Kaieteur News
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Sunday September 16, 2018
Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Adam Harris Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL
UG, TECHNOLOGY AND GLOBALIZATION
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ince its establishment in April 1963, the University of Guyana (UG) has remained the country’s leading national higher education institution. Indeed, there are other tertiary institutions, some of them private.The University opened on the grounds of Queen’s College with only a few programmes. Its first Chancellor was Edgar Mortimer Duke, a prodigy who became a Guyana Scholar at sixteen. Its first Principal and Vice-Chancellor was the British biologist and mathematician Lancelot Hogben. Its mission is to discover, generate, disseminate, and apply knowledge of the highest standard for the service of the community, the nation, and of all mankind within an atmosphere of academic freedom that allows for free and critical enquiry. Today, UG has about 60 undergraduate and graduate programmes. Natural Sciences, Engineering, Environmental Studies, Economics, Law, Medicine, Optometry and Nursing, among others are offered. UG has also graduated more than 20,000 students, many of whom have gone on to successful and lucrative careers locally, regionally and internationally. In spite of its success, it seems that there is a stranglehold on its image and reputation. In the context of higher education, teaching technology, which is limited in scope at UG has been an enormous challenge. It has become difficult to turn the institution around quickly in terms of technological education. The university is yet to produce a dynamic strategic academic curriculum to include programmes such as oil exploration technology or national strategy training and career development courses for the oil industry. Instead of focusing on awarding Honorary Doctorates, which is of little merit to UG, but may be to its administrators, the university should revamp its structures and consolidate its existing undergraduate and graduate levels programmes. It should also develop a robust programme to train public/civil servants, agriculturalists, business leaders and technology, among others. At his appointment, it was refreshing to hear the ViceChancellor say that the experience of tertiary-level learning and achieving academic qualifications really matters in that it will produce the sorts of energized, open-minded people we need to shape the future of our society. Unfortunately, those were only words. UG continues to drift away from its mission and founding principles by focusing on ceremonial functions rather than academia. It is important and perhaps critical for UG to engage critical thinkers in order to survive in the fast-paced technological world, which we increasingly inhabit. For too long, the progression of UG has been plagued with party politics, due to the political make-up of its Council by governments. The need to acquire a post-secondary education or to become qualified will not go away; therefore, the powers of enquiry, of curiosity, of discussion and of thinking creatively about how to solve societal problems should be part of UG focus in the 21st century. An issue UG must grapple with is the fact that a large segment of the population has fallen behind in the relentless march of new technology. Our leaders must realize the rapid growth of technology and the importance and value of investing in it at UG so that it can remain relevant and not be left behind. It must update its technology programme and improve its academic programmes to meet the demands of the 21st century. Fifty-five years ago, no one knew, not even some of the world’s greatest thinkers, philosophers or scholars that the world would look like this today. UG and the government must lead the way in adopting to the rapid technological changes in a globalized world.
Editor’s Note; If your sent letter was not published and you felt its contents were valid and devoid of libel or personal attacks, please contact us by phone or email.
A vigorous investigation is also needed into mismanagement, overspending at DPI DEAR MR. /MADAM EDITOR, Now that the allegations regarding overspending and the alleged mismanagement at the Guyana Chronicle are in the spotlight, we are appealing to the Honourable President David Granger, and Honourable Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, to launch an urgent and vigorous investigation at the Department of Public Information (DPI). We, the staff at the DPI, believe that such an investigation will expose even more serious issues, regarding overspending and mismanagement, resulting in the DPI being literally run into the ground. We are doing this with great reluctance. We have no vendetta. We know of the risks involved, of the witchhunt that will follow, to identify the ‘moles’ who ‘leaked’ this letter to the media.But it is said that desperate times call for desperate measures. So, Honourable President and Prime Minister, we are taking this chance because all of our many complaints are being brushed aside, and because we fear that the collapse of this crucial State entity, which we care about, is imminent, if urgent intervention is not done.First, we believe that the DPI is
being badly mismanaged, and this has led to staff either resigning, being suspended, and the DPI being severely understaffed, and failing to attract newcomers, who, we believe, have gotten wind of the manner in which the DPI is being run. One of the main issues involves the hiring of an EIC (Editor in Chief)/Deputy Director, who appears not to have been hired to Edit, who is allowed to do practically nothing, except berate staff and cause confusion in her department. We have a situation in which the Editor in Chief has been hired to ‘overlook’ and not edit a single story, not to conduct a single interview, not to write a single line, but to foist her responsibilities on others. Is this a case of friends hiring friends of friends? Why else would our complaints be brushed off, and the individual at the centre of these problems be given a pass, while those who raise these concerns are targeted with suspension and deduction from their salaries? Her manner of dealing with staff has even led to some staff taking their grievances to the Ministry of Labour, which has failed to address these issues.
But this is only one example of mismanagement and wastage of financial resources. Even more serious wastage has come in the form of a number of out of town ‘retreats’ to at least two resorts, to discuss issues pertaining to the operations of DPI. One such ‘retreat’ involved some twenty staffers, with transportation costing some $12,000 for each staffer. These ‘retreats’ (meetings) could easily have been held, without cost, at the DPI.We believe that there has also been serious wastage of financial resources on the printing of several publications, which are sent to various regions.This has added to the massive workload of DPI staffers, many of whom work practically every day, without a day off. Mr./Madam Editor, we believe that many of these issues could be solved internally, if only Management would take time to listen and act. No one is perfect. No one knows it all. With urgent media-related issues such as the upcoming Regional Elections on the horizon, we submit that the problems we have highlighted should be speedily addressed. Yours Respectfully, Loyal but frustrated DPI Staffers
Sunday September 16, 2018
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DR. CARPEN RESPONDS TO DR. MARK DEVONISH
DEAR EDITOR, My fellow Alumnus of the University of Guyana, now residing in the UK, Dr. Mark Devonish has recently advanced some very apposite points about cardiologists and the practice of cardiology in Guyana. His expressed goal is “patient information!” I will now provide, apropos, patient and personal information for Mark and the general public. Background In 2004/2005 the Government of Guyana (Taxpayers) spent $500,000 USD – half million US dollars – to send 10 Guyanese patients overseas for cardiac treatment. This averaged $50,000 USD per patient. For a country like ours this was an unsustainable situation. This lead to the birth of the Caribbean Heart Institute (CHI) in 2006 which is a public private partnership with the Government of Guyana and the Board of Directors of CHI. The cost of treatment has been continuously revised to its current position where we can now provide care for 100 patients instead of 10 patients (2004/ 2005) for the same cost. CHI provides the cheapest bypass surgery in the Caribbean since there are no fees charged by the cardiac surgeon or the perfusionists. We are also the cheapest for coronary angiograms, angioplasty and coronary stent implantation. For general information – a coronary angiogram is the procedure to take pictures of the arteries of the heart to find blockages. Angioplasty is when we stretch the blockage with a balloon to open it, and stent implantation involves putting in a mesh-like tube to keep the artery open. The prevalence of heart disease in Guyana is almost at epidemic levels. I have had patients as young as 28 with heart attacks and as of recent there
has been a surge in males in their mid 30s coming in with massive heart attacks. While the disease may have been seen in only the older population previously, we are now experiencing more severe heart disease in the under-50 age group too frequently. Unfortunately, too many patients think that their symptoms are related to “gas” or something non-cardiac. By the time they reach hospital they would have been 3-4 days without appropriate treatment. Misinformation can scare patients, undermine trust and cause more delays which results in dire consequences, including death. Practice Privileges A long time ago I decided to live and practice in Guyana and the Caribbean and consequently did not pursue residence in North America and the UK even though I have done advanced studies in Canada and the USA. In Canada I trained at the University of Toronto in Adult Cardiology and Interventional Cardiology and then moved to Boston USA at Tufts University for Clinical Cardiac Electrophysi-
ology. I live and practice in the Caribbean and I am fully qualified to do so in the fields of Adult Cardiology, Interventional Cardiology and Cardiac Electrophysiology. Guyana and the Caribbean needs its own citizens to develop its systems and I am proud to be a part of this pioneering brigade. Since returning to Guyana I have been able to provide care to patients not only in Guyana but also those in Trinidad, Jamaica, Bahamas, Tortola, St. Lucia, Grenada, Antigua, Suriname, St. Vincent, Barbados and Cayman Island. Surgical Backup Dr. Devonish observes that Coronary Angiograms and other Coronary Interventions should have a backup team of Surgeons around. In resource rich communities abroad this is feasible. In Guyana there is a paucity of Personnel and Equipment to facilitate this on every occasion. We are forced to work with limited capabilities until Government /Private Entities can provide them. With our “oil rich” economy on the horizon, we will be able to match overseas
standards. There are three (3) cardiac catheterization facilities in Guyana and my work is mainly done at two of these. A single surgery team in the city is sufficient back-up. We do have a visiting cardiac surgery team every month from New York that provides heart surgery for those needing it. Without early
angiograms and angioplasty people will suffer unnecessarily. I am good at it, my team is good at it and our patients survive now when previously they had no options. The written guidelines for cardiology do not consider cardiac care in the developing (Third) world therefore we have to blaze our own paths, adjust according to our needs and
resources. Careful patient selection, improved techniques and team growth minimizes complications and adverse outcomes. We have never had a complication which required surgical rescue. Statistics I will provide some of our results for your consideration. In July 2017, I (Continued on page 6)
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The behaviour of this Attorney at Law is a disgrace to the legal profession DEAR EDITOR, The despicable behaviour of the Attorney at Law who described himself to the traffic police as “Ryan f#@king Crawford” is a great disgrace to the legal profession. He used his power to abuse this police officer who was just doing his duty. When I looked at the video I was moved by this Attorney’s behaviour because this man represents law and order and he refused to submit himself to a police officer who represents the traffic laws. This lawyer refused to surrender his driver’s licence and used a ton of ‘cuss words’ on the police officer and drove away. A learned lawyer of his esteem should have conducted himself better but he used his office to abuse his power by cussing out and insulting this police officer. We have a law here about tinted windscreens. Also in my opinion, it’s a traffic officer’s duty to stop any suspected vehicle and ask for documents. In my opinion, that lawyer had no legal right to cuss the police officer even if the officer failed to answer his
questions properly. The lawyer should have pulled down his window, produced his documents and spoken in a more professional manner. It tells me clearly this man who represents law and order violated the laws of the land and he should be disciplined for his actions or get his legal licence suspended or revoked. He owes this police officer an apology. The new police commissioner ought to do something about this also the Ombudsman and Minster of Public Security. What I have seen in this country is the abuse of power by those who make and represent the laws break the law. And if this lawyer can tell the police officer on duty to go and tell whoever he wants it tells me clearly that something ought to be done about this man who is abusing his power to overrule the law. A security officer working at GPOC told me a similar story, He said that a government official went to post a parcel at GPOC and when he requested to check the contents of the parcel the government official started to abuse him and cuss him up and threaten his job.
The men in high office is no different from the low minded ‘cuss birds’ in the street.The American President Abraham Lincoln and some scholars made these profound statements: ‘’Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.’’Abraham Lincoln ‘’Knowledge will give you power, but character respect.’’ Bruce Lee ‘’Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.’’ Abraham Lincoln ‘’Character is higher than intellect. A great soul will be strong to live as well as
think.’’ Ralph Waldo Emerson ‘’The greatest legacy one can pass on to one’s children and grandchildren is not money or other material things accumulated in one’s life, but rather a legacy of character and faith.’’ Billy GrahamProfound words of wisdom from these inspired scholars. What is lacking in our society is the love and respect for each other and this comes from the home and family. If we take a good look around us daily as we travel to work and in our communities ‘’cuss words’’ quarreling and abuse have invaded our society like a perpetual plague. I know in our police ordinances ‘’cuss words or
indecent language is a charge by law and the learned lawyer who cussed down the police officer and drove away is aware of the law. Our society has fallen morally, spiritually, academically and lacks the love and respect for each other. We must conduct ourselves with discipline, dignity and morality the key to our success. I conclude this discourse from two quotations from John Maxwell and Gandhi: ‘’It’s true that charisma can make a person stand out for a moment, but character sets a person apart for a lifetime.’’ John C. Maxwell ‘’Keep your thoughts
positive because your thoughts become your words. Keep your words positive because your words become your behavior. Keep your behavior positive because your behavior becomes your habits. Keep your habits positive because your habits become your values. Keep your values positive because your values become your destiny.’’ Mahatma Gandhi It is my sincere hope that this letter will inspire the police officer and the lawyer to conduct themselves better in excellence of character in our society. May God help us all. Regards, Rev.Gideon Cecil
DR. CARPEN RESPONDS TO DR. MARK DEVONISH From page 5 presented data of our program in Trinidad at the Caribbean Cardiac Society meeting which showed that before implementing the new treatment protocols, there was a 28 percent rate of death for heart attack patients and an average of 8.8 days of hospital stay. After implementing the new protocols which include angiograms, angioplasty and stenting, there was a drop in death to 2.4 percent and hospital stay was reduced to 4.6 days. This represents a 10-fold reduction in death rates and halving of
hospital stay. If one considers that it costs USD $2000$6000 per day to treat a hospitalized cardiac patient this translates to savings of $USD 8000 - $24000 per patient. The following represents data for the first 6 months of 2018, prorated for the entire 2018. My team and I would have had approximately 8500 patient visits for clinics, admissions and inpatient consultations over one year for the two facilities I cover. Out of this there are 382 angiograms (4.5%) and 270 Angioplasty with Stenting (3.2%).This represents a very small percentage of cardiac patients receiving invasive care. There are many more patients who should have the benefit of an Angiogram with proper Revascularization (Stent or Bypass Surgery) but for various reasons they are unable to get this level of care. Most of the complex and difficult cases are planned to occur when the surgical team is on ground or arriving. Angiogram and angioplasty with stenting are not the first
choice of investigation and treatment. Several non-invasive methods are available and utilized to manage patients before any invasive procedures are done. These would include ECG, Echocardiograms, Stress Testing, Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, Holter Monitoring and Sleep studies. Clinical audits of outcomes are mainly done by the Libin Cardiovascular Institute, University of Calgary, who also assisted in development of treatment protocols, training, research and infrastructure development specific for our needs and resources. Additionally, realtime consultations are done with colleagues in Trinidad when necessary. Pre-surgical assessments are done by the Surgical team based in New York. My results are comparable to regional and international standards because I was properly trained by world class teachers, professors and proctors.Since returning to Guyana I was able to do the first implantation of an Intracardiac Defibrillator, first cardiac resynchronization device, first implantable loop recorder, first pacemaker lead extractions, first radiofrequency ablation for atrio-ventricular node re-entrant tachycardia, first ablation for Wolff-ParkinsonWhite Syndrome, first ablation for concealed retrograde accessory pathway. As the head of Cardiology I was instrumental in opening the first Cardiac ICU in the public sector (GPHC) and also the Cardiac ICU at Woodlands Hospital. I have established protocols for the treatment of heart attack (Acute coronary syndrome), heart failure and cardiac arrhythmias based on our resources. I lead the initiative to ensure that every patient admitted to GPHC with a heart attack can have free angiogram and stenting without delay once they meet
clinical criteria. I have competent, young, dedicated and enthusiastic healthcare professionals who make up my teams, working with the singular goal of improving Healthcare in Guyana. Challenges Obviously there is much room to grow and improve our national healthcare delivery systems. Patient and caregiver education is critical in prevention, early detection and intervention to manage cardiovascular health. It is also true that cost is a major determining factor in seeking and providing healthcare. For this reason, I am a strong supporter for a National Health Insurance initiative to be developed in Guyana. This is what we should be debating instead of petty personal grouses. Every citizen should have the right to the highest quality of care available without fear of discrimination, loss of dignity or bankruptcy regardless of gender, social status, financial means, ethnicity, sexual orientation, political affiliation or any other criteria used to divide us. For this to occur we would need every Guyanese and many non-Guyanese on board.Until that goal is achieved there would be much discussion, some heated and contentious, but hopefully we would find consensus to benefit all Guyanese. Yours truly, Dr. Mahendra Carpen, MBBS DM FACP FESC FACC (Interventional Cardiologist and Cardiac Electrophysiologist) Head, Internal Medicine/Cardiology Georgetown Public Hospital Co-Director Guyana Partnership to Advance Cardiac Care Chairman Cardiac Oversight Committee
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The real change that is shaping and giving form to the political and economic future
Robert Millington’s ‘big buses’ will be a welcome change for commuters
DEAR EDITOR, I think that it is safe to say that Guyanese have never really had a good day politically. We have been oppressed historically by colonialism and the oppression continued under post-Independence and post-Republicanism politics. Every single day Guyanese are stressed out by the class of politicians who continue to utilise a model of emotional baiting of one against the other as opposed to deployment of reason, intellect and compassion to problem solving. Just listen to the stream of utterances from no less of a person than the Prime Minister of Guyana. There is never any intelligent or inspiring leadership from these sources. It is always an invocation to fear or other negative emotions. Some of us just hasten for the nearest border rather than endure the suffering. However, as we know quite well, as individuals, and collectively, as a nation, we cannot run very far from ourselves. We must stop running at some point, turn around and face Goliath head-on. Every failure that we have encountered as a young nation is not a source of shame, but it offers an opportunity to define the kind of future that we do want. One of the failures of political leadership in Guyana has been its contempt for the masses. Politics in Guyana is a deceitful game with no genuine concern for the welfare of citizens; it is merely a power-struggle. Campaign promises are made to lure voters but never in-
tended to be kept, for the political rationale is ‘who are you going to vote for? The other side is worse than us.’ Well, with the recent disappointments that we feel with the promised politics of change, and especially the corruption and contempt demonstrated by a young government only three years in office, we are learning from the failures of those who hold the reins of power. As a private citizen, I have come to understand, that the ‘other side’ is not better or worse. But they are the same. And with that realisation, the playing field is level, for we have shattered the old political game of ‘good us’ vs ‘bad them’. As Guyanese trying to decipher the mutterings of the various political leaders, we now have to pick sense from non-sense. We can no longer blindly trust this politician or that politician. They have all been exposed as frauds of one sort or the other. In order to make sense out of what is going on in this country of ours, we have to think and reason and rely on the evidence before us. The politicians can continue to live in denial that we are a blind and stupid population beguiled by their ploys and schemes. In this age of social media, we are no longer only listening to politicians and their trolls. We are listening to the opinions of experts. One statement from Dr. Jan Mangal or Mr. Christopher Ram or the Private Sector bodies, for example, packs more integrity than any rubbish coming out from the political class. And herein lies the
greatest hope for our future: the strength of our civil society and our professional class who have been oppressed and marginalised by government after government, until they have been pushed out of the public service and replaced by the weak-minded and the partisan. The positive change in the political class that we had hoped for with the transition to the APNU-AFC coalition did not materialise. From the ashes of our disappointment, another kind of change emerged, in the minds and hearts of the citizens of this nation. To take this country into the future, where it is sensitive to the needs of our people (and the young people want Open Government) and where it can negotiate constructively with the resource grabbing Bai Shan Lins and Exxon-Mobiles of the world, from a position of strength, confidence and morality, we need a different kind of leadership. And that leadership has to reflect and value competence. Partisanship is dead. Sincerely, Sandra Khan
DEAR EDITOR, With reference to an article published a few days ago in the Stabroek News, Robert Millington must be duly commended for his courageous initiative with his projected investment in an environmentally-friendly electric bus service in Guyana that will offer a superior mode of public transportation along many of the major bus routes in the country; as these large airconditioned Metro Buses will provide a safe, comfortable and luxurious ride to the public. And let’s face it... traveling in a mini-bus or crossing a major street by a pedestrian in Guyana today is somewhat analogous to playing Russian roulette - with the frequent fatal accidents to passengers or pedestrians due to the dangerous and reckless driving of some of these bus drivers. And in this regard, it is no
secret that many mini-buses are seen every day traveling way in excess of the speed limit despite their unholy contribution to the enormous road carnage in Guyana. In this regard, as the public finds it safer and develops a taste for traveling with the modern Metro Bus service, when it comes into existence, and as the modest initial fleet of seven buses are eventually increased, I would surely
hope that there will be less and less mini-buses operating on the streets of Guyana due to a significantly reduced desire by the public to travel in these buses and unnecessarily putting their lives at risk... fulfilling Mr. Millington’s desire of “changing the culture of public transportation for the better.” Yours sincerely, Faid Shahabuddeen International Poet
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GTU threatens resumption of industrial action A continuance of industrial action is not being ruled out by the Guyana Teachers Union [GTU]. The strike is to retaliate in the face of what seems to be Government’s unwillingness to fast-track the arbitration process for a multi-year salary package for public school teachers. The union, in a blistering statement, has concluded that the actions of Government clearly suggest that “there is no care and concern for the working class people in Guyana.”Moreover, GTU President, Mr. Mark Lyte, is of the firm view that “we are doomed under this administration.”Lyte’s utterance comes in wake of the “the rejection of credible and professional Guyanese for chairmanship of the Arbitration Tribunal.” This move, he said, has convinced teachers that “we have a monster for Government here in Guyana.” This position taken by the GTU, he said, “comes out of our experience with government functionaries who, acting on instruction, worked against their conscience, religious beliefs and moral standing. They should all hang their heads in shame and resign their respective position for acting as persons without integrity.”
