Kaieteur News
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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 FIGHTING CRIME IS NOT EASY The good news is that the police seem to have the upper hand on the criminals but fighting crime is not an easy task. Despite the fact that the crime rate is down, many still believe that the country is being run over by criminals. The situation is often being politicized by the opposition. During the elections campaign in 2015 the People’s Progressive Party actually told its supporters that should the party be voted out of office the people would be visited by soldiers and policemen who would rape them. That was as crude as the campaign got. The majority of policemen and soldiers are people of African ancestry. Today, despite the obvious success recorded by the law enforcement officers and despite the palpable drop in crime there needs to be a united front on the issue of combating crime. There should be a permanent mechanism or framework to ensure collaboration between the governments. The government has unequivocally pointed out that it is treating crime very seriously. The crime fighting techniques are intact and remain a high priority. There are no longer crime hot spots and the police seem to have neutralized the extent to which the criminals adorned themselves with high-powered weapons. The truth is that the police have been so successful that the known criminals have all but disappeared. Today’s criminals are young, unintelligent men whose sole desire is to have money and the physical trappings of wealth. The current situation calls for more drastic action or else the criminals will continue to create havoc in the country. We must rally around our leaders and the police so that they would leave no stone unturned in the search for measures to combat this persistent enemy. But all the bells and whistles will ring hollow if the opposition does not cooperate with law enforcement. The very opposition could one day become the government. What happens then? A national nonpartisan crusade in all its several facets is needed to fight crime, aspects of which have assumed international proportions. There are the issues of drug smuggling, gold smuggling and even people smuggling. There is money laundering. These are the crimes that warrant more attention. The robberies are confined to the borders of the country but the other crimes are international. Of interest is that they have an impact inside the country. Drug busts often lead to execution-type murders. Crime has become a serious problem in the country. The criminals now have little or no political allegiance. They will gravitate to the source least likely to attack them. We have seen what happens in those countries where the drug trade has reached such proportions that even the leaders in the country can become statistics. Judges have been killed en route to work; officials have been kidnapped and the list continues. When people in Guyana talk about crime they talk about the home invasions and the other robberies. But many know that the beast lurks. This is what the government must combat. This is what people must be aware of and this is on what the opposition must openly adopt a position. Simply put, the crime situation is never confined to a single political party. Surely it is not the sole task of a government and this is why no opposition party can sit and gloat when a government appears to lose a grip on crime as has been the case in Guyana. But then again, in a country like ours, problems are merely the prerogative of one group. Or are they?
Sunday September 17, 2017
Kaieteur M@ilbox Send your letters to Kaieteur News 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown or email us kaieteurnews@yahoo.com
Granger and UG Vice Chancellor should be held accountable for this young girl’s plight Dear Editor, Renita Chanderballi is currently in a state of depression. Her situation has gone viral; it warrants our immediate intervention. When I heard about this story from my friend Leonard Craig, till from China, my Sunday column was already in so I couldn’t feature Ms. Chanderballi’s sad tale. I have resorted to writing this letter. This young student has completed her degree in Biology and will be graduating next month from UG. Because of her first rate performance, she was granted a Masters scholarship by Leeds University in the UK. The scholarship was cancelled because she did not meet the deadline for submission of her grades by UG to Leeds. Her description of the egregious mistreatment by UG is a horror story in itself. Despite desperate pleas made to
higher authorities to transmit her grades to Leeds on time failed; the UG bureaucracy was unmoved. I have seen these kinds of situations countless times and have written about them umpteen times in my media career. There is no subject that I have penned more than a hundred pieces of newspaper publications on in the form of letters and columns than UG. From the time the new Vice Chancellor (VC), Ivelaw Griffith came and I saw the explosion of top posts he created and the extraordinary amounts spent on wasteful inconsequentialities, I knew UG was not going into the future. For one of the smallest universities in the entire world, UG has per capita, the largest bureaucracy for any university in the world. I repeat what I wrote before. I have no problem with the educator, Ivelaw Griffith and no problem with his
integrity. But he has introduced an expensive bureaucracy at UG which he picked up from his 36 years in the American system. It cannot work here. It will ruin UG. But President Granger has bought into it. And the society is silent about this travesty. It just goes to show what a wasteful, barren piece of land Guyana is. I remember doing a column warning the nation that we will hear the same old horror stories from this new administration. And they are occurring often in all the daily newspapers. My friend, Stan Gouveia circulated a video of students standing during one of their classes a few days ago. UG now has about a dozen new bureaucratic positions each carrying just under a million dollars a month in salary but getting a transcript sent overseas (Continued on page 5)
Sunday September 17, 2017
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Giving back to the people who helped me to be where I am today.
Where is the promise of Minister Patterson?
DEAR EDITOR, In the General and Regional elections in 2015, the people of Region 10 and Linden came out in their numbers to support the APNU+AFC Coalition and the Coalition’s participation in the Regional Democratic Council of Linden. With the support from the citizen of Region 10 and Linden, I am fortunate to be a Councillor at the R.D.C #10 and also to be the Representative from the Office of the Prime Minister for Region 10, which I must be grateful
for, first to God and the citizens of Region 10 and Linden. When I got involved in politics, my dream was to help in the development of my Region, so as from this month of September 2017 I will be giving my stipend I receive as a R.D.C Councillor, as a contribution back to the people of Linden. I know they are people out there that need financial support and I’m prepared to give my R.D.C stipend to those persons; it’s a small sacrifice I’m willing to make for the people who helped me to get where I
am today. I would like to give a word of encouragement to all politicians, to remember the people that would have gotten us this far and would continue to support us. Investing in your community is one of the best ways to give back to those who helped in our political journey. I will always do my best to make and continue making representation for the citizens of Region 10 and Linden whether I am a part of the R.D.C 10 or the Government of Guyana. Vladimir Glasgow
Granger and UG Vice Chancellor should... From page 4 and finding a chair to sit on in a class room remain as in the days when UG was virtually broke. President Granger should be held personally responsible for what happened to Ms. Chanderballi. Granger has been a lifelong friend of Ivelaw Griffith and literally chaperoned him into the VC’s chair. Granger attended the only coronation for a Vice Chancellor that UG ever held. And it was an expensive affair. This is the type of leadership Granger has produced for the people of this country. UG is going nowhere under David Granger because David Granger has no vision for the future of this country. I challenge the President to publicly produce a verifiable statement of how much
money has been spent on trips and entertainment purposes under Griffith. Granger will not accept the challenge because it would embarrass him and give immense political capital to the opposition, PPP. We have a sycophantic UG Council that is afraid of Griffith because they know the Griffith-Granger connection. We have a nonexistent WPA which says it is part of APNU and has a part in decision-making yet c o - l e a d e r o f t h e W PA , Clive Thomas who gave his soul and heart to UG is silent on the Granger-Griffith nexus. As for the AFC, well Nagamootoo cannot seriously watch me in the eyes and tell me he can intervene when state behavior becomes undemocratic. I don’t think he can. I don’t think he wants to.
Moses has been a friend for a long time but as an analyst I would say he will end his political life in ignominious failure. After reading about Ms. Chanderballi’s depression, I know I have to continue to raise my voice and pen along with others to save this country. But does it want to be saved? Frederick Kissoon
DEAR EDITOR, I wish to refer to an article published on June 6, 2017, filed under Kaieteur News captioned “ $1.2B East Bank Berbice road rehab greenlighted to start”. On June 4, 2017, Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, visited the East Bank Berbice area, held a meeting with residents and disclosed to them that “the stretch of road was to have finally undergone construction as early as yesterday.” By now, I am certain that almost the entire population of Guyana is aware of the fact that the East Bank Berbice road (from Islington Village to Edinburgh Village) is in a dilapidated, shabby and completely unacceptable state. Mr. Patterson mentioned that the day before his visit to the location work was to have begun. Had the Minister kept his word, I would not have had that depressing feeling when I traverse the East Bank Berbice Road. I must inform readers that nothing
has been done from the day of his visit to date. In the article it was stated, “The poor state of the road limits access to the rich agricultural lands in Mara. This, he promised, will be a problem of the past with a new highway slated to be completed in eight months time”. It should be noted that it’s over three months now since Mr. Patterson made those promises, yet no action of building or constructing of a new highway is noticeable. I have become very frustrated and disheartened with the slothfulness of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure in getting this thoroughfare rehabilitated. Residents, commuters and motorists have relayed to me
that they are appalled at the false and misleading information given, as it relates to the commencement of construction work on the East Bank Berbice route, some three months ago and believed that they were made into “nincompoops”. Mr. Editor, I even wrote a letter piece in your newspaper over a year ago captioned, “Desperate plea to have this road repaired in Berbice” but it all fell on deaf ears. When will this East Bank Berbice Road be constructed? Was the Minister being fallacious in his speech to those residents? I hope not! I can only be optimistic that work on this road will commence soon. Then again, this is Guyana. Ashan Bacchus
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Sunday September 17, 2017
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Kaieteur M@ilbox
Solutions to Demerara River crossing
Desperate plea for governmental investigation at NAREI
DEAR EDITOR, I find it incumbent on me, as former Minister of Public Works, to join the discussion with respect to the national goal of achieving an improved and efficient New Demerara Harbour Bridge. In so doing, I would like to recall, share and remind ourselves of the issues, under active consideration and staged implementation, for the gradual improvement for crossing of the Demerara River near Georgetown. The necessity for improvement has been driven by the significant annual increase in the numbers, sizes and types of commuter, service and goods transport required in response to a growing economy over the years. For the Harbour Bridge itself, daily crossings had increased from some 14,000 to near 20,000, particularly at holiday and sporting and cultural event peaks. Near term projections in 2013 had indicated that with the then current trends, the Demerara Harbour Bridge was maxed-out for efficient crossing of the river and that responses had to be undertaken to avoid it becoming a major bottleneck in the transport sector. 1) Improvements at the Demerara Harbour Bridge. Improvements at the DHB resulted in better budgetary inputs, on an annual basis for pontoons, moorings, approaches and deck replacement and re-surfacing. The introduction of one –way traffic, at the timings of, and in the direction of peak flow was achieved providing for the most important intervention,
to date, to alleviate the congestion issue. Improvement in traffic management, with the major input being from the Guyana Police Force, has been achieved with some qualifications. Improvements considered and pending include: - Peak-hour ride sharing with peak toll payments on the western end for vehicles which do not meet the ridesharing parameters. - Pre-paid electronic recognition and rapid access via dedicated toll gates. - Free large bus transfer at peaks over bridge from western end to eastern end with terminations at Houston and Providence. - Geometric improvements at eastern end to achieve continuous, seamless, unrestricted exit northwards from bridge to East Bank Highway, and similar westward access to bridge from the EastBank Highway. - Associated improvements related to the installation of pedestrian overpasses on the East Bank and the gradual reduction and eventual cessation of garbage and sand truck transits. Garbage to be disposed of in region of origin, thereby not going to Haags Bosch, and sand movement, down and across the river, by barge traffic. - 2) Improvements in Water Taxi Service. Improvements in the Water Taxi Service related to improvements in safety, comfort, ambience and efficiency of the units owned and operated privately. A complete redesign of the standard boat was initiated by the production of a
prototype by the Maritime Administration Department. The requirement for installed flotation spaces and the fitting of inner transoms, splashguards and sheds eliminated the safety and comfort issues. The all-round improvements, in the level and quality of service, have resulted in a major increase in the confidence in and utilization of water taxis. This has cemented their place as a significant and a continuing viable adjunct to river crossing options for commuters, on foot or parking and riding, between the city and Vreeden-Hoop. The introduction of after dusk services was implemented to 22:00 hours with the provision of suitable visibility and navigation lighting. Improvements considered and pending include: - The installation of floating docking and berthing systems at Stabroek and Vreeden-Hoop Stellings to improve access and rapid turnaround, eliminating difficulties for commuters and system efficiency, on daily tidal variations and particularly at the spring tides. - The search to establish new Water Taxi service landings was initiated to ease the length, time and cost to commute for persons wishing to cross immediately from areas on the West Bank of Demerara. Sites looked at were Diamond/Grove, Providence/Mocha, La Grange and Wales. 3) Reintroduction of Transport and Harbours Ferry Service Stabroek/Vreeden (Continued on page 7)
DEAREDITOR, My last letter to the press, sought to have the Minister of Agriculture investigate discrimination and favourtism at my place of employment. Since then, there was no evident move on his part. However, management in an effort to ease all tensions sought to have a suggestion box, which will ensure that employees air their concerns. Although it sounds well, this is just another slap in the face of us, employees since the box according to management will be placed in the office. Mr. Editor, do you believe that any employee will go to the box? Putting a suggestion box in an area where one can be easily seen and identified makes no sense. It’s just as saying, “I have seen who you are I will now directly target you”
I am using my pen again to reach out to the Minister. Honorable Minister, you have taken on the responsibility of one of the biggest sectors in the country, agriculture month is closing in, staff members are frustrated. We feel stagnated. There is no upward mobility and motivation for us. You need robust and dedicated employees but how can we function when no one listens to our cry? I beg of you to intervene in the mistreatment and discrimination of staff at this institution, especially those who not find favour in management’s ‘eyes’. Dear Editior, I beg of you to publish this letter. Further I seek your news agency’s assistance to launch an investigation into the treatment of staff at NAREI. Frustrated Staff Member
The reasons why the Charlestown Day-Care Centre was closed DEAREDITOR, Please refer to a letter captioned, “The Mayor is about to end a vital service to Georgetowners,” published in the Thursday, September 14, 2017 edition of your newspaper. The Georgetown Municipality is at a juncture where it is assessing the services provided to citizens and rearranging the way these services are provided. Hence, merging and restructuring of Departments and Sections are necessary considerations if the Council is to deliver quality services and remain financially viable. The Council took a decision to close the building that housed the Charlestown Day Care Centre for two main reasons: The physical condition of the building is inconsistent with standards proposed by Ministry of Social Protection for licensing of Day Care Centers in Guyana. The Council wants to make it pellucidly clear, that it is not seeking to deprive citizens of this vital service but the health and safety of the City’s children are of utmost importance. Also, it is no longer realistic to provide this service at the present location since the total number of children enrolled was 15 fifteen and staff assigned to the site numbered six. Further, six of the fifteen children became eligible for Primary School and left the Centre. The parents of the remaining children were offered places at other centers of their choice. Re-assigning the children has allowed the Municipality to maximize human
and other resources. The Council views Day Care Services as a vital Municipal Service and a moral and social obligation to its valued citizens. Over the years, various categories of parents and families have utilized this service, including working parents, single parents, and parents of a single child, large families or where children were left at risk through malnutrition. The Georgetown Municipality is the premier institution of Day Care Services. The Municipal Day Care Service has been in existence for over eighty years. In 1933, the South Road Day Care Centre known then as the ‘Crèche’ and characterised as a programme for child care for children of employees of the Council. However, because of the diverse needs of the families for this service, day care services were extended to persons outside of the employ of the Georgetown Municipality. Currently, the Council manages five Day Care Centers situated at South Road Bourda, Festival City, East Ruimveldt and Industrial Site Ruimveldt, with a total population of two hundred and fifty children ranging from 6 months to 5 years old. In addition, the Council subsidizes the provision of this service since it is cognizant that it is honouring a moral and social responsibility to its citizens. Debra Lewis Public Relations Officer
Sunday September 17, 2017
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Kaieteur M@ilbox
IT APPEARS THAT UG ALSO NEEDS TO CHANGE ITS TEACHING METHODOLOGIES
Proposed guiding principles of our new political party.
DEAR EDITOR, I was amazed that the day after I wrote in the media about Human Resource Management professionals needing to adapt their approaches to staff training/learning/development in keeping with readily available ‘tech-savvy’ methodologies, SN carried a sad report in its issue of (15/9/17) titled: “UG Sociology Students forced to stand during 3 hours lecture due to limited seating”. The said report went on to describe the series of distresses experienced by the stu-
dents to adapt to the anachronistic, thoughtless and most uncomfortable learning-deficient approach being used especially in the face of well-known obstacles at UG. I humbly ask a simple question: ‘Was it not better to video-tape the said lecture and send it to all the relevant students (and perhaps other interested parties!) and to follow this up with several smaller group tutorials involving students who express a desire for same or mandated by their teachers accordingly?” Nowrang Persaud
Solutions to Demerara River crossing From page 6 Hoop. Consideration was actively given to the reintroduction of the THD Demerara ferry service plying Stabroek to Vreed-enHoop as the next medium term intervention for vehicular traffic as a congestion ease or back up to the DHB issues. In furtherance of this, a visit was made to the United States of America to examine for possible purchase the MV “Twin Capes”, owned by, and on offer from, the Delaware River and Bay Authority. This vessel had the capacity to take 895 passengers and 100 cars, or equivalents, in a comfortable rolloff roll-on mode for rapid transit operations. A modest utilisation of ten round trips per day at peak hours would have largely eliminated the peak congestion at the DHB. Unfortunately this initiative fell afoul of the cutting and pasting of funds engendered by parliamentary budget cuts and went into abeyance with the coming of the 2015 Elections. The rehabilitation and upgrade to the Stabroek and Vr e e d - e n - H o o p Stellings were a necessary part of this idea. 4) Replacement of the Demerara Harbour Bridge. Former President Jagdeo, initiated the renewed effort to resolve the issue of a
DHB replacement to provide for the national infrastructural responses necessary for continued growth and development. The government and the Ministry’s response were clarified in National Transport Sector Policy documents. In 2013, the Ministry of Public Works initiated a Pre-Feasibility Study for A New Demerara River Bridge. This study was under taken by Dr. Raymond Charles, a University Of The West Indies Professor in Transport Studies, as consultant along with the Central Transport Planning Unit of the Ministry. Much data and other information was provided by the Mini s t r y o f P u b l i c Wo r k ’s Works Services Group’s sections, the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation and the MARAD, amongst others.The study was required to determine the options for bridge crossing of the Demerara River with a view to improve both surface land and marine traffic efficiencies going well into the future. Three sites were exami n e d d u r i n g t h i s s t u d y. These were: Peter’s Hall/ Meer Zorgen (the current Peter ’s Hall DHB site); Houston/Versailles; and New Hope/Laurentia Catherinia. For the Peter’s Hall site, two options were
considered, one being continued operation, rehabilitation and maintenance of the DHB in its present form and, the other option being the construction of a new floating, four lane bridge adjacent to the current bridge. For both the Houston and New Hope sites the establishment of a new four lane fixed bridge structure was considered. H o u s t o n / Ve r s a i l l e s was identified, in the study as being the most feasible site at a capital cost of some US$260 million. The study recommended the pursuance of a detailed feasibility study “…to incorporate exogenous costs and benefits, as well as a financial analysis to address the concerns of project financing and environmental impacts. Issues related to the land acquisition costs for integration of the bridge with the road network and the amount of work needed to achieve this integration, as additional expenses were immediately apparent. The next step of undertaking geotechnical studies was not accepted at cabinet, nor pursued in any form. The principal reason being the high cost and burden to the Treasury and income flows for such an undertaking. Robeson Benn
DEAR EDITOR, I release below the draft of the guiding principles of the new political party which I propose will take us beyond 2020. This should support discussion going forward. The Party’s Guiding Principles: 1. That Guyana be governed as a Democratic Republic, where the authority of the state and its government is created and sustained by the consent of its people through their elected representatives. 2. Preservation of a sound, effective political system for choosing and replacing governments through free and fair elections; 3. Encouraging and facilitating the active participation of the people as citizens, in politics and civic life; 4. Delivering effective government which recognizes industry, innovation and workers as central to the attainment of our country’s goals of a standard of living where we can enjoy the fruits of ourlabor,achieveof our goals, be healthy and happy. 5. Protection of the human rights of all citizens, and 6. Enforcement of the Rule of Law, where the laws and procedures of Guyana apply equally to all of our citizens. 7.Freedom of Expression – Everyone is guaranteed the right to communicate with each
other and express ideas freely in an open and fair society. Objectives: 1. Maintain the Constitution of Guyana so that it reflects the will and wishes of the People. 2. Promote economic prosperity for all by creating an enabling environment which provides the legal, regulatory and physical infrastructure to support innovation and industry within the private sector. 3. Provide the physical and social infrastructure to ensure a mobile, healthy, educated work force. 4. Guarantee social, cultural and religious freedoms to all ethnic groups. 5. Guarantee equal rights of citizens under the law. 6.Guarantee freedom of expression and freedom to associate. 7. Develop and maintain Guyana’s national security to safeguard against both internal and external threats. 8. Work with the United Nations Commissions on Human Rights to facilitate the adoption of its universally established rights, to the extent that these rights reflect our country’s values, customs and traditions. Craig Sylvester.
This AFC person at NCN Berbice branch should be removed DEAREDITOR, The Coalition promised to wipe out corruption and cronyism and foster accountability and transparency but two years have passed and the Coalition is yet to address the growing corruption and cronyism within its rank and file. In May of this year the Berbice Branch Manager of NCN was sent on administrative leave pending investigations. This type of leave is normal to facilitate investigations without the person in question trying to compromise the investigations in any way. However, in the case of this NCN Branch Manager it can be seen as an effort by those in authority to send her away until the ‘dust is settled’ and the heat of the issue is forgotten. But what this Manager has done will make the previous Manager, Mr. Faizal Jaffarally look like an altar boy. She has been the Manager during the period of 15 months during which questionable invoices, re-
ceipts and log sheets were used and she stated she was never aware of the situation. The unfortunate staff members who were dismissed made it clear that they were instructed to prepare these documents. There is overwhelming evidence to support this. Why were their statements thrown aside? Even if we are to believe that these staff did some things to the documents, did these employees benefit? Are there no checks and balances at NCN? Is this the ‘competence’ of the Branch Manager? When Jaffarally was dismissed as the CEO for NCN, Ms Molly Hassan, boasted about hiring ‘competent personnel’. Is this the type of competence which is hired? Even if she is not involved in the questionable
documents, which I don’t for a moment believe, how is it that these things were going on right under her nose without her having any clue about what was taking place? This person is an embarrassment to the AFC and the AFC should distance itself and do the needful thing. But it seems that this person has strong connections which go to the top of NCN and the AFC so she can do no wrong. From information received, this Branch Manager will resume duties this month end. This is a grave injustice to those who were dismissed. Who is protecting her? We blamed and lambasted the PPP/C but we are doing worse in just two years. Muhammad Mustapha
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Sunday September 17, 2017
Kaieteur News
Given costly mistakes made with Statoil/ExxonMobil…
Tanzanian politician advises countries to make oil and gas contracts public There is a stark similarity between the Government of Guyana and that of Tanzania. Both Governments are against the release of oil contracts. In the case of Tanzania, it has been reported worldwide that the government had no intention of releasing its Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) which was signed with Statoil of Norway in partnership with USA oil giant, ExxonMobil. It was even speculated that there were even highly controversial amendments to the Agreement. But when the PSA was finally leaked and it made its way into the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Tanzanian Parliament, the damage was already done. In fact, the PAC found gaping holes in
the contract as well as numerous instances for abuse which saw the nation losing out on billions of dollars in revenue. Given the grave mistakes made by the African nation, the former head of the Tanzanian PAC, Zitto Kabwe, has issued a warning to all nations to ensure that their oil and gas contracts be made public. Kabwe said, “I am stating the obvious; contracts must be made public. Today we are able to analyze key elements of the Statoil/ExxonMobil contract against the model contract because we have seen the addendum. What of those we have not seen?” Kabwe said that his nation paid a terrible price for cloaking contracts in secrecy. The politician said that
some of the major problems identified in the contract were in relation to equipment leasing from related party, transfer pricing and capitalization (thin capitalization). He said that guarding against these issues is crucial so that Governments and the citizenry can be able to determine the actual costs to be recovered by the oil company. Furthermore, Kabwe stressed that the leak of the natural gas terms agreed with Statoil/ExxonMobil presented a unique opportunity to examine how much more the nation could have benefitted from its considerable natural gas resources. As it relates to fiscal challenges, Kabwe said that the nation suffered big time in the determination of Cost Oil/ Gas. (Cost Oil simply speaks
Anti-corruption advocate and former PAC Chairman of Tanzania, Zitto Kabwe to the portion of revenue an oil operator is entitled to as compensation for incurred production costs. This is usually outlined in PSAs.) Kabwe noted that the determination of Cost Oil is one of the biggest challenges in developing countries. In Tanzania, he said that there was “no ring fencing”
of blocks and worse yet, there was no provision to guard against this in the PSA. The politician said, “This means that costs incurred in one block can be recovered from another block. This is one of the challenges as it is easier for private companies to mount on costs and even declare losses from profitable
blocks.” Kabwe in his special report on this matter said that fiscal challenges face most of the developing world as well as resource-rich countries like Tanzania. He said that there are more challenges with equal weight to fiscal ones, including how to maximize backward and forward linkages in the economy. The anti-corruption advocate said, “Studies conducted for the last 50 years have concluded that Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) flows into the primary sector (mining including petroleum) have a very small multiplier effect to the rest of the economy unless timely and decisive efforts are done through policy interventions to correct the situation.” Kabwe continued, “Tanzania is currently experiencing this problem in the mining sector as no strategies were laid down to take at least an advantage on the backward linkages (inputs to the (Continued on page 12)
Sunday September 17, 2017
Dem boys seh...
