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Kaieteur News
Tuesday September 25, 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
PEOPLE ARE NOT FOOLS Since the election of Mrs. Patricia Chase-Green as Mayor of Georgetown and the appointment of Royston King as the Town Clerk after the Local Government Elections (LGE) in 2016, the city has been plagued with a series of problems. Today, after more than two years in office, many of the problems remain unsolved due to the perceived highhanded approach by the Mayor and the town clerk, and a fractured City Council. Hardly a day passes by without reading about some outrageous and callous behaviour about the Mayor and Town Clerk, who believe that they were above the law in terms of governing the City. Their arrogance and obsession with power, their contempt for the rule of law and their public display of reckless conduct have not only incurred the wrath of the people but have eroded the democratic process at City Hall. Georgetown is the largest municipality in the country with 30 councilors, however, for the past two years, the city has been mismanaged to the point where its residents are not getting value for their money. It has failed to execute its responsibilities adequately to the citizens in almost all areas, including garbage collection and disposal, financial management and maintenance of city infrastructure such as buildings, bridges, roads and playgrounds, etc. The city seems incapable to collect the $4 billion that is owed to it. It has stumbled from one crisis to another such as the flawed parking meter enterprise; the chronic garbage fiasco, which led to the firing and rehiring of its two main garbage collectors, Cevons Waste Management and Puran Brothers; the Bel Air Park playground saga; the rape of a juvenile by a city police constable; the hostile treatment meted out to vendors who ply their trade on the streets; the constant infighting with AFC and PPP City councilors, the confrontations with the Minister of Communities and most recently, the sudden closing of the Stabroek Market wharf to vendors for safety reasons and without proper relocation of the vendors. While this is heart-breaking for many of the residents of Georgetown, yet it seems as though they have little or no choice than to endure the bombastic behaviour of the city administration. In addition, the city’s financial woes have mounted. At times, the city was unable to pay its regular workers, which in effect has underlined the severe financial deficit that it appears to have been functioning under for some time. The only public known successful exercise by the city was the clean-up campaign which was orchestrated by President Granger in May 2015. Despite the poor administration and fiscal mismanagement and the perception of corruption by the Mayor and Town Clerk, the government did not intervene. Its excuse was the municipalities are autonomous and should be allowed to run the affairs of their cities without intervention from the national government. With Local Government Elections just two months away, the town clerk has been sent on leave by the chairman of the Local Government Commission (LGC) Mortimer Mingo who heads a Commission of Inquiry (COI) to examine corruption, abuse of power and other illegal practices by the Town Clerk and the City Council. The government knew the town clerk has been accused of dereliction of duty, corruption and abuse of power and violating the procurement rules, among others, but did nothing to stop him. But the residents of Georgetown are not fools, they know that the removal of King has to do with the LGE and they will not succumb to the propaganda.
Doctors deserve better Dear Editor, The public health system has been plague with a plethora of problems, ranging from shortages of drugs and medical supplies to prolong waiting times for patients at outpatient and even at emergency departments. Very often, patients’ frustration, disappointment and anger are usually directed at the doctors and nursing staff, many of whom are not responsible for the mismanagement that occurs on a daily basis. The doctors themselves are frustrated with the system, and while they have made known their concerns about drugs shortages, equipment failure, inadequate and untimely laboratory results all of which have a severe impact on clinical management of patients. Many of these doctors feel that the administrators at these public institutions have done little or nothing to address these growing concerns, and when they persist in complaining, they are harassed and threatened by the government officials. Many doctors feel that such an atmosphere of fear and intimidation is not conducive to the practice of proper medicine. Also, these problems are further compounded, because doctors, especially junior ones, are required to work long gruelling hours, for relative small salaries and benefits. Long hours of work The International Labour Organization through its various conventions have recom-
mended shorter working week, anything exceeding 48 hours per week is considered long hours. Long hours of work can affect both doctors and their patients. This is well documented in the United States, in a case where an 18-year old patient Libby Zion died due to a prescribing error while under the care of doctors who were on a 36- hour shift. This death led to an investigation by the Bell Commission, which recommended that doctors must not work more than 80 hours per week, nor for more than 24 consecutive hours. Over the years, these hours of work have been reduced to address concerns for patient safety and to prevent physician burnout. The current European Standards is that physicians should not work more than 48 hours per week. At the GPHC, in some departments, it is the norm for doctors to work 96 hours per week. This happens when doctors work “on call” every three days. In extreme instances, some departments require doctors to work from Saturday morning at 8 am to Monday 4 pm- a total of 56 hours continuously in addition to the average work week. It should be noted that GPHC is regarded as the best staffed public hospital; one can only imagine how many more hours doctors have to work at the regional and district hospitals across Guyana.
Many of the doctors believed that they will be able to provide a better quality of service if the public health system adopts the European Standards of work for physicians in Guyana. Inadequate accommodations for doctors on call When physicians are “on call” they are required to be physically present in the hospital compound. This is to ensure that if needed that these doctors would be immediately available if an emergency arises. The public hospitals would usually designate an area, where these “on call” doctors, can be found if needed. The basic requirements are a secure room, with toilet and bath, a cot, table and chair. These basic requirements are not met by most of the institutions, forcing doctors to sleep on the corridors or in their cars. At the GPHC for example, both male and female doctors are required to share the same room, with few beds and limited toilet amenities. Doctors at the GPHC whether “on call” or performing their regular duties complained that they do not have designated canteen space. Many of them who bring their food to work have often had to resort to eating in the wards, or often standing at one of the corner shops around the hospital. Most modern hospitals have a proper canteen service that caters to both patients and staff. If the hospital is
unable to provide this service, then the least they should do is to make canteen space available where the staff of the hospital can dine with some dignity and comfort. Many Government Medical Officers are unhappy with their wages, especially the younger doctors. A first-year GMO at GPHC receives a salary of $181, 808. A second year GMO at GPHC gets a salary of $218,169. A thirdyear GMO at GPHC gets a salary of $ 261,802. Many of these doctors have complained that this salary is wholly inadequate, especially with the increased cost of living. The allowances that a doctor received across the public health system vary. The doctors at GPHC would get a monthly housing allowance of $20,000, but most of them complained that they are unable to rent a house in or around Georgetown for this sum of money. They also receive a meal allowance of $500 per call; this is far less than what an actual meal would cost. If a doctor decides to buy a real meal while “on call” she/he would often end up spending more than $1,000. Doctors are given a $3,000 dollar per month cell phone allowance, to be used when on call to get in contact with their registrars or consultants. Most young doctors complained that this sum is inadequate and is seeking an increase in this allowance. Doctors are required to (Continued on page 6)
Communities that place village above person Dear Editor, The deliberate, conscious effort we must make to choose our leaders is absolutely critical. Editor, I take the opportunity during this month dedicated to Indigenous heritage to make special reference to Indigenous communities. Let it be said that as a contributor on Indigenous issues, I honestly make general references only. At every level of governance nothing is more important than having the right people in the right positions if we are to foster development, forge unity and get the job done. Editor, you will agree that at every level this is crucial. Some villages, though, might have made decisions in the past that cannot be rated as the best but we’re all in the process, thus the reason for this letter. While we all have political considerations, no matter where we live, this should not be allowed to colour (or discolour) our
views on community related matters. True patriots, we all know, place their communities, towns, regions and by extension their country first, not any political party. Nothing divides people like party politics whether here in Guyana, or elsewhere. However, no community should suffer if community affairs and interests take precedence. Guyana is due to break new ground, sir, in terms of creating an investment climate that can foster development and it may be time enough for hinterland communities too, to take note. Sometimes it is felt that we’re not part of the process, but definitely Guyana’s Indigenous Peoples will benefit, directly or indirectly. Guyana’s interior, one may concur, is a hot bed for investment. It is full of great potential and especially in Indigenous communities there are tremendous opportunities for growth and development.
Investing in eco-tourism can be lucrative business, etc., so communities with the right leaders will of course have the advantage. Indeed, evidence in the past pointed to residents taking their councils to task to ensure their priorities were being met. This kind of climate is so crucial, too, and points to all that Democracy is alive and well. In those villages are success stories which point to one thing - good leadership and placing community first is sine qua non. Not politics, mind you. People began to consider placing interest in their community first and foremost before party politics, even if it means electing someone who is not born in that community. Throughout Guyana we see examples of this. Today these very communities are enjoying success beyond measure, while others because they suffer from the divisive “he come ya, but we born ya” syndrome, continue to lag behind.
It is disheartening to say this, but when the necessary evil like politics creeps into a little community and takes on prominence, it becomes akin to cancer; it eats at the very social fabric of that little community and slowly but surely kills unity, peace and ultimately stagnates development. Not to mention, everyone suffers. Refinement, courage, foresight, honesty, etc. you will agree, sir, are all qualities of a good leader, but without one’s love, loyalty, passion for community’s growth and development, irrespective of the resources with which it may be endowed, human and otherwise, there is no hope. Editor, I take this opportunity to salute communities that always placed village before personal and other interests when making critical choices. They are taking the lead. Yes, they are indeed ‘blazing the trail’. Joseph C. Atkinson (Indigenous First and Foremost)
Tuesday September 25, 2018
Harry B is cerebrally porous Dear Editor, Firstly, congratulations to all at Kaieteur News for the 24 years of unqualified preservation of the 4th estate! Secondly, please allow me space to respond to Harry’s (Ontario) letter entitled “Lots of Silly Willy “, published in your letter section on September 24th, 2018, Harry B. seems to have a proclivity to knock things down with scant regard to decorum and sensitivity, and with a jaundiced view. His first statement that Guyana does not have Spanish as a second language is totally out of whack! That is like asking our Spanish/Portuguese speaking neighbours why they do not have English as their second language! As a Queens College Alumnus, I was taught, French, Spanish and Latin, in the first form, onwards. I do not know how much the education curriculum has morphed since, but I am sure we have enough skilled translators to serve the Diplomatic Community, without diluting content and context. As for our Education Minister’s perceived extemporaneous acquiescence of the French Ambassador’s suggestion-diplomacy- which seems to have inexplicably escaped Harry B, was surely required by our Education Minister.