The action of government is particularly daunting, Lyte said, since the GTU from the inception acted in good faith and called off the nationwide strike after nine days. “The GTU expresses sincere thanks to all teachers for their overwhelming support throughout those nine days. Special thanks must go out also to the public as well,” said Lyte. “One of the main reasons for calling off the strike was concern for the future of our children, Guyana’s children. “Also our teachers wanted to be in their classrooms working with their children.” He said, too, that while the terms of resumption negotiated were good at the time, since teachers were not going to be victimized, lose pay or seniority, “We knew all along that we were dealing with a government which has proven to be untrustworthy, but allowed good faith and love for our children to tell us otherwise.” But according to Lyte, the GTU stands ready to resume industrial action should the need arises. He, however, noted that, “this time, there will be no holding back until all our demands are met.” Teachers in Guyana, the union leader said, have proven to this government
that they support their union. “We have to use our power at the polls to send our message.” It is the union’s conviction that Government should do the honourable thing and allow a neutral Guyanese to be selected as chairperson of the Tribunal. This, Lyte believes, will be the only way for Government to regain the confidence of the populace at this point. “There could be no other way to save face under these circumstances. The world has been watching and they have been drawing conclusions,” said Lyte as be called upon civic minded Guyanese here and in the Diaspora to “join us in this fight against a government that can only be described as uncaring and monstrous.” The union’s declaration came one day after it met with a team from the Ministry of Education to complete the Terms of Reference [TOR] for the arbitration process and select a chairperson for the arbitration panel. “Are we serious about having a resolution?” Lyte questioned following the meeting hosted by the Labour Department of the Ministry of Social Protection on Friday. While the meeting saw the two sides [the union and the Education Ministry]
-following Government’s rejection of union nominees to chair arbitration panel agreeing on the TOR, the move to identify a chairperson was entirely unsuccessful.While both parties were expected to agree on the chairperson, each side is entitled to submit the name of one member to the threemember panel.But the parties did not even reach to the point of naming their respective member on Friday as they were unable to agree on the name of the chairperson. The GTU submitted the names of three possible candidates. Among the names submitted by the union for consideration by the Education Ministry team was Rashleigh Jackson who served in several notable capacities over the years including: former Minister of Foreign Affairs 1978- 1990; President of the United Nations Council for Namibia in 1974; Permanent Representative of Guyana to the United Nations, from 1973-1978; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 19691973 and Chairman, Commonwealth Observer Group to the Union, and much more. The name Aubrey Armstrong was also submit-
ted by the union. Armstrong, the President of Aubrey Armstrong Management Associates, holds a PhD in Organisation Behaviour and International Business. He was also the former United Nations’ advisor in management and former head of the now defunct Guyana Management Institute. In 1999, Armstrong chaired the Arbitration Tribunal between the Guyana Public Service Union and Federated Union of Government Employees and the Government of Guyana and was former Chairman of the Kuru Kuru College. The third name submitted by the union was that of Jeffrey Thomas, a former Minister of Education, Labour and Regional Development. Thomas back in the day served as the Consultant on governance and community development and successfully negotiated with the United Kingdom-based Commonwealth Secretariat to have Guyana house the Commonwealth Youth Programme. He also served as the first chair of the Guyana/ Cuba Economic, Social and
Cultural Commission. But the names of these individuals who have been described by the union as “persons of integrity, wealth of experiences and a record of proven competencies which is crucial and necessary for the arbitration panel” were all rejected by the Ministry of Education team. According to Lyte, those representing the Education Ministry, including Chief Education Officer, Mr. Marcel Hutson, and Permanent Secretary, Ms. Adele Clarke, did not even qualify their rejection with any reason. However, they did submit the names of two possible candidates to chair the arbitration panel; the names of Mr. Derrick Cummings, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Telecommunications and Mr. Glendon Harris, the Human Resource Manager of the Guyana Revenue Authority were brought to the table by the Education officials. According to Lyte, the union was forced to reject these names for the simple reason that, “These are both serving members of the State.”
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President should answer why he is engaging a corrupt Opposition Leader – Jagdeo
ExxonMobil’s cost recovery list will shock Govt. – Jagdeo
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lthough facing pending charges over the Pradoville Two land deal, Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, is getting set for formal talks with President David Granger. Before those talks take place, Jagdeo, a former President is likely to be questioned for a second time by investigators from the Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU), who have mounted new efforts to press charges against former Cabinet Members of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) administration. On Thursday, Jagdeo brushed aside questions on whether he would attend the talks with Granger in light of the new moves by S O C U . ”I doubt he [Granger] wants to speak to corrupt people...He said he wanted a n u n b r i b a b l e Commissioner of Police. The President likes to speak with clean people,” Jagdeo stated. The former President questioned, “Why engage with a corrupt Opposition Leader?” The intervention by former United States President Jimmy Carter led to a re-
sumption of plans for the two leaders to meet. Granger has proposed that the two discuss issues surrounding oil and gas, the environment and security. Jagdeo is still to publicly indicate what matters he wants to place on the agenda. However, there are suggestions that the SOCU probe could derail the talks. In the past few days, investigators questioned senior officials who were part of Jagdeo’s cabinet in 2010. The main focus of the probe is the transfer of lands at Sparendaam to the Central Housing and Planning A u t h o r i t y ( C H & PA ) , a road contract in the community to Atlantic Construction for $13.7M and the authorisation by the then Cabinet to have the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) handle the transactions. Those lands were converted into an exclusive community cynically dubbed Pradoville Two. The plots were sold, allegedly, below market value to mainly Government Ministers and others, who were handpicked by Jagdeo and his Cabinet.
State monies were used to develop the lands under questionable circumstances, SOCU is contending. Jagdeo, who has built a mansion at Sparendaam, has told reporters that he refuses to pay any difference that investigators may determine after valuation of the property. Instead, he is prepared for court. The Pradoville Two lands, sold to Jagdeo and several Ministers of the previous administration were undervalued by almost 2,000 percent. They were sold at $114 per square foot. Independent appraisals have pegged the price closer to $2,250 per square feet. At a rate of $114 per square foot, this would mean that Government would only earn a meager $74.5M for the entire 15 acres of land set aside at Pradoville Two. Had government sold the land at the market value—as appraised by independent evaluators—it could have earned a whopping $1.4B. This figure excludes the almost $300M, which was plugged into developing the project, monies expended by NICIL.
DEM BOYS SEH De foreigners tek over and Guyanese silent There is a saying, “When yuh walk wid purpose, you collide wid destiny. Is a video dem boys see. A man play blind and walking down de road wid ee cane. He got a $5,000 and a $500 bill. He asking people if dem got change fuh de $500 bill but he pushing forward de $5,000 bill. Dem boys seh if you see thief men ee ketch. Some of dem belong to PPP, PNC and de AFC. Dem get ketch when dem tek de $5000 bill and give de man change fuh de $500 bill. Dat is de worst type of dishonesty on earth when you can rob de blind. De man set up a camera dat record every action. If you see dem face when dem was confronted, dem resemble dem political party people and dem leaders. Wha de political leaders did and continue to do to Guyana is worse than robbing de blind. Dem boys believe dat and dem gon go to dem grave wid dat. If you doubt dem boys, then explain how ExxonMobil can do all dem things to Guyana. It pad up dem expense fuh rob de people of de country and de govt agree. Explain how Guyana spend US$138 mil-
lion to change couple zinc sheet at de airport. Explain US$200 million Skeldon factory; explain de US$45 million East Coast highway; explain how a few people own all de mining claim in Guyana.Dem boys asking how foreigners come and own so much of Guyana. And Guyana getting nutten. Dem in de gold, timber, bauxite and in oil, now dem deh in de trade business. Just walk down Regent Street, Robb Street, all over and you will see who tekking over and wha dem doing. Dem boys have questions fuh Jagdeo and Soulja Bai. Dem want to know wha gon lef fuh dem children and grandchildren. De odda day SOCU jump up and seh it going after Pradoville fuh couple thousand Guyana dollars. Dem must go after de millions of US dollars dem seh dem spend pon de Enmore Packaging Plant, de bridges dem build in Den Amstel, de One Laptop Per Family programme and all dem odda millions wha dem seh dem spend but can’t show nutten for it. Talk half and pray dat somebody protect de future generation.
A
s government con tinues to see ExxonMobil as friend, it will be left in a state of total shock upon seeing the list of goods and services along with the price they attracted when ExxonMobil files for cost recovery. So said Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, at his most recent press conference. Jagdeo told the media that based on his interactions with the government and the comments he has been reading in the media, the
APNU+AFC government is in way over its head with ExxonMobil. Jagdeo said, “This government has a very vague understanding of what would be included in cost oil. If they see it they may be very shock because they have a very naive understanding.” “Everything that Exxon does, we are paying for it. If they rent facilities and pay too much money for the rental— like they rent a house for $10,000 and it is only sup-
posed to be $5000 per month, the $10,000 will come out of cost oil too. “If they recruit a person and pay him $60,000 per month as a specialist when maybe on the market you can get the person for $30,000 per month, we are paying for the extra too. But there is a very naïve approach to the whole matter.” Jagdeo said that because of this “naïve approach” Guyana will lose much money because when cost oil is inflated, profit oil diminishes.
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Kaieteur News
Sunday September 16, 2018
Rolls Royce, Range Rovers, and Ferraris entering Guyana through abuse of re-migrant scheme- Statia By Kiana Wilburg Blatant breaches of the re-migrant scheme have resulted in a number of high end vehicles making their way into Guyana. This was confirmed recently by Commissioner General of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), Godfrey Statia. The tax chief revealed
that GRA has been able to ascertain how persons have been abusing the scheme to get the luxury vehicles here. “Investigations have revealed that funds are provided to prospective re-migrants who buy the said high end vehicles and transfer possession by means of power of attorney. They then return overseas during the
stipulated period (183 days) that they are required to remain in Guyana. Some of these high end vehicles include Rolls Royce, Hummers, Range Rovers, and Ferraris.” When the scheme is abused in this manner, Statia said that over $50M in duties is lost on a Rolls Royce and over $25M on a Hummer or Range Rover.
To curb this practice, Statia said that GRA has been requesting the source of funds for these re-migrant applicants. Statia said that these acts constitute serious offenses which warrant the Commissioner-General under Section 36 of the Customs Act to impose penalties, inclusive of forfeiture or fines in lieu of forfeiture. Last December, alone, Statia said that over $50 million in fines, penalties and duties were recouped from these individuals. Given the aforementioned, Statia said that he remains a strong proponent for tax credits versus exemptions to re-migrants. He holds the view that the system needs to change very soon since the revenue authority is losing billions of dollars in taxes. CASE FOR TAX CREDITS Guyana loses billions of dollars on an annual basis through the granting of tax exemptions. Hoping to cut these losses significantly, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has its sight set on implementing a number of measures. Already, the revenue earning authority has reduced, to a great extent, the number of exemptions it has granted for 2017. Be that as it may, it is weighing the pros and cons of implementing a system for tax credits as opposed to the usual exemptions which are approved. The case for tax credits was initially proposed for Guyana by some of the nation’s best tax advisors, which were contracted to be part of the Tax Reform Commission in 2015. That Commis-
sion comprised the GRA Commissioner General, Godfrey Statia; Chartered Accountant, Christopher Ram; Economist Dr. Maurice Odle, among others. In the report, which was prepared by the Commission, Tax credits are noted to be a type of incentive, which allows certain taxpayers to subtract the amount of the credit from the total taxes owed. When appropriately used, it encourages investment and compliance. Unlike upfront incentives, which are hard to police, tax credits are only given upon submission of the proof of the actual activity, and hence forces the taxpayer to comply in order to so benefit. The Commission said, “For instance, instead of granting exemptions upfront to gold miners, an efficient tax credit regime will allow for such a credit to be granted when gold is sold to the Board.” The Commissioners believe that this will not only encourage compliance but will reduce smuggling and sale of the exempted fuel, thereby minimizing the probability that these persons are unjustly enriched at the benefit of the state. The Commission stressed that the current methods for granting and verifying tax exemptions consequently needs to be reformed and strengthened urgently in order to stop/control the drainage on the State’s revenues. “It may be more prudent to require the payment of all applicable taxes upfront and for applications to be submitted for refunds, subsequently, when valid evidence is available and proper audits can be performed, or to replace the granting of tax exemptions with the granting of tax credits which can be claimed when tax returns are
GRA Commissioner General, Godfrey Statia submitted, or a hybrid of both systems.” The body recommended that consideration be given to phasing out, where possible, all duty and tax free allowances in favour of a system of tax credits, a principle inherent in the system of capital allowances. Statia told Kaieteur News that he is a proponent for tax credits being applied in Guyana. He holds the view that there is a strong case for it here. He said, “They are simple and easier to administer. They allow you to comply before you get the tax credits. If you move away from exemptions and give tax credits life would be easier as long as it is administrated in the right way. But to move in that direction, you need your IT system in place and your people need to be schooled in it. But that is easy.” Statia said however that while a strong IT system needs to be in place, tax credits can be implemented almost immediately for corporate taxation (which involves imposing a tax on the net income of a company). The GRA Commissioner General said that tax credits for example, can be applied to the gold sector. Statia said that he has already discussed this matter with gold miners and “I think they are coming around to it as being the most ideal thing for them.”
Sunday September 16, 2018
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Kaieteur News
Family flays police probe of Little Diamond man crushed to death A Little Diamond, East Bank Demerara mother is now calling for explanations after an incident last month that left her 29-year-old son dead on the Puruni Road, Region Seven. Yesterday, Bibi Ameena, 54, the mother of Luckyram ‘Bojo’ Balkarran, said that she learnt her son was crushed after a truck reversed on him. The truck driver, who worked with a fuel transportation business for miners, reportedly, was sent to drop off his supplies before he came days after to give a statement to police at Bartica, Region Seven. It was the first time for the carpenter, a father of two young children, in the hinterlands. According to the mom, who lives at Waja Street, Little Diamond, her neighbour, a Brazilian who owns the fuel transportation business,
Wants answers: Mom, Bibi Ameena with one of the two daughters of now dead son. asked that her son work on a trip to the hinterland because another employee had been caught stealing. The mother disclosed that her son decided to go. He left on August 5. Two days later, around
4pm, the businessman’s wife came over and informed her that her son was involved in an accident and was dead. Pathologist, Dr. Nehaul Singh, performing the post mortem examinations, found Balkarran suffered multiple
Region Two councillors accuse REO of deceit
Councillors of the Region Two Democratic Council [RDC] are now accusing the Regional Executive Officer of being deceitful in submitting the recent 2019 budget proposals. These accusations surround the fact that the REO, Mr. Rupert Hopkinson, submitted a budget proposal for 2019 without the mandatory signatures of the RDC councillors. Councillors further allege that the REO reused an attendance sheet which contained their signatures from the previous year. They further believe that the REO was deceitful by reusing signatures from the previous year, and that the budget proposal for 2019 may have been tampered with. According to Nate Ram, a counsellor from the Alliance for Change [AFC], a number of projects presented in the 2019 budget proposals were objected to by the RDC. The councillor laid claims, which further indicated that some of the proposals were to benefit private individuals. Nate Ram explained, “With respect to DNI culvert and bridges, we noticed that some of them will benefit some private individuals. [Councillors] wanted to visit these sites and based on surveys some of the proposed projects will be done on private estates. For instance, they were installing a tube to carry water to a farmer’s rice farm.” The councillor said that after field visits were made to verify some of the proposed projects, the Budget was supposed to return to the RDC for a final deliberation. This, he claimed, did not happen. On the contrary, the REO without final consultation, sub-
“The Regional Executive Officer, Rupert Hopkinson.” mitted the draft proposal without the councillor’s signature. Kaieteur News understands that this issue was raised at the RDC statutory meeting on Tuesday. When the REO failed to offer a clear explanation on the issue, two AFC councillors walked out of the meeting. Commenting on the issue
last Tuesday, Councillor Arnold Adams, representing the People’s Progressive Party Civic [PPP], questioned how could the government officials from Georgetown accept a proposal that the councillors did not sign off. Adams added, “Minster Dominic Gaskin said that the budget is the RDC budget. We should’ve known exactly what happened.” The REO on the other hand claims that by not affixing their signatures, councillors were using a delaying strategy. He added, “I contacted the Chairman and he said that he was going to sign off on the proposal, but to date he didn’t...The Councillors are aware of the urgency and they should’ve ensured that they signed.” When asked whether councillors were given a specific date to sign off, the REO did not provide a clear answer. In the meantime, all efforts made by this publication to contact the Regional Chairman for a comment proved futile. [Romario Blair]
injuries to his chest. The body was brought out that same day of the incident and taken to the city mortuary at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation. According to the mother, the family had to wait for two days to see the body as there was a miscommunication. On Tuesday, August 14, two days after the funeral, the woman said that she travelled to Bartica where a police sergeant told her that three trucks were being attached with a towing bar when somehow, one rolled back and crushed her son. One worker was lucky to jump out of the
way. Angry relatives, who flew in the country to help the distraught mom, said that the businessman paid for the coffin and tomb and a memorial. However, the businessman has not been communicating much since the funeral. The family has taken a lawyer and is awaiting some hospital documents. “What we are upset about is that the policeman from Bartica said that the businessman is a good man. Since then we have not heard anything from the police.
They never call me for a statement. I had to go there to give a statement to claim his body,” the mother said. Her relatives said that it is their belief that the police are dragging their foot on the matter. “What is even more disturbing is that police would put out a release when any pit cave-in or accident where a Guyanese person dies. “I check Kaieteur News; we didn’t see anything on television or online. Something is wrong here and we are asking for justice as ‘Bojo’ has two small children,” a relative said.
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Sunday September 16, 2018
Kaieteur News
GPL generators sit on wharves for months racking up charges as E’bo Coast suffers
For a past few months, the power outage situation on the Essequibo Coast, Region Two, has reached crisis levels with frustrated residents staging a protest after continuous blackouts. Senior officials of the Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL), including Chief Executive Officer, Albert Gordon, recently journeyed to the region to calm the situation down. Residents were assured that before the end of the year, a new power station would be up and running, lending over five megawatts of new generating capacity to a blackout-weary region. But angry insiders of the GPL are slamming the handling of the Anna Regina project. The generators arrived since last year and were sitting at a city wharf for months, racking up storage fees to the tune of millions of dollars. These generators were eventually shipped to the Essequibo Coast last month.
GPL’s CEO, Albert Gordon The inefficient handling of the procurement of the generators and the timely awarding of the contracts for the civil works at the site is what is being criticized. GPL had advertised since June 2016 for the construction of a 5.25 megawatt power generation plant [heavy fuel oil (HFO)] fired engine generating sets, at Anna Regina.
The tenders would have been for Engineering, Design, Manufacturing, Inspection, Supply, Installation, Testing and Commissioning of the plant. The area is located at the same site as the existing power plant that is owned by GPL. The three containerized base load facility will be capable of delivering up to 5.4 megawatts of power. Since last year, GPL officials have been tagging a 2017 completion of the power plant. What is clear is that generators arrived in October 2017 with GPL sending out a statement indicating that it has taken possession of three of the 1.78 megawatts generators and auxiliary equipment. GPL said then that the preparatory works have commenced at the project site to accommodate the new plant. The Essequibo coast is an agricultural area that has been saddled with severe power outages in the region for years. Its power engines are
around two decades old and have been experiencing one issue after the other. A decision was taken to build a new power plant. Kaieteur News had asked GPL for information regarding
the new generators and related details but these have not been forthcoming. A new CEO, Albert Gordon, from Jamaica, has been hired to turn the fortunes of GPL around. GPL has been battling
commercial and technical losses of up to 30 percent and has been under pressure to not only deal with surplus generation but with an aging transmission and distribution system which is now being changed out.
DPP re-opens Agricola murder PI to admit new evidence Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman was on Friday ordered to re-open the Preliminary Inquiry (PI) into the murder of Gladstone George who was allegedly shot and killed by Orpheus Johnson in 2015; this was based on the advice by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP). Johnson, 29, of Craig, East Bank Demerara, is currently on remand awaiting trial in the High Court for the murder. Magistrate Latchman had ruled, earlier, that a prima facie case was made out against him for the offence charged at the conclusion of the PI. He was committed in 2016 to go before a judge and jury at the next practicable sitting of the DemeraraAssizes. The allegation against Johnson stated that on April 22, 2015, at Public Road, Agricola, East Bank Demerara, he murdered George. Last Friday, Johnson was taken into the courtroom of Magistrate Latchman who told him that relative to direction of the DPP, she was told to re-open the PI in relation to George’s
Murder Accused: Orpheus Johnson murder. The Magistrate added that the DPP advised that the Prosecution tender a statement of one Leonard Paul in the matter. Police Prosecutor, Shawn Gonsalves, in addressing the court, said that he is not in possession of the case file and asked for an adjournment. The Magistrate adjourned the matter until September 19 for the statement to be handed over
to the murder accused. It was reported that Gladstone George, was killed while aboard a minibus at Public Road, Agricola, East Bank Demerara. George, called ‘Brother’, 32, of Brutus Street, Agricola, was pronounced dead at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), minutes after he received two bullets to the head while he was sitting in the minibus on April 22, 2015. The man had just joined the bus and from all indications, his killer was trailing him and waited for the opportunity to strike. Johnson is well known to law enforcement authorities. His criminal career dated way back to 2009, when he faced multiple charges; including murder, attempt murder and robbery under arms. However, Johnson was not convicted on the charges. He was tried and freed in the High Court for the 2009 murder of Brendon Charles, whose body was found in a yard a short distance from his Kaneville, East Bank Demerara residence.
Sunday September 16, 2018
Kaieteur News
Treating HIV more pressing than Prevention - Chief Medical Officer Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Shamdeo Persaud, has said that he has observed some disagreement from the public over his position that the use of daily HIV prevention pill, PrEP (Pre Exposure Prophylaxis) could encourage more risky, sexual behaviour among Guyanese. The Society against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) had called for the Public Health Ministry to introduce the drug to groups in Guyana who are disproportionately likely to be infected by the virus. On Friday, Dr. Persaud said that, “people who are [HIV] positive should be the priority right now.” The Ministry of Health’s limited resources should be focused more on treatment, instead of trying to provide lifelong prevention “for someone who has risky behaviour.” This refers to some of the usual, initial target groups
for the drug – Commercial Sex Workers (CSW) and Men who have Sex with Men (MSM). Speaking on these groups, he said that there are some legal conflicts, which lend to stigma and barriers to public healthcare for those key populations, but that those issues are being targeted on other levels. The Chief Medical Officer said, “I don’t want to deny anyone anything that is helpful.” The Ministry does not discriminate or seek to influence people’s sexual behaviour, but that they have
Dr. Shamdeo Persaud limited resources that must be focused on treating people who are already affected. There has been a lot of focus on Prevention of Motherto-Child Transmission. Akin to this, even though transmission from mother to child can be prevented, there is also an effort to ensure that babies are provided with certain treatments after their birth. Breast milk substitutes are provided for infants. They are also supposed to be screened throughout their infancy, and given prophylactic treatment because they are more prone to being infected by a range of diseases. This would ensure that children born to HIV+ mothers could still go on to live normal, healthy lives. Stigma, according to Persaud, is a problem that the Ministry of Public Health has been targeting by continuous public education. He explained that
there are attempts to quell ignorance in many sections of society, including faith based organizations, the tourism industry and the private sector. Persaud said that even health workers could sometimes be a source of stigma because of gossiping and lack of confidentiality. Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence, had suggested that her ministry noticed statistics, which might have indicated an increase in HIV/ AIDS trends among the youth population. Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Shamdeo Persaud, explaine d that the increase in statistics is generally attributable to the fact that the ministry’s testing strategy has been restructured to include a wider group, including more key populations who are more prone to HIV transmission. The Chief Medical Officer’s report will shed light on the recent rates of HIV and Guyana’s progress on the UNAIDS “90-9090” target. This target seeks to ensure that, by 2020, 90% of persons who are living with HIV/ AIDS will know their HIV status; that 90% of all who have been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS will receive sustained antiretroviral
therapy (ART); and that 90% of all people receiving ART will have viral suppression. The Ministry of Public Health is smoothing over the statistics they have acquired over the past few years and is expected to release the Chief Medical Officer’s report soon.
