Guyanatimes 31 december 2017

December

31, 2017

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Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 3437

Sunday, December 31, 2017

PRICE

Downsizing of sugar industry will severely impact operations ...company’s production – DDL target in limbo

WHAT'S INSIDE:

11,000 gallons of illegal fuel seized in 2017 – GEA P10 Labourer nabbed with over 1kg P8 ganja

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Contract workers cost State millions in salaries, allowances Page 7

Stop throwing garbage in waterways – Harmon tells Albouystown residents

$120 vat included

Page 11

Canal No 1 floods

Water continues to rise as heavy rainfall persists

P14

Pensioner dies after car plunges into P8 canal

Former Chief Magistrate among 4 P9 appointed Senior Counsel EBD man dies after jumping off overpass P17 Minister of State Joseph Harmon gestures as he makes a point during discussions with an Albouystown resident and Constituency 10 Councillor Heston Bostwick, as Georgetown Mayor Patricia Chase Green, Councillor Malcolm Ferreira, representatives from the Civil Defence Commission and other agencies look on. This was part of a walkabout in Albouystown on Saturday morning to distribute sanitation hampers to flood-affected residents

Oil sector

Contract guarantees Exxon control of Page 9 natural gas

…PPP slams Govt for committing resource without fact-based data

Bandits Page 17 invade Black Bush Polder home …escape with $2.4M

Sod turned for construction of Linden P15 passport office – $30M project to wrap up in 4 months

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news

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Sunday, December 31 – a night retraction from 03:30h and a day retraction from 14:30h-16:00h, Monday, January 1 – a night retraction from 04:30h and a day retraction from 14:30h-16:00h and Tuesday, January 2 – 05:00h-06:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Sunday, December 31 – 14:40h-16:10h, Monday, January 1 – 15:30h-17:00h and Tuesday, January 2 – 16:35h-18:05h.

FERRY SCHEDULE Parika and Supenaam departure times - 05:00h, 11:00h and 16:00h daily

WEATHER TODAY Thundery showers can be expected throughout the day and into the evening, with temperatures ranging between 24 degrees Celsius and 27 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Easterly from 2.68 metres to 4.02 metres.

High Tide: 02:53h and 15:11h reaching maximum heights of 2.59 metres and 2.77 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 08:43h and 21:16h reaching minimum heights of 0.61 metre and 0.42 metre respectively.

Downsizing of sugar industry will severely impact operations – DDL ...company’s production target in limbo

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s Government moves ahead with plans to close several sugar estates, local companies whose production depends on the produce of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) are already forecasting the impact the decision will have on their operations.

One such company is Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL), which has expressed concerns about developments regarding the state of the sugarcane industry, and the potential downsizing of sugar production.

According to the international award winning rum producer on Saturday, initial assessment of its distillery production for 2017 shows that is has surpassed projections, with an increase of 30 per cent over 2016. In keeping with this trend, and largely resulting from DDL’s intensive efforts in international marketing, the distillery production for 2018

DDL Chairman Komal Samaroo

State Joseph Harmon at last week’s post-Cabinet press briefing where he indicated that Government is still open to options that keep the GuySuCo estates operational until arrangements are finalised for them to be privatised.

The Minister informed reporters that Cabinet engaged GuySuCo to obtain an update on the future plans of the Corporation to return it to efficiency and finan-

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is now projected to increase by a further 25 per cent over 2017.

Herein, however, lies the company’s concerns which are ground in the long historical relationship between itself and GuySuCo given DDL’s dependence on the sugar estates for its molasses raw material, and in turn is a significant source of cash flow to the sugar company for its operations.

“With the impending closure of sugar estates, there will be a considerable shortfall in molasses availability, which is directly related to the reduced projection of sugar production,” the company noted.

It went on to point out that based on production demand for local and international customers, DDL’s molasses requirement for 2018 is 70,000 tons. In contrast, GuySuCo has set a sugar production target of 115,000 tons at the three estates currently earmarked to remain in operation, with molasses production being pegged at 52,000 tons.

In light of this shortfall, DDL said it has been actively exploring its potential role in the future of the sugarcane industry, and has executed a high-level technical and economic feasibility study on innovative approaches to use the existing sugar assets to meet the current and future needs for molasses for an expanding distilling industry.

Nevertheless, DDL added that it welcomes the comments from Minister of

cial viability, as well as the Special Purpose Unit (SPU) that was set up to manage the divestment of the assets of the industry that will fall outside of the reconfigured GuySuCo. Harmon noted that both parties outlined plans and recommendations relating to their respective roles and responsibility, which Cabinet

deliberated. However, those deliberations were incomplete and would be concluded at Cabinet’s next meeting on January 2, 2018.

Optimistic

Meanwhile, Chairman of DDL Komal Samaroo posited that “we are optimistic that the Government of Guyana understands what is at stake, not just for the sugarcane industry, but for all other stakeholders that are a part of the GuySuCo value chain, including the many thousands who are directly and indirectly involved in the production, distribution and sale of DDL’s value-added products, both locally and internationally.”

This position, the com-

pany said, was echoed by President David Granger at the Launching of DDL’s Special Edition 50th Anniversary El Dorado Rum in April 2016, when he said, “Guyana’s rum industry is precious; it must be protected and preserved in the face of peril. Workers’ jobs and the livelihood of those who indirectly depend on the industry are at stake. The loss of foreign exchange and excise earnings by the industry can result in severe problems in our economy.”

DDL asserted that the imperative of finding compelling solutions to guarantee its future sustainability goes without saying.

According to the company, it is committed to playing an active role in forging the next steps for survival, and has been engaging all stakeholders, including Government.

Government support is crucial, the company said, in recognition of the jobs to be created and the significant increase in taxes contributed to the national economy from greater earnings. In 2016, the DDL Group paid $1.9 billion in taxes, excluding VAT, and is projected to pay in excess of $2.2 billion for 2017 based on its performance.

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Views Editor: Tusika Martin News Hotline: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544 223-7230,223-7231,231-0544, 225-7761 Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707 Mailing address: Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, marketing@guyanatimesgy.com

Editorial

2017: Sliding into Dystopia

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he word “Dystopia” was coined in the mid nineteenth century as an antonym to Sir Thomas Moore’s 16th century “utopia”, that place where everything was perfect. In the intervening three hundred years, history, unfortunately had graphically demonstrated that even with the rationality of the Enlightenment in Europe, the human condition could still be made worse by leaders: dystopian.

With half of its term behind it, the PNC-led APNU/AFC government has made a mockery of all its high sounding promises in their 2015 Manifesto. Rather that the promised “good life”, citizens are staring into the darkness of a dystopian future. These citizens would probably prefer the other word that was proposed as the opposite of utopia - “kakotopia”: it is certainly more evocative of the “nasty and brutish” lives they now have to endure.

The Manifesto had promised to “save” the sugar industry: today, 4000 workers in Berbice and Demerara with join the 1700 workers, thrown onto the streets last year-end. The despair and desolation of these workers is poignantly described in the magazine section of this newspaper: broken homes, hungry children and frenetic attempts to keep body and soul together. The lives of sugar workers have always been bitter, but in Guyana today, that bitterness has the anger of bile, at their betrayal. The details of the oil contract - signed since June 2016 but kept as a state secret on one of the most surreal of excuses is another sign of the enveloping, stygian dystopia. Only a government that has the most utter contempt for its citizens would try to pull the wool over their eyes on such a patently false pretext. But now that the details are out, one can easily understand the real reason for the stonewalling: the government’s desperate to hide the massive sell out of the patrimony of the people of Guyana.

We do not have to repeat all the one-sided terms against the interests of Guyana which the Government “renegotiated”. That we have to pay the oil companies’ income tax from our share of the profits says it all, especially when the said companies are allowed to deduct up to 75% of total revenues for exploration, development and operating “expenses”, which they have the upper hand in determining.

But more significant is that the unconscionable contract vitiates all the hope that oil revenues will improve the lives of Guyanese in the years ahead. The leaders of a government that negotiated such a contract, when billions of barrels of oil had already been confirmed, cannot possibly have anything but their own interests at heart - and certainly not the country’s.

After all, Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Angola etc for instance, signed even more favourable contracts for their oil for decades - and look where their ordinary people are today: still poor and powerless. When everyone is living in shacks, the reality of one’s poverty are not immediately apparent since there is no basis for comparison. But when, as in African and so many other oil-producing third world states, the oil wealth flows into the pockets of a those in Government and their cronies, their obscenely luxurious lifestyles the poor are made aware of their dystopian condition every minute of the day.

But people do not voluntarily choose to live in squalor and it is for this reason governments of dystopian societies are also, at the minimum, authoritarian and more often, totalitarian. They are unwilling to accept the social contract with their citizens encompassed in their constitutions as the ultimate and binding law. We have witnessed President Granger actually declaring publicly that his “perception” of the meaning of a constitutional stipulation is as valid as the Judiciary’s. In the dystopia, there can be no mediating institution between the maximum leader and the people: all the institutions of the state, especially the coercive ones such as the police, army and civil service are to be bent to his will.

Welcome to the “brave new world”.

A herdsman tames horses on the snow-covered grassland in Xilingol League, Inner Region of China. Xilingol herdsmen tame horses and welcomes tourists in winter (The Guardian)

A year of failed promises, unconstitutionalities (Pt 2)

Dear Editor, Constitutional reform The year 2017 also saw poor rice farmers from Region 5 successfully challenging the unconstitutional revocation of their 50-year-old leases for rice lands. It is also this year that the President instructed Minister Joseph Harmon to direct the Police Service Commission to halt the promotion of Police officers. Again, the constitutional jurisdiction of the High Court had to be invoked to declare these directions unconstitutional.

This year also witnessed repeated acts of rampant discrimination on the grounds of race, gender and politics. Dozens of qualified professional sons and daughters of this land were unlawfully dismissed in a manner designed to disgrace, humiliate, and tarnish their professional reputation and standing.

Another vulgar violation of the Constitution took place when the Commissioner of Police was suspended by the Minister of Public Security, in clear violation of Article 225 of the Constitution. It was also in 2017 that the nation learnt that the Government received an US$18 million signing bonus from ExxonMobil, which

it stashed in a secret account in the Central Bank instead of being deposit in the Consolidated Fund, as is required by Article 216 of the Constitution.

The year 2017 will conclude with Guyana being no closer to constitutional reform, something the Coalition Government promised to deliver within its first 100 days in office.

This year, the nation also witnessed an unprecedented and repeated abuse of the Procurement Act, wherein a singular purchase of pharmaceuticals worth over $605 million was undertaken upon the direction of a Minister of Health to a handpicked supplier.

The year 2017 will also end without the promised termination of the lease of a house in Charlestown, for which the Government is paying $14 million per month to one of its cronies. The lease contract says that the property is being rented as an office, but the Government says it is storing pharmaceuticals and medical supplies at the premises.

Like in preceding years, the Minister of Finance cut the budgetary requests of almost every single constitutional agency, while

the Government continues to pay lip service to financial and functional autonomy, which these agencies are guaranteed under the Constitution. The Judiciary’s Capital Budget was cut by over two-thirds, rendering it impossible for the Judiciary to carry out most of its capital programme.

APPOINTMENT OF CHANCELLOR

Perhaps the mother of all constitutional violations was the President’s unilateral appointment of an 84-year-old retired Judge as Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). This scandalous appointment came after the President rejected 18 respectable and outstanding Guyanese whose names were submitted to him by the Leader of the Opposition, who received those names through a consultative process involving almost every important stakeholder organisation in this country.

The gentleman who was eventually appointed claimed that he was the Chief Justice of Grenada.

The President disclosed to the press that he appointed him because he was the Chief Justice of Grenada. To date, not an iota of evidence

has been produced that this gentleman was ever appointed the Chief Justice of Grenada. In fact, the evidence which has been unearthed established that he was never appointed the Chief Justice of Grenada.

The matter is now engaging the attention of the court.

2017 is ending with another major constitutional scandal brewing. The President is actively recruiting a person for the position of Chancellor of the Judiciary, but has not seen it fit to engage the Leader of the Opposition, whose agreement is constitutionally required before such appointment can be lawfully made.

Indeed, the press has already identified a candidate who seems to enjoy the President’s confidence. Having regard to the President’s track record on these matters, one cannot discount some warped and twisted interpretation being placed on the Constitution through which the President persuades himself that he is empowered to make such an appointment unilaterally.

Only time will tell.

Mohabir Anil Nandlall, MP Attorney-at-Law

Support for Justices Yonette Cummings-Edwards, Roxane George Dear Editor, The matter of the appointment of a substantive Chancellor of the Judiciary is one of public interest.

Whatever the outcome (over which we have no control), we wish to put on record the following in relation to Acting Chancellor Madam Yonette Cummings-Edwards and

Acting Chief Justice Madam Roxane George: 1. Both have demonstrated, particularly since their acting appointments, integrity and independence in their decisions in constitutional and citizens’ rights cases, and in upholding the rule of law; and have clearly not allowed governmental expectations to

influence their decisions.

2. In an ideological and structural context, where gender discrimination and inequality in Guyana are too often the norm, it would be disappointing if either or both of these women jurists had applied for the posts of chancellor and chief justice but had not been recommended by

the advisory panel appointed by the President. We are not aware of other acting appointments in which the holders have not been substantively confirmed, but have been effectively demoted in preference for someone else. continued on page 5

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You can send your letters with pictures to: Guyana Times, Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown, Guyana or letters@guyanatimesgy.com

PPP/C’s achievements are keeping Guyana afloat (Pt 2) Dear Editor, While this is commendable, it is still leading to loss of income, thus a fall in purchasing power and less business.

The impact has forced business people to import less. In some cases, their importation has fallen by 60% or more. This means that collection of customs duties will not meet its optimum.

In their seemingly desperate grab for cash, this regime is also contributing to the general slowdown by way of poor decisions.

It appears that the APNU+AFC regime see all business people as crooks.

That is why they are forcing a one hundred percent examination of containers. This is causing great delays in processing, and a loss of income to the Government, the business community, and workers.

Added to that are the impact of the more than two

hundred tax measures that have been introduced. These are acting as a brake to businesses, and reducing disposable income of employees.

Even pensioners have seen their purchasing power falling, as the concessions which they enjoyed from the PPP/C Administration, including assistance with electricity and water bills, have been removed. Added to that, all these things attract taxes, mainly value added taxes. Moreover, this regime has put value added tax on all the basic items that the PPP/C Administration had exempted when it introduced Vat Added Tax (VAT). Their real pension has therefore been effectively reduced.

In the meantime, the regime APNU+AFC seem unable to come up with any plans or projects that would create new employment.

The only ideas that have emerged is the President tell-

ing the people to make cookup rice, pepper-sauce, plantain chips, etc. With the best intentions, this would not solve anything!

While the regime’s policies have led to a great slowdown, they continue to build a huge bureaucracy that is consuming a much larger part of our GDP. The cost of Government has gone up sharply, by many times.

The elite are enjoying huge salaries, and quite a bit is spent on image. Repainting buildings in green, buying very expensive vehicles, big convoys, etc, are all prestige things that absorb resources instead of creating wealth.

In addition to the bulging bureaucracy is the massive corruption from top to bottom. The Drug Bond is costing our hard-pressed taxpayers a massive twelve and a half million dollars per month; the sole-sourcing of goods, mainly drugs, has sent up

Government expenses hugely, while shortages are once more making their appearance. This can be seen at hospitals and clinics throughout the country.

The settling of cases is also costing billions of dollars, suspicions have been raised regarding this practice.

The fact that the regime hid from the public the US$18 million collected as a signing bonus speaks volume. They did not put the money in the Consolidated Fund, nor did they place it in the accounts of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, where legitimately it could be placed.

Instead, it was placed in a secret bank account, no doubt to be deliberately misused.

The only reason that the disastrous policies of the regime have not had their full impact is because of the very healthy financial and economic situation that the PPP/C Administration had left.

Approval ratings for Govt plummet

Dear Editor, Midway through its term in office, the coalition APNU/ AFC Government's approval rating has plummeted to a dismal 27%, according to the findings of the latest opinion poll conducted by the North American Caribbean Teachers Association (NACTA).

Sixty-four per cent of those polled disapprove of the Government's performance, with 9% not giving an opinion. The approval ratings of the President and Prime Minister (PM) and of the Alliance For Change (AFC) party have also seen their numbers plunging.

This is a sharp reversal in fortunes for the President, PM, AFC and Government, which had high rating of around 60% right after coming into office in May 2015.

But, as obtained from views of

the public, it has been downhill in popularity ever since they awarded themselves a more than 50 per cent increase in salaries right after installation in office.

The Government, AFC, President, and PM have drawn poor marks for handling of the economy, corruption among their own, governance, race relations, and other matters.

Only 39% of respondents said they approve of the way David Granger has handled his job as president; 56% disapprove, and 5% did not give a rating.

For Moses Nagamootoo, 35% approve of his performance as Prime Minister, with 59% disapproving.

Supporters of the AFC and PPP are most disappointed with Nagamootoo. Voters said they had expected the PM would have spoken out

Support for...

It seems that the notion that women are dispensable and should be ready to step aside for a man when asked to do so is alive and well in Guyana, despite all the rhetoric about gender equality.

3.

The appointment of Justices Yonette CummingsEdwards and Roxane George as acting Chancellor and Chief Justice gave hope and encouragement to women and girls that survivors of the brutality and trauma of sexual assault, sexual harassment, and other forms of gender-based violence would receive the justice, fairness and dignity that they deserve. The non-confirmation of their appointments will be a blow and setback to them.

4.

We salute Justices Yonette Cummings-Edwards and Roxane George for their energy and the positive changes they have made towards the improvement and modernisation of the justice

from page 4

system in Guyana.

Yours faithfully, Danuta Radzik Andaiye Josephine Whitehead Karen de Souza Vanda Radzik Patricia SheerattanBisnauth

against the many corruption scandals, blunders, and racist policies of the Government.

But he has been silent; and worse, defending the indefensible.

The AFC has seen its support collapsing, with its approval rating now a mere 21% from a high of 80% in 2011.

Asked if the AFC has betrayed its principles, 71% answered in the affirmative, with 22% saying no. Asked if the AFC should leave the Government coalition, 59% answered said yes, with 32% saying no. Many said the AFC should seek to enforce the March 2015 Cummingsburg Accord.

Asked if people would trust (future) third parties,

62% said no, with only 27% saying yes, and 11% not giving an opinion.

The Government, AFC, President and PM have registered discontent even in their own base, because of broken promises. However, supporters of AFC and PPP still hold out hope that the PM and the AFC will reverse course in their behaviour and win back their approval.

Yours truly, Dr Vishnu Bisram

Our country had the highest reserves in its history, built up by the PPP/C. The economy was resilient.

That could be seen by the fact that in the face of the worst international economic and financial crises in living memory, the PPP/C kept the economy growing by 4.5% to 5% per annum.

Moreover, at a time when the APNU and AFC, enjoying a one-seat majority in Parliament, did everything to sabotage the efforts of the

PPP/C Administration, the economy continued to grow.

Our people had a much better life.

Those two parties did everything to sabotage progress while in Opposition. In Government, they have failed miserably.

The outgoing year will be remembered for the rapid deterioration in our economy and social life.

Donald Ramotar Former President

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Foundation

“Hope smiles from the threshold of the year to come, whispering, ‘It will be happier’.” – Alfred Lord Tennyson

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Anu Dev

omorrow begins a new year! New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day are two of my favourite days of the year. It’s probably because of that feeling of freshness that accompanies the thought of a new year.

Rather weirdly (I now realise), I also used to be excited about the start of a new school year or term. I think I just really like fresh starts.

Interestingly, though the “New Year” was celebrated more t h a n 4 0 0 0 y e a r s ago, it was celebrated in Western cultures o n l y from

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about f o u r hundred years ago.

For instance, in India, the New Year is celebrated in the Hindu month of Chaithra (MidApril), and it’s been observed for many millennia. For instance, the Yuddhistir Shaka started around 5500BC!! I guess before New Year’s, life must have been one long drag. No wonder they called it the “Dark Ages”!

In fact, even the current date celebrated as “New Year’s Day” in the West was chosen in 153 BC

by Julius Caesar. If you’re a fan of Roman and Greek mythology, you’ll be interested to know that the month January was named after the God of Doorways -- Janus. He was given 2 faces -- one which looked ahead to see what the New Year would bring, and the other looked backward to see what happened during the past year. You really can’t move forward if you completely ignore what happened in your past. In fact, didn’t that writer William Faulkner say, “The past is never dead. It’s not even past”?

New Year’s Day is that day wherein we can all pat ourselves on the back for making it through yet another year. Some of us may still be resting on our laurels if it was a successful year. And some may still be battle-scarred if it was a tough year. Survival is a victory! But we all have something in common: we’ve pulled through it all, to be here to ring in the New Year.

The New Year represents a new beginning; a chance to start afresh with new resolutions for the New Year. Unfortunately,

I’m as guilty as anyone else of conveniently forgetting those resolutions by the next week! But we’ll still make them, won’t we? Hope beats eternal, doesn’t it?

Everyone has their traditions for the new year.

When we were very young, my father insisted that we be up and outside to see the “Old Year Clouds” move over and be replaced by the “New Year Clouds”.

This year-end, however, we can be sure there will be dark clouds -- and I’m not just referring to the monsoon-type clouds that gather every night to dump their torrents over us the next morning.

Still, there’s a special joy in counting down those last few seconds until you light off the fireworks to usher in the New Year. And then the invariable hugs, shouting and general pandemonium as everyone celebrates making it through yet another year to another year full of possibilities.

For me, I’m looking forward to finishing up Med School in Trinidad, and starting a new chapter right here in Guyana.

Have a safe and happy New Year!

Overseas-based Guyanese fetes over 500 children, elderly folks

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ore than 500 children and elderly folks of the village were treated to meals and gifts, as the Enmore Association of New York (EANY) celebrated its Christmas lunch and party for the 16th consecutive year at Enmore, East Coast Demerara.

According to members of EANY, this year’s celebration has been made possible by the collab-

in Guyana to help in the execution of this activity.

“And we thank them for their services.”

“We thank all our generous donors for helping to make this event a reality and a success, and we hope that the gifts you receive today will make a difference for you during this festive season,” the EANY founder has said.

As is usually the case, the EANY once again received tremendous sup-

orative effort of former residents of Enmore and well-wishers of the Enmore Association of New York.

EANY founder Ayube Mohamed said these individuals have graciously and generously donated financially to this cause, and the EANY is very grateful for their donation.

In addition, EANY is very grateful to have individuals from Enmore

port to execute the activity, with donors coming from New York, New Jersey, Florida, Canada and Guyana.

Moreover, Mohamed said, while the 2017 event was a huge success, EANY would work to put together an even bigger one in the coming year.

He noted that putting smiles on the faces of children and senior citizens was the EANY objective, and that was achieved.

news

Contract workers cost State millions in salaries, allowances

The sums being paid to contracted employees in the Ministry

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he issue of contracted employees has been a sore one for successive Governments.

When in Opposition, the now coalition Government had been heavily critical of the presence of these classes of workers, and had promised to cut out the practice of having contracted employees.

Following requests from the Parliamentary Opposition in the National Assembly, Government provide details about contracted employees. The documents submitted to the National Assembly, and seen by Guyana Times, shows that the practice of keeping contract workers is in force, with this classification of workers costing the state hefty sums for their services.

Within the Ministry of the Presidency itself, contracted cleaners account for a net salary of over $206,000 per month; inclusive of gratuity and va-

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SunDAY, december 31, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

cation allowance. A typist clerk is paid over $170,000 per month, inclusive of these benefits as well, while a contracted driver makes a total of $219,000.

In the case of administrative assistants, their net salary range is $492,000; while an administrative officer makes $551,000 and the administrative manager makes almost $1.5 million, inclusive of gratuity and vacation allowance.

The two highest paid contracted staff within the Ministry are Senior Executive Director of the Public Service College, Retired Colonel Lawrence Paul ($1.9 million); and Director of Training, Calvin Benn ($1.8 million), the documents submitted highlighted.

Contract workers

Last year, chartered accounting firm Ram and McRae pointed out that too much strain was being

placed on the public coffers with the employment of contracted workers. It made the significant finding following the delivery of this year’s National Budget.

The firm had noted the Ministry of the Presidency’s increase in contract employees from 298 in 2015 to 505 in 2016, as well as an increase in the cost of wages and salaries for contract employees from $142 million to $798 million.

In the case of the Office of the Prime Minister, it had noted that the cost of wages and salaries for contracted employees rose from $21 million to $82 million.

It also addressed the Public Infrastructure Ministry, which saw an increase from $9 million to $51 million in a particular programme, and from $182 million to $533 million under its Public Works Programme.

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SunDAY, december 31, 2017 | guyanatimesGY.com

Labourer Pensioner dies after car plunges into canal nabbed with

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s road fatalities continue to skyrocket, a pensioner succumbed while receiving medical attention at the Suddie Hospital on Saturday, after the car he was driving ended up in a canal along the Danielstown Access Road, Essequibo Coast.

Royston Peterson of Lot 12 Devonshire Castle, Essequibo Coast was rescued by passers-by and an occupant of the car he was driving moments after it veered off the roadway while negotiating a turn. The accident occurred at about 22:00h on Friday evening.

Based on reports received, the 70-year-old man was taken to the Suddie Hospital in an unconscious

Royston Peterson state, having reportedly consumed murky water as he was trapped inside the vehicle whilst it was partially submerged in the canal.

The Police stated the oc-

cupant of the car who escaped unhurt reported that the pensioner had been under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident.

A post mortem is expected to be conducted to determine the cause of his death.

Last weekend, at least six persons met their demise following accidents on the East Bank and West Bank of Demerara, and in Berbice. In addition, another two persons lost their lives in two separate accidents on the East Bank of Demerara and on Mandela Avenue in Georgetown.

Most of these fatal accidents were as a result of speeding and driving under the influence.

over 1kg ganja

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50-year-old labourer of E Field Sophia, Greater Georgetown, was nabbed on Friday evening at Pamela Landing, Potaro River with 1.119 kg of ganja in a haversack.

Reports are Police ranks acting on information went to a popular shop at Pamela Landing and conducted a search during which two parcels of the cannabis were found stashed in a haversack. After the discovery was made, the labourer admitted to ownership of the substance thus resulting in his arrest.

He was reportedly left manage the shop at the time the search was conducted.

He was subsequently charged and is expected to make his appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on January 2, 2018.

GWI launches mobile app …expects greater interaction with customers

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he Guyana Water Inc has launched its updated website along with a mobile phone app to improve its efficiency and service delivery to its customers.

The new website allows customers to access their accounts and billing information and to also interact with GWI’s customer care agents.

In addition, customers accessing the website can now get the latest information on the work of the company and also know the contractors in

their areas.

Managing Director, Dr Richard Van WestCharles said the website is testimony to the capacity of the staff members at GWI. He noted that the utility company would now have a designated group of persons to constantly update the website so that its customers could be guided

properly.

“The purpose of this website is to be very dynamic and to collaborate with customers to ensure that if they have queries, they can check their bills, they can check their accounts on the website to see what their balances are and that is important,” he said.

He added that customers

can take photos of leakages and submit them on the app and it would be dispatched to the various teams to be rectified.

Meanwhile, the mobile customer service app has been developed to help lessen the burden associated with the payment of bills and meter reading. The customer application will allow customers to submit meter readings, report leaks and view their account balances.

