Kaieteur News
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Friday September 29, 2017
Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Adam Harris Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL
The consequences of unsafe sex Guyana is a religious society but many believe that we need prayers to help us solve some of the problems that we are currently facing. Praying will motivate us to change the things we need to change in society and to convince our youths to think of the problems they could encounter by practising unprotected sex. Sex has always been a very touchy issue to discuss publicly. Sex has always been a very private affair, but not anymore, not in today’s bold and brash society in which people are engaging in risky sexual behaviour. This should not be surprising to anyone since social media has made it very easy for people to meet and have sex at random. But what is interesting is that for all the information available at our disposal about sexual transmitted diseases (STDs) including the deadly HIV-AIDS virus, yet youths who are the future of the country persist with having unprotected sex. It is unfortunate and perhaps disturbing that our youths continue to indulge in such dangerous and risky behaviour, only to regret later. The truth is that many youths believe that there is medication to cure all STDs. Most parents are at their wits end. They do not know what to do other than to pray for the youths of the country. As with many other problems, there is plenty of blame to go around for the sexual proclivity of youths. They range from the lack of proper parenting, vulgar music, pornography, social media, films, and the lewd and undignified behaviour of some adults. Studies have shown that most parents are completely flustered by sex and many are shy or too embarrassed to discuss safe sex with their children. However, mothers are more likely to discuss sex with their daughters than fathers would with their sons. Sex is inherent in human nature but most adults pretend it is not. We simply cannot ignore that reality because a society that hides the truth from its youths will suffer the consequences later. They must be told in no uncertain terms to practice safe sex. Sex education is being offered by some schools, but it often turns out to be a simple discussion on morals because most teachers, too, tend to think that sex is a taboo subject. The fact that most of them are women does not help the situation. Indeed, there are parents who object to any teacher discussing such an issue with their children. In Georgetown, at a few schools, parents made their positions known in no uncertain terms. Yet the very parents want their children to be protected. Lessons about sex should be taught at all levels in school and should be underlined by a message that unprotected sex is risky and dangerous and could result in serious consequences, including death. But there is the parent who objects to such a measure. Teenagers should be given as much factual information as possible about unsafe sex and be told to use condoms or abstain from sex altogether. While promoting safe sex through abstinence or the use of condoms remains the best message we should impart to youths, the reality is that sex is physiological and therefore it has a strong mental and physical hold on a person. According to the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO), unprotected sex in Guyana has resulted in an increase in gonorrhea, syphilis and other STDs between 2012 and 2015. The majority of cases (72 percent) have occurred in the 15 to 39 age group. But for every reported case, there are many that go unreported which means that society has to do more to break the cycle of unsafe sex among youths. It is a matter of life and death.
Our education system is counter-productive to social cohesion and nation building Dear Editor, Given the present condition of education practice in Guyana, one would have expected that for the benefit of the Guyanese public, and in an effort to garner fresh ideas on alternatives or the way forward, that some of the activities featured during “Education Month” would have been devoted to a series of detailed examinations and discussions of some of the critical issues with which the public education system is confronted. Since the establishment of public education in the early nineteenth century, it can be concluded that past and current educational policies and practices have not served the majority of Guyanese and Guyana well. Fifty-one years after being granted the opportunity of managing our own affairs there is an absence of any national consensus. In many ways we have become a more divided society. Standards continue to fall in almost every area of human endeavour, and as a consequence there is widespread corruption, criminal behaviour, environmental degradation and decadence. In addition to becoming the second poorest country in the western hemisphere, many Guyanese are greeted with disrespect and derision in their travels throughout the Caribbean region. To b e h i s t o r i c a l l y precise, our inherited educational practice was not designed for human
development. It was designed primarily for the control of the minds of the former enslaved and their descendants by ensuring that they became meek and docile. Throughout the past eighteen decades there have been several educational practices (and outcomes) that have contributed to the present state of affairs. For example: a) Guyana educates for export. Guyana has always and continues to export its most valuable value-added products. The great majority of these value-added products the graduates of our top secondary schools, who venture overseas to pursue higher studies, never return to the land of their birth to serve in any capacity. These are the students who during their public school careers have benefitted from having the better teachers and educational facilities, and on whom a significant portion of Guyana’s annual education budgets have been spent. In more recent times not only have entire sixth forms emigrated, but it has been reported that Guyana loses eighty percent of her university graduates; b) the education system is elitist. It does not only reinforce advantages at birth, but also promotes and sustains inequalities. Its emphasis on the National Grade Six Assessment for secondary school placement (sponsored mobility), is the source of much stress and mental
health issues in both adults and children. This might also be a significant contributing factor to the dubious distinction that Guyana has the highest suicide rate in the world. These inequalities are compounded with each passing generation. This makes the goal of social cohesion increasingly more difficult to achieve; c) Education policies and p ra ctices are not allinclusive. Currently, the delivery of education only meets the needs of a minority of students. Not only is a significant portion of the curriculum irrelevant to the needs of a majority of students, but also to the needs of the Guyanese society and Guyana. The GRESALC/UNESCO Plan for Action for the Transformation of Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean has defined relevance as: “the capacity of education systems and of the institutions to respond to the needs of their locality, region and country.…” To illustrate the point: in this modern information age the potential of a country is no longer determined by the amount of natural resources in the ground, but by the quality of the ideas generated by its citizens. Yet, in our current school curricula and practices there is little scope for the nurture of creativity, or independent thinking as most learning is by rote. Further, neither Guyana’s
Constitution, nor Guyana’s twentieth century history forms part of the secondary school curriculum. The contexts of ethnic violence that occurred in our not so recent past need to be widely known and studied so they are not repeated. There can be no nation building without social cohesion. There can be no social cohesion without ethnic reconciliation, and there can be no ethnic reconciliation without the acknowledgement of historical truths. Failure to give adequate attention to the more encompassing and humanizing purposes and outcomes of school curricula has not only made many Guyanese vulnerable to misinformation (fake news), and propaganda, but has also condemned them to more primitive modes of behaviour; d) The academic curriculum which favours verbal ability discriminates against male students whose abilities and interests tend toward the psychomotor – the combination of mental and muscular activity. As a consequence many male students find school uninteresting, are not motivated and eventually drop out, or are pushed out. A number of male dropouts become engaged in crime and other antisocial activities; e) A capacity assessment conducted by the World Bank around 2000, concluded that the Ministry of Education did not have the capacity to manage (Continued on page 5)
That article on Ghana had misleading information Dear Editor, With reference to a publication by Lloyd H. Marshall dated September 24, 2017, with heading: “The Truth About Ghana”. I hereby would like to bring to your attention about misinformation contained in the article with the aforementioned details. The lastbut-one paragraph suggests that the first satellite was launched by Ghana Space Science and Technology; this piece of information is false and misleading. I hereby present accurate information about the satellite (CubeSat) launched in June, 2017 The satellite (CubeSat) was funded and built by All Nations University College Space Science and
Technology Laboratory; and not Ghana Space Science and Technology as claimed by the writer. Hence, I take this opportunity to underscore some hallmarks of All Nations University College to you. Not only are we the first University to launch a (CubeSat) satellite in Ghana; it was launched from the Kennedy Space Center into the International Space Station (ISS) on June 3rd, 2017. We are also the first Private University to establish Biomedical Engineering to train and equip graduates with the application of technological know-how in enhancing healthcare delivery in Ghana and Africa as a whole; we are also the first to mount
Electronics and Communications Engineering and Oil and Gas Engineering. In a decade and half, All Nations University College has contributed immensely to the development of Ghana and Africa by injecting innovation and quality into higher education. The University College has attracted students from 22 African Nations. ANUC is ready to introduce other innovative programmes that will directly boost the economy with critical skill set necessary to promote investments and increase p r o d u c t i v i t y. We w i l l continue to be dedicated to producing quality graduates to take the Continent of
Africa from the low level of productivity to a level where it can pride itself as being a Continent rich in both human and natural resources. On behalf of All N a t i o n s U n i v e r s i t y, I earnestly demand that the misleading information must be corrected and republished and given the s a m e p rominence and attention. Should your outfit need more insight or information about All Nations University College, do visit our website www.anuc.edu.gh. Meanwhile, this request shall be monitored. Dr. Theophilus Oware Senior Assistant Registrar Advancement and T e c h n o l o g y All Nations University College.
Friday September 29, 2017
When and where did vampires go on a rampage in GuySuco? Dear Editor, I make reference to Gobin Harbhajan’s letter in the Kaieteur News edition of Sept. 26, 2017 ‘The fact to be faced is that the sugar industry is gone’ in which my name was mentioned. Editor, my contributions in the press are always triggered by the baloney that GuySuCo and Govt. present about the Corporation. I have used facts, basic knowledge, logic and reasoning and will continue to do so in debunking the nonsense emanating from these high offices. Editor, Mr. Harbhajan proceeds to talk about lack of holistic view and assessment on sugar citing production, productivity, associated costs, subsidies, losses, etc. in the pre-May 2015 era, making a case that ‘all things bad’ happened in the time prior to May 2015. I am not certain if Mr. Harbhajan examined, analysed and interpreted sub-
sidies provided by Govt. to the Corporation in relation to sugar production in the period 2010-2017, capturing governance in two eras. There is a table with data (enclosed). In this analysis, all are actual values, except sugar production for 2017. I do not recognise ‘good’ canes in the fields across the industry for the targeted production of 174,433 tonnes this year to be met. My take after careful examination points to a production of 145,000 tonnes. This year, the Corporation received, so far, totalled $9B plus $2B for lands that are to be sold to the CHPA. Editor, Mr. Harbhajan would spare no time to lament that his Govt. subsidises GuySuCo which is fair. However, can he explain why his Govt. takes significantly more subsidies to produce the same tonne of sugar as compared to the era before May-2015?
Can Mr. Harbhajan identify the era that is less productive, more inefficient, most costly, etc.? My assertion that Mr. Harbhajan is not au fait with the industry has nothing to do with person. It is about substance. Using the subsidy/ tonne sugar, can Mr. Harbhajan identify the era where “vampires” went on a rampage in GuySuCo? The truth lies in numbers and no amount of poetic language can obscure it. Labour cost increased significantly through the hiring of a platoon of executives and support staff for those executives because of their age. Mr. Harbhajan now makes it pellucid in his letter that he does not support closure & diversification of estates. However, his Govt. is closing and diversifying estates, 3 of them. This is proof that he has no influence in Govt.’s power circle and must continue to blow his mouth-organ. Sookram Persaud
Our education system is counter-productive... (From page 4) the education system. This lack of capacity limited the ministry’s ability to execute required research, and find solutions to the myriad of problems that emanated from unresolved issues. Since that time the situation has deteriorated; f) Insufficient educational research by scholars in the field. Through the past four decades or more, not sufficient attention was paid to Guyana’s public education system by scholars in the Faculty of Education (now the School of Education and Humanities), University of Guyana. It is inconceivable that teachers can be adequately prepared to function effec-
tively in a system of which so little is known. The future viability of the University of Guyana itself as an institution of higher learning is intricately bound to the quality of the education process at the lower levels of the public education system; g) throughout the decades insufficient financial resources have been allocated to the education sector. Recent global research by the Pew Research group in the USA suggests that the countries which spend a high proportion of their national wealth on education do not spend much on “public order and safety”, such as policing. Those countries that spend lowest on education end up spending the most on public order. The examples cited above
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represent only a partial sketch of the stark realities that characterize our education system. For sometime now the situation in the education sector can be described as “seeing the trees, but failing to see the forest”. To transform this system into a quality education system demands “all hands (including retirees) on deck” — a broad multi-sector approach that is both collaborative and cooperative. If education in Guyana is used correctly it will build for us a peaceful, caring, sharing, democratic and prosperous Guyanese nation with the capacity for sustainable growth and development. If continued to be used incorrectly, it will continue to destroy us. Clarence O. Perry
REPATRIATION ON ONE FOOT WILL ALWAYS FAIL; WELL ALMOST Dear Editor, I was amazed to read the letter by Anthony Pantlitz of 26/9/17 tit l e d “ G u y a n a needs repatriates” in which he almost deify a few Guyanese who have returned to Guyana to ost e n s i b l y serve the needs of the country as opposed to serving their own desires or needs. The examples given of repatriates having” to return to their adopted nation after staying only a short time in Guyana…. because they cannot stand being away from their families” beg several questions; for example: why did they leave their families behind? When they migrated did they not do so with their families? I cannot recall any of the dozens of cases I know of where migration was without the immediate family; in view of this fact is it not sensible that the decision to repatriate should be a family one? Anything less would be akin to migrating on two feet but repatriating on one….and so confirm the impression that the so-called repatriation was merely an attempt to tryout something and if it fails then, ipso facto, rush back to the world of migrants. The socalled difficulties referenced by Mr Pantlitz do not require ‘rocket science’ to foresee;
they are in the realm of simple common sense. So bro or sis, if you know you will miss your life’s partner(s) or the roads paved with gold etc then do not fool yourself or Guyana that you are making altruistic ‘sacrifices’. If the fantastic healthy breezes of our Atlantic that fan you yearlong (as opposed to the inhibiting cold of ‘up-north’ and if the happy easy-going life-style of the average Guyanese with those welcoming smiles and heartwarming greetings do not titillate you and if our fresh hassar and tilapia and calaloo and saijan with the unique Corentyne shrimp mean nothing to you, then realize that you were wrong i n t h e f i r s t p l a ce to repatriate…..do not blame others for your pre-mature or impractical decision to repatriate with or without your “loved ones”. As a repatriate Guyanese myself, I can say with clarity and honesty that the decision to repatriate is not a whimsical one and, like most decisions, typically involves long and careful discussion with family and friends including weighing several pros and cons with conscious awareness of any sacrifices that have to be made. Furthermore, repatriates must realize that no
society, including Guyana, remains stagnant; ironically, change is a constant; repatriates should not expect that the Guyana they left will be enveloped in a time capsule; they must therefore be prepared to adapt to the current Guyana with all its foibles and fortunes. When I migrated from Guyana in the 1970’s my career in the sugar industry was in top flight as colleagues from those days who are still around will attest; my departure was influenced by a number of reasons which I need not elaborate here. Thankfully, I was blessed with immediate success as an HRM professional in Canada and subsequently with the United Nations; then in 1995 when the management of the sugar industry was in the private hands of Booker-Tate, I was offered to rejoin the management…it was an offer I readily accepted because as we say in local parlance, ‘my navel string chuk hey’ although my career in the UN was also in ascendant mode; I am still here! Nowrang Persaud
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Friday September 29, 2017
It is atrocious that hinterland women are not receiving HIV kits Dear editor, I read with horror the fact that pregnant women in the hinterland of Guyana are not receiving HIV tests. Before anyone accuses me of making that up, please note that that is one of the official findings of a study on the condition of indigenous women and children in 12 hinterland communities that was conducted by UNICEF in collaboration with the government of Guyana, as quoted in an article from the Ministry of Public Information (http://gina.gov.gy/studyon-vulnerable-indigenousgroups-handed-over/). Now, I’m not sure what the specific reason for this deplorable situation is- if it’s a lack of availability of HIV testing kits, some breakdown in communication or transportation of said kits into the interior, lack of trained counselors, or some other issue- but what I do know is that this is a com-