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Kaieteur News
Sunday September 16, 2018
Trinidadian Soca artiste re-enacts ‘assault’ outside Palm Court The trial involving Maverick De Abreu, who is on trial for wounding popular soca artiste, Rodney ‘Benjai’ Le Blanc, continued on Friday outside of Palm Court, Main Street, Georgetown. De Abreu, 25, of Lot 66 Broad Charlestown, is currently on trial before Senior Magistrate Faith McGusty in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. He denied the charge, which alleged that on April 16, 2017, at Palm Court, Georgetown, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded Rodney ‘Benjai’ LeBlanc. Last Friday, Le Blanc along with his attorneys and the Magistrate visited the scene where the incident allegedly occurred on April 16, 2017. The defendant, De Abreu was also at
the scene with his lawyers. At the scene, both Le Blanc and his Manager, Seon Isaacs, were called upon by the Magistrate to recount the events that took place on the morning in question at Palm Court. Both men told the Magistrate that on the morning of the incident, they had just finished performing at Palm Court and were leaving the venue. It was reported that around 02:30 hrs on April 16, 2017, De Abreu and another individual had just entered motorcar PLL 2456 and they reversed into persons standing behind the vehicle. The men pointed out where they were standing when they began to tap on the vehicle to alert (Continued on page 70)
Charged: Maverick De Abreu
Benjai outside Palm Court re-enacting what transpired on the day in question
Sunday September 16, 2018
Kaieteur News
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Kaieteur News
Sunday September 16, 2018
Within the past eight months…
Over 50,000 traffic cases recorded
The Guyana Police Force has recorded 50,068 traffic cases within the past eight months, with speeding topping the list of offences with 13,903. Of these cases, 2,615 were for breach of condition of road service licence/music; 2,389 for driving under the influence of alcohol; 2,906 for failure to confirm with road signs; 4,445 for failure to wear seat belt; 1,948 for crossing double yellow line; 1,295 for obstruction; and 1,168 for failure to wear safety helmets. Additionally, there were 1,136 cases for overloaded minibus, 1,987 for tinted motor vehicles, 963 for breach of traffic light symbol, 566 for using cellular phone while driving, 497 for dangerous driving and 440 for careless driving. There were 21,751 other offences. According to a statement from the Guyana Police Force, “Our enforcement is continuous countrywide with special emphasis on driving under the influence of alcohol, speeding, music/ breach of condition of road service licence, overloaded minibuses, use of cellular phones, using vehicles other than one licence for (private hire) and failure to wear safety helmets. The traffic department continues its lecture to school programmes. “It ensures visible patrols at areas
to ensure the safety of school children.” In respect to traffic managements, 55 fatal accidents, which resulted in 64 deaths were recorded at the end of August. Of the road users killed, 24 were pedestrians, 14 pedal cyclists, 13 occupants of cars, and seven motor cyc l i s t s . According to the Guyana Police Force, two drivers and two minibus passengers were killed, while a pillion rider and a person being towed on a bicycle also lost their lives. Despite these figures, the Force’s Public Relations Division said there was a 7.4% decrease in fatal accidents recorded at the end of August. Serious, minor and damage accidents have also been decreased by 24%, 35.4% and 10% respectively. Speeding resulting in 29 of these accidents; speeding/ driving under the influence of alcohol resulted on eight of these accidents; pedestrians crossing in the path of approaching vehicle caused seven accidents; inattentiveness and failure to confirm to signs resulted in seven and 10 of these accidents respectively. Of the 55 fatal accidents, 21 involved hire cars, 14 of them, minibuses; nine hire cars, and six lorries and motorcycles respectively.
Sunday September 16, 2018
Kaieteur News
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The politics of justifying wrongs pose threats to society and citizens’ well-being
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his nation is going through another stage, if not dealt with properly could pose further threats for the ordinary man and woman, with far reaching consequences for how we treat with each other, defend and protect the sacred values of this land. Last Wednesday, the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) invited some members of the former PPP/C Government Cabinet to speak to issues relating to the land in Pradoville II. An instructive response for the establishing of this scheme came from former Minister Robeson Benn who reportedly informed that the scheme was built to protect them during the crime wave of 2002-2006 (SN, 13th September 2018). This is an offensive statement that lays bare the
contempt government can have for the people and serves as reminder why government must always be held to account by the people. People are elected and placed in office to represent those who elected them. When a government official could dare think acceptable or justifiable the statement that when Guyana was facing its worst crime wave, officialdom’s reaction was to build a fortress to protect themselves and however the masses survived so be it, must be of concern to all. Government’s primary role is to protect and advance the security of the nation and the people residing within. When a government abrogates that responsibility it abrogates its legitimacy to govern, which in effect is what Benn has admitted. No wonder security was
outsourced to the notorious drug fugitive Roger Khan and the phantom squads who became the de-facto government, running roughshod over the nation, taking unto themselves who live or die, and Government seemed impotent to do anything about it. Some celebrated this lawless period of our history because they felt the outlaws were more effective than the state security apparatus. There was even the infamous letter in a mainstream daily with the title ‘Let the phantoms ride.’ When society found it acceptable to emblazon such headline, it marked clear signs of heading for the precipice through resignation that established law and order in such an environment came second place. That was a time where
Government, instead of having a unified national position that should have seen involvement of the political opposition, civil society and other stakeholders because the nation was under siege, saw it as open season for political partisanship as the people looked on in desperation for a crime fighting strategy, and dreaded what each say could bring. The killers did not care whether it was day or night, or where the bodies were thrown around, as though sending a signal that a new sheriff was in town and his ‘law’ would determine how business will be conducted in the town. Government in its arrogance let it slip, through Roger Luncheon, that there seems to be ‘phantom squads’ operating. It was he who named what we were witnessing and divided on pinpointing. This later found admittance from Ronald Gajraj, the Minister of Home Affairs on whose watch the mayhem occurred, and after a Commission of Inquiry into the events, when he uttered words to the effect of having no regret and if the circumstance presented itself again the same action will be repeated. Those who remember the era of horror, have lost love to its consequences, and are sticklers for the Rule of Law continue to pain over this matter, hoping that period of our history can get its deserving closure, justice served, and we move on in an environment where sacred principles are held sacrosanct. Sometimes, it is wondered if politicians think about the statements they are about to make before vocalising, or they are allowed to think society has reached a stage where they can say anything and get away with it. If we allow this thinking to grow root and sink deeper, we are in for troubling times. As there is justification for Benn’s statement by supporters of the PPP and outrage by
supporters of the APNU+AFC government and voices of reason, this same outrage could flip on a dime, should there be similar reckless statements or inappropriate conduct of this administration. This brings attendance to a dangerous double standard in our political culture and practices. In any society where the Rule of Law is held sacrosanct and politicians held to account by the people there is no justification for the statements made by Luncheon, Gajraj and Benn. Whereas society must hold the PPP/C accountable for the murderous mayhem, the fear that stalked the land during the crime wave, the open contempt for the Rule of Law-which abhors extrajudicial killings and mandates activation of the C o r o n e r ’s A c t - t h e upholding of these tenets must remain, irrespective of who received our vote. Government officials are paid by us, the citizens, to ensure our safety and their security do not take preeminence over ours. The attachment of security details is not meant to absolve officialdom of responsibility for the people’s security but a measure of protection of their lives from the reckless amongst us. There must be similar outrage when any person is killed by the police, phantom squad or others, for the law equally protects the right to life and due process, irrespective of who’s in office.Every government has to be pressured to do right by the citizens. We get the government that is not exactly what we want in terms of attitude and delivery, but we have to pressure them to bring about what is right. It is necessary and ok, and people don’t have to feel guilty about doing this. If there isn’t strong enough force to apply pressure to bring about the change society need then things are not going to change for the better.
Vi g i l a n c e i s n o t something we can give up on. It is a necessary part of life’s experiences, be it for bringing about and protecting a safe environment, family values, quality standard of living, l i v a b l e w a g e s / s a l a r y, fundamental rights and freedoms, etc. The complacency developing in some quarters and the seeming intolerance of the need for continued vigilance and activism post-May 2015 have to be shrugged off. There is notice of the decline in the earlier voices of activism, most notably among the younger generation. As a user of social media (the young’s preferred choice), I also notice the desire by surrogates of the Coalition to kill independent thinking, and if one dare expresses disagreement with a policy, programme or act of the government these .surrogates are quick to pounce, accusing persons of being anti-government. Independent thinkers face the onslaught of harassment in the forms of attack on their character, accusation of being silent during the PPP/C stewardship even though the coalition has been the primary beneficiary of t h e i r v o i c e . I t ’s a l s o instructive the many who today desire silence were silent during the PPP/C or relied on the independents to interpret and vocalise what they could not do or feared to do. This cyber-bullying and stampede must not deter. Though social media was intended to be a space for connecting, such as rekindling association, gathering around common issues or promoting common causes, it is morphing into a space where intolerance is being spewed, propaganda proliferated, and the penchant to box people into a pro or anti-agenda. This can be challenging for the younger generation, posing threat to stifle their right to new thinking, dissent or proposing of alternative views. And where as social beings association is built on relationship social media could be a daunting avenue for ventilation, constructive association, growth and development. The independent minority must persevere and develop. This group must be the social conscience of the society, bringing balance, truth and accountability
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It was bound to happen sometime. The police have become overbearing. Someone was bound to one day explode and this is exactly what happened, as shown by a video going viral on social media. A driver of a motor vehicle was stopped by a police officer, believed to be a traffic rank. The driver demanded to know the nature of the offence he committed that justified him
being pulled over by the police.The supposed police officer fumbled for an explanation. He kept insisting on seeing the driver’s licence. The driver however would not yield and insisted on knowing the basis or reason for the stop. The driver, clearly frustrated with the rank’s failure to provide a justifiable reason for the stop, used some ‘colourful adjectives’.
The rank in the meantime, and out of the view of the camera, was videoing the entire affair, supposedly on his cellular phone. It is believed that it is this recording that has gone viral, sparking an interesting debate on social media. A lot of attention is being focused on the outburst of the driver. But this is clearly a case of someone who is not prepared to tolerate what
The Baccoo Speaks The road accidents are nowhere near to ending. There will be another fatality east of the city because of the road construction. Alcohol would play a major part. A car would hit a huge indentation on the road before crashing into an immovable object. ** Criminal activity is indeed down but there are some who insist on a life of crime. The motorcycle continues to be
the preferred movement for criminal activity so this duo would use the bike to commit a robbery. However, there would be
an obstacle in the form of a truck. Abandoning the bike would not help one of the criminals. ** A government agency would discover a fraud, one in a long list. This suspect would be a senior officer and the discovery would lead to a more detailed inspection of the accounts. The authorities would find millions more in a special bank account.
many drivers on Guyana’s roads endure every day: arbitrary stops without any just cause.Attention has also been focused on why the driver was stopped in the first place. The driver was in his right to demand an explanation for the stop. The law is quite clear. The police cannot interfere with a citizen’s right to movement unless that person has violated the law or there is just cause to do so.In 2013, the High Court ruled that the police cannot stop a vehicle unless an offence has been committed or unless there are reasonable grounds (what some people refer to probable cause) or grounds to suspect the commission or intended commission of an offence. The law does provide for a driver to produce his licence on demand but a condition precedent must exist. A lawful basis for stopping him must exist. In the video going viral, the driver is demanding to know that lawful basis and the police rank is waffling when it comes to providing an answer. First, he says that he could not have seen the driver clearly.It is respectfully submitted that for a police to safely flag down and stop a car, he has to at least be about
Sunday September 16, 2018
100 feet away. It is hard to imagine any person seeing another person seated in a moving vehicle clearly from such a distance. But in any event, there has to be some empirical means of determining whether there is clear sight of a driver. And one of the ways of doing this is through a tint meter which the police did not produce in the incident in question. The police however was asking the driver to wind up his driver’s window, a request which can be construed as a fishing expedition to determine whether a violation of the law could be found. The police are notorious for stopping people and then making up reasons for the stop. On a daily basis, many persons are subjected to police harassment. Many persons are stopped and routine checks for documents done even though the public was advised that this should not happen. Women seem to be special targetfor those unscrupulous traffic ranks. They are pulled over and asked for more than their documents. Passes are made at them. At times, they are subjected to sexual innuendos and soliciting.Someone needed to
speak out against this overbearing conduct by traffic ranks. And someone has finally done so, even though it was done in a highly emotionally charged exchange.Someone has finally had the gumption to let the police know how he feels and that he will not countenance his rights being violated. It is about time that the police understand that people are fed up and disgusted. The public do not respect the traffic police. Traffic ranks are the most despised police ranks. They have become nuisances.The public fears them. The police know this and use it to their advantage. The police have never tried to disabuse the public of the rumours that some traffic ranks have “quotas” which they are required to hand over each day to some senior officers. Whether rightly or wrongly, someone may have finally done what many people wanted to do but were afraid to do it because of the possible implications.
Sunday September 16, 2018
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Kaieteur News
==THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN==
I am dona ting $10, 000 if y ou guess right donating you In my heart, mind and soul, I know that Guyana is not the most psychologically disheveled land in the world. The other countries on the globe (especially autocracies like Russia, China) have stupid leaders, silly bureaucrats and they are characterized by mores, norms and values that are disheartening. This scenario applies even to democratic developed nations of which the US is one of the most disturbing examples. The US since 1945 has emerged as the top territory on the map. This is because of the sheer strength of its fantastic wealth, which found expression in its fantastic military might. But in terms of racial tolerance, individual peace of mind, sociology, psychology, philosophy and the essential values that hold civilization together, the US is way behind many, many democratic countries on Planet Earth. I honestly would not choose the US to spend my life in preference to many democratic developed countries and some Third World states. T he US is a great country but it is also a very troubled
land that predates Trump. Having said that, I find social characteristics and forms of thinking in Guyana that are extremely worrying, foolish and surreal that set Guyana apart from maybe, (I am being cautious, by saying, maybe) other nations. Someone is still to convince me that the commercial banking system in any other country insists that a person must produce a post office envelope with date stamp as the most verifiable form of proof of address. I get tons of emails from folks who describe unpleasant bureaucracy and backward thinking in even post-modern countries but I still stick to my thesis of Guyana being a special case of an embattled banana republic. A friend from Canada responded to a column of mine on a misleading road sign at Camp Road that was there for four years. He pointed to a similar situation in Toronto, which he said was there for months. Here is what I said to him. If the Toronto newspapers had written about the sign, officials would have removed it the next day. From the President including Prime Minister and Cabinet to the
most senior bureaucrat at the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, they looked at that sign perhaps each day. And no one ever thought that in service to citizens, a four-year misleading sign should be removed. I would like to play a little game. I hope my editor Adam Harris gets into the act because we are always joking and I know this would be fun for Adam. Below is evidence where Guyana is a negatively incredible land and an unimaginably silly place. When you guess the right number, please remember that the exchange rate with the American dollar is about $210 -$215. As you guess the figure, remember this is the 21st century. My daughter won a prestigious award for topping her class at UG in the second year as the best performer for that year in her the programme. The award came from a reputable Guyanese organization in Canada attached to UG and has an ongoing functional relation with UG. If you guess close to the right amount, I will donate $10,000 to whatever purpose or cause you suggest. If Adam wins, I know he will say to buy some
beers. I will go to his home in Tucville and give him the money.You will never come close to knowing the amount. I repeat; in your wildest imagination, you would never believe the number. So the nearer you get, you will be the winner. This is Guyana where incredibly stupid things take place. You will be shocked to know the figure. It was best to give the student a plaque or a book. But to give the student that amount was poisonously insulting. This is my only kid you are talking about. I am protective of her
so why should I let some fools in Canada insult her. I have the cheque in front of me. The letter-head reads; “Hand-in-Hand Trust Corporation (with address) and it is a GBTI cheque, number 2027978510. It says; “pay to the order of Kavita Kissoon the sum of...” I will ask those who receive it in their year of study to be honest and not tell others. It is just a fun thing so let’s play fairly. I close by saying unless someone alerted you to the amount, you would never believe in the 21st century, a Canadian
Frederick Kissoon organization attached to UG can insult one of UG’s students so nastily by giving them that sum of money. Guyanese are an irredeemable nationality. My cell is 6145927. My email is fredkissoon@yahoo.com.
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By Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo (Abridged) The Opposition leader, as is to be expected, spent a lot of time attempting to get political mileage out of the recent strike by teachers, and when it was over, he continued his inflammatory statements, pouring the proverbial gasoline on the issue hoping that the strike would be the forerunner to a general shut-down of the country.
Kaieteur News
That did not happen so his popes turned into resentment, and he was not alone. One opposition newspaper columnist (KN September 8) claimed that union leaders were “outfoxed” and “outsmarted” by the Government, and then he became bewildered as to why union leaders wore “green-coloured Tshirts” when they met with government officials to discuss the terms for the arbitrators. GENUINE GRIEVANCES
No one ever doubted that teachers have genuine grievances, and civil society has generally been in support of them. For two weeks, some teachers stayed away from work (one week from the classroom), and pockets of picketers waxed lyrical in their chanting, “Dey wuk we like a donkey, and pay we like junkie…” But … Not one was arrested. Not one was harassed. Not one was shot. Several
observers on social media recalled the sordid and bloody episodes in Linden in 2012 when peaceful protesters were shot and three killed reportedly by police bullets. On the Essequibo Coast, they remembered the rice farmers who were tear-gassed and then hauled before the court for protesting the meager payments per bag of paddy from millers. Therefore, after one week of strike action, the teachers’ union, GTU and the Department of Labour have agreed that the grievances would go to Arbitration and that the decision would be binding on all parties. During the arbitration period, the agreement stipulates, there would be no strike action, stoppage of work, goslow, boycott or picketing on the part of the GTU. On the part of the Ministry of Education, there would be no recrimination, loss of pay, no lock-outs or interference in the arbitration process. THE COALITION HAS GIVEN MORE Both my wife, Sita, and I have been teachers and together we have served this noble profession for some 50 years. I read with a troubled heart a statement made by a union leader that our teachers had been given a better deal under the previous PPP government.For the record, this Coalition Government gave to our teachers a then unprecedented scale of salary increases ranging in 2016 between 10 percent and six percent, and in 2017 between eight percent and six percent. The lowest paid teachers received the higher percentage increases. Under the Jagdeo presidency when the economy was in the red, an across-theboard “full and final” seven percent was paid for 2005. The standard, miserly, “band you waist” five percent was allowed for every succeeding
Sunday September 16, 2018
year between 2006 and 2015. Having given those increases in 2016 and 2017, and explaining that government could not YET afford better, we still placed on the table an offer of $710 Million for salary increases for 2018, in addition to $200M for “debunching”, i.e. to rectify anomalies among the salary scales. NON-SALARIED PACKAGE The APNU+AFC Government has also committed to improving the non-salaried conditions of employees in the education sector as follows:1. Improved Monthly Qualifications Allowances (a) Certificate in Education $4,000 (b) Diploma Education $6,000 (c) Master’s Degree $10,000 (d) PhD $30,000 2. Clothing Allowance $8,000 from the new school year 2018/2019 3. Whitley Council Allowance To be paid in June of the year of entitlement. Teachers will continue to receive Whitley Council Leave and Allowance every four years 4. Annual Leave In addition to the customary Easter, August and Xmas breaks, Principals and Deputies of Technical Trade/ Craft institutions are granted one month’s leave during the students’ vacation periods 5. Duty Free Concession Te a c h e r s w i l l b e granted annual duty-free concessions for motor vehicles, ATV’s and Mountain bikes in keeping with the agreed categories and eligibility criteria 6.Scholarships Thirty (30) teachers will continue to receive four-year scholarships to the University of Guyana. An additional 20 scholarships will be granted to teachers to pursue Science disciplines at UG
7. Hinterland and Remote Areas Incentive Teachers and their families who serve in interior regions are given annual return fares to the coastland. Teachers in Regions One, Seven, Eight and Nine have received an 80 percent increase, and the 2017 incentives were increased to $9,000 and $12,000. 8. Housing Fund The Ministry of Education and the Guyana Teachers Union are to mutually agree on a mechanism for implementation of the Housing Revolving Fund, which was first promised by the former government. If it had been implemented pre-2015, it would have accumulated about $200 Million by now. MARKED IMPROVEMENTS Apart from the allowances, there have been marked improvements in many education sectors including major overhauls of school buildings and rehabilitation of student and teacher facilities. Monthly stipends for teachers in training at CPCE and In-Service centres at Linden were increased in 2018, 73 percent for resident, and 53 percent for non-resident trainees. Since taking office in 2015, the Coalition government has given free laptop computers to teachers all across the country (total 9,213). More than 5,500 teachers have received hands-on training in Basic Computer Literacy by the ICT Unit of the Education Ministry. In addition, the Data Management Authority (eGovernment Unit) has connected 153 Secondary Schools, 37 Technical and other Institutes, 123 Government Ministries and Agencies, and 175 Primary Schools. The latter was in 2018 alone. Further, 123 Community ICT hubs were built and commissioned, and now students, teachers, retirees, youths and business people have free access to the internet. The union should feel justifiably betrayed because the former government did not put one single dollar into the Housing Revolving Fund. The PPP DID NOT KEEP THEIR PROMISE to provide 100 house lots every year for teachers. There is no evidence to sustain the argument that things were better off for teachers under the former government, but this Government gets the message that we have to sustain high levels of improvements for our valuable teachers.
