Kaieteur News

Sunday March 18, 2018

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We are living in the PPP state media era, created by Mr. Nagamootoo in 1992 DEAR EDITOR, Following the news about the Guyana Chronicle and the termination of contract with two of its columnists, there are few issues observers of political events, media communication and history would note.

In opposition, it was the APNU and AFC that slashed the state media budget. Both parties socialised us to believe the practices of state media outlets in silencing the voice of the Opposition, nongovernment stakeholders, dissent and diverse views were anti-democratic. Then Leader of the Opposition David Granger, in justifying the Opposition’s decision reportedly told a gathered crowd “You do not know the

full truth because the state media are not free” (SN May 2, 2012).

Mr. Granger vowed to continue slashing proposed budgetary allocation until the practice of silencing the voice of others changed. This righteous tough-talking stance earned the people’s respect who wanted change to a state media culture they long clamoured against.

He who presently exercises ministerial oversight of state media is the same person who did so in October 1992. Adam Harris, then Editor-in Chief of the Guyana Chronicle was sent into forced resignation and up until a few years ago was still not paid pension and other benefits due him. (I hope this

injustice has been addressed). In 1992, the newly Minister of Information Moses Nagamootoo reportedly informed Chronicle staffers “the new [PPP] Government wanted a clean slate and was prepared to accept the resignation of anyone who was prepared to leave in the public interest” (KN November 9, 2008). I can recall Professor Ken Danns referring to Mr. Harris as one of the best if not the best journalist in Guyana. Mr. Harris went on to distinguish himself during the Tony Vieira Evening News telecast and continues to with Prime News and as Editor of Kaieteur News.

The state media of October 1992 embarked on a policy students of critical media

The way City Hall’s nominations...

From page 4 be reprimanded and reminded of our position in the grand scheme of things at City Hall?

It is this part of the election, the flaunting of Robert’s rules and the general disregard for the democratic process, which prompted me to express to the media after that it’s my opinion, “The AFC has been kicked to the curb” Albert Einstein said, “The world will not be

destroyed by those that do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything.”

Mr. King, in his letter states that each Councillor has a voice at the Georgetown City Council. The way nominations were blatantly closed immediately after the first nomination at City Hall does not bear testament that Councillor Duncan had a voice. It was an insult to the AFC coun-

cillors.

This is my City, my Country, my Democracy, one I need to pass on to my three girls. I cannot watch without doing anything. I look forward to resuming my seat as a Councillor of the City of Georgetown and continue to serve my Constituents, Party and Country.

Lionel Jaikaran Deputy Mayor (Until March 31)

studies would find disturbing.

It is colloquially best summed up by former President and Leader of the Opposition Hugh Desmond Hoyte who referred to the Chronicle as a rag sheet and called on the citizenry not to purchase. In 2015, then Editor-in- Chief Mark Ramotar was fired amidst much government hype of a new media culture and support by the public for it.

The current Editor-inChief Nigel Williams was hired. His major distinguishing feature from Sharief Khan who was hired after Mr. Harris was ousted, is that he is not seen as someone awash with the raw political smell. If this will be to his ultimate undoing or survival time will tell.

It is always an easy clutch when things go wrong to attribute blame to the PNC. That party has the unenviable place of its good being interred in its bones. State media operated under two periods during the PNC. 1) the Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham era:- newly (Continued on page 7)

Forbes Burnham and Cheddi Jagan did a lot for Guyanese DEAR EDITOR, After reading the Cheddi Jagan bashing letter of Leyland Roopnarine (New York) “We must stop admiring our two dead Socialist Leaders” (KN, 17th March, 2018) I wondered at the gall of some people to tell people who to admire.

Whom should we admire Leyland Roopnarine (New York)?

President Donald Trump of the USA? The Queen of England?

President Putin of Russia? YOU? Forbes Burnham and Cheddi Jagan did a lot for Guyanese and that is why they are remembered fondly. Their failing was in not understanding the true world of politics, especially Cold War politics at the time. And, for that they are forgiven.

Guyana is NOT AMERICA’s Backyard to do with as they please. We are not a colony of America or the UK. Sean Ori

Clarification needed on unemployment report DEAR EDITOR, It would be instructive if the Guyana Bureau of Statistics can provide the following information: - Number of people of working age.

- Number of people of working age who are in employment.

- Number of people of working age who are in training.

- Number of people of working age who are not employed.

- Number of people of working age who are in full-time employment.While I am sure the information is there on

their website it would be easier for Guyanese to get a better understanding of the employment/unemployment situation in Guyana.

Sean Ori

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Sunday March 18, 2018

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Freddie’s tale of fiction

We should have accrued from our oil revenue

DEAR EDITOR, I am responding to Mr. Freddie Kissoon’s article of March 15, 21018, titled “What was Colvin HeathLondon doing at a PNC meeting?” First, it should be made clear that the article is fraught with errors thereby rendering its historical analogy incorrect, and its conclusion, equally wrong.

According to Mr. Kissoon, “ Last week, the North American Chapter of the PNC had its Congress.”

There was no such congress of the chapter last week in any part of North America.

Continuing his tale of fiction, Mr. Kissoon wrote, “Party leaders like Joe Harmon addressed the meeting.” What party leaders is the columnist referring to? Mr. Harmon was in New York last week and addressed several packed town hall meetings where he spoke as a representative of the government. In several of his responses to questions, Mr. Harmon stated that he was speaking as a government official.

Having made Mr. Harmon’s public engagements PNC meetings, Mr. Kissoon charges “Also ... Mr. Colvin Heath-London... a technical employee of GuySuCo ... now the Chairman of the Board.”

Mr. Heath-London made remarks at one public gathering in his capacity as the lead person attempting to fix the myriad of problems facing our sugar industry.

He did not speak on behalf of the PNC, and he could not, for he had no such authority. Guyanese in the New

York Diaspora are starved for first hand information on events in their native land.

The expertise of Mr. HeathLondon was helpful to many in sorting out the perplexing and controversial problems in the sugar industry. Most, I believe, are thankful that he was present.

Secondly, there is this lurking implication in the piece that government ministers should not be invited by the PNC or any affiliated organisation to discuss the affairs of the country with Guyanese here.

Why so? There are hundreds of thousands of Guyanese residents in New York. Many remain committed to assisting the country in various forms.

Many are just as nationalistic as those who on a daily basis benefit from the greenery, diversity, and beauty of Guyana.

And so, many are contemplating returning, given the promise of the oil discoveries and the creeping return of lawfulness, decency and order in the society.

Finally, NAR fervently embraces as does the PNC the principle that government is the servant of the people, and it must at all times be guided by the laws and Constitution of the country.

Your extrapolation of the nature of the meetings and the participants as indicative of paramountcy of the Party is woefully misplaced.

Beni Rayman

DEAR EDITOR, The reaction of the Coalition to the advice of the US Ambassador Perry Holloway is markedly indicative that we will stand to lose our dreams of becoming a wealthy nation given our vast oil discovery.

This began with the signing of the lop-sided Exxon PSA. The advisory was simply meant to salvage the situation since the Ambassador, being equipped with a wealth of experience, fully understands the ensuing corruption and the debilitating nature of the oil curse. Therefore, he advised that the Sovereign Wealth Fund be ‘independent, nonpartisan, transpar-

A bus of another colour DEAR EDITOR, Do the owners of the minibuses not understand what the police are telling them?

It’s not the colour of the buses that’s the problem; it’s the fact that if you buy a white vehicle and register it as a white vehicle and then spray it a different colour, you have to change the description of that vehicle in the registration documents.

Being “poor” does not provide an exemption from this requirement.

So what government intervention do the owners actually want? To have the government change the law to state that it does not matter if the information held by the traffic division states that a vehicle with

engine number 123 and chassis number 456 is a white Toyota, when in fact it is now a blue, green and pink Toyota?

And yes, companies may have sprayed their vehicles; but if they have registered the colours, etc of the respraying then there is no need for the police to impound those vehicles. Get it?

Dear minibus owners, I know and I am sure that you know, (ignorance of the law is no excuse), that if you change anything a b o u t the information supplied when you register a vehicle, you need to go and change the information in t h e v e h i c le registration documents.

The fact that for some

time now the police have not prosecuted vehicle owners who change the colour but do not change the registration information, does not make this activity legal. And in addition, may I add, you aren’t that “poor”, as one report describes the owners, if you can afford to respray a newly bought vehicle.

If you have the money to pay for re-spraying, you surely can find the time and money to get to the registration office to amend the relevant documentation.

And it is really irrelevant if colourful buses are a tourist attraction. You still have to change the registration information.

Pat Robinson Commissiong

ent and inviolable’.

He also warned that a ‘rainy day fund’ was not enough to secure the country’s future transformation. He further advised that such a Fund would realise investments in education, health, infrastructure, agriculture and security. What is wrong with these suggestions? Has he inadvertently struck at the true intentions of the Government to misuse the Fund? Was it a guilt reaction? It is now common knowledge that each and every ministry within this Government is marred by corrupt practices such as cronyism, political patronage, mismanagement, squandermania and downright diversion of funds. The $18 million Exxon signing bonus is still fresh in our minds and if it was not for Mr. Christopher Ram and the Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, this would have found its way into the accounts of some politicians within the Coalition. (The unrelenting resultant exposure by the media must be commended as well.) The Ambassador has pointed out some salient characteristics of such a Fund and Guyanese should ensure that those criteria are stringently met.Furthermore, the Opposition Leader is quite correct in his conclusion that the Coalition’s response to the Ambassador’s advice can be described as ‘petulant ramblings’ and that the Government is ‘too thin skinned’.

He then went on to describe an innate characteristic of dis-

regarding the voice of the people, which has been arrogantly displayed almost on a daily basis on various issues but more pronounced as it regards the Exxon’s PSA. He said that the Coalition ‘continues to be impervious to suggestions, a disposition that does not bode well for the Nation’. We have seen many examples of this since the Coalition took Office.

The Opposition Leader also went at length to stress that a Sovereign Wealth Fund ‘is quintessential to the future prosperity of our Nation’. An apt illustration is Equatorial Guinea where Exxon has been pumping millions of dollars into the private bank accounts of selected members of the Government.

This country is the richest country in Africa yet a little less than half the population has access to drinking water, 20% children die before attaining the age of 5 years and most people live on a meager US$ 2 per day.

In contrast, the members of the Government live extravagantly lavish lifestyles!

Therefore, the squandering of our oil money is not an impossible feat when we consider that just a few months after getting into Government, the Ministers paid to themselves a shamelessly hefty 50% increase in salary.

Why the importance of independence of the SWF? The Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute developed a transparency index called the Linaburg-Maduell Transparency Index, which is made up of 10 basic principles (Continued on page 7)

Sunday March 18, 2018

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Mayor Compton Young was passionate about restoring Georgetown to its pristine state

We are living in the PPP ...

DEAR EDITOR, It is with profound sadness that the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown acknowledges the passing of former Mayor of Georgetown, Mr. Compton Young. Mr. Young served as Mayor of the nation’s capital from 1990 to 1994. In his mayoralty, he encouraged citizens to improve the aesthetics of their local communities and to take responsibility for the physical condition of their neighbourhoods. He was particularly passionate about restoring Georgetown to its pristine state which earned it the reputation as the “Garden City”. Even after he left City Hall, the late Mr. Young remained unswervingly committed to the vision of a clean, green and healthy city.

Citizens of Georgetown have lost a strong civic crusader with the death of Mr. Young.

Mr. Young will be long remembered as a visionary city leader and for his good works and wisdom, said Mayor, Patricia ChaseGreen and other former city Councillors, who worked and served with him at the Georgetown Municipality.

They said despite being elected mayor with the ticket of a political party, the late Mr. Compton Young managed the City Council rising above partisan politics and thus became a true city father and change-maker, of the City.

The Council remains grateful for the precious time and invaluable service he gave to the City of Georgetown.The Mayor and City Council extends sincere condolences to his grieving relatives and those, who loved and cared for him. May his soul rest in peace.

Royston King Town Clerk ,City of Georgetown

We should have accrued ...

From page 6 equivalent to 10 points on the Index. It deals with reason for the Fund’s creation, the need for up-to-date independently audited reports and guidelines for ethical standards, investment policies and enforcer guidelines among others.

The Institute recommends that a country gets a minimum rating of 8 points in order to claim adequate transparency. Our neighbor Trinidad and Tobago has a fund of US$5.5 billion and ranked 8th on the Index while Equatorial Guinea has a Fund of just US$80 million and has no ranking on the Index. This tells a sad story for a country, which established a SWF but yet, lacks the minimum essential points on the Transparency Index. On the other hand, Norway ranks 10thon the

Transparency Index. Therefore, though this Government is ranting about the establishment of an SWF, it must be done as advised by the US Ambassador and the Leader of the Opposition, Dr. BharratJagdeo to ensure that Guyana gets a minimum ranking of 8th on the Index. It is imperative that the Opposition be consulted on the establishment of this Fund or else this Nation loses!

We have been denied the right to a renegotiation of the Exxon Contract and it seems that we will be losing whatever benefits we should have accrued from our oil revenue given this Government’s revulsion for transparency and accountability.

Haseef Yusuf RDC Councillor Region 6

From page 5 independent nation, the closed society and Cold War eras, along with borders issues, where the national agenda was driven by Indigenous pursuit and survival, and 2) the Hoyte era:- 19-year old nation in the open society and post-Cold War eras, but functioning within international market-oriented forces of a new economic order.

Critical content review of the two eras- supportive of the PNC government or notcompared to what has happened to state media since October 1992 shows decline in quality and presentation, though interspersed at times with a flickering of hope.

The truth is what is presently happening in Guyana Chronicle is not a reversal to the Burnham era. With the exception of the unresolved border problems, that era no longer operates.

We are living in the PPP state media era, created by Mr. Nagamootoo in 1992, and we must respectfully insist he be duly credited for his craftsmanship. I’ve read credit being attributed to Mr. Nagamootoo as a

longstanding fighter for press freedom. Such accolades may have credence when having little or no power to implement, but could it still be ascribed when power resides and there’s failure to ensure?

President Granger was the owner of the Guyana Review and Emancipation Magazine, which I was a subscriber of.

He attributed having to sell his business given the absence of advertising dollar.

This happened during a period where other media houses experienced similar problems, given the pressure brought by PPP Government on businesses to withhold their advertising dollars and the withdrawal of state advertisements.

The economic aside, significantly as a politician in the Opposition, Mr. Granger articulated the view of Messrs.

Hoyte and Robert Corbin of the PNCR that the state media must be treated as the people’s media, which it is by ownership.

Presently, this ‘newly branded’ Chronicle, in less than two years of seemingly toddling towards creating a new dispensation for the

people, is finding bosom comfort in the October 1992 model.

President Granger is no stranger to being on the receiving end of what it feels like to have others seek to stifle or silence your voice because it is perceived not to be in the interest of the status quo or what they think the people should hear.

As a student of history, the President could recount numerous stories of such efforts, from the enslavers on down, that failed to stop man’s innate instinct for expression, growth and development.

Finally, it may matter not where the decision lies pertaining to the columnists or their future in the newspapers but where our society is now heading under two leaders, President Granger and Prime Minister Nagamootoo, who as members of the Opposition presented arguments for respecting diverse views, which include the natural right to critique and counter critique, in the state media; and whether either or both was/were ever serious about the things they said.

This is the issue.

Minette Bacchus

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Sunday March 18, 2018

Kaieteur News

US$460M pre-contract costs must be subjected to special audit

L

ocal commentators remain outraged at the US$460M precontract costs, which ExxonMobil has imposed on Guyana. This cost dates back to ExxonMobil’s 1999 agreement with the Janet Jagan Government.

As for Chartered Accountant, Chris Ram, he intends to be unrelenting in his fight to know just how the company conjured up this exorbitant figure that was inserted in its 2016 contract with the Granger Administration.

In his recent writings, Ram said that there is a need for a special audit to be done on the pre-contract costs since based on his analysis, several things aren’t adding up. He said that this is necessary, since the sum can be recovered by ExxonMobil without the approval of the Minister.

NOT ADDING UP With the use of financial statements, Ram was able to show how ExxonMobil’s precontract cost opens itself to much question and suspicion.

He noted that ExxonMobil is represented by three companies as the contractor for the Stabroek Block: Esso, CNOOC and Hess. Using the financial statements of Esso and CNOOC, he pointed out

- Ram finds that figures in financial statements tell a different story

Chartered Accountant, Chris Ram a few important figures.

At December 31, 2015, Ram said that Esso had property, plant and equipment (PPE) of $10B and losses of $12B of which $9B or 75 percent was incurred in 2015.

In Esso’s financial statements, there is an amount of $1B under Exploration costs in 2015 being an unexplained credit. “ Now, even if we were to make the unlikely assumption that all of Esso’s expenditure constituted legitimate precontract cost to December 31, 2015, at its highest, Esso’s

portion of the $92 billion (US$460 million pre-contract cost) would be $23B. Ram also noted that CNOOC at the same date had PPE of $16B and losses of $8B, making a total of $24B. He said that the financials of CNOOC describe the $16B as expenditure on “Exploration and Evaluation assets consisting of exploration projects which are pending the determination of proven or probable reserves.”

The Chartered Accountant said, “Forget for a moment that this is another clear violation of the ring-fencing principle which seeks to match expenditure to projects.

It means that the burden and risk of exploration has been shifted from the oil companies to the taxpayers of Guyana. As the fired US FBI Director, James Comey would say, ‘Oh, Lordy!”

Ram further stated that the combined expenditure of Esso and CNOOC at December 31, 2015 was PPE of $26B and reported losses of $21B, giving a total of $47B. In United States Dollars, using a $200 rate, Ram said that this gives a total US$245 million, well short of the $460 million

that the Government has accepted in the Agreement with ExxonMobil.

To make up the total of US$460 million, Ram said that Hess alone would have had to spend, in contract costs, some US$215 million or approximately $46B. He said, “That defies logic and credulity. But there is more. It must be a stretch that the pre-contract cost of CNOOC, which only entered the sector in Guyana in late

2014 would have incurred greater contract cost than Esso. And an even greater stretch that Hess which signed with Esso in late 2014 would have spent nearly as much as Esso and CNOOC combined.”

Ram continued, “One would recall that Esso signed its first Petroleum Agreement in 1999, 15 years earlier, and it is the company which has been reporting all the oil discoveries. That either CNOOC

or Hess which entered the sector in late 2014 would be outspending Esso arouses particular interest...”

Having looked at the available information, the Chartered Accountant said it is hard to avoid the conclusion that the US$460 million cannot be explained on any rational basis. Ram stressed that the only satisfactory and acceptable resolution of this matter is a special audit independently undertaken.

The Government’s anticrime Citizen Security Strengthening Programme (CSSP) skills training programme is set to expand with a new round of registrations within days.

Component One of the Citizen Security Strengthening Programme, aims to make youths between the ages of 16 and 25 resilient to crime and violence through the provision of technical and vocational training and psycho social support.

Community Action Officer for Sophia, Colin Marks, explained that a second batch of youths is about to be enlisted.

“This particular phase is

focusing a lot on accreditation. So, they are being engaged at a level of institutions. What it makes possible for them is that they get a technical certificate or one with high level of competence. They are learning things like catering, cosmetology, plumbing, welding, IT and business,” Marks said.

Sophia resident, Ricquan Adams, who attends the community’s Training Centre, encouraged youths to get onboard and make use of opportunities available through the CSSP. “It is giving me the opportunity to learn what I didn’t learn enough of in secondary school. The stipend is help-

ing me out too, by bringing me to class; to get footwear and clothes. I want the youths out there to just follow my steps and do what I do. I want them to follow me, become a man. I want them ease up on the corner liming and smoking,” Ricquan added.

Kinana Baker is another beneficiary of the CSSP skills training and a graduate of the Carnegie School of Home Economics. Baker completed a first semester in Dressmaking and is currently pursuing her second year.

She urged youths to grasp at the second chance being provided. “I would just like them to come out and support and encourage the youths to take this step forward and realise that it is a good chance and a good opportunity and see what it has to offer,” the CSHE graduate added.

Registration for the technical and vocational training under the IDB-funded programme continues in Regions Three, Four, Five, Six and Ten. For more information, call telephone number 222-8865.

More at risk youths to benefit from CSSP

Sunday March 18, 2018

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Kaieteur News

Guyana lost over US$40M in Govt.’s cheap sell out of Orinduik Block

By Abena Rockcliffe-Campbell Charles Ramson is of the opinion that the decision taken by the Government of Guyana not to auction its remaining oil blocks, after the

2015 oil find that de-risked the basin, is a decision that has cost the nation greatly.

Ramson, the holder of a master’s degree in Oil and Gas Management, said that the 2016 contract signed between the Government of Guyana and oil companies, Eco-

Atlantic and Tullow Oil is a reflection of the blunder made by the government.

Government released the contract which features a one percent royalty on Friday.

Yesterday, Ramson said that in addition to the many poor provisions of the

Dem boys seh...

Soulja Bai give ee doctah stress over shoes Guyana got stress wid de oil and de way how de govt handle it. Dis stress carrying people to dem grave but dem boys know how to handle it.

Dem realize dat at de end of life what really matters is not what we bring, but what we build; not what we got but what we shared; not our competence but our character; and not our success, but our significance.

Dat is why dem boys seh live a life dat matters. Live a life of love and to hell wid de stress. Soulja Bai had nuff stress after de oil contract sign, suh he guh to de doctor. De doctor tell him something, then give him some tablets and something in a nursing bottle to drink.Yesterday, dem boys hear he go back quietly to de doctor, smiling, because he going out de country today.

De doctor ask him what he do about de stress whah tek over him de last time?

Soulja Bai tell de doctor dat he went to de Hindu Temple some nights and he went to de Masjid some days.

De doctor surprise. He seh, “What? You guh dem place to pray and meditate?”

Soulja Bai seh, “Nah, nah. I been deh and mix-up all dem shoes dat dem does keep outside dem Masjid and Hindu Temple.”

He seh when he done mix dem up, he does go and stand up at a distance and laugh as he watch people get more stress than he, trying to find dem shoes.De doctor watch ee good in ee face and seh, “Wait, you is de Mofo who had me looking fuh me shoes and couldn’t find dem last week Friday at de Masjid?”Soulja Bai laugh and run out de doctor office. Dem boys hear he run straight to de airport and gone to Brazil but de doctor waiting patiently fuh when he come back.

Talk half and tek a page from Soulja Bai book on how to deal wid stress.

contract, Government lost out on a Signature Bonus which, based on available figures, if negotiated properly could have been no less than US$40M. The lawyer noted that Government negotiated with Eco-Atlantic even after Guyana’s oil basin had been de-risked in 2015. “This negotiation was done while the Guyana basin was being viewed as one of the most attractive in the world.”

Ramson also pointed out that the Orindiuk Block, which Eco-Atlantic has been given, is immediately adjacent to the Stabroek block. It is just 6.5 km from the world class Liza oil discovery which has been one of the biggest finds in the oil and gas industry in the last 10 years. “This means that by way of geology, this block is likely to be very lucrative,” said Ramson.

The lawyer told Kaieteur News, “If this Orindiuk Block which the government gave to Eco-Atlantic and Tullow was auctioned, Guyana would have got an immediate signature bonus and if auctioned for royalty percentage, it would have been far higher than the one

percent secured. That one percent is even lower than the two percent the government gave to ExxonMobil.”

Ramson said that the government has a responsibility to tell the nation why this block was not auctioned.

He said that the global commercial interest for the block was proven again last year when it was announced that Total paid an option fee of US$1,000,000 to “farm-in” to the Orinduik Block.

