Kaieteur News
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Sunday September 30, 2018
Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Adam Harris Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL
THE JAILING OF BILL COSBY Popular comedian and beloved television star, Bill Cosby, was convicted in April of drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constand. He was sentenced on September 24 to three to ten years in Pennsylvania state prison, which means that he would be eligible for parole after serving a minimum of three years. Cosby, who will be one of the three oldest inmates at the Pennsylvania state prison, was declared a sexual predator by the judge which means that he will have to undergo mandatory counseling for life. He is expected to serve his sentence in a private prison cell. Although Cosby was convicted of three counts of aggravated indecent assault against Constand, dozens of women, at least 60 of them, have made similar accusations against him. It is the first high-profile celebrity criminal trial of the #Me Too era. The unanimous guilty verdict rendered by a jury in a U.S. court against the groundbreaking actor, Bill Cosby, known as “American Dad” has tarnished his reputation, destroyed his legacy and ruined his destiny. It is hard to overstate that the 81-year old pop culture icon and the star of the Cosby Show who has more than 50 years in showbiz, had racked up enough awards and honors to fill a small museum. Following his convictions, several institutions have withdrawn their honors awarded to Cosby. Among the most significant honors that have been stripped from Cosby are achievement awards bestowed upon him by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts; the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor; and the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest honor an American civilian can receive. Of the 42 universities that had conferred honorary doctorate degrees on Cosby, 33 of them, including Temple University, which he attended, had revoked the honors. Bill Cosby was an iconic figure in the field of entertainment. He regaled millions around the world and dazzled them with his brilliance and comical jokes; he was star of the American television sitcom, The Cosby Show, which aired for eight seasons on NBC from 1984 to 1992. It depicted Cosby as Cliff Huxtable, the father in the Huxtable family as an upper middle-class, AfricanAmerican family from Brooklyn, New York with four children. According to TV Guide, the show which was watched by hundreds of millions around the world was television’s biggest hit in the 1980s and 1990s. It single-handedly revived the movie industry in the sitcom category and increased NBC’s ratings. It was the most popular family show in America and was ranked 28th on NBC television list of 50 greatest shows by TV Guide. From the time the sexual assault and harassment allegations became public and charges were filed against Bill Cosby, many of his friends claimed that he was innocent and stood by him. They opined that the fact that the accusers waited for decades to come forward was troubling and that it was an orchestrated plot in order to obtain money from the comedian. Admittedly, Cosby had settled a lawsuit filed against him by one of his accusers in which he admitted wrongdoing. But as more women came forward with public accusations of sexual abuse and rape by Cosby, his friends realized that the seriousness of the charges against him could ruin his career and place him in jail, which is what happened. Whether the allegations were true or false, do not matter anymore, because a court of law has declared him guilty. For those who were violated by Bill Cosby, we hope they can find closure and peace and move on with their lives.
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.
Guyanese relegated to drive old vehicles Dear Editor, The foreign concession class, senior government officials, remigrants, the ultra-rich and the mafia class in Guyana, are the most likely residents to be driving - new economy class vehicles that cost US$25,00030,000/GY$6,000,000; or drive Corvettes, Range Rovers, Rolls Royce or Porsches, based on the concessions and financing available to this group. We h a v e r e l e g a t e d working class Guyanese from accessing new vehicles, with the latest technology. The Guyana vehicle tariff regime is antiquated, archaic and visionless that has resulted in restrictive and oppressive and irrational vehicle import tax rates. There are many mid-level sedans and non-premium category cars that have over 1999 Cylinder Capacity (cc). Vehicles in this category include the Honda Accord, Nissan Altima, Toyota Camry and Hyundai Sonata, will be
additionally taxed at Guyana’s world beating vehicle tariff/tax rate of 247% to 297%. The vehicle buyer importing a 3000cc economy class vehicle is asked to pay the same exorbitant tariff, as the buyer importing a 6000cc Bentley Continental. It’s only one component of the many malfunction cognitive junctions that permeate our vehicle tariff structure. Is it government’s policy to reduce fuel consumption and have Guyanese drive low cc vehicles? The vehicles used
by our ministers certainly do not suggest any government policy to reduce fuel consumption, which is quite acceptable. However, what is unacceptable is the stupendous tariff rates subjected on Guyanese not eligible for duty free concessions. It is not as if we are protecting Guyana’s vehicle manufacturing industry. The Guyanese middle class have to consider themselves fortunate, if they are able to acquire a vehicle six to eight years old, with 2000cc or over.
We need to change the current vehicle import tariff structure forthwith. No wonder we have so many illegal schemes to avoid the vehicle tariff, resulting in resources wasted to manage and implement an outdated and illogical vehicle tariff structure.Henry Ford quotes, “Profits made out of the distress of the people are always much smaller than profits made out of the most lavish service of the people at the lowest prices that competent management can make possible”. Nigel Hinds
Sunday September 30, 2018
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The Infrastructure Ministry has missed the point on the East Coast road Dear Editor, In response to a letter captioned, “Poor management on major road projects is an indictment”, which was published on September 18, 2018, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure sought to respond by letter dated September 27, 2018, in which corrective measures implemented for the Sheriff Mandela Project was highlighted. I wish to point out that the response letter has missed its mark by more than a mile. The concerns raised regarding poor environmental management on the East Coast fourlane project was completely ignored. The efforts put in place for Sheriff-Mandela was highlighted in the letter. This provided a clear indication of the double standards due to the absence of the same mitigation systems for the East Coast road project. Similarly, mitigation measures for donor-funded projects are different from Government-funded projectsthis seems to be a common trend. The efforts put in place for Sheriff- Mandela, according to the letter, includes public service announcements; consultations with schools; meeting with residents; maintenance of two lanes; restriction of trucks offloading materials during peak hours; flaggers; barriers; warning signs; enforcement of traffic management plan, etc. The big question is, ‘Was the same done for the East Coast four-lane expansion?’ We wish to reiterate that the East Coast project is poorly managed and it’s only a matter of time before a major mishap occurs. Commuters are faced daily with lengthy delays because of the absence of basic miti-
gation measures. Unpaved diversions, lack of directional and basic advisory signs to guide the flow of traffic are absent. Large sections of the roadway are completed and can be paved in sections thereby alleviating dust as well as traffic nuisance. Why is this not done? Noteworthy to mention is that the railway embankment was constructed by Dipcon Engineering as a diversion for the Georgetown to Timehri Road construction project. Using the embankment to alleviate traffic bottlenecks requires a coordinated and wellplanned approach including liaison with the police, coordination with the contractor’s activities and supervisory agencies. If the contractor were to work in small sections then diversion of traffic to the embankment would have been realistic to alleviate bottlenecks. Further to this, it seems as though China Railway is client, contractor and consultant on this job as MPI cannot respond to these issues and the consultant seems to be sleeping under a carpet of dust. Indeed, there are more signs placed now but more is needed. The current signs are noncompliant with MUTCD standards, some are very small and most are not reflective at night. Basic advisory signs indicating the beginning or end of diversions, directional signs, signs highlighting drop-off or construction in progress are absent. Again, the MUTCD is clear on the signs required for such projects. To compound matters, drivers suffer huge time delays whilst queuing resulting in significant increase in fuel consumption, and most get to work late and stressed. This has reduced workers’ productivity and more so at a time when companies need ev-
ery saving to keep their business profitable. To reduce waiting time in the lines, commuters sometimes drive within the construction area (which is between the two existing lanes). This results in a hazardous situation where vehicles cut in front of other to merge into the existing lanes. The construction area must be cordoned preventing access to active areas. In addition, the time and wear and tear caused by this poor management have to be absorbed by Guyanese as there is no compensation for damage etc to commuter’s vehicles. We have grown to accept the poor performance of the public sector, so this clearly does not affect the public sector. Traffic management is absent, in many instances, construction equipment cross the road or offload materials without any flaggers, on the rear occasion when flaggers are present there is no stop and go signs. Huge bottlenecks result from trucks stopping in the middle of the road to offload materials, in some cases equipment is working in the travelling lane without traffic cones resulting confusion to commuters. Driving through the site at night is a major safety hazard due to huge drop-offs that are left open or cordoned with caution tape, which is not visible at night. Barriers to cordon huge drop-off should be sturdy and made of wood or metal with reflective tape to ensure visibility at nights. More flashing beacons are needed. Dust control requires significant improvement, while the site is wetted; the prevailing weather conditions require an intensified effort to mitigate this nuisance. The nuisances experienced daily will only multiply exponentially since the contactor continue to open large new areas without the adequate resource
to ensure public safety and provide for a smooth flow of traffic. It is imperative that the supervisors of the East Coast roadway project conduct a walk through and a night audit of the entire corridor to address issues that require immediate attention. While there is a great need
for better planning and execution of construction projects in Guyana, clearly, we have either learnt nothing from previous road contracts, or corruption remains so rampant that many continue to turn a blind eye. And to compound matters, we have brought the worst
foreign contractors in the form of Chinese, notorious for their sub-standard work worldwide, who offer nothing in improving the local standards of engineering or implementing any level of environmental standards. (Continued on page 7)
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A political organ in a Government ministry Dear Editors, I visited the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs at Quamina and Thomas Streets on the afternoon of Monday, 24th September, 2018 to help a high school student conduct research for a school project. The staff of the Ministry was very helpful and we were able to get the information that we needed. As we were leaving the Ministry feeling very satisfied, we saw a bundle of newspapers set on the floor by the entrance to the Ministry. We thought for sure the newspapers were a production of the Ministry or of the Amerindian people and would be great for further research. We asked the receptionist if we could take a copy, and we were given permission. It turns out that the newspaper was the New Nation, a production of the PNCR, Congress Place, Sophia. If we needed further evi-
dence that we are running a cake shop, cowboy, third world government lacking in principle, this is just some more. The Minister within the Ministry, Valerie GarridoLowe, who is described on the Ministry’s website as having a long political career spanning the United Force and the AFC, was very much present in the building. While paramountcy of party is a product of a PNC mentality, it seems as if the smaller parties in the Coalition have no ability to influence change or they have just fallen into line to enjoy the power trip. While at the Ministry, I heard an Amerindian male self-deprecatingly commenting that where he lives in the interior is not as civilised as Georgetown. When we observe the conduct of Government ministers, we have to ponder again the meaning of civilised. Wearing expensive jack-
ets, shiny suits, fancy shoes and driving expensive cars does not make one civilised. Let us remember that the so-called civilised world destroyed its forests and polluted the planet. A grass skirt and a pair of slippers have more integrity than most suits. Much like the painting of important buildings in the colours of the ruling party, the presence of partisan political publications in Government ministries is evidence of a delusional Government out of touch with principles of good governance. These acts can only occur with the consent of the political leadership and it is a reflection of the anti-democratic state of mind of that class of individuals. The Ministers in the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs need to account to the Guyanese public for the distribution of PNCR official publications from a publicly funded ministry. Sandra Khan
A hissing noise from GWI Dear Editor, For the past 24 hours or more, there has been a strange hissing sound pervading the streets of Queenstown. On close investigation, this sound is coming from GWI, where they appear to be drilling a well beside the Lamaha Canal on Vlissingen Road.
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Kaieteur News
It appears that they need compressed air but that they have a compressor which is much too large and which necessitates “blowing off” excess air at regular and frequent intervals on a 24/7 basis. The noise from this is totally unacceptable and excessive (as well as being non-cost-effective). The fact that I can hear it in my house almost 600 meters away from the site over an area blocked in by houses and trees says enough.
For people living closer to the site, sleep must be impossible. Editor, we have an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in this country. Has GWI got an environmental permit for this work? Has it even measured the noise levels? Has the EPA even been consulted about this drilling? Why must the populace have to put up with this excessive and needless noise? Peter Bouchard
To serve and neglect Dear Editor, I am a re-migrant, age 68, who is now regretting ever making such a rash decision to come back home to reside. My failing health just can’t withstand the numerous acts of noise abuse in my area, especially at the weekends. I am completely fed up having to make a number of useless calls to the police to get relief. I am reluctant to pick up the phone because of the set of baloney I’m being told I have to do before any action is taken. It is my hope that this new Top Cop will collaborate once again with the Minister of Public Security to re-examine this present backward-policy to a more realistic one to deal with noise nuisances. It’s irksome when I am told that I have to make a personal appearance to the station at whatever hour to give a statement before charges can be laid against the perpetrator/s and when I’m told that I have to go to court to give evidence; it’s not encouraging. Firstly, not only is it putting my life at risk but it is an unnecessary burden for anyone who is facing this type of abuse especially if he/she is a senior citizen. The backwardness of the whole policy is daunting. What about pushcarts? Do I have to get dressed, walk quite a dis-
tance for transportation to the station; sit there for hours before there is any attendance to give a statement with the possibility of there not being a vehicle available? The Minister of Public Security and the Top Cop need to fix this piece of legislation immediately because whoever came up with that dangerous, stupid idea should have his/ her head examined. How can the Minister of Public Security and panel put the citizens of this country at such risk? Am I expected to attend court against two or three persons if they decide to break the law in one day? This happens quite often. I can safely count at least seven persons in the area who play their music very loud. If the police decide to take action after I would have highlighted more than one act of noise abuse, then give statements, how can they so callously expose me to that kind of danger and expect me to go to court so often? This is why people are afraid to even fight back whenever these atrocities occur. This is a job solely for the Police. They must take action and prosecute and attend court once the perpetrator/s are caught by them. If it is a disabled person making a call or someone
who is bedridden, are these people expected to go to the station and give a statement and then go to court to give evidence? Where I lived in America affected citizens can call the police unanimously and once the police respond the perpetrator/s are prosecuted and taken to court by them, not the Police telling the complainant he/she has to leave their home to go to the station to give a statement at any given hour so that they the police, can lay a charge and the complainant has to attend court to give evidence. As it so often happens, sometimes it could be a vehicle parked somewhere in the vicinity. A call to the police should see a patrol coming to stop this act, the perpetrator/s be taken to the station and be charged immediately not this backwardness that is being told to persons affected. How can the Minister of Public Security and the Police place such a burden on citizens especially if it’s only one pe r s o n w h o i s brave enough to highlight what is happening in the community. Is that person expected to attend court every time he/she makes a complaint? I think the motto of the Police should be changed from “Serve and Protect” to “Serve and Neglect”. Disappointed Re-migrant
A Minister, a lawyer and Cabinet Dear Editor, I note various news reports, which have announced attorney-at-law Nigel Hughes opening a law office in Houston, Texas. Mr. Hughes currently represents ExxonMobil in Guyana. His wife Cathy Hughes
is a member of the Cabinetthe very Cabinet that is charged with the government’s oil and gas secrets. The perception of a wife sharing portions of her daily routine with her husband is not far-fetched. Could Cabinet’s secrets come into the hands of
ExxonMobil? I would urge government to be sensitive to conflicts and would expect that Mrs. Hughes would not be privy to any of the government’s plans for oil of gas. Anything short would be unacceptable. An intelligent observer
Sunday September 30, 2018
Ministers and doctors DearEditor, The past week has seen two senior politicians airing their views on matters of health which are of utmost importance to the entire nation and which is not being given enough attention. Firstly, in a long letter titled, “Doctors deserve better”, shadow Minister of Health and former Minister in the previous administration, Dr. Frank Anthony went on a history course on the problems affecting the health sector. “The plethora of problems ranging from shortages of drugs and medical supplies, to prolonged waiting times at public institutions, the working environment and hours of young doctors, the inadequate remuneration given to doctors, nurses and other health care providers and their lack of meaningful representation...” are but a few of the issues raised by Dr. Anthony. His aim if following the views expressed, is that in the planning of the next budget, these questions were asked and there were answers formulated in the planning of a holistic health approach. History has a way of revealing and reinventing itself! On the other hand, the current Ministers of Public Health, The Hon. Volda Lawrence and Hon. Dr. Karen Cummings were busy preaching of grand improvements in the health sector and of plans to further improve the system. Minister Lawrence in particular currently on a trip to the United States for meetings with World Health Organization and other Health Ministers, and where she was recently nominated to be on the Executive Board of WHO, was lauding recent developments such as the recent signing of a MOU between the governments of Guyana and Austria to further develop our health care services. Minister Lawrence also took advantage while being in the US to meet various members of the Diaspora where she related the present health initiatives planned for the future and asked for help in getting more initiatives in motion. Dr. Cummings, meanwhile, recently was speaking on the commencement of five pilot projects in health whereby specific centres will be going fully digital in terms of services utilizing ICT. Critical in all the speeches given were the importance of the youths in our public service system and the need to further improve their educational levels and professionalism, and our need to “keep them”. Minister Lawrence constantly referenced her important “cadre” of young doctors at her side brimming with enthusiasm to do more. Mr. Editor, the question I ask now is: Are we doing enough to keep our young professionals like our doctors, nurses, medical
technologists, teachers, engineers, agronomists and others? Dr. Anthony went into a breakdown of the salaries on offer for our young doctors at GPHC and I shudder to compare them to those on offer from our sister CARICOM countries. They simply cannot compare and no wonder we will continue to lose our youngest and brightest minds. The salaries on offer from the MOPH are even worse, with their allowances archaic, such as the $600 Housing allowance, the $1800 on-call for 24 hrs, travelling allowance of $3500, no risk allowance, no Hinterland allowance nor adequate telephone or gas allowances for realizing the government’s work. These allowances and salaries have been around since the early 90s and the governments (both past and previous) saw neither need nor urgency in changing same. Dr. Anthony therefore has no right to criticize what is on offer since he was an instrumental part of why things are as they currently stand. Furthermore given his involvement in not only health issues but in the functioning of health related bodies such as the horrendous Medical Council of Guyana of which he is an integral member and the non functional Guyana Medical Association, Dr Anthony surely has had many chances to impact the health landscape and improve the lives of young doctors. The dealings of the Medical Council, which has become a political tool and which has been called into question many times by various persons for their inability to perform theirs designated tasks with efficacy and transparency should be reason enough for Dr. Anthony and company to perform introspective evaluations and do the honorable thing in stepping aside and allowing caring persons to take those leadership positions. But, would the good doctor step aside? Would the good doctor take young doctors under his wings in his private clinic to help to improve their knowledge and skill levels? We all know the answer. Stop blowing your ‘vuvuzela’Dr. Anthony, this noise is just election gimmick. With regard to Minister Lawrence and her travels both locally and internationally, it may be all in good stead or as I personally see it; her focus perhaps is misdirected in this critical moment. The most important resource of any country is your human resource and this we try to keep at all costs where possible. Why would the honorable minister therefore speak of providing facilities for the training of nurses for future exportation to first world countries? Did she honestly believe herself or was it a slip of the tongue? Where in the annals of history has it been
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proven to be cost effective for small, poor, developing countries to invest unavailable resources for the betterment of other richer countries? We currently have great shortages in staffing our centres yet here we are speaking of sending the little we have in the hope of getting remittances from “forty Western Unions”. A few years ago, something unprecedented was realized. The PPP government and former President Bharrat Jagdeo in particular was able to persuade President Fidel Castro to give Guyana the chance to train approximately 1500 youths in areas such as Health, Agriculture, Engineering, Arts etc. These young persons were selected and went to study in Cuba free of cost to return to serve their country for a mandatory 5-year period. One would expect that by the end of that 5-year period the government would have put things in place for those professionals to want to continue to serve in Guyana. The sad truth is that no such plan was put in place. Instead, each year we continue to lose our professionals to the wider world. This year 2018 approximately 250 doctors came to the end of their 5-year contract. A conservative estimate is that maybe 100 did not sign on back to work with the government. Currently the health facilities are facing a dilemma- shortage of doctors. The Minister chose not to let the public know of this development but it is evident in all regions. The hardest hit will be the interior regions firstly since the appeal to work there is almost nil given mitigating factors. The constant calls of those young (forever-acting) Regional Health Officers for doctors is loud to those with ears. No longer can the Director of Regional and Health Services bully young doctors into sending them to the bush against their will. Finally, young doctors can choose where they want to work. Just recently, the MOPH requested from GPHC 40 doctors to help fill the void in the Public Health System left by vacating doctors, with luck they might get 20 since GPHC is already understaffed. No more big batches of
graduates are there to replace those leaving. The current class of graduates numbers a meager 15. Who will replace the 74 trained, experienced nurses leaving soon? And next year, it will be even worse! It is hard to be a politician and at the same time pay adequate attention to what matters the most, but to those in leadership positions I beg of you, please listen to your young professionals. Give them what is due. Improved salaries, improved working conditions, adequate overtime compensation, training opportunities, housing facilities and the opportunity to own their own houses, transportation allowances and duty free concessions to be able to own their own means of transportation, improved packages for those serving in hinterland and interior regions (cost of living is much higher), risk allowances, adequate vacation allowances, opportunities to get no/low interest loans to be able to start a family life, ease of access to government services, revamped personnel and Human Resources Departments in Government Institutions that take forever to get anything done, adequate safety in the work environment and opportunities to further their professional and personal careers. These are but a few and with the coming bonanza, there are so many more areas that should be created and/or improved. Guyanese are willing to stay and serve but there has to be a light at the end of the tunnel. The ball is in your court ministers (both past and present) of the Government of Guyana. Today is the day to step up and be counted. Get those policies in parliament quickly and come to an agreement for the mutual development of Guyana. Get the legislature amended to adequately enforce health policies of the 21st century. The time of the slow and sleepy is over. Let the voice of the youths be at the forefront. Let collective minds across the divide give input on how to better address our current problems since it’s a problem of all. Stop getting race involved in every decision. Open your eyes and listen to the winds of change. Stop humming and not coming. John Snow
The Infrastructure... From page 5 Noteworthy to mention that employees, who spoke out about lack of payment for services provided, were fired; why is this even allowed? This project is indeed a major indictment and requires a stalwart effort by the regulatory agencies to enforce the applicable regulations. The project continues to be executed in contravention
to OSHA, International and local standards regarding safety. Concerned Professionals ************************** Editor’s Note: The persons who were reportedly fired were hired as sub-contractors. China Railway has said that they had nothing to do with it. The truckers are said to be back at work.
PPP setting the records straight on LGE I have been following with interest the exchanges in the media between the PPP and the AFC on the issue of irregularities in the identification and submission of candidates for the upcoming local government elections. It is clear that the AFC is finding it difficult to get backers for their List of Candidates both at the Constituency and the Proportional Representation levels. They have therefore resorted to all manner of skullduggery to get persons to back the lists as required by law. This is particularly so in PPP strongholds where many of their erstwhile supporters have now openly identified themselves with the PPP. I think that fraudulent and corrupt practices should, as it were, be nipped in the bud and not allowed to take root. In this regard, I think in future elections, GECOM should publish the full list of candidates and their respective backers and allow for a period of no less than one week to sanitize the list. Fur-
ther, persons who knowingly and purposefully engage in corrupt practices should be investigated, penalized and disbarred from participating in future elections. The Guyana Elections Commission should also introduce an alphabetical method in the receipt of lists of candidates from representatives of the lists of contending parties or groups as opposed to the ‘first come, first serve’ method as is currently the case. This will avoid the tendency of parties to show up in the wee hours of the morning on nomination day to hand in their lists only to find that others were in the line since the day before. This is unnecessary and demeaning and could result in allegations of biases on the part of GECOM. Democracy, whether at the local or at the national level, is too important to be tinkered with and every effort must be made by GECOM to ensure that there is full transparency and integrity in the electoral process. Hydar Ally
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Int’l experts not needed to tell Guyana how to secure larger share in oil deals – Chris Ram
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hartered Accoun tant, Christopher Ram, believes that the brake should be put on the guesswork and bungling in the management of the country’s petroleum resources by the current administration. Ram declared that if this is not done, Guyana will engage in cycles of errors and eventually corruption when ‘we should be thinking carefully and acting decisively’ rather than thinking everything will turn out right. He took note of the plans announced by head of the Department of Energy, Dr. Mark Bynoe, to hire a technical expert to ‘tweak’ the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA), which has been used a model for the ExxonMobil deal and other oil companies. “Of course, there are lots of experts out there, as there are charlatans and carpetbaggers,” Ram stated in his column, ‘Road to first oil’. Further, Ram stated, “Dr. Bynoe appears locked in and enamoured of the PSA. And even if he is, it surely does not require international experts to tell us what needs to be done under the PSA to ensure that Guyana gets a larger share.” Ram noted that some of these international experts
Chartered Accountant, Chris Ram will no doubt be drawn from dependent constitutional ofthe International Monetary fice and the Guyana Revenue Fund (IMF), the World Bank Authority, a statutory body and the Co m m o n w e a l t h committed to secrecy and Secretariat, the very insti- confidentiality in its work, to tutions that touted the Pe- conduct cost recovery audits. troleum Commission conRam noted that Dr. ceived to do some of the Bynoe’s use of the word very work, which the De- ‘tweaked’ appears to have partment of Energy is now been copied from Minister assuming, but of which ev- Raphael Trotman, but the only difference is that erything is silence. He said Dr. Bynoe seems Trotman’s tweak turned out to rely heavily on interna- to be an entirely new agreetional experts helping the De- ment. According to RAM, ‘Dr. partment of Energy working with the Audit Office, an in- Bynoe’s entrée’ has not offered any assurance that the confusion, incompetence and dishonesty, which have underlined this current administration’s management of the sector will fundamentally change in the short term.