Sunday September 16, 2018
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Kaieteur News
My column
When you don’t want to do something, one excuse is as good as another Some years ago, I saw a cartoon in a newspaper that made me realize how some people in the world operates. A man leaned over his fence and asked his neighbour to loan him a hammer. The neighbour replied that he couldn’t because his motherin-law was sick. So there was the man walking away with a question mark over his head. At the same time, the neighbour’s wife asked her husband what her mother had to do with the refusal to loan the hammer. He man replied, “When you don’t want to do something, one excuse is as good as another.” That cartoon came readily to mind when two things happened last week. The Special Organised Crime Unit opted to question some former Government Ministers about the acquisition of land on the Sparendaam seashore. The area known as Pradoville Two is now a high-priced residential neighbourhood with mansions galore.Such is the nature of the community that Junior Finance Minister Jaipaul Sharma contended that these former government officials are now flaunting their wealth in the faces of the Guyanese people. We have heard about the under-pricing of the state land. These government officials acquired the land at onethird the cost that other Guyanese paid for their plot of undeveloped land in other parts of the country. The Sparendaam seaside land came with roads, lights, water and all the necessary infrastructure. Former Minister Robeson Benn, in the wake of the questioning by SOCU, told reporters that the idea behind the community grew out of discussions that followed the murder of Minister Satyadeow ‘Sash’ Sawh in his home at La Bonne Intention.
Benn said that the then President Bharrat Jagdeo was concerned for the safety of his Ministers so he set about building a Roman-styled walled community to keep criminals out. This was the first time the nation was getting an excuse for Pradoville Two. If President Jagdeo was concerned for the safety of his Ministers why wasn’t all of them made to move into the area? Why didn’t the government simply build the compound so that in the case of a change of government the compound would remain Government property in the same way that the Ministries remain Government property? If security was that crucial, why did some of the Ministers sell their allocations for a more than handsome profit without even attempting to move into this safe compound?I do not recall any visibly heightened security around the home of the Ministers during this period while the Pradoville Two construction was underway. Neither did I see a reduction in the number of the government officials visiting the numerous drinking spots and cavorting until the wee hours of the morning. The fact remains that Pradoville Two remains to taunt lesser mortals about how corrupt Government officials live. None of the residents could have owned such property on their regular earnings. Priya Manickchand came from a wealthy family so perhaps she could have owned one with support from her father. The other issue that reminded me about the cartoon involved the Education Ministry. The Guyana Teachers Union identified three prominent Guyanese to be chairperson of the arbitration panel. The government would have found no fault with any.
In fact, from time to time these people were used by the state and the government at critical times. Former Foreign Affairs Minister Rashleigh Jackson was called on to work with the government team on the Suriname border issue. Jeffrey Thomas was a former Minister of Education and Dr. Aubrey Armstrong headed an arbitration panel in the wake of the Public Service strike in 1999. The teachers’ union is now of the view that the Education Ministry is stalling. I am not certain that there were terms of reference for the chairman of the arbitration panel so like me, nobody outside the Education Ministry could know what the Ministry wanted. Indeed, when the union took strike action, it had no demand based on the reality. It eventually settled for “something reasonable” from the government. This begged the question about what is “something reasonable”. Both sides quibbled over this “something reasonable” and are not at the point of arbitration. This issue now has political implications. People are pointing to the manifesto of the Coalition government where there is a clear promise to make life much better for the teachers. A quick look would reveal that there were efforts to honour this aspect of the manifesto. The government paid increases over and beyond anything the teachers ever got during the period of the past administration. And here I must repeat the actions at the end of the 1999 arbitral
award. The Public Servants got a fifty percent increase over two years. Their salaries jumped yet two or three years later they were right back where they started. Taxes and price increases ate into their earnings because the government simply reached out to take back what it gave. And it did. I would expect that the teachers would press for non-
taxable non-salaried benefits. Go for housing allowances, travelling allowances, clothing allowances, merit increments and such things. In the long run, they add up and the earnings would be significantly boosted. But for now, there should be no stalling over the appointment of a chairman. The teachers were patient; they want a better pay now.
Adam Harris
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Kaieteur News
Sunday September 16, 2018
Local government elections- Fortifying grassroot democracy (By H.E. David Granger at the launch of Indigenous Heritage Month on September 1, 2018) Conventional wisdom tells us that there is usually very low voter turnout at lo-
cal government elections. In Guyana local elections returned in 2016 after an absence of over two decades. Feedback from the youth population who make up over 60 percent of the eligible voters shows a great depth of disinterest that is troubling.
The elections this year will also see many new first-time voters. These voters will have to be educated since unlike general and regional elections local government elections are divided into two components, a proportional representation
(PR) section and a first past the post section. Half of the elected representatives will be selected from the PR section of the ballot and the other half form the first past the post section. Education voter therefore becomes the number one priority for all the stakeholders so as to reduce potential confusion come November 12. However, these challenges must be faced head-on because local government elections are a constitutional right that should never be ignored, violated or taken for granted. Article 12 of the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana states that, “local government by freely elected representatives of the people is an integral part of the democratic organisation of the state.” Representative government flourishes when there is government of the people for the people by the people. I know this sounds like some pie in the sky statement, but it is as true as the rising of the sun in the east. A government for the people, by the people, just cannot work without the people. It would be like trying to drive a car without an engine or a computer without a hard drive, people matter. A democracy without voters is an empty shell without power. The youth vote which was critical in the 2015 general and regional elections will be critical once again since in Guyana one in every three persons is considered a youth. The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) systematic destruction of our system of local democracy and neglect of our communities during their 23 years inofficecontinues to have a severe impact on the quality of life for many Guyanese es-
pecially in the local government areas that are controlled by that political party. We must therefore be persuasive when we explain to the young voter that one vote may seem to be little more than a whisper but when that vote is combined with the votes of others who share their views, it can become a shout. It is imperative that we explain to them that elections have consequences. If you don’t vote, you lose your right to complain. One thing that is really annoying is to hear eligible voters who chose not to vote complaining about the poor system of local representation by elected representatives in their municipalities or Neighbourhood Democratic Councils. If you don’t vote, it is like saying you don’t care how your community is being run; you don’t care what happens to you. When you don’t vote you lose the right to complain. So, if you want the right to complain the next time the garbage is not collected in your village or town or you have poor roads, drainage and no green space (community centre ground, playing fields etc.) for leisure and relaxation, then you must exercise your right to vote. Believe it or not, many of our ancestors fought and died for the right to vote, a right that we should never take for granted. You should vote in these local government elections because you can, if you don’t you may wake up one day in a country where you can’t (it can and has happened before.) At the end of the day if you are eligible to vote and you know what you want for yourself and your community; VOTE. Vote because it is about making a
choice, whether it is the right choice or not depends on how much you care. Voting is a powerful way of voicing your opinion. Get acquainted with the candidates and the issues especially those that pertain to you and your community; proper drainage, installation of street lights, addressing your safety and security, accessible and proper roads, training and job opportunities for young people, look at all your options and then go cast your vote and make sure to encourage your family and friends to do so too. A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) will be contesting these elections as a single entity. We have already begun the job of cleaning up and restoring many communities after years of neglect and decay caused by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP); just take a look at what has been achieved in just a few years in our Capital City, Georgetown. In many rural communities, residents now have potable water and street lights for the first time. The 2016 Local Government Election (LGE) became the vehicle through which the process of democratic renewal began. It has moved the country from despair to a democratic regime in which local leaders can now meet, discuss, debate and decide how our communities will be governed. APNU will adhere to an empowerment policy that regularly renews local democracy by ensuring that local government elections are held- as is stipulated in our constitution. We shall fortify grassroots democracy by ensuring that local residents are allowed to play a greater role in managing their own towns and villages.
Sunday September 16, 2018
Kaieteur News
Tuberculosis: Early treatment is vital
By Dr Zulfikar Bux Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine uberculosis, also called TB, is an in fection caused by bacteria. It usually affects the lungs, but it can spread to the joints, bladder, spine, brain and other parts of the body. The bacteria that cause tuberculosis are spread from one person to another through tiny droplets released into the air via coughs and sneezes. In 2015, 10.4 million persons were ill with the disease and it accounted for 1.8 million deaths. The disease is usually undetected in its initial phases as it tends to manifest with a cough. Persons will usually treat the cough with cough suppressants. Over time, they become weak as it begins to overcome their body. Today, we will shed some light on TB to help with its early detection and hopefully contribute to minimizing the dangerous complications associated with it. WHATARE THE SYMPTOMS OF TUBERCULOSIS? You won’t have any symptoms of tuberculosis unless you have active TB. The symptoms of active TB
T
include: · Cough that lasts three weeks or longer, sometimes bloody · Chest pain · Fever · Fatigue · Unintended weight loss · Loss of appetite · Chills and night sweats If TB affects your joints, you may develop pain that feels like arthritis. If TB affects your bladder, it may hurt to go to the bathroom and there may be blood in your urine. TB of the spine can cause back pain and leg paralysis. TB of the brain can cause headaches, nausea and brain damage if left untreated. HOW IS TB DIAGNOSED? The most commonly used method to check for tuberculosis is the PPD skin test. A PPD skin test is also called a Mantoux test. If you have a positive PPD, it means you have been exposed to a person who has tuberculosis and you have been infected with the bacteria that cause the disease. If your PPD skin test is positive, you will likely have a chest X-ray and a physical exam to find out whether you have active TB and are currently contagious and able to spread the disease to other
people. It usually takes only a few days to tell whether you’re contagious. Most people with a positive skin test are not contagious. IF I HAVE A POSITIVE PPD TEST, DO I HAVE ACTIVE TUBERCULOSIS? Not necessarily. A person can be infected with the bacteria that cause tuberculosis but not actually have active tuberculosis. Of the people who are infected with the bacteria that cause tuberculosis, only a few (about 10 percent) go on to develop active TB. Healthy people who get infected with the tuberculosis bacteria are often able to fight off the infection and do not develop active TB. The bacteria are dormant (inactive) in their lungs. If the body is not able to contain the infection and the bacteria continue to grow, active tuberculosis develops. WOULD I KNOW IF I DEVELOPEDACTIVE TUBERCULOSIS? There is a slight chance you might not know that you have developed active tuberculosis. Tuberculosis bacteria can grow in your body without making you feel sick. However, most people who have
active tuberculosis experience symptoms. If you develop active tuberculosis, you will need to be monitored medically (regular checkups and probably some chest X-rays) for the rest of your life to make sure you stay free of the tuberculosis disease, even after you have taken the full course of tuberculosis medicine. HOW IS TUBERCULOSIS TREATED? Tuberculosis is treated with antibiotic medicine. The medicines your doctor recommends will depend on your age, your health, whether your TB is active or latent, and whether your TB
is drug resistant (meaning that certain medicines won’t work on it).You will need to take your TB medicines for 6-9 months. Your doctor will tell you exactly how and when to take your medicine, and for how long. It is very important that you follow your doctor’s instructions carefully. Keep your medicine in a place where you will always see it. Take it at the same time every day. Don’t skip doses or stop taking your medicine. This could make your TB harder to treat. If left untreated, TB can kill you. It can also damage your organs permanently,
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Dr. Zulfikar Bux leaving you with significant disability. If you or someone you know has symptoms of TB, do not hesitate to visit one of the many TB (DOTS) clinics that we have here in Guyana.
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Kaieteur News
Sunday September 16, 2018
SUNDAY Three years later…Govt. undecided about approach to local content framework for oil and gas sector …searching for $$$ to hire new consultant Stakeholders will have to wait until next year for Government to deliver on a promised local content policy which is to ensure that the services and supplies of locals are given priority in the oil and gas sector. A second draft of the policy, which was completed one year ago by Local Content Expert, Trinidadian Anthony Paul, has been with the Ministry of Business, which assumed responsibility for local content in January, last. In an interview with Kaieteur News, Minister of Business Dominic Gaskin said that no decision has been made as to how to approach local content. ”The decision hasn’t been made as yet as to whether it requires specific local content legislation; whether it requires simply the incorporation of stronger local content provisions in the production sharing agreement or whether it can simply be an amendment to the Petroleum Exploration Production Act; or whether it would make more sense to have a collaborative approach with contractors on local content,” Gaskin stated. The Business Minister noted that Government will lean on the advice from another consultant. But hiring the consultant is proving difficult. Gaskin said that because the Ministry assumed responsibility for local content in January, they did not budget for a consultant. ” We a r e l o o k i n g f o r funding to fund the consultancy fees to complete the exercise. The Ministry of Finance is assisting us with that, and we are also looking at sourcing funding from another organization,” Gaskin stated. According to Gaskin, the second draft prepared by Paul was fairly general and nonspecific; hence, the decision was taken to hold further consultations. ”Upon examining the issue, we decided we have a plan of action which involves further consultations and also the services of another consultant to finalise the policy.” ”There is no sense consulting with a number of organisations if you don’t have someone with the necessary expertise to actually pull together the comments and views and
Dept-ridden Sri Lanka’s Hambantota port, which China recently seized control of incorporate them into the final policy,” Gaskin noted. China “colonizing” smaller countries through massive loans in bid for world domination– Defaulters have been pressured into surrendering assets and territory or allowing military bases on their land CHINA is “colonising” smaller countries by lending them massive amounts of money they can never repay, it’s been claimed. The country is accused of leveraging massive loans it holds over small states worldwide to snatch assets and increase its military footprint. Developing countries from Pakistan to Djibouti, the Maldives to Fiji, all owe huge amounts to China. Already there are examples of defaulters being pressured into surrendering control of assets or allowing military bases on their land. Some are calling it “debttrap diplomacy” or “debt colonialism” – offering enticing loans to countries unable to repay, and then demanding concessions when they default. Sri Lanka provided a prime example last year. Owing more than $1billion (£786million) in debts to China, Sri Lanka handed over a port to companies owned by the Chinese government on a 99-year lease. And Djibouti, home to the US military’s main base in Af-
rica, also looks likely to cede control of a port terminal to a Beijing-linked firm. America is eager to stop the Doraleh Container Terminal falling into Chinese hands, particularly because it sits next to China’s only overseas military base. Last March ex-Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Beijing encouraged “dependency using opaque contracts, predatory loan practices, and corrupt deals that mire nations in debt and undercut their sovereignty”. A report from The Center for Global Development offers some insight into the spreading China debt. It shows how infrastructure project loans to the likes of Mongolia, Montenegro and Laos have resulted in millions or even billions in debts, which often account for huge percentages of the countries’ GDPs. Many of these projects are linked to the “Belt and Road” initiative – a bold project to create trade routes through huge swathes of Eurasia, with China at the centre. Participating countries often undertake work on roads and ports with partfunding from China. More recently, China’s debt empire has been rearing its head in the Pacific, prompting fears the country intends to leverage the debt to expand its military footprint into the South Pacific. Beijing’s creation of man-
made islands in the disputed South China Sea for use as military bases suggests the concern may be warranted. In April, China made these intentions more obvious – approaching Vanuatu about setting up a military base. Modernization? Guyana spends over US$150M for repairs, and a few new features, to CJIA The project was smeared from the beginning. Jamaica knew about it before Guyana. The money to execute the project was secured a year after the contracted company was given the go-ahead. It has been embarrassingly delayed. Today, it costs way more than what was originally budgeted. That, in a nutshell, is the story of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) Expansion project. Would it become the great hub for Africa that former President Bharrat Jagdeo and former Minister of Public Works, Robeson Benn promised? Not from the looks of things. As for now, the airport simply represents another debt to China that Guyana has to repay. This year, there has been much fuss on the international stage about China and its quest to rule the world. It has been noted that China is indebting many small countries in an attempt to “colonize” them. This is largely under the Belt and
Road Initiative. But Guyana’s experience with China thus far, is in taking “unnecessarily” large loans. The ongoing expansion project at CJIA is an example of how countries fall into one of China’s many debt traps, mostly because they agree to go into the arrangements without pursuing the necessary feasibility studies and other checks and balances. Over the years, there have been questions and comments surrounding whether or not Guyana needed to modernize the airport at the time it chose to. In April 2012, Former Minister of Public Works, Robeson Benn, had said that Government had entered into the agreement because there was a very narrow window in capitalizing on funding. He said that in September 2011, a Chinese Vice-Premier came to the Caribbean with several billion dollars to fund projects, and it was the only opportunity that Guyana had then to fund this undertaking. ”It was the only undertaking then and we had a particular line of documentation and information ready. We were able to take advantage and make use of that funding which would have gone elsewhere if we had not done what we had to do.” PPP/C officials including Former President Jagdeo and Benn said that the airport project was targeting Africa, with Guyana being used as a South American hub.
MONDAY Instead of one million, Guyanese will receive less than G$5,000 per household – Ram Prominent Chartered Accountant, Christopher Ram has crunched the numbers of Guyana’s earnings from oil production and concluded that the idea of paying each household US$5, 000 annually is unrealistic. Prof. Clive Thomas has floated the idea of the US$5, 000 payment from oil and his colleagues within the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) has publicly pressed forward with the idea of direct cash transfers. ”The saying that if something is too good to be true, it probably is not true applies with great force to Thomas’ bold call,” Ram wrote in his column, ‘Road to First Oil’. Ram shared that taking the range of variables and using two percent to five percent of Government’s gross revenue as suggested by WPA officials, the amount available per household can be as low as US$23.78 per year where the oil price is US$40 per barrel and cost of production is US$30 per barrel at production of 120,000 barrels per day. When that figure goes up to 750,000 barrels as is likely in the latter part of the next decade, Ram explained that two percent of gross revenue (Continued on page 33)
Sunday September 16, 2018
From page 32 will go up to US$148.61 per household per year. According to Ram, at the upper end of the scale of assumptions, five percent of the Government’s take from the production of 750,000 barrels per day with the price at US$80 and cost at US$30 will give each household US$1,701 per year. ”I say with much hesitation that Dr. Thomas suggestion of US$5,000 per household as a direct cash benefit to each household was a good idea ruined by the usual failure of Dr. Thomas to test his numbers which left him woefully exposed. On the other hand, I have heard the criticism that Dr. Thomas’ call was really to divert attention from the very bad Petroleum Agreement signed by the Government of which his party is a member. Whichever is the case, Dr. Thomas has uncharacteristically taken a good idea and then discredited it himself,” Ram stated. President David Granger has previously stated that he had not seen any formal proposal for direct cash transfer. Ram stated that conditional direct cash transfers are necessary in the face of harsh poverty faced by so many of Guyanese. He stated that while it ought to be one element of the proposed Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF), advancing it and convincing President Granger requires intellectual leadership.
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by persons of African descent at 28.2 percent. The survey found that more than half of the workingage population received only primary education of no schooling. The Bureau found that 48.3 percent of the working population has a primary education while 9.9 percent of those who work never went to school. It was found that about a quarter of the working age population has upper secondary education, but only 2.8 percent has a Bachelor’s degree or above. The IMF noted, “Braindrain of educated workers is an important factor contributing to this pattern.” The employment-topopulation ratio is slightly less than 50 percent. IMF noted that the employment-to-population ratio of men has slightly declined from 66.3 percent to 62.1 percent compared to the 2012 Census while that of women has increased from 28 percent to 36.9 percent. Despite the improvement, the female employment-to-population ratio remains much lower than that of men. Unemployment rates are higher for women and the youth. The unemployment rate for persons aged 15 and above was 12 percent, but the women’s unemployment rate (15.3 percent) was much higher than that of men (9.9 percent). TUESDAY
More than half of Guyana’s work force has only primary education– braindrain a factor, says report
IDB report pushes for more public consultations on Govt. projects
Anyone who supports the notion, “an uneducated nation is a poor nation” would understand why Guyana remains underdeveloped. According to the Bureau of Statistics, more than half of the nation’s work force is either without any formal schooling or only attained a primary education. The Bureau did its first ever Labour Force Survey (LFS) covering the third quarter of 2017. The survey was conducted between July and September 2017 and was supported by the Inter-American Development Bank. The report also caught the attention of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and was mentioned in the Fund’s most recent Staff Report on Guyana. The Bureau found that Guyana’s population is young and ethnically diverse. The average age is 39 and 47.1 percent of the population is under 25. Persons of East Indian descent comprise 42.8 percent of the working age population by ethnicity, followed
One of Guyana’s main lending partners, the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB), has released a report which targets more comprehensive public consultations for public projects. According to the bank, the new report identifies 10 key elements that can help projects improve their sustainability and reduce potential social conflicts, from proper community engagement and legal foundations to adequate monitoring of results. The report – Social Impact Assessment: Integrating Social Issues in Development Projects – looks at how governments and other key players can better utilize social assessments in their projects to improve development outcomes, ensure greater social acceptance of the project and manage potential risks, among others. The recommendations are in keeping with international best practices. ”Social impact assessments are a powerful tool to facilitate the integration of
Countries around the world owe huge sums to President Xi Jinping’s China (The Sun) social issues in the planning and implementation of projects,” says Janine Ferretti, Chief of IDB’s Environmental and Social Safeguard Unit. “It improves the quality and sustainability of projects, supports and strengthens national requirements, and enhances project acceptance and local ownership.” The Spanish-language edition of note will be launched during the VI Regional Policy Dialogue (RPD) at the IDB’s headquarters in Washington, D.C on September 11-13. Since 2015, the Environmental and Social Safeguards Unit (ESG) of the bank has held a series of 5 RPDs on Environmental Licensing and Compliance. These dialogues have brought together hundreds of senior officials from the licensing and enforcement authorities in countries within the Latin American and Caribbean regions to better understand the challenges and needs to strengthen environmental and social permitting and compliance. The note will be a key point of conversation throughout this year’s Dialogue. The Social Impact Assessment (SIA) note is structured around 10 key elements, which should be embedded in an SIA process in projects of moderate to high risk, scale, and complexity – typically big infrastructure investments. A recent IDB study of 200 conflict-affected infrastructure projects have revealed that social drivers led to conflicts in many cases, including a lack of community benefits (84%) and reduced access to resources (78%).