Jagdeo wouldn’t know de truth if it slap he in he face De nation getting fed up wid these lying politicians. Dem lying day in, week out, month in, year out. Since dem open dem mouth is a lie especially Jagdeo, that scamp. A surgeon once tell dem boys that “Truth is like a surgery. It hurts but cures. Lie is like a pain killer. It gives instant relief but has side effects that last forever.” De KING fuh LIE and not telling the truth in Guyana is that bai that name Jagdeo. He tell everybody how he walked out and leff his Cabinet colleagues to make the decision fuh give away the Sanata complex. He lie. When dem boys ask Luncheon, he seh he couldn’t remember. Hundreds of people went to his wedding. Dem boys been too. Dem see he walk round de Maro, yet this same Jagdeo tell de nation he never married. This man lie so much that he even tell dem boys that he own parents dem didn’t bring him in the world. The truth about GPC never come to light although he sell it out to his best friend, Guyana don’t know how much land leff on the banks of de three main rivers. Jagdeo never tell the nation who and who he give all the EBD housing lands to. He lie about he retirement package and he still fighting in court fuh moh money. He did seh after two terms in office he going to plant rice and plantain on he Neighbour farm. To date de man ain’t even buy a cutlass. He didn’t tell de nation the truth about Berbice Bridge. He lie bout de Marriott, bout de AMAILA Falls Hydro project; he lie bout de airport expansion deal; he lie bout de Skeldon plant wha he seh he spend trillions on; he lie bout de Enmore packaging plant wha ain’t even package a pepper plant to this day. Don’t talk bout de forest. He seh plenty leff but when de nation check is only de swamp leff. Nobody ever know bout Pradoville 2 until he try to move de tower. He was never truthful bout de drug purchases wid Babbie. Then he lie when he get ketch wid de One Laptop Per Family. Nobody know onto now wha deal he sign wid BaiShanLin but he had dem fetching out Guyana by de shipload. The fiber optic cable is another thiefing story. De transmission line is de same thing. Then comes Clico. When de company collapse he seh that can never happen in Guyana. He end up taking tax dollars to rescue he friends who had money in Clico and lie to de nation. He wasn’t truthful about why he tek the medivac to the US but dem boys find out was a plug he been for. He wasn’t truthful to de nation when he give away de radio licences to he family, friends and party people. And now there is no space leff for anybody else. He give away de oil blocks and playing games. He publish a map which show that de only block that leff is by de seawall. He know nobody believe oil deh under de seawall. Don’t ever be surprised if he wake one morning and tell the nation that he name is not Jagdeo and that he was never president of Guyana. He bareface enough to tell de nation that he join de AFC and he gun be de 2020 presidential candidate. Talk half and wait fuh more untruths and lies.
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Kaieteur News
$$Million school feeding fraud uncovered in Region Eight
One of the schools in Paramakatoi, Region Eight.
The national school feeding programme was officially re-started by the Bharrat Jagdeo administration in 2010. Hundreds of millions of dollars were being plugged into the programme which targeted all the Regions with locally-produced biscuits and juices. Regions Seven, Eight and Nine were treated separately. Last year, $1.3B was allocated. A further $1.9B set aside this year for the national programme. However, despite the good intentions, the programme appeared to have been abused by the coordinators. In Region Eight, a vast area that has schools scattered in many of the outlying areas, discrepancies were found with two schoolsthe Kato Primary and Paramakatoi. Officials this past week confirmed that state auditors have been investigating spending of Region Eight, with the spotlight on the program. From last year to early this year, auditors reportedly
found a number of worrying things. For example, a senior Region Eight official reportedly purchased items from her Parika, East Bank Essequibo shop. Not only were some of the items purchased not delivered, but high prices were paid for them. Auditors would have been looking at the cost for every meal which reportedly scandalously ran into thousands of dollars. There were also questions about whether the correct procurement procedures were followed in awarding the contracts. In some cases, millions of dollars were being paid to the boyfriend of a senior official after he moved there to take up a contract. Monies reportedly set aside for feeding students of the new Kato Secondary, in the tens of millions of dollars, were diverted and used up in other areas, it was explained. Kaieteur News was told that a key report of state auditors was recently handed over to the administration and
Former REO Region 8, Rafel Downes it was scathing in its comments of the management in Region Eight of the programme. It was unclear whether auditors have recommended further investigations by police and even criminal charges. In recent times, the
Auditor General has been pointing more and more to widespread breaches in accounting and procurement breaches which could not easily be explained away. In fact, earlier this year, former Region Eight Regional Executive Officer (REO), Rafel Downes, was sent packing after a number of worrying things were found under his watch. His evasiveness in answering questions after he appeared earlier this year before the Public Accounts Committee, a Parliamentary oversight committee that examines spending of tax dollars, angered the members. Several of the issues surrounded the overpayment of salaries and deductions. There was also overpayment to several contractors. The Auditor General was ordered by the PAC earlier this year to launch a special audit Continued on page 61
Sunday September 17, 2017
Wismar Secondary to open tomorrow
The Wismar Christianburg Secondary School (Multi) will be resuming sessions tomorrow after a three day closure to facilitate rehabilitation to a section of the roof that was ripped off during a freak story Tuesday. Students who had turned up for school on We d n e s d a y w e r e s e n t home due to damp and wet conditions at the school. There were puddles of water in several classrooms. Later on Wednesday a decision was taken to suspend classes for the remainder of the week after a meeting with Regional Education Officer, Marcia Paddy Andrews. In an exclusive interview with Kaieteur News, Principal Cleveland Thomas said that emergen c y works commenced on the roof early Thursday morning and are expected to be complete in time for the Monday morning resumption of classes. He expressed satisfaction with the works being carried out by Linden businessman and c o n t r a c t o r, B e r e s f o r d Harry. Thomas said that rafters were replaced and everything is being bolted down as he had suggested earlier. “I would like the entire
roof to be re-done, using the new standard procedures for construction, where things would be bolted down. Maybe we might have to change the design of the roof. We could do the repairs in stages or phases. Instead of doing the entire school, we divide it into sections because it’s a pretty large building.” Thomas said that if the entire roof was to be done in one ‘block’ the students would have to be shifted to another location. Following the freak storm on Tuesday, Regional Chairman Rennis Morian and a team that included Regional Vice Chairman Elroy Adolph, Deputy REO Maylene Stephens, and two engineers attached to the RDC, paid a visit to the school to assess the damage to the roof and make recommendations for its rehabilitation. It was the consensus that the situation was an emergency and that remedial action had to be taken immediately. Morian said that though taking care of the damage to the school will affect Regional funding, it is something that has to be taken care of as a matter of emergency. “This is an emergency, so it means the way forward can’t be the normal procedure for the way
Kaieteur News
forward. Everything has to be fast tracked, because we don’t want the children to be out of school for a protracted period.” Tuesday afternoon a freak storm which hit shortly after classes were dismissed, demolished the roof and rafters of an entire section of the building. Thomas said that the very section that was most heavily affected by the storm was repaired over the recent August holidays. Students of the WCSS turned up for classes as usual on Wednesday but were greeted by classrooms with pools of water and wet furniture. Rehabilitative works are also ongoing at the Upper Demerara Hospital and the Blue Berry Hill Nursery School. Several buildings were left minus zinc sheets in the wake of the storm. According to Chairman Rennis Morian, more than 20 buildings on Blue Berry Hill were hit by the storm. Several buildings in other areas including C h r i s t i a n b u rg , Wi s r o c , Retrieve and Rainbow city were also affected. A f e w h o u s e s w e re reportedly dashed to the ground, while a coconut tree landed inside a house in Poker Street. Fortunately no was injured.
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Kaieteur News
Anti-Money Laundering Outreach and Sensitisation Seminar Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Basil Williams and members of the Ministry of Legal Affairs Compliance Team, held a oneday Anti-Money Laundering Outreach and Sensitisation Seminar on September 12, last, at the Little Rock Suites, New Amsterdam, Berbice. Accompanying Minister Williams was Special Advisor to the Attorney General on Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT), Tessa Oudkerk; Chief Parliamentary Counsel, Charles Fung-AFatt S.C.; Principal Parliamentary Counsel, Joann Bond; Director of Bank Supervision Department of the Bank of Guyana, Ramnarine Lal; Director of Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), Matthew Langevine; Head of the Spe-
cial Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) , Sydney James; Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Teshanna Lake; and Chief Cooperatives Development Officer, Perlina Gifth. The aim of the Seminar was to inform the reporting entities of their obligations and responsibilities. The Seminar highlighted the importance of the 4th round of AML/CFT mutual evaluations and its requirements in order to ensure Guyana’s preparedness for the 4th round by 2022. The Attorney General emphasized that the main work of the CFATF is mutual evaluations. He expressed the need for Guyana to work towards successfully exiting the fourth round of mutual evaluations and not fall back into the
abyss of being a blacklisted country. The Attorney General solicited the cooperation of the reporting entities present at the meeting to realise this goal. Mr. Langevine described the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) as an inter-governmental body established by the Ministers of its Member jurisdictions, with associate members such as the CFATF. He explained the process of the 4th round mutual evaluations which assesses a country’s Technical Compliance and Effectiveness. Mr. Lal provided in detail, the obligations and responsibilities of all reporting entities while Mr. James and Ms. Lake provided insight into their respective roles and functions of SOCU and the Office of the
DPP. It was repeatedly emphasised by the panelists, that the results based nature of the fourth round, is the yardstick by which effectiveness is measured and country ratings are applied.
The outreach saw a large turnout from various reporting entities between Port Mourant and New Amsterdam area of East Berbice, Region 6. The participants were appreciative of the exercise and
suggested that similar exercises be conducted in the future. The question and answer session was vibrant. Reporting entities candidly stated their concerns and the panelists responded with clarity.
Tanzanian politician warns nations to... From page 8 sector from local sources). In oil and gas, these backward linkages involve all elements of the supply chain ranging from drilling rigs to office paper c l i p s . ” The politician stated the quest i o n o f h o w Ta n z a n i a i s g o i n g t o b e p r e p a r e d on the petroleum front to ensure the economy benefits from investments in the oil and gas sector, is the most important issue which remains unaddressed by the n a t i o n ’s policymakers as well as other stakeholders in the sector. Kabwe said, “While trying to maximize revenue to meet its demand for d e v e l o p m e n t c h a l l e n g e s , Ta n z a n i a must review its petroleum sector and enact legislations that will ensure more investments, stronger linkages and sustainable development through fiscal decentralization on the central
government – local government relations...” Moreover, the anti-corruption advocate added that the government of his country must start a process to establish a sovereign development fund for mining and oil and gas sectors in order to ensure a proper use of revenue accrued from the resources rent. He said, “We need not to wait for another foreign investment backlash for us to take proactive measures in oil and gas sector development.” One can only wonder if the Government of Guyana will pay attention to the lessons of Tanzania or go forth recklessly with blinders on. (See full report by Kabwe here: http:// www.thecitizen.co.tz/blob/view/-/2433654/ data/818193/-/1228yowz/-/ZITTO-PSAOIL.pdf)
Sunday September 17, 2017
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Kaieteur News
The Cabinet supremacy model…
Parties must speak up or we will all suffer When it comes to the “Cabinet-supremacy” model, Executive Member of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), Dr. David Hinds, believes that parties within the coalition administration must speak up on certain matters or else “we will all suffer.” The political analyst made this, among other statements, in his recent writings. Dr. Hinds said that he is worried the coalition is in trouble. In this regard, he noted that the PPP has over the last two years, been able to push its 23 years of devastation of Guyana’s politics and political landscape into the background of the popular consciousness. The consequence of this, he said, is that the PPP has succeeded in turning most of its own political sins on the government. Another fundamental aspect of this picture, he said, is the fact that the PPP’s mission has succeeded largely because of the actions and non-action of the government. Dr. Hinds stated that the government through a combination of frequent elementary political mistakes, lack of cohesive world-view and inability to push back against the PPP’s attacks, has allowed the PPP the space it needs to accomplish its mission. “I argued that the adoption of a strategy whereby the government is administered as if it were a one-party government rather
WPA Executive Member, Dr. David Hinds than a coalition has led to a narrowing of decisionmaking to the Cabinet and a concomitant sidelining of the coalition political parties from decision making and from influencing policy-making.” He continued, “The consequence is that the government lacks political direction which in turn has affected the ability of the coalition to craft its own political narrative and to answer the negative coordinated PPP charges. The coalition parties—all of them— are powerless under this model. That is why they don’t speak to the media or hold public meetings because they are cut off from actual decision-making they have nothing to say.” Dr. Hinds added, “Some PPP sympathizers have pounced on my point about treating the government as if it were a one-party government to push their age-
old argument that the PNC has out-maneuvered the WPA and the AFC and is running the government as a PNC government.” The WPA Executive Member said that he has no doubt that there are PNC members of the government who are never going to give up an opportunity to advance that party’s hegemony. Be that as it may. Dr. Hinds commented that it is important for one to pay attention to the substitution of the executive arm of the government for the political parties, including the PNC. He stressed that this model is not new. Dr. Hinds asserted, “We saw Hoyte and Jagdeo use the executive to stifle and ultimately weaken their respective parties and we saw how that helped them to ultimately lose power. But the present governing crowd has not learned that lesson. I suppose what drives admirers of this model is a combination of fidelity to the centralization of power and belief in the top-down distribution of power.” He continued, “This Cabinet-supremacy model is counter-productive. In the end, governments do not fight and win elections, parties do. What is interesting here is that the government leaders of the PNC, AFC and WPA have all enabled this model of cabinet supremacy and its attendant marginalization of the parties.” Dr. Hinds added, “So, the charge of PNC hegemony
- WPA Executive Member ignores this reality—the PNC, as a party, is also marginalized by this model. In this regard the PNC, as a party, is being wrongfully blamed. The problem is that the Cabinet
behaves like a separate political party that is not accountable to any entity outside of itself.” The political activist stated that the WPA recently
pushed back against this cabinet-supremacy model, largely because its nongovernmental wing has more sway within the party. Continued on page 14
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Kaieteur News
FINANCIAL LITERACY:
People and Numeracy
The importance of being numeracy literate Research findings from both the United States and other countries with regard to the level of numeracy in the adult population indicate alarming results that are “very low and particularly severe among some already vulnerable groups in the population, such as the elderly, women and those with low educational attainment.” According to George Washington University, this is “problematic because numeracy has been found to be linked to financial decision-making, and many governments and employers around the world are increasingly shifting the responsibility of saving, investing and borrowing onto individuals.” In Part 1 of this article, it was noted that the world requires us all to have a high level of competence in basic numeracy skills, because
financially capable people are able to make informed decisions. In fact, a “lack of financial understanding can have long lasting, severe economic repercussions.” For the numerically illiterate, numbers can deceive in both small and large financial decisions. For example, the following question was asked with respect to numeracy, “Does 0% financing save you money on a car?” The answer to this question is not obvious because there is both a benefit and a cost associated with each choice. You have to do the math to find the choice that is right for you. Numeracy The research literature has documented numerous data sets from the United States and other countries about numeracy and financial decisions. For example, the 2004 U.S. Health and Retirement Study, a survey that covers people 50 and older, contained questions measuring numeracy.
Parties must speak up or... From page 13 But in the cases of the AFC and the PNC, he commented that the government ministers are the dominant leaders of those parties, so they are less likely to push back against Cabinet supremacy. And, of course, Dr. Hinds noted that the non-governmental wings of those parties are not as audacious as they should be—they suffer in silence while the ship is in distress. “These parties have to do better than that or we will suffer the bitter consequences.”
Respondents 51-56 years old were asked the following question: · “Let’s say you have 200 dollars in a savings account. The account earns 10% interest per year. How much would you have in the account at the end of two years?” This compound interest question was difficult for most of the respondents; only 18% correctly computed the compound interest. Of those who got the question wrong, 43% erred by undertaking a simple interest calculation, thereby ignoring the interest accruing on both principal and interest. In a paper written by Annamaria Lusardi, another study, the English Longitudinal Study on Aging (ELSA) related to numeracy asked the following two questions: · “In a sale, a shop is selling all items at half price. Before the sale, the sofa costs $300. How much will it cost on the sale?” · “A second hand car dealer is selling a car for $6000. This is two-thirds of what is cost new. How much did the car cost new?” Again, respondents show a low level of numeracy, between 11-12%. The question on compounding is the one that respondents found more challenging. Lusardi considers these
dismal findings, considering the complexities of the calculations involved in many financial decisions. Everyone makes decisions in the marketplace and most of these decisions require comparing numbers. Too often consumers make poor decisions because they fail to understand the context of financial numbers. According to Joseph Ganem, Ph.D, “A large part of this problem arises because our schools fail in teaching students, quantitative literacy, which is educational jargon for facility with numbers and arithmetic.” Quantitative literacy is the most important of all mathematical skills because it is the one area of math that affects all our lives each and every day. Financial illiteracy and lack of numeracy are not only widespread in the population but are particularly severe in certain demographic groups. According to the literature, there is evidence from research in psychology, marketing, and medicine that people are not numerate and have difficulty performing calculations that involve percentages. A California study of a group of 201 individuals aged over 61 years examined the role of numeracy, or comfort with numbers as a potential risk factor for financial elder exploitation and found that
Part 2
there is a significant risk factor for the exploitation of the elderly because of weaknesses in mathematical skills. Numeracy skills can be useful not only in the job market but also in making good financial decisions throughout one’s lifetime. Justification for teaching financial literacy and numeracy Given the complex menu of financial products and increased focus on individual responsibility, it is essential that we take steps to ensure sound financial decisionmaking, improve the rate of financial market participation, and lessen risk aversion. From an early age, students need to understand finance. Dr. Ganem suggests that financial literacy should be integrated into the current math curriculum rather than taught separately. Such an approach would have the added benefit of showing students that math is relevant, because knowledge of math leads to personal financial gain. The earlier that young people can develop basic financial skills, the more likely it is that they will make good financial decisions when they become adults. According to the research literature, “there is an undisputed link between the need for adequate basic skills in numeracy and literacy and financial literacy.” As the world advances, we have to
Dr. Terence Smith, Deputy Governor, Bank of Guyana understand complex information presented in financial charts, deal with percentages and solve time management problems. Concluding remarks A lack of financial understanding can have long lasting, severe economic repercussions. Therefore, high schools and colleges should consider integrating financial topics into the current curriculum. It must be noted that people of all ages must be capable of making effective decisions. Informed and educated consumers not only achieve better outcomes for themselves but, through shopping for and use of financial products, help to increase market efficiency and innovation. Next week we will examine tips to choosing a financial literacy curriculum. Thanks for all your comments and support. As usual, please send your comments or questions to deputygovernor@ bankofguyana.org.gy
Sunday September 17, 2017
Kaieteur News
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Kaieteur News
Reflecting on the Queens College ... From page 10 morning activities included board games that fostered positive interactions between students; while impromptu soccer and basketball games took over lunch time.
Johnson stated that students also wrote about their experiences at the camp. “The QCSMI team created an environment in which students felt good about themselves and their peers. Stu-
dents stepped out of their social and intellectual comfort zones into new landscapes of learning and growth.” Meanwhile, another student expressed, “Since I came to the camp, I’ve gained con-
fidence for some reason. Normally, volunteering to speak in front of kids my age is a difficult task. Thanks to this camp, I’ve gained some amount of confidence in myself.” Johnson recounted that on the first day of the institute she discovered that Maria Shakoor would love to be a journalist when she grows older. As a result, Johnson said she asked Shakoor if she
Sunday September 17, 2017 would like at act as the camp ers to teens who confessed to blogger for the duration of the fearing and even loathing camp, and she readily agreed. math. By the end of the first “Armed with an iPad do- week, Maths lovers had disnated to Queen’s College ear- covered even greater “beauty lier in the year by the Little Red in the mathematics” and those Schoolhouse and Elisabeth who quaked at the thought of Irwin High School - a progres- math were beginning to comsive K-12 school which my mit - with confidence - to imchildren have attended in New proving their math grades. York City - Maria proceeded This year’s institute was to write in her own unique made possible through the voice.” Shakoor’s blog can be generous support of Mid-Atfound at lantic Oil and Gas, JHI Assowww.qcsmi.wordpress.com. ciates, Banks DIH, Fly Jamaica Students who signed up Airways, Maple Soft, Ontario, for this free institute ranged Canada and Dr. Edris Kamal from self professed math lov- Dookie.
Sunday September 17, 2017
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Kaieteur News
TACKLING CRIME AND VIOLENCE WITHIN THE CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY (CARICOM): About the Author A graduate of The Royal Military Academy of Sandhurst in England, Fairbairn Liverpool, has had considerable experience in command and staff as a Military Officer in the Guyana Defence Force (GDF). He commanded from a Platoon to the Brigade and served in various staff appointments ultimately becoming the Force’s First Adjutant General. Seconded to the Guyana Public Service as Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, he was the Administrative Head of its several departments which included the Guyana Police Force, the Guyana Prison Service and the Guyana Fire Service. He initiated strategic planning in the Ministry and was the architect of Guyana’s First Drug Control Strategy. During graduate studies at Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, he conducted extensive research in policing, working in a directed study with Professor Dennis Forcese, the then Head of the Centre of Community Policing Studies at the University. In the last twelve years of his professional career, Liverpool was the first Regional Coordinator for Crime and Security within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and was based at the CARICOM Sec-
Some Thoughts of Fairbairn Egerton Liverpool retariat in Georgetown, Guyana. During this period, he had the privilege of collaborating with Professor David Bayley, the former Dean and current Distinguished Professor of the School of Criminal Justice at the State University of New York at Albany and Professor Ramesh Deosaran, Professor Emeritus at the Police Service Commission, Trinidad and Tobago, in the conduct of a Retreat of CARICOM Ministers of National Security and Commissioners of Police in an effort to develop strategies to tackle crime and violence within CARICOM. About this paper Coming from a vantage point of forty-five years as a public servant in the field of Crime Control and Security at the national and regional levels, the author, now a retired but concerned citizen, has been seriously disturbed by the rise in crime and violence in our communities and the apparent helplessness of the authorities to get a grip of the situation. Crime and violence not only threaten the security of our citizens and their assets but present a clear and present danger to develop-
ment and nation building in the Caribbean. If unchecked, the forces, which undermine the rule of law, will render the very institutions designed to uphold the law, incapable of and life in the region would become untenable. Police corruption and abuse have been pinpointed, not without some justification, as one of the principal reasons for the decline in law and order in the Caribbean. Indeed, police corruption is a universal problem, a fact which has perhaps contributed significantly to ongoing research on the topic and made it the single most researched topic in policing globally. Fingers have been pointed in the direction of the police as being perhaps the major players in this game, but are the police really the culprits? The search for solutions to the problem has led Caribbean Governments and their Police Forces to seek the assistance of and be guided by the expertise of international police authorities. Through this means, the remedies attempted by Member States have focused on reform measures that tend to rely on a set of contextual conditions
The Baccoo Speaks The dry season is here once more and so too are the fires. One enterprising person would set fire to some trash in a plot of land to the north of the city only to see this fire spread out of control at an alarming rate. The winds are also going to fan the flames but as fate would have it, this fire would not be too close to any building, but only just. ** One can never understand the rate at which people kill each other. It is
only now that the people of a village would discover a body close to a waterway. The police would be hard pressed to
find a motive until a child reports what he saw. ** Three bandits are going to tackle a family because of the perception that there would be foreign currency in the household. He attack would be savage since the attackers would be very young and scared. Thankfully, they would be taken off the streets but the community would recall that these young men had been in this situation before.
based on studies of blue-ribbon commissions not commonly found in the small states that comprise the Caribbean Community. They, by and large, have produced limited results because crime and violence in the Region continues to worsen. Frustrated by the fruitless ‘ole talk’ with his friends on what should and should not be done to arrest the decline of our Region into lawlessness, the author is of the view that unless a “spade is called a spade” and strategies are embraced to seriously tackle the true causes of crime and violence in the Region, life in the Region would become survival of the fittest. This paper is the author’s attempt to set out views on the current situation and to advance, in as cogent and dispassionate a manner as possible, the crime and security scenario that exists currently with reasons for and solutions to a situation which, if it remains unchecked and unresolved, could see disaster to the Region. It is his hope that they may contribute in some small way to the muchneeded debate in making our Region safer. Note has been taken of the recent call by the Hon. Prime Minister of Ja-
maica for a Crime and Violence Debate at the Regional level. I offer the following as a contribution to the debate. Calling a Spade a Spade Police corruption is a universal problem. Since the advent of the modern policeman vested with the ‘powers of arrest’, the police have become both an object and subject of corruption. The avoidance of prosecution by those who breached the law saw the birth of bribery of the police. At the same time, the powers of discretion in the hands of the police, to prosecute or not to prosecute, gave rise to the “crooked cop”. According to Wikipedia, police corruption is defined as “a form of police misconduct in which law enforcement officers end up breaking their social or political contract and abuse their powers for personal or departmental gain”. This type of corruption can involve one officer or it can involve a group of officers in a coordinated modus operandi. Because the police are the primary institution for implementing the rule of law in any society, when the police
sell their services for private gain, act on behalf of one group of people in d o m i n a ti n g a n o t h e r, o r abuse and exploit their citizens, distrust of the police grows and the rule of law ceases to exist. In countries big or small, rich or poor, police corruption exists because it is systemic. According to the United States Institute of Peace, Special Report on Police Corruption (2011), Transparency International reported that the police, in eighty-six countries surveyed, were judged the fourth most corrupt institution after political parties, public officials generally, and parliaments and legislature. A Human Rights Watch Report concluded that in Nigeria, the police had become “a symbol of unfettered corruption, mismanagement, and abuse” and in a survey confined to India in 2005, Transparency International found that police ranked the highest among nine public services on its corruption index. Police corruption in the developed world has had and continues to have its fair share of notoriety. The infamous case of Serpico in the New York Police Department (NYPD) many years ago stands out in the annals of the history of police corruption. (To be continued)
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Sunday September 17, 2017
Two dead market vendors on the seawalls By Michael Jordan Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying that these two cases are connected. But some would say that it is stretching coincidence rather far for both men, with some similarities in their backgrounds, to end up being murdered in the same way, and being dumped in similar locations. On November 25, 2009, a group of joggers running at the back of the Ocean View International Hotel, Liliendaal, spotted the body of a man lying on the seawall. The victim was clad in his underpants and a t-shirt. He was also wearing a pair of slippers. A bag containing another pair of footwear and a cellular phone was near the body. Someone had slit his throat, and that person had also stabbed him in the face several times. Police who visited the scene found a bloodstained rock nearby. The victim was quickly identified as 39-year-old stage actor and Bourda market vendor Joel Fraser, of 27 Laing
- is there a link between these two cases?
