Kaieteur News

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AIETEUR NEWS

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

Execution goes wrong;

Sunday Edition October 06, 2019 Online: www.kaieteurnews.com

Price $140

- intended target shoots one

US dollar jumps to

Online readership yesterday 96,779

233

No respect for law and tax $$$

This driver displayed utter disregard for the law and for taxpayers' dollars.

He drove off the road and into the pedestrian walkway at Herstelling E.B.D.

American Offshore Licences to GCCI demands Petroleum small companies satisfy clear distinction Institute trains laws - GGMC Commissioner Guyanese on between local and nation's - Favours fine-tuning existing framework foreign businesses for attracting, vetting other investors oil metering

- others to follow

GGMC cancels 24 mining concessions for non-payment

Kaieteur News

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Sunday October 06, 2019

GGMC cancels 24 mining Greenidge Renounces concessions for non-payment British Citizenship - others to follow

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he Guyana Geology and M i n e s Commission (GGMC) , through an order by Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, has cancelled 24 medium scale mining concessions due to outstanding rental fee payments. Cited as the Prospecting Permit Medium Scale (PPMS) E x e m p t i o n O r d e r, t h e document is published in The Official Gazette on October 5, 2019. The Order came into effect on September 15 last.

With respect to the 24 concessions cancelled, the Order states that they will be reserved for disposal by the bidding and lottery process.

F u r t h e r , t h o s e

miners/companies listed as defaulters are Metallica CC (Guyana) Inc.; Wyette Amsterdam; Carl Baldie & Stephen Edwards; Troy Broomes & Searomance Parasram trading in the name of Central Mahdia Mining Association; Michael Daniels; Erlene Francis; Dana Maria Jones, Youlanda Charles & Marvin Layne trading in the name of LCJ Ikeraku Mining Syndicate; Dalgleish Joseph & Deon Stoll; and Qukice Nelson.

In an advertisement published in Kaieteur News by GGMC Commissioner Newell Dennison, the mining authority has called on current medium scale concession

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GGMC Commissioner, Newell Dennison holders who still owe the Commission to make their payments with haste, noting that it has already made numerous requests for the payments to be settled.

The GGMC has provided a grace period commencing October 1, 2019 for all medium scale property holders who are in arrears and whose properties have not already been published as cancelled in The Official Gazette. There is a penalty accrued on those arrears will attract a waiver of 50 percent, according to the ad.

It noted that the grace period ending December 31, 2019 will not be extended. All other property holders who fail to complete their payments by that date, the ad states, will have their properties cancelled.

he Foreign Secretary in the Ministry of F o r e i g n A ff a i r s , C a r l Greenidge, renounced his British Citizenship yesterday. This is according to a statement sent out by the Foreign Secretary.

In a press conference held on October 2, 2019 at the main conference office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Greenidge was asked whether he would relinquish his foreign citizenship given the ruling on dual citizenship and parliamentary membership.

To this he responded that he would give an answer within 48 hours.

The secretary was also asked by the media whether he will be a potential candidate in the upcoming Regional and General Elections in March 2, 2020.

Greenidge further responded that after answering the question with r e g a r d s t o t h e relinquishment of his citizenship then he will consider answering about his political future.

Forty-eight hours has ended and Greenidge has kept his promise to the media.

In a statement released earlier yesterday, he stated ,

Carl Greenidge “In keeping with the undertaking I gave to the Press earlier this week I am in a position today to announce that I have received from the relevant British authorities, confirmation that my application to renounce my British citizenship has been accepted.”

As it relates to his political future Geenidge said, “I have informed President Granger accordingly, and therefore look forward to being included on the list of candidates from which the Party will make its selection of MPs (Members of Parliament) following the holding of the Regional and General Elections in 2020.”

Kaieteur News had reported earlier this week that Greenidge and three other Members of Parliament (MPs) from the coalition Government, A partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) were forced to resign as a result of a ruling by the Court of Appeal back in March 22, 2019.

The other MPs are the Director General of the Ministry of Presidency, former Minister of Business

Dominic Gaskin and Rupert Roopnaraine. It was also reported that a number MPs, from the opposition have also resigned.

The matter of MPs not being fit or qualified because of their dual citizenship to serve in the National Assembly came in the wake of a successful noconfidence motion passed on December 21, 2018.

The no-confidence motion was passed because of a vote made by former MP Charrandass Persaud against his own party, APNU+AFC. Charrandass was also a Dual Citizen since he has a Canadian citizenship.

His controversial vote was then challenged as being invalid by a private citizen, Compton Reid due to the fact that he is a dual citizen.

Reid's argument was that if you are a dual citizenship there are implications by law that deems ones parliamentary status as void.

In that case, since Persaud is a holder of dual citizenship his vote would not count.

However, the High Court and Court of Appeal both ruled that Charrandass's vote was valid which made the no confidence motion valid as well. The courts also ruled that according to the Constitution that if parliamentarians are holding allegiance to foreign states then they are not eligible to be elected to serve in the National Assembly.

Article 155 (1) (a) of the Constitution states, “No person shall be qualified for election as a member of the National Assembly who is, by virtue of his or own act, under any acknowledgement of allegiance, obedience or adherence to a foreign power or state.”

Greenidge has been the first to publicly renounce his foreign Citizenship.

Kaieteur News

Sunday October 06, 2019

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US dollar jumps to $233 T

here is a shortage of US dollars in the streets and it has sent the selling price to over $230. Yesterday, the different cambios were selling for as high as $233 for one US dollar.

It would be highest in years with knowledgeable persons predicting that the situation will only get worse.

At the banks, the exchange rate for wire transfers was $218. In fact, the commercial banks had significant funds to conduct and make payments for businesses.

It was on the road that the problems existed.

Bank of Guyana's Governor, Dr. Gobind Ganga, had been contacted over a week ago when complaints were made to Kaieteur News that there is a shortage of US cash.

According to the

The selling price for US notes has reached $233 for one US dollar in the city yesterday.

Governor, the Central Bank as the regulator was monitoring the situation. He insisted that there is no shortage of funds for wire transfers.

However, while Ganga

was reassuring that, the demand for US cash has been pushing the exchange rates up. Kaieteur News was told that cross-border trade with Venezuela and the presence of regional companies

including from Trinidad and Tobago have contributed to the problem.

In recent times, despite coldness between Venezuela and Guyana, there has been trade in rice and other

commodities. Venezuela, in the throes of runway inflation, internal conflicts and little foreign currency, has been depending on Guyana.

With regards to especially companies from Trinidad, they have been holding on to the cash they trade in. These have been making it back to that TwinIsland Republic. Then there are the issues of the telephone companies.

They have been making large, steady purchases of US cash from cambios and the streets.

The Chinese, reportedly, have also been making significant purchases.

“All of these have been compounding the situation.

When you also take into the account that we have been receiving significant cash infusion into the economy by investors from especially the

oil and gas sector, while we have not been matching up in terms of trade exports, you begin to have an idea. We are predicting the demand for US dollars will rise more,” a banking official said.

In the past, the Bank of Guyana had stepped in, making raids to cambios and foreign companies based here to verify their transactions.

The entire region is facing a major foreign exchange problem with Guyana seen as a saviour.

Counties like Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Suriname and Venezuela are among those facing those problems.

Guyana had to restrict trade in Bajan and Trinidad currencies after it was found that the respective countries were dumping large sums here in exchange for US dollars.

Execution goes wrong - intended target shoots one

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hat would h a v e otherwise been an execution yesterday at the East La Penitence Georgetown Market, took a sudden turn when the victim escaped and returned fire, injuring one of the three men who were out to kill him.

The injured, John Lewis, 22, of East Ruimveldt, Georgetown is currently under police guard at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), nursing a gunshot wound to the abdomen and the left arm.

Around 11:40 hrs the

somewhat calm market scene erupted into one of chaos and terror as three men jumped from a black Toyota Primio car and fired shots at an unnamed, somewhat stoutly built man. Our reporter was standing at a food stall just a few yards away.

The car which was driving slowly along the East La Penitence Public Road, stopped a short distance from the Twins Drug Store and three men hurriedly existed. They headed in the direction of a fruit stall on the southern side of the road, from which a man suddenly

began to run. The three men gave chase, one of them firing shots wildly from a handgun.

Vendors scattered in all directions, abandoning cash and sales items, while pedestrians dashed for cover inside stores, restaurants and bars. But it was the spectacle that was unfolding that was more chilling. The man continued to fire shots as the group gave chase, but their intended victim was fast on his feet, sprinting in a 'zig zag fashion', in a desperate bid to evade the bullets.

He made it safely to the vicinity of the beer garden at

Food for thought

Hello World!!

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orn on September 13, 2008 out of a desire to help motivating fellow friends. Beginning today I will no longer worry about yesterday. It is in the past and the past will never change. Only I can change by choosing to do so.

Beginning today I will no longer worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow will always be there, waiting for me to make the most of it.

But I cannot make the most of tomorrow without first making the most of today.

Beginning today I will look in the mirror and I will see a person worthy of my respect and admiration. This capable person looking back at me is someone I enjoy spending time with and someone I would like to get to know better.

Beginning today I will cherish each moment of my life. I value this gift bestowed upon me in this world and I will unselfishly

share this gift with others. I will use this gift to enhance the lives of others.

Beginning today I will take life one day at a time, one step at a time. Discouragement will not be allowed to taint my positive selfimage, my desire to succeed or my capacity to love.

Beginning today I will open my mind and my heart. I will welcome new experiences. I will meet new people. I will not expect perfection from myself nor anyone else: perfection does not exist in an imperfect world. But I will applaud the attempt to overcome human foibles.

Beginning today I will learn something new; I will try something different; I will savour all the various flavours life has to offer. I will change what I can and the rest I will let go. I will strive to become the best me I can possibly be. (Author Unknown)

Public spirited citizens as they moved the injured man to a waiting vehicle, to seek medical attention the junction of James Street and East La Penitence Public Road, before whipping out a firearm and returning fire on his assailants. Suddenly one of the men screamed in pain and slumped to the ground, in the middle of the road, blood spurting from a wound below his left ribs.

As the victim continued to fire shots at his attackers they retreated, and began looking frantically for their getaway car. But the driver witnessing his accomplice getting shot, apparently drove off in fear, forcing both men to make their escape on foot in the direction of Albouystown.

The men before making their escape, dragged the injured Lewis to the road shoulders where they left him bleeding, shouting, “We got yuh budday; we gon come back fuh yuh” A large crowd soon gathered around the injured man who was bleeding

profusely from the gunshot wounds.

Police sources have related that the injured man said the execution was attempted over a 'deal that went sour', indicating that the victim whom they attempted

to execute owes them large sums of cash in a 'business deal' in which he failed to meet his end of the bargain.

The injured Lewis is under close watch by police at the GPHC where he is hospitalized.

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Kaieteur News

Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana.

Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Adam Harris Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

EDITORIAL

A welcoming admission of wrong The fallout from the Stabroek News ads curtailment brings us to a strange, but welcomed, place. It is encouraging to hear of admission of wrong. If authentic, then it cannot be the only one.

This cannot be the convenience of piling-on an opponent, the expediency and hypocrisy of today. Still, it’s a start.

There are other areas that call for some admission first, followed by genuine rehabilitation. The terribly grave assaults inflicted on enormously afflicted peoples, by government after government; from one era to the other is sickening, draining, decimating suffering for a blind and believing electorate.

Admission is pleasing to the ear, good for the absorption, and sells smoothly. What about the abuse and determined, consistent disdain exhibited for press persons and press entities?

This admission is, for whatever it is worth, a positive development. The Guyanese citizenry is owed much more; more than confession of the safe, the bland and nonthreatening, more than the timely and the tactical, more than the hastening to joining with the flowing streams of critiquing on the actions of today’s government.

Helpful about the deals, not made fully public, about the full story of those who benefited and those who were left to the dogs relative to Clico, about who were the cerebral craftsmen behind the triggermen who executed so many in the name of crimefighting, of freedom fighting, of jailbreaking, of drug trafficking, and of money laundering.

Admission of who opened the doors wide and let those felons and predators into the sheepfold could go powerfully. Who made many errors of misjudgment from day one, would go farther in helping this society to start somewhere to mend, to heal and to recover from its near terminal state.

The racial beasts spawned may be contained, given a chance for reasoning and wisdom, where major issues and priorities take center stage in contemplations and intentions.

More surprises come in a season of the sanctimonious.

After all the dirtiness and dastardliness, there is now a call for a CoI into the death (an assassination, let all be reminded) of one Courtney Crum-Ewing. Even the current government, a supposed refuge of the clean for the clean, has balked. There are no angels around, but there is widespread political fear, as to where a serious inquiry could lead, whose names could be called, and what a truly open-ended probe into the political soul of Guyana could reveal. Thus, there has been strategizing and evading.

That is, until now.

These things: CoIs into the sensitive and disputed; admission of error, and who knows what else lurks in the wings, possess a certain practiced air about them. Slip under the radar, go on record, play the game, collect the dividends of goodwill, of good faith. And since these are political creatures at work, there is the self-congratulation of good feeling.

For the societal to ascend, the political must be more than propaganda, the props of good marketing, the flavour of the day.

The critical is justified to question, if not condemn, the cunningness and calculatedness of it all. Numerous red herrings have been shared, much well-rehearsed jumping on the bandwagon of the moment to leverage for maximum political returns have occurred repeatedly.

It is the position of this publication that any positive development of any bona fide pedigree(no matter how minimal the degree and strain) from any political source must be more than a moment of mere acknowledging.

Matters do not end there.

That is simply the beginning.

Because for the peoples of this nation-all of them in their surly, rowdy, divided, discouraging and diminishing separateness and sameness—are due more. For this land

Sunday October 06, 2019

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

PPP/C land policy was discriminatory DEAR EDITOR, While downtown recently, I observed a PPP/C poster, nailed on to a power post with the markings “OWN YOUR LAND”.

Editor, this is most disgusting and an insult for what it conveys to those thousands of Guyanese, a reported 25000,whose applications for house lots, date back as far as the 90s, and which had been inherited by the APNU+AFC coalition government.In fact, there are no lands available in Region Four, for distribution to would- be home builders.

However, with the help of the Guyana Lands & Surveys Commission, lands are being sought to continue government’s programme of housing Guyanese. Recently, government distributed in excess of 700 house lots to residents of Region

Three, one of the many geographic spaces where there is an urgent demand, compliments of the PPP/C policy of selling multi acreages to its friends and cronies. This, without any debate was for the purpose of the latter clique to ‘make a killing’, by building homes for sale to the rich. This meant big money from the nouveau riche; the people with affordable dough.First, the PPP was charging re-migrants $40,000US ($8M GYD) for a plot of land 100 ft by 80 ft. Meanwhile Jagdeo got 2.2 acres of prime seaside land for a mere $5.5M GYD. The low income housing project was designed purposefully to deny the targeted population from acquiring lands and owning homes.Second, after the 2015 elections it was discovered that (Continued on page 6)

to begin to take stock of where it is, matters have to rise way beyond the self-serving political. Regardless of who is the government. Regardless of who is the opposition. Matters must resonate and transcend beyond the political into the hostile, bitter realms of the social, the racial, the wholly environmental. To address those. By wanting to work for the betterment of those.

Taking political stock, identifying and specifying what is present and what is missing; what has failed and what has

furrowed into frenzied paroxysms of fear for the future, for self, for others. That is true confession, the entirety of a nation desperately in need of redemption. For only then can there be thinking of growing, of daring the embarking on a truly new beginning.

The leaders of this country must will themselves to rise above lip service, the comforting, the momentary. All leaders must deliver the inspiring. Every one of our local political leaders have an obligation to deliver the credible.

Sunday October 06, 2019

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Kaieteur News

Kaieteur M@ilbox

Kaieteur M@ilbox

Our nation is in crisis because of the levels to which our political leaders prepared to sink in their quest thrown through the windows caring about what they are for power- by any means nec- by our political leaders; be- being paid and not about the are prepared to sink for power essary. We are in crisis be- cause our Constitution is be- disruption they cause, for the DEAR EDITOR: Recognising the intense deceptive lobbying efforts of the PPP in fueling a series of orchestrated distorted views of the Caribbean Court of Justice’s (CCJ) ruling and the constitutional requirements to aid Guyana’s restoration of constitutional normalcy and peaceful resolution of our current political crisis, I publicly called on the government on several occasions not to bow to the engineering calls

for proclamation of a date for elections. The decision for so doing is now justified in the recent statement made by acting Chief Justice Roxanne George-Wiltshire SC. As reported in the Kaieteur News (KN) 5th October, 2019. “...she maintained that the election timeframe set out in the Constitution has already elapsed and it is now for Parliament to extend same.” I am also on record calling for full compliance of the CCJ’s ruling and

Article 106 of the Guyana Constitution. KN headlines that the “Chief Justice to rule on resignation of Cabinet on October 16.”

Our nation is in crisis!

We are at serious risk of compounding the fractures already existing in our society and it is not merely because of the constitutional upheaval created by a successful confidence motion. It is because of the levels to which our political leaders are

Successful administrations have failed to honour the Diaspora patriots who helped restore democracy DEAR EDITOR, I write to applaud those Guyanese within the country and the diaspora that played a significant role in the struggle for the restoration of democracy and capitalist free market economics to Guyana.

I remember them well as I played a leading role from March 1977 onwards from New York and prior to that for several years within Guyana.

We worked tirelessly to help restore democracy to the homeland. They are all patriots, freedom fighters, the like of whom are hardly found in Guyana.

October 5 is a historic day for Guyana. It is the day in 1992 when democracy was restored after some twenty six years of dictatorship. It was a dictatorship that was foisted upon the nation by Britain and the USA and the Western powers in December 1964 to oust the left wing Cheddi Jagan administration that the west felt posed a threat to its interests. Ironically, it was the US that played a leading role in helping to restore democracy to Guyana after their ally in the form of Forbes Burnham turned against the

West.

Several Guyanese played a critical role in the restoration of democracy in our homeland. Successful administrations in Guyana (PPP and APNU+AFC) have failed to recognize and honor these individuals for their sterling contributions to the nation. It was a small handful from abroad, join the freedom fighters at home, who took the lead in the diaspora lobbying and appealing to the governments of their adopted homelands (ABC countries) to help with the restoration of democracy.

The US, under a Republican President, responded favorably threatening the Hoyte regime with sanctions if free and fair elections were not held. (Ironically, it was a Democratic Administration under Kennedy/Johnson that toppled the Jagan government.) Those who fought in the struggle against the dictatorship can never be compensated for the time spent in the struggle. They were a dedicated bunch who spent long hours educating the world about human rights violations in their former home-

land. They were not beneficiaries of the struggle and most of them were alienated and marginalized by the post 1992 governments. One complaint of the patriots or freedom fighters is that those who hardly fought against the dictatorship became beneficiaries and (then some of them bilaway the productivity of the sweat of others). The patriots are forgotten. They must be remembered. These few patriots from abroad and those marginalized at home deserve highest honors and accolades for their patriotism and nationalism in saving the country from further tyranny.

I salute them.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

cause truth no longer cements the building blocks of our society, because morality, social responsibility, and public accountability have been

ing bent and distorted by power-hungry politicians and mercenary or misguided lobbyists who, like hired guns, execute assignments, only

ends justify their means; because sections of our media fail in their obligation as the fourth estate, to help our (Continued on page 7 )

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Sunday October 06, 2019

Kaieteur News

Kaieteur M@ilbox

Kaieteur M@ilbox

A mindset is a stupendous thing

My concern is for a peaceful, stable, and prosperous future for all Guyanese

DEAR EDITOR, A letter by one Ferlin A Pedro, “Overcoming Guyana’s many challenges requires collective will that surpasses short-term political goals”, in KN September 28th is a clinical analysis of our political shortcomings. Nevertheless! The recommendation proposed by Pedro will never be endorsed by any politicians on either side of the political divide.

None of the politicians of the two behemoths (APNU/ AFC or PPP) will ever concede that Ferlin is, or could be right to suggest that,” the polity needs more than ever an education about why politics should matter—a political education.” While professing the importance of our democratic values whilst being on the receiving end of the stick (opposition), neither of the behemoths, having attained political power, had ever or will ever give a thought to introduce “a political education” in secondary schools.

To the behemoths, that would be conflict of interest. To them, the fact that Governments should be subservient to the people should remain shady public information to

the masses. It suits them best that the average voter should be content and feel secure that their “kith and kin” is in power. Exploitation of racism!

Ferlin mentioned a popular phrase used by the Governing parties at election campaigns; “we must ensure they do not get back power” and described it as “one of many examples of people organizing themselves to support authoritarian rule.”This is so truthful! The two major parties are in parlance, basically playing their presumed support bases.

Ferlin opined that to “restore faith in democracy while ensuring positive ethnic relations,” “a cultural shift needs to occur in politics. By this, I mean our understanding of how politics works in Guyana should be challenged and undermined where necessary.” Who will bell the cat in this direction? To challenge and undermine the political system is easier said than done, the racial mindset of the two major ethnic groups is more conducive to purporting, rather than challenging and undermine the political system.

Having a mindset is a stupendous thing! A huge percentage of Afro Guyanese is prepared to sacrifice two out of three meals per day just to have an Afro Guyanese as president and the old guardthe PNC in power.

These said people are swift to accuse Indo Guyanese of voting race.

They are good at seeing the mote in their brother’s eye and not their own! Unlike their Afro counterpart! Indo Guyanses are not that tolerant to watch their Indo politicians reaping life bounties while they suffer. Indians were not dubbed “ crabs in a barrel” for no apparent reason, they crave the material goodies of life and are prepared to

struggle for same- even if it meant taking down their own kind. The die hard supporters of the PPP (Indo.Guyanese) attribute their support for the PPP to their opinion that they and the Country as a whole had made more progress, economically, under the PPP. There is evidence to support that claim, but, put an Afro Guyanese as the presidential candidate for the PPP and the fallout in support for that party would be great amongst them.

This holds for the PNC with an Indian candidate for president too. Both factions are guilty of racial sentimentThe “cultural shift” in politics as suggested by Ferlin will remain an illusion. A” cultural shift” can only be brought about by constitutional reform with emphasis on breaking the list system and let true elected representatives of the people be the driving force in parliament. The current British high commissioner was correct when he said that “ CR will only happen if the people wants it”. With the current mindset on both sides of the political spectrum, the people will not “want it” in the foreseeable future.

Yours respectfully Rudolph Singh

DEAR EDITOR: In my capacity as President of the Guyanese American Chamber of Commerce (GACC) and Chair of the Private Sector Council of the Institute of Caribbean Studies (ICS) I wrapped up on Friday a series of engagements in Washington, DC with officials at the US Department of State; some key lawmakers and their staffs on Capitol Hill; and representatives of a number of non-government and political organizations.

These engagements had to do primarily with efforts to ensure the renewal of the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (old CBI), funding for components of the US/Caribbean Strategic Engagement Act and activities surrounding the State Departments designation of 2020 as the Year of the Caribbean. I also participated in two sessions of the Latin America and Caribbean Forecast forum at the American Association of Chambers of Commerce of Latin America and the Caribbean; as well as the Making African Trade Easy (MATE), a two- day conference and expo held at the Ronald

Reagan International Trade Center.

However, inevitably the current situation in Guyana formed part of the discussions. I will not get into details about my exchanges on this issue other than to say that I totally support the statements issued by the AB & EU countries as well as the Commonwealth and the OAS. I would have preferred an election this year but that is now behind us. My concern now is for a peaceful and stable environment in which free, fair, transparent and verifiable elections can be held which would provide for all the contesting parties to accept the results of the elections and to work together for the future progress and prosperity of Guyana for the benefit of all Guyanese.

During my stay in Washington I saw media reports of a tweet from Senator Marco Rubio which made reference to a new government. In diplomacy and some national Constitutions and even perhaps political jargon when reference is made to a new government following an election, it means whichever party

PPP/C land policy was discriminatory From page 4 over 23,000 housing applications sat unprocessed dating back almost the 23 years the PPP were in government.

Third, schemes like La Parfait Harmonie, Bare Root and Eccles New Housing Schemes people were sold lands without the proper utilities and roads installed. Meanwhile the current PPP presidential candidate insured that millions of taxpayers’ money was used to properly drain Plantation Sparendam (aka Pradoville II), that the utilities were installed, and the roads were properly laid for Jagdeo and other top level PPP supporters.

Fourth, while the PPP made sure their sycophants and supporters had access to land, new squatting areas sprung up around the country. Such places include Angoy’s Avenue, one of the largest squatting areas in Guyana; Phase 1 & 2 East La Penitence Squatting areas; Northeast La Penitence

Squatting Area;North Ruimveldt Squatting Area; Princess Street Koker Squatting Area Plastic Bag City on the West Coast of Demerara near the Atlantic Container City behind the old Giftland Store in Tiger Bay. Meanwhile Tiger Bay, Lombard Street, Upper Punt Trench Dam, all remained neglected neighbourhoods during the 23 years of PPP rule.

Some weeks ago, a shameless apologist, and defender of the PPP/C, in addition to being one of its trenchant spin doctors, wrote a letter – he is vying for a place alongside Ananias and Sapphira – in which he accused the coalition government of creating a “ f e u d a l s y s t e m ”. One only has to examine his p a r t y ’s d i s t r i b u t i o n o f land, such as Bharrat Jagdeo’s, reported in the Kaieteur News as giving 20 acres to his puppet. Add the

underpricing of the Pradoville lands, and the selling/gifting of hundreds of acres to the well-to-do, and the mansions that have been built. Thus, Editor, we clearly understand how the “feudal system” which this incorrigible liar mentioned, had been created, and by whom.

The cardinal focus of any government that embarks on such a programme as providing land for housing, is ensuring that the working class sections of the particular society are given purchasing opportunities that are in keeping with their means. Also, the fact that the government had initiated a lands commission of inquiry is to unravel, and correct some shocking distribution of ancestral lands, especially, and other unfair practices that took place during the PPP/C regime.

Thus, its poster is not only bold for its contradiction; and brazenness of intention to woo voters, but one which stands in conviction of a party that had not been genuine in its land policy towards ALL Guyanese. Instead, it pursued a wholly partisan and discriminatory land distribution policy.

The government outreaches, continues to expose this injustice to the people, and therefore gives a lie to the PPP/C poster, which continues to mislead the people.

Regards Earl Hamilton

forms the government including the incumbent. Unfortunately, certain sections of society were “spinning” the tweet to suggest that Senator Rubio was recommending that the electorate reject the incumbent at the next election and elect a new government.

I am non-partisan in terms of Guyanas politics and feel strongly that only in rare cases should foreign elected officials advise on the rejection of any political party contesting an election. So, I decided that I should seek an audience with the Senators office to verify the authenticity and the meaning of the content of the tweet. His office afforded me an audience at short notice and was able to discuss the tweet, the current situation in Guyana, Venezuelas ongoing claim to Guyanas territory and maritime space and US/ CARICOM relations.

On the issue of the tweet, the senators office had the previous afternoon via telephone indicated that the tweet was authentic and that, as it had said earlier that day to some Guyanese journalists including Mark Benschop via telephone, the tweet was not meant to suggest an endorsement or rejection of any political party contesting the Guyana elections. A spokesperson for the Senators office later sent me the following statement indicating that I was free to circulate it: “The Senator’s tweet was not an endorsement to any political party in a sovereign nation.

The future of Guyana is up to the Guyanese people.”

I posted this statement to social media and received significant criticism, some even suggesting it is fake, while others questioned whether I was a lobbyist for APNU or the PPP/C. I am not a lobbyist for anyone. In order to be a lobbyist in the US one has to so register and there are certain conditions under which elected officials must interact with lobbyist. In the case of Senator Rubio, is represents Florida where I live, and as any good politician would do, he and his staff react to issues and concerns raised by his constituents. I consider the “spin” put on the tweet by certain sections of the media was unethical, unprofessional and even mischievous.

As indicated earlier, my commitment at this time is to help to ensure a peaceful, stable, and prosperous future for Guyana and all Guyanese and I will be doing whatever I can to contribute to this objective.

Regards Wesley Kirton

Sunday October 06, 2019

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Kaieteur News

Kaieteur M@ilbox

Kaieteur M@ilbox

GWI AND GPL CAN BRING DOWN A GOVERNMENT DEAR EDITOR, For decades, since our Independence in 1966 to now, Guyana has been suffering from inadequate potable water and reliable electricity.

We know electricity has been taken to certain areas in Guyana that never had electricity over the last decade, and even more so through solar power and the REDD Initiatives from the Norway Funds, where large part of the money has been used to solar power the far-flung interior areas - providing internet access, electricity for refrigerator and water pumps whereby bringing relief to the lives of the people. The same with water, water has been found and wells built in farflung areas where people were not having potable water from

time immemorial, and this has been happening more so over the last 20 years to now.

I must give also credit to the current Government for pushing the water projects into the far-flung interior areas, along with electricity, but I am extremely depressed and annoyed over certain behavior of the Guyana Water Inc. I must concede again, that to my opinion, the management of the GWI has improved drastically; however, they seem to be some very serious complication and confusion i.e. something negative and new is starting. And I am wondering if I would have to make an official complaint for investigation of the GWI, whereby as soon as the bill is delivered and not paid within

its respective time for reasons such as, some people out of the country, some people out in far-flung areas, the house might have been closed for a long period of time - and the next thing you know, they do not only cut the water, but remove the entire installation and then they have the audacity to charge you $22,000 to replace the entire meter. All of which causes tremendous havoc, confusion and pain on the consumer.

Personally, this writer has experienced it recently at two of the buildings I manage. It was quite surprising that when you have not paid the water in a period when the bill might be due, and the bills might not have been delivered, the GWI expect you to remember to go in and pay, or

Our nation is in crisis because of the...

From page 5 nation heal and develop in accordance with lawful practices and interpretations; because we the people allow ourselves to remain fragmented and useful pawns for politicians instead of exercise our power to hold all and sundry accountable to the public good- regardless of race, class, status, and political association.

Today Guyana has committed another unnecessary and misguided constitutional error all because Leader of the Opposition Bharrat Jagdeo, was able to successfully misguide Guyanese, the international community and bring international pressure on the David Granger administration functioning in a caretaker mode to act outside of the constitutional and CCJ ruling.

This actuality will hopefully not fly past the consciousness of the international community and those U.S government officials who have been taken for a ride by Mr. Jagdeo. Shame has been brought on Guyana by the PPP’s continuous distortion of the truth. Not to forget the weakness of the government has been highlighted.

The latter, in trying to quell/ satisfy the demands of the international community instead of putting forth their argument in a cogent manner as to why they could not issue a proclamation naming an election date and why the Opposition must return to Parliament has missed an opportunity to stand firm. This could be interpreted by some as having no appetite or will for a serious political fight as being waged by the PPP with the help of invited overseas interference.

What we face today is a date for election announced without the National Assembly regularising the govern-

ment status to do so. Mr. Jagdeo was fully aware of this requirement but he chose to circumvent said requirement ranting and raving as he demanded a date for elections be called. The CCJ in its Consequential Order of July 12, 2019 ruled resolution to the current situation is vested in the “President, National Assembly (and implicitly GECOM)” yet compliance is being demanded from the President and GECOM, not the National Assembly.

We have reached a level of political madness never before seen and all on the desire to acquire power by any means necessary. Voices of reason, including the court, who seem to be crying in the wilderness must continue to

do their job. The political fever must break or at least history will record persons and institutions stood up and spoke out.

We have an opportunity now to recognise the chaos that misguided public pressure and international lobbying can do. We have a responsibility to resist all who try to force us in wrongdoing and must together vow never to allow the subversion of our Constitution, the Laws of Guyana and the ruling of the CCJ, Guyana’s court of last resort. Continuation of such violation sets the wrong precedent that may allow for transgressing workers/citizens’ rights.

Lincoln Lewis.

they cut the water and remove the meter. Can you believe this? In Guyana, poor people and people of business and enterprise - because some staff might have made a mistake and not paid the bill and no one from GWI calls, or show some interest to notify customers but all they do is remove the water meter and they expect 10s of thousands of dollars for a replacement of a water meter, thereby affecting industry, business, inconvenience to people, their families, children, etc. It is as if GWI is beginning to lose its humanity and sanity.

I personally believe that the pains of the GWI and GPL on the people can seriously affect the Government of the day returning to power. I recall, just before the 2015 elections - even though a former PPP/C Minister was the CEO there - they were not sharp enough or smart enough to realize that there was a group in conspiracy, obviously to my view and opinion after my reflections, that they wanted the PPP/C Government to lose power, and so they went just before the elections on a mass disconnection campaign, disconnecting people when people could have been issued a warning.

This was done to thousands of people as far as I know, or even if we say it was just a few hundreds, still 1 vote could cause a Government to win an election or lose an election. One vote, as we saw in Region 8, during the last election when there was a controversy over 1 vote. So dont say that a few hundred disconnections cannot affect

the government. And dont say the constant black out that the Guyanese people are facing form GPL cannot affect the government. It is incessant and insane!

I must give credit to the government now, after many writings by the undersigned and by many people approaching the government to purchase private power. We have seen a man; Mr. Sugrim Singh aka Chinee, established a windmill in the Corentyne area and he cannot even get permission to operate it (Hahaha, I am laughing). And they cannot supply reliable electricity in the Corentyne and is he is producing a tremendous amount of excess electrical power which could be bought and transferred to the grid, but our laws created by the colonial masters will not allow the purchase of that power. We saw Giftland Mall, by the indomitable, indestructible Royston Beepat, producing excess power, and since long before they commenced the Giftland Mall, they approached the government to purchase the power and he was refused. Now they are trying to change the law, not because they love local industries to my opinion, or it appears, but simply because they cannot do better so they

are trying to change the law consequently to accommodate it. In other words its a state of desperation. As a Guyanese citizen, I see absolutely nothing wrong in making a pronouncement by government, by a special communiqué with the leader of the opposition for the understanding to purchase power from our citizens, as an emergency measure. Well, I would say better late than never, I repeat better late than never, so I would like to compliment the government of the day for moving in that direction.

I am advising the Government of the day, as it pertains to GWI, to quickly move into GWI. The respective Minister needs to seriously have a meeting and ask where this idea is coming from, where they are taking away peoples meter if a bill is not paid.

If the government really wishes to take back power, then they need to seriously look into these matters and must also understand that these things are causing great misery on people, especially the poor and people in general.

Sincerely, Hajji Dr. Roshan Khan Snr.

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Sunday October 06, 2019

Kaieteur News

Offshore Licences to small companies satisfy nations laws -GGMC Commissioner

By Kiana Wilburg

G

uyanas offshore basin is teeming with exploration and development activity. A huge portion of that comes from well known super major, ExxonMobil, which operates the Stabroek Block. But Exxon is no longer the only key player in the game.

Recent discoveries on the Orinduik Block have placed the spotlight on newcomers like Eco Atlantic which managed to attract a consortium of industry experts and two other oil majors, Tullow Oil from the UK and Total which is headquartered in France.

In becoming one of the significant players in the basin, questions have been raised about whether these small firms which do not have the track record of majors like Exxon in finding and developing oil and gas, should even be given a chance to do exploratory work for Guyanas mineral wealth in the first place. The big question has always been, Isnt this risky business?

In an interview with Kaieteur News, Commis-

sioner for the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), Newell Dennison attempted to answer this question, stating that Guyanas laws does not close the door to those who can bring the financing to support a work programme while steering other petroleum giants to Guyanas basin.

