the populace. This deliberate manipulation of facts needs to be corrected. Secondly, success in a country must not be measured by GDP (gross domestic product) but by the percentage of the population

with disposable income people who exist above mere survival and can fully express their humanity. Thirdly, the education system needs to prepare students for the future. The public school system was introduced around 1900 and has barely changed in curriculum or methodology. Technology is the future. Students must be taught using technology, and designing technology must be added from primary school. Failure to add designing technology will make the children obsolete in a modern technology world. Technology must be applied to improve the quality of life of the citizenry,

not just to make a few rich on the backs of the many. Building a just society is difficult, but living in an unjust society like most countries of the world is more difficult. The laws are usually made to benefit the elites in a society because they have a lot of political clout. We either do the right thing or suffer in crime and disharmony. To solve the crime and other social ills, a more inclusive economic and political system must be implemented or else Guyana will go around in circles. You reap what you sow Yours truly, Brian Plummer

I wholeheartedly agree with the IMF’s recommendation DEAR EDITOR, This is in reference to Darshanand Khusial’s October 29 letter in the press titled “Global Contracts are being renegotiated on F a i r n e s s , W h y c a n ’t Guyana do the same.” In it, he attempts to refute my points on his earlier letter r e g a r d i n g G u y a n a ’s o i l contract. Mr Khusial questions my access to Rystad Energy’s work on Guyana. I understand he is new to the oil discussion, so to be clear: the Rystad Energy information is public and was presented publicly in Georgetown earlier this year. It was also shared in a recent presentation at an American think tank called the American Security Project that can be found online. Since Mr Khusial has clearly not looked at this information, I understand his confusion on the difference between project i o n s f r o m Ry s t a d a n d ExxonMobil. They are not the same – Rystad’s report is an expert analysis based on certain estimates and assumptions. Chief among these is the projection that all our known reserves will be produced and sold. On the other hand, production estimates released by ExxonMobil are only for the oil to be developed in Liza Phase 1. Due to the rules of the U.S. stock market, Exxon must be more restrained in its projections about future oil production. Obviously, the information coming from the two will be different. Being able to interpret the differences in the existing data is key, because there are so few studies out there.

While Rystad’s data is useful, it is one of only a few studies on Guyana’s energy by independent analysts. I ask Mr Khusial, what other information should I use? Does he trust data from the industry more? Perhaps I should make numbers up out of thin air? Mr Khusial also seems to think that the IMF report is a better alternative. Unfortunately, the IMF report did not provide the projections relevant to our discussion. However, I must point out that he is intentionally misreading that report as well. The IMF report, paid for by the Government of Guyana, explicitly said that we should not attempt to renegotiate the current contract. In the introduction, it clearly states that “the immediate priority should be to strengthen the capacity to effectively implement the contractually agreed fiscal regimes.

For new investments, focus should be on improving the general fiscal regime and any future contracts reflecting the now lower exploration risk.” Trying to change a contract that we have already signed could prevent continued investment in Guyana. It would delay the revenues our government and people will receive. It could have disastrous consequences for local companies that are currently trying to become involved in the oil industry. Instead, the IMF recommends that we adapt our future contracts with oil companies. I wholeheartedly agree with this recommendation. Now that we know more about the extent of our reserves, we have leverage to get more from production of our national resources. Sincerely, Clement Smith

It’s the President’s Prerogative to... From page 4 proper context.Editor, I cannot fathom “Bumbery’s” rather strange conclusion that President Granger’s intervention is a pattern that is continuous, and that such constitutes a usurpation of the nation’s democratic institutions. There is no record, from 2015, to date, of this practice, and even in this GTU teachers’ impasse, it cannot amount to interference in the workings of the institutions of state. It is purely an exercise of his responsibility as President of Guyana. I am in no doubt that President Granger, given his commitment to educating the nation, would have wanted to fulfill his promises to teachers of their being the best paid workforce category in Guyana. It stands to reason why the first set of proposals was sent to the Minister of Finance, with a view of ascertaining not only the feasibility of such an increase, but also its sustainability. Regards Dillon Goring

CH&PA to improve 2000 homes and improve 250 shacks for poor families The Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) is set to construct 250 homes for poor families, as well as provide home improvement subsidies for 2000 families. Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Valerie Patterson, urged people to capitalize on these opportunities, at a press conference yesterday at the Ministry of Communities. This Adequate Housing and Urban Accessibility Programme is being funded by a US$27M loan from the Inter-American Development Bank. The programme has four main sectors— affordable and sustainable housing, consolidation of existing housing schemes, implementing support and institutional strengthening. The full scope of this project will include East Coast Demerara, up to La Bonne Intention; as far as Grove/Diamond on East Bank Demerara; Georgetown, and La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara, including Onderneeming,Westminster and Lust-en-rust. The Minister noted that no communities outside of the scope of the project will be considered. The Affordable and Sus-

PAGE 7

Kaieteur News

Wednesday October 31, 2018

… with US$27M IDB loan

Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Valerie Patterson tainable Housing or Core Home Support Project was established to build 250 homes for persons or families who live in low-income households, which are deemed to be inhabitable conditions. This project will cost US$5M. Donna Bess-Bascom, Community Development Officer, said that the project only considers persons living in

housing areas that have been developed by the CH&PA, giving special preference to single parent households and persons living with disabilities. In order to qualify, the person or family must be oc-

cupying the allocated low income lot, and must be the owner of the lot. She noted that the owner must have completed payment for the lot. For this project, the beneficiary is only expected to make an equity share contribution of $100,000. However, the Minister noted that there were issues of affordability faced by beneficiaries during the execution of the pilot project. She said that persons struggled to make the contributions. Therefore, they will be given one month to pay 50% of the contribution after they have been indicated of their selection for the project, then three months to complete the payment. Consolidation of Existing Housing Schemes is the aspect of the programme that will operate to dole out home improvement subsidies. Unlike the Core Home Support Project, this project is not limited to housing areas (Continued on page 27)

Three police officers jailed on corruption charges

T

hree ex-policemen who were on trial on corruption charges have been found guilty and jailed. The men, Corporal Shawn McPhoy, of 174 Laing Avenue, West Ruimveldt; Constable Ray Drepaul Saul, of Eversham, Corentyne; and Constable Trevon McKenzie, of Princeton, Corentyne were out on bail. They were accused of committing the act between September 10 and September 11, 2015 at Salton Village, Corentyne, Berbice. They were found guilty when they appeared before Magistrate Charlyne Artiga in the Whim Magistrate’s court. The three, McPhoy, Drepaul Saul and McKenzie were charged with corruptly obtaining $6M from Rennison Park as consideration to drop charges against him for trafficking in narcotics. They were remanded to jail, but were subsequently granted bail in the sum of $300,000 in the High Court. The ranks had reportedly stopped a vehicle in which Park was said to be transporting some drugs to the eastern border. McPhoy allegedly obtained the money from Park. McPhoy and McKenzie were being represented by attorney at Law Chandra Sohan while Drepaul Saul was being represented by attorney at law Murselene Bacchus. The court was also informed that two other police officers received a bribe of $500,000 but they returned the money. Earlier Assistant Superintendent of Police Terrence Browne, who was also charged with the other policemen, was freed of the charge. The prosecution had contended that Browne had obtained $500,000 from the ranks after they had received the bribe from Park. The men had given indication of appealing the convictions.

PAGE 8

Kaieteur News

Wednesday October 31, 2018

Guyana/China MOU signals “unfettered” partnership in every possible area - Including but not limited to road & railway networks, bridges, civil aviation, maritime transport, harbors & ports, energy and telecommunications

F

inally, the APNU+AFC Gov ernment has released the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge, signed with China to facilitate the infamous Belt and Road Initiative. The MOU was signed on July 27, last. The MOU will remain in force for a three year period and shall be automatically extended for subsequent three year periods indefinitely unless terminated by either party with written notice. The document states that China and Guyana will work together within the Belt and Road Initiative to realize mutual economic development and translate mutual complementary strengths into advantages for practical cooperation and sustainable growth. “This will enable the Parties (Guyana and China) to enhance their political relations, economic ties, and security cooperation and

people-to-people exchanges.” The MOU also allows for strengthened cooperation and enhanced regional connectivity, joint establishment of an open, inclusive, balanced, and mutually beneficial economic cooperation framework in order to maintain international and regional peace, security, stability and sustainable development. The Parties are expected to promote bilateral cooperation based on and guided by the following principles extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits. Importantly, the MOU says that in accordance with the respective party’s applicable domestic law and regulations which are consistent with their respective international obligations and commitments, “the Parties will ensure the unfettered progress of related cooperation projects to enhance their economic and social development.”

President, David Granger

Foreign Affairs Minister, Carl Greenidge

Further, the MOU states that in accordance with the concept of cooperation, development and win-win progress under the Belt and Road Initiative, “the Parties will make full use of existing bilateral cooperation mechanisms, multilateral mechanisms that they both partici-

pate in, and any relevant regional cooperation platforms to form synergy and provide each other with support.” There was also a provision for policy coordination. The MOU states, “The Parties will regularly communicate and promote the synergy and integration of their

major development strategies, planning and policies, as well as strengthen communication and coordination of the respective important or major policy framework. The MOU also “facilities connectivity;” it says “the Parties will cooperate and exchange ideas regarding infrastructure connectivity and development in areas of mutual interest, including but not limited to road and railway networks, bridges, civil aviation, maritime transport, harbours and ports, energy and telecommunications.” UNIMPEDED TRADE Under the MOU, the Parties will enhance international trade and investment initiatives and expand two-way investment and trade flows between them, further deepen investment, trade and industrial cooperation, explore ways and methods to promote substantive mutual beneficial cooperation, and encourage their businesses to build, operate and/

or participate in exchange, initiate and develop the sister critics networks. Guyana and China also agreed that there be peopleto-people bond. “The Parties will promote people-to-people cooperation and exchange, initiate and develop the sister critics networks; The Parties may conclude cooperation agreements on education, health, tourism, public welfare or other relevant fields and the Parties will enhance exchange and cooperation b e t w e e n t h e i r local governments, media, think-tanks, and the youths, and continue to promote the development cooperation related to public welfare. A few months ago, President David Granger told the media that Guyana is going to be prudent in its approach to projects under the Belt and Road Initiative which is developing a reputation on the international (Continued on 28)

Wednesday October 31, 2018

A great many of our children have met their deaths after being sent to purchase items for their parents or simply being allowed to roam free about their communities. A great many of the children who are killed in road accidents are those who were sent out on some errand by their parents. Often these children are sent out in the early evenings to the shops to make some purchase for the home. On their way either to the shop or when returning home, they find themselves the victims of an accident. Yet the trend continues whereby some parents continue to entrust to small children the responsibility to run errands, oblivious to the dangers that these children face. There is also another side to this practice. Many of the parents are too lazy to go out and get the items themselves and behaving like exploiters simply call on their children, interrupting whatever play activity the children may be involved in, and order them to get whatever they want. Sometimes it may be a pack of cigarettes or simply a box of matches. And sometimes the children pay for

those simple purchases with their lives, ending up dead after being struck down while on the way to the shop. Why would any parent wish to take their child away from the fun of playing or whatever else the child may be doing just to go and purchase a packet of cigarettes? These children are turned into servants and are forced to go to make these purchases because the parents are too lazy to make the effort. Sometimes it is not cigarettes that the child goes to purchase. Sometimes it is rum for the parents to imbibe. Those parents who make a habit of sending their children to do errands which can be easily done, should be counseled about the dangers to which they are exposing their children, and about the denial of free time to their kids. This is not to say that children should not do chores. But these chores need to be within reason. Children should be encouraged to wash dishes, make their beds, sweep the home and keep the yard tidy. And this should be a collective effort. Many parents, however,

simply allocate responsibilities to children without sharing in the burden of the work. This is not good for the development of children. Children learn what they see, and they should see the chores to which they are entrusted as part of their small contribution to the work of the family. They should be helpers rather than being assigned exclusive responsibility in any area. Many parents would however prefer to sit and watch television or go out and drink with their friends while burdening their kids with work. It is something that the Rights of the Child Commission should issue an advisory on. Another disturbing practice occurs when children are left to roam free after school or during the holidays. All over Guyana this is a common practice, whereby parents simply allow their children to do as they please once they return home before nightfall. If the child only slips up and returns home late, they are greeted with a flogging. The parent fails to understand that they are contributing to the very act for which they are reprimanding the child by not supervising the child’s free or

DEM BOYS SEH

Mahdia Monument send Soulja Bai to Cuba When de news hit Guyana that Soulja Bai going to Cuba everybody think de man sick. Some seh de man sick bad and some start praying fuh him. At first dem boys seh he had to be really sick because in Guyana when a big one suddenly fly to Cuba or to Uncle Sam, he/she really sick. Is later in de day dem boys find out is de monument in Mahdia wha send he and Sandra to Cuba. Last week, he declare Mahdia a town and dem had a big celebration. Dem mek a special monument fuh stand up in de middle of de town. When Soulja Bai and Sandra fly in, dem see de monument cover up. Dem boys hear is de unveiling of de monument in de night that start de problem wid Soulja Bai. When dem pull de claat down Soulja Bai squint he eye and didn’t want to believe what he was seeing. Suh he tun to Sandra and seh, “Is wha deh in front we, gyal?” She seh is a big kak we all watching. He seh something wrang wid we eye. Leh we fly to Cuba fuh test we eyes. And that is de real story that send de man to

Cuba. Fuh de first time dem boys attach a photo to dis column because nuff times people does laugh and have doubts now and again.