Elton Campbell: Mutilated corpse found near Kingston on January 18, 2010
Joel Fraser: Mutilated body found at Liliendaal, ECD, on November 25, 2009
Avenue. According to reports, Fraser, called ‘Sweets,’ was last seen in the vicinity of Bourda Market around midnight the day before. An associate in the acting fraternity had reportedly dropped him off there at around 23:00 hrs. According to other re-
ports, earlier that same night, Fraser had attended rehearsals for the comedy production “Nothing to Laugh About.” He had then left to attend the Mori J’von Comedy Jam rehearsals, a production in which he was playing an integral role. Shortly after midnight,
he reportedly called a female friend and said that he was at the Bourda Market. The motive, too, s e e m e d u n c l e a r. S o m e clues suggested robbery. According to reports, the actor had a laptop computer and production material for the premiere of the Mori J’von Comedy Jam. The computer and material were missing. But the ferocity of the attack on the victim seemed to suggest that revenge could be a motive. However, Fraser’s relatives and close friends all indicated that he had no enemies. Those who saw him shortly before his demise said that he did not seem to be upset about anything. The whereabouts of the victim’s trousers also presented a mystery. Police would question two female associates of Fraser’s, but never came close to solving the case. Then two months later, on January 18, 2010, a man living in a shack near the Kingston seawall was strolling in the area when he spotted a body lying under a coconut tree. The victim, a man of mixed ancestry was clad in long khaki pants, brown striped shirt and a pair of black sandals. Both of his
ears were pierced. The body had a gaping wound to the neck and multiple chop wounds to the hands. Police would surmise that the victim sustained the injuries to the hands while trying to ward off the attacker. Detectives retrieved a cutlass a short distance from the corpse. The following day, relatives of the victim identified the slain man as 44year-old Bourda Market vendor, Elton Campbell, also called Llewellyn Fitzgerald Campbell, of Lamaha Street, Kitty. One relative said that she had seen Campbell about a week before, at a relative’s birthday party at Plaisance, East Coast Demerara. One vendor remembered seeing Campbell about three days before his murder. According to the individual, the man had appeared to be in good spirits. Some ranks remembered the murder of Joel Fraser and
speculated whether there was a connection between the two cases. The fact that Campbell’s trouser pockets were turned outwards when he was found also gave rise to speculation that he was robbed and slain. But what was the victim doing in that dismal area? There was talk that detectives were looking at the fact that one of the man’s close associates lives a short distance from where the body was found. But, as in Joel Fraser’s case, no arrests were made. Both cases remain unsolved. If you have any information about this or any other unusual case, please contact Kaieteur News by letter or telephone at our Lot 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown. Our numbers are 22-58465, 2256458 and 22-58458. You need not disclose your identity. You can also contact Michael Jordan at his email address mjdragon@hotmail.com.
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State of siege and the poetic essence of history: Donald Ramotar and Lucia In a letter published about ten about ten years ago, Donald Ramotar, then General Secretary of the PPP, asked me to define and explain “the poetic essence of history” after he read my use of the concept in one of my columns. I didn’t meet his request. I think I responded (can’t find his letter and my response; maybe if I had looked harder) by saying I wish he would ask me more pertinent questions like some of the accusations I wrote about the Jagdeo presidency. I never did expand on Ramotar’s request. And honestly, I thought he knew what it meant. This week, the South American country of Uruguay had a second manifestation of the poetic essence of history. When I was young (about 20), before I went into UG, I was a strong supporter of guerrilla movements fighting the fascist regimes in South America. At that time, Greece was under military dictatorship. I had a friend, Balwant Persaud, who is now a private consultant on migration to Canada with office in Alberttown. Balwant suggested to me that we go to see a movie about the Greek dictatorship simply titled “Z.”
That movie made a lasting impression on me. Movie just like books and people can change your philosophical leanings forever. “Z” is one of the best political films ever made. I was impressed with the director. A few years after “Z” the director, Costa Gavras, brought out an even bigger phenomenon, “State of Siege,” about the Tupamaro guerrilla insurgency in Uruguay. At that time, Plaza seemed to be the cinema that showed these political thrillers. I saw “Z” and “State of Siege” at the Plaza. Life is strange. I saw “State of Siege” with a close friend who shared our support for the Tupamaro guerrillas and our leftist/Marxist ideology. That very friend today is a strong practicing Muslim moulvi. I fail to understand how someone with that background could become a religious preacher but I guess life has seen stranger phenomena, one of which is two former Tupamaro guerrillas. Jose Mujica became president of Uruguay in 2009. When I sat in the cinema and watched the Uruguay security forces decimating the Tupamaros, I would never have believed that forty-five
years after the insurgency in Uruguay, a Tupamaro guerrilla would become the President of the country. Jose Mujica gathered a world-wide reputation for being the most modest president a country could ever see. He gave away most of his salary and the global media dubbed him “the world’s poorest president,” Mujica became president of Uruguay fifty years after he was jailed for his revolutionary, violent attacks on the state. When he became the president, it was a manifestation of the poetic essence of history. And I hope if he reads this, Donald Ramotar would now grasp what the poetic essence of history means. But wait! There are more manifestations of the poetic essence of history and it is taking place in Uruguay again. Last week, Lucia Topolansky became the VicePresident of Uruguay. She is the wife of Mujica. She was also a Tupamaro guerrilla. She was also jailed for a long time. Lucia Topolansky was one of the fiercest and bravest female guerrillas in the Uruguayan revolutionary movement. It is a miracle that she survived execution. When she became Vice-President
last week, the poetic essence of history was on display once more for the world and Donald Ramotar to see. I will always remember the movie “State of Siege.” When you are that young, these kinds of artistry shape your world view. I got older, went to UG, completed a first degree, moved on to Canada to do my Masters and doctorate. It was in Toronto. I saw the continuing magic of Costa Gavras. In 1983, Gavras exceeded his previous brilliant works. He brought out, “Missing” about the role of the CIA in the overthrow of
the Chilean President, Salvadore Allende. “Missing” is extraordinary artistry. If ever there is a political thriller anyone should see, it is “Missing” starring one of the most consummate artists the world of films in any part of the world ever produced character actor Jack Lemmon. “Missing” is sad story of the tragic causalities that people become when humans struggle for good over evil. I am glad Lucia is now the VicePresident of Uruguay. And though I am not a religious person, I pray the world in the
Frederick Kissoon context of what Mujica, Lucia and Nelson Mandela, Miklhail Gorbachev and similar kinds have achieved, will continue to see the poetic essence of history.
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(Continued from last Sunday’s article titled: Preserving miners’ health & the environment) In keeping with Guyana’s commitments to create a truly Green state, this country will be represented at the first Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention scheduled for Geneva, Switzerland from September 24 to 29. The Minamata Convention is an international treaty designed to protect human health and the environment from anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury and mercury compounds. This chemical is used in gold mining and it poses serious threats to human health and the mining environment. The name Minamata was given to a neurological disorder which was caused by mercury poisoning in the Japanese city with the same name. The disease was discovered in 1956 and a nearby chemical plant was blamed for causing it by emitting untreated wastewater into the Minamata Bay. Guyana was one of the first countries to sign on to the legally binding agreement on October 10, 2013. Even though the then government had claimed support from the broad mining sector including
Sunday September 17, 2017
Kaieteur News
REPLACING MERCURY IN GOLD MINING the Guyana Women Miners’ Organisation (GWMO), the latter later issued a disclaimer stating that the women miners had not been consulted before the signing. However, the ladies were all too familiar with the dangers of Mercury and the benefits of mining without it, so they joined the eradication campaign. Last week we began to examine alternatives to extracting and amalgamating gold in the field without using Mercury. We told you about 2 gravity concentration methods – panning and sluicing. Today we continue with suggestions assisted by www.epa.gov: SHAKING TABLES These are elevated tables tilted to one side with raised ridges running horizontally down their length. Crushed ore or sediment mixed and water is applied at one end of the table. The water washes the ‘feed’ down the table and specialized grooves trap the gold and direct it to collection points on the side of the table. Lighter minerals are washed away.
During this process, the table is continually shaken by a motor to agitate the material and aid in the separation of gold particles. SPIRAL CONCENTRATORS Spiral concentrators are specialized pans tilted at an angle with spiraled grooves that lead toward the center where a hole is connected to a container to catch material. A motor rotates the pan as the concentrate (ore) is fed onto it. A pipe extending horizontally across the pan sprays water along its surface as the concentrator spins. The water washes lighter particles down the spiral concentrator into a bucket, while denser particles, including gold, are carried by the spiral grooves toward the hole in the center of the concentrator. After repeating this process several times, the operator is left with a high grade concentrate, and liberated gold. Spiral concentrators are relatively easy to operate but they do require a larger capital investment than pans or
sluices. VORTEX CONCENTRATORS Vortex concentrators use a rotating flow of water to separate lighter materials and remove them via a raised drain hole. It is basically a circular tub with a water inlet on the side of the tub and a raised drain in the center. The tub is allowed to fill with water until it reaches the level of the drain hole and then concentrate is added in a thin layer around the bottom of the bowl. Water is then pumped into the side inlet creating a rotating vortex of water that drains in the center. The vortex pulls lighter material up from the bottom of the bowl and out the drain hole. Dense materials such as gold remain at the bottom. It is important to pay attention to the amount of water flowing into the tub. If the water pressure is too high, the velocity of the water will carry the gold particles out through the drain along with the rest of the ore. When a vortex is operated correctly, the result
is a fine gold concentrate that is usually very high grade. Vortices are easy to operate and are good at capturing fine gold that is hard to extract through other methods. MAGNETS Magnets can be used to remove minerals such as magnetite from concentrate/ore. They can be used after, or in conjunction with, other method of concentration. One technique for extracting magnetic minerals is to place hand held magnets on the bottom of a pan containing dried concentrate. This is to separate metallic materials. Care must be taken to identify gold particles during the separation process. You can cover the magnet with a piece of paper that will easily throw off the metallic minerals when it is removed from the magnet. FLOTATION Flotation is usually used by large scale miners but it could be applied in small scale operations. It is a process that works best for processing complex ore types, espe-
cially ore that is difficult to process using gravity methods. In flotation, slurry (mixture of crushed ore and water) and a frothing agent is put into a flotation machine. A tube releases air into the tank of the machine and an agitator creates air bubbles at the bottom of the tank. There are many suitable frothing agents. Depending on the chemical, specific precautions must be taken when the frother to protect miners’ and residents’health, and waste must be disposed of in a manner that does no harm to the environment. Minerals that are hydrophilic, such as gold, attach themselves to the bubbles created by the injected air and float to the top of the tank. Other minerals fall to the bottom to be discarded as tailings. Bubbles containing gold and other hydrophilic minerals accumulate on the surface of the water as froth or flow over the sides. The bubbles dissipate and a concentrate of gold and other hydrophilic minerals is formed. Flotation creates high quality concentrate and is good at capturing fine gold. This method usually requires considerable capital investment, however. (To be continued)
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Kaieteur News
My column
Is Jagdeo’s memory failing? There are many occasions when people rely on their memory. I, like many, have been caught trusting my memory and getting things all wrong. What we do is place ourselves at a place and time when something happens. Years later we recall being somewhere but somehow, we remember the wrong event. More often than not, we recall the wrong place and time when we try to remember the event. One case had to do with cricket. There was an argument about the last West Indian batsman to score a century in both innings of a Test match. Rohan Kanhai, to my mind, was the last and I was willing to bet until someone reminded me of Lawrence Rowe. There was also Brian Lara in 2001 against Sri Lanka. Since then there has been Shai Hope. Indeed the memory plays tricks. That was my conclusion when Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo made some pronouncements about developments in Guyana. One had to do with the investment of money from the National Insurance Scheme into the Berbice River crossing. The National Insurance Scheme was chaired by Cabi-
net Secretary Dr. Roger Luncheon, the right hand man to the President going as far back as Dr Cheddi Jagan. This scheme was a milch cow for the government. On every occasion when the government wanted money for a major project it turned to the NIS. There was nothing wrong with this because the scheme needed to invest its huge holdings to keep paying its pensioners and other beneficiaries. But there were reports that the scheme was only investing with those close to the then government. What made the loans from the NIS more lucrative were the low interest rates. So the scheme put millions of dollars in the Berbice River crossing. But it was like a grant because there were no returns. However, Jagdeo told a press conference on Wednesday that the NIS got money by way of the rate of return while his best friend Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop got no money. Nothing could be further from the truth. I ended up trying to get from the current Chairman and from the General Managers past and present, how much money the NIS has been receiving. To a
man or woman, they looked with a smile that said, “We don’t want to talk about that because you know the answer as well as we do. During that same press conference, the issue of the Demerara Harbour Bridge came up. I remember when Burnham caused the floating structure to be built way back in 1978. Up until then, the West Demerara was a world removed from the city and the eastern part of the country. There was a ferry that plied the river and it stopped working in the evening. As fate would have it, that bridge had its critics, some making bold to abuse Burnham by asking him to name the bridge, Viola Passage. That bridge became a lifeline to the extent that when its natural life should have been over, the government of Bharrat Jagdeo did all in its power to keep that bridge. Now that the bridge had outgrown its usefulness there is some controversy. It was the Jagdeo Government that conducted a feasibility study that concluded that the best location for the new bridge would be at Versailles and Houston. The coalition government
conducted another feasibility that came to the same conclusion. Yet here it was that Jagdeo told the press that the new government chose the new locations out of political considerations. He pointed to a proposal done by entrepreneur Stanley Ming which recommended the identical crossing in 2015 and added that the coalition by coincidence arrived at the conclusion that Stanley Ming reached. Robeson Benn, Jagdeo’s Works Minister, actually wrote a memorandum to Cabinet asking for money for the same Versailles-Houston crossing as early as 2013. So Jagdeo opted to lie again. But then again, it could have been his memory. He must have wiped his memory clean of everything he did so that whatever is happening today has to be new to him. I did notice, too, that he failed to remember his direct political involvement in the operations of the Guyana Police Force. There was the Paul Slowe incident. Slowe had seized a firearm belonging to one of Jagdeo’s supporters. His Home Affairs Minister Ronald Gajraj directed Slowe to return the firearm, an order that Slowe refused to ex-
ecute. To his credit, Slowe said that the order should come from his superiors in the Guyana Police Force. Both Jagdeo and Gajraj decided to vent their political might on Slowe. They began by attempting to transfer him out of the Police Force. They dropped that course of action when Slowe moved to the courts. But they ensured that Slowe was never promoted beyond his rank of Assistant Commissioner. Today, the present administration is accused of meddling in the force. Jagdeo claimed that they are destroying the morale of the force. All that is happening is that officers with an astonishing accumulation of leave are being asked to take a portion of that leave. Jagdeo says that they are being moved out of the system for political reasons. If the officers did complain to him it would have to be that they do not want to proceed on leave. But I doubt that the officers would complain. If they are corrupt then they may feel that their cushy position from which they would collect gratuities would now no longer be there for the graft. There was some prema-
Adam Harris ture announcement about a Crime Chief. The officer, Ravindradat Budhram was indeed recommended but as Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan explained, he was never moved to the office. There was no question of political consideration as Jagdeo sought to make out. Ramjattan actually called Jagdeo an unparliamentary name. He said that Jagdeo was an inveterate or consumate liar. I would not go so far. I would say that the former President has a serious problem with his memory. But Ramjattan gave a telling example. He said that Jagdeo, according to Hindu rites, walked around the maro seven times, a rite of passage at a wedding. Later, in a bout of forgetfulness, Jagdeo said that he never married.
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Sunday September 17, 2017
Kaieteur News
Literacy in a digital world “The world has changed since 1966- but our determination to provide every woman and man with the skills, capacities and opportunities to become everything they wish, in dignity and respect, remains as frim as ever. Literacy is a foundation to build a more sustainable future for all.” UNESCO Director General On September 8, 2017, the world observed International Literacy Day. This year marks the 51st anniversary and the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) is celebrating under the banner-Literacy in a Digital World. Over five decades ago UNESCO officially designated September 8 International Literacy Day to actively mobilise the international community and to promote literacy as an instrument for empowering communities and societies. On this day we celebrate and honour the efforts that have been made to increase literacy rates around the world. It is also a time to look at some of the current challenges and examine some of the innovative solutions to further boost literacy. In Guyana, our Ministry of Education is committed to realigning our educational system so that it produces the skills necessary for economic transformation. This administration believes that every child must go to school and have provided boats, bicycles and busses in several school districts to ensure that children get to and stay in school. It is our mission and our obligation to make universal primary and secondary education a total reality. In a charge to the 2014 graduating class of the Cyril Potter
College of Education, His Excellency David Granger said “Guyana today, is a country of bright prospects but also of colossal complexity. A field of unprecedented opportunities lies before you. The opportunity for engineers to build bridges and roads to open our vast hinterland and to develop schemes to exploit our hydro-electrical potential; the opportunity for geologists to develop our bauxite, diamond, gold, manganese and quarry resources; the opportunity for biologists, botanists, zoologists and agriculturists to expand food production; the opportunity to improve communication and human learning; the opportunity for manufacturers, shippers, builders to drive our economy at a faster rate. Where will these scientists come from? These opportunities cannot be fully exploited and this country cannot be developed by chance or by conjecture. They cannot be achieved while a large part of the population is paralyzed by poverty. They cannot be achieved by the ignorant and the illiterate. The cannot be achieved while so many primary school children cannot qualify to enter secondary school or when thousands of children drop out of our primary and secondary schools every year…. They can be achieved only by people with a first-class education. They can be achieved only by the creation of an ‘education nation’ that brings all our people together in a knowledge society. They can be achieved only by combining our energies, integrating our communities and working together for the common good rather than pulling apart. Dark forces, poverty, oppression and hatred –
threaten to pull us apart. An education nation ought to be one in which intelligence prevails over ignorance, cooperation over confrontation and national integration over communal disintegration.” Education in Guyana especially in this digital age is an entitlement. Primary education has been compulsory in Guyana for over a century. Article 27 of the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana states: “Every citizen has the right to free education from nursery to university…” Literacy and numeracy are as essential as food if one is to be successful in the digital world. Literacy has the ability to raise family status, it is necessary to eradicate poverty, lower child mortality, control population growth and assist in attaining gender equality. Literacy is a part of Sustainable Development Goal 4, which aims to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all”. The target is that by 2030 all youth and a substantial proportion of adults, both men and women, achieve literacy and numeracy (SDG Target4.6). THE DIGITALWORLD As the internet transforms our lives and the way we interact with media, those who are unable to access technology can be left out of important conversations. Data from the International Telecommunications Union shows that computer and internet usage amongst youth varies radically around the world and
unsurprisingly, lower income nations tend to see much lower rates of access. When at least a trillion dollars of our global economy relies on the internet, this lack of equal access means a lack of equal participation in the world. So it is timely that this year’s International Literacy Day theme is “Literacy in a Digital World.” Traditionally, literacy has been considered a set of reading, writing and counting skills applied in a certain context. Digitally-mediated knowledge societies are changing what it means to be literate, calling for new and higher-level literacy skills. New technologies open opportunities to improve lives and connect globally, but they can also marginalize those who are illiterate and lack other essential skills needed to navigate them, it is estimated that some 750 million adults worldwide are not literate. Cognizant of the digital challenge, our government has taken the necessary steps to facilitate the reform of the education sector, so as to produce the type for citizen required for the 21st century development of Guyana. We have taken steps to improve the teaching of science mathematics and language skills at the primary and secondary levels. We are working to ensure that all secondary schools across the nation are equipped for the teaching of ICT-related subjects, and provided each qualified teacher with a laptop computer to facilitate the emphasis on ICT supported education in all schools. We are in a digital world, we will not be left out of the communication, education and information revolution that continues to transform world civilization.
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Kaieteur News
Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A very uncomfortable condition By Dr Zulfikar Bux Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine
tion). Some patients switch back and forth between diarrhea and constipation.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a very common condition of the Intestinal system. It is estimated that 10% of the world population has this condition. It is often ignored, misdiagnosed or treated improperly. Today we will discuss this condition that often leaves its sufferers “very uncomfortable”.
WHATARE THE SYMPTOMS OF IBS?
WHAT IS IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME? IBS is a condition that causes belly pain and problems with bowel movements. Some people with the condition have frequent, watery bowel movements (diarrhea). Others do not have enough bowel movements (constipa-
Symptoms include: - Stomach pain and cramps, related to a bowel movement - Diarrhea or constipation (some people switch back and forth between diarrhea and constipation) - Bloating - Gas For most people, IBS is a chronic condition, although there will likely be times when the signs and symptoms are worse and times when they improve or even disappear completely. IS THEREA TEST FOR IBS?
No, there is no specific test. But your doctor can figure out if you have IBS by asking you a few questions, and by running tests to make sure you do not have something other than IBS. Lots of medical conditions can cause the same symptoms as IBS. So it is important that your doctor checks the other possibilities. WHAT CAN I DO TO FEEL BETTER? You can: - Start a diary to keep track of what you ate each day, what you did, and how you felt. That way, you can figure out if anything you do or eat makes your symptoms better or worse. - Stop eating foods that might be making your IBS worse. Start by giving up foods that give you gas, and
then give up milk, ice cream, and other foods that have traces of milk for two weeks. Ask your doctor for advice on which foods can make IBS worse. - Eat more fiber, if you have constipation. You can do this by eating more fruits and vegetables. Or you can take fiber pills or powders. (If eating more fiber makes symptoms worse, cut back on the fiber.) - Exercise. Do something active for 20 to 60 minutes, 3 to 5 days a week. Studies show this helps improve IBS symptoms.
dition worse. The medicines that can help with IBS symptoms include: - Medicines to ease diarrhea - Medicines to ease constipation - Antidepressants – These medicines work by blocking pain. When used to treat IBS, they are given at a much lower dose than would normally be given to treat depression. - Medicines called “antispasmodics” - Antibiotics – These medicines sometimes help with bloating and diarrhea in some people.
HOW IS IBS TREATED? Medicines can ease the symptoms of IBS. But no treatment can cure the condition. Counseling might also help with IBS, because stress and worry can make the con-
WHAT WILLLIFE WITH IBS BE LIKE? Most people with IBS have the condition for the rest of their life. Even so, most people find ways to improve
Dr. Zulfikar Bux their symptoms. Only a small number of people with irritable bowel syndrome have severe signs and symptoms. Some people can control their symptoms by managing diet, lifestyle and stress. Others will need medication and counseling. The key is to keep working with your doctor until the two of you find an approach that works.
