Kaieteur News
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Sunday September 29, 2019
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
The plight of the GECOM chair GECOM is in the spotlight. That must be the wicked stepmother of all irresponsible understatements. For when is that tortured body ever not in misery-plagued Guyana? There are three areas that produce consternations in the nationsprawling facility around which Guyanese grievously wound each other.The first two of the three areas can pass by quickly. The supporting staff, motives, and actions trigger deep, selective unease. The commissioners—three from each side—can be unfailingly depended upon to sacrifice sanity and country for party. Count on that for the dead-end of 3:3.To complete this trinity of nettlesome areas, there is the chair, a chairwoman today. Women in charge.The charges surface with a roar, with a rush, always with rage. This is where this publication stays (and prays) this Sunday. There are long days ahead: ruthless, unforgiving ones. When this woman pronounces, she speaks not as the PNC or PPP choice. This paper reminds Guyanese, the consensus choice she was. For, in the most savaging of ironies, that consensus brings many public contradictions of her interpretations, positions, and decisions; of work product, forever second-guessed, and dissected to the last sinew and tissue. It is a dirty job. Because like Indira and Golda and Thatcher, this chairwoman must put head down, stay the course, and hope to emerge unscathed. It is that kind of rabid society. The blows will come. Reasonably, a consensus chair speaks for wide cross-sections of the nation’s citizenry. Says who? What counts is what favours; meaning us, our group, and our people. Alone. They are never less unswerving and unambiguous in the cast-iron finality of opinion and position. Not for elections. God help the chair, any chair. For there are more announcements to deliver. There are those hardy people, who must send men off to war, or remove gently, one last time, the plug on the respirator of a beloved one. No coming back. There can be no turning back. So, too, the chair of GECOM cannot shrink or shiver. Not today, when a nation demands that duty be done, despite all the other wars looming.The icebergs of the commission’s deadlocks must be broken. Many people are brokenhearted. Scapegoats and whipping posts must be found. That would be the chairwoman, whose travails have just begun. It is the price for a thankless job, for a society that is the epitome of treachery, and never more so than over elections. Shame and disgrace; abuse and assault of every despicable kind for a chairwoman, the first of her ilk. There is nothing tender for her gender. One more time for those listening, a consensus one; the rages of the disappointed damn. Who does she belong to? Who is being succumbed to? What surrender is this?This is the unfortunate norm, the inerasable ingredients of culture and mentality, that is of Guyanese elections matters. Nobody can do right by them, all of them. There is one alternative left. There must be trying for some, while hoping that most citizens will come to their senses. Somehow, by some undeserved grace, there is trouble on that one. The direly needed grace is not forthcoming from any source here, and above there, too, it appears. The spirit gave oil, how much more is selfishly, thoughtlessly craved? Get some sense. Like the CCJ insisted —fix it your good selves. That’s a dirty job to be done. The sewers stare. In Guyana, that means elections. Welcome to the chair. And C&O, PLE and OLE and, we at this paper dare to say today: count accurately what comes, those in good form. A prayer for the chair is in order. Time to roll up sleeves, get ready to face the music. It has the strains of funeral dirges cameras, questions, microphones, recorders, scribblers. From the authentic and caustic, to the patriotic and septic, they come. They convey. Good news for some. Bad news for others. How? Why? Why not? What else? Whatever… This GECOM business should really be declared bankrupt, and put it and all of us out of misery, shouldn’t it? That’s up the road. Maybe. Today, there is only gritty, dirty, sickly reality. Ties must be broken, hearts also. Remember: no eggs, no omelets. The heartless, who eat meat, should ask the animal. Painful, it is. What a country! What a special brand of people! Mystical was the word of the wise CCJ.
Editor’s Note; If your sent letter was not published and you felt its contents were valid and devoid of libel or personal attacks, please contact us by phone or email.
As Guyana struggles through this period, some are deliberately peddling misinformation to mislead us DEAR EDITOR, Interest in the issue of the no-confidence motion and election as a consequence of it, goes beyond APNU+AFC, PPP, David Granger and Bharrat Jagdeo. It is of interest to the people of Guyana and all peoples who are likely to be impacted regionally and further afield. As a people, we must be cognisant of this and strive to protect the integrity of our country in order to maintain its stability and the stability of our nation and region. In this regard, it is important to respect the instruments that guide day-to-day
management of society. As Guyana struggles through this period of a successful no confidence vote with politicians battling to shape public opinion and influence domestic and international responses, there is growing evidence of deliberate misinformation and efforts to misguide the nation emanating from various quarters. The extent to which this is occurring is alarming as it threatens our ability to pursue a society built on strong moral values and integrity. We must seek truth and in so doing, allow primary sourced information, hard evidence,
not fiction, uninformed or partisan opinions inform those with interest in Guyana successfully navigating itself to restore constitutional normalcy. The situation before us goes beyond the casting of a ballot but encompasses the passion, will and determination of a people. For some, it is evident that ethnic domination is more important than welding the society and it is for this reason, the following areas of concern are brought to attention. Clarification is needed on the various postures observed to be potential threats and creating confusion in the
minds of most. 1. The Opposition and its surrogates deem the President and Government to be “illegal.” If we accept this to be true, then the relevant questions are : a) Can an “illegal” President and government make a legal decision to dissolve Parliament and name a date for election? b) If the declared “illegal” government can do so, then where is this claim supported by constitutional evidence or court ruling? Guyana is a nation of laws, and the novelty of this successful confidence vote, which has created (Continued on page 6)
Sunday September 29, 2019
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Kaieteur News
Kaieteur M@ilbox
Kaieteur M@ilbox
Republic Bank may still be the victors
A full police investigation should be ordered to ascertain who did what, and by whose order
DEAR EDITOR, The Government of Guyana did not sanction the sale of Scotiabank Guyana to Republic Bank. This is a breath of fresh air for Guyana, but the damage has already been done! Republic Bank may however be the victors in all of this.Since 2014 when Scotiabank Guyana changed Country Managers for the last time, many of the very experienced employees and sometimes entire departments were seemingly pushed out to create employment in Trinidad. Others walked because the eagerness to get rid of experienced employees or those who would mount a challenge to the current in-
country hierarchy and its very bold underlings. It is interesting to note that some people are of the view that the impending sale of Scotiabank to Republic Bank was a strategic effort to control the Guyana Banking sectors by a TT company, thus the same reason why Bank of Guyana denied the sale confirming that Republic Bank will dominate the Banking sector by over 50 percent. Within the last year, some opted to resign, while others jumped to other financial institutions. In an international news report, dated 27 September, 2019, Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS.TO) said it will not pro-
ceed with a proposed sale of its operations in Guyana following opposition from the Central Bank. The question is with the handling of the BNS sale to Republic Bank, also Government of Antigua and Guyana concerns that BNS did not seek the requisite permission prior to the sale, coupled with the exodus of BNS top Bankers and customers, it will take years before BNS Guyana once again becomes the people’s favourite Bank. Perhaps with new leadership, it could be done. Carlos Prowell Former Scotiabank Branch Manager Bartica
Should the Chancellor of the Judiciary be running our country? DEAR EDITOR, Several constitutional lawyers and former judges who I have spoken with are of the view that the government becomes illegal and should have been run by the Chancellor of the Judiciary since September 19. If a government fails to adhere to its constitution or timeframe to hold elections, is it illegal? Is the opposition also illegal? Can a government violate its constitution and remain in office? The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) should have warned the warring parties of consequences (when it issued orders on June 18) should they not adhere to the court’s generalised orders that elections be held by September 18. The parties should have come to an agreement on extension of government. Perhaps a power sharing formula until elections are held! The Guyana constitution clearly and specifically states
that elections must be held within ninety days of successful passage of a no confidence motion (NCM) unless the assembly passes a motion by two-thirds majority to extend the date. If the government fails to hold elections within the ninety-day period or get an extension beyond that, is the presidency vacant? Does the government exist? If a government does not adhere to the constitution, is it legal? Some lawyers answered in the affirmative to the above. Under such condition, does the Chancellor (head) of the Judiciary assume control of an interim government until a new President is elected and forms a government? Unlike other states, in Guyana the head of the judiciary is the Chancellor rather than the Chief Justice (CJ). Other states have the CJ as the head of the judiciary. The CCJ is the final appeal court. In its consequential orders on the NCM, the CCJ
merely repeated the clause on elections in ninety days but failed to warn the warring parties that the government ceases to exist after that. The head of the judiciary could assume control of an interim government if elections are not held within the ninety-day period. Legal luminaries I spoke with said the Chancellor should have been running the government once the disputed parties failed to get an extension beyond September 18. The constitution also states that if the Chancellor fails (or is unwilling) to assume control of the government, the head of the armed forces should take over the government. Should the President be running the country? Should the office of the Opposition function? The government and the Opposition should meet and clarify if the Chancellor (Continued in page 6)
DEAR EDITOR, It is most unfortunate that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is revealed to be in a serious state of disarray on the day after the date of an election has finally been set. When the Chairman of GECOM, Claudette Singh, informed Caretaker President David Granger that credible elections could be held on or after the 24th February 2020, there was no dissent from the Opposition People’s Progressive Party; the date given was accepted with good grace, despite earlier promises from the Chair that her Commission and Secretariat were preparing for elections before the end of 2019. On Friday, two erroneous bits of information caused chaos; a gazetted order for a Claims and Objections period of forty-nine days and which order also states that during this exercise, every person whose name appears on the preliminary list of electors must visit the registration office of their respective area and present an identification card to verify their registration record in order to be included in the official list of electors. These errors were repeated in a press release issued by GECOM’s Public Relations Officer, Yolanda Warde. The Commission had met and decided upon thirty-five days of Claims and Objections; someone prepared an
order with forty-nine days and this was signed by Claudette Singh. When the Chairman was informed by Commissioner Gunraj of the error, she promised to look into the matter. A full police investigation should be ordered forthwith to ascertain who did what, when and by whose order. The second erroneous bit of information is even more egregious, in asking six hundred and sixty thousand persons to visit twenty-four GECOM offices to verify their existence, identification and affirm their right to be on the Official List of Voters. GECOM is breaking the law by attempting to have persons removed from the National Register of Registrants and in contempt of Chief Justice Roxanne George-Wiltshire who ruled, inter alia, that the removal of the names of persons already registered on the National Register of Registrants (NRR) on the ground of non-residency, is unlawful; that names can only be removed from the
NRR in accordance with the National Registration Act (for example, by death, insanity, etc.); and that the scrapping of the existing database of registrants will be illegal in the case of Christopher Ram V GECOM and the Attorney General. Given that a person or persons very high up in the GECOM Secretariat is/are engaged in duplicitous actions, Madame Chairman may also want to use her powers to hire new staffers and introduce watchful eyes on behalf of the citizenry within the Secretariat as a matter of urgency. If credible evidence of improper or criminal conduct is found, dismissal of bad actors should occur. Justice Singh should call on the international community, who has reaffirmed its commitment to assist Guyana and GECOM in every possible way to ensure free and fair elections come March 2, 2020. Respectfully, Robin Singh
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Sunday September 29, 2019
Kaieteur News
Kaieteur M@ilbox
Kaieteur M@ilbox
As Guyana struggles through this period, some are deliberately ...
‘Big Brother’ often looks out for his lax this rule or be flexible with it, it’s really up own interests to us. I would be the first to say that in cases
From page 4 challenges to governance must not see us failing to seek constitutional guidance every step of the way to ensure that we restore normalcy and set proper judicial precedents. In a nation torn apart by many misleading political claims passing as ‘truths’, it is important that only one truth exist and guide us forward. In this context that is best determined by judicial interpretation. Some will claim delaying tactics even as some get tired of the legal battles, but the importance of establishing truth and proper understandings are priceless pillars in society if we are to restore constitutional normalcy. No group in our society must come out of this election process feeling they are cheated, bullied, lied to and that their rights are violated. 2. Society is being influenced by daily media diet from various sources to believe the Caribbean Court Justice (CCJ) in its decision on June 18 and its Consequential Order on July 12 ruled that election must be held on or before September 18. The rel-
evant question is asked of those advancing this position: Can you provide primary evidence of this? No conjectures, no opinions, no spin-only hard pointed evidence of this ruling from the primary source. 3. The position is advanced ad nauseum that the life of parliament has come to an end after September 18. This writer seeks validation of this claim from primary sources, i.e., from the constitution and law where it is prescribed to be so. No conjectures, no spin, no interpretation outside of judicial ruling. 4. It is claimed on a daily basis that where the three-month deadline to hold an election has passed after the passage of this successful no-confidence vote, an election can be held without activation of Article 106 in the Constitution. Those who propagate this are asked to provide the relevant primary sourced evidence where this is indeed so. Where in the Guyana Constitution, laws or CCJ’s ruling is this stipulated? Our people deserve one truth for there can be no more. 5. There are many among us who advocate and demand that the President must call a date for elections without following through with the stipulations in Article 106(7). The question is asked of them: How can the President be encouraged to breach the constitution and where is the primary evidence to support him doing so legally?
6. Those who support the Opposition Leader’s statement that he is not returning to Parliament to grant a 2/3 majority vote to extend the life of government in keeping with Article 106(7) and as stipulated by the CCJ, are a s k e d , a l o n g w i t h M r. Jagdeo, to provide the primary source evidence where his decision to do is supported and not just a matter of politicking, b) Would judicial ruling on this matter bring clarity to this issue and guide him and all other positions of what is constitutionally required of the Leader of the Opposition in restoring constitutional normalcy? Those who desire to respond to this letter are reminded that the quest here is to restore truth in our society, to build a foundation where social and political morality is held in check and the powers that be, whether in the government, opposition or elsewhere do not exploit the trust and simplicity of our people and our people are held to a level of accountability that would build a just Guyana, one that will serve all well. Exposing lies and upholding truth are serious issues. These have implications that determine whether we will proceed in one accord via a lawful and orderly manner. They also determine how well we de-escalate simmering ethnic tensions and signs of growing division, and set the right examples for our youth. Lincoln Lewis
DEAR EDITOR, In the recent imbroglio over the ABE countries putting out that statement to the President, requesting him to immediately name a date for General and Regional elections, some people saw it as a case of “Big Brother” intervention and that it was quite alright in the circumstances. I would like to deal with this whole question of “Big Brother” intervention and some of its implications. First of all, we should recognise that “Big Brother” has a brotherly side and a not too brotherly side. In some cases, “Big Brother” may be looking out for you and what’s in your best interest and in other cases “Big Brother” may be looking out for “Big Brother” and what’s in Big Brother’s best interest. Sometimes, it’s hard to distinguish between the two, but I have heard it said that ultimately “Big Brother” always does what will benefit “Big Brother”. We must also recognise that the same “Big Brother” that could be benevolent; one day could also be vicious and violent when things are not exactly going Big Brother’s way. Therefore, when we in Guyana calmly submit ourselves to “Big Brother”, we never know whether in the future we will be getting “the carrot or the stick.” But we always have to be on the lookout because “Big Brother” is strong and powerful and we may not always be cuddled and cajoled and the wrath that “Big Brother” is capable of, is not something that we should take lightly. Maybe, for that reason, the United Nations has taken the general position that countries should not interfere in the domestic affairs of other countries. If, we in Guyana want to re-
of genocide or torture, “Big Brother” does have a moral obligation to intervene if “Big Brother” so decides, but in all other cases, the people of Guyana have to “paddle their own canoe” and solve their own problems. I am not saying that we can’t have “Big Brother” as an adviser or outside expert, but if “Big Brother” does for us what we should be doing for ourselves, we may have a short term solution for a problem that only Guyanese people can fix themselves. And, if we allow outsiders to solve our internal problems, then we would have learned nothing from the exercise and would still not be liberated and injustice will continue. It’s easy for “Big Brother” to say to you, “Man, I can fix that . It’s easy. I can remove that dictator for you”, but no, “Big Brother” must restrain himself, which I know is very hard for “Big Brother” to do. Franz Fanon once said, “Violence is a cleansing force. It frees the native of his (or her) inferiority complex and restores his (or her) self -respect”. I think that Fanon went too far in advocating violence, but his essential message is that if people want to be truly liberated, they have to do it for themselves; no well-intentioned, benevolent power can do it for us. And on this subject of outsiders helping us, why can’t we also solicit the help of countries that are essentially like us, but are faring better and have greater stability. Countries in the region as well as outside. Countries that are not too far away. Wouldn’t such an approach be more relevant to what we are trying to achieve in Guyana? Respectfully, Rudy Vyfhuis
Staff not being paid at GuySuCo DEAR EDITOR, I will be grateful if you can publish our concerns on what is happening to staff members within GuySuCo. Over the years working with this company, there were great times, but of recent, things are not what they used to be. We all know that we are not producing sugar like before, but with the closure of four sugar estates, we would have thought that there will be sufficient funds to run
these estates as per normal. It is very disappointed to know that staff members, after working an entire month, cannot be paid and what is most disgusting is that you don’t know when you will be paid. What was related to us is that a date will be fixed for salaries to be paid sometime in the coming week. This is unacceptable; we worked hard and gave countless hours to this company to keep it alive. Salaries are of great impor-
tance to anyone, bills have to be paid, mortgages have to be paid, children to send to school will need stuff that we as parents should be able to provide. I am hoping that management and the government can look into this serious matter and look at the well being and suffering that staff members face at the end of the month when they are not compensated for their labour. Yours respectfully, Depressed worker
Should the Chancellor of the... From page 5 should assume control of the government. Both sides must respect the constitution. If it is accepted that their office becomes vacant, they would have been forced to come to a political agreement. The ninety-day period for elections expired on March 21. But the government challenged the legality of the NCM all the way to the CCJ which gave its final ruling on June 18. The CCJ, Guyana’s final court, noted that there was a pause in the ninety-day rule as a result of the court challenge but that the clock resumed on June 18. It means that the ninety days expired before Sep-
tember 18. If the lawyers are correct, it therefore, means that the presidency and the office of opposition become vacant. The Chancellor should have assumed control of the functions of the government, thereon as interim President until fresh elections and the swearing in of a new President. Lawyers are of the view that the CCJ should have made that point very clear. Lawyers feel it is not too late for the CCJ to meet and clarify the issue of the constitutionality of the government. Failing that, the parties to the appeal case or some public interest lawyer should approach the court to issue such an order so that there can be respect for
constitutional governance. There must be consequences for any government that does not comply with its constitution. Lawyers are of the view that if the CCJ fails to issue a specific consequential order on the legality of the government, then no government in the region will respect the CCJ and governments can do as they please because they will remain in office; CCJ may as well dissolve itself and instruct the countries to return to the Privy Council. Lawyers say no country should join the CCJ unless it enforces its orders and hold governments accountable. Yours truly, Dr. Vishnu Bisram Political Scientist
Sunday September 29, 2019
322 cases listed for trial as Demerara Criminal Assizes reopens
Regan Rodrigues
A
total of 322 cases are listed to be heard at the October session of the Demerara Criminal Assizes which opens this Tuesday at the High Court in Demerara. This is according to information published in the Official Gazette. There are 166 cases for sexual offences, 89 for murder, 12 for manslaughter and 30 for attempt to commit murder. There are other cases for grievous bodily harm, trafficking narcotics, abduction, obtaining money by false pretence, conspiracy to commit a felony, robbery under-arms, conspiracy to commit murder, wrongful confinement for ransom and accessory after the fact, among others. The cases for sexual offences include rape, sexual activity with a child under 16 years, sexual activity with a child family member, carnal knowledge of a girl under 15 years, buggery, incest by male, sexual activity with a child by abusing a position of trust, and others.
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Kaieteur News
Coen Jackson
Courtney Crum-Ewing
One of the notable murder cases involves Regan Rodrigues who is accused of the March 10, 2015 murder of political activist, Courtney Crum-Ewing. According to reports, the bullet-riddled body of Crum-Ewing was found at Third Avenue, Diamond, East Bank Demerara on March 10, 2015. The 40-year-old was shot twice to the temple, once to the back of the head and twice to the stomach. The police, in a statement, had said that the political activist was accosted by four men in a car. One of them discharged several rounds, hitting him about the body. It was reported that the killer(s) used a .32 pistol to execute CrumEwing.
neighbourhood to vote against then ruling PPP/ C.Among those to be tried for sexual offences are Muslim scholar Neezam Ali and former Bishops High School teacher, Coen Jackson. Earlier this year, Ali was sentenced to 45 years imprisonment after a jury found him guilty of one of nine indictments for sexual activity with a child by abusing a position of trust and engaging in sexual penetration with an underage boy.
The political activist was well known for his one-man protest outside the office of former Attorney General Anil Nandlall. Minutes before he was gunned down, he was reportedly heard via bullhorn urging residents of the
Meanwhile, Jackson is accused of having sexual contact with one of his underage students. The incident is said to have occurred at DUrban Street, Lodge, Georgetown, during December 2010 and May 2011.There are also a few more cases for wounding with intent, abduction with intent to hold for ransom, robbery under-arms, trafficking in narcotics, obtaining money by false pretence, conspiracy to commit a felony, conspiracy to commit murder and accessory after the fact to murder, among others.
Cash-strapped GuySuCo unable to pay monthly workers Due to the financial difficulties that the Guyana Sugar Co-operation (GuySuCo) is currently facing, the sugar company is unable to pay its monthly paid workers. Representatives from GuySuCo recently reached out to the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), to seek assistance from the union to help pay their workers who hadnt been paid as yet for the month of September. According to the Assistant General Secretary of GAWU, Mr. Aslim Singh, GuySuCo was only capable of paying their cane cutters. The monthly workers who are being paid every last Friday in each month are not being paid as yet. Singh said that GuySuCo explained its financial problems to its workers who were supposed to be paid on Friday. He added that the workers will be paid before the end of the coming week. A letter titled, “The Unfair Treatment to Staff at GuySuCo” stated that it is unacceptable for all the workers of GuySuCo to not receive their salaries on time since they give their all to the company and give up countless hours. The letter acknowledged that salaries are of great importance to someone who is working and has a family to provide for, “mortgages have to be paid. Children going to school will need stuff that we as parents should be able to provide those necessities to our families.” The letter also highlighted that the workers of GuySuCo believed that there will be suf-
Assistant General Secretary of Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) Mr. Aslim Singh
ficient funds to run the remaining estates and it is very unusual for the company to be having financial difficulties since it closed four of the
sugar estates around the country and no longer has such a large number of employees to pay. (Renay Sambach)
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Sunday September 29, 2019
Kaieteur News
Total fails to submit farm-in details for Qatar Petroleum- Dr. Bynoe By Kiana Wilburg In late July, Qatar Petroleum announced in the media that it had bought 40 percent of the shares French oil major, Total, holds in the Orinduik Block. But up to Thursday last, the government is yet to receive the necessary documentation regarding this farm-in. Confirming this, recently, was Energy Department Head, Dr. Mark Bynoe. During an interview on Kaieteur Radios radio programme “Guyanas Oil and You,” Dr. Bynoe was asked if approval has been granted for the Qatar-Total deal. He answered in the negative. The official said that truth be told; the government is still waiting on certain documents. “Until we have seen those, the government cannot adequately comment on what that arrangement is between the two. “What I can say is that we are
interested in seeing diversification in the basin but we must, at the same time, adhere to the laws of Guyana,” the Energy Department Head commented. He further stated that it is not so much Qatar, but Total which promised to provide the information but is still to do so. Once this is done, he said that the Energy Department would have to vet the arrangement to see if it poses a security threat. Dr. Bynoe said, “Remember we are dealing with a national entity. Now let me put to you the question, If you have a company or the Venezuelan government seeking to farm into the Orinduik Block, how are you going to treat with that for example? “So in actual fact, we have to examine what are the issues around that before we are able to proceed...” Once that is done, Dr. Bynoe said that a recommendation would be
made to the Ministry. While the department is still waiting on the necessary documentation, Dr. Bynoe was reminded that various media reports show that Qatar Petroleum continues to be referred to as a partner in the Orinduik Block by other parties such as Eco Atlantic which holds a 15 percent interest in the offshore license. To this Dr. Bynoe said, “Well, I am not aware but we met with Total and they said that they would submit the documents. Remember, any deal that is made between two (oil companies) would have to be consummated by the government...Until such time, it doesnt matter what else is said out there; it does not exist.” TWO FOR TWO To date, Tullow Oil, which is the Operator of the Orinduik Block has already made two successful discoveries. The first was at the Jethro-
Energy Department Head, Dr. Mark Bynoe 1 well with the second being at the Joe-1 well. The Jethro-1 exploration well was drilled by the Stena Forth drillship to a final depth of 14,331 feet (4,400 meters) in approximately 1,350 meters of water. The company said that evaluation of logging data confirms that the Jethro-1 comprises high quality oil bearing sandstone reservoir of Lower Tertiary age. Further, the company said that it encountered 180.5 feet (55 meters) of net high-quality oil pay in excellent lower Tertiary sandstone reservoirs, which supports recoverable oil resources. It noted that the well
has been cased, and is now awaiting further evaluation to determine the appropriate appraisal activity. As for the Joe-1 exploration well, it was also drilled by the Stena Forth drillship but to a final depth of 7,176 feet (2,175 metres) in approximately 2,546 feet (780 metres) of water. It was noted that wire line logging and sampling of the oil found confirms that Joe-1 comprises high quality oil-bearing sandstone reservoir with a high porosity of Upper Tertiary age. Joe is also the first discovery in the Upper Tertiary play and also de-risks shallow water (Continued on page 63)
Sunday September 29, 2019
Kaieteur News
High tides flood several West Dem villages Early morning scenes of flooding and overtopping
Residents from a number of West Coast Demerara villages were bracing for the worst yesterday afternoon around 15:30 hours. They were told to be on the lookout for high tides measuring 3.6 meters. According to the Director General of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig, tides measuring about 3.24 meters caused overtopping of the Sea Defence on West
Coast Demerara around 02:00 hours yesterday. The overtopping led to severe flooding in Anna Catherina, Den Amstel and Blankenburg. Craig said during the subsequent assessment it was observed that water levels were about one foot. He also said that based on a detailed assessment, 70 homes were flooded in Anna Catherina alone. However, he believes when combining all
the communities affected, the numbers were much higher than that. “I think approximately 200-350 homes are affected based on a rough estimation and including all those communities,” said Craig. The Director General did not forget to mention that the tide was recorded to be above the normal level and warned residents to take precautions. He told them to prepare (Continued on page 63)
Dem boys seh...