Sunday September 30, 2018
Guyana scores lowest among countries addressing inefficiencies in public procurement- IDB report Corruption in public procurement continues to plague several developing countries across the world. Particularly, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) recently released a report that encompasses the toll corruption in public procurement is taking on the Caribbean and Latin America. The IDB found that corruption in public procurement plays a significant role in the wastage of money utilized by countries in the region. IDB reported that although it is difficult to measure the exact cost of corruption due to its hidden nature, an estimated 10–30 percent of investment in publicly funded construction projects may be lost through mismanagement and corruption. IDB also said that the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) estimates 20–30 percent of project value is lost through corruption. IDB reported that public procurement reform in the region has come a long way since the early 2000s, when it was a minor part of the second generation of public sector reforms. IDB said that the region has made more progress than other developed regions, especially in advancing their e-procurement tools. However, IDB was keen to note that several countries in the region are still transitioning to procurement systems with better institutions, more agile processes, and a heightened capacity to prevent corruption. IDB said that it is now very clear that reforms have not been enough to dismantle inefficiencies or eliminate corruption. The bank even said that implementing an effective public procurement system based on transparency, competition, and integrity, as called for by the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), is not simple. IDB said that a procurement system that lacks transparency and competition is the ideal breeding ground for corrupt behaviour. According to the UNODC (2013), reform initiatives need to integrate these goals. While Guyana’s procurement system is considered transparent and inclusive of competition locally, it still scored lowest among 14 countries. IDB said that a comprehensive and outcome-based procurement index is still
needed but a widely used procurement indicator is the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Methodology for Assessing Procurement Systems (MAPS), which mostly measures the process against international best practice models, not procurement outputs, outcomes, or systemic performance. Still, it portrays the current state of processes in Latin America and the Caribbean. IDB said that 14 governments in the region conducted a MAPS self-assessment of their procurement systems between 2008 and 2016. The results are ranging from zero to three with three meaning full achievement of the standards.“For each country, MAPS presents the year implemented and the score. The results, from best to worst, were: Chile (2008, 2.7), Brazil (2011, 2.2); Ecuador (2011, 2.0); Paraguay (2013, 2.0); Peru (2016, 2.0); Colombia (2009, 1.9); Nicaragua (2010, 1.8); the Dominican Republic (2012, 1.5); Costa Rica (2015, 1.5); Honduras (2010, 1.2); El Salvador (2010, 1.2); Barbados (2008, 0.5); Belize (2010, 0.5); and Guyana (2010; 0.5).” IDB said that according to the results, most countries still need to improve procurement processes and evidence points to poor outcomes in several countries. IDB provided a list of key recommendations to be adapted to each Latin American and Caribbean country. The banks said that while professionalization and ex-post evaluation, monitoring, and control of the system are necessary to develop a comprehensive and effective system, there are key critical factors—planning, coverage and coordination, competition, and effective digitalization—that the region’s countries need to improve to make the system more efficient and less prone to corruption.
Sunday September 30, 2018
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Five NOC juveniles recaptured Geological information held by oil …8 still on the run companies should be surrendered- Ramson
The NOC at Onderneeming, Essequibo Coast Five of the thirteen juveniles who recently escaped from the New Opportunity Corps. [NOC], have since been recovered. Kaieteur News was informed that three males along with two females, were recovered by the correctional facility yesterday. Further reports indicate that one of the escapees turned himself in, while two were found in abandoned houses within the community. Sources indicate that the escaped youths may have separated from each other. Based on the circumstances in which the escaped juveniles were apprehended, sources are claiming that it would appear that persons are not tolerating them. One source told Kaieteur News that the teens were found hungry. It may be a matter of time before the others turn themselves in.
It is still unclear at this point whether the captured teens have provided any information with regards to the whereabouts of the remaining eight escapees. Last Thursday, ten juveniles whose records ranged from wandering to the possession of an unlicensed firearm, escaped from the NOC correctional facility at Onderneeming. The escape reportedly occurred sometime around 10:00 hrs last Thursday; whilst the teens were attending to chores in the compound. While police were yet searching for Thursday’s escapees, an additional three juveniles escaped the facility on Friday.In the meantime, police continue to patrol the Essequibo backlands and the Region’s ports of entry, in an effort to recapture the remaining eight.
DEM BOYS SEH
Oil money does dry up like how lotto winnings does disappear Two days ago, oil experts warn Guyana not to invest too much on infrastructure, wid de oil money. Nuff of dem projects could tun white elephant as soon as yuh oil dry up. When yuh na gat nutten, no body does watch in yuh direction much less talk to yuh. Dem boys remember the story of man who use to ride a bicycle with his weeding machine on the handle going every day in search of a wuk. Suddenly, he win $105 million lotto. He didn’t got a friend, but from the time people hear he win lotto, he end up wid hundreds of family and friends Even the neighbour who use to turn off ee outside light pon him become ee best buddy. De neighbour begin to call out to dis weeder fuh come out for a drink. De news just gone out dat he win de lotto. Before he collect the winnings people tun up. Some tun up wid de expectation of a raise while others tun up to borrow. One man drive up with his Mercedes Benz and pick him up and carry am to Palm Court. The man buy whiskey and de weeder object. “Ow buddy, all meh life I know bout white rum.” De man tell him, “When yuh got dis kind of money, yuh gotta drink whiskey like me.” The man say yuh can’t live in the shack anymore; yuh guh live in Republic Park like me. After a couple shots, the Mercedes Benz man tell de weeder, he got a house to sell in Republic Park. Everybody in the neighbourhood know the house couldn’t sell for sixteen million but he get the idiot to pay forty eight million. De weeder even sign de property agreement of sale before he collect any lotto money. Anodda man sell he a $3 million sports
car for eight million dollars and before yuh know it, he run bruk. He end up selling de $48 million house fuh $12 million and the car sell fuh $2 million. The lotto money dry up and he deh pon he bicycle with he weeding machine looking fuh wuk again. Many years ago, Trinidad did win the lotto, when dem strike oil. Trinidad build skyscrapers and hotels of all description and models. It put highways from east to West, north to south. Trinidadian was living like Kings and Queens. Dem was even living larger than de Saudis. Today, the oil dry up and soon dem mouth gon dry up to. What the oil experts didn’t tell Guyana is what will become of all the infrastructures Trinidad and Tobago has, today. Eventually, they will become white elephants. And don’t forget dat dem still owe China $3 billion. Dem boys warning Guyana to watch all dem jokers in de PPP, de AFC and de APNU. Watch how dem tekking loan fuh infrastructure and projects; watch who coming fuh lend dem even before dem bring up oil. Mek sure you don’t wake up one morning and hear Soulja Bai and Jagdeo building a highway in Hogg Island and Troolie Island wheh only animals live and people planting farm. After all, when the oil dry up, you, yuh children and grandchildren will have to pay de debt dem jokers gon put we in. Guyana gon end up like de weeder, Trinidad and all dem African oil countries dat gone bruk. Talk half and watch all dem politicians every hour to see what dem building and how dem spending.
By Abena Rockcliffe-Campbell As Guyana moves forward and looks to register its name among the top oil producing countries, there is an utmost need for the companies operating here to share their geological findings with the Government. This will help the country to be in a position of strength. Attorney-at-law, and Oil and Gas Consultant, Charles Ramson, made this point at his recent press conference held at Cara Lodge. Ramson told the media that as it stands any of the seismic work being done or any of the geology work being done is not being made public. Ramson said that this sort of information is currently being held on to by the companies and is, or course, an asset to those companies. Ramson said, “Guyana does not benefit from having that geological information only kept with the company.” Ramson was keen to note, “It should not be the case that we should force companies to relinquish that information immediately but it should be relinquished at some point.” He said that this information is not needed just for record sake; there is more than one benefit of securing the information. Ramson said that very importantly, that sort of information can give the government good bargaining power.
Attorney-at-Law and Oil and Gas Consultant, Charles Ramson The Consultant said, “It is very simple, Governments want investment, they want companies to take up more blocks. How they assess their investments is based on geologicalinformation.”Ramson continued, “Information makes markets function efficiently. The more information you have about your geology and anything else, the more that other companies are able to do their assessments on whether to invest or not. The companies can say, ‘Look, we know what their geology looks like; we know what it is capable of doing and as a result, we are saying we would like to enter into the territory. Ramson said that it is common around the world for
oil companies to give Governments a copy of the geological findings for their areas of exploration in the particular country. He said, “It is common. It is not common to be very aggressive in new territories so I understand the sensitivity. The concern is that we shoot ourselves in the foot without having the disclosure of the information because it is a large swath of block that has been allocated already.” Ramson continued, “In fact, it is the entire north coast of a particular section of Guyana. I have spoken about this already; this block is one of the largest in the world. So after a period of time, you must disclose your geological information.
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Kaieteur News
Sunday September 30, 2018
Parliament yet to sharpen skills to scrutinize oil sector By Kiana Wilburg Parliament—the organ that will have a significant role to play in scrutinizing how the oil money is spent— has made zero moves to prepare itself for the petroleum industry. This was confirmed on Friday with Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs. He told Kaieteur News however, that when the House returns from recess next month, there will be a meeting on this matter. Isaacs said, “Most of my officers are on leave. They all should resume by the end of recess. And at our first meeting of senior staff, the matter is on the agenda for discussion; how we are going to train Members of Parliament (MPs) and train staff; if we will bring in people in the area of financial scrutiny to train staff and MPs together. “After discussing this matter with my staff, I will then move to the Speaker and then to the Parliament Management Committee. But it is on the agenda for discus-
Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs
Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr. Barton Scotland
sion.” He said, too, that the possibility of having a special committee just for oil will also be examined. SCRUTINY NEEDED International Organizations like the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI) have lamented on several occasions, that Guyana’s Parliament needs to ensure that
there is strict oversight of the oil and gas sector. (NRGI is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to improving countries’ governance over their natural resources.) The Institute stressed in one of its briefings that the role of Parliament is crucial to ensuring the country’s oil revenue can be accounted for.
WPA Executive Member, Dr. David Hinds It warned that “the failure of Parliaments to prepare for good governance of the petroleum sector can have farreaching implications for the economy, social development and political stability.” The Institute said that when there is good governance of the oil sector, national wealth increases, there is sustainable development
Chartered Accountant, Chris Ram and the people enjoy some sense of stability. NRGI said that these benefits are more likely to be achieved if all MPs share an understanding of what good governance requires in practice and that they are trained and equipped with all the tools to get the job done. On this note, NRGI said that parliamentarians stressed that MPs need to exercise their oversight role to ensure that good deals are made in the extractive sector. NRGI said, “Through their oversight role, parliamentarians can ensure that all legislation affecting the fiscal elements of oil, gas and mining projects are coherent. Some countries have wrestled with inconsistencies between pieces of legislation. “For example, mining laws and investment promotion laws might each spell out distinct incentives, which together may give away far too much or result in a lack of clarity as to which incentives apply.”In the interest of transparency and accountability, the Organization noted that opposition parliamentarians have a duty to ask the government to provide revenue projections over the life of any major project— particularly when special fiscal exemptions or incentives are granted. It also said that the Opposition MPs should request via the House, a detailed listing of all assumptions (prices, costs, etc.) upon which these projections are based. The Institute asserted, “Over time, legislators should request regular reporting of
revenues the State receives and compare them against these projections.” NRGI stated, too, that there should also be a request for disclosure of all contracts with companies in Parliament. It said that this is pertinent so that parliamentarians can access information about deals, including all the exemptions and incentives offered to companies that may deviate from those contained in generally applicable law. CRITICSAGREE Local critics have also expressed the opinion that the oil and gas sector will require strong oversight from the Parliament. Chartered Accountant, Chris Ram, has said that the ExxonMobil agreement should have been tabled and approved in the National Assembly. He said that this should have been the way forward for all Production Sharing Agreements. “These contracts have long term effects, so what you have is a Minister binding a Parliament or a country for decades. The practice of having Production Sharing Agreements go through the Parliamentary process can be seen in places like Tanzania, Ghana and Nigeria. That is how it should be done, because there are long term effects with these contracts…” The Chartered Accountant said, “What we have before us is proof that this is what should be done. But in addition, I think even the scheme in which the Executive negotiates should be revised…” Executive Member of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), Dr. David Hinds is also in agreement with Ram’s points.Dr. Hinds noted that the oil and gas sector is a defining one and as such, he would recommend that Parliament set up a standing committee on energy. He said that such oversight is necessary, given how much is at stake. Perhaps as a start, the University Professor said, there should be a selected committee to look at what has transpired thus far in relation to the contract and other related issues. He emphasized that such a committee should hold hearings, so that it gets to hear from government operatives and other expert witnesses.
Sunday September 30, 2018
Kaieteur News
PAGE 11
Truck crushes man on Good Hope Public Road
The body of Cyon Saunders being removed from the scene.
The truck that crushed Cyon Saunders
C
yon Saunders, a 40-year-old clothes vendor was crushed by motor lorry GRR 6081 on the Good Hope Public Road, East Coast Demerara (ECD) around 03:30 hours on Saturday morning, while he was walking on the said road. Saunders of lot 101 Melanie Damishana, East Coast Demerara, was walking in the vicinity of KSM Investments on the Good Hope Public Road when he suddenly crossed into the path of the motor lorry owned by China Railway First Group Guyana Inc. and was being driven by a 28-year-old resident of Lot Little Diamond East Bank Demerara. On seeing Saunders walking into his path, the driver immediately applied brakes but Saunders came into contact with the front of the motor lorry. He fell to the ground and was ran over by the motor lorry. When Kaieteur News arrived on the scene, the police were in the process of their investigation and the body was being removed by the undertakers. This publication learnt the driver of the truck,
Crushed to death: Cyon Saunders after seeing the condition of the deceased, abandoned the motor lorry and fled to his residence where he was subsequently arrested by the police. A breathalyzer test was conducted on the driver and the results showed a 0% al-
cohol level in the driver’s blood stream. Saunders’ mother positively identified her son’s body around 15:00 hours yesterday. His wife who lives in French Guiana, is making preparations to come home to make funeral arrangements.
Preparations at advanced stage for 14th Berbice Trade Fair and Expo 2018 Organisers of the Annual Berbice Exposition and Trade Fair, the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce(CCCC), promises to make this year’s event bigger and better than before. This is according to President and Coordinator Mr. Poonai Bhigroog. The exposition is slated to be held from Friday, October 5 to October 8 at the Albion Community Centre from 15:00 hrs to 23:00 hrs. According to Bhigroog, preparations are going at a satisfactorily pace and they are leaving no stones unturned to make this event the showpiece trade activity in the country this year. The event, which is in its 14th year will be a held under theme,
“Advancing Economic Progress through Professional Standards and Entrepreneurship.” Bhigroog stated that the theme this year was strategically chosen, taking a few things into consideration. The opening ceremony will be held on Friday at 17:00 hrs. It is expected to feature an opening address by President his Excellency David Granger. The Chamber president said that the Chamber will try to use the opportunity to help return Berbice to what it was before. The activity this year is being held in collaboration with the Government of Guyana through the Ministries of Business. The expo is being held to
give producers in Berbice and Berbice-based businesses the opportunity to help showcase themselves. It also helps the businesses to get the opportunity to create links and partners with other business outside of the region. According to Bhigroog , there are hardly any spaces left. Some 120 exhibitors have already booked for the show piece event and many more are coming on board. Apart from the regular bevy of Guyanese companies that are expected to be in attendance displaying products of all sorts, some new ones are expected on board while others are returning. Most of the companies plan to have big giveaways at the event.
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Kaieteur News
Sunday September 30, 2018
Electronic database initiated at the Child Care and Protection Agency
The Ministry of Social Protection through the Child Care & Protection Agency launched an electronic Child Protection Information Management System (CPIMS) on Friday, last. The CPIMS is an electronic-based integrated set of processes for the routine collection, analysis, and interpretation of data used in the planning, implementation and evaluation of child protection. The programme is sponsored by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).
The CPA believes that the CPIMS will maximize errors, reduce case management, lead time and facilitate data mining with automated reports. Aside from Guyana joining a number of countries using the Primero software which will help with tracing and tracking through the use of the CPIMS. The Primero software is an open source software platform that helps humanitarian and development workers manage protection-related data, with
tools that facilitate case management, incident monitoring, and family tracing and reunification. Featured in the CPIMS are Digitization procedural forms such as Intake, Risk Assessment, Admission and Referrals Forms, along with others that should form the front end of a database. This database will be mined to auto-generate live reports, dashboards for the automated generation of live statistical reports on intake activity and cases relating to
child abuser and sexual offenders’ registry for in-house viewing, and registry for duly registered daycares. Initially, the CPIMS will focus on bolstering the Intake Department and the work of the South and North Georgetown caseworkers. The CPA has taken measures to address both the demand/supply needs in terms of their services and is placing heavy focus on Child abuse. “Our average caseload is 300+ cases per month and in line with ensuring that we achieve results, we are taking actions to strengthen both our case management and referral systems and introduce a registry (especially one for child abuse).” UNICEF also expressed similar views. “The registry for child abuse cases will also be important in terms of tracking and monitoring cases and informing research to both offer
some prediction and prevention of violence.” The CPA told Kaieteur News that it believes that by advancing technology, it would be able to meet its targets and that the data will be protected. “Access to this data by us will inform our theory of change and evidence to prevent and respond- especially to child sexual abuse. “We believe in innovating and using the technology that we have to meet our targets.” UNICEF also stated that even though the paper-based system has its benefits, it could be the cause of a lot of inefficiencies. “Indeed, while a paperbased system has its benefits it can contribute to delays and inefficiencies and limited performance measure and reporting, given the need to ensure that services are integrated within Ministries and across Ministries.”
The CPA also expounded on the view that the introduction of a registry will allow them to build the evidence on the range of sexual offenses, the profile of offenders and circumstances surrounding cases by being able to expertly and efficiently prioritize cases, reduce bottlenecks in the system and track cases. The CPA expressed its contentment in the launching of this project. “We are happy and excited to see this process off the ground and we are committed to children, we are happy with partnerships and thanks to UNICEF for supporting.” In addition to the CPA’s expression of contentment, UNICEF also extended congratulations to the “CPA and Director Ann Greene for this initiative and critical development” and to the Ministry of Social Protection for getting on board traditional and nontraditional partners who can act to prevent violence. The CPIMS project was seen as the first step in developing a stronger case management and referral system. This is according to Sylvie Fouet (Guyana’s Representative from UNICEF). Fouet said that the CPA will have continuous support from UNICEF to ensure that every child is protected from harm.
Sunday September 30, 2018
Granger still to send formal proposal for discussions with Jagdeo In August, President David Granger expressed an interest in meeting with Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo for bi-lateral talks on issues the two sides determine were of importance. On Thursday, Jagdeo indicated that he was still awaiting a formal correspondence from the President on what areas would be placed on the table for the talks. “The President is supposed to write me formally and I have not received that letter as yet,” Jagdeo stated. Jagdeo has been reluctant to disclose what areas his party wants to be discussed; only pointing out that meetings would be held internally to determine what to place on the agenda. The President had previously indicated that he would like to discuss crime and security, the oil sector and the environment. However, there was no formal approach since. The President himself had indicated to reporters that he would be in a better position to address oil and gas issues once he is briefed in October by the newly established Department of Energy. Both sides have been accused of poorly administering the oil and gas sector with experts who pinpointed lopsided contracts signed with oil major oil companies. Plans for the intended political discussions appeared to have been stalled because the Opposition was opposed to Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo leading the Government’s delegation. Then in July, it was disclosed that former U.S President, Jimmy Carter, spoke with Granger and Jagdeo after plans stalled. The President has since agreed to lead the talks himself, paving the way for the two sides to resume meetings. Among the long-term matters for the two sides is the current configuration of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) known as ‘Carter-Price formula’, which was created by Carter and
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Kaieteur News
Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo (left) and President David Granger have met previously on judicial appointments. former Prime Minister of Belize, George Price. The formula allows for the Opposition and Government to essentially field three Commissioners each, with a Chairman appointed by the President, following consultations with the Opposition Leader. “It’s almost a formula for gridlock. There needs to be a change and like other provisions we need to establish new rules,” said Granger. He noted that no proposal has been made as yet for the reform of GECOM. The President favours a
system where the GECOM Commissioners are appointed via a Parliamentary process, which Jagdeo is opposed to. Granger had faced criticisms when he appointed Justice James Patterson as Chairman of GECOM in October, last, without consensus from Jagdeo. This has sparked a legal challenge from the People’s Progressive Party (PPP). Then there is the longstanding matter of campaign financing legislation, which has not been addressed by either side.
Two Exxon offshore contractors jailed for bribing Govt. officials One of ExxonMobil’s prime contractors is SBM offshore, a Dutch company. Exxon awarded billions of dollars to this firm, so it can build and maintain a Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading Vessel (FPSO) that will operate in the Stabroek Block. But it was only yesterday that the Wall Street Journal reported that two former executives of the Dutch oil-services firm were sentenced to prison for violating U.S. foreign bribery law. The Wall Street Journal reported that Anthony Mace was SBM’s Chief Executive Officer from 2008 to 2011. Mace was sentenced to three years in prison and was ordered to pay a US$150,000 fine. Robert Zubiate, a former SBM Offshore sales executive, received 30 months in prison and has to pay a $50,000 fine. They were sent to prison on Friday. They each pleaded guilty in November 2017 to one count of conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) in connection with a scheme to bribe foreign officials in Brazil, Angola and Equatorial Guinea. The FCPA
bars the use of bribes to foreign officials to get or keep business. Mace had admitted that he continued an existing scheme to pay bribes to officials at state-owned companies in those three countries. He also admitted to deliberately avoiding learning that the payments were bribes. Zubiate admitted that he and his co-conspirators used a third-party sales agent for 16 years to pay bribes to officials at Petróleo Brasileiro SA, known as Petrobras, in exchange for their help in getting contracts for SBM Offshore and its U.S. unit. The Wall Street Journal noted that SBM Offshore
agreed in late November 2017 to pay $238 million to resolve allegations that it had violated the FCPA in its operations in Brazil, Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Kazakhstan and Iraq. In 2014, the company agreed to pay $240 million to Dutch authorities over similar allegations. SBM Offshore separately struck a leniency deal in 2016 with Brazilian authorities, agreeing to pay $341.8 million. Petrobras, for its part, on Thursday struck its own corruption settlement, agreeing to pay $853.2 million to Brazilian and U.S. authorities to resolve one of the largest corruption schemes ever uncovered.
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Kaieteur News
Sunday September 30, 2018
Chinese lenders do not test int’l borrowers for sustainable financing - Study By Kemol King
A
2016 Report on a study done into the sustainability frameworks of Chinese banks has found that the leading Chinese development banks have no proper frameworks to scrutinize their borrowers for sustainable financing. The study, called Emerging Sustainability Frameworks, related the need for lenders, China Development Bank and Ex-Im Bank of China, to hold borrowers accountable for the expend-
ing of their loans in a manner that is in-keeping with socially and environmentally friendly policies, especially as the policies relate to international borrowers. China Development Bank has developed some internal environmental and social financing processes. The bank describes its role as supporting China’s national development strategies while promoting sustainable business management. U n f o r t u n a t e l y, e v e n though CDB professes that
its mandate includes sustainable development policies, these policies and their content are not publicly available, the study reports. The bank has promised not to approve loans until its borrowers have agreed to ensure social and environmental compliance. However, it is unclear how it ensures this compliance, internally. It is also unclear whether these claims are also applicable to foreign borrowers. Ex-Im Bank of China, who has been a prime chess figure
in China’s lending scheme to Guyana, has less environmental and social policies than CDB – “There is limited information regarding how social considerations concretely figure considerations in a loan cycle.” Overseas projects, as with its concessional loans to Guyana, do not have any requirements that would compel the Chinese Bank to test for sustainable financing of the project. The bank can require the inclusion of certain sustainable guidelines in their loan
agreements, but it is unclear whether that is regularly done. The main consideration for Ex-Im Bank when granting loans is having foreign borrowers agree to award contracts to Chinese contractors. The study concluded that “neither CDB nor China Exim has developed institutional accountability mechanisms which the public or civil society groups may access to address cases of potential noncompliance by either the borrower or the bank. “Nor are there independent mechanisms to ensure consistent enforcement and implementation of sustainable finance policies.” It recommends that these banks develop a “formal procedure to increase accountability and transparency,” as it would “enable Chinese banks to better align with international peers and encourage stronger environmental and social compliance from borrowers.” This study was conducted by Friends of the Earth, an in t e r n a t i o n a l network of social and environmental organizations who focus their efforts on the social, political and human rights contexts of environmental issues, and address the economic and development aspects of sustainability. This seeming lack of disregard for how foreign borrowers expend export finances brings China’s lending motives into question since China has come under international scrutiny for its lending methods.
An example of this is the concessional loan agreement of US$138M granted by China Ex-Im to Guyana for the renovation of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport. That loan had been granted since 2012. Earlier this year, The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) froze a US$5M loan to Somalia after just one year, when an audit revealed that no substantial progress could have been demonstrated by the project coordinator. China’s lending methods have forced multiple countries, including Zambia and Greece, to surrender national assets to them after failing t o r e p a y loans. These developments paint a contrast between two banks with drastic a l l y d i f ferent lending schemes. Both banks have conducted business with Guyana and intend to make more finances available to the country in the future. China and Guyana have signed a memorandum of understanding, signaling Guyana’s participation in their Belt and Road Initiative. The IsDB, on the other hand, has made a US$900M resource envelope available to Guyana for the country’s development. China Ex-Im has very lax measures for holding its international borrowers to heel, while IsDB employs more stringent practices to ensure its developing export finance recipients work toward meeting the UN’s sustainable development goals.