PAGE 9

Kaieteur News

To erase any doubts and keep you laugh dem boys want you carefully watch de photograph. Talk half and dem boys got a lot more to talk about dat.

playtime. Allowing your child to roam free is an invitation for your child to get involved in mischief and trouble. Yet you see this all the time where parents have little time for their children after school and during the holidays. This neglect may be forced on parents. Some of them may have to work and cannot afford to hire a sitter. As such they either leave the child alone or send them to some relative or friend who may themselves be too busy or unconcerned about what the child does. So instead of the child

being supervised, he or she is left to do as he or she pleases, including associating with company that invites trouble and mischief. Then there are those parents such as vendors who often are forced to have their children with them after school. The children are simply left to sit with their parents wasting valuable hours. This, too, is a form of neglect which should be stamped out. It is hoped that the relevant agencies can come up with a plan, including an educational plan, to make parents more conscious of their re-

sponsibilities as parents. It is not just about placing food on the table. There are many of us whose parents never had enough to put on the table, but gave us more in the time and attention that they dedicated to our rounded development. That role needs to be revisited, especially at this time where the interests of our children are increasingly being sacrificed for other things.

PAGE 10

Kaieteur News

Wednesday October 31, 2018

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Benschop tore up Ramotar at Harvard University

T

en days after former president Donald Ramotar published a narcissistic letter in the Stabroek News in which he waxed lyrical about the delivery of justice, freedom and tolerance under the PPP rule, Mark Benschop, on October 23, delivered a lecture to Harvard University students on ethnicity and violence

during the reign of the PPP and virtually tore up the deceptions that Ramotar tried to pass off on the Guyanese people in his October 13 letter. To fully comprehend the force of Benschop’s delivery, an interesting quote from Ramotar’s fictional canvas of October 13 (“The dangers facing our democracy are of great

concern”) is relevant; “However, one of the greatest achievements was the freedom which all our people enjoyed. No one was ever afraid to speak their minds. People criticized without looking over their shoulders to see who was listening.” Benschop carried his audience down memory lane on a trip of virtual nightmares. It

was a picture of what two Guyanese presidents – Bharrat Jagdeo and Donald Ramotar - did to the essential physiology of Guyana. The former Guyanese treason accused described his five years in jail for a trumped up charge of treason. As he detailed a life of victimized existence, there were moments of reverberating si-

lence as he focused on what took place with his family while he was in solitary confinement. The enumeration included a suspicious break-in at his home when his wife and baby son were alone; the daily death threats his family received; the police pointing a gun to the head of his baby son; and the death of his eight-year-old son, Rajeev, while he was in prison. This columnist says unapologetically and unambiguously that the following exclamation of former president Donald Ramotar is putrid thrash. I hereby repeat Ramotar’s fiction after which I will explain why it is hypocritical rubbish. Ramotar wrote; “However, one of the greatest achievements was the freedom which all our people enjoyed. No one was ever afraid to speak their minds. People criticized without looking over their shoulders to see who was listening.” The freedom of Guyanese was taken away under Jagdeo and Ramotar and one such person was Mark Benschop. Here is graphic proof of the nonsense that the media allows Ramotar to perpetuate. I received a frantic call from Benschop one day in May 2011. He said violent men attacked him, he ran and they were chasing him after he took photographs of the pool that Kwame McCoy, was building at his home. When I arrived in Diamond, Benschop took me and Lincoln Lewis to the road outside of McCoy’s home. Benschop’s clothes were all bloodied. His Tundra was badly damaged and his valuables including his laptop were stolen. In full view of the police squad led by Inspector Watts, McCoy threatened me and Lewis. I pointed out to Watts that this was a serious indiscretion for which McCoy should be arrested but Watts ignored me. Benschop was taken to Brickdam police station and kept for five hours while Lewis and I waited at the station. McCoy was not apprehended by the police.

Frederick Kissoon In what must be one of the most egregious violations of a citizen’s rights under any administration since self-government in 1953 and maybe perhaps in the history of the British West Indies, Benschop was remanded to the Brickdam lockups. Here was a citizen who was the victim of serious violence and by the twisted logic of Ramotar’s diabolical PPP government he became the aggressor. When attorney, Christopher Ram, requested to see Benschop, he was turned down. I was right there when Ram told the rank that he was an attorney and the rank replied that he don’t care. Right there and then, trade unionist Norris Witter, came up and advised me to leave the Brickdam compound because he overheard the police were looking for me. This was how the PPP and its two presidents – Bharrat Jagdeo and Donald Ramotar – dominated this country and Ramotar has the dirty, nasty temerity to write letters to the newspapers saying that here fears for democracy in 2018, democracy that Ramotar himself trampled upon. The viciousness that visited Benschop took place in May 2011. Ramotar became president six months later and retained McCoy as press liaison to the presidency. Justice was finally given to Benchop in 2018 when McCoy was charged and convicted for what he did to Benschop. McCoy became a clown outside the court house. He told reporters Benschop was a liar; he, McCoy was never there. I guess, I imagined the damaged vehicle, a bloodied Benschop and McCoy’s threat to me and Lewis. If anyone is a clown in Guyana, it is Donald Ramotar.

Wednesday October 31, 2018

PAGE 11

Kaieteur News

Construction of Smart Stops draws $100M Bids

The National Procurement and Tender Administration Board yesterday opened five bids all ranging from $80M to over $100M for the construction of smart stops in nine municipalities across Guyana. The project was put to tender by the Ministry of Communities and the bids opened were as follows: Ministry of Communities CIIP –Construction of smart stops in 9 Municipalities

Regional Democratic Council Region 2 – Design and Supervision of the Construction of Abram Zuil Secondary School, Abram Zuil, Essequibo Coast

Another teen escapes from NOC Aside from the construction of smart stops, the board also opened two sets of bids for the construction of living quarters in Linden and Berbice. The construction of these living quarters was put to tender by Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA). The bids opened were: Guyana Revenue Authority - Construction of Living Quarters, Linden, Region 10

“The New Opportunity Corps, Onderneeming, Essequibo Coast.”

A 17-year-old male who was sentenced to the New Opportunity Corps on the Essequibo Coast, escaped from the facility last Monday after allegedly pushing down a 61 year old social service assistant.The escape occurred around 13:00hrs on Monday, as 61-year-old Dale

Guyana Revenue Authority - Construction of Living Quarters, New Amsterdam Berbice, Region 6

Other bids opened by the board were: Ministry of Business - Procurement for Market Representative Companies to represent Guyana in the United Kingdom Ministry of Finance – Procurement of IT equipment

Bureau of Statistics – Supply and Delivery of computer equipment

Regional Democratic Council Region 4 – Supply and delivery of one brand new UltraSound Machine to the regional stores

Dowding was escorting the teen to his cell. Kaieteur News understands that the juvenile pushed down the man, and made good his escape by running west in the big bushes. The escapee has been identified as Tyrace Gonsalves of New Amsterdam, Berbice. He is of

mixed race. Gonsalves was reportedly serving three years at the institution for breaking and entering and larceny. Just last month 13 juveniles escaped from the correctional facility, ten of them taking advantage of the unfenced western section in the NOC playground.

PAGE 12

Kaieteur News

Wednesday October 31, 2018

Brothers detained for assault, shooting outside Palm Court Police have detained two brothers in connection with last Saturday’s fracas outside the Palm Court in which a disabled man was badly beaten and shots were fired. ‘A’ Division Commander, Marlon Chapman, said that one of the brothers was arrested on Sunday and the other turned himself in on Monday. He said that the police are to seek legal advice on the matter. One of the brothers was questioned last May after being accused of threatening to kill another man, while being armed with a gun. Romario Balget, 21, also known as ‘Short Boss’, who suffers from a walking disability was in the company of a female and a male friend, Darnell Hopkinson, when he was viciously attacked, allegedly by one of the detained brothers. The attacker was reportedly carrying a firearm. This publication was informed that the suspect became annoyed when Balget and his friends walked near him on their way to Balget’s vehicle.The man reportedly threw Balget to the ground before unleashing a sound trashing on him. Balget’s friends who tried to rescue him were reportedly assaulted by the same man, who was said to be intoxicated. One eyewitness alleged

The injured Romario Balget that the suspect pulled out a firearm and discharged several shots during the commotion. The shooting incident and the assault were recorded on CCTV camera. A security guard reportedly collected the spent shells and handed them over to the

shooter. Balget was hospitalised with lacerations to his left cheek and neck and with a swollen right eye. The matter was reported to the Brickdam Police Station and an investigation is being conducted.

Wednesday October 31, 2018

Kaieteur News

PAGE 13

PAGE 14

Kaieteur News

Wednesday October 31, 2018

Govt. should be bound by law to disclose all assets funded by Natural Resource Fund - says NRGI Consultant By Kiana Wilburg

G

etting the govern ment to report on how it spends money from the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) on an annual and quarterly basis is important. But perhaps, even more, or equally significant is getting the administration to disclose all the assets that it funded with moneys from the Fund. This was one of the central points recently made by economist and consultant to the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI), Andrew Bauer. In an exclusive interview with this newspaper, Bauer said, “One of the things I am hoping the Ministry of Finance does, is put into legis-

lation, that every single asset it invests in be made public. Meaning, everything that the government owns, every share it buys into, must be disclosed. “That is how you are going to tell where the money is going; if it is going into their friend’s company or being invested properly. So, for me, this is more important than simply reporting monthly or quarterly. Bauer said that for any Natural Resource Fund (NRF) to be successful there must be a degree of consensus. Without it, countries risk being trapped in a cycle where rules governing the use of the Fund are constantly thrown out, or altered to suit the liking of any party in power. The economist said, “You

need consensus because what is going to end up happening is that you can put together the nicest laws with the most beautiful rules and if the new party comes into power (and they aren’t in agreement with it) they can throw it out. So it is not particularly useful to have something that can be thrown out every few years.” Further to this, Bauer said that consensus building is critical to the success of any Natural Resource Fund as politicians and oversight bodies are unlikely to enforce rules unless they have a feeling of ownership over them. He said that there are many models of consensus building. The NRGI consultant said that these include: parliamentary debates, public

surveys and political ententes. In Norway, for example, Bauer pointed out that the political parties negotiated the fiscal rules so that each would abide by them once they entered government. Pointing to another example, the economist said, “One of the most amazing stories is Ghana in West Africa. In Ghana, before they put the NRF in place and the fiscal rule, the Ministry of Finance ran around the country to almost every small town and village and they asked people how much money they think the government should save, how much money they think the government should spend and what it should be spent on.” The economist added,

Economist and NRGI Consultant, Andrew Bauer

“And when they got feedback, they fed it into the fiscal rule. The value of that showed up years later when the government tried to break the rules and locals were calling into the local radio stations saying, ‘Well this is crazy! The government is doing a horrible job…’ There was public outcry and the government stopped …So it is really important to have everyone on board.” On that note, Bauer stressed that it is crucial that the coalition administration, follow suit and engage in cross country consensus building exercises before the establishment of the Fund. TRIPLE CHALLENGE In addition to the need for consensus, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has noted that Guyana faces

a triple challenge in attempting to establish its Natural Resource Fund. It said that the government has to decipher how to rapidly build stronger institutions; how to save for future generations and smooth consumption; and how to assure that the oil revenue spent in the short term, is planned and spent well to boost productivity and improve living standards. Given the nation’s weak institutions and poor capacity to execute projects well, the IDB said it would be recommended that Guyana saves as much as possible until the quality and capacity of institutions improve. The IDB sought to highlight that simply establishing a Natural Resource Fund is (Continued on page 27)