The term “Farm-in” is referred to as an arrangement whereby an Operator buys in or acquires an interest in a lease owned by another Operator on which oil or gas has been discovered or is being produced. Often farmins are negotiated to help the original owner with development costs and to secure for the buyer a source of crude oil or natural gas.

Ramson noted that in addition to Farm-in fee, Total paid Eco-Atlantic and Tullow Oil US$12,500,000 to earn the 25 percent Working Interest in the Orinduik Block.

Ramson said that that transaction means that Total has placed a US$13.5M value

Attorney-at-Law, Charles Ramson on its 25 percent interest in the Orindiuk Block.

“If we use Total’s value as a benchmark, the Oriniduik Block can attract a signing bonus of over US40M, minimum.”

Ramson said that there is usually no Math attached to the arrival of a signing bonus.

“It is basically how much a company is willing to pay (Continued on page 72)

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Sunday March 18, 2018

Kaieteur News

GGMC closes several shops, other businesses in Puruni Landing raid GGMC officials on Friday closed several operations in the Puruni Landing area, Region Seven, but there is deep unhappiness.

Several shops, salons, restaurants, gold buyers and supermarkets were affected.

Yesterday, Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes, insisted that the illegal operations in several parts of the gold mining areas just

could not continue.

She appealed for the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) to be allowed to do its work.

The exercise saw rooms of guest houses being boarded up as well as to other properties.The raid was during the early morning, it was reported.Puruni Landing is one of the most populated areas in the Middle Mazaruni, a gold-rich territory.

However, authorities have been receiving complaints of prostitution, increasing number of assaults and abuse of business licences.

With little regulation, the area has been leaking revenue with millions of dollars passing through the area but little taxes seen by Government.According to Broomes, herself a miner, before she became a minister, there was indications of

The operations that were closed by GGMC on Friday at Puruni Landing, Region Seven. persons being granted licence to do one thing and then breaching the condition by renting it for other things.

Some persons have also “illegally� put down multimillion-dollar structures with little evidence of taxes for the government.

The minister also disclosed, yesterday, that recently, she took Minister Winston Felix, who is charged

with Citizenship, and Lands Commissioner, Trevor Benn, to the area, as part of a regularisation outreach.

There are moves to regularise landings where employers have to declare their workers, and details of what they are there for.

This is to avoid instances of human trafficking, she said.

Some of the gold sold is not showing up in

government revenues via royalties and taxes.

Gold is traded for services in the hinterland area. It is a common thing.

According to the minister, Government has unveiled plans for the hinterland with a bridge in the works for the Puruni crossing this year.The minister promised an update as soon as she is briefed.

Sunday March 18, 2018

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Sunday March 18, 2018

Local fishermen likely to ground boats in response to U.S. ban on catfish Dozens of fishermen are likely to ground their boats as the price of catfish is expected to plummet in response to an export ban implemented by the United States.

Gilbacker, the most valuable catch of the catfish species, usually retails at $1000 per pound. According to industry sources, historically, conditions are not conducive for gilbacker catch between January and April.

Nonetheless, the price of gilbacker remains relatively high at around $800 per pound.

However, by May, most fishermen begin operation, in search of the lucrative gilbacker.

According to some fishermen interviewed

by Kaieteur News, there are over 150 small vessels known as cruisers who rely heavily on the gilbacker catch for their livelihood.

Hundreds of small-scale fishermen operate in the West Berbice region and along the Essequibo Coast. There are also dozens of larger inboard vessels that fish in the Waini River, in the Barima-Waini region of northern Guyana and sometimes close to the Venezuela/ Guyana border.

The cost of gilbacker is sometimes eight times the cost of other fish.

“I don’t see how we can continue.

Gilbacker sales help with the fuel alone to go

Fishing boats in the Mahaica River

out and fish. When the price drops, it will make no sense to go out. We depend on fish to make a living,” a fisherman related.

He explained that there was not enough information available to alert the industry about the U.S. ban, noting that he was made aware of the ban through newspaper reports.

Duane Faerber, an exporter, told Kaieteur News that when you take away the export market to the United States the financial ramifications for fisher folk are great.

He stated that exporters might turn to Canada to keep export levels up, but there is going to be saturation point on the local market, which will result in lower prices for gilbacker. He stated that the U.S. market accounts for 70% of all gilbacker exported while Canada markets take the remaining 30%.

“We have not seen the effect yet of gilbacker because the price is still up. There is still the option of the Canadian market, but how much are they going to absorb before they take a similar action like the United States. When this fish start catching again, if it goes down to $400 per pound as grey snapper then fishermen will be reluctant to go out,” Faerber explained.

He noted that a person selling gilbacker at $800 per pound means that he earns $800,000 if he sells 1000 pounds. This amount, Faeber stated, clears expenses and profits.

“Gilbacker is the prize catch. The fishing boats and nets are built specifically for this type of fish. Any other fish they catch is a bonus,” Faeber stated.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) stopped the export of all Siluriformes fish and fish products (catfish species) from Guyana, effective March 1.

Amanda Cauldwell, Public Affairs Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Georgetown told Kaieteur News that the U.S. notified the Government of Guyana of the pending export changes in November 2015, more than 18 months before they were to go into effect.

The Government has indicated that the United States is attempting to protect its catfish industry. Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, blamed Government’s inaction for the ban on catfish exports to the United States.

According to Jagdeo, the Coalition Administration, despite having received notice of these changes, failed to communicate effectively with the stakeholders of the fisheries sector, many of whom have invested heavily in this area.

Jagdeo stated that the Coalition Government received an extension until February 3, 2018, to bring Guyana into compliance with the new export regulations and failed again.

Sunday March 18, 2018

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Kaieteur News

Wife, accomplice appeal conviction for US citizen’s murder The two women including the wife of the American citizen who is also a US citizen has filed a notice of appeal or application for leave to appeal against conviction or sentence under Section 12 of the Court of Appeal Act. The two women are Hemwattie Abdulla, 43, called “Anita Nazeema Khan,” formerly of Albion Corentyne and of Ozone Park, New York, USA; and her accomplice, Surojinie Tirmaul, 49, of Belvedere New Housing Scheme, Corentyne, Berbice.

They were convicted of murdering Abdool Shakeel Majid, called “Shakiel,” a citizen of the USA, between April 23 and April 27, 2012 in Berbice. There was an arrangement whereby Surojinie Tirmaul called “Surojnie” and “Usha” paid money to a third person, Pooran Jhadoo, at the request of Hemwattie Abdulla called “Annie” and “Anesa”.

Tirmaul was reportedly paid US$5000 to hire somebody to kill Majid.

Prominent Attorneys-atlaw Nigel Hughes and Mursalene Bacchus filed their appeals, in association with Attorney Arud Gossai.

Bacchus and Gossai are representing the Number One accused, Abdulla, while Hughes is representing Tirmaul.

Attorney at Law Ganesh Hira was the Special Prosecutor in the case.

They were found guilty by a mixed 12-member jury sitting in the Berbice High Court before Justice Sadil Kissoon on March 13, 2018.

However, after the women were found guilty Justice Kissoon postponed sentencing to March 29, pending probation reports.

In their applications, which are similar, the women stated that they are giving notice that they desire to

MURDERED: Abdool Shakeel Majid appeal to the Court of Appeal against their conviction on a number of grounds.

That the learned judge ought not to have admitted the caution statements signed by the Appellants into evidence in as much as the prosecution did not prove that they were free and voluntary.

The judge applied the wrong and/or no principles of law in ruling that the statements were admissible.

The judge seemed to have put the burden of proof of the admissibility of the statements on the appellants.

The Learned trial judge erred in law when he rejected the “no case” submissions of counsels for the appellants.

The summing up was unbalanced in favour of the prosecution. The Learned Judge did not deal adequately with the defence.

Inadmissible evidence prejudicial to the appellants was wrongly admitted by the judge. The judge erred in law when he refused to stop the trial and stay the proceedings when the pre-trial publicity prevented a fair trial.

The state during the trial called 13 witnesses including a number of policemen.

Caution statements reportedly made by both

women that implicated them both in the crime were admitted into evidence. The defence had objected strongly to the admission of the statements and a lengthy voir dire was held. At the conclusion of prosecution case, both women gave unsworn statement from the dock proclaiming their innocence.

Mr. Bacchus when asked had stated that he would abide by the verdict of the court on his client Abdulla.

Mr. Hughes made a stirring plea of mitigation on behalf of his client, Trimaul.

Prosecutor Hira in his address said that the women’s actions were ruthless. He said from the autopsy reports, Majid would have endured a painful death.

Hira lamented that from the women’s caution statements, they were equally culpable.

Their actions were well planned.

He asked for that the

CONVICTED: Hemwattie Abdulla, 43, (right) and Surojinie Tirmaul, 49, in court. maximum sentence, either death or life imprisonment.

The prosecution case was that around 07:40 hrs on April 27, the body of a man was found with his scalp missing and other injuries to his body on the No. 56 Village, Corentyne foreshore.

The remains were only identified on May 16, 2014, when a brother visited Guyana after becoming suspicious about the wife’s behaviour.

Police were able to crack the case after the woman, who had returned to the United States when the man went missing, returned to Guyana from the United States and reported to the New Amsterdam Police Station to identify her slain husband’s body after he was found.

It was also reported that an official from the US Embassy was present in court.

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Sunday March 18, 2018

Kaieteur News

Court tosses challenge over provisions in narco/gun sentencing The High Court has ruled in favour of the imposition of the minimum requirements of penal provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act Cap 10:10.

The ruling was made based on an application by Vinnette James.

James, through her attorney Eusi Anderson, had challenged the constitutionality of the imposition of the mandatory minimum sentencing pro-

visions in the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act Chapter 10:10 and the Firearms Act Chapter 16:05.

James’ nephew, Dellon St. Hill was found guilty of being in possession of 281 grams of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.

He was sentenced on the July 20, last, at the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court by Magistrate Peter Hugh.

James therefore moved to

challenge the imposition of the mandatory minimum sentencing provisions.

The application drafted

by Anderson claimed that mandatory minimum sentencing provision in the Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Act Chapter 10:10 and the Firearms Act Chapter 16:05 is contrary to Articles 8, 39, 40, 65, 122(A), 141 and 154(A) of the Constitution.

The applicant contended

that the mandatory minimum sentencing in provisions in the Narcotic and Psychotropic Substances Act Chapter 10:10 and Firearms Act 16:05 is unconstitutional, null, void and of no legal effect insofar as they seek to revoke the doctrine of separation of powers by encroaching on the exclusive jurisdiction of the court to determine sentences.

The applicant therefore contended that the mandatory minimum sentence under the two laws are cruel, inhumane, grossly disproportionate, arbitrary and excessive.

In response, State Attorney Oneka Archer-Caulder argued that the mandatory minimum sentencing provision as contained in the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act Chapter 10:10 and Firearms Act Chapter 16:05 is proportional and just, considering the nature and seriousness of the offence and the prevailing legal, social and economic climate.

Addressing the point about the doctrine of separation of powers, the State emphasized that the power is and has always been vested in the legislature to make laws for the peace, order and good governance.

The State therefore argued that the mandatory minimum provisions did not infringe upon judicial discretion but rather defined the parameters in which the judiciary is expected to exercise their discretion in order to ensure that any penalty imposed is not arbitrary and/ or excessive.

As part of its contentions, the State noted the section 73 of law makes provisions for a lesser sentence if special reasons are determined by the court.

“For the purpose so “subsection(1)– (a) the fact that a person convicted of any offence under this Act was a child or young person on the date of the commission of that offence may be deemed to be a special reason; (b) where a person convicted of an offenceundersection4 for being in possession of cannabis was on the date of the commission of the offence in the possession of an amount of cannabis not exceeding five grams, and the court is satisfied that such cannabis was in his possession only for his personal consumption, the court may deem such circumstances to be a special reason.”

Justice Joan Ann Barlow, in making a determination in the case concurred that while

the power is vested in the legislature to make laws to govern the prevailing social and economic ills plaguing a country, which the mandatory minimum sentencing provision sought to do it; yet in its wisdom included in the Legislation Section 73, which in itself mitigates the harshness of the mandatory minimum provision and allows the Magistrate to impose a sentence less than three years while taking into account any special circumstances of the case.

The Court nonetheless observed with some concern that while it was unfortunate that for too long, the Magistrates have thought themselves restricted to the two stated special circumstances within the legislation (young person and for possession of cannabis under 5 grams); there was nothing in the section which limited the Magistrate’s discretion in applying a special circumstances to both the offence and the offender and applying a lesser sentence than three years.

She further noted that the only requirement was the magistrate’s should state in writing the reason for giving a lesser sentence than the statute imposed.

(Rehanna Ramsay)

Sunday March 18, 2018

Kaieteur News

Shocked Guyanese dad learns son abandoned from TT news report Trinidad (Newsday)- A THREE-YEAROLD boy found abandoned in a cardboard box at Montrose on Thursday afternoon, was reunited with his father at the Chaguanas Police station hours later.

The child’s father, Martin Joseph, a Guyanese living in Montrose who is awaiting confirmation of an application for residence status, was only aware his son was abandoned after watching a television news report.

Joseph said he did not recognise his son at first, but when the news report revealed the child’s name was Maleek De Freitas, his whole body began trembling and he went straight to the Chaguanas Police station.

Joseph told Newsday that he was contacted by his son’s mother at 3 pm and when she asked if Maleek was with him, he replied that he was not at home because he had an appointment. The woman then said that she had left Maleek in the care of a male friend of hers.

Later on, after Maleek was reunited with his parents, his mother accused her friend, the baby sitter of abandoning Maleek. Maleek’s mother contacted Newsday yesterday and said she was at a hospital taking care of her daughter who suffers from asthma. She said Joseph had an appointment on Thursday and she left Maleek with his stepfather who later dropped off the child at the home of the stepfather’s landlord in Montrose. She claimed to have evidence that her son was placed in a cardboard box in front of a house by someone known to his father and denied being responsible for abandoning her son.

Joseph insisted yesterday he has been trying to get custody of Maleek and his two-yearold daughter but because he is not a citizen of this country, their mother has custody.

Joseph said he had been begging the Children’s Authority, the Child Protection Unit, Social Welfare Officers and others to assist him in getting custody of his children but to no avail. He ended a relationship with the children’s mother about two years ago.

Yesterday, Maleek remained in the care of his father, but police said the boy could be

The abandoned child, Maleek De Freitas taken into the custody of the Children’s Authority pending a final determination of investigations.

At 4 pm on Thursday, soldiers on patrol were alerted by members of the public that a toddler had been abandoned at an unoccupied house at Montrose. The boy was taken to the police station where he was fed chicken and chips. Children’s Authority, Communications Manager Cheryl Moses, contacted for comment on Joseph’s claims, requested that questions be emailed and she promised to respond.

NCN Berbice manager back on the job Branch Manager for the National Communications Network (NCN) Berbice, Donna Mathoo, who was sent on administrative leave has taken up back her position at the state-owned entity.

The APNU/AFC Councillor Donna Mathoo turned out back to work on March 5, last. Her resumption to work comes after investigations into allegations of fraud at the entity. A source had revealed that approximately $3M was allegedly stolen from the branch over a period of 15 months. The Production Coordinator was immediately fired after investigations reportedly found him culpable.

A former official of the state entity in Georgetown divulged that there was an active investigation in 2017 that led to Mathoo being sent on administrative leave. The official confirmed, "There was an investigation, the internal process of the investigation was carried out and it found some things to implicate her."

However, even with the findings, Mathoo is back on the job.

Initially, a source then had

Back on the job: Donna Mathoo revealed that the staff worked under instructions from the Branch Manager. There were alleged instructions provided by her to issue ‘fake’ invoices, receipts and also use ‘fake’ log sheets.

The ‘fake’ invoices were issued after a programme was aired and paid for. However, the official NCN receipt would not be provided to the customer and the money collected from the aired programme would not be booked in the official NCN books. False invoices were also allegedly issued to customers. Advertisements were also reportedly aired and not

logged in the official NCN log sheet.

A former staff member who resigned from the entity in a letter to the editor published in Kaieteur News had stated, "I worked under the management of Donna Mathoo and gave a written statement to the auditors at the time of the discoveries about what was really going on".

He disclosed in the letter that he had worked with NCN for almost six years and during the period of work under Mathoo, the staff were always sent on assignments and were asked by the manager to utilise personal funds for the expenses incurred. They were also allegedly told that when the petty cash comes they will be reimbursed. That was never done, he said.

He detailed, "I vividly recall on one occasion a member of staff was asked to sign a petty cash voucher for something he didn’t do."

Meanwhile, in an invited comment on her resumption as Branch Manager, Mathoo said, "My lawyer has advised me against giving any comments."

PAGE 15

PAGE 16

Sunday March 18, 2018

Kaieteur News

HERO medical team completes 31 successful surgeries A medical team from the Health and Education Relief Organisation (HERO) has concluded a one-week surgical mission to Guyana, completing 31 successful surgeries. Eleven of these cases emanated from the hinterland.

The team of approximately 46 doctors and volunteers was led by Director John Mitchell. Also forming part of this mission was a plastic surgery team, making its third trip here. The operations which were done at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), were mostly pediatric in nature. Others involved orthopaedic surgery. The procedures included correcting children with Development Displacement of the Hip (DDH), Meniscal repairs among others.

Director, John Mitchell of HERO said, “One of the goals of the mission is not only to provide care but also to transfer knowledge… What we hope to see going forward is that the senior guys transfer the knowledge to their juniors, as we keep building on operating procedures. Those junior surgeons (can) also learn those skills in going forward.” Dr. Mitchell said that after coming to Guyana for 12 years, there are services that can be independently provided by the GPHC. “Over the years we have evolved to the point where we don’t have to do most of the procedures ourselves.”

Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence, and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the GPHC, Brigadier Ret’d George

Lewis, thanked the team for the continuous support of the local health system. CEO Lewis said that based on the increased work being done by HERO, an invitation will always be open for them “to provide their beneficial services.” Minister Lawrence recognised HERO’s “invaluable contribution” to developing the capacity of local doctors. She stated, “It will take Guyana a very long time if we were to send people out and come back and to be able to perform those services that your team comes here and perform. We would have a lot of people waiting for these services… For that, we are forever grateful.”

During a visit with some of the pediatric patients in the surgical ward, the Minister

One of the surgeons (Dr. Watson at extreme right) explains to Minister Lawrence the recovery phase of each of the patients found them recovering well and they and their family members in high spirits.

One mother, Malissia Andrews, thanked the team, as well as Minister Lawrence, for facilitating the life-changing operation that corrected a DDH condition her son had.

“I want to say thank you to the team on behalf of all the parents for giving our children a regular life. I can’t begin to describe how I feel because I have been waiting for a while,” Andrews said.

Dr. Mitchell added that for future trips, there may the

possibility of breast reconstruction surgeries for women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer.

“We have so far not been able to identify a cohort of patients for this procedure but that is still our goal.”

The Health and Educational Relief Organisation (HERO), is a not-for-profit humanitarian organisation based in the United States of America (USA). The medical team is generally dedicated to providing free, high-quality health care and educational support services in communi-

ties throughout the Caribbean.

The HERO organisation implements its primary mission by conducting annual medical and educational outreach programmes staffed by volunteer specialists in all branches of medical and surgical care, nutritional, therapeutic and even follow up services. With regards to providing medical education for health professionals, HERO ensures that doctors, more particularly surgeons, have a ‘hands-on’ approach to learning new skills in their respective fields. (Delicia Haynes)

Sunday March 18,2018

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Kaieteur News

---Hinds’ Sight by Dr. David Hinds---

The Cummingsburg Accord, the AFC and Party Politics in Guyana

N

ot unexpectedly, the issue of the Cummingsburg Accord has been in the news quite a lot recently. This has, of course, been prompted by the uncertainty over how the parties would participate in the Local Government Elections (LGE) due later this year.

While APNU has already announced that it would be contesting as a single group, the AFC which had floated the idea of participating separately had not made a final decision. But at its recent leadership meeting, the party decided to approach APNU to go to the elections as a Coalition.

Some detractors have since accused the AFC of flip flopping. I disagree. The AFC never said definitively it would contest the LGE on its own—it said it may. It couldn’t say yes, since LGE is not part of the Cummingsburg Accord. Now it has said that it would like to do so subject to agreement

by APNU. Should the latter agree, this would necessitate either a new Accord or an amendment to Cummingsburg.

I think that the AFC has made a sensible decision. The dynamics of the current Coalition mean that should the parties contest the elections separately—AFC, PNC, WPA etc.—they would be fighting each other for the same voters. And that could create bad blood among them, which would then make it difficult for them to come together for the general election due less than two years later.

It would be difficult to convince people that they are serious about Coalition politics if the parties fight each other at one election and then try to come together for another election. It should never be forgotten that it was the idea of coalition that inspired the parties’ supporters to believe that they could win—a belief that was critical to mobilizing them to go to the

polls.

The only attraction for the AFC to contest the LGE separately is if it could be assured of getting a section of the Indian Guyanese vote.

But from all indications, that is a long shot. It appears that the Indian Guyanese vote it got in 2011 and 2015 has, for varying reasons, returned to the PPP. In fact, the results of the last LGE proved that thesis—the Coalition lost badly in Indian Guyanese communities. So, from the standpoint of electoral survival, it makes sense for the AFC to want to avoid going alone.

A dismal showing at the election could demoralize the party’s faithful and subsequently weaken the party’s bargaining position with APNU when the Cummingsburg Accord eventually comes up for renewal I think the AFC has finally confronted the tenuous electoral fortunes of Third Parties in Guyana.

The party has been a victim of its own electoral success as a Third Party—it benefited from a political pragmatism that in our contemporary political environment has short-term appeal but is extremely difficult to sustain.

What the Guyana case has revealed is that while sections of our ethnic communities periodically rebel against their respective parties, such rebellions are often temporary.

Once the political and other related circumstances change and the parties adjust, the rebels often return to the fold.

The UF and the WPA were victims of this phenomenon.

Remember, the AFC’s initial attraction was to some African Guyanese who were swayed by the promise of independence from the PNC which by 2006 had ceased to be a militant opposition to the PPP. Some African Guyanese did not accept Robert Corbin’s leadership of the party and begun to doubt the party’s ability to return to government. In that state of

frustration, they turned to the AFC, which, under Raphael Trotman’s leadership, promised independence from the two big parties and the development of a Third Force. The AFC captured approximately eight percent of the vote in 2006 and in the process reduced the PNC to its lowest electoral showing ever.

But once Corbin and the PNC accepted the inevitable and began to aggressively court the WPA to form APNU, that dynamic changed.

With the formation of APNU and Corbin’s decision to cede the leadership to Granger, African Guyanese at the 2011 election bolted from the AFC. Granger’s presence at the top of the ticket and WPA’s presence on the ticket made a tremendous difference in terms of mass perception of the Coalition. There was, therefore, no longer a need for the AFC from an African Guyanese perspective.

But that was not the end of the AFC. The change of leadership from Trotman to Ramjattan and the party’s recruitment of Moses Nagamootoo made the party palatable to sections of the Indian Guyanese community which had become embarrassed at and frustrated with the PPP’s excesses, but did not want to touch the PNC. The AFC’s promise of “Never PNC” resonated with them and the party repeated its success at the 2011 election.