MPs don’t go to parliament but collecting pay When something strange happen people does seh, “Only in Guyana.” And some of de things dat does happen can only happen in Guyana. Only in Guyana, you can see girls going to wuk and sitting down behind a desk fuh hours without turning a straw. Only in Guyana, people who got to go to work at eight in de morning, ketching bus at nine fuh go to wuk. Of course, when it come to dress dem boys know dat is only in Guyana people does wear winter coat in de hot, hot sun. Women does wear dem good shoes pon de road when dem going to wuk and
put on slippers when dem meet in de office. In dem developed country, is de odda way around. Women does like look professional in de office. When it come to thiefing, is only in Guyana people does thief and don’t have to spend a day in jail. People does thief and get ketch and dem boys she, de only thing dem got to do is to give a raise to de people who ketch dem and all is clear. Dat is a culture in Guyana and dem boys seh all people got to do is look at Parliament. Parliament ain’t sit fuh de whole of de year yet all dem members of parliament collecting dem pay every month without fail. And at de head of de line is de PPP MPs.
Dem boys seh de MPs is de people who got to set de example but people just got to watch dem and know dat de culture is to get pay fuh doing nutten. And wha mek matters worse is de fact dat is de people of Guyana—de taxpayers—who paying de MPs fuh doing nutten. Wha mek dem boys laugh is when de PPP MPs talk loud and clear dat dem not going back to parliament; how parliament dead. Well dem boys seh if dem can tek money from de dead, who more dem can’t tek money from? Talk half and watch how MPs collecting $$$ from de dead parliament.
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Sunday September 29, 2019
Kaieteur News
More than half of women murdered this year were killed by their partners More than half of the domestic violence-related killings for this year involved women dying at the hands of a current or former romantic partner, according to statistics obtained from the Ministry of Social Protection. While there were no murders recorded in the first two months of the year, between March and August, the Ministry recorded eight women killedsix allegedly by their current or former partners. According to the information, four women between the ages 20 and 46 were allegedly murdered by their husbands; while one each was allegedly murdered by their commonlaw husband and estranged lover. The remaining two women were killed by their daughter and brother, respectively. These women are different ages, from different racial backgrounds and upbringing and from different parts of the country. It all started on March 30, when Corentyne, Berbice resident, 20-year-old Omwattie Gill, was run over by her husband, Gavin Gill, who later hacked her to death in full view of villagers. Gavin, 31, was later arrested by police as he stood near his wifes lifeless body holding the bloodied cutlass. He is before the courts. Over a month later, on May 14, the decomposing body of 36-year-old Zaila Sugrim was discovered by detectives in a shallow grave behind a Crane, West Coast Demerara gas station her husband, Ryan Sugrim, operated.
Cynthia Cozier
Shemain Frank
Zaila Sugrim
Farida Khayum
Rookmin Jameer
Munishwar Ramkellawan and Marianny Martinez in happier times
Gavin Gill and his wife Omwattie in happier times
Vinette Headley-James Kaieteur News had reported that the woman who was wearing a flowered dress, and her hands her feet were bound with a piece of cloth. She appeared badly beaten and her features were reportedly too decomposed to allow for positive identification. It was also reported that her husband who has since been charged with her murder,
set fire to the grave in an attempt to destroy the spot. Reports indicate that Sugrim suffered several years of abuse at the hand of her husband. In fact, it was reported that last year, the man beat her so bad; she remained hospitalised for several days. It was then that she confided in a Kaieteur News reporter that her husband had threatened to kill her and bury her in a shallow grave. A few days later, Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast mother of six, Farida Khayum, was stabbed to death by her husband with whom she had been involved in a heated argument at the Lot 9 Market Street, Ann Regina home. Based on reports, during the argument, the enraged man armed himself with a wife and stabbed his wife about12 times about the body, primarily in the region of the abdomen. After realising that the wife, 39, was lifeless, the man Devanand Narine ingested a poisonous substance. He later succumbed while under police guard at the hospital. On Friday, June 28, 36-yearold businessman, Munishwar Ramkellawan, and his common-law Venezuelan wife, 26-year-old Marianny Martinez, were found dead in their bed at their Eteringbang Landing, Cuyuni River home in what appeared to be a murder/suicide.
Report state that Ramkellawan and his reputed wife were seen imbibing alcohol at their home from where they operated a fuel business. An eyewitness had recounted that the couple was heard having a heated argument. They went home and two gunshots were later heard. The following day, an employee of the couple went to their home and found their lifeless bodies. The man had a single gunshot wound to the right side of his head while his wife bore a single gunshot wound to the left side of her head. About a month later, on August 21, 44-year-old wife, Vinette Headley-James, was stabbed to death by her 45year-old husband, Sherlock James, who was furious of her having an extra marital affair. The killing took place in front of the couple s daughter at their Nabacalis, East Coast Demerara home. Police said that Sherlock, a miner, spent long periods away from home and suspected that his wife was having an extramarital affair. He confronted the woman about her alleged affair. They argued and the miner assaulted his spouse then fled the scene. However, James returned on the day in question to find that his spouse was putting his clothes in the yard. It was reported that the man warned his wife that he would kill her if she continued putting his
belongings out. When the wife ignored his threats, he allegedly picked up a knife from the kitchen and stabbed her to the neck. The injured woman reportedly fled to the backyard. The daughter took her injured mom by taxi to the Dr. C.C. Nicholson Hospital at Nabaclis, where she succumbed. Scouring the couple s backyard, police eventually found Sherlocks lifeless body lying in a bushy area with what appeared to a self-inflicted wound to the neck. Shemain Frank, 28, of Lot 317 Victoria Village, East Coast Demerara was stabbed to the chest allegedly by her estranged lover, Clive Wilson, 36, while she lay in bed. Wilson escaped after the killing and remains on the run. His last known address was given as Atlantic Gardens, East Coast Demerara. According to reports, Wilson has been continuously accusing the woman of having an affair. While the woman lay in bed on August 28, he reportedly jumped through a window to the bathroom where he hid. The man, who was armed with a knife, then sneaked into the womans bedroom and stabbed her. Wilson then dropped the knife in the room and fled on foot. Meanwhile, 41-year-old Kamela Jameer, a mother of two, is currently on remand for the murder of her mother 69-year-old Rookmin Jameer
of Lot 305 Tempe Village, West Coast Berbice. Rookmin was found with her throat slit in a pool of blood on the kitchen floor in the bottom flat of her two-storey home on April 17. Her daughter, who initially told police that she came home and found her mother in that state, is reported to have confessed to the killing. It was reported that during interrogation, she told police that she and her mother were involved in a heated argument after the elderly woman accused her of stealing some money. She allegedly told police that the row escalated and she grabbed a chopper from the kitchen counter and slashed her mothers throat. She then waited until her mother was dead. Cynthia Cozier, a 25-yearold mother, was brutally chopped to death by her brother on July 3. The killing occurred at Waramuri Village, Moruca, Region One. According to reports, the 25year-old brother, Rendy Cozier, who is said to be of unsound mind was involved in a heated argument with Cynthia and another one of his siblings when he armed himself with a cutlass and chopped them. Cynthia received the most chops to her head and was pronounced dead at the hospital. Rendy Cozier has since been charged.
Sunday September 29, 2019
Kaieteur News
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Kaieteur News
Sunday September 29, 2019
Police brutality probe concludes; rank to face trial next week The police rank in the middle of the alleged beating of a city businessman (at East La Penitence Police Station) is expected to appear in court for trial, according to officials at the Police Complaints
Authority. Yesterday the complainants, Jermaine Wilson (businessman) and child mother, Jewel Bearam, met with the Chief Justice and PCA officials for the final
stages of the investigation which saw matters being finalised, and court proceedings set for an undisclosed day in next week. To speed up investigations ranks from
- CPA officials displeased at irresponsibility exhibited by junior ranks OPR had recently visited the businessman at the Square of the Revolution in Georgetown, where he directed them to two critical witnesses from which statements were taken. Yesterday, credible PCA sources indicated that the accused rank could face charges of assault and causing actual bodily harm to the businessman, as well as for assaulting his pregnant child mother. They explained, also, that the rank can also be tried departmentally and if found guilty can face charges for breaching laws that surrounds the police code of conduct and SOPs. Meanwhile, even as investigations are ongoing the rank continues to breach all protocols. He reportedly turned up in the company of colleagues in a police patrol vehicle at the home of the businessman on Monday night. Ranks were apparently instructed to interrogate the businessman about ownership of his vehicle and their right to search his vehicle at any given period. The accused rank was seated in the front seat of the vehicle as all this was going on. The businessman complied and made ready to give them access to search his car, when a senior officer amongst them admonished the ranks from touching the vehicle. He charged that the rank accused of police brutality was using others to his whims and fancy as he attempts to intimidate the businessman. The businessman, Jermaine Wilson, of Lot 50 West Ruimveldt (Front Road) Georgetown, had reported that he was beaten about the body with a wooden club, kicked and had his dreadlocks
Damion Mc Calman who was allegedly beaten by a police patrol rank last week pulled viciously by ranks at the station. He reportedly sustained a broken left hand as a result of the incident. On the other hand, there are reports that his pregnant child mother who was videoing the happenings, was cuffed twice in her abdomen after she was asked to desist by a named male rank at the facility. It is alleged that it was this said rank that dealt the businessman several blows with a wooden club at the outpost. Videos that went viral showed the businessman being beaten even when he was handcuffed. Meanwhile at the PCA Brickdam, Georgetown office yesterday, ranks expressed displeasure over the irresponsibility of junior police patrol ranks, who appeared before the board in a similar incident. In this instance, two ranks were appearing to answer
allegations of physically abusing a young man just last week at South Ruimveldt, Georgetown. In this matter the accused, 27-year-old Damion Mc Calman, of 30/27 North Ruimveldt, Georgetown was reportedly punched in the face repeatedly, and kicked about the body by a male rank who had conducted a search on his person as he entered a shop in the area. Mc Calman told this publication that on Wednesday last, he was entering a shop in the area with a colleague when two patrol ranks approached him and informed they wanted to search them. He said they complied and the ranks found nothing on them. He thinking all was well, continued on his way to make his purchase. He said one of the ranks shouted at him, and loudly enquired where he was going. He said he informed the officer that he thought the search was completed to which the rank began using profanities loudly. He said an argument erupted between them during which the rank punched him in his face twice, causing him to fall to the ground. He said every time he tried to get up, he was punched down, and kicked about the body. The man said it was only when a very angry crowd of residents surrounded them, and another police officer begged him to stop, did the rank stop abusing him. He said that at one point when he verbally challenged the rank, the man went for his weapon, indicating that he will use it without hesitation. Officials at PCA yesterday affirmed that the junior ranks were colleagues of the rank who had abused the West Front Road, Georgetown businessman, Jermaine Wilson, at the East La Penitence Police Station on July 19.
Sunday September 29, 2019
Kaieteur News
Fisherman drowns at Number 66 complex The remains of a fisherman washed up at the Number 66 Fishing Complex channel Friday night. He has since been identified by relatives as Kenneth Craig, of Lot 206 Section ‘A’ Number 67 Village, Corentyne, Berbice. Reports are that Craig who normally catches fish at the Complex every day, fell into the channel and drowned during the high tide. His cousin, Raymond Craig, who spoke to reporters yesterday at his home, said he returned from Georgetown around 15:30 hrs Friday and shortly after someone arrived at his home and informed him
that “Putin went down in the creek (Number 66 channel) and didn’t come up back”. He said he immediately took his bicycle and rode to the location where he met other fishermen. They decided to set a fishing net in the water to grab his body if it was still near the location he drowned but opted to return Friday when the tide was low. The cousin said when he returned his cousin’s body was seen floating just a few meters away from where he drowned. The police were already on the scene. They inspected the body but no marks of violence were
Dead: Kenneth Craig found. His body was taken to the Skeldon Hospital Mortuary where a post mortem is expected. He was a father of three and was described as an easygoing and humble man.
The Number 66 Fishing Complex, Corentyne, East Berbice
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Sunday September 29, 2019
Kaieteur News
Vast destruction seen in Reg. 7 Just a few miles from Essequibo River, in the Cuyuni/Mazaruni area of Region Seven, lies an area called Arimu. From above, a vast area of wastelands from a bad movie,
has been carved out from the jungle with the waters ranging from blue to green to a sickly yellow. Arimu is a mined out area that has small miners returning to sections of it,
- GGMC has little capacity to monitor gold industry
hoping to find the remains. A significant part of it has already been parceled out to a number of prominent gold miners who control large plots of the country’s available lands that has been allocated
The polluted waterways in the Arimu area, Region 7. for mining. From Timehri, Arimu is about 50 miles due west. On the ground, it is not unusual to find persons in the side trails with metal detectors. One man showed a few flakes he found worth about $10,000. A small clear area has shops and places for partying and other night activities. Arimu is one of the hundreds of mined out areas which has been abandoned and left like that across the country…in Regions One, Seven and Eight and to a lesser extent, Region Nine. It would be in conflict with the Code of Practice for Mine Reclamation and Closure Plans as published by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission in 2010. Under those codes, miners have to return the lands to as much as possible to its natural state as possible. This Code of Practice (Provision) is a mandatory one that applies to gold and diamond mining operations ranging in size from small scale to medium scale, GGMC said in explaining the Code of Practice. The code was said to be subordinate to the Mining (Amendment) Regulations
2005 and was intended to complement regulatory requirements, not to replace them. Compliance with the rules, regulations and laws is therefore necessary, GGMC said. The miners are obligated to restore the site to a condition in which it is visually acceptable to the community and productive for further uses. More importantly, it was explained, there must be moves to ensure that the rehabilitated land blends in with the surrounding landscape. The Code said that the site must be reclaimed to the extent that the area impacted will be amenable to support a balanced diversity of flora and fauna. Steps must also be taken to prevent drainage interruption and groundwater loss. The Code goes further. There must be moves by the miners to re vegetate the area throughout mine life with appropriate plant species that will control erosion, provide diversity and enable plant succession so as to restore a stable and compatible ecosystem. The sooner re vegetation is initiated, the faster an ecosystem will be re
The scene in the Arimu backdam area.
established, it was explained. Last week, at Arimu, miners were told that they were working on the mined out areas. One man who came from Brazil years ago, has been dwelling in the country’s backdams for decades. The destruction is in many parts of Guyana. In fact, in Region Eight, in the Mahdia backdam areas, the scenes would be shocking. “Miners are largely working for landlords. They have to pay a percentage and sometimes they go bust. When you bust, you don’t want to hear about putting back vegetation.” GGMC officers are unable to properly manage the rough terrain. In fact, it was stressed that mines officers are paid to turn a blind eye. “This is not the only area that has been left like this. The whole Cuyuni and Mazaruni area is like this. Miners are not adhering. You have to go to other regions to see the problem. I come and reach the mine out area in Arimu about 10 years ago.” In Region 7, there are scores of mined-out areas like Arimu. In fact, the backdam is filled with Venezuelans, Brazilians, Chinese, Russians, (Continued on page 63)
Sunday September 29, 2019
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Kaieteur News
Guyana pledges continued support for Palestinian refugees Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Karen Cummings in her first Annual Coordination Meeting of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) told state members that Guyana will continue to contribute to the funding of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for P a l e s t i n e R e f u g e e s ( U N R WA ) . Cummings made her statement on Friday in New York at the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). “Guyana remains deeply concerned about the plight of the Palestinian refugees and the difficulties facing UNRWA,” Dr. Cummings stated. “Guyana will continue to contribute to its funding as long as the need exists.” She added that the agency’s services are crucial
to maintaining the human dignity of the refugees and alleviating their suffering. She added, “At the same, we must continue to encourage the parties to engage in respectful dialogue with a view to a peaceful resolution of this longstanding conflict.” The Minister explained that the humanitarian catastrophe in Myanmar’s Rakhine state continues to cause immense suffering among significant numbers of Muslims. She referenced that according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), nearly a million Rohingyas had taken refuge in Bangladesh as of March, 2019. As such, she commended the Government of Bangladesh for extending
humanitarian help to the refugees facing the man-made calamity. Dr. Karen Cummings said that the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration provides a useful framework for the management of international migratory flows and the protection of migrants, especially women and girls, against violence and exploitation at all migration stages. In addition, she noted the empowerment of women in the Muslim world is welcomed with the emphasis placed at the informal Consultative Ministerial Meeting on Women Empowerment on the role of women combating extremism, women leadership and decision making, the protection of women against all forms of violence, and
Palestinian refugees being rescued in Bangladesh
Biker caught on video scrambling with traffic cop, jumps on police bike An almost comical, 21second long video, which was posted on social medial and appears to be filmed in the vicinity of Matpal Crew Management, on North Road, Lacytown, raises questions about what could possibly be a regular occurrence. A male traffic rank was seen in a heated argument
with a biker. The first two seconds into the video showed the traffic officer trying to shake off the biker but was unable to do so. Later into the video, the biker was seen getting on the motorcycle of the traffic officer who later rode away. From all angles, it appeared as if the biker was stopped by the traffic officer
but things did not go as planned because the circulating video shows the biker trying to take something away from the police officer. After the officer did not comply, the scramble started between the two, the biker then hops on the motorcycle of the traffic officer leaving his bike parked at the scene.
The scenes yesterday.
women economic empowerment and financial inclusion. Dr Cummings said, “Guyana also acknowledges the important role played by the OIC in development around the world and wishes
to express its appreciation for the recent pledge of financial and technical assistance in the critical areas of infrastructure, capacity building and trade.” UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary
contributions from UN member states. It provides assistance and protection for approximately 5.5M registered Palestine refugees in order to help them achieve their full potential in human development.
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Sunday September 29, 2019
Kaieteur News
Free Wi-Fi for several North Rupununi villages Minister of Public Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s , Catherine Hughes, accompanied by Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Valerie Garrido Lowe, visited
several North Rupununi villages to distribute electronic devices to core groups and to inform the residents about the maximised use of the electronic devices.
This exercise went on for three days- from September 25, 2019. Villages including Fairview, Surama, Apoteri, Rewa, Rupertee , amongst several others benefited, the statement said.
It was also disclosed that this move will allow residents to make use of the free government Wi-Fi which has been established in these villages. According to the statement, electronic tablets have been presented to women, youth, sport, wildlife, and cultural groups. In addition, nursery and primary schools as well as village leaders received electronic tablets in each of the villages. Minister Hughes noted that there are major plans in store for ICT in the hinterland that will positively impact major sectors such as health, education, tourism and business in the communities.
She said, “Young people especially know how to use this technology and that is what we will build on.” She said that there are plans to extend the internet service from the Fairview Health Centre to the school making it more convenient for residents. Likewise, the internet services in the other villages will be extended to key buildings to facilitate further scheduled upgrades the statement explained. According to Minister Valerie Garrido-Lowe, residents are encouraged to use the internet for marketing of local products and promoting their village as a tourism destination among
other things. Training in the operation of the devices, creation and management of web pages and the usage of software for businesses and other purposes were facilitated for some of the residents in the villages the statement said. Toshao of Fairview, Martin Carter who benefitted from the training at an initial workshop, welcomed the establishment of the internet service and all the benefits that will accrue the statement claimed. Martin said that he is prepared to work with fellow trainees to ensure others in his village, especially the older residents, acquainted with the tablets and other ICT devices.
Minister of Public Telecommunications, Catherine Hughes and Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Valerie Garrido Lowe, distribute an electronic tablet to a youth
Various groups in the community received an electronic tablet.
Sunday September 29, 2019
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Kaieteur News
---Hinds’ Sight by Dr. David Hinds---
The PPP gambled and lost: It hid its political agenda behind the Constitution
T
his past week, President Granger announced that general and regional elections would be held on March 2, 2020. The initial announcement had left some breathing space for the naysayers to continue their narrative of gloom and doom. The statement appeared to suggest that that date depended on the PPP going to the National Assembly to facilitate the extension of the life of the government. The PPP and its chorus instantly charged the president with “further delaying the elections” because according to them, he had not named a definitive date. This prompted the Head of State to definitively say the next day that even if the PPP’s does not go to parliament, elections would be held on March 2. When historians and other analysts look back on the last nine months, one conclusion that should be most apparent is that the PPP gambled and lost. That party had very carefully plotted its way back to power while the Coalition government was asleep. They stunned the Coalition by convincing one
of its parliamentarians to join them in the no-confidence vote last December. They knew that they stood an excellent chance of winning the election which, barring any unforeseen circumstances, would be constitutionally due in three months. They had just won a resounding Local Government victory. Their base was mobilised. But more importantly, they knew the Voters’ List was tainted, but that it would facilitate an easy victory for them. The PPP also knew full well that the Coalition was in bad shape. Their constituency had just handed them a resounding rebuke by staying away from the polls at the LGE. They were in no position to effectively fight an election in the short run. The Coalition initially accepted the No Confidence Vote (NCV) as a done deal, but quickly changed their minds. They decided to opt for judicial review. In other words, they challenged the validity of the NCV—a right to which they were entitled. Once the matter went to the court, the constitutional three-month timeline for elec-
tions was suspended. The Court of Appeal then overturned the ruling by the High Court that the NCV was properly passed. The PPP opted to appeal to the CCJ—the court of last resort. By the time the CCJ gave its ruling and attendant orders, almost seven months had elapsed. The point I am making here is that both the government and opposition engaged the court. Therefore, to charge the government with illegally staying in office is highly misleading—the right to review an act of parliament is universally accepted. Once the court refused to name a date for elections as the PPP had requested, the matter was then thrown into the laps of the political parties. They had the option of arriving at a political decision on the way forward. On the one hand, the Coalition argued that despite the constitutional requirement that elections be held within three months, this must be tied to GECOM’s readiness to hold such elections. GECOM signaled that it could not be ready in three months. This meant that the coalition opted for a de-facto
The Baccoo Speaks Disasters are never far away. There have been the fires. There will be yet another, this time on the west side. Again carelessness will be the cause but the homeowner would try to divert attention from the real cause. ** The tides are rising and with them will come flooding. Some sections of
the sea defence are weak, so the tides would breach them.