It also takes testicular fortitude, Harry B, for our Education Minister, or anyone for that matter, to refrain from being obsequious, under the prevailing circumstances. Zinging the GRA Chairman for seeking help to reduce/ eliminate corruption, astonishingly, confound Harry B! Seeking help is multi faceted...has many characterizations. Perhaps, the GRA Chairman already has a game plan but is seeking additional advice, to engender a higher degree of success, before implementation. What’s wrong with that Harry B? Any savvy CEO would have the same approach, especially if thrown in shark infested waters, where “smoke and mirror” is the norm. Excoriating Guyana’s DOE Head for non expertise, I will take a leap of faith and assume that Harry B lives in Canada. To this I say, is it not common knowledge that the current Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, concurrent with his academia, started as a school teacher, then became a snowboarding instructor, then a bar room bouncer, before entering politics? Did he not admit to smoking pot and refused to apologize? Was he not considered a dilettante by Prime Minister
Harper’s Cabinet, especially so because he was/is an ardent admirer of Nelson Mandela? Did he not mandate that all the new MPs in his Cabinet be in alignment with his “pro choice” policy? Dr. Steve Hewitt and CBC, Canada, extensively covered these events, yet, with all the negativity and controversy surrounding, Justin Trudeau, at age 46, he won the Canadian Prime Ministership by a statistically huge margin and by incorporating luminaries into his cabinet. Is it a fair statement to say that perhaps, Guyana’s DOE’ s head is replicating Mr. Trudeau’s actions, Harry B? Then again, you, Harry B, to have the effrontery to suggest that Guyana’s elected Head of State should learn what stupidity is from Steve Jobs, is totally reckless and uncouth! Assuming you are well versed in all things Steve Jobs, then you must know that, though being adopted, was most despised by his own daughter, Lisa, whom he fathered at 23, yet denied paternity despite a DNA match, and whom he kept in abeyance for the most part of her life! That is, in my opinion, calculated stupidity, Harry B, and your addled pate seems to be cerebrally porous to acknowledge such! Jonathan Subrian
Is this responsible journalism? Dear Editor: “In the same week that Guyana signed on to two multi-million dollar loan agreements with China and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan and Public Infrastructure Minister, David Patterson travelled to Kuwait where they appealed for debt relief.” The quote above is taken from a news article in Monday’s edition of your newspaper headlined “Guyana signs two major loans in one week, then begs Kuwait for US$70M debt write off.” There is nothing inaccurate in either the headline or
the quote which is the opening paragraph of the news article. However, both the headline and the first paragraph give the impression, in my view, that something is wrong with a government seeking debt write off while signing loan agreements with countries and banks which are not the same countries and/or banks from which they are seeking the debt write off. Perhaps the word “then” in the headline is what gives life to my perception that the article is suggesting that something is wrong. Can Kaieteur News point out if there is a problem with
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a government seeking debt write off while signing new loan agreements and if so what is the problem? If there is no problem, then can you, Mr. Editor, tell me whether you consider the headline and even the opening paragraph responsible and professional journalism? Mr. Editor, please bear in mind that the article to which I refer is a news item and not an editorial or opinion “piece”. Wesley Kirton
Mud and dust pollution on the East Bank E’bo Dear Editor, We the residents, particularly those who are living along the roadway of East Bank Essequibo have been living with this dangerous issue for years. We complain but no one is hearing our voices. During rice harvesting and rice land preparation times, we the residents and road users are put in a precarious situation of pollution along the East Bank Essequibo roadway, particularly from Vergenoegen to Orangestein. Rice farmers are polluting our roadway with huge chunks of mud that their machines bring out from the backdam.When wet, the road becomes extra slippery and dangerous. It’s very dangerous for other road users including school children, pedal cyclists, etc. Children and cyclists are sometimes forced to walk and ride in the middle of the road just so they can avoid slipping in the mud that coats the side of the road. This puts them in a more dangerous position of being maimed or killed by a motor vehicle. When dry, we are faced with a next problem... severe dust pollution. Not only do we have to wipe our windows, doors, etc. every day, but we have to be holed up like hermits in our home just to avoid the dust. The dust is affecting our babies, our elderly, those who are suffering from severe allergiesit is affecting all of us. When approached about this situation, rice farmers are
quick to point out that they put food on our tables. It does not dawn on them that we pay for our rice. They are quick to curse at us and ask where we want them to drive if not on the road. I wish to point out that at every dam head there is a concrete floor for the sole purpose of washing off the mud from tractors and combines before attempting to drive on the road. I’m yet to see one rice farmer use that. Either they are too lazy to get off their machines and take a wood and push off all the mud from their tyres or tracks before driving onto the road or they just don’t give a damn. Or maybe, they have been allowed for too long to continue with this nonsense that they don’t see the danger of their actions or don’t have no consideration for residents or other road users.Only last week, a resident was heading home with her three small kids in the car when another vehicle approaching from the opposite direction sent a clump of mud into her car side. Upon inspection, she said there was a small but deep dent on her right rear fender. Who should she look for compensation for that damage? The rice farmers who are bringing out the mud from their back-dam in chunks, speeding to fling it on our roads, the other car or the silent chunk of mud? In the nights, vehicles can be heard skidding and screeching just to avoid the
huge lumps of mud left on our dark roadways. These acts have cost many lives and injuries over the years but the farmers don’t take responsibilities. Also, many of the tractors and combines on the roadways have little or no documentations.... some of the drivers are unlicensed. These machines have little or no lights or reflectors. When are the police going to step in? We pay for our rice so please, farmers, don’t think that you are doing us a favor. How hard is it for a rice farmer to get off his tractor or combine and take a piece of wood and push off the chunks of mud from his tracks or tyres before proceeding on the roadway? Officers of the law, please enforce whatever rules and regulations there are to ensure these farmers comply in keeping our roads safe. EPA please- this body has been silent for too long, please visit and see what we as residents on the East Bank of Essequibo have to go through with this dust. When will someone listen to us? Deeroop Mahadeo Anna Singh Mark Walcott Liloutie Jagan Suraj Persaud And 15 others
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Kaieteur News
Gynaecologists who care are needed Dear, Editor, I am asking for space in your columns to share my story which may end up saving other women from unnecessary suffering. Most regular Guyanese citizens don’t make a visit to the doctor’s office unless sick, or need something fixed. For the regular Guyanese citizen who can afford it, he/she goes to private doctors in hopes of better patients’ care. To walk out being assisted, educated, and feeling like someone cared, even if they didn’t – because they paid. I wasn’t an exception to this. At the age of 29, I sit here five weeks post-radical hysterectomy, after having been diagnosed with Stage 1B1 cervical cancer. I’ve just celebrated my third wedding anniversary, and our (my husband’s and I) next step was to start a family. Let’s start from the beginning. In 2009/2010, or there about, I visited a “private” gynaecologist with the complaint of irregular periods – once every 3-4 months, as far as memory serves. I was then gently informed that I had what is called ‘Imbalanced Hormones’ and was written a prescription for Mircogynon (an oral birth control pill). It sounded odd, as I wasn’t told how contraceptives were going to help me with this kind of issue. However, I accepted and left, because I “paid” and expected him to know what he was doing. It worked! I was happy. I felt normal again. Should I have researched this for myself? Definitely!!! I can make all the excuses why I didn’t, but it worked for what I needed it to, I didn’t see the need. (Please, someone use my experience to not be as naive as I was). Should he have advised on a time limit to this and possible side effects, including the use of those kinds of pills in excess of five years doubles my chances of developing cervical cancer? (And not limited to) YES!!! Not educated in the slightest way. Of course I blame myself for not knowing nor asking questions. I used the pills for approximately 8-9 years. Which takes me to my next doctor’s visit. In 2017 (a pretty long gap – but like I said, you don’t visit the doctor unless something is wrong, right?), while still taking the pills, my period came twice in one month. That confused me a bit since the birth control pills are meant to regulate your cycle (as I now understood). I went to the pharmacist and asked for something to stop the bleeding. Thankfully, she advised me to go do an ultrasound instead, to ensure it wasn’t the cause of something more serious. I subsequently visited Eureka to have my ultrasound done, and found out I had a condition known as PCOS – polycystic ovarian syndrome – where you ovulate a lot less (perhaps this is what caused the imbalanced hormones in the first
place? Right. Should doctor number one have picked this up in some way?). Upon advice at home, I sought a second opinion. Of course I’m going to go to a private doctor, this sounds serious!‘Perhaps I’ll go to a female, I’ll feel more comfortable and they’ll be gentle... but who? I’ll find someone. I remember thinking. Here we are at doctor number two, who took me off of the birth control pills and told me to return when my period does. That’s it? I just paid to hear you say come back, whenever? I already don’t like you. I bounced in there three months after, all happy that progress was made, only to be sent to do all sorts of blood tests and ultrasounds – this was not cheap, but necessary, I reminded myself. But, she didn’t do anything! Did she have to? I suppose not, she’s supposed to know what she’s doing, I’m paying her to. I did all that was required of me, to come back to the conclusion that I had PCOS. (Through no simple way, as I felt as if I was an animal, the way she spoke and interacted) I was placed on Metformin – a known diabetic medication, Metformin likely plays its role in improving ovulation induction in women with PCOS through a variety of actions, including reducing insulin levels and altering the effect of insulin on ovarian androgen. (I only know this because this time I researched). So, I’ve accepted that when I’m ready to have a child, it won’t be easy, I knew that much. I walked away with my meds but with no deadline on when to quit these (guess I haven’t learned my lesson –don’t be like me, ask questions! No insight to know whether or not they’re going to work. My cycle became regular with the use of Metformin, I’m happy a g a i n . T hese things work in strange ways! This time, I read as much as I could on what to do and not do with PCOS. I knew I wasn’t going to go back to doctor number two, the one with the bad attitude and negative vibes. I don’t need that kind of person in my life, defi-
nitely not as a doctor, not for something so personal and sensitive. I lost weight, I ate better, and I used my meds. It was time my husband and I thought of starti n g a f a m i l y. I n e e d e d a gynaecologist I was comfortable with, happy with. I was out of options, as you hear horror stories when you ask for opinions. Which takes me to my next doctor’s visit. In May 2018 (still using Metformin), after my birthday, I decided to find myself a doctor, seriously this time. I wasn’t getting younger. My cousin recommended her gynaecologist to me, said she was pleased with him during her pregnancy. I have never heard of him, which predominantly influenced the decision of giving him a try. Day one: I explained my known history to him, and I told him I was there to see if the PCOS was gone, and wondered what my next step was for starting a family (other than the obvious). He advised the discontinuation of the Metformin, and encouraged weight loss. “ You’ll ovulate on your own if you lose 10% of your weight.” That’s it? Was it always as simple and non-toxic as that? I was instructed to get undressed behind the wall, for a physical examination. But why? I did. At that point, I was asked one question: “have you ever done a pap smear?” Answer: “No.” He didn’t seem too pleased... I didn’t think I needed to, my sisters are fine, my mother is fine, naturally, and I’m fine. Right? Unfortunately, no. Upon visual observation, I was told that I had a mass in my cervix and he wanted to do a biopsy to ensure it was non-cancerous. He did say I didn’t have to take his word for it, that I should get a second opinion if I wanted to. Prior to that, I was instructed to return with my husband to discuss this before making arrangements to have a biopsy done.
But why? None of the doctors cared whether or not I was there for consultation alone. I guess I finally found someone who cared about a little more than money. Within the following week, the biopsy was performed, and the results were out the next. My husband and I returned to the doctor number three – the God-sent one. Unfortunately, it’s what we feared - cancer. He advised me of all the possible treatments and operations but admitted that he needed to hand the case over to the oncology department at GPHC, as it was then a case he no longer had control over. The one place I’ve been paying to avoid all my working life. He arranged for us to meet with the oncologist gynaecologist the following day. As my husband and I were clueless as to our whereabouts at GPHC, my God-sent gynaecologist volunteered meeting the oncologist gynaecologist with us, (Did he have to care? He no longer had to see me), the one whose care I’d now be in. After reviewing all tests and results, I was again physically examined. Again?! Boy, I feel violated now. I was sent to do blood tests, a chest x-ray, and a CT scan; to determine whether the cancer has spread, and size of the tumour. Thankfully, it had not metastasised and was just confined to the cervix – early, but not that early to avoid what had to happen next. I was advised I’d have to have a radical hysterectomy done (a surgical operation done to treat some cancers of the cervix. The surgeon takes out the uterus and the ligaments (tissue fibres) that hold it in place. The cervix and an inch or two of the vagina around the cervix are also removed). “But, can’t we take the cervix out and try to have a child, and then we do the hysterectomy?” I asked. I was told this was possible but if I did, and needed radiation after, I’ll no longer be fertile. So, you’re saying I’ll never get to see what my
child would have looked like?? Sadly, yes... My procedure was scheduled for two months after, as I needed to wait until an oncologist specialist would have been visiting GPHC – apparently this happens every few months. I had two months to deal with the acceptance of the present, what my life will be like after a hysterectomy, what it meant, and long term side effects. Everything I could possibly find to educate myself, I read. I learned my lesson the hardest way possible. The surgery was done successfully. Though I hate to admit it, I was impressed at how everything was handled at the GPHC and the quality of the doctors, and their service. It was a lot of waiting around, but there was progress. The nurses and their attitude however, not so much... but I get it, understaffed and overworked – it’s still no excuse. While during my recovery still in hospital, my god-sent gynaecologist visited me! You remembered! You mean there are some nice persons left? I too am shocked by this. As sad as the outcome is, he came into my life at the right time and literally saved my life. What if I wasn’t considering having a child, and just living without a yearly check-up at the gynaecologist unless something was wrong? Ladies, use my life-threatening scenario to avoid this happening to you. Ask as many questions as you need to. There are no stupid questions. If you don’t know what to ask, suggest some close relative or friend to go to your doctor’s visit with you. Most women don’t know the dangers of cervical cancer or the importance of a yearly gynaecological exam (I sincerely did not). That’s why it’s important to share this message. Yearly exams lead to early detection that saves lives! It’s DETECTABLE, PREVENTABLE and definitely TREATABLE. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Concerned Hysterectomy patient
Doctors deserve better... From page 4 work “on call”, that is for extended periods after their regular - hour shift. During the work week it is from 4 pm to 8 am Monday to Friday, and on weekends from 8 am to 8 am Saturday, Sunday and holidays. For each on-call session,the doctor is paid $2,500 as an “on call” allowance, which the PPP/C government has agreed would not be taxed. The APNU/AFC has now imposed a tax on this “On Call” allowance. Many doctors believed that this is no longer an allowance and would like to be paid by the applicable laws of Guyana. They think that anything beyond their regular work time should be treated as overtime
and that the applicable rates for overtime should be used. If this is not done urgently, then many are of the view that they will test the matter in a court of law. Interns rotating in various departments of the Georgetown Public Hospital are required to work their regular work week, plus “On Call” sessions during the work week and on weekends. For these additional “On Call” sessions of work, they do not receive any compensation. In other jurisdictions, Interns are given adequate reimbursements for work done. This anomaly must be corrected immediately as it seems that this is in breach of our labour laws. Many doctors in the public health sector are alleging that the
Granger administration is rewarding party loyalty over medical competence and meritocracy. Many young doctors are complaining that scholarships for further training have not been properly advertised, panels are not balanced, and results are often skewed. They feel efforts must be made to have an open and transparent system, where persons are promoted based on their assessed competence or sent for postgraduate training based on merit. Our medical doctors deserved better- they should earn a better salary and allowances, reduced working hours to improved patient outcomes, better working conditions in the hospitals and a fair and equitable system that
would allow for promotions based on merits rather than a party card. As the government prepared to lay the next budget in parliament, I hope that the many concerns that doctors and other medical staff have raised about their salaries and emoluments would be considered. Many of the doctors have been quite patient and have raised these concerns with the relevant authorities in the hope of getting them resolved. Unfortunately, the Granger administration has been studiously ignoring them. If this attitude continues, then we all will reap the inevitable. Our doctors in the public service deserve better. Dr. Frank Anthony
Tuesday September 25, 2018
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Husband, wife, daughter-in-law charged with trafficking ganja A husband, his wife and his daughter-in-law who were allegedly found with a quantity of marijuana hidden in a barrel in their premises were all charged and remanded to prison yesterday. Keith Barker, 64, his wife Cheryl Barker, 56 and t h e i r d a u g h t e r- i n - l a w, Loretta Chisholm, 25, were jointly charged after they appeared before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. It is alleged that on September 21, last, at Lot 2925 North Ruimveldt, Georgetown, they had in their possession 42.5 kilograms of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking. It was further alleged that on the same day in question, Chisholm had in
Loretta Chisholm and Cheryl Barker her possession one kilogram of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking.