But the success of APNU at the 2011 election and the PPP’s loss of its parliamentary majority presented a dilemma for the AFC. Should the party hold on to its “independence” stance and remain in opposition or should it join APNU to oust the PPP? It chose the latter. And it negotiated a Coalition with an APNU, which, despite its success in 2011, knew that it needed Indian Guyanese votes in order to remove the PPP. So, it too

The Baccoo Speaks It must be madness to make some criminals in the eastern part of the country believe that they can continue with the same recklessness. They attacked a household a few hours ago, but as the saying goes, going to the well every day will see the bottom of the bucket drop out.

Just as happened in the city, the police are going to be there this time around to put an end to the spate of robberies.

*** A case of teenage pregnancy will send shockwaves across the country. A girl not yet a teenager would get pregnant for her father. The police

would be slow to act because of the nature of the community, but pressure from higher up will see the father in custody. *** Another road fatality and anther groan from society. This time the car would be attempting to overtake and cause the accident. The driver would be under the influence.

There would be calls for a charge of vehicular murder to be instituted.

had to make some difficult choices—it had to concede much more to the AFC than it wanted to.

The birth of the APNU+AFC Coalition was difficult for AFC’s mostly Indian Guyanese voters, but some of them kept faith with the AFC, with the party’s promise that it would maintain its “identity” in government.

But since coming to power, that has proved to be a difficult undertaking. The AFC has had to make the difficult choice between Coalition Stability and Party Independence. And it has clearly come down on the side of the former.

The political benefit to the party is that it remains in government with a sizable chunk of Cabinet positions and parliamentary seats. The political cost is that it has lost its Indian Guyanese constituency which threatens its survival as a potent force beyond the next election. That is the nature of Guyana’s complex politics.

So, now that the AFC has lost its limited electoral base, it has to make different

choices—this is what to mind has driven it to request a joint ticket with APNU for the upcoming LGE. It is no secret that APNU has not been too eager to float a joint ticket with the AFC for the LGE, so if the AFC contests with APNU, it would be doing so from a weakened position.

Unlike the case of the Cummingsburg Accord, it now has no demonstrated constituency to use as a bargaining chip.

And APNU would be eager to use this new leverage as a dress rehearsal for the renegotiation of the Cummingsburg Accord As far as the Cummingsburg Accord is concerned, I don’t think there is any need to rush a renegotiation at this point. These matters by their very definition move at a slow pace. The question one must ask is this—what does the AFC want from a reconstituted Accord that it doesn’t already have. It is generally agreed that the AFC got more from the Accord than it duly deserved—it struck a hard bargain and got quite a lot.

David Hinds Once the government became entrenched, there was less and less reason to upset the status quo—that is a reality. So, I really don’t think that the AFC is overly eager to touch that Accord. It makes little political sense—the risks far outweigh the potential benefits. That is why the party, despite grumbles here and there, has been dragging its feet on formally approaching APNU for any renegotiation.

More of Dr. Hinds’ writings and commentaries can be found on his YouTube Channel Hinds’ Sight: Dr. David Hinds’ Guyana-Caribbean Politics and on his website www.guyanacaribbeanpolitics.news Send comments to dhinds6106@aol.com

PAGE 26

Sunday March 18, 2018

Kaieteur News

The man in the battered yellow cab

By Michael Jordan Burly, soft-spoken, and driving a battered yellow cab, Royston Waldron sure had many of his neighbours in Kitty fooled. Beneath that quiet façade lay a cunning, criminal mind and a smoldering rage that caused him to target women…at least that’s the profile that some investigators had put together of Waldron before two bullets ended his life.

But who was Royston Waldron? Why did this former cop turn to crime?

What are the true circumstances of his death? What may have led him to kill or at least cause the ‘disappearance’ of two female acquaintances?

What we know about 42year-old Waldron is that he joined the Guyana Police Force some time ago and was seconded to various locations. One colleague described him as having “a quiet, shy personality.”

But even back then, former colleagues say, Waldron was displaying criminal tendencies. Eventually, he was kicked out of the Force, and it was apparently then that his criminal activities escalated.

He drove a battered yellow hire car and could be seen with other drivers parked near High Street. One policeman said that Waldron always seemed to be waiting to do ‘special’ work, since he hardly solicited passengers. It is believed that his specialty was armed robberies, and that he may have used his police connections to stay ahead of the law.

But in June 2008, Waldron was arrested, charged and remanded for harbouring two key members of the Rondell ‘Fine man’ Rawlins gang. He was also charged for armed robbery.

About two years prior to his arrest, Waldron had started a common-law relationship with Patriena Nicholson, a lance corporal in the Guyana Police Force.

Patriena’s sister, Shellon Nicholson described her older sister’s male acquaintance as a ‘cool and quiet’ individual.

Following Waldron’s arrest, Patriena was transferred (reportedly for security reasons) from the

– Royston Waldron gravitated from cop, to bandit, to suspected serial killer

Nyozi Goodman

Dead: Ex-cop Royston Waldron

Police Lance Corporal Patriena Nicholson

Undertakers remove Nyozi Goodman’s remains, found at Pattensen office of the then-Commissioner of Police, Henry Greene, to the Police Mounted Branch.

While Waldron was in prison, Patriena moved to Lot 44 Austin Street, Campbellville, where her sister, Shellon, also lived. The policewoman struck up an acquaintance with another individual, who was a deportee.It is alleged that sometime around June 2013, the now-released ex-boyfriend saw Patriena and her new boyfriend walking together. Patriena would later claim that the former boyfriend dragged her into his car. She filed a report at the Kitty Police Station, but reportedly only requested that the man be given a stern warning.

Some investigators believe that around that time, Waldron may have gotten wind of some troubling information that triggered his suspected vendetta against

women.At around two o’clock in the afternoon on Friday August 9, 2013, Lance Corporal Patriena Nicholson, dressed in a brown blouse, blue jeans and black sandals, left her post at the Police Mounted Branch. It is claimed that she told her colleagues that she was going “to wash,” while others claim that she told them she was heading home to drop off a package.

Then she disappeared.

Waldron was the first person to inform Patriena’s sister, Shellon, that her sibling appeared to be missing. He is said to have even made a report at the Kitty Police Station.Shellon Nicholson says that police arrested Waldron, but were forced to release him after 72 hours. He was never rearrested.

SECOND DISAPPEARANCE It appears that at least around the middle of 2014, Royston Waldron struck up an acquaintance with 34-yearold Nyozi Goodman, a teacher at the prestigious St. Stanislaus College.On July 6, Waldron reportedly dropped Goodman to the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue, where some of her students were participating in the Inter-Secondary School Basketball Championships.

After the game, Ms. Goodman reportedly told her students that she would be staying behind, as she expected someone to pick her

up and take her home at William Street, Campbellville.

Police believe that the ‘someone’ was Royston Waldron.

As was the case with Waldron’s ex-girlfriend, policewoman Patriena Nicholson, Nyozi Goodman vanished.Detectives who had made the connection between the two missing women questioned Waldron. He reportedly admitted to taking Goodman to the National Gymnasium, but denied returning to pick her up.

In late July, the skeletal remains of a woman were found in a bushy lot at Pattensen, on the East Coast of Demerara. It was established that the victim was about five feet, five inches tall, appeared to be of African ancestry and was between 25 and 40 years old. Dr. Singh also found three incised wounds on the victim, who also had a ‘rotting’ tooth.

These features were disturbingly similar to those of missing teacher Nyozi Goodman. A canvas belt was tied to the dead woman’s right arm, and some of Goodman’s relatives indicated that the belt was hers.

Police took DNA samples from the remains and from Goodman’s closest relatives.

They sent the samples to a Trinidad laboratory. Meanwhile, they kept Royston Waldron under surveillance.

They were certain that they had enough evidence to link

the taxi driver to Goodman’s disappearance. They were reportedly planning to have him arrested and charged once it was confirmed that the Pattensen remains were G o o d m a n ’ s .

Some detectives felt that Waldron was so certain that he could outsmart his former colleagues, that he would make no attempt to flee his Lot 48, Public Road, Kitty home.

Meanwhile, it is believed that Waldron and some of his acquaintances continued their criminal activities.

From information detectives have gathered, Waldron and two other men robbed a businessman at gunpoint in Georgetown on October 11, 2014. It is believed that on October 22, 2014, Waldron and his gang also robbed a woman at gunpoint in Avenue of the Republic, shortly after the victim had left a commercial bank.

There are reports that some of Waldron’s former colleagues warned him “if you don’t stop, you will die.”

CORNERED AND KILLED At around 08.00 hrs on Friday, November 14, 2014, Royston Waldron dropped his mother to her workplace.

About two hours later, he was dead.

It is believed that Waldron and two gang members had completed “a wuck” and were travelling in Waldron’s car at around 12:15 hrs, when police intercepted them.

The police version of the events is that ranks intercepted Waldron’s car at Alexander and Thomas Streets, Kitty, with the suspect and two men who were wanted for questioning in connection with a number of armed robberies.

Police allege that “gunfire was opened” at the ranks, who returned fire, hitting Waldron. He was taken to the GPHC where he succumbed while receiving medical treatment. The two other men were detained.

According to police, the ranks recovered an unlicenced .32 pistol with four rounds and a spent shell from the slain Waldron. But according to some eyewitnesses, Waldron was driving his yellow cab east along Thomas Street at around 12:00 hrs, when two cars blocked him from the front andrear.The eyewitness said that men in plainclothes exited the vehicle and ordered the burly Waldron out of his car, while two passengers remained inside.Waldron reportedly exited with hands upraised and one of the ranks shot him in the chest. Waldron

collapsed to the roadway and the ranks shot him again, the eyewitness said. Other reports suggest that the ranks placed Waldron in one of their vehicles and shot him. He was reportedly then taken out of the vehicle and shot again.

The eyewitness alleged that the police ranks began to assault Waldron’s accomplices. They then placed Waldron in his car and attempted to drive away, but the vehicle failed to start.

They then put the motionless man in a police vehicle and left the scene, while Waldron’s taxi was towed away.

Eyewitnesses said they observed the ranks removing a firearm from the shot man’s person. However, they claimed that the suspects never shot at the police.

One of the suspects was said to be a 26-year-old man who claimed to reside in Kitty, while the other was reportedly a 32-year-old Prashad Nagar resident.But the relatives of Nyozi Goodman and Patriena Nicholson shed no tears for Royston Waldron.

Goodman’s mother, Carol Green, said her initial response to the news was:”thank you, Lord”.

“But then I thought ‘if he is dead, this case is at a standstill’. Whatever he knows is gone with him, because dead men tell no tales.” ”All we can wait for is the DNA results, and if they don’t match, that’s it. Whatever he knows is gone with him, because dead men tell no tales.

But I still believe that she is alive.”

Her hopes were later dashed when DNA results from a Trinidadian lab confirmed that the remains were her daughter’s.

Patriena Nicholson’s sister suggested that Waldron’s death was ‘karma.’ “Praise God that my prayers have been answered…only those who have lost a loved one can understand.”Hopefully, the fate of policewoman Patriena Nicholson will also be known; bringing down the curtain on the saga of two missing women, and their twisted friend, Royston Waldron.

If you have any further information about this case, please contact us at our Lot 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown location, or reach us on telephone numbers 22-58458, 22-58465, 22-58473, or 22-58491.You can also contact Michael Jordan on his email addresses:mjdragon@hotmail.com, andkamarangnight@gmail.com.

You need not disclose your identity

Sunday March 18,2018

PAGE 27

Kaieteur News

==THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN==

I have little faith in the rationality of Guyanese

I

had a superbly rich in troduction to music. I grew up in Wortmanville with rock steady, ska, reggae, soul, rhythm and blues, and pop in general. But I also liked soft rock and easy listening genres. I embraced soft rock artists like the Beatles and crooners like Engelbert Humperdinck with the same intensity as I did the Drifters, Sam Cooke, Boris Gardiner and Jimmy Cliff. Johnny Mathis and Nat King Cole stirred me emotionally. They still do.

Bob Marley remains my favourite composer of philosophical pop music. Linton Kwesi Johnson is special. I am mentioning his name here and come to think of it, last week, my wife was humming her favourite Johnson melody in the kitchen - “Fite Dem Back.” That is a song and poetry to behold.

Quincy Jones definitely has a touch of genius. I know of no one who is familiar with contemporary pop and jazz

that would not concede that Jones is an exceptionally brilliant music icon. But in a wide ranging interview, Jones made a nonsensical statement about the Beatles for which he later profusely apologized.

He said the Beatles were the worst musicians ever.

The Beatles have given the world some outstanding music, of which four of their songs are stupendous philosophical reflections that we each should continue to pay attention to, even though they were popular more than forty years ago – “Eleanor Rigby”, “The Fool on the Hill”, “Nowhere Man”, and “Let it Be.” If you follow Jones’ career, you will know he can put his foot in his mouth. There are times that you do not know what is fact from fiction, when Jones describes his life experiences. Jones said recently he knows who killed John F. Kennedy. There is a trait in Jones that I admire him for, and it is a great trait in his character. He believes in

speaking his mind and he doesn’t care what others think, once he speaks of things that he deeply believes in.

Quincy Jones may be one of the most candid persons in the world. Of course, Jones can take that position because he is hugely wealthy and he doesn’t carry his plate to others.

That is a perspective I cling tenaciously to. If you do not feed me I don’t care if you resent what I have to say, once I believe I am speaking the truth and I have facts to back me up.

Going back to my teenage days in Wortmanville and my love for soft rock, I had this ironic love for a song that was untypical of me. It was “Don’t Let Be Misunderstood” by Eric Burdon and the Animals. If there was a song I loved when I was eighteen it was that tune.

There was a Freudian reason for my attraction to it. I thought my father was a good man who was never under-

stood by the White folks he worked for in two Portuguese outfits – the cricket outfit – Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) and the lawn tennis entity, the Portuguese Club opposite the Government Technical Institute in Woolford Avenue.

My dad was dismissed from both places because he was too outspoken, and it had terrible consequences for the standard of living of his family. I vowed to follow in his footsteps, but armed with an education. But I wanted others to accept how I was thinking. I guess that explained at the Freudian level why I loved that song so much.

I grew up and became outspoken like my dad and rejected any thought of being understood by others. I didn’t

care. I was armed with that education I so badly wanted, so I didn’t have to have my mouth shut by the hand that fed it. This column was motivated by a letter published a few weeks ago (Feb 12) in this newspaper in which Carl Veecock says that he constantly defends me against government supporters in the diaspora who are calling me names because I criticize the present regime in Guyana.

Indians said I was a selfhater when I accused an Indian government in Guyana of hurting Africans. I expect (and it is happening already) that African supporters of APNU will call me an Indian racist for criticizing their government. I guess Veecock has heard that already. Don’t defend me Carl! I don’t care who misunderstands me. I have

Frederick Kissoon little faith in the rationality of Homo sapiens.

I will end on a weird note.

Forty five years after I enjoyed, “Don’t let me be Misunderstood” my daughter’s eyes lighted upon one of my CDs – “The Best of Santa Esmeralda.” She hijacked my CD because she fell in love with Esmeralda’s version of “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood.” She plays it all the time.

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Sunday March 18, 2018

Kaieteur News

Officials who care make a big difference

A

lightly reported but significant event occurred outside of Georgetown last week. The local news media passed it by, perhaps because they were busy with stories like the dust-up at the state-owned Chronicle Newspaper over a controversial decision concerning two columnists; or the Finance Ministry’s light chiding of the US Ambassador for his remarks on Guyana’s preparation for the hydrocarbon sector; or perhaps it was Cabinet and NICIL’s Special Purpose Unit trying everything to keep GuySuCo afloat.

So not many in the traditional media and social outlets had the space to play up the fact that the Region Five Administration had brought a good deal of comfort and glad tidings to the residents of Moraikobai in the upper reaches of the Mahaicony River, simply by

being efficient ...

For the past two years, the people of Moraikobai were, to put it baldly, operating in the dark, because their main power generator had broken down.

That community of little more than 1,000 was deprived of electricity, the most basic commodity for personal, domestic and social comfort and entertainment, like watching TV. Regional Executive Officer, Ovid Morrison, and a team travelled to the deep inland community, a full 96 miles up the Mahaicony River, to hear the residents’ concerns and their pleas for help. They needed to have their generator back as soon as possible, and no one could argue with that!

REO Morrison and his Region 5 administrators quickly pooled their resources together and came up solid with a grant of $6

Million to fix the generator. In short order it was done, electricity to the community was restored much to the delight of residents, especially school children preparing for end of term tests.

Perhaps some may say that the Regional officials didn’t deserve any plaudits because actions such as this fall well within the parameters of their stated functions ... of the job descriptions of every regional official, county official, congressman or assemblyman in other parts of the world.

Okay, that’s true, but these men and women in Region 5 did it with alacrity, contrary to what our people had come to expect from them. We are encouraged by it. Imagine how the good people of Moraikabai felt to have the quality of life they had become accustomed to, returned in a few hours

because some people who care listened and acted without delay.

What Government would like to see going forward is that this can-do approach becomes the modus operandi, the standard operating procedure across all ten Regions, not just to fix what’s broken, but to implement innovative schemes and provide the thousands of people living in inland and hinterland areas with every amenity that the coastal and near inland towns are accustomed, like water via pipes, or an LTE tower to transmit internet signals.

Toshao Colin Adrian captured the gratitude and palpable excitement of his community when he publicly acknowledged the speed with which ‘the Region’ took action.

“The generator (went) down because the Village Council had run out of funds due to the high costs of transporting fuel 96 miles into the upper reaches of the river, where our community is,” he said.

“The Regional Executive Officer, Mr. Ovid Morrison, and a team visited.

Mr. Morrison promised assistance and this assistance (came) in less than a week after the visit. Thanks to this prompt support, power is now back at Moraikobai. The people of Moraikobai are very

happy with this development.

Thumbs up for the regional administration and the government! We applaud this prompt response”.

The Village Captain was not lost for words, just elated.

He also said that a Management Committee has now been formed to operate and to closely monitor the generator between 6.00 pm and 10.00 pm daily, and residents would be required to make a small contribution of $5,000 per month.

We look ahead to the installation of a second, larger unit that will power them 24/ 7.

The actions of REO Morrison in West Berbice remind us of similarly commendable and useful interventions by the Guyana Water Inc. (GWI) since May of 2015.

Dozens of communities had never had potable water. Some residents told stories of walking for miles through jungle to access water from creeks and rivers.

Some villages with shallow wells received some water for only brief periods daily, or every three days.

Others got water but they had to have the patience of the biblical Job to endure long hours of waiting, because of low water pressure from the one pipe in the village centre.

That meant the old and the

toddlers fetching buckets of water all day. Well, that is now over.

As many already know, GWI is chugging along with some serious disadvantages including revenue shortage, thousands of delinquent customers, and the power supply to many wells at the mercy of GPL. Water pumps in wells burn with annoying frequency, old well shafts break, and even the standby generators grind to a halt sometimes.

But, GWI can take credit for changing the quality of life of thousands of villagers in the past three years. Even in Georgetown, residents of Tucville Terrace no longer have to walk long distances for water. GWI fixed it after the CEO was lobbied.

And ask the residents of Soesdyke how satisfied they are since water began flowing through community pipes for the first time in many years.

The same is also true for Hand-en Veldt, Mahaica; Lima Sands, Essequibo; Silver Hill, Wismar, communities along the Linden/Soesdyke Highway; Moleson Creek near the Corentyne ferry crossing; and Sophia, to name a few.

The point is that officials are there to serve the people.

Once they are prepared to listen, a lot could be addressed really quickly.

Sunday March 18,2018

PAGE 29

Kaieteur News

My column

The aftermath of those three deaths

I

t has been a long time since so many men got killed in a single police action. This was the case on Thursday when three men got shot and killed on the Georgetown seawalls. There was a time when such action was almost par for the course.

Those were the days of the crime wave.

There were many young criminals who considered themselves gunmen. Indeed there was the core and these young men were the offshoot. Guyana was in their grip. The news media constantly reported clashes of the gangs and clashes with the police.

During that period more policemen died in the line duty than at any time in the 175-year history of the force.

The police retaliated as best they could, in the process killing many men out of hand.

Soon society claimed that it had enough of the killing and public opinion won out.

Such was public opinion that even when a mentally deranged man entered the compound of the Brickdam Police Station, took away a weapon from the guard and shot some other policemen in the compound, the order was not to kill him.

Incidentally, this deranged man got himself killed in prison after he killed another inmate. He was a former policeman.Crime raised its head once more to the extent

that the foreign missions issued advisories to their people. Crime became an elections issue; the coalition came into office and immediately tackled the situation.

The police kept reporting a decline in crime.

Then there were the attacks on people leaving the commercial banks. People would withdraw their money, leave the bank and be attacked. Recently, three men got robbed after leaving the bank. The police had no clue about the perpetrators. Minister Khemraj Ramjattan got so angry that he spoke about a sting operation to nab these people.

Thursday’s incident was another attempt to rob a man who had left a commercial bank. The police reported that a patrol was in the vicinity of the bank when it spotted some suspicious looking men. The police claimed that they saw these suspicious men follow the man who happened to head to the seawalls.The result is history.

The reaction from the public was muted. There were those who said that the situation had got out of hand and that the police had a right to act decisively. But people close to the victims had some searching questions, especially since one of the men had no criminal record.One of the men had a long rap sheet dating back to 2008. He was linked to a $10 million rob-

bery, the shooting death of two men who had been involved in a game bird fight; and some other crimes.

I was at the scene of the shooting when something surprising happened. Three women turned up because they were convinced that the slain men were their relatives.

Reporters at the scene could get no word out of the police, so they had no idea of the identity of the men. Yet these women knew.

How? That is a milliondollar question. Perhaps a policeman at the scene called them. If that is the case, it would suggest that the policeman knew these people.

Herein lie more questions. Did the policeman share in the spoils of the robberies?

Whatever the case, these people were notified. One woman was heard on the phone telling someone that it was too early to go to the funeral parlour because the bodies were still on the seawall.One of the men had no criminal record, but people are now saying that the absence of a criminal record does not mean a law-abiding citizen. I have heard such comments many times. The conclusion is that the person was never caught.

I have been in the courts and I have seen people sentenced for crimes they did not commit. On one occasion I attempted to sympathise with the convicted man, only to be

told by him that he did not commit that crime but there were others that he committed but was never caught.

And in any case the sentences for those crimes would have been harsher, so he easily rationalized.

But what is it about these bank transactions? In some banks when large transactions are being made, the customer is taken into a private area. One may argue that the sight of someone going to a private area would be a signal to the criminal, but there must be some way to protect the customer who wishes to walk around with large sums of cash.

For the smart businessman, his transactions would either be electronic or with plastic. In fact, many people use plastic. It is safe and se-

cure. I have friends who go to lunch and pay with plastic.

The stores are increasingly gearing for plastic and so protect the customer.

But there are those who wish to avoid taxes and therefore rely on cash. I would believe that the days of those businesses are numbered. I have travelled overseas and I have seen cash registers with precious little money, because of the nature of the transactions. In fact, people are reluctant to be caught with large sums of cash because of the likely police action.

My sister nearly refused to take US$500 for a woman overseas. The relative was sending the money. If US$500 is a problem imagine US$5,000. That is why in the rare cases people attack the armoured trucks. The few

Adam Harris who attack cash registers would leave with less than US$300.

And as we consider the deaths of those three men, one must wonder whether one has seen the end of people being attacked after leaving commercial banks.

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Sunday March 18, 2018

Kaieteur News

We must grow more people interested in growing more food I n v e s t m e n t , infrastructure, information and innovation are key to the future growth of the agriculture sector in Guyana.

Infrastructure is a key factor in agricultural development.