pletely unacceptable state of affairs. Antenatal HIV testing of pregnant women has been recognized for over two decades as one of the best ways of preventing the vertical transmission of HIV. Treatment of HIV positive pregnant women with antiretroviral medication can prevent disease transmission to the infant, and such routine testing by health care providers is the standard of care in most- if not all- developed nations of the world. While HIV prevalence rates in Guyana have thankfully never reached epidemic levels, a recent report- Health @50 done by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) last year- revealed that HIV infections were on the increase, compared to previous years. The situation for people in the hinterland is especially concerning as there are already fewer resources and facilities in that area, com-
pared with the coastal regions of Guyana (a fact corroborated in the report cited above). In fact, research project after research project have clearly and repeatedly described the increased vulnerability of women and girls in the interior regions to sexual abuse and predation, trafficking, violence, and other societal ills. It is beyond alarming then, to hear that pregnant women in the hinterland are not receiving HIV tests on a regular basis. To repeat- this research was conducted in multiple communities, and this finding was provided to the public by a Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist on staff at the UNICEF. I hope to soon be able to receive a copy of the report so I can review in its entirety, but I am compelled to write now to call for an immediate remedying of this appalling state of affairs and to demand that systems be put in place im-
The Issue with GUYSUCO : Production and Productivity Dear Editor, GUYSUCO- the state owned sugar producing enterprise remains to date the subject of production retrogression. The entity has up to 2015 incurred a debt of G$82B with government plunging subsidies to the sum of approximately G$32B within just two years as futile means of financial relief from the treasury. According to the Bank of Guyana’s Annual Report 2016 production in 2016 fell by approximately18.7% whereas a corresponding decline in export earnings was realized at 15% less. GUYSUCO has developed into a national cyst with problems that plague the production system being compounded by social and political interventions. GUYSUCO a once distinct contributor to the revenues of the economy now finds itself behind and competing with the likes of mining, the rice industry, forestry and other agricultural commodities. Putting aside all the political and social mayhem that hamper the system–
GUYSUCO has a major issue with production and productivity that is somewhat chronic to the eyes of management. With reference to a declining TCTS ratio –GUYSUCO was able to achieve 264,983 tonnes of sugar from an annual average of 2,966,591 tonnes of cane in the years 1996 to 2005. In the following years of 2006-2015 a pattern of diminishing output was realized where 2,548,294 tonnes of cane produced just 208,718 tonnes of sugar. Where 11.2 tonnes of cane were initially needed to produce one tonne of sugar now shifted to12.30 tonnes of cane being needed. This waning in TCTS ratio corresponds to a 14% decline in cane output and a 21% decline in sugar output. TCTS is immensely important in breathing back life into the enterprise – the cane cutters know this, the factory workers know this. If you ask the old foremen they would tell you that years ago the TCTS was bordered on an extremely well 7 tonnes cane to 1 tonne sugar. So what caused this change? Changes in TCTS – it is pos-
tulated have emerged as a result of changes in agronomic practices and changes in production parameters. But who has the authority to manipulate crucial parameters such as planting densities and fertilizer regimes? Parameters that have seen the industry through decades of reasonably well performance – cut and made insignificant by individuals that drag the industry to its demise. You do not make production parameters negligible under any circumstance. Sugar has played in the political ball field for a very long time, however it is an agricultural commodity and it will not produce under ignominious politics. The industry is in crisis and there are a lot of issues and relentless proposals for change, however maybe rehabilitation may be a better answer. I don’t see how disguising mismanagement and embracing cessation of an overwhelming industry to the disadvantage of thousands of dependents can be the right answer. Nafeeza Khan
mediately to ensure that there is never any recurrence. I know, from personal experience seeking HIV tests in Guyana over the years, that consistent availability of testing kits has been a problemeven on the coast. However, I had been reassured by a previous Minister of Health- Mr. George Norton- that this situation had been resolved and I hoped that the authorities at the Ministry of Public Health were sufficiently committed to safeguarding the health and wellbeing of pregnant women and infants- universally recognized as especially vulnerable groups- to ensure that such a basic but
critically important service such as antenatal HIV testing would have been carried out in an exemplary manner. This report reveals that that is clearly not the case and that the delivery of basic primary preventive health care seemingly remains beyond the capability of these entities. I realize there are regional bodies with responsibility for these matters, in addition to the national Ministries and HIV/AIDS Secretariat; all of them bear culpability for this massive failure, in my opinion. I noted also that the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs
was the one that the report was handed over to; however accountability for solving these and the other problems highlighted by the report requires collaborative work by multiple agencies and arms of government. Indigenous women and children, and others living in the hinterland of Guyana deserve to have access to quality healthcare, just like all Guyanese. I acknowledge the challenges posed by our terrain but I also know that alcohol, Coca Cola, chips, and sweets are accessible in every community in Guyana. So too should be HIV testing kits! Sherlina Nageer, MPH
People must and understand the constitution before criticizing it Dear Editor, Response is being made to Terrence Campbell (“RISE’s contribution clearly recognised that not all changes required amendment to the Constitution,” SN 25th September) and Tarron Khemraj (‘There has to be a completely new constitution,” SN 26th September). Campbell is being deceptive in making the assertion that I am “obstinate in [my] opposition to constitutional reform.” As an advocate for the respecting and upholding of the rule of law, and notably the Guyana Constitution that enshrines provision for constitutional reform (Article 119A) which my letter (24th September) concluded with, makes the case of his recklessness in treating with this serious matter. Whether the group RISE issued a statement that “some of these changes require constitutional amendments and others can be effected via legislation” what Campbell reportedly told the University of Guyana sponsored symposium is that there is need for constitutional reform to bring about a constituency base system. His statement is wrong and misleading. Were Article 160 (Electoral System) read and understood and attention paid to the evolving political environment it would have been realised the 2016 Local Government Elections field
constituency base candidates and this was made possible not through constitutional reform but the Act that allows for creating the formula for the people to elect their representatives. There continues to be confusion between the Constitution which establishes the framework and the legislation which puts the meat on the framework. This must be sorted out lest the nation continues to be misinformed and misguided, thereby leaving the politicians to run wild and wreak havoc on the nation and continue their abuse of the people. The Constitution has more than 200 articles but Khemraj takes objection to one (Article 160) stating “there has to be a completely new Constitution” because this offending article allows for “individual rights [to be] trumped by group interests.” This argument doesn’t hold because the individual’s rights and freedoms (Title 1) still await legislations to give meaning. If Khemraj is speaking about political representation, nothing prevents the parties from putting in place a system that would ensure a List reflecting the will of the people, the people from having a say who they want on the List or holding to account those who are elected to serve. In fact, the Constitution allows such latitude and accountability. For instance, the PNC was onto to something progressive when it started the primary to elect its presidential candidate. This could have been built on, and it should be noted this act did not re-
quire constitutional reform, same as it was for those who ran in the local government elections as independent and on the constituency base system. What is lacking in our society is vision, commitment, and will to make the Constitution work for all. I’ve never seen something like this before in all my travels to and observations of other societies where people are throwing up their hands and cowering behind an instrument they paint as ineffective when those who are driving the calls have not read this document, don’t understand it, have a personal hatred for the man, Forbes Burnham, under whose leadership it was established, regurgitating or being victims of the propaganda to despise the instrument. Some have taken this ridiculousness further by arguing the referendum was rigged so out with the 1980 Constitution, but they want the constitution given to us at independence by the British when the people were not even given the opportunity to cast a ballot on it. In the personal imposed torment these proponents are holding society hostage, refusing to see should attention be paid to the Constitution in its present form and demands made of the politicians to act in concert with it this society can be further along the development continuum. It is time to stop misleading the society and demands must be of those who call for scrapping the constitution or reforming to represent their position by being truthful and constructive. We the people must be unflinching in holding them to account, for like the self-serving politicians they do this country grave disservice and are retarding our development. Lincoln Lewis
Friday September 29, 2017
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Modern, effective taxation systems by GRA to receive support The Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) is in full support of the efforts of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) in creating more modern and effective taxation systems. This, among other statements, was made yesterday by GMSA President Shyam Nokta. He was at the time, addressing stakeholders at the GMSA Luncheon, which was held at the Georgetown Club on Camp Street. There, Nokta noted that the GMSA Business Luncheon is a regular feature in its calendar. At this event, the GMSA invites leading personalities to share perspectives on topical issues related to the business environment. At yesterday’s proceedings, the GRA Commissioner General, Mr. Godfrey Statia, was the featured guest speaker. He was asked to en-
- GMSA President
GMSA President, Shyam Nokta gage with those present on the work of the tax agency. To set the stage for Statia’s presentation, Nokta briefly focused on three areas. He examined how central the GRA has been to Guyana’s economic development to date, and how important it is
to the future of the country. The GMSA President then discussed the issue of tax policies and how the GMSA stands willing to play its part in supporting modern and effective taxation systems to help the country’s future development. Nokta also spoke of the implementation of such policies, and specifically on areas where GMSA members believe that there is scope for greater co-operation with the GRA. The GMSA President said that over the past decade, GRA has transformed itself into a modern institution serving the people of Guyana. He said that this is a tribute to its leadership, past and present. He noted that it is also as a result of the professional staff at the Agency, and on behalf
Govt. to move ahead with ratification of Hague Conventions - in relation to child protection and legal commerce
Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams S.C, at the opening of the consultation The Attorney General’s Office and Ministry of Legal Affairs will proceed with steps to ratify several Hague Conventions in relation to child protection and legal commerce. The decision was reached at the conclusion of a one-day consultation with government agencies and civil society stakeholders yesterday at the Pegasus Hotel, Georgetown. “Taking on board the consensus in relation to the various conventions, both on the legal cooperation and commerce side, and the children conventions, I would say that we would now move to the implementation stage”, Minister of Legal Affairs Basil Williams S.C said. A DPI release stated that government will move to implement four Hague Conventions that address children: Child Protection, Adoption, Maintenance and Child Abduction. They will also
proceed with the Apostille and Choice of Court Conventions among others. Cabinet has already given approval for the ascension of the Apostille Convention which will see the circulation of public documents “tremendously improved” between Convention states. The implementation stage will see these Conventions being presented to the Cabinet for approval before it is handed over to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who is charged with acceding to conventions and treaties. “They would layover with the Dutch government in The Hague and from there we decide if we are going to reduce it into our law”, Minister Williams explained. For the Conventions to become law in Guyana, it will have to be reduced into statue form, that is a Bill, by the Chief Parliamentary Council with the AG’s chambers.
Once the Bill has been drafted it will be presented for stakeholder consultations before being laid in the National Assembly. Minister Williams expects that the government will be inclusive in each stage leading up to the ascension and ratification of these Conventions. “It’s an ongoing process but we have to continue the impetus…at each stage we have to ensure the stakeholders are taken on board as we move along and that’s the way forward”, Minister Williams said. The consultation on The Hague Conventions is considered a critical follow-up to Guyana’s participation in last year’s regional HCCH conference which was held in the country in July. It also sought to inform the way forward as the government seeks to enhance child protection and legal commerce.
of the GMSA, he acknowledged their work. Nokta said, “The GRA has played a significant role through reform and increased professionalism in Guyana’s journey from a Highly Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) in the 90’s to a Higher Middle Income Country in 2017. And no doubt, the Agency’s role will be even more critical as
we look to future economic prospects…We cannot sustain what is now 11 years of uninterrupted economic growth without this dialogue.” “And central to this is the need for open, frank exchanges when we believe there are issues to address. At the GMSA mid-year dinner, I spoke of our excitement about the potential from oil and gas – but also our concerns with an economy that is slowing
and our urgent need to grasp new potential…We need to see practical measures so that the economic sectors, including the manufacturing and services sectors –can help drive a return to strong GDP growth.” The GMSA Head also reminded that at the Association’s mid-year dinner, he spoke specifically to tax measures in the 2017 budget which are frustrating (Continued on page 27)
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Friday September 29, 2017
Do not allow ExxonMobil to be another Rusal For over a decade, Rusal has been operating in Guyana. Hundreds of millions in minerals have been taken out of Linden by that company. Yet, the people of Linden largely continue to live below the average lifestyle. This was pointed out recently by Executive Member of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) Dr. David Hinds, as he drove home the fact that Guyana becoming an oil producing nation by 2020 is not a guarantee that the country will see transformation for the better. Dr. Hinds drew the nexus between Rusal and ExxonMobil. However, he said that ExxonMobil is expected to rake in a better profit than Rusal and in this case, should be able to contribute more to the economy and create more jobs, even at the bare minimum. Nevertheless, he said that Guyana should be careful that it is not robbed of all the benefits it is supposed to get. The political activist said, “If one were to judge from the workers’ complaints over the
years, it is clear that Rusal has a bad track record as a corporate partner and investor. Its presence has not had a transformative effect on the community economically or socially.” Dr. Hinds pointed out that Rusal employs approximately 500 workers, “so the impact is relatively small when compared to the Guymine era. Rusal seems to be more interested in firing workers rather than expanding its workforce and from all indications, wages are generally low. In fact, the company has been at constant loggerheads with the union over wages.” The political scientist said that after more than a decade of Rusal operations, Linden is still among the most depressed communities in Guyana. He said that Rusal has also not been good at using part of its handsome profits to contribute to social development in the community. Dr. Hinds said that Rusal has also been horrible when it comes to respecting Guyana’s labour laws. “It has
- Dr. Hinds urges Govt. for example, been disrespectful of the arbitration process—it refuses to show up for meetings. It has not treated workers and their union with the respect they deserve.” Dr. Hinds said that Rusal has been taking advantage of Guyana’s weak bargaining power. He noted that the threat of closing operations has been used by the company to get its way. “Guyana needs these investments; we need Rusal to expand operations, add value added products, employ more people and guarantee more revenue to the country. Our bauxite reserves are far from being exhausted. So, we need Rusal. But our people need to benefit more from these investments. We can’t have an industry operating in a vital community and it is not contributing to lifting the living standards of that community,” said Dr. Hinds. The political scientist said that Rusal was allowed to get
away with its behavior under the previous government “and while the present government has been much more aggressive in its rhetoric, not much has changed for the better.” EXXONMOBIL ANOTHER RUSAL? Dr. Hinds said that the Guyana government needs to be strong and ensure that ExxonMobil does not become another Rusal. He said that given the magnitude of its investment and the demand for oil and gas, it is hard to see how ExxonMobil's presence in Guyana’s oil sector would not affect the country positively as far as increases in revenue for the country are concerned. However, Dr. Hinds was keen to note that “Exxon could become another Rusal in the
area of respect for labour laws and for local workers.” The University Lecturer said that foreign companies tend to see Guyanese as desperate people who are not worth much as far as dignity is concerned—“they often bring with them the social and racial biases of their home countries. We have heard stories of racially tinged behavior on the part of Rusal staff. So we have to guard against that.” Further, Dr. Hinds said that Guyana also needs to insist that Exxon contribute some of its “takings” to help with local social sectors such as education and health and of course protection of the environment. “In other words, we should insist on some form of ‘giving back’ to the country above and beyond our share of revenue.” Dr. Hinds said that this is an area that is not usually part of formal contracts, but should form part of a package
WPA Executive Member, Dr. David Hinds of informal agreements. “We can be thankful to Exxon without being timid and allowing ourselves to be bullied. At the end of the day, the oil and bauxite belongs to us. We bring to the table, something that they want and need. So we are not completely without agency and leverage,” said Hinds.