Guyana in search for new fuel supplier as T&T’s Petrotrin collapses There is deep worry about the financial impact that closure of the cash-strapped Petroleum Company of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (Petrotrin) refinery will have on fuel supply and prices in Guyana. Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge told reporters Monday that the fallout from the closure of Petrotrin’s Pointe-a-Pierre refinery was discussed last week at the ninth Meeting of the Prime Ministerial Sub-Committee on Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME) in Barbados. According to Greenidge, the Prime-Ministerial committee examined available options. ”They have asked the relevant experts of Ministers to explore the matter urgently and to provide advice. That is where it was on Thursday,” Greenidge stated. Fuel could be sourced from outside the CARICOM region, in which case, Greenidge expects that there will be no delay arising from the requirement for CARICOM’s Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) to waive the Common External Tariff (CET) on such imports. ”The Ministers agreed that in the circumstances the common external tariffs have to be waived in the circumstances that we understood at the time,” Greenidge stated. He disclosed that other sources will be explored among other regional sources such as Jamaica and Antigua
and Barbuda, where fuel is stored. ”Guyana of course has special constraints, because storage capacities are relatively limited,” Greenidge stated. He said a sense of urgency surrounds the action to be taken and the advice to be provided. Guyana has been depending largely on Trinidad and Tobago to meet its oil needs after the PetroCaribe deal with Venezuela ended in 2015. That agreement, which allowed Guyana to delay payments for up to 20 years, saw the country shipping rice in exchange. The state-run Petrotrin plans to halt refining operations next month due to soaring losses. Estimates suggest that 2,600 permanent jobs will be affected, including 1,700 in the facility. Petrotrin requires a cash injection of nearly $4 billion to remain in operation, upgrade its infrastructure and repay its debt, which has risen close to $2 billion. Chronicle GM fires finance comptroller, PM overturns decision hours after Over the weekend, social media was abuzz when financial records detailing the spending of the General Manager (GM) of Guyana National Newspapers Limited (GNNL), Sherod Duncan, made its way into the public domain. Monday, within hours, the entity’s Finance Comptroller, Moshamie Ramotar, was sacked and then re-instated. She was believed to have leaked the information. GNNL is the state-owned publisher of the Guyana Chronicle and the Sunday
Chronicle. It is funded with taxpayers’ dollars. Duncan is alleged to have, within his probation period as General Manager, spent $5M, in just less than three months on the job. He reportedly spent the monies, in the absence of the board, on furniture, a laptop and repairs to vehicles, among other things. Following the leakage of the spending, Duncan, as GM, Monday issued Ramotar with a termination letter. The letter said that the services of the Finance Comptroller were being ended with immediate effect. ”This is in keeping with the Personnel Policy and Procedures Manual 1991 and the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act 1997.” The woman was told that Chronicle’s Accounts Department would prepare the outstanding benefits within seven days. The news of the sacking saw an emergency meeting convened with Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo. Present at the meeting were Chairperson of Chronicle, Geeta ChandanEdmond; Director of Public Information, Imran Khan; Editor-in-Chief, Nigel Williams and Duncan. According to a statement from the Office of the Prime Minister, the termination was rescinded by Nagamootoo. At the emergency meeting, Nagamootoo was briefed by both the Chairperson and General Manager, and presented with relevant documentation. The Chairperson and the GM agreed that the letter of termination issued to (Continued on page 34)
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From page 33 the Finance Comptroller would be immediately rescinded, and that the Board should determine the appropriate course of action that could follow. WEDNESDAY IMF urges saving revenue from tax amnesty …calls for Govt. to be mindful in approach to future amnesties The period of tax amnesty which comes to an end September 30, has raked in billions of dollars for the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA). While this is a commendable feat, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned that this is a one-off bonanza which the government should endeavour to save for a rainy day. In its latest report on Guyana’s economic health, the Fund said that saving the one-off gains from the tax amnesty would reduce financing needs, and also help preserve external buffers. Significantly, the fund said that the government needs to control moral hazards associated with amnesties. It cautioned that the future amnesties can weaken compliance as such, they should not be continual. Speaking with this newspaper Tuesday, Commissioner General of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), Godfrey Statia, said that the government is aware of the implications highlighted by the IMF. He reminded that the last amnesty was in the 80s, while noting that further amnesties are not expected. Additionally, the Commis-
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sioner General said that the tax amnesty helped to boost the half year arrears which came up to $6.3B. ”Arrears are taxes collected beyond the due date. So if it is supposed to be collected on April 30, and you collect it passed that date, then it is considered part of arrears. It is also arrears if it is taxes collected this year for previous years. The tax amnesty as you would be aware, allows us to collect taxes owed from previous years with the minimization of penalties.” The tax Chief said, too, that there are sizeable arrears which were collected by the authority based on audits on certain companies. Eco Atlantic reveals large oil resource in Guyana * Orinduik licence estimate to contain 2.9 bln barrels of oil, gas * Tullow Oil, Eco, plan to drill in Q3 2019 * Total has option to buy 25 pct stake from Eco LONDON (Reuters) – A prospect operated by Tullow Oil off Guyana contains an estimated 3 billion barrels of oil and gas, its partner Eco Atlantic said on Tuesday, as the two firms prepare to drill in the Latin American oil basin. Guyana became one of the world’s most closely watched oil basins after ExxonMobil discovered more than 4 billion barrels of oil equivalent in its Stabroek licence in recent years. In a resource study, known as the competent person’s report (CPR), Eco Atlantic said the Orinduik
block is estimated to contain a resource of around 2.9 billion barrels of oil and gas equivalent in 10 large prospects. Those include close to 2.5 billion barrels of recoverable oil and 2.45 trillion cubic feet of associated gas. Orinduik borders the Hammerhead-1 area where Exxon late last month announced its ninth discovery off Guyana. ”Data gathered at the Latuk Lead on the Orinduik Blocks bears great similarities to the Hammerhead discovery and shares many of the same channel characteristics,” Eco Chief Executive Officer Gil Holzman told Reuters. Tullow owns 60 percent and Eco Atlantic Oil and Gas 40 percent in Orinduik. France’s Total has an option to buy 25 percent from Eco for $12.5 million. Tullow plans to begin drilling in the block in the third quarter of 2019, with Eco indicating it will begin “early” in the quarter. ”Since last year, Eco has been cooperating closely with Total and we are confident that they will be exercising their farm-in option” once they receive the full data from the study, Holzman said. Total will have up to 120 days to exercise the option. Tullow and Total did not respond to requests for immediate comment. Guyana today has little to no oil infrastructure but is expected to become one of the world’s busiest hubs in the coming years as producers begin drilling and producing there.
Court returns passport to former PS, imposes $1M bail The Magistrates’ Courts has returned to former Permanent Secretary (PS) of the Ministry of Public Service, Omar Shariff, his passport after he signaled his intentions to travel to Trinidad and Tobago to attend the Hugh Wooding Law School on a scholarship. Shariff, 46, and his wife, Savitri Hardeo, both of Lot 36 Dowding Street, Kitty, Georgetown, are facing a criminal charge before Senior Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. It is alleged that on or after October 14, 2016, in the Georgetown Magisterial District, Shariff failed to comply with a production order dated October 6, 2016 made by Chief Justice (CJ) Yonette Cummings-Edwards to produce certain named documents stated therein to Assistant Commissioner of Police, Sydney James (Head of the Special Organized Crime Unit), not later than seven days after service. The order was served by a marshal of the High Court, on Shariff by leaving same with him, who contravened the said order without reasonable cause, which he failed to produce. The duo was initially released on self-bail and ordered to lodge their passports with the court until the hearing and determination of the case. However, Tuesday Attorney-at-law Sanjiv Datadin requested that Shariff be given back his passport to facilitate him travelling to pursue the
scholarship. The lawyer’s requests were met with no objections by Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU) Prosecutor Patrice Henry, as well as, the court. In the circumstance, the Magistrate granted an order for the passport to be returned and released Shariff on $1M bail. His wife remains on self-bail. Shariff and his wife are to return to court next week Monday, September 17, when Datadin is expected to make a no-case submission. In October, 2016 the former Chief Justice granted a production order, which compels individuals or organizations to produce information to help assist in an investigation. The order was for both the former PS and his wife. The two apparently did not comply, despite being reminded and written to by SOCU to provide the requested information. THURSDAY Rigorous audit of ‘Liza 1’, could save Guyana four Skeldon factories – Dr. Mangal USA oil giant, ExxonMobil projects that it will cost some US$4.4B to develop the Liza Phase One Project. But former Petroleum Advisor, Dr. Jan Mangal is advising the Government of Guyana to conduct a rigourous audit of this figure. The Oil and Gas Consultant says that this should be done prior to the approval of the production licence for the Liza Phase Two Project which
is projected to cost US$10B. In a letter to the press, Dr. Mangal said Guyana could save US$880M even if the capital cost for the Liza Phase One project could be reduced by only 20 percent. Dr. Mangal alluded to the significance of the sum by highlighting that this is more than the cost to construct four Skeldon Sugar Estates. Significantly, the Oil and Gas Consultant said that the failure of an audit could see Guyana giving away money to ExxonMobil for no reason. Commissioner General of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), Newell Dennison, confirmed with Kaieteur News that there was no audit or review of the estimated costs submitted by ExxonMobil. In the absence of a review, Dennison still believes that the costs “seem reasonable.” He said that while the costs for the Liza Phase One are being incurred, one must bear in mind that the US$4.4B is a mere “projection” or “estimate.” Dennison also said that while GGMC is still building capacity to conduct audits via its Petroleum Division, the burden should not rest alone with his agency. He said that there are other sister agencies which have to pull their weight. When questioned to say if the Commission has the funds to effectively build the capacity it needs for the sector, Dennison said he would prefer not to comment on that matter. He maintained this position in spite of concerns that the Commission is low on cash to tackle the area (Continued on page 35)
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From page 34 of improvements in its Division. The GMMC Commissioner was keen to note however, that there is a need for expertise in the sector, “but we just don’t have the human resources.”
SOCU is moving to question Bharrat Jagdeo and all the members of his cabinet
Pradoville 2 probe takes a twist… SOCU goes after Jagdeo and former Cabinet Ministers again The police force’s Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) has started hauling in a number of former ministers of the Bharrat Jagdeo’s cabinet for further questioning. They are being grilled about the details of the transfer of lands at Sparendaam in the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), a road contract in the community to Atlantic Construction for $13.7M and the authorisation by the then Cabinet to have the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) handle the transactions. SOCU is reportedly examining the possibility of laying charges against Jagdeo and the former ministers for what they say was the illegal transfer of the lands. Those lands were converted into an exclusive community cynically dubbed Pradoville Two. The plots were sold allegedly below market value to mainly ministers and others, who were handpicked by Jagdeo and his Cabinet. State monies were used to develop the lands under questionable circumstances, SOCU is contending. SOCU is contending also that Jagdeo and his ministers, although knowing that the actions were illegal, nevertheless transferred lands to CH&PA. They disregarded the fact that the lands were in the hands of the National Communications Network. On March 9, 2010, Jagdeo and the Cabinet of Ministers met and approved the above transactions. The Cabinet Decision document was reportedly signed by Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon, and copied to the then Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh. Jagdeo’s constitutional second term ended in November 2011. Don’t contact my relatives – Magistrate warns A Magistrate attached to the Court at Bartica, Region Seven had cause to issue an open warning to persons against contacting members of her family in relation to matter she is presiding over, Wednesday. According to information
reaching this newspaper, Magistrate Crystal Lambert reportedly told the courtroom that she is an officer of the court and would not condone anyone contacting her family with regards to any case. Lambert, who is presiding at the Bartica Magistrates’ Court, issued the warning in open court at the time that the assault case involving two Ukrainian men Vitaly Paraschuck and Maksym Furtak was called up. The case attracted attention last month after a video surfaced depicting what appears to be a brawl involving a Guyanese miner and the two foreigners. The Ukrainians who are operatives of West Bank Demerara Gold Company were charged with assaulting the Guyanese miners last month. The Guyanese miner Charles Clark was also charged. The parties were arrested after a video which purportedly showed Russian-speaking security personnel assaulting a Guyanese mining ranger. The video sparked an investigation by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), and Guyana Police Force (GPF). The video allegedly shows a Guyanese being confronted by two foreigners. The foreigners were wearing attire resembling military fatigues and civilian jerseys, and both men were armed with handguns. The Guyanese was telling the foreigners that he was not working for them and did not have to show them anything.
This seemed to be because the foreigners felt that the man was working in the wrong area. One of the foreigners then punched the Guyanese and the Guyanese attempted to respond in kind, but the foreigner drew a handgun. The video sparked a debate on social media that saw Guyanese expressing dissatisfaction about how foreigners are treating Guyanese. After conducting investigations and sending a file for legal advice, the police were advised to charge all three men with the various offences. FRIDAY Hire int’l firm to audit ExxonMobil’s pre-contract cost…offer audit firm percentage of the $$$ we will save – Jagdeo According to Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, Guyana can avert being duped by ExxonMobil and can secure more revenue if only the government acts just a little wiser. Jagdeo said that the government can simply hire an experienced international firm to audit ExxonMobil’s pre-contract cost. Anticipating the government saying that it is short on funds to do so, Jagdeo said that Guyana does not even have to commit to paying a particular amount. He said that the nation can choose to employ a well known mechanism where the
firm gets a percentage of the money recovered from a “rigorous audit.” Jagdeo said this at a press conference he held Thursday. There, he agreed with statements made by former Advisor to President David Granger, Dr. Jan Mangal, who said that the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) should not audit the ExxonMobil precontract costs. Mangal, in a letter to the media, said, “If the Government intends to undertake a rigorous review of the contract costs, this is not the optimal route. Instead, the Government will be taking money from the people of Guyana and handing it to the foreign oil companies.” Thursday, Jagdeo said, “I agree; the GRA is not capable and should not be doing this. Why can’t we hire a firm?” Initially, Jagdeo said that Guyana could have paid the firm US$5M and save another US$10M. But then he said that it would be even more prudent if the government negotiates even better terms. Jagdeo said that Guyana can “work out a percentage, say every dollar you save us in a rigorous audit, if it is US$100M you get two percent of it or if you save us US$100M through a proper audit you get five percent from it.” Jagdeo said that under these agreements, Guyana can then afford to choose among the best oil and gas auditing firms in the world.
China to take over Zambian int’l Airport for default on debt repayment – Chinese already own 60% shares in the Country’s National media Signing a contract with China is like, ascribing to the boiling frog effect; a fable describing a frog being boiled alive slowly. If you drop a frog suddenly into boiling water, it will jump out, but if you put that same frog in a vessel of water and start heating the water gradually, it will adjust its body temperature accordingly until it reaches a stage beyond its capacity and dies foolishly. It’s rather pathetic how China is re-colonizing Africa by appealing to the ignorance and selfish interests of the leaders. Today, the Chinese are offering mouthwatering deals to Africa, both in cash transactions and the outmoded or rather defunct barter trade, which seem very attractive on the outlook but dangerous in reality. The Zambian government contracted the Chinese, lazythought and glossed over details thinking they were granting consent to genuine terms but the whole thing just morphed into modern day colonialism. China is now proposing to take over the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport should Zambia Government fail to pay back its huge foreign debt on time. The issue of whether Zambia possesses the re-
quired economic muscle to repay that debt is in contention considering the amount involved. It’s typical of the Chinese strategy. That, moreover, is not the only thing Zambian suffered from China; the Chinese already own 60% shares of the Zambian National Broadcasting Corporation which means, Chinese have an influence over what should or should not be premiered on their sets. Ghana is equally toeing the same line as its leaders have started signing contracts already; Chinese owned company, STARTIME is gradually gaining grounds over our major institutions, the biggest mining companies will soon be “taken” over by a Chinese company and many others. Manickchand, Robert Persaud profited by selling their Pradoville 2 property - security excuse is nonsense- Minister Sharma Leader of the Justice For All Party, Jaipaul Sharma, has described as all hot air, the defence given for the building of the Pradoville 2 housing scheme. The scheme is the home of the several ex-ministers and former president, Bharrat Jagdeo. On Wednesday, former Public Works Minister, Robeson Benn, said that the decision to develop the scheme at Sparendaam, East Coast Demerara, was taken after it became apparent that (Continued on page 36)
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From page 35 the lives of top officials of the former president Bharrat Jagdeo administration were under threat. Benn pointed to the assassination of former Agriculture M i n i s t e r, Satyadeow Sawh, in 2006. A number of his family members were also killed in the raid on the minister’s LBI, East Coast Demerara home. However, Sharma, who
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is also the Junior Minister of Finance, is not buying that explanation. ”That argument flies in the face of the fact that two PPP ministers sold their developed properties for tens of millions of dollars.” The two former ministers were Priya Manickchand and Robert Persaud. Both did not live too long in their homes before selling them. Manickchand reportedly
sold hers for $100M. ”So if you are using that argument of security, this would discount it. There are many other reasons including the empty lots which were not developed that would fly in the face of what Mr. Benn is contending,” Sharma said. The Minister said that even Benn himself contradicts the security excuse. ”Mr. Benn appeared not to be important. He was
not even offered, it seems, an opportunity for a piece of land. Now, if one was talking about security for Ministers, you would want to build a bunker, not flaunt your wealth like the mansions we’re seeing.” According to Sharma, the case is clear-cut and straightforward. SATURDAY Second draft of Local Content Policy contains several deficiencies – Georgetown Chamber of Commerce -says it must ensure partnership between foreign and indigenous businesses The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) believes that the second draft of the country’s Local Content Policy contains several deficiencies. In this regard, the Chamber believes that the draft document is silent on the need for partnerships between local and foreign companies. According to the Chamber, such partnerships are crucial if there is to be real development. The Chamber said too, that there should be awareness sessions to bring Guyanese up to date on their resources as well as discussions on the tiers of the supplier’s development plan and by category. In addition to this, the Chamber said that there should be a clear plan of action by Government to directly or indirectly support the development of the capacity of local businesses, as well as provid-
ing suitable infrastructure (physical, financial, technological etc). It posits that this will ensure that companies can participate in the oil industry in a competitive manner. Further to this, the Chamber said that there should be emphasis on ensuring the relevant standards and certifications are made readily accessible to Guyanese businesses. It said that a plan of action in this regard should be clearly delineated in this regard. It said, “A course of action similar to that of ‘STOW’ in Trinidad & Tobago can be explored to adapt for the context of Guyana.” GCCI also shared its take on how participation of local firms and individuals needs to be done so that the value of the industry can be maximized. The Chamber said that in a general sense, first consideration should be given to local companies and local individuals. GCCI also believes that the burden of proof should fall on the contractor in the event that a local is not selected. Bitter debate as cops look to question lawyer who “cussed” traffic rank after pulled over There is a bitter debate raging after a “routine” traffic stop Thursday by a police rank ended up with a video going viral and questions about the powers of the police. The police rank posted the video on his Facebook page. It quickly went viral. In the video, which lasted just over 3:50 min-
utes, a man who identified himself as “Ryan f#@king Crawford”, an attorney-atlaw, was highly upset at being stopped, questioning the cop about the legality of it. He later drove away. The cop was videoing the stop and the lawyer seemed to be fully aware of it. The incident was said to have occurred on the East Coast of Demerara. Friday, Commander of ‘D’ Division, Calvin Brutus, said that he has requested the assistance of the ‘B’ Division, in East Berbice, for a statement to be taken from the lawyer. The commander said that the file will be sent for advice. According to the video, the BMW sedan, driven by Crawford, was pulled over somewhere along the East Coast Demerara roadway. The lawyer, who had a male passenger seated next to him, demanded to know why he was stopped. The rank said he could not see the driver properly and therefore stopped the car. However, this angered the lawyer who insisted that he was behind two trucks and was not buying that explanation. ”What sc#%t you telling me man? What f#%ing nonsence you telling me?” The tirade continued. “My name is Ryan f#%ing Crawford. You tell whoever you talking to… attorney-at%&ing law. You heard me? So #%k you.” The lawyer said he did nothing wrong and refused to produce his driver’s licence.
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COUNTRYMAN
Sunday September 16, 2018
- Stories about life in om and out of Guyana, fr ive a Guyanese perspect
Demanding my own piece of ground By Dennis Nichols Many have wondered about the ‘de facto’ ownership of Earth’s lands, and how governments came to be the allocators of a country’s natural resources. The answer, I am finding out, involves political, philosophical, and religious components that may not be appreciated by lay persons like me. Maybe they need to, along with other, more practical considerations. Who among us agree with philosopher John Locke’s statement more than 200 years ago that ‘Earth belongs to all’? Not the kings, queens and lords who in ancient times appropriated
common lands by ‘divine’ right as representatives of those considered the primary owners – the ‘gods’; and I know of no current government which does. A respected medium, Britain’s ‘New Statesman’ noted not long ago, that ‘the relationship between humans and land begins with a fundamental claim by some people or countries to own land’ and includes those that allow citizens ‘to own land to which they hold legal title, and those that grant only tenancies to their citizens, permitting the state to claim a total prior right to the use of all land within its borders.’ The source added an amazing claim: The current
British monarch is the world’s primary feudal landowner. The Queen, as head of a commonwealth of 54 countries, is the legal owner (whatever that means) of one-sixth of the earth’s land surface’ which, if converted to cash, would make her the richest person who ever lived. The questions as to how rich Queen Elizabeth 2 is, or how the state was permitted to claim ‘total prior right ... ‘ are outside the scope of this article. Of more practical and immediate concern is what obtains here in Guyana, where vast tracts of land lie unutilized for the benefit of citizens. What I, along with thousands of ordinary
Guyanese, would like to know/ understand, is why there are seemingly intractable problems, including a bureaucratic maze, when it come to some citizens acquiring a piece of land as owned property, for whatever purpose they desire, and within legal boundaries. Answers are not readily forthcoming. The complaints of persons who have applied for land through the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission for example, and persons who have waited or are still waiting several years for approval by the authorities, are many. Amerindians also, are still waiting for the revision of the Amerindian Act (2006) and for the question of Land Titling to be more meaningfully addressed. In my greying years now, this is how I am thinking. I have lived and worked in this country for 53 of my 65 years on this earth, and I need a piece of it. I have been trained, and worked, in three professional fields locally, and have written hundreds of items in the print media since 1985. I’ve helped ‘put Guyana on the map’ through my stories including one which won the 2000 CBA Short Story Competition from an international field of some 4000 entries. And I am a patriot.I don’t need or want much - a rural plot on which to build a cottage and farm a kitchen garden, with space left over for my growing brood of grandchildren to engage in backyard capers while I dotingly oversee from my hammock. Having never owned a piece of land or a house, I think it is a reasonable expectation - my
tiny patch of sod before I’m committed to God’s acre. Guyana’s boundaries enfold 83,000 square miles, or more than 53 million acres of land, and with a perennial population of around 750,000, gives us a per capita ‘ownership’ of about 71 acres. Simplistic yes, flawed maybe, but you get the point; small population, vast lands, and super-low density. Aback of Suddie on the left bank of the Essequibo River is a sprawling tract of land at Onderneeming, more popularly known as Sand Pit. It is the site of a land development scheme administered, as far as I’m aware, by the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission headquartered at Durban Backlands in Georgetown. Having properly applied in April 2017 for a residential plot there, I grew excited that at long last I would own real ‘property’, more so since in responding to the question of how soon I would be able to build, I had optimistically said by year end, or early this year. I took it as a hint that things would progress swiftly, and got even more excited when, in the space of three weeks my letter of interest to GL&SC was acknowledged. Less than two months later my inspection, processing, and filing fees had been paid, and I was issued with a document detailing the inspection and showing where my prospective property is located. Close to it, a trail was marked leading to Ituribisci, the famed ‘hotand-cold’ lake with which my mother had stirred my childish imagination many moons ago. A dream was coming through.