The nearby areas would be flooded causing losses to some poultry-rearers. The race to stem the breaches would begin in earnest. ** A domestic triangle would end in disaster. One disgruntled individual would give vent to his feelings. He would attempt to assault his rival with fatal consequences.
triggering of Article 6-7, which allowed for a conditional extension of the life of the government, since the PPP would not go to parliament to do so. GECOM decided to grant the Coalition’s request for House-to-House registration as a means of cleaning the list, essentially closing the door on election within the stipulated three-months timeline. This decision also removed the rug from under the PPP’s feet. That party had premised its strategy on ensuring that the old list was used for the election. In other words, the staunch argument in favour of holding elections within three months was less about the timeline and more about ensuring that the list was not sanitised. This thinking drove the PPP back to the court to stop the House-to-House (HtH) registration. The court refused to grant the request by ruling that the exercise was legal. The PPP now had to make a crucial decision— should it agree to a political decision to hold elections by the end of the year or should it continue to argue for elections by September. It chose the latter and the rest is history. The new GECOM chair eventually stopped the HtH registration, but crucially decided to merge the collected
data with the existing list. This meant the PPP’s bid to use the old list was defeated. It also meant that practically, elections would now be pushed to next year. In the end the PPP gambled and lost. Instead of seeking consensus, it opted for strict constitutionalism. It constructed a constitutional crisis and unsuccessfully sought to get the courts entangled. It got the ABE countries to threaten the government with sanctions, but by then it was too late. All the president had to do was to name an election date which he duly did. There will be no sanctions because the ABE countries asked for an election date to be named. The elections would be held with a new or mostly new list. The Coalition ends up losing just two months of their full term. Once a de-facto date was named, the PPP’s agreement to an extension of the government’s life is a moot point. The government will remain in office out of necessity. The PPP has to stop its protest which assumed the government is illegal. Once a date is named, the government becomes legal again by the PPP’s yardstick. The PPP outsmarted itself. It played smart without being clever. If it really wanted elec-
Dr David Hinds tion at the earliest opportunity, it could have negotiated a November-December election. But it was never essentially about a timeline; it was about a timeline that would have prevented a sanitised list. It fooled its supporters and ended up fooling itself. It was never about constitutional principle. I think some advocates and commentators honestly believed it was a matter of the rule of law and constitutional adherence. But they had to know that that was not the PPP’s intention. They hid their political agenda behind the constitution. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper) More of Dr. Hinds’ writings and commentaries can be found on his YouTube Channel Hinds’ Sight: Dr. David Hinds’ Guyana-Caribbean Politics and on his w e b s i t e www.guyanacaribbeanpolitics.news. Send comments to dhinds6106@aol.com
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Kaieteur News
Sunday September 29, 2019
Ambush on the Kuribrong trail By Michael Jordan Jacqueline Bobb got the bad news just when she was having a good time. It was Easter Sunday, April 21, 2019, and she was on the beach with hundreds of others at the popular Bartica Regatta. But by 6:00 p.m., Jacqueline was ready to call it a day. She was walking near Third Avenue, Bartica, heading to her home, when a woman she knew came up to her. “Yuh hear what happen to yuh son?” the woman asked. The woman was referring to 32-year-old driver/mechanic Perion Nicholas Bobb, who took mining equipment, ration and other items to the interior in a Land Cruiser. “No,” Ms. Bobb replied. “— shoot he,” the woman said, calling the name of a man they both knew. In trepidation, Jacqueline Bobb rushed to the Bartica Police Station. There she saw her son’s boss, a well-known dredge owner. He gave her the grim news. The story she reportedly heard was that Perion Bobb, accompanied by a miner, was shuttling the miner’s equipment along a trail in the Kuribrong Backdam, Potaro River, when they saw a truck heading towards them. Bobb allegedly stopped to allow the other truck to pass. Instead, one of the men allegedly pointed a gun at Bobb’s vehicle and fired. The bullet, reportedly from a .38 revolver, tore through the Land Cruiser, struck Bobb in the stomach, and embedded itself in one of the seats. The miner who was with Bobb reportedly said that he flung himself down in the
Bobb’s body slumped in his vehicle
Perion Nicholas Bobb
WANTED: Farouk Khan
back of the Land Cruiser to avoid being shot. There were also claims that the killers abducted him, though how he allegedly escaped is unclear.
Jacqueline Bobb says she was told that her son was left to bleed to death in his vehicle, because no one in the area attempted to come to his
WANTED: Jamal Bazilio aid. When police ranks eventually reached the scene, they found Perion Bobb’s body slumped in his cruiser along the Kuribrong trail. The miner who was travelling with Bobb reportedly identified two miners as the individuals who carried out the ambush. One of the suspects was said to have a physical disability. One report suggested that the killing might have been in retaliation over Bobb reporting that he had seen some men stripping a vehicle. This
led police to detain two of the suspect’s associates. Eventually, the man with the physical disability turned himself in. All the suspects were eventually released. Jacqueline Bobb correctly suggests that any gunpowder residue would have been long gone by the time the men were held. In a twist in the case, police also detained the miner who alleged that he had escaped after being abducted. He too, was released, and the Kuribrong trail ambush appeared to have reached a dead end. But Jacqueline Bobb continued to ask questions. She rejected the theory that someone killed her son in retaliation for him reporting that he had seen them stripping a vehicle. Even before he was slain, Perion Bobb had reportedly alleged that the same suspects had threatened and assaulted him. And a woman was allegedly at the centre of the trouble. Mrs. Bobb says she learnt that Perion had helped a young woman to get a job as a cook in a Kuribrong mining concession. He would reportedly sometimes visit the camp. Some individuals in the camp were reportedly not pleased with this. On March 24, 2019, Perion Bobb reportedly visited the camp and the woman invited him to stay the night. That was reportedly when two men, whom she identified, allegedly assaulted Bobb and threatened to “shoot up” his Land Cruiser. Bobb reportedly told a close associate with whom he worked. The friend reportedly assaulted one of the men. After that same night on the landing, the miner who was
assaulted, allegedly fired several shots at Perion Bobb’s friend and other associates. On March 29, Bobb allegedly visited the Bartica Police Station and reported the incidents. It was then that he learnt that the alleged shooter had already filed a complaint at the same station. According to Mrs. Bobb, ranks at the Bartica Police Station contacted the alleged shooter and told him to report to the station. He never did, she said. Armed with this information, Mrs. Bobb contacted the Guyana Women Miners’ Organisation (GWMO) and visited Commissioner of Police Leslie James thrice. She received a statement from the GWMO that the DPP had advised that the police conduct “specific further investigations”, then return the file for legal advice. She was also told that, “one person of interest is still being sought.” Since then, police have sent out wanted bulletins for two individuals in connection with Perion Bobb’s murder. One is for Farouk Khan, 25, whose last known address is Byderabo Road, Bartica. It stated that Khan is wanted for questioning in relation to April 21 murder of Perion Bobb, which occurred at Kuribrong. The other, sent out recently, is for Jamal Bazilio, called “Jammings.” Police said Bazilio last resided in South Ruimveldt, Georgetown. Anyone with information that may lead Bazilio’s arrest can contact the police on telephone numbers 225-3650, 225-8196, 226-2870, 226-6978, 455-2238, 911 or the nearest police station. All information will be treated with the strictest confidence. “I am hoping now that the whole truth will come out,” Mrs. Bobb said. “Somebody knows who shot my son, because everybody (in the area) knows everybody else there.” If you have any information about other unusual cases, please contact Kaieteur News at our Lot 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown location. We can be reached on telephone numbers 2258465, 225-8491 or 2258473. You need not disclose your identity. You can also contact Michael Jordan at his email a d d r e s s kamarangnight@gmail.com
Sunday September 29, 2019
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Kaieteur News
==THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN==
Guyana’s class structure, Charrandass and me
O
ne very boring af ternoon, there was no one in the head office of the WPA on Croal Street. I lived literally a fiveminute walk - on Hadfield Street, Wortmanville - from the building. Eusi Kwayana worked every day in the office. When you wanted to see him, just drop in and he’d be there. I said to Eusi that I would like to know why certain characters in the WPA leadership do not want to be confronted with hard facts when they fight the government with the same approach . This little chat occurred more than 25 years ago, but I will always remember it. Eusi gave me a little lecture on the nature of the Georgetown middle class. Eusi is still alive. I have no permission to quote him, but I will be general in what I report. For students of politics and for those who are interested in political activism, it is important to understand certain concepts in Guyanese politics. The Georgetown middle class is not the same with Guyana’s petty bourgeoisie. They are two different classes. In the post-Independence period, the middle class referred to the urban elite. They were mostly light-complexioned, educated people who had status but not wealth. They regarded themselves as
the custodians of European culture. They socialised with their own types and the remnants of the Portuguese petty bourgeoisie who stayed in Guyana. These two types of strata have diminished in size since the early eighties under Burnham’s quasi-Marxist direction, but to this day, the two remained closely knitted with the Portuguese group eschewing political involvement. If you were at Andaiye’s celebration of life event held at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre to mark her death, you would have seen how enduring this class in Guyana is. Don’t be fooled by their Afro-Guyanese radicalism. It was Afro-Saxon radicalism as personified by the WPA in the seventies. Despite his post-colonial radicalism, Walter Rodney was part of WPA’s Eurocentric, “la dolce vita” world, though Kwayana had no use for such an ambience. Burnham detested the WPA not only because they posed a threat to his rule, but he was insanely incensed that such a class of revolutionary pretenders was actually barefaced enough to want to enter the politics of radicalism. Vincent Alexander is the best describer of how Burnham felt about the WPA. Alexander is reluctant to write about this period of Guyanese politics, even though he
knows he is getting on in age. I suspect the reason is because he socialises with the remnants of the WPA. I don’t socialise at all, so I cannot be accused of betraying my class affiliation. My class affiliation is dark-skinned African and Indian working class people. From the 1980s onwards with the migration of the Portuguese petty bourgeoisie, the landed Indians, the Indians in commerce and other wealthy Indians constituted the petty bourgeoisie. The professional Indian class – doctors, lawyers, accountants, engineers, etc., did not gravitate to their urban, African counterparts. The urban Indian middle class found socialisation through cricket clubs and Hindu and Muslim associations. I mean no insult when I say they also found the “bottle” to be a serious source of socialisation. The Indian petty bourgeoisie is an ironic class in Guyana. Unlike the urban, African middle class, they are not snobbish, elitist, arrogant, but they tend to use racial criteria in their lives at a deeper level than the African middle class. Back to Kwayana. I interpret him to mean (I may be wrong; Kwayana is a funny man that hates being misquoted) that because of their class nature, they resent working class people for confronting them.
They would accept torrid arguments, but it must come from their own. What has this analysis got to do with Charrandass? I heard an interesting interview with Charran’s friend, attorney Ryan Crawford. Crawford said many afternoons he would be playing dominoes with Charran on Charran’s bridge and sugar workers would pass and hurl expletives and insults at Charran. They felt Charran betrayed them, but Charran didn’t know about the closures of the estates. For years Charran has been cussing down the AFC’s
betrayal of its raison d’être in conversations with me. I would tell him to go to meetings and confront them vehemently. But he was afraid. Maybe he was intimidated by their middle class environment. This is where I differ from other humans. I told many AFC leaders through these columns, and to their faces, what political low-lives I think they are. As soon as I heard in May 2015 that they called their middle class friend and offered her the Ministry of the Environment, I exposed them immediately. But I guess
Frederick Kissoon Charran had the last laugh. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper)
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Kaieteur News
Sunday September 29, 2019
AFC anticipates smooth, successful elections H.E. President Granger has announced the date of Guyana’s next National and Regional Elections as advised by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). AFC Party Leader, Khemraj
Ramjattan, reacted to the President’s announcement and issued this statement: The Alliance For Change (AFC) welcomes His Excellency President David Arthur Granger ’s
announcement of March 2nd, 2020 as the date for National and Regional Elections. AFC’s position has been that it wishes to see these Elections held as early as possible, while emphasizing
the importance of maintaining public confidence in the process. The Party remains confident that all constitutional requirements for the holding of these Elections are being followed by the Government. The next constitutional requirement to be satisfied to ensure that Elections 2020 cannot be successfully challenged is the extension of the Election date by a twothirds majority of the National Assembly. As such, we urge the Parliamentary Opposition to give its support for the extension now needed for the set date. The AFC is also satisfied that within the time-frame, as espoused by GECOM, credible elections can and will be held. The AFC is confident that when elections are held, the APNU+AFC Coalition Government will be returned to office given its stewardship of the Government, having inherited a crippled economy and governance apparatus, (destroyed during) 23 years of a corrupt and bankrupted PPPC administration. The return of the APNU+AFC coalition to office will ensure the continued rise of the quality of life for all Guyanese people through the sustainable development in our homeland. YOUTHS ON BOARD The AFC’s youth arm, Youth For Change, also issued a statement last week: ”With great pleasure, understanding and respect, the Youth For Change welcomes the announcement by H.E President David A. Granger. We reiterate our full confidence in the APNU+AFC government. The YFC takes this opportunity to congratulate and express sincere
gratitude to H.E. President David A. Granger and his Cabinet for continuing to abide by the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. The March 2, 2020 election date will give Guyanese people the time to prepare to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Guyana’s Republican status on February 23, 2020. As representatives of youths of all backgrounds in Guyana, we encourage all Guyanese to vote smartly so we could continue on the paths being laid by this government which ensure that this nation moves smoothly into the social and economic transformation from oil wealth that we have been denied for many decades. PPP’S EMPTY PROMISES The PPP has amped up its rhetoric, and has begun the usual ‘dirty tricks’ campaign to confuse citizens, making a series of campaign promises they have no capacity to influence much less keep, e.g. thousands of jobs in Oil?? The media is doing a fine job of informing us about the many training programmes that the foreign oil companies are organizing and conducting for young Guyanese. The PPP is promising you everything but the moon to confuse you; to convince you that this Government is as corrupt as they were; and to make you forget the viciousness and disrespect they treated you with from the 1990’s to 2015. Their criticisms lack substance. They fear that their own supporters are smart enough to see right through them and recognise that the PPP is accusing the Coalition of the exact same things that that party is still guilty of. That is a tired, old strategy and it won’t work on Millennials. Young people believe what makes sense to them,
not like the baseless comments in a letter to the Chronicle’s Editor last week. The writer of this letter tried in vain to discredit our Ministers’ contributions to the success of the Coalition Government, among other things. The AFC’s General Secretary and Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, was moved to respond to this nonsense. The GS wrote: “We wish to particularly rebuff the libelous accusation that the Minister of Natural Resources was removed from his responsibilities for oil and gas because of allegations of corruption. It is a false and slanderous accusation, which, I am surprised, was elevated to the pages of the Guyana Chronicle without evidence or at least the courtesy of a comment for balance. For the record, the portfolio Minister had written a letter to the President asking to be relieved of the responsibility for oil and gas, which (department) was returned to the Ministry of the Presidency”. “We do not deny (the writer) his opinion regardless of how ill-informed it is, but the AFC will say without fear of successful contradiction that the Ministries of Public Security, Public Telecommunications, Agriculture, Business, Public Infrastructure as well as the Office of the Prime Minister have been run with Vision and Efficiency, and have contributed significantly to the achievements of the coalition government. “The AFC is well pleased with its ministers and we are proud of our contributions in both the election of the coalition and the stewardship of the government, after inheriting a crippled economy and governance apparatus, the results of 23 years of a corrupt and bankrupted PPP/C administration. “The AFC remains committed to the Cummingsburg Accord and its duties and responsibilities contained therein. We will not be derailed, diverted or distracted from our goal which is to ensure the return of the APNU/AFC Coalition to office so that we can continue to raise the quality of life for all Guyanese people through the sustainable development in our homeland.” (The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)
Sunday September 29, 2019
PAGE 29
Kaieteur News
My column
Guyana- From Cinderella to Princess
I
t never fails to amaze me that when people are doing well they suddenly attract so many others. An individual who wins the lottery suddenly has relatives and friends, he never dreamed of. Prior to the lottery, he was left to himself, with hardly anyone giving him a second look. There was the case of a grass cutter who won $100 million some years ago. While he was a grass cutter, he was ignored by just about everyone. At the time, he worked with the then head of Canadian Bank Note in Guyana, Simon Wall. The man wanted to go to Disney World with his family, but by then there were relatives who wanted to make the trip. Something went awry and the man never left. I heard that some shrewd businessman sold him a house and collected much more than the house was worth. Today, I am not sure if the then lotto winner has any money. His story is not unique. I have heard of many cases in the United States where lotto winners end up broke. Heaven knows what they did. That is why there are entities that offer money management services. Some people contact the services before they claim their winnings. Then they proceed to change their phone numbers or simply move out, because of the crush of people who try to reach them for a share of the money. I don’t play the lotto, so I would never be in that position. Already I attract a large number of people who seem to want to be my dependents. Imagine what would happen if I win mega millions through the lotto. Suddenly, Guyana is an attractive destination. Up until a few years ago, Guyanese travelling to Caribbean countries were treated with scant respect. They were seen as a poverty-stricken people running away from a harsh land. Today, they are welcomed al-
most with open arms. This change in attitude was magical and followed the news that Guyana had found oil. No oil is flowing to the surface as yet, but the number of people coming here to take up residence is astounding. Trinidad, once the major oil producer in the region, is no longer the oil-rich Caribbean country it was. In fact, reports are that its oil has all but dried up after some one hundred years of exploration. One well in Guyana is touted to be as large as anything Trinidad was producing. From the time it became known that Guyana was to become an oil-producing nation, Trinidad companies with experience began rushing here. They had the skills and so they secured the contracts ahead of Guyanese. A few local businessmen who read up on the industry are investing and the returns are exciting. Some have won contracts in the transportation sector and are making the investment pay. Some have started developing shore-based facilities and those with waterfront properties that had lain idle for decades, suddenly see themselves sitting on gold mines. They are demanding humongous prices for their property. On Thursday, on my way from the airport, I saw the signs proclaiming property for sale. Oil is now big money and people are salivating, although reports state that they will not get as much as they should. We are trying to train
people hand over fist, but we have a problem. Our education system that almost collapsed, churned out people who would face an uphill task in securing training. The result is that we would have to continue looking overseas for skills. People are going to come for jobs that should have been available to Guyanese. Another remarkable development is the entrance of some airlines that under previous conditions would never have looked in Guyana’s direction. The Marriott that was once deemed a lesson in extravagance is now a booming enterprise. The rooms are booked solid and the once loss-making hotel has turned the corner. Queen’s College would be celebrating its 175th anniversary in another few weeks. People are complaining that they cannot find accommodation in many of the hotels. People have come, and are bringing with them money that was never at a premium. Not so long ago, Guyana had a foreign currency crisis. Local businesses could not get money for their imports. That has changed. Anyone can secure foreign currency. And the exchange rate is coming down. But back to the airlines. Many thought that Guyana could not support the airline industry. Caribbean Airlines stayed over the years. On one occasion at an Annual General Meeting, a director described Guyana as the airline’s cash cow. Indeed, Guyanese were asked to pay high prices for
their tickets, but there was nothing that they could do. That is about to change, as was reflected when Fly Jamaica operated and controlled a share of the local market. Delta pulled out in those not so profitable days although it controlled the lion’s share of the market. There is word that it is coming back. Jet Blue, an airline that offers cheap rates out of the United States to various destinations but not to Guyana, is coming. Qatar Airlines that operates out of the United Arab Emirates is also coming. Of
course, the UAE is not a destination known to be frequented by Guyanese, but the airline sees money. Qatar is an oil-producing country and undoubtedly, people would be coming from that part of the world to Guyana. American Airlines that came soon after oil finds were announced is extending its service to New York having been operating between Guyana and Miami. Guyana is suddenly an attractive destination. Sadly, the people now have to fight to capitalise on whatever windfall is coming.
Adam Harris (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)
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Kaieteur News
Sunday September 29, 2019
Securing the best future for Guyana “Guyanese will be given the choice to elect a govern-
ment they trust to continue on this path, to keep moving
forward, to secure a better life for every family with the
united APNU+AFC Coalition or risk our future by returning to the past.” H.E. David Granger In an address to the nation, His Excellency David Granger, President of the Cooperative of Guyana informed that the earliest date by which general and regional elections can be held is Monday, March 2, 2020. APNU+AFC can now head into this elections season with a proud record of accomplishment on which to campaign. Since President Granger’s election, Guyana has been moving in the right direction, after 23 years of stagnation under successive PPP administrations. In just four short years, significant progress has been made. One area where the APNU+AFC invested heavily is infrastructure. The government spent almost $43B on expanding roads and bridges. In the 2019 Budget, $38.5B was set aside for continued modernisation of our infrastructure. A further $10B was invested to expand and upgrade our main coastal highways in order to ease congestion and gridlock. Everywhere you go in Guyana you can see signs of the progress that has been made in our country’s infrastructure. Over 350km (217 miles) of roads have been maintained in the hinterland. Urban roads have received long overdue attention. More than 18km (11 miles) of paved roads have been constructed across New Amsterdam, Georgetown, Linden, Corriverton and Anna Regina. The country’s transportation network of aerodromes, bridges, roads stellings and wharves haven been improved. The Iwokrama aerodrome has been lengthened from 762 metres to 1219 metres. More than 30 hinterland aerodromes have been rehabilitated and maintained. The first phase of the upgrading of the Bartica stelling has been completed. The four-lane extension of the East Bank Demerara Public Road has been completed, the country’s first pedestrian over pass have been installed across the East Bank Demerara Public Road. Village roads extending over 100km, have been constructed or repaired, including laying asphaltic cement pavements at Leguan, Lusignan and Victoria. The new capital towns Bartica, Lethem and Mabaruma - and other hinterland communities have ben-
efitted from the repair of 801.2km of roads. The Vreeden-Hoop to Parika is completed. Urban roads, extending over 58.3km in Georgetown, Linden and New Amsterdam were repaired. The APNU+AFC has also addressed the Nation’s power generation needs. New powergeneration sets, with a combined capacity of 14.2 megawatts were procured for the towns of Anna Regina and Bartica and for Canefield in the East Berbice Corentyne. Solar energy systems, with a combined output of 3.35megawatts have been installed at various locations including Mabaruma town. As part of the Green Public Sector programme, a total of 21,700 LED lights and 4,700 occupancy sensors were installed in government buildings all across the country. The Ministry of Public Telecommunications has established 172 community ICT hubs in Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Eight, Nine and 10. The ICT hubs are equipped with more than 1,500 free computers. Several communities have also been provided with free internet at schools and key strategic locations; communities like, Aishalton, Annai, Bartica, Bamia, Baramita, Iwokrama, Lethem, Linden, Mabaruma, Mahdia, Masekanari, Mathews Ridge, Orealla, Paramakatoi, Port Kaituma, Santa Rosa and Waramadong. The APNU+AFC government programme in the water sector is aimed at increasing access to safe water and reducing the disparity in service between the coastland and hinterland. In four years, more than eight thousand households (more than 31,600 persons) have benefitted from access to potable water for the very first time. Three new water treatment plants have been built at Diamond, Sheet Anchor and Uitvlugt. These water treatment plants provide access to potable water fir more than 50,000 persons. In cooperation with the Federative Republic of Brazil, eight new wells were dug in the Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo region. More than 4,800 persons in eight indigenous communities in Shea, Maruranau, Awarewaunau, Bashaidrum, Achawib, Karadarnau, Aishalton and Chirkidnau now have access to potable water. The Ministry of Natural Resources, in collaboration with the residents of Nappi, Haiowa and Parishara villages, Rupununi, and a local
contractor - JR Ranch Inc. – constructed one of the first water catchment areas planned for the region. The catchment area is approximately three kilometres in length and the dam is eight hundred metres and is estimated to hold approximately three million cubic metres of water at full capacity. The water catchment area will serve as a model to demonstrate how employing long-term solutions to water management could help communities to become more resilient to the effects of prolonged drought and El Nino spells and climate change. By working together, our Coalition has started to put Guyana on the right path. Only by continuing to follow this plan will we be able to guarantee a better future for all Guyanese. In our plan for the decade of development, Guyanese can look forward to a sustainable and robust transportation network. There will be a continued increase in the number of paved roads, to cut down on time and improve road safety. The Linden to Lethem Highway will begin this year 2019; this road will increase connectivity between the hinterland and the coast as well as with our South American neighbours. Construction of bridges across the Essequibo River; building improved land transports links to Bartica; completion of the East Coast Demerara Highway Improvement Project; building a new rail network to help move passengers and cargo throughout the country; the expansion of aerodromes to help better connect our hinterland communities; support the establishment of a deep-water port at the mouth of the Berbice and/or Essequibo rivers; “Guyanese can confidently expect to live in a country that is moving forward; with communities that are safer; in a society that is more cohesive; with better infrastructure, greater access to quality education and an economy that is more resilient-providing better jobs. We are on the right path. When the elections come, I urge all our people, of whatever background, to support me and the APNU+AFC Coalition to give us the opportunity to secure the best future for Guyana.” (The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)
Sunday September 29, 2019
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Kaieteur News
Irregular vaginal bleeding: What you need to know By Dr Zulfikar Bux Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine
I
rregular vaginal bleed ing is a very common condition in women. Up to 14% are affected by this condition. Irregular vaginal bleeding, better known as Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding (DUB), is any bleeding from the vagina that varies from a woman’s normal menstrual cycle. The normal cycle is triggered by signals from hormones. Dysfunctional uterine bleeding occurs when the cycle’s hormonal signals get thrown off. This can include alternating periods that are heavy and light, spotting or unpredictable shorter and longer cycles. Regular monthly menstrual cycles flush out the endometrial lining, which is the blood-enriched layer of tissue that grows inside the uterus every month in anticipation of a possible pregnancy. If ovulation (egg formation) does not occur, periods can be delayed, which allows the lining to grow thicker. For this reason, delayed periods are often heavy ones.