Wednesday October 31, 2018

PAGE 15

Kaieteur News

UG to graduate first batch of Speech and Language Therapy students next month - graduates to play key role in helping to address speech challenges in school system The University of Guyana [UG] is set to graduate its first batch of Speech and Language Therapists under its Medical Rehabilitation Programme next month. This batch of therapists comprises of five females all of whom will be plugged into the public health sector to help advance its speech therapy agenda. The inaugural Speech Therapy batch includes Lisa Sam, Gordonieka De Freitas, Sonia Fredericks, Kerianne Richards and Michelle Jackman. Four of the five students [Sam, Dr. Freitas, Fredericks and Richards] are currently gaining hands-on experience at the Ministry of Public Health’s Rehabilitation Services Department. The Department situated in the compound of the Brickdam, Georgetown Palms Geriatric Home has been serving many people with various rehabilitation issues over the years. However, rehabilitation services are expected to be considerably augmented with the input of the quintet once graduated. The Medical Rehabilitation Programme, which falls under the purview of the Faculty of Health Sciences, started a few years ago and offers students programmes in Physiotherapy, Audiology and Occupational Therapy programmes. However Speech and Language Therapy as the newest offered currently has a total of 12 students who commenced the

programme at the start of this academic year. Speaking of the Speech and Language Therapy programme, which she opted for four years ago, Richards emphasised its importance by pointing, for instance, how it can help correct the shortcomings associated with delayed speech. “Parents, or mothers in particular, can notice if their child is not speaking at a particular age, especially if they have more than one child. They might recognise that their second child is not talking as early as the first child,” said Richards who disclosed that based on the knowledge she has gained the critical age for speech is at three. This age can however be extended to five, since Richards noted some children are known to develop later than others. “If after five years that child is not talking then we know that that child has a speech disorder because that child has not been able to accumulate any speech between the recommended period,” Richards shared. But not only is the lack of speech is a cause for concern as, according to Richards too, articulation issues are also often a sign of this disorder. “We articulation problems with a lot of nursery school children where they substitute one sound for another or they put it into different parts of the word,” said Richards who noted that

while this can be a cause for concern in some cases it may only be a passing phase. There, however, remains a dire need for schools to be more on board when it comes to the rehabilitation needs of school age children. This is in light of the fact that it has been discovered that some teachers within the school system are not au fait with the signs associated with issues such as speech delay. Richards is aware of this since as a final year project she and her colleagues were tasked with conducting a study in 15 schools across Georgetown which targeted teachers. The project is one which sought to ascertain if teachers were knowledgeable about Speech and Language Therapy and Audiology. But according to Richards many teachers, the majority of whom have been teachers for in excess of two decades were oblivious to these challenges. The resulting recommendation is that there should be urgent collaboration between the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health to ensure that the shortcomings that can affect children’s learning ability be addressed. Richards is confident that the existing dilemma will be further addressed by the Education Ministry’s move to incorporate Special Needs Education at the Cyril Potter College of Education. “Prior to this many teachers didn’t know what to look for in a

Four of the five students make up UG’s inaugural batch of Speech and Language Therapy programme. From left: Kerianne Richards, Lisa Sam, Sonia Fredericks and Gordonieka De Freitas. child with speech delay or hearing problems or some mental problem...They didn’t know how to categorise problems like these but now the special needs programme being offered at CPCE, they will now know,” said Richards. However, many teachers already in the system lack these capabilities hence the need for the collaboration with the Health Ministry through its Rehabilitation Department with the education system. But process isn’t only about detection. “For the teachers in particular once they are eventually able to detect these problems they have to go through another process to notify the head teacher who then notifies the special needs people at NCERD who will then bring specialists to look

at these children,” said Richards.But the support from the knowledgeable soon to be graduated Speech and Language Therapists will shortly be realised since, according to Richards, “We will try to space ourselves out through the Regions working through the different Rehab Departments.” The initial focus will be on Special Need Schools, and Richards said that “once speech problems are detected we will be tasked with setting up treatment plans and hope that they are followed through by the teachers and parents who will be notified as well.” Speech therapy treatment entails articulation, Richards explained. “If children are adding or omitting different sounds from words or replacing them with others we have

to look at that and that is called phonology.” “Depends on what they do...we say fronting or backing if they are putting a different sound at the front or the back of the word like replacing letter T for letter K...we may have children who stutter and we help to address that too,” said Richards. However, the Speech and Language Therapists will not work in isolation but with officials already attached to the Health Ministry’s regional Rehab Departments. She noted that while there is hope for some children with speech challenges, “We will not be giving false hope to parents who believe that treatment can help them to acquire speech because the reality is that some of them never will.”

PAGE 26

Kaieteur News

Wednesday October 31, 2018

UNICEF...

SERVICES

FOR SALE

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

Generac Pressure Wash for sale 3100 PSI. Tel#654-5267/ 652-2244/220-4203

Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Graphics design, advertisement, Wedding arch rentals. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535.

1 flat house located @ Tuschen main road ( 7 houses away from police outpost) $10.9M Tel#650-0402/6031402 Pluck chicken in large and small quantities $300 per lb #699-7415/610-6196

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

Combines 7300 John Deere (2000hrs), Fiatagri L413 (2500hrs), Laverda 132 & Tractors: Massey 399, Fiat 110/90, Ford 6610, 290 Massey# 338-4354

Repairs at low cost: fridges, air conditioners, washing machines, freezers,sale of ac’s Tel:6294946,225-4822.

Cat 320 DL Excavator, MWM 6 cylinder turbo, Stihl Fogging machine, 1 Stihl weeding machine, 1 Oxygen bottle. Call: 613-5062

Installations, Repairs and parts for AC, Fridge, Washing machine, Stove etc call Nick 627-3206, 630-1600

TAXI SERVICE GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 225-7878 (24HRS)

25 Yamaha HP, stone separator ( Wash plant for gold), Diamond Lavrador. Metal Detector 30x50, Rubberized Tarpaulin. Call: 613-5062

8250 watts generator, excellent condition, switch and pull start. Tel#625-6833

ShortTerm: Furnished 2 bedroom in Section K Campbellville AC,TV, Wifi #688-9020 LEARN TO DRIVE

VEHICLE FOR SALE

N. Outar Driving School, Learn to Drive the right way. Affordable package. Call: 644-5166/691-2561

Allion, Primo, Fielder Wagon, Spacio, Bluebird, 212 Carina, RZ,Pit-bull, Allex, 192 & Canter – Call: 650-7501

Ultrasound of pregnancy, breasts, gallbladder etc. Pharmacy, Doctor diagnosis & treatment. Call: 691-5960 Lot 3 Charles Street (Giddings Pawnshop Building) HERBAL REMEDIES: Diabetes, Hypertension, Infertility, Menstrual disorders, Enlarged prostate, Kidney,Gall stones & Arthritis etc. Call Sparman #676-5924 FOR SALE/RENT American Pool table. Tel#2770578

WANTED

VACANCY

PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION, W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Salon for rental & Hair/ Stations makeup for rental, New Market Street Tel#6381106/699-6505

1 Air compressor 5HP 3 Phase 230/220 volts. Call: 628-1486/ 698-1134

Driver with car & van license for office in Eccles. Call: 2332745

Live in or live out babysitter/ domestic- Call: 223-7500 Monday to Saturday 8:15am4:15pm

One experienced male sale attendant with stocktaking knowledge. One porter. Apply with hand written application Keyfood McDoom Village

1 Driver to work interior location. Must have Motorbus licence. #225-1429/ 641-5075

DemBake at Land of Canaan is seeking experienced Drivers and Sales agents. Tel#2665848

One maid/cleaner to work @ Hardware store in G/town. Experience & valid police clearance necessary #2269768/500-5923

Male Factory workers needed. Must have police clearance. For more info: 223-0090

Mini excavator $8,800 per hour, also Bobcat service available. Tel#623-0290 Apartment for rent @ Nandy Park. Recently renovated, $60,000 monthly. #641-3318 Business place to rent 114x18, 114x15, 114x10 located at first street Bartica. Contact #6500402/603-1402 2 bedroom apartment Middle Rd La Penitence $50,000 monthly preferablities working class. Contact #6669534 2 storey concrete 3 bedrooms house for rent. Including garage $85,000, located at Diamond Grove Housing Scheme. Self contained rooms to rent in Prashad Nagar. Tel#2272993

One DAF 60 working condition. Contact #6584655/618-4457 Tractor (foreign used) MF excellent condition 165 $1.4M MF 135 $1.50M MF 265 $1.8M 165 loader, tractor $1.9M @ Vreed-en-Hoop. Call 682-5230/ 615-4414. Pickup truck from Canada, extra-cab 2005 Tacoma $1.950, Ford F150 sport $1.3M, Ford ranger sport $1.1M. Call: 682-5230, 6154414 Nissan Laurel Executive car; Toyota Ipsum 7-seater car; Nissan Pathfinder Jeep. Well kept, Buy now. Call: 225-8427/ 660-3415

Wanted Female worker. Just write CXC 2018. Call 622-5518 1 Experienced Domestic Worker (3 days weekly) 1 experienced cook #683-3360 Urgently need one land in Eccles, Herstelling, Parfaite Harmonie & Amelia’s Ward. Tel# 648-1635 Office clerk, Senior/Junior CXC English/Mathematics, Computer knowledge an asset. Call: 223-7500 Domestic help wanted. Female @ Vreed-en-hoop, light housekeeping $3000 daily. Call 682-5230/615-4414.

Lancer 2005 Model, 4 wheel drive, Alloy wheels, CD player, PTT series, Lady driven, Excellent condition. Tel#625-6833

ACCOMODATION

HEALTH

FOR RENT

CAR RENTAL DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL:225-7126/ 2263 6 9 3 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL @YAHOO.COM/ WWW.D OLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS FROM $4000 & UP, SUV’S PER DAY- CALL:643-5122/ 6 5 6 - 0 0 8 7 , ,EMAIL:PRO_AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.COM AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL:PICKUP,9-11 SEAT MINI BUS, GOOD FOR AIRPORT & FAMILY OUTINGS, CHEAPEST RATE . Call: 698-7807 WING’S CAR & PICKUP RENTAL: LOW DOWN PAYMENT, CHEAP RATES,SPECIALOFFERS! . CALL: 690-6494

EDUCATION First Aid/CPR & Home nursing courses at St John Association. Tel#225-9082

2 Experienced counter staff. call: 226-0554/265-3111/6238654 Labourers & Carpenters. Contact #612-0489 Bike Mechanic. #628-9268 One experienced cook. MonSat. Tel#225-6927. Ask for Tonya, serious enquiries only. LAND FOR SALE Transported land 11.6 acres. Lot 15 public road. #2 Village W.C.B. Price $18M. Contact 686-4818, 648-7109 Transported 9 acres located at Land of Canaan EBD on river side. Ideal for building a wharf. Call: 660-2461 Farm (East Bank) $3M & $3.5M Dairy (100ftx50ft) Semiconcrete fence $2.8M Schnoord $2.8M Amelia’s ward $1.2M Tel#651-1969/6560701 Tuschen (Phase 2) $1.2M Neg Parfaite Harmonie $2.6M. Tel#681-8746 Dairy, Parfaite Harmonie; Best Village WCD. 45x110- 1.300 #672-0416

Night supervisor, Handyman and Chef. Preferably carnegie trained. Call: 225-7933 or visit 173 Sheriff Street. Live-in Housekeeper for East Bank, must be able to cook indian dishes & have a clean police record. Call: 685-9668 Female cleaner office & home age 25 to 50. Call: 233-2745 Maid for East Bank area to cook & clean age 25-50. Call: 614-4358 Tool room clerk, Welder/ Fabricator, Male cleaner, Mechanic- Apply at Technical Services Lot 18-23 Industrial Site, Eccles Experienced cook, required at Herdmanston Lodge, Peter Rose and Anira Streets, Apply to the Manager. One general domestic, apply at Alabama Trading 65 Robb Street, Bourda Truck driver to work in Georgetown. Contact#2271717 One supervisor to work shifts. Ages 25-45. Call: 623-5255 Cashiers/Supermarket helpers. Apply in person with application @ Nirva Superstore 49 Sheriff & Craig St #227-5771 Security guard, Apply to the Manager, Herdmanston Lodge, Lamaha & Peter Rose St One experienced female accounts clerk, apply at Alabama Trading 65 Robb St, Bourda PROPERTY FOR SALE 2 storied concrete property at 17 St Diamond Scheme. Contact #216-2726 /626-3423 6 bedrooms house on double lot @ Ruimveldt Public Road, parking, overhead tank, amenities intact, secure yard. Call: 225-8427/660-3415

(From page 25) concept of working with these parents and helping them along the way whether financially or socially. She further explained that due to the developmental delay in children with microcephaly, parents are more likely to spend a lot more than they would on necessities. A plan is currently in the making to provide a monthly substantial financial assistance to aid these parents. “In the past we have done training for the mothers, we have had sensitization sessions, we have had support for medical billing for those mothers who live out of Georgetown, we have had individual rehab sessions, and we visited the homes of some of the mothers and showed the mothers how to do the exercises,” Scott said. There is currently a support group, geared to assist parents in coping with the challenges that they may face in raising a child with microcephaly.