A perusal of Guyanas Petroleum Exploration and Production Act says, “No licence shall be granted to an individual unless he is a citizen of Guyana or to a body of persons, unless it is - (i) a company; or (ii) a corporation. A licence may be granted to two or more persons associated together in any form of joint arrangement, if each one of them is qualified to hold the licence under subsection (1).” (See link for the Act:http:// parliament.gov.gy/documents/acts/8170act_no._3_of_19 86_petroleum_(explo ration_and_productio n)_act_1986.pdf) Dennison said that newcomers, particularly the small companies which were granted licenses, received

-Favours fine-tuning existing framework for attracting, vetting other investors same in accordance with the foregoing law.

He further noted that apart from this, GGMC even went above and beyond by doing due diligence and holding several rounds of discussions regarding the proposal and work plan of the small companies as it relates to raising financing and attracting more operators.

The GGMC Commissioner said, “We have entertained people who did not have an established presence like other majors but, they came and were able to bring the expertise and a solid financing programme to the table.

CGX is a typical example of that. When it came, it brought experts who were well known in Calgary; it brought the financier, John Cullen, and was able to say, while we are not a company that has 40 years experience in the game, we are going to form this consortium which

University of Houston Instructor, Tom Mitro has cumulative experience in drilling, geology, business, geophysics etc. and that is one way we have been able to get people to the table in the early stages to explore Guyanas basin.”

Looking to awards made after the 90s, Dennison pointed to the offshore con-

GGMC Commissioner, Newell Dennison

cession that was granted to Ratio Petroleum of Israel and Ratio Energy Limited in Guyana. The Commissioner noted that Ratio was in talks with Government for the Kaieteur Block licence since 2012.

He said, “Their application had been in the pipeline

for a long time…They came with their people and put their proposal to us and our team hammered it out to a T. After rigid due diligence, passing our litmus test, we were satisfied that they were legitimate, that they were going to do legitimate work and attract (Continued on page 55)

Sunday October 06, 2019

Kaieteur News

American Petroleum Institute trains Guyanese on oil Metering

By Kiana Wilburg To ensure Guyana has the fundamentals in place for the accurate metering of oil which is poised to start flowing at the latest, first quarter, 2020, the Energy Department has aligned itself with the American Petroleum Institute (API).

Headquartered in Washington D.C, this world-renowned organization on such issues is the largest trade association for the oil and gas industry in the USA. It claims to represent around 400 corporations engaged in oil production, extraction (including hydro-fracking), distribution, and other aspects of the industry.

Making this revelation recently was Energy Department Director, Dr. Mark Bynoe. During his interview on Kaieteur Radios Programme, “Guyanas Oil and You”, Dr. Bynoe said that having the expertise as well as the technology to ensure the accurate metering of Guyanas oil is a serious matter for the Department hence the partnership that was forged with the American Petroleum Institute.

The Director noted that the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) has a critical role to play in the metering process, specifically for calibration and instrumentation.

The Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), he said, is another important partner as it would be responsible for what is coming from the well heads to the Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels.

He said, “And it is in that context the training from the API has been provided. Part of what is also required is the need for our officers visiting the FPSO to undertake is the

Energy Department Head, Dr. Mark Bynoe

HUET training.”

The HUET training is designed to provide personnel who travel by helicopter with an understanding of helicopter escape procedures, in particular, action to be taken to evacuate or escape from a ditched/ capsized helicopter.

Dr. Bynoe said that several GGMC officers completed this but the GNBS officers will go off some time this month for their training.

On the radio programme as well, Dr. Bynoe had said that other preparations are being fast tracked to ensure that the nation has all the necessary mechanisms in place for oil metering. He said that his team is aiming for the completion of a Crude Lifting Agreement before year end.

The agreement will set the rules for the accurate metering of the oil as well as the guidelines to be followed for how the operator and the government shall collect their entitlement.

Dr. Bynoe said, “This is critical for us because the timetable has moved forward for us with the arrival of the Liza Destiny (Guyanas first Floating Production Storage

and Offloading-FPSO vessel) and the need therefore arises for us to put in place mechanisms and systems for early notification of when a lift would occur.”

Further, the Energy Director said that he is looking to put a crude marketing framework while working to enhance the capacity of four agencies, particularly the GNBS, which would be involved in the process of monitoring the metering operations.

Additionally, Dr. Bynoe said that the Department will soon be moving from the Ministry of the Presidency to a new location so that it can accommodate more staff.

He said, “This will allow us to bring in more people and we have already advertised for seven advisors.”

Dr. Bynoe noted that of the seven, an Oil and Gas Commercial Specialist and an Advisor for Crude Oil Logistics and Marketing would be hired by October 15. He said, too, that the department will be looking to hire a Legal Advisor.

Dr. Bynoe noted that the foregoing matters remain on his immediate to-do-list.

Dem boys seh...

Ralphie get he play thing at last If a man form a political party and he can’t be de leader then something wrang wid him.

Papa Cheddi form de PPP and he was de leader; Burnham form de PNC and he was de leader. Trotman and Ram Jattan form de AFC and de two of dem was de leader.

So everybody expect Ralphie to be de leader fuh de party he form. Dem boys was surprise when he mek a big announcement bout he being de party leader. Then he mek anodda big announcement. He is de presidential candidate.

Dem boys remember de time when he wanted to be de presidential candidate fuh Jagdeo party. He was coming up against De Donald. That was a battle and a half and Ralphie never forget it. He get so vex that he lef de party.

Now he get a chance to be presidential candidate, at last. He get he life’s desire. But at least he honest. Nuff people can’t say de same thing. After de no-confidence motion that put out Soulja Bai people from Parliament de court rule that anybody who hold

dual citizenship should resign.

Couple people hold dual citizenship. Four of Soulja Bai people hold dual citizenship and dem resign from parliament. Jagdeo got couple people and all of dem seh dem gun resign. Dem boys ask Jagdeo and he seh how dem resign.When dem boys check last month all of dem stretch dem hand to collect dem salary from Parliament. Dem boys know when you resign from you job, you can’t go to collect salary every month. But that is exactly wha Jagdeo people doing.

At first, dem boys talk how Jagdeo people seh dem not going back to Parliament. Then when de month done dem collecting dem pay.

From wha dem boys hear, is one lady don’t collect de pay. But de rest of dem who seh dem clean enjoying de dishonesty. Dem tekking taxpayers’ dollars without going to Parliament.

And dem is de people who talking how de poor man punishing.

Talk half and don’t seh one thing and mean something else.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday October 06, 2019

GCCI demands clear distinction between local and foreign businesses

By Kemol King The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) is adamant that there should be clear distinctions between local and foreign businesses.

Those distinctions should grant first consideration to local businesses. The Chamber has formally submitted comments to Government on the third draft of the Local Content Policy for the Petroleum Sector. In that policy, the body has suggested four criteria for corporate bodies to be considered as local.

Former President of the Chamber, Deodat Indar, re-

vealed this during an interview with Kaieteur Radio last Thursday, on Guyanas Oil & You, the first and only radio programme dedicated to educating the populace about the countrys budding Petroleum Sector.

GCCI is insisting on a strict test of national awareness. The four criteria it submitted, according to Indar, are that the bodys head office should be in Guyana; that 70 percent of its workers should be Guyanese; that its board meetings should be kept in Guyana; and that 51 percent of its ordinary share capital should be held in Guyana.

Indar said that in United Kingdom Law, the country imposed a test of locality to determine how it would distinguish between its treatment of local and foreign companies when it comes to taxes. He noted that that law considers where the companys head office is located.

These criteria, Indar said, embody what it means to be an indigenous company.

The former GCCI President, who is a Chartered Accountant, also pointed to an aspect of Guyanas Tax Law, which he deems to be draconian. In the Income Tax Act, it

is stated that to be considered resident in Guyana, one is required to be a resident for 183 days.

“That needs to change.”

Indar said. “Its so old that it cannot deal with the current dispensation of the oil industry in Guyana.”

He said that this arrangement allows companies that have set up shop over the past two years in Guyana to be allowed the same tax benefits as those that have been here for decades.

Over the past few years, he said, many foreign companies swarmed to set up shop here, and have benefitted

from that arrangement.

Further, he has posited that being keen on following every aspect of the Treaty of Chaguaramas when developing a local content policy may not be the best way to go for Guyanese businesses and workers.

In this regard, Indar pointed to recent efforts by Guyanas American and British counterparts which may be interpreted as antiintegration but were intended to protect the interests of their own workers and businesses.

“You have all of these technical barriers and still you have a treaty thats supposed to remove those… You have all of these things affecting us for decades… Now, you have oil, and everybody is invoking the Treaty of

Chaguaramas.” Indar said.

The Treaty, which Guyana signed on to as a founding member, requires the removal of barriers to free trade and for several equalizing benefits for workers and businesses throughout the community.

Indar said that, despite that Treaty, there are currently many boundaries to trade and export between Guyana and countries like Tr i n i d a d a n d To b a g o , which are there because of those countries and place Guyana at a disadvantage.

Bringing the intended integration of the Treaty into fruition is a work in progress.

But at this point, Indar believes that Guyanas local content policy, and law, should set Guyanese workers and businesses apart.

Sunday October 06, 2019

Kaieteur News

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Sunday October 06, 2019

Kaieteur News

NAMS top student gives God credit …Surmounted many challenges to top school

By Samuel Whyte Sarah Reid, the 17-yearold top Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations student of the New Amsterdam Multilateral Secondary School (NAMSS) is thankful to GOD, her parents, teachers, and Church members among others for whatever successes she has achieved so far, despite trying circumstances at times.

An ardent Christian, she is adamant that as long as one believes in the Supreme Being anything is possible.

Elated about her success, the young lady remains humble following her success at the examinations where she secured ten Grade One, and a Grade Two passes. Her grade two pass was in Spanish which was almost selftaught.

During her time at school, especially leading up to examinations, she encountered a number of challenges, but the setback did not deter her from going for her goal. She remained focused and with her strong believe in God, she said that she knew he was by her side and guiding her hands on many occasions.

She worked assiduously, prayed earnestly and studied.

Sarah secured grade one passes in Mathematics, English Language, English Literature, Geography, History, Social Studies, Integrated Science, Theatre Arts, Principles of Business and Economics.

Speaking about some of her challenges she said, “I picked up Economics after Human and Social Biology was discontinued. I did not get much exposure to the subject prior to exams; much was self-taught.

I give credit to God. The other students who had it on their time table were way ahead. I was planning to drop Geography because I was getting difficulties understanding the Scottish teacher’s accent. Fortunately another teacher took over from him and I got a better picture.

In Spanish she was the only student doing the subject in the school. She felt pressured to succeed, because it would reflect on the school’s overall pass rate.

She didn’t even know the date for the oral examination and only knew a few days before

from a friend who was writing the subject at Berbice High School.

She had a few days’ sessions with the teacher over at that school. She was way behind and only had a few days to get ready.

Before attending NAMSS, Sarah attended All Saints Primary School where she gained 509 marks at the National Grade Six Examinations. She secured a place at St Stanislaus College in Georgetown, but her parents opted to have her remain closer to home.

Sarah who plans on becoming an educator reminisces on the role her grandmother, retired Matron Halley, and her parents Joy and Compton Reid, played in her early upbringing.

Her grandmother insisted that she count to a hundred before leaving for nursery school. Her father would ride out early in the morning to get a Hibiscus flower for her school experiment, while, her mother taught her to write on the cardboards for presentations.

Her advice to her peers is to be aware that there is a time

for everything. “Do not overdo. There is a time to study, time to play and there must be time for God”.

Principal of NAMSS, Ms Vanessa Jacobs -Chisholm said Sarah was recognised as the top student after securing the pass in the foreign lan-

guage. Another student also passed ten Grade Ones and a Grade Two. Sarah has resumed classes at the NAMSS where she is undertaking studies at the Caribbean Advance Proficiency Examinations (CAPE).

Sarah Reid

Nigerian doctors make donation to St. John Bosco Orphanage

The visiting Nigerian doctors yesterday with some of the items that were donated to the St. John Bosco Orphanage Folks at the St. John Bosco Orphanage got a pleasant surprise Friday afternoon when a group of visiting Nigerian doctors arrived at the facility with a donation of rice, toilet paper, detergents, and powdered milk, and sugar for students residing at the institution.

With Nigeria celebrating its 59th Independence Anniversary, the doctors decided on the outreach initiative as part of acknowledging the need to

reach out to the underprivileged and less fortunate.

Most of the doctors are medical students, studying here in Guyana. They also embrace and share in the Guyanese culture.

After prayers by the visiting team, and words of appreciation from some of the orphans, the doctors pledged their alliance to support the institution annually, indicating that they will also seek out other donor agencies

from Nigeria to give to the cause at the orphanage.

Orphanage Administrator, Mrs Grace Daniels, was elated at the gesture. She indicated that it was very thoughtful of the doctors to reach out to the orphanage.

She was particularly pleased at the doctors’ declaration to engage other donor agencies to assist them, indicating that the institution is highly dependent on donor contributions for their functions.

Sunday October 06, 2019

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

School girl went missing after school sports The mother of 15-year-old Anikha Harris is pleading for the safe return of her daughter who reportedly went missing last Thursday.

The teen who is a student at Wisburg Secondary School left home to attend the schools sporting event and was never seen again.

In an interview, the teens mother, Michelle Pierre, who resides in Linden, told Kaieteur News that she is gravely concerned about the safety of her daughter because her child is not the type that would run away from home.

“I believe that something happened to my child…Somebody is holding her against her will because Anikha never did something like this before and if she gets the chance she will come home.”

Ms. Pierre further stated that “since last week she asked me to allow her to go to the school sports…I said yes because I know that she is a good girl; she dont behave bad or rude to anybody.”

“She was wearing her school uniform skirt, a white T-shirt with the image of a tree, black and white Adidas slippers and pink and white socks. Thats what she left to go to sports with…” Pierre noted.

The family has filed a missing person report at the Mackenzie Police Station in Linden. The lawmen will be visiting the school as soon as possible to inquire about the childs behaviour and conversation with friends so as to find a possible lead into the matter.

Missing Child Anikha Harris “I cannot sleep… I need my child near me.”

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of missing teen, Anikha Harris, is asked to contact her mother on telephone number 652-8220 or the Mackenzie Police Station on 444-3512 or 444-3297 or report to the nearest Police station.

Sunday October 06, 2019

Homemakers targeted in household waste workshop

Tourism potential hampered by poor waste Management...says Sam Wright.

A household waste management workshop, sponsored by the Ministry of Communities and facilitated by Environmentalist Samuel Wright, has enlightened several women, across Linden, on properly managing their waste. The workshop was held in the Linden Enterprise Network (LEN) Conference Room recently.

The purpose of the workshop was to educate homemakers about reducing household waste, through training, information and support, to help them effectively manage same.

The premise is that an informed household makes informed choices with respect to waste management and reduction, Wright pointed out.

Wright said that littering and illegal dumping are widespread, and sustainable financing measures are lacking, coupled with inadequate waste collection services.

The latter, he said, is as a result of poor coordination.

Wright lamented that Linden with a population of some 40,000 does not have a proper waste management plan/ policy or adequate resources, vehicles or infrastructure.

He expressed concern that there are ‘innumerable’ illegal dumpsites, as some residents, dump their waste at any remote location.

Negative impact With Linden being touted as a major tourism destination in Region Ten, the indiscriminate dumping of garbage is of major concern, Wright acknowledged.“The current state of waste management and disposal is not conducive to good health or economic growth, and Linden’s tourism potential is severely limited in part, by the these unhealthy practices,” he lamented.

Participants learnt about types of waste, including hazardous waste, disposal methods, recycling and composting.Wright in an exclusive interview, with Kaieteur News, revealed that participants were drawn from across the municipal constituencies, and that the workshop was very successful.

“They were very enthused and very glad to get the information and perspectives on waste management, and now want to be involved, in helping to address the waste management issues in

Linden.”According to Wright, some of the participants are expected to meet with the Linden Mayor and town council, to start this process. The group is also recommending that the M&TC initiate a community compost project.One participant shared her experience of utilizing kitchen waste to add nutrients to her vegetables.

“A lot of the stuff we throw out can actually be used in our kitchen gardenswe can make our own compost, and utilize it to nourish our plants.”

Apart from the lectures, participants were also taken on a tour of a number of dumpsites around Linden, in an effort to better highlight the magnitude of the problem.It was underscored that a large proportion of the waste in Linden is derived from households and markets.Therefore, management of waste within the home constitutes an important first step in waste management in the Town.Wright is optimistic, that the workshop would serve to effect significant change, in community attitudes towards waste, and ownership of the problem.

Sunday October 06, 2019

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Kaieteur News

Diabetes association receives large boost from US donor agency Guyana Diabetes Association’s Glynis Beaton

The Guyana Diabetes Association stands to benefit greatly from a recent sizeable donation of branded insulin and glucometers (blood sugar testing machines) from the Insulin For Life USA

organization.

This recent donation was made possible through the efforts of the Ministry of Public Health Chronic Diseases Department, according to Diabetes

Federation’s, Glynis Beaton.

It will greatly enhance their countrywide outreach efforts.

Mrs. Beaton noted that the recent gift is one of many they would have received from the donor organization, adding that it further strengthens their organizations ability to conduct successful outreach programmes around Guyana.

She added that that her department is even more pleased that this time around they have been able to acquire branded insulin in the categories of long lasting, rapid acting, concentrated, premixed and intermediate acting.

She said in this recent donation they have been able to acquire some 1,500 pens, and over 143 vials of Novo,

Driver pleads with robbers to return stolen car A South Ruimveldt Park resident is now pleading with his attackers to return his vehicle that was taken from him during the course of a robbery.

Kaieteur News understands that last Wednesday around 21:30hrs, 37-year-old Bryan Cameron who works as a taxi driver was applying his trade in the vicinity of Stabroek Market.

When he received a private call from someone asking him to come and pick them up at a popular bar in Grove, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

However, as Cameron arrived at the location, the passenger entered his vehicle and told him that that he was heading to Georgetown.

Along the route, the passenger requested that the driver stop at Republic Park, EBD, to collect three other individuals who were heading in the same direction.

After entering the car, the men then requested to be dropped off at a location at Barr Street, Kitty. However, upon arriving at the location, two of the men took out handguns from their waist and threatened to kill Cameron if he did not hand over his personal belongings and the key to the vehicle.

Fearing for his life the driver exited the vehicle and began running in the opposite direction while the men sped off with the car.

In an interview, with

Kaieteur News, Mr. Cameron stated, “I just want them to bring back the car or leave it somewhere and I will go for it. This car is not my own; is a man car I does rent and now the man want his vehicle.”

The missing vehicle is a pearl white new model Toyota Allion with number plate (PWW9661) and registered to Tony Mason.

Mr. Cameron is pleading with the public to assist him in locating the vehicle because due to the incident he is unable to work and provide for his family.

Anyone with information about the missing vehicle is kindly asked to contact Mr. Cameron on 669-6187 or the nearest Police station.

Lantus, and Lily brand insulin.

That aside they have also received 15 glucagon kits which are to be used when patients become unconscious from fluctuating

blood sugar levels. Should this occur, persons would be injected with high intensity insulin from these kits.

The diabetes association has also received a quantity of ketostix, used to check the

kidneys of diabetic patients, and 23 glucometers, with over 4,000 strips to be used with the meters.

According to Beaton the items received will be (Continued on page 60)

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Kaieteur News

Sunday October 06, 2019

High tides invade coastal Guyana…

More than 400 affected, residents must be compensated- Jagdeo Leader of the Peoples Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C), Bharrat Jagdeo, emphatically stated that more than 400 residents were affected by the September 29 to October 2 coastal high tides.

During his weekly press briefing on Thursday, Jagdeo said that he had visited the affected Mahaica- Berbice flood areas over the past weekend.

During that visit, he stated that “thousands” of residents were affected by the floods, and not 400, as revealed by the Civil Defense Commission (CDC), after conducting their assessments.

“Take for example, the long stretch in Region Five (Mahaica- Berbice); that area has been totally inundated for people north of the public road. They have lost everything— their rice, their cattle, their cash-crop, even their little livestock.

In other parts of the country too, in Region Three (Essequibo Islands- West Demerara) particularly, but many other areas, the pockets around the country… have been affected too.

If you look at those very areas, the salt moved through the kokers, under the road and moved all the way up into the farmlands at the back. It has affected cultivation deep into those areas,” Jagdeo explained at his Church Street office.

Due to the flooding, he further said that the salt water has now caused the soil to become infertile.

“Even grass for the animals would not grow in some of those areas. Many of them have loans, they have obligations to the millers, and they rely on the little cash-crop for their livelihood. Theyre all now wondering what will happen next in their lives,” Jagdeo stated.

Considering all of the misfortune that has befallen the coastal residents, the Opposition Leader firmly believes that the flood-affected “must get all the help” and that they must be

compensated.

With regards to the mulling of the distribution of financial assistance, Jagdeo said that the government should extend help through the CDC. “Give it to the CDC. The CDC through a bipartisan process must do that… But I believe that the help should go to the farmers and all the persons who were affected.”

When questioned about whether he would support the governments application, for monies from the contingency plan to assist the flood-affected, the Opposition Leader concurred. However, Jagdeo adds that the application must be done in a controlled environment, and conducted at a “technical level” with “proper assessment by technical staff in the ministries, not political staff.”

Meanwhile, he could not state how much money would be enough to satisfy the affected residents. “We have to wait until the residents have calculated their losses. We are not fixed at a particular figure at this time, so I am very skeptical of any number that [the government] might just pull out like that without getting details from the people themselves,” he concluded.

Sunday October 06, 2019

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Kaieteur News

Magistrates’ Court tout fatally shot by home intruders

Darrell Breedy Police are investigating the circumstance surrounding the death of 53-year-old Darrell

Breedy of Lot 2037 Hummingbird Street, Festival City, North Ruimveldt. The man met his demise yesterday morning around 03:30hrs after he tried to scare off some armed men who had gained entry into his home through a window at the bottom flat of the building.

According to sources, Saturday morning around 03:30hrs Darrell, who works as a tout at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, was asleep in his home he shared with his wife , children and mother-in-law when he heard a noise in the bottom flat of the two-storey building.

Upon investigation, Breedy saw two masked men searching his property and a scuffle ensued between the

armed men and Breedy. It was during the scuffle that one of the bandits shot Darrell in the abdomen. The bandits then carted off a 32-inch flat screen television and $11,000 in cash.

During an interview with Kaieteur News, the dead man’s son, Keron King, stated that he was in his bedroom when he heard glass breaking downstairs. However upon reaching the hall in the bottom flat he heard his father arguing with someone.

This, he said, was follow by a loud explosion and complete silence.

“I was scared because I did not have anything in my hand that could have protect me against the robbers. So after I heard the noise I went

Primary School student traumatised after reportedly choked by classmate The parents of a student from a West Coast Berbice Primary School are frustrated and angry at the manner the administration of the school is handling a matter involving their child and another pupil.

Kaieteur News was informed by the parents that their child was reportedly put in a chokehold twice at the school by her classmate.

They said that when they showed up to report the matter to the teacher they were referred to as “disgusting parents”, and had a door slammed in their faces before being referred to the Headmistress of the school.

According to the parent, on Wednesday she visited her daughter’s school during the lunch period to deliver meals but met her daughter sobbing in her classroom.

When she inquired what was wrong she was told by her daughter “the same little boy that choked me yesterday choked me again today in class”.

The mother stated that when her daughter told her the first day that she was choked she did not take it seriously since she thought “they were just playing”.

But after it occurred again she decided to take the matter up with the teacher.

“I immediately called her class teacher who told me she didn’t notice her crying. I then told her teacher I will soon return to c h e c k o n t h e matter. When I arrived at 11:30 the mother of the boy that choked my child was there fighting and getting on top of her voice saying her son don’t hurt anybody and that she’s very angry to hear about the situation.

“I then called her classmates who witnessed the entire ordeal to say what had transpired. They related to me that most of them are victims

of the said harassment from this same pupil.

“Her class teacher called Miss Linda, who is from another class, was very aggressive towards me, my daughter and my husband,” she disclosed.

The mother, who asked not to reveal her name, said that she contacted her husband and informed him of the incident.

“When he showed up subsequently he was told by the said “Miss Linda” that the matter was already dealt with and that “we are very disgusting parents and she shut the door in our face.”

The mother said that they were not satisfied with the

reception they received from the school and are alarmed that the teacher reacted in such a way towards them.

This prompted them to pay a visit to the Welfare Department at Fort Wellington but they were sent back to the head teacher of the school.

“My child is now traumatised over this entire ordeal and fears to return to school,” the concerned parent said.

Meanwhile, since the incident the parents of the child who was reportedly choked said that they are being harassed by the parents of the boy that allegedly “hurt our daughter”.

under the step and hide.

When the bandits were leaving I saw when they jump through the window and start running. Upon entering the room I saw daddy on the ground in a pool of blood and I start screaming.”

The mother –in-law, Marva King, told this publication that “everything happened so fast…but it was a terrible sight. Darrell was bleeding really badly and blood was also coming from his mouth. It was a sad thing

for them children to see…Oh God them didn’t had to do him like that.

The victim’s 18-year-old daughter remains in a state of shock. The body of Darrell Breedy is at the Lyken funeral parlor awaiting a Post mortem.

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Sunday October 06, 2019

Kaieteur News

Interventional Cardiologist, Dental Surgeon partner to launch first-rate homecare service What do you get when an Interventional Cardiologist and a Dental Surgeon decide to partner?

While there may not be one standard answer, what is indeed fact, is that when Dr. Mahendra Carpen, an Interventional Cardiologist, and Dr. Rhonda Joseph, a Dental Surgeon, decided to team-up, the outcome was Caring Hands Healthcare Inc. Caring Hands Healthcare Inc. is essentially a homecare service, complete with qualified doctors, nurses, nursing assistants, patient care assistants, physiotherapists and other professionals. It caters to patients after discharge from hospital.

Interesting enough, the fruition of Caring Hands Healthcare Inc., is the realiza-

tion of a dream of both Drs. Carpen and Joseph. In delivering remarks at its official opening Friday evening at the Strategic Recruitment Solutions building, Camp Street, Georgetown, Dr. Carpen shared the premise for his involvement in such an undertaking.

He recounted that back in 2015 his mother suffered a stroke and was hospitalized.

While accessing the necessary healthcare services was no big deal, he recalled being faced with the daunting challenge of finding proper homecare after she was discharged.

“I can imagine, and I know how difficult it is for people who have no idea how to deal with sick relatives,” said Dr. Carpen, who revealed that for

Dr. Joseph in the company of some staffers already attached to Caring Hands Healthcare Inc. this very reason he saw the need for the introduction of an organisation like Caring Hands Healthcare Inc. “Putting together a service that can now help transition patients from hospital back to a functional state through appropriate homecare has always been a

need in Guyana. To some extent there are some rudimentary programmes that are available but it is now our job to take it to the next level,” Dr. Carpen asserted.

It is therefore his expectation that with the introduction of this facility, “no Guyanese family with a sick relative should feel that sense of hopelessness, desperation and anxiety that comes with having a sick relative dependent on them.”

According to Dr. Carpen, the intent of Caring Hands Healthcare Inc, is to create a service and protocol that caters to patients being able to move freely, seamlessly and with as little stress as possible from hospital to home.

He is optimistic, too, that this would not only be “just for a short term period but a long term period that allows them to stay out of hospital.”

This is particularly important, he added, since research suggests that patients who receive more care outside of the hospital setting are less likely to be patients in the hospital.

Speaking specifically to his expertise, Dr. Carpen said

Management: Dr. Rhonda Joseph and Dr. Mahendra Carpen that in the area of heart failure, “having professionals help patients at home (with) what to eat, how to eat, how to exercise, how to take your medication, when to take them, when to check your weight, how much fluid you should take; all of these things are part and parcel of how we manage patients at home so that they come less

to hospitals.”

Dr. Carpen noted that Caring Hands Healthcare Inc., services will be offered by an all-Guyanese staff.

“We are very proud of the team we have put together to bring this service from an idea to reality.”

The organisation has also benefited from some other crucial support, for which Dr. Joseph is especially grateful. She disclosed Friday that “our mission is to become the premier staffing and homecare company in Guyana with emphasis on providing the right care at the right time and in the most ethical and professional matter.”

Currently, the institution is operating with a provisional permit as it awaits full licensing from the Ministry of Public Health.

The fledgling homecare institution has already partnered with the privately operated St Joseph Mercy Hospital to make available continuity of care to all of its (Continued on page 60)

Sunday October 06, 2019

Stop Kissing Butt

By Wayne Hunte (International Certified Addiction Professional UWI/CICAD Certified Drug Treatment Provider Rutgers University (NJ) Trained Tobacco Dependence Treatment Specialist Membership: International Society for Substance Use Professionals)

B

Local professionals equipped to treat adolescents with substance use disorders

A

Smoking is not good for your health

The lungs of a non-smoker and smoker utt kissing is quite common among males, but the activity also targets females by using seductive images that deceptively portray glamour, sex appeal, empowerment and a strong sense of independence. The habit by its very nature is not good for one's health.

Kissing a cigarette butt goodbye, can be one of the most important investment you can make to improve the quality of your health.

Tobacco addiction is a chronic but treatable illness.

Therefore, health recovery is possible, but this involves making changes that allow individuals at risk to improve their health and wellbeing.

According to the World Health Organization, tobacco induced illnesses kill one person every eight seconds.

Think about it! Do you have a persistent cough? Are you short of breath after minimal physical exertion?

Are your fingers and lips stained from tobacco use?

Do you reach for your first cigarette within 30 minutes after waking?

You may want to quit but the cold turkey method seems dawning?

In order to quit smoking, an important question you should ask yourself is: Do I seriously want to quit? If not, wait until such a desire strengthens. The stronger the desire, the more effective the quit attempt would be.

Smoking cessation is best achieved through a combination of behavioural

therapy and pharmacological support.

These include counselling, administration of pharmaceuticals like the nicotine replacement therapy (patches), group support, learning coping and relapse prevention strategies, etc.

Let us look at some of the benefits of quitting tobacco: 20 minutes after you stop smoking, your blood pressure drops to a safer level; 24 hours after quitting, your chances of suffering from a heart attack lessen; at least one month after quitting – coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue and shortness of breath decreases and your lungs function improve lowering your risk of lung infections; quitting reduces the aging process – less wrinkles – and better sense of taste and smell is enjoyed; blood circulation improves too.

This is particularly important for males. If you continue to smoke, your piston can suffer from poor compression. This condition is medically known as impotence; and if you stop smoking a betterquality life awaits you.

Some practical tips that you should consider in the quitting process includes: throwing out your smoking paraphernalia; avoid smoking buddies and smoking environments; start an exercise programme; substitute the hand mouth behaviour of smoking with munching nuts, carrots, celery or drinking water and fruit

PAGE 19

Kaieteur News

juices; make a written list of all the reasons why you should quit smoking; review the list particularly when confronted with the urge to smoke; learn to identify your triggers; save the money you spend on cigarettes and then give yourself a treat; identify a supportive friend who you can call when you feel you might give in to the urge of smoking; seek professional help. Also you can call 6029758 for more information and support when you decide it is time to quit.

fter a four-day intense training programme, 30 professionals are now better equipped to give tactical support to adolescents struggling with substance use disorder. The training programme was sponsored by the CARICOM Secretariat which collaborated with the National Anti-Narcotics Agency (NANA) and the Mental Health Unit of the Ministry of Public Health.

This represented a deliberate move to upgrade the knowledge and skills of the participants to deal with substance misuse.

“Persons who have not been exposed will also receive the knowledge and requisite skills to address the challenges when working with adolescents,” said Ms. Beverly Reynolds, CARICOM's Coordinator of H e a l t h a nd S o c i a l Development.

Given new insights in managing adolescents with substance abuse struggles, Reynolds said the training initiative is directed to reequip persons with the new strategies within the realm of adolescent treatment.

The recent four-day training targeted health care providers, social workers/probations officers and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) with youth treatment facilities; Faith Based Organisations (FBOs) and Law Enforcement professionals.

These, according to a document circulated at the Mental Health Unit, Quamina Street in Georgetown, will benefit f r o m e n h a n c e d competencies, improved skills, and sharpened knowledge “to provide ethical (and) evidence-based services, treatment and interventions to the appropriate target populations,” Reynolds said.

She explained that CARICOM recognizes the need for training to be done in various organizations and regions, to enhance and increase the abilities of professionals to assist the young population.

Director of the Mental H e a l t h U n i t , D r. U t i l Richmond-Thomas, explained that the heavy use of alcohol and narcotic and psychotropic substances is an emerging problem among Guyanese children and adolescents.

According to recent reports from the World Health Organisation (WHO), the use of psychoactive substances such as marijuana, inhalants, and cocaine, remained relatively low among young people in the Americas between the periods of 2007-2016.

Reports show too that 50 percent of students in Guyana between the ages of 13-15 were identified as alcohol users.

Dr. Richmond-Thomas further explained that the materials that were used for the training were developed by the

Mental Health Director, Dr. Util Richmond-Thomas Organisation of American States/Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (OAS/CICAD) and are instrumental in providing practitioners with the tools n e e d e d t o e ff e c t i v e l y develop and deliver drug treatment programmes tailored to the adolescent population.

Facilitators Mrs. Deborah Dalrymple and Ms. Esther Best trained by the Inter-American Commission for Drug Control delivered the adolescent treatment training curriculum through six models.

The modules focused on adolescent development, screening and assessing adolescents, trauma and trauma informed care, adolescent in conflict with the l a w, a d o l e s c e n t d r u g treatment and family intervention.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday October 06, 2019

Susan Ibrahim

Sunday October 06, 2019

Kaieteur News

This week’s beauty is Susan Ibrahim, a spunky, professional, freelance make-up artist.

She is passionate about art and makeup. One of her favourite quotes says, “Sometimes it takes only one act of kindness and caring to change a person’s life.”

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Kaieteur News

PAGE 22

Sunday October 06, 2019

An unflinching and versatile son of the soil….

Retired GECOM Chairman,

Dr. Steve Surujbally,

By Rehanna Ramsay

F

or any nation --- an elections period is possibly the most crucial time for its politics and people.

It is imperative therefore, that those burdened with controlling the narrative in such a sensitive political climate, possess the qualities and mechanisms needed to keep the election torrents at bay.

This week's Special Person is no stranger to the public in this regard.

In fact, he has held the reins of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) -- the nation's electoral body for 16 consecutive years and is best known for his ability to remain composed, while skillfully shutting down critics of GECOM with his shrewd rebuttals, especially at crunch time.

Though now retired, the name Dr. Robert Stephen Surujbally still resonates with the public as having the resolve and eloquence needed to quell the emotions of the voting Guyanese populace during the difficult transition period.

And while his service to the nation in this regard is

is a 'Special Person' laudable, Dr. Surujbally still has many other accolades attached to his name.

Just to name a few, the passionate animal lover who spent more than a decade as President of the Guyana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (GSPCA) championing their cause. For this and his other contributions to regional

service award for his services to livestock development; the prestigious Hind Rattan and Navrattan Awards from India which are bestowed on persons of Indian origin who have been declared successful in the diaspora; and in 2014 he was the recipient of the Society of Non-Resident Indians the Mahatma Gandhi Gold

“

I was about six years old when my little dog Pepe got knocked down on the road. He came running in my yard and died in my arms. I couldn't do anything to help him. I was traumatized.

So, I knew from then I couldn't be a human doctor because if I felt so badly for an animal I don't know what a human death would do to me….

animal agriculture, he has been dubbed the most distinguished veterinarian in the Caribbean by the C a r i b b e a n Ve t e r i n a r y Medical Association.

He is the holder of the Golden Arrow of Achievement ---Guyana's second highest national

Family helps to keep him grounded

”

Medal Award which was presented to him at the House of Lords, in England.