Lighter periods, or spotting between periods, may represent an endometrial lining that is unstable and leaking, either because hormonal levels don’t adequately support it or because the lining may be too thick. Other factors that can change bleeding patterns include: · Hormonal abnormalities (thyroid problems, elevated prolactin hormone) · Medications · Excessive exercise or weight loss · Obesity · Stress or illness · The start of menstruation in adolescence — Regular ovulatory cycles may not develop for a few months or even years. ·The end of menstruation — Dysfunctional uterine bleeding is common in the months to years before menopause. ARE THEREANY SYMPTOMS? Irregular bleeding can come at different times from month to month and last for different lengths of time. The amount of blood flow may vary from light to extremely heavy with large clots. In some people, the bleeding may be associated with uterine cramps. HOW IS IT DIAGNOSED?
Your doctor will ask about your medical history and about symptoms that might suggest a cause for the irregular bleeding or other hormonal abnormalities. Your doctor may do various tests to check for these causes of abnormal bleeding patterns: · Pregnancy — Urine or blood tests · Thyroid hormone and prolactin hormone abnormalities — Blood tests · Menopause (especially in women in their 40s or 50s) — Blood tests to determine if estrogen levels are falling, which suggests the beginning stages of menopause · Abnormalities of the uterus or ovaries — A transvaginal ultrasound in which a small, rod-like probe is inserted into the vagina to take measurements of the endometrial lining · Possible cancer in women over 35; or those who have had breast, ovarian or colon cancer; or who have a strong family history of these cancers; or who have not had a period in six months — An endometrial biopsy, done in the office, in which the doctor uses a speculum to look at the cervix, then inserts a thin, straw-like tube through the cervix into the uterus, and brushes it along the endome-
trial layer to collect a tissue sample If you have heavy bleeding, your doctor will check iron levels in your blood to see if your blood count is low. HOW LONG DOES IT LAST? Most women have a period that is irregular in timing or in the amount of bleeding at some point during their menstrual years, most often because of a cycle without a normal ovulation. Normal periods may resume as early as the next period or might take a few months to become regular again. Some women become regular only with the help of treatments, such as birth control pills. If irregular periods signal the beginning of menopause, the last period may not occur for a few months or a few years. WHATARE THE TREATMENT OPTIONS? If the cause of dysfunctional uterine bleeding is another medical condition, treating that condition should restore normal cycles. Otherwise, treatment is based on the cause, the amount of bleeding and the woman’s reproductive goals (whether she wants to have children or not).
Birth control pills, which combine the hormones estrogen and progesterone, can regulate and decrease the amount of bleeding. Your doctor may recommend that you take monthly pills containing progesterone only. Women seeking to become pregnant may be treated with medications to help their ovaries ovulate more regularly. Heavy bleeding can be stopped with higher doses of hormone pills — either estrogen or progesterone. When bleeding is more severe, hospitalisation may be necessary. If hormonal therapy does not work, a surgical D and C (dilation and curettage) can stop severe cases of bleeding. During this procedure, the tissue lining of the uterus is removed, allowing a healthier lining to take its place. If an endometrial biopsy reveals endometrial hyperplasia, which is a thicker and abnormal looking lining, closer monitoring with treatment may be required, especially in older women and postmenopausal women on hormone replacement therapy. Endometrial hyperplasia increases a woman’s risk of developing endometrial cancer. There are many effective
Dr Zulfikar Bux treatments to help regulate periods and control irregular bleeding. If you have irregular periods and are having difficulty becoming pregnant, you can take drugs that stimulate ovulation. Having irregular periods, however, does not mean you are infertile. You still need to use protection against pregnancy when you are sexually active.
PAGE 32
SUNDAY ROYALTY PROVISION IN STABROEK PSA DIFFERS FROM PETROLEUMACT – RAMON GASKIN Activist, Ramon Gaskin, has drawn attention to a troubling disparity between the Petroleum Act and the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) which governs the Stabroek Block. During a forum at the Critchlow Labour College last Thursday, the Accountant said that the problem with the royalty provision in the Contract is in how it is payable. The PSA states that the Contractor shall pay a Royalty on the Petroleum “produced and sold”. The provision allows the Contractor to take as much from the production as is needed for its operations, in terms of fuel and transportation. On the other hand, Article 45 of the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act, states that “Subject to this Act, the holder of a petroleum production licence shall, in accordance with his licence and this Act, pay to the Government royalty in respect of petroleum obtained by him in the production area to which the licence relates.” “So there’s a difference between the agreement and the Act, on this question of how royalty is to be charged. The Act is clear. They used the verb ‘obtained’. If you obtain it, you pay,” Gaskin stated, during Thursday’s forum. He said that the stipulation in the agreement about royalty being paid only on what is produced and sold is problematic. The difference between the Act and the PSA is striking. Further, the royalty has been a point of controversy ever since it became public knowledge. It has been criticised for being way below the industry average. Fred Collins of the Transparency International Guyana Institute (TIGI), who presented at the same forum, described breaches by this PSA as biblical, and urged that the provisions of it be “regularised”. He stressed that all provisions of the contract must be brought into conformity with the law. It should be noted that Article 27 of the same agreement, titled ‘Applicable Law’ states “This Agreement shall be governed by, interpreted and construed in accordance with the laws of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, and, consistent with such rules of international law as may be applicable or
Kaieteur News
Sunday September 29, 2019
appropriate, including the generally accepted customs and usages of the international petroleum industry.” A t t o r n e y - a t - L a w, Christopher Ram, concurs with Gaskin’s assertion that there is an inconsistency between the Act’s definition of royalty, and that of the PSA. ECO ATLANTIC’S 15% INTEREST IN ORINDUIK BLOCK NETS OVER US$450M Eco Atlantic’s 15 percent stake of the oil discovered on the Orinduik Block is currently worth over US$450M. This is according to Eco’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Gil Holzman. During a recent interview with Proactive Investors, a leading source of financial news and share price data, Holzman reminded that to date, there have been two significant discoveries on the block. The official noted that oil was first encountered via Tullow Oil’s drilling efforts, at the Jethro-1 well. It is estimated to hold more than 100 million barrels of recoverable oil. The second drilling campaign was at the Joe-1 well. Holzman noted that this too proved to be a significant discovery as it is right in the range of the company’s predrill estimates which is 75M to 150M barrels of oil. Further to this, the ECO CEO said that the Joe discovery opened a whole new geological horizon offshore Guyana’s basin as it is Upper Tertiary (younger rock). “So we now have a 100 percent hit rate on the block thus far,” the CEO added. N e x t y e a r, H o l z m a n disclosed that the partners, being Tullow Oil, Eco and total, will be drilling four wells one of which is expected to be an Upper Tertiary target like Joe. He explained that this is being pursued since it is very cheap to drill. Expounding on this front, the CEO said that Joe was drilled for less than US$19M and because of Eco’s 15 percent interest in the block, it would only have to contribute about US$2.8M while standing to gain more than US$100M from the net proceeds. Holzman said that these estimates along with the fact that its share price jumped by 300 percent in 12 months, leaves Eco feeling very happy with its 15 percent interest in the block. This newspaper understands that Eco
Atlantic is also fully funded for another four to five wells to be drilled on the block next year. ORINDUIK JV PARTNERS It was in January 2016 that Eco signed a Petroleum Agreement and is party to a Petroleum Licence with the Government of Guyana and Tullow Oil for the Orinduik Block offshore Guyana. Tullow Oil as the Operator of the Block paid past costs and carried Eco for the first 1000km2 of the 2 5 5 0 k m 2 3 D S u r v e y. F u r t h e r, Tu l l o w contributed an extensive 2D seismic data set and interpretation. The Company’s 2550 km2 3D seismic survey was completed in September 2017, well within the initial four-year work commitment the Company made for the initial 1000km2. In September 2017, Eco announced that its subsidiary, Eco Atlantic (Guyana) Inc. entered into an option agreement on its Orinduik Block with Total, a wholly owned subsidiary of
Total S.A. Pursuant to the option. ROGER KHAN REMAINS IN CUSTODYAFTER RETURNING – COPS TO SEEK DPP’S ADVICE ON DECADEOLD KILLINGS OF WADDELL, ALLISON A deported Shaheed ‘Roger’ Khan remained in police custody Saturday, with authorities questioning him about two high-profile murders that happened more than a decade ago. According to persons close to the investigation, Khan has opted not to say anything, except denying that he was in anyway involved in the killing of journalist and talk show host, Ronald Waddell, and boxing coach Donald Allison. Sources said that the police files will be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice. After being flown into the country around midnight Friday, on an American Airlines flight 1513, Khan was
taken straight away, in tight security, in a vehicle convoy to the Criminal Investigations Department Headquarters, Eve Leary, where he was processed and questioned. The police escorting him were heavily armed with a few of them masked. He was reportedly removed and held at an East Coast Demerara facility before being brought back a few hours later to Eve Leary. His lawyers, Glen Hanoman and Everton SinghLammy, were both critical of law enforcement authorities for not allowing them immediate access to their client. Hanoman, standing in front of the CID headquarters in the wee hours Saturday, said he was made to wait an hour before being allowed to speak to Khan. “Importantly, allegations were read to him in my absence. They knew I was outside waiting for him.” The lawyer said that he was puzzled as the Constitution is very clear when it comes to persons in custody being allowed legal
counsel without delay. Singh-Lammy also expressed surprise at the police setting up roadblocks on the East Bank road to delay reporters who were following the convoy. Hanoman said that Khan did not incriminate himself and refused to say anything without his lawyers. Even if he had, it would likely have been inadmissible as the lawyers were not present. Hanoman said that he pointed out that the murders took place 13 years ago so it would be expected that the investigations would be concluded. He said that he is aware that the police’s Cold Case Unit had taken possession of the files and from his knowledge there is no evidence. MONDAY GASKIN TO CHALLENGE ILLEGAL EXXON CONTRACT IN COURT Activist, Ramon Gaskin, intends to challenge the (Continued on page 33)
Sunday September 29, 2019
From page 32 controversial Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) that governs the operations being undertaken by in the lucrative Stabroek Block, via a Judicial Review. The contract, signed by the Government of Guyana and ExxonMobil’s subsidiary, Esso Exploration Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), has been criticised as being riddled with illegalities. During ‘A Fair Deal for Guyana’, a forum held at the Critchlow Labour College last Thursday, Attorney-atLaw Melinda Janki was joined on the panel by Fred Collins of Transparency International Guyana Institute (TIGI), and Gaskin. The panel, after presenting on a series of deficiencies in the contract, was asked whether it can be renegotiated. Janki responded by reading a provision of the contract, which states “Except as may be expressly provided herein, the Government shall not amend, modify, rescind, terminate, declare invalid or unenforceable, require renegotiation of, compel replacement or substitution, or otherwise seek to avoid, alter, or limit this agreement without the prior written consent of contractor.” The contractors are Esso (Operator – 45%); Hess Guyana Exploration Limited (30%); and CNOOC Nexen Petroleum Guyana Limited (25%). Without Esso’s approval, Janki said that there can be no renegotiation of this contract. But she, like fellow Attorney-atLaw, Christopher Ram, pointed out that the law takes precedence over any contract. That implies that, if there are illegalities in the contract, it is necessary to challenge those illegalities in Court and have them brought into conformity with the law. Gaskin said he was advised that it would cost about $1M to put the contract under judicial review. In that very moment, he pledged $100,000 to the cause. One person in attendance pointed out that if 1,000 persons contributed $1,000 each, Gaskin would have enough money to fund the review. By the indication that the activist had started a fund for the initiative, persons started immediately started to donate to the cause. Gaskin had collected several $1,000 and $5,000 bills by the end of the forum. One of the illegalities, claimed Gaskin, is a difference between the royalty provision of the PSA and that of the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act. FINANCE MINISTER OPPOSED TO TULLOW OIL RECOVERING 1% ROYALTY – SAYS IT’S TANTAMOUNT TO GUYANAGETTING NOTHINGAT ALL Finance Minister, Winston Jordan is not in agreement with any arrangement that allows oil companies to recover the royalty they are supposed to pay the State. According to the Minister, it is tantamount to Guyana getting nothing at all.
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The Minister made these and other comments during his first appearance on Kaieteur Radio’s programme called the Political Talk Show, which is aired every Wednesday. There, Kaieteur News asked Minister Jordan if he is comfortable with Tullow Oil being able to recover a one percent royalty it would have to pay Guyana for oil found and produced from the Orinduik Block. The economist said, “… The concept of the royalty is, for exploring my resource, I am getting something upfront. You are not supposed to recover that. So I could never be happy in a circumstance that allows them to recover the royalty.” Jordan added, “It is virtually like you aren’t paying me anything. I would certainly advocate for this to be changed because I don’t see royalty being something that can be recovered.” Minister Jordan was reminded that the Orinduik Production Sharing Agreement (PSA), which allows royalty to be recovered, was signed by Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman. Pressed about why this provision was included in the PSA, Minister Trotman had told this news agency that he had received instructions from Cabinet on the matter. But when questioned to say if he was present at Cabinet when such “instructions” were passed out, Minister Jordan said he could not confirm or deny “You know I am a travelling Minister and I can’t say that I recall being there or what was the question that was put to Cabinet. I don’t know if it was the one percent royalty. I can’t speak to what he says or the one percent and I can’t say if I was part of the discussion at that time because as I said I am a travelling Minister.” TUESDAY GUYANAMUSTACQUIRE LATEST TECHNOLOGY TO ENSUREACCURATE METER READING FOR OIL -BUT CUSTOMS MUST RETAIN RIGHT TO BE PRESENT ON STORAGE VESSEL –IMF If Guyana intends to get its fair share of oil from the Stabroek Block, then it has to invest in the latest technology that would record accurate measurements of the quantity being extracted and exported by ExxonMobil and its partners. This is according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). In its most recent advice to the APNU+AFC Government, the financial institution underscored the importance of Guyana having all the necessary measures in place to monitor every drop of oil. The IMF said that if Guyana makes use of the latest technology, accurate meter reading of the oil can be conveyed to the Guyana Revenue Authority’s customs department, therefore eliminating the need for a permanent or regular presence of customs officers during the oil lifting operations. While the use of the latest
Thw damaged passenger boat which was involved in the accident technology will bring immense benefits, the IMF stressed that GRA’s Customs Department should not relinquish its right to make visits to the Liza Destiny , Guyana’s first Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel. In fact, the international agency said that Customs officers should visit the FPSO from time to time to ensure that agreed procedures are being adhered to by ExxonMobil as well as to assert Guyana’s sovereignty over FPSO operations. The IMF reminded that the FPSO is a significant component of the Liza Phase One development, which involves four undersea drill centres with 17 production wells. It has a production capacity up to 120,000 barrels of oil per day and an overall storage volume of 1.6 million barrels. Kaieteur News understands that the FPSO will be connected to the wells via separate production (oil, gas, and produced water), gas injection, and water injection flowlines and risers, and associated subsea equipment. The Project will also involve shore base facilities and marine/aviation services to support development drilling, FPSO and subsea equipment installation, production operations, and ultimately decommissioning. ExxonMobil’s subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) says it will utilise proven and industry accepted standards and has incorporated
many embedded controls into the overall Project design to minimize environmental and socioeconomic impacts. The initial production is expected to begin by mid-2020, with operations continuing for at least 20 years. The Project is expected to employ up to 600 persons during well drilling, approximately 600 persons at the peak of the installation stage, and up to about 140 persons during production operations. WOMAN CHOPPED TO DEATH BY PROPELLERS, 2 MISSING IN E’BO RIVER ACCIDENT A woman is dead and two persons remain missing up to late last night in the Essequibo River after a horrific two-boat collision. Five persons with injuries were said to have survived. While details were sketchy with a search on for survivors last night, Kaieteur News was able to ascertain that a passenger vessel left Parika, East Bank Essequibo after 5pm. On board were eight persons. It was unclear whether the final destination was Buck Hall, an area located upriver on the left bank of the river. However, one survivor who was taken to the Leonora Cottage Hospital, West Coast Demerara, said it was supposed to stop there. According to reports, around 5:45pm, a large white boat heading north smacked into the passenger
vessel. The other boat rode over the passenger boat. The propellers reportedly chopped a female passenger badly. A number of other passengers were also badly injured. According to one passenger, two persons were thrown into the Essequibo River. Those two remained missing. Survivors were taken to both the Leonora Cottage and the West Demerara Regional Hospitals. The dead woman’s name was given as Sherry. She is said to be 54 years old. Kaieteur News was told that the boat that crashed into the passenger vessel was the one that turned around and rescued the survivors. WEDNESDAY ESSEQUIBO BOAT TRAGEDY… CAPTAINS WERE USING CELLPHONE LIGHTSAT TIME OF CRASH –VICTIM IDENTIFIEDAS SURINAME-BASED GUYANESE –SEARCH CONTINUES FOR MISSING PASSENGERS Police sources have confirmed that the captains of both vessels involved in the deadly collision in the Essequibo River were using the lights from their cellular phones to help them navigate the dark waters at the time of the accident. The (Continued on page 41)
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From page 33 accident which occurred around 18:00 hours on Monday has left at least one person confirmed dead. The female victim has been identified as Suriname–based Guyanese businesswoman Sherry Khan, a mother of four. Khan, died tragically after two boats collided at Chalmers’ crossing located at the western tip of Hog Island, in the Essequibo River. The 54-year-old woman was among eight passengers aboard an M&Y Express vessel headed in the direction of Buck Hall when it collided with a Venezuela-registered fibreglass boat, which was proceeding in the opposite direction. Reports indicate the Venezuelan vessel was under repairs and on a test run when it smashed into the passenger vessel. Police and maritime sources later confirmed that the captains of both vessels were navigating the dark waters without the use of proper lights. The authorities confirmed too that five persons were injured and taken the Leonora Cottage and West Demerara Regional Hospitals. At least two were moved to private city hospitals where they remain hospitalised. The survivors were identified as Devindra Singh called Crank, 43, the captain of the passenger vessel, of Greenwich Park, East Bank Essequibo (EBE), Milton Duke, 43, a businessman and his wife Yalutine Homankirk, Jaeva Viera Nun, a Brazilian National and Raymond Charles. Jose Francisco Joaquin, a male Brazilian, and Anthony Roberts, 25, an auto electrician of Philadelphia, EBE, remain missing. At least one survivor (Charles) was able to recount the incident. He said that the passenger boat overturned several miles away from their destination. According to him, the other vessel appeared out of nowhere and slammed the passenger boat which capsized with the travellers and their goods. “The thing happen so fast because we barely see the white boat and next thing we know everybody overboard.” FORMER CIVILAVIATION CHAIRMAN SUCCUMBS AFTER FOUND BEATEN, BOUND IN HOME Shock waves rushed through the community of North Sophia, when a man was found bound and beaten in his home on Monday morning, following a home invasion. He later
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succumbed. The now deceased man has been identified as 63year-old, Hugh Adrian Denbow, former Board Chairman of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA). According to information reaching this publication, on Saturday evening, a person (or persons) broke into the man’s home, tied him up, physically assaulted him, and proceeded to ransack the house, looking for valuables. Denbow, who was last seen on Friday by residents, worked as an engineer at Orinduik Development Incorporated. His concerned manager, Mr. Brian Backer made a report to the Prashad Nagar Police Outpost after numerous calls to him went unanswered. On Monday morning, Backer and a team of police officers, ventured into the man’s property and made the grisly discovery. Denbow was subsequently rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital. Due to the severities of his injuries, he succumbed on Monday evening at the hospital. The police revealed that there was no forced entry into the property, but found an unsecured southern door. Terriq Denbow, the distraught son of the victim, expressed that, “To know that I live in the USA while he lives in South America kills me inside, because I was just there only ten days ago, and I only got to spend two days with him. If anyone really knows me, they know that I’m very close with my dad. My dad is really my right hand man.” The son said that he had not seen his father for two years prior to their most recent reunion. A male neighbour, who wished not to be named, described Denbow as a “gentle, amiable elder”. The neighbour went on to relate that he became suspicious when he walked by and noticed Denbow’s gate wide open. “I call for he and I didn’t hear nothing, so I went away,” the neighbour recounted. Hugh Denbow leaves to mourn his three sons. Investigations are currently ongoing. ‘ROGER’ KHAN RELEASED Three and a half days after he was deported to Guyana from the United States, Shaheed ‘Roger’ Khan was Tuesday released from police custody on $200,000 bail. Khan had been jailed in the US in 2009 for conspiracy to import cocaine into the US;
witness tampering and illegal possession of a firearm. He was accused of running a criminal enterprise in Guyana during his reign in the 2000s. On his release and deportation last Friday, police held him and questioned him over the murders of TV talk show host, Ronald Waddell and boxing coach, Donald Allison. Tuesday, hours after the 72-hour holding period would have elapsed, Khan exited the Eve Leary compound of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) around midday, dressed in a dark blazer. He was hurriedly escorted away by a number of waiting vehicles. Khan was later seen in a viral photo on Facebook sporting a beer and hugging someone believed to be his close relative. Khan was released to the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) months ago after finishing his sentence but there were delays in the issuance of temporary travel documents. LOCALREGULATOR REFUSES APPROVAL FOR REPUBLIC BANK’S TAKEOVER OF SCOTIABANK’S OPERATIONS Bank of Guyana has refused to approve Republic Bank’s takeover of Scotiabank’s operations. Governor of Central Bank, Dr. Gobind Ganga, told Kaieteur News that the two banks were notified of the decision Tuesday, via letters. Scotiabank had, last year, resolved to sell out its assets in several Caribbean countries, including Anguilla, Antigua and B a r b u d a ,
Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, with most of those granting approval. The move, according to Scotiabank, is in keeping with its strategy of focusing on its core markets with significant scale. The holders of the Trinidadian Republic Financial Holdings Limited had intended to take control of the Canadian banking institution after decades of that banking institution operating in Guyana. Central Bank, in making its decision, took the matter through a thorough due diligence process. Central Bank executives had, last year, noted the concerns raised by several sections of society and committed to determining the extent to which the move would interfere with fair competition in the banking sector. Kaieteur News understands that the decision to refuse approval also took into consideration whether Republic Bank has the wherewithal to acquire such a large share of the banking system, examining the matter from a prudential basis. THURSDAY EARLIEST DATE FOR ELECTIONS IS MARCH 2, 2020 -GRANGER – PARLIAMENT RECONVENES ON OCTOBER 10, 2019 FOR EXTENSION OF CONSTITUTIONAL DEADLINE
President David Granger has announced that the earliest date for the holding of General and Regional Elections is March 2, 2020. Though it has been reported in other sections of the media that that date is Elections day, it should be noted that the President’s statement did not explicitly name a date. It only said that that date is the earliest possible one. His announcement came after discussions with his Cabinet of Ministers and Chair of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), (ret’d) Justice Claudette Singh S.C. The President had been advised by Singh on September 19 last that GECOM will be ready to hold elections by the end of February, 2020, after weeks of back-and-forth discussions at the level of the Commission on a comprehensive workplan. After receiving the advice, the President had met with seve r a l C a b i n e t Ministers on the very day, and his full Cabinet on Tuesday last. He said that the Ministers were guided by the advice of Attorney General and Minister of L e g a l Aff a i r s , B a sil Williams. The President said that he also met with Justice Singh again, Wednesday, and they discussed the statutory timelines for the upcoming elections. The President stated that the extension of a period beyond three months of the Constitutional deadline as provided for in the nation’s Supreme Law, is related to the readiness of GECOM. Hence, he has declared that the Government must return to the National Assembly, “as
a consequence”, to request an extension of that deadline. GUYANATO RECEIVE ITS FIRST SHARE OF LIZA OIL BY FEBRUARY 2020 – IMF According to the International Monetary Fund (IMG), Guyana can expect to lift its first entitlement of one million barrels of crude oil as early as February 2020. Kaieteur News understands that this will occur at approximately 60-day intervals. This would also indicate that oil production is highly likely to start before the end of 2019. The financial institution noted that while Guyana has opted to take its share of production from the Stabroek Block’s Liza One field, and market same on its own behalf, there are some crucial factors which have to be considered in the process. The IMF advised the government that if it is to successfully monetise oil production, it needs to be able to qualify pricing of crude oil by quality, quantity and pricing. Maximizing the sales it said, will depend on the type of sale, the sale price, the buyers and where the proceeds go. The organization which is headquartered in Washington D.C noted however that currently, Guyana lacks both the capacity and technical systems to price crude oil sales. It stressed that correctly pricing oil requires an understanding of petroleum market drivers as well as basic use of hedging within a trading environment to properly evaluate and (Continued on page 42)
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From page 41 challenge prices achieved by the lifters. This observation by the IMF is also in keeping with that of University of Houston Instructor, Tom Mitro, who had told Kaieteur News that Guyana opting to sell its share of the oil might not necessarily be the best decision at this time. He said that it would be wise to consider other options. The official had stressed that selling crude requires a good deal of marketing expertise and Guyana would need to get people trained in order to do this effectively. Mitro cautioned that this could take several years. Mitro also acknowledged that the advantage of Guyana selling its own oil is that the Government’s appointed managers of the oil would see and understand the market first-hand and not have to rely on Exxon to sell the crude at a price that may not be ideal. As one example, The Oil and Gas Consultant noted that Angola’s stated own oil company, Sonangol, had set up its own crude oil marketing company years ago with offices in Houston, London and Singapore. SUSPECT IN KN GRENADEATTACK HELD AFTER BEING DEPORTED FROM CAYENNE More than three years after issuing an arrest warrant for him, police have finally detained Shemar Wilson, one of the key suspects in the June 6, 2016 grenade attack outside of Kaieteur News’ Saffon Street offices. Police sources said that Wilson was taken into custody on Tuesday night after being deported from French Guiana. He had been arrested there recently for illegal entry. It was while he was being processed at CID Headquarters, Eve Leary that a rank reportedly recognised
Kaieteur News
which was parked on the western side of Saffon Street. On checking the front of the vehicle, the staffer spotted a grenade lying near one of the front tyres. FRIDAY ELECTIONS WILL BE HELD ON MARCH 2 – GRANGER CLARIFIES
him and said: “You is the grenade man.” Police had issued a wanted bulletin for Wilson, then 20, in June 2016. The bulletin was issued for Wilson, also called ‘Abdue,’ who is wanted for questioning in relation to ‘attempting to cause explosion’, which occurred on June 6, 2016, at Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Wilson is said to be from Lot 43 North Sophia, Georgetown and from Lot 51 West La Penitence, Georgetown. Janeil Howard, 20, of 322 Section ‘C’ Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara; Alfie Garraway, 36, of Norton Street, Lodge, Georgetown; and Leroy Williams, 25, of 11 Durban Backlands, are accused of conspiring together with other persons to cause an explosion by way of grenade, likely to endanger lives and cause damage to property. Garraway is out on $300,000 High Court bail. The other accused remain on remand. They have been committed to stand trial in the High Court. Kelvin Walters, a taxi driver and a key witness in the case, was gunned down last January. According to reports, on the day of the attack, a security staffer heard an unusual sound coming from near Lall’s vehicle PRR 8398,
President David Granger Thursday made it clear that elections will be held on March 2, 2020, even if the Opposition refuses to go back to Parliament. The clarification would come hours after the President addressed the nation, but left questions about whether he had actually fixed a date. According to his address on Wednesday, after discussions with Chairman of the Elections Commission, Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh, and with his “Cabinet”, the earliest possible date for the holding of General and Regional Elections would be on Monday, 2nd March 2020. The Opposition, especially, widely interpreted that as no date being fixed, and elections can happen anytime after that date. The Opposition accused the administration of continuing to play more games. Thursday, speaking to reporters after a scheduled event, the President said: “Elections will be held on 2nd March. That was the advice I received. I did not want to use perhaps more definitive terms, because I expected that in accordance with the Constitution, we should have to go to Parliament, but if we don’t, if the opposition does not go to Parliament, well we will abide by what I said last night, and elections will be held on 2nd March. That’s as definitive as I can get.” The Head of State said information on the date was considered by both the members of his Cabinet and
the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). He also expressed his satisfaction with Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM)’s extended Claims and Objections period. “I am satisfied that the Commission is confident that the extended Claims and Objections period would allow all the electors to indicate whether there are any claims or objections. I am satisfied that was the assurance given by the Chairman of the Commission.” The announcement on Wednesday followed the GECOM’s Chairman missive on September 19, 2019, indicating that the body would be able to deliver credible elections by the end of February 2020. President Granger met with his Cabinet twice to discuss the timeline provided by the Commission. He also met Justice Singh on Wednesday for discussions on the statutory timelines for the upcoming General and Regional Elections before his address to the nation. IN LIGHT OF RECENT POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS… GOVT., EXXONMOBIL SHOULD NOT SIGN CRUDE LIFTING AGREEMENT – IMF The ruling by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) that the political Opposition’s No-Confidence Motion was successfully passed on December 2, 2018 has triggered the need for a General and Regional Elections. In light of this, and the political developments that ensued, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has advised that the Government of Guyana not to sign any agreement with Stabroek Block operator, ExxonMobil, for crude lifting. The Fund is of the firm conviction that the political developments have introduced uncertainty into
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the government’s ability to enter contracts. As such, it stressed that the agreement should not be signed before the next elections. It noted that the Crude Lifting Agreement (CLA) is crucial since it would impact the pricing of crude oil and the sales price that the government may realise. In such a situation, it noted that an interim lifting policy should be approved. The IMF was also keen to note that the CLA which is being negotiated between the government and ExxonMobil was not available for review. Be that as it may, it said that such a document is expected to state that the volume of crude oil at each lifting will be determined by an independent inspector that is paid for by the lifter. The IMF said it should also state that the government has the right, along with Exxon, to witness the taking of measurements before, during and after loading. It was in May last, that Petroleum Advisor to Government, Matthew Wilks, had revealed that an agreement is being worked on to ensure the accountable measuring of Guyana’s crude. Wilks had said that the agreement contains all the necessary metering checks and that document is in an advanced stage of preparation. In May as well, he had said that Guyana was looking for a Crude Lifting Advisor. Asked to say if the document will be made public, Wilks had said, “There is not an issue to making it public. We are quite happy to make it public.” It was in February of this year that Kaieteur News had exposed the Production Sharing Agreement Guyana has with ExxonMobil’s subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), CNOOC and Hess, has no provision in place which speaks to the country’s right to verify the operator’s oil production.