The app developer, Ronson Gray explained that the app puts customers in touch with the water company in a more efficient manner. He said the company had been challenged in various areas, which prevented the effective readings of bills, hence the estimated bills but noted that it would be addressed by the app.

“We think that with the implementation of this application, customers can actually take it upon themselves to read their meters, submit those readings and get a prompt feedback as to what their new balance would be,” Gray explained.

Asked about the reliability of the application, Gray assured that a group comprising 100 persons tested the app extensively.

“We know there are leaks and that leaks affect water quality and, so we have to arrest the leaks as fast as possible. We know now that most persons would have a cellphone so all we want you to do is to download our app and wherever you see a leak take a picture of that leak it comes to us and then our people would be able to correct the leak on a timely basis,” Van West Charles noted.

He related that the company will soon be expanding its service to accommodate the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph’s (GTT) Mobile Money service. He noted that the customers would soon be able to pay their bills using the website, directly connected to the Mobile Money service.

The app is available on Google Playstore and Apple’s App store.

Satisfaction…

N

…with oil contract!

obody could possibly confuse Raphael Trotman with Mick Jagger - or any other member of the Rolling Stones, for that matter! But even if they did - in some fevered state! - unlike the Stones, who declared, “I can’t get no satisfaction”, Trotman, looking like the proverbial Cheshire cat, declared he - and his government - were “satisfied” with the oil contract he “renegotiated” with ExxonMobil!!

Of course he’s satisfied!! And why not? He not only got an all-expenses-paid vacation with his wife-to-be, but God knows what other benefits!! As an example, when oil was discovered and produced in Equatorial Guinea by a number of US oil companies at the beginning of the decade, some US$700 millions were deposited in secret bank accounts of Guinean Government officials, plus their children’s educational expenses, houses, land, etc were all being paid by the said oil companies.

Another dodge to look out for -- which was used in Guinea -- was to fund companies that service the oil industry but were secretly owned by government officials.

We’ll just have to look out as to who in the Government will be rolling in dough, won’t we? But then, we did hear about 65 policemen - earning less than $60,000/monthly -- who were pulled in to remove tints from their cars that cost at least $2million each! And no one thought to ask them where they got the money from!!

Your Eyewitness was also more than a bit taken aback when Trotman very coyly allowed as to how even “though he is a Harvard Law School-trained negotiator,” he didn’t renegotiate the contract all on his own!! Knowing senility could strike without warning, and your Eyewitness might be confused, he rechecked Trotman’s bio-details on the Ministry of Natural Resources’ web site. And there it was: Trotman had obtained a “Post-Graduate Certificate in Mediation from the Harvard Law School”.

And even though this was just a five-day course, it was on “MEDIATION”, NOT “NEGOTIATION”, offered by the Harvard Mediation Programme! “Mediation”, of course, has to do with “alternate dispute resolution” between parties who don’t want to go to court! While “negotiation” has to do with hard bargaining to make deals, where you don’t give away your store (or oil wealth!!). Just in case you wondered, Harvard Law does have a “Harvard Negotiation Institute” which offers another 5-day course, called the “Secrets of Successful Deal-making”.

But even if Trotman had taken this five-day course, can you believe he should be in charge of negotiating a contract with lawyers who’d (successfully) taken on the entire US Justice Department??

These lawyers from Exxon can chew up and spit out a hick-lawyer like Trotman - like he was sunflower seeds!!

…on Ring Bang?

It would seem that Trotman might have applied about the philosophy of “Ring Bang” music when he dealt with “Ring Fencing” in the oil contract. We’ve been hearing about “Ring Bang” music for decades now - put out by Eddie Grant. Your Eyewitness isn’t that knowledgeable about the genre…but being a patriotic Guyanese, he remembers Ring Bang isn’t just music, but part of a philosophy for Guyana.

Your Eyewitness remembers when Eddie insisted Ring Bang philosophy demanded we change our National Pledge, because that proposed we should “love our fellow citizens” but said nothing about “loving ourselves”.

Now “Ring Fencing” is a term in the oil industry, which says an oil company can’t apply exploration expenses from one field to another field so as to reduce the profits which would have to be shared with the country. In this case, Guyana.

So Trotman, loving himself in accordance with Ring Bang philosophy, did not insist on Ring Fencing in the oil contract he renegotiated!!

Wonder how much his self-love delivered!

…and Chutney

Nermal “Massive” Gosein isn’t satisfied with the powers-that-be in the Chutney industry of TT. Imagine, they had the nerve to ban his song, “Rowley Mudda Count” for the Chutney Competition!

Calypsonian Chalkdust (and your Eyewitness) agrees with him. Says it’s censorship!!

Readers are invited to send their comments by email to eye@guyanatimesgy.com

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Oil sector

Contract guarantees Exxon control of natural gas …PPP slams Govt for committing resource without fact-based data

G

uyana’s renegotiated contract with ExxonMobil was released only days ago, and analysts and commenters have already expressed concerns over the contract’s content.

One such concern is Guyana agreeing to allow ExxonMobil’s affiliates almost unmitigated access to its natural gas while the company is drilling for crude oil.

A part of this contract stipulates that Exxon can use gas produced from any oil field within the contract area for its own operations.

During an end-of-year press conference hosted by the People’s Progressive Party, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo observed that besides all the goodies ExxonMobil got, it also

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

received a commitment to use recoverable natural gas for its own operations, with an option to market the ex-

cess. According to Jagdeo, there are considerations that should have been resolved before such commitments should have been given.

“From the first meeting I had with Exxon, I said, ‘Have you done a feasibility study about gas? What are the incremental benefits to the company and the country to pumping this gas back into the wells? How would it impact recovery of oil versus using the same gas onshore for other value-added activities?’ ” Jagdeo recalled.

“Until today, that question has not been answered; and until it is answered through a feasibility study, this Government should have never committed us to a position on gas. They gave away the patrimony of our

country. Gas, in the future, may be even bigger than oil, like it is in Trinidad and Tobago. We don’t know about subsequent discoveries.”

Jagdeo noted that notwithstanding the company’s utterances that the deal is a fair one, ExxonMobil came out with several advantages.

The former President said that when a comparison is done of what ExxonMobil got to what Guyana received, it would be observed that the renegotiation worked significantly in that company’s favour.

“Who guided them (Government) on gas?”

Jagdeo questioned. “What feasibility study (on) value added (potential) guided their consideration to lock us into an agreement now

Exxon’s operation in the Stabroek block

Former Chief Magistrate among 4 appointed Senior Counsel This diagram shows the process involved in mining natural gas

on gas in this arrangement?

So now that the contract has been released, there are hundreds of new issues we have concerns about, that will harm this country in the future.”

Natural gas

Andrew Pollard, SC

Fitz Peters, SC

Josephine Whitehead, SC

K A Juman-Yassin, SC

n keeping with a promise to make annual appointments of senior counsels, President David Granger has conferred four long-serving legal practitioners with ‘Silk’.

These appointments will take effect from January 1, 2018.

Among the newly appointed senior counsels is former Chief Magistrate Kalam Azad Juman-Yassin, who was admitted to the local Bar in 1971. Yassin is currently the President of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) – a post he has held since 1996.

Attorney Fitz Le Roy Peters was also conferred with Senior Counsel status and in his 36 years as a legal practitioner, has held the post of Deputy Solicitor General at

the Legal Affairs Ministry for 10 years before starting private practice in 1998 to date.

The other newly conferred Senior Counsel is Attorney Andrew Mark Fitzgerald Pollard, who has over 30 years of experience in civil and commercial practice. Given his specialty in commercial and company law, he holds the post of Director in several local corporations including Guyana Stockfeeds Inc, Sterling Products Limited, and Croesus Minerals Inc. The final Senior Counsel appointment is Attorney Josephine Whitehead. She is a former law lecturer at the University of Guyana (UG) and also a founding member of the Guyana Legal Aid

Clinic, as well as its secretary.

According to a missive from the Ministry of the Presidency on Saturday, these persons were conferred with ‘Silk’ by the Head of State after he considered their high quality of service in the legal profession and having confidence in their knowledge of the law.

This recent appointment is the second group of legal practitioners to be elevated to the status of Senior Counsel by President Granger. Back in January 2017, he appointed nine senior counsels.

Those conferring with ‘Silk’ earlier this year were Neil Aubrey Boston, Charles

John Ethelwood Fung-AFat, Justice Alison Roxane McLean George-Wiltshire, Clifton Mortimer Llewelyn John, Rafiq Turhan Khan, Vidyanand Persaud, Rosalie Robertson, Justice Claudette Singh, and Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams.

I

Mined from deep beneath the earth’s surface, natural gas is composed of methane as well as both hydrocarbon and non-hydrocarbon gases. Not only is it a fossil fuel, it is also non-renewable.

While there are some concerns about the applicability of the usage of the gas in Guyana, it is a major driver in neighbouring Trinidad

and Tobago’s energy sector.

Exxon’s right to use this gas is enshrined in Article 12 of the contract, titled ‘Associated and non-Associated gases’. According to the contract, usage of the gas can include gas injection (a secondary gas production method), lifting and power generation.

Article 12.1 (b) states: “Based on the principle of full utilisation of the Associated Gas, and with no impediment to normal production of Crude Oil, a plan of utilisation of the Associated Gas shall be included in the Development Plan of each oil field.” turn to page 14

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11,000 gallons of illegal fuel seized in 2017 – GEA

T

he Guyana Energy Agency’s (GEA) Fuel Marking Division (FMD) has been able to seize over 11,000 gallons of illegal fuel for 2017 as part of its fight against fuel smuggling. The GEA dispatches teams of inspectors across the various administrative regions in Guyana to take and test samples of fuel to determine whether it has been legitimately imported into the country.

“At the end of November 2017, 32,027 samples were collected from 12,033 sites representing 91 per cent and 83 per cent of the respective targets for 2017. The total quantity of fuel seized for the same peri-

od was 11,794 gallons of diesel and gasoline as a result of 28 discoveries of illegal fuel at various locations,” the GEA said on Saturday.

Additionally, the GEA has been able to secure five convictions for 2017 and according to the body’s legal officer, Thandiewe Benn, since the implementation of the Fuel Marking Programme in 2004; they have been able to secure a total of 49 convictions. She added that the work of the GEA to stamp out fuel smuggling is heavily dependent on the support from the Guyana Police Force, the Guyana Revenue Authority, and the Guyana Defence Force’s Coast Guard.

The GEA added that the FMD’s inspectorate arm continues to conduct surveillance activities on suspects in the fuel smuggling network with support from the collaborative agencies.

To date, several personalities and their suspected areas of operations have been under surveillance at various times and at least 37 operations have been conducted during the nights targeting suspected smuggling operations. The joint operations, as well as surveillance operations, have significantly contributed to the discoveries of illegal fuel recorded for the year.

In July, the GEA and the GRA also signed

a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in an effort to continue cooperation and collaboration in the conduct and monitoring of petroleum operations.

Under this MoU, both parties remain affirmed in their respective mandates, while continuing to ensure sharing of information, conduct of joint investigations and surveillance and use of mutual resources to guard against the scourge of fuel smuggling activities to ensure compliance with the laws and regulations of Guyana. The inter agency collaborations for 2017 have resulted in 36 joint operations being carried out, the GEA noted.

Oil fuh so!!

S

atiricus was looking forward to the Old Year’s Night gyaff. All year round, he’d taken a lot of stick from his friends at the Back Street Bar for his KFC party’s role in the Government. But now that the Oil contract had been released, he felt vindicated. It would be HIS turn to crow about what his party had delivered!

“Well, even though he is a Moses, ‘Nagga Man’ didn’t need to split the waters and deliver us to the Promised Land!” said Satiricus. “Trot Man did it this time!!”

“Promised Land?” asked Hari sceptically, he quaffed his beer.

“Budday!!” exclaimed Satiricus. “We’ll be getting milk and honey every day!! Trot Man negotiated US$1.5billion every year for the first five years for us!!”

“Fuh abee?” asked Bungi sceptically. “An’ how much fuh dem?”

“This is the same thing I always talk about!” exclaimed Satiricus. “You can’t prove Trot Man and the Government got any pay-offs!!”

“An’ afta two-an-a-half year, dem cyaan prove Jagdesh t’ief anyt’ing,” noted Cappo. “But da na stap dem fuh t’row talk!”

“But lemme ask you something, Sato,” said Hari quietly.

“Do you know how much oil Nigeria was shipping for the past 25 years?”

“Nah! How much?” said Satiricus. “And what that has to do with us?”

“They were shipping over 2 million barrels per day every day!!” replied Hari as everyone around the table bent forward listening.

“Da twenty time mo’ dan wha abee guh produce!” exclaimed Cappo.

“An dem bin get mo’ dan two time de price abee guh get!” pointed out Bungi.

“Yes…and so?” asked Satiricus and looked forward expectantly with raised eyebrows.

“Just that the people of Nigeria are just as poor as they ever were!” announced Hari. “None of that money ever got to them.”

“But how can you be so certain the same thing will happen here?” asked Satiricus aggrievedly.

“If Trotman and your government can lie about an US$18 million bonus,” said Hari. “Imagine what they will do about US$5 BILLION!” Satiricus fell silent.

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Flooding

Stop throwing garbage in waterways – Harmon tells Albouystown residents …. AND A HOPEFUL NEW YEAR

By Ryhaan Shah

E

ach New Year comes in with the promise of renewed hope that our country would finally turn the corner and become progressive, peaceful and prosperous.

But the best predictor of future events is the past, and even as the New Year begins, the performance of the Granger Government dashes all hope of betterment. There will be no promised good life, and most especially not for Indian Guyanese communities.

Will the promised severance payments to the 4,000 retrenched sugar workers materialize? Going again from past behaviour, wherein Granger has had no problem with breaking every promise made, there might well be no such payments forthcoming in January.

It is not that we do not all know what ails Guyana.

However, there continues to be no political will to fix it, and this state of affairs of a divided country leaves us vulnerable to manipulation from external forces, who succeed in pursuing their own interests by favouring one side over the other.

The US used this strategy for near on three decades during their Cold War against the Soviet Union. They allowed the dictatorship of Forbes Burnham to flourish despite the wreckage and destruction it caused, and it appears that Guyana will once again be held hostage to international forces working against our country’s better interests.

The deep racial divide that led to that situation in the 1960s has not yet been confronted, and bridged through a constitutionally inclusive political arrangement that would allay the fears and suspicions of the two major race camps, and bring about governance that would put country above partisan politics.

The continued race imbroglio favours the sell-out of our country, and the PNC has had no compunction about gaining political power through such a betrayal. And with both the PPP and PNC stuck in their encampments, and displaying none of the political maturity that would instil the principled behaviour of statesmanlike conduct, Guyana proceeds with the tit-for-tat politicking that gets us nowhere.

Third parties have failed to make significant breakthroughs on the strongholds of either party’s support base, and the unmitigated disaster that is the AFC does not bode well for any such efforts in the near future. That they fall apart points up the shallowness of their “all awe is one” jingoism, which is not derived from any honest consideration and serious analysis of the ethnic divide.

The rhetoric is not much different from the “oneness” campaigns the two major parties promote, even though the ethnic violence that arises from the social and political tensions should indicate that mere wishful thinking could not ever be a solution.

But with the PNC’s current hold on power and the PPP smelling victory in 2020 because of the many faux pas, corruptions and incompetence of the PNC Administration, neither camp has any incentive to change direction.

They can both count on the unswerving loyalty of their support base, no matter how badly they govern. That’s the reality; and while the PPP can rely on its traditional supporters, the party will need to win over professional and urban Indian and African Guyanese to ensure a winning edge.

As much as the Granger Government is widely unpopular, no one wants an unchanged PPP Government back in office.

Dr Vishnu Bisram has suggested for the party a Civic component that would include Ralph Ramkarran, Christopher Ram and Joe Singh. This would demonstrate that the PPP has the maturity to accept constructive criticism, that it would put country first, and that it understands the importance of gaining the confidence of the international community.

Guyana is not independent from the influence of the world’s more powerful nations. The PPP’s “feral blast” did it no favours in diplomatic circles, and the party must rebuild its relationship with the Western powers if it wants to have a real chance at governance again. A PPP that understands the importance of such diplomacy could undercut whatever favourable image the PNC currently enjoys in this quarter.

Their 23 years in government were marred by PNC street violence and the Buxton-centred terrorism aimed at the party’s Indian Guyanese support. The relative calm of the PNC Administration does win it points, no matter the reality that Indian Guyanese dare not undertake any large-scale protests, since the armed forces continue to be in the hands of the PNC’s “kith and kin”.

All the more reason for the PPP to institute real reforms, which would not only change the face of the party, but would affirm a committed direction of inclusivity in governance.

We can hope that the New Year would mark a start in this direction.

A

s heavy rainfall continues, several communities along the coastal regions of Guyana have recorded high water levels, and several have been completely flooded.

In Georgetown, several sections of Alexander Village and Albouystown have been inundated as the persistent rainfalls continue.

On Saturday, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, met with Albouystown residents to distribute 300 sanitation hampers. During this distribution exercise, Harmon said the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), which is responsible for coordinating disaster relief efforts, will be working to assist the affected communities.

While commending residents for their efforts in assisting each other during their time of discomfiture, Harmon nonetheless urged that they keep garbage, including plastic bottles and plastic bags,

Minister of State Joseph Harmon presenting a sanitation hamper to an Albouystown resident whose home was flooded

out of the drains.

“I must say you guys have been doing a wonderful job in assisting one another, but I came this morning (Saturday) and I saw pampers and a lot of garbage around the area. We must keep our trenches and kokers clean,” Harmon said.

The State Minister, along

with Georgetown Mayor Patricia Chase Greene and Councillors of Constituency Number 10, Malcolm Ferreira and Heston Bostwick, gave Albouystown residents a quantity of bleach, soap power, Jeyes Fluid, garbage bags, anti-bacterial soaps, mops and brooms.

Minister Harmon told Albouystown residents during a brief meeting that a firsthand assessment of the situation was need to determine damages and needs in the area, and to assure residents that the Government is actively pursuing relief solutions. turn to page 13

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As the New Year dawns: Guyanese speak of resolutions Federalism to end ethnic conflict

I

n the lead-up to our Independence-era ethnic violence, Sir Arthur Lewis considered the Westminster majoritarian political system being bequeathed and asked, “Are we, on counting heads, to conclude that…the Indians of British Guyana may liquidate the Negroes?”

More than most of his peers, Lewis appreciated the qualitative difference of ethnic politics from the premises of Liberalism, and his allusion to “liquidation” refers to the deepseated fears that can be aroused in such polities.

Fifty years later, in his column last week, “Ending Ethnic Political Conflict”, Dr Henry Jeffrey alluded to the same fears which I had defined thirty years ago as “The African Security Dilemma”.

He noted, “Those of African ethnicity consider their not having an opportunity to lead (become president and form the government) based upon the numerical superiority of ethnic voting is an important aspect of Ravi Dev political domination.”

In other words, other mechanisms than majoritarian rules of political participation are necessary to deal with the real fears of minorities in ethnically plural societies.

However, to his credit, Lewis, who was about to become Chancellor of UG and architect of our first 5-year development plan, did not only criticise the Liberal arrangements that then favoured the Indian-dominated PPP, but suggested possible avenues out of the ethnic dilemma.

“The democratic problem in a plural society is to create political institutions which give all the various groups the opportunity to participate in decision making… Each group wants to be represented by its own party, and no single party is accepted everywhere… (The) solution is not the single party, but Coalition and Federalism.”

Over the last three decades, when I also identified the “Indian Ethnic Security dilemma” -- their numerical majority could deliver “office” but not “power,” because of their political opponents’ occupancy of the bureaucracy, police and army, and because of strategic disruptive resources in the capital, Georgetown -- I remarked at the studied refusal of African theorists to follow Lewis’s suggestion and include “Federalism” in their proposals for ending the ethnic security dilemmas.

Disappointingly, Dr Jeffrey floated another “grand coalition” proposal, and ignored political devolution.

So, once again, I propose that Guyana be reconstituted as a Federal Republic, even as a coalition government be formed at such a republic’s centre. In a society where the major ethnic groups each constitute majorities in different areas of the country, political devolution offers the largest number of incentives towards addressing ethnic insecurities. There are several variants of devolution, ranging from strong Local Government to Federalism. The latter arrangement offers the most benefits to Guyana: In a federal structure, “winner takes all politics” would be eliminated, since the central government would be concerned with national issues such as defence and foreign policy. There would be substantial autonomy to the separate states, which would guarantee justice for the inhabitants of each state exercising real power over their lives. Police functions, local development, local taxation and spending are only a few of the functions of the state governments.

When the centre does not monopolise power, the struggle to control it is not as intense. Political competition will be distributed among the states, as groups within attempt to control them. National politics will cease being a zero-sum game; central “losers” can still secure power at the state level.

Coalitions will be encouraged at the centre in situations where different interests represented there will incentivise cooperation to ensure the implementation of common programs.

Fragmentation of the electorate should lessen the possibility of any one majority dominating in all states. While that possibility would exist within a particular state, intra-ethnic rivalry would develop, since no threat will be perceived to be coming from ‘out groups’, and there will be no pleas for ‘not splitting the vote’.

As the various states manoeuvre for the maximum benefit for their citizens, alliances will shift depending on the issue, moving the present conflict from its volatile bipolar mode to a more fluid multi-polar balance.

Finally, the closer Government is to the people, the more responsive it ought to be. The state governments should be the most sensitive to the idiosyncrasies of their citizens and regions. Local courts, for instance, would be most sympathetic to autochthonous needs.

Giovanna

Sir Campbell

Winston Franklin

Ranford Harris

s 2018 dawns near, Guyanese seemed eager to ring in the new year with positive vibes and buoyancy. Several persons who spoke with this publication on Saturday expressed their desire to do away with the difficulties of 2017 by moving forward with optimism into the new year.

“My plans for the new year is to do better in school, go shopping with my mom, see the fireworks in the night and go up Region Five with her mom to see her family,” said nine-yearold Giovanna of Marian Academy, as she shopped with her family along Regent Street, Georgetown.

“Well when the new year comes, I’d like Guyana to stay up forward considering the oil system. The President and everybody should be able to do things

that people appreciate… I don’t think I have personal resolutions, but I just want Guyana to be happy. I want the country to be happy,” voiced Sir Campbell as he sipped on a cold beer in the city.

On the other hand, a few persons voiced concerns over the dwindling economy and spoke on improved management of finances and expenses while others simply left it up to the Almighty (God) to do his will.

“For the new year, perhaps change in vibes about what you do and how you go about doing it (managing) spending your money because this year was like a lot of expenses…to make a change in every aspect and try to improve on a lot of things that you didn’t get in this year or the previous year and into the next

year,” said Ranford Harris.

“For the new year, I plan to be close to God, to have a close relationship with God. When you get closer everything else falls into place so just believe and trust in him,” were the prayerful words of Glenda (only name given).

However, some were not as enthusiastic and they took the opportunity to highlight issues affecting the common man and the country at large but nonetheless conveyed their hopes for the realisation of a better life for Guyanese in 2018.

“Well basically what I would like to say for me is more opportunities for the youths them because life is not just about you alone. I would like to see the youths more occupied to use their lives to the full potential so all of us can inherit what is

manifested in life,” Winston Franklin.

“My new year resolution is really for the Government of Guyana to release the copyright laws so Guyana is protected. We been working hard, since 1955 the copyright law is being instituted in Guyana we got independence in 1966 – that is 10 years after – now is 2018 and were using the same copyright law. That is why Maduro would have done what he did the other day because we have no protection of our property so if the Government could make the copyright laws available for 2018 Guyana could get money, our country will be protected and our products will get protected also. I just want to see Guyana united.

To everybody in Guyana, happy New Year and watch out for 2018!” cried Asapha of Guyana Music Affiliate.

A

Albouystown residents receives...

from page 11

There have been minimal reports of flooding in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), with reports of five inches of water being accumulated in the North and South Ruimveldt areas, as well as minor flooding occurring along the East Coast.

Harmon, during a post-cabinet press briefing, indicated that the National Emergency Monitoring System remains activated on a 24-hour basis, with the ten administrative regions being actively monitored.

However, communities along the West Bank of Demerara, including Canal No. 1, have recorded threatening levels of water inflow.

Residents of lower Canal Number One have blamed the regional authorities who they claimed failed them with respect to proper drainage in the area.

Additionally, the residents are saying that the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), which is responsible for the maintenance of the main canal, has not cleared it since late November, hence the reason for the current flooding in the area.

Canal Number One Polder has been flooded since December 20, with the water receding during low tide -which is mainly in the nights -- but returning to threatening levels in the mornings.

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SunDAY, december 31, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Canal No 1 floods

Younge’s Take Water continues to rise 2018 and as heavy rainfall persists

R

esidents of Canal Number One Polder, West Bank Demerara, are bracing themselves for even more severe flooding with the Agriculture Ministry’s Hydro-meteorological Office forecasting more rainfall for the coastal regions and with the coincidental occurrence of above-normal high tides.

The lower villages of Canal Number One have been under water for approximately 10 days now, with little or no sign of relief in sight.

According to the Hydromet Office, light to moderate showers with the possibility of thundershowers can be expected heading into the New Year.

Regional Executive Officer of Region Three, Dennis Jaikarran, on a visit to the affected communities, noted that a team of officials has been in the area since last Saturday, assessing the situation and rendering the relevant assistance to the affected residents.

“We have been pouring in our resources at the regional level to ensure that we bring some amount of relief. We would be teaming up with NDIA (National Drainage and Irrigation Authority), the Water Users Association, and the NDC (Neighbourhood Democratic Council) in an effort to bring some amount of relief,” Jaikarran noted.

Chief Executive Officer of the NDIA, Frederick Flatts, said on Friday that with the amount of rainfall occurring, the community would continue to experience severe flooding; but he noted that the NDIA is formulat-

Inefficiency

Banana suckers felled by heavy rainfall and strong winds

This yard remains flooded, with the family making an alternative walkway to traverse the floodwaters

ing a plan to address the situation.

“There are a lot of other issues (to be considered), such as the La Parfaite Harmonie. That area used to be a swamp and used to hold a lot of water, and now it is a housing settlement and some of its water is being drained in this channel.

At NDIA level, we already started discussions to see what we can do to prevent this from happening again,” he assured.

“We clean this channel every month, but because it was cleaned early in

December, we had a buildup of weeds. Also, because we are so far here -- we are 7 miles from the sluice and pump stations -- this is the last part to be drained,” Flatts added.

According to the residents, the main drainage canal has not been cleared since late November, after the authorities ceased paying the contractor. They noted that, following the flooding, they utilized their own equipment, since most of them are farmers, to clear the main drainage canal.

On Saturday, the residents continued bashing the authorities for their inefficiency, which has resulted in millions of dollars in losses. The main source of income for the residents in the Canal No 1 Polder is faming, and because of the water accumulation, most of their farmlands are inundated.

The water continues to rise as the rain persists, and according to the residents, the water is constantly rising, with no sign of relief in the near future.

So far, the Civil Defence Commission has distributed sanitisation supplies to the residents. The Government has since said it would continue to monitor the situation, and render assistance as necessary. (Lakhram Bhagirat)

Contract guarantees Exxon...

from page 9

It goes on to state that, “if there is any excess Associated Gas in the oil field after utilisation pursuant to (secondary gas production methods), the contractor shall carry out a feasibility study regarding the utilisation of such excess Associated Gas. Such a feasibility study, if completed before submitting the development plan of an oil field, shall be included in the plan.”