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Kabwe said that Tanzania faced several issues. He said that the nation suffered big time in the determination of Cost Oil/Gas. (Cost Oil simply speaks to the portion of revenue an oil operator is entitled to as compensation for incurred production costs. This is usually outlined in PSAs.) Kabwe noted that the determination of Cost Oil is one of the biggest challenges in developing countries. In Tanzania, he said that there was no “no ring fencing” of blocks and worse yet, there was no provision to guard against this in the PSA. The politician said, “This means that costs incurred in one block can be recovered from another block. This is one of the challenges as it is easier for private companies to mount on costs and even declare losses from profitable blocks.” He added, “From my recollections as PAC Chairman, only four PSAs have been audited in order to verify the costs by investors…”
SUNDAY TANZANIA PAID DEARLY FOR NONDISCLOSURE OF OIL CONTRACT …COUNTRY’S PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE FINDS The coalition administration is adamant that now is not “the opportune time” to release its contract with USA oil giant, ExxonMobil. But while it continues to hold that view, there are many countries around the world that have paid the price for keeping such critical contracts from public scrutiny. One classic illustration of this is Tanzania. This geologically picturesque nation of Eastern Africa paid highly for keeping a Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) with StatOil of Norway in partnership with ExxonMobil under lock and key. In fact, it took the efforts of some really brave anticorruption advocates to leak the contract to the Par-
liament of Tanzania in 2014. It was immediately scrutinized by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and the findings were deemed mindboggling. So damning were the revelations that the PAC Chairman at the time, Zitto Kabwe, did a special case study on the terms agreed to between the Government and Statoil/ExxonMobil. (See full report here: http:// www.thecitizen.co.tz/blob/view/-/ 2433654/data/818193/-/1228yowz/-/ ZITTO-PSA-OIL.pdf) Kabwe stressed that the leak of the natural gas terms agreed to with Statoil/ExxonMobil presented a unique opportunity to examine how much more the nation could have benefitted from its considerable natural gas resources. In his paper, Kabwe assessed the terms of the PSA as well as examined the wider fiscal challenges in the oil and gas sector of Tanzania. As it relates to fiscal challenges,
STRONGER LEGAL SUPPORT AND PROTECTION FOR VICTIMS OF SEXUAL CRIMES – AS PUBLIC HEALTH MINISTRY LAUNCHES NEW THREEPRONG INITIATIVE Demanding stronger legal support and protection for victims of sexual crimes, the Public Health Ministry this past week launched its Early Childhood, Adolescent and Men’s Health programmes in Region Nine (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo). The move, which is being dubbed a ‘triple initiative’, has the backing of the global United Nations Children’s Fund [UNICEF] and endorsements from the Ministries of Education and Social Protection. Regional Chairman, Mr. Brian Allicock, was elated that the Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo area was singled out for the launch of the new initiative. But Dr. Oneka Scott, Adolescent Health Focal Point person of the Public Health Ministry, could not help expressing her pain on the lukewarm national attitude towards the crisis faced by Guyanese adolescents. Validating Dr. Scott’s sentiments was LeAndre Stellingburg, a nurse employed in the Region, who exposed the alleged tepid response of the Guyana Police Force ranks and the Village Council to the plight of rape victims. Stellingburg said police ranks consistently seem “unwilling to act” when complaints of sexual crimes are reported and Village Council authorities routinely re-victimise complainants. ”Legal representation is needed for the mothers,” Stellingburg said reminding the audience at the launching ceremony that some girls became parents against their will. When he spoke, UNICEF’s Deputy Representative, Mr. Paolo Marchi, highlighted numerous jeopardies faced by adolescents and pleaded for “special support” from the wider Guyanese society for girls to help them make more informed choices.
Sunday September 17, 2017
Criminal violence, domestic violence, trafficking in person (TIP), drugs and alcohol, lack of quality education, lack of access to key resources – whether financial or social “are all traps waiting for adolescents,” Marchi counselled. Guyana “needs to ensure that services are made available for this critical grouping,” the UNICEF official said. He said, too, that sexual reproductive health should be openly discussed in Guyana since 21 per cent of the population is adolescent girls [in the 10-19 age group] who must delay becoming parents as that can “constrain your growth.” The UNICEF official lauded the Public Health Ministry for launching the novel three programmes simultaneously. “This is important for Region Nine and the country.” During her keynote address residents heard Dr. Scott referring to statistics which indicate that more than 50 per cent of the countries of the Americas have adolescent fertility rates higher than 72 out of every 100,000 in the 15-year old group. In Guyana however, the figure is 74 per 100,000, Dr. Scott said. She further noted that in indigenous communities some 20 per cent of the girls become mothers before the age of 16. MONDAY BROADCASTERS NOW HUSTLING TO BREAK DOWN $125M DEBT – GNBA The Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) has indicated that several broadcasters are now making the effort to pay their individual sums of money owed to which collectively amount to about $125M. GNBA Board Chairman, Leslie Sobers wrote Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo last Friday to give an update of developments over at GNBA. Sobers reported that the Authority has been holding discussions with several broadcasters. He said that there has been positive feedback about the recently passed Broadcast (Amendment) Bill of 2017 and that no broadcaster has “expressed any disagreement with the 60 minutes time allocation for PSA (Public Ser-
vice Announcements)”. Sobers’ letter stated that “The GNBA fully supports the Amendments as passed by the National Assembly in August 2017” and that the Board “has formally tabled a motion” to communicate same to the Prime Minister. The GNBA updated Prime Minister Nagamootoo that meetings with broadcasters will continue and that the number of compliant broadcasters has doubled from six to 12. Prime Minister Nagamootoo expressed satisfaction that broadcasters were being pro-active in seeking to clear their arrears as of December 2016 in an effort to ensure that they are in a state of compliance in preparation for possible licensing in 2017. The Broadcast (Amendment) Bill 2017 was passed in the National Assembly and is awaiting the assent of His Excellency, President David Granger. When the Bill was tabled several non-governmental organizations and the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) expressed dissatisfaction with its content. Nagamootoo later wrote a missive seeking to clarify some “misconceptions”. In that piece he spoke specifically to the amount of money that broadcasters owe GNBA. Nagamootoo said that under a Schedule of the existing 2011 Act, all operators were required to pay a flat fee of $2,500,000 for a broadcasting licence, whether the agency has nationwide reach or is confined to a specified and limited location. He said that the imposition by the former Government of an acrossthe-board $2.5 million fee, resulted in most licensees not paying the fees, and they have voluntarily become unlicensed, some since 2012. The Prime Minister said that reports indicate that broadcasters owe an estimated $125M to the GNBA; and only eight of them are in conformity with licensing requirements under law. He said, “But the AMENDMENT relieves operators from what I had described in the National Assembly as “the kleptocratic obsession” of the former government to levy heavy fees. The Amendment substitutes a (Continued on page 41)
Sunday September 17, 2017
(From page 32) new Table of Fees that, except for a license to operate radio in the primary (populated) zone, significantly reduces the fees.” The new Fee for television in the primary zone is slashed to $1,200,000. The licence fees for secondary and tertiary zones are $600,000 and $300,000 respectively. These fees are also applicable to cable. A community radio licence fee is only $150,000. TUESDAY SKELDON’S MASSIVE LOSSES…WORKERS DUMPED TONNES OF CANE-JUICE TO MAKE PAYDAY, FORGED ACCOUNTS -SOUTH AFRICAN ENGINEER COMPLAINS A South African-based engineer hired several times to help fix the problems with the Chinese-built Skeldon sugar factory, had raised alarming questions about the operations there but there is little evidence anything was done by management. Engineer, Vishal Somai, who was instrumental in recommending that Skeldon don’t grind for the first crop this year because of unsafe boiler conditions at that Berbice factory, described the dumping as criminal. It helped contribute to the new factory’s under-performance in its seven years. The 2009-commissioned factory and Skeldon project were supposed to rescue the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo). Instead, it failed to perform and instead, served as a cash drain on
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the economy, with hundreds of millions of dollars spent to fix a number of technical issues. Last December, Somai complained to the Berbice Prime Ministerial representative, Gobin Harbhajan, who asked him to submit a report. The matter was reported again, this time officially to the management of GuySuCo, but it appears that the matter was swept under the carpet. Somai’s complaints are making a strong case for Government to move towards privatization of the Skeldon estate as the engineer is warning that the current situation is not healthy. According to Somai, in last December correspondence to Harbhajan, he discovered that thousands of tonnes of draft juice and mixed juice were being dumped into the canal on a regular basis. This was due to two main reasons. He said that there were not enough punts in the system and therefore this required a very short turn-around time for the punts. ”Breakdowns or stoppages in the factory create a huge problem in the field regarding loading and delivery of punts. This directly affects the wages of cane cutters and causes them to act inappropriately.” The engineer explained, too, that when the back-end of the factory is full, the front end must stop while the back end reduces stocks. ”But this will affect the wages of the guys at the front end who get paid based of tons cane crushed or punts cane offloaded. ”They therefore choose to dump the juice and carry on grinding to
maintain a good wage and maybe even make “day-pay”.” Somai said it is a criminal activity. People elsewhere (including South Africa) are fired instantly for acts. ”This activity directly affects the production of sugar and therefore the revenue of the company (GuySuCo). Being state-owned, the effects are even more serious as it affects taxpayer s n e g a t i v e l y. ”To make matters worse, most of the figures in the lab report are crooked to make things “bala n c e ” . This was confirmed by professional consultants, SKIL, who were hired by GuySuCo to perform an energy and mass balance of the Skeldon factory.” The alarming report of the engineer recommended that Government and GuySuCo seriously relook at the methods used to calculate wages and bonuses of cane-cutters and cane loading workers in both the field and the factory. ”People need to realize that GuySuCo makes money from tonnes of sugar sold and not tonnes of cane crushed. Most of the time due to the workers’ mindset and resistance to change, the easiest solution would be to privatize the factory and pass the buck onto the new owner to sort out.” Contacted on Monday, Harbhajan admitted that he had received complaints from the engineer who has worked extensively with GuySuCo starting June 2011. The PM representative had been on the board of the Skeldon Energy Inc. (SEI), a company formed by the previous government to handle the co-generation power plant of Skeldon. Between October and December, Harbhajan overlooked the duties of the General Manager of SEI, Carl Duncan, who was overseas on medical treatment. ”That was when the specialist, Mr Vishal Somai, from South Africa approached me and made certain reports of production numbers being cooked at Skeldon estate. ”He said that he believed that this
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Government can solve this matter. I asked him to take the matter up to GuySuCo but nothing was done.” In reports seen by Kaieteur News, Somai said that he made some shocking discoveries. ”With the lack of any throughput controls in the front end of the factory, I was quite surprised to see that the grinding rate was within good tolerance (within 5%) of the requested target grinding rate. This raised suspicion and caused me to further investigate. ”I sat in the control tower on 8 April 2015 from 2pm to 4pm and just observed the entire operation. To say the least, I was quite shocked at what was happening.” That date was a month before the May 2015 general elections.. ”The actual tonnage of cane for the hour was not being declared but rather what was asked for. The excess for that hour (anything that was over the target) was carried forward to the next hour. So if 200TCH was the target and the actual was 250TCH then the difference of 50TCH was carried forward to the next hour. If the following hour was only 150TCH actual grinding rate then what is declared is 200TCH.” He said he asked questions of factory officials and staffers. ”They all admitted to what they were doing but they did not know how serious the consequences were in terms of operations up stream. By
doing what they are doing it is not only illegal, it has… operational effects…” WEDNESDAY SEVERAL TO BE CHARGED IN MAJOR GOLD SMUGGLING RACKET Several persons, including miners from Eccles, Georgetown and Bartica, are expected to be charged within days for their roles in a gold smuggling racket. The charges of money laundering, among others, will come against a number of unlicensed gold dealers who from as far back as 2013 used local officials at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri, and forged documents to take gold on direct flights to the US and other places. Several persons, including miners and a former licensed gold dealer, are to be charged for money laundering and their role in a smuggling racket. The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) had reportedly provided Guyana authorities with a list of persons who had taken gold to the JFK airport, New York, and declaring it there. The racket would have seen Customs and other Gold Board documents being recycled along with seals. Hundreds of millions of dollars (Continued on page 42)
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(From page 41) of profits were being made but little for Guyana. A number of officials reportedly stationed at the airport had resigned. According to sources close to the investigation, the matter was being handled by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), an arm of the police that focuses on financial crimes. The gold smuggling racket first raised its head in late 2015 when the Coalition Government had barely settled in. From all indications, the US authorities had been paying attention to the gold coming through its airports. A team from the FBI, the US premier investigative law enforcement agency, and the Department of Homeland Security, visited Guyana in 2015 and briefed authorities here on their findings. Several miners and even former dealers were pulled in by SOCU for questioning. They included one miner from Eccles who has linkages to a security firm, several from Bartica, from West Demerara, Mahdia in Region Eight and the city. Another person was a dealer who was recently in the news after being accused with a bank fraud and later, in a scheme to defraud the government of taxes. The players were not licensed to export gold, sources explained on Tuesday The US had within the last four years yanked the visas of a number of miners and other players who were believed to have been involved in gold smuggling and possible money laundering. In 2015, the new administration estimated that up to 15,000 ounces of gold were being smuggled weekly out to Brazil, Suriname, the US and elsewhere. It was estimated that almost half of the country’s gold production was being smuggled. CITY MAYOR ORDERS PROBE AS… DETAINED JUVENILE ALLEGEDLYFORCED TO PERFORM SEX ACT ON CITY CONSTABLE …SIMILARALLEGATION SURFACEDAGAINST HIM LAST YEAR City Mayor Patricia Chase-Green has ordered an investigation into allegations that a male juvenile was forced to perform a sex act on a City Constabulary rank that had picked him up for wandering. The incident allegedly occurred on August 22, last, in the Enquiries Office of the City Constabulary. An eyewitness reportedly provided a statement on August 24. However, it appears that the matter is only now being investigated, reportedly after Kaieteur News highlighted the case in its satirical ‘Dem Boys Seh’ column last Sunday. In the meantime, the accused Lance Corporal, who was investigated for a similar allegation about a year ago, remains on the job. According to Mayor Chase-
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Green, she was informed about the allegation about two weeks ago, and immediately ordered the Chief Constable to investigate and submit a report to her. But she said that two weeks passed without her receiving a report. However, after last Sunday’s ‘Dem Boy Seh’ column, Chase-Green said she again ordered the Chief Constable to submit a report. She said that she received the report on Monday afternoon. The matter was also discussed at Monday’s City Hall Statutory Meeting, and is now in the hands of the Legal Affairs Committee. According to Mayor ChaseGreen, she hopes that the matter will be dealt with before the end of the week. Asked if she was concerned that the accused is still on the job, ChaseGreen said that she could not comment on this while the matter is being investigated. The sordid events of August 22, last, allegedly occurred after the juvenile was picked up for wandering. He was taken to the City Constabulary’s Enquiries Office and placed on a bench. At around 03.00 hrs, some ranks who were in another room reportedly heard unusual sounds in the Enquiries Office. One individual reportedly peered over a wall and saw the juvenile performing a sex act on a Lance Corporal, whom he identified. Afterwards, the Lance Corporal allegedly went to the washroom area where he reportedly disposed of the used condom. A report was subsequently made on August 24, last, to the administration of the City Constabulary. The City Mayor confirmed that the same Lance Corporal was previously accused of a similar sexual allegation with a juvenile. She said that this was investigated by the police, but stated that the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) indicated that there was insufficient evidence to lay charges. TEACHER SETS CHEATING HUSBAND’S BED ON FIRE A teacher is on the run after setting fire to her home in which her husband and 16-year-old son were
sleeping. The fire broke out around 01:30 hrs on Tuesday at ‘D’ Field Sophia, Georgetown. The suspect has been identified as Brusene Walters, a Sophia Primary School Teacher. She is believed to be hiding out in Corentyne. According to information received, the woman received a report that her 49-year-husband, Richard Walters, was having an affair. She reacted by burning down their home. She doused the entire house with kerosene and then poured some of the liquid on the bed on which her husband was sleeping. The woman then set fire at several locations in the house before flinging a burning kerosene stove on her husband’s bed. The mother of two fled before her son, Martin and husband made it out of the house. Mario Walters, one of the couple’s sons, said that he lives at another location. He was called out of his home early Tuesday morning by a friend who informed him about the fire. By the time he reached, the entire house was engulfed in flames. The young man explained that his mother was on the “edge” since Monday afternoon when she received the news about his father. ”I buy some building materials and put them at the bottom of the house and she burnt it just like that Wednesday afternoon.” As a result of that, Walters noted that his parents started fighting. His father subsequently left home to report the matter to the police station. “I didn’t want problem so I just left and went home and then my friend called and say the house burned down.” He said that his mother lost a child some six years ago and she has been depressed since then. He suspected that she was having a mental break down when she burnt the house and his building materials. Meanwhile, Richard Walters said that when he got up, he saw fire on his bed and tried to hurry out the house while trying to assist his wife who was standing at the door—not knowing that she was the one who started the fire. As he was attempting to assist her, she picked up a kerosene stove and threw it on him and ran out the house. A shocked Richard Walters said
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it took some time before he realized what had happened. With minor burns to the body, he managed to get his son out of the house and to safety. Investigations are ongoing. THURSDAY JAGDEO SAYS GOVT. TWO FACED ON NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS MIN. PATTERSON DEBUNKS CLAIMS WITH HARDCORE FACTS When it comes to non-disclosure agreements, Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo finds the Government to be two-faced. He has in the past, cited a number of cases for drawing such a conclusion. On Wednesday during a press briefing, the former President was able to identify another. In setting the stage for his grand revelation, Jagdeo made reference to an article that was carried by Kaieteur News in August. In that piece, he recalled that Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson confidently stated that the PPP regime was famous for painting their contracts with confidentiality clauses. He recalled, too, Patterson’s promise that the coalition administration would not walk in the same path. The Opposition Leader said that in less than a month, Patterson’s words would be contradicted by the very actions of his Ministry. Jagdeo noted that the Ministry of Public Infrastructure published in the press on September 10, an Invitation for prequalification to finance, design, build and maintain the New Demerara River Bridge. The selected location is approximately two kilometers north of the existing floating bridge and the new bridge will span from Houston on the eastern bank of the Demerara River to Versailles on the western bank of the Demerara River. The new bridge is expected to be an essential part of the road network and will also have a significant impact on marine traffic passing under the bridge. Jagdeo however, expressed his dismay with a particular aspect of the request for pre-qualification. In reading an extract of the September 10 advertisement, Jagdeo said, “…The attachments to the pre-quali-
fication document needs to be specifically requested by sending a formal written request including background of the company and the signed non-disclosure agreement attached to the request for the prequalification document….” With that in mind, Jagdeo believes that this is a clear case of duplicity by the government. He stressed that on one hand the Government claimed it would not walk in the PPP’s footsteps, yet it is asking companies to sign nondisclosure agreements. THE FACTS Indeed, the Government through the Ministry of Public Infrastructure will be asking companies that wish to be shortlisted for the bridge project to sign a nondisclosure agreement. But this does not mean that the actual contract for the project would be shrouded in secrecy. Patterson made this clear during his interview with Kaieteur News last night. The Minister explained that the nondisclosure agreement is to simply ensure that the interested companies do not share “proprietary information”. Kaieteur News was able to see the nondisclosure agreement. The two page document also makes it clear what is expected of the company. The Minister said, “This is clearly the actions of a man who is running scared… We are 10 times more transparent about this project than they (the PPP) have ever been on all of their projects done in the past 23 years. It is nothing but envy. Also, we are giving an almost US$1M per year subsidiary to the residents of Regions Five and Six because of the Berbice Bridge, so if we have to provide a subsidy to the residents in Region Three for this one, then so be it. That’s our responsibility. If the PPP objects to us providing any support, they can oppose the funding when it comes up in parliament” Patterson also noted that all the proposed financing models for the bridge will be examined and the best one in keeping with the administration’s vision to develop the nation will be chosen. CHARLESTOWN MAN CHARGED FOR WOUNDING T&T SOCAARTISTE ‘BENJAI’ A man, who recently got a matter of discharging a loaded firearm at his pregnant girlfriend and her sister dismissed, was on Wednesday back in court for allegedly wounding popular soca artiste, Rodney ‘Benjai’ Le Blanc. Twenty-five-year-old Maverick De Abreu of Lot 66 Broad and Alexander Streets, Charlestown, appeared before Senior Magistrate Fabayo Azore in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, where he denied the charge, which alleged that on April 16 at Palm Court, Georgetown, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded Rodney “Benjai” Le Blanc. DeAbreu was represented by (Continued on page 43)
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(From page 42) Attorney-at-law Mark Waldron, who asked that his client be released on reasonable bail. However the virtual complainant’s attorney, Eusi Anderson, told the court that his client travelled from Trinidad to get justice. The lawyer asked that bail be granted to the defendant in a substantial amount and that conditions be attached. Anderson told the court that on the day in question, his client had just finished performing at the Pulse Entertainment’s Soca title “’Easter Phenomenon” at the Palm Court Night Club. The court heard that after his performance around 03:00 hrs, Benjai was standing outside the nightclub awaiting transportation when motor car PLL 2456 which he was standing behind reversed close to him, causing him to tap on the vehicle to alert the driver. The lawyer added that after the driver was alerted, he exited the vehicle and pointed a gun to his client’s face and threatened to kill him. According to the lawyer, the defendant told his client “You f#**ing stupid. You think this is f#**ing Trinidad. I would f#***ing kill you.” DeAbreu then allegedly armed himself with a glass bottle and slashed the victim across his face. The lawyer told the court that after his client received the injury he was rushed to the Woodlands Hospital where he underwent an emergency surgery and received over 15 stitches to his face. DeAbreu was ordered to post $50,000 bail and he will make his next court appearance on October 11. FRIDAY PATTERSON EXPOSES JAGDEO’S LIES ABOUT BERBICE RIVER BRIDGE CONTRACT Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson on Thursday rejected Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo’s contention that the coalition government can disclose the contract that governs the Berbice Bridge. During a press conference hosted by the Alliance For Change (AFC), Patterson noted that the Opposition Leader had said that there is nothing precluding the government from releasing the Berbice River Bridge contract. Patterson however read an extract of the contract that proved otherwise. ”Subject to Section 44.1, the parties to this agreement shall keep confidential, all matters relating to this agreement and shall not make any disclosure and shall use their best endeavours to prevent their employees, agents and servants from making any disclosures to any person of any information, data documents, secret deals, transactions or affairs of or relating to this agreement.” The Public Infrastructure Minister emphasized that this is essentially what he inherited. The Minister also stated that
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when it comes to the topic of bridges and financial deals, most seem to forget that Jagdeo’s close associates and friends are part of the Berbice River Bridge Corporation. The Executive Member of the AFC made it clear that given Jagdeo’s history with bridges and their financing, he is in no position to lecture the current administration on the direction it should take. Patterson said, “I also want to remind you that close associates and members of the Berbice River Bridge Corporation, when we tried to implement the subsidy in 2015 to ease the pressure on our citizens in Regions Five and Six, we were blocked…That is why we had to bring on the river taxis…” The Public Infrastructure Minister noted, too, that when the Government tried to acquire some of the shares for the Berbice Bridge it was met with staunch rejection and opposition. Fortunately, the Government has been successful in fighting against those odds. DEADLY PLANE CRASHES …RORAIMA PILOT MADE 19 SHUTTLE RUNS IN ONE DAY – GCAA DIRECTOR Investigations into the recent deadly aircraft accidents have so far, uncovered essentially, what appears to be a racket when some domestic air carriers conduct shuttle flights into the interior. During a press briefing at the boardroom of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority, (GCAA,) on Thursday Director General, Colonel (Rtd) Egbert Field, told media operatives initial investigations have revealed that the Roraima aircraft which crashed two months ago, had conducted 19 shuttle flights in the interior moments before the accident. The pilot, Colin Martin, died in the crash. Investigations revealed that
Martin had been conducting shuttle flights between Eteringbang and Ekereku before the accident occurred. He is among two fatalities from three plane crashes, in the past two months. Imran Khan, another pilot, died in a plane crash a few weeks later. He was conducting shuttles flight via a domestic carrier attached to Air Services Limited, (ASL). Pilot Dominique Waddell sustained minor injuries after a Wings Aviation single engine plane went down in a forested area shortly after he took off from Eteringbang airstrip on a shuttle flight to Ekereku. While providing an update on the investigations, the GCAA Director General said that although the Authority, at this time, cannot definitely say what was responsible for the aircraft accidents, all three incidents had something in common; they had been on shuttle missions in the interior, when they went down. Field said that for this reason he has advocated for improved operating procedures and regulations of shuttle flights. According to the GCAA Director General, shuttle flights are classified as aircraft transporting only fuel and cargo into the interior locations. The Director General also responded to criticisms raised over a decision by the GCAA to temporarily suspend all shuttle flights between interior locations until domestic airlines submit policies and procedures on such operations for approval. He explained that the decision to suspend the shuttle operations was not “a knee jerk reaction to the situation,” as is the perception of some of his critics. The GCAA official says that in light of the six aircraft accidents since December 2016, the shuttle flights in the interior have become a source of concern for the Authority.