In addition to that, Dr. Surujbally has travelled the world and worked in production, research, advisory and consultancy capacities associated with veterinary medicine and

livestock management.

His research and development work took him through four continents--Europe, the Americas, Asia and Africa.

But in spite of all his achievements, Dr. Surujbally leads a quite modest life. These days, most of his time is split between his private veterinary clinic and the lawn tennis court—a sport, which he copped several doubles national champion prizes in various categories.

And when he is not engrossed in these, Dr. Surujbally enjoys spending time with his closest family members, who consist of his wife Nisa and daughter Raiyah.

He was keen to note that his happiness comes from knowing that his services may have provided some form of relief to the citizens of Guyana.

In fact, happiness is the feeling, he most associates with success.

“I don't do pride… Too much of it pulls a nation down; it is the never ending vice of fools as Alexander Pope reminds us.”

And if he is not working, playing tennis or spending time with family, the retired Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chairman spends time travelling. So much so, that he terms himself somewhat of a global citizen.

“I love to travel. My job and my own wanderlust dictate my global jaunts to over a hundred countries,” he says Added to that, Dr.

Dr. Robert Stephen Surujbally Surujbally loves a good book.

His interest in reading is something he traced back to his boyhood years.

“I love books. In fact, I own tons of them,” Dr. Surujbally said pointing to his personal collection stacked neatly on shelves in a corner of his home library.

“Reading material is something I must have. It is something my parents instilled in my brother and me, growing up. So much that we would fight over which one of us could get our hands on a certain book first.”

EARLY POLITICAL EXPOSURE Ta l k i n g a b o u t h i s b o y h o o d y e a r s , D r.

Surujbally became reminiscent of how some of those experiences helped shaped his career and choices.

He noted that growing up in Robb Street, Georgetown at a time when Guyana was now gaining sovereignty from British rule made it quite interesting for him.

He witnessed firsthand the political drama that was unfolding as the nation struggled for independence.

Despite the turbulence, Dr. Surujbally declared, “I had a happy childhood.”

“It was an interesting period in which to grow up.”

By the time he was born he recalls that his father, Joseph Surujbally had been married twice.

“So I had my biological mother Evelyn, and then there was my father's other wife -- my stepmother Gertrude Farnum.”

Dr. Surujbally spoke fondly of both women but noted that it was his stepmother, a woman, whom he says he owes most of the successes of his life, who had the most impact.

“Even though my father was a taxi driver, my stepmother was quite an accomplished woman. She worked at Bookers in the accounts section, and spoke French fluently…” Dr. Surujbally recalled.

From a young age, he noted that “My parents understood the value of education and would ensure that my brother and me always had books to read.”

N e v e r t h e l e s s , D r.

Surujbally said that his education didn't get off to a smooth start. In fact, he says that he skipped school for a whole year without getting caught.

“That's because I wasn't initially good at school. My parents were busy, so nobody knew that I skipped school and went to the cinemas in the afternoon instead... and that went on (continued on page 53)

In the company of now President, David Granger and PNC's Lance Carberry

Sunday October 06, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 23

October 5, 1992: one step forward, one step backward O

ctober 5, 1992 started a lowintensity civil war which has never abated.

This conflict, the effects of which the country is still experiencing, was caused because one political party has never been willing, other than in 2006, to accept its defeat at the polls.

Guyanese have borne enormous sufferings and tragedies because of this singular failure of one of its country's oldest political parties. The PNC, now the PNCR, has consistently refused to accept defeat. And in the process has waged violence and destruction by concocting all manner of excuses to rile against the election victories of its nemesis, the PPPC. The failure of the PNC to accept its electoral defeats has led to political violence and political-criminal violence which has resulted in the deaths, murders and rape of innocent persons. It has created fear every time general and regional elections are due to be held.

Guyana will never attract the right kind of investors until the PNCR agrees to play fairly. The PNCR does not play fairly and October 5, 1992 showed that even in the era of free and fair elections, the PNCR wants to win and win on its own terms.

October 5, 1992 saw a devious attempt by the PNCR to prevent the holding of the elections of that day. A mob of PNC supporters assembled outside of the Guyana Elections Commission building, then on Croal Street, began to stone the building, claiming their were disenfranchised.

These protestors were bused in by well-known and identifiable persons, including a businesswomen.

This person is still around and the media should interview her about who it was that ordered her to shuttle persons to the Commission.

When it became clear

that the PPPC was going to win those elections, another mob, led by a political strongman, gallivanted down Regent Street and began to loot stores. It also set alight another store which led to a massive fire and the destruction of that store.

The then President, under international pressure, put a stop to the violence which was being orchestrated from within his party. He was told in no uncertain manner that unless action was taken the US State Department would be informed. The violence following the elections of 1992 would become a recurring pattern for the aftermath of future elections.

Guyana has never been the same since. In 1997, only in one Region, did some polling agents instead of placing the statement of polls in the ballot boxes, ran off with it to Congress Place.

That was the pretext which was then used to claim that the elections were rigged.

Violence, looting and arson took place with, once again, businesses on Regent Street being targeted. The PNC refused to accept its defeat and launched a 'slo fyah, mo fyah' campaign which led to destruction and anarchy.

The so-called “Troubles” had its roots in political instability which again was caused by the failure of the PNCR to accept its defeat in the 2001 elections. Guyana went through its worst period of violence because this time it saw criminals – so-called “freedom” fighters” who liked to rape women- being used for political purposes. Innocent persons, including a schoolchild were murdered by the beastly criminals. The conscription of criminals to pursue political causes represented a new political low.

All of this happened because of the failure of one political party to accept its defeat at elections. The only time this country has known

peace is when that party won elections. October 5, 1992 ushered in a new era of free and fair elections. But it also ushered in an era of political and criminal instability.

The PNCR has shown no willingness to play fairly. It wants to play by its own rules. When it loses by its own rules, it shifts the goal post. This is exactly what is taking place today.

In 2014, the PNCR and

the AFC attempted to move a no-confidence motion to remove the minority PPPC government. The motion was nullified by the prorogation of the National Assembly.

The same PNCR was part of the gambit to use a noconfidence motion to remove to force the resignation of the cabinet and the government in 2014.

Four years later, it found

itself defeated by the same gambit. It has refused to accept its defeat. It has refused to play by the rule and yet has the audacity to claim that it is abiding by the Constitution. It is, as it has always done, abided by its own interpretation of things.

October 5, 1992 ushered in the era of free and fair elections. But it also had its downside because concurrently it also ushered

in the PNCR refusing to accept its defeat. The greatest tragedy, however, is the tens of thousands of cheerleaders who actually support such dishonest and disreputable politics.

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

Kaieteur News

PAGE 24

Sunday October 06, 2019

Psychological effects of domestic violence are often overlooked - Psychologist

By Feona Morrison

L

et's face reality.

For millions and millions of women across the globe violence has become an everyday part of their lives.

Domestic violence which includes physical and sexual violence, psychological, emotional and economic abuse is becoming more prevalent among women in Guyana and is more perpetrated on them by someone they know.

The most common type of violence is done by an intimate partner.

The effects of domestic

violence on the emotional and psychological state of a woman are often overlooked.

Many times persons tend to only focus on physical abuse.

However, the e m o t i o n a l a n d p s y c h o l o g i c a l consequences of domestic violence are also severe, says Psychologist Bibi Ahamad, who herself, is a domestic violence survivor.

While domestic violence is widely regarded a private, family matter, Ahamad begs to differ. In fact, she stressed that this is a misguided notion because domestic violence has

become a devastating public health crisis. She explained that the psychological ramifications of domestic violence include anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts and attempts, lowered self-esteem and alcohol and drug abuse. She noted that these conditions can be ignited by domestic violence.

Ahamad added that an i n d i v i d u a l m a y simultaneously suffer from more than one mental illness. In this regard, she expressed that issues surrounding poor mental health are often ignored or go unaddressed in domestic

violence cases.

She intimated, “Verbal abuse, from my own personal experience has a negative effect on your emotional state of mind. It drains you.

When that verbal abuse is constant...when your partner constantly uses derogatory c o m m e n t s , expletives it shatters your emotions so your se l f esteem becomes very, very low. You even become suicidal. There are so many adverse factors that can lead on from the verbal abuse.”

Further, the Psychologist also noted that this social ill also has physical consequences, too. For instance, she said these include, but are not limited to eating and sleeping disorders, miscarriages, unwanted pregnancies and even sexually transmitted diseases.

Kaieteur News had the opportunity to sit speak with Ahamad a few weeks ago, when she related that like many other women, she too, found it difficult to leave her abusive partner.

She explained that for many years she was paral y z e d w i t h doubt—thinking her partner would change. One time, she said, he was all cool and charming, and then another time she would have to deal with his loud insulting explosions and beatings.

“Why doesn't she just leave?” is an ignorant question, Ahamad noted.

According to her, not all domestic violence cases are similar, and this is why each one must be approached with an opened mind.

She explained that there is always a pattern to the abuse; how it starts, escalates and ultimately messes with a woman's mind. She explained that the psychological effects of domestic violence could lead a woman to think that she is at fault for her partner constantly abusing her.

A c c o r d i n g t o h e r, abusers operate in a very manipulative way so the victims tend to feel that she is the cause for the abuse happening. She added that an abusive spouse would often shout at his partner, “You are the cause of this!” or “You made this happen!”

She added, “So all the blame keeps coming to the victim. Abusers don't ever accept that they have done

something wrong.

They would apologize for two seconds and say I won't let that happen again, but honestly they do not mean it.

They would do it again and that is how the cycle of abuse continues because what happens is when a victim gets abuse her children sees it and they think it is acceptable...Dad beating mom, dad yelling at mom, dad cursing out mom and calling her all sorts of derogatory names.”

Ask to comment on why many women find it hard to leave or would leave and go back to an abusive partner, Ahamad said that the biggest problem is fear.

“She is living in fear. So she would go to the police and make a report then change her mind not to go through with prosecution. There are also financial and economic circumstances.”

“If a victim leaves her abusive home and she is a house wife and mother of four children all of whom are going to school what systems are in place to assist her?” Ahamad questioned.

In this regard, Ahamad said that more should be done in terms of providing support for women who want to leave an abusive partner.

According to her, more Safe Homes for battered women is something urgently needed.

She added, “When you put victims in these homes that family cannot stay there for a week. There has to be a transitional period.

Some might have to stay for a three months, some might have to stay for a six months but it depends on the social and economical factors other than the coping and healing process of the individual.

When you are going to have the Safe Homes you would have to consider bringing in religious leaders to help.”

Ahamad's advice to women in abusive relationships is to get out and seek help.

She urged, “Even when you leave that abusive relationship it is not going to be all bright and beautiful. You need to have a support system. I am not talking about financial support; I am talking about emotional support. As a domestic violence survivor, if you do not have a support system you are going to go

Psychologist, Ms. Bibi Ahamad into further depression. You are going to need help transitioning into that new beginning.”

Ahamad revealed that there are many instances where women choose to go back to their abuser for whatever reason. She, however, said that she never shuns or look down on women like these, since she, too, was once in their shoes.

“When the victim goes back to the abuser I just let he or she know that I am always there for them. I never feel as though they are wasting time. I don't condemn them. They might go back because of many factor but the emotional state of mind is out of fear.

You are not thinking for yourself; you think it is love.

Nine out of 10 times abusers make you depend on them. They play on your emotions. They know what are your strengths and your weak points and they play on your weaknesses.”

Ahamad is thereby urging abused women to reach out for help before it is too late. If you are anyone you know is being abused kindly reach out to Help and Shelter, H o m e s t r e t c h Av e n u e Georgetown or call 2254731; the Ministry of Social Protection, Water Street, Georgetown or call 2256545; Caribbean Voice by calling 621-6111 or emailing caribbeanvoiceinc@gmail.c om; Red Thread at 173 Charlotte Street, Georgetown or call 2277010; the nearest police station or health centre or faith based organizations.

If you just feel like talking to someone, you can also call the 24/7 Suicide Prevention Hotline on toll free numbers 223-0001, 223-0009 and 623-4444.

The toll free numbers 6004444 and 623-4444 are also active Whatsapp numbers that persons in need of counselling can access.

Sunday October 06, 2019

PAGE 25

Kaieteur News

---Hinds’ Sight by Dr. David Hinds---

Direct Cash Transfers: WPA, The President, His Ministers, Jagdeo and the People

W

hen WPA Coleader, Profes sor Clive Thomas, unveiled the party’s Direct Cash Transfer proposal at Buxton in August 2018 at Buxton, Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, dismissed it as an election gimmick. President Granger also dismissed it by saying he had scant knowledge of it. Since then, other members of the PNC and PPP have weighed in on the debate.

PPP’s Anil Nandlall had a negative response and Finance Minister Winston Jordan and former Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge thought that it was not economic feasible.

President Granger made known his opposition to the policy proposal in very clear terms—he described it as a “handout.” Although Foreign Affairs Minister, Karen Cummings, seemed ambivalent about it, she ultimately came down on the side of her Ministerial colleagues. The AFC, for its part , has expressed support for it through statements by some of its leaders.

Then on Thursday, media reports surfaced that Jagdeo had endorsed the proposal.

Immediately all hell broke loose. His announcement caught both PPP and PNC surrogates by surprise. The latter have been relentless in their opposition as they cited the positions by the President and the Finance Minister.

PPP members and supporters took their cue from their party’s opposition to anything that came from the government side. But what they all had in common was a palpable ignorance of the policy—it was obvious that they had not read any of the vast amount of literature on the subject nor had they bothered to read and study Dr. Thomas’ detailed proposal presented at a WPA symposium two weeks ago.

After reading Jagdeo’s recent comments, it was im-

mediately clear to me that he had a sound understanding of both the economics and politics of Direct Cash Transfers.

He disagreed with Thomas and the WPA on some specifics and preferred a targeted approach rather than the universal approach of all households as suggested by Thomas.

He said emphatically that some form of the policy would find its way in the PPP’s manifesto and that the party has an open mind to any proposal that is aimed at reducing poverty.

Jagdeo’s stance is in stark contrast to that of leading members of the PNC, including the President.

They have not thus far had an open mind to the proposal and their utterings on it come across as simplistic.

Describing the proposal as “handouts” and “vouchers” and invoking the well-known proverb about “teaching a man to fish rather than giving him a fish” reduces the importance of a serious policy proposal, but it further suggests a lack of intellectual grasp of the economics and politics regarding it.

To begin with, Direct Cash Transfers are not handouts.

Rather, they are meant as a policy to replace so-called handouts.

Handouts as we know them are gifts that politicians give to citizens in need. It is a term that is usually used by conservatives in developed capitalist countries to denigrate the redistribution of wealth to the poor. It is a term and a notion that are out of place in post-plantation societies with high levels of poverty such as Guyana. These gifts from politicians often make a difference between gloom and happiness in people’s lives, even though it is temporary.

The president, for example, has been distributing bicycles, boats and busses to communities and individuals to help with the children

transportation to school.

Conservatives would call that initiative a handout.

I don’t think the president would describe it as such. I certainly don’t, because I know better. I was born poor and lived among the poor, and I know what a difference those gifts make, and I know the stigma attached to them by those who are better off. I would never tell those recipients of the president’s gifts that it is better to teach a man how to build a boat than to give him a boat. To do so would be insensitive and demeaning to those poor people who receive the gifts.

These very politicians who talk about handouts go to communities on holidays such as Christmas and Easter and distribute gifts to citizens. I would never say it is better to teach a child how to make a kite rather than give her a kite, because I know better. I know what those kites and hampers and toys mean to poor people. The money that they would have spent on those toys could now be used to buy school clothes or food.

It bothers me that those who use the term “handouts” can be so oblivious to the double standards inherent in their stance on Direct Cash Transfers.

They are comfortable giving people gifts, but uncomfortable giving them extra income to get them out of poverty. The gifts I referenced above bring temporary relief, But Direct Cash Transfers are meant to decrease the need to depend on such gifts— they are meant to reduce and ultimately eliminate poverty by giving the people an extra income.

WPA’s proposal is motivated by the need to reduce and ultimately eradicate poverty and to prevent others from falling into poverty. That some of our leaders can’t grasp that boggles the mind.

How can one promote education as the only means of get-

The Baccoo Speaks The political climate is such that there will be even more confusion as the election commissioners nitpick over the preparations. Suddenly issues that were there all along will be seen as problems created by the administration.One has to do with the preparation of the preliminary voters list. The addition of the names of people captured during the halted house to house registration will be cause for

concern. ** Another student will be hospitalized as a result of another fight. This is a trend that seems to be spreading because teachers seem to

have lost control of classes due to unruly elements there. ** A swimming disaster will occur when some young people go swimming in a major waterway.

One will encounter difficulties and attempts to save him will further complicate the situation.

In the end there would be the superstitious belief that at this time of the year, rivers want lives.

ting out of poverty?

Education is a priceless commodity for people—it’s a means of upward mobility.

But education by itself cannot and has never eradicated the level of poverty that exists in our society. Education in conjunction with other policies is what is needed. . I wonder what some leaders think when they read this excerpt from a 1917 report by the Guyana Budget and Policy Institute report.

“The level of poverty and associated levels of malnourishment will have dire consequences on the future health of the population and the potential for future economic growth in Guyana unless immediate steps are taken to address these issues.

More than 36 percent of Guyanese or almost 4 in 10 people are living in poverty i.e. surviving on an income of U$1.75 per day or G$10,494 per month, according to the Guyana Poverty Reduction Strategy: 2011 – 2015. Further, 19 percent of Guyanese or almost 2 in 10 people are living in extreme poverty i.e. surviving on an income of U$1.25 per day or G$7,550 per month.[2] People living in poverty simply do not have sufficient income to pay for enough food to meet daily caloric and nutrition intake required for proper nourish-

ment and healthy and productive lives.”

Whatever one thinks about Jagdeo, he is a serious political person. It is that seriousness that partly allows him to get the politics and economics of Cash Transfers right.

The other thing that allows him to get it is cultural.

You would hardly find an Indian Guyanese leader who would tell poor Indians that Direct Cash Transfers to them is a handout.

The relationship of the Indian Guyanese elites to the Indian poor is more nuanced than their African Guyanese counterparts.

Indian Guyanese political leaders have more faith in the ability of their poor—they tend to be less paternalistic than their African Guyanese counterparts.

I end this column with the following comments. I will go so far as to say that issue could be the difference between winning or losing for the Coalition.

It would be suicidal for the Coalition to go into an election in which the PPP endorses Cash Transfers and they don’t. With the PPP endorsing it, it becomes a top electoral issue.

I hope the president changes his stance when the parties eventually sit down to formally discuss the issue,

Dr David Hinds because it is going to be a defining issue at the election; it could split the coalition’s base. It could also expose the coalition as a sham, whereby the leader of one-party overrides two partners and, in the process, goes against the wishes of the majority of his supporters.

From our interactions in almost two dozen communities, the policy proposal is very popular among the base.

So, the leader will have to take all of that into consideration.

The WPA intends to make it a campaign issue, whether the president and his party agree or not.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper) More of Dr. Hinds’ writings and commentaries can be found on his YouTube Channel Hinds’ Sight: Dr. David Hinds’ Guyana-Caribbean Politics and on his w e b s i t e www.guyanacaribbeanpolitics.news.

Send comments to dhinds6106@aol.com

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Kaieteur News

Sunday October 06, 2019

Mr. Martinezs secret

By Michael Jordan I guess you can call it a jigsaw puzzle with missing pieces.

We know the killer. We know his victim.

But there are things that we may never know. Like what, if anything, did a water-submerged computer have to do with this unusual case?

And what drove a quiet middle-aged foreigner to butcher his lover?

So let me tell you the tale of Mr. Martinezs secret. And Ill tell you what I think started it all in that apartment.

The secret began to unfold on Wednesday, March 3, 2010, when 47-year-old Usawattie Persaud told her mother that she was going to the High Court in Georgetown to tie up a legal transaction and to purchase items for their shop.

Persaud lived at Lot 21 Main and St. Magdalene Streets, in New Amsterdam, and was the common-law wife of businessman Hemnauth Ramdatt, owner of the Cycle Store Mara and Sons Grocery, Cycle Shop and General Store.

According to reports, Usawatties mother, who has a heart ailment, also travelled to Georgetown, since she had

Usawatie Persaud: Her secret marriage ended in murder an appointment with a doctor.

Some time between 11:30 hours and 11:45 hours the mother called Usawatie to inform her that she had completed her session. The mother then headed back to Berbice on her own.

Later in the afternoon, one of Usawatties sons called to enquire where his mother was. It was then that the family realised that she had not returned to New Amsterdam.

They became worried when they were unable to reach her on her mobile phone.

The following day,

Guillermo Valintin Martinez (Martinez) Usawatties son travelled to Georgetown. He went to the Brickdam Police Station where he reported her missing.

Now, family members were accustomed to Usawatties travels to Georgetown.

Some of the womans visits took her to the Lot 136 Eping Avenue, Bel Air apartment of 59-year-old Cuban physiotherapist Guillermo Valintin Martinez Stable. The Cuban had lived for many years in his adopted home and was popular with his patients.

But on Thursday, March

4, 2010, some of the occupants of the two-storey house at Eping Avenue began to sense that something was not quite right at the Cubans apartment.

Patients were turning up to see Martinez. But there was no sign of the Cuban, Eventually at around 14:00 hrs on Friday, March 5, after more patients turned up and failed to see Martinez, a man who lived in the building drew back one of the window blinds in the Cubans apartment.He was assailed by an unpleasant smell and saw something that made him summon the police.

The detectives entered Martinezs apartment. They were immediately assailed by the stench of death.

A womans decomposing body lay on a blood-soaked mattress in the hallway. She was nude, and someone had stabbed her at least ten times.

The wounds were to the throat, chest and stomach.

There were also defensive wounds on her arms, where the victim had tried to ward off the attack.

The detectives located a passport which identified the woman as 47-year-old Usawattie Persaud.

The policemen then proceeded to the bedroom. The bed inside had no mattress, and the decomposing corpse of a middle-aged man lay on the bare bed-springs.

He was quickly identified as physiotherapist Guillermo Valintin Martinez Stable. His body bore no marks of violence.However, the dead mans mouth was filled with an unidentified liquid.

Scouring the apartment further, the investigators retrieved a blood-stained

kitchen knife. They were puzzled when they found a laptop computer submerged in water in a washing machine.

Investigators surmised that Martinez had murdered his friend, Usawattie Persaud before taking his own life.

That appeared to be clearcut. What was unclear was why?They decided to delve further into the victims lives.

A few days later, Home Affairs officials discovered that Martinez had applied for Guyanese citizenship.

In the application, Martinez stated that he was married and identified Usawattie Persaud as his spouse.Investigators then unearthed a General Registrars Office marriage certificate, which stated that Guillermo Valintin Martinez Stable and Usawattie Persaud became man and wife around February 2000.

It meant that that Usawattie was married to Martinez while living in Main Street, New Amsterdam Berbice, with her common-law husband.According to police sources, the fingerprints on the bloodstained knife matched Martinezs prints.

But the investigators still wanted to know what had caused Martinez to go berserk.They were certain that information on the computer from the physiotherapists apartment held clues to the motive.But the water-soaked

laptop had been irreparably damaged.Martinez was buried a few days later and police reportedly declared the case closed.

But that still leaves the missing part of the puzzle: What pushed Martinez over the edge?

Here are some theories.

Was it possible that Usawattie Persaud found out something about her Cuban husband; something so upsetting that she confronted him with it?

Was that evidence on the laptop?Did she perhaps threaten to expose him to officials at the Cuban Embassy so that he could be expelled from his adopted home?

Did Martinez, in a fit of rage and desperation, attack the Guyanese woman he had secretly married, and only realise the trouble he was in after the deed was done?

Like I said, the motive is the missing piece of this jigsaw puzzle, and its a piece that may never be found.

If you have any information about this or any other unusual case, please contact Kaieteur News by letter or telephone at our Lot 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown.

Our numbers are 22-58465, 22-56458 and 22-58458.

You need not disclose your identity.

You can also contact Michael Jordan at his email addresskamarangnight@gmail.com

Sunday October 06, 2019

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Kaieteur News

==THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN==

APNU+AFC 2020 election victory is not guaranteed There were three categories of voters in 2015. This may be reduced to two in 2020, even though there may be a plausible showing for smaller parties. In 2015, we saw the tradition continue – Indians voted PPP, African voted PNC. The PPP lost the contest in Region 8 by one vote. The PPP lost the national election by less than 5000 ballots. The PPP received the traditional Indian vote, with some numbers from Amerindians and some from the mixed race group. The PNC benefitted from a slight increase in the turnout in Georgetown (which was expected to be much higher than in 2011; it was just three percent more). Like the PPP, it was the PNC that was a recipient of the race instinct.

But there was a third category of voters who took the APNU+AFC coalition over the line, even though the difference with the PPP was a coat of varnish.

These were people who marked their X specifically for the AFC. This third category that chose the AFC was made of four types of attitudes. First, in places like Linden, African Guyanese saw healthy differences between the AFC and the PNC. Some names that brought this about included Nigel Hughes, Raphael Trotman and others, that may include Forbes Burnham’s son-in-law, Richard Van West

Charles. There were pockets of African Guyanese in the entire country, particularly Georgetown, that viewed the AFC through positive lenses.

The second attitude was reflected in the young people across the racial divide, particularly the educated ones who saw the AFC as the priceless balance between all that they grew up with – the big and bad PPP and PNC. The third make-up was the mixed race sector. They embodied the same chagrin the youths had. They saw themselves as neither Indians nor Africans, and felt they could more identify with the AFC. The fourth attitude gave the AFC its largest bloc of votes in 2015. It came from Indians around Guyana. But GECOM results showed there was an upsetting decrease in votes in Indian areas for APNU+AFC, which proved that Indians wanted the AFC to remain the third independent force, and be the balance, just as the youths saw them.

But still, it was that decreased percentage of Indian ballots that took the APNU+AFC coalition over the line.

The third category has disappeared. What is likely to happen in 2020? Indians and Africans will continue to mark their X as they have traditionally done. But the PNC as the major force in the APNU-AFC formation is facing a frightening prospect. The third cat-

egory is gone from the AFC. Let’s analyze these four attitudes since 2015. The youths have become completely disillusioned with the AFC. They feel the AFC’s third way has been dissolved.

They will either go back to the PPP and PNC or not vote at all. ANUG is likely to get some of their ballots.

The African Guyanese from Linden and Regions 5 and 6 that embraced the AFC have gone over to the PNC. They felt the AFC came and went. The mixed race feels the same way as the youths – the AFC stirred their imagination, but the AFC is a thing of the past. They will mark their papers either for the PPP or APNU. It is that precious number, however small, that the AFC got from Indians in 2015, that is impossible to be regained in 2020.

This particular compartment literally hates the AFC. In my encounters with Indians, I say with profound hon-

esty, I have not met one who voted for the AFC in 2015 that will vote for the AFC again.

This is what I call a shock to the system.

The political observers, the analysts, the journalists, civil society, the PNC, the PPP and the AFC itself, know that the AFC’s standing in politics has collapsed. This country knows that the AFC of 2006, 2011 and 2015 no longer exists. How does this impact on the election results?

You do not need a university degree in political studies to see the electoral formidability facing the PNC

with the loss of the AFC’s standing and the optimism is it engendering in the PPP. Let’s put it in very simple terms. The PPP lost by less than 5000 votes in 2015. They will get that back and more from former AFC Indian supporters, even if Lenox Shuman pulls Amerindian votes from the PPP. The PNC needs about 20,000 votes that went for the AFC in 2015 to take them over the line. Those ballots are not there, plus Shuman may steal some Amerindian votes from the PNC. The election result is a nightmare facing the PNC.

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

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Kaieteur News

Sunday October 06, 2019

Ramjattan, a fierce fighter for people’s rights and inclusion in decision-making The National Executive Congress (NEC) is the AFC’s top decision-making body that elects the Leader, Chairperson, and Vice Chairperson in particular. At the party’s National Conference and Elections held in June at St. Paul’s Retreat Centre, ECD, party Leader Khemraj Ramjattan won the vote for the Prime Ministerial candidate by a landslide.

Thereafter, the AFC and its Governmental partner APNU, by mutual consent, agreed to revamp the Cummingsburg Accord which cemented the Coalition government that this nation has been benefitting from since 2015.

Thus far, the negotiating teams have agreed to the core principles and the crucial elements are still being refined. The two teams have exchanged proposals for various amendments to the Accord, and it is mutually agreed that the new Accord must be in accordance with the Constitution of Guyana.

Our Presidential Candidate Khemraj Ramjattan was born on October 12, 1960 at Number 48 Village, Corentyne, East Berbice. He is an eminent Attorney-atLaw, a fearless and objective Politician, and a former volunteer youth organizer. He is almost never hesitant about speaking his mind and offer-

ing valuable inputs into developments that come under his purview.

He is a graduate of the Hugh Wooding Law School where he acquired his exceptional skills as an Attorneyat-Law. His advocacy in many high profile Human Rights Cases has given him prominence and stature in Guyana’s legal fraternity and as a Politician, he comes into contact with people from all walks of life, whether they are Guyanese or not, whether they are from his groundswell of support in the grassroots or in the upper echelons of society and the Diplomatic Corps. He is a fierce fighter for people’s rights, for human rights, and he makes no excuses for that ferocity.

This same approach has girded the programme he put in place in 2015 to whip the Guyana Police Force into better shape. We say ‘better’ because he would be the first to say that the Guyana Police

Force which was put in his charge needed revamping, and that the relationship with the citizenry was at its worst in Guyana’s history. The GPF needed to be reshaped, based on the traditional mantra for protection and service.

For this Minister who is responsible for the nation’s safety and security, the transformation of Policing must be executed in step with the laws of the land; in conformity with international best practice; and capable of managing the influx of migrants from neighbouring countries and foreign investors and workers in our new oil and gas industries.

His Police Force which is spread throughout the length and breadth of Guyana, through the hinterland, in gold mining, farming and forested districts, must be properly equipped with the necessary people skills, updated equipment, and knowledge of the law.

This is the bedrock of the intense training programme, the new knowledge culture that is being cultivated at Eve Leary.

To the people who know him intimately, he is fondly known as Prakash. He was born into a humble family on the Corentyne, Berbice, and he later married the beautiful Sita. Together they have two sons, Divesh and Vikash.

His introduction to politics was through the youth arm of the People’s Progressive Party and he ascended the ranks to become its leader before moving on to membership of that Party’s Central Executive Committee. But he was not to last in that environment.

His independent mien, his probing mind and true commitment to democracy at all levels did not accept the notto-be-questioned dictates of the PPP’s Marxist/communist politburo. As such, he collided frequently with the old

dogmatists in the Central Committee and in the rank and file of the PPP. His vision for a democratic, united Guyana that has no place for racism, one that welcomes the opinions of all party members, rubbed them the wrong way and created conflicts with the leader who considered himself too powerful to be questioned.

Inevitably he was evicted, just when he was preparing to walk away. Fortunately, he came into contact with persons from other political parties who shared his vision for a unity Guyana and the ways to get there.

Among those people were his compadres Raphael Trotman and the now late Sheila Holder. Together with others of the ilk of Nigel and Cathy Hughes, David Patterson and Michael Carrington, they formed a new movement called the Alliance for Change in 2005.

Along the way, as an Attorney, he served as State Counsel in the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (1984–1988), and President of the Guyana Bar Association (2003–2005). His advocacy in many high profile Human Rights Cases has given him prominence and stature in Guyana’s Legal Fraternity.

He was a Member of Parliament since October 1992, serving on the Public Accounts and other Parliamentary Committees.

From his years in the PYO to today as Vice President and Minister of Public Security, he has fearlessly and objectively represented his views on numerous issues, some social, others highly politically sensitive, all in his quest to help develop a country with a secure and well educated population.

Pre-2015, the now Vice President contributed to numerous public discussions and debates on the effects of bad governmental administration, on political interference by the state, and on best practices in the legal profession, among other topics. He successfully participated in the British Council’s Young Lawyers Commonwealth Scholarship Programme in 1992 at the University of London, and had served as Editor of the Guyana Bar Review.

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

Sunday October 06, 2019

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Kaieteur News

My column

Anil Nandlall’s perception of a weak administration It is amazing how people across the political divide see issues and how fast they apportion blame. Last week I shared a microphone for an interview with former Attorney General Anil Nandlall. It was intended to be a conversion on the law and politics.

It turned out to be more of a political campaign with the perceived ills of the government taking centre stage. And indeed, that is what politicians should be doing at this time; getting their issues across. It is about making their respective political parties look good.

One issue came across rather forcefully and it centered on the Guyana Police Force. For starters, there was the Crum-Ewing issue.

Courtney Crum-Ewing was shot dead in Diamond in 2015 while he was out campaigning against the then government.

He had staged a one-man picketing exercise for days outside the office of the then Attorney General. In the end, the then Attorney General Anil Nandlall was fingered in the killing.

Rajput Narine, the exbodyguard of Nandlall was also taken into custody and questioned but was released without being charged. The former Attorney General in his statement said he hired Rajput Narine as his bodyguard on March 15 which was five days after the Crum-Ewing murder.

He said just after CrumEwing’s execution he travelled to the U.S for a political meeting and it was there that he met the brother of Rajput Narine and the man recommended that he hired Rajput as a personal bodyguard.

At the time, Rajput Narine was in the employ of the Guyana Revenue Authority.

Nandlall said he hired the man without carrying out any background checks and without seeking other recommendations. He said the fact that the man was a licensed firearm holder, meant he must have been of good character and that was enough for him.

“I assumed that he was a person of good character because that is why he had a firearm license and that’s the ground on which one gets a firearm licensed,” Nandlall said.

But there was the view that Narine was closely associated with former Home Af-

fairs Minister Ronald Gajraj who was closely linked to the death squad that caused terror in Guyana. The widely held view was that people closely associated with the then ruling party got guns at the drop of a hat.

Last week, Nandlall revealed that the police found a phone that made the last call to Crum-Ewing. They traced the phone to Lethem, got the name of the owner of the phone but nothing came of that aspect of the investigation.

He could not explain why this happened especially since he was the prime legal adviser to the government. He could have called the Commissioner of Police or the Home Affairs Minister and get the investigation to continue or at least to disclose the information of the phone. That never happened.

Nandlall now wants the present administration to hold a commission of inquiry to investigate Crum-Ewing’s killing and the findings of the phone probe.

Another issue he was asked about was the perception of corruption in his government. He repeated what was said a lot since the 2015 elections. He insisted that it was a perception that was never addressed because his government was certain about retaining office.

The view was that people who had precious little suddenly became multi-million-

aires and owned multiple properties.

Nandlall was asked whether the perception was real and could he explain the untold wealth. He didn’t try to defend this situation, choosing instead to direct all such questions to the people fingered in the query.

Today the party in government is said to be corrupt although there is nothing specific about the nature of the corruption. That is the nature of politics.

On the issue of the Special Organised Crime Unit which he helped form, Nandlall insisted that corruption had crept into that organization. The police force was not exempt from such charges.

The country knows that there are corrupt police ranks.

Many have been exposed and dealt with but corruption still remains in the force. The roadblocks and the random stop and searches were highlighted

by Nandlall.

He said that the ranks would unhesitatingly demand money from those they stopped and that this was an inherited practice from an even earlier government.

What he could not explain was why it was allowed to continue during his party’s twenty-three years in office.

His was the job to highlight what the present government is failing to do regardless of whether the problems were inherited and he did a good job.

He highlighted the antipeople measures adopted during the tenure of the government. They included the hike in taxes for the farmers in the Mahaica-MahaiconyAbary Agricultural Development Authority.