Infrastructure, such as roads and bridges, will facilitate

greater access by our farmers to inputs. It will allow them, also, to get their production more easily and quickly to the markets. The roads are a means to stimulate the rural non-farm economy, catalyze the development of communities, and facilitate

the integration of rural areas into national economies.

Farmers in some regions have long suffered from poor prices for their produce.

Farmers must not be satisfied with solely producing for the local markets. The expansion of their production depends

on finding new markets, including export markets.

Farmers need information to be able to penetrate into these markets.

Guyana’s agricultural sector must become more resilient. It must reduce its exposure to commodity price downturns.

The agricultural sector must lead the revival of rural Guyana by ensuring that production moves up the value chain through increased agro-processing.

The processing of agricultural produce will also help farmers to reduce the present high levels of spoilage. Farmers must not be discouraged by the past experiences at moving up the value chain.

The Coalition government recognizes the continued importance of agriculture to the economy post-petroleum production.

It is also noteworthy that that Guyana is in a unique position to take advantage of the need for food and fresh water in the coming decades.

The growth of the world’s population along with increased urbanization is expected to increase the demand for agricultural produce by some 70 percent in the next thirty years.

The ability of many countries to meet this demand will be affected by climate change.

The global phenomenon of climate change is resulting in increased desertification and the depletion of freshwater supplies.

Guyana’s abundance of land and freshwater supplies for agricultural purposes places it in an enviable position to take advantage of the increased demand for food globally.

The United Nations projected in 2016 that the world’s population would reach 9.6 billion by 2050. A large portion of the increased food demand in decades ahead is projected to result from rising appetites for meat;

several pounds of grain are needed to grow each pound of meat. There will also be a greater demand for fresh water, fresh fruit and v e g e t a b l e s .

In order to take advantage of these challenges, Guyana has already begun the process of reorganizing the management of the sugar, rice coconut livestock and other crops in appropriately designed organizational structures that project images of credibility to counterparts; and assurance of quality products and services to clients and farmers.

The government continues to advocate the importance of agroprocessing and value-added over the production and marketing of primary commodities.

The goal is to create a flexible broad-based, integrated, innovative and environmentally sensitive agriculture sector to satisfy the demands of domestic, regional and international competitive markets.

Already we see the establishment of programmes like the Sustainable Livelihood and Entrepreneurial Development (SLED) for technical and financial support; improved land tenure arrangements; programmes geared to meaningfully involve our youth and women in the sector; and disseminate knowledge and skills to agricultural, farmers and other community organisations and individuals through extension services.

Looking into the future, President Granger has articulated that revenues from the petroleum sector will be used to further develop and modernize our agricultural sector. There will be the creation of sustainable enterprises, through the application of cost-effective management of traditional and modern technologies, in order to increase volumes and

quality of diversified produce.

And also, there will be implementation of capacity building, through the settingup of Regional Agricultural Institutes and research centres, along with continued investment in infrastructure, information and innovation.

Taking our geography into consideration, intensive and urgent action will be necessary to rehabilitate/ expand, as necessary, current drainage and irrigation deficiencies.

Infrastructure investment in roads, bridges and airdromes will significantly improve access to markets.

Creative promotion and packaging of produce and the imaginative packaging of Guyana, will help to show us a serious ‘Agriculture’ player.

President David Granger laid out the challenge to farmers all across the country when he said; “Opportunities for increased agricultural markets exist within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). The Region’s agriculture’s sector share of Gross Development Product (GDP) declined from 13 percent to 7 percent, over the last 25 years.

International food prices have been declining for the major traded agricultural products and are at the lowest levels since 2009. The food import bill of CARICOM has been rising and stands, today, at over US$4 Billion annually.

CARICOM’s food insecurity must be reversed if the Caribbean is to survive.

Guyana’s farmers can contribute to regional food security by increasing agricultural output. Caribbean leaders are looking to Guyana as the new horizon for agricultural development”.

Guyana can play a meaningful role in becoming the rice bowl and vegetable basket of the Caribbean. Guyana under an APNU+AFC administration will play such a role through investment, infrastructure, information and innovation in agriculture.

The future beyond Oil and Gas is agriculture. So not only must we grow more food, we must now grow more people interested in growing more food.

Sunday March 18,2018

PAGE 31

Kaieteur News

Feeling Tired: Do you know it’s because of an illness?

By Dr Zulfikar Bux Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine iredness, or fatigue, means having less energy than usual.

You feel exhausted, either mentally, physically, or both.

It is a normal part of life, but if it persists, it may suggest a medical problem. Today I will try to explain when tiredness may be as a result of a medical condition instead of you doing too much. .

WHATARE THE CAUSES OF TIREDNESS? Physical causes of tiredness Tiredness may be due to a wide range of physical illnesses. Common examples include: · A tendency to be lacking in iron (anemia). · An underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism). · Diabetes. · Heart failure or a blockage in your heart that will soon cause a heart attack · Chest illnesses (including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). · Addison’s disease. · Bowel problems (for example, coeliac disease). · Carbon monoxide poisoning. · Having to get up in the night a lot to pass urine, due to problems such as an overactive bladder or an enlarged prostate gland. · Breathing problems at night interfering with sleep (obstructive sleep apnea). · Pregnancy. · Pain from other medical conditions keeping you awake at night.

T

· Infections that constantly depletes you Most physical causes of tiredness will cause other symptoms. Some causes of tiredness (such as anemia and hypothyroidism) may not cause any other symptoms apart from tiredness.

Psychological causes of tiredness Psychological tiredness is much more common than tiredness caused by a physical problem.

Both anxiety and depression can make you feel very tired. Eating disorders can make you feel tired, particularly if you are underweight or overweight. Any cause of a sleep problem will also cause tiredness during the day.

Stress is a common cause of tiredness, either because it interferes with sleep, or because of the effect of having a worry on your mind all the time.

Lifestyle causes of tirednessTiredness can be caused by lifestyle. We often try to cram too much into our lives and as they become more and more busy we can get tired. Lifestyle causes of tiredness include: · Drinking too much alcohol. · Having an unhealthy, unbalanced diet. · Taking recreational drugs. · Excessive exercise or total lack of exercise. · Working night shifts, which may lead to a poor sleep pattern and result in tiredness. · Big life events such as getting married or moving house.

In many cases no specific

cause for tiredness is found and doctors will test to make sure there aren’t any medical condition(s) causing it.

WHAT TESTS ARE THERE FOR TIREDNESS? If your tiredness is persisting, or if you are unwell in any other way, or if it is having an effect on your life, see your doctor.

In order to try to find the cause, your doctor will need to ask you some questions.

He/she may need to examine you and they may arrange some blood tests.

Blood tests Your doctor may feel you should have some blood tests to rule out physical causes for tiredness. In most cases these turn out to be normal. This might include tests to rule out: · Low iron levels (anemia). · Low thyroid hormone levels (hypothyroidism). · Diabetes. · Vitamin deficiencies such as B12 or vitamin D. · Coeliac disease. · Any inflammation in your system. · Any problems with the function of your liver or kidneys. · Tests for specific infections. · Testing your heart to ensure its working well WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP MY TIREDNESS? · Eat often to beat tiredness- a good way to keep up your energy through the day is to eat regular meals and healthy snacks every 3 to 4 hours, rather than a large meal less often. · Get moving- you might feel that exercise is the last

thing on your mind. But, in fact, regular exercise will make you feel less tired in the long run, so you’ll have more energy. · Lose weight to gain energy - if your body is carrying excess weight, it can be exhausting.

It also puts extra strain on your heart, which can make you tired. Lose weight and you’ll feel much more energetic. · Sleep well - many people don’t get the sleep they need to stay alert through the day. · Reduce stress to boost energy - stress uses up a lot of energy. Try to introduce relaxing activities into your day to beat the tiredness. · Cut out caffeine - using caffeine to keep alert will cause you to slowly wear your body down over time. · Avoid alcohol - although

alcohol may help you fall asleep, you sleep less deeply after drinking alcohol.

The next day you’ll be tired, even if you sleep a full 8 hours. · Drink more water for better energy - sometimes you feel tired simply because you’re mildly dehydrated. A glass of water will do the trick, especially after exercise.

DO I NEED TO SEE A DOCTOR? If you can figure out the reason for feeling tired yourself, and do something about it, then no.

If the tiredness is getting in the way of your life, or making you feel unhappy, or you feel unwell, then yes, you should visit your doctor. You should definitely see a doctor if you feel tired and have lost weight without trying to.

Dr. Zulfikar Bux Also see a doctor if you have other symptoms as well as being tired, such as coughing up blood, a change in the way your guts are working, heavy periods or a lump somewhere it shouldn’t be.

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Sunday March 18, 2018

Kaieteur News

SUNDAY SPECIAL Nothing is for free…

ExxonMobil will recover every cent spent on training and employing locals Suppose you’re working at a company and you’re sent on a training programme for three months. When you return, you use your skills to enhance and uplift the profile of that company. But how would you feel if the employer takes back every cent he spent on training from your salary?

This is exactly what is happening in the case of Guyana and ExxonMobil. The company has a contractual responsibility to employ and train Guyanese to be part of the oil and gas sector.

But the contract allows for ExxonMobil to recover every dollar it invests into capacity building, training facilities and funds to employ locals. What is also interesting is that the company does not need the approval of the Minister to recover these funds.

The Guyana-ExxonMobil agreement says, “All costs and expenses incurred by the Contract in training of Guyanese personnel and such other amounts as may be expended on training under Article 19 of the Agreement.”

Government has time and again, boasted about the local content provisions it was able to secure in the contract.

Article 19 provides for a US$300,000 payment by ExxonMobil to the Government. This is to cover Guyanese personnel who would be nominated by the government to do on the job training in the contractor’s

Attorney at Law Charles Ramson Jr. operations, to send qualified Guyanese on courses overseas, to purchase advanced technical books and to send Guyanese to seminars related to the industry. All of this would be recovered by ExxonMobil.

Additionally, the oil giant can also claim for administrative costs for handling the training money and even add interest for borrowing from its parent company. Kaieteur News understands that this kind of borrowing is higher than market rates.

Oil and Gas Experts have informed this newspaper that good contracts limit the rate to the market. But this is not the case in Guyana’s contract.

Stop playing politics with Guyana’s oil, release all contracts – Ramson Jr. Charles Ramson Jr., an Attorney at law and one of the few Guyanese with a Masters Degree in Oil and Gas, wants the government to realize that it cannot play politics with the nation’s patrimony.

Ramson said that Government’s selective re-

lease of the CGX contract is an attempt to play political mitigation and is nothing but a “red herring seeking to deflect from a bad or suckered renegotiated deal with ExxonMobil.” ”If the government released the contract with CGX in an attempt to say that ‘our terms are not much different from the previous contracts so do not beat us up’ then this is yet another example of the march of folly,” said Ramson.

The true test of whether the government is protecting Guyana’s interest and patrimony is the fiscal terms contained in the contract/licence signed in 2016 with the oil companies Eco and Tullow for the Orinduik Block since that would have been signed after Guyana knew of the proven petroleum system with commercial quantities of oil of high quality. ”Let the Government release that contract! Don’t play politics with Guyana’s oil,” said Ramson.

Eco’s website reports that in “January 2016, Eco Atlantic signed a Petroleum Agreement and is party to an Offshore Petroleum Licence with the Government of Guyana and Tullow Oil for the Orinduik Block offshore Guyana. The 1800 km² Orinduik block is situated in shallow water, 170 km offshore Guyana in the Suriname Guyana basin, and is located 6.5 km from the recent Exxon Mobil Liza discoveries.”

Ramson said that all of the contracts/licences prior to the discovery of commercial quantities of oil are only tangentially relevant – “The contract with ExxonMobil was renegotiated in 2016 so at that point we had a fairly good appraisal of what we had and

the government should have secured a better deal. Even if you attempt to say that was our first contract, what did you get for Guyana with the contract/licence with Eco and Tullow for the Orinduik block in 2016 which is adjacent to the Stabroek block where the world class discovery was made and likely to have fairly similar geology? ”Don’t selectively release to try to beg for mercy. Release all the contracts and stop playing political cloak and dagger with Guyanese resources. It belongs to the people and not the government so release all the contracts now,” said Ramson.

MONDAY ExxonMobil can recover all rentals, charges, levies, fees, taxes, and any other assessments Several Ministers of Government have been lauding the fact that the country would be able to garner millions of dollars in rental fees and taxes from ExxonMobil.

But what has not been stated is that the company would be able to recover every cent of that money.

This is according to the Guyana-ExxonMobil deal under the section which speaks to costs recoverable without further approval of the Minister.

That section of the contract says that the company can, “recover all rentals, charges, levies, fees, taxes, and any other assessments and charges levied by the government in connection with the petroleum operations and paid directly by the contractor.”

Also recoverable by ExxonMobil is moneys that they hand over to the government for environmental projects.

Environmentalist makes stirring plea to nation…Don’t be blinded by oil money, our eco-system is more valuable, please protect it

Environmentalist, Annette Arjoon- Martins with two fishermen displaying heir catch

She is deeply concerned about the preservation of the invaluable ecosystem services and sustainable livelihoods of the indigenous communities in and around the Shell Beach Protected Area. These concerns are the consequence of the known risks associated with the emerging oil and gas industry. As a result, environmentalist Annette Arjoon-Martins is trying to make her voice heard in the midst of crowds dominated by persons more concerned about the possible riches associated with oil production.

Arjoon- Martins said she

is “deeply concerned” by the present lack of environmental safeguards and weak and almost nonexistent environmental regulations and legislations specific to the emerging oil and gas industry. She said that while the focus is understandably on the billions of dollars and the economic development that oil, a non-renewable resource can bring about once it is managed sensibly, she is saddened that Guyana’s eco-system services have largely been ignored.

Arjoon-Martins used the opportunity presented at a recent oil and gas forum held by the Private Sector Commission (PSC) to press home the need for more safety measures to be put in place.

Arjoon-Martins noted that the Constitution offers all Guyanese the right to a safe and pure environment.

She detailed that the preamble of the Constitution specifically acknowledges the aspirations of “our young people to live in a safe society, which ensures a healthy environment.

Article 25 of the Constitution expressly provides for the protections of our environment while Article 36 speaks about the well being of the nation dependent on the preservation of clean air, fertile soils, pure water and the rich diversity of plants animals and eco systems.”

Arjoon also quoted Article 149 J of the Constitution, which said is her favourite.

That article gives each Guyanese the right to an environment that is not harmful to his or her health and wellbeing.

Arjoon-Martins told a room filled with entrepreneurs that “while we all heard this morning about the hundreds of millions and billions of United States dollars that everyone is understandable greatly excited about, remember that oil and gas is not a renewable resource and also remember to touch back on

the value of our eco system which is everlasting. If you are to put a value on our ecosystem, I think it would far exceed those millions and billions we heard of earlier.”

The environmentalist had alluded in her presentation that in light of the devastating events that are linked to climate change and the reality that fossil fuels are a major contributor, that there should be some consideration for Guyana to be rewarded for keeping some of the oil in the ground. Since under the LCDS the government of Norway had paid Guyana US$50mln annually for keeping its deforestation rate at a minimal, it would not be unreasonable to expect that payments for oil should be much higher.

Gilbacker, other fish export ban…Guyana was notified of new requirements in 2015 – U.S. Spokesperson Guyana was notified in November 2015 of the new requirements regulating the export of all Siluriformes fish and fish products (catfish species), says a United States (U.S.) Embassy spokesperson based in Georgetown.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has instituted a ban on catfish species from Guyana, inclusive of hassar, cuirass and gilbacker that took effect on March 1 after Guyana failed to comply with the new requirements. \Amanda Cauldwell, Public Affairs Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Georgetown told Kaieteur News that the U.S. notified the Government of Guyana of the pending changes in November of 2015, more than 18 months before they were to go into effect. ”We even gave Guyana an extension until February 3, 2018 to comply with the new regulations,” Cauldwell explained.According to the (Continued on page 33)

Sunday March 18, 2018

From Page 32 embassy official, the U.S. offered technical assistance to the Government of Guyana to help fishermen and women to comply. ”Our offer still stands, but it cannot be accomplished overnight,” Cauldwell stated.

She pointed out that the U.S. Government takes very seriously the protection of the world’s waterways and marine life and is constantly updating regulations and processes to ensure that waterways and marine life are protected.

According to Cauldwell, most countries in the hemisphere have now complied with the regulations. She believes that Guyana eventually can and will comply as well. ”We understand that the Government of Guyana is working on complying, but it has not fully met the standards of the new processes associated with the regulations and until it does we cannot accept any catfish from Guyana,” Cauldwell noted.

Chief Fisheries Officer, Denzil Roberts, told Kaieteur News that Guyana received notification from the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) some time ago.

He stated that the FSIS concluded that the local Siluriformes fish and fish products inspection system is not equivalent to the U.S. inspection system.

TUESDAY Mayor tosses no-confidence motion against Town Clerk …Duncan to seek legal advice on way forward Mayor of Georgetown, Patricia Chase-Green Monday adopted the legal advice provided by Attorney-at-Law Maxwell Edwards, when she disallowed a no confidence motion brought against Town Clerk, Royston King, by Alliance For Change (AFC) Councillor, Sherod Duncan.

During the council’s statutory meeting at City Hall Monday, it was pointed out that Edwards, a former Magistrate, provided the advice to King, and not the council. The Mayor subsequently circulated the advice from Edwards, who is also the husband of city councillor, Noelle Chow-Chee.

Among other things, Edwards advised that the motion be amended to remove the ‘no confidence’ clause.

Duncan subsequently advised the Council that he will not change ‘a line’ or ‘a full stop’ in the motion.

Further repeated calls for Duncan to seek an amendment to the motion went unanswered. The Mayor then ruled that the motion in its original form would not be al-

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lowed.

“It is a bizarre afternoon,” Duncan told reporters after walking out of the meeting accompanied by fellow AFC councillor and Deputy Mayor, Lionel Jaikaran, who seconded the motion.

“The Mayor has said that the council did not ask for legal advice on the matter. The Town Clerk has asked for legal advice and before the matter that is on the agenda is heard, the legal advice is heard, which was not circulated before the council meeting. That is egregious,” Duncan stated.

The motion was placed on the meeting’s agenda by the Town Clerk based on advice of the Mayor. It was scheduled for debate and vote.

There was a motion on the agenda to have the vote conducted by secret ballot.

The visitors’ gallery was filled, the media came out in full force and there were tense moments as discussions erupted prior to the motion being struck down.

“Let us end this circus,” one councillor belted out while another asked, ‘Who is Sherod Duncan?’

Edwards concluded that the motion in its original form is ultra vires; hence, is not a business required to be transacted at a meeting. He pointed out that the Mayor, presiding at a statutory meeting, has a duty to prevent any business that is ultra vires the Municipal and District Councils Act (Chapter 28:01) from being transacted at such a meeting.

Exxon practices oil spill response at Splashmin’s – Conservationists call for more practicality The hostile and challenging environment in the Atlantic Ocean is radically different to the smooth surface of a man-made lake. Nevertheless, ExxonMobil has decided to carry out limited training for oil spill response at Splashmin’s Fun Park on the Soesdyke/Linden Highway as opposed to the areas likely to be affected.

That means that persons are being trained in an unrealistic environment far removed from the one they will actually have to operate in, should there ever be a need to respond to an oil spill.

The Guyana Marine Conservation Society (GMCS), headed by Environmentalist, Annette Arjoon feels that Esso Exploration & Production Guyana Limited (EPGL) should be much more practical in carrying out its responsibilities as regards building capacity to respond to an oil spill.

Arjoon said that she is aware that limited training has

Guyanese Hasser being sold at a supermarket in New York

been done on a man-made lake. However, she said there is an urgent need to commence training with residents in Region One, namely Mabaruma, the Waini communities of Kachikamo, St John and Lower Waini and Shell Beach.

Arjoon told Kaieteur News that “while some preliminary oil spill response capacity building has taken place on the glasslike surface of the man-made lake at Splashmin’s, the reality and harsh environment of the rugged coastline of Shell Beach is the polar opposite, with rough seas and waves that pitch around large fishing boats like matchsticks during some seasons”.

She said she has had two close calls, personally, “despite the decades of experience of the boat captains at the time.”

As such, Arjoon said that GMCS is seeking the support of EPGL and the Government

of Guyana to ensure that there is meaningful consultation, capacity building and deployment of fit for purpose assets in Region One. CCJ hears opening arguments in Presidential term limit case A team of lawyers representing the Government of Guyana has presented arguments before the Caribbean Court of Justice, (CCJ) seeking to overturn the decision of the local courts in relation to the Presidential term limit.

The action, which was originally filed in 2014 by Cedric Richardson, a private citizen, saw a team of attorneys from the Chambers of Attorney General, (AG) making submissions before a panel of Judges at the CCJ Monday.

Richardson had approached the High Court challenging the two-term restriction created by amendments

Hasser being prepared for export at a local plant

to Article 90 of the Constitution. The amendments were enacted in 2001 after the bipartisan Constitution reform process.

He nonetheless argued that Act 17 of 2001, which was passed by a two-thirds majority of the National Assembly, unconstitutionally curtails and restricts his sovereign and democratic rights and freedom as a qualified elector to elect former President Bharrat Jagdeo as the Executive President of Guyana.

On July 9, 2015, the then acting Chief Justice Ian Chang had ruled that the presidential term-limit was unconstitutional without the approval of the people through a referendum. The amendments to the constitution had seen the insertion of two clauses to allow for re-election only once.

The Court of Appeal had subsequently ruled that an Act which amended Article 90 of the Constitution by introducing new criteria for eligi-

bility to run for the office of President, indirectly breached Articles 1 and 9 of the Constitution which gives the electorate of Guyana the right to elect a President of their choice.Appearing before the CCJ Monday, the team representing the State of Guyana – Attorney General, Basil Williams SC, Solicitor General, Kim Kyte , Barbadian Queen’s Counsel Hal Gollop and Attorney Ralph Thorne – sought to convince the panel of judges that among other things, the amendment could have been made by Parliament and not only via referendum.

WEDNESDAY Catfish ban to US a ‘big blow’ to trade Changes to Fisheries Act will help Guyana comply with export requirements – Ministry “A big blow” is how Veterinary Public Health Director (Continued on page 34)

The man-made lake Exxonmobil is using for its response practice

PAGE 34

From page 33 within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Ozaye Dodson, has described a ban on various catfish species to the United States [US].

He noted that while the banning of Guyana’s catfish species from the US export market is just a temporary technical barrier to trade it is very impactful.

Dr. Dodson said the move by the US Department of Agriculture [USDA] is a “protectionist measure” by that country’s public health system and the catfish farmers who have invested heavily to develop the industry there.

Guyana’s Veterinary Public Health Department has been mandated, under the 2002 Fisheries Act and the Fish and Fishery Product Regulations of 2003 with guidance of the inspections manual, to monitor, inspect and certify vessels, landing sites, fish processing establishments and fishery products for the local and export markets.

According to Dr. Dodson, there are daily inspections and certification of the catfish products to guarantee their “wholesomeness for human consumption.”

For this purpose, the US Food Safety Inspection Services [FSIS] has requested of Guyana to provide relevant documentation to verify its inspection system is equivalent to the US standards or that its public health system is an equivalent degree to that of the US. Guyana, Dr. Dodson said, complied with this request.

However, the country fell short of the US standards in three areas.

Firstly, there was the short fall on the issue of the presence of inspectors; secondly, there was insufficient documentation detailing verification of each step in the sanitation and Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point [HACCP] process, and thirdly, there was insufficient documentation specifying how the industry manages adulterated catfish products.