Sunday September 30, 2018
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Kaieteur News
High Cour Courtt disposes of 47 criminal cases
Justices Sandil Kissoon, Priya Sewnarine-Beharry and Brassington Reynolds disposed of 47 matters during the June sessions of the Demerara Criminal Assizes. According to information dispersed from the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), the cases were subtracted from a total of 223 cases listed to be heard. The DDP presented twenty-nine cases at the Georgetown High Court while eighteen were nolle prosequi. Of the twenty-nine cases presented, ten were for the offence of murder, three for manslaughter; ten for sexual offences, six for attempt to commit murder; three of which had alternative counts of felonious wounding, robbery with violence and wounding with intent. There were fifteen guilty pleas, nine convictions, two not guilty verdicts by jury, one formal verdict of not guilty and one hung jury. There is still one case pending before Justice Kissoon. State Counsel Lisa Cave, Orinthia Schmidt, Abigail Gibbs, Mandel Moore and Narissa Leander presented nine cases for murder; three for attempt to commit murder and two manslaughter cases were presented before Justice Sandil Kissoon. In seven of the nine murder cases, the accused all pleaded guilty to the lesser of offence of manslaughter. One accused was sentenced to life imprisonment, another two accused were
-records fifteen guilty pleas in June sessions of Demerara Assizes
Justice Brassington Reynolds
Justice Priya Beharry
Justice Sandil Kissoon
each sentenced to twentythree years imprisonment and the four others were respectively sentenced to twelve years, eighteen years, twentyeight years and ten years’ imprisonment. In the other two matters, both accused were found unanimously guilty by jury verdicts and sentenced respectively to forty years and fifty-one years’ imprisonment. Of the two cases for the offence of manslaughter, one accused pleaded guilty to the offence and was sentenced to seven years imprisonment. The other accused was sentenced to fifteen years after the jury returned a majority verdict of ten guilty to two not guilty. Of the three matters for
attempt to commit murder, one accused was sentenced to life imprisonment after the jury returned a majority verdict of eleven guilty to one not guilty. One other accused pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentence on October 11; while the trial Judge is expected to sum up the one other trial on Monday, 1st October. State Counsel Tiffini Lyken, Narissa Leander and Abigail Gibbs prosecuted one matter for rape of a child under 16 years before Justice JoAnn Barlow. The accused in this matter was remanded back to prison after the jury failed to reach a verdict. State Counsel Orinthia
Schmidt and Lisa Cave presented nine matters for sexual offences before Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry. Of the nine matters, five were for the offence of rape of a child under 16 years, three for the offence of sexual activity with a child family member and one other rape mat-
ter. Of the nine matters, seven accused were sentenced to life imprisonment while one other accused was sentenced to eighteen years’ imprisonment. The complainant in another one matter testified that she did not wish to proceed with the matter and the trial judge directed the jury to return a formal verdict of not guilty. State Counsel Seeta Bishundial, Tiffini Lyken and Narissa Leander presented five cases before Justice Brassington Reynolds. Of the five cases, one was for the offence of murder, three for attempt to commit murder with alternative counts of felonious wounding and wounding with intent and another one matter for the offence of manslaughter. In the one murder trial, the accused was acquitted by a unanimous jury verdict. In one of the three trials for attempt to commit murder, the accused was also acquitted by a unanimous jury ver-
dict. In another case, the accused pleaded guilty and was sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment. The accused in the one other matter will be sentenced on October 8. In the one matter for the offence of manslaughter, the accused was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment. Of the eighteen matters nolle prosequi by the DPP, seventeen were for Sexual Offences and one for the offence of attempt to commit murder. In the seventeen matters for Sexual Offences, 11 complainants’ submitted statements in which they stated their wish not to proceed with the evidence. The other six complainants failed to attend court despite public notices being published for them. In the one matter for the offence of attempt to commit murder, the complainant also indicated in a written statement that she did not wish to proceed with the evidence in her matter.
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Sunday September 30, 2018
Kaieteur News
After birthday crash claims second life
Centenarian Springer is 105
The scene of last Friday accident, which has now taken two lives. 25-year-old Mikhail Punch, a resident of Lot 33 Middle Street, Sparendaam, East Coast Demerara (ECD), is the second victim to succumb to his injuries after being involved in a recent accident on the Liliendaal Public Road, ECD. The crash occurred minutes after picking up Isaiah Corlette and his girlfriend who were celebrating Corlette’s birthday on the Plaisance Line Top. Punch who was the driver of motorcar PWW 676, that crashed killing Corlette instantly in the wee hours of Friday morning, succumbed to his injuries sometime around 03:00 hours yesterday at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, where he was admitted. The accident which occurred around 02:10 hours on Friday morning, happened moments after Punch picked-up Corlette and his girlfriend who were on the Plaisance Line Top Guinness bar where they were celebrating Corlette’s birthday.One man who was driving in the area said that the car with the trio sped past him and he had wondered if the occupants were being pursued.The driver said moments later, he drove up to see that the car
Springer surrounded by daughter Hazel David, grandsons Kenneth Springer, Rudolph Springer and niece
Dead: Mikhail Punch had crashed.He recalled seeing a badly damaged lamppost and suspected that the occupants had crashed into it.Others recalled hearing a loud impact and then seeing three persons lying on the parapet near a wrecked and overturned car.Corlette’s girlfriend remains in a critical condition at the GPHC, in the ICU.
By- Tracey T. Squires Dressed in yellow, a colour that signifies fortitude and positivity, Ismay Springer a 105 year- old centenarian sat and reflected upon her existence on the earth. Yesterday, Miss Springer celebrated her 105th birthday surrounded by both family and friends. Born on September 29, 1913, Ismay Springer was the eighth child to humble parents. Her upbringing was a simple one, void of modern luxuries or anything more than needed. Minute provisions in her childhood home did not bother her as she was taught the concept of contentment, a concept that she later instilled into her nine children, six of whom are alive. Springer during her younger years took on a variety of jobs to assist her husband, Bertie Springer, who was a cane farmer. She was enamored with her job as a mother. Her daughter, Hazel David, a retired teacher, explained that their home was not financially perfect, but food and love were always there. Ms. David related that she and her siblings were always happy; they did not yearn for excessive luxuries, they were contented, as their mother had taught them to be. The younger Springer would do domestic jobs to assist the family with added income. The centenarian, still poised and fresh, smiled as her daughter recounted her experiences as a child. David emphasized on the simplicity in which her mother would live life. She credits that attitude for her mother’s longevity. When asked about the most impactful event in her years, Springer’s daughter explained that her mother was
Ismay Springer at 105 years old devastated with the death of her husband. Springer’s husband who died 30 years ago was the main breadwinner of the family. She saw an uncertain future, her daughter explained. In reality, it was actually the very opposite. Her children who had become adults, did not forget the love that their mother poured out so selflessly over the years. They surrounded her with the very love that she gave without expecting a thing in return. Springer mothered children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and greatgreat grandchildren. Springer’s daughter explained that her mother, who was active up until her eyesight started to give her problems, would go to the market each day to prepare her food at home. This, David says, her mother’s value of simpler
things is what she has to credit for her long life. Five years ago, Springer celebrated her 100th birthday. Nevertheless, she disclosed to her daughter’s husband that she did not feel as if she had lived for 100 years. She then further explained to him that it felt as if it was only yesterday that she was just a little girl going to school. Ismay Springer who is a member of Plaisance Church of God, sees her spirituality as essential for longevity. She recounted her prayers as a young girl for a husband who would be good to her, a prayer that God answered. A line taken from renowned poet Emily Dickenson -‘Tis centuries and yet, feels shorter than a day’ is enough to grasp Ismay Springer’s perspective on her more than a century long existence.
Sunday September 30, 2018
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Kaieteur News
---Hinds’ Sight by Dr. David Hinds---
Local Government Elections: Less about communities and more about National Parties
This past week, the country had to endure the back and forth among the parties contesting the upcoming local government election over the validity of their respective candidates’ list. The exchange between the PPP and the AFC was especially sharp. I had opined a few months ago that the PPP would not allow the AFC to campaign in Indian Guyanese communities. The apparent overt pressure on Indian Guyanese to steer clear of the AFC, including denying that party signatories and candidates, seems to be part of that scenario that I predicted. The campaign would be brutal. In a sense, these elections are anything but local. They are driven by the national parties. Scores would be settled. Muscles would be
flexed. Yes, local government elections in November would not be about people in their communities. There are fewer independent candidates this time around. Some independents of 2016 are now on the parties’ slates. The turnout could be as low or even lower than in 2016. Local democracy would not be enhanced. In November, we would not be electing community representatives to govern their communities. Instead, we would be electing local party representatives whose allegiance would be to the party rather than to the people in the communities. So long as parties insist on dominating local government elections, such elections would not be democratic in the deep sense of the term. The outcome would be
the will of the parties rather than the will of the people in their communities. In the past, we had no local government elections. Today, we have elections, but they are flawed. But flawed as those elections in November would be, they would be important for national politics. I am arguing that these elections would tell us whether the AFC still has mass support, which in turn would tell us what an APNU+AFC Coalition could look like in 2020. The elections would also tell us the extent to which the Indian Guyanese community has returned to PPP orthodoxy. Finally, we would get a sense of African Guyanese political attitude to the government. This rest of this column zeroes in on the AFC. I am contending that for the AFC,
The Baccoo Speaks It has not escaped notice that there was a mad rush by people to exit the world. Just last week the media highlighted some of the worst fatal accidents to occur in the country yet people continued with their reckless behaviour. Such madness is not yet over. Another road fatality would be recorded on the eastern part of the country. ** A man is going to attempt to sexually assault a child but
the community will not respond kindly. As soon as word gets out the community ill attack the man with fatal consequences.
The police would mount an investigation and suddenly discover a link between a recent death following an alleged rape. ** Increasingly people do not want to work. Yet there are comments about a paucity of jobs. A department is going to advertise a number of jobs but suddenly the reality would hit that most people seeking jobs are not qualified for them.
these elections are less about representing people and more about the party’s standing going into the 2020 elections. The PPP despises the AFC, because the AFC is seen as a group of Indian Guyanese, which joined with the PPP’s arch-enemy to throw the Indian Guyanese party out of office. In Guyana’s ethnically divided politics, such an offence is unpardonable. The PPP will never rest until it decimates the AFC. And this upcoming local government election presents the PPP with the perfect opportunity to begin to do so. The AFC obviously anticipated this outcome. Hence, its concerted effort to cover itself by trying to contest the election as part of a coalition with the APNU. It is now open knowledge that the APNU had other ideas— a weakened AFC would decrease its bargaining power in 2020. And there are elements in the AFC who welcomed the APNU’s snub— for them it gives the party a chance to prove its independence. They reasoned that the AFC still has considerable
electoral support and it needs to demonstrate this in clear terms. It’s a big risk for the AFC. If it does well, all will be well for the party. First, it would demonstrate its viability in the face of extreme criticism of its uncritical attitude within the governing Coalition. Second, it would represent a sound defeat of the PPP on its own turf. Third, and most importantly, it would be a serious blow to the APNU’s tactic to expose the AFC’s electoral vulnerability. That would mean that the AFC would enter negotiations over the spirit and content of an updated Cummingsburg Accord with even more leverage than it had prior to the 2015 election. But if the AFC falters, the opposite of the above scenario would be true. The party would survive, since it is in government. And in any case, parties don’t die because they lack electoral support. However, its role in the next APNU+AFC Coalition would be greatly diminished. The PNC would be guaranteed a larger chunk of the slate and the potential spoils of office. So, the AFC would be cut
Dr David Hinds down to size and the PNC would be elevated to its right size. But that would mean that the Coalition would become a farce. The PNC would become de facto and de jure “big brother.” Could such a Coalition be as attractive as the one of 2015? I doubt it. Ironically, a poor showing at the local government election could spell doom for the Coalition. The APNU’s tactic could well backfire—cut the AFC down to size but in the process diminish the notion of Coalition. 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 website www.guyanacaribbeanpolitics.news. Send comments to dhinds6106@aol.com
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Sunday September 30, 2018
Kaieteur News
Ex-sugar workers barely scraping to survive Kevin Singh and the children at home The humble home of Melissa Sinclair and her family
By Malisa Playter Harry
W
hen you hear the words poverty and hardships, the two have always accompanied each other but while it may be just words for some, it has become a harsh reality for many. It was a visit to the homes of some of the now unemployed sugar workers in Skeldon that this publication saw the circumstances some of the ex-workers are forced to endure. A shaken wooden structure with a hole in the floor is home to seven, including an elder suffering from a stroke and four children. Inside, there is a stained sponge for the four children and their parents to rest. It was two visible cases of what poverty has done for the unemployed adults. Melissa Sinclair, 25 of Number 77 Village, with her one year old infant tucked on her hips and her three, six and eight year olds walking beside her, took us to her home in the housing scheme where she said she began building “piece by piece” with her husband when they were working at the Skeldon Sugar Factory. She added that since she and her husband received their severance letters and half of
their payments, it has been a struggle to get by daily. Upon arrival at her home, what stood out was the small, unpainted wooden structure that had a zinc sheet nailed across the window and a step that could be described as a ladder leading to a door-less building with tattered and torn fabrics hanging as curtains. To get into the house was a struggle, with Sinclair’s older children assisting their three year old sister up while their mother clutched their one year old sister in her arms and kneeled her way up the ‘treaders’. Inside the house had only a rugged, stained sponge to sleep on, a kerosene stove and a gasoline container nearby along with a visible hole in the flooring that was covered with a plyboard. She sat on her make-shift step as she relayed how difficult it has been for her, her husband and their children since losing her job at the sugar factory. A typical day for her she said starts early, preparing whatever there is available to eat for her husband and children while she eats nothing, “just fuh mek sure they get enough, I does most times don’t eat in the morning”. They may be lucky enough to
get a second meal at dinner if her husband “catches his hand at a lil wuk” during the day but it is the neighbours and people that assist with clothing, food and money on many days. According to Sinclair, she worked in the fertilizer gang at the Skeldon Factory and was building “piece by piece” but since being laid off, works on the building has seized since whatever finances accumulated had to be converted to home use for the family. There is no toilet and bathroom she said but added that they would utilize the neighbours latrine while they have baths in the night and before sunrise, downstairs in the yard. She stressed that the situation has also taken a toll on her marriage, causing constant fights in the home “because things just na guh right, if dem children sick and you kerr dem hospital, sometime dem na get the drugs and you got to go buy it but then we na get the money so we can’t buy the drugs for me sick children.” Sinclair said that added with medical expenses, she still has to send her children to school, “sometimes, we does got to beg for money and borrow but if me got to do that and eat salt and rice I
gon do it until me can get a job and me husband can get a stable job”. According to her, her children stayed away for two weeks when school re-opened because they did not have school clothing, bags, shoes and books. She revealed that her dream is to one day live in a home that is comfortable for her family but her dream was put on hold when she and her husband lost their jobs. Sinclair added that she is willing to accept guidance on ways of improving her life and if possible assistance to get her on her feet. Meanwhile, just a few streets away in the same village lives another ex-worker who lives with his father who suffers from a stroke, his two children below the ages of 10, his two nephews also under 10 and one of his brothers. A home circle of seven and no-one is employed. Kevin Singh, 31, who worked as a Cap Stand Operator at the Skeldon Factory for over 12 years, said he received his severance letter and his severance owed to him but life has been a constant battle.
His father, age 66, suffering from a stroke to him being tasked with the responsibility to take care of everyone in the household since the mother of his children left and his nephews had no-one to take care of them, with their father working at sea as a fisherman and their mother is absent. Singh said his mother assisted with taking care of the children while he ventured out to seek a job but since she passed a few weeks ago, it has been a “rollercoaster” for him. They currently survive on his father’s pension while he searches for a job to cushion the financial burdens. Their home on the inside had no bedrooms but only a stained mattress on a rusted bed frame, a makeshift kitchen counter, a television and a crooked dresser. There, the four children sat gleefully and quiet watching cartoons. According to Singh, “it is really tough because whatever little we have we got to utilize it because we can’t save, the kids dem got to go to school. When my father get
his pension, I does use it to buy the month groceries for we and that is what bringing we up all the time.” He added that vacancies for jobs are scarce and would often times push him to work odd jobs, such as weeding and the cleaning of drains. He revealed that the situation has taken a toll on him mentally because “without a job, four kids and my father to take care of, it real rough. It does hurt me when dem kids does wake up in the night sometimes and seh dem hungry; it frustrating.” As Singh spoke, his stroke stricken father was in tears, listening to his son speak of his struggles. The ex-worker explained that his only desire is to have a stable job to assist with the finances. Meanwhile, other ex-workers took to the streets in front of the Skeldon Sugar Factory last week to protest for the remainder of their severance payments. Many expressed that they are finding it very difficult to find jobs and to sustain their livelihood while some said they practically live on one meal per day.
Sunday September 30, 2018
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Kaieteur News
==THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN==
Can the moral morass of any society run so deep?
O
ne of the instincts that inhere in humans is the purposeful reaction to life’s glaring depravities. Humans are shocked to the core when a little child is raped, a doctor’s neglect causes a baby’s death, a law enforcement officer/judicial official takes a bribe, a restaurant attendant is ill treated by an uncouth millionaire, a policeman brutalizes an innocent driver, the coffee lady is treated by her boss as if she is a slave, a wild youth pushes aside a blind, old lady on the roadway, and the list goes on. Once humans lose that natural instinct to revolt a g a i n s t l i f e ’s s h o c k i n g misdeeds, then, civilization is in trouble. In countless polemics in these columns, I have outlined my complete numbness at the extent to which we have lost our collective soul in this country. I t i s i m p o s s ible to imagine it if you come from an era where that soul was the epitome of empathy and spiritual generosity. There is no specific date one can refer to as to when Guyanese lost their inherent capacity to understand what is injustice and human cruelty. But it no longer inheres in them. There must be at least a quantum of sentiments still alive in any society that could be invoked when blatant wrong-doing occurs. What is taking place in this country is so unimaginable, unbelievable, and inconceivable that it calls
into question whether the society is not dead. There are some people out there who lament the contract of Exxon oil investment as if Guyana will die tomorrow if the contract isn’t renewed, as if Guyana will not survive once Exxon starts pumping oil. You read these people’s writings and there is the definite conclusion that the oil contract is so bad that it is the only vice that presently occupies Guyana and therefore it is the only thing to talk about. You read what these people have to say on Exxon and you cannot escape their conclusion that you must get on board because nothing else negative, bad, unworthy is happening in Guyana. True, the Exxon contract is far from being a virtuous transaction but should we make it the obsession that others have to the point of exclusion of so many other depravities. My emphasis is on the “exclusion of other depravities.” If my memory serves me right, Guyana has been a traumatic place fighting for survival long before they found oil. What happened to those destructive things that we should be writing about? Fair enough - the oil contract necessitates debate and should be continuous but do we have a one dimensional mind that only Exxon is worth denouncing? Aren’t there other vices to denounce that are a vexation to the soul of this country? The answer is yes and these things are many. One writer who
pontificates often on the Exxon investment actually quotes from the law to prove that a policeman can stop your vehicle when requested. No one has responded to such a frightening opinion, which is more deleterious to the future of Guyana than the lopsided Exxon contract. These are the questions we must discuss constantly. A society is bound to fail if a policeman without the relevant circumstances or the exigent context has the power to stop a vehicle. If what this writer says is in fact the law, then let’s downgrade the Exxon debate
and champion changing that law which is far more dangerous that the profits Exxon will take out of Guyana. There is no question in my mind the laws of a country should empower a policeman to stop a vehicle. But should the law allow him to do without conditions? So arbitrary police behaviour, according to this commentator, is enshrined into the law? If that is so, I want to discuss that more than the Exxon contract. No human indignity moves the people of this country. I will end with the
education system. I wrote that my daughter topped her class at UG in her second year and was given an award; the sum was G$845. In today’s Guyana, that is $4US. In today’s Guyana, a flash drive that students use cost much more. In today’s Guyana, any book that a UG student needs will cost more. It was better to award a plaque or a famous book but certainly not G$845. The man who heads the organization that gave the money wrote a letter and justified the amount and even observed that parents gave
Frederick Kissoon praise for receiving that sum in the past. To date, in a country whose university must have produced dozens of thousands of students, no one has seen the obligation to discuss that paltry sum of G$845. What a dead country!
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Kaieteur News
Sunday September 30, 2018
Love for country comes first
T
he Opposition People’s Progres sive Party (PPP) is showing signs of discomfort as reported by the residents in a few Local Government electoral districts. This is the same party that has been accusing the government of planning to rig both the 2018 Municipal Elections and the big one that is due in 2020! But we have been observing along the campaign trail in the run-up to the November polls that the very same opposition who has been crying and woofing about election rigging is being openly accused of political skullduggery. For instance, several residents of Ithaca, West Bank Berbice, have accused PPP activists of engaging in unconstitutional activities like placing their given names on the Candidates’ Voter Scrolls in their village. There are others who told
the AFC that they would not vote again (or never for some) for any party with such a bad world reputation as one of the most corrupt Governments in the western hemisphere. The AFC now asks our Readers and supporters to take note of the fact that despite all the shouting and mudslinging, the PPP has never been able to prove that any other party has had the temerity to pull off the things that they got away with for 23 years. They have accused the Coalition of doing the same things they did, but those claims fell flat. The people are confident that the Coalition has absolutely no intention of cheating. We are not setting the stage to falsify documents, ballot papers, voters’ lists, ballot counts … none of what the PPP did so blatantly in the past two general elections. Late last week, the leader-
ship of the AFC came out quite strongly to condemn the opposition party for practicing their age old, dirty tricks and tactics, their bullyism and threats to residents living in parts of East Berbice. The party executive visited and we were shown the evidence to support the credible reports of intimidation by PPP activists of many AFC Local Government candidates and supporters. These PPP people visited GECOM’s offices and actually made requests for the AFC’s candidates’ names to be removed as signatories. It was shocking to see the lengths these people are going to in order to disqualify the popular AFC candidates, and we had to expose them publicly. Every Guyanese knows that the PPP is frustrated at being unable to control the regions they see as belonging to them. They are frus-
…PPP WILL NOT BULLY OUR CANDIDATES INTO CHANGING SIDES trated that they are no longer in control of the reins of power, and so they are not able to pillage and plunder the nation’s treasury as they used to so. Today, they see opportunity in abundance ahead of them with the revenues that Guyana stands to earn from oil (and gas) after 2020, and they will go to any length to get their hands on it. Against this background, and with a bright future for Guyana at stake, the AFC is preparing itself for a PPP onslaught like Guyana has never seen before. We anticipate that they will rachet up the dirty tricks campaigns and launch horrifying personal attacks everywhere including Region 4. They have even attempted to discredit the Executive President and his entire Cabinet. That has not worked, but we will not rest. We expect much more from them because the PPP and its current leaders cannot afford to lose another election. Their personal futures are at stake. Their past predilections are ample indicators. As ministers, department and agency heads and acolytes, they had become very used to living like kings and
queens. Now, without the backing of Government funds, kickbacks, drawbacks, ill-gotten gains, the parallel narcoticsfuelled economy, the use and ownership of national assets like Pradoville 2 and private jets, they have no intention of continuing to live at the level of ordinary Guyanese, highly educated or not. The lure of the high life is very strong for them. Recently, PPP activists on the so-called Freedom Radio have been encouraging their callers to make scandalous allegations, some resembling the one about ethnic cleansing that they jumped on after losing the 2015 elections. As is traditional in that party, the PPP continues to appeal to East Indian racist supremacy (yes, we have our own in Guyana). But we digress from the PPP’s campaign of bullyism and intimidation. In a recent statement, we said that the PPP continues to try to sabotage Guyana’s fragile democracy, and they proved it by refusing to hold Local Government Elections since 1994. From 2014 to present, PPP activists have engaged in verbal abuse, blatant threats and
senseless victimization of persons who have been supporting the AFC. So, we have lodged our complaints and observations with GECOM and asked the body to publish the list of candidates for every political party for everybody to see. We are aware that the publication of the lists allows the PPP to identify the AFC’s candidates and they will try to intimidate them and their families. Party Chairman and Vice President Khemraj Ramjattan identified Whim and nearby areas in the Corentyne as Ground Zero for PPP coercion. He said that the PPP is clearly afraid of the AFC’s challenge, and that they are trying to use our party to discredit GECOM, the LGE and national elections. The AFC will be fielding more than 400 candidates for posts all across the country. Many of the people who are AFC candidates are independent thinkers who are more interested in making this country better than it has ever been. They could be exposed to PPP bullyism and intimidation but love for country comes first!
Sunday September 30, 2018
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Kaieteur News
My column
Foresight caused the birth of NIS
F
orty-nine years ago, Prime Minister Forbes Burnham conceived the idea that there should be a National Insurance Scheme. Whatever sparked the idea I would never know because the thought process was not documented. I do remember the protest from the political opposition that Burnham was taking money from the poor people. The complaint that Burnham was taxing the masses beyond their capability was taken up. Contribution to the scheme was compulsory. Back when actual contributions began in October 1969 every contributor was given a card to accommodate his every contribution. At a glance a person could know how many contributions he or she had made. It was not long before the scheme became a norm but there had to be changes. Inflation saw an increase in contributions by both the employer and the contributor. The complaints continued. I don’t remember when the cards disappeared. However, the scheme kept the records. There were many people with the same name, differentiated only by their dates of birth but it was up to the staff of the Scheme to get the right contributions placed in the records of the right person. It
goes without saying that human error led to mistakes. By then there were files which were stored in rooms, piles and piles of files. As time moved on these files had to be transferred to a more convenient form. Computers had arrived and soon entries were made on computers. But there were files that had to be computed. I remember when Chairman of the Board, Dr Roger Luncheon announced that the computerization had begun. But by then some files had deteriorated. The pages had become fragile because Guyana has never been able to properly secure documents. I remember going to the archives and seeing valuable documents lying on the floor. I saw a letter written by Coffy to the governor of Amsterdam. I saw the first edition of New Nation. There were priceless documents in the archives. At the time it was housed on Main Street. I am certain some of those documents have been lost forever. It was the same with archival material at what was then known as the Guyana Film Centre. It made films back then. There were many that captured Guyana as it was then but sadly, after 1992, poor storage saw most of them disappearing forever. Some of the files at the NIS
suffered the same fate. But fortunately most were saved. Today, some people who have attained the age of sixty still have problems with their contributions. Some of them are requested to get testimonials to support their claim of employment at certain locations. What was amazing was that the same scheme that was seen as an unnecessary tax on the people became a cash cow for many. Dr. Luncheon approved loans to businessmen who repaid at a relatively low interest rate. Indeed, the scheme needed to invest its money if it had to make payments to the aging population and invest it did. There were those who sought to milk the scheme but a change in government meant that they had to pay back the money they borrowed. Today, thousands of contributors have something to look forward to now that their active working days are over. Maternity mothers get money for the period they are off the job; injured workers get something to keep them going. There was a time when cane farmers mutilated themselves to access NIS money. Some capitalised on situation until they were caught and prosecuted. I am a beneficiary. Whenever I need a pair of spectacles the Scheme helps with some
of the cost. Indeed I get a pension, too. But it is not all well. Scarcely a day goes by without someone complaining about problems with accessing money due to them. It all goes back to the records, some of which have disappeared and some to lazy workers who could not take the time to go through dusty files. The one good thing is that there is a General Manager who is very accommodating. She insists that everyone gets his entitlement. She has to take into consideration
that the scheme is operating at a deficit, helped in part by investments with Clico made by the previous government. The present administration is replacing the lost money but the scheme is still running at a deficit. Many people do not contribute because they fail to see the long term benefit. Forbes Burnham did but they do not. It is not until old age steps in that they experience regret. The closure of some sugar estates has also impacted the scheme. There are private enterprises that must make con-
Adam Harris tributions but many do not. The management of the scheme is reluctant to pursue the legal option but one thing is clear, business is not friendly society.