The contract also states that if the parties come to an agreement that the gas has no commercial value, then it would be disposed of by the contractor “in the most economic manner.” It notes that this will be done in line with international petroleum industry practice, once it does not interfere with normal crude oil production.

The contract sets out that Exxon can choose to market the available natural gas both within and outside of Guyana. Exxon will also have the right to process natural gas for conversion to liquids, chemicals or similar products.

It adds that: “In the case of Natural Gas, the contractor and the Minister shall agree on a methodology for valuation of Natural Gas under this Article 13.1 (b) (ii) which represents the fair market value of such Natural Gas at the delivery point, taking into account composition of the Natural Gas.” The Stabroek Block is 6.6 million acres. Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (Exxon’s subsidiary) is the operator and hold a 45 per cent interest in the Stabroek Block.

Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd. holds a 30 per cent interest, and CNOOC Nexen Petroleum Guyana Limited holds a 25 per cent interest.

power-sharing

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uyana has found itself at a critical and pivotal place in its history as it prepares to usher in 2018. The country has found oil in commercial quantities, and is preparing to harvest the benefits and associated profits that would no doubt flow from the development of its infant petroleum sector; which, if managed properly, can result in overall developmental and growth prospects being easily imagined.

The country is also being run by a coalition which comprises a few resuscitated small political parties, the infamous Peoples National Congress (PNC), the Alliance for Change (AFC), and the Working Peoples Alliance (WPA). Altogether, this coalition Michael Younge is attempting to test its political acumen and the ability of its politicians to work in unity and cohesion to accomplish a defined set of goals aimed at transforming not only the socio-economic dynamics of the country, but its entrenched and archaic political culture.

While it is clear that the coalition is testing the notion of shared governance and multi-party Executive rule, it is also clear that its governance model may not stand the test of time, as it is not only cracking internally but externally. If the coalition is to be successful in managing the affairs of this country, then the opposition Peoples Progress Party, which ruled for 23 consecutive years, cannot be locked out.

The fact that the political heads of those parties which form the coalition appear indifferent and unconcerned about the PPP’s positioning at this time is telling and appalling. It means they believe they can turn the fortunes of this country around without the PPP. They feel they alone possess the qualities, ideas and philosophies that can guide public policy, which in turn would impact the livelihoods of thousands of Guyanese who come from diverse backgrounds and historic enclaves.

From the posture and tone of some of the coalition leaders, Guyana does not need the PPP, as their miniature coalition is inclusive enough and surviving thus far. Others feel that they can engineer the disappearance of the PPP and its leaders from the scene by embarking on a systematic campaign to rewrite aspects of Guyana’s history and peddle mistruths and halftruths about the PPP’s tenure in office and track record.

Leaders who support and endorse the position in regard to locking the PPP out of Government and ruling alone have no place in a modern, civilized, disciplined and democratic Guyana.

They are selfish and unpatriotic, because they continue to place their egos and passion for political revenge above the greater national good, which involves finding creative ways to bridge the sea of political differences that has curtailed our development since the post-colonial era. They are not champions of inclusivity, good governance and stability; they are angels of doom, who revel in the drama associated with the politics of division and disunity.

If this country is to move forward and embark on a genuine process of healing and reconciliation, political leaders must admit that there is no such thing as a “pure multi-ethnic party” in Guyana. Both the PNC and PPP draw their strength from the two major ethnic groups in this country; as did the United Force back in the days, when it was strongly supported by Amerindians.

The two major races hardly ever deflect, because of their suspicions about each other and the divisive rhetoric of their leaders, who quietly preach propaganda that eventually undermines the unification process. When they are frustrated, the two groups, with support from all of the other minor races, deliver shocks when they change the voting patterns or withhold support for their own party, as was seen at the elections in 1999, 2003, 2011 and possibly 2015.

But the politicians are not learning. If they accept that they aspire to represent all Guyanese but their base is particularly composed of one ethnic group, whose interest they defend and represent, Guyana will be on the path to ethnic and political reconciliation. Leaders from both the PNC and PPP, if they work to put their past behind them and attempt to genuinely negotiate a power-sharing agreement or a formula for shared government, as well as a system where the ‘winner does not take all’, Guyanese would be the only victors, because such a system can be seen as practical only if all parties are on board in 2018.

Guyana is bleeding. Her sons and daughters are facing ruin because the economy is in pre-recession mode. Crime and criminality are eating away at the safety and wellbeing of the youths and all adults. Racial hostility is on the rise, and the country is regressing.

If the coalition does not get serious about constitutional reform, shared governance and national unity, it means it is happy with ‘managing the decline of a once great country’.

Let 2018 inspire the President and Opposition Leader to pave a new beginning for all Guyanese by forcing an alliance based on mutual respect, unity, and shared governance…

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Sod turned for construction of Linden passport office

The banking of the – $30M project to wrap up in 4 months US$18M signing bonus: Is it really an Escrow Account?

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– the inexcusability of the series of contradictory excuses in its justification attempts

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he issue of the Government of Guyana receiving a ‘Signing Bonus’ from the multnational oil company operating offshore Guyana was first brought to light by one of Guyana’s most prominent financial analysts. As this revelation was made, the press did not hesitate to grill two of the key ministers of Government responsible for the emerging oil and gas sector.

To that end, the respective ministers denied knowledge of such in the first instance, to the extent that one of the ministers, when the matter became exposed publicly, attempted to engage in something called ‘playing with words’ in his response. Then, as it became exposed, it was said that it was not disclosed because of the purpose for which it was intended to be used; that is, for national security reasons.

The Head of State himself stated that all the ministers were not aware of the transaction, but the Minister of Foreign Affairs subsequently revealed in his budget presentation that the entire cabinet knew of the signing bonus.

All of these positions are, of course, contradictory positions in the truest sense of the word, and this matter is undoubtedly the most highly embarrassing predicament which the Government has encountered -- or any Government, for that matter -- in the history of Guyanese politics.

The manner in which these events unfolded is a clear indicator of grave concern with respect to the internal governance structure of the current Administration. Clearly, there was a breakdown -- and to a larger extent mismatch -- in communication at the Cabinet level; and some very unintelligent responses were proffered on the matter.

With regard to the legality of the process in which the transaction was handled, first of all, the evidence revealed that the Government was in receipt of this fund since September/October, 2016. This means that the accounts for the Government and both National Budget estimates for 2017 and 2018 were understated by US$18 million, since this sum did not form part of the estimates. And therefore this in itself is a gross error on the part of the Government. The act could also be interpreted as being illegal from a fiscal management standpoint. It is worthwhile to note that there is no evidence of anything of this sort that had ever occurred in the history of Guyana’s political economy and fiscal management practices.

The Government should have at least informed the National Assembly of the receipt of this fund, in keeping with the constitutional requirements of transactions of this nature, and also in the interest of fiscal transparency. Obviously, this was an unfortunate and miserable failure on the part of the Government. The Head of State, along with the Minister of Finance, nonetheless contended that the funds are kept in an escrow account with the Bank of Guyana. But is this really so? Is the account in which the funds are held an escrow account?

The answer is an outright no.

An escrow account consists of funds held by a third party; who collects, holds and disburses the funds pursuant to a contract or an obligation between two parties. For example, an escrow account for a home mortgage is held by the organisation that services the mortgage. The funds are paid into the escrow account by the borrower, and are disbursed by the servicer to pay local real estate taxes, hazard insurance premiums, and mortgage insurance.

Payments to the escrow account are made by the borrower to the servicer, along with the monthly debt service payments, and the servicer makes timely disbursements of the funds to tax collection agencies etc.

In the case of the US$18 million signing bonus, first of all, it is an established fact that there was no reference to any contract or arrangement with regard to the funds being, presumably, held in an escrow account. Dissecting this situation, the leaked letter to the Central Bank which is in the public’s domain, the subject with which it was addressed did not explicitly state that the Ministry of Finance wishes to open an ‘escrow account’. In fact, the letter merely stated as the subject, “Signing Bonus Granted by ExxonMobil – Request to open Bank Account.” So it should be emphasized that nowhere was a request made to the Central Bank officials to open an escrow account, which is in fact a special account.

Secondly, the letter of instruction stated thus, “This account should not be treated as part of the bank’s reserves. Instead, the proceeds should be held in the currency of the deposit, that is, United States dollars, and invested in secured-interest bearing securities.”

Henceforth, the fact that the Government declared to the public that the signing bonus is for the payment of legal fees for the Guyana/Venezuela border issue is in contradiction to the instructions contained in the letter with regard to the operations and use of the funds. It is against these backgrounds that the Government egregiously misled the public -- as it is not an escrow account. There is absolutely not a single feature on the entire matter to validate the claim that it is an escrow account. This is thus a serious adverse political matter – something is most certainly amiss. *The author is the holder of a MSc. Degree in Business Management, with concentration in Global Finance, Financial Markets, institutions & Banking from a UK university of international standing.

(For comments, questions and responses on articles featured in this column, readers can reach the author at jbinsights@outlook.com).

ithin months, residents of Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) are expected to enjoy the comfort of having a passport office which will cater for new applications within their community, easing the burden of having to travel to Georgetown to access the service.

On Saturday, Citizenship Minister Winston Felix was part of the sod turning exercise at the site for the construction of a new passport office in the vicinity of the Young Men Christian Association (YMCA) building at Mackenzie. The construction of the building, which will be 2000 square feet, will be executed by R Bassoon and Sons Contracting Company to the tune of $30,604,472.00.

Work is expected to commence next Thursday and construction is expected to wrap up within four months.

Lindeners have been accessing passport renewal services, conducted out of the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) building at Mackenzie since August last year. However, applications for new passports have to be done in the city.

Speaking at the exercise on Saturday, Minister Winston Felix said the move is part of Government’s plan to decentralise such services.

He said New Amsterdam, in Berbice has already benefited from a similar initiative. The Minister said the process now takes five working days and there are over 100 applications received from New York weekly, suggesting that

Citizenship Minister Winston Felix turns the sod for the construction of the Linden passport office

there is an increase in applications.

He said furniture has already been acquired for the building and the relevant equipment will follow, but noted that his only contention is security for the office.

“Once these two programmes (Linden and New Amsterdam) get off the ground, I’m going to Regions Two, Region Seven and Region Eight...

We’re implementing this project as a Government serving the people...”, he said. He further noted his hope that the “sins” of the past at the Georgetown office do not show up at these offices, not-

ing that a high-level efficiency and courtesy is required. In this vein, he said the public must be given priority at all times and good public service is also required. Meanwhile, Regional Chairman Renis Morian in his remarks noted that the move was a coordinated one towards development, as he reminisced on difficulties faced by people in the region in relation to accessing the services.

Outgoing Linden Mayor Carwyn Holland also noted how pleased he was as he explained that he had been a part of lobbying for the project to come on stream in the community.

No waiver for importers in 2018 – GA-FDD

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he Government Analyst Food and Drug Department (GA-FDD) is warning importers that, in the New Year, there will be no wavier regarding the relevant documentation from the countries where food items are being brought.

The GA-FDD on Saturday reminded food importers that Customs entry documents must be accompanied with the original health or free-sale certificate that must be issued by the regulatory authority of the country of origin, as is prescribed in the Food and Drug Act 32 (2), which states that “no article of food...shall be imported into Guyana unless the article wholly conforms to the law of the country in which it was manufactured or produced, and is accompanied by a certificate in prescribed form and manner that the article does not contravene any known requirement of the law of that country...” and its regulations.

The GA-FDD disclosed that during 2017, it had been inundated with requests for waivers by importers, which is a clear violation of the Act. To this end, the GAFDD has stated that for the upcoming year 2018, requests for such waivers will not be facilitated by the Department. It added that only custom entries that are accompanied with the relevant documents will cause

the release of goods for sale on the local market.

Moreover, importers are also advised to ensure that suitable and approved (licensed) storage facilities are available for the safe and protective storage of food items to be bought by

consumers.

This is a requirement according to section 8 of the Food and Drugs Act: “Any person who manufactures, prepares, preserves, packages or stores for sale any food under insanitary conditions is guilty of an of-

fence.”

The GA-FDD further warns that importers who are without the requisite storage facilities will not be allowed to import items of food to be released for sale to the general public.

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SunDAY, december 31, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Belizean CJ officially nominated for Chancellor’s post …consultation letter sent to Opposition Leader

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here have been several media reports that Belizean Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin has been tipped to become the new Chancellor of the Judiciary of Guyana, and President David Granger has officially written to Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, inviting him to a meeting to discuss the nomination.

The Government has moved to nominate Belizean Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin as Guyana’s Chancellor while the current acting Chancellor, Justice Yonette CummingsEdwards, has been nominated to become Guyana’s Chief Justice – a position in which she acted from December 2015 to May 2017, when she commenced acting as Chancellor of the Judiciary at the behest of President Granger.

Speaking to the media

Nominated for Chief Justice: Justice Yonette CummingsEdwards

at the People’s Progressive Party end-of-year press conference, Jagdeo confirmed receiving correspondence from President David Granger informing him of these nominations.

“A letter was sent to me

from the President, nominating Justice Benjamin for the post of Chancellor and Justice Cummings for the post of Chief Justice…

So we’re trying to schedule that meeting for next week (this week),” Jagdeo told the media.

This publication has learnt that Benjamin was interviewed earlier this year for the post. He was then handpicked by a committee put together by President David Granger and Attorney General Basil Williams.

Benjamin had previously worked for the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), having served as a magistrate and judge advocate during his stint, before migrating overseas. He studied at the Hugh Wooding Law School before going on to hold several high-level portfolios in the judicial system at home, in the Caribbean, and further afield.

Acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Madam Justice Yonnet CummingsEdwards, was appointed by President David Granger in May of this year. Prior to that, she acted as the Chief Justice from December 2015. She was never confirmed in the substantive position.

Justice CummingsEdwards had replaced Justice Carl Singh, who retired after acting as Chancellor since 2005.

On the other hand, the current Acting Chief Justice, Justice Roxane George, was also appointed to act in that position in May of 2017, on the same day that Justice Cummings-Edwards was appointed to act as Chancellor.

Back in March 2017, President Granger has consulted with Opposition Leader Jagdeo before appointing Cummings-

Bandits invade Black Bush Polder home …escape with $2.4M

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rmed bandits invaded a Black Bush Polder, Berbice home and carted off with $2.4 million in cash and jewellery.

Reports are three masked men used a crowbar to break into the two-story building situated at Lot 13 Mibicuri South, Black Bush Polder, and carried out the robbery. At the time, Rohit Ramnarine and his wife, Lilowwattie, also called “Salojie”, were not at home and their two children ages 12 and 13 were alone.

Guyana Times was told that the men wrenched open the back door at about 21:00h on Friday night as the children slept in the upper flat of the building.

The businessman, who sells combine spare parts and also vegetables, told this publication

that he and his wife left at about 20:00h to go to Port Mourant.

This publication understands that when the men entered the home, they woke the teenagers and then used a bedroom door curtain to tie the 12-yearold boy.

Reports are one of the men, who had a gun, demanded that the children tell him where the money and jewellery were but when they hesitated, one of his accomplices grabbed the teenage girl. In an attempt to save his sister from injury, the brother showed the bandits where his parents hid the money.

The teen took the bandits to the lower flat of the building where he showed them a container which had $1,200,100. After taking the money, the men ransacked the entire house in search of more money and stumbled upon

Nominated for Chancellor: Belizean Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin

Edwards as acting Chancellor and George as acting CJ. Article 127 of the Constitution says, “The Chancellor and the Chief Justice shall each be appointed by the President, acting after obtaining the

EBD man dies after jumping off overpass

A the jewellery.

This newspaper was told that before the men left, they took the two children into the bedroom and locked the door and told them not to make a sound.

After some time had passed and there were no more sounds of the men in the house, the children telephoned an older sister who lives in the same village and their mother.

Ramnarine said when he arrived home, the entire house was ransacked.

The businessman said

he had taken the money home before the holiday to pay for some combine spear parts, but his supplier informed him that they would not have arrived until the new year.

The Police were called and an investigation has been launched.

agreement of the Leader of the Opposition.”

Both posts were then advertised, and applications have been received, as recommended by President Granger.

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, was quoted then as saying, “A panel was put together, which comprised former Justice of Appeal Ms Claudette Singh; Mr James Patterson, and Mr Harold Lutchman. The panel, of course, met, and we are awaiting the report of that panel. Once that is submitted to His Excellency the President, he will, in due course, make his decision on the matter.”

An undertaking was made to have the report and the information derived from the interview process submitted to the Leader of the Opposition, according to the Minister of State.

Grove, East Bank Demerara (EBD) man died on Saturday after he jumped off the pedestrian overpass at Diamond.

Dead is Navin Surujpaul.

Reports are at about 15:30h the man removed the barriers set up by construction workers and made his way onto the structure.

The 40-year-old man then jumped from the structure onto the roadway.

Construction workers went to his aid and rushed him to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre where he succumbed to his injuries.

The EBD pedestrian overpasses at Houston, Peter’s Hall, Eccles, Providence and Diamond,

are soon to be complete.

Earlier in the year, Minister of State Joseph Harmon had announced that a US$364,000 contract was awarded for the pedestrian overpass at Diamond and a US$1 million contract for those at Houston, Peter’s Hall and at Eccles.

The construction of the overpasses at Houston, Eccles and Peter’s Hall were awarded to B&J Civil Works whilst those at Providence and Diamond were given to S Jagmohan Hardware.

The overpass projects are part of the Public Infrastructure Ministry’s efforts to improve road safety countrywide.

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Decomposing body of Corentyne farmer found

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he decomposed body of a Corentyne farmer was on Thursday found at a friend’s house at Number 58 Village, Corentyne, Berbice. The dead man has been identified as Jameer Ibrahim, also called “Bruck Wing”, and it is suspected that he died from natural causes since no visible marks of violence were observed on his body.

Ibrahim, of Number 55 Village, Corentyne, had left home a few days prior to his demise. Based on reports received, the dead man suffers from epilepsy and might have suffered a seizure and died. It is speculated that his friend was too intoxicated to solicit assistance.

Guyana Times understands that Ibrahim died on Tuesday and was left in

Dead: Jameer Ibrahim, called “Bruck Wing”

the house until his friend, who is also an alcoholic went to the dead man’s

house to inform his parents.

Based on reports received, the two friends would frequent drinking spots in the community.

However, following the discovery was the man’s decomposed body, the friend was taken into custody. He told investigators that Ibrahim fell unconscious and he tried to revive him but to no avail.

Instead of soliciting assistance, the friend claimed that he continued to consume alcohol and eventually fell asleep. As the body started decomposing, the friend went to Ibrahim’s family and related what occurred.

The Police at Number 51 Village were immediately informed of the situation, but the ranks turned up at the scene four hours later.

“Unruly Boss” jailed

…says he took employer’s vehicle on joyride to “show off”

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remorseful yet humorous Mark Anthony, called “Unruly Boss”, a labourer of no fixed address, appeared unrepresented before Chief Magistrate Ann Mc Lennan to answer a complaint mad by his employer, Rajiff Singh of La Penitence (Georgetown), that he had taken Singh’s motor van, GSS 1970, valued at $3.35 million, without permission, and had abandoned same on the Agricola Public Road after it had run out of gas.

Anthony pleaded guilty to the offence, and told the court that he is 24 years old with no fixed place of abode -- living “all over in a lot of places”.

Anthony had previously worked with the complainant’s father in the interior, but had recently been fired. Despite being the one to have fired Anthony, Singh had taken him under his roof, as Anthony had nowhere to live when he returned to Georgetown. In return for being provided with food, clothing and shelter, Anthony was expected to lend a hand on the businessman’s premises, and had been working as a labourer for the past two months.

On Boxing Day last (December 26, 2017), Singh left his premises in care of Anthony and went to visit relatives in Kitty.

However, as he was driving north along Vlissingen Road, Anthony cruised past him in motor van GSS 1970.

At a traffic light, Singh made eye contact with Anthony, causing Anthony to speed away in a nervous state. The alarmed employer then made a report to the Ruimveldt Police

Jailed: Mark Anthony, aka “Unruly Boss” from Magazine Page 15

Station, and Anthony was subsequently arrested and detained at the Kitty Police Station. The motor van was found abandoned on the Agricola Public Road the following day.

In court, Anthony readily admitted to the offence, but said he had no intention to steal the vehicle.

“I just went on a lil’ showoff drive. I didn’t intend to steal,” Anthony pleaded.

He said he was forced to abandon the vehicle after it had run out of gas, and he had given his girlfriend the keys to the vehicle for safekeeping.

The Chief Magistrate fined Anthony $30,000, with an alternative of two months in jail for default of payment.

“I will spend the two months, and I will try to behave myself,” he assured the court.

Crossword Solution

The Police later informed the dead man’s father that the family would have to stand the expense of removing the body to a mortuary. Guyana Times was told that it cost the family $105,000 to transport the body to

Georgetown since the funeral homes in Berbice refused to accept the deceased due to the state of decomposition.

At the scene, eyewitnesses related that due to the state of decomposition, the man’s face was unrec-

ognisable.

The body is at the Lyken’s Funeral Home awaiting a post-mortem on Wednesday. The friend of the dead man was subsequently released but was asked to report to the Police on a daily basis.

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Table tennis : Guyana secures 3 silver & 7 bronze medals at Caribbean Cadet & Junior Championships

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he 22nd Caribbean Region Table Tennis Federation (CRTTF) Cadet & Junior Championship came to a close on April 18 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall and the local contingent had a commendable outing at the event where they managed to bag three silver and seven bronze medals.

The success story for Guyana would have to be girls’ under-18 player Priscilla Greaves who managed to secure the country’s lone individual medal via her bronze which she shared with Cuba’s Shelly Machado.

In the overall results

Team Guyana! Seated (L-R) President of the Guyana Table Tennis Association Godfrey Munrore, Priscilla Greaves, Director of Sport Christopher Jones and Guyana Olympic Association Doping Control Officer Charles Corbin

of the championships, Dominican Republic were rampant in both the un-

der-15s and u-18s categories, storming to a total tally of 12 gold medals, four

Squash: Hosts Guyana dethroned after 12 years as Caribbean Junior Champs

Runners up: Guyana’s Male and Female teams pose with their trophies and team officials

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Overall winners Barbados pose with their trophy

uyana, having won the Junior Caribbean Area Squash Association (CASA) championships for 12 straight years, conceded the title to Barbados on July 8 when action came to a close at the Georgetown Club courts.

The Guyanese girls were the first to be defeated, in the morning session, as the

Barbadian females won 5-0 in their encounter.

Guyana’s Taylor Fernandes lost 5-11, 4-11, and 1-11 to Bajan Meagan Best, while Rebecca Low went down to Amanda Heywood in sets of 3-11, 7-11 and 5-11.

In the third matchup between the two countries, the Barbadian Jodi Smith-

Padmore downed Guyana’s Makeda Harding 11-9, 11-6 and 11-5. Harding’s teammate Abosaide Cadogan then went down to Chelsie Samuel by 11-6, 11-9 and 1210.

Guyana’s Male team took on their Bajan counterparts in the second session of the day in what was anticipated to be a mouth-watering clash. However, it was a disappointing encounter, as the Guyanese lost 4-1.

Guyana’s Benjamin Mekdeci offered brief resistance before losing out to Josiah Griffith in sets of 14-12, 11-8 and 11-6, while Alexander Cheeks forced a fifth set with Reginald Brewster, who eventually won by scores of 11-5, 11-7, 11-13, 6-11 and 11-6.

Guyana had previously won the title consecutively from 2005 to 2016.

silver medals and eight bronze medals. Barbados (1 gold;1 bronze), Trinidad and

Tobago (1 silver; 1 bronze), Aruba (2 bronze) and Cuba (2 bronze) were the other countries that earned a spot on the podium.

The team success came for Guyana in the boys under-15 doubles via silver from the combination of Jamal Nicolas and Terrance Rausche while teammates Tyriq Saunders and Isiah Layne had to share the third spot with Dominican Republic’s Steff Gutierrez and Ronaldo Tejada; Barbados pair of Ramon Maxwell and Rashon Goddard came first.

In the female section, Nevah Clarkston/Abigail

Martin had to share third place with Selanas Jackman and Thuraia Thomas.

In the mixed doubles, Kaysan Ninvalle and Martin copped third along with Niran Bissu and Thomas; overall the girls team finished in second place while the boys’ A-team got third.

In the under-18s section, both the boys and the girls finished in fourth position, while Greaves and Jamaail Homer won silver in the doubles. The other countries to participate in the fiveday event were St. Lucia, Suriname and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

South American Junior Championships F or the first time in almost 100 years of athletics history in South America, Guyana hosted an area event: the 42nd edition of the South American Junior Championships, which took place on 3-4 June at the National Track and Field Center in Leonora, Georgetown.

Brazil dominated the event, held in the tropical conditions of Guyana, which favoured the sprinters and jumpers. The South American giant led both the medal table and the points classification.

Guyana, Colombia, Peru and Argentina followed in points, while Ecuador, Colombia, Peru and Guyana followed in the medal table.

Lorraine Martins secured two of Brazil’s gold medals by winning the 100m and 200m.

Running into strong headwinds, the 17-year-old captured the 100m with a personal best of 11.56 (-3.1m/s) and the 200m in 23.89 (-2.6m/ s). Martins will be eligible to compete at the IAAF World U18 Championships Nairobi 2017 next month.

Compton Caesar brought the happiest moment to the local crowd with his victory in the 100m. The 19-year-old improved the national U20 record to 10.37 (-1.6m/s) and delivered Guyana’s first gold medal at the event in the history of the championships.

Brazil’s world U18 silver

medallist Derick Silva was second in 10.45.

Up until this edition, Guyana’s participation at the South American Junior Championships has not been consistent as the Caribbean nation had only obtained three gold medals. 17-yearold Chantoba Bright provided another glorious moment with her victory in the long jump with 6.30m. The lack of wind readings in that event prevented Bright’s mark from standing as a national U20 record, but she had another attempt at bettering it when she competed at the upcoming World U18 Championships only to fall short.

Three championship records

Ecuador’s Marcos Herrera, Yuleixi Angulo and Chile’s Mariana García delivered the only championship records. Herrera captured the 110m hurdles victory with a national U20 record of 13.58 (-1.9m/s), adding his gold to the one obtained at the 2016 South American Youth Championships. It was Ecuador’s second victory at the event following Jackson Quiñónez’s win in 1999.

Brazil’s Vitor Matheus Souza was second in 13.87.

García took the hammer victory with 60.42m, coming close to her own national U20 record of 60.83m. The Chilean also had won her event at the

2016 South American Youth Championships.

Angulo delivered a brilliant victory in the javelin, setting championship and national senior records with her 54.00m performance. The mark makes the 16-year-old a possible medal contender for the upcoming World U18 Championships in Nairobi.

José Luis Mandros secured the long jump title with a Peruvian U20 record of 7.91m (0.0m/s). The previous mark of 7.87m, set at altitude by Fernando Valiente, had stood for almost 30 years.

World U18 champion Maribel Caicedo of Ecuador triumphed in the 100m hurdles with 14.32 (0.6m/s). The mark was far from her 13.19 area U20 record as she got off to a poor start, but she managed to catch Brazil’s Vitória Alves (14.41) before the tape.

Besides double sprint winner Martins, Brazil’s Jeferson dos Santos, Daniel do Nascimento, Saymon Hoffmann and Argentina’s Ailén Armada also captured double victories in Georgetown.