M o r e o v e r, n e w U S standards for import of catfish species demand the presence of inspectors on plants for one-hour during an eight-hour shift, Dr. Dodson explained, even as he revealed that Guyana inspection pursues a “riskbased approach” which is in fact a European Union [EU] standard.

But the Veterinary Public Health official disclosed that Guyana’s HACCP and documentation of its inspection frequency will be upgraded to satisfy the new US standards.

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Representing the State: Attorneys Ralph Thorne, Utieka John, AG Basil Williams, Kim Kyte and Queens Queens Counsel Hal Gollop Local Content must be free from political influence, corruption to be effective Requires watchdog body to enforce it –Lawyer The very point of a Local Content Policy is to ensure that the oil and gas sector of a nation significantly benefits native businesses and citizens. But in order for this desirable and attractive Policy to work, certain conditions must be present.In order for Local Content to work, Attorney-at-law, Sanjeev Datadin, says that it must be free from political influence and corruption. He said, too, that there must be a watchdog body to ensure that the policy is enforced.

The lawyer made these statements, among others, during an oil and gas seminar that was held at the Ramada Princess Hotel last weekend.

There, Datadin said that Local Content is desirable and attractive because it has the potential of facilitating the oil sector wealth to permeate through a nation. He said that this is mind blowing in its promise.He said, “The challenge with Local Content is that it requires a comprehensive legal and regulatory framework and then it must have watchdog body to enforce it. It must be free from political influence and corruption to be effective.” ”It may create bottlenecks because of poor local capacity and may chase away potential investors. However, with the oil finds off the Guyana coast it is unlikely any operator would be scared off …Our potential is simply too large.”

The Attorney-at-law said that Local Content has worked in Guyana before

with Omai Gold Mines and Barama Company Limited to a lesser extent. Datadin stressed that the concept is not new to Guyana and with some wise choices; it may be the vehicle by which every sector benefits from the oil wealth.Datadin also cited several countries where Local Content Policy was able to provide extensive benefits due to a comprehensive legal and regulatory framework.

In the case of Norway, the lawyer said that there exists a combination of legislation, regulations and contract clauses.

Wife, female accomplice guilty in US citizen murder The two women who are on trial for the 2012 murder of the American citizen have been found guilty.

However a probation report have been ordered before

sentence is passed. The two women are US citizen Hemwattie Abdulla, 43, called “Anita Nazeema Khan,” formerly of Albion Corentyne and of Ozone Park, New York, USA; and her accomplice, Surojinie Tirmaul, 49, of Belvedere New Housing Scheme, Corentyne, Berbice.

They were convicted of murdering Abdool Shakeel Majid, called “Shakiel,” a citizen of the USA, between April 23 and April 27, 2012 in Berbice. There was an arrangement whereby Surojinie Tirmaul called “Surojnie” and “Usha” paid money to a third person, Pooran Jhadoo, at the request of Hemwattie Abdulla called “Annie” and “Anesa”.

Tirmual was reportedly paid US$5000 to hire somebody to kill Majid.They were on trial before justice Sandil Kissoon and a mixed jury in the Berbice High Court.

Abdulla was represented by

(AFC) Councillor Sherod Duncan (left) and Deputy Mayor Lionel Jaikaran leaving City Hall after rhe no confidence motion was disallowed. prominent attorney Mursalene Bacchus in association with Arund Gossai. Trimaul was represented by attorney Nigel Hughes. The state case was presented by Special Prosecutor Ganesh.

Earlier caution statements reportedly made by both women that implicated them both in the crime were admitted into evidence. The defence had objected strongly to the admission of the statements and a lengthy voir dire was held. At the conclusion of prosecution case both women gave unsworn statement from the dock proclaiming their innocence.

THURSDAY U.S. fugitive nabbed at Liliendaal– remanded pending extradition– woman who allegedly harboured him detained A little less than six weeks

after embarking on an intelligence-led operation, ranks of the Guyana Police Force early Wednesday morning raided a premises at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara, and in the process nabbed a 31-year-old Guyanese murder suspect who had fled the United States.

The fugitive, Troy Anthony Thomas, of 32nd Street, South Ozone Park, Queens, New York, U.S.A, was held around 02.00 hrs.

Police say that Thomas fled to Guyana after allegedly gunning down another Guyanese, 20-year-old Keith Frank, in Queens, New York, seven years ago.

A woman who is suspected to have been harbouring Thomas was also arrested ”Make-up artiste and Social Media personality, Lolita Callendar, called “Lola” of East (Continued on page 35)

Conditions at the Shell Beach Protected Area on any given day

Sunday March 18, 2018

From page 34 Ruimveldt, who police wanted for threatening behaviour and who is suspected to have harboured the fugitive, has been arrested and is assisting with the investigation,” a release from the police indicated.

It was disclosed that the operation to apprehend Thomas had started since January 31, 2018.

Thomas reportedly fled to Guyana shortly after an arrest warrant was issued for him in the US for the murder of Keith Frank, who was slain on December 11, 2011.

Frank succumbed to a bullet wound to the torso, allegedly during a confrontation with Thomas and others. The victim, whose daughter was eight months at the time, died two months before he would have celebrated his twentyfirst birthday. He had reportedly been living in the U.S. since he was 12.

Reports in US media stated that the killing occurred outside a South Richmond Hill party.

US media reports quoted Frank’s mother, Carol Kyte, as saying that her son was attending a birthday party near 132nd Street and 109th Avenue and ran into some other men with whom he had an ongoing dispute.

It is alleged that a group of other Guyanese men were at odds with one of Frank’s friends over sophomoric quibbles like break-dancing or the attention of girls in the neighbourhood.

Meanwhile, late Wednesday afternoon, Thomas, whose local address was given as Lot 31 Second Street, Liliendaal, made an appearance before Acting Chief Magistrate Sherdel IsaacsMarcus in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. He was remanded pending extradition.

Attorney-at-law Stacy Goodings, who is representing the Government of the United States, told the court that an arrest warrant was issued for Thomas in January, for him to be sent back to the US to answer to the murder charge. She added that statements will be served on the accused on March 20.

Exxon’s uncapped delivery costs will significantly affect Guyana’s 2% royalty – Nigel Hinds, Chartered AccountantIs there any clause in the ExxonMobil Agreement that is in Guyana’s favour?

In the eyes of the fledgling coalition Government, the “generous” two percent royalty and a 50/50 split of profit oil was one. But a closer look by local commentators shows

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hicle.

By this time, the police stated that they observed the suspects following a customer who had exited Scotiabank and was in a motorcar. Police trailed the suspects to the Kingston Seawall where the customer had reportedly parked.

Some time about noon, the two suspicious looking characters in the motorcar drove up to the customer’s vehicle and exited, one brandishing a small arm at the customer.

GWI disconnection crew forced to flee as Buxtonian torches bus

Suspected of Harbouring Thomas: Lolita Callendar that even this is a poisoned chalice.

In his continued analysis of the ExxonMobil-Guyana agreement, Chartered Accountant, Nigel Hinds has found that even when it comes to the two percent royalty, Guyana will not get its fair share.

Hinds said that this is evident in Article 15.6 of the Agreement which deals with taxation and royalty.

That Section says, “The Contractor shall pay, at the Government’s election either in cash based on the value of the relevant petroleum as calculated pursuant to Article 13 or in kind, a royalty of two percent (2%) of all petroleum produced and sold, less the quantities of Petroleum used for fuel or transportation in petroleum operations, from all production licences subject to this agreement…”

Hinds explained, “What this section is telling you is that before Government gets its two percent from the gross production, ExxonMobil has the right to deduct first, the cost of fuel it used in transportation for the operations”. ”Think of it as if you have a contract with a farmer. You and farmer Jones agree that after the sale of x amount of plantains, you are entitled to two percent of the earnings.

But before you get your two percent, he says to you that he must first take out his cost to transport the crops from Essequibo to Georgetown.”

The Chartered Accountant continued, “Therefore, if the sale of the crops comes up to $100 and he says that the delivery or transportation cost is $40, then that leaves you with $60. You will now get two percent on that $60. The significance of this is that in your deal with the farmer, you have no agreed cap or limit to the delivery costs. So today it can be $40 and tomorrow it can be $50.”

Remanded to prison: US fugitive Troy Anthony Thomas

Hinds added that in Guyana’s agreement with ExxonMobil there is no cap mentioned for the transportation or delivery costs.

The Chartered Accountant also went further to explain how Guyana would be shortchanged by the arrangement in Article 15.6.

Hinds said, “We know by ExxonMobil’s projections that Guyana can expect 120,000 barrels of oil per day. At US$60 per barrel, the gross sale would be US$2.6B. If we take royalty immediately from this, Guyana stands to benefit US$52.6M.” FRIDAY Three bandits killed in police shootout at Georgetown seawall Three men were shot dead Thursday during a confrontation with police at the Georgetown seawall in the vicinity of the Guyana National Service (GNS) ground.

Law enforcement officials described the shooting as resulting from increased surveillance in response to the recent spate of robberies committed on customers after they had conducted financial transactions at various commercial banks.

Dead are Dextroy Cordis, known as Dutty, 46, of Grove, East Bank Demerara; Kwame Assanah, of Buxton, East Coast Demerara; and Errol Adams aka Dynamite, 57, of Dartmouth, Essequibo Coast and also of Buxton.

A fourth man who arrived on the scene with Adams on a CG motorcycle, managed to elude police.

Assanah and Adams were previously arrested in connection with several offences while Cordis was previously granted bail on a simple larceny charge in relation to trunking.

A 9mm pistol along with a

magazine containing seven live rounds and four spent shells were found next to Cordis ‘s body.

Motorcar, PTT 9034, a black Toyota IST, which was being driven by Assanah at the time of the confrontation, was searched. The car was registered to Claire James of Lamaha Park.

Items found included a supernumerary precept, one driver’s licence, ten passports belonging to Assanah and family members, a key used by trunkers, two handcuff keys, a bandana and clothing. Events started unfolding at about 10:30hrs.

According to police, ‘operatives’ performing duty around Scotiabank on Robb Street observed a motorcar with two suspicious looking characters in the vicinity.

Assanah and Cordis have since been identified as the two men police operatives spotted in the car.

Further, ranks of an anticrime patrol in an unmarked vehicle were alerted and followed the two men in the ve-

A disconnection crew from the Guyana Water Inc. (GWI) was forced to flee Thursday after a Buxton resident torched the minibus they were using.

The incident happened some time Thursday afternoon. GWI’s Managing Director, Dr. Richard Van West Charles, confirming the incident, said that the staffers were badly shaken up and may need counselling.

He said that crews were in the area conducting disconnection exercises. They were using a minibus that was contracted from a private individual.

Kaieteur News was told that the crew disconnected water supply to a yard.

A male neighbour, who was upset at disconnection came out of his yard and threatened the crew. He reportedly then doused the minibus with what appeared to be gasoline, and then set it afire.

The crew, number more than six GWI employees, was forced to flee.

The suspect reportedly fled the scene and the police are hunting him.

Buxton has always been a problematic area for GWI and the Guyana Power and Light

A Leatherback turtle, one of four turtle species found at Shell Beach

Inc. (GPL), another stateowned company.

For years, especially during the crime wave, no disconnection crews dared to enter the area because of threats and the presence of criminals.

GPL had started talks and works in the area.

With regards to GWI, according to the Managing Director, they have been engaging residents of Buxton with meetings held as recent two months ago.

The official stressed that the neighbours were not hostile. Rather, the aggression came from the one individual who was also reportedly wanted by the police before the incident Thursday.

SATURDAY Mercury-related health conditions of GGMC workers at crisis stage - Tests show many in “danger zone” It may have already contributed to loss of life, but the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) appears unwilling to remove the lab in its compound where burning of the amalgam is done. Workers are now worried that the very simple act of trying to earn a living may cost them their lives…or good health at the very least.

Earlier this week, Kaieteur News reported the recent discovery that workers in the compound that houses GGMC, Guyana Gold Board and the Ministry of Natural Resources, have been exposed to mercury emissions, and mercury levels detected in the blood exceed amounts that are considered safe.

The Gold Board has a facility at GGMC where burning of the amalgam is done.

This is basically a process (Continued on page 36)

PAGE 36

From page 35 where the gold is burnt to get rid of the mercury that is used for mining.

Of course, quantities of mercury escape during this process.

A few years ago, GGMC sourced equipment to test the air in order to determine the levels of mercury emission in the compound as well as minimize the levels of emissions, so that it would not be a threat to the persons in the compound. Weekly tests used to be done. However, the equipment was down for some time.

The process recently resumed, and management decided to test staffers after it was found that the air in some sections of the compound was highly contaminated. Initial reports were that there was no immediate danger.

However, workers have subsequently approached this newspaper detailing the severity of the situation.

Kaieteur News understands that there might have been at least one death associated with the inhalation of mercury emissions.

Staffers said that last January, a carpenter attached to GGMC died of kidney failure.

That complication is believed to have been associated with high exposure to mercury. “He was a fairly young man; he worked for years at the carpentry workshop which is close to the lab where the burning is done.”

Staffers said that for over six years no testing of workers has been done, “so the man might have had high levels of mercury in his blood but never knew.”

Kaieteur News also learnt that only about five of the 55 workers recently tested were found to have safe levels of mercury in the blood.

The industrial nurse attached to GGMC told the workers that 0-6 microgram per litre (mcg/l) is safe; 7-10 mcg/l is high, and anything

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Kaieteur News

Police investigators at the crime scene on Friday 16, March

more than 11 mcg/l would be considered dangerous.

However, the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) has advised workers that they consider 3mcg/l and above to be worthy of medical attention. Hardly any of the workers who were tested were found to have under 2mcg/l.

While most workers fell in the range of 6 to 12, alarmingly some persons are as high as 21.

DDL inks deal for restart of Enmore factory- launches $340M warehouse in Diamond, calls for urgent regulations reform Rum giant, Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL), which is projecting an annual sales growth of 15 percent in the next decade, on Friday signed a deal with Government for the re-opening of Enmore sugar factory to process cane in the fields.

The agreement with the Special Purpose Unit (SPU) of the state-owned National Industrial and Commercial In-

vestments Limited (NICIL) came shortly before DDL launched a massive warehouse in Diamond yesterday afternoon - an investment that involved over US$10M to cater for a growing market overseas.

The disclosures were made during the commissioning of the $340M ‘Warehouse M’ and roadway at the sprawling Diamond compound.

The facility has capacity to store 30,000 barrels which in value would see DDL committing US$10M in spirits that will see no returns in at least 15 years, says Komal Samaroo, Chairman of the company.

Present at the event were Prime Minister (ag), Vice President Carl Greenidge; board officials, members of the diplomatic community, head of the SPU and Chairman of GuySuCo, Colvin Heath-London, and staffers.

According to Shaun Caleb, Senior Process Improvement Manager of DDL, sugar and rum has a rich history in Guyana. Tracing its

roots, he noted that the El Dorado brand is growing locally and internationally.

DDL is moving to make rum a primary product instead of a by-product of sugar cane, he said.

With the new warehouse, DDL’s capacity to age its spirits has increased to 90,000 barrels.Two more warehouses are planned in the next nine years, doubling DDL’s capacity to store.

PAC wants harsh penalties for perpetrators of financial crimes It appears that the penalties already listed in the nation’s financial laws just aren’t enough to deter officials from committing the hundreds of financial indiscretions which are found each year by the Audit Office and later discussed by the Public Accounts Committee.

The innumerable instances of financial transgressions are not only frustrating to the PAC, an oversight committee of the Parliament, but

The newly-commissioned warehouse at Diamond

Inside the facility

have also caused members to issue a recent call for harsh penalties.

Such calls were made as recent as Thursday during a sitting of the House.

PAC Chairman, Irfaan Ali was at the time, moving a motion for the House to adopt the Committee’s reports which are based on the examinations of the public accounts of Guyana for the years 2012, 2013 and 2014.Ali told the House that the PAC worked tirelessly towards successfully completing the reports.

In fact, he shared that there were 14 meetings, some of which went on for 14 to 16 hours.

No clear management framework for oil & gas sector – Jagdeo Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo continues to highlight the lack of clear management of the oil and gas sector by the coalition administration.

Due to a power outage Friday, Jagdeo spoke to re-

porters outside his statefunded office on Church Street.

“There is no clear management framework for the oil and gas sector,” Jagdeo pointed out.

On the establishment of the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF), Jagdeo urged that Government take cognizance of the Santiago Principles and a model similar to the principles on which the Norwegian model was developed.

He noted that the establishment of the fund is only one element of a management framework for the sector.

Jagdeo reminded that there should be no ministerial involvement in the Petroleum Commission and that the remaining oil blocks should be subject to a competitive auction or kept for future generations.

He also noted that the government should complete the work on the Local Content framework.

“There have been no substantive moves in any of these directions,” Jagdeo outlined.

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Moves apace to upgrade regulations for pharmaceutical sector The Public Health Ministry during the past week teamed up with the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation [PAHO/WHO] to spearhead a national conversation to help upgrade the laws, acts, regulations and policies guiding the local pharmaceutical sector.

This move is one eyeing widespread abuse of anti-biotic medicines, the existence of illegal pharmacists and

other irregularities instigated by many patients.

Mr. Oneil Atkins, Director of Pharmacies at the Ministry, said Friday that a two-day consultation last week is aimed at helping to beef up the existing “weak” medicines and pharmaceutical policies which are preyed upon by patients, professionals and charlatans operating in the sector.

Atkins said too that the forum is intended to help pa-

tients especially, to identify which are registered pharmacies in the country.

The two-day forum is also intended to help sharpen the awareness of local patients whom he said are “too uninformed” about critical pharmaceutical issues and policy matters in the sector.

Atkins, who also functions as Advisor to Public Health Minister, Ms. Volda Lawrence, is concerned that local patients always “de-

mand medication every time they see a physician” when sometimes all they need is a conversation with a specialist.

“We need to educate the public. The business of medicines is handled “very loosely” in Guyana by the professionals and the public,” Atkins said. He predicted that an outcome of the two-day consultation will “hold professionals accountable and responsible” for activities in the sector.

It is anticipated that although the archaic policies, laws, acts and regulations will be updated and be substantially more rigid, they will retain the element of “flexibility to ensure safety to ensure they provide maximum benefit from the medication for patients,” Atkins assured.

The Ministerial Advisor is especially concerned about the abuse of antibiotic medicines among practitioners and patients, and said the upgraded documents will force the former to be “more responsible and accountable and help keep counterfeit drugs off the local market.”

The “widespread abuse” is especially acute in Pomeroon/Supenaam [Region Two2]; Essequibo Islands/ West Demerara [Region Three]; Demerara/Mahaica

[Region Four] and East Berbice/Corentyne [Region Six], according to Atkins.

C o n s e q u e n t l y, h e i s hopeful that legislators will act “as fast as possible” to get the new laws and regulations enacted to help the Public Health Ministry deal with the “grave problem with antibiotic resistance in Guyana”.

Improvements are also urgent to help the government weed out many who are dispensing medicines, but “never saw a pharmacy school”.

The long-overdue overhauling of the pharmaceutical sector is to help “administer the quality of Primary Health Care and health services to the citizens of our beloved country,” Minister Lawrence pointed out when the issue became public last year.

She prescribed then that when improved “…policy decisions must be evidencebased and tailored to meet the specific needs of our population and health services”.

The Guyana Government remains strongly committed to ensuring healthy lives and the well-being for all and promises to continue to look and assess the existing Management systems.

Also it is aimed at strengthening and making

Director of Pharmacies, Mr. Oneil Atkins necessary changes to guarantee that the systems “can become efficient and effective and accessibility and adequacy of the supply of safe, essential, quality and scientifically sound drugs and medical products can be realised in all health facilities in all regions,” Lawrence has assured.

Dr. William Adu-Krow, PAHO/WHO Country Representative; Dr. Shamdeo Persaud, Guyana’s Chief Medical Officer; Atkins and Ms. Kesaundra Alves- Chairperson of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) Board, were among the officials who addressed the two-day forum.

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Sunday March 18, 2018

Sunday March 18, 2018

Kaieteur News

Anna Regina remembers stalwart, Brother Abdool Anna Regina has lost a community leader, a neighbour and a friend with the passing of Mr. Abdool Alli, known to many as Brother Abdool.

Alli, 87, who was President of the Wightman Road Mosque in London, died last week Sunday at his home in London.

His granddaughter, Farina Nagy, in a post on https:// www.justgiving.com said that her grandfather was diagnosed with liver cancer in February of this year and had very little time left to live.

Alli migrated from Guyana to England in 1959 when he began his remarkable mission by working on community relations within the Guyanese community.

Soon after, he broadened his activities to the community at large. The sheer number and variety of organisations to which he contributed and the length of his service are testimony to the importance of that mission.

It is, however, though his work with the Islamic Cultural Society that he most distinguished himself. Before he got to work, there were few mosques and fewer opportunities for the small number of Muslims from Guyana to worship together. Brother Alli changed all that.

At first, his home served as the venue for small groups wishing to observe Friday prayers. So successful was he in being a host to these, however, that the hire of a community hall soon became necessary.

Then, in the early 1980s he led a fundraising campaign, which ultimately raised over £2.5 million and succeeded at first in purchasing the community centre in Wightman Road Haringey, and then in erecting Haringey’s first purpose-built mosque – a building which has served also as the first Islamic Cultural Centre in the United Kingdom.

The original mosque was completed in 2001.

The mosque rapidly became the preferred place of worship for many persons, coming from well beyond Mr. Alli’s own Guyanese community.

This led, in 2014, to the opening of a large extension to the original building, which in keeping with Mr. Alli’s outward-looking ethos, contains not only premises for religious observance, but various other rooms where groups doing good within the wider community are welcome to meet.

Such is the consideration for others, that some of the entrances have been designed so that visitors to

Abdool Alli these facilities can get to them without even having to remove their shoes. The inclusivity of the Mosque is also borne out by the prominence, which women have had in its administration.

When the new extension was opened, British Member of Parliament, Mr. David Lammy, exclaimed, “You (Alli) have created a palace!” At the time, Mr. Alli was a mere 83 years old.

Since then, he involved himself in plans to provide residential care services for elderly members of the Muslim faith, and to improve the quality of funeral services.

To those in the wider community, his kindly and unassuming manner, his approachability and his wisdom, informed by his many years of service, gave rise to great esteem.

And he was always available, whether at his office in the mosque where he was often the first port of call for people in need, or at public meetings in times of crisis.

As recently as November 2017, he organized an open house for UK Parliament Week to enable elected representatives to meet the public.

As support was being garnered for him to receive an honour, the enthusiasm was universal. British MP, Lynne Featherstone, wrote enthusiastically in support as did her successor, Ms. Catherine West MP. The latter wrote, “At a time when we are seeing hate crime, racism, anti-Semitism and Islamophobia on the rise in our society, Mr. Alli is a diligent advocate for countering such hate, bringing people, whatever their colour or creed together.”

He had the ability, common amongst the great, but rare amongst the rest of us, to make everyone he ever met feel special.

"How rich our community was for his presence, and how richer still it will be for the wonderful institution that he created," a mourner expressed.

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Sunday March 18,2018

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Tomb Raider Review Roundup: Did Alicia Vikander Win Over Critics With Reboot?

It’s been almost 15 years since Hollywood was last graced with a Tomb Raider movie and now, history will repeat itself with a reboot. But can it pull a crowd?

In June 2001, Angelina Jolie starred in the hit film Lara Croft: Tomb Raider. The sequel, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life, was a domestic box office failure and was more successful abroad.