Dennis Nichols More than a year later, it is not a dream deferred, (Langston Hughes’ ‘Raisin in the sun’) because I am putting on my optimism cap and getting proactive. At the same time I’m wondering how long my aging body and brain will weather Guyana’s woes, while waiting on GL&SC and OP to greenlight my application. The Commission is tasked with the stewardship of all public lands in the country. This includes receiving and evaluating ‘offers to purchase or let public lands, and to issue ... grants, leases and permits to occupy such lands’ in accordance with the law, as well as to administer and enforce all laws relating to public lands. I recently spoke with the Public Relations Officer of GL&SC who has promised to address a few areas of concern I raised about my application, as well as more general issues others may h av e, r elated to b o th application and allocation. It is almost certain there are procedural matters and legal considerations to be handled at the GL&SC and OP that many of us in the public sphere are not aware of when it comes to land ownership. I hope to have some of these clarified in time for a follow-up article next week. Chief among these would be the consideration that every Guyanese is entitled to ‘his own piece of ground’, the title of a song written by one Jeremy Taylor and sung by the late Miriam Makeba. It’s a South African lament every Guyanese; in fact every citizen on this planet who feels marginalized by authorities who lord it over their lands, should listen to. And think empowerment. I, like so many other Guyanese, need my own piece of ground. Although it could be located in some urban centre, (and I wouldn’t mind because of the facilities and my age) I chose the Essequibo Coast. My wife grew up there. My father’s navel string and my son’s bones lie in its soil. I could live there.
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Sunday September 16, 2018
Judging the Caribbean Court of Justice By Sir Ronald Sanders (The writer is Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the United States and the OAS. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies at the University of London and at Massey College in the University of Toronto. The views expressed are his own.) Startlingly, eight of the 10 Commonwealth countries that still cling to the Judicial Committee (JC) of the Privy Council as their final court of appeal are Caribbean Community (CARICOM) states. Forty-three of the 52 remaining Commonwealth countries (not counting Britain) have long since left this hang-over from British colonialism. These countries include Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and India. Rightly, most Commonwealth countries, who were tied to the JC of the Privy Council when they were colonies or dominions of Britain, see no good reason why their final
appellate court should continue to be distant British persons, appointed by the British Prime Minister, whose legal knowledge and expertise, while good, are no better than judges of their own countries or regions. Retentionists in the eight CARICOM countries, who argue for the retention of the JC of the Privy Council as their final appellate court, irrationally equate the performance of local courts in their jurisdictions to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). They argue two things: the judges of the local courts are subject to direction of the governments that appoint them, and the judges are subject to influence from within their communities. Therefore, they say, the CCJ will be the same. There is no sound basis for such an equation. For, unlike the local courts, the justices of the CCJ are neither appointed nor paid by the governments of Caribbean countries. The CCJ is funded through a Tr u s t F u n d , w h i c h i s independently managed. Justices of the CCJ do not get
salary cheques from any government. Further, governments have no say in the appointment of the judges. A regional judicial and legal services commission chooses them. The Commission comprises persons nominated jointly by the Commonwealth Bar Association and the Eastern Caribbean Bar Association; persons from civil society following consultation with regional non-governmental organizations; two distinguished jurists nominated by law school deans; and two persons nominated jointly by the bar associations of CARICOM countries. The retentionists also fail to recognize that the JC of the Privy Council has neglected the task of improving the performance of local courts which is a vital part of the role of a final court. The JC of the Privy Council has made little or no effort to educate or train judges and officers of local courts or to improve their judgements by oversight and advice. But an extremely
important role of the final court lies in interacting and interfacing with judges of the lower courts and with improving the processes involved in the administration of justice. The JC of the Privy Council is unable to fill that role not only because of its distance, but because it has no financial means to do so. It would have to ask an already financially strained British government to provide money for such education and training on a continuous basis. There is no earthly reason why British taxpayers would have any interest in seeing their money so diverted from their own needs. Staying with the JC of the Privy Council, therefore, consigns the eight CARICOM countries to a judicial construct that is woefully inadequate. For, if local courts are underperforming in the delivery of justice, they will not improve, nor will they sharpen their act, unless they are overseen by a higher court. In Britain, the United States and elsewhere, judges of final courts are invariably involved in the judicial training academies of their respective countries. The JC of the Privy Council cannot perform this role for the Caribbean. But, the CCJ routinely performs it through its Academy of Law and the Caribbean Association of Judicial Officers.
Both of these bodies play a huge role in training judges in the jurisdictions for which the CCJ is the final court and, thereby, enhance the Sir Ronald Sanders efficiency and effectiveness of the administration of justice in sensitivity of its members to what is necessary and what is the lower courts. possible.” He suggested that In Guyana, for example, such a final court must be over the last 10 years, the aware of the society — have CCJ has led the way in the necessary knowledge, introducing new civil procedural rules; in training legitimacy and sensitivity to judges, lawyers and court the politics. Since 2005, the CCJ has staff in the new rules; and in proved Lord Hoffman right. creating a modern landscape It has been manned by for the improved leading Caribbean judges of administration of justice. By contrast the JC of the high international repute. Privy Council plays no role Their judgements have been whatsoever in improving praised and cited by the justice delivery in any of the highest courts of other lands. eight CARICOM countries What is more the CCJ has given Caribbean people of that hold on to its coat tails. lesser means unprecedented Significantly, the justices access to appeals. of the Privy Council in The quality of a final Britain are themselves very court cannot be determined aware of the inadequacy that by its distance from a distance and unfamiliarity jurisdiction, nor can it be with the Caribbean place judged by the colour of its upon them. Lord Hoffman What made telling statements j u d g e s ’ s k i n . about this on his first visit to determines the quality of a Trinidad even though he had court is its independence, its been a judge of the JC of the accessibility, the high standards of its judgements, Privy Council for nine years. and its capacity to help local He admitted that: courts deliver justice, fairly “Members of the PC are and rightly. being handicapped because T h e C C J h a s they are not from this demonstrated its high community”. And, he added: quality; it is that high quality “The liberty of a final court by which it should be judged. of appeal to fashion as a third Responses and previous branch of Government depends not only on its c o m m e n t a r i e s : legitimacy but upon the www.sirronaldsanders.com
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ImmigrationINFO Immigration News For Our Community
Understanding Visa Availability and Priority Dates By Attorney Gail S. Seeram Many of my clients often ask why the wait is so long for the issuance of visas. The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) sets the number of immigrant visas that may be issued to individuals seeking permanent resident status (a green card) each year. The U.S. Department of State is the agency that distributes visa numbers. Family sponsored preference categories are limited to 226,000 per year and employment based preference visa are limited to 140,000 per year. In addition, there are limits to the percentage of visas that can be allotted to each country. Immigrant visas available to “immediate relatives” of U.S. citizens are unlimited, so are always available. Immediate relatives include, parents of a U.S. citizen, spouses of a U.S. citizen and, unmar-
ried children under the age of 21 of a U.S. citizen. Immigrant visa numbers for individuals in a “preference category” are limited, so are not always available. Because the demand is higher than the supply of visas for a given year for some categories, a visa queue (waiting list) forms. To distribute the visas among all preference categories, the Department of State gives out the visas by providing visa numbers according to the preference category and one’s priority date. The priority date is used to determine an individual’s place in line in the visa queue. When the priority date becomes current, the individual will be eligible to apply for an immigrant visa. Your priority date can be found on the petition filed for you. The length of time you must wait in line before receiv-
ing an immigrant visa or adjusting status depends on: (1) the demand for and supply of immigrant visa numbers, (2) the per country visa limitations, and (3) the number of visas allocated for your particular preference category. Priority Dates for Family Sponsored Preference Cases: For family sponsored immigration, the priority date is the date that the petition is properly filed with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). A properly filed petition contains the required signature(s), filing fee, and any supporting documentation required at the time of filing.
Priority Dates for Employment Based Preference Cases: The priority date for an immigrant petition that is based on employment is either the date the petition was properly filed with USCIS or the date the labor certification application was accepted for processing by the Department of Labor (when a labor certification is required). When Visa Numbers Are Not Available: If the demand is more than supply for a particular visa category or foreign state, and cannot be satisfied within the allowable limits, the Visa Office considers the preference visa category or foreign state
“oversubscribed” and must impose a cut-off date. In this instance, only overseas and adjustment applicants who have a priority date earlier than the date listed in the Visa Bulletin may be given an immigrant visa number. A visa is available to an individual, therefore, if his/her priority date is earlier than the date listed for that visa category and country.
For more information, contact Gail Law Firm: Email: Gail@GailLaw.com Phone: 1-877-GAIL-LAW or 407-292-7730 www . My Orlando Immigration Lawyer . com FREE office or phone consultation – FREE Live Chat Copyright © Law Offices of Gail S. Seeram, 2017. All Rights Reserved.
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A comprehensive critique ... (From page 23) considered as white because of their indenture background. But Heath’s fiction focuses on yet another small group of mixed African and White ethnicity who, like himself, are known as “coloured.” After inevitable ethnic and cultural mixing during colonialism an important issue arises about the notion of family in Guyana. As Gafoor writes: “The [coloured] Armstrong Trilogy is about the Armstrong family, but there is no family, and all evidence points to the illogic of its unity.” Neither is there any settled sense of community as we see from the title of Chapter Three “From the Heat of the Day: In Search of Community.” Independence brought little change to deep-seated psychological and cultural problems that stifled the natural growth of family, community or nationhood: Guyanese society was too intricately compromised by centuries of ethnic mixing and colonial rule, as suggested by Guyanese historian Elsa Goveia who claims that colonialism had imposed: “a stable and predictable order” on Guyana, but dismantling that order, “left the individual and the society in a void, trapped in postures and mental attitudes that indicate a malignant and crippling interiorization of the old order.” In an opening paragraph of A Man Come Home, Egbert Foster a fiftyyear-old artisan living in a modest cottage slightly better than the tenements and range yards of fellow workers, is ironically depicted raising the new Guyana flag on Independence Day, 26th May, 1966, with his dog “sitting under the flag and scratching itself languidly.” As Gafoor writes, one character in A Man Come Home leaves school at the age of 12, “to deliver bread on a carrier bicycle” and another, “to devote his time to a life of sloth” and as they grow
older, “gravitate to the vicarious pleasure of rum and sex [and] the fantasy of tall tales of bravado and boasting of imaginary travels to foreign lands.” Gafoor further writes: “Foster is an emasculated colonial whose aspirations are undercut by his own deformed will.” Social confusion and struggle over poverty create loss of community and trickster figures like Fingers who are “metaphors of the degradation endemic in postcolonial societies.” Most of all though, it is in The Murderer where Galton Flood is overcome by psychosis to murder his wife Gemma and throw her body in the Demerara river that we see the most deadly effect of the failure of freed Guyanese to transcend malign, psychological effects of decolonization. The influence of Galton’s fundamentalist Christian upbringing and the domineering influence of his mother are crippling, and as Gafoor once again argues, he struggles for new freedom and identity in a society “whose collective psychic failure is rooted in the conventional morality of the mother country.“ In Gafoor’s view, novels “like A Man Come Home and The Murderer question the existential possibilities of people mired in centuries of crippling cliched relationships that have misshaped the psyche, [and Galton comes to] a grim interpretation of society that argues that the colonial order is deeply embedded and necessitates brutal solutions before independence can acquire meaning and offer viable paradigms of selfhood.” Murder may not be a brutal enough solution to postcolonial problems in The Murderer but it illustrates the postcolonial dilemma of Guyanese. Ameena Gafoor, Aftermath of Empire: The Novels of Roy A. K. Heath., UWI Press, Mona, Jamaica (2017).
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The Story
Within The
STORY… By Leonard Gildarie o once again, we are back with the police in the spotlight. And once again, it is not good news.
S
Sunday September 16, 2018
A lawyer, a video and a bribe
There is a new Commissioner of Police, Leslie James, and the little interactions that I have had with him, have left some lasting impressions- he is a no-nonsense man.
I believe that he has been given a police force that is at the crossroads. There have been strides in recent years concerning the force. There is more training and a number of
high profile cases are being cracked. But there is an uphill task ahead that no one has been able to tackle- trust in our force. We have not found the answers, yet.I read yesterday in Kaieteur News of the arrest of a schoolboy for the murder of an East Coast Demerara pensioner. The man was found in his yard, bludgeoned to death. While no charges have been laid yet, and one is innocent until proven guilty, it appears that the sleuths have gotten their man, or boy in this case. It would have been diligent police work. Intelligence-driven, perhaps? We have written about this before and I have been called by a number of persons in authority who disagree that there are any perceptible shifts in the performance of the police. I stuck to my guns. On Thursday evening, a young police rank posted a video of what seems to be a traffic stop on the East Coast of Demerara. The stop happened on a stretch of road that I am sure had no police station. The police rank appeared to be alone.The car he stopped was a BMW sedan, PNN series. There were two occupants. On the video, the occupant identified himself as Ryan Crawford. It was the first time that I heard of him. The almost four minute video, filled with expletives, revealed that the rank pulled the car over and when asked by Crawford, who identified himself as a lawyer, said that he could not see the driver. Crawford, however, dismissed that reason, saying that could not be the reason as he was behind two trucks and therefore that issue could not have arisen. During the video, apparently made by the police rank, the lawyer was highly upset, refusing to hand over his documents. He wanted to know the reason why the rank stopped him. He also refused to wind up his window for the rank to “check” the tint level. The video was filled with expletives from the lawyer who stressed that the rank must explain his reason for the stop as he did nothing wrong that would warrant the stop. The rank made no headway and the lawyer drove away. The rank posted the video, expletives and all, on
his Facebook page. There are several things that are wrong about this picture. I am not sure what the police’s standing orders say, but I am sure that lone ranks on a lonely roadway are not being encouraged to stop a car asking for documents. It is standard operating procedures that ranks have backups. According to the police’s Public Relations Officer, Jairam Ramlackhan, all police have the right to stop, search and detain. But there must be reasonable suspicion and probable cause- two important elements. The rank did say he could not “observe” the driver.Assuming he could not, I submit humbly that we need some training. All ranks should be familiar with the relevant sections of the law. It is not hard. If every day you are stopping folks for something or the other, you have to know what you are charging them with. It is like working at a newspaper. You have to read it and be familiar with current affairs. The police are looking to take a statement from the lawyer, with a view of asking for legal advice for possible charges. H o w e v e r, t h e n e w commissioner would be all too familiar with the anger of the popular and distrust that grew over the years. It is a fact there are many decent policemen and women in the force. Again, I say also that there are quite a few rotten ones. They need to be weeded out. Many of them own vehicles that are heavily tinted. Many of them own minibuses and taxis on the road.Nothing is wrong with the latter, unless these tinted vehicles are being used for work purposes. The Ministry of Public Security has committed to reviewing this complaint of the ridiculous tints on the vehicles of police ranks. A few of the tints are even on the windscreen. There were two deadly accidents involving police officers in the past month…did the tints play a role, in addition to alcohol? Many of the minibuses are not being stopped and it is frightening to see what they are doing on the roads. They operate above the law, Mr. Commissioner.It is also common knowledge that some ranks are happy to be posted to the traffic section.
Leonard Gildarie It is where monies are being made. There are daily targets to be met and everybody is involved in shakedowns, which is tantamount to mafias operating in the force. The incident that occurred on Thursday and t h e b e h a v i o u r o f M r. Crawford is by no way an acceptable one. There are certain codes that all professionals should abide by. Knowing the rank was videoing the stop have compounded Mr. Crawford’s woes.However, credit must be given to a light-hearted apology, sort of, that the lawyer posted on his Facebook page yesterday. Wondering if BMW should pay him for the advertisement, the lawyer said that his son is upset over the expletives on the videos “and I will accept I was wrong for the choice of words”. He signed off as Ryan F. Crawford. Not sure if that is deliberate. But it is a start Mr. Crawford. We all have our responsibilities.Concerning the police force, the new Commissioner has to make the policies regarding stop and search and asking for documents. It is becoming intolerable. The police in January 2016, had issued a statement saying that “traffic ranks are not authorised to stop motorists for routine checks of documents. They should only do so if an offence is committed in their view or where there is reasonable suspicion.”The Police Force also said that “its policy is that police ranks in plain clothes and in unmarked vehicles are not authorised to stop motorists except when they are performing duties on the roadway in front of a Police Station.”We have a beautiful country. The country can only improve if there are laws that must be adhered to. There are rules of engagement. We cannot have our citizens disrespecting our police; we also cannot condone our police harassing our people. If the job does not pay, leave. It is simple. It is time we start building the trust in our police force.
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Sunday September 16, 2018
STANDARDS IN FOCUS We are already in the middle of September, Amerindian Heritage Month. This month is set aside to showcase the contributions of our Amerindian People. It is most appropriate to feature one of the standards that relates to a product manufactured primarily by the Amerindian Community. This national standard is the Specification for indigenous furniture (bamboo, rattan, wicker and nibbi); a standard which can be used to fortify the consistent manufacture of these kinds of indigenous furniture. Our indigenous people are well known for their fine arts and crafting abilities, which have allowed them to produce classy and unique pieces of furniture from plant materials in their surroundings. Locally, and even in many other parts of the world, these pieces of furniture are in high demand and are well priced, especially when they are produced according to recognised standards. The Specification for indigenous furniture is a CARICOM Standard, which was adopted by the Guyana
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MAKING INDIGENOUS FURNITURE THAT MEETS THE STANDARD National Bureau of Standards (GNBS). The standard was developed to benefit manufacturers by the harmonization of requirements for the manufacture of various types of furniture, suitable for both domestic and commercial use. The standard covers material requirements, which are selected for rattan, wicker and nibbi furniture and these shall be characterized by lightness, flexibility, durability and smoothness with no hairlike strands hanging from them. Based on the standard, indigenous furniture shall be constructed with good workmanship components, which shall be of quality and uniformity; and the furniture shall remain stable in an upright position when empty. In relation to the finish of indigenous furniture, the standard requires that all surfaces be sanded smooth and all exposed edges and corners eased to avoid injuries during use. Furniture shall be covered with materials such lacquer, wax, oil and polyester. This significantly enhances the appearance of the various pieces. Like all other manufactured products, labelling of indigenous furniture is also necessary.
Prominent labels shall be securely affixed to furniture and shall include information such as common name or types of furniture, manufacturer code or mark, country of origin and types of materials used in the manufacture.
Finally, as it relates to the
specifications of the standard, requirements for sampling and performance testing are outlined. These are necessary requirements for the monitoring of the product and for determining the durability and strength of pieces produced.
The GNBS encourages all manufacturers of indigenous furniture, including those from our Amerindian communities to implement the standard requirements in their manufacturing processes, especially if furniture is for commerce. The standard is
available at the GNBS and following its requirements can guarantee the production of quality indigenous furniture. For further information, please contact the GNBS on Tel: 219-0066 or visit our website: www.gnbsgy.org
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(1) Honda CRV Year:2014 Colour: Black, Excellent condition, Black leather interior, woman driven. Price Negotiable Contact#6690081
Installations, Repairs and parts for AC, Fridge, Washing machine, Stove etc call Nick 627-3206, 630-1600
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September Cosmetology Courses $40,000 Nail Technology $25,000 Advance Make-up $15,000, All products provided. Abby #614-6749
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Waiter/Waitress- Cook, preferably carnegie trained. Call: 225-7933, or visit 173 Sheriff Street.