Informative sessions commence to better educate GPHC staff “Without training an organization will eventually die.” Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GPHC, Brigadier (Ret’d), George Lewis made this observation yesterday to staffers at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). He was at the time delivering remarks as the Health Institute partnered with the Ministry of Social Protection to launch their ‘Informative Sessions’ at the Hospital to better educate the staff on issues that poses a problem in Guyana. Also present were Deputy CEO, Elizabeth Gonsalves, representative and resource person of Ministry of Social Protection, Deidre Ifill and Winetta Bayley. The sessions will focus on various topics over the next four to six months. Informative sessions will include topics such as domestic violence to be held October 12 of this year, Trafficking in Persons, which was yesterday conducted and subjects such as suicide, which is currently on the rise in Guyana according to
Chairperson and Employee Assistance Officer of GPHC, Peggy Benjamin. The CEO in his remarks said, “Today the management of the Georgetown Public Hospital continues its training of staff members in order to prepare you (staff) to better perform your various duties.” He said the sessions are being conducted with the intent of providing staff with the necessary tools to foster their development and impact their performance. Lewis went on to define ‘training’ as, “The process of imparting specific skills…and training is an educational process which involves the sharpening of skills, concepts, attitudes and gaining more knowledge to enhance the performance of employees.” He noted that training is an integral part in the advancement of workers and by extension, the development of organizations. The importance of continuous training was stressed as the CEO made reference to the fact that if nurses and doctors were not trained, the objectives of the institution would be impossible to achieve.
It is his belief that workers should be able to identify the issues that worry the patients and be able to treat the matter delicately. As it relates to gender affairs he said, “The scope of this activity is wide. However, we must be able to work with and provide services to the different types of persons who appear at our institution without fear or favour, affection or good will. “Suicide and mental health, this is an area where much work is needed to identify and deal with persons who have challenges and are contemplating to take their life.” GPHC remains hopeful that space can be created at the hospital for persons to become comfortable and not be discriminated due to sex, race or belief as well as a healthy environment for persons challenged in any way to share their issues and receive help. Earlier this year, training concluded in the Customer Care Department to better prepare the workers to communicate better with members of the public.
Friday September 29, 2017
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Kaieteur News
Too lazy to make the effort A great many of our children have met their deaths after being sent to purchase items for their parents or simply being allowed to roam free about their communities. A great many of the children who are killed in road accidents are those who were sent out on some errand by their parents. Often these children are sent out in the early evenings to the shops to make some purchase for the home. On their way either to the shop or when returning home, they find themselves the victims of an accident. Yet the trend continues whereby some parents continue to entrust to small children the responsibility to run errands, oblivious to the dangers that these children face. There is also another side to this practice. Many of the parents are too lazy to go out and get the items themselves, thus behaving like exploiters. They simply call on their children, interrupting whatever play activity the children may be involved in, and order them to get whatever they, the parents want. Sometimes it may be a pack of cigarettes or simply a box of matches. And sometimes the children pay for
those simple purchases with their lives, ending up dead after being struck down while on the way to the shop. Why would any parent wish to take their child away from the fun of playing or whatever else the child may be doing just to go and purchase a packet of cigarettes? These children are turned into servants and are forced to go to make these purchases because the parents are too lazy to make the effort. Sometimes it is not cigarettes that the child goes to purchase. Sometimes it is rum for the parents to imbibe. There should be laws, if there aren’t at the moment, against the sale of alcohol and cigarettes to children. These laws should be vigorously enforced. But, importantly, those parents who make a habit of sending their children to do errands which can be easily done, should be counseled about the dangers to which they are exposing their children and about the denial of free time to their kids. This is not to say that children should not do chores. But these chores need to be within reason. Children should be encouraged to wash dishes, make their beds, sweep the
home and keep the yard tidy. And this should be a collective effort. Many parents, however, simply allocate responsibilities to children without sharing in the burden of the work. This is not good for the development of children. Children learn what they see, and they should see the chores to which they are entrusted as part of their small contribution to the work of the family. They should be helpers rather than being assigned exclusive responsibility in any area. Many parents would however prefer to sit and watch television or go out and drink with their friends while burdening their kids with work. It is something that the Rights of the Child Commission should issue an advisory on.
Another disturbing practice occurs when children are left to roam free after school or during the holidays. All over Guyana this is a common practice, whereby parents simply allow their children to do as they please once they return home before nightfall. If the child only slips up and returns home late, it is greeted with a flogging. The parent fails to understand that they are contributing to the very act for which they are reprimanding the child by not supervising the child’s free or playtime. Allowing your child to roam free is an invitation for your child to get involved in mischief and trouble. Yet you see this all the time where parents have little time for their children after school and dur-
ing the holidays. This neglect may be forced on parents. Some of them may have to work and cannot afford to hire a sitter. As such they either leave the child alone or send them to some relative or friend who may themselves be too busy or unconcerned about what the child does. So instead of the child being supervised, he or she is left to do as he or she pleases, including associating with company that invites trouble and mischief. Then there are those parents such as vendors who often are forced to have their children with them after school. The children are simply left to sit with their parents wasting valuable hours. This, too, is a form of neglect which should be stamped out.
It is hoped that the relevant agencies can come up with a plan, including an educational plan, to make parents more conscious of their responsibilities as parents. It is not just about placing food on the table. There are many of us whose parents never had enough to put on the table, but gave us more in the time and attention that they dedicated to our rounded development. That role needs to be revisited, especially at this time where the interests of our children are increasingly being sacrificed for other things.
Friday September 29, 2017
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Kaieteur News
More questions surface over hiring of former PS There are more questions now over the hiring of a former Permanent Secretary (PS) to head a unit which is the subject of an investigation by the police’s Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU). George Jervis, the former PS of the Ministry of Agriculture, is now Director of the Agricultural Sector Development Sector Unit (ASDU). ASDU is the same unit which is the subject of a probe focusing on monies that were paid out. Six former officials of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) are in court following investigations that stemmed from a forensic audit into the operations of that entity, prior to May 2015. ASDU is the Ministry of Agriculture unit that oversees foreign funded projects, into drainage and other projects to encourage exports and diversification. It had bank accounts at the ministry and at GRDB. In 2012, Jervis was the PS of the Ministry of Agriculture when the GRDB used the ASDU Life Skills bank account to pay over $8M for the fixing of the office of former
Former Agri Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy. Investigators are mystified how this happened as it is forbidden for one agency to fund the expense of another. As the PS, Jervis should have known that it was wrong to do so. The contract to fix Ramsammy’s Regent Road office should have been approved by the National Assembly as part of the Ministry’s budget. The contract for the fixing of the office was awarded to one V.B. New Approach General Construction Inc., which is owned by political figure,
Vishnu Bandhu. In allowing that $8M payment to Bandhu, Jervis allegedly breached the country’s Fiscal Management and Accountability Act (FMAA), which governs how state monies are to be spent. According to sources, the former PS was supposed to be charged with the six other GRDB officials but prosecutors did not agree with the recommendations of SOCU investigators and he was cleared and dropped from the list. A few weeks ago, more than six months after Jervis was sent on leave to facilitate the SOCU investigation, he was hired to head a special department to oversee ASDU, right in the same ministry, with a one-year contract and a salary of US$5,000 monthly, plus housing, phone and other allowances. According to documents seen by Kaieteur News, Jervis, a Permanent Secretary who served in consecutive administrations, was ordered by the Ministry of the Presidency to proceed on “all leave” with immediate effect on February 27, 2017.
Ram questions Govt. Minister’s competence on oil and gas sector Recent statements regarding the oil and gas sector by Public Infrastructure Minister, David Patterson not only prove his lack of knowledge on certain essential issues, but make it clear that he is simply incompetent. This perspective is held by Chartered Accountant and Attorney-at-Law, Christopher Ram. In an interview with Kaieteur News, Ram reminded that it was Patterson who boldly stated that the specific details of the cost recovery for ExxonMobil have not been worked out. Ram said that such a statement from Patterson, who happens to be one of the members of the Quintet Plus One Group, the celebrated assembly to which Granger entrusted the oil and gas sector, reflects a clear case of ineptness. Since Patterson made such a pronouncement, Ram said that it is therefore safe to assume that Patterson is not fully au fait with the provisions of the Petroleum Agreement which he, Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman and others, have caused to be signed with ExxonMobil. The anticorruption advocate said that Patterson must be familiar with Article 11 of the Petroleum Production Sharing Contract. Ram said that there are nine paragraphs to that article. Even more significantly, he said that Annex
- says Minister at sea about provisions of Petroleum Agreement
Chartered Accountant, Christopher Ram
Public Infrastructure Minister, David Patterson
Section Two and Three are dedicated to matters of cost recovery and contain precise information on definitions, documentation required, and units of account, rights of audit, classification and allocation of costs, expenses and expenditures. “Patterson, instead of making banal, empty statements, needs to say precisely what he and the Quintet do not understand about these provisions. He also needs to explain his own knowledge or lack thereof, of the application of Section 51 of the Petroleum Exploration and Production Act as it relates to the taxation of production-sharing agreements.”
The Chartered Accountant opined that Patterson should also take time out from making misleading statements to the media and instead, spend the next several weeks reading and understanding the Petroleum Exploration and Production Act and the regulations, as well as seek to understand the agreement of 2016, to which he as a member of the quintet would have contributed. “Now if Patterson by his statement to Kaieteur News is suggesting that the Quintet Plus One abandoned all the provisions of the 1999 Petroleum Agreement with ExxonMobil, then he is in fact, beyond hope.”
On April 7, the Ministry of the Presidency again wrote Jervis advising him that the probe is still ongoing and that he is being sent on administrative leave. In early May, the Permanent Secretary (ag), Ministry of Agriculture, Joylyn NestorBurrowes, requested approval for filling a vacant position- Director of the Agricultural Sector Development Sector Unit (ASDU). That unit, established in 2007, was in charge of a number of projects from foreign funding, There was no director in the unit after 2011. In asking the Ministry of the Presidency to immediately fill the vacancy, the Agri. Ministry said that ASDU plays a critical role in managing government finance received from overseas donors and other financial institutions. “This can only be coordinated effectively and efficiently through a director or head of unit,” the ministry argued. In late May, the Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder, wrote to President David Granger, recommending that
Former PS, George Jervis Jervis be appointed director of ASDU, a unit he once overlooked. However, in early July, Permanent Secretary of the Department of Public Service, Reginald Brotherson, refused to approve the hiring of a director and instead asked that the Agriculture Ministry use its available personnel. On August 8, President Granger approved the temporary appointment of Jervis, pending the successful search for a qualified person. In early March, Minister of
State, Joseph Harmon announced the reassignment of several Permanent Secretaries, a move he said, is aimed at ensuring efficiency and accountability in the public service sector. With effect from March 1, 2017, Joylyn Nestor Burrowes took up the post of Acting Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, replacing Jervis. The Coalition Government had ordered several forensic audits following its assumption to office in May 2015. This was to determine the state of the agencies leading up to the elections. There were allegations of corruption at several state agencies. Several of those audit reports have since been handed over to the police for investigations, including transactions of the Pradoville Two transactions, an exclusive seaside community near Plaisance, East Coast Demerara, which was sold at questionable costs to several high ranking officials and relatives of the previous administration.
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Kaieteur News
GTT sensitizes on Breast Cancer The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) yesterday launched an event that seeks to promote awareness for persons affected by cancer and to raise funds for the Guyana Cancer Foundation through the inaugural Pinktober Special. The launch was held at the company’s head office on Brickdam. During the Pinktober event which is scheduled for the month of October, customers are invited to purchase the ‘Pinktober Special’ at GT&T for just $2000, which entitles them to entry into the Guyana Cancer Foundation, a free one-week data plan, training at the National Park on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday for the Awareness Walk, while on Sundays, group training will be done. The special does not end there, since customers will also be given the opportunity to choose one of three tickets to attend any of the upcoming shows, which GT&T is sponsoring. It additionally provides over $500 to the Guyana Cancer Foundation. Pinktober month also promises a Breast Cancer Awareness five K and 10K Walk to be held on October 21, 2017. Persons can register for the walk online at gtt.co.gy/cancerwalk. Representatives from several influential businesses across Guyana such as Banks DIH, Impressions, Starr Party Rentals, Hits and Jams Entertainment and PULSE Entertainment attended yesterday’s event. Local artistes such as Saiku, Kester Dean, Deejay Akeem of 94.1 also attended.
A section of the crowd listens to Chairperson and Market Consultant of GT&T, Samantha Gooden According to the company’s Marketing Consultant, Samantha Gooden, “The most important thing for GTTT is to be able to touch the lives of customers and when we first started working the goal was firstly, how do we at GTT do more in the community, how do we get GTT to do more in the culture and with their products. So we wanted to find the platform to do all of those things in a powerful way and so GTT’s Pinktober is the platform that we have decided to do that.” She added that the initiative is also about the Guyana Cancer Foundation, which is very excited to collaborate with the team to not only bring awareness to those affected, but to serve as an encouragement for early detection of the disease. Persons interested in the offer can visit the company’s Robb and Camp Street location on October 2. Gooden was proud to mention that the initiative is
one which the Company wishes to continue. Yesterday’s event was one which voiced the ‘warrior’ stories of those who have battled the disease. The emo-
tional session served as an encouragement to those who attended and are currently treating cancer. One of those sharing their stories was Public Relations
Officer of GPHC, Mitzy Campbell. She told of how she was diagnosed at a very young age and after fighting the great battle was able to overcome. Her story has been
A Cancer warrior, Mitzy Campbell sharing her success story able to touch lives near and afar. In 2015, Campbell was awarded the Golden Arrow of Achievement for years of outstanding service in the private and public sectors.
GRA officer, Public Security staffers charged for forging tint permits Four men, including employees of the Guyana Revenue Authority and Ministry of Public Security, were yesterday granted bail by Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman for allegedly conspiring with others to commit a felony that is to say forgery. It is alleged that between March 1 and September 25, at Georgetown, Dhanesh Dyal, 23, of Lot 235 Mon Repos, East Bank Demerara, a data entry clerk at the Ministry of Public Security; Chaitram Persaud, 24 of Lot 83 Second Street Mon Repos, East Bank Demerara, a mechanic at the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and 23- year-old Richard Mohan, Data Entry Clerk at Ministry of Public Security , of Lot 49 Better Hope, South East Coast Demerara, conspired with persons to forge one motor vehicle tint permit, purported to show that the document was issued by the Ministry of Public Security. The trio pleaded not guilty to the charge after it was read to them by the magistrate. Dyal was represented by attorney Mark Waldron, while Persaud was represented by attorney Savannah Barnwell and Mohan was represented by Mark Conway. The attorneys asked that bail be
granted to their clients citing they have no previous or pending matters. The accused were each granted $100,000 bail by the magistrate. Meanwhile, 25-year-old Azad Mohamed , a businessman of Lot 74 Better Hope, East Coast Demerara , denied the charged which read that on September 25 at Georgetown , with intent to defraud, he uttered to Police Constable Jamal George, one forged motor vehicle tint permit, purported to show that same was issued by Ministry of Public Security, knowing same to be forged. He was represented by Attorney-at-law Glen Hanoman who asked that bail be granted to his client. Hanoman told the court that his client cooperated fully with the investigators, outlining the details about the documents that he supplied to officials at the Ministry of Public Security. The lawyer added that officials at the Ministry of Public Security are also being investigated. The defendant was ordered to post bail in the sum of $100,000. Facts presented by Prosecutor Shawn Gonsalves stated that Mohamed, who is the owner of a car, between March 1 and September 25,
Chaitram Persaud
Azad Mohamed
Dhanesh Dyal
Richard Mohan
met with two of his friends, Richard and Mohan. The court heard that Mohan told Mohamed that he knows someone at GRA who was in the position to get him a tint permit which would cost $70,000. Mohamed then gave Mohan the money along with his car documents. The court heard that Mohan gave the money to Persaud and a few days after Persaud gave Dyal a tint permit which he in return passed on to Mohamed. The prosecutor added that on September 25,
Mohamed while driving was stopped by a police officer because of the tint on his car windows. As a result, he was asked to produce his tint certificate and the said permit was discovered to be forged. He was then arrested and gave a caution statement, and subsequently the other three were arrested. The four men will make their next court appearance on October 5, where they will be arraigned before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan for statements and assignments.