Dos Santos won the 800m and 1500m (1:56.35, 4:00.95), while Do Nascimento triumphed at the 5000m and 10,000m (14:53.71 and 31:01.64), all in tactical races. Both Hoffmann (16.57m and 54.59m) and Armada (14.34m, 47.43m) took the shot and discus titles.

Rugby: ‘Green Machine’ loses steam on final hurdle; suffer 23-19 loss to USA Panthers

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uyana’s National Rugby Team, ‘Green Machine’, bidding to return to Rugby America’s North (RAN) supremacy, suffered a heart-rending loss to USA Panthers on July 29 at the National Park Rugby Field.

It was “so close but yet so far away” for the local ruggers in a game which had varied performance in both halves, causing the final score to read 23-19 in favour of the visitors, who had lost to Guyana 3—27 in a dramatic match in 2014.

Guyana found it hard going from the onset, with the soggy conditions only add-

ing more to their woes. They failed to bury any chances in the first half, and this ultimately caused them the match, much to the disappointment of the sizable audience, which included Director of Sport Christopher Jones and Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson.

In the 19th minute, Zach Miller gave the Panthers their first three points; and 10 minutes later, Captain Hein Erasmus scored a try, giving his side a clear 8-point lead.

Some tactical changes saw a rejuvenated Green Machine keep a closer backline and begin having a reg-

Osie McKenzie on his way to scoring one of two tries which gave a late boost to the Green Machine (Akeem Greene Photo)

ular presence in the 22-yard area. Though they were looking the more dominant side,

Miller again missed the mark, offered in a penalty in the 54th.

From then the Guyanese rallied in a desperate effort to salvage some pride. Late

substitute Osie McKenzie produced a daring half-field run to score a sensational try in the 77th minute, but Lancelot Adonis unfortunately missed the conversion. The heat was on, and McKenzie again made the difference with another bullet-like sprint down the centre in the 80th minute, sinking another try, which was converted by Godfrey Broomes.

With the final looking very interesting, given that Guyana had to maintain ball possession and score a try to win the match, the ball went out of play and the referee sounded the final whistle.

20 sports

december 31, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

CPL 2017: Super Cooper gives Knight Riders 2nd title – Amazon Warriors finish 3rd – Walton is MVP, Tanvir best bowler

A

stunning late surge from the Trinbago Knight Riders turned a helter-skelter match on its head right at the death to seal their second Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) title and deny St Kitts & Nevis Patriots in a maiden title in a thrilling final.

Chasing 136 the Knight Riders seemed down and out at 90 for 7 but Denesh Ramdin and Kevon Cooper kept the Knight Riders in the hunt, reducing the equation to 28 off 13 balls. It was then that Cooper exploded into life, launching a six over extra cover to ignite the contest once more.

A dramatic penultimate over bowled by Ben Hilfenhaus begun with two wides in the first three balls before a waist high no-ball was carved over

cover for another six from Cooper. The ensuing free hit was hit for four through back-

Chris Gayle and Ronsford Beaton. Gayle survived a testing first over but fell victim to

Sohail Tanvir finished with 17 wickets including a best of 5 for 3 against the Tridents

Trinbago Knight Riders became the first team to win two CPL titles

ward point and so too the ball after that. Two balls later Ramdin scampered a single to seal the win with an over remaining.

Earlier, after being put into bat by the Knight Riders the Patriots innings saw a familiar rivalry resume between

the first ball of the second from Searles, driving in the air to Yasir Shah at backward point.

Wickets continued to fall regularly leaving the first-time finalists deflated at 79 for 5 after 16 overs when Sunil Narine completed his spell with exceptional figures of 1 for 8.

Swimming: Guyana finishes 3rd at Goodwill Meet

Goodwill Swim Meet age group champions Aleka Persaud (left) and Leon Seaton

G

uyana that grabbed the spotlight with the country’s remarkable improvement as they finished third place to end a longstanding streak of poor performances at the Goodwill swim meet when it concluded on August 23

at the National Aquatic Centre, in Liliendaal.

Trinidad and Tobago were no surprises as overall winners but the host had two age-group champions in Aleka Persaud and Leon Seaton, multiple record-breaking performanc-

es and a heavy haul of 60 medals, including 20 gold, Guyana finished with 868.5 points, some distance away from the penultimate position the team managed at the competition last year, when competing against five other countries in St Lucia. This year Guyana’s participation was bolstered by maximum participation and impressive performances, which saw 11 of the 40 participating Guyanese swimmers medal in individual events. Guyana picked up 21 medals on the final day.

Trinidad and Tobago successfully defended their title as the winning country after putting together 1 322 points, holding off longtime adversary Suriname for yet another year, but only just. Suriname ended just 33 points behind Trinidad, while usual third-place finishers Barbados were displaced to fifth position this year with just 445 points.

St Lucia ended in sixth with 314.5 points and newcomers Grenada were last with 50 points.

Fortunately they had Carlos Brathwaite and Mohammad Nabi waiting in the wings. Seven boundaries in the final four overs of the innings lifted them to 135 for 6 with Brathwaite finishing 30 not out off 25 balls and Nabi 18

not out off 5 balls.

In the eliminator, the three-time finalist the Guyana Amazon Warriors 159 for 6 (Gajanand Singh 39, Primus 35*, Narine 2-21) fell to hosts Trinbago Knight Riders 160 for 4 (Munro 57*, Darren

Bravo 43) by six wickets.

The Amazon Warriors narrowly qualified for the playoffs with 10 points were lead by the tournament’s leading run scorer and Most Valuable Player Chadwick Walton with 458 runs and Sohail Tanvir who finished with the most wickets in the tournament (17) including the second best figures in the history of domestic T20 5 for 3 to help bowl out the Tridents for 59 in just 13.4 overs, the second lowest Hero CPL total of all time.

The Warriors got the services of Rashid Khan, one of two Afghanistan players who made their CPL debut in the tournament’s fifth edition.

Motor racing: 2nd place finish for Guyana at CMRC

D

espite a strong showing on home turf, Guyana will just have wait until next year to once again savour the success of winning the Caribbean Motor Racing Championship (CMRC) title after finishing second to two-time defending champions Trinidad and Tobago who scored a whopping 1267 points after the 2017 season concluded on November 12 at South Dakota Circuit.

This announcement was made by Chairman of the Caribbean Motor Racing Association (CMRA) Silbourne Clarke on November 13 at the annual presentation ceremony and dinner held at the Ramada Princess Hotel, East Bank Demerara.

With previous rounds held in Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and then Barbados, Clarke highlighted that current Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club President Ramez Mohamed led the Guyanese charge up the point standings. According to Clarke, Guyana amassed 648 points while Barbados (580), Jamaica (330) and Cayman Island (65) rounded-off the table.

Regarding individual awards, CMRC Group 4 (AWD) champion was awarded to local and Andrew King while the 2WD went Barbadian Mark Maloney.

King also won the local 2WD class while former CMRC champion Kristian Jeffrey won the 4WD. Group three CMRC cham-

Sweet Victory! Team Trinidad and Tobago celebrate another Championship title

pion driver went to Trinidad’s Paul Vieira while , Vishok Persaud who was simply unstoppable on Sunday wining all three of his races was deemed the local champion for the group.

Over in Group Two, Barbadian Mark Thomson retained his CMRC title while Chet Singh lead the locals.

Sports Tuner went to Azaad Hasan while Street Tuner was awarded to Roopnarine Dasrat and the Starlet Cup champion being Motilal Deodass.

In the two-wheel thick of action, Team Mohammed’s

Bryce Prince won the CMRC Super Sport title, displacing 2016 Champion Mathew Vieira. Prince would have been unbeaten throughout all the rounds until Guyana where he was beaten by teammate Matt Truelove.

On the local circuit, the improving Kevin Persaud who amassed the highest points while Raverio Tucker came second and Vieira third.

The first leg of the 2018 Championships will be held in March at the Wallerfield Raceway in Trinidad and Tobago.

Jaguars take hat-trick of R4D titles

Guyana hosts Barbados & Cuba in CONCACAF Women’s U-17 Qualifiers O T

Hat-trick complete! The victorious Guyana Jaguars at Providence in April, 2017 after lifting their third consecutive Regional First Class title (Photo by John Ramsingh)

he qualifiers served to decide who would make it to the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup, and saw Guyana hosting Barbados and Cuba in the CONCACAF Qualifiers from August 9 to 13, at the National Track and Field Facility (NTFF) at Leonora, West Coast Demerara.

The host nation failed to register a single win at the tournament as Cuba ended up topping the group to qualify for the world cup on superior goal difference over Barbados.

In the first match on

August 9, Barbados turned out not to be a gracious guest after whipping host Guyana 5-1.

The visitors took advantage of shaky defending, which allowed in an own goal, and an out of sync midfield to collect three valid points.

The more physical Barbados side outran and outplayed Guyana from the beginning as the inexperienced locals, most of who were in their first major tournament, crumbled under the floodlights.

When Barbados clashed

with Cuba on August 11, the two sides played to a stalemate and shared points.

A scintillating Cuban performance on the back of a helmet-trick from striker Cecil Tamayo and a brace from electrifying winger Elianne Sarmiento ensured that they eased past, scoring 8 goals without reply in the third Group ‘D’ CONCACAF U-17 World Cup qualifying match played at the National Track and Field Facility on August 13.

Cuba needed to score at least 5 goals without conceding if they were to qual-

ify ahead of Barbados, and at the post-match press conference, four-goal heroine Cecil Tamayo said she was “proud of her team and the way they played, as they went out there and did what they had to do.” Head Coach for the Cuban outfit, Lazaro Ruis, maintained that he always believed in the team and the players. He said he was satisfied with the result, and pointed out that he would continue to work on their mistakes as they move forward in their world cup qualifying campaign.

n Easter Monday 2017 at Providence, Guyana Jaguars, still with a game to play, joined Jamaica and Barbados as the only teams to win three consecutive Regional First-Class titles when they beat Windward Islands Volcanoes by an innings and 121 runs and while their third title was not as clinical as the previous two it was just as satisfying.

Although without six senior players, the Jaguars produced their best batting, bowling and fielding at home with the players that came in playing their roles, especially Keemo Paul. Chandrapaul Hemraj and Steven Jacobs got fifties in their come-back games, Gudakesh Motie bowled well to finish with 21 wickets while

Assad Fudadin batted brilliantly as a senior player, scoring a century to set up the win.

Playing in the third Cricket West Indies Professional Cricket League (PCL) Regional Four Day (R4D) tournament, the Jaguars have improved and has done tremendously well since the GCB’s Franchise League started and a lot of hard work while planning and executing also contributed to the team’s success.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who missed the last two matches due to his contractual obligation to play County Cricket for Lancashire, made the most runs for Guyana (622). Every batsman reached 50, but only Chanderpaul (2) and Fudadin reached centuries.

sunDAY, december 31, 2017 | www.guyanatimesgy.com

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sports

21

2017 served the BVA well – Nedd

By Clifton Ross

P

resident of the Berbice Volleyball Association (BVA) and National Coach Levi Nedd credited 2017 as a year of accomplishment for the club, adding that 2018 will see bigger and better things unraveling in the sport.

“The BVA has concluded all its activities for the year, coupled with the fact that all the overseas tours were successful in which the BVA players outnumbered the rest,” said Nedd during a recent interview with Guyana Times Sport.

Nedd gave valuable insight into the association’s current year and plans for the new one. “Our youth development in both the male and female categories in Berbice have been doing well and next year we will focus more on them,” said the coach who hailed the BVA for churning out a large number of national players compared to the other counties.

Nedd said one downfall heading into the new-year was the migration of some of the top senior players who are now relocated overseas. The Coach pointed out that more emphasis will

BVA President Levi Nedd now be placed on the younger crop of volleyball players, some of which have already been identified.

It was also revealed that French Guiana, Brazil and Trinidad are likely destination in 2018 as the BVA looks to promote more overseas competitions

to help sharpen their players. Guyana is currently the reigning Inter-Guiana Games (IGG) champs, having won the tournament two years in a row.

Nedd stated that the pressure to maintain such a record comes with tons of training and commitment which in the end seems to be paying off for the association with their weekly sessions.

Nedd, a former player and current National Head Coach confirmed that following next month’s AGM, once he’s retained as President of the Association, more strategies will be implemented to ensure the sport reaches the schools. A plan to integrate volleyball with schools for 2018 is among the big plans Nedd outlined. He feels that with more participation from schools will help to create a wider base for the sport to breed, not just in Berbice but across Guyana.

In closing the Coach said that despite the few challenges encountered, 2017 was a brilliant year for volleyball across the board, adding that he wants more input from the Guyana Volleyball Federation (GVF) with regards to the training and preserving of its local officials.

Jaguars resume training following Xmas break T

hree-time defending Regional FourDay champs, Guyana Jaguars wrapped up a successful two-day training session at the Guyana National Stadium as part of their fine-tuning ahead of the 2018 Regional Super 50 tournament.

While rain forced the cancellation of several sporting activities, including the Jaguars 50 Overs League domestic competition which was in its latter stages until rain forced a countrywide postponement; the Jags utilized most of the rainy Friday and Saturday to push in as much training as possible.

When Guyana Times Sport visited the Stadium on Saturday, Jaguars Assistant Coach/Manager Rayon Griffith said the two days were merely used to evaluate the players who had a brief time off following the break of the 2017/18 Cricket West Indies (CWI) Digicel Regional Foru-Day tournament; which concluded its first phase on December 17.

Griffith and Head Coach Esuan Crandon along with most of the Jaguars top players the caliber of; Shivnarine and Tagenarine

Shiv and Tagenarine Chanderpaul walk to their marks during some high-catching drills

Chanderpaul, captain Leon Johnson, Vice-Captain Vishaul Singh, Anthony Bramble, Keemo Paul, Veerasammy Permaul and others were engaged in various drills.

Catching techniques and ground fielding were heavily stressed on by the coaches who carried out overtime work by placing players in two groups; as they defied the rain at Providence to push in some much-needed training.

While rain seemed to dampen things for the cricketers who were forced to train under slight showers but remained very animated and in high spirits; as was evident from the jovial expressions during

their sessions.

Griffith said he was pleased by the intensity shown by his players who were still in tip-top shape despite indulging in the perks of the Christmas season. He pointed out that it was also exceptional to see the team showing the desire to train despite the weather threatening to hamper outdoor plans.

Most of the players looked sharp and their techniques appeared tidy; traits of a team who are full of confidence after dominating the first half of the fourday tournament by winning four matches, drawing one while the other ended in a historic tie.

The former national pac-

er turned Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Chairman of National Selectors, confirmed that all of his players are in great physical shape and are not carrying injuries.

Meanwhile, with the Regional Super50 set for January 30 to February 21, 2018 the Jaguars 50 Overs League was used as a measuring stick for selectors to assemble the best possible side by virtue of assessing the League’s top-performers.

Although Guyana will have its quota of marquee players who are automatic selectees for the 50 Overs team, others were using the now postponed Jaguars 50 Over League as a means of placing themselves in contention for a national callup.

However, with the indefinite cancellation of the play-offs as well as the finals due to inclement weather, the difficult task of choosing the best possible Jaguars side is now with the selection panel. They may be tempted to go with what they have seen in the early stages in their quest for their first Regional 50-overs title since 2005. (Clifton Ross)

22

guyanatimesgy.com

sundAY december 31, 2017

GFF ‘Super 16’ League…

Grove continues

“giant killing” run

– book final date with pouncing soldiers

I

(L-R) Grove Hi-Tech marksmen Cutez Kellman, Kelsey Benjamin and Denzil Crawford

t seems there is no beanstalk too big for Grove Hi-Tech as they slayed another giant on their way to the final of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) ‘Super 16’ year-end tournament. On Friday evening at the National Track and Field Facility at Leonora, another giant dropped in the form of Fruta Conquerors as Grove battled their way to a 4-3 victory of one of the city’s top teams.

The trilling win was orchestrated by national player Kelsey Benjamin who netted a brace with goals in the 12th and 21st. Cutez Kellman extended the lead with a goal in the 27th but Jermaine Junior brought some first half respite with a goal in the 30th.

The second stanza began with much of the same dominance by Grove and their constant efforts on goal eventually brought virtue when Denzil Crawford converted in the 67th.

It seemed all over until Solomon Austin scored from the spot kick in the 77th followed by Eon Alleyne eleven minutes later. The late surge while it provided wholesome entertainment proved not to be enough for the men in orange.

In the other fixture, tournament favourites Guyana Defence Force (GDF) demolished Milerock 4-1 in the lopsided contest. Jeffrey Pereira gave the soldiers the early lead in the 24th but the first half was not to see

another goal.

The route materialized in the second half when Delwin Fraser scored in the 60th but the Linden unit through Randy Jerome reduced the lead in the 67th.

Capping off a fine display by the men in green, Sherwin Caesar (85th) and Delroy Fraser scored in the 88th.

The final will be contest-

ed on New Year’s Day between Grove and GDF while Conquerors and Milerock battle in the third-place play-off.

Teams are playing for the grand cash prize of $2million, while the losing finalist will receive $1million, third place $500,000 and fourth $250,000.

UDFA/ GT Beer Christmas tournament…

Botafago

oust defending champions

A

new champion will be crowned on New Year’s Night after Botafago ended the reign of Silver Shattas with a heart breaking 6-5 penalty shootout out victory while Net Rockers romped past Eagles United 4-1 in semi-final matches which were played at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground on Friday night.

The first semi-final was a tough going for both sides.

After a scoreless first half, Botafago netted four minutes into the second period through Jamine Samuels for a 1-0 lead. As both sides toiled on the rain soaked outfield, Wesley Hall would put things on even keel for the Shattas when he scored in the 88th minute.

At the end of regulation time, the scores remained locked and in extra period of play Wesley Hall put his Sliver Shattas into the lead through a 102nd minute strike, only to see the scores knotted in the 109th minute through an own goal.

That sparked interest into the match, but the final whistle came with the scores locked at 2-2. In the penalty shootout the Botafago side prevailed 6-5 as the champions exited the tournament.

In the second game Net Rockers shot past Eagles United behind a hat-trick of goals from Shane Luckie which came in the second half in the 53rd, 56th and 58th minutes. Clarence Huggins then added another for the Rockers in the 66th minute for the winners.

guyanatimesgy.com

SunDAY, december 31, 2017

23

Seaton, Persaud shine with gold in Suriname …Guyana finished with 24 medals

Leon Seaton

R

ising talents in the pool, Aleka Persaud and Leon Seaton Jr continue to carry the Golden Arrow Head high when they combined to tally eight gold medals at the VOS end of the year swim meet in Suriname last week.

Persaud’s splendid performances saw her shattering two records. Competing in the age 9-10-year-old cat-

egory, she erased the 50m freestyle record of 30.03s to set 29.98s and the same distance in the butterfly she lowered 32.68s to 32.50s.

She also won the 100m individual medley in a time 1:17.98s ahead of Kaelyn Djoparto (1:19.95s) and Amzya Macrooy (1:21.13s).

Adding the icing on the cake was her victory in the 50m backstroke in a time of

36.43s, edging out Djoparto (36.49s) once again while fellow Guyanese Patrice Mahaica stopped the clock at 37.24s.

Seaton made the 11-12-year-old category his own, winning the 100m butterfly in 1:04.36s, 100m freestyle (57.23s), 100m backstroke (1:09.88s) and 50m freestyle (25.40s). It was not all gold rush for Seaton as he had to settle for bronze in the 100m breast stroke, clocking a distant 1:23.65s behind Shafiq Tangali 1:22.63s and Feranto Stuger (1:16.29s).

In the open category, Andrew Fowler won three individual gold medals and one relay bronze while Trumanine Cole who competed in the same category won two individual bronze and one individual silver medal.

Guyana also captured medals from Shareefa Lewis in the girls’ 7-8-year-old category where she won three individual silver medals. Patrice Mahaica also chipped in with two individual bronze medals and one relay gold medal in the girls 9-10 category.

Nikta Fiedtkou swam in the girls 15-17 and won three individual bronze and 1 relay bronze medal. In the boys 9-10 category Jaleel

South Africa vs India…

Fit again Steyn, du Plessis, Morris added to first Test squad

D

ale Steyn, who was ill during South who took a five-wicket haul as recently as Africa's Boxing Day Test, joins a for- Wednesday. Kagiso Rabada, Morne Morkel midable pack of fast bowlers in the and Vernon Philander round off South squad picked to play India soon after the Africa's battery of pace bowlers. Theunis New Year. Allrounder Chris Morris has re- de Bruyn, who was reserve batsman when covered from a groin injury to be part of the South Africa faced Zimbabwe, retains his 15-member squad which will assemble in place. Fast bowler Duanne Olivier is the only man to miss out.

Cape Town on Tuesday.

South Africa squad for Cape Town Test; Faf du Plessis, who could not play against Zimbabwe earlier this week due to Faf du Plessis (capt), Hashim Amla, Temba a viral infection, will take back the captain- Bavuma, Quinton de Kock (wk), Theunis de cy from AB de Villiers. South Africa have Bruyn, AB de Villiers, Dean Elgar, Keshav chosen not to name a reserve wicketkeep- Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Morne Morkel, er which suggests they believe Quinton de Chris Morris, Andile Phehlukwayo, Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada, Dale Kock should pull up well from his hamSteyn. string strain by the time the first ball is bowled on January 5.

Morris has not played international cricket since July, when he picked up a back injury during the tour of England.

He came back to action earlier this month in the Ram Slam T20 tournament, but hurt his groin while playing the final. He took 4 for 13 as his franchise, the Titans, were crowned champions. Morris was left out of the squad for the inaugural four-day, day-night Test but was in the dressing room in Port Elizabeth when South Africa wrapped up victory inside two days.

Andile Phehlukwayo is the other allrounder in the side, which has been picked only for the first Test. Also included is left-arm spinFaf du Plessis (left) and Dale Steyn ner Keshav Maharaj, are back in South Africa colours

Anderson won one individual bronze and one relay gold.

Paul Mahaica won one relay gold while Amber DeGoeas won one relay bronze medal.

A contingent of 119 persons including swimmers, coaches, parents and well-wishers representing various clubs of the Guyana

Amateur Swimming Association (GASA) travelled to Suriname where the visitors won 24 medals in total.

Sports is no longer our game, it’s our business

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

Pg 23

Seaton, Persaud shine with gold in Suriname …Guyana finished with 24 medals

Jaguars resume training Pg 21

following Xmas break

Aleka Persaud (centre) is standing tall as she collects one of her four gold medals

GFF ‘Super 16’ League…

Pg 22 Pg 19

Grove continues “giant killing” run

– book final date with pouncing soldiers

(L-R) Guyana Defence Force scorers Jeffrey Pereira, Sherwin Caesar, Delroy Fraser and Delwin Fraser

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December 31, 2017

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DECEMBER 31, 2017

Feature

By Dr. Rosh Khan

A

s you turn the chapter on 2017 and leap into 2018, you’re probably filled with breath-taking excitement

and purpose! New resolutions.

Bigger goals. Higher targets. It’s easy (and fun) to get caught up in the thrill of it all. We have a fresh chance for greater success in 2018.

But can I ask that we be brutally honest for a moment? I have zero intentions of bursting the balloon of hope for all that 2018 will do for you, but it’s time to queue a healthy dose of intro-

spection.

When you analyse where you are today, compared to where you set out to be at the beginning of 2017, you’re either smiling or a feeling a little un-

derwhelmed.

If you’re smiling, well done!

You’re on the right path. Keep striving, growing, and contributing. Don’t get complacent.

If you’re feeling underwhelmed, that’s okay! It was Ryan Holiday [an American author, marketer and entrepreneur] who beautifully said that we shouldn’t seek the path without obstacles, for the obstacle is the path – the obstacle is the way. If it’s been a tougher-thananticipated year, it means opportunities for growth presented themselves and there are merely two questions to ask: 1. What’s the lesson here?

2. What is this preparing me for?

In as much as we orchestrated our triumphs and wins, we were also the ones that generated our defeats. We may not control all that happens to us but we do control our response. Our personal stories, the narratives we tell ourselves, the paradigms and belief systems we hold onto ultimately dictate our thoughts – whether positive or negative.

Those very thoughts influence our decisions, which determine our actions, and thus, enable or create certain results.

Want better results? Simple.

Start at the foundation. If we want to live a life that is inspired, purpose-driven, and full of zest, then we need to upgrade our paradigms. We need to focus on mindset.

Here are eight ‘mindset shifts’ that will empower you through 2018:

Wear Glasses That Work

The late Dr. Stephen Covey, [a renowned leadership authority, family expert, teacher, organizational consultant, and cofounder of FranklinCovey Co.], said, “We see the world not as it is but as we are.” We view not only ourselves but those around us through a set of lenses; and like any lens, they either sharpen or distort reality. Simply choosing how we see ourselves and others has a cascading effect on what we think, feel, and do.

Think about the kind of ‘glasses’ you wear in certain situations or with specific people. It may be holding you back from seeing things as they really are.

Carry Your Own Weather

When we allow darkening clouds to dictate our mood, it’s easy to feel like a victim and surrender to the belief that we’re helplessly subject to the external world. We forget that we have the power to choose our response to people and situations.

We have the ability to carry our own weather – internally.

Behave Your Way To Credibility

You cannot talk your way out of what you behaved yourself into. You must behave your way out of what you behaved yourself into. To behave with credibility, you must demonstrate character and competence. It doesn’t mean you need to be absolutely infallible but you should lead with honesty and integrity. Take the long-term view of situations and remember that your daily behaviour broadcasts your truest beliefs.

See The Tree, Not Just The Seedling

When we look at our potential or the potential of those around us – whether it’s a co-

worker, friend, partner, or child – it requires us to see beyond the “seed” and envision the mighty tree it can become. Seeing potential in others doesn’t happen overnight; it’s a function of growth over time.

Discern The Important From The Urgent

It’s very easy to get caught up in the day to day urgencies but if we’re not careful, we can end up like a cat chasing its tail. It was Coach John Wooden who famously said, “Don’t mistake activity for achievement.”

Sit down and be strategic about your productivity. Work more on what’s important than on what’s urgent. The person who tries to do everything often ends up doing nothing.

Struggle Daily

Discomfort is a reflection of growth. It is often that said that success lies outside of your comfort zone. If you’re not carving out time to nurture new skills, assimilate new information, or adopt ‘the beginner’s mindset,’ you are holding your best work hostage from the world. Seek out healthy struggles.

Ask Why

Whether you’re trying to find underlying motives, make a persuasive argument, or sol problems, deploying the 5-Why is a powerful tool. Just ask, “Why?” five (or more times) until you get to the fundamental issue. It’s unbelievably simple but profoundly powerful. Try it.

Start With Humility

Above all else, humility is foundational. Those who are humble have a secure sense of self; their validation doesn’t come from something external but is based on their true nature. To be humble means to shed one’s ego because your ‘authentic self’ is much greater than looking good, needing to have all the answers or being recognised by one’s peers. As a result, those who have cultivated humility have far greater energy to devote to others. They go from being consumed with themselves (an inner focus) to looking for ways to contribute and help others (an outer focus). Humility is the key to building solid character and strong, meaningful connections.

As you soar through 2018, remind yourself to look within.

Transformation is an inside-out process. The change we want for the world is the change we must first embody.

Here’s to an inspired, victorious and purpose-driven 2018!