Nandlall said that he represented these farmers most of whom were perceived to be supporters of the present government. He spoke of the imposition of additional hardships on the people of the lower strata in society, all imposed by the government.

In his book, this government is among the most inept,

stumbling from ineptitude to ineptitude. And these charges would stick with any of Nandlall’s followers. The government for its part seems to be losing the propaganda war.

The opposition is using every forum at its disposal to get its message across to whoever is listening. The government says precious little, probably preferring to do what it believes is improving the lives of the people. It believes that action speaks louder than words.

If that is the case, it surely does not know Guyanese, a people of very short-memory.

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

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Sunday October 06, 2019

The business community has nothing to fear from the forthcoming elections (Excerpts from an address

by HE David Granger President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana at the business luncheon hosted by the Guyana Manufacturing and Service Association on 201909-19) Political stability My Government recognizes the importance of political stability to enhancing the business environment. Political stability promotes increased investments; reduces risk and the cost of doing business and boosts investor and consumer confidence.

My Government will not condone violations of the law which endanger public order and public security. There is no political unrest in Guyana.

The business community need not fear political violence or social unrest.

My Government will do everything necessary to ensure political stability. The business community has nothing to fear from the forthcoming elections. I am committed to ensuring a safe and secure environment for businesses, communities and citi-

zens in the process leading to, during and after elections.

My Government will respect the democratic will of the people. Anything contrary would be abhorrent to the values to which I subscribe.

My Government assures the business community of its resolve to ensuring credible general and regional elections at the earliest time possible.

Economic development The manufacturing and services sectors have been making significant contributions to national development. The two sectors, combined, constituted more than 60 per cent of our Gross Domestic Product in 2018. These sectors have expanded the economy over the past four years.

The highest rate of growth rate over this period was recorded last year at 4.1 per cent. Economic growth for the first half of 2019 was 4 per cent and it is anticipated that national output will increase by 4.5 per cent by year end.

Tax policies have been tailored to incentivize the competitiveness of the manufacturing sector. The corporate tax rate was reduced from 30 per cent to 25 per cent and tax waivers were provided for green energy investments.

The Mid-Year Report 2019 paints a positive picture of manufacturing and services. “ The manufacturing sector expanded by 3.6 per cent in the first half of 2019. It is anticipated to record an annual growth rate, this year, of 3.7 per cent. “ The services sector is estimated to have grown by 4.6 per cent between JanuaryJune 2019, the highest rate of growth since 2011. “ Trade – wholesale and retail – grew by 5.9 per cent; transportation and storage by 5.5 per cent; financial and insurance transactions by 4.1 per cent; rental of dwellings by 5.9 per cent; and other services by 10 per cent.

Indicators suggest expansion of business activity. Private sector credit increased by 5.7 per cent for the first half

of 2019 compared with the same period last year. Credit to the mining and quarrying sector increased by 6 per cent; credit to the manufacturing sector increased by 0.5 per cent and credit to the services sector increased by 7.2 per cent.

The Inter-Ministerial Round Table, consisting of Government and the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association, was established in 2017. Its work has been fruitful. Cooperation is taking place between the Government and the GMSA to facilitate agro-processing development and ease of doing business. The Roundtable’s work has resulted in achievements including: “ increasing the Common External Tariff on imported pinewood which posed a threat to local producers; “ initiating an inventory of the forests to aid the forest sector better allocate forest resources to producers; “ improving trade facilitation at the ports; “ moving towards the development of a consolidated stockyard for dimensioned lumber to better improve timber sales; and “ addressing constraints to fair access to external markets by our agro-processors.

The economy is being rebalanced to become more competitive and resilient. It is being prepared and primed for rapid economic transformation.

Decade of Development My Government is looking to the future. Guyana is entering a new phase of economic development. The advent of petroleum production, next year, will result in sustained expansion of the economy. Petroleum revenues will be prudently managed to ensure sustained benefits to all sectors of the economy. “A rising tide lifts all boats”.

We will launch a Decade of Development: 2020-2029.

The ‘Decade’ will witness the emergence of a world-class education system aimed at ensuring that the best skills are available for economic development. The ‘Decade’ will include 10 major sectors of development, inter alia: .

Education reform, accessible information technology and social cohesion;

.

Economic expansion, diversification, restructuring, value-added manufacturing and food security; . Energy security and transition to renewable and clean sources of energy; . Environmentally sustainable management of natural resources; . Empowerment of regional and local communities; . Eradication of extreme poverty, homelessness, and destitution; .

Infrastructural expansion, aviation and riverine transport and hinterland development; . Internationally competitive trade and investment; . National and border security, human safety and international relations; and . Institutional strengthening and constitutional reform for good governance.

The ‘Decade’ will place emphasis on education. Investment in education represents a large share of national Budget (17.5 percent), and 6.3 per cent of GDP. My Government will expand expenditure on education during the decade of development. We shall focus, increasingly, on graduating better trained teachers who could impart more critical thinking skills to children.

The public education system and curriculum will be modernised to reflect recent research and address advancements in pedagogy and learning for children.

My Government will improve access to education.

The Public Education and Transport Service (PETS) will be expanded to provide more boats, buses and bicycles to ensure that children attend school. The school-feeding programme will be expanded.

The public education will be reshaped to emphasise science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) without deemphasizing the humanities. The objectives of the ‘Decade’ are aligned to the Green State Development Strategy; Vision 2040 (GSDS) and to the Sustainable Development Agenda and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The ‘Decade’ will yield increased business opportunities, including for the manu-

facturing and services sectors. The ‘Decade’ will ensure an enabling environment which would allow our local businesses to capitalize on these opportunities. We envisage a future of thriving businesses and globallycompetitive manufacturing and services sectors.

The ‘Decade’ will accelerate the process of the renewal of regional development which commenced with the establishment of four new capital towns at Bartica, Lethem, Mabaruma and Mahdia and the holding of local government elections in 2016 and 2018.

These capital towns are expected to become drivers of the economic and social development of our regions, allowing for increased business opportunities and the improved access to public services.

The ‘Decade’ will promote sound environmental management of our natural resources. It will witness greater emphasis on preserving and protecting our environment for the benefit of future generations.

The ‘Decade’ will reduce youth unemployment. It will expand initiatives such as the Guyana Youth Corps, the Hinterland Entrepreneurship Youth Service (HEYS) and the Sustainable Livelihoods and Entrepreneurial Development (SLED) which are serving as incubators of youth entrepreneurship and skills-development.

The Green State Development Strategy has identified a pivotal role for manufacturing and services in our future economic development. The economy will be realigned along increased diversification and a low-carbon pathway. Emphasis will be placed on building a competitive manufacturing base and moving production away from primary production towards more value-added production of goods and services.

Guyana’s future is bright.

It is on the right path. It is moving forward. It will progress more rapidly in the Decade of Development 2020-2029.

The private sector, an engine of growth and an agent of national development, is expected to play an integral role in ensuring that the next 10 years are part of an era of unsurpassed and irreversible prosperity for all of our citizens.

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

Sunday October 06, 2019

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Kaieteur News

Understanding the different germs that can infect us

By Dr Zulfikar Bux Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine

W

e are all prone to getting infec tions. T hey are so many different infections that are caused by different germs.

Doctors treat infections according to the type of germ that is causing the infection.

Some persons think that antibiotics can cure all infections.

This is not the case.

Today I will expand on the different classes of germs so that you can understand why antibiotics are not always the solution.

BACTERIA There are many different types of bacteria. Some are helpful and protective to humans. Some flourish naturally in our bodies – particularly in the bowel and vagina – and help to protect the body from infections.

However, infections with certain bacteria can cause serious illnesses such as meningitis, pneumonia, tuberculosis, etc. A bacterial infection may be treated with a course of antibiotic medication.

VIRUSES These are smaller and different to bacteria. Many different types exist. Most of the

common ‘minor’ illnesses are caused by viruses. For example, colds, coughs, sore throats, chickenpox and some other rashes. Viral infections are much more common than bacterial and fungal infections.

For many viral infections, there are no effective antiviral medicines (unlike antibiotics for bacteria). Fortunately, the immune system in the body usually fights off most viral infections within a few days.

Taking ‘symptomatic’ treatments for a high fever, such as panadol and/or ibuprofen, resting and drinking plenty, is usually all that needs to be done to get better.

There are some antiviral medicines that are used for certain infections – such as antiretroviral medicines used to treat HIV. They usually work by stopping the virus from multiplying, and so ‘control’ the virus and the infection that it causes.

FUNGI Many types of fungi exist and cause problems in humans, animals and plants.

Fungal infections commonly affect the skin and nails in humans.

They can cause ringworm, athlete’s foot, other localised skin rashes and in-

fections in and around nails.

Modern creams usually work well to clear a local fungal rash quickly.

However, nail infections can be rather stubborn and may need long-term treatment of antifungal medicines taken by mouth.

Most fungi are free-living in the environment, and few of these are capable of causing infection in an otherwise healthy person. However, they can cause serious infections in patients with weakened immune systems PARASITES A parasite is a type of germ that needs to live on or in another living being (host) to survive. It gets its food from its host. Parasites are usually found in contaminated water or food.

They can also get into the body by insect bites or by sexual contact. Parasitic infections are more common in the tropical countries like Guyana.

They are more typically seen in people who have weakened immune systems (for example, those with HIV or those people taking chemotherapy for types of cancer).

Examples of diseases caused by parasites are malaria, amoebic dysentery and giardia. Threadworms, hookworms and tapeworms are

also parasites.

HOW CAN ANTIBIOTICS HELP? Antibiotics are not a ‘cure all’ for infections. Antibiotics will only clear infections caused by germs such as bacteria and some parasites.

They do not work when an infection is caused by viruses, fungi or yeasts. As mentioned, most common infections are caused by viruses when an antibiotic will not be of use.

Even if you have a bacterial infection, the immune system can clear most bacterial infections.

This means that antibiotics are not needed for minor infections. However, you do need antibiotics if you have certain serious infections caused by bacteria, such as meningitis, pneumonia or kidney infections. In these situations, antibiotics are often life-saving.

ARE ANTIBIOTICS ALWAYS GOOD? Antibiotics are not without problems. This is why it is not usually good practice to take antibiotics ‘just in

case’ an infection is bacterial, but to take them only when they are really needed. For e x a m p l e : -Antibiotics can cause sideeffects such as allergies, diarrhoea, rashes and nausea.

Side-effects are quite common. Most side-effects are not serious, but some people have died from a severe allergic reaction to an antibiotic. % Antibiotics can kill off normal ‘defence’ bacteria, which live in the bowel and vagina.

This may then allow other infections – for example, thrush – to develop. % Overuse of antibiotics has led to some bacteria mutating and becoming resistant to some antibiotics, which may then not work when really needed.

The more antibiotics are used, the greater the problem of antibiotic resistance. % When antibiotics are appropriately prescribed, it is important to take them as directed on your prescription and to complete the full course of treatment.

That often means continuing to take the antibiotics as

Dr Zulfikar Bux directed when you feel better. Failing to finish a course of treatment or failing to take the antibiotics as prescribed, can actually result in the growth of resistant antibioti c s . % Some antibiotics may interact with other medicines that you might take.

This may cause reactions, or reduce the effectiveness of one or other of the treatments. Your doctor is best at knowing what infection you have and what to treat it with.

Do not use antibiotics by yourself. There are risks and long-term consequences associated with this risky practice.

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Sunday October 06, 2019

Kaieteur News

SUNDAY TOTAL FAILS TO SUBMIT FARM-IN DETAILS FOR QATAR PETROLEUMDR. MARK BYNOE In late July, Qatar Petroleum announced in the media that it had bought 40 percent of the shares French oil major, Total, holds in the Orinduik Block. But up to Thursday last, the government is yet to receive the necessary documentation regarding this farm-in.

Confirming this, recently, was Energy Department Head, Dr. Mark Bynoe.

During an interview on Kaieteur Radio’s radio p rogramme “Guyana’s Oil and You,” Dr. Bynoe was asked if approval has been granted for the Qatar-Total deal. He answered in the negative.

The official said that truth be told; the government is still waiting on certain documents. “Until we have seen those, the government cannot adequately comment on what that arrangement is between the two.

“What I can say is that we are interested in seeing diversification in the basin but we must, at the same time, adhere to the laws of Guyana,” the Energy Department Head commented.

He further stated that it is not so much Qatar, but Total which promised to provide the information but is still to do so. Once this is done, he said that the Energy Department would have to vet the arrangement to see if it poses a security threat.

Dr. Bynoe said, “Remember we are dealing with a national entity. Now let me put to you the question, ‘If you have a company or the Venezuelan government seeking to farm into the Orinduik Block, how are you going to treat with that for example?’

“So in actual fact, we have to examine what are the issues around that before we are able to proceed…” Once that is done, Dr. Bynoe said that a recommendation would be made to the Ministry.

While the department is still waiting on the necessary documentation, Dr. Bynoe was reminded that various media reports show that Qatar Petroleum continues to be referred to as a partner in the Orinduik Block by other parties such as Eco Atlantic which holds a 15 percent interest in the offshore license.

To this Dr. Bynoe said, “Well, I am not aware but we met with Total and they said that they would submit the documents. Remember, any deal that is made between two (oil companies) would have to

be consummated by the government…Until such time, it doesn’t matter what else is said out there; it does not exist.”

TUGBOAT HEADED TO GUYANAGOES DOWN… 3 RESCUED, 11 FEARED DEAD Three crew members from a tugboat that issued a distress call on Thursday in waters dangerously close to Hurricane Lorenzo were found safe in a lifeboat Saturday.

The French Maritime Rescue Coordination Center confirmed the rescue to weather.com early Saturday afternoon.

“We have found a life raft with three persons on board,” MRCC manager Philippe Bricquer said in a phone interview. “Two of them are a little bit tired but the last one is in very good condition.”

The tugboat was headed to Guyana to lend support to the offshore oil activities.

There was no word on the 11 other crew members still missing from the tug Bourbon Rhode.

“We know that there were four life rafts on this ship. We found one,” Bricquer said.

“I’m not sure that the three others left the ship.”

Bricquer said the survivors were found by a French search plane about 9 a.m. UTC on Saturday. They reported that the boat had sunk Thursday, around midday UTC. An emergency beacon indicated the Bourbon Rhode was in the centre of the hurricane.

“They were a little bit north of the eye,” Bricquer said.

At that point in time, Lorenzo was a Category 4 hurricane with sustained winds up to 130 mph,

according to the National Hurricane Center. Waves reached more than 20 feet, with the possibility of considerably higher surf at times. It was also one of the furthest east major hurricanes ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean.

Bricquer said it was not yet known why or how the tugboat got caught up in the storm.

A NOAA hurricane research plane was assisting in the search Saturday. On Friday, a NOAA plane heading out to collect data on the record-breaking storm in the eastern Atlantic Ocean was diverted to the search.

VAST DESTRUCTION SEEN IN REG. 7 -GGMC HAS LITTLE CAPACITY TO MONITOR GOLD INDUSTRY Just a few miles from Essequibo River, in the Cuyuni/Mazaruni area of Region Seven, lies an area called Arimu. From above, a vast area of wastelands from a bad movie, has been carved out from the jungle with the waters ranging from blue to green to a sickly yellow.

Arimu is a mined out area that has small miners returning to sections of it, hoping to find the remains.

A significant part of it has already been parceled out to a number of prominent gold miners who control large plots of the country’s available lands that has been allocated for mining.

From Timehri, Arimu is about 50 miles due west.

On the ground, it is not unusual to find persons in the side trails with metal detectors.

One man showed a few flakes he found worth about $10,000.

A small clear area has shops and places for

partying and other night activities. Arimu is one of the hundreds of mined out areas which has been abandoned and left like that across the country…in Regions One, Seven and Eight and to a lesser extent, Region Nine.

It would be in conflict with the Code of Practice for Mine Reclamation and Closure Plans as published by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission in 2010.

Under those codes, miners have to return the lands to as much as possible to its natural state as possible.

This Code of Practice (Provision) is a mandatory one that applies to gold and diamond mining operations ranging in size from small scale to medium scale, GGMC said in explaining the Code of Practice.

The code was said to be subordinate to the Mining (Amendment) Regulations 2005 and was intended to complement regulatory requirements, not to replace them.

Compliance with the rules, regulations and laws is therefore necessary, GGMC said.

The miners are obligated to restore the site to a condition in which it is visually acceptable to the community and productive for further uses.

MONDAY STABROEK NEWS ACCUSES GOVT. OF WITHHOLDINGADS TO STIFLE FREE PRESS ACCUSATION IS ERRONEOUS; WILL PUT OUT STATEMENT TODAY – GOVT. The management of Stabroek News has accused the Department of Public

Information (DPI) of attempting to muzzle the free press through a targeted reduction in State Advertisements published in the newspaper.

But DPI Director, Imran Khan, has rejecting the Stabroek News allegation as “wholly erroneous, misleading and mischievous,” and has promised to present a thorough and comprehensive presentation of all the facts, today.

In an article in the Sunday Stabroek titled ‘DPI cuts state ads in Stabroek News’, the newspaper detailed what is stated were the results of an analysis it conducted on the placement of State ads in the four daily newspapers: Kaieteur News, Stabroek News, Guyana Chronicle, and Guyana Times.

The newspaper stated that it has noticed a marked decline in the number of stated ads placed per column inches as of June 2019 in the Stabroek News and Guyana Times, but no corresponding decrease in Kaieteur News and the Stateowned Guyana Chronicle.

It reported that the newspaper’s Editor-in-Chief, Anand Persaud, related how Guyana Publications Incorporated (GPI) – the publishers of Sunday Stabroek and Stabroek News – had written to DPI on May 22, 2019 to tell the State Publication that, due to a large outstanding debt for state ads, it would refuse to accept new placements until DPI substantially settled the amount outstanding.

Stabroek News reported that after the substantial settlement was made, GPI wrote in July last, to notify DPI that the flow of advertising would be returned to normalcy. It reportedly did not.

Stabroek News stated that though some Government

ads were placed in the newspaper since then, it was only because those advertisers insisted specifically on Stabroek News. It also went on to state that, while the Guyana Chronicle received the most state ads lately, with this publication coming in second, Stabroek News and Kaieteur News had benefitted from a near equal share of ads prior to the onset of the reductions.

Stabroek News has written extensively and with strong positions on Government’s actions following the passage of the No Confidence Motion in December 21, 2018. The newspaper suggested that DPI, “clearly rankled”, may be retaliating against it.

LAST WEEK FOR SUBMISSION OF COMMENTS ON DRAFT LOCAL CONTENT POLICY – ENERGY DEPT. HEAD Head of the Energy Department, Dr. Mark Bynoe has noted that while there have been concerns in the media about the weaknesses of the third draft of the Local Content Policy, formal submissions are yet to be received.

During an interview on Kaieteur Radio’s “Guyana’s Oil and You” Programme, the official cautioned that this is the last week for which an extension would be granted to receive comments. He said that while he would like to have the policy in place before first oil, the absence of commentary is what appears to be holding up consultant, Dr. Michael Warner in finishing the document.

Dr. Bynoe also sought to remind that the policy is in draft mode and is subject to (Continued on page 33)

Sunday October 06, 2019

From page 32 change. The Director of the Energy Department categorically stated that ultimately, he wants a document that will bring the most benefits to Guyana.

During the discourse, this newspaper brought to the attention of Dr. Bynoe, the contentious provision in the draft, that proposes to make confidential, the Local Content Reports submitted by oil companies.

It was also highlighted that Ghana and 20 other countries do not support or have in their policies, such restrictions which would hinder the ability of the citizenry to hold the regulators, the companies and the government, accountable on the issue of local content.

Dr. Bynoe said that from where he sits, if the reports can be revealed, it would serve to debunk rumours that Guyanese companies are not benefitting from the oil supply chain and that many locals are not being employed.

He reminded once more that submissions regarding the weaknesses of the draft local content policy can be submitted this week to the Department of Energy which is housed in the Ministry of Presidency.

LINDEN GANG WAR TURNS BLOODY…GUNMEN IN CAR CHASE DOWNAND EXECUTE MAN, WOUND GIRLFRIEND An escalating gang war turned bloody on Saturday night, when gunmen in hoodies executed an excop’s brother and wounded his 20year-old girlfriend at Amelia’s Ward, after chasing them down in a car.

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Dead is Eon Williams, the cousin of former policeman Teon Allen, who is suspected to be the leader of a gang in the mining town.

His girlfriend, 20-year-old Melita Antigua, also known as Onika Benjamin, a teacher, was reportedly shot in the leg and back and is said to be in a stable condition at the Linden Hospital Complex.

A police source revealed that Williams travelled in a black Nissan Duke PYY 732, to pick up his young girlfriend and drop her off at a birthday party at around 20:00hrs.

Melita Antigua entered the car where she and Williams were reportedly chatting when the gunmen, in another vehicle, opened fire.

The couple drove to Lover’s Lane, Amelia’s Ward, with the gunmen in pursuit.

It was then the couple exited the car in a bid to escape. They were however run down by the gunmen who riddled Williams and shooting his girlfriend in the leg and back.

The badly wounded couple was rushed to hospital where Williams succumbed.

The gunmen escaped on foot after ditching their vehicle.

Reports indicate that the shooting began between First and Third Streets, Amelia’s Ward, Linden and ended at Lover’s Lane.

Based on reports, a Black Nissan was seen trailing Williams in the Amelia’s Ward area, early Saturday night. The occupants later opened fire on Williams car.

Commander of E Division, Superintendent Ramesh Ashram has meanwhile said that so far there have been no arrests, in relation to the incident.

It is believed that Williams was slain in retaliation for a shooting allegedly committed by his cousin, Teon Allen, also known as “Spoiled Child.”

According to some reports, the first incident was perpetrated by notorious ex-policeman Teon Allen, aka ‘Spoil Child.’

TUESDAY ALMOST $30B SPENT ON 500 GUYANESE BUSINESSES IN FIRST HALF OF 2019 – EXXONMOBIL COUNTRY MANAGER Country Manager of ExxonMobil Guyana, Rod Henson, stated Monday at the Pegasus Hotel that he is quite pleased with the strides his company, as well as its subcontractors, have been making to ensure they make significant use of local goods, labour and services for their operations.

At an open house discussion on the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the Payara field, Henson said that as of the middle of 2019, more than 1300 Guyanese have been working on Exxon’s projects and a little over 300 of them are women.

He said, too, that nearly 500 local businesses have been supplying their goods and services to the projects while noting that almost $30B has been spent in this regard just in the first half of 2019.

The Country Manager said he is proud of these results while assuring that efforts would be made to improve over time. For those who may be seeking similar opportunities, he encouraged them

to sign up with Exxon’s Centre for Local Business Development which is located on South Road.

While ExxonMobil and its partners continue their local content efforts, the Energy Department has said that it is in the process of establishing a Local Content Compliance Unit which is expected to validate the information it receives from oil majors operating offshore Guyana as well as address potential issues or concerns Guyanese suppliers or contractors may have.

This was noted a few weeks ago

by Energy Department Head, Dr. Mark Bynoe.

In addition, Dr. Bynoe informed this newspaper recently that this is the last week for the submission of comments on the draft Local Content Policy.

During an interview on Kaieteur Radio’s, “Guyana’s Oil and You” Programme, the official said that while he would like to have the policy in place before first oil, the absence of commentary is what appears to be holding up consultant, Dr. Michael Warner in finishing the document.

REDUCTION OF STATE ADS… GOVT AND STABROEK NEWS HOLD CONFLICTING VIEWS The Department of Public Information (DPI) has come out with an extensive statement replying to the accusation by Stabroek News that it is withholding State Ads to punish the newspaper for its strong positions on Government’s handling of the December 21, 2018 No Confidence Motion.

But Stabroek News Editor-inChief, Anand Persaud, told Kaieteur

News Monday that the explanation

by DPI in its statement is insufficient to prove that Government is attempting to stifle the independent newspaper. He told Kaieteur News that the explanation is a fabrication to hide from the true political motivations behind the withholding of ads.

In the statement, DPI assured that there is no removal of Government advertising from any newspaper. It stated categorically that there is no evidence to support the Stabroek News allegation, deeming it to be false, erroneous, malicious and self-serving.

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo had been singled out in the initial Stabroek News article.

DPI’s statement said that Nagamootoo, upon reading the accusation, had requested that DPI provide an explanation.

DPI blamed the reduction in advertisements over the past two months, in the Stabroek News, on a May 22, 2019 letter by Guyana Publications Incorporated (GPI) – the publishers of Sunday Stabroek and Stabroek News.

That letter was to tell DPI that due to a large outstanding debt for state ads, it would refuse to accept new placements until DPI substantially settled the amount outstanding. DPI stated that the action by Stabroek News was “highhanded, irresponsible and malicious”.

To buttress that contention, it noted that the $22,118,485 which it had owed Stabroek News at the time of receipt of that letter was not an unusual amount, and that it has owed other newspapers even larger (Continued on page 41)

Kaieteur News

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Sunday October 06, 2019

COUNTRYMAN

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

Our continuous psychic pain

By Dennis Nichols

F

or what it's worth, I've used this week's column to traverse the road of pain – the lonely subjective kind, born of psychological trauma and empathy, including our reaction to unpleasant situations and events beyond our personal space, and our control.

It's a human and global experience, and in little Guyana we are getting our share of it. The mental anguish we experience over personal problems is heightened, and interwoven with whatever distress we feel or imagine another person, family or community is going through.

And in Guyana, where people so readily relate to one another, this psychic 'pain' may be expressed personally or communally, and often subliminally, so we may not be fully aware of why we feel the way we do.

This phenomenon, also referred to as emotional pain, is probably the most pervasive kind felt by human beings. The discomfort is

described as functional, meaning there isn't an organic cause. Under this broad heading also falls empathic pain, a sensation felt by someone who so understands another person's trauma that he/she literally feels a degree of corresponding physical or emotional anguish and/or compassion, which if handled correctly, can have great therapeutic benefits.

The science behind it is not an exact one, and some medical/scientific experts still consider pain a strictly physical event, but to many who experience it, the feelings are subjectively real.

And the person whose pain you empathize with doesn't have to be physically present before you. I know, because I experience empathic vibes almost daily when I pick up the Kaieteur News (or any other newspaper) watch the news on television, or surf the internet. It stares me in the face and kicks me in the gut, yet I find myself unable to stop myself from reading and listening to 'bad' news.

Furthermore, as I speak with family members and friends, and listen to street talk, I conclude that almost everyone experiences this kind of pain sensation in varying degrees.

It confuses some of us because it is often difficult to determine how and when our own feelings overlap and intermingle with those of others. Out of this confusion may emerge other feelings, for example, of our own helplessness, as well as nonreaction or overreaction to someone else's felt injury.

And it's difficult to be objective about it.

Many Guyanese are experiencing some degree of fear and apprehension.

To the numerous acts of lawlessness, murder, rape, robbery, shootings, child abuse, trafficking, domestic violence, and white-collar misconduct, add the spate of fatal road accidents, mining pit disasters and occasional river mishaps and you have, as I alluded to earlier, individual and national angst.

Add further some elements of global chaos,

and you can understand why people, especially the more religious or spirituallyinclined, are wondering just how close we may be to an apocalyptic doomsday, Guyana's and Planet Earth's.

Don't even ask about the savagery and lunacy of international and domestic terrorism and crime.

Across the globe, and obviously in Guyana, we live our lives daily, caught up in our own individual adversities and aspirations.

Yet we either unconsciously or knowingly empathize with others, more so with each other's painful experiences than with the joyful ones, which I guess that is one of the reasons that bad news seems so much more contagious than good news, or perceived to be that way. (Of course this isn't to say we don't share each other's' joy; it's just that we tend to feel each other's pain more acutely) N o t s u r p r i s i n g l y, empathic people often mask their inner struggle. There's the functional mask of efficiency worn in the workplace, the anger mask to

keep people at a distance, the happy mask which fools everyone but you, and the people-pleasers' mask which makes us do what we think will make others happy, usually at the expense of our self-worth.

I am always struck by people who are obviously hurting but quickly invoke the 'I'm too blessed to be stressed' mantra often perfunctorily. Faith in God's blessings is great, but a mask doesn't banish emotional pain. Remove it. Maya Angelou says, “…we all have empathy; we may not have enough courage to display it.'

That's what Dan Vento, who watched his nine yearold daughter degenerate and die from bone cancer, felt, and did.

Speaking after the funeral, he said that both he and his wife felt as if the cancer was ripping through their bones too. He admitted, “I felt weak and lightheaded all the time like I might pass out, and needed to grab onto something – a chair, the wall, anything – to keep from falling.” Some psychologists

Dennis Nichols are now declaring that such sensations are as much in the body as in the mind.

Psychic pain is real, and serves many purposes. One is that it helps us to remember that the often repeated adage 'no man is an island' is more than a cliché.

It is a reminder of our shared humanity with all its glory and gore. Here in Guyana, if we admit empathy's therapeutic value, it may very well help us bond as a people who 'look out' for one another, and our country.

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

Sunday October 06, 2019

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Kaieteur News

Direct Oil Benefit/ Cash Transferthrough Social Programmes is Essential

T

here is nothing new about Social Programmes with direct and indirect Cash Transfers, with or without conditionalities. This topic has emerged with the potential estimated oil wealth projected to place Guyana among top oilproducing countries per capita. Guyana's growth rate is expected to move from its highest eight percent to 30 plus percent.

Cash transfer programmes already exist in our society where we see the business sector getting indirect forms of cash transfers through tax waivers, duty-free concessions and much more.

The elderly and others in need receive Social Assistance in the form of direct cash benefit. Cash transfers can be with or without conditions attached, some can be and are already done using a means test.

This is evident with the

Social Assistance programme.

Applying qualifying conditionalities allows government the opportunity to maximize on societal compliance in areas of need.

For example, persons accessing direct transfers can be required to pursue and complete certain educational programmes, achieve certain grades, ensure their children are vaccinated, and so forth.

The opportunities and conditionalities are limitless.

The benefits to society are bountiful and Guyanese must not allow this opportunity for people's empowerment from Direct Oil Benefit (DOB) be dismissed as encouraging mendicancy. It is a vision any caring, progressive government is expected to explore and have.

The World Bank holds the perspective that cash transfers are a Safety Net for many in society. and defines this as "the provision of

assistance in the form of cash to the poor or to those who face a probable risk of falling into poverty in the absence of the transfer.

The main objective of these programmes is to increase poor and vulnerable households' real income."

According to the Bank some areas targeted to achieve the objective are:-"i) Conditional cash transfer; ii) Fee waivers for health services; iii) Fee waivers for other services; iv) Foodrelated programmes; v) Microfinance; vi) Public works; vi) Price and other subsidies; vii) School feeding programmes."

Going by the aforesaid Guyana had/has both direct and indirect cash transfer as evident in PNC Government free uniform distribution, PPP/C government school uniform voucher, school feeding programme and recent grants given to the Amerindian community for micro-financing.

In 1976, after the nationalisation of bauxite and under the vision of the Forbes Burnham Government the Guyana Mining Enterprise (GUYMINE) established a Housing Department.

That year the bauxite unions- Guyana Mine Workers Union (GMWU) and Guyana Bauxite Supervisors Union (GBSU) now the Guyana Bauxite & General Workers Union (GB&GWU)- negotiated w i t h G U Y M I N E management a Loan and Grant Scheme for workers. his achieved a six-thousand dollars ($6000.00) grant buttressed by a six-thousand ($6000.00) interest-free loan for the purchase or construction of homes.

There were housing developments such as the construction of Amelia Ward self-help, Wisroc housing scheme, Ituni housing scheme, Kwakwani housing scheme, and Bermine

housing scheme in New Amsterdam.

Likewise, with the nationalisation of sugar, the Burnham government maintained the Sugar Industry Welfare Fund which was introduced in colonial times. This money went towards loans for workers employed in the industry for the purchase of house lots and home construction. The Fund also provided money for improving and building culverts, bridges and roads in communities adjoining the sugar estates. These were not only of personal benefit they benefitted entire communities.

What is observed in the era of oil and gas wealth is that talk of cash transfer is seemingly not finding favour among some in society. I have experienced talking to people about cash transfer and the immediate response is negative. Some are of the simplistic view cash

transfers will create a lazy society and dependent people. This is a negative 'class think' and an antiprogressive way of looking at the role of Government to provide additional safety net for those so needing, of spreading wealth and creating development.

There is a notable change and willingness to rethink their initial negativity towards cash transfers after I identify specific areas that they are able to relate to, that is already existing and those with the potential for development and expansion.

I also find that using the term Direct Oil Benefit (DOB) seems more acceptable. After all who among our average citizens will not welcome some DOB in the form of cash transfers whether direct or indirect with or without conditionalities. We know government will build schools, and other capital (continued on page 49)

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Sunday October 06, 2019

Sunday October 06, 2019

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

T

he degu (Octodon degus, /ˈdeɪɡuː/) is a small caviomorph rodent endemic to the Chilean matorral ecoregion of central Chile.

The name "degu" on its own indicates either the genus Octodon or, more usually, O. degus. Degus are in the parvorder Caviomorpha of t h e i n f r a o r d e r Hystricognathi, along with the chinchilla and guinea pig. The word degu comes from the Mapudungun dewü (mouse, rat).

The degu is a small animal with a body length of 25.0 to 31.0 cm (9.8–12.2 in) and a weight of 170 to 400 g (6.0 to 14.1 oz). It has yellow-brown fur above and creamy-yellow below, with yellow around the eyes and a paler band around the neck.

It has a long, thin tail with a tufted, black tip, dark sparsely furred ears, and pale grey toes. Its fifth toe is small with a nail, rather than a claw, on the fore feet. Its hind feet are bristled. Its cheek teeth are shaped like figuresof-eight, hence the degu's genus name Octodon.

Degus are highly social.

They live in burrows, and, by digging communally, they

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The

Degu are able to construct larger and more elaborate burrows than they could on their own.

Degus digging together coordinate their activities, forming digging chains.

Females living in the same group have been shown to spontaneously nest communally; they nurse one another's young. They spend a large amount of time on the surface, where they forage for food. When foraging, their ability to detect predators is increased in larger groups, and each animal needs to spend less time in vigilance.

Degus exhibit a wide array of communication techniques. They have an elaborate vocal repertoire comprising up to 15 unique sounds, and the young need to be able to hear their mother's calls if the emotional systems in their brains are to develop properly. They use their urine to scent mark, and experiments have shown that they react to one another's marks, although in males the hormone testosterone may suppress their sense of smell somewhat.

Degus are seasonal breeders; the breeding season for wild degus begins in the Chilean autumn when

day and night are roughly equal, with pups born in early to mid-spring. Female degus are pregnant for approximately ninety days, having a comparatively long gestation period compared to other non-caviomorph rodents. Female pregnant weight varies over the course of gestation and according to litter size; litters contain an average of six pups, but size can range from one or two up to 12 young.

Degu pups are born relatively precocial, fully furred, with eyes open, and their auditory and visual systems are functional at birth. Unlike most other rodents, male degus also take part in protecting and raising their pups until they are old enough to leave the family.

Un l i k e s o m e o t h e r octodontids, degus are diurnal (active during the day), and they have good vision. Their retinas include rod cells and two types of cone cells, corresponding to peak sensitivity in the green and ultraviolet regions of the spectrum. Behavioral experiments have shown that degus are able to discriminate ultraviolet light from the wavelengths visible to humans; it is likely that this ultraviolet sensitivity

has a social function, since both their ventral (stomach) fur and their urine are highly UV reflective.