Looking for a job & educational services? Contact The Job Centre 43 Croal & Alexander Street or call 600-8457
1 Supermarket for rent. Located at 76 first avenue Bartica. Contact# 664-4663
Nissan X-Trail. PNN 2515 $2.3 Negotiable. Call: 683-1019
Personal tutor for your children. Grade 2,4,6 Form 15 CXC Maths/Physic/ Chemistry/Biology. #6905008
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N. Outar Driving School. Learn to Drive the right way. Affordable package. Call: 644-5166/691-2561 PEN PAL Male seeks female penpal from cultural & social diversed background. Tel# 695-8569
2 story property, Barr St Kitty, perfect for business. Contact Ray’s Realty #627-9685 2 story property, Durban St, Wortmanville Georgetown, good for residential or business. Contact Ray’s Realty #627-9685
Carpenters, Masons. Apply @ R Sookraj & Sons.108 Regent Street Georgetown Desirable 2 story home Nandy (OPP GBTI) Park East Bank Demerara. Vacancy for 1 general Contact Ray’s Realty 627-9685 domestic. Must be able to cook vegetarian meal. Call 623- Bushlot WCB - 2 Story wooden building on corner 1615 lot, close to public road. Vacancy for persons to Asking $8M GYD. RLTY assemble & service bicycles. PROS 650-1234 Apply at Alabama Trading 65 Robb Street, Bourda 1 Experienced welder/ fabricator preferably from Sheriff Street to Mon Repos. Contact# 222-3844 Vegetarian Gardens: Driver/ Saleman. 227-7714/2233448info@vgiworld.com Driver/Salesman Valid van/ bus/lorry license. Contact# 608-3839/231-6256 Vacancy exist for 2 nail technician at Natural Beauty Salon & Spa- Please contact Ms. Rasharie #652-5800 Vacancy for assistant manager & shop manager at Wencai Trading. Phone 6179513 1 Shop attendant. Call#6183575 Road technicians to work at Atlantic Wireless Network to install internet antennas. Call #227-2001 or email CV to jobs@awngy.com
LAND FOR SALE Prime land to build that dream home. Not far from Princess, New Thriving, Massy, HJ water world $13M neg- Call: 669-8397 Prime business spot for sale, located behind Mon Repos Market. For more information, Tel#609-0827/ 615-7084 5 acres of Vacant Transported land @ Brahn, West Coast Berbice. $10M Negotiable. Call: 601-5739/ 718-444-1944/917-628-9492 Prime houselots on the East Bank. Parfaite Harmonie $1.5M. Uitvlugt $2.8M. Eccles $6M. Tel#648-1635 TAXI SERVICE GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 225-7878 (24HRS) ADOPTION FOR PET LOVERSALWAYS HAVE KITTENS FOR ADOPTION. TEL#2202156 (Continued on page 69)
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CONSUMER CONCERNS
AMERINDIAN HERITAGE AND AMERINDIAN LANGUAGES BY PAT DIAL We have commenced Amerindian Heritage Month which is commemorated in September each year. The Month was appropriately kicked off with a service of the Halleluja Religion which is an indigenous Christian-inspired Faith. The heritage of ethnic communities is largely concerned with cultural, historical and societal matters in their broadest sense and not with economic and social requirements of that particular community. For example, to speak of the State creating roads or water supplies or electricity or educational institutions or village government and attempting to link these things with Amerindian Heritage Month misses its focus. The State is obligated to provide these public works and social amenities to all communities and the country as a whole and is involved in doing those things every month of the year. Amerindian Heritage Month and its activities are national events, which all ethnic groups are expected to respect and in which to even participate. Politics in Guyana is a divisive thing and as such, we should avoid it touching Amerindian Heritage Month since it will diminish the meaning and impact of it. There are numerous aspects of our Amerindian Heritage, which need to be explained and exposed to the wider community. They range from many simple things, which non-Amerindians take for granted such as the Presidential emblem with the large macaw feathers. It would be an enlightening exercise to explain the use of feathers in the Amerindian Tradition, their colour, length, how they are placed in relation to each other and so on. There are many other more important areas of the Amerindian Heritage, which need to be explored and researched. One of the most important From page 68
DRESSMAKING Classes in Designing and Sewing, also professional sewing service. Uniforms and more. Call: 676-6312 FOR SALE/RENT Central Hotel building @ South Road. Prime location, ideal for business with chairs, tables & birdcages. Tel: 662-9755, 686-0444
areas is the Amerindian languages. Although some philological work has been done on the Guanani language of Paraguay and the Quecha language of Bolivia, both of which are widely spoken languages, no philological work has ever been undertaken on the seven Amerindian languages of Guyana, some of which are spoken in the neighbouring
countries. The University of Guyana, for many years, has had an Amerindian Research Department, which was headed by Dr. Desrey Fox who was an Amerindian and whose mother-tongue was an Amerindian language. The Department was always underfunded and little or no philological work was done. It was recently reported in
the press that the Child Care and Protection Agency (CC&PA) would be issuing some notices in four Amerindian languages. This was a very welcome initiative for it gives the Amerindian languages some official recognition and communicates with Amerindian language speakers. In the past, because a large part of the
population were Hindi/Urdu speakers, the Law Courts always had Hindi interpreters available. And ballot papers used at national elections until the 1950’s had their basic instructions in Hindi as well as in English. Despite this and the fact that Hindi/Urdu is still used in the mandirs and masjids and is the language of Bollywood films and Indian
TV Soaps, it fell out of spoken usage. Our Amerindian languages, in contrast, have far less of a survival potential than Hindi/Urdu and are in imminent danger of being eliminated by English. Quick action is therefore necessary to save and sustain the Amerindian languages and preserve one important (continued on page 71)
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Sunday September 16, 2018
Trinidadian Soca artiste re-enacts...
From left: The registrar, Magistrate Faith McGusty taking notes (in brown), court orderly, court prosecutor and Attorney-at-law Eusi Anderson From page 14 the driver. The men told the Magistrate that soon after, the defendant came out brandishing a gun at them. Soon after he shouted to LeBlanc, “You think is Trinidad you deh?� while allegedly stabbing him to the face with a bottle. LeBlanc was then rushed to the hospital where he underwent immediate correction surgery on his face; he received 15 stitches.
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AMERINDIAN HERITAGE... From page 69 aspect of the cultural heritage of not only the Amerindian community but of all Guyana. A number of activities could be taken by the State, the Educational Authorities, NGO’s which are involved in Amerindian affairs, the churches and the Amerindian community itself to preserve these languages. In the first place, some economic benefit should be accorded the use of the language. One such could be that Government employees who work in Amerindian areas should be given extra allowances if they could speak and understand Amerindian languages. Also advertisements for small contracts or for certain jobs could be carried in the Amerindian languages. The widest spoken Amerindian language should be chosen as the lingua franca and taught in the schools though the smaller
languages should be encouraged as “home languages”. In time, prizes could be given for literary attempts in the language. Word spellings should be agreed upon and dictionaries should be produced both for the language itself and with Amerindian words in English. These actions will standardize the language and make it more accessible. The basic language could fairly quickly be introduced in the elementary classes of the schools in the Amerindian areas. Since there would be initially a shortage of teachers, they could be shared. Lastly, help could be sought through UNESCO and from the relevant academic institutions in the USA, Britain and France. Amerindian Heritage Month 2018 could be a watershed if the language programme could be substantively considered.
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Matthews hoping for impact on home debut Bridgetown, Barbados, CMC – All-rounder Hayley Matthews is hoping to make a memorable impact in her first international before her home crowd, when West Indies take on South Africa in the opening one-dayer of the threematch series here today. The 20-year-old is very familiar with Kensington Oval – a venue where she grew up watching her father Michael Matthews play at the storied Pickwick Cricket Club – and hopes she can put on a good performance in front of her family and friends. ”It’s great to be here … I actually grew up watching cricket here and playing here, so it’s a wonderful feeling to play my first match here in West Indies colours,” Matthews told members of the media on Friday. ”It should be a wonderful occasion – playing with my family and friends in the crowd – and seeing the
faces of so many people I know. It’s special to play in front your home crowd and it would be good to get a big crowd to come and see us start the series against South Africa.” She added: “It’s no added pressure, it’s a matter of using the occasion as motivation to do something extra special in front of home fans. They’re a few of us from here in Barbados in the team for this series, so we all use it as motivation.” Matthews made her international debut back in September, 2014 and has so far played 36 ODIs and 29 T20s. Her finest hour came in the 2016 ICC Women’s World T20 in India when she took the Player-of-theMatch award in the final against Australia. A classy right-hander, Matthews has scored four ODI half-centuries and taken 35 wickets with her steady off-spin, and is eyeing success in both de-
Hayley Matthews partments over the next week. ”As an all-rounder I will be looking to perform with bat and ball. I would like to get a hundred, or maybe even two or three in front of the home crowd. With the ball I would like to just contribute and keep things tight,” Matthews noted. The ODI Series will form part of the ICC Women’s Championship which is the basis of qualification for the 2021 ICC Women’s World Cup in New Zealand. West Indies have had
Sunday September 16, 2018 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You might find the mood of today a bit too somber for your liking, Aries. Why is everyone so serious? TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Yes, you may have another cookie, Taurus. Enjoy it and don't feel guilty. Guilt is useless. Today, get rid of regret. Express your emotions but don't dwell on them. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You might just want to stay on the couch today, Gemini. That's fine. Don't get up if you don't want to. You're probably better off sticking close to home and enjoying a good movie tonight. CANCER (June 21–July 22) Finally, the world is starting to see it your way, Cancer. Be yourself and don't be squeamish about telling people exactly how it is. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Give people the benefit of the doubt. Don't be so hasty in your actions, and take the time to think things through. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Put your businesslike nature aside for the day and focus on your feelings. You may be a bit protective of your emotions, but you should not lose control
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Call or write a letter to a friend today, Libra. Your brain may feel like it's stuck in a rut, which is probably best remedied by sharing these feelings with others. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Things flow well for you today, so bask in any sunshine that this day offers. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Other people's indecisiveness could leave you feeling frustrated and stuck today, Sagittarius. Realize that you can overcome this by pushing past them. CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) It may be much easier than usual to express your emotions to someone today. If there has been something on your mind for a while, now is the time to say it. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Does it feel like someone's raining on your parade today, Aquarius? No surprise there. You may feel like you're stuck in a bog, so wear your galoshes and give it your best shot. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Your intuition is extra keen today, and your mental aim is on target. Other people may sink into the swamp.
mixed results so far and lie sixth on six points while South Africa are seventh in the eight-team standings on four points. Both teams will use the five-match Twenty20 series which follows immediately after the one-dayers, as a warm-up to the Women’s T20 World Cup from November 9-24 in Guyana, St Lucia and Antigua. M a t t h e w s s a i d We s t Indies entered the series with the edge but would need to play consistently in order to emerge on top. ”South Africa is a very good team. Last time we played them in South Africa we were able to get a 2-1 victory so we’re hoping now that we’re playing on home soil – we know the pitches here better than anyone else. Hopefully we can get a 3-0 victory in the ODI series and go up in the Championship,” she pointed out. She continued: “Biggest challenge is being consistent and being able to go out there and execute each and every game.”
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From page 75 and proudly announced that Berbice cricket was on a roll. He hailed the support that he has received from every club and cricket official. Rose Hall Town Pepsi collected $100 000 and trophy while Blairmont carried home $50,000 and a trophy. Kevin Sinclair was named Man-of-the-Final and he also collected trophies as the Best Batsman and Bowler of the final. Other Awards shared out were Best Batsman of the Tournament (Kevlon Anderson), Best Bowler (Nigel Deodat), Best WicketKeeper (Antonio February) and Best Allrounder, Kevin Sinclair.
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The New York Business Group also donated a $520,000 Grass mower to the Albion Community Centre Cricket Club. FITVILLVE CARIBBEAN CHAMPIONSHIP – ARUBA 2018...DILLON MAHADEO (GUYANA) & MATHEUS OTHERO (T&T) WIN RX CLASS The Guyana/Trinidad & Tobago combo of Dillon Mahadeo and Matheus Othero under the name, Crab and dumpling proved an unbeatable duo when they stormed to victory in The RX Division at the Fitville Caribbean Championship held at the Aruba
Harbour Arena, Aruba over the weekend. The 3 day, Functional Fitness Competition was held in collaboration with Challenge Aruba and Muscles and Lungs Crossfit. Taking the second place was Team Chasing Excellence with Black Panthers coming in third.The annual 3-day Fitness Festival comprised of the best functional fitness competition the Caribbean has to offer. Mahadeo, Guyana’s #1 crossfit athklete and his Trinidadian counterpart who is also the best in the Twin Island Republic proved fitter than seven other teams following the conclusion of the 9 events that they had to
compete in, over three days. The 7th event on day three was a triathlon (700m swim, 14k cycle race, 4.4k run on sand). Each male and female team comprised of two persons. Other results: Men Intermediate - 1st Team Surinami 2nd, New Kids on the Block, 3rd FitKings. Women Intermediate 1st Team Peanut and Almond Butter, 2nd Her – Ricanes, 3rd Booty & The Beast. Men Scaled - 1st Prospects, 2nd Barflies, 3rd Barefoot. Women Scaled - 1st Freaky Vipers, 2nd Chaotix, 3rd Buns And Guns. BCB/MAGIC MOMENTS T20...NO. 48 CHALLENGERS CRUSHES SKELDON SUPER KINGS TO LIFT UPPER CORENTYNE TITLE The first of four Zone finals in the historic Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) organised Sueria Manufacturing Magic Moments T20 Tournament was hosted at the No. 72 Cut and Load Cricket Ground. No. 48 Challengers defeated Skeldon Super Kings by 75 runs to lay their hands on the first Zone title. A total of 28 teams started the tournament which was for teams in the Upper Corentyne. In the final, No. 48 Challengers blasted their way to 187-6 off their allotted 20 overs; Balram Persaud struck 43 not out, Terrence Budhoo 39 and Balram Samaroo 38. Junior Blair took 319 for Skeldon Super Kings which in response was bowled out for 112 in 15.3 overs. Zakeel Gordon fought a lonely battle with 30, Totaram Persaud bowled a tight spell with his left arm spin to claim 4-11. Special thanks was expressed to Mr. Frank Sanichara, CEO of Sueria Manufacturing for his sponsorship and also to the
Sunday September 16, 2018
Management of the No. 72 Cut and Load Cricket Ground for hosting the final. The Winner, Runner-up and Man-of-the-Final received financial incentives and trophies. NATALIE NEDD SECURES FOOTBALL SCHOLARSHIP The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) along with The International Supporters Group (ISG) announced the first female football player in Guyana’s history to be signed to a scholarship at an American University. Ms. Natalie Need, Goalkeeper for the Senior Women’s Football team, commonly known as the “Lady Jaguars”, started school at Graceland University on August 27. Nedd was recruited by the school as part of a programme established by the GFF and ISG to identify and promote national team players for scholarship opportunities in the US and Canada. In an invited comment GFF President Wayne Forde said providing development opportunities for footballers to pursue education and football ambitions is part of the mandate of the Executive Committee. ”My constitutional mandate is to develop football but my moral calling is to create an environment where the beautiful game can enrich the lives of every man, woman, and child. That is the full measure of my service to the football community. The Executive Committee is determined to create scholarship opportunities across the world that will give our players access to world class education along with solid professional football development experiences, my best wishes and prayers go out to Natalie, make us proud.” ”This is a very important first
for the women’s programme and Natalie is a great representative for the programme, we will be following her progress closely,” said Technical Director Ian Greenwood. For his part, Paul Beresford, GFF’s International Team Coordinator, who went to Iowa for Natalie’s signing ceremony and first college match said this is a start of a long-term process to achieve development within Guyana. Head Coach of the “Lady Jaguars” Dr. Ivan Joseph said having players consistently training and playing is a key strategic element of the national programme: “A strategic priority of the GFF Women’s National Team is for all our players to play and train year-round. We are proud of Natalie for pursuing her dream and her commitment to getting better every day.” Meanwhile, Head Coach of Graceland University which recruited and signed Nedd to her four year scholarship and was instrumental in working through the challenges she faced during the college application process, expressed his thoughts on Natalie’s arrival: ”We at Graceland University are excited and proud to partner with the Guyana Football Federation and the International Supporters Group to provide a pathway for Guyanese student/ athletes to receive a quality education and a fantastic football experience in the USA. Natalie Need is the first recipient and she is a fine choice. Natalie ticks all of the boxes we are looking for. She is a quality person with great habits and work ethic. I have no doubt that Natalie will succeed in the classroom and on the pitch. I am grateful for the work that Paul Beresford and the Guyana Football Federation is doing to make this opportunity possible.”
Guyana Amazon Warriors aim for first title; clash with Trinbago Knight Riders in today’s final Since the birth of the Hero Caribbean Premier League, Guyana Amazon Warriors have reached the final on four occasions and while they are yet to win the title, their opponents in today’s final, the Trinbago Knight Riders will be looking to become the first team to win back to back titles. The Amazon Warriors have secured their place in the final following their eightwicket win against the Knight Riders in the first playoff game at Providence while the Knight Riders defeated St.