Dr. Rosh Khan is the president of FranklinCovey Guyana, The Masterclass Institute, and SocialRank Media – Guyana’s Leading Digital Agency. He is also the recipient of GCCI’s Young Business Executive Award for 2017. Khan can be contacted via mobile on 592-6645848, email: rosh@socialrankmedia.com or Dr Rosh Khan on Facebook.

guyanatimesgy.com

DECEMBER 31, 2017

Sunday Times Magazine

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Feature

Sunday Times Magazine ‘Persons of the Year’ The Wales Estate Sugar Workers

After being laid off, this sugar worker had to resort to selling eggs to support his family (Shemuel Fanfair photo)

By Shemuel Fanfair

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he end of 2017 saw an uncertain future for thousands of men and women across the sugar belt with the retrenchment of their employment, but as they begin to contemplate what lies ahead, a suitable marker can be taken from the challenges that have befallen the workers formerly attached to the Wales Sugar Estate.

December 31, 2016 was the official date for the cessation of operations at the century old entity. While the circumstances that led to closure of the Estate were principally financial, what holds true is that the lives of thousands of workers, their families and surrounding business owners were catastrophically altered with the end of the main sustenance to the Wales and further West Bank area. It is against this backdrop that Sunday Times Magazine selected Wales workers as the main ‘Persons of the Year 2017’ as no other group of persons in recent times in Guyana have gone through the magnitude of challenges as they have faced, and remain unbowed.

It was unfortunately observed within the past year that workers remain without being paid their severance benefits and have encountered financial challenges since the closure.

But what became of the many workers who did receive the one-off payment? Are they surviving? Can they properly provide for themselves and families? These are some of the many questions this publication asked in recent interviews with the sugar workers.

What was uncovered in speaking with those who are awaiting severance and the others who have already

A long-standing sugar worker, Albert Vieira, expressing his concerns (Carl Croker photo)

been paid is that they are both facing a lack of consistent employment, which according to them, is putting great strain on their families.

Sugar worker and father of three, Azad Ally, in low-spirit, expressed that he cannot find steady work. Ally, who had worked for 17 years before he was laid off, noted that while he was able get some work for the holidays, when the season is over his source of income will be completely depleted.

“Only my wife working right now; I feeling real odd right now and is holiday time and I ain’t even bring money in the house to be honest,” Ally revealed.

Many of the workers had utilised their pay-out to purchase motor vehicles, which they used to operate hire car and taxi services. However, many did not foresee that they would have to contend with increased competition and fewer passengers traveling to and from the area due to reduced earnings and a lack of economic opportunities in the Wales area.

Others meanwhile used their severance pay-out to build their homes and complete other housing projects.

One such individual is Deochan Khan who laboured in the No. 1 Planting Gang with some 15 years of service with the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo). When this publication caught up with the former employee, he was seen plying his new trade as a coconut water vendor in the blistering sun in the nearby village Patentia, West Bank Demerara.

Being a father of five, ages eleven, eight, six, five and four, Khan could not just stay at home and be unproductive. He even tried his hands at masonry. He said that as a coconut water seller he labours

Deochand Khan with one of his five children vending at his coconut cart in Patentia (Shemuel Fanfair photo)

for more hours and sometimes makes only GYD$2,000 a day when costs to purchase the coconuts are subtracted.

Just two days before Christmas, Khan only bought gifts for two of his children and remarked that he was doing a “final hustle” to garner enough funds to meet his holiday needs.

Khan remembered earning a good salary from which he was able to save much, but with his spouse being a housewife and the family having less income, all he can hope is for his family to weather this storm.

“Sometimes you got to go internet for assignments for children; one child traveling to Canal No.1 for school; things getting harder; we not getting it easy,” Khan disclosed.

In the past, he would catch fish and shrimps in the backdam to support his income, but he was forced to discontinue this practice as much of the trenches and waterways have become clogged and filled with weeds after the Estate’s closure.

His former colleague Aseer Bacchus shared similar sentiments, noting that he too would “cast nets” as a side job. But after 28 years of service with GuySuCo, the cane cutter and father of five said he has no choice than to seek the support of his three working children, one of whom will soon be laid off the sugar corporation. Sunday Times Magazine visited the Bacchus’ home in Vriesland, another nearby community affected by the Wales Estate closure.

Bacchus’ wife Salima noted the mounting expense of having two children in school: 16-year-old Daniel, who is writing CSEC later this year, and eight-year-old Emmanuel, a primary school student.

Father of five, Azad Ally (Carl Croker photo)

Salima noted that while her 2017 Christmas was good, she is unsure what will occur in 2018.

“It will be worse because we don’t know if we will get the severance, but we hoping and praying that everything will be okay,” Salima conveyed.

Bacchus mentioned that he has been faced with great difficulty in finding employment.

“We got bills to pay. It rough, but we does try and pray. We don’t know what will happen in years to come.

After the severance, we need jobs because what we gonna do… sit and eat it out? When I sit down here, watch over there [at the canfield] I want to cry, because I don’t have a job,” Bacchus stated.

As Bacchus remains somewhat optimistic, another sugar worker Dairam Lachmana is seemingly beyond the depths of despair following the dismantling of his family. He noted that relations soured with his partner. Lachmana, who worked for 10 years before being laid off, claimed that after seven years together, his spouse moved out, along with their only child. He estimated a bleak outlook for 2018 and is still coping with being abandoned by his family.

“Because I’m not getting money to maintain my family, I gave her the child. She left about two months back. I feel real upset, real corrupted right now,” Lachmana said, looking away to the dusty and desolate road at Patentia.

Another worker, who is awaiting severance, told this publication that his wife is currently the principal breadwinner. He divulged that at times of arguments, he is subjected to

The Bacchus family is dependent on their eldest son, however he is expected to be laid off by GuySuCo sometime soon (Carl Croker photo)

Sadened Gordon Thomas contemplates his future being unemployed (Carl Croker photo)

Sugar worker Michael Chootoo with his hamper. Chootoo served the sugar industry for over 28 years before being laid off (Carl Croker photo)

ridicule where he is reminded of his unemployment status.

Sugar worker Nigel Andres said that he worked 16 years at the now closed Diamond Estate before joining Wales Estate.

“When you looking for work, you’re not getting pay. People owing you. Cane work was the only work we were sure about,” the father and grandfather noted.

Former Tug Captain, Gordon Thomas highlighted the difficulties that sugar workers faced in the past year.

“2016 was bad and 2017 made it worse because people are not earning.

People expected to get their severance... no increase for 2016 and 2017; how do you expect the people to survive?” Thomas asked.

Pensioner Albert Vieira, 61, said he received his pension the same year that the Estate ended operations. He noted that the closure, as predicted, has seen wide-reaching effects in the surrounding communities.

“The people not getting work; plenty of them went fisheries, they worked two morning because they had market... now the market suspend, they at home, they not getting jobs. Work not circulating, money not circulating, we don’t have any factory that the people could go and work,” Vieira said.

He recalled that he was able to build his life from the earnings he obtained from the Estate, having worked there over 40 years ago.

The workers’ union, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU), having observed the financial challenges, collaborated with several entities to distribute food hampers to the Estate workers.

The hampers, which were distributed days after Christmas, included rice, peas, flour and sugar.

The Wales Estate closure and the firing of 1700 workers were touted as a cost-saving measure due to billions of dollars that were allocated to the entity and sugar industry as a whole.

However, many lower West Bank communities, such as Wales, Bellvue, Good Intent, Sisters, Vriesland, and as far as Vive Le Force, were all impacted from the closure. Additionally, farmers at La Retraite, Bellvue and Canal No. 2 Polder were also affected as they were compelled to transport their cane to Uitvlugt. Nevertheless, the villagers and communities have not given up as many are resilient and have undertaken arduous tasks to ensure that they provide for their families.

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Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

DECEMBER 31, 2017

Feature

Award-winning, thought provoking books to include on your 2018 booklist

By Petamber Persaud

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e, lovers of literature, can say goodbye to 2017 – the year marking the centennial end to indentureship with satisfaction, knowing that some of the books published in this year will follow us into 2018 while others will stay with us during 2018 and decades beyond.

From its inception, the book was treated with respect, even with awe, for man valued the book very highly with regards to its potential as a tool of education and instruction, as a repository for storage and retrieval of information, as a custodian of traditions and languages, as a forum for art and entertainment, stimulating the imagination and improving memory, a source of inspiration, among other usages. And the book has lived up to expectations even in its new forms and formats.

Below are some of the books crossing my desk during 2017: The Indentured Servants from Bengal to Bush Lot to Belize by Karan Chand This historical novel is a family saga covering three generations originating in India moving to Guyana and then Belize, recording the “struggles and resilience in a desperate effort to stay afloat and, for some, to sour”.

This is the inspiring story of Mattai, born in Bengal, kidnapped and transported across the Kala Pani from Calcutta to Bush Lot Village on the Essequibo Coast of Guyana as an indentured labourer where he served three periods of Indentureship lasting fourteen years, surviving to made good in life and live to see many of his descendants making good.

Karma Curry by Jerry K. Durbeej This second novel by

the author is about love, lust, betrayal, unrequited love, filial responsibility, revenge, remorse and atonement. “Karma Curry” is about reaping what you sow through how your actions in previous lives affect your current life. “Karma Curry” is, on one hand, about the continuation of tradition and, on the other hand, the challenging and breaking of tradition. This conflict is sustained throughout the lives of each main player and throughout the novel and it is this conflict that accounts for the novel been a cut above novels exploring similar themes.

Stories set in two Countries by Madan M. Gopal This book of fifteen short stories is a fascinating read where the author “with subtle and overt humour and twists to satisfy different tastes” brings “multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, multi-national fragrance into the fathomless pit of provocative relationships”. (R. R. Jadoopat) Red Coconut: Bridging the Racial Divide by Habeeb Alli This eighteenth book by the author is a collection of poems, articles and excerpts from his blog speaking to the overarching theme evident in all of the author’s projects: love.

Junta: The Coup is On

by Ken Puddicombe This political/romance thriller is set in Saint Anglia, an imaginary island in the Caribbean bearing many similarities to Guyana as people, places and events are invoked in the forms of Ricky Singh, Jim Jones, Rabbi Washington, Father Darke, etc even CARD (Crucial Action for the Restoration of Democracy) is not dissimilar to GUARD. Saint Anglia was a “peaceful place” - sugar plantation economy thriving first on enslaved labour

and then indentured labour - until after independence when the ugly head of racism, class and social injustice brought divisions to the surface in a way forcing everyone to take a side.

Guyanese Writers of Indian Ancestry by Petamber Persaud This book was published to mark the centennial end of indentureship in 2017. It captures the life and work of over seventy Guyanese writers of Indian ancestry, paying tribute to our literary ancestors while seeking to correct sin of commission and sin of omission. For the first time, some of the neglected and slighted writers and the writers omitted from the mainstream will see the light of day and breathe again, their voices heard again as more research will fill out the skeleton of data and infuse character into them.

This pocketbook is small and slim, but covers a lot of ground previously untouched by anyone and contains some of the data in my effort to map Guyanese literature, some data I have been collecting for over two decades.

Part two of this article will feature the following books: “Mahaica Belle Rings” by Collette Jones-Chin; “The Girl from the Sugar Plantation” by Sharon Maas; “Kamarang”

by Michael Jordon; “Guyana and the Wider World” by Sister Noel Menezes; “The Guyanese Culture - Fusion or Diffusion?” by Rudy Insanally; “The Guyana Contract” by Rosalind McLymont; “Aspects of European-Guyanese Heritage” compiled and edited by the Guyana Heritage Society et al.; “West Indian history and literature” by Frank Birbalsingh;

“50 Nation Builders of Guyana”; “50 Creative Icons of Guyana”; “National Bibliography of Guyana”.

Responses to this author please telephone 226-0065 of email: oraltradition2002@ yahoo.com What’s happening: Over GYD$1,000,000 in

prize money up for grabs in the 2018 issue of The Guyana Annual. New closing date for entries to the various competitions is January 15, 2018. For further information go to The Guyana Annual on Facebook or email: theguyanaannual@gmail.com

Drug procurement report

President appoints 9 Senior Counsel

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resident David Granger announced the appointment of several judges and lawyers as Senior Counsel (SC). The newly appointed Senior Counsel are: Neil Aubrey Boston, a trial lawyer for over 34 years; Charles John Ethelwood Fung-A-Fat, a Parliamentary Counsel and Deputy Chief Parliamentary Counsel for over 33 years; and Justice Alison Roxane McLean George-Wiltshire, who was admitted to the bar in 1990 and served as a Senior State Counsel, Assistant Director of Public Prosecution, Deputy Director of Public Prosecution and Director of Public Prosecution.

Also named Senior Counsel was Clifton Mortimer Llewelyn John, who was admitted in 1952 first as a solicitor and then as a barrister; and Rafiq Turhan Khan, admitted to the Bar in November 1984, appointed for his service as an advocate, member and Co-Chairman of the Legal Practitioners Committee.

Meanwhile, former Attorney General Anil Nandlall has since expressed “shock” at the sudden appointments of Senior Counsel by the President.

“These appointments were obviously done in a very opaque fashion. Some of the appointments reek of political bias and baseless favouritism. Persons deserving were spitefully and discriminatorily omitted,” he posited.

2 killed execution style after leaving “cockfight”

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Dead: Desmond David Singh

Dead: Azrudeen Hussain

wo men were killed in an apparent hit, moments after leaving a “cockfight” in Friendship, East Bank Demerara (EBD) on New Year’s night. The shooting occurred about 19:00h.

Dead are Desmond David Singh, called “Fix Up”, 34, of Lot A 1 Orange Walk, Bourda, Georgetown and Azrudeen Hussain, 24, of Little Biabu Mahaica Creek, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

Singh’s body was riddled with bullets and he died instantly, while Hussain was shot to his neck and was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Granger reshuffles Cabinet

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fter declaring in 2016 that there would be no changes to his Cabinet, President David Granger in a surprise move on January 3 made some significant changes to his pool of decision makers.

Among the changes within Cabinet is the removal of Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton, who will now be taking over the Social Cohesion Ministry.

Dr Norton continuously found himself in “hot water” over the past months, especially as it relates to the controversial rental of the pharmaceutical bond at Sussex Street, Georgetown, which is billing Government in excess of $14 million per month.

Minister Volda Lawrence will now be heading the Public Health Ministry while Minister Amna Ally will be taking over the Social Protection Ministry.

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aribbean Medical Supplies should face criminal charges – report Following recommendations made by the Board of Inquiry (BoI) that was set up to probe allegations of mismanagement and malpractices within the procurement process of pharmaceuticals at the Public Health Ministry, Minister of State Joseph Harmon on January 6 asserted that Government will take actions on the matter.

The probe was triggered by allegations of staffers of the Public Health Ministry passing inside information to bidders seeking lucrative drug procurement contracts.

Among the recommendations made was for current Permanent Secretary, Trevor Thomas, to be removed for failing to effectively carry out his duty. The BoI noted that the Trinidadian company was hostile to the BoI and failed to appear before it; thus, a recommendation was made that it be barred from any future bidding here.

The BoI also recommended criminal and legal proceedings against two other companies following its probe. One of the companies against which criminal investigations was recommended is the Parika-based Caribbean Medical Supplies Inc (CSMI), which had come under criticisms for being a “fly by night” company, was awarded hundreds of millions of dollars in contracts from the Public Health Ministry.

The report recommended that a senior Health Ministry official be fired for his role in these malpractices.

Furthermore, the Minister explained that when the procurement process became open to competitive bidding, the influx of bidders made it challenging to do background checks on every bidder even though they met the criteria.

The Minister conceded that the change in the drug procurement system also made the process quite challenging, resulting in countrywide shortages and opening avenues for malpractices to occur.

“It’s the change that caused the difficulties,” the Minister admitted. Nonetheless, he was adamant that the change in the system was needed and with adequate and competent staff, the process could be strengthened to work for the public’s benefit.

Secret deal for Skeldon Estate takeover revealed

Jagdeo elected new PPP General Secretary

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pposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo was on January 7 voted in as the new General Secretary of the country’s longest standing political force, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) – replacing Clement Rohee who held the position for the last five years.

Jagdeo was nominated by Dr Roger Luncheon and his nomination was supported by Irfaan Ali. His contender was Dr Frank Anthony, who was nominated

by Rohee and supported by former President Donald Ramotar.

In accordance with the Party’s Constitution, the PPP held its first post-Congress Central Committee meeting during which an election held by secret ballot to determine a new General Secretary.

Jagdeo was positive that his role as both Leader of the Opposition and General Secretary would not be too challenging since being a President for 12 years was much more demanding.

Nonetheless, he did not undermine the work cut out for him, noting that the PPP will have to work hard towards a resounding victory in 2020.

GECOM Chairmanship

Granger rejects Jagdeo’s nominees …requests 2nd list

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resident David Granger has rejected the nominees for the new Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) on January 9, in a move that has already been described as dangerous.

This is the first time that a president has rejected such a list since the Carter Formula for the appointment of the GECOM Chairman was initiated in 1992.

The President argued that the Constitution of Guyana stipulates that the six nominees who were to be submitted by the Leader of the Opposition should be a judge or possess qualifications of a judge.

On this basis, he declared that the six names submitted by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo were “unacceptable”.

Jagdeo nominated Executive Member of the Private Sector Commission Ramesh Dookhoo; former PSC Chairman and Army Chief Norman Mc Lean; Chartered Accountant and former Head of the Bar Association, Christopher Ram; writer Rhyaan Shah; Professor James Rose and human rights and conflict resolution consultant Lawrence Latchmansingh.

One day after publicly rejecting the first list of nominees the President formally indicated to Jagdeo his request for a new list of persons be submitted.

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Trinidad and Tobago firm is likely to rake in major benefits from the Guyana Government, including favourable tax incentives for the development of an integrated sugarcane processing facility at the Skeldon Sugar Estate, after a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was inked in December.

Government, through its Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest), signed the MoU with D Rampersad and Company Limited (DRCL) on December 8, 2016, for the undertaking of a feasibility study to determine the success of such a venture which will see it taking over the Skeldon Estate. The MoU was signed without full disclosure to the Guyanese public and without any public notice. The company has no experience with any agricultural enterprise, and provides engineering services to the automotive and oil industries in T&T. Notably, however, as witness to the signing was Noel Rupie Shewjattan, the owner of Auto Fashion Store on Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown. Auto Fashion Store also has no experience in the agricultural sector.

Meanwhile, in the MoU, which was seen by this publication, the Company believes that the sugar industry in Guyana can be “regenerated” by the proposed project, which would not be producing sugar.

The feasibility study is proposed to commence on April 3 and to be completed in the first quarter of the year.

Way cleared by Govt for parking meters

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entral Government on January 23 cleared the way for Smart City Solutions Incorporated (SCSI) to begin charging motorists for using parking spaces in Georgetown.

This was confirmed by Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan, who told Guyana Times that the parking meter bylaws, which were presented to him on Friday by the company, have been signed.

It had previously been reported that because of the time and location in which the documents were received, the Minister could not give his authorisation until legal experts had perused them. Hence, paid parking did not commence on Monday, as previously announced by the company.

There have been mounting concerns about the rollout of this project. When questioned about the option Central Government had to put the project on hold by not signing the by-laws, Bulkan noted that the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) had the power to make its own decisions.

Banks DIH sues Govt for $28B 3 dead, 3 injured in 2-vehicle smash-up Norton admits Drug procurement changes led to countrywide shortage A

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hree persons were killed while three others are critical following a two-vehicle collision in the vicinity of Loo Creek, Linden/Soesdyke Highway on January 4.

Dead are David Primus, 52, of Lot 6 Self Help, Amelia’s Ward, and Dextroy Griffith, 25, a mechanic at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, also of Amelia’s Ward, Linden. The identity of the third victim was not available up to press time.

Griffith’s wife, 23-year-old Whitney Plowell-Griffith and Leron Mendonca, 22, of St Vincent and the Grenadines, along with Arletta Kellman, 47, of Speightland, Lower Kara Kara, were all admitted to the Linden Hospital Complex in a serious state.

They sustained trauma and broken bones, among other injuries.

Reports are that Primus was driving motorcar HC 5326 and was heading to Linden, while the other vehicle, PRR 7151, was travelling in the opposition direction when they collided head-on.

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he explosive revelations about collusion in the drug procurement system are just the tip of the iceberg in an avalanche of corruption which thrives in the local health sector, former Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton disclosed on January 10.

Dr Norton, who was transferred from his post as Public Health Minister following an influx of negative publicity that erupted over the drug bond scandal, had requested an independent investigation be launched into the drug procurement process after he suspected mass malpractice within the process.

A Board of Inquiry (BoI), headed by retired Assistant Commissioner of Police, Winston Cosbert, was established and conducted a three-week probe into the system.

s forecasted, the floodgates have opened and one of the country’s leading beverage giants has slapped Government with a multibillion-dollar lawsuit, claiming in excess of $28 billion in repayment, in light of the controversial tax write-off given by the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) to its competitor, the Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL).

Banks DIH Limited filed legal proceedings against Attorney General Basil Williams and the GRA, seeking a refund of approximately $28 billion.

According to the court documents seen by Guyana Times, the corporate entity paid some $12.8 billion in taxes over the period 2001 to 2006. But since Government granted DDL a whopping $3.8 billion tax write-off from its assessed $5.3 billion owed, Banks DIH calculated that it should have only paid some $3 billion instead of $12.8 billion.

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december 31, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Topco juice contract

Bid Protest Committee rules against Govt

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ocal juice company Tropical Orchard Products Company (Topco) has won its appeal to the Bid Protest Committee over the Government’s decision to award its supply contract to another company – from Suriname.

Topco, which is a subsidiary of Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL), was a long-time supplier of juices to the Guyana Government for its national school feeding programme. That is until the Education Ministry, the procuring entity, deemed its bid for a continuation of the contract unsuitable, based on past performance. According to the Committee, which is based at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB), the Education Ministry failed to make known that past performance was a criterion for selection beforehand.

“The non-disclosure of past performance as an evaluation criterion in the solicitation documents prevents and precludes the procuring entity from belatedly relying on such criterion in the evaluation and determination of the bid,” the Committee stated.

PM’s son-in-law facilitating GuySuCo’s takeover

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s uncertainty mounts over the future of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) with accusations of “secrecy” made against Government following a deal struck with a Trinidadian company, the APNU/ AFC Administration is now facing more backlash after it was revealed that a close relative of Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo is reportedly working to bring in investors for the cash-strapped sugar industry.

The Agriculture Ministry in a statement disclosed that representatives of Srinath Ispat Tony Joseph Limited, an India-based company with extensive knowledge of the sugar industry, are expected in Guyana to have dialogue with Government on potential investments in GuySuCo. The statement went on to say that the delegation would be led by President of Integrated Casetech Consultants PV T LTD, Rajesh Kumar Agarwal, and Managing Director of Sunrise Holdings, Tony Joseph. Joseph is married to Prime Minister Nagamootoo’s daughter, something which Government failed to disclose in the media release.

Govt’s Cultural Advisor calls for “torching” of Guyana Times, TVG

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uel Johnson, Cultural Policy Advisor to the Government of Guyana and a Director of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited (GNNL), which publishes the Chronicle, on January 30 called for the “torching” of the Sanata Complex, which houses most prominently, the Guyana Times newspaper, Television Guyana (TVG) and Radio Guyana Inc 89.5.

On his Facebook page, the Cultural Policy Advisor at the Education Ministry and Director of GNNL stated bluntly, “Here’s Ruel Johnson my idea for a united Guyanese protest against impunity and tenderpreneurship - go break down all the parking meters and then proceed to torch the Sanata complex.” Johnson explicitly made the connection between the Sanata Complex, QAII, its owner and the Media Group consisting of the Guyana Times newspaper, Television Guyana (TVG) and Radio Guyana Inc (89.5), which would all be torched when he later explained in his post: “QAII metastasized into further issues like drug procurement and media acquisition, costing taxpayers billions and resulting in untold consequences both direct and indirect.”

This is not the first time that Johnson is making discriminatory and inciting comments on social media about provoking violence.

This is in addition to the duty-free vehicle he is already entitled to as a Member of Parliament (MP), along with many other extravagant benefits he enjoys at the expense of the public purse, Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira has revealed.

Teixeira, in her presentation to the National Assembly, highlighted that the list of VAT exempt vehicles were expanded to include those imported by and for the use of the Prime Minister and the President.

“Teixeira said she was confused even more as to why Nagamootoo was entitled to such a benefit, since he already had duty-free concessions.

Bartica Massacre trial

2 sentenced to death, 1 acquitted

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lmost nine years after the horrific Bartica attack that rocked the nation, gang members Mark Royden Williams, called “Smallie”, and Dennis Williams, called “Anaconda”, were found guilty of seven counts of murder each by a 12-member jury.

Presiding Judge Roxane George, SC, sentenced the two to death, noting that they would be executed by way of hanging by the neck.

Additionally, the men were found guilty on five counts each of manslaughter, but a ruling on those matters was deferred to this afternoon. When asked by the Judge to respond, Mark Williams, who appeared unmoved by the sentence, simply declined.

Citizens, business community protest parking meter burden

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hile Guyanese convened to protest the unreasonable conditions brought on by the implementation of the parking meter system, Mayor Patricia Chase-Green defended the City Council, stating that only the affluent are being affected.

A crowd consisting of parliamentarians, business owners and civil society members all assembled opposite City Hall in support of the “Say NO to Parking Meters in Guyana” demonstration on Friday. This gathering was the result of a public event created via social media, to express the continuous distress experienced by many, following the installation of Smart City Solutions’ parking meters. The event was intended to be a silent protest, however, the anticipated peaceful action quickly transformed into chaos, as pro-parking meters supporters staged a counter protest.

When questioned as to what motivated the demonstration, activists pointed to the numerous concerns over paid parking around the city. Feasibility, transparency and the cost for parking were some of the foremost concerns of the City Council’s new method of taxation.

Prithima Kissoon sent on administrative leave

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eputy Solicitor General Prithima Kissoon has been sent on three months administrative leave, pending a review of all the cases she represented the State on, according to Attorney General (AG) and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams.

The AG told reporters that based upon advice sought from the Public Service Commission (PSC), the Deputy Solicitor General was sent on 72 days leave by the Permanent Secretary of the Legal Affairs Ministry to facilitate a review of the cases she was involved in.

The probe into cases which Deputy Solicitor General Kissoon was involved in, stemmed from a recent ruling handed by the Court of Appeal, dismissing a State-sponsored appeal against a High Court decision that quashed a private criminal charge against Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo.

AG Williams had since blamed Kissoon for the outcome of the case. However, although he has blamed Kissoon for the case, Solicitor General Sita Ramlall, in a letter to the Editor, pointed out that Williams had insisted to Kissoon and herself, that he be named as the Plaintiff in the appeal when he was not a party.

Kissoon has since said she has been subjected to abuse from the AG and filed a formal complaint with the Public Service Commission, outlining among other things, that the AG had been frustrating her office by refusing to cooperate with her on several cases, while at the same time publicly questioning her performance.

PM to get unlimited tax Kick-down-the-door bandits execute exemption, duty-free vehicles Berbice domestic worker

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he Cadillac lifestyle has gotten better for Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, who can now import unlimited vehicles which will be exempted from Value Added Tax (VAT).

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Corentyne, Berbice woman was on February 7 killed by two gunmen who kicked down the door to her home and shot her.

Dead is Lilawatie Muhammed, 45, a domestic worker of Lot 198 Sixth Street, Tain Settlement, Corentyne, Berbice.