Other nations like Trinidad and Tobago, for example, have rigid rules, agreements and regulations in place on this matter. EXTENSION OF CONSTITUTIONAL DEADLINE WOULD AFFECT PPP’S ABILITY TO RECOVER “STOLEN” RESOURCES – BHARRAT JAGDEO There will be no extension of the Constitutional deadline for the holding of General and Regional Elections, because it will impair the ability of a potential People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government to recover what the party considers stolen assets. Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, at his weekly press conference Thursday, asserted that President David Granger’s request for the Opposition to support the extension is political blackmail. Since the Constitutional deadline of March 21, 2019 passed, the Government, per the ruling of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) on the No Confidence Motion, was supposed to restrict its activities out of respect for the Motion. But the Order that termed Government a ‘Caretaker’ was only dispatched later, in July last. While the CCJ stated definitively that the Government is in that capacity, the Opposition Leader had warned the Government months earlier to restrict its activities. He had warned Government, several times, that if the PPP wins the upcoming election, it will ensure it institutes civil procedures to recover assets and funds that were utilised after the deadline. Even during a recent PostCabinet press briefing last week, Director General at the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon, listed several contracts that were awarded by the National Procurement and Tender Administration (Continued on page 43)
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From page 42 Board (NPTAB), and noted by Cabinet. Those contracts, according to the Department of Public Information (DPI), amount to $729M. Harmon said that the projects are part of a larger set of rehabilitation projects planned by Government, and awarded for the respective regions. DPI has also provided that other roadwork for those regions, approved by Cabinet for 2019, amount in excess of $1.2B. Jagdeo addressed the companies, which were awarded the contracts Harmon listed, stating that none of those contracts are valid. The Opposition Leader has also said that a PPP Government would seek to recover funds spent to execute Ministerial outreaches. He claimed that about $2B of public funds has already been used this year for that purpose. SATURDAY CLAIMS AND OBJECTIONS…35 DAYS STANDS - OPPOSITION COMMISSIONERSALLEGE ROGUE ELEMENTSATTEMPTED TO EXTEND PERIOD Despite the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) agreeing to have Claims and Objections be conducted over 35 days, a September 26, 2019 publication of the National Registration (Residents) Order 2019 in The Official Gazette stated that the exercise would last for 49 days. What appears to be a deliberate extension of the exercise, according to Commissioners Sase Gunraj and Robeson Benn, has now been corrected by GECOM Chair, (ret’d) Justice Claudette Singh S.C. The Opposition-nominated Commissioners, Gunraj and Benn, held a press conference yesterday at the Office of the Leader of the Opposition’s Church Street office, where they discussed the Order, and a subsequent press release published yesterday, from GECOM Public Relations Officer, Yolanda Ward, reiterating the contents of the Order. With Claims and Objections meant to start on October 1, 2019, it was widely thought that it would end on November 4, 2019. But the September 26 Order stated that the exercise would end on November 18,
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2019. The Opposition, and the Commissioners it nominated, has alleged that certain elements at the Secretariat seem to be taking actions in keeping with utterances out of Congress Place, and which may be interpreted as attempts to delay General and Regional Elections. They pointed to a press statement issued by Ward earlier this month during a statutory meeting of the Commission. The GECOM press statement had sought to explain a report by another section of the media that there is a lengthy gap of 55 days between Election Day and Nomination Day. To put that into perspective, a 32-day gap is provided for by law. The 2015 General and Regional Elections observed a 34-day gap, while the 2011 General and Regional Elections observed a 32-day gap. The press statement read: “The law is clear that Nominations Day should be no later than 32 days before Elections Day. Therefore, any time before that number of days, even if it’s 55 days, is acceptable and in conformity with the laws of Guyana.” It added that the time shift is justifiable, not in breach of any law, and not intended to delay the holding of elections. Gunraj had approached reporters outside GECOM’s Kingston headquarters, shortly after the statutory meeting of the Commission and of that statement’s publication, taking umbrage at its contents. He had said that the contents are inaccurate and that they misrepresent the discussions of the Commission. This time around, the Opposition-nominated Commissioners singled out Ward and Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield, when asked who may be responsible for the unnecessary extension of the Claims and Objections period in the Order. Though the extension has since been corrected by the Chair, the Opposition-nominated Commissioners will continue to insist that sanctions be laid against the responsible individuals at the next statutory meeting of the Commission, on Tuesday, according to Gunraj. Kaieteur News understands that the Chair had perused the original document presented to her, in the preparatory stages of the Order, and
had made several changes, including corrections to the extra days added on to the Claims and Objections period. But those changes were reportedly not reflected in the Order that was published in The Official Gazette. It is expected that subsequent publications of The National Registration (Residents) Order of 2019 and GECOM’s press office will provide notice that the extension has since been corrected. Ward could not be reached for comment. AFTER BEING BLOCKED, SCOTIABANK ABANDONS PLAN TO SELL LOCAL OPERATIONS Canadian-owned Scotiabank has abandoned plans to sell its local operations to Republic Bank from Trinidad. The announcement came days after the Bank of Guyana confirmed that it had rejected an application for the sale which has been pending for months now. “As a result of the decision communicated by the Bank of Guyana, the sale of Scotiabank’s operations in Guyana to Republic Bank will not move forward at this time. We will continue to deliver business as usual and focus on the best long-term solution for our employees and customers,” Scotiabank said in a short statement. The government had been fearful of the market share that Republic Bank would have been able to acquire in Guyana had the sale gone through. Scotiabank is said to be Canada’s third-biggest lender. It agreed in November to sell the business to Republic Financial Holdings Ltd, the Trinidad and Tobago-based parent company of Republic Bank, as part of a plan to exit nine countries in the Caribbean, including Guyana, Antigua and Grenada. The Bank of Guyana cited concerns about concentration and competition in denying Scotiabank permission. Earlier this week, Governor of Central Bank, Dr. Gobind Ganga, told Kaieteur News that the two banks were notified of the decision via
letters. Scotiabank had, last year, resolved to sell out its assets in several Caribbean countries, including Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, with most of those granting approval. The move, according to Scotiabank, is in keeping with its strategy of focusing on its core markets with significant scale. The holders of the Trinidadian Republic Financial Holdings Limited had intended to take control of the Canadian banking institution after decades of that banking institution operating in Guyana. Central Bank, in making its decision, took the matter through a thorough due diligence process. Central Bank executives had, last year, noted the concerns raised by several sections of society and committed to determining the extent to which the move would interfere with fair competition in the banking sector. Kaieteur News understands that the decision to refuse approval also took into consideration whether Republic Bank has the wherewithal to acquire such a large share of the banking system, examining the matter from a prudential basis. Ganga had assured that everything would be done to ensure that Guyana’s banking sector remains strong, sound and profitable, including engagements with his counterparts in the other territories where Republic Bank would be acquiring the banking assets of Scotiabank. GUYANA–BORN PILOT JAILED 13 YEARS FOR COKE TRAFFICKING, MONEY LAUNDERING A Guyana-born, Passaic County, New Jersey-based man was sentenced on Friday to 156 months (13 years) in prison for trafficking hundreds of kilograms of cocaine into New Jersey and New York and then laundering over US$10.2 million in cash drug proceeds, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Khamraj Lall, 52, of Ringwood, New Jersey, was found guilty previously by a federal jury in Trenton of all eight counts of a superseding indictment, including counts charging him with conspiracy to distribute cocaine, money laundering, structuring monetary instruments, and conspiracy to commit money laundering and structuring. U.S. District Judge Anne E. Thompson imposed the sentence Friday in a Trenton federal court. According to documents filed in the case and the evidence at trial: From April 2011 through November 2014, Lall, a private pilot, smuggled hundreds of kilograms of cocaine from Guyana to New Jersey and New York on his privately-owned jet aircraft and then laundered the proceeds. Lall, who owed a private jet charter business called Exec Jet Club based in Gainesville, Florida, used the proceeds of his cocaine empire to purchase jet planes, houses, and cars. He also paid over $2 million in cash stuffed into suitcases to a Florida contractor to build an airplane hangar in Guyana. Over a 3-½ year period, Lall also made (or had others make) 1,287 cash deposits totaling approximately $7.5 million into more than 20 different bank accounts in New Jersey and New York, much of it in $20 bills. In order to avoid detection and circumvent bank reporting laws, all 1,287 deposits were for amounts less than $10,000. In November 2014, Lall was flying one of his jets from the U.S. to Guyana and stopped in Puerto Rico to refuel. An outbound search of the plane uncovered $470,000 in cash stuffed into a suitcase hidden in the tail of the plane, and another $150,000 in cash hidden under a seat. In addition to the prison term, Judge Thompson sentenced Lall to five years of supervised release. The Court previously ordered Lall to forfeit his interest in two jet airplanes, two airplane hangars, multiple properties, a Lexus SUV, among other property traceable to his crimes. The Court also entered a money judgment against Lall for $9.3 million.
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Kaieteur News
Sunday September 29, 2019
Sunday September 29, 2019
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Kaieteur News
Enetworks to air all CPL matches The Caribbean Premier League kicked off at the Queens Park Oval, Port of Spain in Trinidad on September 4, last. That match and all the others to come will be aired on E-networks. Below is a list of the dates and the respective matches. September 29, Sunday Match 26- Barbados Tridents vs St Lucia Zouks (Barbados) Local Time- 18:00, IST3:30 (September 30) September 30, Monday Match 27- Trinbago Knight Riders vs Guyana Amazon Warriors (Trinidad) Local Time- 19:00, IST- 4:30 (October 1)
October 02, Wednesday Match 28- Trinbago Knight Riders vs Barbados Tridents (Trinidad) Local Time- 19:00, IST- 4:30 (October 3) October 03, Thursday Match 29- Guyana Amazon Warriors vs Jamaica Tallawahs (Guyana) Local Time- 18:00, IST- 3:30 (October 4) October 04, Friday Match 30- Guyana Amazon Warriors vs Trinbago Knight Riders (Guyana) Local Time- 20:00, IST- 5:30 (October 5) October 06, Sunday Qualifier 1 1st v 2nd
Wine of the week... This crisp Sauvignon Blanc exemplifies how Estimulo wines live up to their name (the Spanish for “stimulus”) by providing refreshing flavors that excite the senses. The vibrant aromas of lemon, grapefruit, mango, and passion fruit are underpinned by notes of freshly cut herbs and it is the perfect wine to pair with Thai curry. This Argentine masterpiece can be found at the Wine Vault located at the Marriott Hotel. It is being sold for $4800 VAT inclusive. You can also find it at the Hibiscus Restaurant, Nice Restaurant and Bar, Palm Court and other leading hotels and bars.
Soca and Wine all set for today at Lusignan Golf Course
G
uyana Carnival presents an event like no other, “Soca and Wine”. It is the first jamboree on the road to Guyana Carnival 2020 with the purpose of introducing day events. Get all dressed up, call your cErew and lets take a 15 minute road trip to the Lusignan Golf Course on September 29th. Come enjoy tantalizing soca music, a variety of wine, hors doeuvres and breathtaking décor for the best photo ops. Early bird tickets cost $2000. There is also an offer of a bus shuttle service which transports patrons to the event and back to the capital for $3000. Though cabanas are sold
out, a corporate high rise is provided that accommodates 30 persons and includes an entrance fee, five bottles of wine, a grape and cheese platter and a server throughout the event. Along with enjoying the atmosphere, spectacular décor and good vibes there will be a sip and paint area and Golf Activities conducted by the Lusignan Golf Course. Music will be provided by boom deejays. This event is brought to you with the kind compliments of Barefoot Wine through Ansa Mcal Trading Limited, Campari, Always, Liat Airline and the Guyana Carnival Committee The road to Carnival 2020 begins here!
Magnum Tonic Wine presents Tek Charge Tuesdays at White Castle Fish Shop The Brand Managers for the Magnum Tonic Wine are elated for you to join them for their “Tek Charge Tuesday” event which will be held at the White Castle Fish shop. There will be Magnum specials all night long, the details of which will be provided by the Magnum vixens. Music will be presented by the Determined Family sound system. Be sure to link a crew for this weekly celebration. See you there.
Eliminator 3rd v 4th October 10, Thursday Qualifier 2- Winner of Eliminator v Loser of Qualifier 1 (Trinidad) Local Time19:00, IST- 4:30 (October 11) October 12, Saturday
Final- Winner of Qualifier 1 v Winner of Qualifier 2 (Trinidad) Local Time- 17:00, IST- 2:30 (October 13) (The Caribbean Premier League is an annual Twenty20 cricket tourna-
ment held in the Caribbean. It was created in 2013 and replaced the Caribbean Twenty20 as the premier Twenty20 competition in the Caribbean. It is currently sponsored by Hero
MotoCorp and consequently officially named the Hero CPL. The inaugural tournament was won by the Jamaica Tallawahs who defeated the Guyana Amazon Warriors in the final.)
Kaieteur News
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Moral stories THE VILLAGER AND THE SPECTACLES
There was a villager. He was illiterate. He did not know how to read and write. He often saw people wearing spectacles for reading books or papers. He thought, “If I have spectacles, I can also read like these people. I must go to town and buy a pair of spectacles for myself.” So one day he went to a town. He entered a spectacles shop He asked the shopkeeper for a pair of spectacles for reading. The shopkeeper gave him various pairs of spectacles and a book. The villager tried all the spectacles one by one. But he could not read anything. He told the shopkeeper that all those spectacles were useless for him. The shopkeeper gave him a doubtful look. Then he looked at the book. It was upside down! The shopkeeper said, “Perhaps you dont know how to read.” The villager said, “No, I dont. I want to buy spectacles so that I can read like others. But I cant read with any of these spectacles.” The shopkeeper controlled his laughter with great difficulty when he learnt the real problem of his illiterate customer. He explained to the villager, “My dear friend, you are very ignorant. Spectacles dont help to read or write. They only help you to see better. First of all you must learn to read and write.” Moral: Ignorance is blindness.
AS YOU SOW, SO SHALL YOU REAP One night, three thieves stole a lot of money from a rich mans house. They put the money in a bag and went to the forest. They felt very hungry. So, one of them went to a nearby village to buy food. The other two remained in the forest to take care of the bag of money. The thief that went for food had an evil idea. He ate his food at a hotel. Then he bought food for his two mates in the forest. He mixed a strong poison with the food. He thought, “Those two will eat this poisoned food and die. Then I will get all the money for myself.” Meanwhile, the two wicked men in the forest decided to kill their mate on return. They thought that they would divide the money between the two of them. All the three wicked men carried out their cruel plans. The thief who wanted all the money for himself came to the forest with the poisoned food. The two men in the forest hit him and killed him. Then they ate the poisoned food and died. Thus, these evil people met with an evil end. Moral: Evil begets evil THE WIND AND THE SUN Once the Wind and the Sun had an argument, “I am stronger than you,” said the Wind. “No, you are not,” said the Sun. Just at that moment they saw a traveler walking across the road. He was wrapped in a shawl. The Sun and the Wind agreed that whoever (Continued on next edition)
WHEN NATURE CALLS Ÿ
(Continued from last week)
dig a cat hole for me and I barely make the process of belt and trouser removal. My dad is opening the backpack, confidently reaching in to get our toilet paper, but none is to be found. I realize what this means and I knew I should have checked the pack this morning. There have been many times hiking one of us brothers has had to poop and use available leaves as our butt wipe. Unfortunately, there are no trees on this beach and Im hoping for a miracle. By this time my two brothers come up the beach to investigate what is taking so long and upon seeing me in a compromising situation Kendrick laughs at my predicament. My little brother Zack, who is in the process of potty training, decides he needs to go also and without a word he drops his pants and relieves himself! My dad sees this and exclaims, “Now, I have two dirty behinds and no toilet paper or leaves for the cleanup”. Kendrick in tears from laughter ask, “Well, dad what do we do now?” My dad suggests to us bare-butt brothers that we walk
down to the surf, so he can rinse off our bums. “Absolutely not! That water is ice cold!” I shout, not exactly happy with Kendricks finding humor in our stinky situation. Kendrick gets that look of inspiration and bolts down the beach where we had just been and he soon returns with a handful of kelp leaves. To those of you unfamiliar with kelp, the fronds are soft and smooth when wet. Eureka! What a great idea! The cool wet kelp is a bit uncomfortable, but it does beat the alternative.My dad explains kelp is a plant that grows in the ocean and is full of nutrients and minerals that it extracts from the seawater. My brother Kendrick in spite of making fun of our situation saved the day and concludes that moist kelp makes a good emergency toilet paper. I couldnt agree more and it doesnt scratch your butt like the leaves in the woods can do sometimes. We learned that sometimes things happen and we can figure out an alternative solution if we work together. Plus what a great poop story to retell around that nights campfire, it was much funnier then.
The clock
There's a neat little clock In the school-room stands; It points to the time With its two little hands.
It is never late to do its work, And always does it with gusto; It tells us when to start And when to stop and go. And may we, like that little clock, Keep a face clean and bright, With hands ever ready To do what is always right.