Degus are strictly herbivorous, in the wild feeding on grasses and browsing the leaves of shrubs, though they will also take seeds. Throughout much of the year forage is dried and so degus are specially adapted to a very high fibre intake, and this varies between food types and environmental conditions. Like some other herbivores such as rabbits, they perform coprophagy (faecal re-ingestion) so as to extract more nutrition from

their diet. This also serves to maintain healthy gut function during times when food is scarce. Although they are active by day, in high summer they do not leave their burrows in the middle of the day and instead emerge to forage in the mornings and evenings.

Perhaps the most remarkable feature of degu physiology is their intolerance of dietary sugar.

Degus have been found to have a divergent insulin structure (one of the hormones that regulate blood glucose level) and so are highly susceptible to developing diabetes mellitus

when fed regularly on a diet containing free sugars.

This is thought to be due to evolutionary pressure arising from the lack of availability of free sugars in the degu's natural environment. Because of this, the ingredients of nondegu-specific hard feed formulations given to captive degus should be checked for free-sugar substances, such as molasses, honey and glucose syrup.

So m e j u r i s d i c t i o n s consider degus as a potential invasive species and forbid owning them as a pet.

[Source: Wikipedia]

Kaieteur News

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Sunday October 06, 2019

K Healing the present O

BO

Book: Unknown Soldier Author: Sensi Seneviratne Critic: Glenville Ashby, PhD

P

o e t S e n s i Seneviratne's visionary work, Unknown Soldier, speaks to the transcultural virtue of filial piety. It is on the edifice of her father's past - her memories - that Seneviratne finds wholeness. Her words are wistful, hagiographic, cathartic and therapeutic.

She peers through the crevices of time in search of meaning. The past, ever nuanced and interpretative, challenges the most discerning among us. We must connect the dots sewing together every

with the past

disjointed piece for clarity.

The poet journeys through the cycles of time, from her father's military service, to fatherhood, to his waning health to his last breath. Aesthetically, she captures episodic tales through photos, letters and narratives. His experiences in the 1939-1945 desert war of North Africa, the banter and camaraderie, and the destiny that shadowed him.

Her words are weighty, swaying like a pendulum, each direction sparring with the other for emotional relevance. Her optimism and acceptance are at times overcome with guilt and fatalism. Such was the emotive bond they shared.

Notably, every selection resonates with palpable feeling. 'Love of My Life,' 'Low Moments,' 'Troopship,'

'The Habit of Hope' and 'When Someone's Got Your Back,' speak to the vicissitudes and vagaries of the human experience.

In 'Dear Dad,' her father's calm stoicism under weighty conditions evoke admiration.

“It's so typical of you to think of going up on the deck when tough seas made the mess unbearable,” she writes.

Tinged with guilt, she adds, “That reference to your trip on the Orama from Ceylon to England 12 years ago makes me so sorry I never asked you more about that crossing as well as this one.” In “Photo Albums' she regresses, her mind filled with images. A picture tells a thousand words, and from these images, she learns gratitude, understanding the sacrifices of parenthood and the 'divinity' of the bloodline.

With nostalgia, she recounts - “I am on his knee, eight months old, my small face inside a fluffy bonnet.

On one side my sister, his arm around her and one of his fingers reaching to touch her hand my brother nestled into the crook of his other arm. His looks intent on keeping us safe.”

History, we gather, can never be fully recaptured. Its nuances and subtleties run deep obfuscating our search for knowledge. It is a philosophy that weaves through 'The Monument.'

“It's merely the slabs of

stone...they recall the granite of old graveyards, it's the filling in the gaps, the acceptance of what's missing in the spaces between,” she pens.

In 'Remember,' our imprints imbue nature for all eternity. Our thought forms, so charged with yearning that others relive them.

Seneviratne explores this phenomenon, writing, “...the first walk in the woods [...] before bending to see the face of a woman carved by the movement of rock against itself, her brow leaning against stone, her gaze fixed on an elephant dancing under a bright fern which had sprouted against all odds, from a cleft in the rock.” Seneviratne produces her most memorial writing in 'Last Visit to the Hospice, recounting her father's last moments.

“He was on the edge of heaven, talking to the dead, I, the non-believer, stayed there with him and quenched his quiet thirst with sips of water,” she recalls. “In the end it seems that all I'd ever wanted was to hold his hand in comfort, so I held his hand; it was the only thing to do, and quenched his quiet thirst with sips of water.”

'At the Co-op funeral directors,' there is an organic quietude to dying, a stillness where she finds transcendence and oneness with her father. There is no “submitting to the formal

requirements of dying.”

There is rather an authenticity “to the business of grieving, “ as she honoured her mother's words, “I want him buried in his pajamas.”

The Unknown Soldier redefines the meaning of ancestral veneration and its long-held religious carapace. The writer's father is central, a figure that bridges all of time. There is a redemptive, almost salvific quality to the fatherdaughter bond, not in a spiritual sense. Seneviratne is an unbeliever; that much she conceded.

But in some profound way, her faith is far deeper than she cares to understand.

To honour an ancestor so

selflessly and yearningly, not with rituals, but with the heart, reaps a meed that spans many lifetimes.

Surely, Seneviratne is blessed in ways unimaginable.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper) F e e d b a c k : glenvilleashby@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter@glenvilleashby © 2 0 1 9 S e n s i Seneviratne Publisher: Peepal Tree Press Ltd I S B N 1 3 : 9781845234515 Available: at Amazon Ratings: Recommended

Sunday October 06, 2019

Kaieteur News

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THE

PAGE 40

Sunday October 06, 2019

STORY WITHIN THE

An election date, flooding and chicken curry

By Leonard Gildarie

I

must confess that there are two sports that I live for each year‌the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

The shorter version of the game has grown in such popularity that it has dented Tests and One-Days.

Stars are born in the T20 version of cricket and the adoration for the version of the game has pushed boundaries.

In India, IPL is jealously guarded and regulated, making billions of dollars and over a decade-old, it is big business that runs for an entire month. Our West Indian players, like so many from around the cricketing world, have made serious money after they were lucky enough to be drafted.

I recalled the first T20 games in the 2000s when jailed Antiguan businessman Allen Sanford organized and announced that he was paying big time for a shorter version of the game.

As the T20 tournament proceeded, it gathered momentum. Guyana was in the finals and citizens cried and hugged after the heroics of Ramnaresh Sarwan and Narsingh Deonarine who won the tournament for us.

Since then, T20 has become a giant.

The past few weeks, the region and rest of the cricketloving world were tuned to the Caribbean for the biggest party.

From Barbados, to Antigua to St Kitts, Trinidad and of course, Guyana, the grounds were swelled with the crowds.

The noise, the costumes, the lights and of course, the unbelievable performance by the stars of the show indeed made it a big party.

Save for the malls and creeks, Guyana is starved for entertainment.

CPL at the Providence stadium could not have gotten better.

The grounds have been swelling. There were videos of our people dancing.

Perhaps the biggest for me was the light-hearted bantering between Guyana

and Trinidad whether it is chicken curry or curry chicken. The winner had bragging rights and power to decide.

CPL has been bonded our people like no event.

It is social cohesion in its truest form.

Our people stood t o g e t h e r, s h o u l d e r- t o s h o u l d e r, b r o t h e r a n d brother, brother and sister and in a good natured manner stood up to the curry chicken of Trinidad.

It is that type of patriotism that should be prevalent in our everyday lives.

We are heading into an elections that will be the mother of all.

Make no mistakes. The stakes are high. The winning Coalition or party will have control of our oil proceeds.

As a people, we will split and view our brothers of a different makeup with distrust.

It is what politics has done to us.

We refuse to vote issues.

We refuse to look at the bigger picture.

We need to be CPLbonded as we march into elections.

Our country can illafford any deviations. We are our worst enemy.

Last week, we watched in despair as something happened.

It is a yearly event now, and it is getting worse each time.

Yes, we are talking about the tides.

All along the coastlands, very few communities were spared.

The harsh realities are upon us. On the coastlands, we are below sea level. The only thing that stands between us and the ferocity of Mother Nature is a wall.

The wall will crumble.

We have too little resources to properly maintain the seawall and even when it is done, the contractors continue to rob us.

The other factor that we have to take into consideration is that the tides have been coming stronger and higher.

The waves that smashed into the walls on West Demerara, in the Uitvlugt

Leonard Gildarie and Anna Catherina areas, were unbelievable and beautifully dangerous.

There are getting bigger each year.

The problem has been blamed on the climate change. The ocean has been rising.

I saw videos of Wakenaam and Leguan, two islands in the Essequibo River which were both at the mercies of the waters that flowed onto the land.

Homes were swamped and it appeared that a tsunami was in full swing.

We are facing our biggest natural threats yet.

It will get worse.

Our farmers, engineers, citizens and Government alike will have to start seriously planning for the future.

Our capital city is congested.

Our Parliament Building is next to Stabroek, the busiest area in the city.

The Guyana Revenue Authority is moving to a headquarters near to the limits of the city.

We have to start thinking seriously of moving our essential services more inland.

Our policy makers on farming will have to focus more on drainage and irrigation.

We cannot have last minutes fixes and regional people who are lazy.

The corruption at the regional levels has been unbelievable from what I am told.

Maintenance and a strict adherence to designs will have to be followed to the minute.

I hurt for the farmers who lost crops and will not be able to return to their lands for a couple of years.

The impact of climate change is upon us and it will take lots of money to get us ready, to reduce the impact.

It is frightening what I witnessed with those waves.

It will get worse.

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

Sunday October 06, 2019

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Kaieteur News

From page 33 sums. It also stated that no newspaper has ever imposed such a blockade for outstanding debts, purporting that it has a tendency to clear the buildups of debt once the funds are made available.

COASTLAND RESIDENTS BRACE FOR MORE FLOODING – ADVISED TO TAKE NECESSARY PRECAUTION Guyanese living and dwelling along the coastland are being advised to take the necessary precautions as the country braces for more flooding, following extreme high tide.

According to an advisory issued by the Hydro Meteorological Office of Guyana, the next expected high tide was expected at 17:18 hours (5:18pm) Monday afternoon. According to the weather forecast, the waves will reach a height of 3:32 metres.

As such, residents living in along coastal areas especially on West Coast Demerara are advised to take all necessary precautions against flooding.

Over the weekend, residents of Cullen and Onderneeming on the Essequibo Coast; Cane Garden, Cane Field, Elizabeth Ann, Waterloo, Maryville, Retrieve and Blenheim on the island of Leguan; Zeelandia, Maria Pleasure, Belle Plaine, Sans Souci, and Moorfarm on the island of Wakenaam; Parika, Den Amstel, Anna Catherina, Hague, and Utivlugt on the West Coast of Demerara; New Hope, Good Success, Friendship

and Garden of Eden on the East Bank of Demerara; Helena along the Mahaica River; and New Amsterdam, Sheet Anchor and Wellington Park in Region 6 experienced severe flooding as a result of overtopping at the river and sea defences.

At Mahaicony, significant stretches of earthen embankment have been

subjected to severe erosion and overtopping due to the exceptional natural erosion of the foreshore and the depletion of the system of mangrove.

Residents complained the condition of the shoreline escalated due to the impacts of the current spring tide.

There were major breaches which occurred

releasing salt water into the adjacent Bellamy Canal and agriculture lands.

Monday, the Ministry of Public Health issued an advisory called on residents in the affected areas to take the necessary precaution and special attention on their health, personal hygiene, vector control, food and water safety so as to avoid adverse

effects of flooding.

WEDNESDAY WORLD BANK BLACKLISTS CHINESE CONTRACTOR BUILDING E.C.D. HIGHWAY The World Bank has barred the Chinese contractor involved in the East Coast

Demerara road expansion project from participating in any of its projects.

The sanctions, according to the World Bank, will last for two years.

According to the World Bank, China Railway First Group (Guyana) Co Limited is ineligible because it breached Procurement Guidelines. The (Continued on page 42)

PAGE 42

From page 41 sanction is for the period September 17th, 2019 to September 16th, 2021.

World Bank’s documents explained that the sanction is the result of a Settlement Agreement and that the sanction imposed on China Railway First Group Co. Ltd. (“CRFG”) and extends to any legal entity that it directly or indirectly controls.

In July 2014, the Chinese company which had been set to construct the almostUS$1B Amaila Falls hydro project that the Coalition has voted down while in opposition, was awarded a contract for US$45.5M. Four Chinese construction companies had tendered for the Ministry of Public Works project to widen the East Coast Demerara (ECD) public road.

But it was awarded to China Railway First Group Company Limited which had the lowest bid.

The contract awarded to China Railway involved in the extension of the four-lane and upgrades between Better Hope and Belfield.

China Railway has been under fire for its lack of adherence to environmental regulations on that project.

The loan for US$45.5M is a concessional one from China.

Guyana has been battling a number of Chinese contractors who have been receiving more and more contracts in Guyana.

However, there has been growing concerns over the quality of work and work practices on the projects.

GECOM EXTENDS CLAIMS AND OBJECTIONS PERIOD TO 42 DAYS – WILL NOT AFFECT READINESS FOR ELECTIONS DATE Claims and Objections will run for 42 days, and not 35 days as was previously decided on by the Commission.

During a statutory meeting Tuesday, the Commission voted to extend the period. However, the three Opposition-nominated Commissioners did not support this vote.

There was some disagreement among the Commissioners about how long the exercise should last.

It all started when an order, the National Registration (Residents) Order No. 70 of 2019, had incorrectly set the date at 49 (42+7) days.

Commissioners Robeson Benn and Sase Gunraj had hosted a press conference, during which they pointed out the two-week difference between the initial decision of

Sunday October 06, 2019

Kaieteur News

the Commission, for 35 days, and the Order.

Kaieteur News, via a source at GECOM, had been notified that the Chair of the Commission, (ret’d) Justice Claudette Singh S.C. swiftly moved to have that fixed. But on Monday, it turned out that the change she made in the Order was for 42 days, instead of 35. The Oppositionnominated Commissioners were also dissatisfied with this, and had vowed to raise the issue at Tuesday’s statutory meeting.

After the meeting, Benn approached reporters, describing the vote to extend the period as an “unsatisfactory occurrence”, as he, Gunraj and Bibi Shadick said that a decision on the period of the exercise should not have been revisited.

A major point of contention for those Commissioners is that the Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield, in both instances, added extra days to the 35 initially decided on, in defiance of the Commission’s vote. It was revealed, Tuesday, that Lowenfield made the addition because, in initially deciding on 35 days, the Commission had been working with a work-plan which placed General and Regional Elections on February 24, 2020, according to Shadick. Since the President announced that elections would be held on March 2, 2020 – a week later – Lowenfield reportedly made the decision himself, in the interest of giving the electorate more time to have their claims and objections sorted out.

Commissioner Vincent Alexander, when pointed to the fact that the Secretariat acted in defiance of the Commission’s decision, defended the Secretariat, stating that it “advisably” made the decision. He further provided that the change of the period is not fundamental; that it will not affect GECOM’s ability to be ready

by Election Day. THURSDAY CASH TRANSFERS FROM OIL… GRANGER PREFERS TO ‘TEACH CITIZENS TO FISH’ Government is not immediately looking to dole out oil proceeds directly into the hands of Guyanese.

Wednesday, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Karen Cummings, made it clear that education is where the Coalition Government prefers to invest in.

The issue of cash transfers, as it is known, surfaced months ago with Professor Clive Thomas

The Liza Unity under construction

being the first to float the idea.

There was immediate interest but the big question that remained was how much money would be needed to sustain such a programme.

In New York recently, the Foreign Minister reportedly told attendees that the issue of cash transfer was one under active consideration by the administration.

Wednesday, during a press conference at her South Road office, Dr. Cummings disclosed that there is no shift in the stance of the Government.

“Not at all…What my President (David Granger) is saying that education is the key…education is the key…education is the key.”

She said that Government is not going to give a man “fish handouts”.

“We don’t want Guyanese to say give me this, give me that, having them line up. We want to empower our women, empower people.

Teach them to fish. So that is where we are going.”

Some of the money is going towards education- free education from nursery to university, she said.

“So those who had not a chance to go to university will have a chance.”

She said when her government is returned to power, Foreign Ministry staffers will be going to the university for more education.

However, she said that Government is looking at all the possibilities of ensuring the Guyanese benefit.

GUYANA TO PAYALMOST US$3B TO LEASE TWO OIL STORAGE VESSELS The Liza Destiny which is Guyana’s first Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel will be leased for approximately US$1.2B while the second FPSO, called the Liza Unity, will be leased for approximately US$1.6B. ExxonMobil’s subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), and its partners on

the Stabroek Block, Hess Corporation and CNOOC/ NEXEN, will be handling these costs but will recover same.

Just recently, Country Manager for ExxonMobil, Rod Henson, noted that the Liza Unity is already under construction by Dutch firm, SBM Offshore, at yards in China and Singapore.

SBM in its 2019 half year earnings report states that the Liza Destiny contract covers 10 years of lease and operate but based on discussion with the client (ExxonMobil), it is expected that the client will purchase the unit after a period of up to two years of operations.

As for the Liza Unity contract, SBM said that it covers a maximum period of two years of lease and operate within which the unit will be purchased by the client.

Kaieteur News understands that the Liza Unity FPSO design is based on SBM Offshore industry leading Fast4WardTM programme as it incorporates the company’s new build, multi-purpose hull combined with several standardized topsides modules.

It was further noted by the company that the FPSO will be designed to produce 220,000 barrels of oil per day, will have associated gas treatment capacity of 400 million cubic feet per day and water injection capacity of 250,000 barrels per day.

Additionally, the FPSO will be moored in water depth of about 1,600 meters and will be able to store around two million barrels of crude oil.

US$720M Liza Destiny BARGE OWNERS TO PAY OVER $100M FOR DAMAGE TO HARBOUR BRIDGE

Infrastructure, David Patterson told Kaieteur News Wednesday that the bill has already been submitted to the owners of the vessels.

Patterson said that the Panama-registered barge remains impounded in Guyana.

“I also asked the Demerara Harbour Bridge lawyers to file civil suit against them. That will be added to the bridge cost,” Patterson said.

He had indicated that the owners would also be billed for revenue lost when the bridge was out of operation, and for damage to a woman’s car.

It was on Monday, September 2, that a tug, Marina Oceanic and a barge, manned by Cubans, and registered in Panama, rammed into the Demerara Harbour Bridge, badly damaging the 40-year-old structure and leaving hundreds of commuters stranded for several hours.

The bridge remained inoperable for almost 36 hours. Initial reports had suggested that the vessels had drifted and slammed into the bridge after the crew experienced mechanical problems while anchoring in the Grove/Diamond area of the river.

But sources close to the investigation said that it appeared that the individuals operating the tug had shut the engine off, and anchored the vessel “out of the anchorage point” (in an area where vessels are prohibited from anchoring) It is believed that the crew wanted to be among the first to pass when the bridge was opened for vessels to traverse. However, they apparently didn’t reckon with the strong tides.

FRIDAY

The owners of the tug and barge that rammed into the Demerara Harbour Bridge last month will have to repay over $100M to Government for repairs to the damaged structure.

Minister of Public

JAGDEO SAYS HE WAS WRONG TO WITHHOLD STATE ADS FROM NEWSPAPERS Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo believes that

it is wrong for a Government to withhold state advertisements from newspapers, further acknowledging that this was a practice his Government carried out when he served as President.

Before making this admission, Jagdeo had discussed the importance of certain international conventions on democracy and good governance, and the role of media in policing abuses of state resources.

The former President made specific mention of the state’s media arms, the Department of Public Information (DPI), the Guyana Chronicle and National Communications Network (NCN), during a press conference Thursday, at the Office of the Leader of the Opposition.

A topical issue, in that regard, is an accusation made

by Stabroek News, that Jagdeo’s Government withheld state ads from the private newspaper in 2006, in an attempt to punish it for affording the fledgling Alliance for Change (AFC) regular column postings.

Stabroek News stated that the Jagdeo administration had refused to place a single state ad with the newspaper for 17 months, with no plausible explanation.

About the same period, Kaieteur News suffered a similar fate as Stabroek News as, according to KN’s publisher, Glenn Lall, the Jagdeo Government had also meant to stifle this newspaper for its principled reporting.

At that time, the then President Jagdeo had claimed that his decision was because of his Government’s intention to cost-effectively manage its use of state resources, and to explore other avenues for state advertising.

Asked about this accusation Thursday, the Opposition Leader said that his withholding of state ads was not for punitive reasons.

He said that, as the most (Continued on page 43)

Sunday October 06, 2019

From page 42 widely circulating daily newspaper, Kaieteur News had often received the lion’s share of state ads. However, in retrospect, Jagdeo said, notwithstanding the fact that his reasons weren’t punitive, “I think it’s wrong.”

NANDLALL CALLS FOR COI IN CRUM-EWING’S ASSASSINATION On March 10, 2015, weeks before early elections brought on by a prorogued Parliament, an activist, Courtney Crumewing, age 40, was shot dead in a dark street in Diamond, East Bank Demerara.

The country was outraged and there were calls for justice for Crum-Ewing.

Some protested daily outside the offices of Minister of Legal Affairs, Attorney General Anil Nandlall.

Fingers were pointed and Rajput Narine, a former driver/bodyguard of Nandlall’s, was held and questioned by the police.

Regan Rodrigues called ‘Grey Boy’, who was known to police was arrested and in late 2017 was committed to face trial in the High Court.

On Wednesday, during “The Political Show” on Kaieteur Radio hosted by Kaieteur News’ Senior Journalist, Leonard Gildarie and Editor-in-Chief, Adam Harris, Nandlall was asked pointedly if he had anything to do with the activist’s death.

Denying any knowledge, the former AG made it clear that he is willing for a Commission of Inquiry (CoI).

He said that Crum-Ewing months before his death, protested in front of the Attorney General’s office on Carmichael Street, “unaffected, unhindered, uninterfered” with for months.

“Everyday I see him…four-five times per day I drive past there. I never uttered a word to Mr. CrumEwing. He never said anything to me. He was there with his placard. I would look at him. I would drive out, drive past.”

According to Nandlall, Crum-Ewing stopped protesting and months after, he was shot dead “somewhere in Diamond”.

CGX, FRONTERA ENERGYFUND “GROUNDBREAKING” ACADEMIC RESEARCH PROGRAMME FOR UG With Guyana’s offshore petroleum reserves estimated to be over six billion barrels, much of the attention has been on the development of the local labour force as well as businesses so that they may be equipped to take advantage of same.

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But what is being done for the development of the nonpetroleum sectors?

What is being done to prepare the next generation of Guyana’ youths to adapt when the economy is gearing to wean itself from oil revenues?

Considering the gravity of these questions, two oil companies, CGX Energy Inc. and its joint venture partner, Frontera Energy Corporation (FEC), have demonstrated a great deal of foresight by partnering with Trent University to provide the University of Guyana with a transformative academic and research programme.

An agreement to cement this educational partnership was signed Thursday at the Education Lecture Theatre of the University of Guyana between the officials of the respective agencies involved.

Those in attendance at the event included Director of the Department of Energy, Dr. Mark Bynoe; CGX Vice President, Michael Stockinger; and FEC Vice President for Operations and Development, Mr. Duncan Nightingale.

The programme which commits CDN$5M towards advanced academic and research programmes for the University of Guyana with technical assistance from Trent University is the brainchild of CGX Executive Chairman, Professor Suresh Narine.

Importantly, the programme is targeted at addressing the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals as they apply to Guyana. As such, the training and research programmes will focus on the following areas: watershed ecosystems and water quality, sustainable food and agriculture, indigenous studies, natural products, materials physics and chemistry.

This newspaper understands that funding covers six elements over five years which will involve a topnotch team of academics from Trent University and industry professionals from FEC and CGX under the leadership of internationally acclaimed Guyanese Professor and Research Scientist; Suresh Narine.

SATURDAY PUBLIC WILL BE ALLOWED TO SCRUTINISE CONTENTIOUS HOUSETO-HOUSE DATA – GECOM COMMISSIONER After the most recent statutory meeting of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Friday, Commissioner Bibi Shadick

informed reporters that Chief Registrations Officer, Keith Lowenfield, is expected to prepare a report on the suspended House-to-House exercise.

The report will be put up for public scrutiny.

Before that report is made, the data must be encoded by the Secretariat.

Of the 370,000 persons registered during the suspended House-to-House exercise, 336,000 were persons above 18 years of age, while the others are 14 to 17 years old.

Friday night this publication was informed of the progress on encoding by Commissioner Vincent Alexander, who said earlier this week that 180,000 entries have already been included.

He had also said that the encoding process was temporarily suspended to facilitate the preparation of the Preliminary List of Electors (PLE).

Kaieteur News understands that the first batch of encoded data had already been sent to the international supplier to be cross-matched. That batch of cross-matched fingerprints is expected to return from overseas by next week. After that, the final batch will be sent.

Lowenfield is yet to tell the Commission how much of, and what aspects of the data will be put up for scrutiny.

Commissioner Charles Corbin said that the data will be up as soon as the encoding and cross-matching are complete.

The verification of this data is important to the Opposition and its supporters.

People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary, Bharrat

Jagdeo, had opposed the exercise even before it started. He had urged his supporters to boycott the exercise. He had also sided with a legal challenge to the exercise. Leading the challenge was Attorney-atLaw Christopher Ram. PPP VOWS TO RESTRUCTURE “TAINTED” SOCU The police Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) will be restructured if the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) gets back into power.

Speaking on Wednesday during “The Political Show” on Kaieteur Radio, 99.1 and 99.5 FM, former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, who himself is before the courts charged with theft of law books that belong to the state but which he claimed were gifted to him as part of his service package, was critical of the current structure.

Nandlall, while the Attorney General under the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C), had together with the then Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon, established SOCU. It was the same SOCU that charged him for the law books.

“It was established because we were required under the AML-CFT (antimoney laundering) regime to establish a specific organ of enforcement to aid the financial intelligence unit as they do the financial investigations and collect evidence,” Nandlall explained.

He was being questioned about his thoughts on SOCU and the PPP’s repeated unhappiness how that unit

has been operating.

Explaining how it worked, Nandlall said that the job of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) is to pass evidence to the SOCU, which is then supposed to action it by investigating and liaise with the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) to formulate the charges.

The former AG said that he largely recruited the top staff members himself.

Among the staffers were detectives with years of service between them. They were the first batch of people recruited.

The second batch would have been accountants with financial analysts and computer experts also targeted.

“SOCU is supposed to be a modern, sophisticated unit that was supposed to be paid a higher salary than the police.

It was located differently. All this reduced to nothing.”

According to Nandlall, a practising attorney-at-law, Government made SOCU answerable to the Ministry of the Presidency. “So right there you have political contamination.”

TRINI GETS 5 YEARS FOR STAGING OWN KIDNAPPING; MOM FAINTS The fairytale story came to an end for the Trinidadian ‘Rich Kid’ who was accused of faking his own kidnapping as he was Friday placed behind bars for the offence.

A frightened Sawak Maraj, 33, and a Chemical Engineer, stood before Senior Magistrate Fabayo Azore in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

The Magistrate in her ruling said that after going

through the entirety of the evidence led by Police Prosecutor Dominic Bess, she was satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that Maraj is guilty of the allegations.

The first charge against Maraj alleged that on October 27, last, at Georgetown, he knowingly gave false information to the police, stating that he was kidnapped and that his abductors demanded US$700,000 for his release.

It was further alleged that on the same day at Madewini Resort, Soesdyke/Linden Highway, Maraj conspired with other persons to negotiate to obtain a ransom of US$700,000.

Maraj had pleaded not guilty to both charges and was released on $1M bail by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on his second court appearance, after spending three weeks on remand.

Late last year, the defendant was granted permission to leave the jurisdiction to return to his homeland. He has been showing up in court every time his matter is called.

Maraj, who had opted to give an unsworn statement, had told the court, “I am not guilty of these charges. Your worship, at no point did I agree with anyone to fake my kidnapping. All this time, I still believed that Abraham was a bona fide employee of Exxon, who was at the airport to facilitate as a recipient on Exxon’s behalf,” Maraj noted.

He added that he was driven to several locations and that’s when he realised that something was wrong.

He told the court that he was taken to a hotel and a cutlass was placed to his throat, and he was threatened.

PAGE 44

Kaieteur News

Sunday October 06, 2019

Amazing Benefits Of Tangerine Fruit For Skin, Hair And Health Tangerines are a specific variant of Mandarin oranges (Citrus Reticulate), which are reddish-orange in color. They

belong to the family of Rutaceae and are cultivated mainly in the tropical forests of Southeast Asian provinces

(1). Tangerine fruit trees are smaller in size as compared to orange trees, and the fruit has a deep orange color with a flat

shape. It can be peeled easily and is a fibrous fruit nutrientwise.Its juicy segments have hybrid varieties too like Tangelos, Tangors, and Clementines. In the northern hemisphere, peak Tangerine season starts from October and lasts till April. The fruit is known for its fresh and citrus taste with its low calorie and high nutrient content. The vitamin content in the fruit is the best in its class. Tangerines are also a rich source of vitamin C, folate, and betacarotene. The taste of Tangerine is stronger than orange; it is less sour and much sweeter.

Health Benefits Of Tangerine Fruits 1.Rich Antioxidants Prevent Inflammation Oranges are naturally a great source of Vitamins for the human body. And so are the Tangerines, with their rich Vitamin C sources providing the perfect antioxidants required for the body. These antioxidants prevent inflammation in the body. They are known to prevent the formation of free radicals that make unnecessary oxidation reactions possible which may not be beneficial for the body.

2. Fights Skin Diseases & Arthritis Tangerine fruit has been used quite frequently in medical treatments as they fight effectively against skin diseases and arthritis.

3. Heals Cuts & Wounds They help in healing minor cuts and wounds.

4. Absorbs Iron From Food They also help to absorb iron from food very easily.

5. Restricts Cholesterol Absorption Tangerine consists of fibers like pectin and hemicellulose that restrict the absorption of cholesterol in the gut which cuts the risk of obesity.

6. Improves Digestion & Prevents Chronic Diseases The dietary fiber in this fruit also improves digestion that is good for the overall working of the body. Also, a number of chronic diseases such as cancer and heart diseases can be prevented with proper consumption of tangerines and other orange varieties.

7. High Fiber Content Eases Bowel Movements The high fiber content also benefits the bowel movement in your body for which it is preferred and suggested by experts 8. Cures Sepsis Sepsis is a dreaded infection and the Staphylococcus aureus usually causes sepsis.

Sepsis can lead to reddened wounds, swelling, pus formation, and acute pain. If you don t take care, sepsis can spread to other parts of your body.Sepsis is prevalent in

young children and babies as their low immunity is conducive to bacteria. Tangerine essential oil is a strong antiseptic and bactericide that eliminates the staphylococcus aureus bacterium.

9. Enhances Cell Division A cytophylactic is an agent that boosts cellular production and enhances cell division, also stimulating the growth of new cells. Boosted cell production not only promotes general growth in your body, but also helps repair regular wear and tear of the body. Tangerine essential oil is an effective cytophylactic.

10. Depurative A blood-purifying agent is also known as a depurative.

Tangerine essential oil is an effective depurative. The oil helps purge your body of excess uric acid, extra salt, pollutants, and water through the excretory system.

11. Sedative Tangerine essential oil has sedative properties. It helps overcome inflammation and reduces hyperactivity in your circulatory, digestive, nervous and excretory systems. Tangerine essential oil helps reduce inflammation and helps ease fever, anxiety, stress and even depression.

The sedative properties make it an effective agent against insomnia as well.

12. Stomachic Tangerine essential oil helps ease gastric troubles like flatulence and helps release excess gas from the system. It helps maintain the proper digestive juice flow and the balance between excess acid and bile. The essential oil also helps cure stomach wounds and soothes inflammation.

13. Antispasmodic Spasms can be mild to severe and may have many complications and negative effects on your body. They can affect the respiratory, digestive and nervous systems and cause problems in breathing, causing congestion and asthma. Spasms can also lead to diarrhea, cholera, and even nervous system disorders.

Tangerine essential oil is an effective antispasmodic agent and helps relieve spasms.

14. Tonic A tonic helps fortify and tone your bodily functions.

Tangerine essential oil is an effective tonic, and it stimulates metabolic activity, induces digestion and promotes the absorption of nutrients by the liver, stomach and intestines. The essential oil improves your immunity, regulates secretions of the endocrine system and promotes nervous system health.

Tangerine essential oil helps you fight infections.

15. Digestive Tangerine essential oil is an effective digestive agent.

Being a tonic that stimulates digestion, its digestive properties make tangerine essential oil excellent for the stomach. So, the next time you end up gorging on food, you might want to try some tangerine essential oil.

Skin Benefits Of Tangerine 16. Treats Skin Conditions & Delays Signs Of Aging Tangerine is a good source of vitamin A. If you are suffering from any skin diseases, such as acne, pimple, you are encouraged to have plenty of vitamin A and apply products that are derivatives of the vitamin.

Hence tangerine can be a good option for treating these skin problems. When it comes to healing wounds and other damages to the skin, vitamin A is essential for these, since it helps the skin rebuild tissues. If you wish to control or remove any skin aging symptoms such as fine lines, wrinkles, dull skin at bay, vitamin A can be a great help due to its anti-aging properties.

17. Offers Smooth & Youthful Skin Vitamin C present in Tangerine is also an amazing antioxidant nutrient that helps to lower aging process. In addition, antioxidant protects the skin from free radicals.

Thus, it prevents the chance of certain cancers. If you want to maintain a smooth and youthful skin, then vitamin C can help since it stimulates the production of collagen in your skin and collagen is the protein responsible for making your skin supple.

18. Facial Mask For Brighter Skin Here we suggest a homemade tangerine facial mask that can be applied to get brighter skin. In addition, this mask will help you to remove extra oil and harmful bacteria, leaving the skin soft, fresh and blemish free.

Take 3 or 4 slices of a tangerine. Discard the seeds.

Blend them well and mix one tablespoon each of yogurt and honey with the juice.

Apply to the face and neck.

Leave it for 10-20 minutes.

Rinse it off with cold water.

Apply this mask twice in a week for oily skin and once for normal to dry skin.

Hair Benefits Of Tangerine 19. Vitamin A Helps To Moisturize The Sebum In The Scalp One of the most important vitamins for health is vitamin A. Its antioxidant properties work to condition and moisturize the sebum in the scalp. Antioxidants also fight against pollution that weighs down your hair and makes it weaker.

Sunday October 06, 2019

PAGE 45

Kaieteur News

The road to modernizing beauty amongst Guyanese women

By Latoya “ Lashes Boss” Zephyr Upon reflection on the beauty industry in Guyana, it with great pleasure that I can

ing, home remedy face treatment to facial spas, from dramatically noticeable make-up to a natural and well blended face beat and from strip lashes

the better with confident filled Guyanese women and men at its helm. The crème de la crème of these artists here are part of a beauty tribe called

Members of the @officialguyanesemuas team

say there has been tremendous growth; the beauty industry has taken an impressive stance.

From relaxers to natural hair up-keep, shaving to wax-

to the application of individual lash extensions services offered @lovelylashesbytoya; they all culminate to show that Guyana is transforming for

Wine of the week...

Zolo Rosé: A taste of berry-heaven In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Management at the Wine Vault has selected the Zolo Rosé as the wine of the week. This selection features fresh and juicy flavours of strawberries, cherries, and rosewater. It is a blend of red varietals from the signature Mendoza vineyards in the foothills of the Andes.Zolo is one of the most technologically advanced wineries in Argentina. Zolo selects grapes from estate vineyards in Agrelo and Alto Agrelo, Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza. Located at various altitudes, each of these terroirs provides a different expression of fruit and varietal concentration. The winemakers are Fabian Valenzuela and Jean Claude Berrouet (former Petrus winemaker), the vineyard manager is Carlos Correas, and the President and owner is Patricia Ortiz.The purpose of the winery’s Zolo classic line is to create a family of fruit-forward, great value wines, which can be enjoyed with a wide range of food or by themselves. The Zolo Reserves and Zolo Blacks, with their ultra-high concentration, long ageing in new French oak, and aromatic complexity are made for those special occasions when one needs a wine to “blow your hat off.”Furthermore, Zolo has been a leading Argentine brand since 2004, and is estate-grown and sustainably-farmed.This masterpiece can be found at the Wine Vault located at the Marriott Hotel. It is being sold for $6600 VAT inclusive. You can also find it at the Hibiscus Restaurant, Nice Restaurant and Bar, Palm Court and other leading hotels and bars.