Friday September 29, 2017
Kaieteur News
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Kaieteur News
Friday September 29, 2017
Berbice rape/murder…
Senior cop heads probe into claims that ranks failed to act on sex assault reports
A senior police officer has been dispatched to Berbice to investigate reports that one of the accused in the rape and murder of Leonard Archibald carried out numerous sexual attacks on other young men. A release issued yesterday by the Force stated that Assistant Superintendent Oswald Pitt will also investigate reports that ranks failed to act on the complaints that came to them. “The Administration of the Force notes the concerns of Leonard Archibald’s relatives and other residents of Brothers Village, East Bank Berbice, to the extent that the police in the district may not have acted professionally, based on statements in the press and other expressions, which seem to suggest that reports were made against, at least one of the then suspects and that the reports were not properly and efficiently attend to,” the release stated. “In the circumstances, a Senior Officer is currently in that district conducting an investigation and it is expected that each and every
citizen and relatives will take the opportunity to assist the investigator in his work. “The officer is Assistant Superintendent Oswald Pitt and he can be contacted on cell phone number 661-5870 for the purpose of this investigation.” Following the arrest of Hillary Edwards and Obediah Christopher for Archibald’s murder, residents alleged that one of the accused had attempted to commit similar acts on several young men and teens from various villages along the East Bank of Berbice. The attacks appeared to have occurred at least eleven years ago. During a visit back to the area, some of the victims told Kaieteur News the harrowing tales of how they were abducted, abused and sodomised by the same man. One of his first victims, now 23, stated that he was just 12 when he was attacked while on his way out from the Sisters Village backlands. “He grab meh and carry me till aback at Sisters and he
hang meh pon ah tree and he lash meh cross meh jaw.” The young man, who is now a father of two, relayed that he ran as fast as he could to his parents’ house after he managed to free himself. He was then taken to the hospital for medical treatment. The matter was reported to the Sisters Village Police Station, he said, but the matter “duck down.” He claimed that his parents accepted a financial settlement from the parents of the accused. A 15-year-old also told this publication that he was home alone when the same individual entered the family’s yard and began to pursue him. “He come by me and run me up the step but me bin done reach in the house and lock the door but he binna try fuh haul the window and same time me holla fuh meh neighbor and he come over and the man run downstairs and get away”. He stated that the incident took place in July and was reported to the Sisters Police Station. He was reportedly
Leonard Archibald told by the ranks to come back if he try to do it again”. Another resident who was also allegedly attacked stated that “(the killer) is wicked. He also tried to attack me in my own house five years ago but I didn’t want it. He was touching me all over and I started to shout and chase he out.” The victim suggested that the suspect may have been “getting off” because of contacts he has with an individual in the police force. And an 18-year-old told this publication that he too narrowly escaped death two years ago after he was abducted, tied up and dumped in the suspect’s fishing boat. “I went about two villages from hay when I see he on the road and he stop me and ask me fuh help he put he spray can in he fishing boat. “I go, then he hold on pon ma hand and tell me if I holla he gon kill meh and throw meh in the boat and push way the
Murder accused Hillary Edwards and Obediah Christopher boat.” He added that the bicycle he was riding was left on the public road and the suspect left him to retrieve it, it was then that he grasped the opportunity to escape by jumping out of the boat and swimming to shore. He ran for his safety he said, leaving his bicycle behind. The young man stated that when he eventually reached home, three villages from where he was abducted, he relayed to his mother what had transpired and they both visited the Sisters Police Station. The matter was reported but the suspect went into hiding for nearly a month. With the police showing “little interest” in capturing the sus-
pect, they decided to drop the matter. Just two months ago, the same predator allegedly struck again, this time attacking a 19year-old while he was fishing at Highbury Village. “I was fishing and he attack me and hold me down, he pull down my pants and was about to pull down he own but somebody was passing same time and he run away.” The young man stated that he never reported the matter because he feared that nothing would be done by the police and he would be a victim of stigmatization. At Archibald’s funeral, several villagers expressed anger at the police for their alleged inaction against the suspect. Some, including the slain teen’s father, expressed the view that the 13-year-old would have been alive today, if the lawmen had acted on the complaints by the other victims. Regional Chairman, David Armogan, who attended the funeral, said that those in authority should take some blame for what took place. “Maybe if we had taken the precaution early we could have avoided this. We didn’t do that. Maybe we are all at fault, not only the police but the neighbourhood as well.” The chairman urged them to take back their community and make it safe again. “Take back your community; that is your responsibility, take it back from these rogue elements.” Archibald, 13, had his life cut short after he was brutally raped and dumped in the Berbice River. Hillary Edwards and his alleged accomplice, Obediah Christopher were remanded on Wednesday after appearing in the New Amsterdam Magistrates Court.
Friday September 29, 2017
Kaieteur News
Special Children Unit exhibition launched
A group of girls singing The Ministry of Education launched the Special Schools Exhibition yesterday at the Umana Yana. It was operated under the theme of the Special Educated Needs Unit (SEN),”addressing learning difficulties, exceptionalities, difficulties and disabilities through transformed learning environments, curriculum modification and teaching / learning strategies.” In attendance were Uette Mitchell, Education Officer for the Special Education Needs Unit (SEN), Savvie Hopkinson, the National SEN Officer and the Head of Curriculum Department, and National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD) Sandra Persaud. According to Ms Savvie Hopkinson,” This Exhibition is an appropriate way and occurs at an opportune time to inform of the capabilities and skills of students with Special Education Needs and Disabilities .It is a moment to signal to firms, companies, and their human resource manag-
ers that students with special education needs and disability rightly belong to the employment pool and deserve to be considered without prejudice. It is a moment to illustrate that the end of education is the production of good citizens, capable individuals, and confident persons skilled and prepared to contribute to their own wellbeing, their families and communities.” She also stated that the children appreciate the participation in the event and states that it is a sign of support for persons living with disabilities. Expressing her appreciation to those who attended, Head of the Curriculum Department in the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD), Sandra Persaud stated that their presence “shows that you have an interest in what is going on around you and more so as it relates to learners with disabilities. Over the last eight years with the establishment and the
growth of a unit responsible for Special Education Needs a lot is happening, in that children are given the opportunities to showcase their talents. “There is even more focus on inclusive education which has supported children with disabilities in our country. We are ensuring that children with disabilities access primary and secondary schools that meet their needs. We also provide specialised and skills training to help children so that at the end of their career will be able to earn a decent livelihood.” She also quoted Ronald Edmonds who said that,”Children know how to learn in more ways than we know how to teach them” and therefore, our instructional programmes should reflect the most exciting and diverse ways of educating our citizens.” On display were many creative pieces ranging from art to agriculture. Many of the exhibits came from vocational schools for the disabled.
Some of the craft done by the children
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Kaieteur News
Guyana Police Force gets special bond to store evidence - through Canadian High Commission Justice Education Society
Canadian High Commissioner Lilian Chatterjee, Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan and Assistant Commissioner of Police Paul Williams viewing the facility The Guyana Police Force now has a special storage bond, courtesy of the Canadian High Commission. The facility was handed over yesterday at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). The gift was a collaborative effort through the Justice
Education Society (JES) and the Canadian Embassy, who recognized a need for a storage facility consistent with international standards for police forces. It was funded by the Canadian High Commission. Though funds were a dilemma, the resolution was
made to put two containers together. Also security mechanisms, such as surveillance cameras and grills, were installed to follow the movement of officers in the facility and to make sure there is no disparity in the handling of evidence. Following the construc-
The storage facility
tion of the facility, training was also given to officers so that they know the standard operating procedures. Canadian High Commissioner Lilian Chatterjee, Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan, Acting Commissioner of Police, David Ramnarine, Assistant Police Commissioner Paul Williams were among the attendees. According to Assistant Commissioner Williams, the bond was made to put an end to the problem of storage of evidence that had plagued the Guyana Police Force.. ”We are here to recognize a very important and significant contribution to the Guyana Police Force through the Canadian Government. JES engaged the GPF for at least two years, and their mission was to help build the capacity of the GPF, as it relates to the area of training techniques, case management and crime investigations. “Over 250 ranks would have been exposed to these exercises, as the training was an incremental development, meaning that it was taught from junior to senior level in building capacity to perform. We have noticed that the ability to perform has increased and we are thankful that JES stayed, to monitor the perfor-
mance.” The handling of evidence at the storage bonds for exhibits at the GPF had problems and now this project will make storage easy.” Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan stated that he is glad that JES and the Canadian Embassy arranged how the protocols should be, so that evidence can be traceable as to who touched it, what time it was touched and why it was touched, as it is important that “we get our litigation right.” “We thank the Canadian government for supplying certain pieces of equipment and giving training to officers and for funding the operations and also JES for training. It is an important aspect of this matter that we need to continue training for this police force because we are seeing great pitfalls and shortcoming on matters like storage keeping. “ A lot of information is being spread in the press that nothing is being done in the law and order (area) but there is a lot being done…. But I see people mocking us saying that although we have training.....we are still having problems. Well we are going to have our problems and we will have problems just like any major democracies, be-
cause even though they have better police systems, they still have problems. But it is important that we keep building the education, the training or infrastructure despite being small ...thanks very much to JES. I also congratulate both of them for what they are doing in Guyana.” Canadian High Commissioner, Lilian Chatterjee also stated that the donation “marks the handing over of the storage property to the GPF to strengthen the criminal justice system. It also shows the Creative solution, a shipping container that was turned into a storage bond for storing case evidence. This is also evidence of the will of the GPF to do what it takes to strengthen the criminal justice system and it shows the strengthened relationship between our two countries. “I thank JES for the support and I am confident that this new property room will strengthen evidence based investigations, which would contribute to a higher level of ethics and trust in the criminal justice system.“ This was a further demonstration of GPF commitment to improve their policing standards to re-establish the credibility of the Police Force.
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Find what works... From page 25 and how the journey helped to shape who you are and your talent today. RP: I've been designing for over 15 years. And it's been quite an adventurous journey. First collection I've launched was an annual charity show called "Style Mission" hosted by Sonia Noel back in 2007. After that I participated in the Guyana Fashion Week, Carifesta and a number of fashion shows locally. I work with the Miss Guyana Universe franchise and the Miss Guyana World. I'm Also a Board member of the Miss India Guyana franchise too. I also work with the University of the West Indies. My clientele extends regionally as well. I'm very passionate about charity, so I did a few charity shows with the Red Cross and Help and Shelter. KE: What would you say are some of your successes in this field? RP: I've won best gown on several occasions. I have received a number of awards from different organizations. I have been featured on television, newspapers and magazines over 30 times and last year I was named top 40 under 40 professional in the Gem Magazine. KE: What are your plans to improve your talent? RP: I intend to apply at the Caribbean Academy of Fashion and Designing University. KE: What are five weird facts about you? RP: Wow. Everything about me is weird. 1) Singing really loud when I'm driving alone in my car. 2) I hate chocolate 3) I can't sleep in the dark 4) I can do the M.C hammer Dance (can't touch this) 5) I'm really horrible at karaoke. KE: Who is your favourite designer? RP: I have a few, locally; Derek Moore and Randy Madray (two of my favourite guys) Internationally; Alexander McQueen. KE: What is one of your fashion fantasies? RP: Long flowing Bohemian Style. KE: Describe Guyana's sense of Fashion? RP: I think because of our warm climate most people look for comfort and during the day go very causal. However, in the evening it's completely different. We've become more bold and trendy in recent years. KE: How do you select your models? RP: I try to mix stuff up when choosing models. I find normal, every day women and give them a makeover and use them and sometimes I use professional models. KE: What is one of your fashion tips for curvy women? RP: Embrace it. Find what works for you and flaunt it! KE: What matters to you most as a fashion designer? RP: My clients. Seeing them happy and boosting their selfesteem. KE: Give me three words that define your personal style. RP: Daring, bright and different. KE: What's one piece of clothing every Guyanese woman should have in her closet? RP: A black dress. KE: When it comes to truffles and ruffles how do you know when it's appropriate for your body type? RP: If you're into ruffles and truffles. Try to do it on the smaller part of your body. That is, if I have big hips, don't add to that. Do it on your upper body. KE: What's the most sensual fabric in your estimation and do you wear it a lot? RP: Satin. It's very smooth and soft. I wear it mostly to sleep in. KE: What do you do for down time? RP: That's if I have any. I work ridiculous hours and I'm somewhat of a social butterfly. On the rare occasions that I do have down time, I enjoy reading a book whilst sipping on a glass of wine. KE: What is the next project you are looking to work on? RP: I will be launching my first swim suit collection pretty soon.
Friday September 29, 2017
Fire believed started by child, destroys Better Hope property
Members of the Marshall household rummage through the rubble following the fire which destroyed their homes yesterday. A child playing with matches is believed to have caused a fire which destroyed a Better Hope, East Coast Demerara property at around midday, yesterday. Jocelyn Marshall told Kaieteur News that the fire, which started in the bedroom of her home, reduced two small buildings, which once provided shelter to her family of eight, to rubble in a matter of minutes. “It happened really quickly. We couldn’t save anything.” The woman was at home with her four-year old grandson at the time. Marshall, who operated a
shop in her front yard explained that she had just finished eating and put her grandson to sleep. “My grandson came home around mid day and I just finish eating and feed him. I decide to put him in the bed. Not long after I in the shop and I start smell like something burning, so I decide to go and check inside the house. Same time, I see the lil boy run outside.” By this time, Marshall said the fire had already begun to spread. “I couldn’t do anything because the fire started in the bedroom on the mattress and spread quickly. I just run out-
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side and holler out for people.” The woman said that she knew that the houses would have been consumed because they were constructed from wood. “It start at the front building and start move to the back house, but by then people start coming out and they call the fire service.” The woman noted that the fire tenders turned up on the scene shortly after to put out the flames. “Four fire tenders turned up and help put out the fire or it might have spread to them neighbours.” While she could not de-
termine the cause of the fire, Marshall told this publication that her grandson is in the habit of playing with matches. “I can’t say that for sure but they (the grandchildren) like play with matches. I warn them over and over about it.” If that was the cause, the woman said too that she is not sure how the four year -old got his hands on the matches. “We does have to hide the match from them.” Marshall lamented that the fire destroyed all her valuables including money and jewellery. She said her children and grandchildren will have stay at relatives for the time.