FUN WITH POETRY
Sunday September 29, 2019
Junior page DIY String Art
String art is a simple and fun way to make your own artwork. This retro craft requires very few materials and is an inexpensive way to add some personality to your walls. It’s an excellent project for beginners, too, because it doesn’t require any special skills. Gather Materials and Locate an Image A piece of wood cut to the size you want; you can stain or paint it if you wish Computer Printer Scissors Tape Linoleum nails (how many you need depends on the size of your project; one pack was enough for this project) Hammer Embroidery floss in colors of your choosing First, locate an image to use as your pattern for the string art. Print out or photocopy the image and cut out its silhouette. Tip: Look
for images and patterns that have fairly simple and straightforward outlines. Next, position the pattern on the piece of wood and use tape to secure it temporarily and outline the shape with nails. With a hammer, lightly pound linoleum nails all the way around the paper pattern. Try to space them as evenly as possible and nail them to the same depth. Tip: To prevent finger injury with the hammer, pinch each nail in a clothespin and hold that instead of the nail. When the shape has been outlined completely with nails, remove the paper pattern. Using embroidery floss, outline the perimeter of the shape. Begin by tying the floss to the first nail, and leave a tail for tying off when you are finished. Tip: Use all six threads of the embroidery floss. Using fewer will cause the strings to break when you pull it taut against the nails. When you reach a corner or need to change the direction of the string, wrap the string tightly around that nail. This will keep things tight and help maintain the integrity of the shape. Once you have
outlined the shape with string, begin filling it in by crisscrossing and wrapping from nail to nail. There is no right way to do this. Simply go from side to side; top to bottom and corner to corner, varying the lengths and order randomly. If you see that you’re about to run out of string, try to end where you left a tail of string, at the beginning. Knot the ends tightly and start another bundle of floss there as well. Repeat this process until the shape is filled into your liking, then tie off the end when finished. Clip the tails of thread. Now that you’ve finished, you can display your creation wherever you want in your home! You can also start a new string art project while you’re at it. Tip: You could use more than one color of embroidery floss to fill in the shape, or choose a variegated string.
Maze for days
Kaieteur News
Sunday September 29, 2019
Take these steps to keep on Improving Yourself mentally Last week we proposed some things you can do to use your mind to keep improving yourself. We now continue to advise on how you can use your mental powers to make the most of yourself in your endeavours in the various aspects of your living. 1. Focus on whatever you are doing. When you place all your attention to what you are doing at any one time, this enables you to concentrate all your energy on to that effort, and guarantees the biggest chances of success. This applies not only to physical activities, like brushing your teeth and doing any other work at home, but also to any mental, social and spiritual effort. 2. Say no to distractions. This is probably the biggest obstacle facing any young person who is trying to make it in the modern world. There are so many things that can keep your attention from
the things that you really need to do that you can waste a lot of energy, time and resources in getting involved in these and moving in the wrong direction. Keep telling yourself not to let the TV, idle friends and useless activities get in the way of your ambitions, both short and long term. 3. Watch your language. Another bad habit that is hard to get rid of, and one that can hamper your progress in life, is the use of bad language either wrong grammar and sloppy pronunciation or worse, swear words. Practise using clean and grammatical language and you will make a good impression to those with whom you will have to deal either privately, socially or professionally. 4. Identify the things you are good at and plan your life around these. Each of us has our special qualities and talents,
and we will get the most out of our lives if we emphasise and develop these, so that they will work towards achieving our goals. The truth is that the talents we each possess point us towards the purpose we need to fulfil to make the best of our lives. Once you have identified these talents, you should try to frame your goals to make the best use of them. This would give them the best chance of success, and you will feel more fulfilled in making full use of the gifts with which you have been endowed. 5. Always try to put forward your best every time. The people who have succeeded in the greatest manner are those who pushed themselves to not accept anything less than the best they could give to any situation. Let excellence become a habit, and you will be surprised how much you can do.
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Complete your education mission High school is certainly a complex condition, Something you must bear for your education; Right from the start you're instantly judged, Followed by pressure and repeatedly nudged. Homework is necessary to polish each skill, But some of your friends may just want you to chill; Just stick to the goals you personally vowed; With patience and time you'll rise above the crowd. Try to remember it's just a few years, And see that there is no need for any fears; High school may be a complex condition, But keep it real and you will complete your mission.
When you are sincere in the effort to improve yourself, your subconscious will work to advance this even when you are not be thinking about this. THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
Autumn Solutions to last week’s
Crossword
LOGIC PUZZLE
PAGE 48
Ways To Make Applying Liquid Eyeliner So Much Easier
1. Open your eyes. It’s instinctual to close your eye while applying shadow and eyeliner to the lid. But when you shut your eye completely, you lose the ability to draw a straight line. “Keep both eyes a little open and squint in a mirror as you create your liner,” Jo Baker, a Rimmel London makeup artist, tells SELF. “You will have a better angle to gauge where it will need more lift or thinning.” 2. Apply eyeshadow primer as a first step. I know what you’re thinking, “More steps? No way!” But using an eyeshadow primer before applying liquid eyeliner can stop the inky color from transferring all over your lids. Baker recommends Rimmel London Exaggerate Undercover Shadow Primer ($4, drugstore.com). “The added primer helps liner dry a little faster than on a naked eyelid, which can often be naturally greasy,” Baker says. 3. Draw eyeliner with a pencil first. Then, top it with liquid. Liquid eyeliner has the tendency to look like sheer watercolor with only one layer. So, double it up. “A great way to nail a cat eye if you’re a novice is to start with a pencil to sketch out the shape,” Nina Leykind, co-founder of makeup brand Eyeko, tells SELF. “Then, top with liquid for a more opaque finish.” Baker agrees with this tip and recommends using a brown pencil, since it’s subtle and easy to correct. 4. Use several short dashes instead of one long stroke. Unless you’re a makeup pro, getting even winged eyeliner in one swoop is a tough job. Instead, take a connect-the-dots approach. “It’s best to begin lining mid-lash line and working your way out in a series of short dashes, building the line as you go,” says Leykind. Even if you have shaky hands, the shorter strokes are easier to pull off. 5. Avoid using makeup remover to fix your mistakes. Perfecting liquid eyeliner is a process that takes patience, and you’re going to make mistakes. If you flub the flick, dampen the tip of a Q-tip with water—not makeup remover—to clean it up. “Don’t use any makeup remover, it will only seep into the liner and make it run or smear,” says Baker. 6. Replace the thin brush that came with the eyeliner. Those flimsy, superfine brushes that are standard in a liquid liner tube aren’t always the best tool to get winged eyeliner, especially if you’re a beginner. “The brush needs to have some stiffness, yet be flexible enough to hug the lash line and create a fluid sweep.” says Leykind. “Length is important for precision, too. [Your brush] should be less than one centimeter.” Try a sturdy angled brush or something with a silicone tip. 7. Find a straight edge to use as a guide for perfect wings. Winged eyeliner is hard AF. So, cheat by using a stencil. “Grab your credit card and put it towards the edge of your outer eyelid sharply facing up,” says Baker. “Using an eyeliner pencil, put in a flick trace line that you can follow with liquid liner. It’s a sure way to get symmetrical wings.” You can also use tape, a business card, or the end of your makeup brush to get a straight line. 8. Save some coins by resuscitating a felt-tip liner that’s dried out. The same eyeliner pens that make applying liquid look easy can run out at the most inopportune moment. But there is a way to revive dried-out products. “Put it downwards in a glass [of water] for a hour and shake the ink down to the nib,” says Baker. “Once it has had a chance to re-soak, squeeze on a piece of paper until the ink makes it way back through the felt tip.” It’s also good practice to store your pens upside down. That way all the ink flows towards the tip.
Kaieteur News
Sunday September 29, 2019
PAGE 52
Ways To Make Applying Liquid Eyeliner So Much Easier
1. Open your eyes. It’s instinctual to close your eye while applying shadow and eyeliner to the lid. But when you shut your eye completely, you lose the ability to draw a straight line. “Keep both eyes a little open and squint in a mirror as you create your liner,” Jo Baker, a Rimmel London makeup artist, tells SELF. “You will have a better angle to gauge where it will need more lift or thinning.” 2. Apply eyeshadow primer as a first step. I know what you’re thinking, “More steps? No way!” But using an eyeshadow primer before applying liquid eyeliner can stop the inky color from transferring all over your lids. Baker recommends Rimmel London Exaggerate Undercover Shadow Primer ($4, drugstore.com). “The added primer helps liner dry a little faster than on a naked eyelid, which can often be naturally greasy,” Baker says. 3. Draw eyeliner with a pencil first. Then, top it with liquid. Liquid eyeliner has the tendency to look like sheer watercolor with only one layer. So, double it up. “A great way to nail a cat eye if you’re a novice is to start with a pencil to sketch out the shape,” Nina Leykind, co-founder of makeup brand Eyeko, tells SELF. “Then, top with liquid for a more opaque finish.” Baker agrees with this tip and recommends using a brown pencil, since it’s subtle and easy to correct. 4. Use several short dashes instead of one long stroke. Unless you’re a makeup pro, getting even winged eyeliner in one swoop is a tough job. Instead, take a connect-the-dots approach. “It’s best to begin lining mid-lash line and working your way out in a series of short dashes, building the line as you go,” says Leykind. Even if you have shaky hands, the shorter strokes are easier to pull off. 5. Avoid using makeup remover to fix your mistakes. Perfecting liquid eyeliner is a process that takes patience, and you’re going to make mistakes. If you flub the flick, dampen the tip of a Q-tip with water—not makeup remover—to clean it up. “Don’t use any makeup remover, it will only seep into the liner and make it run or smear,” says Baker. 6. Replace the thin brush that came with the eyeliner. Those flimsy, superfine brushes that are standard in a liquid liner tube aren’t always the best tool to get winged eyeliner, especially if you’re a beginner. “The brush needs to have some stiffness, yet be flexible enough to hug the lash line and create a fluid sweep.” says Leykind. “Length is important for precision, too. [Your brush] should be less than one centimeter.” Try a sturdy angled brush or something with a silicone tip. 7. Find a straight edge to use as a guide for perfect wings. Winged eyeliner is hard AF. So, cheat by using a stencil. “Grab your credit card and put it towards the edge of your outer eyelid sharply facing up,” says Baker. “Using an eyeliner pencil, put in a flick trace line that you can follow with liquid liner. It’s a sure way to get symmetrical wings.” You can also use tape, a business card, or the end of your makeup brush to get a straight line. 8. Save some coins by resuscitating a felt-tip liner that’s dried out. The same eyeliner pens that make applying liquid look easy can run out at the most inopportune moment. But there is a way to revive dried-out products. “Put it downwards in a glass [of water] for a hour and shake the ink down to the nib,” says Baker. “Once it has had a chance to re-soak, squeeze on a piece of paper until the ink makes it way back through the felt tip.” It’s also good practice to store your pens upside down. That way all the ink flows towards the tip.
Kaieteur News
Sunday September 29, 2019
Sunday September 29, 2019
Kaieteur News
STANDARDS IN FOCUS
NEW ISO STANDARD OFFERS GUIDANCE TO PREVENT BUILDING FIRES Every year, many persons lose their lives, properties and worldly belongs due to the prevalence of building fires. Those who survive these misfortunes, become homeless, traumatised and even jobless as in the recent incident, which occurred in Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara. The International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), a developer of thousands of standards has developed a standard to address building fires. According to Clare Naden, News and Communication Specialist at ISO,‘One of the most effective ways of preventing fires in buildings is to reduce the level of oxygen in the air.’ The ISO 20338, Oxygen reduction systems for fire pre-
vention — Design, installation, planning and maintenance is the world’s first International Standard for oxygen reduction systems. As the use of ORS for fire prevention becomes prevalent in Guyana, this crucial standard can be considered for adoption and use. Indeed, prevention is always better than cure, and there are few better examples than with fires. If fires can only survive when there is oxygen to fuel them, removing it from the air is an effective way to ensure that the environment remains fire-free. Oxygen reduction systems (ORS) do that by creating atmospheres where there is not enough oxygen for a fire to break out, but enough for humans to breathe easily. However, installing such
systems can be a complex business, and requires indepth knowledge of the space being protected, how it is used and by whom. Currently, there are various national standards and technical guidelines in place, mainly in Europe, but what has been missing is an internationally agreed set of requirements for quality, safety and performance that everyone can use. This new standard is the solution. ISO 20338, specifies minimum requirements and defines the specifications for the design, installation and maintenance of fixed oxygen reduction systems. It applies to those systems that use nitrogen-enriched air for fire prevention in buildings and industrial production plants, (continued on page 60)
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Kaieteur News
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FOCUS
Sunday September 29, 2019
a quiet hub, with thriving economic potentials A section of the very picturesque De Willem Village
By Alex Wayne
I
never realised that the very small village of De Willem was more like a very busy commercial haven until I visited the location on Friday. I was blown away by the striking fusion of very attractive houses, sophisticated commercial buildings, well kept roads, and impressive drainage and irrigation system. Located on the West Coast of Demerara, De Willem Village is a very diverse location from which many cultures unfurl in a brilliant and arresting showcase. Bordered on the north by the Atlantic Ocean, the village is flanked on the east by Zeeburg and on the west by Meten-Meer-Zorg. Status obtained from the National Democratic Council office there suggests that the village is presently inhabited by 9,960, all residing at De Willem North, De Willem South, and Area 'G'. The village is predominantly occupied by people of East Indian
A vendor plying her trade in the village
descent. The village is said to have derived its name from the Dutch people who owned it many years ago. My Arrival I arrived in the village just after midday as the sun was at its height; its suffocating heat seemingly engulfing everything, as if ready to consume all there was in one big scorching inferno. The village seemed somewhat quiet at that time, with the only buzz of activity centered on persons darting
in and out of the popular Madina Restaurant from which the aroma of various Creole delicacies circulated in the air. As I stood there, I marveled at the number of persons arriving at this facility and leaving with bags. I soon learnt that this restaurant is largely sought after by hungry commuters traveling to Parika, Bartica, Supenaam, and other areas in Essequibo. I sat down with the owner, Halim Khan, who
was eager to talk about the operations and the drive to maintain customer satisfaction. “The business has been around for many years and has grown from a smaller venture to what it is today. My staff has been trained to go to great lengths to ensure we maintain the highest level of customer satisfaction, so they are always pleasant and courteous, and ready to give service of the highest quality. “Our restaurant, over the years, has become a 'must stop' location for villagers, and also residents from other villages close by. “Word of our service when we first began, spread like wild fire and in no time we had to expand to meet the needs of our ever increasing customers. “Hungry travellers depend on us to provide for them so it's hard work but we ensure. We make finger licking breakfast options for early travellers and lunch orders for villagers, and schoolchildren as well. Then is a wild rush to get the dinner options ready, so the staff here is always on the go, as the facility is most times packed with hungry customers. “We also take orders for catering and normally prepare for weddings, birthdays, graduations and also corporate functions” Mr. Khan also quelled the notion that De Willem Village is perceived to be a location where racial
discrimination is prevalent. “There is a stigma indeed to this village, but those rumours would have been circulated by folks who are mischievous and have nothing constructive to do with their time. If you check in this village, you will see people of all races living at peace with each other, exchanging and embracing cultures, and living like one big family. “I think people are taking simple incidents which would have happened in other villages as well and blowing way out of proportion. This village is a peaceful quiet place with very happy people.” What really amazed me is that although the village is small, one could find almost anything they desired for household uses. There were variety stores, furniture outlets, boutiques, ice-cream parlours and many small sports bars. In every little nook and cranny of the village was a business place of some sort that offered something that was a necessity in the kitchen or elsewhere. One could get just about anything you need to purchase in the village, which certainly boasted of its economic potentials. Just around 15:00 hrs, the village came alive with a burst with activity, as schoolchildren tumbled into the streets with their ceaseless chatter like the happy buzz of bees as they
paraded along the road shoulders. Here and there, fussy mothers hurried into vehicles with young students clinging to their skirt tails, while the boisterous guffaws of young men could be heard all around and they seem to emerge from every corner. Employment There was a certain aura to this village that really stirred up my insides. Villagers exuded a certain humility that definitely perked my interest. There seemed to be a smile on the face of everyone, even when disagreeing over products and services rendered in a few stores that I visited. All around, it just appeared as though villagers are more prone to coming up with alternatives to life's many blunders, rather than succumbing to them. Many villagers are said to be working in various offices in the city of Georgetown, while a large percentage of villagers are engaged in the fishing industry. That aside, many are vendors, while others operate shops, boutiques, hair salons, or grocery stores. Others are employed as drivers at two seemingly thriving taxi services in the village. Academic institutions in the village include De Willem nursery, Sarsawat P r i m a r y a n d Z e e b u rg Secondary Schools. The nursery and primary schools (continued on page 59)
Sunday September 29, 2019 From page 58 are actually in the village, while the secondary school is a short distance away in Zeeburg Village. There is also a Baha'i centre, a Hindu temple, a mosque and three churches in the community. De Willem Village of old This village was not always the striking location it is today, and to tell that tale, was elderly resident Ganga Persaud. “Me bin ah live hay since a lil bhai, and dis village bin ah nevah look like it ah look today. Dem street was full ah sand and when rain fall, it was a real mess. We used to get flooding because of bad drainage and de village was very underdeveloped. In dem days dah, me can remembah how we used to run around in de rain and playing in dem muddy puddles. We used to fetch water from a few standpipes only some people was lucky to have, while in most homes, we use trench water sometimes. In dem days, we didn't had such fancy buildings like today, and since almost everybody was wukking at dem sugar estates, it was thatched roof small houses we used to live in. Some had mud walls and all dat, and the place was very bushy in many areas. We use to have a nice time though, catching fish in de back dam, and wukking in dem cane fields. But today things change. Modern times step in and everything just get different…” Today the village looks
modern indeed, but in some areas traces of yesteryear still however remains. In some sections of the village, the scenery of fruit trees and dainty little cottage houses certainly brought back recollections of that familiar 'country feeling'. The scenery was so breathtaking that it had me wondering why someone hadn't discovered the brilliant spectacle that was this very beautiful, almost pristine and quaint village. How I marvelled at the 'spic and span' appearance of the apparently white-washed surfaces under the houses, but investigations revealed that to avoid cracking, the earth beneath the houses had actually been daubed with a mixture of cow dung, water, and a special type of mud. When that mixture dries, it gives the earth such an inviting appearance that one cannot help feeling inclined to lie down and curl up on that surface. And believe me, readers: when that mixture dries, it has a strangely alluring scent that seemingly infects one's senses with what I can only describe as 'a cozy magic'. I looked longingly at a few trees that seemed to be groaning under their weight of ripened mangoes, while the branches of breadfruit trees were almost sweeping the earth with the weight of the large healthy looking fruits upon them. I passed a few yards where bare-backed youths frolicked in the sand or were engaged in fiery clashes over who were the winners in the games of marble and hop-
The traditional horse drawn cart is still used as a mode of transport in the village
Kaieteur News
PAGE 59
Welcome to the Madina Restaurant
The interior of the popular Madina Restaurant scotch that they were playing. The sight of these children having such fun, was certainly taking me way back in time. Sheep and cattle grazed lazily in open fields, seemingly savouring their afternoon meals with relish, assured that there was much to serve around for a long time to come. From open spaces between the trees, I caught glimpses of the cattle farmers rounding up their herds that were bellowing their protest at being disturbed from their 'grassy munching.’ Challenges Just like any other village, De Willem has its own share of setbacks and Halim Khan was quick to share those.
“Drainage and irrigation are not as bad as in many years gone by. The NDC is really trying their best but residents need to help out as well by properly disposing of their garbage. Each resident should also ensure they clean their immediate surroundings and this will help to make our village even more attractive. Careless disposal of garbage by some residents has resulted in clogged drains in some area, making the work of the NDC even more difficult. However our biggest challenge here is with the Guyana a Power and Lich (GPL) who for weeks now have been doing maintenance works whenever they please without warning villagers. Many times the maintenance
work is conducted all day which means we are without electricity for long hours. Many businesses have perishable products and have suffered losses as a result. Farmers have reported considerable losses in the same fashion. That aside, GTT service to the area is very unsatisfactory. We are often without internet for hours as well… Villagers are certainly not satisfied especially since we have to pay for the sloppy service we receive.” Striking cottage houses, s o p h i s t i c a t e d transformations, jolly, happy people and great camaraderie all make up a very picturesque De Willem Village. Next week we set our focus on the community of Anna Regina, in Essequibo.
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Sunday September 29, 2019
Kaieteur News
NEW ISO STANDARD OFFERS GUIDANCE...
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From page 57 and can be used for new systems as well as for the extension and modification of existing systems. Alan Elder, chair of the ISO technical subcommittee that developed the standard, said it will be useful to users of ORS, such as facilities owners, as well as for meeting regulatory requirements. “Insurance companies, manufacturers, installers and users will all benefit from ISO 20338, particularly from regions outside Europe, because it will enable them to improve the performance and safety of ORS, as well as provide a way for governments to set regulatory requirements, and for users to meet them.” The ISO 20338 can be purchased from the ISO Store, which can be accessed through the GNBS Website: www.gnbsgy.org. For further information, contact the GNBS on telephone numbers: 219-0065 or 219-0064. PROPERTY FOR SALE
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1 music teacher (piano & guitar) to do at home teaching For sale by owner. House and for two boys. Perferably from land of 294 Dartmout East Bank. #698-4432 Essequibo. Contact Hensford Josiah on #630-3611/664Vacancy exists for One 5972/690-9659 Female to work @ Del Ice Co.Must have Maths & Newly constructed 4 English.Call:642-9191/231- bedroom, 3 bathroom, house overlooking the sea for sale, 1408. ECD#675-1510/613-7964 One shop attendant. Tel#6911 (2) storey house 3 1/ 7123 2 bedroom 3 x 1/2 bedroom Experienced Salesgirl, Apply $37M- 2 washroom, 2 at Alabama Trading 65 Robb verendah, Land 120x45 sq ft, Cummings Lodge. #686-5180 St, Bourda Negotiable Male Bond Staff with ability Melanie, Enterprise, Enmore to read and write & Lorry East Coast, Campbellville, Driver/Salesman. Further Info Kitty, Republic Gardens, Call:617-1809. Craig, Providence & Zeelugt. Contact Ray’s Realty #627Experienced Handyman & 9685 Salesgirls with 2 yrs WANTED experience. CXC maths & english. Apply @ Christine’s Lorry Driver with Sales Variety, Lombard St. Contact: experience, Porters and Part 227-8529 time gardener. Submit applications to 257 Receptionist, Room Block X, Section A, attendant, Desk staff.Age 25- Diamond, E.B.D. Tel:21645yrs.233 South Road 3152, 617-5632 Lacytown/225-0198. Vacancy for: Accounts clerk, Purchase clerk, Operations clerk, Civil Engineer, Secretary, Truck drivers. Contact info: chungsvacancy@gmail.com
Sunday September 29, 2019
Kaieteur News
CONSUMER CONCERNS
GCAA AND ITS ALLIED AVIATION INDUSTRY OFFER REWARDING CAREERS By PAT DIAL Some years ago when Tourism began to be seriously promoted by the Private Sector and Government, it was recognised that Aviation was a sine qua non of that Industry. Similarly, today it is recognised that without aviation there would be no Oil and Gas Industry. The importance of these two industries has led the majority of the population who had taken the Aviation Industry for granted to now realise its importance. More and more students of the school and university systems have now grasped how important is the industry to national social and economic development and more young people are being enthused to make a career of aviation breaking out of the old mold of Law, Medicine, Engineering and ICT. Very early after Independence, Venezuela felt it was an opportunity to seize a large part of Guyana’s territory and in addition to sabre-rattling and blocking investments from being made in Guyana, organised the so-called Rupununi Rebellion with the intention of annexing a large part of Essequibo. The small number of aircraft the country possessed at the time was able to do yeoman service in linking the Coast and the Interior and transporting the Police and Military in time to quell the so-called rebellion. The importance of aviation to unifying the country and protecting our territorial integrity was emphatically realised for the first time. Aviation has also played crucial roles in the development of the mining industry, forestry, tourism and agriculture and in other aspects of economic development and has been quietly helping in social integration. All these activities, in greater or lesser degree come under the aegis of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA). At this crucial juncture when Guyana is at the threshold of a social and economic revolution and when the GCAA has a pivotal role to play, Lt Col Egbert Field, the Director General of the Authority, has risen to the occasion. Indeed, for each of the approximate four years since he assumed the post of DG, he has quietly worked to strengthen cooperation and cohesion with the various Ministries and other segments of the Administration. To work with disparate enti-
ties so successfully is attributable to Director General Field’s professionalism, helpfulness and ability to always arrive at acceptable compromise. Director General Field’s most recent high profile achievement has been the organisation and hosting of the International Civil Aviation (ICAO) Air Transport Meeting in November last. Guyana was chosen to host this prestigious global event not because of its new-found Oil and Gas potential but for the significant strides the country had made in its aviation in recent years. The meeting was a memorable success and new doors of opportunity were opened. A notable feature of the ICAO meeting was that it was held in conjunction with the African Diaspora Conference. The Guyana Chapter of the International Decade of People of African Descent Assembly hosted the African Diaspora Conference and decisions were taken to strengthen air connection between Africa and the Caribbean including Guyana. In the five sections into which GCAA divides its activities - General, Safety Directorate, AYSEC Department, Air Navigation Services Directorate. Air Transport Management and Finance and Administration - there have been notable successes: 10 acres of land at Providence, EBD were acquired to construct a modern GCAA headquarters; a new Civil Aviation Act was passed by Parliament to strengthen GCAA’s oversight and enforcement capability; signifi-
cant work was done to achieve safety compliance with ICAO which will move from 66% to 85% by end of year 2019; a Drone Unit has been established and regulations have been compiled to control this new form of aircraft; GCAA and ICAO have successfully worked on an Aviation Improvement Security Plan; Phase II of the Aeronautical Surveillance Infrastructure was established at Port Kaituma, Kamarang, Kaieteur and Annai; as part of continuous training, over 40 young persons were trained in Aeronautical Information Management, Air Traffic Control Assistants and others received upgraded training in the same field; a CO2 action plan was submitted to ICAO; and Air Services Agreements were negotiated with 17 states. The Financial and Administrative section of GCAA was well conducted and audits were up-to -date. We took the unusual step of mentioning the activities and indeed, achievements of GCAA to give readers an insight into work of the Authority and to give aspiring entrants an indication of the interesting and worthwhile careers in the Aviation industry and GCAA. With the expansion of the economy, rapid expansion of the Aviation industry will take place. For instance, Guyana because of its geographical location could be the aviation hub between South and North America. Guyanese will have to qualify themselves for these rewarding jobs or the Industry will have to depend on expatriate personnel.