AG report... (From page 23) has led to the recovery of in excess of $418M from Post Exemption exercises (including sale of seizures to recover taxes) conducted on beneficiaries, who would have otherwise been declared fit and proper for the exemption by external agencies. “This is testimony to the fact that the GRA is not oblivious to the potential revenue loss from tax exemptions. Finally, the headline at first glance, juxtaposes Tax Exemptions with Foreign Debt/Exchange. Other than for sensationalism, it is inexplicable as to how these two issues were conflated and analysed, as obviously, there are many more considerations to be contemplated before one can form a sane nexus between the two concepts. “I can only advise the writer to pursue an ECON101 course to familiarise him/herself with the criteria and principles within which to do such an analysis,” Mr Statia said. “Our advice is to read the entire Auditor’s report, and to judge for yourself. The 2017 report on the Guyana Revenue Authority is the best yet over the past decades that the Auditor General has so reported. “Our work is in a continued progression mode which can only progressively and incrementally improve as we continue to assiduously pursue our mandate to ensure compliance with Guyana’s trade, tax and border laws and will remain undeterred by assertions and statements, which for the most part, are baseless and unsubstantiated,” Mr Statia said.

Wednesday October 31, 2018

Kaieteur News

CH&PA to improve 2000 homes ... From page 7 developed by CH&PA, and will consider all housing areas within the scope of the project. It will also give preference to single parent households and persons living with disabilities. This project will cost a total of US$5M. At least 2000 families will be given up to $500,000 to purchase materials for improvements on their homes. These improvements are intended to include earthen or wooden floors, replacement of walls with more durable materials such as bricks or higher quality wood, electrical works, plumbing and sanitation, replacement of pit latrines with indoor toilets and septic tanks, and modifications for people living with disabilities. The funding will also accommodate expansions/extensions of houses in cases where the house is deemed overcrowded. The beneficiary household is expected to provide 100% of the labour for home improvement works. Programmes Director, Omar Narine, said that the

Implementing Support aspect of the programme involves the upgrading of 34km of asphaltic roads, 20km of drainage improvements (with concrete drains, where necessary), 8km of solid works (including brick or concrete structures and pavement stones), and the installation of solar integrated street lights, in keeping with the Green State Development Strategy.CH&PA also intends to construct eight recreational facilities. This aspect of the project will account for US$16M of funding. The remaining US$1M will finance Institutional Strengthening.

Narine urged the private sector to gear up to meet the demand for materials necessary for the project’s implementation. The application period for this project is November 1, 2018 to February 1, 2019. Local democratic organs within project areas will be used as distribution centres for application forms. The IDB has granted no objection to the CH&PA’s procurement process, which will operate by way of a competitive, international bidding process set to begin within a week.Works are expected to start in the first quarter of 2019.

Govt. should be bound... From page 14 not a guarantee for fiscal stability. The Bank said, “In the first instance, the appropriate mechanisms to manage the Fund, clear and simple rules for withdrawals and deposits, and issues related to governance and transparency, will be important to ensure that the Fund achieves its objectives.” In this regard, the IDB said that the Santiago Principles, a list of 24 generally accepted principles and practices voluntarily endorsed by the International Forum of Sovereign Wealth Funds provides some general guidance for countries. More substantially, the Fund needs to be supported by a strong fiscal framework.

PAGE 27

PAGE 28

Kaieteur News

Wednesday October 31, 2018

UN calls for international participation in Khashoggi Inquiry … Turks receive testimonies from 18 Saudi suspects AL JAZEERA - United Nations human rights chief Michelle Bachelet has called for international experts to take part in an independent investigation into the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, with access to evidence and witnesses. “For an investigation to be carried out free of any appearance of political considerations, the involvement of international experts, with full access to evidence and witnesses, would be highly desirable,” Bachelet said in a statement. Bachelet also urged Saudi Arabia to reveal the whereabouts of Khashoggi’s body, adding that a forensic examination and autopsy were crucial in the ongoing investigation into the “shockingly brazen crime” carried out in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. ERDOGAN: NO POINT IN PROTECTING CULPRITS IN KHASHOGGI MURDER Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on Saudi Arabia’s chief prosecutor to find out who ordered the murder of Khashoggi, and not spare “certain people” in his investigation. “Who sent these 15 people? As Saudi public prosecutor, you have to ask that question, so you can reveal it,” Erdogan said, referring to the 15-man team suspected of being behind the crime. “Now we have to solve this case. No need to prevaricate, it makes no sense to try

to protect certain people,” he told reporters in Ankara. Erdogan said the Turkish prosecutor had told his Saudi counterpart that the 18 suspects in the case could be tried in Turkey. Saudi officials also needed to reveal the identity of a local cooperator said to have been involved in Khashoggi’s disappearance, he said. SUSAN RICE IN NYT: SAUDI ARABIA A PARTNER WE CAN’T DEPEND ON Susan Rice, former US national security adviser during President Obama’s second term, has lashed out at Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, in an opinion piece in the New York Times. In the op-ed, Rice said that the “brazen murder of Jamal Khashoggi raises a critical question that the Trump administration plainly wants to avoid: Can the United States continue to cooperate with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman? “The young prince’s almost certain culpability in Mr. Khashoggi’s killing underscores his extreme recklessness and immorality, while exposing him as a dangerous and unreliable partner for the United States.” SAUDI PROSECUTOR VISITS ISTANBUL CONSULATE Saudi Arabia’s chief prosecutor on Tuesday visited the consulate in Istanbul where

Khashoggi was murdered, according to an AFP journalist at the scene. The head of the Saudi investigation, Attorney General Sheikh Saud al-Mojeb, visited the consulate after meeting for the second time with Istanbul Chief Prosecutor Irfan Fidan. TURKS RECEIVE TESTIMONIES FROM 18 SAUDI SUSPECTS Saudi prosecutors have handed over the testimonies by the 18 suspects in the killing of Khashoggi to Turkish officials, a source in the Turkish Attorney General’s office told Al Jazeera. The move comes after sources told Al Jazeera that Istanbul’s chief prosecutor’s office was left “unsatisfied” following a meeting with Saudi Arabia’s top prosecutor over Khashoggi’s killing. Saud al-Mojeb, who arrived in Istanbul from Riyadh on Sunday, had been expected to provide the testimonies from the 18 suspects being held in Saudi Arabia, but according to the sources he initially failed to hand over the statements. KHASHOGGI’S FIANCEE SPEAKS AT LONDON MEMORIAL, CALLS FOR JUSTICE Hatice Cengiz, Khashoggi’s fiancee, has addressed a memorial for the slain journalist in London. The event in the British capital was attended by politicians, journalists and activ-

Ailing Pres. Granger heads to Cuba for ... (From page 3) went to Trinidad and Tobago to do my annual medical examination which is normally done in August. I went in May because of the Congress of my party and the impending Local Government Elections.” However, on his return to work, the President said that he started to experience certain symptoms which were persistent, and took the decision to travel back to Trinidad to revisit the tests that were done in May. “At that time, they discovered some symptoms which

needed further investigation so I just agreed with that diagnosis and made arrangements to go to Cuba for further investigations. At this time, there is no clear indication of disorder or what the nature of the disorder is. “It is a question of investigation and I think I can get the best advice in Cuba,” the President informed. Although he claims that he suffers from no particular ailment, President Granger said that out of an abundance of caution, he took the decision to travel to Cuba to have the relevant medical investi-

gation done. According to the President, ““The Guyanese public should be assured that once those investigations are complete they would be kept abreast with the health of the President of the Republic.” Reports suggest that the first couple will return to Guyana ahead of Local Government Elections. In the meantime Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo will perform the duties of president while Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenide, will act in the capacity of Prime Minister.

ists. Cengiz said Khashoggi “felt it was his duty to be the voice of the voiceless”, before repeating her demand for justice to be served. “I want the role of the political leadership in this brutal killing to be brought to light. I want justice for Jamal,” she told the crowd. “I want to bury the body of the beloved Jamal. Therefore I am asking once again, where is his body? I believe that the Saudi regime knows where his body is. They should answer my demand. For this is not only the demand of a fiancee, but a human and Islamic demand from everyone, every nation. “I want justice to be served. Not only for those who murdered my beloved Jamal but for those who organised it and gave the order of it. These questions are not just my questions, they are now being asked by millions.” Last week, speaking to Turkish media, Cengiz said she had declined an invitation by the White House, saying she perceived US President Donald Trump’s move to be “a statement to win public favour”.During her speech in London, Cengiz said: “President Trump should help reveal the truth and ensure justice be served. He should not pave the way for a cover-up of my fiancee’s murder. Let’s not let money taint our conscience and compromise our values. “Jamal was my beloved fiancee, but he was also a gentle human being, a loving man, a journalist and true believer in

Slain Journalist, Jamal Khashoggi freedom and democracy in the Arab world. Let’s demand justice for Jamal and stand up for his ideals.” TURKEY‘UNSATISFIED’ FOLLOWING MEETING WITH SAUDI PROSECUTOR: SOURCES Sources have told Al Jazeera that Istanbul’s chief prosecutor’s office was left “unsatisfied” following a meeting with Saudi Arabia’s top prosecutor over Khashoggi’s killing. Saud al-Mojeb, who arrived in Istanbul from Riyadh on Sunday, had been expected to provide testimonies from the 18 suspects being held in Saudi Arabia but, according to the sources, he did not. Turkey called for the suspects to be extradited from the kingdom, saying their alleged use of a local collaborator in the killing was a legitimate reason for them to face trial on Turkish soil. Al Jazeera’s Hashem Ahelbarra, reporting from Istanbul, said the meeting, which lasted around 75 min-

utes, “didn’t go well because each party had its own expectation about what it wanted from the other side”. He added: “The Turkish government wanted the top Saudi prosecutor to deliver more information from the 18 suspects, particularly on who gave the order to kill Jamal Khashoggi, and about the [missing] body,” he said. “Meanwhile, the Saudis were hoping to hear more from the Turkish investigator about the ‘strong evidence’ it has on the case. “This could explain why the Turkish government said it was not satisfied after the meeting and it was expecting more from the Saudis.” Our correspondent added: “It’s now likely that the Saudi prosecutor will return to the kingdom for further consultation with the country’s top political leadership. “After that, we’ll receive more clarity about whether there will be cooperation or strained relations between the Saudis and the Turks.”

Guyana/China MOU signals “unfettered ... From page 08 stage as a debt trap for small nations of interest to China. However, the President said that he is not worried about what is going on in other jurisdictions; his focus is on Guyana. Granger noted that Guyana’s relations with China go way back. He recalled that this country was the first English-speaking nation in the Caribbean to establish relations with China. “We always had cordial relations. We never varied our commitment to the One China policy.” That policy is rooted in the fact that Guyana supports China’s claim to Taiwan. Granger was keen to note, “The project that is under consideration now is a concept paper.” He also said, “I am not worried about what happens in other countries. There is the saying, ‘beware if you are

going to take a loan or enter into an agreement with a foreign country.’ You have to take care that you get the best deal for your people.” The President continued, “So there is no concept or prospect of extravagance. If other countries have had financial difficulties I cannot explain how much they borrowed, why they borrowed, what they intend to do with it. “Right now Argentina is facing financial difficulties which have nothing to do with the Chinese Belt and Road project.” The President stressed that many countries are facing economic difficulties “so I do not feel it is fair to blame one project for the plight of so many different countries.” He was reacting to the fact that many countries took China’s money and cannot repay.

They are so indebted that China is taking control of the assets in that borrowing country. Granger said that the government “must go into these agreement with its eyes wide open.” He said that there is need for infrastructure. “Our longest river is 1000 kilometres long—the Essequibo—but there is not a single bridge. We have to build a bridge. We have to build a railway or a road link to the Rupununi which is our largest region. “We cannot develop without infrastructure and we just do not have the capital to do it on our own. So whether it comes from America, China or Britain we have to have it, and of course we have to look for the best deal. He assured that any agreement he signs will not impoverish the people of Guyana.