On Friday, the rebooted Tomb Raider, starring Alicia Vikander in the iconic role of Lara Croft, hit theaters nationwide. Last year, the actress told E! News that her movie would have a whole new take on the original movie.

As is usual, critics were treated to a preview of the remake. The reviews were mixed.

Read some of the top reviews below.

1. Variety’s Owen Gleiberman says, “The exciting surprise of the new Tomb Raider is that it doesn’t tamp down Vikander’s inner flame, or the three-dimensionality of her talent; it doesn’t fold and insert her into an overly gymnastic and CGI-happy thrill ride.

The movie is full of vineswinging, bow-and-arrowshooting, ancient-spirit-meeting action, but most of it is staged on a convincing human scale, one that’s been expertly tailored to its star’s understated directness.”

He goes on to say that the movie “is hokum: brisk but derivative, a compendium of jungle-chase pulp spun into something stylishly watchable.

Yet when a movie like this one is made with a semblance of the human touch, and when it gives an actress as alive as Vikander a chance to carve out a true character instead of just inhabiting a series of stronger-than-life poses, you walk out feeling honestly entertained rather than jittery with overkill. It’s something that shouldn’t be so rare: escapism that breathes.”

2. The Hollywood Reporter’s Todd McCarthy writes, “Brandishing impressively packed abs and enough upper body strength to pull herself out of countless jams, Alicia Vikander gamely steps into the kickass role twice played by Angelina Jolie, but the derivative story and cardboard supporting characters are

straight out of 1930s movie serials...the film strains credulity even for a vid-game fantasy by letting the leading lady recover awfully quickly from bad injuries, but other than that Vikander commands attention and is the element here that makes Tomb Raider sort of watchable.”

3. Vulture’s David Edelstein comments. “One might liken it to a big-screen video game. Which it proudly is. The actual video game was very good and so is the action in this movie.”

On Vikander, Edelstein writes, “Emotionally, she’s all there—achingly vulnerable in the scene that follows the sequence I’ve described and fierce for the climax to come,” but, “she doesn’t have Angelina Jolie’s droll, to-themanor-born insouciance.”

“I’m probably overpraising Tomb Raider—it’s not that big a deal. But it’s not a small deal,” he says. “I don’t want so many sequels/ prequels/video-game/comicbook/CGI-laden movies either, but there’s a lot of space for good work between the high of Black Panther and the abyss of The Mummy.”

4. The Los Angeles Times’ Justin Chang states that “it isn’t easy for an actor to take a soulless digital avatar and make her a persuasive amalgam of flesh, blood and feeling,” but believes Vikander was successful in doing so.

“Vikander steps into the character’s mythology and emotional backstory—with unsurprising ease,” he said.

The review does well to point out the power of female leads in today’s climate.

“Most significantly, perhaps, this “Tomb Raider” arrives at a moment when female protagonists are far better represented in mainstream American action cinema than they were when the Jolie movies were released,” he says.

5. Entertainment Weekly’s Leah Greenblatt characterizes the remake a s “ a c t u a l l y pretty good fun; an oldfashioned treasure-island adventure tale gilded in circa-2018 wokeness (Lara Croft’s breasts no longer command a lead supporting role) and anchored by an Oscar-winning actress far more gifted than the story requires.” www.eonline.com/news/ 921219/tomb-raider-reviewroundup-did-aliciavikander-win-over-criticswith-reboot.

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Sunday March 18, 2018

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STANDARDS IN FOCUS

CARREX system launched to protect consumers As we continue to place the spotlight on Consumer Protection in Guyana and around the world, the Ministry of Business has launched the portal of the CARICOM Rapid Alert System for the Exchange of Information on Dangerous (Non-Food) Consumer Goods.

This system connects CARICOM member states and allows for the sharing of crucial information on defective and dangerous goods that pose harm to the people of the Caribbean Region.

The CARREX Portal was launched on World Consumer Rights Day, March 15, through the collaboration of the CARICOM Secretariat and the Consumer Affairs Division of the Ministry of Business.

Local support to the system is also necessary from other key consumer protection bodies including the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) and the Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission (CCAC).

The CARREX System was developed in response to consumers perception that there were increases in the amount of unsafe goods present on the regional market that were entering into neighbouring territories where market surveillance

systems were more effective than within the community where systems were considered more lax or nonexistent.

The Consumer Affairs Division was identified as the authority that will notify the rest of the Caribbean Community of dangerous goods found in Guyana.

The types of goods covered under CARREX are many but do not include food items, pharmaceuticals and tobacco products. The list of products vary from toys, electronics, appliances, furniture, etc. and can be found on the CARREX w e b s i t e h t t p : / / carrex.coricom.org/ The usefulness and importance of the CARREX system must be underscored.

It will help to prevent and restrict the supply of goods that pose a serious risk to consumer health and safety.

It will monitor the effectiveness and consistency of market surveillance and enforcement activities in the member states.

It will provide a basis for identifying the need for action and policy at the national and regional level and it will make for consistent enforcement and consumer protection legislation, standards and other safety requirements.

The framework of the CARREX system is based on the CARICOM Model Consumer Protection Bill and makes provision for the establishment of an agreement between member states.

Meanwhile, the role of consumer protection bodies is clearly defined in the CARREX system. These roles include informing CARICOM of goods that pose risk to consumers, creating public awareness on the system, investigating and resolving complaints made by consumers, making provision for the withdrawal of defective products from the market and ensuring that manufacturers address consumer safety concerns.

Finally, consumers can lodge an official complaint through the CARREX portal.

The system provides consumers with the possibility to report to the authorities about problems they experience when purchasing and using products that prove to be dangerous to their health and safety.

For further information, contact the Consumer Affairs Division of the Ministry of Business on telephone number: 2276730 or visit: carrex.caricom.org

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SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.-CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620 Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK;Guyanapassport application. G r a p h i c s design, advertisement. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535.

ICONIC MARKETING & PRINTING –TEL: 6004212: We create A/works, logos, busi ness cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included.

Repairs to refrigerators, gas stoves, A/C units, washing machines. Call Lindon: 6411086/ 694-2202 Bucket truck with driver/ operator for rent. Banners/ CCTV, street lighting, work at height. Call: 642-9447 Need a land surveyor, we do surveys for: Boundaries, Leases, engineering, cadastral, topo etc. Call: 6622677 Mason available all casting, blockwork and plastering.

Reliable, reasonable and quality work offered. Call: 619-3296 PASSPORT, PERMANENT & VISITOR VISA APPLICATION, PROFESSIONAL IMMIGRATION CONSULTANT – SABITA IMMIGRATION SERVICES. CALL: 613-3920/625-3767.

FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754.

Unregistered DAF trucks: Dump trucks, Flat Bed, Flat bed with Crane & Hauler.

Call: 659-3100 New Triangle truck tyres, front & all wheel drive, size: 295/ 80R22.5 Call: 647-2022 Large and small household items for sale! Double door wardrobe, 32" Panasonic flat screen, ornaments etc.

Contact: 691-3726, 629-4637

FOR RENT

WANTED

VACANCY

SALON

PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.-CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620

Experienced curry cooks, pastry maker,cake decorator, counter servers. Apply @ Hack’s Halaal with H/written application. 5 Commerce St.

Kitchen Assistant for interior location. Job entails assisting cooks in the kitchen and cleaning. Call: 618-2020.

Make-up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, etc.

-CosmetologyCourses:$90,000 Nail Technician Course: $35,000.

Call: 647-1773/688-0009

Space for rent at Ashmin’s Building- suitable for salon or office- Call today! 683-7954 Business place to rent at Anna Catherina WCD, Contact #690-0205 Call between 10:30 am to 8:00 pm One concrete three bedroom upper flat front building at Durban street, Wortmanville $85,000 montly. Call: 601-6000 (1) bedroom & (2) bedroom apartment, New bottom flat @ Lot 2043 Plot C Herstelling New scheme. #667-1947/6947248

In tank foreign used gas pumps for all Japanese cars.

2 Mitsubishi truck trays 15ft length. Call: 669-0445 Dirt Motorbike, like new model EL150 Elite, tires 90% new, excellent price call: 6305918

VEHICLE FOR SALE

Whole chicken $300 per lb (50 lb up) chicken foot $140 per lb, liver & gizzert. Contact: 699-7415, 696-5424/610-6196 Pure breed German shepherd blood line pups for sale.

Contact:697-1141/612-6672

One 2002 Toyota Tacoma for sale, stick shift, four wheel drive. Tel#662-6151/669-5400

American Commericial gas deep fryer $180,000 and commericial dough mixer $170,000. Excellent condition.

Tel#220-1716

1- Twinsteer Double axel Leyland DAF 4LeylandDAF Flatbed 10Guysuco Lorries 1-620-240 DAF engine. #228-5655, 6498449

CT Cummings engine starter for ERF lorries, Used Bedford 500 engine 1-620-240 DAF engine foreign used. #6498449/228-5655

EDUCATION (1) Gas generator $560k (1) CXC adults classes Diesel Generator $650K (1) (Business & Science Compressor $350k (2) 93 subjects) Form 1-5 lessons, Toyota Hilux pickup (neg) Grade 2-6 lessons (slow Contact: 682-8424 learners, personal tutor) Corner property at 2006 #690-5008,618-0649 Festival City Entrance. Call Jean offers courses in 665-3622, 670-8799,601-3933 Dressmaking, Curtains, Video games and consoles at Floral, Cake decorations. Barr affordable price. Repairs to St, Kitty. Tel#670-2653, 638- video game system .Call:6728449.

2566/265-3231

Nissan Bluebird Raum. #6640802 Toyota Allion (white) For sale #618-9971 Price Negotiable.

TOLET One fully furnished apartment to rent in South Riumveldt $25,000 weekly. #694-7817, 668-0306 (1) bedroom apartment, living room and bathroom 294 Fourth field, Cummings Lodge. Call:222-0401, preferably UG student.

Two bedroom air conditioned bottom flat South Riumveldt Gardens US$750, Call: 2181949

1 six base music set with all amp QSE and speaker RCF. Contact: 698-8828 PEN PAL You deserve a relationship with love and excitement.

Over 50 yrs. Call Harmony Singles #676-6312

Experienced Shop workers & handy man to work in the interior. Age 18-40. Call: 2310363 ( 8:30 am- 4:30 pm) Senior Diesel mechanic to work in Georgetown. Tel# 2271717 1 cook to cook vegetarian and non-vegetarian foods in the interior #699-4718 Male/Female, knowledge of computers, drivers’ licence an asset. Apply @ Lot 4 First St, Albertown.

(1) Able bodied male to work @ bar-be-que stand & (1) general domestic with cooking experience. Contact: 687-3640 Live in waitress to work in bar. Call: 604-6606/ 692-4649

Bluebird 2012- 2.6M Axio2.5M Tida-2.2M All vehicles unregistered and have reverse camera. #655-3400 1 Blue Toyota Noah 2004. Price $2.8M Contact: 628-9844/2660711

Toyota Premio PSS 2009 owner leaving country, 60,000 miles $2,300,000. Call#6692518/645-4083

TAXI SERVICE GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 2257878 (24HRS)

Sunday March 18, 2018

Kaieteur News

DRESSMAKING Classes in Designing and Sewing as a hobby or career.

Call Sharmie (Canadian trained) # 676-6312

Professional seamstress and Tailor. Contact: 689-5877/2234390 Monday to Saturday 9am to 4pm Seeking driver for pickup to do hire work, also customers who’re interested in Hiring.

Tel#604-9608 Truck drivers High & Low range to work in Georgetown. Tel#227-1717 Experience & attractive waitress. Call: 626-6983 One part-time domestic from Diamond/Grove area.

Tel#656-7329 Carpenters wanted to work in Linden. #615-7526/602-9469 Wanted experience hire car taxi drivers at Ramada Princess Hotel. Tel#265-7076/616-5419

CAR RENTAL PROGRESSIVE CAR R E N TA L : S U V F O R RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL:6435122/656-0087, ,EMAIL:PRO_AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.COM DOLLY’SCARRENTAL-CALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM Reliable rentals. Cars, SUV at low rate and security deposit special rates for long term. #227-2322/601-2622

Work from home earn $5K2 0 K d a i l y www.jobfairworldwide.com #622-1957 Employment consultation & guidance 9am-5pm Vacancy for carpenter/ porters. Apply in person at Alabama Trading, Georgetown ferry stelling, Stabroek.

(1) Bartender between the ages of 18-25. Contact #6040204/264-0041 One girl for snackette.

Tel#226-5793 Cell#698-4288 Experienced hair dresser and cosmetologist. Contact: 2250115/623-6550/623-6555 One experienced legal computer clerk. Call: 624-7087/ 226-4283/258-0213/ email: husainsaphier@yahoo.com Handyman between the ages 18-35, apply in person to Christine’s Variety Store, Lombard street. Contact: 2278529 Paralegal with degree in law.

Duties: secretarial, clerical & research tasks. Email: lawofficegy@gmail.com/ guyana@hotmail.com 1 outdoor marketing representive, must have own transportation $40,000 weekly + travel allowance Contact: 617-5700 1 Domestic 5 days $20,000 weekly. Contact: 617-5700

LAND FOR SALE Parafaite Harmonie ten year up $3M, $1.5M Main road $2M Uivlugt $2.5M Eccles $6M Tuschen. Call #666-2326 Parfaite Harmonie (way upfront) $1.6M Eccles (concrete fence) $6M & $3.5M Herstelling 110ftx60ft $5M $1.8M Tel#656-0701/6511969 Parfaite Harmonie (High income) 100ftx50ft 2nd Avenue $2.6M Schnoord 100ftx50ft (with reserve) $3M Tel# 656-0701/651-1969 Farm (East Bank) with reserve $3M Uivlugt (New scheme) 100ftx50ft with reserve $3.2M Providence $3.5M Tel#6560701/651-1969 Sophia, Parfaite, Land of Canaan, Diamond, Hadfield, Princess, Howes, Supply wharf, Houston, Herstelling. #231-2199/618-7483 CORNER LOT TRANSPORTED AT 90 GARNETTE AND REPUBLIC STREETS 58’x31' CALL: 601-6000 NEWTOWN KITTY 18,731 acres mining land Gold & Diamond Mazaruni $5,000,000 USD Contact: 6951356, 687-8445 PROPERTY FOR SALE

CAR RENTAL

Lot 15 Public road #2 Village.

West Coast Berbice. 49ft by 10,314ft. $20M. Contact:6487109/686-4818 3 story commercial building,land size-120ftX60ft Building size-62ftX30ft Location-Lot 1486,Plot B Herstelling,EBD.Contact:6093777/697-4557

By Owner, House for sale on Norton street, between Haley & cemetary road, 12M neg Tel#682-3784 Friendship $6M Aubre Barker $30M Diamond $15M Roxanne Burnham $15M Prashad Nagar $65M LBI $100M #231-2199/618-7483 Located at 8 Field Cummings Lodge 30M. Serious enquiries only Tel: 619-0673

WING’S CAR & PICKUP RENTAL: LOW DOWN PAYMENT, CHEAP RATES,SPECIAL OFFERS! . CALL: 690-6494

Diamond EBD 2 Storey concrete, 6 bedrooms, hot/ cold, secured parking etc, ready to move in, price negotiable. Call: 693-4890

FULL/PART TIME WA I T E R / WA I T R E S S VACANCY AT AAGMAN INDIAN RESTAURANT. CONTACT: 219-0158 BETWEEN 9:00-5:00 ON WEEKDAYS. CARPENTERS, MASONS, LABOURERS for E.B.Demerara work site.

Tel#266-4427 Experience Baker to mix and bake bread and cakes. Tel: 225-1130/681-0225 Office clerk Senior/Junior CXC English/Mathematics, Computer knowledge an asset, Call: 223-7500

AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL:PICKUP,9-11 SEAT MINI BUS, GOOD FOR AIRPORT & FAMILY OUTINGS, CHEAPEST RATE . Call: 698-7807

New building with two apartment downstairs for sale.10 minutes from Georgetown .Call:675-1510/ 613-7964 Continued on page 69

Sunday March 18, 2018

CONSUMER CONCERNS

Series of robberies cause businessman to fear for customers

DEAFNESS

By PAT DIAL

Deafness and blindness are two of the most terrible afflictions which affect both man and animals. These ailments cut off one from the world and destroy the quality of life.

Sufferers from these ailments require the sympathy, understanding and help of everyone.

It is difficult to decide whether deafness or blindness lead to greater suffering but most think that deafness is the worse of the two.

Deafness cuts off communication with family, friends and community. It prevents much of the learning process, a great deal of which is based on sound.

For example, a deaf person could not hear the news and the various commentaries on television and radio. And a suffer’s enjoyment of music or films is denied. And in the case of children who were born deaf, except timely treatment is given, they will grow up dumb as well.

More attention needs to be given by the National Health authorities and relevant NGO’s as to medically treating deafness with hope of restoring some hearing and secondly, to make life more tolerable for the dumb and deaf.

There has very occasionally been, in History, a person who had been able to overcome the disability and contribute to the betterment of Mankind. The most famous and well-known of such persons is the music composer Ludwig van Beethoven. Beethoven is one of the most important contributors to Western Culture and over the centuries, his music has continued to entertain and inspire millions of people worldwide. Beethoven produced sounds which had never before been heard in the world.

Before we consider the treatments for deafness, we should remind ourselves of the causes of the ailment and how it could be avoided. Noise levels are measured in decibels. 80 decibels is a normal and comfortable noise level.

When one is subjected to 120 decibels and over for any length of time, hearing becomes impaired. Thus, in those minibuses, which play loud music, the conductors and drivers become hard of hearing and many passengers also suffer. The Police need to enforce the Laws banning noise in the public transport.

The boom boxes, which are played in the streets and at working-class dance halls are one of the main sources of impairment of hearing. Loud noises made by machines in a

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workplace also lead to deafness. Ear-guards should be worn in such factories, or if these are not available, cotton wool should be placed in the ears to break the sound. Minibus commuters would do well to carry a bit of cotton wool to place in their ears to blunt the noise, which may assail them.

Babies and young children should be tested to ascertain that they were not born with any hearing problem. If deaf babies and young children are not given early treatment mostly with hearing-aids, they would grow up to be both deaf and dumb. The age of five is the cut-off age.

The Georgetown Public Hospital, over the years, has been striving to keep abreast with medical advancements, processes and techniques but owing to the scarcity of more specialist staff and lack of money to spend on equipment and facilities, has generally fallen short of the ideal. This implies the need for a Specialty Hospital.

Every modern country has a Specialty Hospital, which provides the cutting -edge of medical advancements. Specialty Hospitals also provide the infrastructure for lucrative medical tourism and would provide help to those patients who may not have enough money to go abroad for treatment.

The Chief Physician of the Audiology Department of the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH), Dr Ruth Quaico, has been doing a fine job despite the many handicaps. Every year, for the last 20 years, the Department has been conducting campaigns to educate the population about deafness and how to confront it.

This year, under the leadership of Dr Quaico, the campaign is named “Saving Guyana from Deafness”. Efforts have been made in the education of the public as to what is deafness and dumbness, the common causes of these ailments and the treatments available. The media and the school system have been helpful in making the campaign a success.

One particular aspect of the Campaign is that concerning babies and young children.

The GPH conducts hearing tests on all children born at the institution and extends such help to children born at other institutions.

The Starkey Hearing Foundation of the United States donated 700 hearing aids to Guyana over the last two years and has donated another 400 during the Campaign week. Parents of babies and young children who are deaf or cannot speak should seek the help of the Audiology Department of the GPH.

The shop where frequent robberies are taking place.

The proprietor of a Tyre shop which is located in High Street in the compound of Ashmin’s Trading Company is calling on police at the Brickdam Police Station to look into a series of robberies that are occurring at his Tyre shop.

Kevin Phillips stated that he has been operating the Tyre shop for over seven months and within that short period five customers have been robbed while tending to their vehicles at the work shop.

He said that a small group or men who live in the same area is responsible for committing the robberies in the area.

Phillips said that the latest robbery that occurred at his Tyre shop was on Phagwah Day. He added that it was approximately 19:00 hrs when a taxi driver stopped at his shop to change a flat tyre when he was approached by a man who was armed with a knife.

The man placed the knife to the taxi- driver neck and relieved him of his cellular phone, three rings and $20,000 cash.

Phillips said that after he

realised what was happening in front of his shop, he intervened. “After I saw the driver getting robbed, I approach the robber and we had a scuffle.”

He added that after he tried to grab the knife from the robber, the man dealt him several cuffs about his body before making good his escape.

The taxi driver and Phillips reported the matter to the Brickdam Police Station.

After giving at statements to the police, a few officers accompanied Phillips and the taxi driver to the scene but they did not see the alleged robber.

Phillips said that a few days after the incident while at his shop, he saw the robber.

He said the robber threatened to stab him and told him that he needs to “leave people let them get robbed.”

Phillips, after being threatened by the man went back to the Brickdam Police Station where he made another report.

He said that even the students who attend the Carnegie School of Home Economics are scared to walk there on a daily base

because of the constant fear of their phone being snatched. He added, “Just imagine them girls does have to walk in large groups because of the constant robberies that are taking place around there.”

Phillips said that he would like the Police at the Brickdam Police Station to do frequent patrol in the area because his customers are afraid to take their vehicle there because of the robberies. “Is one set of young boys is committing these robberies and they need to be dealt with.”

From page 68 PROPERTY FOR SALE Lot 51 New Road Vreed-enhoop, West Bank Demerara.

Contact Andy on: 671-4420 Property for sale (1) 3 story building at 97 Sugarcane street S/Rvldt Gardens. Price US 1.5M neg. Tel: 695-1356 & 687-8445

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Sunday March 18, 2018

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Colin Abrams: Renaissance Man seeks to open new airline At 6’2, some 200 pounds and a loud clear, voice, Colin Abrams, is a larger than life character from his mere physical presence.

“I’m still 210 pounds,” he jokes with a friend who teases him about the padding he’s added since he first was given his United States Department of Defence ID card some 27 years ago. Back then, Abrams was working with the airline, World Airways, stationed in Malaysia, a young pilot of several years’ experience, a Guyanese migrant to Florida.

The young pilot, then in his thirties, had already led an interesting life. His work with the airline took him to exotic locations, even as he continued to certify himself with every civilian flight qualification he could apply for. In a short time, he went from flying Muslims from the far East to the annual Haj pilgrimage to flying American soldiers into the theatre of conflict that was the First Gulf War, the conflagration promoted by Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait.

Three years before that, in 1988, he was in Seoul, South Korea, representing Guyana at that year’s Olympics in Sprint Cycling, competing on the Velodrome Cycling track.

Some thirty years later, he still

wears the commemorative ring on his right hand. He remembers anecdotally coming home to Guyana to help train local cyclists and facing opposition from his trainees to wearing helmets.

He jokes that it was only after they saw riders taking part in the Tour de France wearing helmets that they eventually warmed to the idea he recalls.

The accolades of Olympic athlete, and pilot in peace and wartime are not the only ones that Abrams holds, however.

He also carried the title of Doctor, a qualification he earned midway through his career as a pilot and for a very specific purpose.

“I had no desire,” he says, “to become a doctor. Zero.

Less than zero. But my mom had numerous amputations.

When she had her left leg amputated, I was with her at every surgery, watching her writhing in pain, and I told her ‘Mom, I promise that you would never have to have another amputation.’”

He admits that at the time that was a grand promise to fulfill. It was one he found a way to fulfill, nonetheless.

Taking advantage of the seasonal winter furloughs that the airline put the pilots on, he enrolled in medical school. Five years later, he

Captain Colin Abrams was licensed to practise medicine, just in time to save his mother’s right leg from being amputated.