Reports are the woman was killed in front of her children about 23:30h. According to the woman’s 18-year-old son, Ashad Ishack, he and his 21-year-old sister and their mother were at home when two masked men kicked open the front door of their home. He said one of them was carrying a shotgun.

3 die in BV blaze …suspected murder/suicide

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he Beterverwagting community, located on the East Coast of Demerara, was shaken to its core as three members of the same family perished in an early morning blaze on February 12.

Dead are Leonard Pollard, 33; his one-year-old daughter, Nakasia Pollard and the child’s mother, Latoya Telford, 26, with whom the man allegedly shared a rocky relationship. It is suspected that the blaze was an act of arson in an apparent murder-suicide. Reports suggest that the man threw a flammable substance on his common-law wife and daughter, and set them alight before he reportedly hung himself. The two-storey house was completely gutted, destroying everything inside.

Wales closure fallout

PPP condemns Govt’s “callous decisions” towards sugar industry

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he People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has again come to the defence of the hundreds of displaced cane harvesters of the Wales Sugar Estate, who over the past week have been clamouring for what they said are their well-deserved severance packages.

The party condemned the “high-handed approach of Government in its dealings with the sugar industry” and pointed to the rigorous economic toll it is taking on the country.

Alluding to the situation at the West Bank Demerara sugar factory, the PPP stressed that it does not support Government’s callous decisions.

“The cruelty of the Government is demonstrated by the treatment meted to the workers of Wales Estate. Having closed the industry without any consultations with the workers or their union, the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change Government had refused to comply with the Severance Pay Act. This forced the union to approach the courts for an order compelling [Guyana Sugar Corporation] GuySuCo to negotiate with the union”.

The parliamentary Opposition said even after obtaining the order of the court, and following negotiations with the union, GuySuCo still refuses to pay the agreed severance packages to the workers, causing the current protest action.

PSC declares loss of confidence in Govt

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ollowing a meeting hosted between the Private Sector Commission (PSC) and its affiliates on February 16 the body has come to a resolution that the combination of poor policies, ill-judged statements and paucity of significant new investments has caused it to lose confidence in the Government.

According to the body, continued growth and improvement in Guyana cannot continue if investors’ confidence continues to be eroded. And it noted that “the trajectory in which the country is heading at the moment does not inspire such confidence.” “Participants noted the decline of the economy. Among the concerns are the crippling new taxes for the mining sector and the institution of Value Added Tax on necessities. The members of the business community present expressed a lack of confidence in the manner the Government is managing the economy.”

The body called for the Government to create an enabling environment and to increase its engagements with the business community. This, it noted, was to facilitate the creation of employment opportunities, ensure wage growth and “measures to increase the wealth of all Guyanese”.

Charles Ramson sues Nagamootoo for withholding salary

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ommissioner of Information, Charles Ramson Sr, has filed legal action against his boss, Prime Minister and Information Minister Moses Nagamootoo and Attorney General Basil Williams.

Among the former Attorney General’s contentions are that his salary for January was withheld.

In addition, he is seeking an order for the Prime Minister, the second named respondent, to provide “such accommodation, resources and officers and employees for the efficient functioning of the office of the Commissioner of Information pursuant to Section 5 of the Access to Information Act 2011.”

Ramson’s writ also includes a request for “exemplary damages against the second named respondent for his unlawful acts and/or the violation of his constitutional right to work”; “any other order as may be just” and finally, cost.

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AFC Councillor, father, neighbour charged Major shake-up at Govt Ministries for vigilante killing

with responsibility for culture, youth and sports, confused Phagwah with Diwali and was seemingly oblivious to her mistake.

She had later sent staff on leave for the mistake.

n Alliance For Change (AFC) Councillor along with her father and another man were on February 20 arraigned for the vigilante killing of 22-year-old Shereffudeen Nazamudeen Mohamed, called “Sheriff”, of Lot 117 Ruby, East Bank Essequibo. Mandy Sukhdeo, 29; her 48-year-old father, Surendra Sukhdeo; and a neighbour, Rean Ghani, were all remanded to prison by Magistrate Rochelle Liverpool when they made an appearance at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court.

It is alleged that the trio on February 14, 2017, at Hope, East Bank Essequibo, murdered Mohamed. As the charges were read, relatives of the dead man held a mini picketing exercise calling for justice to be served.

Consumers forced to pay high rates for foreign currency

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PPP condemns Govt’s “callous decisions” towards sugar industry

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he People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has again come to the defence of the hundreds of displaced cane harvesters of the Wales Sugar Estate, who over the past week have been clamouring for what they said are their well-deserved severance packages. The party condemned the “high-handed approach of Government in its dealings with the sugar industry” and pointed to the rigorous economic toll it is taking on the country.

Alluding to the situation at the West Bank Demerara sugar factory, the PPP stressed that it does not support Government’s callous decisions.

“The cruelty of the Government is demonstrated by the treatment meted to the workers of Wales Estate. Having closed the industry without any consultations with the workers or their union, the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change Government had refused to comply with the Severance Pay Act. This forced the union to approach the courts for an order compelling [Guyana Sugar Corporation] GuySuCo to negotiate with the union”. The parliamentary Opposition said even after obtaining the order of the court, and following negotiations with the union, GuySuCo still refuses to pay the agreed severance packages to the workers, causing the current protest action.

Appeal Court reaffirms people of the people

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n a majority decision, the Court of Appeal dismissed a Statesponsored appeal against former Chief Justice (ag) Ian Chang’s ruling that in Guyana, sovereignty resides in the people and not in the Parliament, and as such, certain fundamental clauses in the Constitution that serve to define its substantive nature, can only be altered by a referendum of the people.

This ruling ultimately means that an amendment to the Constitution, which was enacted when the National Assembly altered Article 90 via a two-thirds vote in 2000, needs a referendum to make a final decision, since to proceed otherwise would be for the National Assembly to deny the citizens of Guyana an inalienable right. The Government immediately announced they will challenge the ruling by appealing to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) within 30 days.

If that appeal fails, then the voters of Guyana would have a choice of four classes of persons that were barred by Art 17 of 2001.

These classes are: (A) that only a citizen by birth or of parentage can qualify to be the President; and (B) that a person must be residing in Guyana on the date of nomination for election and must have been a resident for seven years immediately before that date and Citizens of Guyana who have served for two terms as President.

Mashramani Float Parade captivates

… turn out affected by several changes

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fter a hiatus for the celebration of Guyana’s Golden Jubilee, the annual Mashramani Costume and Float Parade returned to the streets of Georgetown on February 23. While scores turned out to revel in commemoration of Guyana’s 47th Republic anniversary, the usual festivities appeared to have been dampened by the several new developments surroundings this year’s celebrations.

The inclement weather began the day with apprehension as many feared the Mashramani activities being gravely affected by the heavy downpour. As the rain subsided, revellers and their bands accumulated at the starting point of the parade – at the junction of the Bank of Guyana on Avenue of the Republic, in Georgetown. However, it was not until sometime around midday that the first band took off for their procession.

Bands belonging to Government Ministries, regional offices and local businesses all paraded the new Mash route for 2017.

This was from the starting point, on to the Avenue of the Republic then through Brickdam, making their way into the recently constructed Durban Park for their final display and scrutiny.

McCoy fined $20,000 for assaulting Benschop

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opular political commentator, Kwame McCoy, was on March 2, fined $20,000 with an alternative of one month imprisonment by city magistrate, Annette Singh, after he was found guilty of unlawfully assaulting political activist Mark Benschop.

The magistrate in her ruling dismissed two other charges of alleged larceny and damage to property, stating that she does not believe the evidence of Benschop in those matters.

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overnment on March 6 announced a series of reassignment of Permanent Secretaries (PS).

The reassignments were done at the ministries of Agriculture, Education, Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Legal Affairs, Public Health and the Department of Culture, Youth and Sport.

Joylyn Nestor Burrowes took up the post of acting Permanent Secretary at the Agriculture Minister, replacing George Jervis, who along with the Deputy Permanent Secretary (Finance), Prema Roopnarine, were asked to proceed on leave. Additionally, Collette Adams was reassigned as the Permanent Secretary of the Public Health Ministry following the removal of former Permanent Secretary, Trevor Thomas.

Meanwhile, former Permanent Secretary of the Education Ministry, Delma Nedd was sent to the Legal Affairs Ministry; while Alfred King, who was previously Permanent Secretary of the Department of Culture, Youth and Sport, serve in the same capacity at the Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministry.

Vibert Welch, who served in of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministry, was moved to the Education Ministry and former Permanent Secretary of the Legal Affairs, Melissa Tucker, is at the Department of Culture, Youth and Sport.

Former Head of the Works Services Group of the Public Infrastructure Ministry, Geoffrey Vaughn has been elevated to the position of Permanent Secretary for that ministry.

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n March 19, Governor of the Central Bank, Dr Gobind Ganga maintained that despite stern warnings from authorities, businesses are suspected of hoarding foreign currencies as commercial banks and cambios claim shortages.

This reported shortage is causing customers to resort to paying exorbitant rates elsewhere in light of the contrived scarcity.

Commercial banks and cambios across the country continue to turn away customers, claiming a shortage of the US dollar.

Reports are that Republic Bank charged $230 for US$1.

Teen stabbed to death by brother

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drinking spree at Black Bush Polder, Corentyne, Berbice turned deadly on a March 19, after a teenager was stabbed to death by his brother after he refused to lend him his motorcycle.

Dead in 18-year-old Vishaul Zakaroo of Lot 85 North Yakusari, Black Bush Polder.

GECOM Chairmanship

SOCU detains Opposition Gaskin challenges Granger’s Leader, Dr Luncheon, others eligibility criteria

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ormer top Government officials were on March 7 detained by agents of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) in relation to an investigation for misuse of State assets.

Former President and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, former Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr Roger Luncheon, and former Natural Resources Minister Robert Persaud were among those who were taken into custody for questioning at SOCU’s Headquarters on Camp Street.

Other persons, who were detained and questioned are General Manager of the Guyana Gold Board and daughter of former President Donald Ramotar, Lisaveta Ramotar; former President of the Private Sector Commission, Ramesh Dookhoo; former Secretary to NICIL Marcia Nadir-Sharma; and the son of former Labour Minister Dr Nanda Gopaul, Dr Ghansham Singh.

These detentions came days after Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan threatened criminal charges against former Government officials, causing many in the Opposition camp to believe the actions taken by SOCU was politically motivated by the executive.

Ramjattan, SOCU officials “sip wine” after arrest operations

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ublic Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan along with top officials of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) congregated at a popular city café on the evening of March 9 after former prominent Government officials were hauled in for questioning and in some cases, arrested and detained.

SOCU Head Sydney James, British Advisor to SOCU Dr Sam Sittlington and Minister SOCU Head Sydney James Ramjattan were seen clinking glasses in an extremely celebratory atmosphere in the dimly lit café on Wednesday evening.

Ramjattan confirmed to Guyana Times that he and the SOCU officials were having some drinks at the popular spot, which usually is not opened to the public after dark.

According to Ramjattan, he went to “have a glass of wine” with the SOCU officials as they celebrated Dr Sittlington’s work here in Guyana.

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usinessman, Marcel Gaskin has moved to the High Court, to challenge the constitutionality of President David Granger’s reasoning behind his rejection of Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo’s list of six nominees for the post of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

Gaskin is the brother of the Business Minister, Dominic Gaskin, who is the son-in-law of the President.

The businessman, as was reported in the media on March 23, wants the court to determine whether Jagdeo’s list of nominees were indeed not “fit and proper” as declared by President Granger.

Granger has maintained that the list of nominees must include a judge, a retired judge or a person qualified to be a judge.

But Jagdeo has argued that the nominees do not have to be judge-type as the constitution makes provision for another group of persons under the category of “fit and proper”.

The former GECOM Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally is not of a judge-type and neither were most of the past chairpersons.

Granger, who is a longstanding member of the Peoples National Congress, had accepted the nomination to serve as GECOM Chairman several years ago.

Jagdeo had nominated Attorney-at-Law Christopher Ram; and Conflict Resolution Specialist, Lawrence Lachmansingh; Retired Major General, Norman Mc Lean; Business executive, Ramesh Dookhoo; Indian Rights Activitst, Rhyaan Shah and History Professor James Rose.

Carvil Duncan tribunal challenge

Judge walks off after contemptuous behaviour from AG

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ustice Franklin Holder walked off the bench, leaving an uncertain outcome to the legal case, following a fiery exchange with the Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Basil Williams.

The legal proceeding, heard in the High Court on March 23, was a cross-examination regarding the conflicting stories submitted in affidavits by the Prime Minister Moses Carvil Duncan Nagamootoo and trade unionist Carvil Duncan about the tribunal which was established to determine his removal from several constitutional posts.

Justice Holder had since written to the Chancellor of the Judiciary complaining of the Attorney General’s behaviour and called for an apology in an open court. Williams refused to offer and apology and had also failed to response officially to Justice Holder’s complaint.

In wake of calls from the Prime Minister for the judge to recuse himself from the case, Justice Holder did so when the matter was called up again. Justice Holder maintained that the decision to recuse himself was the case was made after careful consideration.

Nandlall to sue AG over “stolen” law allegation Culture Minister should apologise for books ormer Attorney General

holiday mix-up – Norton

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egardless of the perceived magnitude of the blunder, Social Cohesion Minister, Dr George Norton on March 14 said that he believes the Culture Minister, Nicolette Henry owes the Hindu community a public apology for mixing up their religious holidays.

Henry, the junior minister within the Education Ministry

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and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall on March 26 indicated that he will be taking his successor Basil Williams to court over allegations that he stole a series of Commonwealth Law Books from the State.

Williams had threatened to

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jail Nandlall over what he claimed was the case of the “Stolen law books”.

Nandlall had however filed a lawsuit against the AG for libel over this matter. Days after, Nandlall was pulled in by SOCU for questioning in relation to the incident and he was subsequently charged for stealing the books.

Nandlall had however explained time and again that the law books belong to him even though it was paid by the State because it was part of his condition of service with the Government.

Local telephone giants at loggerheads

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he Guyana Telephone Telegraph Limited has called for an independent audit into Digicel Guyana Inc unlicensed trans-border link between Guyana and Suriname that has been active for more than five years.

This call was made as the telephone giant and other agencies support to a fair and competitive telecoms landscape. GTT believes that the time has come for this matter to be investigated and brought to light-one that can finally provide transparency to the Guyanese public.

The telephone company in a release stated that there is no ambiguity about this bypass activity – in fact, it claimed that it is a demonstration of remarkable arrogance and disregard for rule of law in Guyana.

Digicel reportedly indicated to the PUC that its bypass operation was not appropriate for the discussion at hand but did not deny any aspect of the operation. GTT is also of the view that the ‘illegal’ bypass is causing significant harm to Guyana, financially.

Illegal fuel boat explodes at Moruca

Jagdeo questions AG’s credibility to remain in office

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ressure continued for the Government current administration to take immediate action against its legal advisor, Attorney General Basil Williams, over his attitude towards a High Court Judge, Justice Franklin Holder.

During a news conference on April 2, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo suggested that President David Granger Opposition Leader should do another Cabinet re- Bharrat Jagdeo shuffle and place Williams in the Social Cohesion Ministry – where a previous minister who was involved in a major scandal was reassigned.

The former President emphasised that the behaviour exhibited by Williams on March 23 before the judge − not just during the court case, but during his attempts afterwards to twist reality and cast blame elsewhere − was unbecoming of the State’s Minister of Justice and of a person who is a Senior Counsel. Justice Holder complained to the Chancellor of the Judiciary about the Attorney General’s “disrespectful” and “egregious” behaviour in his courtroom, and has called for an apology in an open court. However, Williams has since responded, saying, “I don’t know about apology”.

Student found with grenade in school

the office of Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs.

Attorney General Basil Williams declared last month that charges are looming against Nandlall, who admitted to having the books but has denied stealing them; but Nandlall has explained that the books were acquired under an arrangement with President Donald Ramotar and in regard to his appointment as Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs.

Nandlall had moved to the court, seeking damages in excess of $25 million each for slander and libel published on the March 24, 2017 at a press conference hosted at the National Communication Network Inc; another $25 million for libel published on March 25, 2017; damages in excess of $25 million for slander published during an outreach programme in Berbice on March 26, 2017; and another $25 million for libel published on March 27, 2017.

UG Council hikes tuition fees by 35 per cent

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t was reported on April 7 that the University of Guyana (UG) Council has approved a 15 per cent increase in tuition fees, the first step in its move to see an overall 35 per cent tuition increase over a three-year period. UG announced that following intense discussions at an extraordinary meeting of the Council, chaired by Chancellor Eon Nigel Harris, voted to increase tuition fees.

According to UG, the Council’s decision will be applied to tuition fees for all programmes and for both continuing students and new students for the 2017-2018 academic year.

At the same meeting also, the Council reportedly decided to incrementally increase the tuition fee by 10 per cent for the 2018-2019 academic year for all students, and by a further 10 per cent for all students for 2019-2020.

Alleged plot to shoot President

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n March 28, it was reported that a boat transporting fuel from the Venezuelan border into Guyana’s waters went up in flames on Saturday, causing police to launch an investigation into the illegal trade.

Based on reports received, the boat exploded at about 16:00h in the vicinity of Gteen Island at Moruca, North West District.

No one was reportedly injured in the explosion, but, on all accounts, safety procedures were not followed.

Exxon makes another discovery offshore Guyana

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n March 31, it was reported that US oil giant ExxonMobil announced “positive results” on the Snoek well offshore Guyana, confirming a new discovery on the Stabroek Block. Drilling targeted similar aged reservoirs as encountered in previous discoveries at Liza and Payara, Exxon said.

“The latest discovery at Snoek demonstrates the continued success we have achieved in this technically complex play, which is just part of the significant exploration province offshore Guyana”, President of ExxonMobil Exploration Company Steve Greenlee said.

ExxonMobil began drilling of the Snoek well on February 22, 2017 and encountered some 82 feet (25 meters) of high-quality, oil-bearing sandstone reservoirs. The well was drilled to 16,978 feet (5,175 meters) in 5,128 feet (1,563 meters) of water on March 18. The Snoek well is located in the southern portion of the Stabroek Block, approximately 5 miles (9 km) to the southeast of the 2015 Liza-1 discovery. Following completion of the Snoek well, the Stena Carron drillship has moved back to the Liza area to drill the Liza-4 well

Police probing $941M fraud at local bank

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lso on April 1, a known fraudster of Bartica, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni), who has allegedly robbed and conned his colleagues of hundreds of millions of dollars over the past years, is now in Police custody for ripping off a local bank of $941 million over a short period of time.

Saddiqi Rasul of El Dorado Mineral Trading was a taxi Saddiqi Rasul driver in the mining community, but was given a break in life in the gold industry. He now has hanging over his head several pending lawsuits from businesses and gold dealers whom he had conned over the years. Reports are a few years ago, Rasul collected close to $200 million from miners and gold dealers to purchase gold, but instead converted the money to his own use. He had subsequently made an arrangement to repay the money, but that promise has never been fulfilled.

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lasses at the Timehri Primary School on the East Bank of Demerara was abruptly suspended after a grenade was found in the possession of a Grade Five

pupil.

Information reaching Guyana Times on April 4 revealed that a teacher noticed the child playing with the explosive device, which she subsequently inspected and concluded tentatively was indeed a “real” grenade. She, nevertheless, had doubts and as such, took the device to the head teacher of the school who thought that it was a toy grenade.

Not satisfied with the opinion of the head teacher, the teacher went to another colleague, who after examining the item was similarly convinced that it was a genuine grenade, given its weight and appearance.

residential security has been beefed up following allegations that a group of high-profile individuals are planning to shoot President David Granger should he step out of his secure zone in one of his public outreaches; and the Guyana Police Force has been assigned to thoroughly investigate this report.

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, confirmed on April 20 that Government is very much aware of such a plot, and he said the security presence around the Head of State has been reinforced. The information, he said, has been culled by the police from an ongoing investigation, and advice is being sought from the police legal advisor.

Sister allegedly stabs brother to death

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n April 20, it was reported that a 24-year-old woman is in custody as Police investigate an attack on her mother and the fatal stabbing of her 21-year-old brother on Easter Monday.

The now dead young man, Vishaul Hansraj, a trawler operator of Covent Garden Squatting Area, East Bank Demerara (EBD), succumbed while receiving treatment at the Georgetown Public Hospital after being stabbed to the chest.

Mother of 3 strangled to death Ed Ahmad jailed for 2 years for mortgage fraud

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n April 3 it was reported that a mother of three was found with a sheet wrapped around her neck in her husband’s Parika, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) home, suspected to have been strangled to death by her abusive husband.

Danwantie Ram, 29, of Parika Façade, EBE, was found in a sitting position in a sofa by neighbours, who rushed over to the house after hearing screams. The husband, who was identified as Ganesh Dhanraj has since gone into hiding but the Police are on the hunt for him.

Reports are the woman and the suspect have been married for the past 12 years but the relationship has been an abusive one.

Fugitive 'wife killer' caught

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anesh Dhanraj, wanted by Police in connection with the strangulation of his reputed wife was shot by Police in Parika, East Bank Essequibo on April 10.

Police caught up with the 28-year-old Dhanraj, also known as “Andre”, at about 02:00hrs, but had to open fire on the fugitive in order to effect his arrest. Having sustained gunshot injury to his right arm, he was subsequently taken to the Leonora Cottage Hospital, where he was treated before being released into Police custody.

This newspaper had previously reported that Dhanraj had allegedly strangled 29-year-old Dhanwattie Ram, his reputed wife, with a bed sheet.

Nandlall sues Basil Williams for $125M

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n April 16, it was reported that former Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall filed a $125 million lawsuit against his successor, Basil Williams, for alleging that he had stolen a series of Commonwealth Law Books from the State while he occupied

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n April 22 it was reported that a New York court on Friday sentenced Queens-based Guyanese businessman Edul Ahmad to two years in jail for conspiracy to commit mortgage fraud, reported the New York Daily News.

The sentence was handed down by Brooklyn Federal Judge Dora Irizarry. The Leonora, West Coast Demeraraborn Ahmad had pleaded guilty in 2012, in a New York court, to Edul Ahmad mortgage fraud conspiracy and was looking at a sentence of 10 years, with US$15 million in fines and restitution. The US-based Guyanese businessman was supposed to have been sentenced since 2015, but appealed to the New York court several times, successfully, to delay the ruling until after his colleague, former New York State Senator John Sampson, would have been sentenced.

Audit Office hindered in its duties

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he proposed budget for the Audit Office of Guyana (AOG) was slashed by the Government side in the National Assembly during consideration of the 2017 Estimates of Expenditure, and the resultant consequences have since included the AOG grappling with not having adequate staff, or adequate funds to pay them.

The proposed estimate for the AOG in the last budget was $771.2 million for that constitutional agency that is tasked with auditing ‘the state apparatus’, but Finance Minister Winston Jordan had decreased this sum to $754.9M. Auditor General Deodat Sharma says the AOG has been affected by the cut, being forced to relinquish plans to hire additional staff. And although central government’s accounts have been brought up to date, work has to be done on statutory bodies.

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Protests against closure of sugar estates gain momentum

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lso on April 26, it was reported that the protests against the impending closure of sugar estates across the country have gained momentum on the ground, as hundreds of workers of Rose Hall Estate staged a picketing exercise.

The Estate, which employs some 2400 persons, has not taken lightly the proposal made by President David Granger to have Albion, Blairmont, and Uitvlugt Estates remain open.

The workers backed by their Union, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) displayed placards as they vented their anger at the announcement of the President.

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Doctor attacked at West Dem Hospital

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eanwhile on May 2, it was reported that a drunken patient attacked a doctor at the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH) on May 1, 2017, raising once again the security concerns of doctors and hospital staffers.

The incident occurred around 20:30h when a male, middle-aged patient arrived at the Hospital’s Accident and Emergency Unit complaining of pain in his left arm. He was then attended to by a male doctor, who informed him that he would require an x-ray and referred him to a private institution, since the service was not available at the time. The patient, in his drunken state, began hurling indecent language at the doctor and then proceeded to ‘chuck’ him.

Guyana suffers decline in Jagdeo submits 2nd list of GECOM media freedom chairmanship nominees to President

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t was reported on April 28 that Reporters without Borders (RWB), an entity that campaigns for media freedom and the rights of journalists, has indicated in its 2017 World Press Freedom Index that there have been significant setbacks in Guyana over the past year, although the constitution guarantees free speech and the right to information.

The RWB Guyana World Press Freedom Index has placed Guyana 60th in its world ranking, down by three places from its last ranking; while Trinidad and Tobago has been ranked 34th, Jamaica 4th, and the Eastern Caribbean 38th.

RWB has said that, in Guyana, “officials often use… defamation laws, which provide for fines and up to two years in jail, to silence opposition journalists”; and that “members of the media regulatory authority are appointed directly by the president. This restricts the freedom of certain media outlets, which are denied licences. Journalists are also subjected to harassment that take the form of prosecutions, suspensions and intimidation”.

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n May 3, we reported that Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo submitted a fresh list of six candidates to President David Granger for consideration for the appointment of a Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

The six names submitted on May 2, were retired Justice of Appeal BS Roy, retired Justice William Ramlall, Attorney and former Magistrate Oneidge Walrond Allicock, Attorney Kashir Khan, Attorney Nadia Sagar and Captain Gerald Gouveia.

Some of the shortlisted individuals who declined the nomination are Madam Justice Desiree Bernard, Madam Justice Claudette Singh (ret’d) SC, Ralph Ramkaran SC, and attorneys Timothy Jonas and Ronald Burchsmith.

Jagdeo in a statement reminded that it was not an easy task arriving at these six names given the restrictions outlined

by President David Granger. The Head of State’s conditions disqualify anyone engaged in any form of activism – gender, racial or religious; and persons affiliating with political parties.

This announcement was made by Agriculture Minister Noel Holder on May 8, when he presented a white paper on the future of the industry to Parliament. Holder told the National Assembly that by the end of 2017, the Corporation would have three estates and three sugar factories.

These estates are: the Uitvlugt-Wales Estate in West Demerara, Blairmont on the West Bank of Berbice and Albion-Rose Hall in East Berbice. With the latter being amalgamated, the other estate to be closed is the Enmore factory for diversification, while the Skeldon Estate will be sold.

Former Health Minister jailed for 50 months

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ust over a year after being arrested, former Health Minister Dr Noel Blackman was sentenced to 50 months’ imprisonment for writing a number of prescriptions for the narcotics-based painkiller ‘Oxycodone’; and ordered to forfeit US$536,200 in illegal proceeds.

The sentence, handed down by a New York Court on May 12, will also see him being subjected to three years’ supervision after his release from prison. A Former Health Minister former Chairman of the Board Dr Noel Blackman of Directors of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) and a People’s National Congress (PNC) Executive member, Blackman, who became embroiled in the ‘Oxycodone’ conspiracy back in 2016, pleaded guilty to his indictments, which related to conspiracy to distribute, and distribution of, oxycodone.

Broadcasters compelled to air free 1 hour Govt PSAs

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he draft Broadcast Law mandates broadcast agencies, both public and private, to air without charge Government’s public service announcements (PSAs) during a certain timeframe; but broadcast agencies which have issues with any PSA have recourse to the regulator, the Guyana National broadcasting Authority (GNBA).