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Kaieteur News
Sunday September 30, 2018
Guyana must be packaged as a serious agricultural player
O
n October 16, World Food Day will be observed. This year’s event will be observed under the theme, “Our actions today are our future. A zero-hunger world by 2030 is possible”. The official World Food Day (WFD) ceremony on 16th October at the Food and Agriculture Organisation [FAO] headquarters will be an opportunity for leaders and key global players in the drive to achieve Zero Hunger and
eliminate malnutrition. The FAO’s objective is to remind the world that Zero Hunger is still possible if we can come together and take account of lessons learned, best practices and all evidence available. The campaign will raise the alarm over recently increased hunger figures and call on countries and other stakeholders to get back on track. A recent report published by the Commission on Trade and Development states that
‘small scale farming is the answer to feeding the World’. FAO has stated that agricultural production must increase by 60 percent globally to meet the food demands that will be required to feed the 9.2 billion people, who will inhabit our planet in 2050. In order to guarantee this result, it will be essential to ensure that farmers, especially small rural and hinterland farmers, have access to infrastructure, credit and functioning markets. Small farmers also need
to have access to science and technology, innovation and knowledge, which are essential for the development of the agricultural sector. Guyana therefore, must be packaged as a serious agricultural player. A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) is on record advocating for the support of small – scale farmers and the creation of strong local food systems, nationally. It is our belief that a fundamental consideration for the future success of our agricultural sector must be the effectiveness of the decision-making structure from the highest level and its consequential vertical impact. We must work to create, in Guyana a flexible broadbased, integrated and environmentally sensitive agricultural sector that will meet the demands of the domestic, regional and international markets. We must create sustainable enterprises through the application of cost-effective management of traditional and modern technologies, in order to increase the volume and quality of diversified agricultural produce. We must establish programmes for technical and financial support; improved land tenure arrangements; meaningfully
involve our young men and women in the sector; and disseminate knowledge and skills to farmers and other organisations and individuals through efficient extension services. Cash crop farmers have been leaving the land because of poor drainage. Intensive and urgent action must be taken to rehabilitate/expand as necessary, current drainage and irrigation deficiencies, especially the Demerara and Potaro rivers, but including the Mahaica and Abary rivers and the Lama Conservancy management. The hinterland regions of Guyana (Regions 1, 7, 8, 9, 10) cover 76.62 percent of the country’s land mass. The population, mostly indigenous people, is about 113,000; 15 percent of the population. Our vision is for all hinterland communities to be food secure. A food security policy for the hinterland will also result in savings in transportation costs for staples in many hinterland households thus reducing the cost of living. Traditionally, the nine indigenous peoples of Guyana met their food needs through subsistence agriculture, hunting and fishing. However, with the upsurge in mining
and, to a lesser extent, logging contiguous to many of their communities, these traditional food sources have been severely compromised by environmental degradation and habitat loss. To compound matters, young men especially have been leaving their villages for more lucrative jobs in mining and forestry. The result has been an increase in hinterland poverty, especially in villages and communities distant from Regional centres. This trend must be reversed by building and sustaining a vibrant and regionspecific agricultural sector. Over the next five years, government policy will promote environmentally sensitive food production systems based on agricultural diversification, water management and efficient land use along with the establishment of wellresourced extension services to facilitate technology adaption, especially by small farmers. New agro-industries must emerge. Traditional cattle rearing must be placed on a scientific footing to take advantage of the international demand for ‘organic’ beef, while the nascent sheep and goat rearing enterprises will be strengthened to address the dietary animal protein needs in villages (in the first instance, as flocks are built up to meet local and Caricom demands for sheep and goat meat). The Intermediate savannahs, Upper Demerara and Berbice Regions, long touted as the ‘next frontier for agricultural development’, can effectively be used for integrated industrial crop and livestock production and agro-processing. The focus must be on the production of substantial portions of the local and regional food needs. Small farmers must be encouraged and given incentives to return to the land. Regional Agricultural Institutes must be built. A modern Agricultural Research and Development Institute must be a priority. This will not only have regional, but also a national remit to address the production concerns of small and medium scale operators, who do not have the resources to conduct their own on-farm research and technological innovations. With its bountiful waterways, rich arable lands and favourable environmental conditions, Guyana can produce quality, safe food that will be in urgent demand in the coming years, to feed an ever-growing world population.
Sunday September 30, 2018
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Kaieteur News
Bipolar Disorder: When your mind takes you to the extremes By Dr Zulfikar Bux Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine
W
e all may have mood swings from time to time. A person with bipolar disorder unfortunately has them regularly in their daily life. Bipolar disorder is a mental illness that causes extreme mood swings. Other names are manic depression or manic-depressive illness. People of all ages, male or female, can have it. It is estimated that up to 2.4 percent of the world population would be affected it at some point in their life. There are different kinds of bipolar disorder. They vary based on your symptoms and how often and sudden you have mood swings, or episodes. Today we will shed some light on it. What are symptoms of bipolar disorder? Most people with mood swings do not have bipolar disorder. However, intense mood swings are the main sign that shows in someone
who does have it. At times, you may feel very happy, full of energy, and able to do anything. This can make you excited and unable to rest. This is called mania. At other times, you may feel very sad and alone. This can be painful and make you not want to do anything. This is called depression. People who have bipolar disorder alternate between mania and depression. It is possible to have symptoms of both at the same time. Your mood swings may be frequent and short, or spread out and last a while. Other signs of mania include: · feeling powerful and important · feeling excited · feeling irritated or sensitive · having trouble focusing · not sleeping well or at all · being more active than usual · spending a lot of money · abusing alcohol and drugs · doing risky or reckless
things, including sexual acts · thinking and talking so fast that other people can’t follow your thoughts. Other signs of depression include: · no interest or pleasure in things you used to enjoy, including sex · feeling sad or numb · crying easily or for no reason · feeling slowed down · feeling tired all of the time · feeling hopeless, worthless, or guilty · losing or gaining weight · having trouble focusing, remembering, or making decisions · having headaches, backaches, or digestive problems · having trouble sleeping or wanting to sleep all of the time · having thoughts about death and suicide. What causes bipolar disorder? Bipolar disorder may be caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. Genetics may be a factor. You have a greater chance of getting bipolar disorder if it runs in your
family. How is bipolar disorder diagnosed? Talk to your doctor if you think you have bipolar disorder. The doctor can do a physical exam and mental assessment. People who have bipolar disorder seek care when they are depressed more often than when they’re manic. This can make it hard to diagnose the condition correctly. Be prepared to share all of your symptoms, health, and family history. You may consider taking a family member or loved one. A correct diagnosis gives you the best chance at getting helpful treatment. How is bipolar disorder treated? Some people who have bipolar disorder don’t want to get treatment or don’t think they need it. Some people think they can get better on their own. Often, they don’t realize how much it affects their lives and the lives of the people around them.
Visiting a Psychiatrist or a doctor experienced in treating bipolar disorder is your best bet. The goal will be to balance your emotions and help you stay well. Bipolar disorder is treated with medicines to stop the mood swings. Mood stabilizers can even out the highs and lows in your mood. Antidepressant medicine can help reduce the symptoms of depression. Your doctor may add other medicines, based on your other symptoms or as you need them. The medicines may not start to work right away. You should start to notice a difference in your moods after a few weeks. It’s important to get counseling if you have bipolar disorder. This is a big part of treatment. It can help you with stress, concerns, and relationship problems.
Dr. Zulfikar Bux Persons with bipolar disorder tend to realize how valuable treatment and support is to them once they stick to it. They start to develop a daily routine that helps to minimize flare ups. There is no quick fix with bipolar disorder. Working with your doctor to find a plan that works for you is your best bet.
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Sunday September 30, 2018
SUNDAY Greenidge signs deal with China, then dodges media The Government has not disclosed details of a loan agreement signed Saturday between Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge, and China’s State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wang Yi. At a ceremony at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Greenidge delivered remarks after signing the agreement, but made no mention of the total amount in loan funds Government committed taxpayers to. Greenidge said that the funds are to implement the Guyana National Broadband Project and several other projects, including a Public Service College. He did not state how the funds are to be divided among the projects and what were the ‘several other projects’. Following the speeches, the two Foreign Affairs Ministers shook hands for the cameras and exited the room without giving reporters an opportunity to ask questions. Kaieteur News sought to approach Greenidge to provide information as he exited the Centre, but he muttered with a raised hand that he was late for another engagement. He entered his vehicle and left. Information suggests that the funding for the broadband project is US$52M. In place of Greenidge not engaging the media, staff of the Foreign Affairs Ministry approached journalists following the signing to inquire what information was being sought. This was considered woefully unacceptable by some journalists. The Ministry, too, initially failed to provide details about the monies involved in the loan agreement and the additional projects identified to receive funding from, China. Late Saturday afternoon, Ministry officials disclosed that there were three agreements – a framework agreement of a concessional loan of US$36.4M under which the Guyana National Broadband project falls; an agreement on economic and technical cooperation of US$14.5M to fund several projects, including the Public Service College. The Ministry did not state what other projects were involved. Local politicians should take a page out of Rowley’s book; get a better contract for your people- Hinds Chartered Accountant, Nigel Hinds, is one of the few Guyanese who have not given up on the prospect of the nation securing a better contract
with oil giant, ExxonMobil. The recent utterances of the Trinidadian Prime Minister, Keith Rowley to the effect that no contract is set in stone and should always benefit both parties, is something with which Hinds “absolutely agrees”. Asked to share how his country is going about the renegotiation of oil contracts and how Guyana might learn from this, the TT Prime Minister said that while he would not want to give “public advice” to his colleague, President David Granger, it is a fact that Trinidad has been in the oil business for ages. He said that much of what Trinidad has engaged in is what Guyana will soon have to do. ”But whatever our experience has been, it would do Guyana well to know what that experience is, even if it is not taken as advice,” the Prime Minister said. Dr. Rowley said, “We have respected the sanctity of contracts while not accepting that contracts are set in stone. Contracts are engagements made between two parties and when you make contracts, if there is goodwill between the participants, and if the intention is for both participants to benefit from the nature of the contract, we see the possibility and the opportunity for the contracts being revisited so as to maintain the balance of the elements of the contract.” The TT Prime Minister said that this is the basis on which his government has approached oil companies in its borders on the renegotiating of contracts. As I speak
to you now, we are at the negotiation table, having got their acknowledgement that the contract could be looked at.”Of course, both sides (are) seeking to maintain the balance that the contracts ought to have and we do this by renegotiations.” Dr. Rowley said, too, “I wouldn’t attempt to criticize what kind of contracts you might have entered into, but contracts reflect time, place and circumstances. What I would say to Guyana is to understand where you are at, and the time and place. ”Understand that you have a friend in Trinidad and Tobago which has years of experience in (the industry) which may be of benefit to you. We have people and companies which have been doing this for a number of years.”
Kuwait Times, Guyana had borrowed US$10M from Kuwait in the 1970s. ”It was during a time when we really needed help and Kuwait was very generous to reach out and give the money we needed. However, now the amount has grown to about $70 million because of interest. This is the reason why we are here,” the Kuwait Times quoted Jordan. Before he arrived in Kuwait, Jordan and the Islamic Development Bank’s (IsDB), Vice President of Sector Operations, Mansur Muhtar, signed a US$20M loan in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to support improvements in the power supply through the Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL Inc.). Several oil contracts may not be upheld by a PPP govt. – Jagdeo
MONDAY Guyana signs two major loans in one week, then begs Kuwait for US$70M debt write off In the same week that Guyana signed on to two multimillion dollar loan agreements with China and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan, and Public Infrastructure Minister, David Patterson, travelled to Kuwait where they appealed for debt relief. Reports from Kuwait media indicate that the two Ministers were seeking the possible writing-off of debt borrowed from Kuwait around 40 years ago. According to the
From all indications, while the People’s Progressive Party / Civic (PPP/C) is uncomfortable with the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) that Guyana has with oil giant, ExxonMobil, the party is prepared to let that contract stand even if it regains control of Guyana in 2020. At a recent press conference, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo said that Guyana is now at the stage where it must focus less on the unfair provisions of the “poorly negotiated” contract and look now to make sure that it is not robbed of what it managed to secure under the contract. However, Jagdeo said that many of the contracts signed
after the ExxonMobil will not be upheld by a PPP/C government. ”We may not recognize all of these contracts that were signed after the ExxonMobil one…We may very well review all the others. Why did we say that? Because the government itself said—after it came under pressure from the public—that the ExxonMobil contract was because it is a frontier company. We already establish we could have gotten better but they said no other company would get those concessions.” Jagdeo said that despite such commitments, Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan still took an order to the National Assembly to give Mid Atlantic similar concessions to that given to ExxonMobil. ”We asked for it to be put on hold until that policy is worked out in the government and made public.” Jagdeo said that the government should be quick to establish a framework to say, “this is what ExxonMobil got and this is what the other companies are likely to get…But the government refused to do that. As a result of this lack of transparency, we reserve the right to revisit all of those, because you cannot claim frontier status anymore.” MoU provides golden opportunity for Guyana to remove T&T trade barriers — Ramkarran The recently signed Memorandum of Understanding, (MoU), between Guyana
and Trinidad and Tobago, (T&T), provides a golden opportunity for the two countries to strengthen their bilateral ties and enhance cooperation. This is a position shared by many local observers and commentators, who believe that the occasion provides the correct platform for the Twin Island Republic to relax its restriction on trade for Guyanese exports. Guyanese traders have been facing a number of blockages to getting their products into Trinidad’s markets, despite CARICOM treaties between the two countries. However, local commentators like Attorney -at-law Ralph Ramkarran, S.C have noted with the new agreement, which offers T&T opportunities for wide scope in the Guyana‘s oil and gas sector, the government must ensure that adequate systems are in place for Guyanese to also benefit equally under the arrangement. Sharing his views on the blog site, Conversation Tree, Ramkarran highlighted scenarios, where Guyanese faced trade and other restrictions with Trinidad. However, with opportunities now opening up due to Guyana’s advantageous position, Ramkarran noted that efforts should be geared towards ensuring Trinidad removes these artificial barriers. According to Ramkarran with adequate measures, such as local content regulations in place, Trinidad a n d To b a g o ’s b u s i n e s s people have garnered (Continued on page 33)
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The now silent Skeldon estate- the old factor and new, troubled one in the background. From page 32 much prosperity during their oil years.He said that if Guyana follows the model set by Trinidad, Guyanese can yield similar benefits. Ramkarran stressed that “any local content laws which may be implemented, as much as Trinidad and Tobago has, will enable business people to flourish during the oil years.” The lawyer said too that adequate regulations will help Guyanese benefit from Trinidad and Tobago’s vast capacity and expertise in the oil and gas sector. Ramkarran joins a list of other personalities that have called on government to ensure that the agreement between the two countries sets the stage for Guyanese to prosper. TUESDAY Republic Bank halts GuySuCo’s bond financing over misuse of funds A commercial bank that played a critical role in negotiating a $30B (US$150M) bond facility to help finance capital works for the threeestate Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) has halted any further disbursements. The suspension is because of Republic Bank’s deep unhappiness with how the monies were used by GuySuCo. On September 18, last, Managing Director of Republic Bank (Guy) Limited, Richard Sammy, wrote Maurice John, General Manager of the Hand-in-Hand Trust Corporation. Hand-in-Hand had written to Republic Bank requesting that the purpose of the Trust
Deed be changed regarding how the proceeds of the bond shall be applied. The bond was supposed to pay for improvements of GuySuCo’s operations at the three remaining estatesAlbion, Blairmont and Uitvlugt. However, the cashstrapped GuySuCo reportedly used part of the bond proceeds to repay interest on another debt at a commercial bank. The bond had strict rules how GuySuCo was supposed to collect and spend the monies. According to Sammy, while Republic Bank has no objection in principle to the proposed changes to the Trust Deed, it remains “extremely disappointed” that proceeds from the bond was utilized for a purpose other than what was approved. ”The recitals of the Trust Deed referenced the exclusive purposes for which the net proceeds of the bond are to be used and this does not include repayment of financing cost and other debt servicing commitments to financial institutions,” Sammy wrote to Hand-in-Hand Trust. Republic Bank said that in light of the report that proceeds from the bond were utilized to partially and/or fully settle interest on an outstanding GuySuCo debt with another financial institution, it will be registering a formal complaint. The bank also demanded a full explanation as to the apparent breach of the terms of the Trust Deed. ”Kindly note that the execution of the Trust Deed is being held in abeyance until the matter is satisfactorily
addressed,” Sammy also announced. Government is under pressure with GuySuCo barely expect to make 100,000 tonnes of sugar this year, after making more than a 200,000 tonnes in 2015. In the last 18 months, the corporation closed four estates- including its newest one, Skeldon, Rose Hall, Enmore and Wales. More than 7,000 workers have been sent home. Waste in Government spending costs Latin America, Caribbean as large as $220B per year – IDB finds -Guyana fails all eight evaluation areas A landmark analysis by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) into Government spending in Latin America and the Caribbean reveals widespread waste and inefficiencies that could be as large as $220 billion a year, or 4.4 percent of the region’s GDP. IDB said that the finds prove that there is ample room to improve basic services in the Region without necessarily spending more resources. The IDB report titled, Better Spending for Better Lives: How Latin America and the Caribbean Can Do More with Less, was launched Monday “as Governments across the region struggle to meet their citizens’ rising expectations with limited budgets.” The publication argues against across-the-board cuts. It looks at whether countries spend too much or too little on different priorities, whether they invest enough to ensure a better future, and
whether those expenditures make inequality better or worse. Along with the diagnosis, the report offers several policy recommendations on how to improve the efficiency of Government spending, such as reducing the cost of delays and budget overruns in infrastructure projects, as well as corruption in procurement. “At a time when Governments have to make tough choices, this report provides a timely platform for discussing how efficiently we spend our public resources to ensure the best possible outcomes, not just for the present but for the future,” said IDB chief economist Alejandro Izquierdo, who edited the report. “The good news is we can improve the lives of our citizens by spending better, rather than by spending more.” The report recorded that there were eight major areas of evaluation and Guyana was an “underperformer in all these areas.” Royston King leases out NICIL riverfront to shipping company A plot of riverfront land, reportedly not the property of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council, (M&CC), was leased to a shipping company by Town Clerk, Royston King. King has reportedly been collecting a yearly rent from the tenants, despite claims that the State holding company– National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) owns the property.
The land lease is among the list of complaints which will be investigated by the Commission of Inquiry, (CoI) into the administrative affairs of City Hall. The CoI which is being presided over by retired Justice Cecil Kennard commenced hearings at the Critchlow Labour College, Woolford Avenue Monday. At the opening of the public hearing, Justice Kennard told the media that the land matter is set to come up as the first order of business for the CoI. Further inquiries revealed that the Lot 1 Mud Lot, Lombard Street, Georgetown property, was leased to Quick Shipping Inc. since April 5, 2016 at the cost of $625,000 per year. NICIL is said to have raised an objection over the Town Clerk’s leasing of the Wharf Front Land. NICIL noted that King had no authority to lease the land. The shipping company subsequently wrote NICIL requesting permission to rent the land. But King never revoked his lease to the company. As a result, NICIL filed a complaint with the Local Government Commission, (LGC) over the matter. Last week, the LGC Chairman, Mortimer Mingo, revealed the decision to launch a CoI into City Hall is premised on a series of complaints about the financial matters at City Hall. Mingo said, too, that there are a number of complaints against the Town Clerk for mismanagement of funds, corruption and abuse of his authority. “The law mandates that
we take serious action against allegations of corruption. WEDNESDAY Guyana fails to attract private investment in infrastructure for almost a decade – IDB According to the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB), Guyana has failed to attract a single private investment in almost a decade— eight years to be exact. This was recorded in IDB’s recently released report titled, “Better Spending for Better Lives: How Latin America and the Caribbean Can Do More with Less.” That report examines eight areas of evaluation and the period evaluated varied. When looking at investments in public infrastructure, the IDB examined years 20082015. Among 19 countries in Latin American and the Caribbean, Belize, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago were the only countries recorded to have not received private investments in infrastructure during the period under review. IDB said that the decrepit state of infrastructure in Latin America and the Caribbean is well known. ”From pothole-riddled roads and bridges in disrepair to substandard airports and sea ports, the region’s growth and the quality of life of its citizens suffer from its crumbling infrastructure.”The Bank said that while bricks and mortar alone cannot assure growth and prosperity, without acceptable infrastructure services, a country is (Continued on page 34)
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From page 33 hard pressed to compete in today’s world. ”Why is infrastructure so subpar in the region? To begin with, countries in Latin America and the Caribbean do not invest enough in infrastructure. Public and private investment in infrastructure in Latin America and the Caribbean reached an average of 2.75 percent of GDP between 1992 and 2015 and an average of 3.8 percent from 2008 to 2015.” IDB said that the level of spending in the Caribbean and Latin America is low compared with, for example, China (8.5 percent), Japan and India (5 percent), and the average in industrial countries (4 percent). Moreover, IDB said that current investment figures have even dipped below those prevailing in the 1980s. The Bank said that to fill the infrastructure gap, the region would need to invest about five percent of its GDP over the next 20–30 years, which is equivalent to an additional $100B a year. IDB said that, not surprisingly, low investment in infrastructure has led to poor infrastructure services. The quality of infrastructure in most Latin American and Caribbean countries—particularly in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Venezuela—is con-
Kaieteur News
siderably lower than it should be, given their income levels. Only a few exceptions in the region—mostly in Central America (Guatemala, Panama, and El Salvador)—have better- than expected infrastructure quality. Guyana must avoid simply mimicking other country’s local content policies …Chatham House urges emerging oil producer to do gap analysis Too often, local content policies are designed without sufficient consideration of the resources available nationally and the changing nature of these resources. They are also done without co- operation with partner companies. It is in this vein that Chatham House is calling on Guyana to be cautious in its design of a local content policy. It stressed that in the haste to have such a policy, Guyana’s authorities must avoid simply mimicking other countries’ local content policies. It is urging Guyana and other emerging oil producers to first develop a “thorough understanding” of the local context. This would include the scale of discoveries, availability of skills and infrastructure, availability of oil/ gas in country, etc. The global organization said that Governments
should then assess what skills will be needed through the lifecycle of the project(s). It said that this can be done in collaboration with foreign oil companies. The organization stressed that this assessment should be the basis for defining local content policy and targets that would be realistic and achievable. Once this is done, Chatham House said that the government should focus next on capacity-building by requiring investors to develop the workforce and the supply base. It said, “For many emerging producers, the starting point in terms of demands on foreign oil companies should be local sourcing of simple onsite services – construction and consumables for workers, for instance. They should avoid the delivery of turnkey projects run by foreign staff.” Further to this, Chatham House said that governments of emerging oil producing nations must facilitate foreign oil companies’ efforts to develop the local supply industry and workforce. Specifically, Chatham House said that the government should link local content policy in the oil sector to its broader education strategy and build the kind of workforce that is able to respond to the country’s future needs.
Islamic Bank freezes loan to Somalia …audit reveals irregularities with disbursement The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) has reportedly suspended a US$5M loan to the Government of Somalia following accusations of mismanagement and corruption. Voice of America, a US government-funded news outlet, reported that Somalia had started its Dryland Development Project in 2016 in three rural villages to help pastoralists build better mechanisms to resist drought, help them develop livestock and crops, as well as give them access to health and education services. The project was set to cost US$5M. As of February 2017, the Saudi-led Islamic Development Bank had transferred US$1.5M to an account at the central bank of Somalia in three installments. However, IsDB was forced to freeze the account, following an audit that raised concerns about an incoherent payment system and overpayments made to a particular supplier. The IsDB said that the project coordinator, Abdishakur Aden Mohamud, submitted a report, which revealed “no substantial information” to suggest that progressive strides had been
Sunday September 30, 2018
made on the project for which he is responsible. Even while the audit was being conducted, the IsDB reported that the project coordinator withdrew finances both by cash and cheque, which are “not in line with the fiduciary and financial management system.” The Islamic Development Bank’s general mandate places significant focus on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, especially as it relates to supporting small nations. Since some of its member states are poor nations, which are prone to corruption, the IsDB conducts regular audits on the management of funds disbursed to them. Recently, Guyana received approval for its first loan of US$20M from the Saudi-led bank. This loan is for the Guyana Power and Light Company (GPL) to fund its Utility Upgrade Programme. The programme is part of GPL’s Development and Expansion for 2014-2021. The current pace at which Guyana progresses toward the renovation of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, if repeated, could see the country experiencing a suspension of the US$900M resource envelope of grants and loans set aside for its development, as the Islamic Bank conducts regular, rigorous audits into
the development projects which it funds. THURSDAY Panama rejects over 20 containers of rice…Sack the entire GRDB board, Agri Minister – miller urges In 2014, the previous administration managed to clinch a major rice market in Panama, under a government to government arrangement. Overseeing the shipments for Guyana was the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB). With increasing yields, and Panama demanding packaged white rice, Guyana was assured of better-than-normal prices- in fact prices were said to be about 30 percent more. A number of local millers were involved in the deal. For this year alone, Guyana reportedly shipped over 50,000 tonnes to that market. In Panama, there were rejections of the deal in some political quarters with complaints that local suppliers were sidelined. This past two months, the shipments ran into trouble after Panamanian authorities discovered samples that they said were not in keeping with the contract (Continued on page 35)
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From page 34 arrangements.What started off as two containers being rejected has now ended up as more than 20 containers in the last six weeks or so not being accepted. Wednesday, General Manager of the GRDB, Nizam Hassan, disclosed that they are looking into reports of some bags of rice in containers shipped to Panama not meeting the requirements. He said that information is now being gathered and it is too early to say what exactly transpired. Hassan disclosed also that one miller, who has rice mills in Essequibo and West Demerara, will not be allowed to participate in the deal until there are clarifications about what transpired. The rejection of the containers would be a hard blow for the rice industry which has been depending on the Panamanian market for pushing up prices and reduce any surpluses on the market. Panama was said to be the most lucrative of markets after the loss of the Venezuelan one in 2015. Wednesday, Dr. Turhane Doerga, Chief Executive Officer of the Alesie Group of Companies, was highly critical of GRDB. He pointed to the checks that have to be carried out before the containers are loaded and shipped. He said that the poor quality rice found in Panama may have been a shipment returned from Trinidad. Sherod Duncan tells COI… Town clerk bypassed tender process in doling out contracts-highlights wanton abuse of Emergency Clause Former Deputy Mayor of Georgetown, Sherod Duncan has pointed to several instances in which he says Town Clerk of the Mayor and City Council, (M&CC), Royston King bypassed the prescribed procurement process for the doling out of contracts.In his testimony Wednesday before the Commission of Inquiry, (CoI) into the affairs of City Hall, Duncan raised concerns at the manner in which the City’s administration deals with the distribution of contracts. He particularly highlighted what he described as the wanton abuse by Council’s administration of the Emergency Clause under Section 234 of the Municipal District Council‘s Act Chapter 280:1. The clause speaks to the variation of tender procedure in cases of emergency. Duncan, however, noted that the Emergency Clause is
applied for almost every contract handed out by City Hall; more particularly by the Office of the Town Clerk. “If you have an emergency and you can’t go to tender, you are allowed to bypass that system but you must report to Council afterwards. (However) everything seems to be using the Emergency Clause. I noted this from the time I became a Councillor in 2016,” said Duncan, who also chaired the Legal Affairs Committee of the Georgetown M&CC. “During my tenure as Councillor, Deputy Mayor and Chairman of the Legal Affairs Committee, I have never seen a single contract come before Council for vetting and approval. Except for the parking meter contract, which took months of agitation before the administration yielded to the Councillor’s request to peruse the document, no other contract was forthcoming. “In fact, it was through the intervention of the Minister of Communities that Councillors were able to have that contract at their disposal.” “I would argue that around 90 -95 per cent of the work of council is subcontracted out from acquisition of stationery to vehicles, garbage collection and disposal. So it should involve a process of tender and vetting by Council.” “But the only tendering process that I can recall published during my time at City Hall is the one for the repair of the Stabroek Market Clock. “Besides the controversial Parking Meter contract, the former Deputy Mayor listed the $125M contract which was handed to Chung Global for the clearing for Le Repentir Cemetery among the contracts which were listed as emergencies. Body on Kitty seawalls…Sex video suspect was murdered What was first deemed a suicide has now turned to a murder probe as an autopsy conducted on the body of sex video suspect Sherwin Apple indicated that he was forcibly held underwater until he drowned. Police said that the cause of death was asphyxiation due to drowning, compounded by compression injuries to the neck. Sherwin “Yellow” Apple, 42, was found dead on Tuesday morning on the Kitty seawalls not far from the Celina Resort.He was lying facedown and some had suggested that he had ingested a poisonous substance.