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While, he welcomes the suggestions and comments from persons, who may have something helpful to share, Field noted that his experience and training will not permit him to be lectured to by anyone in the local aviation industry. He revealed that following the suspension, Trans Guyana Airways complied and submitted its operating manuals. The Aviation official revealed that Trans Guyana Airways has since been approved by GCAA to restart shuttle operations. Field noted, however, that the other aircraft operators are scheduled to resubmit the operations manual for the approval of the GCAA. WOMAN WITH TWO WOMBS GIVES BIRTH TO TWINS -RARE CASE OF DIDELPHYS UTERUS Doctors at the Georgetown Public Hospital have delivered twins in a rare case of Didelphys Uterus, a condition in which the patient has two uteri. In what is likely to be the first ever case documented in Guyana, the 20year-old mother delivered twins, by Caesarean section, after going into labour on August 25, last. The babies, a boy and a girl, were delivered at 37 weeks (considered full term) with the boy weighing 2.64 kg; while the girl weighed 2.54 kg at birth. GPHC officials informed journalists of the unusual case on Thursday. The meeting was facilitated by Head of the Department of Gynaecology, Doctor Lucio Pedro and Senior Registrar, Doctor Rafi Rozan, who delivered the babies. Didelphys Uterus, sometimes referred to as Uterus Didelphys, is one which represents a uterine malfunction where the uterus is presented as a paired organ when the embryogenetic fusion of the Mullerian ducts
fail to occur. This results in a double uterus with two different cervices and rarely, a double vagina as well. The 20-year-old mother happens to fall into a very extraordinary population, since this case is one in a million, according to experts. With Guyana’s population in mind (which is less than a million) “It is like winning the lottery,” said Dr. Rozan. ”This is not the first case of uterine abnormalities that we have seen, but it is the first case where we had uterine malformations, abnormalities with two babies, we call it two uteri,” Dr. Pedro said. The doctor explained that the woman came and was told she is going to have twins, but they were unaware of the fact that she has two uteri. Dr. Rozan said that the occurrence is one which presents itself rarely in approximately 0.05 to five percent of the general population. “The exact statistics in Guyana is unknown. This is based on international statistics from the United States of America”. ”The entire human system has derived embryonically from three different layers. One such layer is the mesoderm from which the genital apparatus develops. So in the embryonic stage, usually up to two to eight weeks, there are two ducts. ”They usually are the ones that differentiate and develop into the sexual genitalia for a boy or for a girl, so in the embryonic state it is usually together, it is common and the human tendency is normally or always feminization…so after eight weeks, going on to ten, if there are any risk factors, such as the ‘Y’ chromosome that determines the male sex or testicular testosterone… that would inhibit the differentiation or development of the womb duct.” ”It is like a tube coming from both sides which would fuse around eight to ten weeks eventually forming cavities.” It is these fusions that can possibly stay together and result in a person not developing a vagina or a cervix or a uterus.” This is referred to as KusterRokitansky-Syndrome, which according to him is also very rare. The doctor related that in his career, he had only seen two such cases. Other abnormalities are likely to develop such as apoptosis, which is the death of cells. He said, “In this case, the apoptosis happens, but the septum that usually is supposed to go away, stays. So it divided the uterus into two cavities, independent cavities with two cervices.” It can further develop into two vaginas, which makes it possible for such a person to get pregnant in two different instances. Patients can develop problems and are likely to suffer from pain during sex and menstruation, since the menstrual cycle will be happening from both cavities. It also becomes difficult for the patient to get pregnant and even after fertilization, miscarriages and preterm deliveries, among others can be (Continued on page 44)
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(From page 43) expected. It is even possible for the person to get pregnant from two different partners. The doctors sought to give reference to a case where “one baby was black and one baby was white”. ”In this case, the patient basically had two different cavities with two different cervices, meaning that she could have independently got pregnant in the right side or in the left side. In this case the patient got pregnant on both different cavities.” The most beautiful part of the case is that the patient was able to deliver babies of different sexes. A boy was growing in the right side and a girl in the left side. An actual image was displayed by the doctor of the uterus. He said initially he thought it was a bicornuate uterus, because of the heart shape. The mother, who underwent an approximate 40-minute delivery, sought for intra-uterine contraceptive and had one placed on each uterus. SENIOR COP PROVIDED SECURITY FOR ILLEGAL AIRSTRIP – SOURCE A senior officer was allegedly providing security for the illegal airstrip that was discovered at Santa Fe, Region Nine in August, last. He is among other ranks whose names have been linked to the airstrip and the mystery plane that was found on it. The officer has since been transferred to another division while some of the ranks have been placed at different police stations. Police have detained four persons who have since confessed to their involvement in the construction of the airstrip. The suspects have all alleged that they were hired and paid by a Lethem businessman, who was previously arrested and released on bail. Now, he is nowhere to be found. Kaieteur News was informed that the airstrip that was discovered was previously destroyed by the Guyana Defence Force (GDF). The four suspects were hired on August 10, last, to rehabilitate it— two days before it was discovered by the police. According to information received, the plane landed on the airstrip to refuel; it had also developed mechanical issues. The senior officer and some other ranks were informed that the plane will be landing there. Reports are that before the plane
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landed, the officer accompanied by ranks, went to the location to secure the landing. As the senior officer was leaving (after the plane had landed), it is alleged that someone spotted him and inquired if he had heard about the plane. ”Like he didn’t want this person know he involve because they had vibes before and he thought the person woulda skin he up so he had no choice but to skin up the operation,” the source indicated. Additionally, the businessman who is the mastermind in the operation was informed. He sent a bus to the location to pick up the five passengers. It is also alleged that after the five Spanish-speaking occupants hurriedly left the landing, the senior cop went into the aircraft and stole some money. He reportedly shared a portion of it with a few other ranks. The International Police Organization (Interpol) is assisting in the investigation. SATURDAY GOVT. SAYS ALL OIL BLOCKS GONE … PPP SAYS NO, BUT FAILS TO SAY WHAT IS LEFT T h e P e o p l e ’s P r o g r e s s i v e Party/ Civic (PPP/C) is denying that former President Bharrat Jagdeo has distributed all oil blocks in a manner consistent with how he distributed all viable
forestry lands. On Thursday, Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, told the media that there are no oil blocks left to be distributed because Jagdeo had distributed all. On Friday PPP/C released a statement challenging Patterson’s disclosure. However, more of the statement focused on discrediting Kaieteur News and painting ministers of the government in a bad light than actually addressing the issue. The PPP/C did not state anything to give credence to its statement that there are indeed more oil blocks available for distribution. “The Coalition Government continues to peddle massive lies and misinformation unashamedly and with impunity. They continue to get the Kaieteur News to sensationalize these lies with blazing headlines on the front pages of the newspapers, all with the intention to fool, mislead and insult the intelligence of the public.” PPP/C noted that Patterson was responding to disclosures made by Jagdeo “that a corrupt plot is afoot by friends and families of Ministers and other officials of the coalition government to acquire available petroleum-mining blocks, (which now have significant value with the discovery of oil in Guyana) which they intend to immediately resell on the international market.” The statement continued, “We comprehensively reject the ridiculous contention of Minister Patterson that they (sic) are no available petroleum-mining blocks. Ministers have a responsibility to go to press conferences with a sober head and equip themselves with facts in relation to matters upon which they intend to speak and must refrain from vocally emitting every bizarre thought that comes to their minds.” PPP/C contended that there are many more petroleum-mining blocks available. The party noted that only recently, Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman referred to the existence of some petroleum-
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mining blocks when he spoke about how new oil and gas exploration and production licences should be granted. He said, “Whether we go openly and publicly with international bids, or whether we have quiet and private discussions, will be determined by the national interest.” PPP said that Trotman’s assertion by itself proves that Patterson is lying. “Moreover, everyone who has some familiarity with the sector knows that they (sic) are several petroleum-mining blocks available.” PPP called on the government to make public a list of all the petroleum-mining blocks, the names of the persons or companies to whom they have been allocated and the date of allocation. The party said that “this disclosure will alert the public to the fact that no new petroleum-mining blocks can be allocated in the near future.” But while the PPP is contending that there are mining claims, it is not saying which claims are vacant. The society is none the wiser about the location of these claims. PPP stated, “We ask that you note that after this lie of Patterson that all the petroleum-mining blocks have been given away is now debunked, you will not hear another word of it from the Government until another massive lie is unleashed on the nation, which again, will be sensationalized by a Kaieteur News front page headline. However, when the lie is unmasked it will not be carried by Kaieteur News at all, or if carried, it will be hidden in some obscure corner of the newspaper. This has long been the ploy of that news outfit.” “I WAS IN THE BELLY OF THE BEAST; I KNOW HIM, AND THE GUY CANNOT BE TRUSTED” – SAYS RAMJATTAN AS HE WARNS PRESS TO BE WARY OF JAGDEO’S “RECKLESS LIES” Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, has urged the
press to take statements made by Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, with a pinch of salt. Ramjattan, who is a former member of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C), said that Jagdeo, even politics aside, is known to be a liar and a man who lacks credibility. He said that the press should be careful and responsible when carrying statements made by the politician. Ramjattan was asked to respond to Jagdeo’s claim that a corrupt plot is afoot by friends and families of Ministers and other officials of the coalition government to acquire available petroleummining blocks. He said that there is an intention to acquire the highly valuable blocks and immediately resell on the international market. Ramjattan said that that is the sort of reckless statement that the press should hold Jagdeo accountable f o r. ”I want to ask the question. This is not generally the way I do it; but was there anybody from the press that asked him (Jagdeo) who it is in the AFC that has applied? This is what is false news and fake news.” Ramjattan continued, “Listen to me; it is important that you in the press ask, ‘Mr. Jagdeo could you kindly tell us who it is in the AFC that you are talking about? Name the person if it is Ramjattan or Williams or whomsoever.” The AFC executive member said that in the absence of such a course of action which should be taken by a responsible press, the public will be left to speculate. ”You cannot be that irresponsible as a press to allow these innuendos and insinuations to jump to members of the public to say who I think it may be.” Ramjattan said that it is amazing that the press would pay heed to reckless statements like the most recent one made by Jagdeo since “it is coming from a fella who has no credibility or integrity. Remember he walked around the maro seven times and he didn’t marry the girl.” Ramjattan continued, “That is the guy I am talking about. I saw the wedding and he collected a lot of millions of dollars in gifts. Now there was no wedding, did he give back the gifts? That is also the same fella who indicated that he wants two terms (in administrative office) then he will go and plant a farm. ”Then he arranges somebody to go and run to the court so that he can get a third term. You are going to believe a fellow like that?” Ramjattan said that Jagdeo likes power and would do anything necessary to keep it. ”Come on! Isn’t there anybody else in the PPP who could be leader of the opposition? What happen to (Anil) Nandlall? Goat bite he? Allyah got to understand the nature of this guy, I was in the belly of the beast and I understand him. You can’t believe him.”
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Kaieteur News
Karibee rice producers ready for major Cuban market Guyana’s leading rice and packaging company Nand Persaud & Co. Ltd is preparing to execute its first shipment of rice to the Cuban market. This is according to the Managing Director and CEO of the company, Mohindra Persaud. After over two years of consultations, meetings, discussion between the Cuban Ambassador to Guyana and Persaud, the company was able to secure a licence to ship to that islandcountry. Over 17,000 tons of rice is expected for the first shipment. During an interview, Persaud said that with such a development, it is a huge step for Guyana. “It is good for Guyana. If we can sell to more countries then there will be more bargaining power.” Cuba, he noted, consumes and imports a substantial amount of rice. He explained that with consultations which began some two years ago, it was only six months ago that he began to actually believe that it can happen. “The interest from Cuba is there to buy rice from Guyana. We started to work aggressively with great support from the Cuban Ambassador.” Persaud relayed that it was only two months ago that the deal was confirmed and secured giving them the go-ahead to sell. He also underscored that if the first shipment of rice is successful as it relates to the quality of the shipment then it is his belief that they can ship much more. “If they give us 25,000
tons or 50,000 tons, they still would need to import a lot more because they actually import 500,000 tons but we are happy to do something in Cuba.” He further explained that at present the company is not placing a lot of emphasis on other markets. “It is not a good time go look at other markets but we will continue to penetrate, expand and promote our Karibee Rice in the small packaging markets.” Persaud noted also that his company is expanding with a new warehouse facility. It is expected to provide eighty percent more of storage and an intake going up to approximately 20% more. “Nand Persaud is
he said. Meanwhile, touching on his interest in the Skeldon Estate, the business mogul stated that an interest to buy was submitted to Government. “We believe we do well in rice and sugar is no different; they are the same method of management and same method of production, just two different commodities so
CEO of Nand Persaud, Mohindra Persaud always expanding, we try to make things happen and not wait for it to happen”,
APPOINTMENT IPA Group of Companies is pleased to announce the appointment of SHAMIEZA YADRAM as its Marketing Director. Ms. Yadram has vast experience in sales and marketing. The Chairman, management and staff of IPA wish Ms. Yadram every success in her new post.
we know we can do it.” He explained that not much can be done at this time since it is up to the government to now lay out on the table “How they want to arrange a sale for partnership or any form they feel fit. But the interest is there; I don’t look at it as a big challenge”, he said. Nand Persaud is a major player with Karibee Rice in
Guyana and has snagged significant markets in the Caribbean and North American.
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Kaieteur News
Sunday September 17, 2017
Indigenous history is being misrepresented The celebration of Indigenous Heritage Month the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs (MoIPA) recently, saw the hosting of an inaugural indigenous educational lecture series at the Umana Yana. The lecture focused primarily on the origins of indigenous cultures researched through archaeology and interactions with early Europeans settlers. This research was presented by renowned historian, Anna Benjamin, and local archaeologist, Louisa Daggers. In Benjamin’s presentation she highlighted a few common misconceptions which were taught to children t h u s causing the indigenous history to be misrepresented. Benjamin spoke about the time in history when the Americans and Caribbean suffered mass genocide and exploitation in wake of the Columbus “discovery” of this side of the globe. She said that there was no genocide here and that Guyana did not suffer like the other countries during the time of the Dutch. Rather, it was not until the arrival of the British who infiltrated deep into the interior of the country that the indigenous peoples suffered deaths from diseases like measles and small pox. She said it is different from what many indigenous people believe.
She added that the Europeans traded with the lands first peoples who even offered alliances against the Spanish. She noted that while the Spanish were more involved in geo-political games, upon observing the conflict between the Dutch, Spanish and the English and weaponry, they were more interested in teaming up with the Dutch to defend their lands from any threats. Benjamin highlighted the fact that the indigenous people had an economic role to play in the colonial days. One of the main diets of the Dutch was “anato” which can be used in food production processes. Archaeologist Daggers who study archaeology used her expertise to enlighten the audience by using a slide share presentation which showed the history of covering the paleo, meso and neo-indian period. Persons got the opportunity to see how the indigenous peoples evolved overtime, adapting to the ever-changing environment and climate for mere survival purposes. Ms Daggers also spoke extensively on the indigenous knowledge and etail how they were able to survive the harsh conditions of climate change. Daggers went on to speak about the importance of preserving petroglyphs which are found in various indigenous communities across Guyana. She added that in
preserving that part of history which was the first known primitive means of (written) communication among the aboriginal peoples. Project Manager, Omar Bispat, who spoke with the gathering, told them that Ministry decided to embark on the lecture because of the complaints received from visits to various indigenous communities. The forum fearured local indigenous cultural groups.
The riverside angels perform the Humming Bird dance
City Hall closes insanitary Day Care The Mayor and City Council has disclosed that food and environmental inspections are expected to begin tomorrow. The intention is to ensure that food handlers are complying with the regulations and standards and that the overall school environment is conducive to learning. Visits to Day Cares around the City also resulted in the closure of one such facility that was not in keeping with the regulations of the Ministry of Social Protection. The inspections which are ‘routine’ for not only public, but private schools according to Mayor, Patricia Green, is one of grave importance. It is done to verify that schools are in keeping with the standards. Visits around Georgetown are expected to begin tomorrow. Inspectors will be tasked with ensuring the bins within and around the school compounds are covered and are of a certain height.
Visits to food handlers will also be carried out to confirm that food being prepared for school children is safe and is being prepared under sanitary conditions. Food handlers, both in and around school compounds, are again expected to comply with the officers who are also preparing to visit the schools’ washroom facilities to verify that they are hygienic and safe. The opportunity will be seized to check on any environmental issue, such as weeds. Public Relations Officer (PRO), Debra Lewis, said that failure to meet any of these standard requirements will result in warning letters issued to not only the school, but also to the Ministry of Education (MOE). She added that last week officers were checking schools in South and North Cummingsburg as well as in Kingston, Georgetown to ensure refuse is being properly disposed of and other safety and health regulations are upheld. Additionally, a release was sent out by the Council yesterday indicating, “The Georgetown Municipality is
at a junction where it is assessing the services provided to citizens and rearranging the way these services are delivered. Hence, merging and restructuring of departments and sections are necessary considerations if the Council is to deliver quality services and remain financially viable.” As such, the building which accommodated the Charlestown Day Care was closed by the Council since the physical condition of the building was contradictory to the standards expected by the Ministry of Social Protection for licensing of buildings within this nature, which is focused in ensuring a child safe and infant friendly environment. The Council sought to make it clear that the step taken was done with the health and safety of the City’s children in mind and not to rob citizens of services. The parents of the enrolled Day Care were given the opportunity of choosing other Municipal centres. The Day Care which is no longer serviceable, provided for just nine children since six would have previously
moved on to Primary School. It also employed a staff of six. The Georgetown Municipality is the premier institution of Day Care Services. The Municipal Day Care Service has been existent for over 80 years. In 1933, the South Road Day Care Centre was known as ‘Crèche’ and was instrumental in providing child care for the employees of the Council. Due to the extensive number of persons who showed interest in benefitting from these services, it became unlimited. Council today manages four Day Care Centers that cater for 250 children between the ages of nine months and five years. Recently, the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) also began conducting water quality tests in schools. The company suggested that cleaning exercises of water tanks be done, every six months, under the supervision of their engineers. This is going to be done to prevent the growth of pathogenic organisms, according to the company.
Sunday September 17, 2017
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Kaieteur News
Guyana-born business mogul commits to....
(From page 18) expected to open up hundreds of job opportunities. EARLY DAYS Even though he left the Land of Many Waters at the tender age of eight, Chin told this publication that he is still very much in tune with his roots, and the Guyanese culture make up an integral part of who he is. Derek recalled spending his early years at 305 Church Street, Georgetown. His family operated a dry goods store. Chin was a jovial child always in search of new adventures. But things changed during the violence of the 1960s. The Chin family was forced to close up shop and move. “It was for everybody’s safety, I would say,” the entrepreneur said. But being the cheerful and energetic soul that he was, Chin broke barriers faster than he’d ever expected. Tennis was his main hobby sport, and he followed proudly in the footsteps of his uncle, Guyanese and Brandon Trophy Champion, Derek Phang. Eventually, Derek went on to play regional and University tennis, captaining Trinidad and Tobago teams, gaining the love of Trinidadians in and out of his school. While sports were an important component of his life, Chin’s studies came first. A tertiary education took him to the land of the Maple Leaf, Canada where he earned for himself a Business Administration degree from the repu-
table University of Western Ontario, London, Canada. After a few years there, Chin returned to Trinidad to pursue a career as an Accountant with KPMG. “It was what my father wanted, for me to learn business and you know, back then, you did everything to please your parents, without saying a word,” Chin recalled at a Disapora Conference held recently in Guyana. GETTING INTO BUSINESS Even as an Accountant, Derek knew he wanted to pursue other ventures, and wasted no time in doing so. His first big idea was to set up an amusement game arcade of Pac Man and Space Invaders fame. Some may call it beginner’s luck, but it was actually careful planning that made the business a notable success and was the stepping stone to his future successes. “At one point, we even had to close the doors to keep the overwhelming crowd out, so popular were the video arcades of the 80’s, so that I think was a very good sign, and it gave me a lot of confidence to move on to bigger and better things,” Chin said. As the gaming arcade began operating at maximum capacity, Chin recognized the need for security and similar services. “Dozens of children were in there and you have to ensure that when they are in your place, they are safe, so that forced me into starting up
STANDARDS IN FOCUS
a security company”. That was the start of Telecom Security Services, one of Trinidad and Tobago’s most reputable security Companies since 1980. As those businesses continued in the path of success, Chin began pursuing his great love of horse racing. He eventually became Chairman and President of the Horse Racing fraternity up to 2011. Derek Chin now races full time at Woodbine, Toronto, Canada with a goal to make his colours well known and become the most successful Caribbean owner in Canada. He is well on his way. Derek, in 2002, investigated and felt even against great odds that the time was ripe in Trinidad for a new entertainment destination With his other business partners he pulled off a spectacular 2002 opening of the first Movie Towne Complex, which was erected in Port of Spain and continues to be one of the best local businesses during the last 15 years in Trinidad and Tobago. It became a winner of many accolades and business awards. The massive success of this first location led Chin and his team to fulfill a demand in Chaguanas, South Trinidad and Tobago, with the construction of Movie Towne Complexes at these areas. Just as Derek sees himself as a Caribbean man, he also wants Movie Towne to be a reflection of the Region. And, because he holds Guyana very close to his heart, he has
TEACHING STANDARDS AT THE PRIMARY LEVEL The Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) recently launched an initiative in collaboration with the Ministry of Education (MOE) to teach pupils at the primary school level about the use and importance of standards. This initiative will be a bold and timely effort to make standardisation a part of the schools’ curriculum, which will create a wider understanding of its principles and ultimately a generation that desires quality in all aspects of life. The GNBS, like many other standard setting institutions across the globe, believes that the whole concept of standardisation can be entrenched in society’s culture and practices if the youths are introduced to the concept earlier rather than later. The education system in Guyana is structurally ideal for the transfer of such knowledge in a formalised manner. The International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) has been advocating that standards be introduced in schools so as to allow students to be sufficiently educated on the benefits of standards. The ISO believes that from this initiative, there can be a transition from the early levels to higher learning and ultimately the working environment where products and services are produced and provided. The current collaboration between the GNBS and the MOE will allow for the
sensitization of pupils on the benefits of standards in daily life; increase awareness on the role of the GNBS as the National Standards Body; and increase the knowledge base of pupils in standardisation. As a result, pupils will understand how standards facilitate interconnectivity and interoperability, product quality and consistency, and international trade and competitiveness. Pupils will also be able to see how standards make lives easier in every way. The introduction of standards to primary schools in Guyana will commence with a pilot programme. This programme will focus on 10 selected schools in Regions Three, Four and Six. Materials will be developed and distributed to these schools for teaching in the classroom. Direct support will be provided by the GNBS to teachers, where necessary. After the classroom awareness phase of the pilot programme, there will be interregional and national quiz competitions among participating schools, which will further widen the awareness of the programme and generate the kind of interest needed. The GNBS will evaluate the effectiveness of the overall initiative which will guide expansion after the pilot phase. For further information, please contact the GNBS on telephone numbers: 219-0062, 219-0065, and 219-066. Or visit the GNBS website: www.gnbsgy.org
chosen Georgetown to expand his success. “It is important for the people of the Caribbean to be more unified, and if there is one thing that we are all good at, it is enjoying wholesome entertainment,” Chin said. Now that he has been able to make a name for himself, Chin has taken up the mantle to being closer to the people and try to meet their needs. COMPETING WITH LOCALS Chin has often made it clear that his Guyana location is not intended to put any of the existing cinemas or businesses out of business. Far from it! The intent is to give Guyanese people more choice and variety. “As business people, we need to learn to improve our own businesses before we start looking to badmouth or mash up another man’s business, because at the end of the day, we don’t live in this world by ourselves, so eventually somebody else will come along to give you a run for your money by providing alternatives,” Chin warned. There is always somebody else out there! The businessman explained that even though Movie Towne has a wonderful reputation, it still faces immense competition from the evolving technologies and fast developments in the world of Hollywood and Bollywood. Chin is proud that apart from movie-going, the Movie Towne complexes provide an environment for wholesome
family entertainment and healthy enjoyment. “One of the most important things in the world is family, and we believe in creating an environment that builds bonds. That is one of our aims and goals, and we feel that if we are able to do that, we would be indirectly changing the world for the better.” Chin highlighted that the complexes cater for people of all walks of life and financial brackets. “We want to ensure that years from now, Movie Towne would not only be part of exciting stories people tell their children, but also an important venue for people to create new memories. In all its years of existence, now fifteen (15), the Movie Towne team has been part of putting smiles on the faces of those who are less fortunate. Apart from throwing exciting charity events for orphans and underprivileged children,
the company has also been very active in sponsoring tutoring, competitions, scholarships etc in the area of film and the Arts. Additionally, Movie Towne has been involved in promoting and aiding students in their film making classes in schools, and an integral part in developing the art of film making and exposure to this dynamic environment. It has revolutionized the whole film industry in all its aspects in Trinidad and Tobago. One only has to compare what the industry was prior to 2003 and to see what it is today. “Things like that are what we do, and we want to do that here in Guyana…I’m sure you know of Machel Montano’s movie ‘Bazodee’ and others such as “the Cutlass” and realize that there is potential for Guyana to get involved in things like this.”
16 Police Officers graduate.... (From page 17) were all new and I am sure that it will be a great asset to us while working there at the SVU (Special Victims Unit)”. Acting British High Commissioner to Guyana, Ron Rimmer, reiterated that the United Kingdom is keen on helping Guyana to ensure concrete tangible action is taken during the UK sponsored security sector reform process. The training course, he said, is the first of a series of training activities slated to be conducted within the next few months. He stated that the course, “Also demonstrates the ongoing commitments of the UK to improve the security sector here in Guyana and supports the government’s efforts to provide a safe and secure environment for its citizens”. The Police Officers were awarded certificates at the graduation ceremony and were urged to put into practice what they have been taught.