Modern, effective taxation systems by... (From page 7) members’ goals to add value to the productive sectors of the economy. In this regard, Nokta noted that measures such as the re-categorization of zero and standard rated items to exempt; VAT on electricity; VAT on forestry products among others have affected the competitiveness of GMSA members and therefore the economy. He noted, too, that these were raised recently with Finance Minister Winston Jordan last week and GMSA officials proposed several measures for consideration. “When Budget 2018 is announced, hopefully we can see evidence of what can happen through collaboration between the private sector and Government. We hope that we will see progress on priorities such as the review and hopefully removal of VAT on electricity, water, and education… incentives for investing in renewable energy options; locally manufactured products being given a larger share in public procurement; and adherence to the Small Business Laws which state that at least 20% of public spending should be towards local procurement from small businesses.” Nokta noted that while the aforementioned topics are all primarily policy issues for the Government and not the GRA, he still called upon the Commissioner General, and the rest of the professionals in the GRA, to gain a greater understanding of these issues. He said that they are central to GMSA’s shared objective of stimulating the broadbased economic growth
which generates the revenues that the GRA can gather for investment in national development. The GMSA Head also sought to discuss how the Association and GRA can work together to address issues which are inhibiting the ability of its members to perform effectively. “When Commissioner General met with our members last year, several issues were raised such as difficulties with outstanding exemptions for manufacturing imports; VAT refunds; Trusted Traders Compliance; inspection of containers with perishables; processing of export documentation; damage of goods for export and the use of the GRA Scanner; among others.” “To an outsider, these may not seem like major issues – but they serve as barriers to doing business. We wish to see these challenges addressed, and we believe that they can be, through meaningful, practical, problem-solving partnership between the GRA and private sector organizations such as the GMSA.” In concluding, Nokta noted that GMSA will continue to support the GRA in carrying out its duties. He added, “We remain open to engaging with the Commissioner General and his staff on issues and opportunities that will help our members and the wider private sector.”
A mini health check is the first step to donating blood
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Friday September 29, 2017
Friday September 29, 2017
Kaieteur News
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SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.-CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620
FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754.
Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Guyana passport 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. Passport, permanent & visitor visa application, Professional Immigration Consultant – Sabita Immigration Services. Call: 225-6496/ 662-6045 Eagle’s: Re-gas –low prices, washing machine repairs, gas stove, plasma flat Screen, computer repairs & more. Call: 697-2969/646-0966
Foxtail, Supari, Royal Palm @ $1,000. Ficus & Exora 4 for $1,000. Organic potting soil. Crotoons- Tel: 626-1044
CAR RENTAL DOLLY’SCARRENTAL-CALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM 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,SPECIALOFFERS! . CALL: 690-6494
Aluminum windows & doors at the best prices. Chenfeng Aluminum @ Lot 11 Public road Eccles, EBDCall: 696-8688, 682-8378 1 Queen size spring filled mattress & bed, 1 double door upright sankey cooler, 1 upright parker cooler, tables & chairs (snackette)Call: 690-4300
We’re buying land/property in Eccles Area 50’x100'.Call:592-2701885 or 592-668-1102.
Cook/ Baker for interior. Applicants must be experienced. Call: 6182020
Attractive live in waitress- Call: 3270252/674-4665
Vacancies exists for one dedicated Grade six teacher, 4th & 5th form Business teacher. Call: 264-3176, 6687705 Immediate vacancy exists for one male security to work nights only at Meadowbank- Call: 2311408 between 8am-1pm Field supervisor to work in Georgetown must have valid motorcycle license- Tel: 2271717 Receptionist, age 2348yrs. Must be able to work shift. 233 South road- Tel: 225-0198
FOR RENT 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 Bakery for rent at 26 New street Sparendaam, ECDCall: 623-9615, 694-3318 Place for rent, can be used as an office/ restaurant at Lot 1C Hydronie Parika, E.B.E- Call: 665-6138, 6305962 Apartment building for short term rental- Call: 6465754, 660-5003, 226-7231 2 Bedrooms bottom flat at Happy acres E.C.D- Tel: 220-3690 Space preferably for office or apartment for single occupancy @ McDoom public roadTel:664-8150
LAND FOR SALE 10 & 30 ACRES OF LAND AT YARROWKABRA, LINDEN SOESDYKE HIGHWAY. CREEKAVAILABLE-TEL:6635524, 264-2967 Farm (100ftx 50ft) with reserve $3M, Uivtlugt $3M, Parfaite Harmonie $1.4M, Eccles $4.5M, Zeelugt $1.2M- Tel:656-0701, 6511969 One double plot of farm land for sale at Parika Naamryck Backdam, E.B.E (27.8 acres)- Call: 6125441, 658-5128 Parfaite Harmonie $1.4M, $3.5M, $2M, $1.6M, main road business spot $3.5M, Herstelling $2.5M, $3.5M, Tuschen $2.5MCall: 604-6724, 686-9608 Parfaite Harmonie $1.4M, $3.5M (50x 100), 10 years up $3.5M, Herstelling $2.2M, $3.5M, Tuschen $2.3M- Call: 666-2326
1 Flat two bedrooms concrete house fully grilled & over-head tank at samatta Point Grove, EBDCall: 621-0090 One single room top flat in Parfaite Harmony, W.B.D $22,000- Tel: 694-7817 Parking lot to rent, size 150ft x80ft. Ideal for auto sale, taxi service etcTel:601-3395
WANTED
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.
One delivery guy with motorcycle- Call: 225-7933 or visit 172 Sheriff street.
TO LET
LEARN TO DRIVE C. Persaud & N. Outar Driving School formerly Soman & Sons Driving School @ Maraj BuildingCall: 644-5166; 622-2872; 6150964; 689-5997 (affordable packages).
Friday September 29, 2017
Kaieteur News
1 Driver for Eccles office- Call: 614-4358
Labourer to work men and women in cabbage farm. Experience needed- Call: 6956139, 674-5052 1 Male to look after layer birds in the Interior- Call: 665-3421 1 Experience driver to work in Interior. Must have license for Car/van/canter- Tel: 665-3421 Only experience garbage truck drivers for Mack trucks &Labourers, only serious persons need to apply- Call: 670-7920
Lindener charged for forging Police Commissioner’s signature to get firearm An air condition technician was yesterday ordered to post $150,000 by Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman for allegedly forging Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud’s signature on an application for a firearm license. Twenty-five-year-old Jeremion Noerhamed, of Lot 53 Blue Berry Hill, Wismar Linden, denied the charge which alleged that on September 25, at Georgetown with intent to defraud, he uttered to Kezia Carrington, a law enforcement officer at Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), one forged application for a firearm licence, purported to show that same was issued by the office of the Commissioner of Police, knowing same to be forged. The accused was represented by Attorney-at-law
We are buying land in Farm, Covent Garden, Herstelling, Providence, Eccles, Zeelugt, ParfaiteHarmonie- Tel:6560701, 651-1969 Male office clerk over 25 years, preferable East Bank area- Call: 629-9450 Experienced salesgirl at C h r i s t i n e ’s Va r i e t y, Lombard street- Call: 227-8529 Females 20-45 years to work in Office @ Meadowbank. Must have Maths & English with 3yrs experience- Tel: 2311408, 642-9191 One experienced driver to work @ Meadowbank 25 years and older, must have lorry license- 2311408, 642-9191 Carpenters wanted- Call: 602-9469 Industrial Electrician to work in Georgetown, applicant kindly make contact #623-2274 Male accounts clerk, age 25-55- Call: 629-9450 Salesgirls & porters, apply with written application @ 1E Dennis & Middleton streets, Campbellville. One private tutor for grade 5 student- Please Call: 600-7388
VEHICLE FOR SALE Allion, Primo, Fielder Wagon, Spacio, Bluebird, 212 Carina, NZE, Honda CRV, Toyota IST, RZ & Pitbull – Call: 650-7501 Toyota Allion: AC,TV, alarm, magrims, reverse camera. In excellent condition $1.7MCall: 639-2490 Mercedes Benz 2009 C200. Immaculate Condition- Call 616-5933 One black 4 door Raptor for sale 2013 year- Call: 6707920 1 Mack Truck- Call: 2271245, 225-0680, 225-06811 PROPERTY FOR SALE Transported property @ Grove/Diamond , 3 bedrooms, 1 selfcontained, concrete fenceCall: 660-1353, 216-4338 3- Bedrooms flat house @ Blankenburg $10.9M , $2.9M Down payment, $64,000 monthly installment Also house lots available $2.9MContact# 650-0402/ 603-1402 Spacious 4 bedrooms concrete home with modern amenities @ New Amsterdam Berbice opposite N/A police station. $79M negotiableCall: 718-683-0884, 682-2046 HEALTH
SALON - Make-up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, etc. -CosmetologyCourses: $120,000 - Technician Course: $45,000. Call: 647-1773/660-5257
TAXI SERVICE G R TA X I S E RV I C E . CALL: 219-5000; 2271982 & 225-7878 (24HRS)
PROSTATECANCER, HEART DISEASE, GALL & KIDNEY STONES, MENSTRUAL DISORDERS ETC. ARE CURED BY HERBAL REMEDIES. Tel: 676-5924, 611-5586
Charged: Jeremion Noerhamed Tiffany Jeffery, who asked that her client be released on reasonable bail. Police Prosecutor Shawn Gonsalves had no objection to bail being granted to the defendant. Facts presented by the prosecutor stated that the defendant during the month of March, purchased an air gun online and it was shipped into Guyana. The court heard that when the defendant went to uplift the article sometime in the month of June, he was told that in order to uplift the air gun he needed a permit. The defendant then wrote a letter to the Commissioner of Police, Seelall Persaud, seeking permission for a permit. The court heard that after the letter was sent to the Commissioner, a letter was sent back to the defendant denying the permit. A few days later, the defendant returned to the GRA office with what was purported to be a letter of approval from the Commissioner of Police to uplift the air gun. A GRA officer inquired from the Commissioner of Police about the signature on the permit which was suspected to be forged and Commissioner Persaud denied signing the permit. The Police was then called in and the defendant was arrested and later charged. He was instructed to make his next court appearance on October 5, before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.
Kaieteur News
Friday September 29, 2017
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Turkey raises oil threat after China support for North Korea Iraqi Kurds back independence clampdown growing - U.S. official
Tayyip Erdogan ERBIL, Iraq/ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey threatened potentially crippling restrictions on oil trading with Iraqi Kurds yesterday after they backed independence from Baghdad in a referendum that has alarmed Ankara as it faces a separatist insurgency from its own Kurdish minority. Iraq’s Kurds endorsed secession by nine to one in a vote on Monday that has angered Turkey, the central government in Baghdad, and other regional and world powers, who fear the referendum could lead to renewed conflict in the region. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi’s office said he had been told by Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim in a call that Turkey would break with past practise and deal only with the Baghdad government over oil exports from Iraq.
Haider al-Abadi Most oil that flows through a pipeline from Iraq to Turkey comes from Kurdish sources and a cut-off would severely damage the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG), which relies on sales of crude for almost all its hard currency revenues. So far the pipeline is operating normally despite Turkish threats to impose economic sanctions on the Kurdish autonomous region in Iraq. Turkish officials, however, ramped up pressure on the Kurds on Thursday. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said after talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin the Kurdish government “made a big mistake by holding the referendum” and must be prevented from “bigger mistakes.” He said Turkey and Russia agreed the territorial integrity of Iraq and Syria must be preserved. Yildirim said separately
that Turkey would respond harshly to any security threat on its border after the referendum, although that was not its first choice. Yildirim also said he agreed with Abadi to coordinate economic and trade relations with the central government in Baghdad. He said Turkey, Iran and Iraq may meet to discuss the referendum. Turkish government spokesman Bekir Bozdag said Turkish armed forces would stop training Iraqi Kurdish peshmerga forces, which protected oil fields from capture by the Islamic State. With the region’s largest Kurdish population, Turkey has been battling a threedecade insurgency in its largely Kurdish southeast and fears the referendum will inflame separatist tensions at home.
U.S. appoints general to oversee military response to Puerto Rico disaster SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (Reuters) - The Pentagon appointed a senior general to oversee military relief operations in hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico, even as President Donald Trump’s administration faced calls from lawmakers for a far more robust response to the disaster. The U.S. territory of 3.4 million people is reeling from Hurricane Maria, which struck on Sept. 20 as the most powerful storm to hit the island in nearly 90 years, causing widespread flooding, completely cutting power and damaging homes, roads and other infrastructure. The U.S. military, which has poured some 4,400 troops into the relief effort, named Lieutenant General Jeffrey Buchanan to oversee
Jeffrey Buchanan its response on the island. Buchanan, who heads the U.S. Army North, was expected to arrive in Puerto Rico later Thursday. He will be the Pentagon’s main liaison with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and focus on aid distribution, the Pentagon
said in a statement. Senator Marco Rubio, like Trump a Republican, earlier called on the government to appoint a single authority to oversee all relief efforts, and said the Defense Department should mostly be in charge. “I‘m arguing that at least when it comes to logistics the federal government is going to have to lead and they’re going to have to put someone there with the authority to make these decisions and execute on them fairly quickly,” Rubio told CNN. Democratic U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal said the devastation was shifting from a natural disaster to a man-made one, saying the government’s response had been “shamefully slow and undersized and should be vastly upgraded and increased.”
WA S H I N G T O N (Reuters) - China is making progress in enforcing sanctions imposed on North Korea, a U.S. State Department official said y e s t e r d a y, a n d u r g e d sceptical members of Congress not to rush to enact new ones before giving Beijing’s efforts a chance to take effect. “We are working closely with China to execute this strategy and are clear-eyed in viewing the progress growing, if uneven - that China has made on this front,” State Department Assistant Secretary Susan Thornton told a Senate hearing just before leaving for China with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. “We do see Chinese policy shifting,” she said, as members of the Senate Banking Committee advocated for tougher action to clamp down on Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile development. Tensions have been rising on the Korean Peninsula as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and U.S. President Donald Trump exchange war-like threats and insults. Yesterday, South Korea said it expects more
Kim Jong Un provocative acts by North Korea next month to coincide with the founding of its communist party. Several committee members want harsher measures, including secondary sanctions targeting Chinese banks and companies doing business with North Korea, and measures to bar oil imports. Thornton and the other witness, Treasury Department Under Secretary Sigal Mandelker, said Congress should not do anything that could interfere with efforts to find a diplomatic solution. “When our hands are tied in different ways, it keeps us from being agile in the way
that you would want us to be agile,” Mandelker said. Trump ordered new sanctions against North Korea last week, including on its shipping and trade networks, showing he was giving more time for economic pressures to address the crisis after repeated warnings about possible military action. “We are able and have the authority to target any company that’s continuing to trade with North Korea in any i n d u s t r y, ” M a n d e l k e r said, when asked about the prospect of cutting off Chinese oil exports to North Korea. Several committee members noted that North Korea’s economy has grown in recent months, and said China must do more. “The consensus in Washington is that China is a partner in this issue. I do not think that that is the case,” Republican Senator Tom Cotton said. C h i n a ’s C o m m e r c e Ministry yesterday said North Korean firms in China and joint ventures in China and overseas would be shut within 120 days of the latest U.N. sanctions passed on Sept. 12.