Almost two years later… Public Debt System still to be fully automated –Auditor General

D

uring November 2016, with the aid of Commonwealth Secretariat through technical assistance, the Ministry of Finance was able to begin the process of having the Public Debt System computerized. This was done using the Commonwealth Secretariat Debt Recording Management System (CSDRMS). But when Auditor General, Deodat Sharma, carried out his audit for last year, the system was found to be partially implemented. While it allowed for the Debt Management Division to have the authority to record, input and validate all data entered into the system, Sharma said that the Public Debt Section has only realtime viewing access and cannot input data and customize reports. In response to this, the Finance Ministry said it started the process of computerizing the activities of Public Debt. Officials said that it connected the Public Debt Section in 2014 to the Debt Management Division’s CSDRMS. They said that the intent is to operationalize the Domestic Debt Module and to use the system reports for reconciliation. Further to this, the Ministry said that training occurred for staff attached to this section at the end of 2016, in the use of the new CS-DRMS ver-

PAGE 29

Kaieteur News

Wednesday October 31, 2018

Auditor General, Deodat Sharma sion. It stressed however that the necessary skills required to extract the requisite reports for verification and reconciliations has not been acquired to date. Additionally, the Ministry said that the department will utilize fully, the CS-DRMS through one database housed at the Ministry of Finance. The Ministry noted that the preparation of the Public Debt Statement will be done using the new system. It explained that this means that an end to the reliance on the manual records in the Public Debt Section as

the CS-DRMS would become the single repository for all debt related transactions. It continued, “As the Public Debt Department moves towards automation and use of information technology (CS-DRMS), updating of the old manual registers will soon become redundant. The aim of installing and upgrading to the Commonwealth Secretariat–Debt Recording and Management System in the Public Debt Section is to eliminate the use of manual registers and remove issues of completeness and accuracy in the information captured.

Kwakwani midwife was strangled - four held Police have detained four men in connection with the death of midwife Paulette Wade, as a post-mortem revealed she was beaten and manually strangled. The post mortem was conducted yesterday by pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh. Relatives were reportedly told that besides being strangled, Wade sustained three blows to the head. Police had initially suggested that Paulette Wade may have suffered an epileptic attack. However relatives had insisted that the body bore scratches and other injuries. Meanwhile, police have detained four men who allegedly fit the description of the individual that was reportedly seen with Wade shortly before her death. Three were detained on Monday and the fourth yesterday. Police say that the suspects are all named ‘Dellon.’ They are still seeking a motive for the murder, but have apparently ruled out robbery. A police official confirmed, yesterday, that there was no sign of forced entry to the premises. This appeared to suggest that Wade knew her

Dead Paulette Wade

killer. Wade, 37, who worked at the Kwakwani Hospital, was found dead in her Kwakwani Park, Region Ten home, around 06:30 hrs last Saturday. Wade’s seven-year-old daughter, who found the body, ran to the Kwakwani Hospital to inform some of her mother’s colleagues. According to a relative, Wade’s daughter, who sleeps in the same room with her mother and brother, said she

woke up some time on Friday night and heard sounds which suggested that her mother was having a scuffle with someone. In the darkness the child was able to make out a ‘darkskinned short man’. The man who was shirtless was dressed only in short pants. The child informed her relatives that she saw the man kicking her mother and she heard her mother calling out to the person by the name of ‘Dellon.’

PAGE 30

Kaieteur News

Wednesday October 31, 2018

Guyana, Brazil MOU to improve cooperation in aviation

GCAA’s Director General Lt. Col. (Ret’d) Egbert Field in discussion with ANAC Director-President Jose Ricardo Pataro Botelho De Queiroz

T

he Guyana Civil Aviation Author ity (GCCA) on September 18, last, in an attempt to provide managerial, technical and operational cooperation in the field of aviation between Guyana and Brazil signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) The MOU which was signed by the GCAA’s Director General Lt. Col. (Ret’d) Egbert Field, and DirectorPresident of the Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil (ANAC - Brazil) Jose Ricardo Pataro Botelho De Queiroz is responsible for enhancing the relationship between the two civil aviation regulatory bod-

ies (Guyana and Brazil) of through knowledge exchange, technical cooperation, and best practice in developing, modernizing, operating and maintaining the civil aviation systems of both countries. Aside from developing the level of cooperation between Guyana and the neighbouring country the MOU take account for the development of a State Safety Programme (SSP), Safety Management Systems (SMS), safety surveillance and oversight, aircraft certification, personnel licensing, aerodromes, and airworthiness. The agreement also makes

provisions for training of personnel, institutional strengthening, human resources management and regulation of air transport as well as economic regulation. Officers of the GCAA and ANAC are expected to share their expertise in the various disciplines of civil aviation to provide training and/or technical visits either to Brazil or Guyana and develop studies to benefit both countries in the field of civil aviation. The MOU was signed as a part of the fourth World Aviation Forum of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (IWAF) in Fortaleza Brazil.

Wednesday October 31, 2018

Kaieteur News

PAGE 31

PAGE 32

Kaieteur News

Wednesday October 31, 2018

Wednesday October 31, 2018

Hamilton Green 9-a-side Inter-Ward/ Village KO Cup

Plaisance, Agricola, Crane, Kuru Kururu among teams advancing Action in the Hamilton Green 9-a-side Inter-Ward/ Village KO Cup, which is being held to commemorate the 84th Birth Anniversary of the former Mayor of Georgetown, is set to resume this Sunday with Round of 16 play at the Den Amstel Community Centre ground. In the opening encounter, Plaisance will face Sophia from 17:00hrs and this cash will be followed by the game between Central McKenzie and Mahaica at 17:30hrs. Newtown Kitty then oppose Wolves at 18:00hrs, before Sara Lodge battle Kuru Kururu at 18:30hrs. Up next is the clash between Uitvlugt and Stewartville from 19:00hrs, before Goed Fortuin and Sophia (B) collide at

19:30hrs.Crane and Wales square from 20:00hrs, before Pouderoyen and West Side Masters bring the curtains down at 20:30hrs. Meanwhile, in last Sunday’s results: Newtown Kitty advanced via a penalty shootout win over Zeelugt; Sophia beat Soesdyke 1-0 through a goal from Peter Smith. Wales defeated Vergenoegen 1-0 courtesy of a solitary from Randy McFarlane, while Leon Moore netted for Agricola in their 1-0 triumph over Bagotstown. Kuru Kururu then eased past De Kindren 2-0 with Joseph Walker and Michael Charles, being the players on target. Crane beat DenAmstel Back Street 1-0 with Donsford Williams netting the winning goal, while

Plaisance squeezed past Jetty 10 with Kevin Liverpool, the goalscorer. In excess of $700,000 and lots of prizes, including the coveted first prize of $400,000 and the championship trophy compliments of the Ministry of Citizenship are up for grabs. The runner-up will be awarded $200,000 and trophy through the goodwill of John Fernandes Ltd, while third and fourth place finishers will receive $60,000 and $40,000 respectively along with the Techno Mills and Courtney Benn Construction Services trophies in that order. The Most Valuable Player will be awarded a special prize from Techno Mills. The tournament is being coordinated by former national player/ Coach Lennox Arthur.

Wednesday October 31, 2018 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) If you find that you aren't necessarily thinking like the rest of the group, don't panic, Aries. In fact, this is probably a good thing.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Try not to overanalyze your actions, Libra. If you continue to pick apart every aspect, you will end up getting nowhere.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Your words may fall sharply on someone's ears today, so be aware of the impact you can have, Taurus. However, this doesn't mean that you need to dilute your message with lies in order to avoid the true topic of conversation.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Your actions may go against your rational thinking, but this isn't necessarily a bad thing, Scorpio. Thoughts and feelings are apt to aggressively clash today.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Be careful of being hypocritical, Gemini. You may not want to disappoint people you meet CANCER (June 21–July 22) You may find that someone approaches you with harsh words that are apt to have a significant impact on your state of mind. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) You may have to make an important decision today, Leo. It has come to the point where someone draws a line in the sand and challenges you to cross it. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) As you take another step upward today, Virgo, you may realize that there's a large part of the mountain you hadn't accounted for before. Perhaps this steep portion of the climb wasn't visible from below when you started the trip.

PAGE 33

Kaieteur News

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) You may have the perfect plan all laid out, Sagittarius. You've communicated to the right people, you've traveled to the appropriate spots to gather data, and you have all your resources in line. CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) What you think may happen today is apt to be the opposite of what actually happens. It could be that you have a strong mental picture of how things should proceed AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Emotions may cloud your thoughts as things start to heat up in a heavy way, Aquarius. In an effort to keep things light and energetic, you may be missing the core of the situation. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Magical events may occur today in the most unlikely places. Perhaps you're expecting to see someone in a certain environment.

W/B’ce hammer GT by 7...

Player of the Match Lovina Ragbeer (right) collects her award. From page 38 wicket in the tournament when she bowled Jemanie Jacobs (0) at 78-9 before Hutson Clarke (12*) batted out the overs. The Region-five team,

Player of the Match Africa Gentle (left) receives her reward.

made up of Hopetown Primary, Fort Wellington Seco n d a r y, Number 8, Rosignol, Belladerum and Berbice high schools, began their run chase in positive fashion.

Soloman stroked Whyte for four in the first over before Isaacs hit consecutive boundaries as the pair played entertaining cricket before a fair size crowd which included Jaguars’ players Chris Barnwell and Trevon Griffith and West Indies female pacer Sabrina Munroe and National female all-rounder Akaze Thompson. Jacobs bowled Soloman (24) at 67-1 before Sarah Roopnarine (3) was caught and bowled by Whyte at 78-2, while Allen sent back Isaacs (22) a run later. But Tamara George (10) and Liverpool (1) saw their team to an emphatic victory in a game that left much to be desired. Meanwhile in the other second round matches: Essequibo and East Bank emerged winners. At Enterprise, East Coast elected to bat first and reached 93-8 in 20 overs. National U-19 player Sarah Amin top scored with 18 as Onicia Staby (2-22) bowled well for Essequibo who galloped to 94- 5 from 10.4 overs to win by five wickets with Lisa Clerks top scoring with 20 and Lavina Ragbeer (158) leading the way Tilleya Madramootoo grabbed 2-24 At Albion, East Bank beat Upper Corentyne by 36 runs after making 98-1 in a game reduced to 10 overs. Africa Gentle top scored with an unbeaten 55 which included nine fours. In reply Upper Corentyne were restricted 62 for 3 in their 10 overs with Kavita Mohabir and Tandika Leitch with 12 each reaching double figures. (Sean Devers)

PAGE 34

Wednesday October 31, 2018

Kaieteur News

NBA roundup: Thompson sets trey record Klay Thompson set an NBA record with 14 3-pointers as part of an NBA-seasonhigh 52-point performance, and the visiting Golden State Warriors stormed to a 149-124 win over the Chicago Bulls on Monday night. The Warriors scored 92 points in the first half — the most ever by a road team and the second most of all time behind the Phoenix Suns, who had 107 in the first half against the Denver Nuggets on Nov. 19, 1990. Golden State led 92-50 at the break. The 42-point margin was the fourth-largest halftime lead in history and the largest lead by a road team. Thompson finished 14 of 24 from beyond the arc. He exulted and held up three fingers with each hand after his record-breaking 3-ball dropped through the net with 4:53 remaining in the third quarter. The shot moved Thompson past teammate Steph Curry, who sank 13 3-pointers against the New Orleans Pelicans on Nov. 8, 2016. In 26 minutes of action, Thompson made 18 of 29 field-goal attempts and grabbed five rebounds. Bucks 124, Raptors 109 Host Milwaukee held Toronto without a field goal for the first 4:11 of the second quarter, establishing an early lead before pulling away in a battle of unbeaten teams missing their leading scorers. The Bucks improved to 70 despite the absence of Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was recovering from a concussion, and took advantage of the Raptors’ decision

Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) reacts after a play in the fourth quarter against the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center. (Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports) to rest their star, Kawhi Leonard. Milwaukee filled Antetokounmpo’s void with balanced scoring, placing seven players in double figures, led by Ersan Ilyasova’s 19 points. Serge Ibaka had a season-high 30 for the Raptors, who fell to 6-1. Timberwolves 124, Lakers 120 Jimmy Butler made five 3pointers in the fourth quarter and scored 32 points to lead host Minnesota over Los Angeles in Minneapolis. Karl-Anthony Towns added 25 points, 16 rebounds and four blocks for the Timberwolves, and rookie guard Josh Okogie scored a season-high 17 points. LeBron James had 29 points, 10 rebounds and

Former Ghana FA president Nyantakyi banned for life by FIFA ZURICH (Reuters) - FIFA handed a life ban from all football activities to former Ghana Football Association president Kwesi Nyantakyi for various violations of their ethics code, including bribery and corruption. Nyantakyi, a former member of FIFA’s General Coun-

cil, was found guilty after being filmed by an investigative journalist in a hotel room appearing to take a $65,000 bribe from a supposed businessman seeking to sponsor the Ghanaian football league. He was also fined 500,000 Swiss Francs (391,495 pounds), FIFA said yesterday.