He couldn’t stave off the inevitable however. In the early 2000s, his family suffered three tragedies in a relatively short space of time, his mother, his father and one of his sisters. He and another sister decided to come back to Guyana for a few months to relax and to give themselves some time to grieve. He had only recently started working with Delta

Airlines, and around that time, the ill-fated Guyana Airways 2000 was wrapping

up operations.

Over the years, he decided to return more frequently to Guyana, particularly when Delta Airlines opened up there non-stop between New York’s JFK International and Cheddi Jagan International Airport. Knowing that his medical qualification was born out of a desire to help people, his sister suggested that he establish a clinic here, and he did, operating out of a building she owned in central Georgetown. He would fly in as a pilot with Delta, treat patients, and then fly out again.

After Delta closed services here in 2014, he was not impressed with the service provided by Caribbean Airlines. This discontent grew into the idea that he could do what he had been doing all his life – taking

a direct hand in fixing a problem or challenge that he was facing. After consulting with his sister, the idea to form Guyana Airways Corporation was formed. In 2016, he initiated the process for receiving permission to operate from the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority.

Almost two years later, the dream of a Guyanabranded carrier is about to come through again. Abrams is currently in Guyana to meet with the GCAA on the final stages of the process and is expecting his first flights by the end of the year. Asked what persons can expect from his airline that distinguishes it from any other, his answer is simple: “A culture of service. I’m here to create a culture of service for Guyanese to enjoy.”

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Sunday March 18, 2018

Kaieteur News

OAS Assistant Secretary General to lecture at UG Assistant Secretary General of the Organization of American States, Ambassador Nestor Mendez, will on Wednesday, deliver a lecture on the Role of the OAS in Global Development at the University of Guyana (UG) Faculty of Natural Sciences boardroom. The event will commence at 13:00hrs.

The OAS is the premier regional forum for political discussion, policy analysis and decision-making in the Western Hemisphere affairs.

The OAS brings together leaders from nations across the Americas to address hemispheric issues and opportunities.

Mendez was elected to be the ninth Assistant Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS) on March 18, 2015. He began serving his five-year term on July 13, 2015 with a commitment to work closely with the Secretary General and

the member states to reinvigorate and modernise the institution.

The Assistant Secretary General based his platform on five main thematic areas: improving regional interconnectivity; fostering economic growth, addressing the impacts of climate change and natural disasters; promoting partnerships for development, and working to empower and respond to the needs of the youth across the hemisphere.

Upon receiving the mandate from member states, he pledged his “unwavering commitment to seize the opportunity that is before us to work together to transform the OAS into the Organization that we want and that the people of the Americas deserve.”

Prior to his election, Nestor Mendez was a career diplomat in the Foreign Service of Belize. He served

as the Ambassador to the United States of America, Permanent Representative to the OAS, and Non-Resident High Commissioner to Canada.

As Ambassador of Belize to the United States, he travelled throughout the country to engage with the Belizean Diaspora and to meet with prospective investors and companies interested in investing in Belize. He also focused on a wide range of development issues pertaining to the Caribbean and Central America such as alternative sources of energy, micro, small and medium sized enterprises, trade and investment promotion, and security. During his tenure as Permanent Representative of Belize to the OAS, Ambassador Mendez chaired several Councils and Committees of the Organization including the Permanent Council, the

China says resolutely opposed to new U.S. law on ties with Taiwan BEIJING (Reuters) China’s Foreign Ministry yesterday expressed its “resolute opposition” after U.S. President Donald Trump signed legislation that encourages the United States to send senior officials to Taiwan to meet Taiwanese counterparts and vice versa.

The bill, which is nonbinding, would have gone into effect yesterday morning, even if Trump had not signed it.The move adds to strains between the two countries over trade, as Trump has enacted tariffs and called for China to reduce its huge trade imbalance with the United States, even while Washington has leaned on Beijing to help resolve tensions with North Korea.

In a statement, China’s

President Tsai Ing-wen Foreign Ministry said it had lodged “stern representations” with the United States, saying the law sent a “seriously wrong signal” to the forces of Taiwan

China’s Foreign Minister, Wang Yi independence.“We urge the U.S. side to correct its mistake, stop official exchanges between U.S. and Taiwan officials and substantively raising relations, and prudently

Committee on Hemispheric Security, the Special Committee for Migration Issues, and the InterAmerican Council for Integral Development (CIDI) where he focused on matters related to innovation, competitiveness, and supporting micro, small and medium sized enterprises as engines for economic growth and development. As Chair of the OAS Permanent Council, he used this platform to focus attention on climate change and introduced several institutional initiatives to increase awareness of the impact of this phenomenon, especially on the smaller and more vulnerable states.

Ambassador Mendez previously held diplomatic posts at the High Commission for Belize in London, United Kingdom where he served as Counsellor and at the Embassy of Belize in Guatemala where he served

as First Secretary.

He holds a Master’s Degree in International Policy and Practice from George Washington University in Washington, D.C., a Graduate Level Certificate in Diplomatic Studies from Oxford

University in Oxford, United Kingdom, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the University College of Belize in Belize City, Belize.

He is married and has two children.

Sweden, North Korea talks end, may help pave way for Trump-Kim encounter STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - North Korean and Swedish foreign ministers ended three days of talks yesterday on the security situation on the Korean peninsula which may help prepare the way for a planned meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un. North Korea’s Ri Yong Ho arrived in Stockholm on Thursday for talks with his Swedish counterpart Margot Wallstrom amid a flurry of diplomatic activity concerning the reclusive country and its nuclear ambitions.

Trump reaffirmed on Friday that he was willing to meet Kim after South Korean officials passed on an invitation earlier this month. North Korea has so far not publicly acknowledged the invitation.

GPL was not aware of acquisition, ...

From page 18 that it was not possible at this time for an individual to connect to the grid unless the supply met the minimum of 1.5 MW. “He was further advised that GPL was limited due to ongoing development of a policy, and legal and technical frameworks to permit and guide supply that is less than 1.5 MW and the sensitive technical issues affecting any supply of power of an intermittent nature (such as wind or solar) to the grid.” However, the Minister said, despite this, it was agreed to examine Narine's proposal with GPL with the objective of identifying and addressing the technical issues while the framework for intermittent power supply below 1.5 MW to the grid was being developed.

“On January 22, 2018, a letter from Mr. Narine to His Excellency, President David Granger, stated that the wind turbine could not operate without a connection to GPL's grid, as per the advice of engineers from India who came to Guyana, upon Mr. Narine's invitation, for the turbine's commissioning.

On the said date, Mr. Narine wrote to me, urging the connection of the turbine to the grid since his invited engineers were present. On January 25, 2017, he later requested a license to supply power to the grid.”

The Minister said that in early February 2018, he met with Narine on the subject and agreed to discuss with GPL the

Assistant Secretary General of the Organization of American States, His Excellency Ambassador Nestor Mendez

possibility of accommodating the request, even on the basis of a pilot project.

“Internally, it was determined to await the new CEO of GPL to receive his input in the matter. It therefore becomes clear that Narine had been more than kept in the loop concerning this matter, from April 2017 to as recently as February 2018.” Patterson also noted that while the public may be anxious to seize the opportunity of solar and wind energy and to connect to the grid to save on the cost of energy storage, the complexity of utility size generation, transmission, and distribution of power – a complexity which is further compounded by the weaknesses of GPL's grid and the sensitivity of intermittent supply – requires judicious adherence to feasibility studies and grid interconnection processes, which are typically detailed and costly, but which are necessary to ensure reliable and stable supply of electricity and the safety of the grid.“Furthermore, the Government of Guyana commends all private citizens and business owners who are willing to move towards the use of renewable energy. However, we wish to urge those who are interested in supplying power to GPL's grid to first check with GPL to determine whether policies and technical and legal frameworks exist to accommodate such requests.”

“The foreign ministers discussed opportunities and challenges for continued diplomatic efforts to reach a peaceful solution to the conflict as well as bilateral relations,” the Swedish foreign ministry said in a statement after Ri and Wallstrom wound up their talks.“Sweden underlined the need for North Korea to dismantle its nuclear arms and missiles programme in line with several Security Council resolutions.”

The talks in Stockholm had initially been scheduled to conclude on Friday but were extended into the weekend.“The dialogue has been constructive,” a source with knowledge of the discussions said. “It should be seen as a positive sign that the meeting was extended (until Saturday).”The source said that Sweden had been in

close touch with the United States and South Korea before the Stockholm meetings and hoped the talks would lead to further progress towards defusing tensions.

“Sweden will continue to do what it can, but it is the protagonists themselves who have to drive the process forward,” the source said.

Sweden is one of a handful of countries considered a possible venue for a meeting between Trump and Kim, who have engaged in bellicose mudslinging over North Korea and its nuclear arms programme.

Besides hopes of defusing the crisis over North Korea’s nuclear weapons, the prospect of a meeting between Trump and Kim has raised speculation that three Americans who remain detained in North Korea could be released.

Guyana lost over ...

From page 9 to get in.” He said, too, that whether or not a basin has been de-risked can play a major role in the arrival of a signing bonus.

Ramson said that while Total paid Eco-Atlantic and partner US$13.5M for a simple 25 percent share in the block, Guyana gave the companies the block without a signing bonus and the companies only have to pay Guyana US$40,000 per year as licence fee. “What a giveaway!”

Just a week ago, Ramson made a call for the release of the Eco Atlantic/Tullow oil contract, which was signed in 2016. This agreement was

signed long after Guyana knew that it had a proven petroleum system of high quality oil with initial estimates of close to 1.4 billion barrels of recoverable oil. This has now gone to well over three billion barrels of recoverable oil. Last week, Ramson said that the contract will prove how well the government did in being managers of Guyana’s oil and gas resources.

Yesterday, Ramson said, “The released contract shows that it is a dead giveaway and a sellout.” He questioned, “How can Guyana ever use oil for maximum transformation if we do not get good deals at the very beginning?”

Sunday March 18, 2018

Kaieteur News

PCJ says Jamaica could benefit from oil and gas exploration KINGSTON, Jamaica CMC – The Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ) says the country stands to gain positively from the production sharing agreement with Tullow Oil Limited, in the exploration for oil and gas off the island’s coast.

PCJ Group general manager, Winston Watson, said there are various models that could have been used for exploration.

“We looked at models all over the world to determine the best model to use to ensure that the country benefits. We have chosen the model where we present data about Jamaica, and if you [an exploration company] want to take a chance, then we are willing to share the spoils with you, but you have to put up the money and take the risk,” Watson said.

“The model we have has the country retaining a percentage, with the company that does the investment, getting a certain amount. As the production increases over time, the ratio may change where Jamaica will get more of it and the company gets less, after they have recovered their cost,” he added.

Watson said they have a model in place that will protect Jamaica and will ensure that the country gets a fair re-

turn “for using our resources”.

Oil and gas exploration activities being undertaken by the PCJ and Tullow Oil, which began with an agreement in 2014, moved into a higher gear with the initiation of the first-ever 3D seismic survey in the waters off Jamaica’s south coast between the Pedro Banks and Portland Cottage earlier this month Earlier this month, the PCJ said it was actively seeking overseas investors to tap into the discovery of two independent live oil seeps in different sections of Trelawny in northwest Jamaica.

PCJ manager of Oil and Gas, Brian Richardson, speaking on a television programme here, said the company is trying to promote the discovery to encourage investors to drill further.

Late last month, the PCJ and London-based CGG GeoConsulting issued a joint statement regarding the discovery.

They said “this significant find marks the first documented occurrence of ‘live’, or flowing, oil from onshore Jamaica and will be of particular interest to oil explorationists focused on Central America and the Caribbean.

Winston Watson “The oil seeps were found during fieldwork for a recently completed multi-client Robertson Study (Red Book) of the petroleum potential of on- and offshore Jamaica entitled ‘Petroleum Geological Evaluation of Jamaica’ made jointly by CGG GeoConsulting and PCJ. “Jamaica and its offshore basins remain relatively underexplored. Oil or gas shows have been seen in ten of the eleven exploration wells drilled to date. The discovery of these seeps indicates the presence of working petroleum systems on the island that are generating and expelling liquid hydrocarbons to the surface,” the joint statement noted.

Se x w or ker g ets suppor Sex wor ork gets supportt in her bid ffor or P ar liament sea Par arliament seatt

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - CMC – The Adult Industry Association (AIA) says it will support sex worker, Natalee “Natlee” Harewood, in her bid to win a seat in the Barbados parliament when the general elections are held later this year.

Despite the legislative chamber being dissolved earlier this month, Prime Minister Freundel Stuart has not yet named a date for the general election, even though he has told supporters of his ruling Democratic Labour Party (DLP) that he will do so within the stipulated 90 day period.

The DLP is expected to face a strong challenge from the main opposition Barbados Labour Party (BLP) for control of the 30 seat parliament. The DLP won the last general election in 2013 by a two seat margin.

But Harewood, 36, who gained notoriety two years ago with her explicit viral postings on social media, has said she will be contesting the City of Bridgetown constituency, coming up against the incumbent BLP candidate, re-

Natalee “Natlee” Harewood tired Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Bostic, United Progressive Party (UPP) leader, former senator Lynette Eastmond and DLP candidate, credit unionist Henderson Williams.

“I am going forward and I am trying to do my best to help the poor people in Barbados and I am not turning back. Nothing beats a try. It was too much fake all these years. I am the real deal right now for my people. It isn’t no more lies.

“I am not a politician; I

don’t know the first thing about politics but I know Barbados is hard and my poor people want help, we want jobs. Too much crime in Barbados.

Too much young people coming out on the streets to prostitute their bodies for money. We need help. That’s all I know,’ said the sexworker.

She has now gained the support of the AIA, whose president Charles Lewis, said the organisation would be providing both moral and financial support to her.

“Our support is going to be a lot more tangible than just moral support because my organization is prepared to start a fundraising campaign on her behalf,’ Lewis told the online publication, Barbados TODAY. “I am also prepared to put my money behind her and I am also prepared to give her political and intellectual support that she needs because that is how political campaigns are run and won. I am also willing to go and speak on her platform if it is required,” Lewis said.

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Sunday March 18, 2018

Kaieteur News

Too early to give all clear for Kick-em-Jenny volcano -SRC ST.GEORGE’S, Grenada - CMC – The Trinidad-based Seismic Research Centre (SRC) of the University of the West Indies (UWI) says it is too early declare that the underwater volcano, Kick-emJenny (KeJ), has become dormant again following days of no “significant increase” in activity.

The SRC said that the Orange alert, which was issued earlier last week remains and that while “there has been no significant increase in activity at Kick-‘em-Jenny submarine volcano” since the last update,”it is still too early to declare this pause in activity as the end of the unrest episode.“As a result, the alert

level at Kick-‘em-Jenny remains at ORANGE. The UWI Seismic Research Centre is continuing to monitor the situation,” the SRC said.

The National Disaster Management Agency (NaDMA) said “with this increase in the alert level, ships and other marine operators are asked to observe the ex-

clusion zone of 5 km/ 3.1miles”.

Kick-em-Jenny is one of the most active volcanoes in the Eastern Caribbean and the SRC said its instruments may record increased earthquake activity beneath the volcano during sustained periods.

It said overnight, during

March 11-12 period, a substantial increase in earthquake activity associated with the volcano was recorded and the alert level for was increased from Yellow to Orange.

“Within the last few hours, this earthquake activity has slowed,” the SRC said, but noted “because volcanoes are not completely predictable and given the changes observed in the pattern of behaviour of KeJ, we cannot be absolutely certain that this period of elevated seismicity will definitely lead to an eruption in the short term”.

Since the volcano began acting up, there have been several reports of a possible tsunami, but the SRC noted that it “unlikely given the present location of the volcano and its pattern of

activity.“Tsunamis from submarine volcanoes can either be caused by explosions or collapse.

The current depth to the KeJ vent (~200m) inhibits its explosive potential and hence its ability to generate a tsunami. It would have to build up a summit closer to the submarine surface for it to attain the ability to generate threatening tsunamis from explosions.”

The SRC said that recent modelling undertaken of collapses from KeJ has provided no convincing evidence that it can produce life-threatening tsunamis at the shoreline since the volume of material involved is relatively small.

“While it is possible that very large explosions or large landslides at KeJ could generate tsunamis, the threat from tsunamis is very low.”

Sunday March 18, 2018

Kaieteur News

Jamaica working towards self-sufficiency in table Irish potatoes KINGSTON, Jamaica CMC – Jamaica says it can achieve the goal of 100 per cent self-sufficiency in the production of table Irish potato this year.

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, J.C. Hutchinson said entities, such as H&L Agro, have been a pillar of support in Jamaica’s National Irish Potato Expansion programme, which is aimed at reducing imports of the crop.

He said the objective is to lower the island’s food import bill, which now stands at over US$800 million, and shore up food security.

“H&L Agro has been… working with our farmers to optimise their production through the use of proper agronomic practices, and I believe that, barring any unforeseen circumstances, we will achieve our goal this year,” he said.

Hutchinson, speaking at the launch of t h e H & L A g r o ’s D u w e s t s o l u b l e crop nutrition line earlier this week, said partnerships between state and non-state entities, including input suppliers, have continued to con-

tribute in a huge way to the growth of the agricultural sector, which he described as the “main driving force in the industrial development of this country”.

“As a government, we understand the critical role that partnerships play in moving the agricultural sector forward as we strive towards attaining economic growth. In fact, I believe that partnerships, whether it is between the various government agencies or the private and public sectors, are critical to the overall development of our country,” he added.

Hutchinson noted that the Ministry is working towards increasing the production of Scotch bonnet pepper as he reiterated the need to increase production by placing greater emphasis on value-chain production, which will ensure that “no agricultural produce goes to waste.

“This means that we not only consume products in their primary state, but that we move along the value chain to produce items such as jams, jellies, juices, and use trash to be converted to fertiliser and feed,” he said.

PAGE 75

Indian party quits PM Modi’s coalition in blow ahead of election

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - An Indian political party that governs a southern state quit Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s coalition on Friday blaming it for a lack of financial support, officials said, in a blow to the coalition ahead of national elections next year.The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) controls 16 lawmakers in India’s 545-member parliament, but Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party-led coalition remains in majority.

The party, that runs Andhra Pradesh, had been demanding greater financial assistance ever since the division of the state in 2014 which it says led to loss of revenue.

“We tried our best to be together but the present government ignored the sentiments and emotions of the people of Andhra Pradesh,” Y.S. Chowdary, a TDP member of parlia-

ment, said.Last week, the party pulled its two federal ministers from the government after talks with Modi’s emissaries failed and on Friday it announced it was pulling all its MPs out of the federal coalition.

The loss of the regional ally is the second since January when the right wing Hindu group, the Shiv Sena, announced it would not run in next year’s national election in alliance with the BJP.Modi has run the ruling coalition with a tight hand, analysts say. The BJP blamed the TDP for the row and said it would build up its own strength in Andhra Pradesh.“People of Andhra Pradesh have now realised that the TDP is resorting to lies to cover up its inept governance,” said BJP spokesman G.V.L.N. Rao.

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Sunday March 18, 2018

Kaieteur News

Govt. makes new offer to striking teachers KINGSTON, Jamaica CMC – Jamaican public sector teachers will meet tomorrow to discuss a new wage offer by the government after they took industrial action this week disrupting schools across the island.

A brief statement from the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) said that a special general council meeting has been called for tomorrow to consider the offer, but gave no details of the new package.

The JTA’s Salaries and Conditions of Service Committee met on Friday with officials of the Ministry of Finance, after the teachers went on three days strike upset over the unwillingness of the government to meet their demands for higher salaries, stayed away from classes.

The Andrew Holness government originally offered a six per cent salary increase for the 2017-2018 period and despite the teachers rejecting the offer, the government said it was going ahead to make the payments at the end of this month.

The JTA had accused the

Finance Minister Audley Shaw government of engaging in “union busting” strategies and insisted it “has not agreed to any such payment plan.The public school teachers have rejected a 16 per cent wage increase from the government over a four year-period amid speculation that they could embark upon island wide industrial action in support of their demands.

The teachers are asking that instead of a four-year agreement, the authorities revert to two years and in addi-

tion, they want the special allowance of protective clothing be increased to $20,000 per annum, up from the current J$18,504 (One Jamaica dollar=US$0.008 cents).

They also want teachers to be paid J$2,500 to mark research papers and J$2,000 per student for supervising teaching practice. The government has already rejected both demands.

The government has offered the teachers a four year agreement covering the period April 1, 2017 to March 31, 2020. It is also providing them with two options, six per cent in year one, no increase in year two, five per cent in year three and five per cent in year four.

Finance Minister Audley Shaw has warned that any deviation from the current wage offer to teachers could translate into more taxes.

He said while said the government recognizes and appreciates the sacrifices of all public sector workers, it is cognizant of the interest of the teachers and agrees that public servants, including teachers, deserve more.

PAHO urges Caribbean to vaccinate against measles WASHINGTON - CMC – The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is urging Caribbean countries to redouble efforts to vaccinate their populations in the wake of ongoing measles outbreaks in the Americas.

PAHO is also urging the countries to strengthen surveillance to detect possible patients and implement measures to quickly respond to any suspected cases.

In an epidemiological update released here on Friday, PAHO said that while measles was declared eliminated from the Americas in 2016, following the declaration of rubella and CRS elimination in 2015, “the highly contagious nature of the measles virus and the fact that both it and the rubella virus continue to circulate in the rest of the world mean that the region is at risk of outbreaks.”

PAHO said the region was the first in the world to have eliminated all three diseases, culminating a 22-year effort involving mass vaccination against measles, mumps, and rubella throughout the Americas.In the first months of 2018, PAHO said there were several countries in the region reporting confirmed cases including Antigua and

Barbuda, Brazil, Canada, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, the United States and Venezuela.

It said so far this year, there have been 159 cases.

The epidemiological update said that, in 2017, four countries in the region of the Americas reported confirmed cases of measles and that cases of measles in the European region quadrupled in that year, “which increases the risk of imported cases to countries in the Americas.”

PAHO said it has been alerting countries of this situation since May 2017, and through successive epidemiological updates.

In light of this situation, PAHO has recommended that Caribbean and other countries vaccinate to maintain 95 per cent “homogeneous coverage with the first and second doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine in all municipalities.”

It also urged regional countries to strengthen epidemiological surveillance in public and private health services to detect suspected cases; and “respond quickly when an imported measles case is detected in order to prevent the reestablishment of endemic transmission of the virus.

“This includes activating teams to follow up on patients with measles and their contacts,” PAHO said.

Additionally, it urged countries to maintain a “reserve of measles-rubella (MR) vaccines for imported case control actions.

In 2017, PAHO said the countries of the Americas pledged to take action to maintain the elimination of measles, rubella and congenital rubella syndrome by approving an action plan for that purpose.

The plan emphasizes that vaccination coverage rates in a population should be 95 percent or above in order to maintain elimination, PAHO said.In the last five years, it said regional coverage with the first dose of the MMR vaccine has ranged between 92 per cent and 94 per cent.

PAHO said measles is one of the most contagious diseases and affects primarily children.

It is transmitted by airborne droplets or via direct contact with secretions from the nose, mouth, and throat of infected individuals. Symptoms include high fever, generalized rash all over the body, stuffy nose and reddened eyes.

Sunday March 18, 2018

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Kaieteur News

Two more centuries highlight latest round of Latest round...