It should be noted that the board of the GNBA is appointed by the President, but, by statute, one member of the board must be nominated by the political opposition. GNBA Chairman Leslie Sobers has dispelled any suggestion that, in arbitrating between private entities and the Government, the GNBA board may issue biased judgements.

Parliamentary Committee ordered SOCU charges Nandlall out of bond during GPHC tour Seaman killed execution style

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n April 28, it was reported that Former Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Anil Nandlall, was arraigned before Georgetown Magistrate Fabayo Azore on a charge instituted by members of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) which detailed that, between May 15 and May 29, 2015, while being a bailee (custodian), he had fraudulently converted to his own use and benefit 14 Commonwealth Law Reports, valued at $2.3 million — which he allegedly unlawfully retained after demitting office in 2015.

Represented by a battery of attorneys that included former Education Minister Priya Manickchand, as well as Glenn Hanoman, Sase Gunraj, Euclin Gomes and Sanjeev Datadin, Nandlall’s entry into the courtroom was preceded by his eminent legal representation, and he was initially informed by the magistrate that the case file was not with her clerk. This caused some commotion as the lawyers tried to determine whether SOCU officers were attempting to manipulate the system to further detain Nandlall.

State Prosecutor Patrice Henry informed the court that more statements had to be taken in relation to the matter.

As such, Nandlall was released on self-bail.

16-yr-old student stabbed to death at Covent Garden school fair

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n May 1, it was reported that 16-yearold Brian Charles Yearwood of Lot 69 Grove Public Road, EBD was fatally stabbed in the region of his chest, allegedly by a 17-yearold resident of Kaneville, EBD at some time around 20:00h on April 29.

The incident occurred in the compound of the Covent Garden Nursery School on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD), where the late Covent Brian Charles Yearwood Garden Secondary School student had gone to attend a concert held by his school.

On May 8, 17-year-old Andy Peters and Shannon Cox, 21, were arraigned for Yearwood’s murder and remanded to prison.

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Dr Zulfikar Bux addressing members of the parliamentary Sectoral Committee on social services during its tour of the GPHC

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t was commotion and high drama when the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Social Services, Dr Vindhya Persaud defied efforts by management of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) to restrict her delegation from accessing the drug bond during an organised tour of the facility on May 3, 2017.

At the beginning of the announced tour, Committee members were informed that the tour will be confined to four departments – Accident and Emergency, Surgical Outpatient, Cardiac ICU and the Paediatric Unit. But as the visit winded down, Dr Persaud felt it was necessary to visit the bond in light of its importance to the operations of the Hospital.

Alves insisted that the bond was not included in the tour as no preparations were made by the staff to facilitate the visit. Nonetheless, Dr Persaud led other Committee Members including Alister Charlie, Dr Vishwa Mahadeo, as well as media personnel into the bond despite the resistance. As Dr Persaud engaged with the staff, GPHC’s then Chief Executive Officer, Allan Johnson, made an entrance and ordered her and everyone else out of the bond.

Rose Hall, Enmore Sugar Estates to close by year-end; Skeldon Estate to be sold

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t was reported on May 9 that Government announced plans to close two sugar estates, reduce the annual production of sugar, and take on the responsibility of managing the drainage and irrigation services offered by the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) as part of a new policy for the sugar industry.

father of two was on May 17 found with a single gunshot wound to his head in a clump of bushes at Marigold Street, Roxanne Burnham Gardens, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown. Dead is 27-year-old Roy Rowland, a seaman of Lot 25 Castello Housing Scheme, Georgetown.

Based on reports received, the man’s body was discovered about 06:30h by a resident who went to take out his cattle. He immediately raised an alarm and the Police were summoned.

During investigations, a 9mm spent shell was found at the scene.

The Police were working on the theory that the man might have been killed somewhere else and his body dumped in the area, since residents did not hear the sound of a firearm being discharged.

Let’s celebrate our diversity – President’s Independence Day message

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n his address to the nation on the country’s 51st Independence anniversary, President David Granger said this occasion should inspire Guyanese to continue to work towards preserving the ‘free state,’ establishing a ‘green state’, and creating a ‘cohesive state’; while at the same time celebrating the country’s diversity and bridging its differences.

The Guyanese Head of State also said that Independence Day celebrates the unique combination of the people who came – Africans, Chinese, Indians and Portuguese – and with the Amerindians who lived here from time immemorial, contributed to the creation of a multi-racial and multi-religious state.

President Granger noted that the ‘free state’ which was established on May 26th 1966 recognised the country’s commitment to social cohesion, through which its people learned to accept and respect each other’s values and beliefs, and to share the common space they call homeland.

PPP boycotts Independence celebrations

…blames Govt duplicity, lack of transparency

Sources indicate the Opposition boycotted the event due to the controversies swirling around the Government

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s Independence celebrations got underway at D’Urban Park on the evening of May 25, it was evident the parliamentary Opposition had boycotted the event. But from reports reaching Guyana Times, the boycott was for good

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reason.

According to a source close to the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), the decision to boycott the celebration was not taken lightly; but rather one reason for the decision to boycott was the controversy and lack of transparency surrounding the money used on the location.

The source revealed that the Party was also concerned that despite the national nature of the event, the parliamentary Opposition was at no point included in the planning of the celebrations.

Oil expert bashes Govt over transparency

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ontrol Risks Senior Analyst Raul Gallegos came out swinging on May 25 at the Government of Guyana over the issue of transparency with respect to the emerging oil and gas sector.

Speaking at the XXVI La Jolla Energy Conference during a plenary session on “Latin America’s Upstream Prospects and Outlook,” Gallegos bash the Government saying that Guyana’s Administration was “not transparent about essentially public sharing contract that it has with ExxonMobil”.

Gallegos, a former journalist and an expert on Venezuela, told the gathering of investors, thought leaders and Government officials that the problem with Guyana was the issue of transparency. The Government of Guyana, he said, “still cannot figure it out”, making reference to the contract and plans for the revenue streaming in from oil.

GRA agent, ace biker among 4 remanded for $550m cocaine bust

Sherwayne De Abreu

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Stephen Vieira

Nazim Gafoor

Tazim Gafoor

azim Gafoor, 20, along with his father Tazim Gafoor, 45, both of Menzees Street, Windor Forest, West Coast Demerara; biker, Stephen Vieira, 33, of Lot 37 Middle and Cummings Street, Georgetown; and GRA’s Drug Enforcement Agent, Sherwayne De Abreu of Lot 262 Street 8 section “A” Lilliendaal, Greater Georgetown appeared at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court on May 1 and were remanded for the charge of possession of narcotics.

The Custom Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) said that between March 1 and May 12, 2017 at Naraine Lall’s sawmill located at Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo (EBE), the men collaborated with Hakeem Mohammed to traffic 84.9kg of cocaine.

Jagdeo, President agrees for 3rd list

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pposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo will once again submit six nominees for the post of Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to President David Granger in due course, a joint statement from the Opposition and Government said.

The joint statement said the parties agreed that it would be in the best interest of the people of Guyana that the choice of a Chairperson of the GECOM is made without undue delay. However, both parties further agreed recommended was a judge, retired judge or eligible to be appointed a judge. Granger’s rejection of the list was in keeping with ‘his interpretation’ of Guyana’s Constitution.

Roopnarine ousted, Henry to act as education minister

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overnment has announced a major shake-up in the Ministry of Education, with former Minister of Education, Dr Rupert Roopnarine, being demoted to head a department in the Ministry of the Presidency.

Former Minister of Education, Former Minister within Dr Rupert Roopnarine the Ministry, Nicolette Henry, will replace him, taking over the substantive portfolio of Education Minister (ag). Henry had previously held responsibility for Culture, Youth and Sports. Roopnarine will now work within the Ministry of the Presidency, with responsibility for Public Service.

CANU head James Singh fired

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he Government has fired longstanding head of the Customs Anti Narcotic Unit (CANU), James Singh. The decision took effect from the completion of his accumulated leave.

The former CANU head had proceeded on 42 days leave in March, with Government appointing retired Major General Michael Atherly to act in his absence.

On a good run, the group, who are part of Guyana’s services sector, transport containers of fuel, ration and other important items from Georgetown to various interior locations for various clients. Now, however, lack of work and deplorable roads have caused many to reconsider their multi-million dollar investments in their heavy duty vehicles and to downsize their operations.

“No more funds” for sugar industry – EU

EU Ambassador Jernej Videtič (sitting) with other representatives from the local Mission, including Head of Cooperation Christof Stock (first from left) at Thursday’s news conference

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fter finally releasing the last instalment of its sugar grant last year, the European Union (EU) has now closed the programme, which saw Guyana benefiting from some $348.5 billion budgetary support to aid in sugar sector reform.

EU Ambassador to Guyana, Jernej Videtič, noted that while the last grant was issued in 2013, it was not released to Guyana until last year after the country failed to meet the necessary indicators/criteria required.

IMF warns against exorbitant spending before 2020 oil

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uyana’s economy has been on an economic decline over the past five years with a less than one per cent growth over last year’s 3.3 per cent, oil is being seen as the boon but will require a transparent, rules-based system in managing the expected oil wealth.

These are among the crucial findings of the Internal Monetary Fund (IMF), following its latest rounds of consultations on Guyana. That consultation was concluded in May last with the International Financial Institution (IFI) releasing its findings this past week.

The IMF has since warned the country against any excessive borrowing or an exorbitant increase in public spending ahead of the signaled start of commercial production in 2020 by ExxonMobil and its partners offshore Guyana in the Stabroek bloc

Jagdeo demands full NGSA results he month of July kicked disclosure on oil contract Govt dismissed Amerindians off on a high note af-

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xpectations are being built up around the advancement of the oil and gas industry in Guyana, while traditional sectors are being neglected, according to Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo. Jagdeo charged that even with the definite assurance of two per cent in royalties being paid to Guyana, only some Gy$8B may come Guyana’s way per annum (assuming that oil prices stand at US$50 per barrel and the production is 100,000 barrels per day).

Additionally, he called on Government to make public the contract document with ExxonMobil, given several public statements by Trotman. The People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) government back in 1999 signed the inception agreement with ExxonMobil.

President rejects 2nd list of Gecom nominees

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ead of State, President David Granger, has rejected a second list of nominees for the position of Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), which was submitted by Leader of the political opposition, People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo. The announcement by Granger was made mere hours after Jagdeo vowed to put up a fight should his list be rejected a second time.

They are Retired Justice of Appeal B.S Roy, Retired Justice William Ramlall; Attorney-at-law and a former Magistrate, Ms Oneidge Walrond-Allicock; Attorney-at-Law, Kashir Khan; Attorney-at-law, Nadia Sagar and businessman, Gerald Gouveia.

James Singh

land concerns as “greed”

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he Amerindians are greedy because they have requested security in the lands they have held since time immemorial; and even more worrying sovereignty now belongs to the State, governed by the collation A Partnership for National Unity, Alliance for Change Government (APNU/ AFC). This was the view of Minister Keith Scott.

One dead, 1 injured during NA prison brawl

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ne man is now dead and his brother injured following a brawl inside the New Amsterdam penitentiary. Prison officials confirmed that 27-year-old Neeshan Jagmohan of Lot 28 Belvedere Squatting Area, Corentyne was killed after he and his brother, Ramnarine Jagmohan were attacked by three inmates.

Neeshan Jagmohan was stabbed multiple times to his abdomen and was rushed to the New Amsterdam Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

Truckers protest interior economic woes, deplorable roads

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ter Education Minister Nicolette Henry announced the names of the top performers at this year’s National Grade Six Assessment. On July 1, the Guyana Times reported that of the 29 students gaining a space in the top ten ranking throughout the country, 8 of the pupils were from public schools, while the remaining 21 emanated from private educational institutions. Leading the group was School of the Nations’ Saskia Twahir who scored 529 marks, earning her spot at Queen’s College and as the country’s top performer for 2017.

At the same time, with new measures implemented by the Ministry, the country marked improved performances in the core subjects. Mathematics recorded a whopping 32 per cent increase when compared to last year while English Language saw a 12.48 per cent hike up in pass rates for 2017.

Region 9 flood

GGDMA decries Govt’s burdensome taxes

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he top brass of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) decried the range of burdensome taxes implemented by the Coalition Government.

Among the challenges identified were the spike in taxes across the board implemented by the Government, in particular, the Tributors tax, Value Added Tax (VAT) on heavy-duty mining equipment, the two per cent Withholding tax, breach of promises in respect of the grant of duty-free concessions on mining equipment, vehicles and fuel and the atrocious state of the roads in the mining areas and other related issues.

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eports of an economic downturn were personified by a group of truck operators, who travelled from the interior to Georgetown to complain about the economic woes gripping Guyana’s interior and the poor state of infrastructure.

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ith the country still recovering from massive flooding in Region 8 just weeks prior, several parts of Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) went under water following heavy rainfall, which resulted in at least two families being evacuated by July 3.

This was as rivers overtopped their banks resulting in emergency shelters being established throughout the region.

Hotlines were also set up, and drivers and vehicles were on

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standby to evacuate affected persons to the shelters.

By July 4, over 30 homes have been evacuated and more residents were moved to higher ground. In the end an excess of 2000 persons were affected.

their operations. However, on July 31, the Guyana Times reported that 4 of the high profiled criminals were still at large. These included Bartica massacre’s Royden Durant, aka Smallie; Uree Varswyck, aka “Malcolm Gordon”; Corbena Stephens as well as Lusignan escapee Paul Goriah.

Republic Bank robbery Bisram nabbed, probes intensified

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haos erupted in downtown Georgetown on the morning of Tuesday July 4 when armed bandits invaded the Water Street branch of Republic Bank Limited in a failed attempt to cart off cash.

The supposed three-man attack ended with one of the bandits, 24-year-old Elton Wray being killed, while his two accomplices, Keron Saunders of Mocha Arcadia, EBD, and 24-yearold Jamal Haynes of Norton Street, Georgetown, who is an employee attached to the Bank, both injured during a shootout with the Police.

The duo, along with others who were subsequently named for their involved in the crime, appeared in court on July 14 at which time Haynes was slapped with a 4 years sentence for the possession of fire arms and ammunition, as well as an additional 4 years imprisonment for his involvement in the foil robbery along with a total of $190,000 in fines.

Also charged were Keron Saunders; Gladston George, the Police Constable who allegedly supplied the gun and transported the hostage; Anfami Blackman; and another Republic Bank employee, Shawn Raymond, all of whom plead not guilty to the same charge and were remanded to prison awaiting trial.

Camp Street Prison riot

onths after Interpol had issued a red notice for the arrest of Marcus Brian Bisram, who is alleged mastermind behind the November, 2016 murder of 26-year-old carpenter Faiyaz Narinedatt in Corentyne, the suspect was on Tuesday July 4 nabbed in Queens, New York.

This arrest was backed with called for him to be extradited.

Weeks later, on July 21, the key witness to testify against Marcus Brian Bisram Bisram in the murder trial was poisoned, reportedly by a relative of the accused. The teenaged then turned up at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court on the 27, but was rushed out due to medical complications stemming from the poisoning.

The day ended with high drama after Attorney-at-Law Chandra Sohan was taken into custody after State Prosecutor Stacy Goodings accused him of obstructing the course of justice.

President’s assassination plot CoI

Retired Justice, Ian Chang, questions Crime Chief, Wendell Blanhum, as hearings continue at the COI into the alleged plot to assassinate President David Granger

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ust 9 days into the Month of July, the country was swept national state of emergency after inmates set fire to the Camp Street Prison in what was the largest prison riot to be recorded in Guyana’s history. During the pandemonium, that almost entirely gutted the facility, 8 high profiled criminals managed to escape, leaving behind prison officer Odinga Wickham who was injured during a shootout and later succumbed to his injuries.

With the Georgetown Prison being flattened by the blaze, the remaining detainees were transferred to the Lusignan Penitentiary where further unrests continued. Amidst the dayslong chaos, an additional 13 detainees managed to dig their way out of the East Coast Demerara holding compound on July 25, forcing the Prison Services authority to relocation over 400 of inmates to the Mazaruni and Timehri Prisons while releasing an addition 300 said to be detained for non-violent offenses.

Even with those efforts to quell the unrest and assure citizens of some amount of safety, July 30 saw yet another attempted to escapee detention, with the fail efforts leaving 16 inmates being shot in another riot at the Lusignan penitentiary.

Escapees recaptured

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n a mere two days following the Camp Street Prison riot, which saw the escape of 8 high profiled criminals, the Police managed to recapture double murder convict, Shamedeen Mohamed who was found draped in women’s apparel at his Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo, residence. He was joined by murder accused Cornelius Thomas who was on July 17 nabbed while hiding out in “C” Field Sophia, Greater Georgetown. At that time, escapee Desmond James had already been Shamedeen Mohamed recaptured, leaving 5 still on the run.

Meanwhile, search for the escapees intensified allowed the break out at the Lusignan penitentiary which saw 7 of the criminals being detains almost immediately after their escape. As a result of the manhunt, a mentally ill man Charles Peters was shot dead after being mistaken as one of the escapees on July 26.

By the end of the month, the Joint Forces managed to narrow in on a majority of the escapees, some of whom were killed during

5-man Commission of Inquiry (CoI) was on July 11 sworn in before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, to dig deeper into the alleged assassination plot against President David Granger while assessing the probes carried out by the Guyana Police Force.

With hearings underway, on July 25 the Guyana Times reported Top Cop Seelall Persaud ordered the release of businessman Nizam Khan – the accused plotter; his brother, Imran Khan, and the complainant – Andrif Gillard less than 24 hours after they were detained. Days later on the 28, Acting Police Commissioner Mr David Ramnarine opined that the Guyana Police Force (GPF) did not properly investigate Gillard’s allegations that Khan had offered him $7M to kill President Granger.

With Persaud and Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum being thrown under the bus for what was deem as ineffective investigations of treason, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo came out condemning the CoI as destroying Police’s morale through constant badgering and that it is the government’s tool to distract the public from more pressing matters.

Cabinet reshuffle

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he month of July saw a number of changes occurring within the APNU/AFC administration with the first being, the Social Protection Minister and Government’s Chief Whip Amna Ally, being appointed General Secretary of the Peoples National Congress Reform (PNCR) on July 1 following the announced retirement of Oscar Clarke.

Meanwhile, weks after he was demoted from Education Minister and placed to work within the Ministry of the Presidency, Working People’s Alliance (WPA) Executive Member, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine resigned from both Parliament and Government on July 19. However, following a meeting between with President Granger, Dr Roopnaraine rescinded his resignation just one day later and maintained his newly appointed post as the Minister of Public Service.

Parliament and Government

os for two Ministers: Dawn Hastings was transferred from within the Ministry of Communities to serve as Minister of Public Affairs within the Ministry of the Presidency. Additionally, on August 28, Social Cohesion Minister Dr. George Norton was given the Culture, Youth and Sport portfolio that was under the Education Ministry when headed by former subject Minister, Dr. Rupert Roopnarine.

In another matter that saw ongoing changes; after he submitted two lists to President Granger to consider for Gecom Chair that were rejected, Opposition Leader on August 25, submitted a third list of nominees which was later on rejected by the Head of State.

Assassination plot CoI and halting promotions

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s businessman Nizam Khan continued to deny that he coined a plot to assassinate the President in 2016, Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud, who was on leave, testified to the Commission of Inquiry into the allegations that he did not order the release of Khan.

The August 1 edition reported Seelall saying that in fact, he merely gave the detective his Police Commissioner suggestion following a briefing Seelall Persaud that was unrequested.

“I was making a suggestion; I was giving an opinion. It wasn’t my intention to ensure he [Nizam Khan] go on bail. I had a concern with how the policy of the Force was being implemented,” the Commissioner told the CoI. Later on, the sanity of informant Andriff Gillard came under question due to his animated responses given under cross-examination by Seelall’s lawyer, Glen Hanoman. Days after Gillard’s testimony before the commission, a leak in press revealed that several of the senior police officers who were ordered to appear before the CoI, were on a promotions list for 2017. These included Mitchell Caesar, Wendell Blanhum, and Clifton Hicken.

It was reported on August 9 that a letter was dispatched wherein the President ordered the Police Service Commission (PSC) to halt the promotions until further directed by the Head of State. While the Opposition categorised the move as a “vulgar and authoritarian attempt” to subvert the independence and functional autonomy of a constitutional agency, the President maintained that halting the promotions was necessary to allow for a thorough investigation to be carried out into a number of complaints against police.

Crime

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wenty-seven-year-old Dwayne Tappin, a former Guyana Defence Force rank, chopped off his uncle’s head on August 6 at Better Hope, ECD, in a bitter family dispute over property. Meanwhile, it was days after being captured by police that 25-year-old Ryan Singh who allegedly slit the throat of his 16-year-old live-in girlfriend Parbattie Lakhpal in Berbice, was charged and then remanded to prison On August 15.

An Essequibo mother was released on $150,000 bail for arranging sex for her underage daughter. In another Essequibo case, at Dredge Creek, Upper Pomeroon River in Region Two, Alfro Adams, called ”Fro”, a labourer of Himacobra, Moruca in the North West District was allegedly murdered by his wife, Wavney John. She accused him of being abusive over a number of years. Meanwhile, 51 year old grandmother Naomi Persaud was jailed for four years and fined $21 M after taking the wrap for the 20lbs of cocaine that was found in a gas cylinder in her home.

Several persons lost their lives and others were injured at the hands of speeding policemen, some of whom were found to be driving under the influence of alcohol during the year. For August, 58-year-old Pulmattie Ramotar, of Success, East Coast Demerara (ECD), succumbed two days after she was struck down on the Success Public Road by a police rank. Additionally, Eno David, 22, of Matthew’s Ridge, North West District, was struck down at the Soesdyke Public Road (EBD), East Bank Demerara, by a police rank, who was transporting an injured colleague, who himself was involved in a separate car accident in the early morning hours.

Uncle kills 18 month old niece for earrings

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fter an intense debate in the National Assembly, Government on August 4 passed the Broadcast Bill, a move which the Opposition described as counter revolutionary and anti-progressive due to all broadcasters being mandated to air public service programmes for a up to one hour daily, free of cost between 6:00hrs and 22:00hrs. The passage came in spite of calls by The International Press Institute, the Guyana Press Association (GPA), and other interest groups for amendments to be made.

During the month, Government announced changes in portfoli-

ighteen-month-old Ronasha Pilgrim lost her life tragically in the wee hours of Friday when her uncle, 18-year-old Sherwin Pilgrim, in attempting to steal her earrings, allegedly threw her out of a window of the Lot 98 North Sophia, Greater Georgetown home where she lived, and buried her in a shallow grave in the yard.

Sherwin Pilgrim appeared before the Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan when he was slapped with the indictable charge of murder and is currently on remand.

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Prison escapee Uree Varsywk killed by Police

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rison escapee Uree Varswyck, also known as Malcolm Gordon, was killed in a shootout with law enforcement officers on a Joint Services intelligence-led operation at Central Amelia’s Ward, Linden.

chaos. This was as threats exchanged between the duo became violent, leaving one now nursing severe stab wounds at the Georgetown Public Hospital, while the other is said to be on the run from members of a vicious gang who left behind a trail of houses which were burnt to the ground.

Cash strapped GuySoCu gets $2B lifeline

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cash-strapped Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) was by the end of Thursday expected to conclude the sale of large portions of lands in order to meet with its immediate $2 billion requirements to, in part, meet payment of wages and salaries.

The sale is being executed between the Corporation and the Government’s Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA).

Doctors, nurses strike at Diamond Hospital Six year old dies during fter months of complaints over poor working condi-

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tions and no positive response from health officials in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), doctors and nurses attached to the East Bank Demerara Regional Hospital, commonly known as the Diamond Diagnostic Centre or Diamond Hospital, staged strike action. During the strike, the workers demanded that their concerns be addressed.

Several elderly patients were among those turned away from the Diamond Hospital as a result the ‘sit-in’ which was observed by both medical and custodial staff.

21 year old motorcyclist killed in early morning accident

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n accident that occurred on the Meten-Meer-Zorg public road, West Coast Demerara (WCD) at about 2:55hrs has left 21-year-old Kevin Singh of Hague Backdam, WCD dead, and his girlfriend Verna Wells warded at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) in an unconscious and critical state.

Teacher douses husband, sets house on fire

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ursene Walters, a primary school teacher, of Cummings Park, Sophia, Georgetown allegedly doused her husband, Richard Walters with kerosene and subsequently threw a lit match at the sleeping man while their teenaged son was asleep in an adjoining room.

Doctors deliver twins from mother’s separate uteruses

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octors at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) are receiving praise for having pulled off a rare and intricate feat following the successful delivery of two healthy babies from a mother who carried the twins in separate uteruses. What made the 20-year-old mother’s story particularly special was that her type of pregnancy was so rare that statistics suggested its odds at one in a million.

The delivery and discovery was made via Cesarean Section (C-Section) on August 25 and her twins – a boy and a girl, were born with normal weight.

Businessman perished in Main Street fire

playfield accident

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Plaisance, East Coast Demerara (ECD), school boy was tragically killed on Wednesday after a metal goal post fell on him at the community centre, where they were practicing for the upcoming school athletics.

Dead is six-year-old Glensean Skeete, a pupil of St Paul’s Primary School and of Lot 10 Graham Street Plaisance. The incident occurred just be midday at the Industry/Plaisance Community Centre Ground.

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Gangs goes on rampage, create havoc in Sophia

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he community of ‘B’ Field Sophia, Georgetown was swept in an uproar as an early morning altercation involving two known rivals quickly erupted into total

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anted man Royden Williams also known as Royden Durant called “Smallie” and was recaptured on Monday at Weldaad, Berbice during an intelligence led operation.

Reports are the prison escapee was corned at a Police road block at Weldaad Police Station. Guyana Times understands that the wanted man, who was convicted for the Bartica massacre, was being followed by uncover cops.

This newspaper was told that Williams cut off dread locks in a bid to hide his identity. Following his arrest Williams was searched but no weapon was found in his possession.

Williams was in the company of fellow prison escapee Uree Varswyck, also known as Malcolm Gordon last month when Police confronted them at Central Amelia’s Ward, Linden.

Marcus Bisram to be extradited to Guyana – US Court orders

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New York Judge has ruled that murder accused Marcus Bisram be extradited to Guyana. The decision, which was handed down on Thursday by Judge Peggy Kuo, marks the turning of a page in Bisram’s dogged efforts to stay clear of Guyana’s legal system.

It is understood that according to the particulars of the order, that the judge backed the extradition on the basis of the applicability of Guyana’s treaty with the United States.

She also found that the Government of Guyana substantiated its request for Bisram with adequate documents.

Pending his extradition, Bisram, has been incarcerated in a New York holding facility until the resolution of technical facets with the process. Efforts to make contact with Bisram’s local Attorney-at-Law, Sanjeev Datadin, were futile.

Wanted bandit gunned down in Albouystown Mother, sons among 5 killed

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24-year-old man, who was wanted by Police in connection with a number of robberies was in the wee hours of Saturday morning gunned down in Albert Street, Albouystown, Georgetown.

Dead is Colin Daley, also called “Froggy,” and “Frog Eye,” of Freeman Street, East La Penitence, Georgetown. Daly was found in a pool of blood with a single gunshot wound to his head.

in horrific Corentyne accident

Marriott/Casino deal to be shrouded in secrecy

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t was only a few weeks ago that Government, in a tender seeking expression of interests from contractors for the new Demerara River Bridge; attached a number of restrictions that saw bidders waiving a number of their rights-all to maintain confidentiality.