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Police recovering the body of Sherwin Apple from the Kitty seawalls. His death occurred a day after police had indicated that he was being sought in relation to a sex video which showed him and another man having sex with a young woman. The video started making its rounds on social media sometime on Sunday, and there were suggestions that woman was forced to engage in the act. Wednesday, Apple’s sisters said while what he did was wrong, individuals should not have taken the law into their hands. Police are attempting to access information from the slain man’s phone, since he reportedly told family members he was going to reach someone that was calling him to meet and discuss the matter relating to the video. Police have also arrested the other man in the video and he is assisting with investigations.But in what can only be considered a story with many twists, the young lady who was seen in the video, visited the police station at Linden and, in her mother’s presence, denied that she was the individual in the video.Police had not made any arrests up to press time in relation to Apple’s murder. FRIDAY Union slams Agri Minister’s tirade on $30B GuySuCo bond -says clear demonstration of how country’s affairs being managed A $30B bond financing for
the three-estate Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) has sparked anger from Agriculture Minister, Noel Holder, over how the monies are being disbursed. It would raise questions whether Holder, a senior member of the Cabinet of Ministers, was kept in the loop with the bond details. It will be recalled that the monies were raised by the National Industrial and Commercial Investment Limited (NICIL), an arm of the Government that handles investments. Earlier this year, NICIL successfully negotiated with a number of local banks and other financial institutions to raise the bond. The transactions were being handled by the Hand-inHand Trust with Republic Bank, and reportedly the Guyana Bank For Trade and Industry. At the end, the negotiations for what was considered the biggest facility of its kind, locally, NICIL managed to secure $30B with $17B available under the first tranche. In August, NICIL said it had released almost $2B to the smaller-sized GuySuCo. Since then, the bond facility has been suspended by Republic Bank, which had objections to GuySuCo using the monies to pay off its debt at another bank. The monies from the bond were supposed to be spent on improving the factories of Albion, Blairmont and Uitvlugt, the three remaining estates of GuySuCo.
Already, Republic Bank has written to Hand-in-Hand Trust complaining about the misuse of the funds by the cash-strapped GuySuCo. For its part, Republic Bank, only days ago, suspended the transactions until there are clarifications. It now appears the situation over the release of the monies has angered Holder, who earlier this week suggested that he was not involved and may not even want the proceeds of the financing. Guyana must be cautious in spending oil money on infrastructure-Chatham House …Case studies show most projects become victims of cost overruns The government has already signaled its intention to use part of the oil money in boosting infrastructure. But some international organizations are advising that Guyana’s authorities approach with caution in this regard. Chatham House, for example, has said that emerging producers such as Guyana should consider carefully, the capacity of their economy to absorb public spending. The London-based organization said that many countries expect to use petroleum revenues to increase infrastructure spending and the productive potential of the economy. Although infrastructure spending can contribute to economic growth, the organization said that emerging pro-
ducers have faced several problems when they have tried to scale it up. It said that these include limited capacity to operate and maintain new infrastructure and conflation of short-term demand growth with long-term supply growth. Chatham House said that an effective approach would therefore be to increase such spending slowly, reviewing and evaluating projects as well as building public investment management capacity over time. Research at the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI) shows that countries with giant discoveries tend to disappoint on economic growth forecasts. It also notes that many infrastructure projects that it reviewed were delayed or faced cost overruns. The Institute said, “Out of 308 projects, no less than 55 percent were late and 45 percent had cost over-runs averaging 58 percent over budget. Some with early production faced a 60 percent drop in revenues as oil prices fell in 2014. ”Common to the cases studied was the expectation of transformative economic impact from oil and gas as well as excessive borrowing, which led several countries in the study to be bailed out by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). ”The biggest discoveries and countries with poor institutional governance had the most significant economic (Continued on page 36)
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Sunday September 30, 2018
The disputed riverfront land leased by Royston King
From page 35 disappointment.”On that note, NRGI and Chatham House note that Guyana will need to manage expectations about spending levels, be cautious on accruing debt and work to build strong institutions. 16 polygraph exams conducted on President’s security detail Jamaica (Observer)— Five police officers have been trained and certified as polygraphists through support from the United States Embassy. Law Enforcement Advisor Jamie Russell, who represented the US Embassy at a certification ceremony held at the Office of the Police Commissioner Thursday, said the embassy is keen on assisting the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF). “We are interested in helping the country weed out corruption and we are also interested in assisting with professionalising the JCF and this is the best way we think we can partner with them to
bring success,” he was quoted in a release from the constabulary’s Corporate Communications Unit (CCU). Since its inception, the JCF’s Polygraph Unit has achieved much success, with the testing of more than 400 force applicants, which resulted in over 50 of them not meeting the standard requirements, CCU said, adding that the unit has also had a regional impact. It revealed that two polygraphists from the JCF visited Guyana and conducted 16 polygraph examinations for the security detail of Guyana’s president. “The (polygraph) unit received high commendation from the Guyanese government for the professionalism and expertise of the members in doing their job”. Meanwhile, the JCF communication arm said Detective Sergeant Dwight Sommers, one of the new polygraphists, spoke of the benefit of having gone through
the training in the most recent batch. SATURDAY Trotman, Persaud should face CoI into Petroleum sector – Chris Ram …says actions of both Govts. proving catastrophic for Guyana If there is any sector or activity that cries out for a Commission of Inquiry (CoI)it is the petroleum sector, according to Chartered Accountant, Christopher Ram. Writing in his column, ‘First Road To Oil’, Ram stated that President Granger is not only a student of history, he is also fond of commissions of inquiry. He urged that the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) explain the 1999 Agreement and the various addenda it signed with Esso in a maze of opacity and non-disclosure. Ram said both the PPP and the current coalition Government are responsible for the current state of affairs in the sector.“Petroleum under both this [Government] and its pre-
decessor administration has been characterised by incompetence, hubris and partisan considerations with results that are not merely detrimental, but decidedly catastrophic for the country,” Ram stated. The Chartered Accountant is advocating for Robert Persaud, former Minister of Natural Resources, “who is now a cheerleader for this administration” tell the nation of his role in the natural resources sector as a senior member of the last Administration. Further, Ram noted, “It is also time for Raphael Trotman to answer questions under oath about his role in the 2016 Petroleum Agreement and why instead of correcting the excessive and suspect generosity of the 1999 pre-discovery Agreement, he actually sweetened it in a 2016 post-discovery Agreement.” Ram further stated that those who argue that the Agreement is too one-sided to deserve the protection of the sanctity of contract explain how Guyana can extricate itself from the worst fea-
tures of the Agreement. “Most importantly, let us use such a vehicle to consider a new pathway to prosperity in a balanced way in which the wealth derived from petroleum resources is shared equitably between those who help to extract them and those who hold them in trust.. Let us look for new models of petroleum exploration and production,” Ram said. He urged that Guyana stop relying on foreigners to teach Guyana how to think, how to manage, how to act, how and when to write, amend or repeal laws. “We have much more intelligence, ability and competence than this Administration is prepared to concede,” Ram stated. Time is of the essence, get going with leakages in ExxonMobil dealOpposition Leader Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo said that he remains underwhelmed by the APNU+AFC Government’s handling of the nation’s business. At a press
conference he held on Thursday, Jagdeo spoke of the many areas government is failing in including the management of the sugar and oil sectors. Jagdeo spoke somewhat extensively on the failures. One of the failures in the oil sector Jagdeo addressed is that government is allowing “massive revenue leakages.” Jagdeo said that he read remarks attributed to Energy Department Head, Dr. Mark Bynoe as it regard the plugging of these leakages. Jagdeo told the media, “I do not really understand what it means by plugging values leakages from existing PSA—the ExxonMobil PSA. If he means that they are going to do a better job at going after a pre-contract cost or the existing cost of ExxonMobil to see that they are not inflated, well that is fine; but, when are they going to do it? When exactly are they going to do this?Jagdeo said time is of the essence and the fact that the plugging is yet to begin makes him believe that “this is all general gaff; just general gaff for such an important sector in our future.”
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Linden/Kwakwani travel cut to just over one hour Earlier this year, the Linden/Ituni/Kwakwani road was a major thorn in the side for Government. Thousands of persons use the roadway, in that Region 10 area, to get to their homes in Ituni and Kwakwani, two bauxite mining and logging communities, in the Upper Berbice River area. With rains and poor maintenance, the linkage was almost impassable at times, with vehicles stuck and when they did make it out of the craters, travel time would have taken as much as five hours. Today, the travel time between Linden and Kwakwani, a distance of about 100 kilometers, is taking just over one hour. Residents have been appealing over the years for a structured maintenance programme for an area that was vibrant in its heyday for its bauxite boom. The maintenance, when it was done, was to hurriedly patch the holes without the necessary routine checks, residents complained. The predominantly bauxite communities have now included logging in a major way with the opening of concessions. Earlier this year, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission signed contracts with International Imports and Supplies, a contractor that has been successfully tack-
The recently rehabilitated Linden/ Kwakwani roadway in Region 10.
ling hinterland roads, including the difficult terrains of the Port Kaituma area, Region One. Since the signing in May, the contractor has completed the maintenance of the roadway. Recently, Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, visiting Kwakwani, took just over one hour from Linden. A Ministry’s statement said that Trotman noted his satisfaction with the works done so far. In May 2018, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission through the Ministry of Natural Resources awarded contracts for the repairs to the road at a cost of $239.7M. The works include ditching, excavating, section repairs of soft spots and filling with laterite. These works ben-
The equipment on the road during the works
it is under two hours. The upgrades began in late July.
efit the two communities on either side, including the residents of Ituni and Aroaima. Member of Parliament (MP), Audwin Rutherford said that prior to the maintenance works, the journey was more than three hours. Now,
“We have no need to complain. Trucks will no longer be left on the road due to wear and tear from poor road conditions. Commuters using private vehicles using the road are more encouraged, due to less travel time and less maintenance on their vehicles. We do not anticipate transportation prices to rise due to poor road conditions which happened in the past,” MP Rutherford explained. The government MP pointed out that the contrac-
tor has done an excellent job on the road and upgraded some internal roads, which were not included in the agreement. This, he stressed, is value for money. Orvil August, a resident of Kwakwani who operates a transportation service, said it took her “one hour and a half from Kwakwani to Ituni and now is just about forty minutes driving at sixty-five kilometres per hour. Also, now that the road is maintained, I will be saving significantly on maintenance of my vehicles.”
Ituni resident, Ron Wilson expressed similar sentiments and commended the contractor International Imports and Supplies for an excellent job on the road. The Linden/Ituni/ Kwakwani road will be maintained annually. Government has reportedly issued similar maintenance contracts for the maintenance of the Linden/Lethem road, a key linkage to several hinterland communities and the gold mining communities.
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October is new completion date for Port Mourant Well - GWI says 9000 customers to benefit The new completion date for the well being drilled at Port Mourant, Berbice, Region Six is the end of October 2018. This was revealed by technical officials of the Guyana Water Incorporated [GWI] on Friday, September 28, as Minister of Communities, Hon. Ronald Bulkan, visited the well site to witness the progress of works to date. The initial drilling of the well commenced in April 2018 and reached its total depth of 1101 feet in June. However, due to the inclement weather, the soil became saturated causing the well to suffer a collapse. According to GWI’s Programme Coordinator, Richard Hoyte, a decision was then made to shift 50 feet from the collapsed well to drill a new one. This drilling of this new well commenced on August
29, 2018. “We are at 1105 ft., which is considered our total depth and we’re now moving to ream (expand) this hole and we will be able to set our well casings and screens in another week or so,” Mr. Hoyte explained. Acting Regional Manager, Mr. Randolph Leitch, added that upon completion, 9000 customers from Albion to Tain are expected to benefit from treated water on a 24 hour basis. The total cost for the construction of the well is $60M and Minister Bulkan said “the well that is about to be completed represents an ongoing investment on the part of the Government of Guyana to improve and increase pure water supply to more people across the country. Water is one of the most basic necessities for living and the government is committed to en-
The well being drilled at Port Mourant
suring that citizens and consumers receive water of the right quality on a continuous basis.” He added that the Port Mourant well is one of three
Minister Ronald Bulkan [second from right] and GWI Managing Director [extreme right] hear about the status of the well. wells being drilled by Trinidadian Company Water and Oil, the other two being at Pouderoyen and West Minster, West Demerara. GWI’s Managing Director, Dr. Richard Van West-Charles, said the Port Mourant well represents just one of the many coastal projects being carried
out by the Government of Guyana. “We are going to be getting one for Farm on the East Bank of Demerara and we’ve identified Fryish and Lusignan for a replacement wells. Then in addition to that, we have a number of projects
in the Hinterland.” Currently, customers served by the Port Mourant Water Treatment Plant receive 12 hours of water supply from 5:00 – 12:00hrs and 16:00-21:00hrs, since the plant doesn’t have the capacity to sustain a 24 hour supply.
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14 Surprising Health Benefits Of Wine http://www.lifehack.org: You pop open the cork after a killer day at the office, and the luscious wine flows in mellow drops into your shiny glass. Then this voice whispers in your ear. “Should I be drinking wine?” You try to make healthy food choices and go to the gym and yoga a few times a week. Are you negating your efforts with a few sips? You know that over-indulging is a health no-no, but what about a glass of wine a few times per week? Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve surely heard of the heart-healthy benefits of red wine. But this is not your big concern; you already exercise and eat pretty well. Prepare to be amazed. More than just being hearthealthy, wine has a slew of surprising health benefits, many of which stem from resveratrol. Some plants make resveratrol to fight off bacteria and fungi, or to withstand a drought or lack of nutrients. Red and purple grapes, blueberries, cranberries, mulberries, peanuts, and pistachios are sources. Resveratrol may be the wonder ingredient responsible for many of wine’s benefits. Isolating the resveratrol does not yield the same powers, indicating that a constellation of forces act together to protect the body. Most studies focus on the benefits of red wine because white grapes do not contain resveratrol. Prepare to be amazed and relieved. You’re about to learhow your wine-drinking ritual can be a powerful health elixir. Check out the following fourteen benefits of wine that go way beyond heart healthiness. 1. Live longer That’s right. On the island of Ikarios, a recently discovered Blue Zone, people live longer than anywhere else in the world. Daily wine consumption is part of a dietary pattern that encourages long life through eating fewer animal-based foods and eating more plant-based foods. You’ll find the long-lived residents of Crete and Sardinia sipping dark red wine, a part of their anti-aging lifestyle. A 2007 study suggests procyanidins, compounds found in red wine tannins, help promote cardiovascular health. Wines produced in areas of southwest France and Sardinia, where people tend to live longer, have particularly high concentrations of the compound. Researchers at Harvard Medical School uncovered evidence that resveratrol directly activates a protein that
promotes health and longevity in animal models. Resveratrol increases the activity of sirtuins (longevity pathways), a group of genes that protects the body from diseases of aging. 2. Get smarter Resveratrol may help improve short-term memory. After just 30 minutes of testing, researchers found that participants taking resveratrol had a significant increase in retention of words and showed faster performance in the portion of the brain associated with the formation of new memories, learning, and emotions. 3. Banish breakouts with wine Resveratrol is able to inhibit the growth of acne-causing bacteria longer than benzoyl peroxide. And it works even better when combined with benzoyl peroxide. So far, drinking the antioxidant is the best way to benefit from its properties. Topical application in creams has not been proven as effective – so imbibe your antioxidants in wine, fruits, and veggies rather than buying expensive creams. 4. Wine may beat trips to the gym Would you rather drink wine or slave away at the gym? Scientists at the University of Alberta in Canada found that resveratrol improves heart, brain, and bone function; the same way these parts are improved when you go to the gym. Now imagine the benefits of doing both! 5. Say goodbye to the blues You know wine helps you relax…but depression? Researchers in Spainfound that men and women who drank two to seven glasses of wine per week were less likely to be diagnosed with depression. Even when taking into account lifestyle factors which could influence their findings, the reduced risk held strong. 6. Reduce (not increase) your risk of liver disease This study challenged conventional thinking about alcohol and liver disease. Modest wine consumption, defined as one glass a day, may decrease the prevalence of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD). Modest wine drinkers, as compared to teetotalers, cut their risk of NAFLD in half. And compared with wine drinkers, modest beer or liquor drinkers had four times the odds of having suspected NAFLD. 7. Promote healthy eyes Resveratrol stops out-ofcontrol blood vessel growth in the eyes, according to Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. This may help with treatment of diabetic retinopa-
thy and age-related macular degeneration. Note that these studies were done in mice, so the dose for humans is not yet clear. But this is a great start. 8. Protect your pearly
So maybe grandma’s cold remedy isn’t so strange after all. A study looked at 4,000 faculty members at five universities across Spain. Those who drank wine were less
whites Did you know that drinking wine is a little-known way to protect your teeth from bacteria? We mentioned wine’s antimicrobial effects on the skin. Well, it also helps reduce bacteria on our teeth.Using five of the common oral plaque-causing bacteria, scientists noted almost complete degradation of the bacteria after applying the biofilms with red wine. 9. Cut multiple cancer risks Breast Cancer Red grapes are the fruit best able to suppress the activity of aromatase, the enzyme used by breast tumors to produce their own estrogen – this is called an aromatase inhibitor. Red wine may serve as a nutritional aromatase inhibitor, which may ameliorate the elevated breast cancer risk associated with alcohol intake. Note that you can also eat red grapes; those with seeds are especially helpful. Resveratrol is also thought to kill cancer cells by cutting off a pathway that feeds cancer cells. Colon cancer Studies show that moderate consumption of red wine can reduce the risk of colon cancer by 50%. Prostate Cancer Harvard Men’s Health Watch reports that men who drink an average of four to seven glasses of red wine per week have a 52% less chance of being diagnosed with prostate cancer compared to those who don’t drink wine. Red wine appears particularly protective against advanced or aggressive cancers. Doctors speculate that flavonoids and resveratrol contain potent antioxidants and may counterbalance androgens, the male hormones that stimulate the prostate. 10. Stave off those pesky sniffles
likely to come down with a cold compared to those that drank beer or spirits. Researchers think that the antioxidants help lower inflammation and reduce the symptoms of colds. 11. Lower your cholesterol (without changing your diet) Resveratrol is thought to
reduce LDL and increase HDL, meaning that our blood vessels are less likely to be coated with plaque. Even the American Heart Association admits that moderate consumption of any type of alcohol can increase your HDL, or good cholesterol, by about 12%.12. Reduce the risk of strokeWine may reduce your risk of ischemic stroke. In analyses adjusted for age, sex, and smoking, intake of wine on a monthly, weekly, or daily basis was associated with a lower risk of stroke compared with no wine intake. The benefits were not seen in beer or hard alcohol consumption. 13. Regulate blood sugar levels without drugs Red wine is abundant in polyphenols. The polyphenols in wine interact with cells involved in the development and storage of fat and the regulation of blood sugar. The amount of polyphenols in a small glass of red wine appears to rival the blood sugar regulating activity of certain diabetes drugs. 14. Slash your diabetes risk Men and women who drink moderately have a 30%
lower risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. This may be due again to resveratrol, which improves sensitivity to insulin. Insulin resistance is the most important critical factor contributing to Type 2 diabetes risk. Don’t make this crucial mistakeThe monumental mistake people make is trying to buy these benefits in a bottle, rather than looking at how wine can be a part of a healthy lifestyle. We want to bottle it, sell it, and find that magic bullet.Supplements have not proven to have the benefits of simple foods. Nature is complex, and we haven’t figured out how to put that in a bottle (and I hope we don’t). The most important thing you can do is start to look at the big picture. Think of the slow-paced life of the Mediterranean and bring a little bit of that into your life.Take time to prepare a simple meal packed with legumes and fresh vegetables. Savor this meal. Linger at the table with your friends and family. And of course – enjoy a leisurely glass of wine without feeling guilty.
13 Surprising Uses for Honey http://www.care2.com: It’s often said that the famed ancient beauty Cleopatra would soak in honey and milk baths. Well, whether or not that’s true, it’s certainly not surprising that the story has persisted for so long — honey has a tremendous effect on the skin. And that’s not all — honey is a powerful antiseptic and a fantastic natural sugar substitute. Keep reading for these and more alternative uses for honey. Health 1. Relieve Hangovers. Had a little too much fun last night? A few tablespoons of honey, which is packed with fructose, will help speed up your body’s metabolism of alcohol. 2. Heal Wounds, Cuts, Scrapes & Burns. Don’t reach for the Neosporin the next time you cut or burn yourself — simply apply honey to the affected area. Honey works as a natural antiseptic. 3. Soothe Sore Throats and Coughs. Combine honey with the juice of one lemon and drink. It works like a wonder! 4. Remove Parasites. Hopefully you’ll never have to use this trick, but if you do, combine equal parts honey, vinegar and water and drink. The combination of these three ingredients is the perfect parasite killer.
Beauty 5. Moisturize Dry Skin. Honey is a fantastic moisturizer, especially on dry patches, like your elbows or hands — even your lips! Rub onto your dry, patchy skin and let it sit for about 30 minutes before washing off.
from a small daily dab of honey. Place a band-aid over the pimple, and take it off 30 minutes later. 9. Give Yourself a Facial. Combine 2 teaspoons of milk with 2 tablespoons of honey. Cover your face with the mixture and let it sit for 10 minutes before washing off.
Honey also makes a great lip balm! 6. Condition Damaged Hair. Honey is a great natural conditioner. You can simply add a teaspoon of the stuff to your regular shampoo to smooth your damaged locks. You can also combine it with olive oil for a deeper conditioning. Let it soak for 20 minutes with your hair wrapped in a towel before shampooing as usual. 7. Have an Amazing Bath. Relax your body and soak your skin in a soothing bath. Add 2 tablespoons of honey to 1 cup of hot water and let it dissolve for about 10 minutes. Add 2 or 3 drops of lavender essential oil and add it to your bath. 8. Remove Acne. Stubborn acne can really benefit
Food 10. Boost Your Energy. Quit turning to coffee for your daily energy boost! Replace your cup of Joe with a cup of tea. Mix in a tablespoon or so of honey. 11. Substitute Honey for Sugar in Baking. For every cup of sugar a recipe calls for, replace it with 3/4 cup of honey. For best results, add 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda and reduce another liquid in your recipe by 1/4 cup. Also, reduce the oven temperature by 25 degrees. 12. Make Almond Milk from Scratch. You’ll find a great recipe here. 13. Make Infused Honeys. Why have plain old regular honey when you can have ginger lime honey or hot pepper honey?