The last charge stated that Cheryl Barker on the same day had in her
High Court grants injunction against Region Five REO The High Court has granted an injunction against Region Five Executive Officer, (REO) Ovid Morrison, in a case filed by a group of cash crops farmers. Three cash crop farmers had taken the REO to Court over the alleged illegal occupation of their lands. The farmers, Krishna Sewall, Kristopher Sewnarin and Kaleel Jameer, of West Coast Berbice,(WCB) have filed an injunction in the High Court to bar Morrison’s occupation of lease land located at Lot Tract ‘X’ of Block ‘1A’ and Tract ‘Y’, portion of Plantation Naarstighed and Bath villages, WCB. Additionally, the farmers are claiming in excess of $10M in damages to crops and properties located on the land they dwelled on for some 16 years. The application for the injunction was heard by Justice Navindra Singh at the Georgetown High Court yesterday.After reading the application the Court ordered the injunction restraining Morrison, his servants, representatives, officers and or agents collectively and individually and each and every one of them restraining whomsoever and however from continuing entering upon, remaining, occupying, farming, bulldozing or occupying in any manner whatsoever interfering with the Applicants’ quiet and peaceful use, occupation and enjoyment of the portion of lands. A date is yet to be fixed for the hearing of the case. In affidavit drafted by lawyers attached to the law Office of Anil Nandlall, the applicants (farmers) noted the lands were cultivated on a lease and with the permission of the Regional Democratic
Region Five REO Ovid Morrison Council (RDC) of Region Five. However in October 2016, Morrison requested that the group of approximately 50 farmers vacate their farmland at Naarstigheid, West Coast Berbice. The REO reportedly threatened to bulldoze the crops and forcibly eject the farmers from the said lands. In response to the REO’s threats, the farmers instructed their lawyer to write a letter to Morrison asking him to discontinue and cease all acts of trespass. However, Morrison continued to threaten to bulldoze and clear the lands allocated to the farmers of Naarstigheid. As such, the applicants (farmers) made several oral complaints to the RDC. However some time in
April 2018, the farmers claimed that Morrison and his agents wrongfully and unilaterally decided to enter upon the said land and cut down or caused to be cut down and removed cash crops and cleared a portion of the land with a bulldozer thereby damaging certain cash crops including sweet peppers, lettuce, eschalot, plantain, banana and calaloo. As a result the farmers are said to have suffered grave losses. On August 6, 2018, the applicants claimed that Morrison and his agents further entered upon the said land with two excavators and flattened another portion of the said land, continuing to cause damage valuable cash crops. They also destroyed two farmhouses, made out of wood, which are collectively valued at $1 million. The farmers claimed that despite warnings, Morrison wrongfully continue to bulldoze and flatten the land, damaging valuable crops and depriving the applicants of their property, livelihood and only source of income. In the court document, the farmers accused Morrison and his agents of unilaterally, wrongfully, illegally, without notice or without permission from the RDC entering the premises and cutting down and removing, certain cash crops including sweet pepper, lettuce, eschalot, plantain, banana and calaloo from the lands.
Remanded to prison Keith Barker possession 628 grams of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking. They all denied the allegations after it was read to them in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. The trio was all represented by Attorney-
at-Law Dexter Todd who asked that his clients be released on bail because they had no knowledge of the drugs. The lawyer added that he is surprised with the manner in which the police are dealing with the matter. He added that his clients were arrested and taken into custody because they were at home when the police conducted the search at the premises. He added the son who is in custody admitted in a statement given to the Police that he is the owner of the drugs but was not brought to court for the charge to be read to him. H o w e v e r, Police Prosecutor, Quinn Harris, objected to bail being granted to the defendants citing the serious nature of the offence, the penalty the charge attracts and the quantum of the narcotics.
The Prosecutor stated that on the day in question ranks from the Police Narcotics Branch acting on information went to the defendants’ home and conducted a search. It was reported that a search was conducted in a bed room and a quantity of leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be narcotics were discovered hidden in a haversacks amongst curtains in the barrel. Further checks were carried out in the bedrooms of Cheryl Barker and Chisholm where small quantities of marijuana were found in their possession. They were all told of the offence and they denied knowledge of the marijuana, hence they were all taken into custody. The Magistrate after listening to the Prosecution facts remanded the trio to prison. They were instructed to make their next court appearance on October 1.
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Kaieteur News
Tuesday September 25, 2018
Republic Bank halts GuySuCo’s bond financing over misuse of funds The now silent Skeldon estate- the old factor and new, troubled one in the background.
Bulkan moves to have PPP’s LGE challenge thrown out …claims court does not have jurisdiction Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan has moved to the have the High Court dismiss the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) challenge against the decision to expand constituencies for the Local Government Elections (LGE) set for November 12. Bulkan’s application is expected to be heard on Thursday before Justice Gino Persaud. According to court filings, Bulkan is contending that the Court lacks jurisdiction to settle or determine any matter pertaining to the validity of the 2018 LGE until after the those elections are held, the election process having begun on July 18, 2018 and then by way of an election petition. The PPP is challenging the authority of Bulkan and the Chief Elections Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Keith Lowenfield, under the Local Democratic Organs Act, Cap. 28:09, to identify by name, boundaries and seats, a number of Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) for the upcoming elections. The Parliamentary Opposition contends that the actions by the Minister are illegal, in violation of the Local Democratic Organs Act and in excess of jurisdiction, when
Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan he failed to satisfy or observe procedures required by law. The PPP had accused the government of gerrymandering LGE boundaries to undermine its stakes at the upcoming elections. The PPP further contends that the Minister altered existing boundaries within existing NDCs without any attempt to consult with important stakeholders, including the electors and the political
parties. However, Bulkan is contending that the procedure set out in Part IV and section 146, section 147 and 148 of the Local Authorities (Elections) Act of Chapter 28:03 provides that the only proper procedure to dispute the validity of the election or the election of a councilor is by way of Election Petition to the High Court, which shall be presented within 28 days of the publication of the results of the election, under section 101 of the Local Authorities (Elections) Act of Chapter 28:03. “The Applicant cannot lawfully challenge the validity of the elections generally or specifically because the elections process has commenced and is in progress; the local government elections have not yet been held; the application is presented by way of a Fixed Date application instead of an elections petition,” court filings by Bulkan stated. Bulkan is contending that under the circumstances, he is entitled to dispute jurisdiction. Attorney-at-Law Anil Nandlall has filed a Fixed Date Application (FDA) on behalf of GECOM Commissioner for the Opposition, Bibi Shadick. The FDA serves as Judicial Review Proceedings against the Minister and GECOM CEO in relation to certain matters pertaining to the impending LGE.
A commercial bank that played a critical role in negotiating a $30B (US$150M) bond facility to help finance capital works for the three-estate Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) has halted any further disbursements. The suspension is because of Republic Bank’s deep unhappiness with how the monies were used by GuySuCo. On September 18, last, Managing Director of Republic Bank (Guy) Limited,
Richard Sammy, wrote Maurice John, General Manager of the Hand-inHand Trust Corporation. Hand-in-Hand had written to Republic Bank requesting that the purpose of the Trust Deed be changed regarding how the proceeds of the bond shall be applied. The bond was supposed to pay for improvements of GuySuCo’s operations at the three remaining estatesAlbion, Blairmont and Uitvlugt. However, the cashstrapped GuySuCo reportedly used part of the bond proceeds to repay interest on another debt at a commercial bank. The bond had strict rules how GuySuCo was supposed to collect and spend the monies. According to Sammy, while Republic Bank has no objection in principle to the proposed changes to the Trust Deed, it remains “extremely disappointed” that proceeds from the bond was utilized for a purpose other than what was approved. “The recitals of the Trust
Deed referenced the exclusive purposes for which the net proceeds of the bond are to be used and this does not include repayment of financing cost and other debt servicing commitments to financial institutions,” Sammy wrote to Hand-in-Hand Trust. Republic Bank said that in light of the report that proceeds from the bond were utilized to partially an or fully settle interest on an outstanding GuySuCo debt with another financial institution, it will be registering a formal complaint. The bank also demanded a full explanation as to the apparent breach of the terms of the Trust Deed. “Kindly note that the execution of the Trust Deed is being held in abeyance until the matter is satisfactorily addressed,” Sammy also announced. Government is under pressure with GuySuCo barely expect to make 100,000 tonnes of sugar this year, after making more than a 200,000 tonnes in 2015. In the last 18 months, (Continued on page 23)
COI hears complaints from retired council workers over delays in pension, gratuity The Commission of Inquiry, (CoI) into the administrative staff of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council, (M&CC) kicked off yesterday, hearing of complaints from retired municipal workers about delays by the Council to pay their pension and gratuity. Among the witnesses called to the stand yesterday was Jardin Hope, a former supervisor attached to the Municipal South Road Day Care Centre. The retired day care provider expressed frustration over what she called a refusal by the Georgetown M&CC to pay her retroactive increase on her salary. “I received my gratuity but I never got my back pay…I retired when I became 55 years old in 2015 but I never received any of the back pay monies that City Hall owes me.” Hope said that she raised the matter with Town Clerk, Royston King, and the Deputy Town Clerk Sharon Harry Munroe but to no avail. “They never looked into it.
Retired Council worker, Jardin Hope They only keep pushing me around. So I filed a complaint with the Commission.” During her testimony, the woman also raised concerns over the manner in which the pension is being paid to retired workers. “They treat us like second class citizens after all our years of service with the council; we do not get our monies on time. The Town Clerk would say he has to pay his staff first before he pays pensioners. That is the way they treat us,” said Hope, who served the Council for some 30years. The woman noted that instead of every month, “we receive our pension every other month and it is creating a problem for us who have mortgage to pay.” “We borrow mortgage
and when the money takes long to go in the bank, they have to deduct a bigger difference” she said. Hope told the Commission that she received a salary of $60,000 and is entitled to a pension of $56,000. A similar complaint was lodged at the CoI by retired East Ruimveldt Day Care, Allison Collins. Collins spent 33 years working for City Hall. She said that she is yet to receive her gratuity and pack pay for 2015 and 2016. “Town Clerk told me that we retired workers are no longer working with the Council so we are not supposed to get any back pay. But I am here to today because I would like my money from Mr. Royston King.” City Hall employees have protested against town clerk, Royston King, who they say has been breaking promises made to them. Earlier this year employees gathered with their placards in front of City Hall demanding that something be done about their constantly delayed salaries. The workers stated that their monthly pay is never on time and that they are yet to be paid for the month of October. They also spoke of their back-pay which is also owed to them by their “employers”. The staffers mentioned they had enough and it was time to let the public know what is going on behind the curtains.
Tuesday September 25, 2018
PAGE 9
Kaieteur News
The tangled web of maladministration In defending his choice of Head of the Department of Energy, President Granger was quoted as saying that “He knows that he does not know everything but he knows to find people who knows enough.” The President’s prescription is better applied to Ministers than to technicians. When it comes to Ministers, since they are political appointees and mainly persons whose names would have appeared on the party’s political list of candidates, it is not necessary that they have technical expertise in the areas which they manage. A Minister of Health need not necessarily be a doctor; a Minister of Education need not be an academic; a Minister of Public Infrastructure need not be an engineer; a Minister of Public Security need not be a retired police
officer; a Minister of Finance can be a lawyer as Desmond Hoyte once was. But these Ministers must rely on technically qualified persons to get their jobs done. You can excuse a Minister who is not technically qualified in the area in the portfolio he is managing. That Minister is not required to know everything. He or she is a political appointee who should, however, at least know how to find the expertise to get the job done. Ministers rely on technical personnel within their Ministries for advice and guidance. It is therefore at the level of the Ministry that one should ensure that the technical expertise exists. In the case of the energy sector, you do not as Head of the Energy Department as someone who does not know
everything but who knows where to find people who know enough. What you need is someone who is technically qualified who can offer the Minister the advice that he or she needs. If you have to find someone as a technician in a Ministry, whose job is to then find another technician who knows what the first technician does not know, it is a case of wastage of resources. The Minister of Energy does not have to be an energy expert but his Head of Energy should be. Ministers do not even have to manage their Ministries. That is the job of the Permanent Secretaries. But in small banana-like republics such as Guyana, inevitably this distinction is blurred and Ministers involve themselves in decisions which are admin-
Dem boys seh ...
Royston and Jagdeo should be in jail Not everybody should get power on de earth. De Clown Clerk is one of dem. Imagine he so powerful that he tek state land and rent it out. Nobody don’t know if he pay in de money. His action mirrors a Jagdeo in so many ways. Dem boys can’t forget some of de things Jagdeo do wid state assets. He tek state assets fuh heself and fuh he friends and family. He tek Duke Lodge and spend almost $100M to nice up de place then he sell to Gerry fuh next to nutten. Same thing he do wid de Sanata Complex. He spend couple hundred million tax dollars fuh
nice up de place. He put in new roads and he refurbish and renovate all de buildings and then give he friend, Babbie fuh next to nutten. Jagdeo tek Pradoville land and build he mansion. De Clown Clerk try fuh tek Farnum playground in Bel Air fuh build he mansion. Nobody didn’t go to court fuh stop Jagdeo but dem had to go to court to stop de Clown Clerk from tekking de ground. He seh he rent toilet fuh $90,000 a month just fuh he guard pee. Everybody know that fuh $90,000 he coulda build three permanent toilet— one in ee bedroom, one in de hallway and one fuh de guard. De Town Clown not far
away. Dem boys believe she gun get ketch up in de COI. Remember she and de Clown Clerk secretly sign de parking meter deal that spark nuff protest. Dem tek free trip to Mexico and dem been to Panama. Nutten is free these days suh dem boys want to know wha dem give up. She brave because she going back again fuh be Town Clown a second time. De perks sweet but old people seh wha sweet ah mouth does bitta in you behind and wuss if it got pepper. Talk half and remember scampishness never prosper. Where is Royston today?
istrative in nature. Ministers are accountable for their Ministries but this does not mean that they are required to direct administrative tasks. Within the civil service, there is supposed to be a clear division between politicians and administrators. It is the administrators who are responsible for the technical staff. And it is the President who appoints the political staff, that is, the Ministers. The confusion which exists in public administration is two-fold. First, we have a case of too many political appointees to administrative positions, including technical posts. These persons may well have technical qualifications but their presence in Ministries is because of their political connections rather than their technical skills. The best persons are not selected for technical jobs because political criteria
is often introduced which favours the political appointees. The second problem is that Ministers are often selected for their technical ability. But these Ministers end up being poor politicians. They have a great deal of technical knowledge but they really cannot manage power which is the primary responsibility of politicians. The problem with governance in Guyana must be laid squarely at the feet of the government. The government needs to understand that technical positions have to be filled by technical personnel. In filling technical positions there should be an open and competitive process in which the best person emerges regardless of that person’s perceived political affiliation. You want the best person in the right positions rather than political appointees who are
not the best. Unfortunately, what is happening is that the government is stacking the public sector, from the lowest level to the highest level, with political favourites, rather than with personnel who can get the job done directly. The result is that the public sector becomes bloated because the political appointees in technical posts who know that they do not know everything have to find experts who know what the political appointees do not know. The government ends up paying two persons to do one person’s work.