That trend is continuing, with bidders expressing an interest to Atlantic Hotels Incorporated (AHI), in partnering to Build Own Operate and Transfer (BOOT) a casino at the Marriott Hotel also being saddled with red tape and restrictions.

Bidders engaging in the project have to sign a non-disclosure agreement as has been noted with a number of other projects including the new Demerara River Crossing among others.

Elderly women allegedly strangled to death

T

wo elderly women were found dead in a building at the corner of Albert Street and South Road, Georgetown, who were believed to have been strangled during a suspected robbery.

The dead women have been identified as 87-year-old Constance Fraser, also known as “Mother Fraser,” and her niece, 75-year-old Phyllis Caesar.

Police sergeant hacked to death, suspect hangs self

usuf Sankar of Lot 51 Main Street, Georgetown, owner of Rizan’s Instant Photography and Gift Centre and Jarrod’s Graphic Document and Copy Centre, perished in that fire, which broke out on the three-storey wooden and concrete building at about 05:45h.

Prison escapee Royden Williams recaptured

A

murder-suicide at Union, typically referred to as ‘Number 30 Village’, West Coast Berbice, Region Five (Mahaica/Berbice) has left residents in a state of shock.

Woman Police Sergeant Kenisha Sheriff-Fraser, 39, was found in a pool of blood at her lot 370 Union Village, West Coast Berbice home.

The alleged suspect has been identified as Clayton Anthony also called ‘Woody’, 42, a pork knocker who occupies the bottom flat of the said house. His body was found hanging from a tree at the Village Seashore.

A

n accident on the Number 59 Village Public Road, Corentyne, Berbice Road on Sunday has left a mother, her two sons, her secretary and a friend dead.

Dead are Sabita Manglani, 42, Emmanuel Maglani, 18, Ethan Ramjit, 5, Reshma Seeram and Dhanpaul Kishandayal called Navin.

The mid-afternoon accident also left lorry driver Budram Singh also called ‘Budo’ 30 of Number 49 Village injured.

Reports are that Kishandayal was driving motor car PPP 3394 heading in an eastern direction while lorry bearing registration plate number GZ 2763 was heading in the opposite direction. Reports are Kishandayal dropped in a pothole and lost control of the car and slammed into the lorry.

President unilaterally selects new GECOM chair

A

retired Guyana-born judge James Patterson, who served once as the Chief Justice in Grenada will now take up the role of chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) after he was unilaterally appointed to that post by President David Granger on Thursday evening at State House, Georgetown.

The announcement came a few hours after President Granger met with Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo for a brief meeting. According to the Head of State, his decision to select a GECOM chairman was done in accordance with article 161 of the Constitution for the appointment of a GECOM Chairman.

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december 31, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Three killed in WCD accident

$267B Budget presented Minister AFC-Canada Chapter pulls out of Party by Finance overnment on November 27 tabled in the National

NOVEMBER

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teenaged couple along with their taxi driver was killed when the vehicle they were travelling in lost control and collided with a parked car late Sunday afternoon at New Road Public Road, Vreed-en-Hoop on the West Coast of Demerara.

Those dead have been identified as taxi driver Deodat Mohan, 22, of 44 New Road Vreed-en-Hoop; and passengers Reaz Barakat, 18, of Lot 12 Rumzeight Gardens, WCD and Tillesha Terika Singh, 17, of Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara.

PPP files injunction to rescind GECOM chair appointment

T

he Opposition Peoples’ Progressive Party (PPP) on Monday filed an injunction in the High Court to rescind President David Granger’s unilateral appointment of retired justice James Patterson as Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) on the grounds of unconstitutionality.

Former Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall described the unilateral appointment not only as unconstitutional but illegal, null, void and of no effect.

He said the PPP is also seeking a declaration that he is not qualified to be appointed in provision with article 161-2 of the Constitution of Guyana.

Joe Singh resigns as Presidential Adviser

J

ust days after the controversial appointment of a Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chairman by the President, one of the main nominees for the post Major General (retired), Joe Singh, has resigned as a Presidential Advisor.

Singh, a former Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, had at the time been serving as a Special Adviser to President David Granger. But the retired Major General officially tendered his resignation to the Ministry of the Presidency.

Chris Ram also resigns from Govt post

A

ttorney-at-Law, eminent Chartered Accountant and vocal social activist Christopher Ram has resigned from his position on government’s negotiating team for the establishment of a Law School in Guyana.

The move by Ram comes a day after another distinguished Guyanese Major General (rtd) Joe Singh also resigned from all of his government posts.

Trinidadian faked kidnapping in Guyana – Police

L

ocal investigators probing the alleged kidnapping of a Trinidadian national have reasons to believe that the man staged the crime, demanding a ransom of US$700,000 from his family back home.

Acting Crime Chief, Assistant Commissioner of Police Paul Williams, told the Guyana Times that after interviewing the 33-year-old Mechancial Engineer, Sawak Maraj, investigators became suspicious about the kidnapping allegation.

“So far in our investigations, it appear as if this whole act was staged as it relates to the kidnapping and demand of ransom from his parents,” Williams said.

He revealed that the Trinidadian national was found by police alone in a room at the Madewini Resort, Soesdyke/Linden Highway, on Friday evening. Maraj arrived in Guyana earlier that day and hours later his parents received a call from an unknown person demanding money for his release.

embers of the Alliance f o r C h a n g e Canadian Chapter pulled out from the party as the fallout over the unilateral appointment of Guyana Elections Commission’s Chairman deepened.

In a letter to the AFC, Secretary of AFC-Canada, Laurence Williams, expressed grave concerns about James’

appointment.

Williams said his party’s group in Canada agreed that the AFC should publicly call for the appointment to be rescinded and for one of the 18 persons nominated to be appointed.

He also stated in that missive that AFC-Canada will no longer be associated with the AFC.

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Assembly a budget to the tune of $267.1 billion, introducing several measures to support its green agenda and improve various key economic sectors.

In presenting the Budget themed “The Journey to the Good Life Continues”, Finance Minister Winston Jordan also disclosed that the economy was expected to grow by 2.9 per cent, failing to meet the revised growth projection of 3.1 per cent for 2017.

He reminded that the initial projected growth of the economy was 3.8 per cent, but this was revised by midyear to 3.1 per cent after the economy only grew by 2.2 per cent in July of this year.

According to the Minister, this was mainly on account of poor performance in several key sectors, including mining, sugar, forestry and fishery. However, he said the economy was performing fairly well when compared to sister Caribbean countries that continue to see significant economic decline.

President’s address to Parliament Budget disastrous, a failure – Jagdeo overshadowed by protests …says it lived up to “low expectations” of public

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arliament got underway on Thursday with President David Granger addressing the house. But after passing through a large crowd of placard-bearing protestors outside Public Buildings, there was no respite inside the Parliament chambers as Granger was also faced with protests from parliamentarians seated on the Opposition benches.

Doggedly reading from a prepared speech even as the Opposition Members of Parliament heckled and waved placards, Granger reeled off the measures his government has been implementing. At the same time, however, cries from the Opposition regarding Government’s job creation policy and GECOM went ignored.

Patterson adamant he was acting CJ of Grenada

H

e has been appointed to one of the most crucial constitutional posts in Guyana; but when asked exactly when he served as a Chief Justice (CJ) of Grenada, new Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chairman James Patterson cannot remember when.

Patterson’s service as a Chief Justice of Grenada was listed on his Curriculum Vitae (CV) for the GECOM position.

It has been hotly debated after background checks initially turned up no records he was ever the CJ. “I’ve been appointed acting Chief Justice. They had me acting for a number of years. I don’t remember (when). People refer to me, to this day, as Chief Justice….,” Patterson stated.

Govt racks up $175M in expenses on CoIs

T

he numerous Commissions of Inquiries (CoIs) launched

by President David Granger have come at a hefty price of $175 million. Since 2015, Government has spent the sum on CoIs, including costs associated with paying members and Chairmen.

This was revealed as a result of questions brought to the National Assembly by the political Opposition. In his written responses to Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira, Minister of State Joseph Harmon provided the costs for 11 CoIs. In the case of the 2015 CoI into the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), it was disclosed that $51.8 million was expended.

This included a payment of $1.9 million to the Chairman and $2.4 million to all members except Professor Clive Thomas.

Teacher succumbs days after brutal beating

T

he 22-year-old woman who was the reported victim of a brutal beating over the weekend and was said to be in an “unresponsive” state at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) has now succumbed to her injuries.

Dead is Kescia Branche, a mother of one and a teacher attached to the Richard Ishmael Secondary School. Branche resided in Cummings Lodge, Greater Georgetown.

The teacher was found in a battered and unconscious state at the corners of Louisa Row and Princess Street, Georgetown.

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oments after Finance Minister Winston Jordan delivered a near four-hour Budget 2018 presentation, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo shredded the coalition Government’s fiscal plan for the next year, saying that it was without a doubt one of the most “disastrous” budgets ever presented to the nation.

Speaking to reporters from the Committee Room at the Parliament Building on the evening of December 27, the former President noted that the Budget, failed on every standard, especially as it related to addressing key matters of concern to the public.

“He has failed on every one of those parameters. Issues surrounding jobs, welfare, framework for growth and development, clarity of the Government’s vision in different areas, big-picture issues on where the country is going – we had hoped that all of these would be part of the budget presentation… they have lived up to the low expectations people had of the Government,” the Opposition Leader stated.

1500 Enmore sugar workers booted …as widespread firing continues in sugar belt

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undreds of workers attached to the East Demerara Estate (EDE) located in Enmore, East Coast Demerara, have been issued termination letters by the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), as the plans announced by Government earlier this year to close the sugar estate starts to take effect.

A senior official of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) confirmed this with Guyana Times on December 6, stating that workers are devastated by the move, as they are now contemplating how they will spend the holidays and whether they will get new employment in 2018.

The official, who requested anonymity, explained that the first batch of workers who are mostly engaged in other activities besides harvesting and factory duties were issued with their termination letters in September and given one month’s notice. These workers have since been paid.

Taxi driver charged for killing Kescia Branche

L

ess than a week after returning from the United States, the taxi driver who was implicated in the brutal murder of a Richard Ishmael school teacher was arraigned before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on December 6.

Matthew Munroe, of Diamond, East Bank Demerara (EBD), appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts to answer to the capital offence in shackles. With a grave look on his face, the 47-year-old father of six stood before Chief Magistrate McLennan as the indictable charge was read to him. The charge stated that on November 7, 2017 in Georgetown, Munroe murdered Kescia Branche.

The unconscious Richard Ishmael Secondary School teacher was found in the vicinity of Princes Street and Louisa Row, Georgetown on November 6 sometime around 05:00h.

Govt lied about Exxon’s bonus

….evidence shows bank account was set up in 2016 to facilitate deposit

A

lthough Finance Minister Winston Jordan had claimed that there was no advance payment made to the Government by United States oil giant ExxonMobil, a confidential document seen by Guyana Times now proves that not only did the Administration received the signing bonus but also opened a separate account at the Central Bank to facilitate a deposit.

14

december 31, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

A missive dated September 20, 2016 and addressed to the Governor of the Bank of Guyana has this subject: “Signing bonus granted by ExxonMobil – Request to open bank account”.

It shows that Finance Secretary at the Finance Ministry, Hector Butts, has requested that a foreign currency account be opened at the Bank in order to receive a deposit in the form of a ‘signing bonus’ to be given by ExxonMobil.

The letter stated, “This account should not be treated as part of the Bank’s reserves. Instead, the proceeds should be held in the currency of the deposit, that is United States dollars, and invested in secured interest-bearing securities.”

Entire Govt should resign over oil bonus – Jagdeo

I

n light of revelations that Government indeed received millions of US dollars in a signing bonus from US oil giant, ExxonMobil, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has called for the resignation of the entire Government after they deceived Guyanese.

During his Budget 2018 presentation, Jagdeo noted the fact that a special account was set up breaches the financial laws of the country, while adding that the monies ought to have been deposited into the account of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) or the Consolidated Fund.

“What we have here is a major scandal. The Government of Guyana took money, large sums of money, in form of a signing bonus and did not tell the people (and) write to put it into a special account, not paid into the Consolidated Fund or into the GGMC. What if a few years had passed? Then someone can easily, because it is not recorded, can easily drawdown monies from this fund. It is illegal! The entire Government should resign now,” Jagdeo noted.

US$18M oil bonus

Guyana’s Constitution violated – Ram …calls for Police probe, criminal charges for Govt ministers

F

ollowing what some are calling the unravelling of a web of deception regarding the Government’s secrecy in collecting millions from oil giant ExxonMobil, calls have risen for an inquiry to be held into all deals negotiated by the Natural Resources Ministry, and for criminal charges to be instituted against ministers at the centre of the controversy.

The latest individual to make this call is Chartered Accountant Christopher Ram, the man who first revealed to the nation that Government had collected a US$20-milliondollar signing bonus from the oil company.

Ram lashed out at the Government, saying that, in an ironic twist, “the dam of eighteen months of denial and obfuscation concerning the payment of a signing bonus by ExxonMobil to the Government broke apart one day before the UN declared International Anti-Corruption Day”.

5 killed in separate accidents

W

e reported that December 10 was a deadly Sunday on Guyana’s roadways after 5 persons were killed in separate accidents.

The first case saw the death of 43-year-old Damon Baron, a minibus driver of Rosignol Village, West Bank Berbice, who died on Sunday morning after he was struck down by a speeding off duty police officer on the Rosignol Public Road sometime around 18:50h the night before.

Then at about 01:20h on Sunday, a motor car, driven by its police owner who was stationed at Fort Wellington Police Station, collided with a motor cycle on Main Street, New Amsterdam, killing the 29-year-old motor cyclist, Gavin Crandon, of Angoy’s Avenue.

Meanwhile, a 22-year-old Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Lance Corporal, Marvin Dodson, of Cross Street, Alexander Village, Georgetown, was killed after he was struck down by an intoxicated minibus driver in the wee hours of Sunday, while in front of a popular nightclub at Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara (WBD).

Meanwhile, Stephen Phillips, also called ‘Peter Mal,’ of Buxton, East Coast Demerara and Abena Hubbard of Melanie, ECD died when the car lost control and slammed into a tree along the main access road at Perseverance, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara that night.

Parliament fiasco

T

he second week in December was an eventful one in the National Assembly as the House commenced the consideration of the Estimates of the 2018 Budget. It actually begun the Friday before (December 8) when a female, believed to be a personal assistant of a government minister, dressed as Santa Clause barged into the Chambers while Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo was delivering his debate presentation on next year’s budget.

Chaos then erupted in the House the following Monday (December 11) after police barged into the house to remove Opposition Parliamentarian Juan Edghill, who had refused to leave the Chambers upon the order of Speaker Dr Barton Scotland. During a scuffle between the lawmen and Opposition parliamentarians, who were in solidarity with Edghill, several of the female MPs claimed that they were assaulted.

Then Tuesday morning when Edghill turned up at the Parliament Buildings, he was arrested but later released on his own recognisance by Police at the Brickdam Police Station.

He was also suspended that from all sessions of the National Assembly for that week.

On Wednesday, two undercover, armed plain clothes cops caused much uneasiness after they found themselves sitting amongst journalists at the media desk in the Parliament Chambers. Acting Commissioner David Ramnarine had subsequently stated that the ranks were “not properly nor thoroughly briefed and also did not follow the specific instructions given” and their seniors were since reprimanded.

The drama continued on Thursday when an attendee in the Chamber begun singing immediately after the House Speaker announced the lunch break. The woman, who gave her name as Natalie McLennan, was seated in the Parliamentary Chambers behind the Government Ministers and was immediately escorted out of the Chambers by security but continued to singing while being escorted out.

$267.1B Budget passed

…as PPP motion to include oil bonus denied

T

he National Assembly late afternoon on December 15 approved the $267.1 billion budget despite concerns from the Opposition Peoples Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) about the exclusion of the US$18 million signing bonus from the estimates.

Budget 2018 was presented to the National Assembly on November 27 with the theme “The Journey to the Good Life Continues.” Finance Minister Winston Jordan, in his budget presentation, said the $267.1 billion budget seeks to introduce several measures to support Government’s green agenda and improve various key economic sectors.

Prior to its passage, the PPP/C had submitted a motion to have the final consideration by the Committee of Supply suspended to deal with the motion calling for the Finance Minister to amend the Estimates to reflect the signing bonus, but House Speaker Dr Barton Scotland disallowed the motion. The Opposition Leader has since indicated that the Opposition would be moving to the Courts to have the 2018 Estimates amended to reflect the signing bonus.

Deadly Holiday

T

he Christmas holidays proved to be a deadly one in Guyana especially on the country’s roadways.

Christmas Eve broke with the death of a 38-year-old carpenter, Shahabb Scippeo, who was struck down by a mini bus driver at Bagotstown, East Bank Demerara, while attempting to cross the road.

A few hours later at Houston, Greater Georgetown, a GDF motorcyclist Owen Carrington, 22, Shahabb Scippeo of Issacs Street, Den Amstel, West Coast Demerara, allegedly lost control of motorcycle CJ 3815 and collided with an unknown vehicle before the motorcycle sped over the road partition, hitting into another car. The musician died instantly as a result of the impact.

Then later that afternoon, Linden Halley met his demise after losing control of the vehicle he was driving and slammed into a lantern post before crashing into a nearby guard hut.

Less than an hour later, another tragic incident at Windsor Forest Public Road, West Coast Demerara, resulted in the death of 47-year old Romona Persaud, of

391 Block X, Cornelia Ida, WCD whilst her children Nafeeza Hussain,22 and Joel Persaud,14 sustained minor injuries after another car collided with their vehicle causing it spin several times and colliding with a parked car before ending up in a trench.

Also on that day, a Corentyne cane harvester, Mohammed Safraz Haniff, was killed while crossing the Public Road at Nigg Village allegedly by a speeding car.

Christmas Eve also saw the murder of 47-yearold Anand Sukram called Radesh of Friendship Village, Corentyne, whose body was discovered on his bed in a pool of blood. One of two suspects from the village has since been arrested and confessed to killing the fisherman.

Meanwhile, 35-year-old Celwyn Allen of Sophia, Greater Georgetown, was stabbed to death and his girlfriend Nalydiah Henry injured also by a suspect in the village with whom he had an alternation earlier. The suspect was also arrested and confessed to the crime.

On Boxing Day, a young biker, Shaquille Browne, 22 of Sophia, Georgetown, lost his life after he crashed head-on into an oncoming motor car while overtaking several vehicles on Mandela Avenue, Georgetown, in the vicinity of the Botanical Gardens.

Then about an hour later, a 43-year-old mechanic, Salim Deen called Tony of Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara, died tragically after he lost control of the speeding car he was driving and slammed into a lamp post in front of the National Stadium, Providence, East Bank Demerara. He was flung out of the car and felt on the road, where his brain matter was spattered.

Exxon contract finally released

A

fter much public pressure, the contract renegotiated between ExxonMobil and the Government of Guyana has been released. While it contains clauses for the company to put aside millions for local content, it also grants sweeping tax concessions.

The contract was finalised on October 7, 2016 between the coalition Government, ExxonMobil and its partners in the Stabroek block. In Article 15 of the contract, Exxon is exempted from paying Corporation, Excise or Value Added Tax (VAT) on its earnings from petroleum.

Article 15.4 also provides for the Government itself to pay the company’s income tax. To facilitate this, the oil company has to submit tax returns to the Government. Article 32 stipulates that Government cannot modify the contract or increase any fiscal obligation the company has.

This therefore puts a cap on the taxes, royalties, duties, fees or charges outlined in the contract. Government also has to compensate the operator if a change to existing laws causes loss of revenue for the company.

US$18M bonus was paid for 10-yr extension - Exxon’s country manager

I

n the wake of the Government finally releasing the contract it renegotiated with ExxonMobil, the oil giant has clarified that the US$18 million bonus it paid to the Government was meant to secure a 10-year extension of the renegotiated contract.

ExxonMobil Country Manager Rod Henson made this assertion when addressing the media at a press conference on December 28, the same day that the contract was released.

“The bonus was agreed to, not to gain access to the Stabroek Block, because we had that, but it was to gain this extension,” he told the gathering, which included President David Granger and other cabinet ministers and members of civil society.

Henson was asked whether the contract was a fair one.

He defended the generous terms of the contract while assuring the country it would not take advantage of these terms.

The official emphasised that the agreement was a globally competitive one, and warned against setting expectations for Guyana too high; that is, comparing what the country gets to what other, more mature oil producing countries receive.

guyanatimesgy.com

DECEMBER 31, 2017

Sunday Times Magazine 15

Puzzles

Crossword

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ACROSS They may be mopped Loaded question Medieval tale Standing wide open Gourmet coffee Dirt Gnawed away Miffed "Das Rheingold" role Godzilla foe Physicist -- Newton Backspace on a PC Not homemade (hyph.)

Seed's hope Nearly frozen juice Fred Astaire's sister Headstrong Casual tops Take in April 15 org.

Older TV hookup Al Capone feature Nose-bag bit Lettuce layer Foundry refuse Fragrant blossom Baba of folklore Cease-fires Husky's burden -- Island Red "Balcony scene" swain Let overflow Floors Mystique Pawn Said MIT grad Draw on Obsessed whaler Treat a sprain Staggers Track down Piniella of baseball Slalom obstacle B'way posting of yore Fret silently Veggie-tray item Kerouac opus (2 wds.)

Rosemary or thyme A crowd, for Caesar?

93 Hemingway nickname

94 R.E. Lee's side

95 Cats do it

96 Top athlete (hyph.)

99 Monastery heads

102 Bridge support

103 Check endorser

104 Striped animal

108 Gaucho's rope

109 Sonnets and haiku

110 Word on a towel

111 Gave orders

112 -- Dhabi 113 Dauntlessness

115 Wait awhile

116 Cleveland cager

117 -- Zedong

118 City or bean

120 -- de mer

121 Wheel part

123 Handyman's vehicle

124 They need a PIN

125 Gator cousin

127 Out to - 129 Vacation plus 131 Daring

135 Ecstatic (3 wds.)

140 Heston title role (2 wds.)

141 Fluid rock

142 Mythical sorceress

143 Sand formations

144 In the sky

145 Ram constellation

146 Prepare dough

147 Thin strips of wood

148 Hologram maker

149 "Driving Miss Daisy" star 150 Broadcast

151 J.R.'s mom

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3 4

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DOWN Yuppie wheels Tooth anchor Prefix for "pod" Docks More balanced Road company Mountain chain Calcutta nanny Five, in combos -- counter

130 Confuse

11 Flip-chart stands 116 Paddled

119 Constantly busy

131 -- parmigiana

12 Prolonged gaze

121 Sang wordlessly

132 Corsica neighbor

13 Kind of spirit 122 Nervous

133 PFC superiors 14 Surround Spock's

123 From Mr.

134 Name in

15 Fields of study planet cheesecake

16 Saddle parts

124 Zinnia or marigold

136 El -- (ocean current)

17 Jai - 126 Less polite

137 Like the U.N.

18 Tijuana coin

127 Sign on (2 wds.)

138 Radar's soda

19 Blissful spot

128 Horse's ankles

139 To be, to Brutus

21 Moved blindly

129 Bookcase-kit item See Solution in newspaper Pg 18

29 First and third

31 Japan's first capital

34 Archaeological site KATHLEEN SAXE 36 Tykes

37 O.K. Corral name

38 Needle case

41 Life in Valencia

43 Sleep in a tent

44 Helm position TODAY'S WORD -- MUCKRAKES

45 Wild disturbance (MUCKRAKES: MUK-rakes: Searches out

47 Asteroid zone and exposes scandal about prominent people.)

48 Fishtail

49 Tennis great Ivan -Average mark 50 words 50 Billboards Time limit 60 minutes

51 Sinister Peter of films Can you find 71 or more

52 Friday's companion words in MUCKRAKES? 55 Nightspot

56 Oscar-winning Meryl mace creak sacrum

57 Bitter feeling make cream sake

58 Hefner or Downs cruse same maker

60 Sheik's cartel sauce marc cure

62 Faction saucer mare curse

64 Jack-in-the- - 66 Jeweled headpieces mark cusk scam 67 Goofed maser kame scar

69 White vestment race scare mesa

70 -- polloi scram muck rack

71 Leo mo. rake scream mucker

74 Guides in a theater scrum murk rase

75 Seems pleased muse ream scum

77 Oklahoma town reck seam muser 78 Pointer musk ruck sear

79 Acid rain watchdog

81 Composer -- Mahler urea ruse serac

84 Belgian river serum user rusk

87 Kilt sporter cake acme smack

89 Basket-maker's twig came acre smear

90 Van Morrison band care amuck suck 91 Bleated sucker case amuse

93 Veep's superior cask arms suer

97 Orpheus played it cause asker sumac

98 Black Sea arm crake ecru sure

99 Caspian's neighbor

100 Actress -- Andersson cram sack

101 Oz penner

102 Motel plus RULES OF THE GAME: 1. Words must be of four or

103 -- Beta Kappa more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the

105 Cellar, briefly addition of "s," such as "bats" or "dies," are not allowed.

106 Squeeze oranges 3. Additional words made by adding a "d" or an "s" may 107 Hubbubs not be used. For example, if "bake" is used, "baked" or

109 Table-setting item "bakes" are not allowed, but "bake" and "baking" are ad 111 Congo language missible. 4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sex 114 Omnia vincit -ually explicit words are not allowed.

115 U.K. network

WORD GAME

16 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

DECEMBER 31, 2017

Fun Times

Archie

ARIES You’ll come up with some (March 21- good ideas and alternatives April 19) that will help you smooth over some of the problems you face. Discuss your longterm plans with someone you love.

Stick to your budget and TAURUS head into the new year feel(April 20- ing good, healthy and ready May 20) to conquer the world. Don’t leave possessions or money out in the open. Protect against personal theft.

GEMINI (May 28June 20)

CANCER (June 21July 22)

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Dilbert

Peanuts

End the year on a high note. Implement the changes that will lead to a better life and new beginnings.

Speak the truth and follow through with your plans.

Celebrate the future.

Welcome the new year with family and friends.

Sharing information will result in an unexpected offering that will help you move forward in a positive manner.

Be responsible. If you are going to ring in the year in an indulgent fashion, make sure you have arranged for a designated driver. Stay safe and you’ll have no regrets.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Don’t sit around when you should be getting out and having some fun. Do something you don’t do often and see what transpires. Go where the action is and join the fun.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Have an emotional chat with someone you trust. Find out the best way to go about making changes that will bring you closer together and encourage a better future.

Be cautious with your SCORPIO money and possessions. Don’t (Oct. 24- leave personal information Nov. 22) out in the open. Someone is likely to renege on a promise.

Do your own thing.

SAGITTARIUS Share your feelings with (Nov. 23- someone you love. A romantic Dec. 21) evening will change the way you move forward in your personal life. Make bold plans.

Calvin and Hobbes

Uncertainty shouldn’t CAPRICORN ruin your plans. Do your own (Dec. 22- thing and don’t worry about Jan. 19) other people. An interesting offer from someone unique will take you by surprise.

Don’t share personal information.

Open your doors to AQUARIUS friends and relatives. A (Jan. 20- heart-to-heart talk with Feb. 19) someone you are emotionally attached to will give you clarity regarding the best way to make the most of next year.

PISCES Problems while travel(Feb. 20- ing or dealing with authoriMar. 20) ty figures will crop up if you haven’t made proper arrangements. Abide by the rules and avoid heading into the new year with unwanted baggage.