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Sunday September 29, 2019
Man, who fatally stabs another, dies after being hit down by car Two Alberttown, Georgetown residents are now dead after stabbing each other during a brawl over cigarettes. Dead are 41-yearold Troy Anthony Lewis, also known as, Rasta Man, of Lot 61 Fifth Street, Alberttown, and 25-year- old Jermaine Adrian Jeffrey of Lot 65 Fifth Street, Alberttown. According to reports, Lewis was at his sister’s stall in the vicinity of DSL shipment at Fifth Street, Alberttown when Jeffrey came and requested to purchase cigarettes. The woman’s husband refused to sell Jeffery the cigarettes because he would usually smoke right in front of the stall where the woman would sit with her 13-month-old son. Jeffrey became annoyed after Lewis then told him to remove from the stall and an argument broke out between them. An enraged Jeffrey began hurling bottles at the stall and Lewis pleaded with him to stop, according to reports. This reportedly further annoyed Jeffrey who went home and returned with a knife and stabbed Lewis in the region of his heart. Realising that he was bleeding, Lewis removed a knife from his waist and dealt his attacker several stabs to
Troy Lewis the face and neck. Kaieteur News understands that after stabbing Jeffrey, Lewis fell onto the roadway and was pronounced dead at the Georgetown Public Hospital. Meanwhile, Jeffrey ran away from the scene but was later struck down by a motorcar at the intersection of Cummings and Sixth Streets, Alberttown. He, too, was pronounced dead at the same hospital. Lewis’s sister, Lisa Smith, told this publication, “My
brother does be at the stall selling with me all the time and nothing like this never happened…Last night (Jeffery), come to buy cigarettes and my husband refuse to sell him and he get vex. This man holds onto my brother and stab he to his heart. After Rasta Man realised he got stabbed, he take out his knife and return several stab to the man’s neck and face.” When Kaieteur News visited Jeffrey’s family, the man’s mother, Kenyetta Jeffrey, who resides at Lot 48 Pike Street, Kitty, Georgetown, said that she only learnt of her son’s demise the following morning when a police rank visited her home. The mother of four said Jermaine moved out of the house approximately one month ago to live with a friend in Alberttown. She said he would visit her almost every day and never told her about him and anyone being at loggerhead. Ms. Jeffrey also added that her son is a known troublemaker in both the Kitty and Alberttown Community and also to the police. Jermaine was employed as a labourer at an ice factory in Kingstown, while Lewis was self employed.
Home of Jermaine Jeffery
Vicinity of DSL shipments where the stabbing occurred
Sunday September 29, 2019
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Kaieteur News
Another Essequibo boat crash Chinese store owner stable, says wants to forget incident victim critical Another man has been identified as one of the injured passengers involved in the deadly boat collision, which occurred in the Essequibo River, last Monday. Deon Charles, 49, a father of two from Two Friends Village, East Coast Demerara, is nursing wounds at the Intensive Care Unit,(ICU) of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, (GPHC). He was identified by his relatives at GPHC on Friday. Monica Charles told Kaieteur News that she hadn’t heard from her brother since Monday. She said that she became aware of his condition after pictures of an ‘unidentified’ injured man surfaced on social media. She later learned her brother was involved in a boat crash. “He is my big brother so when I didn’t hear from him, I get worried and then I see the pictures on Facebook. I call the others (family members) and we rush down to Georgetown Hospital.” Charles said her brother’s condition is listed as critical yet stable. According to the woman, Charles sustained a serious laceration to his head. “He was shaking yesterday but it stopped. Only the doctors could tell you what to expect; we only praying for the best.” Other relatives who visited the ICU expressed their shock to learn of Charles’ state. “We didn’t know anything; we only hear that he get cut up bad but we didn’t know it was so bad.” They told Kaieteur News that Charles worked in the interior. He was headed to Aranka backdam when he met the accident. “He like the bush. He does work at Aranka. He had to pass through Buck Hall to go to Aranka,” the man’s relatives said. Last Monday’s boat collision left three persons dead and several others nursing injuries. The dead were identified as Suriname– based Guyanese businesswoman Sherry Khan, a mother of four; Jose Francisco Joaquin, a male Brazilian; and Osafo Anthony Roberts, 25, an auto electrician of Philadelphia, East Bank Essequibo. According to reports, two boats collided at Chalmers’ crossing located at the western tip of Hog Island, in the Essequibo River. The passengers were aboard an M&Y Express vessel headed in the direction of Buck Hall when it collided with a Venezuela-regis-
Seated on a chair yesterday, in a corner of the room in the Female Surgical Ward of the Georgetown Public Hospital, was 25-year-old Lie Yang, the Chinese store owner who was slashed to the throat on Friday, after a robbery at her business premises. She informed through a colleague who interpreted for her that she was in a stable condition and just wanted to forget the incident ever happened. However, she was counting on the police to do a thorough investigation. Business should resume in a few days, as long as she was feeling up to it. She however indicated that she was having some discomfort as it pained to speak and there
They ran out of the store with the box, removed the money and dropped the box in the process. The men then proceeded south on Longden Street and then headed west on Croal Street. The woman was assisted by the Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) from the Central Fire Service and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where she is receiving treatment. An eyewitness claimed that, “It happened so fast, we couldnt do anything; it was like a movie.” None of the suspects has been arrested up to press time and investigations are ongoing.
Above normal high tides flood several... Deon Charles tered fibreglass boat which was proceeding in the opposite direction. Reports indicate the Venezuelan vessel was under repairs and on a test run when it smashed into the passenger vessel. Police and maritime sources later confirmed that the captains of both vessels were navigating the dark waters without the use of proper lights; they were using the lights from their cellphones. The boat captains were identified as Devindra Singh called Crank, 43, of Greenwich Park, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) and Latchman Sankar. Kaieteur News understands that the men will be cited for a number of maritime breaches are likely to face charges. Maritime and police officials have since confirmed too that Sankar, the captain of the Venezuela-registered vessel was unlicensed at the time of the incident. On the other hand, Singh, who operated the M&Y passenger vessel, was licensed, but was operating outside of the prescribed timeframe, which is from sunrise to sunset.
Vast destruction seen in Reg. 7 From page 14 Canadians and even South Africans. The Cuyuni/Mazaruni area is a mineral rich area filled with not only gold and diamond, but waterfalls and an abundance of wildlife. The biggest gold mine, Aurora, is there and being developed to facilitate underground mining now. The debate over the clearing of forests for mining and logging has come as Guyana has been actively pursuing a green pathway with its economy and actively looking to receive cash incentives for keeping its deforestation
was some amount of blood seeping through the stitches. According to the woman, five men, one whom was armed with a knife, approached her while she was inside the Sunshine Bin Fashion Store that she owns and operates at Lot 12 America Street, Georgetown with an employee. The men confronted the woman while she was standing by the cashier and demanded that she hand over the cash, while pointing the knife at her. The armed suspect then cut the womans neck with the said knife and grabbed a shoebox that contained an undisclosed amount of money.
rates. It was only last week that Guyana collected the last of the US$50M from a US$250M deal with Norway to protect its forests. While the five-year deal was extended to nine years, with climate change, there have been talks of the value of the forests. In recent years, GGMC has been talking tough of mining operations but operators have been pushing further and further into the backdam challenging the Commission to carry out its monitoring mandate.
From page 9 for a tide measuring much more higher than the previous tide later yesterday afternoon. He advised that they should prepare by “sand bagging” their homes and elevating all household furniture and appliances. Craig also told reporters that the CDC is working hand in hand with the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) to assess, monitor and respond
to the situation. Throughout the day, CDC mobilised the distribution of sand bags, and cleaning and sanitary supplies to residents of affected areas. According to a statement released by Craig, larger tubes are being installed to increase the drainage capacity at Brother Dam, Zeelugt. It was also noted that excavators were used to clear trenches. This will aid in the
removing of excess water caused by the overtopping of the seawall. In the most recent development up to press time, the Lieutenant Colonel said that the CDC will continue to respond and monitor the flood situation in Region Three. He also expressed his gratitude to his hard working team who has been responding and working since 04:30 hours yesterday.
Total fails to submit farm-in details... From page 8 exploration offshore Guyana. ORINDUIK JV PARTNERS It was in January 2016 that Eco signed a Petroleum Agreement and became party to a Petroleum Licence with the Government of Guyana and Tullow Oil for the Orinduik Block offshore Guyana. Tullow Oil as the Operator of the Block paid past costs and carried Eco for the first 1000km2 of the 2550km2 3D Survey. Further, Tullow contributed an extensive 2D
seismic data set and interpretation. The Companys 2550 km2 3D seismic survey was completed in September 2017, well within the initial four-year work commitment the Company made for the initial 1000km2. In September 2017, Eco announced that its subsidiary, Eco Atlantic (Guyana) Inc. entered into an option agreement on its Orinduik Block with Total, a wholly owned subsidiary of Total S.A. Pursuant to the option. Total paid an option fee of
US$1 million to farm-in to the Orinduik Block. An additional payment of US$12.5 M was made when Total exercised its option to earn 25 percent of Ecos working interest in September 2018. Following the exercise of the option by Total, the Blocks working interests became: Tullow 60% (Operator), Total 25% and Eco 15%. In October, last year, the Government approved of the Total farm-in on the Orinduik Block, which has the potential for almost three billion barrels of oil equivalent.
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Kaieteur News
Sunday September 29, 2019
Sunday September 29, 2019
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Kaieteur News
OAS urges Granger to issue proclamation to firmly fix elections date
T
he General Secretariat of the Organization of American States (OAS) is calling on the Coalition Government to ensure that a proclamation is issued that will once and for settle all issues regarding a day for general and regional elections. Yesterday, the 35-member countries body of the Americas joined the chorus of support for speedier elections in Guyana. The OAS said it has taken note of the announcement by President David Granger that the next general and regional elections in Guyana will be held on March 2, 2020. “The OAS General Secretariat underlines the importance to the people of Guyana of leaving behind the period of political uncertainty as soon as possible. The OAS General Secretariat looks forward to the issuance of the proclamation required by Guyana’s Constitution to firmly establish the date for the elections,” the statement said yesterday. “The General Secretariat will continue to follow the situation in Guyana and remains available to provide
President David Granger support as the authorities may require in ensuring the next elections meet the standards of transparency, credibility and integrity, required of all democracies.” The president, last week, announced that the earlier possible date for elections was March 2, 2020. However, the Opposition and critics made it clear that an address to the nation is not a proclamation and therefore,
for all intents and purposes, a date has not been fixed. The President later on made it clear that March 2 is the date for elections. More than three and half years into the five-year term of the Coalition Government, it faced a devastating defeat after one of its parliamentarian, Charrandass Persaud, joined with the Opposition in saying yes to the no-confidence motion
The OAS has called on President David Granger to firmly fix the elections date via a proclamation. brought against the The life of the orchestrated to delay administration. government was largely elections.The delays have in The passage of that vote accepted to have expired this effect allowed the Coalition saw the one-seat majority month, sparking deep fears of Government to almost serve government falling, triggering the repercussions of an its full term. Constitutional provisions unconstitutional president The OAS statement that early elections will be held and his government. yesterday followed that of within three months. Delays in naming a new the western countries, minus However, the Coalition chairperson for the Guyana Canada, which cautiously Government challenged the Elections Commission also noted the date of March 2 and validity of the vote with the further delayed and offered help. matter travelling all the way compounded matters with the There has been mounting to the Caribbean Court of Opposition insisting that little pressure for early elections Justice. side-shows were carefully amid the political uncertainty.
Tugboat headed to Guyana goes down...
3 rescued, 11 feared dead Three crew members from a tugboat that issued a distress call on Thursday in waters dangerously close to Hurricane Lorenzo were found safe in a lifeboat Saturday. The French Maritime Rescue Coordination Center confirmed the rescue to weather.com early Saturday afternoon. “We have found a life raft with three persons on board,” MRCC manager Philippe Bricquer said in a phone interview. “Two of them are a little bit tired but the last one is in very good condition.” The tugboat was headed to Guyana to lend support to the offshore oil activities. There was no word on the 11 other crew members still missing from the tug Bourbon Rhode. “We know that there were four life rafts on this ship. We found one,” Bricquer said. “Im not sure that the three others left the ship.” Bricquer said the survivors were found by a French search plane about 9 a.m. UTC on Saturday. They reported that the boat had sunk Thursday, around midday UTC. An emergency beacon indicated the Bourbon Rhode
Three crewmembers in this drifting lifeboat were rescued, leaving 11 still missing, it has been reported.
Sank: The Bourbon Rhode tugboat went down with only three of 14 survivors found
was in the centre of the hurricane. “They were a little bit north of the eye,” Bricquer said.At that point in time, Lorenzo was a Category 4 hurricane with sustained winds up to 130 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. Waves reached more than 20 feet, with the possibility of considerably higher surf at times. It was also one of the furthest east major hurricanes ever recorded in the Atlantic
Ocean. Bricquer said it was not yet known why or how the tugboat got caught up in the storm.A NOAA hurricane research plane was assisting in the search Saturday. On Friday, a NOAA plane heading out to collect data on the record-breaking storm in the eastern Atlantic Ocean was diverted to the search. “At the request of the U.S Coast Guard, NOAA 43 … was asked to investigate the last known positions of
search and rescue satellite hits for the vessel,” Jonathan Shannon, a spokesman for NOAA’s Office of Marine and Aviation Operations, told weather.com Friday afternoon.Bricquer expressed thanks to the U.S. for helping, and said the search would continue with more ships and aircraft headed to the scene. The Bourbon Rhode was a tugboat designed for terminal assistance, oil prevention and anchor handling functions,
according to the company that owns it. It was en route from Las Palmas in the Canary Islands to Georgetown, Guyana. A press release from the company that operates the tugboat said it was taking in water when the distress call was made. The NOAA plane’s involvement came to light during the search and rescue mission, when a satellite photo of the plane’s odd zigzagging and circling path
caught the attention of a watcher on Twitter, who theorised that something must have gone wrong with the flight. Shannon said he didn’t know how often Hurricane Hunter planes were called on to assist in such missions. “This was a research mission, so it was not an operation mission for helping to assist the forecast, so I believe we had a little more flexibility” to divert the plane, he said.
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Sunday September 29, 2019
Sunday September 29, 2019
Kaieteur News
Leclerc emulates Schumacher with fourth pole in a row SOCHI, Russia (Reuters) - Charles Leclerc became the first Ferrari driver since Michael Schumacher to take four pole positions in a row yesterday in a Russian Grand Prix qualifying session that bridged the generations. Formula One leader Lewis Hamilton joined the Monegasque, who was three years old when Schumacher racked up four successive poles in 2000, on the front row with Mercedes unable to match Ferrari’s pace but on a different tyre strategy. Leclerc, 21, has now out-qualified his four-times world champion team mate S e b a s t i a n Ve t t e l , l a s t
w e e k e n d ’s Singapore winner, for nine successive races. The pole was his sixth of the season and of his career. “The car felt amazing. It definitely feels great to be back on pole but I don’t know if it’s the best track to start on pole,” said Leclerc after lapping the Olympic Park circuit in one minute 31.628 seconds. “It definitely feels very special but I don’t really want to think about those (Schumacher) stats for now. “There’s still a long way to go tomorrow, we’ve been competitive all weekend long and the race simulation seems positive too. It’s looking good for
tomorrow.” Hamilton had been third behind the two Ferraris after the first flying laps of the final session but the man who has more career poles than any driver still lifted himself on to the front row. His time was 0.4 seconds off Leclerc’s best but denied Ferrari a frontrow sweep by 0.023 ahead of a race that has only ever been won by Mercedes since its debut in 2014. “It was a tough qualifying session because these guys have some crazy speeds on the straights,” said the fivetimes champion after ending up in a Ferrari sandwich.
Sunday September 29, 2019 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Some unexpected but welcome communications could come your way, probably from a lover or close friend. Planning for a pleasant, exciting journey is indicated. TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Experiments combining creativity and technology could lead to opportunities to increase your income. You're receptive to new ideas and willing to make an effort to put them to work for you.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Today you may plan a long journey to a place you've never been, probably in the company of a lover or close friend. The excitement of making the arrangements brings you closer, and a great time is promised. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) An unexpected visit from a friend you haven't seen for a while could bring up long-forgotten memories. You could confront hidden psychological and emotional issues.
GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Today you might be more attracted to unusual art forms. Perhaps exhibits of local artists have caught your attention, or you may be developing a taste for alternative music.
SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Today you may fall in love at first sight. Perhaps with someone you've never met before or an old friend you suddenly see in a new light.
CANCER (June 21–July 22) An old friend you may not have seen for a long time could come to visit today. This should be a surprise, but you'll probably be glad to see this person.
CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Exciting new developments make you upbeat about your career. Perhaps the Earthshattering solution you've been searching for suddenly happens, or an enthusiastic potential partner appears on the scene.
LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) An unexpected invitation from a friend could have you taking a short trip, perhaps to visit this person. Conversations with friends should prove interesting and enlightening.
AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Interest in art from distant lands might capture your interest today, possibly through the influence of friends.
VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) New career opportunities appear on the scene to reawaken your ambition. You might come across some unusual possibilities for advancement that you've never considered before. This can be a bit intimidating but also exciting.
PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Purchases for your home might be one of your projects today. Your aesthetic sense is very high right now and your good taste at a peak. You're likely to be more attracted to the unusual and unconventional than usual.
“They go to another level. You know that whole ‘party mode’ you talked about us having? They have something else beyond that — jet mode. “I gave it absolutely everything I had at the end. I’m so glad it came t o g e t h e r, I w a s n ’t expecting it to.” While Leclerc will start on the fastest, soft tyres, Hamilton will line up on mediums in an intriguing strategy twist. GRID PENALTIES Max Ve r s t a p p e n qualified fourth for Red Bull but the Dutch youngster carries a fiveplace grid penalty due to an engine change, moving Hamilton’s team mate and title rival Valtteri Bottas up to the second row. Hamilton leads Bottas by 65 points with six races remaining and is well placed to extend his lead today, given that he is 96 points clear of closest nonMercedes rivals Leclerc a n d Ve r s t a p p e n i n t h e standings. “It was tricky today,” said Bottas, who was on pole in Russia last year. “ I n t h e l a s t s e c t o r, corner 13, pretty much every lap there was like a snap from the rear end. On both runs in Q3 I just couldn’t drive around the issue.” Verstappen’s Thai team mate Alexander Albon crashed out of the first phase, smashing backwards into the barriers at turn 13 and bringing out the red flags, a f t e r Wi l l i a m s ’s Robert Kubica had also spun. “I went in a bit hot like Max did (in final practice) and I lost the rear. There’s a tailwind in that corner and it just caught me out... It was a silly mistake,” said Albon. McLaren’s Carlos Sainz starts fifth with Renault’s Nico Hulkenberg sixth on a day when the Woking-based team announced it would be switching from the French manufacturer’s engines to Mercedes from 2021. Sainz’s rookie team mate Lando Norris will start seventh with Haas’s Romain Grosjean eighth and Renault’s Australian Daniel Ricciardo joining former Red Bull team mate Verstappen on the fifth row. The only Russian on the starting grid, Toro Rosso’s Daniil Kvyat, will line up last due to engine penalties.
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Solo Drink Under-20 Girls’ League
Bingo Spartans beat Saints to clinch title
Madison Fernandes (right) received trophies for being the highest goal scorer and the MVP of the league. The Solo soft drink sponsored girls’ Under-20 Development Hockey League concluded yesterday at the St. Stanislaus College (SSC) ground on Carifesta Avenue with favourites Bingo Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) Spartans brushing aside Saints 3-0 in the final league match to confirm their championship status. The second place saints could’ve upset GCC if they had won that final match by
four goals or more but the dominant Spartans side didn’t leave any room for error during a typically commanding display of hockey. At the end of the first half, Bingo GCC Spartans led 1-0 courtesy of a field goal (FG) from prolific striker Abosaide Cadagon and when play resumed, Paige Fernandes and MVP Madison Fernandes netted a FG each, to take the game away from the Saints ladies. Madison’s
stoppage time strike was good enough to see her ascend to the top of the goal scorers’ table. Following yesterday’s girls’ under-20 division conclusion, the under-20 boys will take center stage this afternoon with the curtains set to fall on their league. In the under-20 boys’ division, GCC Pit Bulls are way ahead with 19 points accumulated from their seven games contested.
Mike’s Pharmacy makes donation to WCC As part of their corporate responsibility Mike’s Pharmacy has presented a quantity of cricket equipment to the Wakenaam Cricket Committee. The presentation took place yesterday at Mike’s Pharmacy Bel Air branch where Coach Zaheer Mohamed received the equipment on behalf of the WCC. Mohamed expressed gratitude to the management and staff of Mike’s Pharmacy and indicated that the gears will be distributed to the promising U19 players on the Island. Wayne Jones of Mike’s Pharmacy said they remained committed towards the development of the sport and noted that a number of outstanding players have emerged from the Island. Jones, a stalwart in the softball arena, said he hopes to see many more players coming out from the island and urged the players there to remain committed to the sport as well as their
Zaheer Mohamed (left) accepts the gears from Wayne Jones. education. Mike’s Pharmacy has collaborated with Trophy Stall
to sponsor an U19 40-over tournament on the island. The final is set for next Saturday.
Solo Beverages rep Nayran Manoharlall presenting Donyale Nurse (right) with the best goalkeeper trophy.
Good Success and SS Jaguars battle for inaugural Birbal T20 title today Good Success and Sans Souci Jaguars will collide today at the Wakenaam Community Centre ground for the inaugural Birbal Contracting Establishment T20 title. The match is expected to be keenly contested since both teams registered comfortable victories in their semi final matches with Good Success defeating Sans Souci by seven wickets and Sans Souci Jaguars getting the better of Maria’s Pleasure by 31 runs. Despite missing some of their key players, Good Success skipper Imran Khan expressed confidence of his team going all the way. Speaking with Kaieteur Sport prior to his team’s practice session yesterday, Khan said his players are confident and eager to go. “Despite the absence of some of our key players, we have what it takes to succeed. It’s just about the other players stepping up and execute. It is important for us to support each other,” he added. Afridi Mohamed of Sans Souci Jaguars said that they will not take any team for granted despite being at full strength for the game. “We have a good all-round team and the boys are confident. Apart from Khan, Good Success will depend on the likes of all-rounder Vickram Ramnarine, Mahase Ramnarine, Tulsieram Ramadeen, Wazir Khan and Devendra Hansraj, while Sans Souci Jaguars will look to Siddiq Mohamed, Nokta Moses, Beesham Moses, Zameer Zaman and Safraz
Imran Khan (left) of Good Success and Afridi Mohamed of SS Jaguars with the winning trophy. Mohamed. The winning team will received a trophy and $50,000 and the runner up a trophy and $35,000. Prizes will also be given to the man-of-thematch in the final, best batsman and best bowler in the tournament, while the top 2019 Secondary School Entrance Examination (Common Entrance) student from the winning village (team) will receive $25,000. Action gets underway at 13:00hrs. Teams; Good SuccessImran Khan (c), Wazir Khan,
Shoaib Namaz, Nazeer Mohamed, Mahase Ramnarine, Devendra Hansraj, Diquain Clark, Tulsieram Ramadeen, Vickram Ramnarine, Ejaz Mohamed, Alex Hill, Charles Benjamin and Mohandas Surujpaul. SS Jaguars; Siddiq Mohamed (C), Nokta Moses, Beesham Moses, Dellon Osborne, Safraz Mohamed, Derwin Daniels, Galdewin Henry Jr, Afridi Mohamed, Sanjay Jairam, Chandrika Jairam, Azeer Ramrattan, Prem Persaud and Zameer Zaman.