Brexit talks warmer after May’s speech, but no closure BRUSSELS (Reuters) The European Union and Britain made progress in the latest round of divorce talks, but not enough to move to the next phase of discussions on a transition period after Brexit or a future trade deal, top negotiators said yesterday. “ We h a v e h a d a constructive week, yes, but we are not yet there in terms of achieving sufficient progress. Further work is needed in the coming weeks and months,” chief EU negotiator Michel Barnier told reporters, praising a “new dynamic” created by concessions made last week by Prime Minister Theresa May. She had hoped that a speech she made in Florence on Friday would unblock the three-month-old talks and pave the way for the EU to open discussions on a postBrexit free trade deal, by allowing Barnier to tell EU leaders that there is “sufficient progress” on three key “divorce” issues -
Michel Barnier rights for expatriate citizens, the Northern Irish border and Britain’s exit bill. Differences over the role of the European Court of Justice and how much London will owe Brussels remain major obstacles. Officials involved said there had been a better atmosphere this week. One EU official said May had averted the “train crash” which might have resulted from another week of stubborn deadlock. That
Theresa May would have increased risks of Britain simply crashing out of the Union into legal limbo in March 2019. British Brexit Secretary David Davis said the talks achieved “considerable progress” over the four days in Brussels. He repeated his eagerness to move on to discuss what happens after Brexit and the two-year transition period which May requested, during which Britain would remain in the EU single market.
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PM disturbed at Forex spending...
Public must hold strain, vary your taste Dr Keith Rowley
Trinidad Guardian Hold strain - and cut that Forex use. With that advice, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley Wednesday put T&T on notice that Government’s first priority for foreign exchange will be given to firms or industries that generate reasonable amounts of foreign exchange earning. “If the demand for foreign exchange isn’t curtailed we’ll eventually be forced to live with the rate determined by the market. This is where holding strain and varying our tastes come in,” Rowley said at Wednesday’s Government symposium on T&T’s economic situation, titled “The Road Ahead.” Attendees included
private and public sector leaders, academics and students. Although it precedes Monday’s 2018 Budget presentation, Government said the session wasn’t about Budget preparations but about brainstorming on T & T ’s w a y f o r w a r d . However, he said if anything emerged from the session that could go into the Budget the door was open. But Rowley warned Government’s revenue collection will be tighter in 2018 and “there’ll be some things which the country may want to happen in 2018 which will have to be postponed.” Rowley said T&T’s biggest challenge was dealing with the deficit and
restoring growth following its “very bad economic and financial” situation. He warned, “The revenue situation facing us in 2018 remains a very challenging one. Government will be taking steps necessary to ensure it will be tightening revenue collection mechanisms. “The country, out of necessity, should remain open to any and all suggestions to boost revenue levels. We’re hopeful that today, even at this late stage, useful suggestions can still be put forward, if not for Budget, but for months and years ahead.” He said new expenditure monitoring systems and a new procurement system ahead are expected to reduce expenditure levels. “But faced with a possible deficit in 2018 about $18 billion dollars further expenditure cuts will be unavoidable. There will be some things which the country may want to happen in 2018 which will have to be postponed,” Rowley said. “This is where the population’s patience will be important. As we position ourselves to do more with less in the future, we’ll have to hold some strain for now.”
Friday September 29, 2017
Jamaica and Indonesia explore opportunities for joint collaboration KINGSTON Jamaica CMC – The governments of Jamaica and Indonesia are seeking to strengthen trade and economic ties that will in turn foster economic ties. According to Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Ambassador Marcia Gilbert-Roberts, stemming from a meeting earlier this week, both countries are hoping to embark on other initiatives in the areas of security and immigration, tourism and craft development, sports and culture and scientific research and nutraceuticals. A group from Indonesia, led by the Director General for European and American Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Muhammad Anshor, met w i t h J a m a i c a n government officials on Monday. The two-day meeting is the third between the parties under the Jamaica/Indonesia Joint Commission for Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation, established in October 1996. In 2003, Jamaica hosted the inaugural meeting of the Joint Commission in Kingston, with the second meeting held in Jakarta in 2007. As it relates to security
Marcia Gilbert-Roberts and Muhammad Anshor cooperation, GilbertRoberts informed that the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and the Indonesian National Police will explore cooperation in areas such as counterterrorism, combatting drug and human trafficking, and capacity building. She also said that an agreement will be signed for collaboration in sport. “We are moving to concretise cooperation in this area through the signing of a memorandum of understanding that will facilitate the provision of expertise to Indonesia by Jamaica in track and field and the provision by Indonesia of a badminton coach for Jamaica,” she
noted. In the meantime, the Indonesian Ministry of Industry proposes to offer technical assistance to Jamaica, particularly in tiedye, batik and the production of raw material for making batik. “We are excited about the possibilities for collaboration in the area of food processing and processing of tropical plants among the Scientific Research Council (SRC) and the Southeast Asian Food and Agricultural Science and Te c h n o l o g y C e n t e r , ” Gilbert-Roberts said. In his remarks, Anshor said the meeting seeks to enhance relations between the countries.
CDB President participates in high-level mission to Dominica BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - CMC – President of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), Dr. Warren Smith has reaffirmed the regional institution’s support for the government and people of Dominica, following a high level mission to the hurricane ravaged island. “CDB stands in solidarity with the Government and people of Dominica as the country seeks to rebuild and recover from this devastating disaster. We are acutely aware of the significant damage that Hurricane Maria has caused, and have mobilised resources for emergency relief and immediate response. CDB reaffirms our continued support for Dominica to help the country rebuild more resiliently in the months and years to come,” said Smith on his return to CDB’s Headquarters. The CDB President was part of a delegation that met with the Prime Minister of
Dominica, Roosevelt Skerrit in the capital of Roseau to discuss rehabilitation and recovery efforts for the country following Hurricane Maria. Meanwhile, the bank has started making preparations to assist with the restoration of essential services including water and sanitation, and lend technical experts to support the recovery efforts. The Bank’s focus will include the restoration of the water supply in Roseau, where damage to the treatment plant at Antrim and associated pipelines has cut off water in the capital. CDB, which was in the process of upgrading the plant and equipment through its Third Water Project, is discussing with the D o m i n i c a Wa t e r a n d Sewerage Company Limited, ways to overcome the current logistical challenges to conduct the works, which will be critical in getting the water system running again in Roseau.
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Disciplined Australia halt Indian juggernaut (From page 33) only just out had Smith hit the stumps at the striker’s end direct. Smith missed, but both the batsmen were at the same end, and Australia had enough time to run Rohit out. Kohli was in no position to sacrifice his wicket for the set batsman because he had run past the wicket. To make it worse, Nathan Coulter-Nile returned to provide Kohli a replay of his Kolkata dismissal. Coulter-Nile went wide on the crease, bowled short of a length, asked Kohli to dab it to third man, but took the inside edge with the angle. India had slipped
from 106 for 0 to 147 for 3, losing both half-centurions Ajinkya Rahane and Rohit. For the first time in a long time, India’s middle order was going to be tested with the asking rate a worry. India responded by promoting Hardik Pandya again. Pandya responded with three sixes in a 40-ball innings, moving to No. 1 on the six-hitters’ list this year, in under half the balls faced by the No. 2 on that list, Eoin Morgan. Adam Zampa had his own back after the Chennai mauling and two sixes on the night when he got Pandya out in the 38th over. Zampa bowled well to Pandya,
not giving him the length he could hit straight. Pandya responded well with a pulled six and another over extra cover, but finally the short ball from Zampa got Pandya at longoff. It was, however, Pandya’s partner in that 78-run stand that seemed to be India’s man for the night. And afternoon. His low-arm action resembles a man bowling to under-10 kids in street cricket, but in international limited-overs cricket, India go to Kedar Jadhav only when all else has failed against big-hitting batsmen. As seen in the Champions Trophy, hardly ever does
Friday September 29 , 2017 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Sudden changes of heart may cause disruptions in your domestic scene. Your need to obtain additional details will lead you into strange topics of conversation. Put aside any decisions concerning your position at work.
action and take over.
TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Art investment will pay big dividends in the long term. Keep your feet on the ground, if you can. Travel will be in your best interest regardless of whether it is business or pleasure.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Trips should be your choice. If you're already in a relationship, use this added energy passionately. You should be able to get involved in an interesting proposition today.
GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Your ability to get the job done will result in added responsibility and possible promotion. You may find that someone you live with is not too happy, but you can't really do anything about that right now. You need to refrain from being the generous one in the group. CANCER (June 21–July 22) You will back yourself into a corner if you are baited and your stubbornness will only make matters worse. Talk to peers who you trust in order to get sound advice. Discuss your objectives with peers or lovers. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) You can make money if you are careful not to let it trickle through your fingers. Think twice before you say something you might regret later. You will be a bit of a spendthrift today. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) The locks, stove, gas, or electric wires may not be secure. You will meet potential new mates through friends or relatives. You're ready to take
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Learn some new skills that will increase your income. You can make progress professionally. You will have to be careful not to fall into traps set by jealous colleagues.
SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) You can work in conjunction with those in the know in order to get to the bottom of any pending issue. Be careful not to show your temper when dealing with the boss. Help elders with their concerns. CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) It may not be the best time to socialize with clients or colleagues today. You should get into programs that will enhance your appearance and help you to be the best that you can. You may need a good friend to lean on. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) Overexertion and negligence will be your worst enemies. If you haven't already, consider starting your own business. Hassles with in-laws could put a damper on your day. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Opportunities for romance may develop through dealing with groups that have a purpose. Go out with close friends who understand your situation and your needs. You can purchase items that will enhance your appearance. chatter.
Jadhav’s unusual bowling fail. He came on to bowl in the 31st over with no wicket taken, with two of cricket’s biggest hitters looking to hit every ball big, and produced the wicket of Warner in a spell of 7-0-381. Umesh Yadav then removed Finch and Smith to expose the softer underbelly of Australia’s batting. Three wickets fell for five runs, no boundary came in 50 balls, only 56 were in scored before the last five overs. Umesh had in part been responsible for the rollicking start. Mohammed Shami and Umesh, playing ahead of the rested Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, provided full balls far too often on a pitch that seemed difficult if the pace was taken off with the length on the shorter side. Finch began the aggression, but Warner caught up soon and then left his opening partner far behind. Both took full toll of all of India’s specialist bowlers, including Axar Patel, replacing the rested left-arm wristspinner Kuldeep Yadav. Then Jadhav happened,
NBA approves draft lottery... (From page 35) least $100,000. Teams such as the Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers and San Antonio Spurs rested star players for national telecasts on ABC, ESPN or TNT last season, helping lead to Thursday’s action. The new policy also states that a team should not rest multiple healthy players in the same game or rest healthy players when competing on the road. Tanenbaum is the first Canadian to be named the chairman of the NBA Board of Governors. He will succeed Minnesota Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor. Tanenbaum is chairman of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment and has been with a governor with the Raptors since 1998. He also holds similar titles with the NFL Toronto Maple Leafs and Major League Soccer’s Toronto FC. ”It is a great honor to have been elected as Chairman of the NBA Board of Governors, for both myself and the Toronto Raptors franchise,” Tanenbaum said in a statement. “I look forward to working closely with Commissioner Silver, the league office and my fellow owners in this capacity to grow the game around the world and continually look for opportunities to better this great league for our teams, our players and our fans.”
giving himself a chance when his turn to bat came. Every time the asking rate crept towards or beyond eight in that partnership with Pandya, Jadhav would keep finding a way to hit a boundary. He managed the same later with Manish Pandey, but the turn available meant Smith could bowl 15 overs of spin, which was a bonus especially with Marcus Stoinis injured. Zampa began the 42nd over with a slight drizzle around. This was a crucial over because Australia’s three big quicks could bowl out after that over. To add to the drama, the drizzle was deemed hard enough to take the players off after one ball, with India two runs behind the DLS par score. Teams came back on, Zampa’s over went for 12, and Australia now had 75 to defend in eight overs of their three gun bowlers. Pandey sent Coulter-Nile back with a six over midwicket in the 43rd over, but Kane Richardson began to chip away at India. The 44th over was perfect for Australia: a slower yorker from deep inside Richardson’s palm and
five other singles meant India needed more than 10 an over in the last six. Pat Cummins followed it with an eight-run over, and that Richardson slower ball no change in arm speed or release - got Jadhav caught at long-off. Out came MS Dhoni with 49 required off 26. Despite his important hands of late, this was Dhoni’s test. Nobody has questioned Dhoni’s calm and acumen, which has shown in his recent efforts, but it is when quick runs are needed that Dhoni struggled of late. Especially after Pandey’s wicket early next over, it was all down to Dhoni. Dhoni showed a new side, in that he didn’t take ones and twos to take the chase into the last over. He tried a big hit to almost every ball, managing to hit one six, but he played a damaging five dot balls before chopping on. The chase was over. Australia finally had smiles on their faces. Australia 334 for 5 (Warner 124, Finch 94, Handscomb 43, Umesh 4-71) beat India 313 for 8 (Jadhav 67, Rohit 65, Rahane 53, Richardson 3-58) by 21 runs. (ESPNcricinfo)
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Friday September 29, 2017
Exclusive: From cyber unit to troops, South Korea adds extra layer of Olympics security amid tensions Seoul (Reuters) - Rattled by rising tensions with North Korea, South Korea is taking extra measures to try to ensure the safety of the 2018 Winter Games, including setting up a crack cyber defense team and doubling the number of troops, according to officials and documents reviewed by Reuters. The Games take place next February in the mountainous resort town of Pyeongchang, just 80 km (50 miles) from the heavily fortified border with North Korea. They come after a series of missile and nuclear tests show the North making rapid advances in its weapons program and as inflammatory rhetoric between Pyongyang and Wa s h i n g t o n s t i r s u p concerns about another conflict on the Korean peninsula. South Korea’s Defense Ministry will deploy some 5,000 armed forces personnel at the Games, double the 2,400 on duty during the 2002 World Cup, which South Korea cohosted with Japan, according to government officials and documents reviewed by Reuters. Pyeongchang’s organizing committee for the 2018 Games (POCOG) is also selecting a private cyber security company to guard against a hacking attack from the North, tender documents show. The committee is seeking to fast-track the selection as tensions rise in the wake of South Korea’s controversial deployment of the U.S.
FILE PHOTO: An ice sculpture of the Olympic rings is illuminated during the Pyeongchang Winter Festival, near the venue for the opening and closing ceremony of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea, February 10, 2017. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji/File Photo
THAAD anti-missile system, and as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un tests w e a p o n s a t a n unprecedented rate. ”Cyber threats have increased due to external factors such as the THAAD deployment and recent North Korean missile launches,” the committee said in the document. The committee will make all-out efforts to ensure the Pyeongchang Olympics are the safest ever, it said. ”We strongly believe we can host the Olympics successfully as we have invested a lot and prepared well for cyber security,” it said in a statement in response to queries from Reuters.
South Korea has blamed the North for a series of hacking attempts in the last few years, including a 2013 cyber attack against South Korean banks and broadcasters that froze computer systems for more than a week. Pyongyang denied any responsibility. THREATS INCREASE While South Korea faces unique challenges with its hostile and nuclear-armed neighbor, the level of threats and security to counter them have escalated globally since South Korea last hosted a major international sporting event. The POCOG is hiring a private security contractor, stipulating the firm should be capable of running around 500 personnel to operate Xray screening each day during the event, a separate document seen by Reuters shows. It has earmarked 20
billion won ($17.6 million) for the screening security measures and another 1.3 billion won for the cyber security protection, according to the documents. An official from the National Intelligence Service, South Korea’s spy agency, is in charge of security operations, working with the government’s anti-terrorism center, the organizing committee’s spokeswoman told Reuters. South Korea has also created a new Special Weapons and Tactics team to guard against terrorism around the Games, Asia’s first Winter Olympics outside Japan. ”We will search Olympic venues to check for bombs, protect athletes and visitors, and guard against any attempts to assassinate key figures,” Jin Jeong-hyeon, a police inspector from the SWAT team, told Reuters.