Kitts and Nevis Patriots in the semi final on Friday night at the Brian Lara Stadium, the venue for today’s final. The finalists have met thrice so far in this year’s tournament with the Warriors winning twice; both on home soil and their skipper Chris Green had said that he wanted to reward their fans with a win today. Shimron Hetmyer, Sherfane Rutherford and Romario Shepherd have the ability to change a game; Hetmyer is among the leading
run scorers in the tournament and both he and Rutherford have gained the attention of the cricketing public with their fearless batting. Imran Tahir and Sohail Tanvir have done well with the ball and along with Green form a potent bowling attack. However the player to watch in today’s duel may be Chadwick Walton; he can be dangerous as he has proven in previous tournaments. Dwayne Bravo has done a fine job at the helm of the Knight Riders who will have home support. Darren Bravo, Colin Ingram and Brendon McCullum have done well at the top of the order while Sunil Narine, Fawad Ahmed and Ali Khan shape a forceful bowling attack. Game time is 17:00 hours
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We take a look back at the key events that took place and made the news in the local sporting arena over the past week PETTERSON-GRIFFITH, NATOYA ROBINSON ARE OVERALLWINNERS AT GAPF RAW NATIONALS Carlos Petterson-Griffith and Natoya Robinson emerged as the Overall male and female winners respectively when the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPF) held its Raw National championships yesterday at St. Stanislaus College. Petterson, who only recently took gold at the IPF/ NAPF Regional Championships in Mexico, displayed immense strength and concentration. He squatted 305kg and Benchpressed 160kg en-route to claiming the male overall crown with 509.490 Wilks points; Petterson set a new national record in the deadlift, lifting 345kg. His total of 810kg was also a national record in his category. Robinson was also in record breaking mode; she now has all four national records for the 84+kg Division. She Squatted 165.5kg, Benchpressed 92.5kg and Dead Lift 195.5kg for a Total of 453.5kg; Robertson tallied 355.816 Wilks points to take the best female overall title. Also setting new national records were Lisa Oudit (84kg Open); Natoya Robinson (84+kg Open); Noel Cummings (66kg); Romario Gonsalves (66kg); Ramzan Mohamed (120kg); Vijai Rahim (66kg Open) and Hardat Tarson (83kg open). Oudit carted off the 84kg weight class scoring 321.488 Wilks points. She had a Total of 334.5 kg made up of a Best Squat of 122.5 kg; Bnch Press of 61.5 kg and Deadlifted 150.5 kg-both being new national records. Susan Rodrigues won the 63kg division with a best Squat of 75kg, best Bench Press of 40kg and best Deadlift of 97.5 kg; a Total of 212.5kg. She chalked up 235. 578 Wilks points. Blossom Babb triumphed in the 72 kg weight class; her best squat was 107.5 kg, bench press 60kg and deadlifted142.5kg for a total of 310kg to earn 314.991 Wilks points. Noel Cummings claimed the Master 4 category (66kg class) after picking up 312.819 Wilks points. He had a best squat of 130kg, bench press of 92.5 kg and a dead lift of 167.5 kg; a total of 390 kg. His squat and bench press are new records. Joseph Stoll won the Master 2 segment (105kg class) with a best squat of 175kh, bench pressed 95kg and deadlifted 195kg for a to-
tal of 465kg. Bishen Sasenarine of GAPLF took the top podium spot in the 93kg class; his best squat was 150kg, bench pressed 87.5 kg and dead lifted 187.5 kg; totaling 425 kg which earned him 280.628 Wilks points. Romario Gonsalves took first place in the 66kg weight class; his best squat was 215kg, bench press 107.5kg and dead lift 245kg; a total of 567.5kg and 477.665 Wilks points. Gonsalves Squat and Deadlift are new junior records. Ramzan Mohamed and Navindra Tamasar won the 120kg and 59kg weight class respectively. Mohamed squatted 192.5kg, bench pressed 120 kg and dead lifted 190 kg; his entire feat are all new records. Tamasar best squat was 152.5 kg, bench pressed 92.5 kg and dead lifted 197.5. Rahim lifted a total of 635kg including a best squat of 220kg, best bench press of 127.5kg and most outstanding dead lift was 287.5 kg; he earned a total of 504.698 Wilks points. Gonsalves with a total lift of 477.665kg and Bagla 377.786 placed second and third respectively. Rahim Squat and Deadlift are new national records. Greg Stevens claimed the 105kg class with a total of 512.5 kg; his finest squat was 175kg, bench pressed 110 kg and dead lifted 227.5 kg. Joseph Stoll was second in this category with a total lift of 465kg. REGAL MASTERS CLAIM ANOTHER SOFTBALL TITLE; MOM ARJUNE SHINES WITH BAT & BALL Played at the Everest ground in steaming hot conditions, the final of the Ink Plus, Crown Mining Supplies and Elegance Jewellery & Pawn Shop T20 Masters softball cricket final was dominated by Regal Masters as they whipped RR Masters by 27 runs. Former Guyana FirstClass player David Harper fashioned a well calculated 48 (5x4 1x6) and shared in a 76run partnership with man-ofthe-match Mahendra Arjune who hit a responsible 41 (3x4) to see Regal to 134-7 but only Erick Thomas, who hit a cameo 12 (1x4 1x6) reached double figures. Raymond Harper took 326 and Dharam Persaud supported with 2-23 for RR which was bowled out for 108 with Arjune who returned with the ball to take 3-5 in his only over in which four wickets tumbled
for one run. Khemchan Dindyal counter attacked with a pugnacious 54 (5x4 1x6) before he was forced to retire hurt and added 58 with the left-handed Suri Kumar, who struggled to get the ball off the square in his sedate 17 which included 22 dot balls. RR asked Regal to bat on hard pitch and sluggish outfield and Troy Kippins (8) and Eon Abel (1) were quickly removed by Dharam Persaud while Raymond Harper disturbed the wicket of Mahase Chunilall (8) to leave the powerful Regal Masters on the ropes at 18-3. Harper and Arjune joined forces and played cautiously and with very good running between the wickets eased their team out of trouble before Arjune fell to Rudolph Mayers at 94-4. The first six of the match was struck by Harper and it brought up the 100 in the 17th over, Thomas hit the second six in the next over before both batsmen were removed by Raymond Harper as they put their foot on the gas. When RR began their run chase needing to score at 6.75 per over for an upset win they lost Richard Persaud (7) and Ron Ramnauth (2) to leave the score on 25-2 and recovered briefly when Dindyal and Kumar were together although Kumar batted too slowly with the required rate mounting. Dindyal kept hopes alive by launching into Parasaram ‘Bimbly’ Persaud and ripped him apart by taking 20 from the over before he retired. When Arjune dismissed Kumar at 83-3 it triggered a dramatic collapse which saw five wickets tumbling for six runs. WORLD MASTERS ATHLETICS – MALAGA, SPAIN...FORTUNE BLAZES TO 200M GOLD AND 100M SILVER Forty-three year old Guyanese female athlete extraordinaire, Alisha Fortune who is also known for her exploits on the body building stage has continued to show her class as a competitor on the track. Competing in the Women Over 40 age group, the indefatigable Fortune who has not been in 100% shape still persevered to win the 200m gold and 100m silver so far at the World Masters Athletics Championships which is currently taking place at the Malaga City Athletics Stadium, Malaga, Spain. She arrived in there on the
Overall winners, Natoya Robinson and Carlos Petterson-Griffith. first day of competition, September 5 and has been battling ever since to keep the Golden Arrowhead aloft despite the challenges. Fortune, who has disclosed that it is a miracle that she is in Spain and competing, largely due to the support of Fly Jamaica and some other faithful sponsors, clocked 25.77 to take 200m gold on Sunday from Great Britain’s Susie McLoughlin who had to settle for the silver (25.87) and Poland’s Malgorzata Gasowska who took the bronze in 25.97. Fourth was the USA’s Cynthia McNamee (26.02) followed by Maren Schott (26.47) of Germany, Spain’s Angela Lopez (26.70), USA’s Cynthia Monteleone (26.83) and Sweden’s Anna Bjorkstedt who clocked 27.19. In the semi finals, Fortune topped Heat 1 with a time of 25.73 to finish ahead of Susie McLoughlin of Great Britain (25.88), Maren Schott of Germany (26.37) and Sweden’s Anna Bjorkstedt (26.86). Poland’s Malgorzata Gasowska won the other semi final in 26.00 from USA’s Cynthia McNamee 26.48, Spain’s Angela Lopez (26.59) and USA’s Cynthia Monteleone, 26.61, in that order. In the 100m final, Fortune (12.66s) was piped to the gold medal by Jamaica’s Nadia Cunningham who won the race in 12.63s, Susie McLoughlin of Great Britain took the bronze medal in 12.75s. Germany’s Sandra Kramer was 4th (12.76), Malgorzata
Gasowska of Poland 12.76, USA’s Cynthia McNamee 12.79, Joanna Balcerzak of Poland 12.98 and Canada’s Khama Beckles 13.00, the finalists. Fortune was the fastest in 100m first round of qualifying on the 5th winning Heat 5 in 12.46 to book her place in the semi final. Nadia Cunningham of Jamaica clocked 12.64 in Heat 2, the second best qualifying time, a total of 39 athletes were involved in the heats with the 16 advancing. In the semi final, Fortune was again the winner of her race in 12.61 from Germany’s Sandra Kramer 12.78, Joanna Balcerzak of Poland 12.85 and Canada’s Khama Beckles in 12.99. BCB/NEW YORK BUSINESS GROUP FINAL...KEVIN SINCLAIR’S ALLROUND PERFORMANCE HELPS RHT PEPSI REPEAT AS CHAMPS Rose Hall Town Pepsi retained their New York Business Group Berbice U-19 cricket championship easily outplaying Blairmont Community Centre Cricket Club on first innings. The historic final was played under lights with pink balls at the Albion Cricket Ground and witnessed by a sizeable crowd, both nights. Rose Hall Town Pepsi won the toss and elected to bat first, national youth players Kevin Sinclair and Junior Sinclair added 85 for the first wicket and with solid contributions from fellow national player
Kevlon Anderson and Berbice allrounder Keith Simpson, RHT Pepsi reached 268 all out. Anderson topscored with a brilliant 73 (5x4), Simpson 71, Junior Sinclair 52 and Kevin Sinclair 32. Nigel Deodat took 5-75 with his left arm spin while off spinner Seon Glasgow took 2-for 62. Blairmont in response was shot out for a disappointing 92 from 46 overs. Fawaz Gafoor batted well for 28 and the only other batsmen to reach double figures were Javed Karim 17 and Marvin Prashad 12. Kevin Sinclair returned with the ball to snare 7-30 while fellow offspinner Junior Sinclair bowled well to claim 3-32. RHT Pepsi with a healthy 172 run lead opted to bat again and Kevin Sinclair completed a remarkable allround match by scoring a brilliant 101 not out (12x4 2x6) as RHT Pepsi reached 176-4 declared. Kevlon Anderson chipped in with 48 and National U-15 batsman Mahendra Gopilall, 25. Marvin Prashad took 3-48. RHT Pepsi’s declaration left Blairmont with 95 minutes to bat. They struggled to 58-5 before the game was called off, half an hour before the scheduled closing time. National U-19 player Javed Karim was unbeaten on 30 while Keith and Anderson Sinclair took 2 for 10 and 13 runs, respectively. BCB President Hilbert Foster declared that the tournament was a huge success (Continued on page 74)
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Sunday September 16, 2018
Kaieteur News
Third Ralph Green/EBFA U-11 League Unveiled Coaches receive equipment to aid efficiency The Third Annual Ralph Green sponsored East Bank Football Association Under11 League was launched yesterday at the Timehri Red Ground. Attending the event were President of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Wayne Forde, GFF Executive Member with responsibility for the EBFA Dion Inniss, GFF Executive Member and RFA Head Ryan Farias, GFF Head of Coaches Education Wilson Toledo, EBFA Executive Members and sponsor, Ralph Green among others. In delivering the feature remarks to the players, coaches and other officials present, Forde complimented Green for the vision and investment he has shown and been making towards the real development of the game on the East Bank. The President said that that the sport will never be short of challenges but it is important for all to understand who it is that they are working for. “Who keep us employed, who keeps us coming out every single day volunteering our time and our resources, and that is the young boys and girls that are before us.” The gathering was challenged to look beyond small differences and challenges and focus on the bigger picture of working as a collective for the growth of the youths. ”You need to dial your attention to the people that we are here to serve which are the young boys and girls that
GFF President Wayne Forde during his remarks at the launch of the Ralph Green, EBFA U11 on Saturday. this game will not only improve their ability to play but will improve their chances of succeeding in life. Ensure that you intervene in a manner that would bring value to the work and investment that we are making as a federation and that our partners are making, an example being Mr. Green and our association is making. I want to give this tournament my heartiest blessings, I want to wish every team success, and discipline is the watch word as there would be no loser in this league, everyone is a winner.”Green expressed his pleasure in being able to contribute towards the development of young players pointing out that he has been doing so for quite a number of years here in Guyana and in
the USA where he resides. He stated that he really does not want to focus on the equipment donated but rather, it’s about life, be disciplined. ”It’s about character, that character can be built by us the adults; we have to ensure that these youths are able to build positive character which can be shaped by how we as adults carry ourselves and through our behavior. It’s not just all about football, we as adults have to set that positive trend; that is my whole emphasis on supporting this initiative.” Going forward, Green informed that there would be a greater focus on the education of the players and he would continue to support for a long time to come. EBFA Secretary Wayne
Francois in remarks noted that it has been lots of hard work and perseverance that has brought the association to its current position noting that there is still a lot of work to be done. ”Going forward we are going to continue to commit doing what we have done all along, put our shoulders to the wheel and make a way for our young generation which will take them to the next level.” Toledo Wilson in remarks said that the tournament is very important not only for football but for life noting that it is important for all to work towards ensuring that the youths are taken care of. He encouraged all to work as a collective and stated that, “If you believe, you can”, al-
luding to the vision of qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Inniss in his remarks said that the EBFA without a doubt is head and shoulders above all the other associations. “I think if the other associations were to take a leaf out of your book, Guyana’s football would be in good stead in a few years from now.”Inniss, a Caribbean Airlines Executive also challenged the Business Community on the East Bank to support the development of the youths. “I want to appeal to the business community to do their part and assist the EBFA in whatever way they can. The GFF cannot do it alone and we hope that they would head this call to make their contribution to the
EBFA. Each coach’s yesterday was presented with two footballs including one branded with the EBFA logo, a technical board, captain’s armband, whistle and 25 cones. Upon the completion of registration, training bibs would also be presented to the teams as well as branded playing jerseys, each team receiving different colour. Five MVPS would be selected and would receive a backpack each along with a trophy; the best coach and most disciplined team would also be rewarded. Each player form the first and second place team would be presented with replicas whilst eth third and fourth placed teams would be presented with medals.
Sunday September 16, 2018
Kaieteur News
PAGE 79
Boxers preparations in Berbice for Saturday’s Card in the city on track
B
oxers in Berbice preparing Saturday’s Card at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) in Georgetown have been putting in the work with a view of taking care of business. The event which is being promoted by Dexter Marques and Clive Atwell in collaboration with the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC) is dubbed, ‘Young Guns-The Proving Ground’. Three of the four pugilists hail from the Ancient County and they are quite comfortable that they have whip themselves into shape under the guidance of former boxing champion, Orland “Pocket Rocket” Rogers. Rogers has been making a name for himself recently as a reputable coach around the country. Berbician Derick Richmond the N a t i o n a l S u p e r Middleweight Champion will be making a return to the ring after a lengthy lay off.
He will be matching gloves with Barbadian Keithland King. The hard hitting Richmond who last fought in 2016 was for some strange reason not getting fights and will relish the opportunity to display his skills. Richmond feels that his power was a deterrent, but will be using the opportunity to press his case as one of the top fighters in the country. The six round encounter is the feature on the night’s card. The Barbadian who has two wins and is on his second trip to Guyana will be in for a torrid time as Richmond has vowed to end his winning streak. Another Berbician Joel Williamson, who will be fighting in the 140 pounds Junior Welterweight class will be making his Professional debut after a successful Amateur career. He will come up against Anson Green. Williamson vows to make a successful start to his career against Green who lost his last fight
against King. The fight is over four rounds. Light Heavyweight fighter James Moore of Linden who is also training in Berbice will be carrying the pride of the Bauxite Mining Town when he takes on Romeo Norville of the Harpy Eagles Gym in another four round encounter. The lone female fight will see Berbician Rena David matching gloves with Ansilla Norville over four rounds. David was expected to join forces with the Pocket Rocket Camp over the week end. Speaking to Kaieteur Sport, Coach Rogers stated that at the moment all his charges are looking good and they are expected to make a clean sweep come fight night. He stated that at the moment they have a rigorous training schedule. In the mornings they are involved in road work and shadow boxing among other activities. In the afternoons they do work on the heavy bag, speed ball, spar and pad
Derrick Richmond working out on the Canje Bridge work, skip as well as some aerobics. He said the boxers are rearing to go and can take
Joel Williamson doing some shadow boxing
James Moore during one of his workouts.
their fights today. They make use of the Canje Bridge and does some work at the APNU building at the
junction of St. Magdaline Street and Strand New Amsterdam. (Samuel Whyte)
Trophy Stall Dominoes on today in Wakenaam Hamilton qualifies on pole at the... The Trophy Stall Dominoes competition which was slated to be held last weekend will now be played today at Carlosh Sports Bar, Good Success, Wakenaam starting at 09:00hrs. The tournament has attracted the top teams from across the island and prizes will be given to the winning and runner-up teams as well as the Most Valuable Player. Among the teams expected to participate are Allstars, Seawall Boys, Eastern Wakenaam, Melville, Good Success, Sans Souci, Maria’s Pleasure and Zeelandia. In an invited comment sales representative of Trophy Stall Malenee Narine wished the teams well and said she is looking forward to an exciting and successful tournament while organiser of the tournament, Nazeer Mohamed expressed gratitude to the organisers. He stated that the interest of the sport has grown on the island adding that the tournament will be exciting since a number of leading players there will be on show.
From page 80 and stretched for superlatives. ‘It’s stardust,’ said the conjuror’s boss Toto Wolff. ‘I can’t explain what happened on that lap. He’s just an exceptional individual.’ Hamilton’s record time – 1min 36.015sec – was three-tenths faster than Max Verstappen, Red Bull’s Dutch colt who described his own lap as the best of his Formula One career, and a massive six-tenths faster than Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel in third.
As for Hamilton’s team-mate Valtteri Bottas, he was nearly seven-tenths adrift in fourth and chiefly acting as a benchmark for greatness. Hamilton made his decisive mark on the timing screens with his penultimate lap, sending the pole target into orbit. ‘A pretty epic lap there, Lewis,’ purred race engineer Peter Bonnington with all the vocal excitement of an air steward pointing out that the fasten seat belts signs had been turned on.
Kaieteur News
PAGE 80
GFF Elite League Season III
Sunday September 16, 2018
Two blockbusters on tonight at GFC
T
he four best teams in the Guyana F o o t b a l l Federation (GFF) Elite League will clash at the Mecca of football in the city, Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground, tonight from 18:30hrs in must win games that are sure to add fireworks. In the first match, the likely champions, Fruta
Conquerors Football Club will clash with Defending Champions, Guyana Defence Force (GDF). Conquerors are some away ahead of their opponents with 41 points from 16 games at the top of the points table but if the Tucville based club lose their final two matches against GDF tonight and Western Tigers; which are expected to be
closely contested, they could see themselves being pipped by either club for the championship. GDF are second with 36 points from 16 games and if they win both their remaining clashes and Conquerors lose both, the reigning champions will finish above Conquerors. Third place Den Amstel (16 matches, 34 points) that has the league’s top goal scorer, Delon Lanferman (19 goals) in their arsenal, will be looking to prevent the thin chance Western Tigers (15 matches, 35 points) have at
winning the tournament which began Novemeber 2017, during the feature clash at 20:30hrs. Mathematically, out of the top four teams clashing tonight, Tigers have the second best chance of winning the top prize of $5million once they win all three their remaining games but GDF will have to win or draw tonight against Conquerors. Tigers have been looking out of sorts with their last two matches being dissatisfying 1-0 victories and they might have to score
more than one goal to get past the free scoring Den Amstel which has the second highest goal difference of +31 behind Conquerors which has been cruising with a +44 goal difference. The top four teams’ final finish can go different ways but the odds will be in favour of Conquerors to finish as champions. However, what is certain is that Ann’s Grove, New Amsterdam United and Cougars will be relegated when the league concludes next Sunday. (Calvin Chapman)
Imam Bacchus SC and NOC battle for final berth today =Host Imam Bacchus Sports Club will face New Opportunity Corps (NOC) in the second semi final of the South Essequibo Cricket Committee Invitational T20 tournament today. The winner will play Reliance Hustlers in the final next weekend. Reliance Hustlers defeated Rising Stars by seven runs in the first semi final played recently at Imam Bacchus ground in Affiance. Rising Stars batted first and managed 135-4 with Kevon Boodram scoring 32 (3x4) while Travis Simon made 27 not out, Anthony Ifill 26 and Mark Austin 22.
Anthony Adams Off-spinner Mavindra Dindyal claimed 2-26. Reliance Hustlers responded with 136-7 in 19 overs. Dindyal hit four fours in scoring 27 while Curtis Roberts got 25 with three fours and Latchman Rohit 22. Anthony Ifill snared 2-19 and Austin 2-27. To d a y ’s e n c o u n t e r commences at 11:00hrs and Imam Bacchus will be spearheaded by the inform Wayne Osbounre and fellow opener Yougeshwar Lall. The experienced duo has done a fine job at the top of the order so far in the tournament and a lot is
Wayne Osbourne expected from them once again. Their batting has depth with the likes of Parmesh Parsotam, Nathan Persaud, Ganesh Mangal and Khulraj Singh included. Pacer Neilan Cadogan and spinner Khulraj Persaud will lead their bowling. NOC posses a decent allround team and cannot be taken lightly. Anthony Adams and Akieni Adams spearhead a strong bowling attack which also includes Joshua Jones. Kevon Boodie and Sheldon Alexander are hard hitting batsmen and are expected to lead in this area.
Hamilton qualifies on pole at the Singapore Grand Prix with ‘dope’ lap =Mailonline - In the wet, in the dry, in broad daylight and, here unforgettably last night under 1500 light bulbs, Lewis Hamilton is turning magical deeds into the routine of his business life.The world champion’s pole position for the Singapore Grand Prix was accomplished on the humid Marina Bay track that was meant so strongly to favour Ferrari that they would have wished to roll it up and carry it around the world with them. But it was Hamilton’s white-gloved finger pointing into the sky dominantly after beating the theory, the red cars and the rest out of sight. He flicked a V-for-Victory sign and virtually hugged his Mercedes. ‘Wow, wow,’ he exclaimed. ‘That lap felt like magic.’A beguiled world scratched its head (Continued on page 78)
Kaieteur News
Sunday September 16, 2018
PAGE 81
Football on the rise in Rupununi despite challenges - RFA President Rayan Farias
By Zaheer Mohamed Despite the challenges that we encounter from time to time football in the Rupununi has been on the rise, so said the President of the Rupununi Football Association (RFA), Rayan Farias. Speaking with Kaieteur Sport yesterday at the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) office in Section K Campbellville, Farias said they have been able to host a number of tournaments at various levels in both male and female categories. The most notable of those tournaments is the RFA Champions League which started in 2015 and is being played annually. Tabatinga and Gladiators won the male and female categories respectively and will represent the region in this year’s Heritage football games in Georgetown. The RFA also hosted the Pele Alumni Frank Watson U15 tournament in 2017 and the NAMILCO U17 tournament in 2016 and 2017. Farias who serves on the executive of the GFF said the association managed to run off beginner’s, refresher and
certificate Referee courses and to date they have three certified Referees and 57 in training. He added that the GFF has been supportive to the RFA which is a boost. “The GFF assisted with cash prizes in our Champions league and the establishment of three Academy Training Centers (ATC) in the Rupununi. As a result we have seen a number of players being selected for national duties at the junior levels,” he explained. ”I am happy that the academies are up and running, through this we have over 120 male and female youths in training on weekends under the g u i d a n c e o f t h e AT C Coaches. We have the talent, but what was lacking is the fundamentals and now we have systems in place for the growth of the game. The youths have responded well and are always eager to play so it’s up to the management to ensure they are always involved in tournaments.” The RFA was founded in 2015 with six male and five female teams and to date they has a membership of 21 male and 20 female teams.
Farias indicated that the association now has an office which was established in Lethem in February of this year. ”We had visits by GFF President Wayne Forde and members of his executive and this has re-kindled an interest among the players, fans and sponsors which is a plus for the game there.” Farias explained that among the challenges they encounter from time to time is the lack of sponsorship. “Travelling to different villages for matches in the Rupununi is very costly due to the distance and the condition of the road and clubs have to host fund raisers which is always a difficult task,” he lamented. The Rupununi has 14 grounds which are being maintained by the Village Councils and clubs, but only four are in playable condition. ”Another hurdle is the condition of some of the grounds. “We have 14 grounds and only four are in playable condition at the moment. Using four grounds is difficult to stage a tournament that involves 21 teams and this also hampers
Athletes urged to register early for 2018 KMPA Classic The organisers of the 2018 King MedasPansy Adonis (KMPA) Classic; Guyana’s second junior Olympic Games, are urging all participants to complete their registration as early as possible for the four-day long event which runs off from September 20 – 23. In order to register, athletes are advised to go to www.kmpasport.org and follow the registration procedures. According to founder of the event, Andy Medas-King, the participants are being asked to sign up early so that ‘heat sheets’ can be generated for each event.The KMPA classic will feature athletes from the U-8 to Masters’ categories competing in Track and Field events with $4million in cash and prizes up for grabs. The track and field events will be contested at the Lusignan Community Center ground, while the feature road race event will begin at Bachelor’s Adventure on the final day; both located the East Coast of Demerara. This year, the 110m and 400m hurdles event has been included with the intention of introducing the event locally. The games, which are open to the Differently-Able athletes will also see keen action between schools with all 10 regions being targeted to compete. In the 17-20 years category, athletes will receive a grant for whichever learning institution of their choice. In a bid to maximise safety during the field events, the rubberised turbo-javelin and 1kg shot put will be used for the younger kids. On the initial day, field events will be competed from 10:30hrs inclusive of the long and high jumps, shot put, javelin and discuss which will see participation in all age groups.
Thursday, September 20th will also include the heats in all age groups of the 4x100m, 4x400m and 4x800m races. The 1500m, 100m and 800m finals will race off on day two inclusive of the 200m and 400m heats along with the 80m and 110m hurdles finals, all beginning at 09:45hrs. Day three will speed off from 09:45hrs with the usually enjoyed finals of the 400m, 100m, 200m and 400m hurdles, sprint races. Meanwhile, the signature day which will have the big money, 5k road race, will be on Sunday, September 23rd at Bachelor’s Adventure. In the senior male and female, male and female 17-20 years and the teachers, male and female along with the Government officials’ male and female categories, there will be cash prizes awarded from 1st to 10th places.The biggest race, the senior male 5k will carry a winning purse of $50,000, 2nd $40,000, 3rd $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 from the King Medas/Pansy Adonis Memorial Fund.There are two laptops and five desktop computers also to be won. Among the sponsors of the event are Shelmac Photos USA, Ansa McAl, University of Guyana, Prodigal, Sybil’s Bakery Queens, Banks DIH, Daddy’s Enterprise, Star Party Rental, Payless Variety Store, NSC, Ministry of Education, Wake Up Guyana Show, Prince Shipping, Island Express and the Adonis Family.
the training of players.” The RFA head is calling on the business community to support the game in the area. “The standard of the game has improved over the years. Gone are the days when teams can take other teams for granted as the results of the games shows. Currently the clubs are engaged in the Heritage Month tournament qualifiers from which the top six male and female teams will go through to the playoffs slated for October 26-29.
Rayan Farias
t r o Sp
Third Ralph Green /EBFA U-11 League Unveiled
Coaches receive equipment to aid efficiency
GFF President Wayne Forde and other federation executive members seen with EBFA executive members and players who are wearing the jerseys each team would be presented with as well as displaying the other items presented to the club.
Guyana Amazon Warriors skipper Chris Green and Trinbago Knight Riders Captain Dwayne Bravo pose with the trophy at yesterday’s press conference.
Guyana Amazon Warriors aim for first title; clash with Trinbago Knight Riders in today’s final
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