Sunday September 30, 2018
What’s Next for Grey’s Anatomy Season 15: Meredith’s Love Life, a Coming Out Story and More It’s time. It’s time for Meredith Grey to get some love back in her life on Grey’s Anatomy. The season 15 premiere of Grey’s featured Ellen Pompeo’s character having an awakening of sorts. She’s ready to love again after the loss of her husband, Derek (Patrick Dempsey), and it’s going to be different this time. “Meredith didn’t really date originally. She fell in love with McDreamy. And for a little while there when he turned out to be married to someone, there was some sleeping around by way of comfort and there was McVet. And then she was with Derek and then she was married and having kids and then suddenly and painfully, she became a widow. Then, there was a rebound romance or two. Martin Henderson was terrific, but it’s hard for me to think of Riggs as anything but a rebound because of how soon he came in after Derek,” executive producer Krista Vernoff told The Hollywood Reporter. “And then last season, she focused on work and became something of a medical superhero.” Now, Meredith is single and past the intense grief after losing Derek, who will always be in her heart and with her family, Vernoff said, and she wants more. “She’s agreeing with Cece, the matchmaker, that there is no cap on happiness. That she can be happy with her career and her kids but having someone to share it all with might be really nice. And that means putting herself out there in a whole new way. Actually, seeking love. That’s brand new,” Vernoff said. “And Ellen Pompeo is showing colors this season that I’ve just never seen from her before, which is seriously impressive after 15 seasons of playing the same character!” That Meredith-DeLuca scene that set the internet aflame when it was featured in the season 15 trailer? That was all a dream. But it was a meaningful dream. “Deluca inadvertently woke something up in her that she’s not gonna be able to put
back to bed, and that is a little frustrating to her. But Meredith Grey is a doer and when something wakes up in her, she gets it done,” Vernoff told TV Guide. Pompeo’s character dating isn’t the only new avenue Grey’s Anatomy is exploring in season 15. The long-running medical drama has its first out gay male surgeon character and will be testing new territory. “We have a beautiful coming out story and romance. It’s our favorite thing at every table read. It’s vivid and exciting and brand new for our show because it focuses on gay men. Alex Landi is an exciting addition to the cast, for sure, and you have to watch if you want to know more about that story! In our recurring cast, we also have Jaicy Elliot as Taryn “Hellmouth” Helm, Stefania Spampinato as Carina DeLuca and Alex Blue Davis playing Casey Parker, a proud trans man playing a proud trans man. While Callie Torres (Sara Ramirez) and Arizona Robbins (Jessica Capshaw) are iconic and can never be replaced, our show continues to look like the world at large — which is to say, LGBTQIA people are everywhere,” Vernoff told THR. Grey’s Anatomy airs Thursdays, 8 p.m. on ABC. (www.eonline.com)
Eddie Murphy and Pregnant Girlfriend Paige Butcher Are Engaged Eddie Murphy has found his queen-to-be. The 57-year-old actor is engaged to girlfriend Paige Butcher, who is pregnant with their second child and his 10th overall, his rep confirmed to E! News on Friday. There had been recent speculation that the two, who share a 2year-old daughter named Izzy, were engaged after the 39year-old model was spotted out and about in Los Angeles wearing a large diamond ring earlier this week. This will mark the first marriage for Butcher and second marriage for Murphy. He was married to Nicole Mitchell Murphy for 13 years until 2006. They share five children—Bria, 28, Miles, 25, Shayne, 23, Zola, 18, Bella, 16. In 2008, the actor and producer Tracey Edmonds exchanged vows in a wedding ceremony abroad but split two weeks later and never made their marriage official. The actor and Butcher began dating in 2012 and welcomed their daughter in 2016. His rep
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had said last month that the actor and model are set to welcome their second child in December. The spokesperson later revealed they’re expecting a boy.In addition to his and Butcher’s daughter and his five children with his ex-
wife, the actor shares son Eric, 29, with ex-girlfriend Paulette McNeely and son Christian, 27, with ex-girlfriend Tamara Hood. Murphy and Spice Girl Mel B also share a daughter, Angel, 11. (www.eonline.com)
A Star Is Born Alum Barbra Streisand Reveals the Advice She Gave Lady Gaga Barbra Streisand thinks Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper’s A Star Is Born remake is going to be a hit! In the film, hitting theaters on Oct. 5, Cooper plays rockstar Jackson Maine who discovers a talented singer named Ally (Gaga). Streisand previously starred in the 1976 version of the movie and won an Oscar for Best Music, Original Song for “Evergreen.” So did Gaga come to Streisand for advice about the movie? Streisand revealed the answer to that question during an exclusive interview with E! News’ Zuri Hall. “Yeah, a little bit, I told her to do it live, and she wanted to do it live, so that’s good b e c a u s e t h a t ’s t h e b e s t way to do it,” Streisand, who has seen the new remake, shared. “But their songs are different…it’s a good movie, it’s gonna be a hit.” Talking more about the movie remake, Streisand said, “It starts like my old movie,
with the concert and he goes to a club and finds her. But they were able to put some new things in it which I liked.” During the interview, Streisand also opened about her new album, Walls, which is “a mixture of original songs,” including her new track, “Don’t Lie To Me,” which she co-wrote. “Thrilled to announce that my new album WALLS is coming out Nov 2nd includ-
ing a song I co-wrote, ‘Don’t Lie To Me,’ which is out now,” Streisand tweeted Thursday. “This collection of songs reflects what’s been on my mind lately, and I look forward to sharing that with you.” Take a look at the interview above to see what Streisand had to say about her new music, A Star Is Born and her advice to Lady Gaga! (www.eonline.com)
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Never Be Late! A priest was being honored at his retirement dinner after 25 years in the parish. A leading local politician and member of the congregation was chosen to make the presentation and give a little speech at the dinner. However, he was delayed, so the priest decided to say his own few words while they waited, "I got my first impression of the Parish from the first confession I heard here. I thought I had been assigned to a terrible place. The very first person who entered my confessional told me he had stolen a television set And, when questioned by the police, was able to lie his way out of it. He had stolen money from his parents, embezzled from his employer, had an affair with his boss's wife, taken illegal drugs. I was appalled. But as the days went on I learned that my people were not all like that and I had, indeed, come to a fine parish full of good and loving people." Just as the priest finished his talk, the politician arrived full of apologies at being late. He immediately began to make the presentation and gave his talk. 'I'll never forget the first day our parish priest arrived," said the politician. "In fact, I had the honor of being the first person to go to him for confession." Moral: Never, Never, Never Be Late! Who Listens? Two very successful psychoanalysts occupied offices in the same building. One was 40 years old, the other over 70. They rode on the elevator together at the end of an unbearably hot, sticky day. The younger man was completely done in, and he noted with some resentment that his senior was fresh and relaxed. "I don't understand," he marveled, "how you can listen to patients from morning till night on a day like this and still look so spry and unbothered when it's over?" The older analyst said simply, "Who listens?" Medical Discussion Two medical students were walking along the street when they saw an old man Walking with his legs spread apart. He was stiff-legged and walking slowly. One student said to his friend, "I'm sure that poor old man has Peltry Syndrome.Those people walk just like that." The other student says, "No, I don't think so. The old man surely has Zovitzki Syndrome. He walks slowly and his legs are apart, just as we learned in class." Since they couldn't agree they decided to ask the old man. They approached him And one of the students said to him, "We're medical students and couldn't help But notice the way you walk, but we couldn't agree on the syndrome you might have. Could you tell us what it is?" The old man said, "I'll tell you, but first you tell me what you two fine medical students think." The first student said, "I think it's Peltry Syndrome." The old man said, "You thought - but you are wrong." The other student said, "I think you have Zovitzki Syndrome." The old man said, "You thought - but you are wrong." So they asked him, "Well, old timer, what do you have?" The old man said, "I thought it was G A S - but I was wrong, too!" Man of Few Words The good bishop knew very well that everyone in his small town look to him for an example. One night, however, after a long, hard day, he came to his last visitation. His hostess, noting that he looked tired, asked with concern, "A spot of tea, Bishop?" "No, thank you," he managed. "No tea." "Ah," she said. "Coffee, then?" "No coffee either, thank you." In the spirit of intrigue, she leaned closer and murmured, "I could bring you a scotch and soda in a dark mug?" “My dear, this is my last word: NO soda."
Kaieteur News
Sunday September 30, 2018
Sunday September 30, 2018
Effective Ayurvedic Face Packs For Glowing Skin
Continued from previous edition 9. Lavender Oil Face Pack You Will Need 1 tablespoon mashed avocado, 3-4 drops lavender essential oil What You Have To Do Mix the avocado and oil well. Apply to your face and let the skin soak in the goodness of the ingredients for 15-20 minutes. Wash with lukewarm water. Thrice a week. Avocado promotes collagen production and reduces dark circles. Lavender oil helps soothe sunburns and prevents inflammation. Moreover, it is also a great stressbuster. This is a soothing face pack for all skin types. 10. Gooseberry Face Pack You Will Need 1 tablespoon gooseberry paste (amla), 1 tablespoon curd 1 tablespoon honey What You Have To Do Put the gooseberry paste in a bowl and mix it with honey and curd. Make a fine paste and apply to your face. Let it dry. Wash with water. Thrice a week. This face pack is extremely beneficial for those with dry skin. It locks the moisture in and rejuvenates your skin. Curd and gooseberry have bleaching properties and keep acne at bay. 11. Neem, Tulsi, And Turmeric Face Pack You Will Need 4 tulsi leaves, 3 neem leaves, 1 teaspoon turmeric, ½ teaspoon lemon What You Have To Do Take a pestle and mortar and grind the leaves. You can also use a grinder to make the paste. Add lemon juice and turmeric and then blend. Use a flat brush to spread the mask on your face. Let it dry. Wash it off. Thrice a week. Both tulsi and neem have antibacterial properties that clear acne and blemishes. This face pack protects your skin from sun damage and reduces scarring caused by acne. To be continued....
SOLUTION TO LAST WEEK’S WORD SEARCH
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The Life-Wasting Potion
M
a n y, m a n y years ago everyone was strong and healthy. They ate a very varied diet, and especially loved fruit, vegetables, and fish. Everyone took daily exercise, and they enjoyed themselves playing and leaping about. The Earth was the healthiest place you could imagine, and it was clear that both adults and children were full of joy and good moods. All that made the dark witches furious. They only ever wanted to do harm and make problems for people. The worst of all of these witches was Sour-face; she was evil, and could be relied on to come up with the nastiest ideas. She suggested that all the witches combine their energies to invent a potion which would take away people's desire to live happily. So, one night, all the witches gathered down in the swampy forest and worked
together on that evil spell. The spell was so powerful, and would need so much energy to cast, that when one of the witches got one of the words wrong, there was a huge explosion. So big was the explosion, that it completely destroyed the forest. It turned all those evil witches into tiny little creatures, like germs, and left them trapped in a green liquid inside a small glass bottle, which lay lost in the swamp. There they were trapped for centuries, until one day a little boy found the bottle. Thinking it contained some kind of soft drink, he drank the lot. The evil, microscopic witches took advantage of this situation, and even though they were tiny and couldn't hurt anyone, they soon learned to change the little boy's likes and dislikes in order to get him to do what they wanted. In a few days, a funny feeling in his mouth and tongue meant the boy no longer wanted to eat vegetables, fruit, or fish. All he wanted to do was eat ice cream, pizza, burgers, and candy. Then a nibbling feeling all over his body meant he no longer enjoyed playing and running about with his friends. All that stuff tired him out; he now just wanted to stay in the house, sitting or lying about. So, his
life got more and more boring, he started feeling ill, and before long he had no desire to do anything. The evil potion had worked! And the worst thing of all was that the witches learned to jump from one person to another, like a virus. They managed to turn the influence of the potion into the most contagious of diseases: the disease of wasting your life. It was a long while before, with the help of his microscope; Doctor FittonHelthie discovered that the little witches were causing all this disease. There was no vaccine or cough mixture to get rid of them, but the good doctor discovered that the witches could not stand joy and good humour. It turned out that the best cure was to make a strong effort to live a healthy, joyful, and happy life. When a person became healthy, the little witches would leave that body as soon as they could, riding off on a sneeze. From then on, the best remedy was not pills or injections, but just a little bit of effort to eat some fruit, vegetables, and fish, and to do some exercise. And whoever came to see Doctor FittonHelthie, and took his advice, ended up totally well, being cured of the waste-of-life disease.
Sunday September 30, 2018
Junior page
Breast Cancer Awareness Wine Bottle Crafts Materials Needed: oPink
and white acrylic paint (for the words) oPencil oWine bottles/mason jars oPink/white spray paint for glass
Instructions: Start by taking off any stickers on the wine bottles (one of them had the labels left on and it showed through.) Put some newspaper down and spray paint them completely, even on the inside of the bottle/jars. Don't spray it on thick or you will get drips! Two coats may be necessary to get the preferred vibrant color.
ribbon…we also used glitter paint to go over it for some sparkle. Let dry and you've got yourself some beautiful decor for your home or gifts!
Once the jars and bottles are dry, stencil the outline of the letters with pencil. We made the mason jars each have one letter of the word “HOPE” and the wine bottles have “Live Laugh Love” on each side with the l's in the shape of a ribbon. In the middle of the “O” on the hope jar, draw a
Colour the picture
FUN WITH POETRY
. y m m i Dirty J Jimmy was a dirty little boy, Who hated to clean and bathe; Whenever his mother called him to take a bath, He would hide under the bed. He also did not brush his teeth, Nor did he comb his hair, His room and clothes were always untidy, With his books here, there and everywhere. Then Jimmy found to his dismay, He was losing his friends one by one; They could not bear to stand his smell, And he was soon left all alone. It was then that Jimmy saw his mistake, And decided to change his dirty habits; Now you'd be surprised at the way he shines, And his friends all cling to him like rabbits.
BY UNCLE ROY
Kid's Wordsearch Find all the words listed hidden in the grid of letters. They can be found in straight lines up, down, forwards, backwards or even diagonally. The leftover letters will reveal the mystery answer.
Kaieteur News
Sunday September 30, 2018
Be the Best of whatever you are
Keep on at improving the
power of your brain (continued from last week) When you realise that your brain power is not static and can be improved by positive efforts by yourself, then you will start to take action to effect this maximising of this power. Negative thoughts and actions tend to sap the brain of its energy, while a positive attitude and kind thoughts towards others produce a sense of well-being that help your brain to move towards its full capacity. When you make the effort to develop positive images of what has gone before and what you expect to happen, this leads to improved brain function. This means then that you should always focus on the positive your pleasant experiences and gratitude for these, as well as optimism for what is to come. All this creates a groove in your brain that will in turn maximise your efforts at learning. As we said before.physical exercise helps to keep your brain functioning at its maximum as it not only boosts energy and improves all your bodily functions, but it helps to build self-esteem and self-confidence, which are important to maintaining the positivity levels that are vital in any learning process.
Playing games, listening to or reading funny stories, and engaging in some interaction with others that evoke laughter also help your brain to develop this positivity that prompts it to rejuvenate and operate at its maximum. Another activity that will work towards this benefit is indulging in breathing exercises. This not only helps by delivering more oxygen to the brain, but it works towards producing a calmness and peacefulness that keeps all your organs functioning efficiently. Breathe to relax, in through the nostrils, out through the mouth. Pay full attention to your breath, and continue until you feel calm and relaxed. This breathing can be most effective during periods of meditation. Although we sometimes feel that meditating is an activity that is practised only by priests and other holy men, it is
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If you can't be a tree at the top of the hill, Be a bush down in the valley, But be the best little bush by the side of the hill, Be a bush if you can't be a tree. If you can't be a bush be a grass, And some highway happier make; If you can't be a snapper, just be a patwa, But be the liveliest patwa in the lake. We can't all be captain, some have got to be crew, There's something for all of us here, There's so much work to do, and lesser to do, And the task you must do is quite clear. If you can't be a highway, then just be a trail, If you can't be the sun, then be a star; It isn't by size that we win or we fail, Just be the best of whatever you are. an ordinary exercise that can be done by anyone who appreciates the need for some amount of peace and deep thinking about what is happening to them and what they need to do to keep improving their lives. Meditate to relax, to stimulate, to raise self-esteem, to get rid of frustrations and disappointments, and even to get rid of chronic pain. Meditation increases blood flow to the brain and improves cognitive function, including memory. Take time often to meditate, and your brain, as well as your entire being, will improve beyond all you can hope for.
Sudoku Every Sudoku has a unique solution that can be reached logically. Enter numbers into the blank spaces so that each row, column and 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 to 9.
Improvement of oneself in everyday functions is a continuous obligation that we owe to ourselves to become the THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK best we can be.
Solutions to last week’s QUOTAGRAM
FARM CROSSWORD
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Kaieteur News
Sunday September 30, 2018
Sunday September 30, 2018
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Kaieteur News
CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER By Fairbairn Egerton Liverpool
T
he Independent West Indian Com mission in its 1992 report, Time for Action, called on the region to be active in promoting a more appropriate system of international security. It advocated that such a system would no longer hold the region hostage to the vulnerability of smallness or jeopardize its development through the need for major military expenditure. This perspective of the Commission is even more relevant today as crime and violence threaten the security of our citizens and their assets. Crime and violence have turned out to be clear and present dangers to economic development and nation building in the Caribbean. According to the United States Institute of Peace, Special Report on Police Corruption (2011), Transparency International reported that the police, in 86 countries surveyed, were judged the fourth most corrupted institution after political parties, public officials generally, and parliaments and legislatures. CRIME MAKES MONEY
FOR BIGAND SMALL This should come as no surprise to the average informed reader in the Commonwealth Caribbean. It is common knowledge that crime in the Caribbean is not only money for our common variety street criminal, but also for the large legitimate businesses whom venture into the criminal underworld by importing the drugs and guns. Crime is also a moneymaking enterprise for the police who are corrupted by the big businesses and the very criminals who they should be prosecuting. Additionally, crime is money for the politicians who are bank-rolled by these big businesses, as well as for the public officials generally who freely accept bribes. Finally, crime is money for the defense lawyers who defend the criminals, and who know the corrupt police, politicians and public officials. This cycle of corruption and criminal activity is compounded by the reality of small societies in the Caribbean where everybody knows everybody. I once conducted an informal, conversational survey of various police ranks in four Member-States on this matter.
What was confirmed to me was that it was a virtual impossibility to have a crime committed without the knowledge of a member of the law enforcement community i.e., from a constable to the Commissioner. Two questions must then be asked; firstly, why has crime not been prosecuted with greater success? Secondly, what can be done to reduce the systemic corruption at all levels, which undermines the rule of law and the institutions designed to uphold the law? Caribbean States have in the past been the target of a wide-range of hostile, domestic disturbances ranging from military invasion, international and domestic terrorism, maritime disputes, adverse territorial claims and coups d’état. AMATTER OF URGENCY During the last two decades, Caribbean nations have experienced higher levels of violence associated with the illicit drug trade, transnational organized crime, and ethnic, religious and political intolerance. Increasingly, concerns have been raised with respect to corruption; the trafficking in illegal arms, trafficking in per-
Why security must be fully implemented as the fourth pillar of integration within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) sooner rather than later
sons, cybercrime and money laundering. More recently, international terrorism has emerged as a major security threat and has been posited as a catalyst for other criminal activities, specifically, trafficking in narcotics and firearms. Caribbean countries, like their European and MiddleEastern counterparts, have had to bolster national security mechanisms in the face of an influx of migrants fleeing hostile situations in their respective countries. This phenomenon must be addressed as a matter of urgency. Faced with similar inherent challenges of crime and security, most communities of nations rely on two main supranational institutions to complement member states in addressing crime and security issues, which impact on the community as a whole. Most notable of these in the area of law enforcement are INTERPOL, at the global level within the United Nations (UN), and EUROPOL, within the European Union. On the other hand, the UN’s Security apparatus in the main is based on its Multinational Peacekeeping Forces, while that of the EU
is based on its Military Alliances. WHY NOT CARIPOL? Eleven years ago, CARICOM Heads of Government considered making Security the Fourth Pillar for integration within CARICOM, but no substantial progress has been made in its implementation. As the then Regional Coordinator for Crime and Security within the CARICOM Secretariat, I was tasked to prepare the concept paper for internal discussion. In it, I advocated the establishment of a Caribbean Security System (CSS) and a Caribbean Police Service (CARIPOL) as the principal institutions of Regional Security Cooperation. Guided by the recommendation of the West Indian Commission (1992) that “both the United States and Europe should help to put in place such a system of international security against illegal drugs...”, there was a call for comprehensive regional security cooperation. During a February 2001 meeting with Caribbean regional maritime officials, it was recommended that eight sub-regions or zones (including the Dutch, French, Brit-
ish, the USA, dependent territories and the Regional Security System (RSS) in collaboration with Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and Belize be created to facilitate the coordination of interdiction operations across the entire Caribbean to combat illegal drug trafficking. With the potential cooperation and coordination in the sharing of intelligence and operations being created within the Region, a serious blow could have been struck on the transnational criminal activities of big businesses; which has been a leading source of money laundering and corruption throughout the Region. Police literature speaks of the need to transfer police ranks tactically around the various police districts to avoid over familiarity that could facilitate corruption. However, in small islandstates, the employment of such a tactic would face severe limitations because of the small size of the population and geography. Therefore, the establishment of a regional mechanism under the umbrella of a CARIPOL would not only facilitate the (Continued on page 70)
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Kaieteur News Awardees pose with NDC Chairman Bharrat Narine striking a pose with top five 2018 CSEC performers.
Sunday September 30, 2018
Diamond/Grove NDC hosts inaugural dinner and awards ceremony
NDC Chairman Bharrat Narine and Overseer Richard Mohabir pose during the presentation of an award. The Diamond/Golden Grove Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) held its first awards ceremony and dinner on Friday. The event was well attended by councillors, and staff, Regional Democratic Council (RDC) officials. The event which was held at M and M Banquet Hall, Peters’ Hall, East Bank Demerara, sought to recognise persons from various sectors of society while at the same time updating the public as to the many achievements, challenges and future plans for the NDC. Chairman of the evening’s proceeding and Councillor, Haimwatie Ghir-Somar, in presenting the bursary awards pointed out that it was the first time that the NDC had undertaken such an initiative, noting that it is their plan to make it an annual event as they seek to help advance education within the NDC. She pointed out that after a search began to get the top five students, they were pleasantly surprised to learn that the five students were all of the Diamond Secondary which she said is testimony to the fact that the educational institution continues to hold its own among some of the nation’s top schools. District Development Officer (DDO), Sherlock Hutson, speaking on behalf of the Regional Executive Officer (REO)
Ms. Pauline Lucas, told those gathered that the RDC is fully aware of the state that the NDC was at when it was inherited by the present councillors. He congratulated the NDC and its councillors stressing that they are fortunate to have a Chairman in Bharrat Narine whom he said is very professional and hardworking. “Over the past three years, those of us who are actively involved in the administration of the Diamond Grove NDC would be very proud to be part of such a council. As such, this evening’s activity is a reflection of those persons who are proud to be part of the management of this NDC,” he said. Copping this year ’s awards were Darshnie Singh, Yashoda Persaud, Regina Hernandez, Harinauth Ramsaywack and Oma Arjun. Arjun was adjudged the top student who gained eleven ones and five twos at the 2018 sitting of the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination. The inaugural winners of the Community Awards were New Diamond Grove Primary head teacher, Ms. Wendy Chichester, and Grove Primary head teacher, Ms. Desryn Richmond. Both schools were able to secure two places each in the top 100 students for this year’s NGSA exams.
Sunday September 30, 2018
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Kaieteur News
STANDARDS IN FOCUS
BUSINESSES - EMBRACING STANDARDS FOR COMPETITIVENESS In today’s competitive business environment, standards and quality are two key aspects that determine the market share of businesses, and ultimately these determine who will remain competitive and who will just survive. More often than not, the tendency is for customers to demand quality products and services that meet acceptable standards. For any company to have a competitive advantage in a business environment where similar products and services are being offered to the same set of customers, consistency, efficiency and reliability must be maintained for that company to remain successful. Utilizing the requirements outlined in available product, service and system standards is integral to ensuring those outcomes are achieved. There are thousands of standards available worldwide that are invisible to most consumers and their vast number alone suggests that the world needs standards,
hence the need for industries to implement standards in their operations in order to be successful. Apart from promoting market efficiency and expansion, when industry utilizes standards the prospects of international trade are good. There is a greater likelihood that through conformance to standards overseas buyers will have confidence in locally produced products and services. Further, conformance to standards and technical regulations helps to remove barriers to market entry for products exported. Hence, with standards, local businesses, which are finding themselves restrained by a limited share of the local market, can expand beyond our borders to earn crucial foreign currency. For many, also, to become competitive means overcoming the insurmountable task of innovation through the inexpensive use of product and performance standards which facilitate the diffusion of new
technologies. Through the use of adopted standards, new design, performance and testing parameters are transferred from companies that have the resources for product development to those that do not. Small businesses world-over are known to take advantage of these opportunities that standards provide. Unfortunately, however, some standards can sometimes be adverse to business survival. They can cause a rise in transaction costs, used to create barriers to trade, andcan even constrain innovation. Poor or indeterminate standards can also compromise quality and safety of products and services. Nevertheless, in the foreseeable future, it is anticipated that more local companies and
A mini health check is the first step to donating blood
businesses will begin to embrace standards as a key means for competitiveness. Once called upon, the Guyana National Bureau of Standards will respond to the needs of
these businesses by supporting the development and implementation national or international standards that are crucial fortheir success. For further information,
please contact the Guyana National Bureau of Standards on telephone numbers: 2190065, 219-0066 or visit the GNBS website: www.gnbsgy.org.