PAGE 10
Tuesday September 25, 2018
Kaieteur News
=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===
Ryan “Effing” Crawford threw away his rights You are not going to believe this. It is true; I swear so. The very day that the Ryan Crawford incident hit the news, I saw random stopping on the Railway Embankment on which I live. The very next day, when the Crawford story was the hot topic for discussion, I saw random stopping on the very spot on the Railway Embankment. On the third day after the Crawford imbroglio was still being talked about, I saw random stopping on Sheriff Street outside the Botanical Gardens. I pulled up. The two
cops saw me, jumped on their motor-bikes and rode away. I am advising all drivers to get real – random interceptions are not going to cease. Random interceptions will not go away. By now those who are regular readers of this page will know that I have pledged that such an anomaly will be not be visited anymore by this columnist. After more than six articles, three requested statements by the Office of Professional Responsibility and witnessing random halts by traffic ranks
every day, I just think I have no more interest in that subject. This is Guyana. Guyana has psychologically broken down. The police have real problems with observing legal rules and administrative propriety therefore, random stops will go on and thus there is no purpose in writing about it further. I am saying with superabundance of confidence that during the trial of Crawford, with press coverage reaching all over Guyana, the police will be making random interceptions. The ranks and their superiors will not be deterred by the trial and back off. I repeat – random stops on the roadways of Guyana by the police will go on forever. The sooner you as a driver accept that, then the less anger you will vent. I met Ryan Crawford once. It was in the studio of Dave Television in Region Six. It was during the 2015 election
campaign. We chatted about Guyana, discussed the race problematic and talked about the AFC. Crawford struck me as a man who understood Guyana and its immense faults. He certainly came across as intelligent and perceptive. Judging from our little dialogue, I would not have expected him to descend to the irascible levels he did. In this country you just have to understand it is a troubled land with damaged psyches. Once you are aware of the pitfalls of your country, you will avoid the trap and infamy of tsunamic semantics. I consider myself a citizen that mingles with people all the time. I am always on the roads; I am always shopping. I see life in Georgetown in all types of shapes and angles all the time with occasional visits to other regions notably Region 3, 5, 6 and 10. I see heartbreaking things. I intervene but unlike Crawford I do not lose my
grammatical sobriety because I know my country. I know what it has become. I know about the damage done to the collective psyche of this nation. Two weeks ago I was driving to the airport with my wife and daughter. I saw random stops by the Madewini police. Outgoing travellers were being harassed. I pulled over to intervene; my wife would have none of it. At the departure lounge at the airport, I saw Guyanese security personnel hassling departing Cubans. I went up to one of them, and indicated that the last person on this earth that should be rude to a foreigner in Guyana is a Guyanese because Guyanese are all over the world hustling a living. I was polite. I know what Guyana has become so it didn’t make sense to remonstrate with the security rank. Ryan Crawford lost his temper and he is now in trouble. The police charges were expected. There isn’t a police force in the world that would allow what Crawford did to go without a reaction. The circumstances did not favour Crawford. Only one type of situation
Frederick Kissoon favours the abuse of a policeman. It is when the rank becomes rogue. You are certainly going to assault a policeman if he stops your wife for a traffic or criminal violation and fondles her. Such a reaction is justified in my opinion. Crawford, if he felt that the policeman was acting wrongly should have refused to comply and just sit in his car and call his lawyer and advise him/her to get in touch with a senior officer or drive away. If he had driven away, he still would have been charged but the charge would not have been as severe as it is now and the explanation to the magistrate would have been more plausible.
Tuesday September 25, 2018
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Kaieteur News
Subryanville hotel owner manslaughter charge upgraded to murder One month after the owner of the Tourist Villa Hotel was charged with manslaughter for shooting his neighbour, he was yesterday charged with murder and remanded to prison. The murder charge was instituted based on advice from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP). Erwin Bacchus, 45, of 260 Fifth Av e n u e , Subryanville, Kitty, was out on $1.5 M bail after being charged with manslaughter last month. However when the matter was called in the courtroom of Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman yesterday, Police Prosecutor Neville Jeffers told the court that based on advice from the DPP, he will be unable to proceed with the manslaughter charge.
The Magistrate then withdrew the manslaughter charge against Bacchus and read a new charge to him. Bacchus was not required to plead to the new charge which alleged that on August 4, last, at Subryanville, he murdered Jason De Florimonte. The defendant is being represented by Attorneysat-law Glenn Hanoman and Nigel Hughes. At yesterday’s court hearing Hughes told the court that it is not clear why the DPP charged his client with murder. He said that no further investigation was carried out after his client was first charged with manslaughter. With this new charge against his client, Hughes is
Jason De Florimonte contending that the decision of the DPP amounted to abuse
Health Minister to serve on WHO Executive Board Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence, has been nominated to be a m e m b e r o f t h e Wo r l d H e a l t h Organisation’s (WHO) Executive Board at next year’s World Health Assembly. The life of this new Executive Board will commence in April 2019. This was announced at a Regional Committee meeting for the Americas being hosted by WHO in Washington DC. Minister Lawrence is attending this meeting in her capacity as Guyana’s Public Health Minister. The engagement runs from September 23 to 27, 2018. Minister Lawrence will serve a term of three years from 2020 to 2022. The board to which the minister has been nominated to serve plays a significant role in meeti n g s a t t h e Wo r l d H e a l t h A s s e m b l y (WHA). The board usually gives effect to the decisions and policies of the Health Assembly, advises it and generally facilitates its work The Executive Board is composed of 34 technically qualified elected members. The annual Board meeting is held in January when the members agree upon the agenda for the World Health Assembly
and the resolutions to be considered by the Health Assembly. A follow-up meeting to the Health Assembly takes place in May. The main meeting of the board, at which the agenda for the forthcoming Health Assembly is agreed upon and resolutions for forwarding to the Health Assembly are adopted, is held in January, with a second shorter meeting in May, immediately after the Health Assembly, for more administrative matters. The World Health Assembly considers reports of the Executive Board, which it instructs in regard to matters on which further action, study, investigation or report may be required. Since WHA is the supreme decisionmaking body for the WHO, this gathering oversees the appointment of the DirectorGeneral, supervises the financial policies of the Organisation, and reviews and approves the proposed programme budget. Minister Lawrence has also been nominated to serve on the Latin American and Caribbean Center on Health Sciences, also known by its original name Regional Library of Medicine (BIREME, acronym in Portuguese), in Brazil. This appointment is for a period of two years. [DPI]
Agriculturist John Dow new chairman of GuySuCo - CEO, Dr. Harold Davis Jr. appointed ex officio member Minister of State Joseph Harmon yesterday announced at his postCabinet press conference that a new Board of Directors of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO) has been appointed. The board will serve for a period of two years from September 1, 2018, to August 31, 2020, and chaired by Agriculturist, John Dow. Other members of the board are John Browman, Richard Cumberbatch, Paul Cheong, Fritz Mc Lean, Vishnu Panday, Ramesh
Persaud, Nowrang Persaud, Roy Hanoman and Claude Housty. Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Corporation, Dr. Harold Davis Jr. will serve as an ex officio member of the Board. The life of the previous board, chaired by Professor Clive Thomas ended in April. The CEO was appointed on August 1. The appointment comes as the efforts continue to return the three-estate industry to profitability following its restructuring.
Chairman of GUYSUCO Board, John Dow
Remanded to prison Erwin Bacchus of power. He added that the new charge will now impact his client’s liberty since bail is not granted to murder accused. His client would now have to be incarcerated, he said. Police Prosecutor Neville Jeffers told the court that after the Post Mortem (PM) report was submitted to the DPP and the injuries presented was consistent with that of murder and not manslaughter, the new charge was instituted. The Prosecutor added
that the file is complete and the Prosecution will be calling 20 witnesses during the Preliminary Inquiry (PI). Magistrate Latchman remanded Bacchus to prison and instructed him to make his next court appearance on October 3 for the commencement of the PI. The lawyers representing Bacchus are still contending that their client was merely trying to defend himself after he was attacked by De Florimonte who was at the time armed with a knife and a rolling pin. Hughes added that a handyman who works for Bacchus saw the now dead man beating his girlfriend in front of the hotel and tried to rescue the woman. Hughes added that De Florimonte became upset and armed himself with a knife and a rolling pin and advanced towards the handyman. De Florimonte then began to stab at the handyman who then ran into the hotel to save his life but was followed by De Florimonte. The court heard that while the handyman was running up the stairs of the hotel De Florimonte caught up with him and once again began to stab at him. The defendant in an at-
tempt to save the handyman’s life told De Florimonte to desist from attempting to stab the handyman and De Florimonte turned his attention on him. Hughes stated that his client became fearful for his life and in an attempt to scare De Florimonte fired two warning shots in the air. De Florimonte continued to advance towards his client and that’s when he shot De Florimonte once in the chest and fired two more shots in his direction while he was still advancing towards him. However Police state that on the day in question around 01:00 hrs on the day in question, De Florimonte was seen abusing a female and the handyman went to part them. Soon after, an argument ensued between them. The court was told that De Florimonte began attacking the handyman with a knife and rolling pin. It was then that Bacchus fired several shots at De Florimonte causing him to sustain injuries. According to information, an autopsy conducted on 30year-old De Florimonte, of 96 Fifth Avenue Subryanville, revealed that he was shot three times about his body.
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Kaieteur News
Tuesday September 25, 2018
Cabinet greenlights appointment of high commissioners and ambassadors Minister of State, Mr. Joseph Harmon, announced that Cabinet at its Tuesday, September 18, 2018 meeting, consented to the appointment of several High Commissioners and Ambassadors to Guyana. The Minister made this announcement at his Post Cabinet Press Briefing, which was held at the Ministry of the Presidency. Minister Harmon said that Cabinet greenlighted the appointment of Her Excellency, Ms. Alfreda Chielkwa Kansembe Mwamba as High Commissioner of the Republic of Zambia to Guyana. High Commissioner
Mwamba’s appointment is expected to strengthen the relations that have existed between Zambia and Guyana since the establishment of diplomatic relations in February 1971. Cabinet also okayed the appointment of Her Excellency, Ms. Abena Pokua Adompim Busia as the High Commissioner of the Republic of Ghana to Guyana. Minister Harmon said that Guyana and Ghana established diplomatic relations on May 14, 1979 and it is anticipated that this appointment will further strengthen relations between the two nations and foster heightened levels of co-
operation in the political, economic and social fields. Cabinet also consented to the appointment of His Excellency, Mr. Nicolai Prytz as the non-resident Ambassador of the Kingdom of Denmark to Guyana. Minister Harmon said that Ambassador Prytz’s appointment will serve to enhance the existing relations between the two nations and it will provide the opportunity to further explore areas of collaboration and cooperation. The appointment of His Excellency, Mr. Stanislav Vidovic as the non-resident Ambassador of the Republic
of Slovenia to Guyana was also announced. This appointment is expected to enhance bilateral relations between the two countries. Cabinet greenlighted, too, the appointment of Her Excellency, Mrs. Sandra Lang Linkensederova, as the nonresident Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Guyana. Minister Harmon said that this appointment will serve to intensify relations between Guyana and the Czech Republic in political, economic, social and
technical affairs. The Minister of State also announced that Her Excellency, Ms. Marichu B. Mauro has been appointed as the non-resident Ambassador of the Republic of the Philippines to Guyana. The two countries established diplomatic ties on August 25, 2008 and, the Minister said that he expects that this appointment will strengthen those relations and provide the opportunity to further explore areas of cooperation.
Additionally, His Excellency, Mr. Datuk Lim Juay Jin has been appointed as the non-resident Ambassador of Malaysia to Guyana, the Minister of State said. Guyana and Malaysia have a long history of diplomatic relations that dates back to 1974. They have collaborated in the areas of science, business and many other fields and it is expected that this appointment will result in the development of enhanced relations between the two countries. [MoTP]
US$16M contract awarded for Region One ferry
M.V. Lady Northcote
A $3.2Billion (US $15.6Million) contract was awarded for construction and supply of a passenger and cargo ocean ferry vessel and associated equipment that will ply the North West route from Parika to Mabaruma. This was announced yesterday by Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, at a post-Cabinet briefing at the Ministry of the Presidency. “We will be receiving
funding from India for the construction of the ferry. That process is a lengthy one because it has to go through our public service plus the Indian public service, so it takes time from the actual conceptualisation of a project to fund it. It would have gone through several phases and now a company has been identified to construct the ferry,” Minister Harmon explained.
The North West district is currently served by the Transport and Harbours Department’s refurbished M.V. Barima along with the Lady Northcote. To improve the facilities and quality of services offered to the travelling public on the waterways, a sum of $500M has been allocated in 2018, for the docking of M.V. Makouria, M.V. Kanawan and M.V. Sabanto in 2018.