In late August, the POCOG held a two-day briefing with major Olympic sponsors including McDonald’s Corp (MCD.N) and Coca-Cola Co (KO.N) to talk about the measures being put in place, according to a government statement. It gave them a look at e m e rg e n c y e v a c u a t i o n facilities during the briefing, though further details were not disclosed. PAST AGGRESSIONS While some observers view Pyongyang’s threats as bluster, others point to instances of North Korean aggression during the 2002 World Cup and ahead of the 1988 Seoul Olympics as reasons to be concerned. In June 2002, as South Korea prepared to play Turkey in the playoff for third place at the World Cup, North Korean patrol boats crossed the disputed maritime border and exchanged fire with South Korean vessels, killing six South Korean sailors. In November 1987, just nine months before South Korea was set to host the Summer Games in Seoul, North Korean agents detonated a bomb on Korean Air Flight 858, killing all 104 passengers and 11 crew. One of the agents later told investigators the order had come from North Korean leader Kim Jong Il and one of the aims had been to frighten international athletes and visitors from attending the Seoul Olympics. Other Olympics have also been affected by
violence, most notably the killing of 11 Israeli athletes by Palestinian militants at the 1972 Munich Games. Mexican police and military killed hundreds of civilians during a protest just days before the Mexico City Olympics in 1968. South Korea’s sports minister Do Jong-whan said this week Seoul was “very concerned about aggressive remarks” traded between Pyongyang and Washington but did not believe Kim would risk a war against countries participating at the Olympics. The International Olympics Committee is encouraging the participation of North Koreans as athletes, judges or “wild cards” to help ensure the safety of the Olympics, Do added. Chang Ung, North Korea’s IOC member, said earlier this month that the Pyeongchang Olympics will not be affected by the escalating crisis on the peninsula and North Korea will hopefully be able to send athletes. Figure skating, short track speed skating and Nordic skiing could potentially feature North Korean athletes, he said. Despite the heightened security measures, there isn’t a lot South Korea can do to reassure participants, said Lee Soo-hyuck, a former foreign affairs presidential secretary. “This issue is more about whether North Korea would decide to carry out hostile actions or not.”
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Wuhan Garbine Muguruza loses to Open - Jelena Ostapenko in quarter-finals Ashleigh Barty
Jelena Ostapenko extended her winning streak to eight matches. Spanish world number one Garbine Muguruza is out of the Wuhan Open in China after a quarter-final defeat by eighth seed Jelena Ostapenko. Muguruza, 23, who needed treatment for a thigh injury before the final set, lost 1-6 6-3 6-2 to the
Latvian. French Open champion Ostapenko, 20, won the last six games to set up a semifinal with Australian Ashleigh Barty. Barty, the world number 37, beat Czech third seed Karolina Pliskova 4-6 7-6
(7-3) 7-6 (7-2) earlier yesterday. B a r t y, w h o h a d previously not defeated a top-five player, failed to convert three match points in the third set but controlled the tie-break to seal victory over the former world
number one. Muguruza started the final set confidently following the medical timeout for a nagging left thigh injury, but Ostapenko proved too strong to clinch the match in just under two hours.
Reggae Boyz Middle East friendly in danger
”I think she played very aggressively,” Muguruza said. “She had a lot of good shots, especially in the right moments. “It was three sets and it was tight. I think she’s just playing very good with a lot of confidence.” ”In the first set I think I really wasn’t going for my shots,” said Ostapenko. “Then in the second
and third sets I started to go for my shots, and change the directions more. I think it helped me pretty well.” Greece’s Maria Sakkari, who beat Alize Cornet 7-6 (7-2) 7-5, and Caroline Garcia, who defeated Ekaterina Makarova 7-6 (73) 6-4 will contest the other semi-final. (BBCsport)
Disciplined Australia halt Indian juggernaut
Reggae Boyz Kingston, Jamaica, CMC – A late application for clearance could see the October 7 international friendly between Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz and Saudi Arabia scrapped. Newly-elected Jamaica Football Federation president, Michael Ricketts, confirmed the fixture in Riyadh was in danger because of the organiser’s failure to secure permission for the game and they were now anxiously waiting on approval.
”What happened is that the promoter was supposed to have, of course based on regulations, gotten permission through the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, from FIFA,” Ricketts told the Gleaner newspaper here. ”The application was submitted very late and because of that, there’s an issue. But they are still trying to have it sorted out. So we are waiting, but there is, to be honest, a question sign.” He added: “We’re just
keeping our fingers crossed and hope that we can get things sorted out.” The Reggae Boyz are the most sought-after Caribbean side and are currently the secondhighest ranked regional nation at 61st in the FIFA rankings. They were good enough to make the final of the last two CONCACAF Gold Cups even though they lost on both occasions to Mexico and United States respectively. Ricketts said, however, if the match failed
to materialize as planned, it would be rescheduled until a later date. ”We are hoping that if it cannot happen on [October 7] then maybe it could at a later date,” he explained. “But we’re trying to fast track things right now, as we speak, and we’re just waiting to see what will happen.” He added: “Flights have been booked and everything is in place. It’s going to be really unfortunate if it falls through.”
It is tough to imagine an Australian side of the old 3-0 down in a series after the dominant positions they got themselves into in the three preceding games. In failing to capitalise fully on a 231-run opening stand, they left themselves susceptible to a fourth such reversal, but better fielding than India and excellent bowling from their quicks made sure India’s ODI juggernaut was halted at nine wins in a row, still their longest streak. David Warner scored a hundred in his 100th ODI, Aaron Finch biffed his way to 94 and to the top of the runs chart this series despite playing only two matches, but Australia managed just 102 runs in the last 15 overs, setting India 335. For a good part of the chase, India seemed on course to add to their record of five successful chases of 330 or more and Australia’s unwanted record of eight unsuccessful defences of 330 or more, but their fielders and bowlers redeemed themselves on a
damp outfield where it couldn’t have been easy to grip the ball. The moment of magic came from the captain Steven Smith, who has so far had an ordinary series in the field, dropping two catches in Chennai and one in Indore. Two of those were crucial. In Bengaluru, he led by example at point in a match where India let quite a few slip through on a bumpy outfield that is dangerous to dive on. While India seemed cautious diving, Smith threw himself at everything. One of those balls was a Virat Kohli cut with India’s two best ODI batsmen in the middle. Smith flew to his left at point. All of a sudden what seemed like at least a single caused panic. Kohli returned, oblivious that Rohit Sharma - on a sublime 65 at that point - kept running. It should have been Rohit’s call anyway even though he would have been (Continued on page 31)
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Brian Cookson loses to David Lappartient in UCI President election
Friday September 29, 2017
GFF/NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power U-17 League weekend schedule
GCF represented by its head Burrowes
Horace Burrowes with another delegate at the UCI Congress in Norway. Briton Brian Cookson has lost the election for the UCI Presidency to Frenchman David Lappartient. Cookson, who had been in charge since 2013, was beaten by 37 votes to eight in the contest to lead world cycling’s governing body. The 66-year-old said the UCI was “unrecognisable” from when he took over and departs with “his head held high”. But Lappartient, 44, vowed to get rid of the “corruption” that has left the UCI with a “disastrous reputation”. ”It is a great responsibility and I will endeavour in the next four years to be worthy of such trust,” said Lappartient. Cookson, a former British
Cycling President, is the first UCI chief to serve only one term. He is thought to have been damaged by the negative headlines around bullying and discrimination that have dogged British Cycling, the organisation he ran from 1997 to 2013. British Cycling and its professional off-shoot Team Sky have also been under a UK Anti-Doping investigation for alleged wrongdoing. Crackdown on ‘mechanical doping’ Lappartient promised new measures to tackle so-called “mechanical doping”. Belgian rider Femke van den Driessche was banned for six years after being caught with a hidden motor in 2016.
”I will be focused on guaranteeing the credibility of the results, especially on technological fraud,” said Lappartient. During a bitter campaign, Cookson accused his predecessor Pat McQuaid of lobbying against him. After losing the election, Cookson said: “Someone needed to stand up and take on the previous regime, who had dragged cycling into the gutter and I leave the UCI knowing that I have delivered all the promises I made four years ago.” McQuaid had called Cookson “a fraud” and publicly backed Lappartient. Lappartient, the European Cycling Union (UEC) President, is the first Frenchman to take charge of the UCI since Achille Joinard (1947-57). The election was carried out at the UCI congress in Bergen, Norway, which is hosted the Road World Championships. Guyana Cycling Federation President Horace Burrowes attended the Congress while reigning Junior Road Race champions, Briton John competed in the junior segment of the World Champions but his endeavours to medal were cut short when he was involved in an accident early in the race.
Fixtures released for round 1 of Courts PeeWee football tourney The 6th annual Courts Peewee football t o u r n a m e n t k i c k s o ff tomorrow morning at Banks DIH’s Thirst Park
ground with 16 matches slated. All of the thirty two (32) primary school teams of the tournament will have the
opportunity to test their skills in Under-11 roundrobin rivalry which will get rolling from 10:00hrs. See full fixtures below:
GCF shortlists five for Elite Road CCC in Martinique
Road Race King & Queen Raynauth Jeffrey and Claire Fraser-Green headlines team
Paul De Nobrega - Team Evolution Reigning Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF) Time Trial and Road Race King and Queen, Raynauth ‘Obeah Man’ Jeffrey and UK based Claire FraserGreen will lead Guyana’s charge for medals at the upcoming Elite Road Caribbean Cycling Championships set for Martinique from October 21-24, next. While the dominant Fraser-Green who has ruled the distaff side of the sport at the national level having won the Road Race for the past five successive years is the lone female, Jeffery, a member of Team Pharmaco-Deep South of the USA and Trinidad and To b a g o w o u l d b e i n company of current GCF Points Race leader Jamal J o h n ( Te a m C o c o ’s ) ,
Claire Fraser-Green
Shaquel Agard (United), Paul De Nobrega (Evolution) and Alanzo A m b r o s e ( G D F / Te a m Alanis). Former National Cyclist Dwayne Gibbs has been named Coach while Joseph Britton has been appointed Manager. T h e G C F h a d originally named Jeffrey,
John, Agard (standby), Geron Williams and USA based Jermaine Burrowes as their team for Martinique. This combination of cyclists is strong on paper but it’s now down to how team training would be designed in order to maximize their chances of medaling come next month.
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Presidents Cup starts without controversy in front of three ex-presidents Jersey City, New Jersey (Reuters) - The 12th Presidents Cup between the U.S. and an International team began in raucous but light-hearted fashion in front of the past three American presidents at Liberty National yesterday with the national anthem immaculately observed. A packed crowded in the grandstands surrounding the first tee warmly greeted Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, keen golfers all, who entered via a tunnel and took their seats to the right of the first tee. Singer-songwriter Darius Rucker then sang the U.S. national anthem as the American team members stood about 50 yards away down the fairway, standing to attention with their hands across their hearts, not even a whiff of protest in the air. The scene was far
removed from the controversy at National Football League games recently, in which many players have protested during the national anthem against racial disparities in the criminal justice system. American veteran Phil Mickelson then stole the show by walking over and shaking hands with the three former presidents and taking a selfie. Ceremonies over, it was down to golf, with the U.S. defending the Presidents Cup against an International team of players from the rest of the world, excluding Europe. South African Charl Schwartzel had the honor of hitting the first shot in the opening foursomes match, in which he partnered Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama against Americans Justin Thomas and Rickie Fowler. A group of about 40
Former U.S. Presidents (from Left) Barack Obama and George W. Bush and Bill Clinton. International ‘fanatics’ — mainly Australians and South Africans supporting the visiting team — mischievously chanted: ‘Justin, you’ve got two first
names, Justin you’ve got two first names’ as Thomas stood on the tee. Obama, after shaking hundreds of hands and having a long chat with U.S.
Warner loses fight against US extradition Port of Spain, Trinidad, CMC – Former politician and football official, Austin “ J a c k ” Wa r n e r o n Wednesday, lost his lawsuit challenging his extradition to the United States. Warner is wanted by authorities to answer charges of fraud arising out of a Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) bribery scandal. Delivering a 50-page ruling in the High Court on Wednesday, Justice James Aboud dismissed the claim for judicial review brought by Warner. That lawsuit challenged the process used by the Office of the Attorney General in signing off on the US Government’s request for his extradition in May 2015. It now means that the extradition proceedings in the Port-of-Spain Magistrate’s Court will resume. That matter was on hold while Warner’s challenge was being heard. There was agreement however for the stay on the extradition proceedings to remain for 28 days to give Warner time to consider
Jack Warner with Attorney Nyree Alfonso. whether he wants to appeal the decision. Indicted by US authorities over allegations of racketeering, wire fraud and money-laundering conspiracies spanning 24 years. Warner is charged
with 12 offences related to racketeering, corruption and money laundering allegedly committed in the jurisdiction of the United States and Trinidad and Tobago, dating as far back as 1990.
W a r n e r claims the case against him is politically motivated and accuses the United States of seeking revenge because it lost to Qatar in its bid to host the 2022 World Cup.
assistant captain Tiger Woods, departed after the third match started but Bush and Clinton stayed until the end. Clinton even had a few
words with the media after the last match had teed off, talking about the difficultly of the first hole and the best way to play it in a strong wind.
NBA approves draft lottery reform to dissuade tanking The Sports Xchange The NBA Board of Governors approved draft lottery reform yesterday, reducing the chances of teams tanking to land one of the top three picks. The motion passed by a 28-1-1 vote. The Oklahoma City Thunder voted against it and the Dallas Mavericks abstained. Also passed was an item a l l o w i n g N B A commissioner Adam Silver to fine teams for sitting healthy players in certain situations, primarily nationally televised games. In addition, Toronto Raptors minority owner Larry Tanenbaum was elected as new chairman of the Board of Governors on the second and final day of the governors’ meetings. The lottery reform is aimed at limiting the practice of teams not pushing to win games in hopes of having better odds to land high picks in the lottery. The approved reform, which easily surpassed the required three-quarters majority, will have the teams
with the three worst records each having a 14 percent chance at landing the No. 1 overall pick. In the current system, the team with the worst record has a 25 percent chance, followed by 19.9 for the second-worst record and 15.6 for the third. A fourth team will be part of the lottery draw and that team will have a 12.5 percent chance at landing the top pick. The team with the worst record can pick no lower than fifth. ”NBA Draft Lottery reform is a meaningful step in our continuous effort to enhance the quality of our games,” Byron Spruell, NBA president of league operations, said in a statement. “These changes were necessary to improve the competitive incentives for our teams.” The player rest proposal prohibits healthy players from being rested for any high-profile nationally televised game. A violation of the policy will be viewed as conduct detrimental to the NBA and result in a fine of at (Continued on page 31)
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Friday September 29, 2017
Region Two overcome Banks DIH to take Mixed Circle Tennis title
Members of the Region Two and Banks DIH CTT display their prizes. Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) defeated Banks DIH Circle Tennis Team in the Mixed category when they collided recently at Zorg Sports Club on the Essequibo Coast. The Region Two side batted first and scored
309–13 off 120 deliveries, with V. Lall scoring 62, Jermy Paul 30 and Alwin Paul 22. Banks DIH was restricted to 300-11 when deliveries expired. Matthew Mc Lennon top scored with 68, Eon Cosiah got 33 and
Deandra Wishart 27. Banks DIH tasted success in the All Female segment, Region Two won the toss and took to the circle first; they made 147-6 off their allotted 60 deliveries with Brenelda Persaud getting 42.