seven assists for the Lakers after being held scoreless in the first quarter. Brandon Ingram returned from a four-game suspension and scored 17 of his 24 points in the first half for Los Angeles, and Kyle Kuzma scored 16 of his 19 in the first half. Nuggets 116, Pelicans 111 Nikola Jokic finished one rebound shy of a tripledouble, Gary Harris and Jamal Murray scored 23 points apiece, and host Denver beat New Orleans. Jokic finished with 12 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds. His effort helped Denver remain unbeaten in four home games this season. Paul Millsap also scored 18 points for the Nuggets. Julius Randle had 24 points and eight rebounds

and Nikola Mirotic had a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds for New Orleans, which hung tough despite not having Anthony Davis (elbow). 76ers 113, Hawks 92 Ben Simmons scored 21 points to lead seven Philadelphia players in double figures in a rout of visiting Atlanta. Simmons, who registered his first 20-plus point effort of the season, also had 12 rebounds and nine assists. It was the 21st time in Simmons’ young career that he has scored at least 20 points. Markelle Fultz scored a career-high 16 points while Mike Muscala and JJ Redick added 14 apiece for the Sixers, who won their second straight. Joel Embiid had a

relatively quiet game with 10 points, six rebounds and six assists. Kent Bazemore led the Hawks with 18 points while Trae Young, Omari Spellman and Dewayne Dedmon added 11 each. Spurs 113, Mavericks 108 (OT) DeMar DeRozan, who led all players with 34 points, scored six points in the final 1:43 of overtime as host San Antonio held off Dallas, which is still winless on the road. DeRozan outdueled Mavericks rookie Luka Doncic, who scored a career-high 31 points. Doncic scored eight consecutive points during a late fourth-quarter run that helped Dallas force overtime. LaMarcus Aldridge contributed 20 points for San Antonio, which received 15 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and six steals from Rudy Gay. DeRozan led the Spurs with nine assists. Dallas got 22 points f r o m D e n n i s S m i t h J r. Harrison Barnes added 18 points, and DeAndre Jordan had eight points and 18 rebounds. Trail Blazers 103, Pacers 93 CJ McCollum and Zach Collins each had 17 points to lead seven Portland doublefigure scorers as the visitors dropped Indiana in Indianapolis. Collins matched his career high and led a crew of Trail Blazers reserves who outscored their Pacers counterparts 54-15. Victor Oladipo scored 21 points and Darren Collison added 17 for the Pacers. The Blazers shot 48.7 per-

cent from the field and 94.4 percent from the free-throw line and won the rebounding battle 50-35. Knicks 115, Nets 96 Tim Hardaway Jr. scored the first eight points of a decisive run spanning the second and third quarters as host New York snapped a five-game losing streak by beating Brooklyn. The Knicks’ losing streak included close losses to a pair of Eastern Conference contenders, the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks, as well as a 28-point loss to the defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors in which New York led in the fourth quarter. Hardaway led all scorers with 25 points while Enes Kanter recorded a doubledouble with 15 points and 15 rebounds. Spencer Dinwiddie led the Nets with 17 points while Rondae HollisJefferson finished with 16 points. Kings 123, Heat 113 Willie Cauley-Stein posted 26 points and 13 rebounds to lead visiting Sacramento over Miami despite Josh Richardson scoring a career-high 31 points for the Heat, which had its two-game win streak snapped. The Kings, who have won three straight games, were also led by Buddy Hield (23 points), De’Aaron Fox (20 points, eight assists) and Nemanja Bjelica (19 points, five assists, five rebounds). The Kings used a 43point third quarter to propel them to victory. It was the most points allowed by Miami in any quarter this season.

CAS clears Konakbayev to run for AIBA presidency BERLIN (Reuters) - The Court of Arbitration for Sport yesterday upheld an appeal by hopeful Serik Konakbayev against his exclusion from next month’s vote to elect the new president of international boxing association AIBA. AIBA has been beset by serious financial and governance problems which have put its spot at the 2020 Olympics in jeopardy with the International Olympic Committee telling it to fix the current problems by next month or face an Olympic exit. CAS ordered AIBA to include Konakbayev, an AIBA vice-president who had been banned from running against the only candidate — interim president Gafur Rahimov — in the list of those standing for election at the next congress, on Nov. 2-3 in Moscow.

Serik Konakbayev wants to challenge for AIBA Presidency. ©KBF

Konakbayev, a Kazakh, who also heads the Asian boxing confederation, had been told by the AIBA election committee at the time that he had not acquired the necessary 20 letters of support from federations. CAS said the election committee had wrongly refused to consider some nominations of support for Konakbayev. “Therefore, the Panel acknowledged that Serik Konakbayev reached the

threshold of 20 nominations supporting his candidature for the AIBA Presidency within the relevant time limit,” it said in a statement. “In conclusion, the CAS Panel came to the conclusion that the appeal should be upheld and that Serik Konakbayev should be allowed to participate in the election for the role of AIBA President.” AIBA has been in turmoil for several years. Its former

president Wu Ching-kuo was suspended in 2017 before stepping down over governance and finance issues and was briefly replaced by Franco Falcinelli before Uzbek businessman Rahimov became interim president in January. Rahimov, however, is on the United States Department of the Treasury’s sanctions list “for providing material support” to a criminal organization, according to the U.S. body. Rahimov strongly denies the claim but the IOC has told AIBA it is not happy with the choice of the Uzbek at the helm of the organization. The IOC also warned AIBA in October that failure to settle the dispute by next month’s congress could result in the sport losing its Olympic spot at the 2020 Tokyo Games.

Wednesday October 31, 2018

PAGE 35

Kaieteur News

Sammy rallies fans as ticket booths open CASTRIES, St Lucia, CMC – Two-time Twenty20 World Cup-winning captain, Darren Sammy, has urged fans to buy their tickets for the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup being staged in the Caribbean, and throw their full support behind the hosts who are defending champions. The 34-year-old, who is also a Cricket West Indies ambassador and has been promoting the November 9-24 tournament, on Monday purchased 50 tickets for each match-day of the St Lucia leg as a personal show of commitment. Over-the-counter tickets sales started on Monday morning in the three host territories – St Lucia, Antigua and Guyana – and Sammy was among the first patrons to secure his tickets. While the former Test and one-day captain did not disclosed who would be the recipient of the tickets, he said he would be donating to “the people of St Lucia.” ”I want to urge everyone to get those tickets. Traditionally, we St Lucians like to buy our tickets over the counter, so this will be the most important stage of the sales,” he said during a me-

dia briefing at the venue, after purchasing his tickets and making good on an earlier promise to do so. “This is going to a huge event in the region – we have not hosted a global cricket tournament since 2010 – so make sure you don’t miss out. Make sure you get your tickets and come out and support the women and the game of cricket.” Ticket for the group stage matches at the Guyana National Stadium and the Darren Sammy Cricket Ground in St Lucia will go at just US$3 and US$4 respectively, in an effort to ensure more people across the Caribbean have access to the event. The semi-finals, scheduled for the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground in Antigua, will see tickets starting at US$7, with the final at the same venue priced at US$11. A combination ticket package for the semis and final is priced at only US$15. Sammy stressed that the upcoming tournament could be a “huge event” for the island and the most important event in the region for 2018. ”Women’s cricket is growing … growing really fast. This is about me showing my support for women’s cricket.

Former West Indies Test captain Darren Sammy poses with the fan at the launch of over-the-counter ticket sales in St Lucia. As an ambassador, I felt it was important for me to contribute to this great event, which will be the biggest thing happening in the Caribbean this year,” he pointed out. “When you hear of a world tournament, no matter

what sport it is, it’s something prestigious. So my contribution is to make sure people some into every match and enjoy the biggest thing in St Lucia.” He continued: “Momentum is building and we have

already seen teams arriving so this is a sign that ‘we are ready’. The countdown is on just 11 days to go now. “And remember, we are the champions. West Indies won it in 2016 and we all need to support our Stafanie Taylor and her amazing team as they defend the title. You won’t want to miss this … ‘watch this.’” Earlier, Dave Richardson, CEO of the ICC also made a plea for fans to support the event. ”This is the first ever stand-alone ICC Women’s World T20 event and there is no better place to host it than in the West Indies with the home team as defending champions,” he said. “I’d love to see West Indian cricket fans come out in force to support the world’s best cricketers and watch the world champions defend their title on home soil. This event belongs to the Caribbean and its cricket fans.” Fans attending matches can expect full music concerts for no extra charge. Some of the biggest names and best voices on the music scene will be on stage with Trinidadian soca star Patrice Roberts and popular Jamaican dancehall performer, Shenseea set to

headline the shows on match days in Guyana and St Lucia. The duo will also perform at the final in Antigua on November 24. They are the voices behind the tournament song “Watch This”, which has been the rallying call for fans to support the tournament. Trinidadian soca band, Kes The Band, will be the headliners for the showpiece concert after the final at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground while Tanya Stephens from Jamaica will perform at the semi-finals on November 22. The first stand-alone ICC Women’s T20 World Cup will also see the Decision Review System (DRS) being used for the first time in any ICC World Twenty20 event, ensuring consistency in the use of technology in top world-level events. West Indies will do battle Group A along with England, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh while Australia, India, New Zealand, Pakistan and Ireland will compete in Group B. This is the sixth edition of the tournament. Australia have won the title three times while England and the West Indies have won once each.

Inexperienced Lakers starting G Square Cavaliers take to wear on LeBron Regal Sports U-19 title Just seven games into the season, LeBron James is starting to run out of patience with the mistakes of his young Los Angeles Lakers teammates. The Lakers are 2-5 following a 124-120 loss at Minnesota on Monday night and have given up an average of 122.3 points per game, 29th in the league. The Lakers haven’t been able to keep opponents off the boards — they surrendered 20 offensive rebounds to the Timberwolves — nor have they been able to shut them down on crucial possessions. “We talk about patience but you can’t have reoccurrence of the same thing,” James told reporters after the loss to the Timberwolves. “If you are doing the same things over and over and over and expecting the same result then that’s insanity. “So we have to get better. We can’t keep having the same mistakes over and over.” When James left an aging Cleveland team behind and signed with the Lakers in free agency in the offseason, he acknowledged he was moving to a young team that he would need to nurture and teach.

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) loses control of the ball in the fourth quarter against Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. (Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports) Already, though, he’s grown tired of losing. “You probably don’t want to be around when my patience runs out,” added James, who turns 34 in December. “I’m serious.” The Lakers’ young core — Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball and Kyle Kuzma — has shown potential but James expects more from the Lakers. “We got to figure it out,” James said. “It is not one guy.

We are all in this together, so, we got to figure it out. We got another one on Wednesday (against Dallas) on our home floor and we got to be really good.” For his part, James is ninth in the NBA in scoring, averaging 27.6 points per game. He is tied for third in minutes played with an average of 36.0. (Field Level Media)

G Square Cavaliers defeated Good Success/Sans Souci/ Sans Souci Jaguars combined by seven runs to win the final of the Regal Sports U19 50-over final which was contested on Saturday last at the Wa k e n a a m C o m m u n i t y Centre ground. Batting first, G Square Cavaliers managed 140 all out with Toshall Surujpaul scoring 29 and Romario Stephen 20; Devendra Hansraj claimed 2-10 and Mahase Ramnarine 2-15. Good Success/Sans Souci/ Sans Souci Jaguars Combined scored 133 all out in 1 5 o v e r s i n r e p l y. Ramnarine made 38 as Mohandas Surujpaul bagged 5-20. Ramnarine received the best bowler in the tournament prize with 14 wickets, while Ricky Ramnarine, who scored 196 runs including 102, took the best batsman accolade. Secretary of the Wakenaam Cricket Committee Nazeer Mohamed congratulated the winning team and expressed gratitude to Regal Sports for their support.

Captain of G Square Cavaliers Romario Stephen (left) accepts the trophy from Chandrika Persaud.