@officialguyanesemuas. As Aestheticians, looking back on our journey, we started with a team of talented people who were familiar with each other. As time progressed, we soon realized how fast the industry was expanding, and were eager to feature new artists who were grimly interested in leveling up their craft to an international standard.

So we began asking beauticians to tag @officialguyanesemuas in their posts, so that we can follow their progression and development of their craft or talent, whether they are Guyanese artist or have Guyanese heritage around the world. The team vision was limitless. Because of this approach, this year, we have gained more artists with a variety of breathtaking talents, along with managing the affairs of both our businesses and family all together. But as growing professionals there are things that we ought to do to keep up with this rapidly evolving industry. One of them involves getting certified. To their credit, some of our members did so internationally and some locally by renowned artists in Guyana.

As a result they have ce-

Enetworks to air all CPL matches The Caribbean Premier League kicked off at the Queens Park Oval, Port of Spain in Trinidad on September 4, last. That match and all the others to come will be aired on E-networks.

Below is a list of the dates and the respective matches.

October 06, Sunday Qualifier 1 1st v 2nd Eliminator 3rd v 4th October 10, Thursday Qualifier 2- Winner of Eliminator v Loser of Qualifier 1 (Trinidad) Local Time19:00, IST- 4:30 (October 11) October 12, Saturday

Magnum Tonic Wine presents Tek Charge Tuesdays at White Castle Fish Shop The Brand Managers for the Magnum Tonic Wine are elated for you to join them for their “Tek Charge Tuesday” event which will be held at the White Castle Fish shop. There will be Magnum specials all night long, the

details of which will be provided by the Magnum vixens. Music will be presented by the Determined Family sound system.

Be sure to link a crew for this weekly celebration. See you there.

Final- Winner of Qualifier 1 v Winner of Qualifier 2 (Trinidad) Local Time- 17:00, IST- 2:30 (October 13) (The Caribbean Premier League is an annual Twenty20 cricket tournament held in the Caribbean.

It was created in 2013 and replaced the Caribbean Twenty20 as the premier Twenty20 competition in the Caribbean. It is currently sponsored by Hero MotoCorp and consequently officially named the Hero CPL. The inaugural tournament was won by the Jamaica Tallawahs who defeated the Guyana Amazon Warriors in the final.)

mented aspects of the growing criteria for this industry.It is also important to note that all of our featured artists are highly recommended and meet the criteria established to make it fair for everyone.

This is how referrals happen

in this industry; so if you know an artist, who is a master at their craft, message us or ask them to contact us themselves. This industry can only be better when we work together.

In conclusion, heres a

word of encouragement for our current and potential clients as well as artists: “As women, we are capable of reaching our full potential when we realize how important it is to grow together”Reunysha A. Lewis.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 46

The Canterville Ghost

Mr. Hiram Otis was moving his family to Canterville Chase in England. It was a grand old house and everyone said it was haunted. But Mr. Otis did not agree. “There are no such things as ghosts,” he told Lord Canterville.

Lord Canterville described all of the ghostly sightings. But Mr. Otis refused to believe. A few weeks later, he was joined

by Mrs. Otis and their four children.

M r s . U m n e y, t h e housekeeper, was standing on the steps when they arrived. She led them into the library to have tea. Mrs. Otis noticed a dull red stain on the floor. “I’m afraid something has been spilled here,” she said to Mrs. Umney.

“Yes,” replied the old h o u s e k e e p e r, “ t h a t i s blood.”

“Well, I do not care for blood in the library,” said Mrs. Otis. “Please remove it at once.”The old woman smiled. “That is the blood of L a d y E l e a n o r. T h e bloodstain cannot be removed. And her husband, Sir Simon, still haunts this house.”

“That is nonsense!” cried Washington, the oldest Otis son. “Pinkerton’s Champion Stain Remover will clean it up in no time.”

He scrubbed the spot and the stain was gone.

Just then, a flash of lightning lit up the room.

Mrs. Umney fainted. Mr. Otis came into the room and found Mrs. Umney on the floor. He splashed cold water on her face.

“Mr. Otis,” Mrs. Umney said, “beware of the ghost that haunts this house.”

“Thankfully, we are not afraid of ghosts,” said Mr. Otis.

The next morning, Mr. Otis and Washington found the bloodstain in the library again.

“I don’t think it is the Champion Stain Remover that is to blame,” said Washington. “It must be the ghost.” Each morning, they found a fresh stain on the f l o o r. M r. O t i s w a s beginning to think the ghost existed after all.

One night, Mr. Otis was awakened by a curious noise outside his room. It sounded like the clank of metal. Right in front of him was a ghostly old man.

“Dear sir,” said Mr. Otis,

holding up a bottle. “Kindly oil your chains with this Rising Sun Lubricator. I must get some sleep.”

The Canterville Ghost threw down the bottle and disappeared through the wall. He went to his secret chamber. He was greatly insulted. He thought of all the people he had frightened in the last three centuries.

“They never treated me like this,” he said. All night he thought about his revenge.

The next night, the ghost appeared again. The family had just gone to bed.

Suddenly, they heard a fearful crash in the hall. Mrs. Otis rushed downstairs.

There she found a large suit of armor scattered on the floor. The Canterville Ghost sat on the stairs holding his head in his hands. “Stop!

Hold up your hands!” shouted the twin boys. They had brought their slingshots with them. Each of them fired a shot at the poor ghost.

Just then, Mrs. Otis leaned over and offered some medicine to the ghost. “You are far from well,” she said.

“I have brought you a bottle of Dr. Dobell’s Soothing Remedy.” The ghost glared at Mrs. Otis. With a groan, he vanished in the air.

The ghost retreated to his room. He was very upset.

“How could they treat me this way?” wondered the ghost. “It’s humiliating!”

The ghost felt very ill after this. He hardly left his room, except to put the bloodstain on the floor in the library.When he recovered, the ghost resolved to try again. He planned to go quietly into Washington’s room. Then he would mumble and mock him at the foot of his bed. Then he would go see the twin boys.

He planned to sit on them until they screamed.

“What a marvelous plan,” he thought.

That night, the ghost set out down the hallway. He waited for the clock to strike twelve. A raven croaked from an old tree outside. The wind rattled the shutters on their hinges. “What a perfect night for a scare,” thought the ghost.

The ghost chuckled to himself and turned the corner. Suddenly, he wailed and fell back in terror. Right in front of him stood a horrible ghost. Its head was round, fat, and orange. Its eyes were empty black holes. It laughed at him with an awful grin.The Canterville Ghost had never seen another ghost before.

Naturally, he was very frightened. After a second glance at the strange phantom, the Canterville

Ghost covered his eyes and ran back to his room. In his bedroom, the ghost hid his face in his blankets.

As the sun came up, the ghost gained some courage.

He decided to talk to the other ghost. “Perhaps he can help me scare the twins,” thought the ghost.

The ghost tiptoed down the hallway. He reached the spot and gasped. Something had happened to the ghost. It no longer looked frightening. The Canterville ghost could see that the ghost’s head was only a pumpkin. He read a sign that

Sunday October 06, 2019

Junior page Paper Plate Bat Puppet Craft

o2 Paper Plates oPrintable Bat Craft Template o2 Craft Sticks oPaint oGlue oStapler oPaint Pens Start by printing and cutting out a bat craft template.

Choose from the two

said “YE OTIS GHOST.” The Canterville Ghost had been tricked!

A f e w d a y s l a t e r, Virginia Otis went riding and tore her skirt. She knew her mother would not be happy! Virginia went to the sewing room, hoping to fix her skirt before her mother saw it. When she opened the door, she was surprised to see the Canterville Ghost!

He was sitting by the window, watching the leaves fly by. He looked very sad.Virginia felt sorry for the ghost. “My brothers are leaving tomorrow for school,” she said. “If you behave yourself, no one will bother you.”

The ghost turned around.

“It is my job to misbehave,” he said.“Nonsense!” said Virginia. She turned to leave.“Please don’t go, Miss Virginia,” cried the ghost. “I am so lonely, and I don’t know what to do. I want to go to sleep, but I cannot.”

“That’s absurd,” said Virginia.

“I have not slept for three hundred years,” he said sadly. “And I am so tired. I wish to fall asleep and never wake,” said the ghost. He continued to explain why he haunted the old house. The ghost needed Virginia’s pure heart. If she would be his true friend, the ghost could sleep forever.

Virginia considered the ghost’s request. She stood up and said, “I will help you.” She took the ghost’s hand and followed him through the wall.About ten minutes later, the bell rang for tea. Mrs. Otis was greatly alarmed when Virginia did not appear. Mr. Otis rode his horse across the countryside to search for her. He could (Continued on next edition)

night scenes, either the houses or the graveyard.

On the back of a paper plate, place the template across the lower quarter of the inner circle and draw around the upper part.Place your bat template in the middle of the paper plate and draw around that too.

Cut out the middle of your paper plate and the bat following all your drawn template lines. Paint the back of the cut paper plate and the bat black.

Paint the front of a second paper plate blue. Add some night time features to your bat craft using paint or marker pens. I love to use Paint Pens because kids can add fine detail and the coverage is amazing, the white goes straight over the black paint without any problems! Add stars to your blue night sky and teeth and eyes to your bat. Yellow windows on the building give a cosy night time feel and cobwebs and RIP add a spooky Halloween atmosphere to the graveyard bat craft. You need a long handle on your bat puppet so glue together two popsicle

sticks and stick the bat onto one end. Lay the black paper plate on top of the blue paper plate with the bat puppet handle poking out between them at the bottom. Staple all around the two paper plates leaving a section at the bottom open so the bat puppet can be moved from side to side. Take a scrap of paper plate you cut from the middle of the back plate earlier, shape it into a crescent moon and glue it onto the rim of your flying bat craft. This bat puppet craft is so much fun. I just adore crafts that kids can actually play with too, don’t you?

Ripple effect The heavy lines indicate areas called cages. Fill each cage with unique digits, counting up from 1. For example, a 1-cell cage must contain the number 1, a 2-cell cage contains 1 and 2, a 5-cell cage contains 1 through 5, and so on. These numbers may appear in any order within the cage. If two identical numbers appear in the same row or column, at least that many cells must separate them. For example, if two 3s appear in the same column, they must be separated by at least three other cells that do not contain 3.

Kaieteur News

Sunday October 06, 2019

Improving yourself Socially will help to Develop your Relationships 1. Take the time to develop the relationships with those who mean much to you. Spending time alone with a brother or sister, a father or mother, or a friend, and really exploring your thoughts and feelings with them, can lead to great benefit to both of you, and give you a clear insight in how to live a better life. Take the time to celebrate with them anything they have been successful in, and they will surely do the same for you.

2. Always be polite with all with whom you associate. One of the main reasons why some people fail in their relationships with others, whether it is with parents, teachers, bosses or others with whom they associate, is because they do not pay enough attention to being polite to these persons. The result is that they fail to impress them, even though they may be otherwise good enough in other areas of their behaviour or have the abilities to succeed.

This is always surprising to me, when we know that courtesy costs

nothing, and does not take much energy and time to maintain in any situation.

On the other hand, people who are mannerly will more often be successful in their interpersonal actions, although they may not measure up in other aspects.

Be kind-hearted and attentive enough to others and make a point of being extraordinarily polite, and you will find that doors will open to you that were closed before.

3. Act in such a way as to be an example to those who may be looking up to you. I am sure you can identify younger persons in your family and neighbourhood, and some related to you or your friends, who are looking to you for some guidance. If in no other way, you can just be an example in proper behaviour to them, and this can go a long way in helping them, as well as get to add more value to your own life.

4. Develop a friendly disposition.

Smile at strangers, be polite to everyone, respect

FUN WITH POETRY

Keeping things in order There were many times at my home When I felt lazy and careless, Although I knew this was so wrong, I kept my things is a mess.

My parents often had to tell me To put all my stuff in order, And only then did I take the time, And tried a little harder.

When I arranged my clothes in the closet, And fixed my books on the shelf, And put my toys in the proper place, I felt so good about myself.

Now I realise how nice it is To keep everything neat and clean; Not only are my parents pleased with me, But I myself feel so keen.

by Uncle Roy

your elders and generally develop a cheerful disposition. You can never tell when someone you meet on the street will have to help you in some way at some later time. Even without this, courtesy and a happy attitude will get you liked by everyone and make you develop a good mood always.

5. Be a great teammate. Whether you are interacting with others at home, at school or at a workplace, you should always see that it is important for you to realise that you are part of a team. Make sure you do your part of the work at home, which includes keeping the place clean and in good order, along with all the other things that are needed. In your class, you should cooperate with your teacher and classmates so that everyone gets the most out of the time spent there.

If you are working, it would be much appreciated by your employer if you can see yourself as part of the whole group, and work with all others to get the goods and services you deal with delivered efficiently.

PAGE 47

Friendships

by Nadine Paul A friendship may be a simple thing, But lots of love it can bring, Things to share and talk about, It's something you just can't do without.

All your life friendships endure, Through the years, you'll want for more, Remembering the laughs and happy times, Along with the cries and sorrowfull sighs.

Any time and energy spent specially to become more sociable will reap great dividends to your happiness.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

THE VILLAGER AND THE SPECTACLES (Continued on last edition)could separate the traveller from his shawl was stronger. The Wind took the first turn. He blew with all his might to tear the travellers shawl from his shoulders. But the harder he blew, the tighter the traveller gripped the shawl to his body. The struggle went on till the Winds turn was over. Now it was the Suns turn. The Sun smiled warmly. The traveller felt the warmth of the smiling Sun. Soon he let the shawl fall open. The Suns smile grew warmer and warmer... hotter and hotter. Now the traveller no longer needed his shawl. He took it off and dropped it on the ground. The Sun was declared stronger than the Wind.

Moral: Brute force cant achieve what a gentle smile can.

Kakuro "Kakuro puzzles are like a cross between a crossword and a Sudoku puzzle.Instead of letters, each block contains the digits 1 through 9. The same digitwill never repeat within a word. If you add the digits in a word, the sum willbe the number shown in the clue. Clues are shown on the left and right sidesof “across” words, and on the top and bottom sides of “down” words."

Solutions to last week’s

Autumn

PAGE 48

Ways to Fix Split Ends Use a Wide-Tooth Comb After you apply conditioner in the shower, slowly run a widetooth comb through your hair until all the tangles are out. This prevents the snaps and breakage you can incur when you try to brush out hair that is roughed up from a towel-dry, advises Jessie James, stylist at New York’s Marie Robinson salon.

Mind Your Heat Tools That bargain-bin blow-dryer may be a tempting purchase, but inexpensive tools tend to dangerously overheat over time and burn ends into splits, warns James. Instead, use a top-rated economical brand like Conair Infiniti Pro 259Y ($25.50 at Walmart), or invest in a professional-grade dryer like Babyliss Pro Volare V1 Dryer with Ferrari Designed Engine ($179.95 at Ulta).

Take Folic Acid and Biotin There’s a reason they say you are what you eat: Nutrients literally build the proteins that make up your hair strands. Two B vitamins in particular—folic acid and biotin—have been shown to supplement hair health, length, and thickness, says Sunshine.

Folic acid helps the production of red blood cells, which powers the growth of hair. Foods rich in folic acid include green leafy veggies, oranges, soybeans, and wheat. Biotin strengthens both hair and nails through its metabolism of fats, carbs, and proteins. Brown rice, lentils, peas, sunflower seeds, walnuts, and soybeans are all rich in biotin.

Use Leave-In Conditioner Conditioners that you rinse out in the shower will do little to nothing for split ends, but a leave-in conditioner will add extra protection that stays on strands as you heat-style and go about your day. Try Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Fresh Cut Split End Mender ($25 at Living Proof), which can be applied to wet or dry hair for anytime use.

Blow-Dry the Right Way Always use a nozzle on your dryer to control and direct the flow of air, and dry hair in a downward direction before sectioning off and drying completely with a round brush. This way, you spend far less time with intense heat straight on the hair. “If possible, air drying 90 percent before picking up the blow-dryer is even better,” says Sunshine. And of course, if you can naturally dry all the way, that’s always your best option.

Limit Damaging Services There’s unfortunately no way around it—treatments like hair color, highlights, straightening, and perms all cause trauma that can result in a bevy of split ends, says Abramite. Try to limit service to just one major hair concern and refrain from washing strands for at least 48 hours afterward, when they’re most porous and likely to break and split. Not only will hair health improve after you go on a chemical-service diet, but your wallet will thank you, too.

Get Regular Cuts Although a haircut is the only way to get rid of split ends, regular trims are your best protection against them. The longer you wait to trim, the greater the chance you have of split ends worsening and traveling up the shaft. It may sound counterintuitive, but this is why it’s actually best to get frequent trims if you’re trying to grow longer, healthier hair.

SOLUTION TO LAST WEEK’S WORD SEARCH

Kaieteur News

Sunday October 06, 2019

Sunday October 06, 2019

PAGE 49

Kaieteur News

Direct Oil Benefit/ Cash Transferthrough Social...

From page 35 infrastructural developments that will serve society well.

What we also need is a focus on making DOB with cash transfers to boost Social Development and our Human Index.

This is a potential gamechanger as it crosses all divides and brings the small man, the working class, the vulnerable, all genders, ages and classes into DOB that they can relate to individually and within their communities.

Rather than looking at ways to deny transfer- direct and indirect- we should look at ways how we can implement and execute DOB to all citizens. In principle, I support Professor Clive Thomas' call for revenue from oil and gas to be paid as cash transfer which I refer to a DOB. I support disbursement of funds which provides money for investment opportunities- be it for home, education, business, or approved programmes to be identified after careful research. I support direct and indirect cash transfer as well as transfers with or without conditionalities.

It is essential for Guyana and all our people. I also support participating in a panel discussion hosted by t h e Wo r k i n g P e o p l e ' s Alliance (WPA) on Monday, September 23rd, I proposed various ways in which DOB can be distributed. I am not opposed to extending beyond these areas of immediate interest and recognition:1. PAYE and tax rebatefor the employed and selfemployed which allows for greater take-home income.

For those18 years and older who are unemployed a monthly grant with conditionalities can be set.

The conditionality can vary from returning to school to pursuing certain educational programmes that vary from time to time dependent on national needs. This is a gentle way of encouraging development of our human resources and chanelling same in directions of national need. Such educational grants can be available to all.

2. Unemployment Benefit- paid for a stipulated maximum time period, enabling persons in between jobs to be able to sustain themselves at least on the basics.

3. Meal programmeExpansion to provide a daily balanced lunch for school children from nursery to secondary for all public

schools. Parents could opt-in or out.

4 Improvement of medical services- In addition to all 10 administrative regions being fully equipped with a main referral hospital and trauma centre, intensive care and diagnostic facilities, all should be able to get yearly mammogram, pap smear, prostate, basic annual blood tests and other necessary preventative health and wellness care services as necessary for promoting a healthy lifestyle and society.

5. Reduction in electricity, transportation and gas prices- With the production of oil and gas it is possible to transfer some of this benefit through the reduction in the cost of electricity and the sale of non-taxable gas.

This country should also be able to reinstate a public transportation system, creating competition in the system, alternative means of transportation and moreso aiding the vulnerable in being able to afford and access this service.

6. Vat reduction and eventual elimination. This can be done for certain items, particularly essential items like water, health care and education. The applicability of this is worthy of review.

7. Green economy- cash transfers to encourage citizens to engage in more clean energy, for example, solar and or wind energy and other sustainable development programmes.

In addition to the above which is advocated to bring personal and direct benefit the following areas of investment are advocated: 8. Property owners direct and indirect cash transfers through interest-free or very low-interest rate soft loans to improve and maintain residences and immediate home environment. This will lend to the beautification of property, our communities, villages and towns.

9. Erasing National Insurance Scheme (NIS) deficit- this is needed to return the Scheme to viability since the NIS is the most important pillar safeguarding workers income and protecting each against loss of pay as a result o f i n d u s t r i a l , i n j u r y, sickness, maternity and other conditions such as old age, invalidity and loss of income through death of the breadwinner and providing assistance with medical care and other benefits.

This will correct the years where NIS was a d v e r s e l y a ff e c t e d b y

political decisions that militated against actuarial decisions.

10. Immediate restoration of the constitutional right to free education- from nursery to university. This should see capacity building in the University of Guyana, technical and vocational schools, and the start of early public education that

prepares our children for a technologically driven economy with e-learning.

This includes facilitating the expansion and upgrading of Critchlow Labour College, GITC, Government Technical institutes, NARI, Guyana School Of Agriculture, Institute of Development and Continuing Education, etc.

11.

Revetment and

covered concrete drainage (and irrigation) structures meeting certain specific building and structural requirements as stipulated by the regional and local government authorities or those with oversight responsibilities. that will serve to regain much-needed land space and which can be utilised for greater parking and safer road use.

This proposal not only targets the workers- past, present and potentialirrespective of diversity but allows for equity in the system. DOB is essential for Social Development.

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

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Kaieteur News

Sunday October 06, 2019

Sunday October 06, 2019

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Kaieteur News

Free eye tests at GPHC, among other activities to mark World Sight Day 2019

U

nder the theme: 'Vision First – a call to nations to ensure that everyone has access to affordable eye care', World Sight Day (WSD) will be observed on Thursday October 10, 2019.

WSD is an international day of awareness, held annually on the second Thursday of October to focus attention on the global issue of eye health.

It is coordinated by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB). This annual observance became an official IAPB event in the year 2000, and has been marked in many different ways in countries around the world each year since then. It is a focal Advocacy and PR event for IAPB and its members and partners each year, highlighting the fact that 75 percent of blindness is avoidable (i.e. preventable and/or treatable). This therefore means that at least three out of four people have avoidable visual impairment. WSD provides

a platform for organisations to encourage governments, corporations, institutions and individuals to actively support global blindness prevention efforts.

For the past six years, the GPHC Department of Ophthalmology has been spearheading World Sight Day activities in Guyana with various activities being done over the years to promote Vision Health Education and Awareness.

This year, GPHC will continue to work along with local eye care professionals and organisations in a variety of activities.

Among these activities will be free eye screening at GPHC. According to Head of Ophthalmology at the premier public health hospital, Dr. Shailendra Sugrim, the GPHC will be hosting “free eye testing in its Eye Clinic from 10:00am to 2:00pm on World Sight Day. Patients will have free access to the clinic and can walk into the clinic to have their eyes tested for Glaucoma, Cataract,

Refractive Errors, Diabetic Retinopathy and other eye diseases.”

Dr. Sugrim assured that the Diabetic Retinopathy Centre will be opened on that day.

T h e G P H C ' s administration is working on constructing a billboard to encourage persons with diabetes to check their eyes for diabetic retinopathy since early screening prevents blindness from diabetes. Laser Treatment for Diabetic Retinopathy is also now available free of charge at GPHC and patients can prevent blindness by undergoing early screening, according to Dr. Sugrim.

Through collaboration with the World Diabetes Foundation and Orbis International, the Diabetic Eye Centre was established to allow persons with diabetes undergo free screening tests to detect early diabetic eye disease (diabetic retinopathy) before it proceeds to cause permanent blindness.

According to the Head of

Guyana Where and What 12th edition in circulation

G

uyana Where and What, f i r s t published in 2006 for World Cup Cricket and has since continued its publication on an annual basis released, its 12th edition on the market.

It is a very handy guide book containing materials of interest for the average tourist. It can be conveniently carried around as one traverses the length and breadth of Guyana, sightseeing.

Visitors and Guyanese have all found it as very educational and informative. A few schools use it as a reference guide.

Distribution is done through the local airports, hotels, travel agencies, tour companies and operators, local and overseas embassies and high commissions, GoInvest, local and international trade fairs, tourism packages given to attendees for seminars and conventions and local expos staged throughout Guyana.

Copies can also be uplifted from The Guyana Tourism Authority and Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana or through its publisher, Gem Madhoo Nascimento.

It is also posted online on www.guyanawhereandwhatonline.com

Dr. Shailendra Sugrim screening a patient's eye O p h t h a l m o l o g y, t h e Screening on WSD will be done by the staff of the D e p a r t m e n t o f Ophthalmology including Ophthalmologists, Optometrists, doctors and nurses of the GPHC Eye Clinic. Screening, he said, will also be done at the Vision Centre, located in the GPHC's compound and “The public is encouraged to attend this free screening session in an effort to prevent blindness.

The activities to commemorate the day will include free eye testing at the Mattai's Supermarket on Water Street, Georgetown from 10:00am to 2:00pm.

Dr. Sugrim said that a booth and screening area will be set up at the entrance of the supermarket where members of the public will have free access to have their eyes tested and this will also be done by staffers of the

GPHC. Local Optometrists and Optical Shops are also expected to be involved in eye screening activities at various locations in Georgetown and GPHC, Dr. Sugrim said, is also planning to collaborate with the Lions Club in conducting a free vision screening exercise.

The University of Guyana School of Optometry also conducts various commemorative activities on campus on WSD. Added to this, Dr. Sugrim said that GPHC Optometry interns will be conducting a Public Awareness Campaign by visiting various public establishments in Georgetown to distribute posters on Glaucoma and Diabetic Eye Health.

Another key activity to mark the day, Dr. Sugrim said, will be the hosting of a World Sight Ophthalmic

Continuing Medical Education (CME) Session for Eye Care Professionals and Physicians. “This is an educational session where lectures are given on various eye diseases to update physicians in practice. This year GPHC is collaborating with Da Silva's Optical, Modern Optical Service, Optique Vision Care and Orbis International to sponsor this event,” said Dr. Sugrim. The CME will be held on the evening of World Sight Day from 6:00pm to 8:00pm at Duke Lodge, Kingston, Georgetown.

But even before WSD, two GPHC staffers, an Ophthalmologist and an Optometrist, will be featured on the Weekly Kaieteur Radio Programme on October 7, 2019 at 1:05pm to discuss eye health and inform the public about the various activities to commemorate WSD.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday October 06, 2019

Sunday October 06, 2019

Retired GECOM Chairman,

Dr. Steve Surujbally...

From page 22 for a whole year.”

Naturally after sometime, “someone noticed” and as he put it “squealed” on him.

“I'll never forget Mr. Mentore my class teacher, who decided to put some licks on me with a wild cane. After that I never skipped school again.”

Dr. Surujbally said that his love for the cinemas did not subside. It was natural, given his Robb Street, Georgetown neighbourhood was the prime location for the city's biggest movie theatres. He explained that “Robb Street was not then a high class area but it was not a ghetto either. My home was surrounded by cinemas.”

“But besides the cinematic backdrop, Robb Street served as the center for something else. According to Dr. Surujbally, the winds of change were blowing and the politics of postindependence Guyana was in its embryonic stage.

“It was an intense period for Guiana, Dr. [Cheddi] Jagan and Mr [Forbes] Burnham had merged forces and garnered enough support to form a strong resistance to the British rule….”

Dr. Surujbally recalls that some of the meetings took place at Freedom House—a place he frequented.

“Those were interesting times, for me as young man. I remember, my friends and I would get together and pope the meetings at Freedom House and at Itabo bottom house in Murray Street (now Quamina Street) just to hear some of the intellectuals and revolutionaries talk socialism.”

I n r e t r o s p e c t , D r.

Surujbally said he can safely deduce that those experiences served as an indicator of what the future held.

An esteemed veterinary doctor

Growing up there, the young Dr. Surujbally got into his fair share of tiffs with his peers but learned early on never to allow himself to be bullied. He noted that those instances gave him the grit he needed to survive life's toughest challenges.

“That lesson served me well later on, during my time at GECOM. I never accepted that from people. They can try but they can't bully me,” Dr. Surujbally exclaimed.

SERVICE TO GERMANY AND AFRICA But even before Guyana recognized Dr. Surujbally as a public figure, he travelled through Germany and Africa working in production, research, advisory and consultancy capacities associated with veterinary medicine and livestock management.

This was however not before he concluded his studies at University of Leipzig, in Germany.

As he remembers it, the stairs of academic success began at the Indian Education Trust College in Guyana.

“That's where I would say I caught myself and my grades began to improve drastically.

He later attended Queen's College evening classes for his GCE A level.

As a result, Dr. Surujbally was offered a scholarship to study overseas. And by then he knew exactly what he wanted to do with his life--- a decision which was made several years before.

“I was about six years old when my little dog Pepe got knocked down on the road.

He came running in my yard and died in my arms. I couldn't do anything to help him. I was traumatized. So, I knew from then I couldn't be a human doctor because if I

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Kaieteur News

felt so badly for an animal I don't know what a human death would do to me….” Dr. Surujbally said of his decision to become a veterinarian.

A Government of Guyana scholarship to study in Germany sponsored his childhood dream.

Dr. Surujbally enrolled at the University and he graduated with his Bachelors, Masters and Doctoral Degrees in veterinary medicine studies which took nine years. He recalls that learning German, during the first three years of studying at the University, was tough.

Indulging in one of his favourite pastimes “But after that, my studies got a lot easier because I perfected the language.”

After graduation the young veterinarian returned to Guyana and could not find work so, he returned to Germany and there he married his wife.

“I was coming from a communist country and Guyana at that time was not willing to entertain my employment.”

The couple married and had two beautiful boys, Roger and Lance. Dr. Surujbally admits however that the marriage didn't last “because I think we were too young.”

He was 21 when he wed his German bride.

“I got a job working at the small animal clinic and my wife worked as a librarian,” he recalled.

Impressed with the G e r m a n s o c i e t y, D r.

Surujbally travelled throughout the Western Europe and established contacts.

He noted that the Germans held a sense of patriotism and nationhood

that he hardly experienced anywhere else.

“I was impressed because even after the war, in 17 years they were rebuilding because everybody had a skill – a plumber, an electrician, whatever skill they had, they used to rebuilt their nation,” Dr. Surujbally said of his then adopted homeland.

By the time he decided to leave Germany, he was versed in his craft. Still not ready to return to his homeland, the young veterinarian applied for work in Africa.

“I always wanted to go to Africa. So after nine years, when I decided to leave Germany with my family, I sent out applications to a number of African countries; I think I only got one reply which said that there was no vacancy.”

Dr. Surujbally's luck would change suddenly after he visited a friend in Zambia. “I went to visit him and within one day I was hired,” he recalled.

His new job took him miles away from the Zambian capital—Lusaka.

“The company I worked for had 60,000 acres of land and I was the manager of 3000 heads of cattle. My wife had to adapt to the change but oh my boys loved it.”

The move to Zambia posed other challenges.

Dr. Surujbally explained that in the eastern province of Zambia, the local herdsmen spoke a language called Chinyanja.

“So once again I had to learn to communicate with them in their language. It was funny because my children spoke better Chinyanja than me.”

Dr. Surujbally continued to work in Africa and in time, became the officer -in- charge of the Animal Production Research Institute at the National Council for Scientific Research.

After three years of research work, Dr. Surujbally became nostalgic.

He was looking for a shift in his career and remembered that a few years before, while on vacation in Guyana, the then President Burnham offered him a job if he came back to Guyana.

“He told me my services were needed here.” When he decided to return home, his first wife decided to return to her homeland. Dr. Surujbally along with his sons headed to Guyana.

NATIONHOOD His return to Guyana saw him working in agriculture and livestock development.

He spent years being a Director at LIDCO before

Receiving his national award from then President, Cheddi Jagan becoming a general manager of the national milk plant and working with the Ministry of Agriculture in an advisory capacities.

During those periods, Dr. Surujbally published several papers, many of a scientific and peer-reviewed nature.

His research would lead him to be Guyana's representative for many years at the International Organization of Epizootics (OIE) in Paris, and at the South American Organization against Foot and Mouth Disease in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, while at the same time being the technical advisor to several Ministers of Agriculture.

Dr. Surujbally later geared his effort to alleviate suffering of livestock and companion animals.

As his work gained more international recognition, Dr. Surujbally was awarded a F u l b r i g h t scholarship/Hubert Humphrey Fellowship (University of Davis, California) in 1991.

In 1992, he returned to Guyana and continued his stint as the director of the national dairy development programmme, which was an initiative of President Desmond Hoyte.

GECOM Around 2001, the career shift which Dr. Surujbally had been yearning for, came. He was appointed Chairman of GECOM. In that capacity, Dr. Surujbally was open to much public scrutiny.

But his ability to cope with the pressure gave him the balance he needed to effectively manage the Elections Commission.

Dr. Surujbally also had a historical understanding of Guyana's political system, which gave him an edge.

“I was there from the beginning so I knew who the players were and how they all started and I never took sides.”

His commitment to the work of GECOM would see Dr. Surujbally becoming the longest serving Executive

Chairman of an Elections Management Body in the Caribbean and perhaps in the western hemisphere.

He was instrumental in drafting key electoral policies such as the protocol for media workers covering the elections and the code of conduct for political parties.

Through GECOM, Dr. Surujbally developed a credible reputation in all areas of elections management and international monitoring of pre-, post- and interelections periods in North and South America, Asia, Africa and the Caribbean.

He was on the panel of several renowned institutions as an international elections Observer and served the president of the Association of Caribbean Electoral Organizations (ACEO), and represented GECOM at the inaugural meeting of the A s s o c i a t i o n o f Wo r l d Electoral Bodies (AWEB).

He also represented Guyana on electoral matters at the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR); at the Organization of American States (OAS) and the C o m m o n w e a l t h Secretariat's Political Affairs Division and its electoral network.

Under his stewardship, Guyana's elections were not fraught with turbulence and GECOM was recognized n a t i o n a l l y a n d internationally as a credible, reliable and trustworthy institution for implementing its technical functions optimally on electoral matters.

Despite all his electoral work, Dr. Surujbally still found time to be a newspaper columnist, a contributor to television and radio programmes, and a frequent Guest Speaker at important National and Caribbean occasions, as well as at the Rotary and Toastmasters Clubs.

Today, Dr. Surujbally is widely travelled and has been exposed to many cultures, some of which he has written papers about.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 54

Sunday October 06, 2019

Home invaders beat pensioner Guyana elected Vice-Chair with crowbar - two arrested of WHO board

S

eventy-four-yearold Drupattie Harpaul, called "Doreen", a Watermelon vendor of Miss Pheobe, Port Mourant was on Friday night attacked by three armed and masked bandits.

Harpaul is currently nursing a gash to the forehead after one of the men armed with a gun in one hand hit her to the forehead with a crowbar that he held in the other hand. Leena Harpaul, the grand-daughter, said she was sitting in the bottom flat enclosure when two masked men barged in.

Both, she said, were armed with cutlasses. She disclosed that one of the men ran to the bathroom while the other kept the cutlass pointed at her but turned away to look outside.

"When he turn outside me pull he foot fuh he fall down but then the next one come out back from the bathroom and lash me in my head with the cutlass and like me get blackout."

By that time another man armed with a gun and crowbar had confronted her grand-mother who was in the

hammock. With a bandaged forehead, Drupattie Harpaul relayed that she was in her hammock in the bottom flat of her home while her granddaughter was in the kitchen area. Her son and his wife were in the upper flat.

"I was in the hammock watching series on my phone and then me feel somebody deh at the back of me.

Dem grab my phone and then me ask who is you?

Why you grab my phone?