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Sunday September 30, 2018
Kaieteur News
VACANCY Experienced casheir/ salesgirls needed. Apply with application to American Variety Store (Regent/Light street, Bourda)
SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION, W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Guyana passport application. Graphics design, advertisement. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535. ICONIC MARKETING & PRINTING –TEL: 6006887: We create A/works, logos, business cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included. Installations, Repairs and parts for AC, Fridge, Washing machine, Stove etc call Nick 627-3206, 630-1600
TAXI SERVICE GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 225-7878 (24HRS) LAND FOR SALE
FOR SALE Generac Pressure Wash for sale 3100 PSI. Tel#654-5267/ 652-2244/220-4203 1 Gold Metal Detector MWM Turbo 6 cylinder engine with 8-6 Berkley pump. Yamaha 25 hp outboard. 2 Stihl weeding machine Call 613-5062 10" Diamond Lavrador. Steel wash plant (stone separator) for gold mining, Shulz Air Compressor. Fogging MachineCall 613-5062 One (1) Pure white German Shepherd Pup Six (6) week old Tel#650-9998/626-0953
Parfaite Harmonie $1M, $1.2M, $1.4M, $1.8M $2.6M Tel# 648-1635 Farm, Eccles, Dairy- WBD, Best Village WCD 45x110 $1.3M Transport #672-0416 3 million 500k downpayment, 20k monthly, Build right away; transported properties EBD. #622-1957/233-6997 Eccles New Scheme (100ftx50ft) $5M (Title) No agents. Tel# 611-7223 / 6511969 LEARN TO DRIVE N. Outar Driving School. Learn to Drive the right way. Affordable package. Call: 644-5166/691-2561
WANTED
VACANCY
PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION, W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620
1 Air compressor 5HP 3 Phase 230/220 volts. Call: 628-1486/ 698-1134.
One Graphic artist. #233-2725
1 unfurnished bottom flat $50,000 monthly @ Grove New Scheme & 1 Salon Station @ Bourda Post Office. #624-3996/602-0333
Wanted Female workers. Just write CXC 2018. Call 622-5518
Business place to rent (bottom flat) 14 Lombard St G/town. Tel# 227-1385, 6530506
Unfurnished building located Lower East Coast/ Lower East Bank Demerara. Send details &picturesnewerarealtygy @gmail.com
Beautiful Liquor Bar and Restaurant, Ratings 10/10 Soesdyke Highway $200,000 monthly. #690-5300 or 2257026
Three apartment building in Diamond. Call: 680-5944/6564211 10 weeks Pitbull pup, just three left 30 grand each. Tel#680-3101 Large breed mix puppies, 6 weeks old, father mixed with shepherd & labrador, mother mixed $45,000 each #639-8924/ 663-1295 1 6CT Cummings engine foreign used on bed. 1 Generac generator, just arrived from USA 60 KVA, volts 120/240 Phase 1. Contact: 668-0794/226-7696 Imported furniture: sofas, side & center table, rugs, lamps; tv stand. owner leaving. Matt #655-3070
Prime land to build that dream home. Not far from Princess, New Thriving, Massy, HJ water world $13M neg- Call: 669-8397 Herstelling New Scheme (110ft x 60ft) $4M Tel#6561345
FOR RENT
VEHICLE FOR SALE Allion, Primo, Fielder Wagon, Spacio, Bluebird, 212 Carina, RZ,Pit-bull, Allex, 192 & Canter – Call: 650-7501 Timber Jack 450 B Skidder, GMC Tow truck, parts for 720 Nissan pickup. Call Richard # 609-7675/ 674-1705/233-2614 Toyota Rav 4. PKK series, Great condition. Very attractive price. #218-1376 1 BMW 320I car for sale. PTT series. Owner leaving country. Price Neg. Contact 697-4726, 259-0288, 259-0227 American 2008 Black Accord, 4 cylinder with front and rear air bags. Whatsapp or call (346) 818-0822
CAR RENTAL PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS FROM $4000 & UP, SUV’S PER DAY- CALL:643-5122/ 6 5 6 - 0 0 8 7 , ,EMAIL:PRO_AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.COM DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL:225-7126/ 2263 6 9 3 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL @YAHOO.COM/ WWW.D OLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL:PICKUP,9-11 SEAT MINI BUS, GOOD FOR AIRPORT & FAMILY OUTINGS, CHEAPEST RATE . CALL: 698-7807 WING’S CAR & PICKUP RENTAL: LOW DOWN PAYMENT, CHEAP RATES,SPECIALOFFERS! . CALL: 690-6494
4x4 Vigo Hilux Extra cab Diesel 70,000 kn all-terrain tyre & lift kit $2.9M #661-5099
EDUCATION Personal tutor for your children. Grade 2,4,6 Form 15 CXC Maths/Physic/ Chemistry/Biology. #6905008
1 Skilled Bobcat operator. 4 years experience. 609-0766/ 265-3024
Attractive live in waitressCall: 327-0252/674-4665
Persons to work at bar #6530222/615-1347 One (1) Male ablebodied clerk. Tel# 231-2029/616-5954 Manager to work at 704, Driver/Expediter & Watchman to work @ Eccles Industrial Site. Contact# 223-5273/74 or 227-5003 Have Soursop trees? We buy the Leaves. Contact Mr Waaldijk on #609-8281 One live-in Domestic must know to cook (Indian Dishes) 25-45 yrs #610-3974 We are buying land anywhere in Parfaite Harmonie with title. In Eccles & Amelia’s ward. Tel#6560701 Need a boy or girl to work in Provision shop. Tel#616-0499 PROPERTY FOR SALE 3 storey house for sale 29 Durban Street Werk-en-Rust #678-1566 House & Land in #41 Stanlytown New Amsterdam. $5M. Tel# 611-7223 Comfortable 3 bedroom home, Big yard space, Melanie ECD, just off public road. Contact Ray’s Realty #627-9685 Property with exceptional yard space, Paradise East Coast Demerara. Contact Ray’s Realty #627-9685 Gorgeous 2 storey home Enterprise C East Coast Dem 3 bedrooms. Contact: 6279685 or email raysphillips@yahoo.com 2 story property, Barr St Kitty, perfect for business. Contact Ray’s Realty #627-9685
SALON September Cosmetology Courses $40,000 Nail Technology $25,000 Advance Make-up $15,000, All products provided. Abby #614-6749
2 story property, Durban St, Wortmanville Georgetown, good for residential or business. Contact Ray’s Realty #627-9685 Desirable 2 story home Republic Park East Bank Demerara. Contact Ray’s Realty 627-9685
Maths tutor to teach an 8 year old. Contact 223-5273/74 Driver/Expeditor. Contact 223-5273/74 Experienced Handyman/ Porter ablebody all-rounder, apply with written application/ recommendation @ Keyfood McDoom Village (Age 20-30) Expert watch repairer. Apply to Royal Jewel House 137 Regent Street- opposite Kirpalani Vacancy for 1 maid & 1 male security. Call: 693-9336 (ECD) 9am to 4pm weekdays only. 1 experienced cook, 1 counter staff #623-8654 Call 8-4 pm One General domestic, must be able to cook vegetarian food. Apply @ Alabama Trading 65 Robb Street. Responsible male to graze and milk cow.Age 30-45. #233-2049 Call anytime after 12 $22,000 start salary. Vacancy for professional hairdresser at Natural Beauty Salon & Spa #652-5800 Vacancy for a domestic maid. Call 231-0734 between 1pm10pm only. Watchman, male/female who can bathe dogs & clean the yard. Call: 231-0734/653-4537 between 1pm-10pm only Vacancy exist for 1 Professional seamstress. Contact# 592-677-5720 for more information Tool room clerk, Machinist, Male cleaner, Apprentice, Apply at Technical Services 18-23 Industrial Site, Eccles EBD Maid for East Bank area, to cook and clean, age 25 to 50. Call: 614-4358 Female cleaner office & home, age 25 to 50. Call: 233-2745 Wanted male/female to work in interior salary $80,000 age 25-40. Call: 693-0214 Experienced workers for land dredge, 1 male cook for interior $100,00 Monthly Tel#672-3359 Looking for someone with stickgear vehicle and is willing to teach a course. Contact# 603-2487 PROPERTY FOR SALE Lot 22 Railway line, Uivlugt, West Coast Demerara $14 Million negotiable. Contact #277-3520, 688-4263
Waiter/Waitress, Apply to the Manager, Herdmanston Lodge, Peter Rose & Anira Streets. Kitchen assistant/helper and cleaner, must be able to work at fast pace. Call: 225-6927 for more info
Sunday September 30, 2018
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Kaieteur News
CONSUMER CONCERNS
AMERINDIAN HERITAGE AND AMERINDIAN LANGUAGES BY PAT DIAL We commenced Amerindian Heritage Month, which is commemorated in September each year. The Month was appropriately kicked off with a service of the Halleluja Religion, which is an indigenous Christian-inspired Faith. The Heritage of ethnic communities is largely concerned with cultural, historical and societal matters in their broadest sense and not with economic and social requirements of that particular community. For example, to speak of the State creating roads or water supplies or electricity or educational institutions or village government and attempting to link these things with Amerindian Heritage Month misses its focus. The State is obligated to provide these public works and social amenities to all communities and the country as a whole and is involved in doing those things every month of the year. Amerindian Heritage Month and its activities are national events, which all ethnic groups are expected to respect and in which to even participate.
Politics in Guyana is a divisive thing and as such, we should avoid it touching Amerindian Heritage Month since it will diminish the meaning and impact of it. There are numerous aspects of our Amerindian Heritage which need to be explained and exposed to the wider community and they range from many simple things which non-Amerindians take for granted such as the Presidential emblem with the large macaw feathers. It would be an enlightening exercise to explain the use of feathers in the Amerindian Tradition, their colour, length, how they are placed in relation to each other and so on. There are many other more important areas of the Amerindian Heritage, which need to be explored and researched. One of the most important areas is the Amerindian languages. Although some philological work has been done on the Guanani language of Paraguay and the Quecha language of Bolivia, both of which are widely spoken languages, no philological work has ever been undertaken on the seven Amerindian languages of Guyana, some of
which are spoken in the neighbouring countries. The University of Guyana, for many years, has had an Amerindian Research Department, which was headed by Dr Desrey Fox who was an Amerindian and whose mother-tongue was an Amerindian language. The Department was always underfunded and little or no philological work was done. It was recently reported in the press that the Child Care and Protection Agency (CC&PA) would be issuing some notices in four Amerindian languages. This was a very welcome initiative for it gives the Amerindian languages some official recognition and communicates with Amerindian language speakers. In the past, because so large a part of the population were Hindi/Urdu speakers, the Law Courts always had Hindi interpreters available. And ballot papers used at national elections until the 1950's had their basic instructions in Hindi as well as in English. Despite this and the fact that Hindi/Urdu is still used in the mandirs and masjids and is the language of Bollywood films and Indian
TV Soaps, it fell out of spoken usage. Our Amerindian languages, in contrast, have far less of a survival potential than Hindi/Urdu and are in imminent danger of being eliminated by English. Quick action is therefore necessary to save and sustain the Amerindian languages and preserve one important aspect of the cultural heritage of not only the Amerindian community but of all Guyana. A number of activities could be taken by the State, the Educational Authorities, NGO's which are involved in Amerindian affairs, the Churches and the Amerindian community itself to preserve these languages: In the first place, some economic benefit should be accorded the use of the lan-
guage; one such could be that Government employees who work in Amerindian areas should be given extra allowances if they could speak and understand Amerindian languages, Also advertisements for small contracts or for certain jobs could be carried in the Amerindian languages. The widest spoken Amerindian language should be chosen as the lingua franca and taught in the schools though the smaller languages should be encouraged as "home languages". In time, prizes could be given for literary attempts in the language. Word spellings should be agreed upon and dictionaries should be produced both for the language itself and with Amerindian words in English. These actions will standard-
ize the language and make it more accessible. The basic language could fairly quickly be introduced in the elementary classes of the schools in the Amerindian areas. Since there would be initially a shortage of teachers, they could be shared. Lastly, help could be sought through UNESCO and from the relevant academic institutions in the USA, Britain and France. Amerindian Heritage Month 2018 could be a watershed if the language programme could be substantively considered.
We are life savers, you should be one too!Donate blood today!!!
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Sunday September 30, 2018
Kaieteur News
Water Supply Programme benefits Diamond, Uitvlugt communities
Project Manager of Hydroplan, Richard Persaud, explaining works to Minister Bulkan, IDB Country Representative Sophie Makonnen, GWI’s Managing Director, Richard Van West Charles among others. By Kemol King Residents of Diamond and Uitvlugt will receive 20 million litres of water per day, following works done under the Ministry of Communities’ Water Supply and Sanitation Infrastructure Improvement Programme. New water treatment plants were constructed at Sheet Anchor, East Coast Berbice, Diamond, EBD and Uitvlugt, WCD. The Shelter Belt water treatment plant was also rehabilitated and expanded. Non-revenue water losses were reduced through metering and establishment of district meter zones in the
programme areas. Institutional strengthening of GWI and conversion of existing pit latrines to septic tanks for 1,000 beneficiaries was also done. As a result of the new water treatment plant being constructed at Uitvlugt, residents from Cornelia Ida to De Kinderen will receive 10M litres of treated water per day when it is completed next year. Diamond’s new water treatment plant will service some 23,266 people from Herstelling to Great Diamond with 12M litres of treated water per day. GWI has already installed more than 3,500 meters in this area and 91 septic tanks are
scheduled for installation in November. The Diamond water treatment plant is on schedule to be completed by next year. GWI has installed more than 3,500 meters in the Diamond Area, and 91 Septic Tanks will be installed in November. Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan, representatives from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) and the Ministry of Finance visited the project sites to assess the progress of construction of the new water treatment plants in Uitvlugt and Diamond, East
Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan, examining the Diamond Water Treatment Plant. Bank Demerara, yesterday. The plants, costing US$6.6M are only a part of a larger programme, drawing from a loan of US$31.6M, which Guyana received in 2014 from the Inter American Development Bank. They are expected to become operational in late 2018.
Consultant and Project Manager of Hydroplan, Richard Persaud, said that works are on schedule despite only being 25 percent complete. Works are ongoing on the sedimentation tank, the filters, the ground storage tanks and the Administration building.
Arshad Yacoub, Programme Manager of GWI, related that some 21,550 members of the population will be served when the treatment plants come into operation. As part of the project, GWI is in the process of installing meters in communities to be serviced.
Region Two wraps up on Education Month with STEAMS carnival The Department of Education, Region Two, brought the curtain down on Education Month last Thursday with an innovative STEAMS carnival. The STEAMS fair carnival is believed to be the first of its kind hosted on the Essequibo Coast by the Department of Education. The carnival commenced with a one-mile parade from the Anna Regina High Bridge, to the Anna Regina Multilateral Secondary School [Cotton Field]. The participants included teachers, students and even parents from children at the Nursery to Secondary school levels. All were colourfully adorned in costumes, which supported this year’s education month theme, “Education for a Good Life through Innovation and STEAMS.” Each costume supported the
six initials in the acronym STEAMS;— Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics and Spiritualism. After parading from Anna Regina, through Cotton Field, the carnival parade made its way to the Anna Regina Secondary, where a formal programme awaited. Speaking at the programme last Thursday was the Regional Education Officer, Ms. Nicola Matthews who urged students to transform their ideas into goods or services that will be of value to persons, since the world is already highly technologically advanced. Matthews’s thought provoking questions to the young minds on last Thursday were; “Do we have new ideas that can bring about this good life? Are we creative in our thinking? Are we prepared
to change things that are not working or changing a habit that is preventing us from having a good life?” Also present at the carnival programme was the Region Two Chairman Two, Devenand Ramdatt. Upon observing the outstanding carnival display, Ramdatt concluded that the Department of Education created history in Region Two on last Thursday. The Regional Chairman added, “The activity was observed in an innovative way so that we can attract the minds of our young people by means of a carnival. The nursery school students that are participating here today will remember this for a very long time. They will grow into the system as we recognize the importance of STEAMS for our country’s development.”
CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER From page 65 employment of such police tactics, but would also serve as a tremendous learning experience for the visiting ranks working at various levels from the streets to the offices within various member states. The presence of strangers among the ranks of the local police will no doubt serve as a deterrent to petty corrupt practices. Through CARIPOL, legal mechanisms could be established to facilitate various assistance
programmes to individual police forces in need. The basis of establishing security as the Fourth Pillar of the Caribbean Community revolves around the need to develop and maintain a safe and secure environment. This pre-supposes the establishment and effective functioning of institutions to address issues regarding security and the adherence to the Rule of Law. A Caribbean Security System (CSS) and CARIPOL should be pre-req-
uisites of security as the Fourth Pillar because it creates the appropriate environment for sustaining creative, healthy and productive CARICOM citizens. [Fairbairn Egerton Liverpool A graduate of The Royal Military Academy of Sandhurst in England, Fairbairn Egerton Liverpool, has had considerable experience in command and staff as a Military Officer in the Guyana Defence Force (GDF)].
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Persaud’s 6-46 gives GNIC 1st innings points over Police... From page 79 Boodie unbeaten on 45 and Jason Heyliger (9). Andrew Lyght, who clobbered two fours and six in 15, impetuously hit Benjamin to long-off before Kemol Savory, after hitting Butts for six edged a cut to gully next ball after reaching the boundary three times and clearing it twice in his 29 at 822. After a delay of 30 minutes due to preparation moisture in the pitch GNIC elected to field and Benjamin, in a lively spell removed Bookie (7), Lyght (10) and Kevin Leitch (0) after Savory seemed a bit unlucky to be adjudged LBW to Suknanan to leave the Cops on 28-4. Suknanan sent back Kendall at 61-5 before Butts, who played seven Tests, had London; beaten in the flight and bowled at 91-8 to end a promising 63run stand, while Jason Heyliger (14) fell to Butts
and Kester Hardcourt (0) was bowled by Suknanan as two wickets tumbled at 79. Butts then wrapped up the innings by removing Eon Rodrigues (10) and Persaud for a duck. When GNIC began their reply, Nicholas (15) was LBW to Hardcourt and Raun Johnson, who bowled with pace, trapped Crandon LBW. Shawn DeSousa (5) was unfortunately given run out at the non-striker’s end backing up too far when a drive from OvidRichardson hit the wicket but seemed to miss Heyliger’s hand in his follow-through and an angry DeSousa stood on the field remonstrating with the Umpire before the Persaud demolition job commenced. From 81-4, Persaud sent back David Dick (5), Jermaine Grovsner (4), Keon Sinclair (11) and Suknanan (8) to finish off the innings.
Kevin Boodie was unbeaten on 45 when the 1st day ended at Eve Leary yesterday.
Windies’ bowlers.... Sunday September 30, 2018 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Perhaps you spent quite a bit of money lately and you're holding your breath waiting for the bills to roll in. TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) This is a good day to reflect on the past weeks and get some perspective, Taurus. You've probably been working too hard and neglecting other priorities in your life. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Don't plunge headfirst into work mode, Gemini. The cleaning and tidying up can surely wait for another day. Today's energies indicate good will CANCER (June 21–July 22) It's likely that your thoughts are completely turned to work. Much as you should devote your time off to friends and family, you can't help the way you're wired
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You think of yourself as a practical person, Libra, but today your thoughts may turn to the mystical and spiritual. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) You will probably encounter a bit of opposition along with today's planetary energies, Scorpio. Even those who are usually right behind you will seem uncooperative. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Your thoughts today are likely to turn to setting goals for the future, particularly concerning your career. CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Today's planetary energies are stimulating your ambition, Capricorn. Issues connected with your professional life may be very much on your mind.
LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) This is a good day for financial matters, Leo. With your credit cards maxed out, you may be thinking that your bank account isn't as healthy as it could be.
AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) You've been so busy socializing these past few weeks that you may have inadvertently neglected the special person in your life.
VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) You could be feeling quite lazy today, Virgo, and you definitely deserve to feel this way! You deserve some time off after all of the activities of the past week. Give yourself the gift of a true day off.
PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) It's possible that a big change is in store for you in the near future, Pisces. It may be that you've come to realize that your current home and neighborhood are no longer a good fit.
From page 78 Sherman Lewis to get rid of Prithvi Shaw and Hanuma Vihari respectively, the majority of the day’s play was dominated by the Indians. The duo’s dismissals led to a 92-run partnership between Mayank Agarwal and captain Karun Nair, and they carried the score up to 132 before Agarwal became the first of Bishoo’s three victims, falling 10 runs short of a deserved century. His knock of 90 came from 111 balls and he struck 14 boundaries and two sixes, and was another reminder to selectors ahead of the first Test match on October 4. Gabriel then picked up his second wicket, having the captain Nair caught for 29. However, Bawne and Iyer came together in a 113-run fifthwicket stand to take control of proceedings. Iyer hit a brisk 61 off just 64 balls through the afternoon, with a more sedate Bawne eventually taking control on his way to his 18th first-class century. Bawne’s unbeaten 116 came from 191 balls during which he stroked 15 boundaries. Iyer though was eventually dismissed by Bishoo, who also accounted for wicketkeeper Smit Patel after tea.Bishoo was the Windies’ most successful bowler grabbing 3-104 while Gabriel took two for 41. Scores: PRESIDENT’S XI 360 for six (Ankit Bawne 116, Mayank Agarwal 90, Shreyas Iyer 61; Devendra Bishoo 3-104, Shannon Gabriel 2-41) vs WEST INDIES.
Gajanan Suknanan is bowled by Hemchan Persaud who captured 6-46 for Police yesterday.
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From page 75 who quickly recovered and retaliated with shots of his own. When the dust had settled, the 29-year-old who has won 46 amateur fights had begun his Pro career in promising fashion. JAMAICA PIP GUYANA’S GREEN MACHINE IN DYING SECONDS AGAIN FOR RAN 7S TITLE Unfortunately for Guyana’s Male Rugby Team, the Green Machine, it was déjà vu for them when Jamaica ‘Crocs’ ran away with a late try in the dying seconds of the game to break a 17-17 deadlock to eventually win 22-17 in the final of the Rugby Americas North (RAN) Sevens Championship at the Belle Vue Plantation and Polo Club in St. Michael, Barbados. Leading up to the game winning try, the Guyanese gave away a penalty with less than a minute remaining on the clock and the men from Reggae land capitalised fully to pull off a similar last gasp stunner which they had inflicted on the Guyanese during last year’s final in Mexico City, Mexico. With 20 seconds left on the clock, Jamaica defended their five-point lead to secure their berth in the Hong Kong 7s qualifiers. However, both finalists have secured their spot to the 2019 Pan American Games which will be hosted in Lima, Peru 2019. During the Green Machine’s journey to the final, they comfortably negotiated their way past Dominican Republic 12-5, but the semifinal clash with Mexico was tighter with a solitary try making the difference for the Guyanese in the closely shaved 17-12 finish. On the distaff side, the Guyanese ladies fell to eventual champions Mexico 7-27 in their final group game before going down to Bahamas 5-20 in the women’s plate semifinal but found some resolve when they outplayed Bermuda 32-0 to finish seventh overall. INDIGENOUS HERITAGE GAMES...ST. CUTHBERT’S MISSION, MORUCA, LALUNIAND MAHDIA WIN ON FINAL DAY Hundreds of fans flocked to the Everest Cricket Club (ECC) ground to witness the action packed final day of the 2018 Indigenous Heritage Games which saw teams from
RAN7s 2018 Champs, Jamaica Ccocs. across the 10 Administrative Regions of Guyana going head to head for bragging rights, trophies and cash prizes in cricket, archery, volleyball and football. In addition, there were also attractions for the entire family with novelty competitions and a kid’s corner. All the competitive games saw participation of both male and female sides. In cricket, Laluni defeated Mahdia in a low scoring contest, while the ladies of St. Cuthbert’s Mission successfully defended their title after chasing down a competitive 90 runs inside eight overs losing just three wickets playing against Kartabo of Lower Mazuruni. The winners and runnersup of the cricket tournament both pocketed $150,000 and $100,000 respectively. In volleyball, Moruca ladies served their way past Pakuri in straight sets, 15-11, 15-6. In the men’s final, Mahdia got the better of Bartica and as was the case in the first match, they won in straight sets 15-8, 15-7. Following their victories, both Mahdia (men) and Moruca (women) are $100,000 richer. In archery, Burnette Gordon; mother of national hockey players Aliyah and Brianna Gordon, successfully defended her title in the women’s division, while Ivor Williams was the best male
shooter. Gordon expressed her delight in the huge turnout and hailed the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples Affairs for yet another successful hosting of the event when commenting on the three-day event. Meanwhile, Guyana Rush Saints (male) and Paruima (female) won the coveted football titles. Franklin Parks, who was part of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) historic Train and Play Camp in Brazil, dealt the deciding blow in the 29th minute for Region # 9’s Guyana Rush Saints as they needled the defending champions Port Kaituma of Region #1. On the distaff side, Region #7’s Paruima played to 3-3 draw with Lethem Gladiators before eventually winning via kicks from the penalty mark, 4-1. Scoring for the eventual winners were Merlyn Percy (44th), Stesha Robertson (71st) and Betsy Gonsalves in extra time, while Sonia Griffith (21st) and a double from Vandette Henry in the 43rd minute and extra time accounted for the Gladiators goals during full and extratime. The respective winners, male and female pocketed $300,000 and a trophy each with the two runners-up collecting $200,000 and a trophy each. RHT BAKEWELL CRUSH FYRISH CC TO WIN BCB/ SUERIA MAGIC MOMENTS T20 FINAL Residents of Fyrish and surrounding villages came out in their numbers when the
village hosted its first every Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) final. The entire ground was packed to capacity despite the fact that the visiting Rose Hall Town Bakewell trounced the home team Fyrish Cricket Club by 95 runs. It was the third Zone final of the Magic Moments T20 tournament following those completed in Upper Corentyne and New Amsterdam/Canje. The tournament is being sponsored by Sueria Manufacturing Inc. of Eccles EBD. Fyrish won the toss and to the surprise of Rose Hall Town Bakewell team, elected to field first. Rose Hall Town Bakewell opening pair of Kevin and Junior Sinclair started like a house on fire as they tore into the Fyrish bowling attack. The pair added 50 in just 4.3 overs while the 100 was reached in the 9th over. National Under-19 player was first to be dismissed, bowled by Yogindra Chinapen for 60 off 27 balls at 104 in the 10th over. Fellow National Player Junior Sinclair was then run out for 40 after he and Surendra Kissoonlall found themselves in the same crease. Promising junior National Kevlon Anderson and Kissoonlall then batted well to add 100 in 8 overs. Anderson struck a polished 57 (8x4 3x6). The elegant Kissoonlall struck five sweetly timed boundaries and two huge sixes to support Anderson, after he struggled to get the ball off the square early in his innings. Keith Simpson (5) and Jonathan Rampersaud (2) were at the crease when the
overs expired as RHT Bakewell ended on 218-4. Avenash Rengasmi 3-41 and Yogindra Chinapen were the successful bowlers for Fyrish. Needing 219 to clinch the title and urged on by their adoring home fans, Fyrish raced to 34-0 in 3-overs before medium pacer Kevlon Anderson bowled Yogindra Chinapen (14) and then had fellow Younghan Gurdayal (8) caught by Mahendra Gopilall with the score at 40-2. Former National youth player Javed Mohamed then tore into offspinner Kevin Sinclair, as he took 21 runs from the 8th over and together with Aushramanie Shrikissoon added 40 for the 3rd wicket in just 3.2 overs before they both fell to leave Fyrish in trouble. Mohamed was caught at deep cover by Mahendra Gopilall, trying to hit Sinclair for another six while Shrikissoon was caught off Junior Sinclair for 28. No other Fyrish batsman reached double figures as Junior Sinclair 3-10, Keith Simpson 2-8, Kevlon Anderson 2-30 and Sylus Tyndall 2-31 all bowled well on the small ground, Fyrish being dismissed for 123 in the 17th over. An emotional BCB President Hilbert Foster hailed the Fyrish Village and the club for being wonderful hosts and committed the Board to organising finals at non-traditional venues across Berbice in an effort to promote cricket. Foster urged the defeated finalist to be proud of themselves and to use the experience of being in a final as an inspiration to greater achieve-
ments. RAVENS BRUSH DEFENDING CHAMPIONS COLTS 73-62 IN BANKS DIH/ GABA LEAGUE First Division champions, Bounty Colts, suffered their second defeat of the Rainforest Waters/Malta Supreme/Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association (GABA) League being played at the Burnham Hard Court at the hands of Dyna’s Ravens which dominated the contest throughout for an 11-point win. The 2018 National Club Championship runners-up had the edge over the title holders with Tyrone Hamid scoring an incredible 35 points for Ravens, inclusive of one three-pointer. Dominique Vincente supported with 13 points while Ryan Stephney had 10 before he was fouled out; inclusive of a technical, as Ravens joined Plaisance Guardians as other team to have put Colts to the sword so far this season.Shaine Webster (19) along with Jonathan Mangra and Kurt English who both scored 13 points were the main men for Colts in the loss. In the opening Under-23 division game, Kobras slithered past University of Guyana (UG) Trojans 50-47 in a lowscoring contest between the youngsters. James Lakhan (12) and Akeeam Morrison (10) were the top scorers for the Agricola based club that also saw victory. Skipper of the losing team, Kadeem Peterkin, was the main scorer with 12 points.