Tuesday September 25, 2018
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Kaieteur News
Petrotrin refinery not closing Oct 1 Trinidad (Trinidad Guardian) - Petrotrin’s re-fin-ery gates won’t be closed im-medi-ate-ly on Oc-to-ber 1 there’ll be a phased ex-it of em-ploy-ees start-ing with the re-fin-ery. Gov-ern-ment and the com-pa-ny’s board had set Oc-to-ber 1 as the tar-get date for re-fin-ery clo-sure and the start of a re-struc-tur-ing of the com-pa-ny. The jobs of al-most 4,800 per-ma-nent and tem-po-rary/ ca-su-al em-ploy-ees will all be af-fect-ed, par-tic-u-lar-ly 1,700 re-fin-ery posts. Workers will even-tu-al-ly have to reap-ply for jobs in a re-structured Ex-plo-ration and Produc-tion di-vi-sion which will be Petrotrin’s new fo-cus. Notes to Petrotrin’s Au-gust 2018 fi-nan-cial state-ments showed the com-pa-ny recorded a net prof-it af-ter tax of $83.2 mil-lion for last month. Ex-plo-ration and Pro-duc-tion, in-clud-ing Trin-mar, record-ed a net prof-it of $20.5 mil-lion - but Re-fin-ing and Mar-ket-ing record-ed a net
loss of $7.5 mil-lion. A Petrotrin Board memo, acknowl-edg-ing the un-cer-tain-ty and anx-i-ety re-gard-ing the restruc-tur-ing plans and the Octo-ber 1 date, stat-ed: “We want to un-der-score Oc-to-ber 1 marks the start of the tran-si-tion pe-ri-od and isn’t the last day of work for every Petrotrin em-ployee. “The tim-ing and du-ra-tion of the tran-si-tion is go-ing to be de-ter-mined by our abil-i-ty to do it smooth-ly, ef-fi-cient-ly and safe-ly over the next few months.” The memo added, “We are in the process of im-ple-ment-ing the most prac-ti-cal ap-proach to tran-si-tion the com-pa-ny without neg-a-tive-ly af-fect-ing the busi-ness. It would be im-practi-cal to have a sin-gle hard-stop date.” Petrotrin chair-man Wil-fred Es-pinet told T&T Guardian last Fri-day that all Petrotrin doors won’t be closed Oc-to-ber 1 in a hard and fast way. He said that wasn’t pos-si-ble since the compa-ny hadn’t yet had a chance
to have “mean-ing-ful dis-cussions to present things” proper-ly to the Oil-field Work-ers’ Trade Union. Es-pinet said the board meets the OW-TU on Thurs-day. “We can’t do any-thing un-
Number 63 Beach gets facelift
Volunteers at work at the Number 63 Beach coastal cleanup About 30 volunteers descended to the Number 63 Beach on the morning of Saturday to join in a cleanup exercise in observance of International Coastal Cleanup Day which was observed on September 15. Speaking with the Department of Public Information (DPI), National Coordinator for Caribbean Youth Environment Network (CYEN), Guyana who spearheaded the exercise, Keifer Jackson, said the team was able to remove more than 80 pounds of garbage from a section of the beach.She urged persons using the beach to be more responsible and reduce the use of single-use plastic. “Collect your garbage, if it is that you are going for a picnic, use re-usable items as
opposed to disposable or ensure you have your garbage bags because at the end of the day this is our environment and misuse has a harmful impact on ourselves, health and our way of living”. She added that placement of garbage bins on the stretch of the beach will help to minimise the effects of litter on the coastline and called on the community and other stakeholders to take up the initiative. Meanwhile, among the volunteers was Final Year Biology Student Andre Surendre who noted that people should learn the steps they can take to eliminate the impact garbage has on the environment. “Having a background in biology, I know about the short- and
long-term outcome of pollution. Everyday plastic bags that people would throw out, get into the waterways and turtles would mistake them for jellyfish, eat them and suffocate”. Surendre outlined ways in which everyone can help in the reduction of pollution. These include; Reduce Your Use of Single-Use Plastics. Recycle Properly, Participate In (or Organise) a Beach or River Cleanup, stay informed on issues related to plastic pollution and help make others aware of the problem. Volunteers from the Rotaract Club of New Amsterdam, University of Guyana Berbice Campus, Youth Arm of the Chamber of Commerce were part of the exercise.
til we’ve met. There has to be a process for re-fin-ery clo-sure. The board will pur-sue this in a way to be the least dis-rup-tive to en-sure fu-el sup-plies aren’t af-fect-ed,” Es-pinet said. “Oc-to-ber 1 was a tar-get date so there’ll be a phased ex-it of peo-ple based on what is required to con-duct a safe and order-ly tran-si-tion. So all doors won’t close Oc-to-ber 1.” In-di-cat-ing the re-fin-ery will be phased out first, he added, “We’ve al-ready be-gun the process of mak-ing sure it will be con-duct-ed in the least dis-ruptive way so sup-plies won’t be
dis-turbed.” En-er-gy Min-ister Franklin Khan re-cent-ly said the de-com-mis-sion-ing of the re-fin-ery is ex-pect-ed to be com-plet-ed by De-cember. He said one couldn’t flick a switch and close re-fin-ery as-pects all in one day and cer-tain ar-eas had to be turned off with preser-va-tion plans in place. The board’s memo al-so stat-ed that de-tails on compen-sa-tion and ben-e-fits are “cur-rent-ly be-ing finalised.” “These will be commu-ni-cat-ed as soon as soon as they have been com-plet-
ed. We do not want to provide ap-prox-i-ma-tions or any oth-er in-for-ma-tion that is not com-plete-ly ac-cu-rate. This will on-ly lead to greater un-cer-tain-ty,” the memo said. The memo stat-ed Petrotrin’s Em-ploy-ee As-sistance Ser-vices is al-so provid-ing psy-cho-log-i-cal help, fi-nan-cial coun-selling and ad-vice for a pe-ri-od of six months. “We are par-tic-u-lar-ly sen-si-tive about the in-crease in stress and anx-i-ety that loss of em-ploy-ment may cause.”
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SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION, W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Guyana passport application. Graphics design, advertisement. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535. ICONIC MARKETING & PRINTING –TEL: 6006887: We create A/works, logos, business cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included. Have your fence, yard, mat to pressure wash and yard to weed? Call 666-2326
FOR SALE Generac Pressure Wash for sale 3100 PSI. Tel#654-5267/ 652-2244/220-4203 Skutt Automatic Kiln Model 1227 & 8 movable stage pieces for sale. 650-1713 Cat 320 DL Excavator - Good condition MWM Turbo 6 cylinder engine with 8-6 Berkley pump. Yamaha 25 hp outboard. Call 613-5062
1 Mitsubishi canter 4D30, good condition, 2.5 ton, shortbase hydraulic backgate. Price 1.1M. Contact 661-3525, 610-6886 Two connected 7 1/2 Tons air conditioners. Aluminium ducting extractors for restaurant. Contact No #6621991/641-4952
Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezerCall: 610-5846 or 661-8158
Sheep for sale. Contact# 6956139/ 674-5052
TAXI SERVICE GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 225-7878 (24HRS)
Strong, Fast, Aluminium boats for sale with & without engines. 651-8883 whatsapp. 50 acres of coconut estate located at Barima River. Contact#680-2702 1 Iceplant 2x6 tons with holding room, filters system tank, cummins generator, fuel tank, electrical system #6024426 One transported property, one farm land, One Hilux pickup, Music equipment. #265-3586 Puppies for sale - Doberman, Rotweiler, Husky, and German Shepherd. Contact# 682-8600 LAND FOR SALE 5 acres of Vacant Transported land @ Brahn, West Coast Berbice. $10M Negotiable. Call: 601-5739/ 718-444-1944/917-628-9492
SALON September Cosmetology Courses $40,000 Nail Technology $25,000 Advance Make-up $15,000, All products provided. Abby #614-6749 TO LET Bottom floor Camp St for business/ office commercial spaces, available at Enmore mall ECD. Call Richard #6097675/674-1705/233-2614
FOR RENT
WANTED
VACANCY
PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION, W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620
1 Air compressor 5HP 3 Phase 230/220 volts. Call: 628-1486/ 698-1134.
Waiter/Waitress- Cook, preferably carnegie trained. Call: 225-7933, or visit 173 Sheriff Street.
1 Diesel Mechanic/Welder to work in Interior. Contact #6255136 Monday-Friday between 8am-5pm
Maths tutor to teach an 8 year old. Contact 223-5273/74
Land to buy. Parfaite Harmonie, Tuschen, Farm, Eccles, Covenient, Uitvlugt, Diamond, Providence. Best price pay. Call 604-6724
Minibus driver living in G/ town to work with company #664-0802
1 Supermarket for rent. Located at 76 first avenue Bartica. Contact# 664-4663 1 bedroom for working couple/single person $35,000 & $32,000 monthly light & water included. Lodge. Call: 623-0076
Parfaite Harmonie can transfer 3M 1.3M, Farm 4.5M, Covenient 5M, Tuschen 1.4M, Uitvlugt 2.7M. Call 666-2326 HEALTH Herbal remedies: Diabetes, Hypertension, Infertility, Menstrual disorders, Enlarged prostate, Kidney,Gall stones & Arthritis etc. Call Sparman #676-5924
1 Skilled Bobcat operator. 4 years experience. 609-0766/ 265-3024 Wanted Female workers. Just write CXC 2018. Call 622-5518
10" Diamond Lavrador. Steel wash plant (stone separator) for gold mining, Shulz Air Compressor. Call 613-5062
Installations, Repairs and parts for AC, Fridge, Washing machine, Stove etc call Nick 627-3206, 630-1600
R&C Imports- Online shopping at the comfort of your home. Whatsapp or call Tel# 218-0007/692-6065/6007853
Tuesday September 25, 2018
Kaieteur News
CAR RENTAL PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS FROM $4000 & UP, SUV’S PER DAY- CALL:643-5122/ 6 5 6 - 0 0 8 7 , ,EMAIL:PRO_AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.COM DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL:225-7126/ 2263 6 9 3 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL @YAHOO.COM/ WWW.D OLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL:PICKUP,9-11 SEAT MINI BUS, GOOD FOR AIRPORT & FAMILY OUTINGS, CHEAPEST RATE . Call: 698-7807 WING’S CAR & PICKUP RENTAL: LOW DOWN PAYMENT, CHEAP RATES,SPECIALOFFERS! . CALL: 690-6494
Attractive live in waitressCall: 327-0252/674-4665 Driver for pitbull route 42 bus. Call 685-0569, 604-7018. Call any time.
Experienced Handyman/ Porter ablebody all-rounder, apply with written application/ recommendation @ Keyfood McDoom Village (Age 20-30) Expert water repairer. Apply to Royal Jewel House 137 Regent Street- opposite Kirpalani Vegetarian Gardens: Driver/ Salesman. 227-7714/2233448info@vgiworld.com Road technicians to work at Atlantic Wireless Network to install internet antennas. Call #227-2001 or email CV to jobs@awngy.com
1 male to work on chicken farm in interior, must have knowledge & experience in poultry rearing. Contact #680-2702
Receptionist, Ages 25-45 years old, Tel #225-0198 or visit 233 South Rd, Lacytown.
1 Live-in-couple. Husband, Driving etc Wife- Domestic. Georgetown Area. Tel# 2271830
Looking for a job & educational services? Contact The Job Centre 43 Croal & Alexander Street or call 600-8457
One sales girl. Call: 223-9677 8am to 5pm Monday to Friday. Persons to work at bar #6530222/615-1347
Super newly renovated property 2 storey house with 2 washrooms, one with bathtub at Lowland ECD Price $10M Neg. Cell: 6470655
3 storey house for sale 29 Durban Street Werk-en-Rust #678-1566
Experienced wasbay staff. Minibus driver to work Route 42 bus from 4pm. #646-8748
Unfurnished building located Lower East Coast/Lower East Bank Demerara. Send details &pictures- newerarealtygy @gmail.com
PROPERTY FOR SALE
6 bedroom house on transported double lot- all amenities, private yard/ parking. Georgetown, Call: 609-7766 today
Driver/Expeditor. Contact 223-5273/74
One maid. Tel# 664-6960
Vacancy for 1 maid & 1 male security. Call: 693-9336 (ECD) 9am to 4pm weekdays only. Vacancy for carpenters. Apply at Alabama Trading, 65 Robb St, Bourda Wanted male/female to work in interior salary $80,000 age 25-40. Call: 693-0214
VEHICLE FOR SALE Allion, Primo, Fielder Wagon, Spacio, Bluebird, 212 Carina, RZ,Pit-bull, Allex, 192 & Canter – Call: 650-7501 Nissan X-Trail. PNN 2515 $2.3 Negotiable. Call: 683-1019
Vacancy for watchman who can bathe dogs and clean the yard. Call: 231-0734/653-4537 Responsible Taxi drivers 1) Residing in Soesdyke/ Timehri 2) Residing in G/ town or it’s environs. Call# 646-8748
LEARN TO DRIVE N. Outar Driving School. Learn to Drive the right way. Affordable package. Call: 644-5166/691-2561 ACCOMMODATION Secret Villa & Harmony Inn, Ideal for local & overseas guest. Tel#225-6337, 2181400/ 694-7817/668-0306
Nissan Pathfinder Jeep, Nissan Laurel Honda Ipsum 7 seater. Superb condition/ Bargain Prices. Call: 609-7766 today Case 680 H Backhoe, GMC Tow Truck, Scrap Nissan 720 Pickup. Call Richard #6097675/674-1705/233-2614. Reasonable Price.
EDUCATION Personal tutor for your children. Grade 2,4,6 Form 15 CXC Maths/Physic/ Chemistry/Biology. #6905008
Tuesday September 25, 2018
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Kaieteur News
18 cell phones, improvised weapons found in latest Lusignan Prisons search
Joyride turned bad:
These were among the items seized at the Lusignan prisons, East Coast Demerara. A sudden search by police and prison authorities Sunday at the Lusignan Prisons once again underscored that there is a thriving contraband trade in the prisons. According to the police yesterday, between 12:02hrs and 14:50hrs, a joint search was conducted at the three Lusignan Prison Holding Bays. There, the search party found, in one of the holding bay, 14 cellphones; 15 SIM cards; one tattoo machine; five pairs of scissors; 48
improvised weapons; 85 grams of cannabis; $3,040 in local cash; a quantity of chargers; one knife; a chopper and a quantity of razor blades. In Holding Bay 3, the haul was smallerthree cell phones, nine improvised weapons; one tattoo machine; one pair scissors; one cable and one earpiece. In another holding bay, the party discovered three improvised weapons; four lighters, one cell phone and an earpiece.