Me na realise was bandit.

Then the man said he is a bandit and then start ask for money and gold," she recalled. By that time two other masked men held up her grand-daughter, Leena Harpaul, a University of Guyana Berbice Campus student, in the kitchen.

The pensioner said she was not aware that her grand-daughter was held up by bandits but the armed gunman who took her phone told her not to scream.

Harpaul, however, defied his demands and was bashed to the forehead with the crowbar he also had with him.

"After me get the lash,

Home of the Harpauls

blood start fuh fall plenty, plenty and me na know what to do and me start holler and then he left me so me get up from the hammock and run to the fence and start holler fuh dem neighbours," she said. It was while she was screaming to alert neighbours that the men ran upstairs where her son and daughter-in-law had already secured themselves.

The men were unsuccessful in gaining entry to the upper flat and eventually escaped. They only managed to steal three cellular phones. Meanwhile, police sources have since confirmed that two persons have been arrested.

Investigations are ongoing.

(L-r) Head of Country and Sub-regional Coordination, PAHO, Ms. Ana Treasure, Director of PAHO, Dr. Carissa Etienne, Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence, and Dr. Karen Gordon –Boyle, Chief Medical Officer

M

Beaten: Drupattie Harpaul

inister of Public Health, V o l d a Lawrence, led Guyana's Delegation to the 57th Directing Council of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), and 71st Session of the Regional Committee of the World Health Organization (WHO) for the Americas, held in Washington, DC, from September 30 to October 4, 2019.

During the session, Guyana was elected to serve as Vice-Chair on the WHO Executive Board.

The high-level meetings discussed strategies and plans to address the challenges facing the Hemisphere, including reducing heart disease by eliminating industrially

produced trans-fatty acids, making access to organ, tissue and cell transplants more equitable, and improving the quality of care in health services delivery.

The Guyana Delegation also participated in several side events, such as a 'Response to Ageing Societies', Mental Health in the Americas, the Launch of the Report of the Commission on Equity and Health Inequalities in the Americas, and Addressing Gender-Based Violence in the Americas.

Minister Lawrence made a presentation on Multisector Collaboration to prevent and respond to Gender-Based Violence in Guyana, where she used the opportunity to highlight the Government of Guyana's

efforts to implement several measures, including the Spotlight Initiative which targets women and girls affected by gender-based violence and which seeks to improve their overall health and well-being.

This is part of Guyana's response to a slight increase in domestic violence incidents.

At the 37th Meeting of the Council on Human and Social Development, which preceded the PAHO/WHO meetings, on September 2829, also in Washington, DC, Dr. Karen Gordon –Boyle , Chief Medical Officer, was also nominated to serve as t h e C A R I C O M representative on the board of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS).

Guyanese among 13 migrants detained by US Coast Guard

M

IAMI — The Coast Guard interdicted 13 migrants and one suspected smuggler last month, 25 miles east of Miami, the Coast Guard 7th District said in a release.

The Coast Guard Cutter, William Trump, crew detected a westbound 21-foot cabin cruiser about 25 miles east of Miami heading towards southeast Florida.

Upon detection, the cabin cruiser crew reversed their course to go east toward the Bahamas.

William Trump's crew stopped the vessel and discovered six Jamaican migrants, six Haitian migrants, one Guyanese migrant and the suspected smuggler, a Bahamian national, aboard.

A Coast Guard Cutter William Trump small-boat crew interdicts a 21-foot cabin cruiser 25 miles The crew of a Coast Guard east of Miami on Sept. 28. They discovered six Jamaican migrants, six Haitian migrants, one Station Miami Beach 45-foot Guyanese migrant and the suspected smuggler, a Bahamian national, aboard. U.S. Coast Guard response boat-medium transferred

the 11 migrants and the suspected smuggler ashore to U.S. Customs and Border Protection for further investigation and the Coast Guard Cutter Margaret Norvell crew transferred only two of the Haitian migrants to the Bahamian Immigration Department.

“The Coast Guard continues to maintain a focused and coordinated effort with multiple agency assets to interdict any attempt to dangerously and unlawfully immigrate by sea to the United States,” said Lt. Cmdr.

Mark Cobb, Coast Guard Sector Miami chief of enforcement.

“These illegal migrant smuggling ventures are extremely dangerous, especially during the hurricane season, and place families in danger of being lost at sea.”

Sunday October 06, 2019

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Kaieteur News

We have not been idle!

We know we have more work to do, give us the chance! - President Granger

A Division commander to beef up security for final CPL match in Guyana

Scene from the National Stadium

COOP Crescent, Linden was yesterday transformed into a sea of humanity, as supporters of the APNU Coalition, converged at Congress Square, to Celebrate the 62nd Anniversary of the People’s National Congress(PNC).

Heading the out of Town delegation was President David Granger who was welcomed with drumming, dancing and an overall spirit of jubilation.

Supporters shouted, “Granger, Granger!’ as the head of State made his way through the massive crowd. He was accompanied by several Ministers of Government.

Later, after the usual welcome and general proceedings, the President, took to the stage where he was welcomed with thunderous applause.

The Head of State spoke extensively of the strides made under the present administration, especially in the area of Education, which saw children from across the country, benefitting from the five B’s programme. He also reminded that nine thousand teachers

received laptops over the past year.

He also alluded to the improved level of Education in the hinterland, bringing it up to par, with what is available elsewhere in the country.

“Government is here to serve you. That is why we will improve your services. We’re improving the economy, public security and telecommunications.”

The President said that 10,000 housing units will be developed in the Town, over the next three years, and five hundred additional house lots will become available in Amelia’s Ward.Sixty-two top performers of the National Grade Six assessment from across Region Ten, received tablets from Minister of Social Protection Amna Ally.

Bicycles were also distributed to deserving students, and a school bus was also handed over to Region Ten Officials.

Earlier in the afternoon the President commissioned the Linden Broadcasting Network, formerly known as the National Communications Network(Linden Branch).

Offshore Licences to small companies...

From page 8 the funding and oil majors to get the job done.

And this was way before we even conceived the notion of becoming an oil nation.

They were also willing to take risk, knowing that they could only explore 40 percent of the block.”

Today, the Kaieteur Block is operated by ExxonMobil and preparations are on stream for its first wild cat well in 2020.

Speaking to Eco Atlantic which acquired a small concession, the Orinduik Block in 2016, Dennison said that like Ratio, this company was able to provide a solid programme of funding and attracting the expertise to upkeep its work plan.

With the aforementioned as his premise, the Commissioner noted that a model which allows for super majors and new entrants is not new to Guyana. In fact, it is still used in many parts of the world. Dennison said that the model has proven to be to

Guyanas advantage given the slew of discoveries that have unfolded.

Be that as it may, Dennison noted that he would support future improvements to the existing framework given the new era of oil discovery that Guyana is firmly cemented in.

In an invited comment, University of Houston Instructor, Tom Mitro, noted that when the government has tried and has had difficulty in attracting interest from larger more experienced oil companies, sometimes they will award blocks to small, newly formed companies.

Like Dennison, Mitro stressed that this is not unusual or necessarily bad on its own provided that due diligence is done to keep out those who are out to abuse the process.

SMALL COMPANIESGLOBAL PERSPECTIVE Research conducted by this newspaper also revealed that as Dennison indicated,

there are other countries which have been open to small companies being allowed to explore for oil.

In the United Kingdom, this practice is evident.

In one documented instance, the UKs regulator, called Oil and Gas Authority offered awards to a broad spectrum of companies inclusive of oil majors and new entrant companies to explore the UKs continental shelf.

(SEE LINK FOR MORE DEhttps:// TAILS: www.offshoreenergytoday.com/ uk-offers-123-offshore-licenses-to-61-oil-gas-companies/) Last March, the Economic Times reported that in India, little-known private companies won 13 of 23 licences to develop oil fields. (SEE ATTACHED LINK FOR FULL STORY: https:// economictimes.indiatimes.com/ industry/energy/oil-gas/lessknown-private-companieswin-13-licenses-to-developsmall-oil-fields/articleshow/ 68220825.cms?from=mdr)

A Division commander, Marlon Chapman, has promised heightened security due to the numerous reports of spectators being robbed by bandits who are roaming the National Stadium where the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) cricket matches are ongoing.

Commander Chapman said that for the final cricket matches that will be held today in Guyana several police officers and patrol vans will be assigned to the stadium so as to ensure a safe

and robbery free environment.

The tightening of security at the stadium comes after several reports were lodge at different police stations about a group of men who are robbing persons after the cricket matches.

The most recent cases are that of Kishan Rameshwar, his brother Vickram and Cousin Trisha Persaud. The trio was robbed on Saturday night after attending the CPL match at Providence Stadium, East Bank Demerara.

Kishan Rameshwar, Vickram and Trisha Persaud were robbed of three cell phones worth $240,000, $60,000 and $80,000 respectively; personal documents including ID cards, bank cards and drivers licence and approximately $130,000 in cash.

The incident occurred around 01:00hrs while the trio was walking towards a waiting taxi in the vicinity of the Demerara Harbour Bridge.

Kishan Rameshwar, told (Continued on page 60)

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Kaieteur News

Sunday October 06, 2019

Mentally ill among 7 female prisoners awaiting trial for murder Alexis Turpin

T

he chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) have revealed that seven female prisoners are awaiting trial for murder at the Georgetown assizes of which one of them Brenda Ferreira, is mentally challenged.

On August 25, 2018, the community of Foulis, East Coast Demerara was plunged into a state of shock at news that Ferreira stabbed her three-year-old son to death.

Ferreira, 26, a housewife of 585 15th Street, Foulis, East Coast Demerara, according to eyewitnesses, was seen running behind her son, three-year-old Ramdeo Mahadeo, with a knife in her hand. Eyewitnesses also

Beverly Persaud

Mandy Sukhdeo

claim to have seen the woman thrusting the knife repeatedly into the childs back.

The police responded promptly, and the child was found in a bloodied state, lying on a bed in the small wooden structure they call home. The ranks that responded, immediately rushed the child to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where valiant attempts were made to save the childs life, but unfortunately the child succumbed.

Beverly Persaud, 46, is accused of the September 10, 2015 murder of her husband Nathan Persaud. She along with an alleged hit man Oswald Yaw, has been jointly charged with the mans

murder. Particulars of the charge alleged that on the day in question at Herstelling, East Bank Demerara, they murdered Persaud in pursuant of an agreement.

As part of the agreement, Beverly Persaud promised Yaw money, as inducement for him to consider causing the death.

Beverly Persaud was arrested and interrogated by police hours after her husband was killed. She reportedly confessed to orchestrating the plot to end the life of her estranged spouse. Yaw, the suspected hit man, reportedly confessed to beating Nathan Persaud to death with a hammer. He allegedly confessed to police

that the blockmakers wife had contracted him and had promised him $1.7M to do the gruesome job.

According to reports, the lifeless body of the 42-yearold blockmaker was found lying face down in the living room of his Lot 66 Herstelling home. His body bore a stab wound to his chest and the back of his head was bashed in.

Meanwhile, Angela Khan, 42, of Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara is to be tried for the August 2014 murder of her friend 37-year-old Bharrat Sugrim whom she is alleged to have stabbed to death.

Reports indicate that Khan and her reputed husband, Dhaniram Vijay Seewah, were embroiled in a heated argument which eventually led to a fight.

Sugrim, who had visited the couple s home, attempted to intervene as a peacemaker when he was reportedly stabbed once to the region of the heart.

The incident reportedly occurred on the verandah of the couples home, and the wounded man went to use the outhouse where he eventually collapsed.

Meanwhile, Alexis Turpin, 35, formerly of Lodge, Georgetown is to face a judge and jury for the July 2016 murder of Sherwin Johnson.

The woman, along with her lover Stephon Barlow is jointly charged with the killing. It was alleged that

Brenda Ferreira

they had used a crowbar to unlawfully and maliciously wound Johnson, with whom the woman shared a child, on July 2, 2016. He later succumbed in hospital.

Mandy Sukhdeo, 28, a former Region Three AFC councilor is accused of the February 14, 2017 murder of fisherman Shereffudeen Nazamudeen, who was beaten to death. It was previously reported that Nazamudeen, 22, of Lot 117 Ruby, East Bank Essequibo, was beaten to death by Sukdeo and two others, after he allegedly attempted to snatch a handbag belonging to her.

Angela Khan

GUYOIL Team takes Corporate Social Responsibility Programme to Region 8 A team from the Guyana Oil Company Limited (GUYOIL) headed by the Marketing and Sales Manager, Jacqueline James, traveled to Kato Village Region Eight to distribute school supplies to the children of the village.

As a part of the companys Hinterland Outreach under GUYOILs Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Programme, the visiting team exercised this programme on

Friday, October 4, last.

The Toshao, Clifton Perreira, and Village Councilor, Elizabeth Abrahams, received the supplies that consisted mainly of school shoes for the children of the village, the statement by GUYOIL said.

The team received support from the Guyana Defence Force in the form of air transport to Kato.

According to the statement, James noted the past

few months GUYOIL has been involved in several CSR activities to give back to the Guyanese.

GUYOIL intends to continue its efforts to not only offer Excellence in Service but to give support to initiatives that will better the society they serve.

The villagers expressed their appreciation to GUYOIL for the support and requested that similar projects are done in the future.

Sunday October 06, 2019

Kaieteur News

CONSUMER CONCERNS

ELIMINATION OF FALSE AND SUBSTANDARD GOODS FROM THE GUYANA MARKET

By PAT DIAL Last two or three weeks, the consumer community was both surprised and rejoiced that the Food and Drugs Department had shown a sudden squirt of activity when it visited a number of pharmacies which had been selling substandard and fake pharmaceuticals and seized them.

This column had been constantly bringing to the attention of consumers not only to the wide distribution of fake and substandard pharmaceuticals but also other goods such as cosmetics, foods and haberdashery. These false and substandard goods are often toxic, that is, being poisonous at various levels and could seriously impair health.

In pre-Independence times, Guyana’s food and drug imports were almost wholly made by reputable Western companies which were subject to strong national standards. Guyanese therefore felt with much justification that goods imported from Western sources were superior to those produced

by Third World countries.

The advent of the Free Market has changed the scenario completely and goods from every part of the world are imported into the Guyana Market.

The recent commendable activity by the Food and Drugs Department netted three fake and substandard “medicines” - Chanca Piedra Phosmovite which was promoted as being able to successfully treat gall and kidney stones and clean the liver and urinary tract; Fungabort which claimed it was effective in the treatment of nail fungus; the third forgery being Phosferine, a well-known drug in the Guyana market a generation ago.

Despite the forgery claimed that the name Phosferine was copyrighted and registered, the real drug which was indeed copyrighted and registered was spelt ‘Phospherine’ and not Phosferine. All three fakes claimed they were manufactured in Canada.

Canada is not known to be a forgery capital as some East Asian countries are but there are a few firms in that country which do produce fake and substandard goods.

One such is a well-known food manufacturer whose products are imported into the Guyana market.

That firm uses the trademarks and labels of wellknown products which are no longer produced by the genuine producers who would have ceased using the brand or may even have gone out

of business.

It also clandestinely patents the name of products which are not as yet patented in Canada. It is likely that the three fake products seized by the Food and Drugs Department were indeed produced in Canada.

Consumers themselves must be on the lookout for the quality of the drugs or other goods they are buying and must read the labels carefully since the labels often give an indication of whether a product is genuine or not. An example of this was given above in the case of spelling. Colour of label could also be an indication.

Country of origin, though a useful indicator of quality, is not always so as was shown in the case of Helms Pharmaceuticals of Hamburg, Germany some years ago.

Helms was able to quickly win a good part of the market until consumers began to notice the Helms drugs quickly deteriorated.

On research by the Bureau of Standards, it was found that Helms had their drugs made in extremely poor conditions in various Third World Countries and passed them as being German made.

They were quickly removed from the Guyana market.

The Food and Drugs Department has not so far instituted any charges against any of the pharmacies selling the fake products but instead are turning their attention to finding the main distributor and uncovering how or when the goods were brought into the country.

This strategy may be farsighted but the normal consumer feels that charges should have been instituted on the retailers since such would have been a deterrent to retailers buying or selling food or drugs of uncertain quality.

Importers, wholesalers and retailers should be alerted of the relevant Laws of Guyana relating to quality of imports and their cooperation sought. This may require importers being reminded of quality and that low prices should not always be a determinant in purchasing import stocks.

In the final analysis, the control and elimination of imports of fakes, forgeries, substandard and health-impairing products is the shared responsibility of consumers, retailers (including pharmacists), importers, the various responsible government departments and above all strengthening the relative Laws.

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Kaieteur News

PAGE 58

Sunday October 06, 2019

Anna Regina a bustling location with peaceful, humble inhabitants FOCUS

By Alex Wayne I was not expecting my visit to Anna Regina to be so traumatic, especially since it did not start off on the negative. I had decided to visit the village at the indication of residents who had said that there were issues in the village to be made public. After receiving many earnest pleadings, I ventured to the location, one hot sunny afternoon when the sun was at its highest in the skies.

Anna Regina is the capital of the PomeroonSupenaam Region of Guyana. It stands on the Atlantic coast, northwest of the mouth of the Essequibo River, 19 km north of

A n n a Regina Bridge, A n n a Regina Chimney, St. Bartholomew’s Anglican Church and several Dutch tombs.

History of the Village Historical reports from www.google.com, suggest that this community was originally a Dutch plantation that was bought over by the British planters soon after Britain took over Essequibo in the early 1800s. It is further recorded that the plantation was owned by an Englishman who had two beautiful daughters, called Anna and Regina.

It is stated that the girls were fond of swimming and would venture down to a canal close by in the

As many years went by the plantation soon transformed into a town in 1990, under the ruler ship of past president, Desmond Hoyte.

It is recorded that some eighteen villages were merged together, forming the township, which is said to be inhabited by over 22,000 residents. As history would dictate the British took over Essequibo with 34 sugar mills, none of which is around today. In many cases rice factories have been built in the location that once housed the sugar mills.

Anna Regina is also the gateway to three Amerindian settlements, namely St D e n y ’ s , L a k e Mainstay/Whyaka, and Capoey. While this township in years gone by sported a rustic yesteryear aura, it’s more impressive today with the arrival of schools, supermarkets, commercial banks and much more.

The journey

welcome to the picturesque township of Anna Regina

Adventure. This location was established as a town in 1970, and had a population count of 12,448 in 2002.

Today residents say that the population has increased significantly with the large influx of foreigners, and locals from outlying communities that have migrated there.

Anna Regina has a market, a community centre and a secondary school. In June 2009 Republic Bank (Guyana) established a branch in the town, making the lives of villagers easier since they did not have to travel to distant locations to conduct business of a commercial nature.

Anna Regina is most popular for its numerous historical sites, including the Damon Monument, Damon’s Cross, the Aurora Chimney and estate House,

mornings. The girls were said to be aged at thirteen and eight years respectively.

History would dictate that one morning the girls left to go swimming, and were indeed having a good time, when one of them (not named) starting having difficulties in staying afloat and began sinking beneath the water. It is said that one girl attempted to save the sister in distress, but not experienced in the art of saving a drowning person, both girls eventually drowned in the canal.

The location was reportedly thereafter renamed in honour of the two girls who perished in the estate canal. This incident is said to have occurred between 1810 and 1815, in the same location where the Anna Regina Primary School is now located.

I arrived at the Supenaam Boat Stelling and was swarmed by hire car drivers, jostling each other in their bid to solicit passengers. I politely told them I had the right to choose which car I wanted to travel in, and eventually chose a black car, driven by a rather polite driver, Mohan Singh.

As we wound our way between twists and turns in the countryside roadway, I marvelled at the picturesque fusion of abundant fruit trees (laden with fruits of their kind), lush green rice fields, and quaint little cottages.

What I noticed as well is that several villages on the Essequibo Coast had the very same names like many on the East Coast of Demerara, West Demerara , and Berbice. For example, while there is a Golden Fleece in Essequibo, there is

A section of the very attractive township of Anna Regina

one also in Berbice. The Airy Hall in Essequibo, mirrors the one in East Coast Demerara. And there is also an Onderneeming there, just like we have one in the West Demerara District.

Town horrors I was very shocked to find that despite the seemingly peaceful quiet of the township, a section was gripped in the horrors of the terror unleashed on residents by a male (name provided) who was terrorizing citizens, even under the nose of ranks at the Anna Regina Police Station.

Bus ines s man, Mohammed Sheriff sputtered with anger as he related a woeful tale of how the man tormented himself and family.

“For several months now residents of Anna Regina Village, have been terrorized by an arrogant and vicious villager who have been breaking down fences and destroying their properties, and claiming properties he has no title rights to. His name is (given), and he also beats up villagers and the police ain’t doing nothing.

“They can’t do anything because this man is controlling all the police at the station there. He smokes weed in the police station compound and the station sergeant does nothing about it.

“Well dem can’t do him anything because they come to his house to drink beers and just recently a whole set of them come to his house, and borrow his refrigerator to put drinks at a bar-b-que they had in the village.

“Imagine this man live till over the other side of the road and making claims on my property. I have my transport and all my documents for my property and this man has no rights to my property. He broke down my forty-feet concrete fence, damaged pipelines that lead to the sewerage and completely destroyed the tray of my Canter truck.

“He also tore down my CCTV cameras and took them away to his home. Just last week this man came over to my yard as I was speaking to an NDC councilor, and kicked me in the stomach, as we were examining a drain

Residents examined a drained that has been blocked by garbage by the ‘village bully’

around my home in which he has thrown garbage to block it up.

“There is about fourteen reports at the police station about this man, and till now the police can’t arrest him.

Presently he is before the courts for only one matter in which he is trying to covet the property of another resident.

“Imagine this man place a signboard with his name on a coconut tree in my yard and put up a big Guyana flag flying in my yard as if he owns my property.”

Selena Sami, another resident, vented her frustration over the alleged irresponsible manner in which the police were dealing with their situation.

“The police in Anna Regina is a total waste of time. They can’t do this man anything because they are colluding with him. He and the sergeant at the police station are very close, so they dragging their feet on any matter in which he is involved.

“We are living in fear here because he controlling the police, the people at the (Continued on page 59)

Kaieteur News

Sunday October 06, 2019

PAGE 59

Anna Regina From page 58 NDC, and he is making a mess of the young men in the village. He giving the young boys dope to smoke, and he has them selling it as well.

He has a group of young men that he is training to become thieves and have them breaking into people’s homes in the night.

“We are living in fear all because of this man and yet the police aren’t doing anything. Imagine this man took garbage and blocked the main access road to our location in this community, forcing us to use other routes for almost a month.

“Some people had to park their vehicles far from their homes because of him and the group of hooligans he have around him. He beat up lots of people in the village. Who the hell is he?

He is not God, so I don’t see why the police can’t lock him up. The police just as lawless and corrupt just like he…All ah dem gon burn in hell fire…”

Charran Sookdeo seemed very frustrated as he related his version of what was happening in the

community.

“This man is terrorizing everybody, and people are living in fear for their safety.

He big and powerful because his father was a big bhai and was a prosecutor as well.

Besides, he is close with a woman here who has ties with the big ones all over, so she is encouraging him to do what he is doing.

“He done rape people here and he training up the youths here sharply to do the same. Our young girls are not safe anymore, because he stopping taxis on the road and harassing the schools girls and telling the drivers to drop the girls all over the place. “Dis man damn powerful, and it’s a shame on the Anna Regina police…

It’s been months now and the man is still roaming free.

“The other day he sent some boys to threaten a woman who does sell alone in her variety shop, then later he come himself and tell de woman how he gon rape she and put her husband to watch.

I don’t know what the police doing… It look like villagers will soon have to

Taxi drivers ply their trade at the Anna Regina taxi tarmac.

arm ourselves and defend our homes and families, cause like the Anan Regina Police Station is a blasted circus.

“The new female commander we have here trying, but she just get the position here, she still a bit new, but is the station sergeant who making things bad for us, by failing to do his duty. The police is supposed to protect us, and ensure we are safe, but it look like they are protecting a very dangerous criminal.”

Many other residents came forward with harrowing stories of how the ‘village bully’ was making their lives a living hell, all indicating that their community was taken over by a menace to society.

Putting aside the reports of what residents were enduring at the hands of the ‘village bully’, there seemed to be peace in some sections in the sizeable township.

Arresting Camaraderie At one area in the township, I was certainly caught up in the merriment that seemed to flow among residents. I was certainly

The picturesque and very arresting Anna Regina High Bridge.

swept away in the vortex of merriment and laughter that was emitting from almost every corner of the township Stopping at a vegetable stall I was instantly greeted by smiling children with cheery dimples all heckling with childish curiosity as I pelted questions at their equally excited mothers, who were busy selecting vegetables Burly men and chiseled

looking young men looked on curiously from the taxi park, guessing the reason for my presence in hushed tones. Some of them eyed me suspiciously.

I was just overwhelmed by the bustle and festive aura that seemed to surround this location, so there I was looking around in awe as my eyes took in with wonder the sprawling expanses of posh houses, shops, commercial

structures, and what seemed to be a melee of happy people rushing around on one errand or another.

It’s always a giggle or encouraging word from a v e n d o r, o r t o u c h i n g pleasantries from taxi drivers and practically everyone you happen to run into. Join us next week when our reporter set his sights on the quaint little village of Bachelors Adventure.

PAGE 60

Sunday October 06, 2019

Kaieteur News

Diabetes ...

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From page 15 distributed to all diabetic associations locally, and also to clinics around the country.

To date, Guyana has certainly been chalking up notable points in this respect, as depicted in their June-December 2018 official report which showcases a comprehensive look at the activities executed by the local diabetic arm in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health and other stakeholders.

Among the accomplishments of the association is the two-day training in Diabetes prevention held at the Wind Jammer Hotel in Georgetown, for which certificates of participation were issued.

A Continuous Medical Examination (CME) course was held last year at the Pegasus Hotel. It was attended by over 131 medical practitioners, who were able to attain credits at four different levels.

That aside, several outreach sessions were held in Berbice, and La Parfaite Hamonie, and West Bank Demerara. Other ventures included educative and informative health exhibitions in many areas across Guyana.

Interventional Cardiologist...

From page 18 patients.

Calling it a structured and organized service, the hospital’s Medical Director, Dr. Ayesha Wilburg, said that “together with Caring Hands, St Joseph Mercy Hospital will work to manage all care delivery and strive to ensure quality health is provided to our patients.”

In fact she anticipates that the support of the homecare organisation will help the hospital to improve its standards.

Those desirous of taking advantage of the Caring Hands Healthcare Inc. services can do so by calling (592) 624-2273 or email info.caregy@gmail.com.

A Division commander to beef up...

From page 55 Kaieteur News that “it was about ten of them all armed with knives …we were walking towards the taxi when these boys come up and circle us. So we had nowhere to run. Then they start demanding things from us.

We get scared so we handed over the things we had on we.”

After robbing the trio the men made good their escape.

The matter has since been reported to the Providence Police station.

Sunday October 06, 2019

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Kaieteur News

STANDARDS IN STANDARDS INFOCUS FOCUS

REGIONAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY BUILDING CODE AVAILABLE FOR USE IN GUYANA Last March, the CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ), the International Code Council (ICC), ASHRAE, and the CARICOM Secretariat Energy Unit announced the release of new standards for energy efficient buildings for CARICOM Member States. The CARICOM Regional Energy Efficiency Building Code (CREEBC), which was developed in 2018, covers both commercial and residential construction. The code came to fruition through the joint effort of CROSQ, the ICC and ASHRAE.At the time of its announcement, the CEO of CROSQ, Mr. Deryck Omar stated, “These standards for energy efficient buildings reflect the unique energy requirements of tropical environments and will ultimately increase adoption rates of more effectual technologies for renewable energy and

energy conservation.”

The CREEBC is meant to meet the specific needs of nations in the Caribbean and other countries with tropical climates. It establishes minimum energy efficiency requirements for buildings, including the building envelopes, cooling systems, ventilation, roofing and insulation, electrical systems, building layout and designs, lighting and water-heating systems.

Head of the Energy Unit at the CARICOM Secretariat, Dr. Devon Gardner, said, “The CREEBC is envisioned to lead to an era of better quality building designs within the Caribbean Community.

Dr. Garner advocated that “Energyefficient measures and systems, such as daytime lighting and improvements in ventilation, can facilitate the comfort of occupants in buildings even during periods of natural

disasterrelated stress on the electricity grids.”

ASHRAE is a global society advancing human wellbeing through sustainable technology for the built environment. The Body comprises more than 50,000 members worldwide, focuses on building systems, energy efficiency, indoor air quality, refrigeration and sustainability.

Through research, standards writing, publishing, certification and continuing education, ASHRAE shapes tomorrow’s built environment today. According to 2018-2019 ASHRAE President Sheila J. Hayter, P.E.: “Improving energy efficiency is a global challenge, with building professionals serving as crucial contributors toward the establishment of standards that affect building systems operations,” During the development of the Code, all Member

Car abandoned after Mahaica crash Mahaica residents yesterday expressed concerns after stumbling on a crashed white motorcar which had been abandoned not far from the Bygeval Secondary School. It was there since early Thursday when residents heard a loud smashing sound.

They ventured out to find the crashed car. Residents have reportedly been looting the abandoned car. (Photo courtesy of the Guyanese Critic)

States including Guyana were required to establish National Committees to review the base document and the recommended modifications identified by the consultant.

These Committees made the necessary inputs into the regional process via the Regional Project Team (RPT). The GNBS had established a National Committee, referred to as the Technical Working Group (TWG), to assist in formulating the national position on the draft requirements of the REEBC. This TWG comprised of individuals and representatives of key entities, who had knowledge, experience

and responsibility for energy efficiency matters.

No doubt, the utilization of the CREEBC by CARICOM Member States can help to address the high costs associated with electricity generation and consumption. In addition, the Code will help to alleviate the environmental concerns related to greenhouse gas emissions that increase global warming and contribute to climate change.

With this new Code, building envelopes and services are expected to achieve minimum energy savings of 30% when compared to conventional construction techniques.

This will be achieved through several measures including making greater use of natural or energy efficient artificial lighting, and the strategic use of power distribution, air-conditioning, heating and ventilation in buildings.

To access the CREEBC for guidance on the construction of new domestic and commercial energy efficient buildings in Guyana, local architects and building contractors can visit the Guyana National Bureau of Standards, Sophia, Georgetown, or click on the following link: https:// codes.iccsafe.org/content/ CREEBC2018

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Kaieteur News

Sunday October 06, 2019

Ramkarran elected ANUGs presidential candidate Former Peoples Progressive Party (PPP) stalwart and former Speaker of the House, Ralph Ramkarran, was yesterday elected Presidential Candidate of A New and United Guyana (ANUG), the party he started to contest the 2020 General and Regional Elections.

The election occurred during a members meeting of the party at the Georgetown Club, Camp Street.

A statement from the party pegged Ramkarran as a political personality of vast experience. Most of those experiences were gleaned during his time as a member of the PPP, a party with which he has now severed ties, due to soured relationships.

The statement attributed his divorce from the party to an article he had written in 2012 in the PPPs newspaper, calling for steps to be taken to reduce pervasive corruption in Guyana. The Attorney-at-Law and Senior Counsel, 73, had served as a member of the PPPs Central Committee and Executive Committee since 1974 and 1975 respectively. He served as a member of the Guyana Elections Commission for the 1973, 1992, 1997 and 2001 elections; as a Member of Parliament from 1997 to 2001; as Chair of the Constitutional Reform Commission in 1999-2000; and as Speaker of the National Assembly from 2001 to 2012.

The party purports that the choice of Ramkarran as its Presidential Candidate was made due to the experience he lends to a major goal of the party the reform of Guyanas Governance system. The party posited that it is the most fundamental issue faced by the country, and that changing it will go a long way to dispelling the hold of race politics on governance.

Ramkarran is also the partys General Secretary, while the Chairman is Timothy Jonas.

The partys policies will be announced during its election campaigns, but it will be centered on its main goals of reforming the

ANUG Presidential Candidate, Ralph Ramkarran governance system, the electoral system, and making the legislature representative and independent of the executive.

ANUG was launched last January, “to be what the Alliance for Change (AFC) convinced Guyana it would be,” Ramkarran had said.

The AFC had been recognised for several years after its launch as a credible third force.

He had said that the AFC has now become “dead meat”, and had criticised The United Force (TUF) and the Working People s Alliance (WPA) for “falling by the wayside”.

The former Speaker of the House promised that ANUG will not join either of the major political parties to form a government.

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Sunday October 06, 2019

Sunday October 06, 2019

Lyght continues fine form as...

From page 71 to 25 overs due to rain. Marcus Watkins (3-9) and Nichosie Barker (3-21) did the damage for MSC, who were led to 109-7 by another brilliant innings of 61 from Scott who made 97 last weekend.

Akeem Crithlow supported with 21 as Kishan Singh (2-21) was Third Class’s beat bowler.

At QC, making its return to hosting GCA competitions, Sophia beat Bel Air Rubis in their inaugural season in this tournament.

Bel Air Rubis made 173 in a game reduced to 20 overs due to morning rain in Georgetown with Devendra Bishram making 37, Chandra Geenarine (32) and Kenton Thomas 32 being the main scorers.

Anand Persaud and Dowlat Ram took two wickets each for Sophia who, on the back of an unbeaten 65 from Persaud and 60 from Ram reached 176-4 in 17.4 overs; Arthur Duke and Dexter Jones had two wickets each.

The competition continues next Saturday since there is no cricket today due to CPL playoffs at Providence. (Sean Devers)

Joshua Ramsammy top scored with 26 and took 3- 12 for GYO.

Sunday September 08, 2019 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Today you might decide to host an impromptu party, and a lot of merry and interesting people could attend. You will have a lot of fun, blow off steam, and feel pleasantly exhausted when it's over.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) A strange conversation could take place with someone you don't know well, Libra. He or she could be an acquaintance from work or someone who's just arrived from far away.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) A long phone conversation could take place between you and a romantic partner, Taurus. You could discuss philosophy, current events, the weather, and your opinions.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Learning is apt to be your primary concern today, Scorpio, probably metaphysics, philosophy, history, or some other division of the humanities.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) - Creativeworkcould require more focus and concentration than usual today. You might need to do some in-depth research, intricate detail work, or another type of intense process that could strain your eyes and overstimulate your mind.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Some intense conversations could take place between you and a group of friends.

CANCER(June21–July22) Some young visitors may come to your home today, Cancer. You could unexpectedly find yourself called upon to entertain them.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Today you might receive intense telepathic communications from someone you don't know very well, Leo. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Some intense work you've done in the past that you might have forgotten about could have caught the attention of someone in authority.

Some long-overdue rewards for that work might come your way today.

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CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Today you might concentrate on some very close work, perhaps a drawing or painting, sewing, jewelry making, or creating a new recipe.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) This morning , you could see nothing but piles of papers that you have no use for. You might go through them like a house afire, wanting to clear out as much clutter as you can.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) A study of a philosophical or metaphysical concept or perhaps an ancient or foreign culture could take up a lot of your time today, . Your mind is especially sharp and penetrating now, so you should notice morelearn more quickly

Djokovic eases past Goffin to set up Tokyo final with Millman Reuters - World number one Novak Djokovic eased past Belgian third seed David Goffin 6-3 6-4 at the Japan Open in Tokyo yesterday to book his place in today’s final against John Millman.

Djokovic beat Goffin in one hour and 29 minutes, extending his head-to-head record against the 2017 champion to seven wins, and will now face Australia’s Millman who beat American Reilly Opelka in the other semi-final.

Top seeded Djokovic hit seven aces and won 87% of his first-service points against Goffin in the Serb’s first tournament since withdrawing from the U.S. Open fourth round with a shoulder injury.