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Sunday September 17, 2017
Kaieteur News
LAND FOR SALE
SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.-CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620 Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Guyanapassport application. Graphics design, advertisement. Tel: 6267040; 265-4535. INNOVATIVEMARKETING& PUBLISHING INC –TEL: 600-4212: We create A/works, logos, business cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included. Budhram landscaping services, free advice. Call: 656-1326 Do you have a job that requires the skills for a mason,tiler, plumber/general construction? Tel: 618-6304/ 638-8544 R.Jacobs. Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezerCall: 610-5846 or 661-8158 A.ENTERPRISE TRAVEL AGENCY INC. TICKETS GOING VERY CHEAP! OFFICE IN USA- CALL: 223-1332,613-7542, +13 4 7 - 6 1 7 - 7 5 8 2 . FACEBOOK: A ENTERPRISE TRAVEL RAJ PAWN SHOP, MAHAICA MARKET SQUARE. TEL: 691-1333 General Medicine plus naturopathic therapies & medical home visits by Dr.Twalib Rahat MBBS @ 79 Nandy Park- Tel: 233-5944
WANTED Need Land/Property to Buy in Eccles Area 50’x100'.Call:592-2701885 or 592-668-1102. One live-in nanny to take care of children and home. Must know to cook various foods Contact: 600-1898 Female worker wanted sound secondary education, computer literate-Tel: 6225518 Experienced shop workers & handman to work in the interior. Age 18-45yrs. Call: 231-0363 9AM-4:30PM (TIN,ID & NIS) Experienced domestic maid to work in Diamond- Call: 227-8529 We buy land in Eccles, Providence, Herstelling, Farm, Zeelugt, Parfaite Harmonie & Covent Garden- Call: 656-0701, 651-1969 Going and coming, and live in waitress- Call: 666-4647, 643-9007 1 live in babysitter- Call: 680-1282 One general domestic must able to prepare vegetarian meals, payment $80,000Call: 623-1615 Experienced garbage truck mechanic drivers, labourers & a mack truck only serious workers need to contact 670-7920 Hire car driver- Call: 2253234 1 experienced cook wantedCall: 265-3111, 623-8654 LIVE IN BABYSITTING WORK, GOOD SALARY. CALL: 699-4669
C. Persaud & N. Outar Driving School formerly Soman & Sons Driving School @ Maraj BuildingCall: 644-5166; 622-2872; 6150964; 689-5997 (affordable packages
SALON - Make-up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, etc. -CosmetologyCourses:$120,000 - Technician Course: $45,000. Call: 647-1773/660-5257
Accounts/Office Clerk Please Call: 629-9450
EDUCATION Register @ IAE: full-time, afternoon, day/evening CXC/CSEC classes for adults & repeaters: Mathematics & English A. Call: 683-5742/ 621-7365 Register your child for after school classes for slow learners in Mathematics, Reading, Phonics, Spelling, etc. Call: 675-4379
VACANCY Experienced s a l e s m a n , generaldomestic , p o r t e r . Apply with hand written application & recommendation @ Keyfood, McDoom Village. H i c k ’s Vi l l e H o t e l Receptionist, bell-boy, hotel attendant, washerpresser- Call: 2310951,227-7714,223-3448. info@vgiworld.com Driver for office at Eccles- Call: 614-4358 Accounts clerk for Eccles office, Quickbooks, Payroll- Call:614-4358 Exist for: Security Guards, (1) Bilingual person, Cuban cook, (1) Receptionist, Office clerk-Call: 608-5303, 2277380 Experienced cashiers/ supermarket helpers, apply in person with written application @ Nirva Supermarket 49 Sheriff & Craig st, Campbellville- Tel: 227-5771 Grader Operator, hauler driver, truck driver, civil engineer, road foreman, technical e n g i n e e r. Contact via email (chungsmarketing@gmail.com) Live in domestic must know to cook Indian dishes & clean. Live in experienced waitress 1825yrs $20,000 weeklycall: 610-5043 Female Farm Supervisor for Plant Nursery @Soesdyke. Must be literate and knows how manage staff extremely well. Tel: 648-1821 Vacancy exists for 1 experienced pharmacy assistant to work at a reputable pharmacy in Diamond, EBD-Call:696-5098
FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. 1 GPX 4800 Gold detectorContact Andre- 602-2104, 618-1447 Wi n d o w s 3 0 x 4 8 S a s h $12,999, Sliding $9,999, Arch 30x15 $4,999, Arch 60x15 $9,999. Easy to Install Tel 231-1118/2264465/ 679-3325 236B caterpillar skid steer loader $3.9M,1-Cement Mixer Truck $3.5M, 1Honda S2000 Convertible Sport car $3M Contact #650-0402\603-1402 3 bedroom 1 flat house @ Blankenburg $11 M ( $3M downpayment) also house lots available contact #6500402\603-1402 Day beds, washer/dryer, stove, TV- Tel: 662-9832 Foxtail, Supari, Royal Palm @ $1,000. Ficus & Exora 4 for $1,000. Organic potting soil. Crotoons- Tel: 626-1044 Canter food van (diesel) GHH 6070, sold as is $500,000 negotiable- Call: 226-8299, 602-1009 Xbox 360-5 games , 2 controls $60,000. Call: 664-2287 1-Complete 6 base music set with all amp are Q.S.E all speaker R.C.F & 1-Carina 212. Tel:698-8828
10 & 30 acres of land at Ya r r o w k a b r a , L i n d e n Soesdyke H i g h w a y. C r e e k a v a i l a b l e - Te l : 663-5524, 264-2967
Kastev, Meeten Meer Zorg, W.C.D: 3 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, verandah overlooking Atlantic ocean. Owner migrating -$36M, negotiable.Call:676-7974/615-0173
One Cashier on the East Coast Demerara Call: 652-9941
Plaisance-big land transported 65feet by 260feet, $14M or best offer. 2 lots joined Contact 670-8675 Anderson
HEALTH Herbal remedies: prostate cancer, diabetes, kidney & gall stones, hypertension, irregular heartbeatContact Quacee Sparman676-5924, 611-5586 TO LET KITTY APARTMENTS: UNFURNISHEDGRILLED,2BR,NEW,GRANITE,SECURE -$80,000 MONTHLY, NO AGENTS. CALL: 641-4035
FOR SALE/RENT Newly built mobile (7x10) for sale or rent, for any business venture- Call: 685-9045 Two rooms semi-furnished @ Mon Repos. Call: 658-3542
PROPERTY FOR SALE
Sales representative must have vehicle- apply at King’s Liquor Guyana Inc. 17 Broad & Ketley streets- Call: 2233217, 601-0602
PERSON FOR OFFICE WORK, 9AM-5PM, G/TOWN AREA, GOOD SALARY, NO EXPERIENCED NEEDED. CALL: 641-4035/ 223-2540
VEHICLE FOR SALE Axio 2006 only 51,000km. Good condition $1.600,000.00 Contact :670-8675 1 Toyota Caldina Wagon in perfect condition, PLL series- Call Benjie: 612-3706 RZ bus, good working condition, 2006 bluebird, 36,000KM, PVV 6406, 2009 unregistered Bluebird, 31,000 KM. Call: 265-2171/ Parfaite Harmonie $1.5M, 601-0223 Tuschen $2.5M, Zeelugt $2.5M, Uitvlugt $2.3M- Tel: Unregistered Axela 2011 $2.7M, dark interior, fully 642-1252 loaded, Nissan pickup double Prime land to build that cab $2.3M. Call: 617-5536 dream home. Not far from Allion, Primo, Fielder Princess, New Thriving, Wagon, Spacio, Bluebird, Massy, HJ water world 212 Carina, NZE, Honda $13M neg- Call: 669-8397 CRV, Toyota IST, RZ & Pitbull – Call: 650-7501 Parfaite Harmonie $1.4M, $3.5 main road, Uitvlugt Toyota Allion: AC,TV, alarm, $2.2M, Herstelling $2.5M, magrims, reverse camera. In Farm $3.5M, Tuschen excellent condition $1.7M$2.2M- Call: 604-6724, 686Call: 639-2490 9608 Mazda Axela, PPP series Parfaite Harmonie $1.3M, $1.2M Negotiable Call: 678$1.6M, house & land $2M, 9393, 667-7294 Herstelling $3.5M, Tuschen 1 Toyota Tacoma extra cab $2.5M, $5M- Call: 666-2326 pickup- manual, 3RZ engine, fully powered, AC, magrims, One double plot of form excellent condition. $2.3Mland for sale at Naamryck Contact Rocky: 621-5902 Backdam, E.B.E (27.8 acres) Call: 612-5441, 658-5128 1 Toyota 212 Carina (new model) automatic, fully Transported corner lot, powered, AC, mags, alarm. approved building plan, Price $1.3M- Contact Rocky: a t 9 0 G a r n e t t a n d 225-1400, 621-5902 R e p u b l i c Sts.,Newtown,Kitty.Call:600- 1 Toyota Ipsum (Picnic) 7 seats, automatic, fully 2828 powered, AC, mags. Price $1.8M- Contact Rocky: 35 Acres located in Port 225-1400 Kaituma. Call: 619-5173 Parfaite Harmonie $1.5M & $1.8M, Farm (100ft x 50ft) $2.8M, Uitvlugt $4M, Zeelugt (100ft x 50ft with 100ft reserve) $1.2M- Call: 656-0701, 651-1969 Herstelling new scheme (110ft x 60ft) $4.8M, Covent Garden $3.5M, Providence (corner lot) $5.5MCall: 656-0701,651-1969
3 bedroom house @ Middle Road La Penetence 56ftX25ft. Call: 653-2477/ 685-6874
DRESSMAKING Jean offers courses in dressmaking, designing curtains, floral arrangement, cake decoration, 153 Barr Street, Kitty. Call:670-2653,638-8449
CAR RENTAL
FOR RENT
DOLLY’SCARRENTAL-CALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM
PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Property for rent - 2 storey house at Republic Park, E.B.D$1200US. Call 647-1773
PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL:656-0087,6435122 ,EMAIL:PRO_AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.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, SPECIAL OFFERS! CALL: 690-6494
Hair & barber station for rent @ New Market Street. Call: 638-1106 1 Bedroom apartment @ Lyng street, Charlestown $30,000. 2 bedrooms house @ Lamaha Gardens US$800 per month- Call: 662-1313 Upper flat 2 bedrooms to rent $60,000 in Eccles- Tel: 233-2082 CONTINUED TO PAGE 61
Sunday September 17, 2017
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Kaieteur News
CONSUMER CONCERNS
WHITHER THE PARKING METERS? by PAT DIAL We did not expect to revisit the Parking Meter issue so soon after the Report of the Commission of Inquiry was debated by the City Council since we felt that a more rational spirit would have subsumed the issue. But the issue is almost at the same point from which it started: The City Council has decided that the Contract with Smart City will stand and will be effectuated but certain parts of it would be renegotiated. The decision to re-negotiate the Contract came as a great surprise as there were a number of factors which positively militated against such a decision. In the first place it is generally felt in intellectual and consumer circles that a large majority of the citizens of Georgetown as well as people countrywide reject the imposition of Parking Meters on the City. And this position seemed to have now infected the City
Council itself which was regarded as the bastion of pro-Parking Meter support; now, the Council is almost equally divided between supporters and opposers of the Parking Meter scheme. It would be foolhardy to attempt to carry out a scheme to which the majority of people were opposed. In the second place, the Council should have precluded itself from doing any further business with Smart City since that Company had publicly insulted the City Council when it refused to make available to the Council’s Commission of Inquiry certain basic documents such as the Feasibility Study of the Parking Meter scheme which were essential for the thoroughness of the Commission’s work. Smart City’s refusal to make available such records also transgressed the Government of Guyana’s policy of transparency in conducting the affairs of Government. A number of other such
factors were mentioned in the City Council’s debate and in the media. We could not reiterate these but one example would suffice: Councillor Duncan’s questioning of the bona fides of the Smart City Company and the past brushes with the Law by some of its senior personnel. The Councillor had done his research on the Internet and from current magazines. The M&CC mentioned that its re-negotiating team would be drawn from the Council and from citizens who possess the skills relevant to such negotiations. The Mayor has divorced herself from serving on this team. But so far M&CC has not indicated that Smart City would be amenable to renegotiation of the Contract. In consumer circles there is a strong body of opinion that Smart City would not go any further with the Parking Meter scheme. The main reasons proffered are that, firstly, there is a precondition to any renegotiation which is
that the quantum of Smart City’s profits would be reduced. When it is realized that Smart City would be making an investment of about US$10 million as against the Guyana side whose share of the investment would be the road system of Georgetown worth billions of dollars as well as M&CC’s obligation to maintain the parking meter areas in good repair for the next 20 years at least, it would be realized that Smart City would be making 1% to 5% of the total investment while M&CC would be making at least 95%. With this kind of investment proportions, Smart City would have to be allocated far less profit than the 80% they were expecting. Secondly, the validity of the Contract they originally made is under question and if it is found that the Contract has no validity and could be voided at any time, Smart City may be unwilling to continue in such a situation. Thirdly, the Company would have to make regular
$$Million school feeding fraud uncovered in... From page 9 and investigation into Region Eight. When asked why five of the defaulting contractors who owe the Region millions of dollars were once again awarded contracts in 2016, the former REO could not answer. A Region Eight official, Daniel Fraser, had accused Downes of hijacking the procurement system in the Region. This year, almost $1.6B had been budgeted for the region. In one case, although Mahdia, the capital of Region Eight, has several mechanic shops, someone was hired to do work on heavy duty equipment. One bulldozer was left unrepaired because of a dispute over monies. “There are many more cases like this. The contracts and projects are being handled in a clandestine manner. We see cases of contractors, some who are relatives of the officials, being handpicked. And we are talking about projects around here. We are not even sure about projects that are happening over the hill,” Fraser had complained. There were several cited cases of procurement and contract irregularities. The administration has vowed a zero tolerance stance against non-performance and corruption against public servants. Under the school feeding programme, administrators were supposed to procure the services of persons and farmers within the Region. It was the preference that local dishes were
to be distributed to the students. The programme is viewed as a key one for the Coalition Government. In fact, in June, it was announced that a more sustainable school feeding programme was being pursued. Development partner agency, the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), has engaged Government officials with the ultimate goal of finding solutions, including using fresh products. Based on a presentation by FAO’s country representative, Rueben Robertson, school feeding should be a multi-sectoral policy programme, which will allow Guyana to achieve goals in various strategic areas such as education, public health, agriculture, social protection, social cohesion and business. Representatives from the Ministry of Education, in June, outlined that there are at least five activities executed by the Ministry under the school feeding programme. The programme currently provides one healthy meal for at least 22,000 students in 158 schools across Guyana. The activities include the Breakfast programme, the juice and biscuit for students along the coastland areas, the Dora feeding programme on the Linden, Soesdyke Highway, the peanut butter and cassava bread programme in Region Nine and the community based school feeding programme in Regions One, Seven, Eight and Nine.
foreign exchange remittances abroad and should have the acceptance of the Ministry of Finance and the Bank of Guyana. As far as we understand, both agencies have not been engaged in this respect. And fourthly, there is a large body of local opinion at all levels of the Society which is against Parking Meters and there is no guarantee that it would not continue to be adversarial. Smart City would find it uncomfortable to operate in such a milieu. The M&CC must therefore ascertain with Smart City whether they are interested in continuing and if they are, the minimum conditions on which they would be renegotiating the Contract. In Traffic Control, there are three phases: In the first phase, users of the roads regulate themselves; in the second phase, regulation depends upon the Police; and it is only when personal and Police regulation become ineffective that Parking Meters come in as a last resort. Most of downtown Georgetown is far from congested and the comparatively small areas which become congested at some hours of the day and some days of the week could be managed by the Police. Indeed, whenever the Police are manning traffic at rush hours or certain days with heavier traffic, they do so quite effectively. If there is a constant Police presence, there would be no traffic problem. There are two observations we would like to make for readers to think about: All Parking Meter
proposals and schemes have had their origin abroad; no rooted and resident Guyanese citizen has ever proposed a Parking Meter scheme for Georgetown. The second observation: The M&CC went into the parking Meter scheme primarily to raise revenue and not to control traffic. The motivation of the Parking Meter scheme has been financial on all sides, talk of traffic control and traffic congestion has been an afterthought.
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FOR RENT First street Paradise two bedrooms to rent. Price $40,000 monthly. All conveniences - Call:661-4842 2 Bedrooms apartment in Eccles (furnished & unfurnished). Rooms in Alberttown- Call: 225-3234 Two bedroom apartment to rent on E.C.D- Call:684-8906 2 Bedrooms bottom flat through Diamond 1st Bridge for rent- Call: 680-6399, 6944276 Self-contained rooms in Prashad Nagar. Tel: 227-2993
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Sunday September 17, 2017
State auditors probe GECOM’s $$multi-million toner purchases (From page 3) fact that M-Tech reportedly received orders for toners for different printers and photocopiers. It is normal for most companies to go directly to local suppliers. For example, in Guyana, the local agent for Canon copiers and printers was Laparkan. GECOM has several Canon copiers and printers. It also has equipment from Brother, Xerox and reportedly
from Hewlett-Packard (HP). Yet there was little evidence that other local agents were approached. Laparkan, the local agent for Canon, received just $1.35M while another business, Andrews Enterprise, received $4.96M for supplying toners in 2015. In regard to the radios, just over a week before the May 11, 2015 elections, the then administration of the People’s Progressive Party/
Civic (PPP/C) approved $99.5M for the purchase of 50 high frequency (HF) radios. Those radios were supposed to be used by GECOM for communications in the outlying areas on polling day and after. However, there are indications that the radios were never put into use. From documents seen by Kaieteur News, local suppliers were asked to submit quotes in mid-April 2015.
Cabinet granted the no-objection to the award of the contract that same month, April, leaving GECOM just days to have the supplier order and import the radios. GECOM insiders and Government officials insisted, yesterday, that based on past experience and other factors, it would have been nigh impossible for the radios to have been delivered by the supplier; checked to ensure that they are operational and then delivered to the outlying areas in time for use on Elections Day, May 11, 2015. What makes observers and others more convinced that the whole deal was a clear plot to dump old radios that had been bought years before, was the fact the equipment needed installation in the hinterland areas. The radios would have needed a base station, cables, pipes, a power supply and then technicians to install them. It would have been impossible to order them, have them delivered in the country, clear Customs, delivered and checked by GECOM and then deployed in time for the voting. Brasse’s Mobile Authority and his two other businesses, M-Tech Business Solutions and Mibra Trading, were awarded almost $290M in contracts in the same year. It seemed Brasse was dealing with everything. He supplied toners, stationery, office equipment, electrical items, Duracell batteries and even furniture, raising suspi-
cions of sole sourcing. From payment records, it appeared that several of the payments could be linked to what is known as contract splitting, an arrangement where contracts are deliberately kept below a certain amount to avoid attracting attention from oversight bodies like the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB). Another strange thing that is being investigated by auditors is the fact that GECOM apparently collected two different brands of radios- 30 of the ICOM 718 models and 20 of the older Barrett radios. GECOM appeared to have asked suppliers weeks before the elections for quotes of newer Barrett ManPack radios which have the capabilities of sending faxes, going online and making voice calls. Instead, GECOM collected something else. The reports of the radio purchases have drawn the attention of Barrett Communications, the manufacturer of some of the radios that had been delivered. Through its European office, Barrett in a statement to the newspaper, said that it never delivered radios for the 2015 elections in Guyana. Rather, several of its radios that were seen in photos published by Kaieteur News were from a purchase made since 2006. According to Barrett, it stopped manufacturing those radios since 2009. That raises questions of the warranties GECOM was offered by Mobile Authority.
GECOM’S REFUSAL GECOM and Lowenfield had declined to comment on the radio purchases, saying that an investigation is currently ongoing by State Auditors. Former Chairman, Dr. Steve Surujbally, had made it clear that while the Commission would in principle agree to purchases and other transactions, the actual transactions are left to GECOM’s Secretariat. This year, in retaliation to all the revelations by Kaieteur News, GECOM stopped placing ads in Kaieteur News. While Kaieteur News enjoys the widest circulation in Guyana, it was only granted about $500,000 in ads up to mid-January. Stabroek News, on the other hand, received up to $4.4M in ads. Lowenfield had attempted to defend the ads placement saying that Kaieteur News received millions of dollars in ads in the past years. He did not explain why GECOM stopped the ads and how Guyana, which is supposed to benefit from the widest reach of its messages in the media, would have benefitted by the ads going elsewhere. Anumber of GECOM’s Commissioners, representing the Opposition, complained recently that since the departure of Chairman, Dr. Surujbally, in February, they have not met and are not being updated about the people’s business. President David Granger is considering a third list of nominees for a new Chairman.
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China’s modus operandi around the world mirrors events in Guyana—Part 7…
China’s “help” mostly benefits politicians, not the masses An examination of the role that China plays in several nations around the world, particularly in African countries, has proved that the superpower’s intention is not to make other countries better. The real aim is to grease the hands of politicians in the target countries. China does this to secure a free pass to do what it wants in those countries. Research shows that China often passes off its bribe in a form of an investment, a loan or a grant, where politicians can siphon off their share. Guyana has been witnessing China getting its way through some of the companies it has here. While the situation locally does not seem to be at the stage that it is in countries like Zimbabwe, it is important that Guyanese keep watch. The people of African countries have borne the brunt of the consequences that comes from China’s “help.” In many cases, after China’s assistance is offered huge amounts of natural resources are taken from the countries. China benefits way more. The superpower knows how to wiggle its way into politicians who are often the gate keepers of a country’s resources. Research shows that most African countries have a similar story to tell about their relationship with China. Perhaps one of the countries that have felt the brunt of it all is Zimbabwe. Under the rule of Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe has felt the pressure of China. Daily Mail reported that Mugabe travels regularly to Beijing as a high-ranking guest and rants at ‘small dots’ such as Britain and America. Read more: h t t p : / / www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ article-1036105/How-Chinas-taking-Africa-WestV E R Y worried.html#ixzz4ssnrfdjv. Mugabe has a 25-bedroom, pagoda-style mansion built by the Chinese. Daily Mail said that much of his estimated £1billion fortune is believed to have been siphoned off from Chinese ‘loans’. In 2008 alone “Mugabe received £200 million from China, enabling him to buy loyalty from the army.” One veteran diplomat was quoted in international media saying: ‘China is easier to do business with because it doesn’t care about human rights in Africa - just as it doesn’t care about them in its own country. All the Chinese care
President of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe
Mr. Harmon on an executive jet in China, in the company of BaiShanLin officials. about is money.’ It has been reported that African leaders are happy to do business with China for a straightforward reason: cash. With western loans linked to an insistence on democratic reforms and the need for ‘transparency’ in using the money (diplomatic language for rules to ensure dictators do not pocket millions), the Chinese have proved much more relaxed about what their billions are used for. Daily Mail said that little of the billions reaches the continent’s impoverished 800 million people. Much of it goes straight into the pockets of dictators. In Africa, corruption is a multi-billion pound industry and many experts believe that China is fuelling the cancer. There have been widespread suspicions that the situation with China and Guyana is not much different. Just a few years ago, Minister of State Joseph Harmon, who was then but an opposition Member of Parliament announced his suspicions that China was bribing the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/ C) government. He said, “The government is silent about this immoral and abusive act and there can only be one logical conclusion for that—they are benefitting financially in exchange for allowing the rape to continue. “Citizens need to understand the corrupt beast that it (Govt.) is dealing with. It is only a win-win deal for the parties involved and BaiShanLin’s kickbacks seem to have silenced the government.” BaiShanlin is owned by the Government of China
and private citizens of the country. After seeing the aerial view pictures of huge piles of hundreds of Guyana’s precious logs stocked and waiting to be shipped from one of Bai Shan Lin’s Kwakwani areas, Harmon said that the evidence was simply “horrendous.” ”It is sickening to come to grips with the reality that former President Bharrat Jagdeo invited Bai Shan Lin to this country under the pretext that it was going to foster good developments, and all along the true intention was to rape this country of its resources. This underscores the need for the Ramotar administration to resign en bloc. ”They have no interest in protecting the people. They have fooled this country. It seems that this Government is being paid to shut its mouth.” Read more at: https:/ www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/ 2014/08/13/bai-shan-lins-kickbacks-seem-to-have-silenced-govt-mp-harmon/. However, just a few years later, suspicions increased that China was indeed bribing the government of Guyana but, by this time, it was not longer the PPP?C government. This time it was the APNU+AFC government. And the person caught in the middle of it was Harmon. A photograph surfaced with Harmon on a private jet with officials of BaiShanLin, the very company which he said was bribing the previous government. Harmon later explained that it was not the way it seemed. He said, “I visited the People’s Republic of China on official Government business in March 2016. The Ambassador of China to Guyana, who was in the country at that time, made arrangements for me to meet officials of four companies which had sig-
nalled their intention to make significant investments in Guyana. “These Companies were located in Beijing, Shanghai, Hebei and Heilong Jiang Provinces. ”In this regard, because of the significant distances involved and the limited time available on that trip, the Ambassador made arrangements for these compa-
nies to provide transportation, both air and land, for me to travel to their respective Head Offices. ”On March 27, 2016, one such arrangement was made for me to visit Long Jiang Forest Industries Group, a Company situated in Heilong Jiang Province. The Long Jiang Forest Industries Group is a state-owned company that
had acquired 55 percent of the shares in BaiShanLin and is intended to fully take over the company in 2016. ”Two officials from the Long Jiang Forest Industries Group, along with two officials from BaiShanLin, accompanied me on the aircraft on the flight from Beijing to Heilong Jiang Province to attend the meeting.”