Waste in Government spending... From page 3 GDP and above in Argentina and Brazil to below 20 percent of GDP in the Dominican Republic and Guatemala. Following the 2007-2008 global financial crisis, many Latin American countries rode a commodity windfall and raised their spending on items such as public sector salaries and pensions, which are difficult to dial back. Governments now need to make the most of their tax revenues. The report listed about eight key findings. Among these are that moderate estimates of inefficiencies in procurement (including losses caused by corruption and delays), excessive civil service payroll and transfers that do not reach the targeted population, could amount to as much as 4.4 percent of GDP, or $220 billion (about 16 percent of total spending) – enough to eliminate extreme poverty in the region. Chile and Peru are the most efficient in their spending, with wastage of 1.8 percent and 2.5 percent of GDP, respectively. The IDB also found that public investment needed to ensure future growth has lost more than 8 percentage points in the budget relative to current expenditure. While public investment per capita has increased on average more than 50 percent in every other region in the world, in Latin America it has only crept up five percent, remaining roughly at the same levels as in the 1980s. IDB also reported that Latin America and the Carib-
bean spends four times more on the elderly than its younger cohorts. “If current pension and health expenditure regimes are kept in place, their share in the budget could jump from 35% today to as much as 78% by 2065, putting fiscal sustainability at risk and starving other priorities such as developing the job skills and the infrastructure necessary to sustain future economic growth.” Further, the Bank noted that more government spending is unlikely to help close the region's inequality gap if inefficiencies in redistribution are not corrected. For 16 Latin American countries, direct taxes and cash transfers reduce inequality by only 4.7 percent on average, while in a sample of advanced countries the decline is 38 percent. The IDB also said that reducing cost overruns and delays in government-financed infrastructure projects to the levels of projects financed by multilateral developme n t banks could produce cost savings of almost 1.2 percent of GDP. This could free up $50 billion a year for infrastructure investments. It noted too that “several countries could improve health indicators without increasing budgets by aligning their spending to international efficiency standards. “For the region, life expectancy could be extended by four years, with Bolivia, Guyana, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago gaining more than seven years. Similarly, crime could
be reduced 30 percent.” MOVING FORWARD The report offered recommendations. The report advocates for fiscal rules that go beyond fiscal sustainability to investment protection, such as Peru's double condition fiscal rule, which sets specific limits to growth in current expenditures, making sure that it will not eat up resources that should be allocated to capital expenditures. The report lists multiple ways to improve the management of civil service expenditures, from developing comprehensive civil service plans that set clear visions and goals, to headcount and transactional audits. In education, the book recommends, among other measures, accompanying higher spending per student with more accountability measures to reduce corruption, as well as better training and performance pay for teachers. Regarding public safety, the book notes that the region suffers from high crime levels even though it significantly increased spending on policing and incarceration, with the security sector absorbing 5.4 percent of fiscal budgets – versus 3.3 percent for OECD countries. The report lists improvement areas in police organization and efficiency, better management of crime prevention programmes, and targeting high-risk places, people and behaviours, among others.
On Sunday morning, at the New Golden Grove Housing Scheme, EBD, a car wash employee unauthorisedly went on a joy ride with a taxi that had been left there for cleaning.
He ended up causing the Toyota Allion to turn turtle. He was arrested, but he has left the taxi owner with thousands of dollars in damage.
Republic Bank halts GuySuCo’s bond... From page 8 the corporation closed four estates- including its newest one, Skeldon, Rose Hall, Enmore and Wales. More than 7,000 workers have been sent home. The David Granger administration had promised to privatize the four closed estates but the process had been dragging on with little word on progress from the Government. There have been some serious offers, including from Saudi Arabia for the entire industry. However, the administration has been largely quiet on its progress. In the meantime, thousands of sugar workers made redundant are awaiting the other half of their
severance. Government had had to shave the budget of several ministries and state agencies to make the severance. GuySuCo owed billions to the banks and suppliers with little end in sight for what has become a political football of
40
an industry that once ruled the foreign exchange earnings for Guyana. The administration had insisted that it can no longer allow GuySuCo to bleed the rest of the country with the billions it needed annually in cash bailouts.
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Kaieteur News
Tuesday September 25, 2018
Tuesday September 25, 2018
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Kaieteur News
Mohammad Shahzad approached to underperform in Afghan T20 League ESPNcricinfo Mohammad Shahzad, the Afghanistan wicketkeeperbatsman, has become the latest high-profile subject of a spot-fixing approach. The offer, made during the ongoing Asia Cup, was to underperform in the inaugural edition of the Afghan Premier League T20 to be played in Sharjah from October 5 to 23. ESPNcricinfo understands that Shahzad immediately reported the approach to the team management, and all protocols were followed in raising the matter with the ICC’s anticorruption unit.
Shahzad was picked up by the Paktia franchise to play in a tournament that is set to feature a number of current and former internationals like Brendon McCullum, Shahid Afridi and Chris Gayle. ”There was an approach made during the Asia Cup, but for their [Afghanistan’s] own T20 league,” an ICC official said. “The matter was reported through the right channels on Saturday and is being looked into by the anti-corruption unit.” Speaking at a media event in Dubai on Monday, Alex Marshall, head of the
ICC’s anti-corruption unit, confirmed as many as five international captains have been approached for spotfixing over the last 12 months; four of them from Full Member countries. Sarfraz Ahmed, the Pakistan captain, is the only one to have publicly stated that an approach had been made, during the Sri Lanka series last year. “There have been 32 investigations in the last 12 months, eight involve players as suspects,” Marshall said at the ICC’s headquarters. “Five of them involve administrators or non-playing personnel.
Tuesday September 25, 2018 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Have you made plans to have a romantic interest come to your home, Aries? If so, don't rush to get ready. Your friend is probably going to be late.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Working late, Libra? What could be so important that it keeps you from paying attention to your family or partner? Probably nothing!
TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) A visitor to your house may have some juicy gossip for you. Perhaps someone is getting married. You aren't the type to put too much stock in gossip, but you might want to do so today.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) A prayer or meditation group could meet tonight, Scorpio, and you may get carried away with the spiritual dimensions these meditations take on.
GEMINI (May 21–June 20) A last-minute gift that you've wanted to buy for someone special might elude you today. You could go to several stores and find the item sold out. This could be disappointing, but don't despair. There are other options.
SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21) Love matters have been going well for you recently, Sagittarius, but today you could be alone and unable to reach a current or potential romantic interest. This could bring about a twinge of the blues, which up until now have passed you by.
CANCER (June 21–July 22) Everything may look wrong to you today. The house doesn't look right, the furniture needs adjusting, and you probably aren't happy with the way you look either.
CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) ou could go over your accounts today and find that there's considerably less there than you thought. It isn't serious, but it can still be disappointing.
LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) A gathering in your neighborhood could attract all your friends and many of your neighbors, Leo, but you may feel a little under the weather and consider staying home. Your energy may be lagging, as all energy does once in a while
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) Have you been going crazy with all the demands placed on you? Don't despair. Reflect on all that's been going on. Think about where you want to make changes. Once you've come to a decision, don't hesitate to implement it.
VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) A quick check of your bank balance might reveal that it's a bit lower than you e x p e c t e d , Vi rg o . Yo u probably won't panic, but you're apt to feel a little disappointed. Don't waste time kicking yourself. Money can always be earned.
PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) If you're currently romantically involved, Pisces, your lover could well go from what appears to be utter lassitude to total passion. This could throw you for a loop, and you might not know exactly how to deal with it.
Three of these individuals have been charged. Five internationals captains have also reported receiving approaches to spot-fix.” Marshall underlined the need to work closely with all boards to prevent corruption and of the need to keep educating players about the many methods fixing syndicates use to spread their influence across the newly formed T20 leagues. ”We try to link up with the intelligence. We look at what we know about this event, are we providing anti-corruption cover, are we already there or is it being provided by another party? Are there any other strands of intelligence we have about that tournament. Is there anything about financial backers or the people surrounding the tournament are suspicious? ”We never launch off an investigation because something looks odd on the field or we get a single anonymous report. We get quite a lot of single, anonymous reports. We start putting the pieces together and there’s sufficient reason to think on reasonable grounds to start investigating this, then we take it on. We do find a lot of corrupters who move between formats of international and domestic, because they’re looking for the opportunity a n d v u l n e r a b i l i t y. ” O n Sunday, Ehsan Mani, the new PCB chairman, expressed reservations of fielding Pakistan players in the upcoming T10 League citing doubts over credibility of franchise owners. Dave Richardson, the ICC chief executive, said the tournament had their backing, but also stated the need to remain vigilant. Mani, however, is yet to formally take a call on the matter and a meeting between him and the players is expected to take place soon. “I will first satisfy myself that we have enough information on the T10 before we release our players,” Mani said. “We have to be satisfied where the money is coming from. We have to be satisfied who the sponsors are, we have to be satisfied who the franchisees are.
Mohammad Shahzad ramps the ball to third man AFP None of this information exists in any file in the PCB today. Until we are satisfied there are no risks to the players, the board, or our reputation, no player
will play. We are having discussions with ICC on this, and if they can give us assurances they do not have an issue with the T10, then I will not have an issue.”
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Kaieteur News
Tuesday September 25, 2018
NBA - LeBron tempers expectations Luka Modric named best male player and Marta best female player at FIFA Awards ahead of first season with Lakers El Segundo, Calif. (Reuters) - Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James said on Monday his new team has a long way to go before they can dethrone the reigning champion Golden State Warriors but added that he will be excited to get started when training camp kicks off this week. Donning the iconic gold and purple Lakers jersey, the 33-year-old told reporters that just because he has been to eight consecutive NBA Finals does not mean his squad was destined to represent the Western Conference in the Finals this year. ”We’ve got a long way to go to catch Golden State,” he said of the Oakland-based Warriors, who have defeated the James-led Cleveland Cavaliers in three of the last four NBA Finals, with the Cavs getting some revenge by winning the 2015-16 title. ”They can pick up right where they left off... we’re picking up from scratch,” the three-time NBA champion told a news conference at the Lakers training facility in El Segundo. ”We can only focus on what we can do to get better every day as a Lakers franchise and hopefully someday we can put ourselves in a position where we can compete for a championship as Golden State has done for the last few years.” James will join a young core group of players that includes 20-year-old Lonzo Ball and 23-year-olds Kyle Kuzma
LeBron James answers a question during the LA Lakers media day. Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports and Josh Hart as well as savvy veterans Javale McGee and Rajon Rondo, who like James signed with the Lakers in the offseason. James’ left Cleveland in July after signing a four-year, $154 million which gives new life to the Lakers, a storied franchise that dominated for periods of the 1980s and 2000s but missed the playoffs in the last five seasons. LEARNING CURVE James, who is widely considered the best player of his generation, is expected to take on the role of a playercoach on the court, but also said he was eager to improve his own game. ”No matter where I am at in my career, I’m always at a point where I want to learn and get things from team mates and coaches,” he said. ”So I’m looking forward to seeing what we can all bring to the table and how we
can all bounce ideas off one another to better our games.” James bristled at the suggestion he may be spreading himself too thin with the many entertainment projects his SpringHill Entertainment production company is involved with and his starring role in the long-anticipated Space Jam movie. ”I’m a basketball player first. I play ball. That’s what I do, that’s what I live by,” he said. ”When I do it at the level I do it at everything else will take care of itself. As far as my businesses, those things were taking care of themselves way before I even came out here to be part of the Lakers franchise.” The Lakers kick off their season on Oct. 18 with a visit to the Portland Trail Blazers before playing their first home game against the Houston Rockets at the Staples Center on Oct. 20.
Ferrier and Giddings returned as President and Secretary of WDFA Following a number of false starts as a result of some administrative and other challenges as well as time being allocated to clubs to get their houses by the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), the West Demerara Football Association (WDFA) finally held their Annual General Meeting where Orin Ferrier was returned unopposed as President. Secretary Adrian Giddings was also returned unopposed while former Vice President Christine Schmidt is now the new Tr e a s u r e r. Current Georgetown Football Association IMC Chairman Trevor Williams is now the First Vice President with Mark Bradford serving as Second VP and Urie Bostwick as the Third VP. Serving as Assistant Secretary/Treasurer is Delon
Orin Ferrier
Adrian Giddings
Baggot with the Committee Members are Travis Bess, Colin Henry, Ramsamooj Israel and Orville Stewart. The returning Officer was GFF’s Technical Development Officer, Lyndon France. The Activity and Financial reports were presented and approved.
Ferrier informed that he is happy to have been given the mandate once again to continue the advancement of the sport in the WDFA and will get cracking in a few weeks time since he is currently engaging a number of sponsors and the GFF to get on board.
Luka Modric was named the world’s best male player at the Best Fifa Football Awards in London. The Real Madrid midfielder, 33, beat former team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo, now with Juventus, and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah to the award.Modric won his third Champions League title in a row in May and guided Croatia to their first World Cup final in July. Brazil and Orlando Pride forward Marta won the best female player award. France’s Didier Deschamps - whose side beat Modric’s Croatia 4-2 in the World Cup final - was named best men’s coach. Salah received the Puskas award for the best goal, for his effort against Everton in the Premier League at Anfield last December. Peru’s supporters won the Fifa Fan Award after many thousands of them flew to Russia in support of their nation - playing at the finals for the first time since 1982. This accolade was vo t e d f o r solely by supporters. What’s the difference between the Ballon d’Or and Best Fifa? This is the third edition of the Best Fifa Football Aw a r d s , s e t u p a f t e r football’s world governing body ended its association with the Ballon d’Or award. A version of the Ballon d’Or has been awarded by
Modric (left) poses with his Best FIFA Men’s Player Award alongside Marta with her Best FIFA Women’s Player Award. (PA) France Football magazine since 1956, but was merged with F i f a ’s Wo r l d F o o t b a l l e r o f t h e Ye a r award from 2010 to 2015. The governing body then introduced the Best Fifa Football Awards, with Portugal international Ronaldo the first recipient of its main prize in January 2017. Voting for the player and coach categories was conducted by national team captains and managers, selected journalists
and, for the first time, an online poll of fans. Each accounted for 25% of the total. Best women’s coach Reynald Pedros Former France men’s midfielder Reynald Pedros took Lyon to the league and Women’s Champions League double in his first season in charge. Two of his players, Ada Hegerberg and Dzsenifer Marozsan, were nominated for the best women’s player award.