“I’m very satisfied with the way I’ve been playing the whole week,” Djokovic said.

“It’s been a very positive week on the court, off the week as well. Hopefully I’ll be able to crown it tomorrow with a trophy.

“Obviously he was in good form and played really well against Chung yesterday in the quarters.

“The conditions are playing quick here. The surface doesn’t bounce that much, so you’ve got to be very low and quick on return as well. It definitely was not easy when both of us were serving well.”

Djokovic has dominated opponents in Tokyo and is yet to drop a set in the tournament and the 16-times Grand Slam champion needed only two breaks of serve to win in straight sets and reach his fifth final of the season.

Earlier, Millman took down Opelka 6-3 7-6(4) to

Novak Djokovic of Serbia reacts during his match against David Goffin of Belgium. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon reach his first ever ATP 500 final. Big-serving Opelka fired 13 aces but could not convert either of his two break points while Millman needed only one break of serve in the opening set before winning the second in the tiebreak.

“That was a pretty good match, it’s always difficult playing against someone like Reilly who has got such a massive serve,” Millman said.

“I was really happy to take the few little chances I had and took care of my own service games pretty well.

“I get to play a final of an ATP 500 in such a special place like Tokyo. For me, that’s why you play. That’s why you go through the graft and some of the tougher times, to give yourself an opportunity like this. It’s pretty special.”

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Australia 45-10 Uruguay MailOnline - Twice champions Australia overcame a sloppy start to crush Uruguay 45-10 on Saturday, forging towards the World Cup quarter-finals with some exhilarating running rugby despite their problems with high tackles resurfacing at Oita Stadium.

Wrecking ball centre Tevita Kuridrani and Dane Haylett-Petty each crossed twice each, with teenage winger Jordan Petaia sparkling with a try on debut under the domed roof. Scrumhalf Will Genia and prop James Slipper also grabbed fivepointers for the Wallabies, who shrugged off the heartbreak of their Wales defeat with flair and determination.

Australia had terrible trouble getting low enough in their tackling, with both lock Adam Coleman and loose forward Lukhan SalakaiaLoto given yellow cards for going high in an eventful opening half.

But the Wallabies were able to mitigate the damage with three tries to lead 19-3 at the break before throwing down the hammer in a dominant second half.

The result put Australia back on track for the quarterfinals, moving them top of Pool D ahead of secondplaced Wales and putting pressure on the Welsh to beat Fiji at the same venue on Wednesday.

It was a tough day for Uruguay, desperate to impress the powers of global rugby, but they were

rewarded with a late try to Manuel Diana in the final minutes.

The South Americans will take heart from not conceding as many points as they did in the 2015 World Cup, when they lost 653 to the Wallabies.

Australia, with 12 changes to the starting side that lost 29-25 to Wales, entered the game with some concern and a touch of farce. Replacement back James O’Connor was withdrawn due to a cork injury prior to the game and was replaced by Samu Kerevi on the bench.

Number eight Dempsey and Salakaia-Loto were forced to swap jersey numbers due to an ‘embroidery mishap’ on the World Cup debut of the team’s mainly green indigenous jersey, though both played their starting positions.

A stroke of fortunate created Australia’s first try, with a ricochet off the boot of Kurtley Beale taking the ball to the try-line.

With the defence scrambling, Australia whipped the ball cross-field where unmarked winger Haylett-Petty jogged over at the right corner for an easy score in the sixth minute.

Uruguay battled back, with Felipe Berchesi slotting a penalty when captain Michael Hooper put a high tackle on Nicolas Freitas as the winger darted toward the line. A minute later, Australia were down a man, when Coleman was given a yellow card for also going high on

Australia were determined to set the pace and rhythm of the game to return to winning ways. fullback Rodrigo Silva.

The action bypassed Petaia in the opening quarter, but he made an impact with his first touch, rumbling the ball toward the line, then linking up with Beale a moment later to sidestep two defenders and pirouette over the line for a 24th minute try.

Beale escaped a yellow for a high tackle but Salakaia-Loto was not so lucky, being sent off for what seemed a less egregious offence a few minutes after Coleman had returned to the field. Again, Australia brushed off the setback, with the

powerfully built Petaia bursting through on the left wing and offloading to Kuridrani for a try on the half-hour mark.

Uruguay would not lie down, though, and a huge roar echoed under the domed roof when centre Tomas Inciarte charged down the right wing for a turnover try a minute before halftime. It was to a fleeting moment of triumph for the South Americans, however, with the try cancelled by a video review which showed Diana was off-side when he plucked the ball from the ruck.

Australia came out with renewed intent and needed

only six minutes to claim the bonus point, with Kuridrani waltzing through a huge hole at midfield to cross near the right corner. The game then descended into a training run for the Wallabies as green and gold jerseys began punching holes through the Uruguayan line at will.

Dempsey burst through on the right wing to put Genia over in the 53rd minute, then the same pair combined near the try-line, allowing prop Slipper to rumble over from two metres out. Diana raised belated cheers for the Uruguayan sympathisers as he barrelled over after five minutes of sustained pressure

on the try-line.

Japan 38-19 Samoa Hosts Japan moved closer to a first World Cup quarter-final with a dramatic bonus-point victory over Samoa. The sides exchanged three penalties in a nervy start before Samoan-born centre Timothy Lafaele scored the opening try.

Kazuki Himeno, Kenki Fukuoka scored after the interval before Kotaro Matsushima sealed the late bonus point, while Henry Taefu scored a consolation.

Japan top Pool A and will qualify if Scotland fail to beat them and Russia in their final two matches.

England book spot in RWC quarter-finals with emphatic bonus point win over Argentina MailOnline - Once the victory was secured, England’s players walked around all four sides of the pitch to line up as one for their customary Japanese bow.

As they were applauded by travelling English fans – dressed as knights in armour, red roses or Prince Harry – there was one glaring absentee. Even the reserves basked in the glory, but where was Billy Vunipola?

It is mission accomplished for Eddie Jones’ squad, although the victory could come at a cost. England do not have another specialist No 8 in their ranks and they

will sweat over the prognosis on Vunipola’s heavilystrapped right ankle.

With three wins from three, England have secured their passage to the quarterfinal with a game to spare, without facing a true test of their title credentials.

Argentina lock Tomas Lavanini was sent off for a high shot on Owen Farrell after 18 minutes and, from thereon in, this victory was a formality.

Between the seventh and 71st minute, Argentina failed to score a single point.

England delivered a clinical display – again conducted by George Ford – to douse

flames of Argentinian emotion that threatened to set fire to England’s charge.

Topping 30C, it was one of the hottest days of the tournament so far and English fans poured out of Tobitayku metro station with red cheeks and sweat patches.

For the Argentinians, it felt just like summer in Buenos Aires.

The bounced and sang and basked in the sunshine – even as their side slipped away on the scoreboard.

Fortunately for England, night falls early in Tokyo and Jones’ side dictated the tempo as the air cooled. Argentina stuck in the battle for 15 minutes, but competing with 14 men was one challenge too far.

Jonny May got England on their way with a well-worked try after a switch from right to left saw George Ford pick him out.

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Coleman, Lyles help U.S. end relay gold drought Doha (Reuters) - A United States quartet led by Christian Coleman blazed to the 4x100 meters relay title at the world athletics championships on Saturday, clocking the second fastest time ever at 37.10 seconds to end a 12year gold medal drought.

Coleman, world 100m champion, pu t the Americans ahead with a stunning start and 200m gold medalist Noah Lyles completed the job, crossing the line with his arms raised triumphantly in the air as his team mates celebrated wrapped in American flags.

“We were all motivated to do something special and it just happened, everybody wanted it,” said Lyles, who will leave his first world championships with double gold. “We all wanted to break the curse, a generational curse and bring on a new era,” he added.

“That is the part that feels the most exciting to think the

time we break the curse is the time something great happens. “Every time you come across in the relay with the USA it is magical, all of a sudden you get this energy to run around the track again.”

Defending champions Britain took the silver in 37.36 seconds, a European record, as Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake failed to catch Lyles on the final straight. Japan won bronze with a time of 37.43 seconds, an Asian record.

Joining Coleman and Lyles, the two rising stars on the global sprint scene, were veterans in Justin Gatlin, twice world champion, and 34-year-old Mike Rogers, who had never before stood atop a world championship or Olympic podium.

After a wobbly performance in the heats in which Canada filed a protest against the U.S. for failing to make a proper exchange, the American quartet had a

meeting to ensure there were no hiccups in the final.

Victims of sloppy exchanges and dropped batons over the years, the message came through loud and clear as the United States made four clean exchanges in a polished effort to come home just outside Jamaica’s world record 36.84.

“We had a meeting in the morning,” said Coleman, who also heads home with two golds. “We just got to come together, everybody just got to execute, focus on what they need to do, have an open dialogue about what went wrong in the prelims and what we are going to do better in the final.

“If you never have that conversation then you are just going to go there and you kind of can’t expect different results,” Coleman added. “So we just got to talk about what we needed to do and everybody locked in and we got it done.”

Christian Coleman of the U.S., Justin Gatlin of the U.S., Michael Rodgers of the U.S. and Noah Lyles of the U.S. pose as they celebrate winning gold REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

Venezuelan Rojas retains China Open: Naomi Osaka women’s triple jump world title sets up Ashleigh Barty final Doha (Reuters) - Venezuela’s Yulimar Rojas retained her world triple jump title yhesterday with a display which reflected her recent dominance of the event as she twice soared past 15 meters.

The 23-year-old won with a huge jump of 15.37 meters, only four centimeters short of the second longest jump in history that she produced in Spain last month. Jamaica’s Shanieka Ricketts took silver with 14.92 meters and Colombian Caterine Ibarguen, the Olympic champion and until recently Rojas’s closest rival, was third with 14.73.

Rojas is the only Venezuelan to have ever won a world athletics title and she said she hoped her success would be an inspiration to her country which is mired in a political and economic crisis that has led to an estimated four million citizens abandoning the country.

“I fight, for my country, to lift Venezuela’s profile in the world and I think people are

grateful for what I do,” she told reporters. “It makes me happy that I bring some happiness to my country and that children are influenced by me and each day kids look at me as an example... an example that the country can go forward.”

Rojas, who trains in Spain with former Cuban long jumper Ivan Pedroso, said she wanted to try to beat the world record of 15.50 meters set by Ukraine’s Inessa Kravets in 2015 and win Olympic gold next year.

“It’s something I have my eye on,” she said. “I have advanced a lot, I am very close but I am very young, I have a long way to go.

I have to work hard in the next year and improve centimeter by centimeter.”

Rojas quickly established a lead with a jump of 14.87 in the first round but there was more to come. She bettered that with 15.37 in the second and went 15.18 with her fourth attempt.

Venezuela’s Yulimar Rojas in action REUTERS/Dylan Martinez

Naomi Osaka ended Bianca Andreescu’s 17-match winning streak in the quarter-finals.(Getty Images) BBCsport - Naomi Osaka will face world number one Ashleigh Barty in the China Open final after surging past defending champion Caroline Wozniacki. Australia Open winner Osaka hit 30 winners in beating Wozniacki 6-4 6-2 in one hour 24 minutes in Beijing.

Barty, who won the French Open, earlier battled past Kiki Bertens 6-3 3-6 7-6 (9-7) in their semi-final yesterday. Today’s final will be the fourth meeting between Japan’s Osaka and Barty, with the Australian leading 2-1.

Osaka, 21, started strongly but Wozniacki held on until the ninth game, when Osaka broke and served out to claim the set. The world number four, who hit five aces and saved all seven break points against her, broke the 29-year-old Dane twice in the

second set as she raced to victory.

Osaka said she barely slept before the semi-final after ending US Open champion Bianca Andreescu’s 17-match winning streak in the quarterfinals late on Friday. “I went to sleep at 4:00 am, I woke up at 6:00 am, so solid two hours, I can’t really sleep after my matches,” she said.

“I just feel like my adrenaline’s up more during the tougher matches so it makes it harder to sleep.”

Barty, 23, had to save match point in a thrilling tiebreak decider against the Netherlands’ Bertens, also committing 52 unforced errors in a nervy showing.

The top seed dominated the first set only for Bertens, 27, win the second by the same score.

Bertens broke in the fifth

game of the decider but could not serve out for the match as Barty hit back to take it to a tie-break. The Australian trailed 3-0 in the tie-break but rallied to set up match point at 6-5, before Bertens won the next two to get a match point of her own.

But Barty drew level and reeled off the next two points to wrap up victory in two hours 20 minutes. Barty credited a “massive growth” in her mental strength in playing decisive points.

“It’s gone hand-in-hand with adding some new people to my team, trying to work with them behind the scenes,” she said.

“Not just for my tennis it’s for my life, my health and wellbeing, as well, which has been the best thing. “I have never been happier off the court, never been happier on the court.”

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Fourth EBFA/Ralph Green U-11 League – Day 4

Timehri Panthers, Swan, Riddim Squad and Eagles win

Terez Moore - Eagles FC (Stewartville)

Jaheam Lewis – Riddim Squad FC

Swan Football Club and Eagles Football Club of Stewartville, West Coast Demerara both posted their first wins when play in the fourth edition of the East Bank Football Association (EBFA) Under-11 League sponsored by USA based Guyanese Ralph Green continued yesterday at the Guyana Football Federation, National Training Centre, Providence, East Bank Demerara.

Defending champions Timehri Panthers and Riddim Squad both collected their second win in four outings while Vurlon Mills Academy and Fruta Conquerors battled to a 0-0 draw. There was also a draw in the Agricola Red Triangle vs Kuru Kururu Warriors clash, 1-1.

Despite the draw with Conqueoros, Vurlon Mills Academy remains the team to beat in Group ‘A’ as they are

still in pole position and have sealed their place in the next round of the competition with a game in hand.

Fruta Conquerors, with two matches to play can still seal a place in the next round but will have to win both their remaining matches and hope that Timehri Panthers slips up in their final match. The Panthers defeated Diamond United 2-0 yesterday on account of goals from Esteban Madina in the 11th minute and Shaquelle Caleb in the 17th minute.

Swan romped to a 3-0 win over Friendship All Stars in a very close match which saw Friendship wilting under the midday heat in the final five minutes of the match. It had looked like the match was heading for a draw but Swan’s players had differing ideas.

They knocked in three unanswered goals, a double from Kevin DeGoias in the

Eagles FC’s Terez Moore (right) scores the lone and winning goal against Samatta Point/Kaneville yesterday.

25th and 27th minute with Marko Andrews tucking in the other in the 29th minute to seal a memorable win for the Swan lads.

Riddim Squad needled Grove High Tech through a Jaheam Lewis 9th minute goal; the win propelled

Riddim Squad to the top of the points standings in Group ‘B’ on goal difference ahead of Kuru Kururu Warriors who had to claw their way back from being a goal down against Agricola Red Triangle to earn an equal share of the points.

Latest Points Table as at October 5th Gr. Team P A Vurlon Mills Academy 4 A Timehri Panthers 4 A Fruta Conquerors 3 A Diamond United 4 A Eagles FC (Stewartville) 3 A Samatta Point/Kaneville 4 Gr. Team P B Riddim Squad 4 B Kuru Kururu Warriors 4 B Agricola Red Triangle 4 B Swan FC 3 B Grove Hi Tech 3 B Friendship All Stars 4

W 3 2 1 1 1 0 W 2 2 1 1 1 0

L 0 1 1 2 2 2 L 0 1 0 1 2 3

Agricola went ahead in the 4th minute thanks to a Brandon Narine goal. It took the Kuru Kururu Warriors until minute 22 to be able to respond in like manner through a Jahson Maddison goal.

Eagles FC sailed to their D 1 1 1 1 0 2 D 2 1 3 1 0 1

GF 5 6 4 3 1 3 GF 3 5 5 3 4 2

GA 0 4 2 4 6 6 GA 1 4 1 3 3 11

GD +5 +2 +2 -1 -5 -3 GD +2 +1 +4 0 +1 -9

first win via a 1-0 margin over Samatta Point/Kaneville; Terez Moore the player who sealed the deal for the West Demerara based lads in the two minutes before full time, 28th minute. Matches will continue on Saturday at the same venue.

Points 10 7 4 4 3 2 Points 7 7 6 4 3 1

Jamaica beat Britain for women’s relay gold Doha (Reuters) - Jamaica stormed to world championship gold in the women’s 4x100 meters relay on Saturday, beating Britain in a battle that featured 100 and 200m winners ShellyAnn Fraser-Pryce and Dina Asher-Smith.

Since 2005 the United States and Jamaica have dominated the event at the worlds, with the Americans topping the podium four times, including two years ago in London, and the Jamaicans three.

In Doha, though, the fight for gold came down to Jamaica and Britain, the Caribbean nation returning to the top of the podium with a time of 41.44 seconds. Britain took silver in 41.85 and the U.S. bronze in 42.10.

In a surprise twist FraserPryce and Asher-Smith, the two sprint stars of the

championships, were not given the responsibility of anchoring their teams but instead went head-to-head in the second leg down the back stretch.

Shericka Jackson, bronze medalist in the 400m, brought Jamaica home while Daryll Neita anchored Britain. It was the second gold of the championships for the evergreen Fraser-Pryce, the 32-year-old bringing her haul from six worlds to nine gold medals and two silvers.

The Jamaican women have taken over the mantle of global sprint superpower from their men and showed the depth of their talent by winning without the services of reigning Olympic champion Elaine Thompson, who was out with injury.

“I am really excited for

Team Jamaica and our ladies,” said Fraser-Pryce. “I think it speaks volumes especially going into 2020 (Olympics).

There is so many things that can happen at a championship, so we want to make sure all our ladies are ready; no matter who you call on we’ll be ready.”

With the U.S. women sprinters turning in unimpressive results in Doha, Jamaica’s biggest threat at the 2020 Tokyo Summer Games could very well come from Britain.

Asher-Smith established her credentials as a reliable medal producer by collecting three in Doha — gold in the 200 and silver in the 100m and relay.

“It was absolutely fantastic to go and run out there and we are on the best way to Tokyo,” said AsherSmith. “We are ready. “We worked for this really hard.”

Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Natalliah Whyte, Jonielle Smith and Shericka Jackson celebrate winning gold. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

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Jamaul John captures feature event at 15th Hand-in-Hand Insurance Cycle Meet Jamaul John turned in an outstanding performance to win the feature event at the 15th edition of the Hand-inHand Insurance Cycle Meet which was contested yesterday at the inner circuit of the National Park.

John signaled his intentions early on but had to overcome the challenges of his rivals with whom he shared the lead in the early stages of the 35-lap race.

However with six laps remaining, John, Paul De Nobrega, Briton John, Christopher Griffith and Curtis Dey broke away from the pack as the pace increased considerably, and it boiled down to a battle among them.

However, John sprinted his way to the finish line ahead of his rivals to win the duel in a time of One Hour 15 Minutes 48 Seconds.

De Nobrega took the 2nd place followed by Briton John, Griffith, Dey and Michael Anthony in that order to complete the top six places.

Junior Niles won the Veterans Under-50, 5-lap race in a time of 13 Minutes 05.45 Seconds ahead of Kwame Ridley and

Respective prize winners with their accolades alongside representatives of the sponsors and organisers.

Jaikarran Sukhai.

Ian Jackson captured the Veterans Over-50, 5-lap contest with Andy Spencer 2nd and Kennard Lovell, third.

The Juvenile 10-lap event was taken by Sherwin Samspon in a time of 21 Minutes 56.14 Seconds while Aaron Newton took the runner up spot.

The Mountain Bike 5-lap event went to Darius Ramsarran, Nigel London grabbed second place while Lennox Jackman placed third.

Lennox Jackman won the BMX Boys 6-9 years 2 lap event ahead of Aditya Deokarran and William Green.

Jason Primo claimed the Boys 9-14, 3-lap title.

(Zaheer Mohamed)

Captains confident ahead of today’s Playoffs at Providence

By Sean Devers The Captains of three of the four franchises which will battle in the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) Playoffs at the Providence Stadium today with the aim of winning the seventh edition of the tournament in the October 12 final spoke at Providence yesterday.

Today marks the tournament’s defining double-header, for Trinbago Knight Riders and St. Kitts Patriots, a loss would end their campaign while for Guyana Amazon Warriors or Barbados Tridents, win gets them straight to the final, and a loss gets them into the eliminator in Trinidad and Tobago on Thursday.

At the pre-match press briefing, all four captains stated, the performances of the preliminary stages are out the window and they will start a fresh.

“There is no overconfidence in our team; I guess every day is a new day. What we would have achieved was exceptional but that is the past. What is coming tomorrow (today), we are just focusing on that.” said the vastly experienced 37-year-old

Warriors Captain, Shoaib Malik.

“Everyone has their expectations. If you start thinking about all of that you put extra pressure on yourself. We are already in the playoffs. This is a new year, a new season. I am one person who does not look too much at the past.” explained Malik.

“It has been a really good tournament. We have had an up and down campaign and tomorrow’s (today’s) game will be very keenly contested and we are looking forward to the match.”

“We have been showing good glimpses of form throughout this campaign and our bowlers have carried us through while our batting was indifferent. Shakib [Al Hasan] has been a good addition, not just in terms of his performance but in terms of leadership.” said the former West Indies ODI Captain, Jason Holder.

“Warriors have been playing good cricket, and they have had different persons playing well for them…but they are beatable… you have to play good cricket on the day, we gifted some our matches away and we look forward to

beating Guyana at home.”

Holder concluded.

According to Carlos Brathwaite, Captain of St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, his team wants to win their first title and playing Trinidad and Tobago who have lost five games straight is a plus for his team.

“For us it not concentrating on their form but more on ours. Once planning for them we would look at what caused them to lose,” said Braithwaite, the former Windies T20 Skipper.

“I think Sunil Narine will be a factor. I know the type of character he is and I am sure he will want to play and help lead his team to success.”

Braithwaite added. “Two teams would have like to be in our position, which is the playoffs, so we are still in a good position, we have to take the longer route to the final. Once we get a win, we can push to the final.”

Pollard, who turned up late yesterday, also spoke about the void Narine’s absence has created and they will do a fitness test today to determine his readiness. The first playoff starts at 11:00hrs and the second from 15:30hrs.

2019 Scotiabank Concacaf League semifinal matchups and schedule confirmed Miami – The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf) yesterday confirmed the matchups and schedule for the semifinals of the 2019 Scotiabank Concacaf League.

The fourth round of the competition will take place the last two weeks of October.

Quarterfinal action culminated on Thursday night in Central America, with CD Olimpia (HON) and Alianza FC (SLV) joining FC Motagua (HON) and Deportivo Saprissa (CRC) in the semifinals.

The semifinal pairings are as follows: Matchup #1: FC Motagua (HON) vs Alianza FC (SLV). Matchup #2: Deportivo Saprissa (CRC) vs CD Olimpia (HON).

As per the competition regulations, Deportivo Saprissa (CRC) and FC Motagua (HON) have earned the right to host the return leg semifinals, as they accumulated the most points through the round of 16 and quarterfinal matches.

The first leg semifinals are scheduled to take place October 24, followed by the second leg semifinals on October 31. The home-andaway finals will take place November 5-7 and 26-28. The semifinal home matches of Honduran clubs CD Olimpia and FC Motagua will continue to be played behind closed doors, at the Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano, in San Pedro Sula, Honduras.

The decision is aimed at guaranteeing the safety of

the participating clubs, officials and fans.

Fans will be able to follow all the action through the Confederation’s partner networks, including TUDN (United States), Yahoo Sports (United States), Fox Sports Latin America (Mexico & Central America), ESPN (Central America), TSN (Canada), Flow Sports (Caribbean) and other local partners. For other territories, the tournament is available on Concacaf GO (subject to territory restrictions).

As announced earlier this year, in addition to qualifying its champion to the 2020 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League, the 2019 Scotiabank Concacaf League now qualifies an additional five clubs (runner-up, two losing semifinalists and two best-ranked losing quarterfinalists).

The six clubs who have secured their participation in

next year’s edition of the region’s premier tournament for clubs are (in alphabetical order per country): Deportivo Saprissa (CRC), AD San Carlos (CRC), Comunicaciones FC (GUA), CD Olimpia (HON), FC Motagua (HON), and Alianza FC (SLV). 2019 Scotiabank Concacaf League Standings – Quarterfinals 1. Deportivo Saprissa (9 pts, +3) 2. FC Motagua (8 pts, +3) 3. CD Olimpia (7 pts, +4) 4. AD San Carlos (7 pts, -1) 5. Alianza FC (6 pts, +2) 6. Comunicaciones FC (5 pts, -1) 7. Waterhouse FC (5 pts, -2) 8. CA Independiente (4 pts, -1) 2019 Scotiabank Concacaf League Schedule Semifinals *Eastern Time (local time) and home team listed first Thursday, October 24, 2019 20:00 (18:00) CD Olimpia (HON) vs Deportivo Saprissa (CRC) 22:00 (20:00) Alianza FC (SLV) vs FC Motagua (HON) Thursday, October 31, 2019 20:00 (18:00) FC Motagua (HON) vs Alianza FC (SLV) 22:00 (20:00) Deportivo Saprissa (CRC) vs CD Olimpia (HON)

PAGE 72

Sunday October 06, 2019

Kaieteur News

Second annual Veterans Football Festival deemed a success

Pele Masters Team The second annual, “Kick Out Prostate Cancer! Keep Men in the Game” Awareness Veteran’s Football Festival, organised and sponsored by The Outdoor Store and Pet Shop-ABSAA and held on Sunday last at the GFC Ground has been deemed a success by the organizers. A number of competitive 90-minute matches were contested: In game one, Club 45 ‘B’ defeated Club 45 ‘A’ 2-1 and in game two, Wales Masters and Pele were

Wales Masters Teams deadlocked 3-3 at the end of regulation and extra time, but Wales Masters won 8-7 on kicks from the penalty mark.

Mr. Dwayne Butters, Founder of the James Butters Prostate Cancer Awareness Network addressed the gathering and handed out literature on prostate cancer. Fourteen coupons will be distributed for free consultation and examination at the Guyana Cancer Foundation and Cancer Institute of Guyana.

ABSAA Inc. is expressing thanks to thank the players, main sponsors Ms. Christine Jardim CEO The Outdoor Store and Pet Shop, Alex Bunbury - Founder of ABSAA Contributors, Ramesh Sunich CEO Trophy Stall, Ms. Bibi Hassan CEO Guyana Cancer Foundation and Dr. Syed Ghazi Outreach Director of Cancer Institute of Guyana for their contributions which allowed the event to be a success.

Rohit Sharma breaks record Le Cosmeliques by Niketa support Stage of Champions for most sixes in a Test BBCsport - India’s Rohit Sharma became the first batsman to score two hundreds in his maiden Test as opener while also breaking the record for the most sixes in a Test as India continued to dominate South Africa.

Having made 176 in the first innings, Rohit hit 127 yesterday as India set South Africa 395 to win in Visakhapatnam. South Africa closed day four of the first Test on 11-1 - opener Dean Elgar, who made 160 in the first innings, falling to spinner Ravindra Jadeja. Rohit finished with 13 sixes, surpassing the 12 hit by Pakistan’s Wasim Akram against Zimbabwe in 1996. He smacked six sixes in his first innings and seven in his second knock, while Wasim hit all 12 in an unbeaten 257 at Sheikhupura.

Rohit, 32, has an excellent record as a one-day international opener, having scored 27 centuries, but had not been able to replicate that success playing as a middle-order batsman in Test cricket. He had made three centuries in his previous 27 Tests, at an average of 39.62, but in his first start as an opener he put on 317 for the first wicket with MayankAgarwal, who made 215 as India declared on 502-7.

Most sixes in a Test Player Rohit Sharma (Ind) Wasim Akram (Pak) Nathan Astle (NZ) Matthew Hayden (Aus) Brendon McCullum (NZ) Brendon McCullum (NZ) Ben Stokes (Eng)

Rohit Sharma made his first start at opener in his 28th Test.

South Africa made 431 in response, a deficit of 71, thanks to centuries from Elgar and Quinton de Kock. Despite prodigious turn on day four, Rohit played fluently to reach 127 off 149 balls, also hitting 10 fours.

His final total of 303 runs in the match is the most ever by a batsman in their maiden Test as opener, surpassing Sri Lanka’s Tillakaratne Dilshan, who made 215 against New Zealand in Galle in 2009.

Rohit also became the only the second India opener to hit twin hundreds in a match after Sunil Gavaskar, who did it three Sixes 13 12 11 11 11 11 11

times, and the sixth India batsman overall, with Vijay Hazare, Rahul Dravid (twice), Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane also having achieved the feat.

He is also the first India batsman to be stumped in both innings of a Test, each time off Keshav Maharaj, having never previously been stumped in his first-class career. With the rest of India’s line-up attacking to set up the declaration, the hosts ended with 27 sixes in the match - the most by one team in a Test, beating New Zealand’s 22 against Pakistan in Sharjah in 2014.

Against Year South Africa Zimbabwe England Zimbabwe Pakistan Sri Lanka South Africa

2019 1996 2002 2003 2014 2014 2016

Ms. Niketa Hussain of Le Cosmeliques by Niketa hands over their contribution to Videsh Sookram.

Le Cosmeliques by Niketa located at the Tower Hotel, Main street is the latest corporate entity to financially support the upcoming Stage of Champions, scheduled for Saturday October 19 at the Theatre Guild, Kingston, Georgetown.

Proprietor of the

establishment, Ms. Niketa Hussain handed over their contribution to Organiser of the Stage of Champions, Videsh Sookram.

Meanwhile, Sookram has informed that over ten athletes will be coming for the show from neighbouring Suriname inclusive of three

females, namely, Militia Galimo, Tatiana Bawon and Jo Pereira. The male athletes are Fabian Wehl, Jermain Karg, Faizel Pinas, Shawn Roberts, Randal Haakmat, Getrouw Rudolf, Tristano Pawirodihardjo, Jermain Wielzen, Sergio Rampersad and Fernando Krak.

Kaieteur News

Sunday October 06, 2019

PAGE 73

2019 KMPA Road Race runs off this morning The third annual KingMedas Pansy-Adonis (KMPA) Junior Olympic Games and Road Race will be contested this morning when the lucrative 5k event runs off from Bachelor’s Adventure and finishes at the host ground for the games, the Lusignan Community Center (LCC).

It will be a fitting end to the four-day event that began on Thursday last with field events, heats and sprint relays on Friday while the sprint finals were contested yesterday. Scores of studentathletes from all across the country with some coming as far as Linden and Corentyne lined up on the track to match their speeds yesterday from as young as the 6 years-old and under to the seniors.

The organiser of the event, Andy Medas-King who is committed to developing track and field from the grassroots level up, was pleased with the turnout.

Today’s 5k road race is going to be a lucrative event and the senior male winner will receive a purse of $50,000, 2nd $40,000, 3rd

Kcaysha Medas-King (616) came from behind to beat Roshana Reynolds of New Amsterdam United in the girls’ 13-16 years-old 400m final.

$30,000 while the senior females will see the winner running away with $40,000, 2nd $30,000, 3rd $15,000.

In addition to cash prizes, 1st to 10th place finishers will receive a trophy while some lucky student-athletes will receive sponsorship, compliments of the KMPA Memorial.

Below are the results of the various 100m and 400m sprint finals that were contested yesterday.

Boy’s 9-12 years-old 100m - 1st Jaylon Choo, 2nd

Keon James, 3rd Vibert Mingo.

Girl’s 9-12 years-old 100m - 1st Atheleyha Hercules, 2nd Akeela Dover, 3rd Shaquana Redmond.

Girl’s 13-16 years- old 100m - 1st Brianna Charles, 2nd Princess Browne, 3rd Queanna Taylor.

Boy’s 13-16 years-old 100m - 1st Shem McKenzie, 2nd Simeon Shepherd, 3rd Job Fraser.

Girl’s 17-20 years-old 100m - 1st Juvonna Cornette, 2nd Nataliea Ally,

Boy’s 17-20 years-old 1st Deron Roberts (10.73s), 2nd Eon Bollers (10.97s), 3rd Kofie Eilead (11.19s).

Girl’s 6 & under 400m 1st Malalah Downer (1m 41s), 2nd Aliyana Austin (1m 47s), 3rd Dhalia Allen (1m 49s).

Girl’s 8 years & under 400m - 1st Kunusasha Medas-King, 2nd Ayesha Austin, 3rd Denise Summer.

Boy’s 8 years & under 400m - 1st Doris Lamar, 2nd Salim Horatio, 3rd Hezekiah Vanier.

Seon Budhan won the men’s 400m in a time of 51.32s.

Girls’ 13-16 years-old 400m - 1st Kcaysha MedasKing , 2nd Roshana Reynolds , 3rd Shelena Semple.

Boy’s 13-16 400m - 1st Tyrese Whartin, 2nd Seon Booker, 3rd Issano Fields.

Boy’s 17-20 years-old 400m - 1st Jamal Millington (52.39), 2nd Rivaldo Europe (55.78), 3rd Murphy Bagot (56.78).

Men’s 400m - 1st Seon Budhan (51.32s), 2nd Karl Vanier (54.47s).

NBS 40-Over 2nd Division

Lyght continues fine form as Police beat 3rd Class; wins also for Sophia, MSC & GYO A n d r e w Ly g h t J r. followed up his 130 last weekend with a responsible 91 to spearhead Police to a 14-run win over Everest.

Jerimiah Scott followed his 97 in his last innings to spur MSC to a three-wicket win;

unbeaten fifties from Anand Persaud and Dowlat Ram led Sophia to a six-wicket win over Bel Air Rubis while a decent all-round performance from Joshua Ramsammy took GYO to a 15-run victory against UG

when NBS 40-Overs second division cricket action continued in the City yesterday.

At Eve Leary, Ramsammy top score with 21 as GYO were bowled out for 104 in 27.3 overs.

Povindra Persaud, Nicholas Bollers and Guhini Favorite took two wickets each for the University of Guyana who fell for 89, Devon Paul made 16. Ramsammy and Trevon France had three wickets each.

At Everest, in a game reduced to 35 overs due to early morning rain, Police

reached 189-5 with Andrew Lyght Jr. following up his 130 last weekend with a carefully constructed 91 from 97 balls, hitting three sixes and three fours. He added 66 with Kemol Savory (26) and 58 with Pernell London (22*) before he was dismissed off the last ball of t h e i n n i n g s b y Tr o y Gonsalves.

Everest were bowled out

for 175 in 33.1 overs despite 55 from Amir Khan and 38 from Skipper Saheed Mohamed. Vishal Jaigobin had 3-47 while there were two wickets each for Savory, Hemchand Persaud and Darson Larose.

At Malteenoes, Andre Oneale made 31 as Third Class were all out for 107 in 24 overs in a game reduced (Continued on page 65) Andrew Lyght Jr. during his innings of 91 yesterday.

(Sean Devers photo)

Dowlat Ram followed up his 2-22 with an unbeaten 60 for Sophia at QC.

Captains confident ahead of today’s Playoffs at Providence

rt o p S Jamaul John captures feature event at 15th Hand-in-Hand Insurance Cycle Meet

Captains all, from left, Carlos Braithwaite, Shoib Malik and Jason Holder. Absent is TKR Skipper, Keiron Pollard.

Jamaul John (left) on his way to victory in the feature 35- lap race at the National Park.

Fourth EBFA/Ralph Green U-11 League – Day 4

Timehri Panthers, Swan, Riddim Squad and Eagles win

Riddim Squad’ Jaheam Lewis (partly hidden) nets the winning goal against Grove Hi Tech.

2019 KMPA Road Race Rohit Sharma breaks record for most sixes in a Test runs off this morning 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.