PAGE 36

Kaieteur News

Wednesday October 31, 2018

Simone Biles wins gold in team event at World Gymnastics C/Ships BBC Sport - Simone Biles helped the United States to an emphatic women’s team victory at the World Gymnastics Championships. Despite two uncharacteristic errors from the 21-yearold on beam and floor, the US still posted 171.629, well

ahead of Russia in second and China in third. The win gave Biles, who was admitted to hospital with a kidney stone on the eve of the event, her 11th world title. “It’s very special. Myself and the team have trained very hard to be where we are,”

Biles told BBC Sport. “I still feel pretty good I’m in a little bit of pain but it’s nothing I can’t manage and I haven’t had to do anything differently apart from missing one training session.” By making the podium in

Doha, US, Russia and China women have also qualified for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. At the halfway point of the final after the vault and uneven bars, the US team of Biles, Morgan Hurd, Riley McCusker, Kara Eaker and Grace McCallum already had

Biles won gold in the team, all-around, vault and floor events at the Rio 2016 Olympics. (Getty Images) a seven-point lead. In the final two apparatus Biles grabbed the beam to avoid falling off then had a big step out of the floor. Those were ultimately minor blips in an otherwise impressive team performance by the defending champions. “It’s always disappointing [to make mistakes] but we go back into practice and work on those little things with more finals to come,” said Biles. The last time Biles competed at a comparable level was at the 2016 Olympics where she won four gold medals and one bronze. After that, she took a break from the sport and this event in Qatar marks her return to the world stage. Can Biles make history? On Thursday, Biles has the chance to become the first

female gymnast to win five all around world titles. “I think it would be really exciting. We’ll have to see what happens,” said Biles. “I feel like I’m mentally and physically stronger and when I step out on the mat I know what I’m capable of.” If Biles succeeds she would dethrone her USA team-mate Morgan Hurd, who won the title in Montreal last year. “I mean, I’m competing with the greatest of all time, so probably not,” laughed Hurd when asked about her chances of defending her title against Biles. “But we never see it as competing against each other - but competing with each other.“We still want each other to do the absolute best we can possibly do.”

Guyana Mixed Martial Arts Karate Association holds annual karate workshop The Guyana Mixed Martial Arts Karate Association hosted its annual karate workshop which concluded on Saturday last. Students and Instructors were given the opportunity of a lifetime to learn and be informed about different things relating to the association and sport. The event started off with students discussing social problems that can affect our society. It wase then taken through practical session with students and instructors who were taught on basic techniques of self defence and also sword techniques. Students received certifi-

cate at the end of the workshop. Those who participated were the Vreed-en-Hoop Martial Arts Academy, the Iron Fist Martial Arts Academy and the Invisible Kicks Martial Arts Academy. Master Lloyd Ramnarine expressed gratitude to the parents, students, teachers who participated and contributed their thoughts and ideas as well as teaching the students, for a successful event. Anyone wishing to join any of the martial arts academy’s can contact Master Lloyd Ramnarine on telephone nos. 698-6727, 6987456 and 673-0823.

Wednesday October 31, 2018

PAGE 37

Kaieteur News

Reggae Girlz can show Jamaica is more than just athletics at World Cup LONDON (Reuters) Usually known for its prowess on the track, Jamaica will be sending its first ever team to the FIFA Women’s soccer World Cup in France next year, giving it a chance to showcase the Caribbean nation’s strength across all sports. That’s according to Foreign Minister Kamina Johnson-Smith, who told Reuters that Jamaica’s qualification for next year’s 24-team tournament is a landmark moment for women’s sport in the Caribbean. The team, known as the Reggae Girlz, secured their place at their first World Cup by beating Panama this month on penalties after a 2-2 draw in the CONCACAF Women’s Championship third-place playoff, the qualifying tournament for the north American region. Jamaica’s greatest sporting triumphs - bobsleigh achievements aside - have been in athletics, with “tripledouble” Olympic sprinting champion and 100 meters and 200m world record holder Usain Bolt the symbol of the country for more than a decade. However, with the 32year-old now retired from athletics and attempting to get his own soccer career off the

Jamaica celebrates qualifying for 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup at Toyota Stadium, Oct 17, 2018; Frisco, TX, USA. (Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports/File Photo) ground, there is space for new heroes to emerge, for which Johnson-Smith believes the Reggae Girlz are perfectly placed. “One of the greatest benefits as a result of the girls qualifying is raising the visibility of women’s football in Jamaica and in the Carib-

bean,” Johnson-Smith told Reuters in a phone interview. “It’s not only their personal stories of grit and personal determination, each individual story is amazing as well as their story as a team. But generally just building visibility of not only women in sport but women in foot-

ball has been a great spirit lifter and a great visibility lifter in Jamaica and in the Caribbean.” “As this football now shows, all of that strength, power, discipline and speed (from athletics), those skills can be harnessed in other ways as well with good team

work, with good discipline in team sports like football. So I think it’s adding to our pantheon of heroes,” she added. The Jamaican team’s qualification for the Women’s World Cup comes 20 years on from the men’s team’s first ever World Cup appearance also in France. “I have been hearing that buzz in Jamaica with people saying ‘great we are going to go to France again. We were there in 98 and now we are going there for the girls.’ So there is a vote of confidence being placed in them,” JohnsonSmith, also an attorney and Senator, said. “I think maybe people who were not interested before are interested now, and I think that is one of the best benefits of this qualification because it’s really giving people hope and really creating interest where it might not have been at its highest level before.” FUNDING BOOST Jamaica may not be one of the favorites to win the eighth edition of the Women’s World Cup, having been beaten by world champions the United States 6-0 this month. But their appearance alone will be a boost after global soccer body FIFA said last week it will in-

crease the prize money allocated across the tournament from $15 million to $30 million - though critics say that is not enough and is not in line with increases i n m o n e y i n t h e m e n ’s game. FIFA also said that $20 million would be made available for pre-tournament preparations. Johnson-Smith was part of the delegation who attended a charity match between the Reggae Girlz and Nottingham Forest Ladies in England on Sunday in tribute to the Windrush generation, the immigrants who were invited to the UK between 1948 and 1971 from Caribbean countries. Perhaps inspired by the occasion in front of almost 4,000 spectators at The City Ground, Jamaica won 3-0 with two goals from Olufolasade Adamolekun and one from Shanise Foster. “It has not fallen by the wayside that we should celebrate these people,” Johnson-Smith said. “I think there’s a coming together, the very same spirit, ambition, determination, hard working nature, commitment that characterized the Windrush generation are the very same characteristics you would find in the Reggae Girlz.”

England Women: Former US Under-23 player Chioma Ubogagu named in squad BBC Sport - Former United States Under-23 forward Chioma Ubogagu has been selected for England Women’s football s q u a d f o r n e x t w e e k ’s friendlies against Austria and Sweden. The 26-year-old, who was born in London but moved to Texas as a child, made her professional debut for Arsenal in 2015 and now plays for Brisbane Roar, where she is on loan from Orlando Pride. Manchester City forward Georgia Stanway and keeper Ellie Roebuck also make the squad for the first time, while team-mate and captain Steph Houghton is set to win her 100th international cap. Roebuck replaces her City team-mate Karen Bardsley, who is ruled out with an ankle injury, while forward Melissa Lawley and Reading midfielder Fara Williams also miss out.As with men’s football, Fifa rules allow a player to switch their allegiances from youth football when making their senior international debut. England visit Austria on Thursday, 8 November, before hosting Sweden on 11 November at Rotherham’s New York Stadium. England squad:

Goalkeepers: Mary Earps (Wolfsburg), Ellie Roebuck (Manchester C i t y ) , C a r l y Te l f o r d (Chelsea) Defenders: Hannah Blundell (Chelsea), Millie Bright (Chelsea), Lucy B r o n z e ( Ly o n ) , G a b b y George (Everton), Alex Greenwood (Manchester United), Steph Houghton (Manchester City), Abbie McManus (Manchester City), Leah Williamson (Arsenal) Midfielders: Isobel Christiansen (Lyon), Fran Kirby (Chelsea), Jordan Nobbs (Arsenal), Jill Scott (Manchester City), Lucy Staniforth (Birmingham City), Georgia Stanway (Manchester City), Keira Walsh (Manchester City) Forwards: Rachel Daly ( H o u s t o n D a s h ) , To n i Duggan (Barcelona), Beth Mead (Arsenal), Nikita Parris (Manchester City), Chioma Ubogagu (Brisbane Roar, on loan from Orlando Pride)

Chioma Ubogagu made her debut for Brisbane Roar on 28 October. (Getty Images)

PAGE 38

Wednesday October 31, 2018

Kaieteur News

‘Deep sense of fear and worry’ for Indian cricket - Ganguly ESPNcricinfo - In a letter to the BCCI’s office bearers, Sourav Ganguly, the president of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), said he has a “deep sense of fear and worry” about how cricket is being run in India and that the game’s popularity is “in danger” because of the current administration. In his letter, which ESPNcricinfo has accessed, he has also spoken publicly for the first time about the “appalling” way in which Ravi Shastri was selected as the national team’s head coach. He also criticised the handling of the recent sexual harassment case and the changing of playing conditions in domestic cricket in the middle of the season. Two of these three decisions - made with the blessings of the Supreme Courtappointed Committee of Administrators (CoA) - directly involved Ganguly, and possibly overruled him. Ganguly was on the Cricket Advisory Committee that selected Shastri as India’s coach after the bitter falling out of captain Virat Kohli with incumbent coach Anil Kumble. First, the deadline for the application was extended, allowing Shastri to apply. After

Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri share a laugh. (Getty Images) the interviews, Ganguly said in a press conference he wanted to give Kohli some time to think about his demand. However, the CoA and the BCCI announced Shastri’s appointment the same evening. The first press release said Rahul Dravid and Zaheer Khan had been appointed batting and bowling consultants, but neither Dravid nor Zaheer ever got to work with the team. “My experience in the matter of coach selection was appalling,” Ganguly wrote. “The less said the better.” Ganguly is also the head

of the BCCI technical committee, which has traditionally framed rules, regulations and playing conditions for the domestic game. But their recommendations on how to include north-eastern state teams into Ranji Trophy were also overlooked. “Cricketing rules are changed in the middle of a season, which has never been heard of,” Ganguly wrote. “Decisions made in committees are turned around with complete disrespect.” There have been other cases of qualification criteria being changed mid-tournament in domestic cricket this year as

well. Another important recommendation of the committee was to favour day-night Test cricket, but the BCCI CEO Rahul Johri said that plan was put on hold because the team management was against it. Consequently, for India’s tour later this year, Cricket Australia has scheduled an all-day Test in Adelaide for the first time since 2014. Ganguly was also critical of the manner in which the charges of harassment against Johri was being handled by the CoA. After an anonymous sexual harass-

ment complaint against Johri popped up on Twitter on October 12, a divided CoA constituted an independent committee on October 30 to investigate the allegations. There had also been murmurs of an internal complaint against Johri, but the CoA neither acknowledged nor denied them until it asked this committee to look into internal complaints as well. Johri was first given a week to explain himself; Diana Edulji, one half of the CoA, wanted Johri to resign before any such probe, but Vinod Rai constituted the independent committee, which was then revealed to include a member, PC Sharma, whose son-in-law was a BCCI employee. “I don’t know how far it’s true, but the recent reports of harassment has really made the BCCI look very poorly,” Ganguly wrote in his letter. “More so the way it has been handled. The committee of CoA from four has come down to two and now the two seem to be divided.” Ganguly used strong language to describe the state of cricket administration in India. “I write this mail to you all with the deep sense of fear as to where Indian cricket admin-

istration is going,” he wrote. “Having played the game for a long period of time, where our lives were ruled by winning and losing, and the image of Indian cricket was of paramount importance to us. We wake up looking at how our cricket is faring even now. “But with deep sense of worry, (I used the word worry) I beg to state that the way things have gone in the last couple of years, the authority of Indian cricket to the world and the love and belief of millions of fans is on the way down. “Indian cricket with its massive following has been built over the years of hard work from superb administrators and greatest of cricketers who have managed to bring thousands of fans to the ground. I, at the present moment, think it’s in danger. Hope people are listening.” Ganguly’s comments came on a day when it was revealed that the CoA had identified the CAB as one of the state associations “partially compliant” with the Supreme Court order of August 9 that had directed all BCCI members - states - to follow the new constitution created on the basis of the Lodha Committee’s recommendations.