Limacol Football 2018
Knockout action kicks off tonight at MOE ground Twelve teams have been reduced to eight following the completion of the round-robin phase of the 2018 Limacol Football Tournament being contested at the Ministry of Education (MOE) ground and quarterfinal action is set to commence tonight at the Carifesta Avenue venue from 18:00hrs. In the first match, Mocha Arcadia based Riddim Squad will face Beacon FC which is coached by Gordon ‘Ultimate Warrior’ Braithwaite and this would be followed by the anticipated clash between Police FC and Georgetown Football Club (GFC) at 20:00hrs. On Thursday, the high flying Mahaica Determinators will match skills with Pouderoyen which pulled off close wins in their final two round-robin encounters, in the opening game at 18:00hrs. City side Santos FC will oppose another East Coast Demerara’s side, Buxton Stars
Kimba Braithwaite - Beacons FC in the feature clash that starts at 20:00hrs. The semifinals will blow off on Sunday with tonight’s winners playing the first match followed by Thursday’s winners in the
second. The champions of the tournament will pocket $600,000 while the runners up in the event will pocket $300,000, second place $150,000 and third $75,000.
Tuesday September 25, 2018
PAGE 27
Kaieteur News
Century at home was one of my big goals says Matthews For Hayley Matthews, it was a dream come true. Scoring her first international hundred. And it was extra special too. Achieved on what she can truly describe as home soil in front of her family and friends. Playing in the decisive day/ night, third ICC Women’s Championship ODI of the Sandals International Series, the WINDIES Women’s starlet hit 117 from 146 balls that included 17 fours. Classy, stylish, impressive and polished are some of the adjectives used to describe her innings that was the bedrock of the WINDIES Women’s total of 292 for five from their allocation of 50 overs – their second highest total ever in ODIs – setting things in motion for a 115-run victory. Matthews practically grew up at Kensington Oval. Her father Michael, an outstanding youth player for Barbados, played club matches for Pickwick, the club that called the ground home, before they were evicted to facilitate demolition and transformation into the award-winning current configuration. Matthews was a bat-toting,
constant presence around the club and she quite naturally fell into game when opportunities were presented at high school where she was also an outstanding track & field performer. The 20-year-old Matthews made a name for herself two years ago, when she slammed 66 in 45 balls in the Final of the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 to help WINDIES Women clinch their first global title. Both that knock, and this hold a special place in her heart. ”I think they were both very important, both very crucial innings,” she told CWI Media after she was named Player-of-theMatch. “The World Cup final was very important for me, seeing the team home. ”Doing it here, in front of the home crowd, being able to do it in front of so much family, so many friends. . .It was definitely a goal for me. Very honoured that I could come home and reach one of my very big goals.” Matthews became just the fifth woman to hit a hundred in ODIs for WINDIES Women beside her captain Stafanie Taylor, who has five, Matthews’ former
Hayley Matthews opening partner Juliana Nero, as well as current team-mates, Shemaine Campbell and allrounder Deandra Dottin. On Saturday, Taylor made 46, sharing 176 with Matthews for the second wicket to lay the platform for Dottin to come with a late flourish of 59 from just 44 balls to help push the WINDIES Women’s total out of reach. Taylor hailed Matthews’ innings for
its quality and its control. ”Hayley played a splendid innings,” she said. “Her thought process was remarkable. In the morning, when she came into the ground, she went straight to the nets, hitting balls. In the warmup, before we went in to bat, she hit some balls. ”So, we knew she was ready and up for the fight. She batted really, really well to get us to that total.” Fortune also favoured Matthews that she had the stabilising influence of Taylor at the other end as she approached the landmark. ”When she got into the 80s, I knew she was feeling a bit of cramps, I knew there might be some nerves as well,” said Taylor. “So I just said to her, ‘Just dig in, you need 20, just calm down’. Didn’t want to tell her not to look at the scoreboard, because you’re going to look at the scoreboard if you tell someone not to. ”I was just telling her to keep the energy going, ‘You’re batting well, you’re playing straight’, you know, positive stuff to help her to get over that mark.” Dottin then followed up her earlier whirlwind half-century
Taylor, Fletcher seals victory for WI Women
Wicketkeeper Merissa Aguilleira effecting a stumping during the SA reply.
Captain Stafanie Taylor takes a well judged return catch to end the SA innings.
Bridgetown, Barbados – Tidy bowling led by skipper Stafanie Taylor and Afy Fletcher sealed a 17run victory for WINDIES Women over South Africa Wo m e n i n t h e f i r s t Tw e n t y 2 0 I n t e r n a t i o n a l yesterday here. Taylor grabbed 3-16 from her allotted four overs with her off-spin and legspinner Fletcher collected 2-17 from four overs, as the South Africans, chasing 125 for victory, fell narrowly short in their pursuit at Kensington Oval. Fast bowler Shamilia Connell struck in the first over to remove opener Lizelle Lee and Taylor had Laura Wolvaardt stumped to
leave the visitors 14 for two in the fourth over. The Caribbean side continued to tighten the screws and the South Africans failed to get into high gear until Marizanne Kapp hit 30 from 22 balls, but steady bowling in the closing stages from Fletcher, Taylor and Connell ushered the hosts over the finish line. The result gave Windies Women a 1-0 lead in the five-match series which concludes with four matches on September 28 and 30, October 4 and 6 at the Brian Lara Cricket Ground in Trinidad. Earlier, Natasha McLean hit the top score of 38 from 41 balls to earn the Player-of-theMatch award and Deandra Dottin supported with 22 from 19 balls to carry WINDIES Women to 124 for six from their allocation of 20 overs, after they chose to bat. The series is a dress rehearsal for both teams ahead of the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 Tournament to be staged from November 9 to 24 in the Caribbean. (CWI)
with a spell of 4-36 from 9.3 overs with her zippy medium pace, as the South Africans failed to recover from a shaky start and were bowled out for 177 in the 43rd over. The result allowed the WINDIES Women to clinch a share of honours in the series after losing the opener last Sunday at the same venue by 40 runs and a wash-out in the second game, due to rain. The victory also earned the Caribbean side two points on the Championship table, catapulting them into fourth place with nine from nine matches, three behind table toppers New Zealand Women, and two behind both Australia Women and World champions England Women. ”Our goal, when we came here to play against the South Africans was to win all three games,” said Matthews. “Unfortunately, we didn’t win the first one, and then the rain got the second one, but to be able to come back here and level the series. . .to get those two points on the board is very important for us. So, as a team, we’re really happy with that.” And so is Matthews on her accomplishment. (CWI)
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Tuesday September 25, 2018
Kaieteur News
BCB/Ramnaresh Sarwan/Fitness 53 U-17 Final
RHT Bakewell defeat Albion CCCC in a thriller to become champions
Man-of-the-match Tyrese Sealey receiving his prize from BCB Secretary Robby Saywack. Rose Hall Town and Albion Community Centre over the past 15 years have dominated Berbice Cricket and in the process has established a rivalry that leaves cricket fans begging for more. Albion Community Centre two weeks ago, edged their rivals by six runs to win the Mike’s Pharmacy Under-15 title but Rose Hall Town Bakewell on Saturday last turned the tables on Albion beating them by seven runs in a final that was described as one of the closest every played in Berbice. The final was a historic one as it was the first ever played at the Hampshire Cricket Ground and attracted a fair sized crowd. Albion won the toss and elected to field after the umpires were forced to reduce the match to 45overs per side due to preparation moisture on the pitch. Rose Hall Town Bakewell
lost opener Vikash Subramanie for 4 in the first over bowled by Sarwan Chaitnarine but a second wicket partnership of 40 between Jonathan De Viera and Angelino Ramdial stabilised the innings before De Viera ran himself for 17 at 44-2 in the 8th over. With the wicket proving difficult for fast scoring, the RHT Bakewell batsmen rotated the strike but the crucial run out of National junior player Jonathan Rampersaud resulted in the lower half of the innings falling apart. Mahendra Gopilall, the Guyana U-15 player scored 17 while Rampersaud 15, Angelino Ramdial 14, Chanderpaul Govindan 11 and Aaron Beharry 10 were the batsmen to reach double figures. Leon Cecil 2-25 and T. Sandanand 2-38 were the best bowlers for Albion while
The winning RHT Bakewell team posed with Anil Beharry and BCB Secretary Robby Saywack. Sarwan Chaitnarine, Gourav Ramesh, Inzam Shazam and P. Ganesh took a wicket apiece. Needing to score 127 from 47 overs to win the title, Albion lost Sarwan Chaitnarine with the score on 12 when he was brilliantly caught and bowled by off spinner Tyrese Sealey for 4. Sealey struck again in his following over to have Hemendra Gurdyal for 7 and then 12 year-old mystery spinner Matthew Pattaya had the inform Leon Cecil caught at short extra cover by Aaron Beharry for 1to leave Albion at20-3 in the 10th over. National left arm spinner Jeremy Sandia then dismissed the dangerous Surendra Ramcharitar for 17 as Albion collapsed to 34-4. However a solid fifth wicket partnership of 52 between an elegant R. Kassim and the aggressive Inzam Shazam brought Albion
back into the game before the impressive Aaron Beharry had Shazam caught by Angelino Ramdihal with the score reading 86-5. At that stage they needed 51 from 19 overs with 5 wickets in hand. The all spin Rose Hall Town attack consisting of Tyrese Sealey, Jonathan Rampersaud, Matthew Pattaya, Jeremy Sandia, Lucas Arthur and Aaron Beharry then tightened the screws backed up with brilliant fielding. Karim top scored with 41 but was guilty of extreme slow scoring. He was ninth out at 114-9 stumped by Govindan off Rampersaud, trying to play his first aggressive shot. Albion was dismissed for 119 off 44 overs, with Rampersaud trapping T. Sooknanand LBW for 2 to send the fans of Rose Hall Town into wild celebrations.
Sealey 3-25, Aaron Beharry 2-22, Rampersaud 224 and Jeremy Sandia 2-26 were the wicket takers for the champions. Twelve year-old Matthew Pattaya who has modeled his bowling action after his idol Sunil Narine had the remarkable figures of 9-3-12-0.BCB President Hilbert Foster praised the Ramnaresh Sarwan/Fitness 53 U-17 Tournament as another remarkable success of his administration. The tournament he stated was another stepping stone in returning Berbice cricket to its former glory. He praised the support of the former West Indies batting maestro, Ramnaresh Sarwan and informed the audience that Sarwan came on board as the first sponsor of his tenure, fifteen minutes after his election. He urged the young players to continue practicing as many more tournaments would be played in
the near future. Former BCB President Anil Beharry, who represented Sarwan at the presentation ceremony hailed both teams for the discipline, hard work and friendship displayed during the game. He also hailed the outstanding work of the Board, which has now completed six of the 22 tournaments it has committed itself to. Berbice Cricket Board Secretary and Chairman of the Cricket Competitions Committee Robby Saywack, also expressed gratitude to Sarwan and expressed confidence that once the good weather continues, then they would be able to wrap up all the tournaments by the end of December. Tyrese Sealey was named man-of-the-match while RHT Bakewell carried home $70,000 and trophy. Albion received $40,000 and trophy
Stuart Law resigns as Head Coach of Windies Men’s team St John’s, Antigua – Stuart Law has resigned as Head Coach of the Windies Men’s team to take on a new role in January 2019. Law, who took over as Head Coach in February 2017, leaves after guiding the Test team to series wins against Zimbabwe and Bangladesh and the ODI team through the ICC World Cup Qualifiers and into the 2019 Cricket World Cup. Law also oversaw the first Windies Test Match win in England for 17 years with a five-wicket win at Headingley. Law will continue in his role for the upcoming away series against India and Bangladesh and will leave to join Middlesex CCC in the New
Year. Stuart Law stated “I have had to make the difficult decision to leave my role of Head Coach with CWI. It has been very enjoyable, and I believe we have made tremendous strides forward as a Team during the past 2 years. I would like to thank the players, staff and the fans for their support over this period, I have appreciated it greatly. I will be taking a role with Middlesex CCC which will keep me close to my family, whilst continuing within the cricket family. I wish the players and staff of CWI every success in the future.” Director of Cricket, Jimmy Adams, said “While I regret his leaving and the timing of
it, I fully understand his reasons, and along with everyone at Cricket West Indies (CWI) want to thank him for his dedication and commitment whilst in the role and wish him the very best of luck at Middlesex.” Chief Executive, Johnny Grave commented “I am disappointed that Stuart is leaving as I believe that we have made real progress under his leadership. I know it was a difficult decision for him and that ultimately the opportunity to work in England, where his family is now based, was a major factor in his decision. We will start the process to appoint a new Head Coach immediately.”
West Indies coach Stuart Law addresses the press conference WICB
Tuesday September 25, 2018
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Kaieteur News
2018 Heritage Games
Guyana Rush Saints and Paruima win football titles Three days of fun filled activities at the 2018 Amerindian Heritage Games, coordinated successfully by the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs concluded on Sunday night at Everest Cricket Club (ECC) ground with Guyana Rush Saints (male) and Paruima (female) winning the coveted football titles. Franklin Parks, who was part of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) historic Train and Play Camp in Brazil, dealt the deciding blow in the 29th minute for Region # 9’s Guyana Rush Saints as they needled the defending champions Port Kaituma of Region #1. On the distaff side, Region #7’s Paruima played to 3-3 draw with Lethem Gladiators before eventually winning via kicks from the penalty mark, 4-1. Scoring for the eventual winners were Merlyn Percy (44th), Stesha Robertson (71st) and Betsy Gonsalves in extra time while Sonia Griffith (21st) and a double from Vandette Henry in the 43rd minute and extra time accounted for the Gladiators goals during full and extratime. The respective winners, male and female pocketed $300,000 and a trophy each with the two runners-up collecting $200,000 and a trophy each.
Guyana Rush Saints, 2018 Indigenous Heritage Games football champs.