Banks DIH responded with 182-5, Asheena Stewart hit 63, Savannah Lynch 29 and Simone Williams 23. Meanwhile, at the Banks ground, Victory Chasers Circle Tennis Club (VCCTC) won the Female and the M i x e d Te a m m a t c h e s
against Banks DIH. In the female category, Banks DIH batted first and reached 201-13, Alicia Archer made 31, Deandra Wishart 26 and Alicia Thronton 19. VCCTC responded with 220–5, S. Abrams got 23.
In the Mixed Team division, VCCTC batted first and mustered144–5, Micheal Trotman struck 56, Linden Johnson 32 and Edward Cobenna 23. Banks DIH responded with 138–5, Troy Mc Rae hit 30 and Orane Paul 25.
Pride prime motivator in overshadowed finale Big Picture - Amid the swirling controversy and slooshing rain on Wednesday night, England won a one-day series. Sandwiched between England’s Ashes squad announcement and further revelations about Ben Stokes’ night out in Bristol, the Oval ODI deserves to be remembered for the individual efforts of Evin Lewis and Alzarri Joseph, even though they weren’t enough to give West Indies the chance to level things up in Friday’s finale. Instead, the Ageas Bowl will bear witness to a lowkey finish to the English summer. The Stokes issue will inevitably hover over proceedings - both he and Alex Hales have been officially suspended from England duty, in case anyone was wondering about their involvement - and its implications for the Ashes have already begun to swallow up the tail end of West Indies’ tour. England’s distraction
was apparent in a disjointed performance at The Oval, only for heavy rain and a calculated assault from Jos Buttler and Moeen Ali to steal the match. As if to compound the sense of anti-climax, West Indies will be without their captain for the final ODI, as Jason Holder has returned to Barbados to attend his uncle’s funeral. Lewis won’t play a part, either, having suffered a fractured ankle digging out a yorker in the closing stages of the West Indies innings, putting a stop to his majestic 176. Lewis is expected to be out for a few weeks but there will be another chance for Joseph to impress, after he became the youngest West Indian to take an ODI fivefor. There have been encouraging signs for Stuart Law and his fellow coaches over the last two months and, even if England have lost focus, the tourists would love to finish on a high note. Form guide - (last five
Jason Mohamed completed matches, most recent first). E n g l a n d W W W LW. We s t I n d i e s L L L LW. In the spotlight - Given an unexpected opportunity by off-field occurrences, Jason Roy cashed in at The Oval. His first half-century in ten
innings was full of purposeful punches and whips across the line - such was his return to form that he even managed to get out when well set, an unwanted habit developed over the last year. It has been a
disappointing summer, after his breakthrough 2016, but he will be aiming to end it well. Alzarri Joseph came to England with a burgeoning reputation as a West Indies quick worthy of the lineage. However, after conceding 0 for 109 in the pink-ball Test at Edgbaston, he slipped out of contention and it was over a month before he found himself in a West Indies shirt again. With slippery pace and a well-deployed short ball, the 20-year-old claimed his maiden international five-for to give his side a chance of a win. Teams news - England have called up Dawid Malan, after the completion o f M i d d l e s e x ’s Championship fixture, and he could join Tom Curran in making an ODI debut. A dead rubber perhaps gives England the chance to rest players such as Joe Root and Chris Woakes. England (probable) 1 J a s o n R o y, 2 J o n n y Bairstow, 3 Dawid Malan, 4 Eoin Morgan (capt), 5 Jos
Buttler (wk), 6 Sam Billings, 7 Moeen Ali, 8 Adil Rashid, 9 Tom Curran, 10 Liam Plunkett, 11 Jake Ball. Jason Mohammed will captain West Indies in Holder’s absence. Kyle Hope seems likely to come in, although Sunil Ambris is an option for a debut, while Carlos Brathwaite has been added to the squad* and might be pressed into action straight away. West Indies (probable) 1 Chris Gayle, 2 Kyle Hope/Sunil Ambris, 3 Shai Hope (wk), 4 Marlon Samuels, 5 Jason Mohammed (capt), 6 Rovman Powell, 7 Carlos Brathwaite, 8 Ashley Nurse, 9 Alzarri Joseph, 10 Jerome Taylor, 11 Miguel Cummins. Pitch and conditions The Ageas Bowl tends to serve up run-filled surfaces for limited-overs cricket, with seam and spin in line to go the distance. There could be some rain around in the morning and it is likely to be a chilly evening in the field for the latest finish to an England season on record.
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Friday September 29, 2017
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GTT/National Indoor Hockey C/ships
Six results and a single draw highlight night three On Wednesday night, it was business as usual for the favourite teams as they dictated the show at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on night three action in the GTT National Indoor Hockey Championships. Out of the seven matches played, only the first division game between Old Fort Titans and Saints Hockey Club ended in a draw while the Saints Hockey Club pulled off an edgy 3-2 win over GCC Pit bulls. The most emphatic win was the National Women’s 9-0 mauling of Old Fort Shooting Stars. A great follow up for the national women who thrashed Old Fort Veterans 8-2 on Tuesday evening as they continue to fine-tune their skills ahead of next month’s Pan American Cups Championships. In the other women’s division match of the night, the young Bingo Spartans side got off to a surprisingly good start against tournament favourites Pizza
Hut GCC. It took the Pizza Hut ladies 11 minutes to get on the score sheets through a Sonia Jardine penalty corner. Pizza Hut then stamped their authority on the match as time elapsed, rattling in four more goals before full time. Caribbean junior squash silver medalist Kirsten Gomes scored the final goal of the game for the Spartans in their 5-1 win. The Men’s first division have seen the National Blacks smashing in 23 goals in the first two nights of the tournament. In the Blacks’ clash against Bounty GCC on Wednesday evening, they settled for a 7-1 victory against the most decorated team in the championships 14-year history. Hilton Chester led the national team with a hattrick supported with a double from Jamarj Assanah and one each from their Captain Robert France and Andrew Stewart. Before GCC’s Dwayne Scott scored his side’s only goal, the Blacks were already up
b y 6 g o a l s . The Old Fort Titans battled Saints in the other men’s first division match of the night and pulled off a predictable 3-1 victory. The youthful Saints scored first through a well taken penalty corner from Yonnick Peters and Old Fort dug deep to draw level thanks to Ascofu Simon before the half. Old Fort dominated the second half with a field goal and a penalty stroke conversion from Jason Clarke to complete their come from behind victory. Saints pulled off a gritty 3-2 triumph over the GCC Pitbulls in the men’s second division competition while the Hikers defeated Saints Stanislaus College, 2-1. The lone veterans match of the evening saw the Old Fort Goal Getters securing their first win by handing the Antonio’s Grill Hikers their second loss by 6 -3. Matches continue throughout the week from 17:00hrs daily with the finals set for tomorrow
Pizza Hut GCC’s Tiffany Solomon (right) being challenged by GCC Spartans’ Madison Fernanades for possession on Wednesday night.
evening. The Men’s national selections, the Blacks and
the Greens will play an exhibition match before the final presentation tomorrow
night at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. (Calvin Chapman)
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Friday September 29, 2017
NAMILCO on board EBFA 7-A-Side tourney sets for tomorrow Fazia’s Collection also support Village teams on the East Bank of Demerara would tomorrow be testing their skills against each other in a one-day 7-a-side football competition set for the Grove Playfield from 14:00hrs. Long time supporters of sports across the nation, National Milling Company of Guyana (NAMILCO) has come on board as the main sponsor of tomorrow’s event. In handing over the company’s contribution to East Bank Football A s s o ciatio n Ex ecu tiv e Member, Clive Matthews yesterday at the Company’s Agricola headquarters, NAMILCO’s Affeeze Khan said that they were very pleased to support the continued development of the sport on the East Bank and are eager to see the game back up and running at the senior level. ”We have been following the progress of the sport on the East Bank and must say that we are encouraged that competitive play has resumed following months of inactivity due to rain. We
the improved weather conditions we are happy that you are making this move to get the villages back to full playing capacity again.” The EBFA is currently running off their leg of the inaugural nationwide GFF/NAMILCO Flour Power Under-17 Intra A s s o c i a t i o n U n d e r- 1 7 league which is in the second round as well as the second annual Ralph Green Under11 League. Matthews in response thanked Khan and NAMILCO for their continued support and investment in eth development of, especially young players not only on the East Bank but Guyana by extension noting that the Under-17 level is a critical feeder to the senior teams in each association and beyond. Known for the popular Wheat-Up porridge mix which is manufactured at NAMILCO, fans and players will have the opportunity to indulge as company aims to power up all for what is anticipated
NAMILCO’s Affeeze Khan (right) hands over their contribution to EBFA’s Clive Matthews in the presence of Ms. Alicia Nizamuddin (NAMILCO) and Joseph Cummings. to be an exciting afternoon and evening of football which will conclude under lights. M ean w hile, F azia’s Collection, located at America and Longden Streets in the City also made a contribution towards the successful hosting of tomorrow’s fundraising event.
Managing Director Mr. Terry Anderson noted in handing over his contribution that support for the event is one small way of Fazia’s Collection giving back to the society through the medium of sports. He noted that they have always been supportive of such events that seek to bring players and fans
together for wholesome e n t e r t a i n m e n t . Teams from Agricola, Herstelling, Mocha, Diamond, Grove, Frien d s h i p , S o e s d y k e , Kuru Kururu and Yarrowkabra are expected to battle each other for a first place prize of $40,000 in the one-day tournament.
Teams are encouraged to be present for 14:00hrs when the draw would be done b e f o r e a c t i o n commences. Matches would be played for 20 minutes, two equal halves of 10 minutes each while the final would last for 30 minutes, two equal halves of 15 minutes.
Chanderpaul, Archer end season strongly London, CMC – Veteran left-hander Shiv Chanderpaul stroked a cameo to see Lancashire to a seven-wicket victory over Surrey on the final day of the County Championship here yesterday, and surpass 800
runs for the campaign. The 43-year-old hammered 43 off a mere 44 balls as the hosts easily overhauled their target of 176 at Old Trafford to finish second in Division One on 176 points behind winners Essex on 248.
Beginning the day on 14 with Lancashire on 132 for three, Chanderpaul wasted little time in getting his side to their target off a mere 35 balls, striking four fours and two sixes overall. The former Test star
ended the game with a flourish, striking a pair of sixes and a boundary off legspinner Scott Borthwick. He put on 87 in an unbroken fourth wicket stand with partner Liam Livingstone who converted his overnight 54 into 69 not out. Chanderpaul finished the season with 831 runs at an average of nearly 52, only behind Alex Davies who topped Lancashire’s scoring charts with 916 runs at almost 40 per innings. Though Guyanese Chanderpaul was dumped by West Indies selectors two years ago, he has continued to score heavily in domestic competitions. He averaged nearly 50 in five matches for Guyana Jaguars in the 2015/16 West Indies first class tournament and followed up with 622 runs at 62, to top the champions’ batting aggregates last season. Chanderpaul amassed 11 867 runs from 164 Tests at an average off 51. Meanwhile, Barbadian Jofra Archer struck an
Shivnarine Chanderpaul. SkySports unbeaten 29 on the last day of Sussex’s drawn encounter with Nottinghamshire, to end as one of the leading allrounders in Division Two. Sussex batted the entire day to end on 229 for seven in their second innings, with captain Luke Wells striking 103 off 98 balls. The 22-year-old Archer, in his first full County
season, finished with a remarkable 638 runs at an average of 45, with five halfcenturies. A former West Indies Under-19 but who has never played first class cricket for Barbados, the right-arm seamer also ended the season with 61 wickets at an average of 25 to top the club’s wicket-taking list.
Friday September 29, 2017
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GFF/CONCACAF ‘D’ Licence Course underway, 25 Coaches to benefit
GFF and CONCACAF Officials with course participants. The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) and CONCACAF facilitated D License programme which will last for four days began yesterday at the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) Board Room. This programme which is designed to build capacity among national coaches is
being conducted by CONCACAF Instructors, Lenny Lake from St. Kitts and Nevis and Argentinean, Juan Carlos Michia. Tw e n t y - f i v e ( 2 5 ) Coaches including some from the GFF-Scotiabank Academy Training Centers, the National Sports Commission and Schools will benefit from the training
and will seek to have themselves qualified with the CONCACAF D License certificate upon successful completion of the programme. ”We’re here to help you, we don’t have all the answers but one thing for sure is that we care about you guys because you’re the future of the soccer
Persaud all-round efforts boost Mc Gill Sukhu’s ton lifts Windsor Forest A fine all-round performance by Sudesh Persaud guided Mc Gill Sports Club to a 38-run victory over Ambassador when the West Demerara Cricket Association T20 tournament resumed on Sunday last. Persuad struck five fours and two sixes in a top score of 61 as Mc Gill posted 138-2, batting first at Canal Number 2 gound. S. Dean supported with 45 which included three fours and
three sixes; K. Boyce had 12 3 . Ambassador were bowled out for 100 in 18 overs in reply. Boyce made 31 with three maximums as Persaud returned to take 3-19 and Dean 2-15. Host Windsor Forest beat Malvern by 64 runs. Led by a fine century from Doesh Sukhu, Windsor Forest scored 171-7, batting first. Sukhu slammed nine fours and six sixes in an even century while R. Seeman claimed 2-22. Malvern was sent packing for 107 in 17 overs in response. A. Peter
made 40 (3x6); Rohan Harinarine captured 3-15 and Ganpat Sookram 2-20. In other matches, All Youths beat Meten-Meer-Zorg ‘A’, Sawpit defeated Wales and Zeeburg got the better of Independence ‘A’. The game between West Demerara Police and Rising Stars was abandoned due to rain.
(football) in this country (Guyana)”, stated Instructor Juan Carlos Michia, a former Major League Soccer (MLS) player and Coach, during the press brief at the GOA, yesterday. The other instructor, Lenny Lake, pressed the issue of discipline of being successful, “The good coach is all about conduct and
character. When we leave (Guyana) we mus t be able to s ay to CO N CA CA F that w e are s atis fied to have licensed coaches not only w ho can coach but those that have the right character and conduct to develop football in Guyana.” Meanwhile, head of the
GFF Wayne Forde, stressed the need for the development of local players who show immense potential which is usually curtailed in the long run. “Guyana has the raw talent but we haven’t done much with it in the past”, Forde posited as he reiterated the role of coaches in player development.
Beach Volleyballers to represent Guyana at Inter Guianas’ competition in Suriname The respective winner and runners-up of the Berbice Volleyball Association (BVA) Beach Volleyball competition will represent Berbice and Guyana at the Inter Guianas’ National Beach Competition in Nikeri, Suriname. The pairs are Luen David/Ray Moore and Davendra Latchman/Samuel Fraser. The competition will be staged from today to October 1st. The players will be accompanied by National Coach and President of the BVA Levi Nedd and are expected to leave today.
t r o Sp GTT/National Indoor Hockey C/ships
Six results and a single draw highlight night three
National Blacks’ Jamarj Assanah about to score a penalty corner against Bounty GCC in the Wednesday night clash.
GCF shortlists five for Elite Road CCC in Martinique
Road Race King & Queen Raynauth Jeffrey and Claire Fraser-Green headlines team
Alanzo Ambrose – GDF/Team Alanis
Jamal John - Team Coco’s
Raynauth Jeffrey - Team Pharmaco -Deep South – USA and T&T
GFF/CONCACAF ‘D’ Licence Course underway, 25 Coaches to benefit 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