Sunday September 29, 2019
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Kaieteur News
Fourth EBFA/Ralph Green U-11 League – Day 3
Fruta Conquerors’ Gary Primo nets the first helmet-trick as five teams take full points
Akeem Evans (Grove Hi Tech) scores from eth penalty spot against Swan FC. Gary Primo of Fruta Conquerors Football Club netted the first helmet-trick on day three of the 4th edition of the East Bank Football Association (EBFA) Under-11 League sponsored by USA based Guyanese Ralph Green yesterday at the Guyana Football Federation, National Training Centre, Providence, East Bank Demerara. Primo scored all four goals in his team’s 4-0 win
over Eagles Football Club of Stewartville, West Coast Demerara. Conquerors rebounded in style after going down to Timehri Panthers in their first match to blank their opponents. Primo was on target in the 1st minute, 7th, 13th and 23rd for his team. Five of yesterday’s six matches produced positive results, the other producing a draw between defending champions Timehri Panthers Football Club and Samatta
Point/Kaneville which clawed their way back twice, thanks to a double from Emanuel Francois. Jadon Tasha, who also netted both goals for Timehri Panthers, had given them the lead in the 6th minute but their celebration was short-lived as Francois responded in like manner one minute later to level the score at 1-1. Tasha restored his side’s one goal cushion in the 13th minute and they had looked
Vurlon Mills Academy in control against Diamond United FC. on course for a win but Francois had other ideas as his successful free kick in the 27th minute ensured his team took an equal share of the points. Vurlon Mills Academy has consolidated their position at the top of the points table in group A with their third win in as many matches, a hard fought 1-0 win over a game Diamond United team. Breaking the deadlock after consistent offensive
plays was Romario La Rose in the 27th minute; it was Diamond United first loss in the league. Grove Hi Tech took their first win via a 3-0 score line over Swan Football Club, Daniel Barton in the 14th minute, Akeem Evans from the penalty spot in the 21st minute and Rayfield Hillman in the 24th minute were the players finding the back of the nets. Agricola Red Triangle thumped Friendship All Stars 4-0 through goals from Lucas Fintenallas in the 2nd minute,
Kedan Bacchus (8th), Brandon Narine (16th) and Jonathan Andries (21st) all inking their names on the score sheet. Jaheam Lewis’ 25th minute strike was the difference between his team, Riddim Squad and Kuru Kururu Warriors, the latter two-match winning streak being halted, while it was Riddim Squad’s first win of the league. The top two teams from each group after group play will earn the right to move on to the semi finals.
Hassan takes 10,000m world title with late surge
Grove Hi Tech and Swan Football Club in their clash yesterday at the GFF National Training Centre, Providence, EBD. Following is the latest points table: Gr. Team A Vurlon Mills Academy B Kuru Kururu Warriors B Agricola Red Triangle B Riddim Squad A Diamond United A Timehri Panthers B Grove Hi Tech A Fruta Conquerors A Samatta Point/Kaneville B Swan FC B Friendship All Stars A Eagles FC (Stewartville)
P 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 3 2 3 2
W 3 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0
L 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2
D 0 0 2 2 1 1 0 0 2 1 1 0
GF 5 5 4 2 3 4 4 4 3 0 2 0
GA 0 3 0 1 2 4 2 2 5 3 8 6
GD +5 +2 +4 +1 +1 0 +2 +2 -2 -3 -6 -6
Points 9 6 5 4 4 4 3 3 2 1 1 0
DOHA (Reuters) - Sifan Hassan produced a stunning final lap to win the women’s 10,000 metres at the world athletics championships yesterday, an event she only ran for the first time in May. The Dutchwoman overtook Ethiopia’s Letesenbet Gidey just before the bell and powered away over the last lap to win in a season’s best time of 30 minutes 17.63 seconds. Gidey was second and Kenya’s Agnes Tirop third. Gidey and the other Ethiopian runners enjoyed the backing of a small but noisy, flag-waving contingent of their compatriots in the crowd, but thousands of seats remained empty. It was another display of the 26-year-old’s remarkable versatility as she claimed the first world title of her career. Hassan, who moved to the Netherlands after leaving
Ethiopia as a refugee when she was 15, also won a world championship bronze over 1,500 metres in 2015 and 5,000 metres two years ago. She broke the world mile record in July and boasts a European record of 1:05:15 for the half marathon. She has also entered the 1,500 and 5,000 metres later in the competition but will have to choose only one of them as they clash. As expected, the race turned into a cagey battle between Ethiopians and Kenyans with Hassan in their midst as a group of six runners broke away. Hassan at one stage looked uncomfortable and when Gidey made a break with four laps left, she seemed the likely winner. But Hassan stayed in touch, closed the gap to go second with two laps left and produced a superb final lap to clinch the gold.
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Brilliant Coleman blasts to 100m gold AFP Christian Coleman stormed to victory in the 100 metres at the World Championships in Doha y e s t e r d a y, emphatically shrugging off the missed drug test controversy which had threatened to derail his career. The 23-year-old American, who escaped a doping ban earlier this month on a technicality, swept over the finish line in a world-leading 9.76sec to claim his first major outdoor championship gold medal. Defending champion Justin Gatlin took silver in 9.89sec while Canada’s Andre
De Grasse claimed bronze in 9.90sec. It completed a flawless championship campaign for Coleman, who had been the only man to duck under 10 seconds in both Friday’s opening rounds and Saturday’s semi-finals. Coleman’s victory was never in doubt, the stocky 2017 World Championship silver medallist exploding out of the blocks to take the lead over the opening 20 metres. Coleman let out a roar of triumph as he crossed the line before punching the air in jubilation. The victory was the culmination of a rollercoaster
season for Coleman, whose participation in the championships had been in doubt until only a few weeks ago. Coleman, who has strongly denied ever using performance-enhancing drugs, was left fa c i n g a lengthy suspension in August after it emerged he had registered three drugtesting “whereabouts” f a i l u r e s i n a 12-month period. The violation is regarded as equivalent to a failed drug test and often followed by a ban of up to two years. Yet Coleman avoided a sanction when the case
against him was dropped in early September because of a technicality. Coleman had recorded his first whereabouts failure on June 6 last year, before two more offences in January 16 and April 26 this year. However t h e U n i t e d St a t e s Anti-Doping Agency (USADA)
abruptly withdrew the charges on September 2 after a review of the rules regarding how the 12-month window should be calculated. Under an obscure regulation in the International Standard for Testing and Investigations (ISTI) guidelines, Coleman’s first missed case in June last year
should have been backdated to the first day of that quarter, April 1, 2018. That meant the dates of the three offences fell outside the required 12month time-frame for a doping offence to have occurred — leaving Coleman in the clear and free to compete in Doha.
Patriots seal playoff spot in thriller CPL - St Kitts & Nevis Patriots secured their 2019 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) playoff spot in dramatic style as Dominic Drakes bowled Harry Gurney with the final ball of the night to seal a thrilling one-run victory over Barbados Tridents, who now face a winner-takes-all clash with St Lucia Zouks today after a dramatic batting collapse when victory appeared in their grasp. Superb bowling from Carlos Brathwaite, Sheldon Cottrell and Rayad Emrit on the back of what would prove a crucial 33-ball 53 from Shamarh Brooks all helped set up the dramatic finale and ultimately what had looked for most of the night an unlikely victory. The two points move the Patriots up to second in the table for now but more importantly certain of at least fourth no matter what happens over the next few days. Last night’s result means Trinbago Knight Riders are also sure of a top-four finish despite their recent struggles, while the Tridents are condemned to what amounts to an eliminator before the Eliminator against the Zouks to determine the final top-four spot. The Tridents will be kicking themselves for failing to chase down the Patriots’ 149/7 having appeared in full control for much of the game, first when keeping the runs down with the ball and then when easing to 85/2 in the runchase. Shakib Al Hasan was integral to both on his return to Tridents colours, opening the bowling with a maiden and ending with 1/14 from his four overs, before appearing set to guide his team to a routine victory. But his dismissal for a 25ball 38, caught at long-on off
Brathwaite, triggered a collapse of 5/14 in under four overs to leave the chase in ruins. Yet the Tridents would roar back once again, Raymon Reifer blasting three sixes on his way to 34 in just 18 balls. From needing 51 off 29 with three wickets in hand, Reifer’s assault reduced the equation to five runs in five balls with two wickets in hand before he was run out attempting a high-risk second run in a desperate bid to retain the strike. Last pair Harry Gurney and Chemar Holder each picked up a single to leave the target at two to win from the final ball of the night. But Drakes went full and straight to beat Gurney and spark dramatic celebrations. That collapse from 85/2 to 99/7 had proved decisive after all. After Shakib fell, Jonathan Carter chopped on to give Brathwaite a second wicket in the over, while Jason Holder struggled before miscuing Emrit to mid-off. Emrit had earlier had Alex Hales superbly caught by Sheldon Cottrell running back from short fine-leg in an impressive spell. Ashley Nurse was then trapped plumb in front to give Cottrell a second wicket, having seen off opener Johnson Charles early in the run-chase, and Brathwaite got his third w h e n T h u r s d a y n i g h t ’s record-breaker JP Duminy edged behind for 18. Shakib had earlier led the way in a fine all-round bowling display from the Tridents, in which he, Jason Holder and Gurney all went TEAM GAW SKNP TKR SLZ BT JT
M 7 10 7 9 8 9
W 7 5 4 3 3 2
for under a run a ball while Hayden Walsh Jr added two more wickets to his impressive recent tally. Although he had to wait until his final over to take his only wicket – Brathwaite trapped lbw – Shakib was the leading man. His first over of the 2019 Hero CPL was also the first over of the innings. It was a maiden that set the tone for a powerplay that brought only 32 runs for the Patriots and the wicket of Mohammad Hafeez caught behind off Jason Holder. Evin Lewis never really got going and was Walsh Jr’s first victim of the night as a slog-sweep picked out Jonathan Carter at deep midwicket. That the Patriots got any kind of defendable score on the board at all was largely down to Brooks, who rewarded the decision to push him up the order to number three by blasting his way to a half-century from 30 balls in an innings where no other member of the top five reached a run a ball. He was bowled by Walsh Jr’s final delivery of the night, though, and when Brathwaite followed in the next over it was left to Fabian Allen and Keron Cottoy to try and lift the total beyond 150. They gave it a good go, but a superb closing over from Gurney that gave up just four runs before Allen was bowled off the last ball, meant the Patriots came up short of that landmark. But, by the barest of margins, 149 would prove sufficient. L 0 5 2 5 5 7
PTS 14 10 9 7 6 4
NRR 1.693 -0.156 0.272 -0.687 0.471 -1.205
Christian Coleman, of the United States, left, crosses the finish line to win the men’s 100 meter race ahead of silver medalist Justin Gatlin, of the United States, right, during the World Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar, yesterday. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Courts Pee wee football tourney
St. Pius, Soesdyke and North rampage on day two Defending Champions St. Pius continued their pillaging form following their 8-0 win against Mae’s Primary on match day one with a comprehensive 9-1 thrashing of Smith Memorial yesterday when play continued on match day two of the ninth annual Courts Pee wee tournament at the Ministry of Education (MOE) ground on Carifesta Avenue. Jamal Fraser smashed in six, with his goals coming in minutes 1, 19, 22, 29, 34 and 36 of the clash. Jamal Jones, Nickali Watson and Teon
Macy scored one goal each to take the team’s tally to nine, while Smith Memorial had Japheth Sampson on the score sheet. Soesdyke were unforgiving when they matched skills with their Georgetown counterparts St. Margaret’s who they beat 70. Jaden Tasher spearheaded the attack with a hat-trick, while Jermaine Mitchell netted a brace to go along with one goal each from Ezekiel Holder and Neil Persaud. North Georgetown also
hit seven on the day and Ann’s Grove Primary will not be too pleased to be on the receiving end of the second 7-0 mauling of the day. Martha Chance opened the scoring in the 10th minute before Garey Primo banged in four goals in the 11th, 12th, 33rd and 40th minutes. Dellon Wray and Maneshar Khan each got on the score sheet once in the win. Play will resume next weekend with 12 more matches in the event that is also supported by Banks DIH.
Play between Soesdyke (left) that defeat St. Margaret’s Primary 7-0 yesterday.
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Sunday September 29, 2019
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NBS 40-Over 2nd division cricket
Runs galore in opening round
Rawl Enmore had 71 for Ace Warriors at Everest yesterday. Played in sweltering heat at four venues in the City, the New Building Society (NBS) second division 40overs cricket commenced
yesterday with four centuries and a pair of five-wicket hauls. At Everest, Dwayne Adams made 125 and shared in 205-run second wicket partnership with First-Class all rounder Amir Khan, who hit 116 before Richie Looknauth contributed 88 and they were all removed by off-spinner Rawl Enmore (571). Davindra Lall supported with 2-55 as Everest amassed a NBS 40-over record total of 439 all out in 39 overs. Set 440 to win from 33 overs due to a penalty for a slow over rate, Sophia were bundled out for 45 with Nkosi Whyte (10) being the
Jeremiah Scott fell three short of a ton at MSC yesterday.
only batsman to reach double figures. Saheed Mohamed had 510 and Raylex Payne 2-25 in a match which saw a late and in contravention of Law 3.1, just one scorer was present. Everest recorded a 394-run victory, the largest margin of victory in a local 40-over game. At Eve Leary, Kemol Savory made 138 with seven sixes and nine fours before he retired hurt suffering from cramps. The left-handed Savory shared in a 224-run second wicket stand with the brutal Andrew Lyght Jr, who clobbered 10 sixes and six fours in a destructive 130 to lift Police to 359-4. Sophia, despite 56 from Alex Sital, were dismissed for 119 off 23.2 overs as Pernell London (4-53), Vishal Jaigobin (3-7) and Darson LaRose (2-27) did the damage for the Cops who registered a 240-run win. At DCC, the host recovered from 54-8 to reach 180 in 39 overs, thanks to a 71-run 10th wicket stand between number 10 batsman Carlton Jacques, who smashed seven sixes and three fours in 89 and number nine Dexter George who was run out for 21. Joel Spooner (4-21), Kevin Ross (2-35) and Akeem Redman (2-28) did the damage with the ball for Transport Sports Club (TSC) who were bowled out for 157 in 35 overs to lose by 21 runs. Left hander Sunil Singh made 69 and Joel Wilson 49 but nobody else offered prolonged resistance as leftarm West Indies U-19 spinner Ashmead Nedd (4-
All set for Port Mourant Turf Club Horserace meet today All systems are in place for a grand one day of horseracing today at the Port Mourant Turf Club Corentyne, Berbice. The event, which is organised by the Port Mourant Turf Cub in collaboration with the MMP Foundation, has six races listed for the day with over $3.5M in cash, trophies and other incentives up for the taking. The feature event for the day will be for horses classified B and lower over 1300meters for a winning
take of $600,000 and trophy. Among horses expected to go are Lucky Star, Vera’s Finally, Don’t overlook, Storm Bird, Simple Slide, T and T, Golden Blue Echo, Settling Star and Scores Even. Other events listed for the day are one for 3 Years Old Guyana Bred horses (Winner of less than four races) also over 1300 meters for a first place taking of $300,000 and trophy. There is a race for H and lower animals over 1300 meters for a winner’s purse
of $300,000 and trophy. The 2 Years Old Guyana bred animals will be running a distance of 1000meters with the winner set to collect $260,000 and trophy. Animals classified J and K and lower will be battling over 1300meters for the winning reward of $200,000 and trophy. The L and lower animals will be competing over 1000 metres for the pole position taking of $160,000 and trophy Over 40 animals have been entered to compete.
27) and leg spinner Steven Sankar (2-50) ensured a win for the Queenstown team. At Malteenoes, the host, despite a magnificent 97 from 65 balls with 10 sixes and three fours from 17year-old Jerimiah Scott which followed up his century last weekend, lost by 15 runs to GCC. GCC made 184-9 in 40 overs with Timothy McCalmont making 73, Kevon Wilson getting 30 and Bernard Bailey scoring 21. Franchot Duncan-Clarke, Krasan Singh and Sewnarine Seegobin had two wickets each for the winners. The competition continues today with matches at Eve Leary, DCC and Everest from 10:30hrs. (Sean Devers)
Dwayne Adams blasted 125 for Everest yesterday.
Amir Khan scores past mid-on in his 116 and featured in 205-run stand with Dwayne Adams at Everest.
Kaieteur News
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Upper Corentyne Cricket Association U-17 Inter School cricket
Tagore whip Black Bush Secondary by an innings but fails to make final - Skeldon Linepath Secondary and Skeldon High qualify Ta g o r e M e m o r i a l Secondary School TMSS inflicted a whipping on Black Bush Polder Secondary (BBPS) by an innings and 88 runs in the final game of the Bharat and Family U17 Inter Secondary Competition organised by the Upper Corentyne Cricket Association (UCCA). However, their exploits failed to gain them a spot in the final as Skeldon Linepath Secondary (SLPS) and Skeldon High School (SHS) qualified for the final of the competition being played for schools in the Upper Corentyne and Black Bush Polder areas. Tagore took first strike after being inserted by BBPS and made 161-7 declared with Mark Lowenfield 64(4x6, 8x4), Y. Tahal 36 and R. Sookram 28 supported. Bowling for BBPS T. Sukhoo and R. Barjohn picked up three wickets
Salim Khan each. They in reply were skittled out for 30 with leading wicket taker, Leg spinner Salim Khan again in destructive mood with 7 wickets. Asked to bat again, BBPS feared a little better
and were bundled out for 58. Bowling for TMSS Kahn again was in the picture as he and all-rounder Mark Lowenfield snared four wickets each. The final is set for tomorrow at the Crabwood Creek Ground. Five schools are participating in the competition with the other school being Central Corentyne Secondary School (CCSS). The points standing at the end of the competition showed SLPS with 39, SHS 36, TMSS 24, CCSS 3 and BBPS 0. Trophies and other incentives will be presented to the top two schools and the individual outstanding performers. Former National wicketkeeper/batsman Sydney Jackman is the coordinator. (Samuel Whyte)
Sunday September 29, 2019
Gayle upsets Echevarria to take long jump gold
Jamaica’s Tajay Gayle celebrates winning gold in the Men’s Long Jump Final at the Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar. (REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach)
D
OHA (Reuters) - Jamaican Tajay Gayle upset favourite Juan Miguel Echevarria of Cuba to win gold in the long jump at the world athletics championships yesterday with the biggest leap of the season. The 23-year-old sped down the runway at high speed, leaping into the air to claim a distance of 8.69 metres on his fourth attempt, recording a personal best and beating his Cuban rival’s 8.65m season best.
Jeff Henderson of the United States, the 2016 Olympic champion, finished second with a jump of 8.39m, his longest effort of the year. Echevarria made a slow start and could not replicate his best form of 2019, taking bronze with a jump of 8.34m on his third attempt. South Africa’s Luvo Manyonga, the defending world champion, finished fourth with 8.28m.
Kaieteur News
Sunday September 29, 2019
PAGE 73
Gwendolyn O’Neil to go for World Championship Boxing Title #6 On October 26th, 2019 in Trinidad and Tobago at the Central indoor Arena in Saith Park, Chaguanas, Guyana’s Queen of Boxing, Gwendolyn O’Neil, will be fighting for the World Boxing Council (WBC) Heavyweight Title. A release revealed, Fight Night Promotions with international boxing promoter Boxu Potts are promoting this first ever female heavyweight title fight in Trinidad & Tobago. The five-time World Boxing Champion continues to be a symbol of endurance and hope for her people as she goes for her sixth world championship and perhaps the most important of her career. T h e Wo r l d B o x i n g Council is arguably the most prestigious world boxing organization and its distinctive green championship belts have been held by the likes of Muhammad Ali, Floyd Mayweather, Laila Ali and
Claressa Shields just to name a few. Gwendolyn “Stealth Bomber” O’Neil fought for this WBC Belt twelve years ago in South Africa at the Emperors Palace, Kempton Park as a Super Middleweight against Laila Ali. Nelson Mandela who witnessed the bout said to the fighters before the fight true to his character “May the best person win”. Laila won the fight and retired never to fight again but Gwendolyn won the war and continued to fight and went on to win four more world boxing titles after her defeat in 2007. She won her first world title and became Guyana’s first female world boxing champion in 2004. Twelve years later her opponent this time is Lorissa Rivas, a Trinidadian, who stands in the way of her redemption. Gwendolyn O’Neil had these words to say to the Guyanese people and her fans all over the
world as she prepares for the fight, “Stay focused and pray for me and I will bring home the green belt (WBC) to the sweet, beautiful land of Guyana.” She has endured and persevered against all odds and returns to the ring with a confidence unmatched in her career that can only come from experience. Gwendolyn has twentyeight fights under her belt, meanwhile her opponent Lorissa only has twelve fights. The edge goes to O’Neil in experience but she is also twelve years older than Rivas. The real edge though is the will of the stealth bomber which she has said is the will of the tiger (Jaguar). Born to an Amerindian mother in the Amazon pristine rain forest of Guyana she credits all her legendary strength and will to her upbringing in the jungle where she was raised. Hardwork in farming and organic food has made
Gwendolyn O’Neil will fight for a sixth World title next month.
O’Neil ageless. The symbols remain the same as Guyana’s Coat of Arms proudly displays the Amerindian headdress, a pickaxe, jaguars and a rice stalk. Has the Guyana Coat of Arms come to life? Go Queen for your Sixth Crown for what you sow, you may now reap.
GFF hosts Child Protection Workshop for coaches Participating Coaches at the GFF Child Protection Workshop with child protection officials seated at front centre.
The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) held a half-day workshop on Friday last with National and Academy Training Centres ( AT C s ) c o a c h e s i n commemoration of Child Protection Week, which was observed under the theme “Promoting Social Change to Stop the Violation of Children.” The workshop, held at the GFF Boardroom, was facilitated by Senior Child Protection Officer Ms. M. Woodroffe and the Agency’s
L e g a l O ff i c e r M s . T. Williams. Woodroffe outlined the objective of the workshop: “It was done to raise awareness of the prevalence of child abuse and to have proactive involvement of key stakeholders in enabling the safety, protection and preservation of the rights of children. This includes changing mind concepts, attitudes and behaviours towards children.” In opening comments at the session, GFF’s President
Wayne Forde, said education about child protection issues is vital for coaches and will become part of coaches’ continuous education: “ A s f o o t b a l l administrators, we have a moral duty to protect children from those who may betray their trust and take advantage of them. It is therefore important that we educate everyone that will come into contact with players on what is considered acceptable and unacceptable behavior.
Coaches will now have to undergo child protection training each year in order to retain their Coaching Licence.” In an invited comment, Woodroffe added that “the forum also enabled the strengthening of collaborative efforts and initiatives for the support of children, families and communities in promoting social change.” Child Protection Week was observed from September 22 – 28.
Solo Drink Under-20 Girls’ League
Bingo Spartans beat Saints to clinch title
rt o p S
Champions Bingo GCC Spartans and runners up Saints (blue) pose for a photo, each with a Solo soft drink following the presentation ceremony yesterday at Saints ground. Christian Coleman scorches to victory in the 100m final at the World Championships. (AFP / Kirill Kudryavtsev)
Brilliant Coleman blasts to 100m gold Christian Coleman, of the US, centre, races to the line to win the men’s 100 meter race ahead of silver medalist Justin Gatlin, of the US, right, Canada’s Andre De Grasse, South Africa’s Akani Simbine and Italy’s Filippo Tortu. (Reuters/Lucy Nicholson)
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