Banks DIH/GABA Leagues
Kobras sting Eagles; Guardians stop Pacesetters
Trevor Smith – Kobras BC
Jermaine Slater – Kobras BC
Carlos Edwards - Kobras BC
The Burnham Hard Court saw one of the better turnout of spectators on Sunday night last to witness two more matches in the Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association (GABA)/Rainforest Water/Malta Supreme First, Second and Under-23 Division Leagues. In the feature match, Kobras Basketball Club handed Eagles their first loss in the first division after winning the contest 64-61. Skipper Carlos Edwards led the victorious Agricola based
team with 17 points including two three-pointers while Trevor Smith (16) and Jermaine Slater (13) both got into double figures during the closely contested clash. Eagles had narrowly led for the majority of the game but back to back three pointers from Carlos Edwards and Travis Stuart along with a three-point play from Trevor Smith brought the demise of Eagles in the last two minutes of play; Kobras played with more intent throughout the final quarter.
Travis Belgrave (16), Michael Richards (12) and Ryan Gullen (10) were the top scorers for Eagles in the loss. Meanwhile, in the opening match, Plaisance Guardians bounced back to brush Clement Brusch’s Pacesetters 7561, following their shock onepoint defeat to University of Guyana (UG) Trojans, last Thursday.Terrence Daniels’ incredible form continued for the Guardians and he swooshed in a game-high 27 points for the East Coast Demerara club, while Delroy
Kobras’ Carlos Edwards shields the ball from Eagles’ Travis Belgrave following a defensive rebound. Critchlow (20) was also on fire during the 14-point win. George Yearwood (15) along with a quiet Zion Gray (11) were the main men for the losing Pacesetters side. The Banks DIH spon-
sored GABA leagues which will run until December continues tomorrow at the same venue with another double header. First at 18:30hrs it will be a great clash between the inform Plaisance Guardians
and Eagles in the Under-23 division while the struggling Pepsi Sonics will look to have their first win of the first division league when they play Kobras at 20:30hrs. (Calvin Chapman)
PAGE 30
Tuesday September 25, 2018
Kaieteur News
GCI/GCB Jaguars 50-over Franchise League
Barnwell, Johnson, MoM Torrington spearheads GT to win over West Demerara By Sean Devers An entertaining 143-run fourth wicket stand between Leon Johnson and Chris Barnwell was followed up by a four-wicket haul from pacer Qumar Torrington as defending champions Georgetown (GT) beat West Demerara by 26 runs on the DLS system yesterday when their GCB Jaguars 50-over Franchise League game was stopped due to bad light at Bourda. In a match which initially started 35 minutes late and had another 40 minutes lost due to rain after four overs, GT opted to bat on slow track and heavy outfield and led by the century partnership between Barnwell who smashed 84 (8x4 3x6) and Skipper Johnson who made a fluent 76 (5x4 1x6) led their team to 278-7 in the game reduced to 49 overs. Robin Bacchus 38 (4x4 1x6) and Raymon Perez (20) added 68 for the first wicket as off-spinner Richie Looknauth bowled impressively in a 10-over spell to pick-up 3-13 while CPL pacers Shepheard (3-70) and Bajan Raymon Reifer (1-53) produced expensive 10-over spells in sultry conditions.
West Demerara recovered from 89-5 to reach 246-9 off 44.1 over when the match was halted in near darkness with Shepherd, who played for the Warriors in the CPL, lifting hopes of victory with a belligerent 65 (8x4 2x6) from just 26 balls and shared in a 71run seventh wicket stand with Mahendra Dhanpaul (24) before Looknauth clobbered 2 sixes and 2 fours to finish unbeaten on 27 in a last wicket stand of 42. Jamaican OffSpinnerRamal Lewis supported Torrington with 2-34. Bacchus clipped Reifer off his hips for four and got a leading edge over point for six when he attempted a flick the left-arm pacer but he was stumped off the 19-year-old Looknauth who also removed Perez and Dexter Solomon (3) in the space of 10 runs to leave the City side on 84-3 after the 50 was posted in 7.2 overs. The partnership between Johnson and Barnwell with the latter dumping Hubert for six and Johnson sliced Reifer over point for six before caressing him next ball imperiously to the extra cover boundary in an over which 16. Barnwell hit Dhanpaul for
Romario Shepherd punches Barnwell in his 26-ball 65 in a losing cause at Bourda yesterday. six while Johnson deposited a full toss from Reifer into the Ladies Pavilion before Johnson, with scores of 70 not out in the first round and 83 not out in the second, cut Reifer to point at 227-4 in the 44th over. Lewis (7) edged a big swing off Shepherd ‘miles’ into the air and Keeper Tevin Imlach, running back about 40 yards held a stupendous catch diving full length forward at 250-6. Barnwell dumped Shepherd back over
his head for six and pulled him savagely for four before flicking the Barbican to the man on the Square leg fence to leave the home team 262-7. Shepherd then had 17year-old Adrian Hinds (3) caught behind at 272-7 before the overs were completed shortly after. When West Demerara began their reply needing to score at 5.6 per over to win, Renaldo Renee (14) Tagenarine Chanderpaul (24) both got starts before they were dismissed while
Chris Barnwell drives during his 84 for GT yesterday. Torrington trapped Imlach (9) LBW as two wickets fell at 54. Reifer (21) also failed to build on his start when he was spectacularly bowled by Barnwell before Akshaya Persaud was run out for five and at 112-6 it seemed the contest would soon be over. But Shepherd hit Ashmead Nedd for a couple of big sixes before hit Johnson’s leg-spin for six and when the Jaguars Captain changed to pace he pulled him disdainfully for six more.
Johnson fired in two short balls before a brilliant catch in the deep ended his explosive knock off Torrington, who also got rid of Dhanpaul and Hubert. Looknauth then hit Torrington for a six and two fours before bad light ended the contest.GT, on the back of three consecutive wins, are level at the top with Essequibo who won their game yesterday and will faceoff in a top of the table clash at Bourda tomorrow from 09:00hrs
Lower Corentyne snatch victory from the jaws of defeat By Zaheer Mohamed The scores would probably suggest that the pitch played badly, but that wasn’t the case when Lower Corentyne snatched a tworun victory over East Coast Demerara in the Cricket Guyana Inc./Guyana Cricket Board Jaguars 50-over Franchise League yesterday. Instead, the low scoring affair at Enmore was a result of poor shot selection-playing away from the body, lack of ample foot-work, closing the face of the bat too early, playing across the line and lapses in concentration, all basics. Players should not wait to find their form during a tournament; they should be fit and ready to give their best whenever they are called upon. It is widely known that cricket is played 70% above the shoulders; chasing 132, East Coast Demerara collapsed from 102-5 to be bowled out for 130 in 43.3 overs, much to the dismay of their fans. Seemingly dead and buried at one point, Lower Corentyne were largely indebted to their bowlers who maintained a decent line on a good pitch for their victory. Pacer Javier Spencer picked up the early scalps of Kevlon
Raun Johnson produced a lively opening spell yesterday. Anderson (01) and Junior Sinclair (19) while leg-spinner Amir Khan sent back Seon Hetmyer (06) and Devon Clements (02) to reduce
Lower Corentyne to 51-4 following their insertion. Jonathan Foo, who was named man-of-the-match and Jason Sinclair, added 27 for
the sixth-wicket before Foo was taken off Khan for 24 off 46 balls. Sinclair put on a further 26 with Veerasammy Permaul, but Bhaskar Yadram removed them in quick succession; Sinclair made 23 and Permaul 17. Kassim Khan fell for 10 as Lower Corentyne were sent packing in 44.4 overs. Yadram claimed 3-18, Spencer 3-22 and Khan 3-28. Opener Rajendra Chandrika retired hurt on one before the lively Raun Johnson induced Brain Sattaur (02) to edge one at slip and then uprooted the stumps of Joshua Persaud (01) leaving East Coast Demerara on 12-2. Chanderpaul Hemraj and Bhaskar Yadram rotated the strike well in a third-wicket stand of 36 before Hemraj failed to keep down at pull off spinner Kassim Khan and was brilliantly caught by Junior Sinclair at short mid-wicket for 12. Bhaskar Yadram and his elder brother Kamesh Yadram stabilised the chase fairly with a fourth-wicket partnership of 33. The duo looked rather comfortable and even though they only hit one four each, managed to rotate the strike well. Lower Corentyne needed to break their union to stay in
the contest and Permaul trapped Kamesh infront for 15. Bhaskar got a top edge off Foo after he attempted a big hit and was dismissed for 30 after he shared in a 21-run stand with Ramnarine Chatura. Chatura hit a full toss back to left arm spinner Kelvin Umroa to depart for 16 while Clive Andries (04) was caught off the same bowler, leaving the score at 117. Amir Khan attempted to hoist Permaul out of the ground and was bowled for four before Gajanan Suknanan was run out without scoring, leaving Chandrika, who resumed his innings at the fall of the seventh wicket and Spencer to get six from 10 overs. The pair faced 21 balls and managed three before Spencer (00) was given out lbw to Foo; Chandrika was not out on 15. Foo had 2-6 off 2.3 overs, Johnson 2-9, Umroa 2-13 and Permaul 2-31. At Port Mourant, Essequibo defeated Upper Corentyne by 123 runs. Essequibo batted first and posted 236-9. Anthony Adams top scored with 52, Chaitram Persaud made 29, Ronsford Beaton 24, Neiland Cadogan 23 and Parmesh Parsotam 20. Bowling for Up-
per Corentyne, Demitri Cameron and Gaurav Ramesh collected 3 for 42 and 2 for 63 respectively. In reply, Upper Corentyne were bowled out for 113 in 32.2 overs. Clinton Pestano (35) and Eon Hooper (31) were the only batmen to offer any resistance. Persaud snared 317, man-of-the-match Anthony Adams 2-19 and Beaton 2-20. At Bush Lot, West Berbice beat East Bank Demerara by two runs. West Berbice took first strike and managed 216 for 6 from their reduced quota of 32 overs. Gudakesh Motie scored 58 while Javid Karim made 34, Kevin Sinclair 24 and Leon Andrews 20. Trevon Griffith picked up 2 for 42. East Bank replied with 214 for 7. Sherfane Rutherford struck 98 to earn the man-ofthe-match award while Ronaldo Alimohamed got 27 and Griffith 24; Seon Glasgow had 3 for 31. The competition continues tomorrow with East Coast Demerara facing West Berbice at Bush Lot, Georgetown taking on Essequibo at Bourda, Lower Corentyne playing East Bank at Everest and West Demerara going up against Upper Corentyne at Port Mourant.
Tuesday September 25, 2018
Kaieteur News
PAGE 31
GHB Development League
GCC Bingo Spartans clinch Female U-19 Title
Donyale Nurse of Saints - Best Goalkeeper Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) Bingo Spartans were crowned the 2018 Guyana Hockey Board (GHB) Development League Female Under-19 champions following their final round win over St. Joseph’s at the Saint Stanislaus College (SSC) ground on Carifesta Avenue on Sunday afternoon last. Spartans hammered St Joseph’s 6-0 courtesy of a hattrick off the stick of the Most Valuable Player (MVP) Sarah Klautky who netted in the 3rd, 36th and 39th minute while Abosaide Cadogan, the leading goal getter in the division, added a brace in the 27th and 38th minute with the other scored by Haley Carpenter in the 34th minute. Other results of the day’s play saw Hikers beating Saints Splinters 3-0, GCC Pitbulls mauling Saints Sonics 7-0, North Ruimveldt (NR) Multilateral drawing with Joseph Warriors 1-1 and Old Fort getting past Saints Sonics 2-1, all in the Boys’ Under-19 division.
Charlia Webb (Saints) - Most Promising Player
Sarah Klautky (GCC) - MVP
GCC Bingo Spartans, champions of GHB Developmental U-19 Female Division.
Guyana off to a slow start at 43rd Chess Olympiad in Batumi, Georgia The Guyana Chess Teams got off to a slow start as both teams drop their opening games when the 43rd World Chess Olympiad, hosted by Batumi, started yesterday with the first symbolic move made by the President of Georgia Giorgi Margvelashvili on the Georgian first team leader Baadur Jobava’s board. In the women’s category, Guyana came up against Venezuela. WFM Maria Varona Thomas rated 1739 playing board one loss to WFM Amelia Hernandez Bonilla rated 2044, WCM Sheriffa Ali rated 1365 lost to WIM Tairu Manuela Rovira Contreras, while Nellisha Johnson and Sasha Shariff went down to WFM Corals Patino Garcia and WFM Marvia Josefina Alvarado Arcila who are rated 2023 and 1956 respectively. In the open category, the men came up against a much stronger Albania side. CM Anthony
Drayton rated 2024 matched moves against IM Dritan Mehmeti rated 2391. Mehmeti proved to be a bit stronger to secure a hard fought win. CM Taffin Khan rated 1900 playing board two losses to Llambi Pasko rated 2386, Loris Nathoo rated 1665 and Glenford Colette rated 1653 playing board three and four went down to FM Franc Ashiku rated 2373 and IM Ilir Seitaj rated 2360 respectively.The women’s team will take on Nigeria in round two, while the men will take on our neighbour to the east, Suriname. The Guyana Chess Federation is expressing special thanks to the following sponsors; Ministry of Health, National Sports Commission, Courts Guyana, King’s Jewellery, PPDI, Sasha’s Cells and the Trophy Stall for the ri support in ensuring that the teams are able to be at these championships where 151 countries in eth world are competing.
Members of the Female Guyanese Team getting prepared before their first match.
Abosaide Cadogan (GCC) - Most Goals
rt o p S GCI/GCB Jaguars 50-over Franchise League
Barnwell, Johnson, MoM Torrington P. 30 Lower Corentyne snatch victory spearheads GT to win over West Demerara P. 30 from the jaws of defeat
Leon Jonhson cuts during his third consecutive fifty at Bourda yesterday.
Man-of-the-match Jonathan Foo accepts his prize from Match referee Moses Ramnarine
2018 Heritage Games
Guyana off to a slow start at 43rd P. 31 Chess Olympiad in Batumi, Georgia
Guyana Rush Saints and Paruima win football titles P. 29
Paruima women, Champions of the 2018 Indigenous Heritage Games football competition. Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.