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Premier fires his Agriculture and Environment Minister BRADES, Montserrat CMC – Premier Donaldson Romeo has fired his Agriculture and Environment
Minister Claude Hogan, less than 48 hours after he took to the airwaves here saying there is need for a
new paradigm in dealing with the socio-economic development of the volcano ravaged British Over-
s e a s Te r r i t o r y w h i l e downplaying persistent rumours of plans to Romeo as head of the government.
A brief statement on the webpage of the stateowned ZJB Radio said that “Hon. Minister of Agriculture Claude Hogan has been relieved of his duties. Honourable Premier Donaldson Romeo has advised Her Excellency Governor Elizabeth Carriere to revoke Mr. Hogan’s appointment with immediate effect”. The statement gave no further details and Hogan has not made any public statement on his dismissal. But at least one media outlet here reported that Hogan was dismissed following a meeting with select members of the ruling People’s Democratic Movement of Montserrat (PDM), where Hogan was accused of “mounting a leadership challenge” against Premier Romeo. The publication said that another accusation levelled against the dismissed minister was that “he does not, and has never supported Premier Romeo”. Romeo was sworn into office in September 2014, after leading the People’s Democratic Movement of
Montserrat (PDM) to victory defeating the incumbent Movement for Change and Prosperity (MCAP) by a 7-2 margin. Earlier last week, Hogan, a former journalist and technocrat with the Guyana-based Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat, speaking on the state-owned radio station denied there were plans afoot to replace Romeo as the party observes its third anniversary in office. “I am not confirming anything like vote of no confidence or soon because that comes as a matter of Parliament. We have not gone there yet,” he said, even as he told radio listeners “where there is smoke there must be fire’. “This is one of the problems I have in respect of some of my caucus members. It’s just like you cannot express yourself about reformation or changes that you think on this third anniversary would make us more resilient. “Of course you have to have these discussions. I don’t want the people to see it like we are trying to overthrow or remove anybody.
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Venezuela’s Maduro upbeat on talks, opposition fear ‘show’ CARACAS (Reuters) President Nicolas Maduro has predicted a new foreignled effort to mediate Venezuela’s political crisis would produce a deal soon, but the opposition said yesterday it would not accept
another time-wasting “show”. Following months of anti-Maduro protests earlier this year that led to at least 125 deaths, both sides sent delegations to meet the Dominican Republic’s president last week for a possible start
to a negotiated solution. “After weeks of conversations, we are close to an agreement, of political co-existence, of peace and sovereignty,” Maduro said in a speech late on Friday. “We’re very near.” But the opposi-
tion, which accuses Maduro of creating a dictatorship and ruining a once-prosperous oil economy, insisted the talks in Santo Domingo were only “exploratory” and would not proceed without firm guarantees of democratic change.
They want a date for the next presidential election, due by the end of 2018, with guarantees it will be free and fair, plus freedom for hundreds of jailed activists, a foreign humanitarian aid corridor, and respect for the opposition-led congress. “They can’t mess us around like last year, when they promised heaven and earth, but nothing happened,” said Julio Borges, the leader of congress which has been overridden by a pro-Maduro legislative superbody called a Constituent Assembly. “If we don’t have ironclad guarantees ... that everything is leading to democratic change ... we won’t take a step more,” he told reporters yesterday, recalling failed 2016 Vatican-led talks. “We want to avoid a repeat of last year’s
show.” Maduro says the Constituent Assembly has brought peace to the South American nation of 30 million. But many major foreign powers do not recognise the body given its origins in a controversial election that the opposition boycotted. After more than four months of often violent protests, which also led to thousands of injuries and arrests, Maduro says a U.S.-fanned coup attempt has been defeated. But the strife has seen international opinion harden against him. Dominican leader Danilo Medina said Mexico, Chile, Bolivia and Nicaragua would join a new round of talks on Sept. 27, with two other countries to be defined.
Nicolas Maduro
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Ruthless All Blacks thrash South Africa in Rugby Championship AUCKLAND (Reuters) Winger Nehe Milner-Skudder scored two of the All Blacks’ eight tries as they destroyed South Africa 57-0 at North Harbour Stadium yesterday to condemn the Springboks to their worst defeat in test history. The All Blacks were ruthless in their execution of their opportunities to post 50 points for the second successive time against the Springboks. Last year’s 57-15 win in Durban had been the previous largest win-
ning margin between the two sides. The win in front of more than 30,000 fans also surpassed the 53-3 victory England posted against the Springboks at Twickenham in 2002. Rieko Ioane, MilnerSkudder, Brodie Retallick and Scott Barrett all crossed in the first half to give the All Blacks a 31-0 lead at the break, before the right winger, Ofa Tu‘ungafasi Lima Sopoaga and Codie Taylor all scored in
the second half. Despite the scoreline, the Springboks created numerous opportunities themselves with their running lines, interplay and kicks into space but they were unable to penetrate the superb All Blacks’ defence. “The Boks really threw everything at us,” All Blacks captain Kieran Read told reporters. “It was an intense test match. I don’t really know how we were up by so many points.” The All Blacks had been
Solomon, Barnwell’s fifties put GT in charge... (From page 68) on 165-5. Solomon soon reached his half century from 80 balls when he dumped Bishundyal for six over cover. His landmark was decorated with four fours and two sixes but Kellon Carmichael (1) and Paul Wintz (2) fell in quick succession to leave the score on 188-7. Solomon who seemed to lose concentration after
reaching his fifty and Lord (14) swept Yadram for four but was caught and bowled by Chandrika at 260-9. Sankar got going with a couple of boundaries including a six off Yadram, while Solomon dumped Chandrika for six before playing a ‘nothing shot’ and edged Chandrika to the Keeper in the penultimate over of the 242-9 before the innings ended one run later.
Meanwhile, at Albion Lower Corentyne beat Upper Corentyne by 10 wickets in two days after reaching 26 without loss chasing 24 to win. Scores: Upper Corentyne 130 (Permaul 6-49, Khan 4-37) and 157 (Latchaya 39, Baldeo 38; Royan Johnson 4-49, Permaul 3-42); Lower Corentyne 263-9 decl (Edwards 89, Seon Hetmyer 49; Perriera 6-71) and 27-0.
Sunday September 17, 2017 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Don't jump too quickly regarding an investment that appears to be good. Try to make amends by planning a nice dinner for two. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Work diligently and you will get ahead today. You should consider getting your whole family involved in a project at home. Don't be too quick to judge your loved ones. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You may find that children are not as accepting as you have been. Travel and educational pursuits may help alleviate the stress you have been feeling. CANCER (June 21–July 22) Your time, not your cash, will do a lot more for your relationship. You would be wise to socialize with as many people as possible. You will find your personal partner taxing today. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Travel should be on your agenda. You will enjoy lavish forms of entertainment and should consider making arrangements early. Don't be too hard on yourself. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Do the necessary chores and then do things that please you. Don't go hog wild when it comes to entertainment or you could find yourself short of funds at the end of the month. Acceptance will be necessary.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) This could be a difficult day to deal with coworkers. Look into making changes to your personal papers and don't neglect those bills that have been piling up. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Spend some time with the one you love. Pleasure trips will be satisfying. Don't overload your plate. You may be overreacting to personal problems. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Consider making pleasure trips or participating in entertainment that will require energy. Look into ways that you can make extra cash. You can have an enjoyable time if you socialize with friends. CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Your attitude is changing rapidly and your plate is overloaded. Difficulties with your mate may lead to estrangement. You can get ahead if you present your ideas to superiors. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Be prepared to step into the limelight if you wish to promote your ambitions. You might be overly emotional when dealing with your partner. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Family members will not be happy with the amount of time you are spending away from home. Your home environment may be volatile if precautions aren't taken.
criticised for their inability to exploit space throughout the season, particularly against the defensive linespeed the British and Irish Lions employed earlier this year in their drawn series. On Saturday, they were ruthless in identifying space and taking their opportunities throughout the game. “We are very proud of it,” All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said. “The boys had a good week. We are trying to get better all the time and have been trying
to work on a lot of things. “We were pretty clear with how we wanted to play and a lot of things came off.” The All Blacks had sealed the win by halftime with three long range tries from Ioane, Milner-Skudder and Retallick, while replacement Scott Barrett, who was on the field as Liam Squire underwent a head injury assessment, also crossed. Milner-Skudder grabbed his second try in the 53rd minute and both coaches then emptied the benches, with Tu‘ungafasi scoring his first test try 10 minutes later. The All Blacks dominated the
final 20 minutes with the Springboks defending for much of it and it was testament to their grit they only conceded the tries to Sopoaga in the 73rd minute and Taylor after the fulltime hooter. “I‘m very disappointed and the players are hurting,” Springboks coach Allister Coetzee said. “We had a good plan and great preparation and the first 20 minutes, we played our best rugby. We felt we were on top and dominated collisions and one pass goes astray and you’re under the poles.”
Sammy denies giving CWI president Cameron... (From page 69) in line, followed by Tamim Iqbal, Paul Collingwood, David Miller and then Sammy. As Tamim received his medal, Sammy turned away before jogging off. That sequence of events could clearly be seen on broadcast footage. Was it a snub? Not according to Sammy, who famously took a very public pop at his board in the immediate aftermath of winning the World T20 in 2016, which ultimately led to his removal from the T20 captaincy just four months later. That was part of a bitter contractual dispute between play-
ers and the board that only now seems to be coming to an end. In July, the CWI offered “temporary amnesty” to players who earlier did not fit the selection criteria to make themselves available for ODIs. Consequently Chris Gayle is part of the West Indies limited-overs squad for the England series, which begins with the lone Twenty20 in Durham on Saturday. But Sammy, whose last match for the West Indies was the World Twenty20 final last April, has been ignored by the selectors. Soon after the last game in Lahore, Sammy said to ESPNcricinfo that he hadn’t walked away from Cameron but had instead rushed off back to
the dressing room for a toilet break. It is, he added, what he also did during the PSL final, where he had led Peshawar Zalmi to the title at the same venue. Two voices from inside the World-XI dressing room, however, say that a snub is precisely what it was. Sammy, they say, does not want to have anything to do with Cameron. Interestingly, Samuel Badree, Sammy’s onetime West Indies team-mate, and a member of the World XI did accept his medal from Cameron, even though he has also in the past expressed strong reservations about Cameron.
Vettel on pole in Singapore with... (From page 70) have to see on the first lap.” Ricciardo, a winner in Azerbaijan in June, also remained confident. “I’m still confident we’ll get victory. I think we’ve got a good package. Seb turned it on in qualifying but I’m looking forward to tomorrow,” said the Australian. There were few smiles at Mercedes, with the champions arriving in Singapore fearing it would be a tough weekend but secretly hoping for better. “You always hope for better but probably its realistically where we are in Singapore,” said team boss Toto Wolff. “There seems to be a certain pattern that some cars go better on the slow, twisty stuff. And that is Ferrari and Red Bull.” Hamilton, who took a record 69th career pole at Monza by a huge margin, never looked in contention. “We knew that today would be tough,” he said. “I definitely didn’t anticipate Ferrari would be as strong as they were. I thought Red Bull would be as quick as they were but we still remain hopeful. “I got everything I could out of the car, everything and more,” he added.
Nico Hulkenberg was seventh for Renault ahead of Fernando Alonso and Stoffel Vandoorne, who put both McLarens in the top 10 a day after the former champions
agreed to swap Honda power for Renault in 2018. Spaniard Carlos Sainz, set to move to the works Renault team next year, rounded out the top 10 for Toro Rosso.
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Kaieteur Sports Week in Review SPORTS WEEK IN REVIEW Today we take a look back to see some of the events that made the news during the past week. Here are some of the highlights that occurred. COURTS PLUGS $4.1 MILLION INTO 6TH ANNUAL PEE WEE FOOTBALL TOURNEY Under-11 football rivalry will resume at Banks DIH’s Thirst Park this month when 32 primary school teams battle during the 6th edition of the COURTS Pee wee football tournament. The competition was launched Friday and major corporate sponsor Courts Guyana Inc. has contributed handsomely this year. Present at the launch were representatives from second major corporate sponsor, Banks DIH, who will be involved through their Malta Supreme and Rainforest Water brands, Guyana Football Federation (GFF), Ministry of Education (MOE), COURTS Guyana and Petra. Co-director of Petra, Troy Mendonca, whose organization is responsible for the meticulous and successful planning of this Pee wee Football tournament stated that before the competition began six (6) years ago, “I was saddened with the limited amount of school football that was being played as compared to when I was a schoolboy which saw stiff rivalry.” This year, the tournament has seen an increase of eight (8) teams from 24-32. There will be 24 teams from Georgetown, 3 each from East Coast and East Bank and 2 from the West Coast, competing in round robin action on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00hrs at Thirst Park. The GFF is very supportive of football development at the grassroots level, according to the President Wayne Forde, but what they can do is limited due to financial constraints, “I’m pleased that the relationship between Banks and COURTS has endured. And with the expansion of the amount of teams, it’s indicative of the blossoming of the partnership. I’ve stated that the GFF can’t develop the game alone and initiatives such as these are very much welcomed. They have provided opportunities for players to develop and also as a means to identify talent.” Marketing Manager of COURTS, Pernell Cummings, hailed Petra for their outstanding organizational skills, “They (Petra) have been doing a good job running the tournament and keeping the kids safe as they compete. I have never missed a Saturday of this competition since I’ve been with COURTS and it has been very exciting. This tournament has produced some talented players including four of whom have gone on to represent Guyana.”
GABF President Nigel Hinds Banks DIH, Malta Supreme brand representative, Clayton McKenzie, expressed pleasure with his company’s continued support, “Banks is very pleased to collaborate with COURTS in this tournament which has been very successful. This year we will be sponsoring through two brands, Malta Supreme and Rainforest Water, in addition to providing snacks on match days.” LOCAL REFEREES TO BENEFIT FROM FIBA LICENSING PROGRAMME BY YEAR-END Kaieteur Sport had reported that lack of officials had been one of the pitfalls of the 2017 season of the Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association’s (GABA)/Banks DIH leagues thus far, as stated by coach of Pacesetters, Clement Brusch. Brusch indicated that many former players have expressed interest in
being trained in officiating and had challenged the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) to facilitate this. President of the GABF, Nigel Hinds, shared the exciting news during an interview with Kaieteur Sport of Guyana being afforded the opportunity to have within their m a n p o w e r, I n t e r n a t i o n a l Basketball Federation (FIBA) certified officials. The referee and match commissioner certifying programme has been tentatively set to be held in Guyana this November but Hinds explained that, “The Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) has a meeting in Barbados, where the date for the programme will be decided, since other Member Countries will want the opportunity to benefit from the programme.” P a t r i c k H a y n e s , G A B F ’s International General Secretary represented Guyana at that meeting. In addition, neighbouring Suriname is set to host the CBC Male and Female Championships in July 2018 and the Dutch speaking country will be one of the more eager countries to send officials to Guyana for the certification seminar. C u r r e n t l y, t h e G u y a n a Basketball Officials Council has a meager eight (8) active referees, according to President of the organization, Dexter Douglas. Douglas stated that he will be doing outreach programmes in Kwakwani and Berbice during October to prepare prospective referees for the upcoming FIBA certification seminar this year-end which will be conducted by Referee Manager of FIBA Americas, Geraldo Fontana. The FIBA official certification exam can only be written by persons in the age range 25-35 years old but head of the GABF,
Hinds, stated that, “Local referees who aren’t the required age will take part in the programme although not being afforded the opportunity to write the exam. This will serve as a means to improve the level of local match officiating.” OVER 500 APPLIED IN 2017 FOR GROUND ENHANCEMENT PROGRAMME, ONLY 53 BENEFIT Over 500 communities had applied to have their grounds benefit from the Ministry of Education (MOE), Department of Culture, Youth and Sport, Ground Enhancement Programme (GEP) this year but only 53 were successful in their bid. Initially, a sum of $1million was allocated to successful applicants to uplift their grounds but that system was quashed in 2016 and successful applicants were able to receive monies based on their facilities needs. Speaking with Kaieteur Sport, Project Director of the Ground Enhancement Programme, Randolph Critchlow stated that his goal was to have all the community grounds that were successful in their applications outfitted with lights. He explained: “The initial sum of $300 million would’ve been sufficient to have lights installed in all of the targeted grounds.” However, the ground enhancement fund which was $300 million in 2015 was slashed by Minister Nicolette Henry to $150 million in 2016 and further reduced to $146 million in 2017. Then Minister of Sport, Youth and Culture, Henry stated that, “Quality is more important that quantity”, during her 2016 budget debate speech. Critchlow noted that the major
problem in his department efficiently performing its duties was insufficient funding. Before 2016, each successful application would’ve seen that ground being granted $1 million. Critchlow continued: “Giving a million dollars across the board proved problematic because grounds had varying needs.” Out of the 53 grounds which were successful in applying to gain from the ground enhancement fund, 18 are major projects. Major projects will see those grounds being allocated as much as $8 million to do works. Region One, Mabaruma Settlement ground is one of the major projects for 2017 and has been the full $8million dollars which will go towards giving the playing area a face lift and construction of a pavilion and washroom facilities. S o u t h Vr y h e i d ’s L u s t Community Centre has been approved for $6 million. Also, the New Opportunity Corps ground, Essequibo is set to be outfitted with lights, while the Ministry of Health ground, opposite the Square of the Revolution will have the playing surface redone, lights installed and benches erected. One of the prerequisite to tap into the community ground enhancement grant is that the ground must have an elected functioning committee with the records of such elections being provided. NARAYAN RAMDHANI ATTENDS BADMINTON CAMP IN MEXICO Guyana’s top Badminton player, Narayan Ramdhani was selected by the Pan American Badminton Federation to attend a High Level Player Development Camp in Aguascalientes, Mexico (Continued on page 67)
Youngsters from various primary schools that will be competing in the 2017 Courts Pee wee with representatives from COURTS and Petra standing at the back.
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Kaieteur Sports Week in Review and players. The facility will cater for football development among both males and females and will be the focal point for football activity at all levels of the game. Construction of the artificial turf will be done by Greenfields, a manufacturer of artificial turf, in phases and is scheduled to be completed in January month end in 2018. Following this, the accompanying amenities will be constructed.
(From page 66) from September 15-20. The camp is being conducted by a high level coach from the Netherlands twice daily. This is a great step for Narayan as he will be training with some of Pan Am Top Ranked Players like Kevin Cordon of Guatemala and Osleni Guerrero of Cuba who are also in the world rankings. The GBA is extremely happy that he is of Quality that the Pan American Badminton Federation is paying this kind of interest in him. After the Camp, Narayan will then participate in the VII International Mexicano 2017 Championships which will be held at the Gimnasio Olimpico de Cd Deportiva Aguascalientes, Mexico from September 21-25. MSC OPEN BASKETBALL LEAGUE RECORDS TUMBLE AS ROYALS THRASH FALCONS 206-46; HAROLD ADAMS POURS IN 111 It was total annihilation when Harold Adams slammed in a record 111 points to rewrite the record books by achieving the highest individual score in leading Victory Valley Royals past Bankers Trust Falcons 206-46, another record team total. All the action unfolded at the Mackenzie Sports Club Hard Court when the Linden Amateur Basketball Association (LABA) / Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) Open League continued with second round play. On a night when the record books were rewritten, Adams was awesome with his output in an unimaginable ending. The Royals trio of Adams, Chris Williams and Orlando Glasgow were again unstoppable as they led their team to their 7th straight win, bringing over their form from the first round. Adams more than doubled his
CAPTAIN MAHENDRA PERSAUD CONTINUES EXCELLENT FORM WITH ANOTHER A-CLASS SHOOT
Harold Adams previous best of 46 points achieved earlier in this tournament, while surpassing the 76 points scored by his teammate Chris Williams a few years ago. CONSTRUCTION OF GFF’S NATIONAL TRAINING CENTRE STARTS MONTH END Construction of the FIFA Forward Programme, which will be known as the National Training Centre, is scheduled to commence this month end at Providence, East Bank Demerara. This follows the confirmation of the lease of the land earmarked for the facility and subsequent approval by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) in June 2017. This will be the first and major state-of-the-art football facility, which will seek to among others, produce consistent levels of highly competitive and exciting football
The Guyana National Rifle Association (GuyanaNRA) Fullbore Captain has continued to show encouraging form ahead of next month’s 150th Anniversary Shoot which will also double as the West Indies Fullbore Shooting Council Caribbean Championships here in Guyana. At last Sunday’s Recorded Shoot held at the Timehri Rifle and Pistol Ranges, Persaud, who shot two of the three possibles achieved on the day (50.4 @ 300 yards; 35.4 @ 500yards), the other achieved by Sherwin Felicien (35.4 @ 500yards), ended the day with a total of 117 with 9Vs two more points than Peter Persaud and Felicien five off the pace, in second and third. Continuing preparations ahead o f n e x t m o n t h ’s h i s t o r i c championships, shooters on Sunday last also competed at the 900 yards range which turned out to be the most exciting as heavy winds presented many challenges for the marksmen. When the winds had settled and the final shot rang out in fading light, Peter Persaud with a score of 33. 3Vs emerged as the winner of the range. According to a GuyanaNRA release, the shooters
were all in disbelief at the scores recorded at 900 yards. The association further stated that the day’s scores saw an overall improvement in scores by the shooters which were recognised by Captain Persaud when he announced the results. Persaud noted that such form augurs well for Guyana’s defence of the team matches, Short and Long Range next month. The shooters, in remembrance of their late colleague, Mr. Richard ‘Dickie’ Fields, who was laid to rest last Wednesday, observed one minute’s silence on the 900 yards bank. On Thursday last, Guyana NRA’s President, Brig, Patrick West and the Executive Council also paid respect to its late Vice President during its Council meeting; Richard Fields was at the time of his passing, the longest serving Council member. RUBIS DONATES TO GUYANA DRAUGHTS ASSOCIATION Rubis Guyana Inc. donated two trophies and other consolation prizes at a simple handing over at their Vlissengen Road Service Station. The donations are intended for the upcoming Annual N a t i o n a l D r a u g h t s Championship to be held at the National Gymnasium. The games begin on October 1, 2017 and the classifications are ‘B’, ‘A’ and the international 100 Squares. The schools competition will follow after. Marketing Manager of Rubis Ms. Rhonda Johnson said she is pleased to donate to this board game and would be present at the games to deliver to the winners. President of the association, Mr Jairam collected the prizes. GFF/NAMILCO THUNDERBOLT FLOUR
POWER U-17 LEAGUE –WEST DEMERARA POUDEROYEN AND EAGLES REMAIN UNBEATEN AT THE TOP Pouderoyen and Eagles FC of Stewartville continue to battle neck and neck as the intensity in the GFF/NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power National Under-17 Intra Association League continues with the two clubs the only two unbeaten so far being separated on goal difference at the top. In the latest round of matches at the Den Amstel Community Center ground, West Coast Demerara, Pouderoyen were dismissive of Jetty Gunners whom they hammered 6-0, while Den Amstel got the better of Wales United 5-3 in the two matches played. Eagles and Crane rovers took full points via the walk over route from Golden Warriors and Uitvlugt Warriors which failed to show up at the Den Amstel ground. EBFA RALPH GREEN U-11 LEAGUE DEFENDING CHAMPS AGRICOLA START ON WINNING NOTE; GROVE AND DIAMOND UTD. MOTOR ON Defending champions, Agricola Red Triangle opened the defence of their East Bank Football Association (EBFA) / Ralph Green Under-11 title on a winning note with a solid 3-0 win over Mocha Champs at the Grove Playfield. Also notching wins on the day were Grove High Tech which chalked up their second win in as many matches, a 6-0 thumping of Friendship to move to the top of Group B, while Diamond United also sits at the top of Group A after they were gifted three points following the no show of Diamond Upsetters.
Agricola Red Triangle and Mocha Champs matching skills at Grove Playfield.