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We take a look back at the key events that took place and made the news in the local sporting arena over the past week E’BO SKITTLE DEFENDING CHAMPS GT FOR 55 TO WIN CGI/ GCB JAGUARS 50-OVER FRANCHISE In sweltering heat on a fast outfield, Essequibo crushed defending 50-over champs Georgetown by 97 runs in a top of the table clash to take the title in this year’s CGI/GCB Jaguars 50-over Franchise League with one round still to play. The Franchise from the Cinderella County needed no help from a fairy god mother to bowl out Georgetown for an embarrassing 55 in 24.1 overs to successfully defend their paltry 152 all out in 43.3 over and avenge their loss to City side in last year’ final at Providence. Jamaican off-spinner Ramaal Lewis continued his consistent form to grab 3-24 and take his wicket-tally to 11, while leg-spinner Steven Sankar (3-12) and Chris Barnwell (2-21) bowled well as man-of-the-match Ricardo Adams reached the boundary four times in top score of 37 from 60 balls. But only Mark Williams (23) of the other batsmen reached 20 in the low scoring game in good batting conditions. Ricardo Adams picked up 4-16 including the tournament’s only hat-trick, while Anthony Adams, who ripped out the top order, finished with 4-26, leaving the Essequibans as the only unbeaten side. When Georgetown began their run chase, Anthony Adams removed Raymond Perez (0), Robin Bacchus (1) and Quincy Ovid-Richardson
New Champs Essequibo take a group pic following their triumph after bowling out defending Champs Georgetown for 55 at Bourda. (4) to leave the score on 8-3 as the top order again failed to fire. When Leon Johnson, the tournament’s leading runscorer with four consecutive half-centuries and who, along with Barnwell have been doing the bulk of the scoring for the City side, was bowled for four at 22-4 by Akinie Adams, Georgetown were in a deep hole from which they were never able to crawl out. Barnwell has three fifties in his last four innings and with him rested all hopes of a recovery, but just when he was looking threatening on 21 he edged the multi-talented Joshua Jones to Keeper Kemol Savory at 44-5 and it was all over bar the shouting. Ricardo then sent back Steven Sankar (2), Ashmead
Nedd (0) and Qumar Torrington (0) in three balls, while Anthony Adams polished off the innings to hand Georgetown their first loss. Earlier, GT elected to field and Kevin Boodie and Parmeshwar Parsotan began positively before Barnwell had Boodie (10) caught behind and Torrington removed Parsotan (10) as two wickets fell in the space of three runs to leave the score on 29-2. Savory (19) and Ronsford Beaton; batting at four, posted the 50 in the 11th over before Beaton, who played an elegant cover drive for four in his 10, was caught and bowled by Lewis at 54-3. Savory was caught behind off Lewis who had Chetram Persaud caught and bowled for a duck before Ricardo
The beginning of the end! Bajan Keithland King scores with right to the Guyana’s Derick Richmond who remained on his stool at the bell to start the 3rd round.
Adams and Anthony Adams (18) put together 47 for the sixth wicket; Sankar got rid of Anthony Adams to leave the score on 106-6. Marlon Williams offered some resistance with 23 before Sankar picked up two quick wickets and last man Jones (4) fell to pacer Franchot Duncan-Clarke to leave GT with a seemingly easy task of scoring just three runs per over to win, but the lads from Guyana’s largest but least populated county had other ideas. BAJAN KING STOPS RICHMOND BY TKO; DELON CHARLES SHINES ON DEBUT The inaugural Young Blood ‘The Proving Ground’ Boxing Card at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) in front of a disappointing turnout witnessed an ordinary standard of Professional Boxing. Thirty Year-old Barbadian Keithland King, who registered knockouts in two previous fights, improved his Professional record to 3-0 when Berbician Derick Richmond failed to answer the bell for the third round in a fight scheduled for six rounds. The curtain raiser between Featherweights, debutant Delon Charles and Terrence Adams was the best fight of the night as Charles made an auspicious start to his Pro career; winning by a unanimous decision. The other results of the first Boxing card at CASH since January saw the towering James Moore of Linden destroy an out-of-condition Romeo Norville in a
four-round Light Heavyweight contest to win by a majority verdict. Joel Williamson made a successful Professional debut against Anson Green; gaining a unanimous decision in the 140 p o u n d s J u n i o r We l t e rweight bout, while Rewinna David out boxed Ansilla Norville in the lone female bout of the night. The main bout was changed from a Super Middleweight to a catchweight because Richmond t u r n e d u p f o r F r i d a y ’s weight-in, 14 lbs above the 160lbs weight class and was given up to Saturday morning to lose some weight. After two rounds, the contest seemed to be heading for an entertaining showpiece before the 29year-old Richmond, to the surprise of the fans, remained on his stool when the bell rang for the start of the third round. King, who just missed qualifying for 2016 Olympics, had promised to knockout Richmond, who has a Professional record of 12 fights, 5 wins with 4 KOs, 5 losses and 1 draw, inside three rounds. King entered the ring for the second time in Guyana following his victory over Anson Green in January with his little son and the opening round began with a total contrast in physique as rangy King established his dominance on the outside. But Richmond was weaving his way to his opponent’s mid-section in a round which saw both boxers sizing up their man,
both trying to gain the initiative. The second stanza began with Richmond, making his return to the ring for the first time since 2016, being the aggressor with a flurry of wicked head and body shots. But the Bajan took his blows like a man and retaliated with some brutal combinations of his own which had the Berbician covering up to counter the onslaught. Richmond began to jab and move but the fitter King cut off the ring and backed him up with punches in bunches. The pair then traded some tame punches to end the second round before Richmond, who seemed reluctant to fight even before the contest commenced, called it a night, thus robbing the Bajan his third consecutive knockout. After the fight the 5 feet 10-inch pugilist who was b o r n i n St Vi n c e n t b u t moved to Barbados as a sixyear-old, said he was surprised that Richmond threw in the towel since he was going for the knockout in the third round. He said it is always a special feeling the fight in Guyana. The fight between Charles and Adams was a close one with Charles using 1-2 combinations to the body and head of Adams who was quick to counter punch with jabs to the head. The boxers danced around the ring as the action motored on, after three rounds Charles seemed to be ahead. Adams upped the tempo in the final and a hard right staggered Charles (Continued on page 74)
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CONCACAF MEN’S UNDER-20 CHAMPIONSHIP
2018 Courts Peewee
Provisional Squad announced; two players from Indigenous Heritage Sports included
Eight matches contested at Education ground yesterday
St. Pius’ goal scorers from left, Keron Garraway, Kaden Wellington and Chance Niles. National U20 players engaged in one of the physical tests during the first week of training. The Head Coach of the National U20 Men’s team, Wayne Dover, has named a 26-man provisional squad as Guyana prepares for their first match of the Concacaf Men’s U20 Championship against Guatemala on November 2 at IMG Academy, Florida, USA. The squad consists of Guyana-based players including four Goalkeepers, seven Defenders, 11 Midfielders and four Forwards. Two of the Forwards were selected from the recently-concluded Indigenous Heritage Sports. In an invited comment, Dover said training commenced last Sunday with physical evaluation of the players: “The week began with physical evaluation of the players to test the level of fitness of players. Our aim as a staff is to qualify and we made it clear to the players the level of discipline, dedication, commitment, and hard work that is required to achieve the objective. The teams in the group are very tough on paper but we all know that the matches are played on the field, and every team has a chance to win and qualify once they apply themselves.” “During the Indigenous Heritage Sports, we did some scouting and identified two talent, which add strength to the U20 national programme,” said the Head Coach. Neston Brown and David Coates, both from the Rupununi FA, will join the team this new week. “Brown is a left full back, a position
which has slowly become a dying breed in Guyana. He possesses qualities, which once harnessed properly, can see him become a senior national player who can perform as (Walter) Moore and (Chris) Bourne did with distinction. Coates, on the other hand, has demonstrated qualities as a Forward, which can match the talent we have seen in the past such as Gregory Richardson. We will nurture them to realize their potential.” Commenting on the physical evaluation of players conducted, the National U20 Coach Developer & Head of Sports Science, Wilson Toledo, said the group has done fairly well over the past week: “Prior to the technical and tactical training sessions, it is helpful for the coaches to have a determination of the players’ fitness level to enable them to tailor their session. The coaching staff is prepared to work very hard to bring the team to the level required for international football.” Guyana’s match schedule in the first round is as follows: November 2 vs Guatemala, 10:30hrs; November 6 vs Cayman Islands, 10:30hrs; November 8 vs Curacao, 12:45hrs and November 10 vs El Salvador, 19:45hrs. Squad GOALKEEPERS 1 Jonathan Copeland 2 Sese Norville - Milerock FC 3 Jermaine Cumberbatch -
Den Amstel FC 4 Denzil Smith - Eagles FC DEFENDERS 5 Cecil Jackman - Fruta Conquerors FC 6 Nixon Robertson Buxton United FC 7 Javier Smith - Milerock FC 8 Rishawn Ritch - Fruta Conquerors FC 9 Neston Brown Rupununi FA 10 Lionel Holder - Santos FC 11 Kevin Padmore - Grove Hi-Tech FC MIDFIELDERS 12 Ryan Dowding - Santos FC 13 Brentsley Allicock Milerock FC 14 Stefan Reynolds - Flamingo FC 15 Nicolas Mc Arthur Fruta Conquerors FC 16 Ryan Hackett - Fruta Conquerors FC 17 Job Caesar - Fruta Conquerors FC 18 Kelsey Benjamin Western Tigers FC 19 Chris Macey - Den Amstel FC 20 Tyrese Forde - Santos FC 21 Andre Mayers - Capital FC 22 Rondel Peters - GFC FORWARDS 23 Leon Richardson Fruta Conquerors FC 24 Adrian Aaron Campton FC 25 Dwayne Rebeiro Milerock FC 26 David Coates Rupununi FA
The seventh Annual Courts Peewee under-11 football tournament which is also part sponsored by Banks DIH, got underway yesterday at the Ministry of Education (MOE) ground on Carifesta Avenue with only eight of the 16 scheduled matches being played due to ongoing National Grade Six assessment sessions. Among the winners yesterday were defending champions West Ruimveldt Primary who carefully negotiated the stern challenge of Golden Grove with a 1-0 victory courtesy of a goal off the heels of Syon Sampson in the sixth minute.
Formers champions St. Agnes recorded the biggest win on the day with a 9-0 mauling of La Parfaite Harmonie. St. Agnes’ Shawn Murray ended the day as the highest goal scorer after banging in five of the team’s nine goals. Tromel Cutton (22’, 32’) along with Justin Alcindor (1’) and Darius Chester (4’) were the other scorers. Kaden Wellington dazzled in his two-goal performance for St. Pius that beat Enterprise Primary 4-1. He was supported by one goal each from Keron Garraway and Chance Niles in the game that could’ve easily seen St. Pius doubling their final tally. Jude
Hilliman (3’) scored the lone Enterprise goal. Beterverwagting Primary were also in top form during their 5-0 humbling of St. Stephen. On the score sheet for the East Coast Demerara based school were Jaden Harris (9’), Mark Glasgow (15’), Malachi Washington (28’) and Omari Dennis (35’, 39’) who netted a brace. Inaugural winners and 2017 runners up, Marian Academy, were held to a 1-1 draw by St. John’s Bosco. Jude Daniel broke the deadlock for the St. John’s in the sixth minute before Asher Adams equalised in the 28th minute for Marian.
Dhawan dropped from Test squad, Agarwal and Siraj get callup NEW DELHI, India, CMC – Shikhar Dhawan’s disastrous tour of England came back to haunt him as he was dropped for the upcoming two-match Test series against the West Indies. On the other hand, the pair of Mayank Agarwal and Mohammed Siraj have been rewarded for their domestic exploits and have earned their maiden India-callup. The 32-year-old Dhawan, who has played 34 Tests for India, had a forgettable outing during the Test series against England, scoring just 162 runs in eight innings. Karun Nair who did not play a single Test match in England was also surprisingly axed with Hanuma Vihari named as his replacement.Agarwal was chosen on the basis of him being the
top scorer in the last Ranji Trophy Season where he scored 1160 runs in eight matches. Pacer Siraj was picked after he performed for India A in the recently concluded quadrangular series featuring Australia A and South Africa A, where he recorded the brilliant figures of 8-59 in one of the games. The selectors have also decided to rest Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah having taken into account their heavy workload over the past months, leaving Mohammed Sami to lead the pace attack. Prithvi Shaw has retained his place in the side having not been selected in the final two Tests in England.“Taking stock of the recent workload, the selectors have decided to rest Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Both
Ishant Sharma and Hardik Pandya were not considered for selection, as they are yet to recover from their injuries,” BCCI acting secretary Amitabh Choudhary said in a statement. The first Test will be played at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot from October 4 to 8, followed by the second match at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad from October 12 to 16. Squad: Virat Kohli (captain), KL Rahul, Prithvi Shaw, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (vice-captain), Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur.
Kaieteur News
Sunday September 30, 2018
PAGE 77
E’bo Coach says unity and hard work responsible for team’s 50-overs success By Sean Devers
A
t 30, former Essequibo and National youth pacer Ryan Hercules who has played for clubs in Trinidad, England and Australia, has given up cricket to focus exclusively on Coaching. “As a Coach I am looking to establish myself as one the best the Country has to offer. I aim very high in everything I do but it’s a learning process for me during the two or three years I have been coaching in Guyana,” said Hercules, who first played for Guyana in the 2013 Regional U-15 tournament. “I have done this (Coaching) in England and Australia and whatever I wish to achieve in terms of Coaching for the Guyana (Cricket) Board I want to do it to the best of my ability and go out there and execute what I can do to my best,” added Hercules, who played in the 2005 and 2006 Regional U-19 Tournaments and was the MVP in 2006 when the tournament was played in Guyana. “In terms of Coaching I want to take it to the next level and become the best Coach Essequibo ever had and even get to a National
level or Coach in the CPL in the future. I am still young so I have time on my side, plus I have given up playing and will invest everything into Coaching,” said Hercules, a level 2 Coach. Essequibo added the 50over to their three-day crown but Hercules said the team, which only lost their last match after they had already won the title, had not done anything different from the three-day format in the oneday and informed that Essequibo has a good bunch of young players who are dedicated to playing cricket and working hard. “Myself and the Captain have been instilling a lot of tactics to the guys them and they go out and execute plans and everyone chips in and play team cricket. That’s the difference with us and other teams. We have good unity with players and everyone works very hard when it comes to game day,” disclosed Hercules. According to the Coach winning a one-day title or a three-day title is nothing big for him or his team. “Yes, it’s the first time we win a one-day and a threeday title but the thing is we want to continue winning, we want develop a winning habit…winning over and over and over again. So I am
Ryan Hercules is Ebo’s most successful Coach. looking at this moment to continue the winning habit. I want to do elite training for the team and to keep going forward Essequibo’s cricket. It’s good to win a title but that’s not good enough for me I want us to consistently be the one or number two team in the country and I am willing to go the extra mile to
see Essequibo cricket develop more further than what it’s at this moment,” declared Hercules, who was born on the last day of 1987 in Parika. “We did not have Kemo Paul and (Shiv) Chanderpaul this year so we went out as a team without them. We had Chanderpaul for only two
games in the three-day League but we still had outstanding players like Kemol Savory, Anthony, Ricardo and Akinie Adams, Chetram Persaud, Joshua Jones, Mark Williams,” informed the fit looking Hercules Hercules said Essequibo had players who could win tournaments for them without the big names. “I am not saying that we don’t appreciate having Chanderpaul in our side, everybody loves having Shiv around, but we showed that we could still go and win a tournament without the big names like Kemo Paul and Chanderpaul. We still have local players in Essequibo who could go out and compete with the First-Class and Test players in the Country and still do a good job,” remarked the Coach. The biggest challenge for Hercules was getting the guys prepared and ready for this tournament. “I mean it’s not like we live in the same Village or two Villages away. We live in different areas which you have to cross the River so getting them all together for training sessions was my biggest Challenge but in the end we managed to accomplish that,” informed
Hercules. Although Essequibo lost their final game at Bush Lot in West Berbice the Coach claimed that he did not have any disappointments. “I have no disappoints since I believe that everything that happened, happened for the best and would have learnt something from everything we did. We got some support from the Essequibo Board and I would have contributed things on my behalf so I am satisfied with our showing in the one-day tournament,” explained Hercules who played at the senior InterCounty level from 2005 to 2009. He said the attention now turns to their title defence in the three-day tournament and says he is looking to get the best players and go out and play competitive cricket. “We have good young players…. the oldest player in our team is Anthony Adams who is 25 and he is doing the work. We have a group of young guys who are ready to play hard cricket. We will bring the same side we had last year because that’s the best side we have. I will pick the best players and play tough, competitive cricket as the defending three-day champions,” concluded Hercules.
GHB Development league Senior Saints’ Robert Fernandes (on the ball) being tracked by Hikers Cadets’ Shomere Garnett during the latter’s 4-2 win yesterday in the second division.
Wins for GCC clubs, Saints and Hikers on penultimate match-day The Guyana Hockey Board (GHB) development league continued yesterday at the Saints Stanislaus College (SSC) ground on Carifesta Avenue with six matches being competed between the boys’ under 19, women’s and second division. Bingo Spartans beat Saints ladies 2-1 courtesy of goals from Abosaide Cadogan and Alana Cheung, while Charlia Webb scored the consolation for Saints. Pizza Hut Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) thrashed Woodpecker Hikers 7-0 with Carina Moller netting a hat-trick with support
of Vanessa Pires, Tricia Fiedtkou, Sarah Klautky and Sandy Roopnarine who all banged in one goal each in women’s division clash.GCC Pitbulls continued their unstoppable run in the boys’ under-19 division after edging out a stiff challenge from Joseph Warrior’s with a 2-1 win. Kareem McKenzie bagged a brace to take his tally to 16-goals in the division, while Warren Williams scored the Warriors’ only field goal. In other under-19 boys’ results, Saints Sonics clinched a 4-3 win over North Ruimveldt (NR) Multilateral.
Action between Hikers (on the ball) and North Ruimveldt yesterday at Saints ground.
A hat-trick from Ezekiel Springer along with a brace from Shemar Boston and one goal from Shakeem Fausette allowed Saints Sonics a 6-1 win over Saints Splinters that showed resistance through Leroy Geer. Hikers’ Tivesarid Garnett fired home the lone goal of his team’s needling victory against NR Multilateral in the final under-19 boys’ game. Men’s second division rivalry allowed for a Bounty GCC 5-2 win over Saints under19s. Samuel Woodroffe turned in a helmettrick, while Kareem McKenzie lashed in the
fifth. Hilmar Chester and Edmond Chinian were on the score sheet for Saints. The other second division men’s clash saw Hikers Cadets getting the better of the more seasoned Senior Saints team 4-2. Devin Monroe and Shomere Grant each scored one goal along with a brace from the multitalented Sherwyn Caesar to leave the Saints men out performed. The final round of matches in the GHB development league will culminate this afternoon at the Saints ground followed by the presentation of trophies.
PAGE 78
Kaieteur News
Sunday September 30, 2018
Nedd grabs 5 for; Singh, Bookie, Perez hit half centuries as DCC trounce UG
From left Sachin Singh, Alphius Bookie and Raymond Perez.
Left arm spinner Ashmead Nedd grabbed five wickets while Sachin Singh, Raymond Perez and Alphius Bookie struck half centuries as host Demerara Cricket Club defeated University of Guyana by 162 runs in the second semi final of the Georgetown Cricket Association/New Building Society second division 40over tournament yesterday. UG won the toss and asked the home team to bat and Singh and Steven Sankar handed them a fine start with
stand of 74 before Sankar was bowled by Dennis Heywood for 27 after hitting four fours. Singh and Bookie then added 80 for the second wicket to frustrate their opponents. The duo timed the ball well as the rotated the nicely; Singh hit seven fours and five sixes before he was lbw to Dennis Heywood for 66 off 60 balls. Bookie continued to play his shots and along with Raymond Perez steadied the innings well. The right-handed Bookie struck six fours and one six before he was caught off Nicholas Bollers for 52 which came off 70 balls. Perez struck four sixes to remain unbeaten on 55 off 33 balls while Nedd contributed 20 not out as Bollers claimed 2-59. Dennis Squires made early inroads into UG batting removing Dwayne Dodson (07); Melroy Stephenson (07) and Damion Vantull (07), while Nedd sent back Omesh Danram (02) to
Ashmead Nedd reduce UG for 30-4. Ershad Ali and Linden Austin added 51 for the fifth wicket but their resistance was ended when Austin was run out for 19. Ali hammered three fours and two sixes before he was bowled by Nedd for 49. Nedd then wrapped up the rest of the batting as UG were sent packing for 121 in 29.5 overs. Nedd bagged 531 and Squires 3-17. DCC will now meet Georgetown Cricket Club in the final on Saturday. (Zaheer Mohamed)
Windies’ bowlers put to the sword in warm-up game
Devendra Bishoo VADODARA, India, CMC – West Indies’ legspinner Davendra Bishoo snared three wickets, but bowlers were made to toil on the opening day of their twoday warm-up match against the Indian Cricket Board President’s XI. After winning the toss and choosing to bat, the President’s XI racked up 360
for six before declaring at the end of their 90 overs. The home side was led to their eventual total thanks to an unbeaten century from Ankit Bawne, and halfcenturies by Mayank Agarwal and Shreyas Iyer. Aside from two early strikes by fast bowlers Shannon Gabriel and (Continued on page 73)
Kaieteur News
Sunday September 30, 2018
PAGE 79
Caribbean affiliates express confidence in Ninvalle with AMBC presidential nomination
Fellow Caribbean affiliates of the Regional Boxing fraternity have come forward to reaffirm their confidence in one of their members, President of the Guyana Boxing Association Steve Ninvalle, who they have nominated to be their candidate for the presidency of the Americas Boxing Confederation (AMBC) when the AIBA elections are held in November in Moscow. According to the AIBA constitution, Ninvalle needs to be nominated by more than five countries and the man who they did support to lead their cause to AIBA in the past, received more than the required number of votes it has been disclosed. This move marks the first time that a CARICOM national has been nominated for the high office with the elected candidate also serving in the important capacity of an AIBA vice president. Ninvalle is currently a committee member on the AIBA executive after being elected in 2014. When contacted, Ninvalle would only say that he feels humbled and honoured by the confidence some of the Caribbean countries have shown in him. He however noted that the nomination is only the first step in clearing several hurdles in the path to the presidency. “This would not be an easy task by any means and I
Steve Ninvalle at the AIBA Congress in South Korea. expect the unexpected. We have never had someone from CARICOM attempting such a high office in AIBA. The next few weeks will tell a lot,” Ninvalle said. AMBC, whose current president is Argentine Osvaldo Bisbal, runs boxing in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean, has a total of 42 affiliated countries. The president of AMBC automatically becomes an AIBA Vice President. Last year Ninvalle moved a step further when he was temporarily appointed
to the AIBA Executive Committee Bureau. The Executive Committee Bureau functions in place of the Executive Committee for all matters requiring settlement between two meetings of the Executive Committee. It consists of five members, namely the P r e s i d e n t , t w o Vi c e Presidents (with voting rights) appointed by the President, and two Voting Executive Committee Members appointed by the President. AIBA has 203 affiliated countries.
GISE/ Star Party Rentals Div 1 Semis
Persaud’s 6-46 gives GNIC 1st innings points over Police By Sean Devers When play on the first day in the second semi-final of the GCA’s GISE/Star Party Rentals division one two-day cricket tournament ended yesterday at Eve Leary, Police were 107-2 in their second innings against GNIC who clinched first innings points with a lead of 63 with eight wickets in hand. Veteran off-spinner Clyde Butts, at 61 is the oldest first division cricketer in Guyana and yesterday he befuddled his much younger opponents by bagging 4-8 from 7.2 overs, while fellow off-spinner Gajanan Suknanan (3-37) and 16year-old quick Jeremiah Benjamin (3-25) conspired to send the Cops crashing to 94 as only Parnell London
(20) and Shamar Kendall (18) passed 10. Left-arm spinner Hemchan Persaud captured 6-46 as GNIC were dismissed for 136 to take a lead of 44. Quincy OvidRichardson top-scored with 32 which included two fours and a six in the low-scoring contest played on a good track, heavy outfield and in sweltering heat. Vidal Crandon (27), Jason George (19) and Marc Nicholas (15) were the other GNIC batsmen to reach 15. Police in the second innings were hoping for an outright win since the first innings lead would assure GNIC a place in the Final against DCC. Police will go into today’s final day with Kevin (Continued on page 73)
Clyde Butts befuddled the young batsmen yesterday to take 4-8 from 7.2 overs.
t r o Sp 2018 Courts Peewee
Play between St. Pius (on the ball) versus Enterprise Secondary yesterday at the MOE ground.
Eight matches contested at Education ground yesterday
GHB Development league
Tivesarid Garnett scored the lone goal of the 1-0 win for Hikers (bibs) against North Ruimveldt in the under-19 category yesterday.
Wins for GCC clubs, Saints and Hikers on penultimate match-day
Caribbean affiliates express confidence in Ninvalle with AMBC presidential nomination Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.