Min of Education/GCB U-17 Female T-20 Franchise

W/B’ce hammer GT by 7 wickets West Berbice defeated Georgetown by seven wickets in sweltering heat yesterday at DCC in the second round of Ministry of Education and GCB Female U-17 T20 Franchise yesterday in a game which started five hours late due late notification by the GCB to DCC. No Umpires were appointed by the GCB resulting in the two Coaches doing the Umpiring duties and not adhering to the no-ball law concerning the bouncing of the ball more than twice and the no-ball law for illegal action. Georgetown reached 98-9 off 20 overs with Emalissa Whyte top-scoring with 22 from 20 balls with four fours but Nesha Singh (13) and Skipper Alliya Clarke (12*), batting at number 11, were the only other batters to reach double figures. Player of the Match Renata Liverpool followed up her 4-5 against West Demerara on Monday when her team lost by 10 runs, with 4-7 yesterday, while Tiea Isaacs supported with 2-13 for West Berbice who replied with 99-3 with 10 overs to spare. Tiemacia Soloman made

24 from 17 balls with three fours and along with Isaacs who hit 22 with three four in an opening stand of 67 in seven overs. When the game, originally set to start at 09:00hrs, eventually commenced at 14:00hrs, Georgetown, made of only students for Tutorial High and St Joseph’s High schools, elected to bat on a track that was being prepared for DCC’s practice session for this weekend’s GCA first Division final. The home side, which just two days practice for this tournament and whose match against East Coast was not played Monday, were in early trouble when Liverpool bowled Rai Raghubir for a duck in the first over without a run on the board. The City side, whose oldest player is 14, slumped to three runs for the loss of four wickets. Senae Williams (0) was removed by Issacs, Tabita Allen (0) was run out and Niacin Glasgow (1) was LBW to Liverpool who had 45 in their 10-run loss to West Demerara at Wales on Monday. Singh (13) and Whyte, who flicked Marian Telford

Tiemacia Soloman pulls during her top score for West B’ce at DCC yesterday. for four to get her innings going, revived the position with a 37-run stand. Whyte pulled Isaacs for four and whipped her off her legs for another boundary before Singh clobbered Liverpool for four. But with the score on 40 Whyte was taken at point as

Isaacs struck for the second time. Allison Clarkson (2) and Alitia Phillips (0) departed with the score on 48 before Singh and Samara Hutson (3*) shared in a 27-run stand before Liverpool removed Singh at 71-8. Liverpool had her eighth (Continued on page 33)

Player of the Match and the Tournament’s leading wicket-taker Renata Liverpool took 4-7 against GT yesterday at DCC.

Kaieteur News

Wednesday October 31, 2018

PAGE 39

Maria’s Pleasure claim Badri Prashad Memorial T20 title

Maria’s Pleasure SC Captain Kennard Lewis accepts the winning trophy from Oudit Persaud.

M

aria’s Pleasure Sports Club defeated Sans Souci Jaguars Sports Club in thrilling final to win the Badri Prashad Memorial T20 final which was contested on Sunday at the Wakenaam Community Centre ground in Good Success. In a game that went to a super over, Maria’s Pleasure limited SS Jaguars to two runs in the over taking both wickets in the process. SS Jaguars bowler Nokta Moses then sent down a wide off the second delivery that passed the

The victorious Maria’s Pleasure team.

wicket-keeper and rushed to the boundary to spark wild celebration from the Maria’s Pleasure team and supporters. Earlier in front of a fair-sized crowd, SS Jaguars won the toss and elected to bat putting up a challenging total of 144 all out in exactly 20 overs. Nokta Moses made 30 with two fours and two sixes and his younger brother Beesham Moses made 30 with four fours. No other batsman passed 20 as Leoryan Ramlakhan took 3-15. Maria’s Pleasure in reply reached 144 for 6 in 20

overs with Captain Kennard Lewis, who hit the last delivery for six to tie the game, scoring an unbeaten 46 with two fours and three sixes. He was supported by Ramlakhan who made 25 to earn the man-of -the -match award. Zameer Zaman took 2-23 and Derwin Daniels 2- 24. At the presentation ceremony, Cleon Venture of Sans Souci received the best batsman prize with 159 runs including 127 against Zeelandia, while the best bowler was Benard Lewis of Maria’s Pleasure with 12 wickets.

Secretary of the Wakenaam Cricket Committee (WCC), Nazeer Mohamed thanked Mr. Oudit Persaud for sponsoring the competition and for keeping the youths on the island meaningfully occupied. In his remarks, Persaud who resides overseas, thanked the WCC for organising the competition and promised to sponsor the competition again starting this weekend. The competition was played in memory of former Wakenaam businessman Badri Prashad.

EISS beat Leguan Secondary by six wickets

E

ssequibo Islands Secondary School (EISS) of Wakenaam defeated Leguan Secondary by six wickets in a 40-over affair on Friday last at the Wakenaam Community Centre ground to win the Bobby Ramlagan trophy. Batting first, Leguan Secondary were bowled out for 68 in 15.1 overs; Devendra Hansraj captured 3 - 1 5 , w h i l e To s h a l Surujpaul 2-2 and Bumeshwar Ramkissoon 23. EISS responded with 704. Ramkissoon scored 27, while Mohandass Surujpaul made 17 not out; Kama Shaw took 2-20. The game was played in observance of EISS 50th Anniversary.

The victorious EISS team.

Corruption benefits the rich and powerful at the expense of the poor. Say no to it.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 40

Wednesday October 31, 2018

GTT National Indoor Hockey C/ships

GCC clubs and Hikers highlight night two

Omar Hopkinson takes a penalty corner strike for Supernova.

GCC Vintage’s Damon Woodroffe had his powerful strike from a penalty corner stopped by Antonio’s Hicker’s custodian, Terrence Shaw.

G

CC and Hikers shared the spoils in the men’s and women’s First Division competitions, while the SHC Silencers chalked up their first Second Division win in the annual GTT National I n d o o r H o c k e y Championships at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. Bounty GCC 2-1 Supernova Bounty GCC seemed the likely favourites going into their men’s First Division match against the inexperienced Supernova, but the youngsters made it hard work for the seasoned Bourda boys. After some well fought opening minutes, GCC began to wear on the structure of the Supernova side and found their way through for a few goal-scoring opportunities. GCC got their breakthrough and first goal of the match through a converted penalty stroke by Kevin Spencer. Supernova then pressed on and in final minute of the first half, Warren Williams capitalized on a GCC defensive mix-up

to draw the game even. Although GCC had the greater possession and more opportunities, Supernova fought to the end but could not avoid a defeat when Kareem McKenzie hammered home the game winner for GCC in the 24th minute for a 2-1 win. Woodpecker Hikers 2-1 Bingo Spartans The Woodpecker Hikers versus Bingo Spartans women’s First Division match was almost identical to the men’s match as the experienced Hikers came through a hard-fought battle to steal a 2-1 victory in the closing minutes against the young Spartans. While the Hikers appeared the stronger side and created more opportunities, the youthful Spartans were more competitive than expected and came close to drawing the match when Sarah Klautky’s penalty corner strike in the second half rattled the uprights. Hikers Captain Nicole Eastman opened the scoring in the 14th minute with a penalty corner flick high into

the right side of the Spartans net. Abosaide Cadogan managed to draw level for the Spartans two minutes later but a Latacia Chung goal three minutes from full time secured the 2-1 win for the Woodpecker Hikers. Vintage GCC cruised to a 7-1 victory over Antonio’s Hikers in their first Over-35 match of the competition, while GBTI GCC Spice gave the Bingo Spartans their second loss of the night, this time in the women’s Second Division competition by 3-1. In the men’s Second Division matches, the SHC Silencers edged past Phoenix 2-1, while the Hikers Cadets and Old Fort Rogue battled to a 2-2 draw. The full results for Monday night’s play are as follows: Results are as follows: MEN Division 1 Bounty GCC defeats Supernova by 5–1 Goals: Bounty GCC – Kevin Spencer 1, Kareem McKenzie 1 Supernova – Warren Williams 1

Abosaide Cadogan was once again the lone scorer during Bingo Spartans second 2-1 defeat against Woodpecker Hikers.

WOMEN Division 1 Woodpecker Hikers defeats Bingo Spartans by 2–1 Goals: Woodpecker Hikers – Nicole Eastman 1, Latacia Chung 1 Bingo Spartans – Abosaide Cadogan MEN Division 2 SHC Silencers defeats Phoenix 2-1 Goals: SHC Silencers – Seon Sookhai 1, Robert Fernandes 1

Phoenix – Robert Brummel 1 Hikers Cadets drew with Old Fort Rogue 2–2 Goals: Hikers Cadets – Tremane Cole 1, Sherwyn Caesar 1 Old Fort Rogue – Chris Low 1, Kennard Jerrick 1 WOMEN Division 2 GBTI GCC Spice defeats the Bingo GCC Spartans 3-1 Goals: GBTI GCC Spice – Tricia Fiedtkou 1, Vanessa Pires 1, Dominique DeGroot 1

Bingo GCC Spartans – Abosaide Cadogan 1 Over-35 Division GCC Vintage defeats Antonio’s Hickers by 7-1 Goals: GCC Vintage – Kevin Spencer 3, Devin Hooper 2, Dwayne Scott 1, Philip Fernandes 1 Antonio’s Hikers – Devin Munroe 1 Matches continue at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) from 18:00hrs throughout week with the finals set for this Sunday.

Two more matches planned for UDFA/ GTT 2017/18 Eagles United and Net Rockers Senior Football League tonight - Canremain unbeaten tonight?

T

onight it is day two of the nine remaining days, where a double header card is set in the second half of the Upper Demerara Football Association’s (UDFA) GTT 2017/18 Senior Football League championship being staged

at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground. Play tonight will see the first game starting at 19.00hrs between current leaders Eagles United, who have played and won their four games for 12 points and the team lying in sixth place, Silver Shattas, who are on

four points from one win, one draw and two losses in four games. The second game is between Winners Connection, who are in fourth spot on nine points from three wins and one loss, against the other club at the top of the points race, Net

Rockers, who have 12 points from four wins. Both Net Rockers and Eagles United will be seeking to remain unbeaten and stay on top of the points standing when they face their opponents who they are favoured to defeat.

However, they are aware of the fact that they cannot underestimate their opponents who can be dangerous as they (Shattas and Winners) seek to try and make progress towards the top of the chart. In the first set of matches

played last Sunday night Amelia’s Ward Panthers overcame Hi Stars by a 1-0, Topp XX and Botafago battled to a 1-1 draw. On Friday another two matches are carded for the MSC ground as the competition continues.

Wednesday October 31, 2018

Ireland arrive for ICC WWT20 I

reland is the first team to arrive in Guyana for the ICC Women’s World T20 which will commence on November 9 at Providence. They were welcomed at Marriott by Minister of Social Cohesion Dr. George Norton, WWT20 Match Day Manager KJ Singh and Venue Manager Sabrina Panday. Ireland which is currently ranked at 10 in the ICC rankings, will take on Australia on November 11 before facing Pakistan on November 13, India on November 15 and New

Zealand on November 17 at Providence. Ireland Women’s entered the international arena well before their male counterparts, playing their first ODIs in a three-match series in 1987 against Australia; they played in the 1988 World Cup. The squad reads; Laura Delany (c), Kim Garth, Cecelia Joyce, Isobel Joyce, Shauna Kavanagh, Gaby Lewis, Lara Maritz, Ciara Metcalfe, Cara Murray, Lucy O’Riley, Eimear Richardson, Clare Shillingford, Rebecca Stokell and Mary Waldron.

Sankars Auto Works joins Ignite panel

GMR&SC’s Saurica Singh collects sponsorship from Sankars Auto Works’ Chandran Kumar. With less than two weeks before the anticipated and final motor racing event for the year, Sankars Auto Works has confirmed as the latest company to join the sponsorship train for next month’s 27-race programme, two-day Ignite meet which is being organised by the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC). Set for November 10 and 11, the company handed over the sponsorship under their Valvoline brand last week to Saurica Singh of the GMR&SC ahead of the event. The anticipated event is expected to see the culmination of the 2018 season of CMRC for the Groups 1-5 as well as the Superstocks and SR3 radicals along with the local classes including the Superstock motorcycles. T h e o v e r s e a s competition will see drivers

from Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago (T&T), Jamaica and Canada as well as competitors out of Europe. Tickets for the packed 27-race two day meet are on sale at the cost of $2500; children $1000 at B.M. Soat Auto Sales, Croal Street office.On Saturday there will be the time trials beginning at 10:00hrs in all the classes followed by official races in the Street Cross Motorcycle, 125cc Motorcycle, Street Tuner, Choke Starlet Cup and Sports Tuner which will be 10 laps each from 13:20hrs. The feature race on Saturday will see 20 grueling laps in the first anticipated clash in the SR3 Radicals Cup. Meanwhile on Sunday, racing fans’ hunger for scorching action will be well satisfied with a packed 19race programme set for the November 11th.

Kaieteur News

Members of the Ireland team arrive for the Women’s World Cup.

PAGE 41

rt o p S Members of the Ireland team with Minister Dr. George Norton following their arrival.

Ireland arrive for ICC WWT20 GTT National Indoor Hockey C/ships

GCC clubs and Hikers highlight night two

Bingo Spartans’ Abosaide Cadogan fires in the lone goal of her side’s losing match against GBTI GCC Spice. Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.