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Sunday September 17, 2017
Kaieteur News
GCB/CGI 3-day Franchise League
Solomon, Barnwell’s fifties put GT in charge By Sean Devers Half-centuries from Skipper Chris Barnwell and Dexter Solomon and 4-40 from Gajanand Suknanan p u t G e o rg e t o w n i n a commanding position against East Coast on the penultimate day of the third round GCB/CGI three-day Franchise League at Lusignan yesterday leaving E/Coast to get 299 to win today. East Coast resumed on 102-4 and lost their last five wickets for 17 runs as Suknanan had support from leg-spinner Steven Sankar (3-8) and Left-arm spinner Devon Lord (2-10). Barnwell hit five fours and three sixes from 88 balls in his 62, while Solomon’s 84 lasted 159 balls and included six fours and two sixes as Georgetown were all out for 244-9. Cordel Mars had 2-49, Rajendra Chandrika 2-30 and Bhaskar Yadram 2-68. When play resumed, Joshua Persaud (8) was LBW to Suknanan at 116-5, while Ramnarine Chetura (3) was also removed by the
24-year-old off-spinner at 124-6 and nobody else got into double figures as Sankar dismissed the last two batsmen as East Coast were dismissed an hour before Lunch. Georgetown, enjoying a lead of 55, lost Robin Bacchus (10) who edged Mars to the Keeper at 16-1. Raymon Perez used his feet nicely to off-spinner Kumar Bishundyal and stroked him with immaculate timing past extra cover for four and clobbered Rajendra Chandrika for six and by Lunch he was on 20. With him was Sunil Singh on nine and Georgetown on 39-1. After Lunch, Perez, like most of the batsmen in this tournament, threw his wicket away when well set for a big score on 23 as he drove Bishundyal loosely to mid-off at 45-2. Mars bowled with good pace and removed Singh (10) at 51-3 before Barnwell, the first innings top-scorer with 44, got going with a six off Bishundyal. Jamaican Ramaal Lewis was dropped at short cover on two as
L/C’tyne beat U/C’tyne by 10 wkts in 2 days
Watched by a cluster of close to the wicket fielders, Gajanand Suknanan (440) is about to dismiss Rudolph Singh yesterday. (Sean Devers photo) Bhaskar Yadram failed to hold on the second attempt what would have been a s t u p e n d o u s c a t c h o ff Mars. Lewis pivoted and pulled Mars for four while Barnwell edged a quick short ball for four before ducking under a bouncer from the fired up pacer.
Lewis cut Singh for four, while Barnwell on-drove Singh and lofted him over his head for six off consecutive balls. Lewis (13) tried to match Barnwell’s big hitting and perished when he tried to clear long-on and was well caught by Mars off Yadram to leave Georgetown on 95-
4. Barnwell smashed Yadram gloriously past cover for four before Solomon punched pacer Kishan DaSilva back past him for four and dumped Yadram for six. At Tea the score was 1334 with Barnwell on 43 and Solomon on 23 and the lead
already 88. After Tea, Barnwell pulled Mars for a murderous boundary to reach his fifty from 73 balls with five fours and two sixes and celebrated with a six over cover but Yadram, for the second time in the game, bowled Barnwell to leave GT (Continued on page 65)
Bowlers take Windies to 21-run victory over England - T20I CHESTER-LESTREET, England, CMC — West Indies bowlers — led by their captain Carlos Brathwaite, the irrepressible Kesrick Williams and the clever Sunil Narine — defied cold, wet conditions and proved their adaptability to usher their side to a 21-run victory over England in their Twenty20 International yesterday. Brathwaite snared 3-20 from 3.3 overs, Williams took 3-35 from his allotted four overs and Narine, later named Player-of-the-Match, grabbed 2-15 from his four overs, as England were dismissed for 155 in pursuit of a victory target of 177 in the weather-affected match at the Riverside Stadium. The Windies overcame a slippery outfield that almost forced umpires Martin Gough and Tim Robinson to abandon the England chase in the fifth over, an Alex Hales 39-ball blitz for a top score of 43, and a rearguard from Jos Buttler and Jonny
Eoin Morgan picked up another low score. (Getty Images)
Bairstow to clinch their 11th victory over England in 15 matches in this format. Using a number of variations in the second half of the chase, the visitors made it difficult for the home team to lift the tempo late in the chase, as the last six wickets fell for 37 in the space of 36 balls. The embattled Brathwaite formalised the
result with three balls remaining when he went past Liam Plunkett’s ugly swipe and bowled the England fast bowler to cap one of his better bowling performances in maroon since he was controversially elevated to captain last year. West Indies had failed to build upon a typically explosive start from Chris Gayle and fellow opener
Evin Lewis, and were restricted to 176 for nine from their allocation of 20 overs, after they were sent in to bat under cloudy skies. Lewis led the way with 51 off 28 balls that included six fours and three sixes and Gayle smote three fours and four sixes in 40 from 21 balls in an opening stand of 77. After Gayle was run out in the seventh over, failing to
beat Jason Roy’s throw from square leg to bowler Liam Plunkett in the seventh over, the rest of the innings lacked the same intensity and momentum. The Windies reached 106 for one at the halfway stage, but Plunkett and legspinner Adil Rashid grabbed three wickets apiece to undermine their batting in the second half of the innings. Jerome Taylor then gave West Indies the perfect start and silenced the capacity crowd, when he had Roy caught at backward point with the first ball of the chase. But Taylor and new ball partner Williams failed to find further consistency, and Hales made the most of an early reprieve to give the England chase early legs, putting on 64 for the second wicket with Root. Brathwaite made the breakthrough when he bowled Hales with the
penultimate delivery in the final over of the Power Play to put England in a tailspin that saw them plunge to 68 for four in the eighth over. West Indies met further defiance from Buttler and Bairstow when they put on 50 for the fifth wicket with sensible batting, but with the scoring rate steadily increasing chances needed to be taken and the bottom half of the England batting failed to spark, as the Windies bowlers cleverly offered up a variety of cutters and change of pace deliveries. Scores: WEST INDIES 176 for nine off 20 overs (Evin Lewis 51, Chris Gayle 40, Rovman Powell 28; Adil Rashid 3-25, Liam Plunkett 3-27) ENGLAND 155 off 19.3 overs (Alex Hales 43, Jos Buttler 30, Jonny Bairstow 27; Carlos Brathwaite 3-20, Kesrick Williams 3-35, Sunil Narine 2-15)
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Convincing players to tour Pakistan will be challenging says CWI boss LAHORE, Pakistan, CMC — Cricket West Indies president Dave Cameron said West Indies players will get to decide whether they tour Pakistan for a series of three Twenty20 Internationals in November. Cameron was speaking at the conclusion of the Independence Series between the Pakistanis and a World XI over the last week in Lahore. The series has raised expectations in the country that Pakistan can resume the staging of international matches following an international suspension, due to an armed attack by militants on the Sri Lankan team bus eight years in this city. The Pakistanis hosted Zimbabwe for a historic limited-overs series two years ago, but other
internationals have been reluctant to play bilateral series in the country, forcing Pakistan to play their home games in the United Arab Emirates in the past few years. “We want to ensure that when the players come over, everyone actually wants to come and enjoy the experience, and we don’t want to be seen to be forcing anyone,” said Cameron. “We’ve had Darren Sammy and Samuel Badree here, and they’ve loved it. Sammy’s on his second trip and I think that will also convince the players that it is safe to come.”• Cameron however, made it clear that the tour will depend on the security reports after the conclusion of Independence Cup, mentioning that CWI has no intention of forcing any
player who doesn’t wish to undertake the tour. “We’ve had the security team here for the final of the Pakistan Super League and they’ve seen these matches as well,” he said “Here, Pakistan’s board makes decisions [regarding where to tour]. My board’s a little bit different, with the We s t I n d i e s P l a y e r s ’ Association also having a big say — and we have to respect their decision.”• Cameron said he had enjoyed his two-day stay in Pakistan and was convinced that things have improved with the International Cricket Council, the sport’s World governing body, overseeing security arrangements and willing to bear the cost of security advisors for every series the PCB hosts from now. “We’ve been talking
Sammy denies giving CWI president Cameron the snub
Darren Sammy soaks up victory adulation from the Lahore crowd. (AFP) ESPNcricinfo - Did Dave Cameron at the postDarren Sammy snub Cricket m a t c h p r e s e n t a t i o n West Indies (CWI) president c e r e m o n y a t G a d d a f i
Stadium on Friday? Sammy was a member of the World XI that played three T20s in Lahore this week, and on Friday his side lost the final game, and with it the series. Cameron was in Lahore to discuss a potential tour to Pakistan by West Indies in November. After the game, the World-XI players lined up to receive medals from Cameron, who was part of the awards ceremony. Hashim Amla was first (Continued on page 65)
about this for some time and have our own challenges back in the West Indies, but from what I have seen, I am very convinced,” said Cameron. “Hospitality has been great and security has been first-class. My challenge is to convince the players that it’s safe enough. It’s our duty to help as well. I felt that if I came over here to show that it’s safe enough that would go some way in convincing the players. Inshallah [God-willing] in November, we’ll be here.”
Cricket West Indies president Dave Cameron says it will be challenging to convince players to tour Pakistan.
Mecca 2017 set to be largest yet; GABF head plans to improve marketing Flashback! Bulls (White) against Pacesetters in Mecca 2014 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
Hamilton Green Football Cup… Round of 16 action set for East Coast next Sunday The Hamilton Green Cup knockout football tournament, which has sizzled to the round of 16 stage, will continue next weekend on the East Coast of Demerara with 4 matches. All the clashes have been scheduled to kick off at the Victoria ground next week Sunday. The first contest will see West Coast’s Uitvulgt against East Coast’s Golden Grove at 15:00hrs. At 17:00hrs, Den Amstel will play Buxton, while later in the evening at 19:00hrs, Mahaica Determinators will match skills with city side GFC. The feature clash on Sunday, September 24 will
be between Ann’s Grove and Santos beginning at 21:00hrs. The latest winners in the competition which began with 24 teams saw Linden based Winners Connection and Milerock both utilizing home crowd support to win at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground last week. Wi n n e r s C o n n e c t i o n whipped Kuru Kururu 4-0, while Milerock ousted East Coast based Plaisance FC 30 from the tournament. Mahaica Determinators, Buxton, Ann’s and Golden Grove will be looking to utilize their East Coast home support as the teams vie to go one step closer towards the
Keon Sears Winners’ Connection $500,000 top prize next Sunday.
Guyana’s National Club Basketball Championship, Mecca, has been set for November-December this year, and is expected to have the final tip off on Boxing Day, according to President of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF), Nigel Hinds. In addition, he promised that 16 clubs will be battling for the biggest incentives that the competition has ever seen. The $1.2 million top prize of 2014, which was the largest to date, will definitely be surpassed. Mecca 2017 will feature 7 clubs each from the Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association
(GABA) and the Linden Amateur Basketball Association (LABA), while two clubs from the less active Berbice association will be included. Defending champions Raiders of Linden and runners up Bounty Colts of Georgetown will be ranked 1 and 2 respectively. Teams that don’t have previous tournament ranking will be selected based on their rank within their association. Hinds explained to Kaieteur Sport that, “This competition will be contested between 1st division clubs.” The tournament will be contested
at three venues, the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH), Vrymen’s Erven in Berbice and the Mackenzie Sports Club in Linden. From the quarterfinal stage all matches will be played at the CASH. Hinds posited that in 2014 the stands at CASH were almost at capacity for the semifinals and finals but that wasn’t the case in 2015 and 2016. “We recognize the vital importance of marketing which will help in improving attendance at matches,” stated the GABF head. He further explained that the Federation intends to market this tournament well despite financial constraints.
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Sunday September 17, 2017
Kaieteur News
Corona Invitational Football Final
All set for Rose Hall Town GFC and Police clash tonight for 47th Anniversary cycle race $1 million, runner up $400,000
Round Robin action between GFC and Western Tigers Following two months of e x c i t i n g p l a y, t h e Georgetown Football Club ground is expected to be packed this evening for the culmination of the Corona Invitational Football tournament, with the final and third place playoff. The Final, which will be battled between the youthful GFC and the experienced Police FC, will begin at 21:00 hrs. GFC will be featuring in their first senior men’s final in over a decade and they have indicated that a win tonight will be in tribute to their late coach,
Peter Lashley. Meanwhile, Police FC will be looking to add this Corona Football title to their Tr o p h y C a s e , w h i c h includes the 2016 Mayor Cup silverware. The third place playoff is expected to be as exciting as the final and will be a perfect warm up when Western Ti g e r s p l a y N o r t h e r n Rangers for $200,000. Tigers were needled by Police in their semifinal game which saw 4 players (2 from each team) being sent off. Rangers which remained
unbeaten up to their semifinal, had their fairytale run abruptly ended with a 30 humbling at the hands of GFC. The loser of that third place clash will pocket $100,000. Co-Director of Petra, Troy Mendonca, whose company organized this tournament, in an invited comment has stated that, “I expect a keenly contested final and hope that this tournament is used as a springboard for the revival of football in this jurisdiction ( G e o rg e t o w n F o o t b a l l Association).”
All is set as the top riders in Berbice are expected to take to the road today for the Rose Hall Town 47th Anniversary cycle event. The race, which is organised by the Rose Hall Town Anniversary and Development Organization (RHTADO) in collaboration with the Flying Ace Cycling Club (FACC), is a 40 miles affair. The race, which is part of two weeks of activity to c e l e b r a t e t h e t o w n ’s anniversary status will see riders such as Romello Crawford, Andrew Hicks, Wassim Hassnu, Andrea Green, Curtis Dey, Balram
Narine, Jason Cameron, Ralph Seenarine, David Hicks and Zaman Khan among others. Shenika Teixeira and Deance Welch are expected to be among the female competing for top honours. The cyclists are expected to pedal off from in front of the Anamayah Memorial Hospital at Hampshire, Corentyne Berbice, proceed to NO51 Police Station before turning back to finish at the junction of the Rose Hall Town Independence Arch. There will be prizes for the first five finishers, the first two Juveniles and the
first two females. There will also be a number of prime point prizes up for grabs. Among the sponsors on board are Lewison General Store, Churches Chicken, Lucky Dollar Store, Circuit Center General Store, Balram Shane General Store, Wynette’s Beauty Salon, Home line Furnishing, Touch of Class Boutique and Anamayah Memorial Hospital among others. The coordinators are Randolph Roberts and Andrew Griffith. Race time is 10:00 hrs. (Samuel Whyte)
Volleyball action set for East Coast Berbice today
Vettel on pole in Singapore with Hamilton fifth SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel put himself on pole position to retake the Formula One lead from Lewis Hamilton with a sensational late lap in Singapore Grand Prix qualifying yesterday. Hamilton, who leads the German by three points with seven rounds remaining, qualified his Mercedes only fifth for today’s night race with team mate Valtteri Bottas set to start alongside in sixth. Dutch teenager Max Verstappen will start second for Red Bull, after going fastest in the first two phases of qualifying, with Australian team mate Daniel Ricciardo third and Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen fourth. Vettel, who lost the lead to Hamilton at the previous race in Italy, is a four times winner in Singapore and the pole was also his fourth in the city state as well as the 49th of his Formula One career.
Sebastian Vettel (EPA) It was also his third of the season but he had to put everything on the line when it really mattered to beat the Red Bulls in a close-run session, lighting up the timing screens with a lap of one minute 39.491 seconds. “I’m still full of adrenaline so maybe whatever I say doesn’t make any sense,” a breathless Vettel, who let out a loud whoop of joy over the team-
radio, said after he stepped out of the car. “The car was tricky but it came alive and it was getting better and better as the night progressed, so I‘m really happy that we got it done.” R I C C I A R D O CONFIDENT Red Bull had topped the timesheets in every session leading up to qualifying and had looked on course for their first front row lockout since the U.S. Grand Prix in 2013, with Verstappen also fastest in the opening two phases of qualifying. Had he been on pole, the 19-year-old would have been the youngest driver in the history of the sport to start from the top slot. “I think the final lap was not great but we were quite close so I’m pretty happy with that,” said the Dutch driver, who turns 20 in two weeks’ time. “During the race it will be difficult to pass him so we (Continued on page 65)
Some of the trophies on offer in today’s Volleyball action. After a lull due to the inclement weather, the B e r b i c e Vo l l e y b a l l Association (BVA) is back into full swing with a number of tournaments lined up. With an ongoing Inter school tournament in full swing more action is set for today, with a one day open volleyball tournament, on the East Coast of Berbice. T h e B VA i n collaboration with the Kendall’s Union Sports Club will be staging the grand one day Mark Henriques M e m o r i a l Vo l l e y b a l l Tournament for teams in Berbice. The tournament will attract teams from throughout Berbice with over 20 expected to take to the court for the all-day competition which is
expected to feature games among the male and female seniors and junior males. Teams are expected from Orealla/ Siparuta area up the Corentyne River, Rollers of New Amsterdam, No.52 Survivals, Jets of C o r r i v e r t o n , Ta i n Humanitarian, Port Mourant Jaguars, PMTC, GTCPM, West Berbice and Black Bush Polder. The senior segment is expected to feature Port Mourant Training School, Port Mourant Jaguars, B l a c k B u s h P o l d e r, Corriverton Jets, SCC Slammers, Orealla/ Siparuta, Rollers Volleyball Club and Police Training School, NO52 Survivors, 3 Doors strikers, and host Kendall Union Sports Club.
In the female category, teams are expected to come from Corriverton Jets, Port Mourant and Orealla. The junior males teams expected to compete are P M T C , J e t s , Ta i n Humanitarian, Kendall’s Union, GTCPM 1 & 2 and Berbice High School among others. A full day of volleyball action is anticipated. Incentives will be presented to the top teams in the various categories and the outstanding individual players. The activity will be c o o r d i n a t e d b y B VA President and National Coach Levi Nedd and President of the KUSC Alert Budhoo. Action serves off at 09:00 hrs. (Samuel Whyte)
Sunday September 17, 2017
Kaieteur News
PAGE 75
Minsodia Culpepper set sights on Senior National Women’s Hockey Team Kaieteur Sport’s youth in focus this week is 19-yearold Minsodia Culpepper. This teen plays for Old Fort Shooting Stars hockey club and is one of the club’s most exciting players. Culpepper has been playing the sport for 4 years. The lass who attended the North Ruimveldt Multilateral Secondary School, explained to Kaieteur Sport that, “Back in
2013 when I was in third form a member of the school’s alumni, Ivor Thompson, was asking for persons who may have been interested in playing hockey and I decided to give it a try and I never looked back.” Culpepper plays high forward and defence in the developing Old Fort female squad. With the upcoming Pan American Cups Hockey tournaments, which will be
hosted in Guyana this October, the Phlebotomy trainee related that she is gunning for a place in the Senior Women’s squad. She explained that there aren’t any opportunities at the youth level since Guyana does not have a junior female team, so she has to make it at the senior level and her belief is strong of success, “My confidence is very high of breaking into the senior
women’s team because I practice hard and my game has been improving every year since I began playing.” Minsodia aspires to be a medical Doctor and she related that she continues to play hockey because, “The sport helps me to improve my physical ability while helping to keep me healthy, which is very good.”
Minsodia Culpepper
West Demerara beat Shomari Wiltshire enjoys West Berbice by 29 runs good stint in the US East Bank make strong reply to Essequibo
Gudakesh Motie, West Demerara defeated West Berbice by 29 runs in the final session of the second day when the third round of the Cricket Guyana Inc., Jaguars three-day Franchise League concluded yesterday at Tuschen. Resuming on their overnight score of 57 without lost with Ronaldo Renee and Akshaya Persaud on 35 and nine respectively, West Demerara lost them both in quick succession without adding to their total; Renee was caught off Stephen Harris, while Persaud was taken off Derrick McCalmon. Harris then removed Tevin Imlach (06) before Travis Persaud (00) was run out as West Demerara were reduced to 64-4. Malcolm Hubbard (06) departed shortly after b e f o r e Ta g e n a r i n e Chanderpaul, who had retired hurt on the first day on seven, and Romario Shepherd added 23 for the sixth-wicket, but as their reunion was beginning to look ominous, Shepherd fell to Gudakesh Motie for 17. Motie continued to pose problems for the batsmen
Romario Shepherd with his consistency and control and apart from Chanderpaul who remained unbeaten on 26 from 170 balls, only Keshram Seyhodan (16) reached double figures as West Demerara were bowled out for 126 in the second session. Motie picked up 525 to finish with match figures of 11-41, while Harris claimed 3-31. Set 131 to win, pacer Shepherd made early inroads when-he trapped Arthley Bailey lbw off the first ball of the innings without scoring before accounting for Leon Andrews (02) in similar fashion. Shepherd worked up some decent pace and uprooted the stumps of Quacy McPherson (00) before Seyhodan sent back Aviskar Sewkarran (01) as We s t B e r b i c e f o u n d themselves in trouble at 9-4. Motie (07) was then lbw to Richie Looknauth before Sherwin McPherson and Raffell Estraido added 26 for the sixth-wicket. Estraido drove Shepherd sweetly through covers for fours before he was caught at
the wicket off the said bowler for 11. McPherson looked positive - he drove Shepherd to the cover boundary and smashed Seyhodan for six before he fell for 27. Andrew Dutchin departed for five, but Javid Karim and Harris gave their team hopes with a stand of 27. Karim timed the ball well as he took boundaries off Seyhodan, Looknauth and Malcolm Hubbard, while Harris punched Shepherd to the cover boundary. However, Karim was bowled by Persaud for 31 after hitting five boundaries before McCalmon (00) was run out leaving Harris, who surprisingly batted down the order, unbeaten on 14; West Berbice were bowled out in the final session for 101 in 35 overs. Shepherd picked up 4-41, while Seyhodan had 2-25. Scores: West Demerara 110 and 126 beat West Berbice 106 and 101 by 29 runs. Meanwhile, at Everest, East Bank in their 1st innings replying to Essequibo reached 303/9 at the close of play. Sachin Singh hit 99 off 227 balls, Christopher Deonarine 15 off 35 balls, Sherfane Rutherford 108 off 185 balls. Essequibo had previously made 280 all out. KevonBoodie 16 in 30 balls, Kemol Savory 136 off 195 balls, Mark Williams 43 off 94 balls were the lead batsmen. Bowling for East Bank: Sherfane Rutherford 2/43, DarshanPersaud 3/47 and TotaramBishun 3/73 led the bowling.
Shomari Wiltshire defeated Rana Thakkar (right) to win the Finger Lakes Gold tournament in the US. Caribbean U15 & National Junior Squash Champion Shomari Wiltshire recently ventured to the USA and played in two tournaments. Tournaments in the USA are ranked as follows: Junior Championships (JCT), then followed by Gold, then Silver and finally Bronze. Points are gained from participating in each of the tournaments with the highest points being received from playing in the JCT, then next the Gold, then the Silver and finally the Bronze. The first weekend he participated in the Berwyn Summer Silver in Pennsylvania. This tournament was used as a warm up for the following weekend and as it was a silver tournament he was entered in the Boys Under17 category and not the Boys Under 15. He won his first match beating Atreyus Bhavsar 11 – 9, 11 – 7, 11 – 1 but then lost to Nolan Gelinas 10 – 12, 3 – 11, 13 – 11, 6 – 11 in the second round. This loss resulted in him
going into the consolation tournament where he then beat Sean Roundtree in his first match 11 – 2, 11 – 4, 11 – 6. In the next round he defeated John Gunton 11 – 1, 11 -4, 11 – 3 and then in the semi finals he defeated Matthew Wang 11 – 6, 11 – 2, 11 – 2. However in the finals of the consolation draw he lost to Neil Bam in straight games 9 – 11, 4 – 11, 8 – 11. The Finger Lakes Gold was held in Clinton, New York at the Hamilton College. This was a gold tournament but because Shomari has no US ranking he was unseeded in the Under-15 division. Only the top thirty two ranked players who have signed up for the tournament are automatically placed in the
draw so Shomari was initially waitlisted but eventually four players withdrew and he was placed in the draw. In the first round he defeated John Zhang 11 -7, 11 – 4, 11 -4, then beat Erik Wang 4 – 11, 11 – 2, 11 – 9, 11 – 5 in the second round to set up a clash with the 3/4 seed Nathan Feinstein in the quarter finals. In the quarter finals he beat Nathan Feinstein in straight games 11 – 8, 11 – 8, 11 -3 and then took care of the No 2 seed Winston Park 11 – 8, 11 – 3, 11 – 5 in the semi finals. In the finals he came up against No 3/4 seed Rana Thakkar who had upset the No 1 seed in his semi final match. Rana won a close first game 11 – 8 but then Shomari bounced back to take the second game 11 – 6. In the third game Rana came out like a boy possessed and completely destroyed Shomari in this game winning it 11 – 2. The fourth game went back and forth with Rana having three match balls but just could not close out the match with Shomari really digging deep to eventually prevail in the fourth game 16 – 14. The fifth game also was a see saw battle which was close throughout but eventually Shomari would prevail on his first match ball to take the game 11 – 9 and the match three games to two to win his first US tournament.
t r o Sp
Bowlers take Windies to 21-run victory over England — T20I
Chris Gayle was in a hard-hitting mood at Chester-le-Street, England v West Indies, only T20I, Chester-le-Street, ©Getty Images
Evin Lewis goes over the off side, England v West Indies, only T20I, Chester-le-Street, © Getty Images
GCB/CGI 3-day Franchise League
Solomon, Barnwell’s fifties put GT in charge L/C’tyne beat U/C’tyne by 10 wkts in 2 days
Christopher Barnwell drives during his 62 at Lusignan yesterday. (Sean Devers photo)
Corona Invitational Football Final
GFC and Police clash tonight for $1 million, runner up $400,000 Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Limited, 24 Saffon St.Charlestown, Georgetown.Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/ 226-8210