From page 83 Ramnaresh Sarwan UCCA 2nd-Division cricket figures.Chandrika, who has Two more centuries and some outstanding bowling performances were the highlights when four more matches were completed in the ongoing Ramnaresh Sarwan cricket tournament for teams in the Upper Corentyne, Black Bush area in Berbice.

Among the winners were No69 Vikings, No70 MYO, Crabwood Creek Bomb Squad and No69 Red Rose.In results: No69 Vikings scored 251 to defeat Yakusari Horizon by 158 runs.

Highlighting No69 Viking innings was a swashbuckling 106 from Neil Lallbeharry (13x4, 2x6), while F. Ramratan 27, C. Roopcand 24 and S. Rajram 23 supported.

Yakusari Horizon never rose to the occasion and were dismissed for 93 in 24 overs.

Bowling for NO69 Vikings D. Brandit took 5-16.

In another game, despite a belligerent 105(6x4, 11x6)

from Naipaul Iyana playing for Yakusari Caribs, they were whipped by nine wickets by No70 MYO. The Caribs got timid and were bowled out for 173 despite Iyana’s display. He only got support from Randy Boorauth with 28. No70 MYO raced to 185-1 with Rafique Khan 85(6x4, 4x6), Amir Khan 61(5x4, 3x6) and Nsir Khan 27.

Crabwood Creek Bomb Squad blew away No70 ‘A’ Young Warriors by three wickets in a high scoring affair.

Young Warriors batted first and showed some fight in scoring 238 in 35 overs with extras leading the way with a whopping 62. Omesh Henry 37, R. Yakub 27, Ashook Persaud 26 and Naeem Yakub 25 contributed.

Bowling for Bomb Squad, Arif Hussein took 4 and Gobin Sookram 3 wickets. They in reply when after the score

with all artillery blazing to reached 241-7 in 31.3 overs with Dwane Edwards 81(3x4, 7x6), T. Ramsarran 50(3x4, 5x6) and Tarren Shivamber 32.

No69 Red Rose defeated No77 Cricket Club by 116 runs.

No69 Red Rose batted and made 196 with Y. Rampersaud 59(4x4, 5x6), Imran Khan 33, K. Chatanan 32 and J. Rudnauth 22.Bowling for No77 W. Khan with 3 wickets was supported by V. Manne and R. Gomes with 2 wickets each. They were then bundled out for 80 with W. Profit making 22. Bowling for No 69 Red Rose, Yadram Bhola led the way with 421and he was supported by Deodat Rampersaud and Deodat Seeram with 2 each.

The competition continues today with 12 more matches in the 24 team competition.

(Samuel Whyte)

Sunday March 18, 2018 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) In an effort to be the brightest and best star on the stage, Aries, you might actually be driving away the most important members of your audience.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Practical abilities that you didn't know you possessed might suddenly appear today, Libra. You could be working behind the scenes on a project of some kind.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Go ahead and make a list today, Taurus. Powerful emotions are likely to lure you from your current path unless you have some sort of concrete plan to fall back on.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) The completion of a longterm goal might have you feeling enthusiastic, energetic, and happy.

You're also likely to be looking to the future, Scorpio

GEMINI(May 21–June 20) If you look carefully today, Gemini, you're apt to notice aspects of people that you never noticed before.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Career matters are at the forefront of your concerns today, Sagittarius.

Opportunities for advancement may suddenly appear that you weren't aware of yesterday

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Be careful about becoming too stubborn today, Cancer.

This is one of those days in which you're asked to build a structure in a very windy area. If you insist on using the most rigid materials LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) It's a good thing you have a flexible attitude, Leo, especially today. Your adaptive powers could be put to the test as you find yourself surrounded by fickle emotions and stubborn attitudes.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Your physical energy is high and your ambition even higher, Virgo. You're likely to want to turn your mind to new projects that can advance your socioeconomic status.

CAPRI (Dec.22–Jan.19) Travel that is possibly related to business could come up for you, Capricorn. A friend or colleague may accompany you.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) If you've been thinking about trying some new investments or starting a new savings plan, this is the day to get started, Aquarius.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Partnerships, possibly business related, are on the agenda, Pisces. You might find yourself in discussions dealing with such partnerships, as well as contracts and other paperwork.

played five Tests and has a century and 13 fifties from 58 First-Class games, looked elegant and his on-drives and fluent cover drives were classy as he carried his bat after the last batsman was run out leaving him stranded. Nedd finished with 5-84 and Nkosie Beaton had 2-26.

At Malteenoes, GYO were dismissed for 141 with only Treatlon Liverpool (27), Kishan Singh (28), Wazim Ally (24) and Richard Hoyte (14) getting double figure scores as off-spinner Gajanan Suknanand captured 6-39.

GNIC were bowled out for 139 despite 43 from Dexter George and 33 from Quincy Ovid-Richardson as left-arm spinner Trevon France bagged 7-35 to crown a good day for the spinners and further expose the inability to negotiate spin bowling by G u y a n a ’s f i r s t d i v i s i o n batsman. Surindra Hiralall supported France with 2-1 for GYO, who ended the day on 9-1 after losing Ally bowled for a duck by Jermaine Benjamin. (Sean Devers)

PAGE 78

From page 79 Facebook, “Another tough day in Qualifying one today.

Will be starting the first race from 14th position. Still one more qualifying tomorrow to sort out all the kinks…”

Ming finished the race in fourth place after starting from 14th position. He again posted after the event and another qualifying session; “P4 finish in race one at Saint Petersburg from a P14 starting position....One more race tomorrow starting from the same position due to an unfortunate situation in qualifying again. Aiming on improving on the position today to aim for a podium spot tomorrow.”

However, things did not go fully to his plan as the young Guyanese speed ace had to settle for an 8th place finish. While not the desired result, Ming had valuable points after finishing in the top 10 on both occasions to be fifth in the standings.

Sachia Vickery suffer third round loss to meteorically rising star, Noami Osaka After upsetting world third seed Garbine Muguruza 2-6, 7-5, 6-1 in a second-round win at the BNP Paribas Open in California on Friday last, Guyana’s, American Born Sachia Vickery fell to the inform 20-year-old Naomi Osaka in the third round match.The young Japa-

Sunday March 18, 2018

Kaieteur News

nese player, Osaka, had scored straight-set victories over both former world number one Maria Sharapova and Agnieszka Radwañska, to reach the third round and she continued with that impressive form to sweep Vickery 6-3, 6-3.

Vickery who began the tournament ranked at 100 was heralded around the tennis world. Sachia Vickery after coming back from being down a set and three points to defeat 2017 Wimbledon champion Garbiñe Muguruza 2-6, 7-5, 6-1 in the Round-of64 matches at the Indian Wells, one of the premier tennis tournaments in the World.

Osaka proved too tough to handle and Vickery failed to find that recapture that fight back mojo she used to defeat Muguruza and lost in straight sets, in the battle of the rising stars.

National Schools’ Basketball Festival Launched The 13th edition of the Youth Basketball Guyana (YBG), National Schools’ Festival was launched at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH).

Present at the simple but significant ceremony were head of YBG, Chris Bowman, head of the National Sports Commission (NSC); Chris Jones, head of the Ministry of Education (MOE) Physical

Education department; Nicholas Fraser and representatives of the two sponsors; Edward B. Beharry & Company and Banks DIH Ltd. Although they weren’t any representation from the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF), Bowman noted that the Federation was happy to sanction the tournament which has been revolutionary in developing the sport at the grassroots level for over a decade.

Bowman shared during the launch that during this year’s festival which bounces off on March 23, all stakeholders are expected to see the continued acceleration of female basketball development since the ladies division which will see President’s College defend their title, is expected to have highly competitive matches.

Chase’s Academic Foundation that has had successes in cricket and football by winning respective nationwide competitions, will be making their debut in the festival this year and based on the efforts the school usually make in offering top athletes scholarships, a very competitive squad are anticipated to be fielded by the school.

Among the sponsors are Edward B. Beharry and Company Limited and Banks DIH Ltd.

Nathoo stuns Drayton in Sasha Cells National Chess Championship

Boxers Keeve Allicock (centre) and Colin Lewis (right) along with Coach Terrence Poole in Mexico.

The Sasha Cells National Senior and Junior Chess championship got underway with a major upset highlighting the first three rounds of action at the Windjammer Hotel, Kitty.

In the senior category, Loris Nathoo pulled off a major heist, toppling one of the favourites, Candidate Master Anthony Drayton, in their head-to-head showdown.

Drayton has a FIDE ranking of 1945, the second highest by a Guyanese behind Wendell Meusa’s 1967.

Based on those numbers, Drayton entered the clash with Nathoo as overwhelming favourite. However, Nathoo, with a FIDE ranking of 1669, took matters into his own hands and dropped Drayton, whose tournament has not been going according to plan thus far.Drayton was held to a draw against Meusa, and has recorded his only win after three rounds against Glenford Corlette in the opening round.After three rounds, former champion Taffin Khan is leading the points standing with 2.5 points, earned from two wins and a draw. Meusa, Nathoo and Ronuel Greenidge are stacked on two points apiece, followed by Drayton on 1.5.Saeed Anwar Ali has a solitary point, while Corlette and Maria Varona Thomas occupy the cellar position with half a point each.

The junior tournament is sizing up to be a very competitive showdown for the title with two players locked at the top of the table. Tabletoppers Joshua Gopaul and Ghansham Allijohn have so far accumulated 2.5 points each, with two wins apiece and their head-to-head clash producing a draw in round three.Jaden Taylor, Roshawn Washington and Ethan Lee are in a battle on two points

each, while Nellisha Johnson has one point thus far.

Dwayne Bess and Sasha Shariff are languishing at the bottom of the table, both yet to score.The competition was expected to wrap up over the weekend at the National Resource Centre, Woolford Avenue, Georgetown.

Colts and Guardians win on Thursday night to advance to division finals On Thursday night, the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) saw a healthy crowd witnessing two well competed semifinal matches in the Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association’s (GABA) 2018, 1st, 2nd and Under-23 knockout tournament.

Plaisance Guardians overcame Kobras Basketball Club 61-57 in the last 2nd division match of the tournament.

Andrew Johnson led the Guardians scoring with 15 points but Akeem Crandon, who netted 14 points for the East Coast based GABA club, was the player of the match.

Crandon, who plays centre, was superb in defence and produced block after block to deny Kobras a likely victory which was complemented by his offensive work.

With the win, Guardians have now qualified for both the Under-23 and Second Division finals, which tips off Monday and Tuesday respectively.In the feature match, Kobras succumbed to their second loss of the night as Bounty Colts overpowered them in a massive 84-60 victory in the last semifinal match of the 1st Division.

With the victory Colts have now qualified for the finals of all three divisions.

Bounty Colts who swept

the previous two GABA leagues, winning the Under23, 2nd and 1st Divisions, seem set to repeat, Guardians (Under-23 and 2nd Divisions) and Nets (1st Division finalists) will be gunning to prevent that.

Differently Able cyclist Grant-Stuart invited to UCI C1 Para-CyclingEvent GCF to support; Ansa McAL contribute Different Able cyclist Walter Grant-Stuart, who has been earned his name as fierce competitor even beating his more Able bodied rivals in Guyana, is set to make his international debut as a Differently Able rider, next month.

The Continental Cycle Club (CCC) member has been invited to attend and compete at the UCI C1 Para-Cycling Event which is set to take place from April 28th – 29th next at Circuit GillesVilleneuve, Montreal Canada.

The talented cyclist informed that he has to raise about $400,000 Guyana dollars in order to cover all expenses including airfare, accommodation, meals, registrations fees and ground transportation.

He has disclosed that Ansa McAl through their ICool range of products has already made a contribution towards his successful participation in the Time Trials and Road Race.

Stuart informed that his ultimate goal is to represent Guyana at the Paralympics and will use this event as a stepping stone towards achieving this aim.Business entities wishing to support Grant-Stuart in his quest to represent Guyana can make direct contact with him on tel #592-684-6625.

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Here is a look back at the key events that occurred during the past week on the local sports arena. pressive form of recent and will look to take things a notch higher and overcome sterner competition in Colombia this summer (July-August) at the Colombia Games.

Dillon Mahadeo still the fittest for 3rd successive year; Delice Adonis is new Queen Dillon Mahadeo has proven beyond the shadow of a doubt that he is the King of Fitness in Guyana when he comfortably won the Kares Guyana Fitness Challenge 2018 championship at the National Park for the third successive year.

Emerging as the Queen following a very close tussle was 20 year-old University of Guyana first year Communications student, Delice Adonis who toppled last year’s winner, Semonica Duke on a tie breaker after both athletes had won two of the five events and placed second in the other.

The event, which culminated in the twilight, saw the fans and supporters who came out including dozens of children being able to appreciate a high level of raw talent, fitness, endurance, grit and determination displayed by all of the male and female athletes but as is the case always, only one winner on either side could be accommodated.

The top five males were Dillon Mahadeo with a perfect 500 points, Timothy Mc Andrew (408) of Elite Systems Gym, Junior Cornette (401) of the Guyana Defence Force, Raveendath Bajnath (395) of Suriname and Anis Ade Thomas with 377 points.

Delice Adonis of CrossFit 592 and Semonica Duke Genesis Fitness/Crossfit 592 both ended with 480 points after the five events but Adonis was given the nod for the title following a tie breaker (best out of five).

Attractive cash and other prizes were presented to the top three in each category while participatory medals were presented to each athlete.

Meanwhile, the celebrity competition was won

by Robbie Singh of Pulse Entertainment for Men, while Macaela ‘The Remix Chick’ Cameron took the title for Women. Director of Sport Christopher Jones who also competed in this event was forced out due to his left knee slipping out on the home straight.

The respective winners of this event won Scotiabank cheques to the value of $100,000 each which goes to two charities, Help and Shelter and the Giving Hope Foundation.

Bissu & Singh spurs Demerara to GCB 50-over U-17 InterCounty title

Still The King! Dillon Mahadeo completes and wins Event #4, the Clean and Jerk Ladder.

Keeve Allicock and ‘Superman’ Lewis finish CAC qualifiers with Bronze Technical Director of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) and National Coach, Terrence Poole, had signaled that he was 100% confident that the duo of Keeve Allicock and Colin ‘Superman’ Lewis would have qualified for the Central America and Caribbean (CAC) Games following their participation in the Barranquilla, Colombia, qualifying tournament in Mexico this month.

The promise of the Caribbean light welterweight champion, Superman Lewis and Commonwealth youth games silver medalist, Allicock, came through as both fighters finished with Bronze medals, qualifying for the CAC Games in the process.

Both fighters lost their semifinal matches in the Tijuana, Mexico hosted qualifiers. Head of the GBA, Steve Ninvalle shared with Kaieteur Sport that Superman’s loss, which was adjudged by a split decision, was a tough one, which he believed could’ve easily gone in the Guyanese’s favour by unanimous verdict in his fight against Eduardo Sanchez of Costa Rica.

Meanwhile, Ninvalle noted that Allicock is one of the best chances that Guyana has at medaling at the Olympics. Ninvalle shared that in Allicock’s semifinal fight against the current Olympic Bantamweight Champion, Cuba’s

Robeisy Ramirez, who is also ranked number one in the world, the Guyanese, who is a flyweight, fought exceptionally well, pound for pound.

The pair of fighters along with Coach Terrence Poole are delighted to have qualified for the CAC Games and they are aiming to continue their im-

The third and final round of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) U-17 Inter-County 50 overs cricket tournament concluded with wins for new Champions Demerara and former Champions Berbice.

At Bourda, Demerara registered an emphatic ninewicket win against the National U-15s to be the only unbeaten team in the four team competition, while the defending Champions Berbice, whose only loss was to Demerara, beat Essequibo by 126 runs at Everest.

Demerara’s Leg-spinner Niron Bissu continued to befuddle the batsmen; taking 39 and the Man-of-the-match Awards in every game Demerara has played.

Andrew Samaroo and Andre Seepersaud supported with two wickets each as the U-15s crashed to 114 all out as only Chandra Saffie (20), Movindra Dindyal (17) and Ajay Gainda (14) reached double figures for the U-15s,

All set for 10th Desmond Dorsett Memorial Road Race Classic, Family Fun day today The event, which is being organised by the Dorsett family of Leeds, Corentyne, Berbice, has a number of activities listed for the day. However, the athletics road race and volleyball activities are expected to highlight the day’s proceedings.

The events will be held at various venues on the Corentyne with the main events being at the No53 Sports Complex.

The day’s event is expected to begin with the annual road race starting at 09:00 hrs. It will be held in three categories- males and females Open, U-20 and U15. The 5KM event will be held from NO43 Village to the No53 Sports Complex, Corentyne.

Participants are expected from as far as from West Berbice, New Amsterdam, Canje, the various Police Youths Clubs, the Guysuco Training School, the Police Training School and a number of other sports and athletics clubs in the region.

Attractive Prizes will be presented to the top finisher in each category. Certificates of appreciation and participation will be

presented to all participants along with other memorabilia.

Following the road race a fun day will be held at the No53 Sports Complex beginning at 10:00hrs and will include athletics, softball cricket, volleyball, football, Circle Tennis and dominoes. A number of novelty events and ring games are also expected to be a part of the day’s programme.

Proceeds from the day’s activities will go towards a few charity projects in the community.

A native of East Canje, the late Detective Superintendent Desmond Dorsett was an ardent sports fan who participated in numerous sporting activities including Cricket and athletics.

Dorsett migrated after retiring and returned with his family from time to time to do charity and community work.

His wife Waveney Dorsett, a retired head mistress and community activist, continues in the same vein and along with her children are the spearhead of the activity.

who used this tournament as preparation for next month’s Regional U-15 tournament in Jamaica.

Romel Datterdeen trapped Yeudister Persaud LBW for 14 at 33-1 before Captain Sachin Singh, who hit five fours and two sixes in an unbeaten runa-ball 56, shared in an unfinished 84-run second wicket stand with Navindra Singh who made 27 not out from 62 balls with three boundaries as Demerara reached 117-1 from 23.2 overs.

At Everest, fifties from Seon Glasgow (59), Nigel Deodat (58) and Skipper Jevon Shultz (54*) helped Berbice to 267-6 after they had lost both of their openers for ducks with just two runs on the board.

Shultz returned with the

ball to claim 3-13 and got support from Abdul Ramsammy (2-11) as Essequibo were bundled out for 101 in 44 overs as only National U-15 all-rounder Sheldon Charles, who had five fours and a six in his 43, passed 10.

Calvin Ming records valuable championship points in Florida Young Guyanese racecar driver Calvin Ming recorded valuable championship points during the first round of the USF2000 championship last weekend in Saint Petersburg, Florida to be in fifth place overall after the opening round. Ming noted that he had a tough qualifying round, posting on his (Continued on page 78)

BCB Correction The Berbice Cricket Board on Tuesday last launched an Under-21 cricket tournament for teams in Berbice. The tournament is been sponsored by Elizabeth Styles.

It was stated that this would be the first ever Under21 competition in the history of the BCB but in fact it would be the second. The first Under-21 Tournament was held under the Presidency of Keith Foster in 2012 and was

the brainchild of the Special Events Committee. Blairmont Cricket Club was the champion of that historic championship.

The BCB Regrets the error and issues a profound apology to all of the readers who might have been misinformed. The BCB would also like to recommit itself to working to make Berbice Cricket the best in the West Indies.

Ansa Mc Al, Metro and Trophy Stall among sponsors for KMTC Horserace meet today All is set for the Kennard Memorial Turf Club one day horserace meet set for today at the Club’s entity Bush Lot Farm, Corentyne, Berbice.

The entity is said to be in good shape with over 60 horses entered to compete. Six races are listed for the day with the feature being for animals classified ‘E’ and Lower competing for a first prize of $700, 000 and trophy with the runner up taking home $350,000; fourth place will pocket $175,000 and fourth place $88,000.

A competitive field has been lined up to compete in the 7 furlongs event which is sponsored by Ansa McAl Trading and Metro. Among those entered are Media Day, Goodwill Boy, Unsettled, Keep on Swinging, It’s My Choice, Settling Star and Stormy Bird.

Other events for the day will see the animals competing for attractive prizes and trophies. The horses classified H’ and Lower will race for

over seven furlongs for a winning purse of $300,000.

The ‘I’ and ‘J’ and Lower horses will race for a winning take of $200,000 and trophy over six furlongs.

Those classified K’ and Lower will also be running over six furlongs, for a first prize of $160,000 and trophy.

The ‘L’ and Lower horse will be aiming for the $150,000 first prize over a distance of five furlongs, while the ‘L’ Class non-winners winning take is $120,000 and a trophy over five furlongs.

There will be incentives for the top horse, jockeys stables and trainer compliments of Ramesh Sunich of Trophy Stall Bourda Market.

(Samuel Whyte)

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GOA announces Gold Coast XXI Commonwealth Games contingent Guyana to be represented in seven sport disciplines Guyana will participate in next month’s 21st Commonwealth Games, which will be hosted in the Gold Coast, Australia from April 4th to 15th. With this on the not so distant horizon, the Guyana

Olympic Association (GOA) held a press conference at their Lilliendaal head office to announce the participants from the relevant sports disciplines.The Golden Arrowhead will be represented

by seven disciplines during the games, namely Badminton, Boxing, Rifle Shooting, Squash, Swimming, Table Tennis and Athletics. At the press conference, the associations’ representatives, which

included coaches, expressed a general feeling of satisfaction with their squad and respective preparations in the lead up to the event. Head of the GOA, the long serving K.A. Juman-Yassin, noted that Guyana’s athletes who will be gunning for glory in Australia are not even ranked in the world and the public and media should be realistic in their expectations of the players’ final performances.

Godfrey Munroe, head of the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA), noted that his association’s eight-member squad (the largest contingent including the coach) has had reasonable preparations and it will be a good learning experience for all the participants which will exclude overseas based Chelsea Edghill due to her scholastic commitments. Munroe further stated that tennis’ prospect of

medaling is somewhat unrealistic.

Coach of the boxing team, Serbert Blake, who will be joined by Terrence Poole (Technical Director) along with fighters Colin ‘Superman’ Lewis and Keeve Allicock in the Gold Coast, stated that his fighters had an excellent opportunity to go to a training camp in Mexico and their performances in the Central America and Caribbean games qualifiers were creditable, so his squad are confident of an excellent showing.

At the conference, representation from the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) was not present. The AAG will have the second largest contingent at the games, a total of six athletes and the coach Julian Edmonds. The athletes include, Troy Doris, Winston George, Emanuel Archibald, Leslain Baird, Natricia Hooper and Natrena Hooper.

Meanwhile, coach of the

two member swimming team that consist of Andrew Folwer and Jamila Sanmoogan, Sean Baksh, expressed thanks that the teams will be arriving one week early in Australia to further prepare themselves. He posited that Sanmoogan just returned from a training stint in Colombia with that country’s national coach, and he would expect his swimmers to lower their personal best at the competition.

Other members of the team include Noel Adonis (Chef-d-Mission), David Fernandes (General Team Manager), Juanita Fernandes (Chaperone).

Gokarn Ramdhani (Coach) and Narayan Ramdhani (athlete) are the Badminton representatives, while Paul Slowe (Coach) along with Ransford Goodluck (athlete) and Lennox Braithwaithe (athlete) will make up the Rifle team.

The squash team will consist of coach Ramon Chan-ASue (coach) and five athletes; Mary Fung-A-Fat, Taylor Fernandes, Sunil Seth and Jason-Ray Khalil.

Karen Pilgrim, vice-president of the GOA explained to the press that all the athletes have undergone their anti-doping talk and training to prepare them for the process which can be deemed to be very intrusive while in the continent of Australasia.

(Calvin Chapman)